The Weekly Advertiser – Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Main streets matter

BY ABBY WALTER

AWimmera business leader says acknowledging central business districts and ways to sustain locally-owned businesses has never been more important.

West Vic Business ambassador Stacey Taig said the retail landscape was changing and it was crucial for communities to adapt and find ways to ensure main streets remained active and busy.

It comes as Horsham is named a finalist in the Mainstreet Australia

awards for best regional main street or town centre.

“With statistics and trends moving towards online shopping, it is incredibly important that we sustain business districts for the good of the business community and wider community,”

Ms Taig said.

“We’re inundated every day with shop local messages and as with any marketing, people start to put the blinkers on to it and we tend to make shopping fit within habits that fit within our busy lifestyles.

“So, online shopping is something

that we can’t ignore, because it’s happening.

“Acknowledging our main streets is incredibly important and a reminder for everybody of the role they play within any community.”

Ms Taig said there was always room to improve an already positive experience in Horsham’s central business district, CBD.

“We need to be open to change and look at new means of attracting foot traffic, whether that be from external sources such as tourism precincts to drive foot traffic,” she said.

“Making our CBD attractive to all generations is what will secure its future.

“We need to look at green spaces, gathering spaces and new ways that people want to commune together.

“Around the world people are recognising that attracting all demographics is a safeguard for CBDs in a changing world and pace of business.”

Ms Taig said when communities came together, great things happened.

“We need to trust and understand that key stakeholders are all working

together – I think better than ever before, which makes it an exciting time across all shires,” she said.

“There’s an acknowledgement, moving forward, that we need to make positive changes to ensure a positive future for our business community and our greater community.

“If we want to make Horsham somewhere that our young people want to stay and live in and attract young people and young families, we have to think about how we do it.”

Continued page 3

BRIGHT: Wimmera Filipino-Australia Club members donned colourful costumes as they performed for thousands of attendees at the Wimmera Steampunk Festival in Dimboola on Saturday. The festival, in its second year, included dance, music and creative costumes. Story and more pictures, pages 12-13.

Picture: KAREN REES

HRCC NEWS

Community Grants recipients announced

Horsham Rural City Council is providing local groups with $441,269 in funding via this year’s Community Grants Program announced at Monday's April Council Meeting.

The grants give community groups a chance to seek funds for projects and events that benefit the community at large, when funds are not readily available from other sources. A ranking system was used to assess the applications for 2023-24 before the final list was presented to Councillors for consideration.

Council received 80 community grant applications for specific projects, with 69 per cent successful.

2023-24 RECIPIENTS

2nd Horsham Scout Group, $399

Arapiles Community Theatre (ACT Natimuk), $4,500

Arapiles Historical Society, $5,000

Art Is Festival, $7,500

Blue Ribbon Foundation Horsham Branch, $2,700

Central Park Tennis Club, $2,318

Centre for Participation L2P Program, $4,620

City of Horsham Lions Club Inc., $4,000

Dadswells Bridge Hall, $3,000

Gariwerd Artists, $850

General contingency/community application support, $12,924

Green Park Kindergarten, $4,915

Horsham & District Orchid Society, $1,300

Horsham Agricultural Society, $1,700

Horsham Arts Council, $5,000

Horsham Badminton Association, $960

Horsham Calisthenics College, $1,600

Horsham City Rowing Club, $2,500

Horsham Colts Cricket Club, $754

Horsham Combined Probus Club, $1,000

Horsham Fishing Competition, $4,000

Horsham Flying Club, $5,000

Horsham Historical Society, $3,952

Horsham Neighbourhood House, $1,591

Horsham PAWS, $5,000

Horsham Rockers Inc, $2,500

Horsham Rockets, $999

Horsham Rural City Band, $1,700

Horsham Saints Cricket Club, $995

Horsham Squash Club, $700

Horsham Yacht Club, $3,000

Kanagulk Memorial Reserve, $3,477

Kannamaroo Festival, $5,000

Laharum Football Netball Club, $4,000

BRIDGE UPDATE

With the new Hamilton Street Pedestrian Bridge now spanning the Wimmera River, attention has shifted to completing the ramps and boardwalks that will link up with existing pathways.

The last of five main sections of the bridge was installed last week.

But work will continue well into next month as adjoining paths, feature lighting and landscaping are completed.

Contractors are also adding finishing touches to the bridge’s stainless steel handrails.

It will be open for use by June.

Laharum Hall, $2,000

Learn and Play (Haven Playgroup), $1,000

Mother's Day Classic - Horsham Committee, $1,000

Natimuk & District Soldiers Memorial Hall, $4,000

Natimuk Agricultural and Pastoral Society, $1,700

Natimuk and District Field and Game, $3,000

Natimuk Bowling Club, $6,485

Natimuk Climbing Club, $3,000

Natimuk Cricket Club, $3,000

Natimuk Farmers Market Plus, $800

Natimuk Golf Club, $3,500

Natimuk Road Horsham Kindergarten, $4,705

Noradjuha Recreation Reserve Committee, $1,190

Noradjuha-Quantong Football Netball Club, $2,500

North West Grampians Lions Club, $2,000

Oasis Wimmera, $4,600

Old Skool Hotrod and Custom Club, $3,500

Operation 19:14, $4,000

Pimpinio Sports and Community Centre, $8,767

Rotary Club of Horsham East, $8,000 Sailors Home Hall, $700 Salvation Army (The Patch Community Garden), $6,000 Sunnyside Horsham Sporting Club, $1,600

Taylors Lake Football Netball Club, $5,000

U3A Horsham and District, $3,000

Wimmera Equestrian Club, $5,000 Wimmera Mobility Group, $500

Wimmera Music Eisteddfod, $4,000 Wimmera Pride Project Incorporated , $3,000 Wimmera Rockers Danceworld, $2,200 WSM Local Learning and Employment Network, $4,500 Wonwondah Hall Volunteer Group, $2,500 Youth Grants Program, $10,000

FOR SALE HOUSE FOR REMOVAL

PUBLIC MEETING Kanagulk Memorial Reserve

Notice is given of a public meeting to be held at the Kanagulk Memorial Reserve on 23 May 2023 at 7pm.

The purpose of the meeting is to nominate between three and nine people as the Committee of Management for the Kanagulk Memorial Reserve for a term of three years.

The current committee’s term will expire on 6 July 2023.

All positions will be declared open and nominations will be accepted prior to or on the night.

Nominations from women, Aboriginal people, people with disabilities, young people and people from culturally diverse backgrounds are encouraged. Further information, nomination forms and nominee declaration forms may be obtained by contacting your local Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning office or at the meeting. For further enquiries please contact the secretary on 0437 124 003.

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO AMEND ROAD MANAGEMENT PLAN

In accordance with the Road Management Act 2004 (Act), Horsham Rural City Council gives notice that it proposes to amend its Road Management Plan (RMP).

The RMP details the standards in relation to, and the priorities to be given to, the inspection, maintenance and repairs of roads, road related infrastructure and pathways to which the RMP applies.

The purpose of the review, consistent with the role, function and responsibilities of Council as a Road Authority under the Act, is to clarify the work process and intervention standards in relation to some minor, unformed roads in rural areas, and overhanging vegetation on footpaths in urban areas.

Copies of the draft amended RMP may be inspected at HRCC’s office at Roberts Ave, Horsham, or via Council’s website, www.hrcc.vic.gov.au

Any person proposing to make a written submission on the proposed amendment must do so before 5pm on Friday 26 May 2023.

Submissions should be posted to Chief Executive Officer, HRCC, PO Box 511, Horsham, 3402, or sent by email to council@hrcc.vic.gov.au.

Enquiries about the RMP should be directed to the Director Infrastructure on (03) 5382 9777.

Council is seeking buyers interested in purchasing and relocating a house at 12-14 Pynsent Street.

The weatherboard dwelling is surplus to Council’s needs.

The successful buyer would be responsible for disconnecting services and moving the house in a safe and responsible manner.

Parties interested in salvaging the house after demolishing on site may also respond.

Bids are invited from interested parties via the HRCC website.

City Flight Hub Masterplan which will guide development of the Horsham Aerodrome for the next 20 to 50 years.

To better understand the future of the aerodrome, we need to know if our community might use commercial flights in the future.

People can share their opinions by completing a survey on the HRCC website and in paper copy form available at the Civic Centre.

Visitor experience key to relocation

BY JESSICA GRIMBLE

Increasing visitors’ experience and encouraging people to ‘linger longer’ are the key aims behind relocating tourism information services in Horsham, the city council says.

Horsham Rural City Council will establish a fit-for-purpose visitor services centre in Horsham Town Hall’s former cafe space, opening seven days a week.

The visitor centre had relocated to the town hall foyer from its previous O’Callaghan’s Parade location in November 2020.

The revitalised town hall is reaching its eighth year of operation and the cafe space, originally designated for a

End of an era for Jan

Gentlemen – take your partners.

For generations of Horsham and district residents who have made their debut, chances are that phrase evokes a particular memory, and with a particular tone of voice – that of Jan Morris. It’s time to take your place on the dance floor.

Mrs Morris, 81, has called time on a 31-year career training debutantes and their partners to master dance styles and the formalities and life skills that come with the weeks of intensive skills development.

“I’ve always said it’s as important for the boys as the girls; in fact, I often think the boys get more out of it than the girls,” she said.

“They really can’t believe how they look, and every year is the same –with the tie, the handkerchief and they still wear white gloves.

“So many have said, and will say it to me now, it was the best night – one of those you remember. People still want to have that special occasion.

“What I give thanks for is that I’ve had the health and I’ve had the passion and I really believe it’s made me think younger.”

Mrs Morris met her first husband Richard when he partnered her at her debutante ball at age 16 at the arrangement of her friend, Claire, who wanted her boyfriend, not her brother, on her arm.

Jan married Richard five years later.

“I say to the kids, be nice to your partner – because I married my deb partner,” Mrs Morris said.

Mr and Mrs Morris went on to train

commercial cafe, has had 42 percent occupancy from two operators during that time.

The council’s director communities and place, Kevin O’Brien, said the visitor centre was ‘only recently’ establishing ‘normal operation’ following the easing of pandemic restrictions – with the Silo Art Trail, Dimboola, Murtoa and the Grampians, including the new Peaks Trail, among popular inquiries.

He said an average 3000 people had visited the town hall each month of 2023, including people visiting for theatre performances and other events; and in 2022, the venue averaged 4000 visits a month.

He said these figures had increased to average 6000 people a month from

October to December, with 11,000 visitors in October alone.

He said engagement with staff and visitors recommended the relocation.

“The cafe space is not centred on increasing visitor numbers but it is about increasing the visitor experience and promoting visitors to stay for longer and experience the offerings of Horsham – the stores, cafes and restaurants. Essentially, linger longer and utilise the visitor information centre to plan their visit,” Mr O’Brien said.

Parking dominated councillor debate during Monday night’s meeting.

Councillor David Bowe called to defer the vote, seeking clarification about the availability of long-vehicle parking near the town hall, and the possibility of moving visitor services

back to O’Callaghan’s Parade. His motion was defeated 3-4.

Mr O’Brien said a previous council had voted to move visitor services to the town hall to encourage visitors to visit central Horsham, and 16 longvehicle parks were available within 400 metres of the venue.

Cr Claudia Haenel said she was concerned about parking availability for businesses and Cr Bob Redden said there was opportunity to offer a wayfinding map of Horsham, including long-vehicle parking availability.

Cr Les Power said the council wanted to encourage people to ‘move about’ the Horsham central business district ‘by means of our feet’ – which also encouraged safer travel because people had a break.

Cr Penny Flynn said the cafe space was an opportunity to better showcase local produce available for purchase at the visitor centre; and to showcase the work of local and emerging artists, available for purchase at the art gallery end of the venue.

“The opportunities and the positives outweigh what the negatives are with this move,” she said.

Mr O’Brien said staffing numbers would not change and the council envisaged volunteers would return and provide ‘the same valuable contribution’ as seen at O’Callaghan’s Parade. He said cost of the change was accounted for in the council’s budget.

AFL Wimmera Mallee will take over the former visitor centre building once lease negotiations are finalised.

CBD celebration

From page 1

Launceston Central City and Mackay Regional Council join Horsham as finalists for best regional main street or town centre.

MEMORIES:

debutantes and their partners at balls arranged by schools and Horsham’s Uniting church after moving to the Wimmera from Lamaroo, in South Australia.

Their first Wimmera debutante ball was for Horsham Technical School in 1991. A Horsham College ball at the Wimmera Events Centre at Longerenong with 47 couples last month was Mrs Morris’ final deb set. Her favourite dance style remains the valetta waltz.

After Richard’s passing in 2004, Mrs Morris said she found it difficult to dance with others – until, years later, along came Don Mitchell.

They later married. Mrs Morris has chosen to retire from debutante training to care for Mr Mitchell, who is unwell.

She has handed the reins to James

McRae and Maree Thompson, who have trained alongside her previously.

Mrs Morris has taught generations – including members of the same family – to dance. Among them are the Hobbs family.

Dean Hobbs partnered Megan Hutchison in the 1991 Tech School ball. His son, Lochie, 16, was among the Horsham College deb set last month, partnering Olivia Sudholz. Talking about his deb ball, Mr Hobbs recalled a fun night at the Horsham High School hall.

“Megan asked me to do the deb with her. If a girl asked you, away you went – you just did it,” he said. He polished his dancing shoes to partner daughter Georgie a few years ago, then watched with pride as Lochie stepped onto the dance floor more recently. It was an exten-

sion of a long family connection. Mr Hobbs’ wife Cherie considers Jan a ‘second mum’ and she has been a mother figure at many special moments throughout their lives.

“It was a pretty proud moment. Finding out that Jan was retiring after Lochie’s deb made it even more special,” Mr Hobbs said.

“Cherie’s family are extremely close to Jan.”

Olivia had asked Lochie ‘a few years ago’ to partner her for the deb ball, at Longerenong.

Lochie said he most enjoyed being presented on stage and watching his peers walk out – looking sharp in their white dresses and suits.

“It was great how everyone came together and it turned out to be a good night,” he said.

– Jessica Grimble

Ms Taig said the group nominated Horsham for the award after winning the events category last year.

“I think Horsham has an accessible main street and it’s an incredible boutique-style shopping experience, which visitors appreciate,” she said.

“We have some long-term, wellestablished businesses that have been stewards of our local business community for many years and this is a celebration of those businesses and new ones that are reinvigorating sections of the street.”

Mainstreet Australia executive officer Elizabeth Joldeski said other award categories included best place activation, event or initiative, best digital marketing and most sustainable main street.

“Mainstreet Australia awards began more than 20 years ago, to recognise the achievements of the people, programs and organisations that ensure the ongoing success of our main streets,” she said.

The 2023 award winners will be announced on May 19 during Main Streets of Australia Week.

Ms Joldeski said innovation, best practice, benefit and success factor were criteria elements.

Ms Taig said the awards would celebrate the importance of locally-owned businesses and the CBD.

“When you win an award, it means something about the work you do –but also a tool you can use to improve into the future,” she said.

“What a wonderful thing to say, if we win, that we have Australia’s best regional main street.”

FIGHT RODENTS WITH DATA INSTEAD OF POISON

Jan Morris has called time on a 31-year career training debutantes and their partners. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

*Wallaby

*Heritage Red

*Heritage Green

Record crowds at Anzac services

BY SEAN O’CONNELL

Wimmera residents have paid tribute to the sacrifices and service of the region’s service men and women.

Hundreds of people gathered at Horsham’s Sawyer Park yesterday for Anzac services at dawn and 11am — two of many commemorative services across the region.

Those in attendance remembered the sacrifices and contributions of the many men and women who have served in defence forces.

The fine weather led to standout crowds at both services.

Among those attending the proceedings in Horsham was guest speaker

Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Kreutzer, who spoke about the significance of April 25 and the Anzac spirit.

“On Anzac Day, we are drawn to memorials, marches and reflections,” he said.

This question of identity was front of mind as Lieutenant Colonel Kreutzer listed off a number of Anzac soldiers.

Among those mentioned was Alec Tullock, an accountant who served at the Western Front.

“These stories show the Anzac legend is the sum of many people, who did what they had to do,” he said.

This message was reinforced as students from Horsham College, Holy Trinity Lutheran College, St Brigid’s College and Horsham Special School

read excerpts from letters. These letters, some of which were unpublished, were written by Wimmera diggers.

Barry Barnett, a Horsham RSL volunteer focusing on military history and heritage, was a member of the Army reserve.

Mr Barnett said Anzac Day services were a way to ‘celebrate’ the lives of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and also those who returned.

He said he was pleased that both Horsham services attracted a ‘record crowd’.

Nicole Timms attended the service as part of a representative group from the fourth Horsham and second Horsham Scouts.

Mrs Timms, who has two family

members in the Australian Defence Force, pointed out the long relationship between the Scouts and defence forces.

“Scouts was initially started by Lord Baden-Powell who was in the British Army,” she said.

Wimmera Vietnam Veterans president Colin Hill said he felt yesterday’s service was intended for the entire scope of those who had served their country.

“It’s about everyone right through from the Boer War,” he said.

Mr Hill noted the special place the day has for Vietnam veterans.

“We are an aging population; the youngest Vietnam veteran is over 70,” he said.

“You see the younger generation. At the service, there was a young girl dressed in a full army uniform and a slouch hat. She didn’t lay a wreath, but she walked up with a folded flag. “It’s amazing a young person would even want to do that.”

John Barr, a returned serviceman, attended the service in memory of his brother David, who died at war.

Mr Barr walked from the RSL to the service carrying a flag.

“My daughter is here, grandkids and my great-granddaughter. It’s nice to see them following along,” he said.

• Pictures, page 17

‘Twlight years’ seminar

Legal, finance and health information will take centre stage at an event specifically designed for Wimmera seniors.

Horsham Combined Probus Club will host ‘Managing the twilight years’ at Horsham’s Church of Christ on Wednesday, May 10.

People can access information about legal matters including powers of attorney, wills and estate planning; financial matters including nursing home and residential care costs; and health matters including healthcare, nursing homes and aging.

Leigh Hinch of Network Mobility in Horsham will have a range of chairs, walkers, scooters, gophers and utensils on display. A well-known musician, he will also entertain people at the event.

Organising committee member Faye Smith said older people, and their families, often faced making decisions about the ‘twilight years’ suddenly and unexpectedly.

“This is the day to tell people about their options — and they can decide for themselves,” she said.

“We don’t want to make heads spin, but we do want to give people information and let them know where to seek further help.

“It will be a social event as well, where people can speak with each other and promote their own activities if they want to.”

A series of seminars are planned throughout the day and people can arrange private discussions, or submit questions privately. The event stemmed from a session organised by a Horsham Church of Christ seniors group, called Upper Class, titled, ‘How to better help those left behind’ in 2017.

LIGHT UP THE SKY: Linda Stewart, of Horsham, captured an Aurora Australis over Taylors Lake near Horsham on Monday about 8.30pm. She said a long exposure was essential to capture the ‘amazing’ sight. Auroras occur when the sun releases a burst of solar wind and magnetic fields into space. The solar winds carry particles that interact with the Earth’s magnetic field where it collides to produce energy releases that create the colour and light seen in auroras.

Inaugural event to showcase art group

Arts organisation ACT Natimuk is hosting an inaugural friends and community event on Friday next week at Natimuk Soldiers Memorial Hall.

ACT Natimuk chair D’Arcy Molan said the group was excited about opening up the organisation to new and old friends to highlight the distinctive art happening in the community.

The first event will feature ACT Natimuk Creative Lab 2021 recipient Anthony

Pelchen’s work, ‘Signals from the Dark’.

Artist Jacqui Schulz documented the project and a short film will be shown at the event.

After the screening, there is a questionand-answer session with Pelchen, Schulz, Molan and Grace Pundyk.

There is also an opportunity to meet current committee members and hear about the 2023 ACT Natimuk program.

Event co-ordinator and general commit-

tee member Alison Eggleton said it would be exciting to look back at ‘Signals in the Dark’ through the medium of Schulz’s short film.

“I’m excited to hear directly from Anthony, Jacqui, Grace and D’Arcy about their creative collaboration and experience of working together for the first time,” she said.

The event is one of three ACT Natimuk has scheduled for the year.

A Horsham Rural City Council grant will support running costs. The event is from 9.30am to 3pm and costs $5 to attend, which includes morning tea and a light lunch.

Mrs Smith called on people to register their interest, for catering purposes, before May 3 by phoning her on 0427 821 510.

Senior Sergeant Creasey bids farewell

A Horsham police officer has bid farewell to the Wimmera – 21 years after he moved to the region for a two-year posting.

Senior Sergeant Leigh Creasey clocked off his final shift at Horsham on Friday and will transfer to Warrnambool where he takes on a strategic role in tasking coordination.

Family ties have lured him back to the Western District, where he had spent a decade, following postings at Coburg and Moonee Ponds.

“I went to Warrnambool for two years, stayed for 10 and got married and had a baby; then came up here to Horsham for two years and stayed for 21 years and had another baby,” he said.

“We didn’t want to move kids around once they started school. They’re at uni now and there are no family ties here anymore for us – but there’s still family in the Western District and that’s why we’re going back there.”

