Latrobe Valley Express Wednesday 6 September 2023

Deceiving unemployment figures

Latrobe Health Advocate publicly backs the Voice

LATROBE Health Advocatehas releaseda statement acknowledging her public support for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

The Latrobe Health Advocate Jane Anderson said, ‘’My support for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament is fortified by the resounding calls for reform and aself-determining future expressed in the public statement of the Gunaikurnai Landand Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLAWAC), as well as the invaluable insights gleaned from engaging with the Aboriginaland TorresStrait Islander community through our “EngagementInspiration” initiative.”

According to Ms Anderson, GLAWAC’s statement underscoresthe need for amore inclusive democracy that recognises and promotes the rights of Indigenous Australians.

It is said to echo the sentiments from those in the community that the Advocate has engaged with.

“Their collective voices have highlightedthe enduring impacts of historical injustices, the ongoing struggle for self-determination,and the imperative for aplatform that allows their perspectives to shape the decisions affecting their lives.”

Through the Advocate’s “Engagement Inspiration” initiative, Ms Anderson has witnessed first-hand the resilience, wisdom, andaspirations of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. Their stories illuminate the pressing issues they face, including healthcare disparities, cultural preservation, and land rights.

“It is self-evident to me that adedicated

Indigenous Voice to Parliament is not just an essential step in addressing adisgraceful history of abuse and disadvantage, failed interventions and ineffective policies, but is also long overdue,” Ms Anderson said.

The Advocate is convinced that First Nations people mustbeformally recognised as the First Peoples of Australia in the Constitution, and the omission has lasted way too long.

“First Nationspeopleshouldbeguaranteeda permanentplatform to ensurethattheir voice is heard by Parliament and Government,” Ms Anderson said.

According to the Advocate, Australia’s history is littered with policy and community engagement arrangements for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities that have been established and terminated when government changes occur.

The Voice is one of three components proposed by the Uluru Statementfrom the Heart to improve the future health and well-being of the Aboriginal and Torres StraitIslander community.The other components, Treaty and Truth, are being progressed in Victoria through the Yoorrook Justice Commission, a formal truth-telling process into the injustices experienced by First Peoples in Victoria that commenced operation in March 2022, and the treaty negotiations with the First Peoples’ Assembly that commenced in August 2020.

To get more informationregarding the Uluru Statement from the Heart, visitthe official website of the Referendum Council at www. referendumcouncil.org.au.

THE state government’s claim that regional unemployment is at arecord low has been branded ‘shameless spin’ by local MP MartinCameron amidst highjobless figures for much of the Latrobe Valley.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data shows Victoria’s regional unemployment rate fell to 2.4 per cent in July, which the state government said was the lowest mark in the state’s history.

The national regional unemploymentrate stands at 3.3 per cent.

In the Latrobe Valley region, Jobs and Skills Australia’s Small Area Labour Market data for the March 2023 quarter showed the unemployment rate in Morwell sits at 11.5 per cent, the highest in regional Victoria.

While Moe-Newborough sits at 7.1 per cent unemployment and Traralgon’s at 3.5 per cent.

Mr Cameron, the Memberfor Morwell, slammed the government for making ‘false and sweeping claims’ that unemployment in regionalVictoria has hit arecord low.

“Even for the Premier, this claim that unemployment in regional Victoria has hit arecord low is a new level of shameless spin,” Mr Cameron said.

“The Andrews LaborGovernment has pulled the rugout from underthe Latrobe Valley workforce.”

Mr Cameron, the Member for Morwell, said the number of jobs in the Latrobe government area had registered an eight per cent decline in the past 11 years, stemming from astate government failure to create new employment since the Hazelwood power station closure.

“The Premier has killed offthe native timber industry and Maryvale’s white paper production and thousandsofjobswithit, and soon thousands more will be lost with the closure of coal-firedpower stations,” he added.

With the closure of the native timber industry and withlooming closures of Yallourn andLoy Yang Apower stations, it is expected many more jobs will be lost.

“He (the Premier) has failed to deliver on major promises including the electric vehicle manufacturing plant, Morwell food manufacturing precinct, and the Lake Narracan housing development,” Mr Cameron said.

“Instead of addressing the jobs crisis in the Valley, Daniel Andrews is culling more local

jobs and killing off sustainable industries while unconscionably making asweeping claim that the labour market in regional Victoria is ‘strong’.”

“The Andrews Labor Government is outoftouch and has no regard for Latrobe Valley residents.”

The state governmentmaintainsthat more than 8000 jobs werecreatedinregional areaslast month,pushing the total number of peopleinwork in the regions to ahighof864,000

According to the state government the labour market is strong in regional and metropolitan areas –overall, arecord 3.65 million Victorians are in work and Victoria leads the nation in jobs created last month, over the past year and since November 2014.

Victorianwages jumped by 0.7per cent in the June quarter and 3.6 per cent over the year –the highest annual growth since 2011 –providing a boost to family budgets.

The most recent ABS growth datashows Victoria’s state final demand –akey performance indicator –grew by 0.7per cent in the first quarter of the year, higher than the national average and the second highest of any state.

The Treasurer,Tim Pallas, said, “recordhigh regional jobs and record low unemployment is a great combination and the outlook is positive”. “Jobs createsconnection and confidencefor workers and the community –it’sa credittoall Victorians that the labour market is so buoyant.”

Shameless spin: MP Martin Cameron commenting on Valleyjobless figures. File image

Accesstoservice concerns

By ZAIDAGLIBANOVIC

ACCESStohealthservices was the primary concern for the community, the Latrobe Health Advocate found in her quarterly report for April to June 2023.

The role of the Advocate is to provide independent advice to the Victorian governmentonbehalf of Latrobe Valley communities on system and policy issues affecting the region’s health and wellbeing

JaneAnderson, first appointedasthe Latrobe Health Advocate by theMinister of Health in May 2018, was reappointed in 2021.

The findings of the report released this month found thatthe primaryconcern from the community was access to services, which made up 41 per cent of community consultation.

The mainissue came froma lack of knowing the services available,shortage of reliable and skilled National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)staff, and alackofinclusive, trans-affirming health services.

The Advocate has contacted Gippsland Primary Health Network (GPHN) to coordinate with Trans Gender Victoria (TGV) and discuss the need of a trans-affirming healthpractitioners recognised by AUSPATH (Australian Professional Association for Trans Health).

Those suffering from chronic illnessand disabilities raised their concerns regarding wait times for podiatry services.

Thisissue is being addressed by the Latrobe Community Health Service (LCHS), which has recruited another podiatrist throughapartnership with Latrobe Regional Hospital (LRH) and the establishment of ahigh-risk foot clinic.

The report also foundthat promotingcommunity services remains achallenge.Low levels of digital literacy, online anxiety, quickturnover of GPs, and alackofpromotionincommunity-wide outlets, were all mentioned as contributing factors to the problem.

Living in asafeenvironment was the focusof 17 per cent of community conversations; these conversations concentrated on issues of asbestos managementand family violencerates that are among the highest rates in Victoria.

In addition,improvingmental health was the focus of 14 per cent of community conversations. Many gaps to mental health services in Latrobe Valley were identified.

The report found the community sees aneed

Findings: Latrobe Health Advocate

Jane Anderson has released her quarterly report for April to June 2023

for increased access to community-based mental healthsupports,especially for peoplewith autism

The report also found that frequentchangesto public transport timetables were having an impact on peoples’ mental health an anxiety levels.

Ms Anderson said she was delighted to present the Advocates quarterly update.

“Over thesemonths,the Latrobe Health Advocate officehas been steadfastly committed to enhancing access to services, fostering asafeenvironment, prioritisingmentalhealth and, tackling the social determinantsofhealth in the Latrobe community,” she said.

“During thisquarter Ihave seen several systems changes that can provide opportunities for better mentalmodels, better policy, betterrelationships, better services, better support, and integration of community voice.

“Shared problem solving is becoming much morecommon in Latrobe. The partnershipsof local public and private hospitals to grow palliative careservices,the sharing of resources betweenthe local publichospital and the community health service to increase and improve the provision of podiatry services and the engagement of community members in community led integrated

health care models all demonstrate that new ways of operating are being embraced.”

The report also highlighted many actions taken by health providers and government health agencies to combat the issues discussed.

This included better services,suchashow Latrobe Regional Hospital (LRH) has reformed discharge planning to address the multiple readmissions of former patients receiving mental health services.

Thiswas alongsidethe better supportfor services, as thePriority Primary CareCentre (PPCC) at Moe had been successfully diverting 10-15patients aday who would haveendedup in the LRH Emergency Department.

Data from the Gippsland Public Health Network (GPHN) indicatesthat the PPCC is attracting 300 presentations per weekand easing the demand put on emergency rooms.

The role of the Advocate is akey mechanism of the Latrobe Health Innovation Zone, which is designedtogivevoicetocommunity aspirations in the planning and delivering of better health and wellbeing outcomes, and where aprocess of co-design with individualsand organisationsis actively encouraged.

Keeping asthma actionplansuptodate

AMBULANCE Victoria (AV) paramedics are calling on people with asthma to make sure their action plans are up to date this National Asthma Week.

Asthma Week is currently running, and goes until tomorrow (September 7).

One in nine Victorians live withasthma, aserious airway condition that in most cases is manageable with medication and adaily plan.

An asthma action plan is provided to an individual by their GP, outlining how to manage day-to-day, including whichmedication to take and how to respond to flare ups and emergencies. Thereisno‘standard’ asthmaaction plan, as everyone’s asthma is different.

AV MetropolitanRegional DirectorMichael

Georgiou said peoplewith asthma need to stay vigilant about their condition and how it is managed.

“As paramedics we see how quickly asthma can become life-threatening, which is why we’re reminding everyone to update their action plan yearly, and everysix months for children,”Mr Georgiou said.

“Your asthma will change over time, so your plan needs to as well. If you haven’t updated yours in awhile,make an appointment to review it with your doctor.”

Asthma affects peopleofall ages and can appear at any stage in life.

“We see many people who experienceasthma for the first time as an adult,” Mr Georgiou said.

“Symptoms usually include wheezing, breathlessness, shortness of breath, coughing and chest tightness.”

Common triggersfor asthma include outdoor allergens such as pollen, dust, air pollution, and, in rare cases, thunderstorms.

Asthma Australiachief executive Michele Goldman said Australia had the highest rates of asthma in the developed world.

“Asthma affects so many of us and unfortunately our homes can harbour risks we may not even be aware of, like gas cooktops, mould and allergens such as dust mites,” she said.

Mr Georgiousaididentifying and reducing exposure to allergen triggers can make asthma easier to manage.

“Now that spring is here, if you’re experiencing allergysymptoms, such as arunny noseand itchy eyes, it’s agood opportunity to visit your doctor to find out the cause and treatment options,” he said.

Mr Georgiou said it was important all Victorians knew how to respond to an asthma attack.

“Follow yourasthmaactionplan,and mostimportantly, if aperson is having difficulty breathing and their reliever medicine is not working, don’t delay in calling Triple Zero (000).”

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND WHERE TO GET HELP

 Your GP

 Your nearest pharmacy (for medication)

 Nurse on Call (24/7) -1300606024

 Asthma Australia -asthma.org.au

 Better Health Channel -betterhealth.vic.gov. au/health/conditionsandtreatments/asthma

 In an emergency, always call Triple Zero (000)

Mass updatesatTrafCommunity Bank

Liam DURKIN

THE only way is up at Community Bank Trafalgar &District -orsoitseems.

Trafalgar’s BendigoBank branchisset to undergo amassupgrade in coming months, with plans in place to see the branchbrought into the modern era.

While anew site remains apossibility, Community Bank Trafalgar &District director Geoff Conway said the bank’s preferencewas to redevelop the existing site alongside the Princes Highway.

If that happens, expect to see asecond story added.

“They’ll definitely be redevelopment, physical infrastructure because retail banking is still very important to us, we would like to do it on theexistingsite, we’ve still got some questions to answerthere, but whatever happens, we’ll be redeveloping,” he said.

The upgraded building will include facilities that will be available to community groups for meetings andforums, as well as functional and user-friendly spaces for customers.

Bendigo remains the last physical branch in Trafalgar, following the closure of ANZ in 2018.

With bank branches across regional Victoria seemingly closing every month, Mr Conway moved to reassure the Trafalgar community Bendigo

was committed to being aphysicalpresencein the district.

“There is alot of concern about services to community, but one thing that people of this district can be really confident of is that we are here and we’ve got your back,” he said.

“The bank is seeing potential growth, all of our towns and district are growing, there is great opportunities for us to support our community which is our purpose.

“We want to send amessage to people (that) we are here to stay.”

As acommunity bank, Trafalgar &District differs from atraditional corporatebank, with profits raised distributed back into the local community.

Since opening, BendigoBank Trafalgar &District has given back $1.83 million in profits to the local community.

Countless community groups in Trafalgar and surrounds have benefitted from the bank, which remains an asset to the small town.

The bank is staffed by locals, and offers the same services as any of the ‘big four’.

Trafalgar &District will celebrateits 20th anniversary later this year, and hopes to see the exciting redevelopment taking shape by then.

Encouraging voices from our next gen through arts

By KATRINA BRANDON

REMEMBERthose days in school where Healthy Harold’s van would arrive at school?

Instead of Healthy Harold, here is The Artsbus program delivering art expression to schools and communities all over Victoria.

Last Rose Festival Parade in Morwell, Artsbus TV attended where they shot an episode with young artists from our area.

Now, in September, the program is free to air on Channel 31 and online to watch at 6.30pm, September 12.

“The aim of the Artsbus is to engagekids and young people in art where they may otherwise face barriers to that,” ArtsbusProgram manager, Gen Townsend said

“We see art as areally important part of connectingtothe community, with creativitybeing

something that everyone should be able to access.”

Artists for Kids Culture created the bus to help bring an artstudio wherever is needed in Victoria so thatchildrenand communitiescan find aspace where they can express freely their world views through art and notbegradedorfeel diminished abouttheircreations

“Ifsomeoneexplicitly tells you that your art is worth the time and consideration, you are more likelytotake it on and more likely learn different mediums,” co-producer, Harley (Harlequin) Goodes said.

“It creates that kick for anyone who might be interested andmight want alittle bit of motivation.”

The Artsbus TV is featuring six locations around Victoria suchasMorwell, Mildura, Geelong, Melbourne,Springvale and Rosebud. Because the studioisonwheels, Ms Townsend and Goodes mentioned that the bus can be anywhere, anytime

and they would particularly like to take it to schools and places where they can help inspireorinfluence children.

The project is aimed at agesfiveto17, but others are encouraged to join in and volunteer to help becomeartistically inspired and hopefully opening up younger people to more opportunities and pathways.

The project is so that the emerging generation can be listened to and not fear sharing and expressing their ideas in the community.

“It gives them amostlystructured platformto wind all of the different steps,” Ms Goodes said.

“In school, you are graded for your art. If you don’t do it ‘right’, too bad, you get told off for not doing

art ‘correctly’. It is space to explore your artistic expression freely. It is really important for mental health. You never get to make it your own in school.” Ms Goodesshared that art has had ahugeimpact on her mental health and that in school it is the only other time they get to do it before they get real worldpriorities, responsibilities andresponsibilities to other people.

“Theyshould be given the space and creative freedom to be able to do that while they still physically have the ability to do it,” she said.

Artists for Kids Culture is also holding afestival called Y(OUR) Fest on March 9next year to help bringthe community together in the inclusion and expression of art.

Team: Trafalgar &District Communitybank customer service officer Jess Service,community engagement advisor Moriah Taylor,director Geoff Conway,branchmanager Torina Johnston, and customer service officersBec Schena and EmilyMorton. Photograph: Liam Durkin

Creativejuices: Harleyand GenTownsend in front of theArtbus.

Photograph: Katrina Brandon

Crossword Puzzle No. 8550

with Muzza

ONE POINTERS

1. What position did the Matildas finish in the World Cup?

2. Who sang the song ‘Uptown Funk’?

3. What is Superman’sKryptonian name?

4. In the phonetic alphabet, what wordrepresents the letter ‘T’?

TWO POINTERS

5. If Iwas visiting the town of Victor Harbor what State/ Territory would Ibein?

6. What type of animal breed is an Abyssinian?

7. True or false. Acrophobia is afear of water?

8. Traditionally,the partsofwhatanimal is used to make Haggis?

THREE POINTERS

9. Who plays the part of Morpheus in ‘The Matrix’ movies?

10. What does the acronym I.Q. stand for?

11. What is the capital of Austria?

12. What is another name for your jaw bone?

FOUR POINTERS

13. Wherewould you find atroglodyte living?

14. Mickey Mouse had which original first name?

FIVE POINTER

15. Guess the songs from these misheardlyrics? One point for each correct answer

1. Hold me closer,Tony Danza.

2. There’sabathroomonthe right.

3. This is the dawning of the age of asparagus.

4. Poppadom peach.

5. I’ll never leave your pizza burning.

HOW DID YOU FARE?

37: Topofthe class; 30-36: Outstanding; 23-29: Well done;

15-22: Solid effort; 9-14: Room for improvement; 0-8: Hit the books.

Target Time No.0174

Howtoplay...

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

next

Howtoplay.

Nicholson’sGlengarry pub performance

KATRINABRANDON

LIVE at the Glen on July 21, multiple award winning country music singer-songwriter Shane Nicholson took to the stage.

Exploring the differentvenues, Shane Nicholson came to Glengarrytoperform his ‘25 Years in Songs’ show afterhis release of his new album last year Living in Colour

Living in Colour wasmadeduring lockdown, was named 2022 CMAA Album Of The Year, as well as Alternative Country Album Of The Year. Nicholson also received both Single Of The Year and APRA Song Of The Year awards.

“I never really worked on it intentionally,”Shane said.

“I was busier than ever (during COVID) as a producerbecause there were songwriters stuck at home writing songs. Iwas making it in fits and stages between other projects. Probably took me almost ayear to finish it.”

Shanehas always been asinger-songwriter and hasnever reallywantedorthought aboutdoing somethingdifferent

“I used to writealot when Iwas younger, especially when Iwas on tour. Travelling was always agreat inspiration, as well as people,” he said.

Shane never thoughtofmusic as adream but also had no alternatives there.Hetold the Express that if it wasn’t music, it would be something creative, as thatfeelslikeanachievement in itself to create something out of thin air.

“With previous records Iwould travel to the centre of Australia or acabin in the bush or house on the river only accessible by boat. Ihave just gone places like that to be isolated and focused,”hesaid Shaneadded thatperformingonstage and creating music is part of two separateexperiences, even though most people think of them going handin-hand.Hehas learnt not to stress that it always eventually comes to him.

“You are creatingsomething that hasn’t happened before on stage. You are creating amoment. Those moments don’t exist because every time you performwith an audienceitisaonce-off event. Could be the exact same songs that you played the nightbefore but every show feels different because it’s adifferentgroup of people, differentrooms in a different place and you’re in adifferent mindset.”

Going on stage, Shane mentioned that he searches for those moments and finds the individuality in the show that makes it special. He also said the songs reminds him of the stories within the song which helps remind him of who he was.

“Behindmyeyes, Ican seethe entire story on what that songwas about but also who Iwas, where Iwas, what drovemetowrite that andI can see all of that which is an extramovie that no one else sees. That runs in my mind as Iplay every song,” he said.

“I like this tour because I’m not promoting one specific record, Ican kindofdig into that catalogue of songs that Ihaven’t really played that very much

but they are included because they are abig part of the story or they might have astory attached that is abig part of my story.”

Duringtour,Shane is always willing to go to different venues to play so that he can relive his songs.

“I have never played in Glengarry before, after all this time it is very rare that Igosomewhere andplay ashow where Ihaven’t played before so it’s always exciting Iguess to have anew place to play,” he said

Having had years in the industry, Shane said it was important to be conscious of your space.

“The best advice that Iwish Iwas givenwas to try and always enjoy music. Be wary of the point where the weightofwhatyou are doing takes over the enjoyment of what you are doing especially if you are trying to make it into acareer,” he said.

“The best reward you will ever get from music is that in itself. If you lose that along the way, you are losing the biggest payoff there is with music. It is easy to lose it because it is aprettyhectic lifestyle and it’shard work. It is really fun, you are doing it because it is something that you love.

“Always be conscious of the place where you are enjoying it and if you ever get to the place where you aren’t enjoying it, change somethingsoyou are enjoying it again.”

Bigwig: Award-winning artist Shane Nicholson playedinGlengarryrecently.

Photograph Wild Heart Publicity

Lessons from Germany’sindustry

By PHILIP HOPKINS

GERMANY’S browncoal industry in the famous Rhineland region, which inspired Sir John Monash to build the State Electricity Commission using Latrobe Valleycoal, still packs some punch, despite the drive towards more renewables.

And the carbon dioxide being produced by the region’s modern brown coal power stations can be redirected into anumber of industrial uses.

The region -2500square kilometres bordered by Cologne,Aachen, Moenchen-Gladbach and Duesseldorf -iscomparatively small in size compared with the two larger lignite regions in East Germany, but the Rhineland has more coal. Together, the regions still produce about 20 per cent of Germany’s energy.

RWE, headquartered in the city of Essen in the Ruhr region, has been supplying electricity for 125 years, mainly from black and brown coal, but that is changing.

By 2030, the company aims to have acapacity of 50 gigawatts of green energy through a decade-long investment of 50 billion euros in onshore wind, solar, hydropower, hydrogen, energy storage, biomass and natural gas.

The company, according to aspokesman, Michael Fuengeling,has reduced its CO2 output by more than 60 per cent in eight years, from 2012 to 2020.

“We are phasing out coal and other fossil fuels responsibly. Our goal is to be climate neutral by 2040,” he said.

However, “these lignite-fuelled plants will remainindispensable for safe anddependable power generation for many years to come because they can operate around the clock irrespective of weatherconditions or the time of day”.

“This is particularly important at times when infeed from solar and wind power is low,” he said.

RWE operates three major brown coal power stations and one small station that provides districtheat. The threeactual electricity providers are the Niederaussem (2800MW), Neurath (3100 MW) and Weisweiler (1500MW) plants.

Over the decades, new individual units have been added while older unitswere shut; other units held in reserve have been brought back online since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, producing electricity to make up for the energy shortfallafter Germany stopped buying Russian gas.

“Mr Putin (Russia’s President), as far as he was concerned, picked an unfortunate time for his attack;the power was still available,”Mr Fuengeling said.

Two 1100MW units at the Neurath power station, opened in 2012, “are among the world’s mostadvancedand most powerfullignite-fuelled power plants”, Mr Fuengeling said.

Neurath, like Niederaussem, the first of its kind, uses High Efficiency, Low Emissions (HELE) technology. “They(the Neurathunits)operate at arecord 43 per cent degree of efficiency. This means they generate electricity fromlignite with less heat loss than comparable power plants elsewhere,” Mr Fuengeling said.

The Committee for Gippsland recommended in a major report five years ago to buildaHELE plant in the Latrobe Valley, but this suggestion was not taken up by the Andrews state government.

Mr Fuengeling said RWE developed four projects involving drying technology and “scrubbers” -CO2 sequestration -onthe first new block unit at Niederaussem.

The first involved a fluidised bed drying unit with internal waste heat utilisation. The second was high performance desulphurisation through two scrubbing units with higher efficiency, plus

additional superfine dust removal on top of one already there.

“In both cases, the scrubbing rates increased two-three percentage points up to 99 per cent.

The fluidised bed, pre-drying unit increased the efficiency of that block unit by another five percentage points, 43 to 48 per cent, without co-generation,” he said.

Mr Fuengeling said aCO2 scrubbing unit -a pilot unit usinga cleansing solutioncontaininga blend of amine started in 2009 and operating since -was capable of scrubbing rates of 90 per cent of CO2. Carbon dioxide is available in liquid form at the end of the process and can subsequently be transported, gasified and more.

“We’re still using that one; the question is not whether CO2 scrubbing works -itdoes -the question now is, what to do with CO2 once sequestered and captured?”

The answer:“It is used as atechnical gas

R; someone did it for them,” he said.

“Germany wants to phase out coal electricity completely by 2030. Idon’t think it’s feasible, but that’s the plan.”

Mr Fuengeling said the problem was not just capacity.

“You can build all the wind farms in the world but still need the transmission lines and you need storagefacilities -for example,hugebattery packs, none of which are available today. There will be many more electric cars in 10 years; you will need agreat deal moreelectricity than we use today,” he said.

To make hydrogen, “you needtruckloads of electricity, which is meanttocome from renewables”.

That means more wind and solar farms, but as aplan becomes more concrete, those people who in theoryare all in favour of renewables don’t want them on theirdoorstep-“theNIMBY phenomenon”.

overburden almost simultaneously. The coal goes to the power plants and is consumedwithina few days at most. However, in the Rhineland, all the overburden -inthe Rhineland, there is on average three-four cubic metres of overburden for everycubic metre/tonneofcoalextracted,” he said

“All the overburden remains at the site of production, being dug up at the front and deposited in the rear. It takes half an hour for the overburden to go around the open-cast mine on aconveyor belt to be deposited. It makesitalot easier.” Threetypes of reclamation dominate the RWE mines- farmland, forests and lakes.

“The lakes are created by default; the rain fills them, and if, available water from nearby rivers, some of which are rerouted to fill lakes. As for the bigger contemporary mines -the lakes will be biggerand deeper, and will take decadesto fill to completion,” he said.

Mr Fuengeling said the rehabilitations had achieved huge success in regenerating biodiversity, which had been recognised by experts around the world. “In the recultivated areas, we find today more than 3000 species of animals and about 1500 plants and mushroom types. Every day there are more. Ahealthy and robust ecosystem is being generated,” he said.

The continual expansion of the mines has created ahuman dimensionthat leaves the Latrobe Valley’s traumatic experience with the Yallourn township in the shade.Inthe Rhenish region, 60 villages and hamlets have been transferred, involving 40,000 people,since relocations began.

The first took place in the 1920s on asmall scale but took off after World War 2and into the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s. The closure of the village of Luetzerath last year became a‘causecelebre’ for green and climate activists.

Mr Fuengeling said the overall acceptance was higher in the past due to economic pressures. “People realised relocations were necessary to generate jobs and create wealth. They didn’t particularly like the idea of having to move; few do like it, particularly if they live in ahouse inherited from grandparents,” he said.

“But theyget anew house, with better modern amenities just few kilometres away.Thereis the physical processtoget there and the time they have to invest, and of course there is alot of heartache, which is perfectlyunderstandable. Fifty-plus years ago, there wasmuch greater grudging acceptance of these things.”

Lignite has always been the cheapest source of energy in Germany, which has hardly any oil or gas and is dependent on energy imports.

in avariety of industrial processes. It works beautifully.”

Related to the CO2 scrubbing unit was the No 4project. “A fourth was an algae farm. They fed algaealot of carbon dioxide, then they harvested the algae and dried and processed it to make all kinds of products. It worked,” he said.

“Algaepastecan be usedfor awide rangeof purposes -cosmetic products, pharmaceutical products. Withproper treatment youcan eatthe stuff -vegetarian and vegan products. A‘vege’ burger has alot of algae in it!”

Mr Fuengeling saidthe point wasthat CO2 “can be sequestered, scrubbed and used”.

“They’re still going. It’s sad, alot of money, timeand ‘person power’ has been investedin these projects. They all work nicely but they won’t be used here in Germany, but elsewherein Thailand, for example. Even Qatar has used brown coal technology to burn imported black coal. They do not have to invest money in Rand

Mr Fuengelingsaidtoput transmissionlines undergroundwas five times as expensive as above ground.

The main areas of demand were in the south, but more wind was offshore in the north, which meant transmission lines had to go through the middle of Germany -“abig problem”.

Less an issue for RWE has been the successful rehabilitation of dozens of brown coal mines over the years. In the early 19th century, lignite was mined for briquettes, but mines became progressively bigger, the bucket excavators bigger as bigger power plants were built.

Sincemining began, of the 310sq km of the region used for lignite, Mr Fuengeling said 230 sq km had been renovated, reclaimed and rehabilitated. In contrast to the Latrobe Valley, where the overburden ratio to coal is 1:4, in Germany, it is reversed -4:1. This makes reclamation easier.

Mr Fuengeling said the overburden was used to refillthe holes. “Theyextract the coal and

“Domestically, there is hard coal and soft coal (lignite), but only ligniteiscommercially viable, the only primary energy source that is cost competitive,” Mr Fuengeling said -without acarbon tax.

Some in Germany maintain hydrogen and renewables may be advanced enough to ensure brown coal power stations close in 2030 under the government plan. The chairman of the industry trade union formining, chemicalsand energy, Michael Vassiliadis, doubts it.

In an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung earlier this year, Mr Vassiliadis said the coal exit was set for 2038, not 2030.

“The federalgovernment has made aplan how that should happen earlier,” he said.

“But the five new wind towers aday,which are necessaryfor that, are not being built today, as Isee it. With every day that passes, without the tempo increasing, the probability is becoming narrower that we’ll get out of coal. If we don’t have enough alternative power, it won’t happen.Atthe moment the fact is we need electricity from the coal power stations whether in the east or west.”

Both worlds: TheNeurath coalpower stationinGermany stands alongside wind farms, forest and lakes Photograph: PhilipHopkins

Germany wants to phase out coal electricity completely by 2030. Idon’t think it’sfeasible, but that’sthe plan.

MICHAEL FUENGELING

Saving Greater Gliders project

ARESEARCH project aiming to strengthen the population of GreaterGliders has been completed in Latrobe City.

The project was acollaboration between Latrobe City Council,Latrobe Catchment Landcare Network, Federation University and Greening Australia.

Untilearly 2018, numbers of Gliders recorded in theVictorianBiodiversity Atlas were low, with the 2019/20 bushfires also affecting previously recorded populations in East Gippsland.

In 2022, aFederation University PhD student, Cassey Briggs,documented the presenceofthe federally listed Greater Glider to better understand the population size, their range and estimated family groups.

Greening Australia has since added 118 Greater Glider records within the southern portion of Latrobe Cityand adjoining South Gippsland Shire,

due to the increased surveying effort. These records are believed to represent some of the highest densities of Greater Gliders known in Victoria.

The project was supported by a$50,000 Community-Volunteer Action Grant fromthe Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.

The Mayor of Latrobe City, Councillor Kellie O’Callaghan, said the discovery of Greater Gliders on the outskirts of Boolarra highlighted the richness of biodiversity to be found in Latrobe City.

“Council’s 2021-2025 CommunityVision highlightsthe importanceofnurturingand respecting LatrobeCity’snaturalenvironment, supported by key actions to improve and protect biodiversity, waterwaysand bushlandreserves,” the Mayor said.

“As part of this commitment, Council partnered in the exciting initiative to install 25 customdesigned nest boxes in asection of bushland south

of Boolarra. The nest boxes were monitored using digitalcameras to determine how the animals used them. These boxes are fire-retardant, heat resistant and make asafer home for all wildlife.

“One of the reasons the Greater Glider is threatenedisbecausetherearen’t enoughlarge,old hollow-bearing trees remaining, so adding these nest boxes willprovide more homes in Boolarra forthe species.”

