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Kilmore junior soccer team qualify for final

The North Central Review
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Kilmore junior soccer team qualify for final

A small group of young footballers will represent the Mitchell Shire in the finals of the Football Victoria Summer Cup.

With the official end of the football season complete and changes taking place at their usual Mitchell Rangers Club, the team was required to enter the tournament under their own team name and resources.

The Kilmore Stallions was born, and a playing kit was quickly designed with support of sponsors to fund the team’s costs.

Team manager Mark Tippet said the team’s ability to compete had been far from smooth sailing and the qualification into the final stage of the tournament marked a significant achievement.

Under the guidance of local under 10 coach Ronell Kumar, a short training program at Broadford Secondary College was designed so the boys would be ready for the group stage of the competition.

The team started off with a respectable 2-0 loss to Port Melbourne Sharks.

“Considering the facilities, resources, coaching program of their opposition, it was a great effort for our local team to push their well known opposition in a close contest,” Mr Tippet said.

“But sometimes the kids raised in the country have such a grit and determination, the young kids weren’t going to be satisfied with close enough is good enough.

The Kilmore Stallions fought back in their next game with a 4-1 victory against Rising Tekkers Football Club and went into day two of the tournament with a chance to progress.

The next game was against top-of-the-table Spring Hills, with Kilmore securing a draw.

Down 0-1 at halftime, the Stallions dug deep to clinch an important goal in the second half and hold onto a draw.

Mr Tippet said the final hurdle was the fancied Whittlesea Ranges, who boasted a number of talented players in elite training programs.

“But our country kids did the region proud with a gutsy 1-0 win,” he said.

After the game, coach Ronell Kumar said he couldn’t be prouder of the team.

“We aren’t scared of playing against the big teams and I really believe in the potential of our players,” he said.

The Kilmore Stallions will travel to Cranbourne on Saturday and will play Mt Eliza FC in the quarter finals.

A win will see the Stallions progress through to the semi-finals and then the grand final.

Christmas ignites in Romsey

Max Davies
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Romsey residents can look forward to a series of events lined up this month as the Christmas in Romsey Festival gets underway. 

Supported and delivered by the Eastern Macedon Ranges Business and Tourism Association, EMRBATA, and Romsey Neighbourhood House, five events and initiatives are taking place to build festive spirit and strengthen the sense of community.

A staple of Christmas celebrations in Romsey, the Main Street Christmas Tree Display is once again up and running with various community groups and businesses decorating trees along the main thoroughfare.

Neighbourhood House manager Michelle Balthazar said the events planned would be available for anyone who wanted to attend and socialise.

“One of the main goals of Romsey Neighbourhood House is to connect people and connect community, particularly those who might feel socially isolated,” she said.

“All these events are aimed at creating a community that cares or working towards working together as a community that cares for each other.”

Already underway at Romsey Neighbourhood House is its Christmas tree sale, open from December 1 to 11, with a range of different trees available for residents who might not have organised one yet.

Romsey Big Tree
A colourful Christmas tree in Romsey’s Main Street. ​

To place an order, people can visit the house, or call on 5429 6724 or search .

On Saturday, the Romsey Community Carols will take place at Romsey Primary School’s north oval, with food vans available from 6pm and the Carols program commencing at 7pm.

Christmas Gift Giving will also take place from 9.30am to 4pm on Saturday and 9.30am to 1pm on Sunday, with donations always welcome to be put towards a gift for those in need. To donate, call 5429 6724.

“The Christmas Gift Giving, we’re just getting so much support from an amazing array of local businesses and the churches and everything,” Ms Balthazar said.

“It’s really beautiful to see different community members coming together to care and to be supported.”

Romsey Mechanics Institute will play host to the Christmas Community Lunch from 12.30pm on December 14, providing people with an opportunity to get out and connect with members of the community in a friendly environment.

People must RSVP before this Friday, which can be done by visiting the neighbourhood house, calling 5429 6724 or searching online at bit.ly/RNHXMASLUNCH23.

