Alford tops at Kilmore trots

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June 13, 2023

By Len Baker

Champion Bolinda reinsman Chris Alford took the honours with a winning treble at a rain-affected Kilmore meeting, which was transferred to Melton, on Thursday night.

Harness Racing Victoria announced earlier on Thursday that the Kilmore night meeting would be transferred from Kilmore due to the track affected by heavy overnight rain.

First to arrive was four-year-old Betting Line-Maastricht mare Maas Betting Again, trained by Alford’s wife Alison, in the MC Security Pace over 1690 metres.

Taken back from gate six to settle four back in the moving line, Maas Betting Again cut loose three wide approaching the bell to park outside the leader Jay Bee for the final circuit.

Dashing to the front on the home turn, Maars Betting Again held a margin to the wire to score by 5.5 metres from Merry Dancer, with Shania Tee running home late from the rear for third 6.1 metres away. The mile rate 1-57.

Four-year-old Love You-Right Interest gelding Speedy Lover, trained at Avenel by David Aiken, brought up win number two for Alford by taking the 2180-metre Tellurian Wines Trotters Mobile.

Starting solo on the second line, Speedy Lover settled at the tail as Stockman Peter was able to cross Sonny Brooke.

Making ground to be one-one in a strung-out field, Speedy Lover angled three wide to race exposed at the bell and did best to register a 3.4 metre margin from Stockman Peter, which showed plenty of heart. Polemarker Constant was third 1.4 metres back. The mile rate 2-01.

Joining forces with neighbour Brent Lilley aboard four-year-old Love You-Chevron Express gelding Kyvalley Picasso in the Buds and Branches Florist Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres, Alford scored his third win of the night.

After giving Kyvalley Picasso a lovely trip from gate five, he raced to the front on turning to register a 2.7 metre margin in 2-02.9 from Night Whisperer, with rank outsider Star Down Under out wide third 4.8 metres back after spending most of the race at the rear.

On a night of multiple victories, 84-year-old Bet Bet part-owner/trainer Ray Cross combined with Anthony Butt to land the Momentum Gaming Trotters Mobile with six-year-old Imperial Count-Kumbya mare Countess Chiron, and the Georgina and Co Trotters Mobile with four-year-old Yankee Spider-Ima Thrill Seeker gelding Alfie Always – both horses home bred.

Countess Chiron lobbed three back in the moving line from the extreme draw and after moving three wide in the last lap, raced clear on the home turn to win in a breeze 13.7 metres ahead of Reigning Lillies and Silent Reverie who was 3.1 metres away after being held up slightly approaching the final bend. The mile rate 1-58.8.

Alfie Always led throughout from gate four to easily account for Montana Chevelle 16.5 metres in 1-59.6. Savvy Kyvalley, which trailed the leader, was third 6.9 metres away.

It was great to see Woodvale trainer Heather Morrissey in the winner’s circle following the victory of Sebastian K-Kamenshek gelding Koufax in the 2180-metre O’Brien Electrical 2Y0 Maiden Trotters Mobile.

Bred and raced by husband Bill, Koufax was given a sweet one-one trip by Neil McCallum and did best to blouse a death-seating Majestic Monarch from outside the front line by a neck in a rate of 2-06.3.

Always handy from the extreme draw, Silver Domino sprinted sharply to lead on the final bend to register a 2.1 metre margin from Interpretation with Bettororworse third 1.8 metres away. The mile rate 2-02.

Mount Cottrell trainer Jeremy Quinlan combined with John Caldow to capture the Carlton and United Breweries Maiden Pace over 1690 metres with four-year-old Western Terror-Ay Tee Em mare Seemeshineyheels in 1-58.9.

Given every opportunity one/one from gate two on the second line as Ribelle Rosa led from gate three, Seemeshineyheels, after easing three wide on the home turn, ran on best to record a 3.8-metre victory over the pacemaker.

Memphis held down third, a nose away after racing uncovered from gate two.

