Gippsland Times October 3 2023

NO STATE RESPONSE

Philip Hopkins

THE Victorian government has not replied to the RFA Major Event Review 18 months after it was submitted, despite its 37 recommendations on forest management after the devastating 2019-20 bushfires.

The joint Commonwealth-State review, held to assess the impact of the fires on the modernised Regional Forest Agreements, took more than ayear to complete and involved feedback from multiple groups. It waspreparedbyathree-person, expert panel -the Victorian Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability, Dr Gillian Sparkes AM; an independent forestry consultant Dr Tony Bartlett AFSM, and independent forestry consultant; and a Victorian Traditional Owner Katherine Mullett.

The Gippsland Times askedthe government twice over aweek why it had not responded to the review, but received no reply.

Dr Bartlett,asa scienceadviser to Forestry Australia, took the fight to the National Bushfire Preparedness Summit in Canberra last week.

The 2019-20 fires burnt 1.5 millionhectares of forests, including 1.39ha of native forest or 18 per cent of Victoria’s native forests, in Gippsland and the state’s north-east. More than 8000ha of softwood and hardwood plantations were also burnt.

“The fires had adevastating impact on Victorian communities,infrastructureand environmental services, the economy, the environment, cultural heritage and community assets,” the panel said. “Tragically,these bushfiresresulted in five deaths in Victoria.”

The review made 37 recommendations that identifiedremedialactions to address the impacts of the bushfires on RFA regions. The recommendations covered many RFA matters including old growth forests, listedspecies andcommunities, commercial native forestry, plantations, apiculture, forest and fire managementand Traditional Owner matters. Key recommendations included:

 Improve the integration of zoning systems in forest management plans, national park management plans and bushfire management strategies. This covers better active management strategies for each zone, to reduce bushfire risk and support resilience and recovery of forests and their ecological values;

 Commit to acomprehensive, long-term research and monitoring program to understand repeated severe short-interval bushfires on long-stability of forest ecosystems;

 Commit to joint funding for active forest

management in the RFA regions, particularly in achangingclimate;

 Several recommendations for Traditional Owners, such as an increase in jobs in forest land management agencies, and reintroduce cultural burning practices;

 Expand ecological burning in public forests and how best to implement fuel reduction;

 Assess the impact of repeated bushfires on threatened species and ecological vegetation classes, including assessing the validity of the current CAR reserve system for listed species and communities in the next five-yearly RFA review;

 Assess the strategies to maintain or enhance the sequestration and storage of carbon in forests, and further investigate mechanical thinning of dense regrowth forests to restore forests to amore open structure, and;

 Commission an analysis of the impact of the fires on wood flows to the plantation-based industries.

At the National Bushfire Preparedness Summit, Dr Bartlett advocated for Forestry Australia’s forest fire management position statement.

“Regardless of tenure, all land managers should actively manage forests and rangelandstominimise the risk of, and undesirable impacts from, severe bushfires on environmental, social, culturaland economic values,” he said.

“Greater awareness within communities is needed that fire has an important and ongoing roleinmaintaining biodiversity and ecological processes in Australianforests and rangelands. Land managers should facilitate increased engagement and empowerment of Traditional Custodians to implement cultural burningpractices integrated with evidence-based approaches to achieve more ecologically sensitiveand culturally appropriate approaches to forest fire management.”

Dr Bartlett said forest fire management strategies and programsshould be preparedatthe landscape levelbased on the best available informationabout fire behaviourand appropriatefire regimes for maintaining forest ecosystem health.

“They should apply the principles of ‘prevent, prepare, manage’, relying on ‘response and recovery’ only as needed. Landowners need along-term commitment to implement the strategies documented in the NationalBushfire ManagementPolicy Statement for forests and rangelands,” he said.

Continued Page 2

Sale’s ScottPendlebury won his second AFL flag on Saturday, after Collingwood held on in athrilling Grand Final against the Brisbane Lions. Pendlebury wasjoined by wifeAlex, five-year-old son Jaxand two-year-old daughter Darcy on the ground after the game, as theMagpie Armywas sent into raptures. MORE -PAGE31

Unexpected local reunion Bigger and better divi van fleet

VICTORIA Policehave begun replacing more than 250 existingdivisional vansinthe force’s fleetwith specially developed next-generation Ford Ranger vehicles.

The Operations Support Division Superintendent, Andrew Miles, said these vehicles were the workhorses of Victoria Police’s fleet.

“They’re bigger, better and, most importantly, will keep our members even safer,” he said. “Be it in the city or out in the bush, we know they’ll be put to good useinhelping police keep the community safe.”

The next generation divisional vans are ANCAP five-star safety rated, boasting features including 360-degree camera technology with cameras on the front, side mirrors, and rear to assist with manoeuvring.

The larger prisoner pod has storage for police kit bags and operational equipment,which previously hadtobeput inside the vehicle’s cabin.

All new divisionalvansare fitted with asteelbull bar and LED lightbar to enhance member safety, provide additional lighting, reduce downtime from animalcollisions and provide extra stability countering the prisoner pod’s weight. Previously, only vans in the country and urban fringe had bull bars.

The divisional van is considered the workhorse of Victoria Police’s vehicle fleet, with vehicleschanged overonce they reach 90,000 kilometres or three years in service.

road -has a2.0L Bi-Turbo 154Kwengine witha 10-speedautomatic transmission,offering better performance and fuel economy.The previous model was asix-speed automatic.

Autonomous emergency braking and blindspot monitoring and assist are among the new model’s additional features.

MAFFRA’S Bryson Clews normally works at East Sale RAAF Base, but is currently deployedtothe Middle Eastasthe ‘host nation liaison officer’ which ensures the Australian Defence Force is working closely and collaborativelywith the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The federal Member for Gippsland, Darren Chester, during avisit to the UAE base said it was an unexpected surprise to meet aGippslander.

“It’s strategically important for Australia to have defence ties around the world as it allows us to respond in times of crisis,” Mr Chester said.

“For example, we can deployhumanitarian aid and disaster relief assistance or rapidly evacuate Australian citizens from dangerous situations if we have strong defence links, as we enjoy with the UAE.”

Some vans in regional areas travel more than 15,000km amonth –the equivalent of driving from Melbourne to Perth and back twice.

Thenext generation Ford Ranger XLT– the most innovative vehicleVictoria Police has put on the

The changeover to the new, larger, safer divisional vans is expected to take two years, with aims for 15 newdivisional vans to be delivered each month Kyneton thismonth became the first area to get the new vehicle, with Stawell to follow in coming weeks.

High-priority call for plantation protection

From Page 1

“THEIR progress towardsmeeting the national goals shouldbereviewed annuallyusinga consistentnational framework of keyperformance indicators relevant to specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound objectives.”

Dr Bartlett said protection of plantations from bushfires must be ahighpriorityinbushfire managementstrategies and responses. “Increased investment in prevention and preparedness activities is essential to achieve enhanced management

of fire in the landscape and address the increased riskofmore frequent and severebushfires,” he said.

The president of Forestry Australia, Dr Michelle Freeman,saidAustralia’s inaugural National Disaster PreparednessSummit was atimely reminder that being bushfirereadywas a365-day ayearjob,

“It’s great to see the national spotlight on the critically important issueofbushfire preparedness, but this must be more than just atwo-day flash in the pan,” Dr Freeman said.

“Being bushfire ready doesn’t happen overnight,

it is a365-day ayear job that demands along-term commitment to evidence-based approaches. To protect human lifeand forest biodiversity, fire must be strategically planned and managed at a landscape scale and over long timeframes.

“Fire in forests must be supported by legislation, government policy, and ongoing research. Fire must be managed by professionally trained, experienced, and accredited forest managers in partnership with TraditionalCustodians, not just emergency service or defence agencies.”

John Cameron comment Page 21

Specially developednext-generationFord Ranger vehicles will replace morethan250 existing divisional vans in the Victoria Police force’s fleet Photos: Contributed

The next generationFordRangerXLT hasa 2.0L Bi-Turbo 154Kwenginewith a10-speed automatic transmission.

Federal member for Gippsland

Darren Chester caught up withflight lieutenant Bryson Clews in theUnited Arab Emirates.

Photo:Contributed

DanAndrews departs

Zaida Glibanovic andLiamDurkin

VICTORIA was stunned last week after the shock announcement of Daniel Andrews’ resignation as Premier of the state.

Mr Andrews dropped the bombshell on Tuesday, September 26 that he would be resigning as Victorian Premier and Member for Mulgrave effective from 5pm the following day.

In his own words, Mr Andrews said that "when it is time, it is time".

Mr Andrews led Labor to three straight election

victories since establishing office in 2014, and was the state's longest-serving Labor premier.

"It's notaneasy job being the Premierofour state -that's not acomplaint, that's just afact," he said

The 51-year-old has been adivisive figure in politics, as apolarising leader with astrong hold over Victorian Labor.

Despite the widespread criticisms of launching the toughest lockdowns in the country during the COVID pandemic and initiatingindustry closures, Mr Andrews wasconvincingly re-elected in November, 2022.

With most of Gippsland occupied by safe Nationals Party seats, Mr Andrews faced no shortage of opposition on local issues during his time in office.

His legacy in Gippsland may not be overly positive duetoa number of controversial decisions such thecessation of native timber harvesting, thebotched electricvehicle factoryinMorwell, and the cancellation of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, which were to have events in Gippsland. While the Premier did announce areturn of the State Electricity Commission as part of an election promise, some havelabelled it as nothing more than atoken gesture at best.

Locally, Mr Andrews also faced tough criticism from rank-and-file voters for hardly ever getting out on the road and visiting regional towns past Traralgon to hear their concerns.

Acomment piece by former Gippsland Times journalist Sarah Luke titled 'Our Premier missing in action',was presented to Mr Andrews by Member forGippslandSouth Danny O'Brienin 2019.

Addressing the public alongsidehis wife Cath, Mr Andrews said it was an honour and aprivilege to have served his nine years in office.

"Nine years ago, Ivisited Government House to

be sworn in as the 48th premier of Victoria -ithas been the honour and privilege of my life," he said.

"I'm alsoproud to think of all that we have achieved over these nine years in good times, and always working hardtodowhat'sright, not simply what's popular."

Despite only just being re-elected last year, the self-proclaimed"workaholic" said "thoughts of what life will be like after this job started to creep in."

"It requires 100 per cent from you and your family, that of course, is time-limited, and now is the time to step away."

Mr Andrews has been replaced by his deputy, Jacinta Allan, with Ben Carroll now deputy.

Premier’s controversial regional legacy

GIPPSLANDOppositionMPs have called on the new Premier, Jacinta Allan, to put agreater emphasis on Victoria'sneglected regions after the resignation of Daniel Andrews.

The NationalsMember for Eastern Victoria, Melina Bath, said for Ms Allan, it was time for agreater focus on governing for ‘all Victorians’ including those outside the tram tracks.

"Genuine investment in regionalVictoria is well overdue. It is time to right the neglect of the people who produce our food and fibre, respect our CFA volunteers, and refocus on achievable outcomes for affordable homes with areliable energy supply," she said.

"Victoria needs aPremier who makes sensible decisions, not based on ideology and spin. The Nationalsfor regionalVictoria know our rural and regional communities deserve nothing less."

The Nationals Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron, said Mr Andrews' departure marked an opportunity for amajor reset of government.

"Ms Allan must invest in our regions, and I will continue to fight for the Valley to receive its fair share. Labor must govern for all Victorians and start making sensible decisions that deliver beneficial outcomes for regional Victorian families," he said.

"For far too long Labor has been the party for Melbourne, and regional Victoria has been neglected."

Mr CameronsaidDaniel Andrews’ legacy in the LatrobeValley was nothing more than atrail of broken promises and neglect: He cancelled the Commonwealth Games because of a$4billioncost blowout, leavingsport clubs and small businesses reeling.

Mr Cameron also said that Mr Andrews allowed homelessness in Morwell to skyrocket, and there are going to be more people stuck on housing waiting lists for homes that will never be built.

He accelerated the closure of coal-firedpower stations with no realistic plan or measurable actions to help the region transition.

He promised the State Electricity Commission would be ‘brought back to Morwell’ and deliver 59,000 jobs, "but it won’t".

He said the SEC would bring power prices down, but its former interim CEO confirmed prices would skyrocket.

He told us the Latrobe Valley Authority would help the region deal with the economic fallout of the closureofHazelwood,but "therehas been no investment in new industry". He has left the Latrobe Valley with the highest unemployment rate in regional Victoria. He has left the Morwell electorate with the highest crime rate of any municipality outside of Melbourne.

He nonsensically shutdown the sustainable native timber industry, culling thousands of jobs and exposing Gippsland to an unacceptable risk of more catastrophic bushfires.

He promised more than 500 jobs would be created witha new electricvehicle manufacturing facility, but "that project is dead in the water".

He has allowed local roads to rot and has allowed medical wait lists to spiral out of control.

Ms Bath said after Mr Andrews' resignation, she reflected on the words of her late father who said, “If you can’t find something nice to say about someone, don’t say anything at all”.

"I will leave otherstocomment on the former Premier’s character,” she said. Ms Bath said the

former Premier’s policies had created challenges, increased suffering, and compromised the health and well-being of many Victorians."We have endured the longest COVID lockdown in the worldand the globalembarrassmentofacancelled Commonwealth Games," she said.

Victorians werepaying for an obscene waste of taxpayer funds -$30 billion cost blowoutson major city projects.

"Rural and regional residents drive daily on deteriorating and decrepit roads. Our wonderful hospitals struggle with overworked staff and ballooning surgerywaitlists.Fed up, essential police, teachers, nurses are leaving their noble professions in never-before-seen numbers," she said.

"We are paying the price of 50 new or increased taxes with small businesses and mum and dad investors shouldering much of the burden.State debt is slated to reach $171 billion over the next three years and we have ahousing and rental crisis.Wehave witnessed the closure of traditional industries including the ideologically driven cessation of our sustainable native timber industry. Labor has grossly mismanaged of our public land and allowed forest fuel loads to build to adangerously high bushfire risk."

Ms Bath said in transitioning to renewables, the former Premier had ignored natural gas as a reliable energy resource.

"His lack of planning means Victorians can now expect summer blackouts," she said.

The office of the Labor Member for Eastern Victoria, Harriet Shing, was contacted for comment but did not reply.

Ms Shing is the Minister for Water and Regional Development.

Daniel Andrews announced hisresignation as Premier of Victorialastweek Photo: File

New Victorian Deputy Premier Ben Carroll on the campaign trail in Gippsland last year, flanked by Labor candidate for the seatof Morwell,DrKateMaxfield.

Photo: File

Embarking on awell-lit journey

BenMcArthur

LEGACY Australia proudly hosted the Legacy Centenary Torch Relay and kept the flame alive when it came to Sale last Thursday.

The Torch Relay began on April 25, 2023, in Pozieres,Franceand passed through much of France and England before it will finish at the Melbourne ShrineofRemembrance on 13 October.

The torch has travelled about 50,000 kilometres and will be carried by about 1500 torch bearers. Sale is the final Victorian town before it goes to Melbourne.

The relay is asix-month campaign by Legacy, which was founded after World War Iin1923, to pay homageto, and acknowledgeveterans’ families, salutingtheirsacrifice and also to celebrate100 years of the organisation.

Legacy beneficiaries, Legatees and military personnel took part in the relay.

The torch arrived at the starting area from aG Wagon being drivenbyRAAFpersonnel at 9.50am.

The relay was launchedat10amatthe botanical gardens after ashort speech by Legacy director, Sarnia Birch.

“Legatees have carried the torch of service and sacrifice handed down from Legatee to Legatee sincethe GreatWar.Thisyear’storch is about remembering as well as fundraising. Legacy’s very fabric remembers, cares and stands behindfamilies impacted by service.”

The openingwas marked with the cuttingofa ribbon by Alana KovcoasfourPC21s flew overhead by personnelfrom the RAAF east Sale 30th squadron.

AustralianArmy Lieutenant-Colonel, Murray Duckworth, said he helped organise the flight as asurprise.

“We didn’t tell many peopleabout it,”hesaid “It’s our way of thanking Legacy for what they have done over the past 100 years and what they will continue to do.”

Awidow, Julie Griepsma, is aLegatee and the first torchbearer for the day. She said she had the best position in the relay.

“Itwas all pure luck, because Ididn’t knowuntil Igot herewho was goingtolight the torch,but I’m really glad because it means Idon’t have to stand around like the others,” she said.

Ms Griepsma said Legacy had helped her in manyaspects of her lifefromobtaining awar widow’s pension to providing emotionalsupport since her husband passed away 27 years ago from mesothelioma.

