Police plea amid record road toll

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December 19, 2023

After a ‘horror year’ on Victorian roads with the annual road toll surging to a 15-year high, police are pleading with road users to be extra cautious over the Christmas period.

The Transport Accident Commission reported 283 lives lost in 2023 as of December 18 – 51 more people than last year.

Of the fatalities, 167 were in regional Victoria, 75 per cent of which occurred in 100 kilometre per hour speed zones.

As of mid-December, four lives were lost in the Mitchell Shire, including three drivers killed on the Northern Highway between Kilmore and Heathcote.

Passenger deaths more than doubled in Victoria since last year from 25 in 2022 to 58 as of mid-December.

Seymour Highway Patrol Sargeant Graeme Callaghan said the statistics were ‘concerning at a local level’.

“We’re doing everything we can to prevent trauma on the roads,” he said.

“It is a concern at this particular time of the year, especially when we’re coming into the Christmas period.”

The annual police Christmas blitz, Operation Roadwise, will this year be six days longer than last year’s operation, from December 15 to New Year’s Day.

The operation will enforce a highly visible police presence on roads, with alcohol and drug testing a major focus.

Police data showed an increase this month in drivers recording low-range drink driving readings, between 0.05 and 0.069 blood alcohol – likely due to drivers miscalculating their intake.

Last year, police conducted more than 200,000 preliminary breath tests and more than 5100 drug tests, with thousands more anticipated for this year.

Sgt Callaghan said drivers should always plan their night out and remain vigilant while driving to and from end-of-year social events.

“The last thing we want to do is knock on the door and say ‘unfortunately someone’s been killed or seriously injured’,” he said.

“[Police] are putting their best effort into making everyone’s holiday season safe and that they get to their holiday destination safely.”

Police will also prioritise investigating the roadworthiness of vehicles, including towed vehicles, and warn all motorists to expect to be pulled up this festive season.

Road Policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said those ignoring road rules would be up for a ‘costly Christmas’, with common penalties including:

Speeding by more than 10m/h but less than 15km/h – $385 and three demerit points;

Failing to wear a seatbelt – $385 and three demerit points;

Failing to obey traffic light – $481 and three demerit points;

Using mobile phone or device while driving – $577 and four demerit points.

Industrial action

Victoria Police will continue undertaking industrial action in pursuit of pay increases and better working conditions throughout Operation Roadwise, unless adequate negotiations occur.

A total of 17,500 unionised police officers commenced the strike on December 3 after negotiations with Victoria Police for a ‘fair and equitable’ enterprise agreement failed.

The previous agreement expired on November 30.

Police are demanding a four per cent pay rise and nine-hour shifts to form as part of the new agreement.

Phase one of the industrial action, which started on December 3, includes officers undertaking 19 protected industrial action measures, such as warning motorists of speed and red light cameras with flashing lights to decrease revenue generated through fines for the State Government.

Police have also refused to work overtime without payment and plastered their police vehicles in messaging including ‘Free labour thanks to Labor’ and ‘Made for more. Paid for less’.

Police Association Victoria secretary Wayne Gatt said the union members were overworked and undervalued.

“The government has shown our members incredible disrespect during these negotiations by leaving them hanging after they’ve endured the toughest four years in the history of policing in Victoria,” he said.

“If the government wants to attack the bottom lines of my members’ household, we’ll attack theirs.”

The Fair Work Commission approved the union to escalate industrial action last week.

If members vote to approve escalation, phase two will start after the conclusion of Operation Roadwise and will result in police refusing to issue speeding fines.

The union has also raised concerns regarding the decrease in opening hours at police stations, including at Epping Police Station, which will move from 24-hour to eight-hour reception.

Motorcyclist’s long road to recovery, see here.

Obituary: Farewell to a lion-hearted icon of Kilmore

Lauren Duffy

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December 19, 2023

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Obituary: Farewell to a lion-hearted icon of Kilmore

At the ripe of age of 167 years, Kilmore’s famous Red Lion statue died on Thursday.