To cap the festival off, two sessions will take place on December 21 and 22 at Romsey Community Co-Op for the Christmas Storytime and Decoration Making, featuring art and craft activities and supported by local author Natasa Xerri.

The event is open to children aged four and older and is $10 per child. For more information and to register interest, email themacedonrangesrc@gmail.com.

“It’s really lovely to see the community coming together and really helping to spread that spirit of Christmas, bringing it all back together [after the past few years],” Ms Balthazar said.

Romsey Neighbourhood House is located at 96-100 Main Street, Romsey. .

Council protected from environment notice

Jordyn Grubisic
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Dorro Downs has unsuccessfully appealed to transfer an Environment Protection Agency, EPA, notice to Mitchell Shire Council.

The company sought a review from the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, VCAT, for an amended environmental action notice regarding land at Wallders Road, Kilmore, which operated as an ‘unlined gully’ landfill until 2005.

Rehabilitation works were completed at the property in July 2007.

The EPA issued a notice in March requiring Dorro Downs to minimise the risk to human health and the environment from leachate generated at the property and provide a report specifying it had complied.

The notice was amended to include details described by EPA as a guide to meeting requirements in the original notice.

The hearing took place July 4, 5 and 6, and October 24 and 25 before senior tribunal member Geoffery Cole and member Peter Cole.

The tribunal members said the amended ‘support to comply’ provisions did not relate to the requirements they intended to vary and to retain them would be confusing deleting the provisions from the notice.

The members disagreed with Dorro Downs’ submission to make Mitchell Shire Council the notice recipient, noting it would be unlawful and out of their jurisdiction.

“We agree with the [EPA] that the proper question for the tribunal to ensure it is acting within jurisdiction is not to ask ‘should the notice be issued to the council’ but to ask ‘should the notice be issued to Dorro Downs’”, they said.

“Even if we are wrong about the lawfulness of changing the recipient of the amended notice to the council, there is insufficient merit in doing so.

“To vary the amended notice so the recipient is the council would require us to find the council caused or permitted the relevant circumstances and was the occupier of the land at the time the relevant circumstances first came into being.

“The tribunal could not and would not make that finding and make orders binding on a person who was not a party to the proceeding. We would be acting contrary to the rules of natural justice, and therefore making an error of law if we were to do so.

“Dorro is managing or controlling the site as the owner or occupier of the site and therefore Dorro has the duty to minimise the relevant risks of harm.”

Dorro Downs also claimed the EPA made material failures in relation to the site and in its decision to issue the amended notice, acting inconsistently with other closed landfills.

The tribunal members said the claims were outside of their authority.

“Put simply, the tribunal does not have the authority to review the authority’s past conduct in some sort of commission of inquiry,” they said.

The amended notice remains applicable to Dorro Downs however the tribunal altered conditions for less stringent reporting requirement than those originally imposed by EPA.

Blasters’ women progress to the big dance

Jordyn Grubisic
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Blasters’ women progress to the big dance

Seymour Blasters’ women’s team will make an appearance in the Country Basketball League, CBL, northeast league grand final following a huge 32-point win over Shepparton Gators at home on Saturday.

Going into the semi-final, the Blasters were the favourites after finishing top of the ladder with just one loss this season.

A strong start in the first quarter saw the Blasters lead by 14 points before a 22-point second quarter had them push further ahead, 50-23 at halftime.

The second half was the best effort by the visitors but it was too little, too late. Despite equalling the Blasters’ scoreboard efforts in the fourth quarter – with both sides adding 24 points – the Gators went down 61 to 93.

Seymour’s Jasmine Hunter was leading scorer for the match with 21 points, while teammates Alex Martorella and Kaitlyn Bickerton had 13-apiece.

The Blasters head to Shepparton to face Albury Cougars in the grand final on Saturday at 5.15pm.

Blasted out

Seymour Blasters men will not make an appearance in this year’s CBL grand final following a 17-point loss to Benalla Breakers on Saturday.

The Blasters started slow against the home side, trailing at the end of the first quarter by 18 points, before a second-quarter surge saw them outscore the Breakers and head into halftime down 30 to 39.

