Mitchell Rangers Soccer Club ready to go

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March 5, 2024

Mitchell Rangers Soccer Club ready to go

Mitchell Rangers Soccer Club is gearing up for another big season this year and is hoping to build on the momentum gained over the past few years.

Fielding multiple senior teams including men’s, reserves, and women’s, the Rangers have gone from strength to strength in recent years as participation numbers continue to grow.

Results have also started to come the way of the Broadford-based club in recent years, and with the first rounds of the 2024 season approaching it’s all hands on deck to be in fighting form.

Continued improvement the focus

The Rangers’ men put on a ‘massive step up’ in 2023 according to coach Stuart Clothier.

Playing in the Football Victoria Men’s State League Five North, where they remain for this year, the Rangers finished 2023 in ninth on the 11-team ladder with two wins, three ties and 14 losses.

Clothier, who is now entering his third season as men’s coach, said the result was a ‘massive improvement’ from 2022 – during which the Rangers lost all 20 matches for the season.

“We’re looking to kick on this year and get a few more wins under our belt,” he said.

“I try my hardest to not place too many targets on things because it’s hard to know who you’re going to be going up against.

“But I think I want to win more games than we lose, we go into every game with the intention of winning so that would be a great achievement for this season. If we can get halfway through the season and aim even higher, then it’d be even better.”

Supporting the Rangers’ ranks this year are several new and familiar faces, including Zach Kennedy who will be playing his first full senior season after moving up from the under 18s.

Returning for this year are Luke Summerville and Michael Williams, both of whom were sidelined last year due to ACL injuries.

“Having [Summerville and Williams] back in the mix, it’s almost like having new players,” Clothier said.

New for this year is also a third team alongside the men’s and reserves that will play on Sundays, created due to an increase in player numbers at the club.

The first match of the season is a Rangers home game at Broadford Secondary College on March 23, which will kick off at 3pm for the reserves and 5pm for the seniors.

Women’s program on the up

2024 will be a follow-up to the senior women’s team’s encouraging 2023 season – with a year under its belt, the team will be hoping to hit the ground running once the season starts.

The club expressed an interest in bolstering its women’s program early last year and recruited Cameron Leffley as team coach, however only one player turned up to the team’s first training session in February.

Thanks to the efforts of team manager Mikayla Gibbons, however, a team was formed ahead of the season’s beginning in mid-April.

Despite starting with a completely fresh base, the Rangers’ women played a solid 2023 season to finish fifth on the Women’s State League Five North-West ladder with four wins, two ties and 10 losses.

Leffley said the team would be looking to continue to push forward from 2023 and was already showing strong signs in practice matches so far this year.

“The girls came a long way [last season] … the great thing about Mitchell Rangers is we welcome anyone that wants to play the sport, whether you’ve kicked a ball before or not, or if you’ve played for years and years, we’ll find a spot for you,” Leffley said.

“Wins or losses aren’t really my concern currently in the practice stages, it’s about building the foundation of good football and enjoyable football for the girls to have a good and successful season.”

With three practice matches under its belt, the team is incorporating multiple new players that are expected to make a solid impact once the season gets underway.

The team did, however, suffer a blow in this year’s first practice match against Castlemaine Goldfields early last month, with goalkeeper Bridgette Davies sidelined for the season with an ACL injury.

“Sport’s a wonderful thing, you can never predict it and we’ve had a couple of injuries with Bridgette and a couple of other little things that we’re just managing,” Leffley said.

“But we’ve had a good influx of girls, all ready to take their spot and are of equal ability, and that are keen too.”

Leffley also credited the growth of the women’s side to the ‘Matildas effect’, with Australia’s national women’s team inspiring many players to get involved in soccer.

There are now more than 20 women’s players keen to get on the field with the Rangers, with an under 18s team also on the cards.

The first match for the women’s season is currently planned for April 21, with fixtures to be released in the coming weeks.

Seymour Show ‘n’ Shine returns to Kings Park

Max Davies

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March 5, 2024

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Seymour Show ‘n’ Shine returns to Kings Park

The Lions Club of Seymour Goulburn and the Seymour and District Car Club are collaborating once again for the Seymour Show ‘n’ Shine, set for Labour Day, March 11.

