The Weekly Advertiser – Wednesday, September 28, 2022

Growth aspirations

BY JESSICA GRIMBLE

The Wimmera and southern Mallee will see the building of 3000 additional homes, wel come 7000 new residents and em ploy 2500 more people within a decade.

That’s the aspiration of Wimmera Development Association, whose pledges to a national regional devel opment conference will also contrib ute to an ongoing campaign to attract and retain people in rural and regional areas long-term.

Chief executive Chris Sounness said the housing, population and jobs pledges aligned to the association’s Housing Blueprint, released this year, and required building activity to al most double to achieve the goal.

It comes as latest Census data has shown the population of the Wimmera and southern Mallee increased 0.5 percent per year between 2016 and 2021 — the first population increase in at least 40 years. During 2020 and 2021, the region’s population grew by 1.2 percent, compared to Victoria shrinking by 0.7 percent.

Mr Sounness said emerging jobs in mining, food manufacturing and tourism would help to fulfill the goal.

Tourism is also among the pledges, with the association seeking to double visitation rates. Lastly, the association pledged to ensure children aged up to five years had early development outcomes equal to the rest of the Vic torian population by 2032, delivering this goal through its ByFive program.

“It’s not going to be easy; it’s not business as usual,” Mr Sounness said.

“We have to work together. It’s the compound interest effect — what we do over the next two to three years will greatly impact whether we can achieve these goals. While there will be small increases early on, they will have a big impact down the track.”

He said the association was working with its board, governments at local, state and federal levels, investors and developers to develop a shared vision.

The goals input into the association’s strategic plan development, following restructure to a skills-based board.

“This is about us, as a region, having ambition and showing that COVID population growth wasn’t a blip,” Mr Sounness said.

“The easiest thing for demographers and policymakers to say is the move to the regions, and our region particu larly, is just a blip and not sustainable.

“We can make it a blip if we treat it as business as usual. But if we do show ambition, we can imagine what our community would look like with an extra 7000 people and all that comes with a growing population.”

The RAI has set a target of 11-mil lion people living outside capital cities by 2032. Achieving this target would mean an extra 500,000 people living in regional areas, above the estimated prediction of $10.5-million.

The ‘Regionalisation Ambition 2023 — a framework to rebalance the na tion’ is a national first.

RAI chief executive Liz Ritchie said

20 targets would close the divide be tween city and country — including population, regional housing, educa tion, health, jobs and skills, digital in clusion, transport, childcare, commu nity participation, migration, climate, innovation and resilience.

Ms Ritchie said 11 years of re search showed that jobs and skills, liveability, population, productivity and innovation, and sustainability and resilience were holding regions back.

RAI-commissioned economic mod elling shows when regional Australia reaches a population of 11-million people, national output will reach $2.3-trillion by 2032.

“This is $13.8-billion more than un der a ‘business as usual’ scenario,” Ms Ritchie said.

CHANCE OF A LIVETIME: NAB AFL Auskicker of the Year Archie Stockdale has returned home to the Wimmera with a special souvenir after a big AFL grand final week trip. After presenting Geelong captain Joel Selwood with a premiership medal on Saturday, Archie was gifted Selwood’s game boots. Archie attended the Brownlow medal count, AFL grand final parade and AFL grand final in Melbourne. “It was a tiring week. My favourite parts were getting Joel Selwood’s boots and knowing I was Auskicker of the year,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the season next year with Natimuk United. I’ll be in Auskick and I’ll probably go from Auskick to under-14s to under-17s to reserves to seniors to VFL to AFL.” Essendon’s Dyson Heppell interviewed Archie at the Brownlow. He rode with Collingwood’s Nick Daicos and journalist Kelli Underwood in the parade.

Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

Junior participation growth front of mind

BY MICHAEL SCALZO

Support for junior cricket partici pation, and accompanying infra structure, in the Wimmera are at the forefront of sporting leaders’ minds.

Horsham Cricket Association president Travis Hair said, on the eve of the first bowl of the 2022-23 season and in light of discussions about upgrades to Hor sham City Oval, support for cricketing infrastructure remained a ‘lesser priority’ to other sports, in comparison with other regional Victorian centres.

“One thing cricket in the region has lacked is a steady or increased participa tion rate,” he said.

“It has dropped off at the junior level, even if there has been some recent uptick.

“Basketball, football and even netball fa cilities are strong in the region, but cricket facilities are just not as good and even sometimes completely absent from broader deliberation.

“Maybe that has a part to play in why cricket is dying off a bit here.”

Mr Hair said he supported upgrades to City Oval citing the precinct’s need for ad equate shelter, disability access and on-site car access, as well as the playing surface’s comparatively small size. He said other upgrades were less cricket-specific.

“The upgrades to the grandstand will be great for football and netball, but without

cricket nets and other cricket-ready fa cilities, it will remain a hub for those other sports. We can’t train on the turf wicket, ei ther, so the oval will remain centred around football after upgrades,” he said.

“That is why we have looked at Haven Recreation Reserve and the potential to turn that site into a cricket-designated oval.

“We could play more cricket on Satur days and Sundays if it was purely designed with cricket in mind.”

A Horsham Rural City Council com munity reference group, which included former Horsham Cricket Association presi dent Chris Hopper, sought feedback during community consultation.

A proposed dual-sided stage in the place of the scoreboard is the result of consulta tion about the scoreboard’s impact on vis ibility for batsmen.

However, while cricket training nets were initially considered as part of an early iteration of the redevelopment, they were later removed due to space constraints.

The council’s project manager Sue Sheri dan said the community reference group’s key focus was to work with user groups and to consider their needs as it steered the development of concept plans.

“We heard some terrific suggestions from cricket representatives, who were part of the consultation. The majority of their ideas were included in the redevelopment plans,” she said.

Mr Hair said when considering the stand ard of cricket at neighbouring centres such as Warrnambool and Hamilton, he noticed a stronger culture and arguably a higher standard of play compared to Horsham.

“They also have a lot more kids in those towns playing summer sport and that has a lot to do with what those centres were able to offer in the way of facilities,” he said.

“We want to give young cricketers the same opportunity as children in other re gional areas. Horsham is certainly big enough to have infrastructure adequate for a multitude of different sports.”

Mr Hair praised the generosity of Optus Horsham, which donated $7500 to help promote the association’s 30 junior teams.

“It is really great of Optus. Cricket, un like football, can find it difficult to attract sufficient money to improve the regional game,” he said.

As part of an Australia-wide offer to promote the legacy of late cricket legend Shane Warne, Optus had pledged $100,000 in 2022 for junior cricket competitions.

“It is vital we keep junior players in sport and this is a really good donation that will allow us to put more money towards train ing and equipment and promote the game,” Mr Hair said.

Optus Victoria general manager Jayson Grool said he hoped the donation would follow Shane Warne’s legacy in supporting junior cricket.

Design to begin

Construction plans for netball and community sports pavilions at Horsham City Oval will advance to a detailed design phase.

Horsham Rural City councillors, at their latest meeting on Monday night, voted to fund construction plans and landscaping design for two pavilions at a cost of $442,000. Funds are avail able via the council’s major capital works reserve.

The council requires detailed plans to take the project to tender when funding becomes available.

It has applied for a number of grants for the project, which is part of stage two of the City to River Masterplan — a 20-year plan to enhance and activate the Wimmera River precinct and its links to Horsham’s city centre.

Its concept plans included an outdoor stage, second netball court and compliant football and netball changerooms, AFL sub-regional standard changerooms, a community facility, an accessible grandstand, landscaping, playground and seating.

Cr Les Power said without plans, the project could not pro ceed. He said the precinct required improvement in order to attract a wide range of sports at all levels.

“We, here in Horsham, need to catch-up. We need to catch-up in a big way,” he said.

Cr David Bowe said it was ‘a kick in the guts’ to hear people no longer considered Horsham City Oval as the region’s premier ground. He noted shortfalls such as accessibility and shelter, witnessed during Horsham District and Wimmera league grand finals this month.

Cr Ian Ross attempted to pause further proceedings until Horsham Rural City Band found a suitable alternative location.

The band owns its hall, located on O’Callaghan Parade.

This sits within the precinct development, which is classified as Crown land. The council is in discussions with the band to find it another location.

Cr Ross’ amendment was defeated 5-2 after a debate, during which a member of the gallery was asked to leave after several interjections. Members of the gallery are observers, not partici pants, of the meeting.

wins ‘Australian Pest Manager of the Year’

MONEY PITCH: Optus Victoria general manager Jayson Grool, left, Horsham Optus manager Mick Dempster and Horsham Cricket Association president Travis Hair, right, with Horsham junior cricketers, celebrate a $7500

Optus donation to promote participation in junior cricket.

Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

City’s hidden treasure up for grabs

Operation 19:14 organisers are in viting people to grab a spyglass, compass and peg leg for a family fun day treasure hunt in Horsham next month.

During a family fun day on Octo ber 9, from 1pm to 4pm, people can jump into their cars or board a free bus —with a friendly pirate hosting the journey — to explore Horsham through a treasure hunt.

The Operation 19:14 organising committee has developed a treasure map to guide families to five Xs that

mark the spots. Balloons, music, and goodie bags filled with crafts and activities, plus food at every stop, will help adventurers follow the hunt using the map.

Teams of friendly pirates will deep-fry hot jam doughnuts, cook popcorn, cut fruit and sizzle sau sages.

As each carload drives around, they will collect a gold coin sticker for their treasure map, with families who collect all five stickers earning an extra special treasure at the end.

There will be queueing involved, and also a QR code. Embedded in the treasure map, which can be found on page 14 of today’s edition of The Weekly Advertiser, the QR code links people to a website listing all the event’s details — including the free pirate bus timetable.

The organising committee repre sents more than seven churches in Horsham and has five teams of vol unteers ready for the big day.

The event is aimed at primary school-aged children.

Cash back for dining, entertainment

A second round of the State Govern ment’s dining and entertainment pro gram, ‘Eat, Play, Cash Back’ is live.

People can claim 25 percent cash back when they spend $40 or more on dining and entertainment.

Eligible purchases include meals at restaurants, cafes and pubs, tickets to live music or art performances, and entries into museums, galleries and amusement parks.

People can claim up to $125 cash back each and make multiple claims until they reach the cap.

Industry Support and Recovery Min ister Ben Carroll said the program helped build business and consumer confidence while supporting jobs and boosting the state’s economy.

“Whether it’s booking a table for lunch or heading to a live music event, this cash-back program puts money

back into people’s pockets and sup ports hardworking businesses across Victoria,” he said.

The $25-million program is part of the government’s $200-million Victo rian Business Stimulus Package and runs until December 16 or when funds are exhausted.

People wanting more information, or to make a claim, can visit www.vic. gov.au/dining-entertainment

Minerals data holds benefits

BY MICHAEL SCALZO

Geophysicists with ambitions to provide an electromagnetic map of continental Australia have detailed their interest in western Victorian geological sequences.

With geophysicist-led survey aircraft seen in western Victorian skies this week, project leaders noted businesses and government organisations should stand to benefit from its comprehen sive electromagnetic exploration.

Geoscience Australia director of ge ophysical acquisition and processing, Mike Barlow, spoke to The Weekly Advertiser about the organisation’s work in western Victoria and its pros pects for business and community.

“The ‘Delamerian’ part of the Dar ling-Curnamona-Delamerian Project is a particular geo-sequence that rests under this region of western Victoria,” he said.

“We know there are extensions of this region’s sediment outcrop in New South Wales that contain the prospect for several base metals, so we are tak ing a deep dive into where those same rocks are in this part of Victoria.”

The Federal Government’s ‘Explor ing for the Future’ program, led by Geoscience Australia, has mediumterm ambitions to present a more comprehensive map of mineral and groundwater resources.

The geological zones of western Victoria, eastern South Australia and southern New South Wales consti tute one of three Geoscience Australia ‘deep-dive’ projects geophysicists hope will offer greater clarity for communities on a below-ground make-up of the landscape.

“We are the data enablers in this project. We provide the datasets for for use by anyone — whether it be government, private or public organi sations,” Mr Barlow said.

“There will obviously be a lot of interest from mining, government

and other groundwater investiga tions.”

Mr Barlow said data survey results would offer electrical cross sections of the earth below the Wimmera, with bright spots on a data map ‘potential’ recognition of a presence of several materials in the ground. It is scheduled to become available next year.

“On that basis, anyone can use the data,” he said.

“There might be ambiguity around what those materials are, but by inte grating these new data sets with other data sets mined from other methods, it is possible to remove most of that ambiguity. Our task with this new data is to make it as usable as possible for anyone.”

He said Geoscience’s airborne elec tromagnetic surveying would benefit risk assessment of other organisations eager to understand the composition of western Victoria’s geology.

“Without a good understanding of these geological sequences, it is hard to make a genuine assessment or pre dict the quality or prospectivity of what could be there,” he said.

“As part of our organisation’s Ex ploring for the Future program, we want to scan as much of the country with this technique as possible to pro vide comprehensive data for decisionmaking on groundwater and resource activity.”

Minerals Council of Australia Victo ria executive director James Sorahan said high-quality ‘pre-competitive’ geoscience data was essential for ex ploration companies to identify and prioritise ground to explore.

“Western Victoria is an under-ex plored new frontier for gold, mineral sands and base metals. Previous geo physical surveys have showed parts of western Victoria were sweet spots for further exploration,” he said.

“These surveys add further informa tion about the potential for new min eral discoveries in Western Victoria.”

AHOY, MATEY: Operation 19:14 committee members get into the spirit of this year’s event theme and are encouraging people to follow the Horsham treasure hunt next month. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

Freight costs drive movement on road

BY MICHAEL SCALZO

Directors of an AustralianJapanese agricultural venture say rail-transport costs remain a significant barrier for any maximi sation of intermodal freight hubs.

With construction of Johnson Asa hi’s new processing facility at Dooen, near Horsham, nearing completion, directors have noted the company will continue to rely on trucks to get its hay export to Victoria’s sea ports despite the new processing plant’s proximity to the region’s intermodal hub.

Johnson Asahi Horsham general manager Andrew Hayward said while there was a decision to remain roadbound, the intermodal hub was an early ‘lure’ in the choice to construct an expanded processing plant nearby.

Mr Hayward said the ‘last mile’ cost of using rail made intermodal options financially inefficient.

“The problem is not the cost of transporting product from here to Melbourne, but the cost of the ‘last mile’ at the end of the rail journey,” he said. “Road freight allows us to handle the container once, rather than manage and continually shuffle our container from hub-to-hub on its journey.”

Reid Mather, chief executive of local government and freight logistics rep resentative organisation, Rail Freight Alliance, said a ‘wholistic’ State Gov ernment transport plan was needed to give freight-bound businesses certain ty, as benefits of rail freight continued

to battle competitiveness issues.

“It is a challenge to keep investment in rail lines moving, and while some road funding also needs to increase, the challenge is it remains unclear how much competition between road and rail the community can afford,” he said. “With freight into the port of Melbourne to triple by 2050 with the city on a trajectory to become the largest in Australia, with the biggest capital works budget and debt in the state’s history, the government does not have an investment strategy that underpins that.”

He said trucking remained an ‘easy’ and rigid costing exercise, while busi nesses’ rail freight costs were flexible and susceptible to unreliability.

“The State Government’s Mode Shift Incentive Scheme only applies to four operators state-wide and they have to wait for the scheme’s exten sion every May,” Mr Mather said.

“We need a Victorian plan to iden tify the best modes to use and where, because there is a misalignment of policy settings that inherently incen tivise road-freight over rail.

“With mineral sands mining projects expected to gather pace in the Wim mera in the next few years, there could be more than 900,000 tonnes trucked from Horsham to Portland every year and I can’t imagine that would be great for the highway network.”

Johnson Asahi director Mark Johnson said with the company’s

$20-million investment in its new Dooen plant, it hoped to produce ‘a couple thousand tonnes’ of product a year — a possibility he said remained perhaps dependant on government in frastructure decisions.

“Government decisions really do influence and impact us as an interna tional exporter. Within the cost of get ting the hay from the farms to Dooen and Horsham, then to the coast and to a Japanese dairy farmer — transport remains one of our largest costs,” he said.

“We want to be competitive against North American and Ukrainian prod ucts – international producers that are our direct competitors – so managing transport costs is so important in the long run.”

The intermodal freight terminal at Dooen has more than 15,000 contain ers of hay, grain and pulses through its gates every year on its three-day-aweek service to Melbourne.

The government continues to incen tivise rail freight as a means to reduce truck congestion at the Port of Mel bourne, as well as reduce the heavytruck imposition from rural highways.

A further $3.5 million was added to the Mode Shift Incentive Scheme — an incentive program that offered small rebates for each container trav elled on rail rather than road — in the 2022-23 State Budget. It was extended until June 30, 2023.

Another story — AgLife, page 43

Sand drags set to return

Organisers of a charity moto-drag event near Horsham have antici pated a ‘joyous’ visitor return to the event after COVID-19-restriction interruptions in recent years.

St Helens Plains Community Sup port Group-lead charity event, Tay lors Lake Sand Drags, has welcomed a chance to host its family-inclusive event on Saturday and Sunday after successive COVID-restriction post ponements.

Organiser Keith Fischer said all proceeds would go to the Wimmera Cancer Centre in Horsham — a charity partner of the event since its first instalment in 2017.

“It is a weekend’s worth of cars, bikes, trikes and even kid’s moto cross drag events. It is a competi

tion, but it is a relaxed atmosphere and is about stress relief and having a bit of fun,” Mr Fischer said.

“It’s about the thrill of these ma chines, with many of them coming from as far as Adelaide and Sydney.

“Even if you don’t have a machine yourself, it’s a great show.”

Mr Fischer said the cancer centre was an ‘incredibly’ worthwhile or ganisation.

“The desire to donate all funds to the cancer centre has been part of this event since it started,” he said.

People attending the event are in vited to camp on the property, with the cost included in a $20-per-day event fee; children under-14 enter for free.

LET’S GO: Wimmera Sand Drags organiser Keith Fischer and Millers grader driver Wayne Brymer inspect progress on a track for the drags event at Taylors Lake. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

COMMUNITY FOCUS: Wimmera students have banded together for the return of an annual food drive and crisis centre support campaign. Students from Horsham schools St Brigid’s College and Ss Michael and John’s Primary School presented baskets of collected food items for Horsham’s Christian Emergency Food Centre and St Vincent’s de Paul Society, after a six-week donation campaign. St Brigid’s College religious education co-ordinator Cathy Van Dyke said a donation presentation was a celebratory chance to reflect on student efforts; while Ss Michael and John’s Primary School teacher Allison McKinnon said the campaign was also an educational experience for students and offeed a chance to participate in a common cause for community benefit. Donated food will be distributed through the centres to people in the Wimmera in need of a helping hand this spring.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Flood donations

The Horsham and Horsham East Rotary clubs would like to thank the Horsham and surround ing communities for their generous donations to the Lismore flood relief project.

All donated items were loaded onto the bus donated by Dale McIntyre from Mt Zero Buses. The bus travelled 1910 kilometres to Lismore and all donated items distributed by the Lis more and Ballina Rotary clubs directly to flood victims.

The bus was given to a mother and her three children and fitted out with our donated items. Power was connected to the bus with access to an amenities block.

The Rotary clubs would like to thank Alison Roberts and the Horsham Plaza for assisting the promotion and co-ordination of this project.

We all achieved a lot in a very small time.

Thank you also to The Weekly Advertiser for your assistance.

Jim Delahunty Horsham East Rotary

‘Overwhelming’ demand

Roy Morgan survey data shows there are now 285,000 adult vapers in Victoria with CMA research revealing 88 percent of all nicotine e-cigarette purchases are being made illegally without a prescription.