“He died from an asbestos-related disease whichhecontracted in the Royal Navy because he workedinthe engine room. Back then the piping was wrapped in asbestos and that was where the fibrescamefromthatcausedthe cancer there’s no treatment for.”

The 17 torchbearers include Legacy widows, Legacy supporters, and Legatees.

Avis Tilly, at 98-years-old is agood-humoured woman and the oldest torchbearer. She is also perhaps the oldest driver in Gippsland, recently renewing her license. She drives a1995Daihatsu.

She said Legacy helps her live ahappy life. “They’re all fantastic people. Idon’t know what I’d do without them. They give me the confidence to do what Iwanttodo,” she said.

“Because of them I’ve been all over Phillip Island, Hastings. Goodness me! We’ve been everywhere. Absolutely. It’s great and they do amarvellous job.”

The torch passedthrough the streets of Sale until 11.35am when the final torch bearer, Lyn McLinden, arrived at the Sale RSL.

Ms McLinden then performed the official lighting of the cauldron and afterwards aspeech was made by MayorIan Bye, thankingthe actions of Legacy. “It is remarkable that the CentenaryTorch has made its way all around the world- from France to London and now to our beloved and historic town of Sale,” he said. Attendants were then invited to the

RSL Clubfor in alight lunchfollowingproceedings.

The Chairman of Legacy Australia, Eric Easterbrook OAM, said last year that Legacy was proud to support the families of thosewho have served and died.

“Wecontinuetokeep thatpromise alive as we enter into the centenary year and beyond,”hesaid.

Torchbearers for the relay in order were Julie Griepsma,Steve Mayes, Mick Salienko, Neville Cousins,Gayle George, RonaldClark,Simone Godde, Alana Kovco, Jan Barclay,Christopher King, Gerry Gillen, Peter Armstrong, Ern Lloyd, Avis Tilly, Maureen Matthews, Di Holtropand Lyn McLinden.

Lieutenant Colonel, MurrayDuckworth watches the speech with military personnel.

LynMcLinden lights the cauldron.

Photos:Ben McArthur

Alana Kovco cuts the ribbon. Ms Kovco wasone of the torch bearers on the day.

Torchbearer Julie Griepsma, walks around Sale Botanical Gardens.

Avis Tilly is aproud memberofLegacy.

Legacy director,SarniaBirch speaks.

Four PC21s fly overheadtomarkthe beginning of the event

Uluru Statement from the Heart

THE Uluru Statement from the Heart (or simply Uluru Statement) is acall for constitutional and structural reform to benefit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities through aFirst Nations Voice to Parliament and the establishment of aMakarrata Commission.

It was endorsed at the First Nations Constitutional Convention at Uluru on May 26, 2017 by Indigenous leaders.

Makarrata is aYolngu word understood as the coming together after astruggle.

The Statement calls for:

*aFirst Nations Voice to be permanently included in the Constitution;

*the establishment of aMakarrata Commission to supervise agreement-making and truth-telling about First Nations history.

Whether aFirst Nations Voice to Parliament should be established is what Australians will be voting for on October 14.

The Voice is an advisory body that can make representations to the government and parliament on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Read the Uluru Statement from the Heart below:

We, gathered at the 2017 National Constitutional Convention,comingfrom all points of the southern sky, make this statement from the heart:

Our Aboriginal and TorresStraitIslander tribes were the first sovereign Nations of the Australian continent and its adjacent islands, and possessedit under our own laws and customs. This our ancestors did, according to the reckoning of our culture, from the Creation, according to the common law from ‘time immemorial’, and according to science more than 60,000 years ago.

This sovereignty is aspiritual notion: the ancestral tie between the land, or ‘mother nature’, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who were born therefrom, remain attached thereto, and must one day return thither to be united with our ancestors. This link is the basis of the ownership

of the soil,orbetter, of sovereignty. It has never been ceded or extinguished, and co-exists with the sovereigntyofthe Crown.

How could it be otherwise? That peoples possessed alandfor sixty millennia and this sacred link disappears from world history in merely the last two hundred years?

With substantive constitutional change and structural reform, we believe this ancientsovereignty can shine through as afuller expression of Australia’s nationhood.

Proportionally,weare themostincarcerated people on the planet. We are not an innately criminal people. Our children are alienedfrom their families at unprecedented rates. This cannot be because we have no love for them.And our youth languish in detention in obscene numbers. They should be ourhope for the future.

These dimensions of our crisis tell plainly the structural nature of our problem. This is the torment of our powerlessness.

We seek constitutional reforms to empower our peopleand takearightfulplace in ourown country. When we havepoweroverour destiny our children will flourish. They will walk in two worlds and their culture will be agift to their country.

We call for the establishment of aFirst Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution.

Makarrata is theculmination of our agenda: the coming together after astruggle. It captures our aspirations for afairand truthfulrelationship with the people of Australia and abetter future for our children based on justice and self-determination.

We seek aMakarrata Commission to supervise aprocess of agreement-making betweengovernments and First Nations and truth-telling about our history.

In 1967 we were counted, in 2017 we seek to be heard. We leave base camp and start our trek across thisvast country. We invite you to walk with us in amovement of the Australian people for abetter future.

StefanBradley

IT'Sofficially time to slowdown, and smell the Rosedale.

As of Monday September25, the speed limit through Rosedale’s town centre along the Princes Highway (Prince St) has been reduced from 60km/h to 50km/h following concerns raised by locals.

Rosedale resident Sue Coppock last month shared on social media aletter from Member for GippslandSouth, Danny O’Brien, dated August 22,2023.

In the letter, Mr O’Brien saidhehad recently shared concerns about the 60km/h speed limit to the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP), and hadreceived aresponse fromthem whichread:

“I am pleased to advise that my team have recently completed areview of the speed zones through the township to ensure consistency with its Speed Zoning Guidelines, as we have done with similar locations across Gippsland,”the DTP excerpt said.

The DTP said the recommendation of the review was to reduce the speed limit of the zone to 50 km/h from west of MacKay St intersection through to north of Mill Lane intersection. Road Safety Victoria approved the measure, which was implemented last week (Monday, September 25), with new signs installed.

The front page of the January 21, 2022 issue of the Gippsland Times hadreported on apetition by frustrated Rosedale residents to put pressure on VicRoads to reduce the speed limit.

The town’s centre is oftenusedbymotorists travelling between Traralgon and Sale, but locals were concerned about pedestrian safety, arguing thatsurrounding townsStratford and Maffra had 50 km/h speed limits.

Resident Sue Coppockhad highlightedthe danger, which was alerting by the number of trucks.

"As moreresidents move to regional areas the road is just goingtoget busier and busier," Ms Coppock said.

She estimated that hundredsoftrucks go through the town.

and regular groups will resume this week. The new brochure, with many new and exciting sessions for Term Four, is available from the House, come in apickup acopy.

 The Briagolong Ukulele Muster will be held on Saturday, October 7, 2023, at the Briagolong Mechanics Institute, beginning with awarm up strum at 10.30am will include two workshops and concludes with a concert showcasing ukulele artists and local groups. Cost $20 at the door, cash only.

"It is almost as if every thirdvehicle at the moment is atruck," she said.

In responsetothese concerns,DTP Gippsland regional director Henry Lam told the Gippsland Times at the time that the department (then known as simplythe Department of Transport) is always considering ways of continuing to improve safety on Gippsland roads.

“We’re committed to managing the ongoing safety along the Princes Highway (Prince Street)in Rosedale and will consider potential improvements where necessary,” he said.

 St Vincent de Paul monthly Garage Sale will be held on Saturday, October 7, 2023 at the Jack Kelly store, 28 Laura Street, Maffra from 9am until 10.30am.

 Maffra Neighbourhood House has opened their doors for Term Four. The new program

 Maffra Garden Club's next meeting will begin at 12pm on Monday, October 9, at Joan and Graham Ray's garden, Redbank Road, Stratford. Bring your own chair, cup and your lunch. The competition is acut of natives. New members welcome. Phone Jeanette on 0438 456 491 for more information. Note: The October 2date listed in last week's issue was incorrect.

Photo: Liam Durkin

Denise Bowden, chief executive of Yothu Yindi, signing the Uluru Statement from the Heart in Central Australia.

Photo: Australian Human Rights Commission

Bushfires already hit region

Ben McArthur and StefanBradley

AMAJOR fire in Briagolongclaimed onehome and 5000 hectares, with over 60 grassfires and bushfires being burnt statewide over the weekend.

The CFA suspects two fires began in Briagolong over the long weekend on privateproperty.The fires were made strongerdue to the hotter and strong temperature on Sunday in 30s and the wind gusts of up to 90km/h sometimebetween3pm and 6pm.

There are hundredsofForest Fire Management Victoria(FFMV) and CFA personneldispatched in Gippsland fromaroundthe state to battle the fires overnight.

The operations are beingsupported by 15 aircrafts.

Fire danger ratings are extreme in the Mallee region and under atotal fire ban.

Strong rains are expected tomorrow, up to 25 to 80 mm with achance of flooding. Someareascould see amonths worth of rain.

Wellington Shire Council Mayor, Ian Byetold the ABC that the region was unprepared.

"We're only [in] October. It's abit earlytohave fires so Idon't think anyone was prepared for this to happen so early in the season," he said.

AHeyfield Incident Control Centre spokesperson advised residents in the region to be aware.

"The weather conditions are very dry and the fires are still very active so keep informed," they said.

As of Monday morning,there was no current warnings to evacuate, but aCFA spokesperson said the current advice for the Gippsland region is to stay notified.

"Install theVictorianemergency app, information is also available on the website ad always refer to multiple sources, across the radio, news and TV so you are completely across events as they unfold."

Therewerealsofires in Heyfield on Saturday, with an evacuation warning downgraded to advice. Fires in Loch Sport on Sunday were also downgraded to advice.

The fire at Briagolong on Sunday,taken from aBriagolongproperty at the edgeoftownoverlookingthe hills.

Photo: Contributed

Make sureyourbushfireplan is up-to-date.

Photo: ValenciaCreek CFA Facebook

Below: CFAresponded to fires northof Briagolong on Sunday.

Photo: Valencia Creek CFAFacebook

Local brigades and others from as far as MorningtonPeninsula, Rye, Lilydale, Mt Martha, Dromanaand moreattendedthe firethat started Sundaymorning at Duffys Roadnorth ofBriagolong.

Photo: Valencia Creek CFAFacebook

In Briagolong -a wake-up call for abad fire season.

Photo: Contributed

Gippsland Water supports mission

GIPPSLAND Water is supporting WaterAid’s mission to deliver clean water to people all over the world throughthe annual ‘Walkfor Water’

The organisation is calling for communitymembers to getbehind its staff andjointhe initiative Walk for Water is an annualevent that helps raise funds and awareness about the work WaterAid does.

It runsfrom October2toOctober6

Everydaymillions of people across theworld walk large distancestoaccess theirnearest water source, so for Walk forWaterweek participants raisefunds by walking, running, or riding abikefor five days.

The managing director, Sarah Cumming, said Gippsland Water was excited to be supporting the valuable work WaterAid does.

“Our staff are looking forward to lacing up their sneakers and participatinginthe Walkfor Water in October,” Ms Cumming said.

“WaterAid brings clean water, toiletsand hygiene to peopleinplaces like Cambodia, Timor-Lesteand Papua New Guinea.

“I hope Gippsland Water’sparticipationalongside the water sector and widercommunity willensure WaterAid’s vital work cancontinue.”

Registration is free and those wanting to participate can sign up online.

To learnmore aboutWalkfor Watervisitwateraid. org/au/get-involved/events/walk-for-water

Bath calls for affordable, rural power

WHILE all Victorians are strugglingwith soaring energy bills, it’s been revealed eastern Victorians are being slugged significantly more for energy than the inner city, according to the Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria, Melina Bath. St VincentdePaul’s latest energy tracker report shows the average combined gas and electricity energy bill in metropolitanMelbourne is $736 while for regional Victorians it’s $773.

Ms Bath said the risingcostofenergy was a real concern and bill stress was having aprofound impact on lowand middle income earnersand small business in her electorate.

“Labor’s lack of energy planishurting Victorians and causing inequality and financial stress. Eastern Victorians are being punished with the highest combined energy bills in the state,” she said.

“Furthermore, Latrobe Valley and Sale have the unwantedtitleofthe highest bill, paying a whopping $810 on average per household for their combined energy costs -despitethe region powering Victoria to keep the state’s lights on.”

Ms Bath said for well over adecade, Labor’s promised cheap, reliable power, but it had bungled Victoria’s transitiontorenewables, causing sky high bills and avolatile energy market at risk of rolling blackouts.

“In July 2022 the average annual combined bill in eastern Victoria was $3615. Now in July 2023, the average annual combined energy household bill in eastern Victoria is $4425, while the inner city and inner eastern suburbs pay $3995,” she said.

Ms Bath said the discrepancies in energy costs between eastern Victoria and the inner city were unjustifiable. “Labor cannotkeep punishingour households and businesses with exorbitant bills andanunreliable energy grid,” she said.

“The Nationals are calling on Labor to deliver adetailed common sense plan to deliver ajust transition and reliable and affordable power to all Victorians regardless of where you live.”

Gippsland Waterteam membersWalk for Water. Photo: Contributed

Community support

locals showed their support for the Voice to Parliament

ZoeAskew

GIPPSLAND locals turned out in force last Saturdaytojoin Central Gippsland for Yes in showing support for the Voice to Parliament by walking around Lake Guthridge.

Central Gippsland for Yes is acommunity-focused group comprised of residents from Loch Sport to Licola andcommunities in between dedicated to supportingthe Yesvoteinthe upcomingAustralian constitutional referendum.

Captaining the Central Gippsland for Yes campaign is Cowwarr local Steph Kelley. Ms Kelley described Saturday’s Walk for Yes event as apositive and enjoyable experience.

“It was much bigger than Iwas expecting; the community really turned out,” Ms Kelley said. “I was runningalittle bit late, and as Iarrived,there were already about 30 peoplestanding there, and I thought ‘Oh, this is going to be good’ and then more and moreand more keptcoming, so by the time we started we had somewhere around 75 people, with more turning up as we walked.

“It was excellent, it was areally positive experience.Wewalked down past LakeGuthridge along the main road and kind of double-backed along the main road again. There were cars tooting and two or three people who gave us thumbsupand waved out the window.”

Wellington Shire councillor Carolyn Crossley, who attended theeventinapersonal capacity, saidshe felt buoyed by the experience of joining the Central Gippsland Walk for Yes on Saturday.

“To be surrounded by people from all walks of life showingsupport for the Yes campaign gives

me hope that the goodwill of the community will come forward and the referendum will pass,” Ms Crossley said.

Voting Yes is avery simple choice for Ms Crossley.

“It is time to recognise Aboriginal and TorresStrait Islander people in the Constitution,” Ms Crossley said.

“For 250 years, we haven’t listened to the people who have been here for 65,000. This is our chance to fix that. It is time to make achangebecause what we are doing now is not working.

“If you believe in something, you should act to make it happen. That is why Ijoined the Central Gippsland for Yes volunteer group.”

Ms Crossley said the Uluru Statementfrom the Heart was an invitation to the Australian people from First Nations Australians. “It asks Australians to walk togethertobuild abetter future by establishing aFirst Nations Voice to Parliament enshrined in the Constitution and the establishment of aMakarrata Commission for the purpose of treaty-making and truth-telling,” she said.

“I accept this invitation and wish to encourage others to come together to create abetter future.”

While socialmedia may allude to astrongmajority hold of No voters in the region, Ms Kelley said her campaign experience in Sale and surrounding towns had been overwhelmingly positive.

“I could probably count on one hand the amount of negative interactions we’ve had, and we’ve hosted between 15 and 20 events now,” Ms Kelley said.

“We had amarketstall at the NewEnergy Conference, and not asingleperson out of the 400 people who came through that had anything negative to say.

“What we are experiencing on the ground is so

What is ‘The Voice’ referendum?

THE federal government has proposed to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

very different to what is being portrayed in the media and online.

“It’s unbelievable the difference. We are in a relatively conservative zone here, and Ihave been immenselysurprised and on top of that, we’re up to about 70 members in the local Yes group (Central Gippsland for Yes).”

Firmly believing in thesignificanceofVoice to Parliament for First Nations people, Ms Kelley was driven to take on the Central Gippslandfor Yes captaincy role.

“This is such an important issue and is fundamental to the progression of First Nations rights and recognition,” Ms Kelley said.

“I know there are alot of misconceptions in the media about what this is, but it really is only two things.One,it’sanacknowledgement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the Constitution.

