Gippsland Times Tuesday 21 March 2023

O’Brien seeking answers on old Sale Police Station

THE Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien, is seeking answers on why the site of the former Sale police station on York Street has been left to fall to disrepair.

The local MP said it had been eight years since the opening of the new Sale police station. It was disappointing to see the former site left in its current state.

“This site is located on Lake Guthridge and has real potential to be used for the great benefit of the community,” Mr O’Brien said.

“Instead,ithas fallen victim to vandalsand squatters, resulting in an eyesore for the community and aheadache for neighbouring properties.

“This is aprime location close to the centreof

Police Beat

with Stefan Bradley

Man arrested after crash

WELLINGTON Crime Investigation Unit

detectives have arrested aman after aseries of incidents in astolen vehicle on Tuesday March 14.

It’s alleged awhite Isuzu D-Max utility wasstolen from aproperty on Thompson Street in Cowwarr about6.20am. Police received numerous reports of the vehiclebeing driven erratically in Cowwarr, Sale, Fernbank and Lindenow South. It’s alleged the driver was travelling at excessivespeeds and overtaking vehicles dangerously, narrowly avoiding several collisions.

The ute crashed into rocks and the train line, about 200 metres west of Lidenow-Glenaladale Road, Lindenow South about 9am.

A32-year-old Lakes Entranceman wasarrested at the scene and is currently assisting police with their enquiries.

Anyone with information or dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppers.com.au

town and could be used for boutique hotel accommodation, arestaurant, café or any other number of uses for the community.”

Mr O’Briensaidheunderstoodthat there had been some issues surrounding the native title process relating to Crown land sales, but that the state had had more than sufficienttime to work through these issues.

“We can’t just keep sitting on our hands. Ihave beenraising this matter with the relevant Ministers andinParliament formanyyearsnow,”MrO'Brien said.

“The Andrews Labor Government has had eight years to sort this out and it is past time for them to get on with the job.

Keycrime measures begin to stabilise

THE Crime StatisticsAgency (CSA) released the Victorian recordedcrime statisticsfor the year ending31December 2022 on Thursday.The rate of recorded offences remainedstable,up0.5 percentto7332.9per 100,000 Victorians in the past12months, whilethe number of offences increased 1.2 per cent to 483,441. All offence categories increased in thepast12months,except for category FOther Offences,which decreased by 10,286 offences or 87.1 per cent to 1525 (related to Breach of Chief Health Officer offences, which had beenrecorded at higher levels during the first two years of the pandemic).

In the 12 months to 31 December2022, the number of criminal incidents remained stable, up slightly, 0.4 per cent or 1412 to 349,852 incidents.

The rate also remainedstable, downslightly 0.3 per cent to 5306.6 per 100,000 Victorians, the lowest level since the yearending 2005.

Alleged offender incidents increased 7.0 per cent to 162,750 in the last 12 months,asdid the rateup6.0 per cent to 2803.5 per 100,000. Thevictimisation rate increased by 0.4 per cent to 3070.8 reports per 100,000 Victorians. The

“The last thing we want is for this site to be left to remain an eyesore. Given its location, it has great potential to be of good use to the local community.”

Thestategovernment was reached for comment, with aspokespersonfor the Department of Treasury and Finance providing the following response: "The now-surplus former police station site is being prepared forsale in-linewith Victorian Government Landholding Policy,and we are consulting with traditional land owners."

The currentSalepolice station, located on corner of Foster and Reeve Streets, became operational on March 25, 2015.

number of person-related victim reports was up 1.1 per cent to 202,452 and organisation reports was up 4.4 per cent to 68,067. Family incidents increased 1.3 per cent in the last 12 months, with 92,296 incidents recorded across Victoria. The rate of familyincidents also increased, up 0.6 per cent to 1400.0 incidents per 100,000 Victorians. CSA chief statistician, Fiona Dowsley, said that “the majority of offence types increased in the last 12 months, with notable increases in breach of bail offences and acquisitive crime types such as thefts”.

Kids day outinYarram

THE Wellington Proactive Unit took down their its policefleet for adisplay at the Wellington Shire'sKids DayOut event in Yarram on March 8.

Leading SeniorConstable, Kim Kell,helped Vinnie, aged 2 1/2, Mila, aged 4 and Addison, almost 4, put on the Victoria Police mini-uniforms and hats, whilst sitting on the police fleet to have photos taken.

There were many attractions for the children to see and do such as ajumping castle, petting zoo, face painting, ball games and balloon twisting. The staff from the Bean Pedlar and Fairy Julianne stopped by for aphoto.

Member

stategovernmenttoexplain why the formerSale police station site remains idle. Photo:

Impound in Cowwarr

ON March 13, HeyfieldPolice receivedinformationabout vehicles doing burnouts at the intersection of Three Chain Road and Neilsons Rd, Cowwarr.

On police’s arrival, they observed ared Holden CommodoreUte doing aburnout and was intercepted. The vehicle was impounded for 30 days at acostof$1133 and the driver,a19-year-old male from Traralgon, will be summonsed to attend court in relation to this matter at alater date.

No hay under the bridge

On Thursday March 9, 2023, at about 1pm, a truck carrying hay bales failed to make it under the bridge of Maffra-Stratford Rd, Stratford.

One hay bale wastoo high and hit the 4.3-metre high bridge. This closed the road in both directions while the mess was cleaned up.

The driver of the truck will receive two infringement notices -one for Fail to obey low clearance sign with acost of $925, and one for Fail to display Pplates,which is $185 and three demerit points

This is atimelyreminder that it is the driver's responsibility for the load they are carrying and ensuring that it is secure and under the height of obstructions and objects.

forGippsland South DannyO’Brien hascalledonthe

Contributed

Trekking to tackle mental health

Content warning: This story contains topics such as mental ill health and suicide and may be distressing for some readers.

WITH Beyond Blue'slandmark 2018 study, Answering the Call,revealing damning data on the mental health of emergencyserviceemployees and volunteers and the loss of numerous mates to suicide, Tony Pearce, Chair of the Emergency Services Foundation (ESF), and Victoria's Inspector General for Emergency Management, decided to do something about it.

Pearce is walking 1440 kilometres to raise vital awareness of mental health in the emergency services sector, with the 40-year emergency service member stepping off from Melbourne on March 10, beginning his 54-day journey.

"I was concerned about the degree to which our peoplewere having their mental health impacted, so Ithought there was an opportunity for our foundation, the emergency services foundation, to be able to do some work in the space of actually helping to raise awareness of the impact on our volunteers and paid staff," Mr Pearce said.

"Recognising that they are not justpeople in uniform, they're your family, they're our families, they're community membersaswell, not just emergency workers."

Answering the Call,BeyondBlue's National Mental Health and Wellbeing Study of Police and Emergency Services, creating the first-everbaseline of national prevalence data and confirmation of key protective and risk factors experienced by police and emergency servicespersonnel, revealed anecdotal evidencethatpolice and emergency servicespersonnel are at greater risk of experiencing amental health condition.

The national study heard the collective voice of 21,014 people working in police and emergency services, finding that one in every three employees experiences high or very high psychological distress, significantly higher than the national average of one in every eight adults.

Answering the Call revealed policeand emergency service employees and volunteers are more than twice as likely to have suicidal thoughts as the

general population and are more than three times more likely to have asuicide plan, with more than halfofall employees indicating that they had experienced atraumatic event that had deeply affected them during the course of their work.

"Answeringthe Call highlights thatinevery metric, emergency serviceworkers are impacted far greater in their mental health than the broader Australian community," Mr Pearce said.

"When Ilooked at that, and I've had some friends who've takentheirown lives,unfortunately, Ihad another onemore recently who did similarly, I thought it's an opportunity for me now to do something because Ican.

"So Idecided that something really big, otherwise it won't get attention, so the walk was the idea, 1500 kilometres, then people go "Why would you do that?". There's the bone, you've got them, and then it gives me the opportunity to talk to everyone about exactly what it is and what the issues are."

Mr Pearce will travel through many areas impacted by the 2019-2020 bushfires, on his almost 1500-kilometre journey from the State Control Centre in MelbournetoMallacoota,across the Alpine Range to Wodonga, and back to Melbourne, recognising the impact that severe fire events such as these can have on emergency services workers and community members alike.

"Very often people forget, those in big emergencies too like the fires in 2019-2020 and the floods and so on, that emergency service workers places,their

families are being decimated and impacted exactly the same way as yours or mine or others are, and yet they are still out there doing that, but that brings avery heavy toll," Mr Pearce said.

The Chairofthe Emergency Services Foundation and Victoria's Inspector General for Emergency Management, TonyPearce, reached Sale on Thursday, March 16 and was greeted by Sale CFA representatives, alongside local representatives from Ambulance Victoria, SES, Victoria Police and Surf Life Saving Victoria at Pearsons Bridge.

Local police and emergency services representativesaccompanied Mr Pearce past the police station, intoGippsland Shopping Centreand to the Sale CFAFire Station on Raymond Street, wherethey enjoyedafternoontea hosted by the Rotary Club of Sale

Enjoying party pies fresh from the oven and colourful jelly snakes, Mr Pearce reported he was in good shape, surpassing 200 kilometres into his 1440-kilometre journey.

"It's going alright," he said.

"My legs are holding up really well, which is fantastic. Idoget sore at the end of the day.

"The heat is actually having abit of an impact; it's warmer than Ianticipated it was going to be at the moment, so we've had afew warm days to start with, and that sort of has abit of an impact later in the day but other than that, physically I am going pretty well.

"Just fingers crossed, if Ican keep going, I'll be very happy." Witheight pairs of sneakers, specifically designed

by podiatrists to supportavarietyofdifferent types of walks and having been joined by an emergency serviceworker everyday so far, sharing their personal mental health stories along the way, Mr Pearce is on track to completing the almost 1500-kilometre walk for emergency services mental health on April 30.

Wellington ShireCouncil Mayor,Ian Bye,joined Mr Pearce,local police and emergency services representatives for afternoon tea at the Sale CFA station on Thursday, where Sale CFA presented Mr Pearce with a$500cheque showing the local police and emergency services support for his cause.

"I am grateful to have been invited to take part in Tony's Trek," Cr Bye said.

"Tony'swork to deliver prevention-focused mental health initiatives in partnership with the EmergencyServices Foundation hitsclosetohome for many people in our community.

"We all remember the devastation from the Black Summer bushfires, and Iknow from conversations with local emergency service volunteers that the load they carry is huge.

"I encourage our community to visit the Emergency ServicesFoundation's website to follow Tony's story, and Ithank Tony and his team for includingSaleontheir journey and wish them luck on their next 1,200 odd kilometres."

Mr Pearce spent two nights in Sale, departing Sale on Saturday, March 18, with Mansi On Raymond donating accommodation and Element @Mansi throwing in afree massage.

Help is available at Lifeline on 13 11 14

Mr Pearce wastaken back by the support of Sale policeand emergency services.

Chair of the Emergency Services Foundation (ESF) and Victoria’s Inspector General for Emergency Management Tony Pearce arrived in SaleonThursday, March 16,and wasgreeted by local police and emergency services representatives.

ZoeAskew

Chairofthe Emergency Services Foundation (ESF)and Victoria’s Inspector General for Emergency ManagementTony Pearce is on a 1500-kilometrejourney, raisingawareness of mental health in police and emergency services sectors.

Photos: Zoe Askew

Former Sale FireBrigade captain Doug Bracand Tony Pearce, Chair of the Emergency Services Foundation (ESF) and Victoria’s Inspector Generalfor Emergency Management.

Senator opens CentreatGrammar S Seenna a at t toor s C Ceennt t tr r re e a at t Grra a ammmma a ar r

GIPPSLAND Grammar has officially opened its newArt &Design Centre.

The building, located on the school’s Garnsey Campus in Sale,was unveiled to the publicon Thursday, March 16 in blustery conditions.

Close to 100 students, staff and local dignitaries attended the event, including Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester and State Member for Gippsland South Danny O’Brien.

Yet it wasFederalSenator Raff Ciccone who had the honour of opening the Centre, unveiling aplaque withhis name alongside Gippsland Grammar Principal Michele Wakeham and the chair of the school’s board, Brendan Shepherd.

In aspeechtoattendees, the Labor Senator for Victoria said he was sure the building’s facilities would provide aricherexperience for students.

“Facilities like these are important so that your teachers have all the tools they need to give you the besteducation possible, as well as all the students who learn here in thefuture,” Senator Ciccone said.

“I know sometimes as astudent it’s hard to get excited about anew centre like this; but Ican tell you, looking back on my own time at school, that the facilities we had made areal difference to the staff’s ability to teach and our ability to learn.”

The ceremonybegan at 10am with awelcomefrom the Head of Garnsey Campus, Rohan Jayatilake,

followedbyspeechesfrom Mrs Wakeham and Senator Ciccone.

Afterthe plaque’s unveiling, BishopofGippsland the Right Reverend Dr Richard Treloar gave the OfficialDedication, which was proceeded by afinal blessing from the school’s chaplain, Reverend Dr Tim Gaden.

Attendees were then invited inside the building for atour of the new facilities.