The project also bought together localschools and community members to participate in surveys, educational activities and spotlight tours. The research project included creating awareness, engagingthe communityand educating about Greater Gliders and how the community can help thespecies in thefuture.

To view the Greater Glider project video, view the Latrobe Catchment Landcare website here: www.lcln.com.au/greater-gliders

Concerns grow for Ash forest ecosystems

VICTORIA’S Ash forests are on the brink of ecosystem collapse following apoor flowering season and repeatedfire events, alerting the state’s leading forest flowering andseedingexpert.

The issue highlights concernsraised by Forestry Australia, that the seed collection services provided by VicForests maybelostfollowing the native timber sector shutdown in Victoria.

Ecologist Owen Bassett, who has continuously monitored flowering and seed crops in Victoria’s Ash forests since 1994, has reported that for the first time in 28 years, flowering did not occur as predicted, greatly affecting the natural regeneration ability and hampering seed collection efforts.

“What this means for Victoria’s Ash forests is thatthey are at serious riskofecosystem collapse, because they will not have the capacity to naturally regenerate themselvescomethe next fire season,” he said.

Seed collection has also been part of Mr Bassett’s work, withseedsgatheredusedtoassist forest regeneration after fire and storm events. Forests harvested for timber are also resown using seed

from the harvest sites, with leftover seed contributing to abankused to resow areas including national parks.

However, withrepeated bushfires in 1998, 2003, 2006/07, 2009, 2013, 2018, 2019 and 2019/20, the seed bank was nearly exhausted.

“The DepartmentofEnvironment, Land, Water and Planning andVicForests undertook thelargest sowing event in Victoria’s history following the 2019/20bushfires, resowing of 11,500ha of Ash forest,” Mr Bassett said.

“However, despite that world-leading effort, more than 10,000ha of Ash forest wasnot able to be resown and is not likely to recover following those fires.

“Another seriousconcern is that thereisat least 143,000ha of fire-killed forest which is now regenerating, but extremely vulnerable to another fire event.Ifitburns it will be lost forever because it doesn’t have the ability to reseed itself and we just don’t have the seed to resow it.”

Seed collection is one of the services provided by Victoria’s forest agency, VicForests, which deposits

into the seed bank seed from timber harvest and specific collection operations.

However, Forestry Australia president, Dr MichelleFreemansaidthis service maybelost following the native timber sectorshutdownin Victoria.

“With the closure of native forest harvesting and recent announcement thatseedcollectioncontractors are now consideredpartofthat transition package, who will save our forests when the next bushfire comes?” she said.

Dr Freeman said the Australasian Fire Authority Spring outlook for 2023 identifies that Gippsland will face high fire risk this season putting Ash forests at risk.

“In theface of these threats, activeforest management is vital to build resilience against catastrophic fire and restore and maintain forest ecosystems,” Dr Freeman said.

“If we are serious about meeting greenhouse gas emissions targets, then we must do more instead of taking people such as highly skilled seed collectors out of the forests.”

Shortage of teachers at crisis point

DEAR Premier Andrews,

Right now, there is ateacher shortage crisis in our public schools.

Everyschool in thestate is affected -that means everystudent is impacted.

Some schools are 30 staff short, while others that are fully staffed can’t get replacement teachers whena permanentteacherfalls sick. Most schools have very few and sometimes no applications for teacher jobs.

As acommunity, we make apromise to our children and young people when it comes to their education, that they have the right to access highquality, properly funded public education, and to be taught by afully qualified permanent teacher. We are failing on this promise.

Teachers are leaving their profession in unprecedented numbers and many more areburnt-outor on the brink. They are feeling undervalued. Class sizes are the largest they have been in many years.

Teachersare working unsustainable and unpaid overtime, doing all they can to cover the gapssothat our students have the best programs possible when they do not have apermanent teacher. Principals, assistantprincipals and educationsupport staff are doing the same.

Not enough peopleare undertakingteacher training, and 50 per cent of thosewho enrol in teacher education courses don’t complete them. And more than 40 per cent of teachers leave the profession after five years.

More than 12 months ago, the profession warmed you thatthe teachershortage wouldlikely see many classrooms without apermanent teacher unless you took urgent action.

Given the lack of real action by your government, does that mean you think it is okay for children and young peoplenot to have apermanent teacher? Our students deserve better than that.

You need to take bold actionnow, we can’t afford to lose any more teachers and we must attract new teachers to our classrooms.

You need to:

 Provide retention payments for existing staff; fund paid placements for student teachers during their teaching rounds.

 Pay acost of living allowance to those undertaking teacher training and who commit to working in apublic school.

 Increase funding to directly support new teachers, in their first years on the job, including support time for mentors.

Premier, there is ateacher shortage crisisin our schools.

You must act now!

Our students, their families and the profession demands it.

Meredith Peace

Australian Education UnionBranch President

Discerning views

THERE does seem to be adifference of opinion re renewable energy that doesn’t make sense.

Firstthe solar panels/wind turbines will be renewable as they have ashort shelf life and will need to be replacedoverand over again. This is not aone-off expense, whereas our reliable power stations lasted 50-plus yearsand kept our economy humming along nicely.

Now, so much heartache and pain unnecessary consideringAustralia emissions contributedone per centtothe worldtotaljob afterjob being dismissed familiessuffering hardship while our indulgent polies carry on unaffected at the chaos they are creating.Scientificfact, lookitup, life on Earth wouldn’t exist without carbon, our whole ecosystem

depends on it and trees capturecarbon and release oxygen. Amazing isn’t that, great, but our forests/ and animalhabitats are being destroyed/cleared to make wayfor more ugly solarpanelatwhat expense- Ihate to think.

Carol Hogan Moe

Attacks aretiresome

FIRSTLY,I am not afan of thePremierofthis state, have never voted for him, and probably never will.

Furthermore, Ihave no problem with considered and logicalcriticism of any politicians, nor Ibelieve, would they.

Yes, they are “fairgame’,but there is aline of fairness and decency,and Roy Foenander, of Traralgon, has unequivocally crossed it, on numerous occasions,(most recently Opinion, Latrobe Valley Express, 23/8).

The ongoing and increasingly shrill, irrational, abusive and virulent rants fromMrFoenander against Dan Andrews, amounting to pure character assassination, have becomepredictable, repetitive and boring.

Mr Foenander’s descriptions include the following: hypocritical,narcissistic, egocentric, aliar, long winded, meglomaniac, devious, desperate, out of touch, teflon coated, as cunning as alatrine rat, with no shame, conscience, compassion, guilt or remorse.

Mr Foenander, we get it...you don’t like Dan Andrews. Lots of people don’t, but he was democratically re-elected, and not by “nuffies”.

Your gratuitous insults and ill-conceived attempts at humour and sarcasm eg ‘’house of ill repute’’ and ‘’latrine rat’’ similes, say more about you than your targets.

Please Mr Foenander, try to handle the fact that Dan Andrewslives “rent freeinyour head” another way, without further inflicting it on the rest of us.

John Duck Trafalgar

What is truth

IN responsetoThomas Quinns’ letter to the Editor (‘There was never aFirst Nations People’, August 23).

Not everything that is written is the truth, and that is not amyth.

Jenny Jackeulen Moe

Down Waffle Road

AS the formerpresidentofthe Wallan/Kilmore

Bypass Group, it was interesting to see the latest proposal for aWestern bypassofKilmore nine years after the 2014 announcement of aWestern Option for Kilmore but nothing for Wallan (NC Review 22/08/2023). The group got its name because both the Wallan and Kilmore community wanted abypass of both towns, not just Kilmore.

The WKBG spent eight years from 2006 until 2014 putting the community’s viewpoint on where the bypass should go. They spent those years exposing aload of waffle and dubious data from the state government and VicRoads and keeping the community up to date with what was happening.

The group proposedabypass coming off the Hume Freeway at Clonbinane and crossing the Kilmore/ Broadford Road halfway up and coming out above Schoolhouse Lane.

Not one house would be lost in this proposal, yet VicRoads dismissed this proposal saying that trucks would not use this route.

Iread also that thereisaproposal to builda railbridgefor Wandong. Apparently, construction will commence in 2025, and after “community feedback”. Good luck with that Wandong.

How will either of these proposals be built when Victoria willbedeep in debt to the tune of $165 billion by 2025?

Isee that council is copping alot of flak about the money spent in opposing the Wallan quarry.

Iwonder how many of these critics work for, or have worked for Conundrum Holdings, and how many of them would like to live next to a quarry?

Brian Mawhinney Traralgon

Not clearly defined

WE are being asked to vote to put something into our Constitution which has not been defined, namely:“Aproposed Law to alter the Constitution to recognisethe First PeopleofAustralia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice”.

End of story.

Whatisthis Voice going to be, in detail? One doesn’t alter the Constitution for something that hasn’t been clearly defined and is only proposed.

“The Voice would have its own resources to allow it to research, develop and make representations”.

The whole thing is so vague that it should never be put to the vote in its present form.

My suggestion would be to legislatefor the Voice withoutthe threat to put it into the Constitution until it has been tried, modified (developed?) if necessary and demonstrated to be an effective way of allowingour First Nations People to sort

out amethod of integrating more effectively into Australia’s society.

If thiscourseisnot followed, I, for one, will be voting No, and Istronglyadvise everyone to do so.

Oliver Raymond Traralgon

Community support

THE work of local charity ABetter Life for Foster Kids and its founder, Heather Baird is well known around Gippsland.

Every year, in addition to the year-round care packages they supplyGippsland foster and kinship carers, ABetter Life forFoster Kids arrange a local toy drive to ensure no child is left behind on Christmas day.

My office is one of many across Gippsland that host agivingtree and serve as drop off points for this wonderful initiative.

While September might seem alittle early to be talking about Christmas, the growing number of children in out-of-home care across Gippsland has meantMsBaird hashad to put the call out for donations early so that her and her wonderful volunteers can meet with growing demand. Ipersonally won’t be putting the Christmas tree up yet, my office is open as acollection point for donations.

Somesuggestions for gifts include gift cards, toys and beach towels. Unfortunately, books are discourageddue to high postage costs.

Giftsshould be under$40 in value and gift cards must be from major outlets such as Big W, Target and Kmart to ensure they can be utilised by children in more remote areas. Gifts can also be posted directtothe charity at PO Box 1138 Sale Vic, 3850.

Business ownerswho arealsointerested in hosting agivingtree should visitabetterlifeforfosterkids.org.au/ to register.

Danny O’Brien

Member for Gippsland South

Have your say

THE Latrobe Valley Express welcomes letters to the editor.

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

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

The Express does not publish letters from anonymous contributors.

Lettersmustinclude aphone number, email address and the author’s hometown for purposes of substantiatingauthenticity. Readers are entitledtoone right of reply to aletter directed at them.

The views expressed in letters to the editor are those of the writers, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Latrobe Valley Express management or staff.

Theletters section is designed to allow people to have their say, and not be hijacked for political agendas.

Email letters to news@lvexpress.com au and include ‘letter to the editor’ in the subject line.

Deadline for letters is Thursday 3pm.

SOS: Theteachersunioniscalling on thePremier to addresschronic staffshortages hampering the industry.

Photograph supplied

Baw Baw Arts Alliance offer drop-in groups

DO you need small quality gifts for special occasions? Look no further than the Station Gallery, Princes Highway, Yarragon.

This is the home of the Baw Baw Arts Alliance;a beautifulspace often missed because it is on the ‘wrong’ side of the highway for those who shop in Yarragon.

It is worthtaking the time to crossthe highway to the former Yarragon Railway Stationbuilding to see the range of locally produced creative artworks.

Amostrecent addition to the artwork is thesmall book, Rescue Cat,bywriter Rodney Williams.Rescue Cat features tanka, atraditional form of short verse from Japan, similar to haiku. Rodney’s poems place astrongfocus on nature, with much of his workcelebrating Gippsland, its countryside and waterways; its birds and animals.Rodney recently releasedhis book to apacked audience of more than 50 people in the Station Gallery, Yarragon.

One artist who is having trouble keeping up with customer demand is ceramicist Linda McInnes.

Linda’s range includes brightly coloured mini pots, mini bowls, mini toadstools, and more recently, decorative covers for hydroponic plant containers.

While browsing the gallery shop, take time to view the September exhibitions by local painters AnitaGeorge andIngridThomas.

Anita’s exhibition, called Calligraphic Marks,isa demonstration of her continued love of both calligraphy and painting. Her work is an eclectic mix of abstract calligraphic style marks and legible words, but the crowning achievement is aseven metre paper roll painted in different styles of calligraphy, withdifferent implements in different mediums.

Painter Ingrid Thomas continues the abstract theme with her work, Abstractions, bringing the usual joy to viewers through her use of vibrant coloured acrylic paint.

During August, the arts alliance held its annual general meeting and elections.

Thanks are extended to Baw Baw Shire councillorTriciaJones who oversaw the election of the management committee for 2023 to 2024.

Immediate past president Anita George handed over to new president Janine Richardson.

Other members of the management committee include Jessie McLennan (vice president), JeffThege(secretary) Prue Barridge (treasurer) and general committee members Cheryl Cook, Heather Easdown, Adrienne Ewing, Carol Monson, SueMurphy, Marlene Ogden and Ingrid Thomas

Looking for aspecific art activity so that you can develop your skills? See the extensive range of regular drop-in groups on the website. Many of the exhibitions in the The StationGalleryare the work of members of these groups.

For more information see https://www. bawbawartsalliance.org.au

Life membershipfor crafter

GIPPSLAND WoodcraftGroupInc at Nambrok held its annual meeting on Saturday, August 12.

Aspecial part of it was when Morwell’s Ralph Chilver was presented with life membership.

President Graeme Turner detailedall Ralph had contributed since joining the group in 1999.

“Soon after joining, Ralph became acommittee member and still is to this day. Ralph can always be reliedupon to have items of avery highstandard for our show and tell session and is only too happy to pass on any detail on the process to members,” Mr Turner said.

“He has made up and donated numerous items for the group to sell as fundraisersand with his son Geoffproducesa novelty exerciseblock that are best sellers at displays. He has helped make up workbenchestobeused as araffle prize for our annualopenday in June, and this year he produced abeautiful blackwood pedestal for first prize.

“He can be relied upon to lead the charge for any project we take on, whether it’s afundraising task

or partofour community support work we do such as the picnic tables for Boisdale Primary School.

“Hehas done numerous demonstrations at the clubonvarious tasks, but his hand-cut dovetail joins certainly take some beating.

“In the workshop, Ralph is always in demand to answer questions or lend ahand and has done more Domino joins than the rest of us put together using our Domino joiner.

“Like all clubs, there is always maintenance tasks that need doing, and Ralph is only too happy to attend with others outside meeting times to get the jobs done with the least disruption.

“It is having abandofloyal members like Ralph that has seen our group thrive.”

Inducted: Morwell’sRalphChilver is presented his lifemembership to Gippsland Woodcraft

Group by president Graeme Turner Photograph supplied

Celebrating historyofTyres Art Festival

THE 42nd Tyers Art Festival entries are now open.

The Tyers Art Festival has been running since 1979 and in 2023 will celebrate its 44th year of operation and its 42ndphysicalTyers Art Festival Exhibition.

This is an amazing achievement, having grown froma smallexhibition of local artists taking place in alocal residence to becoming one of the major regional arts events in Gippsland, attracting entries throughoutGippsland, Victoria, and beyond.Each year, the Tyers Art Festival delivers avibrant and innovative arts event, providing Gippsland artists the ability to showcasetheir work and allow many supporters and patrons the opportunity to view and purchase artwork.

As always, the Tyers Art Festival is held on the second weekend in November, this year being Friday, November 10 to Sunday, November 12.

After having to conduct the Tyers Art Festival as an online exhibition in 2020 and 2021 dueto COVID-19, the group were very excitedtoannounce the returntoa physical exhibition in 2022 with the 41st Tyers Art Festival, held at the Tyers Hall.

Awards for this year’s Tyers Art Festival Exhibition include the Tyers Award for Best Exhibit, Best Exhibit -Oil, Acrylic, Watercolour, Pastel,Mixed Medium, Drawing, Designer Craft (Textiles, Metalwork&Other) andPhotography (landscape and portrait), Hangers Choice Award, PopularChoice Award and eightYoung Artist Awards.Under 18 student artists are encouraged to enter the exhibition with several awards specific to them as well as beingeligiblefor all other applicable awards.

This year, Tyers Art Festival are excited to announce two new awards: the GLaWACArt Award in the open section and the GLaWAC Art Award in the Young Artist Awards open to all First Nations artistsinpartnership with the Gunaikurnai Land andWaters Aboriginal Corporation.

Tyers ArtsFestival director Peter Harrison is looking forward to the event.

“The Tyers Art Festival is pleased to continue to offer artists from across Gippsland and beyond the opportunity to showcase and receive recognition for their work and we encourage artists to enter this year’s exhibition,” he said.

“We are particularly excited to introducetwo new awards, the GLaWAC Art Awards in both the Open and Young Artist sections of the exhibition.

“We look forward to seeing what amazing artworks our artistswill produce this year and encourage art lovers to visit this year’s Tyers Art Festival Exhibition to view what Iamsure will again be an

40 years of partnership

NEIGHBOURHOOD Watch Victoria (NHWV) has celebrated 40 years of partnership with Victoria Police.

NWV visited Morwell Police Station last Wednesdayaspartofits 40th anniversary regional roadshow.

“Over the past four decades,NHWV and Victoria Police have worked closely together to foster safer communities and providea sense of security to the residents of Victoria,” NHWV chief executive Bambi Gordon said.

Upcoming: TyersArt Festival is on again this November File photograph

amazing exhibition and support aGippsland artist by voting for their favourite artwork for the ‘Most Popular Choice Award’ or perhaps purchasing an original artwork at the Tyers Hall.”

Each year, the Tyers Art Festival is reliant on the support of Latrobe City Council, local businesses, community groups and individuals who, without their support, the festival would be unable to continue to facilitate such an exceptionally high-quality exhibition, recognised as one of the premier events on the Gippsland art calendar.

The Tyers Art Festival is the medium in which much-needed money is raised for the local community, which includes the Tyers Primary School, Tyers CFA and youth initiatives undertaken by the Tyers &District Community Association.

This year, the group is looking for anew naming sponsor and encourage interested parties to get in touch.

Prospective entrants can enter this year’sexhibition by completingthe online entry form at https:// tyersartfestival.com.au/about/#online-submissionform andpeople interested in supporting thisyear’s Tyers Art Festival or become our naming sponsor can reach Peter Harrisonatadmin@tyersartfestival.com.au.

Winners in each category will be announced on Friday, November 10 at the gala openingevening Tickets for this event can be purchasedbyemailing admin@tyersartfestival.com.au

“To markthissignificantmilestone, BankVic is supporting NHWV to visit police stations across Victoria and host abarbecue for local police and our Neighbourhood Watch volunteers.”

Thevisits acknowledge the collaboration of police and community.This collaboration has played an integral role in ensuring the safety and well-being of all Victorians.

The regional roadshow provided an opportunityfor NHWV and BankVicrepresentatives, to personally express their appreciationto thehardworking Victoria Police officers in regionalVictoria. It will be amoment to acknowledge the collective efforts and achievements of local VicPol with the hard working volunteers of NHW Latrobe in creating safer towns.

“Our40thanniversary visitstoregional police stations across Victoria throughout August will also provide the opportunity to talk to local police about how NHW Vic can support VicPol’s “Neighbourhood Policing” program. In Morwell in particular we acknowledge the outstanding contribution of NHW Latrobe to their local community,” Ms Gordon said in the lead-up to the event.

NHWV, Victoria Police, and BankVic extend their sincerethanks to all the officersand volunteerswho have dedicated their time, expertise, and resources to prevent crime and make Victoria asafer place over the past four decades.

FEST

Latrobe Youth Space

GippslandYouth –Wellington, GippslandYouth –East Gippsland, by Gippsland

Youth Spaces Inc.

Why we exist:

YOUNG people areactively involved in all aspects of Gippsland YouthSpaces Inc (GYS Inc.). We’redetermined to enable young people to better connect with each other,strengthen the community,and break down stereotypes –in afriendly and safe way.Weenable Youthto have avoice in their future.

All aspects of GYS Inc. work in harmony -from the deliberately created youth governance model to the infrastructureofthe placed-based “spaces”, and to the program deliverywhich shapes and drives the strategic and operational intent of the service… This happens because of GYS Inc’sintimate knowledge and familiarity with the young people they work with and represent across Gippsland.

Who we are:

GYS Inc. is youth led and adult guided. Young people have acentral seat at the decisionmaking table: both at boardlevel and when leading the YouthPrograms Committee and being involved in finding solutions to local issues.

We’rea not-for-profit legal entity and five of

our 10 boardmembers must be younger than 25 –one of them is our YouthCo-Chair and has the ‘casting vote’ in case of atieddecision. The Youth Programs Committee plays the lead role in the planning, decision making and delivery of activities.

What we do:

GYS Inc. is aplace-based response to local issues and opportunities for young people aged 12 to 25 years from across Gippsland. We work in 3ofthe 6LGAs and we’rekeen to expand to supportthe whole region.

We build on the strength, experience, and knowledge of local young people and, together with local organisations and communities, deliver activities and programs that respond to the unique needs of young people in that region:

■ Providing opportunities for young people to access and participate in social, cultural, educational, recreational, and economic opportunities in an inclusive and culturally sensitive environment.

■ Working with young people to build stronger engagement with education and greater opportunities for economic and community participation.

■ Contributing to the revitalisation of Gippsland and surrounds, as ahealthy,liveable, and

resilient place for young people to live, work and study

Howwedothis:

GYS Inc. takes astrengths-based approach and engages with young people in locations and spaces that areright for them.

■ Creating safe and welcoming spaces (Maslow’sHierarchy of Needs: –meeting physiological needs (food security), physically and emotionally safe, asense of belonging and care, comes beforestudy, training, and employment.

■ Offering inclusive and accessibleprograms and services that meet the needs of diverse young people.

■ Young people “can’tbewhatthey can’tsee”.

TheFuture:

QUESTION: So, what happens if thereisno government supportfor Gippsland Youth Spaces Inc?

ANSWER: Young People arenolongerheard by those wielding power and making decisions. GYS Inc. sees the needs of young people across our region.

We need your support to advocatefor state government support to be able to continue to serveand connect the youth of gippsland –email us to let us know how we’vemade a difference to you, or your young person’s, life and wellbeing hello@latrobeyouthspace.org.au

Gippsland Youth

Latrobe Youth Space

Morwell welcomes virtualconcert

By STEFAN BRADLEY

THE metal militia that is Metallica and their fanbase broadcast heavy rock riffs and two killer live shows all around the world in cinemas last month, including in Morwell, as part of their M72 World Tour.

California heavy metal icons Metallica probably won’t be coming to Gippsland anytime soon, and it’sbeenoveradecade since the band performed in Australia, so ashow streamed live from Texas to aMorwell cinema is the closest fans in our region will get to experience their electric set-up. This is acinema experience that breaks all the

rules. Cinemagoers were encouraged to stand up and make some noise in the theatre, and evenjump on their phone to share photos and videos to asocial media hashtag.It’s afront row opportunity you don’t have to line up hours for,with popcorn in tow.

Frontman James Hetfield welcomed everyone to the ‘Metallica Family’, and called the shows a “gathering of people who don’t fit in”. He may be 60, but his voice is in fine form, and he chugs away on his guitar at the same time with the energy as someone half his age. It’s no wonder he’s considered one of greatestfrontmaninrockand metal. The other threeinthe bandare justashungrytoplease the crowd.

With Victoriaabout 15 hours ahead of Texas, the true live experience was the 5.30pm sessions on Saturday, August 19 and Monday, August 21. Assuming they didn’t go to alater session, (some forced to because of unfavourable time zones), Metallica fans around the world enjoyedthe same live show as Arlington -bar asix-second broadcasting delay.

With the first three songs of night one, the live favourites ‘Creeping Death’, ‘Harvester of Sorrow’ and ‘LeperMessiah’, it was clearthatthe band would be cateringtoall their fans; not just the old school ones, but also the more mainstream (or casual) listeners, and the hardcore devotees who love all their albums.

The band’s M72 tour is in support of their 11th studio album, 72 Seasons, released in April. A band with such alarge following and influence as Metallica could probably rest on their laurels and play ashow full of hits as not much else, but the group has always tried to find ways to innovate.

As part of the tour, they’ve set up a‘No Repeat Weekend’ concept, with not asinglesongrepeated across the two nightsineach city. It’s afan’s dream to hear 32 completely different tracks across the two shows from more than 40 years of the band’s history.

The sound across both nights was hit and miss. It can be difficult to ascertain at times whether it was cinema or the sound mix from Texas to blame. The Morwell Village Cinemas session did not have VMAX, which has alargerscreen and enhanced soundinmanycases. Astray bass drum permeated the sound of much of night one, and parts of two, which was very frustrating. The first night was also not very loud, but thankfully nighttwo turned it up to 11.

While those in the cinema got to see the band up close and personal at all the great angles, the chosen shots didn’t always make sense; it was strange to see the camera not switch to lead guitarist Kirk Hammett when he was playing key solos. One of the weakest moments from the weekend was the performance of the new album’s lead single, ‘Lux Æterna’. It’s one of the better tracks from 72 Seasons,but this version sounded like arehearsal, and Hetfield struggled to hit the higher notes on the chorus. None of my personal favourites from the new record were performed on either night, but it’s great to see alegacy band have confidence in the new material they played.

Crowd: About two-dozen people were in the Morwell cinema forthe live5.30pmsessionon both nights.

‘Seek &Destroy’ and acover of ‘Whiskey in the Jar’ saw beachballsdroppedall over the crowd. Despite being one of the pioneering heavy bands, Metallicaalsohaveasoft side,and hearing the crowd sing the title of power ballad ‘Nothing Else Matters’ at its conclusion was very emotional. One very unexpected highlight was ‘Dirty Window’ off the infamous St Anger record -this live versionsounded absolutely brutal. Both nights saw alengthyinstrumental each -‘Orion’and ‘The Call of Ktulu’ -which were great to sit back and take in the riffage.

Alongside classics like ‘Battery’, ‘One’ and ‘Fade to Black’, it’s aprivilege to see the band give anod to the underrated tracks in theirset, like ‘TheDay ThatNever Comes’, ‘WelcomeHome (Sanitarium)’ and ‘King Nothing’.

The first night ended with ‘Master of Puppets’ and the second with ‘Enter Sandman’. There was no way they could run both of those monster hits on the same night, with the former experiencinga popularity surge thanks to its inclusion in Stranger Things

Ultimately, there were no surprises on either night’s setlist -nosong premieres, no revival of old tracks, or aspecial cover.Just two greatMetallica shows, which we hope to see in Victoria soon.

Rock on: Metallica performs at AT&T Stadium,Arlington, TexasonAugust18, 2023.

Photograph: BrettMurray

Photograph: Stefan Bradley

Coming alive at Albert St

Fun: Staffand parents got into the Book Week spirit.

ALBERTSTREET Primary School,Moe came alive with laughterand colourful costumes for theannual BookWeek parade recently. This year, parentsand carers were also encouraged to participateinthe dress-up parade to earn house points for their children.

Anumberofparents braved thecarpark and entered the school dressed in an array of costumes at morning drop-off. The parade wasanopportunity for students and parentstobeascreativeaspossibletorepresent their favourite book character and some prizes were awarded to the most inventive and unique costumes.

Photographs supplied

Fun: YallournNorth Primaryschool’sphysical education teacherMrByrne joined in the dress-ups

It’s ame: Grade6student Coen came as Mario

Book Week at Yallourn North

YALLOURN North PS celebrated Book Week with all of students taking up the challenge.

All students from Prep to Grade 6came as their favourite book characters.

The school held an assembly to start the day,

where the community came together to celebrate the amazing amount of work students went to, morphing into their favourite characters. Harry Potter and Minecraft were very popular this year.

Creative: AlbertStreet PrimarySchool students Poppi, Connor andFrankie dressed to impress forBook Week.

Robots in disguise: Baileyshowing offhis self-constructed transformer costume

You’re awizard: Heath (Grade 6) andCooper (Grade 5) both came dressed as HarryPotter.

Lifeinplastic, it’s fantastic: Harlow in Grade 1dressed up as Barbie Photographs supplied

Help Navigating the Aged CareSystem

Unlocking the Value of aCustomer Relationship Consultant forYour Aged CareJourney

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

Personalised Care Navigation and Consultation

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

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

In-Depth Knowledgeand Facility Insights

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

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

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

Facility Tours

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

a firsthand glimpse intothe vibrant community atmosphere. Kendal will be by your side during these tours, answering your questions, and ensuring youhaveall the information youneed to makeaconfident choice.

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

LowannaCollegelearns acow curriculum

By ZAIDAGLIBANOVIC

‘WE gotlotsofmilkhere in the country,’ the Wiggles said in their iconic song Calling All Cows. Lowanna College students are learning just how much milk there is in Gippsland, as they undergo the Cows Create Careers program.

Lowannaisamong many schoolsinGipplsand who participate in the hands-on learning experience. In the four-week project, students get the

opportunitytorear and carefor two three-week old calves.

Alocal dairy farmerteaches studentshow to care for the calves and demonstrate skills such as animal husbandry, feeding and weighing.

An industry advocatehas also visited the students to speak about their career in the dairy industry.

Agriculture and horticulture teacher at Lowanna College,JudithStewart, saidshe had already seen her students benefit from the program.

St Pauls students stuns at Latrobe Valley Eisteddfod

bands to test their group performance skills.

The Year 5Symphonic Band students‘rocked’ in the junior and secondary instrumental

ensemblesection with an adaptionofQueen’s We Will Rock You anthem entitled Power Rock receiving positive comments on a“great opening” and “some great sounds and efforts from everyone involved.”

Students were ecstatic to have been awarded secondplace in asectionthat included bands from predominantly secondary schools.

The Year 2OrchestralStrings students wowed the audience with an excerpt arrangement of Vivaldi’s Autumn from The Four Seasons in the junior instrumental ensemble section, and were praised with comments that their playing was “a great joy to listen to”, while notingitwas “great to see fantastic technique and use of the bow at this early age.”

The Year 2studentswere awarded first place, andleft beaming with pride from their magnificent practising efforts and their performance on a“real stage”.

“The purposeofthe program is to teach them how to be responsible and ethical in their treatment of animals,” she said

“One of the things that I’ve noticedinthe program is they startoff normal students and then their level of responsibility just lifts and lifts and lifts, Ithink it’s amazing.”

With two feeding timesaday,studentsat Lowanna College have their hands full.

Students in the agriculture class are all rostered on to complete daily tasks involved with raising the calves.

“I notify them the night before so they remember that they have to feed the cows the next day, then they havetocome into school at 8.30 in the morning which is before school hours,” Ms Stewart said.

“I think it’sagood thing that students realise that milk doesn’t come from the supermarket.”

Ms Stewart explained that there are many jobs available for students in agriculture and that this program offers alook into the industry.

