Gippsland Times Tuesday 10 September 2024

BOMBER BLITZ

Boisdale-Briagolong defeated Lucknow15.17(107) to 11.9 (75) in the EGFNL senior football grand finalonSaturday. It wasthe Bombers’ first senior premiership since claiming the flaginthe former Riviera league in 2001.

REPORTSINSPORT

Photo: ErikaAllen

LOCALSWARNED AMID RISE IN DOG ATTACKS

David

Braithwaite

LOCAL residents havebeenwarned to be aware of dogs, and for dog owners to keep their petssecure, followinganattackonanelderly man at Wurruk last week.

It comes as WellingtonShire Council confirms an increase in reporteddog attacks in the shire this year. On Friday morning, the man was on his daily walkwhen what was described as acattledog charged out of an open gateand bit him on the lower leg.

The man was takentoalocal clinic to have his wounds cleaned and havethe appropriate shots, before spending three days in hospital on antibiotics.

The man’s wife, who did not wish to be named, told the Gippsland Times he wasnow home recovering.

“He’s been knocked around, he’s a bit lethargic,” she said.

“He’s getting better.”

The man’s wife said people should be aware of dogs, especially in areas like Wurruk which were popular with pedestrians.

“There are alot of youngmums out walking their babies,” she said.

She addedthat dog owners needed to ensure their pets were secured.

“Dog owners need to take responsibility of what they’ve got,” she said.

WellingtonShire Councilwas informed of the incident, with a council spokesperson confirming to the Gippsland Times that itsrangers were actively investigating and

followinguponarecent dog attack, and working closely with the victim throughoutthe process

“The victim is currently recovering from his injuries and is expected to contact council for further action once he has fully recovered,”the council spokesperson said.

“Rangers have visited the property where the incident occurred and are working with the dog owner to address the situation. Next steps will be determined once the victim is ready to proceed and engage with council.”

The councilspokespersonsaid there had been anotable increase in reported dog attacks this year, with 46 incidents recorded compared to 32 in the same period last year.

In thepast six months, council has

recorded15seriousattacks,with four on people, threeonother dogs, five on livestock and three on chickens.

Over the same period, there have been10non-serious attackson people, 10 on other dogs and one on livestock, while there have been six rush incidents on aperson.

There were four undetermined outcomes -three on people and one on achicken.

“Most attacks occurred when dogs escaped from their properties, highlighting the need for proper containment. Additionally,seven attacks were reported within homes or on properties by family dogs, emphasising the importance of care when children or visitorsare around pets,” the spokesperson said.

Speaker visits local schools

THE Speaker of the House of Representatives

Milton Dick has visited seven schools across Gippslandaspart of his national efforttobuild awareness of the role of federal parliament and to encourage students to participate in our democracy.

Mr Dick was invited to the region by Member for Gippsland Darren Chester, who is also aregular visitor to localschools where he discusses civics andcitizenship with students.

“It’sall about being accessible to the students so they can gain an understanding of our parliamentary process and ask questions about our jobs,”

Mr Chester said.

“I invited the Speaker to talk about his role in parliament and how the democratic process works.

“As Presiding Officer, the Speakerchairsthe

THE Sale Alpaca Show will be held this Sunday at the Sale Showgrounds.

The show has attractedmore than 50 alpaca entries.

Judging by Lee Sadler, from South Australia, gets under at 9am in the horse stable shed.

Therewill be suri and huacaya alpacas in colours ranging from white through to black. Fleeces will

meetings of the House of Representatives and ensures they are conducted in an orderly manner and according to the provisions of the Constitution and the standing orders,whichare the written rules of the House.

“He is effectively the umpire of thechamber, and he does his job with authority, impartiality, fairness and good humour.

“Milton has been an excellent Speaker, and the students welcomed the opportunity to learn more fromhim and ask us aboutthe more difficult parts of our jobs.”

The two Members of Parliament visited schools in Churchill, Woodside, Sale, Lindenow, and Orbost while alsoinspecting facilities at the EastSale RAAF Base and meeting local business owners.

also be judged and on display.

There will be fleeces for sale, as well as related alpaca goods including halters and information.

The event will be achancefor anyone interested in either using the fleece or having some alpacas, to also meet breeders.

For more information phone Jen on 0412 383 655.

Tinamba church centenary

On

Morning tea will follow the service. All are warmly invited to attend and welcometotakethe opportunity to dress in period costume.

Anyone with connections to the church who may have any photos or memorabilia which could be added to the display can phone Nell Hewat on 0407 451 428, Pam

on 0408 301 062 or Rev. Heather Cahill on 5148 2780.

The Speakerofthe House of Representatives Milton Dick (in theback, wearing abrown jacket) and Federal Member forGippsland Darren Chester (backrow, left), withGuthridgePrimary School grade five and six studentsand principal Emily Streitberg Photo: Contributed

THE foundation stone for the St Matthew’s Soldiers Memorial Church, Tinamba,was laid on Anzac Day, 1923, by Rebecca Mills.

September 3, 1924, at aservice officiated by the second Anglican Bishop of Gippsland George Cranswick and supported by alarge congregation, the church was licensed, consecrated and opened free of debt. To celebrate 100 years of faithful worship, current Bishop Richard Treloar will preside at aspecial service this Sunday from 10am.

Roberts

Briagman busted illegally hunting

ABRIAGOLONG man has beencaught with a spotlight, an unsecured firearm and ammunition in recognised deer habitat at night. The man was intercepted by Game Management Authority officers and police during recent night patrols in East Gippsland. Further investigations at the man’s property determined he was also in possessionofahog deer head withouttagsand is alleged to have been deer hunting while unlicensed.

Several items were seized including afirearm, ammunition, hunting equipment and the hog deer head. Afurther investigation is underway. It is an offence to hunt game without avalid Game Licence. When travelling through recognised deer habitat at night, spotlights (including thermal devices) must not be in use and firearms and ammunitionmust be storedsecurely and separately.

Fearsfor bushfire andforestry jobs

Stefan Bradley

NATIVE timber harvesting in Victoria may have shut down, butthat jobaxe keeps swinging, with the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DECCA) set to slash over 200 bushfire and forestry jobs.

This wasfirst reported last week by the Weekly Times

Despite announcing additional support packages for timber workers about ayear ago to benefit communities in places such as Heyfield and Yarram, DEECA’sproposed positional impact summaryshowsthe government department is expecting to employ 1717 people in the Bushfire and Forest Services Group (BFS) in the future, down from 1925. This is acut of 208jobs, with118 of those from ForestFire Management (FFM).

StateMember for Gippsland East Tim Bull, said the revelation was “dreadful news on two fronts”.

“The first is the human element.Intowns like Orbost, Omeo, Heyfield, Bairnsdaleand Yarram that have FFM workers, it creates agreat deal of uncertainty,” Mr Bull said.

“These are communitiesthat have been impacted by the ridiculous decision to close our native timber industry, and now the government plans to cut more jobs which will further impact these local economies.

“The second point is the lack of fuel reduction burning has allowed fuel loads to hit very dangerous levels again and it has left us very vulnerable, which indicates they learned nothing from the 2019-20 fires.

“Butontop of that, thegovernment’s response is to make cuts to those who are theretoprotect us.

“Bottom line on thisis, when you allowfuel loadstobuilduptothe levels they are again, it can only end one way in summer, there is no other possible outcome and Labor has now made it worse by weakening the frontline.”

The timber industry officiallyclosed on January 1this year.

Heyfield Timber Festival Committee president FeliciaStevenson described the state government cutting these jobs ahead of the fire season after shuttingdownthe native timber industry as an “absolute disgrace”.

“Everything seemstobefor Melbourne and nothing forregional Victoria,” Ms Stevenson told the Gippsland Times

“All of our tiny timber towns are the ones that are suffering big losses.”

“I think people should be worried. Look at the bushnow.You go foradrive, it’s just the fuel load everywhere,” she said.

“We don’t have the machinery now to go and fightit. Some of thesetracks (are) probably already overgrown from not having the logging contractors in there working.

“We’rejust not going to have theresources there to be able to fight it. Or they are going to actually call in for firefighters over in America to come over and help us?”

With parliament resuming this week, Mr Bull said he would push for these job cuts from the “largely do-nothing bureaucrats who sit at office desks in Melbourne and are not taken from front line positions in our communities”.

According to the Weekly Times,the Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos said that DEECA was in discussions with staff about “a proposed new model that will deliver value for Victorians and ensure we have the right people working on the right things -including making sure our communities can continue to enjoy the great outdoors, while protecting what we all love about the bush”.

“We will maintain astrongregional presence across Victoria,” Mr Dimopoulos said.

DEECA documents state that “functions and people” from the shuttered VicForests have been transferred to DEECA.

They also says the department plans to “take the opportunity from the consolidation of the FFMVic fire program and the end of native timber harvesting, and become amore integrated forest and fire land manager”.

TWO men have beencharged in relation to aseries of burglaries and theft of firearms in the Seaton, Glenmaggie, Port Albertand Carrajungareas between April and July.

Followingafive-month investigation,Wellington Crime InvestigationUnit detectivesarrested a 52-year-old Traralgonman and a42-year-old Woodside man.

TheTraralgon man has been charged with multiple offences including, burglary, theft, possessing and trafficking firearms, stalking, make threats to kill, possess child abuse material, solicit child abuse material, and other related offences.

The Woodside man has also been charged with multiple offences including, burglary, theft, possessing firearms in contravention of afirearm prohibition order, handlestolen goods, deal with the proceeds of crime, drug

trafficking, and other offences

Both men were remanded to appear at court at alater date.

Ms Stevenson expressed concern for the coming fire season, while acknowledging she was unsure of what specificpositions wouldbeaffected within the BFS.

Financial pressures may be afactor in these job cuts, as written throughout the documents are intentions to cut costs, increase efficiency and stay within a“sustainable budget envelope”. BFS staff and functions are on-site at 99 regional sites, according to the documents. The documents state that DEECA proposes to “implement aVoluntary Departure Package scheme in winter 2025”.

Ahog deer head,afirearm and ammunition were among the items seized by GMA officers and police.

Photo: Contributed

Heyfield Timber Festival organiser and life-long residentFelicia Stevenson. Photo: File

Gippsland Line upgrade blow-out

Philip Hopkins

THE state government is under pressure from the oppositiontoexplainamorethan$340million blow-out in the cost of the Gippsland rail line upgrade, as the first train from the order of new, locallymaderegional trains has started taking passengers.

Memberfor Narracan Wayne Farnhamsaid the federal Department of Infrastructure had confirmed the cost of the totalupgrade had now reached $878.1 million. This was in contrast to the original estimate of $530 million, which included $95 milliontoreplace the old Avon River bridge at Stratford.

The department's figures showedthe federal government was contributing $738 million and the state government $140 million to $150 million.

"The massive blow-out is even more astounding, given the project scope has reduced with the Victorian Labor government removingthe promised duplication of track overthe Bunyip River,"Mr Farnham said.

Mr Farnham said the federal government had had to open the cheque book to bail out the state government's mismanagement of this project.

"The Premier, who was formerly Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, needs to front my community and explain how this... blow-out occurredand after six years of delays, cancellations and replacementbuses, what improvements if any will actually be deliveredwhenthis project is finally completed," he said.

Mr Farnham said commuters would be outraged at thecostgiven there were no guarantees abetter service would be delivered as aresult.

While new trains have started taking passengers on the Gippsland Line, questions arebeing askedastowhy upgradecosts to the line have blownsofar from initial estimates.

Photo:File

"This project started in 2018 and Gippsland V/ Line commuters have faced cancellations, delays, disruptions and replacement buses for more than six years. Now we find not only is the project late, but it is also hundreds of millions of dollars over budget," he said.

"Worst of all for commuters, we still have no idea what the promised improvedtimetabling will look like, what additional services we will receive, or if there is even any additional V/Line carriages to be allocated to improve service."

Shadowtransport infrastructure minister David Southwick said the failure of the state government to properly upgrade the line meant Gippsland commuters would be left with asecond-rate service compared to other regional centres.

Flying foxescaught in netting

WILDLIFE authorities are putting the spotlight on the shocking extent of grey-headed flying-fox injuries and deaths from illegal netting entanglements, as organisationsunite to educate community gardenersabout wildlife-friendly fruit treenetting ahead of the spring growing season.

In the first six months of 2024, Wildlife Victoria recordedmore than 110 casesinvolving flying foxes caught in illegal household netting, exceeding the total number of cases reported in all of 2023.

Licensed wildlife carers also rescued and rehabilitated more than 400 flyingfox pups between July 2023 and June 2024. These incidents were reported to the Conservation Regulatorand wildlife experts suspect that manyofthe pups endedup in care after being separated from their mothers, many of whom were likely to have been entangled in household fruit tree netting.

The ConservationRegulator, Zoos Victoria, RSPCA Victoria, Wildlife Victoria and Animal Welfare Victoria have partnered to address the dangers illegal household netting poses to wildlife, especially native bat species, and remind household growers to use safe, compliant fruit tree netting.

Since September 2021,ithas been illegal in Victoria to use or sell household fruit tree netting withameshsizebiggerthan five by five millimetres, as larger mesh netting is more likely to entangle, distress, and seriously injure or kill animals. To help checkifnetting is compliant, try poking a fingerthrough the mesh and if it can pass through, then it’s too big.

Community membersshould remove and stop using non-compliant netting immediately.

In addition to using netting with alegal mesh size, experts also encourage using white-coloured netting withacross-weave design to help nocturnal animals see and avoid it at night; tightly securing netting to aframe or tree trunk to prevent trapping terrestrial species, and protecting selected branches

with fruit bags or sleeves, rather than netting the whole tree.

Chief Conservation Regulator Kate Gavens said household fruitgrowerswere being urged to ensure they understood the law and have compliant fruit nettingwhichprotectednativewildlifeand their householdfruit trees.

"A small change to your netting can make abig difference to the welfare of animals like grey-headed flying-foxes,” she said.

ZoosVictoria acting chief executive Dr Sally Sherwen said grey-headed flying foxes flew thousands of kilometres in ayear to search for food and pollinate awide variety of plants, supporting important habitatfor other animals like koalas and possums.

"By protecting the health and wellbeing of one species, we can help to ensure afuturefor an entire eco-system,” she said.

If community members find aflying-fox trapped in fruittree netting, call an experienced, vaccinated wildlife rescuer to assist. They should not attempt to touch or handle it themselves.

To find arescuer, phone 136 186 or use the Help for InjuredWildlifeTool at www.wildlife.vic.gov.au/hfiw

For more information on how to protect both householdfruit trees and wildlife, visit www.wildlife.vic.gov.au/managing-wildlife/ wildlife-and-fruit-trees

"The Allan Laborgovernment have failed at every turn for Gippsland commuters. When they built SkyRail, they did not install adedicated line for Gippsland services," he said.