Gippsland Grammar initially announced it would build anew Art &Design Centre in October 2020; works started in Decemberthatsameyear with thedemolition of theexisting basketball courts.

The $6.5 millionproject was completed in March 2022, with classes having been held inside since Term 2last year.

Beautificationand landscaping of the surrounding area -aswell as the reconstruction of basketball facilities and neighbouring downball courts -were completed in-time for the 2023 school year.

Facilities for woodworking, ceramics, graphic design and visual media are all contained within the newbuilding, as well as staff rooms and an enclosed courtyard.

Year 12 student Ella O’Doherty, who is completingVET Furnishing as part of her studies, described the new building as “incredible”.

“The space is amazing; it’s so nice to have abigger area, so we can keep our projectsout -wedon’t have to put them away,” Ella said.

She noted the superior noise-cancelling and the new dust-extractor system as two improvements

over the old woodworking space.

“It would have been lovely to have these (facilities) from Year 7upwards, but I’m really grateful that it opened before we were in Year 12, so we got to use it during Year 11,” Ella added.

Fellow Year 12 student Nathaniel Shelton said he was “loving” the facilities,noting that his software development class was previously held in aroom half the size: “It’s abig upgrade, really.”

Constructionofthe building was partly made possible through the CapitalGrantsProgram, which allowsnon-government schools to apply for federal funding.

“There are new and improved facilities like these (at Gippsland Grammar) opening up right across the country thanks to the Federal Government’s Capital Grants Program,”Senator Ciccone told attendees.

“Over the next four years, the government will be investing around$785milliononfacilities at schools like yours, including over $40 million here in Victoria this year.

“But at the end of the day, it is not the building that delivers agreat education -itiswhathappens inside of it.

“All of you -teachers, staff and students -have built astrongand positive community, and Iknow you’ll put these facilities to good use.”

$2 million was provided by the federal government as part of the program, with the remainder of funds securedvia donations from local foundations and benefactors.

The federal funding was secured under the previous Coalitiongovernment by Mr Chester -a fact acknowledged by Senator Ciccone on the day, touting the bipartisan nature of the initiative.

Mr Chester told the Gippsland Times it was fantastic to see such an exceptional facility delivered.

In her speech, Mrs Wakeham said the school was fortunate to partner with anumberoflocal businesses in the construction of the Centre.

“Of particular note is the workofBrooker Builders, alocal family-owned business with company principals Ross and Michelle Brooker, and also Site Foreman Wayne Bromley, who navigated the challengesofconstruction during COVID to keep the project on track,” Mrs Wakeham said. She addedthe school was “incredibly grateful”to all donors for their generous contributions.

TomParry

Darren Chester MP,Emily Thai, Brendan Shepherd, Michele Wakeham, Senator Raff Ciccone, EdwardCourtier,Danny O’Brien MLAand Reverend Dr RichardTreloar.

Senator Raff Ciccone (right) unveils the Official Opening plaque as Brendan Shepherdand Michele Wakeham watch on.

Photos:Tom Parry

Gippsland Grammaer’s HeadofGarnsey Campus, Rohan Jayatilake speaking at the officialopening

Defib funding support must be broadened: Bull

Stefan Bradley

GIPPSLAND East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, has asked for the state government’s automated external defibrillator (AED) program to be expanded outside sporting clubs so that community groups can apply to have them installed.

“Grants of up to $2000are made available for Victorian sporting clubs to acquire an automated external defibrillator, supporting access to life saving equipment. However, local community groups not affiliated with sport can’t access the funding," he said.

“The overall cost to purchase an AED is too expensive for not-for-profit volunteer run committees to fund.

“We know their importance in saving lives, so should we not be getting as many out in the community as possible for what is arelatively small cost to government?

“EastGippsland has an ageingdemographic but many of our seniors are engaged in community activities, so we should be looking to servicethese communities, not that these matters are solely confined to our seniors."

Mr Bull also queried why there wasnot compulsory registration for all groups with AEDs.

“I am led to believe registration is optional, so when acrisisoccurs there may be one close by, but it if is not registered on the system, no one knows it is there," he said

“We have one installed in our office and this was an issue we became aware of when we were going through that process. It seems wrong to have AEDs in thecommunity without the locationof them being publicly registered."

TheDepartment of Health told the Gippsland Times that grants previously offered to sporting clubs to install AEDs were conditionalonthem registering it with Ambulance Victoria. However, legislativechangeswould be needed to mandate theregistrationofall AEDs in Victoria

“Whensomeonesuffersa cardiacarrest, there is no time to lose,soregistering the location of

Healthy eatingafocus for visiting dieteticstudents

GIPPSLAND Region PublicHealthUnit

an AED means that when one is needed it can be found as soon as possible,” aDepartment of Health spokesperson said.

“We encourage all businesses, sporting clubs and individuals to register their AEDs with Ambulance Victoria to ensure they can be found in an emergency.”

The spokesperson did not address whether the program will or should be expanded outside of local sport clubs, but noted that local councils offer funding opportunitiesfor AEDs through their communitydevelopmentorgrants programs, which may be accessed for the purchase of AEDs by not-for-profit community groups.

St John Ambulance Australia, Australian Red Crossand other philanthropic organisations such as Rotary clubs and local businessesoften support community groups to raise funds to purchase defibrillators.

Futuregas supplyconcern

PhilipHopkins

AWARNING by the energy marketregulator that Australia faces gas shortfalls this winterand a supply shortage from 2027 highlights the need for more gas development in areas such as Gippsland, according to akey industry body.

The Australian Energy Market Regulator said in areport lastweekthatextremeweather this winter may lead to gas shortfalls, especiallyif coal and renewable alternatives to meet demand were unavailable.

"Long-term gas shortfalls areforecast across the country from 2027 without more investment in supply," AEMO said.

The federal government's intervention to impose aprice cap had fuelled investment uncertainty.

"Ageing gas supply in the south was declining faster than predicted demand," AEMO said.

Risks in the southern states depended on how quickly pipelines from Queensland could deliver gastothe south, with the export of gas another

danger. The AustralianPetroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) said AEMO's report was further reason for all governments to explain how they plantobring on new gas supply.

"AEMO makes it clear that the root causeof the gas market shortfalls is inadequate supply and infrastructure," said APPEA chief executive, SamanthaMcCulloch."Ongoing marketintervention and price regulation, permitting delays, and state-based barriers to new gas development are exacerbating the risk of shortfalls."

Ms McCulloch said last month thatVictoria faces serious energy consequences. Total gas production was set to decline by 43 per centwithin three years, risking the state's energy security and putting upward pressure on gas prices.

Australian and state government research showed substantial natural gas reserves exist both onshore and offshore in Bass Strait, she said.

Victoria's LeadScientist,DrAmanda Caples, said Victoria's2020gas report showedthat development of Gippsland's onshore conventional gas wouldboost the region's economy and createjobs.

(GRPHU) has welcomedtwo students on placement from Deakin University. Megan Dodds and Aoife McHugh are both studying their Masters of Dietetics and are using their placement opportunity to identify opportunities to improve healthy eatingand drinking options at venues throughout the region. With an interest in nutrition and healthcare,

both were delighted to have the opportunity to understandthe role of local public health units (LPHUs) in disease prevention.

With the role of the GRPHU now extending far beyond COVID-19 outbreak management, Operations Director, Annelies Titulaer, said LPHUs throughout Victoria were also now supporting positive change in disease prevention and population health.

“The GRPHU works with local partners and stakeholders across the region to keep our communities healthy, safe and well,” Ms Titulaer explained.

“Weuse local knowledge,community-based relationshipsand directengagement to inform locally tailoredand developed interventions to improve population health outcomes.”

The focus for Megan and Aoife during their timewiththe GRPHU willbetoscale up healthyfood and drink choices when eating out, informed by apilot project previously undertaken with eateries on Phillip Island.

“Theaim of this projectistosupport the nutritional wellbeing of the community by increasing the number of healthyoptions available and support customers to identify the most nutritious options when eating out,” Ms Doddssaid.

Ms McHugh decided to pursue nutritional science after completing her Bachelor degrees in both nursing and veterinary science.

“I realised Iampassionate about providing others with evidence-based nutrition advice and would like to work to decrease the burden of diet-related disease,” she said.

“The GRPHU staff are passionate, extremely knowledgeableand welcoming. We look forward to supporting the nutritional wellbeing of the Gippsland community during our placements.”

MeganDodds and Aoife McHugh are dieteticstudentsonplacement at the Gippsland RegionPublic Health Unit Photo: Contributed.

Tim Bull hasasked for the government’s automated external defibrillator (AED) program to be expanded outsidesportingclubs.

Photo: Contributed.

Photo:Contributed

ABetter

Foster caregala

"I just think the subscriptionmodel is areally powerful way of saying 'I live in this community, Iknow that kids are vulnerable, and Iwant to do something to help'."

As it does for ABetter Life For Foster Kids, the founder Heather Baird, who was raised in the foster care system from two-and-a-half years old until she turned 18, the fight to improve the lives of foster children has become asignificant,personal driving force for Ms Lord after meeting now Sale local, Melanie MacPherson.

"The dataisprettycompelling, but more than anything,itstarted being compelling for me when Imet awomancalledMel MacPherson," Ms Lord said

Zoe Askew

VICTORIA'S fostercare system is in turmoil; allowances for carers are among the worst in the country,and the numberofchildreninout-of-home care has increased, state figures show.

At the same time, the numberoffoster carers has declined, with case workers saying there are not enough foster carers for the state's most vulnerablechildrenwho need homes,according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

For nearly 10 years, the Gippsland-based charity ABetter Life For Foster Kids has worked to provide relief and support to children and carers in the foster care systemthrough initiatives such as crisis cases, annual kids and carers camps, and furniture and financial aid.

With grants progressivelyhard to retain, ABetter Life For Foster Kids has sought anew fundraising model, one that will sustain the local charity in its support of children in foster care.

Erin Lord signed on as ABetter Life For Foster Kids board member in 2022 and immediately identified the unstainable reality of relyingon grants.

"Grants are great, but they often are looking for new shiny things, and the purpose of the charity really is to build these first few weeks away from home crisis cases, and organisations started saying, 'Doesithavetobecrisiscases? Cant we do something else?'," Ms Lord said.

"That might be really relevant in another charity, but when we think about kids and those first few

nights away from home, it's about having clothes of your own, clothes that aren't too big or too small and some comfort items like acuddletoy and a soft blanket.

"And Ijust started to realise that we needed to do something self-sustaining and that grants could be seen more as an auxiliary, camps away from home and other things we could do to add value."

Ms Lord's thought of 'A Cuppa aWeek' campaign will be officially launched on Friday, March 31, at aspecial ABetter Life For Foster Kids gala dinner at Sale Memorial Hall.

The weekly subscription-based fundraiser helps ABetter Life For Foster Kids continue to provide comfort and dignity to vulnerable children who are removed fromtheir homesfor their ownsafety through the issuance of Crisis Cases.

"What we are hoping is people will come along [to the gala dinner], or if they can't come along, they willsubscribe to ourA Cuppa aWeek campaign knowing that the value of one cuppa aweek or $4.50 is going across to the charity to sustain the work that we do," Ms Lord said.

"I usedtoworkatthe RoyalFlyingDoctors Service, so Isaw lots of differentsubbranches of donation models,and what Iliked aboutthis model was thateverybody in Sale can see this as their own charity.

"A Better Life For Foster Kids grew up in Sale, it was conceived in Sale; we can see thisasour town's wayofresponding to anationwide crisis, andifwecan do that by regularly participating in small amounts, we can achieve alot.

Council shares road safety ideas

Stefan Bradley

THE NEXT Wellington Shire Council meeting will take place at 6pm today. Here’s what happened at the previous meeting on March 7.

Cr Marcus McKenzieacknowledged both The Wedge season launch held on Friday 24 February, and the 60th Anniversary of the Port Albert Yacht Club held on Saturday March 4.

Cr Carolyn Crossley acknowledged the Autumn season launch for the Gippsland Art Gallery on Friday 3March

Wellington Shire Mayor Ian Bye acknowledged sporting events that took placeacross February 25-26.Three main events took place:the annual Sale Basketball Tournament, the Gippsland Swimming Championships and asoccer tournament.

Cr John Tatterson in his Delegates Report noted the South East Australian Transport Strategy (SEATS) ordinary general meeting was held on February16and 17.Hesaidthe meetingwas a step forward with the appointment of Greg Pullen as the new executive officer.

Cr Tatterson shared with the gallery road safety initiatives east of Bairnsdale that have “reduced incidents” betweenStratford and Bairnsdale. There are still congestion issuesinStratfordover long weekends.

Cr Tatterson turned his attentiontoroad projects, which was discussed at the SEAT meeting.

“I thank (General Manager Builtand Natural Environment), ChrisHastie, on his updatefor Wellington, and for Wellington priority projects we reported on,” Cr Tatterson said.

Projectsthat informed the SEAT meeting include the Sale alternate truck route, York Street beautification works, Sloping Bridge widening and Sale Toongabbie road widening projects.

The next SEAT meetingistobeheld in May 2023.

