Latrobe Valley Express Wednesday 26 February 2025

Spin class

This is the real neverending story. Furthercalls have been made to address Moe’sinfamous ‘crazy roundabout’, following morenear misses and confusion among drivers. MORE -PAGE 11

Photograph: TomHayes

Cricket chaos

Physical violence casts dark shadow over local game

By LIAM DURKIN

ANY notion that cricket is acongenial game played by gentlemen was totally lostatthe weekend, as alocal game descended into total anarchy.

In scarcely believable scenes at Traralgon’s Duncan Cameron Reserve, the AGrade matchbetween Gormandale and Rovers was brought to ahalt after anear all-in brawl erupted.

All hell broke loose in the 43rd over of Rovers’innings, when players from bothsides became engaged in the scuffle. With the majority of local cricket nowadays live streamed, the fight was broadcast in plain sight. Vision quickly circulated online, and was even picked up by national cricket broadcaster Fox Cricket. The incident seemingly brewed from littlemore than white linefever between Gormandalefast bowler Nathan Heard and Rovers batsman Nathan Findlay. The spelling of theirgivennames was about the only thing the pair agreed on, and by the end of the over, Heard took

LO CAL TR ADES AND SE RV ICES

the unprecedented step of headbutting Findlay after the two stood toe-to-toe.

Heard’s fifth over was his last for the game, and could well be his last for a very long time.

His frustration was evident after he had been hit for two boundaries in the spaceofthree balls by Findlay earlier in theover, and also had an lbw appeal against him turned down.

Words were clearly exchanged after ball two of the over, after Findlay had mistimed an off drive and Heardhad come down the wicket quite noticeably in his follow through.

Findlay responded by playing an agricultural shot through square leg, which clearly frustrated Heard even mo re, as his ow nr esp ons ew as to change his angle to left arm around the wicket, presumably with the intention of squarely aiming the next delivery at Findlay’s ribs.

It can be reasonably assumed Heard was not thinking clearly by this stage, as he returned to his mark by walking straight downthe middle of the pitch (to

theuninitiated,such an act is forbidden within the laws of cricket).

Hisfourth ballwas dug in short but didnot get up, with Findlay defending harmlessly.The fifth wasthe unsuccessfullbw appeal, followed by anothershort ball that Findlay pulled fine for asingle. Findlay had to step aside from Heard as he completed the run, and after touching his batinthe crease to signal his own cricket safety, quicklyfound his personal safety under threat.

More words were exchanged, Findlay took his helmet off, and then copped the headbutt.

Heard was called out by the umpire, walkedaway, and then charged at Findlay where it was then on for young and old.

Amid the commotion, Findlay was tackled to the ground by another Gormandale player, while Heard needed to be dragged back by teammates. Roversplayers were quickly on the scene, running from the boundary to remonstrate. It mustbesaidRovers players didnot

retaliate with more fighting, while to his credit, Gormandale leader Matthew Hibbs made the ‘come here’ gesture at Heard andappeared to havesomestern words to him before he was ejectedfrom the arena.

Heard left with his playing cap on back wards, perha ps refle cting his antipathy toward the whole situation.

It mustalsobesaidnot all Gormandale playerswereinvolved in the melee, with the body language of some clearly indicating they themselves could not quite believe what was happening.

Adding to what was already abizarre situation, ashirtless Rovers playingcoachLachlan Patterson came onto the groundtotalktothe umpire and players assembled (Patterson had his shirt off because it was over 30 degrees, not to startfighting).

For all that took place, the incident lasted less than 10 minutes, while play was suspended for around 30 minutes.

Continued -Page45

See Pages 36 &37 of today’s paper forfurther details

Marinus bidding process in motion

By PHILIP HOPKINS

APACKED roomofLatrobe Valley contractors and industry companies gathered last Friday to learn what sort of jobs they may win in the Marinus Link (ML) electricity and telecommunications project between Gippsland and Tasmania.

Held in the Italian-Australia Club, Morwell, the meeting heard from Marinus executives; Latrobe City Mayor, Dale Harriman; and Colin Young, the Gippsland representative of the Industry Capability Network (ICN),which acts as ago-between for localindustry seeking workonprojects in Victoria.

About 1000 jobs,mainlyinconstruction, are up for grabs in Stage 1ofMarinus Link, which will create a750 megawatt electricity and telecommunications connection between Tasmania and the Latrobe Valley. Stage 2, further downthe track, would add another 750MW to the project. Marinus Link will move electricity between the two states; it is not agenerator of power.

A255-kilometre undersea cablewill be built under Bass Strait from Heybridge near Burnie in Tasmania,coming onshore in WaratahBay nearSandy Point. It will then travel along a 90-kilometre alignment through SouthGippsland to aconverter station on Tramway Road near the former Hazelwood power station site.

Marinus Link's EngagementManager,Mark Lindsay, said ML had been liaisingwith more than 100 landowners on the route. The cable link would be built15metres under the sand dunes at Waratah Bay before going through farm land andHVP Plantations to the converter station at Hazelwood.

"There is some hilly country and challenging areas, but it's achievable," he said.

Up to 95 per cent of the cable is open trench.

"The balance is under railways, waterways and sensitive environmental areas," he said.

On hand at the meeting were representatives of the two engineering and constructionconsortiums shortlisted for the major tender to build Stage 1. TasVic Greenlink and Empower have been shortlistedtoproceed to a'development phase'; the two groups willassessthe variousbidsfrom contractors.

Contractors must submit their bids through Marinus Link and the ICN Network Gateway site by Friday, March7

Marinus Link will then selectthe preferred

proponent for the 'Balance of Works' package. The BalanceofWorkstender is the final step beforeML secures all three major equipment and installation contracts for the project's first stage.

Marinus Link is government-owned-49per cent by the commonwealth, 33.3 per centbyVictoria and 17.7 per cent by Tasmania. Mr Lindsay told the meeting that afinal investment decision was needed this year.

"The numbers must add up," he said.

If all approvals were received by the end of the year, construction of Stage 1would start next year, with ascheduled completion date in 2030.

"A recommendation is soon to be in the Minister's office. Adecision on Stage2will be taken at alater date," he said.

Mr Lindsay said the aim of the Morwell meeting wastoget the ball rolling on job opportunities for local companies.

"We have to gear up ahead of time," he said. Similar meetings were held in Leongatha and Burnie last week.

The Balance of Works scope coves onshore civil and installation works, including building the converted station buildings and the land cable civil works.

TasVic Greenlink is ajoint venture of DT

Infrastructure Pty Ltd, and Samsung C&T Corporation. Empower is ajoint venture of CIMIC Group companies CPB Contractors P/L and UGL P/L.

Marinus Link expects onshore construction and labouring positions will make up alarge percentage of the workforce, particularly during the peak of the construction phase of the project. Key roles for this workforce include labourer/general purpose hand, leadinghand,truck drivers, excavator operators, crane operators,riggers/scaffolders, fencing contractors, painters, builders and warehouse managers.

Mayor Harriman told the meeting that the project offered exciting opportunities for Latrobe City, which was diversifying its economy, transitioning from brown coal power to renewable energy.

"There are lots of people here who can do the work," he said.

"We have skills, capabilities and companieshere who can do the job -peoplewho haveworked in the power industry, arguably the best in Victoria and Australia."

Mr Young said ICN had helped 90,000 businesses

in Australia, both large and small,through its Gateway data base. It was the 'connector' between projects like Marinus Link and the supply chain.

There was adedicated Gippsland page on Gateway. "In the past two years, there have been more than 500expressions of interest in the project," he said.

"Time is running out. You have two weeks (from Friday, February 21) to register your interest with the two proponents.

"You must ensureyour profile is complete,up-todate, setting out your unique characteristics, and what differentiates you from competitors."

Rates cut, Westpac Traralgon to close for works

By TOMHAYES

THE Reserve Bank board officiallycut rates by 25 basispointslastweek, from 4.35 per cent downto 4.10 per cent, delivering ahugerelief for lenders.

The much-needed rate cut is the first since November 2020.

Followi ng suit wa st he big banks, as Commonwealth Bank, NAB, ANZ, and Westpac all announced theywould cut home loan rates by 0.25 per cent.

Governor Michelle Bullock mentioned that inflation rates are also causing hurt.

"I understand you are hurting, and Iunderstand mortgage rates have increased alot... but we need to get inflation down because that is the other thing that is really hurting you," she said.

"If we don't get inflation down, interest rates won't come down, and you'll be stuck with inflation and high interest rates.

"So,wehave to be patient. Iunderstandit hurts. But, it's really important that we get inflation down."

Followingthe ratecut,homeowners with a mortgage of about $500,000 can expect around $80 less on repayments every month.

Moreraterelief has beenforecastedbythe RBA statement of monetary policy.

"Participants also anticipate two further rate cuts in 2025 and another one in early 2026," the statement read.

This forecastcomes after average inflation rates are predicted to be lower than those predicted in November 2024.

With three more cuts expected up until early 2026, the official cash rate could drop from 4.35 per cent to 3.45 per cent.

 WESTPAC Traralgon branch will close for seven weeks next month due to refurbishing works.

The Traralgon branch will remain open until 1pmonFriday, March 14, 2025 and reopen at 9.30am onTuesday, May 6, 2025.

During this time, Westpac customers can complete cash transactions at any branch which includes St George, BankSA, or Bank of Melbourne, or via Bank@Post with Australia Post.

Westpac's two closestbranches to Traralgon are in Sale and Warragul.

Next teller: Traralgon’s Westpac branch will be closedfor an extended period from next monthasrefurbishment workstakeplace

Photograph: Katrina Brandon

An answer to youth homelessness

By TOMHAYES

THE Latrobe-Gippsland region has been identified as thetoughest place for young peopletofind stable housing,landa job, and finish school, according to an analysis into the youth homelessness crisis by The Foyer Foundation.

The analysis found that almost 17,000 young people are without ahome or struggling to find a place to live throughout 20 hotspot regions across Australia.

Quantum Support Services Chief Executive, Natalie McDonald, toldthe Express that the main causes were “a lack of available affordable housing, low socio economic conditions, and highfamily violence rates”.

The Latrobe-Gippsland region ranked number one; more than1200young people (4.2 per cent) who experienced, or were at risk of homelessness.

The region alsohad ayoungunemployment rate of almost14per cent, equating to over 1000 young people,while rates of high school completion are well below average.

“Preventing youth homelessness requires more affordable and social housing, combined with adequate income support. With the right housing

solutions and wrap-around support,significant improvements could be achieved,” Ms McDonald said.

“Our experiences show that there are no rental properties availableinGippslandthat young people on Youth Allowance and Rental Assistance could afford. In the past five years, Gippsland’s median rent rose almost 44 per cent, the highest of any area across Victoria.”

This has since prompted The Foyer Foundation and partners to call on the federal government to establish 10 new Youth Foyers across the country, eight of which should be in the top 20 hotspots.

Joining forces with Quantum Support Services, The Foyer Foundation is proposing a40-unit Youth Foyer in Gippsland to provide safe, stable housing, support for education and employment, and afoundation for young people to build thriving futures.

“Youth Foyers are aproven solution, combining housing with education and employment opportunities to break the cycle of disadvantage,” The Foyer Foundation Co-Chief Executive, Corin Moffatt said.

“Ourexisting Foyers,including in some of the areas of highest need, are already havingapositive

impact on the lives of young people experiencing homelessness -and more Foyers are on the way.

“But too many people are still missing out on the support that can put them on apathway to success. Almost 10,000 young people missedout on the medium-term housing support they needed last year duetoa lack of options, and more than 30 communities are seekinginvestment for new Youth Foyers in response to urgent demand.

“Ultimately, there are enough young people to fill one or more Foyers in every region across Australia.”

Youth Foyers are already helping young people transition to independent futures in four of the 20 identified hotspots, those being Ballarat (VIC), Illawarra (NSW), Townsville (QLD), and West and North West (TAS).AnotherFoyer is under development in Cairns (QLD).

The re are se ven oper at in gY ou th Foye rs in Victoria, and one in dev elopme nt. Those YouthFoyers are Education First Youth Foyer (Hol mesgl en, Sheppa rton, Broad meadows ), Lilydale YouthFoyer,KarrungYouth Foyer, Warrnambool, and Glen Waverley.

“Of the seven operating youth foyers in Victoria, none are in Gippsland. If funding was secured, a

Greens name candidate for Monashseat

THE most ironically named candidate ever? (On par perhaps with local Liberal Randall Green).

Greens members have preselected semi-retired teacher Terence Steele as their candidate for the hotlycontested seat of Monash in the upcoming federal election.

The Greens gained a2.7 per cent swing in Monash at the last election, with Mat Morgan choosing not to re-contest after being elected to Bass Coast Shire Council late last year.

Mr Steele and The Greens are hoping to hold a significantshare of the vote again at this election, knowingthatGreens preference flows could play asignificant role on election night.

Mr Steele and his wife Lindahave ownedasmall

patch in South Gippsland for more than 20 years.

“The beautiful regionthat we call home is under threat from climate inaction by both major parties.

Ibecame aware of the devastatingeffects as an avid gardener and recognisedthat to affect real change, Ineeded to get involved,” he said.

“In awealthy country like ours, we should have world-class public health, education, and affordable housing.Ijoined the Greens movement for afairer future so my children and grandchildren can live in abetter world, The Greensare also the only party fighting to save our farms from fracking.

“We are facing the very real threat of aDutton government bringing nuclear to Gippsland, Iwas present at the first ever anti-nucleardemonstration

ing federalelection.

in Australia and The Greens will be doing everythingwecan to keep Dutton and his dangerous agenda outofgovernment.”

Aspokesperson from the Bass Coast Greens has acknowledged that the extensive field campaign being run by independent Deb Leonard has resulted in some regular Greens volunteers moving over to her campaign, saying: “The Greens havedemonstratedinParliament thatwe’re capable of working constructively with the cross-bench and ‘teal’ MPs to secure better outcomes for everyday people. HereinMonash,we’ll be focussing on keeping Dutton’s Liberal candidate out of office, and arehappy to see astrong independent candidate putting up agood fight”.

foyerinLatrobe couldbebuiltand operational within two years, providingmuch-needed support to at-riskyouth,” Ms McDonald said.

“Ithas neverbeen more difficult for ayoung personinAustraliatofindsafe, stable,and affordable housing,” Ms Moffatt added.

“Most young people experiencing homelessness are not in educationand training, have faced homelessness before, and are missingout on medium-term accommodation when they need it.

“We and the local community partners know that thismodel work to break the cycle of disadvantage, alongside astrongsystem of crisis and temporary accommodation support.

“Whatweneed now is government funding to build these homes and provide the support that unlocks futures that young people deserve.”

Putting hishandup: TerenceSteelewillrun as The Greens candidatefor Monash in the upcom-

Photograph supplied

Leonardannounces Monashpolicy priorities

INDEPENDENT candidatefor Monash, Deb Leonardmadeher firstmajor policyannouncements recently.

Speaking to apackedaudienceinDrouin, her policies have been shaped directly by feedback from localresidents. Ensuring the new West Gippsland Hospital is fundedand built withoutfurther delay wasannounced as one of her policy priorities.

Ms Leonard said: “Enough is enough-the major parties make promises, but still nothinggets done”.

“Baw Baw Shire is among the fastest growing regions in Australia and our hospital is simply inadequate to cope. For decades our regional area has been ignored by successive governments. It’s time for that to change.

“Unlike party politicians who are constrained by partylines,Iwill work constructively with both state and federal governments to deliver this critical infrastructure for our community -toensure the new WestGippslandHospital and healthcare services meetthe needs of our growing community.”

After the speeches were over, the 100-plus supporters hit the streets of Drouin to doorknock and spreadthe wordabout thecampaign. Achoir of volunteers also performed outside Woolworths as Ms Leonard handed out flyers to passers by. Integrity and transparency in politics was also announced as apolicy to the crowd.

“I’m announcing my integritypolicy first because it is the critical foundation for better outcomes for communities -nomatter what the issue,” Ms Leonard said.

“If you wanttofix ahouse, startwith the foundation. If we want to address the cost of living crisis, housing, climate, and funding for roads -weneed to fix integrity in government first. Because when

History-makingpetition calls fornomore national parks

THE Liberals and Nationals tabled the largest petition in Legislative Council history last week, as anger brews about the state government pushing ahead with the expansion of national parks.

More than 40,000 signatures have been received for the ‘No New National Parks’ petition, which the Coalition says stands up for the rights of those who want to keep accessing state forests for traditional bush activities.

In amassiveshow of support, almost 34,000 concerned bush users signed up online, making it the largest e-petition in Victorian history for both houses of Parliament.

Concernedbush user groups gathered on the steps of Parliament to make asignificant statement and raise awareness of the fight.

Affected group si nclu de those involved in dispersed camping, hunting, four-wheel driving, hiking, horse-riding, mountain biking, prospecting, and fishing.

Shadow Minister for Public Land Management and Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Melina Bath tabled the petition.

“Labor’s flawed policies are not saving vulnerable species, through neglect and mismanagementitis placing themand Victoriansatagreater riskof bushfire,” Ms Bath said.

“The Liberals and Nationals will actively manage our public land for better environmental and recreational outcomes.

“Our historic petition is avoice for Victorians who cherish our bush and immerse themselves in nature through the traditional outdoor activities of dispersed camping, hunting, four-wheel driving, hiking, horse riding, mountain biking, prospecting, and fishing."

The petition's official wording states: "The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Council to call on the government to not create any

politicians act with integrity, taxpayer money goes where it’s needed, not into some secret deal, amate’s pocket or where the parties think it will win them the most votes.

"Integrity isn't just about cleaning up politics -it's about building afoundation to ensure decisions are made fairly and transparently, and in the best interestsofthe community.

“Now, more than ever,itisimportant that we fight for integrity in politics."

Legislation has been passed by the major parties to entrench the two-party system throughpolitical donation laws that would heighten barriers for independents and minor parties.

Ms Leonard said it was through thousands of surveys, conversations with the public and more than 3500 doors knocked across the electorate so far that these policy priorities were formed. Otherleading issues of concern for people are: cost-of-living, housing, roads, climate action, coastal erosion, NDIS, and farming.

Funding for infrastructure is also key to Ms Leonard’s platform.

“Our region has been missing out when it comes to federal funding for roads, recreational facilities and infrastructure," she said.

“Again,this comes back to the integrity in politics issue. As asafeseat, we’ve been ignored when it comes to funding, while parties direct funds to marginal seats.

“As an independent, Idon’t have to play party politics. Iamsolely focused on our electorate, and ensuring we get our fair share of federal funding.

“My policies on these issues won’t be vague promises,but practicalsolutionstomake areal difference to the lives of familiesacross our region."

Higher presence needed to deter anti-social behaviour

MEMBER for Morwell, Martin Cameron has met with Moe businessowners who reported repeat offenders are allegedlyrunning rampant in the central business district.

Of particularconcern is the skate park on George Street.

Pascal Fullerton, who runs nearby business Sumo Skatestore, reported poor behaviour was deterring users and giving parents justifiable reason to be concerned.

“Moe is home to agreat communityasset in the new skate park on George Street, but it's going to waste becauseofanti-social and criminal behaviour," Mr Cameron said.

“Business owners like Pascal have had agutful. They know police do their best with limited resourcestorespond to these incidents, but they're stretched thin, and with Labor's catch and release policy theoffenders are bailed almost

immediately after being caught."

Mr Cameron said along-term plan with greater police presence was needed.

“Targeted police operations or blitzes are effective in deterring criminal behaviour in the short-term, but it's not along-term solution," he said.

“Businessowners also believethat more Protective Services Officers (PSOs) wouldbe ahugedeterrent for anti-social and criminal behaviour.

“Every one of Melbourne's212 (train)stations has adedicated PSO presence, yet just four in the whole of regional Victoria have adedicated presence.

“I have written to the Office of the Chief Commissioner of Police to ask what is being done to address these issues in Moe, and indeed across the whole of the Latrobe Valley.”

Loud and clear: ShadowMinister forPublic Land Management and Member forEastern Victoria, Melina Bath (thirdfromleft) tabled a 40,000strong petition in stateParliament calling fornonew nationalparks. The petition is the largest e-petition in Victorian history forboth housesofparliament.

Photograph supplied

newnationals parksand keepstate forestsopen to public access and traditional activities." Environment Minister, Steve Dimopoulos has has until March 21, 2025 to respond.

Faithful: Independent candidatefor Monash, DebLeonardwithsuppor ters on the campaign trail. Photograph supplied

Concerned: Sumo Skatestoreowner Pascal Fuller tonand Member forMorwell, Mar tin Cameron. Photograph supplied

GPAC wall: engineering feat or eyesore?

By KATRINA BRANDON

ABLANK canvas or aparticularly designed wall is in question in Traralgon.

Is the Gippsland Performing Art Centre (GPAC) wall that faces Grey Street an eyesore?

Lastmonth, acomment was raisedonalocal Facebookpageasking if GPAC needs anew installation, as it is seen to some as an "eyesore".

Those who agreed commented that professional local artists should have the chance to showcase their best works on the wall or to project their works so that all local artists get achancetoshare theircreations

Those who disagreed said that if there was to be anythingonthe wall, it could possibly quickly turn intoaspot formore road incidents as people get distracted and to not waste money on thingsthat aren't anecessity, sayingmoney would be better spent on fixingroads.

The comments continued untilthe authorturned off the comments section. Another post was also createdinthe same group by alocal artist who shared some of their top pick of artists to work on the wall (being such alarge area).

"Jackson Architecture and Katsieris Origami, bothrespected names in their fields, designed this structurewith intent. Covering it withamural wouldundermine the integrity of their design. The starkness of exposed concrete is not aflawit’s adeliberate statement. The verticality of the centerpiece and the way the buildingengageswith its surroundings are all essential to its identity," one user said.

"Rather than altering the building’s surface, a more fitting approach would be to educate and advocate -tohelp people see the value in what’s alreadythere. If activationisthe goal, there are ways to enhance the space without compromising the architecture: lighting, landscaping, or sculptural elements that respectthe original vision rather than overwrite it."

In surrounding towns, the art sceneisgrowing.

The Show Me YourArt festival (SMYAF)inMoe is oneofmanydedicated to "dressing up" local towns to share pride in place.

Murals are also prominent in Boolarra, Newborough, and Yallourn North.

Is Traralgon missing out on the art game or creating its own game?

Parasitic infection rate prompts health warning for poolgoers

THE Department of Health is advising Victorians nottoswim in public swimming pools for at least two weeks if they have had diarrhoea, as cases of cryptosporidiosis (‘crypto’) begintoincrease across the state.

There has been close to 100 cases of parasitic infection reported in Victoria so far this year. While cases typicallyincrease in the warmermonths, current figures are above the five-year average. It follows arecord 2349 crypto cases reported to the Department of Health in 2024, which was a 233 per cent increase on the previous year. Cryptosporidiosis can cause watery diarrhoea and stomach cramps for several weeks.People with aweakened immune systemare at risk of prolonged illness.

Chief Health Officer, Tarun Weeramanthri,

confirmed that chlorine kills most germs in treated public pools but some, such as cryptosporidium, werehighly resistant to chlorine at normalconcentrations and can present ahealth risk.

“It’s important to remember that you remain infectious for several weeks after your diarrhoea stops. So don’t swim until two weeks after your symptoms have stopped,” Dr Weeramanthri said.

“It’sthe simple steps thatare most effectiveshowering with soap beforeswimming will help keep germs out of the water. And of course, avoid swallowing the pool water if you can. If you think you or your child may have cryptosporidiosis, contact your doctor. The doctor will assist you for testing.”

For more information, go to: betterhealth.vic.gov. au/healthy-swimming

VEC chasing explaination from non-voters

CLOSEto530,000 Victorians who appeared to have failed to vote in last October's local council electionswill be asked to explainwhy when they receive an 'apparent failure to vote notice'

Electoral Commissioner, Sven Bluemmel said the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) was urging peoplewho received anoticetorespond with adetailed explanation, as the VEC was required to issue a$99 fine if aperson failed to respond in writing within 28 days.

"An 'apparent failure to vote notice' is not a fine -it'sa chance to explain why you appear not to have voted," Mr Bluemmel said.

"If you respond to the notice in writing with avalid reasonand evidence, you are much more likely to be excused.

"Completing and sendingthe notice back to us within the 28-day timeframe gives us achancetoconsideryour explanation and whether you can be excused."

Votinginlocal council elections is compulsory in Victoria for people who are enrolled to vote. Voters areencouraged to sign up to receive VECVoterAlertupdates to receive reminders about future state and local council elections at: vec.vic.gov.au/VoterAlert

Jurysout: GPAC’s huge concreteexterior hasdivided some locals

Photograph supplied

Moe local honoured with service medal

By KATRINA BRANDON

SERVING in multipleAmbulance Victoria (AV) roles throughout the years, Moe’s Gippsland Regional Support Manager, Edward (Eddie) John Wrightwas one of six highly regarded AV personnel awarded with an Ambulance Service Medal (ASM) in this year’s national honours.

The ASM recognisesdistinguished service by membersofAustralian ambulanceservices and is awarded to aselect group of outstanding ambulance personnelnominated by their peers. It acknowledgestheir incredibleachievements, service, and contribution to their communities.

Mr Wright told the Express:“It is avery special award in where it sits on the Australian Honour System, and to have receiveditisarealprivilege.”

“It is an honour to receive it. Ididn’t expect it to happen. Ithink it is an award that really sits for the people you work with as well because it is all ateam effort all the way through. When there is alow number of them, people we employ, it’s areal honour.”

In 1990, Mr Wright joined AV as aparamedic.He has since gone on to serve as aMICA paramedic, group manager, and regionalsupportmanager for Gippsland for the past 15 years. In his role, he oversees financial operations, emergency management, and community engagement, while championing Indigenous heritage and reconciliation efforts.

Before starting with AV, Mr Wright began his career as acarpenter, getting an apprenticeship when Loy Yangwas built.Later, he enrolled in the military and was posted in Darwin, starting amulti-skilling career towards AV.

Throughouthis career, Mr Wright has played support roles in the 2014 Hazelwood Mine Fire, the 2003,2006, 2009,2015/16, and 2019/20 bushfires. The Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission highlighted his role in evacuating Neerim Hospital, and he was an AV representativeappearing before the commission. He also playedacrucial role in post-fire recovery efforts

Proud: Moe’s Edward(Eddie) Wright from Morwell Ambulance Unitwas recognised forhis ser vicestoAmbulance Victoria, with an Ambulance Ser vice Medal in this year’s Australia Dayhonours.

Photograph: Katrina Brandon

“We have arole called the Regional Health Commander.Some of our senior paramedics normally perform it. I’m one of those people who undertakes it in arotating roster,” he explained.

“In the 2009 fires, we actually hadfires in the landscape aweek before Black Saturday started, so we already had instant control centres up and running. Iwas in incident control as Regional Health Commander, which lasted 35 days.”

AMBULANCE Victoria (AV) is urging all road users to exercisecautionaround ambulance responding to emergencies, so paramedics and first responders can quickly reach those in need.

AV Executive Director Quality and Clinical Innovation, Dr Tegwyn McManamny said it was crucial for drivers to stay calm and know what to do when they see red and blue flashing lights or hear asiren approaching.

“As aMICA paramedic, Iknow how important it is for drivers to remain composed and aware of their surroundings,” Dr McManamny said.

“When you see an ambulance with its flashing redand blue lights or hear its sirens, it’s essential nottopanic, but to safely move out of the way.

“Thishelps paramedics, first responders and all road usersstaysafe while ensuringpatientswe are responding to receive emergencycare without delay.

“Four out of five road incidents involving ambulances on acase occur when lights and sirens are activated. This highlights the urgent need for greater public awareness and cooperation to ensureambulancescan reach patientsquickly and safely.”

Here are simple steps to follow when an ambulance approach with flashing lights or sirens on:

 Stay calm;

 Slow down and use your indicator before safely moving to the left, when possible;

 Avoid unpredictable or dangerous movements, such as slamming on the brakes or swerving into another lane;

 Keep the emergency lane clear so that paramedics and first responders can pass through quickly, and;

 Give way at intersections, even if you have a green light or arrow.

Dr McManamny said it was important for drivers to remain vigilant on the road.

“When an ambulance passes,rememberthat other ambulances or emergency vehicles may follow, so be on the lookout for more responders headingthrough the area,” Dr McManamny said.

“Ifitisunsafetomove out of the way, gradually slow down and, if necessary, come to acomplete stop.

“Paramedics and some first responders are trained to navigate their way through traffic congestion and will continue to find the best and safest routes to an emergency.

Every minute countsina life-threatening emergency, so it is vital our ambulances can move quickly through traffic.”

Principal: Mr BrettPedlow

TERRIFIC TIMBER CELEBRATED

By ERIKA ALLEN

ONCE a timber town, always a timber townpeople say Heyfield's timber history is a source of pride

In Heyfield, this pride goes beyond the passionate people who work in the industry or have family ties to it It's visible throughout the community, reflected in landmarks and traditions that honour its timber heritage

One example is the Victorian Timber Workers Memorial, which was established in December 2015

The memorial is in Lions Park to honour the people who died while working in Victoria's timber industry Plaques bearing the names of the fallen are set within stone pillars around the memorial At its centre, a sculpture of an iron hut symbolises a bush chapel

It is a place where people go to reflect and pay their respects and is a significant part of the Heyfield Timber Festival, another more jovial celebration of the industry that was revived in 2021 It showcases traditions like the woodchop, woodcarving, and blends a modern industry complete with new technologies to the industry's historical roots, highlighted in a display of old photographs and vintage machinery

The newest example of Heyfield's timber pride is the Timber Workers Hall of Fame that inducted its first honouree, Ray Ralph, last year

It's safe to say that despite the hits the industry has taken in recent times, it hasn't quelled the timber community's pride

Off the back of winning the Heyfield Community Group Award at the town's Australia Day honours, the Heyfield Timber Festival returned, ushering in a fourth successful event since its revival in 2021 Festival committee president, Felicia Stevenson said although numbers were down this year, likely due to the weather, crowds filtered in and out of Gordon Street Recreation Reserve in their thousands

"Numbers were down but we still had an amazing crowd of people who came out and every time it rained they ran for shelter, but it didn't seem to deter people," Ms Stevenson said "Everywhere I went there was a huge number of people in all different sections (of the festival) "

Unique highlights such as the dog high jump, wood chop, and wood carving went ahead

despite the weather, and not even Saturday's fireworks were dampened

Ms Stevenson said the family-oriented festival is nostalgic for many people

"I think it's also because they remember the timber festival from many years ago - it's a family event and it means a lot to so many people," she said

Ms Stevenson said the committee was "honoured" to win the Heyfield Community Group Award earlier this year

The festival committee is made up of seven members, all with connections to the timber industry As well as Ms Stevenson, vice-president Jess Stevenson, secretary and treasurer Kayla Stevenson, Leanne Phillips, Shane Phillips, Mark Saleta, and Yvonne Savage make up the committee

"It was amazing to have people think that we were worthy enough to be nominated That's all we've done it for, is the community, so it's good to be recognised," Ms Stevenson said "I think the people who nominated us are

still huge supporters of the industry A lot of people in this town, some of the new people, really don't know the significance of it - what it means to a lot of us We were raised through it, we understand that it's something that's built our town

"If the timber industry isn't anymore, (the festival is) still letting people know that history It's a proud history to have

"We've started the Timber Workers Hall of Fame now, so we can actually honour people from all over Australia We've got a lot of the older people in their 80s, and if they're lucky enough to get to their 90s getting to watch the parade or being at the Timber Festival - the pride that they have remembering it I think we have to keep that alive in Heyfield "

The committee is seeking to recreate the Heyfield Railway Station, which was lost to fire, and transform it into a hub and the site of the Timber Workers Hall of Fame

"Our big plan is to rebuild the railway station in Heyfield and have the Timber Workers Hall

of Fame inside of that and where the railway station was - obviously it's on the rail trail - and it will be beside the Timber Workers Memorial," Ms Stevenson said

"That's my vision - tourism is a big part of any small town and that's what we're going to try and aim for, so as soon as the festival is over we'll kick it into high gear and go for it," she said

As tradition goes, people gathered at the Victorian Timber Workers Memorial in Lions Park as part of the festival's finale, which included a parade down Heyfield's main streets

"Sunday went off without a hitch at the Timber Workers Memorial," Ms Stevenson said

"We had Barb Cook speak, she's had generations of her family in the timber industry, and Tim Lester from AFCA (Australian Forest Contractors Association) "

Mr Lester, Australian Forest Contractors Association General Manager, recognised the sacrifices made by employees, past and present, of the timber industry

"The thing that really strikes me about the contracting and forestry business is that it's very much about family, it's multigenerational," Mr Lester told the Express

Mr Lester said despite being battered by "external forces" recently, people can be proud of the timber industry

He said it's important that communities come together at events like the timber festival to celebrate tradition

"(The timber industry) provides a really strong foundation for communities like Heyfield and actually right across Gippsland," Mr Lester said

"(At) events like the timber festival you see that pride You see it in the trucks that people bring along, you see the history in things like the woodchop, you see the technology and the future in things like air CTI (Central Tire Inflation), which is amazing technology where you can inflate your tires as you drive along " Federal Member for Gippsland, Darren Chester also spoke, commending the determination of Heyfield residents

He congratulated the organising committee and everyone involved in "another successful timber festival weekend"

Solemn: An iron sculptureofthe hut represents abush chapelatthe Victorian Timber WorkersMemorial in Heyfield Photograph: ErikaAllen

Support: The 2025 Heyfield Timber Festival att t racted thousandsofpeople. Photograph: ErikaAllen

Honour: On Australia Day, the Heyfield Timber Festival Committee won the Heyfield Community Group Award Photograph supplied

History: At thetimber festival, prouddisplays of plant oftenlinethe ovals at Gordon Street Reserve Photograph supplied

Effort: Heyfield Timber Festival committeeand helperswith local MPs TimBull (left) and Darren Chester(thirdfromright) at the Timber WorkersMemorial. Photograph supplied

Tanjil Brigade celebrate half-century

MEMBERS of TanjilBrigade gathered for the momentous occasion of their 50th anniversary, and also recognised members who have given decades of service.

Tanjil wasformedinDecember 1972 and was made up of members from the local area.

Theirfirstturnout was in local brigade member PeterNave’s Land Rover with atrailer fitted with apump. Acouple of years later, the CFA commissioned apump for the brigade.

Mr Nave is still amember of the brigade today.

“It’s an honour to still have his Aussie spirit and commitment to Tanjil,” Tanjil Community Engagement Officer, Margaret Harrison said.

In 1975,Tanjilwas issued with 20 knapsacks and six rake hoes to helpmembers with their firefighting efforts.

In 1978, the brigade’s firststation was completed on land donated by Ron Skinner after it had been delivered in pieces with no instructionsand lovingly put together by the local community over six months.

Seven years after Mr Nave had fitted out his Land Rover to serve the brigade, it was retired back to regularfarm duties, and Tanjil received their very first tanker, an all-mighty Austin two-wheel drive.

“Notmanymembers hadtheir truck license when

Outstanding: PeterNavehas beenwith the brigadesinceday dot.

the tanker arrived and they all made atrip down to the local policestation in Yallourn North where they were asked if they could driveatruck, asked to drive around the block onceand then were granted their license,” Ms Harrison said.

The Austin served the community well until August 1985 when it was replaced with another truck, an international C1300 4x4 which wasthen

years the iconic yellow overalls would become available for $25.05.

As the years went by, Tanjil began to outgrow its small station, which only had room to house a truck, and in August 2008, site work beganonnew land before anew station opened in 2009.