Senior Sergeant Creasey interviewed for a detective position in Horsham’s criminal investigation unit on September 11, 2001 – a day that forever sticks in his mind as terrorist attacks hit the World Trade Centre in New York, the Pentagon near Washington DC and countryside Pennsylvania.

He went on to start work in Horsham early in 2002.

His tenure has since included service as a uniform sergeant and Highway Patrol sergeant.

He said an investigation at Yaapeet, just after he left the CIU, stood out in his mind.

“It came from someone in the community talking to us about unusual activity. We went there think-

TIME FOR CHANGE:

Take your time

Horsham police officers are reminding road users to be aware of pedestrians and buses as school holidays end this week.

Wimmera road and community safety Senior Sergeant Brendan Broadbent encouraged drivers to be conscious of changing conditions.

“There will be an increase of traffic, including buses, as school goes back, so drivers need to ensure they adhere to speed limits — especially around schools,” he said.

“We have seen a reduction of speeding in our 40 to 50-kilometre zones, which is pleasing.

“People should also be aware when crossing roads that buses are large vehicles and that means drivers’ vision is restricted.”

Senior Sergeant Broadbent said police were concerned about the number of cyclists not wearing helmets.

“As students go back to school and are riding to school, they need to remember to wear their helmets,” he said.

lisions at intersections in 60kmh and 70kmh zones.

“Take your time at roundabouts and give way to the right and any vehicles that are already entering the roundabout.”

Senior Sergeant Broadbent said with busy highways during the school holidays, the outcomes of police operations were positive.

Victoria Police detected almost 7741 traffic offences during a five-day road policing operation duringthe Easter long weekend.

Lives lost on Victorian roads in 2023 are up 25 percent on the five-year average.

Assistant Commissioner of road policing Glenn Weir said it was ‘extremely disappointing’ that police detected almost 8000 motorists in five days for a range of traffic offences.

“This just shows a blatant disregard for road rules and the safety of all road users,” he said.

ing it would be a grow house, but it was actually a clandestine lab,” he said.

“We found 21 firearms, including machine guns, and it ended up being linked to a motorcycle club.

“The house was purchased under a false identity and was all set-up to be a clan lab.

“The job got taken off us, and the clan lab team came in, because it was so big. The cook later got arrested at a West Australian airport trying to fly out of the country with a couple hundred thousand dollars to avoid jail.”

Senior Sergeant Creasey said supporting family members after a sui-

cide or fatality was challenging.

“There’s this whole tragedy that’s left behind,” he said.

Senior Sergeant Creasey said he would miss living in Horsham, where residents respected and helped police.

“Horsham has been home for such a long time. I’ve been coming into this building for 21 years. Horsham is always going to have fond memories,” he said.

“As a police officer, I found it has been a community that is very accommodating to the police.

“We live in a very safe community and part of that is the relationship between police and the public.”

“When people don’t wear a helmet, the lack of protection means there is a huge risk of serious injury.

“It’s always distressing when members go to a collision between a bike and car and a young person hasn’t been wearing a helmet.”

Senior Sergeant Broadbent said there had been a slight reduction in collisions involving pedestrians in towns, however, there was an increase in detections of people not wearing seatbelts.

“It is concerning that we’re detecting increasing instances of people not wearing seatbelts, or people not wearing seatbelts and being involved in a collision, so it is a focus for us,” he said.

“We’re also seeing an increase of col

“Everyone thinks road trauma won’t happen to them until it’s too late. Don’t let your complacency be the reason for another death or serious injury on our roads.”

More than one-third of all offences detected during Operation Nexus were for speeding, with almost 80 percent of motorists driving between 10kmh and 25kmh above the speed limit.

Senior Sergeant Broadbent said the region had seen a 33 percent increase in road users travelling at high speeds.

“People seem to think once they are on an isolated road, they can drive above the speed limit, but there are lots of crossing intersections and some that are blind on our rural roads,” he said.

“That can result in huge road trauma col-

Senior Sergeant Leigh Creasey has bid farewell to Horsham after 21 years.

Graduates workforce ready

BY SEAN O’CONNELL

Seventeen Wimmera graduates walked away from a ceremony with qualifications that will enable them to participate in the aged care and disability support sectors.

The Warner Institute is a training provider that works with communities and organisations to equip students for the workforce.

The institute delivered courses at three locations — Nhill, Warracknabeal and Horsham.

Aged care and disability graduate Stephanie Howe said she made a ‘spur of the moment’ decision to enrol in the Warner Institute course after finding herself out of work.

“I’ve been employed with Just Better Care since starting the course,” she said.

“Every class I went to was always a laugh. I was never a school person but I really enjoyed this. I thought it was the most fun place to be. ”

Suzanne Buchanan enrolled in the course after recovering from injury.

“I used to be a truck driver. After injuring myself, I didn’t think I had much left in me,” she said.

“I love elderly people and disabled people. I knew this course was the one for me – I haven’t regretted it since.”

Nikki Powell felt the course was worthwhile from both a social and practical standpoint.

“The course was very informative, I met lots of new friends and it gave me the confidence to make the next step,” she said.

“I’ve just become an independent

support worker, which I never would have been able to do without this.”

West Wimmera Health Service training officer and careers advisor

Jessica Pilgrim said she was pleased for the graduates.

Ms Pilgrim worked with Warner Institute’s careers consultant George Boonici to assess interest in the course.

“When we got a large enough class size, we partnered with the Nhill Learning Centre and, with their help, we were able to provide a classroom

environment in Nhill itself,” Ms Pilgrim said.

“I am really excited that a group of five people who graduated are all wanting to do further study in specialised areas such as leisure and health industries or a diploma of nursing.”

Sharon Brown, corporate services manager at disability service Woodbine in Warracknabeal, had trainee Jack Hadley complete the course while working in disability support.

“As a workforce trainee, he has

Health officials urging caution

Grampians Health officials are urging caution as a number of Wimmera Nursing Home residents test positive to COVID-19.

Craig Wilding, chief operating officer, community and aged care, said visitation to the nursing home was being limited and safety measures were in place as six residents experienced mild symptoms and received anti-viral medications.

He said staff would continue to monitor and test residents, and follow the directions of the Grampians Public Health Unit and Grampians Health infectious diseases and infection control teams.

He said the safety and wellbeing of residents and staff was a priority.

“As part of our efforts to keep everyone safe and healthy, we would like to limit visitors into the care community at this point,” he said.

“However, if you really need to come in and visit your loved ones or your loved ones really need to see you, we request visitors to observe the following: All visitors will be required to wear a N95 mask, protective eye wear and a gown upon entry into the facility; they also will also need to complete a Rapid Antigen Test prior to entering the premises.

been able to study one day a week and be working with us on the other days,” she said.

“He’s done a range of activities through our day program and in the home.

“This involves personal care and that can be confronting for some people, but Jack’s handled it really well.”

People interested in enrolling in a course can visit Warner Institute’s website at warnerinstitute.com.au

“We also request community members, particularly those who regularly visit aged care homes, continue adhering to COVIDsafe practices such as mask wearing and maintaining social distancing where appropriate and remain up-to-date with vaccinations.”

Victorian Government data shows there were 28 reported active cases in Horsham Rural City municipality, as at Monday evening, with a further 12 active cases in Northern Grampians shire and 15 active cases in Hindmarsh shire.

Ararat Rural City municipality has six reported active cases, West Wimmera has five and Yarriambiack shire has four.

CELEBRATION: Wimmera students celebrate their graduation from Warner Institute’s courses in aged care and disability on Friday at the Centre for Participation in Horsham.

Young campaigners help build momentum for mayors program

Young people have a unique chance to shape the future of the Horsham Rural City municipality.

People, aged 11 to 17, living within the Horsham municipal boundaries have until May 17 to nominate for a democratically-elected youth council – one of five councils nationally, and the only council in Victoria, to pilot a ‘Young Mayors’ program.

An eight-member youth council will nominate a young mayor, set an agenda for their 12-month term in office and work with Horsham Rural City councillors on specific issues.

It stems from a new partnership between Horsham Rural City Council and the Foundation for Young Australians, FYA, who will facilitate the initiative – backing young people in the region to take a more active role in local democracy and decision making, and building on the practices of previous youth councils.

Horsham College year-seven student Charlie Murray, 12, felt inspired to nominate for the program after recognising an opportunity to clean-up the Wimmera River – but not knowing where to get support for his initiative.

“I nominated for the youth council to

have a bigger say and a bigger impact in our community to help make this place a safe and fun place to live,” he said.

“I’ve always wanted to clean-up the river. One day, I was walking with my friend and the river was really low and there was so much rubbish stuck in the mud. I wanted to organise a clean-up but I didn’t have enough power to do anything.”

Charlie and fellow nominees have participated in three workshops so far – learning about campaigning, marketing and the media.

“I’m going to be wearing T-shirts and putting up posters during my campaign, and if I’m elected, every vote equals one tree planted in the Horsham area,” he said.

Horsham College year-eight student Ryder Reid, 13, wants to see more offerings for young people that utilises the Wimmera River – including designated areas for dirt bikes or rope swings – and more engagement between the council and young people in its decision-making.

“I applied and mainly talked about some of the major problems that happen in Horsham for us young people

that occur to me – for me and my mates,” he said.

“I know there is some other stuff that could help Horsham as well, but I mainly focused on attractions and how we have this whole stretch of the Wimmera River and no-one uses it.”

Ryder has built and designed a website and will create posters for

Street appeal...

Does

Horsham have the best main street in Australia?

We certainly think it’s a special place – and we’ll soon find out whether the community can claim bragging rights, with the regional city named among finalists for a ‘Mainstreet Australia’ gong, recognising outstanding regional main streets or town centres.

West Vic Business, which nominated Horsham for the award, has cited Horsham’s boutique-stye shopping experience and accessibility among highlights of its appeal; and said its melting pot of long-term and newer businesses was ensuring its continuing vibrance and relevance for locals and visitors.

Judges will consider Horsham CBDs innovation, benefit to the business and community, demonstration of best practice and trends, and its general success when crowning the winner, due to be announced at a gala event next month.

It would add to the long-standing accolades, and community pride, Horsham has earned on a state and national stage under the Tidy Towns banner.

Horsham Rural City Council has significant plans for the development of the area between the Wimmera River and Horsham’s CBD, with its long-term City to River plan underway.

Its vision to reinvigorate the regional city is already making a mark and enhancing natural assets and central gathering spaces for current and future generations.

By Jessica Grimble

This work has the potential to ‘level-up’ Horsham’s appeal – including its case for the most outstanding main street and town centre across Australia, now and into the future.

Such awards offer Horsham and the broader community an opportunity to market the region and appeal to a broad audience. To put the town on the map.

To celebrate the sense of community and laidback lifestyle the region offers.

To seek the attention of people wanting a ‘tree change’ and roll out the welcome mat to recruit for the hundreds of vacant jobs that exist across the region – because we simply do not have the volume of people to undertake them.

To increase our population and maintain and enhance existing services, and position the region to attract further investment.

And all the while, seeking to ensure the regional community we know is not lost; that the sense of community, the country hospitality and our beloved lifestyle continues.

his campaign. He encouraged other young people to nominate for the youth council.

“I’d say go for it. You can only do stuff once and it’s always good to have experiences in life,” he said.

The program launched in Horsham in November and nominations opened in January.

Irene Banda, of FYA, in visiting Horsham last week, said FYA and council representatives were re-engaging with schools, youth organisations and groups to continue to build awareness of the program.

“We’re wanting young people to see what the program is, and feel selfmotivated enough to put their hands up – but also beyond that, we’re trying to mobilise the community around the young people and the program,” she said.

Nominees can watch recordings of previous training sessions and will receive support to conduct their own campaigns.

An election will occur at schools and community spaces, including the region’s careers expo, on June 20 and 21 and a community event on June 22 will announce the successful candidates.

FYA is a national non-profit organisation that exists to back young people across the country to beat injustice and create long-lasting change for all.

People wanting more information can go to fya.org.au/young-mayorshorsham – Jessica Grimble

Getting in touch with The Weekly AdverTiser

Our office is at 2 Stawell Road, Horsham. Mail: PO Box 606, Horsham 3402. Telephone: 5382 1351. Website: www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au Email: weeklyadvertiser@team.aceradio.com.au

For classified advertisements: 5382 1351 – email: horsham@aceradio.com.au

Advertising: Mark Sulic: 0407 313 456, marks@team.aceradio.com.au; Lee Meadows: 0407 046 864, leem@team.aceradio.com.au; Michelle Reid: 0428 870 511, mreid@aceradio.com.au; Danica Turvey: 0488 473 562, dturvey@aceradio.com.au; Heidi Higginson: 0438 759 220, heidih@aceradio.com.au

Lauren Henry: 5382 1351, laurenh@team.aceradio.com.au

Newsroom: Jessica Grimble: 0400 836 483, jgrimble@aceradio.com.au; Abby Walter: 0483 027 536, awalter@aceradio.com.au; Sean O’Connell: 0467 978 396, soconnell@aceradio.com.au; Georgia Bailey: 5382 1351, georgiab@team.aceradio.com.au

The publisher and general manager is Brendan O’Loughlin, C/- 2 Stawell Road, Horsham, for Ace Radio Broadcasters Pty Ltd, ACN 064 882 042. The Weekly Advertiser is a free paper printed by Newsprinters Pty Ltd, 1 McKoy Street, West Wodonga, and distributed by regional distributors and Australia Post.

The publisher and general manager is Scott Grambau, C/- 2 Stawell Road, Horsham, for Ace Radio Broadcasters Pty Ltd, ACN 064 882 042. The Weekly Advertiser is a free paper printed by Newsprinters Pty Ltd, 7940 Melbourne Rd, Shepparton, and distributed by regional distributors and Australia Post.

CIVIC DUTY: Charlie Murray, 12, and Ryder Reid, 13, are among nominees for the Horsham Youth Council, Young Mayors program.

Steampunk spectacular

BY SEAN O’CONNELL

Intrigued residents and dedicated visitors converged on Dimboola on Saturday for the second Wimmera Steampunk Festival.

The town was transformed to suit this year’s theme of a ‘time travellers’ soiree’ and the broader idea of steampunk.

Festival organisers built on last year’s success through live music, parades and using more of Dimboola’s streets to accommodate attractions and visitors alike.

Preparations are underway for the next festival in 2025, with crowds of up to 5000 people turning out this year prompting organisers to explore new ideas.

Festival spokesperson Chan Uoy said this year’s event went ‘incredibly well’, with Dimboola being converted into a ‘magical playground’.

Central to this transformation, Mr Uoy said, were the intricate costumes of many of the festivalgoers.

“One gentleman spent a whole year creating a hybrid guitar dedicated to the event. He looked like a wizard from Lord of the Rings,” he said.

“We’ve already started planning because it’s going to take two years to transform Dimboola into a 19th century fantasy land”

– Chan Uoy

Mr Uoy said people donning steampunk attire ‘became the event’ and embracing the fashion genre allowed them to ‘break the ice’ with both friends and strangers throughout the event.

He said people travelled from ‘far and wide’ to attend — including one patron visiting from Singapore, an author travelling from Perth and the Adelaide Steampunk Group also in attendance.

Mr Uoy said a collaboration between the Dimboola and Lutheran primary schools and Horsham Brass Brand showcased the regional community.

He said the festival was an inclusive event — with one example being the involvement of multicultural groups such as the Wimmera Filipino-Australian Club, Oasis Wimmera and the Karen commu-

nity, who performed a ‘Time Warp’ flash mob and other dances.

Mr Uoy said this year’s event was in a space quadruple the size of the previous, inaugural festival.

“This expansion allowed organisers to create curated spaces, that were unique,” he said.

“People came to town for three nights on average, spending money in other towns and exploring the region.”

The date for the next Wimmera Steampunk Festival has been set for April 12, 2025 with the theme, ‘The carnival of peculiarity’.

“We’ve already started planning because it’s going to take two years to transform Dimboola into a 19th century fantasy land,” Mr Uoy said.

Smart Artz Theatre Inc performed their latest show, ‘Shuddersome: Tales of Poe’ from Thursday to Saturday to coincide with the festival, while the town’s historical society, print and band museums opened to the public across the weekend.

Eva Le Blanc of Melbourne and Lola Riddell of Horsham

Stu and Jules of Minyip

Horsham’s Lorelle Esmore

DRESSED TO IMPRESS: Thousands of people travelled from across the country to attended this year’s Wimmera Steampunk Festival in Dimboola at the weekend. Dressed to impress are, clockwise from above: William and Phu of Melbourne; Deb Cameron of Pigeon Ponds and Sydney milliner Neil Grigg; Harrow’s Jacob Duggan; Kelsea Simmonds of Horsham; Timothy Blackmore of Bendigo and Sean Harris of Ballarat; The Royal High Jinx entertainer Sarah Busuttilpalmer of Melbourne; Emma Wundersitz and Bruna Mangelli of Ballarat; and centre, Horsham’s Stacey Ballinger; and Sarah Lowe of Goroke and Sarah Tottenham of Natimuk. Pictures: KAREN REES

As investors navigate through unpredictable and volatile economic times, it is essential to consider asset classes that can provide a level of stability and protection against market fluctuations.

One such asset that has stood the test of time is gold. For centuries, gold has been a symbol of wealth and has played an essential role in the global economy. In this article, we will explore why investors turn to gold during uncertain times, the benefits and consequences of investing in gold, and how investors can get exposure to this precious metal.

Why investors turn to gold

Gold has long been considered a safe haven asset, as it has maintained its value throughout history. When the stock market experiences downturns or geopolitical tensions escalate, investors often flock to gold as a way to protect their portfolios against market fluctuations.

The price of gold typically moves in the opposite direction of the stock market, making it a valuable hedge against economic uncertainty.

Moreover, gold is not subject to the same risks as other investments such as bonds or stocks, making it a reliable store of value.

Benefits and consequences

The primary benefit of investing in gold is its ability to provide a level of diversification to an investment portfolio. By including gold in a portfolio, investors can reduce their exposure to other assets, thus lowering overall risk.

Additionally, gold is a tangible asset that investors can physically hold, making it an appealing option for many. However, investing in gold also comes with some drawbacks.

The most significant risk associated with investing in gold is its volatility. While gold has maintained its value over time, its price can still fluctuate significantly over shorter periods.

Furthermore, investing in gold does not provide a source of income, as it does not pay dividends or interest.

FINANCE focus

with Robert Goudie CFP GradDipFP Consortium Private Wealth

Interesting facts

Gold has been used as a form of currency for thousands of years. In ancient times, individuals and countries stockpiled gold as a way to preserve their wealth. During the California Gold Rush in the mid-1800s, the US government established the first national gold reserve to help stabilise the economy. Similarly, during World War II, countries such as the US and the UK stockpiled gold to finance their war efforts.

Getting exposure to gold

The most common way to get exposure to gold is to invest in physical gold, such as gold coins or bars. However, buying physical gold can be expensive, and investors also need to pay for storage and insurance costs. An alternative option is to invest in gold exchange-traded funds, ETFs, which track the price of gold and offer investors an easy way to invest in gold without the hassle of buying physical gold. Finally, investors can also invest in gold mining stocks, which provide exposure to the gold industry and can potentially offer higher returns than investing in physical gold or gold ETFs.

While investing in gold can offer protection against market fluctuations and diversify an investment portfolio, it is crucial for investors to carefully consider the risks and benefits associated with this asset class. By weighing the pros and cons and assessing how gold aligns with their investment objectives, investors can make informed decisions about whether to include this timeless asset in their investment strategy. • The information in this article is general in nature only and does not constitute personal financial advice.

Feedback to assist police

Wimmerapolice will use the results of a community survey to guide priority areas for the year ahead.

They are calling for people to have their say about safety concerns, how they prefer to engage with police, and their general experiences of police in their community as part of an annual Victoria Police ‘community sentiment survey’.

Horsham police Inspector Di Thomson said police used information from the survey, along with ‘National survey of community satisfaction with policing’ feedback and CrimeStoppers data – anchored by reported crimes –to determine strategic priorities.

She said key actions from the Victoria Police annual plan – including community safety, reducing crime, reducing road trauma and service delivery excellence – guided all police response and action.

Inspector Thomson said previous results for the Horsham police service area, from last year’s national survey, were ‘very pleasing’ – with almost 83 percent of respondents having confidence in police, 84 percent of respondents generally satisfied with police and 86 percent having a professional experience with police.

Previous results also showed about 76 percent of respondents felt safe walking at night.

Inspector Thomson said police used the results to inform localised safety

plans and organisational priorities –including region-specific challenges such as header or grass fires.

The 2022 state-level survey feedback showed Horsham residents considered people affected by drugs or alcohol, driving while affected by drugs or alcohol, family violence, drug trafficking and taking illegal drugs as the top-five community concerns.

Inspector Thomson said with several major highways running through the region, road trauma, including fatal and serious-injury crashes, was high.

“Last year’s survey results showed the Horsham police service area, which includes Horsham Rural City, Hindmarsh and West Wimmera shires, is well-above the state average for community members feeling safe. I would like to continue providing service delivery to the community which keeps everyone safe,” she said.

The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete and the feedback period closes on May 7.

People can complete the survey via engage.vic.gov.au/annual-victoria-police-community-sentimentsurvey-2023 and alternate formats are available on request, via the website.