Organised annually for Seymour’s Kings Park, the event is the major fundraiser for the Lions Club for the year and a significant event on the Car Club’s calendar.

The two clubs are setting out to provide the community with a fun day out, featuring around 500 vehicles on display, more than 70 Swap Meet stalls, a market and an auction that offers bidders a huge range of items – all donated by businesses from the region.

The Show ‘n’ Shine was this year awarded Mitchell Shire Council’s Community Event of the Year.

Scott Washington, from the Lions Club, said at the time of the award that the event had continued to grow every year.

“We believe the event is a fantastic event and going by what the mayor said about attendance, it’s growing every year and is now a big event for the Mitchell Shire bringing people from all over Victoria, southern New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania so it’s great for our community,” he said.

“I encourage everybody to get out and come down again to see us on Labour Day. We’re holding another great even hopefully bigger and better than last year.”

The show also includes children’s rides and amusements, a food court, coffee vans, live music and a raffle with over $2500 in prizes to be won.

There will also be representatives from the region’s services in attendance with displays and demonstrations.

Gates open to the public at 8am with gold coin entry, while show car entry starts at 7am.

For show car enquires, call Judi on 0407 562 003. For all other enquires, call Reggie on 0417 329 981.

Lawn bowlers unite for Lyn and Linton Gleeson Memorial Tournament

Max Davies

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March 5, 2024

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Lawn bowlers unite for Lyn and Linton Gleeson Memorial Tournament

Broadford Bowling Club last week hosted the seventh annual Lyn and Linton Gleeson Memorial Tournament, commemorating two club icons in another successful event.

The commemorative tournament first took place in 2018 following the tragic deaths of Lyn and Linton, who had been prominent figures at the club for many years.

Club secretary Jodie Gleeson, daughter in law of Lyn and Linton, said it was special to be able to remember the pair at their community club.

“It was a really positive response from all players. They all seemed to have a really good day,” she said.

“As a club, it’s nice to be supported by other local clubs and there’s a couple of further afar, … having their support has been really great.”

Teams from Rushworth, Whittlesea, Romsey, Seymour, Kilmore, Trentham and Heathcote joined four Broadford teams for four games of 10 ends each, with a random draw to determine each match.

The team from Rushworth included two players – Ros Kellett and Noel Lloyd – who have a personal connection to the family, as they were both in Lyn and Linton’s wedding party after having grown up in the same area.

The two have played in the tournament each year since 2018 and Jodie said their continued support to the family was ‘very much appreciated’.

“For the Gleeson family, which is Luke Gleeson and Tamara McKenzie, the support and enjoyment they get out of the day just means a lot,” she said.

“They always seem to find someone else that has a story about their parents that they haven’t heard before, or people that they haven’t met before that had a connection with them, so it’s a nice day for them.”

At the end of play, it was the Broadford team of Paul McKenzie, Darren Lee, Ian Carboon and Numurkah’s Luke Spargo that took top honours after being undefeated all day.

Broadford Bowling Club thanked Moama Bowling Club, Safety Coatings, Commercial Hotel Broadford, and Jim’s Mowing Kilmore for sponsoring the day.

Mernda Regional Aquatic and Sports Centre funding breakdown sought

The North Central Review

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March 5, 2024

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Mernda Regional Aquatic and Sports Centre funding breakdown sought

Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell said lack of transparency over flow of funding for the Mernda Regional Aquatic and Sports Centre raised questions about the project’s timeline.

The Mernda Regional Aquatic and Sports Centre is a key project for the City of Whittlesea, a growing and diverse area, needing services and amenities to cater for its rapid growth.

Ms Lovell spoke in parliament asking the Treasurer for answers about state government funding for the project.

She said despite the state government making a 2022 election commitment of $20 million toward the construction of the sports centre, there was no line item for this expenditure in the 2023 budget.

The Treasurer has not revealed how much, or in what years, any funding will flow.

“The aquatic and sports facility is vital to the health and wellbeing of the people of Mernda and the government must not fail to deliver on its promised investment,” Ms Lovell said.

“The Treasurer must provide a breakdown over the forward estimates of how much funding will be provided each year, to ensure transparency over the project’s completion.”