Mr Lion faced ill-health for many years, slowly losing parts of his limbs, as he stood atop the Red Lion Hotel.

The sights and sounds that Mr Lion would have witnessed in his lifetime made him a beast with vast knowledge of Kilmore, its businesses, residents and visitors.

But he was a great keeper of secrets, and whatever he witnessed in Sydney Street and surrounds, and the hotel he stood atop, he took to his grave.

All the shenanigans that took place at Red Lion Hotel kept Mr Lion entertained over the years, but it was when patrons would climb atop the two-storey hotel to meet him personally that brought him the greatest joy.

Since Mitchell Shire Council last month ordered he be removed due to imposing a safety risk to pedestrians, many stories have emerged from several people who have in fact ridden Mr Lion.

Red Lion 3 — Decades of poor maintenance and neglect caused the unfortunate death of Mr Lion, who was falling to pieces, and literally crumbled on his return to the ground.

One local grandmother contacted the Review to tell of her family connection to Mr Lion – with four consecutive generations who have dared to climb onto the roof and take on the somewhat dangerous feat of riding the lion.

The first was a man, born locally in 1886, had gained his climbing skills by trying to catch koalas on his way home from school.

These early days of the hotel, built in 1856, was when Mr Lion was in his hey-day as a fit, healthy and proud beast. But it was also the days were there wasn’t a veranda on the pub to break the fall of anyone who dared straddle the lion, who stood precariously close to the edge.

The second generation of the family, born in 1921, rode Mr Lion in the days when the hotel did have a veranda, added in 1924.

The grandmother, who wished to remain anonymous, said his climb had occurred after a Kilmore Football Club win and ‘no doubt a belly full of beer’.

She said the next, born 1961, was a dare devil, and although the cracks were beginning to appear in Mr Lion by this time, he became the third generation of the family to claim the feat.

By this stage of Mr Lion’s life, he had become a centurion, and survived a truck crashing into the hotel veranda in 1969.

Several members of the fourth generation of the local family, egged on by their grandfather in his twilight years, climbed atop Mr Lion in the 1990s – it is thought the ageing icon was only held together by paint by then.

The grandmother admitted while it was sad to see Mr Lion’s demise, she was in fact happy he was removed so that the family’s fifth generation would remain ‘on the ground’.

‘Riding Red’ was an accomplishment of many, many people in Kilmore – a risky undertaking with most no doubt inebriated while doing so.

It is of course expected that inebriated people frequent a hotel, but the Red Lion Hotel has been so much more to Kilmore over many years, until its closure in 2020.

The hotel was built by Irishman John Butler, who was a leading Kilmore citizen and a councillor of the first Kilmore Municipal Council.

In fact, the first council elections were announced from the hotel’s balcony in 1856.

A fire in 1968 destroyed the kitchen and dining room, along with several other rooms at the hotel, but Mr Lion survived.

Mr Lion well and truly earnt his badge as a survivor over the years – how he put up with Kilmore’s weather for nearly 170 years, no one will ever know.

The hotel’s long history includes many family celebrations over the years, and it was once a popular nightspot attracting young people from far and wide.

It also hit the news headlines in the early 2000s when it emerged that Melbourne’s criminal underworld figure Tony Mokbel was linked to the ownership of the hotel.

In many ways the Red Lion Hotel and Mr Lion have become the symbol of Kilmore.

Kilmore Historical Society’s Francis Payne said the statue was a symbol of Kilmore’s identity – the town’s equivalent of Big Ben in London.

“If you grew up here, you grew up aware of the Lion,” he said.

The historical society had hoped Mr Lion could be removed, restored and preserved but it was not to be.

Decades of poor maintenance and neglect caused the unfortunate death of Mr Lion, who was falling to pieces, and literally crumbled on his return to the ground.

It was a sad ending for the proud icon, who would have been shattered that his falling body parts had caused such a danger to the passing people of Kilmore – a town he had kept a close eye on for the past 167 years.

Rest in Peace Mr Lion.