• People wanting to report a crime requiring urgent police assistance should phone 000. If the matter is not an emergency, people can phone the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 or their closest police station; people can also report anonymously to Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000.

Ethel making a difference at 95

Ethel Holland’s volunteer work at the Wimmera Base Hospital Ladies Auxiliary Opportunity Shop continues her contribution in a lifetime of community service.

Mrs Holland celebrated her 95th birthday on April 15.

She initially came to the Wimmera on a two-year teaching placement at Murra Warra Primary School.

It was during this time she met her husband Ron, a farmer, and settled in the area.

Knowing nothing about the Wimmera or agriculture when she first arrived, Mrs Holland came to embrace farm life.

Her daughter Suzanne Thomas said her mum loved gardening.

“That has been a passion all her life,” she said.

“In her younger years, she did all

Elders Southern Wool Report

the sewing for herself and her three girls – Jennifer, Maree and I – including all our wedding dresses.”

After years of farming, Mrs Holland retired into Horsham and became an active member of Horsham City Bowling Club, where she is a life member.

She started volunteering at the opportunity shop about 18 years ago and was manager for more than 10 years.

“Managing the other ladies has been a pleasure. They almost managed me,” she said.

Mrs Holland still lends her time to the opportunity shop, stepping down from her managerial role when she turned 90.

“It is such a wonderful place,” she said.

“Everyone is very friendly. We care

a lot for one another. As you get older this is important.”

The shop donates the money it raises to buy new equipment for Grampians Health’s Wimmera campuses.

Current store manager Dianne Lewis said all money raised stayed in the region and went towards the hospital. Ms Lewis was full of praise for all the shop’s volunteers, including Mrs Holland.

“I’d like to acknowledge all of the ladies, especially the ones who work out the back,” she said. “They have to work through all the donations and make them presentable.

“I think they get more back than the hours they put in.”

– Sean O’Connell

Roster

STILL SERVING: Volunteers, from left, Ethel Holland, Dianne Lewis, Dee Whitehead and Marge Ward at the Wimmera Base Hospital Ladies Auxiliary Opportunity Shop in Darlot Street, Horsham.

REFLECTION: Hundreds of people turned out for Anzac Day services across the Wimmera. Pictured, clockwise from above, are:

Rex Dumesny and Noel Janetzki at Horsham’s Anzac Day dawn service;

Rod Tonkin and Gary Simpson, Eventide Homes, at Stawell’s Anzac Day ceremony; Matilda Hardy, Jimmy Monaghan, Sarah Gellatly and Logan Bennett of Horsham West-Haven Primary School, at Horsham’s dawn service;

Taelon Stewart, Stawell cadets, at Stawell’s ceremony; and Serviceman

PTE Jasmine Howard at Horsham’s dawn service.

AnzAc dAy

Keeping the Anzac spirit alive

Ararat and district students, teachers and Legatees were among a crowd of more than 4000 people attending a special Anzac commemoration ceremony earlier this month.

Ararat Legacy hosted the group at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne for the 91st Annual Legacy Anzac Commemoration Ceremony for Students.

Melbourne Legacy hosts the service for Victorian students prior to Anzac Day each year, to honour the sacrifice of those who have served.

Fifty-six students from years seven to 12, together with supervising teachers from Ararat College, Marian College, Stawell Secondary College, Beaufort Secondary College, Lake Bolac Secondary College and Avoca Primary School attended the ceremony and paid their respects.

The group included three Ararat Legatees.

The day is organised to help younger generations understand the service and sacrifice of

those who were active during wartime. Victorian Governor Linda Dessau shared a message with students. She was joined by veteran Adam Kent who touched on the history of three First World War diggers who died in combat.

Student representatives from each of the schools in attendance laid wreaths as part of the ceremony. After the service students, teachers and Legatees visited exhibits within the Shrine of Remembrance.

Ararat Legacy shrine trip co-ordinator and Legatee Kevin Bowles said it was pleasing to continue to offer the annual trip to students with the support of funding through the State Government’s Remembrance Program in addition to a generous donation from Ararat Legacy Club supporter Greg Day from Grampians Office Services in Ararat.

“It is so important that we keep the Anzac spirit alive for all our future generations,” he said.

LAWYERS

The team at OʼBrien and Smith Lawyers look forward to assisting with your legal needs.

n s i d e r a t i o n b y t h e p r o g r a m c o m m i t t e e F o r t h e g u i d e l n e s a n d a p p l i c a t i o n f o r m v s i t : s t a w e l l g o l d m i n e s c o m m u n i t y h u b c o m a u F o r u p d a t e s c h e c k o u t F a c e b o o k @ s t a w e l l g o l d m i n e s

Lauren Maree Dorothy Emblem LL.B., B.A., GDLP

Patrick Gilbert Smith

LL.B. (Hons), B. Int. St., B.Ec., GDLP

Profiles build town strategies

BY ABBY WALTER

WestWimmera Health Service is targeting specific health needs in Wimmera towns following the release of new community health and wellbeing profiles.

The profiles looked at health statistics in Nhill, Natimuk, Goroke, Kaniva, Jeparit, Rainbow, Minyip, Rupanyup and Murtoa. Health promotion manager Dorothy McLaren said two focus areas identified from profiles so far had been mental health and healthy eating.

“We met with a group in Jeparit to brainstorm how we can all work together to make Jeparit an even more supportive community for people with mental health issues,” she said.

“The strategies we develop with that community can then be offered to other communities where mental health issues are prevalent, such as Minyip, Murtoa and Rupanyup.

“Also, we are already developing a suite of activities to support eating a healthy diet, especially using all the wonderful products we grow here.

“In communities where it is clear that there are more families and singles who might be managing on a lower income, we can respond with lots of ideas for making budget-friendly, tasty meals.

“This will also mitigate risk factors for type two diabetes, heart disease and many cancers.”

Ms McLaren said statistics could be influenced by factors that were not immediately visible.

“Some of our towns score very high compared with the state average, but these are

the towns that have nursing homes, so it’s not unexpected,” she said.

“For example, Natimuk has a 5.7 percent rate for dementia whereas the state average is just 0.7 percent.

“For the most part, those people are already receiving excellent care and it is not a specific risk factor in that town that is driving the numbers; it is the presence of a really lovely nursing home instead.

“Arthritis statistics are huge – roughly double the state average – in Rainbow, Goroke, Jeparit and Kaniva, with several other centres not far behind and Minyip at 18.5 percent of the population as opposed to the state average of eight percent.

“This is hardly surprising in farming communities, but it certainly tells us we should be getting some information out there about access to pain services and encouraging access to allied health interventions where appropriate.

“Nhill and Natimuk are the two towns in our region that are below the state average for mental health conditions, so we will be looking hard at those communities to see what is working well there.

“But we also have a much higher percentage of men reporting anxiety or depression in Natimuk and Rupanyup than in other towns – so we need to know more about why that is.”

Calling ‘community champions’

Employers in Stawell and Ararat are encouraged to support students and become ‘community champions’ for Central Grampians LLEN’s MATES mentoring program.

The program matches nominated students from participating primary and secondary schools with volunteer mentors from the community.

They meet for one hour each fortnight during school hours.

Central Grampians LLEN executive officer Jane Moriarty said a ‘rapid expansion’ of the program had been the catalyst for the MATES ‘community champions model’ – an idea inspired by neighbouring Wimmera Southern Mallee LLEN’s program.

“We first introduced MATES in 2021 as a pilot at three schools in the Northern Grampians shire,” she said.

“Since then, the program has

expanded to 10 schools across the Central Grampians region, with several more on the waiting list.

“Our goal in the future is to be able to offer MATES to all the schools in our region, however, to achieve this, we need a much bigger pool of volunteer mentors.”

Ms Moriarty said CGLLEN was recruiting major employers to become ‘community champions’ and provide staff with flexible working arrangements that would allow them to mentor a student during business hours.

Since it was first introduced, the program has provided 62 students with an additional source of support outside of their home and school lives.

Stawell West Primary School principal Anthony Cain said the program had become an important addition to the school’s well-

being program. “The students that participate in the MATES Program get so much out of having a positive mentor take an interest in their lives,” he said.

“They get to take part in a range of fun activities with their mentors and they really look forward to seeing them every fortnight.

“One hour might only be a small amount of time, but it makes a big difference in the lives of these students.”

While the initial delivery of ‘community champions’ information packs will target larger organisations, Ms Moriarty said more businesses would be approached in coming months.

She said employers could request an information pack by phoning CGLLEN project officer Penny Walton-Bourke on 0418 535 478 or email penny@cgllen. org.au

Dr. Pauline Walsh

Headaches – they’re common, in fact they are so common that pharmaceutical companies would have you believe that they’re normal and they have a list of pills for a quick fix so you can soldier on with your day.

So what’s the best thing to do.

1) Stop and think why you have a headache, maybe you need to have a couple of glasses of water, maybe eat something, maybe you need to sit out of the glaring hot sun, maybe you’re tired?

2) Have those 2 glasses of water and sit quietly and have a rest if you can.

3) See your chiropractor.

Chiropractors are great at looking after headaches. A good chiropractor will listen and take a comprehensive history. They will check your spine to see what stiffness and fixations are attributing to the problem. It maybe a simple adjustment that helps you or it maybe more complicated. No matter what the issue a good chiropractor can assist and guide you to have the best possible outcome and work with other professionals to the benefit of your health. Interesting fact : children suffer headaches and migraines, however they often start off as tummy pains and as the child gets older become headaches and migraines. Chiropractors are good at identifying these issues too.

B. Clinc Sci B. App. Sci (Chiropractic), DACCP

“Nhill and Natimuk are the two towns in our region that are below the state average for mental health conditions”

– Dorothy McLaren

Doctor of Medicine

Rural Training Stream Info Sessions

Are you interested in studying medicine without leaving your local community?

This is your golden opportunity to hear about studying Deakin’s Doctor of Medicine as part of the Rural Training Stream.

Years 1 and 2 of the degree can now be undertaken through a blend of online and face-to-face learning based at Ararat or Warrnambool, meaning you can stay in your local community whilst experiencing world-class education.

Hamilton

April 26

27 Brother

Post offices to pick up banking services

Banks are directing customers in the Wimmera to access post office-based services as agencies close at Jeparit, Stawell and Warracknabeal.

Bendigo Bank agencies at Fosters Mensland in Stawell and Dianne Marchment and Associates in Warracknabeal and a National Australia Bank agency at Jeparit will close mid-year, with officials citing declining use of face-to-face services and increasing use of online services as reasons for the decision.

Agencies are considered independent businesses and staff are independently employed.

Customers can continue to perform transactions online, over the phone, at any ATM, in branches or via Bank@Post after the Warracknabeal agency closes on June 20 and Stawell agency closes on June 28.

Bank@Post is available at post office outlets – including Stawell, Warracknabeal and Jeparit – and customers can withdraw up to $2000 and deposit up to $9999 a day.

It comes amid a Senate inquiry to investigate the extent of bank closures in regional Australia. The inquiry’s committee called on banks to stop closing branches until councils, businesses and affected customers could submit their concerns to the inquiry. Submissions close on Friday.

A Bendigo and Adelaide Bank spokesperson said the bank continued to review its practices as customers’ habits changed.

“Bendigo Bank’s agency model was established to supply limited banking services via third parties in areas where there was not enough demand to sustain a branch,” the spokesperson said.

“The bank regularly reviews business and customer activity across its network. As the number and value of over-the-counter transactions has fallen and more customers choose to do their banking online, the model has come

under increasing pressure and can no longer be supported.”

The NAB agency at Jeparit closes on July 13. NAB retail customer executive, regional Victoria, Larna Manson, said the closure would not result in a net loss of hours in the region – with an agency at Rainbow increasing its operating hours from one to two days a week.

She said there was no change to support for agribusiness, business or small business bankers in Jeparit and surrounds.

“The Jeparit team will now be helping customers who need additional support with digital banking and also introducing them to the Bank@ Post service on Roy Street,” she said.

“It’s important to us that there will be no job losses as part of this change – our branch team will be provided new opportunities across NAB including additional support in our Warracknabeal, Rainbow and Nhill branches.”

Northern Grampians Shire mayor Kevin Erwin said with an aging demographic, he was concerned about the social and economic impact of the Stawell agency closure for residents.

He said many residents were disappointed about a ‘lack’ of consultation prior to the decision, which was communicated via letter.

“Bendigo and Adelaide Bank has itself acknowledged how well it has been supported by the people of our shire. Not so long ago they were marketing themselves as a bank that likes to help communities grow and many people around here chose to bank with them because this community focus appealed to them,” he said.

“The cessation of the Stawell agency service is seen by people here, myself included, as a smack in the face. The opportunity to offer people trust and security in a time where scamming, impersonation and digital identity theft is rife should not be abandoned. We’re all very disappointed.”

Get Active For Breast Cancer Research

On Sunday, May 14th at the Horsham Soundshell join us for a 5km walk or run to support the 1 in 7 women diagnosed with breast cancer.

Schedule:

On the day registrations - 8 am

Formalities commence - 8:45 am Walk / run begins - 9:15 am Event concludes - 10:30 am

PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS

Also on the day: BBQ Breakfast Facepainting Coffee Van Raffles & Spot Prizes

*Cash only for raffles and other entertainment www.mothersdayclassic.com.au/vic-horsham

We will also be announcing the Winner of the Workplace Warriors Shield

Online registrations until Friday 12th of May, all Online registrations go in the draw to win a Pink Caviar necklace from Mackays Family Jewellers

Dogs are allowed at this event, must be kept on lead. Parking available along Hocking Street and Firebrace Street.

Horsham Primary School

WORKSHOP 1: MANAGING CONFLICT AND CHALLENGING CONVERSATIONS.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

WEDNESDAY

8.45AM

COUGHLIN

Prep information sessions

Horsham West and Haven Primary School

at

If so, you are invited to attend our STEP INTO PREP! information sessions which will be held at the various Horsham state primary schools’ campuses during Education Week. The Principal of each school will provide you with information about starting school and the timelines for enrolment, as well as conduct a tour of the school facilities. No registration is required. Just come along at the times indicated above. We are looking foward to seeing you there.

Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

Late harvest full of cheer

BY ABBY WALTER

Wimmera and Grampians

vineyard owners are impressed with this season’s yield and quality, despite a late harvest.

Norton Estate owners Chris and Sam Spence said this year’s harvest was later than it had ever been before.

“We had an incredibly wet winter and spring and it didn’t stop raining until mid-December, so we didn’t have the traditional Wimmera spring and summer which gets warm and dry – it took a long time for the fruit to ripen,” Mr Spence said.

“Normally we would be finished about Labour Day weekend in March, but this year we didn’t start our fruit pick until the weekend after that, which is some four to five weeks later than normal.”

Mrs Spence said there were some silver linings to the late season.

“We are one of the luckier ones. Other vineyards, the poor things, are still picking and still waiting for fruit to ripen,” she said.

“For a frustrating wait – it seems to take forever when you’re getting into April and still waiting for the grapes to ripen – it turned out pretty well for us. Plus, we have been able to start a new label, a rosé, which I have been wanting to do for a while.”

Mr Spence said he had never been ‘fully onboard’ with the idea of rosé, but the season had lent itself to trying it.

“We had a huge amount of shiraz hanging on the vines and I said to Sam, ‘you know that rosé you love to drink – this might be the right year to start this label’,” he said.

“It is made from the same grapes as our Rockface shiraz and the winemakers have said it’s some of the best rosé fruit they have seen in years, so at this stage, it’s pretty spectacular, but it’s not over until it’s in the bottle.”

Grampians Estate owner Tom Guthrie said he was very happy that his 15 pickers were taking off a reasonable crop this year, as the harvest season slowly neared its end.

“Around the region, the wet spring has meant some yields are down while others are doing okay,” he said.

“Harvest is extremely late and we’re running out of sun to fully ripen the grapes – it was a combination of a

New disease guides online

New editions of Agriculture Victoria’s cereal and pulse disease guides are available to download as mobile-friendly e-books.

The 2023 Cereal Disease Guide and 2023 Pulse Disease Guide rank susceptibility of new and commonly grown grains and pulses such as wheat, barley, oats, lentils, faba bean and chickpea.

The guides have been produced with support from Grains Research and Development Corporation and provide updated disease ratings and advice on reducing disease risk this season.

Growers can consult the current disease guide for the latest ratings and definitions to plan disease management.

Agriculture Victoria cereal pathologist Hari Dadu said the release of the updated cereal disease guide complemented earlier advice this season from Agriculture Victoria.

“They contain the latest disease resistance ratings to assist growers with their crop disease management plans and help prevent grain yield loss,” he said.

“Within the guide, we advise on how to proactively manage crop disease risk, particularly stripe rust, which wreaked havoc in wheat crops last year.

cool summer and wet spring that has pushed it back.”

However, Mr Guthrie said late seasons typically created the best wines.

“All good years are late. The longer the grapes are on the vine the more flavour they have, provided they ripen,” he said.

“This year and the previous two are going to be top-quality years, which is always exciting because, at the end of the day, that means good, award-winning wines and good sales.”

Opportunities

Mr Guthrie said every season had different challenges, but he was delighted to be getting the crop off the vine.

“You never know what is coming next when you’re farming but the fruit looks pretty good,” he said.

“Everyone is optimistic as China looks to be opening to trade again soon, our cellar doors are open and best of all we have Grampians Grape Escape approaching, which is a chance to showcase wines and have a party.

“The Grampians area produces

some of the world’s best cool climate wines and we’re lucky to be growing grapes in this region.”

Mr Spence said the advantage of a long, slow ripening process was the development of flavour.

“During hot, dry summers you get sugar early and then flavour and everything comes in afterwards,” he said.

“This year we got the flavour early and had to wait for the sugar to come up after.

“Winemakers are pretty chuffed with this year’s samples – they said the sauvignon blanc that we picked off early is amazing.

“This year’s fruit pick was the biggest we have ever had, which shows our processes in the vineyard are getting better.

“We used to be a spur-pruned vineyard, which is quick, easy and gives good results.

“We decided, with the encouragement of a viticulturist, we might be better to convert to cane pruning, which gives exact bud numbers – you don’t get any phantom or water shoots and every bud gives

two bunches of fruit. It gives more vigorous growth and more quality bunches, so since we have started the laborious task of cane pruning, it has put about 30 percent productivity back into the vineyard with no more inputs, so it has been a bonus for us.”

Mr Spence said the vines ‘know’ when to remain active and when to be dormant, despite the late harvest.

“While the fruit is on the vines, they will stay pretty healthy, within a week of picking you can see them go ‘thank goodness that’s over’ and they relax and start to go yellow,” he said.

“We have a real bonus going into next year – the vineyard is quite wet, so those vines are going into dormancy for three months, or I call it going to bed, with plenty of moisture around the root zone.

“We have put out a post-harvest fertiliser for them to take that up so that will provide some nutrients for when they boost into budding in mid-September and the process starts again.

“If we get a reasonable, or even average, winter we’re in for another cracking year.”

“Choosing a variety that is less susceptible to disease using the ratings in our guide is a recommended step to keep disease at bay.”

For pulse growers, this year’s edition will be of particular interest as it includes new botrytis grey mould ratings for lentils.

Agriculture Victoria pulse pathologist Joshua Fanning said the varieties GIA Leader, PBA Hallmark XT and PBA Kelpie XT have been provisionally downgraded, meaning they would need to be monitored more closely this year.

“It’s essential for growers to use the latest edition of the disease guide to inform their crop disease management strategy as disease ratings are reviewed and revised annually,” he said.

“Last year’s wet conditions were highly conducive for pulse diseases across Victoria and have impacted the ratings of some varieties and some disease ratings have changed to reflect this.

“Due to the high risk posed by stubble borne diseases growers should not double crop paddocks.”

The 2023 Pulse and Cereal Disease guides are available on the Agriculture Victoria website at agriculture. vic.gov.au/biosecurity/plant-diseases/ grain-pulses-and-cereal-diseases

GOOD RESULTS: Norton Estate owners Sam and Chris Spence are pleased with the outcome of this season’s grape harvest, despite weather causing a four-week delay.

Picture: ABBY WALTER

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Soil profiles positive

BY ABBY WALTER

Wimmera farmers are confident heading into a new cropping season that a strong soil moisture profile will be a key ingredient for a good year.

Crop Opti Horsham agronomist Matt Beddison said some farmers had begun sowing crops for hay and sheep feed.

“Throughout this week, farmers will start sowing canola,” he said.

“Confidence is quite high. There is subsoil moisture and with 50 to 90 millimetres of rain during the past two weeks that moisture has probably joined up in the soil profile.”

Mr Beddison said the moisture was also good for the timing of killing weeds.

“Typically, when we get a break, we want to start sowing, but within 10 to 14 days all the weeds germinate and grow,” he said

“With the rain we had 10 days ago it’s been nearly perfect from a knockdown point of view to get in and kill the weeds.”

Bartlett Brothers Contract Harvesting’s Chris Bartlett, a Pimpinio farmer, said the season was off to a good start.

“Like most people, I am not complain-

Scholarships open

Applications for the 2023 Upskill and Invest Young Farmers Scholarships are now open.

The scholarships provide an opportunity for young farmers across the state to gain new skills and invest in their future.