Leading trainer Emma Stewart and stable reinsman Mark Pitt notched up a double with first starter Some American colt taking the 1690-metre Worlds Best Hoof Oil 2Y0 Maiden Pace from Elusive and Bubby To Base in 1-55.5.

Kiwi-bred five-year-old Bettors Delight-Madam Superior gelding Supersede the Jet Roofing Pace over 2180 metres ahead of Our Kinky Boots and Nomorelying in 1-57.9. Both horses striding clear on the home turn.

The next Kilmore harness meeting is schedueld for June 20.

Macedon Ranges winners

At Yarra Valley the previous Monday, veteran Lancefield trainer Leon Conway had punters scratching their heads in disbelief after five-year-old Four Starzzz Shark-Gabbys Sweetheart mare Four Ever A Star, at odds of $41, won the Barry Plant Croydon Pace over 1650 metres.

Raced by Leon and partner Lisia Horton, Four Ever A Star driven by James Herbertson settled three back in the moving line from gate five as Alcatraz Girl began very fast from outside the front line to lead from polemarker My Lady Sarah, which immediately came away from her back to race exposed.

A winner of three from 18, Forever A Star returned a mile rate of 1-58.2.

Romsey’s Chris Svanosio is absolutely airborne at present and chalked up a stable with two three-year-olds – Aldebaran Miley taking the Blonde and Co. Trotters Mobile over 2150 metres and four-year-old gelding Better Brother the 1650-metre Yarra Valley Toyota Pace.

Aldebaran Miley, bred and raced by Aldebaran Lodge’s Peter Svanosio and Elizabeth Maclean, was tough after racing going forward to race exposed from an inside second line draw, before striding clear on the home turn to register an easy 14.8-metre victory in advance of former Sydneysider Gardena Ronda and Bacardi Wood.

Better Brother, bred and raced by Alan Flanders, went forward from gate five to lead throughout in defeating a game Sir Chow by 2.1 metres. New Yorker was third 1.5 metres away. The mile rate 1-57.2.

Findon Road to Plenty Road extension opens

Roads & Transport

Lauren Duffy

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June 13, 2023

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Findon Road to Plenty Road extension opens

A NEW 650-metre road that will help more residents have better access to work, education, shopping and public transport is now open in South Morang.

The $15 million Findon Road to Plenty Road extension is a new east-west link that will ease congestion and cut down travel times, particularly on McDonalds Road and around the Mill Park Lakes residential area.

Running from Williamsons Road to Danaher Drive, the extension is an investment through the City of Whittlesea, with features including additional lanes, walking and cycling path connected to the existing Yan Yean Pipe Track and a road bridge over the underpass extension to Mernda.

A local developer completed the connection from Danager Drive to Plenty Road.

City of Whittlesea chair administrator Lydia Wilson said council was committed to developing liveable neighbourhoods through improving the municipality’s transport network.

“This road extension is a critical piece of infrastructure which will in turn allow residents to spend less time in their cars, which will reduce congestion and benefit the environment,” she said.

“Being able to travel safely and efficiently to and from work, school, shops, parks and community facilities is vital to improving the quality of life of our residents.

“I thank all residents for their patience while this complex project has been completed.”

The road has opened with temporary traffic signals in place at the intersection of Findon Road and Williamsons Road, with permanent signals expected to be installed in the next financial year.

Wallan nurse recognised in King’s Birthday Honours

Max Davies

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June 13, 2023

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Wallan nurse recognised in King’s Birthday Honours

By Max Davies

A Wallan nurse with a dedicated health career is among 1191 Australians on the King’s Birthday Honours List, announced yesterday.

Tracey Webster, a nurse since the 1980s, has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia, OAM, for her service to nursing and to community health with a range of different hospitals and organisations.

Throughout her career she has served as nurse unit manager at The Kilmore and District Hospital and supported the maternity unit at Seymour Health, been director at Mitchell Community Health, and most recently in various roles at Northern Health.

Ms Webster said she was humbled to receive the honour and almost did not believe it was real when first contacted.

“I’m very humbled, because in everything I do I’m part of a team. For me, I accept the OAM but on behalf of all other nurses and all healthcare workers, especially from our community,” she said.