Council carried amotion on agenda item 13.1 to consider aroad exchange in Alberton West closing asection of Pound Road West, and opening aroad overCP167375for the realignmentofPoundRoad West over the Albert River at Alberton West.

Cr Garry Stephens said this road exchange had been proved necessary by the recent construction of asecond lane on the sloping bridge across the Albert River and Alberton West.

“It’s aprocedural matter that’s needed, because… we have to acquire land and then exchange land with the abudding land owner,” Cr Stephens said.

“I’ve already had good feedback on the constructionofthe extralane on Sloping Bridge, which will mean traffic flow will be alittle easier there.”

To make asubmission, you may do so in writing

addressed to the Chief Executive, Wellington Shire Council, PO Box 506, Sale 3853. Your submission should be received by 5pm on April 14.

Next,Council approved afive month extension (from July 12023toDecember 12023) to the existing kerbside rubbish and recycling collection component of the existingWasteServices Contract.

Aunusedroad, off Stockdale Rd in Stratford was put under the spotlight. Council will support theclosureand saleofthe government road and advise the Department of Energy,Environment and ClimateAction (DEECA) that the government road is not required for public traffic.

The final item on the agenda was the redevelopment of Stratford RecreationReservesocialrooms. Councilagreedtothe recommendations in the confidential ‘Tender Evaluation Report for Contract 2023-049 Stratford Recreation Reserve Pavilion’.

This project will see an expansion of the existing social rooms at the Stratford Recreation Reserve that is home to multiple sporting clubs.

The expansion includes new amenities, kitchen, office space and storage. Brooker Builders Pty Ltd was announced as the successful tenderer and a contract is ready for Council’s consideration.

The meeting ended with aresident addressing the gallery. Laurie Park from Bundalaguah asked for an update on the possibility of abiketrack in Bundalaguah.

“Since Imovedhere…there’sbeen talk about apush bike track between Sale and Maffra, and nothing has happened,” he said.

General Manager Built and Natural Environment, Chris Hastie, willshare the businesscasestudy relating to the bike track with Mr Park.

"She had decided to help me with abusiness I had, and Iwas so impressed by this woman who seemed to be so invested in what Iwas doing; she was helping me so muchwith my socialmediaand my marketing for aretail shop Iconceived.

"Over time, she started to tell me her story about being afoster kid, and it just occurred to me, she went into that system as ateenager, and she came out the other end apositive,influential, bright shining star, andIthought 'Howdoes that turn out so well?', and she told me it was the quality of her foster care, of her foster parents.

"Her foster mother recently passed away, and Ithink she'd looked after 86 foster kids, but she created asituation for Melwhere in the worst time of yourlife, imagine being disrupted like that when you're ateenager, when all you want to do is be the same as everybody else and all of asudden you're notthe same as everybody else, you don't live with your parents, you don't know how much money you've gottospend on clothes, all thosesocial norms, Mel went through that and came out the other end one of the most positive and influential people that Iknow.

"So the data is compelling,but the individual stories of people having lived that experience, and now there is nothingshe wouldn't do for the charity, that is compelling too."

There were 12,809 children in out-of-home care in Victoria as of June 30, 2021.

Victorian Coroners Court data shows that 100 children and teenagers under the age of 18 who were known to Victoria's child protection services diedinthe twoyears before July2022; the Department of Fairness, Family and Housing and child protection services were involved in 65

of the children's cases within at least 12 months of their deaths.

SIDS (suddeninfant deathsyndrome) and SUDI (sudden unexpected infant death) accounted for 24 deaths,19childrendied by suicide, seven by assault, 11 deaths were listed as natural causes, and 31 deaths were listed as unintentional, including car crashes (14), drownings (8), fire or smoke (5), strangulation or suffocation (4).

As Better Life For Foster Kids founder Heather Baird says, while they may not be able to fix the broken foster care system, one thing they can do is provide moments of comfort with Crisis Cases for children entering out-of-home care placements. ACuppa aWeek campaign aims to ensure the local Sale charity can continue supporting children as they navigatetheir way through atraumatic experience.

"Ultimately, if we get500 people sign up at $5 aweek, that will raise $130,000 dollars ayear for us," Ms Baird said.

"We are hoping by the end of the gala dinner we have got at least 250 subscribers; we are hoping A Cuppa aWeek is the one so we can keep on doing what we do.

"A Better Life For Foster Kids estimates 85 per cent of children removed from their homes and placed into out-of-homecare with fosterorkinship carers arrivewithnothing but the clothesthey are wearing..

"Carers say our Crisis Cases reduce financial and emotional stressfor both the carerand the child in the initial days of the out-of-home care placement. As many children in out-of-home carehave not had belongings of their own before, Crisis Cases can have an immediate emotional impact, helping to show children that others in their community give thought to their comfort and happiness and that they are worthwhile."

The inaugural ABetter Life For Foster Kids Annual Gala on Friday, March 31, from6.30pm at the Sale Memorial Hall promises aspectacular night out with live music, dancing, awelcome drink on arrival and athree-course meal catered by Tinamba Hotel.

One hundred of the 250 tickets available have alreadysold, so headtobit.ly/3YocROi to book your spot.

LifeFor Foster Kids is hostingaGala DinneronFriday, March31atthe Sale Memorial Hall,the night launching the not-for-profits latest subscription-basedfundraiser -ACuppa a Week.

Photo: Zoe Askew

Director of Aeromedical Solutions and ABetterLife ForFosterKids boardmember Erin Lord.

Proposed road exchange -Pound RoadWest, Alberton West.The community is invitedto comment on the proposal.

Image: Wellington ShireCouncil

ght to life Pump track brought

gather at the track throughout the long weekend and to see how they supported each other as they all gained confidence on their bikes.

"I particularly loved seeing the teenagers cheer on the younger kids and encouraging them to give it agowhen they were abit nervous.

"I thinkthe pump track is aparticularly great option at Seaspray because when it's blowing a gale on the beach and it's no good for swimming, now the kids can still be active on the foreshore."

Rodney's five-year-old son Ted was amongthe firsttotest Seasapray'snew pump track last weekend.

"The pump track is awesome," Ted said.

"I used it with my bike and my scooter, and it was fun riding on it with all the other kids too. Now I just need aproper BMX so Ican do proper jumps."

Ten-year-old Seaspray Primary School student Jack Reid has already spent several hours at the Seaspray pump track since its openinglast weekend and is loving the new park.

Zoe Askew

SEASPRAY pump trackand Stratford skatepark, now called the Stratford Youth Play Precinct, are ready for action, with crews having recently completed construction and upgrades of the local athletic parks.

Last July, following extensive community consultation, Wellington Shire Council unanimously approved a$150,000pump track for Seaspray, with $100,000 of the project funded by the federal government's Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program and $50,000 contributed by the Seaspray Foreshore Reserve Committee of Management.

While some work, such as landscaping, seating, and general beautification, remains to be done, the newtracksare complete andreadyfor use, attracting dozens of eager riders on opening day last weekend.

Taking her two daughters, Ella, 10, andCharlotte,

8, to try out Seaspray's latestinstalment on opening day, Seaspray resident Jo Francis said the pump track was already ahit with local children.

"Personally, Ithinkthe pump track creates a lovely vibe, and it's already been great to see the local kids meeting one another at the track, making new friends and smiling, all while they're doing something active," Jo said.

"It's good for all age kids and for getting the whole community together," Ella said.

"It was so much fun,and Imadesome new friends when we were all riding together," Charlotte added. Rodney Curtis, aSaleCollege PE teacherand Seaspray resident, applauded the latestinvestment, believing the pump track provides numerous benefits to the local community.

"I really applaud the Wellington Shire for investing in infrastructure in some of the smaller towns in away thatencouragesphysical activity,"Rodney said.

"It was amazing to see so many kids of all ages

"I think it is amazing, and it is really fun to go around all the swerves," Jack said.

"People can go down there anytime they like with their bike or scooter and meet up with friends.

"I like the fact that it is right near the Seaspray General Store, so we can go across and buy some food while we're scooting, and it's also near the public toiletsand playground, which is alsogreat."

Seaspray Primary School principal KarenSmyth said the local children have been anticipating the opening of the pump track, which will provide considerable benefits to the Seaspray youth with the young people of the community having aplace to meet andactively participateinanactivity that is good for their mental, physical and social health.

"The local childrenhavebeen so excitedabout the new pump track, they have been organisingto meet one another after school down at the track; my own children from Sale are excited to come and give it agotoo," Ms Smyth said.

"Children of this generation spend so much time

in front of screens that any opportunity for them to be active is really important.

"Being active is good for their physical health, but it is also agreat opportunitytoconnect socially and build good relationships with other local children.

"The fact that it is local and they don't have to travel to get to it is ahugebonus for our Seaspray children.

"Most other after-school activities are only offered in the bigger towns that they need to travel to."

About half the children at Seaspray Primary School have tested the new pump track, with students settopartake in alocal excursion on Thursday, March30tocheck out the Seaspray HistoricalSignboard Walkand have agoatthe track.

TheStratfordSkate Park also recently opened after receiving extensive upgrades to the original 2008 construction.

Chopping off allofher locks for theLeukaemia Foundation

Zoe Askew

MAFFRA resident Janine Browne raised more than $1400 for the Leukaemia Foundation by shaving off her waist-length locks at the Maffra Neighbourhood House on Thursday,March 16, as part of the 25th annual World's Greatest Shave. Saying goodbye to long, falling hair can be terrifying for some, but Janine couldn't wait to get hernumber twocut, raisingatotal of $1406for the Leukaemia Foundationfollowing weeks of fundraising.

Maffra Neighbourhood House manager, Leahn Bulmer, sat an excited Janine down, plating her long dark hair before hacking into the thick fibres with scissors at thetop tie.

Janine's mother, partner, friends, and Maffra Neighbourhood House regulars were in attendance, watching on as dark strands gently crumpled to the wooden floor.

Janine went from having waist-length hair to being as bald as youcan get withoutarazor blade in 10 minutes, and she did it all for agood cause. More than 135,000 people in Australiaare currentlylivingwithblood cancerorarelated blood disorder, with the incidence of blood cancer increasing by 47 per cent in the past ten years alone.

This year, 19,403 Australians will be newly diagnosed with blood cancer, such as leukaemia,

lymphoma, or myeloma. That is 53 Australians every day hearing the words, "You have blood cancer", and by 2035, that number is expected to nearly double.

The Leukaemia Foundation has been fighting to stop blood cancer from wrecking lives since its establishment in 1975. Today, it provides patients and their loved ones personalised information and supportfrom highly trained bloodcancer support coordinators alongside arange of health and wellbeing services.

These include helping patients get to and from appointments associated with ablood cancer diagnosis;providing accommodation near major hospitalsaroundAustralia; and supplying trusted information to support people in navigating the road ahead -criticaleducation, support groups, booklets, newsletters, and online information.

The Leukaemia Foundation also facilitates a research program that drives rapid advancements in blood cancer treatments, encourages the careers of promising scientists, discovers newdiagnostics and novel therapies, and helpsgive Australians accesstoglobalclinical trials.

The World's Greatest Shaveisone of Australia's longest-running and most well-loved fundraising campaigns. Over the last 25 years, more than two million people have sacrificed their hair or donated to someone who has; Maffra's Janine Browne has become one of the latestAussiestochop theirlocks for cancer.

The World's Greatest Shave is the single largest source of funds for the Leukaemia Foundation. This year's goal is to raise $16 million to support the Leukaemia Foundation's ongoing assistance to blood cancer patients.

Leukaemia Foundationchief executive, Chris Tanti, said the Foundation was on amission to raise awareness of blood cancer and beat the disease.

"Together with our braveand big-hearted shavers, we believe it is possible to achieve our goal of zerolives lost to bloodcancer by 2035," Mr Tanti said.

"People with blood cancer need us now more than ever, and we can't delay taking action together. I urge all Australians to join us and make it their missionin2023tosupport thegrowing number of people diagnosed with blood cancer every day by signing up to World's Greatest Shave."

StratfordSkate Park.

Photo: Contributed

SeasprayPump Track.

Photo: Contributed

Janine Browne andMaffra Neighbourhood House manager Leahn Bulmer moments beforeLeahn shaves Janine’s hair Photos: Zoe Askew

Seaspraychildren enjoythe town’s new pump trackover thelong weekend.Pictured from left to rightisCharlotteFrancis, WilliamAnderson, Victoria Mraz, Ettie Curtis, ClaraMraz,Ella Francis, Audrey Mraz, Hugh Lazzaro, TedCurtis and DaisyLazzaro.

Photo: Zoe Curtis

Janine Browne shows off her plat.

Janine Browne wasall smiles on Thursday, March16, shavingher head to raisemoneyfor the Leukaemia Foundation. GP1655272

Promotingactivemodes of transport

ZoeAskew

STUDENTS at St Thomas' Primary School, Sale will join more than 350,000 students across Australia in riding, walking, scootering and skating to school on Friday, March 24, as part of National Ride2School Day.

St Thomas' PrimarySchool, Sale, sport coordinator GraceDuffield says National Ride2School Day is always awelcomed event on the school calendar, promoting active modes of transport and instilling healthy behaviours from ayoung age.

