GOING STRONG:
Supervisor Mila Kean interacts with Emperor tamarin Yesinia at Halls Gap Zoo. The popular Grampians tourist attraction has marked its 40th year of operation. Story, page 13. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
36-page
AgLife lift-out including Mallee Machinery Field Days feature
The developer of a proposed wastewater treatment facility near Horsham must consider an alternate location after plans were rejected following a years-long, community-led campaign.
Horsham councillors have refused to grant Water Sustainability Farming, WSF, a permit for the use and development of a waste treatment facility at Lanes Avenue, Quantong – including processing brine waste, a food manufacturing by-product and the construction of two evaporative ponds.
WSF is affiliated with Australian Plant Proteins, APP, which produces high-grade protein from pulses at its Horsham plant. WSF had forecast to process an average of 57,000 litres a day of brine, trucked from APP to the facility across a 30-year lifespan. Grounds for the refusal included that the permit was inconsistent with Horsham Planning Scheme objectives and policies; the proposal would permanently remove agricultural land from production; significant potential for environmental and amenity impacts on neighbouring properties; the location was inconsistent with surround-
ing rural-residential land use; and the use of the land might limit future review and application of rural zones.
Quantong resident Jesse Raggatt said the community was united against the location since it was first proposed.
“We’re all taking a big sigh of relief now,” he said.
“We were impressed the councillors made a unanimous vote to deny the application for a planning permit. We submitted our official objections in September last year.
“It has been a couple of years since the applicant was first reported for starting construction without a permit,
which led to an approval process with the EPA.”
WSF obtained an Environment Protection Authority development licence in March 2022 for the project. It also required the council permit to proceed.
The council received 18 community submissions. Objections included the rural-residential nature of the area, risk to groundwater, odour, road safety, devaluation and illegal works.
Quantong is a historical irrigation district with rural-residential lots of four to 20 hectares.
Continued page 3
Residents will have the chance to help shape Horsham Rural City Council’s strategic planning at a three-day public engagement event next month.
The Horsham Rural City Talks Expo will be at Horsham Town Hall on Thursday August 10, Friday August 11 and Saturday August 12.
The Expo will allow the community to influence the development of key documents such as the Council Plan (including the Health and Wellbeing Plan), Annual Action Plan and its Budget.
People’s contributions to the expo will also inform the planning and design of projects slated for the future.
Mayor Robyn Gulline said the event would include information and displays and people would be able to ask questions and provide feedback directly to Council staff and Councillors.
“The launch of the Expo will be held on Thursday evening between 6pm and 8pm and we would love for you to be involved. You can also drop into the Town Hall at any time that suits over the three-day Expo,” she said.
“The Expo has been designed to provide a transparent process that gives all members of our community an equal voice in planning for our future.
“All feedback provided by the Community during the Expo will be included in an Engagement Outcomes Report, which will
Horsham Regional Livestock Exchange will introduce alternating start times for its weekly sheep and lamb sales from next month.
From Wednesday 2 August, every second market will move to an afternoon format beginning at 12.30pm.
Sales on alternative weeks will remain at the 9.30am start time.
Horsham Rural City Council’s Commercial Enterprises Co-ordinator Paul Christopher said the decision to change the start time followed consultation with livestock agents.
“The later start time was tried last year and a better outcome for vendors was achieved,” he said.
“By moving to afternoon sales every second week, it means that we are not running all of our sales at the same time as Hamilton’s which start at 9am.
“On the other hand, the 9.30am sales every other week won’t clash with the fortnightly market days at Warracknabeal which are held in the afternoon,” Mr Christopher said.
• Wednesday 2 August, 12.30pm
• Wednesday 9 August, 9.30am
• Wednesday 16 August, 12.30pm
• Wednesday 23 August, 9.30am
• Wednesday 30 August, 12.30pm
• Wednesday 6 September, 9.30am
• Wednesday 13 September, 12.30pm
• Wednesday 20 September, 9.30am
• Wednesday 27 September, 12.30pm
24/001
FLOOD RECOVERY ROAD WORKS PACKAGE 12
Regrading, resheeting and restoring gravel roads.
Close 12noon, Monday 31 July
24/002
FLOOD RECOVERY ROAD WORKS PACKAGE 13
Regrading, resheeting and restoring gravel roads.
Close 12noon, Monday 31 July
24/003
FLOOD RECOVERY ROAD WORKS PACKAGE 14
Regrading, resheeting and restoring gravel roads.
Close 12noon, Monday 31 July
Q03/2024
CONSTRUCTION AND FABRICATION OF SIGNAGE FRAME
Fabrication of two frames to hold signage at the WAL Hub entrance.
Close 12noon, Friday 28 July
Q02/2024
be made available to the community and considered by Council when reviewing the Council Plan and Annual Action Plan and developing the Council Budget for 20242025,” Cr Gulline said.
Participants will have a chance to complete surveys and participate in workshops.
There will also be an online version of the Expo on Council's website where the community can view the exhibits and provide feedback on the plans and projects.
Thursday 10 August 6pm to 8pm
Friday 11 September 10am to 7pm
Saturday 12 September 10am to 1pm
Heritage Hall, Horsham Town Hall Pynsent Street, Horsham
SOLAR PV INSTALLS - JUBILEE HALL AND DUDLEY CORNELL
Solar installs at Jubilee Hall and Dudley Cornell Park.
Close 12noon, Friday 28 July
All tender, EOI and RFQ details at hrcc.vic.gov.au
Current Community Engagements
For full details visit the Have Your Say section of the HRCC website WEEDS AND PEST MANAGEMENT PLAN 2023-2026
The plan will set out how noxious weeds and pest animals will be managed on council-managed roadsides. Submissions can be made via email council@hrcc.vic.gov.au or by post until 9am, Monday 7 August.
The Creative Horsham (The Plan) is the creative strategy for Horsham Rural City for 2023-2026, and follows the previous Arts & Culture Strategy which ran from 2014-18. HRCC is now seeking community feedback on the draft plan. Submissions can be made via email council@hrcc.vic.gov.au or by post until 9am, Monday 7 August.
Aproposed service centre on Horsham’s outskirts would address a gap in infrastructure for vehicles, particularly trucks, travelling the Western Highway, the developer says.
Under the proposal, vacant agricultural land would transform into a service centre with eight car bowsers and six truck bowsers located under two canopies; a convenience store and two food and drinks premises, including one drive-through premises; and 76 car and 10 truck parking spaces.
Human Habitats, on behalf of landowner and applicant Lorenzo Business Park Pty Ltd, has lodged a
planning permit application with Horsham Rural City Council.
The service centre would have about 200 metre frontage to the highway along its southern boundary, just prior to 80kmh limits as west-bound traffic enters Horsham. Development of an auxiliary left-turning lane and channelised right-turn lane is included in the proposal.
The irregular-shaped parcel has an area of about 10 acres; the service centre would develop about four acres. Wastewater would be managed on-site.
“The subject site has been identified to address the lack of existing rest areas within the Horsham township that are not appropriate to service the needs of road users and the volume of
traffic that travels through Horsham on the route to Melbourne, in particular large vehicles, for example, trucks that require large turning spaces,” the applicant’s town planning report reads.
“While it is acknowledged that there is existing commercial and industrial zoned land within the Horsham township that may be able to accommodate uses such as proposed in this application, existing sites on the northern side of Western Highway located on the exit from Horsham and on the route to Melbourne to the north-west of the subject site are already improved lots that are developed and utilised for a range of various existing uses.” Horsham Rural City Council is call-
ing for submissions from any person who might be affected by the granting of the permit.
The council’s director communities and place, Kevin O’Brien, said the application would follow a planning application process and was on notice, that being, public advertising; and referral to relevant authorities, which can include state authorities for fire, water, environment, transport or power.
“Council has not undertaken a planning assessment of the proposal at this stage,” he said.
“It will be considered following the notice and referral process and then considered against the provisions of the Horsham Planning Scheme.”
Mr O’Brien said the council would
A Wimmera-born historian is offering new insights into life at Ebenezer Mission Station, near Dimboola, through her new book.
Felicity Jensz, now based in Germany, launched ‘Ebenezer Mission Station 1863-1873: The diary of missionaries Adolf and Polly Hartmann’ at an event at Dimboola Imaginarium on Monday.
It contains an annotated, daily diary of Mr and Mrs Hartmann, missionaries of the Moravian Church – from preparing to leave Europe in 1863, their eight years at Ebenezer and finishing when they moved to Canada as missionaries to the Lenni Lenape people in 1873.
Their stories include regular, routine and extraordinary events.
Jensz also engaged Dimboolabased Elder, Aunty Hazel McDonald, in compiling the book.
“It’s a resource that shows us what is happening when these communities are being built in the 1860s,” she said.
“When I was writing this book, there were lots of conversations with Aunty Hazel McDonald. We talked about the ways in which the stories she had heard about the mission were slightly different than the ones the missionaries wrote. She was excited to read the diary also to have a different perspective.
“We see that the missionaries were, on occasion, helping people – it wasn’t just that squatters, or white people, were being violent or trying to suppress Indigenous people; there were ways people worked together and helped Aboriginal people ask
INSIGHTS: Antwerp-born Felicity Jensz launches her book, ‘Ebenezer Mission Station 1863-1873: The diary of missionaries Adolf and Polly Hartmann’ at an event at Dimboola Imaginarium on Monday.
for more land via petitions and finding ways to try to ensure Indigenous people had more rights and access to more land.
“It’s an ambivalent picture, but it makes the picture broader and richer than just having one perspective.”
Jensz said the stories also captured the values and attitudes of the time.
“Sometimes they thought they were helping and they weren’t. There were different moral standards in the 19th century than we have these days,” she said.
Aunty Hazel and her daughter Robyn Lauricella began discussions with Jensz about 18 months ago and had read a draft of the book, with a chance to provide feedback.
“For me, being a younger generation, getting to know what actually happened out at Ebenezer and knowing what the missionaries were doing with our mobs and vice versa – they did have good friendships,” Mrs Lauricella said.
“My daughter, Bianca, has read it as well – so that’s three generations
Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
reading what’s happened, day-to-day, out on the mission.
“Knowing that the two missionaries were great to the family and they were only young, they got married and came straight over from Germany to a station where they didn’t speak the language. It would’ve been hard on them as a young couple.”
People wanting a copy of the book can go to press.anu.edu.au
not make a decision about the application prior to August 16.
“Most assessments and decisions are made under delegation by our planning officers, but if there are a number of objections on the matter, it will be decided by council with a recommendation by the officer,” he said.
Mr O’Brien said the land was currently zoned farming and would not require a zoning review if the proposal progressed.
“An application can be made for a service station within many zones and this is common where there is good access to the transport network,” he said.
People can view the proposal via the council’s planning portal, hrcc. greenlightopm.com
From page 1
The Lanes Avenue site was previously used for cereal cropping and sheep grazing and is located within 500 metres of an existing rural living zone. “We are not against the project – we just weren’t prepared to allow it to happen at that location,” Mr Raggatt said.
“As it is a rural-residential area, and the site was proposed to run pretty much every day, we were concerned about heavy vehicle traffic, odours, any increased fire danger, environmental issues with stormwater runoff to the river and seepage of the high saline brine into groundwater.”
Cr Bob Redden told Monday night’s council meeting that the wastewater was highly saline – far too high for irrigation – and there was ‘a lot of faith’ put into the ponds’ clay lining to prevent groundwater contamination. He said the application did not address rehabilitation of the land.
Councillors also noted the community’s ‘informed, organised and respectful’ campaign.
“Our decisions today must echo the voices of our community and guide the future towards sustainability and wellbeing,” Cr David Bowe said.
Mayor Robyn Gulline said refusing the permit did not solve the matter of processing the wastewater.
“We still have a problem with the wastewater coming from the protein plant that still needs to be dealt with – and I would certainly encourage the applicants to come and work with council and we will help them try to find a more suitable location than this one,” she said.
WSF and APP did not return calls to The Weekly Advertiser before the publication went to press last night.
BY ABBY WALTER
Waterways across the Wimmera are experiencing healthy flows after well-above-average rain in June linked with lasting effects of high soil moisture.
Wimmera Catchment Management Authority chief executive David Brennan said there were good flows in the Wimmera River, as well as most rivers and creeks in the region.
“In some areas, we experienced twice as much rain in June compared with the month’s average, which interplayed with soil moisture present from last spring,” he said.
“The soil has reached saturation and we are now seeing runoff which, this early in the season, is a sign of how wet it really is.”
The Wimmera River reached its highest flow rate in many months in mid-July, with 597 megalitres a day through the Glenorchy Weir,
804 megalitres at Horsham weir, and the water level reaching 1.4 metres at Tarranyurk.
Mr Brennan said a singular rain event was not the cause for the high inflows.
“We were in a consistent damp cycle, which has kept water moving,” he said.
“Historically, the biggest inflows into the Wimmera River occur in late September and into October, after winter and heading into spring when we have thunderstorms and heavier rain. Arguably, we are running two to three months ahead.”
Mr Brennan said it was pleasing to see, despite the continued message of a dry outlook, Wimmera land was fully charged for a good spring to support crops and native vegetation.
“Some agriculture land is too damp, which is affecting crop productivity.
It is frustrating when farmers need to get onto crop for spraying or spread-
Save the date – Horsham’s
iconic Kannamaroo Festival is returning in November.
Organisers are preparing a jam-packed weekend of family-friendly fun, maintaining a long-held focus on accessibility with no-cost entry and activities at little-to-no cost. Committee president Di Bell said the festival was returning to its grassroots, beside the Wimmera River, with activities located around Maydale Reserve and Horsham Showground. She encouraged people to mark Friday, November 24 to Sunday, November 26 in their diaries.
“Kannamaroo is all about everyone being able to come along and enjoy a variety of activities for all ages,” she
Horsham Rural City Council has publicised its advocacy priorities for the year ahead.
ing and can’t because it’s too wet,” he said.
“We are also acutely aware that if this trend continues there is a heightened risk of flood activity, however, we are in a comforting position if below-average rain predictions materialise we will be grateful for our wet month of June.
“Even if we experience average or a bit below-average rain, we expect the Wimmera River will flow naturally for the next four months. This is great news for our waterway health and wetlands throughout the region.”
GWMWater water resources manager Kym Wilson said wet conditions throughout spring last year saw wellabove-average rain and well-aboveaverage inflows to reservoirs.
“Inflows to Grampians reservoirs from mid-2022-23 was 160 percent of the historic average,” he said.
“The volume of inflow to Grampians reservoirs during 2022-23 alone
was more than had flowed into the reservoirs over the prior five years.
“The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting warmer and drier conditions for the coming spring and summer.
“This means there is likely to be increased evaporation from reservoirs and an increased demand for water.”
As of July 19, GWMWater recorded total reservoir levels at 410,390 megalitres, indicating the WimmeraGlenelg system is 73.24 percent full.
Mr Wilson said with the current volume in storage, there was a high level of water security, which represented multiple years of water demand.
“While reservoirs will likely remain at good levels, particularly for recreation, water levels will gradually reduce in the warmer months as a result of evaporation and water supply for towns, farms and the environment,” he said.
RARING TO GO: Horsham’s Kannamaroo Festival committee inspects Horsham
Showground as members begin cementing plans for this year’s event.
Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
The council approved an ‘Advocacy Priorities’ and associated ‘Investment Priorities’ prospectus at its meeting on Monday night and will use the documents to seek future investment in major projects and government support for community priorities.
Investment-ready priorities include an upgrade of key freight routes, a hydrotherapy pool for Horsham Aquatic Centre, upgrades at Horsham City Oval, an industrial estate development, rail freight to Portland, redevelopment of Wesley Performing Arts Centre and a new community facility at Laharum oval.
The council also listed additional priority projects under seven themes.
Under the theme of ‘future Horsham’, the council prioritises consideration of a regional government hub and increasing shade in urban areas, along with an O’Callaghan Parade arrival corridor, town square and children’s park as part of a Central Activity District Revitalisation plan.
The ‘activating natural assets’ theme prioritises a river-edge cafe and function centre; while the ‘making connections’ theme prioritises an alternative truck route, Western Highway duplication and passenger rail to Horsham.
‘Active Horsham’ project priorities include a regional sports stadium at Horsham Community Oval on Dimboola Road; while ‘supporting industry’ includes expansion of the Wimmera Intermodal Freight Terminal.
The ‘making places’ theme prioritises Horsham railway corridor revitalisation; while the theme of ‘visit Horsham’ prioritises a Wimmera River Discovery Trail feasibility study and concept design of a Horsham Golf Club resort.
said. “People tell us it’s good to be able to wander around with the kids and have a picnic, or get out again and meet people.”
A ‘Black Friday’ sale will occur throughout the regional city on the Friday and a carnival runs at the show-
ground all weekend. Proposed activities for the Saturday include a junior disco, a multicultural concert including music and dancing, and an adults area including food and beverages.
The MIXX FM pyro-musical fireworks spectacular
returns for a third year. People can tune into the radio station while looking to the skies and watching the display, by company Northern Fireworks, from 9.30pm on Saturday.
A market and outdoor activities for all ages will
follow on the Sunday. Mrs Bell said the committee would engage and celebrate entertainment and arts and culture groups within the region – such as Natimukbased Wobbly Spoon, whose members will host a circus workshop.
Mayor Robyn Gulline said about 70 percent of projects received state and-or federal government funding.
She said advocacy was essential, using Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s recent visit to Horsham as an example of an opportunity to present and discuss community-led priorities for government support and attention.
Horsham’s mayor has vowed to rebuild the community’s trust in the council, after a community satisfaction survey found damning perceptions of performance and direction.
The council published the 2023 Local Government Community Satisfaction Survey findings on Thursday, showing a significant decline in a number of areas.
It comes after a challenging year, including allegations of bullying among council staff and the instalment of a municipal monitor to improve governance practices and cohesion among the councillor group.
Mayor Robyn Gulline said the results were disappointing but not surprising.
The council had made significant gains since its election in 2020, prior to the current survey.
“It’s clearly disappointing that the perception of people is not as complimentary as we would like – but when you consider all of the challenges in the past 12 months or so, they’ve probably come in better than I thought they might have,” she said.
“We’ll work now to see what we can do to rebuild the trust of the community – because that’s really what we’re here for.
“We’re not here to make excuses – it is what it is – and it’s now how we take the information and move forward that we will ultimately be judged on.”
The results showed 64 percent of respondents rated the council’s performance as average and above and its top-performing area was waste management.
However, the council’s overall performance score was 45 of a possible 100, compared with 56 a year ago.
Regional centres, and councils state-
wide, gained an average score of 56. The condition of sealed local roads, extensively impacted by floods last year, was one of the lowest performing service areas, along with decisions made in the interest of the community, and consultation and engagement.
Rural residents, and those aged between 50 and 64, have the lowest perception of the council.
Cr Gulline said the council needed to work as a team to improve public perception – particularly as it looked towards attracting candidates for 2024 local government elections.
She said she was having discussions with people in the community and encouraging them to stand for election, while educating people about the role and responsibility of councillors and staff.
“The monitor coming in, and the obvious public conflict between councillors, is the main reason that people have told me they’ve marked us
down,” she said. “All seven of us have to take responsibility for how we behave and how we present ourselves and our arguments.
“Having difference of opinion is actually OK – it’s OK to disagree, but it’s how you go about it that defines you as a person and defines us a team.”
Chief executive Sunil Bhalla said he was confident the council could improve public perception – and it would use its council plan, community vision and other strategic documents to guide priorities and decision-making.
He said councillors would also develop an action plan to respond to issues raised through the survey.
He said senior leaders were also supporting staff as survey results became public.
“At the end of the day, staff are working hard to deliver on behalf of the community, but they also have limitations,” he said.
“Council provides the direction as to what needs to be done, based on what the community is asking for, and the last thing we want is for them to be feeling that they’re letting the community down.
“It’s about making sure that they are well supported in that regard.”
Mr Bhalla said he was reporting to Local Government Minister Melissa Horne on a quarterly basis, following the municipal monitor’s report; and a community leadership program to attract candidates for the 2024 election would proceed next year.
He said an internal working group had developed a culture improvement plan for staff, across the organisation, and a leadership development program had involved more than 60 staff with supervisory roles. Other training including sexual harassment and bullying prevention has also occurred. The survey is a legislated requirement of all councils.
Volunteer group LifeForce is hosting a men’s mental health awareness evening on Saturday at Edenhope Recreation Reserve, with guest speakers including former AFL player Shaun Higgins and Broken Hill farmer Brendan Cullen.
LifeForce member Dave McLeish said the evening was set up to further the group’s goal of improving the mental health of people in Edenhope and surrounds, including farmers and young men.
“We are hoping to target farmers to come along for the night,” he said. “Even if they are alright, they might know of someone who may need some help, or could use some strategies.
“Men in general do not like speaking up and tend to hide their feelings.”
Mr McLeish said the two speakers would ‘come from different angles and experiences’ as they talked about mental health.
“Shaun has had his challenges playing at an elite level of AFL football, suffering numerous injuries and the difficulties he faced getting his mind and body rehabilitated to the level required to continue playing,” he said.
Mr McLeish said Mr Cullen would draw on his experiences as a farmer going through drought and other challenges.
“Brendan is a sheep farmer from Broken Hill who has faced enormous challenges with farming in an extremely unpredictable climate, which was out of his control,” he said.
Mr McLeish said Mal Coutts from the Rural Outreach program would also deliver a presentation about its service and what it offers rural communities.
MILESTONE ANNIVERSARY: Kerry and Barry Lane celebrated 60 years of marriage on July 20.
Kerry and Barry Lane celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary at the weekend with a family lunch in Horsham.
The pair were married at Dimboola on July 20, 1963, honeymooning in Swan Hill.
Mrs Lane said there was ‘no way’
she thought the couple would be marking six decades, which they did with a trip to South Australia.
“I don’t know what health is going to bring, I just know it’s a great milestone. So, we went up to the Riverlands for three days,” she said.
Mrs Lane said the couple was
grateful for their life together and all it has brought, including their children Steven and Kim, and grandchild Harry – who called from overseas to wish them well.
“We’ve had a good life together,” she said.
“We’ll take each day as a blessing.”
He said Higgins, who played 300 AFL games with the Western Bulldogs, North Melbourne and Geelong, would talk from the perspective of a professional athlete.
He said the event would follow the Horsham District league football match between Edenhope-Apsley and Harrow-Balmoral, starting at 6.30pm. Tickets are available on the night or by contacting Mr McLeish on 0488 088 392.
Businesses within Ararat Rural City can access money to spruce up their shop fronts, with the council’s façade grants scheme now open.
Façade grants, worth up to $10,000 on a 2:1 basis, offer businesses a chance to maintain heritage buildings and refresh their stores.
The council’s chief executive Tim Harrison said the program had supported more than 50 businesses since its inception.
An internal panel will assess applications. People wanting more information, or to apply, can go to ararat. vic.gov.au or phone 5355 0200.
The council is seeking feedback from anyone in the community to understand if the current arrangements are suitable or if changes are needed. You do not need to own a dog or cat to have your say.
Whether or not you own a dog or cat, the orders set by the council will specify what dog and cat owners must do to control their animals in a public place. Everyone in the community could be affected in some way.
This short survey asks if the dog offleash areas that currently exist are appropriate:
Additionally, given that in the General Local Law review undertaken in 2022 requests by the community were made for the council to consider broader cat control measures, the above survey also asks if the council should impose further cat controls within the shire.
Positions Vacant
Are you looking for a stable position, working within a friendly and careerfocused team? Visit ngshire.vic.gov.au/careers to find the job you have been looking for. We regularly update the page with temporary, part-time, and full-time positions across each of our departments.
Healthy Ageing Hubs Program Lead
Full or Part Time - temporary to 31 July
2024
If you are passionate about customer care, eager to engage individuals and groups in a range of activities and programs, and excited by the opportunity to make a difference to people lives, this is the role for you!
ICT Helpdesk Officer
Full Time Permanent Role
The position is responsible for assisting the ICT Officer with the maintenance and administration of all Council’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) hardware, associated software, and consumables.
FREE MASKS AND RAT TESTS
Don't forget that we have FREE masks and RAT tests available to collect at our Northern Grampians Shire Council offices in both St Arnaud and Stawell
We're funding candidates to qualify and become casual Swim Teachers!
No prior experience necessary!
This is a professional development opportunity available to anyone over 18 years who has an interest in the leisure industry and is looking for a rewarding and fun career.
Northern Grampians Shire Council will fund all formal training, as well as paying an hourly wage for all theory and practical hours.
Head to www.ngshire.vic.gov.au/careers and complete the simple expression of interest. An information session will be held on-line and in-person in the first week of August at Stawell Sports and Aquatic Centre.
For further information contact Samantha Winter, Coordinator SSAC, on 5358 0550 or email samantha.winter@ngshire.vic.gov.au
Expressions of interest close 12.00pm Monday 31 July 2023
Lifeguard - Stawell Applicants must be available between 8.00am and 4.00pm
This position is responsible for working as part of a committed team to deliver a high quality, safe customer focused service to the patrons of Stawell Sports and Aquatic Centre.
There has been a delay in the delivery of the coloured bins for our FOGO trial. Thank you in advance for you patience. If you would like to know more, please visit: www.ngshire.vic.gov.au/Projects-andConsultation/Have-Your-Say/St-ArnaudKerbside-FOGO-trial
We have an initiated an independent review into our community care services, with a view to explore how we can best support older residents throughout the Northern Grampians area to remain healthy and independent into the future A survey is available online for residents to submit their experiences, thoughts, and ideas and we are looking to hear from community care service users, their families, carers and other interested parties:
To design a program for the future, it is important that we hear from all our community care service users, their families, carers and other interested parties. We appreciate the time that it takes to complete our online survey and would like to thank you in advance for you participation
vic gov au/Projectsand-Consultation/Have-Your-Say today or contact the council on 03 5358 8700 or by email at ngshire@ngshire vic gov au for further information
Wimmera
police are reminding road users to make good choices while driving, and as a passenger, as the number of lives lost on Victorian roads continues to climb.
