Showdown set for Panthers and Blasters
By Colin MacGillivray
A MITCHELL Shire showdown is set for this weekend’s Country Basketball League north-east division semi-finals, with Seymour’s men to host Wallan in a rematch of the final regular season game at the weekend.
The Blasters and Panthers met on Seymour’s home court on Saturday night, with the Blasters downing the visitors 77-67.
Seymour played a near-flawless first half to establish an 18-point lead, but the game was soured by a knee injury to star Blasters forward Keenan Gorski.
“Our first half was really good. It was one of the best halves of basketball we’ve played this season defensively and offensively,” Blasters coach Craig Hockley said.
“Unfortunately we had an injury to Keenan Gorski right on the half-time buzzer. It looks like he’s done something to his knee. We’re waiting for some results to come back, but it looks like he’ll be out for the rest of the finals series unfortunately.
“The second half was a bit flat for our guys after that. We were a little bit down on our performance from the first half, but we had a good lead at half time and it enabled us to still win.”
Forward Tyler Best shouldered the scoring load in the absence of Gorski, finishing with a game-high 27 points.
Best has scored 99 points in the past four games, and Hockley said he would be key to the Blasters’ finals campaign.
“In the last month Tyler has really stepped up. He’s shooting the ball well, whereas early in the season he was probably a bit hesitant shooting,” Hockley said.
“Now he’s really looking for his shot and has a scoring mentality rather than a passing mentality, which is good.”
Hockley said bench player Harry Stones and guard Abraham Solano would also be called on to shoulder a greater scoring load in the finals.
He said he expected both teams to make adjustments between the final game of the regular season and Saturday nights’ semi-final at Seymour Sports and Aquatic Centre.
“We’ll be looking for the bench guys to step up and contribute a little bit more, because Keenan averages about 20 [points] a game. We’ll need to spread the load a little bit,” he said.
“[Wallan has] had a look at us and we’ve had a look at them, so both teams will probably make some adjustments and try a few different things.”
Wallan’s hopes of an upset win will rest on the shoulders of leading scorers Ryan Philippe and Luke Liesegang, who were held relatively quiet at the weekend and scored a combined 30 points.
Wallan and Seymour’s women will also play semi-finals this weekend, with Seymour to host the Albury Cougars while Wallan will be away to minor premier Wodonga Lady Wolves.The two sides played a thrilling contest on Saturday, with Seymour erasing a 19-point half-time deficit to win 72-66.
Big games from Ruby Pantisano, 14 points, Kaitlyn Bickerton, 13, and Carley Cranston, 11, looked to have put the Panthers in a winning position, but another huge game from Blaster Tayha Watkins – who topped 30 points for the fifth time this season – led a stirring comeback.
The Blasters outscored the visitors 23-6 in the final quarter to cap off the win, securing a second-place finish in the process.
The win meant the Blasters avoided the powerful Lady Wolves, who lost only one game this season, in the semi-finals.
Seymour’s women will host Albury at 5.30pm on Saturday, with the men taking on Wallan at 7.30pm.
Mitchell Shire Weekly Police News: January 31, 2023
Fatality near Broadford
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a fatal crash near Broadford on Friday.
It is understood a man, 73, was driving along Broadford-Glenaroua Road, north of Broadford, when he left the road and crashed into a tree about 12.10pm.
The man died at the scene.
Paramedics attended the singe-vehicle crash, treating the single occupant.
Broadford and Kilmore fire brigades, Kilmore State Emergency Service, and police also attended the crash, closing the Broadford-Glenaroua Road for a period of time.
Police are investigating the cause of the crash.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or has dashcam footage or information is urged to contact Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Burglaries
Between January 19 and 29, unknown offenders gained entry to a property in Dudley Street, Wallan, forcing entry through the front door and criminally damaging the inside of the property.
A cat is missing from the property, as well as an electric black scooter, valued at $699.
In a separate incident, unknown offenders forcefully gained entry to an industrial building in Freeway Drive, Wallan East, between January 20 and 23.
They gained entry to the building through the front personnel door and stole miscellaneous items from a pallet, including various cans of paint.