Agriculture Minister Gayle Tierney encouraged the next generation of farmers to apply and contribute to the future of Victoria’s vibrant agriculture sector.

“Victoria’s young farmers will be responsible for leading the agriculture sector into the future and that’s why it is vital we support their pursuit of a profitable, rewarding career,” she said.

“The Upskill and Invest Young Farmers Scholarship program provides the next generation of farmers with an opportunity to learn and invest in their career as part of the Victorian government’s commitment to the sustainability of the industry.”

The program offers scholarships of up to $10,000 with each recipient initially receiving up to $5000 to support their training and study, and up to $5000 to invest in putting their new skills into practice.

Successful applicants can receive training in areas such as business and risk management, genetics and pasture management, digital agriculture or adapting to climate change.

When they complete their studies, they can invest in professional development and business planning, on-farm practices or equipment and technology.

Applications are open to farmers aged 35 and younger who have been working in farm businesses for at least three days a week for the past three months, with at least two years total experience on-farm. Applications will close on May 8.

People wanting to learn more about the program and to apply can visit the Agriculture Victoria via agriculture.vic.gov.au

ing, with good moisture underneath and the break two weeks ago,” he said.

“It’s been a good opportunity for our double knock weed program and ryegrass control.

“We hope our good start continues into the season because often when we start well it cuts off early.”

Mr Bartlett said he was not concerned by a below-average rain forecast.

“The crops will be able to grow down and it won’t be hard to tap into the soil moisture,” he said.

“We’re starting canola and vetch – while the soil is still warm, we want to get canola in the ground.

“We will then follow on with wheat, barley and lentils.

“At the moment supply is still behind for machinery parts, which is concerning, but chemical supply has been good.”

Mr Beddison said the forecast for a possible El Niño weather pattern later in the year was something to keep an eye on.

“It’s not as if we don’t need the rain, but it won’t be as significant a problem if we have below-average rain and didn’t have the soil moisture we do,” he said.

“We’re seeing good levels up to one metre down and more due to the rain at

the end of spring that soaked in and our soil held it.

“We have water in the bank and as long as the plants access it, that will be a good start.

“Farming does always feel like getting one step closer all the time to something going wrong, but there’s confidence in the crops this season.

“Hopefully the dry forecast doesn’t come true and we string together another good year.”

Victorian Farmers Federation grains council president Craig Henderson said the industry was ‘reasonably’ positive heading into the season.

“The soil profile has moisture and the rain has got weeds going so we can kill them in good time,” he said.

“People are starting to get canola, vetch and oats in and closer to the end of the month cereals will start to go in.”

Mr Henderson said there were some concerns about El Niño towards the end of the year.

“It will all depend on any heatwaves or late frosts, but if we have below-average rain there is still the chance of average yields because of the soil moisture,” he said.

Shaun Casey, Sandra Casey, Erin Wallace

CONFIDENT: Bartlett Brothers Contract Harvesting’s Chris Bartlett, a Pimpinio farmer, says good moisture and a decent break is a positive start for the cropping season. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

Eyes wide open

Therehas been plenty of attention recently on the likely lifting of the tariffs imposed by the Chinese Communist Party on imports of Australian barley into China.

The tariffs were introduced because, apparently, we were dumping our barley into that market at prices lower than the prevailing Australian price.

It had nothing to do with global politics and definitely not designed to bring us to heel. Same with the bans on coal, wine and lobster.

Since the imposition of the barley tariffs in 2020, we have been able to find other willing buyers for our barley.

Moving successive large crops has been logistically challenging, but the buyers were there.

It is generally accepted though, the loss of the Chinese market has reduced the price received by our growers in the order of $30 to $50 a tonne.

The dilemma now for the Aussie barley industry is what to do if China removes all tariffs.

Do we revert to old habits and ship as much as we can to China? Or do we continue to develop new markets to ensure

From left field

with David Matthews

we are not too dependent on one customer?

This is not a pitch for a return to the days of statutory marketing, but under that system, when all exports were managed by the Australian Barley Board, the industry could make decisions based on long-term objectives.

Market development was seen as a smart investment.

While we have been in China’s sin bin, groups such as the Australian Grains Export Innovation Centre have done a great job of promoting our barley into other markets. But in this deregulated environment, who will trade into those markets if the price is $30 a tonne lower than China? Are traders, and growers, going to prioritise market development over today’s best bid? Probably not.

So what have we learned from this?

Hopefully, we have all learned freedom to trade is in everyone’s interests.

Yes, governments will at times intervene to satisfy domestic political agendas, but in the main, let the business to business activity continue away from the glare of political posturing.

We have learned high dependency on one market is a risky strategy. But in a world where our organisational structures encourage short term thinking, how do we manage this risk?

Governments think only in election cycles and the next poll.

ASX-listed companies focus on the next six-month reporting period and the analyst updates.

And trading companies look to the next profit and loss statement and corresponding impact on the bonus pool.

It seems inevitable then, with barley, it will be all eyes to China again.

As farmers, we do think long term with key issues such as soil health, weed management and pest management.

But when it comes to marketing our barley I suspect we will be like everyone else – we will chase the cash. And if we do that with eyes wide open, that’s okay.

Just remember we should not complain next time we are on someone’s blacklist.

Export prices continue to drop

Prices on Australian exports continue to drop compared with the same time last year, for grain and livestock.

Lamb numbers at Horsham Regional Livestock Exchange last week reached 6000 with 3200 sheep. April 12 saw 10,600 lambs and 2300 sheep yarded.

Graham Pymer’s market report showed quality was mixed on Wednesday last week, with lead pens showing good finish and weight.

Light-weight lambs sold from $86 to $127 a head and light-trade lambs sold from $126 to $155 a head.

Medium-weight lambs sold from $150 to $175 a head, heavy-trade-weight lambs sold from $168 to $186 a head and extra-heavy lambs sold from $222 to $252 a head.

Merino lambs sold mostly from $140 to

$171 a head, while merino ewes sold for up to $158, crossbred ewes sold for up to $158 and heavy merino wethers sold for up to $175 a head.

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry reported Australian export prices, as of Thursday, for mutton, lamb and live sheep, were between 18 and 27 percent lower than in April last year.

Mutton was exporting at 420 cents a kilogram, lamb was exporting at 676 cents a kilogram and live sheep were exporting at $93 a head.

Grain prices were between 15 and 30 percent lower than in April last year.

Milling wheat exported at $469 a tonne, feed wheat sold for $443 a tonne and feed barley exported at $416 a tonne. Canola was exported at $895 a tonne.

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‘Cautiously optimistic’

BY ABBY WALTER

Alucrative export market

could re-open for Wimmera growers, as China resumes talks with Australia to remove tariffs on barley.

China imposed 80 percent tariffs on Australian barley for five years, in May 2020.

China will conduct an expedited review of the tariffs during the next three months. In return, the Australian Government will suspend its World Trade Organisation appeal.

There is the option of a fourth month for review if necessary.

National Farmers Federation vice-president David Jochinke said World Trade Organisation appeal proceedings between China and Australia had paused.

“China has reinstated talks with Australia to remove tariffs on barley and other goods,” he said.

“Initially, China claimed Australia was subsidising costs of barley, which was disadvantaging other markets.

“Australia has evidence that we weren’t dumping barley on the market and was going to defend that.

“If China doesn’t start taking our goods, we can reinstate proceedings.”

Mr Jochinke said if tariffs were removed there would be more op-

portunity and a strong base for Wimmera farmers growing barley.

“China was a strong market, buying just shy of 60 percent of our barley, so it was very lucrative,” he said.

“The tariffs made barley unattractive for the market to purchase.

“We were very reliant on that market and it hurt Australian farmers when they stopped taking our product.”

Member for Mallee Anne Webster said she was cautiously optimistic for Australian barley growers following the announcement.

“China is an incredibly important trading partner for us and the removal of these tariffs would be a positive step for our growers,” she said.

“These sanctions were not justified in the first place and I know many farmers across the Mallee will be waiting to hear the outcome on this.”

Australian barley exports to China peaked at 6.3-million tonnes in 2016-17.

National farmer collective, GrainGrowers, chair Rhys Turton said China had been a key market for Australian grain and a resolution was in the best interests of both countries.

“This is a step in the right direction for trade between our two countries and highlights the value of the WTO process to encourage mechanisms

IN DISCUSSION: National Farmers Federation vice-president David Jochinke is hopeful of a positive outcome with China after reinstating talks to remove tariffs on barley and other goods.

for bilateral dispute resolution,” he said.

“It is heartening to see a resolution of constructive dialogue between the two governments, and we are hopeful that this process will result in a positive outcome for Australian growers.”

Mr Jochinke said the tariffs had made Australia sharper when it came to trade and taking all of its ‘eggs out of one basket’.

“From this experience, we know we need to be the preferred supplier for as many countries as possible and we have stepped up in that area,” he said.

“When one country does not want to, or cannot offer the premiums we

Rain tracking below average

Rain across the Wimmera is tracking below average for the year-to-date, with a drier than normal start to autumn forecast to continue.

Horsham’s rain total year-to-date is 42 millimetres, compared with an average of about 90mm at the same time of year.

Stawell rain totals are tracking about 50mm below average for the same time of year, with 50.8mm recorded in 2023 so far.

Ararat has recorded 58.6mm to date, compared with an average of 143.8mm for the same time of year, while Nhill has recorded 27.4mm compared with an average 78.9mm.

need, we still have markets to sell to. We have developed a trade agreement with the United Kingdom from this, are in final negations with the European Union on an agreement and formed the India Economic Strategy.”

Mr Jochinke said the industry was now waiting to see action behind the words and was cautiously optimistic for a positive outcome.

“When China starts booking trades again that’s when we know the worst is probably behind us,” he said.

“The industry welcomes moves made by Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong and Trade Minister Don Farrell to rebuild a relationship that was in tatters.”

In Warracknabeal, 32.6mm of rain has been tallied compared with an average of 88.1mm and in Edenhope, 59.2mm of rain has been recorded compared with an average of 115.3mm.

The Bureau of Meteorology predicts below median rain is likely to continue from May to July for most of Australia. May to July maximum temperatures are likely to be warmer than the median for almost all of Australia.

The bureau stated the forecast was influenced by an El Niño-Southern Oscillation-neutral pattern, ENSO, that is tending towards El Niño in the latter part of the forecast period.

An ENSO-neutral pattern means the weather pattern is not El Niño or La Niña. It is also influenced by the chance that a positive Indian Ocean Dipole, IOD, event might develop in the coming months. An El Niño watch is current.

Zero... a bad idea

You

Professor Howden is director of the Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions at The Australian National University.

Most importantly, he is also a vice chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, and he was on the US Federal Advisory Committee for the 3rd National Climate Assessment, was a member of the Australian National Climate Science Advisory Committee and contributes to several major national and international science and policy advisory bodies.

He’s been a climate scientist for more than 30 years and has a Nobel Peace Prize along with Al Gore for his work with the IPCC.

So how could this be? Not supporting zero carbon emissions.

Professor Howden has featured on Country Today several times to explain the COP United Nations climate change conferences and has talked about the con-

could have knocked me over with a feather when I heard internationally recognised Australian climate scientist Professor Mark Howden had said the numerous agriculture sectors net zero carbon emission targets by 2030 was a bad idea.Country Today

with Libby Price

tinuing trend to drier conditions and drought, and other natural disasters such as flood and fires.

His argument is that many farmers will find the prospect of net zero emissions too hard to contemplate.

“For starters we don’t actually need to go to net zero for agriculture to be consistent with the Paris agreement – the international agreement on climate change first adopted in 2015, with signatories agreeing to fiveyear cycles of increasingly ambitious climate action,” Professor Howden explained on Country Today

“What we have signed up to as a nation is to reduce our emissions so temperatures stay below two degrees and as close to 1.5 degrees as we can.

“To go to 1.5 we do need to go to net zero for carbon dioxide, but we don’t have to go to net zero for methane and nitrous oxide and they are the two big gases produced by agriculture.

“So for methane that’s about a

60 percent reduction, for nitrous oxide about a 30 percent reduction.”

So why are the likes of Meat and Livestock Australia, the National Farmers Federation and others committing agriculture to the net zero by 2030 target?

“I couldn’t answer that one but it’s not a target that is actually required to essentially do the fair share of agriculture under the Paris agreement,” Professor Howden said.

“So we need to move away from a sort of knee-jerk reaction to a net zero number to something that is a bit more nuanced that reflects the gases that come from different industries.

“If you have a target which you simply don’t have a way of getting there, essentially, it’s very stressful if you’re being told to do something that isn’t possible.

“So we need to make these things feasible, and not just feasible but economically feasible, and at the same time improve other aspects of farming and rural life.”

So, having gone through the fine print, we need a rethink and realistic, achievable targets, not just making promises that cannot be kept.

KNOWLEDGE: Dr James Hunt presents his findings on nitrogen management, N banking, at BCG’s annual trials review day.

Trials day looks to the future

Cereal diseases, pulse variety and disease management, crop nutrition, vetch and barley agronomy and farming without glyphosate were hot topics at Birchip Cropping Group’s annual trials review day.

More than 170 BCG members attended the event last month online and in person to be involved in discussions about farming now and into the future.

Farmers discussed nitrogen management strategies for 2023 and how the longterm ‘N banking’ strategy of 125kg of nitrogen a hectare a year had stacked up in a

season such as 2022, with high rainfall and urea prices.

Presenting the research, Dr James Hunt said during five years of the experiment N decisions based on 50 percent yield prophet or 125kg a hectare N bank strategy apply more N, 63kg to 74kg a hectare, and were $128 to $179 a hectare a year more profitable than the district average N rate of 21kg to 30kg a hectare.

“High urea prices in 2022 were offset by higher grain prices, and the most profitable treatments and N application rates remain the same over the

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past five years,” he said.

Traynors Lagoon farmer

Andrew Jesse said the trials review day was an event he marked in his calendar each year.

“It reinforces those things that sometimes you can get complacent about, nutrient depletion from previous year’s crops, fungicide pressure, the carry-over from last year,” he said.

“In previous years we have not been regimented in our fungicide strategy.

“This year we plan to be proactive and have a strategy in place early.”

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Alliance seeks roads budget

Agriculture advocacy bodies are calling for regional road funding ahead of the Federal Budget, due to be released next month.

The Rural Road Alliance, recently formed by GrainGrowers, the National Farmers Federation, Australian Local Government Association and Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association, is calling for an emergency funding package totalling nearly $5.5 billion in the upcoming budget.

The alliance is asking for a one-off injection of $1 billion over four years directed at regional road and infrastructure reconstruction for councils impacted by flooding and other natural disasters to ensure a rebuild is to a standard more resilient to future disaster events.

The $5.5 billion would include $800 million a year across four years for the Roads to Recovery Program; $300 million a year across four years to address first and last mile freight productivity; and targeted funding through the Roads of Strategic Importance, ROSI, program to improve the long-term climate resilience of freight networks.

GrainGrowers general manager of policy and advocacy Zachary Whale said persistent and unprecedented rain had deteriorated critical road infrastructure across Australia’s grain-growing regions and exacerbated systemic long-term underfunding of the regional road network.

“This situation left many farmers

struggling to transport grain to market and poses a significant safety risk for rural communities who rely on these roads to access vital services,” he said. Mr Whale said sufficient maintenance was critical to ensure roads were resilient during natural disasters and to reduce reconstruction costs after climatic events.

A GrainGrowers submission to the Federal Government also called for a strategic and long-term view of road infrastructure investment.

Mr Whale said the increasing occurrence of climatic events such as floods and bushfires placed additional pressure on road design.

“Rather than just patching potholes, we need current investments to build resilience to emerging issues associat-

ed with natural disasters and climate risk,” he said.

The submission highlights the ROSI program as a critical tool in building resilience, with GrainGrowers calling for an additional $900 million in annual funding to be directed to freight networks.

“When addressing capacity, ROSI is critical as it focuses on elements such as road sealing, flood immunity, strengthening and widening, pavement rehabilitation, bridge and culvert upgrades and road realignments,” Mr Whale said.

“Additional funding through this program is needed to improve the longterm resilience of our vital freight networks.”

Victorian Farmers Federation, VFF, is also supporting the call for an emergency funding package.

VFF president Emma Germano said farmers were frustrated that governments continued to ‘neglect’ road maintenance.

“Enhancing the resilience of the road network to deal with extreme weather events is important, but it can only be

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achieved by ensuring there is regular maintenance to keep them at an acceptable standard,” she said.

“Maintenance funding keeps going backwards and worryingly, Victorians keep risking their lives on dodgy and dangerous roads.”

VFF transport and infrastructure committee chair Ryan Milgate said that in planning for resilience, the government needed to take into account changes in network usage and increasing demands placed on roads by high-productivity freight vehicles.

“Resilience is not only about the gravel and bitumen, but the planning processes around it too,” he said.

“The standard and condition of roads must be up to the task of carrying the freight vehicles we use to get food and fibre to market.

“That’s why the VFF is advocating for the Victorian government to undertake a state-wide agricultural freight strategy, to better understand where investments need to be targeted.”

Mr Milgate said local government must be better resourced to get on with the job of fixing their road networks.

“We are seeing shires in the north of the state facing repair bills of more than $50 million in the aftermath of the floods,” he said.

“We’ll continue calling on the Victorian and Commonwealth governments to increase the funding available to regional roads asset maintenance.”

Applications for Greening Australia’s landholder grants to positively impact land conservation, soil improvement and land productivity close on Sunday.

The grants, of up to $30,000, are available through the legacy of western Victorian farmers John and Bette Mann and honour their passion for incorporating environmental restoration and conservation into farming practices.

The first round of applications will be awarded by June for projects able to be completed by October 2024. The grants are open to all landholders in Victoria with property used for farming or agriculture.

The landholders must share the principles of Greening Australia’s land and productivity objectives, which are activities that positively impact land conservation, soil improvement or land productivity.

They must also have a whole-of-property plan in place or are willing to implement one and no less than 15 percent of the total property set aside for the aforementioned objectives.

Application forms can be requested online at greening australia.org.au/mann-land holder-grant

“The standard and condition of roads must be up to the task of carrying the freight vehicles we use to get food and fibre to market”

– Ryan Milgate, left

Anew report commissioned by Australian dairy co-operative Norco and National Farmers Federation has found farmers’ mental health is declining across the country.

The National Farmer Wellbeing Report found 30 percent of farmers reported a decline in their mental health during the past few years.

It showed 45 percent of Australian farmers had felt depressed and 64 percent experienced anxiety.

Additionally, 45 percent of Australian farmers reported having thoughts of self-harm or suicide, while 30 percent reported having attempted selfharm or suicide.

The report was based on surveys of more than 1300 Australian farmers, conducted in February.

National Rural Health Alliance studies show the average suicide rate among Australian farmers is about 59 percent higher than the general population. This is equivalent to one farmer taking their own life every 10 days.

National Farmers Federation vice-president David Jochinke of Murra Warra said the data highlighted a sense of shame and stigma felt by many farmers when it came to discussing mental health.

“Farmers are built tough and can certainly endure a lot, but it’s in-

credibly important that we work to normalise mental health and give our farmers both permission and a safe space to talk,” he said.

“But to do this effectively, we need to have the right resources and support mechanisms in place to adequately address their needs.

“This is a complex issue that requires a robust and whole of industry approach, and we applaud Norco’s commitment to creating mental health advocates in farming communities, and we support their calls for greater industry participation on this front.”

Mr Jochinke said NFF was calling on all levels of government to urgently assess the resourcing provided to farming communities as their needs were not being met by existing services.

“We need dedicated resourcing to tackle farmers’ mental health support, and that needs to come from each level of government with leadership from the Commonwealth,” he said.

The report showed the top-three factors impacting farmers’ mental health were weather or natural disasters, financial stress and inflation, and cost pressures.

Natural disasters impacted 88 percent of Australian farming operations significantly during the past five years, with an average cost of $1.4 million a farm.

Lifeline on 13 11 14

Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800

Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636

Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 headspace on 1800 650 890 MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978 In an emergency phone 000.

When asked what was most emotionally taxing about the experience, more than half cited the financial burden, followed by the impact on animals and loss of stock and the physical rebuild and recovery process.

Norco chief executive Michael Hampson said while the research findings were saddening, it was important to be able to understand how pronounced the issue of mental health had become – especially in light of recent natural disasters.

“We saw first-hand the devastating impacts the unprecedented flooding event 12 months ago combined with the ongoing wet weather has on our farmers, many of whom are still rebuilding physically, financially and emotionally,” he said.

“Overlay this with years of heavy drought, bushfires and now rising input costs across all farming sectors and it’s unfortunately the reality that

many farmers are doing it tough. The research has solidified an issue that we were concerned existed, however, the breadth and depth of this issue is really quite profound.

Mr Hampson said it was ‘devastating’ that a high proportion of farmers do not feel that what they do is valued.

“To help ensure our farmers feel valued, there’s really no better place to start than by making sure that we, as Australians, choose Aussie farmer products over foreign companies and imported products,” he said.

“But beyond this, we also need to consider ways in which we can actively help address the issue of declining mental health within our farming communities.”

Mr Hampson said when it came to mental health, farmer-to-farmer support was key.

“Farmers in need are most likely to open up to a fellow farmer, or some-

one who understands firsthand what they’re experiencing,” he said. Report findings indicated many farmers did not want to ‘burden’ family or friends with their problems or were simply not comfortable discussing them.