The scoring for both sides slowed but Benalla continued to push ahead, extending its lead back out by 16 points at the end of the third quarter before eventually taking the game 67 to 50.

Keenan Gorski was leading scorer for the Blasters with 13 points while Eden Hobbs and Ethan Bateman had 12 and 11 respectively. Hobbs finished the season as fifth-highest CBL northeast league scorer with 199 points.

The loss draws the curtains on Seymour men’s CBL season as Benalla move on to play Myrtleford Saints – who defeated Wallan – in this Saturday’s grand final.

Seymour captain Jack Murphy said the side was understandably disappointed by the result.

“We had many shattered guys after the loss. We are a bunch of competitors so when results don’t go your way, it cuts very deep,” he said.

“The emotion felt over the past couple of days across our group will most certainly drive great motivation and desperation for the next 12 months and beyond.”

Murphy said the Blasters were proud to look back at the effort they put in to reach the finals.

“We had plenty of change this year and it was definitely a season to develop and build around a new core of guys,” he said.

“We lost our league MVP, our starting shooting guard and our leading scorer from our grand final last season and brought in three new fresh faces, so things were always going to be tough in the early days for us.

“Our season was a rollercoaster to say the least, and while it didn’t finish the way we would’ve liked, we are rapt to know that it is probably the first year in many where we have been able to develop some young talent into our program.

“As much as it hurt to bow out in the semifinal, we will be much better off this time next season for the experience.”

Wallan dancer to shine on major stage

Pam Kiriakidis
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A Wallan Secondary College student will step up her dance skills on Channel 7 this Saturday as a principal dancer in the Victorian State Schools Spectacular.

The schools spectacular is an annual musical extravaganza uniting a large group of State Government primary and secondary school students to perform in front of a live audience at John Cain Arena in Melbourne.

Filmed on September 9, more than 2000 students took to the stage as circus artists, puppeteers, musicians, singers, dancers and skaters with the support of behind-the-scenes roles in stage management, lighting, sound, costumes and production.

The students, who performed as principal vocalists and dancers, backing vocalists, in the Victorian State Schools Choir, 51-piece orchestra, or among 1100 mass dancers and 960 mass choir, were required to undertake an extensive rehearsal period to prepare for the show’s magic.

Wallan Secondary College year 10 student Indiana Ojczyk, among other principal dancers, was in about nine performances relating to this year’s show theme – Happy Travels – which follows a group of hapless tourists across the world of circus mayhem.

Indiana had previously performed at the schools spectacular when she was in primary school.

“When you are that principal dancer, these little kids [in the mass dance] come up to you … and they’ll run up to you with a piece of paper and a pen – they’re like ‘can I get your autograph’ and you’re the one that people look up to,” Indiana said.

The Wallan dancer, who has been taking lessons since the age of three, started learning her dance routines in March, with a few guest-star choreographers including James Maxfield and Jarryd Byrne, both well-known on national dance series and from musicals.

Indiana said rehearsals were intense but provided excellent opportunities to work with some of Australia’s biggest names in dance.

“It’s very straight up, you’ve got to pick up the choreography – if you don’t know what you’re doing, they’re going to let you know you don’t know what you’re doing,” she said.

In that time, Indiana was lucky enough to learn how to engage with cameras in preparation for the live show under school spectacular’s dance director Yvette Lee.

“We had a few dances this year that were specifically made for a camera track, for the broadcast – so we learned a lot about how you can’t fisheye and look into the camera and see yourself,” she said.

“I had a lot of media opportunities this year, so I had a few interviews, and I got to [be] interviewed during the broadcast … you learn a lot about how to talk to the camera as well.”

Indiana said she made great friendships throughout the entire process, from rehearsals to the show’s finale when the performers bonded during their last times on stage.

“It was a really good finale, it was really expressive and just before we went on the finale, they had a deaf choir sign to ‘What a Wonderful World’ – and we were all in tears backstage, so we’re going on the finale bawling our eyes out,” she said.