"Whentheyupgraded stations on the Gippsland Line,hardly any new car parks were added. And whenthey announced the Gippsland Line upgrade, they promised to deliver duplicationofthe Bunyip River bridge to improve frequency and reliability.

"They have failed Gippsland commuters and regional communities will be outraged to now hear not only are they missing out on these upgrades, but they are also paying more to do so.

"Labor cannot manage projects, they cannot manage money, and it is Victorians who are paying the price."

Agovernment spokesperson told the Warragul Gazette that works on the GippslandLine -100 kilometresofupgradedtrack -were forging ahead, with commissioning of the line between Pakenham and Drouin completed six days ahead of schedule.

"Passengers can now enjoy the use of the second platforms at Bunyip and Longwarry as well as the 30 new car parks at Bunyip,"the spokesperson said

The Gippsland Rail Line upgrade includes track, signalling and 28 level crossing upgrades. It will also deliver second platforms at Bunyip, Longwarry, Morwell and Traralgon stations; duplication of the track between Bunyip and Longwarry, and sections near Moe, Morwell and Traralgon; deliver signalling upgrades at Traralgon; relocate the stabling facilities at Traralgon; and extendthe crossing loop at Morwell.

Early works to upgrade the Gippsland Rail Line began in March 2018.

The disputecame as the first new train -VLocity train number 119 -had is the first of 23 new trains

ordered as part of a$601million investment in this year's state budget. The government said it had invested $219 million in almost200 additional weekend V/Line trainservices that would progressively run in the coming years.

Public and Active Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams said this order of VLocitys was replacing the longest serving Classic Fleet trains -boosting Victoria's VLocity fleet to 141 trains once the rollout was complete.

"The extra trains will deliver more reliable journeysonthe Geelongand Bacchus Marsh corridors, and will also help lift capacity on the Melton line by 50 per cent, with nine car services to be introduced following the completion of the Melton Line upgrade," she said.

Ms Williamssaidthe new trains featured improved accessibility, withsix spaces in each three-car set for wheelchair or mobility scooter users and space for up to six bicycles. Anew train will roll off Alstom's Dandenong production line aboutonce amonth,with the project supporting around500 jobs.

The reliability of the new trains will be boosted upon the completion of the South Dynon Train Maintenance Facility Upgrade, which is increasing maintenance capacity and ensuring that as much of the VLocity fleet is available to deliver services.

Ms Williamssaidthe state government had invested more than $9 billion in rolling stock and supported infrastructure since 2014, supporting around 10,000 local jobs directly and through the supply chain.

"More Victorians than ever are choosing regional rail travelthanks to our fare cap, and we're responding to this increased popularity with new trains and extra services," she said.

Coastal floodplanning leaveslandownersinlimbo

CHANGES to state government future flood planning have left the owners of vacant coastal land anxiously waiting to find out whether they will be allowed to build on their properties.

The planning scheme amendment results in achangetostate planning policy that requires all planning decisions along the Victorian coastline to consider asea level rise of at least 80 centimetres.

Member for Gippsland South Danny O’Brien tooktoparliamenttoask the state government to clarify how this would affect impact vacant landholders in anumberofGippsland coastal communities.

“I’veasked for confirmation on whether homes will be allowed to be constructed at all on vacant lots where floodingmay occurifthe sea level was to rise 0.8 metres,” he said.

“Wellington Shire has recently sent out letters to potentially-impacted landholders advising that this change may result in the relevant authority, the WestGippsland Catchment Management Authority, opposing future planning applications in flood prone coastal areas.”

Mr O’Brien said there was concern planning permits mayberejected even when the land itself wouldnot be subject to flooding,but where roads to and fromthe property may flood when allowing for the 80cm sea level increase.

“These planning changes will no doubt raise serious concern among people who are planning to build ahouse in locationssuch as Loch Sport, Golden beach, Paradise Beach and McLoughlins Beach.

“Ourlocal governments deserve leadership from the state government on how these changes will impact future planning decisions for their towns, butmost particularly landowners will want clarity.

“I appreciateweare facing increasing challenges with flooding, particularly in coastal areas, and we have to plan development carefully for the future. But clarity and acommon sense approach is needed.”

Mr O’Brien said the government must provide clarity on the impact of thesechangesasa matter of importance.

The Gippsland Times has asked the government for aresponse.

Photo: Member forGippsland SouthDanny O’Brienisseeking clarity on development approvals for coastal locations.

Upgrades forStratford, Saleplaygrounds

WELLINGTON Shire Council is undertaking workstoupgrade Stratford Memorial Park and Sale Lions Park.

The Stratford Memorial Park playspacewas identified as needing an upgradeaspart of council’s playground renewal program. The upgrade will begin early next month, after the school holidays, and include the removal of outdated play equipment to make way for new equipment, as well as other improvements.

The timberfort structure will be removed and replacedwith anew fort design and spinner. The restofthe existing components at Stratford Memorial Park will stay where they are positioned. The timber swing will stay open for use during construction.

Residents can use Stratford Apex Park on Apex Park Rd as an alternative play area while works are completed.

Sale LionsPark on McLachlan St will be fully closed after the Septemberschool holidays, with security fencing to be installed around the site. The whole structure will be removed and will be replaced with one based on anew design.

Wellington Shire mayor Ian Bye saidhewas thrilled to see these works underway.

“We’re excited to bring these much-needed

upgrades to Stratfordand Sale’splay spaces.

These upgrades will create asafer, more engaging environment for children and families,” he said.

“We’reconfident that the new playspaces will provide afantastic experience for everyone. These playgrounds willoffer multiple activitiesfor arange of ages and abilities.

“Both parks will allow children to learn and become more involved with the natural environment and be physically active.Wehave also introduced more shaded areassothat children are protected from the harsh Australian elements.

“The upgradewillhelp promote community connectedness and will bring families, visitorsand tourists to our beautiful towns.”

There will be no access to the Sale Lions Park playspace while the installation of the new equipment and associatedconstruction is underway.

Securityfencing will be installed around the construction area.

Council is encouraging families to utilise play equipment at nearby Brennan Park on Desailly St while facilitiesare closed throughoutthe construction period.

The upgrades are plannedtobecompleted in time for the spring school holidays.

Pupils wear PJsatschool

What’sbetterthanwearing your pyjamastoschool?

Wearing your pyjamasto school to raise moneyfor local charity ABetter Life ForFoster Kidsiswhat. Schools and businesses across Wellington embraced Gippsland’s Biggest PJ Day last Friday, including Araluen Primary School students

Octavia Arrebola, Maddi Grew, Danian Rames and AvaGrew. More in Friday’s Gippsland Times. Photo: ErikaAllen

Bespoke model for Yarram pool

ErikaAllen

WELLINGTON Shire Council and the Yarram Pool User Group Committee havecrafted anew ‘bespoke’ operating model for the pool to incorporate the community’s desire for an extended season. A1600-signature petition submitted to the council in February expressed thedesirefor alonger season.Atthe time, it asked for an extension to 2023-24, whichthe council honoured and extended until April 1this year.

The council also announced in May it would review and recalibrate the pool’s operating model in preparation for the 2024-25 season.

The resultofthis is that the summer season will begin on November 25 and will run for 19 weeks until April 6, 2025. The temperature trigger operating model will also be scrapped.

“We’ve carefully considered the feedback from the Yarram community and have developed a model that balances community desires with the

practicalities of pool operations,” Wellington Shire mayor Ian Bye said in amedia release.

“Our goal is to ensure that all of our pools remain avaluable community asset while managing resources responsibly,” he said.

However, at Tuesday’s councilmeeting, Northern Ward councillor John Tatterson said the Yarram Pool was being treated as a“special” case and communities like Maffra, Stratford and Heyfield were disadvantaged.

“The YarramPool is now being treated as special or at ahigher levelthan certainly the MaffraPool.

For 28 years of (the) Wellington Shire –the first 28 years –the Maffra and Yarram pool had the same operating hours,” he said.

“And now we see that because of some community angst and the community coming forward -which Icongratulate them on their efforts -they’ve been givenahigherlevel of access to their swimming pool than what certainly the Maffra Pool has.”

Cr Tatterson said Yarram’s pool had lower attendance last season, even with extended hours, than

Maffra and Stratford. Despite Stratford achieving higher attendance with fewer hours, he said the ‘bespoke’ Yarram model seemed unfair as it disadvantaged Stratford.

When the $960,000 ‘Warmer Pool for Yarram’ project wascompleted in 2022, the community –including frequent poolusers, Yarram Rotary Club, Yarram Neighbourhood House, local private learn-to-swim operators, as well as Coastal Ward councillors –met to discuss its future. Opportunities to increase learn-to-swim programs, implement dedicatedlap swimming times, and run aqua-based exercise classes came from these discussions.

The ‘bespoke’ operations model is apart of realising this.

But the debateatTuesday’s council meeting only highlighted the council’s challenge to operate and maintain six pools, which is at least two more than surrounding local government areas,including Latrobe, Baw Baw, East, and South Gippsland. Trying to balanceoperatinghours that arefair,as Cr Tatterson questioned, seems inevitable.

“It is true thatwe’ve got thechallenge with the number of pools we have here. We’ve got six outdoor pools in the Wellington Shire compared to two in Latrobe,two in East Gippsland,four in Baw Baw and four in South Gippsland,” Central Ward councillor Scott Rossetti said at council meeting. ButCrRossetti said the swimming pools were beingtreated equally.

“It’s fair to say that Yarram has adifferent servicedown there, but… the committee that we’ve developed down there who have been having considerable input into the process have actually approved closing two days per week in exchange for the different service levels,” Cr Rossetti said. The Yarram Pool will be open every day during the peak 2024-25 season (school holidays), but it willonly operateoff-peakonMonday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Cr Rossetti said the service level was aquid pro quo for their decision to close on certain days.

An upgrade to the playground in StratfordMemorialPark willincludethe removal of outdated playequipment to make wayfor new equipment Images: Wellington ShireCouncil

The playground at Sale LionsPark will be demolished and replaced.

Maffra localannounces candidacy

IT is atruism to say that everyone lives locally; nobody lives at the state or federal level.

What does this mean? It means that the quality of life in aparticular location -such as Maffra in the Wellington Shire -depends on many factors.

One of the most important is the quality of the representatives (shire councillors): their vision (if they have one) and their ability to implement it. There are aspects that councillors have the power to influence. Then, there are aspects that must be addressed by the stategovernment, and others that involve the federal government.

So,althoughinitiatives may be generated locally, they may need the support of the other two tiersof government. Our stateand federal representatives mustalsobeknowledgeable,competent, and willing to step up and advocate for us.

Our localgovernment (the shire council), on behalf of the residents, must persistently scrutinise, and hold the state and federal representatives strictly accountable, in an open and transparent manner. This is the only way to get things done. Who decides what should happen locally? Whose wishes should prevail regarding the quality of life that residents aspire to attain?

The answer is: the residents, through our local government. It must act as the eyes and ears -and in many instances, the knowledge and brains -of the entire community.

Competent, wise, knowledgeable, and courageous local councillors are therefore absolutely essential -and indispensable- for achievinga high quality of life for all.

At the urgingofseverallocals, Ihave decided to run as an independent candidate in the forthcoming Wellington Shire election.

Wellington Shire is agreat place to live, but it couldbebetter -and fairer -ifweemployed all our naturaland human resources in asmarter and more equitable way.

Iwill welcome the opportunity, to playmypart, in bringing aboutabetter, fairer,and more egalitarian local community.

If your readers would liketosupport or endorse my candidacy, or if they would like a PDF copy of my policies, they may contact me at chris.illy2709@gmail.com

Christos Iliopoulos

Maffra

Wellington Shire needsabalancedmix of industry,such as farming, and services to maintain its viability,according to acorrespondent

Mix of industry and services needed for shire's future

RECENTLY, Wellington Shire Council hadan online questionnaire to respond to the people's thoughts for the future of the shire to maintain its viability.

There needs to be abalancedmix of industry and services.

Wellington needs to maintain and grow its production and value adding advantage of food production such as dairying, vegetables and cropping.

We need to be aware the closure of the Maffra milk factory and loss of value adding ability and the associated employment.

We also need to be aware of the lossofraw product input to the value adding ability of the shires timber industry at Heyfield and Yarram.

The thought may be theemployment lossesto these industries at Maffra, Heyfield and Yarram can be replaced with the service,retail, and tourism industries. Service industries such as hospitals, health, garbage collection,road and infrastructure maintenanceetc., areall very importantfor our community, but they are acost to the community, yes, they are ahigh employer but still at acost.

To overcome the cost of services we need to promote more production and value adding industries to Wellington. The money flow within Wellington cannotrely on

the service industry to maintain Wellington. We need industry to take our raw products and value add for local and outside markets.

Maurie Killeen Stratford

Thanks for storm help

IWRITEtothank all in our community and beyond who provided help during the recent storms that saw strong winds and hail wreak havoc on many of our local communities.

Thank you also to the SES volunteers who answered the countless call outs for help and to the AusNet and local government maintenanceworkers who have beenand continue to work hard to assist with repairs and clean up in atimely manner.

Of course, as the clean-up efforts continue, my thoughts are with the manythat have gonewithout power for an extended periodand others navigating through insurance claims for costly repair bills.

Also, Ioffer atimely reminder that if you are without power and can’t see your fault showing on the AusNet Outage Tracker, you can report it online or by calling 13 17 99.

On behalf of all those affected and to everyone who hasplayed their part,I say very sincerely, thank you for your efforts.

Danny O’Brien State Member for Gippsland South

Be morewelcoming of people with dementia

WITH around two-thirds of people with dementia living in the communitythis Dementia Action Week (September 16 to 22), we are calling on all Australians to take action to make their communities more welcoming and accessible for peopleliving with dementia.

More than 421,000Australians are currently living with dementia, but this number is expected to increase to more than 812,500 by 2054. Alackofknowledge and understanding of dementia can lead to people living with dementia feelingexcluded and experiencing discrimination People living with dementia tell us they want to belong -they want to be part of their community and to feel valued.

That’s why this year’s theme for Dementia Action Week is ‘Act Now for aDementia-Friendly Future’. All peopleimpactedbydementia deserve to be supported and welcomed in their communities, no matter where they live.

So please, find out how you can influence change in your communitytocreateamore dementiafriendly future at dementia.org.au.

Merran Kelsall AO

Dementia Australia chairman

Bobby Redman

Dementia Australiaadvisory committee chairman

The GippslandTimes welcomes letters to the editor.

Preference will be giventobrief,concise letters which address local issues.

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

The Gippsland Times does not publish letters from anonymous contributors.

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Photo: File

Christensen running forcouncil

ErikaAllen

MAFFRA resident Kevin Christensen has announcedthat he will be acandidate in the Wellington Shire Council election.

Havinglived in Maffra for 19 years, Mr Christensen believed he had earned his status as a‘local’.

“One of the criteria for being alocal is raising a generation. I’ve done that, and the next generation is startingnow,so, Iconsider myself alocal,” he said,having recently becomea grandfather.