Lowanna College Year 10 student Noah Parkinson said he enjoys looking after the calves, but he didn’t expect the calves to be so lively.

“I think it would be acareer paththat Icould look into,” he said.

JohnHutchisonfromJaydee Events said the innovativeproject highlights the diversity of skills and professional careerswithin Australia’svibrant dairy industry.

“Cows Create Careers allows students to engage

withthe dairy industryinafun and hands-on way-all while highlightingthe range of university, vocational and professional pathways within the industry,” he said.

Each school is provided with dairy industry curriculum for Years7-11, at no cost, and students form teams to complete industry-based assessments.

Cows Create Careers was originally established in 2004 with dairy farmers in the Strzelecki Lions Club in Victoria across nine Gippsland schools.

The project has since been supported by industry, regional development programs, dairy farmers and sponsors.

It has nowgrown to more than 217 schools across Australia with more than 11,680 students completing the project in 2022.

“While Cows Create Careers increases student awareness of the dairy industry, the benefits of the project extend well beyond the classroom,” Mr Hutchinson said.

“It opens opportunities for students to engage withthe dairy industry, creates links to their local community, and allows them to learn new skills.”

Upon completion of the project,students and teachers will be recognised at an interactive presentation day, where there will be industry-based games and prizes awarded to the winning teams and schools.

The presentationdays for the Term 3participating schools will be held on Tuesday,October 10, Friday, October 13 and Thursday, November 2.

Skill: St Paul’s AnglicanGrammar School Year 2students preparing to performatthe Latrobe Valley Eisteddfod. Photograph supplied

All students in Years 2and 5atStPaul’s engage in the Year 2Orchestral Strings and Year 5Symphonic Band programs,which kindles an interest and love for music in their primary years by providing them first-hand experience withmusical instruments that they can further pursue as co-curricular activities.

Learning: Students must feed thecalvestwice aday and carefor them

AT the Latrobe Valley Eisteddfod, St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School students in Years 2 and 5unitedastwo

Photographs: Zaida Glibanovic

Teaching: Lowanna College’s Judith Stewart educates her students on the dairyindustry

RESPECT LOOKSLOCAL TO BOOST COMMUNITY AGED CARE

The aged careprovider is offering up-front,sign-on bonuses of up to $5,000 and $1,000 forRegistered Nurses and Personal Care Assistants*

For100 years, Respecthas proudly been serving older Australians through itshigh standardofcareand community, and nowthe not-forprofit organisation is embarking on a significant recruitmentdrive to ensure morelocals arerepresented across its growing network of homes.

The Australian aged careindustryhas recently experienced ongoing challenges around sourcing local talent to supportcommunityaged careservices. However, Re lfurther compliment the high levelofcarealready provided across its homes with morelocal representation,includingatMitchellHouse

Respectisseekinginterestfrom membersofthe communitylooking to work as Registered Nurses and Personal Care Assistants. And as part of its recruitment drive, the organisation is currently offering up-front,sign-on bonuses forlocals interested in these positions: up to $5,000 forRegistered Nurses*; and up to $1,000 forPersonal Care Assistants*

Bothpositionsrepresentopportunities

to engage in meaningful work and a rewarding career making adifference to the lives of others in the local community. While the Registered Nurse positions allowindividuals to draw on, and grow,their broad nursing skills, the Personal Care Assistant opportunities do not requireprevious qualifications and include support to pursue future credentials.

Jason Binder,Respect’sManaging Directorand CEO,said the recruitment driveemphasises the organisation’s focus on supporting the Morwell communitywhile ensuring residents continue to receivethe highest level of care.

“Asanorganisation with aregional focus, we’vebeen growing steadily throughout the past decade, and we’ve become knownfor our abilitytorun homes at ahigh standardwhile investing backintothe local community,”he said. “This recruitment driveforms part of that focus –weknowhow important local communities aretoour homes and so we arecommittedtoemploying local aged careworkers.

Mr Binder said the recruitmentdrive would ensuremoreMorwell locals are provided with career opportunities in

aged care–ofparticular importance following the recent 15%pay rise across the industry. Similarly,with moreproposed rate increases on the horizon, a career in aged careisset to become one of the highest paid carepositions in Australia.

Encouraging others to join Mitchell House,current Respectstaffmembers shared what theyfind most rewarding about acareerinagedcare.

One registered nurse said: “Working in aged careissorewarding. Yougo home with afull heartand sense of

wellbeing forhaving made adifference in someone’slife”

Acolleague agreed: “Aged carehas manyopportunities to expand your career with diverse roles andopportunityfor growth. Iwholeheartedly encourage those interested to come and work withus. Youhavenothing to lose but plentytogain”.

Formoreinformation on Respect’s currentemploymentopportunities, or to apply,email recruitment@respect. com.au

*Terms and conditionsapply

HOROSCOPES

by Joanne Madeline Moore

September 4-September 10,2023

Aries With your ruler Mars in your relationship zone, being proactive about solving problems is the key to positive partnerships

Stop procrastinating and, instead, start communicating about what you really require

Don’t expect other people to magically read your mind

Be articulate and ask plenty of questions Venus also turns direct in your self-expression zone So it’s the perfect time for creative pursuits like photography, art, drama, dance, singing, writing and music

Taurus Don’t fall into the trap of undervaluing and neglecting your numerous

Taurean talents After six weeks in retrograde motion, your ruler Venus (planet of creativity) finally moves forwards on Monday So it’s time to express yourself in uplifting ways that make your eyes sparkle and your heart sing

Be inspired by Beyoncé (who turns 42 on Monday): “We all have our purpose, we all have our strengths ” Domestic matters and family life should also gradually improve

Gemini Expect a domestic drama o Gr a family fiasco, as Mercury (your patron planet) continues reversing through your home zone (until September 15) You could also face a tricky balancing act between growing responsibilities at work and constant commitments at home Jupiter encourages you to adopt a more philosophical attitude And Venus encourages you to approach challenges with a cooperative and consultative (and charming) approach

Cancer Mercury is still retrograde (until September 15) so pace yourself, otherwise you’ll be a cranky Crab Hasty remarks or sudden actions could land you in a heap of hot water Words have the ability to hurt or heal, so choose your comments carefully and your conversation topics wisely And avoid making rash decisions, as you don’t have all the relevant information Friday is fabulous for neighbourhood get-togethers and catching up with friends

Leo Thank goodness – after six weeks reversing through your sign – Venus finally turns direct on Monday So your fiery energy and Lion’s roar should gradually start to return Wednesday is a great time to research, revise and rehearse, while Friday is good for study and travel But Mercury is still retrograde, so be extra patient with family and friends – and yourself Draw inspiration from birthday great Beyoncé: I embrace mistakes

They make you who you are ”

Virgo Virgos are very dependable and devo g ted – but you can also be a carping critic as family and friends struggle to keep up with your incredibly high standards With Saturn visiting your relationship zone and Mercury still reversing through your sign, get ready to hear some dramatic home-truths from loved ones Perhaps they are sick and tired of being criticised for being less than 100% perfect And maybe they just want to relax and be a slob occasionally

Creativity workshop

THESE September school holidays, Satellite Foundation will be bringing afun, creative kids’ workshop, ‘Junkyard Jungle’ to Morwell!

Libra With Venus slowly moving forwards – and Mercury still in retrograde mode – don’t take things too literally this week Communicate carefully and check all travel arrangements diligently You’ll have to read between the lines if you want to know what’s really going on If you blindly follow the advice of a relative close friend or work colleague, then you could find yourself going up the garden path to trouble So use your discretion and trust your instincts

Scorpio Friday’s lucky Sun-Jupiter link encoura p ges you to broaden your horizons –physically, mentally and spiritually It s time to expand your circle of influence and make positive connections, within your peer group and further afield Be more generous with loved ones, more adventurous in your choices and more ambitious with your dreams Draw inspiration from Virgo writer D H Lawrence: “I want to live my life so that my nights are not full of regrets ”

Sagittarius On Monday there’s a Mercg ury/Jupiter trine, which favours education and travel But remember Mercury is still retrograde – so slow down, concentrate and double-check everything! On Friday there’s a fabulous Sun/Jupiter trine, which boosts individuality and confidence Be inspired by birthday great Freddie Mercury: “Someone will always be prettier Someone will always be smarter; someone will always be younger But they will never be you ”

Capricorn You re keen to express your ipdeas and enjoy plenty of stimulating conversations with a wide range of interesting people, as the Sun and Jupiter rev up your curious and social side But remember Mercury is retrograde (until September 15) so be careful you don t write (or say) the wrong thing to the wrong person! Use your considerable Capricorn skills to motivate and inspire others in positive ways Friday favours catching up with local or overseas friends

Aquarius Relationships should improve, as V qenus moves forwards in your partnership zone But avoid taking short-cuts Look for facts that are hidden beneath the surface; be uncharacteristically patient; and do all the research that’s required Saturn and retrograde Mercury are stirring up your financial zones, so resist the temptation to shop up a storm, and use retail therapy as entertainment Adopt a long-term view and find less expensive ways to amuse yourself!

Pisces Pisceans can be dreamy procrastinators All ideas and no action But you have more chance of putting plans into practice ATM, as Saturn transits through your sign until 2025 Which is just as well because family friends and colleagues are looking to you for less confusion and more clarity Think things through and pace yourself Mercury is still retrograde so documents, contracts, appointments and travel arrangements need to be carefully double-checked

CopyrightJoanne Madeline Moore 2023

Thisadvertisingspace couldbe s

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

To advertise your bargains, products or services in this column or forinformation, simply phoneLesleyHogan on 5135 4414 today.

Satellite Foundation is anon-government organisation that supports children and young people who have afamily member with mental health challenges.

Satellitewill once again be visiting Morwell this September, bringing JunkyardJungletoteens aged 12 to 15 in the Gippsland area.

Participantswill explore their strengthsand develop new ways of expressing themselves while making friendsinafun, supportive workshop.

Haveyou everwonderedwhatanimalyou would be if you could choose? Does the gentleness of a possum or the fierceness of alionspeak to you?

Join Satellite at Latrobe Youth Space in Morwell on Friday, September 22 for Junkyard Jungle.

This fun workshop uses drawing,storytellingand sculpture to create individual junglecreaturesout of recycled materials.

Junkyard Jungle is an explorationofwho we are both inside and out.

Satellite’s workshops are facilitated by professional musicians, artists, peer facilitators, and Satellitestaff. Theseworkshops offer young people

thechancetoconnect with other youngpeoplewho have similar experiences of life, and to make new friends, all while expressing their creativity, too.

Cost is free for eligible families. For more information, visit www.satellitefoundation.org.au

GP1658088

Assistance: SatelliteFoundation will host a workshop at Latrobe Youth Space later this month. Photograph supplied

Relief as teaching cuts reversed

SHADOW ParliamentarySecretary for Education and Member for Eastern Victoria Region,Melina Bath has congratulated families and disability advocates for forcing the state government to reverse on its decision to cut 85 jobs Visiting Teacher Service jobs.

The Visiting Teacher Service (VTS) supports children with disabilitiesand serious medical conditions statewide.

Last month, the state government announced it was cutting 117 VTS specialised teaching jobs down to 32 to the dismay of students and families who rely on it.

Ms Bath said this was agreat dayfor regional students and their families, however the cuts should never have beenconsideredbythe state government.

“Access to support services in the country is difficult enough without Labor constructing barriers for ruralkidswithdisabilities who alreadyexperience educational disadvantage due to their postcode,” she said.

“The Andrews government’s callous decision to cut educational support to students with disabilities can only be descried as the cruellest of blows.

“Students withdisabilitiesneed additional educational support and funding, not less.”

The VTS provides individualised frontline support to children with hearing, visual, physical, and mentalimpairments in mainstream schools and is particularly important to regional families with limited access to services.

Nationals MP’s met with those in the disability community in Melbournerecently to understand their concerns.

Speaking in State Parliament, Ms Bath strongly condemned Labor’s decision before sharingthe concerns of families and advocates.

Ms Bath said familiesand disabilityadvocates clearlyarticulated the significant learning barriers students would experience if the VTS was lost.

“In regional settings, with limited access to supports, the VTS provides one-to-one support to students with disabilities,” she said.

“Labor failedtoconsult with one family when making its decision and subsequently ignored all opportunities to engage and learn about the challenges students with disabilities in mainstream schools face.

“I remain incredibly grateful for the disability community for sharing and trustingmewith their stories and allowingThe Nationals to advocate on their behalf.

“Togetherwewill continue to call for better educational outcomes and the removal of barriers for all students with disabilities.”

fish fillets served with chips &salad

TheGuide

GARDENING AUSTRALIA JUNIOR

ABC TV Plus, Friday, 7.05pm

Costa Georgiadis’sizeable fanclub is set to swell. In amove suretoinspirea new generation of green thumbs, thisveteran gardening showhas planted afresh series forkids.Larger-than-lifeGeorgiadis (picturedwithjunior gardeners Jettand Kiki) has apalpable passion forgardening,but he’s also the consummatekids’ entertainer.After enamouringchildren playing agarden gnome in the outdoorsyseries GetGrubbyTV,he’sthe perfect presenter of this educational and funlark. Premiering tonight,and featuring 20 episodes, beekeeping,composting andveggie gardeningare on the agenda, along with advice from GardeningAustraliastalwarts Tammy Huynh, Clarence Slockee and Hannah Maloney settoinspireanew generation of green thumbs.

HELP,I’VEGONE VIRAL!

SBSViceland, Sunday, 6.30pm

If you’re itching forafeel-good story, you’vefounditinthisbig-hearted and exuberant documentary. It’satale of rice –and falling in love –aswell as acelebration of wildly different cultures. Bewarethough: there’san unapologetically cheesy,dippysongthat decorates this silly and sentimental sojourn –itisguaranteed to get stuck in your head. In this astory about food and song,wemeet friendly Norwegian Audun Kvitland (pictured, centre), whose energetic ditty celebrating the Indonesian dish nasi padang (a miniaturebanquet eaten with steamed rice), once postedonYouTube, went unexpectedly viral. When he is invited back to Indonesia, he goes on asurprising adventurethat’ll warm hearts –and tastebuds.

LOVE TRIANGLE

Nine, Tuesday, 9.45pm

In this age fuelled by an obsession with looks and image, this series takes a saucysidestep. From theproducers of reality TV juggernaut MarriedatFirst Sight,this modernspinoffswaps the thrill of witnessing anew couple lay eyes on each other forthe firsttime as they walk up the aisle forafew days of breathlessly flirtingvia today’sprimaryform of heartfelt communication –texting,ofcourse! On MAFS,affairsare anticipated catnip; here,the potential forcomplicated liaisons is three-fold:three singles,including 32-year-old sports lawyerYannick (pictured) who’s lookingfor “something serious”,choose between two suitors–sight unseen –after three days of messages, meeting on ablind date beforemoving in together.What could go wrong?

PICK OF THE WEEK

Right mooves : Cowgirl is one of the larger-thanlife characters on TheMasked SingerAustralia

Down Under Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC PhilippinesThe World Tonight.

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 Home And Away (PGa) Kirby is conflicted.

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

9.15 TheFrontBar (Ml) Hosts Mick Molloy, Sam Pang andAndyMaher takealighter look at all things AFL.

10.15 Homicide: With Ron Iddles:TerryFloyd (Ma, R) Alook at the case of TerryFloyd

11.20 TheLatest: SevenNews.

11.50 Sun, Sea And Surgery. (MA15+a, R) 12.50 TheEnemyWithin (Mav,R)

HomeShopping

THE MASKED SINGER AUSTRALIA

10 Monday 7 30pm

It s another singing competition but theres no other show with a party of lively crooning creatures Set to inspire some feverish sleuthing, this season ’ s sprightly and bizarre characters include a hi-tech space fairy a leather-jacketed crash-test dummy a candy-coloured pouty cow girl and a sparkling snow fox with a crew of well-known celebrities hiding underneath these elaborate costumes The flavour of this over-the-top competition is delightfully ostentatious, with host Osher Günsberg and judges Abbie Chatfield Mel B Chrissie Swan and Dave “Hughesy” Hughes all donning fittingly spectacular glitzy outfits In this season five premiere the hijinks and colourful banter are contagious

Chance Harvey.Continued. (2008,PG)

1.30am The Girl In The Book. (2015, MA15+)

The Wife.(2017,M) 5.00 Asterix And Obelix Vs Caesar.(1999,PG, French)

6.00 Nine News

7.00 ACurrent Affair

7.30 TheBlock. (PGl) Hosted by Scott Cam.

8.40 Luxe ListingsSydney. (Ml) Simon takes atourofasleek renovation for anew client from overseas. D’Leanne pitches for anew listing.

9.45 Footy Classified. (M) Footy expertstacklethe AFL’sbig issues.

10.45 NineNewsLate.

11.15 TheEqualizer (MA15+v)

12.05 TheGulf. (Madlsv, R)

1.05 New Amsterdam. (MA15+am, R) 2.00

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

TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Believer’s

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

8.30 Inspired Unemployed (Impractical) Jokers (Ma) Four Aussie mates setout to embarrass each other in apublic settingasfirst aid instructors.

9.00 Five Bedrooms (Ml) Ainsley is thrilled after she gets into acommitted relationshipfor thefirst time

So HelpMeTodd. (PGa) Veronica asks Todd for afavour

FBI (Mv,R)

TheProject. (R)

6.00 TheDrum

7.00 ABC News

7.30 7.30 Presented by Sarah Ferguson.

8.00 Foreign Correspondent. Alook at theUvaldecommunity.

8.30 ExtraordinaryEscapes:Doon Mackichan. (PG) Part 5of5.Sandi

Toksvig travels to Donegal in the Republic of Ireland with comedian Doon Mackichan.

9.20 Grand Designs New Zealand. (R) Chris Moller meets Tedand Ita Daniels, who havecreated amodern rooftopapartment.

10.05 ArtWorks. (PGa,R)Guest host is Rowdie Walden

10 35 ABC LateNews.

10.50 TheBusiness. (R)

11.05 Matt Okine Is Going To Die. (R)

12.05 Q+A. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)

6.30 SBS WorldNews.

7.35 Great Australian Walks With Julia Zemiro (PGa) Julia Zemiro heads to Canberra.

8.30 EvaLongoria: Searching For Mexico: Oaxaca. (PG) EvaLongoria travels to the state of Oaxaca, a former stop on the ancient trade routesthrough Central America.

9.20 Kin (MA15+lv) Frank visits his brother Bren.

10.15 SBSWorld NewsLate

10.45 Max Anger: With One EyeOpen. (MA15+av)

11.40 Exit. (MA15+ads, R)

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 Football. AFL.Finals Series.First qualifying final. Collingwood vMelbourne.

10.30 AFL Post-Game Show. Awrap-upofthe game, including panel discussion and interviews, with access to players, coaches and staff

11.00 TheLatest: SevenNews.

11.30 AutopsyUSA:James Gandolfini (Mad, R) Alook at the death of James Gandolfini.

12.30 TheResident (Ma, R) Conrad and Bell treat apregnant woman.

[VIC]HomeShopping.

1.30 Travel Oz. (PG, R) Hosted by GregGrainger

6.00 Nine News.

7.00 ACurrent Affair

7.30 RBT. (PGdl, R) Follows the activities of police units.

8.30 Emergency (Mam,R)Lukeand

Emma are grateful foragood early sign from amotorbikerider whocollided with acar

9.30 Casualty 24/7 (Mm)

Barnsley Hospital Casualty is open for business as usual and the team gets into the Christmas spirit.

10 30 Chicago Med (MA15+am)

11.20 Nine News Late.

11.50 TheFirst48: Deadly Lies/StayDown. (Mlv,R)

12.40 New Amsterdam. (Mam, R)

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

7.30 DogsBehaving (Very) Badly Australia. (Final, PGa) Followsdog trainer Graeme Hall as he rounds out his Australian odyssey by visitingthreevery cheeky pups.

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

9.30 TheCheap Seats (Mal, R)

Presenters Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald takealookatthe weekthat was.

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 NBCToday News and current affairs.

1.30 Tipping Point. (PG,R)

10.30 Law& Order:SVU (Mav,R) Benson investigates apopular radio host.

1.05 Parliament Question Time.

2.10 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.40 Tenable. (R) 4.30 The Drum. (R) 5.30 7.30.(R)

1.30 Man In Room 301. (Mals, R) 3.15 Food Safari. (R) 3.45 Going Places With Ernie Dingo (R) 4.45 Bamay.(R) 5.00 NHKWorld English News Morning. 5.30 ANC PhilippinesThe World Tonight.

5.00 SevenEarly News.

5.30 Sunrise

2.30 Global Shop.(R) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

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

12.30 Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 CBSMornings.

NITV (34)

Friday,September 8

6.00 TheDrum. Analysis of the day’snews.

7.00 ABCNews. Alook at the top stories of the day.

7.30 Gardening Australia. Josh Byrne prunes nativeplants.

8.30 Miniseries: TheControl Room. (Mal) Part 2of3.Gabe is blackmailed into further criminal behaviour by Anthony over his links to Sam.

9.30 Midsomer Murders. (Mv,R) Barnabyand Nelson investigate after an artist who had amanuscript stolen is electrocuted.

11.00 ABC LateNews Coverage of theday’sevents.

11.15 Miniseries: Innocent. (Malv,R)Part 2of4

12.00 Harrow. (Mv,R)

12.55 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

ABC TV PLUS (22)

7.30 Spicks And Specks. 8.00 HardQuiz. 8.30

MOVIE: Judy.(2019, M) 10.25 Noughts +Crosses. 11.20 KillingEve 12.05am Unprotected Sets. 1.00

LastNight Of The Proms 2.15 ABCNewsUpdate.

2.20 Close. 5.00 Moon And Me. 5.25 Teletubbies.

5.35 Late Programs.

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)

6.30 SBS WorldNews

7.30 South America With SimonReeve:The Guiana Shield. (PG) Part 1of5

8.40 AncientEgypt:Chronicles Of An Empire: GodsAnd Kings. (Mav) Documents how the ancient Egyptians created one of the first states in history

9.40 Tony Robinson: TheThames At Night. (Ml, R) Part 1of4

10.35 SBS WorldNewsLate.

11.05 Vise Le Coeur (MA15+a)

12.05 Reunions. (Mas, R)

1.55 Box21. (MA15+v,R)

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 Better HomesAnd Gardens. Adam Dovile shows howtomake adaybed.Graham Ross visitsthe Broughton Hall garden.

7.30 Football AFL.Finals Series. First eliminationfinal. Carlton vSydney.From the MCG.

10 30 AFL Post-Game Show. Post-game discussion andinterviews.

11.00 Armchair Experts. (M) Apanel discussesall things AFL

12.00 Reverie. (Mav,R) Theupgrade is set to launch.

6.00 Nine News.

7.00 RugbyLeague NRL. Finals Series. First qualifying final.

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

10.30 MOVIE: TheEnforcer.

(1976,Mlnsv,R)Acop goes undercover

Clint Eastwood, Harry Guardino

12.30 MOVIE: Slayground. (1983,Mlv,R)

Athief fleesfrom an assassin. Peter Coyote

2.20 It’sAll Greek To Me (R)

2.50 9Honey: He SaidShe Said.

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

7.30 Have YouBeen Paying Attention? (Malns, R) Celebrity panellists compete to see whocan remember the most about events of theweek.

8.30 TheGraham Norton Show. (Mals, R) Graham Norton is joined by actors Colin Farrell, BrendanGleeson, Kate Hudson, ElizabethBanks and British Vogue’s headfashionistaEdward Enninful. Music comesfrom Self Esteem.

3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

10.30 JustFor Laughs Australia. (MA15+s, R) HostedbyNath Valvo.

3.45 Food Safari. (R)

4.15 Bamay.(R) 4.50 Destination Flavour Down Under Bitesize. (R)

5.00 NHK World EnglishNewsMorning 5.30 ANC PhilippinesThe WorldTonight.

1.00 Travel Oz. (PG, R) Hosted by GregGrainger. [VIC]HomeShopping.

4.00 Million Dollar Minute (R)

5.00 NBCToday.

4.00 Postcards. (PG, R)

4.30 Global Shop (R)

5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

5.30 SkippyThe Bush Kangaroo (R)

11.00 TheProject. (R) Alookat the day’snews and events

12.00 Home Shopping. (R)

6am The Age Of Innocence. Continued. (1993,PG) 8.00 The King Of Comedy.(1983,PG)

READY FOR READYFOR TAKEOFF

When it’s time to downsize it’s and have some me time

Lions unddone in qualifyingfinal

FOOTBALL GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

BY LIAM DURKIN

IT’Snot so muchthatLeongatha know howto win finals, it’s that they know when to play finals.

The Parrots showed every bit of their finals experience on Saturday, afterdefeating Moe 16.5(101) to 11.7 (73)inthe Gippsland League Qualifying Final.

In many ways, the qualifying final belonged to Cameron Olden. The Leongatha forward, who has playedmost of the year with Richmond in the VFL, lit up WonthaggiRecreation Reserve, kickingeight goals in ascintillating display.

Yes, eight goals. They will be talking about that for afew years to come.

His last goalwas trulyout of this world. He snapped it from 45 metres out off astanding start with Moe jumpers all around him.

Olden was bumpedashekicked it, meaning he endeduponhis back as the ball wassailing through. Once it registered agoal, he had both arms outstretched sprawled across the ground, almostasiftosay “it’s my world today,you are just living in it.”

Afterkicking eight goals in afinal, it’s hard to argue otherwise.

Olden’s heroics looked some way off at quarter time, as teams went into the first break virtually on level-pegging.

Moe kicked the first goal of the game through Jacob Balfour, while working classheroTom Blackshaw nailed aset shot from long range.

Blackshaw has undergone awhirlwind three weeks. Having played all season in the reserves, he was called up in Round17, and then kicked five goals in Round 18.

WithHarryPepper injured, Blackshaw took the available spot for the final.

Finals eh, how great are some of the stories.

Naturally, things were tight early on, with hardly any players finding the ball in space. Moe playing-coach Declan Keilty effected atrademark

GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

goal-saving smother during the first term, while at the other end the usual suspects of Cade Maskell and Jackson Harry were repellingopposition forward entries.

Agoal to the Parrots after the quarter time siren gave themsome momentum-little wasanotherto know just how much momentum.

Leongatha blew the game open in the second term, piling on six goals in what seemed like the blinkofaneye. Moe had lost veteran defender Tom Long to ahamstring by this stage, and the Lions were frantically spinning the magnets around.

Moe’s only twogoals for the term camefrom James Blaser, who keptthe scoreboard in some check after dobbing aset shot from 40 metres out at the entrance end.

While the margin was only 23 points at the main break, there was worrying signs for the Lions.

In abid to add some needed physicality around the ball, Moe put key forward Billy Gowers into the midfield at the start of the third quarter. The Lions worked their way back into the contest, with aneat set shot from Trent Baldi deepinthe pocket followed by Chris Prowse smartly tappingthe ball to himself and running into an open goal making it a15-point ball game.

Leongatha however steadied. Acalculated set shot from Tom Marriottkept the Lions at bay, while two goals in red time -another right on the siren, meant the Parrots entered the last change 28 points up.

Moe fought valiantly, but ultimately, just couldn’t bridge the gap.

Lion’sskipperJacob Wood kept things interesting witharunning goal, afterfindinghimselfgoal side on the edge of 50 with acres of space. At the encouragement of Gowers in the goal square to keep running,Wood took afew bounces before delivering avery deliberate ball drop to make absolutely sure of it.

Olden however just kept kicking goals, and put the result beyond doubt after getting agimme in the goal square and kicking it over the net.

He would have made it nine, had he not played

QUALIFYING/ELIMINATION FINALS

2J Wood HSim BGowers JBalfour TBaldi TBlackshaw.

Leongatha: COldenC Maskell JHarryLBowman NGownB Willis.Moe:RBaldi T

Svan DykBMaslen JBlaser LMulqueen

GOALS: Traralgon: BEddy5 THamilton BSchilling TSchneider CLittle.Sale: BDessent 3

JDessent 2. BEST: Traralgon: LD’Angelo THamilton BEddyMJacobsen TSchneider

JMcMahon. Sale: JLeslie NWhitfordT Wrigglesworth JDessent PTainshJAllison

on from aset shot only for the final siren to sound.

Olden was aclear best-on, andreceivedgood support from Maskell, who just keeps getting better with age. His pinpoint passing in this game was astandout, with his deadly left foot even hitting targets in contested marking situations fromas far as 50 metres away.

Harry did agood job lockingdown Gowers, keeping the Moespearhead to one goal,while Luke Bowman was rewarded for sacrificing his game.

Bowman playedexclusively on Keiltyinthe first quarter, taking himselfout of the midfieldand allowing Noah Gown to spend time in the engine room.

The plan worked perfectlyfor Leongatha, as Gown was able to free himself up and spend little to no time on Keilty, who had given him abaththe last time they played.

Ben Willis was also prominent for the Parrots, giving his heart and soul as he always does.

Moe found good contributions from Riley and Trent Baldi, who committed their bodieswholeheartedly,while ScottVan Dyk struck acomposed figure in defence.

Van Dyk was aspare in defence at times, as the Parrotschose to play an extrafurther up field.

Ben Maslen wasn’t far from Van Dyk, and set up anumberofreboundingplays, and fellow defender Luke Mulqueenalsowon plaudits, particularly for acourageous effort going back with the flight in the third quarter that left him worse for wear.

Blaser was productive, showing his football smarts, receiving the ball in dangerous spots.

Fellow veteran Ben Morrow reached another milestone in this match, playing his 250th game for the club.

Having beatenLeongathainboththeir homeand-away matchesthis year,the result was disappointingfor Moe, who have now used their double-chance and will have to takethe longway through finals.

Moe’s preparation was thrown into some chaos during the week, with Keiltynot flyingback from Perth after attendinga funeral until late

Friday night, while Mitchell Stanlake was alate withdrawal, failing afitness test.

The secondquarter blitz certainly appeared to rattle the Lions, who at one stage had five talls inside 50.

Keiltyplayed forwardfor mostofthe second half in abid to increase scoring, but in actuality, he was needed more down back.With Olden running amok,there is agood chance alot of balls coming in would have been cut off had the best intercept defender in the competition been there.

Leongatha’s team defence also made it hard for Moe to score, as they workedbackinnumbers and cloggedvirtually every pocket of space, giving the Lions no choice but to kick high and hope.

Moe will look to regroup, and has an extra day to prepare for Sunday’s firstsemi-final against Traralgon.The Lions are taking amethodical approach during finals, with an extended squad all training and the first emergency joining the team on game day all the way up to the on-ground warm-up. Those not selected in the 22 all completed running sessions last Saturday morning.

For the Parrots, who had been questioned at times this season regarding whether or not their premiershipwindowwas still open, well and truly demonstrated they willstill be there when the whips are cracking.

After all, they know when to play finals.

ASouth Gippsland showdown now awaits between Leongatha and Wonthaggi for aplace in the Grand Final.

Whilethere is no doubt thebetter team won, the sightofnon-neutral umpires perhaps gave cause for some head scratching.

