Gippsland Times Tuesday March 26 2024

Big thank you from the Maffra Municipal Band

ON Saturday, March16, Ihad the privilege of accepting the winner’s cheque for aCommunity Floatatthe fantastic Maffra Mardi Gras, on behalf of the Maffra Municipal Band. To my knowledge it was the first year ourmarch wasadmittedas a“Float”.

In my hasteand surprise, Iomitted to thank the Bendigo Community Bank for their generous support of this event and may Iadd many activities in our Shire. As our community band gets no official supportfrom any agency we rely on member subscription, grants and afew small entry fees and raffles in order to survive.

Over the three plus years of which Ihave been a member,the band has expanded and we now offer basictraining, and the loan of an instrument to complete beginners from Year 4uptowhatever age.

So if you or your child has ayearning to learn, or as Idid relearn after along absence, the Beginners Band is for you.

You can then progress to ourIntermediate Concert Band, andontothe Senior Band.We also have agroovy Stage Band, with Swing, Jazz and Rock for the more adventurous. Our Strings ensemble, requires you to have abasic knowledge of your instrument, but our Ukestra will take on beginners. Lastly if your only instrument is your voice, this year our choir is proving very popular. Manyofour singers cannot read music and are catered for. Head to maffraband.com.au or our Facebook page to learn more.

All this requires funding, you may not realise that for every song you hear there are ‘royalties’ to pay, up to $100 per item and we are always refreshing our repertoire. We have to maintain our instruments, buy some of the larger more expensive ones, especiallypercussion and lights, sound systems it goes on.

So again thank you rotary and thank you Bendigo Bank and thank you, the community who support us, by coming to our concerts.

Karla McKinlay

Maffra

Solarfarm debate

IT’Shardnot to find it ironic -farmers running 450 headofhereford complaining about the loss of biodiversity if asolar farm is built (Gippsland Times issue19/03/24,Solar battle). How does that pass the pubtest??

Perhaps -ifthey are so concerned -then remove the cattle and plant some native bush and let the ‘roos back into their own property.

This smells very suspiciously of apoliticalagenda. Nothing like abit of grandstanding.

Thisisasolar farmafter all -not amassive great open cut coal mine -and it can operate in part like agroforestry. “Agrivoltaics”. Panels 2-4 metres above the ground allow for solar-grazing. And perhaps we’ll see improved conditions for the grassland birds; there are studies from the US that found planting native grasses and flowers under

solar panels helps insect populations including by up to 20 times in the case of native bees. Research in Europe has shown large solar farms can enhance diversity and abundance of plants, grasses, butterflies, bees and birds and vegetation between solar panel rows can also provide travel corridors and nesting sites.

So -I’m surethatthe habitat and biodiversity concerns of the Patersons can be dealt withina win-win outcome here.They mightbesurprisedto find that asolar farm isn’t the enemy here.

And after all -it’snot as if it’s asmall modular nuclear reactor setting up shop next door.

Michael Christiansen

Mill

Park and Munro

Review banking licences

IT is pretty clear to me that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA)will have to makethe provision of ready public accesstocash (ATM’s/over the counter) acondition of the grant of abanking licence.

The banks are having alend of the public and need to be brought to heel.

This basic service is under threat for one reason only -a wish to reduce operating costs thereby ensuringhigher bankprofits and increased returns to shareholders.

The interests of bankshareholdersdonot always coalesce with the public interest.

The widespread closure of bankbranches and the removal of ATM’s is clear evidence of this.

In June of 2017, there were 13,814 bank-owned ATM’s in Australia but by June 2022, there were just 6,412.

Adecline of 53 per cent.

Adecline which shows no sign of ending.

Michael JGamble

Belmont, Victoria

Send us your letters

THE Gippsland Times welcomes letters to the editor

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

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

The Gippsland Timesdoes not publish letters from anonymous contributors.

Letters must include aphone number or email address and the author’s hometown for purposes of substantiating authenticity.

Readersare entitled to one right of reply to a letter directly solely at them.

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

Email letters to news@gippslandtimes.com.au

Maffra Municipal Band Vice-President

Maffra Municipal Band’s IntermediateConcert Band who marched for thefirst time with the Senior Band.

Photo: Contributed

Dr Hogan’s headquarters

ErikaAllen

IN front of agathering of fifteen friends, family, and colleagues,DrCameron (Jamie) Hogan, alobbyist from Stratford, officially opened the new Jamie Hogan Activist and Lobbyist offices on Friday, March 22.

The former Deputy Premier (1982-89), Robert Fordham AM was aguest of honour.

It was aserendipitous occasionfor Dr Hogan, who said he had looked up to Mr Fordham for years.

In 1981, when Dr Hogan ventured into politics by joining ayouth policy committee in Melbourne, he recalled that Mr Fordham was aguest speaker at his first meeting,which left alasting impression on him.

“I was so impressedwith the way he worked with us as young people that Ithought, ‘I want to be like that man.’

Dr Hogan mused, “But Ididn’t know how Iwas going to be like that man.”

“A monthlater (after the meeting) Iresigned from the public service, and Iwent to Phillips Institute and completed ayouth work degree all because I was inspired by Bob Fordham.

“Now here Iamwith Bob Fordham opening our new offices.”

Mr Fordham said as he unveiled the plaque commemorating the occasion: “We welcome this initiative,wewelcome themove to this location, and it’s with great pleasure that Iofficiallydeclare these new premises open.”

He alsohighlightedthe significance of community groups,calling them the “fabric of our communities”.

Now comfortably settled into the offices on Foster St in Sale, Dr Hogan expressed his pride in them.

“People can drive past and see our name on the window. Colleagues have their own (private) offices, and we’ve got aboard room now where we can have round-table discussions,” he said.

The transition to the offices has not been smooth sailing, mainlydue to the “pressure” to relocate from their former premises at the Derek Amos Community Hub on Raymond St.

Over the past year, Dr Hogan has been at odds withthe WellingtonShire Council overthe future of the Derek Amos Community Hub, which he managed until January.

Dr Hogan ran his lobbyist group out of the Community Hub, along with other community groups, including the Wellington Toy Library, Sale Food Support Network, Bug Blitz, and the University of the Third Age.

Sincethe state government took over, groups have moved on, closed, or arelooking foralternative locations.

This was akey topic in Dr Hogan’s address at Friday’s Grand Opening.

“We need to find ahome for community groups that council are effectively throwing out on their ear and not helping them,” he said.

“If they don’t have anywhere to go, organisations just close.”

Dr Hogan made two declarations towardsthe end of his speech.

The first was to announce his candidacy for Northern Wardcouncillor in this year’s Wellington Shire Councilelections, which will be held on Saturday, October 26.

This comes as the Gippsland Times reported on

Dr Hogan’s priorities for the region in last Friday’s issue.

Operating underthe slogan ‘making your concerns his concerns’, Dr Hogan said he alsowantsto revitalisethe three‘Rs’ of local government -roads, rates, and rubbish.

The Stratford local said roads in the Northern Ward need to be better.

“The roadsout to Tinamba, Heyfield, Dargo, out to the Quarriesand Blue Pool,wheremany people go in summer …some of the patch-up jobs are terrible,” he said.

The second announcement he made was that a “think tank” to be named in Derek Amos’ honour will be headquartered at the new offices. The think tankwill conduct researchonvariouscommunity issues.

As Dr Hogan concluded his speech he thanked MichaelDavis who is the Practice Manager of the lobbyist group and NaticiaThornton who is Dr Hogan’s personalassistantfor coordinating the move.

Easterholiday disruptions

SERVICES Australiaisreminding customers of changes to paymentsand servicesinMarchApril 2024 due to the Easter public holidays and Anzac Day.

All service centres and most phone lines will close on Friday,March 29, Monday, April 1 and Tuesday,April25, 2024

Services Australia General Manager Hank Jongen said this meansreporting and payment dates for some customers may change.

“It’s important to know you may needto report income early,” Mr Jongen said.

“Your Centrelink online account will show your new reporting date for the Easter reporting period.

“If you don’t have to report to get your payment, we may pay you early.”

“You can find more informationabout changestoservices, includingrevised reporting and payment dates, online at servicesaustralia.gov.au/holidays

Mr Jongen said customers can continue to use self-service options over the holidays.

“Ouronline accounts, phone self-service lines and Express Plus mobile apps will be available,” he said.

“Youcan still claim Medicare benefitsat the doctor’s andregister as an organ donor online.Wewill continuetoprovidecritical Medicare services for health professionals over the holidays.”

Dr Cameron (Jamie) Hogan (left)and Former Deputy Premier Robert Fordham AM (right) at the opening of the newoffice. Photos: ErikaAllen

Former DeputyPremier Robert Fordham AM unveiling the plaque.

 Maffra Neighbourhood House will close for Easter and the school holidays from Thursday, March 28 at 3.30pm.

The new brochure can be viewedonFacebook and the website and acopy will be delivered to all Maffra letterboxes before the new term begins on Monday, April 15.

 The Maffra Combined Churches will hold aDawn Service in Victoria Park, Kent Street, Maffra (opposite the Maffra Hospital) on Easter Sunday, March 31. Please contact

Jenny on 0422 941 326 or check Facebook.

 Easter at the Maffra RSL, everyone can join in at the RSL rooms, ‘Shelton’, Boisdale Street, Maffra, for aBBQ on Sunday, March 31, from 12noon to 4pm and Monday, April 1, from 12noon until 6pm.

Drinks at barpricesand BBQ by gold coin donation. All welcome.

 The annual Coongulla Easter Paddy’s market will be held on Saturday, March 30, from 9am until 12noon at the Coongulla Hall. There will be food and market stalls, raffle, face painting and atrash and treasure.

Gippsland Family Practice

• Bulk billed medical services

2 Stead Street, Sale

Ph 5144 6511

OPEN HOURS Monday–Friday9am to 5pm S S S

JoinSale Probus Club

SALE LadiesProbus Clubcontinuetomeet on the fourth Monday of every month and held their AGM at the weekend at SaleGreyhound Club. March has been abusy monthfor the clubwith their weekly Friday morningcoffee get-together, an excursion to the Johnson Collection in Melbourne, gallery tours of the Annemieke Mein Exhibition and amid monthly lunch in Maffra withmembers of Maffra Ladies Probus. The club’s 60 members canpartake in avaried programme of activities in whichtoparticipate and enjoy each other’s friendship. The 36-year-old club has shownno signs of slowing down.

If you are interestedinjoining Sale LadiesProbus Club, call Petaon0427533 888 or Loretta on 0418 374 178.

Sheila Barnsley (left)with Sale

Ladies Probus Club co-President Val Ellis celebrating the club’s36thbirthday last year. Photo: Contributed

VicGrid study area released

PhilipHopkins

VICGRID has released its study area for the new transmission infrastructure through South Gippslandthat will transport energy fromoffshore wind into the Latrobe Valley (LV) electricity grid.

The study area starts about six kilometres from thecoast near Giffard and travels north-west past Stradbroke West, to Willung, across to Flynns Creek and onto the Loy Yang power station.

It does not include the preferred transmission routeidentified by the private operatorAusNet Services, which runs the electricity transmission and distributionnetworks. AusNet had undertaken three years’ negotiations, studies and environmental and cultural heritage assessments.

VicGrid’s chief executive, Alistair Parker, said the VicGid study area and the associated connection hub area had been informed by feedback from local landowners, communities and regional stakeholders as well as by technical work carried out last year.

The public release of the study area follows a mail-out to affected landholders aweek before. VicGrid said it had made every effort to contact all owners and residents of property withinthe area before apublic announcement.

This transmission infrastructurewillsupportthe state’s first offshore wind target of two gigawatts (GW) or 2000 megawatts, by 2032.

The proposed transmission technologyisa double circuit 330 kilovolt (kV) or 500 kV overhead transmission line, with furtherdetailed analysis required to determine which is the best operating voltage. Multiple combinations of technologies were investigated, including putting the transmission line fully underground. But, after careful analysis, fully undergroundwas ruled out as an option dueto challengesincluding cost, engineeringcomplexity, procurement and timing.

VicGrid’sanalysisfoundanoverheadline is estimated to cost between $700 million and $1.5 billion, while undergrounding is estimated to cost between $2 billion and $4.5 billion.Those additional costs would be paid for by Victorian homes and businesses through higher power bills.

The higher cost of going underground was largely due to the additionalabove-ground infrastructure required and alongerand more complex construction process. Mr Parker said while VicGrid had received feedback thatsome local communities wouldprefer underground lines,ithad also received feedback that the impact on bills was an important consideration for many.

Mr Parker told the Gippsland Times that AusNet would probably be disappointed by VicGrid’s plan, as AusNet’s ambition had been to link up to offshore windtransmission and some onshorewindaswell

“That was something they weredoing at commercial risk, tryingtoget enoughproponents together as customers to make it work commercially,” he said.

Mr Parker said the government’s concern two years ago was that, if every proponent developed its own transmission, they would get the community offside because people would be talkingtoall these proposals that would not necessarily go ahead.

This would create concern in the wider community, he said, with the government’s Renewable Energy Zone ceasing to be aniche solution.

The first offshore wind farm, Star of the South, has been developing its own transmission line separate from AusNet’s proposedtransmission link

Mr Parker saidthe upshot was the government’s decision that VicGrid would be in charge: it would develop the transmission for offshore wind. If the offshorewindindustrywanted to be in the running for government support, it would have to connect through VicGrid.

“That has been clear for awhile.AusNet paused

their activities ayear ago,” he said.

Mr Parker estimated about300 landholderswere in the study area, but notall of them wouldend up hostinga transmission line

“The work we will do over the nextyear or two is to identify the corridor, then come downtoa detailed route that will be suitable for easements. So probably in six to 12 months, manyofthose 300 landholderswill findthey are not hosting transmission,” he said.

He acknowledged other onshore solar and wind projects would also want to tap into the VicGrid transmission line.