Australia’s vaping policy has clearly failed.

Since the introduction of the prescription mod

el on October 1, 2021 the unregulated illicit black market for e-cigarettes has boomed with widespread reporting of black-market operators profiteering from the sale of illicit e-cigarettes to children.

The Roy Morgan data, based on monthly na tionwide surveys of 4500 adults shows Victoria has seen growth in adult vaping of nearly 200 percent in the 12 months to June 2018.

The demand for e-cigarettes from adult smok ers is overwhelming, yet current policy set tings are forcing vapers to purchase unregulated products with no electrical safety or ingredient standards from the black market.

It is clear compliance with the prescription model is unenforceable as it applies to adult vapers due to the severely constrained legal ac cessibility for adults.

New Zealand, the European Union and the United Kingdom have successfully dealt with this issue by making e-cigarettes a strictly regu lated and controlled consumer product sold to adults upon age identification by lawful retailers.

A likeminded approach in Australia would al low legal regulated access to adults while cutting off the incentive of black market operators who are currently exploiting the demand for e-ciga rettes by illegally selling unregulated products to whoever they want, including children.

Theo Foukkare, chief executive Australian Association of Convenience Stores

Reservoir levels on the rise

Grampians reservoir levels continue to slowly and steadily increase due to the recent rainfall.

• Between 60 and 120 mm of rain fell across key Grampians catchments during August, followed by between 50 and 90mm since the beginning of September. This is nearly double the rainfall recorded in August and September last year.

• As of 21 September 2022, Grampians reservoirs were collectively holding 45.56% of capacity which is about 3% more than at the same time last year.

• Bureau of Meteorology rainfall outlooks for the coming months show positive signs of continued rainfall throughout spring, which should help boost our storage levels.

Show brings

Spring has signalled the longawaited return of show season across the Wimmera.

Two years of alternative and innova tive arrangements in order to continue to offer their towns their beloved show was tough going for agricultural and pastoral societies, who were battling their own challenges — additional to the ongoing uncertainty and chang ing nature of pandemic rules and exacerbating the existing challenge of volunteer-power shortages in more recent times.

New skills were learned and new experiences developed, quickly, dur ing an unprecedented time that is not quickly forgotten.

Orgnanisers have turned their atten tion to rallying energy and ideas for the return of in-person events, starting at the weekend with Horsham.

For many, while their event con tinues a decades-long legacy to their town or community, it will also re quire a restart of many long-held ar rangements — starting with securing the finances required to host such

EDITORIAL

By Jessica Grimble

events. Money doesn’t grow on trees, so they say. COVID-recovery funds are a welcome addition to show cof fers and opened doors to many patrons who might otherwise be unable to attend.

However, attracting people back to the show might be the easy part.

Horsham paved the way for neigh bouring events when it attracted more than 6000 people through its gates across the weekend.

If there was ever doubt of the sup port for shows in today’s society, the nod from Horsham patrons will surely put concerns to bed.

So starts a months-long run of social opportunities, the sounds and smells and the sights of the show — adding to an ongoing and busy calendar for residents as events finally instill ‘nor mality’ among communities.

Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

We're standardising household waste and recycling services across our municipality

All households will move to a 3 bin or 4 bin waste stream (depending on the size of the property) as required by State Government reforms from October 3 with the addition of a glass organics and mixed recyclables collection to existing red lid waste bins

This means your food and garden waste will now go into your green lid bin which will be turned into nutritious compost at Council's transfer station

A separate glass service will be carried out every four weeks Pop your glass bottles and jars into the purple lid bin (glass only waste)

Think of your landfill waste bin as your last resort in waste sorting, used only for the things you can’t avoid, reuse, or recycle

We re getting on with rolling out the new three or four stream recycling system keeping glass and other valuable resources out of landfill and recycling them into new products

Reservoirs rising with steady rain

BY ABBY WALTER

The Wimmera’s reservoirs are tracking three percent higher compared to the same time last year.

Six GWMWater catchments, of a total 10, have increased between three and 55 percent in the past 12 months, and one catchment has remained at the same level.

GWMWater reservoir total supply was at 45.56 percent at Wednesday last week.

Moora Moora and Mt Cole reservoirs are at, or above, 100 percent. Taylors Lake is at 96 percent, Lake Wartook at 91 percent and Lake Bellfield at 81 percent, while Green Lake and Lake Fyans are above 70 percent.

Rocklands Reservoir is at 36 percent and Lake Lonsdale at 21 percent.

GWMWater manager water resources Kym Wilson said after recent rain, reservoir levels were rising steadily in Grampians catchments with a total of 19,160 megalitres of inflow be tween September 14 and 21.

“Average inflow to the Grampians reservoirs between mid-2017 and mid-2022 was equivalent to the average inflow during the Millennium Drought, 1997 to 2010,” he said.

Three lakes have decreased in volume since the same time last year. Lake Toolondo is at the lowest volume at three percent, down from nine percent at the same time last year. Lake Fyans and Lake Lonsdale have also decreased in vol ume, by nine and three percent respectively.

Lake Toolondo is at its lowest volume since

August 2011. Mr Wilson said Toolondo was an off-stream reservoir with a small catchment of its own via Mt Talbot Creek.

“Water transfer from Rocklands Reservoir is the predominant source of water supply and transfers are governed by storage operating rules,” he said.

“Inflow to Rocklands Reservoir has been well below average since 2017, and water levels have not satisfied the transfer trigger points since 2018. The Rocklands catchment has been slow in responding but did receive its most significant increase in the week ending September 21 with a 9.5-gigalitre increase.”

Wimmera Catchment Management Authority chief executive David Brennan said all rain in the Wimmera was flowing into water storages.

“Storages are totalling just over 40 percent and all catchments are at saturation point, so any rain is going straight in,” he said.

“Lake Toolondo is getting some natural inflows but there are challenges as it is a relatively small catchment in its own right.

“The only way for it to get significant water is from Rocklands Reservoir meeting its threshold, so if it keeps raining and the trigger for Toolondo is met, it will be up to GWMWater if it receives more water. We have had consistent rain, so it’s not drying up.”

Mr Wilson said low water levels at Toolondo provided an ideal chance to deliver a boat ramp upgrade so when more water was available, the lake would be more accessible. Upgrades are also commencing on a boat ramp at Rocklands.

FELLOWSHIP: Wimmera Friendship Support Group has resumed face-to-face meetings. Wimmera Cancer Centre cancer resource nurse Catherine Olston, right, chats to group members. The group’s next meeting is on Thursday, October 6. The group, for people affected by cancer treatment and dialysis, will gather from 10am to 11.30am at the Wimmera Cancer Centre’s meeting room in Horsham. Grampians Health social worker David Kerr is guest speaker. People wanting more information can phone Ms Olston on 5362 3485.

Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

Cheers to pub reopening

BY ABBY WALTER

It’s a family affair at the newly reopened Goroke Hotel, with the D’Andrea family welcoming patrons back to the bar and bis tro for the first time in six years.

Stefano D’Andrea is the pub licensee and a partner in owning the venue alongside his father Frank D’Andrea, while his brother Andrew D’Andrea is the manager.

“Dad always wanted to own a pub and we have fulfilled his wish,” Stefano said.

“I also have a brother, John, who works in the kitchen and another brother, Joe, runs the take away shop next door. We’re enjoying it.”

Stefano said opening the doors of the hotel felt like ‘climbing to the top of a big hill’.

“We were working to get to the top and it took us a while to get there, but we’re running on the flat now,” he said.

“We’ve had such a good response since we’ve been open and the locals tell us it feels like home. “Without a pub, small towns and commu nities get dead quiet during the week and late on weekends.”

The pub closed in 2016 before the D’Andrea family purchased it, and the bank next door, which later became the takeaway shop, in 2018.

The hotel officially reopened on August 12, with a new look, inside and out.

Mr D’Andrea said he underestimated the work required to reopen the hotel.

“There had been very little work done on it in probably 20 to 30 years, so we had to pull a lot down and start again and it was a bit like opening a can of worms,” he said.

“But once you’re in the ocean, you have to learn to swim — so that is what we did.

“We have an outdoor dining space, a brand new redgum bar, a new bar in the bistro area and a new commercial kitchen.

“We invested a lot of money and took a risk, so we were scared we weren’t going to get business — but it’s worked alright so far and summer will no doubt be better.

“It’s been nothing but good feedback with locals coming as well as people for the sur rounding areas such as Horsham, Kaniva, Pe nola, Naracoorte, Nhill, Frances, Edenhope and Harrow.

“People are saying the food is good, the beer is cold and they can’t wait to come back.”

Stefano said he put himself in the position of a patron when looking at the renovations.

“There had never been a bar in the bistro area before and you always had to walk through the dining rooms to get a drink – so we put a bar in there,” he said.

“We also have plans for the summer to build up the outside garden into an alfresco, beer garden dining area with umbrellas, chairs and tables — but we’re waiting for the weather to improve for that.

“We also built the main redgum bar ourselves and it took us three months, but we get com ments on it and comments about how we have set everything up there. We didn’t want to take any shortcuts with this.”

Stefano said community groups who had used the space previously for meetings were coming back to the hotel on a regular basis.

“The Apex club is in every second week, as are other local clubs and we have held functions and birthday parties already,” he said.

“We get to see different people every day and they all know me by name, so I am working on learning faces and names.

“I have never talked so much in my life.

“The people here are so friendly and we’re pleased with how they have supported us.”

Past trainees walk memory lane

Wimmera Base Hospital’s Past Trainee Associa tion is hosting a reunion to celebrate the people who undertook their training with the hospital.

The reunion occurs on October 8.

The association will also conduct its annual general meeting on the same day at the White Hart Hotel in Horsham.

Grampians Health chief strategy and regions officer Dr Rob Grenfell is the guest speaker for the event.

The day will begin from 11am.

Attendees are encouraged to bring any memo rabilia of their time as a trainee to share memo ries with others.

Energy bonus

Thousands of Wimmera residents have re ceived a cash bonus as part of a State Govern ment initiative to reduce energy costs.

Almost 3000 people in Horsham, more than 1200 in Ararat and about 1000 people in St awell are among recipients of a $250 Power Saving Bonus payment.

Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio encour aged households to log-on to the state’s En ergy Compare website and claim their bonus.

“Data shows that over the past 12 months, seven out of every 10 users saved an average of $330 by switching energy offers,” she said.

“Households can claim the $250 payment by heading to the Victorian Energy Compare website and comparing energy offers to see if they can get a better deal, or by engaging with a participating community outreach partner.”

Ms D’Ambrosio said the bonus was avail able until June 30 and there were no caps on the number of households that could receive it. She said other programs such as the Vic torian Energy Upgrades, which provides upfront incentives for low-cost-to-free energy efficient products; and Solar Victoria, which offers households and businesses discounted solar panels, batteries and efficient heating and cooling were also available.

People wanting more information could vis it www.compare.energy.vic.gov.au

Getting in touch with The Weekly AdverTiser

Getting in touch with The Weekly AdverTiser

Stawell

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

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OPEN DOORS: After six years, the Goroke Hotel has reopened. Licensee Stephen D’Andrea and manager Andrew D’Andrea toast being able to bring the pub back to, and for, the community. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

“I have never talked so much in my life”

– Stefano D’Andrea

Arts trail to celebrate town’s vibrancy

A Natimuk artist weekend will real ise its full form this weekend after a ‘successful’ teaser in December.

ACT Natimuk, formerly Arapiles Community Theatre Inc, will host a weekend of artistic offerings in the form of an art trail, with work inspired by the lives of its Natimukbased creators.

Natimuk Open Studios Art Trail 2022 has offered visitors a chance to explore eight sites across Saturday and Sunday, from 10am to 5pm; or have the option of a guided tour led

by creative and ACT Natimuk vice chair D’Arcy Molan.

ACT Natimuk general manager and trail producer Tracey Skinner said she was keen to encourage more people to the town.

“Natimuk is a vibrant arts and cul tural activity hub, and we would love to showcase some of our artists and introduce new people to the town” she said.

The art trail, with supported from Horsham Rural City Council’s Com munity Grants Program in 2021,

will showcase work from artists including Hannah French, Antho ny Pelchen, Genevieve Lilley, El eanor McDonald, Malcolm James, Carolynne Hamdorf, Gail Harradine, Tanisha Lovett, Yama Harradine, Tracey Skinner and Alison Eggleton.

The weekend will also give visitors a chance to experience ‘Grist’ — ACT Natimuk’s new portable venue, being used as a studio space.

Some artwork is also available to purchase.

Accessibility in spotlight

Yarriambiack

Shire Council is seeking public input to form its four-year access and inclusion plan.

The council’s chief executive Tam my Smith said accessibility was criti cal for all members of the community.

“Parents with prams, people with injuries, people with disabilities, older people and people from a non-English speaking background are all affected by access issues,” Ms Smith said,

“Council’s plan is intended to ad dress access issues and create public spaces that are inclusive and accessi ble for all residents and visitors alike.”

Ms Smith said the plan would use the term ‘access’ to refer to any out come that was achieved by the re moval of ‘barriers’, or obstacles, that could impede an individual’s rights to engage in a chosen activity ‘in a man ner that is equitable and dignified’.

She said barriers might include ob stacles in the built environment as

well as communication or attitudinal obstacles in the social environment.

“Council’s goal is to ensure that everyone can be active in the commu nity regardless of their ability, gender, culture, age or socio-economic cir cumstance. We believe that all people within the community make important social, economic and cultural contri butions”, Ms Smith said.

Expressions of interest are sought from people who could help the coun cil through the formation of a refer ence group.

The group would assess footpaths and pathways, parks and recreation re serve access, access to council build ings and services, disability parking, transport options and access to public amenities.

The group will meet for the first time in November; people wanting more information, or to register their inter est, can contact the council’s Gavin Blinman on 5398 0131.

Flood education target

Emergency service volunteers have initiated a series of flood-awareness information sessions in Wimmera towns to increase knowledge.

State Emergency Service Horsham will host drop-in flood-information sessions in Stawell and Warracknabeal next month. The sessions, targeting communities impacted by floods in January 2011, will include increasing

people’s knowledge, helpful maps and complimentary food and drink.

A Stawell community flood informa tion session is on Monday, October 24, from 2pm to 6pm, at Stawell SES unit at 33 Sloane Street.

A Warracknabeal session is on Fri day, October 28 from 2pm to 6pm, at the Yarriambiack Shire Council office in Lyle Street.

CREATIVE: Natimuk artist Genevieve Lilley is part of an extensive bill of artists ready to present work for ACT Natimuk’s Natimuk Open Studios Art Trail 2022.

Picture: Hannah French

Laneway meals

A time to connect or reconnect to faith

Dear reader, your faith journey is important to us. Have you disconnected from God and others who love God, because of disillusionment, hurt, tiredness or busyness?

If you are wishing to connect or reconnect with faith, you are invited to attend Mission Month, to be held every Sunday morning during October, at 10am at the City Heart Church of Christ Inc, Stawell. Morning tea will follow every service.

If you would prefer to attend morning tea only, you are very welcome to do so at 11.15am in the church hall.

NON DENOMINATIONAL FOCUS

Warm regards, Pastor Terry & the Ministry Team, City Heart Church of Christ Inc

Ph 0407 547 417

Community spirit captured

Murtoa Progress Association will officially launch the much-anticipated souvenir coffee table book, ‘150 years of Murtoa: In pictures’ this weekend.

The launch is among the town’s 150th celebrations and across the annual Murtoa’s Big Weekend from Friday until Sunday.

The association’s secretary Kendra Clegg said the special-edition book was a keepsake that featured Murtoa’s story in photographs that ‘traverse the unique highlights’ of the town throughout its history.

It threads tales that weave together the long history of railways, water works and the many businesses, with community moments, achievements and special occasions.

“The association is often asked what it is about Murtoa that makes it unique and a much sought-after destination to live and visit. It is the spirit of the community,” she said.

“This uniqueness and sense of com munity is captured in images por trayed in this beautiful coffee table book that was collated by Natasha Pietsch Design of Murtoa.

“This book is the perfect souvenir to mark this special occasion and spon sored by the Murtoa Progress Associa tion with a multitude of contributions from the community.”

People can attend the launch on Saturday at the opening of Murtoa’s 150th celebrations at Murtoa Neigh bourhood House at 9am.

Copies of the book will be available from The Stick Shed, Murtoa Water Tower Museum, Murtoa Post Office and Murtoa Newsagency.

Meet Ian

The launch is part of a bumper weekend of celebrations — including the Murtoa Show and a lake party at Lake Marma on Friday; and an RACV show’n’shine, market, Murtoa Sings:

Reimagined in the Mechanics Hall, and Murtoa Cup on Saturday.

A Murtoa College 100-year reunion, Murtoa Bowls 100-year reunion and Dunmunkle Sumpoilers Rally run on Saturday and Sunday.

A range of other community events

our New Chef

Ian moved to the area for family, and he has worked in Horsham before. He previously worked as a chef for 33 years on the Sunshine Coast, and at Mansfield, Moyhu, Tasmania and Melbourne.

Favourite

are among the extensive program.

Murtoa and District Historical Soci ety will host an art show and sale, as a fundraiser, at the Uniting Church hall in McDonald Street.

Murtoa Water Tower Museum secre tary Sue Dollin said the show was the culmination of creative efforts during two years of isolation and lockdowns relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A special judged category is ‘Botani cal Beauties’ and all other entries face

a public vote for ‘Best of Show’.

A special feature is a painting do nated by local artist, Peter Hill.

His depiction of Murtoa’s railway precinct will be offered via silent auction.

The art show is open on Saturday and Sunday.

People wanting more information, including the full program, can go to www.murtoabigweekend.com.au or via the event’s Facebook page.

Donations for children

Wimmera leaders are calling for dona tions towards an annual, international Christmas appeal.

Operation Christmas Child asks peo ple to fill a shoebox with clothes, toys, hygiene items, school supplies and fun gifts.

The gifts will be delivered to chil dren living in vulnerable situations.

It is an annual project of Samaritan’s Purse.

More than 200,000 boxes from Aus tralia and New Zealand went to Cam bodia, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Nauru, Papua New Guinea and Madagascar.

More than 10 million shoebox gifts were collected globally in 2021, and distributed to more than 100 countries.

Co-ordinator Ann Rohde said people could use a shoebox from home, no larger than an A4 sheet of paper; or collect pre-printed shoeboxes, at a cost of 50-cents each, together with a brochure containing ideas of what to include or exclude from the box.

Resources can be collected from Horsham Disposals or Cambrelles, Nhill.

People in Edenhope can contact Linda Guthridge on 0428 513 650, Warracknabeal people can contact Val Wardle on 5398 1002; Ararat peo ple can contact Dee Reynolds on 0490 375 769 or at Stawell, Wendy Collins on 0488 110 684.

People in Donald can contact Rose marie Larcombe on 0488 351 961.

People wanting more informa tion can can visit www.operation christmaschild.org.au

COMMEMORATION: Murtoa Stick Shed committee of management secretary David Grigg with a copy of the ‘150 years of Murtoa: In pictures’ coffee-table book. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

Weed-cutting operation complete

West Wimmera Shire Council has cut about eight-hectares of native vegeta tion at Edenhope’s Lake Wallace.

The vegetation-removal project was part of a trial to understand the op eration of a weed-cutting machine and the effect weed cutting could have on nutrient levels in the water.

The council employed Aquatic Tech nologies to cut the weeds across eight days, using an amphibious harvester.

About five per cent of the lake’s surface was cleared, which included a rectangular area in the middle of the lake and five access channels.

It comes after many months of coun cil investigation and community con cerns, including a petition, seeking action. The weeds had become more apparent as the water levels dropped.

