Latrobe Valley Express Wednesday 2 August 2023

Iconic Morwell

By PHILIP HOPKINS

THE largest commercial development in the Latrobe Valley since the Mid Valley shopping centre 50 yearsago, tipped to have afinal economic value up to $800 million and provide more than 3250 direct and indirect jobs, will be built in Morwell.

The 100-hectare Icon Industrial Park in Morwellwillbethe largest industrial estate in Gippsland.

It is being developed by aformer Hazelwood power stationelectrical engineer, John Alom, throughhis company Homeington Building Group, and marketedbyMorwell's Rennie Property Sales and national property group Colliers.

The estate, now empty paddocks, is bordered by the Princes Highway, Alexanders Road and the BegaDairy plant, and is next to the Australian Paper rail line. The land was previously the location of the proposed Morwell food manufacturing precinct, which has now been rebadged as Icon.

Stage 1, a10-hectare targeted as a mixed-use commercial and retail centre, has beenreleased to the market. The estate also includes two acres set aside for apetrol station and expansive parkland.

Mr Alom told the Express that the estate was aimed at warehousing, storage and logistics companies, manufacturers and big commercial players like Costco.

Integral to the project is $10 million fromthe state governmentthat willbespentoninfrastructure such as aroundabout givingaccess to the precinct. Adelay in providing the money, promised by the state government, was attacked by Morwell MP Martin Cameron in Parliament in May.

Mr Alom previously workedatthe Hazelwood power station as an engineer in power system and control, looking after the heating and cooling system. He left Hazelwood in 2006 and became aprivate developer. He is currently developing a32-acre subdivision at Officer with 79 lots.

Mr Alom,who bought the land about 18 months ago, acknowledged asentimental factor in his Morwell project, as he wants to help the local community.However, he emphasised the industrial estate wasa major economicdevelopment for the Valley, its location in Morwell at the centre of the Valley making it astrategic project.

"It will be able to servicethe surrounding towns," said Renniesaleswoman Mary Ioannou.

Ms Ioannou said Gippsland'srefurbishedrail line and Morwell's upgraded railwaystation made the townmore accessible for travellers and potential investors.

The 100haestateconsists of 80 subdivision lots that will be released in six stages. The lots vary in size from 1000 square metresto20,000per square metre. The developer willberesponsible for building the roads in the estate. The stage one industrial land release comprises 14 lots sized between 1012/ sqm to 19,672/sqm, with prices ranging from $137/sqm to $385/sqm.

Six lots have already been sold: Lots 13 and 14, both 1959m2 for $548,520 ($280/sqm); and Lots 20 and 24, both 1054m2 for $316,200 ($300/sqm).

Mr Alom said sales had mostly been to investors, but he expected total investment of stage 1, when the lots were fully developed, would total about $100 million. He said the cost of building was increasing and the ample, cheaper Morwell land madethe estate attractive to Melbourne operators.

Real estate veteran Peter Rennie estimated that total development of the estate, when completed, would approach $800 million.

Mr Rennie has run his own company for 18 years, having started in real estate in the Valley with Keith Williams50 years ago.

LatrobeCityCouncil said it was "thrilled" at the government's $10 million funding for the estate that was confirmed in the state budget. The project was then known as the Latrobe City Food Manufacturing Precinct.

Morwell’snew clean energy centre

TRAINING initiatives announced by the state government include $5 millionfor TAFE Gippsland to create aClean Energy Centre in Morwell.

Anew $3 million training package to upskill the energy workers of the future is also available under astate government program.

ASolar Victoria $1.5millioninvestment will deliver freetraining for 1000 plumbersand fourth-year apprentices to design and install energy efficient heat pumps and solar hot water systems. Households that switch to solar panels andaheat pump could save up to $1100 ayear on their electricity bills.

Another $500,000 will deliver free training for afurther400 electricians andfourth-year apprentices to complete training to safely design and install rooftop solar and home battery systems.

The state government will also invest $250,000 to support Aboriginalbusinesses to participate in the renewable energy sector. The package also aims to help attract more women to start acareer in the solar and renewable energysectors through a$100,000mentoring program.

Mentoring programs will be expanded to offer 40 extraplacementssothat qualified electricians, electricalengineersand licensed electrical inspectors can get free on-site technical mentoring and follow-up support to install or inspect solar PV and battery systems. The demand for installations is expected to rise, enabling more workers to enter the solar industry for the first time.

To ensure best practice across the industry, the government will invest $150,000insafetysolar training in regional areas, funding for site supervisor training and new training for safe handling of solar panels. Another $300,000 will go towards further research to identifyskills gaps and trends.

The government is investing $12 million towards abusiness case for the SEC CentreofTraining Excellence, the VictorianEnergy Jobs Planand new VET qualifications, $10 million for aHydrogen EnergyWorker Training Centre and $6 million for

Invest: Thestate will spend millions on clean energyinvestment in theregion.

aWindWorker Training Centre.

“We’ve established a$50 million TAFE Clean Energy Fund to train workers with critical skills that we need as we bring back the SEC. The fund includes $6 million for stage 2ofthe Asia Pacific Renewable Energy TrainingCentre at Federation TAFE in Ballarat, and $5 million for South West TAFEtodeliver aBuilding Innovation and Design

Centre in Warrnambool,” said the Minister for the StateElectricity Commission, Lily D’Ambrosio.

The SEC has an initial government investment of $1 billion, which it says will be strategically invested to help deliver 4.5 gigawattsofrenewable energy by 2035. Ms D’Ambrosio said the first project that was partofthe SEC’s pioneer investment that would be announced later this year.

THE three men originally accused of murdering Nicholas Henrypleaded guilty to manslaughterin the Melbourne Supreme Court last month.

Emergency services were called on February 20 2021, following reports of an attack in Morwell.

Mr Henry (18years old) wasattacked on February 20, 2021, on Buckley Street and was taken to hospital alive but in acriticalcondition; he later died two hours later at 2.30am.

It has been heard in court that Mr Henry’s attackers, brothers Corey and BraydenSmart, as well as Abraham Abas, pursued Mr Henry around Morwellbefore corralling and encirclinghim. The threemen pulled out aknife and stabbedhim from behind eight times.

Court hearings detailed how the trio ambushed adefenceless Mr Henryafter he was accused of damaging Mr Smart’s partner’s car.

Supreme Court Justice Jane Dixonwill sentence the Smart brothers and Abas at alater date, with apossibility that the three men might each face a 25-year prison sentence.

Appealing forwitnesses

TRARALGONPolice are appealing to anyone that may have witnessed ablack Holden Commodore driving erratically on Thursday, July 13 2023.

The vehicle was speeding and swerving on the road, narrowly missing other motorists.

It is alleged the drivertravelled fromSale to HeyfieldtoNambrok to Rosedale to Flynn, where he finally crashed the vehicle.

The driver wastaken to Latrobe Regional Hospital and treated for minor injuries, and will

with Zaida Glibanovic

be summonsed to Court at alater date for traffic offences.

If you saw this vehicle, or have dash-cam footage, contact SeniorConstable StevenPopeatTraralgon on 5172 2700 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Boolarra wildlifeoffence

OFFICIALS are seeking information from the public after six deadwombats werefound in Boolarra with variousfatal injuries on Sunday, June 11.

ConservationRegulator Authorised Officers inspected the bodies at asitenear Darlimurla Road following areport from someone in the public. Of the six wombat bodies found, at least three had bullet wounds,but officers were unable to locate any bullets with ametal detector; two had possibly been hit by cars; and the cause of death for the remaininganimal couldn’tbeidentified due to decomposition.

All wildlife, includingwombats, are protected in Victoria under the Wildlife Act 1975 and it is illegal to hunt, take, destroy, injure, or interfere with wildlife, and severe penalties apply.

Officershavedeterminedthe injurieswere inflicted sometime between Monday, June 5and Saturday, June 10. The maximum penalty for hunting, taking, or destroying wildlife is $9615

and/or six to 12 months imprisonment, and $92,460 and/or 24 months imprisonmentfor an act of aggravated animal cruelty.

Three menplead guiltytomanslaughter PoliceBeat

The Conservation Regulator is urging anyone with information about this incident to report it confidentially to CrimeStoppersVictoria on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au

Three thievesarrested

POLICE have arrested three offenders in relation to aseries of vehicle break-ins in Ellavale Estate, Traralgon on July 25, 2023.

A20-year-old male from Traralgon, a17-year-old male from Morwell, and a23-year-old male from Lakes Entrance have been charged with astring of offences and will appear in Court in August.

Police areappealingtoanyonethat has CCTV of their vehiclebeing broken into to contact Detective Senior Constable McNamara at Latrobe Crime Investigation unit on 5131 5000.

Police seek information

BETWEEN July 10-14, 2023 ayellow ‘Case’ manufacturedskid-steer loader (colloquially known as aBobcat) was stolen from the side of the road on Yarram-Morwell Road in Jack River.

The machine was loaded on to atrailer and towed from the scene. The machine is valued at around $30,000.

Police are appealing for any information regarding this theft or anyone who may have dash cam footage to contact the Yarram Police Station on 5182 5033 or Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.

Photo: File

Business awards finalists announced

AFIELD of 52 businesses representing the Gippsland business and industry sector will be vying for the coveted 2023 Federation University Gippsland Business Awards.

Gippsland Business Awards committee chairperson, Graeme Sennett, said once again, awide rangeofoutstandingentriesfromall industries competedtobecome finalists in this year’s awards.

The finalists were recently announced, with 52 businesses makingittothe finals across the 13 industry and specialist categories.

“Once again we have been astounded by the diverse range of finalists,” Mr Sennett said.

“With entries from every part of Gippsland, it is clear thatour smalltomediumbusinesses continue to prove themselves to be leaders in their field.”

The categories are: Accommodation, Beauty and

Latrobe Valley/ Latrobe Valley

Express readershipbased finalistsat the 2023 Gippsland BusinessAwards

Personal Care, Business and Professional Services, Food and Wine Producers, Health and Wellbeing, Hospitality, Innovation, Manufacturing, Mechanical Tradesand Construction, New Business, Retail,Tourism Activities and Attractions, along withthe 25th Anniversary Award.

Each of the category winner will be announced at the gala presentation event on Friday, August 24 at Federation University Churchill.

The major winner, the Gippsland Business of the Year, willcomefrom the category winners and will also be announced at the ceremony.

“Once again, the judging process has been extremely difficult with so many outstanding entries of finalist standard,” Mr Sennett said. Mr Sennett acknowledged the many great

entrants who were not selected as finalists.

“They represent astrong, growing business communitywithin Gippslandand we would encourage them all to reapply in future," he said.

Mr Sennett said this year was the 25th Anniversary of the awards, the face-to-face gala evening would be an “extra special” occasion.

“We are proud to celebrate 25 years of Gippsland business excellence,” he said.

“We look forwardtoacknowledging and honouring all our finalists at thispremier businessevent in Gippsland.”

For further details of finalists refer to the Federation University Gippsland Business Awards website at www.gba.org.au

Latrobe leadingVictorianHonouree Justices

BY KATRINA BRANDON

FOR 113 years, the Royal Victorian Association for HonoureeJustices (RVAHJ) has been servicing communities all around Victoria. And now, the new state president of the association is from Traralgon.

Rodney Lavin has just recentlybecomethe president, and is now one of the only Latrobe Valley residents to be in this position at the RVAHJ.

Mr Lavin is also the chairman of the Freemasons Associationand awell-known member of the Traralgon area. He has been an accountant, table tennis player in the local association, atax agent and much more.

"As chairmanofthe Freemasons Foundation, one of our key principles is charity," Mr Lavinsaid.

"The Freemasons Foundation gives away to the community organisations.

"People who are JPs, Iseem to notice they are involved in alot of activities. They are normally involved in theirfooty club, cricket club, Rotary or Lionsgroups.

"Peoplewho become JPs are community orientated."

RVAHJ has many branches all over Victoria, including two Gippsland branches which are in Sale and Wonthaggi. Mr Lavin is part of the board for the Wellington branch, who meet up every two-three months to talk about Justices of Peace (JPs). Justices of Peace are volunteers who are there for when someone needs to sign something for court or legalreasoning and need awitness for the signing.

There are manythings thatJPs have to be prepared for. Advice from Mr Lavin is "Be understanding,because for aJPweare seeing

these legal documentsonadaily basis, but for the person who'scoming in that needs the document to be witnessed, it might be as simple as their boss needs astatdeck.

"It could be as simple as astatdeck or divorce certificate.Most you can be understanding,empathy is the key to being asuccessful JP."

There are about11peopleonthe boardand normally three or four are from country areas.

Mr Lavin got onto the board in 2014.

"It was good from my point of view to represent the country," Mr Lavin said.

"It's beenapleasure for me to be abletogive back to the community. Whether it is the orange bloke running oranges down at the footy, the bootstrapper down at the footy or the JP down at the police station. There is alot of people there who do alot of good."

Local effortstoincrease cancer screenings

GIPPSLAND general practices who took part in a maximising cancer screening project say they will embed opportunistic screening as part of routine medical check-ups.

Gippsland Primary Health Network partnered with 20 local general practices across the region in an effort to boost screening rates for bowel, breast and cervicalcancer, and testing for hepatitis B and C.

Gippsland PHN Acting ChiefExecutive Officer, Angela Jacob, said the project results were “very positive” with 732 patients screened.

“The decrease in screeningduring the COVID pandemic has significant public health implications for vulnerable population groups and the general community,” Mrs Jacob said.

“This project has helped raise the importance of cancer screening.”

Dr Sonya Moncrieff from MirbooNorthMedical Centre said the project hada beneficial impacton patients’health. “The flow-on effect was being able

to run amore efficient practice,” she said.

“I am so pleased to have participated in the roll-out of the project,and in bowel and breast screening in my clinic.’’

Dr Lisa Gilbert from Project Health in Traralgon said the project was “a fantasticopportunity to reviewand update patient records then initiate recallsfor those whosecancer screening may have been missed”.

“We saw an immediate increaseinthose returning for cancer screening, especially those women who were due for cervical screening,” she said.

The three-month project was funded by the Victorian Department of Health and supported by peak cancer organisations after aUniversity of Melbourne report showed a30per cent reduction in cancernotificationssince COVID-19 restrictions were first applied in Victoria in 2020.

Over the project’s three-month trial period in early 2023, practices chose one of the focal cancer screeningtypes and were supported by

Gippsland PHN to embed screening activities. These activities included extracting clinic data to identify patientswho were under screened or had neverbeen screened.

Practices will now follow up the patients who wereidentifiedasoverdue for cancer screening and those who had never screened before. Cancer screening will also be embedded in routine patient check-ups.

Mrs Jacob said general practice was central to increasing cancer screening participation rates. “Researchhas found the use of GP-endorsed letters, recall andremindersystems, and improved clinical information systems are key drivers to increasing thenumberofpeople undertaking cancer screening,” she said. “Finding cancer at an early stage increases the chances of successful treatment and improved survival.”

The project is now undergoing evaluation by the University of Melbourne.

PROUDLYBROUGHT TO YOUBYTHESE PARTICIPATINGLOCAL BUSINESSES

CrosswordPuzzle No.8545

with Muzza

ONE POINTERS

1. Margo Robbie stars as this famous female in her latest movie?

2. What does acamel storeinits hump?

3. What is the main material used to make paper?

4. In ‘The Flintstones’, who is married to Barney?

TWO POINTERS

5. Mounties arepolice officers in which country?

6. What does the Cstand for in the medical term OCD?

7. In Spain, what is the name of the fritters that areusually dipped in chocolate?

8. What is the name of the fourth book in the ‘Harry Potter’ series?

THREE POINTERS

9. Raphael and Michelangelo arefamous artists from which country?

10. Which part of London hosts an annual flower show each Spring?

11. What animated Disney film did the character Malificent originally appear in?

12. What is the nickname of the Australian women’ssoccer team?

FOUR POINTERS

13. Emmanuel Macron was elected President of which country in 2017?

14. ‘Bright Eyes’ by Art Garfunkel was used in the soundtrack to which 1978 animated film?

FIVE POINTER

15. Guess the logo name. One point for each correct answer

Target Time No.0169

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

Sudoku No.0169

Howtoplay.

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

HOW DID YOU FARE?

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Suburban rail loopcomes to Gippsland

THE SuburbanRailLoop (SRL)project team was in Gippsland last week,seeking the next generation of SRLworkers and highlighting the regional benefits of the state’s biggest infrastructure project.

Gippsland residents will be the first regional Victorians to benefit from SRL East when it opens by 2035, deliveringdirectconnections to universities, TAFE,jobs and health services across Melbourne’s middle suburbs.Passengers on the Gippsland line will be able to connect to the SRL network throughanew transportsuper hub at Clayton.

Senior project leaders, includingSuburban Rail Loop Authoritychief executive,Frankie Carroll, joined SRL graduates and took the V/Line service to Warragul to attend the Warragul Job Skills Expo to speak with Gippsland secondary school students aboutexciting job opportunities on the project, including the SRL Graduate Program.

Mr Carroll said the SRL was full steam ahead (nopun intended).

“With amassive pipeline of jobs ahead, we’re alreadyseeing the next generationofskilled workers start their career on SRL and take up the outstanding opportunities for apprentices, trainees and cadets," he said.

"Ourgraduateprogramisachance foryoung peopletogainvaluable industryexperience delivering Victoria’sbiggestinfrastructureproject -we encourage Gippsland students to apply.”

Construction of SRL East from Cheltenham to Box Hillispowering ahead, creating up to 8000 jobs -with apprentices, trainees and cadets working 14 per cent of total hours on the first phase of construction.

SRLEast will offer Gippsland studentsdirect connections to Monash and Deakin Universities, and Box Hill Institute. Apublic transport trip from Traralgon to Box Hill Institute will be 26 minutes faster -about thesametimeasdriving. SRL will alsobenefitthe Gippslandeconomy,openingup access to the region for tourists and business, with fastertrain travel and alink to Melbourne Airport. With SRL East and SRL North delivered, people travelling fromWarragul will have accesstoan additional 280,000jobs in Melbourne’s middle suburbs within atwo-hour public transport trip, as well as direct travel connections to La Trobe university,the Austin Hospital and Melbourne Airport.

Victoria's Big Build is investing more than $860 million to upgrade road and rail networks across the east. The South Gippsland Highway, Princes Highway East, 300 improvements to local roads and the Level CrossingRemoval Project will reduce travel times and improve safety and reliability. The Gippsland Line Upgrade willdeliver more frequent and reliable train services.

Latrobe Valley residents among regional Victoria’s biggest nbn data users

LATROBE Valley residents have claimed their spot as one of regional Victoria’sbiggestnbn datausers, as new statisticsreveal they used an average of 395 gigabytes (GB) of data in March 2023 -the equivalent of streaming Netflix in HD for 176 hours, or 585 hours of video conferencing for work.

Wodonga residents came in first place with an average of 415 gigabytes, followed by Golden Plains in second,narrowly beating Latrobe City.

Milduraand Bendigoclosed out the top five biggest nbn data users in regional Victoria with activitieslike gaming, streamingand working from home driving the demand for data.

Jane McNamara, nbn Customer Experience Expert, said the nbn® networkcarries more than 87 per cent of the country’s download data.

“Victoriansare consuming moredatathan ever to do the things they love like streaming 4K on multipledevices, online education and next level gaming, or conference calls and uploading and downloading large files for work,” Ms McNamara said.

“It’s more important than ever to have an internet plan that suitsyour needs,but two outof every three nbn customers haven’t changed their nbn®networkinternet planprovided by their retail service provider over the past three years.”

Ms McNamara also added that the average Australian household now has around 21 connected devices, and with that numbergrowing year on year,customers should check they are on the right plan to support their growing data needs now and into the future. “Technology has advanced,datause on the nbn network has tripled in six years -but has your plan kept up? We encourage customers to check with their internetprovider to see if the planthey are using

hasenough speed and datainclusions," she said.

“It’s exciting to see locations from all around Victoria using large amounts of data, including some areas that are eligible for fibre network upgrades, like Wodonga, where nbn expects demand will grow.

“The need for broadband will reach levels never seen before over the next decade as the internet transforms the world and how we live, so we are growing the network to stay ahead of that demand.

“Victoria saw the highest growth in data usage in March 2023 compared to the same period last year -data usage grew by nine per cent.

“Across regional Australia, data usage in March alone grew by seven per cent compared with the same period last year.

“A higher speed internet plan like nbn® Home fast can support multiple devices running at the same time and still maintain agreat home experience.

“We also encouragecustomerstocheck that their modem is stillsupporting their needs as technology advances and demand for speed and data grows.Devices like aWi-Fi extender or mesh system can boost your internet signal and improve your experience.

“To help Australians keep up with technology, we have upgrade programs that customers can takeadvantage of, like nbn’s fibre upgrades or nbn®Fixed Wireless andsatellite upgrade programs, which enable customers to access faster and more reliable speeds.

“Customers can visit nbn.com.au/morespeed for more information.”

Long lost family finally reunited

By ZAIDAGLIBANOVIC

'OHANA means family' says Disney's 'Lilo and Stitch',and ‘family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten’.

This is astory abouta monumental search for familyconnections that went acrossoceans, countries and decades.

The Atkinson family reunion is ataleofcoincidence that sometimes sounds too hard to believe.

James (Jim), 81, and Elsie Atkinson, 80, moved to Australia in 1966 from Nottingham, UK leaving theirfamilybehind. Looking for adventure, the pair jet-setted across the globe and travelled all across Australia, but have now settled in Traralgon.

Jim came from afamily of seven kids with five brothers and one sister. Eric, the eldest Atkinson brother, was Jim’s closest friend growing up, but duetosome breakdown in the family, the pairlost contact before Jim was set to head to Australia, where he would never hear from Eric again.

Familial breakdowns are always atough situation for any family, but for the Atkinsons, no one had real contact with the eldest brother, Eric or his childrenand thosebonds became lost over the years.

Many from the family had tried to visit Eric and establish abond, with James and Elsievisiting the UK on two separate occasions to try and find him, the pair found themselves out of luck.

“I was actually googlingEric because we were in the UK in the 1990’s and we couldn’t find him.” Elsie said they had “searched and searched for him -tosee where he was”.

“On two occasions, Ihad tried to find my brother, but with no success andyet he was in the same area where we had always lived,” said Jim. The couplefound Eric's house one day, but no one washome; askingthe neighbour to pass amessage;

they didn’t get aresponse back until it was time to board the plane home.

The Australian branch of the Atkinson family knewthat Erichad adaughter Christine and we’re awarethathealsofatheredason whom they would never meet until 52 years later.

Eric passed away in 2021, sparking his son Stephentogoonaninternational manhunt for the family he had never met due to reasonsoutside of his control.

“My brother died acouple of years ago, and that made Stephen even more intent on findinghis uncles,” said Jim.

Little did Stephen know, “He had ten cousins over here that he didn’t know anything about,”headded. Withthe beauty of the internet and Facebook algorithms, Stephen put his trust in his devices and looked to social media to find some answers.

“He was googling the name Atkinson Australia for along time and coming up with different people on Facebook,” said Jim.

One day late last year, Stephenand his sister were going through Facebook profiles when they saw asight they thought they would never see, a man with afamiliar face by the name of Kenneth Beckhaus.

“Christine said,‘That guy looks exactly likeyou’,” said Jim.

Kenneth’s resemblancetoStephen was uncanny; they shared the same face shape and features and could have easily passed as brothers despite the 10-year or so age gap. Despite the difference in surnames, Stephen grew hopeful as looking at thephoto of Kennethwas like looking straight into the mirror.

Hoping he was more than just his Australian doppelganger, Stephen sparked aconversation about familyhistorythat somehow matchedup entirely. Surely more thanamere coincidence,

Stephen pursued Kenneth to find more potential family members. Mr Beckhausturned out to be the son of Stephen’s Aunty Gwen.

Kenneth soon reached out to the family in the Latrobe Valley, and Deborah and Adam Atkinson (James and Elsie’s children) notified their parents.

James Atkinson was excited by the thought that he hadfound Eric’s son but was sceptical, having had his own family to think of first.

“We knew his mum had had aboy, but shortly after, contact was lost,” Jim explained. Jim’s scepticismsoon turned to excitement as all the signs pointed to Stephen being Eric’s son.

After all this time of Jim looking for Eric and his family, Stephen had found them, Jim said with asmile.

“He contactedme, and we had ayarn -Irang him and sort of fished for more information, and he was who said he was,” said Jim.

“It’sgot to be him, it’s got to be him,’ Elsie recalls saying

Aftermanymore exchanges over the phone late last year, Jim and Elsie explained that it became obvious that he was who he said to be.

“Next thing we knew, he booked his flight, and he wanted to come and meet,” said Elsie.

With Stephen suffering from personal health battles, and having had chemotherapy treatment for throat cancer, family became particularly important in his time of need.

Having visited for only eight days in June of this year, Stephen and the rest of the Atkinson family bonded so strongly nonetheless.

Jim and Elsie hosted Stephen at their Traralgon home with no awkward silence, as therewas much for the family to discuss.

The apple reallydoesn’t fall farfromthe tree, as Jim explained thatthe pairhad the ability to talk for hours on end; Jim said that Stephen

had “the same kind of personality” as his brother Eric. Explaining that “Eric was alwaysasort of easy-going kind of person and Stephen was very easy-going”.

With Cousin Kenneth's looks and Father Eric’s personality to match, Jim noted, “it’s strange how things in the family can come out in later times.”

What’s even stranger is the fact that Elsie’s family in Nottingham, England, lived on the exact same street as Stephen for the longest time.

“My sister and her husband, who are in the old people’s flats and we didn’t know at the time, straight opposite, well, up the road alittle on the same road,he(Stephen) lived there,” Elsie excitingly explained.

“She said she could’ve passed him, said good morning to him, they didn’t even know.”

“When Ishowed Steven aphoto of my sister and her husband,hesaidheused to talk to them every day as he went by,” Elsie added.

“I know that’s true becausemysister told me, and Iasked them on separate occasions.”

To add to the many uncanny coincidences of the Atkinson familystory,Deborah, Jim and Elsie’s daughter, when visitingthe family in the UK, stayed in alodge on Reid Street, Nottingham; little did she know her first cousin was mere meters up the road.

“It’s just incredible that he wanted to findus,” said Elsie with asmile.

Stephen, if health allows, will come back to Australia to spend more time with his long-lost family.

The story of howthe Atkinson’sreunited is more than just aseries of very fortunate coincidences, it’s astory that showcases just how important family really is -after all, blood runs thicker than water.

In the wise words of Jim Atkinson, “If you got family out there, never let go”.

Reunited: Flying halfway around the world Stephen, from theUK(right) andUncle Jim from Traralgon (left) Atkinson met forthe first timeafter thefamilies lost contact formore than 50 years. Photograph supplied

Critical support keepingolder Gippsland residentsathome

NEWBOROUGH resident Sylvia McGregor, aged 76, had no idea what aHome Care Package (HCP)was untilher Occupational Therapist(OT) mentioned it in passing nearly 10 years ago.

As her ongoing treatment was getting expensive, Sylvia’s OT askedifshe was interested in an HCP to help her with her increasing health costs.

That was nine years ago, and Sylvia,now 76, says without the support, she’d be living in residential aged care.

“My husband and Iare only on apension and have no savings, so we could never afford the services on our own,” Sylvia says.

“It’s really wonderful -Ican’t explain how helpful it is.”

Sylvia is on aLevel 4HCP with one of Victoria’s largest home care providers, VMCH. The forpurpose aged and disability servicesorganisation supports 900 olderVictorians living in regional areas, and opened aMoe office in August 2017.

Across Australia,the number of peoplereceiving Commonwealth-funded HCPs nearly quadrupled from 2012 to 2022 (55,000 to 216,000).

The stategovernment reports the number of people aged 60 or older is higher in rural and regional Victoria (26 per cent in 2016) than in Greater Melbourne (18 per cent).

Sylvia, who requires mobile aids to get around, says her HCP, including regular house cleaning, physiotherapy, accesstosocial outings, meals, and apersonal alarm,keeps her happy and healthy at home.

Her husband Peter is also supported with aLevel 2HCP.

“I can’t praise VMCH enough,” Sylvia says.

“They try to help me so much. If Ineed something, Ijust ring Asmir (case manager), he is marvellous. My old scooter was oldand dilapidated, and Ithink it only took three weeks to get anew one.”

The couple’s case manager supports around 55 clients in the Gippsland region.

Asmir has abackgroundinnursing andhas always enjoyed helping people in need.

“My role gives me an opportunity to visit people in their homes, listentotheirneeds,and concentrate

Morwell Hot Seat participant

WOW! A72-year-old Morwell womanrecently won $11,000 on game show Millionaire Hot Seat.

Tina Hindle claimed the prize during the episode that aired on Wednesday, June 21.

Tina explained that she enjoyed her time on Millionaire Hot Seat, and that even if she hadn’t won, she would of still enjoyed the day out.

“Can’t speak highly enough. We had abeautiful lunch and loads of treats and drinks before we went on. And Eddie is just as you see him on the TV,” Tina said.

“He really just wants everyone to win.”

Tina won the 15th question, fastest finger round, and was excited about the win, but she said she wasn’t expecting to triumph, more just happy that she could go ahead and give it ago.

“I would tell everyone to have ago, why not? You could be like me to win $10K,” she said.

“I mean, Iwent on not expecting to win anything. Even if Ihadn’twon, it was really worth it.”

on helping them prolong their stay there. Iabsolutely love it,” he said.

The feelings are mutual, with Sylvia now referring HCPs and VMCH to anyone she meets.

“One lady Iknow was having so much trouble and couldn’t get what she needed. Itold her to go to VMCH,” Sylvia said.

“I also met aman down the street, he asked about my wheelchair and Isaid, ‘I got it through VMCH’, and started telling him all about it. I’d like as many people to know about HCPs so they can get the help they need.”

If you would like more information on services to help you stay living at home, call 1300 698 624 or visit the Moe office at 44B George St.

On our screens: Morwell woman

the

Helping hand: Newborough resident Sylvia McGregor has benefitedfromthe Home Care Package through provider VMCH.

Photograph supplied

Bright lights: Tina Hindle with showhost Eddie McGuire

Tina Hindle at

moment she wononMillionaireHot Seat.

Photographs AlexandraMaiolo

Comm Games cancellation hitsagain

By ZAIDAGLIBANOVIC

CALLS for stategovernment accountabilityand commitment have been made by local National Partymembers and communityleaders amidst alarming rates of housing insecurity in the Latrobe Valley.

Standing on the site of the proposed Commonwealth GamesVillage to discussthe dire state of the public housing crisis in the Latrobe Valley were the Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Peter Walsh; The Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Melina Bath;and PastorofENJOY Gippsland, Sarah Copland.

The athlete's villagewould have housed about 1000 athletes during the Commonwealth Games from March 17 to 29, 2026, with plans to be redeveloped into social and affordable housing after the Games finished.

Mr Walsh said there was a need for more affordable housing given the recent rise in homelessness in the region.

“The paddock we’re standing in now (English Street, Morwell), if the Commonwealth Games had been delivered, was going to be the athlete's village that was going to house 1000 athletes, but more importantly, post-Commonwealth Games would’ve thenprovided accommodation options for the people of the (Latrobe) Valley and particularly Morwell,” he said.

“The statistics are that there’s a huge increase in homelessness in Gippsland and particularly in the Valley,thatthis would’ve been one of the things to solve that.”

Mr Walshslammedthe state government'sdecision to cancel the 2026 Commonwealth Games as abroken promise where “everyone misses out”.

“The government are very poor at delivering what they promise,” said Mr Walsh.

Scrapping the fresh food tax

AFUTURECoalition Governmentwill abolishLabor’s new fresh food tax on farmers.

The LeaderofThe Nationals,David Littleproud, said aCoalitionGovernment would scrap Labor’s new tax, which will force farmers to pay for the biosecurityriskoftheir international competitors.

“Labor’s Budget measure is anew tax on farmers and food, meaning farmers will have to pass it onto consumers, resulting in higher grocery prices at the check-out,” Mr Littleproud said.

“Why would any Australian government tax their own farmers, to pay for foreigners to bring their products into this country?

“To slug our farmers with anew $153 million tax, who willnow be forced to pay for the risksofinternational importers, is unjust.”

Mr Littleproud said in government, the Coalitionwas in the process of delivering a cost recovery model,where importers would pay alevy,commensurate to the risk provided, rather than Australian farmers.

“Instead of taxing Australian farmers, we will establish an ‘importer container levy’, as recommendedbythe independentCraik Biosecurity review,"hesaid.

“Under our plan, importers of foreign products will pay for the biosecurity risk they pose -not Australian farmers. It makes sense that thoseimporting into Australia pay for the biosecurity risk of their products that they benefit from selling here.”

“With the deadline of the Commonwealth Games in March 2026, this (athlete's village) would have had to been built in time for the Commonwealth Games so people knew that there was adeadline; deadline makes things happen,” he added.

The state governmenthas yet to confirm the future of the homes meant to be built on English St in Morwell, but has proposed a$1billion packageto build 1300 social and affordablehousing in regional areas across the state.

Mr Walsh further criticised the state’s regional social housing fund as financially wasteful.

“I’m acynic,and Idon’t necessarily think what’s been promised will be delivered; if you look at the promise is abillion dollars for 1300 houses, that’s (around) $770,000 per house; that is quite the expensive house to build. Iwould’ve thought that money could be spent better by actually having an increase in the numbers so there's more housing stock available.”

The Nationals leader questioned if the state government's$2billion reinvestment intothe regions would even be delivered at all, given the lack of concrete timelines.