Donnybrook 20-year-old on recovery ‘rollercoaster’

Grace Frost

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December 19, 2023

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Donnybrook 20-year-old on recovery ‘rollercoaster’

It was a ‘split second misjudgement’ that saw 20-year-old Bradley Matthews flung from his motorbike after colliding with a car in October.

Today, the Donnybrook resident marks 61 days in recovery.

Mr Matthews shared from his Royal Melbourne Hospital bed the moment he still sees in nightmares – a reminder to remain diligent on the road.

A Friday evening ride on his motorbike took a turn for the worse at the intersection of Civic Drive and McDonalds Road in South Morang, near the South Morang train station.

Mr Matthews had stopped at the red light next to another motorcyclist.

He assumed the motorcyclist was in a straight lane and did not realise they intended to turn right.

When the motorcyclist took off at their green arrow, Mr Matthews mistakenly assumed that he also had the right of way to travel straight, pulling out as a car was travelling through the intersection.

“I’ve gone and gotten T-boned by a car,” he said.

Bradley Matthews motorbike crash e1702865276710 — Donnybrook’s Bradley Matthews collided with a car at a South Morang intersection on October 20.

Mr Matthews collided with the car at about 70 kilometres per hour, breaking his arm, dislocating his shoulder, smashing his pelvis, and suffering severe lower-abdominal injuries.

After a witness called his sister, Mr Matthews’ family and girlfriend tracked his phone via Find My iPhone, realising the incident was severe when they bypassed the Northern Hospital in Epping and instead arrived at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

“We had the surgeon come in to tell us that they were about to take him in for what would probably be a four-hour procedure,” Bradley’s mother Christina Matthews said.

“We weren’t sure at that point whether he’d come out.”

In a ‘pretty confronting’ first week, Mr Matthews underwent multiple surgeries, including the fitting of an external fixation to his pelvis.

Difficulty moving his legs means Mr Matthews must learn to walk again.

406275052 324463713864989 2226839214696662764 n — Bradley Matthews undergoes treatment for numerous injuries sustained in a motorbike accident in October.

While his injuries are likely to require a 12-month recovery, the trauma of the accident remains.

“[I’ve had] a lot of nightmares of just waking up to a car coming towards me,” Mr Matthews said.

“Getting transported from here to Epworth, which is the rehab facility, even that was a bit scary to even just get on the road even though I’m in the back of the car and can’t even see out.”

Bradley Matthews rehab — Rehabilitation was underway before further complications meant Bradley Matthews had to return to intensive care.

While still on a long road to recovery, Mr Matthews was lucky to escape death.

“For me, the hardest thing is not being able to do anything for him – literally nothing other than sometimes just putting my hands on him and praying,” Mrs Matthews said.

The road toll reached a 15-year high this year, according to Victoria Police data, with 280 people having lost their lives on Victoria’s roads.

Of the fatalities, 46 were motorcyclists.

With split-second decisions such as Mr Matthews’ proving life-changing, Seymour Highway Patrol Sergeant Graeme Callaghan urged motorists to remain attentive.

“The advice I give to anyone is pay attention – you’re in control of a motor vehicle,” he said.

“The hardest thing a police person can do in relation to attending accidents, in particular ones that have taken someone’s life, is going to the next-of-kin and telling them that their loved ones have passed away.”

As of day 57 on Friday, Mr Matthews was back in the intensive care unit to address further complications.

“I’m lucky to have mum, family and my girlfriend who always come in and are always by my side. It would be a lot harder to do this by yourself,” Mr Matthews said.

After recovery, he hopes to finish his final three weeks of training to become a qualified electrician.

He said his workplace, O’Brien Electrical Thomastown, had been ‘really helpful’ while undergoing rehabilitation.

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Concern over Sunday Creek gold mine prospects

Max Davies

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December 19, 2023

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Concern over Sunday Creek gold mine prospects

Members of the Clonbinane community have voiced concerns over a potential gold and antimony mine at Sunday Creek if current exploration works prove fruitful.

The Sunday Creek exploration project, operated by Southern Cross Gold, covers about 19,365 hectares over localities including Sunday Creek, Waterford Park, Reedy Creek, and Clonbinane.