The council’s infrastructure de velopment and works director Ram Upadhyaya said the access channels were created to allow the cut vegeta tion to drift to the shoreline.

He said the channels would also give lake users access to the lake via multiple locations, including the jetty, caravan park and the boat ramp.

The amphibious harvester that was

used to cut the weeds could crawl on the ground, as well as in the water, but did not have the capacity to collect the cut weeds.

“The weeds are currently floating in the water, and they will eventually drift to the shoreline with the wind,”

Mr Upadhyaya said.

The council will undertake water testing at the lake in mid-October to understand the effect of weed cutting in the nutrient level of water.

Wimmera Catchment Management Authority had committed to a contri bution of $30,000 towards the trial.

Prepare for unexpected

Risk management plans don’t only apply to businesses.

Every person and family should also have a plan to help them cope in the event of an unexpected crisis.

No doubt you have insured your car as the risks of damage are obvious to you on a daily basis.

You will almost certainly have in sured your home and contents against fire, burglary or storms. But what about your greatest asset — income?

Statistics show that as a working adult, earning an average income is worth more than $3.7 million over a 40-year, full-time career, assuming no increase in earnings.

How would you cope if your fam ily’s primary income earner met with serious illness or accident?

Professional guidance is crucial in establishing a risk management plan.

You need to consider your financial commitments and review what assis tance may already be in place.

This may include insurance cover within your superannuation, employer protection, existing insurance policies or other sources.

Fortunately, a range of insurance policies are available to cover the risks you confront including:

• Loss of life or total and perma nent disablement. By including this in your superannuation it is effectively a tax deduction as your superannuation comes from pre-tax income.

• Income protection. A critically im

FINANCE focus

portant cover for income earners. It will provide you with income in the event of sickness or accident for a predefined period. If you are a small business operator, you can include the costs of operating your business while you are incapacitated. The premiums are a tax deduction.

• Trauma insurance. This is sometimes referred to as critical illness insurance and provides for a lump sum in the event of suffering a specific injury or illness. It is ideal for a non-income earning partner who may not qualify for income protection.

• Child trauma insurance. Many fami lies are devastated when a child is struck with a critical illness. This may mean one or both parents hav ing to give up work while the child undergoes lengthy treatment. Some companies are now providing specific policies to assist the family in such a catastrophe.

A licensed financial adviser will be able to help you prepare a risk man agement plan — just in case.

• The information provided in this article is general in nature only and does not constitute personal financial advice.

NEW MEMBERS:

Ladies Probus Club president Ruth Walter, right, welcomes new members Gay Baker and Annette Wade to the club. The club will host a fashion parade as its next event in October.

Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

with Robert Goudie CFP GradDipFP Consortium Private Wealth

Kilpatrick,

Pictures: PAUL CARRACHER

TUMBLE: Georgia Skurrie navigates a

THRILL: Elsa Mathias and Jo Ellis enjoy the thrill of a show ride at the Horsham Show on Sunday. They were among a bumper crowd of

people who entered the gates across the twilight and day-long instalments of the event.

WHACK: The crowd watch Hex and Callen Butcher perform a wrestling demonstration — one of many new initiatives included at the show last weekend.

RACE: Ben, Lily, Krystal and Mason Osborne go head-tohead on the dodgem cars.

LOOT: Ella Johns, Annabelle Heal and Abbey O’Connor with their showbags.

TRICKS: Emily Polkinghorne performs a flip.

LOCAL

DIRECTORY

local plumbing & electrical specialists

J.D. and N.J. Mays Builders has serviced the Wimmera in all aspects of the building trade for more than 35 years.

Owner John Mays has more than 50 years’ building experience, branching out on his own in 1981. Qualified in building construction and occupational health and safety, Mr Mays has built or renovated just about everything.

Mays Builders completes general building work, including renovations, extensions, patios, bathrooms and home improvements.

It also offers a helping hand to people building their first home, along with completing commercial building jobs. Mr Mays and his wife Noleen run the business. They employ two fulltime contractors and have access to other qualified builders for larger jobs.

Mays Builders operates anywhere in the Wimmera, within a 100-kilometre radius of Horsham.

Staff pride themselves on high-quality workmanship and service that is second to none. Mays Builders offers free no-obligation quotes.

To obtain a quote, give the Mays a call on 0418 823 224 or drop into Mays Builders at 56 McTavish Boulevard, Horsham.

Weekend and after-hours jobs are available by appointment.

Proudly sponsored

Strong demand

‘Fun’ car offers diversity of experience

TOYOTA

Australia looks to have found another winner with the newly-introduced GR86.

But with supply of the sporty new model restricted for the 2023 calendar year, the Japanese importer says it will change the way in which dealerships source customer vehicles, employing an allocation and expression of inter est system until such time as supply returns to normal.

Speaking to GoAuto News at the Australian launch of the GR86, Toyo ta Australia vice-president sales, mar keting and franchise operations, Sean Hanley, said once stock of the highlyanticipated sports coupe recovered, dealerships would return to ordering

vehicles as per the usual format.

“Our first calendar-year supply is around 1100 cars. I think our demand will exceed supply – and this is based on the fact that we’ve already had over 10,000 expressions of interest in the car on our website,” he said.

“Our supply situation at the moment is still somewhat restricted, although it is improving.

“I expect we’ll do a little better from year three onwards with the GR86, and of course, if we can do better in year one, we will try.

“What’s most important is how we manage customer expectation on this car.”

Mr Hanley said the supply of certain models within the Australian portfolio

was improving, as was the diversifica tion of its Toyota’s sportier GR brand.

With GR86, GR Corolla, GR Su pra and GR Yaris already established — and the number of GR enhanced derivatives expanding — Toyota was well-placed to offer GR customers options, should supplies of other lines remain closed.

“The GR brand is maturing in the Australian market. Now that we have a few models to offer — and more coming — the interest for these cars is growing as well. As the brand be comes even more mature, I think we will see ‘GR’ become an established performance brand in Australia,” Mr Hanley said.

“But I don’t think that diversifica

tion will hurt GR86 sales. There will be some crossover, but this is a fun car — whether as a daily driver or on the track — and it’s able to offer what the customer wants.

“If they want a performance car that they’re going to have a great time with on the track, and that’s primarily what they want to do, we have that car; if they want the sort of performance that they can drive to work and still have fun on the weekend, we have that car.

“If they want to take the family along, and still have lots of fun, we have that car, too.”

The second-generation ‘86’ arrives a decade after the original — a model that sold almost 22,000 examples in Australia It retains the horizontally-

• Electric van options reach Australian market

HILUX ORDERS

opposed engine design of its prede cessor, as well as the familiar frontengine and rear-drive configuration favoured by sports car fans.

Toyota says the model’s improved dynamics, technology and styling set the benchmark in value-for-money sports cars, despite the model’s price increase of $11,060 over the outgoing entry point to the range – and $2950 premium over the twin-under-the-skin Subaru BRZ.

The Toyota GR86 is again offered locally in GT and GTS grades with manual and automatic variants identi cally priced.

It is available from $43,240 plus onroad costs.

— Matt Brogan

Electric people-mover available

MERCEDES-BENZ

Vans

Australia has launched two new electric van options — a workhorse eVito Panel Van and eight-seat eVito Tourer.

Mercedes-Benz Vans marketing and public relations manager Blake Vin cent said dealers already had a limited amount of the electric vans in stock, with more on the way.

“Limited stock is available and we are expecting more to arrive between now and the end of the year,” he said.

“Customers can also order from the factory if they have a specific require ment.”

Priced from $89,353 for the Panel Van and $116,115 for the Tourer, both before on-road costs, they are a fair whack more than their diesel counterparts.

Mercedes-Benz Vans, however, has beaten others, such as Ford with its upcoming E-Transit, to the electric mid-sized van segment in Australia.

In addition, Mr Vincent said the eVito Tourer was “expected to be joined later this year by the all-electric EQV” – a luxury-focused seven-seat people mover.

The two eVito models feature a single motor, single-speed powertrain, sending drive to the front wheels only, but they differ in their output and range.

ing blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, ac tive brake assist, active park assist, hill-start assist, front and rear parking sensors, front, daytime running lights, and a front and rear acoustic sound generator.

Inside, the e-Vito models are well equipped and, like the rest of the Vito range, feature a seven-inch touch screen with smartphone integration, plenty of van-suitable storage, and multi-view rear camera for urban ease of use.

The Panel Van offers healthy loadcarrying potential, with an 882-kilo gram payload thanks to its 3200-kil ogram GVM, and up to six cubic metres of cargo volume.

For the business of moving people, the Tourer gets standard seating for eight, in a 2:3:3 configuration, and seats can be folded down if cargo space is needed.

A major drawcard for commercial buyers is a generous 40,000km and/ or 12-month service interval for both models, plus 24-hour roadside assist and five-year, 250,000km warranty.

and larger 90kWh battery, with a slightly lower average consumption of 26.15kW/h to offers a total range of 421km.

using AC juice, while the Tourer takes 10 hours. DC fast-charging will get the Panel van from 10 percent to 80 percent in as little as 35 minutes, and the Tourer will take 45 minutes.

The battery itself is also covered under warranty for eight years or 160,000km.

The Tourer uses a more power ful 150kW/365Nm electric motor

The Panel Van offers 85kW and 360Nm from its single motor and 60kWh battery combination, pro viding a total range of 262km and estimated energy consumption of 27.36kWh/100km.

When it comes time to charge, the Panel Van will take about 6.5 hours to go from empty to 100 percent charge

Both electric vans score the same standard safety technology — includ

For those waiting for the larger eS printer van, expected Australian deliv ery was last mentioned as being “in or around 2024”.

— Cobey Bartels

OPTION: There is limited stock of the electric Mercedes-Benz eVito panel van available on the Australian market but more are expected to arrive soon.

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Nightly

11:00 The Drum

2:00 Full House (PG) 3:00 The Nanny (PG) 3:30 3rd Rock From The Sun (PG) 4:00 That 70’s Show (PG) 4:30 Everybody Loves Raymond (PG) 5:30 Movie: “Nutty Professor II: The Klumps” (PG) (’00) Stars: Eddie Murphy 7:30 Movie: “Dolittle” (PG) (’20) Stars: Robert Downey Jr. 9:30 TBA 11:30 The Emily Atack Show (MA15+) 12:15 Stunt Science (MA15+) 1:15 Revolution (PG) 3:00 Bakugan: Armored Alliance (PG) 6:00 The Talk 7:00 Judge Judy (PG) 7:30 The Bold And The Beautiful (PG) 8:00

5:00 Worldwatch 9:05 Peer To Peer (PG) 10:05 Ability Film Festival 2021 (PG) 11:05 Grayson Perry’s Big American Road Trip (PG) 12:00 Worldwatch 2:10 First Ladies: Michelle Obama (PG) 3:00 NITV News: Nula 3:40 The Cook Up With Adam Liaw (PG) 4:10 The Supervet (PG) 5:05 Jeopardy! (PG) 5:30 Letters And Numbers 6:00 Mastermind (PG) 6:30 SBS World News 7:35 Good With Wood (PG) 8:30 Secrets Of The Lost Liners (PG) 9:20 World’s Greatest Hotels (PG) 10:10 SBS World News Late 10:40 Das Boot (MA15+) (In German/ English)

6:00 Home Shopping 8:00 The Doctors (PG) 9:00 Reel Action 9:30 I Fish 10:00 MacGyver (PG) 12:00 The Love Boat (PG) 1:00 Star Trek: The Next Generation (PG) 2:00 Diagnosis Murder (PG) 3:00 Bondi Rescue (PG) 3:30 The Love Boat (PG) 4:30 Star Trek: The Next Generation (PG) 5:30 MacGyver (PG) 7:30 NCIS: Heart Break (M) 8:30 Blue Bloods (M) 10:20 Evil (M) 11:15 Star Trek: Discovery (M v)

12:00 Mukbang (PG) (In English/ Korean) 12:50 Hunters (M l) 1:40 Who Killed The Electric Car? (PG) 3:20 Feeding The Scrum 3:50 ABC World News

Tonight With David Muir 4:15 PBS Newshour 5:15 Shortland (PG) 5:45 The Joy Of Painting With Bob Ross 6:15 Forged In Fire (PG) 7:05 Jeopardy! (PG) 7:30 NITV News Update 7:35 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown (M l,s) 8:30 Hoarders (M l)

12:00 Days Of Our Lives (PG) 12:55 The Young And The Restless (PG) 1:50 Explore 2:00 The Channel: The World’s Busiest Waterway (PG) 3:00 Antiques Roadshow 3:30 Movie: “Happy Go Lovely” (G) (’51) Stars: David Niven 5:30 Murder, She Wrote (PG) 6:30 Antiques Roadshow 7:30 Antiques Downunder (PG) 8:00 Antiques Detectives (PG) 8:30 TBA 11:00 The First 48 (M v)

5:00 Worldwatch 9:00 How To Get Fit Fast (PG) 9:55 Earth’s Natural Wonders (PG) 11:00 Paul O’Grady For The Love Of Dogs (PG) 12:00 Worldwatch 2:00 Motorsport: Superbike World Championship 2:55 Gymnastics: Artistic World Challenge Cup 4:40 KGB: The Sword And The Shield (PG) (In English/ Russian/ Ukrainian) 5:40 Secret Nazi Bases (PG) 6:30 SBS World News 7:30 Greatest Train Journeys From Above (PG) 8:25 Secrets Of The Royal Palaces (PG) 9:20 Secrets Of Tutankhamun (PG) 10:10 8

Countdown (PG)

Movie: “True Grit” (PG) (’10) Stars: Hailee Steinfeld 9:40 Movie: “The Jackal” (MA15+) (’97) Stars: Bruce Willis

Listen

on

MITCHELL

10:00 Offsiders 11:00 Compass 11:30 Songs

Of Praise 12:00 ABC News 12:30 Landline

1:30 Gardening Australia 2:30 Old People’s

Home For Teenagers (PG) 3:30 Rick Stein’s

Secret France

4:35 Question Everything (PG)

5:05 Art Works 5:35 Antiques Roadshow

6:30 Compass (PG) 7:00 ABC News Sunday

7:40 Spicks And Specks (PG) 8:30 Savage River (M) 9:30 Silent Witness (M n,v) 10:30 The Newsreader (M l)

2:15 FEI World Championships

3:30 My Greek Odyssey (PG)

4:30 TBA 6:00 Air Crash Investigation (PG)

7:00 Border Security - Australia’s Front Line (PG) 8:30 Steam Train Journeys (PG) 9:30

The Yorkshire Steam Railway (PG) 10:30 Chris Tarrant’s Extreme Railways (PG)

5:00 Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug And Cat Noir (PG) 5:25 Hardball 6:05

Holly Hobbie 6:35 Fierce Earth 7:05

Mythbusters (PG) 7:35 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (PG) 8:00 The Deep 8:25 Kong: King

Of The Apes (PG) 9:00 Find Me In Paris 9:25

School Of Rock (PG) 9:45 rage (PG)

10:00 The Morning Show - Weekend (PG) 12:00 House Of Wellness (PG) 1:00 AFL Women’s: Round 6: Brisbane v Essendon *Live* 3:00 AFL Women’s: Round 6: Fremantle v Melbourne *Live* 5:00 Seven News At 5 5:30 Border Security - Australia’s Front Line (PG) 6:00 Seven News 7:00 Who Killed Michael Jackson? (M) 9:00 Movie: “The Devil Wears Prada” (PG) (’06) Stars: Adrian Grenier

4:30 Motorbike Cops (PG) 4:45

Movie: “Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes” (M v) (’11) Stars: Andy Serkis 7:00

Movie: “Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone” (PG) (’01) Stars: Emma Watson 10:05

Movie: “The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen” (M l,v) (’03) Stars: Sean Connery

3:00 Circle Square 3:30 Play School 4:00 Ready, Steady, Wiggle! 4:35 Wolf Joe 5:00 Hey Duggee 5:30 Tish Tash 6:05 Kangaroo Beach 6:25 Peter Rabbit 7:00 Odd Squad 7:30 Australia Remastered 8:25 Louis Theroux: The City Addicted To Crystal Meth (M d,l)

1:00 NRL: Grand Final Day: Pre Game 1:20

NRL: The State Cup Championship Grand Final: Teams TBA *Live* 3:15 NRL: Grand Final Day: Post Game 3:55 NRL Women’s:

Grand Final: Teams TBA *Live* 5:35

Postcards (PG) 6:00 NINE News Sunday 6:30 NRL: Grand Final Day: Pre Match Entertainment 7:30 NRL: Grand Final: Teams

TBA *Live* From Accor Stadium 9:30 NRL: Grand Final: Post Game 10:30 NINE News

2:00 Basketball: Round 1: Melbourne United v New Zealand Breakers *Live* 4:00

Basketball: Round 1: Perth Wildcats v Brisbane Bullets *Live* 6:00 The Big Bang Theory (PG) 9:00 The Neighborhood (M) 10:00 Friends (PG) 12:00 Home Shopping

3:00 ABC News 3:30 Premiership Glory 3:45 The Virus 4:00

Landline 5:00 ABC News With Auslan 5:30

The World This Week 6:00 ABC Evening News 6:30 Foreign Correspondent 7:00 ABC News Sunday 7:40 The Virus 8:00 Insiders 9:00 ABC Nightly News 9:30 Australian Story

12:30

7.30 (PG) 8:00 Australian Story (PG) 8:30 Four Corners (PG) 9:20

Media Watch (PG) 9:35 Planet America 10:05 Parkinson In Australia (PG)

(G) (’17) Stars: Andie MacDowell 2:00 Gold Coast Medical (PG) 3:00 The Chase UK (PG) 4:00 Seven News At 4 5:00 The Chase Australia (PG) 6:00 Seven News 7:00 Home And Away (PG) 7:30 Farmer Wants A Wife (PG) 9:10 9-1-1 (M) 10:10 S.W.A.T. (M v) 11:10 The Latest Seven News 11:40 Heartbreak Island Australia (M l)

3:30 Barter Kings (PG) 4:30

Scrap Kings (PG) 5:30 Storage Wars Texas (PG) 6:00 American Pickers (PG) 7:00 Pawn Stars (PG) 7:30 American Pickers (PG) 8:30 Movie: “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (M l,v) (’91)

6:00 Today 9:00 Today Extra 11:30 NINE’s Morning News 12:00 Movie: “Cooking With Love” (G) (’18) Stars: Ali Liebert 1:45 Garden

Gurus Moments 2:00 Pointless (PG) 3:00 Tipping Point (PG) 4:00 NINE’s Afternoon News 4:30 Millionaire Hot Seat 5:30 WIN News 6:00 NINE News 7:00 A Current Affair (PG) 7:30 The Block (PG) 9:00 Under Investi gation: The Hate Police (M) 10:00 Tom Daley - Illegal To Be Me (M) 11:15 NINE News Late

8:00 The Big Bang Theory (PG)

9:30 The Middle (PG) 12:00 The Neighborhood (PG) 1:00 Carol’s Second Act (PG) 2:00 Friends (PG) 3:00 The King Of Queens (PG) 4:00 Becker (PG) 5:00 Frasier (PG) 6:00 Friends (PG) 8:00 The Big Bang Theory (PG) 9:30 Seinfeld (PG)

3:00 ABC News Afternoons 5:00

ABC News Hour 6:00 ABC

Evening News 7:00 ABC National News 7:30 7.30 8:00 ABC News Tonight 8:45 The Business 9:00 ABC Nightly News 9:30 Kurt Fearnley’s One Plus One 10:00 The World 11:00 The Drum 12:00 ABC Late News

