Giving for a good cause

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April 7, 2026

IT was a memorable day for many around the Mitchell Shire as the community opened up to be as generous as possible for those in need on Good Friday.

Volunteers from across town at multiple CFAs were out and about on Friday as residents opened up and shared the opportunity to help the Good Friday Appeal for the Royal Children’s Hospital.

The overall total broke new ground for the Good Friday Appeal, raising a total of $25,268,485.

Overall, just over $138,500 was donated from registered towns across the Mitchell Shire.

Wallan residents donated $34,092.91, Kilmore $32,849.08, Seymour and District $31,371.24, Broadford $21,110.65, Wandong $12,133.72, Clonbinane $3,605.90 and Avenel $3.363.94.

Pointer 1 1068w WebRdy — CELEBRATION TIME: The Kilmore Fire Brigade celebrated a terrific day on Good Friday, raising over $14,000 towards the Good Friday Appeal.

At Kilmore, the Kilmore Fire Brigade tirelessly went out through the streets to raise money and announced on social media that they had raised an incredible $14,856.50 towards the cause.

“This could not have been done without everyone’s support. Thank you to those who donated and those who popped into the streets to say hello to our friendly faces,” the Kilmore Fire Brigade wrote on social media.

Wallan Fire Brigade also thanked the community for their support and donations, putting together a total of $8,417.25.

“We know this year has brought ongoing cost-of-living pressures and uncertainty for many households, and times may feel especially challenging right now. We are grateful for any support you were able to give,” they wrote on social media.

Overall, the CFA produced an incredible $2,150,000 for the Royal Children’s Hospital, celebrating 75 years of donating to the Good Friday Appeal.

The CFA has now contributed over $43 million in 75 years of fundraising, as the Good Friday Appeal also celebrated 95 years of contributions from all walks of life.

Acting CFA Chief Officer Alen Slijepcevic said he was proud of all CFA members for their efforts.

“As an organisation, we are incredibly proud of our CFA members’ efforts each year who lend their time to fundraise alongside the Victorian community for such a worthwhile cause,” he said.

“Thank you to all participating brigades across Victoria for your contribution to this year’s Appeal and for the work you do in your local towns not only to protect them but to also help save young lives.

“Many of our members have required the services of the RCH, and it is an absolute privilege to be a part of raising such important funds and to see direct results of that fundraising that the brigades do put toward technology and research to help our Victorian children.”

Pothole dramas in Wallan

The North Central Review

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April 7, 2026

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A BIG pothole on Wallan’s main street is leaving residents exasperated, with one resident even going to the lengths of putting up a sign to point out the problem area in town.

The sign was posted over the weekend, with a stern message calling to fix the growing pothole – one of many that has plagued the Northern Highway over the years.

The sign was met with amusement in the Wallan Community Group on Facebook.

One resident said in the group that the road was managed by VicRoads, and that it didn’t yet fit the criteria to be fixed compared to other problematic potholes on managed roads across the state, meaning that residents had to be patient for the time being and avoid it on the road.

“These potholes get measured weekly on inspections and are under 100mm in depth therefore they aren’t allowed to repair yet, as there are other hazardous potholes that take priority,” they wrote.

“I agree with everyone else they need to be done, but when there’s holes 200mm deep and 3m long obviously they attend that first.”

Others suggested novel approaches to get the hole fixed quickly, including a reprise of the famous plant technique which had got potholes fixed in the past.

“Maybe if someone plants some flowers in it action will be taken quickly like the last time someone planted flowers in one of Wallan’s other notorious craters,” one resident wrote.

“Someone needs to plant a plant in it,” said another.

One resident said they loved the pothole as a way to deter tailgaters.

“I actually love that pothole. Easy to dodge, and idiot tailgaters never manage to work out why I’m moving to the right,” they wrote.

Minister for Children stops by

The North Central Review

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April 7, 2026

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VICTORIAN Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn visited Beveridge on Thursday, March 26, meeting with local maternal and child health staff to discuss the needs of young families in one of Mitchell Shire’s fastest growing communities.

The visit provided an opportunity to hear directly from frontline staff about the increasing demand for early years services, as population growth continues to place pressure on local families and infrastructure.

During the visit, Council highlighted several key advocacy priorities, including the urgent need for a public secondary school in Kilmore and additional schooling options in Beveridge, where only one primary school currently serves a rapidly expanding population.

Students in the area are currently travelling significant distances to access secondary education, placing added pressure on families and neighbouring schools.

Mitchell Shire Council CEO Mary Agostino also reinforced the importance of delivering critical infrastructure such as the Camerons Lane Interchange Upgrade, which will improve safety, reduce congestion and support future growth.