Despite having responded to hundreds of incidents in its 50-year history, in 2019/20 members responded to the Black Summer fires, one of the worst bushfires in Australia’s history. Members of Tanjil’s brigade were on the front lines protecting the community.

“Tanjil Brigade has faithfully served their communityfor 50 yearsand all the membersthat have come through our doors have made the brigade what it is today,” Ms Harrison said.

“Tanjil might be asmall brigade but it is proud to carry on its Aussie spirit, integrity and values into the next 50 years and beyond.”

replaced in 1992 by aHino FT165, which is still serving the brigade well.

“Despite its age, members from other brigades love the FT165 as it can fit into places other trucks can simply not go,” Ms Harrison said.

In the ‘80s,safety for members was becoming more and more prevalent and members were able to purchase ahelmet for $3.20 and in the following

The brigade also used the anniversary to recognise multiple members for their service, ranging from15to50years, andawarded twomembers with life memberships.

“Thankyou to our secretary Beck Madyblu, Captain John Zeicki, Lieutenant Lorianne Foot, and all the Tanjil members. We all love TanjilFire Brigade and are extremely proud,” Ms Harrison said.

Fire offences spark call for concern from local authorities

DATA released by CFA and the Crime Statistics Agency hasrevealed aconcerning number of fire-related offences across Victoria over the past five years.

Between2019and 2024, therewas more than 1000 recorded instances of lighting afire during the Fire Danger Period (FDP)and 187cases of lighting afire on aTotal Fire Ban (TFB) day. The FDP is adesignated time in each Victorian municipality when fire restrictions apply due to increased fire risk.ATFB is declaredondaysof extreme conditions, prohibiting any fires in the open air.

Under the CFA Act, penalties for allowing an open-air fire to escape during adeclared FDP can include fines of up to $23,710, 12 months’imprisonment, or both. The penalties double if the escape occurs on aTotal Fire Ban Day.

CFA Chief Officer, Jason Heffernan said the stats are worrying.

“Lighting afire during the Fire Danger Period andondays of Total Fire Ban puts lives, homes, and emergency responders at risk,” he said.

“If youignore fire restrictions, you could be facing serious legal repercussions and more importantly, you could be responsible for devastating losses.

“Victoria is already one of the most fire-prone regions in the world, so we certainlydon’t need unnecessary challenges created by carelessness or deliberate acts.”

A recent incident in Diamond Creek serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of ignoring FDP restrictions.

CFA wascalled to aproperty at around 6.30pm on Monday, January 20, where crews arrived to find smoke issuing from apile of green tree branches around ametre high.

If you see illegalorsuspicious fire activity, report it immediately by calling Triple Zero (000), or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Teamwork: Tanjil Fire Brigade has ser vedthe community forhalfa centur y. Photographs supplied

Topnotch: Tanjil Brigade recognisedoutstanding contributions from members at its50thanniversar yevent.

Rules: Bonfires and burn

Celebrations: Lucas Rogers received his 20 year medal forser vice to Tanjil Fire Brigade.He is pictured with mentor Jeff Evenden.

ONE POINTERS

1. Which freezes faster: hot or cold water?

3. What is an eight-sided shape called?

2. Leonardo da Vinci’s“Mona Lisa” hangs in what museum?

4. What countr yuses approximately four billion miles of toilet paper each year?

TWOPOINTERS

5. On average, which grows faster? Fingernails or toenails?

6. How many legs does alobster have?

7. What animal has the biggest eyes?

8. Which of the six main characters on the TV show “Friends” never got married?

THREE POINTER

9. “Holiday” was the first Billboard Hot 100 single for what singer

10. How many floors does the Eiffel Tower have?

11. What produces the majority of the breathable air on earth?

12. What USA president was alicensed bartender? FOUR POINTER

13. How many noses does aslug have?

14. Roughly how many miles per hour does the earth spin? FIVE POINTER

15. What are the first names of the five brothers that made up the Jackson 5? .One point for each answer

Issues circulating for Moe traffic

By TOMHAYES

MOE’S infamous roundabout, that bridges over the railway line, has been the centre of concern for locals, who are fed up with the lack of safety on offer.

The roundaboutintersects High Street,Lloyd St,AnzacSt, and Narracan Drive, and has two lanes -causing merging issues, which is apparently the tip of the iceberg when it comes to traffic complications.

The Express spoke to aMoe resident who has lived in close quarters to the roundaboutitselffor more thana decade, hearing many of the incidents as they occur.

The Moe resident highlightedmany issues that they believe have led to an incident being caused,stating: “everyone has astory (at the roundabout), and they shouldn’t”.

Firstly mentioned was the lackof visible signage, not only when it gets dark, but also throughout many portions of theyearwhen trees and bushes begin to overgrowand aren’t maintained properly.

Not only do the overgrown trees and bushes prevent adriver’s ability to see signage, but it also prevents them from seeing the entire intersection, blocking adriver’s view of the entire roundabout.

These factors have led to many close calls, which force drivers to beep their horn, which not only forces other drivers to panic, but is seen as adisturbance to residents within close proximity.

From apedestrian’s perspective, there is alackofsafetyonfootpaths, which are primarily used for Lloyd and High St residents walking toward Woolworths and surrounds.

The curved curbs fromthe road to the footpath would allow cars to mount the curb in the instance of avoiding an incident. And with no railing to protect pedestrians, this presented another concern from residents.

The Moe resident reachedout to Transport Victoria, raising their concerns, to which Transport Victoria wassupportive of enhancing warning signage as well as refresh existinglines on the road, replacing missing raised reflective pavement markers.

Signageimprovements are set to begin at the roundabout, includingadvance warningsigns,unidirectional hazard markers, duplicated roundabout signs, and larger ‘One Way’ signs.

“Over the coming weeks, crews will be out upgrading signage at this

intersection to improvesafety for the community,”a Department of Transport and Planning spokesperson told the Express earlier this month.

Despite this, the Moe resident felt their concerns were not properly heard, once again outlining visibility with plants preventing driversfrom seeing the entire intersection and the curb presenting a danger to pedestrians.

Iwill provide afurther update on these requestsand any additional information at the earliest opportunity.”

Cr Pugsley was provided with afinal response in January 2025, which stated that the ‘Wrong Way Go Back’ sign opposite Anzac St had been scheduled to clearvegetation impeding the sight of the sign.

She was also provided with an image (top, middle), displaying what areas fell into certain responsibilities, for clarity's sake.

According to the Moe locals, it doesn’t seemtomake adifference if drivers who gets caught up in incidents are locals or tourists, with bothgetting involved just as much as the other.

Latrobe Highway Patrol recorded zero incidents at the intersection since the start of 2024, although, its records rely on incidents that involve injury.

AccordingtoMoe Taxis, one of their vehicles was involved in an incident at the roundabout last year.

Speaking to the Express was Moe Taxi driver, Darren Mercer, who has driven taxis in Moe for more thantwo decades.

Last year, he was involved in an incident withadriverwho went the wrong way around the roundabout.

"I was coming off of High St into the roundabout, and was just on the crest.. heading towards Anzac St. that's where it happened," he said.

"Youcan'tsee becausethere's trees around the roundabout in the centre,so you couldn't see if something wascoming the other way.

"An elderly gentleman came around the wrong way from Narracan Dr... he came around at about 60 kilometres an hour and smashed straight into me."

Mr Mercer spoke on the danger that poses to motorists if anyone from out of town gets confused by the intersection.

"For anybody that comes from out of town that doesn't understand that roundabout, that's adeathtrap for other people," he added.

The Moe resident then calledupon their Latrobe City councillors Sharon Gibson (Deputy Mayor, Newborough Ward) and Adele Pugsley (Moe Ward), mentioning the same concerns.

Deputy Mayor Gibson followed up with the request, receiving an interim response that read: “The main roundabout in Moeand intersections feeding the roundabout are assets of Vic

Roads, additionally the area within the roundabout is largelyunder thecontrol of V/Line with apermit requirement to carry out works in this area”.

“In the short term Ihave registered requests for additional safety measures and signage with Vic Roads for action,” the response continued.

“As further vegetation removal occurs within areas outside of council’scontrol,

Cars have been known to cut across from Anzac St to Lloyd St, and Lloyd St to High St going in the wrong direction. In on-peak times, the roundabout becomes much more dangerous, according to the Moe resident, who said they havewitnessed "countless" near misses During peak hours of the day, morning and evening, as well as peak hours of the year -public holidays, school holidays, honking of the horn is much more present, according to the Moe resident.

Focus on Gippsland’s fair share: Chester

FEDERAL Member for Gippsland, Darren Chestersaysthe return of Federal Parliament has been an opportunity to highlight the federal government’sfailuretoinvestinlocal roads and community infrastructure projects.

Mr Chester said he would use the return of parliamentary sittings to reinforce the need for greater investment in regional areas like Gippsland after three years of neglect.

“Sadly, the Ministerfor Infrastructureand Regional Development, Catherine King has been acomplete failure in terms of actually deliveringprojects and afunding pipelinefor Gippsland and Latrobe Valley,” Mr Chester said.

“For example, the long-delayed Growing Regions Program hasbeen adebacle, with Victoria ripped off in the most recent round of grants, and we’re not getting our fair share.

“Despite 25 per cent of Australia’s populationresidinginour state, Minister King only managedtosecure seven per cent of the total funding for apaltry eight projects in her home state of Victoria.

“That’s right, Victoriareceived just $25 million out of the $369 million funding pool in round two of the Growing Regions Program as Labor focused its attention on regional Queensland, Western Australia, and New South Wales.

“The disparity between state allocations is impossible to understand, with Queensland set to receive $159.6 million for 25 projects, Western Australian communities will share $89.2million for 13 projects,and New South Wales picks up $79.1 million for 16 approved projects.”

Mr Chester said he would also be fighting for afair share of road funding after the completion of the Princes Highwayduplication project between Traralgon and Sale.

“All of the funding for major roadworks in our region was allocated by the previous government, andweneed new commitments for things likethe Sale alternateroute, designing the Traralgon Bypass, and upgrades to the Princes Highway and major arterial roads,” he said.

“But again, we’ve been let down by Minister King, who has changed the funding formula to disadvantage Victorian regional areas.

“Under the Coalition government,major projects like the Traralgon to Sale duplication received 80 per cent of the money from the federalgovernment, with the state government required to contribute 20 per cent.

“Now the Albanese government is requiring a50-50 funding split in Victoria, it will make it impossible to encourageMelbourne-focused state ministers to consider major regional projects.

“But the problem is made worse by the hypocrisy of the Prime Minister and his Transport Minister, who have agreed to still fund projectslikethe Bruce Highway in Queensland on an 80-20 basis.”

Fix the fundamentals

By PHILIP HOPKINS

HIGH energy prices remain akey driver of inflation, but withdrawing from the Paris climate accord would damage Australia’s agriculture and regional communities, according to the Leader of the Nationals, David Littleproud.

Mr Littleproud, interviewed on Sky News,said the federal government wantedthe Reserve Bank to cut rates as apolitical pathway to an election victory.

“But the reality is that Australian’s interest rates have stayed longer, higher for longer, because of the ideology that they bring to their economic policy and their energy policy,” he said.

“The reality is that our discretionary spending stopped along timeago,but our fixedspending didn’t.”

Mr Littleproud said thatwas because “ourenergy bills kept going up and we had to keep paying it”.

He said the federal government tried to paper over that with six-and-a-half billion dollars worth of subsidiestotry and get to that $275 reduction in energy bill that the Prime Minister, Mr Albanese, promised, yet people saw their energy bill go up by over $1000.

“We welcome somedownwardpressure on inflation, but when you see the rest of the world has already got interest rate cuts and had those reductions to give them that ease of cost-of-living pressure,unfortunately we’re late to the partyand we’re still not fixing the fundamentals,” he said.

Mr Littleproud saidthe energygrid wouldactually be one of the biggest determinants of keeping inflation stickier for longer; thus inflation would continue at alevel that could be alot less.

“Just remember prices have gone up 3.2 per cent over this last quarter, so they’re still going up. So what we’re saying is, there’s more action that could happen and unless you get rid of the ideology and lean into the practical reality, you’re going to continue to pay more,” he said.

Considering the nexusbetween inflationand high energy prices, Mr Littleproud was pressed why the Liberal leader, Peter Dutton, had recommitted to the Paris Agreement, which stipulates net zero emissions by 2050 even after US President, Donald Trump had taken America out of it.

“Again, when you got the world’s biggest economy

Theory: Leader of theNationals,David Littleproud believes interestrates stayed higher forlonger due to ideology broughttoeconomic andenergypolicy File photograph

abandoning Paris, and when anybody who’s studied the economics and engineeringand physicsofthis can see that net zero by 2050 is not even achievable for Australia, let alone the world, why shouldn’t the Coalition abandon that plan now and just try to reduce emissionsinaneconomically sensible way without setting an artificial deadline?” the interviewer, Chris Kenny, asked.

Mr Littleproud said the reality is that the US is the biggest economy in the world.

“We’re 27 million people. We’re atrading nation And what we’ve got to be able to do is, to be able to say is that if we go against the rest of the world, that it’snot weaponised against us. And that means for my people that Irepresent, the resource sectorand the agricultural sector and regional communitiesthat rely on them, is that they’ll have atariffpotentially put on their product that they send out on aboat,” he said.

“They’ll also see that their capital could be weighted anywhere from one point ahalf to three per cent. You think your interest rates are tough now,you add that on because we haven’t signed up

to an international commitment. So you’ve got to think about our place in the world and the reality and the impacts of us wanting to lead the charge.”

Mr Littleproud said people in regional Australia would be the ones that hurt the most because the world would retaliate againstus“becausewe’re notasbig as the United States”.

“Sowe’ve gottobesensible about this and that’s why we’renot going downanall-renewablespath, that doesn’t make sense. And we don’t have to achieve this by 2030; 2050 is along way off and there’s no linear pathway. What you’re experiencing today is alinear pathway of what Labor’s trying to achieve by 2030,” he said.

“But we’ve gottoweigh this up in theeconomics of what impact that would have, if only the United States has gone and the rest of the world hasn’t. We leaveourselves vulnerable. And that’s why those in the agriculturesector, in the mining sector as well, they’ve saidtheysignuptoitby2050 becausethey don’t want to see thosepunitivefinancial penalties because we’re an outlier in the world, because of our place in the world, our size of the world.”

Motorists frustrated with lack of consultation

THE amount of speed reduction signs due to poor road surface was raised in State Parliament by Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull.

Mr Bull said the increasingnumber of both temporary hazard signs and permanent speed reduction signs going up is frustrating motorists.

“In relation to the first matter, it is acase of signs going up rather than fixing the roads, and on the second count, the frustrating element is the complete lack of community consultation,” he said.

“Ironically, the day afterI raisedthisissue in Parliament, 80km signs were erected on the Stratford-Maffra Road.

“This is astraightroad with farmland either side, has good visual capability, and is in better condition than many other roads in the area.

“What has angered community members is the complete lack of consultation in either Stratford or Maffra.That is justa commoncourtesy after VicRoads gave me an undertaking it would consult on speed limit reductions.

“The traffic hazard ahead signs are on roads (but not limited to) such as the Princes Highway, Monaro Highway, Great AlpineRoad, Bonang Highway (all multiple locations), Paynesville Road and BullumwaalRoad, and they’ve all been up for extended periods.

“Itisasymptomofreduced road funding,which is at alower level than it was five years ago, and that can really only end one way. The government blamesfloods, but the only issueis-wehaven’t hadfloods in these areas!

“Roads are not being repaired properly and there have been many cases where potholes are repeatedly refilled when more major work is needed to fix the underlying problem.”

Mr Bull said in arecent responsehewas told

by the Roads Minister and Roads Safety, Melissa Horne, thatacrossEastGippsland, Bass Coast, Baw Baw, South Gippsland, and Wellington shires that atotal of just 10km of road will undergo full rehabilitation in the upcoming period.

Leader of the Nationalsand Shadow Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Danny O’Brien, said the fact the Minister believes this is areasonable level of road work across Gippsland is laughable.

“Thisisreflective of the abject neglectofour roads under Labor, especially in rural and regional Victoria.”

Mr O’Brienalsolashed the state government for rolling out the red carpet to accommodate Hollywood A-Lister,Liam Neeson,who is in Victoria shooting his latest film.

Potholes were fixed ahead of the closure of the Calder Highway to allow Neeson and crew to film scenes for the new movie on asmoothsurface.

“Will any proceeds from the movie’s production be put towards fixing potholes, or do we need Liam Neeson to shoot scenes on every road in the state in order to get them fixed?” Mr O’Brien asked Ms Horne in Parliament.

Neeson is somewhatfamiliarwith Gippsland roads, having shot part of the film Ice Road 2 in Walhalla last year.

Advocacy: Federal Memberfor Gippsland, Darren Chestersays he is fighting forafairer shareofinfrastructure funding forthe region. Photograph supplied

Special treatment: LiamNeesoninWalhalla last year.The actorisbackinthe stateshooting his latest film,yet the government has been criticised forprioritising repairing roadsfor themovie at the expense of motorists File photograph

Frustration: ShadowMinister forRoads and Road Safety,DannyO’Brien andMember for Gippsland East, TimBullare demanding morebedonetofix the state’s crumbling roads. Photograph supplied

50 years ago

The Express, February 26, 1975

There’s aCAR in my soup!

ASHOPKEEPERatthe corner of Commercial and Hazelwood Rds, Morwell, is expecting “a car in atea cup” at any moment. Mr Tony Radford’s milk bar was somewhat protected by atelephone box at the corner, but this was demolished recently by avehicle that didn’t quite make the turn into Hazelwood Rd. The PMG hastily erected anew box, leaving motorists an “open go” at Mr Radford’s shop. Cr Vinall told last week’s meeting of Morwell ShireCouncil that Mr Radford would like some form of abarricade placed between the road and his shop. The Shire Engineer, Mr Ritchie, will look into the matter.

30 years ago

The Traralgon Journal, March 1, 1995

Firemen overcome byheat

TWO Morwell firemen wearing protective suitswereovercome by heat and taken to

ARCHIVES with AIDAN KNIGHT

hospital after working on achemicalspill on the PrincesHighway betweenMorwell and Traralgon on Saturday morning. Both men from the Morwell Fire Brigade hazardous materials vehicle had been working in high temperatures at the scene where a truck had overturned spilling its load that included chemicals. Both men were taken to the Latrobe Reginal Hospital for observation and were released later that day. Fire crews from Traralgonand Morwell were called to the incident around 10:30am. The chemicals, which included polyester resin, acetone and

cleaning agents, had burst through the roof of thetruckswhen it overturned. The chemicals were not considered dangerous. The driver of the truck, one of two vehicles involved in the accident, had to be cut free by State Emergency Servicecrews.Hereceived only minor injuries and wasalsotaken to LRH in Traralgon. Part of the Princes Highway was blocked to traffic while emergency crews mopped up the chemicals.

10 years ago

The Express, February 26, 2015

Walker found safeand sound

A24year-old woman was found safe on Sundayaftershe went missingonawalk through Morwell National Park the previous day. The Jeeralang Junction resident, who took abottle of water and her mobile phone, had an estimated return of two hours. Latrobe community liaison officer Leading Senior Constable Brett Godden said the woman had taken ahand-drawn mud-map of the area, because she was taking anew route, and had embarked on the walk at 3pm Saturday. Ldg Snr Const Godden said she lost her surroundings, however,and had difficulty using her phone.“She did the right thing -she sat down and waited for sunrisetocomearound,” he said. Ldg Snr Const Godden said the woman was located by her partnerat9am on Sunday, and an ambulance was called in as aprecaution. “Just be prepared whenyou go out -make sure you’ve got water and adequate clothing,” he said.“Moreimportantly, makesureyou let someone know where you’ve gone.”

From the Upgrade proposal sent for approval: AusNet

AUSNET has submitted aproposal to the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) to approve $3.5 billion in investmenttoupgrade the distribution network to improve its reliability and resilience for customers It followsmore than two years of engagement and research involving more than 16,000 customers to seek feedback on the investment proposals.

AusNet Executive General Manager Electricity Distribution, Andrew Linnie, said this investment would providethe funding necessary to continue to meet customerand community needs to support reliability, safety and electrification.

The $3.5 billion is made up of:

 $1.35 billion to replace ageing assets so the network can continue to operate safely and reliably;

 $770 million to increase the capacity of the network, support customer growth and enable

more customers to electrify their gas appliances and transport;

 $430 million to improve reliability for problem areas on the network and to make the network more resilient to extreme weather;

 $430 million on digital systems to maintain core services, improve responsiveness to extreme weather events, and uplift customer experience, and;

 $240 million to integrate rooftop solar and large-scale wind and solar generators, putting downwards pressure on wholesale energy prices.

“Weknow our customers are facing cost-of-living pressures and we believe we have struck abalance between investing in the network, while keeping energy prices as affordable as possible,” Mr Linnie said.

“We have seen asignificant increase in frequency and severityofextreme weather events and it’s important we make the networkmore resilient to these occurrences. We also want to improve reliability for many of our regional customers.

“The initiatives and investment proposed are an important step to enable our network to meet future needs.”

This proposal comes following feedback from AusNet customers on the draft plan late last year.

AusNet plans are approved by the Australian Energy Regulator everyfive years through the ElectricityDistribution PriceReview (EDPR) process.

The proposalcan be foundat: communityhub ausnetservices.com.au/engage

The Range Retirement Village is aretirement living community in Moe, boasting alive-in Manager and high-quality residential villas set inside agated community.

The Range offers elegant new and refurbished two and three-bedroom independent living villas, set in attractive and well-manicured surrounds. Each villa features an open-plan living area,wellappointed kitchen, private courtyardgarden and single or double garage.

Plan your social life with your new community.

Youwill have the flexibility and freedom to embrace life with asocialcalendar that includes, billiards, indoor bowls, craft, movie nights, trivia, bingo,cards and many moresocial activities and make use of our community bus to getaroundour local area

Now is your time to down size and embrace life at The Range

large scale windand solar generators.

Renewable: $240millionwillbespent to integrate rooftopsolarand

Photo:iStock

Duck season details confirmed

By STEFAN BRADLEY

THEstategovernmenthas confirmed the 2025 duck hunting season will be longer and allow bigger bag limits, which it claimed was sustainable, safe, andbacked by science.

The season opened last Wednesday (March 19) and will close on Monday, June 9.

The start time for the first five days of the season was 8am, with hunting to begin 30 minutesbefore sunrisefor theremainder of the season.

Outdoor Recreation Minister, Steve Dimopoulos saidthe settingsfor the season weredetermined by the science-based AdaptiveHarvest Management (AHM) model, and the Wounding Reduction Action Plan.

This year will be the first season the AHM will be used to guide the daily bag limit in Victoria, with the modelling tailored to Victoria’s unique conditions, habitats and species.

From this season,all newhuntersseeking a license will be required to do mandatory online kno wle dge tr aining and testing -i ncl udin g Aboriginal culturalawarenesstraining -aspart of the Waterfowl Wounding Reduction Action Plan.

All hunters renewing their licence from next year will also be required to complete this training.

The 2025 daily bag limit is nine ducks, up from last year’s six,and seven duck gamespeciescan be hunted. The blue-winged shoveler cannot be hunted this season, and the use of lead shot for quail hunting is also banned. But unlike last year, hardhead ducks can be hunted.

“Duck hunting is alegitimate activity that matters to thousands of Victorians and we’re making sure it can continue sustainably and responsibly -backed by science,” Minister Dimopoulos said.

“Our wounding reduction action plan will improve animal welfare and is asignificant step to make sure recreational hunting can continue sustainably in Victoria.”

More info rma tion abou tt he 2025 sea son,

Faster,higher level of care

LEGISLATION to enshrine Australia’s first Paramedic Practitioner intolaw passedthe Victorian Parliament, paving the way for them to deliver urgent care and prescribe medicines while saving Victorians atrip to hospital.

The stat eg ove rn ment’s Par ame di c Practitioners Bill 2024 fulfils a2022election commitment,making Victoriathe first jurisdiction in Australia to have dedicated legislation to supportthis role -allowing the delivery of ahigher level of caretopatients when and where they need it.

Paramedics regularly transfer patients with serious, butnot life-threatening, conditions to hospitals.With their new advanced clinical training, Paramedic Practitioners will now be able to assess, diagnose andtreat patientsinthe field, make clinical decisions and take pressure off busy emergency departments.

The key changewill allow Paramedic Practitioners to prescribe and administer schedu led medic ines when trea ting patients, providingVictorians with immediate treatment on the spot.

The first cohort of 30 paramedics is currently progressing through Monash University’snation-leading Paramedic Practitioner master’s degree, with asecond cohort set to begin in the coming weeks.

Developedincollaboration and consultation with Ambulance Victoria, Safer Care Victoria, paramedics, clinicians and unions, the free master’s degree will see these graduates deployed to regional Victoria in 2026. Once graduated, the Paramedic Practitioners willbeequipped to treat conditions that oftenlead to hospital visits, such as urinary catheter care, wound care and closure, minor infections, dislocations and fractures.

The specialised role was made possible by a$20 million investment in the Victorian Budget 2023/24, with the master’s degree open to eligible paramedicsemployed by Ambulance Victoria with more than five years’ experience.

The state government’s investments into ambulance services are more important thanever, withthe latestquarterlydata revealingVictoria’s paramedics continue to face high demand, attending close to 100,000 Code 1call outs.

The government is also supporting the training of 40 additional Mobile Intensive CareAmbulance (MICA) paramedics, that willsee Ambulance Victoriawelcome their largest cohort of MICA trainees in history.

No go: Blue-winged shoveler cannotbehunted. In 2021, the species waslistedas threatened under the Floraand FaunaGuarantee Act1988.

including any wetland closures, will be regularly updated on the Game Management Authority website via: gma.vic.gov.au

Sale Field and Game spokesman, Gary Howard said the government’s announcement was apositive development, welcoming the new bag limits and thehardhead ban being overturned.

“The best part of it is the government is going to set (hunting)parameters basedonscience,not emotion. The minister has announced the parameters will be the same for the next three years, and will adapt the harvest based on science,” he said.

“It’s clear that the government is happy to support duck hunting with extra controls.

“Hardhead hasn’t been in the bag for the last two or three years, and we totally disagreed with it.”

Image: Game Management Authority

Mr Howard said the 8am starts were due to the higher number of hunters during the openingdays, so it’s easier to police during the daylight.

The Victorian Duck Hunters Association also welcomed the government’s decisions.

“With good seasonal conditions, hunters can take to the field once again with confidence, continuing long held traditions, enhance familial bonds, harvest free rangegame and importantly contribute to regionaleconomies,” the association said in a statement.

“Theworldclass leading sciencedeveloped by the Victorian Game Management Authority and Arthur Rylah Institute using Australian data andexperience in ahighly technical scientific approach to season settingsand bag limits allwhile

maintaining asafe, sustainable, and responsible harvest is applauded.”

CoalitionAgainstDuckShooting Campaign Director, Laurie Levy said Premier Jacinta Allan disregarded the 2024 Eastern Australian Waterbird Aerial Survey, which showed acollapse of overall waterbird populations.

“The situation for some so-called ‘game’ species is even worse. Their numbers are well below the long-term average and have dropped by around 50 per cent compared with the previous year,” Mr Levy said.

“The Premier’s decision to allow duck shooting also disregards Labor’s own parliamentary inquiry which recommended atotal ban on native bird hunting from 2024. However, Premier Allan reportedly made a‘captain’scall’, under threat from two heavyweight unionbosses,who threatenedamass walkout on all Big Build projects if duck shooting was banned.”

Mr Levy saiddeadbirds couldbedisplayed outside the Premier’s office.

Leader of the Victorian Nationals and Member for Gippsland South, DannyO’Brienwelcomed the announcement and said it provided certainty.

“At longlast, areasonable decisionfor duck season in 2025, based on science and data,” he said.

Victorian Animal Justice Party state MP Georgie Purcell slammed the announcement.

“One year on from Jacinta Allan ignoring her own parliamentary inquiry that instructed her to ban duckshooting, she has announcedthe most reckless season in over adecade,” she said.

“BuriedinaFriday afternoon dump after a by-election result,she has attempted to quietly condemn 400,000 nativewaterbirdstoruthless slaughter with afull length duck shooting season running from March 19 to June 9.”

Duckhunting has beenbannedinWestern Australia since1990, New South Wales since 1995 and Queensland since 2005.

Morwell included for housing investment

THE federal government is boosting Victoria’s housing supply by investing in critical infrastructure that will unlock up to 3000 more homes across the state.

Thanks to the government’s Housing Support Program, $35.8 million has been allocated to five projects to fast-track housing in regional and metropolitan growth areas.

One of the projectsislocated in Morwell, and has been allocated $7.9 million to unlock more than 600 dwellings. Funding will be used on enabling infrastructure -such as roads, sewage and water -aswell as

supporting accesstosocial housing and increasing housing supply. This funding follows almost $250 million already allocated to Victoria for enablinginfrastructure and social housing across the state, as well as $6 million delivered to fast-track planning capability.

This is part of the federal government’s $32 billion Homes for Australia Plan to meet the ambitious national target of building 1.2millionnew, welllocated homes over the nextfive years.

Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister, Catherine King welcomed the announcement.

“A place to call home is not aluxury or anice-tohave, but afundamental need, and our government is making this areality formore Australians,” she said.

“From Ararat andBeaufort,weare doingthe essential work of delivering enabling infrastructure to get more homes built, faster.

“The Housing Support Programisacriticalpart of our work with states and territories to help them meet the ambitiousnational target to build 1.2 million new homes.”

Narracan breweryput to pub test

By EMMA BALLINGALL

ABREWERY and cellar door has been approved at Narracan after operating hours were reduced to appeaselocal residents.

Baw Baw Shire councillors were split on the issue, votingfive-four to issueanoticeofdecisiontogrant aplanning permit at 117 Narracan Connection Road.

Operating hours were reduced from four days to three and closing hours from 11pm to 8pm. Cr Brendan Kingwill said the Narracan community had come out strongly against what was abar, labelling it “a recipe for disaster”.

However, Cr Adam Sheehan strongly supported the venture, arguing“it wasn’t council’srole to put restrictions on abusiness”.

“Ultimately, Cr Paul Pratt proposed an amendment to “give the guys acrack”, which proved successful.

Mandy Durkin,who lives 100m from the proposed site, spoke passionately againstnoise and antisocial behaviour that abrewery may bring, noting undesirables already in the area.

“To get apolice presence at Narracan is very difficult,” Ms Durkin said.

“I feel oftenunsafeinmyown home on the weekends.”

Darren Wallace said breweries, bottle shops, and nightclubs with live music belonged in towns.

“Surelyyou’re having alend of the Narracan community here,” Mr Wallace said.

“The only association with on-farm is asmall hops gardentoflavour the potable waterthat will all need to be trucked into site. Reject it, it’s inappropriate in afarmzone.”

Having worked in hospitality for 40 years, Leonie Ryan labelled operating hours as “out of control”. Ms Ryan said the venture would rely on pulling spring water, potentially causing adevastating effect on the rest of those relying on the water source.

Anthony Durling said he wasn’t principally opposed but believed abar wouldgenerate “excessive and unacceptable noise”.

“I don’t want to be the one that loses so others can gain,” Mr Durling said, callingfor compromise to “make it work for all parties, not just one side”.

Sean Byrne, adirectorofapplicant MADHopper Brewing, said: “a tap-house is the ultimategoalfor us”and “our primarygoal isn’talivemusicvenue”.

Mr Byrne said nothing was set in stone for operating hours.

“We’re happy to work with council and the neighbours to reach acompromise.”

Officers recommended apermit be granted for use and development of abrewery and cellar door within the farm zone following asitevisit in mid-November.

An officer report said the permit application had attractedone supportingletter and 13 objections, with noise/rowdiness, increased traffic, operating hours, and wastewater generation amongst concerns raised.

No publictransport to caterfor inebriated people and vehicle collisions were other common concerns

The site is 48.12 hectares and currently has a dwelling and outbuildings, and is being used for crops and grazing animal production.

The proposalincluded building atoilet block andcarparking area for 20 vehicles as well as transforming an existing shed into abrewingshed and cellar door.

According to the application,126 kilolitresofbeer would be produced in the first year, increasing to 422 kilolitres in the third year.

It proposed the cellar door would accommodate up to 50 patrons at any time, requiringthree to 10 staff on-site. Initial hours of operation proposed were3pm to 12am on Thursdays and Fridays, and 11am to 12am on Saturday and Sunday, but the applicant later amended the application to an 11pm closing.

Cr Kingwill said the application looked great at first glance but “the more Ilooked at it, the more it started to worry me”.

“Licensed for 50 peopleinaremote area with live music, no local police, this is arecipe for disaster,”

Cr Kingwill said.

“It will have adirect impact on the local and normal farming activities. Iencourage people to see it for what it is. And that is abar.”

Cr Tricia Jones agreed, noting she was first excited by the prospect of attracting more tourists to the area.

“But, having heard some of the presenters this afternoonaswellasthe things that Cr Kingwill has just mentioned, Itoo willbevotingfor refusal

“However, Cr Pratt said councilshould be supporting small business in Baw Baw.

“I think there can be some compromise around trading hours,”CrPratt said.

“I don’t supportan11pmtrading time,Idon’t think that’s appropriate.”

In proposingreduced trading hours, Cr Pratt said “it would give the guys acrack to what they want to do within reason”.

Cr Sheehan said the permit was only for land use and it wasn’t council’s role to restrict abusiness.

He saidthe liquorlicenceapplication wouldcome later and was “a heavily legislated industry”.

“We should be supportingany smallbusiness and opportunities they will create in remoteareas of our shire,” Cr Sheehan said.

Cr Danny Goss said the bottom line was the business would utilise items produced on-site and was allowed within the farming zone.

He voted against reducing hours, stating councillors should uphold the planning scheme.

Cr Ben Lucas said he was all for acompromise and supported having somewherepeople could visit on the way to Narracan Falls.

“I absolutely hope that it doesn’tturninto the doomsday that residents expected, and Idon’tthink it will,” Cr Lucas said.

An alternative recommendation to issue anotice of refusal was lost in athree-six vote.

Cr Gosscalled her adivision. Crs Jones, Kingwill and Jess Hamilton voted for and CrsPratt,Lucas, Goss, Sheehan, Suzanne Allen and Kate Wilson voted against.

The recommendation to issue anotice of decision with reduced operating hours was carried five-four. Cr Goss again called for adivision. Crs Wilson, Pratt, Lucas, Kingwill and Hamilton voted for and CrsAllen,Goss, Jones andSheehan voted against.

Farmers rewarded following latest increase in milk prices

BULLA Dairy Foods (Bulla) is pleased to announce an increase in its milk price for the 2024/25 season, with astepupof$0.20kg/MS.

As communicatedtoits farmers, this price increase follows areview of business performance over the peak Christmas and summer trading periods.

“At our recent Christmas Farmer Forums, we shared thatBullawouldreview our position regarding milk priceinFebruary. We are pleased to communicatethat, after areview of our performance over our key trading periods through Christmas and Summer, we are in a position to pass on an increase to our valued farmers,”BullaDairy Food ChiefExecutive, Allan Hood said.

“We acknowledge the challengesour farmers are currently operating under with rising costs, adverse weather and shifting market conditions.

“At Bulla, our farmers aren’t just suppliers;

they are an essential part of our family business.Supporting them with acompetitive and sustainablefarmgate milk price remains atop priority for Bulla, and we’ll continue to work closely with our farmers to build astrong and resilient future together.”

The updated milkprice, whichwillbeapplied retrospectively from July 1, 2024, will be paid with the February milk payment in March 2025.