"It encourages parents who don't normally have time to make an effort on that one day," Ms Duffield said.

"Last year,I took aphoto of the bikes here at school the day before Ride2School Day and the day of and it was jam-packed; even kids who don't usually ride, or those who live outside of town, their parents might make an effort to drop them off at the shop or still give them the opportunity to have ago.

"I set up an activity or an obstacle course for the kids who can't ride or walk to school because they have to catch abus or whatevercan still come and join in and do some exercise."

National Ride2School Day is an initiative of the BicycleNetwork'sRide2School program, which has been in place since 2006 and aims to help children get their 60 minutes of daily exercise by riding

their bikes to school.

"They are starting their day with an active mode of transport, so they are setting themselves up for agood day," Ms Duffield said.

"They're outside, they're moving; alot of these guys ride together, they've got anice little group, and that's how they start their day; they all meet up along the way to school."

Thesimpleact of riding abike to school provides benefits that are not only physical but also social and mental, supporting children inside and out.

In 2022, arecord 370,000 students from 911 schools participated in National Ride2School Day; the BicycleNetwork hopes for another record-breakingyear in 2023, with participation numbersexceeding400,000.

BicycleNetwork chief executive Alison McCormack said National Ride2School Day is a day full of fun and colour where students, teachers and parentsdiscover the joy of riding and set in motion healthy habits for the future.

"Riding to school can helpstudents perform better in the classroom," Ms McCormack said.

"Students who actively travel to school are more awake and alert.

"Their concentration levels and understanding of content improves."

Ms McCormack addedthatphysicallyactive students are happier and healthier.

"Theyalsobecome more self-sufficient and build resilience.

"National Ride2School Day is agreat introduction to the widerprogramand can be the catalyst to creating aschoolofhealthy, self-confident, active students."

St Mary's Primary School Maffra is also participating in Ride2School Day this year, afirst for the local school.

"I am always looking for opportunities to encourage my students and school community to be physically active," St Mary's Primary School physical education teacher Rebecca Stobie said.

"I am fortunate that at our school, our students are very active, and Ithoughtthat students would enjoy participating in this program.

"I think the event will be very successful as our students love physical activityand always embrace opportunities to be active -inside and outside of school. Maffra is avery sporty town, with most students participatinginactivitiesoutside of school hours.Wehave avery supportive parent community who Iamsure will encourage their children to participate in Ride2School Day."

Ms Stobiesaidphysical activityprovides so many benefits to assist students in and outside of the classroom, such as increased self-esteem and confidence, improved concentration, skill development, such as fine and gross motor skills, and provides opportunities to make friends and enhance social skills.

"I hope that through positive exposure to awide range of physical activities, my students will develop alove of physical activity which they will carry into their adult lives," she said.

"Due to technology and devices being so popular in today'ssociety, Ibelieve it is extremely important to provide as many opportunities for students to be physically active.

"If at school we provide arange of physical activities, it will assist our students in achieving their physical activity recommendations outlined by the Australian Government, which in turn will positivelyimpact our student's physical and mental health and wellbeing.

"Allthis week, we willbepromotingRide2School Day within our school community," Ms Stobie added.

"Students will complete activities in their classrooms this week from the Ride2School website.

"We are keeping classroom tallies to track students' movements to school -hoping to see them increase over the week, and we will be running some physical activities on Friday morning before school for students to participate in whenthey arrive at school."

National Ride2School Day is afree event open to allprimary and secondary schools in Australia; registrations are now open at ride2school.com.au

St Thomas’PrimarySchool students Oliver Bateman, Archer Dyer,JackMorris and Ziggy Leggettput their bikesaway.

St Thomas’ Primary School student Elkie Leggettf followed by Jaggar Nikolajewasthey ride their bikes.

St Thomas’Primary School student Dixie Nikolajew

St Thomas’PrimarySchool Sale areamong the nearly 1000 schoolsinAustralia taking part in 2023’sNationalRide2SchoolDay

Photos: Zoe Askew

St Thomas’ Primary School studentOliver Bateman leadingthe line on hisred bike.

Cash, Cartercoming to town

APOPULARJohnny Cash and June Carter tribute act, led by areal-life married couple, is coming to Sale.

Markand Joanne Caligiuri, who married in 2016, starin GetRhythm-The Johnny Cash& June Carter Show as the famous country duo.

Coinciding with the close-knitspiritofmany other classic countryacts, they are accompanied by Mark’s sons Chris (double bass) and Lucas (drums) plus Mark's cousin, Adam Prozzo (lead guitar). Their set will includecrowd favourites like'I Walk the Line', 'Folsom Prison Blues', 'Jackson', 'A Boy Named Sue’ and many more.

The Caligiuris have toured Cash shows across Australia for sixteen years.

“I was actually afan of the Carter family when Iwas in high school!” Joanne explains.

“I used to like oldcountry music and Iwas also very familiar with Johnny Cash, and Ieven remember the exactmoment of learning of his death on TV when Iwas in high school.

“When themovie [Walk the Line]came outin Australia in 2006, Iwas so excited and told Mark we had to go as Iwas afan of Cash.

“After we saw the movie, Mark became afan of themusic so we decided to create our own Johnny Cash Show.

“I actually alreadyhad some Cash CDs that Ishared with Mark and he was hooked; that’s when we started to form show and ayear later we started it in 2007.”

Years of touring helped shape what they wanted to express through their shows.

“We want people to get excited,” Mark says.

“We (perform) an energetic show and to... feel the connection with each other too as that was an important part to John and June.

“Getting everybody together and having agood time to some of the greatest country songsever written and to take them on aJourney throughout the night.”

Get Rhythm will be performed at The Wedge on Saturday, March 25 from 7.30pm.

Audiences can expect afun-filled, high energy show,with some audience participation.

Ticketscan be purchased throughthe box-office or online via thewedge.com.au

 The CWA Maffra branch will hold their monthly meeting on Monday, March 27, 2023, in the Function Centre at Maffra Recreation Reserve, 6MaffraNewry Rd, beginning at noon for BYO lunch followed by ameeting at 1pm. New members most welcome.

 Maffra Neighbourhood House is having an Easter fundraiser -book in now to have afun Easter photo of children and/or pets taken with the Easter Bunny. Cost per photo is $10. Photos will be emailed during the appointment time. There will be after school and weekend time slots available. Bookings are essential on 0422 335 155 from today until Saturday, April 1.

Motor museum swap meet

MAFFRA MotorMuseumwill be hosting its 6th Swap Meet on April 1st.

For many enthusiasts, an automotiveswapmeet is a goodopportunity to socialise with like-minded people, as well as away of parting withsome unwanted "gems" that have been gathering dust in the shed, or finding that “must have” item to take home.

As the saying goes, "One man’s trash is another man's treasure!"

This year, both buyers and sellers will be let in at 7am -don't forget that Daylight Savings ends on Sunday morning!

This event is the Gippsland Vehicle Collection's number one fundraiser for the year. Volunteers are once again being sought to help run the day, as it takes a team of around 60 people to make the day run smoothly.

Please give Sue acall on 0455 556 542 if you are able to assist.

Husband and wife Joanne andMark Caligiuri in ‘Get Rhythm -The Johnny Cash &June Carter Show’

Photo: Contributed

PROUDLYBROUGHT TO YOUBYTHESE PARTICIPATINGLOCAL BUSINESSES

Crossword Puzzle No.8526

with Muzza

ONE POINTERS

1. Aromatherapy works on which of the senses?

2. Music artist Prince was associated with which color?

3. Which tool could be jig, hand, band, mitre, or circular?

4. What is the name of Batman’sbutler?

TWO POINTERS

5. Car exhaust fumes contain mainly what poisonous gas?

6. Extortion is another name for which crime?

7. Money is soon parted from which person?

8. The single-celled fungus which makes bread rise has which name?

THREE POINTERS

9. What element is said to keep bones strong?

10. The Daintree Rainforest is anational park in which country?

11. How many soccer players should each team have on the field at the start of each match?

12. Which band released the album Rumours?

FOUR POINTERS

13. Which creatures would you expect to find in an apiary?

14. In 1907, Australia built afence to try to control which animals?

FIVE POINTER

15. Name the countries that belong to these flags. One point for each correct answer

Target Time No.0150

Howtoplay.

Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or morecan you list? The centrelettermustbe included and each letter may be used only once. No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural words ending in

Solution on

H E R C I A G S D

Sudoku No.0150

Howtoplay...

Fill the grid so thateveryrow and every 3x3 square contains the digits 1to9 Solution on sportpage

Superherosequel disappoints

SHAZAM! Fury of the Gods is the latest superhero blockbuster to gracecinemas. Our resident film buffs Tom Parry and Stefan Bradley went to check it out.

SB: Thisisa sequel to the first Shazam! and takes place in the same universe as the Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Justice League and Suicide Squad movies. It follows Billy Batson and his fostersiblings, who transform into superheroes with Superman-like powers by saying "Shazam!" and are forced to fight the Daughters of Atlas to stop them from destroying the world. To get right into it, if you liked the first Shazam! movie, you'll probably like this one, but it is alet down. Speaking as somebody who loved the first picture, this was adisappointing watch.

TP: Ithink the same. In some respects, Fury of the Gods is better than the first Shazam! in that it's less dark and has acouple of slightly more interestingvillains -the original's antagonist was bland and forgettable. Other than that, this

new one is fairly underwhelming, unfortunately. Ienjoyed it as much as the Shazam! spin-off film Black Adam, if not slightly more.

SB: Iliked it more than Black Adam andalittle more than Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania The first Shazam! despite its horror elements had avery comedic tone, and it absolutely nailed its cast of characters. My minor criticism relegated to its generi final actionscenes with abunch of CGI-infused fights with even mor generic monsters.Ita had aforgettable villai -asinIliterally for who the baddie of th movie was. Iagree wi you that the villains better this time aroun but everyaction sce withorwithoutthem banal. Furyofthe Go entire third act wasv clunky overall wit poorly executed endin

TP: That ending mor less comesout of nowh Now, the visual effect shocking. The film eventrying to hide computer has been us bring everything to life it's obvious this has been together by animators on alimited budget.

SB: I'llgiveapoint to Black Adam for having muchbetter action scenes that conveyedthe power of the character. All the actions scenes in Fury of the Gods were bland and unoriginal. The camerawork was fine, so it's not like you couldn't see what was going on, but it all felt slow and you don't feel as though anyone's in danger. Isighed when the Shazam family went to that collapsing bridge to save people -how many times have we seensuperheroaction scenes on abridge?And the film's thirdact, witheven moreCGI monsters, just goes on forever. The first filmmadefun of various superhero tropes, so it was strange to see they adopted every superhero cliché imaginable in thesequel.

TP: It's cliché aftercliché, and Iagree that third act dragged on. This movie is about 130 minutes, but felt much longer than that. Ihave been negative up to this point, so Ishould say that the cast is as likeableasever. There's alighter tone, so fewer horror elements than what was in the first movie, which is to be appreciated; Ithinkitis slightly funnier too. Some of the new characters I quite liked, including the villains; Ithought Rachel Zeglerwas incredible as Anthea -Ilikedher in the recent West Side Story remake, and here she plays one of the most charmingcharacters I've seen in aDCfilm in along time.

SB: Iagree with you about the cast and that's the most disappointingpart.This movie didn't play to its strengths, which is its lovable cast of characters. There's alot of them -Billy Batson has five siblings, so they don't all get their time to shine, but even in their briefmoments they're tons of fun.The ending tries to tug at your heartstrings, but because there's very little family conflict, the

emotion doesn't land. The first movie does all the heavy lifting in that regard; but if you haven't even seen the original, why wouldyou care?Billy Batson is worried aboutbeing abandonedbyhis foster family after he turns 18, but it's not like he has a major falling out with anyone. You'd think abig familylikethis would haveconstant family drama

TP: In fairness,wehaveseenthatkindofconflict played out timeand time again, and not just in blockbusters.

SB: Thefirsttwo-thirdsofthismoviewas an enjoyablewatch, despite its flaws.I want to give a shoutout to Jack Dylan Grazer, who plays Billy's brother Freddy. He was the MVP by far, and had an emotional arc. Billy on the other hand spends most of hisscreentime in his superhero form, and ZacharyLevi performs that role extremely well; but Asher Angel, who portrays his teenage form, isn't given that much to do. Iwould watch aTV show with this family where every week they go on superhero adventures together. Iwouldn't say that if Ididn'tlikethese heroes

TP: You're right, this would be aperfect TV show. To conclude, I'dsay go see Fury of theGods if you're adiehard DC fan, or really enjoyed the first one.

SB: Ithink the cast makes up for the film's shortcomings, so Idothinkit'sworth awatch just for them. It’s notabad time, but Iexpected better. Shazam! Fury of the Gods is ratedMfor supernatural themes and violence,and is currently screening at Sale Cinema.

Shazam(Zachary Levi) attemptsmediation with the goddess Hespera (Helen Mirren) in ‘Shazam! Fury of theGods’

Image: WarnerBros. Pictures

Image: Warner Bros Pictures

Modern home ina quiet courtlocation

THIS modern home is only two years of age, according to agents, and is perfect for the buyer looking to beat the rush to build.