“There was apanic to have some 'announce-ables' when they cancelled the Commonwealth Games, again is this athought bubble on the run, or is it actuallygoing to be delivered?And I’d be really concerned as when there are no timelines,ittends to drift,” he stated

Mr Walshquestionedwhy the statetreasury would sign off on a$2.6billion cost projection of thegames in the May state budget for it to blow out to $7 billion within two months.

“What changed in the twomonths that’smore than doubled the price?”

“It’s very poor management by the government that they didn’t know this issue was coming and didn’t inform Victorians,” he said.

The Nationals leader suggested the way to solve the housing crisis was with private investment.

“Itisa privateinvestment that will generate the housingstock,” he said.

“At the moment, the government keeps

introducing rulesthatare adisincentivefor people to invest in residential rental properties. They’ve increased the taxes, they’ve changed the rules on how the relationship between the owners and the rentals actually operate …that is actually driving investment into other states.

“They are just mums and dads who have got a second house they’ve invested in as part of their retirement, and now they're now being taxed and making decisions to sell thosepropertiesand shift their investment somewhere else.”

Sarah Copland, pastor of ENJOY Church Gippsland and co-organiser of the Restore Pantry food bank, has seen firsthand the rise of homelessness and food insecurity come through her door.

“COVID definitely caused alot of that or an increase. Andfromthat, we’re findingthat it’s just continuing to increase,” she said.

Homelessness in Victoria has surged by 24 per cent in just fiveyears, and data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows 2783 people in the Latrobe Valley region accessed Specialised Homelessness Services (SHS) last financial year -more than any other regional municipality in Victoria.

“People are becoming more and more anxious, they’re coming through our doors just so thankful they's somewhere to get food,but also so many other things like housing that are causing that anxiety and worry,” Ms Copland added.

Ms Copland said she believes the higher cost of living pressures stems from years of COVID and recent industry shutdowns in the region, which had been further worsened by the state governments' loose commitments to relieve the pressures in the regions.

Ms Coplandisoftenconfided in by the community, wherethey tell her their stories of struggling to get by.

“We’ve gotmultiplefamilies living within a single dwelling purely because they can't afford rent; it's just increasingly harder for people to get

Illegal firewood theft confirmed

By PHILIP HOPKINS

REPORTS about the illegal theft of firewood from Gippsland's state forests have been confirmed by local countrymusicidentity MickHarrington, who is an advocate for the forest industry.

Mr Harrington, executiveofficer withForest and Wood Communities Australia, said he had witnessed "obvious"illegal harvestingafterrecently taking adriveonthe backroads between Stratford and Bairnsdale.

“Within around 30 minutes, Iwitnessed avast quantity of Forest Red Gum and Red Box trees cut down for firewood. Not only is this affecting the rare ecology of this remnant vegetation, some of the tree harvesting was within five metres of the Princes Highway, an obvious safety issue,” he said.

"Anecdotally, this is justadrop in the ocean, with Facebook Marketplace flooded with illegally harvested firewood from roadsides, parks and reservesthat are host to rare and threatened vegetation communitiesincluding,the BarmahMillewa forest -the world's largest River Red Gum forest, as well as the Moormung Flora and Fauna Reserveinthe state's east -home to the nationally endangered (EPBC-listed) Gippsland RedGum Grassy Woodland."

Mr Harrington said simply putting an end to sustainable native timber harvesting in common vegetation typesthroughout Victoria had resulted in ashockwave of illegal harvesting in "our most at risk vegetation types throughout Victoria that society has aduty to protect".

G L PROUDLY BROUGHT TO YOUBYTHESEPARTICIPATING LOCALBUSINESSES

"Decisionsmadeinisolation by academics, activists and politicians withoutconsideringthe broader context are always doomed to have perverse and unintended consequences andthisthe perfect illustration of exactly that," he said.

Timberbizreported thatillegal firewoodcollection had taken hold in some of Victoria's most valued and rare ecological gems since the announcement to close the native forest industry.

In remote areas and rural towns, particularly in low socio-economic situations, firewood was often the sole source of heating and was particularly important for communities where power supply was at the mercy of natural disasters.

Firewood suppliers, including East Gippsland commercialfirewoodoperatorMalcolm Beveridge, fear for the future.

“We’re just not going to be able to produce enough affordable firewood for our town and family -we’re still doing it at the moment as we have asmall amount of logs left, but come next winter the community will have no firewood,” he told Timberbiz.

Timberbiz said the reduction of firewood supply after VicForests stoppedharvesting operations had pushed up firewood costs statewide, making clearly visible illegal firewood harvesting operations, with theimpacts on environments, increasinglyvisible.

Mr Harrington said past timber sector operations had harvested just five in 10,000 trees state-wide annually from non-endangered forest types, which wasthenregenerated according to strict protocols.

"This firewood now has to be sourced elsewhere, with illegal firewood harvesting booming in rare

Solutions

Target Time No.0168

actor,aero, arose, ascot,ashore, carrot CARTHORSE, castor,cero, chaos, chore, chorea, chose, coarse, coarser,coast,coaster,coat core, corer,corset,coset,cosh, cost,costa, costae, cote, coth, creator,crore,earshot,echo, escort,ethos, hector,hero, hoar,hoarse, hoarser hoer,hora, horse, horst,hose, host,hosta, oast oath, ochre, orate, orca, ORCHESTRA, other reactor,rechet,recto, rector,resort,retro, rhetor roach, roar,roast,roaster,rose, roster,rostra, rota, rote,score, scorer,scoter,sector, shoat,shoe, shoer,shore, short,shorter,shot,shote, soar sore, sorer,sort, sorter,stoa, store, taco, taro, those, thro, throe, toea, torch, tore, torr,torse, tosh, trocar,troche.

Target: Average-50, Good -60, Excellent-75+

into rentals to be able to stay in rentals,” she said.

“We’ve gotelderly now who are not turning on their heat during winter and then getting sick.

“The cycle just continues; it's never-ending at the moment.”

Ms Bath said the stategovernment must be held accountable for providing housing for the regions.

“They’re saying, 'trust us', we're going to see new public housing to support our region on this land thatwe’re standing right now.Yet the accountability of us being able to ask those questions, the community being able to prosecute the issues, they (state government) have got ahands-off approach now,” she said.

“I am veryconcernedasamemberofEastern Victoria region. Iwork alot in the Valley, Idosee what Sarah is speaking about and people coming to my electorate office with housing stress in homelessness and with food insecurity; where is theaccountability goingtobefromthe Andrews government in relation to the processes committed when there's no timeline.

“(The year)2026isgone. It can go on to the never-never for public housing, but the real and important need is here today.

“From one census to another census, there has been an 85 per cent increase in homelessness figures in the seat of Morwell in the Latrobe Valley.

“Thesestatistics are alarming, and Iwant the Andrews government to stand up and be accountable and provide atimeline forwhen we’re actually going to see brick-and-mortar plans and peaks.

“Victorians are not silly, they want acommitment to remain committed. The backflip on the Commonwealth Games is massive, not only for our regioninterms of loss of tourism and infrastructure or on the never-never but reputation damage across Australia and internationally. That hastohave an impactonwhether other countries or local businesses want to invest in our regions.”

On the rise: Illegal firewood in Gippsland stateforests has grownatanalarming rate Photograph supplied

vegetation communities Victoria-wide," he said. Timberbiz saidstate governmentagencies, including Victoria Police, the Conservation Regulator, Parks Victoria and Forest Fire Management Victoria, had made headlines recently prosecuting peoplefor illegallyharvesting firewood within parks and reserves from all over the state.

The state's chief conservation regulator, Kate Gavens, was disturbed by the illegal harvesting that was commonplace.

“We are seeing quite significant amounts of illegal take of firewood and cuttingdown trees in state forest and in national parks across the state,” she said.

Many workshops held on ewes and you

THINGS that make you money, save you money, save you time and delight your customer were the primary focus of two recent workshops, hosted by Dr Mark Ferguson, of neXtgen Agri.

The workshopstook place at the woolsheds of the Paulet family, in Toongabbie, and the Alexander family at Walpa, and attracted many sheep farmers from across Gippsland who farm breeds from Merinos to first-cross and composite sheep.

The days were important for sheep producers, given the current dry seasons predicted, with Dr Ferguson covering other topics like Australian sheep breeding values (ASBVs), referring to genetics as ‘a slow burn’ for production, ram buying and beingthe most informed buyer at the sale, preventativeanimal health and nutrition,plus planning to have “decision rules” -not rules of thumb.

“Hope is not acourse of action,” Dr Ferguson reminded the attendees at Walpa.

“Farmerswill often hope it rains rather than have aplanifitdoesn’t.

“We need to have logical decisions pre-made if it doesn’t rain, to have aplan in place if things don’t go as expected.’’

He said sheep were ‘’short-day breeders’’ and the later the rams were put out, the more lambs wouldbeproduced, due to the melatoninresponse to longer nights, suggesting rams were put out in late March.

“A ewe’s condition score at lambing drives lambbirthweightand birthweight driveslamb survival,” he said.

“Also, decreasing mob size increases lamb survival, with every 100 head taken out of alambing mob, the lamb-survival rate in twin-bearing ewes increases two per cent, while the figure is five per cent for the triplet-bearing ewe mob.”

He advised people to “put your hand on every sheep twice ayear” to condition score them, as it was impossible to tell visually when they had wool on.

Next month, Dr Ferguson will host asession at the Gippsland Red Meat Conference in Sale, titled

‘Genetic SelectioninSheep’,covering ASBVs joining ewe lambs and other pivotal decisions in running asheep enterprise.

“We’ll look at what having agood genetic plan looks like and the impact of non-genetic factors in ram buying decisions, and how the things that are valuable in aram are the things that aren’t visible,” he said.

“We’ll also discuss ewe lambing mating and the genetic and management factors that lead to success, the impact of welfare traits and selecting for sheepwith high welfare outcomes for consumers.’’

Dr Ferguson said there had been areal swing towards using ASBV data in the industry, which had gained significant momentum.

“The collected data means people are at amore informed place when buying genetics,” he said.

“The sheep industry is catching up with the beef industry and that’s been fuelled by the next generation, which isn’t willing to accept the status quo.”

GippslandAgriculturalGroup(GAgG) co-hosted the workshops and GAgGgeneral manager, Jen

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Smith, attended both workshops and said Dr Ferguson’s research projects wereincredibly practical and relatable to the challenges the industry was currently facing.

“Mark is arealist, he’s out in the field every day and in touch with farmers, their sheep and their grass,” Jen said.

“He has the unique ability to balance economics and the genetics.

“His presentations are relevant and implementable.”

The Gippsland RedMeat conference is set for Tuesday, August 29 at the Sale Baptist Church. Tickets are availablevia the trybooking website, at trybooking.com/CIZVC as well as via linkson the Gippsland Red Meat Conference Facebook page and the GAgG website.

Or phone Nicole White at GAgG on 0427 867 490 or email redmeat@gippslandag.com.au

Knowledge: Dr MarkFerguson held workshops forlocalfarmers recently,with oneinToongabbie Photographs supplied

Industry: Dr Ferguson with some compositerams bought as lambs.Heispicturedwithcolleagues HenryHickson and John Alexander Learningfromthe best: Localsweretaken through the finer pointsoflivestockpurchasing and grazing

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Call formore donorsofrareblood type

LIFEBLOOD has launched an urgent nationwide search for blood donors to help aSouth Australian mother-of-two with ablood type so rare that just one in 10,000 people may be amatch.

Amira is currently in an Adelaide hospital awaiting urgent open-heart surgery. The 37-year-old is expected to need more than 20 bags of blood prior to, during, and after the procedure.

Lifeblood medical director, Dr James Daly said any OorA blood donor in Australia or internationally could be amatch.

"Most people will be either OorAbloodtype, but Amira has arare combination of other blood types that need to be matched, which means any donor with OorAblood type might prove to be aperfect match," Dr Daly said.

"We have identified afew suitable donors, but this mum will require alarge number of units to see her through her surgery and finding as many donors as we can with the right blood type will

ensurewecan meet her transfusion needsboth now and, in the future."

Dr Daly called on people in thecommunitywith O and Abloodtypes to book adonation overthe coming week. All donated blood will be tested to identify donationsthatwillundergo further screening to find asuitable match.

"We'veexhausted Australian supplies of thisrare blood type andwe're now working withinternational blood servicestosearch for potentialdonors. We hope to receive asmall number of units from overseas but for Amira's surgery to proceed safely, at least 15 donors with the same rare combination of blood types are still needed within the next few weeks," Dr Daly said.

Lifeblood, this mum, and her husband Ahmed thanked peoplewho have already come forward to donate in the hope of being amatch.

"We are so gratefultofamily, friendsand the wonderful peopleinthe community,manyofwhom

Volunteers needed at RSPCA

RSPCA is looking for nearly 60 new volunteers to help runits Traralgon storeafternumbers dropped during the pandemic.

“We rely on op shops like our Traralgon store to fundour work -caringfor and protecting animals -and we can’t do this without the help of volunteers,” said NadineHutchins,RSPCA Victoria volunteer program manager.

“Like many other charities, our volunteer numbers dropped during the pandemic, which is whywe’re calling on locals to sign up and help us out.”

RSPCA Victoria is looking for people aged 18 yearsand over from all walks of life to volunteer at the Traralgonopshop.

Op shop volunteers are asked to commit to regular weekly or fortnightly three- to four-hour shifts wherepossible;however casualvolunteering is also appreciated.

All volunteersreceivefull trainingand perform arange of tasks including customer service, sorting goods and merchandising.

They also get access to other RSPCA Victoria

perks, like a30per cent discount at its pet retail stores.

“We’re looking for people with afew hours to spare each week or each fortnight who love their community and are passionate about helping animals in need,” Ms Hutchins said.

The RSPCA Traralgon op shop is also looking for more donations of winter clothing and some homewares.

RSPCA Victoria cares for more than 14,000 animals every year. RSPCA recognises that volunteering isn’t suitable for everyone,and there are other ways to support the organisation’s op shops. Purchasing fromtheir supply of goods and bargains, and donations of high-quality items for sale by the shops, can also have big impact.

To applytobea volunteerplease visit rspcavic. org/rspca-victoria-op-shops-volunteer/

The RSPCA Traralgon op shop is located at 103 ArgyleSt, Traralgon and is open Monday to Saturday 10am to 3pm.

we do not know, who have heard about Amira's plight and have rolled up asleevetodonate blood," Ahmed said.

"I urge as many people as possible across the country with Oand Ablood to donate blood this week, so we can find more donors to help Amira.

"This is not asituation you ever expect to findyourselfin. Anyhelp or supportismuch appreciated."

To be amatch forAmira,a donor must be blood type 'O' or 'A' (If adonordoes not know theirblood type,theyshould still donate to see if they are a possible match)

Beyondcommonly recognised blood groups such as A, Band O, there are more than 300 other variants.

Eachofthese variants is amarker on the surface of our red blood cells and is known as an antigen. The presence or absence of these create rare blood types and this expression of antigens is known as an individual's 'phenotype'.

Your blood type is considered rare if you lack antigens that 99 percent of people are positive for. If someone receives atransfusion of blood thatdoesn't match their own type, their body may recognise the transfused blood as foreign,and developantibodies to try and destroy the 'invader'.

Traralgon Donor Centre is located at 20 Seymour Street, Traralgon.

For opening hours and to book adonation visit lifeblood.com.au, call 13 14 95, or download the Donate Blood app.

Check your home heating system this frosty season

AS the winter chill travelsacross the state, Victorian fire services are reminding households to remain vigilant when warming their home.

People are being urged to make sure heating systems areregularlyinspected to avoid afire sparking.

CFA and Fire Rescue Victoria(FRV)firefighters respond to an averageof3000residential fires across the state each year, and more than 240 of those are caused by heating systems.

Home heating systems vary and can include fixed electrical or gas-poweredappliances, portable electrical, gas or kerosene heaters, as well as open fires and wood heaters.

CFA acting chief officer, Garry Cook AFSM said as people begin to spend more time indoors, Victorians should ensure they have their gas and electrical heaters serviced every two years to safeguard their loved ones from fire.

“We’ve already seen CFA respond to 23 heater fires this year, and we’re only just enteringthe winter season,” Mr Cook said.

“We know from last year’s data that most fires thatresulted in serious injuriesand fatalities started in lounge rooms and sleeping areas, and for those lounge areas, these were mostly sparked by heating systems that at times were not working properly and when located too close to flammable materials.

“A common mistake we are findingishouseholds are keeping theirdrying clothes too close to heaters and fireplaces, so it’s best to ensure they are at least one metre away from all heating.

“Regardless of when you turn aheater on, just be mindful to turn them off before you leave the house or go to sleep.”

FireRescue Commissioner, Gavin Freeman AFSM saidthe colder months are some of the riskiest times of the year for fires in the home, and most of these fires can be prevented.

“Taking afew moments to check your heaters andfireplaces before winter sets in could mean the difference between life and death for your family,” he said.

“Make sure your heaters are regularly cleaned, serviced, or checked by acertified technician. Don’t leave portable heaters unattended andalways supervise children near all types of heaters.

“Don’t forget to check in on any outdoor heaters you may have as well, ensuring the area they are positioned in is flat, has good air flow and away from objects that can catch alight.

“As their purpose is to be outside, never use your outdoorheatersorcooking equipment insideyour home, as it can lead to deadly build-up of gases.”

Victorians are urged to keep their heating devices well-maintained and remember that10-year longlife batteryorinterconnected smoke alarms located

Be aware: Fire services arereminding households to remain vigilant when warming their home and to make sureheating systems areregularly inspected. Photograph supplied

in all bedrooms and living areas of the home can save lives for as little as $20.

When it comes to home heating, FRV and CFA recommends:

 Never leave portable heaters and fireplaces unattended; turn off heating devices before leaving home or going to sleep;

 Drying clothes and other items must be kept at least one metre away from all heating;

 Residents should have their gas heaters inspected and serviced every two years to ensure the safetyofloved ones from carbon monoxide poisoning or fire;

 Children must be supervised near all types of heating. Maintain asafe distance between children and heating;

 Heaters should be installed as per the manufacturer’s instructions, away from wet areas if they are portable and when purchasing aheater, look for one that has an automatic safety switch that will turn off if the heater is tipped over;

 Residents should note home heating systems include fixed electrical or gas-powered appliances, portable electrical, gas or kerosene heaters, as well as open fires and wood heaters, and;

 Victorians should purchase affordable smoke alarms and prioritise installing them in all bedrooms, hallways and living areas. Smoke alarms should be tested monthly and cleaned annually to ensure they are working properly.

Community garden guidelines

LATROBE City Council has endorsed the release of the draft community gardens guidelines for public consultation.

The guidelines outline how council will support and guide community groups wanting to establish community gardens within Latrobe City on councilowned or managed land.

The draft guidelines outline the criteria that must be met by community groups before being approvedtoestablish acommunity garden within the municipality;detail rolesand responsibilities; and formalise the application process.

Council maintains that the most successful community gardens are driven by astrongand committed community group, with assistance from land managers or partner organisations when required.

The Mayor of Latrobe City, Councillor Kellie O’Callaghan, said community gardens grow food,

improve our health, green our environments, develop core life skills and cultivatevibrant communities.

“Community gardens provide multiple benefits for the health and wellbeing of community, including improvedsocialconnections, physicalactivity, healthy eating, environmental education and positivemental health outcomes,” Cr O’Callaghan said “Establishing asuccessful community garden requires strong and sustained commitment from community members to undertakeconsiderable planning, collaboration and engagement for a sustained length of time.

“Council wants to ensure that planningfor future community gardens ensures that they are sustainable, safe and broadly accessible to all. The draft community gardens guidelines were open for public consultation untilclosingon Monday (July 31, 2023).

Reminiscing on a political career

By BRIAN HANDLEY

REFLECTINGbackonmylifetime involvement in the National Civic Council and the Democratic Labor Party, Ican’t help but ponder whatmight havebeen hadthe Australian Labor Party not splitin1955 or, betterstill, hadthe good guys prevailed at the ALP’s Hobart National Conference in March 1955.

As has been well documented, the split was triggered when the federal ALP leaderatthe time, H.V.“Doc”Evatt, who,after losing the federal electioninMay 1954, denounced in public the supposed influence of B.A. “Bob” Santamaria’s Movement within the ALP on October 5, 1954. (I was celebrating my seventh birthday in Yallourn on that day and blissfully unaware of how this event would subsequently influence my life).

Fast-forward to 1965 (aged 17), Iwas invited to attend theinaugural meeting of the Young Democratic Labour Association (YDLA) in Yallourn. To this point,Ihad not detected in myself any real inclination towards politics, but nonetheless Iwent along out of curiosity. Ientered the meeting as apassive observer; Ileft as branch inaugural secretary, because Icouldn’t think of agood reason to say no. When Icasually mentioned this to my father Dave the next day, suffice to say he was not impressed, being arusted-on ALPsupporter, whichIhad not realised till then. Thisbecame quite an issue over the years that followed as my name started appearing publicly as the secretary, later president, of the McMillan YDLA. Overthe followingyears, my involvement became all-consuming as we built up an active membership of 40-plus young people and became arguably the most successful branch of the YDLA in Victoria.

In 1968 we organised an elaborate motorcade through Gippsland (Moe to Lakes Entrance) for Jack Little, as the lead DLP Senate candidate.

Jackspoke at each town from the backofan open tray truck deckedout with pictures of the Senate team. It was truly aYankee-style, political razzamatazzcampaign. Jack easily won the seat and was the first DLP Senator to obtain aquota in his own right.

The township of Sale refused apermit application for Jack to speak, which we made into apolitical bias issue, which generated some media publicity in Melbourne. We nonetheless drove around the streets of Sale with the truck and 20 cars following in the motorcade.

This period wasthe high-water mark for the McMillan YDLA.Sadly, divisions startedmanifesting in our branch (for reasons Iwon’t go into here) and by 1970 the branch was no more.

By this time,I was engaged to aladyIhad recruited into the branch (Maria) and was busy preparing to get married and travel to the United StatesonaRotary International Scholarship. Although Iwas unable to hold the branchtogether politically, at apersonallevel, I’m pleased to report thatour union hasheldand produced fivechildren and eight grandchildren.

After Maria and Ireturned from the US, my active involvement in the DLP and NCC resumed, and I was endorsed as the DLP candidate for Narracan in 1976.Jim Balfourwas thelocal member and Ministerfor Fuel and Power. Iliked Jim and found him to be very authentic.

During this campaign, Igot to meet then Premier Dick Hamer at acivic reception in Moe. Jim Balfour introduced Hamer.I took the opportunity to suggest he make the Newport Power Station Green bans an election issue and gave him the reasons why. His response: “Brian, Ihave been assured by the Trades Hall Councilthat they will liftthe bans after the election, if we go quietly on this during the campaign.”

My response:“With respect,MrPremier ”I knew then that Hamer was alightweight. About this time, Ialsohad the privilege of meeting Bob Santamaria in person. One occasion that

standsout was when Iinvited Bob to be guest speaker at agathering of NCC/DLP supporters in Gippsland. We had over 100 people in attendance. The occasion receivedalot of local media coverage.

Over subsequent years Ihad many more such occasions to speak to Bob and to this day, Iconsider it agreat honour to have met and had dealings with such ahistorical giant.

The DLP arguably was at the pinnacle of its power in 1974, having five Senators who held the balance of power: George Cole, Tasmania; Vince Gair, Queensland; Frank McManus, Victoria; Jack Little, Victoria;and Jack Kane, New South Wales. Sadly, seriousleadershipdivisions emerged within the parliamentary party and the ALP, knowingthis,seized the opportunitytoofferthe DLP leader (Vince Gair) the position of Ambassador to Ireland -which he accepted -thereby creating aSenate vacancy.

This sordid political affair took on many twists

and turnsand ultimately culminated in Prime Minister Gough Whitlam being granted adouble dissolution for an election on May 18, 1974.

At this election, all five DLP Senators lost their seats.

Bob Santamaria subsequentlyconcluded that the DLP had run its race and should be dissolved. This withdrawal of NCC support triggered much division. Prominentmembers including Frank McManuswerestronglyopposed. McManus persuaded key ALP Split MP Stan Keon to get involved and there was spirited debate at the 1977 conference called to dissolve the party, which, from memory, was narrowly passed.

Thoseopposed to the dissolution of the party -which included myself -simply ignored the resolution and elected to keep the party alive, albeit without NCC support.

From memory, Stan Keon became secretary of the revived party and was akey driving force.

In the subsequent 1980 federal election, Iwas the DLP candidate and for the first time ever, the DLP directed its second preferences to the ALP Why? Primarily due to the very public anti-life position takenbythen Liberal MHRBarry Simon.

In contrast, the ALP’s Barry Cunningham came out publicly andsaidhewould have supported the John Martyr amendment to the Human Rights Commission Bill (1980) which sought to recognise and protect achild both before and after birth. Barry Simon had opposed the amendment.

It was my view that it was also time to let the Liberal Partyknow that it couldnot justtakeDLP preferencesfor granted.Barry Cunningham was on the rightofthe Labor Party and stronglyopposed to the left faction. He was the perfect fit for the DLP if we were ever going to make apolitical statement.

Imet with Barry and discussed our position and made it crystal clear that he would have to state his political position publicly in unambiguous terms. He did this in the local media. The DLP subsequently made astatement that we would preference the ALP in McMillan. The Liberal Party immediately contactedBob Santamaria,who was for the first time unable to influence events. Attempts by afew NCC members in Gippsland to sabotagethe decision had minimal impactand we actually delivered a75per centtight preference to theALP,which gave Barry Cunningham the seat. My primary vote was 5per cent and preferences gaveCunningham 51.4 percentonatwo-partypreferred basis.

At the “declaration of the poll”, Barry Simon attacked me and the DLP publicly. The media at the time were happy to give me “right of reply” and Ididn’t hold back either.

Notwithstanding the NCC oppositiontowhat we did in McMillan, Istill attended the next NCC state conference, not knowing what sort of reactionI would receive. To my pleasant surprise, Bob Santamaria soughtmeout and,withawry smile, said he regretted not keeping controlofthe DLP name. Whilehedidn’t specifically mention the McMillan controversy, Igot the impression he was not unhappy withthe result and certainlynot hostile to me personally.

We wouldtypically have brief chatsatsubsequent conferences, and he would seek my opiniononvarious pollies and issues, which Itook as acompliment.

My DLP involvement continued into the 1980s and Istood as the lead DLP Senate candidate in 1984. Maria (my wife) wassecond on the ticket. Despite apretty big effort, we fell well short of the mark, receiving less than 2per cent of the vote.

The writing was now clearlyonthe wall, thatthe DLP was no longerabletoinfluence political events and many of the key players who had stepped into the breach in 1977 were no longer involved for one reason or another.

Having concluded that the revived DLP Mark 2was now on life support(althoughthe party remained strong in my partofGippsland)Ihad adiscussionwithPeterMcGauran (Federal Memberfor Gippsland)about aquasi-merger in Gippsland withthe DLP. This simply amounted to the DLP folding and interested members joining the NationalParty. An agreementwas reached and ajoint statement was issued (that Idrafted) and the deal was done.

Most local members elected to join the Nats with an open mind. It was an interesting marriage, with both sides being somewhat guarded.

Well travelled: BrianHandley (pictured with wifeMaria), has shared stories from hislifeinthe political world. Photograph supplied

Boho Friday extravaganza

Great work: Students at St Joseph’s PrimarySchool, Trafalgar participated in the Lions Club Public Speaking Competition. Photographs supplied

Publicspeakingcompetition

RECENTLY, the Trafalgar Lions Cluborganised apublic speakingcompetition.Participating schools were invited to host their own school competition, supported by Lionsclub members

Fifteen students fromStJoseph’s Primary School, Trafalgar participated in the Lion’s Club Public Speaking Competition. The students all worked extremely hard putting together aspeech to present to their peers.

Congratulations to the Year 5/6 winner Liana Eehardand Year 3/4 winner Jaylah Shields, who will both progress to the Lions Club Final scheduled on August 16.

Well done to all the students who participated in this extracurricular activity, and thankyou to the Trafalgar Lion’s Club for having afantastic program which builds student’sconfidencein public speaking.

Helping hand: Ashlyngets double-hand hennafromartists Arabella andElyse.

TEAMTimorstudents at St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School were amazed by the overwhelming responsetotheirlatestBohoFriday extravaganza Passionate about raising money for projects in East Timor, 44 community-minded students personalised theireducationjourneybyleading ‘Boho’ activities.

Secondaryand primarystudentseagerly queued to acquire an intricate henna tattoo, exquisite nail art, stylish braidsorpurchase some of the East Timorese fair trade goods on offer.

The event proved to be an outstanding success, raising an impressive $2370 thatwill supporta newly built EnglishLanguage Studies Centre (ELSC) in Malimea Village, which will provide avaluableopportunity for local children to learn English and develop new skills for the future.

On show: Nik and Jack present their henna designs Photographs supplied

St Paul’sexpands early learning in Traralgon

ST Paul’s Anglican Grammar School is excited to announce that its growing Traralgon Campus will soon provide further opportunities for kindergarten children.

From 2024, the schoolwill be offering two or three-day pre-kinder and three or four-daypreprep programs, embracing the state government’s gradual scaling up of early learning hours available to children before commencing school.

This expansion includesthe construction of athird early learningcentre room and refurbishmentofthe existing junior schoolreception area, staff offices andstaffroom to provide additional ancillary and meeting spaces.

The $1.13 million project has been made possible with the assistance of a$600,000capital grant under the state government’s (VSBA DET) Building Blocks Program, with the schoolcontributing $530,000 to complete the building works.

The project commenced on June 20, with the first sod being turned, and worksare scheduled to be completed by the end of this year to enable classes to commence in Term 1, 2024.

Expansion is also occurring at the rapidly growing secondary school, with the school’snew $10 million Futures Centre making aquality, independent St Paul’s VCE education available in the Latrobe Valley to students without the need for long bus travel.

The build is also boosting the local economy, with a local contractor completingworks on both the early learning centre and the Futures Centre.

Families who are yet to enrol their children for kindergartenin2024, includingatStPaul’s, are encouragedtomakearrangementswith their preferred provider in the coming weeks to ensure places are available for their children.

Winnersofthe competition: Liana Eerhardand Jaylay Shields,pictured with organiser Emma Poore, PatTatterson andJoanne from Trafalgar Lions Club,and St Joseph’s Learning Support Officer Stacey Lia.

Jensen BarryWood, born 6/6/2023at Latrobe RegionalHospital to proud parents Carly (nee Mullen-Bianconi) and JacobWood of Newborough. A brotherfor Saige

Newand improved: St Paul’s hasconstructed athirdearly learningcentreatits Traralgon campus. Image supplied

NAIDOC Week at SacredHeart

NAIDOC Week celebrations were recently held at Sacred Heart Primary School, Morwell.

To celebrate, students participated in several activities to recognise the history, cultureand achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. NAIDOC week gave students the opportunity to learn about Aboriginal culture and history. This year’sNational NAIDOC Week theme was ‘ForOur Elders’. Across everygeneration, our Elders have played, and continue to play, an important role and hold aprominent place in our communities and families.

The activities in the junior grades included learning and singing the song as aclass, the well-knownsong TabaNaba by Christine Anu Studentspainted and decorated gum leavesby telling stories through symbols and art.

Senior grades listened to the story of Borun and Tuk, aGunaikurnai creation story. Students decorated and coloured an illustration of Borun and Tuk with symbols and colours inspired by the traditional style of the area. Other activities included students writing poems, recreating the fiveclanshields fromclay, learning about the location of the different clans from the area and listeningtoastory by Adam Goodes andEllie Lang called 'Ceremony'.

Craft: Thanmaya with her illustration of Borun and Tuk.

NAIDOCWeek: Nyoakia decorated and colouredanillustration of Borun and Tukwith symbols and coloursinspired by thetraditional style of the area

Each step of the way: Oliver capturing the story of Boranand Tukthroughstep-by-stepillustrations

Photographs supplied

Stockdale Primarycelebrate NAIDOC Week

By ZAIDAGLIBANOVIC

AT the beginning of Term 3, all classes at Stockdale Road PrimarySchool in Traralgon celebrated NAIDOC Week

Mrs Ryan, an education supportworkeratStocky, brought in all of herfamily artefacts to educatethe students on Aboriginal and TorresStrait Islander cultureand traditions.

Each session began withMrs Ryanperforminga blessing on teachers and students, where she painted their faces withochre andexplainedhow the dots and lines have different meanings which are all based on respect.

Mrs Ryan showed students her possum cloak and some Aboriginal hunting tools that the men used,

and some artefacts the women made and used to gather bushfood.

Students learned about different native plants and their medicinal benefits and how the bush provides lots of differentfruits, nuts and seeds to eat, however never to pick andeat them unlessyou knowwhat theyare and haveanexperienced person with you The students learned how Aboriginal women ground seeds between tworocks to makeflour and mixitwith water to make damper or ‘Johnny cakes’ then the students made theirown damper and cooked it using atraditional method on the fire The students all enjoyed the veryhands-on and engaging lessons and most importantly, learned to respect our First Nations peoples and their traditions.

Learning: Stockdale Road PrimarySchool’sGrade 2students withsome artifacts

Skills: Grade 3and 4students cooking their damper.

OVER $1200 WORTH OF PRIZES TO GIVE AWAY EACH FRIDAY MAJOR PRIZES: 40” TV. PHILLIPS AIR FRYER, LAWN MOWERS, BBQ’S AND MORE!