The new pricing will also apply to monthly milk payments from March 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025.

BullaFamilyDairy BullaDairy Foods (Bulla) is one of Australia’s oldest and largest familyowned dairy companies, owned by the same three families since 1910.

Bullasaysittakespride in creating new and exciting products for consumers but also appreciates and upholds time-honoured traditions.

Confusion rising regarding the

IQUESTION the claim by Patrick Ansell (‘Missing in acti on’, Latrobe Valley Express Opinion , 19/02/25), that“MP HarrietShing is never seen in the electorate”.

If or one ,h ave seen the MP this year in Commercial Road,Morwellnear the electoral office

Mr Ansell also refers to Ms Shing as the Morwell MP, and whilst the electorate office is in Morwell, the MLC is not the “MorwellMP”, but rather a Member for Eastern Victoria and also aMinister in the state government.

Both these points may be where the confusion and expectation arises.

As aMinister of the Crown, demands on their time are substantial.

As aMember for Eastern Victoria, the electorate runs from the eastern edges of Melbourne through to the NSW border.

David Burt

Traralgon

Time enough

PATRICIA Correa’s letter (‘Useless money’, LVE Opinion, 19/02/25) responding to aprevious letter of mine in which Iquestioned ourlocalfederal member’sunsatisfactory solution to the problem of high crime in theregion -makestwo points that deserve arespectful answer.

She statedthat sheconsidered my criticism of NationalsMember for Gippsland, Darren Chester was abit unfair, particularly given that in 13 of the 17 years he’d been in office,Laborwerein power, and so the current situation was actually their fault, not his.

Firstly, it needs to be appreciated that our local member represents us at afederal, not astate government, level. Here in Victoria, Labor has been in power continuously since December 2014, i.e. the last 11 years, not 13 years.

Secondly,our present federal member was elected to the Gippsland seat six years before Dan Andrews’ era of reckless spending began. In 2013 the Coalition won government under Tony Abbott, and they held office until May 2022 when Labor took over. So our present federal member was in aserving government for nine of his 17 years i.e. over half,and in Opposition for the remaining time.

In his time as part of the government he was not merely abackbencher, but served in varying roles includingMinister for Infrastructureand Transport, Acti ng Min iste rf or Re gion al Deve lopmen t, and ActingMinister for Local Government and Territories.You would think that in holding these key ministerial positions that Gippslandwould have gotten its fair share of government resources at the time and would now be enjoying the benefits of these investments.

Instead, as he admits, we have the second highest crime rateinregional Victoria,not helped by some of the highest unemployment rates in Australia and the closure or downscaling of our key industries like native timber harvesting, power generation, farming and paper making.

It is clear to me that our present batch of federal politicians are out of touch with the decline that is happening around them and worse, as demonstratedbyour federal member’s woefully inadequate solution to the problem of local crime, they don’t have aclue as to howtoreversethis trend -short of throwing more taxpayers’ money at it.

Greg Hansford One Nation Candidate for Gippsland

Concerns on nuclear

NUCLEAR power, by any metric, anywhere, is one of the most expensive ways to produce electricity. What we all want is the cheapest form of electricity that has low emission, right? Cheap electricity is good for everyone, right? From the pensioner to business and everyone in between.

Renewables have proventobethe cheapestform of clean, low emission electricity by far. Andluckily, Australia has tonnes of renewable energy sources and plenty of space in which to harvest it. It doesn’t really matter that we’ve got uranium does it? It’s still notgoingtomakenuclear competitive with renewables which are already here. Why would you want to go for afar more expensive form of electricity when you have amuch cheaper version all around you, now? Aversion that is already providing more than 40 per cent of electricity in 2025 and will be producing 82 per cent by 2030!

So I’dlike to ask Federal Member for Gippsland, Darren Chesterthree questions:

 Will going nuclear reduce my power bills in the next few years, or indeed, will it ever?

 Be honest now… who is your source of information regarding the costs of nuclear energy? Are they areputable organisation like the CSIRO? Because your costs don’t seem to add up.

 And lastly, will nuclear energy work in with renewable energy? If so, please explain how this works. We all have aright to know the actual

details and an accurate and fair assessment of the proposal before taking it to the vote.

Lucilla

Hammond Moe

Place of learning

LAST week, Ihad afantastic day at Federation University, where Iwas for my first day after a relatively long hiatus from study.

Iamgrateful forthe excellent presentation of the FedReady programme.

The staff in the library and student support were also brilliant in the assistance they provided. Iamlooking forward to my next day and am very happy that Imadethe decision to return to study. My already busy days will be even more filled with adventure and new friendships.

Iwould encourage anyone who has the chance to visit the university and take in the compass-like designofthe campus, the magnificent artworks on display and even the brilliantly designed new carpet that has just been laid.

At every corner there seems to be anew wonder to amaze.

Karen Drake Morwell

Sith absolutes

WHAT agreat letter and summary, Brian Kilday, (‘Speak for yourself’, LVE Opinion, 19/02/25), of the folly of absolutismand the reality of climate change. But of course the usual suspects, to whom you refer, “who appear to have no expertise in the area of climate science, but are arrogant enough to think they know better than the experts”, will provide no acknowledgement.

And why?

Because they can’t. And somehave no concept that they are now part of aminiscule deludedclique, world wide, of denialists.

Someone like Joseph Lis, who worries this (last) week, (‘The cult of net zero’, LVE Opinion, 19/02/25), that he may be “risking ridicule”.

Too late Joseph, for your recent book exposing “the climate change hysteria hoax”, has well and truly crossed the finishing line,for the concept of a worldwide conspiracyamong scientists,todefraud the planet, takes alarmism to awhole new level.

So ridicule should be feared, not just from “renewablesonly activists”, but from the vast majority of the occupants of this planet.

Ihave no objection to debate over how to deal with the problem, but why would adenialist engage in such discussion anyway?

So stop whinging it costs too much, and China won’t play ball, and leave debate to the adults. It appears to me thatmostdenialists, fortunately aminimal and dwindlinggroup,are of my generation,sothereismuch valid hope invested in the youngand educated.

Personally Iwouldlikemylegacy to my grandchildren to include ahealthy planet.

Others obviously, for avariety of discredited reasons, don’t give atoss.

John Duck Trafalgar

It matters to many ANTHONY Wasiukiewicz seems to think that we should all calm down (‘Much yet nothing happening’, LVE Opinion, 19/02/25).

While Ifully agree that there are other very serious issues around the world that we should pay attentiontosuch as Gaza, the Ukraine waretc, there are some pretty important things going on right here on our doorstep that require immediate attention.

Sadly, we can’tdothat much about Gaza personally. As acountry we can express our views, but that’s about it.

However, here in the Valley as voters, we can play abiggerrole in alocal issue.

Unfo rtunately, nuclear power has become political.

It shouldn’t be, but it is.

The Coalition were in power for nine years prior to this current federal government. In aperiod where action on man-made climate changewas avery hot topic. And yet, the term nuclear power wasn’t mentioned. Despite all the gas shortages and price gouging during those years, despite all the coal fired power stations closing earlier than expectedthus puttingpressure on prices, there was no mention of nuclearpower by the Coalition at all. Now, all of asudden,itisa big deal for them. Threatening to overrun states, communities and privatecompanies to implement it. Threateningto force taxpayers to pay higher than normal power prices.Somuchfor small government and allowing the free market to function as it wants to. Hence, it’s avery big dealfor acoal community like the Valley The Coalition is dangling the carrot of future jobs for the Valley and suggesting that if you vote for them, they will come in and build anuclear power station and save the day

The current federal and state governments are not promising jobs from nuclear power. Instead, they are creating real jobs via their 82 per cent renewable energy by 2030 policies. Projects that youcan go and touch right now.

The Coalition planhas no substance and they continually refuse to provide any information on the topic.

Industry expertsacross the country,including the electricity providers themselves, have stated thatnuclearpowerhas no future whatsoever in Australia.

Therefore, there is no chance that the promised nuclear jobs will ever be delivered.

There’s aclear division in power policies between the political parties and it is coming to ahead at the next federal election only acouple of months away because the Coalition has made it so. Their words, not mine.

So, Anthony, while you think future employment opportunities and the future economic prosperity forthe people in theValley and greater Gippsland mightnot be an issue that requires urgent attention, there’s awhole bunch of people who think it does.

People need to be well informed prior to voting day, and so talking about the issue now is crucial to enable peopletomakethe best choice for themselves and their community when the election comes.

Adrian Cosgriff

Traralgon

Prematureclimax

WESTERN PortBay in southwest Gippslandis Victoria’s second largest bay and an area of unique environmental value as aRamsar listed marine wetland. Its seagrass meadows, colour-lined rocky reefs, mangroves and diversity of fish are adelight to behold.

Western Port also provides crucial habitat that 65 per cent of Victoria’s bird population relies on, owing to its intertidalmudflats and saltmarsh which are vital feeding grounds. Birds as small as amatchboxtravel from places as far away as Siberia and come to Western Port to feed.

In recent weeks,Western Port is againinthe newsoverthe feasibilityofanoffshore wind terminal slatedtobesited within the wetlands. This facility is where Victoria’sfutureoffshore wind farms would be loaded onto ships for installation out in Bass Strait.

Federal Environment Minister, Tanya Plibersek rejected the Allan government’s first proposal early in 2024, mostly because it failed to properly respond to the bay’s unique environmental values. The state government is approaching this project backwards.

If they committed to proper marine planning for Western Port, as outlined in the Western Port Framework (a plan already supported by community and business groups around the bay, Traditional Custodians, local councils, MPs, tourism and outdoor groups) they could have avoided the current roadblock from Minister Plibersek’s office.

The framework provides amarinespatial plan to run alongside the environmental assessment processes to determine if and how Western Port’s marine environment could support the terminal without causing too much harm, and how it could best be designed to mitigate those potential negative impacts.

The framework gives the state government the pathway to invest in the environment of Western Port to ensure its ecological values can be sustained while allowing appropriate development to proceed. Instead of applying proper planning to ensure a future for all of the many values of Western Port, the state governmentjumped the gun and was unsurprisingly rejected at the first hurdle.

Support: LetterwriterDavid Bur tbelievesanunfair amountofcriticism has been directedat Memberfor Eastern Victoria, Harriet Shing File photograph

Backonthe books: KarenDrake has spokenpositivelyabout her

at Federation University, Churchill Photograph supplied

visibility of MPsinelectorate

As they take arun up for their second attempt, it’s not too late to get it right.

Shannon Hurley

Victorian National Parks Association

Nature Conservation Campaigner

Dr Kat Lucas-Healey

EnvironmentVictoria Senior Climate & Energy Advisor

Liquid gold

SOME politicians propose replacing coal fired power stations with nuclear reactors.Even pro-nuclear group Nuclearfor Australiaconcedes nuclear reactors use at least 1.2 times morewater than comparablecoal fired power, and the proposed reactors are much larger than existingcoal plants, meaning water use could more than double.

Some suggest desalination plants to supply water for nuclear reactors, but this requiresseawater, and nearly all the proposedreactor sites are along way inland. Desalination is also extremely costly.

As acore principle, Farmers for Climate Action stands for protecting regional water supplies and doesnot support making water scarcerormore expensive for farmers.

Natalie Collard Farmers for Climate Action CEO

Warofthe words

IN Jul y1 55 9, Fren ch astro loger and seer Nostradamus was ordered to appear before the Inquisition for predicting the death in ajousting accident of King Henri II of France (following Century I, quatrain 35 to the letter, Henri received awooden splinter from ajousting shaft during a tournament: it slipped through his helmet’s golden visor and plunged behind his eye into his brain).

On the night of his death, crowds gathered before the inquisitors, burning Nostradamus in effigy -hoping the priests/inquisitors would burn him in earnest.

Only Nostradamus’ friendship with the widowed Queen Catherine saved him.

This particularquatrain made Nostradamus the talk of the courts of Europe.

If we fast forward to this year and the upcoming federal election in Australia, even if Iwas able to accurately predict the exact number of seats the Coalition will win, and even if at the same time I was able to accurately predict the exact number of seats Labor will end up with, plus accurately predicting the exact number of seats won by the Greens, One Nation, and the Independents. And even if Iwas able to accurately predict the names of the candidates in each seatthat wouldwin, I still would be labelled by the reality-proof net-zero zealotsassome kind of macabre magician and my predictions dismissedassome kind of fluke or a case of beginners luck.

See the brick wall Iamupagainst?

These virtuesignalling peopleItry to expose week after weekinthis paperliveinaparallel universewithadifferent realityand adifferent truth, utterly divorced fromthe actual facts of what is really happening.

They twist and distort their so-called ‘truth’ out of all proportion. They take things out of context by selectively cherry-picking and editingdatato suit theirperverse and predetermined agenda. They are beyond reasoning with and beyond help.

Joseph Lis Morwell

Waterworries

WHO will give up their water to cool anuclear reactor?

The Peter Dutton ideaistoseize seven coal fired power sites, bulldoze the power station and build anuclear reactor twice that size.

Nuclearuses 1.4 times as muchwaterascoal fired power per unit of electricity produced, so we need 2.8 times as much water to cool the nuclear reactor as we’re currently using on those sites. We don’t have extra, unallocated water laying around.

It is all allocated, and our farmers who grow our

food are already opposing losing their criticalwater supplies to cool anuclear reactor.

How would local watersupplies be protected? What else could each of these regions do with $8 billion instead of building anuclear reactor (that’s enough to buy abig solar system and household batteryfor every house in the region)?

Again, crucially, who will give up their water to cool this nuclear reactor?

Chris O’Keefe

Cle an Ene rgy Cou ncil Nation al Spokesperson

Political reality

THEREhas been pros and cons about nuclear power.

Labor is responsible for this push to nuclear by shutting down power stations, stopping coal mining and stopping gas explorations.

All of these made our country prosperous.

Labor’s dream of renewables is just that -adream.

It is not sustainable and the hypocrisy of the Labor government selling all our assets overseas cannot be ignored. If it is good for other countries, why is it so bad for Australia that the money they gain will be wasted and not be used to our betterment?

This whole climate change myth has been nurtured by the Greens for political gain and the voters are being conned with their votes.

The Egyptian proverb quoted by Joseph Lis (‘Modern proverb’, LVE, 17/07/24) is awarning that somethinghas to be done to protect our wayoflife

The quote by OliverBergmens (‘Ohsotrue’, LVE, 17/07/24) “intelligent people beingsilenced as to not offend stupid people”hitsthe nailonthe head

The success of the Yes vote stated “I will not be silenced”,and thereare many more with the same opinionasmyself.

The final say will be at the voting polls on election day.

Patricia Correa Traralgon

Have your say

THE Latrobe ValleyExpresswelcomes letters to the editor.

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

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

TheExpress does not publish letters from anonymouscontributors.

Letters must include aphone number, email addressand the author’s hometown for purposes of substantiating authenticity.

Readers are entitled to aright of reply to a letter directed at them.

While healthy debateisencouraged, the editor will stamp out any that cross the line to defamation.

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

Readers should be equally aware that facts presented in letters are selected to support a person’s point of view.

As such, statistics can quite often be fabricateddepending on the pool of data used or people involved in surveys.

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

Letters regarding religion will not be published.

Email letters to news@lvexpress.com.au and include ‘Letter to theEditor’ in the subject line. Deadline for letters is Thursday 3pm.

Because that ’s what fa ct sd o. Th ey get in the wa yo fw il d th eori es ,s ens atio nal head li nes ,a nd st orie st ha ta re ju st to o good to be true .A nd th at ’s the po in t.

Real jo urn al is mi sn ’t ab out ch as in gc lic ks or st irr ing outrage

It ’s ab out acc ou nt ab ilit y. It ’s ab ou tg et ti ng the stor yr ig ht , no tj us tb ein gt he fi rs tt ot alk ab out it

It ’s ab ou tk no wi ng yo ur communit ya nd kno wi ng what mat te rs mo st

Beca use when the tru th ma tt er s, sh or tc ut sd on ’t cu ti t.

We be lie ve fa ct sm ak es tories stronger,n ot we ak er.

Tha t’sw hy ev er yt hin gw ep ub li sh is gr ound ed in ind ep end enc e, in teg rit ya nd an unw av er in gc omm it me nt to ac cu ra cy and the co mm un it yw ea re par to f.

Tr ut hi sn ’t as in gle pe rs on’sp oint of vie w.

It ’s ar es po ns ib ilit y. An di t’so ne we ta ke ser ious ly

Tr ust jo urna li sm to de liv er yo ut he truth

Invictus fanfare homed in Morwell

By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

MUSIC professor andMorwell-raised Steven Capaldo has ventured far and wide throughout his career in the industry, recently creating anew fanfare used in the closing ceremony of the 2025 Invictus Games held in Vancouver.

The piece has been praisedfor its celebratory themes,played while more than 550 athletes of former service entered the sold out Rogers Arena for the closing ceremony.

Mr Capaldo’s fanfare bookended the 12th annual Invictus Games co-founded by Prince Harry. This year’s Games featuredpop sensationsKaty Perry, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Nelly Furtado, Noah Kahan, and Quebec singer Roxane Bruneau.

Amusic professor at the University of Victoria in Canada, Mr Capaldo was in conversation with frequent university collaborators, the Royal Navy’s Naden Band who highlighted the Invictus Games.

“Hewas mentioninghow there was alackofnew fanfares, particularly Canadian fanfares, that had been written… he was looking for something that was fresh, something new and he was struggling to find it,” Mr Capaldo said.

Devoting the weekend to write something he deemedwould be interesting, Mr Capaldo returned to thenavy band on the Monday, and upon handing it to them, thrusted the opportunity forward.

“He played it for the producers of the show and they fell in love with it and it became used as the music to which the team captains came in (to) for the closing ceremony,” he said.

“It’s abit of athrill, for sure and ahugehonour.”

Mr Capaldo said that the producers of the event could tell that this was something truly unique, and

favoured the athletes with the set tempo suitable for wheelchairs and assisted walking.

“What really struck them was not justthe celebratory nature of the work but also (it being) really reflective and it had arespect for the participants, it camethroughthe music,” he said.

New three-year penalty for state drink drivers

DRINK driving remains one of the most significant contributors to Victoria’s road toll.

According to the state government, since 2023 around one in five drivers who lost their lives on Victorian roads had ablood alcohol concentration of 0.05 or above.

The state government introduced new penalties for drink drivers on October 17, 2024.

Under the new law, thoseconvicted of adrink drivingoffence must drive with abloodalcohol content of zero for at least three years.

Many drivers are not aware that in Victoria, every drink driving offender will have to pay aheavy fine,lose their licence,and complete abehaviour change program.

Offenders also havetoget an alcoholinterlock installed in theirvehicle and drive withaBlood Alcohol Content (BAC) of zero for three years after successfully completingtheir courtmandated Alcohol Interlock Program.

"While most Victorians do the right thing, drink driving continues to be one of the Fatal Fiverisksand alcohol greatlyincreases the chance of beinginvolved in acrash,"RACV Head of Policy, James Williams said.

"The new minimum penalties introduced in

2024 send aclear message to motorists that driving after drinkingalcohol is just not worth the risk

“Drink driving offences may also result in vehicle impoundment or,for seriouscases, possibleimprisonment. The exact penalties will depend on arange of factors, including BAC level, age and licence type.”

Mr Williams also noted that re-offenders may face heavier penalties than first-time offenders.

“Drivers found with aBAC over zero during the mandatedthree-yearperiod will also be considered re-offenders and will have to start theprocess again, including alicence disqualification period, interlock condition, and three-year zero BAC driving condition,”hesaid.

“There aremanyfactors that can impact BAC readings, suchasyour age, sex, weight, fatigue levels and tolerance to alcohol.

“The safest way to know for sure that you are under the legal drinkinglimit is to not drive if you drink.Select adesignated driver, look up public transport options, or book ataxior Uber home.”

For moreinformation on the drink driving minimum penalties, visit: racv.com.au

“A lot of other fanfares are quite strident and serve other purposes… whether they be for other events like the Olympic Games, but Itried to put in this one abit more of asense of arespectful nature to the middle section of the music which is abit more reflective and Ithinkthat came through

really well and they thought that fitted with the occasion perfectly.

“I was there in the audience to cheer on the performance, that was pretty special to hear the piece played in such abig stadium and be appreciatedby so many people but particularly the athletes and the organisers of the games themselves.”

Mr Capaldo’s work has been so well-received that it is in consideration to return for years to come as potentially an official theme of the Invictus Games.

“That would be ahugehonour, we’re actually having discussions about thatinthe comingweeks," he said.

"I’m reallyopen to them to use the piece in future games and the fact that it might live on through the games is exceptionally thrilling for me."

Atten ding Crinigan Road Primary Schoo l, Morwell and then St Paul's, Mr Capaldo wasalways broughttowards music which laid the foundations for his career going forward.

“I really took to music and Ienjoyed it… it was a really rich musical upbringing Ihad through the school system,” he said.

“From there, Ihad opportunities to join the Australian military and was in the band there for ashort time, unfortunately Igot ill and had to leave.”

Mr Capaldoattended Melbourne University before being accepted intothe Masters of Conduction Program at the Sydney Conservatorium and then moved to the US for his doctorate studies.

He has also beenthe Chair of the Australianjury panel for Eurovision and been on the jury for the Grammy Awards for anumberofyears.

Warm to wet, storms spark fires

By KATRINABRANDON

RECENT weather has consisted of more than afew twists and turns.

Last weekend, the Latrobe Valley experienced both super hot weather with atop of 37 on Saturday (February 22) then acooler turn to 30, yet stormy on Sunday (February 23).

Short bursts of rain appeared over Saturday evening and some in theearlymorning with surroundingareas experiencing power outages.

In the last fewmonths, weather exceeding 30 degrees hasbecomemorecommon, which hasmainlybeen followed by thunderstorms, leading to more Total Fire Ban and High Fire Danger days.

Curre ntly, February statis tics from the Bureau of Meteorology shows there has been seven days in the high to mid 30s, up from six this time last year.

February's highest temperature has been 39.3 (Sunday, February 2) degrees within the local area. Other days reached similar temperatures both in the month and in December 2024 and January this year. BothDecember and February showmaximum

temperatures of 39.3 and the maximum for January topped 40 degrees(Sunday, January 5). In termsofrainfall, this year has shown January record 76.6 millilitresand February just 23ml to date. Fires have also becom em ore frequent throughout the last few months due to hot and dry conditions.

Over the weekend, multiple fires, with some caused by lightning strikes, were sparked. Mirboo North CFA responded to agrass and scrub fire threatening sheds on the Strezlecki Highway on Saturday, which was soon under control by Mirboo North, Thorpdale, Dumbalk, Boolarra andBerrysCreek CFA units. Multiple fires emerged on Sunday, with only one at HazelwoodCemetery Reserve raising aCommunity Information alert on the VicEmergency app. Other fires were located at Boolarra Avenue in Newborough, LyndonsRoad in Callignee and Deans Rd in Driffield.

Coming into cooler months, authorities warn locals to keep aclose eye on local alerts and to abide by fire warnings and advice.

Celebration: Morwell-raisedStevenCapaldo’s fanfarewas usedduringthe closing ceremonyof the 2025InvictusGamesinVancouver Photograph supplied

Season’s splash: Thunderstorms hitthe region over the weekend. Photograph: Katrina Brandon

AI-generated journalism falls short of audience’s expectations: report

IT pays to invest in humans.

Anew industry report has found audiences and journalists are growing increasingly concerned by generative artificial intelligence (AI) in journalism.

Su mm arising three years of research, the RMIT-led Generative AI &Journalism report was launched at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society today.

Report lead author, Dr T.J. Thomson from RMIT said the potential of AI-generated or edited content to mislead or deceive was of most concern.

“The concernofAIbeing used to spread misleading or deceptive content topped the list of challenges for both journalists and news audiences,” he said.

“We found journalistsare poorly equippedto identify AI-generated or editedcontent, leaving them open to unknowingly propelling this content to their audiences.”

This is partly because few newsrooms have systematic processes in place for vetting user-generated or community contributed visual material.

Most journalists interviewed were not aware of the extent to which AI is increasingly and often invisibly being integrated into both cameras and image or video editing and processing software.

“AI is sometimes beingused withoutthe journalists or news outlet even knowing,” Mr Thompson said.

While only one quarter of news audiences surveyed thought they had encountered generative AI in journalism, about halfwereunsureorsuspected they had.

“This points to apotential lack of transparency

from news organisations when they use generative AI or to alackoftrust between news outlets and audiences,” Mr Thomson said.

News audiences were found to be more comfortable with journalistsusing AI when they themselves have used it for similar purposes, such as to blur parts of an image.

“The people we interviewedmentioned how they used similar tools when on video conferencing apps or when using the portrait mode on smartphones,” Mr Thomson added.

“We also found thiswithjournalists using AI to add keywords to media sinceaudiences had themselves experienced AI describing images in word processing software.”

Mr Thomson said news audiences and journalists alike were overall concerned about how news organisationsare -and could be -using generative AI

“Most of our participants were comfortable with turning to AI to create iconsfor an infographicbut quite uncomfortable with the idea of an AI avatar presenting the news, for example,” he said.

Part-problem, part-opportunity.

The technology, which has advanced significantly in recent years, was foundtobeboth an opportunity and threat to journalism.

For example, Apple recentlysuspended its automatically generatednews notification feature afteritproduced false claims abouthigh-profile individuals, including false deaths and arrests,and attributed these false claims to reputable outlets, including BBC News and The New York Times

While AI can perform tasks likesortingand generating captions for photographs, it has wellknown biases against, for example, women and people of colour.

But the researchalsoidentified lesser-known biases, such as favouring urban over non-urban environments, showing women less often in more specialised roles, and ignoring people living with disabilities.

“These biases exist because of human biases embedded in trainingdataand/orthe conscious or unconscious biases of those who develop AI algorithms and models,” Mr Thomson said.

But not all AI tools are equal. The study found those which explain their decisions, disclose their source material, and ensure transparency in outputs regarding theiruse are less riskyfor journalists compared to tools that lack these features.

Journalists and audience members were also concerned about generative AI replacing humans in newsrooms, leading to fewer jobs and skills in the industry.

“These fears reflect along history of technologies impactingonhuman labour forcesinjournalism production,” Mr Thompson said.

The report, designedfor the media industry, identifies dozens of ways journalists and news organisations can use generativeAIand summarises how comfortable news audiencesare with each.

It summarises several of the team’s research studies, including the latest peer-reviewed study, published in Journalism Practice

Attempted ATMtheft in Churchill

LATROBECrime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating an attempted theft of an ATMin Churchill lastThursday (February20).

It’s alleged two offenders parked ablack Toyota Hilux at the entry to ashopping centre arcade, at the intersection of Monash Way and Marina Drive at about 5.40am.

The man and his accomplice are then alleged to have entered the arcade in possession of ratchet straps, chainsaws, crowbars, and other implements, before attaching the tow straps to an ATM inside.

Officers were quick to respond, with both offendersfleeing thescene.

A21-year-old man from Mulgrave was arrested on Phillip Parade following abrief foot pursuit and is awaiting interview. The second male is still outstanding.

The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV, dashcamfootage, or any information thatcould assist investigators is urgedtocontact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or submita confidential report online at: crimestoppersvic.com.au

Cracking down on family violence

VICTORIA Police is making arecord number of family violencearrests, with new data showing one perpetrator is apprehended every 17 minutes.

Frontline police and specialisedteams -including Family Violence Investigation Unitsand the Family Violence Command Taskforce -are continuing to proactively target and arrest offenders to keep victimsurvivors safe.

The vast majority of offenders, someofthe worst in the state, are being apprehended for violentlyassaultingtheir partners or former partners and children, stalking and making threats to kill.

They’re also being arrested for actively avoiding police detection, outstanding warrants and unserved or breaching family violence intervention orders.

CrimeStatisticsAgency figures show 30,853family violence offenders were either arrested or summonsed to court in the year to September 2024. It equates to an average of 84 arrests or summons to court each day.

That’s one person arrestedorbrought bef ore the cour ts for fami ly violenc e offending every 17 minutes.It’sthe highest number of arrests police have madefor family violence since recording began in 2005. Anumberofarrests for family violence crimes in the past year have been supported by Victoria Police’s specialist units including the Public Order ResponseTeam, VIPER Taskforce and Intelligence and Covert Support Command Proactive Targeting Teams.

Victoria Police is committed to responding to all forms of family violence, keeping victim-survivors safe and holdingperpetrators to account.

If you or someone close to you discloses they are avictim of family violence,encourage them to contact police or aspecialist support service.

Police not only provide safety for victims who make areport, they also refer them to support services, so they get the assistance they need

Victoria Police works closely with specialist familyviolence support services, including Safe Steps and No to Violence. Support for those affected by family violence is available 24 hours ad ay through Safe Steps by calling 1800 015 188 or emailing safesteps@safesteps.org. au. Safe Steps also has Web Chat available on weekdays from 9am to midnight, which can be accessed by visiting: safesteps.org. au/chat

If you are concerned about your own or someone else’s behaviour -NotoViolence runs aMen’s Referral Service which helps men who use violence to change their behaviour and can be contacted on 1300 766 491.

In an emergency call Triple Zero (000). If you can’t get to aphone, ask someone else to do it for you.

For more information on what Victoria Police is doing to protect victim-survivors of family violence, visit: police.vic.gov.au/ family-violence

Scene of the crime: Thieves targeted ATMs in Churchill last week Photograph supplied

HOROSCOPES

by Joanne Madeline Moore

February24-March 2, 2025

Libra (Sep 23 - Oct 22)

tired, sick, injured or frustrated over the last eleven weeks that Mars has been retrograde So it’s time to be bold and brave as you take a smart calculated risk and morph into the adventurous Ar es you were born to be Nothing ventured, nothing ga ned as you break down barriers and charge at life with p enty of fiery abandon!

After near y three months, Mars stops reversing through your career zone on Monday So your Libran motivat on wil slowly return and stalled work pro ects should gradua ly pick up pace Then Friday’s New Moon stimulates your we lbeing zone, so it’s a wonderful weekend to start a new d et, reboot an exerc se program or begin a meditat on pract ce And remember – good hea th is the true wealth With Venus visiting your re ationship zone, love is in the a r

Kirk St, Moe

THE origin of the name Kirk Street in Moe has a short but interesting story.

Those with aScottishheritage will know that kirk stands for church in the Scottish language.

But therewas no churchinKirk St until a Presbyterian Church was built in 1911. This was more than 30 years after Moehad beenestablished.

May 20) Gemini (May 21 - June 20)

Scorpio (Oct 23 - Nov 21)

With five planets powering through Pisces (including the New Moon), being flexible is the key to a successful week f you are too stubborn and unyielding in your opinions, then others will just stop istening to what you have to say And f you are too s ow off the mark (and hes tant to take action), then others wi l streak ahead of you So your motto is from fellow Taurean, actress Shirley MacLaine: “Don’t be afraid to go out on a l mb It’s where all the fruit is ”

You’re keen to connect with work colleagues, c ients and/or customers as five planets activate your career zone t’s a terrific t me to converse and communicate, text and tweet Peop e are waiting to hear what you’ve got to say as you brainstorm your creat ve ideas And proactive Mars finally moves forward on Monday, so stop procrastinating and start delivering! Be inspired by b rthday great, wr ter and il ustrator Dr Seuss: “Only you can contro your future ”

Cancer (June 21 - July 22)

Cancer folk can be super-cautious spending too much time at home n your cosy comfort zone Espec a ly over the last few weeks, when Mars has been reversing through your sign and you may have felt t red, cranky and unmotivated This week the Sun, New Moon, Mercury, Saturn and Neptune are al activating your travel-and-adventure zone, and Mars moves forward on Monday So it’s t me to crawl out of your Crab cave and be much more adventurous

Start p anning your next weekend escape or ho iday, as Mars moves forward n your travel-and-adventure zone

Opportun ties for New Moon growth could come from a child, lover or friend as you real se who has your best interests at heart It’s a so a good t me to express your creative side and appreciate the ta ents of others Your motto is from movie star (and b rthday great) E izabeth

Taylor: “There are so many doors to be opened, and I’m not afraid to ook behind them ”

Sagittarius (Nov 22 - Dec

Mars moves forward on Monday, so don’t worry about things you can’t control Be proactive about projects where you can influence the outcome, as your motivation and mojo gradua ly return But are you having problems w th a family member or housemate?

The more you communicate and cooperate (w th p enty of patience and compassion), the more positive the re ationship will be But it’s up to you to swa low your Sagittarian pride and make the first move

A partnership should gradually improve, as Mars moves forward in your re ationship zone on Monday

The more proact ve you are about communicating clear y the better Then Fr day’s New Moon lights up your conversation, education and neighbourhood zones, so it’s a fabulous week to focus, plan, study, organ se and strateg ze - especially nvo ving o nt ventures and projects with n your local community S ngles - ove and family are l nked

The PresbyterianChurch members held their meetings in the homes of members of the congregation and in the Moe Mechanics Institute Hall in George St until they could afford to buy land and build achurch.

The church hadinitially purchased ablockof landdescribedasonthe north side of the state school which was in Anzac St.

However, it was decided that the block was unsuitable for achurch and so themembers purchased ablock of land on thenorthwest corner of what is now known as Kirk St and Hasthorpe Lane. Here, they built achurch in 1911.

It is likely that at that time the street did not have aname.

In June 1916, the NarracanShire Engineer was complaining to council that Trafalgar had not named all the streets in the town; also noting that he wasn’t going to comment on the other towns in the shire which included Moe.

The next reference we can find is in the Narracan Shire Advocate dated April 13, 1923, which reported on ameeting of the Moe and District Welfare League.

It states, “The secretarywas instructedto forward to the Shire Council for approval, names of streets suggested by the meeting” and Kirk St was included as one of the names. So, it is likely thatKirk St only cameinto use when theNarracan Shireformally named the street some time in 1923

The churchcaught fireinFebruary 1952 and was completely destroyed.

Plans had already been made to move to alarger block on Fowler St, which meant the church was never rebuilt in Kirk St.

So today, Moe has a‘Kirk’ St without achurch. Text provided by the Moe &District Historical Society.

Since the Narracan Shirerecords for this period were destroyed in afire, we only have the newspaper to go by.

Filipinocouncilcominglocal

This week’s stars increase your restless side and your ndependent streak Work projects are favoured, as you connect with innovative friends and creat ve colleagues Clever Cats wi l resist the urge to be bossy and self- ndulgent You’re in the mood to take a profess onal risk or go on a grand adventure, but avo d spill ng secrets, spreading gossip and saying the first thing that pops nto your head Sometimes silence is golden, and some things are best left unsa d

Leo (July 23 - Aug 22) Virgo (Aug 23 - Sep 22)

Don’t be too set n the way you think the week should develop With Mars and Uranus shaking things up, expect changes or surprises that wil keep you on your toes! And - w th Mars fina ly mov ng forward on Monday - group activities are set to improve as you a l work together to ach eve a pleasing outcome A cherished goal or dream could also get the green light after much worry ng, waiting and anticipat ng The New Moon focus s on relationships

OAfter eleven long weeks, Mars finally turns direct on Monday so pro ects requ ring initiative energy mot vation and enthusiasm should start to pick up speed Which is particularly good news for Aquarian folk who’ve been fee ing like their l fe has stagnated (or even gone backwards), espec a ly involving work or health Friday’s New Moon s gnals a fresh financial chapter as you reboot your budget, pick up extra work or start a savings plan

Dynam c Mars turns d rect on Monday, which encourages you to be proactive about a situation involv ng a child, a romantic relationsh p, a sporting activity or a creative project With the Sun, New Moon, Mercury, Saturn and Neptune all il uminating your s gn, you’re keen to please others But avo d the temptat on to say ‘yes’ to everyone and everything, l ke a compliant doormat You may find you’ve bitten off more than you can comfortably chew!

