CBL teams stay hot with wins across the board

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November 22, 2022

CBL teams stay hot with wins across the board

MITCHELL Shire’s Country Basketball League teams found success across the board in round eight at the weekend, with Seymour’s men and women and Wallan’s men all victorious.

Seymour hosted a home double-header at Seymour Sports and Aquatic Centre, with its women downing the Wangaratta Warriors 89-51 and the men posting an even bigger win, 109-56.

A hot start from the Blasters in the women’s game had the home side in the box seat from quarter time, leading 25-11.

Although Wangaratta showed signs of life with a competitive second term, the Blasters’ smothering defense took its toll in the second half, allowing the Blasters to run away with the win.

Tayha Watkins was a dominant presence with 37 points, draining an equal-team-high three three-pointers, 12 two-point field goals and four free-throws.

While Watkins was the star of the show offensively, she had solid support from Jasmine Hunter, 12 points, Maddison Ford, 11, Olivia Pearce and Kasey Lennox, nine apiece.

Sisters Jorja and Taylah Reidy scored 34 of the visitors’ 51 points but their teammates were unable to offer enough support to make the game competitive.

Seymour’s men got off to an equally hot start in the following game, leading Wangaratta 26-9 after one quarter.

Keenan Gorski, recently named the Melbourne Basketball League 2022 Rookie of the Year, put in another team-leading performance with 22 points.

The Blasters were on fire from long range, with Gorski and Abraham Solano each netting four three-pointers and Jack Murphy making three as part of a team total of 14.

Wangaratta, by contrast, only managed one triple all game.

In addition to Gorski’s 22 and Solano’s 16, Murphy and Tyler Best scored 15 points each, while Tom O’Connor finished with 10.

Wallan’s road game against Mansfield was a closer affair, but a huge second half gave the Panthers the momentum they needed to complete a come-from-behind 76-63 win.

The Panthers trailed by five points at half time, with the likes of Jesse King and Cam Anderson leading the Eagles.

But Wallan’s resolve on both ends of the court showed in the second half, with the visitors outscoring Mansfield 45-27 after the long break.

Dion Stacey, Luke Liesegang and Jayden O’Brien formed a handy trio with 17, 15 and 14 points respectively, while Riley Mclay, 10, and Leigh Dean, nine, were strong in support.

Seymour tops the men’s north-east division ladder with a perfect 5-0 record, with Wallan sititng fourth at 3-2 behind Benalla and Albury.

The Panthers will travel to play Myrtleford at 6pm on Saturday before returning home to host Wangaratta at RB Robson Stadium at 3pm on Sunday.

Wallan’s women will play curtain-raisers to both men’s games at 4pm Saturday and 1pm Sunday respectively.

Seymour has byes in both competitions.

Carols set for Kilmore

Lauren Duffy

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November 22, 2022

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THE Mitchell Shire is gearing up for the festive season, with Kilmore’s Hudson Park to host Christmas carols on December 17.

Mitchell Shire Council and Discover Mitchell will partner with BGGROUPAU to stage the event, with residents invited to enjoy festive music and spend time with friends and family.

Mitchell Shire Mayor Fiona Stevens said the Christmas carols were an opportunity for people to connect and celebrate the year.

“Christmas is an important time for a lot of people in Mitchell Shire and it’s great to be able to come together and celebrate,” she said.

“It’s a time to reflect on what has been an eventful and challenging year in Mitchell Shire.”

Mitchell Shire musicians, dancers and market stalls will be present to provide entertainment throughout the evening, with several food trucks also available. However, visitors are encouraged to bring their own picnic food.

Kilmore Miniature Railway will also be operating between 6pm and 7pm.

“Last year’s event was a massive success, with hundreds turning up and getting into the festive spirit,” Cr Stevens said.

“I’m looking forward to hearing the sounds of Christmas at Hudson Park once again and I encourage the community to come along and get involved.”

Kilmore Christmas Carols will be from 5pm on Saturday, December 17 at Hudson Park.

Share the Dignity’s annual Christmas drive

Lauren Duffy

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November 22, 2022

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Share the Dignity’s annual Christmas drive

SHARE the Dignity welcomes people to help reduce period poverty by dropping off a bag of donations at their nearest Bunnings for Christmas.

