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Panthers win annual Ballarat basketball tournament

The Wallan Panthers Big V women’s team took part in the Sporting Globe Ballarat Senior Basketball Tournament over the long weekend and won the A Grade competition.

Facing the Ballarat Miners in yesterday’s grand final, the Panthers emerged victorious 62 to 40.

Kylah Collins led the way with 17 points, while Olivia Dalmau, Melissa Buckley and Chloe Mott all put in strong performances with 11, 10 and nine points respectively.

In the lead up to the final the Panthers won five of its four matches, losing to the Ballarat Miners in the first round but then overcoming Craigieburn, the Surfcoasters, Melbourne University and Federation University.

Grand final win for Whittlesea bowlers

Whittlesea bowlers brought a successful season to an even more successful conclusion with a grand final win over Newport.

The division four grand final was played at Bundoora on one of the hottest Sundays of the summer.

Bowls Victoria had declared a mandatory 10.30am start, with pre-game practice to take place between 9am and 10am due to the forecast of high temperatures across Melbourne.

Team one Terry Aldenhoven, Mervin Robinson and Peter Williams under skip Terry Newton, recorded a 17 shot draw against Newport.

Team two, Gary Shingles, Kevin Trinder, Bruce Tamlin and Leslie Dyson was narrowly defeated by Newport 19 shots to 18.

Team three, Catherine Toohey, Rose Kelly, Chris Alvanos and Steven Kelly (skip) recorded a convincing win 18 shots to Newport’s 15.

Team four, Leo Farley, John Wilson, Tim Palviainen and Barry Riky returned a 14 to 15 shot result with Newport winning by one shot.

The final result saw Whittlesea grand final victors with a three-shot win over Newport, 69 to 66.

The victors returned to the clubrooms in Whittlesea on Sunday afternoon and proudly unfurled the 2024 premiership flag.

The club recently complete the installation of a new synthetic green adding to the existing grass green. The club boasts seven rinks on each Green.

Great start to Willowmavin’s school year

It has been a busy start to the school year at Willowmavin with the election of the leadership group and the annual welcome picnic happening.

School captains, Riley and Hannah have settled into the role quickly and have plans for a range of activities over the coming year.

“I see it important for us all to mix responsibility and fun as the way to grow over the year,” Hannah said.

“I agree and importantly we will be focussing on the school values of respect, resilience, be your best and be safe,” Riley added.

The captains of the four houses were also elected and are setting out on their first task of developing an inter-house competition where students collect tokens over a period with the house with the most tokens at the end of the competition being declared the winner.

“Members of that house can then choose their prize which may be a movie over lunchtime or some other fun thing,” Riley said.

Following the leader elections, the annual welcome picnic for the school community saw families came along for a barbeque, games on the oval and the presentation of the student leadership positions.

Parents and students joined in the fun with the highlight being a three-legged race. The afternoon also gave families the opportunity of getting to know each other and to meet with teachers and school staff.

“We had an amazing time, and it is great to see what a great community this school has developed,” Emma Hourdas, aunt of one of the students said.

Cat’s journey sparks microchip reminder

Carol Peterson is urging fellow pet owners to prioritise microchipping with up to date details after her ragdoll cat Jock was discovered in Beveridge nearly 100 kilometres from his home.

Jock went missing September 30, 2023 from Carrum Beach with Carol and Jock set to move to Queensland two weeks after his disappearance.

Ms Peterson said she flooded social media, put up posters and walked around local neighbourhoods yelling his name at all hours.

“Everything was in motion for the move to Queensland, I was devastated but I had to go,” she said.

“Jock’s microchip was my only hope that I would ever see him again.”

Almost four months after Jock disappeared Ms Peterson received a call from Mitchell Shire Council’s Local Laws team informing her he had been found in Beveridge.

Mitchell Shire mayor Louise Bannister said the reunion highlighted the importance of pet microchipping in safeguarding beloved animals and ensuring safe returns.

“Council is committed to promoting the welfare of pets and encouraging responsible ownership practices,” she said.

Council pet registration renewals are due by April 10 each year for animals over three months of age.

Flood legal education sessions a week away

ARC Justice will deliver a free information session in Mitchell Shire this month, helping residents manage insurance before, during and after emergencies.

The one-hour community legal education sessions will cover how to be legally prepared for a disaster such as a flood and how to deal with insurance companies.

The first session on Tuesday, March 19 will be virtual while the second on Thursday, March 21 will be in-person at the Seymour Recovery Hub with catering provided.

ARC Justice community engagement officer Peter Coles said the sessions are aimed at educating residents about their legal rights and responsibilities.

“Like other parts of Victoria, Seymour was hit hard by the 2022 floods and through our work with council’s flood recovery team,” he said.

“We’ve seen first-hand the frustrating issues many residents have had when it comes to insurance.

“The sessions will explain the essential steps to take before, during and after an emergency, how to manage the claims process, how to navigate insurance disputes effectively and we’ll also provide some practical tips for dealing with insurance companies.”

Bookings are essential and can be made online at mitchellshire.vic.gov.au/residents/fireand-other-emergencies/floods-2022-recovery/insurance-workshops or by calling Mitchell Shire Council on 5734 6250.

Heat on in DVCA cricket semis

Diamond Valley Cricket Association has an interesting albeit hot weekend for the semi-finals to be played.