Southern Cross Gold is currently operating under an exploration licence – issued by the Resources branch of the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions – and would not be the operator of a future mine at the Sunday Creek site.

Managing director Michael Hudson said there was a key distinction between exploration and mining, with the former typically much less impactful on the environment and communities.

“Exploration can lead to mining, otherwise we wouldn’t be spending our money trying to find something,” he said.

“There’s always risks and a lot of work to be done to get to any eventual mine, and most often they’re not [mined], but what we’re finding is quite encouraging.”

Southern Cross Gold general manager Lisa Gibbons.

The key concern for many residents is the mining of antimony.

While once considered a nuisance by past explorers, antimony is now highly valuable for its applications in metal alloying and electric vehicle and grid storage batteries, as well as in defence and industry for its fire-retardant properties.

According to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, DCCEEW, antimony can be toxic to humans depending on quantity and length of exposure.

Antimony exists naturally in the environment, and the general population is exposed to low levels everyday. Worksafe Australia classifies antimony as hazardous and various industries can release it into the air, resulting in higher levels in air, water and soil.

A letter sent to the Review by members of the Clonbinane community raised concerns over potential contamination of Sunday Creek Reservoir and the impact on residents and the environment.

“Thousands of people and children could be affected through contamination either by air or by entering our waterways and fresh rainwater tanks. Even our lovely natural creeks,” the letter said.

“We are very concerned about water and land contamination and the long-term health effects on our children, families, livestock and farms.”

The letter also addressed impacts on bore water supplies, while Sunday Creek Dry Creek Landcare member Jacqui Fulton raised the issue of water-use during both exploration and mining.

“Sunday Creek is a creek that goes underground as well as above ground, so our underground water and the usage of that is a real issue,” she said.

“Do we know what’s underground? How much do bores take out? Do we keep a record of that? Do we know? There’s just a lot of unknowns.

“I do appreciate that Southern Cross Gold attempted to answer questions as far as they know, but they often don’t know the answers to questions because there’s a lot of possibilities there.”

Resources Victoria is responsible for enforcing, monitoring and managing compliance of mining activities under the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990, MRSDA.

Under the MRSDA, ‘the licence holder needs to meet specific conditions and provide an approved work plan’.

Licence-holders are also responsible for minimising environmental, health and safety impacts on the mining region and the community.

Mr Hudson maintained Southern Cross Gold was ‘amazingly transparent’ and would endeavour to keep the community informed as best it could.

“That’s who we need to be and who we are, so we will absolutely share all information and bring people along with us as we learn what we’re learning,” he said.

“At the moment, it’s an exciting exploration project, and we get a lot of questions about engineering things before we’ve even got an answer to any of that, so guessing information is hard to do for a variety of reasons.

“We’re doing a whole lot of baseline work at the moment … just determining what the actual situation is while we’re in a completely low-impact [phase].”

Resources Victoria requires licence-holders provide monitoring and reporting data demonstrating compliance with the requirements of a mining licence and can be subject to a peer review or audit to verify findings and qualify any data concerns.

Exploration companies also have a duty to manage environmental impacts and consider land-use concerns, and must ensure measures are taken to minimise the impacts of drilling operations.

Southern Cross Gold is currently operating four diamond drill rigs at Sunday Creek to search for significant gold and antimony reserves up to one kilometre below the surface.

“If we had a different strategy, we could try and say ‘we got a small amount of gold here, we could start a smaller operation’,” Mr Hudson said.

“That’s not what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to start something that has a generational scale.”

Injury blow for Kilmore in GDCA cricket

Max Davies

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December 19, 2023

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A close game between Kilmore and East Sunbury in Johnstone Shield firsts action on Saturday was almost cut short following an injury scare late in the first innings.

Visitors East Sunbury won the toss and sent Kilmore in to bat first, with solid runs coming in for more than 40 overs.

In the last few overs of the innings, Kilmore batsman Brett Buttler was hit in the head with a ball, forcing him to go to hospital as a precaution at the halfway break.