COPYRIGHT Joanne Made ine Moore 2024

THE FilipinoCommunity Council of Victoria, Inc.

(FCCVi) proudly announces the expansion of its services to the Gippsland region,with the opening of anew office in Morwell.

care, domesticassistance, social support, and respite care, tailored to meet the diverse needs of the elderly.

“Ouraged care services are designedwitha person-centred approach,” saidFCCVi Chief Executive, Roxanne Sarthou.

This milestone signifies the organisation’s commitment to reaching more communities and providing essential services, including its Foodbank program and aged careservices through the Home Care Packages (HCP) and Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP).

“We respectthe individualityofeach senior and work closely with them and their families to provide care that aligns with their cultural values and personal preferences.”

FCCVi has beenacornerstone of support for the Filipino Australiancommunity for decades, offering programs that promote wellbeing, social connection, and multiculturalism.

The CHSPprogram focuses on entry-level support to help older adults remain living in their homes, while the HCP offers more complex, long-term care. Both programs will now be more accessible to Gippsland residents.

The new Morwell office, strategically located in the heart of the Latrobe Valley, aims to address the growing needs of Filipino Australians and multicultural communities across Gippsland.

The partnership with FoodbankVictoriareinforced the commitment to supporting communities facing food insecurity.

With the rising cost of living placing additional strain on households, the Foodbank’s presence in Morwell will serve as acriticalsupport system for manyresidents.Throughthis collaboration, FCCVi and Foodbank Victoria aim to foster amore resilient and inclusive community where no one goes hungry.

Foodbankdistribution will take place weekly, every Thursday from12pmonwardsat71George Street,Morwell.

FCCVi’s expansion also brings its comprehensive aged care services to the Gippsland community.

Through its HCP and CHSP programs, FCCVi supports seniors in maintaining their independence and quality of life. Services include personal

The openingofthe Morwell office reflects FCCVi’s proactive response to the increasing demand for its services beyond metropolitan Melbourne. The organisation plans to collaborate with local councils, allied health services and community groups to strengthen service delivery and community engagement.

“We envision afuture where every Filipino Australian and multicultural family in Gippsland feels supported, connected, and empowered,” added Sarthou.

Theofficial launch event is scheduled for next month and will feature guest speakers, cultural performances, and an information session about FCCVi’s services.

For more information,phone 0491

668, or visit: fccvi.org.au

FCCVi is anon-profit organisation

to supporting the

tural

and

Kirkmeans church: The Presbyterian Church when it waslocated in KirkStreet, Moe. Photograph supplied

Heretohelp: Filipino Community Council Victoria has expanded its services to Gippsland, including partnering withthe local Foodbank. Photograph supplied

TheGuide

Trouble

in

paradise: Charles Edwards and Rebecca Gibney

UNDER THEVINES

ABC TV, Friday, 8 30pm

Setinidyllic NewZealand in the Peak View winedistrict (Central Otago doublesfor the picturesque, albeit fictional, region), this third season of the sunny dramedy seesnewcomer William (Mark Mitchinson) ruffling feathers. CharlesEdwards and Rebecca Gibneyare ripewithfeel-good warmth as stepcousins Louis and Daisy, now runningtheir inherited Oakley Wines vineyard together.However,asDaisyreadiestomarryagain, theduo mustfocus on oustingself-declared heir William to save their shared love:the winery. While former lawyerLouis believes his legal nous will come in handy, Daisyhas some more“creative”ideas forgetting rid of their supremely annoying co-owner

Nine, Saturday, 7.30pm

Helping overwhelmed Aussies get back on their feet,thisuplifting series does morethan justdeclutter the homesoffolks who aredealing with loss, illness or hardship –itaims to set them up forfuturesuccesses in life. Even if his tough-love advice doesn’t win too many friends, there’snodoubt that professional organiser and NewYorkTimesbestselling author Peter Walsh (pictured) is making adifference. But tonight,when the team stepsin to help single mum and cancer survivor Jo,Peter’s pushyapproachlands him in trouble.Meanwhile, renovation specialist CherieBarber is shocked to come across one of the worstsafety breaches she’s seen in her career

Wednesday, February 26

ABC TV (2) SBS (3)

6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 ABC News

Mornings. 10.00 Four Corners. (R) 10.45 Q+A. (R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 12.30 National Press Club Address 1.35 Media Watch. (PG, R)

2.00 Miniseries: In Our Blood. (Mals, R)

3.00 Nigella Bites. (R)

3.25 Grand Designs. (PG, R)

4.15 Long Lost Family (PG,R)

5.00 ABite To Eat With Alice. (R)

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG, R)

7.00 ABCNews.

7.30 7.30

8.00 Hard Quiz. (PG)

8.30 Optics. (Ml) Greta and Nicole get aboard meeting date.

9.00 Guy Montgomery’sGuy Mont Spelling Bee (NZ) (PG,R) Presented by GuyMontgomery

9.45 PlanetAmerica.

10.20 Spicks And Specks. (PG, R)

10.50 ABC Late News. 11.05 The Business. (R) 11.20 Gold Diggers. (Mls, R) 12.15 Grand Designs. (Ml, R) 1.05 Long Lost Family.(PG,R) 1.50 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.25 Parkinson In Australia. (PG, R) 4.30 GardeningAustralia (R) 5.30 7.30.(R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.35 Lord Lucan:Revelations. (M) Neil starts his own facial analyses.

8.35 TheJury: Murder TrialUK. (Premiere) Areal-life trial, regarding the murder of awoman, is restaged in front of two juries of ordinary people.

9.30 Rogue Heroes. (Return) Mayne grapples withhis father’s death. 10.35 SBS World News Late. 11.05 Pagan Peak (MA15+av) 12.05 My Brilliant Friend. (Mav, R) 3.25 Employable Me (UK) (Mals, R) 4.30 Peer To Peer.(PGa, R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC PhilippinesThe World Tonight.

(31) 6am Children’s Programs. 3.55pm Andy’sDinosaurAdventures. 4.05 TishTash. 4.15 Millie Magnificent. 4.25 Nella The Princess Knight. 4.40 Vida TheVet. 4.50 Bluey. 5.00 Peppa Pig. 5.10 Pfffirates 5.20 Kangaroo Beach. 5.35 Fireman Sam. 5.45 Hey Duggee. 5.55 Paddington. 6.05 PJ Masks Power Heroes 6.20 Bluey. 6.25 Octonauts: Above And Beyond. 6.35 Kiri And Lou. 6.45 Ben And Holly 7.00 TheDeep. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun TheSheep 7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 7.50 LittleLunch 8.05 OperationOuch! 8.35 BTN Newsbreak. 8.40 Doctor

PICK OF THE WEEK

THE NEWSREADER

ABC TV, Sunday, 8 30pm

Theres lights cameras and plenty of a favourite fictional newsreaders leave it table before we bid farewell to the ste drama next week Three seasons ’ wort personal struggles explode tonight aft NewsatSixboss Lindsay (William McIn destroying the careers he built in a bid own Dale (Sam Reid) spirals under the pressure of blackmail about his sexual while Helen (Anna Torv) – riding high after PublicEyewon the ratings war – is blindsided by a front-page article revealing her history of mental health issues No one is safe from Lindsay s vitriol as TheNewsreadersets the scene for an unforgettable finale

ction as Australia’s t all on the llar, cinematic th of secrets and ter threatened nnes) takes to to save his e ity,

DANSNOW’SGREATEST DISCOVERIES

SBS, Monday, 8.25pm

Historybuffsare in safe hands tonight withexperienced archaeologist DanSnow(pictured). True to hisprofession, Snowispassionateabout unearthing mysteries and hidden histories. Thereturn of this docuseries follows the intrepid explorer on ajourney to China,where he yearns to learn more about an amazing discovery made just afew years beforehe wasborn: the TerracottaArmy.Madeupofthousands of life-sizewarriors armed with bronzeweapons, the collection of sculptures that guards the tomb of Emperor Qin ShiHuangdatesback to 210 BCE. Laterepisodes takeSnowinsearchofthe secrets of Stonehenge,Machu Picchuand even Atlantis. If anyone can track down thefictional island, it’sSnow.

SEVEN (7,6)

5.30 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 6am Morning Programs. 9.50 Station: Trouble On The Tracks. (PGa, R) 10.50 Vienna: Empire, Dynasty And Dream. (PGas, R) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 ABC World News Tonight. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 The Abyss: The Rise And Fall Of The Nazis. (PGa, R) 3.00 Where Are YouReally From? (PG, R) 3.30 Plat Du Tour.(R) 3.35 The Cook Up.(R) 4.05 Ancient Superstructures. (R) 5.05 Jeopardy! (R) 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) 6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 TheMorning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’sNational News At Noon. 1.00 MOVIE: ThickerThan Water (2019,Mav)AndreaRoth. 3.00 Beat TheChasersUK. (R) 4.00 SevenNews At 4. 5.00 TheChaseAustralia. Hosted by LarryEmdur

6.00 SevenNews. 7.00 Home And Away (PG) John andLeah worry for Irene.

7.30 The1%Club UK (PG) Hosted by LeeMack.

8.30 Ludwig. (Ma) Acryptic late nightcall from Holly seesLucy lured into danger 9.45 HowToPoison Your Husband (Ma) Details the shockingtruestory of Heather Mook, aconwoman who was convicted of poisoning her husband. 11.15 Breathtaking. (Mal) 12.15 Covert Affairs. (Mv,R) 1.15 Travel Oz. (PG, R) 2.00 HomeShopping. (R) 4.00 NBCToday. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

(72,

NINE (9,8)

TEN (10, 5)

6.00 Today 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 Married At FirstSight (Mls, R) 1.30 My Way. 2.00 Pointless. (PG, R) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 4.00 9NewsAfternoon 4.30[VIC]TippingPoint Australia.(PG) 5.00 Tipping Point Australia. (PG) 5.30[VIC]WINNews. 6.00 Drew Barrymore.(PGas) 7.00 Neighbours. (PGa, R) 7.30 Farm To Fork. (R) 8.00

6.00 9News

7.00 ACurrentAffair

7.30 Married At FirstSight (Mas) Adinner party takes place. 9.00 Big Miracles. (Mam)Angie Kent continues her IVFjourney 10.00 9News Late. 10.30 Casualty 24/7 (Mam, R) 11.30 TheEqualizer (MA15+v,R)

12.15 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 1.05 Your Next Cruise. (R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Global Shop.(R) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Believer’sVoice Of Victory.(PGa) 4.30 ACurrent Affair.(R) 5.00 TodayEarly News. 5.30 Today

6.00 Deal Or No Deal. 6.30 TheProject 7.30 TheDog House Australia (Return, PGa) Narrated by Mark Coles Smith. 8.30 Elsbeth. (Mv) Afterone of New York’smost sought-after plastic surgeons is found dead,Elsbeth has her eyeonthe victim’s former boss. 9.30 NCIS:Hawai’i. (PGav) Anaval officervanishes. 10.25 10’s Late News. 10.50 TheProject (R) 11.55 TheLate ShowWith Stephen Colbert. (PG) 1.00 HomeShopping. (R) 4.30 CBS Mornings.

Wanted Man. (2014,M) 1.05am Joe. (2013,MA15+) 3.15 Boiling Point.(2021,MA15+) 5.00 TheMovie Show 5.35 AHero.(2021, PG, Farsi)

Moving forward: Helen (AnnaTorv) confrontsher past

Thursday, February 27

ABC (2)

6.00 News. 9.00 News. 10.00 Foreign Correspondent.(R) 10.30 BackRoads. (PG, R) 11.10 The Role Of ALifetime. (PG, R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 The Newsreader (Mal, R) 2.00 Miniseries: In Our Blood. (Final, Mal, R) 3.00 NigellaBites.(R) 3.25 Grand Designs.(PG,R) 4.15 Long Lost Family.(PG, R) 5.00 ABite To Eat With Alice. (R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow.(R)

6.30 Hard Quiz. (PG,R)

7.00 ABCNews.

7.30 7.30

8.00 BackRoads: Great Keppel, Queensland. Heather Ewart visits Great Keppel Island.

8.30 SuePerkins’Big Adventure: Paris To Istanbul:Salzburg And Vienna. (PGn) Comedian Sue Perkins visitsSalzburg.

9.20 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (Return,PG) The story of grandmother Kathleen Fraser Jackson 10.05 TheRole Of ALifetime. (PG,R) 10.55 ABCLate News.

11.10 TheBusiness. (R) 11.30 Miriam Margolyes Impossibly Australian. (Mls, R) 12.30 Grand Designs. (PG, R) 1.15 Long Lost Family.(PG,R) 2.05 Rage.(MA15+adhlnsv) 3.20 Parkinson In Australia. (PG, R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30.(R)

(3)

6am MorningPrograms. 9.45 Victorian HouseOfArtsAnd Crafts. (PGl, R) 10.55 South Africa From Above 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 ABC World News Tonight 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 The Abyss: The Rise And Fall Of The Nazis. (PGa, R) 3.00 Shepherdess.(PG, R) 3.30 Plat Du Tour.(R) 3.35 The Cook Up (R) 4.05 Ancient Superstructures. (R) 5.05 Jeopardy!(R) 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R) Presented by Marc Fennell. 6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Finding Your Roots: Hold TheLaughter (PG) Hosted by HenryLouis Gates Jr 8.30 Scotland’sPoshestTrain: Alan Cumming. (PG) Alan Cumming gets ataste of another luxurious journey that only happens twice every year

9.30 Boiling Point. (Premiere) Ahead chef and her team juggle the challenges of running anew restaurant 10 35 SBS WorldNews Late. 11.05 GoldenBoy (Mlns) 11.55 Blackport. (MA15+s, R) 1.50 Earth’s Natural Wonders. (PG, R) 2.55 Peer To Peer (R) 4.20 Bamay.(R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC PhilippinesThe World Tonight.

SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 5.55pm Paddington. 6.05 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.20 Bluey 6.25 Octonauts: Above And

7.50 Little

8.05 Operation Ouch! 8.35 BTN Newsbreak.

2pm The Casketeers. 2.30 TheCook Up 3.00 Jarjums. 3.25 LittleJ And Big Cuz. 3.35 Spartakus. 4.05 Cities Of Gold. 4.35 Motown Magic. 5.00 Our Stories. 5.30 The77Percent. 6.00 Bamay. 6.30 News. 6.40 UndiscoveredVistas. 7.30 Going Places With Ernie Dingo 8.30 The Boy, The Queen And Everything InBetween. 9.25 MOVIE: Graffiti Bridge. (1990) 11.05 Late Programs. NITV (34)

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The MorningShow. (PG) 12.00 Seven’sNational News At Noon. 1.00 MOVIE: Curious Caterer: Forbidden Fruit (2024,Mav) Nikki Deloach. 3.00 TheChase. (R) 4.00 SevenNews At 4. 5.00 TheChase Australia.

6.00 SevenNews. 7.00 Home And Away (PGa)Abigail is shaken by alack of trust. Irene prepares for the next step. Rose drops abombshell.

8.30 MOVIE: Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. (2018,PGs, R) Ayoung woman deals with aseriesofchallenges threatening to derail the reopening of her family hotel, Bella Donna, while learning more about the free-spirited life of herlatemother.Lily James, Amanda Seyfried,Meryl Streep.

10.50 To Be Advised.

12.30 Damnation. (MA15+asv)

Atraveling carnival comes to Holden.

1.30 Travel Oz. (PG, R) Hosted by Greg Grainger.

2.00 Home Shopping (R)

4.00 NBCToday News and current affairs.

5.00 Sunrise Early News. Thelatest news,sportand weather. 5.30 Sunrise.

6am Shopping. 6.30 Escape To The Country. 7.30 Harry’sPractice 8.00 MillionDollarMinute. 9.00 SurfPatrol. 9.30 NBC Today Noon Better Homes. 1.00

6.00 Today. 9.00 Today Extra.(PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 Married At First Sight (Mas, R) 1.30 Getaway.(PG, R) 2.00 Pointless. (PG, R) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 4.30[VIC]TippingPoint Australia.(PG) 5.00 Tipping Point Australia. (PG) 5.30[VIC]WINNews.

6.00 9News.

7.00 ACurrent Affair.

7.30 Travel Guides (PGl, R) Thetravel guides head to LosAngeles.

9.00 MOVIE: TheHangover. (2009, MA15+lnsv, R) Threefriends wake up afterabuck’snight and realise thegroom is missing. Bradley Cooper,EdHelms, Zach Galifianakis.

11.00 9News Late.

11.30 FirstOnScene (MA15+a)

11.55 Tipping Point. (PG, R)

12.45 Pointless. (PG, R)

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

2.30 Global Shop (R)

3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping (R) 4.00 Believer’s Voice Of Victory. (PGa) 4.30 ACurrent Affair (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today

6.00 Deal Or No Deal Hosted by GrantDenyer. 6.30 TheProject. Alookatthe day’snews. 7.30 GoggleboxAustralia. (s) Opinionated viewersdiscuss TV shows. 8.30 TheGraham Norton Show. (Ml) Graham Norton is joined on the couch by guests Robert De Niro,Mikey Madison, Alan Carr,Holly Willoughby, Elton John and Brandi Carlile 9.40 Law& Order:SVU (Mv,R)Tutuola and Velasco investigate aflash mob robbery that ledtoasexual assault 10.40 10’s LateNews Coverage of news, sportand weather. 11.05 TheProject. (R) Alook at the day’snews.

TheLate ShowWith

Colbert. (PG) 1.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 CBSMornings. 6am WorldWatch. 10.00 TheMovie Show Noon WorldWatch. 12.30 Patriot Brains. 2.20 CowboyKings Of Crypto 2.50 Insight. 3.50 WorldWatch. 5.45 The Fast History Of 6.10 Underground Worlds. 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.35 8Out Of 10 Cats DoesCountdown. 8.30 Triumph: Jesse Owens &The Berlin Games. 10.10 Homicide: Life On The Street. 12.55am InsideThe Christchurch Mosque Attack. 1.50 Late Programs.

6am A

Hero.Continued. (2021, PG, Farsi) 8.00 81/2.(1963, PG, Italian) 10.30 Alice Doesn’tLiveHere Anymore (1974, M) 12.35pm Manon DesSources. (1986,M French) 2.40 AHandful Of Dust. (1988,PG) 4.50 Skies Of Lebanon. (2020, PG, Italian) 6.35 The Final Countdown. (1980,PG) 8.30 OneFlewOver The Cuckoo’s Nest. (1975,MA15+) 11.00 Silverado (1985,M) 1.25am Late Programs. SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs.

Friday, February28

ABC TV (2) SBS (3)

SEVEN (7,6)

6am MorningPrograms. 11.00 The Story Of Ramadan. (R) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 ABC World NewsTonight. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 The Point: Road To Referendum History Bites. (R) 2.05 Edward VIII: Britain’s Traitor King. (PGa, R) 3.00 Nula. 3.30 Plat Du Tour (R) 3.35 The Cook Up.(PG, R) 4.05 Ancient Superstructures. (R) 5.05 Jeopardy! (R) 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

7TWO (72, 62) 6am Children’s Programs. Noon Gossip Girl. 2.00 The Golden Girls. 2.30 The Nanny 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 TheAddamsFamily 5.00 Bewitched. 5.30 IDream Of Jeannie. 6.00 The Golden Girls. 6.30 TheNanny 7.30 Survivor 48.(Return) 9.30 MOVIE: Everything Everywhere All At Once. (2022, MA15+) 12.15am TheNanny 1.15 MOVIE: In The Heights. (2021, PG) 4.00 Ninjago. 4.50 Yu-Gi-Oh!Sevens 5.10 Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. 10.00 Storage

1.50 To The Manor Born. 3.00 Explore TV 3.30 MOVIE: ThePure Hell Of St Trinian’s (1960) 5.30 Filthy GardenSOS. (Premiere) 6.30 Antiques Roadshow 7.30 Keeping Up Appearances. 8.40 Poirot. 10.40 Dalgliesh. 11.40 Late Programs. 9GEM (92,81)

NINE (9,8) 6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 ABC News Mornings. 10.00 Planet America. (R) 10.30 Take 5WithZan Rowe.(PG,R) 11.05 The Newsreader.(Ml, R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 Silent Witness. (Final, Ma, R) 2.55 Simply Nigella. (R) 3.30 GrandDesigns. (PG, R) 4.15 Long Lost Family (PG, R) 5.00 ABite To Eat With Alice. (R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow (R)

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 TheMorning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’sNational News At Noon. 1.00 Better HomesAnd Gardens. (R) 2.00 TheHunting Party. (Mav,R) 3.00 TheChase. (R) 4.00 SevenNews At 4. 5.00 TheChase Australia. 6.00 Today 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 MOVIE: Our Take On Love. (2022, G) Lesa Wilson,Russell Quinn. 2.00 Pointless.(PG) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG) 4.00 9News Afternoon. 4.30[VIC]TippingPoint Australia.(PG) 5.00 Tipping Point Australia. (PG, R) 5.30[VIC]WINNews.

6.00 9News.

best day of his life.Meredith draws closer to Fritz’ssecrets.

9.45 HardQuiz. (PG, R) Presented by TomGleeson.

10.20 Spicks AndSpecks. (PG,R)

10.50 Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont Spelling Bee (NZ) (PG,R)

ABCLateNews.

Grand Designs (PG, R)

Long Lost Family.(PG, R) 1.25 Rage New Music. (MA15+adhlnsv) 5.00 Rage.(PG)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R) 6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 James May: OurMan In Italy:HouseOfPain. (M) 8.30 Tony Robinson’s Marvellous Machines: Artificial Intelligence. (R) Tony Robinson explores AI. 9.20 Mysteries Of TheAncient Dead: Vikings, Inca, TelBanat. (PG) Looks at Jell Mound in Gjellstad, Norway. 10.15 SBSWorld NewsLate 10.45 Bonn. (Msv) 11.45 Sisi. (MA15+s, R) 2.40 Earth’s Natural Wonders. (Final, PG, R) 3.45 Employable Me (UK) (Mal, R) 4.50 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC PhilippinesThe World Tonight.

6.00 SevenNews. 7.00 Better Homes AndGardens. JohannaGriggsmeets up with Nicole Maguire, the woman behind the site Simple Home Edit.

8.30 MOVIE: WhitneyHouston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody (2022, Mdl) An exploration of the life and music of singer Whitney Houston, chronicling her journey from obscurity to superstardom.Naomi Ackie, Stanley Tucci, Ashton Sanders.

11.30 GetOn Extra. Alookatthe weekend’s best racing.

12.00 To Be Advised

2.00 Home Shopping (R)

4.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R)HostedbyGrant Denyer 5.00 NBCToday

7.00 ACurrent Affair

7.30 David Attenborough’s Mammals: Water (PG) Looks at how air-breathing mammals liveinwater.

8.40 MOVIE: Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard. (2021, MA15+lv,R) Abodyguard and ahitman must embark on alife-threatening mission as theytry to save the lifeofthe hitman’swife. Ryan Reynolds, Salma Hayek, Samuel L. Jackson. 11.00 MOVIE: Lions ForLambs. (2007, Mlv,R)Two rangerssustain injuries behind enemy lines.Tom Cruise.

12.45 Pointless. (PG, R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 SkippyThe Bush Kangaroo (R)

4.30 Global Shop.(R) 5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping.(R) 5.30 Postcards.(PG,R)

TEN (10, 5)

6.00 Deal Or No Deal. (R) Hosted by Grant Denyer 6.30 TheProject. Alookatthe day’s news. 7.30 WheelOfFortune UK. Game show 8.30 TheGraham Norton Show. (Malv,R)Graham Norton is joined on the red couch by

Saturday, March1

ABC

(2) SBS (3) SEVEN (7,6)

6.00 Rage Charts. (PG) 7.00 Weekend Breakfast. 9.00 Rage.(PG) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 12.30 Death In Paradise. (PG, R) 1.30 Optics. (Ml, R) 2.00 Under The Vines.(PG, R) 2.45 Extraordinar yEscapes (PG, R) 3.35 TheRole Of ALifetime. (PG,R)

4.30 Muster Dog s: Collies AndKelpies. (PG, R) 5.30 Landline. (R)

6.00 Australian Story: Second Inning s–Bharat Sundaresan. (R) Leigh Sales chats to BharatSundaresan.

6.30 Back Roads: GreatKeppel, Queensland. (R)Heather Ewartheads to Queensland’sGreat Keppel Island, and meets some friendly locals.

7.00 ABC News. Takesa look at the top stories of theday,including coverage of developing stories and events.

7.30 SydneyGay AndLesbian Mardi Gras 2025 Coverage of Australia’s largest celebrationofdiverse LGBTQIA+ communitiesfrom Sydney

10 30 TheNewsreader. (Mal, R) Robmakes acontroversialcomment on air.

11.25 Unforgotten. (Mal,R)Sunnyand Jess struggle to focus on the case.

12.15 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) Music video clips.

NITV (34)

6am Morning Programs.

1.15pm Undiscovered Vistas. 2.05 Nula. 2.35 The Casketeers. 3.05 Black As. 3.10 MOVIE: Legend. (1985, PG) 4.50 Strait To The Plate. 5.20 Spirit Talker 5.55 The Last Land: Gespe’gewa’gi. 6.20 News. 6.30 The OtherSide. 7.30 The American Buffalo 8.30 MOVIE: Hellboy.(2019,MA15+) 10.35 MOVIE: Tenacious DInThe Pick Of Destiny.(2006 MA15+) 12.20am Late Programs.

6am MorningPrograms. 8.00 DD India News Hour 9.00 Cook Up Bitesize. (R) 9.05 Love Your Home And Garden. (R) 10.00 The World From Above.(R) 11.00 BBC News At Ten. 11.30 ABC World News Tonight. 12.00 PBS News. 1.00 Motor Racing. Hi-TecOils Super Series. Round1.Day 1. 5.00 Grand Tours Of Scotland’sRivers. (R) 5.30 Hitler: Decoding A Dictator.(Premiere)

6.30 SBS WorldNews.

7.30 TheWonders Of Europe: TheSacre-Coeur (Return) Looks at the Sacre-Coeur.

8.35 Queen Camilla: TheWicked Stepmother Looksatthe remarkable storyofQueen Camilla and examines how she has succeeded in transforming her publicpersona.

9.30 GreatAustralian WalksWith Julia Zemiro: Bondi Coastal Walk. (PGal, R) Julia Zemiro heads to BondiBeach. 10.25 GreatCoastal Railway Journeys: Stirling ToEastNeuk. (PG, R) 11.25 Suspec t. (MA15+av,R)

3.20 Australia Uncovered: Our African Roots. (PGa, R) 4.20 Peer To Peer.(PG, R) 4.50 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK WorldEnglish News Morning. 5.15 France 24 Feature. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6am WorldWatch.

10.00 TheMovie Show 11.30 MOVIE: TheNew Corporation. (2020, M) 1.30pm Beyond OakIsland 2.20 TenYear Old Tom. 2.50 Celebrity Mastermind. 3.55 WorldWatch. 5.50 Late LifeLesbians. 6.45 The Food ThatBuilt TheWorld 7.35 Impossible Engineering. 8.30 StevenSpielberg: The New HollywoodProdigy 9.35 The Hunt ForHitler 10.25 Hudson &Rex 12.05am Late Programs.

6am Eat

Wheaties! (2020, PG) 7.40 Fried Green Tomatoes. (1991, PG) 10.00 OneFlewOverThe Cuckoo’s Nest.(1975,M) 12.25pm Silverado.(1985,M) 2.50 The Final Countdown. (1980,PG) 4.45 Earth To Echo.(2014,PG) 6.25 Charade. (1963,PG) 8.30 Barry Lyndon. (1975, M) Midnight Secretary (2002, MA15+) 2.00 Ferocious Wolf.(2023,MA15+, Spanish) 3.55 Falling. (2020,M)

6.00 NBCToday 7.00 WeekendSunrise. 10.00 TheMorning Show: Weekend. (PG) 12.00 Horse Racing. Verry Elleegant Stakes Day and Australian Guineas Day. 5.00 SevenNews At 5. 5.30 Border Security:Australia’s Front Line. (PG, R) Amysterybag contains amassiveconcealment

6.00 SevenNews. 7.00 Border Security:Australia’s Front Line. (PG, R) Abackpack catches the attention of officers.

7.30 MOVIE: TheBourneLegacy (2012, Mav,R)A top-secretgovernment project, involving the creation of super soldiers, is threatened with exposure. Jeremy Renner,Rachel Weisz.

10.15 MOVIE: Green Zone (2010,Malv,R)A rogue military officer uncovers aconspiracy.Matt Damon, Brendan Gleeson.

12.30 We Interrupt This Broadcast. (PGa, R) Sketch comedy series

1.30 Harr y’s Prac tice. (R)

2.00 To Be Advised.

4.00 It’s Academic (R) 5.00 My GreekOdyssey (PG, R)

7TWO (72, 62)

6am Morning Programs. 10.00 My Greek Odyssey. 11.00 Harry’sPractice. 11.30 GetOnExtra Noon Escape To TheCountry 2.00 Better Homes. 3.00 The Yorkshire Vet. 4.00 Escape To The Country 5.00 Horse Racing Verry Elleegant Stakes Day and Australian Guineas Day. 6.00 Dog Patrol. 6.30 Bondi Vet. 7.30 The Yorkshire Vet. 8.30 Escape To TheCountry 10.30 I Escaped To The Country. 11.30 Late Programs.

6.00 The Garden Gurus. (R) 6.30 ACurrent Affair.(R) 7.00 Weekend Today 10.00 Today Extra: Saturday.(PG) 12.00 Destination WA 12.30 My Way. (R) 1.00 Let’sEat With George 1.30 Your Next Cruise. 2.00 BondiVet.(PGm, R) 3.00 David Attenborough’s Mammals. (PG, R) 4.00 Cherie Barber’s TinyHome. (Premiere, PGl) 5.00 9News First At Five 5.30 Getaway.(PG)

6.00 9News Saturday. 7.00 ACurrent Affair.

7.30 Space Invaders. (PGa) The team help asingle mumdeclutter her home.

8.30 MOVIE: Legally Blonde. (2001, PGls, R) Aditzy blonde enrols in aprestigious lawschool to wooher ex-boyfriend. ReeseWitherspoon, LukeWilson, Selma Blair

10.30 MOVIE: Magic Mike’sLast Dance. (2023,Mls) ‘Magic’ Mikeislured to London by asocialite. Channing Tatum.

12.40 Tipping Point. (PG, R)

1.30 Let’sEat With George. (R)

2.00 TheIncredible Journey Presents. (PG)

2.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 Global Shop. (R) 5.00 TV Shop: HomeShopping. (R) 5.30 HelpingHands. (PG, R)

9GEM (92, 81)

6am Morning Programs. 11.00 Explore 11.15 Edgar Wallace Mysteries. 12.35pm MOVIE: Lease Of Life.(1954) 2.35 MOVIE: Trapeze. (1956,PG) 4.45 RugbyUnion. Super W. Round 1. Western Force vBrumbies. 7.00 Rugby Union. Super Rugby Pacific. Round 3. Western Force vQueensland Reds. 9.30 Super Rugby Pacific Post-Match. 9.45 MOVIE: The Mechanic. (1972, M) 11.45 Late Programs.

9GO! (93,

6am MOVIE: L.O.L. Surprise! The Movie.(2021) 7.00 Children’s Programs. 1.10pm InsideThe Superbrands. 3.10 Ben Fogle: Starting Up Starting Over 4.10 Young Sheldon. 5.10 MOVIE: Space Jam: ANew Legacy.(2021, PG) 7.30 MOVIE: Turner &Hooch. (1989,PG) 9.30 MOVIE: Gettin’Square. (2003, M) 11.40 Young Sheldon. 12.40am The Originals. 2.30 BenFogle: StartingUp Starting Over 3.30 Late Programs.

We canmakethat happen! Adver tise with a trusted community voice!

Formoreinformation talk to your localLatrobe ValleyExpress representative or call theoffice on 5135 4444 to speaktoone of our friendly and helpful consultants.

Sunday, March2

ABC TV (2)

SBS (3)

SEVEN (7,6)

NINE (9,8) 6.00 Rage. (PG) 7.00 Wknd Brekky 9.00 Insiders. 10.00 Offsiders. 10.30 The World

This Week.(R) 11.00 Compass. (PG, R) 11.30 Songs Of Praise. (R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 12.30 Landline. 1.30 GardeningAustralia. (R) 2.30 Monty Don’sAdriaticGardens. (R) 3.30 Sue Perkins’ Big Adventure:ParisToIstanbul (PGn, R) 4.15 Extraordinary Escapes. (PGl, R) 5.00 This Is Going To Be Big. (PG, R)

6.00 AntiquesRoadshow. (R)

7.00 ABCNews. Alook at the top stories of theday

7.30 Muster Dog s: Collies And Kelpies (PG) The mentors evaluate the teams.

8.30 TheNewsreader (Madl) Helen is blindsided by afront-page story revealing her history of mental health struggles.

9.25 Love Me. (MA15+s) Claraand Peter struggle to move past the night before. Glen and Peterrescue Aaron from adrunken night out

10.20 MOVIE: Cosi (1996,Ml, R) Hospital patientsstage aplay. Ben Mendelsohn. 11.55 YouCan’t AskThat. (Mal, R) 12.25 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

3.05 Australia Remastered. (R) 4.00 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.00 Insiders. (R)

6am MorningPrograms. 8.00 DD India News Hour 9.00 Cook Up Bitesize. (R) 9.05 Love Your Home And Garden WithAlanTitchmarsh. (PGa, R) 10.00 FIFAWorld Cup Classic Matches. 12.00 APAC Weekly 12.30 PBS Washington Week 12.55 Range Of Motion.(R) 1.00 Motor Racing. Hi-TecOils Super Series. Round 1. Day 2. 5.00 Heroines. (Premiere) 5.30 Hitler: Decoding ADictator

6.30 SBS WorldNews.

7.30 Ancient Greece By Train:Athens Professor Alice Roberts explores Greece.

8.25 Emperor: Rise And Fall Of A Dynasty (Mav) Looks at Livia, who comes to regret the scheming that puther son Tiberius on the throne. 9.20 Legends Of ThePharaohs: Nefer titi, TheBeautyBecomes Queen. (Ma, R) Takesalook at Nefertiti, the wife of the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten. 10.20 GreatBritish Landmark Fixers: ManchesterTownHall. (R) 11.15 Elvis’Women. (Mas, R) 2.40 Love Your Garden. (R) 3.30 Employable Me (UK) (MA15+l, R) 4.35 Bamay.(R) 5.00 NHK WorldEnglish News Morning. 5.15 France 24 Feature 5.30 AlJazeeraNews.