Car driving in grass sparks fire
A car driving in long grass in a paddock caused a fire at a property on the Kilmore-Broadford Road on Friday.
Brigades from Kilmore, Broadford and Wandong were called to the fire just after 4pm.
Paramedics were also called to treat the property owners for smoke inhalation.
The Country Fire Authority issued a warning earlier this month for Victorians to avoid driving vehicles, farm machinery, mowers and motorbikes through dry grass as conditions heat up and vegetation dries out.
ATM attempt
Unknown offenders gained access to Kilmore Village shopping centre at about 2.30am on Sunday.
The offenders cut a hole through a sliding door, putting their hand through to press an emergency open door button.
They then attempted to break open an ATM before an alarm was triggered, and they fled the scene.
Theft
Building materials were stolen from a site on Owl Avenue, Seymour, on January 25.
Unknown offenders stole about 12 sheets of reinforcement mesh and an unknown amount of steel.
It is believed the offenders would have needed to leave in a vehicle to be able to transport the amount of stolen goods.
Theft of plates
An unknown offender removed and stole the front and rear number plates affixed to a vehicle parked on Easey Road, Beveridge, at 1.53am on January 25.
Pyalong paramedic named Citizen of the Year
By Colin MacGillivray
Pyalong paramedic Brian Moffatt credited a strong sense of community and a desire to help others after he was last week named Mitchell Shire Council’s Citizen of the Year at an Australia Day ceremony in Seymour.
Mr Moffatt received the award after coming to the aid of his neighbour Lloyd Robinson, who collapsed and went into cardiac arrest while working on his property in 2021.
Mr Moffatt responded through Ambulance Victoria’s GoodSAM app, providing life-saving first-aid while instructing bystanders to use his phone to alert CFA members that he required a defibrillator from the local fire station.
He used the defibrillator to restart Mr Robinson’s heart, which had stopped.
Mr Moffatt performed a welfare check on Mr Robinson’s partner Deb the following day and later coordinated fundraising efforts to purchase and install another defibrillator in town that could be easily accessed by the public.
Mr Moffatt said he was surprised to be named Mitchell Shire’s Citizen of the Year.
“I’m very humbled to be here when I think about the wonderful things that happen in our communities and the people who are involved,” he said.
“There are probably many people who are more deserving of the award than me.”
Mr Moffatt, who has worked as a paramedic for 18 years including 13 in rural Victoria, said he had always had a desire to help others where possible.
“If you’ve got the ability to help people out when they’re having a bad day – sometimes the worst day of their lives – then I think that’s a noble thing to do, and something that I thoroughly enjoy and get a lot of satisfaction out of,” he said.
“I think myself, [Lloyd] and his partner Deb have a permanent bond now. If I happen to pass him down the street or in the shops, it puts a smile on my face every time.”
Mr Moffatt said he was ‘very fortunate’ to be able to work as a paramedic.
“I was brought up in a family where helping others was a strong focus and I’d like to hope that we do the same with our family,” he said.
“Behind every first responder is a family that lives at home. My kids have grown up knowing that sometimes I just have to go if my pager goes off.
“The unsung hero of a first responder is their partner. I’m very lucky [my wife] has been behind me and supported me every step of the way.”
Several of Mr Moffatt’s Ambulance Victoria colleagues attended the Seymour ceremony where he was presented with his award.
He said it was emblematic of the caring nature of paramedics.
“It was really nice [that they turned up]. That was also unexpected, but it was good to have them around,” he said.
“I was very humbled to receive the award. It’s not something I strive for, but it was certainly appreciated.”
Wallan falls short in two-day thriller
WALLAN came up four runs short in a thrilling run chase against Bacchus Marsh as the first round of the Gisborne and District Cricket Association’s McIntyre Cup two-day matches concluded on Saturday.
Playing at their Greenhill Reserve home, the Magpies were set a daunting task by the visiting Bulls, who batted throughout the first day to make 8/266 from their 80 overs.