12:00 Scorpion (PG) 2:00 Tough Tested 3:00 Stories Of Bike (PG) 3:30 Snap Happy 4:00 Roads Less Travelled (PG) 4:30 What’s Up Downunder 5:00 I Fish 5:30 Reel Action 6:00 Bondi Rescue (PG) 6:30 MacGyver (M) 7:30 NCIS (M v) 10:20 48 Hours (M) 11:15 Star Trek: Discovery (M v)

3:00 Top Chef 4:15 Full Bloom (PG) 5:15 Transformers: Cyberverse (PG) 5:30 Movie: “Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London” (PG) (’04)

Stars: Frankie Muniz 7:30 Movie: “Tenet”

Juhan

5:00 Worldwatch 9:00 How To Get Fit Fast (PG) 9:55 Earth’s Natural Wonders (PG) 11:00 Paul O’Grady For The Love Of Dogs (PG) 12:00 Worldwatch 1:00 Motor Sports: Speedweek 3:00 Football: Countdown To Qatar 3:40 Scanning The Nile 5:40 Secret Nazi Bases (PG) 6:30 SBS World News 7:30 Latest Secrets Of The Hieroglyphs (PG) (In English/ French) 8:30 Titanic’s Lost Evidence (M) 10:00 Jackie Chan - Building An Icon (M)

3:15 Lost Gold Of World War II (PG) 4:45 Sidelined: Women In Basketball (PG) 5:45 World’s Greatest Hotels (PG) 6:40 The Buildings That Fought Hitler (PG) 7:35 Abandoned Engineering (M) 8:30 UnXplained With William Shatner (M) 9:20 Cracking The Code (M)

12:00 The Avengers (PG) 1:10 Movie: “Lease Of Life” (PG) (’54)

Stars: Robert Donat 3:10 Movie: “New York, New York” (PG) (’77) Stars: Robert De Niro 6:30 The Bizarre Pet Vets (PG) 7:30 Mega Zoo (PG) 8:30 TBA 11:30 Chicago Fire (MA15+) 12:30 My Favourite Martian

5:00 Worldwatch 9:00 Rugby League: Koori Knockout *Live* 5:30 Letters And Numbers 6:00 Mastermind (PG) 6:30 SBS World News 7:30 Celebrity Letters And Numbers (M) 8:30 Iceland With Alexander Armstrong (PG) 9:25 24 Hours In Emergency (M) 10:20 SBS World News Late 10:50 Beforeigners (MA15+) (In Norwegian/ English) 11:50 Outlander (MA15+) 2:05 Miss S (M v) (In Mandarin)

12:00 NCIS: New Orleans (PG)

1:00 Walker, Texas Ranger (PG) 3:00 Bondi Rescue (PG) 3:30 The Love Boat (PG) 4:30 Star Trek: The Next Generation (PG) 5:30 MacGyver (PG)

Singapore Grand

2:00 Rivals (PG) 2:30

4:15 ABC America This Week 5:15 Shortland Street (PG) 5:45 The Joy Of Painting With Bob Ross (PG) 6:15 Forged In Fire (PG) 7:05 Jeopardy! (PG) 7:30 NITV News Update 7:35 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown (M l,s) 8:30 Dark Side Of The 90s (M) 9:25 PEN15 (MA15+) 10:25 VICE (M)

Today Extra 11:30 NINE’s

12:00 The Block (PG) 1:30 Getaway (PG) 2:00 Pointless (PG) 3:00 Tipping Point (PG) 4:00 NINE’s Afternoon News 4:30 Millionaire Hot Seat 5:30 WIN News 6:00 NINE News 7:00 A Current Affair (PG) 7:30 The Block (PG) 8:40 The Hundred With Andy Lee (M) 9:40 Botched (M) 10:40 NINE News Late 11:10 Law & Order: Organized Crime (MA15+)

9:30 Mom (M d,s) 11:10 Frasier

12:00 Home Shopping

Afternoons

9:00

10:00

Loves Raymond (PG) 5:30 The Nanny (PG) 6:00 3rd Rock From The Sun (PG) 6:30 That 70’s Show (PG) 7:00 Young Sheldon (PG) 7:30 RBT (PG) 8:30 Movie: “V

(PG) 3:30

Vendetta” (MA15+) (’11)

2:00 Movie: “Operation Bullshine” (G) (’59) Stars: Barbara Murray 3:45 Movie: “Will Any Gentleman?” (G) (’53) Stars: George Cole 5:30 Murder, She Wrote (PG) 6:30 Antiques Roadshow 7:30 Death In Paradise (PG) 8:40 Dalgliesh (M l) 10:40 Law & Order: SVU (M s,v)

10:10 Employable Me (UK) (M) 11:20 World’s Most Amazing Festivals (PG) 12:00 Worldwatch 2:10 First Ladies (PG) 3:00 Going Places With Ernie Dingo (PG) 3:40 The Cook Up With Adam Liaw (PG) 4:10 Animal Einsteins 5:05 Jeopardy! (PG) 5:30 Letters And Numbers 6:00 Mastermind (PG) 6:30 SBS World News 7:30 Great Coastal Railway Journeys (PG) 8:30 Insight (M) 9:30 Dateline (M) 10:00 SBS World News Late

1. Former Wimmera football er Shane Breuer is known as achieving what historic ‘first’ for Port Adelaide Football Club?

2. What was faster: The time it took Bob Hawke to drink an ale — two-and-a-half pints — of beer or Cathy Freeman’s 100-metre sprint record?

3. Which Wimmera footballer won a best-on-ground medal during a 2022 senior grand final in a losing team?

4. After the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the head of state of what former British colony in the Caribbean declared a re public referendum would occur within three years?

5. In common photography, ap erture refers to what?

6. George Postecoglou is a professional soccer coach from Melbourne, who has managed Scottish Premiership club Celt ic since 2021. What were the three previous soccer clubs, in order, that he coached?

7. Which of these three Victori an towns does not share its name with an existing counterpart in the United Kingdom: Balmoral, Daylesford or Shepparton?

8. Eight of the world’s top-10 deepest mines are all based in what country? For bonus points, what mineral is mined within the top-10 deepest mines; and to the nearest 100 metres, how deep is the world’s deepest mine?

9. Name two differences be tween an alpaca and a llama.

10. What activity, and where, would be referred to if someone said they saw a banana at Arctic Park?

Your LuckY STarS

ARIES: (March 21 - April 20)

Lucky Colour: Green

Lucky Day: Monday Racing Numbers: 5.9.6.3

Lotto Numbers: 5.12.23.36.39.22

A very hectic period on the social scene with plenty of romance in the air. You have plenty of energy and feel motivated to undertake certain tasks. If still unattached go looking for someone.

TAURUS:

(April 21 - May 20)

Lucky Colour: Violet

Lucky Day: Tuesday

Racing Numbers: 5.6.2.3

Lotto Numbers: 1.15.26.27.8.33

If you are still available someone from the past may make you an offer you will find hard to refuse. Your passions are more stimulated through intellectual conversation rather than sexual actions.

GEMINI:

(May 21 - June 21)

Lucky Colour: Yellow

Lucky Day: Wednesday

Racing Numbers: 4.6.2.3

Lotto Numbers: 1.18.21.12.25.45

Many could be having a romantic evening either at home or at a friend’s place. A good time to start new ventures, however don’t take unnecessary risks.

CANCER:

(June 22 - July 22)

Lucky Colour: Peach

Lucky Day: Monday

Racing Numbers: 4.6.2.3 Lotto Numbers: 4.6.12.25.29.33

Your social scene will be greatly expanded this time. As a matter of fact you will get a very hectic social calendar and will need plenty of energy to fulfil all the obligations. So better get organised.

LEO:

(July 23 - August 22)

Lucky Colour: Cream

Lucky Day: Monday

Racing Numbers: 1.3.2.5

Lotto Numbers: 1.12.15.45.20.33

Many will be encountering a new and exciting romance during their travels. Also the career opportunities are very well aspected at the moment.

VIRGO:

(August 23 - September 23)

Lucky Colour: White

Lucky Day: Sunday

Racing Numbers: 4.9.6.5

Lotto Numbers: 4.12.26.9.7.22

This period seems to be rather lucky for you both in the romantic sense as well as the gambling sense. Many will undertake some sort of trip that has aroused their interest.

LIBRA:

(September 24 - October 23)

Lucky Colour: Red

Lucky Day: Friday

Racing Numbers: 4.9.6.7

Lotto Numbers: 7.4.12.25.26.30

If you want to socialise it is no good sitting at home, go out and enjoy yourself, meet new friends and possibly join some sort of organisation or club. Also do something special with loved ones.

SCORPIO:

(October 24 - November 22)

Lucky Colour: Orange Lucky Day: Saturday Racing Numbers: 1.3.5.2

Lotto Numbers: 1.12.15.9.6.11

Someone seems very interested in getting acquainted with you, so keep your eyes open; it might turn out to be very interesting! You may be more in demand than you think.

SAGITTARIUS:

(November 23 - December 20)

Lucky Colour: Blue Lucky Day: Wednesday Racing Numbers: 5.6.3.2

Lotto Numbers: 5.12.45.20.31.33

Many will be finding their soul mate during this period. Make sure that you don’t miss out! Go out to the races and have a little flutter; you may catch more than a four legged winner.

CAPRICORN:

(December 21 - January 19)

Lucky Colour: Cream

Lucky Day: Monday Racing Numbers: 4.9.6.8

Lotto Numbers: 4.45.23.36.31.11

Many will be enjoying quality time at home with their loved ones. New job opportunities are in the pipeline. You could organise some social parties at home.

AQUARIUS:

(January 20 - February 19)

Lucky Colour: Blue Lucky Day: Sunday Racing Numbers: 7.9.6.5

Lotto Numbers: 7.15.26.34.40.22

When you are entering into a new relationship, make sure that you are understood and your intentions are clear. Travel is also indicated.

PISCES: (February 20 - March 20)

Lucky Colour: Green Lucky Day: Tuesday Racing Numbers: 6.3.2.3 Lotto Numbers: 6.12.25.45.32.22

You could find yourself the centre of attraction during this period. Best to make the most of it; you could land yourself a very nice partner. However make sure that there are no misunderstandings.

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Horsham Agricultural Society’s Peter Jackman checks a fleece during the weekend’s show, which made a longawaited return after the COVID-19 pandemic. Story, page 37.

Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

Soaking to continue into spring

BY ABBY WALTER

Wimmera farmers are finding themselves on a precipice of needing rain for a good springfinish to crops and not receiving too much rain that causes damage.

Tooan farmer John Heard said his crops showed good potential but it was almost getting too wet.

“Crops are looking good but they’re just hanging on, so it would be ideal if the rain reduced now,” he said.

“However, the roots won’t be very deep in the profile so we’re going to need a bit more rain to finish the crops off.

“We only need 10 millimetres a fort night — not an inch a week like we have been getting.”

Mr Heard said the crops were look ing different to August.

“The crop potential wasn’t what I thought it would be – it’s probably 10 to 20 percent below where I thought – although a month ago I was thinking it could have been the best ever,” he said.

“There’s still a long way to the finish line and it looks like it will be a longer season than average. There’s always the possibility of frosts or hail and more excess rain, too.”

The Bureau of Meteorology declared earlier this month that Australia had returned to a La Niña for the third year in a row.

A La Niña indicates eastern Aus tralia will experience above-average levels of rain during spring and early summer.

Mr Heard said the predicted late spring was going to push harvest into 2023.

“A lot of crops are starting to lodge with the excess moisture and wind. It’s uprooting the plant a bit, so we will have to harvest closer to the ground — which means more straw through the header and slower harvest speeds,” he said.

Bureau data shows Horsham’s rain

for the year to date has been 450.8 millimetres – 165.6mm more than the same time last year – compared with an average of 244.9mm.

Stawell has recorded 396.4mm — about 30mm above average — com pared to 433mm last year.

Ararat has received about 498.6mm for the year, compared with 427.5mm last year and an average of 445.1mm at the same time of year.

Nhill has recorded 370.8mm for the year, 132.6 more millimetres than this time last year and compared with an average of 256.2mm by the end of

Water-based activity boost

A wet start to spring has meant the Wimmera’s wetlands, creeks and lakes will retain more water ahead of summer due to saturated waterbeds.

Wimmera Catchment Management Authority chief executive David Brennan said it had been a ‘cracking’ start to spring after a wet winter.

“There’s water flowing right across the catch ment. Every creek and wetland is getting a drink, so it’s a great scenario to be in,” he said.

“It’s during spring that we get the majority of inflows in this region and with a saturated catch ment, we’ll see wetlands and creeks fill up.

“It’s great for the environment and community that we will be able to enjoy the benefits of water right across the Wimmera.”

Mr Brennan said too much rain meant people in low-lying areas would need to remain vigilant for flooding.

“We have had some of the recent rain cut roads and that is an inconvenience. Over spring, when the weather warms and the chance of thun

derstorms increases, the intensity of rain can increase, too,” he said.

“Too much rain can also cause damage to agri culture when it is too wet to get out into crops to spray or the rain damages the crops.

“We can’t control the weather and with a La Niña, this is another wet cycle we are going through.”

Mr Brennan said the Wimmera had received ‘more than its fair share’ of rain this year com pared to the past two years.

“We didn’t see huge amounts of rain despite the two most recent La Niña seasons but this year we have a real chance to see our wetlands and storages not connected to GWMWater get some water,” he said.

“Some of the lakes such as Natimuk Lake and Lake Wallace haven’t seen water or a top-up in some years, so fingers crossed more rain will come.”

Protection for farming families

September. Gauges have recorded al most 126.2 more millimetres in War racknabeal this year compared with last year, with the rain gauges tallying about 404.8mm.

Edenhope has experienced 14.9mm above average this year, and with 461.4mm this year, there is 98.2 more millimetres in the gauges compared to last year.

Bureau of Meterologys head of long-range forecasts, Andrew Wat kins, said a three-month climate out look showed a more than 80 per cent chance of above-average rain

for many parts of eastern Australia.

“During La Niña events, waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean are cooler than normal, and waters in the western tropical Pacific Ocean are warmer than normal,” he said.

“This causes changes in wind, cloud and pressure patterns over the Pacific.

“When this change in the atmo sphere combines with changes in ocean temperature, it can influence global weather patterns and climate — including increasing rainfall over large parts of Australia.”

Dr Watkins said while La Niña cri teria were met, most models forecast this event as weak to moderate in strength. It is likely to peak during spring and ease during summer.

“La Niña is not the only driver influ encing this wet outlook,” he said.

“To our west, a significant negative Indian Ocean Dipole, IOD, event is underway. We expect the IOD influ ence will reduce in late spring or early summer.

“The Southern Annular Mode, SAM, is also in a positive phase, and is likely to remain positive into summer.

“Positive SAM during summer pushes weather systems south, which increases the chance of rain in New South Wales, eastern Victoria and southern parts of Queensland.”

INSPECTION: Tooan farmer John Heard checks out his wheat crop after the rain across the past two months. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

Milestone for research groupGates open at long last

BY ABBY WALTER

With warm weather approaching, so is the season for ram sales, and stud owners are gearing up for great sale days.

Luke Ellis, of Pimpinio, is hosting his first ram sale as West Wail White Suffolk Stud next month.

Mr Ellis said he was looking forward to seeing clients and having as many people back at sales in person as possible. Previously part of his fam ily’s dohne and white suffolk stud, Mr Ellis said due to succession planning for the family farm, he had started his own stud.

“My wife Kelly and I will be running the sale for the first time by ourselves this year and all our clients know that is what we are doing,” he said.

“We used AuctionsPlus at our sale last year, but we won’t be using it this year — it’s a totally different feeling to be able to be there in person.

“Clients get to see the whole line-up, talk to others and bounce ideas off each other.

“Anyone who can’t attend due to COVID-19 will send an agent to do the work.”

Mr Ellis said there was good money in sheep at the moment.

“We’re hoping that our average selling price will be similar to last year,” he said.

WestWail White Suffolk Stud ram sale is on October 20 at Maydale sheep pavilion, Horsham.

Grant and Bryce Hausler, of Goroke, dealt with additional challenges for their Janmac on-prop erty ram sale during the past two years and are feeling a ‘sense of relief’ to be ‘back to normal’ this year.

Due to their proximity to the border, the restricted access for people between Victoria and South Australia meant they also used AuctionsPlus and will be using the online system again in 2022.

“It has its place and can be used as an alterna tive. It gives anyone the chance to be involved in the sale,” Grant said.

“However, we are back to organising the sale like normal and that brings a sense of relief.”

Janmac’s 18th on-property sale is on October 5 at Goroke.

Grant said while he was always hopeful for a good result, he did not take preconceived ideas into the sale.

“It was our first year showing at Sheepvention in Hamilton this year and we had good feedback from that, so we will see how that pans out,” he said. “We’re very happy with what we will be putting forward for sale and are excited to see people, to catch up with friends and clients.

“I always really enjoy our ram sale and it’s a cumulation of not only 18 months of work, but years of hard work.”

Birchip Cropping Group is celebrating 30 years of agricultural research, collaboration and shared solutions.

BCG is inviting farmers, industry personnel and people who have connected with the organi sation to a celebratory dinner on October 7.

Author Gabrielle Chan is guest speaker.

Chan authored ‘Rusted Off’ and ‘Why You Should Give a F*ck About Farming’.

Chan is The Guardian Australia’s rural and regional editor. She will share her views on the future of farming.

BCG chief executive Fiona Best said the mile stone was a special achievement and the organi sation wanted to celebrate and share it.

“BCG was developed by a handful of dedicated and energised individuals who grew the organi sation into the thriving and dynamic operation we are today,” she said. “It was their belief in the power of shared solutions that stands at the heart of BCG’s enduring success.

“The dinner, catered for by BCG board mem ber and renowned restaurateur Stefano de Pieri, will celebrate 30 years of progress, dedication, optimism and the determination of farmers, re searchers and the communities.

“They strived to not just persevere with what they had, but to build and develop solutions to benefit not only the local community but the wider region, encompassing the Australian agri cultural sector.”

The event is at Birchip Leisure Centre from 7pm at a cost of $50 per person.

People wanting more information, or to regis ter can phone 5492 2787 by October 3.

Adrian Fischer

MARKET: Luke Ellis of Pimpinio’s West Wail White Suffolk Stud prepares for the stud’s inaugural sale in Horsham next month. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

Supporting farmers with top advice

Mark Sudholz prides himself on a considered and tailored approach to supporting the Wim mera’s farmers achieve their best.

His business, SAS Consulting, aims to deliver practical advice and high-quality outcomes for family farming businesses across the Wim mera. He emphasises reliable and proven farming practices that deliver continued success.

SAS Consulting, established in 2011, approaches farming advice on a case-by-case basis.

“I started my farming business in 1997 and I started training as an agronomist at that time, too. In 2011, I decided to go out on my own and begin SAS Consulting,” Mr Sudholz said.

“I want to solve complex problems, rather than sell solutions — and that’s the difference.”

Mr Sudholz offers prospective cli ents an initial consultation before any formal contract begins.

This helps him to understand the prospective client’s business and goals.

He prides himself on creating and establishing rapport with clients.

“If there’s a problem, there’s always a cause. Once you’ve gotten to the bottom of that, you can start building a technique to fix it,” Mr Sudholz said.

“Every farm has its own unique challenges and you have to acknowl edge that. You have to deconstruct the issue and then rebuild.”

Mr Sudholz said it was important to consider constraints such as resources, labour, machinery, location, weather

and market variability and soil con straints — which all had the potential to impact outcomes.

“Limitations and constraints are what we have to deal with,” he said.

“So we’re not looking to change that initially but to manage it better. As we generate more profit in the farm, business and capital becomes avail able and we can allocate longer-term solutions to the clients’ farming chal lenges.