Superintendent Sharon McCrory said she was trying to spread the message that police response was not the only answer to reducing the road toll.
“We are about 30 percent up on the lives lost tally from this time last year – that’s an extraordinary increase and it’s upsetting to me and the community,” she said.
“Road safety should be on everyone’s radar – we can’t accept the toll so high, so what do we do about it?”
In Victoria, 167 lives have been lost on roads this year to date, compared with a fiveyear average of 125.
Eight lives have been lost on Wimmera roads this year — one in Horsham, three in Northern Grampians, two in West Wimmera and two in Yarriambaick municipalities.
Superintendent McCrory said she had called on police to perform more intercepts and focus on poor driving behaviours.
“But we can only do so much of that, so now we have to focus on how we can reach everyone,” she said.
“It’s about parents having conversations with children when they are of an age where they might be getting into a car driven by one of their peers.
“Are they making a good choice by getting into that car, are they making good choices when they are driving or they encouraging poor driving behaviour to put something on social media, for example?
“We have to get the message out that our young people aren’t always making good choices, so how do we turn that around?
“Another way is to have our local businesses, during meetings, spread the word about staff driving home safely.”
Superintendent McCrory said driving down the road toll would involve getting the community to talk and think about road safety.
“It’s tragic every time there is a fatality. It hurts everyone, so we have to do more and turn it around,” she said.
Superintendent McCrory said heavy-vehicle loads had ‘gone astray’ on local roads recently.
“There are probably several reasons for that – sometimes it’s just because loads shift, maybe they haven’t been packed properly or what is holding them down has decayed,” she said.
“We do have operations targeting heavyvehicle users and that’s not to single them out, but the consequences when something goes wrong can be quite catastrophic.
“We work closely with the heavy vehicle industry and we’re also working with VicRoads and local councils to organise a forum later this year to bring everyone together and address heavy vehicle safety messages.”
• Victoria Police are investigating a singlevehicle fatal crash at Halls Gap on Sunday after emergency services were called to reports a car had crashed into a tree on Grampians Road about 7.05pm. Police have called for anyone who witnessed the crash, has dashcam or CCTV footage or information to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www. crimestoppersvic.com.au
Four Wimmera teenagers will fly to South Korea as members of an Australian contingent attending the 25th World Scout Jamboree. The jamboree occurs every four years in locations across the world. It will take place in Saemangeum, Jeollabuk-do Province, South Korea this year.
Oscar Nuske, Shivansh Bhutani and Hannah K of the 4th Horsham Scouts will join Lachlan North and Scout leader Andrew North of the 2nd Horsham Scouts for the trip that runs from August 1 to 12.
Mr North said the group would join Scouts from across the world in South Korea.
“There will be up to 50,000 youth members from across the world and about 200 countries represented,” he said.
“We’ll be in South Korea for two weeks for multiple activities and experiencing the culture of Korean people.”
Mr North said he had attended previous jamborees in Canada and Australia and was looking forward to seeing the Scouts experience all the event had to offer.
“As a leader, I do it for the kids — to see them experience new things and see them develop their resilience, build new skills, develop new friendships and just
get out there and explore the world,” he said.
Shivansh said he hoped to experience and appreciate a different culture during his time in South Korea.
“Experiencing a new culture and learning more about people – what type of food they have, stores and just how they live life over there is what I’m looking forward to,” he said.
The Wimmera group will depart on Saturday, joining up with 800 other youth members from Australia.
– Sean O’Connell
West Wimmera Shire Council wants to recognise outstanding residents through its annual Senior Citizen of the Year award.
Award nominations for people aged 60 and older are now open.
Mayor Tim Meyer said previous recipients were often people who were active in their community and encouraged others to do the same, with a positive attitude towards aging and community wellbeing.
“Many of us know someone who we think should receive some thanks for their strong contribution, positive attitude and being a great role model,” he said.
“We encourage people to start thinking about who they can nominate for this award.”
Nomination forms are available online at westwimmera.vic.gov.au or at customer service centres at Edenhope and Kaniva.
Nominations close at 5pm on August 21 and councillors will select a winner in a confidential section of their September meeting.
AChristmas party with a community purpose is how organisers are describing this year’s Blue Ribbon Foundation Commissioner’s gala dinner in Horsham.
The annual event is scheduled for Saturday, November 11 at Horsham Town Hall and is likely the final fundraising push to purchase a lifesaving rapid infuser for Wimmera Base Hospital.
The equipment will cost $47,000.
Secretary Kelly Schilling said the gala dinner was a popular and growing event, capturing the support and attention of 240 people last year.
“The gala is the Blue Ribbon
Foundation’s major fundraiser for the year and the committee is proud to continue a 16-year tradition of fundraising for the purchase of lifesaving equipment for Wimmera Base Hospital, to support the community and with the community’s help,” Ms Schilling said.
“With the timing of this year’s event, it also offers people and businesses an opportunity to take the stress out of their Christmas party and join us for a great night with live music from Mark Block and band, an auction, raffles and a three-course meal.
“Knowing the night is for such an important cause makes it even better.”
Grampians Health Horsham operating suite nurse unit manager Jenny Thomson said the hospital has never owned a rapid infuser.
“The particular rapid infuser we want to purchase, with the foundation’s donation, delivers life-saving, warmed blood and fluid at the touch of a button,” Ms Thomson said.
“That’s going to make our job much easier in emergency situations when someone is haemorrhaging heavily.”
Sponsors for the event include ACE Radio, with the ACE Auction; Skillinvest with its ‘bubbles for bling’ champagne raffle; Elders with a welcome event; and Harvey Norman as entertainment sponsor.
A table of 10 tickets costs $700 or single tickets cost $75 and can be purchased via trybooking.com/ CKCBN or contact brfhorsham@ gmail.com
The Blue Ribbon Foundation supports community projects across the state to honour the memory of 175 Victoria Police members who have died in the line of duty.
The Horsham branch formed in 2007.
The branch will host a Police Remembrance Day service on September 29.
Woolworths Horsham will also run its annual wheelbarrow raffle this year.
INSIGHT: Detectives Mick Hanna and Paul Rowe with Blue Ribbon Foundation Horsham branch chairman Dale Russell, centre, at Horsham’s Inside Story event.
Homicide detectives have raised the curtain on high-profile cases as part of a popular annual community fundraiser in Horsham.
The Blue Ribbon Foundation Horsham branch hosted ‘Inside Story’ in Horsham this month and raised $3500 towards the purchase of a rapid infuser for Wimmera Base Hospital.
Melbourne Homicide Detectives Mick Hanna and Paul Rowe enthralled 120 crime investigation enthusiasts who attended the event with details of crimes they helped solve.
Detective Hanna talked about his investigation into the murder of an infant at Bendigo, while Detective Rowe gave a first-hand account of the investigation into ABC employee Jill Maher’s abduction and murder in Brunswick.
Branch chairman Dale Russell said the event was an outstanding success.
“I’ve spoken to several people who attended
and they are still talking about how much they enjoyed it,” Mr Russell said.
“The detectives were very appreciative of the reception they got, too, because they have both offered to return with different cases.
“We’ve been running these events for quite a few years now and it’s great to see the numbers getting back to the pre-COVID days.”
Mr Russell was full of praise for the detectives who donated their time free of charge to the foundation.
“We are also thankful to Horsham organisations who helped make the night a success including Grampians Health, Harvest Church, The Weekly Advertiser, FarmGirl Produce, the Exchange Hotel and Town House Motor Inn Horsham,” he said.
FRIENDLY: Horsham
youngsters Addie Cooper and Eadie, Freddy and Scout Hartigan had an unusual encounter on Monday when they met Hephner the alpaca in Firebrace Street, Horsham.
Hephner travelled through the centre of Horsham on his way to visit a retirement village, before moving on to Dimboola yesterday. Hephner is travelling across NSW and Victoria to raise awareness and money for Lifeline.
Socialconnection, product showcase and a spending bonanza.
It’s the jewel of the Yarriambiack shire events calendar.
This week’s edition of The Weekly Advertiser showcases the significant offering of the Mallee Machinery Field Days – including 350 exhibitors and an anticipated 8000 visitors across two days next week.
And it’s renowned for more than its iconic circular layout.
The annual event, near the tiny Yarriambiack shire town of Speed, is a home-grown and longrunning economic stimulus.
It generates significant funds for community groups and charities, along with significant sales and exposure for businesses both within, and well beyond, the region.
It’s events such as the Mallee Machinery Field Days that serve as a reminder of the power of people.
Uniting for a shared purpose and mutual goals, celebrating and learning about the latest in agriculture, and drawing benefit for the community along the way.
Of enjoying the simple pleasures of life – taking a drive on a country road on a sunny winter’s day, mingling with friends old and new, making the most of taking time off-farm.
Connections these days are just a phone call, or click of a button, away – but there’s no replacing the benefits and joy of face-to-face interaction.
A visit to Speed can fill the cup.
At the other end of The Weekly Advertiser’s readership area, in the west Wimmera, LifeForce Edenhope is tackling social connection from a different perspective – men’s mental ill-health.
A dinner, including guest speakers, seeks to address opportunities for men to get together with mates, share and show vulnerability with others, and seek informal and-or professional help for themselves or others.
The cultural shift to acknowledge and learn more about mental ill-health is happening, slowly.
Hats off to these groups, and the many others, who are creating and encouraging social connections across the region – it’s good for everyone.
What is the ‘compelling case for liveability’?
– The Weekly Advertiser, ‘Liveability the key’, July 5 . Is it only an opportunity and challenge for the business leaders, or is it also for those who have chosen to live here?
Liveability differs with our own limitations, age and situations.
How do we get it right for all who live here, and those we want to attract?
If the modern consumer is a 42 year-old, is that for our region, too? Where do the 30 percent of our local population aged 60-plus fit?
What is the online versus local spend comparison of the two groups?
And what of the ‘big-box’ retailers mentioned by Mark Clyne? Is that what the consumers are looking for?
Some that located in Horsham – Rockmans, Noni B, Clark Rubber – are gone.
Let’s not forget the local people who believe in our city and region, and put everything into running local small businesses, offering a different product and stayed through challenging times during the past 10 years.
Recently some long-term small businesses closed because they wish to retire and they could not sell their business, others sold and will continue.
We wish all these business owners all the
best for their future and thank them for serving us well.
Many customers who travel to Horsham mention they stop over because they love the boutique shopping here, adding that most retail centres are all national franchises, offering the same products in each location.
What do most national franchises offer – as you enter the store, you see ClicknCollect, or order online signs, or if you inquire in-store the staff suggest you jump online.
If we plan for them, what will our future look like? Will they stay through tough times or close as previously shown?
What will the challenges of our nationally ageing population be?
I personally relate to Chris Sounness’ comments about liveability, many of which I value living here.
We hear what mining and solar farms will do for our economy, but will they impact our agricultural economy, our land or our health? Will workers fly-in-fly-out, hence the aerodrome focus?
Mines also move on and can leave us with a mess like Pit 23 – the Douglas mine. Is it about new? Is it also about input from those who worked to build our region to what it is today?
Personally, I think it’s about finding the unique balance of all the above for our region. Di Bell, Horsham
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The new Centre for Higher Education Studies (CHES) provides high-achieving and high-ability senior students from government schools with opportunities for extension, acceleration, and enrichment in their overall VCE program, regardless of their location in Victoria. To expand access, all our programs are available through a hybrid (online and on-site) learning framework.
Applications from students in rural, regional and remote areas of Victoria are invited and prioritised, including applications for 2024 Higher Education Studies (first year university subjects taken in Year 12), select VCE subjects, and Year 10 enrichment electives.
CHES offers these VCE subjects for study in 2024:
• Extended Investigation Units 3 & 4
• Algorithmics Units 3 & 4
• English Language Units 1 – 4
• Specialist Maths Units 1 – 4
Further information and applications are available through the CHES website: https://ches.vic.edu.au
Applications for 2024 enrolment are now open and will close on 31 August.
Regional Victoria’s largest zoo continues to showcase fascinating creatures after 40 years of operation.
Halls Gap Zoo has been exhibiting animals and protecting native species for more than four decades, with the milestone ticking over on Boxing Day last year.
The zoo, which inhabits 52 acres next to Grampians National Park, opened in December 1982.
It is now home to more than 130 species and 450 animals in total, including its oldest resident, 39-year-old black-handed spider monkey Renaldo.
Manager Mark Treweek said staff, pa-
trons and friends of the zoo marked the occasion with a barbecue and a raffle.
“The original owners dropped in with their families,” he said.
Mark and Lisa Treweek, who have run the zoo for the past three years, have carried on the family-owned status.
During this time, they have concentrated on improving enclosures, fostering breeding programs and managing disruptions including COVID lockdowns and flooding.
Earlier this year, the zoo debuted new exhibits including a crocodile facility, a wombat tunnel and a habitat for otters.
Mr Treweek said the otters, which are Asian small-clawed otters, arrived just prior to Easter.
GWMWater is releasing Class C water from Ararat Wastewater Treatment Plant into the Hopkins River after wet conditions resulted in significant inflows.
Managing director Mark Williams said recent rain limited the opportunity for water to be used off-site, resulting in a significant increase in stored water at the wastewater treatment plant.
The controlled wet weather release will continue while flows in the river allow for sufficient dilution in line with GWMWater’s operating licence.
Discharging excess recycled water from storages helps reduce any potential for uncontrolled overflows and helps to protect infrastructure.
Mr Williams said Class C water was treated recycled water typically used to irrigate racetracks, golf courses, vineyards and recreational reserves.
GWMWater developed a water quality monitoring program and a management plan to ensure water releases comply with its licence.
The water business liaised with Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority which manages the Hopkins River and notified the Environment Protection Authority Victoria.
Water samples will be taken to monitor water quality during and after the release period.
People wanting more information can call GWMWater during business hours at 1300 659 961 or visit gwmwater.org.au/ recycled-water
An annual job opportunity to work outdoors, learn new skills and protect the community and environment is calling for applications.
While time moves quickly at the zoo, he said he was pleased to be at the helm for the anniversary.
“We are excited the zoo has reached such a significant milestone,” Mr Treweek said.
“We are so proud to be working with a dedicated team who provide daily care for all our species.”
Mr Treweek said many of the animals were part of regional conservation breeding programs.
The animals involved in these programs include the southern white rhino, red panda, Tasmanian devil and brush-tailed rock wallaby.
Halls Gap Zoo is open every day from 10am to 5pm. People wanting more information can visit www.hallsgapzoo.com.au
Forest Fire Management, FFMVic, is calling for applications for project firefighters across 10 locations including Edenhope, Cavendish, Horsham, Halls Gap and Wail.
There are also roles available in the Central Highlands area.
Deputy chief fire officer Tony English said FFMVic recruited seasonal project firefighters each year and roles included general firefighters, fire support officers and rappel crew.
People are employed on a full-time basis for a fixed term from October to April.
Mr English said there were also positions designated for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people, reflecting the government’s commitment to a diverse workforce.
He said ideal candidates would be fit and healthy and have a current manual driver’s licence.
Applications close on Sunday. People wanting more information, or to apply, can visit jobs.careers.vic.gov.au/pff or phone 136 186.
A gala event to commemorate arts and culture milestones in Horsham at the weekend was cancelled.
The event, scheduled for Saturday, was due to mark the 40-year anniversary of the first Horsham Regional Art Gallery exhibition at its home in Wilson Street and 85 years of the Heritage Hall, formerly known as the Horsham Town Hall. The evening was cancelled due to insufficient bookings.
The iconic Overland train service has secured funding certainty for at least the next three years.
The $11.5-million Victorian government agreement across three years, along with $1.4 million from the South Australian government across four years, will fund the historic service, guaranteeing the immediate future for the train which has travelled between Melbourne and Adelaide since 1887.
It also ensures the twice-weekly service – which stops at Murray Bridge, Bordertown, Nhill, Dimboola, Horsham, Stawell, Ararat and Geelong – will continue after years of uncertainty.
Friends of the Overland Group, an advocacy group formed in July 2020 to help save the asset, were encouraged by the announcements.
Group member Mark Radford said the Overland train was the Wimmera’s last link to a passenger rail service.
“Passenger numbers on the Overland have been very encouraging since the return of the service post the COVID-19 restrictions being lifted – at about 2000 passengers a month,” Mr Radford said.
“Back in June 2020, when the train was about to be permanently stopped, after 133 years of service between Melbourne and Adelaide, a small group of supporters from both sides of the border joined forces to advocate for its retention.
“The advocacy included letters, meetings and a video of an online forum.
“The group now has more than 500
members from around Australia. The Friends have put together a suggestion list of improvements that could be made and, now that the funding has been announced, will forward the list to Journey Beyond.”
Victorian Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll said the move supported regional jobs and tourism.
“We’re continuing our support of the iconic Overland train service – linking Melbourne and Adelaide and other regional towns in between, supporting regional jobs and tourism,” he said.
“Since mid-2022, we’ve seen a strong passenger return to the Overland services. Our continued investment in these services will provide more certainty for the Overland to operate until at least 2027.”
South Australian Deputy Premier Susan Close said the funding delivered on a Labor election promise after the previous Liberal government axed its financial support in 2020.
“This funding is utterly necessary to make this project work and to make this train affordable,” Dr Close said.
“It is an important part of our tourism offering and it’s an important part of connecting our country towns with each other.”
The service first ran as the Adelaide Express in 1887, before becoming the Overland in 1926. Journey Beyond has operated the service since 1997.
It departs Adelaide every Sunday and Thursday, and departs Melbourne every Monday and Friday.
OPTIONS: Deakin University Rural Health Club members addressed students at Holy Trinity Lutheran College on Friday. Pictured are, from left, Suzzie Tsao, Kirilly Matheson, Olivia Heard, head of senior school Sally Kuchel, Nicolas Cicci, Gabriel Hicks, Portia Lee, Sonya Klimpsch and Robin Jessup.
Students from two Horsham schools learned about a wide array of careers in the health sector from medical students based in the region.
Deakin University Rural Health Club ‘NOMAD’ visited Horsham College and Holy Trinity Lutheran College on Friday to promote health careers in rural communities.
Volunteer and medical student
Sonya Klimpsch said the Australiawide organisation represented nursing, occupational therapy, medicine and allied health at Deakin, NOMAD, with an aim of increasing the number of people working in health professions in the country.
Ms Klimpsch said the group was visiting Wimmera schools because a number of Deakin University students were completing placements at local hospitals.
“This year there are four medical
students here so, we are quite embedded in the community,” she said.
Miss Klimpsch, who was based in Horsham last year for her third-year placement, said students were taught about medical careers through stations, including blood pressure and life support stations, and presentations about paramedicine and x-ray interpretation.
“We look at x-ray interpretation and how we can use that in a health setting to help us make a diagnosis, and link different careers with that – you could do radiography, ultrasound or nursing,” she said.
Miss Klimpsch said the stations were designed to show students the practical side of a career in the medical field.
“It’s about seeing what you would do – to show what being a radiographer actually means on a day-to-day
basis,” she said. Miss Klimpsch said while many of the secondary students were unsure about their career path, they were keen to learn more about opportunities.
“They might say, I’m interested in health, but I don’t really know what area. So, we tease out what kind of things they enjoy doing,” she said. “If you want to do radiography for example, taking images, there is a little bit of patient interaction, but not heaps. Whereas if you love talking to people, nursing is great or occupational therapy because all day you’re communicating.”
Miss Klimpsch said Deakin’s Rural Training Stream, which changes entry requirements for rural students wanting to study medicine, was a program for people based in regional areas to consider.
– Sean O’Connell
Advocacy bodies say important investments can now proceed with the scrapping of the 2026 Regional Victorian Commonwealth Games.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced the decision to scrap the Games last week, citing high costs exceeding $6 billion, more than twice the estimated economic benefit, as the reason for the decision.
Regional Cities Victoria and Regional Councils Victoria have welcomed the funding as they lament a missed opportunity to promote communities to an international audience.
Details of Mr Andrews’ $2-billion package for regional Victoria have since emerged and include $150 million in a Regional Worker Accommodation Fund to provide housing for regional communities where key workers are struggling to find affordable places to live; and a $1-billion
Regional Housing Fund to deliver more than 1300 new social and affordable homes.
Regional Cities Victoria, which represents the state’s 10 largest municipalities including Horsham Rural City, will continue to advocate to the State Government to ensure funding is delivered across all parts of the state, and in a timely manner.
Chair Andrea Metcalf said a lack of housing stock was keeping regional businesses from attracting the workers they needed, and many locals were increasingly being priced out of the market – especially renters.
“Regional Cities Victoria has been calling for community sporting groups in every corner of the state to see a benefit since the Commonwealth Games was first announced. It is fantastic to see this will come to fruition,” she said.
However, Cr Metcalf said additional investment in tiny towns did not make
up for the abolition of the Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund in the latest State Budget.
“Regional cities still have no access to any funding to help build community centres, new open spaces, and provide the infrastructure needed to make regional Victoria a better place to live and work. It also puts access to Federal Government grants in jeopardy,” she said.
“Regional Victorians had excitedly welcomed the Commonwealth Games because of the long-term value it promised for their communities.
“We are pleased many of these benefits will still flow. But we must see a renewed focus on making our regional cities better places to live and work.”
Rural Councils Victoria represents rural communities across 38 rural local government areas – including in the Wimmera.
Chair Mary-Ann Brown said housing was a priority for all areas.
Ararat College’s production of ‘You’re a good man Charlie Brown’ will take to the stage next month.
The production, based on the Charles Schulz comic strip, sees Charlie Brown and the Peanuts Bunch explore life’s great questions as they play baseball, struggle with homework, sing songs, swoon over their crushes and celebrate the joy of friendship.
Director Celia Fairley said the show was well into rehearsals, with show dates of August 30 and 31. The show is at Ararat Town Hall.
“We are very excited. We have a small cast of six leads, a wonderful group of people in the ensemble and a group of students working backstage,” Ms Fairley said.
“When we started rehearsing for the produc-
tion, we did some work around how students wanted to feel at rehearsal, and how we wanted it to be a safe space for everyone.”
Ms Fairley said the production offered opportunities to a large group of people working behind the scenes, including hair and make-up, set design and construction.
She said participating in a school production could open up career opportunities for students in a range of industries, giving them valuable insights.
“People produce some incredible things with the skills they learn and teach themselves along the way,” she said.
Tickets will be available from Ararat Town Hall website, ararattownhall.com.au
“The Rural Victoria Housing Blueprint, commissioned by RCV and delivered by SGS Economics and Planning, identified the need for about 5800 new starts per year over 15 years to deliver the 87,400 new homes rural Victorian communities will need,” Cr Brown said.
“We look forward to working with the government to ensure the design of these funding streams means they are accessible by rural councils and rural communities to deliver the homes rural Victorians need.”
Master Builders Victoria chief Michaela Lihou said the fund could be the ‘beacon’ the regional building and construction industry needed, but urged the government to continue to explore mechanisms to strengthen the sector amid ongoing pressures and insolvencies.
The government funding suite also includes $285 million for a range of tourism initiatives and a $60-million
Regional Community Sport Development Fund to encourage families and children to keep physically active, including $35 million for infrastructure and $25 million for community sport programs.
A $20-million Aboriginal Economic Development Fund will support Aboriginal business and employment programs and support Aboriginal cultural tourism initiatives, while there is $10 million earmarked to grow food and fibre exports and encourage more people to buy Victorian; $5 million for Regional Multi-Cultural Festivals; and $10 million for ‘tiny towns’ to enhance public places.
A $25-million Council Support Package will go to Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Gippsland and Shepparton councils – the areas which were due to host Games events – to ensure that work and the ideas generated do not go to waste.
The team at OʼBrien and Smith Lawyers look forward to assisting with your legal needs.Lauren Maree Dorothy Emblem LL.B., B.A., GDLP Patrick Gilbert Smith LL.B. (Hons), B. Int. St., B.Ec., GDLP
Q: What led you to apply for the Change Makers program?
To grow and learn more about leaders and be a better leader in my role. I had also heard great things about the program and wanted to jump on board. I had the support of my committee of management who supported my decision to apply.
Q: What has been the highlight of the Change Makers program so far?
We recently went on a bus trip across the Wimmera. It was not only a great bonding experience for us as a group, but we got to hear from many amazing and inspirational guest speakers about their leadership roles and their journey into getting where they are today. Our sessions keep getting better.
Q: What has been your most valuable or impactful lesson so far? How have you used these lessons?
To use the skills and knowledge obtained from this program to further address the ongoing concerns of our community and be able to share these and advocate on behalf of people. I also want to empower all people to learn and have a voice in our community.
Q: What are your leadership aspirations within the community?
I want to be the best possible manager of the Neighbourhood House here in Horsham, to provide relevant courses, programs and activities
for the whole community and to be able to advocate and support the community by being able to engage in the community and have a voice.
Q: What do you love about living in the Wimmera?
The sunrises and sunsets. The friendliness of people. The opportunities available for everyone in our communities.
KAYE LONDRIGAN CatholicCare
Family violence practice lead – victim support
Q: What led you to apply for the Change Makers program?
I wanted to further my knowledge and learn new skills that I can transfer across roles. I also want to make a difference in our community and be the best version of myself.
Q: What has been the highlight of the Change Makers program so far?
I would have to say the weekend retreat and the road trip. These have been great opportunities to get to know other participants. The weekend away pushed me out of my comfort zone through activities I never would have attempted otherwise. The road trip gave me insight into local community developments and local issues our community face.
Q: What has been your most valuable or impactful lesson so far? How have you used these lessons?
Having profiles completed and teaching us learning styles and communication styles has supported me in my daily work and the numerous hats I wear. It has helped me identify skills that I am already using and reinforced my confidence as well as upskilling and identifying my weak spots. Feedback from colleagues in my workspace was amazing as it gave me good insight to how the team view me and the work that I do. The program has connected me to a broader network of people within the group, which I am so grateful to be a part of.
Q: What are your leadership aspirations within the community?
Creating a better footprint for the organisation I work for as this will have a positive impact on people accessing services for support. To me, networking is gold, and I am
passionate about connecting people or services as this provides better outcomes for people in our community and supports them to navigate systems.