Examining family history at Kilmore Historical Society

The North Central Review

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March 5, 2024

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Examining family history at Kilmore Historical Society

Kilmore Historical Society is calling out to residents looking at tracing their family history but are unsure where to start.

With the plethora of shows like ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’, online advertisements for various family tree programs and DNA testing, many people are taking the opportunity to answer the question; ‘Where do I come from?’

Kilmore Historical Society has scheduled an introductory workshop for Sunday, May 5, during the Australian Heritage Festival in April and May.

The workshop has been planned for the society’s rooms in the Old Kilmore Post Office on the corner of Powlett Street, with the final format still under consideration depending on the residents attending.

The society has invited people to reach out if they would be interested in attending and if they have a particular question they would like answered.

Topics that can be investigated include ‘where do I look for records of births, deaths and marriages?’, ‘am I able to see an ancestors last Will and Testament?’, and ‘where do I find cemetery records?’.

To register interest, people can contact the society by emailing kilmorehistoricalsociety@gmail.com.

Alternatively, people can visit the Old Kilmore Post Office – open every Tuesday and Thursday between 10am and 3pm, and again on Saturday morning between 10am and 1pm.

Ray Carroll’s ‘From the Boundary’: March 5, 2024

The North Central Review

Ray Carroll

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March 5, 2024

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Tales from yesterday

A young teenager, who spends much time in and out of hospital, is an avid reader so recently I tried him with some of the stories much loved by kids through the decades up until around the ‘60s. He loved them, especially the titles such as ‘The Willoughby Captains’, ‘The Master of the Shell’, ‘The Fifth Form of St Dominics’ and so on.

Writers like Talbot Baines Redd, Gunby Hadith and Harcourt Burrage knew how to enthral their young readers, particularly with some classic tales of boarding school life in England. Rollicking yarns from the classrooms, dormitories and sporting pursuits highlighted by inter-house rivalries, after lights out escapades, teacher or student heroics and much more.

Life was pretty similar in many ways within the great boarding citadels in this country. Assumption for much of its history housed up to three hundred and beyond boarders and the House system stood the test of time for several generations.

Cricket, footy and tennis were fiercely-contested and there was much pride and enormous spirit generated. ‘Colours’ equated to a badge of honour.

Times were different – to write now of the past is almost to write of a foreign country whose shores will not be reached again in this life.

Alongside the books that were so popular were the much-loved weekly comics. ‘Wizard’, ‘Hotspur’ and ‘Champion’ were devoured and took young readers on exciting journeys as well as enhancing reading skills.

On Monday mornings kids waited impatiently for the latest issue and were enthralled by such ‘legends’ as Rockfist Rogan the flying ace, Colwyn Dane – super-sleuth, Roy of the Rovers, Kangaroo Kennedy the whizzbang bowler, and probably best of all the mighty Wilson.

Wilson was a sporting superhero, multi-talented. Described as ageless, timeless and immortal, Wilson (he had no first name) was summoned from the mist-shrouded hills of the Derbyshire Peak District whenever England was in trouble on the Olympic fields, football or cricket pitches.

The mythical hero played pivotal roles in the Ashes Tests of 1882, 1926 and 1953, starred in the London Olympics in 1908 and 1948 and scored the winning goals in Wembley Cup finals.

After each display of heroics, Wilson disappeared back into the misty hills and valleys.

One of the fabled sporting poems of all time is Sir Henry Newbolt’s Vitai Lampada.

There’s breathless hush in the Close tonight Ten to make and the match to win

A bumping pitch and a blinding light, An hour to play and the last man in.

And it’s not for the sake of a ribboned coat, Or the selfish hope of a season’s frame,

But his captain’s hand on his shoulder smote ‘Play up! Play up! And play the game!’

The poem could describe many a game on fields, great or minor, and this writer experienced many across a four decade span at the helm of Assumption’s Xi’s.

The West asleep

The Kittyhawk (RAAF) is pictured flying over Horn Island, Queensland in 1943, the midst of World War Two. It seems this nation was far better prepared for war in the 1914-18 and 1939-45 conflict. Australia’s population at the time of World War One was barely five million and in 1940 it was seven million. Today the figure is twenty-seven million. Like most of all Western nations Australia is far less prepared today for war than in those earlier times.