“[I made] so many new friendships, the spectacular is so good because it’s like a central point – we all come from around Victoria.”

The show airs on Channel 7 on Saturday at 7pm, and will then be available on 7Plus.

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Step forward for Raglan Street closure

The North Central Review
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Step forward for Raglan Street closure

Macedon Ranges Shire Council has progressed on the request by St Mary’s Primary School in Lancefield to close a section of Raglan Street.

St Mary’s Primary School proposed the closure of Raglan Street and rallied earlier this year, calling to connect the two sides of its campus permanently as it foresaw an increase in enrolments and identified a future need to construct buildings on the west side of its premises.

Council endorsed the commencement of a four-week community consultation process in July this year that has now been completed, through which 86 submissions were received – 91 per cent in support of the proposed road closure and nine per cent opposed.

At its October 25 meeting, a director of assets and operations report recommended that council ‘endorses the discontinuance of Raglan Street, Lancefield, between Chauncey Street and 25 Dunsford Street; and notes that delegated officers will proceed with the formal process to discontinue Raglan Street, Lancefield’.

Cr Geoff Neill moved the motion and Cr Bill West seconded; the motion carried with no opposition.

Mayor Annette Death said the school had appropriately engaged council and presented a well-considered proposal.

“This process has been instigated and led by St Mary’s Primary School and came to us at council as the relevant authority. I’d like to thank council staff for the real thorough process that we’ve undertaken to this point to support the school community and support the Lancefield community through that community consultation and taking onboard those submissions that were received,” she said.

Key reasons for supporting the proposal included significantly enhancing the safety and security of school children, parents, and the community; no adverse impact on the businesses operating in the area; and available space to accommodate demand has been maximised, and this closure will support potential future growth for both the school and the township.

In November 2022, council officers also reviewed the traffic report, which notes the daily volume of about 100 vehicles on the affected section of Raglan Street will not result in any detrimental impact on other surrounding streets if the road is discontinued.

“This will have some potential impact … but through the study and traffic reports to this point, it was seen that it was the best option to move forward, and I’d like to thank everybody for their work in bringing to this point and to St Mary’s Primary School for bringing it to council,” Cr Death said.

End of Wallan’s basketball finals campaign

Jordyn Grubisic
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End of Wallan’s basketball finals campaign

The Country Basketball League, CBL, season has ended for Wallan Panthers after an 18-point loss to Myrtleford Saints on Sunday.

The Panthers led by four points at the end of the first quarter before the Saints shifted gears, reversing the lead heading into halftime up 43 to 39.

Out of halftime, the Panthers continued chasing the Saints but could not get back on top, going down 76 to 94.

Panther’s coach Scott Baillie said the game looked like it was going their way in the beginning.

“We had a game plan going into it and it worked quite well,” he said.

“It was just as the game went on it was tough.

“You hoped some of the players would step up like previous games but obviously the finals pressure does sometimes impact players. Just the word ‘finals’ sort of changes outlooks for some people.

“I think just as the game went on with that little bit of pressure Myrtleford put to us, we didn’t react quite well to it and weren’t able to make the adjustments that were needed so unfortunately they ended up coming away with the win.

“It was also one of those games where they just couldn’t miss a shot and unfortunately for us we just couldn’t buy a shot when needed throughout the game.

“Hats off to players like Ryan Phillippe and Luke Cairns. Those guys definitely stood up and did as much as they could defensively and offensive but unfortunately, Myrtleford got the jump on us at the end there.”

Myrtleford made the trip to Wallan with six players, vastly different to the Panthers bench of 12.

Key shooter Jalen Barker scored 30 points against the Panthers while Tyler Barker and Marcis La Spina shot 23 and 22 respectively.

“They went in with six, which I think was beneficial for them. They were relying on their main players and only giving those guys a break when needed,” Baillie said.

“They definitely came prepared and were ready to go, obviously walking away with the comfortable win by the end.”

Phillipe was leading scorer for Wallan with 29, while Cairns shot 16 points.

Phillipe finishes his season second highest CBL northeast league scorer with 261 points, while Luke Liesegang was fourth with 212.