For those who experienced mental health challenges, about one in five did not want to seek or receive help, while one in 10 felt too embarrassed to do so.

One in seven farmers also reported difficulty accessing suitable services in their community.

Mr Hampson said the issue was far bigger than farming communities alone.

“It really requires an industry-wide approach to ensure that farmers across the country have access to the support and services they require – because the future of our industry really does rely on it,” he said.

“Farmers are built tough and can certainly endure a lot, but it’s incredibly important that we work to normalise mental health and give our farmers both permission and a safe space to talk”

– David Jochinke

If you, or someone you know, needs help, phone:

GWM has announced a new Lux variant will join its growing H6 Hybrid SUV range.

Priced at $42,490 drive away, the GWM Haval H6 Lux Hybrid is powered by the same 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol and electric-drive motor combination found elsewhere in the H6 Hybrid range.

It offers buyers a combined output of 179kW and 530Nm while delivering combined cycle fuel economy of just 5.2 litres per 100 kilometres, which gives the variant a single-fill

range of close to 900 kilometres.

GWM uses a proprietary dedicated hybrid transmission, DHT, behind its 1.5-litre HEV powertrain that it says provides excellent acceleration and performance at low speeds, with increased efficiency and power at high speeds to deliver ‘a driving experience similar to that of a battery electric vehicle’.

The DHT unit offers multiple driver modes including EV Series, EV Parallel and Regeneration, and has been optimised to ‘provide maximum ef-

ficiency across all speed and load conditions’.

Visually, the Lux variant is nearly identical to the H6 Ultra Hybrid, pictured, differing only by the addition of 18-inch alloy wheels.

Like the petrol-powered H6 Lux, the hybrid model is generously equipped and features standard equipment such as Comfort-Tek leather upholstery, electric eight-way driver seat adjustment with lumbar support, heated front seats, automatic anti-glare rear-view mirrors, power adjustable and electric

folding wing mirrors, an eight-speaker DTS sound system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

A comprehensive array of standard safety equipment includes seven airbags, hill descent and start control, adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality, intelligent cornering control, emergency lane keeping, forward collision warning, lane keeping assist, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian, cyclist and intersection detection, traffic sign recognition, blind spot detection and lane

change assist, rear collision warning, door open warning, traffic jam assist, driver drowsiness detection, front and rear parking sensors and a 360-degree camera system.

All Haval H6 grades carry a five-star ANCAP safety rating.

The Haval H6 Lux Hybrid is backed by a seven-year unlimited-kilometre warranty with five years included roadside assistance and capped-price servicing. The battery is warranted for eight years.

– Matt Brogan

• Updated and generously equipped C5 adds French flair to medium SUV market — Page 39

Hybrid variants now account for almost 30 percent of all Haval models sold in Australia

C5 adds ‘French flair’ to market

Citroen priced its C5 Aircross Sport for the local market last week following the opening of expressions of interest for the model back in February.

Priced at $54,990 plus on-road costs, the updated and generously equipped solo C5 variant arrives Down Under with an upgraded engine and transmission combination.

Citroen’s 1.6-litre PureTech turbocharged petrol engine now delivers 133kW at 5500rpm and 250Nm at 1650rpm in the C5 Aircross Sport, and is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission in place of the outgoing six-speed unit.

Fuel economy is listed at 5.7 litres per 100km on the ADR Combined cycle.

The model’s pricing will see it vie with more highly specified – and petrol-powered two-wheel-drive –mainstream rivals in the medium SUV segment, including the Ford Escape Vignale priced from $48,590, Hyundai Tucson Highlander from $46,900, Mazda CX-60 Evolve, $59,800 and Toyota RAV4 Cruiser, $47,200. All prices are exclusive of on-road costs.

Citroen says the C5 Aircross Sport appears visually larger than its predecessor, bringing a new design language with more structured lines, a more modern fascia and a raft of additional equipment.

A

way driver assist with adaptive cruise control, stop and go functionality and active lane departure warning.

The features join carryover technologies such as autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, speed limit recognition and recommendation, hill descent control, tyre pressure monitoring, anti-lock braking with emergency brake assist and electronic brake force distribution, automatic hazard light activation upon heavy braking and dynamic stability control.

The colour palette for the singlevariant range is also refreshed with a ‘choice of premium materials reflecting greater comfort and quality’.

The updated model adds a panoramic sunroof, LED headlights, DRLs and indicators, a functional aerodynamic air curtain, a new skid plate and revised tail-lights as standard.

A cosmetic black pack featuring 19inch alloy wheels, wing mirror covers, roof rails, roof, airbumps and fog light bezels is also available.

New Paloma Nappa leather trim is applied to the seats, while the armrests and centre console are capped with a new black leather-effect fabric.

The cabin is finished in a Hype

Black décor which features blue highlights on the seats and blue stitching on the dashboard, door cards, centre armrest and centre console.

Citroen has remoulded and reworked the console to be larger and higher with a mix of black leather-effect fabric enhanced by chrome design lines, which, it says, ‘underline a more ergonomic layout of controls”.

The console features a newly adopted e-Toggle gear selector and new driving mode selector incorporating the vehicle’s grip control function. There is also more storage space

FOR EVERY ADVENTURE

than before, two additional USB ports and a wireless device charging pad.

In the central dashboard, a 10-inch infotainment touchscreen replaces the previous 8-inch unit, while the driver’s seat adopts a massage function and electric adjustment.

Cargo space is listed at an impressive 580 litres in five-seat mode, stretching to 1630 litres with the rear seats folded flat.

Crucially, the updated C5 Aircross Sport offers what Citroen says is a wide range of the latest-generation safety technologies, including high-

All Citroen passenger vehicles are offered with a five-year unlimitedkilometre warranty and roadside assistance package, with capped-price servicing, pre-paid service plans and a guaranteed future value program available. Five years’ capped price servicing totals run to $2760, while pre-paid options are set at $1100 for three years or $2000 for five.

Citroen Australia managing director Kate Gillis said the company was delighted to welcome the refreshed C5 Aircross Sport to the local range.

“We are confident C5 Aircross Sport will appeal to existing and new customers in Australia who have a keen eye for style and French flair,” she said. – Matt Brogan

Get in quick, these models are in stock and available for immediate delivery!

READY TO ROLL: Citroen has prices its C5 Aircross Sport from $54,990 plus on-road costs.

www.consortiumpw.com.au

1. What is the colour of liquid oxygen?

2. True of false? During a lunar eclipse, the moon passes between the sun and the earth.

3. Charles Bean, 18791968, is a notable Australian recognised for his work in what profession?

5. True or false? Australia has a variety of endemic birds of prey, but surprisingly no buzzards.

6. Spell the three-syllable word starting with ‘R’ that describes a person who tells anecdotes in a skilful and amusing way.

7. In what decade was Horsham officially declared a city?

8. What is internationally recognised as the fastest of all racquet sports?

9. Olfaction is another name for what type of sense, often considered the best at triggering memories?

10. The ancient Romans added what to concrete to make it frost resistant?

book called Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-18 and also played a key role in

ent who wrote first-hand accounts of action at Gallipoli and the Western Front. He wrote a

directly between the sun and moon 3. Journalism. Bean was a First World War correspond-

Answers: 1.Pale blue. 2. False. That is a solar eclipse. A lunar eclipse occurs when earth is

The Weekly Advertiser @theweeklyaddy

ARIES:

(March 21- April 20)

Lucky Colour: Cream

Lucky Day: Monday

Racing Numbers: 8,9,5,6,

Lotto Numbers: 8,12,23,34,35,41, Many will be more aware of what is happening around them. Some will start new ventures. Travel is on the cards and a more successful period is coming up after a time of disappointment.

TAURUS:

(April 21- May 20)

Lucky Colour: silver

Lucky Day: Wednesday

Racing Numbers: 8,9,3,4,

Lotto Numbers: 8,12,25,41,22,1, It’s a good time to start new projects; what you try, should work well. Many will be offered a better position or a promotion. Someone who did you a favour in the past may need your help.

GEMINI:

(May 21- June 21)

Lucky Colour: Green

Lucky Day: Thursday

Racing Numbers: 9,3,4,5,

Lotto Numbers: 1,7,23,25,41,33, Overseas travel could be in the offering. Your social scene could be more hectic. You may acquire new friends, who will have a great influence on your family life.

CANCER:

(June 22- July 22)

Lucky Colour: Yellow

Lucky Day: Tuesday

Racing Numbers: 8,2,4,3, Lotto Numbers: 1,15,23,28,37,5, If you play your cards right, your financial situation could benefit. A worrying aspect should clear up and this will help you to balance the books.

LEO: (July 23- August 22)

Lucky Colour: orange

Lucky Day: Thursday

Racing Numbers: 8,2,3,4

Lotto Numbers: 7,2,35,41,21,11, You will be offered a promotion or advancement. Many changes will be taking place. However don’t take on too many responsibilities. You will also be taking greater interest in your family or love life.

VIRGO:

(August 23- September 23)

Lucky Colour: Violet

Lucky Day: Monday

Racing Numbers: 9,2,4,8,

Lotto Numbers: 7,13,34,41,22,28, You may have to change your attitude towards your domestic scene. Overseas travel is coming up. Be careful at work; someone is trying to make things difficult for you.

LIBRA:

(September 24- October 23)

Lucky Colour: Blue

Lucky Day: Sunday

Racing Numbers: 9,2,3,5

Lotto Numbers: 6,13,36,45,51,22, You may have to change your job to improve your financial status. However most will be quite content to take it easy and not seeking more responsibilities, but this attitude will cause them to watch their spending.

SCORPIO:

(October 24- November 22)

Lucky Colour: Cream

Lucky Day: Monday

Racing Numbers: 7,3,4,5,

   

Lotto Numbers: 1,16,23,28,34,41, Be more careful around the house; many are accident prone, especially around electrical appliances. Your health is improving and many will get onto the get fit band wagon.

SAGITTARIUS:

  a For the week April 30 - May 5(November 23- December 20)

Lucky Colour: Blue

Lucky Day: Friday

Racing Numbers: 3,5,4,2

Lotto Numbers: 1,14,12,27,34,45, Improvements in your love life. Some are in for unusual job offers. Pay more attention to legal matters and the results should be rewarding.

CAPRICORN:

(December 21- January 19)

Lucky Colour: Pink

Lucky Day: Saturday

Racing Numbers: 8,3,4,5,

Lotto Numbers: 1,14,12,23,35,41, You could be doing an important financial deal. A generally lucky period for you coming up. It wont be your usual period, and a deal may be offered to you that will change your career.

AQUARIUS:

(January 20- February 19)

Lucky Colour: Apricot

Lucky Day: Monday

Racing Numbers: 7,3,4,5,

Lotto Numbers: 1,14,12,25,34,41, You could meet someone special, who will have great influence on you. Many will be attracting more attention than usual and have reasons to be pleased with themselves. However don’t get taken for a ride by some con artist.

PISCES:

kuLkenS Visit KERRY KULKENS MAGIC SHOP at 1693 Burwood Hwy, Belgrave Ph/Fax 9754 4587 WWW.KERRYKULKENS.COM.AU Like us on Facebook

   

Lucky Colour: Red Lucky Day: Sunday Racing Numbers: 8,3,4,5

Lotto Numbers: 1,14,23,35,45,5 You may be in for a financial windfall. This is a period which could have a profound influence on your life. Be prepared when opportunity knocks. Someone you haven’t seen for a long time may suddenly reappear.

THURSDAY APRIL 27

Brought to you by NEIL MITCHELL

1:30 The Weekly With Charlie Pickering (PG) 2:00 Shaun Micallef’s MAD AS HELL (M l) 2:30 Back Roads 3:00 Escape From The City 4:00 Antiques Roadshow 5:00 Anh’s Brush With Fame (PG)

Hard Quiz (PG) 6:00 The Drum 7:00

News 7:30 7.30 (PG) 8:00 Foreign Correspondent 8:30 Grand Designs New Zealand 9:20 Miriam & Alan - Lost In Scotland (M l) 10:05 Art Works

6:00 News Breakfast 9:00 ABC News 10:00 Great Southern Landscapes (PG) 10:30 The Pacific 11:00 Australia Remastered 12:00 ABC News 1:00 Midsomer Murders (M v)

2:30 QI (M s) 3:00 Escape From The City

4:00 Antiques Roadshow 5:00 Anh’s Brush With Fame (PG) 5:30 Hard Quiz (PG) 6:00

The Drum 7:00 ABC News 7:30 Gardening Australia 8:30 Traces (M l) 9:20 Miss Fisher

And The Crypt Of Tears (Part 2) (M v) 10:10

Aunty Donna’s Coffee Cafe (M l,s) 10:35

ABC Late News 10:55 Close To Me (M l,s)

11:45 Smother (M l,s) 1:30 rage (MA15+)

Carnage (PG)

Kiri And Lou 6:05 Octonauts 6:30 Peter Rabbit 7:05 Grace’s Amazing Machines 7:30 Spicks And Specks (PG) 8:00 QI (PG) 8:30 Penn And Teller: Fool Us (PG) 9:10 Hard Quiz (M) 9:40 The Weekly With

6:00 The Talk 7:00 Farm To Fork 7:30 Good Chef Bad Chef 8:00 Everyday Gourmet 8:30 Entertainment Tonight (PG) 9:00 Judge Judy (PG) 9:30 The Bold & The Beautiful (PG) 10:00 Studio 10 (PG) 12:00 10 News First 1:00 Dr Phil (M) 2:00 I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here (PG) 3:30 Judge Judy (PG)

4:00 Good Chef Bad Chef 4:30 The Bold & The Beautiful (PG) 5:00 10 News First 6:30 The Project (PG) 7:30

2:00 Close Encounters Down Under (PG) 3:00 STIHL Timbersports (PG) 3:30 Pawn Stars South Africa

(PG) 4:00 Pawn Stars UK (PG) 4:30 Shipping Wars (PG) 5:00 Storage Wars Texas (PG)

5:30 American Restoration (PG) 6:00 American Pickers (PG) 7:00 AFL: Friday Night Countdown 7:30 Movie: “Angels & Demons” (M v) (’09) Stars: Tom Hanks 10:15

Movie: “Pompeii” (M v) (’14)

2:05 Book Hungry Bears 2:30

Rock From The Sun (PG) 3:30 Everybody Loves Raymond

(PG) 4:00 The Nanny (PG) 5:00 Bewitched

5:30 Transformers: Cyberverse (PG) 5:40

Movie: “Zoom: Academy For Superheroes”

(PG) (’06) Stars: Tim Allen 7:30 Movie: “The

Lego Movie” (PG) (’14) Stars: 9:30 Movie:

“Central Intelligence” (M l,s,v) (’16)

Bill Travers 5:30 Dr Quinn Medicine Woman (PG)

Antiques Roadshow 7:30 NRL: Broncos v Rabbitohs *Live* From Suncorp Stadium 9:55 NRL: Golden Point 10:40 Movie: “Beirut” (MA15+) (’18) Stars: Jon Hamm

Traces (M l)

1:15 Capital (M s) 2:05 The Durrells (PG)

3:05 Grand Designs Revisited 3:55 Landline

4:25 Scottish Vets Down Under (PG) 4:50

The Dark Side Of The Universe 5:50 Great Australian Stuff (PG) 6:50 Bluey 7:00 ABC

News 7:30 The Royal Variety Performance

2022 (PG) 9:20 A Grand Royal Design 10:15 Ridley Road (M v) 11:15 Fires (M l) 12:10

rage Guest Programmer (MA15+) 5:00 rage (MA15+)

12:00 Escape To The Country 2:00 Bargain Hunt

2:00 Night Thunder 3:00 Rides Down Under (PG) 4:00 Last Stop Garage (PG) 4:30 Irish Pickers (PG) 5:30 Storage Wars (PG) 6:00 Pawn Stars (PG) 6:30 AFL: Pre Game 7:00 Border SecurityAustralia’s Front Line (PG) 7:30 Movie: “Men In Black 2” (PG) (’02) Stars: Will Smith 9:15

“Deadpool

Reynolds

(’18)

JAG (PG) 5:00 Escape Fishing With ET (PG) 5:30 Reel Action 6:00 JAG (PG)

7:00 Football: Round 26: Melbourne Victory v Brisbane Roar *Live* 10:15 Seal Team (M) 11:10 Blue Bloods 12:05 48 Hours (M)

12:00 Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens (PG)

12:30 Beyblade Burst Quad Drive (PG) 1:00 Power Rangers Dino Fury (PG) 1:30 Movie: “Pokémon The Movie: Kyurem Vs. The Sword Of Justice”

7:00 ABC News 7:30 7.30 (PG) 8:00

Story 8:30 Four Corners 9:15

Watch (PG) 9:35 Q+A (PG)

Repco Supercars Championship Highlights 4:30

Cars (PG) 5:30 American Restoration (PG) 6:00 American Pickers (PG) 7:00 Pawn Stars (PG) 7:30 Storage Wars (PG) 8:30 Movie: “U-571” (M v) (’00) Stars: Matthew McConaughey

4:00 Andy’s

12:00 10 News First 1:00 Dr Phil (M) 2:00 I’m A

Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here (PG) 3:30 Judge Judy (PG) 4:00 Good Chef Bad Chef

4:30 The Bold & The Beautiful (PG) 5:00 10

News First 6:30 The Project (PG) 7:30

MasterChef Australia (PG) 9:15 Ghosts (M)

9:45 FBI: Most Wanted (M) 11:30 The Project (PG) 12:30 The Late Show (PG)

4:20 ABC America This Week 5:15

Sunrise 9:00 The Morning Show 11:30

Morning News 12:00 Movie: “Nightmare Tenant” (M v) (’18) Stars: Lauralee Bell

9:00 Judge Judy (PG) 9:30 The Bold & The Beautiful (PG) 10:00 Studio 10 (PG) 12:00 10

News First 1:00 Dr Phil (M) 2:00 TBA 3:30

Judge Judy (PG) 4:00 Good Chef Bad Chef

4:30 The Bold & The Beautiful (PG) 5:00 10

News First 6:30 The Project (PG) 7:30

MasterChef Australia (PG) 8:40 Law & Order: SVU (M v) 9:40 Fire Country (M v) 10:40 Bull (M) 11:30 The Project (PG) 12:30 The Late Show (PG) 1:30 Home Shopping

4:15 PBS Newshour 5:15 Takeshi’s

4:00 The Nanny (PG) 5:00 Bewitched 5:30 I Dream Of Jeannie 6:00 That 70’s Show (PG) 7:00

Young Sheldon (PG) 7:30 Movie:

“Passengers” (M) (’16) Stars: Jennifer Lawrence 9:45 Movie: “V For Vendetta”

(MA15+) (’11) Stars: Hugo Weaving

Sudoku

Fill in the blank cells using numbers from 1 to 9. Each number can only appear once in each row, column and 3x3 block.

Quick Workout

Fit the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 into the hexagons so that where the hexagons touch, the numbers will be the same. No number is repeated in any hexagon.

Quick Crossword

FOCUS

* No swear words

* No verb forms or plurals ending in ‘s’

* No proper nouns and no hyphenated words

TODAY’S Good: 10 words

FOCUS Very good: 18 words

Excellent: 26 words

Word Find

Join the Dots

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION achage ache anchor

ANCHORAGE arch aroha change changer char charge chore chorea each echo ehoa hang hangar hanger hare hear hero heron hoar hoer hone horn nacho ochre ranch reach rhea roach

Reference: Macquarie Concise Dictionary

Focus No. 3871

What is this? Find out by joining the dots.

Crossword Solutions

Find the following words in the grid. They may read in any direction, even diagonally. Some letters are used more than once.

Do you have a pest infestation at your

or business or farm?

Maybe you just need to keep on top of monitoring for infestations.

Then you are going to need Tom’s Pest and Termite service to get on top of the problem.

Tom North from Tom’s Pest and Termite Control services a huge area of the Wimmera and Grampians.

Taking in Stawell, Navarre, Avoca, Beaufort, Ararat, Willaura, Halls Gap, Moyston, Tatyoon and Lake Bolac districts, he offers the complete pest control requirements for your home, office or business.

With over six years in the trade Tom has built a steady and satisfied clientele and you can be assured of professional and reliable service. Let Tom take the worry out of your ongoing termite control and monitoring. He can offer a quote and walk you through how treatment will work.

Contact Tom today whether you are building or in an existing property.

DUNCAN, Owen

Passed away peacefully in Donald on April 23, 2023, aged 84 years.

Loving husband of Marlene (dec).

Loved father and father-inlaw of Ann & Doug Grant; Steven & Margaret (dec); Kerry & Eddy.

Adored Poppy of RikkiLee, Isabel and Great Grand Poppy of Sapphire. Sometimes that light at the end of the tunnel is a train!

DUNCAN, Owen

Passed away peacefully on April 23, 2023 aged 84 years.

Loved brother and brotherin-law to Liz & Mike Ryan.

Loved uncle to Karen, Glenn, Sandra, Craig & Mick (partners & families).

LAWSON ~ Donald Lewis ~ DAD / PA

13/04/2023

The love we have for you, Dad / Pa

Will never fade away.

We’ll think of him, our special friend

Throughout each passing day.