Q: What do you love about living in the Wimmera?
I love the close-knit community feeling that you don’t get in larger cities. You can drive any road in the Wimmera and gain beautiful views and photos of the landscapes that we are so privileged to be a part of.
Whata pleasure it is to be writing my first column for The Weekly Advertiser.
I’m excited to be able to share local news and updates with readers –including the recent announcement the State Government will introduce Australia’s strongest gambling harm reforms.
One-in-six Australians who play pokies regularly will become seriously addicted and I often hear from locals who have become financially ruined from gambling harm.
That is why we are introducing new rules to protect Victorians.
These include mandatory precommitments and carded play, and slowing down machine spins, too.
We will also drop the amount that can be deposited into a gaming machine at a time from $1000 to $100, and legislate closure times at gaming venues.
These changes will be some of the strongest protections in the world.
Vulnerable Victorians will be better protected, and frankly – it’s just the right thing to do.
The Labor government has rolled out other recent supports to help rural Victorians with the cost of living.
This includes free kinder for three and four-year-olds – saving families up to $2500 per child each year.
The cost of train travel across the state has been slashed, bringing VLine fares in line with metro rates,
and apprentices are now eligible for free car rego, too – saving them up to $865 a year.
The Victorian Veterans Card will be live soon – delivering $100 off car rego, free trailer and caravan rego, free fishing and boating licenses, and more for local veterans.
And we have funded our fourth round of the Power Saving Bonus, with $250 to help households pay their bills.
More than 1.6 million Victorians have applied for the recent round of the bonus – if you are not one of them, you still have time. All you have to do is head to www. compare.energy.vic.gov.au
I will begin hosting regular mobile offices in Ararat in coming weeks.
If you would like to meet in person to discuss any of these issues or other State Government matters, you can get in touch with my office to organise a catch up. You can email me at Martha. Haylett@parliament.vic.gov.au or call my team on 5461 1255.
I hope to catch up with you around town soon.
SUCCESS: The 2023 East Grampians Health Service ‘Cranks and Defibrillators’ Murray to Moyne Cycle Relay team completed the 525-kilometre journey and surpassed their fundraising goal, contributing to the purchase of a bone density scanner for Ararat hospital.
East Grampians Health Service’s cycling team ‘Cranks and Defibrillators’ has raised $16,800 for a bone density scanner.
The team completed a 525-kilometre journey from Swan Hill to Port Fairy in April as part of the annual Murray to Moyne Cycle Relay and has now concluded its fundraising efforts.
The group of 13 cyclists, with a support crew of seven people including bus drivers, set a goal of $15,000.
Health service chief executive Nick Bush congratulated the team of riders and support staff on a successful journey and thanked them for their fundraising efforts, which included a
market, trivia night, raffles and team sponsorship.
“You are wonderful ambassadors for East Grampians Health Service and continue the long tradition of more than 20 years of our health service participating in this popular annual event,” he said.
Mr Bush also thanked the many businesses, organisations and individuals who provided sponsorship and donations to the team.
“We are very grateful for the generosity of our community, who has provided valuable funds towards the bone density scanner project as well as in-kind donations that enable our
team to run successful fundraisers,” he said.
Mr Bush said the outcome meant a bone density scanner service would be made available in Ararat for the first time, eliminating the need for patients to travel to larger centres to access the service.
He said a specially constructed space was made available to accommodate the bone density scanner, as part of the most recent renovation of the medical imaging department.
The next Murray to Moyne Cycle Relay is on April 6 and 7.
This may very well be a once in a lifetime opportunity to secure prime cropping land in a very tightly held area close to Horsham.
The Land is currently leased until 29th Feb 2024.
FOR AUCTION: Friday 28th July 2023 @ 1.00pm
10% deposit with Settlement in 30 days.
1. What did Robert William Dane open in the Wimmera in 1856?
2. Australia can boast that it produced the world’s first full-length feature film. The film, directed and written by Charles Tait in 1906, is based on what famous family?
3. Bill Oddie, Tim BrookeTaylor and Graeme Garden were the three primary characters from the 1970-80 television comedy series The Goodies. Which of them has been recognised with OBEs?
4. Mount Byron is in what 11,700-hectare Wimmera State Park?
6. True or false? Because of their sensitive nature and fragile disposition, the smallest of changes in water quality in a stream can have a direct impact on the health of a resident platypus.
7. True or false? Earrings are an obvious fashion accessory but many superstitious sailors of yesteryear, particularly pirates, wore gold earrings because of a belief that it would improve or cure bad eyesight.
YoUr lUcKY StArS
8. Scientists suspect that millions of years ago the Wimmera might have been home to prehistoric plesiosaur-type dinosaurs. Why?
9. What Wimmera settlement, surveyed in 1883 and the setting for Peter Carey’s 1985 novel Illywhacker, is believed to be named in reference to the Indigenous Gromiluk word meaning ‘home of small birds’?
10. Researchers have documented the earliest use of tobacco cigarettes in what part of the world?
saurs were marine reptiles with a suspected worldwide distribution. 9. Jeparit. 10. The Americas.
Answers: 1. A prospect mine at Big Hill in Stawell. 2. The Kelly’s. It was called the Story of the Kelly Gang and ran for more than an hour. 3. All. 4. The Black Range State Park. Mount Byron has an elevation of 520 metres. 5. Sounda. 6. False. Platypuses are quite resilient to changing conditions. Their adaptability makes them unlike frogs, macro-invertibrates or fish, inconsistent ‘bioindicators’. However, what they rely on for food and shelter can be highly susceptible to changes in water quality. 7. True. Some believed that precious metals in an earring possessed healing powers. They also used them to pay for their funeral if they died at sea and to hold wads of wax for earplugs while manning cannons. 8. The Wimmera was engulfed by sea and -plesio
March 21- April 20
Lucky Colour: Green
Lucky Day: Monday
Racing Numbers: 1.3.2.5.
Lotto Numbers: 1.2.15.26.36.39. Not a wise time to lend money or possessions and arguments with partners over finances is also indicated. Read anything carefully before you sign it. An unexpected encounter could brighten up your love life.
TAURUS:
April 21- May 20
Lucky Colour: Blue
Lucky Day: Wednesday
Racing Numbers: 1.9.6.4.
Lotto Numbers: 1.15.24.42.32.20. There is happiness around the home or love for most. Something you started earlier this year should now pay off with interest. There could be some financial fringe benefits for the hard worker and for the singles, many wing dings coming up.
GEMINI:
May 21- June 21
Lucky Colour: Yellow
Lucky Day: Thursday
Racing Numbers: 5.6.2.3.
Lotto Numbers: 5.12.32.20.24.33. For the career-minded, a lucky development could improve the financial side of things. The lookers should find love. Socially an enjoyable and relaxed period, and it could be the right time to ask for favors.
CANCER:
June 22- July 2
Lucky Colour: Red
Lucky Day: Friday
Racing Numbers: 1.9.6.4.
Lotto Numbers: 1.15.40.20.39.8. Big changes are likely and could affect you on all levels. Money spent in the home should be well worth the effort and for some the return of an old love is indicated, some good luck with the colour blue.
LEO: July 23- August 22
Lucky Colour: Silver
Lucky Day: Monday
Racing Numbers: 8.6.5.2.
Lotto Numbers: 1.15.29.37.6.11.
Unexpected travel, for many love lives should be getting more interesting. Some discreet or even secret developments tend to bring unexpected financial rewards. Be nice to an elderly relative.
VIRGO:
August 23- September 23
Lucky Colour: Fawn
Lucky Day: Tuesday
Racing Numbers: 4.2.3.6.
Lotto Numbers: 4.12.29.6.33.30. Luck is with you and should bring results soon. Don’t trust your first impressions over the next few weeks. Effort now should put you well ahead of any work obligations and favors could be repaid to you.
LIBRA:
September 24- October 23
Lucky Colour: Green
Lucky Day: Tuesday
Racing Numbers: 1.3.5.2.
Lotto Numbers: 1.15.26.34.40.33.
Opportunities to gain financially and new interests should present themselves. A long-term secret could surface, and someone could return to your life very suddenly.
SCORPIO:
Lucky Colour: Violet
Lucky Day: Sunday
Racing Numbers: 4.3.2.1.
Lotto Numbers: 4.12.26.35.5.11.
A good time to begin new ventures and push your plans, people who matter will be more co-operative and a new you will begin to emerge. Be confident and sure. Love affairs could really hot up.
SAGITTARIUS:
November 23- December 20
Lucky Colour: Cream
Lucky Day: Saturday
Racing Numbers: 9.6.5.3.
Lotto Numbers: 9.15.26.34.45.40.
A very social period with plenty of invitations, many will be asked to become more involved in group activities and some will become leaders in their chosen field.
CAPRICORN:
Lucky Colour: Dark Blue
Lucky Day: Monday
Racing Numbers: 6.9.5.3.
Lotto Numbers: 9.15.23.30.1.6. Many offers should come your way and financial returns could increase. An old friend or flame could re-enter your life with interesting side effects, many singles will double up.
AQUARIUS:
Lucky Colour: Blue
Lucky Day: Wednesday
Racing Numbers: 8.6.2.3.
Lotto Numbers: 8.15.26.34.40.33.
A financial windfall is indicated, and luck can come in many ways. Many will change a thing or two in their lives and you will have more control over your emotions and problems will disappear.
PISCES:
February 20- March 20
Lucky Colour: Pink
witH KerrY KUlKenS Visit KERRY KULKENS MAGIC SHOP at 1693 Burwood Hwy, Belgrave Ph/Fax 9754 4587 WWW.KERRYKULKENS.COM.AU Like us on Facebook
Lucky Day: Sunday
Racing Numbers: 9.6.3.2.
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Fill in the blank cells using numbers from 1 to 9. Each number can only appear once in each row, column and 3x3 block.
4 9 7 1 6 4 8 3 2 7 6 2 9 8 1 2 5 9 1 5 9 4 2 3
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.
Note to Editor: Created in QUARK XPRESS. VER.4.03 Items not needed for publication can be erased as each is in a separate text box.
Fit the given numbers into the hexagons so that where the hexagons touch, the numbers will be the same. No number is repeated in any hexagon
Focus
FOCUS
An All Australian Word Game
* Each word must contain the centre ‘Focus’ letter and each letter may be used only once
* Each word must be four letters or more
* Find at least one nine letter word
* No swear words
* No verb forms or plurals ending in ‘s’
* No proper nouns and no hyphenated words
TODAY’S Good: 15 words
FOCUS Very good: 24 words
Excellent: 31 words
R L O W A B A K D
YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION
athwart baht bath bathe bather
Created: Ted Whillier
8488
BATHWATER berth breath earth hare hart hate hater hatter hear heart heat herb rehab rhea that thaw thawer theta thew threat threw thwart whare what whata wheat whet wrath wreath
Rosemary
Reference: Macquarie Concise Dictionary
Focus No. 3884
What is this? Find out by joining the dots.
CHOOKAS: Senior students at Horsham’s Holy Trinity Lutheran College brought their rendition of ‘Alice in Wonderland’ to life on the Horsham Town Hall stage last week. The performance involved 37 students from year-seven to year-12, both on stage and backstage, who wowed audiences across three performances. Pictured during a final rehearsal are, clockwise from above: Silvie Hahn as Alice and Ruby Simpson, The White Rabbit; Swathi Sunilkumar, Natalie Cheah and Rachel Reichelt; Abbey O’Connor, Two of Hearts, Matilda Shannon, Five of Hearts and Blessing Di Biase, Seven of Hearts; Cher-Leah Williams, The Cheshire Cat; Anne Amilegbe, The Queen of Hearts; Oliver Martin, The Doormouse, and Rebekah Wundke, The March Hare; and centre, Zoa Mock, The Caterpillar, with Pop-up Flowers Grace Borgas and Steph Wundke.
Land prices across the Wimmera, and Australia, have skyrocketed in the past three years, a new Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, ABARES, index shows.
Preliminary prices in 2023 for the Wimmera and Mallee, classified as wheat-sheep zones, average $3500 per hectare, up from $1900 in 2020.
South of the Wimmera to the coast of Victoria and along the eastern coast of Australia is classified as a high-rain zone, where the current average is $9000 per hectare, up from $3900 in 2020.
ABARES executive director Jared Greenville said the index took into account farmer surveys and CoreLogic data, which details all sale transactions of farmland since 1992.
“We have used that to estimate the value, per hectare, of farmland – taking into account different characteristics of where it is, what it is used for and how many houses or dwellings might be on it,” he said.
“There’s been a steady increase in farmland prices, particularly since the mid-2000s, but the past three years is extraordinary.
“In the past three years it’s close to doubling. It is an extraordinary up kick and that is across all different parcels of land we looked at – so high-rainfall zone, the wheat-sheep
zone, which is responsible for most of agriculture production, and the pastoral zone.”
Dr Greenville said pastoral zones increased by more than 130 percent, high-rainfall zones by more than 470 percent and wheat-sheep zones by more than 180 percent.
“In the high-rainfall zones, $9000 a hectare is incredible,” he said.
“It’s a productive asset that is expected to yield a return for people who are buying it.
“It’s something you use year-onyear, day-in-day-out and so it needs to generate income.
“When you think of $9000 a hectare, it needs to generate a reasonable return for people who are buying it to be a worthwhile investment.”
Dr Greenville said the past three years of exceptional growth coincided with a period where debt was relatively cheap.
“Because we were in a low interest-rate environment we saw, which is unusual when compared to the past 20 to 30 years, an unusual combination of really high rainfall, good conditions and high prices,” he said.
“In particular, the low-interest rate environment is quickly dissipating on all of us and we’re seeing this moderation in prices.
“They remain high, but impor-
tantly we’re seeing a moderation of expectations that favourable seasonal conditions will continue, so it’s quite likely those pressures will come down and change this trajectory.
“It would be quite extraordinary for the trajectory to continue.”
Dr Greenville said the index would be able to provide a breakdown nationally, by state and also by region.
“We will be looking to update the index regularly,” he said.
“We have an ongoing program of work that will try to put this to use.
“Once we build up more data and have more observations, we can have a further regional breakdown – I think it will be useful if we can go further.
“At the moment we have spent all this time developing the index and we are confident it’s a sound representative value of Australian farmland, but now we want to find answers to questions about why prices have grown, what are the key drivers and what are some changes we are seeing.
“We do know there is a fair bit of variability across states as well, with South Australia, for example, being a bit of a standout, which is not related just to statistics.
“So there are a few questions that remain to be answered.”
MAKING HISTORY:
Nhill siblings Kirsty Pollock and Josh Bone are the first brothersister pair to take out the open shearing and wool handling state championships.
Nhill brother-sister duo Josh Bone and Kirsty Pollock are the first siblings to win open shearing and wool handling state championships in the same year.
Sports Shear Victoria category winners will attend national championships in October, in individual and team events.
The state championships were on the Sunday of the Australian Sheep and Wool Show at Bendigo, following the North Central Victorian Sports Shear Association Northern Shears Shearing and Wool Handling competition on the Saturday.
Mrs Pollock said entry into the state championships was determined by success at competitions in the year prior, while the north central show marked the first opportunity to gain points for next year’s state championships.
She said she first started competing
seven years ago to support her brother and it was a goal for them to compete in the open competition.
“At nationals, there’s a team event with the top two shearers and top two wool handlers. The open team get blazers and it’s quite professional,” Mrs Pollack said.
“I have always wanted to wear the blazer with Josh. We’ve been told we are the first brother and sister to win in the same year, which is pretty cool.”
Mrs Pollock said her best friend Marlene Whittle finished second in the open wool handling and would join her at nationals in Jamestown, South Australia.
“The two winners of the novice wool handling competition were wool handlers I mentored throughout the year at shows, so that was also a highlight to see them succeed,” she said.
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Beck Walker, of Dimboola, hopes to bring the same joy she receives by spending time with her miniature Australian goats to others as she creates a business based around her beloved animals.
Mrs Walker has been breeding miniature goats for four years and recently established Tiny Goats and Co from her and husband Stu’s farm.
“If I am having a bad day, I go out and sit with them and feel a sense of peace and happiness. I thought, I shouldn’t keep it all to myself, I want other people to experience it as well,” she said.
“To start, we will host events such as cuddle sessions and yoga for children and adults. We want to start welcoming disability groups as well.
“I will take goats to events such as parties and daycare centres, so it will be a mobile service.
“The babies love people and children, so we thought we’d start doing a couple of little events and see how it goes, and if people are even interested.
“We have done one trial with some friends and it went well, but the babies were a touch young, so once they are a little bit older they will want to jump all over people and want all the attention.”
Mrs Walker said in the future she wanted to explore animal therapy for people, with her goats.
“I need to do more study first before we go down that road, but it is amazing the effect interacting with animals can have on people’s mental health,” she said.
“We always tend to have very calm goats, but we do spend a lot of time with them.”
Mrs Walker said it had been a dream of hers for 10 years to own a miniature goat stud.
She said there were not many miniature goat studs in western Victoria, and any that were established were small.
“I purchased 10 acres in Riverside by myself with a plan to create a small stud, and then I met my husband who lived on a farm. Anyone who meets a farmer knows you move to the farm,” she said.
“I sold off my land and moved. It has worked out because it means I can have a lot more goats because I have a lot more room.
“I originally thought it would be a nice hobby, but it’s turned into more now that we show them and are growing this business.
“I am lucky to be able to spend so much time with them.”
Female miniature Australian goats grow up to 57 centimetres and male miniature Australian goats to 60 centimetres.
Mrs Walker said the female goats were bred to show and the best would go into her breeding program, while the boys would be desexed and sold as wethers for pets.
“We spend a lot of time with them and make
sure they are super friendly so they can go to hobby farms as a pair,” she said.
“I would never sell just one – they are very social beings, so they need to go as pairs.
“The wethers make beautiful pets, they’re very gentle beings.”
Mrs Walker’s current baby goats are between two and three weeks old and have been part of a trial with friends to simulate an event and also on an excursion to the Dimboola Store for some socialising.
“This is our first drop of kids for the year, born early July, and then we will have one at the end of August and hopefully one in December as well,” Mrs Walker said.
“We should have babies for September and Christmas school holidays, so hopefully we have timed that well.
“Even then, these babies now will still be really small in a few months.”
Mrs Walker said despite popular opinion, goats did not make good lawnmowers.
“I hear all the time that someone is after a couple of goats for lawnmowers, but they’re fussy,” she said.
“They only eat certain weeds; they are not good at eating down grass – they like eating trees and bark.
“We feed them a good quality vetch hay and the girls get a grain mix every couple of days.”
Mrs Walker is a witness to every birth of her goats and was excited to find a lot of twins had been born this year.
“When they’re due I have them in their birthing shed where I have a video camera so I can watch on my phone to see when they’re in labour,” she said.
“I sit with them through the whole labour and then I get the babies on the bottle.
“Often first timers will have a single and then ones who have birthed before will have multiples, but we had heaps of first timers this year and only one single, with the rest twins or triplets.
“There’s a lot of wives’ tales about how to get multiples and girls or boys, but I don’t think it makes any difference, it’s a luck of the draw –and as long as they’re healthy, we are happy.”
Mrs Walker said she was excited to start welcoming people to her farm where she was establishing play areas for the goats and events, with lots to climb on and explore.
“There’s going to be three areas – one area with no goats, so if there are people or children who are anxious or overwhelmed they do not have to be in with the goats, they can pat them from the other side,” she said.
“I would love to work with any little business who wanted to collaborate with art classes or wine tastings.”
Longerenong College is partnering with Bendigo TAFE to expand opportunities for agriculture students to further their qualifications.
The partnership agreement enables students studying eligible agriculture courses at Bendigo TAFE to transition to an Advanced Diploma of Agribusiness Management or Applied Diploma of Agronomy at Longerenong College.
It will provide an opportunity for students to complete their first year of further study closer to home and move to Longerenong College to experience ‘Life at Longy’ through the residential immersive experience.
Longerenong College general manager
Avril Hogan said college graduates had an employment rate higher than 95 percent immediately after graduation.
She said many students received between five and 10 job offers in their final year of study.
“This agreement between the two educational institutions will provide a longterm benefit to students who would like to further their studies in agriculture, agribusiness and agronomy,” Ms Hogan said.
“A qualification from Longerenong College allows grads to step into roles with responsibility and seniority and, in many
cases, significant autonomy. With the 1100-plus hectare broadacre farm, 1000plus sheep and 40-plus cattle herd, the study experience moves fluidly between the lecture theatre and the paddocks.”
Ms Hogan said the college was committed to providing quality education across a broad geographic area and a wide range of programs, to support students and the industries that required graduates.
“We want to maximise access to the facility at Longerenong College, with its commercially-operating farm, accommodation facility that can house more than 150 students between dorms and newly-built share houses, and campus social life,” she said.
Bendigo TAFE acting chief executive Graham Fryer said partnerships were critical to improving opportunities for students to continue studies, while gaining valuable real-life and on-the-job experiences.
“By partnering with Longerenong College, our students will be able to stay closer to home and work for longer while still pursuing further qualifications and the highest standard of practical training,” he said.
“We look forward to seeing the skills and knowledge they gain, come back to the region to help boost our local agricultural industry.”
EXPERIENCE: Longerenong College students attended the Australian Sheep and Wool Show at Bendigo as student judges on the first day of the event. The show is the largest of its type in the world, where each year up to 3000 sheep from across Australia, of more than 30 breeds, compete in the show ring. The event was on July 15, 16 and 17 and will return to Bendigo in 2024 on July 19, 20 and 21.
Agriculture Victoria is encouraging farmers to look for emerging signs of diseases in crops.
Senior cereal pathologist Hari Dadu said in a regular season, signs of disease on crops would not be seen until July or August, however, diseases had already been found in crops this year in the Wimmera.
“Stripe rust on volunteer wheat plants was noted in April, a septoria infection in wheat was found
in May and a seedling infection of net form of net blotch in barley was identified in early-sown crops in June,” he said.
“Above-average spring rain last year followed by rain this season has helped to carry over high levels of disease in stubble and on volunteer plants creating conducive conditions for disease to spread.
“Growers will be monitoring their crops, but we also encourage them
to check disease resistance ratings for the varieties they have sown using an up-to-date guide.”
Dr Dadu said if disease was present, it could be controlled with a well-timed fungicide application. Growers can download a StripeRustWM app to manage their fungicide application program. A cereal disease guide is available via agriculture.vic.gov.au/cerealdisease-guide
BY ABBY WALTER
Wimmera sheep studs once again saw success at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show at Bendigo earlier this month.
Mertex Texel and White Suffolk Stud, of Antwerp, won prizes across three categories.
For its White Suffolk sheep, Mertex won supreme exhibit, most successful exhibitor, grand champion ram, senior champion ram, junior champion ram, reserve senior champion ram, champion ewe, reserve champion ewe, sires progeny group and a group of one ram and two ewes.
In the Texel category, Mertex won supreme exhibit, most successful exhibitor, champion ram, champion ewe, reserve champion ewe, sires progeny group and a group of one ram and two ewes.
Mertex also won supreme interbreed short wool group and reserve champion prime lamb exhibit.
Stud principal Tim Jorgensen said he was extremely happy with the result.
“We could not have done better than that and we weren’t really expecting to do that well, either,” he said.
“We’re not doing anything different; it just shows us we are on track with our breeding program and keep improving year-on-year.”
Mr Jorgensen said it was a great event for exhibitors and attendees.
“We received some good interest for
our ram sale later in the year, which is good to see,” he said.
Aurora Park Hampshire Down Stud, of St Helens Plains, won reserve champion ram, group of one ram and two ewes, pair of ewes under 1.5 years and pair of rams under 1.5 years for its Hampshire Downs, and best novice sheep and novice ram under 1.5 years for its Border Leicesters.
Belbourie Merino and Poll Merino Stud, of Marnoo, won ewe show-
ing not more than two permanent teeth, reserve junior champion ewe and ewe showing no permanent teeth for its fine-medium and strong-wool Merinos and, ewe showing not more than two permanent teeth, champion March-shorn ewe and reserve champion ewe for its fine-medium polls.
Glendonald Merino Stud, of Nhill, won champion Victorian-bred ram, ram showing six or more permanent teeth, reserve champion August-shorn
“We’re not doing anything different; it just shows us we are on track with our breeding program and keep improving year-on-year”
– Tim JorgensenKan-B Colours, of Glenlofty, won sire’s progeny group, comeback-crossbred ram fleece and comeback-crossbred fine ewe or wether fleece for its black and coloured sheep and fleeces.
Glenpaen Merino and Poll Merino Stud, of Brimpaen, won champion Victorian-bred ram, champion Victorian-bred ewe, ram showing not more than two permanent teeth, reserve champion March-shorn ram, ewe showing no permanent teeth, reserve champion March-shorn ewe for its fine-wool Merinos.
ram, champion Victorian-bred ram, ram showing no permanent teeth, champion March-shorn ram, reserve champion ram and reserve junior champion ram for its medium and strong-will merinos.
Glenlee Park Border Leicester Stud, of Gerang Gerung, won champion ewe, a pair of shorn sheep one ram and one ewe, pair of ewes under 1.5 years, and ewe under 1.5 years for its Border Leicesters.
Mount Yulong Poll Merino Stud, of Telangatuk East, won ewe showing no permanent teeth and ram showing four permanent teeth or more for its fine-medium-wool polls.
Oakbank Merino and Poll Merino Stud, of Gre Gre North, won ewe showing not more than four permanent teeth and champion August-shorn ewe for its fine-wool Poll Merinos and Victorian Merino Pair of the Year.
Wyndara Black Sheep, of Stawell, won ram and ewe or wether Polwarth fleece and lambswool merino and Polwarth for its black and coloured fleeces.
There is an oft-used metaphor, ‘When China sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold’. That is certainly the case for the Australian wool industry at the moment.
China’s economy is struggling, as evidenced by its youth unemployment rate at more than 21 percent. Australia’s is just 7.6 percent.