5174 2156 Cnr Gwalia St &LiddiardRd, Traralgon

Photographs supplied

HOROSCOPES

by Joanne Madeline Moore

July 31 -August6,2023

Aries Are you procrastinating about which project to pursue? A bored and unengaged

Ram is a recipe for trouble With Tuesday night’s Full Moon activating your aspirations’ zone (and your power planet, Mars, trining Jupiter) it’s time to act with plenty of energy and enthusiasm However – with Saturn opposing Mercury – too much haste could land you in hot water So do your best to get the balance right between thinking things through and being proactive

Taurus Expect professional problems or domestic dramas, as the Full Moon and retro Venus stir up old grievances Use your diplomatic talents to help find solutions However, if you just sit back and let others make decisions, you’ll feel powerless So, strive to be more self-sufficient especially at home and work Getting the ratio right between your public and private lives is challenging But if anyone can juggle conflicting commitments, it’s a well-balanced Bull!

New traineeship open at Latrobe Regional Health

Libra Venus (your patron planet) is in retrograde mode until September 4 If you are attached, the two of you will be under increased stress due to doubt, illness, money problems or career pressures Don’t panic! Use the time to work on the relationship in a patient and productive way If you are single, don t expect much from the dating scene during this period If you do connect with someone special, there ll be plenty of roadblocks before the romance takes off

Scorpio

Slow down, cool down and calm down, Spcorpio! Don’t make major mountains out of minor molehills and waste precious time worrying about annoying problems, especially at work Things won t run according to plan and, if there are complications, then clever communication will help you get through any temporary turbulence The Mars/Jupiter trine is terrific for setting ambitious goals, organising group projects and pursuing cosmopolitan friendships

Gemini

Many Geminis have a w Gandering gypsy gene, and this week your travel zones are activated by the Full Moon

You’re feeling restless but holidays and adventures could be thin on the ground as retrograde Venus frustrates plans and slows things down Don’t despair! Have fun closer to home and plan to explore further afield after Venus turns direct on September 4 Plenty of patience is required on Wednesday when Saturn opposes Mercury

Cancer

Do your best to avoid being a snappy Crab on Tuesday night, when the unpredictable Full Moon magnifies mood swings and heightens your emotional sensitivity Clear communication is the key

If you ’ ve been burying your head in the sand then a problem could come to a head and demand to be addressed The planets encourage you to be direct about dealing with challenges, especially involving finances, intimacy and trust No side-stepping allowed!

Leo Hey, Cats – avoid getting stuck in a comfortable but complacent and boring rut

With the Sun and Venus both visiting fiery Leo, it’s time to be bold, take a chance and strike while the iron is hot! Remember Venus is reversing through your sign (until September 4) so not everything will run smoothly But don t worry – press on and be patient As actress (and birthday great) Lucille Ball said, I d rather regret the things I have done than the things that I haven’t ”

Virgo

Have you been selling yourself short?

Stop bgeing a critical fusspot who engages in negative self-talk and sabotages success Mars and Mercury (your ruler) are both transiting through your sign, so it’s time to be the confident and clever Virgo you were destined to be Your motto for the week is from birthday great, actress and producer Lucille Ball: “I have an everyday religion that works for me Love yourself first, and everything else falls into line ”

Sagittarius

The terrific Mars/Jupiter trine gblesses a career move, professional idea, business matter, start-up or side hustle There’s one proviso though your heart must be in it If you re just going through the motions, then it will affect the quality of your work and success will be fleeting So do your best to find a challenging project that you can really sink your Sagittarian teeth into But – with Venus reversing through your travel zone – a trip (or visitor) could be delayed

Capricorn Tuesday night’s Full Moon highlipghts financial matters And Saturn (your ruling planet) opposes Mercury on Tuesday and Wednesday Which could increase your predilection for criticism and perfectionism to the max Calm down Capricorn – and don’t take everything so seriously! Jupiter encourages you to sit in the sun with a drink (or two) read a book, play beautiful music, indulge in some birdwatching just relax You might learn to like it

Aquarius Tuesday night s Full Moon light qs up your sign So, it’s time to tap into the essence of what makes you the quirky and avant-garde Aquarian you were born to be Don’t let retrograde Venus, relationship rumbles, work worries or financial fiascos diminish your idiosyncratic style Be contrary! Be different! Be inspired by birthday great pop artist Andy Warhol: “I like to be the right thing in the wrong place and the wrong thing in the right place ” Pisces The Full Moon’s stimulating your seclusion zone, so slow down and reflect on where you ’ re going and where you ’ ve been A health issue needs to be revisited and medical or dental appointments booked When it comes to a much-needed local or interstate holiday, be patient and plan carefully Tuesday and Wednesday favour education projects and community activities as Mars and Jupiter encourage you to patch up problems and be positive about the future

CopyrightJoanne Madeline Moore 2023

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GP1658081

GIPPSLAND jobseekers are being encouraged to take aupanew traineeship to enter into secure work at Latrobe Regional Health.

Anew non-clinical graduate program is being run in partnership with LRH and TAFE Gippsland to providetrainees with all the skills and supportthey need to enter the hospital’s essential workforce.

The free TAFE traineeship will up-skill graduates for jobs in non-clinical services such as catering, kitchen and café, cleaning and environmental services, information technology (IT) and administration.

LRHexecutive director education, research and quality Anita Raymond said non-clinicalstaffmake asignificant contribution to patient care.

“We don’t often consider allofthe work that goes on behind the scenes at ahospital like LRH. Our catering staff prepare more than 1000 meals aday and our IT team is responsible for the maintenance of hundreds of computers and multiple systems carrying patient data and records. Our hospital wouldnot be able to functionwith them,” Ms Raymond said.

“The non-clinical graduate program puts avalue on the skills required for non-clinical positions across LRH. It’s an opportunity to learn and work, regardless of your age, employment status or educational qualifications.”

The new program builds on an existing, successful partnership with TAFE Gippsland which

has previouslyresultedinthe recruitmentand training of enrolled nurses.

TAFEGippsland Head of Department Health and ProfessionalServices VanessaMarsh said partnerships with industry were key to ensuring TAFE Gippsland provided courses that led to employment.

“We are looking forward to assisting LRH with a graduate program that willbuildontheir workforce capability in the non-clinical area of the organisation,” shesaid.

The non-clinical graduate program has so far attracted 15 trainees in IT and Health Services Assistants.

LRH has appointed anon-clinical trainer and trainees are provided with amentor to help them with their studies and induct them into the hospital.

Graduates have the opportunity to secure fulltime work at the end of the program.

Trainee TerryPrice has started learningthe ropes in the IT department along with five other students.

Terry was working in asupermarket whenhe decided to enrol in the program and jump on the chance to follow his passion.

“I’ve always had apassion for technology but I never knew how to get my foot in the door for a jobinthe field. When this opportunity came up, I thought Ihad to go forit,” he said.

New-look NAPLAN test

VICTORIANstudents -alongside their peers across Australia -havebegun receiving their NAPLAN results.

Anew nationalapproach to grading students has been introduced, giving teachers, school support staff and families the information they need to help students achieve their best.

Acting Minister for Education Ingrid Stitt last week congratulated students in Year 3, 5, 7and 9 students on the years of hard work their NAPLAN resultsshow -and their teachers on their calm, supportivepreparationfor the NAPLAN tests and year-round dedication to their students.

The Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) has this year introduced asimple,clearfour-band format for NAPLAN results that will be appliedtoall Australian students’ reports, making it easier for parents and schools to understand and tailor their approach to learning.

Eachchild’s NAPLAN reportwill show how they are tracking, and where they sit against the national average, using four easy-to-understand levels: Exceeding, Strong, Developing and Needs Additional Support.

WherepreviouslyNAPLANresultsshowedteachers and families where their students performed relative to their peers, the new bands providea

clear picture of overall student performance and achievement.

Schools will use these results along with other school-based assessment data and teachers’ knowledge of students to providework that stretches and supports students -including accesstohighability programsand additional support for students who need it through programs such as the Tutor Learning Initiative.

Victorian students have continued to record outstanding results in successive years of NAPLAN tests, topping the nation in the majority of measures and improving on their performance each year.

Victorian students improved in seven out of 20 measures from 2021 to 2022 and ranked first or second in the country in 12 of those measures -thanks to the hard work of students, their teachers and families,and the state government’s investments in making Victoria the Education State.

This year,NAPLAN testswere held in March instead of May -achange instigated by Victoria -to enable students to get the appropriate level of supportoranextra push through highability programs earlier in the year.

ACARA will releasestatewideand national NAPLAN results in August.

Assistance: Latrobe Regional Health is helping those looking to enterthe workforce.

Photograph supplied

TheGuide

PICK OF THE WEEK

THE BLOCK

Nine, Sunday, 7pm

For the 19th season of this much-loved reno show were harking back to a golden age of housing In the aptly named Charming Street in Melbournes bayside suburb of Hampton East, the five 1950s, post-war brick homes evoke a sense of nostalgia for simpler times After 13 years of following the harried and ambitious couples’ renovating efforts host Scott Cam (pictured with Shelley Craft) is arguably one of the most familiar faces on TV This season though theres a new expert in the mix: real estate guru Marty Fox who is occasionally filling in for judge Neale Whitaker The 12-week building slog kicks off tonight, with the five teams’ mammoth task including the construction of a granny flat

Wednesday, August2

JAMES MARTIN’S FRENCH ADVENTURE

SBS Food, Friday, 6pm

Francophiles need no excuse to indulgeinthis picturesque foodie and travel sojourn, but the recent spectacle of the Tour de France –which showedoffthe glorious French countryside –isboundto haverustled up freshviewers to this gastronomicrefreshment

British chef James Martin (pictured) is our gregarious, wine-swilling travel partner as he savours the food andsights in picture-perfect locations. Tonight,the riverside townofL’Isle-sur-la-Sorgueis Martin’s next haven and truffles arethe heroofthe menu. After sampling truffle-laden dishesatthe famous restaurant La Beaugravière, Martin whips up adish of scallops with tomatoes and chorizo.

BRITAIN’S MOST EXPENSIVE HOUSES

SBS, Monday, 8.40pm

If the costofahumble packet of chips these days makes your eyes water,get set to be flabbergasted by how the other half lives. It’sthe second seasonofthisposh British seriesfollowingthe dealings of UK Sotheby’sInternational Realty,asth staff orchestrate sales with some o the richest people in the world. Fro a$30,000 light fitting to wallpaper that will setyou back $3000 per roll, it’sasurreal world of wealth an prestige wherecaviar is the preferr snack of choice. This week,estate agent Lee(pictured) has secured the listingfor an abode overlooking Regent’sPark with an asking price of £29 million (A$55 million), while Guy has aunique –and expensive–houseboat on his books.

THE HUNDRED WITH ANDYLEE

Nine, Tuesday, 8.40pm

Comedian Andy Lee(pictured) manages to makestatistics the stuff of entertainment in this lively comedy panel show.Back forits fifth season, tune in to witness the spectacle of TheHundred’s giant screen, which broadcasts the faces of the diverse crowdofparticipants as they field the panel’scurious questions via Zoom. Featuring the laugh-out-loud observations and quips of standup star MikeGoldstein, everything from toilet habits, to pet names

p and comfortfoods is fertilefodder Behind thestatisticslies abountyof interesting andoffthe-wall stories. Lee, who helped come up with the show’sunique concept,isthe epitome of the playful host.

Gertgets ajob managinganew nightclub

9.40 Would ILie To You? (PG, R) HostedbyRob Brydon.

10.10 Adam Hills: TheLastLeg.

10.55 ABC Late News. 11.10 The Business. (R) 11.25 GretaThunberg: AYearToChange The World. (PG, R) 12.25 ParliamentQuestion Time. 1.25 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.30 AntiquesRoadshow.(R)

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

ABC TV PLUS (22)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Who TheBloodyHell Are We? (PGav)Part 3of3

8.30 TheRiseAnd Fall Of Boris Becker. Part 1of2.The insidestory of how three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker ended up in aBritish jail.

9.30 Miniseries: Anne Boleyn. (Mlsv)Part 2of3

10.30 SBS World News Late.

11.00 Dark Woods. (Premiere, Mav)

11.50 Manayek. (MA15+v,R)

4.10 Mastermind Australia (R)

4.40 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANCPhilippinesThe World Tonight.

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 Home AndAway. (PGa)

7.30 Border Security:Australia’s Front Line. (Return, PG)A man’s dark history is revealed.

8.30 MOVIE: John Farnham:Finding TheVoice. (2023,Mal, R) Acelebration of one of Australia’s greatest singers, John Farnham,and his journey to success. JohnFarnham, JimmyBarnes.

10.30 TheLatest:Seven News.

11.00 Death Row: Countdown To Execution. (MA15+av,R) 12.00 TheEnemy Within. (Mav,R) [VIC]HomeShopping 4.00 NBC

6.00 Nine News.

7.00 ACurrent Affair

7.30 Travel Guides. (PGl, R) Theroad trip continuesinthe Deep South.

8.30 Footy Classified. (M) Hosted by Eddie McGuire,Matthew Lloyd Jimmy Bartel and DamianBarrett.

9.30 MOVIE: Edge Of Tomorrow. (2014,Mlv,R)A reluctant soldierrelives the sameday.Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt.

11.40 Nine News Late.

12.05 TheEqualizer (Mv)

1.00 Getaway. (PG, R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Global Shop.(R) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Believer’s

(93, 82) 6am

(2000,PG) 6.40 Belle And Sebastian 2. (2015,PG, French) 8.30 Corpo Celeste.

PG,Italian) 10.25 The Whistleblower.(2019

Taiwanese) 12.55pm The Man In TheBasement.

M, French) 3.00 TheMovie Show 3.30

(2015,PG, German) 5.35 LadyL.(1965,PG)

7.35 Charlie And Boots. (2009,M) 9.30 LookingFor Grace. (2015, M) 11.25 The Taverna. (2019,MA15+)

1am La Belle Époque.(2019,MA15+, French) 3.10 Ellie AndAbbie. (2020,M) 4.40 TheMovie Show 5.10 Swallows AndAmazons.(2016, PG)

Thursday,

6.00 TheDrum

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 7.30 Presented by Sarah Ferguson.

8.00 Foreign Correspondent International affairs program.

8.30 ALifeInTen Pictures: Ella Fitzgerald. (Final, PG) Takesalook at legendaryAmerican jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald’slife through 10 pictures.

9.25 Grand Designs New Zealand.

(R) Hosted by Chris Moller.

10.10 ArtWorks. (R) Thandoperforms.

10.40 ABCLate News.

10.55 TheBusiness (R)

11.10 WarOnWaste. (PG,R)

12.10 Q+A. (R)

1.15 Parliament Question Time. 2.15 Scottish Vets Down Under.(Final, PG, R) 2.45 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.30 AntiquesRoadshow.(R)

4.30 TheDrum. (R) 5.30 7.30.(R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R) Presented by Marc Fennell.

6.30 SBS World News.

7.35 Inside SydneyAirport: HolidaySurge. (Final, PGal) Christmas brings extrachallenges.

8.30 StanleyTucci: Searching For Italy:Milan. (PGa) Stanley Tucci heads to Milan, Italy’ssecond-biggest cityand abusiness powerhouse.

9.20 Kin. (MA15+) As the Kinsellas deal with the fallout of theCunninghams’ retaliation, Frank triestoavoid an all-out war.

10.20 SBS WorldNews Late.

10.50 Max Anger:WithOne Eye Open. (Mal) Aman’s loverdisappears.

11.40 Outlander. (MA15+sv, R)

3.55 Mastermind Australia. (R)

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

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 Home And Away (PGa)Mali needstomakeupground with his mum.

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

9.30 What TheKiller Did Next: Nadine Aburas. (Mav,R)Examines the behaviour of killers after amurder,including the case of 28-year-old Nadine Aburas.

10.30 TheLatest: SevenNews.

11.00 Air Crash Investigations: Stealth Bomber Down. (PGa, R) AB-2 Spirit stealth bomber crashes in Guam.

12.00 TheResident. (Ma, R) Conrad and Nic prepare for their wedding. [VIC]HomeShopping.

4.00 NBCToday

5.00 SevenEarly News.

5.30 Sunrise

6am Morning Programs.

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

4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country

6.30 Bargain Hunt. 7.30 Father Brown 8.30 Miss Scarlet And The Duke. 9.30 Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries. 10.30 MurdochMysteries. 11.30 Late Programs.

NITV (34)

WORLD MOVIES (32)

Sea. 5.00 Our Stories. 5.30 The77

Percent. 6.00 Bamay 6.30 News. 6.40 Brazil

Untamed. 7.30 Going Places With Ernie Dingo 8.30 No Ordinary Black. 8.40 Trickster 9.30 Firebite.

10.20 MOVIE: From Dusk Till Dawn. (1996,MA15+)

12.10am Late Programs.

And Sebastian2.(2015, PG, French)

Corpo Celeste. (2011, PG, Italian) 5.55 My Best Friend’sWedding. (2016,PG, Mandarin) 7.35 Three Summers.(2017, M) 9.30 Hounds Of Love. (2016 MA15+) 11.30 Late Programs.

Friday, August 4

6.00 TheDrum. Analysis of theday’snews.

7.00 ABCNews. Alook at the top stories of the day

7.30 FirstWeapons: Long Spear (PG) Hosted by Phil Breslin.

8.00 Death In Paradise (PG, R)

Newarrival DI Neville Parker investigates the death of ayoung womanatthe unveiling of aluxuryresort.

9.00 Midsomer Murders. (Mv,R)

New detectiveCharlie Nelson arrives in Midsomer and is thrown straight into amurderinvestigation.

10.30 GoldDiggers. (Mdls, R) Gert gets ajob managing anew nightclub

11.00 ABC LateNews.

11.15 Miniseries: Roadkill (Mdlv,R)

12.15 Harrow (Mav,R)

1.10 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)

6.30 SBS WorldNews

7.35 World’s MostScenicRiver Journeys: TheStLawrence. (PGav,R)NarratedbyBillNighy

8.30 Legends Of ThePharaohs: Amenhotep III, TheGreat Builder (M) Takesa look at Amenhotep III, who constructed some of ancient Egypt’s most remarkable monuments.

9.30 Iceland With Alexander Armstrong. (PGl,R)Part 2of3

10.25 SBS WorldNewsLate

10.55 Vise Le Coeur (Premiere, MA15+a)

11.50 Stella Blomkvist. (MA15+s, R)

1.40 Beforeigners. (MA15+alv,R) 3.30

Mastermind Australia. (R) 4.30 Bamay. (R)

5.00 NHK World EnglishNewsMorning 5.30

ANC PhilippinesThe WorldTonight.

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 Better Homes AndGardens. Ed Halmagyi makes an apple, chocolate and hazelnut pie.

7.30 Football. AFL.Round 21. Western Bulldogs vRichmond.

10.30 AFL Post-Game Show.

Post-gamediscussion and interviews

11.00 Armchair Experts. (M) Apanel discussesall things AFL

12.00 Reverie. (Mav, R) Maradeals with side effects of Reverie.

1.00 Harry’sPractice. (R) [VIC]HomeShopping.

1.30 Travel Oz. (PG, R)

2.00 Home Shopping (R)

4.00 Million Dollar Minute (R)

5.00 NBCToday.

6.00 Nine News

7.00 ACurrent Affair

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

8.30 Emergency (Mm, R) Doctors fear amotorbikerider might lose his footafter ashocking crash.

9.30 Casualty 24/7 (Mm) A76-year-old is in agony after an accident at home but as afull-time carer to his wife, he’s more concernedabout her

10.30 A+EAfter

Alook at the day’snews and events.

7.30 DogsBehaving (Very) Badly Australia. (PGa) Follows dogtrainer Graeme Hall.

8.30 Law&Order: SVU. (Mav,R) Rollins catches up with her old flame, Captain Declan Murphy,whenthe SVUiscalledintohelp investigate a wave of racially motivated hate crimes across New York on ChristmasEve

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

10.30 To

6am Morning Programs.

1.50pm Explore. 2.00 Dr Quinn. 3.00 Antiques

Roadshow 3.30 MOVIE: Up Jumped ASwagman (1965) 5.30 RugbyLeague. NRL Women’s

Premiership.Round 3. Sydney Roosters

6.00 Nine News.

7.00 ACurrent Affair.

7.30 RugbyLeague. NRL.Round 23

Penrith Panthers vMelbourne Storm. From BlueBet Stadium, Sydney

9.55 Golden Point. Awrap-up of the Penrith Panthers versus Melbourne Storm match, with news and analysis.

10.40 MOVIE: Criminal. (2016,MA15+lv,R)

ACIA operative’sconsciousnessis

transferred.Kevin Costner,RyanReynolds.

12.40 Tipping Point. (PG, R)

Hosted by Ben Shephard

1.30 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. Alook at the day’snews andevents

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

8.30 Have YouBeenPaying Attention? (Malns,R)A fast-paced look at news, with Hayley Sproull, Marty Sheargold, AlexWard, RayO’Leary and Ed Kavalee competing to seewho can remember the most about events of the week. Hosted by TomGleisner

9.30 TheGraham Norton Show. (Ms, R) Graham Norton chatswithGeorge Takai, Jamie Oliver and Claudia Winkleman. 11.30 TheProject (R) 12.30 TheLate ShowWith Stephen Colbert. (PG)

1.30 Home Shopping. (R)

t po

FRANK’S PERFECT DAY

Moe captain Jacob ‘Frank’ Wood celebrated his 200th senior game in style at the weekend.

The Lions defeated arch-rival Traralgon to remain equal-first on the Gippsland League ladder. Wood kicked two goals, including the sealer.

FULL STORY-PAGE 22

FOOTBALLAND NETBALL LIFTFOUT

Photographs: Julie Sim

top:

Phot Moecaptain Jacob Wood bursts through thebannerw daughter Saige,(right) in action during hismilestone 200thgame, (and below) chaired from the ground teammatesTom Long andJames Blaser

GOALS: Sale:SLange 5HPottsB Walker JLeslieJ Freeman CWhitehill HRonchi KMcDonald

JMclaren. Drouin: HBirks 4T Evans 2BStephens BAtkinsT Hancock BEST: Sale:SLange J

Mclaren WLeslie PTainsh JDessent JFreeman.Drouin: THancock JKingi XKinder KQuirk

RTaylorT Evans LEONGATHA

GOALS: Leongatha: JGarnham 4JLamers 2MMcGannon TBrill COlden KDrewAHeppell

TMarriott CMaskell.Morwell:T Gray2 BMcDonald 2J Leak BBailey CCampbell BEST:

Leongatha: AHeppell CMaskell KDrewN Fixter TBrill SWestaway.Morwell: BCouling S

Walsh BBailey THillier CCampbell ZAnderson

GOALS: Moe: NProwse6BGowers 3J Wood 2RBaldi 2HPepper HSim. Traralgon: BEddy 4

JHamilton2 HNeocleous LD’Angelo THamiltonMJacobsen. BEST: Moe: NProwseR Baldi

TBaldi HSim BDaniher LForato. Traralgon: JScholtes LD’Angelo JMcMahon THamiltonM

GOALS: Wonthaggi: CMcInnes 4T Davey2ALindsay 2JHutchinson 2NAnderson2 H Dawson HTiziani RSparkes JWilliams.Bairnsdale: DetailsN/A.

M Moe h has fun in thesun

FOOTBALL GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

BY LIAM DURKIN

HAVEaguess who the Moe player that kicked six goals against Traralgon was.

No, it wasn’t Billy Gowers.

It wasn’t Harry Pepper either.

And Kristian Jaksch has been injured all year.

Nick Prowse emerged as something of an unlikely goal-kicking machine for the Lions on the weekend.

We say unlikely because he doesn’t usually get as much attentionoperatingalongside Gowers and Pepper.

Like Roughead playing in the same team as Franklin and Rioli however, Prowse proved more than adequate foil, and ended the day with abag of six goals.

His efforts helped Moe fight back from an early deficit to overrunthe Maroons 15.8 (98) to 10.13 (73).

Taking to adry Terry Hunter Oval, the visitor’s were presented with virtually the same surface as the one at their home ground of Ted Summerton Reserve. Honours were shared in the firstterm, before Traralgon skipped out to a20-point lead in the second.

The Maroons added four goals in ahurry to start the second, but Moe was equalto the task, adding just as many themselves to take aslender lead and some momentum into the main break.

As the sun continued to beat down, things heatedupinmore ways thanone during the third.

HHareM Wilson. Warragul: BSmith HMartin. BEST: Maffra: S Pendergast MRodaughan MHuts GJones CJones HHare. Warragul: JCasson JNeville D

HMartin

GOALS: Leongatha: JHopkins 4L Wright 3DHume 2BFort2 THall GFleming ELamers O Kerr JSchellingFMateria. Morwell: HMaximiw MLovison ZCheffers BEST: Leongatha: T Hall JHopkins LMarshmanDHume NClark OKerr.Morwell:M Lovison WClareALovison L

MPorykali SLinton

GOALS: Sale:ZRussell 5DMcGuiness 2J Butcher 2BJones 2O Waugh 2BDessent

JSandemanJ

Moe’s ill-discipline, which had already gifted Traralgon agoal in the first half, threatened to boil overinthe second, as a couple of spot fires broke out.

Lions defender Tyler Pratt went after Maroons captain Dylan Loprese,resulting in a50metre penalty, taking youngster Tom Hamilton to 40 metres out directly in front.

Fortunately for Moe,the shot went astray, but with playing-coach Declan Keilty standing the mark, he was quick to tell his players to cool their jets as soon as the kick went through for abehind.

The usually placid Keilty gestured to his head, signalling to his players they would benefit from using what was inside.

Once the Lions calmed down, they were able to get some good looks inside 50.

The visitor’swereefficientmoving forward, adding 3.1 (19)for the quarter, in stark contrast to Trarlagon, who butchered 1.6 (12).

Some nice running goals from Riley Baldi and Harri Sim provided highlights for the Lions, as they gotout to ahandy 13-point lead at three quarter time.

Traralgonkey defender Dan McKenna came off in the thirdafter being winded, giving the coaching staffanother problem to deal with.

Moe started the last quarter in the best possibleway,with an opportunistic goal from Billy Gowers in the first 30 seconds.

Traralgon full forward Brett Eddy respondedaminutelater, cutting the margin back to two goals.

Prowse found himself in the thick of the action, snapping the ball through after Gowers had shrugged off afew opponents, before adding another one to his tally.

The Maroons threw caution to the wind, and kept trying to put speed on the ball and get it into Eddy’s hands.

Billy

Moe

Eventful hours: Trent Baldiwas prolific forMoe in their win over Traralgon. TheLions reigning best-and-fairest winner hasmade asuccessfulreturn to thesenior side after missing thefirst half of theyear through injury.

While he had been held to one goal for three quarters, he kept bobbing up in the last to keep Traralgon in the game.

His thirdgoal came at the 14-minute mark, which left the equation at 18 points.

Withplenty of time left, Moe needed agoal to settle things down.

Fittingly, it was milestone man Jacob Wood in his 200th senior game, who pounced on aloose ball and snapped through the sealer as the clock ticked into red time.

Alategoal to Eddy five minutes later was followed by limited celebration, as all at the ground knew the result was now beyond doubt.

In many respects, the game played out in an opposite fashion to when the sides met in Round 6, with Moe being the team that left their run too late on that occasion.

Prowse toppedoff hisday with his sixth goal seconds before the final siren, giving him best-on-ground honours.

Others to play well were the Baldi twins of Riley and Trent, along with Sim, Ben Danniher and Lucas Forato.

Wood was chaired from the ground, taking in the applause as possibly the greatest footballer to ever comeout of the Willow Grove region.

Comingfroma passionateCarlton family, they were in attendance as he ran through the banner before the game, all wearing Carlton jumpers.

Traralgon was well-servedbyJoel Scholtes (believe it’s pronounced ‘Skol-tees’) and Luis D’Angelo, who showcased his basketball skills in the first quarter with aquick steal and goal.

Jackson McMahon wasalsoserviceable, as was Hamilton, Mitch Membrey and Eddy, who finished with four goals.

Keilty played on Eddy for the most part, while usual defender Charlie Rieniets was thrown into the ruck to helprelieve18-yearold Lachlan McGrath.

The Lions ruck stocks havetaken ahit recently,withBen Morrowand Chris Prowse both injured, along with Lachlan Rees who is done for the season.

Julie

The bye this week willgive Prowse and Morrowextra time to recover.Signs look to be encouraging forProwse, who did the running for Moe at the weekend.

In the Traralgon camp, it is looking like the Maroonswillneedtoknock off Wonthaggiin the penultimate round to be any chance of entering the finals with immunity. Such ataskwill be challenging, especially on the Power’s home deck.

Fourth appears fair for Traralgon at this stage of the season.

The Maroons have shown their capability at times, but they haven’t beaten atop-three side since their win over Moe in Round 6.

In fact, defeats at the hands of Leongatha and Wonthaggi havebeen convincing -66 and 79 points respectively.

Coach JakeBest spoke to theteambehind closed doors afterthe Leongatha match a fortnight ago, after which the Maroons kicked just two behinds in the last quarter while their opponents walked in five.

By all reports, it was an almighty spray.

Best wouldhave no doubt been happy with the effort shown against Moe, and will look to use edits from their four goal run in the second term as key reference points. Also, if the likes of Tate Marsh, Lucas Tripodi, Haydn Hector and Brad Kimberley are playing reserves, depth certainly won’t be an issue for the Maroons come finals.

What is becoming an issue though is the facilities at Terry Hunter Oval.

ThroughnofaultofTraralgonFootballNetball Club,visiting teams are still operating out of portable rooms more than two years on from the major flood. With local sporting facilities originally slated to host events at the now cancelled Commonwealth Games still set to receive upgrades, there might be scope to see that money spent on projects clearly in more urgent need.

In the greatest respect, doesthe Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium really need an upgrade? It had a$19 million upgrade only three years ago.

Photographs:

Sim

Dukes:

Gowers takesa strong grabfor

Magpiesholdfifth for now

FOOTBALL GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

BY LIAM DURKIN

NOT often you see footballers applying sunscreen in the middle of winter.

Finalsweather came early in Round 15 of the Gippsland League.

Perfect conditions and dry decks made for freeflowingfootball, as the five victoriousteamsall scored around the 100-mark.

There is still no separating the top-three sides, as Leongatha, Wonthaggi and Moeall carry win-loss records of 13-2.

Wonthaggi should take top spot this week by simple virtue of the fact they are the only top-three teamplayingdue to asplit round, and havean assignment against second-last placed Warragul.

While that match doesn’t evoke much excitement, the other game to be played in thefirst week of the split round certainly does: Morwell versus Sale -fifth versus sixth.

There is just one spot left in the finalfive, so whoever wins that game willjust aboutbeassured of afinals berth.

THINGS just work out perfectly sometimes.

Maffragave club legend Winston Gieschena moment to savour, ensuring he celebrated his record-breaking day with awin.

Gieschen, playingseniorgamenumber250, walked off his home ground after the Eagles won 15.14 (104) to 7.4 (46) against Warragul.

To top it all off, the milestone man kicked three goals.

When it’s your day

Gieschen broke the senior gamesrecord for Maffra, surpassing the mark set by Brendon Donahoe, which had stood since 2003.

The four-time premiershipwinning Eagle saw his side start with aflurry of goals at the weekend, kicking 5.8 (38) to just one behind.

There was no way Maffra was going to let up from there, and the Eagles continuedontheir merry way for the best part of three quarters.

WithDrSam Davidson running riot up forward, and Maffra’s defence keeping the Guls to just two goals up until threequarter time, the Eagles were afforded the luxury of playing the last quarter in total contentment they had the game won. Warragul saved faced with fivegoals, but Maffra went past the ton with four of their own.

Dr Davidson kicked half-a-dozen, and was ably assisted by Brayden Monk, NoahChristy, Alex Carr, Kade Renooy and James Read.

Betterplayers for Warragul were Sean Masterson,BayleyPaul, Tom Hobbs, Will Cole, Brad Hefford and Sam Fennell.

The ninth-placed Gulls havealreadyturned their attentiontonext season, with Masterson and young gun Tom Stern signing on.

While the result of this game will do little in the grand scheme of the ladder, from the Eagles’ perspective, it means they will no longer be any chance of finishing last.

Following afew heftydefeats in recent weeks, therewas an honestpossibility Maffra could have metthisfate.

For aclub that has won nine premierships since the turn of the century, one couldonly imagine how big ashock to the system that would have been. FOR ateamthat’scoming last, Drouin arestill pretty good.

The Hawks put up agoodfight against Sale, but went down in acompetitive match 13.9 (87) to 9.9 (63).

Sale received an almighty scare at home, and were on level-pegging with Drouin when the halftime siren sounded.

The Magpies rectified the situation in the third term, adding three goals while keeping the Hawks to just one behind.

The game opened up in the last, as nine goals were kicked. Sale managed five, and Drouin closed strongly with four.

Sale however was able to take the four points, and avital four points at that, to see themselves agame clear inside the top five.

Thank God the Magpies have Shannen Lange.

The star midfielder kicked fivegoals,and was Sale’s only multiple goal-scorer.

Lange collected best afield honours, followed by JackMcLaren, WillLeslie, PatTainsh,Jordan Dessent and Jarrod Freeman.

Drouin has agood one in Hugo Birks.

As well as having the best name in the competition, he is also adangerous forward. Birks kicked four goals at the weekend, and now has 33 goals in just 11 games this season.

Tim Hancock played well for the Hawks, as did JordanKingi, Xavier Kinder, Kye Quirk, Ryan Taylor and Tom Evans.

Despite languishing in last position on the ladder,

Footy briefs with

Liam Durkin

the Hawks continue to win praise from league pundits for their attacking style of play.

Apercentage of nearly 70 means Drouin has hardly been awalkover this season,and given the fact the Hawks lost their firstthree games by single-figure margins, there could be plenty of upside for Drouin next season.

Unfortunately forthe Hawks, they are probably going to claimthe wooden spoon, but could well go down as the best team to finish last in Gippsland League history.

Drouin has just one winnable game left, against Maffra, before finishing with top-three sides Leongatha and Moe.

Meanwhile, Sale will now count down the days until its date with destiny.

