Residents are invited to drop in and chat with City of Whittlesea council representatives while enjoying a free coffee, a sausage sizzle and listening to the Whittlesea Choir, ahead of the first council meeting for the year on Tuesday, February 21.
The meeting, at Whittlesea Community Centre, will be the first of three council meetings scheduled in the community this year.
Chair administrator Lydia Wilson said council was committed to talking with the community about its priorities.
“We have regular coffee with council sessions and engagement on a range of projects and activities throughout the year,” she said.
“It’s important that council provide opportunities like these for our community to come along and discuss what is going on in the City of Whittlesea.”
Ms Wilson said it was important to make sure council meetings were available in different locations to make it easier for community members attend.
“In addition to Whittlesea, we will be holding our community drop-in events and council meetings at Barry Road in Thomastown on May 16 and Galada in Epping on October 17,” she said.
“I’d like to invite our community, especially those living in Whittlesea and surrounding areas, to come along on February 21 and share their passion and interest for upcoming projects and topics within the area, and then to stay for the council meeting.”
People can drop in for a chat with administrators and council staff from 6.15pm to 7.15pm at Whittlesea Community Activity Centre, 57-61 Laurel Street, Whittlesea.
Current topics of discussion are: cat confinement and desexing; local laws consultation; Whittlesea Skate Park and BMX Track; and Whittlesea Park Masterplan.
An ordinary council meeting will follow at 7.30pm where council will consider a range of matters including a new Green Wedge Management Plan.
Visit www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au to view the agenda. The meeting will also be live streamed on council’s YouTube channel from 7.30pm.
Kilmore District Health, KDH, has welcomed a team of seven new employees as part of its graduate nurse program for 2023.
The program is a chance for newly-registered nurses to learn about a preferred practice in a supportive hospital environment that allows them to comfortably transition from a student to a practicing nurse.
Nurses will have the opportunity to rotate between a range of several clinical areas as part of the program, including acute care, aged care, and specialty care such as urgent care or theatre.
KDH clinical education coordinator Amanda Byrne said a priority for the hospital was to provide nurses with appropriate support and guidance to allow them to feel confident about finding the right job in the healthcare industry.
“The goal is to provide a supported environment for a newly registered nurse to commence their career in healthcare,” she said.
“We aim to support and mentor them, and letting them experience the different areas of the hospital is really important to us.”
Ms Byrne said the program filled an important gap in placements for nurses that had graduated from university and allowed them to connect and build relationships with their peers.
“For us it’s really about that support. Especially over COVID times we found students were taking part in placements with often very long periods between jobs,” she said.
“Having the rotation is good too because the graduate nurses may not have experienced those in their placements, so they may well be opened up to new areas to go into for nursing.”
A majority of program participants received their bachelor’s degree in nursing in the past few months, allowing them to treat their time at KDH in 2023 as a consolidation year where they can hone their skills and develop into a registered practicing nurse.
KDH nurse educator Regula McKinlay said taking part in the graduate program allowed nurses to feel more confident in applying for other jobs.
“After a year [with the program] nurses tend to become really solid professionals who are comfortable and confident in applying for other jobs,” she said.
“We work closely with hospitals around us so [in previous years] they’ve gone to Northern Health’s emergency department or intensive care, but lots of them have stayed and taken on clinical roles here where they have branched out into different areas.”
Graduate nurse Simone Carrafa said it was a good opportunity to be able to receive support from KDH at the beginning of her healthcare career.
“I’m very excited, it can be overwhelming at the beginning, especially because you’re studying for three years and then coming out and working pretty much on your own as a registered nurse,” she said.
“For me, it’s really nice to have the support, education, extra study days, and we know that we can always go and ask [Ms McKinlay] if we have any questions or to debrief.
“Working within the community is also something that I really wanted to do, I can care for patients close to home.”
It was a day of pride and celebration on Wednesday as Taungurung Land and Waters Council, TLaWC, launched ‘wawa biik’ – a new cultural experience business the Indigenous group hopes will revolutionise local tourism.
TLaWC developed wawa biik, which means ‘hello country’ in Taungurung language, during the past two-and-a-half years in conjunction with Elders and the broader Taungurung community.
The business will see guides take patrons to culturally significant sites across Taungurung country, which stretches from Wandong and Kilmore in the south to Nagambie and Euroa in the north, and east to Mount Buffalo.