Afour-bedroom layout with two bathrooms is contained within, along with two living zones.

 The open plan is spacious and leads out to the outdoor entertaining area, creating agreat indoor/outdoor space year-round.

 The kitchen features Caesarstone benchtops, 900mm oven and walk-in pantry,blending with the soft tones of the remainder of the house.

 Agreat family room area with the added bonus of akids retreat, or sitting room with anorth facing aspect, perfect for those winter days.

 The home also has alow-maintenance garden, yard and ablank canvas, should any buyer wish to construct the ideal shedding for their caravan, boat, or general storage.

Agents say this property is a"must-see" and will impress upon inspection.

Briefdetails fdetails

Property: oper

Four bedroom home

Address:

3Pruden Court, Stratford Stratfo

Price:

$550,000

Agent: Kevin Read Wellington Real Estate, Wellington 0488 411026 4110

Beautiful home on three acres

THOSE who have been dreaming of alifestyle change have achance to secure their own private getaway on 3.6 acres (approx.) in Longford.

Greeted by peaceful rural surroundings and secluded from the hustle and bustle, agents say you will be delighted with what awaits: abeautiful family home and amazing shedding.

The home accommodates the whole family, with four bedrooms and two bathrooms. The master suite is large and sits opposite its walk-through robe/dressing room and modern ensuite, while the remaining three bedrooms are generous in size -one of

Briefdetails

which is utilised as ahome office, with custom cabinetry and aclever Murphy wall bed which is ideal for guests.

The expansive new kitchen should delight the most avid cook, boasting quality appliances, glass splash-back, generous bench space and ahidden walk-in pantry

Adjoining the kitchen is abright, spacious meals and family room for relaxing and entertaining. An expansive decked pergola provides asimilar purpose -the perfect spot to sit and enjoy the tranquility and surrounding rural vista.

There are six water tanks, alarge damwith decking and landscaped gardens.

Split system air conditioning, solid fuel heating, ceiling fans,custom cabinetry, bay windows, modern fittings and fixtures throughout, and great storage all add to the appeal of this lovely home.

Then there's the shedding. An open shed with attached double garage and carport is just the beginning; the next shed is simply amazing, measuring 33 metres by 12 metres. Extensive concreting fronts the structure, which has three high clearance bays -one high enough for truck parkingplus an additional three bays; there’seven mezzanine storage, abar and pot belly.What more could you want from ashed?!

$895,000

•This spacious home is set perfectly on 4acres and only a shortwalk from the shores of LakeGlenmaggie

•The home has twolarge living areas which both take in the views

•Each of the bedrooms aregreat size with BIR’s and the

master bedroom with aWIR andensuite

•Awell-appointed kitchen leads out to asubstantial deck which overlooks the back of the land

•Excellent mancave, perfect forentertaining,abarn style garage/workshop with adjoining carports

•Three bedrooms,two with BIRs and

•Low maintenance in Stratford’s popular new

•Light and bright open plan kitchen/meals/family room

•Quality fixtures &fittings

•Fully fenced, private property

237-239 RAYMOND STREET, SALE

COMFORT ON HUGE BLOCK

•Renovated kitchen

•Approx 1236m2 allotment

•Light filled living spaces •3.5kw Solar panel system

28 MORGAN ST, SALE

AUCTION

•Established gardens including veggie gardens

•Renovated kitchen

shed/work shops

Agent: Ferg Horan 0417 123162 fhoran@chalmer.com.au

$485,000

•Constructed in 2018 by well-known Colmac Homes

LIVABLE HOUSING DESIGN –DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION

•Designed to meetNCC Class 1a requirements and suit NDISproviders •Level path from street access to front door

•Wider doorways, corridor/ passageways and free from steps throughout

•Bathroomswith slip resistant, hobless shower recesses •Reinforcement of bathroom walls to enablegrabrails to be easily installed •Kitchen and laundry spaces designed to support ease of movement and adaptation

Agent: Matt Cutler 0438 356761 matthewc@chalmer.com.au

AUCTION SATURDAY 1ST OF APRIL 2023 10.30AM ON SITE

3 3 4 2

Agent: Chris Morrison 0419 381 832 cjmorrison@chalmer.com.au

G P1

4WATTLEBIRD STREET, STRATFORD Agent: Ferg Horan 0417 123 162 fhoran@chalmer.com.au

•Sun-drenched kitchen/meals/ family area

•Easy care 800sqm allotment

•Split system air conditioning &solidfuelheater

•Polished

•Great opportunity to break into the property market •Sun-filled living room •Eat-in kitchen renovated in previous

1326 MAFFRA SALE ROAD, SALE

AUCTION 4 2 2 6

LIFESTYLE PROPERTY ON THE EDGE OF TOWN

•Spectacular 5.85 acres close to town

•Rural outlook with panoramic views

•Sunken lounge with vaulted

ceilings

•New carpets &freshly painted throughout

•Split systemair conditioner & solid fuel heating

TELEPHONE: 5144 4333 www.chalmer.com.au

AUCTION SATURDAY 1ST OF APRIL 2023 11.30AM ON SITE

Agent: Chris Morrison 0419 381 832 cjmorrison@chalmer.com.au

high reliability&11mgl low reliabilitywater

•Renovated 3bedroom home

•2 bathrooms

•Modern kitchen with electric cooking and dishwasher

•Solar panels reducing the costs of electricity

•Abundance of shedding including 8m x12m shed, disused dairy,stables,double carport and workshop

•Ideal hobbyfarm so closetoSale

•Willsuitcattle, sheep, horses or crop growing

*8.382ha (20.71acres)

*9mgl high reliabilitywater right

*9mgl Lowreliability water right

*Machinery Shed

*Hay Shed

*Cattle

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FORTHCOMING SALE DATES Bairnsdale -Sale- Orbost -Heyfield PH:5153 1144 FAX:5153 1149

FIVE Victorian women have been recognised as finalists for the 2023AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award,celebrating theirinclusive and courageous leadership across rural Victoria.

The award supports Australian women to use and develop their skills to benefit arangeofindustries, includingVictoria’s $17.5 billionagriculture sector.

The Victorian winnerwill be announced in April and will receive $15,000 towards her project. She will also go on to represent Victoria at the National Award. This will be announced at agala event at Parliament House in Canberra in September and will earn its winner afurther $20,000 towards their project.

In 2022, Kimberley Furness, founder and editor of OAK Magazine, took home the Victorian award, and was later named national runner-up at the 2022 gala.

“I hear stories every week of rural and regional women doing amazingthings, so I’m not surprised that our 2023 Victorian Finalists are of such ahigh calibre,” Ms Furness said.

“All of the initiatives beingdriven by these women are worthy of representing Victoria at the national award, so Iwish each of our finalists the best of luck.”

This year’s finalists are: Grace Larson from Kyneton, who formed The Sisterhood Project to mitigate the barriers of distance and affordability for parents and carers in rural areas. The group provides free access to essential paediatric firstaid trainingfor vulnerable groups, in an aim to curb child mortality rates in rural Australia.

Nikki Davey from Glenmore, is aco-founder of Grown Not Flown,which is apartofthe slowflower movement that aims to encourage consumers to buy local from small-scale,sustainable farming practices. She would like to grow the Grown Not Flown platform to include florists, event professionals and other small businesses, while working with marketingspecialists to educate flower consumers on the importance of buying local.

NehaSamar fromShepparton,foundedThe Flamingo Project, anon-profit connecting women in regional Victoria from various backgrounds and stages of life to women who can help them grow personally and professionally. Bridging the gap between those looking to grow and those willing to help them succeed, the project is acommunity of women helping women that Neha hopes to continue to grow.

Michelle Daga from Macarthur, founded Better Birth in the Bushtomake birth education, happy and healthy birth and postpartum outcomes more accessiblefor all rural Australians.Specifically designed for rural people by rural educators, the platform will offer aself-paced online learning program for parents, as well as group classes and acertified training program for birth workers.

SarahDuncanson from Greendale, founded PAEDS education to providegreater access to specialised trainingtoimprove support,reduce the burdenofcare, and improve the outcomes for childrenand their communities. The service offers carers hybrid and online paediatrictraining and education.

In addition to the Victorian AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award, the state government is supporting womeninagriculture with the Rural Women’s Network, encouraging leadership, resilience and connection for women in rural Victoria, and recognising the significantcontributions that women have made across the state. Formore information about the award, visit the Agriculture Victoria website.

THE VictorianFarmers Federation (VFF) says regional roads won’t be able to cope with future severe weather events if they are not maintained to abasic standard.

In arecent submissiontofederal Parliament, the VFF argues that alackofroad maintenance funding exacerbated damage causedbyrecent flooding.

VFF president Emma Germano said farmers were frustrated thatgovernments continue to neglect road maintenance.

"Enhancing the resilience of the road network to deal with extreme weather events is important, but it can only be achievedbyensuring there is regular maintenance to keep them at an acceptable standard," Ms Germano said.

"Maintenance fundingkeeps going backwards and worryingly, Victorians keep riskingtheir lives on dodgy and dangerous roads."

VFFTransport and Infrastructure Committee

chair Ryan Milgate said that in planning for resilience, the government needs to take into account changes in network usage and the increasing demands placedonthe roads by high-productivity freight vehicles.

"Resilience is not onlyaboutthe gravel and bitumen, but the planning processes around it too."

"The standard and condition of roads must be up to the task of carrying the freight vehicles we use to get food and fibre to market. That’swhy the VFF is advocatingfor the state government to undertake astate wide agricultural freight strategy, to better understand where investments need to be targeted."

Mr Milgate alsosaidthat localgovernment must be better resourced to get on with the job of fixing

their road networks.

"We are seeing shires in the northofthe state facing repair bills of over$50 million in theaftermath of the floods," Ms Milgate said.

"The Victorian government has cut its Fixing Country Roads Program, which is badly needed to help local government plan and get on top of road rehabilitation."

The VFF also supported calls by the newlyformed Rural Roads Alliance for a$5.5billion emergency funding package in the upcoming federal budget.

"We’ll continue calling on theVictorianand Commonwealth governments to increase the fundingavailable to regional roads asset maintenance,” Mr Milgate added.

• Cull cows, bulls and manufacturing steers going st weekly -compare our prices! • Export heifers tagging weekly • Cattle agistment or lease land wanted. Enquiries to Colleen nt on 0467 533 003 1 Prince Street, 1Prince Street Rosedale Colleen Bye 0467 533 003 Lauren Masters 0484 361177 Phillip Fleming 0498 242 421 Wayne McKay 0419 486 282 Steve Fallon 0427 352 231

Contact Us

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SCALES every Wednesday for cows, bulls and manufacturing steers

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Wormsonthe menu in Boisdale

STUDENTS at BoisdaleConsolidated Schoolwere treated to some worm farm education from the WellingtonShire Council education department in Term 1.

The program taught students about the important role worms play in the ecosystem, and will support the school’s kitchen garden curriculum.

TheWonderfulWorm Education Program was run by shire educator Sharon Ray, and involved students getting their hands dirty as they discovered lots of facts about worms and established three onsite worm farms.

They learnt what worms can and can’t eat, and how to use the castings to improvethe school's garden and orchard.

The school’s gardens play acentral role in the kitchengarden program, with studentsinvolved in planning, growing, harvesting, cookingand eating the produce.

Classes alternate between cooking and gardening every fortnight, teaching them about sustainability and developing healthy life habits.

Those in the community volunteer their time to support the program, bringing in awealth of expert knowledgeand age-old recipes for students to enjoy.

“Combined with our onsite chickens and the Cows Create CareersProgram we run later in the year, students at Boisdaleare getting adeeper understanding of the agricultural industry and local ecosystem,” kitchen garden co-ordinator Lionie Armitage said.

“Many of our school families live and work on farms or in jobs that support the local agricultural industry.

Boisdale Consolidated Schoolstudent Alli Rawson learning aboutthe worldofworms

Photo:Contributed

Dairy industry tour set to celebrate major milestone

MEMBERS of the Australian dairy industry are set for anight of reflection and celebration when the 25-year anniversary reunion of the Don Campbell Memorial Tour is held in May.

Hosted by GippsDairy,past participants, leaders and hosts of the study tour are invited to come along and reconnect with fellow participants and hear what the initiative has achieved over quarter of acentury.

The reunion eventwill be held at the Oaksat Logan Park in Warragul on Friday, May 5from 5pm.

GippsDairy regional extension officer and event organiser,Katherine Byrne,saysitwillbeanight to remember.

“The Don Campbell Memorial Tour gives young members of the dairy industry the opportunity to grow as individualsand expand their careers," she said.

"This is achieved through leadership and exposure to the wider dairy community and practices.

"We are looking forward to bringing past participants together and reigniting old connections, whilefostering new relationships between people.

“Participants havenot onlybeen from the Gippsland region, but also from South Australia, Western Victoria and Northern Victoria -so we’re keen to have everyone come together and acknowledge this special occasion.”

The evening will feature guest speaker and past participant,GraemeNicoll,who will be sharing his Don Campbell Memorial Tour experience and subsequent career.