6.30 TheDog House Australia. (PGa, R) Narrated by Mark Coles Smith. 7.30 Love It Or ListItAustralia. Hosted by Neale Whitaker and Andrew Winter 8.30 Gog gleboxAustralia. (s, R) Adiverse rangeofpeople open their living rooms to reveal their reactions to popular and topical TV shows, with the help of special, locked-off cameras which capture every unpredictable moment. 9.30 Matlock. (PGals, R) Matty and Sarahposeasfamilytogather information at asenior living facility facing awrongful death suit. 10.30 Elsbeth (Mv, R) Aplastic surgeon is founddead. 11.30 FBI. (Mv,R) 12.30 HomeShopping. (R) 5.00 Hour Of Power

TEN (10, 5)

6.00 NBCToday 7.00 WeekendSunrise. 10.00 MorningShow. (PG) 12.00 Cycling. Santos Tour Down Under.H’lights. 1.30 Cycling. Cadel EvansGreat Ocean Road Race.H’lights. 2.30 Air CrashInvestigations: Special Report. (PGa, R) 3.30 Border Security: International. (PG, R) 4.00 Better Homes And Gardens Summer.(R) 5.00 SevenNewsAt5 5.30 Melbourne Weekender.(Return, PG) 6.00 Hello SA.(PG,R) 6.30 ACurrent Affair (R) 7.00 WeekendToday 10.00 Wide World Of Sports. (Return, PG) 11.00 NRL Season Preview 1.00 Rugby League.Women’s International Test. Australia vEngland. 3.00 NRL SundayFooty:Las VegasPre-Show 3.30 Rugby League.NRL.Round 1. PenrithPanthers vCronulla Sharks. 5.30 Postcards. (PG) 6am MorningPrograms. 9.00

6.00 SevenNews. 7.00 Australian Idol. (PG) Hosted by Ricki-Lee Coulter andScottTweedie. 8.40 TheHunters: TheCar Bomb And TheUnder world War. (Madv) Takesa look at the murder of John Furlan in 1998 by acar bomb,acrime which has neverbeen solved.

10.15 Murder In TheOutback: The Falconio And Lees Myster y. (Mdlv,R)Takes alook at Bradley Murdoch’s guilty verdict.

12.15 FridayNight Lights. (Madsv, R)

1.15 Travel Oz. (R)

2.00 To Be Advised

3.30 Million DollarMinute. (R) 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise

7TWO (72, 62)

6am MorningPrograms. 2.10pm RugbyLeague. Murri Carnival. Replay 3.10 RugbyLeague.Murri Carnival. Replay 4.25 Black As. 4.30 Carpool Koorioke 4.40 MOVIE: Amazing Grace. (2018) 6.10 News. 6.20 Queer &Here. 6.50 Great LakesWild 7.20 FirstHorse. 7.30 Murder In Big Horn. 8.30 Te Puna Ora: The SourceOfLife. 9.55 MOVIE: Bones Of Crows. (2022, MA15+) 12.10am Late Programs. NITV (34) 6am Morning Programs. 10.00 TheGreat AustralianDoorstep 10.30 DVine Living. 11.00 IEscaped To The Country. Noon Escape To The Country 2.00 South Aussie With Cosi. 2.30 CitiesOfThe Underworld. 3.30 Steam Train Journeys. 4.30 IEscaped To TheCountry. 5.30 Escape

6.00 9News Sunday

7.00 Married At FirstSight. (PGals) Agroom’s story shocksthe experts. 8.45 60 Minutes Current affairs program, investigating, analysingand uncovering the issues affecting all Australians. 9.45 9NewsLate

10.15 See No Evil: Body In The Barrel. (Mav) Alookatthe disappearance of a28-year-old musician. 11.15 TheFirst48: TheStandoff. (Malv) Afather of threeisgunned down. 12.05 World’sGreatestMyths And Mysteries: Folklore (PGa, R) 1.00 DestinationWA. (R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping (R) 4.00 Believer ’s Voice Of Vic tor y. (PGa) 4.30 Customs. (PG, R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today

Morning Programs. 8.30 The IncredibleJourney 9.00 TurningPoint. 9.30 TV Shop 10.00 Getaway 10.30 My Favorite Martian. 11.00 Skippy 11.30 MOVIE: She’llHave To Go.(1962, PG) 1.30pm MOVIE: The Lone Gun (1954, PG) 3.00 MOVIE: The Horse Soldiers. (1959) 5.30 NRLSunday Footy: Las VegasPost-Match 6.00 Customs. 6.30 M*A*S*H. 8.30 To Be Advised. 11.00 Late Programs. 9GEM (92, 81)

6.00 TheSundayProjec t Joins panellists foralookatthe day’s news, events and hottopics. 7.00 Australian Sur vivor. (PGl) Agroupof24Australian castaways battles it out on the beachesofSamoa to become the sole survivor 8.30 Matlock. (PGl) Tensions escalate whenShaecollaborates with Olympia’s team, investigating stolen trade secrets at atech startup 9.30 FBI. (Mv) Jubal must search for the truthwhen his long-time confidential informant brings intelofan impendinglarge-scale terrorattack. 11.30 TheSunday Projec t (R) Alookatthe day’snews.

12.30 Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 CBSMorning s. 6am WorldWatch. 9.30 Small Business Secrets. 10.00 The Movie Show 12.20pm Figure Skating. ISU Grand Prix Skate Canada. H’lights. 1.20 VICE. 2.15 Rites Of Passage. 2.45 Jeopardy! 4.50 WorldWatch. 5.20 PBS Washington Week. 5.45 Domino Masters. 6.40 Abandoned Engineering. 8.30 The UnXplained With William Shatner 10.10 WWE Legends. 11.45 Hoarders. 12.30am The X-Files. 3.10 Late Programs. 6am Charade. (1963, PG) 8.05 Mr Holland’sOpus. (1995 PG) 10.40 All ThePresident’s Men. (1976) 1.10pm Whina. (2022, PG,Maori) 3.15 Sissi. (1955,German) 5.15 Eat Wheaties! (2020,PG) 6.55 Bran Nue Dae. (2009,PG) 8.30 Fame. (1980,M) 11.00 Sira. (2023, French) 1.15am ShivaBaby.(2020,M) 2.40 Barry Lyndon. (1975,M)

6am Children’s Programs. 1.15pm MOVIE: InThe Heights. (2021, PG) 4.00 Young Sheldon 5.30 MOVIE: TheLego Movie (2014,PG) 7.30 MOVIE: Black Adam. (2022, M) 10.00 MOVIE: Sons Of Summer.(2023,MA15+) 11.45 Gotham. 12.40am Arrow. 2.30 Surfing Aust. 3.00 Beyblade X. 4.00 Bakugan 4.30 CryBabies Magic Tears. 4.50 LEGO CityAdventures. 5.10 LEGO Friends:The Next

Monday,March 3

ABCTV (2)

6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 ABC News Mornings. 10.00 CreativeTypes With Virginia Trioli. (PG, R) 10.25 MOVIE: They Shall Not Grow Old.(2018,Ma, R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 Landline. (R) 2.00 Fake Or Fortune? (R) 3.00 Simply Nigella. (R) 3.30 Grand Designs. (PG, R) 4.15 Long Lost Family (PG, R) 5.00 ABite To EatWithAlice. (R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow.(R)

6.30 Hard Quiz (PG, R)

7.00 ABCNews.

7.30 7.30 Presented by Sarah Ferguson. 8.00 Australian Stor y. Presented by LeighSales.

8.30 Four Corners. Investigative journalism program exposing scandals firingdebateand confronting taboos.

9.15 Media Watch (PG) Presented by Linton Besser

9.35 Q+A. Presented by Patricia Karvelas.

10.40 ABCLateNews.

10.55 TheBusiness. (R)

11.10 PlanetAmerica (R)

11.40 Julia Zemiro’s Home Deliver y. (PG, R)

12.10 Grand Designs. (Ml, R)

12.55 Long Lost Family.(PG,R) 1.45 Rage (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.25 Parkinson In Australia. (PGs, R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30.(R)

6am MorningPrograms. 10.55 Revolution: Ideas ThatChanged The World. (PGal, R) 12.05 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 ABC World News Tonight 1.00 PBS News Weekend. 1.25 Al JazeeraNews Hour 2.00 Saving Lives At Sea. (PGadln, R) 3.05 Shepherdess. (PG, R) 3.35 The Cook Up.(R) 4.10 Britain’s Beautiful Rivers. (R) 5.05 Jeopardy!(R) 5.30 Letters AndNumbers. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)

6.30 SBS WorldNews.

7.35 Sicily With Michael Portillo (PGaw) Michael Portillo continues his journey around Sicily.

8.25 DanSnow’sGreatest Discoveries: Terracotta Army. (Return) DanSnowtravels to China

9.25 Inside Sydney Airpor t: HolidaySurge. (PGal, R) Christmas brings extrachallenges.

10.15 SBSWorld NewsLate

10.45 Wisting (Malsv)

12.25 AFrench Case. (Mav, R) 2.20 Her Majesty’s Cavalry.(Ml, R) 2.50 Employable Me (UK) (Mal, R) 3.55 Peer To Peer.(PG, R)

4.25 Bamay.(R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC PhilippinesThe World Tonight.

6am

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 TheMorning Show. (PG) 10.30 Oscars RedCarpet. (PG) 11.00 TheO scars. (PGalv) 3.00 BeatThe Chasers UK (R) Presented by Bradley Walsh. 4.00 SevenNews At 4. 5.00 TheChase Australia. Hosted by LarryEmdur

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 Home AndAway. (PG)

7.30 Australian Idol. (PG) Hosted by Ricki-Lee Coulter and Scott Tweedie,with judges Amy Shark, Kyle Sandilands and Marcia Hines.

9.10 Suits L. A. (Mav) Tedneeds Amanda’s help with anew prosecutor in Lester’s murder trial. Erica triestostopRickfrom poaching aclient. Stuartand Samantha argue overRick’sposition in the firm.

10.10 TheO scars. (PGalv,R)

Aceremonyhonouring achievements in filmmaking over thepast year,from the Dolby Theatre in LosAngeles

2.00 To Be Advised.

4.00 NBCToday News and current affairs.

5.00 Sunrise EarlyNews. The latest news, sportand weather 5.30 Sunrise News, sportand weather

7TWO (72, 62) 6am Children’s Programs. 5.55pm Paddington 6.05 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.20

Operation Ouch! 8.35 BTN Newsbreak. 8.40 TheCrystal Maze. 9.25 StreetScience. 9.50 Merlin. 10.35 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 1.35pm Eight Ladies. 2.00 The Casketeers. 2.30 TheCookUp. 3.00 Eddie’sLil’Homies. 3.15 Nanny Tuta. 3.25 Little JAnd Big Cuz. 3.35 Spartakus. 4.05 Cities Of Gold. 4.35 Motown Magic. 5.00 Our Stories. 5.30 News. 6.00 Bamay.

WorldWatch. 5.45 The Fast History Of 6.10 Underground Worlds. 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.35 8Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 MOVIE: Monty Python’s Life Of Brian. (1979, M) 10.15 Late Programs.

6am MorningPrograms.

6.00 Today 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Morning. 12.00 Married At First Sight (PGals,R) 1.45 Innovation Nation. (R) 2.00 Pointless. (PG) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R)

6.00 9News

7.00 ACurrent Affair.

7.30 MarriedAtFirstSight. (Mls) The couples head to ByronBay

9.00 FootyClassified. (Return,Ml) Ateam of footyexperts tackle the AFL’s big issuesand controversies.

10.00 9NewsLate.

10.30 TheLife And Murder Of Nicole BrownSimpson. (Mav) Nicolefilesfor divorce from OJ Simpson.

11.30 TheEqualizer. (MA15+v, R)

12.30 Tipping Point. (PG, R)

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)

2.30 Global Shop (R)

3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Believer ’s Voice Of Vic tor y. (PGa) 4.30 ACurrent Affair (R) 5.00 TodayEarly News. 5.30 Today

9GEM (92,81)

Better Homes. 5.30 EscapeToThe Country 6.30 BargainHunt. 7.30 Doc Martin. 8.30 Inspector Morse. 10.50 Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. 10.00 RainbowCountry. 10.30 Pointless. 11.30 My Favorite Martian Noon Days Of

TheGood KarmaHospital 9.40 The MadameBlanc Mysteries. 10.40 Late Programs.

6.00 Deal Or No Deal Hosted by GrantDenyer.

6.30 TheProjec t. Alook at the day’s news. 7.30 Australian Sur vivor (PGl) Agroupof24Australiancastaways battlesitout on the beaches of Samoa to become the sole survivor

8.40 NCIS: Sydney (Mv,R)A glitzy

7MATE (73,64)

6am Morning Programs. 11.00 Border Security:Int. Noon Border Security 1.30 Rides Down Under: Workshop Wars. 2.30 Motor Racing. Night Thunder.USA New Year Sprintcars. 3.30 JadeFever. 4.30 Storage Wars 5.00 American Resto 5.30 American Pickers: Best Of 6.30 Pawn Stars. 7.30 Outback Opal Hunters. 8.30 Adventure Gold Diggers. 9.30 Tougher In Alaska. 10.30 Frozen Gold. 11.30 Late Programs.

9GO! (93, 82) 6am Bran Nue Dae.(2009,PG) 7.35 Sissi. (1955,German) 9.35 Earth To Echo.(2014,PG) 11.15 BarryLyndon. (1975,M) 2.40pm Charade. (1963, PG) 4.40 Sissi: The Young Empress. (1956,PG, German) 6.40 Sirocco.(1951, PG) 8.30 Raging Bull. (1980, MA15+) 10.55 Iron Sky.(2012, M) 12.35am Falling.(2020 M) 2.40 Black Box. (2021, M, French) 5.00 Sirocco (1951, PG)

6am Children’s Programs. Noon Surfing Aust. 12.30 YoungSheldon. 2.00 Bewitched. 2.30 IDream Of Jeannie. 3.00 The Golden Girls. 3.30 TheNanny 4.30 TheAddams Family 5.00 Bewitched. 5.30 IDream Of Jeannie. 6.00 The GoldenGirls. 6.30 TheNanny 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.30 MOVIE: TheTomorrowWar.(2021 MA15+) 11.10 Seinfeld. 12.10am Love Island UK. (Return) 1.30 TheNanny 2.30 Late Programs.

Tuesday, March 4

ABC TV (2) SBS (3)

6am MorningPrograms. 10.50 Revolution: Ideas ThatChanged The World. (PG,R) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 ABC World News Tonight. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 Saving Lives At Sea. (Mal, R) 3.00 The Weekly Football Wrap. (R) 3.30 Plat Du Tour.(R) 3.40 The Cook Up.(R) 4.10 Britain’sBeautiful Rivers. (PGaw,R) 5.05 Jeopardy! (R) 5.30 Letters AndNumbers. (R)

SEVEN (7,6)

NINE (9,8) 6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 ABC News Mornings. 10.00 Australian Story.(R) 10.30 Optics. (Ml, R) 11.00 Muster Dogs: ColliesAnd Kelpies. (PG, R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 Call The Midwife. (PGa, R) 2.00 Fake Or Fortune? (R) 3.00 Simply Nigella. (R) 3.25 Grand Designs. (PG, R) 4.15 Long Lost Family (PG, R) 5.00 ABite To EatWithAlice. (R) 5.25 Antiques Roadshow.(R)

TheRoleOfALifetime. (PG) Kate Ritchie and Nazeem Hussainlookatparenting.

Queerstralia: Community And Belonging. (Malns, R) Looks at how

people must jostle for

TheABC Of (Ml, R) 10.50 ABCLate News. 11.05 TheBusiness. (R) 11.25 Four Corners. (R) 12.10 Media Watch. (PG, R) 12.25 Q+A. (R) 1.25 Grand Designs. (Ml,R) 2.10 Long Lost Family.(PG, R) 3.00 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)

3.15 ParkinsonInAustralia. (PG, R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30.(R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R) 6.30 SBS WorldNews. 7.30 GreatCoastal Railway Journeys: Douglas To Port Erin. (PGa, R) 8.30 Insight. (Return)Presented by Kumi Taguchi. 9.30 Dateline: Singapore’s ToughestPrison (Return)Adam Liaw goes insideChangi Prison. 10.00 SBSWorld NewsLate 10.30 Guillaume’sParis. (R) 11.30 Prisoner.(MA15+av) 12.40 Fargo. (Malv,R) 2.25 Her Majesty’sCavalry.(R) 3.20 Employable Me (UK) (PGal,R) 4.25 Bamay.(R) 4.50 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World EnglishNewsMorning 5.30 ANC PhilippinesThe WorldTonight.

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 TheMorning Show. (PG) 12.00 Seven’sNational NewsAtNoon. 1.00 To Be Advised. 2.45 Surveillance Oz. (PG, R) 3.00 BeatThe Chasers UK. (R) 4.00 SevenNews At 4. 5.00 TheChase Australia.

6.00 SevenNews.

7.00 Home AndAway. (PGa)

7.30 Australian Idol. (PG) Hosted by Ricki-Lee Coulter andScott Tweedie,withjudges Amy Shark, Kyle Sandilands andMarciaHines

9.10 TheHunting Party. (M) The team races to stop RoyBarber,also known as the Couples Killer,before he strikes again. 10.10 TheIrrational. (Mav) Alec and Marisa investigate amuseum heist.

12.10 Sun, Sea And Surger y. (MA15+a, R) Alook at Turkey’sComfort Zone clinic.

1.10 Travel Oz. (PG, R)

2.00 To Be Advised.

4.00 NBCToday

5.00 Sunrise Early News.

5.30 Sunrise.

6.00 Today 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9NewsMorning. 12.00 Married At FirstSight (Mls, R) 1.30 Getaway. (PG, R) 2.00 Pointless. (PG) 3.00 Tipping Point.(PG, R) 4.00 9News Af ternoon. 4.30 [VIC] Tipping Point Australia. (PG) 5.00 Tipping Point Australia. (PG)

6.00 9News

7.00 ACurrent Affair

7.30 MarriedAtFirstSight. (Mls) The couples’ retreat continues.

9.00 Madam. (MA15+ls)Following Toby’smedicalscare,Mack steps back from the brothel.

10.20 Footy Classified. (Return,Ml) Footy experts tackle the AFL’s big issues.

11.20 9News Late.

11.45 TheEqualizer. (Mav,R)

12.30 Tipping Point. (PG, R)

1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Building Ideas. (PG) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Believer’sVoice Of Victor y. (PGa) 4.30 ACurrent Affair (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today

TEN (10, 5)

6.00 Deal Or No Deal. Hosted by Grant Denyer 6.30 TheProjec t. Alookatthe day’snews. 7.30 Australian Sur vivor (PGl) Agroupof24Australiancastaways battles it out on

SBS VICELAND (31)

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32)

Gippsland health needs identified

GIPPSLAND PrimaryHealth Network(PHN)

has published the Gippsland PHN Health Needs Assessment 2025-2028.

The HealthNeedsAssessment (HNA) is an important resource that helps guide Gippsland PHN’s work in fundingservices,strengthening the health system, and improving coordination.

By gathering the latest data and insights, it identifies key prioritiesinGippsland’s health system and supports planning for the future.

These priorities shapeGippslandPHN’s work to enhance access,communication and support for primary care services, ensuring resources are directed where they are needed most.

Data has been gathered from those in the community,healthprofessionals, andthosewho use health services across the region through surveys, interviews, and workshops.

Individuals and organisations with diverse perspectives were engaged, including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities, people experiencing disadvantage, those in rural and remote areas, individuals with adisability,people from multicultural backgrounds, and LGBTIQA+ individuals.

This ensuredthe process was inclusive and reflected the broad needs of the entire population.

This extensive community engagementhelped identify10key priority areas that reflect the most pressing needs andchallenges of the region:

 Aboriginaland/or Torres StraitIslander Health and Wellbeing;

 Healthy Ageing (People Aged 65+);

 Alcohol and Other Drugs;

 Mental Health and Wellbeing, including Suicide Prevention;

 Health Workforce;

 Connected Care;

 Growing Up Healthy (0-25 years);

 Chronic Conditions;

 Family Violence, and;

 Access to Primary Healthcare for Marginalised Communities.

Thekey priority areas have been condensed into concisechapter summaries, offering aclear snapshot of the information from the comprehensive full document.

Some key insights from the summaries include:

 Around 20 per cent of people in Gippsland report acurrent mental health condition;

the highest prevalence was 39 per cent for 16–24-year-olds;

 Sixty-five per cent of people with an alcohol and other drug diagnosis also had amental health diagnosis in GP data;

 Childhood vaccination in Gippsland has decreased between 2018/19 and 2023/24;

 In the year ending March 2024, East Gippsland had the highest rate of family violence incidents in Victoria, followed by Latrobe with the second highest rate in the state;



Diabetes is the leading cause of preventable hospital admissions for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people;

 The rate of death from accidental falls in Gippsland is significantly higher than the Australian average (15.34 versus 8.3 per 100,00 population);

 All of Gippsland has aneed for additional health workforce;

 Four out of six Gippsland Local Government Areas have high rates of people categorised as overweight and/or obese compared to the Australian average, and;

 Rates of use of Gippsland specialist homelessness services is more than double the national average.

Gip ps land PHN Chief Executive, Amanda Proposch shared that the HNA is acriticalpiece of work for the organisation.

“The HNAprovides acomprehensive snapshot of local health data to guide our work," she said.

"Grounded in community insights and extensive research, it ensures we remain responsive to evolving health needs and priorities.

“Hea lth is ad yn amic and ever -cha nging landscape,and this document willcontinue to be updatedtoreflectemerging challengesand opportunities.

"Our commitment is to listen, collaborate, and drive meaningful improvements in health outcomes for our region."

Insights and information from this document will also be published as Health Insights Papers throughout 2025 to highlight key data and focus on important topics.

These papers will be posted on Gippsland PHN’s website and social channels.

Med students onplacement in LV

MONASH University students on placement have fully embraced life in Traralgon.

Anumberofmedical students are currently on afull-year of placement, learning their craft while embracing all the Latrobe Valley community has to offer. Flynn Scriven is one of the students, and said the hospitality from locals had been first rate.

“Throughout my placement, I’ve hadthe privilege of rotating through different wards and gaining hands-on experience in avariety of clinicalsettings. Butbeyond the medicine, it’s the people who makeTraralgon special,” he said.

“I’ve enjoyed visiting local businesses, and experiencing the strong sense of connection that defines this town.

“Oneofthe first things Inoticed was how friendly and welcoming everyone was.

“WhetherI’m walking downthe street,

grabbing acoffee, or heading into the hospital, there’s always asmile, awave, or akind word.

“That sense of community has made my time here incredibly rewarding.”

Mr Scriven also spoke highly of the rural placement program.

“Rural placements like this are invaluable for medical students,” he said.

“They provide auniqueopportunity to learn in ahands-on environment, develop strong clinical skills, and understand the challenges andrewards of practicing medicine in regional communities.

“Exposure to rural healthcare helps shape well-rounded doctors and encourages future practitionerst oc onsider care ers outs ide metropolitan areas, where doctors are often in high demand.

“This placement hasreinforced my passion for rural medicine, highlighting the vital role that

Support for youthful minds

By KATRINA BRANDON

LATROBE Youth Space hosted Youth Insearch for its first ever ‘Brighter Days’ event.

Joining Youth Insearch and Latrobe Youth Space wasGippslandCentreAgainstSexual Assault (GCASA), headspace, GippslandTrades and Labour Council, Latrobe Regional Hospital and Latrobe City, coming together to acknowledge Youth Suicide Week (running from Monday, February 17 to Sunday, February 23).

EndYouth SuicideWeekisacampaignthat encouragesyoung people to defy the stigma associated with mental health and openly talk about suicidewiththeir friends, families and communities.

At Latrobe’s Brighter Days event, about 30 Latrobe youth enjoyed chatting with local services and participating in arange of gaming activities.

Youth Insearch’s Regional Manager Victoria, Maree May, told the Express:“This is the first year we have done it in Victoria”.

“It’s about getting the word out to people about where they can go or where they can help their young person connect to services and organisations thathelp supportyoung peoplewho are feeling suicidal.

“We love the youth space because it is asafe place for youngpeople in the Valley to comeand connect and to talk to someone safe. We thought this was the perfect venue to hold basically an information session for young people who are potentially feeling suicidal, where they can come as asafe place to come and talk to somebody.

“Itisreally wonderful to see all of the different services coming together to help share directly with youth what it is they do to support young people.”

Brighter Days launched in 2024 and was held at the end of End Youth Suicide Week to show young peoplewho are strugglingwith mental healththat they are seen, and remindthem that ‘brighter days’ are on the way.

Youth Insearch is dedicated to helping young people access the face-to-face support they need to improve their mental wellbeing and recover fro mt rauma .S inc e1985,You th Ins ear ch has supported youth mental health and runs weekend workshops, weekly support groups, and individual support groups for people aged 12-25 to connect and develop life skills.

“We run aprogram that is specifically youthled,” Ms May said.

“Ourprogramisfull of youth leaders,and they

runweekend workshops, weekly support group, and we do one-on-one case management for young people that are struggling with different issues, whether it might be that they just aren’t connectingsocially with theirpeers or be ayoung person who has experienced trauma and abuse.

“Youth Insearch supports them in doing online training days, and then if they progress to the next stage, YouthInsearch flies them to Sydney to do leaders training. They will learn public speaking, mental health issues, and leadership styles. It is areally positive project. It is super

supportive for youth. We work with 12 to 25-yearolds. Theweekendworkshopsare aimed at 14 to 20-year-olds.”

YouthInsights is working with eightGippsland region campuses, and looks forward to collaborating with more.

“Secondary schools are working really hard to help support vulnerablechildren,” Ms May said “The more we work collaboratively and help support vulnerable youth, the better.That is one of the reasons why we wanted to have ayouth event where we wanted to have heaps of youth

attend, and we also wanted to have those other supportive services come along and share with young people what they do.

“Thisarea is reallyhigh needs. We have acostof-living crisis; we have ahomelessness crisis.

“Wewant to help support young people to selfidentify what they need support with, and we want to help them learn how to self advocate, and we want to support them into linking them into the appropriate services that can, for example, if they are homeless, we want to be able to support them into engaging with those services.”

If you or someoneyou know is struggling, contact: Lifeline: 13 11 14, or lifeline.org.au; Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636, or beyondblue.org.au; Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800, or kidshelpline.com.au, and; Headspace: 1800 650 890, or headspace.org.au

Mental health ride makes Morwell stopover

By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

IN across-state ride thattakes them to Phillip Island, the Black Dog Ride Australia made astop forbrewinMorwell last week.

More than 45 riders pulled into JSmith Motors forasnag and adrink on Wednesday, February 19,sporting their slick bikes parked outside the Elizabeth Terrace site.

BlackDog Ride Australia is anational charity raisingawareness of depression and suicide prevention, with thousands of volunteers doing community rides all across the country.

“One bloke had lost afriend to suicide and to try and work his way through that he jumped on his bike and did alap of Australia,” Black Dog Ride Australia, Victorian State Coordinator, Bernie Garvey said.

“In doing so, (he) chatted to alot of people as he went, trying to talk out his understanding of it all and by the time he got home, he had abit of a

following and that following turned into acharity.”

The opportunity in Morwell came about due to JSmith Motors owner Darren Cornell riding alongside agroup of them in his spare time.

“Daz (Cornell) and Ihave known each other for afew years, just riding together, hit it off as great mates, and for him to be able to host us for lunch withsupportfromRACVand some others, that speaks alot to (how well) our charity’s received and that we’redoing somegood in the community,”

Mr Garvey said.

Being a‘ride forthe riders’, these outingsgive opportunitiesfor those from local clubs to tag along the journey with acommon bond, giving them a new space to open up or explore themselves.

“They feel betterabout talking to somebodyelse, they’re outside their community or their family group where you spin around and around in circles,”

Mr Garvey said.

“If you’ve got amental health issue that’s

manifested by the fact that you just bounce off the samefourwalls, if you can getout anddowhat we’re doing, it opens the doors up and away you fly.”

Faculties from Victoriaand SouthAustralia linked with those from Queensland and New South Wales as they madetheir way to the FIMSuperbike World Championship which held its season opening of its Australianround at the acclaimed Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit at the weekend.

Black Dog Ride Australia is the official charity of the 2025 Australian Superbike Championship, Australian Off-Road Championship and Australian ProMx Championship, with volunteers from the organisation featuring prominently acrossall events taking them through to August.

On March16, BlackDog RideAustralia holds its annual 1Dayer ride that has asection in Latrobe Valley beginning at Gippsland Social Motorcycle Club, Traralgon.

Moneyraised goes to smaller charities and mental

health organisations that don’t receive government funding with the aim to support communities directly.

Brew: Ridersstopped forlunchatJSmith Motors, Morwell. Photographs:BlakeMetcalf-Holt

United: Local youth support leadersteamed up forthe Brighter Days event at Latrobe Youth Space Photographs: Katrina Brandon

Colourful: Youthsuppor tleadersNatasha Hildebrand, BiankaTurner, andJarrah Parr chose Hallie Edwards as the brightest dressed at Latrobe Youth Space’s Brighter Days event.

Quantum set for housing investment

Appreciated: Quantum Suppor tSer vices has welcomedthe federalgovernment’sHousing Australia FutureFund, set to benefit the Gippsland region. File photograph

GIPPSLAND is set to benefit from a$3million investment to provide criticalcrisisand transitional housing, thanks to the federal government’s Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF). This funding, part of the national Crisis and Transitional Accommodation Program (CTAP), willdeliversafeand secure housingfor women and children escaping family and domestic violence, as well as older women at risk of homelessness.

Quantum Support Services has welcomedthis significant investment, which will contribute to much-needed housing solutions across Latrobe City.

Quantum Chief Executive, Natalie McDonald

said the funding was acrucial step in addressing housing needs for vulnerable Gippslanders.

“This investment will have alife-changing impact for women and children in Gippsland who are fleeing violence and seeking stability,” she said.

“Secure crisis and transitional housingprovides a foundation for recovery, safetyand independence.”

Ms McDonaldemphasisedthe importance of ongoing investment in housing and support services.

“Housing is fundamental to breaking the cycle of violence and homelessness. This funding will allow Quantum and our partners to expand vital

services and ensure that those in need have asafe place to turn to,” she said.

“Through this funding, we will be able to purchase four houses over the next two years, enabling us to provide immediate, safe housing and worktowards long-term solutions.”

For more information about Quantum Support Services and its work in thecommunity,visit: quantum.org.au, or phone 1800 243 455.

Quantumhas supported the Gippsland community for more than 30 years, and is seen as a leading provider of family violence, homelessness and family support services in the region.

Regional progression arealpossibility

ONLINE learning can be acareer game changer for residents of regional towns, proving you don’t need to live in acitytolandsenior managerial roles.

Next month, around 250 students will graduate withanMBA fromthe Australian Institute of Business (AIB). Of those, around 30 per cent live in regional or remoteareas, having chosen to pursue their MBA online.

One of their fresh MBA graduates is Yinnar resident Jacob Gruis, who completed his MBA in January after two years of study.

After landing amanager’s role at the relatively young age of 23, Jacob remained there for 16 years. Despite being atop performer over thistime, promotion opportunities were never presented. He felt the only way up at this particular organisation was to move to the city, so he took amanagement role at another companyand soon after,commenced studying for the MBA. Shortly afterbeginning study, Jacob obtained ageneral manager’s role for alarge local plumbing and civil contractor. For the past year, Jacobhas been asenior manager

in corporate operations at TAFE Gippsland, which has around 10,000 students across 13 campuses in the Gippsland region.

“In my previous job Imanaged about six staffnow Imanage40,”hesaid.

Enrolling in the MBA gave Jacob the confidence to apply for the role.

“I wanted to branch out to grow my experience and my credibility, but also to be arole model for my two daughters, showing them that anything is possible if you work hard for it,” he explained.

Jacob also credits his MBA for landingadirector’s role on the board of the Gippsland Sports Academy

“I hadn’t previously had alot of experience with governance, and the corporate governanceelements of the degree helped lay the foundation for this,” he said.

Jacob said he was grateful for the flexibility of an online degree andthe fact it enabled him to remain living and working in aregional centre.

Jacob nowhas long-termaspirationstosecure aC-suite role.

Photograph supplied

Surgerywait times decreased

SURGERY is beingdelivered to Victorians sooner,and waittimes continue to fall in emergency departments as more patients use the state government’salternative urgent care options.

The latest quarterly performance data showsthat Victoria’s emergency departments experienced the highest demand in history, with 504,113 presentations across thestate and despite this -patients were seen eight minutes faster than before the pandemic.

Once again, 100 per cent of Category 1 planned surgerypatients were treated in theclinically recommendedtimeframe, following data released by the Productivity Com missi on’ sR ep ort on Go ver nm en t Services that shows Victoria is the only stateorterritory to treat all Category1 planned surgery patients on time.

Almost 50,000 Victorians underwent planned surgery, with 100 per cent of all Category 1patients once again undergoing their procedure within the clinically recommended wait time.

For non-urgentCategory3procedures, patientswereseen 31 days quickerthan the same time last year, while semi-urgent Category2patients saw afour-day improvement in treatment time.

Investments to improve surgerywait times continue to contribute to these impressive results, including 23 Patient Support Units at hospitals across the state -helping 4668 patients avoid surgery and diverting 211 patients to non-surgicaltreatment pathways in the last quarter.

This includes organising additional inve stigatio ns, educ ation, outpa tien t appointments or pre-habilitation while they wait to receive their surgery. The health system continues to see patients who are sicker and with more complex cases than ever before -more than 60 per cent of presentations to emergency departments required treatment within 30 minutes, representing an additional 15,000 patients requiring time-sensitive care when compared to the same time last year. Health services have also improved how quickly they transfer patients from ambulances, with more than 40 per cent of hospitals improving their offloading times this quarter.

Like paramedics across the country, Ambulance Victoria continues to face significant demand, with almost 100,000 Code 1cases, or around 1100 lights and sirenscases every day. Of these, 64.9 per cent were responded to in 15 minutes. This is more than 3000 additional Code 1incidents thanatthe samequarter last year -anincrease of 1.5 per cent year-to-date on what was Ambulance Victoria’s busiest year on record.

The state government’s 29 Urgent Care Clinics and Victoria VirtualEmergency Department continues to help ease overall system pressure, treating acombined 1.1 millionpatients since launching in 2022.

Onwardsand upwards: Jacob Gruis has graduated to asenior manager role at TAFE Gippsland, thankstoonlinestudyoppor tunities

Hearts filled with joy and gratitude

MORE than 200 delegates from Catholic parishes, schools, and organisations across the Diocese of Sale gatheredatFederation University, Churchill for aDiocesan Assembly.

The assembly focused on definingthe pastoral priorities and actions for the next five years.

The Diocese of Sale covers avast and diverse geographic area, extending from Narre Warren in Melbourne’s outersoutheast throughCranbourne and PhillipIsland and across Gippsland to Orbost and Mallacoota in eastern Victoria.

In addition to the delegates, the assembly gathering was blessed with the presence of four special observers who participated in theassembly process, and contributed their personal, theological, and ecumenical insights.

These were: the RightReverend Dr Richard Treloar (Anglican Bishop of Gippsland), Rev Fiona Morrison(UnitingChurch, Presbytery Chairperson for Gippsland), Dr TrudyDantis (Director of the National Centre for Pastoral Research)and Rev Dr Max Vodola (Parish Priest of All SaintsFitzroy &Research Coordinator and Lecturer at Catholic Theological College).

The 2025 Diocesan Assembly marked the culmination of aseven-month consultationprocess initiatedatPentecost in May 2024 by Bishopof Sale, Greg Bennet.

The consultation processwas conducted in two phases.The firstphaseasked everyone in the Diocesetoreflect on where God’sSpirit has been active among them over the past five years. The second phase asked people to identify which pastoral prioritiesand actions the HolySpiritis

calling the Diocesetoput into action during the next five years for the Diocese to grow as aChristcentred, synodal and missionary church.

Feedbackwas received from 65 parish groups, 25 individual submissions and around 1200 student responses.

The feedback was then synthesised into an assembly working document and shared with the assembly delegatesprior to the assembly to aid

their reflection, discernment and preparation.