“One of the things that has been awkward for us, we really want to share this information with the community before we started going into detailwith proponents; we didn’t want agroup of proponents who knew what we were doing whenthe community didn’t,” he said.

“We can’t start to have those conversations; already acouple have indicated they are keen to talk to us. Obviously, there are the big questions of capacity. We will need to work through that.”

Mr Parker said it was complicated; the actual line proposed for technical reasons can only take 2-2.2GW. There was aperception that to reach 9-10 GW, five lines were needed.

“We will need another line from the coast -it’s notdone in detail yet, we will do that work next year as well,” he said.

“We think we need another line from the coast to the LV, we will need to join the two lines. Doing that, you get enough redundancy that you can carry 8-9 GW. With transmission lines, it’s not like a water pipe where the only question is how much water to pump -with electricity, you have always gottocover for fault on one of the lines, you are always trying to work out to ensure, if have afault, don’t black out everybody. The first line is always bigger than you strictly need, but when you get another, you can share better.” To help gauge the location of onshore renewable projects, Mr Parker saidthe governmentwas workingonthe Victorian Transmission Plan.

“It’s starting from land use, instead of starting from the electricitysystem. It’s starting from perspective of where the best places are for this infrastructure -not just in terms of solar or wind resource,but in terms of whatare the existing land uses,” he said.

“Does this live well with it, or would it be affecting highly productive ag land? We are doing thatwork now. That might tell you when we’ve finished it, this will be aterrible place for solar, or brilliant place for wind -wehaven’t finished that.

“When we have that perspective, it will say to people, ‘Clearly, area Aisgood for aparticular project; the area Bisa terribleplace’. We will manage that capacity much more closely across the whole of Victoria, not just Gippsland.”

TheVicGrid announcementcameaweek after thestate government announced its new policy to fast-track planning approvals for renewable energy projects. The policy has been strongly attacked by theVictorian Farmers Federation and aleading stateplanningexpert (see story on Page 9)

The federal government is currently assessing feasibility licence applications from offshore wind proponentsinGippsland and has recentlydeclared asecondoffshore wind area off the Victoriancoast in the Southern Ocean region. VicGrid will now take time to assess the implications of the Southern Ocean announcement and the area that has been identified, whichis80per centsmaller than originallyplanned due to fears about disturbing whale habitat.

For more on this subject, read the other storyonthis page,and turn to Page 25 to find out more about a‘Farm Access Code of Conduct’ thataimstodealwithtransmission lines for farmland.

Landholdersvoice concern on overhead lines

LANDHOLDERS from Flynn to Seaspray say they have been left reeling after VicGrid announced the study area for running high-voltage overhead transmission lines across Gippsland. These lines will connect offshore wind projects to the Latrobe Valley electricity grid.

Giffard local and the chair of Better Transmission Gippsland (BTG),Kirra Bott, said potentially affected landholders received letters without notice -aweek before the announcement -containing a map showing the study area.BTG is agroup that’s against overhead transmission lines.

“This immediately left some incredibly stressed and confused; some unable to tell for sure if they wereinorout, and othersfeeling relievedthat they are outside the study area,” Ms Bott said.

“While VicGrid claims to be objective in their efforts, they are clearly prioritisingcommercial viability -inother words corporate interests -over communitybenefits.

“VicGrid has always said they would determine the corridor for transmission and discuss it with the community -weknew that. What they didn’t tell us was that they would decide to do overhead transmission withoutproperly consideringunderground anditisclear they haven’t.”

Ms Bott said BTG believes transmission can go underground and had been reviewing the latest studies, some as recently as last November.

“Whatisclear is that underground technology is notonly feasible, it is now cost-effective,” shesaid.

“A 60 year-plus lifespan, virtually no maintenance,very few if any faults and optical fibrein the cables to allow detection if there was.

“Howmanymillions of dollars will60yearsof maintenance and replacements costfor overhead?

How many towers do you need to blow over before the numbers make sense?”

Ms Bott said BTG argues against the belief renewableswere needed to address climatechange

“But if climate change means more extreme, and more variable weatherevents,why would you use technology that is vulnerable to extreme weather events?” shesaid

“What concerns me most is that Ihave been told underground is ‘off-the-table’ and that the easement they choose will have at least one other tower line, in the future two.

“To make matters worse, Iwas also told that there will be more tower lines, mostprobably in adifferent corridor. Ultimately looking at future targets there likely to be between three to five in total! Those of us who thought we’d dodged abullet with this letter might want to think again.”

Ms Bott emphasised that BTG was not opposing the need for transmission. The group recognised the need for alternatives to coal-fired powergeneration and that the government had chosen renewables to achieve this.

“The stumblingblock is how transmission occurs.

Our challengeistoget heard;wewant to collaborate on asolution, not fight over one. As with most community challenges, it’s hard to break through the profit-driven motives of the corporates,” she said.

“Overhead is more profitable;why would they change whatthey’ve beendoing for years whenthey make good money on it and change costs money. After all,ifall they’ve ever doneisbuildtower lines, then every solution looks like atower line.

“I choose to believe that our government is better than that.”

Ms Bott said anyone who received aletter should get in touch with BTG as the first point of call.

“Go to ourwebsite www.bettertransmissiongippsland.com and sign up or email info@ bettertransmissiongippsland.com and BTG will be in touch,” she said.

Big, bright,blueand beautiful

ErikaAllen

WHAT’S big, bright, as blue as the sky it touches and holds the title for best street art experience in Victoria?

The Yarram Water Tower mural.

You can’t miss the tower standing prouder than ever on Nightingale Street -abeacon of colour attracting busloads of local and interstate visitors and evengaining notorietyamong an international audience.

The 2023 AustralianArt Awards results were recently announced, and on March 8, the Yarram Water Tower mural was awarded agold medal in the category for Best Street Art Experience in Victoria and abronze medal in the Mega Mural Category.

The Australian Street Art Awards’ Charter was founded in 2018 to “provide Australian communities,including those in remote and regional areas, with ameans to be recognised for outdoor art that

is being promoted to make their destination and our collective country amore attractive place to visit and explore”.

In 2023, awards were introduced for the Best Street Art Experience in each state or territory to encourage visitorstoexplore Australia comprehensively.

Judges remarked on this year’s recognised artworks: “These pieces are contributing significantly to making Australia amore vibrant, creative and interesting country -somewhere visitors want to explore more keenly.”

Coastal Ward councillor GayleMaher praised the Yarram Water Tower mural at last week’s council meeting (March 19),describing the monumental artwork as the “crowning glory of the Yarram Mural Trail”.

She said the accolades it received “really represents (TheFriends of Heesco Town’s)hard work and kudos that is certainly well-deserved”.

OfficiallylaunchedinApril 2023, the Water TowerMural markedthe 25th addition to the ‘Heesco Town’ series.

The series was acollaborative endeavourbetween The Friends of Heesco Town, agroup of dedicated Yarram residents instrumental in bringing the murals to life and renowned Mongolian-Australian artist Khosnaran Khurelbaatar, who lends his nickname Heesco to the project.

Last month, upon reflecting on the nomination for the awards, Heesco told the Gippsland Times it wasgreat to be acknowledged again through the Australian Street Art Awards.

Other Heesco Town murals have won Best Street Art Trail at the Australian Street Art Awards in 2020 and 2021.

“It’s always so exciting, but it wasn’t just about me. It’s such abig group effort,” Heesco said.

In 2018, South Gippsland Water supported the TarraTourism Association’s idea for amural on the tower. Five years later,the project was handed over to ‘The Friends of Heesco Town’and was sponsored by Eric Greenaway with the support of the community.

The circumference of the water tower’s upper section, designed by Wayne Tindall, President of The FriendsofHeesco Town and designer of many Heesco murals aroundYarram,showcases local landmarks and wildlife, including:

 Vast coastline views along 90 Mile Beach to the Corner Inlet Marine National Park and south towards Port Albert and whale watching spots at Wilsons Promontory;

 State Forests featuring Won Wron and Mullungdung and forest dwellers like the Strzelecki Koala;

 Agnes Falls, a59-metre drop single-span waterfall;

 The Tarra Bulga National Park featuring the Corrigan Suspension Bridge;

 The famous King Parrot;

 Boran the Pelican from the Gunaikurnai dreaming, and;

 The Long Jetty at Port Welshpool that stretches around 800m.

The lower section of the tower is adorned with vibrant imagery, each carrying thoughtful

Indigenous stories and symbolic meanings.

It showcases thefiveshieldsrepresenting the Gunaikurnai clans and depictions of country, water, food, shelter, and tracks.

Gunaikurnai Elder Sandra Patten envisioned the design, inspired by the Sea of Hands, asymbol of solidarity since 1977 among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, organisations, and leaders regarding rights and reconciliation issues.

This water tower mural, brought to lifebyHeesco, required 300 litres of paint and took four weeks to complete. Some days, Heesco would work for ten hours -rain, hail, or shine.

Since the completion of the water tower, Heesco has painted two more.

One mural is situated atop the Bean Pedlar café on Commercial Rd.

Another portrayslocal hero Robin Smith, known for rescuing 15 kidnapped hostages,including ninechildrenafterthe escaped prisoner Edwin Eastwood broke into aWooreen school in 1977.

With 27 murals in total, the Mural Trail’s intention to revitalise the region into atourist hotspot as it recovers from the impactofthe 2019/20 bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic has been both an honourable and successful mission, with the recognition it garnered at the Australian Art Awards truly putting Yarram on the map.

Art inspired by the Sea of Handsreaches towards the topofthe tower,boasting a depiction of Boran the Pelican.

Photos: ErikaA

The muralabove the Bean Pedlarcaféwas completed after the Yarram Water Tower

Farmersattackenergyfast-track

PhilipHopkins

THE state government's new policy to fast-track renewable energy projects by accelerating planning approvals has been stronglyattacked by Victoria's peak farming body and one of the state's leading planning experts.

The VictorianFarmers Federation (VFF) said the policy was aslapinthe face afteryears of sham consultation with farming communities, while the RMIT Emeritus Professor of Environment and Planning, Michael Buxton, said it would leadto "terrible decisions", with wind and solar farms being "placed in the wrong locations".

Speaking to The Australian newspaper, he warned also that the new scheme left communities with no avenue to appeal unless they could find alegal loophole and could afford costly Supreme Court action.

The VFF President, Emma Germano, said the 'green-lighting' of major renewable projects added to apoor-track record of consulting landholders set to be affected and riskedfurther alienating already frustrated farmers across Gippsland.

"Vastparts of Victoria's farmland will be needed to reach our renewable energy targets. If we can't get this right now, our ability to produce the food and fibre needed to feed people willbeseverely inhibited," she said.

"For the government to say they are genuinely listening to the concerns of these communities and then completely ignore them and fast-track the process smacks of arrogance and them being completely tone-deaf."

Ms Germano said the government had ignored the VFF's pleas to introduce afair framework and had now "hit the accelerator".

"It's farmers and our regional communities that are set to pay the price. Decisions like this one leave us shaking our heads," she said.

The VFF was not against the transitiontoa renewable energy futurebut criticised the government's failure to planaccordingly. As aresult, farmers and regionalcommunities were "the scape-goat in the process".

"Renewable energy has lost social license and the system is broken. This moveisa seriousregulatory and planning failure. There remains alackofany

regulatory safeguards for landholders who host renewableenergy generation,transmission or storage," she said.

Professor Buxton told The Australian that the Victorian government for years had been progressivelyremoving local government and communities from decisions on planning issues.

Those contemplating legal action would need to find alegal loophole to taketothe Supreme Court. Government used its power to stop these possibilities.

"It's also incredibly expensive. To go to the Supreme Court costs alot of money, so it's out of the reach of most people," he said.

The new scheme, underwhich renewable projects will be eligible for an accelerated planning pathway under the Development Facilitation Program (DFP), applies from April 1.

All new renewable projects in Victoria will be treated as significant economic development, making them eligible for an accelerated pathway -removing the planning panel process and thirdparty appeals at VCAT. Stalled projects will also be able to access the accelerated pathway.

From the time acomplete application is lodged, decisions can be made within four months. The government saysthe voices of communities who want to raise concerns will continue to be protected. Thirdparty objections will still have aplace in the approvals process, but "this change prevents time-consuming andrepeated delays that hold theseprojects backfor years",the governmentsays.

Adedicated facilitation team will oversee all renewable energy applications.

Projects will be monitored on an ongoing basis to identify blockers earlier and resolve them faster.

The issue comes as negotiations are deadlocked for access to South Gippsland farm land to connect proposed Bass Strait wind farms to the Latrobe Valley electricity grid. The connections will be either by transmissionlines aboveorbelow ground. The state government body VicGrid is overseeing the whole process and is expected to make recommendations soon.

"The minister has the final say." Professor Buxton said withnothird-party rights of appeal, wind and solar generating facilitieswould be placed in the wrong location.

"It's likely all those broader aspects, the loss of farmland, the impacts on biodiversity and landscapes,won't be properly considered," he said.

"They'veincreasingly adopted an autocratic model of decision-making, centralisingdecisions with the minister.It's now become the mostradically centralised and autocratic modelofdecision-making in the country,soit'snosurprise thatthey've extended it to renewable energy projects," he said.

Last year,the Strzelecki Community Alliance lost abattleinthe Victorian Supreme Court to stop the Delburn wind farm, which consists of 33 250metre high turbines in the middle of aHVP pine plantation. It is bounded by Coalville, Thorpdale, Darlimurla, Boolarra and Yinnar. The alliance, an incorporated association of more than 1000 members, raised more than $200,000 for the fight.

PHN launches ‘Lived Experience’ roles

GIPPSLAND Primary Health Network (PHN) has made acommitment to grow the 'LivedExperience' workforce in the region and is one of onlyfive AustralianPrimary Health Networks to have a dedicated Lived Experience role on staff.

Aperson with Lived Experience has firsthand or personal knowledge of mental distress or ill-health, substance abuse or suicide.These workers draw on their personal journeys as individuals or as carers to informtheir work

Professional Lived Experience roles fall across arange of areasincluding peer work, system advocacy,consultancy, learning and development, and academia.