Little wonder the demand for woollen clothes from China’s middle class has waned as everyone tightens their belt. But that’s not the topic I want to tackle today.
I’d like to modify that metaphor to: ‘When Russia stamps its foot, the echoes reverberate around the globe’. In the past week Russia has refused to renew the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which was negotiated 12 months ago between the United Nations, Turkey, Russia and Ukraine.
At the time the UN said: “The resumption of Ukrainian grain exports via the Black Sea amid the ongoing war is ‘a beacon of hope’ in a world that desperately needs it. The UN plan, which is linked to efforts to ensure Russian food and fertiliser reach global markets, supports the stabilisation of spiralling food prices worldwide and stave off famine, affecting millions. The initiative specifically allows for commercial food and fertiliser, including ammonia, exports from three key Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea – Odesa, Chornomorsk and Yuzhny-Pivdennyi.”
It’s worth noting Russia’s belligerence is strategic.
The Northern Hemisphere harvest is in full swing. The Black Sea area has seen exponential growth in the past few decades from a minor producer of grain mainly for domestic consumption, to producing about a third of the world’s wheat.
The United States International Aid Agency published the following statistics on the success
with Libby Price
of the Black Sea Grain Initiative since the first ship went out in August:
• More than 380 ships have departed to some 37 countries, transporting more than 8.6-million tons of cargo carrying life-saving food exports from Ukraine ports;
• More than two-million metric tons of food have been exported directly to countries most vulnerable to severe hunger, such as Kenya, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Yemen, Ethiopia and Somalia; and
• More than one-million metric tons of wheat have been shipped from Ukraine to low and lower-middle income countries through the Black Sea Grain Initiative. That is the equivalent of nearly three-billion loaves of bread. Those countries will now be left without wheat. Grain prices are already reacting and will be out of reach for countries with struggling economies. Analysts are predicting a roller coaster ride for the foreseeable future.
While the United Nations is offering shipping companies special insurance policies to try to get grain out of the Black Sea, there will be great reluctance to take the chance. Prior to the deal, several ships were hit with some civilian casualties. As for Russia, it’s not going to attack its own ships, but it will no doubt be exporting its wheat to take advantage of the higher prices, while the rest of the world watches with trepidation.
Horsham Regional Livestock Exchange experienced an increase in stock purchased in the past financial year, compared with the year prior.
Commercial enterprises co-ordinator
Paul Christopher said lamb and sheep numbers were up almost 18,000 head in the 2022-23 financial year, compared with 2021-22.
“The 2021-22 financial year was horribly low, so while we are up, we are still traditionally low,” he said.
“There’s a growing trend of selling direct to abattoirs. I am unsure exactly why numbers have increased, I’m just glad they have.”
In the past 12 months, the stock exchange has reached high and low records.
There were 21,500 head of stock yarded at Horsham on November 9, which was the largest yarding since 2018.
That was in stark contrast to July 20, when 438 head of stock were yarded – one of Horsham’s smallest winter offerings.
Mr Christopher said while abattoirs were technically full, they still were not able to meet supply and demand levels.
“It seems silly to be still talking about
the effects of COVID-19, but some abattoirs are 20 percent down on staff, so they can’t get the kill numbers to meet demand,” he said.
“In line with demand, although prices have dropped in the saleyards, they have not dropped in the supermarkets to the same level.
“Prices are down. I have seen good lambs sell for $130 to $140 when they should have made $200, but I have seen the other side to that as well.
“It is swings and roundabouts sometimes. We rely on 70 percent export, so if our global partners are struggling with dollars that makes a big difference, too.”
Mr Christopher said current forecasts for the 2023 spring were positive.
“There is talk that lambing could be upward of 130 and 150 percent this year,” he said.
“I have heard predictions farmers would not be hanging onto lambs like last year because they didn’t make any more money from doing that, so we could see high numbers of five to sixmonth-old lambs this spring.
“What prices will do however, I do not know. I don’t believe they will be as high as last year.
“I’m quite interested to see what is going to happen in the next six weeks.”
TRAINING SESSIONS: Renowned working dog trainer Joe Spicer, of Hamilton, works with Jude Ross and her kelpie Squizzy at a working dog training weekend at Quantong. Mr Spicer said a variety of people and dogs attended sessions on Saturday and Sunday to develop skills. He said he focused on getting owners to connect with their dogs, understand the dogs’ motivations and learn how to better communicate with their dogs.
Horsham Regional Livestock Exchange is introducing alternating start times for its weekly sheep and lamb sales from next month.
From Wednesday next week, every second market will move to an afternoon format starting at 12.30pm.
Sales on alternative weeks will remain at a 9.30am start time.
Horsham Rural City Council commercial enterprises co-ordinator Paul
Christopher said the change followed consultation with livestock agents.
“The later start time was tried last year and a better outcome for vendors was achieved,” he said.
“By moving to afternoon sales every second week, it means that we are not running all of our sales at the same time as Hamilton, which starts at 9am.
“On the other hand, the 9.30am
sales every other week won’t clash with the fortnightly market days at Warracknabeal, which are in the afternoon.”
Horsham Regional Livestock Exchange market schedule is August 2, 16 and 20, September 12 and 27 at 12.30pm and August 9 and 23, and September 6 and 20 at 9.30am.
Formore than 40 years, the Mallee Machinery Field Days has been a feature of the region’s agriculture calendar.
In 2023, the 43rd iteration of the event will welcome about 350 exhibitors and more than 8000 people to the showcase.
Speed Lions Club has organised Mallee Machinery Field Days since its inception in 1979.
The field days site is located two kilometres south of Speed, on the Sunraysia Highway.
The first field days event ran in a paddock with 39 dealers exhibiting, focusing on broadacre agricultural machinery and equipment.
The event was hosted at a variety of temporary sites in the early years, however the logistics behind erecting and removing amenities each year was a big task.
Aniconic feature of the Mallee agriculture calendar returns to Speed next week for a jampacked two days of connection and showcasing machinery.
Mallee Machinery Field Days president Chris Monaghan said while it took a lot of work to establish the event each year, it was exciting to return again in 2023.
“It’s a great event for the public and the exhibitors, too, because they get a chance to get machinery there and show it off,” he said.
“I am looking forward to seeing the machinery – what’s new and what is bigger. Most of our exhibitors are returning. We are waiting on confirmation from a few, but we also have new exhibitors on board, so it will certainly be as big as last year’s event.”
In 2022, the field days returned for the first time since 2019 due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Mr Monaghan said there was a good roll-up from the public last year and he was hopeful to see similar attendance numbers again.
“I think when the year starts well, people enjoy going for a drive, checking out different countryside on their way and coming to the field days,” he said.
“I can’t see a reason why everyone won’t show up and support us again.
“The Mallee is looking pretty good, and I assume the Wimmera is doing alright so far this year, too.
“We’re probably looking for a little bit more rain – it would be great if it rained at the weekend and then there were sunny days on Wednesday and Thursday.”
The field days is a major fundraiser for Speed Lions Club, whose members form the field days committee.
Mr Monaghan said the club donated more than $40,000 each year to community and sporting clubs who support the event.
“Different Lions clubs, sporting clubs and schools come to the event and work on the barbecues, sell food and drinks, and work the gate, so we support them in turn,” he said.
“That’s before we also donate to charities such as the Heart Foundation, Stroke Foundation or Royal Children’s Hospital.”
Mr Monaghan said businesses in neighbouring towns also benefited from the event.
“I know accommodation in Ouyen, Patchewollock, Nandaly, Sea Lake, Lascelles and Hopetoun is booked out each year and people also stay in Swan Hill and Mildura,” he said.
“Our circular set-up means it’s easy for the public to navigate as they do each ring, getting to look at both sides as they go, meaning they cover a lot of ground with just one lap. We’re more than happy with how it is arranged and has been for almost 40 years”
– Chris Monaghan, right
“The whole area benefits when you take in the accommodation and then when they go back to where they stay, they have to eat and drink.
“I don’t know the exact figure of what the event brings into the communities, but it would be a lot of money.”
Mr Monaghan said considering the committee comprised 24 members, it was a good effort.
“It’s such a big and important event for what it brings to the area, and we aren’t a big committee,” he said.
“Leading into the event we set up the site and take the machinery off trucks with telehandlers and cranes, making sure it is all in the right spot.
“We had a working bee on Friday week ago, and from then on we will be flat out setting up.”
Mr Monaghan said exhibitors spoke highly of the event.
“They believe it is one of the best field days events, so that’s a compliment to us and makes us feel good when we put the hard work in,” he said.
“Plus, our circular set-up means it’s easy for the public to navigate as they do each ring, getting to look at both sides as they go, meaning they cover a lot of ground with just one lap.
“We’re more than happy with how it is arranged and has been for almost 40 years.”
Six years after the first event, a permanent site was chosen between Speed and Turriff.
The main office on the site is the historic Speed Railway Station. Other permanent buildings and amenities have been built as the event has grown.
A major feature of the Mallee Machinery Field Days is its iconic circular design.
The field days are a fundraising event for Speed Lions Club, which donates proceeds of the event each year to other community clubs, charities and families in need.
The club comprises 24 members, who organise exhibitors, guest speakers, demonstrations and activities. Members also prepare and clean up the site.
Local sporting and social clubs join members for the two-day event to provide food and drinks to patrons.
Date: August 2 and 3, 2023.
Time: 8.30am to 5pm.
Location: 2574 Sunraysia Hwy, Speed VIC 3488, two kilometres south of Speed.
Admission: $15 and children under 15 years no cost.
Facilities: On-site parking and toilets, food and refreshment stalls, first aid and Victoria Police, phone and mobile phone service and EFTPOS facilities.
More information: mmfd.com. au
AgriFutures Rural Women’s Victoria 2022 award winner Kimberley Furness will attend Mallee Machinery Field Days to speak about her entrepreneurial journey.
The Bendigo-based founder and editor of OAK Magazine will attend the field days for the first time and said it was exciting to be able to connect with people, share her story and build communities.
Ms Furness will speak about how a year-10 work experience placement at a rural newspaper led to her publishing a national, award-winning magazine.
She will also highlight how people’s experiences to date can lead to the current moment and provide skills and capacity for growth and excellence.
“I’m passionate about women in business, especially in rural and regional Australia, and love hearing and swapping stories,” Ms Furness said.
“There are so many remarkable businesses built in the bush, and this is exactly what we showcase through OAK
“It gives other people a sense of, ‘if they can do it, so can I’.”
Ms Furness said field days were valuable because they brought communities together.
“Living in rural areas can be quite isolating,” she said.
“There is an opportunity for farm-
ers to learn about new technology in the industry and attend demonstrations and seminars.
“For school children, they are seeing the myriad of career opportunities in agriculture.
“Women in rural and regional areas make an enormous contribution to the social and economic well-being of their communities.
“Events such as Mallee Machinery Field Days are an opportunity to come together to connect, learn, be inspired and support one another.”
Ms Furness said she was honoured to be asked to attend the field days as a special guest.
“It will be exciting to travel to that part of rural Victoria. I have heard nothing but good things about the field days, so I am looking forward to it,” she said.
“I recently converted a van into a mobile podcast studio where I can record episodes for ‘A Friend of Mine’ podcast.
“I’ve put the van through its paces at field days in NSW and Victoria.
“It draws a few curious looks and is certainly a great conversation starter.
“I plan to record a couple of episodes at Mallee Machinery Field Days.
“At times, there will be the sound of nature, machinery or a PA system in the background, but this just builds on the story and hopefully our listeners feel like they’re sitting in the van with us.”
SPECIAL GUEST: 2022 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Victoria award winner and OAK Magazine founder and editor Kimberley Furness is this year’s guest speaker at Mallee Machinery Field Days.
Mallee Machinery Field Days organisers can expect their hard work to pay off with sunny skies ahead for the 2023 event.
The long-range forecast for Speed on August 2 and 3 indicates rain is unlikely leading into the event or on the days of the event.
The forecast shows there will be a high of 17 degrees and a low of six degrees on Wednesday, with 12-kilometre northerly winds and a four percent chance of rain.
On Thursday, the high temperature is forecast to be 17 degrees with a low of six degrees, with five-kilometre north-westerly winds and a four percent chance of rain.
Elders Weather recorded 150 millimetres of rain at Speed to date since January.
Australian Bureau of Meteorology data showed the average rain for Speed, between January and July, was 167.7 millimetres.
Sunny skies predicted for next week are in line with a current El Niño alert for Australia.
Australian Bureau of Meteorology senior climatologist Catherine Ganter said El Niño increased the chance of drier conditions for eastern Australia during winter and spring.
“El Niño summers also tend to have warmer days across northern and south-eastern Australia as well as parts of the southwest,” she said.
“El Niño events also increase the risk of extreme temperatures such as heatwaves and hotter days.”
BY ABBY WALTER
are an integral element of the success and continuation of the Mallee Machinery Field Days and have been since its early days.
Speed Lions Club members work together each year to bring the field days to life at a site near Speed.
Phil Down has been a committee member for almost 30 years, but was volunteering at the event before then.
“My family was first involved with the field days when I was about 12 years old,” he said.
“I’ve been a committee member for 27 years, but I was volunteering at working bees before then.
“It’s a good event – it’s beneficial for the community financially and it is a good social get-together.”
Mr Down said he witnessed massive changes in the agriculture industry, and consequently the field days, during his involvement.
“The uptake of technology, precision agriculture, GPS, targeted inputs and direct drilling have made farming more efficient,” he said.
“That uptake coincides well with the field days because it is the perfect opportunity for us to introduce companies to farmers so they can see new technologies.
“Farming is a dynamic industry that adapts to change and there’s always something new.”
Mr Down said the 2023 event would
“As we get a lot of exhibitors from New South Wales and South Australia due to our location, some didn’t come last year due to a risk of lockdowns – and for small businesses the risk of contracting COVID and having to close their business for a week or more,” he said.
“While it was a fantastic event, it wasn’t quite back to normal – so we are looking forward to this year.
“The two years off gave us the
still see some positives.” Mr Down said more than 40 years since the first Mallee Machinery Field Days, the event remained relevant.
“I have been having discussions about the purpose of the field days in today’s society,” he said.
“When they began, field days were needed to compare machinery and talk to dealers – now people can research and find that information online.
“We still think people want to see the
“It’s also an opportunity to learn, as you cannot research what you don’t know.
“While the industry and society have changed, field days are about gathering information, researching and social networking and that’s why they are still relevant in agriculture today.”
Mark Roberts is a third-generation volunteer with the Mallee Machinery Field Days.
He said his grandfather was a found
– Phil Down“In the early days, my grandfather’s property was one of the sites used for the field days,” he said.
“It used to be shared around the local farms before a permanent site was chosen once the event grew.
“I live 10 kilometres from Speed, so I will be here for a long time and endeavour to volunteer for as long as I can.”
Mr Roberts was inducted to the field days committee before last year’s event.
“Not only is it a great community event, but it brings in a lot of money for community groups and people in the area,” he said.
“I enjoy seeing the machinery, technology and products on display, especially in our backyard.
“Each year it gets bigger, so it will be interesting to see what is there –hopefully it is another success and everyone turns out for it.”
Mr Roberts said while there were big weeks leading into the event and after to clean up the site, it was for a worthy cause.
“The money we raise supports local families, sporting clubs and communi
“We still think people want to see the machinery in person and build a relationship between clients and dealers”
Withmore than 350 exhibitors and crowds of more than 8000 people expected across two days, the Mallee Machinery Field Days is the largest event in the Yarriambiack shire and attracts visitors and exhibiting businesses from across the country.
This stimulus extends past the field days, throughout our towns and local economy and provides a great fundraising opportunity for our local community groups and businesses.
As the main industry within our region, agriculture is the lifeblood of our small towns.
When farmers and the ag sector are doing well, our communities thrive.
Last year proved to be a tumultuous year for both agriculture and local government, with October rain events playing havoc on roads and harvest.
The wet start to 2023 brings equal parts of promise and a nervous wait for what lies ahead at harvest.
I hope that this season is a successful one for all concerned.
On behalf of Yarriambiack Shire Council I’d like to congratulate the Speed Lions Club for its continued efforts and hard work to provide the agricultural industry the two-day event that provides such an economic injection to the region.
For council, the Mallee Machinery Field Days is a vital link in our community engagement efforts.
I encourage all patrons to visit us on site where I will be accompanied by my fellow councillors and staff to answer questions and share ideas on projects, issues and ideas that impact our community.
We will have copies of the updated council plan, 2023 key actions list and the road hierarchy that will be out for public feedback.
Council staff will also be on hand to discuss
a waste resource, environment and climate change strategy and action plan, and waste survey that will be distributed to residents in the near future.
Our ‘Words on Wheels’ van will also be on site, jam packed with fun activities, new release books and information on how to use the municipality’s mobile library service.
We also welcome Rural Northwest Health Service staff who will be completing on-site health checks and promoting their wide range of services and programs.
The council acknowledges the hard work and volunteer hours that go in behind the scenes to deliver these events and wish the committee, exhibitors and patrons a wonderful Mallee Machinery Field Days.
See you at Speed!
– Kylie Zanker Yarriambiack Shire Mayor
TheMallee Machinery Field Days is always a special event each year on the Mallee calendar.
They bring our farmers, machinery dealers, retailers, agronomists, stock agents, men, women and children from rural communities together.
Farmers work incredibly hard and at times keep to themselves. This is a great opportunity to have a yarn, kick some tyres and relax for a day or two.
There will be plenty of innovation on display after recent decent seasons for most, the ride made a little rougher by higher input costs such as fertilisers and chemicals.
The innovation of the chartered members of the Speed Lions Club in starting this event back in 1979 continues to benefit the community, building it up to now be one of the biggest days on the calendar for north-west Victoria.
The Mallee Machinery Field Days have been a great fundraiser for the Speed Lions Club and many other local organisations – providing a broad community benefit.
Country shows and field days throughout regional Australia are an important part of the social fabric of rural communities.
Nationwide, at last count, field days were putting $1 billion into the national economy, visited by more than six million Australians and supported by 50,000 volunteers.
That’s why, when the Coalition was in government, during the pandemic we put $39 million into reimbursing shows and field days that had to cancel
due to restrictions. It’s been very hard to keep some country shows going, so it’s vital that we get out and support the field days and the volunteers who have endured great strain in recent years to keep the show on the road.
If there’s one thing the people of the Mallee do well, it’s agriculture.
I recently brought Shadow Trade and Tourism Minister Kevin Hogan to the Mallee, and during his horticulturefocused visit across the northern edge of the electorate, he noted that the region was an ‘economic powerhouse’.
The Mallee electorate contributes al-
most $10 billion worth of Gross Regional Product to Australia’s GDP, with close to $4 billion of that coming from the Wimmera and Southern Mallee region alone. We might not have the population of Melbourne, but we more than pull our weight.
I am sorry to not be able to make it to the field days in person this year due to it falling on a Parliamentary sitting week, but I wish the committee, all exhibitors and attendees well for an incredibly successful event.
– Dr Anne Webster, Federal Member for Mallee
TheMallee Machinery Field Days are a wonderful opportunity to have all of our food and fibre producers come together with key industry stakeholders and suppliers.
Being a product of the land myself, I am passionate about promoting the agriculture industry in our region, which is vast and feeding the world with grain, meat, nuts, fruit and vegetables.
I believe our food and fibre producers have been underestimated and overlooked for far too long and it is my priority to make sure we get the credit we deserve and that you know how highly valued you are.
Having an event such as the Mallee field days allows producers from our tri-state region to come together and get first-hand knowledge of new technology, innovation and farming practises from local, national and inter-
national suppliers. Our region is leading the way in farming technology and I have been fortunate enough to meet with the producers and witness first-hand the innovations being used.
For generations, we have been working this harsh land and through events such as field days, trials and investment into technology we now see the evolution of farming in our region and across the world.
We’ve managed to adapt to changing weather patterns and landscapes through sharing of knowledge at events such as the Mallee field days.
I love a field day and look forward to attending this year’s Mallee Machinery Field Days and hope to catch up with you for a chat during the event.
– Jade Benham, State Member for Mildura
Amuch-celebrated showcase of the latest in farm machinery continues to attract exhibitors from across the Wimmera and Mallee.
About 350 exhibitors and a serious customer base will explore the Mallee Machinery Field Days’ unique circular layout at Speed next week.
Smallaire general manager Jock Baker said the business had been exhibiting at the field days for the past 28 years, garnering lots of interaction from visitors.
He said Smallaire manufactured a wide array of products concerning air movement, and expected air seeder components, high-pressure blowers and grain aeration components to be popular at this year’s event.
“We find the people at Speed are genuine buyers – Speed, for us, is the go-to field days,” he said.
Mr Baker said the cross-section of visitors to Speed meant it was a ‘genuine country farmer market’.
“Farmers treat this as their buying field days,” he said.
“Ninety percent of people who travel here are interested in our products.”
Emmetts Horsham branch manager Derek Reid said the Mallee field days offered Emmetts a ‘different dynamic’ to other field days.
“Speed has been the boutique field days for large ag,” he said.
“That’s in comparison to the Wimmera Machinery Field Days, which showcases items including smaller
BIG BUSINESS: Horsham branch manager Derek Reid shows off a second-hand John Deere X-9 combine harvester, which he said would be popular at Emmetts’ exhibit at the 2023 Mallee Machinery Field Days at Speed. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
retail goods, tools, stock and different machinery.”
Mr Reid said Emmetts, whose Swan Hill location was most prominent at the event, had a considerable
customer-base to the south and east of Speed. “We do like supporting the event out of our Wimmera branches as well,” he said.
“A lot of Wimmera farmers and
Whileinternational weather agencies have declared an El Niño, the Bureau of Meteorology confirmed Australia remains in a state of El Niño alert.
The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Prediction Centre declared El Niño conditions were present earlier this month.
Japan’s Meteorological Agency has also declared an El Niño.
Australian Bureau of Meteorology senior climatologist Catherine Ganter said when El Niño alert criteria was met in the past, an El Niño event developed about 70 percent of the time.
“While we have tropical Pacific Ocean temperatures exceeding El Niño levels, we also need to see a shift in the tropical atmosphere for us to announce an El Niño event,” she said.
“We have not yet seen persistent changes in wind, word or broad scale pressure patterns towards an El Niñolike state.”
An El Niño watch was declared in Australia in March, and an El Niño alert followed in June.
Ms Ganter said there was no single definitive index for the El Niño Southern Oscillation, ENSO.
“It’s a complex phenomenon that describes changes in the Pacific Ocean and the atmosphere above,” she said.
customers head along to Speed.”
The 2023 Mallee Machinery Field Days, on August 2 and 3, can found off the Sunraysia Highway just south of Speed.
“In general, meteorological agencies have tailored their services around the impact of El Niño or La Niña for their country and the Bureau considers its service best suited for Australia.
“The US, Japan and Australia have slightly different metrics for monitoring and declaring ENSO events.”
providers and businesses in neighbouring towns are some of the biggest beneficiaries of the annual Mallee Machinery Field Days.
With people travelling far and wide to reach Speed for the two-day showcase, hotel and motel staff in nearby towns said venues were always booked out for the event, with visitors sometimes booking a year in advance.
Hopetoun Community Hotel Motel manager
Steve McCullough said his 13 rooms were rebooked before the end of the previous year.
He said he would likely to be able to book out an extra 30 rooms – should they have them.
“We’re booked out and have been for more than six months,” he said.
Mr McCullough said the business, about 50 kilometres from Speed, was also busy serving meals and drinks to patrons throughout the two days.
“Last year was very busy on the Tuesday and Wednesday nights,” he said.
He said the vast increase in traffic through Hopetoun during the field days had a positive effect on the broader area.
“The whole town benefits in some way from it,” he said.
Marlene Graham is owner of the Minapre Hotel at Lascelles, located about 26 kilometres from Speed.
She said beds were also booked out months in advance, with demand during the field days causing the business to search for extra staff.
“We’ve brought in staff from around town –
“I usually turn away between 20 and 30 people. Generally, you don’t find any accommodation in Ouyen when the field days are on”
people who are available and family members to help us out,” she said.
Part-owner and manager of the Hilltop Hotel in Ouyen, Tamika Jacobs said her rooms were usually occupied by customers from the previous year, who immediately re-booked their accom modation.
“I usually turn away between 20 and 30 people. Generally, you don’t find any accommodation in Ouyen when the field days are on,” she said. Ouyen is located within 40 kilometres from Speed.
Mrs Jacobs said other businesses in the town also benefitted from the extra traffic the field days generated.
“When they stay here, it translates to our food businesses, including the night before when they are setting up,” she said.
“The other motel in town is full and the pub is almost full.”
Mrs Jacobs said the August event came at a good time for the business, in what was an oth erwise fairly quiet period before visitor numbers increased from about October as warmer weath er arrived.
Patrons can also access camping facilities at neighbouring towns of Tempy, Lascelles, Woomelang, Ouyen, Sea Lake, Hopetoun and Nandaly.
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Withthree captivating seasons firmly under its belt, full of candid stories from farmers and rural locals across the Wimmera and southern Mallee, podcast series ‘Farmer Wants a Healthy Life’ is set to launch its gripping fourth season.
Aimed at farming families and rural communities, ‘Farmer’, as the podcast series is fondly known, has been making a moving impact on listeners from across the region.
Season four will bring more captivating stories, with topics spanning alcoholism; anxiety; a Swedish woman’s take on ‘paddock to plate’ on her Aussie farm; making farms safer for children; connection to land – working with it, not on it; dogs helping to minimise the impact of mental health; family and domestic violence; gambling affects on the family; bio-dynamic farming; and farm fitness.
Podcast interviewees also shared their inspiration and drive to creating their own organisations and support groups to help their fellow rural mates regain or maintain a healthy, meaningful and fulfilling lifestyle.
West Wimmera Health Service’s health promotion manager Dorothy McLaren said the podcast was inspired by a desire to work with people living in rural settings, and to
start a conversation about health and wellbeing issues unique to people ‘out here in the bush’.
“Locals interviewed on the podcast speak openly about how they have overcome adversities in ways that may surprise you, and we’re hopeful that it will inspire listeners to make choices to improve their own health, to live and thrive,” she said.