Mr Christensen said he lived in Sale for six and a half years while he worked at RAAF Base East Sale, where he completed acourse in air traffic control.

From there, he spent three years in New South Wales with the Air Force until moving back to the area where he and his wife Tracey raised their two daughters. They have lived in Maffra since 2005.

Mr Christensen initially felt astrongsense of community within the Air Force due to the base’s social environment and amenities. However, he and his wife Tracey soon realised there was abroader community beyond RAAF in which they wanted to be involved.

Joining groups like Neighborhood Watch was a start. Then, when his daughters were going through the Catholic school system, and neither had been baptised, Mr Christensen said he was baptised alongside them. It opened anew networkofpeople, he said, and he has been involved with Maffra’s Parish Pastoral Council since 2009.

“It started to comehometomethat thisliving in the country wasitwas aboutbeing involved,” he said.

Mr Christensenwas the former Maffra RSL Sub-branch president, arole he served in for two years.Now,heisvice-president and is responsible for running commemorative Anzac Day services, including for the township and Stretton Park. He was avolunteer basketball coach for the Maffra Eaglesand ateam parent when his daughters played tennisfor the Maffra LawnTennisClub, where he’s played socially for years.

“That wasaverygratifying activity, especially whenyou sawpeople actingthe right way,”hesaid about his role as team parent.

“You’re not only looking after your childrenin that role but trying to steer the other children in the team,boththe opposition and yourteam, to learn the game, learn how to be good people,(and) good sports people.”

Mr Christensen is on the MaffraFootball-Netball Club committee and volunteers to run the scoreboard at home games.Hewas introduced to the rec reserve’scommittee of management through theclub, whichhe’s been on for adecade.

When the Gippsland Times spoke to Mr Christensen in August,hesaidhewouldadvocate for upgradingthe rec reserve, specifically the change rooms and agymnasium for the club. He said if any facilities were built, considering other users like the Maffra Municipal Band, which currently practices in aconstrained space, would be critical.

Perhaps another reasonMrChristensen can call himself alocalisthat long-term residents approached him, suggesting he run for council.

For all his involvement in the community, he said residents want to hear his voice in adifferent environment.

“The community has looked after me; it’s looked aftermyfamily, and nowmaybe Ican starttolook afterthem,” Mr Christensen said about why he’s running for council this year.

“I love this place. I’ve lived all over the country, and Ichoosethis as my home and that’s aresult of the last 20 to 30 years. And if Ican possibly put alittle back into that and maybe up the ante on a few things, then that’s what Iwanttodo,”hesaid

Although Maffra is Wellington’s second most populated township, its last council representative was John Duncan, who served aterm in 2012.

Mr Christensen said that while Maffra has had effective representation fromNorthernWard councillors, residents havinga councillor to call their own would be reassuring.

“I think the main thing from people’s point of view is ‘OK. Well, we’ve got someone that we can call our own, we can go to them and know that they have our interest at heart.

“Havingsomeone to call theirown might give them greater hope, greater expectation of what might come out of it,” he said.

If elected, Mr Christensen said he would “obviously” advocate for Maffraand the Northern Ward, but ultimately recognised he would be “pro-Wellington Shire”.

Mr Christensentold the Gippsland Times there were “exciting opportunities” in the region, which he hoped to advocate for, including taking advantage of Gippsland’s prospective renewable energy projects.

Mr Christensen said renewable energy would be significant for the region’sfuture, creating jobs and investment.Healsosaidthe time was now to act. Having two adult daughters and with the next generation starting, he wants to ensure opportunities exist for them.

“We need to create aliveable society, which means taking care of these things,” he said.

Whereadvocating to the state and federal governments is concerned, Mr Christensen said he would embrace that opportunity as acouncillor.

He said Yarram has faced recent significant crimes, highlighting the needfor improved services like policing and medical facilities, especially as the town could benefit from renewableenergy developments. Mr Christensenemphasised the importance of advocating for these improvements and ensuring continued representation, evenfrom distant towns like Maffra.

Timing is everything, and whileMrChristensen had considered runningfor council in the past, his demanding schedule held him back. Now however, Mr Christensen said he’s “all but retired” with his commitment as an Air Force Reservist winding down.

“I don’t want to do it half-hearted. Iwant to be able to devote myself to the role,” he said.

He said part of this will involve speaking to people in the community to learn and understand their points of view.

“Listening to the locals and taking their ideas forward -Iwould see thatasone of the biggest

roles. You are the representative of the locals, and I’dlike to think that Ican sit down with people, talk things through, help where Ican help without makingany outlandish promises, and get those views across.”

Gippsland untouched in federal redistribution

THE federal electorate of Gippsland will be unchanged after the Australian Electoral Commission released its changes to Victoria’s boundaries.

Draft boundaries were released in May for public comment before the final outcome of the Victoria federalredistributionwas announced last week.The augmented electoral commission accepted the redistribution committee’sproposal to abolish the division of Higgins in Melbourne and modify the boundaries of 11 electorates. Gippsland, and the neighbouring electorate of Monash, were both considered to have anumber of electorswithinthe acceptable amount, and thereforeboundary changes were not proposed

Gippslandisconsidered the National Party’s safest federal seat in Victoria. DarrenChester, MP since winning a2008by-election, was reelected in 2022 with atwo-candidate preferred margin of 20.6 per cent.

Victoria went through aredistribution because the number of members of the House of Representatives it is entitled to has decreased from39to38due to slower rate of population growth compared to other states The changes will be officially determined and the reportinto the redistributionmade publicly available on October17. The newboundaries come into effect for the next federal election, due to be held next year.

Maffra resident of 19 years, Kevin Christensen, is running in this year’s WellingtonShireCouncil election.

Photo: ErikaAllen

food andentertainment court

demonstrations,competitions and food vans.

Free showentry forkids

CHILDREN will free entrytothis year’s Maffra Show on Saturday, October 26. This wasmadepossible by support from Community Bank Maffra and District.

Maffra Agricultural Societypresident Kath Coggan said full program was plannedover the three days of the day, with main feature on the Saturday.

“This year our new initiatives include an Asianthemedfood and entertainment court and fire show at the night carnival,” she said.

“’SchoolsFriday’ willagainbebusy students from local primary schools. Saturday is sure to delight crowds with rides, horses,cattle, chooks, pet parade, art and craft to name afew, and on Sunday,patrons

can come and enjoy the harness events.”

The food and entertainment court under the domewillcomealive withcooking demonstrations, competitions and seven food vans, including three Asian to coincide with the Asian themed food court. Therewill be musicstartingfrom10am, featuring Three Chain Road in the evening between 4pm and 7pm, while entertainment from Wacky Wombat will delight younger audiences. The night carnival will this year feature the new fire show and lawn mower races, family favourites smash up derby, woodchop and dog high jump, and the Maffra Mile with spectacular fireworks to finish. Formore information visit the Maffra Agricultural Show Facebook page.

Gardiner wins Leslie Prize

NEWCASTLEartist Peter Gardiner has been announced as the winner of the 2024 John Leslie Art Prize for landscape painting.

The announcement of the $30,000 acquisitive prize was made at the Gippsland Art Gallery’s Spring Launch on Friday in front of acapacity audience by Wellington Shire councillor Carolyn Crossley. Asecondary prize of ‘Best Gippsland Work’went to Fish Creek-based artist Linda Gibbs.

The biennial John Leslie Art Prize is one of Australia’s most prestigious prizes for landscape painting.

The prize was inauguratedin2000 and is named after the gallery’s patron John Leslie OBE (1919—2016). The continuation of this $30,000 acquisitive prize is made possible through the generous ongoing support of the John Leslie Foundation.

Atotal of 404 entries were received for the coveted national prize from all states of Australia.

Artists had the option to enter up to two paintingseach. In 2024,atotal of 52 paintings were shortlisted, and now have their artworksondisplay at the gallery until November 24.

The list of finalists includesworksbyleading and emerging artists from around Australia and spans awide range of styles and approachesfrom the field of contemporary landscape painting.

The judging panel of the John Leslie Art Prize comprised Australian contemporary artists Dr SamLeach and Juan Ford, Gippsland Art Gallery

associate curator and practicing artist Melanie Caple and gallery exhibitions and collections coordinator Dr Louisa Waters.

Peter Gardiner’swinning work, Elephant,was the unanimous choice of the judges. Theyfelt Gardiner’s command of his erasure technique and mastery of his medium was hard to surpass, and said that “furtherquotations of the arthistorical canon alluded to throughout the painting were highly sophisticated. The gravitas of the painting waspoised well next to itsplayful title Elephant andthe addition of glitter”.

In praising Linda Gibb’s work, AuroraOver Corner Inlet 11 May 2024,the judges commended the “atmospheric effect”, “with its translucent painterly surface, and timely piece capturing the recent climatic phenomena –afleeting moment of rare beauty”.

The winners will add their names to the growing hall of famefor the prize,and cement their place in Gippsland art history. Previous winners includeDavid Keeling (2000), Vera Möller (2002), Mark McCarthy (2004), Brigid Cole-Adams (2006), Andrew Mezei (2008), Jason Cordero (2010), Tony Lloyd (2012), Shannon Smiley(2014), Amelda Read-Forsythe (2016), Vanessa Kelly (2018), Sarah Tomasetti (2020), and Greg Wood (2022).

An exhibition of finalists is now on display at the Gippsland Art Gallery in Sale until November 24, with entry free.

GIPPSLAND GRAMMAR

Winnerofthe 2024John Leslie ArtPrize, ‘Elephant’byPeterGardiner

The MaffraShow’s

underthe dome willcome alive with cooking

Photo: Contributed

Howarobbery led to the postal service relocating from Airly school

AS Airly Primary School looks towards its centenary celebrations on Saturday, October 12, tales from the past are emerging.

Oneofthose, researched by amateur historian Daniel Parker-Estoppey, is of aseries of robberies and ajoyride through the region. This resulted in the relocation of the Airly Postal Service. Along with the usual roles of running aschool, Airly head teacher Vincent James Brennanalso had the responsibility of sorting and sending the local mail. That included working Saturdays until noon, whenhewould finish up by locking the postal cash box in acupboardinthe school building.

On Saturday, November 26, 1927, that cash box

contained achequefor £3/11/, about 10/ worth of stamps and postal notes to the value of about £6/9/. That equates to around $1000 of today’s money. Arriving at school the following Monday, Brennan found the cashbox outside with itscontents removed. The cupboard it had been locked in had been accessed by someone who had removed its screws. As it turned out, Airly State School was one of many victims in acrime spree more reminiscent of the modern day.

On Sunday, November 27, about 1.30pm, a 19-year-old teenager named Howlett, stole goods from acar in Dawson St, Sale. By midnight he

pushed the car of Dr Gustave A. Hagenauer out of the doctor’s garage and onto York St, Sale.

Dr Hagenauer’s large home was on the block that is Dan Murphy’s today.

Howlett then went for ajoyride that included Fulham, Maffra, Airly, Perry Bridge and Sale. He stole cash from A.J. Waugh’s garage in Maffra and then travelled to the Airly school.

He eventually abandonedthe stolen car in Dawson St.

While Brennan waslamenting thepostal robbery, Howlett cashed the postal check and bought adrink from Florence Hart’s fruiterer’s shop in Sale. He then secreted himself awayatthe Sale Showgrounds, where he intended to hide for some time before movingonto Maffra where Constables Davidson and Taylor arrested him.

When arrested, he was wearing an overcoat stolen from Reginald Quail. Quail, agoods clerk at the Maffra Railway Station, had his coat stolen fromatadance at the SaleMechanics'Hallseveral days before the other robberies.

On December 1, the toilets at the Prince Regent Theatre in Sale weresearched and the postal notes from the Airly postal service were found.

Howlett pleaded guilty and was committed for trial at the Sale Supreme CourtonMarch7,1928.

As aresult of the break-ins at Airlyand surrounds, the Postmaster-General’s Department deemed the offences serious enough to remove the postal facility from the school.

The postal service was relocated with the newlyestablished telephone exchange,tothe home of Airly soldier settler Henry Orchard.

Grants for groups

GWENFAHampton Pre-School, Sale; Stratford and District Angling Club; East Gippsland All Blacks Football-Netball Club; BairnsdaleFootball-Netball Club Big Freeze MNDEvent, and the Nowa Nowa Pony Club arethe latest recipients of atotal of $10,000 in community grants from Gippsland Critical Minerals.

GCM’s Community Grants program supports projects and initiatives in Sale, Bairnsdale and throughout Gippsland, with a focusonsupporting local educational, recreational, environmental, and social initiatives.

The program provides five $2000 grants each quarter, totalling $40,000 each year.

GCM’s JanetRobertson congratulated recipients and thanked them for their work.

“It’sexciting to support another five community groups doing amazing work in our local community," she said.

“Each of these grants will help local organisations that are doing so much to createa thriving community in Gippsland.

“GCMisworking hard to build links and engage local community members while we continue to examinethe FingerboardsCritical Minerals Project. Our community grants program is asmall part of involvementin the local community.”

Eligibility criteria and online applications for thenextround of grounds are available on theGippsland Critical Minerals website, gippslandcriticalminerals.com

 AFREE community meal will be held next Monday from 6pm at St John’s Anglican Church, corner Thomson and Church Sts, Maffra.

All welcome. Phone Christine on 0408 324 306 about dietary requirements.

 ST Matthew’s Soldiers Memorial Church, Tinamba, will celebrate 100 years of faithful worship on Sunday. Bishop Richard Treloar will presideat the centenary service, which will begin at 10am.Morning tea will followthe service. All are warmly invited to attend and welcomed to take the opportunity to dress in period costume.

Organiserswouldliketohear fromanyone with connectionstothe churchthat may have any photos or memorabilia which could be added to the planned display. Phone Nell Hewat on 0407 451 428, Pam Roberts on 0408 301 062orRev.Heather Cahill on 5148 2780.

 ADUNGEONS and Dragons group meets weekly at Maffra Neighbourhood House.

Takea journey into afantasy world every Sundayfrom 4pm until 7pm. Cost $3 per session, all materials supplied.

Friday Scribes meet fortnightly from1pm until 2.30pm.Nojudgement or expectation, justencouragementand advice in this casual creative writing group. Cost is only $2 per session.

 AMONTHLYgenealogy group meets on the third Tuesday of each month. Cost is only $2 per session.

Looking for an activity that meets weekly, fortnightly or monthly? PhoneMaffra Neighbourhood House on 0422 335 155.

The car of Dr Gustave A. Hagenauer was stolenand taken on ajoyride.