The Magpies must beat Morwellonthe road this weekend to all but lock in afinals berth.

As hasbeen the story all season,Salewas again beset by chopping-and-changing its senior line-up at the weekend -the Magpies making four changes for the Drouin game.

Those sitting around the selection table at Sale Oval will have fingers and toes crossed for strong availabilitythis weekend, as theirseason is on the line.

There willbeatouchofirony about the situation, as it was Morwell who defeated Sale in the last round last season to secure their own spot in the finals.

The Magpies loss prevented Maffra from makingfinals. This time,Salehas to win to prevent Morwell possibly taking their own spot.

WONTHAGGI belted Bairnsdale.

The Redlegs were left resembling aprominent AFL playerturned boxer in arecent bout, after going down 16.21 (117) to 0.8 (8).

Makingwhatisbelieved to be the longest roadtrip in countryVictoria,the Power started slowly, before flickingthe switchand inducingmaximum pain on their opponents.

Wonthaggi scored just one goal in the opening term, but then went on to score six, five and four -while theiropponentsdid not even make the goal umpire signal with two fingers.

Perhaps theonly negative for the Power was that they could not say they scored 16 times as many goals as their opposition -asitisimpossible to multiply any figure by zero.

The Powerkept Bairnsdale to the second-lowest Round 15 score in league history.

Morwell made to rue poor first quarter

FOOTBALL GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

BY LIAM DURKIN

HOW are those dairy farmers so good at footy.

Leongatha was too strong for Morwell,taking the points in aone-sided affair 13.14 (92) to 7.2 (44).

The Parrots burst out of the blocks at home, putting up 6.4 (40) to no score in the opening term.

Such ascoreline may have had some football aficionados recalling ascene from the documentary Year of the Dogs (still the best AFL documentary this writerhas seen), in which Terry Wallace addresses his playersatquarter time by saying “itwas our(expletive) worst nightmare.”

The nightmare gotslightlyless frightening as Morwell managedtokick as many goals as Leongatha in the second, but their slow start meant they had amountain to climb at halftime.

The Parrots took a44-point lead into the sheds,

and maintained the margin for another 30 minutes. Morwell again scored as many goals as their opponents in the third, and did the sameinthe last.While this effort was manful, it did little, if anything, to wipe the deficit off the scoreboard.

Adisappointed Tigers outfit was made to rue their poor start, whichgaveLeongatha the opportunity to virtually play the game out with little danger of being overran.

If there were any positives from Morwell’s perspective, it’s that they managed to go goal-for-goal with the ladder leaders after quarter time, and that they weren’t wiped off the park completely. With a40point lead at quartertime, the margin could have easily bled to more than double that.

Aaron Heppell was best for the winners, followed by the Benjamin Button of Gippsland football, Cade Maskell.

Others to play well were Kim Drew, Tallin Brill, and backline general Sean Westaway.

Noah Fixter was also listed in the best, an

achievement that is sure to do his confidence the world of good.

Having played in the reserves all last season, and broken into the Parrot’s senior side in recent weeks, he could be on track to become one of the feel good stories of the finals series.

Morwell youngster Judah Leak enjoyed asimilar run last year, coming in late and being part of the Tiger’s side that played finals.

Leakhas again had to wait until nearly the end of the season to get acall up, and cameinto the senior side for the first time this year at the weekend.

Blake Couling, Sam Walsh, Boyd Bailey, Tyler Hillier, Cohen Campbell and Zac Anderson were judged Morwell’s best.

The resultleaves Morwell agame outside the top five from Sale.

The Tigers and Magpies meet this weekend. You can bet the farmers will still be working, regardless of whether or not they have the bye.

Signed on SALEFootball-Netball Club hasextended the seniorplaying coaching contract of Jack Johnstone until the end of season 2025.

Johnstone has coached the Magpies since 2021, and took Sale to aGrand Final last year. If he is to complete five years come 2025, Johnstone will be the longest serving Sale senior coach since Jim Hart.

Hart coached the Magpies for six years from 1973 to 1978, winning flags in 1973 and 1975.

Newcoach

LINDENOW Football-Netball Club has announcedBrettWaddell as itssenior coach for next season.

Waddell, from Bairnsdale, has played more than200 gameswith the Redlegs.

He takes over from premiership-winning coach Justin Gould.

Having been apowerhouse of East Gippsland football,the Cats havestruggled this yearwith just two wins, and look to be in the midst of a major rebuild.

Lindenowhit the socialmedia map recently, after avideo of former Heyfield player Justin Morgan went viral.

The video, showingMorgan havingtwo consecutive shots at goal kicked into the man-on-the-mark, reached close to 10,000 views online.

Million man

THE one millionth point was scoredinthe Gippsland League in Round 14.

However, confusionreignedinthe aftermath surrounding exactly who kicked it.

Drouin player Aden Quirk was originally credited, after kicking abehind at the 21-minute mark of the first quarter.

Followingfurther research, league statsman Paul Carter discovered the millionth point was actually kicked by Drouin’s Seb Amoroso.

Some inconsistencies with jumper numbers proveddetrimental in determiningwho scored the league’s millionth point.

Stranger than fiction

FALLOUT continued from Swan Reach Football-Netball Club in lieu of their player points saga. The Swans forfeited their match in the penultimate round, after being unable to find sufficient numbers.

SwanReach wasrecently stripped of all points in the Omeo DistrictFootball-Netball League, after it was discovered they were in breach of their player points.

The result immediately sent the Swans plummeting from the top to bottom of the ladder.

Buchan benefitted from the Swans’ misfortune in truly astonishing fashion.

The Cavemen, who welcomed former Hawthorn star Jordan Lewis for aone-off game this season, were second-last on the ladder heading into the final round of the season.

Buchan defeated Swan Reach 45.20 (290) to 5.5 (35),tomakethe final four of asix-team competition on percentage, despite only having awin-loss record of 6-9.

Buchan player and local cricket star Reagan Kyle kicked alazy 24 goals. His effort saw him finishthe league goal kicking inside the top 10 -on24goals. As Denis Cometti said “thereisnojustice in football.”

GOALS: Yinnar:PMcGrath 4LEade 2T Renwick 2R Malcolmson 2XGeddes 2CLePage

TRussell AMills. Thorpdale: RPickering 3CMillsom3 JSinclair-Stanley BEST: Yinnar:T

Renwick RMalcolmsonTRussell PMcGrath JChessum ESultana.Thorpdale: JSinclair-Stanley

SForbes JFahey TMitchell GHoulihan CChopping

STONYCREEK1.2

FISHCREEK2.2

Mid Gippsland Football League League

FOOTBALL

MID GIPPSLAND

BY ROB POPPLESTONE

THORPDALEprovided the big talking point after Round 15 of the Mid Gippsland Football-Netball League.

The Blues defeated reigning premier Yinnar by 65 points, to move into fourth spot on the league ladder.

 YINNAR VTHORPDALE

FORmostofthisseason, Yinnar has found themselves coughing and spluttering from oneround to the next, still managing to win enough games to have themselves reasonablywell-placed in third position prior to the weekend, but also still alittle way from their best

What the Magpies faced on the weekend was aThorpdale side really starting to hum, and with their sights set on afurther climb up the ladder, the Bluesnot only won the match, but sent amessagetothe MGFNL competition.

Thorpdale won on the road 16.16(112) to Yinnar7.5 (47)

Blues coach Jason Winderlich was roundly pleased with the performance.

“Another goodteam effort across the board in the second half,” he said.

“Yinnar are very undermanned at the moment but they played some really good footy in the first half. Once we tidied up our defensive side of the game we looked better.”

lead, but to their credit they were strong at the contest and fought hard all game,” he said.

“Next week we host Mirboo North. They out-worked and out-played us earlyinthe season, so we have an opportunity to get one back on them.”

MDUhas set themselves to be atop-two side,and in such an even competition that double chance is worth its weight in gold.

For theirweekendopponents,itwas another one that got away, in aseason that promised abit early, but has delivered little of late.

Boolarra coach Tony Giardina has two games left at the helm, and will be looking to go out on ahigh.

“Againaslowstart thenthe boys got themselvesbackinthe gamebeingcompetitive against atop side, scoreboard didn’t reflect the way we played in the last three quarters with an undermanned side,” he said. Make no mistake, Boolarra could quite conceivably have been aplayerinthe weeks ahead,but opportunitieslost, cannot be found now, with just afew weeks to go.

 FISH CREEK VSTONY CREEK STONYCreekmay nothave beeninthe position to make arun at finals, but they had already signalled they were capable of throwing opposition sides planstodosointo some disarray.

“The character of the group can never be questioned in areally high intensity, quality game of footy.

“Tarwin brought everything in amust-win game for them, and to stand up makes me immensely proud of the group.

“We wouldn’t mind not losing players through injury in the first few minutes of games for the rest of the year though.”

Aone-point margin might as well have been 10 goals, such is the pressure towards the top of the MGFNL ladder. Premiership points are proving even more vital, and the Sharkswereafter fourmore to have them placedwithin striking distance to do some real damage towardsthe end of August, something that appears to be slipping away from them now.

Sharks coach Troy Hemming believed luck played some part.

“Foster just hit the front at the right time. We should have won the game,” he said.

“Wehave the bye now, (then) Boolara at Boolara for their last game of the year the next week, will be tough!”

(64)

GOALS: StonyCreek:N Svenson 2BMcKnight2 LByrnes THorsburgh JByrnes SCope S

Brett. Fish Creek:BPulham 2BStefani JSegarOStraw BEST: StonyCreek:BMcKnight N

Svenson LByrnes RMcKnight SCope RBaudinette. Fish Creek:O StrawBCooper NVasey P

Holian BPulham AFarrell

TOORA3.5 10.10

Yinnarmay be well short of their best, but somehow they have to find away to win games, or their slide down the MGFNL ladder might be hard to stop.

Magpies coach Daniel Taylor kept things in perspective.

“Startedlikeahouse on firewith two quick goals,then fast forwardtwo hours later and we’ve only managed another five for the game which has been the story of our season,” he said.

The Lions travelledtothe home of Fish Creek, with every intentionoftaking the game right up to one of the league leaders.

It proved to be abridge too far for Stony Creek, who went down 15.12(102)to5.2 (32).

Kangaroos coach Jarred Walker said he was happy with how his team played.

“A solid performance from us,abit of an arm wrestle for the first half but then we were able to start playing the game on our terms in the second half,” he said.

“Allthe boys reallystarting to click together which is great to see.”

Unusually short and to the point, coach Hemming understands how much one point means in the scheme of the Sharks season, as finals hopes are now slim-to-none,and thatis always abitter pilltoswallow whenseasons are defined by the smallest of margins.

 TOORAV HILL END

IT really was all or nothing game for this bottomofthe ladder clash betweenToora and Hill End.

TheMagpies, second to bottom with just theone win, hosting the winless Rovers in amatch that would surely determine the wooden spoon for 2023.

GOALS: Meeniyan Dumbalk Utd: JHickey 4R Weaver3B Cantwell 2T Goss 2NMathieson 2

JBrydon 2JDunn MBeacham BArnup.Boolarra: Details N/A. BEST Meeniyan Dumbalk Utd:

JHickey MHarrisJ Whiteside RWeaverKScrimshawBCantwell.Boolarra: BBrownscombe B

McCormack THolley EStanton TBeamish KAlexander

“The game was evenly poised at halftime but to Thorpy’screditthey come out and blew us away in the third.Theirmidfield got right on top and the floodgates opened.

18

GOALS: Mirboo Nth: NBradley 5HAustin 2BPeters 2T Heislers LPoljak BMelbourne

OMahoney JJagusch. Yinnar:D Hobbs 2MRieniets2 HMcCullochHMcKay GRyanN

McCafferty. BEST: Mirboo Nth: NBradley OBuddJJagusch OMahoney CVivian BJennings Yinnar:H McKayPMason PPodmoreLDouch IKrizanac RMakepeace

Fish Creek/Tarwin: ZBright 5T Vuillermin 3T Brewer 2AEdgelow2SGriffin 2J

2LBowman ZMcRae AHamlett AMoore.Newborough: TMcGrath HGallagher

ADaley BEST: Fish Creek/Tarwin: JMorganRGwin TMilltonZBright TBrewerKMcMillan. Newborough: JVarsaci BYoung WCuthbertson HGallagher CCoulthardT McGrath

GOALS: MDU: JCleator 3RBell BVanderZalm KHelms HFennell RMarshman. Foster:N

Gundrill 2T Delaney LLidstoneJ Davy RLewis BEST: MDU: KHelms RMarshmanJCleator

LHibberson RCheckley BHibberson. Foster:R Lewis JMathesonALomax CButinar ZLewis

TDelaney

“As disappointing as it was to lose the game you’ve gotta tip your hat to Thorpyand Jase for what they have been able to do so far this season, it’s good for Mid Gippy footy to see them charging towards afinalscampaign.

“We’ve got the bye this week before our last two games against Foster and Fishy (Fish Creek), we need to win onetofallinto the finals so it’s abig fewweeks ahead.”

This season is in some contrast to what we saw from the Magpies late last year, when they provedunstoppablefor their last monthand-a-half of the season.

This last month has tested Yinnar’sdepth, and next month will be an even tougher examination.

 BOOLARRAV MDU

IN theclash of the Demon’s, there was room for just one team to play the roleofDevil, and that would be Meeniyan Dumbalk United, who, while winning yet another important match away from home, also killed off any chancesBoolarrahad of being apart of finals in season 2023.

MDU won alow-scoring encounter 9.13 (67) to 4.10 (34).

MDU coach NathanAllen labelled it a strong result.

“Onwhatwas aperfect day for footy and a great deck at Boolarra, we got the job done.

“We got off to agreat start and got an early

The Kangarooshave received little fanfare despitetheir impressive season that has them well-placed for afinal assault.

Stony Creekcoach Chris Verboon paid credit to the opposition.

“Fish Creek came out strong in the first quarter but missed early opportunities. They set up well behind the footy which made it hard to get forward entries,” he said.

“Our second quarter was our best for the game but couldn’t sustain it. With injuries during the game and blokes injured from previous weeks it was always going to be tough to stay with them.”

The Lions you feel are on the brink of bigger and better things, but we may have to wait until season 2024 to see what that brings.

 FOSTER VTARWIN

AMONTH agoyou would not have entertained that eitherone of these two sides would be under pressure to be apartof finals action, but sitting sixth and seventh respectively on the MGFNL ladder prior to the weekend game, both the Tigers and the Sharkswere acutelyaware of the value of victory.

The game lived up to the hype, the result amixtureofecstasy and agony as Foster snuck home in the dying seconds to win 9.7 (61) to 9.6 (60).

Foster coach Sam Davies breathed asigh of relief at the final siren.

“Really important win for us, showed so much grit to get back the lead withaminute or so left,” he said.

The Hillmenhad primed themselves for this contest,desperate to do whatever it took to walk away with awin, but the Magpies were more than preparedfor whatwas coming,and walked awaywith acomfortable 68-point win 15.12 (102) to 4.10 (34).

Toora coach Jack Weston was understandably ecstatic.

“I could really get used to the winning feeling!” he said.

“Fantastic that the boys were able to get the reward for effort today. Felt we were able to really control the game with our work from the stoppages and our pressure around the ball allowed us to turn the ball over in our half and kick awinning score.”

The satisfaction felt by Toora was reflected in frustration by their opponents. TheRovers had readied themselves for afirst-time victory, only to come up significantly short.

“Toora wanted it more than us, credit to Jack andthe boys, they deserved the four points,” Hill End coach Mike Santo said.

“Unfortunately we aren’t working hard enough for each other, avery disappointing result for us.”

Just afew yearsago, Hill End was odds-on to claim apremiership before COVID hitnow awooden spoonisinevitable.

It’s acruel gamesometimes.

NEWBOROUGH,Morwell East and Mirboo North had the bye.

Youngsters learn through AFL 9s

By ZAIDA GLIBANOVIC

AROUND 100 keen primary school footballers took to the Moe RacecourseOval, otherwise known as Joe Tabuteau Reserve last month to trial the nine-a-side football game at ayounger level.

Grade 5and 6’s across Gippsland flocked to showcase their school’s footy talent in around-robin style event.

Drouin West, Trafalgar, Immaculate Heart of Mary Newborough, Neerim South, Morwell Park and Drouin Primary School all fielded some excellent footy talent.

Accordingtothe AFL, AFL 9s is, ‘A fast,fun, free-flowinggame that involves nine players on each team playing on asmaller field. Best of all ‘AFL 9s’ is ‘touch football’ with no tackling or bumping, making it suitable for everyone’.

An AFL spokesperson said the purpose of the carnivalwas to provide students with afun, safe and inclusive introduction to AFL

through modified rules such as ‘bear hug tackling’, nine on afield and using smaller rectangular fields.

The competition structure allowed for smaller schools to enter a team, who typically can’t field an 18-a-side competition.

The field has arecommended length of 100 metres, which can be modified depending on the age and ability level of participants, and is divided into three zones; amid zone and two scoring zones at either end.

Teams score by kicking the ball into their attacking scoring zone to designated forwards who are the only players permitted to score.

The game is further modified with amarkawarded irrespective of the distance the ball has travelled and automatic turnover if the ball hits the ground.

While scores are recorded, AFL 9s is very much considered anoncontact social activity.

To find out more aboutAFL 9s or to findaclub,headtoaflvic.com. au/afl-9s-australias-newest-social-sport

Lions maintain top spot in Gippy League netty

NETBALL

By ZAIDA GLIBANOVIC

MOE is unstoppable in Gippsland League netball at the moment.

TheLionsshowed lionheart as they trampled TraralgoninRound 15

Moe came out of the gates firing, outscoring the Maroons 16 to 10 in the first term -the story stayed much the same for the next threeterms, with the result a25-goal victory for the Gippsland League leaders.

Moe captain Alex Moody, Jordan Pyle and Emma Sculley starred for the winning team. Traralgon’s Milly Murphy played well against her old side. AshlynPavey and Matilda Van Berkel were notable even in defeat.

This Moe side will be hard to beat come finals time.

Morwell fended off the high-flying Parrots.

Leongathaimpressed last Saturday as they brought their very best to face the reigning premier.

Withthe Tigers sittingsecond and the Parrots third, this game was always going to come down to the wire.

Morwell edged away afour-goal lead from the first whistle until the first break. Leongatha was able to regroup and find some scoring

power in the second, outshooting Morwell 12 to nine and then nine to eight in the third.

Lauren Redpath, Kate Browne and Nicola Marriott were dominant for Leongatha. At three-quarter time scores were Parrots 32 and Tigers 33. With one goal the difference, ahugefinal term was ahead forbothteams Morwell’sbest, Chloe Radford, Saskia Eenjes and Tanya Budge, took charge in the final quarter and kept the Parrots at bay.

The final scores were Morwell 42 to Leongatha 41.

Sale came close in Round 15 of Gippsland League netball.

The Magpies were neck-and-neck with Drouin, managing to keep the scores level at 19-all at the major break.

The Hawks came out of halftime with some newfound energy, shooting 12 goals to Sale’s seven.

Sale’s Emma Allman, Kasey Dessent and Teagan Harrison were impressive, but Drouin’s Lucy McKellar, Ella Henderson and Kelly Mills were even more so.

People often say the third quarter is where games are won and lost, and in the case of this match, that was the case, as the Hawks managed to maintain their dominance to win 40-36.

In the Maffra versus Warragul battle, the Eagles were outplayed from the beginning.

Mirboo North bye,Morwell East bye and Newborough all had the bye

DGRADE: Hill End 32 dToora14, Tarwin 58 dFoster 16,MDU 29 d Boolarra22, Fish Creek 40 dStony Creek 9, Yinnar 73 dThorpdale 10, Mirboo North bye,Morwell East bye,Newborough bye.

17 AND UNDER: MDU 48 dBoolarra19, StonyCreek 20 dFishCreek 18 Tarwin, Toora, Yinnar,Mirboo North, Morwell East, Newborough bye

15 AND UNDER: Hill End 28 dToora 21, Boolarra51d MDU 15,FishCreek 39 dStony Creek 21, Foster 29 dTarwin 9, Mirboo North bye,Morwell East bye,Newborough bye

13 AND UNDER: Toora17dHill End 11,Boolarra43d MDU 5, Foster 27 d Tarwin 16,Fish Creek bye,Yinnar bye,Mirboo North bye,Newborough bye

NORTH GIPPSLAND -ROUND 16

Warragul, too strong aside, doubled the Eagles’ five shots for the first quarter, setting themselves up with ahandy lead that they maintained.

Chloe Proud,Natalie Allman and MaddyDalton starred for Maffra, but it was Warragul’s Renee Cook, Sienna Green andNaomi Allardyce who won the Gull’s the game. The final score was 38-24. Wonthaggi got the job done against Bairnsdale.

It was apretty even contest between the two sides, as the narrow Wonthaggi lead remained close throughout the first three quarters. Powerful playersfor Wonthaggi were Olivia Gilmour, Courtney Brann and Chelsea Bowman, while Bairnsdale’s Anna Mooney,

MID GIPPSLAND

21, Bairnsdale 38 dWonthaggi 18

17 AND UNDER: Leongatha 32 dMorwell 23, Maffra75d Warragul 12, Traralgon 51 dMoe 12,Sale 37 dDrouin 25, Wonthaggi 46 dBairnsdale 24

15 AND UNDER: Leongatha 29 dMorwell 21, Maffra47d Warragul 20,

Traralgon 52 dMoe 10,Sale 61 dDrouin 27,Bairnsdale 56 dWonthaggi 25.

13 AND UNDER: Leongatha 38 dMorwell 13,Maffra57d Warragul 13

Traralgon 48 dMoe 34, Sale 65 dDrouin 15,Bairnsdale 30 dWonthaggi 7.

MID GIPPSLAND -ROUND 15

AGRADE: Toora64dHill End 22, Boolarra45dMDU 36, Tarwin 75 d Foster 26, Fish Creek dStony Creek 21, Yinnar bye,MirbooNorth bye Morwell East bye,Newborough bye

BGRADE: Tooraand Hill End forfeited, MDU 64 dBoolarra57, Tarwin 47 dFoster 40, Fish Creek 51 dStony Creek41, Yinnar 73 dThorpdale 13, Mirboo North bye,Morwell East bye,Newborough bye

CGRADE: Toora32dHillEnd 21, MDU 45 dBoolarra25, Tarwin 58 d

Foster 15,FishCreek 34 dStony Creek24, Yinnar 70 dThorpdale 6,

AGRADE: Heyfield 47 dTTU 33, Rosedale 76 dGormandale 32, Cowwarr

56 dYarram 48, Woodside 47 draw Sale City47,

School pride: Local schools gathered at Moe Racecourse Oval forthe AFL 9s program. Photograph supplied

NORTH GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

North Gippsland Football &Netball League NorthGippsland

C Can anyone sttop T TTU?

FOOTBALL NORTH GIPPSLAND

D

Mayman-French LStuckey BReid SFox HFoat CBeaver. Gormandale: JFoulkes JKrimhandT

Salerno ICopland KOwenW Flanagan

GOALS: Woodside: DFarmer 8J Williams 2SCusack 2RFoat 2MO’SullivanTMannAJanssen

LStockdale JKennedy MDykeADean. Sale City: BSafstrom 3M Evans 2JNelson. BEST:

DFarmerJKennedy LStockdale RMissenC Whiteoak MStockdale.SaleCity: B

YYN: DMacdonald 7KHughes6 BBrown 4J Keyhoe 3BBurnett 2A Young 2A

BJulin. Glengarry: HGilmoreLPatterson SPoulton. BEST: YYN: DMacdonald M

BBrown KHughes BBurnett AYoung.Glengarry: JBurgess MRyanABermingham L

Yarram: JSwift9 TChisholm 4T Sheedy 3BMotton2 DGarnham 2DO’Keefe

BY TOM HAYES

ONLY six teams mathematically remain in the hunt for finals, after another round of the North Gippsland Football-Netball League saw one’s chances cut loose.

But six can’t fit into five, so when push comes to shove, who will stand tallest in the final two rounds of North Gippy home-andaway season.

TRARALGON TyersUnited humbled Heyfield.

The Kangaroos were sent straight back down to Earth afterathumping defeat at the hands of the league-leaders.

Before heading into the match, Heyfield appeared to be one of the most exciting young sides in the competition, following astring of strong wins.

But reality might have sunk in for the blue and white, succumbing to their biggest test of the season.

You better not shy away from the task when playing TTU at Tyers, because if you do, this can happen.

The Bombers dismantled theKangaroos from the offing, starting off with an eight-goal to one opening term.

The same followed in the second term, handing the home side amore-thancomfortable 84-point halftime lead.

Cowwarr blew their chancetoget back into the game after halftime, instead Yarram put the game beyond doubt, smashing the Saints, kicking 8.2 (50) to 2.1 (13).

With the margin now out to 69 points, the four points virtually in the bag for Yarram, both sides combined for eight goals in the final term.

The leadwas cut, but the damage was done, Yarram claiming amassive win 21.6 (132) to 10.5 (65).

Josh Swiftwas huge for the Demons, kicking nine goals. He was well-assisted by Tyler Chisholm(four goals)and Thomas Sheedy (three goals).

Swift was best-on-ground, also in the best was DylanGarnham, Chris Bruns, Liam Bentley, Griffin Underwood and Sheedy.

For thehome side,BraydenRioli, Kyle Stamers, Sean Alexander,NickTwomey, MattJohnstonand River O’Brienwere noticed for their efforts.

Yarramremainfour points outside thetop five, and still within achanceofa finals.

WithSale Citynext up forthe Demons, they could draw level with Yallourn Yallourn North if results fall their way.

However,inthe final round they face Woodside, and withtwo wins essentially needed to qualify from here, it must be said that is unlikely.

THE Jets closed in on double chance.

The Wildcats weren’t able to take easy street from the get-go against the Bulldogs. Sale City kept themselves in the competition for at least ahalf before the visitors drew away in the second.

Woodside took aseven-point first quarter lead, moving to 18 at halftime.

Not their usual selves, Woodside generally put sides away by this point, and with only an 18-pointbuffer, Sale City was well and truly in the fight.

But all hopes were squandered in the second half, when Woodside did what Woodside does best -score goals.

The Wildcats added 8.3 (51) to 1.1 (7) in the thirdterm, blowingthe leadout to 62 points.

The onslaught didn’t stop there, as they buried the home side on their way to a 93-point demolition, 21.9 (135) to 6.6 (42).

And with that defeat for the Bulldogs, they were kicked out of finals contention, leaving just sixteams in thehuntfor apremiership, which will soon be cut to just the final five.

Daniel Farmerled the line for the visitor’s, kicking eight majors, while the Wildcats saw another 10 players hit the scoreboard, three of which doubled-up.

Farmer was best-on-ground, while Josh Kennedy,Lee Stockdale,Rowan Missen, Cam Whiteoak and Michael Stockdale all featured in the best.

ZWatson

SDonahoe PUnmack.TTU: DNavakas THendricken RMassaroJ Williams CParker

COWWARR 1.35.4 6.7 10.15 (75)

YARRAM 0.24.3 5.5 6.5 (41)

GOALS: Cowwarr:MMcNulty3ABarrett 2J PrydeCFarley DCooper NFarleyT Paulet.

Yarram: RDurkin 2ALucas 2SHarvey. BEST: Cowwarr: DErdely CBrown ABarrett KHoodD

Veale. Yarram: ALucas JBabbMMcmahon LNuttall SHarveyR Durkin

THIRDS

Rosedale: LSpeairs 15 NHeathcote2 CBarnett JEdney JReid MCaruana

Glengarry: DBalfour 4M Velasco3SBurgess 3KRowley2NLeslie BLever-Makin H

Whateley JNewborough. YYN: LCumiskey2 BEST: Glengarry: CBartley NLeslie DBalfour SBurgess JNewborough BLever-Makin. YYN: JPheeney JGarner LCumiskeyMGlibanovic

GOALS:Yarram: LHunter 4LEarles 4T Chisholm 3CEarles 3LRoberts 2JSheedy 2LSketcher

2CFarley THallCIreland WBrunton NDaldy.Cowwarr:Details N/A. BEST: Yarram: CEarles

LHunter SBeerLEarles TChisholm. Cowwarr:CCox BEenjesT DavisonDHowardJBarton HEYFIELD

(95) TTU2.1

GOALS:

HARRIET SHING MP

WORKING HARD FOR YOUR COMMUNITY

(41)

Scoringslowed down in the third term, in fact the Kangaroos managed to win the quarter slightly, dragging the deficit back to 79 points at the final break.

But normalitywas restored inside the final 30 minutes,asTTU piled on another 7.5 (47) to 1.4 (10) to put the margin over triple figures, sending Heyfield home empty-handed.

The final score in TTU’s favour was 25.9 (159) to 6.7 (43).

Beau White was the cream of the crop for the Bomberswith fivegoals,leading the line of three additionalfour-or-more goal scorers.

Frazar Brouns, Nick Fox and Brad Kelleher all booted four of their own.

Flynn Shieldswas unstoppablefor the Bombers,earninghimself aspot in the best, as was White, Tom Fleming, Fox, Brouns and Kade Duncan.

As for the Roos, Liam Heasley, Kail Hole, Robert McMillan, Asher Eastham, Kodie Woodland and Max Van Der Zwart were valiant in defeat.

A15thsuccessive win this weekend for the Bombers will secure the minor premiership. All that stands in their way is 10th-placed Glengarry.

As for Heyfield, they remain inside the top five, and with games against Gormandale and Cowwarr, there is no reason the Kangaroos drop points and fall out of finals contention.

THE Demons are still in the hunt.

Yarram staked their claim at the weekend in acommanding 67-point win over Cowwarr on their home deck.

The visiting side barely lifted their foot off of the throttle,and with finals on the horizon, why would they do anything else?

Aquick start to the game granted the Demons an early advantage overthe Saints, taking a27-point lead at quarter time.

The second term was muchmorefreeflowing, for both sides, Cowwarr added 3.2 (20), but Yarram extended theirlead, adding 4.1 (25).

They didn’t put afoot wrong at the weekend,ontheir way to a149-point win over Glengarry at home.

Consistentgoal flowwas on display,as YYN closed the gaponChurchill in third, who are under the pump in the final two rounds.

The Jets kicked 6.2 (38) to 2.2 (14) in the first term, before keeping the Magpies scorelessthroughout the second and third. While doing so, YYNkicked12.7(79) throughout the second and thirdquarters, to extend their lead beyond 100 points -101 to be exact.

It just went from badtoworse for Glengarry, despite scoring 1.1 (7) themselves.

YYN flexed their muscle,kicking 8.7 (55), walking away as 149-point winners, 26.16 (172)to3.5 (23).

The duo of Dean Macdonald and Keenan Hughes were at it again, kicking 13 goals between them; seven and six respectively.

Macdonaldwas noticedfor his efforts with best-on-ground honours, also featuring was Mitch Luck, Bailey Brown (four goals), Hughes, Barrie Burnett and Anthony Young.

For the Magpies, Jack Burgess, Michael Ryan, Alex Birmingham, Lachlan Patterson, MattScholtes and CurtisHood triedtheir best. The future of YYN’s season is all in their hands, and this is where it gets interesting.

Next week, they travel to Gaskin Park to take on the Cougars, who are currently under siege.

Awin here will boost them above their counterpartsand into thesecond-chance position of third.

However, awin for the Cougars willjust aboutconfirm second chancefor them, as they would be two wins above the Jets and even if Heyfield draw level on points, Churchill’s percentage shouldbefar more superior.

Everythingwillcomedown to the final two weeks, but all could be decided in the next couple of days.

WOODSIDE survived an early scare.

Forthe home side, Blake Safstrom, Tom Bowman, Chad Evans, JaiNelson, Sam Dean and Brysen Nottle werethe bestfor the Bulldogs.

Woodside are treated to abye this week, but I’m not sure if they would’ve wanted it.

If TTU win this weekend over Glengarry, they take the minor premiership, and unfortunatelyfor Woodside, it is completely out of their hands.

However, Woodsidewere able to mathematically confirm atop-two spot at the weekend, meaning they are likely to face offagainst Heyfield, YYN or Churchill in the first week of finals.

ROSEDALE got theirfourthwin of the year.

The Blues started slow, but grew over time to overcome the Tigers at home.

Gormandale startedpositively, taking a 10-point lead into the first break.

And they stuck with the Blues for as long as they could, yet the lead traded hands as Rosedale then had afour-point lead at the main break.

Rosedale kicked away in the third term, adding 4.2 (26) to one goal, holding afour-goal lead with 30 minutes to play.

The game was put beyonddoubt in the final quarter, as Rosedale ran home 39-point winners, 12.13 (85) to 7.4 (46).

For Rosedale, Darryl Mayman-French, Luke Stuckey, Bailey Reid, Spencer Fox, Harry Foat and Corey Beaver stood out.

While for the Tigers, Jai Foulkes, Jet Krimhand, Tristan Salerno, Isaac Copland, Kodie Owen and Will Flanagan were also stand outs for their side.

With nothing on the line for either team, pride remains afactor.

Rosedale could still finish above Sale City and be named the best of the rest, all that stands in their way is Cowwarr andthe Bulldogs.

While for Gormandale, it looks like they could go awhole season without awin, with Heyfield next week that appears unlikely, leaving their only chance to get four points against Glengarry in the final round. CHURCHILL had the bye.

When it’s time to downsize and enjoyyour freedom

Kat joinsthe 300clubatChurchill

NETBALL

NORTH GIPPSLAND

BY ZAIDA GLIBANOVIC

CHURCHILL netballer and AGrade coach

Katrina Hutchinson played her 300th match recently.

Hutchinson joins avery exclusive club at the Cougars, being one of only four women to have reached 300 club games. Hutchinson now joins Churchill royalty alongside Nolene McDougall, Stacey Yates (nee Sanders)and Roxy Whitechurch.