Wallan’s run chase got off to the worst possible start on Saturday when opener Todd Keenan and first drop Hamish Mullavey-Clark each fell to the bowling of Bacchus Marsh’s Ian Spiteri without a run on the board.
But the Magpies dug their heels in, and new batsman Ryan Bonner partnered with remaining opener Kieran Atkin to steady the side with a 58-run partnership.
Bonner eventually fell for 20 runs, but Atkin and skipper Bryan Vance built what looked to be a match-turning stand of 76 for the fourth wicket.
Atkin’s innings of 89 included nine fours and three sixes, but he was brought undone short of a century by Brenton Payne.
Vance batted patiently on, notching an unbeaten 83 from 161 balls, but began to run out of partners as Spencer Whittingham, 25, Matthew Clayton, 13, Archie Moore, 16, and Ben Mullavey, duck, came and went.
Vance tried to retain the strike to protect tailender Campbell Fowler, but the team ran out of overs, finishing 8/263.
The loss saw Wallan drift to eighth on the McIntyre Cup ladder, two places outside the finals.
Romsey remains in finals contention despite dropping its two-day match against undefeated ladder leader Gisborne.
The Redbacks were defending a relatively meagre total of 134 after being bowled out on day one, but an early wicket just before the close of play gave the team hope.
But the loss of Wilhem Mackay proved little more than a blip on the radar for Gisborne, as opener Matthew Barake, 62, and middle-order batsman Michael Allen, 120, put on a batting masterclass.
Gisborne batted all day to finish 9/305, easily surpassing Romsey’s total.
Jake East, 4/71, and Chris Marienfeld, 3/75, were the lone bright spots in a Romsey bowling attack that struggled to silence the Gisborne bats.
Wallan and Romsey will both play away in the next round of two-day matches starting this weekend, with the Magpies to play Sunbury United and the Redbacks to take on Bacchus Marsh.
Johnstone Shield
Kilmore continued to shore up its credentials as a premiership contender in its first season in the Johnstone Shield competition, holding off Sunbury United to conclude its first two-day match.
The Blues were bowled out for 211 in the first innings but defended the total well after a worrying start.
Sunbury United’s Adam Tanner fell for just one run, but fellow opener Aaron Wright, 40, and David Falzon, 69, put on 95 for the second wicket.
Kilmore veteran Brett Buttler’s breakthrough for the wicket of Wright proved to be a match-turner, as he followed up with the wickets of Raees Alam, 5, Jarrod Bottomley, duck, and Falzon to account for the entire Hornets top order.
Buttler struck once more to remove Sunbury United captain Daniel Furnell, 15, while his son Josh Buttler picked up the wickets of tailenders Bradley Wilson, 16, Phillip Allen, 1, and Ben Falzon, 11, to have the Hornets all out for 173.
Brett Buttler finished with season-best figures of 6/49 while Josh had 3/44, with Blake Munari-O’Dwyer picking up the final wicket.
Kilmore will return home to host Aintree in a two-day match starting on Saturday.
Women
Kilmore took less than five overs to score a comprehensive victory against Aintree in the women’s competition on Saturday.
Aintree batted out its 20 overs to finish 4/62 after losing the toss and being sent in, but Taylah Logie, 26 not out, and Megan Farrell, 37 not out, guided Kilmore to a winning total without loss.
Logie also took 2/11 bowling to underline her importance to the team, which has a bye in the penultimate round of the season.
Lancefield Black defeated Macedon to retain its spot atop the ladder and will play Darley this weekend, while Lancefield Yellow will return from a bye to take on Aintree.
Outstanding police in the Mitchell Shire recognised
MITCHELL Shire police officers were among those recognised on Australia Day for their contributions locally and state-wide.
Sergeant Sydney Rudd-Schmidt of Seymour Prosecutions Unit was one of eight Victoria Police members presented with an Australian Police Medal.
Sgt Rudd-Schmidt, a 50-year member of Victoria Police, worked as a uniform officer in Melbourne, Euroa and Seymour across a 21-year span before being appointed officer-in-charge of Seymour prosecutions in 1994.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said Sgt Rudd-Schmidt’s ‘integrity and extensive knowledge of the law’ was integral in overseeing about 300 police informants across 25 units.