Arobbery at the Airly StateSchoolin1927 led to the relocation of the postal service in thetown. Photos:Contributed

ONE POINTERS

1. Where does Wile E. Coyote buy hisdynamite?

2. What is the name of the bloodthirsty St Bernard infected by rabies created by Stephan King?

3. What breed of dog was Lassie?

4. What is the name of the antagonist in Nightmare on Elm Street?

TWOPOINTERS

5. What is the proper name for the white whale?

6. Which Spice Girl was Melanie Chisholm?

7. What was the blue ninja turtle named?

8. What is the perimeter of acircle called?

THREE POINTER

9. John Wood and Lisa McCune starred in WHICH police drama series?

10 Which gas is lighter: hydrogen or helium?

11 Is the humerus abone in the upperorlower arm?

12 What is the third letter of the Greekalphabet?

FOUR POINTER

13 In music, what tempo is allegro?

14 To which fruit family does the Kumquat belong? FIVE POINTER

15 I’ll give you five hit songs, and you give me the artist? One point for each answer –1.Thunder Road 2. Champagne Supernova 3. Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous 4. Walk On The Wild Side 5. Hey Ya!

Howtoplay...

Using the 9letters in the grid, howmany wordsoffour letters or morecan you list? The centreletter must be included and each lettermay be used onlyonce No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural wordsending in ‘s’. Solution next Wednesday

Growth in Sculptures

REGIONAL Australia’s premier outdoor art exhibition, Sculptures in the Garden, will embark on its biggest year yet after receiving an unprecedented number of submissions.

Athird of the entries came from new artists who had never submitted their work before in the event’s 14-year history. The 2024 event will feature more than 250 artworks from 130 successfulartists, along with works from local kids in the SIG for Kids section.

Among the sculptors will be four from Gippsland, Gavin Roberts (Stratford), Paul Gennings(Fernbank), Graham Duell (Gelliondale) and Jeff Hyde (Jindivick).

Roberts will feature in sculpture demonstrations, where he will talk about his profession and answer questions.

Making the journey from all over Australia, renowned artists will flock to Mudgee in October for regional Australia’s most expansive outdoor art exhibition.

Scheduled for October 12 -27, this year’s exhibition, set in the picturesque Rosby Vineyard gardens, promises to be aremarkable showcase of creativity, innovation and talent.

This year, there willbeaspecial guestevent on Saturday, October 19, featuring author and editor of Galah magazine Annabelle Hickson, who will speak about and sign copies of her latest book, Galah -Stories of Life Outside the City

Founder and curator Kay Norton-Knight excited about thisyear’s line-up, which reinforced SIG’s commitment to supporting artists at various stages of their careers and to nurturing the vibrant art scene in Australia.

“The variety of work showcases the incredible range of creative talent in Australia. It promises to be an unforgettable event,” she said.

Sculptures in the Garden is anot-for-profit exhibition, with proceedsgoing to local charity

partners and the acquisition of sculptures for the Mudgeecommunity’s public arts initiative.

Since1983event founders Gerry and Kay Norton-Knight have worked to develop the garden, gallery and surrounds of Rosby Wines, where the not-for-profit event is held, creating amagical setting for thisnow-iconic event, which began in 2011.

All selected artworks will be eligible for the SIG and Mid-Western Regional Council Prize, a prestigious accolade accompaniedbya $30,000 award, while there willbetwo other prizes valued at $10,000.These three acquisitions will become part of the Mid-Western Regional Council public art collection.

The two-week event will feature live music and aselection of Mudgee’s finest food and wine, offeringafantastic day out for all visitors.

Thisyear therewill be akids sculpture exhibition, offering auniqueopportunity for children to get involved in the creative fun.

Tickets can be purchasedat www.eventbrite.com.au

Discover the power of reading

AT first glance, Paul-Émile Dumoulin seems like just aregular librarian. He is serious, proud and very orderly.

Everybook is in its place on his impeccable shelves.

The only problem? As soon as Paul-Émile gets his nose in abook, reality disappears, giving way to the slightly crazy worlds he discovers between the pages.

On hisadventures, the very sensible librarian metamorphoses. He suddenly turns into strange and silly characters who performacrobatics,

balancing, juggling, breakdancingand beatboxing.

Just how far will reading take him?

Performing at The Wedge today from 2pm and tomorrow from 11am and 1pm, The Librarian blends clowning, physical theatre and the circus arts.Itinvites young audiences to discover the passion of reading and the power of the imagination, which whisks readers away to faraway lands, on an adventure, or into aromance or thriller.

The Librarian is an hilarious show that will make you read.

Fleetwood tribute revisits

FOLLOWING astring of sold-out shows, don’t miss the chance to spend amagical evening with Australia’spremier Fleetwood Mac tribute.

Featuring amazing vocal performances from Sue Jones, Jordan Zand Debbi Arpini, with an all-star band including Rick Petropoulos (The Ferrets), Fallon Williams III (Humble Pie), Peter Valentine (Burns, Cotton &Morris)and Dave Hampton (The Australian Madonna Show),Fleetwood Max is often described as “theclosest thing to the real deal,” duetothe accuracy of the rhythm section andthe stunning harmonies that complete the authenticity of Fleetwood Mac’s sound.

JoinFleetwood Max,asittakesyou on an unforgettable journey, reliving the timeless hits of Fleetwood Mac and StevieNicks including Dreams, Go Your Own Way, Songbird, Rhiannon, Gypsy, Seven Wonders and Don’t Stop Fleetwood Max will be performingatThe Wedge, Sale, this Friday from 8pm.

Tickets cost $59for adults, and are available at www.thewedge.com.au

Briagolong’s new gallery exhibition

BRIAGOLONG Art Gallery will present its new exhibition White Feather,featuringnew works by Danny Waters.

The titleofthe exhibition wasinspired by ayarnwithUncle Kutcha Edwards.

Waters works from an overwhelming existentialpoint of view concerning cultural, environmental and social justice values, but he is learning how to bring his practice backtoa point of influencewithin his reach.

Waters deeply values his ongoing conversationwithFirst Nationspeople.This intersects with climate anxiety, grieving and his work as an arts healthpractitioner

Deep Waters opens at the Briagolong Art Gallery this Saturday and continues until October 20.

The gallery is open Saturdays and Sundays between 11am and 4pm, and by appointment, phone 0429 196 269.

Stratford artist Artist Gavin Roberts with Mudgee sculptureinthe garden resident rabbit Sunny

The Librarianisashowwhichblends clowning, physical theatreand thecircus arts! Photo: Contributed

Fleetwood Max will perform at The Wedge on FridaySeptember 13 Photo: Contributed

Modern comfortand spacious living in prime Stratfordlocation

THIS home on a1021 sqm block on McAlister Street, Stratford, is astone’sthrow from the Avon River,parks,playgrounds, eateries and essential services, according to agents.

Agents say the front entrance sets the tone, with its high ceiling and natural light creating asense of space and connecting you to all three levels of the home. The ground level features akitchen, dining and living area. The kitchen features storage, bench space and modern appliances. Hardwood floorboards flow throughout these main living areas with the addition of dual blinds and asplit system. French doors open to an alfresco area, blending indoor and outdoor living.

The second level features two bedrooms with built-in robes, aseparatestudy,a

Briefdetails fdetails

Address: 8McAlister Street,Stratford

Price: $648,000

Bed: Three

Bath: Two

Car: Two

Agent: Tony Kiss, 0419 526 637,Wellington Real Estate

central bathroom equipped with avanity, shower and bath, and alaundry at the end of the hallway.The laundry has aconnecting door to the backyard and offers additional storage.

Upstairs, the master bedroom has a walk-in robe and an ensuite. There is a second living area on this floor,complete with asplit system and sliding doors to a sunny balcony.Agentssay this entire level can function as aprivate parents’ retreat, offering comfort and seclusion.

Outside, the semi-enclosed alfresco area is perfect for year-round entertaining. The yard features maintained lawns, established gardens and mature trees. There is also asolar system with 20 plus panels, ensuring energy efficiency and reduced power costs.

Additional features include a16.0 x 7.0 sqm Colorbond shed with concrete flooring, atoilet with basin, front and side electric roller doors and side door access. There is alean-to at the back and asmaller garden shed, and the double carport offers access to the shed and backyard.

Agents say that 8McAlister Street is a delightful property that combines modern amenities with spacious living, making it a must-see for those seeking acomfortable and convenient lifestyle in Stratford.

AGENTS are welcoming prospective buyers to inspect 555 Longford-Loch Sport Rd, Longford, a7.73-hectare lifestyle property

Located in arural setting, prospective buyers will see established trees dotting the landscape. Inside, agents say the residence is filled with warmth and natural light, and offers multiple living spaces.

The living room features vaulted ceilings and abrick feature wall housing awood heater.Adjacent, the kitchen, dining, and family room continue the theme of vaulted ceilings and space. The timber kitchen has bench and storage space. Additionally,there is astudy nook/home office space.

The master suite features an ensuite and built-in robes, while three other bedrooms also feature built-in robes for storage. The central family bathroom features astand alone bath and blackwood vanity

Outdoor amenities include abrick-paved veranda shaded by avine-covered pergola

There is asecure vegetable garden with self-watering beds, aplethora of mature fruit trees, and established native trees.

Agents say that asection of cleared land with anewly clay-lined dam is ideal for horses or asmall amount of livestock/ hobby farming/motorbikeriding or simply enjoying the expansive outdoors. There is shedding and storage, with alarge double brick

Address: 555 LongfordLoch Sport RoadLongford Price: $998,000

Additional features include astand-alone fire sprinkler system, atermite protection system and 150,000 litres of water storage across three tanks, ensuring sustainability and self-sufficiency

Agents are encouraging prospective buyers to discover rural living at 555 Longford-Loch Sport Rd, where modern comforts meet with natural beauty.From theinviting interior to the beautiful outdoor spaces, agents say this property offers aretreat amongst the countryside. Agents ask prospective buyers to get in contact to arrange and inspection.

Affordable and convenient living –perfect forfirst home

Australia’s milk production continues recovery,report says

AUSTRALIA’S milk production continuesto recover, as global supply is forecast to grow at a modest rate in the coming year, Rabobank says in its newly-released Global Dairy Quarterly.

In the third quarter report, the global agribusiness bank says positive -though modest -milk supply growth is expected from the world’s major dairy-exporting regions through the remainder of 2024 and in 2025.

Meanwhile, milk production in Australia in the 2023-24 season -which ended in June -was 3.1 per cent higher on the previous year at 8.4 billion litres (an increase of 249 million litres). However, the bank is expecting Australian production to grow at alower rate in the 2024/25 season -currently forecast at 1.5 per cent.

RaboResearch senior dairy analyst Michael Harvey said Australian milk supply growth had been widespread, with production expanding in all states and regions, with the exception of western Victoria, where dry conditions have constrained production.

New South Wales had “ledthe charge”, recording impressive growth of 5.3 per cent in milk production for the 2023-24 season.

“Seasonal conditions remain mixed though across the key dairying regions,” Mr Harvey said.

“There have been severe rainfall deficiencies so far in 2024 for western Victoria andSouth Australia, which are sizeablemilkproduction regions. However seasonal conditions elsewhere have been mostly favourable.”

The global dairy market remains “balanced, but sensitive to change”, the report said and the nextyear could seesignificant shifts as production increases and markets adjust.

Milk production from the main global export regions had been elusive over recent years, Mr Harvey said.

“Since the secondhalf of 2021, combinedmilk production fromthe Big-7 dairy export regions –the EU, US, New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay -has only grown in three quarters,” he said.

However, high dairy pricesinthe firsthalfof 2024, plus lower feed costs, have improved farmer margins, encouragingproduction.

RaboResearch expected milk supply from the major exporting regions to increase amodest 0.14 per cent in 2024 on the previous year.

Demand for dairyremains mixed across regions, the report said.

“At aretail level, pricedeflation continues to occur within supermarket aisles in South America, the United States and in most of the EU,” Mr Harvey said.

“In response to weak consumer spending in food service channels, companies are spending more on promotionsand advertising as consumers ‘pinch pennies’.”

Both demandfor and production of milk are expected to decline in China, the world’s largest dairy importer.

Mr Harvey said RaboResearch had revised down its estimatesfor Chinese dairy consumption for 2024.

China’s own domestic milk production is forecast to decline by 0.5 per cent year on year in 2025, as economic pressure on farms mount in the face of tumbling Chinese farmgate milk prices.

There have been no major changes to Australian farmgate milk prices since the new season

Livestock predation surveyresults

PRELIMINARY results from AgricultureVictoria’s recentlivestockpredation survey have been released.

More than 500 Victorian livestock producers responded to the survey issued in July, providing valuable information about the levels and frequency of livestock attacks on their properties, the effectiveness of control methods and the impact of livestock predation on farmers and their local communities.

The insights collected through the survey will be considered alongside scientific research; conversations and perspectives from Traditional Owners, environmental and agricultural groups; and feedback collected through stakeholder engagement activities as part of Victoria’s review of its approachtodingo conservation and management.

Of the 500 survey respondents, about 72 per cent were located in eastern Victoria, three per cent in the north-west.

Thesurvey showed livestock predationwas an ongoing concern to sheep farmers whose properties border public land.

Just over half of the survey respondents reported incidents of livestock being maimed or killed by a wild dog or dingo in the past five years.

Valuable insightsinto the methodsofcontrol beingused to manage predation were revealed through the survey.

Most producers (84 per cent) said they were using amix of lethal and non-lethal control methods to manage predation with themostcommonforms of control methods being shooting, 1080 ground baiting, trapping, farm hygiene, exclusion fencing and guardian animals.

Havingup-to-date insights andperspectives from producers in relation to livestock predation on private propertiesacross the state is an important input to Victoria’s dingo conservation and management review.

The survey results will continue to be analysed to help build Agriculture Victoria’s understanding of producers’ perspectives on the issue.

announcements were made, the Rabobank report said.

“Across the southern export regions, milk prices for those not under contract have fallen more than 10 per cent compared with the previous season,” Mr Harvey said.

“In contrast, milk prices in regions producing drinking milk for the domestic market are mostly unchanged.”

As aresult of the easing farmgate milk prices, dairy farmers in affected regions are bracing for amarginsqueeze, the report said, with softer cull cow prices and adrop in heiferexport volumes adding to the margin pressure for some.

In terms of dairyproducers’ costs, Mr Harvey said there was amixed outlook.

“Grain prices have drifted lower,which is welcome news for dairy farmers, and the outlook for prices for the currentAustralian winter cropismostly favourable for purchasers. But in stark contrast, fodder (hay) prices have jumped, driven by supply concerns,” he said.

Retailpriceinflation for dairy products in Australian supermarket aisles has also continued to decelerate, Mr Harvey said, with the latest (June) quarterlyConsumerPriceIndex showing yearly inflation for milk and cheese tracking at less than three per cent.

This was the lowest rate of dairy product inflation since 2021, Mr Harvey said.

Australiandairy exports finished the 2023-24 season on ahigh note, the report said, helped by increased milk availability and led by strong growth in cheese, skim milk powder and whey.

AGRICULTUREVictoria is encouraging farmers to take up ongoing support and assistance to help manage current difficult seasonal conditions.