Hutchinson brought up the milestone against aformidable GlengarrysideinRound 15, who had to win for achance at finals.

The Churchill team brought home the chocolates for their 300 gamer and coach, but it wasn’t easy. Adding to the grandeur of the occasion, with afinals-feel, the team won the nail-biting game by asingle goal.

“It felt really good running out to play my 300th game with the Churchill FootballNetball Club, obviously been around there for along time now, it’s like family, and the girls in my team this year are next to none,” she said.

Her path to 300 started at ayoung age, with the netballer beginning her senior career in 2004 at the age of 13.

“I started in 2004, so Iwas 13-years-old, turning 14 at the end of the season. Iplayed DGrade in goalattack,”Hutchinson recalled. It was in DGrade that Hutchinson created her netball craft, learning how to play seniors and in adifferent position.

“It was really eye-opening from juniors, yourown age to an open gradeatthe age of 14,” she said.

“Before Icame to Churchill, Iplayedatthe ChurchillAssociationindoorcompetition, and Iwas always in goaldefence. They needed ashooting position, so Itransitioned into agoal attack.”

In her first yearofopen-age netball, Hutchinson took out the DGrade best and fairest. She played one more year of DGrade andworked up to CGrade,where she was also picked to play BGrade finals; following her usefulnessinthe BGrade side, she played one season in BGrade andthen went on to become an integral piece to the ChurchillAGrade side, seasonafterseason. Reflecting on her milestone, Hutchinson says she still feels young at heart.

“I don’t think it’smore‘do Ithink Icould’ve ever played for this long’ because you always feel young at heart, but Ialwaysknew that Iwouldn’t play at another club,” she said.

Aloyal servant to the Cougars, Hutchinson has contributed to the club both on and off the court, calling Gaskin Park home.

“A lot of people my age have played that many games they just don’t stay at the same club,” she said.

“I was always goingtostay at the Churchill Football-Netball Club. My loyalty is something that Ireallypride myself on.”

Withexperience,Hutchinson has changed how she has played to ensure longevity on the court.

Having played goal attack in DGrade for thefirst few years, and when coming into B Grade, Hutchinson was exposedtomidcourt minutes, where she found her home.

“I usedtorun aroundlike an energiser bunny just wanting every ball, and now I’ve obviously learnt the smarts of netball -when to go, when not to go,” she said.

“My two most memorable memories are the flags; it’s what we are all chasing each and every year.”

Among the most notable moment is the 2012 Grand Final.

“My AGrade premiershipin2012, it’s a feeling you just can’t describe,” she said. It was agame for the history books when Churchill defeated Rosedale, 53 to 32. The Blues were the better team all year and got the best of the Cougars earlier in the finals, but upon the big stage, the Churchill team came out firing, leading all game to put the Blues on ice.

Hutchinsondescribedthe win as “incredible”.

“It was asenseofsisterhoodand likea proudness that you’ve done it for your club, asense of accomplishment; it’s just an emotional rollercoaster to win aflag,” she said.

“I’ve also coached aD Grade flag which personally Iwas super proud of as the coach, getting all my players to play for each other and to play for me, so that was really, really rewarding.”

The mother of two celebrated her 300th game on the tamer side in comparison to those premiershipwins,heading to the local watering hole for an intimate celebration.

“My celebrations have slowed down over the years, so there wasn’t much of a

celebration, justwent downtothe Churchill Pub for dinner with afew of the girls and a coupleofdrinks and headed home -times have definitely changed,” she said.

In hertenure, Hutchinson, known to most at ChurchillFNC as ‘Kat’ has played with and for manygreatnetballers

“I have had alot of respect for both my teammatesand coaches overthe years,” she said.

“In hindsight, looking up to arole model, the closest would be Rach Patto (Patterson), who taught me the majority of what Iknow as aplayer and definitely as acoach. She’s been my role model on and off the court with all things netball.”

Hutchinson’s road to 300 senior games wasn’t without its speed humps.

“I’vehad my fairshare of challenges -I played from 2004 to 2017 with no major injuries, and then Ifell pregnant with Lacey in 2017. Iplayed half the season until Iwas about14weeks, finished up in July, and I was back for the next season,” she said. That season the Cougars were on fire, finishing within thetop three.Still,for Hutchinson, the fairy tale wasn’t meant to be as in the first final in the second quarter, she went down with anasty knee injury (ACL) that saw her contemplating giving up netball entirely.

“My recoverywas really poor, and Ifell pregnantwithBlair …trying to recover, plus being pregnant,” Hutchinson found herself in adifficult predicament.

“I wasn’t going to play. Iwas done,myknee had pain in it all the time,” she said.

Lucky for the club, when AGrade coach at the time, Maddison Burney, asked Hutchinson to return, Hutchinson couldn’t say no.

“I strapped up, and the rest was history, I was back playing netball,” she said.

Afterthree yearsaway from the game, Hutchinsonhadn’t missed abeat, slotting herself nicely among the team, and Churchill has remained aformidable side in the North Gippsland competition.

Now integrated into Churchill’s history, Hutchinson has already been integratedinto club life membership.

“The club has definitely changed -I’ve seen quite afew presidents in my time,” she said.

“They’ve all had ahugerole in where Churchill is today with the infrastructure and the culture.

“This season in particular, the club has areally big vibe around it -there’s abuzz, there’s afeeling of family and wanting the best for each other. So Idefinitely think the clubhas changed over the years,but Ithink we are heading in the right direction,” she added.

“With kids times change, there’s going to be atime where Ineed to step back from my sporting commitments and let them take the reins.”

Luckily enough for Churchill, that time is not now for Hutchinson.

“I definitely have alot more in the tank,” she exclaimed.

“I wouldn’t necessarily say I’ve got alot more AGrade gamesbefore me, but I’ve definitely got alot more netball in me.”

The young mum will continue to play a domineering role at the Churchill Football Netball Club as she has always done.

Withher AGrade sidesittingpretty in the top four of the ladder, perhaps at the end of the season, Hutchinson might add another accolade to her already decorated career.

NORTH GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

Great day: Katrina Hutchinson pointed to the 2012 AGrade premiership as ahighlightfromher 300 games with Churchill.

Winners: TheChurchill team got the win for300 gamer Katrina Hutchinson(pictured backrow,right). Photographs supplied

FEMALE FOOTBALL GIPPSLAND

GOALS: Boisdale-Briagolong: EPorter3LRadfordMShingles.LindenowSouth: BHarrisC

CENTRAL GIPPSLAND JUNIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE

ROUND 12

TRARALGON DISTRICT JUNIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Bairnsdale: LCarroll 9ZCotter 2EGudgin BFoster. Morwell: Details N/A. BEST:

JGrimsted KGibbs JO’Connor SHamiltonLCarroll SMelrose.Morwell: KCollier

JBeer AMcGregor KKeady EMcEwen

Saturday, August 5

Rage. (PG) 7.00 WeekendBreakfast.

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

12.30 Midsomer Murders. (Mv,R)

2.00 Death In Paradise. (PG, R)

3.00 Landline. (R)

3.30 Mad About Maggots. (PG)

3.40 Secrets Of TheMuseum. (R)

4.30 Restoration Australia. (PG,R)

5.30 WarOnWaste. (PG, R)

6.30 NewLeashOnLife (R)

Hosted by Joel Creasey

7.00 ABC News Takesalookatthe top stories of theday,including coverage of developing stories andevents.

7.30 Grantchester (Return, PG)

Afterafun-filledcharity motorcycle race, ayoungbiker is founddead.

8.20 Vera (Mv,R)After asurgeon is shot dead and his daughters abducted, DCI Stanhope and her team pursue the killer.They have only alimited time to find the missing girls, due to the fact oneofthem is in need of medication.

9.45 BayOfFires. (Malv,R)A public servant is sent to investigate suspicious governmentpayouts to peopleintown.

10.45 LastTango In Halifax. (Ml, R) Alan and Celia havebeen married for sevenyears.

11.45 Rage (MA15+adhlnsv) Music video clips.

6.00 WorldWatch. 8.00 DD India Prime TimeNews 9.00 GarmaFestival 2023 Day 1.

12.30 ABC World NewsTonightWithDavid Muir

1.00 PBS NewsHour 2.00 Gymnastics. FIG Trampoline World Cup Series. 3.00 Gymnastics. FIG Trampoline World Cup Series.

4.00 TrailTowns.(R) 4.30 Going Places With Ernie Dingo.(R) 5.30 Unsinkable: Japan’sLost Battleship.(PG,R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Going Places With Ernie Dingo

(PG) Ernie Dingo visits the Bungle Bungles.

8.30 Amazing Railway Adventures With Nick Knowles: Malaysia.

(PGa) English TV presenter Nick Knowles takes three railway journeys in Malaysia.

9.25 World’sMostScenic Railway Journeys: Genoa, Italy (R) Chronicles atrain journey through Genoa, ahistoric port citybrimming with stunningarchitecture.

10.15 Tony Robinson’s HistoryOf Britain: Victorians. (PGan, R)

11.05 RexInRome. (Mv,R)

12.00 TheFamilyLaw (Mls, R)

3.00 UFOs.(PGa, R) 4.20 Mastermind Australia. (R) 4.50 Destination Flavour Scandinavia Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World EnglishNews Morning. 5.15 France 24 Feature

5.30 ANC PhilippinesThe WorldTonight.

6.00 NBCToday [VIC]HomeShopping.

7.00 WeekendSunrise. 10.00 The

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 Football AFL.Round 21 Geelong vPortAdelaide. From GMHBAStadium, Victoria.

10.30 AFL Post-Game Show. Awrap-up of thegame, including panel discussion and interviews, with access to players, coaches and staff

11.00 MOVIE: Cold Pursuit (2019,MA15+av,R)Anunassuming snowploughdriver seeks revenge on a criminalkingpinfor his son’s murder.Liam Neeson, LauraDern, MicheálRichardson.

1.20 Reverie. (Mav,R)Mara’s de-realisationsput her life in danger

1.30[VIC]HomeShopping.

4.00 GetArty. (R) Ashowcase of artprojects.

5.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R)Hosted by Grant Denyer

6.00 Nine News Saturday.

7.00 ACurrentAffair

7.30 MOVIE: TheShawshank Redemption. (1994,Mlv,R)A unique friendship develops between abanker convicted of murder and one of his fellow prisoners. Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman.

10.25 MOVIE: TheKitchen. (2019,MA15+lv,R)The gangsters wives takeovertheirbusinesses. Melissa McCarthy,Elisabeth Moss.

12.25 Straight Forward (Mdlv, R) Aconwoman plans to rob acrimeboss.

1.20 It’s All Greek To Me. (PG, R)

1.50 9HoneyHacks. (PG)

2.00 TheIncredible Journey Presents (PGa)

2.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 Global Shop (R)

5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

5.30 Helping Hands. (PG, R)

Sunday, August 6

6.30 Compass: Indira’sTree. (PG,R)

7.00 ABCNews. Alook at the top stories of theday

7.30 Restoration Australia: Miner’s Cottage. (PG) Hosted by Anthony Burke.

8.30 BayOfFires. (Madl) Jeremiah agrees to help Stella dispose of a body in the Tasmanian wilderness.

9.25 Miniseries: TheBeast Must Die. (Mal) Part 4of5.AsFrances becomesmore embedded in the home, she makes progress with herplan.

10.10 TheNewsreader (Mal, R) Helen and Dale report on acomet.

11.10 Talking Heads. (Ml, R)

11.45 Rage Vault (MA15+adhlnsv)

2.05 Escape From TheCity (R)

5.00 Insiders. (R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Colosseum: TheGladiators. (Premiere) The rise and fall of the RomanEmpire.

9.15 Amazon: TheLostWorld: Lost Jungle Civilisation. (PG)Part 1of3.Archaeologists investigate mysterious geometric shapes discovered in theBrazilian jungle

10.10 Hemingway:A Writer (1899-1929) (Ma, R) Part 1of3

12.15 DanSnow: TheTutankhamun Mystery. (PGa, R)

1.55 24 Hours In Emergency (Mal, R)

3.45 Mastermind Australia. (R)

4.45 DestinationFlavour Scandinavia Bitesize. (R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning 5.15 France 24 Feature. 5.30 Al Jazeera News.

6.00 NBCToday [VIC]HomeShopping.

WeekendSunrise. 10.00 The Morning Show:Weekend. (PG) 11.00 House Of Wellness.(PG,R)

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 TheVoice. (Return,PGl) Agroupof contestants sets out to prove they have what it takes to be asinging sensation.

8.55 7NEWSSpotlight. An exclusive, special investigation.

9.55 TheLatest: SevenNews.

10.25 Born To Kill? David Carpenter (MA15+av) Alookat thecase of David Carpenter

11.25 AutopsyUSA:JeffreyEpstein. (Mad) Alook at the death of Jeffrey Epstein

12.25 All Together Now– The100 (PG, R) Hosted by Julia Zemiro

12.30[VIC]HomeShopping.

3.30 Million Dollar Minute. (R)

6.00 Nine News Sunday.

7.00 TheBlock. (Return,PGl) HostedbyScott Cam.

8.50 60 Minutes. Current affairs program, investigating, analysing and uncovering the issuesaffectingall Australians.

9.50 NineNews Late Alook at the latest news and events.

10.20 Australian Crime Stories: Justice ForLucille. (Ma, R)

11.15 TheFirst48: Unspeakable Pt 2. (MA15+alv)

12.10 Law&Order:Organized Crime. (Mav, R)

1.00 Fishing Australia. (R)

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Believer’s VoiceOfVictory. (PGa) 4.30

Take Two. (R) 5.00 News

6.00 To Be Advised

8.00 MOVIE: Weird: TheAlYankovic Story. (2022, Madv) The story of Weird Al Yankovic’slife, from his meteoric rise to fame with early hits like EatItand Likea Surgeonto his torrid celebrity love affairs and famouslydepravedlifestyle. Daniel Radcliffe,Rainn Wilson, Julianne Nicholson.

10.00 TheCheap Seats. (Mal,R)From major news stories to entertainment and viral videos, presenters Melanie Bracewelland Tim McDonald take alookatthe week thatwas.

11.00 JustFor Laughs Australia. (MA15+ls, R) Stand-up comedy performances from Judith Lucy,Dilruk Jayasinha andMichelleBrasier

12.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 Authentic (PG) Religious program.

5.00 Hour Of Power. Religiousprogram.

6.30 TheSundayProject. Panellists dissect, digest and reconstitute the daily news, events and hottest topics.

7.30 Hunted. In areal-life game of cat and mouse, ordinary Aussies go on the run fromateam of experts.

9.00 FBI. (Mv) When adeadly truck heist arms the killers with enough ammonium nitrate to constructa massivebomb, the teamdiscovers alink to aterrorist group Maggie is working to infiltrate.

10.00 NCIS: Hawai’i. (Mv,R)When aUSNavy seaman is involved in a murder,the NCIS team is called to work the case on their day off

(R)

Monday, August 7

6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 ABC News Mornings. 10.00 Landline.(R) 11.00 Fake Or Fortune? (R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon.

1.00 Nolan. (PG,R)

2.00 Parliament Question Time.

3.00 Gardening Australia. (R)

4.05 Tenable. (R)

4.55 Australian Story. (R)

5.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)

6.00 MorningPrograms.

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)

6.30 SBS WorldNews.

7.30 Robson Green’sWeekend Escapes. (PG) Robson Green is joined by two relatives.

SEVEN (7,6)

Media Watch (PG) Hosted by Paul Barry.

9.35 Q+AGarma Special. Aspecial edition fromthe Garma Festival.

10.35 ABC LateNews.

8.40 Britain’sMostExpensive Houses (PGl) Part 1of5.Follows UK Sotheby’sInternational Realty as they sell expensivehomes.

9.35 24 HoursInEmergency:

I’ll Be There. (M) A46-year-old victim of ahigh-speed car crash is rushed to Queen’s Medical Centre.

10.30 SBS World NewsLate.

11.00 GarmaFestival 2023 Wrap (R)

12.00 My Brilliant Friend. (Mlv)

12.55 Gomorrah. (MA15+v,R)

3.40 Mastermind Australia. (R) 4.45 Destination Flavour Scandinavia Bitesize. (R)

5.00 NHK World EnglishNewsMorning. 5.30 ANC PhilippinesThe WorldTonight.

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 Home And Away (PGa)

7.30 TheVoice. (PG) As the blind auditions continue, contestants set outtoprove they havewhat it takes to be asinging sensation.

8.45 9-1-1: Lone Star (Mav) Owen is conflictedwhen his brother Robert askshim forhelp.Judd and Grace face afamily crisis.

10.45 TheLatest: SevenNews.

11.15 TheBlacklist. (MA15+av) Cooper is caught on the defensive whensummoned by theattorney general. Redvisits dear friends.

12.15 TheVillage. (Mas, R) Avareturns.

12.30[VIC]HomeShopping.

1.15 Harry’s Practice. (R) Information about petcare 2.00

(R)

News and current affairs.

Tuesday, August8

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (PG, R)

6.30 SBS WorldNews

7.30 ThePoint: Referendum Road Trip Alook at First Nations perspectives.

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

10.45 NineNewsLate. Alook at thelatestnews and events.

11.15 Mr Mayor. (PG)Neildeals with some visitingmayors.

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

7.30 Hunted In areal-lifegameof catand mouse, ordinary Aussies go on the run from ateam of experts.

8.40 Have YouBeen Paying Attention? (Malns)Celebrity panellists compete to seewho can remember the most about events of the week.

9.40 TomGleeson: Lighten Up (Mls, R) Stand-upcomedy performance from Gold Logie-winner and HardQuizhost TomGleeson.

10.50 FBI: MostWanted. (MA15+v,R) Theteaminvestigatesamurder spree.

11.40 TheProject (R) 12.40 TheLate ShowWith Stephen Colbert (PG)

HomeShopping (R)

CBSMornings.

Part 3of3.Craig Reucassel looks at the environmental cost of disposable fashion.

9.30 Louis Theroux Interviews... Rita Ora. (Final, Ml, R) Louis Theroux interviews Rita Ora. 10.15 ABCLateNews. 10.30 TheBusiness (R) 10 50 Four Corners (R) 11.35 Media Watch. (PG,R) 11.50 Parliament Question Time 12.55 In TheFace Of Terror (PG, R) 1.45 Rage.(MA15+adhlnsv)

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

8.30 Insight. Takesalookatwhether nimbyism is protecting communitiesor holding us back and locking others out

9.30 Dateline: Russia’s Rainbow Exiles. Explores how Russian exiles are fleeing Putin’s harsh anti-LGBTQI+ laws for safetyinneighbouringGeorgia.

10.00 SBSWorld News Late.

10.30 Living Black: Jacinta Price –Coalitions Rising Star (R)

11.00 Pandore. (Mals)

11.55 Bloodlands. (Malv, R)

4.00 Mastermind Australia.(R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC

PhilippinesThe WorldTonight

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 Home AndAway. (PGa)

7.30 TheVoice. (PGa) Asthe blind auditions continue,contestants set outtoprove they havewhat it takes to be asinging sensation.

9.15 TheRookie. (Mdv) In the midst of a heatwaveand blackout, Nolan and Aaron discovercriminals hiding at the station.

10.15 TheRookie: Feds. (Mv) Brendon and Antoinette go undercover.

11.15 TheLatest: SevenNews.

11.45 Chicago Fire. (Mav) Javi spends acoupleofshiftsatFirehouse51.

12.45 S.W.A.T. (Mv,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. (PGl) Hosted by Scott Cam.

8.40 TheHundred WithAndy Lee. (Return, PGls) AndyLee is joined by a panel of comedians and 100 Aussies to explore the fun behind the facts.

9.40 Botched. (MA15+amn) Aman who aspirestolooklikea walking piece of artwith fivelayers of tattoos comes to the doctors for help

10.40 Nine NewsLate

11.10 See No Evil: TheRent Check. (Ma)

12.05 CourtCam. (Mlv)

12.35 Tipping Point. (PG, R)

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Believer’sVoice Of Victory.(PGa)

ACurrent Affair.(R)

6.30 TheProject Alook at the day’snews and events

7.30 Hunted. (Final) The remaining fugitives race to the extraction point after 21 days on the run from the hunters.

8.40 TheCheapSeats. (Mal) Presenters Melanie Bracewell and TimMcDonald takea look at the weekthat was.

9.40 NCIS (Mv,R)NCISinvestigates aring of teenagepartygoers who arebelievedto be responsible for astringofbreak-ins.

10.30 NCIS: Hawai’i. (Mv,R)A US Navy seaman is involved in amurder

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.

Jim’shere to save the day

By LIAM DURKIN

THIS is not ajoke.

You’ve heard of Jim’sMowing, Jim’s Cleaning and Jim’s Test and Tag, but what about Jim’s Commonwealth Games?

Yes, Jim’s Group chief executive Jim Penman (the ‘Jim’) has put forward anovel solution to help try and save the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

With Jim’s franchises enjoying astrong showing in the Latrobe Valley, Mr Penman feels he already has the facilities in place to house athletes looking for abed.

Speaking to the Express, Mr Penman was adamant he could make it work.

“It’s no big deal, we’ve got aconference centre with 96 rooms, we use most of them for training but not all of them,” he said.

“We can save billions by billeting athletes. No need to build new accommodation. What awaste of money. They can stay with us.

“We cansavethe Games. We have over 5000 franchisees Australia-wide, with thousands in Victoria alone.Many of them would be happy to help. No charge.

“We could give athletes somewhere to stay and help themtoexperiencewonderful Aussie home cooked food.

“Whynot bring the Games back to the people? It is supposed to be for the people. So many Australians have been training for years to compete in front of their home crowd, and the Andrews government has ripped away their dream.

“I’m quite confident, we’ve got nearly 1000 franchisees in Victoria, I’m quiteconfident you’d find enoughvolunteers to put up athletes all over the Commonwealth.

“We can’t run the events, but we can house them, that’s the idea.”

Taking in the true spirit of entrepreneurship, an enthusiastic Mr Penman said there was ways to improvise.

“You can’t take the whole cost down, you’re stillgoingtorun the event, but you take out abig chunk of the cost, it makesitmore feasible,” he said.

“I don’t see why we shouldn’t have a Commonwealth Games, it is really not that big adeal, we can use existing sporting venues and so forth, it brings people into the state, Victorians are crazy aboutsport,sowhy not?”

Logistically at least, the plan still has multiple hurdles to overcome, and as Mr Penman said, even he wasn’t sure how receptive Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews would be to the idea.

“I don’t thinkthe stategovernment will take it up, all I’m saying is theoffer is there,” he said.

“What the Andrews government has done to the Commonwealth Games is an absolute disgrace. He (Andrews) should be sacked. Victoria has become the laughing stock of the world.

“Clearly the Andrewsgovernment is so incompetent, theycouldn’t project manage their way out of apaper bag, let alone put on an international sporting event.” There really is aJim’s for everything.

Novel solution to Comm Games

TRARALGON public relations and events consultant John Jennings suggests aseries of do-it-yourself annualgames across regional Victoria.

Beginning as early as January next year, selected existing sportingevents in regional towns could simply carry aspecial tag termed, ‘Common-Wealth’.

Sportingbodies in aVictorian town of any size could stageone event per year with the ‘Common-Wealth’ tag.

Strong interest for Icon Morwell development

From Page 1

COUNCILhad redesignated the huge site for future food manufacturing, and lodged adetailed submission to the government requesting the $10 million in funding.Itwelcomed the prospect of ongoing jobs at atimeoflost power industry jobs and the proposed closure of the Yallourn power station in 2028.

Colliers associate director, Sam Hibbins, said Icon Morwell offered awide range of industrial lot sizes suited to various industry types.

“Weexpect stronginterestfrom both small,mid andlarge-scaleoccupiers and investors,” he said.

“Morwellisthe commercialcentre of the City Of Latrobe, but has been starved of new industrial development, and this estate will cater for the increased activity from major projects centred on the Latrobe Valley.”

Colliers associate director, Luke Lowden, said interest in the estate to date had come from local occupiers and broader national occupiers,plus investors seeking to cement their position in the South East’s newest industrial estate.

“With substantial land price escalation in core

SouthEasternindustriallocations,businesses and investor are seeking opportunities in growth markets,” he said.

Acompetitive fun run on various railtrails was one potential example, with atourism flavour, while there are manyfully-maintained grounds for AFL football, soccer,cricket, netball, golf and bowls available. The list of existing facilities wasalmost endless. Abrand-new swimming centre in Traralgon was an example of new facilities -without fresh expenditure.

“I believe the variousregional tourism groups or councils could assist each selected event with some support funds and the necessary publicity to attract visitors. There was no limit to existing events -just plenty of DIY countryspirit,”John said.

The highlighted eventsshould attractpaying visitors -for examplea Brisbane family interested in kayaking may readily respond to acompetitive event on the Murray while there wereanumberofcar race tracks whichalready broughtindrivers and fans from across and outside the state.

John is presenting his plan to various regional sporting groups and communityleaders including MPs, councillors, media and tourism bodies.

One country newspaper journalist likes the idea of utilising existing events, suggesting the addition of a“colourful opening and closing ceremony.”

“Disheartening” cancellation

THE Latrobe City Business Chamber has labelled the Commonwealth Games cancellationas‘disheartening’for many LatrobeCitybusinesses andcommunity groups expected to benefit from upgrades to facilities and additional employment opportunities.

Latrobe CityBusiness Chamber

President, Peter Ceeney said the chamber understood the decision was made in the best interests of Victorian taxpayers, but believes the opportunity to showcase the Latrobe Valley to the world was awonderful opportunity created by the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

“Of course, it’s not the news we wanted or wereexpecting,but we are looking forward to learning more about the distribution of funds to improve our region’s sporting facilities, as well as the additional employmentopportunities expected to be generated across multiple sectors including the construction of social and affordable housing,” he said.

“Localbusinesses and community groups were expecting increased visitor numbers in the region, enhancing the local economy, and building the profile of the Gippsland region as aplace to visit not only during the games but into the future as well.”

Key players: DeveloperJohn Alom with Rennie Property Sale’s MaryIoannou andPeter Rennie

Australian summer could be disaster

RECENTLY, the super-computers of theWorld Meteorological Organisation (WMO) found that the average temperature across Planet Earth had on July 3reached the highest ever recorded level of 17.01 degrees celcius.

Just aday later, ayet higher record level of 17.18 degrees celcius was reached.

These levels broke the previous record set just seven years ago of 16.92 degrees celcius. (Source: ABC News Report, July 5, drawingondata from the US National Centre for Environmental Prediction).

Aweekearlier,sea temperaturesinthe northern hemisphere were excessively high for this time of year, citing a6°C level above the average around the British Isles, as the worst forest fires ever, burnt through more than one per cent of the Canadian landmass, with more than 500 fires still out of control.

Depending on how severe the coming El Nino is, Australia’s summer could be equally as disastrous.

Every climate scientist interviewed about these factswas quick to attributethese “unnatural” phenomena to the increasing heat held in the atmosphere from human use of fossil fuels.

The terrible truth, as explained by the WMO is that this is the new normal.

We cannot expect temperatures to settle back to what they were 10, 20 or 100 years ago, even if we immediately stopped releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. And this will be the case for several hundred years into the future.

Yet, as we breathe, carbon emissions from fossil fuels world-wide are still increasing. The extra CO2 from burning them is worryingly accompanied by the extra fugitive methane emissions from the extraction and production of gas wells. Yet we have several major banks in Australia still financing coal and gas developments.

More distressingly, Australian taxpayers are helpingtoinstall gasproductionand processing infrastructure in the Port of Darwin and fracking in the Beetaloo Basin in the Northern Territory.

In Victoria, gas connections to new housing estates are going ahead, despite the increasing cost of natural gas across the world,never mind thedamage to the atmosphere.

The ACT government banned gas connections to new housing estates two years ago, and provides subsidies to electrify household appliances.

Why can’t the state government follow theirlead and legislate similar laws here?

We as citizens needtotakethe lead and pressure our local elected representatives to getbehind the Electrify Everything Campaign, ban gas connections to new housing developments,provide financial assistance to households whowantto disconnect from gas, support all worthy renewable energy initiatives,ruleout any taxpayer support for anyfossil fuel developers, enable laws that speed up the connections to renewable energy zones (REZ) sacross the state and speed up the roll-out of EV charging infrastructure.

We need to check out which banks are financing fossil fuel development and act accordingly. Climatechange won’t fix itself. People needtoact

Dan Caffrey Latrobe Valley Sustainability

Group

Protecting region's koalas

THE recently released state government report 'Victorian Koala Management Strategy' (VKMS) has set out its strategies for the next 10 years to address how to manage koala populations in Victoria.

Included is the acknowledgment that the koalas

living in the Strzelecki/SouthGippsland region present with ahighergenetic diversity.

The report details that this uniqueness requires further researchtodetermineits significance within the context of koala health and conservation throughout Victoria.

Acollaborative project has alreadybegunand this includes the identification and monitoring of koala populations statewide.

Anumberoforganisationsare involved, including Federation University and CSIRO. Involvement of those in the community as citizen scientists is encouraged.

Additionally,the CSIRO NationalKoala Monitoring Team has released anew user-friendly mobile appfor android users called 'Koala Spotter'.

The iOS version is in the pipeline. The app encourages citizen scientists to take pictures of koalas that can be submitted directly to the monitoring team.

The VKMS reportalsohighlights the Latrobe CityCouncil’s'Strzelecki-Alpine Biolink' as an admirable example of collaboration to support koalas and wildlife conservation. Coincidentally and well timed is the news that our local councillors have agreed to afeasibility study to be undertaken, to determine the feasibility for akoala and wildlife rehabilitation/education centre in South Ward.

Latrobe City Council is to be commended in its endeavourstoprotect its region’s koalas and biodiversity. On viewing the colourful koala structures clinging to poles on the drive into Yinnar, the idea of akoala mascot for Latrobe City Council region comes to mind as atourist drawcard for the region.

Perhapsthis could be considered as partof the council’s koala/wildlife feasibility study? Nonetheless, the conservation of our koalas and regional biodiversity is also vitally dependent on the additional collaboration and advocacy of our state and federal political counterparts.

It is the hope Martin Cameron, Danny O’Brien, Darren Chester and Harriet Shing will agree.

Olga van Cauwenberghe Jeeralang Junction

Ban duckhunting

THE Latrobe Valley FieldNaturalists' Club recently made asubmission to the Select Committee on Victoria's Recreational Native Bird Hunting Arrangements, calling for aban on duck hunting.

The species of duck that are currently on the list for hunting do not live, breed or nest in isolation.

Water birds usually congregate in populations with various other species, which will be detrimentally affected by the disruption of numerous hunters in their wetland andriver habitats.

Despitebeingprotected, threatened species are killed during the duck hunting season and swans are known to abandon their nests. Those birds that are killed and wounded will inevitably suffer as aresult of the shooting. As many as one-third of ducks are wounded and not retrieved and this amount of suffering is unacceptable.

From aregionaleconomy perspective, we believe that birdwatching and other recreational activities which are year-round activities bring many more familiestorural areas than aseason of duck shooting. Estimates show that around 11,500 hunters huntedin2022, whereas total domestic visitors to/ within regional Victoria were almost 54 million.

One duck hunter even said in his submission that "The dispatching and harvesting of agame bird is not my highest priority, it is more so the participation, socialising and experience of reconnecting to nature that inspires me to hunt."

Many wetlands are rehabilitated by Catchment

ManagementAuthorities, Landcare, school and other groups, and this is not reliant on duck hunters as some have made out.

We are calling on the Select Committee and the state governmenttomakeanurgent decision to ban this inhumane practice once and for all in the state of Victoria.

David Stickney, Vice President, IreneProebsting, conservation coordinator On behalf of Latrobe Valley Field Naturalists Club

Dan isn't the man

LONG suffering Victorians have truly had agutfulofDan Andrews and his Labor and affiliated cronies.

This latest embarrassing and total debacle that has taken place under Teflon Dan's watch, has put our once great state of Victoria in aprecarious position.

In almost10years of authoritarian rule, this 'Premier' has slowly and agonisingly, like arat, gnawed his way through the once pristine fabric of Victoria and left us as amere shell of our former self.

His hypocritical, narcissisticand egocentricattitude has caused immense and long term damage to all Victorians.

This ego-driven individual has lied through his teeth in all he has done, for one reasonand one reason only to garner enough votes to keep him in power.

Without ashadow of doubt, he has become the worst and most shameful Premier in Victoria's long and proud history.

His long-winded quotes will go down in political folklore. Quotes such as, "let me make one thing absolutely clear", "everyone right to go?", "why wouldyou want to go there?", "itwas worth waiting, to be sure", "leadership is not about doing what's popular, it's about doing what's right."

Doingwhat'sright? He wouldn't knowwhat the word right means. This megalomaniac has no shame, no conscience and no compassion. It's all about him, it's his way or the highway. They say that if you throw mud it sticks, well in his case it doesn't stick because of his teflon coating! He is as cunning as alatrine rodentand showsno shame, guiltorremorse in his never-ending, boring ramblings. That, is what Icall, verbal diarrhoea!

Dan can get more spin from his tongue than the late, great, Shane Warne could get out of his wrong-un. His cancellation of the much anticipated Commonwealth Games, has put Victoria in anowin position.

The devious and cunning way in which he reneged on this event,shows the true character of his personality. He has single-handedly destroyed whatevergoodwill,hopes and dreams of many regional towns and promising athletes were looking forward to.

His big build, pie-in-the-skyideasare well known and documentedtousall and the obscene and shameful wasteoftaxpayers moneywill be alegacy that will go down in history.Hecan be "very proud" of that.