Usingalocal cricket analogy, it does always strike this writer as rather peculiar when life members of certain clubs are allowed to umpire games involving their own club.

Just YouTube “The day Glenn McGrath discovered Pakistan umpires” to get an understanding of what can go on.

GOALS: Maffra: AMckenzie 3O Brewer BJohnson. Traralgon: JVan Iwaarden BLocandro

LMcDonald BEST: Maffra: WPleming SWalker WBrunt CSmart BCarubiaCDriffield

TAnderson KMarsh HHectorL McDonald DBuis LHahn

GOALS:Sale:BWalker5DMcGuiness2LPlaceBJones.Wonthaggi:RMoresco4KMcCarthy2

WLuke WForsyth BEST: Sale:JButcher BWalker JSweeney ZRussell DMcGuiness J

Glenane.Wonthaggi: KMcCarthyLJones RMorescoT Krause JBrown KBrown

GOALS: Warragul: HJinks 3PIreland 2C MacLean VKuol PCarpenter LFinnegan.

Leongatha: TMcRae 4T Gannon. BEST: Warragul: LCarterC DoreHJinks HBrown DPaul

LMoore. Leongatha: WBrown JFixterB Grabham Andrews NSkewes TRichards BFort

GOALS: Maffra: NChristy5M Stobie 3C Bronts EStables SSmith. Bairnsdale: MHamilton

AWattOClark BEST: Maffra: HStables NChristyMStobie JBoydJ Kelly EStables

Bairnsdale: CFrith HClarkeSO’Kelly MHamilton BLind OClark

Big guns: Moe forward Billy Gowers in action during the qualifying final, with teammate Tom Blackshaw running in close support Spectators might be in for a treat in this Sunday’s first semi-final, with Gowers at one end and Traralgon’s Brett Eddy at the other

Reserves decided in extra time

FOOTBALL GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

BY LIAM DURKIN

ANYONE else get bad flashbacks watching this.

Maffra reserves won athrilling Qualifying Final decided in extra time.

The Eagles and Traralgon played out a deadlock in regulartime, that saw scores level at 27 points apiece when fulltime was called.

An inaccurate Maroons were made to rue missed opportunities, kicking3.9 (27) to Maffra’s 4.3 (27).

Maffra had the chance to kick what would have virtually been agolden point late in the lastterm, only for ashot frominfront of the grandstandatWonthaggi Recreation Reserve to drift outonthe full.

Extra time meantfive minutes each way. Players had only acouple of minutes to regroup out on the ground in their huddles, where they weren’t permitted to be spoken to by coaches.

Some Maffra women supporters, presumably wives and girlfriends, were shooed away when they tried to mingle around the huddle.

The Eagleskickedthe only goal of extra time, which came in the first period, but it proved to be enough, as they held on to win 5.6 (36) to 3.10 (28).

Maffra thought they had another goal in the first periodafter aKal Killoran snap from close range.The Eagles players promptly celebrated, howeverwerecaught unaware as theball was kicked back into play.

The Eagles put up all defences in the second period, with some smart and very deliberate clock management seeing them walk the ball over the boundary and pick themselves

up very slowly from the bottom of packs. Maffra survived afew late scares, but the final siren sounded to see them advance to the second semi-final, where they will take on Leongatha for aplace in the GrandFinal. Bill Pleming playedacaptains game for the Eagles, and was followed by Sam Walker, Will Brunt, Chris Smart,Bailey Curubia and Charlie Driffield.

Bestfor Traralgon was Tyler Anderson, KadeMarsh, Haydn Hector, Lachlan McDonald, Daniel Buis and Liam Hahn. After battlingtheirway through the reservesseason,sometimes only having 14-15 adultplayers, the Eagles could be a different commodity come finals due to their seniors not taking part.

Maffrahas not missed finals in the reserves since 2014, or finished outside the top three for that matter in the same time.

Flags have come in 2015 and 2019.

Photograph: JulieSim

Maroons defy the form guide

FOOTBALL GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

BY LIAM DURKIN

THAT would just about be Traralgon’s best win since the 2005 Grand Final.

The Maroons ventured to Western Park on Sundayfor the GippslandLeague Elimination Final, seemingly with nothing in their favour.

Traralgon was opposed to Sale, ateam they had lost to in the last home-and-away round.

In fact, Traralgon had lost four games in arow leading into this final.

Theyhad even lost to lowly Bairnsdale just three weeks ago.

And their coachJakeBest had already announced his resignation after this season.

Most thought Best would be coaching his last game on Sunday.

Most also thought Traralgon were just making up the numbers this finals series.

The Maroons were given little to no chance, but ended up pulling off awin for the ages, defeating Sale 9.11 (65) to 5.6 (36).

Traralgon is aliveafter winning one game in 43 days.

There is no just explaining finalsfootball sometimes.

That they did it without Jordan Cunico and HarveyHowe in the line-up only adds meritto what they achieved.

It wouldhave been one proud Traralgon coach on Sunday night.

Regardless of what happens for the rest of the finals, the industry will say this is as good acoaching performance as it getsfromsomeone in only their third year at the helm.

Lost in all of this is the fact Saleisnow out of the premiership race, less thanayear aftermaking the Grand Final.

Achange in season to Spring may well have brought about achange in Traralgon, as they appeared acompletely different side to the one that went into finals with such apoor form line.

But the Maroons were ateam for the big occasion, and made the early running with two goals in the first quarter.

Whileboth sides shared the samenumberof scoring shots, the second term proved to be the game changer for the underdog.

With key forward Brett Eddy getting opportunity, and midfielder Luis D’Angelo tagging gun Sale midfielder ShannenLange, the Maroons added three goals to go into halftime with a24point lead Sale wasfeelingthe heat,and notjust from the day itself which was bathedinsunshine, as handballswentastrayand playersfumbled below their knees.

Frustrations were clear and tempers flared on the halftime siren after afree kick was awarded to D’Angelo.

His attempted barrel after the siren fell short, and was followed by an all-in melee.

The fight appeared to start when Sale playingcoach Jack Johnstone and D’Angelo became engaged in ascuffle, with veteran Maroon Mark Collison in close quarters.

From thereitwas all in as players came from everywhere to fly the flag.

Afew spot fires broke out, with Magpies captain Jack Leslie puttingdown Traralgonyoungster Tom Hamilton, whileTraralgon’s Joel Scholtes and Sale’s Cooper Whitehill went toe-to-toe.

Players were being pulled off from everywhere, before getting separated and retreatingtothe rooms; the situation made somewhat tricky by the fact both teams had to walk off near the same gate Johnstone and Eddyhad one finalpushand shove on the way in,and Bestcouldbeseengesturing

to his head, no doubt tellinghis playerstocool their jets.

Not condoning violence,but Traralgon’s younger players certainlydidn’t shy away from standing up for themselves when being roughed up by more senior opponents, an important trait for any footballer.

Once players were inside, Leslie came back out to have achat to the umpires.

Looking at the footage, there doesn’t appear to be any punches thrown, which should mean no player has aserious case to answer for.

Sale veteran Kane Martin was however sent off in the second half.

If the Magpies were hoping the fight sparked them into gear, they were mistaken, as the third quarter played out as astalemate with justone goal kicked between the two sides.

Down by 25 points at three quarter time and with their season on the line, Sale added three goals in thefinal term, but their efforts were in vain as the Maroonsadded just as many.

Leslie was best-on-ground for the Magpies, followed by NathanWhitford,youngster Tom Wrigglesworth, Jordan Dessent, Pat Tainsh and Jayden Allison.

D’Angelo won the plaudits for his work on Lange, while Hamilton, BrettEddy (five goals),Max Jacobsen, Tom Schneider and Jackson McMahon were productive.

Best was understandably glowing in praise of his troops, and labelled it the top win of his coaching career.

“It was afantastic win, super proud of the group and the footy club,” he said.

“We went in with aplanand we executed it extremely well. Our backs were up against the wall considering the month we’ve had finals is anew ball game, Iwas just so pleased to get the win for the group.”

Speaking of that plan, Best said having this final

set in stonefrom as far back as six weeksago gave himplenty of timetoformulate an idea.

“We’ve been waitingfor this game, we’ve been locked in fourth spot for along time, we couldn’t go up or down, for whatever reason our form hadn’t been there, we had full belief our best would get it done,” he said.

“Lastweek was alot of cat-and-mouse, we didn’t really give up alot of our cards last week, we wanted to keep alot in and execute in afinal.

“Our pressure was the big one, we knew if we brought high pressure we could hopefully get the ball on our terms.

“The start is always important in afinal, we wanted to make afocus to stay composed, especially with ayoung group.

“They just played for each other,were so connected all day, it was really pleasing.”

Best conceded the Maroons’ poor run into finals had weighed on him, but by the same token, was quietly confident of their chances.

“It was definitely on my mind (the poor form), but Ihad full confidencewecould win if we stucktoour plans and we executed well. Iwasn’t too thinking about the outside noise,” he said.

“It was great that we didn’t get overawed and guys played really well.”

Amazingly,Traralgon is now preparing for a semi-final for not just its seniors, but also reserves. Training will feel as though nothing has changed.

Traralgon will play Moe this Sunday at Maffra in the first semi-final.

The pressure now appears to be all on the Lions following their loss to Leongatha in the qualifying final.

After what happened on Sunday,the Maroons will be looking to defy the odds again.

“We’ve got nothing to lose this week, no one will expect us to win,we’llgoout there and give it a red hot crack,” Best said.

GIPPSLAND LEAGUE SEMI FINALS

Saturday, September 9 at Morwell Recreation Reserve

Second-Semi (double chance)

Football SENIORS:

WonthaggivsLeongatha (2.20pm)

RESERVES:

Leongatha vs Maffra(12.30pm)

THIRDS: Traralgon vs Warragul (10.45am)

FOURTHS: Traralgon vs Maffra(9am)

Netball

AGRADE: Moe vs Morwell (2.35pm)

BGRADE:

Traralgon vs Drouin (1.20pm)

CGRADE:

Leongatha vs Maffra(12.15pm)

17 AND UNDER:

Traralgon vs Sale (11.10am)

15 AND UNDER:

Traralgon vs Sale (10.05am)

13 AND UNDER:

TraralgonvsSale (9am)

Sunday, September 10 at MaffraRecreation Reserve

First-Semi (loser eliminated)

Football:

SENIORS: Moe vs Traralgon(2.20pm)

RESERVES:

TraralgonvsSale (12.30pm)

THIRDS:

Leongatha vs Maffra(10.45am)

FOURTHS: Bairnsdale vs Leongatha (9am)

Netball

AGRADE:

Leongatha vs Drouin (2.35pm)

BGRADE:

Leongatha vs Moe (1.20pm)

CGRADE:

Drouin vs Bairnsdale (12.15pm)

17 AND UNDER:

Leongatha vs Maffra(11.10am)

15 AND UNDER:

Leongatha vs Bairnsdale (10.05am)

13 AND UNDER: Moe vs Bairnsdale (9am)

Unreal: Traralgon players BrettEddy,Tom Hamilton andKade Ruyterscelebrateagoal duringthe Maroons’ incredible elimination finalwin. Photograph: Gippsland League

Mid Gippsland Football League

Dogs scrape over t theline to make MidGippydecider

FOOTBALL

MID GIPPSLAND

BY ROB POPPLESTONE

THE twobestteams in the Mid Gippsland Football-NetballLeague faced off on Saturday,for adirect route to the 2023 MGFNL Grand Final.

An unbeaten Newborough up against an improving Fish Creek that had entered the game with avery real belief they were capable of inflicting the Bulldogs first loss of the year.

The Kangaroos went close, and looked like they would get the win at various times, before falling agonisingly short in Boolarra.

Thefinal scoreboardread Newborough9.6 (60) to Fish Creek 7.13 (55).

Bulldogs coach Craig Skinner has now taken Newborough through to the Grand Final via the semi for the second year running.

“Was themostcontested game we have had for the year, took along time to get clean position

and when we felt like the game was on our terms Fish Creek denied us the ball and won most of the 50/50 contests in the last quarter,” he said.

The Kangaroos jumped out of the blocksjust like they hoped they would. Aquarter time lead of 13 points, just enough to have the underdogs believe they were deserving of ashot at the title. Butasgood sides do, Newborough wrestled back some of the momentum to be right in contention by the main break when they trailed by just four behinds.

The third quarter (commonly known as the premiershipquarter) is wherethe premiership favourites did their thing, turning up the heat with five goalstoone and holding a20point lead at thefinal turn.

In the end, the Bullldogscourageously hung tough under the pressure being applied, falling over the line.

“We had to be clinical to not allow any decisions or momentum to continue going the same direction, and althoughwestruggled for winners on the

day, Peter ‘Jibba’ Ainsworth was our best attack on the ball and kept us in the game on morethan one occasion,” Skinner said.

Fish Creek coach Jarrod Walker believed either side could have won.

“Great game of footy, not sure what it looked like from the crowd but it was acrackinggame to be playing in,” he said.

“Momentum swings all day and at times looked like both sides could have run away with it.”

“Great atmosphere and what finals football is all about. Would have been great to get the win, but will need to butter-up and get prepared for next week. Gained alot of belief from today and can’t wait for the next challenge ahead.”

Fish Creek would love to have onemore chance to right some wrongs of the weekend, but to do that they now must win apreliminary final against Thorpdale.

FINALS

Saturday, September 9 at Foster Showgrounds

Football

SENIORS:

Fish Creek vs Thorpdale (2.20pm)

RESERVES: MDU vsYinnar (12.30pm)

THIRDS:

MDU vsYinnar (10.45am)

Netball

AGRADE:

TooravsMorwell East (2.15pm)

BGRADE:

Fish Creek vs Mirboo North (1pm)

CGRADE: Yinnar vs Hill End (12pm)

Sale City vs Woodside (11.55am)

DGRADE: Yinnar vs Morwell East (11am) 17 AND UNDER: Yinnar vs Fish Creek(10am) 15 AND UNDER: Mirboo North vs MDU (9am) 13 AND UNDER: TooravsYinnar(8am)

Thorpdale just one win away from Grand Final

BY ROB POPPLESTONE

PERFECT Spring weather continued for Day2in the second weekofMid Gippsland Football-Netball League finals,and abig crowdinTarwin was treated to some of the best football seen in many seasons.

Meeniyan DumbalkUnitedand Thorpdalefaced off in abit to progress to the preliminary final. Sometimes amatch doesn’t deserve aloser, and this was one of thosetimes.Two clubsthat had enjoyedbetter than expectedseasons and both of whomhad also enjoyedagrowing wave of support that bonded aclub and excited their communities.

It was no place for the faint hearted, as both

teams and all players put their bodies on the line in ordertokeep their seasons alive,but there was only room for one winner, and that one was Thorpdale, the Blues winning athriller 8.14 (62) to 9.5 (59).

Thorpdale overcame aslow start, and held onto theirthree quarter time lead for dear life.

“MDU started like ahouse on fire winning the contested footy and matched that with slick ball movement, giving them scoring opportunities in the first quarter,” Thorpdale coach Jason Winderlich said.

That first 30 minutes hadthe Demons up by 19 points, and the Blues with some real work to do.

“For the secondand third quarters we were able to get our hands on the footy at theinitial contest inside the stoppage,” Winderlich said.

“Thelastquarter was justgood, hard finals footy

“Contest after contest therewere bodiesgetting smashed and great tackles laid. 3.12 to 3.3 after halftimeisn’t idealaccuracy butitwas enough to getthe win for us in the end.”

It was acontest that was not only great to watch, it was one in which the players liftedtolevels that only finals can demand.

While disappointed, MDU coach Nathan Allen said it was agreat game.

“It was aperfect day for footy and agreat game to be apartof,” he said.

“It was abrutal contest from the first siren to the last. We were able to jump them in the first with aslightbreeze, but they responded well in thesecond and levelled the contest at halftime. Theirthird quarter won them the game, locked

the game downand converted when they got a chance.”

“Congratulations to Jaseand Thorpdale. It was tough to lose but I’m really proud of my boys’ effortsonthe weekendand throughoutthe season. To rise from bottom four last year to the top four this year is agreat achievement.”

MDU, can look to season 2024, but for the Blues, they must turn their attention to another mustwin match this weekend.

This was agamethat tested the Blues both as atalented team but also each player physically, but there is very little time for them to ready themselvesfor theirnext big challenge, Fish Creek in South Gippsland.

The dream is stillverymuch alive for Thorpdale Could it be

JDunn2 RWeaverBMaxwell MHarris BEST: Tarwin: BChalmers TLomax DLawton TCameron TGedyeS Kilsby. Meeniyan DumbalkUtd:MHarrisA Trease RLivingstone

BArnup

GOALS: Yinnar:J Garlick 3D Taylor 2T Renwick 2PMcGrath. Newborough: DMcColl

CNickels WTroyR Wilson JEdebohls BRichardsBBurgess BEST: Yinnar:P McGrath RMayo

JFindlayAMillsT Renwick DWebster.Newborough: NCaldowR Wilson JDuncan DSmith

Troy UNDER 18 MIRBOO NTH

GOALS: Mirboo Nth: MWoodall 4XBerquez 2BPeters JChila THeislers OMahoney.MDU:

RCheckley 3K Helms LHibberson RBell BEST: Mirboo Nth: JChila MWoodall SBradley

HBarnes XBerquez HAustin. MDU: BVanderZalm HFennell RBell FDunn BTrotman ACasey

YINNAR 3.1 8.1 11.6 18.7 (115)

FISH CREEK/TARWIN 0.1 2.2 3.3 4.3 (27)

GOALS: Yinnar:HMcKay

Roar: MoeLionscelebrateafter winning the Under 12sflag

Champions: Newborough Bulldogstook out the Under 14.5 premiership in the CentralGippsland Junior Football League

Junior premierships decided in greatspirits

FOOTBALL CGJFL

GRAND Finals were held in the Central Gippsland Junior Football League last Sunday.

Players took to Ted Summerton Reserve, Moe in abit to see out the season on the highest note possible.

Newborough Bulldogswon the under 14.5 flag, defeating Mirboo North Tigers 10.3 (63) to 8.4 (52).

TheBulldogsgot outtoastrong start, puttingup4.1 (25) in the first term.

The Tigers worked their way back into the game from there, and were only 10 points down at three quarter time.

However, Newborough steadied, and managed to hold on and win by virtually the same margin at full time.

Liam Joneswas best for the winners, followed by BobbyHiggins,Lachlan Willis, Archie Jones, Rhye Williams and Bayley Read.

Moe Lions won the under 12s,defeating

crosstown opponent NewboroughBulldogs in afinal scoreboard reading 3.6 (24) to 1.6 (12).

Just two points was the difference heading into the last quarter, but Moe finished the stronger, kicking 1.4 (10) to

no score. Moe’s Adrian Nardone collected best-on-ground honours. Mirboo North Tigers won athrilling under10s premiership, decided by just one point, 4.2 (26) to 4.1 (25).

BOG was Rainer O’Brien (Mirboo Nth).

Straight sets again for Traf

FOOTBALL

FORMER Mid Gippsland Football-Netball League club Trafalgarexited finals in the EllinbankDistrict Football Netball League at the weekend.

The Bloods departed in tame fashion, losing heavily to defending premier Neerim Neerim South.

Trafalgar was never in the hunt, and lost 15.15 (105) to 3.6 (24).

The result mean the Bloods went out in straight sets for the secondconsecutive season.

ELSEWHERE, former North GippslandFNL clubs Boisdale-Briagolong and Stratford were involved in Grand Finals at the weekend.

The Bombers lost the senior football title in East Gippsland, going down to Wy Yung in alow-scoring encounter 6.11 (47) to 5.9 (39). Stratfordhad better success, beating Wy Yung 47-34 in the AGrade netball.

Netball scoreboard

GIPPSLAND

Bulldogs out of flag race

NETBALL NORTH GIPPSLAND

BY ZAIDA GLIBANOVIC

THE North Gippsland Football-Netball League’sA Grade preliminaryfinal became aone-sided affair very quickly.

As Woodsidehas steamrolled all their opposition in this finals series, this game was no different, as they defeated Sale City 63 to 45.

The match at Glengarry began as ashootout with Woodside playing-coach ElizabethNicol unableto miss and the Bulldogs’ Ronchi sisters in Charlotte and Livboth accurate in the ring.

It was maybe Sale City’s nerves and youth that contributed to them losing possession of the ball, and Woodside was able to capitalise quite earlyin the first quarter.

Wildcat Caitlin Johnson had her hands over everything with afew crucial intercepts in tips, the Wildcats were able to go 16 to 10 up at the first break.

Johnson’s dominance continued into the second quarter with ahuge intercept; reading the wing attack movements and the passer’s eyes, Johnson beather player in the pocket and grabbedthatpass like it was made for her. This intercept became a huge turning point for the Wildcats who were able to puttheir foot down.

Down the other end, Sale City’s Simone Turner had ahugeintercept of her own, finally being able to stop the service into Nicol, but the Dogs couldn’t capitalise, summing up much of their game.

Despite the Ronchi shooters only missing one goal each at this stage, the Wildcats were just so good in the midcourt and expanded their lead 32-24 by the major break.

By the third quarter, Sale City had to change their game plan,matching their tall defender in Turner on Nicol to attempt to stop her shooting dominance. Sale City’s inexperience soon became visible,

with wayward passes and backward leads as the Wildcat’s pressure intensified.

The margin grew out to 13 goals, and aBulldog comeback seemed to become unlikely.

Sale City’s attacking end soon grew tired of workingovertimetoreceivethe ball, and even

Liv Ronchi began missing her shots.

Despite Indigo Waugh’s perseverance in wing attack, the Bulldogscouldn’t get back in the game.

Woodside’s wingattack in Tayla Buckley was huge in delivering the ball down the court, crashing through defenders and weaving her way, creating spacetodeliverperfectly weightedfeeds into Nicol.

The Wildcatslooked like awell-oiled machine, with no signs of slowing down, extending their lead to 20 goals.

By the fourth quarter, it was all over. Sale City had no answers to the efficiency and ruthlessness of Woodside’s pressure and attack. Despiteclosing the margin to 18, the Bulldogs went home in defeat whilethe Wildcats ticked off another point on their 2023 Grand Final road map.

Speaking to coach Nicol after the game, she said “This feeling is just awesome.”

“Sale City, were good in the first half, it was pretty tightly contested coming into halftime,” she said.

At halftime, the coach turned to her troops and toldthem to staycomposed and disciplined, and that’s how they’ll continue to dominate the game.

“Sale City, they’resoyoung …every time you come up against them, there’ssomething different becausethey are so youngand theyare always learning,” Nicol said.

“What our midcourt has shown in the last couple of weeks, like Laura (Foat),Tayla (Buckley) and Georgie (Banik),they can just run; they can run for days.”

Discussing somebig position changes made in the last quarter, Nicol said it was not acase of giving everyone ashare of court time when she brought in Andrea Elliot to the goal shooting position.

Yinnar through to Grand Final

NETBALL

MID GIPPSLAND

BY ZAIDA GLIBANOVIC

SOME absolute nail-biting results came out of Mid Gippsland netball at the weekend.

Yinnarand Morwell East hadnarrow wins to progress their campaigns.

Mid Gippsland action began on Saturday as the two top teams in Yinnar and Toora faced-off on Boolarra’s courts for aspotinthe bigdance.

Yinnar wastoo good for the reigningpremier, winningbyseven goals60-53 in avery tightly contested match.

Hill End 29 dMorwell East 24

DGRADE: Morwell East 35 dMirboo North 33

17 AND UNDER: Fish Creek 23 dToora 22

15 AND UNDER: MDU 29 dYinnar 23

NORTH GIPPSLAND -PRELIMINARYFINAL

AGRADE: Woodside 63 dSale City45

BGRADE: Woodside 51 dSale City50

CGRADE: Woodside 46 dChurchill 23

DGRADE: Sale City41dGlengarry27

17 AND UNDER: Rosedale 37 dHeyfield22

15 AN UNDER: Sale City36d Woodside 24

The two Magpies sides have been the betters teams all year, but perhaps Yinnar can claim they are the real Magpies of Mid Gippsland after the win Playing-coach Skye McDonald shot 25 goals and Elly Stewart shot 35 for the winning team, but the service the shooters received off theirvery efficient mid-court made goals easy.

Toora’smainshooter Brylee Angwin put 28 goals up while Alanda Manders sunk 25. Yinnar’sdefence was so tight which made goalsa little harder to come by for Toora.

Best-on-court honours went to Yinnar’s wing attack Lisa Yates.

ON Sunday, Morwell East took on Tarwin at Tarwin.

Thisgame went downtothe wire,with the Sharks ability to match the Hawks’ game style.

Pressure: Yinnar’s defensivepressure helped them book aspotinthe Mid Gippsland AGrade Grand Final. Photograph supplied

In arelatively low-scoring affair, Morwell East were chasing tail not expecting such astrongfight from the Sharks.

Despite the advances from the Tarwin side, the Hawks were able to chip away at the margin and at the final siren stood as 37-34 victors.

Best-on-court was Morwell East goal keeper, Maya Gough.

Toora will now face Morwell East in the preliminary final at Foster.

This match will undoubtedly be one to watch as everything hangs in the balance for Toora and the Hawks.

“We’ve got nine players, and every single one of them can do that job. It was apretty tactical change,” she said.

Before the game, the Woodside coach said the team discussed one thing each player had learned during the year,and for her, it was to trust her team.

Speaking on her own game, Nicol said, “I’ve learnt to trust the girls, to be accountable and to do their role on the court.”

Nicol was unstoppable underthe post but credited her teammates for the great delivery.

“The way that they feed the ball into the goal circle, they just find the most amazing space;that’s the only reason Ilook so good,” she said.

“I’ve never had feeders like these guys.” Woodside will now have the chance to go backto-back, as they take on Churchill in the biggest game of the year -the Grand Final.

GRAND FINAL PREVIEW -PAGE 30

Gippy League finals begin

NETBALL GIPPSLAND LEAGUE BY

ZAIDA GLIBANOVIC

THE mighty Morwell Tigers started their Gippsland League finals campaign strongly, as they defeated Leongatha 48 to 40 in the qualifying final on Saturday at Wonthaggi.

The Parrots started off well, leading 14-12 at the first break.

Morwell coaches Tanya Budge and Rach Pattersonmusthave had quite the speech during the break,asthe Tigers showeda tenacity made for finals -winning thequarter 17 to nine.

Scoring slowed in the third quarter, but Morwell’s momentum continued,extending their lead to seven goals.

Morwell’s scoring power came evenlydistributed betweenClaire Marks and Daisy Hill, shooting 23 and 25 goals respectively.

Thoughthe Parrots gave the Tigersno breathing room, contesting everything in the last quarter keeping the game goal-for-goal, their second quarter lull became too hard to rectify, and Morwell ran away eight point winners.

Morwell will now play Moe at Morwell’s home court this Saturday, in the second semifinal for aspot in the big dance.

IN anail-biting affair, Drouin defeated Warragul 38 to 36 at WesternParkinthe elimination final.

TheGulls were knocked out of finals by a strong and resilient Drouin side.

The match began like mostdo-prettyeven, but in the blink of an eye in the second quarter, the Gulls’ began a12-goal charge and lead by threegoals coming into halftime.

Drouin took the halftime break to settle themselves,and bounced backinthe third, outscoring the Gulls by one.

It may have beenthatthe Warragul sideran out of gas, as Drouin put its foot down to win the last quarter 11 goals to seven.

The Hawks willnow do battle with Leongatha on Sunday at Maffra, with the loser set to go home.

North Gippsland FNL Grand Final preview 2023 NorthGippsland FNLGrand

Wildcats coming in strong

FOOTBALL NORTH GIPPSLAND

BY LIAM DURKIN

BIG week ahead for the Wildcats.

Woodside qualified forthe NorthGippsland Football-Netball LeagueGrand Final, following victory in the preliminary final last Saturday.

In fact, Woodside qualified for their first Grand Final in the NGFNL, and firstasWoodsideand District.

More on that later.

The Wildcats were too strong for Heyfield at the weekend, winningthrough to the decider in an 11.9 (75) to 7.4 (46) scoreline.

Asix goal to one opening term set the scene for

NORTH GIPPSLAND FNL GRAND FINAL

Saturday, September 9 at Gordon Street Reserve,Heyfield Strictlynoalcohol to be brought intoground.

Football SENIORS:

TTU vs Woodside (2.30pm)

RESERVES: TTU vsYYN (12pm)

THIRDS:

Rosedale vs Heyfield (9.30am)

Netball

AGRADE: Churchill vs Woodside (2.15pm)

BGRADE:

Glengarry vs Woodside (12.55pm)

CGRADE:

Woodside, from which time they rarely looked back.

Come quarter time at Glengarry,the Wildcats led by 33 points, and the margin stayed within that vicinity for the rest of the game.

The Kangaroos made some running in the third term, kicking four goals to two, to be in with asniff at the last change only 24 points down. However, defences reigned supreme for both teamsinthe last, as only one goal was kicked between the two sides.

While Heyfield had three quarters to make up for their poor start, Woodside had the football smarts to keep their opponent’s at arms length.

Kangaroos coach Leigh Brown booted four goals, while Murray Casella, Tom Marchesi, Liam Heasley, Tyson Birss, Kail Hole and Rob McMillan were best-on.

Havingbeen originally engaged to helpfinda new coach for the year,Brown cametorealise he was in fact the man for the job. The favourite sonofHeyfield, withmore than200 AFL games under his belt, ended up taking the Kangaroos on an unforgettable journeythis season, surprising most within North Gippsland circles by finishing top-three.

Most pundits didn’t even have Heyfield making finals this year.

Heyfield was without gun youngster Asher Eastham, who was required to play afinal for Gippsland Power.

Adding to that the names in the best suchas Heasley, Birss and Hole -all still under21, the Kangaroos have someserious upside for future years.

If they can keep this core group together, as well as add afew from the thirds team about to play in their own Grand Final, Heyfield will be scary good in years to come.

Matt Dyke was best-on-ground for the winners, and did an excellent job shutting down key KangaroomidfielderMitch Bennett. Ben Johnson wasalso good, as was Jack Avage, Ryan Foat, Joh Fythe and Cameron Whiteoak.

Avage hadn’t played agame since Round 15 before the finals started, nor been in the best players.

There is alwaysone bloke you least expect in finals

Foat, adedicated servanttothe Wildcats, played acaptains game, andwill now get some reward for loyalty as he prepares for his firstGrand Final, continuing astrong lineageofFoats to have represented Woodside on Grand Final day -particularly in netball.

Fellow senior captain DanMissen will also be one eagerly awaiting the Grand Final.

Bothhave stuckbyWoodsidethrough some tough

PRELIMINARYFINALS

SHING MP

years, and will finally get their opportunity on the big stage this Saturday.

Woodside now has another crack at Traralgon Tyers United,inarematch of the second semi-final.

The Wildcatswill be aiming for not only the flag, but to alsohand the Bombers their first loss for the season.