The veteran was later found to have suffered concussion but no other major injuries.

The incident did, however, mean Kilmore lost one of its opening bowlers and a player on the field, leading to a scramble to find replacements – eventually filled by Kilmore players from two other divisions.

Coach and caption Jacob Walton said losing Buttler was a blow.

“Different people had to bowl in different spots because obviously [Buttler] couldn’t open for us, so Elliot [Frendo] opened and it was hard to play at times. It was a challenging day,” he said.

Kilmore was bowled out for 162 runs off 48 overs and the challenges meant East Sunbury was able to mount a charge to overcome the hosts in the second last over of the match, finishing eight for 164.

Kevin Craddock was a standout for Kilmore, making 62 runs alongside 20 from Walton, and a spate of smaller totals from the rest of the batting ranks.

During East Sunbury’s innings, it was Ben Dawson and Andrew Smith in the spotlight – bowling eight overs for 14 runs and eight overs for 2/25 respectively.

Josh Buttler also bowled later in the innings and took three wickets.

“They got off to a pretty good start, they were 27 off four overs and that sort of set them up,” Walton said.

“We fought back, haggled a few wickets and had them 8/140 with six overs to go, so it was probably anyone’s game but then they closed out.”

The Gisborne and District Cricket Association now heads into a break for Christmas, with Kilmore at home against Riddell when play resumes on January 6.

“The story of our season has been that we’ve been in good positions in most games, and just sometimes can’t seem to get across the line,” Walton said.

“If we keep playing like we’re playing and start winning these close ones, we can make a push for finals and see how far we can go.”

In other Johnstone Shield action, Wallan secured a dominant victory over Riddell to maintain its flawless season.

Riddell elected to bat first and made 8/115 runs in 40 overs, however Wallan was able to overcome the total in just over 24 overs to finish 5/116.

In the seconds competition, Wallan was also victorious over Riddell, while Broadford overcame Rupertswood in the only two-day match of the round and Kilmore fell short against East Sunbury.

The first match of the Johnstone Shield’s 2024 firsts competition will feature Broadford at home against East Sunbury and Wallan travelling to play Eynesbury, while the seconds competition will not return until January 13.

McIntyre Cup

Romsey finished the year as one of the undefeated sides following its victory over Sunbury Kangaroos.

After the match was abandoned due to poor weather the previous week, the one-day game got underway in Sunbury with Romsey electing to bat first.

The visitors made 9/208 runs, a total out of reach for the Kangaroos, who fell short, finishing with 8/160.

Romsey’s key rival Gisborne also recorded a victory on the weekend, securing a convincing win over Diggers Rest Bulla Village at home.

In the McIntyre Cup’s seconds competition Romsey was also victorious, defeating Sunbury Kangaroos 1/121 to 9/117 at home.

Romsey’s efforts were largely a two-pronged attack, as Jed Richardson and Logan Collins both made unbeaten half centuries.

Richardson also took three wickets, while Jake East and Darin Jewell took two apiece.

The McIntyre Cup’s firsts competition will return on January 6, with Romsey travelling to play sixth-placed Macedon.

Kilmore Bypass advocacy efforts begin

Jordyn Grubisic

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December 19, 2023

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Mitchell Shire Council will advocate for an independent Kilmore Bypass committee for community members to raise questions, queries and concerns.

All councillors – except Cr Bill Chisholm who abstained – voted to advocate to the Planning Minister for an independent planning panel or committee, and for additional bypass route information.

Cr Nathan Clark said the submission allowed council to advocate for the community while not hindering bypass progress.

“I’m certainly not going to be the one that stands in the way of the progress of the bypass. It’s something the community has been asking for, for a very long time,” he said.

“We need to remove the congestion caused by trucks through the centre of the town. We know at busy times it’s already busy enough already so removing all the trucks from that would certainly help.”

Council supports the Department of Transport and Planning’s, DTP, decision to align the bypass between Willowmavin Road and Northern Highway/Wandong Road intersection however it is believed the route had limited opportunity to be reviewed and considered by council, the Kilmore community and Northern Highway road users including freight operators.