‘It’s in the Bag’ is a nationwide drive that runs during November where volunteers across the country collect dispersed bags that contain sanitary and luxury items for women of all ages.

Victoria’s bag lead coordinator Wendy Appleton said people could drop off items for bags for all women, including an adult’s bag, a teen bag, and a mum and bub bag.

Once a bag is collected, volunteers sort the items in their categories, and send them off to registered charities that support their people in need.

Ms Appleton said half a dozen charities within the Mitchell Shire were registered with Share the Dignity.

“These bags are then given to the charities that we work with, who then hand the bags to their clients, and in some cases, is the only thing that these women receive for Christmas, and for some women it’s the first time that they will have their own handbag in a couple of years,” she said.

“If all the charity requests in the Mitchell Shire have been fulfilled, and there’s still bags left over, we will then use those bags in another area in Victoria, where they might need some more.”

Mitchell Shire residents can head to Bunnings at Seymour or other towns including Mernda or Craigieburn to drop off a bag at Bunnings to show their support.

“[Bunnings] came on board with us five years ago, and they’ve been a big support of the ‘It’s in the Bag’ drive, and any Bunnings store has been a drop off point, I know Seymour recently [opened] last year,” Ms Appleton said.

Ms Appleton highlighted the effect of the Christmas drive, as it reached out to women who might not put themselves first in every situation.

“It’s important to support women in these particular areas, because mothers and women tend to put themselves last,” she said.

“The amount of work that goes into making this drive happen, the feedback that we get is just heart-warming.”

People can drop off bags until November 27 at any Bunnings.

For more information on ‘It’s in the Bag’ drive and what to drop off, visit www.sharethedignity.org.au/itsinthebag.

Education a key focus for Labor

Lauren Duffy

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November 22, 2022

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Labor candidate for Euroa Angela Tough says only Labor will make sure every child had the best start in life, no matter where they live or what their parents can afford to pay.

“Childcare and kinder costs can mean the extra income earnt when both parents go back to work is swallowed up by fees,” Ms Tough said.

From next year, three and four-year-old kinder will be free under a Labor Government.

“This means families can save up to $2500 per child in fees, which makes a really big difference to any budget, as well as making it easier for parents to go back to work – particularly mums,” Ms Tough said.

She said Labor would build and upgrade schools across the state, with 48 new schools already opened and 1850 school upgrades being delivered – including upgrading Broadford Primary School.

“Labor is investing in local kindergartens and schools across Victoria and making it easier for kids to go on to study at university and TAFE – giving them the best start to their lives,” Ms Tough said.

“As a teacher I know how much course fees influence what kids end up doing for the rest of their lives.

“Only last week, two of my former students told me they had changed their university preferences to nursing degrees, rather than certificate courses, thanks to free nursing degrees and assistance promised by Labor.”

“Free nursing degrees not only boost our health workforce, they make it fairer and easier for every Victorian kid to study nursing – no matter where they live.

“More than 10,000 students will have the cost of their nursing or midwifery undergraduate studies paid for, while scholarships will be available for thousands more who complete postgraduate studies in areas of need including intensive care, cancer care, paediatrics and nurse practitioner specialities.”

$50,000 for shopping precincts in Broadford, Euroa

Lauren Duffy

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November 22, 2022

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$50,000 for shopping precincts in Broadford, Euroa

As part of the Liberals and Nationals’ $30 million Local Shopping Strip Recovery Plan, Broadford will be among four towns in the Euroa electorate to receive $50,000 towards shopping strip upgrades, pop-up events and amenity improvements.

Liberals candidate for Euroa Brad Hearn said after the impact COVID restrictions had on small businesses, the grant would play an important part in getting country towns back on their feet.

Mr Hearn said the Local Shopping Strip Recovery Plan would help revitalise Victorian shopping strips with funding for projects including supporting activation events such as streets fairs, or improvements such as outdoor dining spaces, planting vegetation and trees, employing mural artists and designers, and lighting and footpath upgrades.

“We need to continue the great work achieved by these community action groups in investing in country towns and providing the Liberal values of rewarding effort, these organisations are most deserving of support,” he said.

“The Liberals have a strong plan to support small business in Victoria including a $1 billion Bringing Manufacturing Home fund for rural and regional Victoria and I’m committed to ensuring that our businesses have the support they need to thrive.