For Woodside coach Michael Duncan, there will also surely be personal incentive, as he will be coaching against his old club. Duncan was, somewhat surprisingly, let go as TTU coach in 2019 despite taking the team to consecutive top-three finishes

His time with the Wildcats since has seen them enjoyameteoricrise.In2021, they finished on top of the ladder in the eventually abandoned season, and last year,madethe preliminary final after finishing the regular season fifth on the ladder.

Somewhatironically, Woodsidewas only 20 minutes awayfrommaking the Grand Final in last year’s preliminaryfinal, and has now made the Grand Final off the back of it’s first 20 minutes in this year’s preliminary final.

This will be Woodside’s first Grand Final in its current incarnation.

Woodside and District was formed in 2008 after splitting from Devon-Welshpool-Won WronWoodside, which in turn was amerger between Devon-Welshpool and Won Wron-Woodside.

Although the modern Woodside takes in the history of DWWWW and Won Wron-Woodside, this Saturday will be the first Grand Final as Woodside and District.

Perhaps fittingly, the last ‘Woodside’ flag was 20 years ago,whenDWWWW won the Alberton Footballl-Netball league title.

Players and officials from that team gathered in Woodside earlier this year for the reunion, many of whom are now involved with Woodside District, includingclub president Ash Walpole.

Speaking at the reunion, Walpole hopedtobe able to pass the baton of last Woodside premiership team on.

“Hopefully in 10 years’ time we can have a30year Allies reunionand a10-year Woodside reunion,” he said.

Former AFL Number1 draft pick and Woodside localAnthony Banik coached that DWWWWteam, and shared similar sentiments.

“They can forget about us and move on,” he said laughing.

“Would love it (a Woodside flag), would be agreat thing.”

President’smessage

FOOTBALL/NETBALL NORTH GIPPSLAND

AFTER asensational Grand Final Diner last Wednesdaywith guest speaker Gary Ablett, setting the scene forour Grand Final,our board trustseverythinggood about the North Gippsland FootballNetball Leaguewillbeonshow this weekend whenour Grand Final will be conductedfor the second year at the Gordon Street Reserve in Heyfield.

The day will start with our traditional Grand Final breakfast where Tony Shaw will no doubt entertain all attendees, followed by nine games of football and netball starting on the courts with15and Under at 8.45am.

It has been an excitingyear for the NGFNLbrand withmany, if not allteams investing in youth on thefootball fields andnetball courts. Both codes continue to grow in popularity.

Despite the hangover and challenges COVID has delivered to community sport, it is acredit to our member clubs that not one game in either code has been forfeited in 2023, which is testament to the hard work of our club volunteers.

To all participants and umpires in the Grand Finals, Iwish you well and regardless of any result, Iknow our coaches and clubs willbeproud of yourefforts in 2023.

Many individual’sand organisations help us deliver our community sport package and in that regard we are always appreciative and humbled by the efforts the Sale Umpire’sAssociation, our independent tribunallead by chairman George Nicolaand the league’s major sponsor AGL Loy Yang who are untiring and unwavering in their support of the NGFNL.

Competitive balance will be one of many

WOODSIDE PLAYER PROFILES

Michael Duncan (COACH)

#2 Lee Stockdale Midfield/forward

Assistant coach. Smooth moving midfielder dangerous by foot and crafty around goal.

#3 Thomas King WINGER Explosive winger,hardatit, great speed, exceptional by foot.

#4 Thomas Mann BACK

Team of the Year CHB, strong in the contest, explosive and powerful in the air and on the ground.

#5 Josh Kennedy MIDFIELD/FORWARD

Fast, hardatit, great reader of thegame and user of the ball, tackling machine.

#7 Cam Whiteoak MIDFIELD/FORWARD

Gets plenty of it and rarely wastes it. Can impact the scoreboard.

#8 Ryan Foat (CAPTAIN) RUCK

Team of theYear ruckman countless times, aerial specialist and can impact the game in any area of the ground.

#10Josh Scott UTILITY

In-and-under footballer,fierceatthe contest, versatile.

#11Joh Fythe WINGER

Elite speed and damaging right foot, can run all day

#12Dan Famer FORWARD

League leading goal kicker,Teamofthe Year full forward. Assistant coach, multiple premierships, loves the big stage.

#13Rowan Missen BACK

Versatile player,can play tall or small, aerobic beast with speed and agility

#15JeremyMorgan BACK

Toughand speedy small defender,strong one-on-one and fast in space.

#17Ben Johnson BACK

Hardand smarthigh impact leader,nofuss footballer

#19BaileyTatnell FORWARD

Explosive and strong forwardwith elite foot skills.

#21 Daniel Missen (CAPTAIN) FORWARD Club legend. Fit and strong, hardworking half-forward.

#24 Michael Stockdale BACK

Dangerous half-back, elite field kick with high footy IQ.

#29 TomJessup MIDFIELD

Well-rounded footballer,loves the contest and clean with the ball.

#31Michael O’Sullivan FORWARD Team of the Year CHF.Strongmarking player with unmatched speed and agility for his size.

#38 JaiWilliams FORWARD

Explosive young talent with speed and strength, creative player

#39 Adam Janssen UTILITY Talented, versatile, smooth mover with clean skills, can impact at both ends.

#48 Jack Avage MIDFIELD

Tough and relentless midfielder,smartuser.

#50Shaun Cusack BACK

Strong andhardatit key back. Excellent kick on both sides.

#60 MattDyke UTILITY

Loves the contest, aballwinner that cracks in allday

From the main sponsor

FOOTBALL/NETBALL

NGFNL

Best wishes: North Gippsland

Football-NetballLeague president David Kyle is looking forwardtoagreat Grand Finalday Photograph supplied

thingsgaining focus moving forward, and no doubt season 2024 willbeupon us before we know it. Good luck to all and Itrust everyone enjoys the 2023 Grand Final.

David Kyle NGFNL President

WE’REproud to contributetothe rich cultural and sporting lifeofthe region in whichweoperate through our partnership withthe AGL LoyYang North Gippsland Football-Netball League.

Congratulations to all players, officials, volunteers and supporters who took part in season 2023.

AGL Loy Yang wishes the best of luck to the footballers, netballers and umpires who have reached the pinnacle of the season and who will compete and officiate in the Grand Final at Heyfield this weekend.

AGL Loy Yang

NGFNL Major sponsor

TTU hoping flag will bridge era

FOOTBALL NORTH GIPPSLAND

BY LIAM DURKIN

THERE is currently only one road that leads into Tyers.

As far as Traralgon Tyers United senior football coach JamieAitken is concernedhowever, thatone road can lead to apremiership.

Aitken is preparingtoenter the North Gippsland Football-Netball League Grand Final, in abid to deliver the Bombers’ first senior flag since 2004.

TTU has been the standout team of the NGFNL thisseason, and only one more win stands between them and not only the premiership, but the title of premiers andchampions

Whileheadinginto aGrand Final unbeaten carries with it alarge degree of expectation, Aitken said the team was taking it in their stride.

“Everygameyou playyou want to win,you don’t want to lose,” he said.

“The myth aboutyou have to lose one (necessary loss),I don’t really worry about that,wetake it week-by-week and you play who’s in front of you.”

The Bomberswill have Woodside to deal withon Saturday, ateam holding some historical similarity in terms of premiership drought.

The Wildcats last salutedin2003, just ayear before TTU did likewise.

Having earned the week off after defeating Woodside in the secondsemi-final, TTU trained as regular last week, in abid to keep their routine as normal as possible.

The Bombers then had match simulation last Saturday, beforeplayerswere giventhe choice to go and watch the preliminary finalbetween Woodside and Heyfield.

Aitken saidhedidn’t have apreference for Grand Finalopponent, nor was he worried aboutheading into the decider after only playing one final.

“Nottoo concernedonlyplayingonceortwice in four weeks,you’ve got some olderbodies and sorer legs, sometimes it’s good to have the break to freshen up,” he said.

“We just want to keep our routine, stick to what we’ve been doing all year, play our game style, do those little things that give us the edge.

“Both teams (seniors andreserves) havingthe week off, it’s easy on the track, you’ve got full numbers, it’s just better excitement for players

when you have all your mates playing, all round it’s easier as acoach.”

TTU will be looking to make it adouble on Saturday, with its reserves also in the Grand Final

The Bombers have indeed been blessed with depth this season, with reigning Mid Gippsland FNL senior best-and-fairest Ricky Cochrane even unable to get agameinthe main 22 forthe semi-final.

The Bombers head into the GrandFinal with no shortage of Grand Final experience. Midfielder Michael Jacobsen has played in asenior flag for Traralgon in theGippslandLeague,ashas Rohan Hildebrand, while Aitken himself has played in multiple Grand Finals for the Maroons.

Hildebrand was one of afew players added to the TTU line-up this season, in abid to go one better than their runner-up finish in 2022.

Hildebrand was joined by Frazar Brouns from Rosedale, and the Michie brothers, Liam and Caleb, from Moe.

The inclusions have helped complement an already classy side that includes skippersJye Neilson and Mitch Mustoe, and the likes of Kade Duncan and recently crowned NGFNL best-andfairest Liam Willaton.

“Liam’s afantastic bloke and afantastic player, he’s only young, but we’ve got acore group of players all across the ground, we’re not relying on one player to win the game,“ Aitken said.

“They’ve (the new recruits) been fantastic, bit of olderheads, bit of toughness,they’veplayedhigher level (Gippsland League) which you can tell, just the older heads come game day and on the training track -theyjust get it.”

TTU surprised many last season, including possibly themselves, by going straight through to the Grand Final after beating raging favourites Yallourn Yallourn North in the second semi.

The Bombers may well have played their Grand Final thereand then,ascome the big day, they were well beaten by the Jets.

This year however feelsdifferent, according to Aitken.

“I think last year was the first time the club has been in the Grand Final for 20 years and (it was) very much excitement around the club,” he said.

“I think with three quarters of the squadplaying in the Grand Final last year, they know what to expect abit more, it feels like there is excitement butstill have the job to do, bit more mind on task.”

NORTH GIPPSLAND FOOTBALL-NETBALL LEAGUE RESERVES GRANDFINAL

Team lists

TTU YYN

BradyPoel

Ryan Jacobsen

Justin Savage

Chris Parker

Travis Busch

LukeBlackwood

NickAlbanese

Braydon Catlin

Jacob Williams

MattCochrane

Flynn Shields

Tim Hendricken

Ben Fleming

PatrickHarriman

Jesse Krekelberg

StuartGoddard

Tyler Mudita

Ryan Massaro

Adam Brady

Ben White

Jake Power

ElliottDeCarli

AshAnderson

Justin Mathison

Derek Pol

Jack King

BlakeDyson

Daniel Potts

Steven Gore

Sam Simpson

Todd Rowe

Dylan Smith

Whilethe Tyers bridge saga has driven people mad behindand away fromthe wheel, it could serve ametaphoric purpose.

Thereiscurrently no shortcut into Tyers, and thereisnoway known TTU will be takingany shortcuts in their bid to take out the 2023 flag.

Qualifying for aGrand Final requires alot to go right on and off field, and Aitken said much of the Bombers’ motivation would come from those who have contributed enormous hours.

“We’ve got agreat committee, great match committee, our trainers are second-to-none, lot of support so it makes the job easier as acoach,” he said

“It’s not just about the players, it’s about everyone else. We haven’t won apremiership for 21 years now, it meansa lot to the peoplethat have been around the club,we’re excited for them and want to do it for them.”

IS RECENT HISTORY WITH THE BOMBERS?

Wonevery game andpremiership (discounting draws)

Leongatha (GippslandLeague) 2022 Wonevery game,lost Grand Final Heyfield (NorthGippsland) 2014 Trafalgar (Mid Gippsland) 2011

TTU player profiles

Jaime Aitken (CO-COACH)

#1 Jack Brown (CO-COACH) -BACK

Has been one of Gippsland’spremier defenders formanyyears. Readsthe playbetterthan anyone and is an eliteintercept player.

#2 Mitchell Mustoe (captain) -MIDFIELD

Team captain who leads from the front with a huge work rate andisexplosiveinside and out of the contest. One of the leagues superior players

#3 Michael Jacobsen -MIDFIELD

All class and exceptional distributer of the football. Huge work rate andloves the tough contest.

#4 Beau White -FORWARD

Electric small forwardwho is ultra-dangerous around the goals

#7 TomFleming - MIDFIELD

As toughastheycome and wins the hardball in the midfield. Puts his body on the line each week forthe team

#8 Jye Neilson (captain) - RUCK/FORWARD

Team captain who plays ruck/key forward. An athletic and powerful playerwith ahuge work rate and is averystrongcontested mark.

#9 Ricky Cochran - MIDFIELD/BACK

Explosiveplayerwho is toughinthe contest and runs hardall day.

#10 Dougal Williams - WING

Tough, hardrunning and readsthe game better than most. Canshut down an opposition player and wins the hardball.

#11 Zac Kilgower - BACK

Exceptional key defender who is tall,quick, agile and will runoff hisopponent all day.

#13 Trent Hourigan - BACK

Hardrunning playerwith ahigh skill levelwho sets up the team’s attack from defensive.

#14 Guy Sinclair - BACK/FORWARD

Versatile playerwho can swingforwardand back and makeahuge impact. Has alot of experience and is lovedbyhis teammates

Dale Walsh

Jace Paulet

Chris Mathe

TomLawrey

Gavin Pearson

BlakeMetcalf-Holt

RowanDuguid

Jake Redman

Deegan Benson

Tristen Smith

David Purves

#15 Brad Kelleher - FORWARD

Qualityfullforwardwitha lot of experience playing at the highest level. Afantastic lead up forwardand is averyaccuratekickfor goal.

#16 Hayden Willaton - MIDFIELD/ FORWARD

Adangerous small forwardand hardworking midfielder that gathershighpossessions week in week out.

#17 Liam Willaton - MIDFIELD/FORWARD

Young midfielder with ahugeengine.Iselitewith thegroundballand has exceptional skills

#19 Jacob Williams - WING

Ayoung playerwho wins his ownball and runs hardall day. League under 18 best-and-fairest in 2021

#21 Rohan Hildebrand - MIDFIELD

Experienced midfielder that lovesthe challenge, toughand hardatthe ball.

#23 Frazer Brouns - RUCK/FORWARD

Experienced ruck/forwardthat provides plentyof versatilityfor the team

#24 Liam Michie - BACK

Versatile playerthatisnew to TTU for2023. Hard worker,team playerthatcan playarange of roles forthe team

#27 Nicholas Fox - WING/MIDFIELD

Young super-fit winger who runs all day. Is a special talent and will relishthe big stage #29 Kade Duncan - WING/MIDFIELD

Slickhardrunning wingman who is an absolute class act. Sensational ground ball playerwith amazing skills

#30 Jake Cashmore - BACK/FORWARD

Small hardrunning backthatsets up the teams attack.Can also playlockdownroles on key forwards

#32 Ben Fleming - RUCK

Atalented youngplayerwho plays in the ruck and pushes forward. Provides astrong contest across the ground.

#33 Oscar Allotta - MIDFIELD

Newtothe club in 2023. Hardworking and competitivemidfielder that lovesthe tough contest.

#34 Caleb Michie - FORWARD

Newtothe club in 2023.Youngathletic key forwardthat readsthe playwell, strong markand beautiful kick.

#41 StuartGoddard- MIDFIELD/ FORWARD

Super fitmidfielder who can also playasa key lead-up forwardand is astrong mark. Is a fantastic shot at goal.

#42 Quinn Sinclair - BACK

Reliable and versatile defender who can play on the oppositions best tall and small forwards Never-say-die attitude who has had afantastic season.

Andy Theissling - (HEAD OF STATS)

DiehardEssendon fan, wouldlovetosee the Bomberswin alocal flag

CanChurchilltakethepremiershipcrown?

NETBALL

NORTHGIPPSLAND

BYZAIDAGLIBANOVIC

EVERYTHINGthey’veeverworkedforcomesdown tothis.

It’sonlyonemoregame,butthebiggestgameof theyear,theGrandFinal.

ChurchillandWoodsidewillgohead-to-headthis SaturdayatHeyfield’sGordonStreetcourtsforthe NorthGippslandFootball-NebtallLeagueAGrade premiershipcup.

Somepeople neverget achanceatthe eternal glory of alocalnetballpremiership,butcomeSaturday afternoon,oneoftheseteamswillbecrowned premiersofNorthGippsland.

WillitbethereigningpremiersinWoodside,or willitbetheunderdogsintheCougars?

Onlytimewilltell.Youcanbesureofonething: Thisgamewillbe aheatedexchangeofdesperation, tacticalskillandnetballbrillianceunlikeyou’ve seenbefore;it’s aGrandFinal.

Bothteamshaveforgedsimilarpathstothebig dance.

TheWildcatshavebeenunstoppableinthisfinals series.

Relentlessintheirpressureandscoringability,the Woodsideteamhasrolledtheiropponents.

Havingfinishedfourthontheladder,theteam hashadtodothingsthehardwaywith athreatof eliminationovertheheads.

AscoachElizabeth(Libby)Nicolsaid,thisteam lovespressureandrisestothestakes.

“Itwasn’tuntilthelastroundwewonandwere bumpedtofourth,andKristy,ournetballcoordinator,said,‘Everythinghappensfor areason’,and it100percenthas,becausewehavehadthebest build-upinthefinals,we’vedoneitthehardway, butwe’rejuston aroll,”theplayingcoachsaid.

“It’llbe agoodgame,Churchillare agoodside, andthey’reareallyphysicalsideand it willbehard work,butthegirlsarejustsoexcited.

“Weknowtheirteam,wewilldoup alittleplan, we’vewatchedthemoverthelastfewweeks,and we’llimplement aplanthathopefullygetsusover thelineintheend.”

Woodside’sstrengthcomesfromtheirabilityto applyfull-courtpressuretoforceturnovers.All playerswho runthatmid-courtareball-hungry, abletoreadtheplayandforcetheoppositioninto makingmistakes.

ThoughNicolsaidtheWildcatsloveplaying under pressure,they bringthepressurewith thefast-paced andintimidatingstyletheyplay.

Theirlethalness,however,isinturningthose turnoversintoscores,withthetallshootingtower

Churchillplayerprofiles

KatrinaHutchinson (coach)

WA/C

300-club gameveteran, AGrade coachwith alevelheadandthe netballsmarts,Katprovideslead afterleadworkingofftheballand willswingtheballtoworkthefeeds totheshooters,herexperienceandcomposureis whatyouneedforbiggameslikethis.

RachaelLoechel (captain) #5

Captain/C

Fast,smart, relentlessRach reallytiesthedefensiveendto theattackingend.Herdefensive pressureandquicktransitioninto attackissomethingtoexpect.

The2023NorthGippslandleague best-and-fairest,Churchillcaptainandsomeone everyoneaspirestoplaylike.

StaceyYates#8 WD/GK/GD

YouwillfindStaceinanydefensive positionknowingthatshewill read theplayandattackeveryball, withherhugewingspanforcing attackerstothinktwiceaboutwhere toplacetheball.Stacebrings alot ofnetballexperiencetotheteam.In timesofpressureit’sStaceyyouwanttohavetheball.

DestinyMackrell#80 GA

Thequietachiever,De’sfirstseason withtheCougarshasbeenincrediblysuccessful.Sheiscomposed witheverypossessionandwhen shehastheballeveryonecan breatheeasy.Don’t herquietnature trickyou;shecanturn agameon itsheadifyoulether.

TaylaBeyer#3 GA/WA

Abiggameplayerwholovesthe bigstageandwillnail ashotfrom anywhere. Tayhasworkedhardthis seasonafterherfirst-bornLenny andinjuryafterinjury, shehas dugdeeptogetbackoncourt.In herGA/WArole Tayaddsanother aspecttoChurchill’sgame.

ZaidaGlibanovic#19

GD/WD/GK

Like adogto abone,shewill notgiveupongettingthatball. Zaidahasworkedhardthis seasontoknowwhentoattack andwhentoholdback.She can read aballandcan reallyimpactthosepressure moments.

OakleighRiley#30 WD/GD

Thebabyofthegroup,Oaks isjust17yearsoldinherfirst yearof Agradewithsomany moretocome.Herhandsover pressureand relentlessdefence issomethingthatwillhave WA’s tiring,herwilltolearnisa coach’sabsolutedream. Youwillforeverseethisgirl with ahugesmileonherface.

Lynette(Louie)Patten#88 GS

Averyentertainingplayerto watch,shewillhaveyouonthe edgeofyourseatasshegets upforfootymarksunderthe postandwill reboundanything comingherway.Theamountof workshedoesas ashooterto getherselfinpositionbeforetheballisevendown thecourtwouldhaveherburningcalorieslikea midcourter.

LaylaBlair#35 WD/WA

Thelittlepocket rocketcan read theplayandiscourageousin thewayshewilldropbackwith theball.Is relentlessonattackingtheballandwillcontestany ballthatcomesherway.Laylais quickandcanbethatchangeto matchanyopposing WA.

SamanthaMann#86 GK/GD Canget alittlefieryasshe alwaysexpectsthebestfrom herself. Atalldefender,Sammy willhaveherhandsoverevery ball.Herworkethiconthecourt andalwayswantingtobetter herselfis arealcredittoher.

inNicolabletoconvert.

In2019,NicolwonherthirdVictorianNetball League(VNL)championshipHotShotAwardfor scoringanimpressive835goalsforNorthEastBlaze. Whileoneplayerdoesn’tmakeateam,Nicole standsoutasanintegralpiecetotheWildcats premiershippuzzle.

Churchillwillnodoubthave aplantostaycomposedinamongsttheWildcatspressuretornado oncourt.

TheCougarsmightwellmakechaosoftheirown; havingdownedHeyfieldandSaleCityconvincingly inthefinals,theyhavetheireyesturnedonthe biggestfishor,should Isay,Wildcattofry.

ThoughChurchillhasalwaysbeen acompetitive netballclub,theirlast AGradepremiershipwas in2012.

Thispremiershipchanceis11yearsinthemaking, andbestbelievethey’vegotthehearttowinit.

Expecttobestunnedbythebrillianceofcaptain andleaguebest-and-fairestRachaelLoechel alongsideherlong-timecourtcompanionKatrina Hutchinsonasthey dominatethemid-courtand give thatsilverserviceintoLynettePatten.

SpeakingtocoachHutchinson,shesaidthe Churchillsidearefeelinggoodcomingintothe GrandFinal.

“Wehaveputenoughinplaytokeepourbondtight

andbodiesmovingintheweekbreak,”shesaid.

“TheWildcatsareingreatfinalsformbutweare lookingforwardtothebattleonthecourt.”

TheCougarsfinishedineighthpositioninthe 2022seasonandarealreadyproudoftheprogress theyhavemade.

“Tocomefromeightlastseasontobeplayingin aGrandFinalshowsthatanythingispossible,” Hutchinsonsaid.

TheCougarscanplay ahigh-pressuregameto matchWoodside’s,andalsohavethatsameperfect mixofyouthandexperiencethatwillassistinkeepingcomposureandbalancethroughoutthematch. Bothsideshavehadallthemomentumcomingoff veryhotform;thoughWoodside’swinningmargins havebeengreater,theCougarswillbereadyfor theirgamestyle.

Onthegrandschemeofthings,youhavelast year’spremierinWoodsideattemptingtodefend theirtitleandgoback-to-back, averydifficultyet impressivefeat. Ontheotherhand,youhavethesneakyachievers with abig belief -theCougars,whonooneexpected tobeasgoodastheyaretoday(besidesthisone journalist).

Ifyouonlywatchonegameofnetballfortheyear, makesureit’sthisone,asgiventhesetwoteams’ journeys,it’sgoingtobeonehellof ashow.

Woodsideplayerprofiles

Elizabeth(Libby)Nicol (coach) #50 GS/GA

Tall,strongandaccurate.Cantake aballunderallsortsofdefensive pressureandwillstandanddeliver atallcosts.Shehas ahugeamount oftrustandbeliefinthosearound herandherconfidenceinthisteamhasnever beenhigher.

GeorgieBanik (captain) #124 WD/GD/GK Geobleedsblue.Herdefensive pressureselflesslycreates interceptsforthegirlsbehindher. Shewillneverclaimthecreditfor herselfbutrathercelebrateand lovetheteamaroundher.She isdoggedand willhustleherattackerfor60minutes.Sheis abiggameplayerandwillbe100percentin herelementcomeSaturday.

Caitlan Johnson (captain) #122 GD/WD

Toon hastheexperienceand reputationthatisfearedbythe opposition.Notonlywillshe capitaliseoneverystrayballbut herabilityto readtheplayand createturnoversoutofnothingis incredible.Sheisanamazingathleteandan inspiringcaptaintofollow.

Andrea(Andy)Elliot#47 GA/GS

Aversatileandcraftygoaler,moves thegoalcirclebeautifullyand makesspaceoutofthesmallest gap.Sheplayswithbothstrength andgraceandmakesthehardest takeslookeffortless.

JessicaBanik#9 WA/GA

Hastheballon astring.Canland apasswithpin-pointaccuracy andistheunderratedgluein thefrontend.Sheiscalmunder pressure,hasunwaveringbeliefin herteammatesandplaysher role againstallodds.

TaylahBuckley#118

C/WA/WD

Tay’sspeedandmovementslices upthecourtfromalldirections. Shewillputherbodyontheline totakeanycontestedballand thespeedthatshehitsthecircle edgewithissecondtonone.Shewillchase down alooseballlikeherlifedependsonit andwilldoanythingforherteam.

LauraFoat#138 C/WA

Theultimateathlete.Laurawill runalldayandnevertire.She playswithstrength,smartsand hasendlessbagoftricksupher sleeve.Sheishavinganamazing finalsseriesandwillstopat nothingtogetherteamoverthe line.

HollyJonston#3 GK/GD Hollyplayswithflareandexcitement.Sheisanexperienced finalscampaignerandknowsher roleinthebiggames.Shewill alwaysbringupthosearoundher andherdesireand hungerforthe ballwillbeherassetonSaturday.

AllyBeale#116 GK/GD Allyis astrongdefender,can playan amazingphysicalgame andwillout-reboundanyonethat comesclosetoher.Her youth andeagernesstolearnisher strengthandwilldefinitelybea starofthefuture.

*Coachescontributedplayerprofiles

TheChurchillCougarsandthe WoodsideWildcatswill gohead-to-headthisSaturdayatHeyfield’sGordon Street RecreationReserveCourtsfrom2.15pm.

#11

Saturday,

ABC TV (2)

September 9

6.00 Rage. (PG) 7.00 WeekendBreakfast.

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

12.30 Midsomer Murders. (PG, R)

2.00 Miniseries: The Control Room. (Mal,R)

2.55 Landline. (R)

3.40 Secrets Of TheMuseum (Final,R)

4.30 Restoration Australia. (Final, PG, R)

5.30 Matt Okine Is GoingToDie. (R)

6.30 Kitchen Cabinet (R) Annabel Crabb sits down for ameal with Victorian Senator Lidia Thorpe.

7.00 ABCNews. Takesalookatthe top storiesofthe day,including coverage of developing stories andevents.

7.30 Grantchester (Final, Mav)Looking to be punished, Will ends up battered and bruised in the middle of nowhere.

8.20 Vera (PG,R)After asuspected poacher is found dead fromasingle gunshot wound, DCI Vera Stanhope suspects the truth about his murder is wrapped up in the reason the victim returned to the moors after a15-year absence.

9.50 BayOfFires. (Final, MA15+v, R) After severalfailed attempts, Johann andhis hit men arriveintown determined to kill Stella.

10.45 To Be Advised.

11.15 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) Music video clips.

6am Children’s Programs. 6.55pm

6.00 WorldWatch. 7.00 Cycling. UCI World Tour.LaVuelta. Stage 13.Highlights. 8.00

WorldWatch. 10.00 Cook Up Bitesize. (R)

10.05 The Bee Whisperer.(PGad, R) 11.00

Curious Traveller.(PG) 12.00

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Going PlacesWith Ernie Dingo

(PG) Ernie Dingo heads to Broome.

8.30 Queen Victoria’s Royal Mob: The Day We’d Always Dreaded. (M)Part 3 of 4. The English and Germanfamiliescome together for aholiday on the Isle of Wight

9.25 World’sMostScenic Railway Journeys: Taiwan. (R) Chronicles atrain journeyaround Taiwan.

10.15 Tony Robinson’s HistoryOf Britain: The1950s. (PGav,R)

11.05 9/11 Kids. (Ma, R)

12.35 Children Of 9/11: Our Story. (PGa, R)

2.45 MOVIE: 9/11:The FallingMan. (2006, Maw,R)StevenMackintosh, Iliana Guibert, Eric Lipton. 4.05 Food Safari.(R) 4.35 Bamay (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning.

5.15 France 24Feature 5.30 ANC Philippines The WorldTonight.

6am WorldWatch. 10.00 Shortland St Noon Kim’s Convenience. 1.30 Jack Whitehall’sGot, Got, Need. 2.25 Monty Python 3.00 WorldWatch 5.00 Mastermind Aust. 6.05 Monty Python’s FlyingCircus. 6.40 The Secret Genius Of Modern Life. 7.50 Impossible Engineering. 8.45 Cycling. UCI World Tour.La Vuelta.Stage14. 1.50am The Story Of 2.20 NHK World EnglishNews. 5.00 Al Jazeera.

6am Limelight.Continued.(1952, PG) 7.55 Beauty And The Beast. (2014,PG, French) 10.00 RabbitHole. (2010,M) 11.40 Bleed ForThis.(2016,M) 1.50pm The AgeOfInnocence.(1993,PG) 4.20 Belle. (2013 PG) 6.15 Capricorn One. (1977,PG) 8.30 Our Kind Of Traitor. (2016,MA15+) 10.30 Ah! The Libido (2009, M, French) Midnight Guilty Men. (2016,M

6.00 SevenNews

7.00 Football. AFL.Finals Series. Second qualifying final. Brisbane Lions vPort Adelaide. From the Gabba, Brisbane.

10.30 AFL Post-Game Show. Awrap-up of the game, including panel discussion and interviews, with access to players, coaches and staff

11.00 To Be Advised.

12.45 12 Monkeys. (MA15+v,R)A time traveller from apost-apocalyptic future travels back in timetostop aplague

1.00[VIC]HomeShopping.

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

5.00 House Of Wellness (PG, R) Luke Darcy,JoStanley and LukeHines takea look at locations that highlight livingwell

6.00 Nine News Saturday.

7.00 RugbyLeague. NRL.Finals Series. Second qualifying final.

9.45 NRLFinals Footy Post-Match

Apost-match NRL wrap-up of the second qualifying final, with expert analysis and player interviews.

10.30 RugbyUnion. Rugby World Cup.New Zealand vFrance. From Stade de France,Paris.

12.30 RayWarren:Calling Time (PG, R) Aunique insight into RayWarren.

1.30 RugbyUnion. RugbyWorld Cup. Australia vGeorgia.

3.45 RugbyWorld Cup Post-Match. Post-match newsand analysis.

4.30 Global Shop. (R) Homeshopping.

5.00 TV Shop:Home Shopping. (R)

5.30 Helping Hands. (PG, R) Acelebration of people andorganisations.

6.00 LuxuryEscapes. Cameron Daddo visits Santorini.

6.30 Bondi Rescue. (PGal, R) Acar freefalls off aledge.

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

8.00 Thank God You’re Here. (PGdls, R) Specialguests step through adoor intoascene whereeveryone has ascript,except them.