“I’m privileged to serve as well, especially for Northern Health. I accept it on behalf of all the healthcare workers in the local area because they’ve just been phenomenal.

“They work so hard to really make a difference to each and every person we serve in the community. I don’t see [the award] for me, I see it for them.”

Early in her career Ms Webster worked to introduce supportive care screenings for oncology patients at Kilmore hospital before moving to Mitchell Community Health, where she led the support and counselling service for the Marysville community in response to the bushfires at the time.

While director at Mitchell Community Health she also worked as part of the team who secured grants for the first super clinic in Wallan, as well as pushed to secure the first exercise physiologist ever in Victoria at a time when such professionals were hard to come by.

Ms Webster has now worked at Northern Health for about four years and was instrumental in the service’s response to COVID-19, serving as the project officer and virtual care coordinator for telehealth since the start of the pandemic.

In 2021, she was awarded the Northern Health Patient Experience Staff Recognition Award.

Ms Webster said she was proud of the work the hospital was doing and spoke highly of her colleagues, especially chief executive Siva Sivarajah and chief health outcomes officer Katharine See.

“We’ve got the most visionary [chief executive] and we’re working on collecting information and measuring what matters most to patients. He really wants us to work on changing to care that demonstrates we fit the patients as best we can, not the patients fitting into what we’re doing,” she said.

“Doctor Katharine See is also absolutely amazing, it’s just such a privilege to work with her to implement patient reported outcomes measures across Northern Health and measure what matters most to patients.”

Ms Webster also featured as the nurse in Ambulance Victoria’s Save Triple Zero Calls for Emergencies advertisement campaign, volunteering to take part a few years ago to help reduce the use of ambulances for non-urgent calls.

She encouraged anyone interested in nursing to consider it as a career.

Ms Webster said she was excited about the future of healthcare with the introduction of new technology planned for the coming years.

“To be able to still be in my career after 38 years of experience is pretty amazing, and to be able to do this transformation stuff with our community is pretty wonderful and I’m really lucky,” she said.

“Something like this doesn’t happen to someone like me, I’m just someone who goes to work every day trying to make a difference to every patient, every day.

“I’ll still be me, be humble and work hard at everything I do but it’s nice to just be recognised.”

Tracey Webster 2 — Ms Webster, second from left, featured in Ambulance Victoria’s Save Triple Zero Calls for Emergencies campaign, which has been effective in reducing the amount of calls for non-urgent cases.

Broadford hold strong with hard-fought win

Lauren Duffy

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June 13, 2023

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Broadford hold strong with hard-fought win

BROADFORD’S A grade netballers had a hard-fought win in Alexandra on Saturday, coming out on top 57 to 47.

Broadford took the lead early and never let it go. At the end of the first quarter, the Kangaroos were up 15 to 11.

A Grade coach Ash Chapman said the side overcame some set-backs to return to the winner’s list, following a heavy loss to Warburton-Millgrove in the last game in round six.

“We had a really strong start to the game, settling into our adjusted team line up, as we are juggling injuries and player availability,” he said.

“As with any new line-up it can take time to settle in, however each player really played their role to make it happen.”

Chapman said an injury to goal shooter Renee Sari forced him to make positional changes.

“Renee went down late in the first quarter – a real loss to the side as she was having an exceptional game shooting 12/12 goals at the time,” he said.

“The injury required young gun and joey Shayla White to come back on the court and she played a great game.

“The injury forced me to make changes and adjust the line up [but] this didn’t slow us down at all.”

Broadford continued its momentum in the second quarter, extending its lead to 30, while keeping Alexandra to 19.

Coming out of the half the Rebels tested the Kangaroos, outscoring Broadford 17-14 and shrinking the lead 36 to 44.

“In the second half Alexandra really took it to us and wrestled the momentum in their favour,” Chapman said.

“However, we weathered the storm brilliantly and managed to win the ball with some strong defence.”

Broadford had a strong final quarter and came out on top, winning the game by 10 goals.