A long-service magistrate described Sgt Rudd-Schmidt as being on ‘an equal footing’ with any lawyer who was presented before them.
Mr Patton said Sgt Rudd-Schmidt and the other officers presented with medals were all worthy of recognition.
“These police go about their duties day in, day out without seeking recognition or acknowledgement,” he said.
“That is why it is all the more special to see them recognised in this way.
“Each has demonstrated commitment, passion and diligence in their chosen fields.
“There is no doubt they have made a difference in building the safety, trust and confidence of the Victorian community.”
Also awarded during the Rotary Club of Seymour’s celebrations was Leading Senior Constable Kat Mills, who was named Seymour’s Police Officer of the Year.
Sen Const Mills was presented with her award by Acting Inspector Damian Keegan.
New citizens embrace Mitchell Shire community
By Colin MacGillivray
DOZENS of Mitchell Shire residents celebrated last week as they became official Australian citizens during Australia Day celebrations in Seymour.
Among the group of newly-minted residents were Robert and Grace Bayana, who were born in Zimbabwe and moved to Australia after 18 years of living in the United Kingdom.
Ms Bayana said her family enjoyed the ‘chilled out’ atmosphere of their new home, and were excited about the opportunities citizenship would present.
The couple both work as mental health nurses, and Ms Bayana said citizenship would allow them to further their studies.
“I like to study, and now I am able to get a HECS [Higher Education Contribution Scheme] loan. When I did my masters of mental health nursing I had to pay $18,000 up front because I couldn’t get a loan,” she said.
“Now if I want to pursue my PhD I can get a loan, and our kids can also choose the courses they want to do and they’re not limited by finances.”
The family initially moved to Bendigo but relocated to Beveridge after two years.
Ms Bayana said after some initial trepidation, the couple’s children had come to love Australia.
“Initially they didn’t want to move here, but a year ago [my daughter] said ‘mum that was the best decision’,” she said.
“Her friends in England see her having fun. The kids are happy.”
Mr Bayana said the Australian lifestyle suited his family.
“We’re happy and we’re excited,” he said.
“Everything is nice and relaxed. We love that.”
Posthumous OAM for former CEO
By Colin MacGillivray
FORMER Mitchell Shire Council and City of Whittlesea chief executive David Turnbull’s life of service in local government was granted national recognition last week as he was posthumously awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia, OAM.
Mr Turnbull spent most of his professional career in local government, serving as director of planning and development at Bulla Shire Council between 1983 and 1995 before joining the City of Whittlesea in the same role.
In 2007 he became the City of Whittlesea chief executive, serving until 2015 when he filled the same post at Mitchell Shire Council.
Mr Turnbull stepped down from his council position in 2020 after a long battle with cancer and died later that year.
His wife, Suzane Becker, remembered Mr Turnbull as someone who cared deeply about the communities he worked in, striving to make life better for communities on Melbourne’s urban fringe.
“With David it was always about the community,” she said.
“He had a passion for always trying to make a positive difference, both in the planning world – because he was very well respected in planning, especially growth areas and new communities – but also from a local government perspective.
“He was able to make organisations stronger with his leadership and brought out the best in others.”
Mr Turnbull was instrumental in establishing the National Growth Areas Alliance – an advocacy body representing growth areas across Australia.
“The work he did on developer contribution planning and structure planning is the benchmark for the controls that we have in State Government. A lot of that came from David’s work,” Ms Becker said.
“He was Victoria’s leader in growth-area planning.”
Mitchell Shire Council Mayor Fiona Stevens said Mr Turnbull would be remembered for his commitment to social justice in disadvantaged communities by ensuring they had ‘quality services, strong community engagement, advocacy, innovation, strong financial management and planning’.
“I had the privilege of working with David as CEO at Mitchell since the elections in 2016,” she said.
“In that short time he left a lasting legacy to our community and, over 40 years in local government, he also left a lasting impact on the sector.”