9.00 MOVIE: Ghost In TheShell (2017,Manv,R)Inthe near future, acyborg uncovers aconspiracy while working as acounter-terrorism operative. Scarlett Johansson, Takeshi Kitano,Pilou Asbæk.

11.00 TheCheap Seats. (Mal, R) Presented by Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald.

12.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 Authentic (PG)

5.00 Hour Of Power.

Sunday,September10

TV (2) SBS (3)

6.00 WorldWatch. 7.00 Cycling. UCI World Tour.LaVuelta. Stage 14.Highlights. 8.00 WorldWatch. 10.00 The EcoShow. 11.00 Curious Traveller.(PG) 12.00 WorldWatch. 1.00 Speedweek. 3.00 Cycling. National Road Series. Tour of theTropics. Highlights. 3.30 Going Places. (R) 4.00 TrailTowns 4.40 Cycling. UCI World Tour.LaVuelta.Stage 14 Highlights. 5.40 SecretNazi Bases. (PGav,R)

6.30 Compass: Compass Cabaret. (Final)

7.00 ABC News

7.30 Death In Paradise. (Mv, R)

An archaeologist is poisoned during adig.

8.30 TheNewsreader (Return,Ml)

It is election night 1987and Helen and Dale arenow establishedas the“Golden CoupleofNews”

9.25 Mother And Son. (Ms, R) Maggie keepsgoing missing, so Arthur andRobbie get creativein their efforts to keep track of her

TotalControl. (Mln, R) Alex is facedwith atragedy at home.

7.30 Unlocking TheSecrets Of Stonehenge. AlookatStonehenge

8.30 9/11: Four Flights. (PGa) The stories of those aboard American 11, United175, American 77 andUnited 93 on 9/11. 10.00 Raiders Of TheLost Treasures (PGa,R)Part 3of3 11.10 24 Hours In Emergency: Great Expectations. (Ma, R)

2.00

Mistakes. (Ma, R)

2.55 Patriot Brains. (Mals, R) 3.45 Food

SBS VICELAND (31)

6.00 NBCToday [VIC]HomeShopping.

7.00 WeekendSunrise. 10.00 The Morning Show:Weekend. (PG)

(9,8) 6.00 Rage. (PG) 7.00 WeekendBreakfast. 9.00 Insiders 10.00 Offsiders. 10.30 The World This Week.(R) 11.00 Compass. (R) 11.30 Songs Of Praise. 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 12.30 Landline. 1.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 2.30 Grantchester.(Final, PGa R) 3.15 Extraordinary Escapes. (PG, R) 4.15 Grand Designs New Zealand. (R) 5.00 Art Works. 5.30 Antiques Roadshow

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 TheVoice. (PG) Hosted by Sonia Kruger

8.45 7NEWSSpotlight An exclusive,special investigation.

9.45 TheLatest: SevenNews.

10.15 Born To Kill?Charles Albright (MA15+av) AlookatCharles Albright

11.15 AutopsyUSA:BurtReynolds. (Mad) Alook at the death of BurtReynolds.

12.15 MOVIE: Secrets In Suburbia. (2017,MA15+a, R) Awoman is betrayed by her friends. Brianna Brown.

12.30[VIC]HomeShopping.

3.30 Million Dollar Minute. (R) 4.00

6.00 Nine News Sunday.

7.00 TheBlock. (PGl) Hosted by ScottCam.

8.40 60 Minutes Current affairs program, investigating, analysing and uncovering the issuesaffectingall Australians.

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

10.10 9/11:The FifthPlane. The untold story of United Flight 23

11.10 KillerAtThe Crime Scene: Arash Ghorbani-Zarin. (Mav)

12.00 NewAmsterdam. (Mam, R)

12.50 World’sGreatest NaturalIcons. (R)

2.00 Garden GurusMoments. (R)

2.10 KillerAtThe CrimeScene. (Mav,R) 3.00

TV Shop: HomeShopping. (R) 4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa) 4.30 Fishing Australia. (R)

News

6.30 TheSunday Project. Alook at theday’snews.

7.30 TheTraitors. (Final) Only fiveremain in thecompetition as they viefor ashare of up to $250,000 in silver bullion.

8.50 FBI. (Mav)Afterabioweapon attack leaves two people dead, the FBI triestodetermine who is behind it.

9.40 NCIS: Hawai’i. (Mv,R)The NCIS team investigates afatal car crash involving aUSNavyofficerwho turns outtobeanimposter

10.30 Five Bedrooms (Ml, R) Ainsley gets into acommittedrelationship

11.30 TheSundayProject. (R) Alookatthe day’snews.

12.30 Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 CBSMornings.

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32)

Monday,September 11

ABC TV (2) SBS (3)

6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 ABC News

Mornings. 10.00 Landline.(R) 11.00 Antiques

Roadshow. (R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon.

1.00 QI. (Ml, R)

2.00 Parliament Question Time.

3.00 Restoration Australia. (R)

3.55 Tenable (R)

4.45 Long Lost Family (PG, R)

5.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)

6.00 TheDrum

7.00 ABC News Alook at the top stories of the day

7.30 7.30 Presented by Sarah Ferguson.

8.00 Australian Story. Australians tell personal stories.

8.30 Four Corners. Dan Bourchier asks what sovereignty and self-determination means and looks liketoFirst Nationspeople.

9.15 Media Watch. (PG) Paul Barry takesa look at the latestissues affecting media consumers.

9.35 Q+A. Presented by Patricia Karvelas

10.35 ABC LateNews.

10.50 TheBusiness. (R)

11.10 Invictus Games

Highlights: Dusseldorf.

11.40 Space 22. (PGa, R)

12.10 Parliament Question Time.

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

4.30 The Drum. (R) 5.25 7.30.(R)

6.00 WorldWatch. 7.00 Cycling. UCI World Tour.LaVuelta. Stage 15.Highlights. 8.00 WorldWatch. 10.20 Cook Up Bitesize. (PG, R) 10.25 Employable Me (USA) (Ma, R) 11.15

Matched. (PG) 12.10 WorldWatch. 2.00 A Tribute To HerMajesty TheQueen. 3.35 The

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

6.30 SBS WorldNews

7.30 Finding Your Roots: Puritans And Pioneers –Ted Danson,Mary Steenburgen, William H. Macy (PG) PresentedbyHenry LouisGates Jr

8.30 Britain’sMostExpensive Houses In Surrey, Amy is trying to sell a ’30s home, known as theRoundhouse.

9.25 World’sMostLuxurious Holidays. (R) Part 1of3.Takes a look at some of the well-kept secret destinations of the super wealthy

10.20 SBS WorldNewsLate

10.50 My Brilliant Friend. (MA15+av)

12.00 WarOfThe Worlds. (MA15+av, R)

3.40 Food Safari. (R) 4.10 Going PlacesWith Ernie Dingo.(R) 4.40 Bamay. (R) 5.00 NHK World EnglishNews Morning. 5.30 ANC PhilippinesThe WorldTonight

SEVEN (7,6)

Tuesday, September

6.00 TheDrum.

7.00 ABCNews.

7.30 7.30 Presented by Sarah Ferguson.

8.00 Kitchen Cabinet. Annabel Crabb meets Karen Andrews.

8.30 Lily’sLife Hacks. Lily Serna embarksona hunt for the world’s best science-backed life hacks.

9.30 Makers of Modern Australia: Innovators. (PG) Part 2of4

10.30 ABCLateNews.

10.45 TheBusiness (R)

11.00 InvictusGames Highlights: Dusseldorf

11.35 Four Corners. (R)

12.20 Media Watch. (PG, R)

12.35 Parliament Question Time.

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

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

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)

6.30 SBS WorldNews

7.30 GreatBritish Railway Journeys: Preston To Rawtenstall. (Return, PG) Presented by Michael Portillo

8.30 Insight. (R) Kumi Taguchi takes a look at the value of pets, with the public spendingmore on them than ever

9.30 Dateline: India’s Population Explosion. An investigationintoIndia

10.00 SBSWorld NewsLate

10.30 ThePoint: Referendum Road Trip (R)

11.30 Blackport (Madls)

12.30 TokyoVice. (MA15+asv, R)

2.50 RedLight.(MA15+d, R) 4.40 Bamay.(R)

5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30

ANC PhilippinesThe World Tonight.

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 Home And Away (PGadv) Cash chasesa lead.

7.30 My Kitchen Rules. (PGl) Besties Coco and Pearls arehoping to offer theirguests both style and substanceinNorthern NSW.

9.15 TheRookie. (Mdv) Now that Elijah and Abril are allies, the team must rely on Monica,Elijah’s lawyer,touncovertheirplans

10.15 TheRookie: Feds. (Mav) The team pursuesa gang leader.

11.15 TheLatest: SevenNews.

11.45 Chicago Fire. (Ma) Detective Pryma asks for Kelly’shelp

12.45 TheVillage. (Ma, R)

4.00

5.00

5.30

6.00

7.00 ACurrent Affair

7.30 TheBlock (PGl) Hosted by Scott Cam.

8.45 Missing Persons Investigation. (PGa) Afatherdisappearsincroc-infested waters. After walkingout of her family home, ayoung girl vanishes.

9.45 Footy Classified. (M) Footy experts tackle the AFL’s bigissues. 10.45

1.20

2.30

7.30 TheMasked Singer Australia. (Return) Abbie Chatfield, Chrissie Swan, Dave Hughes and MelB try to guess acelebrity singer’s identity

8.50 Have YouBeen Paying Attention? (Malns)A fast-paced lookat news, with SamPang and Ed Kavalee joined by other celebrity panellists to compete to see who can remember the most about events of the week.HostedbyTom Gleisner

9.50 To Be Advised

10.20 FBI: MostWanted. (Mdv,R) Twogunmengoona rampage.

11.10 NCIS. (Mv,R)McGee investigates abreak-in

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

1.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 CBSMornings.

WORLD MOVIES (32)

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 Home AndAway. (PGadv) Cash embarks on arescue mission.

7.30 My Kitchen Rules (PGl) Amateur cooks put their culinary skills to the test in order to prove they have what it takes.

9.15 RFDS. (Ma) Tensions flare between Eliza and Pete while transporting a contagious patient in stiflingPPE

10.15 Ambulance: CodeRed (Ma) Follows theworkofanambulance service

11.15 TheLatest: SevenNews.

11.45 Chicago Fire (Mav) Blake campaigns forHerrmann.

12.45 TheArrangement. (Mads, 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.

8.45 TheHundred With Andy Lee. (Mls) Andy Leeisjoined by a panel of comedians and 100 Aussies to explore the fun behind the facts.

9.45 Love Triangle (Mls) Three more singlessearch forlove

11.00 Nine News Late.

11.30 New Amsterdam. (MA15+am, R)

12.20 Court Cam. (MA15+av,R)

1.15 Tipping Point (PG, R)

2.05 Australia’s TopTen Of Everything. (PGs, R)

3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00

Believer’sVoiceOfVictory. (PGa)

Affair.(R)

5.30 Today

News Early Edition.

6.30 TheProject Alook at the day’snews andevents

7.30 Shark Tank. Apanel is pitched inventions and ideas, includinganice facial tool and science kits for kids.

8.40 TheCheapSeats. (Mal) From major news storiestoentertainment and viral videos, presenters Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonaldtake alookatthe week that was.

9.40 NCIS (Mv,R)The team investigates after abody is found at an ancient burial site that is thought to be cursed.

10.30 NCIS: Hawai’i. (Mv,R)The team investigates afatal carcrash

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

12.30 Home Shopping. (R)

4.30 CBSMornings.

Immersed in Indonesian culture

BY KATRINABRANDON

LEARNING about other cultures doesn’t have to all be through textbooks.

On August 24, Trafalgar High School introduced their Year 8classes to Indonesian culture day.

Ms Nee Lean Foo, Trafalgar’s Indonesian Cultural Teacher, brought in some physical examples of culture to the school. These examples included a Becak, which is atricycle used as transportation, shadow puppets, learning Tari Topeng Edan (also known as Funny Mask Dance) which is atraditional dance where each dancer wears adifferent mask and outfit. There was also musical instruments and later, atraditional performance.

“We study anumber of topics like greetings, transportation, food, clothingand lookattraditional clothing, compare it, we do houses. We look at traditional houses and the kids are blown away becauseinIndonesia, you have so many types of houses,” Ms Foo said.

“Even if they study this and they don’t go to Indonesia with the school, if theygothere, they will have better appreciation for when they do go.”

Ms Foo mentioned that she has noticed that in students whohave learnt another language, they will embrace things more than those who don’t and close their mind off to opportunities.

Opportunities to learn languages, according to Ms Foo, broadens their horizons and helps open them up to more opportunities as they acquire a new skill by learning alanguage.

Ms Foo said that by learning alanguageinhigh school, students will be more open intoadapting the way they communicate with colleagues, as well as being able to leave amore positive impression.

Junior public speaking finals

Other Indonesian experiences that Ms Foois introducing to the students are bargaining and where not to haggle.

Bargaining is alarge part of markets in some Asian countriessuch as Indonesia and China,where most things are priced more than what they are worth.

“If you buy train tickets you can’t bargain but at the night markets, if you don’t bargain you get ripped off. Some things they will charge you $50 but you can get it down to $1,” Ms Foo said.

Some programs include trips to overseas, but due to the few years of COVID, schools are still having trouble getting back to travelling overseas.

“We are trying next year or 2025 to take them to Indonesia but it is stillreallyhard to duetoCOVID,” Ms Foo said.

“We will try and take up to 12 children on the trip if we do get to.”

Activities were all throughout the day at the school, so students got the opportunities to try all of them. The big hit was the Becak tricycles that were shipped in from Indonesia to Pakenham and then picked up by the school. The Becaks allowed for two passengers and adriver.

“It is really good for the kids to be able to experience each of the activities from today as this gives them moreofanunderstanding of theculture,” Ms Foo said.

“This is all stuff that they have been learning in textbooks and it is even betterhaving the real thing here for them to be exposed to.

TRAFALGAR Lions Club Junior Public

Speaking journey commenced in February when visits were made to Thorpdale Primary School, Narracan Primary School, Trafalgar Primary School, St Joseph’s Catholic PrimarySchool and Tanjil South Primary School to see if they wouldtake part in junior public speaking. They all agreedtotakepartand information was supplied to them.

In June,Trafalgar Lions Club secretary Pat Tattersoncheckedwith the schools, and they all said students were ready.

In July, the Lions club had junior public speaking at the schools. June and July were busy as the schools would ring for information.

The school winners were:

Trafalgar Primary School: Grade 3/4-Ada

Crow, Grade 5/6 -Poppy Brown.

NarracanPrimary School: Grade 3/4 -Hadia Schloetel, Grade 5/6 -Harun Schloetel.

Tanjil South Primary School: Grade 3/4Annabel, Grade 5/6 -Amerayne.

The Lions Club of Trafalgar Competition was held last Wednesday afternoon at the Trafalgar Community Centre in front of parents,siblings, teachers and Lions Members.

Winner were:

Grade3/4: Jaylah Shields (St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School).

Grade 5/6: Poppy Brown (Trafalgar Primary School).

Ride:

“I hope to be able to able to expand these classes past Year 8sothat more can have these cultural understandingsand language skills. We are hoping we can inspire them to go beyond with the program.”

St Joseph’s Catholic PrimarySchool: Grade 3/4 -JaylahShields,Grade 5/6- Liana Eerhard.

Thorpdale Primary School: Grade3/4 -Bailey Hammond, Grade 5/6 -Marlon Archipow.

The district semi-finalwill be held on Sunday, October 8atthe Community Centre in Trafalgar. Thereare seven clubs involved: Gippsland Lakes Entrance, Sale, Heyfield, Moe, Trafalgar and Warragul.

The winners of that junior public speaking will go into the districtfinal at the Lions Convention at Warragul on October 28.

Students DarcyAshworth, TayRileyand Sampson Evans on the Becak.

Hands-on: Trafalgar High School students learning about Indonesian culture.

Photographs: Katrina Brandon

Great job: Trafalgar Lions Club presidentTrevorByrne and junior publicspeaking coordinator PatTatterson (fifth from left) with junior public speaking participants Poppy, Ada, Jaylah,Bailey, Hadia, Amerayne,Marlon, Annabel and Harun. Photograph supplied

Count: Moe South Street PrimarySchool student Aurora withthe hundreds chart. Photographs supplied

Teaching with excellence program

TALENTED teachers inspire students to reach their full potential, and the state government is supporting and developing their skills through the Teaching Excellence Program (TEP).

Five hundred of the best and brightest teachers across the state will takepartinTEP, offered through the Victorian Academy of Teachingand Leadership -supporting and challenging them to take their teaching to exceptional new levels. Minister for Education Natalie Hutchins recently announced that applications are open for the 2024 TEP, ayear-long training program for teachers to explore unique waysofmaking learning meaningful for their students.

TEP is open to teacherswithatleastthree years’experience,and involvesconferences, subject specific study days, learning communities for participants to share their ideas, as well as self-directed projects to test their new and improved skills.

During the program, Master teachershighly-trained specialists in the key learning areas of Arts, English, Humanities, Languages,

Moe 100 school days

MOE South StreetPrimarySchoolrecently celebrated 100 Days of School.

The theme was ‘100 Days Brighter’ and it celebrated the Foundationstudents’ first 100 days at school.

The whole school was invited to wearsomething bright, and junior students spent the day engaged in activities around the number 100.

program of its kind in Australia, encouraging teachers to bring big, new ideas to their classrooms and share modern, cutting-edge ways of teaching with colleagues.

Once graduated fromthe program,teachers can apply for aTeaching Innovation Fellowship grant through the Academy to receive ongoing support and take their learning even further.

Moe South Street Primary School teacher

Melissa Pavey is an active member of the TEP alumni,ascommunity facilitator for the alumni network and as aco-producerofapodcastseries that the Academy runs which celebrates the joy of teaching and learning.

Her experience during and after the program willhighlight the amazing benefits of participating in TEP and showcase the innovative approaches to teaching that she’s brought to her school, both for students and staff.

The state government invested $148.2 million in 2022 to open the Academy’s first campus in EastMelbourne -with regional campuses opening in Moe, Bairnsdale, Ballarat, Bendigo,

I’m blue da ba dee da ba di: Alecinablue hat celebrating100 days of school

Peo le prefer t ork close to h me, to save on transport costs, the frustration of travel and to be close to family

Both our printed and digital n spapers have a highly engaged local audience looking for ne s, sport, local information nd jobs every week!

Gold: Arik underneath the 100balloons

incipal NicQuenault and students from Foundation and

Colour: Savi amongballoons.

The Latr b alle Express has brought together local employers and employees for generations and it is no different today

National Tree Day

STUDENTS at Sacred Heart in Grade 4, 5and 6participated in and celebrated National Tree Day recently.

Hosted by Latrobe City Council, children planted trees at the Haunted Hills Bike Park in Newborough.

Students got their hands dirty and gave back to thecommunity. It was also agood waytoimprove the environment and make the community ahappier and healthier place to live.

The Sustainable Warriors, led by Mrs Whitfield, tookpartbyinformingthe school community of the day through posters and discussion.

All students learnt the value and importance of such activity through their STEM classes, which is also run by Mrs Whitfield. Students embraced the day.

Latrobe City Mayor Kellie O’Callaghan and Barb, arepresentative from Bunnings who often helps at the school, shared the day with the students. Chipping in: Sundaytending to the plants

Chester visits Churchill Primary

Watchitgrow: Sacred HeartPrimarySchool, Morwell student Aleksja helps out on National Tree Day. Photographs supplied Busy: Aria helping theenvironment

Collaboration: Latrobe CityMayor Kellie O’Callaghan joined Sacred Heart Students for the day. Here, themayor helps Jakewithhis tree plant.

Congratulations: FederalMember forGippsland Darren Chesterwith Churchill PrimarySchool captains Molly Mulder, Ruby Galletti,JackTowers and Tyson McInnes Photograph supplied

FEDERAL Member for Gippsland Darren Chester recently paid avisit to Churchill Primary School, and congratulated students and staff on their outstandingacademicresults.

Mr Chester visited the school and was impressed by the approach to helping students achieve their full potential.

“Churchill is among the best primary schools in Victoria and the creditmust go to the principal JaquieBurrows and her teaching staff,” Mr Chester said.

“The school has boostedits numeracyand literacy results in recent years and has become agreat exampletoother rural and regional primaryschools.

“It was apleasuretospend some time with the studentsand answer their questions about lifein federal Parliament.

“The students were also interested in the future of LatrobeValley and Iencouraged them to be positive and keep working hard to achieve their best.”

In concert

MORWELL Citizens Bandare playing this Sunday (September 10) at 3pm in the Morwell TownCommon (corner Elgin and Chapel Streets, Morwell).

Come along and support your local community band.

Refreshments available.

Entry via gold coin donation.

Springtime Ball

LATROBEValley Dance Promotions

Inc would like to invite you to their Springtime Ball this Friday, September 8atthe Newborough Public Hall (18 Balfour Street Newborough).

Drinks and nibbles will be available from 7.15pm to 7.45pm, with the ball starting at 8pm. Entry is $15.00 per person. Please bring aplate of supper to share.

Door prize and lucky spotprizes throughout the evening. Join us for some fun, laughter, friendship and dancing.

Music provided by Silhouettes. The event is supported by Latrobe City.

Phone Norm on 0428543 737 or Lynda (0428 489 041). Follow us on Facebook: LatrobeValley Dance Promotions Inc

Rotarydragons

MEMBERS of Morwell RotaryClub

were out and aboutatthe Dragon Palace Restaurant recently to discuss future Rotary projects.

The focus of the evening was to welcome Mr and Mrs Rein and Ann Herman, who received a‘pay it forward’ cheque for $200 from Rotary Past President Colin Matthies.

Mr Herman manages the Heart Focus

Community Care food bank in Buckley Street, Morwell and he explained that clients are asked to donate $10 for a generous bag of their choice of groceries.

Mr Herman said that more than 200 local people per week are seeking help from the program.

Rotary’schequefor $200 is to ‘pay it forward’ for the next 20 clients who seek help from the food bank program.

Meditation evening

BE guided through asimple meditation that will relax your mind and body as well as invoking adeep sense of inner peace and contentment. Experience stress relief, positive emotions and mental clarity by using thismeditation on aregular basis with the Planetary Meditation for Peace (alsoknown as Twin Hearts Meditation).

This is ameditation designed to bless the Earth and is an instrument of world service for peace, loving kindness, joy, goodwill and abundance. In addition, thismeditation cleanses and energises theenergeticbodywhile also promoting ahigher level of awareness and consciousness.

Note that this is aguidedmeditation and no prior experience is required. Afterthe meditation, youcan experience afree Pranic Energy Healing which can address both physical and emotional issues.

Gippsland Orchid Club

OUR next club meeting will be held on Thursday, September 14.

The meeting will be at the Anglican Hall, 100 Grey Street, Traralgon.

It has been abusy month for club members, with our monthly meeting followed by our Winter Orchid Show, which was successfully held at Mid Valley.

Aconsiderable number of our group also travelled to TheState Orchid Show (OSCOV), where our club won first prize for the best display. Individual prizes werealsowon. Club member Marita Anderson co-ordinated the presentation of our display.

This month’s meeting will includeour monthly mini show, where plants are judgedand alsovotes lodgedfor the most popular orchid.

Information and demonstrations are regularactivities, together with amini auctionofplants this month.

Thoseattending, please bring along asmall afternoon tea contribution to share. Tea and coffee are supplied.

We are planning for our Spring Show which will also be held at Mid Valley on October 6-7.

For further information, ring Pat on 0407 741 621.

Trafalgar and District Historical Society

AT the recent annual meeting of the Trafalgar and District Historical Society, all office bearers were re-elected.

John Weymouth continues as president, Dianne Ireland as secretary and Glenys Ralls as treasurer.

Copies of the society’s Gazetteremain on sale at both the Trafalgar Post Office and the Newsagency for $4.

Adigital subscription is also available and details for this can be obtained on the society’s email at historicalsocietytraf@gmail.com

The next general meeting of the society will be held on October 19 at 7.30pm at 30 Contingent Street, Trafalgar.

Poweron

ON September 13, the Latrobe Valley Sustainability Group will host afree community screening of Power On at Gippsland Multicultural Services, Tarwin Street, Morwell, commencing 7.30pm.

Power On is an impact production by documentary film maker Ellen Burbidge presented by Friends of the Earth’sYes2Renewables Project.

Power On tells the story of the incredible transformation happening right across Gippsland, and how communities are seizing the opportunities in renewable energy right now to build abetter future.

The community screening will be followed by apanel discussion featuring the following special guests featured and involved in the film:

Wendy Farmer, Yes2Renewables CommunityOrganiser andPresident of Voices of the Valley; Malcolm McKelvie, Yarragon GP and member of Healthy Futures; Stephanie Sabrinskas, filmmaker and podcaster, and;

Josie Hess, filmmaker and podcaster

To book aspot, please email info@ latrobevalleysg.com

Fear no more

GLOSSOPHOBIA,the fear of public speaking, is acommonsocial phobia, with an estimated 75 per cent of the population experiencing some form of anxiety before giving aspeech

For the last 95 years, millions of peoplehave joined Toastmasters to help with their fear of public speaking. Did youknowthatTim Alan and Leonard Nimoy, both amazing actors, were once membersofToastmasters?

No one could say that their success could be derived from the support, the training and the wisdomoffered by Toastmasters.

Or it may be that once they were able to overcome their public speaking fear they were able to embrace the camera and perform to millionsofadoring fans

Now you may not be an aspiring actor or think that you’ll never be in aposition to perform public speaking. However the skills and opportunities to practice publicspeakinggofar beyond having to present to an audience.

We have members who havelearnt new skills in how to formally host meetings that havehelped with their workplaces. We have members who have participated in competitions that has given them confidence to take the lead on projects at their work.

We loveseeing new people at Latrobe Valley Toastmasters and always have our doors open to anyone wanting to come give it atry.

Held every second and fourth Wednesday of the month at the Traralgon Neighbourhood Centrefrom 7.30pm.

Light refreshments provided.

Traralgon Bridge Club

WE held avery successful congress at the Italian AustralianClubinMorwell. Their sponsorship was much appreciated.

We enjoyed adelicious lunch in very comfortable surroundings. It was avery competitive day and our local pair -Rob Graham and Glenis came fourth in a hard won battle.

The winning team came from the Eastern Region and comprised of Judy Banks, Anna Kearon, George Campbell and Sandor Varga.

Results for August 22, 24, 29 and 31.

Tuesday -1st Rob Graham and Glenis Lohr (70 per cent), 2nd PhillipGoode and Barbara Barr (55).

Thursday -1st Kevin and Marion Taylor (63), 2nd Greg Nicholson and

Put your money where your houseis

Community Corner with Liam Durkin

Hub of activity: GippslandOrchid Club hasbeen busy

Special guest: Rein Herman from the HeartFocus Community Care Program and Rotarian ColinMatthies

Kaye Douglas (57).

Tuesday-1st Monica Cornell and Ross McEvoy (63), 2nd Greg Nicholson and Kaye Douglas (61).

Thursday -N/S 1st Greg Nicholson and KayeDouglas(66),2nd RobGraham and Glenis Lohr (54) E/W 1st Barbara Barr and Maria McTaggart (58) 2ndCarolCheyne and Fred Kaminski (57).

Tyersand District Garden Club

HEATHER Henley hosted areally fun day making posies at her home in Traralgon.

We were shown what to do by alovely lady from the Art Horticultural Society. Afterwards, we had atour around Heathers garden and considering the shorttime they have lived there, it is amazing.

Each monthwetry to visit amembers garden, and on September 18 we are back having aZygocactus demonstration at the home of Caroline Conabere at 1007Boolarra-Mirboo NorthRoad, Boolarra.

Major bowls event

TRARALGON Bowls Club willbehosting amajor Bowls Victoria, Lawn Bowls event from this Friday,September 9to Sunday, September 11 in their world class Indoor Bowls Centre.

The VBL (Victorian BowlsLeague) is in it’s second year and is growing in popularity.

Last year the VBL had eight franchises competing over three days of competition. This year, there are 16 franchises (including aqualifying team) playing over fourweekends. The franchises will be playing for aprize pool of more than $80,000 when they come to Traralgon for the finals.

Finals game times:

Friday: 6pm-10.10pm

Saturday: 9am-6.10pm Sunday: 9am-6.10pm

The Traralgon Bowls Club franchise were also lucky enough to win its way through the qualifying rounds and have now got ateam representing them in ahome final, which is very exciting for the club and all its supporters.

If you are in the area, come down and watchsomeofthe best lawn bowlers in Victoria fight it out for not only bragging rights,but apiece of the $80,000inprize money.

Traralgon Garden Club

THE annual and general meetingof the TraralgonGardenClubwillbeat 2pm on Tuesday, September 12 at the TraralgonGreyhoundClub, Glenview Park, McNairn Road Traralgon.

Enter via the floatentrance

New members and visitors welcome

For further information, phone Bryan Corkran on 0408 598 016.

Tenpin bowling

FORTNIGHTLY all abilities tenpin bowling group has started.

Where: Traralgon Butter Factory.

Time: 11am for two hours.

Cost at your own expense for bowling game, plus goldcoin donation which

goes towards agift at the endofthe year to whoever gets the highest score.

To express your interest or for more information, please phone Phillip Chalker on 0400 603 367.

Or emailall.abilities.social.group@ gmail.com

Companion Cards accepted.

Morwell and District RedCross

OUR Augustmeeting was abusy one, with the annual meeting and our regular meeting, which was followed by adelicious afternoon tea.

Our annual meeting saw all current standing members return to the same positions.

During the meeting, there was lots of planning forupcoming events such as,the ‘Big CakeBake’ in September, Morwell BunningsbarbecueinOctober and our annual Christmas raffle over November and December.

Big Cake Bake is not only achance to raise money to help people going through tough times,but also to connect with loved ones or colleagues, share a laugh, have achatand enjoy the buzz of being together.

As part of the Big Cake Bake, our branch has decided to put our cooking skills to good use, and will be hosting a high tea on Wednesday, September 13.

AbarbecueatMorwell Bunnings is planned for the end of October.

November and December will keep us busy preparing for the annual Christmas raffle.This year’s raffle with havethreeprizes, two hampers, as well as a$50 Bunnings gift voucher.

There will be no formal meeting in September.

The next meeting will be held at the Yinnar and District Memorial Hall at 1.30pm on October 11.

Chess results

MATT Bolding accepted the benefits to finish with three wins and one loss in recent Latrobe Valley ChessAssociation action.

Quinton Morgan gained plenty from the instruction offered by Peter Bakker.