“Once you create momentum in the

farming business, you can start re-in vesting back into the business. This is the foundation of farm prosperity — enabling growers to take control.

“It gives me great satisfaction play ing any role in helping farmers to achieve their goals, making a real difference in their lives.”

Mr Sudholz maintains a mix of longterm clients and newer additions to his client list. He said a high level of customer satisfaction and contract renewals was paramount.

Want to generate more profit from your farm? SAS gets your farm working for you...

Client Paul Petering runs a cropping property with an additional lamb and hay operation. He has worked with Mr Sudholz since the early 2000s.

“Number one is that he is a farmer himself, so he understands the impli cations of what message he’s trying to get across and how it affects our farming operation. He’s well-versed in his trade and if he’s not sure, he will say so and seek information prior to commenting,” Mr Petering said.

“Timeliness and planning ahead is

the main aspect of Mark’s work. He has encouraged us to look at the whole farm situation because he looks at the whole picture, and he’s focused on the bottom line.”

Cereal farmer Mick Morcom has worked with Mr Sudholz for 16 years.

“I’ve been with Mark for this long for a reason. I think he has great ex pertise and whatever he recommends tends to work,” Mr Morcom said.

“He has a broad range of knowledge and he’s passionate about the industry. He’s not bound to any retailer, so he’s not bound to sell a product. He pro vides the best information and advice for crops.

“He provides us with agronomic advice and planning – a myriad of things to do with the farming business really. He’s improved my timeliness, definitely. I was not efficient in my timing of applications, and he’s also improved my understanding of crops.

“Mark directs me in the right direc tion and keeps me focused.”

Crop farmer Neale Postlethwaite, a client since the start of 2021, noted an attention to detail as a great benefit of working with Mr Sudholz.

“I’ve definitely seen better weed control since working with Mark — that’s the main thing,” Mr Pos tlethwaite said.

“Mark calls a spade a spade. He is genuinely trying to make your busi ness more profitable.

“He focuses on the whole seasonal cycle, so you’re thinking about what you’re going to be doing next year as well as what you’re doing today.”

Independent agronomy and farm consulting visit

WHOLE PICTURE: Farmer Paul Petering discusses his crop with Mark Sudholz from SAS Consulting.

Show season return lights spark

BY ABBY WALTER

Wimmera show society lead ers hope the return of an nual shows will bring a ‘spark’ back into communities.

Murtoa show president Bree Childs is busy preparing for the town’s show that kick-start’s the Murtoa Big Week end this weekend — and hopes it will be ‘better than ever’.

“Who doesn’t love a show,” she said. “The whole show committee is hyped for the event and we’re hoping the weather holds out.

“We are a small community that is passionate about having events like this for our children to enjoy.

“We’ve seen shows in some small towns fold and that’s not what we want for ourselves.”

Mrs Childs said despite 136 years of operation, the drive and determination to host a local Agricultural and Pasto ral show remained.

“Small communities stick together and the show will not be going any where if we can help it,” she said.

“The town will be buzzing. It’s such a big event, with the whole weekend of activities, and so many people come from all different places.”

The Horsham show went ahead across the weekend and after two years of virtual shows, organisers had to rethink the event’s future.

Horsham show secretary Andrea

Wimmera show dates

Cross said partnerships were critical to events such as shows and it took many individuals and groups to host a successful event.

She said organisers had worked with other groups to showcase events scheduled throughout school holidays.

Mrs Cross said finding energy and returning the event after two years of alternative arrangements — including online events and activities — amid the COVID-19 pandemic had been challenging.

She said uncertainty about Foot and Mouth Disease, FMD, and livestock

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competitions were unresolved until days before the show.

“There was an initial fear of no en tries in the sheep or miniature goats, or the shearing competition,” she said.

“We were on the back foot and some of these things can’t be resolved until

a day or days before the show.”

Kaniva Show is also on the horizon.

President Kaye Bothe said shows were about celebrating what the re gion had to offer.

“Agricultural shows need to really hone in on the agricultural aspect

— that’s what it’s about,” she said. “Shows can continue with the struc ture they have had, as long as you can identify what is relevant in your area.”

Mrs Bothe said the agricultural pa vilion was ‘thriving’ with a range of sponsorships and prizes on offer.

She said there was ‘100 percent’ a place for agriculture shows in com munities into the future, and the show was the main event that brought the whole community together in Kaniva.

“Everyone is talking about it. Every one is excited and positive about the show coming back,” she said.

“Our show is highly valued, con sidering our population. It is a big event and everyone attends and gets behind it.”

Kaniva is one of two shows in 2022 that will showcase a Primary Indus tries Education Foundation Australia, PIEFA, interactive display.

Mrs Bothe said QR codes would lead people through information and education about field grains, pulses, and oilseeds; how to use grains for food; and soil health.

“PIEZFA, in conjunction with Ag ricultural Shows Australia and Pri mezone have chosen Kaniva for this display,” she said.

“We’re really fortunate to be picked and excited to have something pro moting agriculture.”

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PACE: Zack Currie classes wool during a competition at the weekend’s Horsham Show. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

Advancements are the long game

From left field

Afriend of mine is a plant breeder. He’s smart. He works hard.

As a plant breeder, you have to play the long game.

If you make a cross in the glasshouse today, it might be 10 years before that variety gets to market.

Along the way, most of your work will be discarded.

No yield improvement. Disease package not strong enough. Or per haps the strain of rust has evolved so your once-resistant variety is now susceptible.

I think plant breeders make an enor mous contribution to the environmen tal and financial sustainability of a cropping farm.

Think about the pulse industry.

A handful of people identified germ plasm they thought might be suitable for production in Australia.

The result is a thriving lentil, chick pea and faba bean industry.

Farm businesses are more profitable, soil health has improved and we’ve spawned a wave of secondary industry

across the regions — all started by a couple of plant breeders.

So I was pretty disappointed when my friend relayed a story from a re cent plant science conference in New South Wales.

A guest speaker at the conference, a supposed farm ‘leader’, berated the audience on the need to do more to keep his farm profitable.

No matter this person owned a busi

ness worth many, many millions of dollars. No matter his wealth was well in excess of the people in the audience.

He wanted more and they should deliver it.

This incident has revived the ghost of the ‘whinging farmer’ in my mind.

In this time of great optimism in agriculture, a time of record crops, of ag colleges brimming with students,

of rapid development of really cool technology, I’d hoped we’d buried the whinging farmer. But it seems not.

I do think farming is a tough busi ness. Each season you take a deep breath and roll the dice to plant a crop.

You ride every weather front, every frost. You ride the market volatility.

And at harvest you scramble to secure your year’s work.

It’s an emotional roller coaster.

But when I try to identify an easy business I can’t find one. Owning any business is hard work.

There was a time when, as an indus try leader, it seemed smart to com plain.

Run with the ‘poor us’ line in the hope you could leverage public sym pathy to gain some sort of taxpay er-funded support. A bit of a shortterm sugar hit.

But is that really the best way to present our industry?

Modern agriculture can be proud of what it’s doing. The vast majority of farms are very well managed, sustain able businesses.

There is, and always will be, the need to improve and refine practices.

Often this will be achieved through partnerships with government and government agencies.

So we should be forceful advocates for change and for public investment.

For me, though, it’s much better to advance our industry through sound reasoning.

To demonstrate the economic value agriculture brings to this country.

To demonstrate farmers are respon sible and effective custodians of the land. To show we are in pursuit of the world’s best practice in agricultural production.

That would be playing the long game.

PROGRESS: Touring a research site of 67,000 plots is just one example that demonstrates the valuable work and effort plant breeders offer to the agriculture industry.

with David Matthews

Bumper forecast raises positivity

BY ABBY WALTER

Acropping industry leader has praised growers for continued hard work in producing what could be another national bumper crop in 2022.

Grain Growers Australia chairman Brett Hosk ing, of Quambatook, said the year was ‘testa ment’ to growers and their ability to make a difference.

“We are looking at a really significant national crop again this year and we have been supported by some good weather conditions, but it has brought a whole heap of challenges,” he said.

“We had flooding right through New South Wales and Queensland and into Victoria we saw growers battling to get crops into the ground, supply chain disruptions, workforce disruptions, costs of inputs, and disease outbreaks to a scale that we’ve never seen before.

“Yet, despite all that, growers have gotten on with it and done a really good job.”

Mr Hosking said he was ‘quietly optimistic’.

“We had a good start in most of Victoria but we had a dry winter. It’s probably only late August and early September that things have started to pick up and now it’s getting quite wet, which is what we want at this time of year,” he said.

“We always say a spring can make or break any season and every season, it seems to be true.

“Everyone will give you a different answer on when they would like it to stop raining but for western Victoria, I think conditions are probably about ideal now. We wouldn’t want it to stop completely but it could ease off a little bit and we would feel pretty comfortable.”

Mr Hosking said prices had softened on grain in recent months, but it was not all bad news.

“As the Australian crop looks more certain, that eases crop prices a little bit,” he said. “We’ve had users in the trade be a little more confident in the supply of grain that’s on the horizon.”

Grain prices remain steady with Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry reporting Australian export prices, at September 15, no more than one percent higher or lower than the week previous.

However, the prices are between 16 and 31 per cent higher than prices at the same time last year.

Milling wheat was exported at $540 a tonne, feed wheat sold for $495 a tonne and feed barley was exported at $456 a tonne. Canola was ex ported at $1027 a tonne.

In the Wimmera, AWB recorded bid prices for APW1 wheat at $353.25 to $358; barley at $263 to $269.25; and canola at $679.25 to $685.50.

Mr Hosking said other factors putting down ward pressure on prices were geopolitical.

“We’re seeing grain starting to flow out of the Black Sea area and Ukraine, in particular, but also Russia to an extent — and that supply of grain going onto the global market means prices ease,” he said.

“That’s applied to all grains and the ones that have taken the biggest hit would be canola, giv en that Ukraine is a friendly competitor of ours when it comes to canola markets, particularly in supply to the European Union.

“I think growers are happy for Ukraine to be exporting again, even if we have had to suffer a bit of price-pain to get there.”

Sanctions on barley from Australia to China are continuing to put downward pressure on prices.

Mr Hosking said it was estimated barley prices would be up $50 if the malt barley market to China reopened.

“China is the biggest maltster in the world and it pays a premium for the high, consistent quality malt barley that Australian growers are so good at producing,” he said.

“We have lost that premium and now a lot of our barley is exported as feed to countries like Saudi Arabia. They’re still good markets and re liable markets but we’re just missing out on that malt premium. The grain is also having to travel a little bit further, so it costs more in shipping.”

Mr Hosking said in the meantime, there were new opportunities elsewhere with barley heading to South America for malt.

“We have been able to open up some new malt barley markets but it’s only a handful of vessels that have taken barley over there at this stage,” he said.

“We hope that will continue, but they are not replacing the demand that was going into China.

“Hopefully we’re going to receive a report from the World Trade Organisation by the end of the year about our challenge against the sanc tions imposed on us.”

In the opposite trend, some pressures are con tinuing to keep prices from falling drastically.

“We know China has had one of the worst droughts it has ever seen right through its grain belt and are continuing to suffer from that,” Mr Hosking said.

“It has been a massive purchaser of wheat out of Australia and we can’t see that demand easing for quite some time.

“We’re still seeing stocks rebuilding in oth er Northern Hemisphere countries following a pretty bad drought last year and a below-average season this year in parts of Europe, parts of North America and Canada.

“Those sorts of things are putting a little bit of support under prices so they’re not dropping away as much as they would otherwise.”

Biosecurity action call

A new state biosecurity statement is lying groundwork for how government can best man age potential risks of pests and diseases to land and waters.

The Victorian Government wants to strengthen its resolve on biosecurity. The statement sets out ways industry and government can work togeth er to protect the environment and economy.

Developed in collaboration with industry lead ers, Traditional Owners and national and state peak bodies, the statement offered people a chance to define what biosecurity meant to them.

Agriculture Minister Gayle Tierney said as biosecurity risks increased and became more complex on a global scale, government agencies, businesses, organisations and individuals had a role to play.

“This statement is a game-changing approach to biosecurity that focuses on every single Victo rian to play their part and ensure our communi

ties, environment and economy remain healthy, safe and resilient,” she said.

Ms Tierney said through defining biosecurity, why it exists and how people have a role to play, the statement highlights how actions and choices can have significant impacts on land, waters, communities and culture.

Biosecurity is a collective effort to prevent and manage the harms caused by pests and diseases, and the impact they have on farming communi ties, natural landscapes and the safety of food and fibre production; to ensure people can move freely, gather, care for and connect to Country, produce safe and clean food, and enjoy the beau ty of the outdoors, Victoria’s farms, environment and animals need to be protected from harmful pests and diseases.

The statement also identifies opportunities for ‘citizen scientists’ to get involved, with accessi ble toolkits to help identify pests and diseases.

Devil in detail of environment rule

The European Union passed a bill last week that could have unintended consequences for Austral ian agriculture and the beef industry is particularly con cerned.

The EU Environment Council says the new rules “are intend ed to prevent timber, coffee, cocoa, palm oil, beef, soy and derivative products from en tering the EU internal market in the future if their production has caused deforestation.”.

The good news for Australia is that the laws will only ap ply to deforestation that occurs after 2020. Victoria already has very tough laws so we shouldn’t be too concerned.

The problem, Australian Beef Sustainability Frame work chairman Mark Davie, a Queensland producer, says is the term ‘deforestation’ hasn’t been defined to apply to only native vegetation.

“Ten percent canopy cover and five-metres high is de

clared a forest. I think the big challenge is that they’ve cen tred this commitment around the definition of a forest from a satellite — it doesn’t take into consideration the management of regrowth,” he said.

“They haven’t got the tech nology to determine if some body is knocking down lantana or getting rid of rubber vine or many of the weed species that encroach on our environment.”

German Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke said the Environment Council’s deci sion was an ‘important step’ towards better protection for forests worldwide.

“The decision of the EU member states sends an im portant message that the EU is honouring its responsibility to global forest conservation,” she said.

“It is taking concrete steps so that it will not worsen the climate change and biodiver sity crises. We have made a good start.

“I hope that we will soon be able to go further and in clude additional products such as natural rubber and other eco systems such as savannahs and wetlands in the regulation.”

This legislation has the most popular support of any in the EU for some time. So it’s going to be very difficult for Aus tralia to raise its voice above the ‘real’ major deforesters like South American and Indonesia to say, ‘wait a minute, we’re just trying to clean up some weeds, here. This is not de forestation; it’s land manage ment’.

There’s little doubt the EU has the best of environment preservation intentions.

But as always, the devil is the detail and Australia doesn’t want to be collateral damage.

Kaniva Nhill

Dimboola Horsham

Dooen launch nears

BY MICHAEL SCALZO

International directors of an Aus tralian-Japanese agriculture venture have visited their near-launch ready Dooen facility as the company seeks to capture an expanding Japanese hayimport market.

Australian and Japanese directors of hay exporter Johnson Asahi say production at the company’s new facility should start late next month.

Builders are finalising stage-three of the site’s construction.

Johnson Asahi, a joint-business venture started in 1995 between J.T. Johnson and Sons and Asahi, has reinforced its plan to transfer its entire Horsham production to the new Dooen site by 2025.

The Dooen site will work in tandem with the existing Horsham plant in the mean time, before stage-four of construction — the Horsham to Dooen relocation.

Asahi director Yoshi Kubo and Asahi strategy officer Kristy Kurisaki visited the Wimmera this month to explore the new 5000-square metre facility and hayprocessing machine, expected to produce between 15 and 20 40-foot containers of processed hay each day when operational.

Mr Kubo said the new facility was cru cial for the company to grow in parallel with an expanding Japanese market.

“This facility will be very helpful to add production capacity,” he said.

He lauded the quality of Victorian hay and said Japanese buyers’ preferenced the hay Victorian farmers produced.

“This hay is easy to export because our buyers know it is easy to use. Our custom ers know it for its soft texture and high sugar content,” he said.

“We import 50,000 tonnes of hay into Japanese markets, and we expect the ton nage to grow.”

Johnson Asahi Horsham general man ager Andrew Hayward said the company bought agricultural products from about 120 suppliers, with the Johnson brand having collaborated with several farming families for five generations.

Company director Mark Johnson said hay-suppliers had ‘trust’ in the business relationship and belief in Johnson Asahi’s Wimmera expansion.

“Hay takes up about 70 percent of John son’s business and these farmers trust us,” he said.

“This $20 million dollar facility, and with more to spend when we start stage-four of Dooen’s construction, remains a big investment and it is something our farmers really believe in.

“They are all supportive and it means, over the years, we have not had to expand our buyer base a whole lot. We stick with

our current buyers, and they are backing us in – so we do the same with them.”

He noted Johnson Asahi’s exports fitted the region’s farming rotation because the company bought vetch-wheat and oaten hay and allowed farmers a continuous buy er — a system that supported the business relationship.

However, Mr Hayward said staff shortag es had impacted rapid worker recruitment as Johnson Asahi sought to a variety of recruits for the new facility.

“It has been very difficult to find people,” he said. “We are looking for a variety of workers across the site including produc tion and administration and we are still advertising.

“We want to hire a diverse and Wim mera-based workforce and we are eager to promote apprenticeship opportunities and broader careers in what is an Australian wide agricultural industry.”

Johnson has operated the Australian arm of the business, the growers and suppliers of hay product since the joint-venture 27 years ago; while Asahi has handled sales and dairy farmers in Japan.

J.T. Johnson and Sons continues to op erate independently within the remainder of its international export business in hay and pellets.

Directors are planning an official launch of the Dooen facility later in 2022.

Lamb numbers rise

Lamb numbers at Horsham Regional Livestock Exchange have increased in September.

With no sale last week, the most recent market report on September 14 recorded a yard ing of 3100 lambs.

The previous week saw 4450 lambs and 2150 sheep yarded.

Numbers fluctuated between 1250 and 3300 head in August.

Graham Pymer’s latest mar ket report noted the quality of lambs yarded was ‘very good’.

Light trade weight new sea son young lambs sold from $152 to $175 a head and av eraged 775 cents a kilogram, while medium trade weights sold from $181 to $184 a head and averaged 785 cents a ki logram.

Heavy trade weights sold for $204 a head with the export weights selling from $214 to $230 a head and averaging 830 cents a kilogram.

Medium and heavy trade weight old lambs sold from

$164 to $192 a head and aver aged 730 cents a kilogram.

Export weights sold from $185 to $223 a head to average 700 cents a kilogram.

Extra heavy weight old lambs sold from $213 to $240 a head.

Medium and heavier merino lambs sold from $152 to $172 a head to average 640 cents a kilogram. Hoggets sold from $134 to $169 a head.

Light weight sheep sold from $56 to $66 a head. Medium weight sheep sold from $87 to $111 a head with the merino mutton averaging 450 cents a kilogram, and heavier merino ewes sold from $128 to $164 a head.

Heavy merino wethers sold from $162 to $184 a head with the heavy merino sheep aver aging 490 cents to 520 cents a kilogram.

Heavy crossbred ewes sold from $133 to $180 a head.

Rams sold from $35 to $85 a head.

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CELEBRATING GROWTH: At Dooen were, from left, Johnson Asahi Horsham general manager Andrew Hayward, director Mark Johnson, Asahi director Yoshi Kubo and Asahi strategy officer Kristy Kurisaki.

Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

Opportunity spotlight

Alarge crowd at Birch ip Cropping Group’s Main Field Day has heard from disease experts, a mus ter dog trainer, researchers and farmers.

Field Applied Research, FAR, Australia disease expert Nick Poole’s message to attendees at the field day was to ‘mind the gap’.