Agriculture Victoria’s Aimee McCutcheon said the organisation continued to monitorconditions across the state.

“Weknow there’s been below averagerainfall across most of Victoriaduring autumn and winter and that it’s acriticaltimefor cropping, livestock and dairy production,” she said.

“It’s important that farmers know that support is available to them to help make early and informed decisions.”

Ms McCutcheon said the Agriculture Victoria website explains what support is available to farmers, including financial support and assistance, mental health and wellbeing support.

“One example is the Australian government’s Farm HouseholdAllowance whichisafortnightly payment for eligible farmers,” she said.

“Our website also providesaccess to other organisations that can help, such as the free services from the Rural Financial Counselling Services and the NationalCentrefor Farmer Health.”

Ms McCutcheon said Agriculture Victoria offered extensive practical information, resources, tools and calculators to helpfarmers with forward planning, feed budgeting and livestock management.

“All these free resources are available online 24 hours aday, or you can speak with staff at your local office.”

For more information and details about events, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au

For informationontechnicalsupport, pho ne 13 61 86 or em ai l recovery@agriculture.vic.gov.au

RaboResearch senior dairyanalyst Michael Harvey.Photo: Contributed

Monitor soil moisture and dam water levels

FARMERS in Victoria are encouraged to closely monitor their soil moisture and dam water levels over the coming months to ensure water availability is included in future planning.

Agriculture Victoria landmanagement extension officer Clem Sturmfels said during an extended period of below average rainfall and achangeof season coming, the lack of runoff into farm dams is something to keep track of.

"Farmers need saturated soils to generate runoff, the exception being when dams are located below aroad or rocky hilltop," he said.

"Ensuring soils get to the point of saturation and generate runoff at this time of the year may be achallenge duetothe rapid growth of crops and pastures and increasing rates of evaporation. Above average or highintensity rainfall will be needed to fill dams.

"High intensity rainfall or thunderstorms can quickly filldams, howeverthey can pose apollution risk and shouldn’t be relied on in adry year."

Agriculture Victoriamanages soilmoisture probes in various locations across the state. The probes providereal time soil water contentdataby recording soil water content from 30 centimetres down to one metre as areference point for a paddock.

"The probes have been calibrated to the specific soiltype in the paddocks and reflecta moisture percentage based on the maximum and minimum soil moisture available to plants. This has been determinedbymonitoringover many years and arange of seasons," Mr Sturmfelssaid

"Theseprobes can be auseful guide to general conditions in your area however it is also important to check conditions closer to home. Amore detailed

assessmentcan be made using apost hole auger or by drivingacrowbarorsteel probe into the ground

Subscribe to the Soil Moisture Monitoring newsletter and find out more information on the Agriculture Victoria website.

Information on preparing your farm for dry seasonal conditions can be found on the Agriculture Victoria website.

Mr Clem Sturmfels is hosting awebinar on farm dam management on tomorrow from 12.30pm to 1.30pm. Mr Strumfels will talk about dam water storage, best management techniques and discuss tools for calculating how much water is in adam Register by visiting the Agriculture Victoria website, agriculture.vic.gov.au/ support-and-resources/event-lising

Register planned burn-offs online

AS hundreds of thousands of Victorians begin preparingtheir property for fire season, emergency services are encouraging landowners to register any planned burn-offs online, through the Fire Permits Victoria website.

Landowners willbelookingtotakeadvantage of the spring conditions and authoritiesexpect asurge in burn-off registrations over the coming weeks.

Thequickest and easiest way to register aburnoffisbyusing the Fire Permits Victoria website, www.firepermits.vic.gov.au/notify Triple Zero Victoria chief operating officerNicole Ashworth said registering aburn-off online was quick and easy.

“Using the Fire Permits Victoria website to register your burn-off helps keep ournon-emergency phone lines free for higher priority calls,” she said.

“Everyyear at this time we see aspike in demand on the phone lines as landholders look to take advantage of suitable weather in the lead up to the fire danger period. This can sometimes lead to long wait times to register your burn-off.”

CFA chief officerJason Heffernansaidthe Fire PermitsVictoria website was the preferred platform for community members to registertheir burns.

“By registering your burn-off,itallows emergency services to verify the fire is not an emergency and

avoid unnecessary call outs for local brigades,” he said.

“It also allows us to display burn-offsonthe CFA website, preventing needlesscallstotriple zero (000).”

The website allows people to notify emergency servicesoftheir burn-off,and also check and apply for apermit, if necessary. However, if aburn is taking place within the next two hours, applicants must register your burn via the phone on 1800 668 511.

For more information about burning off safely, visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au/burnoff

8.5kg

CREDITORS, nextofkin, and others having claims in respect of the estate of the undermentioned deceased person are required to send particulars of their claims to AUSTRALIAN EXECUTOR TRUSTEES LIMITED (ACN 004 031 298), of Level 1, 575 Bourke Street, Melbourne Victoria 2000, the Executor, on or before 12 November 2024 after which date the Executor may convey or distribute the assets, having regard only to the claims of which it then has notice.

COBBETT,Margaret Alexander, late of Laurina Lodge Nursing Home, Eleanor Street, Heyfield, VIC 3858, deceased, who died on 4April 2024. Probate was granted in Victoria on 29 August 2024.

CUSTOMER SERVICE CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING

The Latrobe Valley Express has an exciting opportunityfor aperson to join our Classified Team, on apart time basis.

Youwill be able to demonstrate the following: Aconfident phone manner

Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including literacy

Proficient computer skills

Efficient time management and organisational skills

Must have attention to detail and some design experience would be an advantage Supportive working environment.Bepart of our friendly team.

Applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Please send your detailed resume to: classifieds@lvexpress.com.au by Friday, 20 September 2024.

for Expression of Interest Sale Primary School Uniform Submissions are invited in accordance with the EOI documents for the: Sale Primary School Council

For information contact: Mr Chris Malone -Principal on (03) 5144 5545 Email: sale.ps@education.vic.gov.au CLOSING 4pm Thursday, 12th September 2024

Interested parties can contact the school for a complete package of documents

$10 BAG SALE

Community volunteers op shop 87 MacArthur street sale. Every $10 from the bag sale will be donated to Bringing James Lothian home from Thailand. Bags supplied .h ttps:/ / gofund.me/b0af66d8

SUNDAY MARKET

Sale CharitySunday Variety Market, Canal Reserve, September 15. Egg and bacon rolls for breakfast, BBQ, hot dogs, hot and cold drinks, stalls from $15, raffles must be accompanied by astall. Proceeds to charity.

SUBARU WRX

HOY DAY

Wed 11 Sep. 2024 at Sale

RSL. Eyes down at 1pm., $5 entry fee. Door prizes, plus raffles to raise money for the Royal Flying Doctors.

IN THE

PAINTER

Local tradesman, 15 yrs. experience. New houses and repaints, no job too big or too small. Phone Steve 0499 345 384.

PLASTERER

Chris Owens Plastering. Experienced plasterer available for new houses, extensions, renovations, sagging ceilings, water damage, patching. No job too small. Qualified trades-man with 25 years experience. Prompt, reliable, professional service. Ph. Chris 0460 813 299.

Looking for NDIS employees for social and community work. Sale and Maffra area. MorF Ph 0493 962 499.

Bonaccord Freightlines is currently hiring full-time Long Distance HC Drivers (Interstate)

Please visit our website: https://bonaccordingram.com.au/careers for further details and job descriptions. Applications can be emailed to: freightlines@bonaccord.net or contact 03 5157 1325 for further information.

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

ROMA 18' 2002, 2owners, always garaged, 2sgle beds, indep. susp., 12'' elec. brakes, 3water tanks and grey water tank, 15' rollout awn. w/shade cloth walls, swr, toilet w/3 cass., gas h.w., gas cooker 12v compressor fridge, 2 batts., charger &DCtoDC charger, 600w inverter, 3 solar panels and MPPT controller, diesel heater, TV/radio, Sirocco fan, rear view camera $25,000. Also avail. Ford Ranger to buy if needed. 0427 009 968.

GOULD (nee Doran), Patricia Hilda 'Patty, Miss Pat' 26/11/55 -6/9/24

Passed away at the Sale Hospital aged 68. Loved mother of Phil, Trent, Ryan, Paul, and Amanda. Mother-in-law of Mel, and Jim.

Nanny of Seth, Paige, Stella, Mahli and Tilly. Best friend of Ree, Louie, Buzz and Robert. Finally at Peace.

Mum, Nanny, Patty. You were larger than life, with awicked sense of humour, and the smile to match. You will be forever missed.

GOULD, Patricia (Pat). Johnson St. Clinic is saddened by the loss of our colleague Pat. Adedicated nurse, Pat's humour, kindness and caring heart will be sadly missed. Dr Tony Wright, Dr Seong Lin Choy, Dr Emma Gault and all your colleagues.

JOHNS, Ivan Russell. At Sale on September 2, 2024. Aged 73 Years. Dearly loved husband of Coleen. Loving father and fatherin-law of Rachael and Ian (Bye), David and Joanne and Nicholas. Pa to Keeley, Tahlia, Emerson, Matilda, Sadie, Miles, Dakota and Phoenix. Dearly loved. Forever in our hearts.

SCOTT, Sheila The committee and members of the Newry Golf Club send our condolences and best wishes to the Scott family and related family members on the passing of Sheila their loved mother and mother-in-law. Sheila was amember of the golf club and a respected member of the Newry ladies committee and will be sadly missed. She was always available to help the ladies

ROFF. Afuneral service for Mr Robert William Roff of Yarram WAS HELD on Friday (August 30, 2024).

SHARMAN (Sisley), Maisie Elizabeth. In accordance with Maisie's wishes, aprivate cremation will be held.

BERKELMANS, Blair 12/6/1982 -15/9/2018

In our heart's you'll be forever, Until one day we'll be together. Mum and Dad, Janae and Christon and families.

HAMS, Michael George. 24/10/1965 -15/9/2014

SHARMAN (Sisley), Maisie Elizabeth. Passed away peacefully at Heyfield Hospital on September 3, 2024. Aged 97 years. Loved mother of Dennis, Faye and Gary. Loved Nana of 6grandchildren. Remembered forever.

SHARMAN, Maise. 3/9/24

Loved our special friendship Maise. R.I.P. Love Dawn

SHARMAN, Maisie. 15/3/27 -3/9/24

Our hearts are broken, heaven has gained a beautiful angel. Sleep peacefully now. We love you to the moon and back, our (Nanna Maisie). Brad and family, Rachelle and family. Love you always, Robyn.

Losing you was like smashing aglass vase. While some parts have turned to sand and slipped away on the wind. Other pieces as Itried to pick them up, they have cut deep and Ihavebled. Others though were still solid and the base was strong. Ihave glued us back together like Kintsugiadorned with gold. We are avery different vase since you left my darling. Perfectly imperfect but still smelling the roses. Your loving wife Karen.

RADULOVICH, Lilana. Six months ago, death did do us part, but we are still together in my memories and thoughts. We are still having amorning coffee together on the farmhouse veranda. We are still listening to our favourite music when Icome to visit you. Setting up my little table at the foot of your grave: Two coffee cups: two little brandy glasses, a photo of you alonenaturally beautiful and a photo of us together (me spoiling the picture). We took our vows 51 years ago, in our church, in the presence of our priest, before our parents, family and friends. We did see some good times and some not so good. We had to save pennies at times, but also enjoyed the best life had to offer. Illness overcame you towards the end, Idid all I could to take care of youas Iknow you would have done for me. Rest in peace and wait for me in Heaven. Your loving husband Bob and son Robert and family.

HOUGHTON, Joan It is with great sadness we extend our condolences to the family of Joan Houghton on her passing on the 24/8/2024. Alife so beautifully lived shouldbebeautifully remembered. Much love from all at Ashleigh House.

GOULD (nee Doran). For funeral arrangements for Ms Patricia Hilda Gould,

Motoring Deal

Atotal of 12 issues

(size

Roos to playCityfor silverware

TomHayes,BlakeMetcalf-Holt and DavidBraithwaite

THE North Gippsland netball grand final teams have been decided after an incredible preliminary final at the weekend.

After facing each other in the first week of finals, Churchill would once againmeet Heyfield, this time in apreliminary final.

Despite going the long way around after losing the qualifyingfinal by agoal, Heyfieldhad the home court advantage. Wantingtoget revenge, the Kangaroos certainly looked the goods coming into the battle, knowing they had beaten the Cougars previously this season.

Heyfield took aslightadvantageinthe early stages of the match, despite both sides going toeto-toe in the opening two quarters.

Churchillwas first on the board, but it didn’t take long for Heyfield to get the scoreboard back in its favour. Afterthe first twoterms,the Kangaroos entered eachbreak with alead of just acouple of goals.

It was do-or-die for Churchill, who continued to trail in the third term, but things began to get out of hand.

Despite coming into the game as the lower seed, thehome side putthe pedal to the metal, piling on multiple goals, deflating the Cougars in amatter of minutes.

Their grip on the game was so strong that they had extended out to 12 goals at one stage, before the Cougarspeggedthembackafew to go into the finalquarter 10 goals off the pace.

There was simply no answer. Churchill tried its best to stake acomeback, but whatever it did was matched by the Kangaroos. So much so, that arun of play saw four consecutive turnovers, two from each side.

Churchill came late, but it was too late, going down by nine goals, seeing Heyfield through to the grand final.

TheKangaroos will face Sale City, who has gone through 2024 undefeated, and will be lookingto finish it off with one more win at Gaskin Park, Churchill, this Saturday.

Sale City will be represented on grand final day in all six grades of netball.

In Bgrade,the Bulldogs will take on Woodside, which defeated Yallourn-Yallourn North 52-50 at the weekend.

The Bulldogs' Cgrade side defeated TraralgonTyers United in the preliminary final, will play undefeated Woodside for the premiership.

Dgrade minorpremier City willthis weekend play TTU, whichdefeated Woodsideinthe prelim.

Sale City will play Rosedale in the under 17s grand final. City's only blemish this season came when they drew against the Blues at Rosedale in round 14.

Grand final action will begin with the under 15s, with the Bulldogs taking on the undefeated TTU.

The Bulldogs edgedout Heyfield in the preliminary final, 41-29.

THE secondweek of Gippsland League netball finals action proved to be an eyebrow-raiser, to say the least.

Whilesomewere fighting for their lives with the

potential of elimination right on their backsides, others went in with agrand final berth on the horizon.

Peaking at the ultimate time, Warragulupset

Agrade powerhouse Moe to advance to the grand finalafter defeating the reigning premier 63-51 at LeongathaonSaturday.

The Gulls started in style, taking it to the minor premier and leading early 9-3. Their lead went as large as 16-6withnoone able to hinder the impact of league-leading goal scorer Emma Ryde. Moe dragged it back slightly to end thefirst quarter, outscoring Warragul 4-2 in the final two minutes, but still looked at an eight-goal deficit.