“We are really growing as a team and thrive on the tough moments in games where we have to think through hard situations. We see these moments are opportunities to shine,” Chapman said.

“I was really proud of how the team stepped up without our captain Ally Black, who is injured, and Renee Sari on the court. We have incredible depth and versatility in our team to give us confidence moving forward.

“It was pleasing to see the group roll with the punches and momentum changes in the game. We have been working hard at training on enduring pressure to still execute our skills.

“I am thrilled to see our confidence and strategies transferring into our game play as our connections keep growing. Our midcourt was really solid in handling the ball with speed through the court, especially when we got turnovers we were able to convert.

“As a team we did a really good job at building pressure and staying in play which helped us create intercepts and turnover ball.”

Stand out performances on the day include Bree Chapman in centre controlling and leading the midcourt, and Chloe Meulenmeesters who was a strong target under the post. Megan Berger was also a strong leader in defence for the entire match.

“With Ally Black not on court we instantly lose leadership on court. Bree Chapman really stepped up as acting captain, having a really solid performance in centre. She handled the ball a lot and controlled the ball to find our shooters with great feeds,” Chapman said.

“Chloe Meulenmeesters was solid by providing a strong target under some intense physical contests. Her connection with the attacking unit has really developed and she stood up for us.

“Megan Berger is pivotal to the success of our defence. She really grinds her defender down over 60 minutes. She came up with some important turnover ball and rebounds in the last quarter, which was a nice reward for the hard work early in the match.”

Under 17s netballer Leah O’Dell also made her A grade debut after coming back from a knee injury she sustained preseason.

“Her resilience and commitment to returning from her injury has been outstanding for such a young player. I was really proud to see her finally get rewarded for all of the hard work,” Chapman said.

Broadford are currently third on the ladder and will face second-placed Yarra Glen in a competitive home game on Saturday.

The two sides faced each other in round two, with Broadford losing by 10.

“Last time we played we learnt a lot and had opportunities that we let slide. We have grown a lot since then and really look forward to testing ourselves out against a new challenge,” Chapman said.

All four of Broadford’s netball teams scored wins over Alexandra.

Broadford v Alex Under 17s — In the under 17s match, Broadford won 22-14 over Alexandra.

Football

Broadford seniors couldn’t find the same success against Alexandra, going down by 99 points, 5.7 (37) to 21.10 (136).

Alexandra came out strong in the first dominating the game by 37 points. Broadford was contained to one goal while Alexandra piled on seven giving them a comfortable lead.

The second quarter didn’t get any better for Broadford with the Rebels extending their lead 14.4 (88) to Broadford’s 2.3 (15).

Alexandra continued on its way after half-time, with the margin out to 80 points by the last change, and ballooning to 99 points by game’s end.

Players named in the best for Broadford were Adam Miles, Jayme Ruedin, Lachlan Phillips, Bryce Fleming, Dean Tydell and Charles Neilson.

Broadford geotechnical investigations for the Inland Rail begin

Roads & Transport

Lauren Duffy

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June 13, 2023

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Broadford geotechnical investigations for the Inland Rail begin

Specialist contractors are conducting geotechnical investigations for the Inland Rail within the road reserve on Short Street, Rupert Street and Catherine Court at Broadford.

Works will also be in the rail corridor between Broadford Bowling Club and Jamieson Street, Broadford, between May to June.

“Investigations will occur between 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday with work occurring in daylight hours,” an ARTC Inland Rail spokesperson said.

“Traffic management will be in place to ensure safe access for all road users and mobile drilling equipment will ensure property access can be maintained upon request.”

The investigation is to better understand ground conditions and inform the design on the new bridge at Short Street for the Inland Rail – a 1700-kilometre freight rail line that will connect Melbourne and Brisbane via regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.

A mobile drill rig will bore small holes in the ground, about 10 centimetres in diameter, and collect samples. Holes in the ground will be filled when work is completed.

“Prior to works starting, the ground will be scanned to locate any unknown underground services,” the spokesperson said.