Longer-term community needs were also raised, including the proposed Greenhill Recreation Precinct in Wallan, which would provide regional sport, health and aquatic facilities for Beveridge, Wallan and surrounding communities.

“Beveridge is growing quickly, and that growth is being felt right across early years, schools and community infrastructure,” Ms Agostino said.

Fire-hit councils push for more funds

Ashok Verma

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April 7, 2026

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FIFTEEN Victorian councils, including Mitchell, Murrindindi and Strathbogie Shire councils, will share in $15 million federal-state governments’ funding for 27 new community recovery officers and recovery hubs investment.

But the funding falls short as the region’s councils battle on with the recovery process after the January bushfires’ havoc, and there are calls for more.

Murrindindi Shire Council Mayor Damien Gallagher said the January bushfires had an unprecedented impact across Murrindindi Shire, affecting more than 20 communities and resulting in widespread devastation across farmland, residential areas and critical infrastructure.

Cr Gallagher said based on current assessments, the municipal recovery task alone is estimated at around $105 million, which is far beyond the council’s capacity to deliver on its own.

“This figure reflects council‑related recovery costs only. The financial impact on the community is significantly higher. For example, the cost to replace the almost 5000km of fencing alone across the shire is now estimated to exceed $120-140 million. This single category of loss highlights the scale of recovery facing landholders and primary producers, in addition to the costs being carried by the council.”

Cr Gallagher said the council welcomes the support provided by the state and federal governments to date, including the $15 million originally announced on January 14, and recently confirmed, for fire‑impacted councils across Victoria.

He said the council’s allocation is $1.3 million, representing less than 9 per cent of the grant pool. “This assistance is an important contribution to locally led recovery, and we remain hopeful that our ongoing discussions with government agencies about the scale and complexity of recovery in Murrindindi are being heard.

“What is particularly important in this context is proportionality. Murrindindi has experienced a significant share of the statewide impact from the January fires. Of the 451 homes destroyed across Victoria, 217 were in Murrindindi, around 48 per cent.

“The council will continue to work constructively with state and federal governments to ensure funding decisions are grounded in evidence‑based assessments of impact, geography and recovery cost. Recognising both the municipal and community‑wide scale of loss will be critical to ensuring recovery funding is proportionate and sufficient to support long‑term resilience.

Mitchell Shire Mayor John Dougall said this funding is an important step in supporting bushfire-affected communities, particularly by strengthening local coordination on the ground.

“However, the scale of the damage across Victoria is significant, and recovery will require sustained investment over time,” he said.

“We’re pleased with the level of support received through current funding streams. While additional funding is always beneficial in supporting expanded recovery and resilience activities, particularly mental health, council continues to focus on maximising the impact of available resources through effective coordination and triage-based support.

“We are also seeking other supports in partnership with Strathbogie Shire Council and Murrindindi Shire Council that includes funding for our tourism and business community as they have been hit hard with the fall of visitors to the region, along with additional financial support for impacted properties.”

The latest cash offer is jointly funded under the Commonwealth‑State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

The money is part of $370 million in relief and recovery support the governments have committed under the DRFA.

Support for Mitchell youths

The North Central Review

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April 7, 2026

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YOUTHS in the Mitchell Shire have peace of mind, with the Mitchell Youth Council partnering with the Mental Health Foundation Australia (MHFA) to launch a free pop-up psychological counselling hub at the Broadford Youth Centre for the next six months.

The service will offer safe, non-judgmental and local protection for youths, with short-term counselling and early intervention support provided by psychologists and counsellors. Young people are encouraged to support the service, as are families and carers.

The service will be free for vulnerable community members across the Mitchell Shire, which will also have a simple, confidential intake which guides the level of support needed to young people.

It followed successful advocation from the Mitchell Youth Council to score funding from the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal to support its Mental Health Initiative.

The funding allowed The Bridge Youth and Family Services to deliver its early intervention program until October.

The program includes one-on-one support, goal setting and case management, therapeutic interventions and flexible appointment options.

Mitchell Shire Council Mayor Councillor John Dougall said this was an important moment for the Mitchell community.

“Creating safe, accessible mental health support close to home is one of the most important things we can do for our young people,” he said.

“This partnership between the Mental Health Foundation Australia and our Youth Council shows what’s possible when community, service providers and young leaders work together.

“We know many families are facing long wait times or long travel distances to get help, so having free, early‑intervention counselling available right here in Broadford will make a real difference.”

MHFA Vice-Chairperson Jim Goodin said there was shared commitment with the Mitchell Youth Council.

“As the Vice-Chairperson of the Mental Health Foundation Australia, I am pleased to launch the free Pop-up Psychological Counselling Hub for young people in Broadford to make early mental health support available close to home,” he said.