“A little hope for Stanhope, a bit of support for Violet Town, investing in the growth of Broadford and building the sucess of the silo art tour in Goorambat. It’s time to give back to our country towns and reward the effort put in by our community groups.”

Shadow Minister for Small Business David Southwick said traders have done it tough throughout the past two years.

“For Victoria to be number one again, the first step is to give local traders positive and practical support so they can stay open and grow their business,” he said.

“This is a sensible plan to have real solutions to give small businesses across the state the confidence and certainty they need.”

Euroa electorate wrap up: Nationals in box seat ahead of election

Lauren Duffy

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November 22, 2022

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Euroa electorate wrap up: Nationals in box seat ahead of election

THE Liberal-Nationals Coalition have made a strong pitch to retain the seat of Euroa at Saturday’s state election despite the retirement of popular incumbent Steph Ryan.

The Nationals member elected not to recontest the seat after two terms, the Liberals and Nationals have each run candidates – Brad Hearn and Annabelle Cleeland respectively.

Other candidates vying to represent the electorate are Labor’s Angela Tough, the Animal Justice Party’s Elaine Haddock, the Greens’ James Bennett, Family First Victoria’s Paul Bachelor and Freedom Party of Victoria’s Raymond Rowbotham.

The Coalition candidates have delivered several pledges, including $300 million for the Kilmore bypass, $8 million for Broadford Secondary College, $6.1 million for Seymour College and $1.4 million for Kilmore’s Special Emergency Service, SES, unit.

But with Labor heavily favoured to win the election, a successful Coalition candidate could find themselves in the same situation as Ms Ryan for the past eight years – an opposition member.

Labor announced $30 million for a planned roundabout at the intersection of the Northern Highway and Wandong Road south of Kilmore – the first step towards a bypass – but did not match the Coalition’s $300 million pledge to build the road.

The government is also yet to match the pledges for Broadford Secondary College and Seymour College, although Ms Tough recently announced $13.7 million for Broadford Primary School if Labor retained government.

Ms Tough also upped the ante on the Coalition’s pledge to the Kilmore SES, promising $6 million to completely rebuild the unit’s headquarters, rather than the $1.4 million the Coalition allocated to refurbish and add to it.

Chief ABC election analyst Antony Green has tipped the Nationals to hold the seat comfortably, noting that while Euroa was only introduced as an electorate in 2014, it largely replaced the defunct seat of Benalla, which was held continuously by non-Labor parties from its creation in 1904 until a shock by-election win by Labor’s Denise Allen in 2000.

Since Ms Allen was ousted in 2002, Benalla and Euroa have been won by Nationals candidates with double-digit margins at each election.

Uncharted territory for Wallan, Beveridge voters

Lauren Duffy

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November 22, 2022

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Uncharted territory for Wallan, Beveridge voters

FOR many Wallan voters, Saturday’s state election will be the dawn of a new era, as the township west of the Hume Freeway moves into the newly-created seat of Kalkallo.

A redistribution of electoral boundaries resulted in the creation of the Kalkallo electorate, with Wallan joining fellow Mitchell Shire township Beveridge in a 262-square-kilometre strip stretching south to Craigieburn.

Vying to represent voters in Kalkallo will be Labor’s Ros Spence – the current member for the soon-to-be-abolished seat of Yuroke, which she has represented since 2014 – along with Liberal candidate Bikram Singh, Frances Lowe of the Animal Justice Party, the Greens’ Muhammad Nisar Ul Murtaza, Smiley Sandhu of the New Democrats, Das Sayer from Family First Victoria, Victorian Socialists candidate Sergio Monsalve Tobon and independents Callum French and Jimmy Parel.

At a candidates forum hosted by the Review earlier this month, Ms Spence highlighted transport, infrastructure, cost of living measures and health as her biggest priorities, while Ms Lowe said funding for infrastructure and roads was vital. Mr Monsalve Tobon said taxing developers to pay for community infrastructure in a rapidly growing area would be his priority, and Mr French said he would aim simply to get as much funding for the region as possible.

Mr Singh was unable to attend the forum, but earlier told the Review improving the quality of roads and community welfare projects were important to him.

Among pledges from Labor in the lead-up to the election are $5 million for stage one of Wallan’s Greenhill Recreation Precinct and $50,000 to complete a masterplan for a new recreation reserve in Beveridge.