We’ll walk into the room

And see his empty chair,

Although we know he’s resting,

We’ll feel his presence there.

Memories are forever Be they laughter or of tears, Memories we will treasure Through all the forthcoming years.

RIP, Dad / Pa

Love forever and always

Andrew (Sam), Caz, Skylene, Doug, Avery, Emma, Ben & Jess xx

JENKINS, Doreen Ruth Agnes

Formerly of London UK, Bendigo & Horsham

DUNCAN, Owen

Requiem mass for the repose of the soul of Mr Owen Duncan will be offered at St Mary’s Catholic Church Donald on FRIDAY, April 28 at 11am. The cortege will then leave for the Donald Lawn Cemetery.

KELL FUNERALS

EST:1860 NFDA ST. ARNAUD 5495 1043

JENKINS, Doreen Ruth Agnes

Doreen Ruth Agnes will be privately cremated. A service for the interment of her ashes will take place at The Graveside, Horsham Lawn Cemetery on Friday, 28 April 2023 commencing at 2pm

Please wear something purple.

Your classifieds team

Passed away peacefully.

Thank you for a beautiful 64 years of marriage.

The creation of our beautiful family is a testament to us both.

We came through, with pride, of the occupation you chose; the many trips we had in the trucks and caravan and the many friends we made along the way.

I will love and miss you forever.

Peace is now with you

Your beloved Margaret xx

LAWSON, Donald (Don)

Passed away peacefully on 13 - 04 - 23

Father and Father-In-Law, Pa & Great Pa

Cristine & Trevor

Bryony & Toka, Carly & Ilkka

Todd & Jaz, Abbey & Zac

So many miles travelled

So many songs sung, and

So many happy memories, of Listening to the sound of your wheels coming home to us; Singing your favourite songs, and Teaching me to dance, I will hold onto Forever

Rest in Peace Dad

Love Tine x

Thank you Pa for the beautiful second home that you and Gran created for all your family.

I will always miss your story telling about trucking and travelling, and listening to you bellow out ‘Country Roads’ with Mum. We were so lucky to make so many great memories out on your farm with all the cousins.

You will be forever in our hearts.

Rest up Pa,

Love Todd

IN

MEMORY

MERRETT ~ Colin ~ 6-9-1934 to 27-4-2014

We think of him as living, In the hearts of those he touched. For nothing loved is ever lost, As he was loved so much. Your loving wife, Janice and 3 daughters Michelle, Sonya, Taryn and their families.

Thank you

~ MCIVOR ~ Rhonis (Rhonie)

We would like to sincerely thank everyone who showed us so much love and support over recent weeks.

Passed away on April 15, 2023 aged 77 years.

Loved daughter of Joseph & Rachel (both dec).

Beloved sister of Shiela and aunt to Megan & Nicola.

Forever In Our Hearts SMITH, Kathleen “Betty”

Passed away on April 17, 2023 aged 102 years.

Dearly loved wife of Ron (dec).

Loving mother and motherin-law of Pam & John; Sue & Dallas.

Adored Gran to Tim & Jay; Rose & Eve and their families.

Old Gran to 7 great grandchildren.

Treasured Memories

Funeral

How

Trevor Bysouth & Daughter Ph 5381 1444 AFDA Member

SMITH, Kathleen “Betty”

The Funeral of Betty Smith will take place at St John’s Anglican Church, Horsham on Monday, May 1, 2023 commencing at 2pm Private cremation.

Trevor Bysouth & Daughter Ph 5381 1444 AFDA Member

With Rhonie’s passing the expressions of support shown in many ways have been much appreciated. The cards, texts, phone calls, flowers, food and hugs we have recieved have been of great comfort to us all.

We would like to acknowledge the wonderful care Rhonie received from the Wimmera Cancer Centre, the Wimmera Base Hospital and the Palliative Care Team.

Thanks to Pastor Susan Hobbs, the Uniting Church Team and Suzanne at Wimmera Funerals for their compassion and expertise and for guiding us through this difficult time.

Our heartfelt thanks go to you all.

Alex, Sally, Kellie and families.

1 male mastiff x bull mastiff puppy, microchipped, vaccinated, vet checked and wormed, born 22/11/2022, m/ chip# 953010006382898, Source# EE185505, he is ready for his forever home please Ph 0481756063

10wks old boy chihuahua , black in colour with few marks, ready to go now, vacc, chipped, wormed,mc # 953010006385194 $2500 Ph 0406048840

2 Jack Russell X Mini Foxie male pups for sale, mchip# 953010006017’608/665, source# EE213320 Ph 53910224

Beautiful Chihuahua puppies ready for new homes, Long hair 3F, 1M, source# EE206537, vacc, chipped, wormed m/chip# 935010006382689/95301000638 2681/953010006382737 Ph Rose 0400711481

Birds for sale, opaline turks, Bourkes all colours inc rubino, pied, cream, pink and rosa, all young birds, ring for prices Ph 0408535515

Black faced Dorpers joined $140 each Ph 0429912620

Black head dorper ewe lambs born June 2022, pic# 3NGLM058 $250ea Ph 53585079

Border Collies, black and white, male and female, microchipped, vaccinated and wormed, m/ chip# 985141005191609/202548 /202223/201120/193890, source#

EE188958 $1500 Ph or text 0493111730

Budgerigars, show birds at pet prices Ph 0447080439

Budgies, babies available $10ea Ph 0423976711

Budgies, just out of nest, pastel colours and lace wings $10ea Ph 0419505737

Budgies, young, asstd colours

$10ea Ph 0423182267

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Blk & Tan Female 12mths old entire, preferably pet only, up to date with worm and fleaing,requires a vac (no papers), m/chip# 985141004441845 $2200, Also available 6 CKCS pups 3 M, 3 F, purebred (no papers) Blk& Tan and Tri. colours, ready to go 02/05/23, microchipped,vac, wormed, flea ‘d, collect from Horsham, 985141005200801, 75/63198514 1005201475/985141003955788, 956 source# MB113692 $2500 Ph 0409498729

Hungarian Vizsla Puppies ready by 10th May 2023, 1 male 4 females, microchipped, vet checked, vaxxed, m/chip 953010006426842/60/64/89/902, source# MB216417, both parents available to view Ph Kirsty 0413926539

Muscovy ducks $10, drakes $20 Ph 0429842236

Pure breed black faced Dorper ewe lambs, pic# 3HSDC083 Ph Liz 0419664345

Purebred Labrador Puppies 2 male, 5 female. Vaccinated, wormed & microchipped, DOB 26/11/22, source # MB120138, microchip # 953010006239182/07 0/183/245/184/189/246 $2,200 Ph 0427396114

Eclectus parrots, Eclectus hen approx 18 months aviary bird not pet $600, breeding pair $1400, raise babies to perfection Ph 0492486058 Dimboola

Ferrets, 8wks to 18mths $30ea Ph 0418843180 Nhill

Groodle Puppies , male and female, these pups have been raised in a loving family environment, they will come microchipped ,vaccinated and vet for checked, ready for their new loving homes 6/5/23, mchip# 953010002517042, source# MB103066 for more information phone or text 0473426843

The Weekly Advertiser welcomes your advertising. We are required strictly by law to include specific information on some items when publishing your adv your obligations are as follows:

ANIMALS -

*All “for sale” or “to give away” advertisements, for either cats or dogs must include one of the following:

• Individual microchip numbers

• Vet certificate to exclude individual animals from needing microchips

• Domestic animal-business number

PLUS a source number from the Pet Exchange Register

LIVESTOCK -

REDUCED Great Dane X Mastiff puppies ready to go now, vacc, chipped, wormed, healthy and happy, DOB 20/11/22, source no# MB166978, mc # 3953010 006239217/235/205/098/236/099/ 170/6393273/274, $500 each,Ph 0492486058

Roosters and ducks wanted Ph 0469740723

Salami pigs wanted Ph 0481864397

Young pigs 2mth old, well bred, free ranged, suitable to spit or grow out, PIC# 3H5CG003 from $100ea Ph 0439834521

1999 Jayco 16’ pop-top caravan with unused annex, GC $14,500 Ph 0400823134 2000 Jayco Freedom pop-top caravan, tandem, Engel upright fridge, 12v system with inbuilt battery charger and solar kit, island d/bed and brand new mattress, light weight, easy to tow $17,900ono Ph 0400894020

2005 Jayco pop-top 16’, reg til 12/23, EC, island d/bed, new annex, battery, kitchen and extras $20,000ono Ph 0428854313

*The Weekly Advertiser reserves the right to accept or refuse advertisements.

Galaxy 2007, new Tebbs annexe, a/c, oven, fridge, rego, batteries $25,000ono Ph 0402933972

Dimboola Natimuk

Lutheran Parish

Sunday, April 30

Edenhope 10am LR

Goroke 10am LR

Natimuk 9am HC

Vectis Join Natimuk

Dimboola 11am HC

PUBLIC NOTICE OF INTENTION TO SELL UNDER SECTION 181 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1989 (VIC)

Yarriambiack Shire Council gives notice under section 181 of the Local Government Act 1989 (Vic) of its intention to sell the land (described below) for the unpaid rates and charges.

Land Description

Plan: Lot 2 on Plan of Subdivision 218912F

Volume: 09930

Folio Number: 290

Property Address: 16 STEWART STREET RUPANYUP VIC 3388

LaywersAU Pty Ltd solicitors for Yarriambiack Shire Council ABN 24 640 824 591

Telephone number: 03 7004 8207

WIMMERA BIRD CLUB INC

BIRD EXPO

Saturday 6th of May 2023

11.00am to 2.00pm Aviary birds and accessories.

Entry : $3.00. Children under 16 free. SES Hall 33 Sloane Street

Public Notice CHANGES TO 3 MAY 2023 COUNCIL MEETING

Due to urgent maintenance works at the Nhill Memorial Community Centre, the Hindmarsh Shire Council meeting scheduled for 3pm on Wednesday 3 May 2023 has been moved to the Council Chamber, 92 Nelson Street, Nhill at the same time and date.

This Council meeting will not be live streamed to Council’s Facebook page; however, it is open to members of the public who are welcome to attend the meeting in-person.

Greg Wood Chief Executive Officer

RETAIL POSITION

Beaumont Tiles & Carpet Court have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic person to join our dynamic customer focused team. The successful applicant will be joining a large customer base that extends through-out the Wimmera. This diverse role will have you assisting with clients with carpet and tile selections for new homes and renovations as well as building strong relationships with customers. Full training is provided in store.

You:

• Self-starter with great initiative

• A desire to learn

• Enthusiastic

• Current drivers license essential

Applications close Friday, 5th of May

Please forward resume and cover letter to Danica Stewart - danica@btcchorsham.com.au

Qualified Accountant

Remembering sacrifices

It’s a bold statement to say Easter has changed the world. Other events have changed the world. We remember the sacrifice and the enduring legacy on ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day. Many people have lived with the implications of these sacrifices for generations. These sacrifices inform, affect and shape us. Remembering the sacrifices others make inspires us to do something greater beyond ourselves.

Remembering is more than hearing someone else tell the story. It is learning, listening, engaging and participating. We remember because others witnessed an event and passed on the reports. It is foolish to ignore them.

This is the power of remembering the story of Easter. I wasn’t there, but I know the impact the life, death and resurrection of Jesus have on me. I don’t claim to understand how it all happens. I only know the difference the life of Jesus makes to my life, despite the years in between! I am witness to the difference that knowing Jesus has made to others. I have a hope that sustains me beyond governments or institutions because I remember and seek to live according to the ways of God, who revealed the depth of His love through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. If you want to know more, feel free to seek out a local church or make time with someone you know who calls themself a Christian and ask them your questions.

Simon Risson – Horsham Church of Christ

Job Description

Advance Accounting Services (AAS) is seeking a qualified Accountant to share the workload of a large and diverse client base of SME’s and complement our current team.

You will work closely with the Director/s to ensure the business delivers on these goals and continues to grow. You will be involved in helping our clients to reach their business and financial goals and objectives and you will enjoy working in a team environment.

You will be approachable, take initiative, pride yourself on great client service and pay attention to detail.

Ideal Qualities

• 3-4 or more years of experience in Public Practice

• CA/CPA qualified preferred but not essential

• You have exceptional attention to detail

• Excellent written and verbal communication

• Willingness to learn, show initiative and be a positive team player

• Highest standard of ethics, confidentiality and professionalism

• Excellent time management skills

Salary on offer is commensurate with skills and experience and negotiable for the right person.

If you believe you have what it takes then forward your application by 30 April 2023 to info@advanceacc.com.au

Join the team at Rural Northwest Health

Rural Northwest Health is a public health service with a focus on providing high quality care and services to its residents and clients, and providing a supportive environment to its team members.

Occupational Therapist - Full Time/Part Time

This role will require you to use your clinical skills to assist consumers to maximise their occupational performance in personal care, domestic activities of daily living, social, leisure, community and work environments. This role is based in Warracknabeal Campus

Physiotherapist - Full Time/Part Time

This role is responsible in delivering quality consumer focused physiotherapy services across our Community Health and Clinical Care areas. This role is based in Warracknabeal Campus.

Speech Pathologist - Full Time/Part Time

MAKE A CHANGE FOR YOU

The Maintenance Handyperson is responsible in providing general repairs, cleaning and maintenance services at Rural Northwest Health to ensure a safe and comfortable environment for all stakeholders. This role is based in Warracknabeal Campus.

Social Worker - Full Time/Part Time

The Social Worker is responsible for providing a responsive and supportive social work service to consumers of Rural Northwest Health Community Health, Acute Care and Residential Aged Care areas. This role supports consumers of Rural Northwest Health to achieve social and personal wellbeing through effective interpersonal practice, assessment, support and advocacy. This role is based in Warracknabeal Campus.

For further information on any of the above positions please contact:

Abby Roberts - Allied Health Team Leader T: (03) 5396 1315

All applications which include a cover letter and a current resume should be forwarded to applications@rnh.net.au by the 12th May 2023.

Rural Northwest Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Opportunity This Way

We offer a rewarding career, with excellent working conditions in a modern office and a positive team-focused culture. Take the opportunity to join our dynamic, committed team striving to make a difference to our local community.

Council is an equal opportunity workplace that offers a diverse and supportive work environment.

Customer Service and Library Officer Dimboola and Nhill (Full Time)

We are seeking an organised, people-oriented, proficient communicator to join our Customer Service and Library team. The position will involve a variety of administration and customer service tasks as well as delivering essential library services and other internal services as required. Past experience in customer service will be highly regarded as will sound knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite.

Please contact Hannah Coles, Customer Service Team Leader, on 03 5391 4444 for enquiries.

Applications close Wednesday 3 May 2022 at 12:00noon and must address the key selection criteria as contained in the position description. The position description and details of how to apply are available at: www.hindmarsh.vic.gov.au/work-in-council

Procurement Officer

Johnson Asahi was established in 1995 and specialises in the production & export of livestock feed throughout Asia and the Middle East.

Due to Company growth, we are seeking a highly organised and committed individual with great PR skills to join our Purchasing Team to support our growers and source high quality product for our markets.

As Procurement Officer, you will report to our National Purchasing Manager working closely with our Grower base to secure hay and straw products. This is a permanent position based at our new state of art factory in Dooen(10km North of Horsham). The role includes seasonal travel around Victoria and occasional travel to South Australia and possible overseas trips to visit markets. Your package will include a vehicle and the overall salary will be based on knowledge, experience, desire for personal growth and being able to fit into the family culture of our business.

If you enjoy rural surroundings, working in a team and are looking for a challenge, this is an excellent, career developing opportunity for you.

About the role:

• Purchase hay and straw for the export market

• Maintain current and build new grower relationships

• Identify hay and straw grades to meet customer requirements

• Monitor appropriate documentation for traceability and accreditation

• Maintain grower data (Microsoft Dynamics)

• NIR sample analysis, Sardi tests and maintain grower spray records

• Organise freight for stock control

• Domestic sales of Hay

• Involvement in the industry body

• Follow Policies and Procedures while ensuring safe work practices

About you:

• Passion to work in a rural environment

• Previous experience in an agricultural industry would be an advantage

• Able to build and maintain meaningful relationships with growers

• Excellent communication skills both oral & written

• Strong attention to detail

• Thrive in a team environment

• On the job training will be provided

If you meet the above criteria and would like a long-term Ag career opportunity, please forward your resume and a cover letter detailing the above to HR Manager, Angie Berryman angieb@jtj.com.au or post to PO Box 69, Kapunda SA 5373. For more information please call Rob on 0417 084 957 Applications close 19th May 2023.

Join the team at Rural Northwest Health Rural Northwest Health is a public health service with a focus on providing high quality care and services to its residents and clients, and providing a supportive environment to its team members.

Maintenance Handyperson - Full Time

This role will be responsible in providing general repairs, cleaning and maintenance services at Rural Northwest Health to ensure a safe and comfortable environment for all stakeholders. This role is based in Hopetoun Campus.

Gardener - Full Time

This role is responsible for the implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of an efficient and effective grounds maintenance program for gardens and grounds of Rural Northwest Health campuses and associated building and properties. This role is based in Warracknabeal Campus.

For further information on any of the above positions please contact:

Heath McGrath - Maintenance Manager T: (03) 5396 1302

Applications including a cover letter and current resume should be forwarded to heath.mcgrath@rnh.net.au by the 12th May 2023.

Rural Northwest Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

If you want to join the HRCC team and serve our diverse, close-knit, and engaged local community, check out the roles below!

Senior Statutory Planner

• Band 7 ($94,627 - $105,770 per annum)

• Permanent

• Flexible working arrangements will be considered (these may include job-share, full-time or part-time etc.)

Community Inclusion Officer

• Band 6 ($84,375 - $91,881 plus Super)

• Equity, accessibility and community wellbeing focus

• Supportive team & flexible work options (job share or part-time considered)

Gardener/Labourer Band 3 ($60,459 - $63,121 per annum, plus allowances)

• Permanent Full-time

• 8 day working fortnight

To find out more, visit hrcc.recruitmenthub.com.au OR scan the QR code.

Fantastic opportunity to lead a successful not-for-profit organisation – deliver outcomes for young people through connecting Education to Employment.

Reporting to a stable and collaborative Committee of Management, this position heads up the organisation, leading a small internal team to deliver the best possible outcomes for the young people of the Wimmera Southern Mallee region.

Essential to the role is the ability to deliver successful outcomes, provide sound management and governance, and a passion for delivering quality outcomes for the young people that LLEN serves through its work. A competitive remuneration package including full private vehicle use is on offer.

A copy of the position description and details on the application process can be requested via lisa@davidsonhrconsulting.com

Any other enquiries, please contact Lisa Davidson on 0417 407 170.

close: 30 April 2023

Join

at Rural Northwest Health Rural Northwest Health

Associate Nurse Unit Manager (Aged Care) - Full Time

The ANUM acts as a professional and clinical role model in aged care for all team members, setting high clinical standards and ensuring the delivery of high standards of evidence based nursing. This role is based in the Warracknabeal Campus.

Associate Nurse Unit Manager - Full Time

MAKE A CHANGE FOR YOU

The ANUM acts as a professional and clinical role model in both aged care and acute care for all team members, setting high clinical standards and ensuring the delivery of high standards of evidence based nursing. This role is based in Hopetoun Campus.

Registered Nurses - Full Time/Part Time

A dedicated and experienced RN with strong clinical skills to provide a high standard of clinical and personal care to consumers. This role is based across Warracknabeal Campus and Hopetoun Campuses.

Health Care Worker - Casual/Part Time

This role is responsible in delivering high quality of personal care delivery to consumers under the direction of nursing staff. This role is based in Hopetoun Campus.

To learn more about these roles please contact: Allison Hondow (Warracknabeal Campus) Nurse Unit Manager Residential Aged Care: (03) 5396 1274 Jacqueline Inches (Hopetoun Campus) Director of Nursing: (03) 5083 2026

All applications which include a cover letter and a current resume should be forwarded to applications@rnh.net.au by the 12th May 2023.

Rural Northwest Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

TEAM SPIRIT: Wimmera and Horsham District football and netball players gave their all the weekend.

Pictured in action are, clockwise from above: EdenhopeApsley’s Daniel Obst at the centre bounce; Georgia Harper, Taylors Lake; Warrack Eagle Max Inkster tackles

Dimboola’s Zane Thomson; Taylors Lake’s James Magner and EdenhopeAspley’s Jeremy Kealy; Edenhope-Apsley’s Lavinia Fox; and centre, Dimboola’s Darcy Dubois and Dylan Watts, Warrack Eagles.