“The second thing is it gives Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aplatform to advocate for change.

“We have seen in which the way all the policies have been unfolding, but what was currently happening is not working. When you start engaging with the community and listening to what they need on the ground, you do see real change.”

Polling paints adire picturefor the Yes campaign The No vote rose to an overall majority-53per cent -for the first time in early September, according to Newspoll data, with nine per cent of respondents unsure and support for the Voice dipping to just 38 percent.

State support for the Voice to Parliament, from themostrecentEssentialpoll,shows amajority intending to voteNointhe upcoming referendum, with 45 per centindenting to voteYes.

The proposed alteration inserts the following text into the Constitution: Chapter IX -Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. 129 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

In recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia:

1: Thereshallbeabody, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice;

2: The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice maymake representations to the Parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;

3: The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.

On Saturday, October 14, Australians will vote Yes or No on whether they approve the amendment to be made to the Constitution.

The referendum requires amajority of votes in amajority of states to succeed, in which Parliament will then design the Voice via legislation.

Gippsland

by walking around Lake Guthridge.

Photo: Contributed

Voice No

THE ‘No’ campaign, ‘Australians for Unity’, is led by Indigenous businessman and community leader, Nyunggai Warren Mundine,and the Shadow Indigenous Australians Minister, Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.

Mr Mundine says the Voice, an advisory body of 24 people, won’t deliver meaningful change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“The idea that you can have people who will be representatives of Aboriginal culture, 24 of them, when you have 300 Aboriginal nations, is just bizarre to me,” he said.

“I am Australian. I’m amemberofthe Bundjalung First Nation of Australia, from my father’s side, and the Gumbaynggirr and Yuin First Nations of Australia from my mother’s side. And Ioppose the Voice to Parliament.”

Mr Mundine agrees with Mr Pearson that Indigenous Australians need to find solutionsto their own problems. However, the time for conversation on Indigenous disadvantageisover. Rather than ending alcohol abuse, surging incarceration and child removals through an advisory body to government and the parliament,MrMundine says individuals need to act.

“There’s only one person, or group, that can help us. That’s us. We don’t need anything in the Constitution to make people accountable, we can do it today.”

Mr Mundine said there should be more accountabilityonhow money is spent on indigenouspolicies, and for abetter focus on education outcomes, economicparticipationand socialchange. Thefederal government should use brilliant reports, such as The Closingthe Gap and Productivity Commission reports, to help identify what’s working and what’s not working among Aboriginal communities. “We should be then utilising those reports and moving forward,” he said.

Mr Mundinesaysthe Indigenous Business Strategy launched in 2015 is going from strength to strength.

“It has helped 45,000 Aboriginaland Torres Strait Islanders get jobs since 2015, starting with $6.2 million worth of contracts, rising to $8.7 billion in eight years,” he said.

The proposed change to the Constitutionis not recognition of Australia’s First Nations, he maintains.

“All it does is recognise Aboriginal people as a homogenous race,” he said.

“Race and nationhood are different. The Oxford

Dictionary definesa ‘nation’ as ‘a large body of people united by common descent, history, culture, or language, inhabiting aparticular state or territory’. Indigenous Australians don’t have the same languages or cultures or histories or descent or territorial lands. The Indigenous Australia language map illustrates the first language groups across the continent. Each different coloured area represents adistinct group united by unique descent, history, culture, and language, inhabitingaparticular state or territory: anation,” he said.

The proposal believes the Voice can speak as one with no contemplation of its members having differing opinions.

“It’s as if this Voice has asingular consciousness. This is based on afalse premise that Indigenous Australians are one homogenous group and will constitutionally enshrine us as asinglerace of people,ignoringour uniqueFirst Nations. It’s a step backwards.”

Mr Mundine says afundamental cultural principle of all Australia’s First Nations is that only Countrymen andwomen can speak for Country.

“I used to live in Dubbo, but I’m not Wiradjuri. Now IliveinSydney, but I’m not Dharug.SoIdon’t speak for Wiradjuri or Dharug countries,” he said.

“My common groundwith Wiradjuri and Dharug people is race. Not Country.”

Mr Mundine says the Voice, based on the 2021 Calma-Langton report, willhave 24 members:two appointed by the government; two fromeach state, territory and the Torres Strait; five from “remote” parts of NorthernTerritory, Western Australia, Queensland, SouthAustralia and New South Wales; and one for Torres Strait Islanders on the mainland. Acurrent model rejects direct election and says membersofthe “Local and Regional Voices”(community organisations) within each state and territory will “collectively determine” Voice members for their respective jurisdictions.

“The regional boundaries for Voice representation won’t align with First Nations but will primarily alignwith state and territory boundaries -inother words, based on the way British colonists divided up the continent,” he said.

“Aside from the chaos,confusionand conflict this will create in practice, it’s fundamentally flawed in principle. This Voice cannot speak for Country since it won’t represent one. Ifear worse: that the Voicewill purport to speak for Country without authority, undermining traditional owner rights.”

Mr Mundine saysgovernments have passed the 1976Land RightsAct, other land rights legislation in the 1980sand 90s, and in 1992, the High Court’s recognition of native title led to the Native Title Act.

“Today, anyone who wants to do businesson lands or waters where native title or land rights exist needs to talk to the traditional ownersof those lands and waters,” he said.

“Traditional owners (likeall humans)don’t always agree. There are governance structures and closely supervised rules for how traditional owners make decisions, but when the group makes adecision, there will invariablybesome in the group who don’t agree.

“Itwill be much easier to undermine traditional owner autonomy by enlistinga Voice, with a constitutional righttomakerepresentations to government, to advocateagainstthe wishes of traditional owners about their own countries,” he said.

Mr Mundine says the Uluru regional dialogues thatpreceded the Uluru Statement, Document 14 in particular, declare a“metaphorical war on modern Australia”.

The document is steeped in grievance and claims indigenous Australians are “trapped in victimhood and oppression,not currently free or able to make their own decisions, where self-determination is an aspiration, notsomething within reach today”

“This is not true. Nothing could be further from the idea of Reconciliation. Document 14 contemplates afuture of separationwith First Nations sovereignty standing apart from, and opposite to, Australian sovereignty.”

Senator JacintaNampijinpaPrice says an advisory body will create a“wall between Australians”. “A question Iget the most often is, ‘Why are you, an Aboriginal woman, opposing the Voice?’ The answer is simple, it’s the Voice of division,” she said.

“The Voice will not promoterecognitionor reconciliation because it has been an ‘invite only process every step of the way’ -“amovement of academics, activists and elites who think they know better. ‘Trust us, they say, we’ll get it right and give you the details later’.”

Senator Price says some Yes campaigners who cannot win on the merits or their proposal have turned to emotional blackmail and dismiss arguments against the Voice as “racist and stupid”.

“The Voice is being used as amechanism to undermine the last 122 years of work to bring Australians closer together. For them, this Voice isn’t an attempttounite,but atool to divide,” she said.

“I don’t want her,myown family or country divided. My mother is Warlpiri, my fatherisof Irish descent, all three of us are Australian. Iwant us to be one, together, and not two divided. That’s why I’m voting No to the Voice of division.”

The No campaign’s, Warren Mundine.

Voice Yes

THE October 14 referendum on the Aboriginal Voice to Parliament is an opportunity for Australians to finally fix one missing piece of the Constitution -and that is the recognitionofAboriginal and Torres Strait Island people -and give them asay in determining their future, according to the Yes 2023 campaigner and leading Aboriginal thinker, Noel Pearson.

Mr Pearson set out his views in arecent visit to Traralgon, Morwelland Warragul, and has spoken at venues around the country.

“The Voice is so that Aboriginal people can have the opportunity to speak up in Parliament and voicetheir opinions, butthey(politicians) don’t have to take it on, just have to consider and listen to the Voice,” he said.

Mr Pearsonsaysthe Voice is not apolitical issue butisfor allAustralians.

“This is not apolitical issue, this is for country people and city people, this is for Liberals and for Labor, forGreens and For OneNation voters,” he said.

“It (the Voice)isa third way, which is that we be recognised as having our own identity, culture, languages, heritage within aunited Australia.”

The Indigenous leader and lawyer says the referendum offers “symbolic” recognition of first peoples but goes astep further.

“We’re going with asymbolic phrase at the beginning about the recognitionofFirst Peoples of Australia, and then we have the substance. And the substanceisanadvisory committeethatwould provide representations to the Parliamentand the Executive Government on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” he said.

“That’sanimportant phrase on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people… It is on matters relating to our people-health, education, jobs, all of the things we need to fix up in relation to Indigenous affairs.”

While heralding the achievements of many First Nations Australians, Mr Pearsonsaysa Voice to Parliament presents anew opportunityfor

disadvantaged people living in a“parlous” position.”

“Our people are good people, but we occupy the lowest position in thecountry, but we can do it. People like me, people like so many other Aboriginal Australianswho have donewellinthiscountry, show that it can be done. Now we want it done for the people of the Western Desert, of the Kimberley, of the Pilbara,” he said.

“Too many of our people in the communities are living short lives, living livesmired in welfare dependency, burying their relatives every other week and with low school attendance, poor health. Theseare the things that we need to get seriouson if we’re going to address the too-often sad situation of our people.”

Mr Pearson says aVoice to Parliament“doesnot takeaway the rights of any other Australian”, and he remains confident non-Indigenous people will recognise this. “Jobs, health, education and all of the good things that Indigenouspeople need. That’s what the Voice will speak to.”

Mr Pearson says the Voice is simply an advisory committee that will help government develop policy for Indigenous people.

“When you boilitdowntoits core,itisanadvisory

committee. It can’t direct the Parliament. It is there so that we can produce better results in the future for our people,” he said.

Mr PearsonsaysAustralia mustreach apoint in its relationship with Indigenous people “where it is legitimate to blame us”. The Voice is “claiming the right to take responsibility”.

“By all means, blame us. But giveusa say in the decisions thatare madeabout us beforeyou do,” Mr Pearson said. “This is the message of the Voice. By having aVoice, we will be responsible for closing the gap. We will be as responsible as the government for the results. With powerwill come responsibility.”

Self-determination is hard work.

“This is acriticalinsight for thoseconcerned withAboriginal policy at the highestlevels and at the grassroots in claimingthe righttoselfdetermination. We are claiming the right to take responsibility,” he said.

To the argument put by the No campaign -that aVoice enshrined in the Constitution will “racialise” the nation -MrPearson says the power to legislate on the basis of race already exists in the Constitution, “so it makessense to establishabody to advise on the exercise of that power”.

“Recognition throughthe Voice will provide anew power for Parliament to legislate the Voice that is not based on race but rather on recognition of our unique position and history as First Peoples of the country,”hesaid.

“Aboriginal and Torres StraitIslanders are Indigenous peoples, we’re not aseparaterace. Our raceishuman.The same as all other Australians.”

In holding the referendum, Mr Pearson says the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has simply done what Indigenous people have asked to happen over the past 10 years.

“This is not the government’s idea, this has come from Indigenous people. We have sought this recognition. Now is our time to grow,”hesaid.

“Wewillshow the world that it is never too late to reconcile, if it is done on the basis of justice.”

In Gippsland, the Gunaikurnai Land and

WatersCorporation boardunanimously advocates a‘Yes’ vote.Their position statement says: “GLaWAC supports the federal government’s commitment to recognise the First Peoples of Australia through achange to the Constitution, while respecting the individual views held by our member and their right to vote how they choose.”

The Voice, however, is only one pillar in the step to support broad institutional reform at the Commonwealth level.

“The organisation continues to work tirelessly toward aself-determining futurefor Gunaikurnai people, and we welcome any opportunity to strengthen our mob’s cultural, spiritual and physical needs.”

The board says it encourages all Australians to “consider the impacts that aNovote will have on First Nation as people and the nation”.

“Our mob wants agreater say in the issues that are important to us regarding culture, country and the social and economic wellbeing of Gunaikurnai people,” GLaWAC said.

Olympic Gold medal winner Cathy Freeman backs the Voice.

“Right now, each of us can be part of something that really matters. To stand together and show our support for Australians who need it most, to recognise indigenous peoples in our Constitution for the very first time, to give ourkids the very best start in life, an equal start in life,” she said.

“To open our hearts and change our future.”

Leading Aboriginal thinker Noel Pearson.

Photo: KatrinaBrandon

The voice is so that Aboriginal people can have the opportunity to speak up in Parliament and voice their opinions...

NOEL PEARSON

PROUDLYBROUGHT TO YOUBYTHESE PARTICIPATINGLOCAL BUSINESSES

Crossword Puzzle No.8554

with Muzza

ONE POINTERS

1. According to the idiom, what do ‘birds of afeather’ do?

2. Who played the part of Edmund Blackadder in the TV series ‘Blackadder’?

3. What two cricketing countries play for the Ashes?

4. Which Australian country music legend wanted to have a beer with Duncan?

TWO POINTERS

5. If Iwas in the town of Humpty Doo, what state/territory would Ibein?

6. Whenreferring to acash machine, what does ‘ATM’ stand for?

7. Who currently has ahit with the song ‘Vampire’?

8. True or false. The study of stars is called astrology?

THREE POINTERS

9. Which sea is located between Australia and New Zealand?

10. What is the final book of the New Testament?

11. How many AFL teams have birds as their mascots?

12. Who provided the voice of ‘Elsa’ in the 2013 film ‘Frozen’?

FOUR POINTERS

13. The Titanic was built in which United Kingdom city?

14. Fitzwilliam Darcy is acharacter in which novel?

FIVE POINTER

15. I’ll give you five album titles and you give me the band or artist? One point for each correct answer.1.Rubber Soul

2. Dead Ringer 3. Gettin’ Old 4. Breakfast At Sweethearts 5. Endless Summer

HOW DID YOU FARE?

37: Topofthe class; 30-36: Outstanding; 23-29: Well done; 15-22: Solid effort; 9-14: Room for improvement; 0-8: Hit the books.

Target Time No.0178

Howtoplay.

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

Sudoku No.0178

Howtoplay...

Fill the grid so thateveryrow and every 3x3 square contains the digits 1to9 Solution page 31

Duty’s

Bluesand besthits at TheWedge

KatrinaBrandon

THE feeling whereitisjust you on the stage, according to Australia’s finest guitar player and pop/rock musician Diesel, it feels naked.

"When you play solo it just feels naked.The only comparison Icould imagine would be astand-up comedian where you are completely at mercy," he said.

On stage at The Wedge on October 13, Diesel is coming to play some of his blues and his best hits.

Theshowisa combination of his greatest hits from 1997 to present singles.

"It’s asolo show, I’m on stage for two sets. The first stage is alot of the blues stuff and Iplay a lot of double bass for alot of that," Diesel said.

Dieseltoldthe Gippsland Times that while figuring out what to play for the show, he tried to think of whatthe audience would likebest. He said thatthere are different peopleathis shows and he likestotry and hit his shows at all angles. He also recognised that not everyone knows all of his songs, you may only know one or two, but he says that it is okay as he is just happy to play his music.

"I always feel the pressure but Ilike it because if Ididn’t like it Iwould find somethingelseto do where Istill play music to people. It’s agood challenge that Ienjoy," he said.

Normally at pub settings, according to Diesel

thereare three different types of peopleinthe crowd;the oneswho wanttochatand catch up withfriends with music, those who just want to listen andthosewho want to sing andmake musical noise. There are also alot of factors to each night such as time, alcohol level, venue and people themselves.

"Music provides abit of escapism for people. It helps them forget what is going on in their lives for an hour or two," said Diesel.

For Diesel, playing solo for acrowd can be alot of pressure being by yourself, with no walls up.

"I feel like Iamunpacking everything with everyone every night. It's less to say that Ihave adopamine deficit after doing asolo show so Ifeel reallyspentfor acouple of days. Ihave to recharge."

He mentioned that shows can be quite exhausting mentally and physically, as when he hits the stage, you could hear apin drop as people are on edge. They feel the human frailty of it all, with his vulnerability open for the crowd to take in. Which is whythe instinct is to clap, according to Diesel. Mostpeople know him as Diesel, but for arecord in New York, Diesel ran with his actual name, MarkLezotte, as his producers were worried that he would get sued by afashion brand with the same name, but then went back to Diesel after the record.

"It wasa lesson in branding, likeyou don’t think it is such abig deal to change the name of whatever it is. It is the same reaction if you were to change the name of acereal and they would be like ‘what’s that?’"

Diesel'snew release Forever, was inspired by his son, who is aphotographer who had an exhibition in Sydney. Theexhibitionwas abig montage of photos of peopleindifferent parts of their lives. He mentioned that it was confronting but walking through felt like passing through time and forever.