This will be followed by entertainment supplied by Phil Bowler Caricatures.

Don Campbell was aprominent member of the Gippsland dairy community in the 1990's.

His contribution to the formation of GippsDairy was immense -Don recognised that collaboration between regions and sharing knowledge was beneficialtoall Australian dairy farmers. He held the firstchair positionatGippsDairy in 1996 andwas honoured forhis contribution to the community, with the naming of the tour after his sudden death in 1998.

Over 25 years, the study tour has seen more than 300 participants who have been involved with the Young Dairy Network.

The 2023 tour was held in February, with 15 young dairyfarmers in attendance having the opportunity to attend the Australian Dairy Conference.

“The Don Campbell Memorial Tour is as popular as ever, withthe pasttwo years having record applications submitted,” Ms Byrne said.

“This will be acelebration of not only what has beenachieved in the past,but an acknowledgement that the event has abright future.

“It has certainly cemented itself as apermanent fixture on the dairy industry events calendar.”

If you have any photographic or video memories of the Don Campbell MemorialTour, or would like further information, phone Katherine Byrne on 0409 487 275, or email katherine.byrne@ gippsdairy.com.au

“Wewant our students to learn about sustainability and gain knowledge and skills that they can use at school and at home.”

Grade 1studentLuca Hodge enjoyed getting his handsdirty exploring the world of worms.

“I learnt that the saddlecomes off the worm’s

body and turns into an egg,” he said.

Rhubarband applemuffinswereonthe menu during last week's classes, with all scraps being fed to the newly created worm farms. Worm farm education has been agreat addition to the life and times of the school.

DAIRY BEEF CROSS

HORSES WANTED

GARDEN RENOS

Wellington Food Pantry are holding ahoy afternoon on Sunday, April 2 at Sale senior citizens hall, Desailly St., Sale, 1pm for 1.30pm start.

JUNE DEB

St

St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Maffra PRIMARY

TEACHER

Part Time (0.40 FTE)

Fixed Term Position

Commencement Date: Term 2- 2023

St Mary's Catholic Primary

Education Support Staff Member

Stratford Primary School

Monday and Tuesday 8.30am to 3.30pm

Work in ateam that identifies &meets the individual needs of students to create and maintain asafe, stimulating &supportive learning environment.

Please apply through Department of Education and Training -Human Resources Recruitment online https://www.education.vic.gov.au

›schooljobs or call Principal Kate Steele on 03 5145 6554

EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Time Fraction: 0.6 FTE

The South Eastern Independent Schools Association (SEISA), asmall sporting and cultural co-curricular association of independent schools in the Gippsland/South-East Melbourne region, is seeking ahighly-organised individual to take on the position of Executive Officer. The successful applicant will have experience in sports administration, together with excellent communication skills and sound financial management skills.

SEISA's Executive Officer will ideally be able to be based at one of the member schoolsBeaconhills College, Newhaven College, St Paul's Anglican Grammar School or Gippsland Grammar School -with the requirement to be in attendance at various SEISA events and meetings. There would also be scope for the Executive Officer to work from home when not required on site or at events.

While the position is 0.6 FTE, there will be busy weeks during the year where more than this is required, yet other weeks where alesser amount of time is needed. Consequently, the successful applicant will need to have flexibility, together with an ability to be an independent worker and a self-manager, to succeed in the role.

Asuitable salary will be negotiated with the preferred candidate, together with additional benefits such as the provision of alaptop computer.

For further information about SEISA, please visit www.seisa.com.au or email Cobie Giliam at secretary@seisa.com.au.

To apply for the position, please send acover letter and resume to Cameron Herbert, SEISA Chair, at principal@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au.

Closing Date for Applications: Monday 27 March 2023

Poly Welder Full Time

Great opportunity to join our Poly &Irrigation business, duties include poly welding, PVC & poly pipe installation.

Drivers licence essential, experience in irrigation preferred, excavator experience looked at favourably.

For further information call Luke on 5141 1648, please send applications to: luke@maffrapoly.com.au

Pharmacist -Grade 1

Permanent Full Time

The CGH Pharmacy Team is looking for an energetic and motivated pharmacist to join our team of clinical pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy intern. The successful applicant will work in aclinical capacity, rotating through acute wards and in the dispensary. We are asmall but dedicated team that values flexibility and commitment to our workplace within an ever changing and expanding health service. The pharmacist will work Monday to Friday and weekends if needed. Applicants with appropriate level of experience may participate in on call and weekend work on arotational basis. Apply today!

To apply for the role orfor further information, go to https:/centralgippslandhealth.mercury.com.au or contact Michelle Garner, Director of Pharmacy on (03)035143 8611.

Pharmacist -Grade 2

Fixed Term, Part Time (4 days per week)

-April 2023 to August 2023

Cars

GP1655348

Greenham is hiring

Greenham Gippsland is a100% Australian owned and operated family company processing and exporting beef to the world.

Greenham Gippsland requires experienced boners, slicers, knife hands and slaughtermen for full time positions, currently operating Monday to Friday.

Competent to Cert II-IV meat processing/butchering experience is preferred but not essential.

Successful candidates willing to upgrade to anationally recognised meat processing trade will be highly regarded and receive comprehensive on-site accredited training programs.

● The company offers excellent wages and conditions whilst providing a healthy and safe place to work. Employees who can demonstrate Trade qualified or equivalent competency can expect to earn between $27.55$31.14 per hour.

● Slaughter floor, Boning Room, Load Out skilled roles available.

● 100% Australian owned &operated.

● Fulltime positions plus overtime.

Don't delay. Get on board today!

You must have full working rights in Australia without restrictions for sponsorship to be considered for this role.

To apply, send your resume and cover letter to: grecruitment@greenham.com.au

Telephone inquiries can be made by contacting the OHS/HR Officer directly on 03 5127 4000.

Qualified Plumber -Sale

GP1654994

The Tequa Group are seeking aqualified plumber to join our Service &Maintenance team in Sale with an immediate start.

You will have:

● Current Plumbing Registration /Industry Induction Card

● Drivers Licence

● Be ateam player

We will provide:

● Pay grades $34.00 -$39.00

● Company Vehicle

● Professional Development and Opportunity

We are not just providing ajob; this is an opportunity for you to grow within our company and to be successfully supported through personal development.

To apply, please contact Daniel Bird (Birdy) on 0400 447 396 or email hr@tequa.au

The Tequa Group is proudly owned and operated by the Smolenaars family for nearly 50 years and remains one of the largest plumbing companies in Gippsland.

Management Accountant Performance and Revenue

Permanent Full Time

An exciting position has become available to join the team at CGH as a Management Accountant Performance Revenue. The role of the Management Accountant is to provide comprehensive financial support to the CGH network, working with other finance team members, providing acustomer focused quality service to both internal and external customers of the Finance Team. Your focus will be financial performance of the organisation, analysing revenue streams, funding sources and related activity. If you possess Extensive management accounting experience, at an advanced level and have atertiary qualification in business or accounting we want to hear from you.

Apply today!

To apply for the role or for further information, go to https:/centralgippslandhealth.mercury.com.au or contact Emma Brennan, Finance Manager on (03) 5143 8559.

The CGH Pharmacy Team is looking for an energetic and motivated pharmacist to join our team of clinical pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and apharmacy intern. Our pharmacists are currently involved in adiverse range of functions including Oncology, Haematology, rural outreach services, acute Medical, Surgical, Critical Care, Paediatric, Obstetrics and Gynaecology as well as taking an active role in education and quality improvement projects across the health service. The pharmacist will work 8:30-17:00 Monday -Friday. Applicants with appropriate level of experience will participate inoncall and weekend work on a rotational basis. Apply today!

To apply for the role or for further information, go to https:/centralgippslandhealth.mercury.com.au or contact Michelle Garner, Director of Pharmacy on (03) 03 5143 8611.

Pharmacist -Grade 2

PermanentFull Time

The CGH Pharmacy Team is looking for an experienced pharmacist to join our pharmacy team of clinical pharmacists, resident pharmacist, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy intern. The successful applicant will work in a clinical capacity, rotating through acute wards and in the dispensary. This position would suit a pharmacist with at least 2to3years of experience working in ahospital environment and an interest in expanding their skill set. Experience in oncology is desirable, as is enjoyment of working with avaried patient cohort. Additional responsibilities as aGrade 2 pharmacist may include: participation in the on-call roster, working in day oncology, supervisingmore junior pharmacists, participation in organisation wide working groups or working in the multidisciplinary respiratory outpatient clinic. The pharmacists will work 8:30-17:00 Monday -Friday with some weekend or on call work on arotational basis. Apply today!

To apply for the role or for further information, go to https:/centralgippslandhealth.mercury.com.au or contact Michelle Garner, Director of Pharmacy on (03) 03 5143 8611.

Motoring Deal

Holden Captiva SX, 2010, 7seater, new turbo, diesel, r.w.c., very clean, 1BE-8ZH, $9750. Phone 0412 059 810.

HOLDEN Statesman '04, VY V6, d/fuel, by Holden Design, reg., r.w.c. e.c. sat. nav., leather, books, s/roof, elderly owner, blk, BRB-212 $7500. Ph 0409 173 461.

HONDA Civic VTi, 2010, blue, 188,100kms, v.g.c. one older lady owner, smoke/dog free, serv'd by Honda, r.w.c., 12m reg. $7800 o.n.o. 0424 421 010.

HYUNDAI S/WAGON 2009 i30, silver, v.g.c. 154,000km, roof rack, tow bar, r.w.c., XIZ-133 $9100 o.n.o. Ph 0400 267 814.

Nissan Pintara

1992, hatchback, good cond, EWJ 250 $3000. Phone 0408 540 225.

Caravans

AVAN Aspire Poptop 2013 lightweight 17ft, dble bed, sleeps up to 4, toilet /shwr combo, 3-way fridge, gas cooktop, m/wave, annexe, a/c, loads more $30,000. Ph 0411 446 285.

PARAMOUNT

Engagements

IMPORTANT NOTICE

•

MACREADIE (nee Smith) Gladys Elaine

27/8/1937 -14/3/2023

Passed away at CGHS.

Aged 85 years.

Wife of John (Jack)

Allman (dec.), Donald Thomas Macreadie (dec.).

Mother of Gary (dec.), David, Christine, Dianne, Kathryn, Fiona, Clarke and Nicholas. Grandmother,great grandmother and great great grandmother to many.

Peacefully sleeping

Mother of Nick.

Mother-in-law of Rachel. Nanna to Ellen, Riley, and Liam. Words are few, Our feelings deep, Our memories of you we will always keep.

Birthdays

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Simone Russell

March 21, 1973

Anniversaries •

Happy 50th Wedding Anniversary

March 24, 1973

Deaths •

LONSDALE, Kim.

The memory of your love and happy disposition will remain with us always. Go well dear friend and until we meet again, we will keep you in our hearts. Kerrie and Brian

NEWTON, Robert Charles.

Loved brother of Mark and brother-in-law to Kaye. Loved uncle to Kelly and Daniel, Amie and Marcus and Jesse and Stacey and families.

Deepest sympathy to Natalie and Bianca and families and to Bob's partner Trish. So sudden, so sad and so deeply missed. RIP Bro.

PRATT, Kevin Neil. Called home on 13/3/23. Aged 81 years. My brother, you will be so missed. Kev was hard-working and always the joker.

Love and sympathy to Marlene and all the family. Barbara (Sis), Glenn and Jodie, Bryce, Paul and Cindy.

R.I.P.

PRATT, Kevin Neil. Passed away on 13/3/23. Aged 81 years. Uncle Kevin was acompassionate, caring uncle who loved alaugh. We will miss him dearly. Love to Auntie Marlene and family.

MACREADIE (nee Smith)

The funeral service for Mrs GladysElaine Macreadie will be held at St. Mark's Anglican Church, Albert Street Rosedale at 11am TODAY (Tuesday, March 21, 2023), followed by burial at the Rosedale Lawn Cemetery.

READ. Requiem mass for the repose of the soul of Mr Thomas Raphael Joseph "Mot" Read will be offered at St. Mary's Catholic Cathedral, Pearson Street, Sale at 1pm NEXT TUESDAY (March 28, 2023), followed by burial at the Sale Lawn Cemetery.

MALMO.

The funeral of Dr Jakob Malmo will be held at the Maffra Football Club Function Rooms, Newry Road, Maffra on THURSDAY (March 23, 2023) commencing at 12.30pm. Followed by burial at the Maffra Cemetery.

Please visit our website for the livestream of Jakob's service.

SHINGLES.

The funeral of Mr Noel Vincent Shingles is appointed to leave St. Andrew's Uniting Church, Pearson St., Maffra after a service commencing at 1pm on MONDAY (March 27, 2023) for the Maffra Cemetery.

In Memoriam

LONSDALE, Kim Susanne.

15/10/1968 -11/3/2023.

Beyond the beautiful sunset, Free from sorrow and pain, Resting in God's garden of love, Where we hope to meet again. Much loved by Kay, Buck and family, also the Jennings family. Our love and deepest sympathy to Tony, Rhys, Nick and families, Megan and Nicola.