Falling standards

It is sad that academy standards have fallen so badly in the last two decades across Australia. For generations this country was in the very top rank of countries, but sadly not now.

The picture shows students in an Assumption classroom over a hundred years ago in the midst of World War One. Classes were large and distractions were few and twenty-three years later many of the lads in the picture would have been fighting in the war zones of the terrible 1939-45 conflict. Most of them learned lessons of life, not only in the classroom but on the playing fields. I always felt the sports field was also a classroom where discipline, courage, teamwork, mateship, and respect for other were paramount. On the pavilion wall, among many posters, the following verse was prominent- it referred to students past;

‘Onward Blues, on!’

Her sons are scattered

far and wide

Beyond the sunset’s glow;

But she holds their heart with silken chord

Wherever they may go

In danger’s hour she sent her sons

To give all men can give

Some sleep quiet on alien shores

Who died that we may live.

City of Whittlesea wards structure finalised

Jordyn Grubisic

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March 5, 2024

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City of Whittlesea wards structure finalised

City of Whittlesea’s electoral structure will be amended prior to the October 2024 local government elections following review.

City of Whittlesea will adopt a 11 single-councillor ward structure with model one boundaries.

The ward names are Bundoora, Epping, Ganbu Gulinj, Kirrip, Lalor, Mernda, Mill Park, North, Painted Hills, South Morang and Thomastown.

However, Liberal Member for Northern Metropolitan Region Evan Mulholland said the state government’s decision to implement a large north ward ignored the pattern of booming population in the northern suburbs.

Mr Mulholland and Liberal Member for Northern Victoria Region Wendy Lovell submitted to the Victorian Electoral Commission that a single North Ward encompassing the entire northern half of the City of Whittlesea would leave residents underrepresented and likely to be contrary to the representation requirements laid out in the Local Government Act 2020.

The submission was based on demographic projections commissioned by City of Whittlesea which project Donnybrook, for example, to grow its population 27.37 per cent per annum.

Mr Mulholland said this meant by July 1, 2024 Donnybrook’s population would have reached around 7089, taking the new North Ward up to around 16,668 electors/residents and bringing the North Ward near to the 10 per cent electors cap provided under the Local Government Act.

On the same projections by October 1, 2024 Donnybrook alone would put the new North Ward well above the cap specified.

“One single ward and councillor for the entire northern half of the City of Whittlesea is ludicrous,” Mr Mulholland said.

“It flies in the face of clear population statistics and will leave local residents badly underrepresented.”

Ms Lovell wants the North Ward population fixed.

“Just one elected councillor for the highest growing population areas across half of the entirety of the City of Whittlesea is fundamentally undemocratic,” she said.

“I call on the State Government and VEC to urgently fix this before this year’s local government elections.”

However, in its submission the panel were satisfied the models were based on accurate forecasting stating that Mr Mulholland and Ms Lovell based their calculations on population data which included sections of the population not entitled to vote – such as those under the age of 18.

The full electoral structure report is available at localgovernment.vic.gov.au/council-governance/electoral-representation-advisory-panels-eraps.

Mitchell Shire Council encourages community to report vandalism of trees

The North Central Review

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March 5, 2024

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Mitchell Shire Council encourages community to report vandalism of trees

With a recent increase in vandalism of street trees across the Mitchell Shire, council said it was disappointed.

An incident late last year saw the deliberate snapping of 11 young Nyssa sylvatica trees along Powlett Street, Kilmore that were planted in 2020 and 2021.

In 2023 alone, a staggering 134 planted trees were vandalised and incurred costs exceeding $60,000 for council and ratepayers.

Beyond the financial impact, the destruction has resulted in a significant loss of time and effort invested in establishing these crucial green assets.

Mitchell Shire mayor Louise Bannister said the removal had impacts on all residents.

“The recent vandalism of Mitchell Shire’s street trees is not only disappointing but also expensive for council and ratepayers,” she said.

‘Trees are an important community asset and council spends a significant amount of its resources planting and maintaining them.”

Street trees play a pivotal role as public assets, contributing invaluable benefits to both the community and the environment including shade provision, improved air quality, mitigation of stormwater runoff, as well as aesthetic and economic value.

The removal or damage of any tree on council-managed property, including nature strips, parks and reserves is an offence.