In his openingaddress, Bishop Greg Bennet stated: “We gather from the four winds of the Diocese. We come before the God of wind and fire. We come before the burningbush to encounter the Holy One whose promise is fulfilled in Jesus Christinwhom we find our stories, ourchurch, our mission”.

He also reflected on significant developments

since the last Diocesan Assembly in 2019, including leadership transitions and theimpact of the COVID-19 pandemiconparish and community life. He highlighted that this assembly was aresponse to the recommendations of the Australian Plenary Counciland Pope Francis’callfor asynodal church.

Over the two-dayassembly,delegates engaged in prayerful listening and spiritual conversations in 27 table groups to acknowledge and affirm the strengths and best practices of the Diocese, identify the significant challenges being faced, and discern whichpastoral priorities neededtobegiven priority to leverage the movementtoward becoming amore Christ-centred, synodal and missionary church. The fruits of the two days were evident in the strong sense of communion, grace, positivity and renewed hope expressed by the delegates.

At the closing mass, Bishop Greg urged delegates to carry forward the spirit of the assembly, stating: “We have stood on holy ground; now it is time to put our shoes back on and go forth as pilgrims of hope to others”.

The recommendations from the assembly will be presented to Bishop Greg and the Diocesan Mission Council to help form aDiocesan Pastoral Plan to guide the Diocese over the next five years.

One table group in its final messagetothe Bishop and council said: “Be bold in how you throw open the doors of the Church and step outside. Have courage, engage, listen. When you set sail, know thatthe holyspirit will providethe wind. Keep communication regular to keep the Spirit of the Assembly alive”.

Local schoolsincluded in state-wide maintenence funding

LOCAL primary and second schools will share in state government funding through the Planned Maintenance Program.

The program undertakes more than 150 maintenance projects in schools across the state.

Liddiard Road Primary School, Traralgon; MorwellPark Primary School; Morwell Central PrimarySchool, and; Mirboo NorthSecondary College areamong the 158 successful schoolsto

Training more kinder teachers

THE state governmentismaking sure Victorian kids get the best start in lifestrengthening the early childhood education workforce to support more kinder placesfor children and better support for working families.

Minister for Children, Lizzie Blandthorn last week launched the latestround of the state government’s Certificate III Upskill Support Program, and announced an expanded partnership withDeakin University -tohelp train more early childhood teachers particularly in regional and rural areas.

Applicationsare now open for the Certificate IIIUpskill SupportProgram, which will provide 400 places for educators looking to upskill to aDiploma of Early Childhood Education and Care. This includes $7000 in financial support, that can be used for living expenses while studying and working.

This year, half of the places are reserved for students in rural and regional Victoria -meaning students can study and work close to home.

Last year, 416 students accessedthe upskilling payment.DeakinUniversity is also offering online courses for early childhood education students who want to study while working.

As part of Victoria’s Early Childhood Tertiary Partnerships program, Deakin is one of several institutions providingtailored study options.

Scholarships of $25,000 for bachelor’s studentsand $12,000 for graduate diploma students are available through the Early ChildhoodScholarships Program.

More than 200 places are available over two years, with priority access forapplicants fromselectedrural andregionalareas, including Ararat, Hindmarsh, Horsham, Southern Grampians, and Ballarat.

These initiatives will strengthen the early education workforce -meaning more kinder places for children and better support for working families.

Applicationsfor the Certificate III Upskill Support Program close on June 13, 2025.

receive aslice of more than $47.9millioninfunding.

The fundingenablesschools to undertake essential work in classroomsand other school buildings such as fixing roofsand replacing windows, maintaining ramps,painting,and resurfacing floors, as well as some external works like improving pathways.

Works are determined by arolling facilities evaluation process,which provides up-to-date informationonthe condition of schools to create

afaster and more targeted allocation of funding.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Ben Carroll said the program funds high-priority maintenance issues across Victoria’s government schools.

“This latest maintenance blitz will keep every Victorian school up-to-date, so that every child can access aworld-class education in aworld-class school,” he said.

“We are constantly reviewing our schools’ buildings and facilities to make sure every single classroom is safe, engaging, and will complement the top-classeducation Victorian students deserve.”

The 2024/25 Budgetinvested $947.7 million to build 16 more new schools -completing part of an election promise from the state government to deliver 100 new schools between 2019 and 2026.

Farewell tour goes by Lumen Christi

AUSTRALIAN religious songwriter and singer, Andrew Chinn, visited Lumen Christi Primary School, Churchill as part of his farewell tour of 2025.

Andrew shared some of his most loved and wellknown songs with students.

“It really was awonderful concert and something the students willremember for along timetocome”, Lumen Christi PS Religious Education Leader, Janelle Szkwarek said.

Andrew Chinn’s music is used in schools across Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, and Ireland and he has visitednearly 1200different schools around those countries.

Andrew is very well-known in Catholic primary schoolsthroughout Australia and has awonderful way of connectingand engaging with students through stories and interactive songs.Everyone from the youngest to the oldest students and parents and teachers managed to sing, dance and enjoy his performance.

Lumen Christi students thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and left the building singing and dancing along to Andrew’s catchy tunes.

Gathered: TheDiocese of Sale Assembly at Federation University.

Photograph supplied

Choir: ReligiousmusicianAndrew Chinn and LumenChristi PrimarySchool, Churchill students in full voice. Photographs supplied

Tunes: Students enjoyedhearing livemusic performed.

Gathered: Andrew Chinnperforming at Lumen Christi PrimarySchool, Churchill

Students prepare to face challenges

ST PAUL’S Anglican Grammar School Year 7 students had an unforgettable experience at their Year 7Peer Support Camp,marking the beginning of their secondary school journey.

The stunningSouthGippsland hillsand majestic views of Wilsons Prom at Camp Rumbug set the scene foradventure, with students participating in exciting outdoor activities such as canoeing, raft building, abseiling, the flying fox, and the ever-popular mud run.

As new friendships were forged and lasting memories created, Year 10 Peer Support Leaders provided encouragement,helping Year 7students navigatechallengestogether by fosteringteamwork and resilience.

As an integralpart of the St Paul’s Year 7 Transition Program, the Year 7Peer Support Camp goes beyond just fun and excitement by playing a vital role in promoting studentwellbeing.Educators focus on building asense of belonging, supporting personal growth and enhancing overall wellness. The camp also allows educators to connect with students, assisting them in personalisinglearning to each student’s individual needs back in the classroom.

Throughthe camp’s challenges, adventures and learning opportunities,students are better prepared to embrace their forthcoming academic and co-curricular journeys with greater resilience and confidence.

Scouts testskills at camp

SOME fifty enthusiastic Cub Scouts braved the rain and cold to take part in an action-packed activity day at Caringal Scout Camp.

Their determination andresiliencewereon full display as they participated in avariety of exciting activities designed to test their skills and teamwork.

The young adventurers engagedinfour thrilling challenges -rock wall climbing, crate stacking, archery, and hatchet throwing. The latter, featuring plastic hatchets aimed at specialtargets,proved to be apopular activity, allowing the Cubs to test theirprecision and coordination in afun and safe environment.

To top off the day, the Cubs gathered around open fires to prepare their own lunches, cooking toasted spaghetti sandwiches. Despite the rain-soaked conditions, spirits remained high, and laughter filled the camp as they enjoyed their well-earned meals.

“The Cubs showed remarkable resilience and enthusiasm, proving that alittle rain wasn’t going to dampen their adventure,” District Commissioner, Steve Asbock said.

“It was truly inspiring to see them embrace the activities with such energy and determination.”

The success of the event was made possible thanks to the dedicated leaders and volunteers who or gani se da nd su perv is ed the day ’s activities.

However, some groups within the district are in needofmore adult leaders and helpers to continue providing these enriching experiences for young Scouts.

“We are always looking for leaders and adult helpers,” Mr Asbock added.

Balance: Cubs take part in cratestacking at Caringal Camp Photographs supplied

“Everything is providedfreeofcharge,including uniforms, training, and the opportunity to be part of an amazing,

program. If you have any interest in getting involved, we’d love to hear from you.”

For those interested in becoming part of the Mt Baw Baw Scout community,

Quality control: Checking out their hut building skills areMila, Greta, and Evelyn.

Airborne: Emilyprepares to swingtogreat heights on the giant swing. Photographs supplied

Teamwork: Raft building withChar vi, Charli, Emily, and Avaya.

Junior campers: Om and Flynn prepareto jump on their raft

Funinthe sun: Ethan gettingahang of the ropes

Build: St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School Year 7students test out their‘hut’

Tasked: Isabel and Om settingtheir mindson completing achallenging course.

Target: Participants take aim.

Community Corner

with Liam Durkin

Spud fest

THORPDALE Potato Festival is just weeks away.

The festivalcelebrates the rich potato growing heritage of Thorpdale. Held at the Thorpdale Recreation Reserve, the festival will offer afull day of potato-inspired activities, delicious local food, and unique events that pay tribute to the humble spud. Come and celebrate Thorpdale’s agricultural rootsand experience the best in local food, entertainment, and family friendly fun.

The 2025 Thorpdale Potato Festival will be held Sunday, March 9. Festivalgatesopen from9.30am to 4.30pm.

Tickets are availableonthe gate or online at: thorpdalepotatofestival.com. au

Prayer and reflection

NEW church starting in Traralgon. Join to pray from4.30pm to 6.30pm on Sunday afternoon at Traralgon Uniting Church (19 Park Lane, Traralgon). All welcome. Any questions, email traralgon@ pentecostchurch.com.au

Moe Show

MOE Agricultural Society Inc will have ameeting on Thursday,March 6at7pm to call for nominations for the committee to run the 2025 Moe Agricultural Show. Phone 0494 323 256 for venuedetails.

Actofkindness

LAST week, the Express received correspondence from an elderly lady who wished to pay thanks to akind young man for his generosity.

Sittingalone at Qu Bah, Morwell,she saw ayoung tradie at the end of the table. As he got up to go he stopped and they chatted. Then when she went to pay for her meal she was told the young man had paid for her lunch. It brought happiness to her and she felt so humble that ayoung person who didn’tknow her would do that, especially as you tend to only hear bad things about Morwell and the youth.

So much room foractivities

THE list of activities the Strzelecki Bushwalking Club have been makingavailabletomembers hasbeen outstanding already for 2025.

Activities co-ordinator Adrian puts together an amazingprogram each and

every month with the help of dedicated leaders.

Regular kayaking events are popular, while the group has amultiday paddle coming up next month.

Adog friendly walkatBlueRockLake has become an annual event.

Club president, John led aday walk into Croll’s Gorge recently. This is a spectacular day walk that you can get to from Tamboritha Road, around 17km past Licola. It is agreat walk on asummer’s day because there is alot of river walking. The scenery is world class and right on our doorstep.

Another interstate opportunity happening in March is amulti-daywalkto the Walls of Jerusalem NationalPark in Tasmania. This is awild and inspiring alpine park nearly144km northwest of Hobart. There is no direct road access into this park, and it must explored totally on foot.

Abit closertohome, there are several walks exploring remote areas of the Baw Baw National Park. One of the club’s leaders will also be taking agroup fromWrightForest through to Emerald Lake in the Dandenong’s. This walk is guaranteed to end with aspectacular afternoon tea.

There is something for everyone and every ability on the activities program each month.

Further information is available on the website at: sbwc.org.au, or by emailing publicity@sbwc.org.au

What aview

MOE ViewClubisonthe lookoutfor new members, who want to give back to their community, and make connections with women in the area.

VIEW stands for Voice, Interest and Education of Women, and is anetwork of close to 280 clubs and more than 13,000 women throughout Australia.

For 65 years, VIEWhas connected withothers in the community, enabling The Smith Family, to reach families in need. It provides aplace for women to meet, enjoy social activities, and develop lasting friendships, all while supporting thework of children’s education charity, The Smith Family.

Moe’s social events, such as Postie Party (to be held Wednesday, April 16 at Moe Bowling Club), St Patrick’s Day, BeetleDay,and lunches between our normal monthly meetings.

View nationally supports the education of nearly 1800 studentsthrough the Learning For Life program. Ensuring that theyhavefinancial, educational, and personalsupport for the schoolyear.

Moe View Club currentlysupports eight students.

The club is always looking for women of allbackgroundsand ages to join,and lookforward to welcoming new faces at the next monthly meeting.

Nextmeeting is Wednesday, March5 at the Moe Hotel from 10.30am.

An enjoyablesocial event recently was lunch at Old Gippstown.

Anyone interestedinbecoming a member can phone Maureen on 0458 842 256 or Sue (0417 515 745).

Vase making

ARE you interested in painting and getting creative?

Traralgon artist PhillipChalker creates little elephant vases made out of cement, and is extending the invite to anyone interested to get involved. Workshops are Friday, March 28 from 10.30am to 12pm.

If you are interested, phone Phillip on 0400 603 367, or email the.blind. creator1@gmail.com to let me know how many people would like to attend.

Affordable art

MOE Art Society members are currently preparing for aspecial display and sale of small,affordableartworks to be held at the Moe Library from April 3-5.

Most of the paintings will be small and unframed but presented in a manner that can be easily framed in cheap standard-sized frames to suit the purchaser.

As well as original paintings, there will be some photographic prints(of paintings), cards and jewellery. There are some excellent works being produced by members, some who are

verywell-respected artists locally, state and Australia-wide. They will all be manning their own displays, giving viewers an opportunity to get to know their local artists.

This will be afantastic opportunity for the local community to begin, or add to, their collection of original art.

There will be some ‘little treasures’ to be discovered here, treasures which may someday become family heirlooms.

Chess action

EARLY mishapsfor Peter Bakker were reversed in later results duringLatrobe Valley Chess.

Cliff Thornton applauded the opponent’s effortsfollowing two battles against Keegan Just.

Semia Gray,Anna Wu and Joel Gray

Victory: Traralgon Bridge Clubcompeted at the EasternRegional Bridge Congress in Sale recently. The winningTraralgon team of Roshni Chand, Ken Tierney, EgbertTzoe, andRob Grahamare pictured with club president Greg Nicholson.

Photograph supplied

Serene: Strzelecki Bushwalking Club membersenjoying thesummer sunnearLicola. Photograph supplied

God’scountry: The Thorpdale Potato Festivalisonnextmonth. File photograph

all displayed their high level of ability to increase their chess knowledge.

The contributions of both Jack Wu and Margy Gray were impressive.

Both Steve Ahern and Bradley McClaren were working on the development of chess skills.

Reece Seneth continued to be fascinated by the occurrences during agame of chess.

There is an increasing number of chess playing events happening within the Latrobe area nowadays.

Phone Ian Hamilton on 0400 221 649,orCliff Thornton(0438 330458) for more information.

Stamped

LATROBE ValleyStamp Clubwill be meeting in the boardroom of the Morwell RSL from 1.30pm to 4pm today (Wednesday, February 26).

Meetings are always on the last Wednesday of the month. Visitors are most welcome.

Stamp collecting is agreat waytofill in spare time and can be done by people of all ages and abilities.

Last month, the club set the agenda forthe year andadecided to have an

alphabetical scavenger hunt based on people’s names. Some of these will be displayed at the annual stampand coin fair in October. Therewill also be aquick annual meeting followed by the normal meeting today.President Felix will be presenting adisplayofcovers. Felixisa keen collector of trams, trains, planes, postmarks andspecifically, Maltese stamps,and covers.

For furt her inf ormat ion, phon e Christine on 0427 770 522, or email at czarb7@outlook.com

Flying high

SEATS are still availablefor acoach trip to the Australian International Airshow at AvalonAirport on Saturday, March 29, raising money to help Central Gippsland Health purchase life-saving equipment.

The biggest airshow in the Southern Hemispherewill this year again feature flying displays from military and civil aircraft, exhibitions showcasing the aviation, aerospace and defence industries, carnival rides and live entertainment.

Oneofthe highlights will be the F-22 Raptor demonstration team showcasing

the unparalleled capabilities of the US Air Force’spremier fifthgeneration fighter.

Pilotedbysome of the best aviators in the world, the F-22 Raptor performs awe-inspiring manoeuvres, highlighting its speed, agilityand stealthtechnology. The coachwill leave the SignalBox car parkinSale (near Woolworths)atabout 6.30am and is able to collect passengers in Traralgon, Morwell and Pakenham. Tickets cost $200 per person,includes general admission ticket and return transport, withticketsales limited to 50. For tickets, email ronandgilliangreg@ gmail.com, or phone 0434 007 187.

Countrymusic

GOOD old country music featuring Ronn Munn, Tony Wirth and friends. Walk ups welcome.

First Sunday of every month, 11am to 4pm at Monomeath Senior Citizens Halls,VictoryPark corner of Princes Hig hway and Wh it take rs Road , Traralgon.

For all enquiries, phone 0409 149 309. Fun day of country music.

Gathering

GET Together attendeesenjoyed a lovely time chatting,laughing and eating for the first time this year.

Get Together is aplace where people can meet,makefriends and enjoy a time of conversation with others over acuppa

The next Get Together will be on Wednesday, March 5at10aminthe Traralgon Uniting Park Lane foyer. Come along and bring someone you know would like to join. All welcome. For more information, phone 5174 2398, or 5177 8107.

Screen forcancer

GIPPSLAND Disability Advocacy is running afree information session for people with disability and their carers on the topics of cervical and bowel cancer screening. The session will be held at Interchange Gippsland (66 Commercial Road, Morwell) tomorrow(Thursday, February 27).

Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP to BriMatthews on 0447 033 967.

Fabric art

THE last four decades have seen some fantastic fabric art piecescreated at Traralgon Uniting Church.

Groups have been creating extraordinary fabric art to provoke thought aroundfaith and fabric. Exhibitions have been held all over Victoria, includingseveralpopularevents in Traralgon and for many years aChristmas display at what was the RACV building. Join to joyfully celebrate the 40-year milestone of this creative group, which will be incorporated into morning service on Sunday, March 2from 9.30am. All welcome.

Dance classes

JOIN Latrobe Valley Dance Promotions Inc to learn old time and new vogue

dances, learn new dance skills,have fun, revise and socialise.

Lessons are held at the Morwell Girl Guides Hall (18 Margaret Street) from 7pm.

Cost is $5 per person each night. Phone Len on 0439 683 834, or Lynda (0428 489 041) for more information. Alternatively, email latrobevalleydancepromotioninc@gmail.com

Ride on

TRAMPS( Traralg on and Morwell Pedallers Inc.) rode from Traralgon South to Traralgon, then to Glengarry along the Gippsland Planes Rail Trail on Sunday, February 16.

The loc al market pro vid ed som e excitement and the fine weather made the experience quite pleasant and relaxing.

Return trip was along Clarkes Road and down MattingleyHill. This gave riders achancetothink they were really fast bike riders.

The day finished at the local coffee shop, whereriders sat in the lounge and solved the world’s problems.

TRAMPSnext ride will be Sunday, March 2from 9am from Korumburra to Nyora andbackalong theGreat Southern Rail Trailwith lunch at Loch. TRAMPS welcomes new riders. For more information, visit: tramps. org.au, or call club contacts Paul on 0459 823 422, or Vance (0403 662 288).

Youcan be apartof Community Corner

IF you are acommunity group andhave any news items you need publicised, feel free to email us at news@lvexpress. com.au

You can address correspondenceto the editor, Liam Durkin. Please write ‘Community Corner’ in the subject line and nothing else. Deadline is Friday 9am to appear in the following Wednesday issue.

Photograph supplied

Guide

Business Guide

FRANCIS PLUMBING AND GASFITTING

THERE is so much to see at the Francis Plumbing &Gas Fitting showroom, because thereishardlya thing the tradies can’t help youwith.

As time goes on, the business adds moreand more services to its capabilities.Theyhaveexpanded intohomemaintenance and repairs, concreting and painting, plastering,bathroom/laundry renovations,handyman repair jobs, yard clean ups and end of lease cleans,aswell as plumbing,gas fitting,heating and cooling

It is aone stop shop where homeownerscan avoidthe hassle of juggling ahandful of different trades all at once

In the showroom, browse the displays of heaters, air conditioners, hot waterservices,tapware, bathroom products and kitchen appliances.The same company will install those products

Duane Francis launched the business as ahome-based family enterprise in 2010,and its success has come down to quality customer

service above all. His team understands each customer has unique needs that staffaddress with exper tadvice and prompt service

Francis Plumbing offers afull service,starting with free quotes, the sale of the appliance,then installation.

Duane’s staffoffer maintenance on natural gas, heatingand cooling systems,and can help youwith anygeneral plumbing work and home maintenance

CHURCHILL

MALTESE XPoodle. 5F, 1M, 24/12/24. Vet checked, Vacc, Micro chipped, 956000018812552, 18852 60, 18814689, 18828313 18828845,1882187. RB211780, Phone Kath 0438 453 063.

MINATURE horses, Dandy 81/2 hand, Buckskin Gelding 2yrs $1,000. Missy 8 hands, Filly Bay 3yrs, $1000. Originally bred for carriage driving. Both are beautifully mannered and

Furnished room +ensuite avail. Home is within walking distance to shopping centre and has onsite parking. Conditions: no visitors, no pets, and request clean and tidy upkeep. Please ph Bernard: 0425 853 899 for rental price and more info.

NEWBOROUGH

TRARALGON

1st March 2025 9-1pm. 2

ESTATE of Paul Francis Thomas CREDITORS, next-of-kin and others having claims against the Estate of PAUL FRANCIS THOMAS late of 9New Street, Morwell, Victoria 3840 who died on 24 June 2024 are required by the Executors GEORGE WILLIAM THOMAS AND DENNIS FRANK MASUT to send detailed particulars of their claims to the said Executors c/- Prior Law of 154 Commercial Road, Morwell, Victoria 3840, by 2May 2025 after which date the Executors will proceed to distribute the said Estate having regard only to the claims of which it then has notice. Grant of Probate was obtained in Victoria on 30 January 2025. PRIOR LAW, 154 Commercial Road, Morwell, Victoria 3840

Gippsland Guitar School, all ages, 8-80, beginners to advanced, banjo and ukulele lessons also available. 0439 111 610.

of Hospital

The Boolarra Folk Festival Committee advises that with the approval of Vic Roads, PTV and Latrobe City, there will be the following restrictions on vehicle access between 7am and 7pm on Saturday 1March,

Tarwin Street will be closed at Mechanics Street, Christian Street will be closed at Austin Street, Duke Street will be closed. Reduced speed zones will operate along the northern end of Penanluna St and Hirsts Road from Monash Way to Boolarra Recreation Reserve. During the Boolarra Folk Festival, the Boolarra PO Bus Stop will be relocated to Church Street. Glenn Wearne 0408 391 208

Door Installer

Does

GARDENING DONE

Pruning, planting, weeding, small jobs through to large jobs, shed clean ups, rubbish removal, etc. Reasonable rates, pens. disc. Under NDIS the cost of services may be covered by your Care Provider. Reliable and efficient.

GARDENS &LAWNS

Gutter

Security Doors

Made to measure, security doors in Colorbond colours. Call Lennie for a free quote. 0438 850 287.

SUSAN'S CUSTOM CLEANING

Weekly and fortnightly spaces. Worksafe Approved Provider. Cleaning, laundry and dishes. Moe, Traralgon, Tyers, Trafalgar and surrounds. ABN and insured. Always on time. 0426 193 894

MORWELL OFFICE HOUR SLABOUR DAY

RECEPTION and CLASSIFIEDS will be CLOSED on Monday10th March

Forthe issue of WEDNESDAY 12rd March

2025 CLASSIFIED ADS MUSTBEIN by 12 noon THURSDAY 17th March.

INTERNAL MANAGEMENT

ACCOUNTANT

Experienced Bookkeeper

Brownwigg

We are excited to offer aposition with flexible

NEWS STORIES can be directed to the Newsroom on 5135 4429 or email: news@lvexpress.com.au ADVERTISERS

PLEASE NOTE:

Much hardship and difficulty is caused to job seekers by misleading advertising placed in the employment columns. Our Situations Vacant columns are reserved for advertisements which carry aspecific and genuine offer of employment. Ads for `Business Opportunities' and `Training Courses' and `Employment Services' should be submitted under those headings. Placing misleading ads is an offence against the Trades Practices Act and state/territory fair trading acts and all advertisements are subject to the publisher's approval. For further advice, contact the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on 1300 302 502 or your state consumer affairs agency.

Our ideal candidate will be able to satisfy the following qualities.

Candidate Profile:

● Excellent communication skills, self-motivated with astrong work ethic.

● Ability to work independently and unsupervised.

● Proactive "Can do" attitude.

About the Role: We seek to add ahands-on operator with akeen eye for details to manage the internal accounting and finance needs of the business.

The key responsibilities will include:

● Conduct/oversee daily reconciliations of debtors, creditors, and bank accounts.

● Manage data entry and oversee payables, receivables, and customer accounts.

● Handle end-of-month procedures and multi-entity reconciliations.

● Develop detailed costing reports to support financial decision-making.

● Work closely with the external accounting team to assist in ensuring precise financial reporting.

● Collaborate with external accountants to maintain compliance with financial reporting standards.

● Liaise with department heads to ensure accurate product and service costing.

● Monitor and evaluate inventory levels.

● Assess overall profitability and propose enhancements.

About You:

● Minimum of 3years' experience in a management accounting or similar role.

● Willing to learn Internal Point of Sales System.

Do you have lived experience of disability or care for someone with disability?

Are you Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander?

DELIVERERS WTD

Would you like to deliver the Latrobe Valley Express newspaper to individual homes on Tuesday and/or Wednesday afternoons in Morwell, Traralgon, Moe, Newborou gh and Churchill? Please apply to the Circulation Manager 0456 000 541. Please note: Children must be 11 years or over as we will need to apply for agovernment Child Emplo ym ent Pe rmit Children younger than 11 cannot or will not be accepted. Adult deliverers also welcome.

● Proficient in Microsoft Excel and Outlook.

● Excellent time management and initiative. Offer:

● Competitive salary, negotiable based on experience.

● Opportunity for immediate start.

All work will be completed onsite in the Sale Office.

This is an excellent opportunity for afinance professional looking to make asignificant impact in a well-established business. If you have the skills and experience, we are looking for please apply.

For more information please contact Michael Brown on 0428 443 503.

Applications in writing will close Monday March 3rd, 2025 and are to be directed to: ted.harrison@brownwigg.com.au

Full Time /Casual /Part Time

Up to 38 Hours Per Week Including weekends

We areseeking an experienced Trade Qualified Butcher.

To be successful in this position, you must have:

● Apassion for your trade

● Good communication skills

● Be ateam player

● Apositive can do attitude

● Astrongwork ethic

Please email your resume to trafalgar.iga@gmail.com or mail to:

IGA Trafalgar 5McCrorey Street TRAFALGAR 3824

...you DON’T have to makea special trip to Morwell to place classified ads?

Just pop into NextraMoe Lotto, 1-3Moore St ,Moe and thefriendly staff can assist you. The only EXCEPTIONS areclassifiedads whichcontainaPHOTO

These will need to be placed at the Morwell Office, 21 George Street 5135 4455

LCC-864 Maryvale Reserve -Surface Upgrade

Tenders are invited from suitably qualified contractors for the above.

See www.latrobe.vic.gov.au/tenders for details.

Submissions are to be lodged as detailed in the documentation. Council is not bound to accept the lowest or any tender.

GENERAL OFFICE CLEANING SERVICES

Drouin, Moe and Traralgon Locations

RGM is seeking expressions of interest for the provision of contract cleaning services for our three offices in Drouin, Moe and Traralgon

Please forward Submissions to: drouin@rgmgroup.com.au

Closing date Monday 10th March 2025

Forthcoming Vacancies on the Gippsland

Lakes Coordinating Committee

The Minister for Water is seeking expressions of interest for up to five community member positions and one independent chairperson. The terms of appointment for members will be up to three years. The committee provides advice to the Minister for Water on environmental issues and priorities within the Gippsland Lakes and its catchment. The committee generally meets quarterly for afull day and members attend functions and events when available. All applications must be made through the Join a Public Board website: https://www.boards.vic.gov.au/ Applicants with further enquiries or those with difficulties in accessing the documents should contact East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority on 0477 444 863. Expressions of Interest close midnight on Wednesday, 5March 2025.

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Cars • WINDSOR 1996 poptop, 17ft, 3-way fridge, m/w, a/c, dble bed, TV (built in DVD player), annexe, new awn, elec. brakes, g.c. $8,900. 0438 177 153.

Manual, one owner, rego 2AQ-8WD, 200,000km, $4500. Ph. 0497 783 441.

Responsibilit y PLEASE CHECK YOUR AD

Wedding Anniversaries •

GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY GAPPER

AUSTIN &BARBARA 22 February 1975

To the most loving and supportive parents we could ask for, congratulations on 50 amazing years of love and memories. Love always from Rachel (dec.), Emily, Adam, Isabel, Addison (dec.), Harrison Joshua, Shelley, Beau and Darcy.

ion when n ecessar y to conf orm to the polic yo ft his newspaper In the event an ad is omitted from publication, we assume no liability forsuch omission.

2018 New Age Manta Ray 19ER. Exc. cond. serv hist ory avai l, toi let shower, w/machine, tv, solar panel, awning many other extras to list. $59,000. 0437 142 128 Caravans •

BIG RED

2019 New Age Caravan owned by 85-year-old man, only used twice, suit new buyer. Large shower, toilet, washing machine, dryer, dishwashe r, satellite TV antennae. Was $80,000 now selling $65,000. o.n.o. Ph 0428 482 842.

Paramount Studio 2011, many extras, exc. condition, $35,000 neg. Phone 0403 430 382 for details.

CARPINTERI (Gervasi), Maria. Formally of Thorpdale. Born in Solarino, Sicily 1/6/1930. Passed away in Melb ourne on th e 20/2/2025. Beloved wife of Giuseppe (dec.) and sister of Carmelo (dec.), Salv ina, Santo and Giuseppe (dec.). Loved andmissed by all.

FIELD (James), Veronica (Ronnie). Passed away 19 February 2025 at home in Moe Aged 82 years. Former wife of Norman (dec.). Much loved mother and mother-in-law of Wayne (dec.), Rodney and Kerri, Mark and Sara, and Angela. Adored Grandma and Mayma to Aaron, Kirsty, Raiden, Glen, Ryan, Callum, Claudia, Joshua, Talulah, Lorelai. Great Grandma to Lilian, Noah, Eleanor, Phoenix and Beau.

LARKIN, Peter John. 3793067 131 Divisional Locating Battery Vietnam Veteran The President, Committee and Members of the Trafalgar-Thorpdale RSL Sub-Branch are deeply saddened by the passing of their valued Ex-Serving member, Peter. Deepest heartfelt sympathies to all of Peter's family and friends. LEST WE FORGET.

LAGERWAY (nee Gardner), Bev. We say goodbye to our loving big sister, Bev. Always determined independent and interested in everyone. Sincere thanks to Kerrie for her faultless care and attention to Bev's every need. John, Gloria and Kaye (dec.).

RISELEY, Kevin John.

Passed away suddenly on 19th February 2025, surrounded by his loving family. Aged 81 years

Dearly loved and loving husband of Judie. Much loved father of Lachlan and Erin, Blair and Rachel, Andrew and Melissa. Adored Papa of Lucas, Roy, Murray, Henry, Abigail and Harrison. Deeply loved and forever missed.

SHAW, Graeme. Passed away on 17 February 2025 at Latrobe Regional Health Traralgon after along battle, surrounded by his loving family.

Aged 67 years

Much loved father and father-in-law of Andrew and Danielle, Stuart and April, Addam and Manuela, and Trent (dec.). Adored granddad of Kris, Amarlie, Noah, Thomas, Sarah, Mackenzie, and Bodhi.

THOMAS, George William.

Born 31/5/1936, Passed away 22/2/2025. Aged 88 years Dad was adevoted husband, married to Mum for 651/2 years. Ahighly respected and loved Dad. Dad was highly principled and lived his life of hard work, honesty and respect. His greatest joy was being with his family and friends especially his 5grandsons. He was always there to rollup his sleeves and give ahand if needed. He and Iwould fondly reminisce about the old days, our 4wheel drive and dirt bike trips away. The days of Sunny Crk Rd Traf, where he and Iwould push our cars into the sun, his ETYPE Jag my XYGT sit back and admire them over a chat and afew beers. Deb will miss dad's chats with her about her art and paintings over afew wines.

Cherished Memories

The last 12 months have been challenging for him but he never complained. Alife well lived

Reunited with Luke

ANCILLERI (Johns), Heather. To our Mum and Nan. You fought so hard to stay, you are now at peace, but it doesn't ease our pain. Our hearts are broken that you are not here. You were the best loving Mum, MIL and Nan we could ever ask for. We love you so much more than words can say. We miss you, Mum Love foreve r, Jamie, Fiona, Lily, Olivia and Blake (Sweetie Pie).

BONNICI, Emmanuel (Manny). Passed away suddenly on the 15 February 2025. Aged 65 years Dear friend of Jane. Loved father of Ashley and Dallas, Caitlyn and James. Grandfather to Ariah, Finley, Evelyn and Grayson. Much loved brother to all of his brothers and sisters and their families. Rest in peace

CARPINTERI, Maria. 1/6/1930 -20/2/2025 Passed away peacefully at Mulgrave Private Hospital. Aged 94 years. Loved wife of Giuseppe (dec.). Much loved mother and mother-in-law of Concetta (dec.), Sam and Gina, Tita and Paul, Charlie and Maria. Loved Nonna of all her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

GIBSON, Eileen Elizabeth. Devoted wife of Jim (dec.) for 70 years. Much loved mother of John, Alan and Penny, their families and her many friends. Resting peacefully, together again with Dad Privately Cremated

GOSS, Barbara June (Barb). Fond memories of happy times shared. Now together with loved husband Bryan Rest In Peace. Margaret, Peter, Karen, Stephen, Caitlin and Phoebe.

GIBSON, Eileen Elizabeth. Dearly loved sister and sister-in-law of Graeme and Margaret. Loved aunty and great-aunty of David, Elly, Declan and Harvey, Philip, Danielle, Oscar and Lily. Rest peacefully, our beautiful lady.

HARRINGTON, Daryl Charles. Of Traralgon formerly of Bairnsdale passed away peacefully at Bupa Aged Care, Traralgo no n Sunday 23 February 2025. Aged 83 years

Dearly loved husband of Coral and Dallas (dec.). Adored father of Sharyn, Jeff and Julie and their families. Loved stepfather of Michael and Catherine and their families. Loved Pop and Great Pop to all his grandchildren. Always remembered and forever in our hearts

JOHNSON, Elizabeth Anne (Beth). 15/12/1954 to 12/2/2025. Daughter of Maurie and Dot. Sister to Mary, Robert, Pat, Karen, Wendy, Peter and partners. Aunty to all. Forever In Our Hearts Private Cremation Service held.

LANE (Grass), Margaret Anne. Passed away peacefully at Bupa Aged Care Traralgon on 21 February 2025. Aged 85 years Much loved wife of Keith (dec.). Dearly loved mother of Sandy (Sinclair), Helen (Barnes) and Neil (dec.). Adored Nanna of Guy, Jarrod, Jordan, Megan, Quinn, Foster and Lachie. Great nanna to Sonny, Savannah, Sloane, Hudson, Miles and Mia. Beloved sister of Ken. Reunited with Keith andNeil

MILLER, Williamina (Ina).

Passed away peacefully at Bupa Aged Care on the 12 February 2025. Aged 79 years

Loved sister of Ann and Lena. Dear aunt of Bob. Friend of Peter. Private Cremation Service held.