Project Officer Mental Health Reform -Lived Experience,Jess Edwards, is deliveringa pilot program aimed at embedding Lived Experience intoGippslandPHN’swork, processes andsystems

Gippsland PHN Chief Executive, Amanda Proposch said in linewiththe NationalAgreement and Victorianbilateral schedule, the organisation was committed to this initiative.

“We are working collaboratively with our regional partners to grow the Gippsland primary care workforce and this includes the Lived Experience workforce,” Ms Proposch said.

“The Gippsland PHN Lived Experience workforce will ensure we are in step with the Victorian and national collaboration on approaches to Lived Experience and support local initiatives to achieve them.”

In 2018,the Australian Department of Healthand Aged Care commissioned Brisbane North PHN to chair and project manage the National PHN Mental Health Lived Experience Engagement Network. The purpose of the network is to shareapproaches to co-design and embedding Lived Experience engagement and perspectives in PHN work and the development of the peer workforce.

In 2022, the Victorian and federal governments signed abilateralagreement to help improve mental health and suicide prevention support and servicesfor Victorians overthe following five years.

This agreement points to PHNs havinga role in developing Lived Experience workforce and in linewithits recommendations, Gippsland PHN is committed to embedding the views of those with alived experience,their familiesand carers in its work.

Late last year, Jess Edwards and acolleague, addressed aNational PHN Mental Health Lived Experience Engagement Network workshop in

Brisbane, presenting Gippsland PHN case studies of best practice for organisational readiness.

They also participated in discussions on how the current system, reforms, priorities and recommendations are moving towards embedding authentic Lived Experience engagement and workforce development within PHNs across Australia.

Ms Proposch saidthe Gippsland PHN Lived Experience workforce ensures the organisation is in step with state and national collaborations on approaches to LivedExperience to support initiatives locally.

“While the first part of this pilot program is about embedding Lived Experience into ourwork, the next phase will see us support our commissioned services to embed it in their workforce,” she said.

“Our work in Lived Experience is recognition that program design, service design and outcomes are better when we have the input from those with lived experience.”

If you or anyone you know needs help:

Renewable projects underthe Development Facilitation Program applies from April 1under the new scheme. Photo: iStock

Gippsland PHN chief executive Amanda Proposch. Photo: Contributed

LongfordPlants manager update

Clinton Gentle LongfordPlants Manager

2024 is going to be abig year for our Longford Plants and Offshore operations as we continue to work on transforming into amodern gas business. As we pivot our focus to further expanding capacityfor our gasbusinessfor Victoria,we are also preparing for the future with ongoing planning of CO2 capture and storage and supplying CO2 directly to industry.

We haveatremendousamountofwork taking place offshore this year and are very close to commissioning anew compression facilityat our Kipper platform further increasing our gas productioncapacity. We are also in the midst

of safely and responsibly decommissioning exhausted wells.

We currently have apeak workforce of close to 500people helping to completeover$1billion of early decommissioning works and have recently achieved plugging and abandonment of over 100 wells. This work will continue to increase overthe nextdecade as we continue to ramp up decommissioning activities.

On the aviation front we are approaching our 50-year anniversary of Esso aviation here in Gippsland. Our fleet of five helicopters complete 2500 flights per year safely transporting over 36,000 passengers to our offshore platforms. Our fleet is currently undertaking rigorous mandatorysafetyinspections. These inspections are done under strict regulations and specifications. It’s amazing to see this team in action, safety is of theupmost importance with theseaircraft, and as such every tool, screw, and even down to every individual rag used in the assembly and reassembly is controlled and accounted for daily and before returning the aircraft to service. It is agreat example of our Heliport team going above and beyond to keep our team safe.

Youmay have recently noticed anumberof big trucks on theroad delivering large loads of process equipment near our Longford site. This equipment is being used to build two new CO2 plantsfor BOC and Air Liquide. Once constructed, CO2 from our Longford Gas Conditioning Plant will be processed and transportedtothe two plants where it will be further processed and usedfor industries including food processing, hospitality, and manufacturing.

These investments and partnerships further solidify our commitmenttodecarbonising our operations and will help to improve societal and environmental outcomes. Ilook forward to providing further updates as we reach key milestones and continue to transform our business now and into the future. As always if you have any questions,please reach out to me via consultation@exxonmobil.com

Wellington Shirecouncil leadingclean energy switch

AUSTRALIA’S energyproduction has flicked the switch to renewables, and WellingtonShire Councilsaysthey are looking to capitalise through meaningful connection with its community.

Thestate government hasdeclared Gippsland as oneofsix Renewable Energy Zones. So begins ashift in Victoria’s foremost energy producing regionfrom traditional power industries to less carbon-intensive electricity generation.

In Gippsland’scentre, Wellington Shirehas clear renewableenergy advantages;landfor installations, an abundance of wind andbiomass, ashallow seabed for wind turbines and aclose proximity to Latrobe Valley’s existing powertransmission capacity.

With $40 billion in planned renewable energy investment across the region, there are opportunities for local businesses, but such adrastic transition doesn’t come without its challenges.

Gippslandisaregionsubject to multipleeconomic shocks,includingHazelwood power station closure, prolonged drought, bushfires and COVID-19.

Throwinthe state government’s unexpected decision to shut down the native timber harvesting industrysix years ahead of schedule, as well as the decline of oil and gas -bothlong-standing economic backbones for Wellington -and it becomes easy for the conversation to dwell on what’s been, rather than what’s next.

What’s more,itcan be overwhelming navigatingsunrise industries. Transitioning an existing workforce’s focus from the path well-trodden to the unknown can be daunting, and reskilling and retooling can be cumbersome for businesses to contemplate amongst daily operations.

Enter Kirsten Power-Wellington Shire Council’s EconomicDevelopment Officerfor Renewable Energy and Defence.

Introducedin2023, Ms Power’s roleensures Wellington’s businesses are well supported to enter supply chains for the renewable energy and defence sectors.

Ms Power is avaluable information point available to Wellington’s businesses. Among other tasks, shemeetswith local businesses to assist navigating accreditations, amending business plans and liaising with authorities and agencies to direct people to relevant programs.

Participating in state government forums, Ms Power holds meaningful, two-way engagement, andisavoice for Wellington’s future as well as for businesses that feel left behind.

Ms Power’s rolealsoinvolves organisingthe

Gippsland New EnergyConference (slated for September this year), which annuallybrings togethermore than 1000 people to discuss the future of clean energy in Gippsland.

The positionisa by-product of thecouncil’s decision to officially prioritise climate change and recognise itseconomywas in transition in 2021.

“We’re lucky locally to have an existing workforce that’s familiar with energy generation. Iwant to help people see the future, and then prepare for it,” Ms Power said.

“I’m trying to make it easier on businesses, so they don’t have to read through400-page documents to decipher away forward.

“I’m continually impressed with how versatile our businesses are. Longstanding companies are diversifying to service new industry, and that’s acredittohow resilient our community can be.”

The expansion into renewables has already begun to ripplethroughoutthe community. For instance, TAFE Gippsland, Federation University, Energy Australia Yallourn and Star of the South have co-developed aframework to identify transition opportunities for local workers into clean energy.

While renewable power is arelatively new kid on the blockinWellington, aRoyal Australian Air Force Base on the outskirts of Sale has remained a constant in the landscape.Whilethe localaviation sectorisalready well-established, arecent $385 million redevelopment on base means East Sale is now Australia’s home of basic pilot trainingfor the entire Australian Defence Force.

Ms Power recently supported four small and medium enterprisestomeetwith the Officeof Defence Industry Support, allowing them to engage directly with Defence.

“Ensuring the RAAF is well-supplied means when local servicemen go to work they can do their jobs safely, and be well-equipped to carry out their duty,” she said.

“I know we’ve got some really great businesses here that can, and do, support that.”

KirstenPower’sambition is more than transitioningalocal economy -it’salsotransitioning anarrative. It’sasmuch about looking beyond decommissioning to athriving, growing industry as it is about shifting the community’s attention from the good old days to abrighter future.

“We need to do something to save theplanet, and we need to keep the lights on. This is coming, it will be atransformation,and we need to be prepared for it.”

Wellington Shire Council Economic Development Officer forRenewableEnergy and Defence, Kirsten Power.

Photo:Wellington ShireCouncil

LongfordPlants Manager Clinton Gentle.

Photo: Contributed

ONE POINTERS

with Muzza

1. The album ‘Back In Black’ was by which rock band?

2. Which film franchise features the character known as Q?

3. What is the lowest rank in the army?

4. What is the highest number written on astandarddartboard?

TWO POINTERS

5. What animal is on the Peugeot logo?

6. What vessel was Captain Nemo the captain of?

7. If Iwas visiting the town of Glenelg, which state/territory would Ibein?

8. What gas is sometimes used to boost the speedofrace cars?

THREE POINTERS

9. All John Deeretractors arebranded with yellow and which other colour?

10. In our solar system, which planet sits between Jupiter and Uranus?

11. What was the name of the movie that Sharon Stone uncrossed her legs in while being interrogated causing ahuge sensation?

12. Who is the coach of the Melbourne Storm?

FOUR POINTERS

13. What does the prefix ‘bio’ mean?

14. On the 13th January,2012, what was the name of the cruise ship in Tuscany that hit arock formation on the sea floor and partially sank?

FIVE POINTER

15. Who am I? Clue: IamaFrenchborn Australian who is aTVpresenter, radio host, actress and comedian among other things. Ihave worked with the Bell Shakespeare Company and have hosted a music quiz show on SBS since 2005.

HOW DID YOU FARE?

37: Topofthe class; 30-36: Outstanding; 23-29: Well done; 15-22: Solid effort; 9-14: Room for improvement;

0-8: Hit the books.

Solutionpage 34

Crossword Puzzle No.8579

Education probe nowinGippsland

PUBLIC hearings for the inquiryinto Victoria’s state education system start in Gippslandthis week.

Membersofthe Legislative Council Legal and Social Issues Committee were in Bairnsdaleon Tuesday, March 26 and headed to Traralgon on Wednesday, March 27.

Teachers and principals from Bairnsdale Secondary College, Lakes Entrance Primary School, Albert Street PrimarySchool, Yallourn Primary School and Kurnai College are scheduled to give evidence to the Committee.

Representatives from Voices for Special Needs and Hands on Learning are among other witnesses.

The Committeeisexaminingthe teaching profession in Victorian state schools and how new technologies could be used to alleviate administrative burdens on teachers.

It is also exploring ways to recruit and retain teachers and support them throughouttheir careers.

Student wellbeing and learning outcomes from grades prep to year 12 are also akey focus.

“The factwe’ve received 271 submissions to this inquiryshows the high level of public interest,” Committee Chair Trung Luu said.

“We look forward to hearing from teachers, principals, other professionals and students in the state educationsector as we travel around Victoria over the next couple of months.”

Further public hearings are set for Bendigo on Tuesday, April 16, SheppartononWednesday, April 17 and Melbourne on Wednesday, May 8 and Thursday, May 9.

The regional hearings will not be broadcast, however full witness transcripts will be published alongside the week’s schedules on the Committee’s website at alater date.

The Committee is due to report to parliament by June 25, 2024.

Loads of fun on free food Fridays

STUDENTS and staff at Airly Primary School have enjoyed Free Food Fridays this term. Each Friday, classes are given fruit platters, snacks and assist in making ahealthy choice lunch.

Subsidised through the state government’s mental health fund, menu choices are influenced by the school’s vegetable garden.

Most recently, students have watered, snacked on, harvested, bagged, weighed and prepped kilos of self-seeded cherry tomatoes. Ideally, the school’s garden will become aplace where the community can share produce.

The gardens and school will be open for the wider community on October 12 this year as Airly Primary School celebrates acentenary of Excellence in Learning.

Jaydenweighs

Dom checksthe corn.

Eli checks out apumpkin. Photos: Contributed

Kenny picked some tomatoes

Maks and Cheyanne loving their pizza.

Athena enjoying spaghetti.

Students enjoyafruit platter

the tomatoes.

Heritage grants open

Examples of funded projects over the years include the Emerald andDistrict Museum and Australian Red Cross (HeritageArchives). Image: Contributed

THE 2024 Community Heritage Grants (CHG) program is nowopen to avariety of highpriority groups- community-based organisations with limited or no paid staff and/or limited resources; Indigenous and multicultural organisations; and rural and remote organisations.

The CHG program offers cash grants of up to $20,000 to community organisations. The grants support organisations to preserve and managecollections thathave Australian cultural and historicalsignificance.The CHG programiscelebrating 30 years this year. Sinceitwas first run in 1994, the CHG program has provided over $8.9 million in fundingtoover 900 organisations for more than 1650 projects nationally.

“Over the course of three decades, CHG has become aconstant and trustedsource of support in the heritage sector. It is pleasing that the original purpose of the program in 1994 -toassistgroups across Australia who are responsible for nationallysignificant collections -remainsatits heart,” said Fiona Clarke, the Assistant Director, Collaboration Branch.

“CHG is stilllookingout for volunteer-run historical societies andmuseums,groups that havebecome custodians of unique heritage material, and Indigenous and multiculturalgroups to ensurethat these collections canremain within their communities and region.”

Last year, $459,987 was shared between 59 regional and community groups.

Historical societies, regionalmuseums, archives and galleries are invited to apply, including Indigenous and multicultural organisations.

The grants enable groupstowork with consultants to undertake significance assessments and preservation needs assessments and basedonthese reports, deliver preservation and conservation, collection management, and digitisation activities. “We encourage applicants to read the guidelines and visit the website to see examples of past CHG projects. And if you have queries, the CHG team are available to provide further advice,” Ms Clarke said.