Pictures: KAREN REES

SHOP AT THESE PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES

Ararat Auto & Ag

Ararat RSL

Ararat Tyrepower

Barbeques Galore Horsham

BJ’s Furniture and Bedding

Capital Horsham

Casey Kosch First Aid Training

Cellarbrations Superstore

Chris N Di’s Bakery

Clarks Furniture

Conways

Cooks of Horsham

DMD Horsham

Dollar Curtains & Blinds Ararat

Exchange Hotel Horsham

Goldstar Self Storage

Harvey Norman Ararat

Harvey Norman Horsham Superstore

Ferrers Tyrepower

Ararat Hotel Cafe Bistro

Hermans of Horsham

Horsham Amcal Pharmacy

Horsham Aquatic Centre

Horsham Auto Glass

Horsham Betta Home Living

Horsham Golf Club

Horsham Lanes and Games

Horsham Sports & Community Club

DMD Nhill

Horsham Town Hall

House & Party Stawell

Lardner Bros Ararat

Nhill Pharmacy

Oscar Care Horsham

Royal Hotel Horsham

Simply Skin Body

Smallaire

Snap Fitness Horsham

Spotlight Horsham

Stawell Lotto

Stawell Toyota

Wastebusters Wimmera Recycling

Horsham

Westonvic Waste

Westvic Spares

Wimmera Aquatrail

Wimmera Bearings

Wimmera Mallee Ag

Wimmera Outdoors

Wimmera Trophies & Gifts

FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A WHOLE YEAR OF BRAGGING RIGHTS WITH TWO TICKETS TO EACH OF AUSTRALIA’S GREATEST SPORTING EVENTS.

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HARD FOUGHT:

Wimmera and Horsham

District football and netball competition at the weekend saw some tight tussles and runaway winners. Pictured, clockwise from above, are:

Dimboola’s Ben Miller and Warrack Eagles’ Dylan Watts; Kate Kelly-Oman, Taylors Lake; Taylors Lake’s Billy Finnigan; Dimboola’s Matt Rosier; Edenhope-Apsley’s Lewis Thompson; Warrack Eagle Aaron Watts forced over the line by Dimboola’s Simon Albrecht; and Edenhope-Apsley goal shooter Carlee Feder defended by Taylors Lake’s Kirby Clayton.

Pictures: KAREN REES

Redemption opportunity

BY SEAN O’CONNELL

Two battling teams are playing each other in round three of Mininera and District league senior football.

Moyston-Willaura will head to Mininera to face SMW Rovers in a well-matched contest.

The teams, who finished last and eighth last season, are both coming off heavy losses.

Playing-coach Aiden Lee said he saw Moyston-Willaura’s upcoming game at Conna Wilson Reserve as an opportunity, despite a ‘rough start’ to the season.

“Saturday’s game is winnable, although we have a few sore bodies,” he said.

“We lost three of our six-foot-four blokes at quarter time last week.”

Despite injury troubles, the Moyston-Willaura coach is expecting some key ‘ins’ for the game against SMW Rovers.

Lee said Pat Frawley, club best-andfairest, is expected to be back.

“Simon Lockyer could also return up forward. The veteran is battling injury but is close to taking the field again,” he said.

“A few of the players that went

down against Ararat Eagles will be assessed later in the week.

“Sam Pilgrim will definitely be out against SMW Rovers with concussion.”

Constantly changing player availability has not been the only story in Moyston-Willaura’s season so far.

Lee said a number of young players were impressive early on.

“We picked up Ben Skubnik last year. He didn’t last for much of that season, but he has really committed this pre-season and has been good in the two losses,” he said.

Lee said Skubnik, 19, had been helped by Ned Bohner, who played in the backline in round one before moving into the ruck for the second game.

“We have had a couple of debuts as well, which have been good to be a part of,” he said.

“Lane Jackson, who is 15, played his first game last week. His family is tied into the footy club.

“Nick Mason has also come up through the juniors to make his debut this season.”

SMW Rovers’ new senior coach Jake Carr will also be after a victory –which would be the first of his tenure.

Mixed results for Demons

Horsham Demons women’s team remains undefeated leading into what could be their toughest test this season.

In the fourth round of the Western Victoria Female Football League season, Horsham will face South Warrnambool, in Warrnambool on Sunday.

In the under-18 girls’ competition, Horsham will also travel to meet South Warrnambool after suffering a loss at the weekend.

The under-18s team lost to Warrnambool Blues by 15 points on Sunday.

The Blues were leading all game and had a strong first three quarters.

The Demons came out firing in the fourth quarter and gained some momentum to limit the margin, but it was not enough to overcome the home team.

Adelle Weidemann and Greta Arnel worked hard for Horsham all game. In the women’s game against the Blues, Horsham looked comfortable in the first half and established a solid lead.

A slow third quarter meant scores were even going into the final quarter. Horsham kept the ball in its forward line for most of the fourth term to kick four goals and take the win.

Dellie Brown was a standout in the midfield and Ella Boston, in her first game for the Demons, worked hard in the forward line.

H ead t o H orsham rac eco urs e fo r a gr e a t da y o f count ry casual racing, S a t u r d a y 29th o f Apri l!

Admission Free via West Side Bennett Road Entrance Bars & Canteen open at 12 noon.

REACHING TALL: Horsham Demons’ Jedah Huf goes up to ruck against her Warrnambool Blues opponent at Reid Oval, Warrnambool, on Sunday.

Picture: ELIZA McANULTY

Teams set for grand final replay

BY SIMON KING

Aftera good showing in the opening round of Wimmera Hockey Association, Warrack Hoops’ next engagement is a replay of last year’s open division grand final when they face a Yanac Tigers team coming off the bye.

Round two will be played on Nhill’s Davis Park on Saturday afternoon and with only one round of matches played so far and one team in each competition yet to play due to byes, there is still a great deal of mystery surrounding each team’s best line-up.

The feature match of round two will see the start of another chapter in the enduring rivalry between Yanac Tigers and Warrack Hoops, which has seen them meet in 16 grand finals dating back to the 1980s.

When these teams last met in September, the Tigers had to work hard to hold off the determined Hoops to earn a one-goal win.

Still, with an unbeaten run that dates back to the semi-final in 2019, it is not easy to tip against them repeating that result. But after the form they showed on Saturday, the Hoops cannot be taken lightly.

The other open match will be a big challenge for Nhill Rangers, as they

come off a first-round loss to take on Horsham Hurricanes, who started their season with a comfortable win.

The two women’s teams that suffered defeat in round one will clash in the women’s competition, giving both the opportunity to score their first points for the season.

With Horsham Jets losing to the strong Kaniva team last week and the Thunderbirds losing in a very close game to Warracknabeal, this match could go either way.

Warrack Women will be buoyed after opening 2023 with their first win since 2018, when they take on the unknown of the Yanac team that is yet to play this season after an openinground bye.

This will be a close match, and Warrack already having one game under their belt might be enough to have the confidence to register another win.

A clear early-season leader should emerge in the under-16 competition, with both Horsham Bombers and Nhill Leopards looking for their second win in as many weeks when they clash in the opening match of the round, with the Horsham team going into the game as slight favourites.

The 2022 premiers, Yanac Warriors, will play their first match but should finish ahead of the young Warrack Re-

Come-and-try badminton night

Horsham Badminton Association is hosting a free come-and-try night on Monday to restart its winter competition.

The event will be at the Horsham College gymnasium on Baillie Street from 6.45pm.

Horsham Badminton Association president Luke Dunn said beginners were welcome and there would be rackets available for people to use.

The Horsham badminton teams’ competition will begin on May 8 and continue until midSeptember.

Mr Dunn said it was a fantastic competition catering to all abilities.

“The teams’ competition is our most popular fixture which makes for a very social and enjoyable weekly event,” he said.

Mr Dunn said people unable to attend the comeand-try night were encouraged to enter their names for the competition by phoning him on 0429 839 299 or message ‘Horsham Badminton Association’ on Facebook.

vengers side, despite a lack of match practice.

All three Kaniva competition teams have the week off with the bye, and there will be a full round of games in the under-12 development program.

Round one results –

Open: Warrack Hoops 7 (Goals, O. Bennett 2, T. Jorgensen 2, J. Harris, E. Schilling, M. Peters; best, J. Harris, R. Bennett, T. Jorgensen) d Nhill Rangers 0 (H. Pearse, C. Schultz, D.

Reichelt). Horsham Hurricanes 4 (W. Gulline 4, S. Schwarz; W. Gulline, J. Mills, C. Hassell, L. Simmons) d Kaniva Cobras 0 (C. Beattie, T. Krelle, T. Ady, B. Lovett).

Women: Kaniva Women 5 (H. White 2, J. Hauselberger, Q. Pearse, L. Stimson; J. Hauselberger, H. White, B. Brooking) d Horsham Jets 0 (L. Schilling, K. Krahe, E. Morrow). Warrack Women 1 (F. Eilola; F. Eilola, L. Eilola, B. McMaster) d Nhill Thunderbirds 0 (C. Kessler, K. Clark, C. Rowe).

Under-16: Nhill Leopards 3 (L. Clark, D. Clark, O. Bone; D. Clark, O. Bone, N. Reichelt) d Warrack Revengers 0 (N. Eilola, E. Williamson, S. Williamson). Horsham Bombers 5 (T. Batchelor 4, S. Schwarz; T. Batchelor, S. Schwarz, K. Besselaar) d Kaniva Raiders 1 (C. White; C. White, L. Krelle, F. Dodson).

Under-12 development program: Nhill Bandits 1 (N. Krelle) v Kaniva Rampagers 0. Yanac Lowan Stars 0 (Best, S. Farmers, A. Cramer) v Horsham Black Hawks 1 (L. Rose). Dimboola Kookaburras 5 (E. Ward 3, J. Ward, R. Hadzig) v Warrack Revengers 4 (H. Lomax 2, S. Williamson 2).

READY: Horsham Badminton Association president Luke Dunn is looking forward to the teams’ competition returning to the courts for 2023. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

IN CONTROL: James Paley, Warrack Hoops, controls the ball as Darren Schwarz of the Nhill Rangers attempts to spoil. Picture: RACHEL CLARK

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Available Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm 5382 1351

Great morning dash

Saturday saw the running of Stawell Amateur Athletics Club’s David O. Jones Handicap at Great Western Racecourse.

Runners had fresh legs after a few weeks’ break to tackle the senior eight-kilometre distance, junior three kilometre and sub-junior onekilometre runs, all of which incorporated the racecourse track.

A smaller senior field took on the longest run of the season so far, across varied terrain including gravel, grass and road.

Matilda Iglesias took out her first

win of the season across the eightkilometre course, completing it in 41 minutes and 47 seconds, also making her the fastest female.

The ever-improving Simon Edge came in second place, with seasoned runner Terry Jenkins not far behind in third.

The fastest male was Nathan Baker, completing the course in 36 minutes and 14 seconds.

The juniors galloped their way around the two laps of the racecourse with Claire Christian taking out first place in a handicap adjusted

President’s Day to support Betty

time of 24 minutes and 35 seconds. Only one second separated cousins Tanner Freeland and Will Freeland, with Tanner placing second and Will placing third.

It was another family affair in the sub-junior dash with Flynn crossing the line 30 seconds ahead of brother Hunter, with Henry Ellis another 19 seconds behind in third.

The S. and K. Watson Handicap will run on Saturday and is one for spectators, with seniors completing two laps of a 2.5-kilometre course to make up the five-kilometre distance.

Horsham Croquet Club is donating $1600 to ovarian cancer research in honour of long-time member and volunteer Betty Etherton.

The club’s annual President’s Day on Saturday was a fundraising event in appreciation of the time and effort Mrs Etherton has contributed to the club and the Wimmera Croquet Association.

Mrs Etherton has stage four ovarian cancer.

She said she wanted to use the day as an opportunity to raise awareness about the BRCA gene and remind people to

get regular health check-ups. About 40 people attended the President’s Day with 28 members playing three games of golf croquet.

Shirley Price and David Wortley won division one while Gwen McCartney and Jean Burke won division two and Brian Drendel and Rachel Cousins won division three. On the day, $1450 was raised and $150 was donated online. Mrs Etherton said 100 percent of the money raised would be donated to the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation.

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PLACEGETTERS: Senior runners, from left, Terry Jenkins, Matilda Iglesias and Simon Edge.

DONATION: Horsham Croquet Club president Donna Frost, right, presents Betty Etherton with a cheque for ovarian cancer research after the club’s President’s Day.

Taking the lead

People with experience working in, or organising, a busy kitchen might have some understanding of the hours needed to feed hundreds of hungry people weekly.

The Overman family, of Horsham, has led Taylors Lake Football Netball Club’s kitchen since the start of the 2022 winter sport season.

Chris and Jane Overman, and their children Izzy, Harriet and Henry, are one of many Wimmera families who dedicate countless hours to the management of a sporting club’s vital arterial unit, and financial steadier – the club canteen.

Chris Overman said the family became involved with the club as pandemic-restrictions eased – when community organisations struggled to attract sufficient volunteers to keep integral elements of the club alive.

Mr Overman said he remembered the many families who dedicated their time to the Lakers during his playing days at the club in the early 2000s.

“I look back to when I was playing and the amount of people who were involved to keep the club running every week – some of those families are still at the club. I was brought up with volunteering parents who always helped out at clubs and at school events, so it is something I have always done,” he said.

“It is also a great way for kids to learn skills they will use throughout their lives, when they pitch in at the club – even if they might not know it at the time.”

The Overmans lead preparation and food ordering of the club’s post-netball and football

training evening meals, its Saturday canteen duties, as well as club-hosted social events.

Mr Overman said before a home game, the whole family would spend the evening putting together final touches on products to be sold at the club canteen.

“There have been some Friday nights we have all sat around bagging up lollies while watching the football on television,” he said.

“We kick off the canteen in the morning on a home game and get it ready for service, before people come into relieve us so we can watch our children play footy and netball during the day.”

Mr Overman said the family enjoyed the extra hours they contributed to the club.

“Meal preparation takes up a lot of time every week, with planning, ordering and keeping the kitchen organised in the background. But we have such a great team of helpers who support us along the way, and who help us share the load,” he said.

“We enjoy what we do. We also know it is getting harder to find volunteers. This is one way we can help with that.”

Club president Travis Mackley said the Overmans do ‘so much’ for the club.

“Chris, Jane, Izzy, Harriet and Henry should all be recognised for the time they contribute to this club. They’re a great family and we are all so appreciative them,” he said.

Mr Mackley said the club awarded its best club-person award to the entire family in 2022.

“They deserved every bit of that award – we know how hard they work for this club,” he said.

ACROSS THE LEAGUES

Wimmera

This week: Round three, Ararat v Warrack Eagles, Dimboola v Horsham, Stawell v Horsham Saints, Minyip-Murtoa v Southern Mallee Giants at Murtoa. Nhill, bye.

Senior football

Last week: Ararat 21.14 (140) d Nhill 3.3 (21), Dimboola 19.14 (128) d Warrack Eagles 10.8 (68), Minyip-Murtoa 9.12 (66) d Stawell 6.3 (39), Horsham Saints 11.13 (79) d Horsham 7.6 (48). Southern Mallee Giants, bye. Ladder: Ararat 8 points, 401.89 percent; Minyip-Murtoa 8, 176.32; Horsham Saints 8, 158; Dimboola 8, 156.25; Southern Mallee Giants 4, 509.52; Warrack Eagles 0, 57.97; Horsham Demons 57.82; Nhill 0, 38.21; Stawell 0, 37.4. A Grade netball

Last week: Nhill 55 d Ararat 33, Dimboola 57 d Warrack Eagles 40, Stawell 61 d Minyip-Murtoa 40, Horsham Saints 63 d Horsham 59. Southern Mallee Giants, bye. Ladder: Horsham Saints 8 points, 156.04 percent; Dimboola 8, 127.78; Stawell 8, 115.38; Horsham 4, 132.58; Nhill 4, 127.94; Ararat 4, 82.93; Southern Mallee Giants 0, 90.63; Minyip-Murtoa 0, 55; Warrack Eagles 0, 52.94. Horsham District

This week: Round three, Edenhope-Apsley v Kaniva-Leeor United, Swifts v Rupanyup, Pimpinio v Laharum, Natimuk United v Noradjuha-Quantong, Kalkee v Taylors Lake, Harrow-Balmoral v Jeparit-Rainbow.

Senior football

Last week: Edenhope-Apsley 16.13 (109) d Taylors Lake 14.8 (92), Jeparit-Rainbow 18.20 (128) d Kalkee 6.6 (42), Harrow-Balmoral 25.13 (157) d Natimuk United 9.4 (58), Kaniva-Leeor United 18.7 (115) d Pimpinio 16.14 (110), Swifts 20.7 (127) d Laharum 3.3 (21), Rupanyup 14.6 (90) d Noradjuha-Quantong 7.14 (57).

Ladder: Harrow-Balmoral 8 points, 335.44 percent; Jeparit-Rainbow 8, 202.61; Kaniva-Leeor United 8, 104.21; Rupanyup 6, 131.13; Swifts 4, 199.04; Noradjuha-Quantong 4, 175.47; Pimpinio 4, 103.17; Edenhope-Apsley 4, 92.39; Natimuk United 2, 51.94; Taylors Lake 0, 85.57; Kalkee 0, 26.69; Laharum 0, 14.45.

A Grade netball

Last week: Edenhope-Apsley 61 d Taylors Lake 22, Kalkee 55 d Jeparit-Rainbow 48, Natimuk United 44 d Harrow-Balmoral 36, Pimpinio 69 d Kaniva-Leeor United 44, Laharum 68 d Swifts 38, Rupanyup 53 d Noradjuha-Quantong 44.

Ladder: Edenhope-Apsley 8 points, 260.87 percent; Kalkee 8, 177.27; Laharum 8, 162.90; Rupanyup 8, 149.28; Pimpinio 8, 146.34, Swifts 4, 92.23; Natimuk United 4, 80.23; Noradjuha-Quantong 0, 79.07; Jeparit-Rainbow 0, 63.16; Kaniva-Leeor United 0, 62.70; Taylors Lake 0, 53.57; Harrow-Balmoral 0, 50.94.

Mininera and District

This week: Round three, Caramut v Woorndoo-Mortlake, Wickliffe-Lake Bolac v

Tatyoon, SMW Rovers v Moyston-Willaura, Lismore-Derrinallum v Penshurst, Hawkesdale-Macarthur v Glenthompson-Dunkeld, Ararat Eagles v Great Western.

Senior football

Last week: Glenthompson-Dunkeld 7.10 (52) d Penshurst 5.9 (39), Great Western 12.17 (89) d Lismore-Derrinallum 12.8 (80), Hawkesdale-Macarthur 34.12 (216) d Caramut 3.3 (21), Tatyoon 20.11 (131) d SMW Rovers 8.2 (50), Ararat Eagles 27.22 (184) d Moyston-Willaura 2.5 (17), Wickliffe-Lake Bolac 14.12 (96) d Woorndoo-Mortlake 7.10 (52).

Ladder: Glenthompson-Dunkeld 8 points, 489.74 percent; Tatyoon 8, 234.18; Wickliffe-Lake Bolac 8, 156.18; Great Western 8, 148.78; Hawkesdale-Macarthur 4, 395.31; Ararat Eagles 4, 300; Lismore-Derrinallum 4, 250.96; Woorndoo-Mortlake 4, 108.4; Penshurst 0, 56.16; SMW Rovers 0, 38.46; Moyston-Willaura 0, 8.77; Caramut 0, 5.92.

A Grade netball

Last week: Penshurst 40 d Glenthompson-Dunkeld 29, Lismore-Derrinallum 62 d Great Western 38, Hawkesdale-Macarthur 46 d Caramut 42, Tatyoon 53 d SMW Rovers 27, Ararat Eagles 87 d Moyston-Willaura 19. Woorndoo-Mortlake v Wickliffe-Lake Bolac, no game.

Ladder: Lismore-Derrinallum 8 points, 223.08 percent; Tatyoon 8, 164.81; Penshurst 8, 158.82; Hawkesdale-Macarthur 4, 133.33; Ararat Eagles 4, 207.27; Woorndoo-Mortlake 4, 146.15; Caramut 4, 105.33; Glenthompson 0, 75.32; SMW Rovers 0, 60; Great Western 0, 58.25; Moyston-Willaura 0, 23.40.

North Central

This week: Round three, St Arnaud v Sea Lake-Nandaly, Birchip-Watchem v Charlton, Wedderburn v Donald, Boort v Wycheproof-Narraport. Nullawil, bye.

Senior football

Last week: Nullawil 20.11 (131) d St Arnaud 3.2 (20), Sea Lake-Nandaly 12.8 (80) d Birchip-Watchem 10.14 (74), Boort 19.16 (130) d Charlton 7.5 (47), Wycheproof-Narraport 16.8 (104) d Wedderburn 9.11 (65). Donald, bye.

Ladder: Nullawil 8 points, 345.16 percent; Wycheproof-Narraport 8, 151.49; Sea Lake-Nandaly 8, 130.69; Boort 4, 158.59; Wedderburn 4, 122.7; Donald 0, 73.47; Birchip-Watchem 0, 71.17; Charlton 0, 35.29; St Arnaud 0, 15.27.

A Grade netball

Last week: Nullawil 63 d St Arnaud 22, Wedderburn 44 d Wycheproof-Narraport 41, Birchip-Watchem 49 d Sea Lake-Nandaly 18, Boort 44 d Charlton 27. Donald, bye.

Ladder: Boort 8 points, 206.52 percent; Nullawil 8, 185.71; Wedderburn 8, 110.39; Birchip-Watchem 4, 140.68; Wycheproof-Narraport 4, 102.41; Donald 0, 88.64; Charlton 0, 74.12; Sea Lake-Nandaly 0, 37; St Arnaud 0, 34.92.