Season four features Horshamraised Aaron Schultz who is passionate about improving the health and lives of men in rural settings.
He shares how alcohol, anxiety and exercise have shaped his life and given him the drive to start The Outback Mind Foundation, which provides ongoing wellbeing tools to
help men get back in the driver’s seat of their physical, mental and emotional health.
In another episode, Tania Walter discusses how she’s been able to support fellow farmers become more active in Marnoo.
She also shares some of the ‘behind the scenes’ on her and her husband’s biodynamic farm and takes us back to where it all began.
People can listen to Farmer Wants a Healthy Life via the West Wimmera Health Service website, wwhs.net.au/ Farmer-wants-a-healthy-life or via Apple, Spotify or wherever podcasts are available.
CHEERS: Carlton and United Breweries hosted a celebration at Sea Lake to thank Mallee barley farmers for helping make its beer for many generations.
Carlton and United Breweries
‘shouted the bar’ at the Royal Hotel in Sea Lake to give barley farmers a night off and thank them for helping make some of Australia’s most-loved beers.
About 40 Mallee farmers attended the night, where they enjoyed a meal and a range of beers brewed with their barley.
CUB, which is part of Asahi Beverages, purchases more than 30,000 tonnes of barley annually from Victorian farmers.
The barley is used to brew hundreds of millions of litres of beer at its Abbotsford brewery including VB, Carlton Draught, Great Northern and Melbourne Bitter.
CUB chief executive Danny Celoni addressed the gathering, while experts on mental health, soil health and farm safety also spoke.
“We are enormously grateful for the
barley our farmers grow and we know it is tough work,” Mr Celoni said.
“So we wanted to say ‘thank you’ by giving them a night off, shouting them a meal and some beers and ensuring they had a laugh with their fellow farmers, while also equipping them with some mental and physical safety tips.”
He said the hard-work and passion of generations of farmers came through in the supplied grain.
“Our beers are only as good as the local produce we use to make them. Barley malt is the heart and soul of beer and has a defining influence on the taste, colour, aroma and foam,” he said.
“CUB can trace its brewing history in Victoria back to 1854 and there are families in the Mallee who have been farming barley for generations. “We share a proud history with the region.”
See us at Site 152 Mallee Machinery Field Days
See us at Speed site 219/220
The Heliodor is a true all-rounder: it is ideally suited not only for shallow stubble culti-vation of light and medium soils, but o ers outstanding performance even in seedbed preparation for mulch seeding and after ploughing!
all-rounder: it is ideally suited not only for shallow stubble culti-vation of light and medium soils, but o ers outstanding performance even in seedbed preparation for mulch seeding and after ploughing!
Bene t from its numerous other advantages:
Bene t from its numerous other advantages:
■ The optimum angle adjustment of the discs ensures good penetration and intensive mixing
■ The optimum angle adjustment of the discs ensures good penetration and intensive mixing
■ Maximum clearance to prevent clogging
■ Maximum clearance to prevent clogging
■ Low lifting power requirement due to low weight
■ Low lifting power requirement due to low weight
■ Flexible uses for both soil cultivation and tillage
■ Flexible uses for both soil cultivation and tillage
■ Hydraulically adjustable levelling tines for optimum levelling
■ Hydraulically adjustable levelling tines for optimum levelling
Thelatest enhancements to RYAN NT’s no-till disc conversions and coil wheels are designed to revolutionise farming practices and maximise productivity.
With more than 50 years of expertise in developing innovative farm machinery, the RYAN brand is continuously improving its products to provide exceptional benefits to farmers worldwide. Their no-till discs are widely recognised for their outstanding features, which include preserving soil structure; enabling early and dry planting; eliminating machine blockages with the front boot design and scraper system; facilitating faster sowing and fuel savings; and effectively cutting through heavy stubbles and trash.
Building on this success, RYAN NT has introduced several upgrades in recent years to meet the growing demands of farmers.
One of the key enhancements is the ground-following double disc, which ensures precise seed placement even on uneven terrain.
The double-chute-double-disc system offers increased flexibility in planting methods, allowing the separate sowing of small seeds away from fertilisers, which is particularly advantageous for canola planting.
Moreover, RYAN NT has developed an adjustable, flexible rubber
boot with a closing tool, enabling farmers to set the desired seed depth according to their specific requirements.
Recognising the challenges faced by farmers working with red clay soil types, RYAN NT has incorporated an outside scraper into their disc design. This scraper effectively combats sticky and trashy conditions, reducing mud build-up on the discs and preventing unnecessary widening of furrows.
Additionally, RYAN NT now offers shorter disc leg models, catering to combine drills with limited road clearance, and reshaped seed boots for improved grain and fertiliser flow.
The improvements to the self-cleaning coil wheels range continue to elevate RYAN products.
The coil press wheels are renowned for their ability to self-clean in the toughest conditions, provide superior furrow closing, ensure even germination, and maintain durability, unlike rubber tyres.
In response to farmers’ feedback and their need for enhanced moisture-seeking capabilities, RYAN NT has introduced a new coil press wheel with reinforced support, capable of withstanding rough and challenging conditions.
The coil press wheels are available in two or three coils and can be retrofitted to most press wheel models on the market, including new models for DBS and Horsch airseeders.
RYAN NT also offers its own coil press wheel assembly.
COMMITTED: RYAN NT has introduced several upgrades to its products in recent years to meet the growing demands of farmers.
RYAN NT is among the exhibitors at the Mallee Machinery Field Days next week.
People can visit the site, or con-
tact managing director Paul Ryan for more information on 0417 354 617 or email paul@ryannt.com.au
People can also visit ryannt.com.au
TheFederal Government is committing to offering the agriculture sector a seat at the table when it comes to deciding how Australia will tackle climate change in the future.
The government announced last week it would work with farmers, industry, the climate movement, experts, unions and the community to develop six sectoral plans to help reach Australia’s net zero 2050 goals.
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek and Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Murray Watt will help develop an agriculture and land plan, alongside Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen.
Mr Bowen said Australian farmers were on the frontline of climate change.
“We want to learn from their knowledge, innovation and ideas to ensure our agricultural industry remains not only sustainable, but increasingly competitive in our net zero economy,” he said.
The announcement followed an endorsement of the National Statement on Climate Change and Agriculture by every state and territory at an agriculture ministers’ meeting this month.
Mr Watt said there was a shared commitment to provide leadership and work in partnership with the agriculture sector.
“Many leading industry groups including the National Farmers’ Federation, Meat and Livestock Australia, GrainGrowers and Wine Australia have their own plans to reach net zero by 2050 or even sooner, and the whole country can benefit from that expertise,” he said.
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Regional events such as the Mallee Machinery Field Days offer organisations and groups a chance to meet and engage with people, and share information and ideas.
Among long-time exhibitors is GWMWater – a statutory corporation responsible for providing, managing, operating and protecting water supply and sewerage systems for 13 municipalities across Grampians, Wimmera and Mallee regions.
GWMWater executive manager customer and employee experience, Teresa Yeing, said community
events such as the field days were important.
“GWMWater has been attending the Mallee Machinery Field Days for many years,” she said.
“The field days always has a great atmosphere and we’re excited to be a part of it again.
“Our customers are spread out across a large geographic area, so attending regional events and field days is important to us as we get the chance to meet our customers faceto-face, answer their questions, and
talk to them about our current and future projects.
“Customers can visit us at our stand and talk to us about our customer portal, their water accounts, or ask any other questions they may have for us.
“We also have a fun game to play where visitors can test their knowledge of our water with many great prizes to be won.”
GWMWater provides water services for homes, businesses, industry, farms, and environmental purposes as well as for recreational and sporting use and community benefit. This includes about 72,000 people across the region.
Horsham manufacturer Smallaire has achieved 49 years of manufacturing excellence and continues to grow.
The family-owned and operated business started ‘small’ in the Wimmera in 1974, seeking solutions for the region’s long, hot summers.
It has gone on to become a world-renowned name as innovators of seeding technology for its vast range of air seeder components and high-pressure blowers.
Smallaire designs, creates and manufactures evaporative airconditioners and agricultural, horticultural, dairy and poultry products, metal art, and numerous other products for almost any application.
All products manufactured by Smallaire are the creative inspiration of a research and development team and company founder, Gary Small.
Director Lolita Small encouraged people to visit Smallaire’s Mallee Machinery Field Days site to view its products and say ‘hi’ to Jock, Paul, Brett and the team.
“Smallaire continues to pride itself on innovative solutions for all its customers in air movement needs through its intense research and development programs to provide high-quality, long-lasting components that people have come to trust,” she said.
“The company continues to grow itself – not only in Australia but around the world with its dedication to extend-
ing its overseas customers, to prove and expand its technology, which has led the company to being able to export its range of high-quality components globally to manufacturers, farmers and agronomists who strive to achieve only the best results.”
The business is a multi-award winner in manufacturing excellence and export, having been named ACE Radio Wimmera Business Awards business of the year in 2018 and listed as a finalist in the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame in 2018.
It won the manufacturing and innovation award at the Wimmera Business Awards in 2022.
Therewill be plenty of Action at site 98 of the Mallee Machinery Field Days.
Action ‘The Big Shed People’ is a third-generation family business specialising in designing, manufacturing and installing heavy-duty farm sheds across Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia.
With more than 20 years of experience in the manufacturing industry and construction industry, Action shed designs are cost-effective, functional and the perfect fit for the Australian agricultural industry.
As well as following best-practice design standards, every Action shed is built from Australian-made steel and the frame is fully hot dip galvanised after manufacture to ensure maximum durability and longevity.
The heavy-duty UB column and open web truss frame design will be on display, along with custom gutters and cladding options, at the Mallee Machinery Field Days for people to view the quality of construction firsthand.
The company’s extensive farm shed range includes hay sheds, grain sheds, machinery sheds, yard covers and shearing sheds, with the added benefit of complete project management from council permit applications, right through to installation and completion.
Action’s expertise and product offering also extends to in-house concrete panel manufacturing, making the company an ideal choice for farmer’s building grain sheds, fertiliser sheds, calf sheds and multipurpose sheds, or those wanting
to retrofit existing farm sheds with panels.
In other words, Action ‘The Big Shed People’ offers the complete package for your farm shed build.
If you are planning a farm shed build, be sure to catch up with the
As the weather cools and the rain continues across the state and in the Wimmera, export prices for multiple agriculture commodities remain stable.
Yarded numbers of sheep and lambs at Horsham Regional Livestock Exchange reached 6050 on July 12 and dropped to 4000 on Wednesday.
Graham Pymer’s market report showed quality was mixed, with several pens of wellfinished grain-fed lambs offered.
The medium and heavy-trade-weight lambs sold from $115 to $145 a head and light-tradeweight lambs sold from $100 to $112 a head.
Lightweight lambs sold from $37 to $105 a head, while export-weight lambs sold from $143 to $158 a head and extra heavier-weight lambs sold from $143 to $158 a head.
Restocking lambs sold from $24 to a top of $88 a head and merino lambs sold from $37 to $105 a head. Merino ewes sold for up to $115 and crossbred ewes sold for up to $131 a head Hogetts sold for up to $108 a head.
Lightweight sheep sold for up to $64 a head and medium-weight sheep sold from $62 to $80 a head.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry reported Australian export prices, as of Thursday, for mutton, lamb and live sheep are lower than in July last year, but remained similar to the previous week.
Mutton was exporting at 327 cents a kilogram; lamb was exporting at 554 cents a kilogram; and live sheep remained at $93 a head.
Beef export prices are sitting at 571 cents a kilogram.
building consultants on site at the Action exhibit. In the meantime, people can visit actionsteel.com.au to learn more about the Action farm shed range and view the latest project photos and resources, or call 1800 687 888 to discuss a project.
Mech-Elec Air & Automation specialise in providing Air, Electrical and Mechanical solutions to a broad range of Agriculture, Home Handyman & Manufacturing
Grain prices were between 21 and 29 percent lower than in July last year.
Milling wheat exported at $450 a tonne, feed wheat sold for $427 a tonne and feed barley exported at $348 a tonne.
Canola was exported at $829 a tonne.
Weekdays from 6am
TheVictorian Farmers Federation board denied a motion from members for an extraordinary general meeting to dissolve the board and spill all elected positions.
Two former grain group presidents, Brett Hosking and Andrew Weidemann, moved the motion in June after a meeting in St Arnaud revealed members were feeling disengaged from VFF leadership.
President Emma Germano said the board listened to the views of all farmers and noted a request for a meeting.
“The current request for an extraordinary general meeting, EGM, is defective in regard to the Corporations Act and cannot be validly held associated with this request,” she said.
“However, the board has resolved to issue a notice of intention to call an EGM on November 20, for the purposes of amending the VFF Constitution.
“We will invite all members to provide feedback on the constitution and lodge other resolutions to the EGM.”
Mr Hosking said conversations were initiated with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and independent solicitors upon learning the motion was denied.
“We have begun the process of seeking legal advice,” he said.
“We’re hoping the board is right in saying the request is defective because they have exceeded the 21 days to call the meeting.
“If there is an error and the motion should not have been denied, the directors become liable.
“This is the situation we did not want.”
One-hundred signatures of support were needed to lodge a resolution with the VFF.
Once a resolution is lodged with the VFF, a meeting must be called within 21 days for it to be held within 61 days.
When the motion was lodged, Mr Hosking said if it was successful an interim management board would be implemented then a full election would be called to appoint directors.
Some of the reasons cited for the
call to dissolve the board included the liquidation of VFF’s grains group’s $9-million deed poll share portfolio to pay debts in May, and increasing legal and consultancy costs with less grower-led recovery.
Upon announcing the motion had been denied, the VFF also announced it had approved a new tiered membership structure, further solidified the core focus of the group and released the process for amending its constitution.
Ms Germano said a transformation of VFF was well underway.
“We’re hard at work to ensure the organisation is positioned to deliver for all members and Victorian farmers
Leading safety agencies Kidsafe Victoria, Life Saving Victoria and Farmsafe Australia are urging regional families to establish safe play areas and actively supervise children near water, to reduce childhood drownings on farms.
Kidsafe Victoria general manager Jason Chambers said it was important to be aware that farms had many unique water hazards not commonly found in a suburban home.
“Farms and regional properties often contain a number of different bodies of water such as dams, troughs, irrigation channels, water tanks, rivers and lakes – all of which can pose a potential drowning hazard for children,” he said.
Royal Life Saving Society of Australia statistics show 29 percent of toddler drownings in 2021-22 occurred in bodies of water such as lakes, dams, rivers and creeks.
in the years ahead,” she said. “A new membership structure with tiered categories was agreed to and will ensure VFF membership delivers on value for money and helps engage farmers to have their say on pressing issues.
“We’re already starting to see the signs of progress, with the organisation returning recent and a long-awaited surplus and we’re no longer relying on debt to fund our operations.”
The VFF announced it would share details of constitutional and membership changes with members in coming weeks.
Farmsafe Australia chair Felicity Richards said ensuring all children were wearing brightly coloured clothing could make them easier to spot.
“Avoid dressing kids in dull greens, browns, or greys, and instead opt for something brighter that stands out in all environments,” she said.
“This can help you spot them before they slip away and make it easier to find them if they do go missing.”
The three organisations recommend adults on farms teach children water safety skills, actively supervise children, establish safe play areas away from water hazards, securely cover water storage areas such as tanks, fill unused holes where water can gather, such as ditches, remove floating items from dams where possible and learn CPR.
“We have begun the process of seeking legal advice. We’re hoping the board is right in saying the request is defective because they have exceeded the 21 days to call the meeting”
– Brett Hosking
COME BY, SAY HI SITE 236-237
COME BY, SAY HI SITE 236-237
COME BY, SAY HI SITE 236-237
COME BY, SAY HI SITE 236-237
As farmers ourselves & users of all our distributed global brands, we understand what you need from a product & back-up support
We continue to work closely with our manufacturers, to ensure all our distributed products exceed your expectations.
As farmers ourselves & users of all our distributed global brands, we understand what you need from a product & back-up support
As farmers ourselves & users of all our distributed global brands, we understand what you need from a product & back-up support We continue to work closely with our manufacturers, to ensure all our distributed products your expectations.
As farmers ourselves & users of all our distributed global brands, we understand what you need from a product & back-up support We continue to work closely with our manufacturers, to ensure all our distributed products your expectations.
We continue to work closely with our manufacturers, to ensure all our distributed products exceed your expectations.
As farmers ourselves & users of all our distributed global brands, we understand what you need from a product & back-up support We continue to work closely with our manufacturers, to ensure all our distributed products your expectations.
As farmers ourselves & users of all our distributed global brands, we understand what you need from a product & back-up support We continue to work closely with our manufacturers, to ensure all our distributed products your expectations.
to ensure all our distributed products your expectations.
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The2023 Victorian State Merino Field Day will attract 39 sheep studs to Marnoo for a day of networking and stock viewing.
The event, on Friday, is an opportunity to showcase Merino and Poll Merino sheep with an afternoon of judging.
Field day president Trent Carter said it was fantastic to see a 39stud line-up.
“Everything is in place, so we are ready to go, and the forecast is for a nice day,” he said.
“After the Australian Sheep and Wool Show at Bendigo, there is a lot of positivity and excitement.
“There will be more than 600 sheep on display, including this year’s potential sale rams.
“There will also be three classes of judging, which is quite a spectacle at lunchtime.”
Mr Carter said the field day was an opportunity to mingle and network with others in the industry.
“The number-one purpose behind the event is to view a wide range of genetics and sheep from strong wool to super fine,” he said.
“There will be sheep to match every environment and every breeding direction.”
Attending studs include Hannaton, Willera, Melrose, Rock-Bank, Rockbank South, Glenpaen, Stud Park South, Kerrilyn, Mount Yulong, Tamaleuca, Koole Vale, Cor-
yule, Glendonald, Nareeb Nareeb, Kedleston Park Araplies Plains, Kurra-Wirra, Terrick West, Banavie, Charinga, Wallaloo Park, Longdale Park, Sohnic, Belbourie, Oakbank, Forest Springs, Hynam Poll, Bennmann, Willharr, Toland, Kilfeera Park, Gowandale, Wurrook, Urangara, Montrose Hill,
Kevlyn, Wattlebank, Connewarran and Bindawarra.
Mr Carter said there were 28 industry businesses with trade sites at the event.
“It’s fantastic to have those supporting businesses on board, too,” he said.
“The gates open from 10am to
TheVictorian Farmers Federation is urging farmers to have a say on the impact of farm and rural crime through the Australian Farm Crime Survey.
VFF president Emma Germano said University of New England commissioned the survey. She said the survey aimed to provide a comprehensive snapshot of all farm crime across Australia.
“This is the first national survey to be undertaken in two decades and the results will provide invaluable insight into farm crime across Australia,” she said.
“Livestock theft in Victoria alone has hit a 10-year high, costing farmers a staggering $6.7 million last year.
“We know farm crime is under-reported, so the real figure could easily be much higher.
“Whether it be theft involving livestock, farm equipment or property damage and illegal trespass, farm crime has an enormous financial impact and can be a terrifying experience for farming families and staff, which cannot be tolerated.”
Ms Germano said survey results would be used to advocate for greater resources and awareness campaigns to combat farm crime.
4pm and there are gate prizes to be won, with catering on site. There is parking in the main street and at the Grain Corp site, and we have an ATV shuttle service that will take people from town to the gates.
“It’s one day where people can come and inspect the merinos and have a great day out.”
“It’s so important that as many Victorian farmers as possible take part in the survey to ensure issues faced by local farmers are understood,” she said.
“The results will help provide the VFF with valuable insight and data, which can be used in our advocacy for greater government action in dealing with farm crime.”
The link to complete the survey is available via unesurveys.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ barMN4RDkQtl0O2
our great in Australia. range of deletes for machinery. software to EGR and DPF the disabling is now of models.
The Crafty Spots Personalised gifts, Kids Hi Viz polos
Low Sodium Foods Spices, sauces, condiments
Mallee Blooms Homewares, gifts, baby products, candles, jewellery
Rawleigh Products and Handmade by Sylvia Rawleigh products, card making and Scrapbooking supplies, crotchet, knitted and quilted items, Tupperware products
Your Scarfs Scarves, umbrellas, bamboo socks, wool socks, plush toys, hand made kid’s pyjamas, coolin wraps, dog coats, bags and coin purses
NAZ Industries Toys
Peg’s Shed Handmade wooden goodies.
Love Your Travels Good Riddance Insect Repellent, Love Your Travels insulated drinkware, Shoo Away, pegless clotheslines
Fossey’s Boutique Australian Gin and other spirits
Rachel’s Krafty Gifts Handmade heatpacks, ironing board covers, bags, kitchenhand towels
Nanna’s Kitchen Homemade jams, relish, chutney, sauces and salad dressing
Beauty Scoop Makeup and skin care range
Cake & Cookie Co
By Emma (Thursday only) Homemade baked goodies, including cupcakes, macarons and cookies
Meraki Shell (Wednesday only) Handmade sock protectors, headbands, scrunchies, kids’ clothing, indoor plant bags, tea towels, library/swimming bags, women’s fashion button earrings
Blessed Bod Ladies fashion and accessories
Up Up ‘N Away Balloons Foil balloons
Sunraysia Balm and Salt Natural soaps, balms, and bath salts all handmade in Mildura, crystal and costume jewellery
AS & Co Gracefully Green Eco-friendly products, including reus able shopping bags, drinkware, beauty and personal care products, and plastic-free natural home cleaning products
Screaming Girl Designs (Wednesday only) Ceramic artworks, jewellery, hand-built ceramic tile artworks, bowls, jewellery, oilcloth lunch bags and greeting cards, all created by Mildura-based artist, Jennifer Gadsden
Kipworth Alpacas Alpaca products and fibre baby products
Jady Pop Face Paint Artist Face painting for all ages
Whileit was initially expected the Australasian New Car Assessment Program, ANCAP, would introduce its stricter testing protocols from January 1, the safety body says promised changes will arrive earlier.
The first vehicle to be tested to a new standard is expected to be announced from September.
Late last year, ANCAP Safety said it would be adding several new and updated tests and assessments to its star rating regime, focused on strengthening criteria related to vehicle-tomotorcycle collision avoidance, child presence detection and vehicle submergence.
The changes aim to incentivise a continued high level of safety offered to car buyers in Australia.
The changes form part of ANCAP and EuroNCAP’s regular regime enhancements, which encourage continual safety improvements every few years.
For 2023, motorcycle detecting autonomous emergency braking is a further refinement of existing AEB more sensitive to, and capable of recognis-
ing and reacting to potential collision scenarios between a motorcycle and a car.
Child presence detection is a safety system designed to assist drivers or parents in detecting the presence of children in vehicles, providing an alarm or notification if a child is unknowingly left behind unattended in a vehicle.
Vehicle submergence assistance is a system that allows windows and doors to be opened after a vehicle is submerged in floods, for example, the sea or rivers. First responders often have difficulty gaining access to vehicles in such situations.
ANCAP Safety will also enhance several existing assessment areas, including the introduction of an eight point penalty compared with the current four point penalty for vehicleto-vehicle crash compatibility; a 10 percent increase to the star rating thresholds for vulnerable road user protection; a reassessment of direct driver monitoring systems to manage driver inattention and fatigue; and an expansion of autonomous emergency braking test scenarios to include additional night-time tests and child
pedestrian avoidance tests when a vehicle is in reverse.
Discussing the introduction of stricter test protocols last year, ANCAP Safety chief executive Carla Hoorweg, said it was important vehicle safety improvements continually broadened to provide the best possible protection to vehicle occupants and other road users.
“Our 2023 requirements build upon our existing criteria to promote further vehicle safety improvements and address some of the ongoing challenges on our roads,” she said.
“Vehicles, and the safety technologies within them, are continuing to evolve, and our test criteria is, too.
“Physical protection in a crash, and the ability to actively avoid a crash, are both essential elements to achieve a high ANCAP safety rating, and this approach will continue from 2023.”
Ms Hoorweg said the requirements set for each star rating level were designed to encourage vehicles that provided a good balance of passive safety – how well a vehicle would protect you and your occupants if you havda crash, and active safety – the ability
of a vehicle to prevent or minimise the outcomes of a crash through active collision avoidance systems.
“ANCAP safety ratings are designed to ensure new car buyers and the road users they interact with are offered the safest vehicles and newest technologies,” she said.
“We encourage all vehicle purchasers to choose a vehicle with the highest ANCAP safety rating possible and the latest date stamp. It could save your life, or the lives of those closest to you.”
– Matt Brogan
Hyundai introduced its new ‘robust, yet delicately detailed’ Santa Fe last week, the boxy family-sized SUV featuring a swathe of ‘unique H-shaped design cues’ to offer buyers what the South Korean brand says is a ‘nature-meets-city’ appeal.
To our eyes, it’s a little bit Minecraft meets 2010 Ford Flex.
Hyperbole aside, there is little in the way of detailed information, with no driveline detail or specifications noted.
However, 2.5T and H-Trac badging is seen in one image, indicating the 207kW-422Nm 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol and all-wheel drive combination offered in the current-generation Santa Fe for overseas markets might become a mainstay.
Hyundai says the ‘powerful new model’ will offer a spacious and versatile interior with a large tailgate aperture that opens to provide ‘terrace-like space’.
Cabin accommodation will grow, thanks to an increased wheelbase, providing ‘ample room for adventurers’.
Fully foldable second and third-row seats promise class-leading levels of
interior space, Hyundai says. Aiming to attract younger families, the Santa Fe’s more flexible interior will contrast the strong exterior with a design that emphasises vertical and horizontal lines, with an H-motif design applied to the dashboard and air vents shaped to ‘enhance the sense of openness’.
Hyundai says the interior will offer a variety of high-tech features, including a panoramic curved 12.3inch infotainment display and Teslastyle dual wireless device charging tray plus 12.3-inch digital instrument panel.
All this technology is complemented by brightly coloured seats and a headlining ‘inspired by nature’, soft-touch wood-patterned garnishing, and Nappa leather upholstery with ‘delicate embroidery’.