Agriculture Victoria disease experts Grant Hollaway and Hari Dadu joined Mr Poole for a question-and-answer session.

He said in order to maximise and optimise economics during this high yield-potential sea son, people should keep ‘mon ey leaves’ protected.

“If Flutriafol was used on fertiliser at sowing, when that third leaf emerges, flag -2, we need to be actively keeping it clean,” he said.

“While chemistry has im proved over the years, they are still better protective rather than reactive. We need to be looking to get fungicides on before disease appears.”

Mr Pole said if the top ‘mon ey leaf’, flag leaf, was infected then first fungicide decisions were left too long and would leave a gap.

“It’s as simple as saying I need to protect the leaf at growth stage 31, 32 and then the flag leaf at growth stage 39, with the gap not to exceed four, at a stretch five weeks,” he said. “Mind the gap.

“What has happened is peo ple who haven’t used Flutriafol have put it on too early with the broadleaf spray, then decided the flag leaf needs protecting.

“The gap is too big to protect the money leaves.”

ABC Muster Dogs trainer Pe

ter Barr, of Pinnaroo, was also a highlight with his working dog demonstration.

Mr Barr’s message to farmers looking to train their dog came down to making sure the dog is a ‘best mate’, and spending time with them.

“It doesn’t have to be a lot of time but it needs to be focussed time, where all your attention is on them,” he said.

Former Hawthorn captain Ben McEvoy discussed how he would apply lessons learned

in football to farming. He said staying focussed was important both in football and farming, and a success mindset played a major role in future achieve ments.

Collaborators also brought the organisation’s research to life, including GRDC NVT re sults, pulse agronomy, Septoria management in the low rainfall zone, silicon trials, soil carbon work, BCG’s herbicide matrix, year-round fodder trials and animal biosecurity.

Skills solution quest

National Farmers’ Federa tion leaders have commend ed the federal government for promising immediate action on increasing skilled migra tion and simplifying enterprise bargaining after a Jobs and Skills Summit.

President Fiona Simson said the Summit was a ‘useful’ ex ercise in bringing people to gether to create reform.

“Increasing skilled migra tion and simplifying enterprise bargaining will certainly help meet skills gaps,” she said.

“We’re also pleased to have reached a tripartite agreement with key unions and govern ment to implement a range of agreed improvements to skills and training, workplace safe ty, housing, and the Pacific Australian Labour Mobility, PALM, Scheme.

“We look forward to engag ing in that newly formed work ing group to fast-track progress on these key issues.

“We also recognise improved flexibility for pensioners wish ing to access the workforce but note this still falls short of calls by the NFF, National Seniors Australia and other business groups.”

Ms Simson said the farm ers’ federation planned to work constructively with the govern

ment to promote simpler, more accessible enterprise bargain ing while avoiding negative outcomes.

However, she said solutions to filling tens of thousands of roles within agriculture in the immediate term remained un clear.

“While much of the discus sion at the summit centred on migration for highly skilled workers — which is undoubt edly a challenge for agriculture — we are still left wondering how we will plug the yawning gap in lower-skilled workers,” she said.

“We know the PALM isn’t the answer in isolation.

“We know domestic workers aren’t here in the numbers we need.

“We need appropriate visa pathways to bring in workers from around the world, and to ensure they’re having a pos itive experience in regional Australia.

“We know that we’re short at least 172,000 workers across our food supply chain.

“We’re seeing this manifest in higher prices and supply disruptions on supermarket shelves.

“This isn’t just a farmer prob lem anymore.”

MINDSET: Wimmera farmer and former Hawthorn Football Club Captain Ben McEvoy, centre, pictured with Birchip Cropping Group chief executive Fiona Best, left, and chairman John Ferrier, right explained how he plans to apply the lessons learnt in football to farming.

Stud preparing for on-property sale

Melrose Merino Stud rams have been shown to lift fleece weight, in crease number of lambs weaned and reduce micron according to Austra lian Sheep Breeding Values, ASBVs, and Indexes in Merinoselect.

Melrose rams sold to a top of $3750 for a poll ram, purchased by Jim Burke of Willaura, at this year’s Glenelg Merino Field Day and auc tion. The stud averaged $3050 for four rams at public auction.

The stud offered 60 rams at its on-property auction in October last year, selling to a top price of $5800 for a 107-kilogram 17.8-micron poll ram at lot 1. Ashley McErvale, of Waterloo, purchased the ram.

This ram boasted an FP+ index of 176 and MP+ index of 188.

The on-property sale rams in 2021 sold for an average of $1981 with 58 of 60 selling at auction.

Melrose is offering a line-up of 60 rams, 41 poll and 19 horn rams on property at ths year’s sale on October 5.

Breeding sheep at Melrose re volves around utilising independent opinion and advice from renowned sheep classer Chris Bowman, using ASBVs and indexing in a considered approach to aid in classing ewes and selecting sires for breeding.

All Melrose rams are sold with Merinoselect ASBVs as well as raw data.

War support effort ongoing

BY MICHAEL SCALZO

ARupanyup-based national grain-farmer body spokesman has reminded growers a harvest appeal for Ukrainian farmers re mains open for donations.

Grain Producers Australia has con tinued to call for Australian grain farmers to donate proceeds from winter harvests to Ukrainian farm ers striving to manage their business during a Russian military invasion.

The Aussie Grain4Ukraine Fund raising Appeal aims to assist commu nities with ‘long-term recovery’ of damages during the conflict.

Ukraine was one of the world’s largest exporters of grain before the conflict, however export-limiting naval blockades, economic and lo gistical challenges, and obvious mil itary-based safety obstacles have re duced farming capacity.

Grain Producers Australia, GPA, southern director and research and development spokesman Andrew Weidemann, of Rupanyup, said there had been an uptick in awareness of Ukrainian farmers’ struggle since the initiative launched in April.

“Discussions with Wimmera farm

ers on Ukrainian grain, the conver sation does drift to discussion of the beneficial market for Australian grain growers during the conflict – howev er farmers have been asking ‘where’ they can put their grain to help with proceed donations,” he said.

“Some farmers just were not aware about our Grower Delivery Card with in the National Grower Register Sys tem – 1500 4442 – that is registered to Grain Producers Australia Limited.”

He said new problems for Ukrainian farmers emerged since the conflict started, including the loss of labour from farms to Ukrainian armed forces.

“A lot of their staff have joined the army, so many businesses have had their production cut to practically zero,” he said.

“Everyone working on this initia tive at GPA has the resolve to see it through – it is managed pro bono and all proceeds will be remitted directly to our networks of farmers overseas.”

The Australian-farmer led sub-com mittee of GPA members formed to drive the campaign has continued to encourage suggestions of support pro grams the money could benefit; sug gestions can be made via a portal on the GPA’s campaign webpage.

TOP SELLER: Melrose Merino Stud’s Warren Russell, right, pictured at last year’s on-property ram sale with top-ram buyer Ashley McErvale, centre, and Elders’ Elliot Linley, is preparing for the 2022 on-property sale next week.

Classifieds

MULTI

Your classifieds team

1

CAREYBRENNAN

Peter and Geraldine

Carey of Stawell together with John and Jill Brennan of Ararat are pleased to announce the engagement of INGRID & LUKE on September 16th

We wish them a lifetime of happiness.

TONKIN Geoffrey Alan

Passed away suddenly at Horsham on September 19th 2022, aged 74 years.

Loved son of Alan & Mavis Tonkin (both dec) .

Devoted Brother of Edna (Boehm), Valda (Jeans), Gwenda & Neville Hall, Brian & Joy Tonkin and their families.

Reunited with Mum and Dad.

Horsham & District Funerals

Amity Perovic & Dylan Hartwich 5382 1149 NFDA

TURVEYCUTTER

Craig & Helene and Jeff & Ellen are excited to announce the engagement of DANICA & ANTHONY on September 18, 2022

All the very best wishes to you both.

FINNIGAN, Marlene Pearl

Passed away peacefully on September 18th 2022, aged 87 years.

Dearly loved wife of Eric (dec).

Loving mother and mother in law of Michael & Derelie; Sally & Daryl.

Adored grandmother to Josephine, Steph, Tom & Rach; Jack & Tom.

Reunited with loved ones.

In God’s care.

McDONALD, Joy

Passed away peacefully on September 21st 2022, aged 83 years.

Dearly loved wife of Ross.

Loving mother and mother in law of Warren & Kate; Ewan & Kaye; Michelle & James (dec); Cameron & Joy.

Adored Grandma to Kirsty & Stephanie; Angus, Toby & Isabel; Brady, Claye, Ned & Jada; Daniel, Matthew & Elizabeth and Great Grandma to Herbert.

In God’s care.

FINNIGAN, Marlene Pearl

The funeral of Marlene Pearl Finnigan will take place at St John’s Anglican Church, Horsham on Friday 30th September 2022 commencing at 2pm Private cremation.

Trevor Bysouth & Daughter Ph 5381 1444 AFDA Member

McDONALD, Joy

The funeral of Joy McDonald will leave the Edenhope Uniting Church on Monday 3rd October 2022 after a service commencing at 1pm for the Edenhope Cemetery.

Thank you

~ VARLEY ~ Kayelene

Alexandra and Maree would like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to everyone for your messages, cards, telephone calls and flowers.

Your love, support and sympathy on the recent loss of the best mum ever and an exceptional sister was, and still is, a great comfort to us both.

Near or apart, but always together.

HATELEY, Barrie

Passed away 15.9.2020

Loved brother of Max, Lois, Geoffrey (dec), Ella and families.

In loving memory of McCOURT, Barry John “B.J.”

It’s been a year since that day, I held your hand and saw you slowly slipping away.

My heart was broken on that day.

Your loving, devoted wife Lorraine. “Rainy”

1/4/22,

953010100376985

EE188922 $1000

0402017247

Bantams

each

53837527

Border Collie

Balmoral,

source# EE196068, for more information Ph Joel 0448816648

Golden retriever pups , Pure-bred male and female, they will be vet checked, immunised and microchipped before they will be ready for their furever homes, both parents are on show, source# MB103066 m/c# 953010004970175 Ph 0438923210

Guinea fowl wanted to buy Ph 0427502336 Lake Bolac

Kelpie pups , 8 weeks old, vaccinated, wormed, microchipped ready to go, parents excellent workers, father from Kraken Kelpies, mother from Able Kelpies,1 bitch 2 dogs still available, m/chip# 95301 0006009188,953010006008219,95 3010006009177, source# V10274 Ph or text Harry 0458783601

15’ Millard caravan , annex, registered, d/bed, kitchen, neat tidy clean van $4250 Ph 0419505737

1950 Bondwood caravan , 12’ 4 berth small, porthole window, restoration started, windows not fitted, W2 x H2.4m $2500 Ph 0400696362 Horsham

1960s Bondwood caravan 14’ white, alloy roof, 4 birth, W2.1x H2.5m, light grey and red interior, almost complete restoration, needs trim inside and out etc $4500 Ph 0400696362 Horsham

Bristlenose catfish , great tank cleaners $5 each until sold out Ph 0474159010 after 6.30pm

Budgies , assorted colours $10 each Ph 0417533579

Budgies , pastel and normal colours, lace wings $10 each Ph 0419505737

Budgies , young, asstd colours $10ea Ph 0423182267

Cattle 4 x Cows Murray Gray/ Square Meter x F, medium frame, proven mothers, running with SQM bull, vacc 7 in 1, Cydectin, NLIS, PIC 3YKM L014 $2200 each incl GST, Ph 0428994210

2001 20’ Jayco Westport shedded, aircon, heater, fridge, shower/toilet, sat nav, UHF, 19” TV, reg 11/22 $22,000 Ph 0488739577

Trevor Bysouth & Daughter Ph 5381 1444 AFDA Member

TONKIN

Geoffrey Alan

A private graveside service for the late Mr Geoffrey Tonkin will be held Monday, October 3rd

Following the private family service, a celebration of life will be held at Sunnyside Bowls Club commencing at 2pm

Horsham & District Funerals

Amity Perovic & Dylan Hartwich 5382 1149 NFDA

When

Bysouth & Daughter of 5381 1444 (All Hours) www.wimmerafunerals. com.au

Chook houses various sizes nest box attached, from $275 phone evenings 53583440

Kildare Border Collies 4 pure bred pups for sale, 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 (male) with astonishing blue/green eyes. The other pup (female) has piercing dark eyes and traditional black and white markings. They are now 9 weeks of age (born 15/6/22), all have fun loving natures and ready to find their forever home. All puppies have been microchipped, vet checked and wormed, m/chip# 991001004568998/9000-1/9126, source# MB196330 $1750 each, for more information Ph Brendan Hogan 0439971754 Donald Pet carrier crate for cat or dog, large $50 Ph 0473870476

Pure breed black faced Dorper rams, pic # 3HSDC083 Ph Liz 0419664345 Horsham

Rams Dorper/ Australian White Cross pic# 3HSBG075 Ph 0427740155

Rams Dorper/Australian White Cross PIC# 3HMRR021

0400099150

Vet certificate to exclude

animals from

-

*Selling, giving away or bartering of all livestock must include a Property Identification Code (PIC number) in the advertisement.

Roosters and ducks wanted Ph 0469740723

Urgent Great Dane X 2 female puppies, ready now, beautiful black and merles,

2002 Avan , 17.6” Tandem, pop top, elec hot water, double bed with bolster, R.O.A, full anexe, 12v system, VGC, S24,000 ONO, Ph 0427861316

2004 Avan Rhys 17ft Caravan, single axle, pop top, VGC, includes awning, $14,000 Ph 0429924704

2004 Twin Axle 18’ Jayco Freedom pop-top, EC, shedded, awning, dometic diesel heater, 2 water tanks, aircon/heater, fridge, shower/toilet combo, 2 k/ single beds, reg August 2023 $27,000 Ph 0407547417

*The Weekly Advertiser reserves the right to accept or refuse advertisements.

2010 Aussie Wide Paringa 21’ full ensuite, semi off road, queen bed, solar panels, rego till 3/23, diesel heater, 3 x water tanks, 215lt fridge/freezer, ibis air con, shade awning front & one side $40,000ono Ph 0428824297

Caravan 2001 Series Avan single axle pop-top caravan, extremely neat, tidy and clean van, rollout awning, more pics available $10,000 ono Ph 0417588038 Nhill

pre-arrange your funeral, you’re thinking of your loved ones as well as yourself.

When the times comes, it’s a relief to know everything has been taken care of.

caravans

with 2 batteries and

Portable air conditioner , brand new, used for 2 weeks, paid $399 selling $350 Ph 0428844245

Portable Coopers shearing plant with a villiers mark 10 engine no.329X55720, not used for years, collectable item for person keen on restoring Ph 0418170153 Ararat

Potted plants , clivias, garviers, variety of succulents Ph 53821130

Red Loxton 7 rotor slasher, GC always shedded $8000, John Deere moisture check meter SW08 20 $300, Jarrett field bin winch $200, 12V electric fuel pump $200 Phone 0418166024

REDUCED Powerfit $200, Cub11 $250, Iwalk $400 Ph 0437970588

REDUCED Southern Cross pump-jack with elec motor, going $350ono Ph 0407911884

Round Bailer 53844274

Samsung sound bar, never used Ph 53822267

Silver cross pram , Offers Ph 53524193 Ararat

Small bale elevator and stacker $300 Ph 53870503

Small wooden meat safe, restored $200 Ph 53981158

Trailer 6x5 full enclosed, lockable, ideal tradesmans trailer, heavy duty build $3800ono Ph 0419509335

Two church pews in EX $350 each or both for $600 Ph 0428820446

Two restored wrought iron/timber garden benches $350 each Ph 53522691

UHF CB repeater, diplexer, power supply, TX/RX unit, cable, cabinet $800 Ph 0419509335

The Weekly Advertiser welcomes your advertising. We are required strictly by law to include specific information on some items when publishing your advertisement.

A snapshot of your obligations are as follows:

BOATSAll advertisements for boats must include:

• Hull number or registration number of the boat

If a trailer is included with the boat, the advertisement must also include:

• Registration number or chassis number of the trailer.

Alicraft Boat and trailer , 4.35, Baystalker, centre consult, 40hp Yamaha reg Q0733 on 2006 trailer Mackay reg V26727 $14,000neg Ph 0419933542

Evinrude 6hp o/b motor, fresh water only, rarely used, model 6804B, VGC $650 Ph 53470200 Mangrove Jack fold-up boat trailer, W90542 and custom boat loader Ph 0409583014

Drive wheelchair with comfort cushion $550 Ph 0428844245

Single remote control beds, head/ back and knee adjust, includes medium support mattresses, ideal for disabled or elderly person, in near new condition was $1000ono each, genuine enquiries only Ph 53823720 or 0419136282

Sunrider Trek Rio gopher, red, as new $3000 Ph 0428994210 or 0400979141

Ph 0400579340

Ultra Vision Quattro HID 70w driving lights, good to VG cond, new reflectors in last 12mths, complete with wiring looms and covers $450 the pair Ph 0401504176

Up to 1500 cement garden moulds , at least 200 garden ornaments and at least already made $10,000 ono Ph 0423662397 Glenorchy

Very healthy established plants, indoor and outdoor, also including ginger and garlic spices Ph 0418843389

White gloss desk , VGC, wood laminate desk, VGC $140 or will separate Ph 0437942778

Wood or Briquette Heater , no flue, glass panels separate Ph 0457534621

suit Holden,

black,

Ph 0427902165

New genuine Toyota narrow-body bull bar, suit 2015-2017 HiLux, Ph Eddy 0428922335

call for

Ph or text 0419600049

New truck tyre,

265-70R 9.5, 16PR,

trailer $250ono Ph 0407338811

Paint Taubmans sunproof exterior, 15lt, colour fudge truffle, cost $185 sell $100 Ph 0408504029

Pet

1 seater lounge chair $250 Ph 53870522 AH Horsham

crate for cat or

large $50 Ph 0473870476

120L Westinghouse bar fridge as new cond, excellent working $180 Ph 0427824693

Range Rover Sport MY16/17 wheels, one never used, 3 one tyre only, also fit discovery 5, immaculate, no marks, photo if requested $1200 Ph 0418501271 Ararat

$800 Ph 53912077

1977 Holden

Ph 0447972097

411933-A,

2000 Holden Statesman VH auto, 6cyl, 3.8 petrol, white, 282,000kms, QIU916 $6000 Ph 0491034206

2004 6 Cylinder Fairlane Ghia runs very

Dec 2022, 220,000km, WLP718, $7000 Ph Bev 0402910990

hatch ,

2016

RWC

2023,

1IW2AK $40,950 Ph 0418361268

2009 Kia Rio

speed manual, power steering, air-conditioning, Pioneer stereo, 4 new tyres, RWC, great first car or economical commuter, 173,000 kms, XKX302 $5500 Ph 0478 628162 Pomonal

2009 Mitsubishi Outlander V6 wagon, auto, white, serviced, towbar, RWC, reg til Dec, very neat 290,000km, 1WH1CI $7250 Ph 0409850136

2012 Holden Cruze,1.8 manual, regularly serviced, recent major service with timing belt replacement, water pump and all pulleys, new tyres, bluetooth android touch screen stereo and reverse camera, in daily use, no issues, 1TY2JR $6000ono Ph 0415772074

Mercedes

4FZ $20,000ono Ph 0400769900

REDUCED

4WD

1996 Toyota Hilux ute , manal, diesel, many extra, reg 12/22, 96,000kms, NUJ834 $15,000 Ph 53582560

Reduced 2011 Ford Focus LV LX Hatchback, 2L auto, aircon, power steering, d & S airbags, shadow black, 100,000kms, VGC throughout. RWC, 1EM1CL, $9850, Ph 0408504029

The Weekly Advertiser welcomes your advertising.