Ricky Sabrinskaswon close games against Steve Ahern who had two earlier victories. Things were not working well for Ian Hamilton.

Trevor Morgan kept optionsopen but the problems were too much in the match with Cliff Thornton.

For more details on local chess, phone Cliff Thornton on 0413 330 458 or Ian Hamilton (0400 221 649).

Viewclub

MOE View Club’s Septembermeeting willbeheldtoday (Wednesday, September 6) at Moe Hotel (Leggies) commencing at 10.30am.

We had averysuccessful fundraising day at Moe Bowling Club.

Postie fashions were displayed and purchased, with apercentage of sales to be forwarded on.

Afternoon tea was supplied by Moe Bowling Ladies, which was much appreciated.

For furtherinformation, please call Sue on 0417 515 745 or Maureen on 0458 842 256.

Get Together

GET Together is an open spacefor conversation and community. We meet on the first Wednesday of the month.

The group is meeting today (Wednesday, September 6) at 10am in the Traralgon Uniting ParkLane Foyer This willbeatimewhenyou can meet and chat with others over acuppa

If you or anyoneyou know would like to be apart of this Get Together,please come and bring them along.

All are welcome, for more details

please phone 5174 2398 or 5177 8107.

Health information sessions

OUR health is so important, as is having the correct information to empower us to know how to look after ourselves and our loved ones.

Two information sessionsare being held at the Traralgon Neighbourhood Learning House in partnership with Latrobe Community Health Service.

Learn about Health and Medication Safety on Monday, September 11 from 10am to 11.30am and Diabetes and Heart Health on Wednesday, September13from 10am to 11.30am.

For more information and to register your interest, phone 5174 6199, email enquiries@tnlh.org.au or drop into see Meagan and Julie at 11-13 Breed Street, Traralgon.

Moe ArtSociety

MEMBERS of the Moe Art Society are busy with their entries into the Spring Art Show and organising theSpringArt Show, which is to be in October from Saturday,October 7until Saturday, October 28.

Opening night is Friday, October 6.

The show is acommunity event which includes local artists and entries from the seven localschools in Moe and Newborough, also “The Studio” who meet at the Moe Library on Tuesdays after school.

“The Mainstreet Artists” from Life Skills are also participating again this year. The society is anot-for-profitorganisation andissupported by local businesses to cover the costsofputting on such an event.

Latrobe City Counciland EnergyAustralia are the main sponsors, supportingthe purchasing of equipment, catering for opening night,

canvases for the school program and advertising necessary to promote the event. All sponsors are invited to the opening night and provide funding for awards to the artists and photographers.

In this way, we promote Moe and Newborough, our local artists and introducethe community to the benefits of art.

This year, Moe Rotary are sponsoring the primary schools program, and we arevery grateful for their support.

All enquiries should be directed to Peter McLaren on 0400 933 609 or Beryl Galloway (0407 271 686).

TRAMPS ride

ELEVEN TRAMPS (Traralgon and Morwell Pedallers Inc.) met at Toongabbie for aride to Heyfield through Dawson for lunch recently, under weather so calm, it was surreal.

The trip was partly on the Gippsland Plains Rail Trail, and on the country roads through the cornfields north of Cowwarr.

Our next ride is this Sunday, September10and starts at Churchill at 10am with lunch in Boolarra.

TRAMPS welcomes new riders. For more information, visit ourwebsite: www.tramps.org.au or Facebook page: www.facebook.com/www.tramps.org.au.

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

Traralgon Historical Society

THE next general meeting of the society will be held on Tuesday, September 12 at the Kath Tyechenne Centre, 11 Breed Street, Traralgon at 7.30pm.

Our guest speaker for the eveningwill be Frank Bezzina, who will be giving a talk on the Latrobe ValleyRacingClub. Latrobe City Council is askingfor feedback from community for future use of the church.

The society is putting together asubmission with ideas on how the church couldbeused to benefit the community and alsopreservethis historic building.

The society annual dinner is to be held on Tuesday, October 10 at Dal Mondo’s.

The guestspeaker will be Anne Rowland who will be talking on the “TheLochBroom Campbell Family” connection to the Traralgon.

Thanks to anew volunteer we are in the process of getting the 1902 Oldsmobileupand running againwhich will enable the car to taken to vehicle displays.

If youhaven’t attended one of our meetings, please make time and come along. Supper is served on completion of the meeting.

Youcan be apartof Community Corner

IF you are acommunity group andhave any news items you need publicised, feel free to email us at news@lvexpress. com.au.

You can address the correspondence to Editor, Liam Durkin.

Please write ‘Community Corner’ in the subject line and nothing else.

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

Riding: TRAMPS rode to Heyfield recently.

Photographs supplied

State government’s mismanagement of

COMMENT

BY JOHN CAMERON

Summary

THE state government decision to close the native forest timber industry culminates eight years of mismanagement that turned VicForests from a profitable business into a loss maker

Victoria will no longer be a major domestic producer of appearance grade and further manufacturing grade sawn Also, Melbourne will no longer be the centre of further manufacturing of hardwood sawn timber into value-added engineered wood products that generate lots of jobs

The closure of the Victorian native forests to timber production will deliver bad environmental and socioeconomic outcomes and have adverse geopolitical impacts

In Victoria, appearance grade sawntimber accounts for about 60 per cent of hardwood sawntimber output (and Australia 42 per cent of output and 58 per cent of mill gate revenue) For our largest mill, ASH at Heyfield, 100 per cent of output is appearance grade or further manufactured into timber products that expose the natural beauty of the timber Australian hardwood sawntimber mill gate revenue, sells for 3 5 times the price of Australian softwood sawntimber, and contributes too much greater value-adding and job creation than softwood

A lot of Victorian hardwood that is not ‘appearance grade’ is further manufactured into products where its unique beauty is on display such as in stair cases and exposed Masslam beams This has been driven by the greater strength, hardness, dimensional stability, low degrade and other unique wood properties of Victorian native Eucalypts

The Softwood Plantations proposed, but yet to be delivered under the state government’s forestry plan, are unsuitable for many applications where these qualities are critical

The announcement has resulted in a raft of bad outcomes:

 A deterioration in VicForests log production, proportion of sawlogs and log sales revenue;

 VicForests ‘operable area’ has been reduced from 450,000 ha to 160,000 ha due to overzealous increases in ‘various conservation reserves’ that ignored win-win outcomes that would have been available under multiple use, in accordance to the RFA’s and the National Forestry Statement;

 Increased conservation reserves were implemented following the 2019/20 bushfire

The 1 5million ha burnt was preventable and a result of negligent bushfire mitigation under the flawed ‘Safer Together’ bushfire policy that ignores recommendations of the Bush Fire Royal Commission;

 A profitable VicForests was turned into a huge loss maker with cumulative losses of $51 million over the last three years to 2021/22;

 In 2021/22 preventable activist litigation cost

VicForests $24 1m in legal and associated costs;

 Lack of legislative support and mismanagement of VicForests resulted in its net worth declining by $64m delivering a business that is now worthless;

 The flawed forest policy and lack of a rigorous forest strategy has resulted in a decline in hardwood sawntimber output and also a decline in sawntimber recovery (and decline in plantations);

 Mills will have to write off large investments made in value-adding for the production of high value appearance timbers and further manufacturing of timber components These investments were made on the assumption that government log supply agreements would be honoured, and;

 The government has scrapped its agreements without adequate consultation and relegated sovereign risk to something riskier than junk bonds

Vicforests native forest log sales under the state government

UNDER the state government, there has been a deterioration in VicForests log production, proportion of sawlogs sold (sawlog percentage) and log sales revenue

The proportion of sawlogs, which typically average more than 40 per cent, dropped to 35 7 per cent in 2021/22 From January 2024, native log supply will cease

VicForests worth plunged $64m under cumulative losses of $51m

THE state government inherited a profitable business and turned VicForests into a huge loss maker with profit before tax last financial year negative $33m Cumulative losses over the last three years to 2021/22 are $50 7m

The mismanagement by the state government has resulted in the Net Worth (net assets) of VicForests decline by $64m The state government turned a business that was worth $61m in 2014/15 into one that is now worth negative $2 9m i e worthless

The state government burnt $64m, sufficient to put a roof over the heads of a few hundred homeless people or help deliver a functioning emergency and health system These are the ‘opportunity costs’ of their poor management and negligence

Native and plantation HW sawlogs under state government

UNDER the state government, the decline in native forest hardwood sawlog production has not been made up by an increase in plantation sawlog production

In fact, there has also been a decline in plantation sawlog production The state government transition to plantation-based hardwood sawlog supply has clearly failed This is because the state government took four years in office to produce its forestry plan in 2019, and after a further four years the government has yet to implement its forestry plan with new planting

Victorian hardwood sawlog input, sawntimber output and recovery

THE state government’s flawed forest policy and lack of a rigorous forest strategy has delivered a decline in sawlog input, and sawntimber output, and also a decline in sawntimber recovery VicForests management have not been supported by the government, who were responsible for removing potentially harvestable area through excessive reservation, bushfire losses due to negligence and allowing activist lawfare to halt log supply

Victorian hardwood production was 30 per cent of Australian production

VICTORIA has been a dominant producer of hardwood sawntimber and accounts for about 30 per cent of Australian hardwood sawntimber output This was achieved by Regional Forest

Agreements providing certainty for mills to invest in upgrades The RFA’s resulted in a world class hardwood sawmill at Heyfield with nine further manufacturing plants and one of the most modern hardwood sawmills at Bairnsdale

Australian sawntimber output, prices and revenue by product type

APPEARANCE grade accounts for 42 per cent (311,000m3 pa) of Australian hardwood sawntimber

government

production and 58 per cent ($542m) of Australian hardwood sawntimber mill gate revenue The proportion of appearance grade including further manufacture into exposed components is higher in Victoria Australian hardwood sawntimber on average sells for 3 5 times the price of Australian softwood sawntimber because it’s greater strength, hardness and other unique wood properties (most sourced from native forests) There is substantially more job creating value-adding in hardwood sawntimber as evidenced by the substantially higher prices across all sawntimber grades

native timber industryleads to losses

Integration of the native hardwood industry insures no waste

IN Victoria, the proportion of appearance grade sawntimber (including further manufacturing of ‘exposed’ timber components) is estimated to be about 60 per cent and much higher than the national average ‘Appearance grade’ is well in excess of two per cent claimed by an ill-informed MP In Victoria:

 ‘Appearance grade’ (including further manufacturing) is 60 per cent of native forest sawntimber output;

 Sawntimber recovery is about 40 per cent of sawlog input;

 Therefore ‘appearance grade’ sawntimber is about 24 per cent of log input;

 Sawlog outturn from well managed native forests is about 40 per cent of logs harvested;

 Therefore ‘appearance grade’ sawntimber is about 10 per cent of total native logs harvested

The difference between sawlog input and sawntimber output is not wasted but used by an integrated array of businesses The outer slab wood has traditionally been chipped and used to make white paper in a high value-adding process that supports lots of high paid jobs The shavings and sawdust are sold to chook, horse and goat farmers as bedding, and after that use becomes fertiliser

Some of the shavings and sawdust are also used as renewable boiler fuel

The ash pulplogs have traditionally been the mainstay raw material used to make white paper in a high value-adding process that supports lots of high paid jobs The mixed species pulplogs have traditionally been used to make unbleached Neutral Sulphide Semi Chemical (NSSC) pulp which has a high yield pulp and is used to make high valueadded packaging papers Logging residues from harvested coupes have become an increasing source of firewood supply

ASH Heyfield hardwood sawmill and further manufacturing

ALL of the output from Australian Sustainable Hardwoods (Ash) mill at Heyfield is either appearance grade or goes into manufacture of timber components that display the beauty of the timber

ASH is a leading and advanced manufacturer of innovative hardwood products

ASH is the largest vertically integrated hardwood manufacturer in Australia and directly employs 192 people Its sawmill and nine further manufacturing plants produce Masslam laminated appearance beams, staircases, benchtops, custom mouldings, lining, solid flooring and various timber components, all for use where the beauty of the timber is exposed

What the government got wrong

THE decline in supply over the last eight years of the state government has been due to a reduction in VicForests operable area, negligent bushfire mitigation and lawfare

The state government allowed VicForests ‘operable area’ to be reduced from 450,000 ha to about 160,000 ha over the last eight years, due to increased Reserves, Special Protection Zones and the Immediate Protection Areas These were created without a balanced appraisal of environmental, economic and social values, nor geopolitical considerations Socioeconomic aspects of forest management have been neglected, including

‘win-win’ opportunities if the government supported more balanced multiple use and delivered conservation with lower opportunity costs

Increased reservation of previously multiple use forest was undertaken solely for protection of biodiversity values as determined by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning in their Forest Protection Surveys This reservation was based on an inadequate appraisal of the impact of the increased reservation on economic and social values and ignored the opportunity cost of effectively dealing a death blow to a billion dollar timber industry

The state government’s negligent bushfire mitigation and protection also contributed The 1 5 million hectares burnt in the 2019/20 wildfire was a result of the inability to contain wildfire, caused by a flawed ‘Safer Together’ bushfire policy, insufficient and ineffective fuel reduction, and tardy fire detection, and failing to implement effective bushfire suppression The weather and the forest fire danger index were adequate for effective suppression during the fortnight after ignition of the 2019/20 East Gippsland bushfires

The state government stood back and allowed litigation (lawfare) by extreme activists who failed to respect the balanced outcomes of the Regional Forest Agreements (RFA’s) and the National Forestry Statement Injunctions granted in legal proceedings made harvesting in many planned coupes unviable or prohibited harvesting altogether In 2021/22 more than half of approved operations were halted by litigation during planning or after harvesting had commenced In 2021/22 this cost VicForests $24 1m comprising direct cost of litigation $10 4m, stand down payments to contractors of $6 2m and $7 5m in compensation paid to

customers for failing to meet supply obligations

The latest 2021 review of native timber harvesting in Victorian RFA’s was a Major Event Review and took into account the 2019/20 bushfire

This review concluded that, after the bushfire, Victoria’s annual timber supply commitments can still be met and support ecologically sustainable forest management The current timber supply commitments were actually less than the forecast timber supply levels

The maximum potential Harvest Levels for D+ sawlog as at August 2021 were:

 172,000 cubic metres per financial year for ash and

 144,000 cubic metres per financial year for mixed species East Gippsland was the most severely affected RFA region with 757,305 hectares of public forest within the bushfire extent, however West Victoria and Central Highlands RFAs were hardly impacted

Figures for the RFAs were: Gippsland, 277,729 hectares; North East, 270,369 hectares; Central Highlands, four hectares; and West RFA, 10,823 hectares The government sold the community a dummy and used the bushfire as leverage to increase reservation for conservation Under Victoria’s five RFAs, the forest management system (including legislation, polices, codes, plans and management practices) provides for continuous improvement in relation to ecologically sustainable forest management (ESFM), which is defined as:

“Ecologically Sustainable Forest Management” or “ESFM” means forest management and use in accordance with the specific objectives and policies for ecologically sustainable development as detailed in the National Forest Policy Statement (NFPS)

MONDAY4SEPTEMBER

Amali Bates turns 12

Sophia Slayford turns 7

Hudson Stray turns 8

Ashley Mills turns 12

Rosie Caldwell turns 6

TUESDAY 5SEPTEMBER

Felicity McEwan turns 6

WEDNESDAY 6SEPTEMBER

Zoe Ridding turns 12

Elijah Gillow turns 10

Ellie Chalmers turns 4

FRIDAY 8SEPTEMBER

As signatories to the NFPS, the Australian, state and territory governments committed to the sustainable management of all Australian forests, and were mindful of the important conservation values of Australia’s forests, and of the contribution that forest activities make to the national economy and rural and regional communities This is reflected in the RFA’s, which were a key outcome of the NFPS The issue is the state government adopts a narrow view of what constitutes ecologically sustainable forest management

Their view essentially excludes socioeconomic imperatives that results in considerable harm to global ecologically sustainable development, resulting in the use of less sustainable materials, greater imports from countries with appalling human rights and environmental records and the increasing geopolitical threats, and tragic consequences for timber workers and rural communities Further, the adoption of detection-based threatened species reservation essentially follows a single species approach to conservation of threatened species A landscape approach to conservation of threatened species is likely to be the most efficient and effective with substantially lower opportunity costs with respect to the foregoing of multiple use

About the author: JOHN Cameron (Dip Hort Burnley, MBA Monash, and tertiary units in economics, mathematics and statistics) is a forestry and business consultant previously holding positions in general management, corporate development and research in forestry and forest products Former roles include Chairman of Private Forestry Gippsland, Chairman Southern Tree Breeding Association, Chairman Australian Research Group on Forest Genetics, board member CRC for Forestry Hobart and CRC for Pulp and Paper Science Monash

Logan Richards turns 12

SATURDAY 9SEPTEMBER

Leopold Notting turns 8

SUNDAY 10 SEPTEMBER

Chloe Steele turns 11

Savannah-Jayde Porima turns 11

Cadence Godfrey turns 8

$19

Majestic: Examples of the beautiful value-added hardwood products made by ASH, Heyfield

Photograph supplied

Business Guide

DROP &LEAVE is atree services companythatprovides qualified arboricultureservices forthe pruning and removalof trees in Gippsland.

Established in 2008, the team has built agreat reputation for highlyskilled work,excellent customer service and acomplete adherence to health and safety standards

Offering tree services across the Gippsland region, our tree climbersare qualified arborists with the expertise to maintain healthytrees through proper pruning and care.

Our services include tree removals,treepruning (crown and weight reductions,dead wooding etc.), tree trimming, stump grinding,hedging services,mulch sales,firewood sales,wind and stormdamage recovery,and vegetation reduction. With full insurance and acomprehensiveOHS system, youcan be reassured that your tree work will be completed with reduced risk to your property

Leon and the team pride themselvesontheir excellent customer service and will always arrive foryour quoteand completeyour work efficiently. The crew’s qualifications and experience arecomplemented by

their politeand friendlymanner on the job

To arrange your free quote, call Drop &Leave on 0437 547 654 or freecall on 1800 MY TREE (1800 69 8733).

Formoreinformation on their services and to look at some of their recent work,visit the Facebook page at www facebook.com/dropandleave or the websiteat www.dropandleave.com.

PLEASE

our WEDNESDAY PUBLICATION 5135 4455 E X P R E S S C L A S S I F I E D S Phone: All classifications before 3pm Monday In person: Latrobe Valley Express 21George St,Morwell NextraLotto Moe 1-3 MooreSt, Moe Seymour St Newsagency 83 Seymour St, TraralgonBULLS

3Field Crt, Saturdays 9th and 16th, 8am -4pm. Moving sale. English ornamental plates, crockery, camping gear, books, paintings, CDs, outdoor furniture, pot plants, tools and equipment, single beds/bunks

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.

We would advise readers and advertisers to exercise caution and giving out personal details. This will be respected by genuine respondents.

WHEN YOU GO

Vic Marino's Painting

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

Jeremy Fleming Jewellers

Is seeking an individual who can join the customer service team at our Bairnsdale branch.

● Sales/retail experience preferred but not required

● All ages welcome

● Flexible hours

● Full time or part time only

● Reliable

● Passion for sales and jewellery Applications to: Ari@jfj.net.au

CareersatLatrobe

Career Opportunity

Weare seekingapplications for our Apprentice Program at Yallourn Power Station in the followingposition:

Apprentice -Electrical Thereare 2positions available commencing January 2024. Forfurther information on this opportunity and to apply, visit: http://careers.energyaustralia.com.au

GP1661720

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.

CARAVAN REPAIRER

Asmall family run business is looking for anew employee to assist with all areas of caravan repairs. This is afull time position. Please email your resume and cover letter to: hislopcaravanrepairs @speedweb.com.au or call 5174 7984

LatrobeCityCouncilhasexcitingopportunitiesforenthusiasticand forward-thinkingindividualswithapassionforprovidingexcellent servicestoourcommunity

• Team LeaderEarly Learning &Care- aderE ng

Time

• Sports andEventsAdministration Officer - Sp andE ntsAdministrationOfficer PermanentPartTime

• Team Leader AssetStrategy-aderAsset Strategy -Permanent Full Time

Electric oven/stove repairs incl. oven doors. Reliable, experienced and friendly.Most parts arecarried on-board. Free phone estimates. 12 month guarantee on repairs. Phil 0412 165542

CUT IT DOWN

Specialising in tree pruning, tree removal, planting and gardening. Same day quotes. 7days p/w. Local friendly service. 0434 114 139.

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.

DO you need some domestic chores done? Washing? Ironing? Clearing clutter? Available Thursdays and Fridays. Ph Kim on 0434 707 346.

ELECTRICIAN

Specialising in all domestic work. REC.4188. Phone Peter 0438 177 153 or Carol 5126 2110.

Gas Appliances

Install -Service -Repairs Co Testing -Gas Safety Check.Contact Paul 0428 877 432. Lic.103230.

GIPPSLAND ARBORICULTURE SPECIALISTS TREE REMOVALS

Pruning, stumpgrinding, hedging, nest boxand habitat hollows creation, insured and qualified.

FREE QUOTES

Brent 0403 080 315

SERVICING ALL AREAS

HANDYMAN

Small odd jobs around the home. *Also specialising in: small tree removal/rubbish removal. Matt 0439 744 605

JS PAINTING

Specialising in commercial, residential work, over 30 years experience. For prompt and reliable service to all the Gippsland region phone Joe 0421 374 463.

REG. roof restorer, roofs painted, gutter cleaning, shed and house ext. painting. Driveway pressure cleaned. Free quote. Ph Colin 0434 273 073.

FOUND IT!

• ChildSafe Advisor - Child Safe -Permanent Full Time

• Manager EmergencyManagementEmergencyManagement-Fixed Term Full Time (18 MonthContract)

• LifeguardsLifeguards-TemporaryCasual(untilMarch2024)

• ExperiencedMaintenance Employee -Tree Experienced Maintenance Maintenance - intenance -Permanent Full Time

• Experienced Maintenance Employee -Urban Parks Maintenance -East- Maintenance -East-Permanent Full Time

• Maternal andChild Health Nurse- Ma rnal Nurse-Permanent Part Time &Casual

• LearntoSwimInstructorLearntoS mInstructor- Casual

• Preschooland Childcare Educators -Multiple Childcare Positions-Permanent,Temporary &Casual

• EarlyChildhood Teachers- Ea hildhood Teachers-Permanent, Temporary& Casual

• ExpressionofInterestExpressionofInterest -PlanningOpportunities

Forfurtherinformationincludinghow toapply,positiondescriptionsand applicationclosingdates,pleasevisitour websitewww.latrobe.vic.gov.au/careers

Pleasenotesuccessfulapplicantswillbe requiredtoapplyforandsatisfactorilyobtain aNationalPoliceCheckandWorkingwith ChildrenCheck.

www.latrobe.vic.gov.au/careers

Applicants are invited for aSenior Leadership position

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL Learning and Wellbeing

Catholic College Sale is a co-educational secondary college for Year 7 to 12.

The College is built on Sion and Marist traditions and is seeking an enthusiastic, student-centred and achievement-focussed Deputy Principal to fulfil this position. As aChild Safe school our focus is to provide afaith-filled partnership between students, families and the College to achieve student learning goals.

This is an excellent opportunity for acommitted Catholic educator who might be aspiring to Principalship to join ahigh functioning Leadership Team and work closely to plan and implement new developments while leading pedagogical change and avenues for student wellbeing.

The successful applicant will bring their own unique gifts and talents to the leadership of Catholic College Sale which will complement those of senior management.

Applicants will:

● Have aproven record as an educator and leader.

● Be actively involved in the development of contemporary learning and pedagogy.

● Be committed to and supportive of the Catholic ethos of the College.

● Be an active member of aEucharistic community.

● Have appropriate experience in education with current VIT membership.

● Have, or be prepared to work towards, 'Accreditation to Teach in a Catholic School'.

● Show ademonstrated commitment to the safety and wellbeing of children.

● Enjoy working in adynamic environment with young people.

● Be committed to working in ateam environment.

● Participate in aformal appraisal program during the term of appointment.

● Have an ability to work with students, staff and parents to ensure that the vision and mission of Catholic College Sale permeates all aspects of our faith and learning community.

If you would like to apply, please access the position description and application form via www.ccsale.catholic.edu.au and emailboth the application form and your curriculum vitae to principal@ccsale.catholic.edu.au or PO Box 594, Sale 3850

Applications close: 4pm Thursday, 14 September 2023

GP1 655355

GP1661391

Work for an organisation that changes young people's lives

Anchor works in the community to change the lives of people affected by crisis and trauma.

Our Supporting Transitions program helps young people aged 16-18 to exit residential care and move into independent living. We're recruiting multiple roles for our new Gippsland team based in Sale:

● Team Leader

● Case Manager

● Youth and Family Worker

Scan the QR code to read more and apply.

To learn more about Anchor on our website: anchor.org.au

Applications close midday, Wednesday, 13 September 2023.

Anchor Community Care is aChild Safe organisation

ICU/PICU NURSES

wantedfor home care in Moe, Trafalgar Warragul and Trida.

Minimum of 2years ICU/PICU experience.

Must be Ventilation and Tracheostomy competent

Competitivepay rates

Please contact Patrik on 0410 942 230 or email patrik@intensive careathome.com GP1 660808

Classifieds

Call us today on 5135 4455 or email classifieds@lvexpress.com.au

BUS DRIVERS

Latrobe Valley Bus Lines (LVBL)isproudly part of The Dineen Group of Companies and hasbeen serving the public transport needs of Latrobe Valley and Gippsland residents since 1948.

LVBL arecurrently looking for full-time drivers across our three depots locatedinMoe, Morwell and Traralgon

About the position:

l Responsible for providing aquality and safe public bus service that is dependable, accessible and reliable.

l Drivers areexpected to operate passenger route and/or school bus services in accordance to company rosters in asafe, competent, lawful and timely manner

l Respond to passengers in apoliteand courteousmanner and handle customer queries, complaints and problems withahighdegreeof professionalism.

l Maintain clean and tidy buses, and adhereto company procedures in relation to start of shift -safetyinspections andend of shift procedures

Requirementsfor this position:

l Current full Victorian Drivers Licence (minimum endorsementofHeavy Rigid classification, non-probationary)

l Current Drivers Certificate of Accreditationissued from the Commercial Passenger Vehicle Victoria l Current and valid Working with Childrencheck (employee)

Successul applicants must provide acurrent police check (no older than 6months)

Asound knowledgeofthe bus industrywould be an advantage but notessential

Ifyou areinterested in joiningLatrobe Valley Bus Lines, please send acompleted application form and your current resume to: info@lvbl.com.au. Application form canbefound: https://www.lvbl.com.au/careers/

Administrative Officer

Job No.: 655636

Location: Monash Rural Health Churchill

Employment Type: Part-time, fraction (0.6)

Duration: Continuing appointment

Remuneration: Pro-rata of $78,255 -$89,888 pa HEW Level 05 (plus 17% employer superannuation)

The Opportunity:

Embark on ameaningful role as an Administrative Officer, providing professional and administrative support to both students and academic staff at our Churchill campus and be at the forefront of providing exemplary service delivery into the Monash University Doctor of Medicine (MD) program.

The Administrative Officer will ensure the seamless operation of our clinical skills program and will be responsible for the management of equipment, coordination of lab setups, stock management and facilitating practical examinations. Your commitment to delivering exceptional customer service will shine as you interact with adiverse range of clients and handle administrative functions. Collaborative teamwork is key, but your ability to exercise independent judgment when needed will also be valued.

Whether you hold atertiary qualification in arelevant field, possess substantial relevant skills and experience, or offer ablendofboth, your commitment to excellence and dedication to operational efficiency will be pivotal in this role. This position will involve travel to various locations, some of which are not easily accessible via public transport.

GP1661686

At Monash University, we are committed to being a Child Safe organisation. This position at the University will require the incumbent to hold avalid Working with Children Check.

Enquiries:

Lauren Webb, Regional Manager, +61 35122 7434

Closing Date

Sunday, 10 September 2023, 11:55pm

For further information, Position Description and to apply, please visit: www.monash.edu/jobs

Search Job No.: 655636

GP1661390

URGENT Deliverers Wanted TRARALGON, MORWELL and NEWBOROUGH

Would you liketodeliver theLatrobe Valley Express newspaper to individual homes on Tuesdayand/or Wednesdayafternoons in Traralgon, Morwell and Newborough.

Please apply to:

The Circulation Manager 0456 000541

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.

deliverers also welcome

Toyota New Vehicle Sales Manager

Dwyers Motor Group

Bairnsdale, Bairnsdale &Gippsland Vic.

Management (Sales) -Full time

Dwyers Toyota is currently seeking aNew Vehicle Sales Manager. Experience in the role would be great but this is also an ideal opportunity for someone looking to step up into the manager role with supervision and mentoring available. Your responsibilities will include:

● New car sales, valuations and marketing

● Taking ahands-on approach in supporting sales consultants

● Liaising with new vehicle manufacturers

● Working closely with all the departments

Key Attributes:

● Proficient use of manufactures portals and dealer management systems

● Understanding of current market trends and the road to asale process

● Exceptional communications skills

● Providing asuperior level of customer service

The successful applicant will be rewarded with a competitive salary structure and the opportunity to work with adynamic team, in astate-of-the-art facility.

The total package $140k OTE includes super and afully maintained vehicle.

If this sounds like you, please apply now or call Anthony Dwyer -Dealer Principal 03 5152 9797 for aconfidential discussion

VACANCYCHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Prom Country Aged Care is looking for anew Chief Executive Officer. Our 68 bed residential aged care service is located in the picturesque environment of Foster in South East Gippsland, where the ocean meets farm and forest and local towns. Our service is astandalone community owned and operated service, supported by an active and dedicated Board of Management.

The CEO is responsible to the Board for the leadership and operational matters that ensure long-term sustainability, and acaring, stimulating and safe environment for all residents, staff and visitors. The successful applicant will be a balanced head and heart leader who combines exceptional people and leadership skills with proven organisational, financial and decision-making capabilities. Acompetitive and flexible remuneration package is available for the right person.

please visit our website for more information about Prom Country Aged Care: https:/www.promcountryagedcare.com.au

You can find acopy of the Position Description at https:/www.promcountryagedcare.com.au/ employment-opportunities

Please call Marie Larkin, Board President, if you would like to discuss any matters related to this position on 0408 135 759.

V&K ENGINEERING PTY LTD

BOILERMAKER

We are seeking atrade qualified Boilermaker with proven proficiencies and experience in Structural Steel Fabrication.

● Immediate start

● Work as part of a team

● Must be able to read shop drawings

● Workshop in Moe

Victoria

● Must have driver's licence and own transport

Only experienced people to apply. Forward resume to: admin@ vkengineering.com.au or hand deliver to:

23 Della Torre Rd, Moe

DID YOU KNOW?

The

CASH FOR CARS

Responsibility

PLEASE CHECK YOUR AD

Please check yourad on the first day andbring any errors to the attentionofthe Classifieds

OZ TRAIL OFF ROAD

Camper trailer, 2012 model, fold out tent. 12 mthsreg. VOO-044. $2,500 Ph. 0498 362 386.