Both the Liberal-Nationals Coalition and Labor have pledged $130 million for a project on the border of Kalkallo and the neighbouring Yan Yean electorate – the completion of a diamond interchange on the Hume Freeway at Wallan East, along with upgrades to Watson Street.

ABC election analyst Antony Green has projected the electorate as a safe Labor seat, with most polling locations inside its boundaries polling strongly in favour of Labor at the 2018 state election.

A pending State Government decision on a quarry south of Wallan could sway voters opposed to the project, with Ms Spence remaining tight-lipped on whether she supported the quarry at the forum.

Sydney Street pedestrian refuge delay

Roads & Transport

Lauren Duffy

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November 22, 2022

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The installation of pedestrian refuges as part of the Sydney Street Rejuvenation Project has been delayed until February 2023 due to wet weather.

Three pedestrian refuges were scheduled to be installed as part of night works being undertaken.

An area of asphalt was cut out of the middle of the street in front of the Review offices early last week, but then covered over in the following days.

Mitchell Shire Mayor Fiona Stevens said the window available to do the night works had now been reduced due to wet weather.

“This delay has resulted in a timing clash between the concrete laying for the pedestrian medians and needs of a road user who transports significant infrastructure items and needs the full width of the road,” she said.

“As there is insufficient time to install the pedestrian medians before the full width of the road is needed by this transport user, the next available window for additional night works to install the pedestrian medians will be in February 2023.

Night works to install new light poles will proceed as planned over the next few weeks.

Traffic management will be in place between Bourke and Union Street from 7pm to 5am each weeknight.

“We totally understand the frustration being felt by businesses and residents, and we feel it too. It’s disappointing the weather is having such a massive impact,” Cr Stevens said.

“We’re very thankful for the patience being shown by those impacted by these works. The end is in sight and once all done it will be something to admire and enjoy, particularly as the warmer weather approaches.”

Anyone with questions can contact the project team on 0490 455 794 or email sydneyst@mitchellshire.vic.gov.au.

The project team will also be available for drop-in at Kilmore Library every Tuesday 9am to 5pm and Thursday 12pm to 5 pm, during the construction phase.

Seymour’s regional art show resumes

Lauren Duffy

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November 22, 2022

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AFTER floods and restoration, Seymour and District Art Society managed to save their annual art show and stage Art Beyond the Divide Show this weekend.

The annual art show promotes regional work and offers artwork for sale plus cash prizes was re-scheduled to repair the heavily-affected artwork.

President Terri MacDonald said when she was notified about the floods, most artwork was sitting at Wine by Sam, which is hosting the show, however the Old Courthouse gallery, the society’s home, was underwater.

“The silver lining is the fact we were actually at Wine by Sam hanging works for the big show [which] meant that we didn’t know that the waters were coming through,” she said.

“The gallery at Seymour have gone underwater, they had about two feet of water throughout the place.

“Council who manage the building, they came through, they had all the experts come through like the toxicology reports and everything done, they have organised for removal to take out the furniture that we wanted to save.”

The society reached out to the Grimwade Conservation team at the University of Melbourne to clean flood affected artworks in Seymour for the show, which will deliver more than 200 works.

Ms MacDonald said despite the floods, the show would proceed with the artworks being examined by high-calibre judges.

The public is welcome to attend opening night, which will feature live entertainment and catering.

This year, the show will feature a photography section for artists to compete for a cash prize.

“We get some high-quality work that comes through … there’s something in there for everybody, “Ms MacDonald said.

“There are pieces in there you sort of look at, and you think ‘oh my goodness’ and like I said everything’s for sale, so we’re encouraging the public to come, we’re hoping it to be the weekend of the state election so people will be out and about.”

Ms MacDonald said she was mindful for future events due to the gallery’s condition, however through the society’s art stands, pop-up art shows were a possibility.

“We’re trying to work out what we’re going to be able to do, we’ve got these art stands that we invested in during COVID, and that’s essentially a God-send because it means that we can actually have what we call pop-up shows,” she said.

Art Beyond the Divide is at Wine by Sam, 59-71 Anzac Avenue, Seymour from Friday to Sunday.

Opening night entry is $25 for adults and free for children under 12, while entry on Saturday and Sunday is via gold coin donation.