Council takes these matters seriously and will pursue legal action against anyone found guilty of removing or deliberately damaging trees.

In addition to legal consequences, council reserves the right to seek reimbursement for damages caused to council land, covering removal and reinstatement costs.

The community can help protect these vital assets by reporting any acts of vandalism to council by calling 5734 6200 or using the online Report It tool.

“Please help us protect our trees by notifying council if you have any information about vandalism,” Cr Bannister said.

Quality op-shop goods at Freedom Care Kilmore

Jordyn Grubisic

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March 5, 2024

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Quality op-shop goods at Freedom Care Kilmore

Alongside food relief operations, Freedom Care also has an op shop filled with quality second-hand items at great prices including toys, kitchenware, clothing and jewellery.

Items are priced to sell with all tops $2, ladies’ dresses $4 and most expensive items – usually brand-new kitchenware – about $6.

Items like air fryers and electric frying pans are tested and tagged to ensure good condition.

Volunteer Kerry has been instrumental in lifting the op shop to its current high standard, joining Freedom Care over a year ago with wanting to volunteer during retirement.

“It was awful, dingy, packed with rubbish and so much shelving you couldn’t even walk through the walkways,” she said.

“I’m very tidy at home so this was such a challenge for me and I’ve loved it.

“I got rid of cupboards and shelving and lots of stuff. I know when I’ve gone to op shops and you see all this crinkled, horrible, dirty looking stuff it’s not nice. So I make sure we iron everything and just make it look great.”

Freedom Care Church pastor Frantz said the shop’s quality was ‘exceptional’.

“We get a lot of donations but we have very little space so Kerry and her team go through everything, keeping the best and we give what we can’t use to other op shops,” he said.

Kerry also places displays at the Freedom Care entrance, with an Easter display currently on show promoting the Easter raffle.

“My daughter’s friend works for Cadburys and they’re donating three big boxes of Easter eggs,” she said.

“I’m going to make little baskets and that adds to what we make and it just creates a bit of interest out the front.”

Tickets are $2 each or $3 for five.

“We don’t make a lot on the raffles, but because it’s donated anything we make is a bonus,” Kerry said.

“Everything we make goes back here and that’s why we’ve been really desperate to first of all get volunteers but also get donations because it’s spread so thinly.”

Kerry hoped more people would visit the op shop.

“People don’t know we’re here, which is really sad,” she said.

Mitchell Shire pop-up park feedback sought

The North Central Review

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March 5, 2024

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Mitchell Shire pop-up park feedback sought

Mitchell Shire Council invites residents to share their thoughts and ideas to help shape the future of Broadford’s Pop-Up Park.

The park is a trial project testing the idea for a future town square – an initiative identified as a priority in the Broadford Structure plan in 2022 based on feedback received from the community.

In November 2023, four parking spaces on Powlett Street were turned into a vibrant, temporary pop-up park.

The installation provided an opportunity to celebrate Christmas and showcase local skills.

The park displayed a community-led initiative of a Christmas tree made by the Broadford Men’s Shed and decorated by various community groups.

To create a more inviting and comfortable space, the Men’s Shed also built seating made from pallets and added turf and three young local artists created a colourful asphalt art mural on the surrounding road.

Community groups, local businesses and the broader community are encouraged to utilise the park for activities, classes and workshops.

It is perfect for small community gatherings and no booking is needed.

Mitchell Shire Council mayor Louise Bannister said council was ‘thrilled’ to see the positive response from the community towards the park.

“This project not only demonstrates our commitment to enhancing public spaces but also highlights the importance of community collaboration in driving meaningful change,” she said.

The park is scheduled to remain in place until the end of May 2024, serving as a communal space in the heart of Broadford, but there is potential for it to remain indefinitely subject to community feedback.

Two community information sessions will be at the park to find out more and provide feedback.

The first is today, March 5 from 2pm to 4pm and then Tuesday, April 2 from 11am to 1pm.

A survey is also available on the Engaging Mitchell website with hard copies available from one of council’s customer and library service centres.

“We believe the park has the potential to become a permanent fixture in our community, but we need your input to make informed decisions,” Cr Bannister said.

“Your feedback will shape the future planning process and ensure the space continues to serve the needs and aspirations of our community.”

Submissions close 5pm Sunday, May 5.