It's no surprise, to anyone on what he has done. Perhaps the "I stand with Dan" supporters will take adeep breath and sit down now and have a good think of the damage they have caused over the years by voting him back in.

Ihave never "stood with Dan" but then again, Istand to be corrected! Poor old Victoria is now the joke on everyone's lips. What afarce!

Roy Foenander Traralgon

VoteYES

DO you remember the 1967 referendumwhenthe Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (A&TSI) people would be counted as part of the population of the Commonwealth?

Really, 150 years for this to happen just 55 years ago?

Move onto 1976 and the Aboriginal Land Rights Act, legislationthat provided landbased rights, based on the traditional occupation of the land. The rubbish espoused, such as, you will lose your house/land didn't happen and scare mongering is happening again!

The Voice is asking for the First Nation people to be recognised in our Constitution.

Isn't this about time, 220 years after Federation there is recognition in theAustralian Constitution? VotingYES will provide apermanent body to make representation to the Australian Parliament and Executive Government on legislation and policy of significance to the First Nation people.

Senator Burney highlighted, education, accommodation, health and employment as priority areas

How will the Voice work? On asuccessful YES vote, your Parliament, elected by you and me, with the involvement of First Nation people,elected by their people, will determine the design. The outcome will become legislated through standard parliamentary process e.g. debate, amendments etc. by the Members of Parliament.

The future holds much promisewith aYES vote. First Nation peoplewill be much more involvedin the development of policies for the betterment of the people. In the past, there was no continuity with changes of government, services wereimposed, changed with the best of intentions, and now it's time to do things differently. Vote YES.

The Voice to Parliament by Thomas Mayo and Kerry O'Brien is recommended.

Elizabeth Wright

Moe

Sour grapes

IREADwith interest the letter submitted by Thomas Quinn of Moe (Express, 19/07/23).

Unfortunately he has worn the brunt of a temporary ban frompresenting at Latrobe City venues. Whilst Mr Quinn cites no evidence or CCTV footage or transcripts, he himself falls foul of the same issue.

If one claims to be an 'expert' in 'public relations, customer service, conflict management and occupational health and safety, surely one must present evidence to same.

DoesMrQuinn have formal qualifications in theseareas? Batchelor's Degrees or Masters Degrees perhaps? No backing is provided.

Indeed he cites the letter from Latrobe as 'questionable' and a'fit up'.

What does 'fit up' actually mean ?Itseems that Mr Quinn is only telling his side of the story, and of course he will state he has done nothing wrong. Does that make his argument valid? Ithink not. Wadingthrough the diatribe about the Ombudsmanand the Local Goverment Actsimply says to me he has beenbannedbecause he breached somebody else's Freedoms, Civil Liberties and Human rights.

Tom Mesilane Yallourn North

Morwell Rotaryawards

AWARDS and emotionswere present at last week’s Rotary meeting in Morwell.

The meeting began withMorwell RotaryPast

PresidentColin Matthies being made aPaulHarris Fellow, arecognition given to individualsbyRotary Clubsthrough the RotaryFoundation,acharitable organisation that supports humanitarianand education programs around the world.

President Harry Ballis, in presenting the award to Colin Matthies, paiddue recognition forhis constant enthusiasm and leadership as director in the many portfolios of Rotary during his 23 years of Morwell Rotarymembership,withparticular reference to Colin’s guidance and support to club members through the difficult times of COVID lockdowns.

Colin’s wife Tracey, his sons Justin and Daley and other family members and friends were at the meeting to watch the presentation.

Theevening program continued with apowerful presentation by one of theclub’snewestmembers

WhenintroducingHarriet Babirye Nanteza, chairman DavidMcInnes indicated that Harriet was at first reluctant to tell her story, but then decided to do so.

Ms HarrietBabiryeNanteza toldher story of growing up in Uganda as number nine in afamily of 11 children, (born in 1973 she is one of two sets of twins).

She explainedthat her education involved kindergarten, primary school and upper high school, and then the Uganda ManagementInstitute where she obtained acertificate in public relations reception and front desk management.

The UgandanGovernmenthad amandatory Army CadetTraining for all students ready to join university or institutions of higher learning. Harriett too attended the training. She spoke of the horrors and difficulties duringthe regimeof Idi Amin.

Before travelling to Australia, Harriettwas employed in various government institutions and

Mirboo North Winterfest

WINTERFEST is making its grand comeback to the picturesque hilltop village of Mirboo North this weekend.

Following the immensesuccess and overwhelming support received in 2022, Winterfest is set to take place once again.

Renowned for its enchanting fusion of fire and ice, captivating light displays, artistic showcases, and delectable culinary offerings, Winterfest will continue to be avibrant celebration of the arts. Despite the Mirboo North PrimarySchool Art Show taking agap year, followthe artsthrough the town by visiting the Mirboo North Primary School students’ quilt exhibition at the co-space, woven by The Everyday Makers at 66 Ridgway and the showstopping ArtCubes and artists in BaromiPark.

find captivating fire-twirling to mesmerise bothyoung and old alike. Attendees can expect live music, roving entertainers, delectable food trucks, and awell-stocked Sailors Grave Winterfest Bar, which is open from 2pm until late in the evening. Music will feature in the Tipi with Celtic rock band The Reel Deal from 6.15pm,followedbyDJDannySilver on the decks from 8pm to 10pm.

On Sunday, the focus shifts to our pièce de résistance; an ice-rink thatwill be sure to keep the kidsbusy as you stroll throughthe Artisans Market. These will be complimented by creative and performative workshops and ArtCube browsing. Relax in the Tipi with a delicious lunch or awintry morning tea.

Recognition: TraceyMatthies,newly made Paul Harris Fellow ColinMatthies and Morwell Rotary president HarryBallis Photograph supplied

held various community positions, including local council chairperson of her home area.

Harriett is asinglemother of four children, two of whom live and work in Australia. Hereldest child, ason, is apolice officer in Victoria, her second child, adaughter, worksindisability services, and another daughter studies in Canada. Her youngest daughter is living and studying in Botswana for security reasons.

Harrietarrived in Australialastyearlooking for greener pastures,and was glad to sayshe is settling in well and can see abrightfuture here for herself and her family.

The respectful silence shown throughout Harriett’s presentation indicated the awe felt by her audience.

She was thanked for her presentation and congratulated by chairman David McInnes for her courage in telling her story, and presented with atoken gift in appreciation.

Morwell’snewly installed ATM

BY KATRINA BRANDON

THE decrease in ATMs has swooped the Morwell area for awhile,but now, new and behold The Laundry Lounge Coin Laundry has installed one for everyone's use.

In the lastweek, owner of TheLaundry Lounge Coin Laundry, Tony Morgan, had the machine put in where it has afree fee for most banks, apart from NAB and Commonwealth banks.He said: "I have already seen the difference in the last week, it’s the amount of people pulling up and using it. It’s only been in there for aweek.

"I put up apost on my Facebook page and got thousands of likes and lots of responses, lots of thank-yous'. Morwell Noticeboard also put apost up on their page and got the same thing, lots of positive responses. Verywell accepted," he said

Mr Morgan said that it benefitshis customers and businesses aroundhim greatly as society still prefers notes at times, and he is more than happy to be able to create happy smiles.

"The only other teller in the town of Morwell, or centre is NAB and alot of times that is out of order. Now that Ihave one it gives people an alternative," Mr Morgan said.

Mr Morgan alsohappens to be celebrating his 10th year in business next month, and feels that the ATM is agreat addition to start off the next year of business. He mentioned that he may even have alittle competition to match the 10-year anniversary, similar to what he did last business birthday.

Anew ATMinMorwell has been installed,one of aselect fewleftin town. Photograph supplied

The Mirboo North Winterfest starts at 2pm this Saturday (August 5), with BaromiPark hosting eclectic pop-up Tipis, serving as the central hub of the festivities.

Enter through The Grainstore and have some fun in the Winterfest photo booth with photographerHeath Warwick. Then, meander through the park and soak in the festival vibes, joininwiththe FreeAfrican Drumming and Dance Workshops in the Tipi and the Interactive Mural painting in one of theArtCubes with Cheri Rose.

Saturday night begins with aWelcome to Country and SmokingCeremony at dusk, followed by the Ridgway Lantern Parade where the main street will transform into a mesmerising trail of light, adorned with stunning handmade lanterns crafted by both locals and visitors. Straight after the parade you’ll

Attendeescan unwind and savor an exclusive lunch experience with Trulli in the Tipi.

Indulge in adelightful Cucina-Povera-style lunch, featuring fourexquisite courses of humble Southern Italian fare, including antipasto, mouthwatering pasta dishes, renowned Truli fire-cooked meats, and delectable Italian desserts.

Visitmirboonorthwinterfest.com.au to book.

There are many free activities throughout the weekend, and you can upsize your Winterfest weekend experience by attending one of the many workshops on offer.

As afamily-friendly event, visitors are encouraged to rug up, prepare for all weather, bring along their loved ones, and join us in celebrating thewonders of winter and communityinMirboo North.

Maryvale Probus turns 30

THE MaryvaleProbus Club held their 30th anniversary on July 20.

The milestone event was held in the Anzac room at the Morwell RSL, with 80 members attending. Aspecial lunch menu was served at the conclusion of the birthday meeting.

Entertainment was provided by the Coal Valley Male Chorale, led by member Ray Beebe, with a collectionofold and new songs and choruses, allowing members to join in with gusto and enjoyment.

Three life members, (Frank Sutherland, Janice Fry, and Pam Guy), along with foundation member Unice Thatcher, were honoured with the cutting of the anniversary birthday cake.

Decadesservice: Maryvale Probus Club 20-year memberscelebratethe club’s30th anniversary.

The club thanks the Morwell RSL for special arrangements, and Theo from the Latrobe Valley Camera Club for his excellent photography on their special birthday.

Celebrategoodtimes: Maryvale Probus Club commemorated its 30th year recently.

Honour: PamGuy,UniceThatcher,Janice Fry, and Frank Sutherland cut the anniversary birthdaycake. Photographs supplied

Welcomed addition:

Gippsland Memorial Park

TRARALGON Cemetery Trust

are trying to identify WW2 Army, Navy and Airforce servicemen and women, including land army and nurses, who havebeenburied, interred or memorialised at Gippsland Memorial Park, Traralgon.

Almost all those who enlisted in Traralgon have been found, but there may be others. It is time to go to the next stage of the Memorial Wall that was commissioned in 2018.

What we are seeking are any others who enlisted from any other areaatall andwho are now at the Gippsland Memorial Park.

If you know of anyone, or wanttocheck if the staff know of anyone within the cemetery, please email the office on clients@gippslandmemorialpark. com

Ballroom dance lessons

LATROBE Valley Dance

Promotions Inc are conducting weekly Thursdaynight social ballroom dancing, withlessons on Thursday evenings at the Guide Hall, MargaretStreet, Morwell.

Beginners will be starting at 7pmand are welcome to stay until 10pm.

Intermediate/advanced from 8pm to 10pm. Cost is $5.

Join us for some fun learning, revision, dancing, friendships, and exercise.

Follow us on our Facebook page at Latrobe Valley Dance Promotions Inc.

Contacts are Norm on 0428 543 737 or Lynda (0428 489 041).

Email at latrobevalleydancepromotioninc@gmail.com

Moe Cancer Council

MOE and District Cancer Council Volunteer Group willbeholding ahightea on Monday, September4from 12.30pm at the Newborough BowlingClub, Monash Road Newborough.

For catering purposes, entry will be by ticket only. Tickets are available from Diane on 0438 517 470orLinda (0427 671 780).

Cost will be $35 per person.

We will have aguest speaker from CCV and aguest speaker from Rotary Centenary House. This year, DaffodilDay will

be celebrated on August 31, we will be having astall in Moe. Details will be posted in the coming weeks.

Our next meetingwill be held on Monday,August 28 from 1.30pm at the Moe RSL.

All welcome.

For more information:

VolunteerGroup contactsDiane: 0438 517 470 or Linda: 0427 671 780.

CancerCouncilSupporters

Hot Line: 1300 65 65 85.

Cancer Council Help Line: 13 11 20

Quit Line: 13 78 48.

Australia Day awards

LIONS Club of Moe are once again seeking nominations for theMoe/Newborough Citizens of the Year Award,whichis presented on Australia Day.

Thereare twocategories, one for Australia Day Young Citizenofthe Year for ages between 12 and 25 years, and AustraliaDay Citizenofthe Year.

Both of these awards will be presented on Australia Day at Heritage Park, Moe.

All nominations must have contributed and demonstrated outstandingservice to the Moe/ Newborough community in a voluntary capacity. Closing date for the nominations is November 3, 2023.

Please phone Lion Robert Sharrock on 0497 299719 or Lion Allison Stewart (0407 230 044) for any further information or for acopy of the nomination form.

EmailLion Barbara Cameron at moelionsaustraliaday@ outlook.com

Gippsland Acoustic Music Club

OUR next musical offering will be this Sunday(August 6) at 3pm at Tyers Hall.

This month,weare delighted to present Ally Row with support act, Stella and Dane.

Currently living in rural Gippsland, Ally Row are an indiepop-folkduo changingthe narrative of what it means to be ‘indie-pop’.

The multi-instrumentalists perform velvety harmonies alongside blissful guitar and piano with lustful and modernisedelements of banjo, harmonica and stomp box. Together, the two-piece band creates adreamy synergy

with emotive and memorable originals. For fans of Mumford and Sons or Angus and Julia Stone, Ally Row are the next artists to follow.

Tickets can be pre-purchased at trybooking.com/CIABK or cash entryatthe door; $25 adults, $20 members/concession, under 18s free.

Moe Meditation Group

MOE Meditation Group offers you an opportunity to meet someofthe mostcalm, relaxed people in the Valley and learn their secrets of serenity.

The group meets on Wednesday morn ings from 8.30am to 9.30am in the Narracan Hall at the Gippsland Heritage Park (Old Gippstown), Moe.

Cost is $5 per session.

Contact: clem@asia.com

Phone: 0427 262 064.

Bridgeresults

TRARALGON Bridge Club results for May 24, 25 and 27.

Monday -1st Robin Hecker and Don Tylee 70 per cent;2nd FredKaminski and Roshni Chand (65).

Tuesday -N/S 1st Peter Lonie andJan Williams (68); 2nd Greg Nicholson and Kaye Douglas(62).E/W 1st Ken Tierney and Anne denHouting (61); 2nd Glenis Lohr and Rob Graham (62).

Thursday- N/S1st Geoff Dixon and John Marsiglio (61); 2nd Moira Hecker and Helen McAdam (58); E/W Marion and Kevin Taylor (66); 2nd Glenis Lohr and Rob Graham (54).

Our Kind CountryClub

A-NOT-FOR-PROFIT open mic clubthat is on the first Sunday at 1pm and third Friday at 7.30pm of each month.

We areonagain this Sunday (August6). Address is 100 Crinigan Rd, Morwell.

We have an open mic which is open to all ages all abilities. We have been fundraising for the Royal Children's Hospital for more than 12 years, and the Leukaemia Foundation for more than 14 years.

Garden club

THE next meeting of the TraralgonGarden Club will be at 2pm on Tuesday, August 8 at the Traralgon Greyhound Club, Glenview Park, McNairn Road Traralgon. Enter via the float entrance.

Topic is 'My Best Garden Tips'.

New members and visitors welcome. Further information can be obtained from Bryan Corkran on 0408 598 016.

Chess results

AFTER failing in the first game, Ian Hamilton turned the tables to win all other battles.

Peter Bakker finished in second place.

Two solid wins helped Ricky Sabarinkas although the opportunitiesweremissed in later games.

Steve Ahern overlooked the dangers of too many threats.

Phone Cliff Thorntonon0413 330 458 or Ian Hamilton (0400 221 649) for more information on local chess.

Yallourn Madrigal Singers

THE Yallourn Madrigal Singers have resumed rehearsals for the second half of the year. The choir meetsatSt James Anglican Church in Traralgon every Thursday at 7.30pm and would welcome new singers.

Therecentmid-year performances in Sale and Traralgon wereverysuccessful,and members enjoyed their opportunity to perform in front of an audience.

The annual meeting will take place at St James Church on Thursday, August 17 at 7.30pm.

Traralgon Historical Society

NEXT general meeting of the society will be heldatthe Kath Teychenne Centre, 11 Breed St, Traralgon on Tuesday, August 8at7.30pm.

Our guest speakerfor the eveningwillbeJames Rowley, who was amember of the band called 'Ragwort, Thistles and other Noxious Weeds'. James will give atalkonthe entertainment industry.

The society was successful with their application for a grant from the KeithChenhall Charitable Trust. The funds received will go towards the purchase of adesk, two office chairs and aglassmuseum style display case which will display the mayoral robes.

We wish to thank the Trust for their generosityasthese funds are invaluabletothe society.

Our new website is coming along, there are more features to be uploaded and the set-up of amemberslogin is in progress

August Dignity Drive

SHARETHE DIGNITY is a charity making adifference to thoseexperiencing period poverty by collecting and donating sanitary products.

TraralgonNeighbourhood Learning House is aregistered

collection place for the August Dignity Drive.

We are encouraging people to donate if they can at 11-13 Breed St, Traralgon, or phone Meagan on 5174 6199 for more information.

Photography information session

ARE you interested in going on aphotography Safari?

Join Ivan for an open discussion on his time in Namibia. Duringthe discussion,you will learn some useful tips and tricks while on safari.

Information session details are August 10, 5pm to 6.30pm at 11-13 Breed St, Traralgon. Phone the Traralgon Neighbourhood Learning House on 5174 6199. Registrations required.

Bushwalking Club

THE Strzelecki Bushwalking Club is comprised of avibrant, friendly, and social group of people who enjoy being apart of the great outdoors. We currently have 160 active members and the club regularly holdwalking,seasonalsnow activities, kayaking, bike riding and socialactivitiesthatsuit all levels of ability and fitness.

Ourannualmeeting is held each year in July, and we have just appointed acommittee that is organised and focused on providingthe members with the bestclub possible. Our membership fee is very reasonable at $45 per annum and this fee has remained the same for the last three years.

This year, we have had an increased focus in upskilling our members in relation to navigation, leadership qualities and first aid.

Every month we hold aclub night on the second Wednesday of the month, beginning at 7.30pm at the Trafalgar Scout Hall in Kitchener St.

This is agreat catch up for members with supper provided. We always have an informative guest speaker, and in August we shall be hosting atalkin relation to Eucalyptus Trees native to the Strzelecki Ranges.

Visitors are always welcome to attend and this is agreat way to introduce yourself.

Further information is available on the website at sbwc.org. au, on our Facebook pageor by emailing publicity@sbwc. org.au

ArtGroup

MORWELL Art Group, in the workspaceofLatrobeRegional GalleryonCommercial Rd, Morwell,istrialingart and craft sales each Monday until mid-December 2023.

We are openfrom10am until 2pm.

The members of the group who wish to sellsome work will bring it in each week for the public to browse and purchase.

As this is not an exhibition, the amount of works for sale will be limited.

Our members work with a diverse range of mediums, from acrylic, pastel, pencil,water colour, polymer clay, wool, jewelry and tatting.

Each week we will have differentworks available and the artistswill be there, so if you'd like to speak to them about their art, they will be happy to chat with you.

If youhave any enquiries, you can reachusonthe Morwell Art GroupFriendspage, just join up and you can see what is going on with the group, and ask questions or leave a comment.

Knitted Knockers

KNITTED Knockers presents an AfternoonwithElvis and Friends.

Mark Andrew will perform October 15 upstairs in the dining room at Latrobe Valley Racing Club(McNairnRd, Traralgon).

MC'd by Trent McCurdy, withtea, coffeeand water supplied. Major raffle. Cost is $25 per-person.

Doors open at 12.30pm, starts at 1.30pm.

CWA Ladies Afternoon Tea available for purchase from 12.3pm onwards.

Lucky ticket prizes. This is a non-alcoholic event.

Cash only on the day, only 200 tickets available. Must be pre-purchased.

To purchase tickets, phone 0408501 338 or email knittedknockersausttraralgon@ gmail.com

Youcan be apartof Community Corner

IF youare acommunity group andhave any news items you need publicised, feel freeto email us at news@lvexpress. com.au

You can address the correspondence to Editor, Liam Durkin.

Pleasewrite 'Community Corner' in the subject line and nothing else.

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

Business Guide

LOCAL TRADES AND

GIPPSLAND STEEL CENTRE

BUSINESS

GIPPSLAND Steel Centre has been in operation since 1999,providing customersacross the region with the largest rangeofsteel, roofing and accessories

With 40 yearsofvaluable industryexperience,their staffare able to tailor their services to meet theneeds of customers. Count

on them to always be prompt, reliable,customer-oriented and to always provide superior products

Being family-owned, Gippsland Steel areproud of their ability to offerpersonalisedservices to their customers, andwill makesuretoprovideyou with an option to suit your needs

Whether you’dliketopickupyour products or have them delivered to your site,theywill gladly accommodateyou.

Gippsland Steel Centreisproud to be home to thelargest steel product inventoryinGippsland. Come to them fortop-quality materials and reliable delivery

services.Whether yourequire asmall piece of steel or alot of parts fora project, youcan count on their professional, friendly team to getyour jobdone right. Contact Gippsland Steel on 5135 6600 or come see the team in person at 527 Princes Drive Morwell.

How

to place your classified in our WEDNESDAY PUBLICATION

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

Property For Sale 101/2 acres, hobby farm, Yarram, huge shed, 5 mins from town $830,000 o.n.o. Photos on Facebook. Ph 0429 992 869.

HUSQVARNA Ride on mower. $3500. Phone 0402 039 844.

Legal Notices • Landscaping Mulch Beautify your garden. Bulk quantity available, $25m3. Phone 0412 613 443 or 1800 468 733.

Moe Self Storage various sizes from $85 p.c.m. Contact Strzelecki Realty on 5127 1333.

OVEN REPAIRS GP1 659884 NEWBOROUGH, 1Tuxford St, Sunday, 9am. No early comers please. H/hold items, camp gear, life jkts, framed pics, bric-a-brac, some furniture and more.

Property Maintenance and Handyman. All types of property Maintenance management. 20+ yrs exp. servicing Latrobe Valley. Ph Michael 0439 110 444.

Livestock • Vic Marino's Painting Residential, commercial, int./ext. No job too small. Free quotes. Qualified tradesman. 0408 086 776.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Garage Sales •

Massive

WHEN YOU GO LOCAL, YOUGROW LOCAL!

BULLS for Hire/Sale

Angus, Limousin, Jersey, Hereford and Friesian, very quiet. 0447 331

Wanted To Buy -Dog

Small to medium sized, pup to 4y.o., not staffy type, will provided good home. Ph 0439 205 004.

For

MORWELL

6Harold Street, Saturday, 9am-3pm. Tools, camping gear and records.

• WINTER IS S HERE BUT DON’T LET THATSTOP YOUHAVING A GARAGE SALE ARE YOU HOARDING ITEMS THATCOULD BE TURNED INTO

DIGITAL RAILWAY

DAVI DG EOFFR EY PETERSON Deceased, late of 150 Narracan Drive, Newborough, Victoria.

BLUE 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

CREDITORS, Next-of-Kin and others having aclaim in respect of the Estate of the Deceased who died on 17 December 2022 are required to send written particulars of their claim to the Executor C/- PO Box 104, Moe, Victoria, 3825 within 60 days from the date of publication of this Notice, after which date the Executor may convey or distribute the assets, having regard only to the claims of which they may then have notice of.

Adult

Bella and Jess

Both 22 y.o., beautiful, very cute and sweet. single or double. Lots of fun. Phone 0421 367 038.

ONE MAN’S TRASH IS ANOTHER MAN’S TREASURE!!

Responsibility PLEASE CHECK YOUR AD

Electricoven/stove repairs incl. ovendoors. Reliable, experienced and friendly.Most parts arecarried on-board. Free phone estimates. 12 month guarantee on repairs. Phil 0412 165542 ovenlec.com.au REC. 9764

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.

FENCING

Quality paling fencing. Over 25 years experience. Ph Darren 0408 365 940.

GARDENING DONE

Business Opportunities

Hairdresser Required Haircutting Only No nights or weekends, Flexible days. Mayes Barbers. Email resume to mayesbarbers @gmail.com

WHEN YOU GO LOCAL, YOU GROW LOCAL!

Looking for a lifestyle change?

Wanting to be your own boss?

Notice to ADVERTISERS and RESPONDENTS

Voicemail introductions advertisements and voice messages may only be submitted by persons 18 years and older. When making contact with people for the first time, it is advisable to meet in apublic place and let amember of your family or atrusted friend know where you will be.

Please check your ad on the firstday and bring any errors to the attention of the Classifieds Department immediately The LatrobeValley Express makes everyefforttoavoid errors. We regret that we cannot be responsible forany errors beyond the first day if you fail to bring it to ourattention. No allowances can be made for errorsnot materially affecting the effectiveness of thead. Position cannot will not be guaranteed. All claims foradjustment of credit must be madewithin seven days afterbilling date

Pruning, planting, weeding, small jobs through to large jobs, shed clean ups, rubbish removal, etc. Reasonable rates, pens. disc. Under NDIS the cost of services may be covered by your Care Provider. Reliable and efficient. Police check. Fully insured. 18 yrs exp. Chauncy The Gardener. ABN 17268203656. Call Richard 0401 345 345.

Gas Appliances

Install -Service -Repairs Co Testing -Gas Safety Check.Contact Paul 0428 877 432. Lic.103230.

Jim's Mowing is looking for aFranchisee in the Latrobe Valley area. CONTACT 131 546 For ano-obligation free Info Kit

Situations

Vacant •

With an audience of over 76,000 you’re guaranteed to reach MORE locals than advertising on Facebook 5135 4455

We would advise readers and advertisers to exercise caution and giving out personal details. This will be respected by genuine respondents.

We reservethe right to revise or restrict any ad we deem objectionable and to change the classificationwhen necessaryto conform to the policyof this newspaper

In the event an ad is omitted from publication, we assume no liabilityfor such omission.

grinding, hedging, nest boxand habitat hollows creation, insured and qualified. Brent 0403 080 315 SERVICING ALL AREAS

28ft x8ft, $2000. Call in at Unit 7/21-23 Airlie Bank Road, Morwell. GP1660420

For Sale • Home Maintenance • Home Maintenance • Real Estate • Garage Sales • Public Notices • Situations Vacant • classif ieds@lvexpress.com.au MONDAY TO FRIDAY 9AM-5PM Classifieds 51354455 Page 38 —The Latrobe Valley Express, Wednesday, 2August, 2023

The following vacancy currently exists at Law SomervilleIndustriesMoe aleaderincommercial and domestic joinery

ADMINISTRATIONTRAINEE

This job is for you if you arefriendly,enthusiastic and have the ability to work independently Youshould be well organised, able to multi task and possess excellent written and verbal communication skills Full training will be provided.

Afull job description can be obtained by emailing sales@lsimoe.com.au

Resumes should be emailednolater than 24th August 2023

Personal Care Workers/Support Workers (Qualified and Unqualified) RECRUITMENT OPEN DAY IN TRARALGON!

Join us on Thursday 10th August 2023 for our recruitment open day for Personal Care Workers.

We will be recruiting for part time staff as well as limited casual positions in Gippsland!

Date: Thursday, 10 August 2023

Time: 11:30am -1:30pm and 3:30pm -5:30pm Location: 6-8 Grey St Traralgon 3844

What is the role?

Personal Carer/Home Care/Support Worker (Moe / Newborough /Yarragon /Trafalgar /Morwell / Churchill /Traralgon /Warragul /Drouin)

What we look for:

● Certificate III or higher in Individual Support or related studies (i.e. nursing)

● Students studying Individual Support or related

● Areliable car and valid driver's licence

● Unqualified but have agenuine passion for caring for our elders

Why work with us?

● Not-for-profit salary packaging advantages to give you more money in your pocket

● Amileage allowance when you travel between client homes

● Paid training hours to build your skills

● Digital devices to keep you connected and organised on the road

● Carer traineeships if you are not yet qualified

● Dedicated senior carers to help induct and mentor you Contact Denise Men on 03 8823 7900 or denise.men@benetas.com.au www.benetas.com.au/careers

DELIVERERS WTD

Would you like to deliver the Latrobe Valley Express newspaper to individual homes on Tuesday and/or Wednesday afternoons in Morwell, Traralgon, Moe, Newborou gh and Churchill? Please apply to the Circulation Manager 0456 000 541.

Please note: Children must be 11 years or over as we will need to apply for agovernment Child Employment Permit Children younger than 11 cannot or will not be accepted. Adult deliverers also welcome.

EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER

Yarragon Primary School and Early Learning Centre

12 month contract commencing in 2024

We are seeking adedicated and caring individual to become part of our well-supported team, starting 29 January 2024.

Essential criteria for an Early Childhood Teacher:

● A Bachelor in Early Childhood or equivalent ACECQA approved qualification

● Current VIT registration

● Current Level 2First Aid, CPR, Anaphylaxis & Asthma Certificate

● Have asound knowledge of and experience with implementing the Early Years Learning Framework, National Quality Standards and Child Safety Standards

12-month fixed term position.

21 hours per week, 14 hours contact time (see below) plus 7hours non-contact time including planning, set up and pack up times.

Thursday, 8.30am -4.00pm (4 year old session)

Friday, 8.30am -4.00pm (3 year old session)

We follow the VECTEA.

The Position Description and Selection Criteria are on our website. Applications addressing the selection criteria are to be emailed to yarragon.ps@education.vic.gov.au by COB Friday, 4August 2023. For further information please contact Lee Sheehan on 5634 2375.

Apprentice Joiner -Certificate III in Carpentry and Joinery

Valley Windows is currently seeking amotivated individual to commence their apprenticeship in Carpentry and Joinery.

What will you be doing?

NDISSupport Facilitator

Leadingcommunity services organisation

Salary packaging& competitive sector remuneration

Full time| Maximumtermuntil 30

June 2024

Based at Morwell

TheHomeand Community Care Program for YoungerPeople(HACC PYP) supports younger people with disabilities or medical/health conditions, andtheir respective carers to live as independently as possible in theirown homes. We are seeking aNDISSupport Facilitator who will support individuals with disability and theirfamilieswho may be currently accessing HACC PYPtoaccessand participateeffectively in theNational Disability InsuranceScheme(NDIS).

Interested?

Applytoday at:

https://careers.unitingvictas.org.au

Getintouch

For moreinformationora confidential discussionabout therolepleasecontact Kim Fatchen –TeamLeader, Home & Community Care ProgramFor Younger Peopleon0481452 923.

Learnmore

Learn more aboutUniting at www.unitingvictas.org.au andkeepan eyeonour Careers page for more opportunities.

● Assisting tradesmen in manufacturing and producing quality timber and aluminium windows and doors

● Operating and maintaining machinery

● Glazing

What we are looking for:

● Attention to detail

● Reliable

● Punctual

● Enthusiastic approach to the jobs at hand

● Team Player

● Willingness to learn and follow instructions

● No qualifications are required but work experience in the industry is looked upon highly or apre-apprenticeship in carpentry

Benefits:

● Work with acompany that has apassion for manufacturing high quality products

● Long term job security

● Obtain aCertificate III in Joinery

What you need to know:

● 4year apprenticeship

● Certificate III in Joinery

● TAFE Training included

● PPE included

● Hours 7am -3.30pm

● 12 RDO's per year

Applications close 9th August 2023. Email applications to: Sarahb@valleywindows.com.au

IT REALLYWORKS!

For effective and competitive advertising that really workscall us TODAY and ask about our SPECIAL DEALS!!

It’s easy, just call L.V.EXPRESS CLA L SSIFIEDS 5135 4455 and put an ad in the paper today!

Personal Care WorkersQualified RECRUITMENT OPEN DAY IN TRARALGON!

Join us onThursday 10th August 2023 for our recruitment open day for Personal Care Workers. We will be recruiting for part time staff as well as limited casual positions in Gippsland!

Date: Thursday, 10 August 2023

Time: 11:30am -1:30pm and 3:30pm -5:30pm

Location: Dalkeith Gardens, 73 Hyde Park Rd, Traralgon 3844

What we look for:

● Certificate III or higher in Individual Support or related studies (i.e. nursing)

● Students studying Individual Support or related

● Unqualified but have agenuine passion for caring for our elders

Why work with us?

● Not-for-profit salary packaging advantages to give you more money in your pocket

● Paid training hours to build your skills

● Carer traineeships if you are not yet qualified

● Dedicated senior carers to help induct and mentor you Contact Denise Men on 03 8823 7900 or denise.men@benetas.com.au www.benetas.com.au/careers

DELIVERY DRIVER

Part Time

Cool Aqua Springs

We have aposition available as we expand for a delivery driver based in Morwell delivering Spring Water bottles and products to our customers throughout Eastern Victoria. The successful applicant will be paid above the award rate, and require:

● To be switched on, honest and trustworthy, tech savvy to use invoicing ap on phone.

● Have Forklift licence.

● Be physically fit -lifting bottles @15kg each with over 200 per day delivered (no forklift on delivery truck).

● Delivery area from Melbourne through to Bairnsdale including Philip Island and Mornington Peninsula.

!!!! MUST HAVE !!!!

● Medium Rigid licence and be agood driver.

● WWC (working with children's or be able to get one).

● Police check will be required.

● Pass Drug and Alcohol test. Email resume's and cover letters to:employment@coolgroup.com.au

Stakeholder Engagement Manager

Latrobe City Business Chamber Inc.

The LCBC is one voice representing all businesses within Latrobe City, leading a collaborative effort to develop the region through advocacy, events, business support and strengthening community connections.

● Looking for something different?

● Are you apeople person?

● Do you like achallenge and are unafraid to put yourself out there?

● How are your event planning and coordinating skills?