MISSEN (nee Scales), Janice. 30/11/1945 -16/2/2025

Passed away peacefully on 16 February 2025

Aged 79 years

Loved wife to Barry (dec.). Much loved mother and mother-in-law of Dale and Kath, Leesa and Stuart, Aaron and Toni. Adored Nanny of Lauren, Anthony, Angus, Kaylah and Patrick, Brendan ,E ll a, Ab by, and Koopa.

Finally Reunited with Dad Rest in Peace

MISSEN, Janice. Pass ed awa y1 6th February 2025. Loved sister to Gwenda and Ken (dec.). Loved and admired aunty to Jody, Justin Naomi and families. 'Go Doggies'

PAYNE, Sydney Charles (Syd). Passed away peacefully at Traralgon Aged Care on 20th February 2025 surrounded by his loving family. Aged 85 years. Much loved husband of Christine. Father, father-in-law and special friend of Janine and Mark, Carolyn and Andrew, Sallyanne (dec.), Tarai and Michael, Aaron and Jo, Travis, and Rohan. Special Poppy and Pa to his grand and great grandchildren.

PAYNE, Sydney Charles. 11/9/1939 -20/2/2025. Aged 85 years. Great memories of growing up on the farm, our water ski days and golfing together. You will always be remembered. RIP Syd. Dick and Julie.

TAKANEN, Leo Tapani. Born 18th April, 1958. Passed away peacefully at LRH on 13 February, surrounded by family. Aged 66yrs. Loved brother of Jorma, Kalervo, Pirjo and Paula. Loving son of Toivo and Anja (both dec.). With heavy heartswesadly say goodbye. Sleep peacefully Leo. Private cremation was held.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON

TRARALGON 5174 2258 Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

THOMAS, George. Started his 'New Journey' 22 February 2025. Loved son of George and Jean. Loved brother of Esta and brother-in-law Kevin (all dec.). Loving and caring husband and best friend to Gladys for 70 years.

My first and only love Proud Dad, Father, Footen and best mate to George Jnr, Luke (dec.), Laurajean (Flossy) and Matt. Loved father-in law to Pam (dec.), Jane and Deb. He deeply loved his grandsons Beau, Jordan, Alex, Sam (George) and Jacob. He enjoyed all of our family and together times. Simply the best Dental Technician and was highly regarded by his patients as well as his loved friends over the years. Loved his cars, motorsports, all the bush trips with family and friends, Bonsai's, R&P with Flossy. Highly regarded and loved by the Lane family and Snell family. Alife well done, our patriarch. Thank you for your contribution to all of us. We all thank you and loveyou forever Your Family. See you soon Thomo, Love Glady XX Private Cremation. 'Next to you' You cannot see or touch me, but I'm standing next to you.

Your tears can only hurt me, your sadness makes me blue.

Be brave and show a smiling face, let not your grief show through. Ilove you from adifferent place, yet I'm still next to you.

Rest In Peace Dad George and Deb.

THOMAS, George. My darling father, You have protected and supported me with much love, for 62 years. How blessed Iwas to have you for all this time. Iwill take your courage and love for life into my remaining years with much proudness. Yourloving favour ite daug hter (and only ) Laurajean (Floss) XX.

THOMAS, George Snr. Beloved brother of Esta and Kevin (dec.), and cherished Uncle George of Tony and Yvonne, Janet and Graeme, Mark and Robyne, Mandy and Michael and families. ALifetime of Beautiful Memories Never Forgotten Rest In Peace

VAN de GEER, Dirkjan (John). Passed away peacefully February 21st, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. Aged 70 Years. Dearly loved husband of Gloria. Much loved father and father-in-law of Jane and Drew, Damien and Kelly, Rebecca and Sunit, and Emma. Adored Opa to Rory, Pippa, Finn, and Pia. He lived life to the full and was loved by all who knew him.

WAITE, Malcolm. Died February 2025. Long time friend of Peter for many years. Rest In Peace Malcolm

WILKINSON (nee McKenzie), Mary Ann.

Passed away peacefully at Heritage Manor, Monday 17th February 2025. Aged 89 years. Beloved wife of Geoff (dec.). Loved and loving and mother of Ian and Olga and Allan and Colleen. Cherished Grandma of Amy, Emily, James, Hayley, Jed, Sam and Darcy and their partners. Great grandmother to 17. You worked so hard for those you loved, You always did your best, You fought until you could no more, And now you are at rest, sadly missed.

WILSON, Paula Beres. Paula died tragically at home, Wednesday 19 February 2025. Aged 54 years.

Loved daughter of Anne and the Late Geoffrey (Swaggy) Wilson.

Loved sister and sisterin-law of Luke (dec.) and Jane and Simon Makowski. Auntie to Tahlia and Laetitia Wilson-Hansen and Ryan and Christopher Makowski. Great aunt to Isabella Armstrong. Dear friend of Jason and Michelle.

"Death is not extinguishing the light; it is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come."

HARRINGTON. The funeral Service for Mr Daryl Charles Harrington of Traralgon will be held at 'The Rose' Chapel at Gippsland Memorial Park, Cemetery Drive Traralgon, WEDNESDAY (5 March 202 5) com men cing at 1.30pm.

Private Cremation

Peter Murray Funerals East Gippsland Ph 5152 4596

SHAW. The Graveside Funeral Service for Mr Graeme Shaw will be held at the Gippsland Memorial Park Cem eter y, Ceme ter y Drive Traralgon, FRIDAY (28 February 2025) commencing at 1.30pm.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON TRARALGON 5174 2258 Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

O'SULLIVAN, Michael Stephen. 12/11/1943 -27/2/2021. The world changes from year to year, our lives from day to day -but our love and memories of you Michael, will never fade away. Love Colleen, Danny and Jak.

Little aths brave the conditions

BONNICI. The Funeral Service for Emmanuel (Manny) Bonnici will be held at the Rose Chapel, Gippsland Memorial Park Crematorium, Cemetery Rd Traralgon, on WEDNESDAY (26 February 2025), commencing at 11am.

This Service will also be livestreamed, please go to John Galbraith Funerals Facebook page or Gippsland Memorial Park website and click on link provided. Funerals •

CARPINTERI.

Req uiem Mass to celebrate the life of Mrs Maria Carpinteri will be offered at St Joseph's Catholic Church, Ridgway Mirboo North, FRIDAY (28 February 2025) commencing at 11am. At the conclusion of Mass the funeral will proceed to the Mirboo North Cemetery. Rosary will be recited at the above church BEFORE MASS at 10.30am. Aviewing will be held at 10am before Rosary. Donations to The Heart Foundation would be appreciated. This service will be livestreamed. To view: visit John Galbraith Funerals Facebook page and click on the link provided.

CASSON. The Funeral Service to celebrate the life of Claire Casson will take place in the Rose Chapel at Gippsland Memorial Park Crematorium, Cemetery Drive, Traralgon, MONDAY (3 March 2025) commencing at 2pm.

FIELD. The funeral service for Mrs Veronica 'Ronnie' Field will be held at St Mary's Catholic Church, Monash Rd, Newborough Thursday 27 February 2025commencingat 11am. The funeral will leave at the conclusion of the service for the Moe cemetery. Ronnie's service will also be livestreamed. To view the livestream please go to: latrobevalley funerals.com.au and click on livestreaming.

LANE. The Funeral Service for Margaret Lane will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 260 Princes Highway Traralgon on MONDAY (3 March 2025) commencing at 11am. The Funeral will leave at the conclusion of the Service for Gormandale Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations to Dementia Victoria would be appreciated. Margaret's Service will also be livestreamed. To view the livestream please go to: latrobevalley funerals.com.au and click on livestreaming.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON TRARALGON 5174 2258 Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

MISSEN.

The Funeral Service and Committal for Cremation for Mrs Janice Missen will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 260 Princes Highway Traralgon on FRIDAY (28 February 2025) commencing at 1pm. In lieu of flowers, on-line donations to Bowel Cancer Austr alia wo uld be appreciated. As amarkofrespect, please wear your favorite football colours. The Service for Janice will also be livestreamed, to vie wt he liv estr eam , please visit our website.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON TRARALGON 5174 2258 Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

PAYNE.

The funeral service for Mr. Sydney (Syd) Payne will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 260 Princes Hwy Traralgon on Friday 7th March, 2025 commencing at 1.30pm Private family burial. Syd's service will also be live streamed. To view the livestream please go to latrobevalley funerals.com.au and click on livestreaming

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON TRARALGON 5174 2258 Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

RISELEY. The funeral service for Mr. Kevin John Riseley will be held at the Gippsland Memorial Park Rose Chapel, Cemetery Drive Traralgon on THURSDAY (7th March, 2025 ), commencing at 11am. The funeral will leave at the conclusion of the service for Gippsland Memorial Park's Cemetery. Kevin's service will also be live streamed. To view the live stream please go to: latrobevalley funerals.com.au and click on livestreaming.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON TRARALGON 5174 2258 Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

VAN de GEER. The funeral service and committal for cremation for John Van de Geer will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 437A Princes Dr. Morwell, THURSDAY (27 February 2025), commencing at 10.30am.

John's service will also be livestreamed. To view the live stream please visit latrobevalley funerals.com.au and click on livestreaming

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON MORWELL 51344937 Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

WILKINSON. The Funeral of Mrs Mary Ann Wilkinson will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 260 Princes Hwy, Traralgon

WEDNESDAY (5 March, 2025) commencing at 10.30 am. At the conclusion of the Service the Funeral will leave for the Hazelwood Cemetery, Brodribb Road, Hazelwood.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON

TRARALGON 5174 2258 Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

WILLS. The Funeral Service to celebrate the life of Lorrene Janet Wills will take place in the chapel at Gulwarra Heights Cemetery, 378 Bourke Street, Warragul on FRIDAY (28 February 2025) commencing at 2pm. Aprivate Cremation will follow.

WILSON. AMemorial Service to Celebrate the Life of Ms. Paula Beres Wilson will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 260 Princes Hwy Traralgon on THURSDAY (27 February 2025) commencing at 1pm. In lieu of flowers, donations to Lifeline Gippsland would be appreciated. Donate online: www.llg.org.au/donate. Paula's service will be livestreamed. To view the livestream, visit our website.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON TRARALGON 5174 2258 Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

In Memoriam •

Dad, Ilove and miss you every day. Love Suzanne XXX. BUSH, Stan. Passed away 25/2/2023. Your life was ablessing, your memory atreasure, you are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure. Always remembered. Pat, Jodie, Scott, Tim, Tammy, Adam, Zoey and grandchildren Jacob, Isabella, Ethan, Charlotte, Tyler and Lucas.

TAYLOR, Clifford Leslie. 17/11/1913 -25/2/1995. Your wise guidan ce, influences, values, timeless verbal expressions and love are part of my mem or ies of you. Sincere love, Mick (Philip).

WILKINSON, Mary. Loving to sister to Colette Harris (dec.). Loved Aunty Mary to Debbie, Lesley, Robert (dec.) and Darren. Ivan (dec.) and Icouldn't have coped without you and Jeff having the kids weekends and holidays. They loved being with you. Thanks again, Mary. You deserve to RIP. Gwen Harris.

Bereavement

DRAPER, Gloria Anne Elizabeth. Greg, Daryl, Elizabeth, Susan and families would like to thank everyone for the sympathy, love and support you have extended to our families during this time of loss.

GILES, Vicky Ann. The family of Vicky would like to thank all that sent cards, flowers and made phone calls during this sad time. Heartfelt thank you.

Firstprize: Gold medallistsBrady Cake,Sam Cataldo, LachlanRosato, Lilijah Deveson and Annabella Denton. Photographs supplied

LITTLE ATHLETICS

SOMEofMoe Little Athletics Club's finestathletes made the journey to Berwick to compete against 11 other clubs making up the Gippsland Country Regions.

The carnival was hit with high winds and torrential rain, but the athletes battled through, representing themselves and the club with pride.

Moe LittleAths willberepresented at the Little Athletics StateCarnival, with hopes to be crowned state champion in prime events.

Moe also had four up-and-comingstars attend the junior Gippsland Country Regions carnival, giving them ataste of what representative competition is all about.

Whilelittle aths has finishedfor the season, the club always welcomes new members and families.

For more information, email moe@lavic.com.au

MoeLittle Athletics medallistsGippsland CountryRegions (at Berwick)

Gold: 15G200mAnnabella Denton 26.14, 15G

400m Annabella Denton 1:00.86, 14G800mLilijah Deveson 2:32.63, 9G 100m Hattie Macpherson 16.63, 9G 200m Hattie Macpherson 33.23, 9G 400m Hattie Macpherson 1:18.97,15B 400m Lachlan Rosato53.04, 15BShotPut Brady Cake 8.55m, 14BHighJump Samuel Cataldo1.52m, 13BLong Jump TajMakepeace 4.52m. Silver: 16G100m Hana Schloetel 14.05, 16GTripleJump Hana Schloetel 9.49m, 14G400m Lilijah Deveson 1:07.73, 10GHigh Jump Hadia Schloetel 1.10m, 15B200m Lachlan Rosato24.09,13B Triple Jump TajMakepeace 9.56m. Bronze: 16GDiscus Zoe Birks 22.25m, 10GLong Jump Hadia Schloetel 3.32m, 15BLong Jump Lachlan Rosato5.54m, 13BLong Jump HarunSchloetel 4.08m.

Moe meetingwashed out

HORSERACING

By LIAM DURKIN

IF you want to end adrought, hold arace meeting at Moe.

Moe Racing Club's CommunityRaceDay suffered an unfortunate early finish, after ahugedownpour led to the meeting being abandoned just three races in.

The heavens opened up just after 2.30pm, as astonishingly, close to 10 millimetres fell in just as many minutes.

Muggy conditions followedcyclone-like winds the previous night, making the appearance of racegoers in sunnies and caps instantly out of place once rain pelted down.

Put bluntly, the rain was torrential. Put more technically, the BoM generally issues rainfall reportsevery half-hour -there wasfouralone between 2:51pm and 3pm for the Moe area last Sunday.

Part of the meeting was still saved, which was held to celebrate the many clubs and organisations Moe Racing Club supports.

Racingwasn't just confined to horses either,with representatives from local football-netballclubs competing in a100 metre sprint down the home straight.

Moe Football-Netball Club speedster Callum Nash easilywon the dash,and pocketed $1000 for the Lions, much to the delight of teammates and supporters.

The meeting started with three-year-old filly Meh Keffi winning the Race 1Moe Refrigeration Maiden Plate over 1200 metres for Lloyd Kennewell and Lucy Yeomans.

She celebrated her first win in style, crossingthe line by nearly two lengths.

Highly celebrated trainer Peter Moody (of Black Caviar fame) won the Race 2Merchant Family Butchers Maiden Plate (1200m) with Queen Amanjena.

The three-year-oldfilly had shown good signs after being spelled for 17 weeks, running third and first in two jumpouts at Pakenham earlier this month.

Hitchhikersguide finished well to win the Race3 Natures Cargo Maiden Plate (1600m) for Patrick

ATHLETICS

GIPPSLAND

Round 15 of GippslandAthletics Club

trackand field season washeld Tuesday 18th of February 2025.

Round 15 RESULTS:

Records

Women’s U14Hammer Throw: Brooklyn Wyatt 30.11(26.02 previous record, Brooklyn Wyatt 2024)

HAMMER

Women: U/14–Brooklyn Wyatt 30.11; Open –Brandy Forget 26.26; Masters–Fiona Saltmarsh 18.22

Men: Open -Aaron Saltmarsh-Milne 32.40; Masters–Simon VanBaalen 42.14, Wayne Seear 26.57

TRIPLE JUMP

Women: U/14–Brooklyn Wyatt 7.62

Men: U/14– TajMakepeace NJ; Open -Aaron Saltmarsh-Milne 10.17; Masters–Simon VanBaalen 7.72

SHOTPUT

Women: U/14–Brooklyn Wyatt 7.39; Open –Brandy Forget 6.49; Masters–Fiona Saltmarsh 7.83

Men: Open -Aaron Saltmarsh-Milne 9.22; Masters–Simon VanBaalen 11.68, Wayne Seear 7.25

100M

Women: U/14–Brooklyn Wyatt 15.06

Men: Open -Aaron Saltmarsh-Milne 12.27; Masters: Simon VanBaalen 19.00

GippslandAthletics Clubs final week of competition,Round 16 will be held next Tuesday25th of February,6pm at the Joe CarmodyTrack,Newborough Events include: 100m,Javelin,3000/5000m Run/Walk,Long Jump,Discus,400m.

GOLF

CHURCHILL &MONASH

2Person Ambrose Saturday15th February 2025.

Winners: R. Dent/P.Kearns 63.25 nett RunnersUp: D. Cluderay/G. Sanders65.5 nett

D.T.L: 1. M. Hammer/M. Beyer65.75, 2. P. Smart/R. Madigan 65.75, 3. K. Kerslake/B Robinson 66.5, 4. R. Noordam/G. Beyer

66.74. N.T.P: 5th B. Cluderay,14th C. Gilfillan

Target Hole: R. Davidson StrokeTuesday11th February 2025.

Calm beforethe storm: Hitchhikersguide ridden by Jake

on Sunday. The meetingwas abandoned afterthis race,followinga huge downpour Photograph:

and Michelle Payne, who this year celebrates 10 years since her Cinderella Melbourne Cup win.

The three-year-oldgelding beat aquality field, which includedManifest TheMilli, trained by Danny O'Brien, and Just Landed, which had Moe Cup winning jockey Craig Newitt in the saddle. While always disappointingtosee ameeting

Winner: C. Carder 67 nett

D.T.L: J. Clegg 71 nett

ScratchWinner: R. Dent 78 scratch

N.T.P: 3rdL.Van Rooy,5th C. Carder,12th L. VanRooy, 14th J. Clegg

MIRBOO NORTH

MOE

Wednesday, 5February 2025 Twilight Stableford

Winner: H. Stanlake24

Wednesday, 12 February 2025 Twilight Stableford

Winner: B. Harland 21

Sunday, 16 February 2025 OPEN Sunday9 hole Stableford

Grade AWinners: Clegg, Jeff (29) 13

Sunday, 16 February 2025 OPEN Sunday Medley

Grade AWinners: Donnison, Terry(8) 38 C/B

Grade BWinners: Brown, Hayden (17) 36

Grade CWinners: VanDen Dolder,Daniel (33) 37

Place Getters: Wilson, Graeme 38

Somerville,Ross 35 Veenman, Laurie 34

C/B Shaw, Karen34C/B Blunt, Philip 34

Wednesday, 19 February 2025 WOMEN'S WEDNESDAY 9HOLEStableford

Overall Winners: Mitchell, Evelyn (27) 19 C/B

Wednesday, 19 February 2025 WOMEN'S STABLEFORD

Grade AWinners: Borg, Kathy(21) 39

Grade BWinners:Tulau, Susan (39) 38

Place Getters:Elliot, Christine 38 C/B Weaver,Lee 37

Great Score: Helen StanlakeBirdie @10

Nearest to Pin: 4th Christine Elliot 8th Linda Bates 14th PatThompson

Target Hole Winner -Pat Thompson

Wednesday, 19 February 2025 Twilight

Stableford

Winner: K. Borg21

Great Score: T. Johnson Eagle @6,A Pickard Birdie @8

Thursday, 20 February 2025 OPEN Medley

Stableford

Grade AWinners: Wilson,Graeme (8) 40

Grade BWinners: Buckman, Peter(14)37

Latrobe Valley Express, Wednesday, 26 February, 2025

abandoned, there was perhaps some solace in the fact the races that did go ahead were all maidens. It's fair to say first-time winning connections won't everforget the downpourthat followedeach victory. Moe Racing Club's next meeting will be amajor one on ANZAC Day.

SCOREBOARD

Grade CWinners: Cropley, Mike(19)38

Grade DWinners: Geisler,Keith (30) 41

Place Getters: Vincent, Ray38C/B Visser,Liam37C/B Cunningham, Steve37 C/B Mead, Anne 37 C/B Coffin, Phillip 37 Wilson, Robert36C/B Bates,Linda 36 C/B Babet, Alain 36 C/B Jenkins,Dwayne 36 C/B Hildebrand, Paul 36 C/B Nikolajew, Adrian 36 C/B Walshe,Michael 36 Weir Charles 35 C/B Taylor,Brayden 35 C/B Fife,Mark35C/B

Great Score: Lockie White(Birdie) @4 Aj Postlethwaite(Birdie)@14BillHall (Birdie) @14Anton Devent (Birdie) @14

Adrian Nikolajew(Birdie) @8 Dwayne Jenkins (Birdie) @4 Brayden Taylor (Birdie) @4 Tony Johnson (Birdie) @8 Peter Buckman (Birdie) @14RobertMayo (Birdie) @8

Nearest to Pin: 4th Brayden Taylor 8th RobertMayo14th Anton Devent

MORWELL

Women -Par Wednesday19th February 2025

Winner: GClark +3

DTL: CBoers+2

NTP: 2nd JGriffiths 11th SKarleusa 15th

CBoers Birdies: CBoers&S Karleusa

TRAFALGAR

Tuesday18/02/2025 -Stableford

Winner: Al Gray (21)

Runner Up: Dave Rose (20 c/b)

DTL: RodPollock(19), Craig Scanlan (19), GeoffFallon (18), NormMether (18), Bev

Keily(18 c/b)

NTP: Tony Shearer (5th)

Thursday: 20/02/2025 -4 Ball

Multiplication Stableford

Women’s Winners: Heather Savigeand Beth Lansdown (35)

RunnersUp: Cheryl Deppeler and Lyn Powell (33)

DTL: KarenMacGregor (22), Lorna Risol (20)

NTP: Heather Savige(13th)

Men’s Winners: RodBrisbane and Richard Gould (62)

RunnersUp: RonPykeand RonKeith (48)

DTL: MickBennett(24), Toby Davie (22), NormMether (22), Chris Moody (22), Gavin Patchett(22), John Kerr (21)

NTP: Toby Davie (13th)

WednesdayWomen's results 19/2/25

Singles Knockout and Stableford,

Financial help for local sports clubs

SPORT

GRASSROOTS sports clubs are the heartbeat of so many local communities, and the state government saysitisbackingthemtobeeven better with anew round of grants to upskill staff and volunteers.

Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence has announced applications are open for the Sporting Club Grants Program.

The program has afocus on upskilling volunteers so they can continue playing a vital role at their local clubs.

Grants of up to $5000 are available for clubs to improve the skills and knowledge of volunteers, coaches and officials, as well as grants of up to $4000 to help clubs deliver new programs to the community.

Clubs can also applyfor grants of up to $1000 to purchase uniforms and equipment, and $750 travel grantsare also available to participateincompetitions away from home. Since 2014, the Sporting Club Grants Program has injected almost $18.4 million into the community and supported thousands of clubs across the state, improving the experienceoflocal communitysportfor everyone involved

The program is backed by the Regional Community Sport Development Fund that is delivering infrastructure upgrades as well as the RegionalCommunity Sport Infrastructure Fundtohelp more regionalVictorians get active and be part of their local sporting club. Applications for this round close March 27, 2025.

For moreinformation and to apply,visit sport.vic.gov.au.

Knockout Winners: Congratulations to those who wonthe second round.

Cheryl Toyne,Christine Payne,Angela Bayleyand KarenMacGregor

StablefordWinner: Michelle Jarvis (33) with 42 points

StablefordRunner-Up: BevKeily(21) with 36 points

NTP: 5th Donna Mellon 11th No-One

DTL: Cheryl Deppeler with 35 points and JanJansen with 33 points c/b 9Hole-Stableford

Winner: Di Bayley(33) with 22 points

Runner Up: Heather Savige (32) with 18 points

Gobblers: Cheryl Deppeler on the 10th Congratulations to thepennant team for their win,3/2 against Warragul.

YALLOURN

Ladies Thursday20-2-25 4BBB 18 Hole

Stableford

Winners: Donna Brown(36)+ Judy Budge (44 )=50

Runnersup: Lola Carter (18)+ Evelyn Graske(38 )=48

NTP: 2nd Judy Budge 8th LynMcAlister 14th Betty Dobson16th Donna Brown

Birdies: Lola Carter 9th

Betty Dobson 14th and gobbler

Gobblers: BetsyBrown 6th, Sue Riches 10th

Tuesday18-2-25 9Hole Stableford

Div 1: (17-28) Sue Caldow(28) 17 pts

Div 2: (29-44) Sue Riches (31) 15 pts

TENNIS

RIVERSIDE TENNIS ASSOCIATION

Round 13 Results

Section 1/2 Doubles: Hallora3- 34 def by Warragul White6–48

Trafalgar 1-28def by Moe8–55

Drouin Gold 8-53def Poowong 1–23

Neerim District 3-41def by Drouin Maroon 6-50

Warragul Blue -Bye

Team

TRARALGON

Mon 10/2/25Air pistol BGrade: BKelly528-51-579. CGrade: EBeaufort484-94-578. DGrade: LDePetro484-102-586. CBenelli 469-94-563. DSykes 434-187-621

Beaufort 330-237-567.LMorris306-162-468. PDepetro 263-215-478. Junior mens DGrade: FPeterson 321-168-507

Wed12/2/25 Centrefire

CGrade: CBenelli 441-75-516. MHoward 188-126-314. DGrade: BKelly335-100-435. JWest 220-332-552. LMorris 159. 25 mt pistol DGrade: FBorgnine 464-154618. BChapman 420-179-599. Sat 15/2/25mornStandardpistol CGrade: DFarnham 506-88-594. C Goldberg448-127-575. DGrade: DChandler 395-140-535 P DePetro367.L Morris290-229-519.R Miller 261-347-608.

Afternoon centrefire DGrade: NMallory331-185-516. Classic pistol DGrade: MTrent 289-102-391

Noonanwinsthe Race 3atMoe

ScottBarbour/Racing Photos

Grand finals here we come

BOWLS

STRZELECKI NORTH

SATURDAYPENNANT

BY MICHAEL HOLROYD

WHATachangeinthe weatherfor preliminary final day.

Saturday saw the threat of high temperatures loom and anumber of games delayed for ashort time duetothe heat.

Division 1

LONGWARRY was defeated by Newborough at Traralgon, with the inform rink of Kevin Lovett, Tony Knipping, Steve Gibcus and JoAnne Michaels winning 25-10.

ScottJones and his rink of FranClark,Neale Houston and Wayne Arnold won 18 to 14, and Sheryl Atkinson and her rink of Jo Gibcus, Alan Ryan and Alan Grubb won 24-16, with the lone winning Longwarry rink being Glenn Pask, with Hank Metselaar, Dale Weller and Ken White winning 27-15, leaving Newborough the winners by 15 shots.

Division 2

MOE defeated Neerim District by 23 shots, with Michael Smogavec and his rinkofJohn Williams, Lachlan Sim and Jayde Leech winning 28-9. Chris Goldsbrough and his rink of Flynn Pallot, Stuart Caines and Barry Hawkett won 17-16, and

Steve Pallot and his rink of Fred Martin, Darren Kane and John Westerlo won 21-18. Sandy Caines drew with Neil Adams 21-all.

Division 3

NEWBOROUGH(2) had a45-shotwin over Drouin (2) by seven shots, with Jeff Wetzel and his rink of Michael Holroyd, Julie Jackson and Ed Whelan winning 28-10. Robbert Cook and his rink of Graham Smith, Phil Marston and Barry Daley won 28-13, and Peter Policha and his rink of Chris Wagstaff, Mary Whelan and Len Middling won 20-16. To complete thecleansweep, TrevorKennedy and his rink of Brian Carpenter,CarmelGoss and Albert Van Stekelenburg won 20-12.

Division 4

YARRAGON continued their good form with a three-shot win over Warragul (2).

Richard Polmear and his rink of Rhett Galley, Gary Green and Kevin Arnold won 18-16, and Kevin McLaren and his rink of Ross McDermott, Harry Langres and Jarrod Grigg won 26-14. For Warragul (2), Paul Simmonsand hisrinkof Belinda Slate,PeterEllisand David Ferguson won 28-18 and David Gatewood won 23-22.

Division 5

TRARALGON (5) defeated Warragul (3) by four shots, with Ron Hales and his rink of Noel Murray,

Bill Justin and Mick Reynolds winning 25-16.

This was matched by Brent Grigg and his rink of Adrian Helmuth, Bill Clarke and Sharon Bull, leaving it to the rinkofPeter DobellwithJim Barling, Bob Lorenzand David Frith to give Traralgon (5) the win 19-15.

Division 6

NEWBOROUGH (4) defeated Drouin (4) by eight shots, withCharlie Amos winning 18-11 and Peter Bertoli 22-21.

In Division 7, Traralgon (7) defeated Moe (4) by nine shots, with Colin Stilburn winning 30-10, while for Moe (4), Bob Esler won 21-10.

ON Sunday, the Strzelecki Region Triples and Singles were played at Tarwin Lower, with the winners heading to Bendigo to play in the state championships.

In the ladies triples, MTaylor,NParryand J Prain Foster defeated R.Matheson(S)/ J.White/ K.Monroe (Morwell), and in the men’striples A Collier,J Hall and NLovie Leongatha defeated J.Scullin(S)/ M.Ferrari/ V.McIlwain (Traralgon).

In the state singles,Joelene Laukens of Boolarra defeated Robyn Dennis (Phillip Island) 25-18. NathanCook (Trafalgar) defeated Anthony Collier (Leongatha) 25-13.Nathan’sfather David will also be heading to Bendigo after winning the Champion of Champions Singles.

Faltum’sVics twice on losing side

CRICKET

EXPORTS BY TOM

HAYES

LOCAL cricketing export Nicole Faltum and her Victorian Women’s National Cricket League side travelledsouth to Tasmania lastweekfor backto-back fixtures.

It turned into atrip to forget, losing twice, one of which by the skin of their teeth.

 TASMANIA just seem to have the edge over Victoria.

Aweekafter the Victorian men’ssidewas defeated twice by Tasmania in both the Sheffield Shield and One Day Cup, the women’s side also fellshort in the Women’sNational Cricket League Although it’s acheck in the loss column, it was aloss by the smallest possible margin.

Victoria captain Faltum won the toss and elected to fieldatBelleriveOval last Wednesday(February 19). What appeared to be the right decision stillwent against them in the grand scheme of things. Awicket in the first over from Sophie Day had the visitors lively, as did asecond and third within the next 10 overs.

Tasmania was 3/37 after two catchesinto the gloves of Faltum, movingataround three runs per over. Something had to change, and it did. Tasmanian openerRachelTrenaman and middleorder bat Naomi Stalenberg left Victoria with no answers after 35 overs of domination.

During that time, Trenaman went on to score a ton, while Stalenberg got close. Nonetheless, the two piled on 190 runs.

The bash and crash of the final two overs saw both dismissed before the innings finished, Stalenberg first for 80, and Trenaman in the final over for 124.

After 50 overs the hosts amassed 5/254.

Faltum and Reid opened the Victorian innings, startingwiththe tempo needed to chasethe required total.

The two piled on 60 for the first wicket, lasting about an hour, as Reid departed for 27.

Faltum continued alongside Ella Hayward, but became the next one back in the sheds shortly after making her half century. Her knock of 52 included five fours.

Tasmania was on ahat-trickafter the immediate dismissal of Olivia Henry, and all of asudden when the wickets began to tumble, so did the run rate.

Although they were nearly halfway through the required total as they approached the halfway mark of the innings, nothing about the chase felt safe.

Wicketsbegan to fall at an inconvenient rate for Victoria,asbettersdropped around Hayward who was hoping to get her side over the line.

At the time of the seventh wicket, only seven deliveries remained, and 10 runs were needed for victory.

New to the crease, tail-ender JasmineNevins knocked asinglewith her first delivery, keeping her on strike for the start of the final over.

Nevins used her confidence, hitting afour with the first ball of the last over, cutting the required runs to five, with four to come.

Nevins was bowlednext ball, as Hasrat Gill came to the crease, and made two before getting Hayward on strike.

Home ground disadvantage

BOWLS STRZELECKI NORTH MIDWEEK PENNANT BY MICHAEL HOLROYD

MIDWEEK pennant bowls semi-finals were played in Strzelecki North playing area on Tuesday, February 18.

In Division 1, Traralgon RSLwas unable to repeat their heroics of the last game, losing to top team Trafalgar by 39 shots. Ian Miles and his rink of Pat Tatterson, Noel Rubenstein and Matt Ogilvie won 37 to 13, while Matt Schreyer won 29-23 and Adam Proctor won 23-14.

Traralgon againdefeated Newborough,this time by 12 shots, with Kathy Smiles and her rink of Gary Bassett, Rosie Lorenz and Col Eagle winning 22-16. Wayne Barnes won 19-18 and James Scullin 27-23.



DIVISION 2 saw Newborough (2) enjoy a29-shot win against Drouin (2), with Ed Whelan and his rink of Michael Holroyd, Denise Ryan and Joan Goldie winning 28-13. Robbert Cook won 24-21 and Julie Jackson 26-15.

Trafalgar (2) overcome Yinnar’s home groundadvantage to win by nineshots,with the rinkofPeterWatson and his teamof Col Carmichael, Lyn Hill and Greg Sephton winning 35-6.Yinnar won the other two rinks, with Jennie Harris winning 19-16 and Tim Roche 32-15.

 DIVISION 3 had Newborough (3) defeating Churchill by 10 shots, with Len Middling and his rink of Graham Cocks, Albert Van Stekelenburg and Bob Goldie winning 28-15.

Morwell (2) overcame the Traralgon (2) home ground advantage, winning by three shots, with Glenn Watkins and his rink of Ian Chamings, Max Duncan and Glenda Thompson winning 23-16.

 DIVISION 4 saw both hosting teams lose, with the previously undefeated Longwarry losing all rinks to Warragul (2) by 27 shots.

Jim Moyle andhis rink of IanBelling, Lynda Morrison and David Feguson won 31-11. Garfield defeated Traralgon RSL (2) by eight shots, with Helene Newton and her rinkofLex Taylor, John O’Shea and Mal Newham winning 29-18.

 DIVISION 5 had Yallourn North defeating Drouin (4) by 31 shots, with Shane Dobson and his rink of David Hibbert, Stephen Brien and Rod Dixon winning 31-12.

Traralgon (4) defeated Newborough (4) by five shots, with Bill Justin winning 21-17 and Jill Beck 19-18.

It wouldn’t be enough in the end, with Hayward getting caught off the final ball for 84, nullifying any chance of victory.

Thelossfor Victoria saw them drop out of the top four, to the advantage of Tasmania who leapfrogged them for the time being.

 TASMANIA took out the second match a little more convincingly.

Amammoth innings from captain Elyse Villani gavethe hosts the edgethey needed to hold off the Victorian run chase.

Villani entered the crease at 2/44, lasting until the second-last deliveryofthe innings, scoring 110 at arateofover 100 (104 deliveries).

Tailender Amy Smith pitchedinwith39from 29 toward the endofthe innings, as Tasmania posted 8/259.

Faltum was unable to extend her run of form, andwas the first wicket of the Victorian innings during the third over for eight.

From there,the visitors were always behind the eight ball. Despite scoring at amuch faster ratethan Tasmania, wickets felltwice as quickly.

Tess Flintoff steadied the innings somewhat, scoring 80, as only Reid (22), Georgia Prestwidge (24), and Hasrat Gill (23) were the only others to score over 20.

As they entered the final10overs, Victoria neededtoincrease their run rate, but only had two wickets in the sheds.

It proved to be mission impossible, as Tasmania snagged the 10th and final wicket with 11 balls to come,completing back-to-back wins.

Victoria are now five points shy of the top four, as Tasmania leapfrogged South Australia into third.

 DIVISION 6 returned awin for Warragul (3), who defeated Churchill (2) by seven shots, with Gabrielle Draisma winning 19-13 and Roy Hammond 18-17. Neerim District (2) defeated Traralgon (5) by three shots, with Jim Schroeter winning 28-13, while for Traralgon(5), BruceHansen won 26-15.