“If services are located, contractors will conduct non-destructive water bore drilling to locate services and map the site. Geotechnical drilling will only commence after this.”

Residents and motorists should take care and observe all traffic management instructions and signage.

“Depending on weather and other factors works can be cancelled at short notice. Should this occur, works will be rescheduled,” the spokesperson said.

Grants for activities for youngsters in the Mitchell Shire

Lauren Duffy

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June 13, 2023

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Grants for activities for youngsters in the Mitchell Shire

MITCHELL Shire will be participating in this year’s State Government Youth Fest, celebrating the achievements of young people in communities.

Through grants totalling in $200,000, young Victorians will be supported to host 111 events and activities across the state this September.

Mitchell Shire Council received a grant for Seymour Skate Comp, where the youth services department will organise a Skate Park League skate competition in partnership with YMCA Action Sports.

Mitchell Community Radio Inc’s Roving Reporting Reporters received $1050 for OKRFM’s 13 young presenters, aged 12-17.

The project will allow the presenters to use voice recorders, and be provided with training in editing, producing and broadcasting.

The Seymour Flexible Learning Centre was also a recipient of a grant, enabling it to host the Seymour Flexi on Show, which will give opportunities to students to host an afternoon of activities.

Wollert Secondary College was also a recipient of this year’s Youth Fest, receiving a grant for the school’s RUOK@WSC.

Minister for Youth Natalie Suleyman said youth fest funding ensured people across the state showcased their talents and formed connections within their local communities.

“The significant number of applications received for 2023 Youth Fest funding is a true testament to the many hundreds of community organisations which are dedicated to the wellbeing of young Victorians,” she said.

OUR PEOPLE: 108 years young

Max Davies

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June 13, 2023

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By Max Davies

A long train trip is all that Shirley Dally remembers from the early years of her life more than a century ago – a life that turned out to be a long and storied one for the oldest resident at BlueCross Willowmeade in Kilmore.

Celebrating her 108th birthday last month, Ms Dally had many stories to tell having worked various jobs and lived in many places in both Victoria and New South Wales.

Her story started in a grocery store on Fitzroy’s Gertrude Street, where she lived with her adoptive parents from 1920.

Ms Dally’s son Alan Thomas said no one knew exact details about her early life beyond the fact she was born in 1915, as documents holding that information were never recovered.

“They changed her name when they adopted her, she’s got a fair idea of what her name is but there’s no birth certificate or adoption papers,” he said.

Ms Dally lived at the grocery store for several years and stayed with her mother when her adoptive parents separated. When the world entered the Great Depression it became clear that she needed to find a job.

After living and working at a milk bar in Fairfield under the care of Mr and Mrs Moore, she was eventually hired by a slipper factory in Preston after weeks of walking to and from the factory to convince the factory’s managers to hire her.

“She worked there for a while and befriended some of the workers, but on the first day she had been given a packed lunch to take with her,” Alan said.

“She was working at her machine and all of a sudden it went quiet, but she kept working until a lady called Gwen came out confused and told her it was lunchtime.

“Gwen saw the sandwich she had brought and said, ‘don’t eat that’ and gave her half of her lunch instead. They became really good friends.”

At the age of 18, Ms Dally met her first husband William ‘Clem’ Thomas who was a successful speedway racer and made annual trips to compete in Europe.

He decided to stay home in 1936 and the pair married in December of that year while living in Thornbury. They had two sons, Clemanshaw and Alan, born in 1938 and 1948 respectively.

Shirley Dally 1 — Shirley Dally with her first husband William Thomas at their wedding in 1936.

During the Second World War, Ms Dally worked on double-decker buses and trams as a conductor in Melbourne’s inner suburbs.

“She’d walk up and down the aisle and they used to do what was called the ‘pub run’ through Fitzroy,” Alan said.

“She had someone who had been drinking get on one day who wouldn’t buy a ticket, so she sternly told him he had to get off.

“Instead of getting off when the bus next stopped, he picked her up and put her on the footpath.

“She had to run after the bus and caught up at the next stop, saw the man and told him to get off again. He got off and said to her, ‘I’m going to that pub there anyway’.”