Newapplications close midnight (AEST) on Thursday May 9, 2024. Previous CHG program recipients and proposals for training projects have an extended deadline,with applicationsclosing on Tuesday, June 4, 2024. To find out more and apply visit nla. gov.au/chg

Sale’sGood Fridayappeal

Stefan Bradley

EACH year on Good Fridaymanyvolunteers from the community of Sale get together to help raise funds for the Good FridayAppeal. This year is no exception. Wellington locals have been very busy in the background preparing to raise crucial fundstosupport the Royal Children’s Hospital. This year is even more important than ever, as the Royal Children’s are dedicating apercentage of funds to help support afew local ruralhospitals, including Latrobe Regional Health. This can be a game-changer for rural kids in accessing life-saving equipment and medical care.

Sale volunteers and father-daughter team Steven and Georgina Boycesaidthey have been able to team up with local businesses to help support the appeal, including Ash’s EdibleArtworks, Bunnings Warehouse Sale, Elders RealEstate and many more. They are still happy to work with any other businesses that would like to come on board.

Georgina, who is the Good Friday Appeal Area Manager for Sale, says that each volunteerhas their own reasons as to why they help out.

“Myself, Iwas apatient of the Royal Children’s Hospital until Iwas 18.They were abletohelp my family and Iwith thecareand support that without we would have been lost. My niece is also under care of the Royal Children’s Hospital. It is acharity that is very close to all of our hearts. A lot of our volunteers are able to talk about similar storiesand they want to show their gratitude to thecause,” Georgina said

“It is amazing to give back to somewhere that gave me so much support over my childhood.”

Her fatherSteven, whoisa previous Area Manager for the Good FridayAppeal in Sale for roughly 10 years, expressed similar appreciation for the cause.

“We have arguably one of the best paediatric centresinthe world.Itisasa parentknowing

your so close to the safest place for them to be is a comfort of mind,” he said.

Georgina’s sister Johannah Powell is another local volunteer and said she had been supporting the charity for the last 10 years.

“I have always loved doing this charity for the last 10 years -and for me then it was justabout helping other kids-now that Ihave my daughter -itmeans so much more. Its about knowing she is safe, it is apeace of mind thatweare so closetothe best paediatric care,” she said.

The appeal encourages people to reach out and donate some of their time this Good Friday to make adifference in these kids lives. Head to Facebook page for Good Friday Appeal -Sale. It’s time to give so they can grow.

Sale Lions Club President,Steven Boyce and daughter,Georgina assistingwiththe Good FridayAppealonYork Street duringa previous year

Photos:Contributed

The LionsClubofSaleare also looking for volunteers to assist them in raising funds with tin rattling and door knocking. You can reach out at secretary.salelions@gmail.com. Their site office willbelocated at Elders RealEstate from 8am-5pm. Plus, Maffra Brigade will be coordinating adoor knock for the appealand are looking for volunteers to assist for acouple of hours.

Reach out to their Facebook page for more information.

Thebrigade said the Maffra area has donated in excessof$345000 to the appeal sincearound1987, according to their records.

“Ifwecan cover most of the area we can increase that total substantially,” they said.

Little Corellastake Birdofthe Month

YOU may have noticed large, noisy flocks of screeching whitebirds flying over Bairnsdalerecently These are Little Corellas, which can form very large flocks, numberinginto the thousands. It is an active, social bird with acheekypersonality, well known for its mischievous behaviour. They often engage in acrobatic displays or playful interactions withotherbirds.They are oftenheard before being seen, emitting loud, screeching calls that carry for long distances

Physically quitesmall, Little Corellas are white, withabluefleshy eye-ringand palerose-pink patch between the eye and bill. They have ashort, bonecoloured bill,dark browniris and grey legs and feet. Plumage for both sexes and juveniles is the same. The Little Corella has no visible feathers around its eyes, giving it adistinctive, somewhat comical appearance.

Widespread throughout Australia, their habitat ranges from the arid deserts of centralAustralia to the eastern coastalplains. They are often found in urban areas, including most major capitalcities,on lawns and playing fields. Being strong fliers, they can travellong distancestotheir preferred habitat of seeding grasses along watercourses. As they need to drink at least daily, those that live in desert areas must also fly to watering holes twice aday

Feeding mainly on the ground, Little Corellas are primarily herbivores with adiet that includes seeds, nuts,fruit, and insects. Their strong, hooked beak cracks open seeds and nuts. They often use their feet to hold food while they eat.

During the breeding season, they can engage in

elaboratecourtship displays, includingsynchronised flying. Little Corellas are thoughttopair for life and begin breeding at the start of along period of rain. The nest site is asuitable tree hollow, cliff cavity or termite mound, lined with shavings of wood and normally used for several yearsinarow. They nest in large colonies and several nests may be found in the same tree. Both sexes incubate the clutch of two to four eggs and both care for the young. Chicks hatch naked and totally dependent on their parents.

The Little Corella’s range is expanding with land clearing and increased sources of water. The increase in agricultural crops has increased numbers. In some areas they can be regarded as anuisance. Their adaptable nature and tendency to gather in large flocks, particularly when they gather to roostatnight, can bring them into conflict with humans. However, they can provide great entertainment with their exuberant playful behaviour such as dangling from overhead wires by the bill or one foot, sliding off the roofs of silos and so on.

BirdLife East Gippsland meet weekly for Monday morning outings. New members are always welcome. Check their Facebook page and Birdlife Australia events page for more information.

Little Corella is March’s Birdofthe Month.

Photo: Jack Winterbottom

Sale GoodFridayAppeal Area Manager, Georgina Boyce and the Easter Bunny helping Bunnings Warehouse Salewith their fundraiser last Thursday.

From alumni to best-selling author

IN the dynamic world of literature and wellness, few stories are as compelling and heartwarming as that of former local Dr Anthea Todd. Since her graduation from GippslandGrammar Class of 2012, Dr Todd has embarked on ajourney that not only showcasesher profoundcommitment to enhancing women's health but also her exceptional ability to communicate complex ideas with simplicity and grace.Her most recentaccomplishment -abook that skyrocketed to become an Amazon bestseller in its very first week -speaks volumes of her expertise, dedication,and the impactful message she brings to readers.

In May, Dr Todd will return to her old stomping groundwith her book, What’s My Body TellingMe? YourBody Isn’tthe Problem. It’s theSolution.Here is achancefor you to hear Dr Todd talk about her innovative approach to women's health issues.

Raised in afamily deeply rooted in healthcare, Dr Todd’s passion for understanding the human body's intricacieswas ignited at an early age. Her journeyhowever, was not devoid of challenges.

Asignificant health scare during her teenage years,involving aheart condition, steered her towards the profound realisation that conventional medicine, while necessary, is part of alargerpuzzle. This experience deeply influenced her holistic view on health, emphasising the importance of listening to and understanding the body's messages.

The Gippsland Grammar community takes immense prideinDrTodd's achievements. Her journey from aschool graduate to abestselling author and arevered health advocate is asource of inspiration for many.

She has fond memories of her time at Gippsland Grammar from 3’s Early Learning Centre all the way to Year 12.

“Remembering athletics days, bus trips to Melbourne for sport and Year 12 Chemistry class with Mrs Rippon, who helped to instil in me the importance of knowing how to think, not what to think,” she said.

“It is areminder of the power of passion, perseverance, and the profound impact of viewing health through alens of compassion and understanding.”

Dr AntheaTodd's storyisnot just about personal triumph; it is abeacon of hope and empowerment for women everywhere.

She believes it’s just the beginningofwhat promises to be atransformative movement towards amore empathetic, inclusive, and holistic

approach to health and wellness for women who find themselves ‘lost in the space between’.

She willspeakatGippsland Grammar on

Friday, May 10 between 6.30pm and 8pm. You can bookat: events.humanitix.com/ female-fundamentals-mothers-day-event-sale

Stratfordset forShakespearean experience

SATURDAY, April 20 will see the Stratford Mechanics Halltransform into an enchanting world for the Elements of Shakespeare. It will feature agrandgarden party hosted by the mischievous Puck, thegracefulTitania, and the regal Oberon. Amidst the fragrant blooms and twinkling fairy lights, guests will be transported to arealm of magic and merriment inspired by the Bard's timeless tales. As lovers' quarrels unfold, jesterswill entertain with witty reparteeand fairies shall flit about spreading joy and mischief. An evening of revelry where dreams and reality intertwine in adelightful fusion of Shakespearean elegance and otherworldly charm awaits. Event organisers are partnering with the team from Avon River Farmhouse for adelicious three-course meal. The Bard’s Bar will be open serving locally crafted beer, cider and wines, with asoundtrack provided by local DJ extraordinaire Cara Schaefer. Come dressed to impress in your best. Book early for an event that is always afestival highlight at: stratfordshakespeare.com.au

book tour.

‘An Immersive Practise’ now at Briagolong

Diver,byLongfordartist LindaShaw.

BRIAGOLONG Art Gallery's new exhibition beginsthisSaturday, with the opening event on Saturday, April 6.

The exhibition is called An Immersive Practise andwill feature paintings by Longford artist Linda Shaw, including 'Diver', an acrylic on canvas.It'ssure to be an excitingand dynamic suite of paintings.

"As an artist, Icannotimagineaworld without the opportunity to create. It is the immersive practice of art making that Ilove. Muchofmyrecent work tends to blur the line between figuration and abstraction. I am very interested in what happens at that intersection," Linda Shaw says.

The exhibition runs from March 30 to May 5, 2024, with the opening on Saturday April 6, at 2pm.

Dr Anthea Todd is changing the landscape of women’s healthcareand will return to Gippsland as part of her

Photo: Contributed

Stratfordlocals -Abby Collins, Dane, Rachael and Mark Nicholls arejoined by Steph Stockwell (from Queensland) all dressedupfor anight of revelry at the 2021Bard’s Banquet Toga Party.

Photo: Lisa Hayman Photography

Local Easter weekend services

HAPPY Easter! Please note therewill not be a

Gippsland Times issue on Good Friday.

Riviera Christian Church, 51 Princes Highway,Sale

Good Friday: 10am-11am

EasterSunday: 10am-11.30am: Easter egg hunt for the kids, giveaways, free tea/coffee and free barbecue after the service.

St James Anglican Church, Heyfield

THURSDAY March 28: Maundy Thursday 5.30 pm -Holy Communion.

Good Friday: 10am Service of Reflection.

Easter Sunday: 10am Holy Communion

St Andrew's Uniting Church, Stratford

FRIDAY, March 29: 9.30am Good Friday service

Sunday, March 31: 9.30am Easter Sunday service

St Andrew's Uniting Church, Maffra

FRIDAY, March29: 9.30amGood Friday Worship Service at Maffra Uniting Church, 7Pearson St, Maffra.

Sunday, March 31: 9.30amEaster Sunday Worship Service

Combined Churches of Maffra

SUNDAY,March 31: 6.15for 6.30am Easter Dawn Service at Victoria Park.

Anglican Parish of Avon, Stratford

March 28, Holy Thursday the Lord's SupperService

7.30pm at Holy Trinity, Stratford

March 29, Good Friday Service 9am at Holy Trinity, Stratford Easter Sundayofthe Lord'sResurrection at 8.30am Holy Communion at St Mary's Munro 10am Holy Communion at Holy Trinity, Stratford 2pmHolyCommunion at All Saints Briagolong

St Paul's Anglican Cathedral, Sale MARCH 26, Chrism Eucharist, 11am March 27, Holy Eucharist, 10am and Tenebrae Service, 7.30pm March 28, Eucharist with foot washing, stripping the altar and Watch, 7pm March 29, Good FridayLiturgy, 9am; 10.30am Ecumenical Way of the Cross, commencing at St Mary's Cathedral, ending at Victoria Park opposite St Paul's March 30, Easter Eve, 7pm

March 31, Easter Sunday Eucharists at: St Paul's Cathedral, Sale, 8am and 10am; St Anne's, Golden Beach, 10.30am; St Mark's, Loch Sport, 10.30; St Alban's, Kilmany, 2pm.

St Luke's (Anglican Episcopal Church International)

ST LUKE'S will meet at St John'sLutheran Church, Sale

March 29, Good Friday, 10am

March 31, Easter Sunday, 10am

St Columba's Uniting Church, Sale

GOOD Friday: 9.30am

Good Friday: 10.30am Walk of the Cross from St.

Mary's Cathedral to St. Paul's Cathedral

Easter Sunday: 10am -Holy Communion

St Mark's Anglican and Community Church, Loch Sport

EASTER Sunday: 10.30am

Maffra Community Church

FRIDAY,March 29:10amatMaffra MemorialHall

Sunday, March 31: 10am at the Rotunda on Johnson Street Maffra

St John's Lutheran Church, Sale

GOOD Friday service -Holy Communion at 2pm

Sale Baptist Church

FRIDAY, March 29: 9am Worship Service. Good

Friday

Sunday, March 31: 10amWorship Service. Easter

Sunday

St Mary's Holy Week Mass and Services Timetable:

TUESDAY,March 26: 11am Mass of the Oils

-Cathedral

Wednesday, March 27: 9.30am Mass -Cathedral

7.30pm Service of Shadows -StPaul's Cathedral

Thursday, March 28: Holy Thursday 7.30pm Mass of the Lord's Supper -Cathedral

Friday, March 29: 9.30am Stations of the Cross -Cathedral

9.30am Stations of the Cross -Stratford

9.30am Stations of the Cross -Rosedale

10.30am Walk of the Cross to St Paul's Cathedral 3pm Service of the Lord's Passion -Cathedral

Saturday, March 30: 7.30pm EasterVigil -Cathedral

Sunday, March 31: 9am Mass -Loch Sport

9.30am Mass -Cathedral

9.30am Mass -Stratford

11.15am Mass -Seaspray

Final farewell to 150-year-old Heyfield Church

HEYFIELD Uniting Church held its final service on March10, while celebrating the building and opening of the church 150 years ago. The church congregation was supported by their families and past members.

Shirley Helleren had nine family members with her to remember their involvement in the Heyfield Churchaschildren. The well-known family of Lilian and Alex Edwards attended to celebrate their family’s involvement when they were growing up. Three sons Ian, Graeme and Barry and other family members also attended. Some members from the Maffra,Rosedale, Traralgon andStratford Uniting Churches were at the service to celebrate past and present connections to the Heyfield Church. Membersofthe Heyfield Anglican Church were also present.