He also mentioned that confronting things inspires his work as it helps bring an understanding to him about those things.

Diesel said that he has never played in Sale but is looking forward to playing there.

"I feel like Ihave travelled through there many times but have never stopped there. I’m really excited. Iheard about this venue and said to bring it on.

"I have seen pictures of The Wedge and Iam really excited to play in it.

"Everyregional area deserves avenuelike that. Bringsthingstotown. People shouldn’t have to travel on abus to seeanartist."

For tickets and more information, go to thewedge. com.au

AdventureFilm Tour hits Sale for ThisGirl CanWeek

BE inspired by extraordinary women achieving their personal adventure goals.

Alocal Gippsland woman, Deanna Blegg, is an ultra-endurance sportracer who has stood on multiple World Tough Mudder podiums and is an adventure-racing legend.

Ms Blegg is also the guest speaker at the This GirlCan -Women'sAdventureFilmTour that will be screened at the Stratford Courthouse on Thursday, October 5and again at the Heyfield Memorial Hall on Monday, October 9. Tough Mudder competitions are some of the hardest adventure racing courses in the world -a hardcore British Special Forces-designed, 18-20 kilometreobstacle coursetotest contestants' all-roundstrength, stamina,mentalgritand camaraderie. This competition is not for the fainthearted and requireshard workand dedication just to qualify.

At 54 years of age, Deanna Blegg is up there with the best, placing fourth at the Hyrox Australia's Open Pro Women event in Melbourne just afew weeks ago, only seven minutes behind the winner. "Healthand fitness are still avital partofmy everyday life," Ms Blegg said. "Reaching elitelevels in adventureracingand

travelling internationally to compete hasblown my mind. It is something I'd never have thought possible. It has once again proven the power of having adream, setting agoal, and then making aplan."

The Women's Adventure Film Tour showcases women achieving their adventurous goals. The collection of films doesn't just focus solely on extreme feats; it aims to inspire everyone to step outside theircomfort zone and challenge their boundaries -their personal 'Everest'. It's acelebration of bravery, perseverance, and the indomitable spirit within us.

This Girl Can Weekrunsfrom October 9to 15. The week will be full of fun, free or low-cost activities designedtoencourage andinspire women and girls to embrace physical activityinaway that suits them. Activities will be promoted in the Gippsland Times, Middle of Everywhere Ap, and the Wellington Shire website.

To bookaticketatthe StratfordCourt House screening, go to stratfordcourthouse.com.au

To book aHeyfield Memorial Hall screening ticket, go to trybooking.com/CLKAF

Tickets cost $10.

Great Classics at BondSt

THE BendocPhilharmonic presents Great Classics -Violin &Piano.

StreetEvent Centre this month.

program will feature

for violin

andHeifetz along withthe dazzlingintensityof Wieniawski to be presented in the comfortable surrounds and fineacoustics of The Bond Street Event Centre, Sale.

Date/Time: Thursday, October 12 at 7.30pm.

Tickets: $40 (+ booking fees). Under 18s are free.

Tickets via trybooking.com/1082477

Enquiries: bfwparry@gmail.com or 0498 720 512.

Diesel (Mark Lezotte) is an Australian pop/rock musician.

Violinist Jonathon Glonek will be joined by Thai pianist Usa Nappawan presenting astunningevening of superb repertoire and virtuosic gems at Bond

The

sonatas

and piano by Mozart and Brahms, the fiery Baal Shem suite of Ernest Bloch along with the much-loved romantic arrangements of Kreisler

Movie of the month

LEGENDARY, award-winning director Asghar Farhadiisthe focusofthis month’sSaleFilm Society (SFS) meeting.

The Society will be showing his 2021 drama A Hero in the John Leslie Theatre for their October screening.

“Farhadi is an Iranian film-makerwho has producedsome of the finest moviesever made, in spite of the draconian laws imposed by his government,” secretary Tom Parry says.

“His oeuvreincludes profound, stirring pictures that explore the humancondition, for which he has won two competitive Oscars.”

AHero is Farhadi’s most-recent work, telling of aprisoner who is granted two days of parole to repay asubstantial debt.

The film premiered at the 74th Cannes Film

Festival, where it was bestowed the Grand Prixthe second-highest honour,behind the Palme d’Or.

TheSFS committeeacknowledged thatalthough the plot is “a bit complicated”, AHero is definitely worth the watch.

“We encourageall members and non-members of the Society to come along and experiencethe work of one of the greatest living directors,” Parry said.

Thescreeningshall take place on Wednesday, October 11 from 7.30pm at The Wedge.

Entry is freefor all Society members and $10 for non-members.

Prospective attendees are encouraged to arrive halfanhourearly to purchase adrink at Shirley’s Café and Bar, and to mingle with their fellow movie buffs.

For more informationonthe Society, visit the official webpage: salefilmsociety.wordpress.com

Saleh Karimai and AmirJadidi in ‘A Hero’

Images: Hi GlossEntertainment/MementoFilms

Cinematic Swiftview

CALLING all Swifties!

The cultural phenomenon continues at the movies at Sale Cinema! Immerse yourself in this once-in-a-lifetime concert film experience with abreathtaking,cinematicview of the history making tour. Taylor Swift Eras Tour

attire and friendshipbraceletsare strongly encouraged!

Experience TAYLOR SWIFT |THE ERAS TOUR on the big screen! Tickets are on sale now for sessions starting Friday October 13head to salecinema.com.au

Taste of BerlinatValencia

VALENCIA Hall committee’s next act is anight full of laughs and entertainment with amatinee performance by ARIA award winning Mic Conway and the Beez From Berlin, on Sunday October 8 at 2pm.

ARIA award winning Mic ”Microphone” Conway is asinger, musician,songwriter, actor, fire eater, magician, tap dancer, juggler and more. Mic was born into afamilyofvaudeville performers and singers and has worked across stage,film and television, co-formingthe legendary Captain MatchboxWhoopee Band, SoapboxCircus,Circus Oz, Conway Bros and National Junk Band. He has toured across Australia,Britain, US, Germany, New Zealand and Asia with hishilarious circus of comedy, music and magic.

Formed shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall, The Beez have touredextensively throughout Europe, North America and Australia with their own brand of teutonic mayhem.

Cost is $30 includingafternoon tea -BYO drinks. For bookings, call 0439 454 428.

Waugh performing live

SINCEhis 2016 debut, singer, guitarist and songwriter, Michael Waugh has released four albums of deeply relatable, emotional story-songsbased on characters and events from around his hometown of Maffra.

Michael’s storytelling style continues to evolve, painting evocative pictures of ordinary Australians. Now

he comes to The Stratford Courthousetoshare his stories and songs with you.Catchhim on Friday, October13from 7.30pm (doors open at 7.00pm). The WitsEnd bar willbe serving localcraftedbeer and wine. Tickets can be purchased from www. stratfordcourthouse.com.au

See‘AHero’ with theSaleFilm Society on October 11 at TheWedge.

Mic hasrecruited Berlin´sfabulous TheBeez as backing band -DetaRayner on accordion with Rob Rayneronguitar Photo: Contributed

Aprofile of Michael Waugh and his latest recordwas featured in Friday’s issue Photo: Contributed.

TAYLOR SWIFT| THEERASTOUR cinemaexperience is comingtoSale! Image: Supplied

Luxurious family home on one acre

Welcome to 47 Reid Dr,Wurruk, amagnificent five-bedroom, three-bathroom home nestled on one acre with rural outlooks at the entrance of Sovereign Estate.

The exquisite property offers the perfect blend of space, elegance and modern comfort, making it the epitome of luxury living.

Key Features:

 Five bedrooms: This residence boasts five spacious bedrooms, each designed to offeraninviting serene atmosphere. The master and visitors’ suite are both retreats unto themselves, featuring ample space, walk-in closets and aprivate ensuite bathroom with large shower,double vanity and under floor heating. The remaining three large bedrooms all offerbuilt-in robes and light-filled outlooks.

 Three bathrooms: With three wellappointed bathrooms, including the master and visitors’ suite, your family and guests will enjoy the convenience and privacy they deserve. With high-end fixtures and finishes throughout.

 Three living spaces plus more: This property includes three distinct living areas, providing plenty of room for family gatherings, entertaining guests or simply enjoying quiet moments with the many rural outlooks. Adjoining the main bedroom suite is alarge study or parents’ retreat. Aperfect space for peace and quiet. Also nestled in between the remaining bedrooms is a rumpus room, perfect for the kids to play These versatile spaces offerflexibility for various uses, such as formal living, acozy family room or entertaining/games/sunroom.

 Kitchen: The heart of the home is the gourmet kitchen, featuring top of the line appliances, stone countertops, custom cabinetry and spacious island. The butler’s pantry has plenty of room with ample storage space, countertops, dishwasher and wash basin.

 Location: Set in aquiet, tranquil setting, with rural views and less than 10 minutes to town.

 Outside: The property’sone acre lot is beautifully landscaped for easy maintenance with concrete paths and access to apowered 4x6 shed. It provides an ideal location for entertaining and BBQs. There is also plenty of room to add further shedding, swimming pool or tennis court.

Briefdetails fdetails

Property: Largeand luxurious ty: Large and five-bed y room home five-bedroom

Address: 47 Reid Drive, Wurruk dress: ReidDrive,Wurruk

Price: $1,095,000 ,095,000

Contact: Wellington Real Estate, t: Est 5144 4575 5

•Spanning 50 acreswith irrigation, forthose seeking aretreat from the hustle and bustleoftownlifewhile still havingthe convenience of townonly afew minutes’ drive.

•Perfect balancebetween contemporary comfortand therural lifestyle you’ve alwaysdreamtof.

•4 Bedroom, master includes aWIR &Ensuite. Theremaining bedrooms allhave BIRs,2Bathrooms,2 Livingareaone with a

Walter’s Cafe andBar EOI

For Sale by Expression of Interest, closing 4pm on Friday,November 10 2023.

This EOI presents aunique opportunity to acquire Walter’sCafe, including its well-established brand, fully equipped kitchen, and adedicated staffwho embody the spirit of the cafe.Whether you envision preserving its legacy or reimagining the space for anew culinary adventure, the possibilities are boundless.

Walter’sisconveniently located onthe busy Princess highway,2.5 hours east of Melbourne and is agreat stopping point for those on the road looking to explore everything Gippsland has to offer. With direct street parking and a large carpark just two doors down, there is plenty of foot trafficto get people offthe street and into the café.

This business is established and well recognized within the local community with an abundance of loyallocal, corporate and tradie customers.

With 10,000 cars passing through Rosedale each day Walter’shas also become ago-to for regular travellers between Melbourne and East Gippsland. But there’smore to this story.

Rosedale is atown on the move, experiencing remarkable growth with multiple subdivisions and plenty of new homes being built adding to the potential growth in this business.

Features include but not limited to:

 Fully renovated and modern building;

 Ultra-modern kitchen with afunctional design;

 State of the art appliances to streamline processes;

 Street accessible front bi-fold servery window;

 Multiple seating areas including dining, beer garden, covered alfresco and street alfresco;

 Office and storage room;

 Wheelchair friendly,withaccessible bathroom and baby change facilities.

The preference is to be sold as awhole WIWO but the vendors will consider different options put forward so please reach out and enquire during this EOI process. Enquire

Briefdetails fdetails

Address: 24 Prince Street, Rosedale Ad ess: Street,Rosedale

Contact: Glen Synnott 0467 550 904

Aaron Ralph 0456 215087 21

bar •Huge amountofshedding including garages /carports and storage sheds

•50acres (approx.), 61 Meg of high reliabilitywater, drain license,stock &domesticbore, 3meg re-use dam with pump

•Laser graded with amix

•3 Bedroom home withall newBlueline poly from the water meter to the entire property, upgraded fencing extensively, built modern, safecattleyards,and planted 3000 newtrees in shelter belts across the farm.

•3 Bedroom, 1Bathroom home

•3 Bayhay/machineryshedwithlights and power.

•Propertyequipped with practical fencing includinghorse sighter wireand is split intoseven paddocks.Practical cattle

Comfortand convenience

Discover the perfect blend of convenience and comfort in this immaculate two-bedroom townhouse.

Ideally located within ashort stroll of the CBD, this low maintenance residence offers spacious living thoughtfully designed to maximize privacy and makethe most of its northerly aspect.

Key features include:

 Thoughtful layout with an inviting entrance hallway;

 Generous open-plan kitchen, meals, and living area with courtyard views;

 Twobedrooms, master with walk-in robe and full ensuite;

 Well-appointed main bathroom with shower and bath;

 Ducted central heating and split system air conditioning for year-round comfort;

 Secure garage with additional storage and direct access to the residence;

Briefdetails fdetails

 Low-maintenance gardens with acovered alfresco area and private driveway,and;

 Prime location just moments away from the vibrant CBD.

The opportunity to invest in iconic commercial real estate doesn’t come around all that often. Combine ahistorical landmark with an approved planning permit to further develop this solid investment with accommodation apartments and you have the ability for strong returns into the future. The property has awealth of history dating back to circa 1880, when the sandstone building was constructed. Asolid brick building taking in the design of abygone era with the potential to bring the décor into the modern world. Renovate the current commercial premise to create astylish Bed and Breakfast accommodation centre, vibrant hospitality hub, professional office space or manager’sresidence.

The approved planning permit for afurther eight accommodation apartments at the rear creates afurther investment advantage to the property

With aland parcel of approximately 1000m2 there is ample land for the development and access is via Little Johnson Street. This is

New partnership, same trusted service LeoO’Brien Property nowunder the Gippsland Real Estatebanner

Twolocally owned and operated real estateagents have joined forces, bringing together morethan 200years of dedicated service andexpertise.

The partnershipbetween Gippsland Real Estate and LeoO’Brien Property will deliver improved coverage of the Wellington Shireareaand asuperior client experience, while maintaining existing local relationships.

The expanded team will continue its strong emphasis on honesty and integrity, with the best interest of clients alwaysatthe forefront.

Under the banner of Gippsland Real Estate, the partnership will deliver top-quality real estateservices across Sale, Maffra,Heyfield, the surrounding district,and furtherafield.

Whilethe signage in the Sale office may have changed, the trusted staff and client-focused service will remain.

Born and bred Sale resident Jarrod Freeman will manage the Sale team and will be assisted by LeoO’Brien, Lachy Henderson and Chloe Downie.

JARROD FREEMAN, LEO O’BRIEN, BRETTLANIGAN &PAT WEATHERLEY

LACHY HENDERSON,JARROD FREEMAN, LEO O’BRIEN &CHLOE DOWNIE

Shareyour land passion

ARE you passionateabout increasinglocal environmental resilience, do you too have the skills to help strengthen and connect the local community? You can also share your passion and strategic knowledge by joining the Maffra and Districts Landcare Network(MDLN) board, where there are current vacancies.

MDLN is holding its annual general meeting (AGM) on Tuesday October 10 at Maffco Brewery and Taphouse, at 8Bundalaguah Rd, Maffra. At the AGM, people will hear from participants of past MDLN projects and the affect it had on increasingenvironmental value, production, and biodiversity. It starts at 7pm and closes at 8.45pm. Acost of $27 perpersonfor catering will be required for non-members of MDLN.

RSVP to Bonnie at bonnier@mdln.com.au or 0484 002 296 by October 7. MDLNispart of theLandcareAustralia movement.

“Over the last 30-plus years, Landcare has evolved to become one of the largest volunteer movements in Australia,”according to Landcare Australia’s website.

“Thereare thousands of people and countless communities working together towards sustainable land use and undertaking on-ground action to protect, enhanceorrestore an area on behalf of the community. The Landcare model has been so successful it has been adopted in over 20 countries.”

Into the business of bugs

Ben McArthur

DR John Caldow visited the Stratford library on Wednesday to speak to kids about the benefits of insect diversity in ecosystems.

Caldow is an environmental education expert fromSale withakeen interest in the role biodiversity plays in maintaininghealthyecosystems.

He has been workingwith‘Bug Blitz’ for 16 years and is the current program director Dr Caldow believes he has talked to more than 40,000 students and taken over150,000 photos of insects collected by young children.

“I think when we go out and we’re finding bugs, we’ve got the greatest bug collection force in the world. No one is better at finding bugs then children,” he said.

“We found some strange things. Maybe even a new species of an interesting huntsman in the local area. Akid found it about 10 years ago, but it may be an undiscovered species of huntsman.”

As part of his school holidayprogram, Dr Caldow has been visiting libraries in the Gippsland region.

He visited the Rosedale, Sale, Maffra, Startford and Yarram libraries.

Dr Caldow said he enjoys the travelling aspect of his work.