“The guys that definitely stood up were Luke Cairns and Ryan Phillipe. The rest of the guys obviously did as much as they could when they stepped onto the court, but I think those two stood out a little bit more in my eyes,” Baillie said.

“Obviously their scoring efforts don’t take away from the defensive efforts of the rest of the group but it’s just that those guys consistently did what they needed to try and help the team as much as possible.”

With his first season as a senior coach wrapped up, Baillie said despite the frustrating result he enjoyed the season and was looking forward to taking on the Wallan Youth League men with a possibility of returning as CBL coach next season.

“Honestly, it was the group of guys that made it more enjoyable. They’re definitely a group that, if they wanted to stay together, would be something any coach would be happy to have,” he said.

“Just this group of guys and how well they carried themselves and how quickly they gelled as well – it was just a dream to have a group like that.”

Baillie said Leanne Anderson and team manager Shelly Thrum were also crucial to the season’s success.

“Those two were the first two to get into things and the group was very much appreciative of it and myself too, having those two there made it easier for me transitioning into my role with the senior side,” he said.

Myrtleford will play Benalla in this Saturday’s grand final in Shepparton.

Junior girls golf scholarships on offer

The North Central Review
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Junior girls golf scholarships on offer

Hidden Valley Golf Club and Kilmore Golf Club are once again offering young girls the opportunity to learn golf for free via the Junior Girls Golf Scholarship program.

Funded by the Australian Golf Foundation, AGF, the scholarships will be awarded to a handful of girls between the ages of nine and 16 who are eager to learn the ins and outs of golf.

The scholarship students will be offered 24 lessons with a professional golf instructor over a 12-month program and a one-year membership to the respective golf club next year.

The club memberships will ensure the girls involved can participate in club competitions and obtain a handicap.

Students also get a welcome package, which includes a T-shirt and a hat.

The clubs are offering scholarships to six girls each, with more positions available depending on interest.

Lessons are set to commence at the beginning of next year.

Girls are required to bring their own golf clubs to the lessons.

Hidden Valley Golf Club president Jon Blackwell said the junior scholarships functioned as a long-term investment into women’s golf to ensure the sport had a more diverse group of players in years to come.

“It’s not just about Hidden Valley, it’s about promoting golf in general,” he said.

“It’s about building participation in golf and growing the number of girls playing the sport.”

Mr Blackwell said the lessons would equip juniors with the basic foundational skills of golf.

“[Juniors] come in and they try the sport and they might like it or they might go off and try come other sports, but now they’ve got the foundations,” he said.

“You can swing the golf club, you know the rules and the etiquette that goes along with the game, and you might come back in five or 10 years’ time.”

Kilmore Golf Club president Bea Lay said the scholarships were a terrific opportunity for young girls.

“All we ask is that applicants display a desire and willingness to improve their golf skills, obtain a handicap, play in club competitions – or at least social play – and engage in any extra-curricular activity that fosters friendships between scholarship holders,” she said.

Both Hidden Valley and Kilmore clubs welcome all girls to apply.

Organisers encouraged those interested to contact either club as soon as possible, with applications closing early this month.

For more information on the Hidden Valley scholarships and to apply, contact Jon Blackwell at hiddenvalleygolfclubwallan@gmail.com.

For more information on the Kilmore scholarships, contact Bea Lay 0437 712 973 or Helen Dennett 0407 542 949. Alternatively, people can email info@kilmoregolfclub.com.au.

Entries open for national business awards

The North Central Review
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Photo caption: A large number of small businesses were recognised at the 2023 iteration of the Australian Small Business Champion Awards. ​

Entries have officially opened for the 2024 Australian Small Business Champion Awards – celebrating the achievements of small businesses owners across the country.

Specifically highlighting the best of Australia’s small businesses in the retail, services and manufacturing industries, 2024 marks the 26th consecutive year of the awards, which typically feature a large number of Victoria-based winners from regional and rural areas.