Pastor Robert Barnes led the service providing muchfood for thought. Rod Aitken played the organ accompanied by Suneith Sukumar playing the violin. With the church full the hymn singing was truly uplifting and ajoy to listen to. Ian Edwards accepted aBible which had been given to the Heyfield Uniting Church in 1966 by his parent’s Lilian and Alex Edwards. Another Bible whichwas giventothe church by Frances andBertTruin in 1954 willbereturned to their family. Both families were very involved in the life of the Heyfield Church.

Suneith Sukumarand his family have worshipped with the Heyfield Uniting Church on many occasions while holidaying locally and have become firm friends of the congregation members. They travelled from Narre Warren to Heyfield for this special service.

Chairperson of Gippsland Presbytery of the Uniting Church in Australia, Simon Trebilcock, formerly announced the closure of the Heyfield Uniting Church building. Robert Barnes reminded everyone that the church building is wherethe congregation gathers and that the people are the church. While the building will no longer be used for services the congregation will continue and are looking forward to joining with the congregation at the HeyfieldAnglican Church.

Reverend Judith Lake, Priest of the Heyfield Anglican Church, joined PastorBarneswho asked if she will pastorally care for the Uniting Church members as they move to jointhe Anglican congregation in itsworship and service to the community.

Reverend Lake acknowledgedthat she would take on this role. The pair then concluded the service by saying the benediction and ablessing together Acake to celebrate 150 years of the church building was cut by the eldest member of the congregation,MsHelleren. This was followed with alight lunch with much chatter and reminiscing between old friends and new acquaintances.

Art on display at Seaspray

retirement after teaching art for many years. Gillian Fytch, arelative newcomer to Seaspray, enjoys miniatures and beach wood sculptures. Photographic artists Lotje McDonald and Leanne Peck contribute amazing scenesof Seaspray and fabulous moments in time.

The art shows runs from Saturday, March 30 to Tuesday, April 2, open 10am to 5pm on all days.

creates encyclopaedic fish the viewer has to see to believe,and Doug Beattie paints whatever is currentinhis

This art show began over twenty years ago when Julie Ward and the late Sue Cox provided aduo exhibition. It has grown intoaspecial feature on the Seaspray calendar. There will be avery special collection of Sue’s work on display.Everyone’s art is for sale. For entry, bring acoin donation or phone-pay.

Seaspray’s annual Easter Art Show will be located in the Seaspray Hall,featuring worksof localartists of different mediums. Artwork: Julia Ward

THE annual Seaspray EasterArt Show (SEAS)

Ian

Congregation

Spacious townhouse living

INTRODUCING ameticulously maintained townhouse in the heart of East Sale. Agents say this charming residence is ideal for first home buyers, savvy investors, or those looking to downsize without compromising too much on space. The home is adorned with high vaulted ceilings, creating awelcoming atmosphere throughout. The large proportioned open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area provides asetting for both everyday living and entertaining.

The modern kitchen boasts ample storage and bench space, catering to both functionality and style. Ceiling fans and asplit system,ensure year-round comfort in the home.

This townhouse boasts three wellappointed bedrooms, two featuring built-in-robes, while the main bedroom enjoys the convenience of an ensuite. The central bathroom, complete with a vanity and shower over bath, adds practicality to the home agents say.Afully enclosed, low-maintenance yard awaits

potential buyers outside, featuring an undercover patio and paved courtyard area, which agents say would be perfect for catching morning and afternoon sun.

The front yard of the home features awellestablished lawn.

Agents say the secure carport will provide future owners with convenient and protected parking.

Cracking down on rental misconduct

THE state government is establishing anew renting taskforce to crackdown on rental providers and estate agents who do the wrong thing.

The government said they introduced over 130 rental reforms in 2021 for increased protections for renterswhile makingiteasier for owners to manage rentalproperties, but some rental providers are still trying to get away with poor conduct. Minister for Consumer Affairs Gabrielle Williams announced last Thursday adedicated taskforce to send aclear message to rental providersthat rental offenceswill not be tolerated -crackingdown on offenceslike false advertising,rentingout properties that don’t meetminimumstandards, andnot lodgingbonds

“Mostrentalprovidersand estateagents do the right thing -(this)announcement is aboutsending aclear message to those trying to get away with rental offences,” Ms Williams said.

“It’sbeen almostthree years since our landmark package of over130 rental reforms took effect, and today we are making the rental market fairer for everyone by establishing the renting taskforce.”

Backed by a$4million investment, the renting taskforce will operate in asimilar way to the successful underquoting taskforce, using intelligence and market analysis to boost monitoring of rental campaigns, conduct targeted inspections and act

Seeking opinions for the future

THE state government is asking all Victorians to have their say about the cities, suburbs, towns and regions they want to live in, and the kind of Victoria we want to build for future generations.

As part of the Housing Statement, the government has kickedoff communityengagementright across the state to develop along-term vision for Victoria’s next 30 years.

Over the next few months, 60 pop-up community events will be held across Melbourne and regional and rural Victoria while an online program will also be held to ensure we reach all Victorians -young people, culturally and linguistically diverse, people living with adisability, those at risk of homelessness, renters and home owners.

The government is also engaging with local councils, industry and community leaders as well as Traditional Owners and the wider First Peoples Community.

“Building on our landmark Housing Statement -a new plan for Victoria will set out what our towns, suburbs, cities and regions look like by 2050,” Minister for Planning, Sonya Kilkenny said.

“We want as many Victorians as possible to have their say -sowehave ashared visiononhow to build 800,000 new homes over the next decade and millions more into the 2050s.”

More than 9000 people have already visited the Engage Vic website since it went live, and more than 200 industry and council participants have alreadybeen consulted.

With Victoria on the way to being home to 10 million people by 2050, this whole-of-state plan will set outhow to further improve housing affordability and choice by establishing housing targets for local government areas -sothat the locations where we need more homes and the types of homes we need are clear for everyone.

Councils will be supported by anew dedicated case management team to help resolve issues delaying planning decisions and prevent projects ending up in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

The team will work proactively with developers, councils and agenciestoresolveissues on developments worth more than $10 million which have been stuck within the planning system for more than sixmonths.

This will support council to continue the work done since the HousingStatement to clear the backlog of planning applications for townhouses or apartments that had been stuck for more than six months waiting for adecision.

Visit the website to completethe survey, subscribe to receive updatesand find out about next events at, engage.vic.gov.au/ developing-a-new-plan-for-Victoria.

Consultation closesonJune30, with the new plan expected to be released in late 2024.

on identified breaches. It will scale up operations throughout 2024.

The taskforce will be embedded within Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) and will employ extra intelligence analysts, inspectors,investigators and lawyers. CAV will also build on itsexisting services and make it easier for the public to report potential unlawful conduct to its intelligence team and upload evidence like photos through its website.

The rental minimum standards include things that people would reasonably expect in ahome -like afunctional kitchen, lockable external doors, and being structurally sound and waterproof.

Letting anew renter move into arental property thatdoesn’t meet these standards is acriminal offence, with maximum penalties of over $11,000 for individuals and over $57,000 for companies. The renting taskforce builds on the work being done throughthe government's Housing Statement, including banningall types of rental bidding, restricting rentincreases between successivefixedterm rental agreements, and extending the notice of rent increase and notice to vacate periods to 90 days. In addition, the government is establishing RentalDispute ResolutionVictoriaand delivering a Rental StressSupport Package to supporttenants doing it tough.

Easter birdwatching walk

DO you have plans for the Easter Monday public holiday? Have an interest in birds and nature?

On Monday April 1, BLEG will be hosting afree birdwatching walk at Tambo Bluff and Tambo Bay. This free event is part of the annual birdwatching program for BLEG and is open to the public. BirdLife members will act as guides for visitors. You only need alow level of fitness, as we only amble along with frequent stops to look and listen for birds. You will get the chance to see and hear birds and learn more about them, all while walking through beautiful natural surroundings.

Starting at 9am and ending around 12.30pm, themorning will be broken up into first and secondsessionswith morning tea around 10.15am and the option to stay for lunch around midday.

On previous visits,members have seen awide variety of bush and water birds -Pied stilt; Crested tern; Hoary-headed grebe;Shining bronze cuckoo; Brown goshawk; Whistling kite to name afew. Almost 80 different species have been recorded across these areas.

At every weekly walk, membersrecordthe bird species seen at each site and upload results to Birddata, the BirdLifeAustraliadatabase which has builtupover the years to be the basis of Australian bird distribution maps, helping to gain insightinto our local birdsand protect them into the future.

If you would like to participate in this event,

meet members at the Corner of Metung Road and Hardys Road, Metung by 9am. Bring ahat, sensible walking shoes, water, sunscreen, insectrepellent and camera/binoculars if you have them. Also bring your own supplies -snack, tea, coffee, hot water, chair etc. -for amid-morning tea break and lunch.

Digging deep into all things soil

KatrinaBrandon

ON Abroader Gippsland tour, arenowned independent plant andsoil educator, JoelWilliams, visited Gippsland areas from March 12 to March 18, completing workshops on better understanding our soils.

From theory to practical paddock walks, farmers and other locals in areas such as Bunyip, Flynn, Yarram, Orbost, Bairnsdale, and Omeo left with fewer questions about improvingtheirfarming practices. Prior to each event, each attendee filled out aform documenting their areas of practice so that the sessions were tailored to the group.

Gippsland Ag Group (GAgG) organiser Hannah Campbell said, “The talks were tailored to the area and touchedonthe connection between trace elements and animal health, whichisimportant for areas likethis (Flynn), being thatweare quite livestock-focused.Granted,there are some cropping guys around and mixed farmers, but many of the farmers who attended are beef farmers, and there were afew sheep farmers, afew mixed farmers, andafew croppers.”

There were 35 attendeesatthe Flynn Hall workshop on Wednesday, March 13, who questioned Mr Williams during the event, comparing their knowledge and where their knowledge ended.

Mr Williams said the farmers at the event had “mostly been beef and sheep raises”.

“So it’s been mostly around pastures, how to get better pasture health,how to usesomemultispecies pastures and get multiple benefits that can come from that. So, it certainly has had apasture focus, including how to leverage the fertility in their soils

and how better to use inputs and fertilisers and optimises them,” he said.

“We have talked abit about foliar-applied nutrients for the last few days. There are some exciting opportunitiestouse very targeted, low-dose, highly efficient inputs directlythrough the foliage, which canhelp optimise production. So yeah, there have

been alot of pasture multispecies and optimised fertility questions. But we’ve also had afew other cropping farmers and even afew horticultural farmers and that kind of thing, too.”

According to Mr Williams, soils worldwide are highly variable, regardless of the type, location, or climate. He said that was part of the challenge with soil, as it behaves differently evenwithin one paddock.

Mr Williams mentioned weather conditions on theday,talking about the rotation cycle that can help provide yearly stock and how the soil reacts to weather conditions. He also mentioned that Australian soil is very old, weathered and drained of nutrients.

“Australia is renowned for having very, very old soils. We haven’t had any kindofgeologicalactivity for many,many millennia, so our soils are very old,veryweathered, very drained of nutrients, andvery leaching of nutrients. We have avery hot climate, so some of our soil’s organicmatter and carbon also cycle alot faster, so it’s abit more depleted,” he said.

“However, aslightlycooler, temperate climate meansthey can accrue,build up carbon,and hold on to that abit better in those slightly cooler temperatures.”

According to Mr Williams, maintaining soil has many challenges as there is so muchthat they endure.Healsosaidthathehad heard farmers complainingabout the soilsbeing too saturated, and then there was aturn, and suddenly, it was too dry, which is why water infiltration is essential.

Mr Williams said, “It’s really important that we get water down into the soil, and this is why some soil health practices and principles are important to optimise some of the soil’s physical properties that ensure better water. What we’ve seen over there is that farmers think that their soils are saturated.”

“Over the course of the year, soils have to endure vastly different temperature extremes. Moisture difference can be saturated and wet at one point afew months later, or it can be completely bone dry. That huge contrast of environments presents challengesinmanagement,particularly for some organismsand things to survive and thrive there. As soils dryout, they become more hostile environments, making it harder for living things to grow. Alot of the organisms in the soil microorganisms that will be going to sleep will go dormant when the soil dries out some of those earthworms, and things will be burrowing much deeper than I’m trying to get moisture depth, so alot of the biological activity slows right down. When that happens, it also slows down alot of the nutrient cycling because those organisms help to cycle nutrients and make nutrients available for plant uptake.

“We’re very lucky in the context of microorganisms that they are also ratherresilient organisms

So they go dormant, and when soils are rewet or conditions, temperatures come good again, or whatever those changes are, they can break their dormancy and come back to life and come back to functioning.”

Ms Campbell told the GippslandTimes thatthis was her first event with GAgG. She was pretty pleased with the turnout and couldn’t have done it without Gippsland Landcare, Southern Farming Systems, and Wellington Shire, who funded the events.MsCampbell said that Joel’s workshops have been incredibleoverthe weekand that he has found his investigation into soil health incredible.

“He has really investigated how to improve soil healthrather than slapping abandaidonthings to fix them. He is really invested in teaching people that there are different ways of looking at things and improving soils, as well as how to interpret your soils and care for them,” she said.

Overall, both were pleased with the workshop’s outcome and are looking forward to future ones.

For more information on GAgG, go to gippslandag. com.au

Joel Williams,soil management and plant nutrition expert hada chatwith local farmersabout their soil andbetter management practices. Photos: KatrinaBrandon

IN February, 37 Gippsland wool growers travelled to Melbournefor the annual Helimed Auxiliary charity wool sale.

DepartingfromBairnsdale,the group of growers travelled together to the Melbourne National Selling Centre.

As the charity sale began at the selling centre, and buyers were eager to place their bids on the sought after charity bales, donated by Gippsland wool growers.