“I never feel tired, because it’s always apleasure to work with children, and their parents and grandparents, Ilove it,” he said.

“When you’re doing what you love you don’t feel tired.”

Dr Caldow has aGunaikurnai assistant called ElectraGreene, who thinks people often forget how important insects are to society.

“Our bugs are really important to the

environment. If you don’t have bugs, we don’t get all the thingsthat make the Earth go round,” she said.

The eventwas part of awiderschoolholiday program in Wellington Shire libraries themed around insects.

Nothing to fear

In the cozy nooks of our local library, nestled among shelves of books, an event unfolded that captured the curiosity and fear of young minds.

Dr. John Caldow, aman with apassion for the tiny creatures that inhabit our world, began his presentation by pullinga littlespider, half the size of an index finger out of its enclosure.

He opened “Now kids, this is what we call a‘social huntsman’ and it can’t hur…”

Before John could even finish his sentence a young girl in pink clothes, no morethan four years old, let out ashriek, began crying and ran to her mother.

This is what Johnwould call acommon but irrational panic.

“My experience with huntsman spiders and spidersingeneral,we’ve caught tens of thousands of huntsman spiders and spiders in general over the years and they’re usually very small. But even the bigger ones, like the huntsman …aslong as they’re handled properly, they’reactuallyvery nice creatures, we’ve totally misunderstood them. We have built Arachnophobia.”

Dr John Caldow holding a“social huntsman.”

Leongatha local wins award for community engagement

APASSIONATE advocate for integration and unity, Natasha Davis, has been recognised for excellence as an educator in community engagement in G8 Education’s annual awards.

Ms Davis was awarded ‘2023 Regional StandOut Educator in Community Engagement’ for her efforts at Brown Street Children’s Centre in Leongatha.

Ms Davis, who started working at G8 Education in 2019, said the award acknowledged her work to teachchildrenthat “caring for your community will make theworldabetter place”.

“Since Ibegan working here, it’s been my mission to make sure we build strong relationships with families and the broader community,” Ms Davis said. “Our community is what keeps us going.”

G8 Education chief people and transformation officer, Tabitha Pearson, said the company, Australia’s secondlargest provider of quality early learning and care, held the annual awards to honour excellence and effective leadership.

“We providefreeonline learning modulesfor staff, which relate directly to community engagement and how to promote this in an early childhood centre,” Ms Pearson said.

“Overthe years, Natasha has gone aboveand beyond to ensure community connections are strengthened, including organising aweekend event where she invited local traders into the centre and hosted acommunity market.

“It’s our philosophyatG8Education to encourage our child care centres to look at ways to connect with smalllocal businessesand other communitybased initiatives whilst playing an importantrole in the development of young children.”

If you are looking for achildcare centre with

Leongatha local Natasha Davis’award is atestamenttothe wonderful careand education providedtochildreninLeongatha

strong community spirit, contact G8 Education about 2024enrolments which are now open. Families can find out more at www.g8education. com.au

Photo: Contributed.

Not safer together

Comment

John Cameron

AFTER the 2009 bushfires,the Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission (VBRC) recommended 5per cent of the forest be fuel reduced each year, even though fire behaviour expertscalledfor 8per cent in line with practise in Western Australia.

In 2015 Victoria ignoredthe VBRC recommendation and theadvice of Australia’s most experienced fire behaviour experts and introduced anew approach, ‘Safer Together’. The Minister, the Hon Lisa Neville, said:

“Our newapproachisabout doing more to reduce the risk of bushfire, and knowing what we do is more effective. We will involve local communities in decision making, taking into account what people value in theirlocal area.”

‘Safer Together’ was not safer, or moreeffective, nor what local rural communities wanted. The resulting fuel reduction since has averaged about 1.4 per cent of the forest each year, well below theVBRC 5per cent target and expert recommendation of 8per cent. In the summer of 2019-20, 1.6 million ha was burnt,396 houses destroyed, businessesirreparably damaged and five lives lost despite mildweather in the fortnightafterignition.

Inquiries since have generally blamed climate change and ignored or downplayedthe fundamental impact of heavy forest fuels on fire intensity, rate of spread, fire spotting and difficulty of suppressing bushfires.

Area burnt, lives lost and difficulty of suppressing wildfires is determined by fire intensity. And fire intensity is influenced more by the quantityof available fuel (dry fine surface and near surface leavesand twigs)than it is by theforest fire danger index (climate, weather and drought factor)

Residual risk too risky

VICTORIA’S objective is to maintain the statewide averagebushfire risk at or below aresidualrisk of 70% in the long-term. This ‘residual risk’ is aproxy for the averagestatewideriskthatbushfires pose to life and property. It is expressedasthe percentage of risk that remains after both unplanned bushfire history and planned and implemented fuel reduction activities are taken into account. It is reported on an annual basis.

The target of 70 per cent ‘residual risk’ means that the Victorian Government delivers on average only a30per cent reduction in bushfire risk, relative to a‘time bomb’ forest with absolutely no bushfire mitigation whatsoever. Forests with no bushfire mitigation carry catastrophic wildfires even under non-catastrophic climatic conditions.

Experts in bushfire behaviour believe that the target residual risk of 70 per cent is far too high and leavesVictoriavulnerable to megafires and significantlossoflife, homes, property and native flora and fauna. Alowerresidual risk targetof about 20 per cent is roughly equivalenttothe VBRC target of 5per cent fuel reduction each year, and is requiredifweare to avoid catastrophic bushfire loss in the future.

Counting wildfirenonsense

THE VictorianGovernmentonly ever achievesits

bushfireresidual risk target of 70 per cent with substantial wildfire, the fires they claim their ‘Safer Together’ policy is supposed to reduce. The residual bushfire riskonly drops below70per cent aftersubstantial area burnt by high intensity wildfire –the type of fire the policy wassupposedly designed to avoid. This ‘Safer Together’ Policy and its reliance on very high Residual Risk of 70 per centisreckless and extremely dangerous. The IGEM reported dissatisfactionbyemergency and community sectors with fuel reduction and the IGEM recommended a review of the residual risk target with substantial fire.

The Victorian Government mistakenly assumes high intensity wildfire over summer delivers the same result as alow intensity wildfire during milder weather in autumn or spring. It does not. Unlike low intensity prescribed fire, high intensity wildfire results in impenetrable tall dense understory often dominated by flammable species such as ‘petrol bush’.

Volunteer scrub from wildfire such as in 2019-20, becomes ladder fuel making the forest more fire prone and future fuel reduction and bushfire suppression much more difficult. Department of Energy, Environment and ClimateAction (DEECA) statewide residual risk is an ‘average’ residual risk across districts.

Residual risk results in unacceptable regional risk

IMPLEMENTED fuel reduction and ‘unplanned’ bushfires are averagedacross districts to arrive at astatewide residual risk, whichisthen compared to the statewide target of 70%residual risk. This has resulted in Forest FireManagement Victoria Latrobe District with aresidual risk well in excess of 70% A raging bushfire in Latrobe District is not going to be pulled up by the fact that the residual risk in the Snowy District 250 km away is below the target of 70%.

DEECA residual risk in June 2022 for Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic)Snowy District was 5% primarily based on 717,000 ha of wildfire in 2019-20 and Tambo District was 28%, also primarily based on 942,000 ha of wildfire in 2019-20. Given the changed forest composition with ladder fuel, these estimates of residual risk grossly underestimates the bushfirerisk in the Tambo and Snowy Districts.

Fuel reduction withinthe 2019-20 East Gippslandfire ground (embracing Tambo and Snowy Districts) averaged only 0.6 per cent in four yearsbefore the fire (only 26,500haper annum). Of this, 81% of the prescribed burnt coupes were too small to be effective such that ‘effective’ prescribed burningonly accounted for 0.34 per cent of the forest each year. ‘Effective’prescribed burning was only one fifteenth of that recommended by the Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission. In addition, the coupes werenot strategicallylocated across the landscape, were along way from ignition points, and thus were useless for assisting initial suppression.

Ineffective fuel reduction wasaccompanied by compromised suppression. Tambo fires 38 and 39

were not reported until midday on 21/11/19 and ‘were only able to be resourced on 22nd with three crew members who were taskedtomonitor fire spread and help develop control strategies. This fire grew to 90ha after one day and 745 ha after the third day, where it was fought with only seven firefighters, two bulldozers and no night crew.

Fuel reduction negligent

THE Victorian Governments JointForest Management Plan (JFMP) statesthat: “It aims to meet or exceeddistrict and regional residual risk targets that contribute to the statewide target and to enable the delivery of bushfire management objectives, as documented in the Bushfire Management Strategy (BMS). It providesflexibility to account for different seasonal conditions.”

This statement does not appear to havebeen implemented for FFMVic Latrobe District which embraces Drouin, Traralgon, Noojee and Inverloch. The problem in FFMVic’s Latrobe Districtis that the VictorianGovernmenthas negligently allowed the residualrisk to climbto83per centin 2022,well above asafelevel, and has no effective plan to reduce it according to their Joint Forest Management Plan (JFMP).

Despite the dire situation, the planned fuel reduction for Latrobe District is apaltry 12,000 ha per annum over the next threeyears. This will allow the residual risk in Latrobe District to climb to 84 per cent before dropping eversoslightlyto79 percent leading into the summer of 2025-26.With typical 43% implementation we can expect only 5000 ha pa of actual fuel reduction and residual risk to climb towards 100 per cent.

The planned fuel reduction for Latrobe of only 2.1% of the forest is wellbelow 5per cent recommended by the VictorianBushfire Royal Commission, as are the plannedfuel reduction for Tambo and Snowy.

The Andrews Government only implements 43 per cent of its planned fuel reduction. Assuming this 43 per cent applies to Latrobe District, then the planned fuel reduction of 2.1 per cent will probably only deliveractual fuel reductioninofabout 1per cent or one fifth of the VBRC recommended 5per cent of the forest each year.

High costs

VICTORIAN fuel reduction costsare averaging $1500/ha over thepast three years and are about five times as expensive as implemented by DEECA’s counterpart DBCA in the South West Forests of WA.DBCA prescribed burncostsfor the South WestForests of WA average $300/ha over the last few years. DEECA’s overhead costs for Victorian prescribed burning are excessive.

John Cameron (Dip Hort. Burnley and MBA Monash) is aforestry and business consultant previously holding positions in General Management, Corporate Development, Forest Research,and Consultant andasa Fire Controller in aCFA Industry Brigade. He has made numerous submissions to various bushfire inquiries.

Huge birthday celebration coming up

Stefan Bradley

SALE and District Garden Club willbecelebrating its 130th birthday on Sunday, October 15 with a special open day event.

The club’s continued goal is to help its members maintain agarden for beauty as well as practicality.

Throughout the club’s long history, it has gone intoremissionand been reformed afew times, often reflecting the economy of the nation at the time. Today, that reflection shows again with the loss of members due to old age and Covid.

There are members who have been with the club for 50 years.

Their knowledge is like alibrary stored for passing to others.

It is hoped that new members come along to help buildupthe club,aimingtobeinclusive to the nextgeneration while sharing gardeningtips and practices.

“It’s not just people getting together to discuss what they’re doing in their garden, it’s sharing what you know,sootherscan garden to benefit their health, especially mental health, by getting out and puttingthings into the dirt,”clubsecretary Karen Fidler said.

“When people have common interests, those people are happier, more creative and more willing to share.”

Ms Fidler became anew club member just this year, and has already learnt many things about gardening, especially from others.

“And then you can go and pass that knowledge on,” she said.

“Some plants can only grow in aspecific area. You don’t want to spend money on aplant that will

die because it’s been planted in the wrong spot.”

To welcome people who have an interest in gardening,evenifthey don’thaveagarden of their own, the club’s open day event on Sunday, October 15 at 1.30pm at their clubrooms at the Gwen Webb Centre, Market Street, in Sale.

This is an opportunity to learn more about the

club andgardening specifically, with all welcome.

Therewill be plants for sale and aDevonshire afternoon tea for agold coin donation.

On other occasions, the club meets the third Sunday of the month, also at the Gwen Webb Centre at 1:30pm.

This usually involves short group meetings, a trade tablewithplants for sale, araffle and a guest speaker to talk about their special interest.

There have been talks on worms, herbs, bees, what to do with what you grow, seed identification, composting,edible weeds, wicking beds, bonsai, gardenproduct knowledge, bottling of produce, recipe sharing and making kokedamas.

An extensive gardening book collection is available for lendingtomembers, and bus tripstovisit

Open Gardens and plant shows are an annual highlight.

The club is registered with the Royal Horticultural Society. As an optionalactivity, memberswishing to bring along produce from the flower and vegetable garden,displaytheirgoodsfor judging with points and money earned.

Ms Fidler says that gardening can be acosteffective activity, and you can learn by borrowing books from the library or purchasing them at op shops.

“If you have soil at your home, or aplanter box, you can put awhole year’s crop of strawberries in it if you know how to do it,” she said.

“And the club shares seeds as well.”

The Sale and District Garden Club would love to welcome back past members of the club, as well as young people.

For more information, email saleanddistrictgardenclub@gmail.comorfollowtheir Facebook page.

Secretary of the Sale and District Garden Club, KarenFidler. Photo: Stefan Bradley

We

SALE

Oct. 7th, 8am to 2pm.

Maffra Sale Motorcycle Club general meeting at 7pm, AGM at 7:45. Maffra Clubrooms. Tuesday October 10.

INDOOR/

Several

jinglebells @netspace.net.au

More Situations

Wanted •

CAR REMOVALS Free service. Phone Sam 0488 471 163

AGM

Maffra and Districts Landcare Network AGM, Tuesday October 10, 7pm to 8:45pm at Maffco Brewery and Taphouse, 8 Bundalaguah Rd, Maffra. Light supper provided $27 pp -free for MDLN members. RSVPto Bonnie at 0484002296 or bonnier@mdln.com.au

Bonaccord Freightlines is currently hiring:

● Full Time Long Distance HC Drivers (Interstate)

● Casual Relief MC Driver (Lindenow to Melbourne)

Please visit our website https://bonaccordingram.com.au/careers for further

are currently two opportunities for full time Retail Sales positions located at our Sale branch. Essential to your success with Brownwigg is:

● Excellent computer skills in Microsoft Office

● Communicates well with customers

● Ordering stock /maintaining stock levels

● Weekend work on amonthly rotation basis

● The ability to negotiate and build strong relationships

● Demonstrated sales ability, effective rapport building and resilience

● Determination to achieve results no matter the obstacle

● Immaculate personal presentation

● Apositive attitude and drive for personal growth

● Aforklift license is an advantage

● Work well in ateam environment.

If you thrive in afast-paced sales environment, are motivated, energetic and are looking for a long-term career then apply today. Email: admin@brownwigg.com.au or call 5144 4441

CGH Aged Care Registered Nurse

Full-time, part-time &casualpositions available

● Are you passionate about making adifference in people's lives?

● Do you enjoy and get satisfaction from providing high quality support and care?

● Do you have passion for aged care?

If so, we'd love you to join our team!

Central Gippsland Health are seeking to appoint qualified Registered Nurses to our Aged Care team at Stretton Park facility in Maffra.

Relevant Nursing Qualification and current registration with AHPRA is required.

To apply for the role or for further information, go to https://centralgippslandhealth.mercury.com.au

or contact Glysa Selby, Aged Care Services Manager Stretton Park on (03) 5147 0150

Aged Care Personal Care Assistant -Stretton Park

Full-time, part-time and casual positions available

● Are you passionate about making adifference in people's lives?

● Do you enjoy and get satisfaction from providing high quality support and care?

● Do you have apassion for aged care?

If so, we'd love you to join our team!

Central Gippsland Health are seeking Personal Care Assistants to support our clients and provide effective and efficient services to meet the individual needs and preferences of Stretton Park residents.

Relevant experience and qualifications are required.

To apply for the role or for further information, go to https://centralgippslandhealth.mercury.com.au or contact Glysa Selby, Aged Care Service Manager on (03) 5147 0150

Aged Care Services Manager /DON (Maffra Campus)

Permanent Full Time

CGHS is currently seeking an Aged Care Services Manager /DON to join our dynamic and friendly team, to provide leadership and operational management and create aculture where people feel supported and appreciated to ensure high-quality customer service to residents and families.

Experience in Aged Care with proven leadership ability is essential, together with understanding of accreditation, aged care and sub-acute funding and residential care /home care package agreements. Registration with AHPRA is required, and astrong commitment to excellence and continuous quality improvement is amust. To apply for the role or for further information, go to https://centralgippslandhealth.mercury.com.au or contact Caron Mallet, Director Aged Care Services on (03) 5143 8701.