We are required strictly by law to include specific information on some items when publishing your advertisement.

A snapshot of your obligations are as follows:

ROAD VEHICLESAll advertisements for road vehicles must include a price, as well as:

• A registration number, if registered

• Either an engine number, VIN or chassis number if the vehicle is not registered.

Musical

Stawell Quilt Show

Friday September 30th to Sunday October 2nd

10am - 5pm

Town Hall

$5 admission

God’s heart for you!

A parent’s heart is moved by the scrapes and bruises a toddler gets while learning to walk. Or the tears when they’re the only one not invited to a party. Or by the lasting consequences that result from a teen’s unwise decisions. Life can be unyielding when it imposes the law of reaping what we sow. In His mercy, God is not.

He is described by the psalmist David as a tender and compassionate Father in the way He deals with our sins and flaws. In that or any other hardship of life, God is on our side. He offers us mercy, is patient and understanding, and sent us a Saviour who can sympathise with our weaknesses. He condemns persistent rebellion but not consistent failures. He hates wilful pride but meets us in our weakness. When we read of His anger in the Bible, it’s always directed at those who have arrogantly chosen to shun Him, not those who have made mistakes or those who are trying but falling short.

God is slow to anger and willing to help us overcome.

God’s Presence gives us a sense of acceptance, comfort, and encouragement. His Spirit may also convict us of sin, but the purpose is always constructive – to help us deal with it correctly, not to condemn us for it. Feeling beaten down and rejected are not signs of His Presence. But if you allow His presence to become strong in you, you will be encouraged and strengthened.

Adapted from ‘Experiencing God’s Presence’ by Chris Tiegreen

Heather Seaman, City Heart Church of Christ Stawell

Proudly part of Grampians Health

Elder Life Nurse Specialist

Permanent Part Time

Job No. 4413 closes 03/10/2022

Medical Receptionist

Fixed Term Full Time

Job No. 4417 closes 04/10/2022

Food Services Assistant

Fixed Term Part Time

Job No. 4362 closes 04/10/2022

To apply or for more information please go to: https://whcg.mercury.com.au/

• Family owned

• Certified Training

Duties include: Managing all employees, contractors and capital plant in your area of work, while ensuring compliance to company policies, documentation, all applicable acts and regulations.

A detailed job description is available upon request.

We are looking for:

A hands-on individual with high level computer, reading and writing skills who display honesty, integrity, fairness and a positive attitude with the ability to lead and work well in a team environment. Experience with SAP and Citect control systems and applicable tertiary/graduate qualifications would be advantageous.

For more information on the application process go to www.conholdings.com.au/careers/ or email personnel@conholdings.com.au

DELIVERY DRIVER

Proudly Australian family owned and operated plumbing wholesaler

Samios Plumping Supplies is seeking a Delivery Driver to join their team! We are seeking an enthusiastic team oriented person who is well organized and shows attention to detail to take on this full time role currently available.

This role offers variety, with duties including (but not limited to):

• Facilitating local deliveries including multi-drops.

• Managing the loading & unloading of all incoming and outgoing goods.

• Quality assurance and accuracy of receipting and dispatching goods.

• Regular cyclical stock takes.

• Working with the sales team to achieve daily branch requirements.

• Picking & Packing of store orders.

To be considered for this role it is essential that you possess the following qualities:

• Current Forklift licence and MR licence are essential.

• No medical limitations in regard to physical lifting and handling heavy materials within Workplace Safety Limitations.

• Proficient basic verbal and written skills.

• Basic computer literacy.

• Enthusiasm for success.

• High attention to detail.

• Must be able to multitask.

If you feel you have the necessary skills and determination to be successful in this role and wish to join a fun and fast growing organisation, please email your most up to date resume to whanson@samios.net.au

Opportunity This Way

Jeparit Plant Operator / Labourer

Fixed Term to 22 January 2023

Are you ready for a job that supports an excellent work/life balance? Do you want above-award wages? Do you like working as part of a team?

We are seeking a Plant Operator/Labourer to join our Maintenance team in Jeparit until 22 January 2023. This job is suitable for someone who is willing to learn and takes pride in their work and the community.

Construction Induction (White Card) training is essential and a minimum Medium Rigid endorsed driver licence is desirable. Other training relevant to the positions will be provided on the job.

Position descriptions are available at www.hindmarsh.vic. gov.au/work-in-council. Applications close 7 October 2022 at 12:00noon and must address the key selection criteria as contained in the position description and application form.

Community Care Worker

Casual

We are seeking self-motivated people to join our Community Care Services team in a role that offers flexible hours to suit your lifestyle, competitive pay rates and enables you to makes a real difference in people’s lives!

This exciting role varies from client to client, with tasks ranging from personal care, meal preparation, hanging out washing, small group cooking lessons, shopping assistance and general house cleaning. The aim is for clients to remain healthy, active and independent in their own homes. If you enjoy working with people who need support, possess good time management skills and great communication skills, this may be the opportunity for you.

Previous experience in Aged Care, or a Certificate in Aged Care Studies is preferred but not essential. This casual role has varying hours per fortnight and would suit people looking at working during school hours.

Position description and application form is available www. hindmarsh.vic.gov.au/work-in-council. For further information about the role, contact Sharyn Salt, Community Care Services Coordinator on 03 5391 4444.

WE ARE NOW HIRING

Qualified Carpenter

• Permanent full time • 40-hour week

• Above award wages • Monthly RDO’s Requirements

• Certificate 3 Carpentry (or equivalent)

• White/ Red Card • Drivers Licence

Come and join our professional team of quality tradesmen and work on the region’s best commercial and domestic projects.

Please forward your application to: The Manager, Locks Constructions, PO Box 85 Horsham 3402 or by email to info@lockscon.com.au by Friday 14th October Ph. 5382 0954

Employment Opportunities

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

Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Practitioner 15.2 hours per week

$34.04 to $39.26 per hour

Disability Peer Support Worker 30.4 hours per week $30.46 to $34.46 per hour

Contact: Gemma Beavis

The Orange Door based in Horsham has exciting opportunities for high performing specialist family violence practitioners who are passionate about service reform, integrated service delivery and improving outcomes for individuals, children and families. Professional clinical experience and relevant qualifications in social work, psychology or a related discipline is essential.

Benefits offered include attractive salary, relocation assistance and clinical supervision.

Team Leader Orange Door 38 hours per week $57.07 per hour

Men’s Practitioner 38 hours per week $39.26 to $44.92 per hour

Specialist Family Violence Practitioner 38 hours per week $39.26 to $44.92 per hour

Contact: Gemma Beavis

Closing: 12pm Monday 24 October 2022

To download a position description and key selection criteria form visit our website: gch.org.au

Locks Constructions are the industry leaders in the construction of architecturally designed commercial and domestic projects in the Wimmera region.

First Year Apprentice - Certificate III Sports Turf Management

Do you love turf, machinery and working outdoors?

Horsham & District Racing Club currently has an exciting position available for someone wanting to pursue a career in the Turf Management Industry with an immediate start available.

The successful applicant will be employed by Horsham & District Racing Club and will work onsite at the Horsham Racing Centre, reporting to the Track Manager. This centre encompasses both the harness and thoroughbred racing tracks and facilities.

Whilst completing the Certificate III in Sports Turf Management, you will be:

• Maintaining & upkeeping the racecourse and its surrounds including weed control, mowing & track patching

• Working in an outdoor environment

• Maintaining & operating all turf related machinery and equipment

• Employed full time with occasional weekend work available

• “Earning while you learn” with government incentives currently available for new apprentices

• Attending an apprenticeship training centre at various times

FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR TO APPLY: Please forward resume and cover letter to Club Manager, Charmayne Parry c.parry@countryracing.com.au or call 0417 404 185 by 5pm Friday 21st October 2022.

Horsham & District Racing Club is an equal opportunity employer.

Nhill Lutheran School

Classroom Teacher - Upper Primary

12 month contract for 2023 (with potential to be ongoing)

Nhill Lutheran School is seeking applicants for a passionate and innovative teacher. The successful applicant will demonstrate enthusiasm and creativity in their daily work as a classroom teacher, fostering an environment where students are fully engaged in their learning. The successful applicant should be willing to support the Christian ethos of the school.

For a job description please phone (03) 5391 2144 or email admin@nls.vic.edu.au with the subject line of ‘Classroom Teacher Position’

Applications can be sent to principal@nls.vic.edu.au or 2 Mackay St, Nhill 3418

Applications close: Friday 14th October, 2022

Position commences: Friday 20th January 2023

WE ARE HIRING!

We have a full-time position available for a 3rd Year to Qualified Auto Electrician

If you are friendly, reliable, honest, able to work unsupervised, and able to work as part of a dynamic team, we would love to hear from you.

Above award wages will apply to the right applicant.

Please send your current CV to: Daryl Robertson, Daryl Robertson’s Auto Electrical P/L 28-30 Dimboola Rd, Horsham 3400 or email: accounts@autoelectrical.info

Applications close Saturday, October 15, 2022. If you have any questions regarding this position please call Daryl on 0418 504 841.

OFFICE ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTS MANAGER

JK Milling is seeking a career focused person for the above mentioned position.

Johnson Asahi was established in 1995 and specialises in the production & export of livestock feed throughout Asia and the Middle East. It is part of the Johnson family business who will celebrate 100 years of operation in 2023.

Due to Company growth, we are seeking committed individuals to join our team . The positions are currently based at our Horsham site with the opportunity to move to our new Dooen factory later in the year.

Immediate start with on the job training and scope for future development and opportunities are available.

Above award rates with the opportunity of overtime.

WE ARE HIRING

• Production Team Members - must have forklift licence and be able to work shift work

Melba Support Services now hiring throughout Nhill.

Many casual and permanent roles. Plenty of work, flexible hours and training provided. We’ll cover all the costs to get you started.

For general queries, please email careers.ch@melbasupport.com.au

• Qualified Maintenance Team Members - electricians, fitters, boilermakers

All applicants must be fully vaccinated.

If you have the skills and are interested in becoming a member of our team, please submit your resume to janew@jasahi.com.au or send to PO Box 795, Horsham, Victoria 3402. For enquiries phone 03 5382 2669.

The role will include general administration duties, client services and a range of documentation tasks related to our domestic and international, merchandising, manufacturing and export operations.

Applicants with previous exposure in the grains and transport sectors or having training / experience in sales should consider this position as an advancement for their career.

Training will be provided therefore persons who might have a focus for the abovementioned work tasks but no experience, are also encouraged to apply.

Selection criteria for the position will include your proficiencies in the following: - communication skills, use of computers, Microsoft programmes, sound English, Grammar and Mathematical skills.

Please reply with your resume to the: Human Resources Manager, JK Milling P/L, PO Box 1239, Horsham 3402

Ph. 5382 0044

Email: andrew@jkmilling.com.au

Rural Northwest Health is a public health service with a focus on providing high quality care and services to its residents and clients, and providing a supportive environment to its team members

Consumer Representative

Rural Northwest Health is seeking a volunteer Consumer Representative to join our Clinical Governance Committee.

The Consumer representative role is pivotal to the Clinical Governance Committee in contributing to governance and evaluation of performance from a consumer perspective on an ongoing basis.

This is a volunteer role which provides advocacy and two-way communication. The consumer representative shall establish connection with consumers/community members that reside in the RNH catchment with consideration to diverse people and groups reflecting differences in age, gender, culture and socioeconomic status.

Experience on similar committees or experience as an active community participant or consumer representative would be highly regarded, and the ability to be able to provide consumer, carer and community perspectives, whether through lived, personal or professional experience.

It is preferred that the Consumer representative not be a qualified health professional.

Selection criteria:

• Be able to represent the diversity of the patients using the health service, including age, cultural background, socio-economic status and education to help shape and inform service delivery

• Have a geographical base within the Yarriambiack Shire

• Be committed to working collaboratively with RNH, service providers and fellow community members to achieve the objectives of the CGC (as per the CGC terms of reference)

• Not be a registered health practitioner or current or former employee or Board member of a health service

• Fully vaccinated against COVID-19

• Current & valid volunteer police check

• Current volunteer working with children check

The Clinical Governance Committee currently meet five times per year and a sitting fee will be paid for attendance at Committee meetings.

For more information, please contact:

Maizah Jane De San Andres

Human Resources Officer

T: (03) 5396 1225

Applications should be forwarded to applications@rnh.net.au by the 21st October 2022.

Rural Northwest Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer and supports equal access, safety and inclusion of our team members employed or seeking employment.

Can you seethree things wrong with this ?

headline headline

The Weekly Advertiser (clearly) needs a new Graphic Designer

The Weekly Advertiser is seeking a highly motivated Graphic Designer to fill a rare vacancy within our production department operating out of ACE Radio Broadcasters’ Horsham headquarters.

The Weekly Advertiser is distributed free of charge every Wednesday across much of western Victoria and is a regional Australian media success story, having experienced dramatic growth in the past 10 years.

It has also become the benchmark print publication in a highly competitive regional media environment. The successful applicant will work in a close, collaborative and supportive environment with other production staff, along with the sales and editorial teams.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Create advertisements for print

• Produce other graphical elements and special publications as required

• Plan and produce newspaper layouts in conjunction with the editorial and sales departments

• Liaise and work closely with administration, production and advertising departments on newspaper design, construction and content

• Typesetting of classified advertisements as compiled by the reception and administration team.

• Send the paper to print

• Liaise with account managers regarding upcoming features in the paper

• Maintain quality control practices

Requirements:

• Experience with Adobe Creative Cloud software – specifically InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop

• Familiarity with spreadsheet software such as Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel

• Superb communication skills.

For additional information regarding this position including a full position description please forward your inquiry to kellys@aceradio.com.au ACE Radio Broadcasters is an equal-opportunity employer.

Overview

Murtoa

Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic School is situated on a large parcel of land on the south-eastern outskirts of Murtoa. Murtoa is a small Wimmera farming community situated 30 kilometres from Horsham with a population of approximately 850. A major industry in the area is dryland agriculture.

Our Lady Help of Christians School is part of the St Paul VI Wimmera-Mallee Parish. The school has several distinctive features. Its relatively small size is used to great advantage, allowing children to receive quality education and attention to individual needs and talents. The students are nurtured in a family-type environment, with peer support being encouraged across all age groups. The school’s approach of working in partnership with families means a strong commitment and involvement by parents to enhance school resources and facilities. The current enrollment for 2023 will be almost 30 students – a junior classroom (P-2 and a senior classroom (3-6).

We are seeking the following fixed-term positions to begin Term 1 2023:

• 1 Full time classroom teacher based Full time in Murtoa with a Position of Leadership Level 3 (POL 3)

• 1 Part time teacher to work part time in Murtoa (FTE 0.31)

Both positions have the possibility of being extended into 2024.

These positions are open to graduate and experienced teachers under the Victorian Catholic Education Multi Enterprise Agreement 2018.

Applicants are asked to address the following key selection criteria:

• Demonstrated classroom teaching capabilities that enable students to achieve their full potential

• Ability to assess and monitor student achievement, use data for improved learning, and report on student progress.

• Ability to develop constructive and respectful relationships with students, parents and colleagues, which engender positive attitudes toward learning

• Demonstrated commitment to Catholic education and to the safety and wellbeing of children.

The successful applicant will be required to:

• Uphold the Vision and Mission of the school.

• Committed to collaborative and reflective practice and work effectively in a team.

• Embrace existing school-wide management systems and promote high standards of learning.

• Hold VIT registration or be eligible to apply.

How to apply:

A detailed position description and application requirements are available by accessing the School website at www.olhcmurtoa.catholic.edu.au

Applications close: Monday 10th October 2022 at 4pm.

This school community promotes the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of all children.

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Best of season 2022

CELEBRATION: Kaniva-Leeor United’s Beau Nunan celebrates kicking a goal against Pimpinio. The Cougars defeated Pimpinio by 15 points.

COACH: Jeparit-Rainbow’s Scott Driscoll calls the play during a quarter-time break at Kalkee.

LEGEND: Trudi Cook runs through a guard of honour for her 300th club game for Southern Mallee Giants.

HAPPY: Sacha and Cath McDonald celebrate as EdenhopeApsley wins Horsham District league’s A Grade premiership.

MILESTONE: Stawell’s Cam Kimber celebrates his 200th game with daughter Ruby, 1, at Horsham City Oval.

MAN DOWN: Kalkee’s Matt Magee accidently knocks goal umpire Chris van Buuren to the ground during the Horsham District league grand final against Rupanyup.

Pictures: PAUL CARRACHER

Best of season 2022

Peter

Robert Carey

Ararat

(Western Highway), Stawell Victoria

OUCH: Dimboola’s Holly Ross gets close to Warrack Eagles shooter Lucy Morcom in June.

STAR: Collingwood premiership player Dale ‘Daisy’ Thomas helped Nhill to a win against Southern Mallee Giants.

HIGH: Minyip-Murtoa’s Lachlan Jones catches Horsham 50-gamer Deek Roberts high in a marking contest at Minyip.

VIEW: Laharum boasts arguably the best views in Wimmera football, with the Grampians, Gariwerd, providing a perfect backdrop for a game against Natimuk United.

STRETCH: Horsham Saints mid-court player Shannon Cross beats Burra Tamika Mentha to the ball.

BIG DAY: Swifts veteran Nick Pickering celebrates his 300th senior game with support from his children Charli, 8, Bobby, 4, and Torah, 11.

Pictures: PAUL CARRACHER

‘Chocolates’ for western stables

Horsham hosted a nineevent card of harness racing on Friday afternoon and stables ‘way out west’ enjoyed great results.

Stawell owner-trainer Chris Blake and his large team of part owners celebrated a vic tory with their five-year-old mare Tic Tac in a $7000 con test for national rating, NR, up to 50 class Pacers.

Promising Charlton driv er Ryan Sanderson took his charge to the lead and con trolled the tempo throughout the 1700-metre sprint.

It was Tic Tac’s sixth win for the Blake, McLean and Bennett families and it was wonderful to see many of them trackside to cheer her home.

Great Western wife and hus band team Michelle and Craig Wight also landed in the Hor sham winner’s circle courtesy of evergreen, seven-year-old mare Outback Shadow in the Decron Pace.

The veteran notched her ninth career victory, in prov

ing the strongest at the finish of the 2200-metre contest.

Michelle slotted Outback Shadow into the one-out, three-back spot shortly after the start in a fine piece of driv ing from gate 10, second line.

The mare appreciated the solid tempo set by Smooth Techy and Sea Lover for the first lap-and-a-half and saved plenty for the final stages.

Eased three-wide round the final bend, Outback Shadow joined the leaders at the top of the home straight and finished the best, to score by two me tres in a rate of 1:58.6.

The model of consistency has given the Wights a great ride through her career, which now spans 125 starts since de but at Hamilton in June 2017.

Michelle’s father Peter Man ning took out the ‘lucky last’

at Horsham when brave twoyear-old filly Delightful Tam my held off Keayang Santiago in a tight finish.

The youngster did it hard, sitting outside the leader throughout the 2200-metre journey and brought a maiden victory at her fourth start.

Delightful Tammy is raced by Manning’s long-time stable supporters, the Cormac family of SA, and was well driven by Hamilton’s Jackie Barker.

Earlier, breeder-owner-train er Marnie Bibby saluted with four-year-old gelding Swiss Lightning in the $7000 Pros tate Cancer Awareness Pace.

Driven a treat by Jordan Leedham, Swiss Lightning ran down front runner Gee He Rocks to record his fourth win from 35 starts.

Bibby bred Swiss Lightning from former smart racemare Virginia Lightning, 13 wins.