The first two bales sold for $6000 to Endeavour Wool Exports, and the second asinglebalelot to Modiano Australia for $3973.

Organiser of the event and Gippslandwool agent Madi Gallagher said she was delighted with this result.

“These are such generous donations for Helimed,” Ms Gallagher said.

“The total raised from the bales actually sits about $5000 over market value,sothisisjustoutstanding support for such an amazing cause.

“Itissuch apleasure to organise this event on behalf of theGippsland community, who rely so heavily on the services that Helimed provides.”

This is the ninth year that Gippsland wool growers haverallied together to support Helimed in this way, and this year’s three bales have pushed the total donated over that time to $114,627.

After the sale, the bus kindly donated by Dyson’s Bus LinesBairnsdale then travelled to visit the Helimed base at Traralgon, allowing the group to gain agreater understanding of the services the organisation provides to Gippsland locals.

“It was fascinating to be able to hear about Helimed’s recent advancementsintechnology,

which the donations from these charity sales have gone towards,”MsGallagher said.

“I can’t wait to organise the event again next year,hopefullywecan continue to support Helimed and their provision of lifesaving support to rural communities.”

Helimed first established in the Gippsland region of Victoria in the 1970s to provide Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) transport and care. Helimed is incredibly important to not only the Gippslandarea but the wider regionalcommunity Elders thanked all of the wool growers of the charity bales, Dyson’s bus lines, all of our attendees, the charitybalebuyers from Endeavour and Modiano and all who have helped support this great cause.

Interstate farmersunite in the face of transmission lines

PhilipHopkins

VICTORIAN and Tasmanian farmerpeakbodies have producedapolicy for developers who wantto build infrastructure, such as transmission lines for renewable energy, across their farmland.

They were warnedthat since the year 2000, Australia’s available arable land had been reduced by 15 per cent, muchofitlost to infrastructure development and urban sprawl.

The policy has been released as Gippsland farmers face plans for pipelines and transmission lines across their land as part of the state government’s energypolicy, which aims to link offshorewind farms to the Latrobe Valley energy network.

The ‘FarmAccess Code of Conduct’, drawn up by the VictorianFarmers Federation and TasFarmers, aims to promote respectful and sensible infrastructure on agricultural land.

The VFF president, Emma Germano,and TasFarmers president, Ian Sauer, said as population grows, there was an increased need for more roads, pipelines, electricity networks and mining exploration to deliver services and drive economic growth.

“In addition,ambitiousemissions reduction targets are resulting in the rapid and unplanned expansion of renewable energy infrastructure, including transmission lines,across the country,” the twoleaders said in ajoint statement.

“Much of this expansion is criss-crossing

agricultural land,which has adirectimpact on farmers economically, socially and environmentally.Inmany cases,thisland is highly productive, supporting and sustaining regional communities as well as being critical to our nation’s food security. The land is rare and cannot be replaced.”

Thecode states that in planning infrastructure, greater consideration must be given to its impact on food and fibre production, and the impact on communities and landholders.

“Landholders deserve trust and understanding when interacting with development proponents,” the code says. “A strong relationship with the proponent ensures alandholder’s rights are maintainedand allows them to make informed decisions.”

The code covers many clauses. These include:

 The landholder will have enough time to get legal advice;

 The proponentwill conduct acomprehensive risk assessment before work startsand inform the landholder in writing how they will manage the risks in aland access andcompensation plan;

 The proponent will discuss general logistics and agreeonawrittenproject timeline and compensation agreement before work starts;

 All stakeholders to be given independent briefings of relevant regulations and legislation at the proponent’s expense;

 Where impacts can’t be avoided,the proponent must compensate the landholder

through anegotiated land access and compensation agreement;

 At aminimum, the proponent must have a basic understanding of farms as workplaces;

 The proponent should accept the landholder’s knowledge of the property and incorporate this into the project design;

 The proponentwill inform the wider community about the project;

 The landholder can refuse access based on weather conditions, lambing, calving, spraying, cultivating and cropping, among other factors;

 Rehabilitation: the proponentwill deactivate the siteand ensure the land will be returned to how it was or theprior agreed condition;

 Any dispute between the landholder and the proponent arising from the code will be resolved by an independent mediator;

 Acknowledgementofthe intergenerational succession value of the land,and;

 Ifrehabilitation can be done, the proponent will shelve their proposal due to therisk of losing primeagricultural land

The two farming groups said high-level cooperation must include face-to-face engagement and on-ground communication.

“If the proponent is unable to locate the landholder, they must not enter the property or begin work in any form,” they said.

“The proponent will nominate aproject liaison officer for the landholdertocontactfor the duration of the project.”

(Right) Melbourne National Selling Centre wool shed.

From left:John Goddard, StratfordLions Club President,Lindsay Ross handing the cheque to Gippsland District Wool Manager,MadiGallagherand Lin Starke. Photos: Contributed

HelimedBus Group in front of HEMS 2, Gippsland’s Air Ambulance.

SALE COMBINED AGENTS STORE CATTLE SALE

11am Thursday 4th

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St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School is seeking applications for the following positions:

Full-time, ongoing

Part-time, ongoing

See full position descriptions and apply at

● Salary $85,000 plus superannuation.

● Permanent fulltime position.

● Sale, Victoria.

● Employee discounts.

Join ateam of 35 employees with

Motoring Deal

Atotal of 12 issues over amonth!

1668939

9

Deaths • Caravans

ROYAL Flair Enhance, as new condition, genuine reason for sale, lots of extras, ideal for around Aust., $38,000 o.n.o. Ph Peter 0428 827 877.

TOYOTA Coaster Motorhome, 12ht turbo diesel, auto, 198,500kms, toilet, 2 s/beds, original, v.g. body, excellentmechanically $40,000. 0400 274 866.

1992, GQ Patrol, 4.2 EFI, dual fuel, v.g.c., new motor and tyres, many extras, dual batteries, rear airbags, and roof rack. $14,000 neg. Ph after 7pm 0428 133 576.

COOK, Yvonne 'Mary' (née Freshwater). Passed away peacefully surrounded by her family at Latrobe Regional Hospital, Thursday March 21st, aged 75 years. Dearly loved wife of Peter for 52 years. Loved and loving mother and mother-in-law of Sharell and Pradeep. Her legacy lives on through her nurturing of nature and her family.

4WD • McLAUGHLIN. The captain and the members of the Stratford fire brigade morn the passing of Mardi Mclaughlin. Mardi was alife member of the ladies auxiliary and agreat supporter of the brigade. Our thoughts are with Rodney and his family.

NISSAN NAVARA

2013, dual cab, manual, 12 month rego, ZVK-909, $17,200. Ph 0400 687 967.

TRAILER, strong 7'x4'6'',

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ROBINSON, Mandy Passed away on March 15, 2024 aged 57. Late of Little Bay, NSW and formerly of Sale. Fabulous memories of our long and happy friendship. Mandy lived life to the full and accomplished so mu ch .B ra ve an d Independent always. So very dearly missed by Meredith and Dean Lynch

Dearly loved friend of the Olsen family for over 45 years. Many happy times together and fond memories.

THORPE.

Glenys Maree.

Late of Sale passed away unexpectedly on the March 20, 2024.

Aged 62, overwhelmed by mental illness.

Beloved wife of David.

Loving mother of Shaun and Bec, Mark, Maree and Anthony.

AdoredGrandmaof

Thomas, James and William.

Lovingly remembered.

When you lose someone close to you, it can be hard to put your thoughts and feelings into words. A personal message in the can say so much. For friendly advice on how to place a message,

Football is finally back

Liam Durkin

LOCALfootball will see its first matchofthe 2024 season for premiership points this weekend.

Bairnsdale and Traralgon are playing astandalone game in the Gippsland League.

Much like the AFL ‘Opening Round’, the Redlegs and Maroons will play each other, beforeRound1 sees all teams on the park.

Bairnsdale andTraralgon will get their bye in Round3 to compensatefor playingatBairnsdale City Oval this Saturday.

The Redlegshave been touted as acompetition improver before aballhas been kicked this season, and have added anumber of players.

Joining the squad is Hugh Longbottom, Cooper Harvey and Tom Blenheim from Melbourne-based VAFA club, Old Scotch.

Bairnsdale has also enticed Josh Lando, Mitch Toms and Nick Ward out of the East Gippsland Football-Netball League to make the step up.

Conversely, afew Redlegs have defected to East Gippsland clubs Lucknow and Paynesville, notably formerSalepremiership player John Gooch. While some Sale officials will be glad to know Gooch is backinaMagpies jumper, unfortunately it will be the black and white of Lucknow.

AndrewNelson and NickGeorge are also playing for Lucknow, while midfielder Brett Waddell has joined Lindnow, and Oscar Pike, Paynesville.

Bairnsdalefinished seventh last season with five wins, well outside finals contention.

The Redlegswill hopetomaketheir first Gippsland League finals series in adecade under second-year coach Logan Austin.

Traralgon meanwhile has anew coach in Troy Hamilton.

Hamilton knows what it takes to win premierships,havingsecured anumberwith Mirboo North, although coaching in amajor league will probably present his biggest challenge -not to mention the challenge that will come with coaching his two sons, Tom and Josh.

Challenges won’t just be confined to on the field

The Gippsland League begins this Saturday, with Bairnsdale and Traralgon playing astandalone game.Former Sale player John Gooch (pictured) hasmoved from Bairnsdale to Lucknow.

for Traralgon, whose changerooms are set to be demolished in amatter of weeks.

While the demolition will lead to abrand new, and hopefully for once,floodproof, facility in coming years, the short-term impacts can’t be understated.

The changeroom saga hasbeen ongoing since the catastrophic floodsofJune2021, yet in an inadvertent way, it has arguably galvanised not just the senior football team, but the entire club.

Just how anew coach, or any coach for that matter, would go trying to recruit players to play for aclub without changerooms means Traralgon’s final finishing position could be areflection of this.

The senior football team has acquired the services of Liam Willaton, off the back of astellar season for TraralgonTyers United in the North Gippsland Football-Netball League.

Willaton had aproductive 2023, winning aflag and the NGFNL best-and-fairest, and Traralgon

officials will have high hopes for the jockey-sized midfielder.

Outgoingcoach Jake Best described the Traralgonlist as “excitingand young”, which could give Hamilton something of afree swing in his first year.

TheMaroons have lost afair bit of experience in Best, league-leading goalkicker Brett Eddy and Mark Collison, who himself was tied up in asomewhat bizarre situation that saw him leave the post of Warragul Industrials coach before Christmas.

That job went to Michael Duncan, who coached Woodside to the North Gippsland Grand Final last season.

Collison has since been linked the Wildcats, only adding another strange subplot to the story.

Sale and Maffra begin their seasons on April 6, with the Eagles hosting the Magpies in the first Battle of the Birds clash for 2024.

Redlegs versus Maroons history

Paul Carter

BAIRNSDALE stunned the Gippsland League communitywhenthey last met Traralgon,the Redlegs winningatTerry Hunter Oval for the first time since 1983, thereby ending the longest ground hoodoo in this league’s history Thisweekend’sseasonopener, brought forward from Round 3, will draw huge interest as both teams will fieldline-ups quite different to those from last season.

Bairnsdale vs Traralgon (1960-98, 2011-2023)

All Matches GL: Played108,Bairnsdale 17, Traralgon 90, Drawn 1.

At Bairnsdale: Played 52, Bairnsdale 12,Traralgon 39, Drawn 1.

Last 10 matches: Bairnsdale 2, Traralgon 8.

Last win at Bairnsdale: Bairnsdale 2019,Traralgon 2023.

Last five years at Bairnsdale: Bairnsdale 1, Traralgon 4.

Last three matches: 2022 (T) Traralgon 20.14(134)

dBairnsdale 4.10(34),2023(B) Traralgon 11.16(82) dBairnsdale 6.7 (43), 2023 (T) Bairnsdale 11.5 (71) dTraralgon 9.11(65).

Present winning sequence: Bairnsdale 1.

Match Aggregate High: 237 pts(1997) Traralgon 22.8 (140) dBairnsdale 15.7 (97).

MatchAggregate Low: 67 pts (1968 2nd Semi Final) Traralgon 6.7 (43) dBairnsdale 3.6 (24).

Highest scores: Bairnsdale20.19.139 (1981), Traralgon 34.17.221(1998).

Lowest scores: Bairnsdale 0.2 (2) (1998), Traralgon 5.5 (35) (1968).

Greatest winning margin: Bairnsdale 63 (1963 &1968), Traralgon 219(1998).

Most goals (match): Bairnsdale- SMcLaren 8 (1988), J.Gibbs (2011), Traralgon -K.Templeton 10 (1973), PMcCulloch (1993) 10

Competitive displays all-round as touch competition ramps up

Laurie Smyth

ROUND 6results of the Sale Touch Football competition lookedconvincing on paper, but you had to be there to see they were played in acompetitive manner.

ShredZepplinlooked resplendent in their new playing tops, and this was reflected in the game itself

At half time they led with eighttries to the Mustangs’ three. In the second half they added three more, while keeping their opposition scoreless. The first try of the night was made in the opening minutes of the game by Shred’s Jackson Stuczyk.

ShredZeppelin scorers were Christian Johnson, Chaz Puckoand Jordan Zielke each with three, Cooper McCall and Stuczyk each made two, while Michael Sullivan scored one.

The Mustangs’ youngest player, Elija Siebel made his first try in the competition. Players from both

teams applauded his mighty effort while dad, Corey, looked on. Antonio Keedle-Grandeza and Alex Rennex were the other players to score.

The final score was 14 to three.

Best players were Brad Bourke, Henry Ropeti, Johnson,Erin McKelvie and AliceClayton.The encouragement award went to Siebel.

LONG Drop continue to show remarkable teamworkasthey usethe ball withwide passes and incredible speed to intercept passes resulting in tries.

Brodie Towers passed the ball to Chris Luttrell resulting in atry. Later in the game, Luttrell had passed the ball to Peter Hall resulting in another try.