• Full scoreboards and ladders for all grades are available via the league pages at playhq.com

HAPPY TO HELP: The Overman family, from left, Izzy, Harriet, Chris, Jane and Henry volunteer countless hours for Horsham District league club, Taylors Lake, feeding the masses as they manage the club’s kitchen. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

AFTER THE SIREN

shirtfront the

Senior football

The match of the round: Kaniva-Leeor United v Pimpinio was my game of the round. It was a close, high-scoring match.

In the end, Pimpinio missed some chances and was outkicked by Kaniva-Leeor United.

It was an intense match-up, with both sides needing a win.

The standout player: James Magner for Taylors Lake.

The former Melbourne Demon came down and kicked nine goals in a narrow loss.

Starting in the midfield, Magner went forward and turned the game on its head. He capitalised on the scoreboard to take Taylors Lake to within 17 points of Edenhope-Apsley at the final siren.

The rising star: Fredrick Frew from Kaniva-Leeor United. He is a young kid, still top-age in the under-17s, who plays as a medium-size forward.

As well as being a versatile player, Frew can use both feet.

On Saturday, he showed that he is good in the air and on the ground, picking up the footy with ease.

A Grade netball

The match of the round: Rupanyup v Noradjuha-Quantong was a tightly contested affair between two teams that will compete for a flag.

Rupanyup looked too strong – showing its class to run out as the winner.

The standout player: Caitlin Story shot 51 goals in a dominant win for Laharum. She used her height against the Swifts’ defence and showed her touch around the ring.

The rising star: Jedah Huf played in goals on the weekend for Kalkee, putting on a dominant display.

She netted 34 goals and was a physical presence in attack all game against Jeparit-Rainbow.

Swifts up for the challenge

TheSwifts will be tested against reigning premiers Rupanyup in Horsham District league senior football this weekend.

The Swifts are facing an early season test against the benchmark team.

Their mixed start to the season has been shared by Rupanyup, who also dropped points in round one.

Swifts senior coach Brett Hargreaves said the season start could be split into ‘two halves’.

He said his squad was disappointed to lose against Kaniva-Leeor United, but bounced back last week against Laharum.

Hargreaves said Swifts’ round three match-up against Rupanyup would provide a chance to see how they measured up against one of the ‘better’ teams.

“This early in the season, being competitive against them is the most important thing,” he said.

“We will be looking out for how our structures hold up.”

The previous matches allowed a couple of talented young players to emerge for the Swifts.

“Last week, we were pleased with youngsters Noah Sterling and Toby Lowe,” Hargreaves said.

“The two half-forward flankers were close to being the best two players for us.”

Rupanyup coach Brayden Ison

was happy to get back to his team’s winning ways after a difficult first round draw against Natimuk United.

“The two games were played in completely different conditions –poor and good weather,” he said.

“A week is a long time in footy. We turned it around in the second week against Noradjuha-Quantong after not really showing up in round one.”

The Panthers coach said he was not placing any particular emphasis on the Swifts game, but putting it in the context of the season.

“We are approaching it pretty similarly to every game for the season,” Ison said.

“Anyone can beat anyone in this league.”

With this mantra, Ison said he would be looking to build some momentum in the early games and get players into good form.

He said ruckman Mitch Gleeson and on-baller Lachlan Wiedemann were two players who started the season well.

Rupanyup will travel to North Park, Stawell on Saturday to face the Swifts.

RIGHT: Taylors Lake’s James Magner takes a well fought mark over Edenhope-Apsley’s Nathan Witherow.

New-look Harrow-Balmoral hopeful at home

Horsham District league A Grade netball this weekend features a match between two teams in search of their first win, at Balmoral on Saturday.

Harrow-Balmoral will be looking to capitalise on a home advantage when it takes on fellow 2022 elimination finalists Jeparit-Rainbow. The hosts are coming off consecutive defeats against Kalkee and Natimuk United.

Jeparit-Rainbow has been on the wrong end of similar results, losing heavily against Edenhope-Apsley before being beaten by seven goals against Kalkee.

Harrow-Balmoral should be looking to attack players Febey McClure, Rosie Close and Tara McIn-

tyre as they seek to convert scoring opportunities.

In the season so far, they have ended games with scores of 18 and 36. Together, with all-round improvement to performances, greater efficiency in goals is central to making another finals run.

Jeparit-Rainbow will also be looking for more across the court.

Penny Fisher has been in the best players’ list both weeks, showing that there is enough consistency in the line-up for results to get better.

The close loss to Kalkee – last season’s minor premier – will also provide some encouragement for the visiting team.

Harrow-Balmoral is a new-look team in A Grade, led by new coach

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Penny Dunstan. Returning players such as Jorja Jones and Courtney Clough will be asked to provide some stability in the early season.

Jeparit-Rainbow has a number of young players waiting in the wings who could be called up to A Grade if necessary.

In other games, Edenhope-Apsley should see off the winless KanivaLeeor United.

At Edenhope, the home favourites will be interested to see who steps up. Last week it was Shannon Freeman and Carlee Feder who starred against a new-look Taylors Lake.

Rupanyup will host Swifts in a top-six clash.

The home team will be hoping for another great performance

from Zanaiya Bergen who shot 38 goals in their win against Noradjuha-Quantong.

Pimpinio take on Laharum in what could be another close contest.

Natimuk United meets neighbours Noradjuha-Quantong, after its first victory.

Noradjuha-Quantong will be looking to move past last week’s loss against Rupanyup.

Kalkee is up against Taylors Lake in what could be a one-sided affair.

The encounter comes after Victoria and Australia representative netballers Kate Kelly-Omen and Georgia Harper played for Taylors Lake in round two.

with Kuges, Cobba, Easty & Hugh

Burras, Giants line up for first win of season

Minyip-Murtoa and Southern Mallee Giants are primed to put their first four points on the ladder this weekend in Wimmera league A Grade netball competition.

Minyip-Murtoa coach Sheridan Petering said the Burras needed to start strong on Saturday, in round three.

“We are expecting a strong outfit from the Giants and are looking forward to a good game,” she said.

“In round one we were competitive in the first half against Horsham but took our foot off the pedal, so the score blew out.

“We got off to a slow start against Stawell in round two.

“This week we need a better start

to our game to get ourselves into the match early on.”

Petering said Lucy Brand was working hard this season.

“Last year Lucy was in a shooter position, but we have put her into a defensive role, in wing defence, and she has taken to it so well and is reading the play well, too,” she said.

Giants co-coach Steph Thomson said players were well-rested and ready to go after a bye.

“Minyip-Murtoa is a young side, so it should be a good game and we’re hopeful it will be a close one,” she said.

“As a new team coming together, we are still working through

where everyone best fits within the squad.”

Thomson said Ruby Fisher had returned after a few years away and was combining well in the midcourt with Jodie Hayes.

“Cody Robins is playing well from attack to defence, while Steph Riggall has come back to join us and Taya Horman, who is 15, is stepping up to A Grade, which is exciting,” she said.

Horsham and Dimboola have a score to settle after finishing in a draw last season.

Roos’ Hannah Dubois will provide much-needed drive down the court, while Horsham’s Imogen Worthy continues to be a force

AFTER THE SIREN

in the goal ring. Stawell will line up for its biggest challenge of the season so far with a clash against Horsham Saints.

Saints’ Megan Byrne will be a strong opponent through the midcourt.

Warriors’ Dakota Cosson is making her mark in the goal ring and will be tough to beat.

Ararat will be hopeful for a second win as it faces Warrack Eagles.

Abby Roberts is coming off a good game for the Eagles and Ararat’s Laney McLoughlan has been consistent in shooter.

Nhill will be flying high after its first win and has the bye this round.

Leaders starting to emerge

Wimmera league senior footballers will continue to provide a mixed bag of results this week as the strongest contenders continue to emerge.

Horsham Demons’ young side is unlikely to get on top of Dimboola this week, after two wins under the Roos’ belt.

The Demons will not let Dimboola’s run to secure a third win be easy, though, and with quick energy, the Roos will have to keep up defensive pressure all day.

Dimboola coach Jack Landt said the Demons’ line-up looked different to what the Roos lost to in the elimination final last season.

“We’re expecting a different style from the Demons, but it will be good if we can get another win this week,” he said.

“We’ve had a better start than last season and we’re heading in the right direction.

“There’s always lots to work on though, which is good.”

Landt said Matt Rosier was consistent and could be counted on ‘week in, week out’.

“Sam Godden has also started the season well and plays an important role for us, so we hope to see that continue,” he said.

Brody Pope and Ben Janetzki are standouts for the Demons this season and will be tough opponents on Saturday.

Horsham will need to put in four quarters of solid effort as Dimboola has taken advantage of any fatigue in their opponents to score quickly in the first two rounds.

Ararat will look to further boost its percentage when it comes up against Warrack Eagles.

Despite a good fight in the first two rounds, the Eagles have been unable to run out a game to take a lead.

Ararat’s Brody Griffin will be one

to watch and Jake O’Donnell has been playing well for the Eagles.

Minyip-Murtoa and Southern Mallee Giants will test each other as both teams have started the season strong and look difficult to beat.

Burras’ Will Cameron has had a consistent start to the season and Giants’ Angus McSweyn proved what he can do in round one.

The encounter marks the first time Giants’ new coach Kieran Dela-

hunty will play against his former team.

Stawell will try to turn around a slow season start this week against Horsham Saints, who will be confident after two wins. Angus Martin will continue to make an impact in the backline for the Saints, while Mitch Thorp is a dangerous forward for Stawell and his precision toward goal could make the difference for the Warriors.

Nhill has a bye in round three.

shirtfront the

with Kuges, Cobba, Easty & Hugh

Senior football

The match of the round: Horsham and Horsham Saints because of the significance of it being the Anzac Day clash – it’s also one of the biggest rivalries in the league.

The first half was a good, tight game but I think, with a lot of young players in both teams, which I love to see, the skills dropped off after halftime.

The Saints had their noses in front all day and the pressure from both teams was good in the second half.

The standout player: Horsham Saints’ Angus Martin won the Bert Perry Anzac Day medal and he was the standout player. He was playing in the backline, reads the ball well and cut off a lot of forays for Horsham.

The rising star: Young player from Saints in the forward line, Judd Wright, impressed me. He is light-framed but he showed on Sunday he has a good leap and has the smarts to get into position. He was very good, kicked a goal and took a couple of good marks.

A Grade netball

The match of the round: Horsham and Horsham Saints in a grand final replay and it went the same way – Saints were too good.

It was high scoring and you don’t see that often when the top-two teams play one another. It was a high-quality, fast game. It looks like these two sides could be the benchmark again.

The standout player: Looking at the scores, young Jorja Clode must be a ripper, shooting 41 goals for the Saints.

She has a bright future ahead of her in her netball and could cause some havoc for a lot of teams.

The rising star: Nhill had a great win, beating Ararat. I was rapt that they won and I think they will make it hard for a lot of teams. It’s great they have an A Grade team again after they won the B Grade premiership last year.

They were good last week and to come and knock off Ararat is a huge feather in their cap.

DETERMINED: Warrack Eagle Kyle Cheney keeps his eye on the ball as Dimboola’s Darcy Dubois looks to tackle him.

Picture: KAREN REES

SPort

Battle of top two

BY DAVID BERRY

With competition resuming after the school holiday break, all eyes will be on the battle of the top two teams in Volleyball Horsham’s A Grade competition tonight, when Phantoms and Hellenic Nuggets square off.

Phantoms sit comfortably on top of the ladder undefeated after seven rounds, with Hellenic Nuggets sitting second, but Phantoms will need to adjust their line-up following the loss of consistent middle attacker Nicolas Dalebroux.

This could see Will Saligari taken out of his libero role, which he has been playing consistently all season, and into the middle position vacated by Dalebroux.

Hellenic Nuggets are starting to settle their line-up with the returning Dimitrios Vettos making a huge difference to their attacking options, while Tom Roberts is warming to his new role as a middle attacker.

In the second game, Heidelberg and Rangers face off and with both teams well off the pace in relation to the finals double chance, one of these teams will use this game as a launching pad for the second half of the season, in the hope of gaining some confidence in their ability to mix it with the top two.

In the women’s competition, Heidelberg will do battle with the Academy girls, who now move into full preparation mode as they start to build their game with the upcoming country championships firmly in their sights.

Brodie Jenkins returned for Heidelberg last round, following injury, with a best-on-court display, while Lydia Schneider is improving with each game she plays.

Both girls are tall and effective on the net with their blocking.

Emily Hannan’s Tsunami takes on ladder leaders Bingo Biddies, who have been strengthened with the inclusion of Ellonia Barnett into their team.

Brittany Bates and Cassie Hateley are improving for Hannan’s team and they will make the Bingo Biddies work for every point.

In A Reserve, the top four play the bottom four with all games fairly clear cut, but player availability is always the question, so anything could happen.

Selection trials

Country championships will be in Mildura this year during the King’s Birthday long weekend in June, and Volleyball Horsham is giving members the chance to trial for teams, ranging from division-one men and women to division two and three and under-17 boys and girls. There was a good turn out for trial one and there will be one more trial on Tuesday for those who did not make it this week.

Volleyball Horsham has a proud history of participation in the pinnacle event for country associations and is looking to make this year’s championships one to remember.

With our under-17 teams and women’s division-one finalists last year, the association is keen to repeat that effort again this year.

Social function

Members are reminded the association’s first social function for the year will be on Friday, with a night of Music Bingo planned.

Tickets, via the association’s Eventbrite, are still available with numbers required by tonight for catering purposes.

State accolades for shooters

Two Wimmera District Rifle Association shooters won state championship divisions at Bendigo earlier this month.

Mick Liston, of Warracknabeal Rifle Club, won the state championship in the hunter rifle class.

He won with a score of 137.06 out of 150 over 600, 700 and 900 yards from a field of shooters from across Victoria.

Barry Crouch, of Kaniva Rifle Club, won the state championship in the target rifle class.

He won from a field of 12 shooters representing their dis-

Apprentice Butcher

Nhill

Closing date: ASAP

Duties:

• Cut, trim and shape standard cuts of meat to size

• Assemble and operate mincers, grinders, mixers and bandsaws

• Pack and store products for display and sale

• Order supplies from wholesalers

For more information contact Chris Barber on 0427 346 655.

Agricultural Farm Hand Traineeship

Ararat

Closing date: May 2, 2023

Duties:

• Cultivate soil, sow crops and control weeds by slashing, rotary hoeing, or chemical spraying

• Take part in harvesting operations which may involve the use of tractors, harvesters, forklifts and hand tools with appropriate training and licences, as required.

• Feed livestock

For more information contact Kate Clark on 0428 971 821 for a confidential discussion.

Carpentry Apprenticeship

Horsham

Closing date: May 2, 2023

Duties:

• Construct formwork into which concrete is poured

• Build floors, wall frameworks (timber or metal) and roofs, and lay timber floors

• Install metal and timber windows, sashes and doors

• Cut materials with hand and power tools, and assemble, nail, cut or shape parts

For more information contact Chris Barber on 0427 346 655 for a confidential discussion.

Customer Service/Sales Assistant

Horsham

Closing date: ASAP

Duties:

• Promote sales and hire of mobility aid equipment

• Arrange retail displays in sales area and showroom

• Check equipment and report defects

• Participate in promotional events, conferences and meetings

To discuss this role further, contact Nathan Keel on 0408 109 324.

tricts from across the state with a score of 146.16.

The last Wimmera shooter to win a state rifle championship was George Holden of Stawell, 30 years ago.

The Wimmera District Rifle Association five-shooter team finished third in the team competition against other Victorian districts.

Shooters representing the Wimmera were team captain Geoff Evans and Craig Arnel of the Horsham club, Ted and Mark Holden, of the Stawell club and Crouch.

The team was coached by Alan Hobbs of Natimuk. A team of Scoped Rifle shooters coached by Carolynn Nitschke of the Warracknabeal club finished fifth in their division.

The shooters were John Findlay and Melissa Perry of Ararat and Alan Hobbs, Richard Lane, and Bruce Holding of Natimuk.

The championships were the 2022 iteration of the event after it was initially postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Commercial Cookery Apprenticeship

Horsham

Closing date: May 2, 2023

Duties:

• Assist in cooking and preparing food

• Assist and work with the team for menu ideas

• Assist in stocktaking and ordering of food

• Wash and clean utensils and dishes and make sure they are stored appropriately

For more information contact Daryl Eastwell on 0407 364 654 for a confidential discussion.

Truck Driver/Labourer

Horsham

Closing date: ASAP

Requirements:

• HR truck licence preferred (drivers licence essential)

• White Card

• Clean police check

• Physically fit & able to perform manual tasks

• Evidence of COVID-19 vaccination certificates required

To discuss this opportunity further, contact Nathan Keel on 0408 109 324.

ON TARGET: Warracknabeal Rifle Club’s Mick Liston, left , and Barry Crouch, of the Kaniva Rifle Club, are state champions following Victorian rifle championships.

Club stalwarts return for honour

BY ABBY WALTER

Dimboola Rowing Club will award life memberships on Friday to honour two long-term rowers and volunteers, Pamela Westendorf and Leeanne Ambrose.

Westendorf and Ambrose commenced their rowing careers as school rowers for the club in 1974.

The first crew they rowed with consisted of Kathleen Salter, Coleen Nuske and Terry Gazelle as cox.

The crew won several events at club and state levels.

In 1976, the crew changed to Ambrose, Lyn McDonald, Westendorf, Denise Petschel and Gazelle as cox.

In December that year, the crew represented Victoria in New Zealand in the Colt Series, placing second.

In 1977, the crew was selected to represent Victoria at the National Kings Cup Regatta on the Canning River in Perth. They won the Australian Senior Women’s Four Championship and Australian Junior Women’s Four Championship.

In 1978, Westendorf relocated to Melbourne. Ambrose relocated to

SUCCESS: Horsham Harness

Racing Club president Terry Lewis presents horsewoman Ellen Tormey, 32, with the Noel Smith Memorial Invitation Drivers Championship Shield at Horsham on Monday. Charlton-born Tormey topped the pool with 39 points after earning two first-places, a second and a third across her four Decron Horse Care heats. Runner-up was Anthony Butt, 27 points, and third was last year’s winner Jack Laugher, also with 27 points. Tormey came into the Horsham meet with confidence on the back of a $20,000 Trotters Cup win at Mildura on Saturday night with 15-1 outsider Downunder Barkers for trainer Bradley Cross and, later that night, saluting with Avoca Blues in the Victorian Harness Racing Club three-year-old pace for local trainer Scott Garraway. Tormey is from a harness racing family, with her father John Tormey still an active trainer. Picture:

BIANCA BREHAUT, HORSHAM HARNESS RACING CLUB

Melbourne in 1981. Dimboola Rowing Club president Michael Salter said the pair had an insatiable passion for rowing.

“Pam represented Australia at the

1980 Moscow Olympic Games, five world championships and Victoria 23 times at the Australian National Championships,” he said.

“She has continued in the sport as

a competitive rower as well as being successful as a coach at national, state, school and club levels.

“Leeanne represented Australia at two world championships and Victo-

ria five times at the Australian National Championships. She has continued in the sport as a competitive rower and administrator including leadership and knowledge as a current board member of Rowing Victoria.”

Westendorf and Ambrose were inducted into the Victoria Rowing Hall of Fame in November 2013.

“Both Pam and Leeanne have always demonstrated a continual passion and support for the Dimboola Rowing Club, financially and more than willing to assist with coaching and mentoring of junior rowers,” Mr Salter said.

“Both have never forgotten where their great journey commenced.”

Mr Salter said the club invited friends, former and current members and rowers to attend the life membership presentation.

The night will start at 6pm followed by the life membership and club awards presentation.

Racing industry in mourning

Australian jockey Dean Holland has died after a fall during the opening race at Donald Racecourse on Monday afternoon.

Holland, 34, was in the final sprint of the race when he fell from his horse, Headingley.

Officials abandoned the remainder of the race meet.

Victoria Racing Club chairman Neil Wilson said the club was deeply saddened by Holland’s death.

“Our hearts and thoughts go out to Dean’s family, friends and fellow jockeys,” he said.

“Dean’s passing will be felt deeply by the wider racing industry.

“Dean was a familiar face in the win-

ner’s circle at Flemington and we will forever remember his brilliant ride to win the 2023 Newmarket Handicap aboard In Secret.”

Holland was a two-time group one winner and first made his mark as a jockey in Adelaide.

Mr Wilson said Racing Victoria and Victorian Jockeys Association cancelled both race meetings scheduled for Victoria yesterday, including Flemington, out of respect to Holland and his family.

“A further update on the re-programming on Anzac Day Race Day at Flemington will be advised in due course,” he said.

Annual tournament tees off

Horsham Golf Club’s 114th annual tournament begins today.

The five-day tournament is open to all golfers, with men’s and women’s stableford today, men’s and women’s fourball stableford aggregate tomorrow and four ball best ball par men’s and women’s on Friday.

On Saturday there is men’s and women’s 36 and 18-hole stroke and on Sunday there is mixed pinehurst and men’s two-person ambrose.

Each day is a 10.30am shotgun start, except for Saturday, which is a 7.30am and 12.30pm start.

PASSION: Leeanne Ambrose, front, and Pamela Westendorf will receive Dimboola Rowing Club life memberships for their continued support of the club over many years.

“Both have never forgotten where their great journey commenced”

– Michael Salter