Manager Organisational Strategy and Performance -Full time -Bairnsdale

Waste Minimisation Officer -Full time -Lakes Entrance SUBARU Forester,2013, auto, reg. till Feb '24, nice car, 107,000km, r.w.c. ZOB-034, service records, $16,660. Ph 0428 746 634.

Apprenticeship Opportunities (FitterandTurner)

(DualTrade)

Tenders

Request for Tender

VOLVO, S60, 2013, 5cyl turbo T5, elderly lady owner, low country kms, like new, $14,990

Caravans

• 2015 Jayco Outback pop top, 1owner, ESC brakes, 3-way fridge, a/c, gas/elec. h.w.s., external hot/cold swr, solar panel, $30,000 neg. Ph 0418 598 128.

AVAN camper, 2006,12ft, as new, little use, sleep 3, solar panel, 3-way fridge, h.w.s., annexe, $12,800, easy tow 4cyl. car Churchill. Ph 0456 422 666.

Multi Agency Co-Location Feasibility and Options Assessment

Contract No. 8711

Gippsland Ports is seeking tenders, closing 12pm Friday 17 November 2023, from suitably qualified consultants to conduct amulti-stage project that examines office accommodation and infrastructure requirements of multiple maritime agencies in East Gippsland, including consideration of co-location at asuitable location.

Further information and Tender documents are available online at www.gippslandports.vic.gov.au.

The lowest or any tender may not necessarily be accepted.

Motoring Deal

Atotal of 12 issues over amonth!

Cash or credit card, through

Birthdays

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

KEENAN (nee Lyons), Jennifer Margaret "Jenny"

4/10/1953 -1/10/2023

Passed away peacefully on October 1, 2023, at 69 years of age. Beloved wife of Arthur.

Loving mother to Joel and Alice.

Doting mother-in-law to Amanda and Kevin. Adored grandmother of Lincoln and Isaac. Thank you to all the wonderful staff at The Alfred Hospital. Your care and support is truly appreciated. We hold you close within our hearts, And there you shall remain, To walk with us through our lives, Until we meet again.

PHELAN, John William. (Darkie)

Passed away at Sale Hospital on September 26, 2023.

Aged 88 years.

Dearly loved husband of Pauline.

Loved father and fatherin-law of Catherine and Mark, Dom and Kathryn, Nick and Rebecca, Gerard and Louise. Loved Pop to Matthew, Ryan, Breanna, Olivia; Amelia, Maeve; Abel and Wilderae.

Loved son of the late Williamand Agnes Phelan.

Loved brother and brother-in-law of Julie and Fred Lotton,Patrick (dec.), Josephine (dec.), Susan (dec.), and Bernard (dec.). Rest In Peace

PHILLIPS, Barry. 03/08/1937 -23/09/2023

CAMPER trailer, brand new, off road, custom built, never used, reg'd, sleeps 2, custom built factory made pull-out kitchen, $7500. Ph 0411 428 914.

Deaths •

CAMPER Trailer, off-road, water tank and pump, elec. brakes, 12v batt. and 12v plugs, boat rack, erect trailer for tinny $7000 o.n.o. Ph 0488 301 283.

PARAMOUNT Thunder 19'6'' pop-top, 2020, custom made, dual axle, full ens., L-shaped lounge, bike rack, diesel heater, QS bed, el/brakes, Dexter anti-sway, gas/240v HWS, 3-way fridge, m/wave, anti-flap kit, Dometic awn., solar panel, rev. camera, w/mach., TV, exc. cond., great van, easy to tow, $68,000. 0431 159 984.

TOYOTA Hiace camper '86, auto, diesel, fully fitted, m/w, 3-way fridge, gas stv, suit 1 person, annexe, reg. 31/10, bike rack, 274, 000km, $11,000 ono. 0428 346 224.

Trucks

4WD Auto.

ZMQ 200.

DEUTZ tractor 100hp, good con., $25,000. FIAT tractor 411R and slasher, good con. $5000. TOYOTA ute 1994 FJ75, $15,000. WEBSTER 4.0m alum. boat, 35hp, g.c. $8500. Phone 0428 748 044.

ADAMS, John. My brother. He was kind, funny and we would laugh alot. We will miss you heaps. RIP. Love you heaps. Say hello to Heather for us.

Love Sue, Phil, Sandra, Bec, Lisa and family.

ADAMS, John Richard. Our friend and former committee member. Thoughts are with David, Christine, Kathand families at this sad time. We will miss John's wit, his love of agood chat and the support he gave to the hall and community activities. Rest peacefully John Stradbroke Hall Committee

DYER, Gilbert John. 12/02/1933 -23/09/2023

Passed away peacefully. Dearly loved brother and brother-in-law of Fred and Adelaide Dyer (both dec.). Fond uncle of Gayle and Trevor Work and Greg Dyer and families. Sadly missed

EDGAR, William James. (Bill) TheEdgar family announces with great sadness the passing of William James Edgar (Bill) on September 25, 2023, aged 95. Bill is now reunited with Sheila and is survived by his children and their spouses, Michael and Cheryl, Tony and Sue, Kevin and Joan, Mary and Paul, Brendan and Louise, Andrew and Monica and Robert. He was amuch loved grandfather of 22 and great grandfather of 22.

Mum, My best friend, my rock. My life will not be the same without you. Ipromise the boys will always remember how much they were loved by you. You were always there through the good and the bad times, supporting us with your kindness and love. You put our needs before your own and all you asked for in return was to be loved. Everyone who knew you loved you. I miss you and love you so much. Your values and beliefs will be passed onto our boys. Ilove you with all my heart. Alice.

Iwill miss you more than words can express. Our lives go on without you but nothing will be the same. Thank you for all your words of encouragement, your wisdom and kindness. Thank you for all the wond erful memories, the good times and the laughs. Life will not be the same without you. Iloveyou Mum. Joel.

OLIVER, Carmel Mary.

Late of Sale and formerly of Yarram.

Passed away September 18, 2023. Aged 75 years. Daughter of the late Jeff and Pat Morris.

Loved mother and mother-in-law to Nathan and Rachel, Rebekah and Ross.

Adored grandmother to Sam and Caroline, Trisha and Nick, Harlan, Kate, Michael and Tilly.

Aprivefuneral was held on September 26, 2023.

PATTINSON, Alice Ethel. Passed away peacefully on September 24, 2023. Aged 91 years. Much loved mother and mother-in-law of Trevor and Jude, loved nan of Michael and Lisa, Kristy and Cam, and great nan of Zara, Ava, Nash, Cruz, Levi and Zac. Thank you for all you have done for our family.

"You gave us achance to say goodbye, to joke, to laugh, to talk and cry. Strong to the end you made no fuss, you tried so hard to stay with us." Rest peacefully. xxxx

Passed away suddenly at home. Loving partner of Marj and father of Stephen and Janet. Forever in our hearts. Keep on sailing

PHILLIPS, Barry. 3/8/1937 -23/9/2023

Asmile for all and aheart of gold. One of the best this world could hold. Abeautiful memory left behind. Cherished father and father-in-law of Stephen and Karen. Adored Pa of Kris, Nicole and Marty, Justin, Julie and Jaime, Rob and Melissa, Tracy (dec.), Bill and Melissa and Craig. Pa Barry to 18 great grandchildren. Abest mate ason could ever have.

PHILLIPS, Barry. 1937 -2023

Bestmate and neighbour of the Griffiths family for 56 years. Will be sadly missed. Great memories of slot car racing, water skiing, sailing, snow skiing and lots of camping trips. He is now amemberof the great yacht club in the sky. Happy sailing Baz. Mal, Griffo (dec.), Sandra and Darren, Kerry and James, Jennie.

SAHLSTROM, (nee Hastings), Joyce. Passed away 23/9/2023. Adored sister and sisterin-law of Chas (dec.), Fay and Lawrence (dec.), Lynn and Graham. Peacefully at Ashleigh House. How proud and privileged Fay and Iwere to be able to assist with your transition to the Manor!

From your bridesmaid and flower girl, but most importantly your sisters. Loved Aunty to Kimley, Melissa and their families. As another leaf falls from our family tree. Love always. "See Ya Joycie"

SAHLSTROM, Joyce. Aged 88

Passed away 23/9/2023

Loved sister of Fay. Sister-in-law of Lawrence (dec.). Auntie of Wayne (dec.) and family. Ithink of you often, And make no outward show, What it means to lose you, No one will ever know. You wished no farewell, Not even said goodbye, You were gone before I knew it. Rest in Peace

STUMP, Josephine Mary. 30/1/1931 -26/9/23

Much loved mum of Andrew, David (dec.) and Jacquelyn. Beloved wife of Jimmy (dec.). The sun has gone behind the clouds forever. Aprivate memorial service will be held.

SZABO, George Geza.

8/10/1943 -25/9/2023

Cherished, loved and adored husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. My dad, my hero, My teacher of life. The stories you told with your special humour will always be engraved in my memories with our life we spent together.

The faces you made when photos were taken will always make me smile.

Iwill feel your love with me every day as you loved all you family so much. Iwish you safe travels wherever you may roam as you have always been the gypsy, off on another adventure.

'Til we cross paths again, Dad, every day Iwill tell you Ilove you. Your loving daughter, Kim.

My Poppy George, Iwill miss how lit up you became talking about coins with you. The enthusiasm you had about them when we would meet up to give you what I had collected for you. I'll miss the "Hi love" and the kiss on the cheek when I would see you. Your humour and stories and watching the way you would swindle an extra couple of dollars to try to win big and give me a smirk and awink. The memories Ihave will be forever just like the love Ihave for you. I'll still keep collecting those coins for you. Love you. 'Til Isee you again. Love always and forever, Steph.

EDGAR. Requiem Mass for the repose of the soul of Mr William James Edgar will be offered at St Mary's Cathedral corner Pearson and Foster Streets Sale at 1pm on WEDNESDAY (October 4, 2023).

Following Mass,the funeral will leave the above church for the Sale Lawn Cemetery. For those unable to attend, a"Youtube" broadcast of the service will take place, please check our website for details.

PHILLIPS. The funeral aervice for Mr Barry Phillips will be held at The Le Pine Chapel, 132 Mt Dandenong Road, Croydon on FRIDAY (October 6, 2023) at 2pm. Private cremationto follow. In lieu of flowers donationstoEastern Palliative Care would be appreciated. For live stream details please contact Le Pine Funerals.

Gippsland’s globalgreys

THE Great Global Greyhound Walk was held recently.

Gippsland was represented on the global stage when agroup of passionate greyhound owners participate in the 2023 Great Global Greyhound Walk in Traralgon on Sunday, September 24.

The Great Global Greyhound Walk (GGGW) is an annual dog-walking event that brings together greyhounds and their owners from around the world to raise awareness of the breed and demonstrate to the community what wonderful pets they make.

The walk originated in Great Britain in 2010 and went global in 2014.

Lastyear, 10,620greyhounds participated in 432 walks across 29 countries. Australia contributed 1763 sighthounds in 59 walks.

KEENAN (nee Lyons).

For funeral arrangements for Mrs Jennifer Margaret "Jenny" Keenan please check our website or phone:

SAHLSTROM. The funeral service for Mrs Joyce "Joy" Sahlstrom will be held at Delbridge Funeral Chapel, Marley Street, Sale at 1.30pm TOMORROW (Wednesday October 4, 2023), followed by a private cremation. Please see our website for livestream details.

The Latrobe Valley Greyhound Group hosted the event, and has seen rapid growth since being established less than 12 months ago.

LVGG President David Roberts said the firstwalkin November 2022 had three greyhounds and awhippet,and now the average is over 22.

“We’re excited to be participating in the globalwalkand haveteamed up with arangeoforganisationsand business expand our walk into an ‘Adoption Day’ as well," he said in the leadup to the event.

“Peoplewill have achance to come alongtomeet agreyhound and discuss rehoming options with adoption agencies such as Toongabbie Lodge and Racing 2Rehome.

“Greyhounds make great pets. They need little exercise and spend alot of their time sleeping. They are very affectionate and are great to have around”

Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing took part in the walk, and said it was agreat initiative.

and topped off with acompetition for the best dressed pointy face at the end.

PHELAN. Requiem Mass for the repose of the soul of Mr. John William (Darkie) Phelan will be offered at St. Mary's Catholic Church, cnr. Church and McMillan Sts., Maffra on FRIDAY (October 6, 2023) commencing at 1pm.

At the conclusion of mass the cortege will leave the church for the Maffra Lawn Cemetery.

"Today was avery specialday to get the sneakers on -as the Latrobe Valley Greyhound Group led the very first Great Global Greyhound Walk in Traralgon," she said.

"It was all about conversation, socialisation,and perambulation,

Well done to everyone who putthis event together -in particular to David Roberts and Kathleen Roberts, and all of the sponsors and volunteers who made everyone welcome. And if you’re after afunny, sweet, gentle and extremely lazy dog breed who will love you and your couch, why not join the army of us who wouldn’t be withoutatleast one greyhound in our lives?

For more information on ToongabbieLodge, visit https:// toongabbielodge.com.au.

Young guns in action for Stars

The GreatGlobal Greyhound Walk in Traralgon

Photo:Contributed

Traralgon’s Brodie Adams wasawarded Player of the Carnival forthe LatrobeValley Under 14s.

Photo: Contributed

Photo: TomHayes

East Gippsland U13’s Oliver Sullivan (Sale JFC) streams down the wing

Photos: TomHayes

East Gippsland U13’s HudsonFroud (WyYung JFC)wasdominant across half back.

Photo: Tom Hayes

Nine team comp about to start

Liam Durkin

I WAS walking down the street concentrating on truckin’ right

A new cricket season begins this Saturday, as the Sale-Maffra Cricket Association gets set for the 2023/24 campaign

Some movement in the offseason has seen local players switch allegiances, while South Africa appears to be the place to prize international recruits

No less than four of the competition’s nine first grade clubs have a South African import

Yes, nine first grade clubs, not the eight pundits have been accustomed to

That is because the SMCA has welcomed a new club, with Yarram District switching from the Traralgon District Cricket Association

The TDCA merged with the neighbouring Latrobe Valley District Cricket League in the offseason, creating a 21-club association - the second-biggest in country Victoria behind only Ballarat (on 22 clubs) The Pelicans decided their future would be best suited in Sale-Maffra, and have joined to expand the competition

No doubt some players have already circled Yarram on the fixture for the bus trip

Speaking of fixtures, with an uneven number of first grade teams, there will now also be a bye

While such a fate is inevitable, there has been some discussion surrounding just how fair this season’s draw is

Sale for instance does not play Longford - not even in a one dayer

With respect to Longford, should the Swans miss a home final, or even finals for that matter, due to a denied outright, they may well have grounds to grovel

Season 2023/24 is certainly looming as a new era for local cricket - even more so now that MyCricket is a a thing of the past

No more inflated junior stars

Every secretary’s worst nightmare came true when MyCricket was phased out, to be replaced by PlayHQ, which will get its first run for premiership points this weekend

With experts predicting a hot summer to come, the sight of grown men playing a game in long pants under a blazing sun for hours on end may give people watching reason to believe their time could be better spent elsewhere

But, those same people who wonder why cricket takes so long might also see the very reason there and then

It takes so long because it matters so much

COLLEGIANS

Last season: Premier

Captain: Zac Hurley

Coach: Matt Foster

Ins: None

Outs: Adrian Burgiel (Boisdale-Briagolong), Noah

Hurley (Dandenong - Premier Cricket), Henry Anderson (interstate), Jake Durnell (England)

Teams: 1st 2nds 4ths

JUST how will they go without Noah?