Another lightning pass was made to Rhiannon Massey, resulting in one of her three tries for the night.

Not to be outplayed, 13-year-old KobeParsons of Phoenix made the runofthe nightwhen he out-ran Long Drop’s speedster, Brodie Towers.

Phoenix have struggled with lack of player numbers on any one night, but had six players on theinterchange bench. They have five members from theone family in their squad, Harper, Kobe, Sammy, Jaydeand JessieParsons, all of whom are very talented players.

Massey top-scored for Long Drop with three tries.

Ellie Clarke, Luttrell and Towers each made two. Hall and Zac Pattison each made one.

Brodie Towershas had an exceptional start to the season, as he has scored two tries in each game that he has played.

CarlMuir,KobeParson and Brad White each made one try for Phoenix.

At half time, Long Drop led with six tries while keeping Phoenix scoreless; in the second half it was five tries to three.

Best playerswere Kobe Parsons, Luttrell, Towers, Massey and Clarke. Porky’s had the bye.

Netball rules refreshed aheadof2024 season

gain possession, and you certainly can’t use the goalpost as asupport.

Buzzer-beating goal ruleshave also been slightly modified, as the goal will stand if the ball has left the shooter’s hands and the shot is successful.

Throw-ins have also been updated, with players no longer needingtowait for aplayer to come back onto the court.

You still can’t touch the line when takingathrowin, but you do havetobewithin 15 centimetres of it.

Withsomuch grey area, World Netballhas given the rule alittle refresh before the upcoming 2024 season.

To gain possession aplayer may:

 Catch the ball with one or both hands;

 Catch the ball if it rebounds from the goalpost;

 Bat or bounce the ball once, then catch it, or;

 Touch the ball in an uncontrolled manner once or more than once, then catch it.

Without possession, aplayer may:

 Bat or bounce the ball to another player;

 Bat the ball once, and then either bat or bounce the ball to another player;

 Bounce the ball once, and then either bat or bounce the ball to another player, or;

 Touch the ball in an uncontrolled manner once or more than once, and then either bat or bounce the ball to another player. Players still aren’t allowed to kick, punch or roll the ball. Unfortunately,netballers stillcannot pass the ball or shoot for agoal while lying or kneeling on the ground.You still can’t fall on the ballto

The rule haschangedtospeed up agame and not lose momentum when it comes to balls going out-of-bounds. The good old toss-upwhenplayersinfringe on another player at theexact sametimehas been thrown out; instead, the team with last possession will keep it.

The wording around the advantage rule has been adapted and includes greater principles for application to allow umpires to apply and execute successfully.

This willhelp ensure ateamwill not be disadvantaged when an opponent infringes, and allow the match to continue smoothly, without interruptions.

The short pass has been updated to make sure a pass between players occurs with sufficient space for an opposing player to be able to intercept the ball.

Foulplayhas now been divided intothree categories: unfairplay,unsportingbehaviour, and dangerous play, with escalating penalties for each category.

Cautions have now been removed, and umpires

are now given the ability to advance or escalate asanction. After four minutes, players who are ordered off can now be replaced by another player. Umpires are meant to follow the game management plan but can serve harsher penalties if they deem the incident serious enough.

Steps 1and 2are for non-dangerous game infringements.

 Step 1: Consists of umpires giving proactive advice -giving players feedback to change their behaviour.

 Step 2: To advance or escalate the sanctionasanction may be advanced up to half athird or about five metres.

 Step 3: This is to warn aplayer, lettingthem know that if they continue to infringe the foul play rules, they will be suspended.

 Step 4: Suspension -the player will be sent from court for two minutes of playing time. After the suspension period concludes, the player may return to the court or be replaced with abench player.

 Step 5: Ordering off -thisiswhere aplayer must leave the court and take no further part in the match. The key change with this rule is that the team can replace this position after four minutes of play.

These rule changes come after the World Netball Rules Advisory Panel (RAP) completed an extensive 12-monthRules Review process, whichended at Congress 2023 in Cape Town with the members approvingthe ruleschanges.

“The ruleschangesfocusspecificallyonplayer

safetyand game managementalong with clarification and streamlining of existing rulessuch as contact and advantage. The Rules layout has also been updated to simplifyand encourage use by all of the Netball Family, not just umpires,” World Netball said.

“The changeswillensure that thespectacle of netball is maintained while player welfare is protected by putting agreater onus on self-regulation.”

With tacticaland rolling substitutions being rolled outacross local country leagues, many coaches have commented on the benefits of the new change.

Yinnar Football-Netball Club’s premiershipplaying coach,SkyeMcDonald, said the rolling substitutionswill be an interesting addition to the game.

“We will make use of rolling subs coming into Mid GippslandLeagueamongst our defensive midcourt and defensive circle,” she said.

North Gippsland FNLclub Woodside thinks the rolling subswill allow the game to become more about strategy.

“Netball is changing and we’re excited to change with it. Withthe introduction of rolling subs comes alot more strategy,” Wildcats coach, Libby Nicol said.

“It will be about understanding each other’s strengths,creatingour ownmomentum and knowing how each change can influence agame.

“We’re excited for it and think it will make netball abetter game for everyone.”

Photo: File

ShredZepplin donning their new playing tops for Sale Touch. Picturedfromleft (back) Christian Johnson, Jackson Stuczyk,Cooper McCall, Michael Sullivan, BradleyBourke,Chaz Pucko, (front) Jordan Zielke, Alice Clayton, Alannah Daly andBridgetteMcMillan.

Photo: Contributed

Game, set,match on WGTA season

ErikaAllen

PULLING up their socks to keepthatpesky en tout cas sand out of their shoes, the best tennis players of the season vied for championship glory in the Wellington Gippsland Tennis Association at the weekend.

At the risk of sounding like abroken record, this journalist (and avid tennis fan) will refrain from declaringthe quality of junior tennis in Gippsland is on an upwardtrajectory, rivalling years past, preferring to let the tennis speak for itself.

But the quality of competitive tennis played at Saturday’s WGTA Grand Finals at Sale Tennis Club only supports this assertion and underlines the significance it should remain this way.

On the day,junior tennis exhibited alevel of professionalism akintoseasoned players withyears of match experience.

In JuniorSection1,the Bairnsdale Tennis Club, which had four teams competinginfinals across the seven sections, was represented by Bella Prince, Ethan Sutherland, Angus Tanner and Campbell Scott.

They faced Maffra, who earned their finals spot when they upset Sale Intersport by four games in the semi-final.

Rhys Bennett, Colby Dennis, CooperClutterbuck, and Jack Dennis made astrikingimpression, donning matching shirts and beginning the mind games early on with their unified appearance. The matchup was one of the antitheses.

While Maffra had firepowerand strength behind their shots, Bairnsdale was polished and possessed pure technical prowess.

This was particularly evident in the singles matchupbetween BellaPrince and Cooper Clutterbuck.

Having previously met in Round 12, the pair are familiar with each other’s game style: Prince’s power-absorbing ground strokes versus Clutterbuck’s penetrating ballsthrough the court, coupled with quick bursts of power thatallowhim to get aracquet on short balls

On Saturday, Prince’s consistency prevailed as she secured abreak of serve to take the match 6-4.

Prince executed every shot effortlessly, showcasing asilky-smooth forehand that exemplifies her economical, yet technically superior, style of play. Possibly finding comfort on the en tout cas, the surface they play on at home, the Bairnsdale players swiftly gained the upper hand by securing

victories in all the singles matchups and giving Maffra cause to worry.

But Maffra bounced back in the doubles, winning three out of four matches.

However, their late resurgence was not enough, and Bairnsdale emerged as the champions, winning five sets to three.

THE Senior Section 1Grand Final delivered on all expectations and then some: agripping Maffra-Sale showdown packed with competitive rallies, big serving, classic doubles tactics including serve-volleying, and adoseofracquet abusetokeep spectators interested.

You could call it the GrandFinal matchup a season in the making.

Sale KFC, with three WGTA 2022/23 Section 1 champions on their list, plus the additionoftennis tacticianAnthony Glynn,had been the teamto beat on paper since Round 1.

Of Maffra's three Section 1teams,Gippsland Real Estate also impresses on paper.Names already etchedinto the Maffra Lawn Tennis Club's history include the Allman siblings Mitch and Nat and Alicia Dignan.

JoshKennedy, who haspreviously played for Stratford, is well indoctrinatedintennis legacy,too. In aword, ‘inevitable’ encapsulated this final.

Beginning the day on the right foot, Sale's Jess Board and Reggie Virgo triumphed in the women's doubles against Nat Allman and Dignan.

Despitethe 6-1, 6-3 scoreline, the match was not the 'clinic'spectators have come to expect from Board and Virgo throughout the season.

This did not mean the assertive brand of tennis Board and Virgoplay was lacking;instead, the pair had Maffra defending from the first point.

But Allmanand Dignan are known for their defence. Allman knows when to insert astrategic

lob into play, slowingthe point down and enabling her to reset.Meanwhile, Dignan's defensivelegend was on display duringthe final, as sheadeptly countered abarrage of powerful Board forehands, ultimately forcing an error from the Sale player.

The match ended in triumph for Sale,setting them up with aone set to nil lead.

In the men's doubles,friendly banterthroughout the warmup and most of the first set quickly gave way to afeeling of urgency as Allman and Kennedy shot to a6-3 first set and 5-0 second set lead.

Not havingwon agame on serve, the pressure was on Glynn,who was serving to keep Salein the match.

Fending off three overhead smashes in arow, Glynn was steadfastinnailing down the third, culminating in atense first point in Sale's favour. It was aback-and-forth game, indicative of the even matchup between the sides.

Tiedatdeuce, afinessed overhead smash off Allman'sracquet had Glynn scrambling to hit a defensive lob around his body.Althoughthe lob hit its mark, Allman decisively put avolley away to bring up Maffra's first match point.

In an ideal world, Maffra would have preferred not to serve for the match. But this wasn't to be, as they lost their first match point and subsequently lost the game to alucky mishit off Glynn's frame, taking the second set score to 5-1.

Although the scorelinewas overwhelmingly in Maffra's favour, Allman and Kennedy served for the match but lost their games.

Sale capitalised, winning five games in arow before Kennedy redeemed Maffra's losing streak on serve to keep their noses in front. Board stepped up to serve at 6-5.

Facing three break points (three match points for Maffra), Board held his nerve. Despite saving one, an assertive net play by Allman targeting Glynn's body clinched the victory for Maffra. The final score stood at 6-3, 7-5.

BY thetimemixed doubles were played, alarge crowd had gathered in the Robin Lowe Arena. They were championing the ‘tennisclap’ -anot too loud or fast applause, punctuated with the occasional 'c’mon' and 'let’s go' as they appreciated thebest points.

Both matches were decided in third set super tiebreakers.

The Allman siblings faced Jess Boad and Glynn in some of the most dynamic tennis played in the season.

Mitch was at his athletic best, driving short high

Senior Section1champions, SaleKFC,(from left) Anthony Glynn, JessBaord,Cal Boardand Reggie Virgo.

Photo:Robin Lowe

Senior Section3champions, Briagolong,(from left) AlisonAlexander,Harry Conway,Tracie Binger, BradBurton, Chloe Orchardand GerardCondon. Absent: MaddieDavis. Senior Photos: ErikaAllen

SeniorSection 2champions, Stratford, consisting of Christine Shingles, Anna Norris, Irene Devisser,Emma Nowak, Jacob Kennedy,David Auld and Mark Kennedy.

Board played atacticalmatch by looking for opportunities to hit blistering passing shots down the line.

At the onset of the super tiebreaker, Sale capitalised on an early break as they shot out to a6-0 lead.

Some of Mitch's ill-timed net approaches lacked the SABR-esque finesse (Sneak Attack by Roger) he was looking for. Failing to anticipate fast returns earlyenough thateventually landedathis feet, Allman was left scrambling to half-volley the ball, but was unsuccessful.

Glynn and Board were victorious, wining 6-2, 3-6, 10-1.

Meanwhile, the Kennedy-Dignan and Cal BoardVirgo matchup was an endurance battle with long full-court rallies.

Following a15-shotKennedy to Virgo rally, a floating shot off Kennedy’s racquet set up an easy overhead put away for Board.

Ashank off the frame sent the overhead into the net.

Having had afrustrating day on the net, Board launched his racquet at the back fence, earning some ‘oohs’ from spectators.

By this time, the other mixed doubles had been settled.

After regrouping, Board and Virgo gritted their teeth in the super tiebreaker.

Despite Kennedy’s desperate defence at the net that had the crowd on the edge of their seats, an enthusiastichigh-five between Board and Virgo signalled the match had ended in aSale victory, 6-4, 4-6, 10-5. With that, Sale claimed the championships, having won three matches out of four played.

SALE and Stratford had ateam in two finals, even playing off for the Section 2Championship.

On the last stretch of the road to championship bliss,Stratford’s Mark Kennedyand Christine Shinglesfaced Sale’sLisaHarrisonand Josh Barbetti in the mixed doubles.

The match was aspectator’s dream.

Kennedy was as dynamic as ever, elegant in rallies from the baseline, running to all angles of

the court, trying to get aracquet on every ball as Barbetti decisively directed play from Sale’s side of the court.

In other matches, Stratford’sJacob Kennedywas amasterofprecision, using his slice backhand drop shot to effect, ending points decisively.

For Sale,JoMactier and Lachie Reynoldsengaged in abattle with Stratford’s Anna Norris and David Auld. In atheme of the day, it became the fifth match ending with an 8-4 scoreline and one of three that Sale managed to take away from Stratford. Stratford backed up their 2022/23 WGTA Championships victory with another pennant as they cruisedtochampionship glory, having won six out of the nine sets played.

In Section 3, Briagolong, ateam that was lucky to field ateam in the 2023/34 season, triumphed against Stratford.

CooperClutterbuck took to the court for Stratford following amorning playing in the junior Section 1final. With doublespartner Ray Weber, they clinched victory over Briagolong’s Harry Conway and Gerard Condon 8-3.