Following the war, Ms Dally continued to work and in the late 1950s divorced her husband.

Alan remembered his mother’s ability to save money during that time and eventually purchase her own FX Holden.

It was then, while working at a carpet factory, that Ms Dally met her second husband – one of the factory’s owners, Ken Dally.

The pair married in 1964 and moved around Melbourne’s outer suburbs before relocating to Gosford, New South Wales, in the early 1970s to care for Mr Dally’s sick parents.

They lived in Gosford for 14 years, before moving back to Victoria in the mid-1980s, where they purchased a home in Wandong.

The couple lived in Wandong until Mr Dally’s health began to decline. Ms Dally moved to a granny flat on Alan’s property in Macleod, while Mr Dally purchased a house in Broadford.

“She stayed in Macleod, and she used to drive up to Broadford to see him three or four days a week. At that stage she was 79 and still driving,” Alan said.

In 2014 Alan and his family moved to Kingsgate Village in Kilmore while they began looking for a nursing home for Ms Dally, who had suffered a hip injury the year earlier.

“She went into Wattle Glen [Aged Care] for rehab and quite liked it there, but a week later Willowmeade called me and said they had a spot. She wanted to go there and had a couple of days to get moved in,” Alan said.

“She’s been there since 2014 and the rest is history.”

Ms Dally still attributes her longevity to never having smoked or drank besides a shandy every now and then, as well as a little bit of ginger before bed each night.

Shirley Dally 3 — Shirley Dally with her son Alan Thomas on her 107th birthday last year.

Lifelong dedication to Wallan Public Hall

Jordyn Grubisic

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June 13, 2023

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Lifelong dedication to Wallan Public Hall

Wallan resident Julie Palmer has been recognised for her volunteer work with the Wallan Public Hall Committee of Management.

Ms Palmer received an award from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, DEECA, on May 26 recognising her 30 years of volunteering at the hall.

Ms Palmer, a Wallan resident since 1975, joined the committee of management in 1993.

President of the hall committee of management since 2004, she is actively involved in everyday management.

“I was shocked to receive the award. I didn’t know so many people could keep a secret so well,” she said.

“It was great to receive but I don’t do this for the accolades. I do it to help the community. I think it’s a good thing to do and I love to get involved.”

Ms Palmer joined the committee after her late husband David Palmer began volunteering with the committee. He was awarded posthumously for his services on the committee on the day.

“I would help him with committee work from home. I was always helping so I decided to join the committee,” Ms Palmer said.

“He also wasn’t doing it for the accolades, but it is nice his work was recognised.”

Mr Palmer joined the committee as treasurer in 1987 and remained in the position for 26 years, retiring in 2013 due to ill health.

He was largely responsible for saving the hall from being bulldozed by the council in 1990 due to poor structural condition.

Knowing its social importance Mr Palmer, with community support, fought for its restoration.

“He knew how important the hall was for the community,” Ms Palmer said.

Mr Palmer managed and supervised the hall’s refurbishment, liaising with the project’s heritage architect and building contractors.

Both Mr and Ms Palmer maintained and strengthened the role of the Wallan Public Hall as the civic heart of Wallan.

Both took responsibility for funding and account keeping, and they spent a lot of time on the maintenance and running of the hall.

Ms Palmer said the hall, which is constantly used for private parties and dance classes three times a week among other things, had received upgrades including new a new paintjob and skylights.

“We had a little afternoon tea celebration after we had received $70,000 in funding to restore the hall. It was a lovely celebration,” Ms Palmer said.

She also opens the hall for the Wallan market every month, taking over the responsibility of organising and generating part of the market income to fund ongoing maintenance.

Mr and Ms Palmer also assisted in establishing the Anzac Day services at the hall.

“We were asked if the hall could be used for an Anzac Day service and if we could provide tea. Then it grew to tea and Anzac biscuits, and then tea, sandwiches and Anzac biscuits. It just kept growing,” Ms Palmer said.

“Now we have a dawn service and a mid-morning march and ceremonies.”