The newly developed Stakeholder Engagement Manager will be responsible for:

● Growing, maintaining and updating the membership database

● Planning and delivering events, including the People's Choice Awards

● Creatingnew business engagement opportunities

● Managing LCBC social platforms

You will be working closely with the newly formed committee who are passionate about growing the region.

The position is a12month contract with the potential for ongoing. Expected 15-20 hours weekly on aflexible workarrangement.

Email vicepresident@lcbc.org.au to register your interest and obtain aposition description or for further information of the role.

Applications close 5pm Friday, 4August 2023.

URGENT Deliverers Wanted TRARALGON, MORWELL and NEWBOROUGH

Would you liketodeliver the Latrobe Valley Express newspaper to individual homes on Tuesday and/orWednesday afternoons in Traralgon, Morwell and Newborough.

Please apply to:

The CirculationManager 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

CADET JOURNALIST

The Gippsland Times and Latrobe Valley Express arelooking for acadet journalist to join our team.

This is afantastic opportunity for you to contribute to the communities in our region.

The role will include general news reporting in aregion with awealth of stories to be told about current challenges and future opportunities in addition to the normal story telling expected of alocal newspaper serving its community

The ideal candidatewill:

Have relevant tertiaryqualifications

Have great communication skills, both verbal and written

Be able to write punchy,informative and exciting stories on arange of subjects

Possess great news sense and an understanding of what engages local readers

Have acurrent driver’s licence

Be motivated with acommitment to accuracy and quality reporting

The position will be based in Sale.

The successful applicant will report to the Editor

Send aletter of application, resume, list of referees and work examplesto:

The Editor -Liam Durkin

Gippsland Times ldurkin@lvexpress.com.au

Applications close: Friday, 11thAugust 2023.

Doesyour current marketing reach all your media potential?

Advertise your car, caravan, boat

LATROBE VALLEY EXPRESS CLASSIFIEDS

5135 4455

GP1660181

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. For further advice, contact the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on 1300 302 502 or your state consumer affairs agency.

REQUEST FOR TENDER

Council is seeking submissions from qualified companies/applicants for the following:

RFT/372 -Koonwarra Landfill Cell

AUDI A4 Auto, perfect body, very very good interior, needs alittle work, absolute bargain $2500. Phone 0418 830 201.

CASH FOR CARS

Old or new, buying all makes and models. LMCT 11618. Ph 0455 776 443.

17' GAZAL Champion poptop e.c., light/bright, centre isl. bed, 3-way fridge, RC a/c, recently serv'd, new hydra lic str ts eas tow $13,990. 0419 304 591.SOLD

CareersatLatrobe

LatrobeCityCouncilhasexcitingopportunitiesforenthusiasticand forward-thinkingindividualswithapassionforprovidingexcellent servicestoourcommunity

• CoordinatorGIS &BusinessApplications&BusinessApplicationsPermanentFull Time

• ExperiencedMaintenance Employee -Sealed Experienced Maintenance Em oyee RoadsRo s-Permanent Full Time

• CoordinatorFamilyHealthand DevelopmentDevelopmen PermanentFull Time

• ProjectOfficer Fixed Plantand Aquatics- Plant andAquaticsPermanentFull Time

• AssetStrategyOfficer - AssetStr yOfficer -Permanent Full Time

• Maternaland ChildHealthNurse - Maternal andChild Health Nurse- Permanent Part Time &Casual

• LearntoSwimInstructor- Casual

• Preschooland Childcare -MultiplePositions - Pr chooland -MultiplePositionsCasual

• ExpressionsofInterest - Expressions of Interest -Communications, Marketing, Media andDesign Professionals

• ExpressionofInterestExpressionofInterest -Planning Opportunities

Forfurtherinformationincludinghow toapply,positiondescriptionsand applicationclosingdates,pleasevisitour websitewww.latrobe.vic.gov.au/careers

Pleasenotesuccessfulapplicantswillbe requiredtoapplyforandsatisfactorilyobtain aNationalPoliceCheckandWorkingwith ChildrenCheck.

www.latrobe.vic.gov.au/careers

GP1

closes 2pm

Tuesday, 15 August 2023. RFT/380 -Provision of Bituminous Surfacing and Associated Services

closes 2pm AEST on Tuesday,22August 2023. RFT/369 -Koonwarra Landfill Cell 5 Construction Tender closes 2pm AEST on Tuesday,29August 2023. Documentation is available from Council's e-Tendering Portal www.southgippsland.vic.gov.au/tenders

HOLDEN UTE TIPPER

4months rego. WQU 759 Road worthy cond. Exc. condition. $12,000. Call: 0458 472 722.

Responsibility

PLEASE CHECK

YOUR AD

Please check yourad on the first day andbring any errors to the attentionofthe Classifieds Department immediately TheLatrobe ValleyExpress makes everyefforttoavoid errors We regret that we cannot be responsible forany errors beyond the first day if you fail to bring it to our attention No allowancescan be madefor errors not materially affecting the effectiveness of the ad.

Positioncannotwillnot be guaranteed.

All claims foradjustment of credit must be made within seven days afterbilling date

We reservethe right to revise or restrictany ad we deem objectionableand to change the classification when necessary to conform to the policy of this newspaper In the event an ad is omitted from publication, we assume no liability forsuch omission.

JAYCO Swan Outback

2009, excellent condition, rego Jan 2024, sleeps up to six. $20,000. Ph: 0411270997

BASSANESE, Piero (Peter). Passed away peacefully on Tuesday, 25 July 2023, with his daughter and wife by his side. Much loved husband of Flora (dec.) and Maria Stella. Loved father and father-in-law of Suzy and Todd. Nonno to Jack and Jemma. At Rest

BECK, Russell William. It is with sadness we announce the passing of Russell at home in Brisbane on 30/7/2023. Aged 62 years Loved brother of Ashley and Leanne. Uncle to Nicholas and Carline, Kimberley and Matt, Torah, Tatum and Jesse. Resting in peace with his parents Maurice and Mary.

PARAMOUNT Thunder

19'6'' pop-top, 2020, dual axle, full ens., L-shaped lounge, x2 95L water tanks, x1 95L grey water tank, bike rack, diesel heater, QS bed, elec. brakes, Dexter anti-sway, gas/240v HWS, 3-way fridge, microwave, anti-flap kit, Dometic awn., solar panel, AGM batt., rev. camera, w/mach., CD player, TV, exc. cond., great van, gen. reason for selling $72,000. 0431 159 984.

Selling avan?

Don't waste time waiting for buyers, or on endless consignment plans, sell it today we'll pay cash now. Affordable Caravans 0418 336 238, 5623 4782.

EXPRESS

CL ASSIFIEDS

5135 4455

Tenders •

BRIDGMAN, Shaun Michael. Passed away unexpectedly in Morwell on 13 July 2023. Dearly loved son of Jack and Fay (both dec.). Much lovedbrotherand brother-in-law of Kathleen and Lindsay, Daniel and Glenda, Jennifer and John, Patrick (dec.), John (dec.) and Margaret. Respected and fun uncle and great uncle. Be yourself; everyone else is already taken Oscar Wilde. For Funeral details visit: latrobevalley funerals.com.au

BURGESS, Vicki. Passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, 26 July 2023, with family at her side. Adored wife of Trevor (dec.). Mother to Jon, Rick and Fiona. Loving Nanna to Brandon, Ashleigh (dec.), Heidi, Chloe, Evie, Madeline and more recently Chloe and Ruby. Resting In Peace With Her Loved Ones

BURGESS, Vicki. Passed away 26 July 2023. Loved wife of Trevor (dec.). Sister-in-law to Graham and Jan. Reunited with Trevor

BURGESS, Vicki.

Deepest condolences to Vicki's family and friends on her passing. Our friend will be sadly missed. Geoff and Yvonne Marland, Stephen, Tony, Narelle, Tanya, Aaron and Brooke. Forever in our thoughts

BURGESS, Vicki. It is with great regret that the Morwell RSL Women's Auxiliary acknowledges the passing of Vicki, a past member of our Auxiliary. Our thoughts are with her family at this time.

GP1660461

CAIRNS, Mr Barry SERVICE No. 356457

The President, Committee, Staff and Members of the Moe RSL Sub-Branch deeply regret the passing of their esteemed Service Member and friend, Barry. We offer our sympathy to all his family.

LEST WE FORGET

COLLYER, Jack. Aheart of gold stopped beating, your smiling eyes at rest, God broke our hearts as He only takes the best. Loving sister Mary, Darren and family.

CRAWFORD, Beryl Jean. 11/12/1929 -28/7/2023.

Loved wife of Ron (dec.). Loving mother of Gwen and Richard, Trevor and Anne, Brian and Jo. Beryl loved her garden and shared many interests with her family and friends.

Aspecial thank you to the staff at Amberlea, Drouin for your care of Beryl. At Rest For Funeral details please visit the website.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON MOE 5126 1111 Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

DUNKLEY (Giles), Averre Carrington.

Passed away 30 July 2023. With great sadness we announce the loss of our beloved mother Ave at the age of 99. Rest in peace Peter, Shirley, Colin, Jenny, and their families.

DUNKLEY, Ms Averre SERVICE No. VF397278

The President, Committee, Staff and Members of the Moe RSL Sub-Branch deeply regret the passing of their esteemed Service Member and friend, Averre. We offer our sympathy to all her family.

LEST WE FORGET

LYNCH, Raymond "Butch".

Passed away peacefully on Sunday, 23 July 2023. Loving partner of Lorraine. Father of Paul (dec.), Helen, Troy and Tanya. Will be greatly missed by all his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

"Carn The Saints"

NEWTON, Brian Stanley. 30/9/1947 -24/7/2023.

Loving and devoted husband of Kerry.

Much loved father of Rachael and Scott, father-in-law of Clint and Jolene and grandfather of Ella, Jobie, Hayley and Mikayla (dec.).

Special thanks to Dr Buras and the caring doctors and nurses at LRH.

NEWTON, Brian Stanley. 30/9/1947 -24/7/2023.

NIELSEN, Mandy Angela.

Passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on 17 July 2023, in her 63rd year.

Beloved partner of Fred.

Proud mother of Matt and Emma, special stepmother to Jaqui. Loved mother-in-law of Garrett. Loving and crazy Naughty Nan to all her grandchildren. Mum and Matt finally together again "Our Beautiful Disaster"

For Funeral details visit: www.nielsenfunerals.com.au

BASSANESE. Requiem Mass for the Repose of the Soul of Mr Peter Bassanese will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Morwell MONDAY (7 August 2023) commencing at 1.30pm. Following the Mass, the Funeral will leave for the Hazelwood Cemetery.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON MORWELL 5134 4937

Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

BURGESS. The Funeral Service and Committal for Cremation of Mrs Vicki Burgess will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 437A PrincesDrive, Morwell, on TUESDAY, (8 August 2023), commencing at 11am.

NEWTON. The Funeral Service for Mr Brian Stanley Newton will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 437A Princes Drive, Morwell on FRIDAY (4 August 2023) commencing at 11am. Following the Service, the Funeral will leave for the Yallourn Cemetery, Haunted Hills Road. Brian's service will also be livestreamed. To view the livestream visit our website.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON

TRARALGON 5174 2258

Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

O'KEEFE, Quentin Margaret Anne. Born on 15 May 1952. Passed away 20 July 2023. Loved, loving and loyal wife of Roderick Cheatley. Inspirational mother of James, William and Hugh. DevotedGrandma of Audrey, Ted, Lillian, Rose and Blair. Forever missed and forever remembered

QUIRK, Terry Allan. 29/3/1959 -28/7/2023.

Passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family. Beloved husband of Chick (Heather). Much loved father of Steven, David and Andrew. Loved father-in-law to Rachael, Clare and Amanda. Cherished Pa to Benjamin, Xavier, Hudson and Wyatt. Loving son of Allan (dec.) and Mary.

"All the best"

RYAN, Peter Thomas.

Passed away peacefully surrounded by loving family on Sunday 30 July 2023.

Aged 68 years

Loving husband to Rita.

Loving father to Kirsty, Chad (dec.), Gemma, Kaycee, Michaeland Bronte. Loving father-inlaw to Dean, Nic and Juddy. Cherished grandfather, great grandfather and golfing champion. Memories of love and laughter keep you near

SAMSON, Ian.

Dad, You fought the fight of your life and it wasn't easy. But you did it with strength and courage. You can rest now. Iwill miss the simplicity of just sitting with you dad. You will be forever in our hearts

From your loving daughter Kym and son-in-law

Stephen and your grandchildren Jacob, Astrid, Matilda and Jarrod.

SCHULTZ, Noel Leslie. Passed away peacefully with family by his side on Sunday, 30 July 2023. Aged 84 years Loved husband of Kay (dec.).

Devoted partner of Joan.

Loving father, grandfather and great grandfather. In our hearts you will stay. Loved and remembered everyday.

To view the livestream, visit our website and follow the prompts.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON MORWELL 5134 4937

Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

DAY. The Funeral Service to celebrate the life of Elizabeth Day will take place in the Rose Chapel at Gippsland Memorial Park Cemetery, Cemetery Drive, Traralgon on FRIDAY (4 August 2023) commencing at 2.30pm. Following the Ceremony, Elizabeth will be laid to rest within the Cemetery.

DUNKLEY (Giles). The Funeral Service and Committal for Cremation for Mrs Averre Carrington Dunkley will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 6Ollerton Avenue Moe, THURSDAY (3 August 2023) commencing at 10.30am. Averre's Service will also be livestreamed. Please visit our website for details.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON MOE 5126 1111

Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

HAMMER.

The Funeral Service and Committal for Cremation for Mr Robert 'Bob' James Hammer will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 260 Princes Highway, Traralgon on THURSDAY (3 August 2023) commencing at 11am. Bobby's Service will also be livestreamed. To view the livestream visit our website.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON TRARALGON 5174 2258

Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

LYNCH. The Funeral Service and Committal for Cremation of Mr Raymond "Butch" Lynch will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 6Ollerton Ave, Newborough on THURSDAY, (3 August 2023), commencing at 1.30pm.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON MOE 5126 1111

Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

Aloved brother with whom Ihave happy memories of growing up together in Yallourn. Go Bulldogs Garry, Suzanne, Donna, Steven, Adam, Kylie, Hugo and Theodore.

NEWTON, Brian.

Death leaves aheartache no-one can heal. Love leaves amemory no-one can steal.

Shelly and Trevor, Faye and Ron.

ZEEMAN, Nicolaas Jacob (Nicho)

Passed away peacefully after abrave battle at the Latrobe Regional Hospital, Traralgon on 26 July 2023. Aged 72 years Adored son of Nell and Hank (dec.). Much loved brother of Marianne.

Life's journey is over Close to our hearts you will always stay Loved and remembered every day

O'KEEFE. AService to Celebrate the life of Quentin Margaret Anne O'Keefe will be held at St Jarlath's Church, Cnr Campbell and Rollo St's, Yarragon, on MONDAY (7 August 2023) commencing at 11am. The service will be followed by burial at the Trafalgar Cemetery, and afunction at Trafalgar/Thorpdale RSL Club.

Please, no flowers by request. Donations to support maintenance of St Jarlath's in Quentin's memory would be most welcome. Quentin's service will also be livestreamed. To view the livestream please visit: latrobevalley funerals.com.au and click on livestreaming.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON MOE 5126 1111

Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

QUIRK.

AService to honour and celebrate the life of Terry Quirk will be held at the Lardner Park Exhibition Centre, Burnt Store Rd, Lardner (Entry via Gate 4) on FRIDAY (4 August 2023) at 11am. The Service will also be livestreamed.

To view Terry's Service please visit: www.nielsenfunerals.com.au APrivate Cremation will follow.

SCHULTZ.

The Funeral Service for Mr Noel Leslie Schultz will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 260 Princes Highway, Traralgon on TUESDAY (8 August 2023) commencing at 2pm. Following the Service the Funeral will leave for the Traralgon Cemetery, Cemetery Dve, Traralgon. RSL members are welcome to attend. Noel's service will also be livestreamed. To view the livestream, please visit our website.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON

TRARALGON 5174 2258

Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

SHEEDY-MOORE (Whelan)

AService to celebrate the lifeofBrenda Joy Sheedy-Moore will be held at the Nielsen Funeral Chapel, Korumburra Rd, Warragul on FRIDAY (4 August 2023) at 2pm. The Service will also be livestreamed. To view Brenda's Service please visit: www.nielsenfunerals.com.au A Private Cremation will precede the Service.

LANGAN, Kellie Anne. 6/9/1973 -3/8/2022.

One year to this day

Heaven gained anew angel and Ilost my soulmate. You shall never be forgotten my love. Tonight I'll fall asleep with you in my heart. Your loving family Howard, Charli,Tai Thomas, and Jasper.

MORROW, Ross Geoffrey.

Ayear ago you left this world but Iknow you walk beside me each day. Iwill always love you my soulmate. Your partner Jodie.

STELLINE, Jen. 31/7/2017. Jen, 6years have passed, missing you. Memories last forever. Always in our hearts. Love Tony and family XXX.

WILDE, Leslie James (Muzzo). 10/11/1949 -4/8/2021. We miss your laughter, That cheeky grin, How we wish we could have you back again. Precious memories keep you near Love Jenn (J.J.), Beck and Kyle.

Birthday Memoriam •

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 Funeralfrom anylocation. Alarge function

Contact our caring highly experienced and qualified team or visit our website for more details

MOE 5126 1111 MORWELL 5134 4937

Do you want aprofessionally done Funeral, without paying exorbitant corporate fees?

John Galbraith can and does all sort of funeral services- whether aCremation Service at the Rose

GMP, in aChurch or aBurial.

ZEEMAN. AService to celebrate the life of Nicho Zeeman will be held at the Nielsen Funeral Chapel, Korumburra Rd, Warragul on THURSDAYNext Week (10 August 2023) at 10.30am. The Service will also be livestreamed. To view Nicho's Service visit: www.nielsenfunerals.com.au

Following light refreshments, the Cortege will leave for the Trafalgar Cemetery.

TARASINSKI. Leon.

Born 29 July.

Died 16 February 1999.

Our beloved daughter Dinah. Born 12 August. Died 30 March 2022. Our loved ones always remembered

Family owned and locally based Funeral Directors

We bring 35 years experience to families in Traralgon, Morwell, Churchill, Moe,Trafalgar, Korumburraand surroundingareas

RYAN. The Funeral Service for Mr Peter Ryan will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 6Ollerton Avenue Moe WEDNESDAY (2 August 2023) commencing at 2pm.

Following the Service the Funeral will leave for the Yallourn Cemetery, Haunted Hills Road, Yallourn.

In lieu of flowers donations to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia are appreciated. To donate online, please visit: pcfa.org.au

Peter's Service will also be livestreamed. To view the livestream, please visit our website.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON TRARALGON 5174 2258

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BORG, Martin Michael. 16/2/1958 2/8/2013

You are so sadly missed You were so dearly loved

HEALEY (Lenghaus), Dieuwertje. 30/7/1947 to 31/7/2022.

12 months has passed and it feels like only yesterday.

Skin, My love, my wife, my life, Imiss you every waking moment and nothing is the same. Until we meet again. Ilove you always Your husband Frank. My Mumma, Everything has changed; Life goes on, yet you are not here to share it with. Ilove you and miss you every day. Love always Your daughter, Alison. My soon to be mother-inlaw. Although you are not here, Iknow you are watching over us. You are missed and loved everyday Love Pete.

JAMES, David Wayne. 26/1/1966 -4/8/2016.

Of all the precious gifts in life, whether great or small, To have you as my son, was the greatest gift of all. Your loving Mum, Paul and your siblings Joanne, Andrew and Judie.

THE CHOICE IS YOURS

Practical, sensible and affordable.

We offer both at-need andpre-paid funerals. All female funerals areavailable. Dignityand respect, always CREMATION PACKAGES FROM $2750

www.harwoodfunerals.com.au

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Harriers take on Stocky

ATHLETICS TRARALGON HARRIERS BY

MOLLYIRVINE

LAST week’sThursday nightrun was the ‘Stocky Road’ five kilometre course.

The run both started and finishedatthe clubrooms on the corner of Grubb Avenue and DouglasParade, Traralgon. It tookrunners around the outskirts of Stockdale Road Primary School, as well as in and around Douglas Parade,Grubb Avenueand along Cross’sRoad. Atotal of 72 runners/walkers completed the course in cool and calm conditions.

For the males, it was GlennGrahamwho tooklinehonours in aspeedytimeof18:19, followed by Ian Cornthwaite in 19:30, and third for the males belonged to Clinton Jolly in a time of 20:30.

In the female race, it was Molly Irvine who took line honours in 22:42, second to her was Karen Graham closely behind in 22:58,and third for the females was Liz Kenney in atime of 24:12.

This week’s run (3/8/23)isthe LiddiardRoad 6km course which starts near the McNairn Road Milkbar/Traralgon Croquet Club, Traralgon.

Early starters head off by 5.45pm, followed by five various starting waves in five-10 minute intervals thereafter.

For more information:www.traralgonharriers.org.au

5km runresults: Glenn Graham 18.19; Ian Cornthwaite19.30; Clinton Jolly20.30; Steve Renehan 21.06; Andrew Greenhill21.09; Darrel Cross

21.09; Trent Kooyman 22.23; MollyIrvine22.42; Karen Graham 22.58; Warren Shields 23.01; Pete Sanders

23.20; GerardCallinan 23.23; GeoffFrancis 23.25; Andrew Broberg23.56; Andrew Panayiotou 24.07; Liz Kenney24.12; GaryFox 24.36; David Barr 24.38; RonVerschuur 24.51; Kate Mayer24.54; Giuseppe

Marino 25.00; Adrian Sutcliffe 25.14; Nelson Archibald

25.30; DempseyPodmore25.51; DesleyTulloch

25.53; Jerzey Podmore26.08; Michelle Sawyer 26.11; Stephen McLeod 26.12; AlfieWarner 26.28; Steve Jobling26.52; Maree Graham 26.59; SallyEenjes

27.06; NickTalerico 27.28;FelicityBeasley27.43;

Andrew Legge 28.00; LucyMagaldi 28.19;Anthony

Magaldi 28.19;Phill Mayer28.44; Susan Poole 28.57; PeterFairbairn29.08; Meg Macumber 29.12; Johnny

Roscoe 29.15; MariekaReilly29.15; StaceyPodmore

29.20; ClaireMacumber 29.22; MarkFairbairn29.30;

Chris Francis 29.53; Paul Smith 30.49; Mandy Ellis

31.31; Kylee Earl32.40; Kate Cumming 33.58; Mark

Lansdown 34.09; BarryHiggins 37.20; Danelle Wright

38.19; Ian Heafield 38.24; Lynda Jones 38.53; John

Reisinger 39.09; Christina Creighton 44.15; Luke

Witham 47.43; Belinda Heafield 48.25; Bob Duljas

48.25; TimGraham 49.36; KathyQuinn 52.04; Michelle Colwell 52.04; Sayaio Ma 59.00; Zoe Zhang

59.00; Alysha Duncan 59.27; AngeloGaudiano 59.27; BjornLuxmann NTR; Kristine Sapkin NTR; Lee Graham NTR; Tayt GattNTR

to showgreat improvements in her running,completing the three-lap course in25:47. Photographs supplied

Chilly course around Traralgon

ATHLETICS TRARALGON HARRIERS

BY MOLLYIRVINE

THE Rangeview Drive five kilometre course in Traralgonsaw 67 keen runners, joggersand walkers complete achilly coursearoundthe outskirts of St. Gabriel’s Primary School in Traralgon.

The three-lap course startedonRangeview Drive, beforeheading along WirildaCrescent, a slight incline up Parkwood Way, and then onto Stirling Avenue, Traralgon. The run included the welcomingoftwo new runnerstothe club including Sibella Macpherson (who ran a24:00) and Peter Fairbairn (25:48).

The first three runners across the line for the

nightwereRyan Wissmerinaspeedy time of 16:26, followed by Dale Murphy in another great time of 18:50, and Glenn Graham in 18:58. For thefemales, the fastestthree timeswere Molly Irvine in 21:50, followed by Amanda Reid only aminuteand abit behind in 23:08, and Ree Graham in 23:47 to round out the podium. 5km RunResults: Ryan Wissmer 16.26; Dale Murphy 18.50; Glenn Graham 18.58; IanCornthwaite19.08; SteveRenehan 21.22; WallyLappin 21.26; Pete Sanders 21.36; GeoffFrancis 21.40; MollyIrvine21.50; Jack Marino 22.34; Andrew Broberg22.35; Jerzey Podmore22.35; DempseyPodmore22.39; ChesneyPodmore22.45; David Barr 22.47; Nelson Archibald 23.00; Amanda Reid 23.08;Jay McGown 23.14; Andrew Panayiotou 23.20; Jason Odlum 23.40; Maree Graham 23.47; GaryFox 23.52; Tobiasz Grzmil23.57; Sibella Macpherson 24.00; Andrew Greenhill 24.00; Miles Verschuur 24.00; Ron

Verschuur 24.03; Adrian Sutcliffe 24.13; Stephen McLeod 24.24; MariekaReilly24.40; Giuseppe Marino 24.48; DesleyTulloch 24.51; Liz Kenney24.55; KarenGraham 24.55; NickTalerico 24.55; Clinton Jolly25.13; Michelle Sawyer 25.47; MarkFairbairn25.48; PeterFairbairn 25.48; LucyMagaldi 26.31; AnthonyMagaldi 26.31; Kathleen Kent 26.53; Rose Croft26.55; Alfie Warner

27.13; Susan Poole 27.29; Vicky Aitkens 28.13; Claire Macumber 28.16; StaceyPodmore28.33; Andrew Legge

29.00; Kate Mayer29.51; Phill Mayer29.51; Maltilda Lappin 29.53; KyleeEarl30.00; Ella Warner 30.23; Kate Cumming31.52; Kate Rowe 35.09; BarryHiggins36.10; SamMcGown 36.11; Ian Heafield 36.33; KylieWarner

37.40; Christina Creighton 40.55; Paul Smith 43.31; Joshua Dalton 48.05; Belinda Heafield 48.52; Kaye Livingstone 48.52; KathyQuinn 50.34;Michelle Colwell 50.34

Fittingtribute to late PeterMertens

HORSERACING

By ZOEASKEW

SALE Turf Club used its Sunday meeting on July 23 to honour the memory of late Gippsland jockey

Peter Mertens.

The legendary Mertens, whose many accolades throughout his illustrious career dubbed him the ‘King of Gippsland’ died on June 24 after abattle with pancreatic cancer.

Mertens’ death propelled the racing world into mourning, with the King of Gippsland remembered as an outstanding local jockey and arespected figure in the racing community, whose legacy will continue to inspire future generations of riders.

In acareer spanning more than 30 years,Mertens rode more than 2100 winners, including seven Group 1s in both Victoria and South Australia, before his retirement in 2013.

Mertens’ first Group 1win came in 1999 aboard Rustic Dream in the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield.

Of his 2100 career wins, 737 were on Gippsland Tracks -279 at Sale, 159 at Moe, 132 at Bairnsdale, 113 at Traralgon and 54 at Stony Creek.

Mertens wasathree-time SaleCup winner, riding winners in 1990, 1995 and 1999. He also won the Traralgon Cup in 2003, Bairnsdale Cup in 2013, and Moe Cup in 2010.

His son Beau rode the winner of the Moe Cup, Fengarada for John Leek Jr just last year.

In 2010, Peter Mertens wasinducted into the Sale Turf Club Hall of Fame. Aplaque in the male jockey room at Salecommemorates the King of Gippsland’s outstanding career.

Sale TurfClubhosted aspecialmeetinginhis honour, dedicating Race 4withthe race name‘Vale Peter Mertens, to the King of Gippsland’.

Mertens’ wife Gulcinand their nine children were among those in attendance, with Beau riding Delicate Babe in the racenamedinhis father’s honour.

Delicate Babe wasthe favouriteahead of therace,

but the MattLaurie-trained bayfilly, ridden by 2008 Melbourne Cup winner Blake Shinn, claimed the win.

Sale Turf Club chief executive Brad Evans said Mertens’ passing saddened the club, and that the Gippsland jockey significantly impacted the region throughout his career.

“Given his legacy and contribution to Gippsland Racing and his love of Sale, it was fitting to have 30-plus family and friends joining committee as

guests of the club for this special day,” Evans said.

“It was avery successfulcelebration of agreat career.”

Racingfarewelled the King of Gippsland at Caulfield Racecourse on Thursday,July 6, with more than 300 gathering to rememberthe husband, father, friend and extraordinary jockey.

Mertens hoped one of his children would follow him into the saddle, his son Beau stepping up to fulfil his wishes.

On Wednesday, June 28, in hisfirstride since his father’s death, Beau won the Benchmark70 (1300m) for fillies and mares at Ladbrokes Park Sandown Lakeside aboard Anahita.

Beau told Racing.com that he planned to win the race, and believeshehad the assistanceofhis late father riding with him

“I had abig smile on my face, Iwas going to do it for him, and he was definitely riding over me on that one, that’s for sure,” Beausaid.

Ten days later, and just three days after farewelling hislatefather, Beauled all the way to win the 1100m 2YO Handicap at Caulfield aboard Spicy Margs

When Peter Mertens fellill,the determination that stood him in such good stead on the track enabled him to fight, telling Racing.com in November last year that Beau’s promising career in the saddle was atremendous form of motivation.

“I’venever donethings in halves; you’ve got to remain positive and take whatever you can,” Mertens said.

“There’s alady who has asimilar cancer in a similar spot to mine from America who has lived for 20 years. If she can do it, why can’t I?’

“Plus, Iwant to be around for abit longer to keepreminding Beauthat I’m still the Kingof the Country Cups.

“My friends, family, and, in particular, Beau are my inspiration. That’s what drives me.

“He still has alot to go, but geez, he makes me proud.”

With that, you can’t help but believe Beau when he said his dad was riding over him after winning theBenchmark 70 (1300m) for fillies and mares at Ladbrokes Park Sandown Lakeside.

You can’t help but believe Mertens was riding withBeauwhenhewon the 1100m2YO Handicap at Caulfield aboard Spicy Margs.

You can’t help but believe Mertens will forever be riding with Beau.

Great guns: ReeGrahamcontinues

Work: Returning club member Dale Murphy completed thefivekilometre coursein 18:50,whichsawhimclaimsecond place overall.

Doingdad proud: BeauMertens and trainer John Leek Jr,who wonthe Moe Cuplastyear,inthe mounting yard at Sale Turf Club afterthe race namedinmemoryoflegendary local jockey PeterMertens

Photograph Zoe Askew

900 gamesbetween the big sticks

“In2009, it was Maffra versus Traralgon, another senior Grand Final,” North said.

“The siren went and Maffra was behind, then they had ashot for goal 40 (metres) out, this time it was at my end, and their player Nick Horsford, he had ashot after the siren and kicked the goal, which gave Maffra the victory.

“I had abit of atear to me eye Imust admit, because Iwas quiteemotional about it, it’s such an exciting thing.”

His passion for the game is evident, and shows how much of an effect football can have on people, even those with no involvement on those playing.

He holds four seniorMorwellTigers premierships close to his heart, officiating in agame where the Tigers have won -the club where he started it all.

“I’vedonefourflags thatMorwell havewon,senior flags, 1985, ‘88, ‘93 and 2013,” he said.

Speaking of the Morwell Tigers, North noted that he has loved seeing people come and go through the clubs, mentioning that he had umpired for three generations of the Macfarlane family.

still competitivebut the numbers have dropped abit.”

North described what has kept him in it.

“I just love the game,” he said.

“I was no good as afootballer, Iwas ashorty, they used to call me Shorty North.

“So Inever had any ability as afootballer, so Igot involved with MorwellFootball Clubasa volunteer.”

It was an easy decision for North to stay once he

was recruited, with anumberoffactors in favour of umpiring.

“The mateship and the friends you make, not only through yourumpiring fraternity but through the football clubs as well, that’s been areal buzz over the years,” he said.

Make suretolook out for ‘Northy’ when he struts out for game number 900, standing betweenthe goal posts when Morwell play Sale in the Gippsland League this Saturday.

Suns shine bright against Lions

FOOTBALL AFL EXPORTS

BY TOM HAYES

UMPIRING LVUA

BY TOM HAYES

UMPIRING formore than 40 years and taking part in 900games is not something that comes around all too often.

But this Saturday, on August 5, when Morwell host Sale in the GippslandLeague, goalumpire Peter North will strut out for his 900th game.

“It’s been along time coming …I’ve loved every minute of it,” North said.

The nerves are kicking-in, and North looks forwardtothe day with his long-time umpire mates.

“You’re always alittle bit toey every game you do, until you get that first decision,” he said.

“I’ve planned to be umpiring with alot of my long-time umpiring friends, it’ll be agood day and we’re going out to dinner that night.”

North didn’t believe he would be able to make it this far into an umpiring career, but now over 40 years into the trek, he’s not looking back.

“I started off as avolunteergoal umpire with Morwell (Football Club),back in the late 70s,” he said.

“I moved over to the LVUA in 1982 and have been there ever since.”

Over his 41 years with the Latrobe Valley Umpires Association, North has been able to take part in 24 senior Grand Finals, primarily within the Gippsland League, but also within the North and Mid Gippsland Football-Netball Leagues.

From his career, North shared two of his greatest memories, both deriving from Grand Finals.

“My first senior GrandFinal was in 1985, Morwell played Traralgon, Morwell were five goals downat three quarter time and kicked 10 goals in the last quarter and won the match,” North reminisced.

“It was areally big day.”

Also high on the list was Maffra’s 2009 Grand Final triumph in the most dramatic circumstances.