Featuring more than 100 categories as well as spotlight categories including Business of the Decade, Small Business Young Entrepreneur, Small Business Entrepreneur and the 2024 Growth Award, with online entry to the awards free and open until February 15, 2024.

Awards founder Steve Loe said small businesses were the backbone of the national economy and was privileged to help shine a deserved spotlight on small business champions.

“From high inflation and exceptional increases in operating expenses, to challenges associated with staff hire, productivity and the overall current high cost of living, there’s no disputing that Australian small businesses are currently doing it very tough,” he said.

“The millions of Australian small business operators ought to be honoured now more than ever before, not just for their economic contribution but also for their invaluable support of community-based initiatives and worthwhile causes that couldn’t overwise be supported so significantly.”

Small businesses provide employment for 5.1 million Australians, and continue to play an important role in rural and regional communities despite an ongoing challenging economic environment – particularly during the past year.

“Even after more than two decades of presenting the Australian Small Business Champion Awards, I am still in absolute awe of the resilience and remarkable triumphs of our nation’s small business operators. It is truly a privilege to help shine a deserved spotlight on these small business champions,” Mr Loe said.

Finalists of the 2024 program will be announced in March and winners of the 2024 Australian Small Business Champion Awards will be revealed via two National Presentation Evening Gala events in Sydney on April 12 and 13, 2024.

For more information and to submit an entry form, visit businesschampions.com.au.

Investigation into Tallarook water pressure begins

Jordyn Grubisic
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Concerns about Tallarook’s water mains pressure and a lack of fire hydrant access have prompted Mitchell Shire Council to request a report from Goulburn Valley Water, GVW.

Cr Bill Chisholm raised a notice of motion at last month’s council meeting to investigate Tallarook’s water pressure.

Council will ask GVW to investigate and provide a detailed written report on the planned and future upgrading of Tallarook water supply infrastructure and information relating to water pressure at various sites.

An investigation into the non-functional fire hydrant in front of Tallarook Primary School will also occur in conjunction with GVW and Tallarook Fire Brigade with the objective of possible reinstatement.

Cr Chisholm said the water issues were brought to his attention at a Tallarook Hall meeting following discussions with a fire brigade member.

“He informed me there wasn’t enough pressure in the mains in Tallarook to operate the pop-up sprinklers at the hall and he brought up the additional problems of a lack of a fire hydrant in front of the primary school,” he said.

“The nearest one is, I think, 112 metres and the other is 119 metres from the front of the school and that was the motivation for doing this.

“With summer approaching, water is a critical component of most emergency fire situations.

“Also water is important in a whole host of other situations. I have been informed that owing to the age and type of water mains in some areas of the town, to avoid burst mains, the water authority has deliberately reduced water pressure.

“I am asking that council investigates these claims and seeks a detailed report from GVW as to the current and future plans for upgrading Tallarook’s water supply infrastructure.”

Cr Fiona Stevens congratulated Cr Chisholm for raising the issue.

“It really is important. I mean who knows what the weather is going to be like this summer,” she said.

“We have to make sure our access to water – whether it be fire hydrants or standpipes – we have to make sure they’re all functional and operational because God forbid if they have to be used.”

If water infrastructure is found to be aging, resulting in discrepancies in water pressure or unreliable potable water, council will advocate to GVW and the applicable government minister for improvements.

Council will also advocate for the need for all councils to divest themselves of any financial responsibility for the maintenance of fire plugs as they are water supply infrastructure and should be managed and funded by the relevant authority.

Section 165 of the Water Act 1989 requires councils to meet the costs providing installing, marking and maintaining all fire plugs.

A legislative amendment would be required to remove the responsibility from councils.

The Water Act 1989 also does not require water authorities to ensure water pressure is adequate for firefighting.

“The other point is council is responsible for the maintenance of fire plugs, which aren’t our infrastructure and, in my opinion, should definitely be the responsibility of the relevant authority,” Cr Chisholm said.

Advice received from GVW in March advised the fireplug outside Tallarook Primary School was decommissioned in 1991 and if additional fire plugs were required, it would be at a cost to council.

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