The Lions had to answer the bell, but the Gulls weren’t going to let them back in it that easy, managing the opening five of the first seven goals of the second term to extend their lead back over 10 goals.

Again, Moe put togethera run to match

Warragul’s intensity around the ball and pressure its attacks, out-scoring the Gulls to conclude the first half but still down nine goals.

The Lions returned to the court with an edge and hungry to getthemselves back into the match.

Opening the second half 13-5 was going to do wonders to bring that notion into reality, and the match was set ablaze with there suddenly only being agoal in it.

Warragul dug deep to push back against the rallying Moe unit and scored the next three goals to cushion their lead back to four goals, but were then immediatelycombatted by the Lions to bring it straight back to aone-goal margin.

Fourofthe final five goals by the Gulls endedthe third term with Warragul ahead 44-40.

Both teams went goal-after-goal in the opening minutesofthe final term before Moe continued its mini runs of the second half and moved the game back to two goals with eight minutes remaining. However, not about to let its best chance of positioning itself best for the bigone,especiallyagainst such an exceptional side, Warragul put its foot on the throat and went on a14-4run to conclude.

The Lions suffered their first loss in 525 days, having gone all of season 2024 undefeated (bar adraw to Bairnsdale in round 14) and after running the table with the league and winning the premiership in 2023 after losing round one to Morwell that year. Moe is now forced to take the longer road in the hopes of securing back-to-back flags, with apreliminary final date setwithDrouin this Saturday.

The Hawks defeatedBairnsdale in the first semi-final on Sunday 52-43, blowing the Redlegs away after aone-goal game at three quarter time at Moe. That leaves the top three on the ladder at the endofthe home-and-away season still alive with two weeks remaining.

Lower grades: Bgrade: second semi-final: Moe 47-38 Drouin; first semi-final: Traralgon 43-36 Leongatha.

Cgrade: secondsemi-final: Drouin 39-38 Morwell; first semifinal: Maffra 37-27 Wonthaggi.

Under 17s: secondsemi-final: Traralgon 34-33Leongatha; first semi-final: Bairnsdale 41-36 Sale. Under 15s: second semi-final: Bairnsdale 38-34 Sale; first semi-final: Traralgon 44-28 Moe. Under 13s: second semi-final: Leongatha 32-19Maffra; first semi-final: Moe 28-25 Traralgon.

Gippsland Rally to return in 2025

THE MiddleofEverywhereGippslandRally will remainaspartofthe AustralianRally Championship, with the event included as one of six rounds of the 2025 season.

The Gippsland event will be the championship’s fourth round from August 8to10.

This year's rally was battled out across 16 stages around Heyfield, Cowwarr, Boisdale and Briagolong, withaseason-high 63 crews competing across the weekend.The weekend’s festivities began on the Friday evening with the Rally Show at the Port of Sale, where more than 1000 enthusiastic fans gathered to get an up close look at the rally cars and achance to meet the drivers.

Fresh off asuccessfulevent, clerk of course and event organiser Andrew Roseman was pleased to confirm Gippsland as the home of the Victorian round of the ARC in 2025.

“The 2025 event will mark the fourth year that the Gippsland Rally has formedpart of the national championship, something we’re incredibly proud to deliver in the region,” he said.

“Last month’s rally was afantastic event, and we received wonderful feedback from competitors and spectators over the weekend, so we’re excited to be going around for another year.

"We think 2025 is going to be bigger and better than ever before and look forward delivering

another exceptional event.”

Wellington Shire mayor Ian Bye said it was an honourtoagainwelcome the GippslandRally back to the region.

"We are extremely proud of the strong relationshipwe’ve built with event organisers, drivers, and spectators, and to once again be the naming rights sponsor of what is widely considered one of Australia’s best-run motorsport events," he said.

"We are excited to build on the success of previous years, working with organisers to deliver an event that is not only highly regarded in the motorsport world but also provides an economic boost to our region and aspectacular weekend for our community.”

Last month'sMiddleofEverywhere Gippsland Rally has been hailed by Wellington Shire Council as ahuge success, with more than 7000 spectators flocking to witnessthe nation’s top rally drivers in action.

“This event is ahugedrawcard for our community, attracting visitors right across the globe and providing asignificant boost to local tourism, we love it,” Cr Bye said.

In awin for the local economy, businesses across the municipality were overflowing with rally goers.

The Maffra and District Car Club canteen took record proceeds with thousands attending the track

Sports Shorts

Sale TC seeking players

SALE Tennis Clubisnow recruiting for the coming Wellington Gippsland Tennis Association junior and senior summer pennant, which begins Saturday, October 5.

Sale is planning to field teams in all seven junior sections and both senior sections. The WGTA competition is able to offer players of every standard and ability aplace in ateam where they will feel welcomeand competitive,the club saidinamedia release.

“WGTA pennant is agreat Saturday of tennis which caters for players of all standards and features aunique social atmosphere,” Sale Tennis Club president Robin Lowe said. Team selection will begin early September with

teams to be finalised by September 15. The WGTA seniorseasonbegins Saturday, October 5, with juniors underway October 12.

Anyone wishing to join the fun or have any personal requestsphone club coach Jason Yap on 0403 082 388 or club captain Tim Dunnett on 0425 802 908.

Grants for clubs

GRANTS of up to $5000 are available for clubs to improve the skills and knowledge of volunteers, coaches and officials. Through theSportingClubGrants Program, grants of up to $4000 are also up for grabs to help clubsdelivering anew sport or active recreation program.

Clubs can also apply for grants of up to $1000 to

10 September,2024

to watch the last leg of the rally. Auto businesses across the Heyfield area were alsoinhigh demand. Local accommodation including hotels, motels and Airbnbs were heavily booked with more than 1000 people from teams, support crews, volunteers and staff all booking for four to seven days -someaccommodation venues were booked ayear in advance. With some 8000 people involved in the overall event over the four days, it is estimated that the regional expenditure was almost $1.3 million.

Hoopla at GRSC this weekend

BASKETBALL players from across the state will converge on Sale this weekend for the Latrobe Valley Hoopla tournament.

The event, to be played at the Gippsland Regional Sports Complex on Saturday and Sunday,will feature masters and all abilities competitions.

There willbemen's 30, 40 and 50 and over full-court and 70 and over half-court, women's 30, 40 and 50 and over competitions, as well as mixed 50 and over walking ball competition.

Walkingballisamodifiedversion of basketball, where players can only walk instead of running. It is ideal for people whomay not haveplayed active sport for many yearsorhave injuries would otherwise struggle to playnormal basketball.

The all abilities event was added to the program afterorganiser Steve Saynorstumbled

purchase uniforms and equipment, and $750 travel grants are available to help clubs participate in competitions away from home.

The program is backed by the Regional CommunitySport Development Fund that is deliveringinfrastructure upgrades and other programs including the Regional Community SportInfrastructure Fund to help more regional Victoriansget activeand be part of their local sporting club.

StateCommunity SportMinister Ros Spence said sport clubs were the lifeblood of communities and the volunteers played acritical role.

“This program supportsclubs to thrive and grow and get more people in the community playing an active part in local sport,” she said. Applications close October 7. For more information and to apply for Sporting Club Grants Program visit sport.vic.gov.au

Maffra golf

September 5, women’s 4BBB stableford: 1st KStephens-K Lawrence 51,2nd LHiggins-J Marchesi 43, 3rdL Dunsmuir-R Walker 43; DTL: LTempleton-C Lovi 43, PSchaper-A Cotton

into askills and training session.

Initially thinking it was awalking ball session, Saynor found himself surrounded by 50 all abilities players "going hard at it". So inspired was he by skills and effort, Saynor moved to include them in the tournament.

The all abilities competition will be played on Saturday, with the players to be celebrated by having their arrival announced to the crowd. Saynor said player registrations would be accepted throughout the week.

"Our policy is want we wanteveryone to play. And we'll bend over backwards to let them play," he said.

Cost to play is $55 per player,or$80 for players doubling up with walking ball.

For more information phone Steve Saynor on 0407 323 396 or email: steve.saynor@bigpond.com

43, KGallagher-M Jones 41,V McConnell-M Durrant 41;NTP: 2nd DOlston, 7th CLovi, 12th RWalker,16th (second shot) C Donahoe; eagle: 1st LWallace. September 6, men’s two-ball ambrose: 1st LPratt-W Felmingham -8, 2nd MRobinson-S Goodman -6, 3rdSMurray-B Delaney -3;DTL: MNicholls-T Donahoe -2, B Sage-DCameron-2, CMarkovic-C Markovic -2,NTacey-T Cotton -2; NTP: 2ndR Day,7th SBatalha,12th DNoble.16th JKennedy September 8, mixed Canadian: Agrade:SMurray-J Murray 44, runners-up MCuttler-S McDonald 36; Bgrade:PDally-J Cronin37, runners-up MGallagher-K Gallagher 37; family team: JBarbour-K Barbvour 36; DTL: M McQuillen-J Malmo 36, NGutteridge-N Pratt 36, MRobinon-L Reeves 34, TCotton-H Cotton34, NBoard-J Mactier 34, L Cuppari-A Fox33; NTP,men’s: 2nd MGallagher,7th TCotton, 12th MCuttler,16th TCotton; women’s: 2nd KBarbour,7th T Courtier,12th KGallagher,16th JMurray.

Sale golf

September 7, men’s stroke monthly medal: Agrade: A Schuback 70,runner-up APatten 71;B grade: LSchuback 68 (medal), runner-upRGough 72;Cgrade: RHewett 69, runner-up MTatterson 71;DTL: MHurst, JHargeaves, DSalerman, MJones, JBall, SMcDonald, RJorner, CSchuback, IDoggett, MBrickle;

NTP: 3rdMBrickle, 6th MBrickle, 1lth DGall, 14th HSavage; women’s: SMcDonald 76;NTP: 11th SMcDonald.

Maffra players take abreak during the Gippsland League Cgrade first semi-final.

Photo: Liam Durkin

Cats claim grand finalspot

Blake Metcalf-Holt

WOODSIDE has continued its redemption act.

Athrilling North Gippsland football preliminary final on Saturdayconcluded withthe Wildcats advancing to the grand final after defeating Yallourn-Yallourn North 9.10 (64) to 8.13 (61).

The Wildcatsnow stride aheadtorectify their disappointing conclusion in last year’sgrand final against their second-time-around opponents Traralgon-Tyers United.

Two weeks ago, the Wildcats and the Jets played in one of the most electric finals games in the qualifying final, with YYN prevailing by five points. TheJets werenowhereclosetoTTU in the second semi-final aweek later, and Woodside bounced back, making light work of Heyfield to set up an anticipated rematch.

The match got underway at Heyfield, and ahot day vacant of the sensational wind from the week prior meant acrackinggame was destinedtobe on display. It was set out ideallyfor either,but it could immediately be sensed who was more desperate forthe game from the get go.

Jets on-ballers cleared the ball with ease and found repeat chances inside their forward 50 time after time, much to the delight of league-leading goal kicker Dean MacDonald, who found space to boot two of the first three goals of the game. Woodside appeared to be working on theback foot the entirety of the opening quarter, unable to put any forward pressure on YYN and disallowed consistent possession of the ball to getittothat point. By the way thefirstterm wasplaying out, it looked as though spectators would be seeing out therest of their afternoonwatching adomination at thehands of the Jets.

Despite not nailingnear as manyoftheir punches as they could have, the Jets still ended the first quarter leading drastically, 4.5 (29) to 0.1 (1).

Woodside knew it neededtolift,and playing-coach Michael Stockdale made sure to remind his men there was no going back from this if they were to continue down this path -they had to get back out there and take back control.

It couldbefelt upon the opening bounce of the second quarter that things wereabout to even themselves out in terms of desperation.

The Jets still found time to recoup and possess the ball despite some increased pressure from the Wildcats, hittingthe scoreboard early in the second for another minor score that reversely put theball in thehandsofWoodside.The Wildcats could then begin to chip it around and pick off players where they chose, giving them time to steadily place the ball further afield.

Michael O’Sullivan found himself close in range to nail Woodside’s first major of the day that would dramatically lift their spirits and confidence. Working on ahigh, momentum had momentarily shifted the Wildcats' way, nailing thenext two goals off the back of Jai Williams and O’Sullivan

NGFNL GRAND FINAL

SaturdayatGaskin Park,Churchill

2.15pm: TTU vWoodside

RESERVES: 11.45am: Woodside vYYN

THIRDS: 9.15am: TTU vChurchill.

to bring the game within nine points.

But just as Woodside began to creep back, YYN began to roll once again,cloggingthe ball in its forwardhalf and seeing constant pressure acts from its attacking players.

MacDonald collected his third goal early and Josh Keyhoe pummelled through numerous Woodside defenders to line-up for his first of the match that sent the game right back over a20-point margin in time for the main break.

The Jets hadwithstood amomentary bump from Woodside to still be ahead 6.8 (44) to 3.3 (21).

Although,asfar as the Wildcats were concerned, they had found all the credence they needed to look forth towards success.

Out of the gate in time for the second half, Woodside began to play out its game with aforce and purpose.

RuckmanRyan Foatpatrolled the ground and laid the ground works for the midfielders to slide through and getthe ballforward,beginningtosee success again and again, whichwas seen early with aquick goal from Williams for his second.

Using the entirety of the ground and disrupting anyattemptthe Jetsmadetoelevate the ball over the backofplay by setting up one or even two players behind the ball, allowed the Wildcats to constantly penetrate the ball into their forward line and tire the YYN defenders.

O’Sullivan continued to be apest for YYN. With the game sitting at an 11-point margin, he stretched out to grab atoughmarkwithJets’Campbell MacInnes right on his shoulder, giving O’Sullivan aset shot just inside the50metre arch in front of

NETBALL:

AGRADE:

2.45pm: Sale CityvHeyfield. BGRADE:

1.30pm: Sale Cityv Woodside CGRADE: 12.15pm: Woodside vSale City. DGRADE: 11am: Sale Cityv TTU UNDER 17s: 9.45am: Sale CityvRosedale UNDER 15s: 8.30am: TTU vSale City.

Salebackintouch

THE sixth round of the Saleand District touch competition was played on Wednesday night after games scheduled for the previous week were abandoned due to the high winds. This season’s competition only has four teams competing -the reduced numbers is mainly due to work commitments.

The Mustangs, coached by Corey Siebel, defeated Phoenix 10 tries to one.

Alex Rennex was the star of the show with two tries in each half, Zoe Curran and Lachlan Unsworth each scored two with one from Leah Ward. Carl Muir scored Phoenix’s only try in the first half.

Best players were Siebel, James Brennan, David Galvin, Curran, Ward and Emily McGovern. Phoenix has recruited three young players, Allison and Alexis Falconer and JaiHall, whohave shown that they are valuable players in their team

PORKY’S sufferedits firstloss of the season, going down to the very talented Shred Zeppelin combination. The teams were level 4-4 at half-time before Zeppelins added six tries to Porky’s three. David Galvin top-scored for Shred Zeppelin with three tries, Jayden Bissen and Chaz Pucko each scoredtwo and Michael Sullivan, Jett Kalinin and ShaunRogers one each.Towers has scored15tries for the season while Pucko has 10 to his name.