Good game: Moeand Neerim District players shakehands afterSaturday’s preliminaryfinal.

Photograph: JulieSim

Moe needs Mirboo-likemiracle

CRICKET

CLVPREMIER A

BY LIAM DURKIN

IN an unfortunate set of circumstances, virtual confirmation of the final four of CricketLatrobe Valley Premier Aran as the second-biggest story from Round13, whilethe rise of one player further in the ‘all time great’ stakes had to come third.

The penultimate round (played as one dayers after Day1was washed out) locked in finals-bound teams by 99.95 per cent, with Glengarry, Ex Students and Morwell set to take their campaigns into March.

Newly promoted Centralsalsolook certainties of doing likewise, after taking abonus point from the weekend.

The Lions of Traralgon are seven points clear of their Moe counterparts in fourth on 36 points. Moe lost last round, despite the best efforts of Andrew Philip, and will now need to defeat the Sharks outright and rely on Toongabbie (sixth) beating Centrals in the last round.

The Rams are on 25 points, eight points clear of relegation from Raiders.

Raiders take on Morwell thisSaturday, whocould be going for an outright themselves to try and steal second spot and ahome final from Ex Students.

The Tigers trail the Sharks by four points, and given Moe needs to set up an outright against Ex Students, there remainsanoutside chance Morwell can capitalise.

Glengarry (on 54 points) meanwhile will take out theminor premiership,unlessdisaster strikes and they lose to bottom sideCATSand Ex Students does Moe outright.

CATS are destined for AGrade next season, as the most plausiblepoints they couldfinish on is 19, not enough to elevate them higher than seventh.

 WHAT more can one man do?

PREMIER A ROUND13(ONE DAYERS)

MOEVMORWELL at TedSummerton MOE INNINGS

RPhoenix cT DixonbB Brincat .......0

LSmith cD DaybF Homyoon 16

APhilip not out 112

JShields cBMills bM Cukier..............................................................9

ESheekey cT DixonbF Homyoon...................................................6

KHughes cBClymo bT Ford 15

KMicallef lbwM Cukier........................................................................1

JAtkinson-Mobourne not out...........................................................2

Sundries (0b 4lb 5w 1nb). 10

TOTAL (50 overs) 6/171 MORWELL BOWLING

TDixon 5-0-13-0,FHomyoon 10-0-40-2, MCukier 8-0-25-2, D Day10-1-36-0, TFord10-4-30-1, BBrincat 7-1-23-1 MORWELL INNINGS

MCukier cKHughes bL Smith. 48

FHomyoon cBBlandford bKHughes............................................4

KFortuin bLSmith ................................................................................9

BClymo st BBlandfordbJ Atkinson-Mobourne 48

JCampbellnot out 48

BMills not out 11

Sundries (0b 1lb 5w 1nb) 7

TOTAL (39.5 overs) 4/175

MOEBOWLING

JAtkinson-Mobourne 3.5-0-30-1, KHughes 7-1-17-1, R Phoenix 6-0-27-0, LSmith 10-3-32-2, JShields 2-0-20-0, R Ritvik 5-0-13-0, CTaylor 6-1-35-0

TOONGABBIEVRAIDERS at Roger Reis Oval

SATURDAY,FEBRUARY22

With his side’s finals spot on the line, and with no other player barely able to hit off the square, Moe’s Andrew Philip solidified his reputation as a true Bradman of the Bush even further.

Statistically at least,Philip’s latest effortwas among his most astonishing.

As ateam, the Lions scored 171 across 50 overs at Ted Summerton Reserve against Morwell.

Philip scored 112 of them.

What’s more, he was not out, and came in when the score had barely moved during the secondover

Unusual statistics did not stop at Philip, as three Morwell players all made 48.

Thoseknocks from MarkCukier, Blair Clymo and Jordan Campbell (who remained unbeaten) were arguably what decided the game, and Morwell was able to get the runs only four down inside 40 overs.

Laytten Smith picked up acouple of wickets for Moe, while Cukier (2/25) and FayzazHomyoon (2/40) did likewise for the Tigers.

Philip’scentury came with an abundanceof storylines, and equally evocative metaphors.

It was his26thton for the Lionsatfirst grade level. Alan Rankin is generallyregarded as the greatestbatsmeninGippslandcricket historyand he scored 27 for Trafalgar Cricket Club.

That the innings which led to Philip’s latest ton started after the departure of Moe opening batRob Phoenix added further poignancy, for it is Phoenix oftencredited with helping ayoung Philipbecome theplayerheistoday.

When Phoenix was captainofMirboo North and playing against Philip, he would often jokingly lament what he had created.

And on aday when the spirit of cricket was brought into disrepute elsewhere, it was perhaps most pertinent Philip was brought into public consciousness for his on field excellence.

Those who have played with and against him

will attest to his willingness to quickly depart the scene once dismissed, even if to the detriment of himself or the team.

Furthermore, he could never be accused of hogging the strike, avoiding more difficult bowlers or playingtopreserve his own average. It is doubtful he has ever called for anightwatchman either.

Is it anywonderhehas scored more than 10,000 runs and received the upmost admiration from teammates and opponents alike.

 CENTRALS were rewarded for astrong bowling performance, taking abonus point with them back from Traralgon South.

The Lions put up 185 batting first, beforedismissing their opponents for 130.

The bonuspointcame in atimelyfashion, 18 balls beforesuch an incentive would have elapsed

Lachlan Speairs continued to showgoodsigns with the stick, making 47, while opener Jaxon Murdoch (39) and captain Tye Hourigan (37) also chipped in.

TinashePanyangara proved difficulttoget away, taking 2/11 off 10 overs, forcing Centrals to score elsewhere. Paul McGill nabbed 2/43.

CATS were on track at 2/81, yet as has been the case for most of the season, one broken partnership led to asteady loss of wickets.

Jamie Cochrane did amightyjob as skipper, making 53 off 67 balls,yet things quickly disintegrated when he was dismissed.

Tyron Gamage needed no invitation once he saw an opening in the lower order, and he added three wickets to the two top order scalps to finish with afive wicket haul.

CameronWhitehead(2/23) and Jake Littleton (2/28) also helped the Lions to victory.

 WARNING shot fired.

Ex Students knocked off Glengarry in athriller at Terry Hunter Oval.

CRICKETLATROBEVALLEY

RAIDERS INNINGS

RWebber lbwS Ryan

Battingfirst, the Sharksmade183,led by Michael Stockdaleand Jackson McMahon, who both made half-century’s.

Wicketswere shared in the Magpies camp, as all five bowlers got on the board.

Cam Graham was the leading light (3/26), followed by Nat Freitag (2/36) and Al Jenkin (2/43).

Much like Philip in the Moe game, Freitag couldn’t do much more for Glengarry, making 95 out of atotal of 174.

Freitag threatened to take the Magpies to victory, yet hisdismissal left the visitors precariously placed at 7/161.

The Sharks then circled, and bowled enough dots to see Glengarry fall nine runs short.

Somewhat fittingly, McMahonand Stockdale combined to take Freitag’s wicket, with the former taking the catch and thelatter takingeventual figures of 4/28.

Michael's brother Lee Stockdale took 2/31. Hamish Busk helped the Glengarry total with 31.  TOONGABBIE likely saved themselves from relegation by defeating Raiders.

Chasing 172 at Roger Reis Oval, the Rams got there six down.

Anumberofstartscurtailed Raiders’ innings, as five players made double figures.

Darryn Stares made 37 andRob Webber 30 in thevisitor’s near 50 over innings.

Gayashan Munasinghe stood tall with the ball, taking 3/32, alongwithSean Ryan (2/18) and Amal Athulathmudali (2/36).

Munasinghe then played arguably his best knock since coming to the Ramsatthe start of the season, making70, partnering with Toongabbie captain TimDunn (63).

Burkeley Macfarlane (3/6) and Ben Rivers (3/32) enjoyed good moments with the ball.

GMunasinghe.....................................................................2

cT Dunn bK Stoddart.

(3b 6lb 24w 3nb) 36 TOTAL (49.4 overs) 172

TOONGABBIE BOWLING

SRyan10-3-18-2, RWheildon10-1-34-1, MBarry7-0-340, AAthulathmudali 10-1-36-2, KStoddart2.4-0-8-2, G Munasinghe 10-2-32-3

TOONGABBIE INNINGS

DBarry bBRivers ...................................................................................0

RWheildon bBRivers .........0

AAthulathmudali cBMacfarlane bB Rivers ................................9

GMunasinghe bBMacfarlane................. 70

TDunn cDStares bBMacfarlane 63

KStoddartc TRobertson bB Macfarlane......................................4

TShippen not out ..................................................................................7

IJayasinghenot out .............................0

Sundries (2b 5lb12w 1nb) 20 TOTAL (44.2 overs) 6/173

RAIDERS BOWLING

BRivers8-0-32-3, DStares 2-0-2-0, GCheshire10-0-25-0, R Webber 3-0-15-0, LMaynard5-1-16-0, TRobertson 9-0-44-0, HMcColl5.3-0-23-0, BMacfarlane 2-0-6-3

CATSVCENTRALS at John Black Oval

CENTRALS INNINGS

JMurdoch b TPanyangara 39

JLittleton cPMcGill bEPass 19

BWilliamsonc&b TPanyangara .............6

THourigan cNHarrupbP McGill 37

MRawson cunknown bB Hagley....................................................9

LSpeairs run out 47

CPollardrun out. ..........................................................................4

TShankland cCStewartbP McGill .3

TGamage bC Stewart. ...............0

CWhitehead not out ..........................1

MFenech run out ..................................................................................2

Sundries (3b 1lb 11w 3nb) 18

TOTAL(49 overs) 185

CATS BOWLING

CStewart0.5-0-3-1, BHagley 10-0-37-1, SGissara 10-1-350, JMoore4-0-29-0, EPass 5-1-23-1, PMcGill 9.1-0-43-2, T Panyangara 10-6-11-2

CATS INNINGS

JCochrane cT Hourigan bC Pollard. 53

OPalmer cLSpeairs bT Gamage .....................................................4

NHarrupcM Rawson bT Gamage ..................................................8

EPorigneaux cT Hourigan bJ Littleton 17

TPanyangara cJLittletonb CWhitehead ...........2

JMooreb CWhitehead ............0

SGissarac THourigan bT Gamage 15

CStewart bJLittleton ......6

PMcGill bT Gamage .............................................................................9

BHagley cC Pollardb TGamage......................................................4

EPassnot out...........................................................................................1

Sundries (0b 1lb 10w 0nb) 11

TOTAL(37.1 overs) 130

CENTRALS BOWLING

TGamage8.1-3-22-5, MFenech 9-1-27-0, JLittleton 5-0-28-2, CWhitehead 10-2-23-2, CPollard5-0-29-1 EX STUDENTSV GLENGARRY at TerryHunter Oval EX STUDENTSINNINGS

JPryde lbwM Merton...........................................................................9

Sundries (0b 2lb 4w 0nb). 6 TOTAL(48.4 overs) 183 GLENGARRYBOWLING CGraham9-1-26-3, AJenkin 10-0-43-2, NFreitag 9.4-1-36-2, BMayberry10-0-42-2,

CRICKET LATROBEVALLEY -LOWER GRADE SCORES

Premier B(Round 16): Jeeralang-Boolarra 3/240 (B McCormack 71, GSmith 65*, LSmith 53, LPhilips 2/30) def TraralgonWest 102 (L Smith 4/21, HHewawasam 3/20) Glengarry0/95 (P Henry61*, CDunn33*) def Morwell 94 (G Waack-Hawkins 5/19, TDuncan3/29), Ex Students 7/322 (Z Bastin 81, JZappulla 75, AJaensch 44, HCanny30, H Richards 25, CSchellekens 3/28) def Mirboo North 8/149 (H Barnes 39, JZappulla 2/15, MWarne 2/26), Churchill 317 (N Duncan 143, SForbes 104, RJohnson 29, RHare5/70, JMotta 2/33, SWebley 2/55) def CATS 167(JMotta 31, D Fleming 30, SDunn4/21, BMarks 2/36), Thorpdale5/161 (K O'Connell 70*, MGraeme 25, NFarley 2/25) def Toongabbie 157 (M Cooper 28, NFarley 25, ZO'Connell 3/27,K O'Connell 2/36). BGrade (Round 19):Imperials 8/68 (R Blunt 2/9, GSheekey 2/16, HEdwards 2/19) def Moe64(AMoss 3/16, DLoots 3/18), Centrals 9/110 (J Downs 32, JKeily 3/14, Dvan der Stoep 2/15,J vander Stoep 2/16) def WillowGrove 7/109 (D van der Stoep 27, DDoble 2/14, JDowns 2/24, LPollard 2/24), Latrobe 4/174 (N Brewer 80, RHebbard56, SBoyes 2/16)def Rovers 172 (B Donoghue 40, KScott 25, BDuncan

3/29, JHayes 2/24,AAntony2/25), Raiders 4/157 (H Rai40*, SPooni 46*, PBrooks2/29) def Gormandale 156 (P Brooks 62, JScurlock 45, FWhite 34, HRai 3/21, JVarghese 2/34, N Sandhu 2/46). Premier C(Round 15): Centrals 4/214 (A Foley75, KDoble 48*, CWhite32, BDoble 25, ASingh 3/32) def Rovers 73 (R O'Donnell 31, CHowlett 2/3, DMoorhouse 2/8, LZammit 2/15,CHughes2/22), Ex Students 5/240 (M Bentley 70*, P Richards 51, SThomson 42, PHennessy 31,T Miller-Mowat 2/41) def Glengarry143 (S Saju 26, AFerguson 4/27, T Kosterman 3/36), Mirboo North 6/256 (A Degennaro102, G Vanderzalm 62, JSpeed 29, WZalesiak 2/43) def Toongabbie 164 (J Chalmers 31, WZalesiak 30, JHutton 4/12, DCalder 2/20, GShaw2/22), Imperials 8/223 (A Spowart110, M Twomey 32, DBiggins 3/36, RWhitney 3/40)def Moe9/180 (F Manduci 36*, JKeltie 34, NKeltie 29, LSykes 3/32, H Martin 2/14) Morwell -bye. CGrade (Round 15): Rawson 4/322 (J Wiseman 102, M Williams 90, AYoung 49, JCargill 36, DMcdougall 2/23) def Latrobe 3/60 (D Mcdougall 27), Gormandale 0/57 (B Peavey 35*) defWillow Grove56(JRedman 28, SGamble 5/14, M Dykes 3/9), Churchill 7/172 (C Dekaste31*, RHarrington 31*, WMohammed 29, John Daddo 4/50) def Raiders 7/166 (K Hutchinson 90*, JWebber 26, CDekaste 3/35, BJones 2/12),

Latrobe Valley Express, Wednesday, 26 February, 2025

Jeeralang-Boolarra 3/63 (A Parker 29) def Imperials 62 (A Baker 3/11, JCecil 3/15), Traralgon West -bye

FRIDAY,FEBRUARY21

Under 16 (Round 11 -Day 2): Raiders 7/141 (A Ceeney 53, JDunn26, DWalsh 2/28) def WillowGrove 136 (J Keily73*, Dvan derStoep 32, SBlines 3/13), Ex Students 228 (D Smith 45, RConway44, FGraham 40, LHenry25, CHowlett 2/21) def Centrals 128 (S Rajapakse 38, SFernando 34, FGraham 3/3, MCropley 2/4),Morwell-Latrobe 7/165 (J Howell 37, C Boys 28, JMooney 25, TDuff 4/11) def Moe3/148 (T Duff 36), Toongabbie 196 (T Young 36, KPritchett 26, XHurley 25, RFarley 2/14, CYoung2/16, CBoyes 2/33) defGormandaleRovers 132(RFarley 48,MMayman 4/10,ADomaille 2/36), Glengarry-bye

THURSDAY,FEBRUARY20

Women's Championship (Round 16): WillowGrove 0/125 def Morwell 2/117 (no details available), Mirboo North 4/86 (K Collins 31*, ADean31*) def Ex Students 6/80 (J Langstaff 26), Raiders 2/105 (T Hunt 22*, FHall*, DKing 14*) def Rovers 2/74 (S Brown30*,T Duff15*).

Women's Premier (Round 16): WillowGrove 4/71 (R van der Stoep 24) def Latrobe 6/22 (M Donoghue 3/4,KMann 2/4), Churchill 5/66 (D van Vliet 18*, KDownes2/9) def Centrals 0/64 (K Doble 27*, LPettie 21*),Raiders 5/70 (G Sanders 22, HBaker 16,KMorley 2/8)def Imperials 6/68 (R Reid 31*, GSanders 2/3, ZQuinsey-Munro2/12).

WEDNESDAY,FEBRUARY19

Under 14 (Round 10, Day1): Jeeralang-Boolarra 3/82 (G Sanders 26, CStanton 19*, WCrehan 2/8) vs Morwell 6/64 (W Frankland17, AShirreff 16*, DRichards 2/4), Mirboo North 2/75 (L Chila 28*, JCalafiore18) vs Latrobe 3/74 (B Duncan 21), Ex Students 6/96 (B Cooper 36, TChurchill 18) vs Moe2/62(LWalsh 38*), Centrals 4/108 (N Gamage 50*, KMorrison 18)vsGormandale/Rovers 1/85 (B Fulham 33*), WillowGrove -bye

FRIDAY,FEBRUARY14

Under 14 Girls (Round 6): Ex Students6/118 (A Shine 63*, HBaker 2/24) def Raiders 4/46 (B Long 2/11), Traralgon West 2/75 (A Hodson 20*) def WillowGrove 1/55

Cobras, Imps await finals opponents

CRICKET

CLVAGRADE BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

WHILE just one roundremains in Cricket Latrobe Valley AGrade, much can change in afortnight. The top two of Churchill (by asignificant margin) and Imperials have already been locked into finals for the lastfew weeks, yet the last two spots remain undecided.

Rovers, Mirboo Northand Latrobe(just) all remain in the race.

 AFTER making 183 on Day 1, Imperials pushed as far as they could go before declaring at 7/289 against Latrobe at Catterick Crescent.

Brett Chapman continued from where he left off, finishing with 142, which was followed by Dilshan Thilakarathne (37) and DominicThompson (16 not out).

Latrobe’s Mark Lawrence took 3/42 and Salman Rasool 2/30 during first innings.

Needing at least adraw to stay in finals contention, the Sharks batted for 27 overs and finished at 2/90. Samuel Wilson notched 52 not out.

 CHURCHILL lasted alittle longer before giving Willow Grove achanceatAndrews Park West -finishing all out for 185.

The Cobras made afurther 29 runs before field switched as the back end of the order droppedwith no real mark.

Ben Edebohls took 3/26 and bowled seven maidens for Willow Grove.

Carrying over into the Wolves first innings,

Building: Crickethas madeawelcomereturntoRawson in recent years. The Kookaburra’s currentlyfield athirdgrade team,and arebound forfinals in CricketLatrobeValley.

Edebohls took astand against the top side in the competition, making 69 not out to secure adraw.

He foundsupport from Luke Payton (38) and captainJoshHammond (21),asthey fell just 14 runs short of what would have been possibly the best AGrade win in the club’s history.

Ross Whelpdale took 3/51 and Steve Warr 2/30 with nine maidens.

 ONWARDS and upwards for the Eagles.

Traralgon West showed they can match top four sides, making 239 against Mirboo North on their home deck.

The Eagles addedafurther 124 runs on Day 2, creating headaches for the Tigers throughout.

Captain Hayden Kimpton passed his ton with

Photograph: Liam Durkin

relative ease -adding 50 across Day 2- followed by Sam Varsaci (24), Tim Fitch (18) and Chris Glynn (12).

Kimpton (126) sure was the star of the show, with nine shots going across the boundary and four smacked over.

Dale Banks took 3/46 and captain Ben Heath 3/34 for Mirboo North.

The Tigers were never going to be an easy beat, after all, they’re still chasing afinalsberth.

Logan Andersset the tone with 64, whichwas followed by Zach Hollis (44).

Brad Aitken (32 not out) and Linc Chila (16 not out) did their best in their last push as the Tigers closed at 4/182 after 47 overs.

Uglycricketbrawlunderinvestigation

From Page 1

THE remaining Gormandale players huddled for atalkonthe boundary’s edge before coming off, and took to the field with only nine players (minus Heard) on theresumption.

The game went on, and as if what had happened wasn’t already inexplicable enough, Findlay was dismissed in the first over after the break. It mattered little, as he was presumably rocked by the previous event, and his side had already won the match on first innings.

For the record, Rovers were 8/143 after 51.5 overs in response to Gormandale, who had been bowled out for just 79 whenthe result was declared official

Both clubs released statements regarding the incident the day after, althoughwiththe matter under investigation, refused to divulge with much detail.

“The Traralgon Rovers Cricket Club do not condone violence in our sport,” the home team’s statement read.

“As this incident is now under league investigation, and out of respectfor the individuals involved, we will not be making any further comments on thematter.”

Gormandale Cricket Club’s statement was similarly straight bat, although it did contain some

peculiarly worded phrases regarding diplomacy.

“We kindly remind the community that there are real people involved who are still processing what occurred,” it read.

“We ask for kindnessasour volunteerswork diligently to support everyone affected.

“As aclub we want to emphasise that there is no place for such incidents in cricket. Our sport has always been and should always be asafeand inclusive environment for everyone who participates.

“We acknowledge thatthis is asensitiveissue for many involved, and out of respect for those affected we will not be making any further comments at this time.”

It is understood players from both clubs shared adrink after the match, conversing for well over an hour and showing no animosity.

Gormandale and Rovers also field acombined under 16 junior team, indicating feelings between the two clubs are strong.

Cricket Latrobe Valley officialswillnow have even more work to do on the eve of finals, as it appears anear certainty the matterwill go straight to atribunal.

Officially speaking, the CLV board will need to collate allinformation, referencing mainlythe umpire’s reportwhich is understoodtobeextensive.

Even so, with an incident of thisseverity and clear vision available, the case could become very much an open and shut affair.

While the league are not in aposition to comment whilethe incidentisunder investigation, mostwith alovefor cricketwillsurely feel lengthy suspensions are the only reasonable punishment for what can only be described as ablight on the game.

Speakingtoalocal Gippslandcricket league administrator, it was suggesteda suspensionfor one season plus the completion of an anger management course would be appropriate for the perpetrator.

Extending further, assault charges couldalsobe laid should police or any victims wish to go down that path.

Granted no one (including this writer) couldever admit to not making apoor decision in anger, one would hope any punishment fits the bill of ‘do the crime, do the time’.

Notwithstanding what took place,there is an undeniable paradox to consider.

So strongwas Gormandale’sFirstXIalittle more than adecadeago, they could have genuinely laid claim to being the strongest team in country Victoria.

Back then, players wouldmetaphorically fight each other to get agame.

The fighting became all too real at the weekend.

CHURCHILLVWILLOW GROVE at AndrewsPark West CHURCHILL FIRST INNINGS BKearns bLPayton. 27 BKelly cRFiddelaers

Vics, Siddle advance to One Day final

CRICKET EXPORTS BY TOM

HAYES

MORWELL’S Peter Siddle and Victoria advanced to the One Day Cup final, confirming aspotinthe top two following victory over New South Wales last Sunday (February 23).

Coming into the final group stage round, both Victoria and New South Wales were chancesofjoiningSouth Australiainthe final. Queensland was also in the race, but lost.

Victoriacaptain WillSutherland won the toss and elected to field, which saw New South Wales nearly bat out their 50-over allotment at Sydney Olympic Park. Siddle claimed three wickets, two of which werethe most dangerous throughout the NSWinnings. First was Matthew Gilkes who wasbowled for 72 withthe score at 4/132. Following asteady stint throughout the middle order, Siddlehad his second and third towards the end of the innings, claiming the wicket of Lachlan Shaw for 80, then the final wicket of Liam Hatcher who was caught behind.

The former Latrobe player claimed 3/54, joint for most wickets with spinnerTodd Murphy who grabbed 3/46.

Withonlyone ballleft in theNSW innings, they were bowled out for 310.

Astonishingly, it only took 37.4 overs for Victoria to hit the winning runs, thanks to outstanding efforts from their top order. The opening duoofHarry Dixon and CampbellKellaway puton106 for the first wicket, before Dixon’sdeparture for 57. Marcus Harris joined Kellaway at the crease and lasted around 10 overs before he returned to the sheds for 37. Meanwhile, Kellawayscored acentury, finishing with117 from 101 andnumber four bat Peter Handscomb just missed out on triple figures, registering 91 runs in 52 balls.

Victoria got the job done by eight wickets, and looked on target to score over 400. South Australia and Victoria will go head-to-head in the One Day Cup final on Saturday, March 1atthe Adelaide Oval.

overs)

GORMANDALE FIRST INNINGS BOWLING DKeyhoe 1-0-4-0, TReynolds5-4-2-1, MHibbs 5-0-17-0, NHeard 5-2-17-0, PShrubb1-0-18-0, DGanegodage 3-1-9-0, CPeavey114-14-1, YSoyza20.5-7-52-6

FIBA festival hits Traralgon courts

BASKETBALL

BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

TRARALGON hostedFIBA basketball for the first time in the region’shistory last week, with favourable (tosay the least) results for Australiaover Indonesia and Thailand on Thursday (February 20) and Sunday (February 23).

Overthe twodays, morethan 3700locals packed into Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium (GRISS) with the avid crowd heavily involved and active in eachgames' proceedings.

It was the first time locals had enjoyed international basketball this close to home since 2006 when the Latrobe Valley hosted preliminary matches during the Melbourne Commonwealth Games at the then Traralgon Basketball Stadium.

Many locals were eagerly anticipating the return of star export Jack White to the region, with the hopes of seeing him suit up in the green and gold for the first time since the 2023 FIBA World Cup and his first game in his hometown in over adecade.

However,still dealing with abackinjury that has kepthim side-lined for the past three weeksahead of MelbourneUnited’s finalscampaign (which begins tomorrow against Perth Wildcats at John Cain Arena), White’sreturn was not to be. He previously was forced to withdraw from Boomers commitments due to acalf strain in December. White arrived back to the region beginning with Friday’s Valley Ford BasketballSuper Clinic, which saw more than 200 young kids gather on the old show courts at GRISSgetting tips and tricks from the game’sbest the likes of White, fellowTraralgonnative Jade Melbourne, and Boomers and South East Melbourne Phoenix player Luke Fennell.

In terms of the two visiting nations,itwas always going to be tough against Australia.

The Boomers haverun rampant over the rest of their group across the past year of qualifying play, now going undefeated for six wins between Indonesia, Thailandand Koreaasthey look ahead to the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup in SaudiArabia

closest match Australia had in the group stagecame ayear ago againstKorea where they won by 14 points, 85 to 71 at Red

Hereheis: JackWhitewas backhome fora kids clinic lastweekend. Photographs supplied

Energy Arena, Bendigo -besides that, the Boomers destroyed their opponents by an average of 52 points.

The Boomers squad that travelled to Traralgon featured six players making their senior debuts, includingIsaac White,Luke Fenell, Ben Griscti, Fabjan Krslovic, Elijah Pepper and Emmett Adair.

Pepper was dominant across both Traralgon games, posting an averageof21 points,fiverebounds and 4.5 assists.

The side wasoffered veteran leadership from the likes of 2020 bronze medallistNickKay and Mitch McCarron,

who has won two gold medals in each of Australia’s previous FIBA Asia Cup wins.

Kay and McCarron were both the oldest on the roster at the age of 32, which also boasted three 18-year-olds in Fennell, Furphy, and Adair.

The FIBA Asia Cup was once aqualifying tournament for the preceding FIBA World Cup and Olympics that took place every two years. Since Australia joined it is now astandalone competition and runs every four years.

Austral ia has been domin ant in their two appearances in the FIBA Asia Cupsincejoining in 2015 with victories in 2017 (in Indonesia) and 2022 (Lebanon).

The two regional games completed the group stage circuit, with Australia going undefeated for six wins, automatically qualifyingfor Saudi Arabia.

HappyasLarry: Jade Melbourne wasall smiles being home in Traralgon afterthe completionofher four th WNBL season.

Drypens: Manyyoung local Boomersfans stepped ontothe cour tafter Sunday’smatch for the players signing session.

Loud and proud: Closeto4000 locals packedintowatch the Boomersacross their twogames

Boomers untouchable in qualifiers

BASKETBALL

BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLTAND TOM HAYES

INDONESIA had no answer for Australia, who smacked them to the tune of 51 points, 109 to 58, at GRISS in Traralgon’s first international game in almost 20 years.

While Traralgon’s Jack White wasn’t present, the fanatic basketballcrowd of more than 1800 was treated to an appearance from home-grown talent Jade Melbourne, who was the last local to represent Australia featuring in the Opals bronze medal-winning side at the Paris Olympics.

Others spotted watchingonincluded Melbourne United and Boomers star Chris Goulding and formerNBA player David Anderson. Australian basketball royalty Andrew Gaze was courtsidefor commentary on ESPN’s live broadcast.

Head coach Jacob Chance was given ayouthful touch with six on his side making their senior debuts for the Boomers on Thursday night (February 20) as they faced an Indonesiaside that had yettowin agame in group play.

The ball was thrown up and the game was under waywiththe crowd overwhelmingly in their country’scorner, although afew Indonesiafans were spotted making some noise for the travelling side

Therewas early jitterstosay the least, as Australia scored on the first possession off aput back layup by Nick Kay, then led to almost five straight minutes of continuous bricks with no one able to secure abucket.

IsaacWhitebroke the game’s scoringdrought with afast break pullup midrange jump shot that began to open the floor up.

Elijiah Pepper went on aminirun of his own with aquick six points including an and-one conversion and drilling acorner three-point shot.

Indonesia were unable to find any burst during the first quarter, with many of their shots falling short and hitting the front of the rim. Australia made five threes to open the game that included three unanswered heading into the first break with a22-4lead.

The clear distinction between the two sidesin terms of skill and talentcould be seen early on, but what was even moreapparentwas thesize differential, with Indonesia only boastingone true big man in Lester Prosper.

Prosper got things going with the first score of the second quarter, coming off amidrangeswish only for young Wena David Okwera to return favour with atough score inside plus the foul.

Indonesia found slight momentum, finally finding the bottom of the hole (mainly from free throws), but Australia still outscored them 28-18 for the term to enter halftime ahead by 28 points.

During the halftime break, Melbourne stepped onto the court to address her faithfulTraralgon community, in what was her first visit back home since Octoberwhereshe brought herOlympic bronze medal.

Melbourne was recently awarded with her second consecutiveFan MVP (MostValuable Player) including all-WNBL second teamhonours following another exceptional season for AC Capitals in the WNBL. She returns to the states soon for WNBA training camp at the start of March before her Washington Mystics play on opening night of the season on May 17 against Atlanta Dream.

Unflinching in their desire to extend their lead, Australia opened the third quarterinahard press thatcontinuedwith what had transpiredinthe first half. The Boomers held a30-plus-point lead all the way through to the final buzzer. This gave opportunities for the younger Boomers to remain on the court for alongerperiod and expose themselves on the international stage.

Emmett Adair had agood stretch,bodying the visually bigger Prosper for an easy lay and then throwing down ahard slam dunk with Indonesia

Thailandintheir FIBAAsia Cup QualifiersinTraralgon last week. Photographs supplied

breaking down while in transition.

The third quarter finished with the Boomers in front 77-39, but that wasn’t it for the Australian side, as they began the final term on a24-11 run that included three additional three-point bombs. Australia finished with 14 threes to Indonesia’s five.

Fans were treatedtoadelightfulplay in the final minutes as the game ended in awash.

BenGriscti set ahigh screen for Luke Fennell before diving to the basket (assisted by adown screen from Jacob Furphy) and dished afine lob pass in theair and threw downthe powerful alleyoop to set the crowd ablaze.

Fennellspoke post-game about playing in the regional area that has strong roots in basketball.

“Traralgon has alot of Boomers and Opals come through the ranks which is hugefor acountry town, it’s great for the Boomers to play on home soil let aloneina town thathas such agreat impact on theAustralian basketball community,” he said.

Pepperhad agame-high 18 points, fiverebounds and four assists,aswell as 15 points from both Adair and Okwera.

McCarron offeredthe poise neededfor such a young side, posting nine points, seven assists and two steals- involved constantly duringeach of Australia’s scoring runs.

 THE Boomers made it two from two, crushing Thailand to the tune of 50 points on Sunday, February 23, in afinal score of 114-64.

Sunday festivities at the GRISSincluded face painting, while LatrobeCityMayor, Dale Harriman and Deputy Mayor, Sharon Gibson were in attendance, the former presenting the game ball.

While he may have been absent for the first game, Traralgon’s Jack White showed up to support his Boomers teammatesinhis hometown. Melbourne also showed hersupportfor the secondtime in the week.

Prior to the match, Gaze -again on commentary for ESPN -mentioned that Thailand needed to keep Australia to less than 90 points to have any chance of winning. That proved to be somethingof adifficult feat as the game dragged on.

The pressure was immense from the first tipoff, as both nations vied for early possession and baskets.

The full court pressure from the Boomers was

Finger roll: Mitch Nor tontakes to thebasket duringAustralia’s51-point victor yoverIndonesia.

enough to create turnovers, which were translated into buckets for the Aussies.

Just as it appeared Australia was going to sail away in the opening term, Thailand showed some fight, somethingthat the Boomers might not have been used to compared to Thursday night.

Thailand cameatthe Aussies and forced anumberofturnovers to take the lead midway through the opening stanza.

Despite their confidencebeaming,Australiastill had enough class to close out the first quarter with ahealthy eight-point lead.

The Boomers maintained their lead as the second term commenced, as anumberofbaskets went amiss. The style of play from both nations was described by Gaze as “clunky”.

Nevertheless, Thailand found themselvesinfoul trouble earlier than expected, as Australia began to take advantage from the free throw line.

Peppercontinued his hot scoring form by getting up into double digits before halftime,while FrederickLish was an outside danger for Thailand. Australiaput the foot downinthe second half of the second quarter, opening up a21-point lead at the main break.

Thingsbegan to lookeasy for the Boomers in the second half, as they continued to force more and more turnovers, which turned into more repeated scoring chances.

This hurt Thailand, who let up a6-0 run to start the third term. They mounted aquick comeback thanks to big man EmmanuelEjesuand Lish, who got the margin back down to 20 points.

Pepper remained amassive threat for the Boomers,picking steals andscoring. During the second half of the penultimate quarter, Australia broke out even further ahead, making the most of the tired-looking Thai legs.

Lish came off the court toward the end of the third term, and Australialet loose,putting up bucket after bucket to go 28 points up heading into the final quarter of basketball in Traralgon.

The final quarter was afree-for-all. It didn’ttake long for Australia’s lead to surpass 30 points, then soon afteritwas over 40.

While running rings around Thailand, Pepper passed 20 points, as did Isaac White who ran the last quarter.

The floodgates opened in the final few minutes, as Australia pushed the margin over 50 points within the final minute.

Pepper top scored with 24 points, scoring 11/19 fromthe field,including fiverebounds, five assists and two steals.

White exploded in the final term, scoring 22 points (9/15 from the field), as well as six assists, four rebounds, and asteal.

Following the two wins from two in Traralgon, the Boomers have qualified for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025, topping Group A.

Also qualified is Korea, New Zealand, Philippines, China, Japan, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Qatar, and Lebanon. The final spot is to be decided between Bahrain, Syria, and the UAE.

With ease: The Boomerseasilywithstood Indonesia and