The newly-styled cabin incorporates a number of sustainable materials.
The suede headliner, carpet mats, and second and third-row seat backs are made from recycled plastic, while the crash pad and door skins are covered in eco-friendly leatherette.
But it is outside that the new Santa Fe makes its strongest mark.
UPDATE: The fifth-generation Santa Fe SUV is expected to arrive in Australia in the first half of 2024.
The front of the SUV boasts a high, squared-off bonnet, H-shaped headlights elements – which are said to reinterpret Hyundai’s emblem – and ‘bold, sharp fenders’.
From profile, the fenders feature sharply-designed wheel arches, which are emphasised by short front and rear overhangs and bold 21-inch alloy wheels.
The long, flat roofline appears to ‘float’ above blackened pillars, lead-
ing back to a simplified rear-end with a larger tailgate and H-shaped taillights, likely LED to match those of the front-end.
Hyundai executive vice president and head of global design, Sang Yup Lee, said the all-new Santa Fe was an SUV with a ‘perfect’ balance between city life and the great outdoors, handling everything from busy family itineraries to car camping adventures.
“With its longer wheelbase, roomy
interior and terrace-like tailgate space, the new Santa Fe leans into its SUV strengths to offer more versatility than ever before, as well as a premium customer experience,” he said. The new Santa Fe will make its world premiere in August on Hyundai’s YouTube channel. Australian deliveries will commence in the first half of 2024.
– Matt Brogan
Ram Trucks Australia has introduced a new 1500 variant, with the Laramie Sport joining the hard-working pick-up range from $136,950 plus on-road costs.
The American truck’s importer and converter, Ateco Group, said the 1500 Laramie Sport ‘blends a modern intuitive interior with a ruggedly striking exterior’, the latter featuring colourcoded bumpers, grille and mirrors, and newly designed 20-inch alloy wheels.
The Sport variant also includes the useful RamBox lockable cargo management system on both sides of the tub, which Ram says is ideal for easy access to tools or to fill with ice to create a portable Esky.
Inside, the Sport is characterised by a black headlining and black carbonfibre effect dashboard garnishing.
Standard equipment includes a 12.0-inch digital instrument cluster, blindspot monitoring with rear crosspath detection, forward collision with active braking, a 360-degree parking camera system, parallel and perpendicular park assist, lane departure warning, adaptative cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, and more.
Under the bonnet, the 1500 Laramie Sport features the familiar 5.7-litre
HEMI V8 petrol unit found elsewhere in the range.
Delivering 291kW and 556Nm through an eight-speed automatic transmission, the unit includes an eTorque mild hybrid system for great-
er fuel efficiency, as well as cylinder deactivation and idle-stop functions.
Fuel consumption is listed at 12.2 litres per 100km on the ADR Combined cycle.
The Ram 1500 offers up to 800kg
payload and 4500kg braked towing. However, drivers will need to note the vehicle’s Gross Combination Mass limits the former significantly when towing at the limit.
Available at 68 Ram dealerships
nationally, the 1500 Laramie Sport is offered in three paint colours – bright white, diamond black and granite crystal.
Ram Trucks Australia national manager Jeff Barber said Australia’s favourite premium full-sized pick-up truck now sports a new edition.
“The 1500 Laramie Sport full-size pick-up combines all the benefits of a ute with the comfort, space and premium finishes of a luxury SUV,” Mr Barber said.
“This unique proposition allows a range of customers to travel business class, whether they are towing, on work sites, on family road trip adventures, or even doing the school run.”
Mr Barber said Ram Trucks Australia was now the biggest vehicle manufacturer in Australia, and that the conversion specialists have set a record-breaking run to the end of the 2022-23 financial year with a ‘massive’ 1172 units sold – up 85.2 percent on the same time last year.
During June, the model outsold a range of competitors within the broader 4x4 pick-up category, including the Jeep Gladiator, Nissan Navara, Volkswagen Amarok and Toyota LandCruiser.
– Matt BroganBMW Australia will introduce a new entry-point to its X7 range when the new xDrive40i variant arrives in showrooms later this year. Priced from $167,900 plus on-road costs in both M Sport or Design Pure Excellence trims, the 2024 BMW X7 xDrive40i features the same equipment offered in the X7 xDrive40d but is powered by a 48-volt mild-hybrid, MHEV, assisted six-cylinder turbopetrol engine developing 280kW and 540Nm.
BMW’s new generation MHEV technology comprises a crankshaftmounted starter generator integrated in the transmission housing.
The generator is used as a starter motor to fire the combustion engine and recuperates kinetic energy during coasting and braking. The accompanying 48-volt battery powers the generator, stores recuperated energy and
powers the on-board electrical system.
In tandem with BMW’s 3.0-litre petrol ‘six’, the duo drives all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission and intelligent all-wheel drive system, the latter also found beneath the X7 xDrive40d and M60i.
BMW Australia says specification highlights of the new X7 variant include standard metallic paint and M Sport package, 22-inch alloy wheels, BMW individual leather merino upholstery, BMW individual headliner in anthracite Alcantara, an alarm system, five-zone climate control, contactless opening split tailgate, BMW drive recorder, comfort seats, iconic glow kidney grille, panorama glass roof, parking assistant professional, driving assistant professional, electric sunblinds and tyre pressure monitoring.
Other technology highlights include BMW live cockpit featuring a
14.9-inch curved display, BMW OS 8.5, connected package professional, head-up display, and a 16-speaker harman-kardon surround sound system. Optionally, via BMW’s equipment program, the X7 xDrive40i is available with the $9800 connoisseur suite, the $3200 M Sport Pro package, a $2500 trailer tow hitch, $3000 M Multifunction front-row seats, $1500 six-seat configuration, or the $8500 Bowers and Wilkins Diamond surround sound system with 20 speakers and a 10-channel-1508-watt amplifier.
In addition to eight white, grey and black standard paint finishes, the new X7 variant is also offered with three individual metallic hues or a matte frozen pure grey finish. Optional 22 and 23-inch alloy wheel designs are also offered, as are different upholstery and trim finishes.
– Matt Brogan
Michael Schilling has a strong passion for training the general public with a range of skill levels from people who may never have held a licence before, to immigrants and the elderly.
Michael is accredited with the Driver Training Association of Victoria and personally trained in driver instruction by the South Australian president of the DTA. Horsham Driving School have been servicing the Wimmera region since 2008.
Michael said customer service is his highest priority and is the key for longevity in business.
“The region has supported me for 15 years, which I’m really grateful for.” Offering flexible hours both on weekends and after hours, Michael also provides free quotes and a no minimum lesson commitment.
Michael has been a member of the ADTAV since 2008. Which means he is constantly updated on any relevant changes to the industry.
Michael offers training in both manual and automatic vehicles.
If you are just beginning your driving chapter or looking to re-boost some confidence in your driving skills and confidence on the road, Michael at Horsham Driving School is your experienced and knowledgable driving instructor.
Michael can be contacted on 0417 352 403, website www.horshamdrivingschool. com or via his newly revamped Facebook Page; Horsham Driving School.
Birthdays
Jan Dumesny 30-07-1943
A massive happy 80th birthday to the Queen of our family - our wonderful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. A legend who spends her time helping others, is a friend to all and is always up for a chat.
We hope you have a day that is just as special as you.
Your loving family
death notices
Passed away surrounded by family on July 21st 2023 aged 67.
Dearly loved wife of Norris
Loving Mother of Brett & Bianca
Granna of Mia, Archer, Ryder, Flynn and Alfie.
Mother in law of Hannah and Andrew.
Loved daughter of Gwen and Lindsay Pipkorn (dec)
Beautiful Sister of Darryl and Heather
Sister in law of Ann
Horsham & District
Funerals
Amity Perovic & Dylan Hartwich
5382 1149
POPE, Neville John
Passed away on July 18, 2023 aged 84 years.
Dearly loved husband of Margaret.
Loving father and father in law of Karen & Mark; Dianne & Graeme; Roslyn & Stuart; Lisa & AJ.
GLEESON, Flo
Passed peacefully 18-7-2023
Aged 96
Loved wife of Bill (dec)
Treasured Mum of Bill Jnr (dec) Peter & Jenny, Suzanne & Bob.
Adored Nan of 8,
Great Nan of 14,
Great Great Nan of 1
Wherever a beautiful soul has been, there is a trail of beautiful memories.
Forever loved
Horsham & District
Funerals
Amity Perovic & Dylan Hartwich
5382 1149
Adored Papa to Adam & Jason; Nick, Tom & Lucas; Emily, Christopher & Tim; Ellie and their families.
Great Papa to Archie, Chloe, Levi, Harrison, Violet, Charlotte, Spencer, Axel & bump.
Tending to his native garden and playing golf croquet Safe in God’s care
death notices
SANFORD, Alfonso Henry Gale (Phonse)
Passed away on July 20, 2023 at Wimmera Base Hospital after a long battle with his health. Aged 88. Beloved husband of Louise.
My love forever
Loved father of Marina, Peter and Clare.
Father-in-law of Barney and Glenn.
Grandfather and Pa of Joshua and Kyle (dec), Mikaela, Ashleigh and Shelby. Great grandfather of Tyson, Yalanda, Dominic and Alyssa.
~ Now at Peace ~
Horsham & District
Funerals
Amity Perovic & Dylan Hartwich 5382 1149
death notices
Passed away peacefully at his beloved home ‘Winterlake’ on Tuesday, 18th July 2023 aged 77 years.
Dearly loved and treasured husband of Jan. Resting peacefully.
Jo-Anne Callaghan Wattle Range Funerals Naracoorte 08 8762 0099
WALKER (nee Ainsworth), Marion Elizabeth
Passed away peacefully on July 19, 2023 aged 75 years. Dearly loved wife of Gary. Loving mother of Elizabeth, Helen, Bronwyn and their families.
Now at peace
SCHULTZ, Roy Thomas
15.12.1932 - 22.7.2023
Loved husband of Dorothy (dec).
Loved father of Aaron, Grandpa to Sam & Jed. Loved stepdad to Leigh Doolan and family.
Former football, cricket and golf fanatic.
Proud life member of Homers Cricket Club. Ex player of Homers, South Warrnambool and North Hobart football clubs.
Roy was one of a kind. A gentle, generous, graceful man who will be missed by all who knew him.
Horsham & District
Funerals Amity Perovic & Dylan Hartwich
5382 1149
SMITH, RONALD CHARLES
12.4.1942 – 23.7.2023
Horsham Croquet Club is saddened by the recent passing of Neville Pope, a life member of the club holding many positions.
He was a renowned croquet player sharing his expertise with all.
Condolences to Margaret and family from all at the club.
Ronald Charles Smith passed away peacefully on Saturday the 23rd of July at Wimmera Nursing Home Loved Father of Steve, Michael & Shane Grandfather to 4.
Horsham & District
Funerals
Amity Perovic & Dylan Hartwich 5382 1149
Funeral Notices
GLEESON, Flo
The late Mrs Flo Gleeson, will be farewelled at a private family gathering Amity Perovic & Dylan Hartwich 5382 1149
GOODGAME, KAREN
The graveside funeral service to farewell the late Mrs. Karen Goodgame will be held on Wednesday, August 2nd 2023 at Horsham Lawn Cemetery commencing at 1pm.
Amity Perovic & Dylan Hartwich 5382 1149
POPE, Neville John
The funeral of Neville John Pope will take place at the graveside, Rupanyup Lawn Cemetery on Thursday, 27 July 2023 commencing at 1.30pm
Trevor Bysouth & Daughter Ph 5381 1444 AFDA Member
SANFORD, Alfonso Henry Gale
(Phonse)
A funeral for Alfonso Henry Gale is to be held at the Ss. Michael & John’s Catholic Church on Thursday, July 27 at 1pm
Amity Perovic & Dylan Hartwich 5382 1149
SCHULTZ, Roy Thomas
A graveside service for the late Mr. Roy Schultz will be held at Sailors Home Cemetery on Monday, July 31 at 1.30pm followed by a gathering at Sailors Home Hall.
Amity Perovic & Dylan Hartwich 5382 1149
SMITH, RONALD CHARLES
The funeral service to farewell the late Mr. Ronald Smith will be held at Horsham Lawn Cemetery on Friday, July 28th 2023 commencing at 1.30pm.
Amity Perovic & Dylan Hartwich 5382 1149
TUCKER, Cyril ‘Stuart’
The family and friends of the late Mr Stuart Tucker are invited to attend his funeral service being held in its entirety at the Edenhope Cemetery on Thursday, 27th July 2023 commencing at 11am
Jo-Anne Callaghan Wattle Range Funerals Naracoorte 08 8762 0099
WALKER, Marion Elizabeth
The funeral of Marion Elizabeth Walker will take place at the Murtoa Mechanics Hall, Supper Room on Friday, 28 July 2023 at 10.30am Private cremation.
Trevor Bysouth & Daughter Ph 5385 2833 AFDA Member
1 Chocolate mini
Dachshund , female, vacc, vet checked, m/chip# 953010006162922 $2500 each, located in Nhill Ph 0431725487
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
Event Services
PLUS a source number from the Pet Exchange Register
LIVESTOCK -
*Selling, giving away or bartering of all livestock must include a Property Identification Code (PIC number) in the advertisement.
*The Weekly Advertiser reserves the right to accept or refuse advertisements.
Funeral Directors
Our professional staff will ensure
When mum said years ago she was going
1 male mastiff x bull mastiff puppy, vacc, vet checked and wormed, born 22/11/2022, m/ chip# 953010006382898, Source# EE185505, he is ready for his forever home please $500 Ph 0481756063
4 10 week old purebred
Heelers pups for sale, 2 blue males, 1 red stumpy tailed female, 1 red boy, all vet checked, wormed vaxxed and microchipped 18/5/23, mchip#
953010006172145/95301000
6172140/953010006171652
/953010006172141, source#
MB146514 Ph 0407363983
Black faced Dorpers joined $140 each Ph 0429912620
Black head dorper ewe lambs , born June 2022, pic# 3NGLM058 $250ea Ph 53585079
Budgies, young, asstd colours
$10ea Ph 0423182267
Ferrets , 8wks to 18mths
$30ea Ph 0418843180 Nhill
German Shepherd puppies, 7wks, great temperament, toilet trained, straight, two boys and two girls, source# MB115424, m/ chip# F 95301000661546, F953010006610248, M953010006610331, M95301000661015145 Ph 0421018631
Pigeon fantails , lots of colours, $5 each, plus other breeds, no texts Ph 0408846796
Pups Col/Kelp X StPoodle, 3 gold fem, 1 gold, 2 black males, born 12/4/23, mchip, vet checked, source# MB223023, mchip# 985141003955533 985141003956376/402/6234 855/6234856/6234857, visit welcome Ph 0458169182
Pure breed black faced
Dorper ewe lambs, pic# 3HSDC083 Ph Liz 0419664345
Roosters, ducks and guinea foul wanted Ph 0469740723
Salami pigs wanted Ph 0481864397
Whippet puppies, 6 males, 1 female, dark and light briendles, black and white, ready to go now, wormed, vacc, m/chip # 956000162
57287/256879/257197/25
4950/308627/312719/254
208, source # MB109696, $1200each, view and pick up Ararat, call Alan or Fiona Ph 0431176269 or 53093267
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
Mazda BT3-500 Motorhome, 1991 10spd, modern interior, sleeps 3, full RWC, cull complienced, EC $39,000 Ph for full details 0411450027
Goldacres boom spray , prairie advance, 30m boom, 5000 litre tank Ph 0428899260
Horwood bagshaw, 45 ft, hydraulic harrows, $2500 Ph 0428212996
John Deere 4850 SWA, duals, power shift (no 3 PL), $15,000 Ph 0428212996
2 lockable metal jerry can holders $50 each Ph 0419571506
2 of 225- 40x19 Michelin pilot sport tyres, approx 65% tread
$120 Ph 0419823241
Bee boxes , 9x10 frame bottom boxes $450 the lot, 7x10 frame top boxes $210 the lot Ph Noel 0487981272
Boiling Billy 5ltr wall mounted boiling water unit
$165 Ph 0419571506
Stock crate, steel sides, 15’ x 8’ $250 Ph 0428826809
Superior Multihead slasher mower, 8’,3 PL, new condition
$4000 ono Ph 53826461 or 0429309491
Toyota FJ40 rims and tyres, 95% $20 each, Rodeo tyres and Sunraiser rims $15 each
Ph 0407911884
Victory XL gopher , new batteries and charger, GC $1000 Ph 0427945003
Kildare Border Collies now have a litter of purebred puppies for sale at $1,800, we have been breeding border collies for over 50 years and strive to breed quality true to type and temperament in our puppies. Our pups have calm natures and make excellent working dogs or family pets. Three are chocolate and white puppies 2 female and 1 male and the remainder are female black and white puppies with piercing dark eyes and traditional black and white markings. Born 28/05/2023, all have fun loving natures and ready to find their forever home. All puppies have been microchipped, vet checked vac/wmd, m/chip# 991001005403261/2368
source# MB196330, call Brendan Hogan for more information Ph 0439971754
Donald
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
Safari 236 Caravan 2011 with roll out awning, 90 watt solar panel, 30amp solar regulator, 15” off road rims and tyres, elec brakes, battery pack with Anderson charge plug, 3 water tanks, air conditioning, ensuite shower, toilet, washing machine, vanity, storage, 4 burner stove, oven, microwave, 184L automatic 3 way fridge, television, CD/ DVD/AM-FM radio, “L” shape seating, q/bed, and much more, EC, as good as new, no catches, genuine sale, if you are serious this is a must see, too good to miss $63,000neg Ph 0429671764
Safari Delta 216, 21’6” 2015 build, full ensuite, q/bed, full solar independent off road suspension, full oven, large fridge, microwave, washing machine, leather seating, large oven, full length annexe, colour coded to match van, this is the van with the lot, selling due to no further use $49,700ono Ph 0429198599
Lister shearing machine , 1 at $200, 1 at $250 Ph 0429848283
Massey Ferguson 585 12’ Header has been shedded for most of its life $1000ono Ph 0421442050 $28.60
Massey Harris 55K tractor, running, good tyres $3000 Ph 0429847336
Pallet Racking Heavy duty, 5.6m high, $50 per end, $15 per rail Ph 0428523919
REDUDED Inter Combine 511, 28 row, Trash Floats,stars and plates, serviced and in working order $5500ono Ph 0407911884
REDUDED Tractor Tyre
14.9-24 $250 Ph 0407911884
Caterpillar 2017 4 ton diesel forklift, operated 480 hours, $44,000 inc GST of $4000 Ph Michael 0407744076
Craft generator, 5.5hp, 240v $400 Ph 0487313892
Digitech multimeter QM
1323 $35 Ph 0419571506
Farmhouse for relocation, 3 bedroom, weatherboard, Circa
1920’s $2000 Ph 0427852270
Halogen adjustable worklight Ph 0419571506
Horn sewing cabinet , GC $200 Ph 0427822343
Horsham
Kickass gas hot water camping shower, as new $140
Ph 0419571506
Loading ramps,3m long, suit ute or trailer, heavy galve, non slip, $180 pair Ph 0417507882
Stawell
Lumik car fridge, 40L, 12v plus 240v, GC, works well
$250 Ph 0447972097
Transportable home, Bond home, 2 bedroom, VGC, includes veranda and hot water service and water tank, can arrange delivery, currently in Stawell, new $164,000 sell for $85,000 Ph Ken 0428123694
Trewella Jacks, 2x6 ton, all steel, $450 each or $800 pair
Ph 0417507882 Stawell
Trogan Towball weight scale
Ph 0419571506
Yamaha Generator, EF1600, large fuel tank run all day $275 Ph 0458401053
Suzuki Solo Intruder , 250cc, immaculate condition, 17,000kms, 2012 model IT6ZI $4750 Ph 0427361940
2005 Traveller Caravan 19’
Hurricane, shower and toilet, full annex $35,000
Ezytrail camper, Sterling G, Mark 2, EC $21,999ono Ph John 0427562876
Skycamp ikamper Mini, 3 years old, used 4 times exc condition $3800 ono phone 0428582131
Viscount pop-up caravan with safety cord and extension cord, 2-way fridge, 4-cooker, oven, collapsible kettle, compact cookware set, foldable dish drainer, microwave, air conditioner, 1 d/bed, 1 s/bed, L-shape sofa, ample storage $5700neg Text 0419600049 or 0405516207
Roto feed baler, low bale count, Regular servicing, located at stawell, selling due to farm sale, $39600 ono Ph 0428549263
Wanted to buy Ford Truck, 1964 to 1975, F-700 or F-750, in good condition with good cabin, prefer V8 with tipper but not essential, would consdier F-600 Ph 0429836055
Wanted to buy post driver Ph 0419007741
1 20ltr plaster water jerry can $20 Ph 0419571506
Pacific pressure washer , 2.5hp, elec motor, Victor rotary hoe, Anchor 2ton pulley block, 280mm dia, 3kva Modra generator, 8.5hp motor, fold up single bed, call for prices Ph 0429821539
Passlode 75mm air nail gun
$120 Ph 0419571506
Portable sheep yards , Thornton 22 panel $5500 inc Gst Ph 55701392 AH
Powertec 12v to 240v 800w inverter $60 Ph 0419571506
Steel fireguard/fence with gate 1mx1mx800H, very stable VGC $200ono Ph 53564225.
1 Solid wood bed and 2 side tables 2 1/2 years old, 1 mattress, warranty 7 1/2 years left $2300ono Ph 0459602388
8 Riverland dining chairs, Harvey Norman, half price, as new $1436 Ph 0428861127
Desk, young student, kauri pine $100 Ph 0474297661
New Omega electric oven display model, 900mm L, 800mm H, 560mm, D $1000neg Ph 0427993510
Ute tray complete with enclosed canvas canopy, grey, 2100mm x 1900mm, steel tray c/w drop sides, incs roof racks, have upgraded, available now, VGC $4125 inc Gst or best offer Ph or text John 0477317809 for more info
Galaxy 2007 , new Tebbs annexe, a/c, oven, fridge, rego, batteries $25,000ono Ph 0402933972
2 20ltr metal water only jerry cans $40 each Ph 0419571506
Stock crate, steel (Ute) 7’ x 6’ $150 Ph 0428826809
Stock crate, steel 2 deck 15’ x 8’ $600 Ph 0428826809
Table and 6 dining chairs, colonial style, table length 1750x1m width REDUCED $200 Ph 0438064358
1994 Holden Apollo, auto, great little car, drives well low kms, rego till 4/24, 89,000kms, NGM571 $3000 Ph Greg 0476307230
Ford Falcon Classic 2004, has been in shed for 7yrs, very straight body, tv in rear seat, owners manual, 29,0000kms, TGK695 $2000, no texts Ph 0408846796
Toyota Camry V6, has been bingled, most panel still straight, driveable, KNG966, $500 no texts Ph 0408846796
3.7 Stacer Alum Boat, 18hp Tohatsu Motor, boat and motor covers, boat Tx874, trailer Y98760 $5000 Ph 0418810802
Hobie Mirage Passport 12.0 pedal kayak with motor, 50AH lithium battery and motor controller, extra hatch covers added $2,500 Ph 0407305457
Vicking Fisherman canoe with paddles, 3.6mtrs, with wheels $900 Ph 0419590475
2009 Chrysler Pt Cruiser GT, black, fully option car, RWC and reg supplied, EC, lady owner, 115,000kms, XMS899 $9000ono Ph 0428123694
0429491426
A chain chamberlain Deere 4960, duals (no 3PL),
leased $11,000 Ph 0428212996
Mobility aids, various items, including walker, commode, shower chair Ph 0429821539
Tyre 195 70R14, new, suits Camry Conquest $90 Ph 0407561135
Falcon XR6, seduce red, EC, RWC, new tyres, XSF763 $9900 Ph 0428989234
Holden Gemini x2 , 1981 TE8TF69-188333B, 4dr sed man SL, 1983 TG8TF69-241320B, 4dr sed man SL, as is both $4300ono Ph 0427801969 no text Mazda 3 Sedan, 2006, petrol, manual, burgundy, grey interior, good condition, as is no RWC, UIZ564, $2999ono Ph 0428994210
2009 Suzuki Gladius 650 lams, black, only 6965kms $4,399 Ph 0439070159
New Brooks Adrenaline men’s sneakers, size 12 $80 Ph 0427993510
1950 Ferguson TEA20 , engine reco, good tyres, new paint, extensive repairs, further details Ph Laurie
farm
Toyota Hilux ute , 1994 model, petrol, 5spd, 2wd, runs and drives great, rego 9/23, no RWC supplied, 266.000kms, FLE639 $5000 Ph Greg 0476307230
2009 GLX Landcruiser
Prado, 4x4 manual, diesel, 7 seats,1 owner full service history, 244932 klms, colour dune, EXTRAS UHF radio, headlight/ bonnet protectors, driving lightsrear air bags, 2nd battery, long range fuel tanks, new tyres 99%, snorkel rubber floor mats, roadworthy supplies, rego XAH807 until march 24 $ 24,500 Ph 0428972044
Holden WB Panel Van 1983, 6 cylinder petrol/gas, 3 speed manual, VGC, extra parts included, FSE369 $35,000ono Ph 0407614706
Graphite, 23deg, 7 wood inc
as new
Ph 0487227965 Farm
till Jan 2024, canopy, good conditio, serviced regularly, 254,221 kms, WVR283, $16,000 Ph 0448504021
Stawell
2015 Audi A3 Attraction , style and technik package, auto, heated seats, front and back sensors, 17’ alloy wheels, 68,000kms, one owner, perfect condition 1DB 9YP $28,000 Ph 0400961401
Mazda CX 30, G20 Touring, RWC, reg until 30/6/24, floor mats, EC, $34800 Ph 0419571506
approx. 110 acres for shared lease, located on the fringe of Hopetoun 3396, suitable for cropping, grazing, solar farming or other use, 3 phase power is available, long or short term lease Ph Lawrence to discuss 0414587676
White 2011 Holden Commodore SS VE series II, selling due to upgrade to 4x4, service up to date with book, rego till May, roadworthy supplied, kept very neat and tidy, 177***kms, ZPK676 $35,000 Ph 0409579397
2012 Holden Ute SV6 VE Series II Auto MY12,trusty SV6 ute with lockable ARB canopy, omes with a RWC, rego til 30/5/24, regularly serviced, owner overseas, ZAW844
$11400 Ph 0427610283
Dadswells Bridge
Holden Calais VE Series II 2011, auto, white sedan, immaculate cond, 138,500km, YMK634 $15,000 Ph 0490791198 Nhill
2015 Ford Ranger PX MkII
XLT, 6sp, charcoal, towbar, elec brakes, Anderson plug, iDrive throttle control, tinted windows, rola roof platform, REDARC DC/DC charger, dual battery, fridge slide, LED lights, 11mths rego, RWC supplied, 15,4500kms, BBT411 Ph 0419543815
Holden Colorado LTR, dual cab, 3L turbo diesel, auto trans, 4WD, towbar, side steps, lock up canopy, reg til 10/23, RWC, WRL987
$20,000 Ph 0428504449
2015 Hyundai FE, SUV, 2.2, 2 way diesel, towbar, full service history, excellent condition, rego 1FFSO,1,70,000 kms, $23,500 +GST Ph 0418991340
Original metres kilocycles megacycle short wave, 5 valve console radio, serial# 2114, EC, working order Ph 53824316
2017 Toyota Hilux SR5, 4X4, manual, one owner, diesel, roof racks, bullbar, towbar, electric brakes, heavy springs, tinted windows, dual batteries, reg til 6/24, 161,000kms, AMF813 $45,000 Ph 0408504867
Rare Astor roller dial console radio, ex working order and cond Ph 53824316
REDUCED Silver Mitsubishi
Pajero 2010 , rego til 10/11/23, 201,600km, XRI163
$18,000ono Ph 0428928259
VW Toureg 2011 180 TDI auto, silver, one owner, good service history, one of few with low range transfer, centre & rear diff locks, no towing done, VGC, new tyres, RWC, reg till 2/24, YVD520 $17,500 Ph 0428528990
F250 Ute 2002 XLT Power stroke diesel V8, 284838kms, right hand column auto, tub liner, tie down points, tow bar, bucket seats, elec windows and mirrors, a/c, tyres 90%, rego 28th Aug 23 RUG765
$42,000 Ph 53826103 in
REDUCED Yamaha CLP330
Clavinova Digital Piano, EC, great sound and feel, includes stool $2000 Ph0428894232
Student Cello and Bow $500 Ph 0427712331
Sheep agistment available at Kewell , accommodate approx 130-140, feed wall advanced Ph 0427895097
Airia, Fstyle, Mandolin with hard case, EC $300 Ph 0413207022
I NEVER THOUGHT I’D
The church needs to change too!