“Working alongside the Mitchell Shire Youth Council, we are committed to reducing barriers such as travel, wait times and costs, so young people can get timely, compassionate care when they need it.”

Elms donation for BlazeAid

The North Central Review

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April 7, 2026

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TOUCHED by the devastation faced by victims of recent bushfires in regional Victoria, Elms Retirement Village residents decided to lend a hand.

They organised donations, and in a heartfelt ceremony last Tuesday morning, presented a cheque for $3050 to BlazeAid director Kevin Butler.

“We actually put out an appeal. We put out a letter explaining what happened at Longwood, the bushfire devastation, and asked people to put a donation in an envelope,” Elms Residents Committee secretary Marlene Gooding said.

“Kevin Butler came down and did a beautiful presentation of what they have been doing, and we were all keen to support it. We did a presentation and then a morning tea after that. It was just a couple of hours, but it was just to say thank you to the community who donated, and to give them a bit more insight in what they actually donated,” Mrs Gooding said.

BlazeAid, an organisation started by Kilmore East farmers Kevin and Rhonda Butler in response to the devastating Black Saturday bushfires in 2009, helps people rebuild their lives after fires, floods and droughts.

The residents regularly organise fundraisers to help worthy causes. Last year, they raised funds for cancer victims and plan a similar fundraiser in June.

Five-figure fine imposed for waste

The North Central Review

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April 7, 2026

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IT WAS like a reverse burglary, where someone cut padlocks to get in and left something behind; in this case 100 cubic metres of industrial waste dumped on a property at Beveridge.

Officers from EPA Victoria received a tip-off in December that skip loads of waste were being dumped on rural land on Old Sydney Road. When they investigated, they found the waste was full of clues that pointed to Ravenhall skip bin contractor, Victoria Skip Bins Pty Ltd.

The company has been fined $10,176 for the unlawful deposit of more than 1000 litres of waste and issued with a regulatory notice requiring it to clean up the waste and send it for proper disposal.

The dumped waste included boxes from electrical appliances with serial numbers that led to the installers, personal documents with names and addresses, contractors’ receipts that led back to a building site and documents from a commerical premises renovation.

The clues led to people and companies who had hired the same skip bin business to remove waste. They included contractors, builders, materials suppliers and private citizens.

EPA officers observed that between December 20, 2025 and January 5, 2026, 13 more loads of waste arrived on the property, each one corresponding with the capacity of an eight cubic metre skip bin. They estimated the total volume of waste at 104 cubic meters.

The waste included construction and demolition waste, plastics, and household waste.

EPA Northeast Regional Manager Ben Kneebone says EPA doesn’t hesitate to investigate and hold the culprits to account.

“EPA acts on multiple sources of intelligence including reports from the community. There are many eyes and ears watching illegal dumpers; if you choose to do the wrong thing and dump waste illegally, you face fines or prosecution in court,” Mr Kneebone said.

“Anyone hiring a skip bin can take simple steps to make sure their waste doesn’t wind up dumped in the bush or on someone’s farm,” he said.

“Choose a respectable firm, make sure they’re using EPA Waste Tracker, ask to see the receipts that show they take waste to a licensed landfill or recycling facility, and beware of suspiciously low prices.”

“By taking that bit of extra care you can make sure your waste goes to the right place and help to stop illegal operators from undercutting legitimate local businesses,” Mr Kneebone said.

Green light for bridge traffic

Jo Kubeil

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April 7, 2026

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A MAJOR milestone in the Inland Rail Project was marked last month as two-way traffic was reinstated over the new Hamilton Street bridge at Broadford for the first time.

On Monday, March 30, traffic controls including the shuttle flow access to support vehicles to cross over the freight rail line connecting Melbourne and Brisbane were removed for a short time.

An Inland Rail spokesperson said: “Opening two lanes of traffic on the new Hamilton Street bridge marks an important milestone for the project. Work will continue over the coming months to complete the new shared user path and pedestrian access.”

“We thank the Broadford community for their patience and cooperation as we complete the project.”

Broadford resident Bernie Bayley has used the bridge around six times since it reopened.

She said: “I don’t mind the bridge itself, but traffic lights are needed. The height does not concern me. However, there sure are a lot of elderly drivers in Broadford and you can see the confusion as it is a busy intersection.”

Sandy Wigtil Sexton and Eric Andersen, whose residence is to the north of the bridge, said: “We’re glad it is open. It is not as bad as we all thought it was going to be. It’s not that steep that you cannot see where you are going. It could be attractive when it is finished and we are looking forward to the landscaping.”