Gavin Byrne, Brodie Towers and Mia Van de Vyver scored two tries each for Porky’s with one from Cam Stuart.

Best players were Cam Stewart, Sullivan, Bisson, Neomi Sipos and Mia Van de Vyver. Ellie Roache won the encouragement award.

Tomorrow night at Stephenson Park, Porky’s will play Mustangsfrom 6.30pm(referee Phoenix), before Shred Zeppelinplays Phoenix from 7.30pm (referee Mustangs).

The pairwithin the match-up would be locked into abattleall day, with each getting the better of the other on ahandful of occasions, however, in this moment, with the tides turning,O’Sullivan went back and nailed the shot to bring the game to its closest margin since the earliest point in the contest -under agoal in it.

Woodside outscored the Jets 26-8 to concludethe third quarter. Sitting at afive-point game, it was now all-or-nothing.

As muchasYYN was holding on desperately, and continuing to fight it out in the contest, Woodside now appeared to be fully in the driver’s seat despite still looking at adeficit heading into the final quarter.

Taking aside the actual score, it was all even on the fieldwith the next 20 minutesdetermining the second grand finalist for 2024.

The next three scoringopportunitiesateither end went awry, with Foat, MacDonald and YYN’s Dylan Bath all missing their chances to either extend their lead or hit the front.

Dramathen ensued unexpectedly at the worst possible timefor the Jetsafterbackmen Darcy

Shellcotnailed ahardbump to stop asure goal for the Wildcats thatthen unleashed afray in Woodside’s forward 50. Shellcot was sentoff for adirect hit -leaving the Jets down aman forthe next 15 minutes.

Woodside immediately took its first lead all day andnow with Jets playing 18 against17, it was goingtorequire them to dig as deep as humanely possible. Beforehand,YYN was already struggling to exit the ball from their back line and move downfield -things were only getting even more difficult at this point.

With repeatentryafter repeatentry for the Wildcats, the undermanned Jets defence fought valiantly, but were finally worked down with HamishMcLeod given afreekick goal that sent Woodside ahead by nine points with well under 10 minutes remaining in the game.

YYN responded outofthe centre bounce and worked it around laterally, before popping the ball over the top for MacDonald to create some magic. Not able to collect the mark, he still found time to win the ball against three Woodside defenders, picking the ball up on the boundarybefore turning inboard to hit Bath 40m out almost dead in front of goal.

When lining up, there was ahit off the ball that sent Bath into the goal square, guaranteeing the Jets agoal and bringing it back to four points still in favour of the Wildcats.

Working frantically now and still working against afree man, the Jets piled on enormous amounts of pressure as they locked the ball in their forward half relentlessly.

Forcing aballout on the full, YYN playing-coach TomHutton quickly recovered the ball and immediately sent the ball in off his powerful leftboot. The ball fell perfectly and forward Lachlan Reese exceptionally held the mark over two defenders. Rees went back, on atight angle around 25m out, with the chance to break the hearts of Woodside for the second time in three weeks. The shot sprayed right for apoint, cutting the margintothreepoints,but with little time remaining.

The sirenwent aminute later, withpolaropposite reactions playing out at Heyfield. Woodside players embraced each other and exited the ground with immense jubilation. Williams (threegoals)was best afield for the winners, followed by Foat, McLeod, O’Sullivan(four goals), Mark Collison and Ben Johnson. LucasFry, Hutton, MacInnes, Jai Massese,Mitch Luck and Owen Budge performed admirably in defeat.

NORTH GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

the YYN bench.

Adam Janssen and Ben Johnson embrace followingWoodside’s three-point win over YallournYallourn North in the preliminary final. Photo:Contributed

Maroons cut off Power in

Liam Durkin

WONTHAGGI'S winning streakand season came to an abrupt and relatively tame end on Sunday, after losing the Gippsland League football first semi-final.

Adefensive masterclassfrom Traralgon restricted the Power to just one goal after half-time, in afinal scoreboard reading 6.6 (42) to 3.5 (23).

The Maroons controlled the game after quartertime, on what was the second week of high winds making conditions tricky for finals footy.

Traralgoncame into the matchunder some pressure, after narrowly losing the qualifying final to Moe, and facing a Wonthaggi outfit that had won nine of its previous 10 games.

The Power’s form appeared undeniable, and there was some suggestion the young Maroons were set to depart the finals scene in straight sets.

Pressure creates diamondsthough, and Traralgon had afew jewels on full display.

Not much got past Tristen Waack,Tye Hourigan and MitchMembrey down back, while Dylan Loprese was prominent up forward.

Conversely, naming the top six players for the Power proved adifficult task. While Jarryd Blair, Ryan Sparkes, Fergus O’Connor, Josh Bates and Tom Murray were officially selected, there was really only one worth noting.

Isaac Chugg was the only player who kept Wonthaggi in thegame -had he not played, Traralgon would have walked it in.

Kickingwiththe breeze to theCan Bar end at Ted Summerton Reserve, Wonthaggi enjoyed afast

start by way of inside 50s in the first 10 minutes.

Signs appeared ominous for Traralgon,although for all of the Power’s dominance,they only managed 1.2 (8) to 0.1 (1) by quarter-time.

Ascrappyopening wasaprecursortohow the second term unfolded, with the ball spending most of thefirst 10 minutes parked on the wing opposite the clubrooms.

Traralgon got up and running on the approach to half-time, kicking three goals to take ahandy seven point lead into the sheds.

Goals to Luis D’Angelo and Jackson McMahon from in front of the bar provided aspark,while aroundthe ground,ruckman Max Jacobsen was clunking most high ballsthatcame his way.

Traralgon re-entered the arenadownone rotation, after dashing defender Joel Scholtes dislocated his shoulder.

The left-footerhad comebackinto the team following atwo week lay-off, and judging by the knee bracestrapped to his right leg, was clearly stillunder an injury cloud.

The Maroons played Hourigan as aspare in defence kicking into the breeze, and Wonthaggi must have thought he was playing for them judging by the amount of times they kicked it to him.

The first real signs of things starting to unravel forWonthaggicameatthe 25-minute mark, when Jordan Cunicoaccepted apass right in front of goal with no Power player within 10 metres of him.

Asubsequent miss was their only saving grace, and whilethe three-quarter-time margin was just seven points, the toll of playingvirtual elimination finals for more than two months was starting to show

Traralgon kicked the firstofthe lastfollowing a10-minute arm wrestling period, which in the context of the game, gave them some reassuring breathing space.

Wonthaggi did not die wondering, and threwitself in manically trying to findanavenue forward, but it wasall to no avail.

Some hectic moments played out, none more so than when O’Connor was awarded afree kick, and called to play on without realising, and was then pinned for holding the ball himself.

The result from that play led the ball to find its way to Loprese, who nursed home aset shot from close range to put the result beyond doubt.

How dour the match was may have been best summed up by the fact Wonthaggi’s finalscore was the lowest in league history for afirst semi-final, while Traralgon’s was only three points off entering the top three.

Not that the Maroons will care in the slightest, they are now only one win awayfroma grand final ALL you can do is admire Leongatha -eight grand finals in arow.

Thisisinamajor league too don’tforget.It’s not like they are abig town playing in afarmer’s league. If anything, they are the farmers showing everyone else up.

We are witnessing greatness. It’s Federer spending 237 consecutive weeks at number one. It’s the Australian test cricket team in the late 90s and early 2000s. It’s The Beatles with 20 number one hits.

Among the crowd at Leongatha Recreation Reserve last Saturday was Leigh Poholke. Poholke had been announced as Moe’s new senior coach as the Lions entered their second semi-final clash with the Parrots.

The announcement coincided with an overall moraleboostfollowingMoe’s gritty win in the qualifying final against Traralgon.

Poholke, who has ties to Moe, had previously coached Sorrento in the high standard, high money, Mornington Peninsula league.

Whathewitnessed Leongathadomight nothave looked out of place at that level.

The Parrots were at their merciless best, and brushed Moe aside in asheer display of dominance, 13.17 (95) to 5.7 (37).

The final marginwas 58 points,but only because Leongatha missed anumberofmore than gettable shotsinthe 17 behindsitregistered, while three of the Lions’ five goals came in junk time.

At one stage,the Parrots had kicked more behinds than Moe had total score. The Lions did not even score agoal until the six-minute mark of the third quarter.

There was danger signsfor Moe only 10 minutes into the game, as Leongatha made all the headway kickingtoward the entrance of their home ground. The Parrots kicked the first three goals of the game, while it took until the 17-minute mark for the Lions to even register an inside 50 at the other end. While Moe was fighting hard in the contest,it simply couldn’t catch Leongatha once the ball got on the outside. Unfortunately for the visitors, the second quarter went even worse than the first.

Leongatha made amockery of the so-called scoring end,again keeping Moe to just two behinds.

The Parrots' pressure was such that the Lions made anumberofbasic skill errors by foot, with some of their best distributor’s even falling victim Kim Drew, Tom Marriott, Luke Bowman,Tim Sauvarin, Travis Nash and Jack Hume were named in the bestfor the winners, but in actuality,you could have honestly named just about every player.

TheMoe defence was kept busy, and Brock Smith and Ben Maslen were recognised for their efforts under duress.

Bowman might have to face the music for a dangerous tackle on Smithinthe first quarter, which saw the Moe player lifted very high.

It’s been agood year to be adairy farmer: Leongatha, Fish Creek, Woodside and Buln Buln are all in their respective league grand finals, while Boisdale-Briagolong has alreadywon the flagin theirs.

AGRADE: 2.35pm: Moe vDrouin. BGRADE: 1.20pm: Drouin vTraralgon. CGRADE: 12.15pm: Morwell vMaffra. UNDER 17s: 11.10am: Leongatha vBairnsdale UNDER 15s: 10.05am: Sale vTraralgon. UNDER 13s: 9am: Maffrav Moe

Flagfor unbeaten Bombers

ErikaAllen

WHAT club starts with a‘B’ and are back-to-back Bgrade East Gippsland league netballchampions?

Boisdale-Briagolong.

No Bgrade team in the 2024 EGFNL netball season matched the Bombers’ cohesion or consistency as they capped off their undefeated run with a35-26 grand final victory over Lakes Entrance.

Afterendinga33-year premiership drought last year, the Bombers have solidified their reputation as an EGFNL powerhouse. With aflawless 16 victories from 16 regular-season matches and a commanding performanceagainst their closest rivals, Wy Yung, in the second semi-final, any doubtsabout Boisdale-Briagolong’s destiny as grand finalist were unfounded.

The realsurprise wasthe Bombers'opponent, Lakes Entrance, who secured its spot in the final with athrilling one-point victory over Wy Yung in the preliminary final.

In ahard-fought clashonSaturday, the Bombers heldtheir ground against aresilient Lakes Entrance side, who looked to mount asurge in the second quarter.

Thegame opened with Lakes Entrancebringing theloudest cheer squad and applying heavy pressure, forcing the Bombersinto multiple turnovers. However, quick hands between defender Hannah Pratt and centre court marvel Taryn Cunningham and sharp shooting from Zara Flynn saw the Bombers take an early lead.

Lakes Entrance responded by creating turnovers across the court, but the Bombers managed to stay ahead, thanks in parttothe tenacityofgoal keeper SarahJohnson and the relentless energy of Pratt, who wasastand-out throughout the matchand ultimately named best-on-court.

Ahealthyfour-pointlead gave the Bombers

momentum at the first change of ends.

In the secondquarter, Cunninghamproved why she was named the league’s best-and-fairest because, with unmatched athleticism and anticipation, sheintercepted balls and disrupted any

ErikaAllen

BOISDALE-BRIAGOLONG Football-Netball Club set the winning tone early, with its Dgrade netballers securing aconvincing 13-point victory over Wy Yung.

IsabelGoldsmith stood out from the outset, switching between attack and defence like any well-rounded centre. She relentlesslypursuedthe ball, especially around the top of the semicircle, setting the tone for astrongstart.

Summa Molony and ChloeBedggoodscored 12 goals in their second-mostefficient quarter under the post, giving the Bombers arespectable four-point quarter-time lead.

The second quarter saw ashift in momentum as Wy Yung came out with renewed determination. Theyoverturned the Bombers’ first centre pass

and capitalised on turnovers,with Tigers’ defenders Elise Clemm and Madi Gallagher causing headaches under the post.

Molony looked tentative at timesasshe opted to reset by feeding risky passes to the top of the semicircle, which led to turnovers. Despite this, Goldsmith and Madeleine Glenane constantly provided support.

Dgrade coachMollie Huts, an Agradeplayer for Boisdale-Briagolongherself, paced alongthe sideline urging players to be patient and clean ball users.

By half-time, the Bombers had extended their lead to 23-14, but Wy Yung’s second-quarter belief kept them within striking distance with ahalf left to play.

The third quarter continued with the Tigers applying pressure, but the Bombers responded with crucial moments of brilliance. Wy Yung’s

rhythm the Seagulls had.

Although Lakes Entrance began to find consistency, the Bombers maintained their composure. Any grand final jitters goal scorer Lindsay Coridas had in the first term were squashed as she found

her tempo under the post,adding five goals to her two-goalquarter time tally.

Pesky by name, pesky by nature. The Seagulls weren’t going away, and the Bombers maintained aslim three-point lead by half-time.

Lakes Entrancecame out stronginthe third quarter, with goal shooter Molly Stevens capitalising on aturnover to score first. However, Cunningham’s move to goal attack proved pivotal, and she responded with agoal.

The Bombers were on ahot streak, scoring the third and fourth goals of the quarter.The fifth resulted fromaChloe McInnes intercept in the centre third. Linking up with Pratt, who fed the ball into the goal third, McInnes and Adelle Kelly offered options to reset at the top of the semicircle before Cunningham found space and scored.

WithFlynn’sdependency under the postand McInnes’ explosive leads to the ball in the centre third, the Bombers scored the sixth and seventh goals of the quarter, pushing the score to 26-18 by the conclusion.

The finaltermsaw the Bombers maintain their momentum, with Flynn and Cunningham addingnine goals to the Bombers’ total. They almost looked to be toying with Lakes Entrance defendersLucy Carroll and Tommi Carroll by executing bounce passes, slinging underarm passes and sneaky overheads.

Boisdale-Briagolong was the loudest cheer squad at the finalsiren as the players embraced in atight huddle on the court. It capped off anetball sweep for the Bombers, who had won the Dgrade final earlier on Saturday.

Halle Jackson rushed apassthrough the centre third, which Goldsmith snatched up, landing just centimetres from the sideline.

There were also moments of sportsmanship, such as Millie Handley helping Wy Yung’s Lorren Cole re-attach her playing bib. Perhaps for this andher impeccable defence,Handley was later named best-on-court.