There is something unique and special about worshipping God together, learning to become more like Him in character and deed, listening to and receiving the Word of God together. Learning to have the rough edges rubbed off as we grow in faith, fellowship together and become less focused on self and we learn to acquiesce to one another. Also, the Bible tells us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. No man (or woman) is an Island unto themselves, we need each other and we need each other in the right environment.
OK I hear what you are saying but the church I have attended is not relevant to my every day living, the services are boring, the people are stuck up and so the list of reasons (in some instances dare I say, excuses!) grows.
Let me ask you a question: If you loved cricket and belonged to a cricket club, that could be described in similar terms to your church, what would you do? I suspect you would leave that cricket club and find another one where you feel comfortable. Its true some churches do not provide an environment conducive to growing as a Christian, the sermons are boring, many of the people are aloof and so on. If that is the case, first talk to the minister and a trusted friend and if you are that uncomfortable, find another church, a comfortable place where you fit. Let me caution you though, if God has directed you to that church for a purpose that pleases Him; say, to teach you to love the unlovely, to help some lost soul in the church who needs a friend, then don’t run away. Seek His Grace to fulfil the job at hand.
But if you really do not fit in, don’t give up on God, or His Church, look for a church where there is a seat, as it were with your name on it. In other words, you can fit right in.
Irene Gould, Baptist Pastor
Nominations are invited from interested and skilled members of the community wishing to be considered for membership to the Riverside Recreation Reserve Committee of Management. This volunteer committee is responsible for the dayto-day management, care and development of the reserve and its built facilities, largely dedicated to equestrian activities. The term of appointment is three years to 27 September 2026
Specific interest or skills in one of the following areas would be highly regarded:
• Community connection and interest in seeking a position on the CoM
• Community and stakeholders
• Governance and volunteer management
• Financial and business
• Land management
All registrations of interest for the voluntary role will be considered. Further information and nomination forms are available from Danielle Fowler on 0439 029 909 or email publicland.grampians@delwp.vic.gov.au
Expressions of Interest are to be on the formal nomination form and addressed to: Land and Built Environment Team, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action – 110 Natimuk Road, Horsham, Vic, 3400 or emailed to: publicland.grampians@delwp.vic.gov.au
Women, First Nations People, people with disabilities, young people and people from culturally diverse backgrounds are actively encouraged to apply to ensure that the committee’s membership reflects the composition of the community it serves.
Expressions of Interest close 18 August 2023 www.deeca.vic.gov.au
Customer Service Centre 136 186
Rick Smith Motors is seeking a full time qualified mechanic to join their team.
The position requires a highly motivated person who is keen to work in a team environment.
This is an excellent opportunity and ideally, the successful applicant will possess the following attributes.
• Must be a Qualified Motor Mechanic
• Current drivers license
• Reliable
• Sound mechanical aptitude
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Neat and well presented
• Willing to undergo national police check
We offer:
Above award wages
38 hour week
Supportive team
Well equipped and clean workshop
Application and resume to admin@ricksmithmotors.com
Rick Smith Motors , PO Box 1118 , Horsham.
Contact Rick: 0419 387 689
Approx 18 hours per week. (at least 3 days per week)
• Some fruit and veg knowledge an advantage, but not essential
• This role will involve some heavy lifting up to 20kg Email resumes to jkgri ths71@gmail.com or drop in store
Rick Smith Motors is seeking a casual Administration Officer, up to 3 days per week.
Responsible for general administration tasks, Key duties and responsibilities include :
• Customer service and answering phones and taking bookings.
• Processing job cards.
• Accounts receivable.
• Maintain and update customer information.
• Communication with workshop. The successful applicant will be :
• Reliable.
• Have good oustomer service skills.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Positive attitude.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Neat and well presented.
• Willing to undergo national police check. Application and resume to admin@ricksmithmotors.com
Rick Smith Motors , PO Box 1118 , Horsham.
Contact Rick: 0419 387 689
be someone making a difference for people in your community Employment Opportunities
**Attractive salary packaging in addition to salary** See our website for further information
We are seeking committed and passionate people who are ready for exciting and rewarding careers in our growing community health organisation
Case Manager Perpetrator Family Violence 22.8 hours per week
$32.21 to $41.52 per hour
Family Violence Case Manager 38 or 30.4 hours per week $36.00 to $47.50 per hour
Homelessness Case Manager 38 hours per week $36.00 to $41.52 per hour
Contact: Gemma Beavis
Contracts & Compliance Systems Officer 30.4 hours per week $40.77 per hour
Executive Support Officer 25 hours per week $40.77 per hour
Contact: Luke Bibby
Intensive Drink Drug Drive Behaviour Change Facilitator 38 hours per week $36.00 to $42.60 per hour
Contact: Sarah Sargeant
Lifestyle Facilitator 28 hours per week $32.21 to $36.00 per hour
Contact: Karen Watson
Closing: 12pm Monday 14 August 2023
To download a position description and key selection criteria form visit our website: gch.org.au
For further information email employment@gch.org.au or call contact person on 5358 7400
be someone making a difference for people in your community
growing community health organisation
Manager Corporate Services
Full time or part time by negotiation
$61.78 per hour base salary
Attractive remuneration package in addition to base salary
Program Leader Orange Door
Program Leader Customer Engagement
Program Leader NDIS
Full time or part time by negotiation
$51.90 per hour base salary
Contact: Kate Astbury
Closing: 12pm Monday 7 August 2023
To download a position description and key selection criteria form visit our website: gch.org.au
For further information email employment@gch.org.au or call contact person
Employment Opportunities
**Attractive salary packaging in addition to salary**
We are seeking committed and passionate people who are ready for exciting and rewarding careers in our growing community health organisation Cleaner - Ararat based 10 hours per fortnight
$26.18 per hour
Casual Cleaner - Stawell based As required $32.73 per hour casual rate
Contact: Luke Bibby
Closing: 12pm Monday 7 August 2023
To download a position description and key selection criteria form visit our website: gch.org.au
further information email employment@gch.org.au or call contact person on 5358 7400
Horsham West and Haven Primary School’s vision is to empower all students to achieve their personal best.
Our mission is to maintain a community of learners who are happy and confident in their ability to learn, grow and succeed.
GRADUATE, EXPERIENCED AND CASUAL TEACHERS REQUIRED FOR THE 2024 SCHOOL YEAR
ONGOING POSITIONS AVAILABLE
Subject to suitable applicant
Come and join our dedicated team. Please email your resume to lee.mckenzie@education.vic.gov.au
If you have any questions, contact Lee McKenzie 0438 824 580 for further information
Horsham West and Haven Primary School’s vision is to empower all students to achieve their personal best.
Our mission is to maintain a community of learners who are happy and confident in their ability to learn, grow and succeed.
LEADERSHIP POSITIONS STARTING IN 2024: Apply via Recruitment Online
LEARNING SPECIALIST - MATHEMATICS
Recruitment Online Job ID: 1355295
LEARNING SPECIALIST - DATA & IMPROVEMENT
Recruitment Online Job ID: 1355296
LEADING TEACHER - WELLBEING & ENGAGEMENT
Recruitment Online Job ID: 1355306
Come and join our dedicated team.
Please contact Lee McKenzie 0438 824 580 for further information.
Horsham O ce
Requirements:
• Self motivated • Well presented with a positive attitude
• Excellent organisation and multi tasking skills
-2023 1923
Coaches for 2024
We are seeking expressions of interest for coaching positions for season 2024 (and beyond if wanted)
Football: Seniors and Reserves (including assistants) Netball: A, B, C & C Reserve
For more information or to express interest in a position, please contact:
Director of Football, Luke Dumesny lukedummo@hotmail.com
• Excellent time management
• Patient care orientated. This position is a minimum of 10.75 hours per week, over 3 shifts.
Above award wages are offered.
Email a letter of application and CV to admin@wimmerachiro.com.au
Call Felicity 0438 862 024 (BH Only)
Applications close Friday, August 11, 2023
The Victorian School Nursing Program –
Primary School - Wimmera South West Area
Position Number: 1352947
Employment Type: Fixed Term
Job Function: Nursing
Classification: ES1-4
Salary Range: $88,738 – $104,630 per annum
Contact: Robyn Ledin
Email: Robyn.Ledin@education.vic.gov.au
Are you interested in working with young people? Do you have a passion for health promotion and health education? An exciting opportunity exists for a highly selfmotivated Registered Nurse (Div 1) to join the Primary School Nurse Program in the Wimmera South West Area – South Western Victorian Region. This is a fixed-term fulltime 1.0 FTE position ending 23/11/2023.
When applying, please ensure you respond to the key selection criteria.
Department of Education is committed to diversity. The Department places considerable effort and resources into responding to the needs of staff with a disability. People from disadvantaged groups are encouraged to apply for this position. If you require assistance, with the recruitment process, have accessibility or adjustment requirements, please communicate with the contact person listed on this job advertisement or contact the People Division via email: schools.recruitment@education.vic.gov.au
Information about the Department of Education’s operations and employment conditions can be obtained from the following websites: www.education.vic.gov.au and http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/Pages/default.aspx.
Applicants are encouraged to apply on-line via the Recruitment Online website at www.education.vic.gov.au/schooljobs
Please refer to Job Opening: 1352947
To apply or for more information please go to: https://whcg.mercury.com.au/
Director of Senior Netball, Steph Ervin stephprice92@outlook.com Contract
www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au
assets, operations and other property as required.
Submissions are invited from Trade Services including:
– Painters
– Handymen
– Air Conditioning / Heating – Carpenters, Cabinet makers
– Metal Fabrication
– Builders (Domestic & Commercial)
– Pest Control
Tenders close 2pm, Tuesday 15 August, 2023. To download a copy of the tender documents please go to the website: www.ngshire.vic.gov.au/tenders and follow the link.
BRENT MCALISTER CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
•
Applications close: 2 August 2023
TIME OR FULL TIME 0.6-1.0 EFT (3-5 DAYS PER WEEK)
APPLICATIONS CLOSE: 5.00PM Sunday 30 July 2023
The Sexual Assault and Family Violence Centre is a specialist organisation that provides therapeutic counselling, advocacy and professional education regarding sexual assault and family violence across the Barwon and Wimmera Regions.
Our Wimmera service, based in Horsham, provides specialised sexual assault and family violence counselling to adults, young people and children; and to their non-offending family members and friends. We also provide services to young people who display problem sexualised behaviour or sexually abusive behaviours, and to their families.
We are seeking an experienced practitioner to join our dynamic team who is passionate about providing specialised therapeutic counselling and advocacy for adults, adolescents and children who have experienced trauma as well as assisting with the facilitation of therapeutic group programs.
Requirements:
• Relevant qualification in social work, psychology or similar discipline.
• Trauma informed therapeutic experience.
• A structural understanding of sexual assault, family violence and gender based violence.
The Sexual Assault and Family Violence Centre offers a positive and supportive organisational culture. We hold a strong client focus, highly value our staff and hold a commitment to clinical supervision and professional development. Our organisation offers attractive salary packaging and flexible working conditions.
To apply please go to our website at www.safvcentre.org.au or further information contact Chantale, Recruitment and Student Placement Coordinator on 0487 546 939.
To
BY SIMON KING
Wimmera hockey action moves to Yanac on Saturday, providing the last opportunity for aspiring grand finalists to play on the ground where premierships will be decided in September.
With teams to play off in the finals already set in the open and under-16 competitions and just the order they will finish to be decided, the most interest in the remaining four rounds is the battle for the last two places in the women’s competition.
The closest match in the open competition this round will be between Warracknabeal Hoops and Kaniva Cobras.
The Cobras looked good in defeating Horsham Hurricanes last round, and the Hoops came out ahead against the Rangers, so this will be an entertaining encounter between two teams that may well meet again in the finals, but form suggests the Hoops might have the edge.
Despite being the meeting of the top and bottom teams, Yanac Tigers should not have much trouble on their home ground to continue their unbeaten run.
Still, Nhill Rangers challenged the second-placed Hoops last weekend in their one-goal loss and can also push the reigning premiers, but an upset is unlikely.
Both women’s games pitch one of the dominant top teams against a hopeful finalist, which on recent form, suggests that Horsham Jets, with the bye, might be the biggest winner from the round.
Kaniva has not lost a game this season, and despite some confidenceboosting results by Warracknabeal in recent weeks, it is difficult to see Kaniva dropping this one.
Yanac has only lost one game this season and should be able to account for Nhill Thunderbirds.
Even if these predictions come true
and the lower two teams come out of these games without any additional points, the two points the Jets will earn for the bye will keep them at the front of the pack vying for the last two places in the finals, but there will still only be one win separating third and fifth with three rounds remaining.
Under-16s
With their loss last Saturday, Warracknabeal Revengers are now out of contention for finals, but still have the opportunity to shape the top four when they take on Kaniva Raiders.
The Raiders have been swapping first and second place on the lad-
Cobras’
Clint Beattie assesses his options as he prepares to run the ball forward while
Horsham
Hurricanes’ David
Jochinke, left, and Will Gulline are in hot pursuit.
Picture: SIMON KING
der with Horsham Bombers in recent rounds and will be looking to move back to the top with a win, as the Bombers have the bye.
Yanac Warriors will look for a win against Nhill Leopards to keep them in touch with the leaders and keep alive their ambitions of claiming a top-two finish and the second chance in the finals, alive.
Round 11 results –
Open: Warracknabeal Hoops 1 (Goal, M. Peters; best, S. Schultz, R. Bennett, H. Wagenknecht, T. Jorgensen) d Nhill Rangers 0 (S. Bone, J. Reichelt, H. Pearse, C. Schultz). Kaniva Cobras
2 (L. Schultz, B. Lovett; C. Beattie, B. Lovett, T. Krelle) d Horsham Hurricanes 1 (P. Mackereth; W. Gulline, P. Mackereth, H. Knoop).
Women: Nhill Thunderbirds 2 (K. Clark, Hanna Cannell; K. Clark, C. Rowe, Helen Cannell, R. Clark) drew with Warracknabeal 2 (C. Bennett 2; B. McMaster, L. Eilola, T. Keenihan). Kaniva Women 3 (J. Hauselberger, Q. Pearse, J. Braisby; Q. Pearse, J. Hauselberger, H. Pearse) d Horsham Jets 0 (K. Krahe, E. Morrow, R. Horsfall).
Under-16: Nhill Leopards 7 (T. Shue Bee 3, D. Clark 2, O. Bone 2; D. Clark, T. Shue Bee, O. Bone) d Warracknabeal Revengers 3 (S. Williamson, R. Johnstone, H. Camilleri; S. Williamson, E. Williamson, M. Bentley). Horsham Bombers 2 (T. Batchelor 2; T. Batchelor, S. Schwarz, H. Mackereth) drew with Kaniva Raiders 2 (L. Krelle, C. White; C. White, L. Krelle, F. Dodson).
Under-12 development program: Nhill Bandits 2 (B. Clark, C. Bone; encouragement award, D. Carew, C. Bone) v Kaniva Rampagers 2 (J. White, O. Curtis; encouragement award, J. Beattie). Dimboola Kookaburras 2 (R. Williams 2; encouragement award, L. Elliott, R. Williams) v Warracknabeal Avengers 6 (S. Williamson 3, C. Peters, H. Lomax, L. Nuske; encouragement award, R. Johnstone). Yanac Lowan Stars 0 (Encouragement award, M. Dart) v Horsham Black Hawks 0 (Encouragement award, A. Billang, R. Knoop).
Thedream is still alive for the Phantoms premier men’s team after a comprehensive straight-sets win in their first Victorian Volleyball League finals appearance.
Matched up against Maroondah Cobras, the Phantoms men were in complete control of their elimination final, winning 25-21, 25-19, 25-20 and progressing to week two of the finals where they will renew acquaintances with Monash in a preliminary final.
The first set was even up until the midway point of the set when the Phantoms opened up a three-point lead at 19-16, which prompted a Cobras time out.
The break helped reinforce the positive aspects of the play, which enabled the team to open up the lead, which they were able to maintain through to the end.
Team setter Nathan Berry said the aim all season had been to try to hit at 50 percent kills per set.
“We were well above that, hitting over 60 percent, which gave the team a lot of confidence, knowing that our attack was more effective than Cobras was,” he said.
“We still had some areas we could improve on, especially serve, and I saw our coach talking with Paul Sanderson at the start of the second and whatever he said worked, as when Paul went back to serve, he took the score from 4-1 to 10-1 on the back of his big booming jump serves.”
While Cobras improved their blocking in the mid-point of the set, which enabled them to get the score back to 16-19, the ability to throw fresh players into the fray helped steady the ship. Jack Hannan got
some good block touches and hit some big winners, while Nathan Berry got the ball to Sanderson and Tom Hermans, enabling them to beat the block and hit some massive winners and the team powered away to win 25-19.
With a two-sets-to-love lead, confidence levels were high going into the third set, and a fast start helped the team open up and produce a lead that Cobras couldn’t bridge.
With Sanderson on-song with his serves, the game opened up for middle attackers Ollie Harriott and Lachie Parkinson to get into the game and they started to hit some winners, and with a Tom Hermans block on match point, the team secured a history-making win for the club.
“For the likes of myself and big brother Matthew, Josh Gordon and Cam Robinson, we were all there when we played our first game for Phantoms back in 2011 in division two of the league and in 2013 when we first played premier, and the feeling after the game on Saturday was one of great relief,” Berry said.
“We all know that Monash is going to be tough, but we are up for the challenge.”
The preliminary final on Saturday will be at the State Volleyball Centre in Dandenong, starting at 1pm.
Domestic numbers
The winter season for Volleyball Horsham began on Monday night for A Reserve, C Grade and juniors, with plenty of fun and excitement
Horsham Badminton Association conducted its annual championship event across two nights of intense competition.
Members competed in their choice of singles, doubles and mixed doubles in a round-robin format on July 12 and 19. Most entrants competed in all three disciplines.
The men’s singles was hotly contested with Ben Sawyer the eventual winner against Luke Dunn.
The women’s singles saw Caitlin Sawyer victorious, and Amy Barton was runner-up.
The men’s doubles had some close results with James Gardner and Ben Sawyer undefeated, and Peter Brennan and Luke Dunn only losing one match.
The younger pair of Caitlin Sawyer and Barton overcame the experience of Sue Goudie and Helen Fransisco in the women’s doubles.
Mixed doubles had some very strong pairings with the brother-sister combination of Ben and Caitlin Sawyer victorious against last year’s winners, Brendan Nitschke and Goudie.
for all involved. Tonight, is the return of the A, B and women’s grades.
Numbers are at an equal all-time high with 38 teams participating across the various grades of competition, with all available time slots taken.
Association committee member Kara Johnson said games start at 5pm on Monday, finishing at 10pm, and on Wednesday start at 6pm and finish at 10pm.
“We are maxed out for time,” she said.
“We can still fit individuals into teams if the need arises, but we cannot fit any more teams into the draw, which is a nice problem to have.
“It’s a fun time to be involved with volleyball in Horsham.”
The Greater Western Victoria Rebels are sitting ninth on the Coates Talent League girls’ ladder with two rounds remaining before finals.
The Rebels suffered a loss to Eastern Ranges in round 15, by 22 points.
A slow first quarter gave Eastern Ranges a small lead, but a competitive second and third quarter saw a two-point margin at the final break.
A strong final-quarter push from the Ranges saw them take the win.
Horsham Demons export Olivia Brilliant was listed in the best players after 13 disposals and a good performance in the backline.
The team will face Western Jets at Mars Stadium, Ballarat, for round 16 on August 25.
The Rebels boys’ team will return to the oval on Sunday, taking on Geelong Flacons at Reid Oval, Warrnambool.
The Rebels are sixth on the ladder after six wins and remain in close contention with teams above and below on the ladder.
BY SEAN O’CONNELL
First will play second at the pointy end of the Mininera and District league senior football season, on Saturday.
Wickliffe-Lake Bolac, coming off a difficult loss to an impressive WoorndooMortlake, takes on Tatyoon as it looks to hold onto second spot.
Magpies coach Sean Trevaskis said a 36-point loss to the Tigers was ‘disappointing’ but taught his side several things to take forward.
“Unfortunately, we were beaten by a better team on the day, but it hasn’t changed too much of our thinking around our game,” he said.
“All teams are constantly trying to improve and we are aware that our ball movement was sloppy and not to the level we know it can be.
“They beat us in the midfield and have a dangerous forward line, so there’s a few things we learnt about them.
“We’ll need to think about this if we come up against them in finals.”
Trevaskis said his team had faced selection issues in recent games, but certain players had grasped the opportunities it presented.
“Cam Zula, Daniel Barnett and Lachlan Boseley have found themselves in unfamiliar positions and played really well,” he said.
Trevaskis said his team looked forward to another big challenge against Tatyoon, who won by three-points in round three.
“They are the benchmark and the team that everyone wants to test themselves against,” he said.
“We played a good game earlier in the year and obviously didn’t quite get the job done.
“I don’t think it’s a case of making up for the loss, but there’s a few things we need to get right leading into finals.
“And there’s no better opponent to try and do that against than the league leaders.”
In other games, Woorndoo-Mortlake will face the winless Caramut to follow-up last week’s win against the Magpies.
Jordan Buckley kicked five goals for the Tigers last round, with Matthew Pemberton’s three majors landing him among the
LEADER: Tatyoon captain Anthony Rosato was listed among the best players in his team’s dominant win against SMW Rovers last week.
best players. Moyston-Willaura will play SMW Rovers in an evenly matched contest between two low-down teams. SMW Rovers will be hoping to bounce back from a comfortable defeat at the hands of Tatyoon.
Moyston-Willaura will need strong performances to claim its second win of the year.
Great Western will take on Ararat Eagles, who will be aiming to improve its percentage as it works towards a finals berth. Penshurst, who has climbed all the way to fourth place, should see off LismoreDerrinallum.
Glenthompson-Dunkeld can expect stiff opposition from Hawkesdale-Macarthur.
After beginning his senior football journey 35 years ago, Jeparit-Rainbow stalwart Jason Hutson played his 500th game on Saturday against Edenhope-Apsley.
While the reserves match finished with the Saints 70 points in front, Hutson was named among the losing side’s best players at Sir Robert Menzies Park, Jeparit.
The game was a full-circle moment for the long-standing clubman, who played his first senior game at Jeparit, scoring a goal with his first kick.
Hutson said he had played for the club across four different leagues – the Wimmera, Southern Mallee, Mallee and now Horsham District league.
“When I first started in the Wimmera league, it was more of a running style. The Southern Mallee league was tougher and in-close,” he said.
Hutson said he remembered the merger of Jeparit and Rainbow at the end of the 1995 season.
“Jeparit had made the grand final and Rainbow failed to win a game during the year,” he said.
“We pretty much knew we were going to merge, not long after the grand final.”
Hutson said he had also witnessed rule chang-
“This last year with the standing on the mark, I’ve played for 30-odd years with the mark the way it was, so that’s been a big change. Another thing was the 15-metre penalty changing to 50-metres”
–
Jason Hutsones during his time in the game, which have altered the way it is played.
“This last year with the standing on the mark, I’ve played for 30-odd years with the mark the way it was, so that’s been a big change,” he said.
“Another thing was the 15-metre penalty changing to 50-metres.”
