Wednesday, 8 April, 2020
Pakenham
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SPORT
Sporting rivalries revisited
Missing woman Carol Clay fronted a lesson on making sponge cakes as part of a CWA initiative at Emerald Library in 2016.
Picture: ROB CAREW
Search over By Mitchell Clarke The search to locate missing Pakenham CWA president Carol Clay and her camping companion has been called off. The much loved 73-year-old woman left her Pakenham home on 19 March to go on a “touring trip” along the Dargo River in the Wonnangatta valley with her friend, 74-year-old Drouin man Russell Hill. Ms Clay told friends she was expected to return home on either Saturday 28 or Sunday 29 March but the pair have not been heard from since 20 March. The search was initially suspended on 2 April due to “inclement weather” however Victoria Police confirmed on Monday 6 April that the active search in the Wonnangatta area had sadly concluded. The Gazette understands poor weather and inaccessibility to the search area were contributing factors to the cancellation of the search. Due to the length of time the pair have been missing, it’s highly unlikely the pair will now be found alive. Inspector Craig Gaffee from the Sale police station told ABC Gippsland that the loved ones of Ms Clay and Mr Hill had been notified.
Missing Drouin man Russell Hill. “Right from the outset I was really confident we’d be able to find both of them,” Insp Gaffee said. “The fact that it’s got to this stage is really a surprise to me and really disappointing for all searchers involved ... we are clearly thinking of the families of both at this stressful and disappointing time.” Mr Hill’s white Toyota Land Cruiser was located next to a burnt out campsite at the Dry River Creek Track at Billabong on 27 March, a
day after the search officially began. A team of 30, made up of air wing, dog squad, search and rescue and SES with assistance from Parks Victoria and the Mounted Cattleman’s Association searched the area to no avail. The CWA Pakenham branch is understandably devastated at the news and decided against publicly commenting on the mystery disappearance. Instead, the CWA of Gippsland Hills released a statement saying they were “deeply saddened” by the unsolved mystery disappearance. “Carol is very much loved, admired and respected for her warmth, dedication, and passion for CWA,” the statement read. “We miss her so much.” Ms Clay has served as the president of the Pakenham Country Women’s Association (CWA) branch for the last four years and is well respected in her local community. Wellington Crime Investigation Unit detectives will continue to investigate the pair’s disappearance. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
There's nothing like a good sporting rivalry and in these strange, sport-starved times, the Gazette will look into some of the best locally. This week, sports editor Russell Bennett kicks off the new series with a look at the longstanding football rivalrly between two small towns just minutes apart - Nar Nar Goon and Cora Lynn. It has been dubbed by some as the Collingwood versus Carlton of West Gippsland. This year was supposed to mark the 10-year anniversary of the Goon’s famous droughtbreaking 2010 senior premiership win over the Cobras, but that reunion will just have to wait. In sport, we speak to a number of key players involved in that rivalry over the decades including some with a fascinating history on both sides. While the on-field action has been put on hold for now, readers won’t have to go too far for their sporting fix as we explore more famous rivalries over the coming weeks. Other feuds in a range of sports will also be closely examined - like the epic football battles between the likes of Narre Warren and Cranbourne and Bunyip and Garfield and the cricket stoushes of late between Pakenham and Kooweerup. And that's just the entree...
Nar Nar Goon favourite son Brett Dore pictured here against arch rival Cora Lynn starred with six goals in the 2010 grand final against the old enemy.
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