The proposed route will connect to the Northern Highway north of Kilmore via a new roundabout located on a section of the highway with known challenging conditions including steep grades.

Council’s submission additionally request DTP provide further information about the proposed roundabout’s ability for heavy vehicles to safely use it and the impact of an additional intersection on travel times along this section of the highway.

Cr Chisholm abstained from voting for the submission as he had ‘some reservations’.

“I definitely don’t want to hold up the process because it’s been well and truly held up before … but this route adds an extra roundabout to the whole process,” he said.

“Until you see costings and the details, I’m not sure that it’ll be a really effective bypass but if we have more details I could make a better decision.”

Cr Fiona Stevens said council was not going to stand in the way of progress on the longstanding, ongoing bypass issue.

“It may not be perfect but we have to keep it moving and this is just another step in that process,” she said.

“We all want to see this bypass go through to get moving on it. Let’s progress the ticking off of the boxes that we have to do but it also says we are going to seek clarification to some commitments and some items because there is a little bit of uncertainty on something.

“We will also continue to advocate to the State Government for the delivering of the Kilmore Bypass – there’d be nothing better than to one day be alive to see the shovels in the ground to start the process.”

Concerns were also raised about land acquisition being inconsistent with the Kilmore Structure Plan 2017 and three new properties affected by the proposed route, requesting landowners of those properties be afforded the opportunity to submit concerns or comments for consideration.

Water safety a focus this summer

Max Davies

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December 19, 2023

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As the warmer months arrive and Australians head to pools and waterways to cool off, people are reminded to take extra care in and around water during the most dangerous time of year for drowning.

Life Saving Victoria’s Drowning Report 2022-23 revealed there were 59 fatal drownings in the state in the past financial year, a 33 per cent increase on the 10-year average.

Forty-one per cent of incidents occurred in summer, with regional residents 1.5 times more likely to drown than those in metropolitan areas.

While drownings on inland and coastal waterways in the past year were largely consistent with the 10-year average, there was an 88 per cent increase in drownings that occurred in water bodies around the home such as pools and bathtubs.

Life Saving Victoria research and evaluation manager Hannah Calverley said Victorians needed to be aware of that waterways around the home were a risk.

“Children always need to be actively and constantly supervised in and around aquatic environments, whether that’s around the home, beach or a river,” she said.

People aged 65 years and over recorded the highest drowning rate for 2022-23, while males recorded more than double the number of incidents as females at 42 to 17.

In a dramatic increase on the 10-year average, eight drownings were recorded as a result of disasters or extreme weather.

Meanwhile, there was a 22 per cent reduction on the 10-year average in fatal drownings for people aged zero to 14.

“Water safety is such an important lifelong skill for children to learn and Life Saving advocates for all parents and caregivers to enrol their children in swimming and water safety lessons,” Dr Calverley said.

“We know many child-related drownings occur because of accidental entry through things like slips, trips, and falls, but it’s really imperative they learn how to get out of a situation that’s dangerous.”

The Review reported in October that Wallan eight-year-old Jax Murphy saved his friend from drowning in a house pool using skills learned at his swimming lessons.

Jax and his seven-year-old friend were playing outside when they lost their ball over his house’s pool fence.

While Jax attempted to retrieve it using a pool net, his friend went to the opposite end of the pool but fell in and began to struggle.

@kelmur77 8 year old saves friend from drowning. #swimming #swim #drown #drowning #rescue #lifesaver #hero #swimminghero #lifesaving #lifesavingskills #kingswim #swimmersafety #savedlife #herochild #childhero #drowningrescue #heroboy #boyhero #swimmingskills #learntoswim #drowned #drowningchild #neardeath #almostdied #learntoswim #swimschool #littlehero #drowningvictim #cantswim #almostdrowned #aussie #australia #aussiekid #aussiehero ♬ Sad Music – Max-Music

Watch the security camera footage of Jax saving his friend from drowning.

When Jax attempted to help, he was pulled in as well.