After the award presentation, DEECA thanked Ms Palmer and honoured Mr Palmer with a morning tea.

DEECA representatives, Wallan Public Hall Committee of Management members, Ms Palmer’s family and many friends, most of whom are volunteers in the Wallan community, attended the event.

Zarina Borland from DEECA said it had been fantastic to formally recognise the Palmers’ hard work and dedication.

“There have been some impressive achievements from our committees of management,” she said.

Ms Palmer said she was not the only person to have served for a long time on the committee recognising the late Mrs Vallence, mother to current committee member Kerry Page, and the late John Laffan.

“I have been known to tell new members they are signing on for a lifelong commitment,” Ms Palmer said.

Along with her work on the committee, Ms Palmer and her many friends and teams have been instrumental in the success of multiple projects in Wallan, including establishing the kindergarten and secondary school and expanding primary school class groups.

Junior golfers shine in Broadford

Lauren Duffy

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June 13, 2023

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THE Dalhousie District Golf Association joined with golf educator JK Performance Coaching to host the 2023 Junior Golf Tournament earlier this month, inviting aspiring young golfers from across the region to take part in a day of competition.

Played at Broadford Golf Club on June 4, the day saw 14 junior competitors take part from Dalhousie District’s member clubs across multiple divisions, with prizes on offer for the top players.

The primary and secondary school divisions played nine holes at the Broadford course, while the handicap division tackled the full 18.

Taking the top spot in the primary division was Broadford’s Harrison Wood, recording 39 to win over Avenel’s Rayden Hannigan with 43.

Junior golf 2 — Primary division winner Broadford’s Harrison Wood, pictured right, with runner-up Rayden Hannigan, of Avenel.

Junior golf 3 — Primary division winner Broadford’s Harrison Wood, pictured right, with runner-up Rayden Hannigan, of Avenel.

The secondary division was a close competition with Madeleine Ryan taking the win over Delphi Yong by just one stroke, finishing with 49 and 50 respectively.

The 18-hole handicap division was won by Emily Kemshall, playing with a handicap of 37 to record a net 65, over runner-up Campbell Smith, who finished with a net 78, from a handicap of 11.

Smith also won nearest the pin on the fourth hole and recorded the best scratch score over 18 holes with 89.

The competition was complemented by a sunny winter’s day, with the Broadford course well-prepared for the region’s top junior golfers.

Romsey park a state-wide winner

Lauren Duffy

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June 13, 2023

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ROMSEY Ecotherapy Park has been named as Park of the Year at Parks and Leisure Australia’s 2023 VIC/TAS Regional Awards of Excellence.

The park will now contend for the National Park of the Year award in October.

The state award recognises well designed and managed new or significantly revitalised parks or open spaces and best practice in design and management.

Romsey Ecotherapy Park was awarded for its innovative design and strong community collaboration.

The project is the culmination of a 14-year community-led initiative by Romsey Ecotherapy Park Inc, who set out to create a regionally-significant place to enhance health and wellbeing in the community.

The park officially opened in October 2022 and features a climbing forest, ropes course, flying fox, water features, a sensory garden, a woodland ramble and an events space with picnic and barbecue facilities.

Macedon Ranges Shire Council Mayor Annette Death said the project was a great example of how council and the community could work together to achieve a positive outcome.

“The park has become a wonderful feature in the community, where children can play and everyone can gather and enjoy the surrounds,” she said.

“It’s strengthening community connections while providing a unique open space for recreational activities.

Adding to the design are numerous sculptural installations made by local artists, as well as a storytelling chair that features prominently at the park’s entrance.

“I want to again acknowledge the hard work and commitment of Romsey Ecotherapy Park Inc and the Romsey community, who were fundamental in helping this amazing project come to fruition,” Cr Death said.

The park’s design also includes sustainable features such as solar lighting to illuminate pathways and recycled and locally sourced materials, while existing trees were retained and more than 4000 native and exotic plants added during construction.

For more information, people can visit www.mrsc.vic.gov.au/Romsey-Ecotherapy-Park.