Commuters enjoy free travel

The North Central Review

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April 7, 2026

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RURAL and regional residents, like the rest of Victorians, are enjoying free public transport this month, but more answers are being sought about the flow-on effects to free public transport, particularly with the much-talked about availability issues plaguing the Seymour and Shepparton lines.

The State Government announced measures last Sunday to bring free public transport for a month as a solution to navigate the fuel crisis brought about by conflict in the Middle East, with fuel ships struggling to pass the Strait of Hormuz.

As part of the free month, operators, according to the government, have made plans to manage demand on all lines, including Shepparton and Seymour.

Posts on the Seymour Train-line Action Group Facebook group, however, suggest that commuters faced the prospect of having to board with reduced-capacity carriages over the first two days of the free service, as spacing issues continue to be prominent.

The 6.57am service from Seymour to Southern Cross on Wednesday ran with just two carriages, as did the 5.03pm train going the opposite direction on Tuesday night.

Premier Jacinta Allan said with fuel prices rising, free public transport for a month takes pressure off the pump.

“This won’t solve every problem, but it is an immediate step to help Victorians right now.”

Minister for Public and Active Transport Gabrielle Williams said people using public transport regularly this month will save $228.

“If you still have to drive, this benefits you, too – it reduces pressure on fuel prices and gets cars off the road.”

Travel on trains, trams and buses – metro and regional – is free until the end of April for everyone. This is a temporary measure to help.

Passengers will not have to touch on with their myki – all myki gates will be open. Myki passes (such as a yearly) will automatically be paused, to resume after April.

People do not need a ticket to travel on V/Line trains. However, they will need to book a free ticket to secure their seat on V/Line coaches.

A government spokesperson said the network operators have put plans in place to manage demand. “Trains, trams and buses will get busier, but we know we can keep more people moving, because our government has expanded our transport system and added thousands of extra services to the network. We will continue to monitor specific lines and stations, including those that are impacted by major project works.”

Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) President Brett Hosking said farmers welcome the Premier’s move to make public transport free, following calls from the farming community.

“With fuel still under pressure, free public transport is one of the few practical levers available to help Victorians conserve fuel and save money.

“If Victorians make the switch, it can make a real difference. Every commuter who leaves their car at home frees up fuel for the essential, time-critical work that keeps Victorians fed, whether that’s ensuring livestock are fed and cared for, or getting crops in the ground.”

“We’re grateful the Premier has listened and acted. This is not a silver bullet and must be one of many levers pulled to navigate this crisis.”

Big return for Tallarook

The North Central Review

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April 7, 2026

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FRESH off the conclusion of a successful 2025–26 season, the Tallarook Cricket Club has wasted no time making a powerful early statement, securing the return of premiership player and former coach Jac Smith-Williams ahead of the 2026–27 Seymour District Cricket Association (SDCA) campaign.

The signing represents a significant moment for the club, reinforcing both its playing strength and leadership depth following an era of sustained on-field success.

As Tallarook sets its sights on achieving a first-ever five consecutive A-grade premierships in club history, the return of Smith-Williams adds proven quality to a group already established as the benchmark of the competition.

Smith-Williams returns following a highly successful previous stint at Tallarook, where he played a central role in the club’s 2018–19 and 2019–20 premierships as player-coach. During that period, he firmly established himself as one of the leading players in the competition.

His individual honours include the SDCA Batting Award (2018–19), Tallarook batting awards (2017–18, 2018–19), and the Club Champion award (2018–19).

Across his time at the club, Smith-Williams compiled 1,788 runs at an average of 52.59, including three centuries and thirteen half-centuries, highlighting his reliability at the top level.

In addition to strengthening the playing group, Smith-Williams will take on an expanded role within the club as Batting and Fielding Coach, further supporting Tallarook’s high-performance standards.

Tallarook President Mitch Itter said the club moved decisively to bring Smith-Williams back.

“We identified early that bringing Jac back was a priority, and we’re thrilled to get it done so soon after the season,” Itter said.

“This is a massive signing for our club. Jac knows what success looks like here and has already been a big part of it.”

Itter said Smith-Williams’ cricketing ability and overall impact made him a priority signing.

“Jac is an elite cricketer at this level, his record speaks for itself, and he performs in big moments. He’s a proven run-scorer, but more importantly, he understands how to win games and contribute to successful teams,” he said.

“He sets a really high standard in how he prepares and goes about his cricket. That professionalism lifts the group, and that’s just as valuable as what he produces on the field.

“As we look toward the next season and the opportunity to achieve something special, having someone who can contribute at a high level while also helping drive standards across the group is really important.

“His experience, leadership and ability to influence both games and people will add real value to our club.”

Smith-Williams’ return further strengthens Tallarook’s position as a leading force in the SDCA, with the club well placed ahead of the 2026–27 season.