Butinthe last mixed doubles of the day, Condon and Tracie Bingerdefeated Clutterbuck and Kirsten Redfern, helping Briagolong to afive sets to four championship victory.

Overall,the WGTAChampionships wereace, reflecting apositive season for the future of tennis. Testament to this, Gippsland's young players,like 14-year-oldLouis Lazzaro,who stepped into Section 1seniors this season, learned valuable lessons fromSaleDahlsens'doublespartner,Tim Dunnett. Jess Board is another onetowatch. Her polished and powerful brand of tennis has elevated her to a deserving high ranking among her team.

She's aplayer who can even out-rally the most experienced players like Mitch Allman, whom spectators admitted they would not want to face, as Board did in the mixed doubles final at the weekend on Saturday.

As the countdown to the ever-popular Maffra Easter Tennis Tournament hits three days,players won't be tucking their racquets away just yet. The club has spent the last month preparing the courts to be in top condition.The tournament will take

JuniorSection 1champions, Bairnsdale, (from left) Ethan Sutherland, Bella Prince, Campbell Scott, and Angus Turner Junior Photos: Lisa Baker

JuniorSection4 champions, SalePhillipsons, (from left)IsaacLazzaro, Lawrence Zhang, Lucas Zhang, Teddy Bertino, and Zachary Ingram.

Junior Section 5champions, Sale Gippsland Custom Pools, (from left) Jasmine Lazzaro, Xavier Useni-Vowell and Maya-Lise Useni-Vowell.

Junior Section 2champions,Sale Dawson Street Food, (fromleftback) Ed Ronchi, Jack Leuning, EbonyRunning. (Front) Henry Grattan and AlexOlijnyk.

Junior Section 6champions, Heyfield, (fromleft) Kryton Taiapa-Tama, Kobi Stevens, Arthur McKinnon, Jordan Powney and Keoté Taiapa-Tama.

Junior Section 3champions,Heyfield, (from left)Harry Stephenson, Hayden vanBaalen, Darcy Hanson, andLachie Powney.

Junior Section 7champions,Bairnsdale, (from left) Indi McDonald, Pippa Sergi, Eadie Listonand ZacHudson.

balls from an airborne position, getting his whole body behind his irretrievable projectiles.

Thursday,

North

Western

Sunday,March

Richmond

Best possible first impression

Liam Durkin

THE oldAlberton CricketAssociation premiership shield now has company.

Last Sunday heralded the start of anew legacy for cricket in the Yarram region, as Yarram District tookout theSale-MaffraCricket AssociationFirst Grade premiership.

The Pelicans overcame traditional league powerhouse Stratford by 49 runs in adogged Grand Final performance.

The word dogged couldhave carried anumberof meanings, not only for the manner of Yarram'svictory, but in aliteral sense as well for the proverbial 'frontdog',asa number of Stratfordbatters played back to their peril on aDay 2Stephenson Park track.

Before that however, the Redbacks surprised some by choosing to bowl first after winning the toss on Saturday.

Stratfordlinchpin Jack Tatterson got to work, takingthe firstfour wickets, including that of Anthony Scott.

Scott and Tatterson had shared the SMCA Cricketer of the Year award for their efforts during the regular season, and agood battle ensued between two players seen as vital to either sides’ chances of victory.

Theusually aggressive Scott was forced to reign himself in under the high-stakes environment of a Grand Final, facing 87 balls for his 38.

Asidenote to Scott even being out in the middle was the fact he was missing afamily members’ wedding to play (priorities).

Scottperhaps couldhave made the reception after being bowled by Tatterson in the 25th over. The medium pacer found one to nibble back and catch Scott pinged on the crease, leaving the scoreboard reading 3/50.

While losing their best batsmen at that moment could have led to the Pelicans being skittled for a score around 120, they worked their way through the overs to come.

Showing the fighting spirit synonymous with thosefromthe farming region of Yarram hardened through years on the land, the Pelicans staved off anumberofchallenges thrown at them.

Griffin Underwoodfaced 50 balls before Tatterson took arebounding caught and bowled to have him dismissed,and Dylan Rash did likewise, only to falltothe 'two Jacks'combinationofTatterson and Rietschel.

Photos:Liam Durkin

With runs not of urgent currency either side of tea, the occupation of the crease from the Yarram middle order would prove decisive in the long run

At 5/105, the opportunity was there for Stratford to run through the lower order, but once againYarram just kept seeing off balls.

Some advantages can't be measured in stats, and by facing agood quality of balls, it allowed the Pelicans to battheir full complement of 80 overs, denying the Redback's any additional batting time. They might not have known it then, but batting was only going to get harder the longer the game went on.

Yarramvice-captain,Daniel O'Keefefaced the most deliveries, absorbing 147 on his way to 44. He was dismissedbyacatch in the deepfrom Noah Bennett, but departed with the score near 150 -a mark generally considered reasonable in aGrand Final.

Yarram was able to get what it may have felt were

'bonus runs' beyond the 150 mark, thanks mainly to skipper Jeremy Babbplaying an enterprising knock of 31 not out off 47 balls.

By stumps on Day 1, the Pelicans had compiled 8/174. Perhaps most telling though, the Pelicans had not only batted their 80 overs, but every batsmen bar one had faced 20 balls or more.

The two Jack's bowled the majority of the overs for Stratford, sending down 26 each.

Tattersoncontinuedhis prolific wicket-taking ways,grabbing5/49, making for hauls of eight, five, two and five in his last four two-day games.

Tatterson looked agood candidate for Man of the Match when he raced to 42 off 41 balls on Day 2.

Yarram may have been fearing the worst, especially after he was given alife in the very first over, and then got eight fours away.

O'Keefe however was able to strike the big blow, taking Tatterson's wicket to go with two he had already taken by that stage.

Signs were ominous for Yarram, especially after Stratford's Cormac Hassett became the unfortunate victim of adelivery that rose no more than ankle height, slamming into his pads first ball.

Rietschel was also dismissedwithout scoring, leaving the Redbacks at 4/50 by the time Tatterson departed.

Sensing an opening, the Pelicans pressed hard, as O'Keefe and Scott hit back-of-a-length to ensure nothing was driveable on apitch that by now was clearly showing signs of wear.

Stratford lived dangerously, with Travis Millar playing anumberofcross bat shots and Bohdi Walker playing one he would probably want to take back.

Instincts may have taken over for Walker, who tried to play acute uppercut over slips, only to bring about afourth-ball dismissal.

Millar followed ashort time later, completing a five-fa for O'Keefe.

At the other endwas Chris Aurisch, who was slowly but surely working his way into his innings.

Having built areputation as abig game player, most present at Stephenson Park felt the game was still very much alive while Aurisch was at the crease.

The left handerlooked untroubled, and knocked around afew singles intoboth sides, as well as hitting the ball on its head down the gully.

He battedfor atime with JakeRietschel, who was probably ideally suited to the situation given his strong defence.

Rietschel survived 23 balls, but fell to Scott, who by this stage was getting considerable nip via his off-cutters.

Yarram would not rest easyuntil Aurisch was dismissed, and fortunately for them, he departed at the ideal time after off spinner Babb trapped him via LBW on the stroke of tea.

Tea was called at that time, and the Pelicans went into the break with one hand on the premiership cup as Stratford was 8/98.

While Yarram could have been forgiven for thinking the flag was theirs, there remained the possibility of aRedback's victory by virtue of the fact they have capable bats all the way down the order.

Stratford had been denied victory in similar circumstances against Sale afew weeks ago, when the final wicket pair of Hayden Glover and Lachlan Carmen added 74.

"We need our own Hayden Glover," Tatterson quipped at the break.

The task for Stratford was now up to Ben Channing and Ethan Albrecht.

With more than 40 overs left in the game, the best chance the pair had would be to bat time and try and take the game as deep as possible.

Channingand Albrechtwent on the defensive when playresumed, onlytaking runs that were absolutely on offer.

The pair got the Redbacks past 100, then 110, and to 120, leaving avery gettable 54 to get with two wickets in hand.

Albrecht however was dismissed by areturn catch off Babb, which virtually signed the papers as far as Stratford were concerned.

Thelast wicket seemedtobeamatter of time, and needing to take arisk, Channing lofted aslog sweep into the deep off Babb.

Perhaps fittingly, the man to make the premiership official for Yarram was O'Keefe, who took the catchinthe deep at mid-wicket.

O'Keefe was named Man of the Man at the postmatch presentation for his all-round brilliance. He took 5/31 and made 44 with the bat.

Babbfinishedwithfiguresof3/6, whileScott took 2/43 off 22 overs. The bustling quick bowled through noticeable pain,and graciously left the field once the Redback's werenine down, giving club favourite Peter Griffiths the chance to be out on the field when the winning wicket was taken.

Griffiths played second grade all season, only coming into the firsts for the semi-final. He repaid the show of faith, making acrucial 31

Daniel O’Keefe wasnamed player of the final. The all-rounder took 5/31 andmade44runs.

Anthony Scotttook 2/43 off 22 overs on Day2.Looking on with acareful eyeisRoss McMillan, who wasjoined by Peter BoulterasGrandFinal umpires.

runs in agamedecided by just 26 runs.

The Pelicans’ Semi-Final win overBundalaguah was in keeping with awell-timed run that saw Yarram eventually lift the premiership cup. Such asight would have surely been long-odds a little over amonth ago, afterthe Pelicans slumped to their third straight defeat after losing to Sale.

Ironically however, thatloss to theSwanssaw number 10 and 11 batsmen Jack Collins and Owen Gourley face more than 100 balls each.

As now premiership winningskipper Babb explained, that determination inadvertently helped the side for the rest of the season.

“Just after Christmas we hit abit of arough patch, against Sale we lost but our number10and 11 sawout 200-plus deliveries," he said.

“From that moment on we had afew heart-tohearts, dropped our egos and started back again at training and here we are today.

“When things started to click, we had the belief within the group we could go the distance."

After going into the Christmas break undefeated, the Pelicans almost undid that work immediately after, until aspellbinding win over Collegians in the penultimate roundkept theirfinalsaspirations alive.

In that game, Scott made 194 out of ateam score of 272. Had he not put together one of the greatest solo efforts of all time, there is agood chance Yarram wouldn't have even made finals.

While the Scott factor is undeniable (more than 600runsand 15 wicketsthisseason), Babb said the Pelicans had been looking to utilise each other's strengths to make the collective better.

"What we were building towards the last few weeks, to makesure that,ifwedolose early wickets, even if you come in at seven, eight, nine, you are still in the game," he said.

“That was the most pleasing thing, even in the Semi-Final as well, seven, eight and 10 got 30s each.

“We’ve been trying to makeitour mindsettobat the full 80 overs, and yesterday (Saturday) was probably thefirstday thatwe’veactually done that. Pleasing to do it in aGrand Final.

“Probably the last coupleofgames after Christmas

the wholeunithas gelled really well, just solid contributions, we know we’re not going to go out and blast sides like Scotty does, so it’s more batting around him and batting within our means."

On the Grand Final contest itself, Babb said he was confident defending anything above 150.

“When Jack won the toss Ithought that suited us, we were going to have abat anyway, we know if we post ascore above 150, nine times out of 10 we can defend that," he said.

“Anything over 150 was going to be abonus, so to get to 175 we were prettycomfortable where we were.

“(The wicket was) alittlebit slow and low out there,they gotoff to aflyer and Ithought we really pegged them back well, took wickets in clumps and then we knew if we got on top, it was going to be hard to score later on, as the day went on we saw that was the case.

“Our motto is we can win agame of cricket from any position,wejust grind away and kept that mentality, stayed positiveand things fellour way."

On Stratford's decision to bowl first, Babb admitted the wicket was "a bit soft underfoot", but his preference for ‘runs on the board’ in finalswas overriding.

Speaking at the post-match presentation, Rietschel congratulated Yarram on their victory, adding that the SMCA was stronger for their inclusion.

Amid the congeniality of premiership celebrations, the lone figure of Longford captain Lachlan Floyd collecting the cones at StephensonPark offered apoignant juxtaposition.

That's because the Lizardsbeat bothYarram and Stratford during the regular season -and yet still claimed the wooden spoon.

Couldthere be something special brewing in the background?

This premiership willsurely become awatershed moment for the Pelicans,mainly becausethe sport of cricket looked dead and buried in Yarram only five years ago.

The Alberton Cricket Association went into recess in 2019, forcing players from clubs such as

Tarraville and Devon North to find new homes.

Rather than lose its presence completely, it was agreed to merge all former ACA clubsinto one, the result being Yarram District Cricket Club.

The Pelicans initially foundahome in the Traralgon DistrictCricket Association, which itself merged with Latrobe Valley District Cricket League to then form Cricket Latrobe Valley.

With the expanded competition taking in clubs from as far away as Mirboo North and Willow Grove, Yarram opted to affiliate with the SMCA this season.

Afterthe weekend, it appears Latrobe Valley's loss has been the SMCA's gain, as an already strong competitionhas added notonlyaquality First Grade team, but first rate club.

By all reports, Yarram District has been one of the

best administered clubs since its inception, which has surely played no small part in its meteoric rise in acomparatively short space of time.

The Pelicans have built to this moment by winning afew lower grade flags in previous seasons, as well as openingnew turf wicketsquare at Yarram Recreation Reserve.

Above all else, the locals have flocked at the opportunity to have their own cricket club.

“It’s been fantastic for the town forming this cricket club," Babb said.

"We’ve had success in BGrade,CGrade have made some Grand Finals, we’ve (A Grade) played in semi-finals, today was nice to get into the granny and be on the winning end of it."

Cricket is back in Yarram, and in abig way.

It’s stacks on forYarram players after theirGrand Final victory

Daniel O’Keefe runs in to accept congratulations after cleaning up Stratford’s Travis Millar

Anthony Scottand Dylan Rash embrace after winningthe premiership.

Yarramcaptain JeremyBabb celebrates aftertakingthe winning wicket.