For more information, visit www.seymourartsociety.org.au/2022-art-beyond-the-divide.

PVCC captains farewell school life

Grace Frost

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November 22, 2022

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By Grace Frost

MORE than 60,000 Victorian students are taking a united sigh of relief after year 12 exams concluded last week.

There was plenty of anticipation from Plenty Valley Christian College, PVCC, captains Adelaide Rees and Issac Henderson who, with the rest of their year level, said goodbye to friends, teachers and younger students a few weeks prior to commencing exam preparation.

The captains said the final day of school for the cohort was riddled with excitement, nerves and sentimentality.

“I thought it was so funny just how we [went to muck-up day] and everyone’s excited about seeing the school after it’s mucked up, everyone’s wanting to show off their costume … everything’s funny and crazy,” Mr Henderson said.

“Then we get towards the end of the day and we get to the common room and people are bawling their eyes out, and it was this absolute crash of emotions that I thought summed up the year level and … our time in high school quite nicely – going from these incredible highs to these extraordinary lows,” he said.

Those ‘extraordinary lows’ refer to the COVID-19 pandemic, the class of ‘22 being the only year level to undertake every lockdown and wave of online learning throughout their senior school years.

Ms Rees and Mr Henderson said despite its resulting hardships, the pandemic had brought their cohort closer together.

“I think we’ve all got an appreciation for all of the social events and just hanging out and chatting in the common room,” Ms Rees said.

Exam preparation and stress lingered year-round for senior students across the state, with the captains indicating it showed its face at the end of term two.

“The teachers sat us down and said, ‘look guys, some of you are slacking, we just want you to know that this is the time, this is make or break, this is where students fall off, so it’s now or never’,” Mr Henderson said.

“We had one of our English teachers tell us we ought to be doing four to five hours of study from now until exams … I think from that point it became real.”

Ms Rees and Mr Henderson, along with year 12s on the school senate, had more than exams to contend with however, with countless hours dedicated to fundraising, events and assembly preparation.

A highlight for both captains was a Relay For Life fundraiser they organised.

The after-school event saw staff, families and students, past and present, walk laps of the school oval, participate in events and listen to live music, raising an astonishing $15,765 for Cancer Council Australia.

“Relay For Life was a lot of work and a lot of stress … but in the end it was definitely worth it,” Ms Rees said.

pvcc — The PVCC fundraiser, organised by the school captains and student senate, raised over $15,000 for Cancer Council.

Mr Henderson and Ms Rees said their captaincy roles meant they stepped out of their comfort zones and worked for change in the school community, aiming to fulfill promises they made when interviewed.

“I’ve had to really step up in terms of leadership and public speaking,” Ms Rees said.

“I put on my application that I wanted to add a lot of music to everything, I wanted performances at pretty much every assembly … I think upon reflection that’s almost happened.”

Mr Henderson said some aspects of captaincy surprised him, as he became involved in more of the school’s culture and events than he had expected.

“One thing I didn’t realise in stepping into the role is that people kind of look to you as a leader, whether it’s your jurisdiction or not,” he said.

Now passing the baton to the captains of 2023, the pair were eager to share their wisdom and advice with their successors.

“[Compare] yourself to how you were earlier in the year, improving continuously, not focusing on how you’re going to be perceived by others,” Mr Henderson said.

Ms Rees said future captains should go into the role with a clear idea of what they would like to implement.

“If you have something that you want to see happen, you have to get in quick,” she said.

“Make sure you don’t lose that throughout the year, because you can get swept up in what the role entails.”

PVCC recently hosted their presentation evening, with both captains taking home awards.

Mr Henderson was awarded the ‘Ampol Best All Rounder Award’, which is given to a year 12 student who excels in the classroom, on the sports field and in his or her contribution to their community.

Ms Rees took home the ‘ADF Long Tan Leadership Award’, which is given to a year 12 student who demonstrates ‘an outstanding capacity’ to lead other students in a range of pursuits and act as a role model.

The captains thanked their teachers for their ‘amazing’ assistance and encouragement.

Mr Henderson and Ms Rees said they hoped their efforts as captains had ‘got the ball rolling’ for future senate members, with projects to continue working towards including a school workout facility.

Official exam results and ATARs will be released on December 12, and first round offers to university released in January.