Within 30 seconds, Jax was able to react quickly and help his friend towards the pool steps to safety, despite being constantly pushed underwater.

Mother Kellie said while it was important to learn swimming techniques and strokes, it was equally important for children to learn water survival skills.

“I know that because of the years of lessons Jax has had, it helped him to remain calm, and to use the net as a device to assist him retrieve the ball,” she said.

“I don’t consider swimming lessons a choice – they are compulsory for my kids, and I don’t include it in their ‘choice of extracurricular sport’.

“Swimming lessons should never be seen as an extravagant extracurricular sport – every single parent should consider them compulsory.”

Life Saving Victoria also reminded people to be aware of the risks of swimming in rivers and lakes and to always swim within monitored areas when at the beach.

Broadford football latest: AFL Victoria’s influence limited

Jordyn Grubisic

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December 19, 2023

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Broadford football latest: AFL Victoria’s influence limited

AFL Victoria has clarified its position about the structure of leagues and clubs, telling the Review its ‘ability to influence is determined by league constitutions and what they allow’.

The information follows Broadford Football Netball Club‘s announcement earlier this month that its football department would go into recess in 2024, following rejection of its application to join the Kyabram District Football Netball League, KDFNL.

AFL Victoria advised BFNC an appeal was unavailable due to the transfer being from a metropolitan-based league, Outer East Football Netball League, to a country-based league, KDFNL.

An AFL Victoria spokesperson said AFL Victoria became involved where objection of a club occurred with AFL general management regularly contacting BFNC and KDFNL.

“Given AFL Victoria has a responsibility to hear objections, we cannot lobby for an outcome prior, but we can advise parties as to the process and strategies to use,” they said.

“Transfers from country league to country league are managed by the country rules and governed by the relevant region.

“The processes are consistent from metro to country, except any appeal or objection is managed by the region.

“In metro to metro or metro to country, AFL Victoria would hear the objection/appeal where permitted under the regulations.”

The AFL Victoria spokesperson said its ability to influence was determined by league constitutions and what was allowed when it came to the entry of new clubs.

“Local governing bodies are entitled to manage their organisations and operate within a framework of rules which we provide,” they said.

“That framework doesn’t prevent AFL Victoria, a country region or a metro association to force a league to accept a club outside their constitutional processes.

“We are always looking to improve the processes of community football but that requires all leagues, regions and clubs to be aligned.

“In 2023 there were 85 leagues across Victoria, which shows the scale and breadth of Victorian community football.”

The recession of BFNC has again brought attention to recession of clubs, particularly country clubs with the Yea Tigers football department having gone into recession last OEFNL season.

The AFL Victoria spokesperson said their role was guidance and support while ensuring independence of leagues.

“Our role, in conjunction with the relevant league, is to ensure clubs are maximising their potential and to provide guidance and support where possible, while respecting the independence maintained by leagues across the state, which is for the most part what leagues want,” they said.

“Clubs go into recess for various reasons and often these reasons are complex.

“Some clubs and regions are facing challenges beyond football while many areas and clubs are thriving, which record participation numbers support. Pleasingly, there are great stories emerging of clubs coming out of recess, with Corowa Rutherglen and Mentone Panthers two such examples for 2024.

“In 2023 across Victoria, there were more than 1040 community football clubs so there is always likely to be examples of a small number of clubs facing challenges. AFL Victoria is there to support those clubs.

“Tens of thousands of volunteers are the lifeblood of community football and much of the support provided by AFL Victoria is aimed at easing the burden on clubs and the volunteers who run them.”

The AFL Victoria spokesperson said AFL Victoria had been in regular contact with BFNC throughout the past 12 months including the head of AFL Victoria attending the club.

Following BFNC’s announcement its football would go into recession, president Bonnie Welch said AFL Victoria should consider a structural review.

“There is a clear need for an overall AFL Victoria structure review to ensure that viable clubs aren’t forced into an untenable situation,” she said.

“We are not the first club and certainly won’t be the last to be put in this position.”