While it took a team effort to win the premiership last season, Collegians come into the new season without their trump card

Express quick Noah Hurley is heading back to Victorian Premier Cricket (a place some believe he never should have left), meaning College will need to throw the new ball to someone else

Finding a new ball bowler might be easy enough in the form of one of the Morrison’s, but getting someone to send them down at 130 clicks like Hurley did will be virtually impossible Hurley’s pace obliterated Sale in the Grand Final last season, as he and Nathan Whitford reduced the Swans to 6/2

There was no MyCricket crash that day, that was honestly the score Some long time SMCA followers described it as the best opening spell they had seen in a Grand Final for 20 years

Also departing the scene is English spinner Jake Durnell, and veteran batsman Adrian Burgiel, while fellow veteran Stuart Anderson is unlikely to be able to play another full season of A Grade

This will leave Collegians short of some class, but returning captain Zac Hurley will still have ever reason to be confident, given it was their young stars like Tom Morrison, who peeled off a coming-of-age century in the Grand Final, who were most pivotal in their premiership victory Tom Morrison, Charlie Morrison, Hurley and Jed Malone may still be young in age, but they are certainly not young in experience anymore, meaning Collegians could be poised to be contending for a few more years yet

SALE

Last season: Runner-up

Captain: Ben Jones

Ins: Lachlan Carman (Meerlieu), Shaun Wolmarans (South Africa)

Outs: None

Teams: 1st, 2nds, 3rds, 4ths

PICK your poison

Now they’ve got three guns South Africans

Sale superstar Gareth Wolmarans, who took the competition by storm last season, scoring more than 500 runs and taking close to 20 wickets after arriving in Round 4, has brought his brother over to be part of the Swans’ journey

And apparently, he is even better than Gareth Shaun Wolmarans looks very much in the Marco Jansen mould, as a beanpole quick who will give opposition bats plenty to ponder this summer

Oh yeah, and then there is Coenie Nel

Completing the trifecta of Proteas, Nel, now more or less a local, is also coming off a 500 run and near 40 wicket season

After claiming the minor premiership last season, and appearing well on track of taking the main title, the Swans hit a roadblock in the biggest game of the season, in what eventually became a case of “everything that could go wrong, went wrong”

Speaking to Sale players in the aftermath, they were circumspect, noting it was at least a quick kill and gave them hardly any time to wallow in self-pity

Having dusted themselves off from that Grand Final experience, the Swans will be eager to rectify the shortcoming Premiership player Lachlan Carman is back from his stint in Meerlieu, and could find himself bowling holding pattern overs in tandem with returning skipper Ben Jones

Opening bat Dan Padula, who enjoyed a full season in A Grade last season, is expected to hit the ground running, having played cricket in Darwin over winter

STRATFORD

Last season: Third

Captain: Jack Rietschel

Coach: Peter Morrison

Ins: Cormac Hassett (returning) Brad White (Lindenow South), Tyson Birss (Heyfield)

Outs: Nathan French (Bundalaguah), Seb Pendergat (Maffra), Lachie Dowd (Maffra), Nathan Thomas (Longford)

Teams: 1st, 2nds, 4ths

THEY still have both Jacks

Regardless of who Stratford has lost, most people believe they will still be competitive as long as they have Jack Rietschel and Jack Tatterson

The two Jacks have been two of the most prolific players in the SMCA in the last decade, and should again feature heaving among the league’s top-10 batting and bowling aggregates

As always, the Redbacks have been proactive in their off-field endeavours, and have appointed Peter Morrison as coach, a man well-known to the Stratford community Morrison coached Stratford to multiple football premierships, and was also a noted cricketer in his playing days, with a top score of 237

There has been hardly any let-off for Morrison, who only just finished coaching Sale FootballNetball Club in a Grand Final a fortnight ago

It is expected Morrison will oversee training and gameday, and help take some of the load off Rietschel and co

Stratford has also managed to get Cormac Hassett back to wicket-keep following the departure of Nathan French Club legend Simon Williams has been appointed seconds captain, and will be working with up-andcomers, and as a conduit for players moving up and down the grades

An aspect that has stood out with Stratford in

Defending Sale-Maffra Cricket Association premier Collegians.

Photo: File

Tom Morrison lit up the Grand Final last season, scoring 129 for Collegians

Photo: File

recent seasons is the sheer willingness of Redback players to want to play cricket

Stratford is generally well represented in GCL teams across the age groups, and players often go out of their way to squeeze in an extra hit wherever possible

This willingness should serve the Redbacks well in season 2023/24

ROSEDALE-KILMANY

Last season: Fourth

Captain: Isaac Love

Ins: Kai Snape (Darwin), Drew Owen (England), Balil Kamal (England)

Out: Nathan Hangan (relocated)

Teams: 1sts, 2nds, 4ths

THE team you never hear much from or know much about

The team that just quietly goes about their business, and generally springs a result or two during the season that makes people stand up and take note

Rosedale-Kilmany might have lost their mantle as the most isolated club in the SMCA, but the Warriors are still set to provide much more than nuisance value this season

With Isaac Love again in the drivers seat, and dependable duo Rohan Diamond and Brad Scott not going anywhere, the trio will ensure RK is in with a fighting chance every week

The Warriors have added a couple of Poms to the line-up, but lost Nathan Hangan, who’s military mediums were a Godsend last season, snaring 35 wickets at an average of just 10 29

BUNDALAGUAH

Last season: Fifth

Captain: Jason Langshaw

Coaches: Johandre Barnard, Toby O Rielly, Kyle O Rielly

Ins: Johandrew Barnard (South Africa), Sam Bedggood (Meerlieu), Jake Wynd (Longford), Nathan French (Stratford)

Outs: Kshitiz Sharma (India)

Teams: 1st 2nds 3rds 4ths (Bulls and Yaks)

THEIR luck has to turn eventually

Bundalaguah has been bridesmaids in one way or another in the last five seasons, either finishing runner-up in the Grand Final, or one spot outside the top four

In the season just gone, it was the latter, although by some distance as the Bulls were 13 points adrift

Bundalaguah will hope the inclusions of Sam Bedggood, Nathan French and Jake Wynd help bridge this gap, playing alongside Steve Spoljaric, arguably the best cricketer in Gippsland, not just the SMCA

Bedggood, French and Wynd have extensive experience in the SMCA, and have ties to Bundalaguah as either past players or with family who have played with the club

Wynd will play as a leg-spinner who can bat in the top six, and will hope to see a few stumpings from the gloves of Nathan French, who is joining his brother Nick at the Bulls

A previous Gippsland Times journalist (coincidently, also a Bundalaguah player), previously wanted to use the headline ‘French resistance’ during his tenue, however, the opportunity never arose Here’s hoping it does this season

MAFFRA

Last season: Sixth

Captain: Josh Davis

Coach: Lee Hopkins

Ins: Seb Pendergast (Stratford), Lachie Dowd (Stratford), Chris Lawrence Jonny Lawrence, Josh Rurawhe

Out: Dylan Freitag (Gormandale)

Teams: 1st 2nds, 3rds, 4ths

MAFFRA will look to rebound following a disappointing season

The Eagles were well off the pace in 2022/23, with the unavailability of Josh Davis proving detrimental

A silver lining however was the Second XI winning the premiership, and there could be some players ready to make the jump up into the top flight Davis will again captain the team, and will be joined by Lee Hopkins, once again in the coaches chair

Maffra has added young allrounder Seb Pendergast from Stratford, making him a fulltime Maffra athlete, having also played football with the Eagles in the season just gone Pendergast could bowl the overs departing quick Dylan Freitag did last season, and his ‘all arms and legs’ action will no doubt give batsman more than just the ball to contend with

Kiwi Josh Rurawhe is also back for Maffra, and will likely fill a spot in the middle order Rurawhe was a destructive batsman in years gone by, and Eagles officials will be hoping he hasn’t lost any of his touch

In good news, Maffra will field a women’s team for the first time this season

LONGFORD

Last season: Seventh Captain: Lachlan Floyd

Ins: Mitch Floyd (Traralgon Rovers) Nathan Thomas (Stratford), Stefano Di Bartlomeo (South Africa), Nimna de Silva (Italy) Harry Wilkinson (UK)

Outs: Jake Wynd (Bundalaguah)

Teams: 1st, 3rds, 4ths

EVERYONE’S second-favourite team, Longford

will be out to take more steps in the right direction this season

The Lizards took a quantum leap earlier this year after defeating Stratford - at the time the reining premier

For a club that has had its share of on-field struggles, such a performance would have given the team a great deal of confidence, and vindication they are on the right track, having embarked on a five-year plan a couple of seasons ago

The Lizards will enter year three of that plan this week, and have recruited some decent names to help them along

Three imports from three different countries have joined, as has Nathan Thomas from Stratford

Thomas will be familiar with the Lizards’ home ground at Stephenson Park, having coached Sale City FNC the last two years, Returning captain Lachlan Floyd has got his brother Mitch over from Traralgon, and the pair might share new ball duties

BOISDALE-BRIAGOLONG

Last season: Eighth

Captain: Dylan Bolton

Coach: Adrian Burgiel

Ins: Adrian Burgiel (Collegians), Kevin Renecke (South Africa), Lewis Bolton (Stratford), Mason Annear (Richmond - returning local), Ed Phelan-Penson (Richmond - returning local)

Outs: Shaun May, Connor Hughes

Teams: 1st 2nds 4ths

BURGS is going back to where it all started Boisdale-Briagolong pulled off arguably the recruit of the preseason, luring Adrian Burgiel to come across and coach

With one of the longest local cricket (and football)

resumes in Gippsland, the acquisition of Burgiel will undoubtedly give the Saints a boost

It is also a homecoming for the hard-hitting batsman, who started his career out in the Briagolong sticks some 20 years ago

“It’s been a long time since I left, played all my juniors there, played my first game of A Grade there,” he said

“They gave me a lot of opportunities, made a lot of friends there back in the day, always tried to get me back but hasn’t really worked out (until now) ”

As is often the way in local cricket, Burgiel’s appointment has partly come about through work, as his boss is Boisdale-Briagolong skipper Dylan Bolton

While it is all power to clubs for making best use of their networks, landing Burgiel as coach also helped squash a number of rumours surrounding the Saints’ future

The local cricket bush telegraph was rife over the offseason, with some suggestion BoisdaleBriagolong wouldn’t even be getting a team on the park

There is certainly no doubt now, and with a couple of youngsters returning home after a few years in Victorian Premier Cricket, as well as highly touted South African Kevin Renecke (who has spent seven years as a professional in England), the Saints could be well on their way to returning to finals action Burgiel was under no illusions the challenge ahead would be tough, but was bullish all the same

“They were on the bottom last year, but they have some high-end talent, Toby Leeds has been a good player for a long time, Dyl (Bolton) is captain of GCL and Country Week, Liam Hurst is a solid cricketer, throw in the Renecke and the young fellas coming back from district cricket (and things are looking okay),” he said

“We’re hoping to try and sneak into the bottom four of the finals, and you just never know ” Burgiel is expected to bat in the top order, and is hopeful of still trying to get the likes of Louis Howard and Steve Noble to play a few games

YARRAM DISTRICT

Last season: 3rd (TDCA)

Captain: Jeremy Babb

Coach: John Collins

Teams: 1st, 2nds, 3rds

YARRAM is just about ready to begin life as an SMCA club

The Pelicans have a home game in the first round, and will unveil their pristine turf wicket at Yarram Recreation Reserve to the SMCA community

The wicket at Yarram had plenty of runs in it last season, and with former Rosedale-Kilmany striker Anthony Scott going around again, there might not be an SMCA ground big enough to contain him/ Scott’s six hitting prowess is noted, and as long as he is in Yarram colours, the Pelicans will feel they can win Yarram will be captained by Jeremy Babb, while former Sydney Swan 200 gamer Andrew Dunkley (father of Brisbane Lions star Josh) is chairman of selectors

By all reports, the Pelicans were the best ran club in the TDCA, and their loss could very much be the SMCA’s gain

OTHER CLUBS

Heyfield Teams: 2nds, 4ths

Wurruk

Teams: 3rds (two teams), 4ths

Nambrok Teams: 3rds, 4ths

Cricket photos and stories most welcome

JUSTaquick note on the cricket coverage this season.

Withlastseason’scorrespondent Tom Parry departingthe scene and myself working across two mastheads (Gippsland Times and Latrobe Valley Express), our resources will be stretched thin.

Iwill also be playing cricket most Saturday andSunday’s this season,and willbeunable to get to many SMCA games.

Given ourremaining journalists know as muchabout cricketasIdoabout video games, Iamputting the call out to SMCA clubs to lend ahelping hand with our coverage.

If you haveany photos fromgames, or player milestones to share,ornews of any kind, please send them in.

You can do so by emailing sport@gippslandtimes.com.au

Here’s to agreat season.

Liam Durkin Editor Gippsland Times

Stratford captain Jack Rietschel with new coach Peter Morrison

Photo: Contributed

Adrian Burgiel is heading back to where it all started at Boisdale-Briagolong

Photo: File

KeepingupSaleUnitedprograms

Zoe Askew

THE World Cup may be over, but Sale United Football Club continues to fuel the region's soccer feverwith the returnofsocialsoccer programs GO Sevens, GO Fives, GO Mums, and GO Girls.

Go Sevens

AS the name suggests, Go Sevens is afun, social, mixed seven-aside soccer competition for anyone aged 16 and older.

The40-minute game, two 20-minute halves, is played on ahalf-sized pitch with no offside rule. Teams are allowed three reservesand make unlimited substitutions; however, two female players must be on the field at all times.

The local annualGoSevenscompetition has continued to gain popularity in recent years owing to the program's fun, friendly, sociableenvironment and suitability for any skill, experience or fitness level.

Sale United Football Club senior men's vice captain Alan Harris, whose Go Sevens team, My Little Morty's, won the 2022AGrade premiership, says the annual weeknight competition is afun and relaxed version of outdoor soccer tailoredto any skill level.

"With the fieldbeing half the size and someofthe more complicated rules like offsidebeing removed, the 40-minute game is generally faster and more action-packed than your standard game of football," Alan said.

"Plus, with no slide tackling, it means Ihave to learn how to actually play football,and for everyone else, it's amuch safer and enjoyable experience.

"I am keen for the 2023 GO Sevens season; hopefully, it bringsevenmorenew faces than it did last year, as we had so many new signings for the winter season at Sale as aresult.

"Be warned though, My Little Morty's will be back again to smack everyone off the park."

The 2023 Go SevenscompetitionbeginsThursday, November 2, and continues weekly until Thursday, December 21.

Registrations must be completed by Friday, October 20 and can be done viagofootball.com. au/play/pickyourlocation/sale-united-fc

GO Fives

FIVE-A-SIDE football is one of the fastestgrowing sports in Australiaand is back for asecond

consecutive season at Sale UnitedFootball Club forboysand girls aged 11 to 15.

Each team fields five players, four outfield players and agoalkeeper on apitch slightlylarger than atennis court, with smaller goals, unlimited substitutions and shorter game duration.

Teams are allowed up to two reserves, with one female player requiredtobeonthe pitch at all times.

Suitable for all skill, experienceand fitness levels, with no training required, this turn-up-and-play competition is afantastic opportunity for youths aged 11 to 15, whether they have never played and are interested in trying out soccer or are existing playerslooking to keep their skills up ahead of the 2024 season.

The 2023 GO Fives competitionbegins

Wednesday,November 1, and continues weekly until Wednesday, December 13.

Registration must be completedbyFriday, October 20,and canbedone viagofootball.com. au/play/pickyourlocation/sale-united-fc

GO Girls

GO Girls is back!

The social,non-competitive football program, coached by Sale United FootballClubsenior women's captainZoe Askew and vice captain Hollie Ryan, is back following the recent GO GirlsWorld Cup Edition success.

GO Girls is designed for girls aged12-16 at any skill or fitness to experience, learn and practicesoccer in an inclusive, fun, female-only environment.

The six-weekprogram aims to encourage girlsto be active, with GO Girls participants set to learn an array of soccer skills whilsthaving fun and forming friendships.

In 2022, lessthan half of Australian girls 14 years and youngerparticipated in organised outside-of-schoolhours sport-related activity at least once aweek, while just35per centofthe female population participated in asport-related activity at least once aweek.

With Australian and internationalresearch identifying the quality of sport experience, including coaching, facilities, and non-inclusive and unwelcoming environments, as asignificant barrier to girls' participationinsport,GOGirls coach Zoe Askew hopes to provide aprogram that inspires and motivates local girls to participate in sport and physical activity, not just soccer.

"I am so excited to share my love and passion for

football with the future generation of females and hope that by facilitating an engaging and exciting program,participants will be motivated to continue participatinginsportand physical activity,"Zoe said "Hollie and Ihad ablast in the last program and are so excited to makethis GO Girls even better.

"During last term's program,weasked thegirls at the end of each week what they would like to do, things they would like to learn and configured the following week's activitiesbased on theirresponse. This program is for them, so listening to what they want to do and learn only elevates engagement and adds to their enjoyment.

"Bring afriend or come alone and give soccer a go; no football experience is required."

Sale United Football Club's 2023 GO Girls Term 4program will run every Tuesday from 5.30pm until 6.30pm beginning Tuesday, October 17, and concluding Tuesday, November 28.

Registrations must be completed by Friday, October 13 and can be done viagofootball.com. au/play/pickyourlocation/sale-united-fc

GO Mums

FOOTBALLVictoria's introductory soccer program designed specifically for women aged 16 and older, GO Mums, offers participants afun, active and supportive setting to meet new people, learn football skills and partake in non-competitive soccer in a social, judgement-free environment.