GOLF

CHURCHILL &MONASH

StablefordSaturday22ndJuly 2023

AGrade Winner: I. Fortune 12 37pts

BGrade Winner: P. Bolding 24 36pts

CGrade Winner: W. Sutton2732pts

D.T.L: 1. R. Dent 34, 2. D. Buridge34, 3. G.

Beyer33, 4. D. Byers33, 5. J. Sanders32, 6.

P. Flanigan 31 C/ B, 7. R. Welsh31C/B

N.T.P: 3rdJ.Armstrong,5th R. Dent, Pro-Pin

12th R. Dent, 14th G. Beyer

Target Hole: R. Dent

StablefordTuesday25thJuly 2023

Winner: S. Duff 933pts

D.T.L: C. Gilfillan2231pts,I.Duncan 12

30pts

N.T.P: 3rdS.Duff, 5th J. Cahill, 14th S. Turner

MIRBOONORTH

Thursday27th July,Stableford

AGrade: TBradshaw(12)38pts

BGrade: DTaylor (23) 34pts

DTL: JSmeriglio,RMatthews 32, TomTraill

30

NTP: 4th DTaylor,6th JSmeriglio,16th, J

Robbins.

Birdies: 4th, DTaylor,GRenwick, 16th J

Robbins, Saturday29th July Mulligans Day

Stableford

AGrade: TBradshaw(11)41pts

BGrade: SHill-Smith (19) 40pts

DTL: TWhitelaw40, JRobbins,T Baker,B

Bradshaw, 39

NTP: 4th WTurner,6th, RJenkins 13th B

Wells, 16th TWhitelaw,

Birdies: 4th DWinningW Turner,6th R Jenkins,16th TWhitelaw, SBeitz.

MOE

Sunday, 23 July 2023 OPEN Sunday9hole

Stableford

Grade AWinners: Doak, Shaun (11) 15

Stretching over 40 years, North has umpired Gary, his son Jason and more recently in today’s game, Burkeley, all playing for Morwell’s seniors.

How often can you say that.

And hislove for the game doesn’t appear to be separating any time soon, as he hopes to continue between the bigsticksfor the nextcouple of seasons.

“Goal umpiring doesn’t take too much out of you …couple of more years will probably see me through,” North said.

“We have some young fellas coming through who look like maybe doing the big GrandFinal this year.”

It’s only natural that as the years go by, the game develops, and when the game develops,those involved have to adjust.

And thatdoesn’t just meanthe players,as umpires also have to change their ways of thinking to keep the game in order.

“The game’s alot faster now than what it was 30, 40 years ago,” North said.

“Thestandardisprobablydown alittle bit, because there is less people playing.

“Overall, the umpiring is just as good, and having the extraumpireout thereinthe middle makes it alot easier.”

Thankfully for North, not much has changed for goal umpires at alocal level.

“Goal umpires haven’t changed at all, one good thingisthat the goal postsare getting much higher …sohigh that you shouldn’t make amistake!” he continued.

“It’s the best seat in the house for football.”

Just like the game, the Latrobe Valley Umpire Association has too developed.

No matter the sway or size of the group, the LVUA have always been inclusive and competitive.

“30-odd years ago we had aheap of umpires;field, goal and boundary, we probably had about26goal umpires,” North said.

“We’re very competitive to get aGrand Final.

“These days it’s alot less competitive, probably

Sunday, 23 July 2023

Hiriaki, Whitney(2) 35

Grade BWinners: LEGGO,TOBY(33) 39

Place Getters: De Dios,Al34c/b

Ould,Brenton 34 C/B

THERE were wins all round for the locals in action on the field at the weekend in the AFL. However, things weren’t so fortuitous for our local in the coaches box.

The Gold Coast Suns snapped anine-game QClash drought, while the West Coast Eagles won their first game since Round 2.

UP north on Saturday afternoon, the Gold Coast Suns madeamockery of Brisbane, winning their seventh QClash. Gold Coast hadn’t recorded aQClash win since 2018.

The Lions conceded aseven-point quarter time lead to trail at halftime by just three points.

It would be all Gold Coast after thesun set behind the stands in the second half.

Gold Coast enjoyed asuccessful period in the third term, kicking back-to-back goals twice, extending the lead 17 points.

But with the game still in the balance, the Suns ended any hopes of apotential comeback, kicking 5.3 (33)to1.3 (9) in the final termtowin by 41 points, 15.6 (96) to 7.13 (55).

Moe’s Sam Flandershad one of the bestgames of his career, and continues to shine since his return from injury.

He collected agame-high 32 disposals, and hadsevenmarks,two tackles and fiveclearances. He helped up front too with seven score involvements and four inside-50s.

Morwell’s BenAinsworth sealed thewin with the final two goals of the game, capping off a brilliant individual showing.

Ainsworth had 20 touches and kicked 2.1 in front of goal, and laid five tackles, took five marks and had eight score involvements.

Moe’sBaileyHumphrey showed glimpses of what’s to come in his future.

The youngster provided some shine to the Suns’ passages of play,dancing around opponents and nailing his kicks.

He finished the day with 12 touches, he also

SCOREBOARD

Grade AWinners: Wallis,Elizabeth (31) 34

Saturday, 29 July 2023 MENS Stableford

Grade AWinners: Johnson, Tony (2) 39

Grade BWinners: Parsell, Jake (35) 38

Place Getters: Rothwell, Craig 37 C/B

had three tackles and three clearances, but in true halfforward fashion he provided pressure, with 20 pressure acts.

The Suns keeptheir finalshopes alive, and although they sit 14th right now, they are only four pointsand some percentage out of the eight. Their run home is perhaps not too favourable, as they would need to win on almost every occasion to qualify for their first ever finals series.

In the coming month, the Suns have Adelaide, Sydney, Carlton and North Melbourne.

RICHMOND and Traralgon’s Andrew McQualter failed to takeupon amassive opportunityagainst Melbourne on Sunday afternoon. The Tigers led for majority of the outing, even by as much as 20 points at multiple stages throughout the match.

Theyled by 11 at quartertime, then eight at halftime.

Asix-goal third quarter from the Demons gifted them the lead for the first time since the opening term.

Despite aquick startfromRichmondinthe final term, which saw them regainthe lead, Melbourne finished the game with six straight goals to close out a32-point win, 20.10 (130) to 15.8 (98).

“Probably two and half quarter of the game, Ithought we were rightinthe fight, really competitive and giving ourselves every chance,” McQualter said post-match.

“Then in the last quarter, they were too good really, around the ball mainly …itjust became abit too overwhelming.”

MOVING west, and Drouin’s Ryan Maric picked up in firstwin in theAFL when theEagles scratched overthe line against North Melbourne. Maric enjoyed aGatorade shower after the game, alongside fellow first-time winner Jack Williams.

It was just West Coast’ssecond win of the season, but they remain last on the ladder, although now equal on points with the Kangaroos.

Friday, July 28th 2023, Open Men’s&

Ladies Stableford

AGrade Winner: PeterHobson 37 pts C/B

BGrade Winner: Glenn Doolan 35 pts

DTL’s: Josh Gaul 37,Kevin Ayton36, Paris

Christian 34, MarkHiriart34, GarryJansen

Titford, Steven

SaturdayMen StablefordSat, 29 Jul 2023

Grade Winners: APilcher,Jamie 38 BRoberts,Paul 42

CRadford, Tony 37

Wednesday, 26 July 2023

WOMEN’S WEDNESDAY 9HOLE

Grade AWinners: Hale,Jan (54) 21

Place Getters: Williams,Alix(24) 17 C/B Griggs,Andrea (39) 17

Weir,Charles 37 C/B Young,Bailey37 Whittaker, Zac 36 Donnison, Terry35C/B

Stanlake,Peter 35 Stephens,Simon 34

Wolski,Ted 34 C/B

Great Score: Tony Johnson Eagle @ 12 Simon Stephens Eagle @12Aaron

33, Todd Malone 32 C/B

Birdies: 11th:Michael Stephenson

Saturday, July 29th 2023, Stableford

AGrade Winner: Reno Borg40 pts

BGrade Winner: Vic Hill 39 pts

Wednesday, 26 July 2023

WOMEN’S STABLEFORD

Grade AWinners: Mellon, Donna (20) 37

Grade BWinners: Birrell, Chris (41) 34

Place Getters: Owen,Aija31C/B Bates, Linda 31 C/B

Keily, Bev31

Great Score: Sue KlemkeBirdie @6

Nola Fordham Birdie @14

Gwen Young Birdie @4

Nearest to Pin: 4th Gwen Young,8th Donna

Mellon 14th Leahann Stewart

Target Hole Prize: DonnaMellon

Thursday, 27 July 2023 OPEN Medley

Stableford

Grade AWinners: Beveridge,Eric(9) 36

C/B

Grade BWinners: Shelley, Chad (16) 38

Grade CWinners: Pisa, John (21) 38 Place Getters: Gauci, Anthony37C/B

Allen, Ray37C/B Stansbury, Les 37

Weir,Charles 36 C/B Spiteri, Paul 36

Farmer,Andrew 35 Brunt, Desmond 35

Colvin,Anthony34C/B Stanlake,Chris 34

C/B Backman, Shane 34 C/B Donnison, Terry34C/B Ford,Tim 34 C/BHibbs,Steven

34 C/B

Great Score: Phil Backman (Birdie) @14

Enda Murphy(Birdie)@4Jamie Lodge (Birdie) @4 Eric Beveridge (Birdie) @4 Phil Backman (Birdie) @4 AnthonyColvin

(Birdie) @14Peter Stephens (Birdie) @8

Nearest to Pin: 4th Eric Beveridge 8th John

Pisa 14th Phil Backman

Saturday, 29 July 2023 WOMEN’S

SATURDAY Stableford

Bassman Eagle @2 PeterStanlakeBirdie @8 Tony Johnson Birdie @8 Simon

Stephens Birdie @8

Nearest to Pin: 4th Lee Wilson 8th Peter Stanlake14th Simon Stephens

MORWELL

Women 26th July 2023 -Stableford

Winner: DVuillermin 35pts

DTL: JWhite33pts

NTP: 2nd CBoers8th JWhite15th D

Vuillermin

Birdies: JWhite

TRAFALGAR

Tuesday25/07/2023 -Stableford

Players: 16,Women 3, Men 13

Winner: Glenn Doolan (23)

Runner Up: NormMether (19) Count Back

DTL: Chris Moody,TonyShearer,Steve

Gould

NTP: Graeme Harris

Bradmans: SteveKlemke

Thursday27/07/2023 4Person Ambrose

Players 40: Women 12,Men 28

Winners: Sue Klmke, Chris Payne,Ivan

Grant, Duane Baker RunnersUp: RodBrisbane,Peter Cooke, RobHardaker,TonyShearer

DTL: Sue DeVries,TobyDavie,Hank

Fiddelaers, GlennDoolan, LynPowell, Aija Owen, David, Balfour,Steve Klemke

Bradmans: Bronwyn Wallace,Max Pugliese, Tony Pitt, RobDeVries

DTL’s: MarkHiriart39, Phil Solohub 37

RonKeith 36, WarwickGriggs 36, Darryl

Blackshaw36, PeterRhodes 35, Max Taylor 35, AnthonyCunningham 35, Ross

Anderson 35

NTP’s: 2nd: Darryl Blackshaw5th:Graeme

Ayre 11th: Bill Williams 13th:Josh Clarkson

15th: RayWiseman

Eagle: 7th: Reno Borg

TRARALGON

SaturdayMen StablefordSat, 22 Jul 2023

Grade Winners: ACharlton, Graham 40

BFarmer,Andrew 42

CHazelman, Brian 35

DCooen, Ross 36

RunDowns: 1Platt, Brad 38, 2Hobson, Aaron 36, 3Fitzclarence,Kallan 36, 4Milne Nathan 36, 5Northe,Thomas 35, 6Pledge, Jeff 35, 7Hayes,Mick35, 8Wight,David 35, 9Jones,Mitchell 35, 10 Jones,Kelvin 35

NTP: 5th Kurowski, Stanley8th Cheney, Darren 10th Mudita, Jaxon5th Charlton, Graham

2nd shot 18th: Canning,Darrin

TuesdayStablefordTue,18Jul 2023

RunDowns: 1Harper,Anthony38, 2Wagemakers, Jacob 37,3 Atkins,Barry37, 4Simic,John 36, 5Slavin, Terry36, 6Murdoch, Jedd 36, 7Hornstra, Luke35, 8Quail, Simon 35, 9Buckley, Mark35

Grade Winners: ALyons,Daniel 36

BHourigan, James 38

CAtkins, Dot 39

NTP: 5th Wight, David 8th Hall, Scott10th

DDuncan, Nick36 RunDowns: 1Coffey, James 38, 2Wight, David 37,3 Mc Donald, Andrew 37,4 Henning,Ross 37,5Hunter,Daryl 36, 6 Lyons,Daniel 36, 7Fenech, Joseph 36, 8 Briffett,Garry36, 9Higginbotham, Darryl 36 10 Milner,Glenn 36

NTP: 5th Szabo,Scott8th Wilson, Ryan 10th Charlton, Graham 15th Alexander,Richard NTP 2nd shot 18th: Thomson, Joel TuesdayStablefordTue,25Jul 2023

RunDowns: 1Bray, Peter39, 2Bruce Shane 38, 3Hooper,Mick38, 4Murdoch, Jedd 37,5Roberts,Paul 37,6Stafford, Norm 37,7Ferrel, Graeme 36, 8McGrath, Scott 36, 9Bell, George 36

Grade Winners:DIV 1Paterson, Richard39

DIV 2Logan, Donald 36

NTP: 5th Radford, Tony 8th Charlton, Graham 10th Prowd, Ineca 15th Lyons Daniel

PISTOLS

Mon 24/7/23 Air pistol

CGrade: BKelly519-113-632.

DGrade: CBenelli 487-96-583. DChester 453-125-578. KBeaufort278-218-496. Wed26/7/23 Centrefire

CGrade: CBenelli 487-106-593.

DGrade: BKelly434-211-643. MHoward 297-224-521 25 mt pistol

CGrade: JSmith 388-199-587

Sat 29/7/23 Centrefire

CGrade: CBenelli 468-99-567

DGrade: VPardini 237-238-475.

25 Mtpistol

DGrade: NMallory393.

Can’t stop, won’tstop: PeterNorth will umpire his 900th game when Morwell meets Sale this weekend. File photograph

Finals time arrives for Gippy United LVHA find it tough in Melbourne

BASKETBALL GIPPSLAND UNITED

BY TOM HAYES

PLENTY has happened in the local basketball world recently. Including something we didn’t expect to see all season.

THE Gippsland United women havequalified for finals with ease, but they losttheir first and only game of the season in Round 17, going down to Wallan by eight points.

Away from home, the girls couldn’t seem to get agrip on the game after agreat start.

They took atwo-point lead at the end of the first,but soontrailedbytwo points with a quarter to go.

Despitethe close nature of the game, the girls were unable to bring it back, in fact they blew the deficit out even more, losing the final quarter by six points, extending the deficit to eight, 83-75.

Lauren Tuplintop-scored with 21 points, whileMaKenzie Miller, Shanara Notman and Krystal Arnasonall recorded double-digit point games.

Miller had amonster 13 rebounds to complete her double-double, while Arnasonhad five assists and amassive six steals.

In United’s final home and away game, they hosted Coburg at the Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium.

In store was acrazy finish, as Gippy United prevailed after aperiod of overtime.

The girls started well, takinga five-point lead at the endofthe first,but soonafter it was Coburg that gained the lead, going up by four points at the main break.

Nothing could separate the sides in thethird quarter, as Coburg maintained afour-point lead.

As it came to the end of the final quarter, GippslandUnitedtrailed by two points, yet up stepped Emily Scholtes who drew afoul with seven seconds to go, drained both free throws and sent the game to overtime.

In overtime,Unitedmadelight work of Coburg, outscoring them 13-5 to win by eight points, 96-88.

Tuplin scored 22 points off the bench, Miller scored 19,while Joanna Watson was the other prominentscorer with 17.

Tuplin and Millerrecorded nine boards each, Scholtes got seven on topoffiveassistsina massive effort from the bench.

The girls head into finals as the top team, and their first task is the fourth-placedSurfCoast.

GIPPSLAND Unitedboys have completed their home-and-away season and have started their finals series.

In their final home-and-away game, the boys sealed second chance in the finals with a108103 win over Chelsea at the GRISS.

Gippy United clawed back a10-point first quarter deficit to win comfortably in the end.

The second quarter saw them grab the lead back by apoint at the endofthe half, before extending that lead out to six points with a quarter to play.

Chelsea won the final quarter, but just by a point as Unitedgot up by five points in the end.

Koby Tibballs had agreat game, scoring 30 points with seven rebounds and three assists.

Ben Barlow, Oliver Amajoyi, Stephen O’Brien and Jordan Gooiker all had double-digit point games to compliment the United score.

Amajoyi had eight rebounds,while Jordan Canovan led in assists with seven.

The boys finished third, setting up asecond versus third finalagainst the RMITRedbacks, the winner going on to play first-placed Shepparton, the loser playingthe winnerof Pakenham and Warrnambool.

GippyUnited was no match for the Redbacks thoughintheir final,losing every quarter to go down by amassive 39 points.

They were outscored in everyquarter, which saw the margingrow over each period,getting as high as 44 points at one stage in the final period.

Amajoyi top-scored for the losing side with 14 points, and completed adouble-double with 12 boards.

It’s do or die for Gippsland United this weekend,whentheyface Pakenham, who easily disposed of Warrnambool by 14 points in the elimination final.

If they can win, United will face the loser of Shepparton or the Redbacks for aspotinthe Grand Final.

HOCKEY LVHA BY JEN SUTTON

THE Latrobe Valley Hockey Association men played top-of-the-ladder team Aussie Punjabi at the Melbourne Sports Centre at the weekend.

The men had some solid scoring opportunities in the firsthalf of the game, with teams going goal-for-goal up until the fourth quarter.

Unfortunately, the Aussie Punjabi team proved too strong and scored another two goals in the last quarter of the game.

Rock-solid goalkeeper Ian Goodwin had asensational game, keeping the LVHA within reach against such adominant side.

Daniel Lineen and Mathew Wells scored the goals, with Goodwin, Lineen, and Toby Anderson among the best players for the match.

The LVHAwomen travelled to Frankston to play one of the teams they have previously defeated.

After atough few weeks playing the top-three sides, the women regrouped at trainingand came out to play some of the best hockey of theirseason.

The teams went to the halftime break locked at nil-all.

The younger Frankston team scored two goals in the third quarter.

TheLVside came out strong again in the last quarter, and Kim Tanti scored adeflection goal from apenalty corner.

Despite several chances, the women were unlucky to not come away with adraw.

Full time saw the score 2-1 Frankston’s way.

Tanti, Claire Cake and Maddi Hall were the best for the LV side.

ROVERS took on Traralgon in afree-flowing game in the local league.

Rovers won 3-0, with goals scored by Aria Runia (two) and Maddi Hall.

Best players were Charlie Murrell, Ranui, and Hallfor Rovers. Jo Buckler, AliciaWood-Davis and Skye McDonald played well for Traralgon.

Churchill took on Moe in the last game of the round.

In agreat team game from Churchill, which included great saves by Claire Goodwin in goals, and alovely goal from Ronan North,they defeated Moe 3-0.

Churchill’s best were Nicole Ijpelaan,Ronan North and Kelly McLauchlan. Ash Vuillermin, Jack Morely and Louise Watson contributed well for Moe.

Winners galoreatclub championships

TABLE TENNIS

TRARALGON Table Tennis Association held its Annual Club Championships Tournament last Wednesday (July 26). It was abig nightoftable tennis, withmore than45players competing in seven different events.

Reigning club champion, Steve Warr dropped a setfrom Ian Strong in the semi’s to qualify for the final, whileSteve Boydand Heath Sposato played afive-set classic, where Sposato got out of jail in the fourth set, to win the fifth set 12-10 and earn his spot in the final.

Warr started strong in the final, quickly taking the first two sets, but Sposato fought backstrongly to win the third 11-5.

It was to avail though, as the reigning champion regainedcontrol, taking the fourth set 11-7to win his fourth open singles title, and his third in succession.

The ladies open was ahard fought affair, with Helen Procak pullingout every trick she had to get over young gun Maya Gomez, winning her semi-final 20-18 in the fourth set.

QuynhCottrellsaw off adetermined Fiona Fullard in the other semi final in three close sets, to set up agreat finalbetween two big hitters.

Those watchingwerenot disappointedasCottrell and Procak traded blows in avery entertaining and exhausting battle.

While this match was won in straight sets, the scoreboard did little to undermine how close this contest was,highlighted by the thirdset score line of 20-18. Procak refused to back down, it was eventuallyCottrell sneaking home to win her second ladies open title in three years.

In the open doubles, Heath Spasato and Peter Gomex were made to work for there 12-10, 11-9, 11-9 semi finalover Jackson Landy and Mark Strini, while their challengers, Ian Strongand Geoff Lawn also had their hands full against Jeff Pollardand Steve Boyd, but progressed with a four set win.

The final didn’t take quite as long however, with Sposato and Gomez winning in straight sets.

The restrictedsingles,which is historically a well-contestedbattle, sawall matchesfromthe quarter final stages go to at least four sets.

Steve Boyd battled initially over Jeff Pollard, to eventually wininfour sets to advance to the final.

Jackson Landy dropped the first set against Geoff Lawn, before advancing to the final four sets, the last being a18-16 win.

The final was also atight affair, with Steve Boyd, under fatigue, defeating Landy in four sets.

The Section 2singles saw some of the closest battles of the night.

In making his way to the final, Warrick Landy just fellshort in an epic semi against PaulGale in five sets, with his opponent Kamy Wu being made to work hard against regular sparring partner Ron Winklemann, winning his semi in four sets.

The final was another hard fought affair, with Gale defeating Wu 13-11, 7-11, 12-10, 11-6 in a classic.

The Section 2doubles saw another amazing event, with both semi-finals and the final going to the fifth set for aresult.

HenryFranssen and Quynh Cottrell combinedto meetFiona Fullard and Sheila Whitehead, winning 11-7 in the fifth set to advance to the final.

Ron Winklemann and Henk VanderStoep were equally troubled as they crawled to an 11-9 fifth set win over avery stubborn and diligent Gavin Carrigg and Brian Consodine.

The finalsaw wasanother five set epic, with Winklemann and VanderStoep having their noses in front when it counted most.

In the Division 3singles final, Daniel Stevens cruised throughthe early rounds, defeating Veronica Raz in the semi’s to advance to the final.

Brae Kellyalsoadvanced through to the final in straightsets, defeating BounVannapraseuth to earn hisplace.

The fancied Stevens took the first set quickly, butdidn’t get his own way,goingdowntoKelly in the secondset, but regained control, eventually winning in four sets.

The Division 3doubles eventuated with Daniel Stevens and Veronica Raz proving too good for runners-up BraeKellyand ChrisHall,winning in straight sets.

In the final event for the evening, those waiting for the finalsentered the ‘Doug Schoer Classic’, where bats were just ply with very thin pimpled rubbers, balls were only 38mm in diameter, and sets were played to 21, not 11.

Schoerislifemember of the association who still plays with his bat from 50+ years ago, to which theevent was derived from.

In an world of high performance blades, rubbers, adhesiveand 40mm balls, 14 players put there hands up to compete.

With avariety of much laughter and great frustration to many, it was Jeff Pollard who managed to float and awkwardly ‘deadbat’ his way to awin overanequallydeterminedand very humorous Gavin Carrigg, winning 21- 18. In awell received event honouring the great man.

The championships beginabusy timefor the

association, with the junior clubchampionships being held in three weeks, the 2023 Veterans Pennant is in full swing, and also the senior and junior winter pennant finalscoming up in the next few weeks as well.

In: Kim Tanti celebrates agoalfor Latrobe Valleywomen. Photograph MargaretNorth

Congratulations: Women’s champion Quynh Cottrell and Helen Procak. Photographs MarkStrini

Tugga: Traralgon TableTennis Association mens champion SteveWarr and Heath Sposato.

Normality restored around most of LVSL, fourrounds remain in 2023

Fortuna shell shocks Moe in 7-0 drubbing

SOCCER

LVSL

BY JOHN CARDONA

MOE UNITED faced up to Fortuna on Saturday night on the synthetic pitch at Morwell Park, and were dealt with asoccer lesson from adominant Fortuna side who gave Moe United a7-0 thrashing.

It was MoeUnited’sbiggest defeatfor many years.

From the kick-off Fortuna were switched on, and after two minutes aone-two with Damon Scott and Jake Budija saw Scott open the score for Fortuna.

Fortuna were cutting the Moe United sides defence to pieces, creating numerous chances with Budija wasting two great chances from aclose range header and ashot blasted over the bar from 10 metres out.

Moe United’s attacking ventures were well shut down by adisciplined and determined Fortuna back line withConnor O’Hanlon and Tanner Pyle up front finding space and minimal ball delivery to their feet.

United held out adominant Fortuna side until the30-minute mark, whena Hayden Tanti pass found an unmarked Budija who finally found his bearings to slot the ball home for a2-0 lead.

United’s best chance came from Pyle, who’s well-hit shot was saved by keeper Con Mavrofidis

It was arelentless display by Fortuna and took only four minutes for the Orange Lions to go 3-0 up when aDJMatar shot was saved by Moe keeper Peter Albanese but the ball fell to theever alert Jake Budija who made no mistake from close.

The Fortuna midfield of Ollie Spiteri,DJ Matar, Joel Palermo and Daniel Cooper were creating havoc, and it was aheader by Scott to Tanti at the back post to make it 4-0.

Wave after wave of attacks led to aDaniel Cooper free kick, which found Scott at the back post to head the ball home.

In MoeUnited’smidfield,itwas amakeshiftmidfieldasUnited were without Oscar Sceney, Matt Shearing andaninjury during the first half to Joe Stewart plus Pyle used as aforward because of the absence of forward Riley Winkleman due to injury.

Fortuna was also missing key players, but this did not affect the Orange Lions compared to the Red Devils

At the 70 minute mark, asolo run by DJ Matar saw him unleash asuperb shot. The final nail in the coffin from adevastating display by Fortuna saw Scott make no mistake from the penalty spot after Palermo was bought down in the box.

Best for Moe were Tanner Pyle, Noah Kane and Luke Bathgate.

Thewin forFortuna seesthem jump to the topofthe ladder, and the equation for them now is rather simple:win theirlast three games and the league title is theirs.

For Moe, they now depend on other results to go their way for them to be lifting the ultimate prize in Gippsland soccer.

Best for Fortuna was Cooper, Matar, Scott and Jamie Maxwell.

In the reserves, aseverely undermanned Moe United side were also dealt abelting, losing 9-3 to Fortuna.

Scorers Moe were Harley Robinson (two) and Campbell Dastey.

Best were Nick Dastey, Yorrick Nicholson and Dastey.

In the Women’s Senior League, one of the mostimproved sides this season in Moe United held second-placed Fortuna to a 1-all draw.

Scorer for Moe was Miley Cooper.

Bestfor Moe was Jade Armistead, Summer Cooper and Abbey Willett

This week, Moe United are at home on Saturday night against Tyers.

SOCCER LVSL

BY LAURIE WILLIAMS

ROUND 18 of the Latrobe Valley Soccer League went largely as expected, but the biggest shock was in the match of the round on Saturday night as Fortuna dispatched Moe with disdain. Further wins to Monash, Sale and Newborough/ Yallourn rounded out the weekends action.

 OLYMPIANS VS SALE

COMING off asurprise 1-1 draw against Moe the weekbefore,Sale wasexpectingacomfortable day at the office on the road to Olympians.

However, the Swans were given an almighty scare against the Traralgon side.

Sale took an early three-goal lead, which many thoughtwas job done, howeverOlympians, unlike last weekend, continued to fight and miraculously broughtthe contestbackto3-3 with their third in the 76th minute.

Sale would retake the lead twominutes later, but the home side equalised again to make it 4-all and seemingly destined to grab an unlikely point.

Unfortunately, theirhearts werebroken in stoppage time as Sale performed the great escape to scorethe matchwinner.

 TYERS VS NEWBOROUGH/YALLOURN

AFTER lastweeks admirable yetfruitlessdisplay against the high-flying Fortuna,Newborough/ Yallourn were after an easy kill, and they got what they were hoping for withaneight goal victory over bottom side Tyers Lightning.

Mark Fairbrother helped himself to ahat-trick, while Ryan McCluskey scored abrace.

Further goals went to Shayne Pavich, John Cook and Ash Birrell.

Despite the win, the Combine still find themselves in sixth spot, with their focus firmly set on maintaining form and fitness leading into the Battle of Britain Cup finals in September.

 CHURCHILL VS MONASH

AFTER breaking their duck for the season last weekend, Churchill was quickly brought back downtoEarth with aheavy losstoMonashattheir makeshifthome of Morwell Football-Netball Club. Monash opened proceedings within the first minute, but Churchill equalised in the 25thminute. It would be the last time the score was close, withMonash piling on fourgoalsinseven minutes while Churchill scored their second before the main change.

Monash added afurther three goals in the second half to maintain their excellent campaign.

Goal scorers for the Wolves were ahat-trick to Jared Baldacchino, Ethan Lawrence (two), Mark Krznaric (two) and Adam Semple.

Churchill’s scorers were Ben Wilson and Mark Bianconi.

PEGASUS and Falcons had the bye.

Calling allsportand recreationclubs

SPORT

LATROBE City Council has collaborated with young people to co-design alocal Sport and Recreation Expo.

The Expo aims to engage youngpeople in physical activity and will consist of stalls, free food, activities, skill development sessions, competitions and music.

Council is currently welcoming stallholder applications from local sport and recreation clubs.

The expo will be held in the September school holidays, on September 27 from 11am to 4pm at the Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium. Stallholder registration and attendance is free, thanks to the support of VicHealth as part of the VicHealth Local Government Partnership. Although theexpohas been designed by young

people,itwillbepromoted to all in the community, with everyone welcome to attend and learn more aboutthe broad range of sport and recreation offerings in our city.

Latrobe City Council Mayor, KellieO’Callaghan said the event will be agreat opportunity for stallholders to engage with young people.

“The Expo will provide the perfect platform for local sport and recreation clubs to promote their club and recruit new members,” the Mayor said.

“There are so many different sportingclubs and organisations in Latrobe City that offer our community the pathways to participation, whether that be through acasual game of pickleball, to a weekend competition game of netball or football, along with activities that have more of an individual focus then that of ateam, there really will

LVSL championship fight to godowntothe wire

SOCCER LVSL

BY LAURIE WILLAMS

ROUND 19 PREVIEW

WITH only four rounds to play in the Latrobe Valley Soccer League, the league title championship is still up for grabs.

Much like last year, it’s arace between Fortuna, Falcons and Moe.

 FALCONS 2000 (2ND) VS MORWELL

PEGASUS (5TH) -6PM SATURDAY

MATCH of the round this weekend sees aMorwell derby between two sides with vastly contrasting circumstances at this stage of the season. For Falcons, whilst being usurped from top spot after having the bye will know that if they win their last three games, they do what many clubs havefailed to do in thepast; winback-to-back league titles.

The Birds will be challenged by aPegasus side that, although out of the title race, will be looking to upset the home side in their quest for success. Last time around was an enthralling 2-all draw, and aclosegame againbeckonsfor the large crowd expected to attend on Saturday night.

 MOEUNITED (3RD) VS TYERS LIGHTNING (10TH) -7PM SATURDAY

THE secondofour nightmatches see Tyerstravel to Moe where nothing less than three points will be expected from the home side.

The Red Devils willbebreathing fire after being humbled by Fortuna lastweekend, so Tyers must be on their best behaviour defensively to avoida heavy defeat.

 NEWBOROUGH/YALLOURN (6TH) VS MONASH WOLVES (5TH) -3PM SUNDAY

THE surprise packets of the season will look to

continue their rich vein of form, as they travel a couple of hundred metres to Burrage Reserve to take on old rivals Newborough/Yallourn.

The Wolves new and improvedstyle of soccer has been awonder to watch this season, but it will be puttothe test againstasidethatstill poses many threats.

 TRARALGON OLYMPIANS (8TH) VS FORTUNA 60 (1ST) -3PM SUNDAY

LEAGUE leaders Fortuna travel to Traralgon on Sunday to solidify top spot and will be hopeful of adding even more pressure to those around them in theirquestfor theirfirstleague title since 2011.

Olympians nearly pulled off one of the shocks of the season as they succumbed at the final hurdle against Sale last weekend, and they will see this fixture as yet another opportunity to prove the doubters wrong.

2023 LEAGUE TITLE RUN-IN

WITH four roundstoplay, the fight for the top could go right to the wire between Fortuna and Falconsand possibly Moecouldthrow theirhat into the ring.

What an exciting end to aseason that has had plenty of ups and downs and no matter who wins, they will be worthy champions.

 FORTUNA 36 POINTS -PLAYOLYMPIANS (8TH), BYE, PEGASUS (5TH), FALCONS (2ND).

 FALCONS: 34 POINTS -PLAYPEGASUS (5TH), BYE, SALE (7TH), FORTUNA (1ST).

 MOE: 29 POINTS -PLAYTYERS (10TH), MONASH (4TH), CHURCHILL (9TH), NEW/ YALL (6TH).

be something for everyone showcased at Latrobe Sport and Recreation Expo.

“Weare expecting around 40 stallholders and 500 attendeesonthe day, Iencourage clubs to consider taking part and getting your registrations in soon!” Stallholder registration places are limited and close this Friday (August 4, unless booked out sooner.

Allstallholdersonthe day will go into the draw to wina$500 Intersport Traralgon voucher.

Register to be astallholder via this link at bit. ly/3rxwE2B

Email:bookings@lvexpress.com.au

5135 4455

Email: classifieds@lvexpress.com.au

5135 4444

Email:news@lvexpress.com.au