Guides will share their knowledge of Taungurung country and culture, visiting locations including the waterways of the Tahbilk wetlands in Nagambie and the Euroa Arboretum – a pocket of rehabilitated native bush.
TLaWC received funding from the State Government’s Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions, DJSIR, which it used to purchase a 16-seat bus that will ferry patrons to and from the sites.
TLaWC chief executive Matt Burns praised the hard work of the many Taungurung people who helped create the business.
“This has been a deeply considered project, and we’ve collaborated with community and Elders to make sure we’re getting what we’re delivering right,” he said.
“A lot of the broader Taungurung community have a lot of ideas and passion for who we are and how we might celebrate that.
“It has also enabled us to develop a Taungurung-led training program to support our tour guides to take clients on country, and it’s something we’re really pleased with.”
Wawa biik currently has three tour guides – Elders Aunty Jo Honeysett, Uncle Shane Monk and Ms Honeysett’s son Jonah Honeysett – with more in training.
Mr Monk, who has a background in cultural heritage, said he had developed a passion for education.
“About five years ago we had someone contact us asking if we could do a private tour, and we got some really good feedback from that,” he said.
“That started a conversation about whether it would be viable to do tourism.
“I want to let the wider community know what Taungurung is about and share the Taungurung story.
“The information most people get is a generic story [about Aboriginal people]. There are more than 700 languages, so 700 mobs or more in Australia, and every mob has their own story. Being able to tell our story on our country is great. That’s what I’m passionate about.”
Mr Monk said wawa biik allowed Elders to pass cultural knowledge to younger Taungurung people, as well as the general public.
“If we don’t share that knowledge, when we pass away the knowledge becomes dormant until someone reawakens it,” he said.
“To have the younger generation working with us, we’re able to pass that knowledge down so it won’t become dormant.”
Ms Honeysett said she was thrilled to discover a new passion after retiring five years ago.
She said each guide brought their personal experiences to the tours, making every outing unique.
“Uncle Shane shows artefacts, I show possum skin cloaks that I’ve made,” she said.
“We have a yarn about all sorts of things and conversations go everywhere with people. There’s not a wrong question. As an Elder it’s our job to answer people’s questions.
“I want to showcase country and allow people to see country through a Taungurung lens.”
Mr Honeysett said he felt privileged to work closely with his Elders to learn about his culture while developing a new career path.
“I haven’t looked back. I was a bit intimidated at first, but once I went out shadowing my Elders and did a tour for our community and saw they were happy with it, that breathed new life into me,” he said.
“It’s allowed my generation and the generation under me to shadow the Elders and bring a new set of eyes and a new set of opinions. That in turn gets the Elders thinking and helps us get acknowledgement and recognition within the community.
“I’m proud to be able to say I’m a Taungurung man and that my ancestors were from this land. It drives me in the morning to get out of bed and be better every day.”
Mr Burns said the name wawa biik had special significance to the project.
“The name wawa biik means hello country. There are multiple reasons for that,” he said.
“It’s important to be able to say hello for guests who come onto Taungurung country, but it’s also an opportunity for our people to be able to say hello to country.
“They are able to say hello to country every day when they take people out and share their culture, their identity and their connection to country.”
Ms Honeysett said the ethos of wawa biik could be summed up in a phrase that came to her on the morning of the launch.
“Walk with us. Learn with us. Embrace this beautiful country with us. Allow us to take you on our journey,” she said.
People can find more information about wawa biik, including bookings, by visiting wawabiik.com.au.
Taungurung Land and Waters Council’s new tourism venture wawa biik, which will provide tours to culturally significant sites in Taungurung country, was launched last week at Trawool Estate.
SEYMOUR trainer Stephen Brown saddled-up Heavenly Emperor for an emphatic win at Bendigo on Sunday.
The seven-year-old gelded daughter of Echoes Of Heaven and Race Empress had been out of the winner’s stall since saluting at Caulfield in January 2021.
At odds of $20 on Sunday, she was forced to race three wide for most of the 1500-metre journey but was too strong at the end to take out the $37,500 Warrnambool Veterinary Clinic Handicap.
Giving claiming four-kilogram apprentice Emily Pozman her second career win, the gelding defeated James The Great, $15, by a half-head with the $4.20 favourite Smart Elissam a further three-quarters of a length away in third.