City of Whittlesea chair administrator Lydia Wilson said Mr Turnbull had a ‘significant impact’ in shaping the region.
“He was greatly respected by staff and community alike for his calm and considered approach to leadership and his genuine interest and care to all,” she said.
“I had the personal pleasure of working with him as a colleague over many years and he was a true humanitarian.
“David is remembered for his legacy in many areas and was a pioneer in growing the role of local government advocacy. He also led council through the challenging aftermath of the 2009 bushfires.”
Mr Turnbull received the Paul Jerome Award for Outstanding Public Service from the Victorian Planning and Environmental Law Association in 2006 and had the David Turnbull Memorial Prize named in his honour by RMIT University, but Ms Becker said his greatest legacy was in the personal relationships he built.
“David really cared about communities. There was a real genuineness about him,” she said.
“The amount of respect he had in the industry is one of his legacies.
“He built relationships across so many different groups and stakeholders and was really highly regarded by everyone he worked with.”
Mitchell Shire’s best recognised with awards
MITCHELL Shire Council shone a spotlight on the outstanding contributions of individuals and organisations making a difference in their communities at its annual awards ceremony last week.
In addition to Pyalong man Brian Moffatt’s Citizen of the Year award, council also handed out honours for Young Citizen of the Year, Community Group of the Year, Community Event of the Year and an Access and Inclusion Champion Award.
Young Citizen of the Year was Hidden Valley teenager Ethan Liddy, who was inspired to raise money for farmers in need four years ago.
He began riding the length of his street on a bicycle each week to put out bins for several neighbours, collecting money in exchange.
Ethan donates all money to the Buy a Bale campaign, a part of Rural Aid Australia’s effort to support drought-stricken rural farmers.
Ethan was inspired after watching a Hay Mate fundraising concert in 2018, and his parents agreed to match every $100 he raised.
Beginning with a goal of raising $5700 – the cost of a full semi-trailer load of hay – Ethan last week said he was nearing his total.
“Just at the start of this year I made a donation to Buy a Bale and I have now donated a total of $4445,” he said.
“It’s been a crazy four years and it’s amazing to be presented with this award.”
Seymour Football Netball Club won recognition as Community Group of the Year for its outstanding leadership during flooding that struck the town in October.
Club members quickly mobilised, lending their tools, machinery, time, experience and labour to help remove sodden carpets, fittings, furniture, whitegoods, food, clothing and plaster from inundated buildings.
Members also knocked on people’s doors to conduct welfare checks and offer assistance as needed.
Club president Gerard O’Sullivan said he and the club’s members were simply one part of a wider community response.
“The football netball club was a base for recovery initiation, but the response from our community and our contractors, tradies and people to help our fellow community members was outstanding,” he said.
“I would like to accept this award for the entire community, not just the Seymour Football Netball Club.”
Broadford Secondary College’s 60-year reunion was named Community Event of the Year after bringing together many past staff and students.
Detailed displays of the school’s history including sports memorabilia, class photos and academic achievements gave visitors the opportunity to explore the college’s past and relive their part in it.
Mitchell Suicide Prevention Network picked up the Access and Inclusion Champion Award for its unique approach to raising awareness and funds with a book.
Chair Nikki Simos and the late Roger Fletcher included personal stories from 12 Mitchell Shire writers in the book ‘Helping Me to Help You’, detailing the authors’ lived experience with mental health and issues such as domestic violence, anorexia, LGBTIQ+ identity matters, multiculturalism and isolation.
Network member Phil Clancy said the group was established in the wake of the Black Saturday bushfires of 2009.
“In the time [since we’ve formed] we’ve been very active in relation to supporting people who have issues, but moreso in relation to helping friends and relations of people who may have issues,” he said.
“That has been [primarily] by running mental health first aid courses. Across the shire more than 100 people have now come forward and been trained to assist their friends and relations with their problems.
“A mental health first aid course is being run in Broadford starting on February 4, so if you’re interested, get in touch.”
‘Helping Me to Help You’ is available at the Kilmore Bookstore and the proceeds from sales go directly to Mitchell Suicide Prevention Network.
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