After awildly successful maiden GO Mums, followed by consistently largeparticipation numbers, Sale UnitedFootball Club's GO Soccer Mums coach Madeleine Forbes is eager for the upcoming Term 4program.

"Our last term of GoMums was such great fun," Madeleine said.

"We havehad 20-plus ladies consistentlysignup each term, and it's incredible to see how much each player has developed over that time.

"We have agreat group of ladies who turn up each week; it's such afun, non-judgmental and supportive environment. Everyone enjoys the exercise, learning new skills and the rules of the game, and we are constantly laughing.

"A lot of the ladies have neverkicked aballbefore, and by the end of the term, they are scoring goals. Ihave seen the skill, match-fitness and confidence increase with each GoMums term," she said.

"Seeing the joy and friendshipthatthe sport brings is why we volunteer our time to run the

program. There are friendships, bonds and alot of laughing."

Through GO Mums, Madeleine aims to motivate and encourage localwomen'sparticipationinsport and improve skills and confidence, all while sharing her love of the game.

"Some of the mums say they've been kicking the ball with their kids and had them comment on how much their soccer skills have improved, and that's what it's all about, getting more people -women -involved, improving skills and confidence, and sharing alove of the game," Madeleine said.

"I reallylove the GoMums programbecauseIcan see so many ladiestaking time out for themselves, stepping out of their comfort zone to try something new and giving it ago.

"Many ladies have never played the sport; some havebeen long-term supporters watchingtheir child but might not understandthe rules -but it doesn't matter. We slowly teach the skills and rules, but for the most part, we have fun getting fit and kicking aball around together," she said.

"The important thing is we provide afriendly, fun and inclusivespace forwomen and girls to support participation in the sport. Healthy women means ahealthy Gippsland."

With longer and warmer days on the horizon, Madeline is particularly looking forward to the upcoming GO Mums Term 4program.

"I'm looking forward to term 4inthe warm summerevenings; Ithink having more light and the warmer weather always improves the mood, and the numbers each week," she said.

"It will be great to see all the ladies after the winter breakover Term 3. Hopefully,with the excitementofthe World Cup and the warmer weather, we mightsee some new faces keen to give soccer atry."

Go Soccer Mums Term 4will run every Tuesday from 5.30pm until 6.15pm, commencing Tuesday, October 31, and concluding Tuesday, December 12.

Registrations must be completed by Friday, October 20 and can be done via gofootball.com au/play/pickyourlocation/sale-united-fc

You can find more information about GO Sevens, GO Fives, GO Girls, GO Mums or other upcoming soccerprograms at Sale UnitedFootball Club's Facebook page at facebook.com/saleunitedfc

Sale United Football Club’s 2022 GO SevensAGrade champions.

Photo: File Sale United Football Club’s GO Mums Term 1cohort.

Photo: Contributed

Pendles adds to trophy cabinet

Zaida Glibanovic

SALE'S Scott Pendlebury has done it again. The former Collingwood captain can do no wrong, and wasinstrumentalinthe Grand Final win last Saturday,asthe Magpiesedged out theLions, 12.18 (90) to 13.8 (86).

In his 383rd game, Pendlebury was outstanding, which isn't unusual for the one of the mostconsistent players to have played the game.

Finishing the match with 24 disposals at 75 per cent efficiency, agoal, seven score involvements, four inside-50s and six clearances, the club legend wasamong the Magpies best.

The 35-year-oldmidfielder had asecond half like no other.

Essendon great Matthew Lloyd gavepraise to the Collingwood star.

"There are probably many people who could lay claim to being once in ageneration type of player, and 'Pendles' is one of those," he said.

"But very, very few could be called generational leaders. And he is definitely in that category."

With lots of comments of reviving the on field coach, discussion that hasn’t occurred since the likesofRon Barassi -Pendlebury like always, directed the play, positioned players andset up

the ball to help the Magpies win.

Despite his 18-year tenure, Pendlebury still outclassed his opposition, kicking acrucialgoal just before three quarter time to hand the Magpies afour-point lead going into the final term.

The goal wasPendlebury's first in an AFL Grand Final from five deciders -healsohad the most career games before kicking agoal in any VFL/ AFL Grand Final.

With the record of biggestgaps in years from one VFL/AFL premiership to another,Pendlebury and fellow Magpie Steele Sidebottom were tied at a13-year drought since their 2010 premiership triumph.

In Pendlebury's last quarteralone,hehad 11 touches,threemarksand threetackles and got the ball rolling out of the centre for Jordan De Goey's all-important final quarter goal to give the Magpies the lead.

Just shyof36-years-of-age now, the star Magpie will soon be knocking at the 400-game milestone.

Currentlysixth on the all-time games record,once he gets to 400 games (seemingly amere formality), Pendlebury will tie with Dustin Fletcher, but perhaps we will continue to see that Pendlebury magic until he reaches Brent Harvey's recordof 432 games played.

The 2010 Norm Smith Medallist received the

loudest cheer after he accepted his premiership medal on the stage,acrowd favourite aging like finewine,Pendlebury guided his side to their 16th premiership.

Very deservingly, Pendleburywas recognised for his elite efforts, polling aNorm Smith Medal vote -not bad for abloke in his 18th season.

In other strange instancesthat should feature on Fox Footy's Bounce segment ‘Numerology’, it was 2010 when Collingwood lastwon apremiership and Pendlebury wore the number 10 guernsey when awarded the Norm Smith Medal. And in a strange coincidence the 2023 Norm Smith Medal was recipient was Ian 'Bobby' Hill, number 23 for the Magpies.

Sale and Yarram's JoshDunkley did what he could in the Grand Final loss, finishing with 21 touches, sixmarks,fourscoreinvolvements and five huge clearances.

Dunkley's finger dislocated late in thefirst quarter, showing his grit, the doctors merely popped it back into place on the field and the midfielder kept soldiering on.

The ex-Bulldogs premiership player could not enjoy another premiership celebration despite offering his pastGrand Finalexperience to the playing group, as Brisbane justfell short at the last hurdle.

‘Life is complete’ as Magpies win premiership

Comment

Zaida Glibanovic

IT was the best day of my entire life.

After13years of shortcomings and 'almosts', the mightyCollingwoodMagpieswerecrowned premiers of the AFL, and Iwas there to witness it.

With some calling it one of the greatest Grand Finals this century -highlights galore, lead changes and agame that went downtothe last minute, the Pies brought it home in epic fashion, winning 12.18 (90) to Brisbane 13.8 (86).

Being apartofthat 100,024-strong crown at the MCG on Saturday was incredible.

Iwas fortunate enough to have been gifted aguest MCC pass from fellow Gippsland Times journalist Philip Hopkins.

All Ihad to do was get to the MCG at 4am on the morning of the Grand Finaland queue with all the other members who were trying to secure an unreserved seat for AFL's biggest day of the year.

Idid not, however, have to camp out for days like some die-hard footy fans did.

On earlySaturday morningwitharound two hours of sleep under my belt thanks to the nerves, Isecured aspotinthe line that went from the MCG concourse all the way up the hill and almost to the street.

By 8am, the MCG doors opened and there was a madrushinside -Iwasn't sure if Iwas hallucinating or in shock but it was like the pearlywhite gates opened and Iwas in heaven.

Securing aspotonthe 50-metre mark at the City End of the MCC reserve afew rows from the front -Iwas in for agood day.

And, yes, the wake-up was absolutely worth it.

KISSwas insane performing and yes,the national anthem gave me chills, and yesIwas anervous wreck.

It was the two bestteams in the competition going hard at it, and with our recent six-game losing streak against the Lions, Ihad reason to be nervous.

But at the end of the day, the Magpies weretriumphant, claiming their 16th flag and breaking that 13-year-old drought to join Essendon and Carlton as the most decorated clubs in the competition.

With justfive minutes left on theclock, Brisbane all-star small forward Charlie Cameron booted a goal for the Lions to go four points ahead of the Pies, and my heart was in my mouth.

Replying instantly at just the next centre bounce, Collingwood's Jordan De Goey received astunning handball from Nick Daicos, booting the goal from 50 metres out and the crowd erupted.

The game was back out to four points but not for long as thehallowing Collingwoodchant rockedthe stands,Steele Sidebottom was awarded a50-metre penalty to also shoot from the 50 mark.

As asenior player with perhaps older legs, not many expected him to sink the shot, but he did and once again,the Collingwood faithfulshook the entire MCG.

The Pies were 10 points up with less than fourand-a-halfminutes left, but with the quality of

the game,things weren't really over until they were over.

Right in frontofmyeyes, Lion Hugh McCluggage showed his skills, serving up Joe Daniher's goal to bring the margin back to four points with 90 seconds to go.

Just over aminutetogo-with batedbreath, every singlePies fan was on the AFL app, counting down the seconds until the final siren.

As the Magpies tried to lock the ball in, they gained possession and sent it down the line, the clock ticked down -three, two, one.

They did it; the magic Magpies held on once more to win the 2023 premiership.

Someoneshould record the decibels of the crowd at that final siren becauseI'm sure my cheers alone could have broken some kind of record.

After the gut-wrenching heartbreak of the 2018 Grand Final loss to West Coast, fans rejoiced.

You had to turn to the next person in black and white with ahug or ahigh five as the entire MCG sang the theme song together.

Among the many highlights of the day, Iwill never forget seeing the epic work of the likes of Norm Smith MedallistBobby 'Dazzler' Hilltaking ahanger and kicking four snags.

Nor will Iforgetcheeringthe house down as Sale's ScottPendlebury bootedhis first goal in any of the five Grand Finals he has played to put us in front at three quarter time.

Never could Iforget Nick Daicos' huge influence, kicking the opening goal and finishing with 29 touches.

Never will Iforget Collingwood's 'Believe' mantra as coach Craig McRae led us to aflag with that positive philosophy.

It was so very special.

As the blackand white confettirained overme, as the presentation concluded and the players made their rounds over to thank their fans (their 19th man) -itstill didn't feel real.

Collingwood is the 2023 premiers and champions, and Iwas there to see it all.

Certainly, astory to tell the future Magpie-mad grandkids.

ScottPendlebury hadthe biggest cheerwhen he walked on stagetoreceive his premiership medal. Photo: Contributed

FanfavouriteWill Hoskin-Elliot stoppedtotake apicture. Photos: ZaidaGlibanovic

Boost for Lizards on eve of season

LONGFORD Cricket Club has acquired anew roller for the cricket season -which gets underway this Saturday.

The Lizards, who are based at Stephenson Park, were abletopurchasethe newroller thanks to a grant from the John Leslie Community Fund.

The new roller will replace the push/pull electrical roller that has been used for the last 30 years. Accepting the new roller was LCC President Brett McMaster, curator Rod Smith, and treasurer Paul Love,fromStephenChalmer, representingthe John Leslie Community Fund.

Smith welcomed the new addition.

“This roller will make my job alot easier. Iwill look forward to pitch preparation instead of trying to drag the old roller around the centre wicket,” the said.

“It willallowthe clubtopresentafirst-grade pitchthat is worthy of thestandardofcricket in Gippsland.”

Club president Brett McMaster also showed his appreciation.

“We are very grateful for the generosity of the John Leslie Community Fund. Our old roller was well overdue for replacing and without the John Leslie Community Fund it would have been very challenging to purchase anew roller,” he said.

“Wethank Stephenand hiscommittee for supporting community sporting groups with funding to make this project possible.”

The new roller will be housed in anew purposebuilt cricket shed on the southernend of Stephenson Park.

The Lizards begin their campaign in the Sale-Maffra CricketAssociation, takingon Rosedale-Kilmany.

SMCA SEASON PREVIEW

PAGES 28-29

No moreextension cords. LongfordCricket Club’s electric roller hasbeen replaced, andjust in time forthe season. Welcomingthe new addiiton is Lizard’s treasurer Paul Love and curatorRod Smith (above),along with Stephen Chalmer from the JohnLeslieCommunity Fund, pictured right with LongfordCCPresidentBrett McMaster.

Photos: Contributed

All star local footballerssee out campaign

TomHayes

THE fourth and final round of the AFL Gippsland

All Stars took place on the eve of the AFL Grand Final, seeing kids from Under 13s, 14s and 15s complete their representative duties.

The weather turnedupfor the conclusionof the competition, which encouraged apacked-out Morwell Recreation Reserve.

Games were underway as early as 8.30am for the U13s,beginningwithWestern Gippsland taking on Latrobe Valley.

Western Gippslandwerealwaysgoingtobe tough to get on top of, sitting on top of the ladder with Southern Gippsland.

But credit to Latrobe Valleyfor keepingthemselves within touch throughout the encounter, only suffering a14-point defeat, 7.5 (47) to 5.3 (33).

The result provedjustassweet for Western Gippsland, who kept Latrobe Valley winless in the U13s, yet three of those losses had just three kicks in it.

Eastern Gippsland’s U13s record was drawn level after going downtoSouthernGippsland by 63 points, 14.9 (93) to 3.12 (30).

Perhaps asurprising result considering Eastern Gippsland managed to get the better of Southern Gippsland in Round 2, defeating their

Southern opponents by 28 points back in June.

Eastern Gippsland were held goalless in the first half, while in the meantime Southern Gippsland piled on seven goals.

The pace was picked up in the second half, yet the damage was done and inaccuracy in front of goal didn’t help.

Outstanding performers from Eastern Gippsland included Maffra’s Ace Burgiel, Wy Yung’s Luca Desio and Hudson Froud, Sale’s Hunter Wynd, Heyfield’s Max Cox and Bairnsdale’s Campbell Moncrieff.

With arecord of 2-2, Eastern Gippsland finished third,one rung above the bottom-placed LatrobeValley.

IN the U14s, both Eastern Gippsland and Latrobe Valley found themselvesonthe winner’s list, to provide agreat ending to the competition.

Eastern Gippsland got on topofSouthern Gippsland early in their game, giving themselves athree-goal cushion early into the piece.

They took it up anotch in the second half, taking their 18-point leadand turning it into a46-point lead at fulltime, 10.6 (69) to 3.5 (23).

Five goals from Maffra’s Noah Romeril earnt himself best-on-ground. He was complimented on field by Eagles teammate Leo Stephenson, Sale’s Cooper Rand, Stratford’s Harry Bartlett, Bairnsdale’s Angus Tanner and Jonah Linford of Sale (JFC).

Now witha3-1 record, Eastern Gippsland were hoping for Latrobe Valley to lose to hold onto top of the ladder, and for alittle while it looked like there was achance.

Latrobe Valley sealed their spot on the top of the U14s ladder, in aclose nine-point win over Western Gippsland.

Nothingcouldseparatethe two sides in the openingquarter, givingWestern Gippsland a slither of hope for the rest of the game.

Latrobe Valley dominated most of proceedings from here on out, but weren’t able to completely capitalize on the scoreboard, kicking 1.5 (11) in the second term, 1.1 (7) in the third term, and 1.2 (8) in the final quarter.

But it was enough to get them over the line after keeping their opponents goalless for more than three quarters.

Alatefightback from Western Gippsland was not enough to claw back the margin, as Latrobe Valley secured top spot, 3.10 (28) to 2.7 (19).

FINALLY in the U15s, Eastern Gippsland finishedtheir carnival on ahigh note, while SouthernGippsland completed aperfect 4-0 carnival against Latrobe Valley.

In oneofthe games of the day,the winless Eastern Gippsland turned their fortune around in anail-biting comeback win over Western Gippsland to secure their first win of the tournament.

WesternGippsland led at the first three changes, all by four, three and 13 points.

But aturnaround arrived in the favour of Eastern Gippsland in the final term, as they booted 3.3 (21) to 1.0 (6) to steal the win by two points and climbing from last place, 8.10 (58) to 9.2 (56).

Maffra’sJudd Burgiel was namedbest-onground, alsointhe bestwas club teammate Darcy Scott, Bairnsdale’s Kael Frith and Chiti Otuonye, Sale’s Harper Walker and Max Stevens of Lakes Entrance.

Latrobe Valley needed athumping win to replace Southern Gippsland as the league leaders, but theiropponents had other things in mind, more like finishing the carnival undefeated.

The game was kept close for mostofthe match in the grand scheme of things. Only two points were scored in the opening term (both going the way of Southern Gippsland), while just three points separated the two sides at the main break.

Southern Gippsland kicked away in the third term to run out to a15-point lead, and it was just enough to get them over the line despite a late comeback from Latrobe Valley, to win by 10 points, 6.5 (41) to 5.1 (31).

Latrobe Valleystill managed to finishsecondin the carnival with a2-2 record and apercentage of 107.77.

PHOTOS- PAGE 27