MOTORING SPECIAL

Minimum 6 lines$56 without aphoto or $70withacolour photo Total of 4consecutive editions in the Latrobe Valley Express and 8editions of the Gippsland Times paper THEY DO SELL!

DRIVE YOUR DOLLAR FURTHER

Cars and Caravans areindemand

5135 4455

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, rev. camera, w/mach., CD player, TV, exc. cond., great van, easy to tow, gen. reason for sale $70,000. 0431 159 984.

St Joseph’sSchool community promotes the safety,wellbeing and inclusion of all children.

2024 TEACHING POSITIONS

Ongoing and Fixed Term Positions Available

We are seeking aqualified, experienced and enthusiastic Teachers to be part of our professional learning team with positions open for Classroom teachers and aPhysical Education Teacher. Applicants must embrace an ethos of working in partnership with colleagues, parents and students to develop athriving 21st century learning community where relationships are highly respectful, reflecting our school motto of Strength and Gentleness.

Graduate and experienced teachers are encouraged to apply.

Contact details: Michelle Charlton: Principal

Phone: 51 745 515

How to apply:

Adetailed position description and application requirements are available by accessing the School website at www.stgtraralgon.catholic.edu.au/career-s

Applications via email: principal@stgtraralgon.catholic.edu.au

Applications close: Friday 8September 2023, 12pm

This school community promotes the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of all children.

Use the Latrobe Valley Express to turn your clutter into cash!!

Cash in Hand!

It’s easy,just call 5135 4455 and put an ad in the paper today!

MECHANICAL FLEET MAINTENANCE

AGL Loy Yang is seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced companies to provide MechanicalFleet Maintenance.

For tender information, please refer to: https://portal.tenderlink.com/aglprocurement or enquiries PGrant@agl.com.au

Personals

Deaths

IERARDI, Rocco. Passed away after a long illness on Thursday, 31 August 2023.

Son of Lorenzo and Agnes (both dec.). Much lovedbrotherand brother-in-law of Caterina and Mario, Donato and Linda. Loved uncle of Alissa, Joel and Mary.

Rest In Peace

FRESHWATER, Graeme. 1/12/1943 -1/9/2023.

Passed away peacefully on Friday 1st September

2023.

Aged 79 years

Loving husband to Jeanette and devoted father to Brett and Steven.

Cherished father-in-law to Kylie Anne and Petrina. Proud Pa to Caleb, Brianna, Maykala, Minnie, Laura, Jack and man's best friend in Frankie.

You'll be forever in our hearts and never forgotten.

Rest In Peace Freshy

FRESHWATER, Graeme (Freshy).

My love, my rock, my best friend.

Passed away 1st September 2023. My heart is broken, you were the love of my life and husband of 52 years. Nothing was never ever too much trouble for you.

Iloved your patience, I loved your thoughtfulness, Iloved your affection. I loved you my perfect husband, my earth angel. You're forever in my heart and never ever forgotten.

Until we meet again

Your Babe, loving wife Jeanette X.

FRESHWATER, Graeme (Freshy).

Aboy from the farm at Kilmany. You have left a legacy that we are all proud of. You loved your cricket till the end, you achieved so much on and off the field for club and association.

Acadet engineer that made it to the top, managing brown coal mines locally and afar.

But most of all aloving husband to your babe, a devoted father to Brett and Iand aproud pa to all 6grandkids.

We miss you, we love you.

Rest peacefully now

Love Steven (Rastaz), Petrina, Minnie, Laura and Jack XO.

FRESHWATER, Graeme. 1/12/1943 -1/9/2023.

Passed peacefully Friday, 1/9/2023 at 6am.

Dad, we will miss you so much as you are our rock and our hero. Words can not do you justice.

At least you know can rest from that bloody mind and soultaking disease (Alzheimer's) which you battled for 7years and did it without afuss, in True FRESHY style.

Loved father to Brett, father-in-law to Kylie-Anne and Pa to Caleb, Brianna and Makayla.

You can do some gardening at your leisure now and I'm sure will make the first 11 wherever you are.

Will miss you Dad (Legend) Go Cats

FRESHWATER, Graeme. Passed away 1/9/2023. With deepest sympathy to Aunty Jeanette, Brett and Kylie-Anne, Steven and Petrina and families, on the sad passing of Unc. Atruegentleman and fantastic Uncle. With lots of love from Graeme and Rae, Jordan and Sam, Broden and Angie, Bri and Josh and the kids.

FRESHWATER, Graeme.

"Freshwater" means so much to all of us, it sustains us and gives us life.

That's my Uncle Graeme!!. Thanks for being abig part of the inspiration for the person Iamtoday.

Love you always and you'll keep asmile in my heart as Iremember your wonderful chuckle and happy, caring nature.

It is my Uncle Graeme, his older brother Noel and my mum, Evelyn, that have given me so much in my life.

STICHLING, Daryl David. 9/1/1946 -31/8/2023.

Loved son of Jean and Jim (dec.). Loved brother of Brian, Elaine (dec.), Trevor and Linda. Loved uncle of many. At rest with the best Lovedbrotherand brother-in-law to Trevor and Dianne and families. Fly High Loved uncle of Annette and Alan. Great uncle of Jen, Jason, Josh, Shane. Great uncle of many. Free to Travel

WATT, Michael Leon. Michael passed away surrounded by family at Latrobe Regional Hospital on Monday, 28 August 2023.

Aged 75 years

Partner of Rhonda. Father of Dan and Naomi. Father-in-law of Justine. Grandfather of Rafe, Willow, Ryan, Hayden and Ella. Loved andremembered always

Funerals

STICHLING. The Funeral Service to celebrate the life of Daryl David Stichling will take place in the Rose Chapel at Gippsland Memorial Park, Cemetery Drive, Traralgon on FRIDAY (15 September 2023), commencing at 11am.

Mc KENDRY, Shirley. 1939 -2022. It's been ayear since you left us. Not aday goes by that we don't miss you.

As long as we breathe you'll be remembered.

Love Elsie, Glynis, Janice, Linda and Colleen.

MEDEW, Vera Shelah. Passed away 2August 2023.

FRESHWATER, Graeme.

1/12/1943 -1/9/2023. Passed peacefully Friday 1/9/2023 at 6am.

Graeme was atrue gentleman, great family man, afair but firm leader and asensational sportsman. He has touched so many lives and did it without a fuss, always put others first and was the fairest most honest person you will ever meet.

Husband to Jeanette (the love of his life). Father to Brett and Steven (our Hero).

Pa to Caleb, Brianna, Makayla, Minnie, Lora and Jack.

Brother to Noel and Evelyn.

Unc to so many. Brotherin-law to Sandra, Alan and Gwen.

We all loveyou Freshy and will miss you R.I.P. The Freshwater family.

FRESHWATER, Graeme.

To Aunty Jeanette, Brett, Steven and family, our thoughts and love are with you at this very sad time.

May loving memories of Unc/Freshy and the support of many friends help you find peace and strength, now and always.

Lots of love from Julie, Ken, Sarah, Emily, Maddie and Anna

My love of cricket, my work in the Dairy Industry in Western Victoria and I am so lucky to have the "Freshwater nature" from my Mum and Uncles. It's no wonder my wonderful Dad, Alan fell in love with aFreshwater, my Mum and her terrific brothers.

Deepest Sympathy to my wonderful Aunty Janette, ("Babe" as Unc affectionately called her) Brett, Steven and their families.

Love Robert Orr (Ballarat and Camperdown Vic.)

TAYLOR (nee Cowell), Violet Frances (Fran). 20/10/1921 -25/8/2023. At almost 102, our cherished Mum, Nan and Nana Fran has left us peacefully after along life of love and giving. She is now reunited with her beloved Stan. Loved and loving wife of Stan (dec.), much loved mother of Ann, Robyn, Peter and Jennie, and cherished mother-in-law to Peter B(dec.), Peter R and Ros. Adored Nan to 8 (Nikki and Brett, Bree and Jai (dec.), Elise and Georgia, Lee and David) and Nana Fran to 19 (Lachie and Harrison, Sammy, Thea and Sidney, Ciaran, Xena and Zac, Taylah and Ryder, Bailey, Riley and Gabriella, Pip and Will, Emily and Oliver, Charlotte and Isaiah).

The family extends its gratitude to the wonderful staff at Yallambee Traralgon, especially those in Laurel, for their dedicated care of our Mum. She will be remembered with love and joy and will forever bein our hearts.

TEYLOR, Douglas Walter. 10/3/1958 -28/8/2023.

IERARDI. Requiem Mass for the Repose of the soul of Mr Rocco Ierardi will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Commercial Road, Morwell on THURSDAY (7 September 2023), commencing at 11am. Following the Mass, the Funeral will leave for the Hazelwood Cemetery.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON MORWELL 5134 4937

Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

MACLEOD.

The Funeral Service for Mrs Jean Rose Macleod will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 260 Princes Hwy Traralgon on THURSDAY (7 September 2023) commencing at 11am. Jean's Service will be livestreamed to view the livestream please visit: latrobevalley funerals.com.au and click on live streaming.

TAYLOR. The Funeral for Violet Frances (Fran) will be held on THURSDAY (7 September 2023) commencing at 2pm at Le Pine Funerals 339 Warrigal Road Burwood 3125.

03 9741 4603

VAN DER ZALM. Requiem Mass for the Repose of the Soul of Theo van der Zalm will be offered at Lumen Christi Catholic Church, Churchill on WEDNESDAY (13 September 2023) commencing at 11am. Private family cremation to follow. MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON

Funeral Directors

The family of the late Vera Shelah Medew wish to extend our sincere thanks for the many kindnesses, condolences and support that we have received following Vera's passing. We wish to thank the staff at St Hilary's Community for their kind care for Vera over four years. We also wish to thank Avril for her neighbourly support and friendship to both Vera and David over many years. It has all been much appreciated.

Notice of Gratitude and Farewell

It is with amixture of sadness and excitement that we advise we are closing our doors on 8th September 2023, as we begin the wind down of Rennie Property Sales. Peter and Sandra Rennie will begin to navigate the retirement phase of their lives.

To our past and present employees, to our valued clients, our family, friends, suppliers and business associates, we thank you for your dedication and hard work, your loyalty and support and your professional services.

To the various non-profit organisations and sporting groups we have partnered with over the RPS lifetime: 2005-2023, we have enjoyed the journey.

We are very proud of what we have accomplished over the journey and it couldn't have been achieved without everyone's ongoing support. Thank you, we are forever indebted to you all. Peter and Sandy.

MOWAT, Phillip John. 9/5/1948 -30/8/2023. Aged 75 years

Dearly loved husband of Shirley.

Loved dad and father-inlaw of Fiona (Fizz) and Rachel, Stuart and Fiona (Fi).

Loved Pa to Harry, Charlotte, Talyn, Taj, and Ari.

Loved son of Wally and Lil (both dec.).

Brother to Denise (dec.), Graeme, and Carol.

Brother-in-law to Gale, Peter, Nancy, Ray, Jennifer, and Phil.

Aloved uncle to their families.

Agood friend to all. Thanks for the beautiful life you gave us. No words can describe how much we will miss you.

OHLSON (nee Hall), Mary Joy. Passed away peacefully surroundedbyfamily and friends at Latrobe Regional Hospital on Friday

1September 2023.

Aged 76 years

Loved and loving wife of Peter. Loved mother of Paul (dec.), Donna and Melissa.Muchloved sister, aunty and friend. At peace with loved ones

SHEPHERD, Kathleen.

Passed away peacefully with family by her side at Latrobe Regional Hospital on Monday, 28 August 2023. Loving wife of Raymond (dec.). Devoted and loving mother and mother-in-law of Chris and Karen, Caroline and David. Nan to Melissa, Laura, Louise, Andrew and Leonie. Adored great nan to Izzy, Jaz, Harry, Tilly, Lincoln, Lily, Leo, Willow and Finn.

Cherished Forever

SHEPHERD, Kathleen. Longtime friend and neighbour. Deepest sympathy to all her family. From Brian, Vi Sheena and family. Rest in peace, Kath.

Loved husband of Terry. Cherished father of Tashani, Shellina and Steven. Pop to 10 grandchildren and 1great grandchild.

The Funeral Service for Mr Douglas Walter Teylor will be held at the Tarwin Lower Mechanics Institute Hall, 27 River Drive, Tarwin Lower on WEDNESDAY (13 September 2023) commencing at 12 noon. APrivate Family Burial will follow this service. Due to personal reasons, no children aged 13 and under are to attend. Doug's service will be livestreamed. Please go to: www.handleyand andersonfunerals.com.au for details.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON TRARALGON 5174 2258

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MOWAT.

The Funeral Service for Mr Phillip John Mowat will be held at St. Columba's Uniting Church, Cnr Raymond &Macalister Streets Sale at 1pm on MONDAY (11 September 2023) followed by aPrivate Cremation. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to CGHS Palliative Care. Please see our website for Livestream details.

BARRY &ANNETTE LETT 67 MACARTHUR STREET SALE 5143 1232 MEMBER AFDA www.lettsfunerals.com.au

VAN DER ZALM, Theodorus (Theo). Passed away suddenly on 31 August 2023, at the Victorian Heart Hospital Clayton.

Aged 84 years

Devoted husband of Patricia for 58 years. Much loved father and father-in-law of Louise and Damian, Steff and Mark, Anthony and Sharon, Jude and Julie, Andrew and Hannah. Adored Opa to Charlie, Ivy, Simon, Rebecca, Marnie, Grady, Hannah, Harvey, Cleo, Hugo, Blair. Great grandchildren Laylah, Marlia, Zane, Isla and Kobe.

VERTIGAN (Cope), Pamela Anne. Passed away peacefully on 31 August 2023 at Latrobe Regional Hospital Traralgon Aged 87 years Dearly loved wife of Maitland for 57 years.

Much loved mother and mother-in-law of Anne and Bruce, Ross and Mila, Meg and Christopher. Adored grand-mummy of Joplin, James, Mary, Claude, and Spike.

OHLSON. Prayers for the repose of the soul of Mrs Mary Joy Ohlson will be offered at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Commercial Rd, Morwell on THURSDAY (7 September 2023) commencing at 2pm. At the conclusion of the Service the Funeral will leave for the Hazelwood Cemetery, Brodribb Road, Hazelwood. Mary's Service will be livestreamed. To view the livestream visit our website.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON MORWELL 5134 4937 Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

SHEPHERD. The Funeral Service and Committal for Cremation of Mrs Kathleen Shepherd will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 260 Princes Highway, Traralgon on WEDNESDAY, (6 Septem ber 2023), commencing at 11am.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON TRARALGON 5174 2258

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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 room is available adjacent to each chapel to provide catering and refreshment facilities.

VERTIGAN. The Funeral Service for Mrs Pamela Anne Vertigan will be held at St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Moe on FRIDAY (8 September 2023) commencing at 1.30pm. The Funeral will leave at the conclusion of the Service for the Moe Cemetery. No flowers by request.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON MOE 5126 1111

Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

WATT.

The Funeral of Mr Michael Leon Watt will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 260 Princes Hwy, Traralgon on FRIDAY (8 September 2023) commencing at 2pm. Following the Service, a Private Burial will be held.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON TRARALGON 5174 2258 Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

Contact

Affordable Funerals for Latrobe Valley

John Gabraith 0413 332 647

Craig GalbraithEvans 0407 043 182

BUDGE, Michael. 9/9/2020.

Three years ago Mick, you went to sleep. We think of you every day and hold you in our hearts. I know we will all be together again one day. Love you heaps and miss you so much. Knowing you are pain free and peaceful helps us get through. Mum, Dad, Sarah, Lauren, William, Danny and Kirsty.

McENTEE, Rita. 20/5/1918 -4/9/2003. Alovely encouraging mum who Icould never get anything past. ANana to Madeleine, Maleigha, Desiree and Michael, who was everything you could dream your nana to be. You would have been in your element with the great grandchildren. Chris Glaubitz and families.

Attentionturns to Battle of Britain

SOCCER

LVSL

BY LAURIE WILLIAMS

THE lastround of theLatrobe Valley Soccer League season was held at the weekend.

Fortunaclaimed the league title, while other teams completed their campaigns, and will now look to the Battle of Britain Cup.

Round 22 matches saw Pegaus, as expected, do anumberonTyers.

The Lightningstruggledthis season, and held onto last position by asolitary goal.

Pegasus had four goals on the board within nine minutes to establish asolid lead.

Germaine Otieno was again making adash for the golden boot award and with his five goals finished

on equal terms with Connor O’Hanlon from Moe on 24.

Pegasushad five goals up to halftimeand finished the regular season on ahigh with another four in the second half to finish with a9-0 victory.

Pegasus’ first goal at one minute was the fastest of the season, and in doing so, brought up Tyers’ 100th goal scored against them this season.

OLYMPIANSscoredtheir biggest ever win over Churchill.

Olympians smashedthe Rams 7-1,with Churchill’ssolitarygoal the only thingkeeping them from taking out the wooden spoon.

Olympians led by three goals beforeChurchill brought one back, but from then on it was aone team contest as Olympians ran amok to score four more times.

Mohamad Taleb and Jayden Steele both scored

braces, while Ollie Saliba and Dylan Dunstall also scored.

BATTLE OF BRITAIN CUP

FALCONS,still sorry and sorefrom losing to Fortuna, and with it, the LVSL championship, face up to Monash in the cut-throat first round of the Battle of Britain Cup this Saturday afternoon at 3pm.

On SundayatMoe, the home side will be defending their 2022 title against Pegasus.

SHOPWELL TROPHY (Reserves)

 FALCONS VS MONASH (SATURDAY 12.30PM)

 MOE VS PEGASUS (SUNDAY 12.30PM)

BROWNE –HUIZERCUP (WOMEN)

 NEWBOROUGH/YALLOURN VS EAST GIPPSLAND (SATURDAY 10AM AT FALCONS SYNTHETIC)

 MONASH VS CHURCHILL (SUNDAY 10AM)

 MOE VFALCONS (SUNDAY 10AM)

GOLDEN BOOT AWARDS

Seniors: 26 -ConnorO’Hanlon (Moe), Germaine Otieno (Pegasus)

Reserves: 39- HarleyRobinson (Moe)

2nd Division: 20 -LukeWilson(Sale Green)

Women: 39 -Anouk Meereboer (Sale)

Moe to play Traralgoninhockey preliminary final

HOCKEY

By JEN SUTTON

LATROBE Valley Hockey Association local finals were played under sunshine on Saturday. The day beganwith the juniorsplaying their last gameofthe year. Their presentation night saw the juniors celebrated for their achievements this year.

CharlotteSnell was awarded the Under 7coaches award, while Zahli Johnson was the most improved Under 7for the 2023 season.

CadenceGodfrey and QuintonMorganwere the best-and-fairest in the Under 10s, and Wyatt Cobbledick the runner-up. Harry Rohde and Lily Snell received the coaches awards and BK Smith the most improved.

The Under 15 best-and-fairest went to Aiden Muir with the runner-up Sanne Schelfhout. The coaches award for most improved went to Jack Morley.

Moe and Churchill played in theelimination final Moe’s Bec Cheater created many scoring opportunities, and they found themselves 2-0 up early in the game.

Churchill was able to settle withsomegreat saves from Claire Goodwin. Moe’s defence wasstrong, andtheir forwards passed the ball well. Churchill fought the game out to the end, with Moe taking the game 3-1.

Winning end forRed Devils

SOCCER LVSL

BY JOHN CARDONA

MOE United finished the 2023 Latrobe Valley SoccerLeague season withalocal win over Newborough/Yallourn United.

The Red Devils defeated the Combine 5-2 at Burrage Reserve on Sunday.

halftime whistle when aMoe United clearance fell to Shayne Pavich, who’s shot gave Peter Albanese no chance.

The second half was less eventful, and it took up to the 70-minute markwhenaCombine scramble clearancefelltosubstitute Harley Robinson to make it 5-1 Red Devils.

Future stars: Latrobe ValleyHockey Association juniorscelebrated theirseason recently.

Goal scorers were Bec Cheater (two) and Louise Watson for Moe, and Kara North for Churchill.

Best players for Moe were Erin Howlette, Bec Cheater and Hayley Cake.

Best players for Churchill wereKellyMcLauchlan, Leandra McLauchlan and Nicole Ijpelaan. Moe will play Traralgon in the preliminary final this Saturday.

The outcome of the match was put beyond doubt after Moe United handed out afirst half football lesson, going into the break with a4-1 lead.

Moe United midfielders Noah Kane, Matt Shearing, Connor Dastey and Campbell Dastey were dominating possession, giving forwards Connor O’Hanlon and Riley Winkleman plenty of opportunities to score.

Joe Stewart created Moe’s first chance when his pin-point cross found O’Hanlon, who’s headed attempt went narrowly over the crossbar.

The Combine defence was under heavy pressure, and O’Hanlon’s run down the right saw his cross met by Winkleman, only to see his attempt go inches wide.

United’s pressure eventually paid off when a Kane cross saw O’Hanlon superbly hit achip volley, giving the Newborough/Yallourn keeper no chance. Soonafter, the constant pressuretook its toll and MoeUnitedwent2-0 up whenaCampbell Dastey crosswas only partially cleared and Shearing latched onto the loose ball to hammer his shot home.

Kane was involved in United’s third goal whenhis well-timedcross was slotted home by Winkleman.

United were intent on putting the result beyond doubt,and the ever-dangerous O’Hanlon sentaperfectpasstoCampbell Dastey, who sprayed his attempt well wide.

O’Hanlon again created agreat chance when he made asustained run toward goal and hit a powerful drive, which was palmed down by the Combine keeper, but the ever-alert Winkleman tapped home asimple chance to make it 4-0.

The Combine managed to get agoal just on the

SCOREBOARD

GOLF

CHURCHILL &MONASH

Monthly Medal Saturday26th August

2023

A. Grade: Ad.West 20 72 nett

B. Grade: S. Sanders2368nettMedal

D.T.L: 1. R. Madigan 74,2.B.Mathison

75, 3. C. Stevens 75, 4. W. Sutton76, 5. D.

Burridge 76

Scratch: D. Burridge 86

Putts: R. Madigan 25

N.T.P: 3rdPro-Pin:C.Warring,5th G.

Barnes,14th G.Barnes

Target Hole: D. Burridge:

Birdies: J. Sanders5th ,C.Warring 3rd

StablefordTuesday29th August 2023

Winner:

A. Grade: C. Warring 17 34pts

B. Grade: J. Blizzard3634pts

D.T.L: 1. C.Stevens 32pts,2.S.Caldwell

31pts

N.T.P: 3rdM.McQuillan ,5th L. VanRooy,

12th J. Blizzard, 14th S. Caldwell

MIRBOONORTH

Thursday, 31st August, Stableford.

AGrade: PWoodall (9) 37pts

BGrade: TomTraill(19)35pts c/b

DTL: RMatthews,A Liebe 36, DWoodall 35 c/b

NTP: 4th PCummaudo,6th TomTraill, 13th

SBickerton, 16th SBickerton.

Birdies: 4th PCummaudo

Saturday2nd September.Stroke, Star

Medal PlayOff,FlagDay

AGrade: PWoodall (9) 71nett.

BGrade: NBaker (25) 73 nett.

DTL: MPayne 71, ALiebe 73,D Woodall 74,P Smart, RMatthews 75,

NTP: 1st, DTaylor, 4th MPayne,6th M

Smith, 13th ALappin, 16th DJerram.

Birdies: 4th SMills,6th RMatthews,16th

DJerram, Star Medal winner: PSmart, (10) 75nett

FlagDay

AGrade: PWoodall

BGrade: MPayne

CGrade: NBaker

TRAFALGAR

Tuesday29/08/2023 Par

Players:21,Women 5, Men 16

Winner: RodBrisbane (+6)

Runner Up: Tony Price(+5)

DTL: SteveLawrence,Frank Edmonds, Chris Griffin, Roger Barnes

NTP: BevKeily

Bradmans: Tony Shearer

Thursday: 31/08/2023 4BBB Stableford

Players : 37,Women 11,Men 26

Winners: RobDeVries &John Dodorico (25 C/B)

RunnersUp: KeithOwen& JanGriffin (25)

DTL: Toby Davey/Sue Devries,Reg Barsdell/Nola Fordham, SteveGould/Chris Griffin, RonPike/Olwyn Balfour,Frank Edmonds/Vic Hill

NTP: JanGriffin,Russell Balfour

Bradmans: Alan Gray &Frank Kiss

Friday, September 1st 2023, Open Men’s&

Ladies Stableford

AGrade Winner: WarwickGriggs 37 pts

BGrade Winner: JoePedemont 38 pts

DTL’s: Mick Peel 36, John Butler 36, Mark Ando 35, PeterPankhurst 35, Andrew Shearing 35, Bob Baldry34, Symon Lee 33

Birdies: 2nd: Jack Henning 11th:MickPeel, Chris Hogbin 13th: WarwickGriggs,Paul Bechaz 15th:MarkAndo

Saturday, September 2nd 2023, Monthly

Medal Stroke

After 80 minutes, apenetrating run saw Ash Birrell beat two Moedefendersand despite being on his wrong foot,placedhis rightfoot shot past asprawlingAlbanese.

IN the reserves, MoeUnited waslooking dangerous in theopening20minutes,but Newborough/ Yallourn took full control of thematch,and ran out comfortable 4-0 winners in adominant display.

Harley Robinsonhowevermadeitback-to-back reserve league goal-scoringtitles, ending the season with 39 goals.

IN the women’s match, some clinical finishing from Newborough/Yallourn saw them run out 4-0 winners overthe ever-improvingMoe United.

Afew MoeUnitedplayers have announced their retirement. Harley Devlin, Nick Dastey, YorrickNicholson, Reg Poxonand George Aquilina have all been long-time,dedicatedand reliable Red Devils.

Moe United senior coach Kevin O’Farrell is set to see out the rest of the season, and in exciting news, Lee Dastey has accepted the position as senior coach for 2024.

Dastey has along association with the club, and has led Moe United to championship success before.

MOE UNITED SOCCER CLUB BEST AND FAIREST WINNERS 2023

Seniors: Tanner Pyle

Reserves: TullyAnderson(16-years-old)

Women’s: MileyCooper (13-years-old)

2nd Division: RegPoxon

Medal &A Grade Winner: NickGray67

nettC/B

BGrade Winner: Symon Lee 69 nett

ScratchWinner: StewartCluning 72 gross

DTL’s: StewartCluning 67,Paul Fogarty71, Bill Williams 71, AlexBlanck71, Anthony Gould 72, RickMellon 72, RonDavey 72, Bruce Aplin 72, ScottMcKinnon 73, Peter

Moss 73

NTP’s: 2nd: Paul Fogarty5th:Ron Davey

1: Heafield, Aaron 70

2: O’Mara, Paul 70

3: Clark,

5:

11th: Tony Shearer

13th:Bruce Aplin 15th: Nick Gray

Birdies: 5th: Bruce Aplin 11th:NickGray, Paul Fogarty, Tony Shearer,DickSheehan

13th: NickGray, Lockie Cornish 15th:Nick Gray

TRARALGON

SaturdayMen Stableford2nd September

2023 Overall Gross Winner

A: Heafield, Aaron 74 Grade Net Winners

A: Thomson, Corey 66

B: Larkin, Matt70

C: Lavery,Brooke72

D: Ezard, Peter71 RunDowns

Run: Moe’s Bec Cheater in action during the elimination finalagainst Churchill. Photographs supplied

Winning formula

SOCCER

URIE WILLIAMS

took out the Latrobe Valley Soccer mpionship with a 5-1 victory over nday e crowd at Falcons’ synthetic pitch, overcame some nervous moments

1, to eventually open the floodgates rst league championship since 2011 ded a draw to claim the title, while o option but to win match that saw Falcons finish the with nine players after send offs in 48th and 93rd minute respectively, e was no beg pardons as the two led for not only the championship also the Danny Malarkey Trophy rtuna controlled the first half with inual shots towards goal keeping rles Simon under pressure Four shots that were potential

goals were gobbled up by the keeper The referee was busy sorting out players who were tackling hard, and by halftime, quite a few players were on yellows Fortuna was quick to grab the spotlight when Hayden Tanti, after a solid run, crossed to Damon Scott who buried the ball to open the scoreline at the 22-minute mark Fortuna were strong in defence with their back three keeping the Fortuna strikers beyond range Tom D’Alia and Kevin Carcella were gaining plenty of possession for Falcons, but Fortuna was able win the ball more frequently Jordan Campbell, who had previous shots at goal, was rewarded at 46 minutes to give the Orange Lions a 2-0 buffer Falcons’ Jamie Pistrin was given his marching orders at 48 minutes as Falcons were reduced to 10 players Players were subdued in the second half, afraid to collect more yellow cards, but still, the play was intense Tanti was busy for Fortuna and twice in succession his shots at goal were saved At the other end, Fortuna keeper Con Mavrofridis was rarely tested as Falcons were limited to wild shots that went wide

Fortuna went on the attack and missed but on the rebound Falcons were able to break free to score through sub Nick D’Allesandro at 71 minutes

This made things very interesting as Falcons now had a window to drawing the match

However, a few minutes later, Fortuna replied through Tanti (who was having a blinder of a game) and Scott, to make it 3-1

This goal gave Fortuna breathing space, and with plenty of time to play, the Lions slammed through two more goals to make sure of it

DJ Matar from the right went one on one with the keeper and lobbed it over his head to give the Lions a 4-1 vantage

Over the next eight minutes, Fortuna scored again to make it 5-1 and with a minute to play Falcons lost captain Toby Capp after his second yellow card

There was double delight for Fortuna, with their reserves winning 3-1, and also taking out the championship, making it back-to-back titles

The moment they knew: With a virtually unassailable lead, Fortuna were afforded the opportunity to celebrate

Ours: Fortuna get their hands on the championship trophy for the first time since 2011

Done deal: Damon Scott celebrates after putting Fortuna 3-1 up

All in: Players embrace with family and friends after the game

Pause and reflect: Fortuna playing-coach Hayden Tanti addresses the crowd postgame

Feeling: With the leaguechampionship on the line, tempersflared on Sunday between Fortuna and Falcons,asseven yellowsand tworeds were handedout.

Footwork: Hayden Tanti lookstoget the ball backintoadangerous spot

Leader: Fortuna captain Jordan Campbell in action. Campbellhas hadanenjoyable 2023, with asoccer flag to go with acricket one forMorwell CricketClub earlierthisyear

Full song: Past Fortuna president Danny Maccaffertysingsthe praises of the team

Options: Jamie Maxwell prepares to throw the ball back in

Peppering: Fortuna kept Falcons’ defence in check, with numerous shots on goal.

Skill: DJ Mataronhis waytosealingthe LVSL championship forFortuna witha fourth goal to make thescore4-1

Photographs: Liam Durkin

Launch: Daniel Cooper boots the ball forward.

Jobhalfdone: With a2-0 lead, Fortuna players head to therooms forthe main break.