In the Mash Shield Lower Plenty 10/267 (76.4) defeated South Morang 10/235 (71.4). In the other match, Mernda 10/131 (62.3) lost to Hurstbridge 6/132 (59).

In the D Grade semi-final South Morang 10/226 (79.2) lost to Greensborough 9/227 (65.2)

The F1 semi-final saw Heidelberg third 18 10/261 (69.3) record an impressive win over Laurimar 10/75 (32.3). South Morang third 18 achieved a win in the F2 grade over Plenty, 5/73 (20) to 10/72 (45). In G1 Lower Eltham 9/187 (35) defeated Laurimar 10/102 (19.3).

District grand finals will be played next weekend.

Scouts pitch in for Clean Up Australia Day

Broadford Scouts sent out a team of 20 scouts and 10 parents for Clean Up Australia Day.

The team ended with a cage trailer full of rubbish alongside a mountain too big to move, which included flat screen TVs, lounge suites, and beds.

Multiple cars were honking in appreciation as they drove by, which the Scouts said was a ‘beautiful gesture’. ​

Road upgrade happening for Sugarloaf Creek

Road widening works have commenced on Sugarloaf Creek Road, Sugarloaf Creek and will be carried out between Camerons Creek Road and Sugarloaf Creek and include road widening, sealing of the shoulders and line marking.

The upgrade is part of council’s 2023/24 capital works program. The eight-week project will help improve road safety for all users.

During works, traffic on Sugarloaf Creek Road will be reduced to one lane, with traffic management measures in place. Works are planned primarily between 7am and 6pm, Monday to Friday, with potential for works to occur on Saturdays from 9am to 1pm.

The $750,000 project is jointly funded by the State Government with $475,000 provided by AgriLinks through the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, and $275,000 contribution from the Council.

Kilmore physio’s Monaco sport presentation

Kilmore physiotherapist Dr Marg Perrott presented research on basketball players’ knees in Monaco at the International Olympic Committee World Conference on prevention of injury and illness in sport.

The conference organised by the International Olympic Committee occurs every three years, with experts sharing knowledge and expertise in sports medicine, injury prevention and health promotion.

Dr Perrott spoke about abnormalities occurring in the patella tendon.

The research team she works with discovered that abnormalities occur around and after a player’s growth spurt and are a risk factor for tendinopathy, a condition causing pain and reduced function.

“It happens in the kids who are talented and are playing and training with their school, club, region and even state squads all at the same time,” Dr Perrott said.

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SPONSOR: Graeme Dove and Darren Knight present a sponsorship cheque. ​

Dr Perrott said being selected to present was like making the Olympic team of sports injury research.

“It felt quite surreal to be in Monaco at this conference,” she said.

Dr Perrott also said how incredibly grateful she was to Mitchell Business Network for sponsoring her participation.

“To be able to meet world experts and bring that information back to our community is wonderful and wouldn’t have happened without this sponsorship,” she said.

Strength in the district’s Catholic primary education

The district is well catered for when it comes to Catholic education, the schools featured provide new insights and a powerful vision for the future.

St Mary’s Lancefield and Romsey provides a learning environment to suit the needs of all the children in each space.

The school’s classroom structure is multiage by design from Years One to Six to ensure teachers target a wider range of abilities and levels utilising a number of different staff rather than just one. Prep students enjoy the best of both worlds, starting off their school experience with peers of their own age to assist in developing social and communications skills and to help foster a feeling of a safe and nurturing environment. They prepare for the future flexible learning experience by merging with our Year One/Two for different curriculum areas and working with Year Five in a specialised ‘Buddies’ program.

Our Lady of the Way Catholic Primary School in Wallan promotes a contemporary approach to learning and teaching which cultivates rich and authentic learning experiences.

The curriculum has been developed to provide an excellent student-centred holistic education. One that engages them in authentic, purposeful learning; and incorporating the Victorian Curriculum, standards and priorities.

The school has a learning environment that incorporates an innovative, professional and dedicated teaching culture with high expectations of student learning outcomes. The school adopts a structured approach to curriculum planning that ensures a shared vision with the school on curriculum development, common documentation and common understanding of the whole school curriculum by teachers.

Underpinning all that is covered in the curriculum is a strong belief that spiritual development is of paramount importance. Religious Education, Faith and Mission have a special place in the curriculum at Our Lady of the Way as they reflect our unique character and focus as a Catholic school.

In Kilmore St Patrick’s is an inclusive Catholic primary school that welcomes families from all faith backgrounds. The school prides itself on enrolling the “whole family” and building strong family-school partnerships between each family and the school to ensure that every child flourishes.

St Patrick’s is a member school of Marist Schools Australia, alongside its sister school, Assumption College and is a feeder school to Assumption College, provide ongoing connections and transitions between the schools.

Diversity encompasses all learners across cultural, academic, social emotional and physical attributes noting these are not mutually exclusive. ‘Learning diversity’ refers to the infinite variety of life experiences and attributes a child brings to their formal learning at school.

Educators seek to meet the needs of all learners, so that every student experiences success. It is the understanding that all students should be fully active members of their school community and that all professionals in a school share responsibility for their learning. Cultural and indigenous immersions and perspectives also see our students build on creating a more harmonious world that teaches them to be compassionate and understanding towards others.

Teachers at these schools believe it is essential that every child confidently develops literacy and numeracy skills and strategies to actively participate in our ever changing world.