She also trains a handy twoyear-old half-sister, Emjaybee — winner of one race with three minors from seven starts.

Horsham takes state champs

Four Horsham Carpet Bowls Club players are walking away from the Victorian Car pet Bowls Association open competition as champions.

Robert Wilde, Greg Isley, Ross Barnett and Ian Munn defeated teams from Girgarre,

Kyabram and Geelong to take the win and bring home the perpetual shield.

Mr Munn, Horsham Carpet Bowls Club president and team captain, said it was good for the club win the champi onship.

The games were played in Harcourt, near Bendigo, earli er this month.

The last time the competition was played was 2019, when the winner, Harcourt, made it to the grand final by defeating Horsham.

Croquet season gets underway

Croquet players from several clubs across the Wimmera and western Victoria gathered in Horsham earlier this month to mark season-opening compe tition.

Kalimna Park Croquet Club

hosted its first day of season competition and welcomed players from Casterton, Dim boola and Horsham clubs to its greens for a slew of Aussie and Gol Croquet varieties.

Casterton player James

Wombwell, 14, opened the day’s play against the club’s more senior competitors — a feat a club spokesperson said recognised the age diversity of croquet’s appeal.

Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 9pm

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WINNERS: Horsham Carpet Bowls Club’s Robert Wilde, Greg Isley, Ross Barnett and Ian Munn are the 2022 Victorian Carpet Bowls Association open competition winners.

sport

George enjoying a purple patch

BY PETER CARTER

Disruption to Horsham Greyhound Rac ing Club’s regular Tuesday meeting did little to affect results of local trainers.

The track undergoes significant remedial works four times a year as part of Greyhound Racing Victoria’s commitment to provide the safest pos sible racing surfaces.

Garry George, Beulah, continues clock up the kilometres on his Hyundai I-Load, but is doing so with an unbelievable level of success.

George has prepared 13 runners for six winners and three thirds since September 10.

President and Alter Paddy kicked it off at Ben digo on September 10, when both greyhounds produced devastating front-running displays to win with ease. President went within one-anda-half lengths of best-of-night time standard for the 500-metre journey and Alter Paddy clearly turned in best-of-night honours with a scintillat ing 23:84sec run over the 424-metre trip.

George moved his attention to Ballarat. The ev er-consistent Nitro Antwon won in a head-bob bing finish over the 390-metre sprint. Wizardry Tricks then took on a hot field and, from the awkward draw of box four, performed admirably to finish third. Ten Dollar Slaps was racing in strong company but, as she always does acquit herself extremely well, finished third.

Rounding out the 10-day block was Aston Tar rant and Wild Bean, both winning on Tuesday in Horsham. Aston Tarrant was dazzling in his run to the line, setting the time standard with a best-of-night 23:08sec run; and Wild Bean was impressive and stopped the clock in 23:58sec.

Baxter success continues

Heather Baxter, Murtoa, continued her run of good form when Quiet Mechanic was successful in the 410-metre Grade 6-7 event.

Quiet Mechanic positioned up third early then held off a fast-finishing Maximum Gracie to win by half-a-length in 23:61sec.

Special Innings almost made it a race-to-race double for Baxter. After leading early, she was just caught in the last couple of strides, going down by a quarter-of-a-length.

Double for Wonwondah duo

Pat and Cliff Smith, Wonwondah, turned in a double with kennel star Sinful Angel.

Leading by four lengths by the first corner, the race was effectively over and she went to the line with ease, defeating a high-quality free-forall field in 23:23sec over the 410-metre journey.

Crackerjack Ben rounded out the night for the kennel. He was always going to be hard to

beat and cruised to victory with a leg in the air, recording the smart time of 23:34sec.

Kennel mates dominate

Cool Lady, for Rodney Millington and Kerry Prowse of Red Cliffs, positioned third early while trying to find a rails position. Straighten ing for home, Cool Lady had found position and went past early leader Rock Opera and cruised to an easy victory, stopping the clock in 23:56sec.

The Red Cliffs training duo went on to Warr nambool on Thursday night and may have unearthed a very smart young pup. Spit The Dum my was on debut and once his feet hit the ground and he balanced up, he dropped the hammer and his rivals and cruised to victory in the smart time of 25:46sec for the 450-metre trip.

From here, the night only improved. Hot Rod Charlie ran second in the 450-metre Grade 5 event and then Lips Boloney caused a massive boilover with a last-to-first victory in the Grade 5 390-metre event at the odds of $28.40.

Following impressive Warrnambool form, Hot Rod Charlie and Spit the Dummy took on each other in the Warrack Motel 485-metre restricted win event at Horsham on Tuesday. After setting up a three-and-a-half length lead early, Hot Rod Charlie looked home but the in-experienced Spit the Dummy had other ideas and went within one bound of picking his kennel mate up.

Just to show how close Spit the Dummy came to beating his more experienced kennel mate, the overall times the greyhounds recorded were 27:449sec, Hot Rod Charlie, and 27:454sec, Spit the Dummy. Next week’s form guides for both dogs will show they ran 27:45sec.

Comet stuns field

When it came to boilovers on the Warrnam bool card, Ian Bibby, Warracknabeal, claimed the honours when his ever-consistent chaser

Crymelon Comet performed one of the biggest Houdini acts seen this year.

Entering the main corner a clear last, twolengths from the second-last dog and in a clearly hopeless position, Comet began picking up.

Straightening for home, Comet had put him self in a position to finish somewhere around fourth to fifth. But he had other ideas and found a gap where there wasn’t one between three dogs and astonishingly found himself in front with two strides remaining to complete one of the biggest last to first runs you will see.

He stopped the clock in 25:63sec over the 450-metre trip, after recording a first split of 7.10sec — which won’t mean much to most, but if you run 7.10sec early over the 450-metres, you are simply giving them too big of a head start.

Libby

NEW SEASON: Horsham Little Athletics Club will start its season with a free comeand-try night tonight for new members. The night begins from 5.15pm at Dudley Cornell Park, Horsham for five-year-olds to under-17s. The club is looking to attract new members to learn new skills in a range of track-and-field events. The regular competition season commences on October 5 and will continue during term four and term one 2023. Members Stephanie Plazzer, Georgia Foster, Isla Hiscock, Hannah Plazzer, Shea Hiscock and Joel Plazzer get ready for the new season. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

Caneball nets a winner

Spectators unaware of the sport of cane ball and the athleticism of its players might have had a surprise at Ararat College on Monday.

A caneball and volleyball tournament at Ararat College attracted young players from across regional Victoria to the region to showcase their skills.

It was part of an Ararat Rural City Council-lead new-settlement program to engage with the state’s Karen community.

Caneball, a sport with a unique entwinement of soccer and volleyball characteristics popular in east Asia, has remained in vogue with elements of Victoria’s east-Asian migrant communities who continue to play the sport competitively –including with the region’s ethnic-Karen groups from the community of Burma.

The sport, also known as chinlone, has players use their feet, rather than their hands, to pass a ball made of woven rattan across a volley ball-style net.

Ararat mayor Jo Armstrong said caneball was a relatively new sport for many in the region, so the tournament was a ‘wonderful’ idea and reflected on the region’s sport inclusivity.

“Sport is the lifeblood of rural communities. Not only does it bring communities together, but it provides opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds to meet, play and share experienc es,” she said.

“Through the Workforce Pilot and New Settle ment program, we are inviting people from the Karen community to visit our region in hopes of finding new opportunity, jobs and in making Ararat their home.”

Business Administration Traineeship

Location: Horsham, Closing date: October 4, 2022

after all visitors and clients

• Co-ordinate administrative duties and prioritise tasks

Liaise with members of the team undertaking all duties required

• Other administrative tasks as required

For more information contact Chris Barber on 0427 346 655.

Apprentice Chef – Horsham

Location: Horsham,

Closing date: October 4, 2022

Duties

• Prepare and cook food

Order food, kitchen supplies and equipment

Follow hygiene regulations

• Freeze and preserve foods

For more information contact Daryl Eastwell on 0407 364 654..

Coach named

Harrow-Balmoral faithful have endured every thing from premiership success, preliminary-fi nal defeat, and premier-window COVID-inter ruptions during recent Horsham district seasons.

In another turn for the club, it has welcomed one of Geelong Football League’s best as play er-coach for 2023. Nick Pekin will relinquish his coaching duties after five seasons.

The Southern Roos this week confirmed cap tain of Geelong Football Leagub club Leopold Jai Thompson would succeed Pekin as coach.

Thompson is a five-time GFL interleague play er and 2016 league best-and-fairest Mathieson Medal runner-up, and three-time best-and-fairest winner at Leopold.

Pekin will remain at Harrow-Balmoral as a player.

Try badminton

Horsham Badminton Association will host a free come-and-try evening on Monday.

Association president Luke Dunn said begin ners were ‘most welcome’ with rackets available to use at the Horsham College gymnasium from 6.45pm.

Dunn said players who wanted to continue their badminton experience after Monday could participate in a social spring-season competition.

“The spring competition, which will begin the following week, will cater for all abilities and will have the flexibility for players to participate on whichever Monday nights suit them,” he said.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to try badmin ton in a fun and social atmosphere.”

Apprenticeship

•

Care Support Traineeship

October 4, 2022

Duties

Patient, caring,

safe work

Work within a team

Meet personal support needs

Apprentice Painter – Horsham

Location: Horsham, Closing date: September 27, 2022

Duties

Determine the quantity of materials needed

Remove old paint

Prepare surfaces and washing them down

• Select and prepare paints to match colours by adding tinters

• Brush, roll or spray paints, stains, varnishes, and other finishes

• Spray paint surfaces using a spray gun or specialised equipment

Apply decorative paint finishes

Wash equipment and clean work areas

For more information contact Chris Barber on 0427 346 655.

Assist clients

• Support relationships with Carers and families

Ability to use initiative and problem solve

• Current National Police Check Clearance

Influenza and Covid vaccination (essential)

Provide first aid

For more information contact Daryl Eastwell on 0407 364 654.

Harvest Workers Required – Horsham

TOURNAMENT: Wah Dee and Pla Soe of Bendigo were among competitors at an Ararat volleyball and caneball tournament this week. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

Hemley clinches national chance

BY DAVID BERRY

With a long-term goal of one day play ing volleyball at the highest level possible, Murtoa College student Paige Hemley is tackling this week’s National Youth Championships with all the enthusi asm and drive she can muster.

Hemley is playing for the Victorian White girls’ team against the best under-15 talent from across Australia, where Volleyroos talent scouts will be watching games with an eye to the longterm future, including Brisbane 2032.

Hemley has had a whirlwind start to her volley ball career. Like all junior athletes, two years of no activity has fuelled their fire to be their best, and they have all packed in a lot during this year.

A member of the Volleyball Horsham Academy Program, Hemley was encouraged to trial for the state team program back in April after an impressive country championships tournament where her team won the gold medal.

“Paige improved as each game went by and played a ripper game in the gold medal match so, as we always do, we encourage all our athletes to trial, if for no other reason than to experience volleyball at a higher level,” academy coach Kimberley Crabtree said.

Hemley survived four trials initially being one of more than 60 girls to put themselves under the eye of hopeful state team coaches, eventually making the White team which is the develop ment team of the under-15 program.

Like all country athletes, Hemley has endured the tyranny of distance and attended weekly training sessions in Melbourne with her team and has enjoyed the camaraderie and fun of be ing part of an elite program.

“All of us academy coaches have noticed just how much Paige has improved over the course

of the training period — not just her skills, but her commitment to the sport. She is certainly doing a lot of things right at this early stage of her career,” Crabtree said.

Hemley’s team has had a true baptism of fire going down to the two Queensland teams and NSW in the opening three games.

“As a development team, it’s not so much about the winning as it is about ensuring the girls get plenty of court time and enjoy being part of a national event. We are confident that Paige will come back to our program having learnt a lot and with the attitude of wanting to continue to improve, at the same time making those around her better players as well,” Crabtree said.

It’s a big week for Volleyball Horsham mem bers, with Hemley in Bendigo at National Cham pionships, Tamikah Dockrill in Perth at the Na tional Uni Games playing beach volleyball while Phantoms members Jack Hannan, Jack Exell and Tim Carter are preparing for the National Club Championships also in Bendigo this weekend.

Dockrill and partner, Warrnambool’s Gabby Lougheed registered one win and three losses in their preliminary round matches to miss out on top four. With three matches to play a possible fifth versus sixth playoff beckons for the two beach volleyball debutants.

Hannan, Exell and Carter will team-up with their State League Phantoms teammates at the National Club Championships playing in divi sion one, with games against Melbourne Uni Renegades, Volley Friends United and Sydney United on Friday and Saturday before medal qualification games on Saturday afternoon and medal matches on Sunday morning.

This event is being staged for the first time after being cancelled due to COVID-19 the past two years.

Sand scrape champion crowned

Wimmera District Veteran Golfer’s Association members had a competitive day out at Dimboola Golf Club for a stableford golf event.

David Baker was A Grade winner on 33 points and Greg Proud was runner-up, also on 33 points.

Bill Thomson was B Grade winner on 39 points and Bernard Noonan was runner-up on 36 points.

The ball rundown was Tony Kernick, Pat Mc Gee and Ferdie Masiero on 31; Stephen Harris, Mal Elliott, Geoff Wynne, Graeme Moncrieff and Anthony Jones on 29; Keith Jenkinson on

28; Bob Richards and Rob Norton on 27; Ron Norton, Brian Gready and Ian Moorehead on 26; Elston Arnold on 25; and Tom Cooper and John Barbetti on 24.

Nearest-the-pins on the fourth and eighth went to Keith Jenkinson and the 13th to Greg Proud.

The 2023 Sand Scrape champion, announced after the game at Dimboola, was Ferdi Masiero on a countback from Brian Gready, who both had 73 points. Mal Elliott, Dennis Hutchinson, Anthony Jones and Graeme Moncrieff were just one shot behind on 72.

Priceline Fashions on the Field

Field

Live Music with “Blocky” and stay with “All the Kings Men” band until 6:30pm

Live Music with Chris ‘Bull’ Sheehan and stay with “All the Kings Men” band until 6:30pm

+ Free Shuttle Bus a er the

Free Shuttle Bus after the last race and the band

Caneball calling

Exceptional athletes gathered in Ararat this week for a caneball tournament at Ararat College. Caneball is a sport where players use their feet instead of their hands to pass a small ball over a volleyball-like net. Caneball is a popular sport in east Asia and remains popular with east-Asian migrant communities across Victoria, including with ethnic Karen communities from the community of Burma who have made parts of western Victoria and the Wimmera home. Players travelled from as far as Bendigo and Melbourne for the day-long tournament, which also culminated in a come-and-try afternoon for curious spectators. Naing Lin, of Melbourne, sends a pass back over the net. Story, page 58.

Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

Shows, rain and

sales for

Junior development focus

Community Newsletter

Introduction

A message from the RNH Board of Directors

The Rural Northwest Health (RNH) Board welcomed La Vergne Lehmann to her first meeting on 26 July 2022.

La Vergne currently works at Yarriambiack Shire as the Waste and Sustainability Coordinator and brings experience as a health board director from her time at Wimmera Health Care Group.

Board nominations were conducted at the meeting and Genevieve O’Sullivan was elected as the RNH Board Chair. Outgoing Board Chair Dr John Aitken said he was proud to nominate Genevieve O’Sullivan to be his successor.

Genevieve has a wealth of community health experience as an Occupational Therapist and managing large community care teams in the local government sector.

“I look forward to the responsibility of taking on the role as Board Chair and I am very fortunate to have seen firsthand John Aitken and before him Julia Hausler’s commitment to the role. If there are people in the community passionate about health and wellbeing outcomes for their community and considering a health service board appointment whatever your background or experience I couldn’t recommend this highly enough.”

At the June Board meeting, RNH said goodbye to Julia Hausler after 6 years on the RNH Board including 4.5 years as Chair. The Board recognised Julia’s incredible service to RNH, and the extraordinary amount of time she put into ensuring good governance and most importantly care for staff, residents, patients and the RNH community. Julia resigned to focus on her family and new career pursuits. “I would like to thank my fellow directors over the past 6 years and wish Genevieve all the best in leading RNH.”

RNH Updates

Acting CEO –Jodie Cranham

The RNH Board are delighted Jodie Cranham has returned to Rural Northwest Health (RNH) as Acting CEO until the end of the year.

Jodie has extensive health care experience as a senior leader of multi-disciplinary teams across metropolitan, regional, and rural

Victoria, and her most recent senior role as Executive Director of Aged Care and Interim Chief Executive Officer for Rural Northwest Health. Her passion is employee engagement, development, and alignment to values to create a great place to work and exceptional consumer experience. She has successfully completed a Masters of Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts- Communication, Diploma of Applied Science (Dental Therapy) and more recently is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

New Executive Team Members

Dave Siddall

Dave is committed to transforming how we provide health care to our residents, patients and community, he is a respected Procurement and Supply Chain professional with over 35 years extensive experience in all aspects of supply for both Government and private sector organisations. Dave’s vision for RNH’s Environmental Services department is to aim to leave the world a little better than how we found it. And to deliver efficient, effective and sustainable services to residents, patients, our team members and the community.

Glenn Hynes

We are delighted to welcome Glenn Hynes to RNH. Glenn is the new Executive Manager of People, Culture and Safety. Glenn arrived in the Wimmera from Ballarat in 1999 and quickly established a career in the manufacturing industry for over 12 years. Glenn went on to manage Human Resources, Quality, Accreditation and Safety in senior leadership roles within the community services sector for approximately eight years. This led him to join the Wimmera Health Care Group (Grampians Health) as the Human Resources Manager in mid-2019 before joining Rural Northwest Health.

Hendrik Bernard

Hendrik Barnard has joined RNH as the new Executive Manager Finance & Administration. Hennie has an extensive background in accounting in multiple countries, having worked in South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia. His experience was obtained in numerous industries that include chartered accounting, human resources, central banking, labour union, not for profit organisations, mining (FIFO and residential), local government, as well as a smelter and crushing facility.

Job Listings

If you are interested in a new role at RNH,or know someone who would be perfect for a role please take a look at our current vacancies. rnh.net.au/team/current-vacancies

Our Community

2023 Rural Graduate Nurse Program

The 2023 Rural Graduate Nurse Program applications will be open from 1st August. The Rural Northwest Health graduate nurse program offers a diverse range of rural experience. We ensure our graduate nurses gain experience to grow abilities and capabilities that are highly sought after in both rural and metropolitan health care. Our program is a launching pad for for aspiring nurses. Find out more about the program here:

rnh.net.au/team/graduate-nursing-program

Congratulations Dr Rahim

Rural Northwest Health wishes to congratulate Dr Rahim for his high standard of medical care provided to our community over the last 20 years and we hope it is a period of his life that he will remember with happiness and pride.

Our community recognises the long distances Dr Rahim travels back and forth weekly from Melbourne. We are deeply appreciative of the hard work, dedication, and commitment he displays and we wish Dr Rahim all the best for many more years to come!

Hopetoun Patchwork Group

Have your say

A big thank you to the Hopetoun Patchwork Group who kindly donated these beautiful rugs to Hopetoun Campus. Our Residents thoroughly enjoyed picking out a rug for themselves.

Image: left to right Veena Mishra, Michael Brown, Julia Hausler, Genevieve O’Sullivan, John Aitken, David Kranz, Zivit Inbar, Amanda Kenny, Katharine Terkuile

“It is such a pleasure to return to Rural Northwest Health and work with amazing caring and warm team members. I have very fond memories from my stint working here and spending time in the Yarriambiack Shire in 2021. I’m looking forward to leading the organisation over the coming months and re-connecting with the community”.