Despite some nerves showing through with afew breaks at centre passes, the Bombers remained composed, ending the quarter with a37-23 lead.

Wy Yung marginally outscored the Bombers in the final quarter,but they maintained their composure, withthe Glenaneshifting into the centre role, flying at intercepts and lobs.

Wy Yung was playing agameofcatch-up against the clock. An enemy rather than afriend on Saturday,timetickedaway in the Bombers’ favour, and the crowd lifted as the siren sounded.

ORBOST-SNOWY Rovers claimed its first EastGippslandAgrade netball premiership in seven years on Saturday.

The Blues overcame Lucknow44-37 in the grand final,with Jorja Savory staunch in defence to be adjudged best-on-court. Like Boisdale-Briagolong, Wy Yung won two netball premierships.

The Tigers defeated Lucknow 36-33 in C grade with Caitlin Woodward best-on-court, and were victorious in thrilling under 17s grandfinal, defeating Lakes Entrance 25-24 with Lucy Carroll best-on-court.

Lindenow defeated Paynesvulle 43-39 in the under15s,withClaudia Blandford named best-on-court, capping off afine season, in which she alsowon the league best-and-fairest award.

Back-to-backand best in Bgrade -Boisdale-Briagolong.

Photo: ErikaAllen

Sam Bedggoodkicks his third goal after thethree quarter time siren. Hear the Bombers roar at the northern end of BairnsdaleCity Oval.

EGFNLsenior grand final best-onground player TomJolly.

Bombers break drought in style

From page 32

TheBombers’ missionthis season was clear, as they looked to reverse last year’s grand final result, breaka23-yeardrought, and makeBedggood a premiership-winning playing coach.

The Bombers dominated the home-and-away season, finishing atop the ladder with just two narrowhome losses–bytwo pointstoLucknow andfive to Orbost-Snowy Rovers. They then went on a12-game winning streak before falling to the Magpies by two points in the second semi-final.

The Bombers’ mission in the grand final was also clear, as ruckman MatthewWilkinson gotthe jump on Jake Richards. Their strengths in the midfield were formidable from the first siren, as Kel Porter predictably read the play best to pick up the first centre clearance. His handballfound Tim Dessent, who had ducked away from Glen Perkins on the wing. It wasa smooth passage of playtowards the northern end,with JacksonGlenane delivering akick to aleading Jim Reeves, who just missed the mark. Nonetheless, Boisdale-Briagolong’s key playerswere impacting right from the start, with the first inside 50.

TobyLeeds took on the ruck contestsagainst ConnorMcAuliffe, whileCal Egan loomedaround stoppages. Egan, adangerous player on the lead,

could have been agame-changer, but an ankle injury inflicted in atackle by Lucknow captain Jesse Glassborow sidelined him just one minute into thematch.

From the back line, the Magpies scrambled the ball forward into the hands of Jessie Pescod, who launched the ball for aminor score. John Gooch kicked the first major, putting Ryan Marshalland theBombers’ smallish back structure to the test.

Lucknow’s positional kicking was accurate down the western wing, and the next major was theirs.

Althoughthe Bombers saw the ballintheir forward half, conversions went begging. Reeves had achancetoscore,but it wasn’t untilBedggood executeda snap aroundthe bodyinthe 21st minute that the Bombers finally put one through the big sticks.

The Bombers kept pressing, and aPaddy Mack tackle set up achancetochipaway at the 13-point deficit. Tom Jolly, who would go on to earn best-onground honours, charged through for ahandball, marking the firsttimethe forward trulylooked dangerous. The effort resulted in abehind.

The first quarter ended similarlytothe Bombers’ preliminary final,withJolly awarded apenaltykick from the top of the square after Jacob Green’s late contact on Jolly as he took amarkinthe forward pocket.

The siren sounded with the Bombers trailing by seven points, 2.2 (14) to 3.3 (21).

Boisdale-Briagolongstarted to settleinthe second term, with Thomas ‘Junior’ Bradshaw’s goal after astrong mark igniting the Bombers as they fought to level the score with Lucknow at 3.4 (21).

Put him in the back line, and he’ll be awall; put him in the ruckwhere he started in the 2023grand final, and he’ll wrestle the ball to the ground; or playhim as aforward, and Juniorwill deliver He also won’t hold back from getting physical or in players’ ears like on Saturday, as he reminded Lucknow’s Andrew Nelson with some push and shove and averbal exchange.

nine-point lead -8.8 (56) to 7.5 (47) -into the third had all the momentum behind the Bombers.

The third quarter belonged to BoisdaleBriagolong, who scored 3.5 (22) to Lucknow’s 1.2 (8).

Wilkinson celebrated their first goal of the third in style, beating on his chest in front of apacked northern end. Then, it was all Bedggood in his last game as Bombers coach.

Bedggood scored two consecutive goals in the left pocket from nearly the same 40-metredistance. The first was an intelligentplay-on to advantageaftera two-on-one contest on the 50m line saw the playing coach’s arm held. It blew the margin to 18 points.

Bedggood’s second for the term was perhaps more impressive. Intercepting Pescod’s kick out of defence, Bedggood made the Magpies pay with agoal after the three quartertimesiren, giving the Bombers afour-goal lead.

Fuelled by Bedggood’s impassioned three-quartertime speech, the Bombers energetically dispersed from the huddle while the Magpies took about another minute to filter to position.

The Bombers used theirmomentum, and Jolly all but hammered the nail in Lucknow’s coffin within the first minute of the final term, drilling agoal fromaroundhis body from the easternsideline. But Jollystruckthe hammer aminutelater,scoring hisfourth and final goal of the day from aset shot after out-marking Jack Saulle fromthe position

of his previous goal. It was adecisive moment, but Lucknow’s disappointment deepened when Reeves capped off three minutes of scintillating football by scoring the Bombers’ third goal off the back of classic ball movement. APorter clearance, followed by aSandison mark, set up the reliable full forward for adefinitive finish.

Brunt got the Bombers past 100 points and had Lucknow players’ heads hanging low. Lucknow’s three final quarter goals came from Nelson, Gooch, and Ryan Halford, and despite more attempts, Bombers’ back-man Billy Marshall was there to rebound them every time.

As the siren sounded, celebrations erupted along thesouthern 50m lineasplayers formed ahuddle, theexcitement swellingassupporters rushed over the fence at the northernend.Playersand coaching staff dashed across the fieldfrom the interchange, joining the jubilation.

Boisdale is asmall town –ahall, post office, fire brigade, and recreation reserve line aroad thatdivides about 30 houses. Blink,and you’ll have driven through it. After Saturday, however, Boisdale-BriagolongFNC added an EGFNL flag to its name. Mission accomplished; 23 years in the making and thisyear’s destiny fulfilled. Congratulations, Boisdale-Briagolong FNC.

Will Brunt was critical to drivingthe ball into the Bombers’ forward 50.Reeveswas oftenthe target of Brunt’s precision kicks to position, and he seized aone-on-one contest against Stephen Bertino, sprinting into an open goal to put the Bombers ahead briefly, though Lucknow quickly responded.

Theback-and-forthscoring continued, including an impressive Nicoll Sandison goal from atight line in the right forward pocket. With Bradshaw and Reeves contributing key plays, the Bombers got out to aseven-point lead at one stage.

The lead changed at least five times in the quarter, and after the siren, Jolly’s goal from about 48 metres drew cheers from the crowds. It was a rewarding end to the Bombers dominating inside 50s. After ahard-fought second term, taking a

Junior Bradshawimpressedwitha high flyingmark,and thenslotted a goal. The goaland celebration: Jim Reevesroars afterkicking his fourth goal.

Boisdale-Briagolong senior captain Jim Reevesand playing-coach Sam Bedggood hoist the 2024 EGFNLcup high.

Photos: ErikaAllen

Grand final observations

Erika Allen

Spectating is like chess

IS it crazy to secure aprime parking spot the night before to avoid parking mayhem? No, because the more prepared you are, the better view you get.

Vehicles were being deniedentryinto Bairnsdale City Oval by 11am, relegated to parking further afield and wherever they could find standing room around the ground. Cars were parked at all kinds of angles inside the ground. People marked their territory with blankets or clothing in their team colours, which were strewn over chairs.

When acoveted parking space along the fence opened up, people descended like vultures. Some werestealthier thanothers, moving in silentlyand standing stoicallywith their armscrossed.Others shouted at their kids, telling them to form aguard whiletheymoved the car.

Perfect conditions

SATURDAY was abright sunshiny day, with the temperature climbing to amaximum 18˚ Celsius in Bairnsdale. Aslightbreeze kept north facing spectators cool. The ground wasfirm underfoot,with soft patches here and there. Overall,itstood up well throughout the day’s football matches.

One puddle on the boundary near the northern left forward pocket seemed to attract the players, andwhenBoisdale-Briagolong reserves footballer Cal Hennig tried to reel and run, he endedup swimminginitafter aheavy bumpfromLucknow’s Leigh Stephenson.

Celebrations abound

FORGET the mark and goal of the year –celebration of the year deserves its own spotlight.

The East Gippsland Football-NetballLeague senior grand finalhad no shortage of on-field entertainment, with some unforgettable celebrations ahighlight amongst the stand-out football.

Boisdale-Briagolong captain Jim Reeves opted for

aclassic double fist pump, embellished apowerful roar after kicking hisfourth goal in the final term. Playing-coachSam Bedggood mirrored this with his own celebration following athird-quarter goal after the siren.

Junior Bradshaw took amore confrontational approach, getting physical with Lucknow’s Andrew Nelson, who failed to spoil the mark leading to Bradshaw’s goal, and adding abit of lip for good measure.

But the most unique celebration came from Boisdale-Briagolong’s ruckman, Matthew Wilkinson, who pounded his chest after athirdterm goal.IfLucknow wasn’t already wary of Wilko’s towering presence,that displaysurely drove the point home.

Lucknow too good for Bombersinreserves

ErikaAllen

THE team that settled first claimed victory in the East Gippsland Football-Netball League reserves grand final.

That team was Lucknow, who defeated BoisdaleBriagolong 9.12(66) to 3.2 (20) on Saturday at Bairnsdale City oval.

The Magpies took the lead early, setting the tone with agoal in the opening minute from Damian Hodder. It was adream start for Lucknow, with Shaun Ryan scoring again with amongrel kick at about the four-minute mark.

The Bombers were yet to score when Cooper Bailey sent a clearing kick down the western

half-forward flank. The ball skidded along the grass, evadingplayers’ attempts to control it, until Ty Ruthberg managed to get ahandball away. Baileyquicklybacked him up, dishingoff to an unmanned Brodon Kewish,who wastednotime launching the ball to the top of the square. There, Luke Prattused his body to get in front of his player and take amark, and scoring the Bombers’ first goal of thegame.

FromhereLucknow kicked away, adding another two goalstotheir tally.Then,Prattadded another goal for the Bombers from a40-metre set shot. With mereminutes to go,astoppage metresinside 50 saw another chance for Boisdale-Briagolong. Ben Missen picked up the scraps, handballing the ball forward only for it to be picked up by Lucknow.

Bailey spoiledLucknow’s Joshua Carroll’s rush out of defence with atackle, giving Cal Hennig the chance to capitalise from the left forward pocket. Lucknowhad ahandy 14-point quarter-time lead, 5.3 (32) to 3.0 (18).

Playing-coach Nathan Sellings asked his players to settle in the quarter-time huddle, pointing out the Magpies beatthem to the punch. The Bombers’ listened,racking up some precisepositional kicking However, the Bombers’ hopes faded as they struggled to hit targets out of the backline and couldn’t score another goal. Some inaccuracy from Lucknowmight have giventhe Bombers hope, as the Magpies kicked 1.7 (13) in the second quarter and then just three points in the third term.

While the Bombersmanagedanother two behinds

in the fourth quarter, Lucknow regained its sharpness, however, closing out the game with 3.1 (19) in the fourth quarter to secure a46-point victory.  ORBOST-Snowy Rovers won its first thirds premiership since 2005.

The Blues won atight under 17.5s grand final, coming from three points down at three-quartertime to defeat Lindenow 8.5 (53) to 6.9 (45). The Blues looked to be in control at half-time, leading by nine points,but afour-goal to two third term saw the Cats edge in front with aquarter to play. The Blues, led by best-on-ground Jacob Farley, ran out the match better, winning by eight points. -with DavidBraithwaite

Luke Pratt kicks the Bombers’ first goal.

Boisdale-Briagolong’s Cal Hennig stood strong in atackle by LeighStephenson. Photos: ErikaAllen

Josh Neille hasspace to run in theleft forward pocket

Double delight

Boisdale-Briagolong claimed East Gippsland netball premierships in Band Dgrades on Saturday. Pictured is the Dgrade side celebrating its success.

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Photo: ErikaAllen

Bombers breakpremiership drought

Erika Allen

ASK any footballer what they play for, and the answer is apremiership.

It’s not all they play for, however, because witnessing emotions unfold as Boisdale-Briagolong Football-Netball Club soaked up its first senior premiership in 23 years points to so much more than that.

Footyclubs aren’t just aroster of 22 players, acoach, or acaptain, althoughthey embody the hopes of hundredsofmembers and supporters,all carried onto the field each week with the dream of finishingthe season in agrand final.

Words like sacrifice, volunteerism, and selflessness summarise what it takes to win apremiership.

Anyone who stuck around to watch the Bombers sing, laugh, and cry together saw this.

Players might not mentionthat they’replayingfor acommunity –but that’s what football clubs are.

AfterSaturday’s medal and trophy presentation at Bairnsdale City Oval, asea of red and black gathered at the centre of the ground; with arms around each other, they formed acircle and belted out the clubsong. Amongthem werethe Bombers’ reserves grandfinalists, Band Dgradenetball premiership winners, friends, and family. They finished the season just as they began it –together.

Football clubs are aboutfamilies like the Porters, with Kelvin shining as asenior player, while Emily excelsinany discipline as adecorated footballer andAgrade netballer.

Football clubsare about lifemembers like Jim Allen, aformer clubpresident who rarely missesa game, cheeringonthe team week in and weekout.

Football clubs are about players likeShaquille Coridas, who was sidelined by aconcussion during the second semi-final after earning his spot on the team. Still, Coridas received amedal –the final one handed out by playing coach Sam Bedggood on Saturday, who admitted the injury had weighed heavily on his mind throughout the week.

These are the people the Bombers played for, as

Bedggood emphasisedinthe three-quarter-time huddle. He urged his players to not only play but winfor the club’s loyal supporters who deserved to be repaid with apremiership after 23 years. While tactical instructions like ‘open it up’ and ‘spread out’ were important and ultimately heeded to great effect, the heart of Bedggood’s message was about honouring supporters. It got the Bombersover the line in theEast Gippsland Football-Netball League senior grand final, as they defeated Lucknow15.17 (107)to 11.9 (75).

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