Hutson said a one-point reserves premiership win in 2009 against Ouyen United was among his greatest achievements, as well as 2011 reserves best-and-fairest in the Mallee league, aged 38.
“I went away for a wedding and missed two games and ended up winning by one vote,” he said.
Hutson said he had taken on a variety of tasks at the club during his long association, including club president, treasurer, committee member and coach. He now has three children at the club, aged 19, 16 and 13 who have played football or netball.
Wimmera
This week: Round 15, Ararat v Southern Mallee Giants, Dimboola v Minyip-Murtoa, Nhill v Stawell, Warrack Eagles v Horsham. Horsham Saints, bye.
Senior football
Last week: Ararat 18.10 (118) d Stawell 8.8 (56), Southern Mallee Giants 12.15 (87) d Dimboola 4.16 (40), Minyip-Murtoa 7.10 (52) d Horsham Saints 7.8 (50), Nhill 20.6 (126) d Horsham 8.6 (54).
Ladder: Ararat 48 points, 272.41 percent; Horsham Saints 40, 133.6; Southern Mallee Giants 36, 157.14; Dimboola 32, 115.96; Minyip-Murtoa 28, 103.62; Stawell 20, 72.89; Nhill 14, 76.12; Horsham 6, 55.51; Warrack Eagles 0, 49.82.
A Grade netball
Last week: Stawell 45 d Ararat 37, Dimboola 55 d Southern Mallee Giants 49, Horsham Saints 96 d Minyip-Murtoa 43, Horsham 52 d Nhill 35.
Ladder: Horsham Saints 52, 169.05; Horsham 44, 167.74; Stawell 36, 106.94; Dimboola 28, 90.7; Nhill 24, 106.3; Ararat 20, 90.25; Minyip-Murtoa 12, 63.85; Southern Mallee Giants 8, 77.82; Warrack Eagles 0, 61.81.
Horsham District
This week: Round 14, Noradjuha-Quantong v Natimuk United, Rupanyup v Laharum, Swifts v Taylors Lake, Pimpinio v JeparitRainbow, Kalkee v Kaniva-Leeor United, Edenhope-Apsley v Harrow-Balmoral.
Senior football
Last week: Harrow-Balmoral 21.18 (144) d Kalkee 4.4 (28), Jeparit-Rainbow 10.11 (71) d Edenhope-Apsley 8.9 (57), Swifts 17.11 (113) d Kaniva-Leeor United 3.6 (24), Noradjuha-Quantong 16.16 (112) d Laharum 5.2 (32), Rupanyup 13.17 (95) d Natimuk United 7.10 (52), Pimpinio 20.13 (133) d Taylors Lake 5.5 (35).
Ladder: Harrow-Balmoral 52 points, 484.92 percent; Jeparit-Rainbow 44, 179.13; Noradjuha-Quantong 36, 146.53; Rupanyup 34, 143.77; Swifts 32, 131.73; Edenhope-Apsley 32, 100.93; Pimpinio 24, 88.29; Kaniva-Leeor United 20, 57.71; Natimuk United 18, 74.33; Kalkee 12, 70.36; Taylors Lake 8, 36.21; Laharum 0, 30.1.
A Grade netball
Last week: Laharum 68 d Noradjuha-Quantong 44, Rupanyup 77 d Natimuk United 31, Kalkee 89 d Harrow-Balmoral 33, Edenhope-Apsley 56 d Jeparit-Rainbow 22, Pimpinio 58 d Taylors Lake 37. Ladder: Edenhope-Apsley 52 points, 260.95 percent; Laharum 48, 160.39; Kalkee 40, 133.87; Rupanyup 34, 126.48; Noradjuha-Quantong 32, 120.97; Pimpinio 32, 108; Jeparit-Rainbow 26, 105.86; Natimuk United 16, 71.45; Swifts 16, 60.70; Taylors Lake 12, 63.24; Harrow-Balmoral 4, 50.89.
Mininera and District
This week: Round 14, Woorndoo-Mortlake v Caramut, Tatyoon v Wickliffe-Lake Bolac,
Moyston-Willaura v SMW Rovers, Great Western v Ararat Eagles, Penshurst v Lismore-Derrinallum, Glenthompson-Dunkeld v Hawkesdale-Macarthur.
Senior football
Last week: Hawkesdale-Macarthur 27.28 (190) d Caramut 0.3 (3), Woorndoo-Mortlake 15.5 (95) d Wickliffe-Lake Bolac 9.5 (59), Tatyoon 27.22 (184) d SMW Rovers 2.3 (15), Ararat Eagles 18.19 (127) d Moyston-Willaura 0.7 (7), Lismore-Derrinallum 15.15 (105) d Great Western 7.12 (54), Penshurst 10.7 (67) d Glenthompson-Dunkeld 8.12 (60).
Ladder: Tatyoon 48 points, 378.33 percent; Wickliffe-Lake Bolac, 263.18; Woorndoo-Mortlake 44, 239.93; Penshurst 36, 133.38; Glenthompson-Dunkeld 32, 183.69; Ararat Eagles 32, 155.31; Hawkesdale-Macarthur 24, 145.92; Great Western 20, 99.44; Lismore-Derrinallum 18, 87.49; SMW Rovers 8, 60.09; Moyston-Willaura 4, 16.95; Caramut 2, 8.9.
A Grade netball
Last week: Hawkesdale-Macarthur 80 d Caramut 21; Tatyoon 57 d SMW Rovers 33; Ararat Eagles 59 d Moyston-Willaura 14; Lismore-Derrinallum 61 d Great Western 29; Penshurst 38 d Glenthompson-Dunkeld 32.
Ladder: Tatyoon 52 points, 200.36 percent; Ararat Eagles 44, 205.56; Woorndoo-Mortlake 40, 181.35; Hawkesdale-Macarthur 40, 148.5; Lismore-Derrinallum 36, 167.42; Penshurst 36, 143.49; Glenthompson-Dunkeld 20, 95.07; SMW Rovers 16, 90.7; Caramut 16, 65.02; Great Western 8, 63.69; Moyston-Willaura 4, 34.12.
This week: St Arnaud v Donald, Birchip-Watchem v Wedderburn, Nullawil v Wycheproof-Narraport, Sea Lake-Nandaly Tigers v Charlton. Boort, bye.
Senior football
Last week: Wycheproof-Narraport 13.8 (86) d St Arnaud 2.8 (20), Birchip-Watchem 15.11 (101) d Donald 13.7 (85), Wedderburn 18.21 (129) d Boort 8.6 (54), Nullawil 14.14 (98) d Charlton 11.5 (71).
Ladder: Sea Lake-Nandaly Tigers 48 points, 247.58 percent; Birchip-Watchem 36, 157.99; Nullawil 32, 155.19; Donald 32, 114.95; Wycheproof-Narraport 30, 101.3; Wedderburn 20, 101.18; Boort 14, 81.03; Charlton 12, 54.5; St Arnaud 0, 30.2. A Grade netball
Last week: Nullawil 43 d Charlton 40, Birchip-Watchem 51 d Donald 46, Wycheproof-Narraport 47 d St Arnaud 40, Wedderburn 60 d Boort 48.
Ladder: Boort 48, 151.81; Wedderburn 40, 135.31; Birchip-Watchem 40, 120.12; Nullawil 36, 124.13; Wycheproof-Narraport 24, 100; Donald 12, 94.88; Charlton 12, 92.1; St Arnaud 8, 60.36; Sea Lake-Nandaly Tigers 4, 51.09.
• Full scoreboards and ladders for all grades are available via the league pages at playhq.com
The match of the round: Jeparit-Rainbow v Edenhope-Apsley. A 14-point win to Jeparit-Rainbow was a surprising result for Edenhope-Apsley as it fights to hold onto sixth spot. The Saints posted an 11-point lead at half time before the scores levelled up going into the final term. If the away team was to have held on at Sir Robert Menzies Park, it would have been one to get back after some silly losses this year.
The standout player: Pimpinio forward Dylan Bates kicked five goals against Taylors Lake after a return of seven in the two teams’ earlier meeting in round one. Bates has a chance to kick on in the late stages of the season as the Tigers stay in the finals race.
The rising star: In the past few weeks, Swifts youngster Cameron Wickham has had a change of role, spending more time forward. He is a strong runner who understands football and Swifts will be hoping he continues to make the step up as it readies for finals.
The match of the round: Laharum v Noradjuha-Quantong. Laharum showed its class to come away 24-point winners in Saturday’s match. The result leaves the Bombers in a dangerous position with three games to go before finals places are cemented. Noradjuha-Quantong could still drop out of the six and the heavy loss did not help its percentage at this stage of the season.
The standout player: Kalkee’s Jarrah Martin is still eligible for 17-and-unders but shot plenty of her team’s score against Harrow-Balmoral, finishing with 49 goals of her own. She has adjusted well to the shooting position at A Grade level after being moved up in the past few rounds.
The rising team: As a team, Kalkee looked a bit off-the-pace earlier in the season. The Kees set upon working themselves back into the picture, comfortably becoming the third-best team. With a tough finish to the home-and-away season, including games against Rupanyup and Laharum, Kalkee will soon find out whether it can match it with the best.
Ateamwith its season winding down has the opportunity to put its opponent’s finals credentials in doubt in round 14 of Horsham District league A Grade netball.
Natimuk United, with its season all but over, takes on Noradjuha-Quantong, which is looking to guarantee a top-six place.
Noradjuha-Quantong will want to move on quickly from last week’s loss against an impressive Laharum outfit. The Bombers’ 24-goal loss leaves them in fifth and still within reach of seventh-placed JeparitRainbow. A win for the Bombers against Natimuk United on Saturday would go some way to securing a finals spot.
The travelling Rams suffered a heavy loss to Rupanyup last round, but the defeat might have taught the team what to expect against top-six opponents in the season’s late stages.
In other games, Rupanyup will face Laharum after a one-goal margin separated the two teams in round 11. The Panthers enjoyed a comfortable victory against Natimuk United last week and will be looking forward to a tough few weeks leading into finals. Kayla Weidemann and Tamika Mentha stepped up last round for the Panthers to be named as best players.
Swifts will play Taylors Lake in a
clash of two teams lower down on the ladder. Swifts will be hoping to take advantage of some fresh legs after a bye last week.
The Lakers endured a home defeat to Pimpinio last round. Tayla Eltze shot 25 goals and was recognised as one of the best players in the losing effort.
Pimpinio will take on JeparitRainbow in a battle for sixth position and a shot at finals.
Jeparit-Rainbow experienced the benchmark side last week, falling to Edenhope-Apsley. Penny Fisher and Elly Schumann were among Storm’s best.
Pimpinio netballer Tahlia Thompson shot an impressive 39 goals in last week’s win against Taylors Lake.
Two teams at opposite ends of the ladder play off at Edenhope Recreation Reserve. Edenhope-Apsley might be looking to experiment against the lowly Harrow-Balmoral ahead of two finals curtain-raisers against Noradjuha-Quantong and Rupanyup to finish the home-andaway campaign. Emily Burgess was named among Saints’ best players against Jeparit-Rainbow, along with Lavinia Fox, who shot 31 goals. Febey McClure and Jorja Jones stood out in the Southern Roos’ heavy loss to Kalkee.
Kalkee has a bye before two difficult matches leading into finals.
A developing side has an opportunity to put a dent in the aspirations of a finals-bound team in round 14 of Horsham District league senior football.
Fifth-placed Swifts will host Taylors Lake, who has struggled during the 2023 season.
Lakers coach Kyle Pinto said last week’s loss against Pimpinio was always going to be a challenge for his ‘extremely young’ team.
“We were relying too much on our top-end players,” he said.
Pinto said it had been a similar story for his squad across the past six weeks, with his team posting competitive quarters but being un-
There are a few new faces in the Oscar Care team. Joining James, Gavin and Cody, we have Matthew Kahn as branch manager, Andrew Brakema as warehouse manager and delivery, and Aurelio Macchia as service technician and delivery. Come on in
able to sustain momentum for a full game.
He said youngster Billy Finnigan had developed into a ‘gun’ midfielder and half-back flanker, with his ability in possession and decision-making standing out.
Pinto said developing ruckman Max Kamstra had competed well since coming into the team halfway through the season and Angus Atchison had also impressed since arriving from Horsham Demons to take up a position as assistant coach, kicking a goal in last week’s loss.
Swifts coach Brett Hargreaves said it was hard to know what to expect from Kaniva-Leeor United
prior to last weekend’s 89-point win, but he was pleased with the result.
“It was the closest thing to a fourquarter performance we’ve been able to put together,” he said.
“It’s a big ground over there and we were able to attack off half back and shift the ball laterally.”
Hargreaves said wingman Zac Armer and half-back flanker Joseph Martin were key contributors.
He said Saturday’s game was as important as any for his team as it nears the end of the home-andaway season.
“Finals is the aim, but it’s also about playing well in the finals,” he
said. “We’ve got to use these games to prepare us.”
In other games, Noradjuha-Quantong should prove too strong for Natimuk United, who will be looking to challenge the favoured side, as it did for parts of its game on Saturday against Rupanyup.
Pimpinio will play Jeparit-Rainbow as the Tigers look to keep their finals hopes alive and Rupanyup face a struggling Laharum outfit.
Kalkee takes on Kaniva-Leeor United in what could be a close contest between two low-ranked teams, and Edenhope-Apsley will play Harrow-Balmoral.
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Pressure is mounting for Wimmera league senior football teams, as top-five positions lay in the balance of the outcome of the final four rounds.
Every win is crucial from here on out.
Ararat is unlikely to lose its position at the top of the ladder, even if it does suffer an upset when coming up against Southern Mallee Giants, Minyip-Murtoa, Horsham Saints and Dimboola in coming weeks – all teams looking at a 2023 finals berth.
At the other end of the finals contenders, Stawell has the potential to be a dark horse, with games against Nhill, Warrack Eagles and Horsham, followed by a bye.
The three winnable games could propel them into the five, pending the results of Dimboola and Minyip-Murtoa, both which have difficult games ahead.
Horsham Saints are second, and after a loss by a small margin to the Burras, will regroup with a bye before coming up against strong competition in Dimboola and Ararat, and finishing the season against Nhill.
Dimboola is looking shaky in fourth after a loss to the Giants and a tough run home of MinyipMurtoa, Saints and the Rats will have them fighting tooth and nail to stay in the top five.
Minyip-Murtoa is rising again after a surprising mid-season slump and will have its work cut out for it against the Roos and the Rats, before likely securing comfortable wins against the Tigers and the Eagles.
The Giants, sitting pretty in third, are secure in the top five, however, will aim to jump into second position in coming weeks.
Round 15 will see the Giants face
Ararat before games against Nhill, Warrack Eagles and Horsham –teams not in finals contention – will conclude their season.
Giants coach Kieran Delahunty said Horsham Saints, in second, have a bye remaining, and he is hoping his team will manage to finish the home-and-away season in the top two.
“It was disappointing the week before last to lose to the Saints, but the good thing about losses is you can review the game and learn a lot,” he said.
“The group responded well and the way we moved the football against Dimboola on Saturday was as good as we have done in a little while.”
Delahunty said the Giants had a couple of players out in recent weeks, but were expecting them to return against Ararat.
“It will be exciting to get a few
back, including Jake Garvey and Luke Mahony,” he said.
“This week will be another good chance to come up against Ararat, which is the benchmark team this year – they’ve been playing good footy.
“Last time we played them, we were in the game – so we’re looking forward to it being a close one.”
Delahunty said Riley Lehmann played his first senior game for the Giants on Saturday.
“He was up forward and kicked three goals, so came into the game well,” he said.
“Lou White was in his best form –he’s been good all year, but he was at another level on Saturday.”
Ararat’s Jake Robinson, Kade Bohner and Tom Williamson displayed good performances against Stawell and will look to repeat that this week.
chances are on the line this week for Wimmera league A Grade netball teams, as Ararat remains one game outside the top five.
The Rats must defeat Southern Mallee Giants this week if they want to remain within distance of a finals berth.
Last time the two teams met, the Giants defeated Ararat by four goals in a closely contested matchup.
Another expected close game of round 15 is Nhill and Stawell, as the Warriors were victorious by only three goals in round six.
A win would leave the Tigers reasonably confident their top-five position is secure, while a loss keeps them on the edge of a late-season fall to sixth.
Nhill has experienced a tumultuous season, winning every second game since round eight, and losing every other week.
The Tigers had a tough loss to Horsham in round 14. Ellen Bennett once again stood up in the midcourt and played a good game.
Tess McQueen is also finding her
form at this stage of the season and has been playing well for Nhill.
Stawell, however, has only dropped one game since round eight and is unlikely to concede its ladder position at third before the end of the home-and-away season.
Round 14 saw the Warriors defeat Ararat by eight goals with another good performance by Lisa Considine in defence.
Ebony Summers is continuing her solid year in goals with 301 scored for the season to date.
Horsham is set to continue its strong run home when coming up against Warrack Eagles, who are yet to put any premiership points on the board this season.
The Eagles face the Giants and Minyip-Murtoa before the end of the season, and as those two teams are not looking at a finals berth either, it could be a final chance to gain a win.
The Burras will come up against Dimboola, which, after a tense first half, secured a win against the Giants and will be looking to boost its percentage this week.
ACCURATE: Stawell’s Dakota Cosson shoots a goal during her team’s eight-goal win against Ararat on Saturday.
with Kuges, Cobba, Easty & Hugh
The match of the round: Horsham Saints v Minyip-Murtoa. Minyip-Murtoa did its homework and that, combined with its pressure, got the team over the line.
The Burras had a tagger on Mitch Martin, who still had a good game and kicked five goals, but would have changed the game if someone had not tagged him. It was a good, physical game and it unsettled the Saints a bit. The change of Minyip-Murtoa’s Tanner Smith and Jae McGrath from forward to the wing was an out-there move but it also worked.
The standout team: Minyip-Murtoa’s Oscar Gawith. He plays Greater Western Victoria Rebels and played in the 2023 under-18s Victoria Country team. He’s a good size and will make a great footballer. He plays at half-back and had a good game. He has the potential to go further with his football.
The rising star: Tyler Pidgeon, of Minyip-Murtoa, showed signs he has good potential. He will be a good Wimmera league player for a long time. He plays on the wing, is pretty quick and saw a fair bit of the ball on Saturday.
The match of the round: Southern Mallee Giants v Dimboola. It was a close and evenly-matched game for the most part. Dimboola turned it around and managed to get a good win in the end. It was an important win for the Roos, who remain just above Nhill which is in fifth position on the ladder.
The standout team: Olivia Jorgensen shot 49 of Dimboola’s 55 goals, which is an amazing effort. She looked to be battling a calf injury and was still in good form in the goal ring. Her height is a good advantage for her to be able to pull in a high pass and secure any rebounds.
The rising star: It has been said before, but Jorja Clode, of Horsham Saints, had a ripper game against Minyip-Murtoa. She shot 89 goals on Saturday of her team’s 96-goal total. We have never seen anything like that before.
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soccer clubs are among groups who stand to benefit from Australia hosting the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Horsham Soccer Club junior Indyanha Mitchell said she had been playing soccer for two months and was looking forward to watching the Matildas throughout the tournament.
“I didn’t get to watch the first match, but I heard it was really good,” she said.
“I think it’s amazing that girls have their own soccer game that they can play and I’m really happy the Matildas won.”
Indyanha said it took some convincing from her brother Zeke to take up the sport.
“I had a big think about it and I wanted to join,” she said.
“I’ve made a few friends and what I enjoy about soccer is everyone is supportive. My team lets me have the ball and we have smaller kids on our team, so we share the ball with them and try to include them.”
Horsham Soccer Club secretary Gavin McRoberts said while the club had endured a tough period, its junior numbers had skyrocketed in 2023.
“Before COVID we had two
teams in the Ballarat league, as well as a few kids running around here. COVID hit and our under-12s team disappeared and most of the other guys as well, unfortunately,” he said.
“In 2021, we actually had enough seniors to put a team back into Ballarat competition.
“We had probably 10 to 15 juniors running around every weekend in Horsham as well. Last year we had 19 juniors.
“This year they have just come out of the woodwork – we are knocking on the door of 50.”
Mr McRoberts said he was unsure
Bordertown/Kaniva
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Duties:
• Tyre fitting and alignment of cars, motorbikes, vans, agricultural vehicles
• Tyre Repairs
• Small engine repairs & service
• Automotive suspension work
• Customer service
• General workshop duties
For more information, contact Paul Barnett 0458 706 272.
Horsham
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• Patience and perseverance
• Good hand-eye coordination
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For more information contact Chris Barber on 0427 346 655.
why there had been a sudden uptick in junior numbers.
“I can only assume word of mouth,” he said.
“I know some players joined because former members promoted us within their communities.
“The rest, people have been searching for a sport, looked on the website and made an inquiry.”
Mr McRoberts said the Women’s World Cup had come at a good time for junior participation.
“The event being in Australia is a game changer,” he said.
“The girls we have within the club are really interested and their
families are interested in watching as much as possible. We can only hope that maybe out of that we get a few more interested. If we get enough players, we will look at putting a girls’ team into Ballarat, for the first time ever.”
Horsham Soccer Club runs training sessions on Friday nights and a six-team competition on Sundays at Dudley Cornell Park.
People wanting more information can visit the club’s website, horshamsoccer.com.au
The Matilda’s next match is tomorrow night against Nigeria from 8pm at Lang Park, Brisbane.
Horsham Demons women’s and youth girls’ teams will face South Warrnambool during the first round of Western Victoria Female Football League finals. Both teams concluded the home-and-away season with a bye on Sunday and finished in second position.
South Warrnambool is undefeated in both grades. Horsham Demons youth team forfeited to Warrnambool South in round four and lost by 31 points in round 11.
Poppy Peters had a consistent home-and-away season and was supported well by Lilly Weir and Ashlee Ison.
Violet McGennisken and Scarlett Abbott have been the main goal-kickers for the season, with 19 and 15, respectively.
Horsham Demons women’s team met South Warrnambool on two previous occasions this season, losing by 38 points in round four and 33 points in round 10.
Holly Nuske was a standout for the Demons when they last met South, and Jedah Huf showed her class on both occasions the teams met. Dellie Brown is powerful through the midfield and has been one of the best players every time she has taken to the oval this season.
Winning on Sunday will send the Demons to the grand final, while a loss would see them fight to continue their finals berth in the next week, competing against the winner of the other finals game. Hamilton and Tyrendarra will face off in the other women’s final while Terang-Mortlake and Warrnambool Blues will fight to remain in finals for another week in the youth competition. The final will be played at Cavendish with the youth game starting at 11.30am and the women’s game at 2.30pm.
Stawell
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Horsham
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• This role requirements staff to be fully vaccinated against Influenza & Covid-19 Water Operations Traineeship
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For more information contact Paul Barnett on 0458 706 272.
Office Administrator
Horsham
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• Good customer service skills
• Must have a mechanical aptitude
• Basic MYOB/accounting skills desirable but not essential
• Willingness to learn
To discuss this role further, contact Paul Barnett on 0458 706 272.
HISTORY: 1963 Goroke Football Club premiership players, from left, Allen Carter, Stan Walter and Fred Lowe are inviting past members and players of Goroke Football Club to celebrate a 60-year reunion.
BY ABBY WALTER
Reminiscingand sharing good times with friends is the focus of a 60-year premiership reunion at Goroke Recreation Reserve next month.
Goroke Football Club was premier of the Central Wimmera Football League in 1963 after defeating Balmoral at Natimuk.
Don Dixon, who played for Collingwood in the Victoria Football League from 1958 to 1960, coached the team.
Premiership team vice-captain Fred Lowe said all Goroke football past players were invited to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the premiership at the final Border Districts home game at Goroke for the season.
He said it would be good to see as many past players and members as possible attend the round-15 clash against Lucindale.
“This is for more than just the team. It is a good chance for people who haven’t been to the football this year or back to Goroke to see the new facilities,” Mr Lowe said.
Premiership player Stan Walter said Balmoral was a red-hot team and Goroke was not predicted to come away with the flag in 1963.
He said Goroke was involved in 17 consecutive finals series, finished runner-up premiers on multiple occasions, but had won flags in 1954 and 1958.
Other premiership players were Dusty Carter,
“This is for more than just the team. It is a good chance for people who haven’t been to the football this year or back to Goroke to see the new facilities”
Butch Carter, Toby Decker, Neville Gibbs, Brian Gunn, Rolf Johnson, Ian Meyers, Curly Rolph, Johnny Schnaars, Ian Smith, Ron Smith, Terry Stacey, Dick Umbers, John Walter, Kevin Walter, Graeme Ingram and Brian Bretag. Goroke went on to win two more premierships, in 1965 and 1981 before the club merged with Border Districts, based in Frances, South Australia, in 1999.
Mr Lowe said he invited anyone with memorabilia or photos to bring it on the day.
He asked anyone in contact with other past players to invite them to the event, too.
He said he was excited to see Border Districts have some consistent success this year.
“At the moment they are on top of the ladder and should finish in the top two – after their first loss by three points against Kingston,” Mr Lowe said.
Border Districts play at Goroke on August 12 before its final Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara league home-and-away round against Naracoorte at Frances.
What can Chiropractic do for a sprained ankle? Sprained ankles are a common sports injury and I think I practically majored in them! So here’s a few tips to help from the resident chiropractor!
1) Rest.Ice.Compression. Elevation. Wait 48hrs and reassess.
2) If there is any bruising there is most probably a ligament tear or worse a chipped bone. That may require X-ray.
3) See a chiropractor. “So how can a chiropractor help?”
The chiropractor can assess the joint and let a person know how badly damaged it is. A chiropractor will also assess the rest of the spine. We can offer rehabilitation exercises and assist in recovery.
Why does Chiropractic help? In 20+yrs experience, an ankle sprain doesn’t just affect the ankle. As the song goes “The ankle bone’s connected to the knee bone, the knee bone’s connected to the hip bone “ etc. Rebalancing the whole body gives a much better result. It gets the brain to talk better to the body. Where here to help, Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. You can also book online at bowerschiropractic.com.au
– Fred Lowe