The spokesperson said AFL Victoria had many programs and support available for community clubs including 24 country Victoria clubs receiving 2023 WorkSafe Club Safety Fund grants and the TAC Club Rewards Program giving clubs the opportunity to earn a share of $500,000 annually.

Wallan students step into nature

The North Central Review

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December 19, 2023

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Our Lady of the Way Catholic Primary School students installed 10 bird boxes along the creek at Wallan Community Park earlier this month to connect with nature.

Merri Creek Management Committee member and Upper Merri Landcare facilitator Chris Cobern guided the grade five students, explaining the birds and creatures.

Mr Cobern said it was a good program for students to be involved with the natural habitat.

“You need to really appreciate the wildlife that we’re so lucky to have here, and the kids, who I suppose when they’re young, they’re enthusiastic and they’re keen to learn,” he said.

“Maybe projects like this, getting the kids outdoors, maybe that’ll give them more of an interest and a love and appreciation of nature, which they’ll keep with them into being adults, and then pass it onto their children.

“I think it’s important for future generations and for this generation to grow up with that, sort of, in a moment to appreciate and learn about it and know what’s around you too, not be ignorant to all these things.”

Throughout the year, grade five students have been learning about sustainability – and teacher Jennifer Bryan wants to implement even more about the topic into the school.

“Sustainability is so important – we’ve actually implemented it pretty much the whole year. On Mondays, we usually go out for gardening,” she said.

“It’s about teaching the kids that nature isn’t just a home for us, it’s a home for animals as well.”

Ms Bryan said students needed more exposure to their surroundings.

“We actually have to come out and be with nature and be in nature to understand it, and I link it very highly to Indigenous perspectives as well. We’re actually connecting to country, we’re not just here passing through,” she said.

SDCA cricket: Tallarook terrorises Tigers

Jordyn Grubisic

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December 19, 2023

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SDCA cricket: Tallarook terrorises Tigers

Tallarook Cricket Club hunted down Yea Tigers in the final Seymour District Cricket Association, SDCA, round before the Christmas break.

Winning the toss Yea elected to bat and it was a rough start.

Tallarook had Yea at 2/12 early before the next partnership proved to be Yea’s biggest, adding 35 runs to the total.

The home side took another wicket before claiming the wicket of Yea’s leading run scorer Jake Fish and then enforcing another duck for the Tigers.

The next Yea partnership put on 25 runs before another wicket as Tallarook continued slicing through the batting order – including two ducks for the final wickets.

Yea’s innings was over early with the side all out for 107, off 26.4 overs.

Tallarook vice-captain Kalon Winnell was formidable, taking 4/16.

Tallarook captain Lachlan Watts said the side got the jump on the Tigers early.

“We were on top of Yea from the start thanks to some tight bowling from Blake [Munari-O’Dwyer] and Dale [Short] who had them a few down very early,” he said.

“They got a little partnership on in the middle overs but we were able to keep that under control and Kal Winnell mopped up the tail really well, finishing with four wickets.”

Tallarook’s opening batsmen – Joshua Rudge and Andrew Dundon – made themselves comfortable at the crease.

Dundon hit 31 off 36 balls before being caught, ending a 54-run partnership with Rudge.

Watts then stepped in with Rudge and the pair continued stacking up the runs before Tallarook reached 1/109, off 15.1 overs, to win the match.

Watts said it was a great win before the break.

“It’s always a massive boost getting a big win in before the Christmas break,” he said.

“Sometimes the small total can be a little challenging, but Andy Dundon came out swinging and we were off to a flyer.

“Josh Rudge is having a great year and finished with eight boundaries. To chase down over 100 in 15 overs is a great effort.

“We still feel our best cricket is ahead of us, so we’re pleased to be sitting in third going into the break knowing there’s plenty of room for improvement.”

At Chittick Park, Seymour 3/85 defeated Alexandra 10/82 while its Seymour neighbours at Kings Park, Eastern Hill remain undefeated beating Avenel 6/207, 45 overs, to 10/103, off 34.1 overs.

It was the final SDCA round before the holiday break with the competition resuming for round 10 on Saturday, January 13.