LONSDALE, Kim.

Abeautiful and kind soul now at rest. Iwill always keep happy memories of the fun and friendship we shared over the years close at heart Kim.

Resting peacefully now.

Our sincerest sympathy to Tony, Nick, Rhys and extended families. Love Carolyn and Ray

MALMO, Dr Jakob Malmo 6/5/1939 -17/3/2023.

Abrilliant mind and Veterinarian, generous with his time and knowledge. Kind, warm and humorous.

Adored stepfather of Aaron and Hugh and father-in-law to Michelle.

Much loved by Jean's grandchildren Penny, Arthur, Rose and Elise, Evan and Hallie.

The light of my life, my soulmate, my love and my husband.

Jeannie Malmo

MALMO, Jakob.

To the man that gave so much to the veterinary and cattle world, Jakob, your dedication, passion and enthusiasm to the industry has gone beyond any wordswecan think of.

You have inspired many vets, farmers and many more generations of people in the way in which cattle medicine is perceived today. We hope this legacy continues with those that havebeen fortunate enough to receive your scholarship.

We thank you for always having the time of day to teach, listen and support us, but we especially thank you for the clinic banter and the sweet treat Fridays from our local Lions club street stall. Rest easy Fossil, we hope you are always "a ball of muscle".

Yours always, The Maffra Veterinary Centre team.

McCRIMMON, Avis Myrtle.

Passed away peacefully at Heyfield on March 16, 2023 aged 95.

Beloved wife of Bill (dec).

Lovingmother and mother-in-law of Tricia and Peter and Kelly and Maureen.

Loved Nanna of Kylie and Catherine and their partners.

Loved Great Nanny Mac of Grace, Chloe and William.

Re-united with Bill.

In accordance with her wishes aprivate funeral will be held.

Jeanette,Noel and family.

READ, Thomas Raphael Joseph. Mot 7/3/1950 -2/3/2023

Passed away at home aged 72 years. Son of Francis and Frances Pearl Read (both dec.). Brother to Francis and Pushpa, Joseph (dec.) and Lorraine, Mary (dec.) and Bob, John, Dianne (dec.) and Carmel, Patrick (dec.) and Maureen (dec.), Terrence and May (dec.), Bernard and Lorris (dec.), Gerard (dec.), Rosemary and Chris.

Now you're in the greatest Cathedral of all, you can make sure all the pews are in line.

Always in our hearts now in God's care

SHINGLES, Noel Vincent.

9/8/1938 -16/3/2023

Passed away peacefully in hospital.

Dearly beloved son of Henry William Ernest Shingles and Winifred May Shingles (nee McInnes) (both dec.).

Dearly beloved brother and brother-in-lawof Henry (dec.) and Jean, Gordon (dec.), Mervyn (dec.), Beverley and Gary, Neil and Cristy, Barry (dec.), Donald, Emily and Robert (dec.), Heather and Bernard, Coral and Trevor, Linda and Garry.

Adored Uncle of Janey, Mervyn and Andrew; Debbie, Joanne, Carolyn and Amanda; Rodney, Wayne, Karen, Kathy-Lee and Shaun; Rachel and Robert; Jaclyn and Mark; Trent, Samantha and Bradley; Jason and Joshua. Noel will be sadly missed by all.

Treasured Memories "We who loved you on earth will have you forever in our hearts".

NEWTON.

The funeral service for Mr Robert Charles 'Bob' Newton will be held at Delbridge Funeral Chapel, Marley Street, Sale at 1pm TOMORROW (Wednesday March 22, 2023) followed by burial at the Sale Lawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. Please see our website for livestream details.

SMITH, Raymond.

17/8/27 -18/3/2011

Dear darling Dad, miss and love you. Give Mum a kiss for us. Love from Jenny and Harry, Chris and Evie, Casey and Chris, Kheali, and Bentley. xx

Bereavement Thanks •

PORTER. Afuneral service for Mrs Nola Florence Porter was held on FRIDAY (March 17, 2023).

Barry

McNALLY, Shirley. Shirley's family would like to thank everyone for the kind expressions of sympathy and support shown following her passing. Aspecial thank you to the wonderful staff and her friends at Ashley House for the care and compassion shown to our dear Mum, Gran and Great Gran. They all made adifficult time easier and allowed Shirley to pass away peacefully and with dignity.

Lett

When you lose someone close to you, it can be hard to put your thoughts and feelings into words. A personal message in the Gippsland TImes can say so much.

5143 9333

Basketballers off to Adelaide

Zoe Askew

CATHOLICCollege Salestudents arebusy preparing for the 31st annual Australian Marist Basketball Carnival to be hosted by Sacred Heart College, Adelaide, from Sunday, March26, to Thursday, March 30.

Year 12 students Kate Harrington and Tiffany Gieschen will lead the Catholic College Sale girl’s teamunder coach Kelly Burgiel,with Harper Fraserand Zach Felsbourg leading the boy’s team under coaches Josh Stubbe and Ron Crawford, meeting as manyas30teams from around the country across the carnival.

Harrington and Gieschen say their team is excited about the upcomingAustralian MaristBasketball Carnival and expects “a whole heap of teams” and “a whole lot of fun”.

“We’re just excited,” Gieschen said. “Also lucky that we can do it this year ‘cause we haven’t been able to do it for the last couple of years.”

Fraserand Felsbourg sharesimilar feelings to their female counterparts.

“Nervous but excited for the opportunity, something new we haven’t been able to do for the last few years,” Felsbourg said.

“Excited; keen to get on it,” Fraser added.

Catholic College Sale will face stiff competition in both the girl’s and boy’s draws of the 31st annual Australian Marist BasketballCarnival, with schools like Marcellin College Bulleen, Assumption College Kilmore, and carnival hosts Sacred Heart College expected to be strong contenders.

Twenty students -10boysand 10 girls -fromYear 8through to Year 12 have been selected to represent their school in the 31st annual Australian Marist BasketballCarnival. Many have representative experience in the Country Basketball League (CBL) and Victorian Junior Basketball League (VJBL).

“Out of the list of students who tried out, we had alot of young kids try out,” Catholic College Sale boy’s coach, Josh Stubbe said.

“We’ve got two Year 9studentsrepresentingthe College and anumberofYear 10s.”

Year 8student Brooke Kelly is the school’s youngest representative at the 2023 Australian Marist Basketball Carnival.

Students have been training at Catholic College Sale’s Bishop Phelan Stadium for several weeks before, during and after school in preparation for the upcoming interstate tournament.

“Training’s been good, full on; it’s been real high intensity,” Fraser said.

“It’sbeen awesome; it definitelywill help us when we get into agame situation.”

Having been cancelled for the last two years due to COVID-19restrictions,teamshead into the Australian MaristBasketball Carnivalwith limited knowledge about theiropponents; however, Catholic College Sale girl’s coach, Kelly Burgiel,is confident her versatile team will prove themselves as worthy contenders.

“We’ve got amixture of abilities; we’ve gotalot of players that canplay

in various and different positions,” Burgiel said.

“We can run full court, we can run half court, we can play three point; we are very good offensively, and we have been working really hard defensively.

“So we reallyhave ateam that can play or utilise their skills in arange of different positions.”

The boy’steam will draw strength from their speed and height.

“We’ve definitely got alot of speed,” Felsbourg said. “A lot of small balls, but we’ve got acouple of talls that are strong in there, so we will use that to our advantage.”

“We will rely on our speed, shooting and pushing the fast break,” Fraser added.

Coach Stubbe agrees with his leadership team.

“We are quite aquick group up and down the court; offensively, we’ve got some really good shooters,” Stubbe said.

“The structures that the boys havebeen learning will play to our advantages and hopefully open up some good looks at baskets.

“Defence as well, back quickly into defence, they structure well, and they’ve got some good height to protect the inside and some really good senior leaders on the court as well.”

The interstate event is awelcome return to the Catholic College Salesports calendar, with both staff and students lookingforward to competing in the 2023 Australian Marist Basketball Carnival.

“It is areallyexcitingtimefor the students,” Burgiel said.

“We haven’t been for the last couple of years becauseofCOVID, we haven’t had the opportunity, so studentshave missed out, particularlyfrom Year 9to12, so it’s afabulous thing that has come back for us to go to, probably the most, for us, is the Marist tradition.”

“The Marist tradition, it’sabout good sportsmanship, making friendswith all the teams and people, andthere’s areal charismfor making relationships and connections within the Martist school community,” Ms Burgiel explained.

“It is agreat opportunity for students to go to outsideofschool and showcase the talents they have in sport.”

Catholic College Sale students have been fundraising to assist with airfare and accommodation costs; last Friday,theyhosteda barbeque on campus and have been selling raffle tickets in which several local businesses, including Sporting Legends,Carmody’s Fuel &Tyre Service, Scarlett & Grace, Redd Catt, Intersport and CJ Office Choice, contributed raffle prizes in support of the team.

CATHOLIC College Sale girls team for Australian Marist Basketball Carnvial: Kate Harrington, Tiffany Gieschen, Lola Wilson, Ashley Centra, Jemma Birss, Ally Beale, Katelyn Robinson, Chloe Rees, Emma Callahan,Brooke Kelly, Kelly Burgiel (coach).

BOYS team: Harper Fraser, Zac Felsbourg, Cooper Let,BaileyWright, Logan Kennedy, Thomas Scott, Harry Burgiel, Judd Burgiel, Jaylen Henry, Elijh Berry, Josh Stubbe (coach) and Ron Crawford (coach).

Seasonedveteran gets running award namedinhonour

IN honour and recognition of Les Williams’ 50th league season, the Victorian Athletic League (VAL) will institute the Les Williams Award, which will be presented annuallyonpresentation nightto the Bestand Fairest Masters athleteacrossthe VALseason.

Les Williams, 67,has had aremarkable professional running career, which has taken the Golden Beach local across the nation and the globe to compete in countless events.

Turningprofessional in 1973 as a16-year-old, Williams has won 69 sashes across 50 seasons in the VAL, most recently winning the Wangaratta Open 800m handicap in January 2023 and being awardedVAL Distance Athlete of theYear in 1994/95, 1995/96, 1996/97, and 1998/99.

In 1983, Williams won the 400m at Stawell, the 1600m at Bendigo in 2002, the 400m at Bendigo in 1980 and 1988 and the Zatopek Mile in 2001.

Williams has won every Victorian Masters’Gold Medalfrom 400m to 10 Mile, including track, road races, andcross country,since turning 60, and finished sixthinthe World Masters’ Athletics 800m Final in Perth in 2016.

Acknowledging and recognising the significance of Williams’ 50-season milestone, an achievement

the VALsaysdemonstrateshis incredible athletic durability and resilience, the VAL will institute the Les Williams Award, with the 67-year-old athlete also being awarded aLife Membership of the VAL. Thepresidentofthe VAL, Matthew McDonough, said Williams was an extraordinary athlete who is still making significant contributions to the sport. Now was the perfect time to celebrate his career afterthe official release of Les Williams’biography, ‘Les’, earlier this year.

“The award would be afitting tribute to honour hiscompetitive performancesand sportsmanship over 50 years within the VAL,” McDonough said.

“The VAL congratulates and thanks Les Williams on his50seasons. His impact is substantialon the VAL and the sport of running in Victoria and Australia.

“We are so delighted Kerrie Cross chose to invest time and research to document Les’ story. Les is such acolourful character from our sportand synonymous withprofessional running.”

The calibre of recognition for his athletic achievements has taken Williams aback.

“I did not think Iwould make it to 50 seasons,” Williams said. “I am very honoured to have an award named after me.

“Hopefully, Iwill make it to 60.”

Williams looks forward to travelling to Scotland in August to compete in the Highland Games.

Catholic College Sale girl’s team heading to theAustralian Marist Basketball Carnival.

Photos: Zoe Askew

CatholicCollege Saleboy’s team going to the Australian MaristBasketball Carnival Photos: Zoe Askew

ZoeAskew

Collegians take SMCA crown

TomParry

COLLEGIANS are premiers for the 2022/23 local cricket season.

The clubwon the Sale-Maffra Cricket Association’sfirst grade final overthe weekend, comprehensively beating crosstownrivals Sale by 177 runs.

Play began on Saturday afternoon in searing heat, with College opting to bat first after winning the toss.

It was slow going in the first few overs, as openers Tom Morrison and Jed Malone played safe and avoidedany hard-hitting; thus, Sale’s pacemen delivered asuccession of maidens and dot balls to keep the scoring rate low.

The first boundary of the innings didn’t come until the 14th over, which saw Malone hit Swans captain Ben Jones for six.

The rate of runs increased after adrinks break; Morrison plugged away to reach 50 with aclassy cover drive and continued adding to College’s total. Malone provided support where he could, fighting hard for runs as Sale increased the pressure on him. Both batsmen endured to reach 0/116 by afternoon tea.

Immediately following the break,Sale finally found abreakthrough as Malone was caught for 38 -but only afterhesurvived 48 overs and nearly three hours of play.

College skipper Zac Hurley replaced him at the crease, lasting seven overs before Jones, bowling spin, clipped his off stump bail for 16.

Veteran Adrian Burgiel departed the very next over on nought, avictim of his over-eager hitting -his cut-shot finding the hands of Matt Jackson at third man.

Morrison wasthen joined by his brother Charlie in the middle, both of whomshared in aspecial moment.

On the fourthballofthe 61stover, Tom hit a cover drive and ran three to reach his second century of the season, whereupon he removed his helmet, embraced his sibling and raised his bat to an appreciative crowd.

From there, the Morrisons added another 45 runs in the space of 11 overs, before Tom’s wicket finally fell.

He left the fieldonacareer-best score of 129, coming off 223 deliveries through four hours and 10 minutes of game-time.

In the nextsix overs, Charlie combined with Henry Anderson to add 31 runs before the latter

was caught for 10. Following his departure, Noah Hurley looked to be in fine batting form with back-to-back boundaries, only to be stumped on his third delivery.

Zak Russell and Nathan Giove also fell cheaply, leaving Nathan Whitford to close the innings with three twos and asix,bringing Collegians’ total to 8/264; Charlie Morrison finished unbeaten on 46.

Sale bowler Brody Dobson finished the innings with season-best figures of 4/84, while Coenie Nel claimed 2/77 off his 26 overs.

The Swans began their chase on Sunday under grey skies, and with the temperature afull 10

degrees cooler than the day before.

Their first wicket fell much sooner than Collegians’ did, with Matt Jackson caught for a duck after four balls.

Asuccession of maidens from Whitford and Noah Hurleyfollowed before Michael O’Brienalso departed on zero -hewas caught after skying the ball to Charlie Morrison at extra cover.

Then, in just the eighth over of the innings, Dan Padula was also caught behind for atotal of zilch, bringing Sale’s score to 3/0.

Next ball, Nathan Massey got himself and Sale off the mark with one run;

two balls later, Coenie Nel also garnered asingle. Then it was Massey’s turn to be caught, leaving the Swans 4/2.

The very next ball, Whitford struck again, bowling Sale’s MVP Garreth Wolmarans for agolden duck by dislodging his off stump clean out of the ground.

Exactly one over later, Noah Hurley collected his third wicketofthe innings after Nel hit the ball into his stumps with just one runtohis name. The score was now6/2, leavingvirtuallyeveryone at the ground in disbelief.

Jones and Matt Raidal soughttorectify the

SMCA SCOREBOARD

won by 177 runs

(Collegians)

TomMorrison abouttoembraceAdrian Burgiel as the celebrations start.

TomMorrison walks forwardtoaccept his Player of the Match honour.

Charlie Morrison made 46 notout in his innings for Collegians.

on aspellbinding second day

situation during the seventh wicket, making 40 runs beforeRaidal’s ball foundthe keeper’s gloves on 22.

Next up was Glover, who made two runs in a 20-run stand with Jones; the former was eventually caught in similar circumstances to O’Brien.

Another 23 was added between Jones and Will McKenzie in the seven overs that followed, before achangeofbowler saw the latter depart on nine.

Jones reached his half-ton in the 34th over; three balls later,Sale’s10thand finalbatsmanwas lost, resulting in wild celebrations from theCollege men.

Tom Morrison was awarded Player of the Match during the post-match presentations -a decision whichsurprised nobody -for his century, wicket andcatch in the field.

While much was said about Collegians’ finals experience in the leap-up to the Grand Final, it

was their up-and-coming players who truly shone over the two days.

Aside from the Morrisons, key players included pacemenNoah Hurley (4/30 off 13 overs) and Whitford (3/8 off seven)and spinner Jake Durnell, who claimed the last two wickets of the match. Their old guard, meanwhile, barely made an impact -Burgiel didn’t score and wasrelegated to ball-shining duties in thefield; Mark Nicholls

bowledfour overswithout success; and Stuart Anderson was left out of the squad, purportedly after giving an umpire averbal spray during the semis.

If the weekend’s gameisany indication, they may not be needed come next season.

Read thisFriday’s Gippsland Times for a recap of the second, third and fourth-grade cricket finals.

Will this be the start of adynasty?

Liam Durkin

WAY to make amockery of apredictionCollege.

After tippingSalewould get more runs out of their middle order in the Grand Final, the Swans actually only scored 30 less runs when batsmen three to seven from both sides were combined.

It was at the top where the damage was done.

Sale’s openers madezero between themCollegians’ made 167. You can’t even say College openersTom Morrison and Jed Malone made 167 times more than the Swans opening pair -167 times zero is zero.

Further damage came from another College opening combination.

MyCricket crashed on Saturday while College was batting, and most who weren’t at Colin Wrigglesworth Reserve on Sunday must have thought it had again when it said Sale was 6/2.

When Ifirst saw thatI thought ‘that can’t be right, MyCricket must still be down’.

No glitch, Sale really was 6/2.

Within nine overs, Nathan Whitford and Noah Hurley had secured apremiership for Collegians. Some are callingitthe bestopening spell in a Grand Final they have seen in 20 years.

If Whitford and Hurley secured theflag, Tom Morrison delivered it.

Take abow young man.

Facingthe new ball, on thebiggest stage of them all, and to score 129 is truly the stuff of legends.

The Morrison name, one of many synonymous withCollegians Cricket Club, now hasanew chapter.

Tom joins brother Charlie as apremiership

player. The latter was there when College last won in 2017/18, as was Zac Hurley, now apremiership captain, continuing the legacy of his dad and College life member Anthony.

This one will surely mean more.

Hurley and Charlie Morrison were kids back then.Hurley, by his own admission, took it for granted.

“Thefirsttwo seasons Iplayedfinals we won them bothand whenthat happens yousortofjust go ‘oh yeah, it’s just what you do’,” he said in a2020 interview with the Gippsland Times.

“But after thatloss (2018/19 semi) yourealise that it’s just not going to happen every year, the old blokes can’t keep doing it, some day it is going to have to be us that hastodoitifwewant to win aflag.”

Collegians may well have been building toward this premiership for the best part of five seasons.

There were afew hiccups along the way -four consecutive semi-final losses in the time between flags. Onesemi-final loss was by 17 runs, another by five. When ateam reaches the pinnacle, people often overlook what has happenedpreviously. Very rarely is the rise to the top straight forward. Hurley and co are surely battle-hardened from those experiences, and with each final brings added experience, the type you simply cannot get from ahome-and-away match.

The Collegehierarchy are probably also entitled to some credit.

Having identified young players of promise some yearsago,veterans such as Stuart Anderson, Matt Foster, MarkNichollsand NathanKingwillingly steppedintolesser roleswithin the team.

There was still the need for some seniority to help

guide the young players through, and the signing of SMCA great Adrian Burgiel in 2019/20 may have just been what was needed to top things off.

College probably wouldn’t have even made the Grand Final had it not been for his knock off 44 in alow-scoring chase the week before.

Without stating the obvious, if you sign aplayer like Burgiel, you are getting them there to help you win aflag.

If that was the purpose, then College would count it as aworthwhile investment.

As with any Grand Final, this one hadsome great stories attached.

College wicket-keeper Jed Malone, the number 11 justa few years ago, is now an opening batsman, and put on 116 for the first wicket in the decider.

Mark Nicholls is still going, and added another AGrade flag to his name.

And how about Zak Russell, is he not the luckiest man in the SMCA? He had played just three games in the firsts before being parachuted in to play at the 11th hour.

Whilethis is not the time to speak of the circumstances surrounding just why he needed to be brought in, it perhapsdemonstrates the maturity of Collegeinnot allowing externalfactors to distract them from the task at hand.

Around four yearsago, whenboth Hurleys, both Morrisons, and Malone were all among the SMCA’s top performers in various departments, and all still under the age of 21, most were inclined to think one of two ways: either the kids were overachievers, or they were going to be aseriously strong outfit in years to come.

It would appear the latter has come to fruition. The scary part is they are all still young.

Target Time No.0150 acid, acrid, aegis, aide, aider,aired, arid, arise, asdic, ashier,aside, cadi, cagier, cahier,cashier,caries, cedi, ceria, chair chaise, chid,

Collegians’ First XI celebrate after collecting their 10th and final wicket for victory

Photos: TomParry

TomMorrison top-scoredfor Collegians with acareer-best 129.

JULIAN

SONYA

ROUND 1

Thursday, March 16

Richmond vs.Carlton [MCG] [N]

Friday, MARCH 17

Geelong vs. Collingwood [MCG] [N]

Saturday, March 18

North Melbourne vs.WestCoast [MRVL]

Port Adelaide vs.Brisbane [A][T]

Melbourne vs.Western Bulldogs (MCG) (N)

Gold Coastvs. Sydney [MSN][N]

Sunday, March 19

GWS vs.Adelaide [GS]

Hawthorn vs Essendon [MCG]

St Kilda vs.Fremantle[MRVL]

Off to Adelaide Sale hosts transfer

TomHayes

SALE TurfClubwas backinaction last Friday, when it hostedFriday Racing, transferred from Cranbourne.

Ascheduled eight-race card was moved to the country town, on atrack that was originally aSoft 5, before being upgraded to aGood 4before Race 4. Not as many locals raced due to the transferred nature, but afew were still abletofeature throughout the meet.

The first race of the day saw five of the six starters finish within alength-and-a-half of each other, in the Race 1Ladbrokes Punters Assist Maiden Plate over 1000 metres.

It was Basque for Shane Nichols who was able to hang on, after leading the entire race from start to finish.

The favourite, Zartamay, was unable to even challenge the front runners, finishing last in the field.

Warmosa, who sat in asimilar position to Zartamay,begantopushafter thebendand nearly snatched the lead at the line.

Butthe well-back second favourite,Basque, was able to hold on by just under half-a-length to claim his maiden win after four starts.

Race 2’s Kwik Tip Bins Maiden Plate (1200m) was coolly taken to the line by Icy Isea for Jackie Beriman,and was paying $15 to win on Sportsbet.

From her seven career starts, she has now placed in four of them, winning her first on the day.

As the field passed the 800 metre mark, nearly every horse had its own space, as Lochend Umosa for Sale’s Paul Worthington took an early lead.

Lochend Umosa led practically until the 200m mark,whenshe was overtaken by everyonetothe line.Icy Isea wasthe firsttodoso, claiming the win.

The Race 3Bennett Electrical Maiden Plate (1500m) was expertly won by Candy Lovefor Anthony and Sam Freedman.

Both Candy Love and Flying Emmy came from the back of the pack to then battle it out for the lead at the end of the race.

Candy Love came flying down the outside to sweep the leaders, and was able to edge Flying Emmy to take the first win of her career.

MissSassybeelfor Moe’s Lenny Xuerebalso climbed from the back, but was only able to get as high as seventh before crossing the line.

Race 4’s Mac Waste Group Maiden Plate (2200m) was comfortably won by Promises Kept for Greg Eurell.

The favourite slowly made his way forward, eventually taking the lead as earlyasatthe 400m mark, going fourwide.

The front three of Promises Kept, Winning Bid and Cautious Interest finishedoverfourlengths clear of the rest

Bing’s Dream for Craig Blackshaw,now training

from Pakenham, climbed to sixth, but was still more than 10 lengths off the pace.

The Race 5John Elliman Real Estate Handicap BM78 (2200m) was incredibly won by three lengths by Mr Blackwood for Cindy Anderson.

Throughout the majority of the race,Mr Blackwood rantoward the front, predominantly in second place, before taking the lead around the bend.

By the time he hit the lead he ran away with it, doing it easilytothe line to claim the third win of his career.

Race 6’s Sale WaterSpecialists HandicapBM58 (1400m) was once again won comfortably by over three-and-a-half lengths by GeneralFirepower for Michael Moroney.

From the jump, General Firepower took aquick uncontested lead, stretching to over four lengths ahead, alongside Golden Age alength behind.

Once they turned the bend, General Firepower quickly put acouple more lengths on the rest, claiming the third win of his career in classy fashion.

Atwo-horse race was witnessed as Funzelle for Peter Moody and Audrey Grace for Matt Laurie battled it out for the lead right up to the line in the Race 7Maffra Community Sports Club Handicap BM64 (1200m).

Both Funzelle and Audrey Grace started well and took an early lead together, around alength in front of the rest.

As they roundedthe bend,both horses weregoing stridefor stride, but Funzelle managedtopull ahead slightly, getting to the line first by ahead.

In just her sixth careerstart,Funzellehad picked up her second win and fourth placing, as the two were around four lengths clear of the remaining runners.

The final race of the meet was won by afavourite, Squad for Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes, as he took out his third career win in the Race 8Ladbroke It! Handicap BM70 (1000m).

Squad tookthe leadofthe race fairly fast, before turning at the bend and stretching out to over a length clear.

In doing so, Squad went back-to-back after winning in Bendigo at the end of February, from the same distance.

Moonlight Rustler for Sale’s Bill Wood had a battleatthe back,going fromninthtoseventh before finishing eighth when crossing the line.

The next meeting at Sale TurfClubisthe Maffra Cup on Sunday, April 2.

Theclub is using this meeting as an opportunity to saythank you to emergency services.

The meetingwill be heldthe day after theopening round of the local football/netball season.