“It was a good ride by Emily with the four kilogram claim making a difference,” Brown said.
“She’s quite an accomplished rider who has a future. I first met her when I was up at Darwin.
“I sent the gelding down to Logan McGill for beach work late last year and he had a couple of runs down there without success.”
Brown said the gelding was going to be retired if he didn’t show anything on Sunday, but now he would head to Melbourne for his next start.
Heavenly Emperor was purchased in New Zealand by Brown after having five runs, and is raced by the trainer’s brother Roy, along with other stable clients.
The gelding has now won seven races with eight minor placings from his 40 starts earning $414,777 in prize money.
Ladies Day at Wodonga
Kilmore trainers Jody Thompson and Annie Goble saddled up winners within half an hour of each other at Wodonga on Monday last week.
Kilmore trainer Jody Thompson, Ian Forsyth, More Saturdays and assistant trainer and strapper Ash Thompson pictured after the mare’s win at Wodonga on Monday last week.
They were successful with More Saturdays, $11-$7.50, and Femme Americain, $31-$26, respectively.
The former, a seven-year-old daughter of Needs Further and Champagne Saturday was having her 27th start when she narrowly took out the M Force Security Maiden Plate over 2050 metres.
Giving the in-form Teo Nugent the second leg of a riding treble on the program, the mare hung on to defeat Rhonda Vous, $4.80, by a short-half-head with Testing The Cugat, $15, a further three length astern third.
“Nothing really went to plan as she was going to be up there handy,” Thompson said.
“I don’t know why, but she just decided to be slow out of the gates.
“It was a brilliant ride by Teo again. The mare didn’t have much luck at Kilmore last start.”
More Saturdays was bred and is part-owned by long-time and loyal stable client Craigieburn-based Ian Forsyth.
The mare has had five minor placings prior to Monday’s win.
The Goble-owned and trained Americain six-year-old mare, having her 10th start this preparation, was most impressive taking out the 2050-metre Peards Albury BM58 Handicap.
Ridden by the Riverina-based Josh Richards hoop, the mare came from midfield and was too strong at the finish defeating Autissiodorum, $4.40, by two and a quarter lengths with War At Sea, $26, a short-half-head away third.
Femme Americain with Josh Richards aboard return to the winner’s stall at Wodonga.
“We had a terrific run throughout the race, sitting behind the right horses who took us into the race,” Richards said.
“She kept picking up the bridle and she had plenty to give.”
Femme Americain has now won seven races with 11 minor placings from her 51 starts.
Kilmore success
The following day, Kilmore Racing Club hosted a successful turf meeting at bet365 Park Kilmore with a bigger than normal crowd in attendance.
Local stables were shy of the winning post with Kilmore trainer Alicia Macpherson looking like the winner in the first race with King Of Memphis, $18, only to get run down by the Matt Cumani-trained debutante No Matter What, $9.50.
Highlight of the meet was the riding double by international hoop Damian Lane. Three favourites were successful on the eight-race card.
Upcoming meetings
Kilmore will host another turf meeting on Friday, February 24, and Kyneton and Hanging Rock Racing Club to host a meeting on Thursday, March 2.
TALLAROOK still has ground to make up if it wishes to challenge Eastern Hill’s dominance of the Seymour District Cricket Association after losing to the Eagles by 11 runs at the weekend.
The ‘Rook were made to bowl first after losing the toss at Tallarook Recreation Reserve, and struggled to break through against Eastern Hill’s opening tandem of Dallas Bergowicz and Ben Bryant.
The pair reached 38 without loss before Tallarook keeper Josh Rudge managed to stump Bergowicz off the bowling of captain Lachie Watts.
Eastern Hill hardly missed a beat however, with Brayden Speechley joining Bryant at the crease to put on a 37-run partnership.
Bryant, 16 runs, and Speechley, run out for 33, fell in quick succession, as did number four batsman Seamus Feery for a duck, but Oliver Bryant, 34, and Brayden Avola, 20, struck up a 51-run partnership of their own to set up an eventual total of 6/156, as the Eagles batted out their 45 overs.
The Tallarook bowling attack shared the spoils, with Kalon Winnell the only multiple wicket-taker at an expensive 2/40 from eight overs, while Xavier Arandt, Leigh Irving, Ben Tarran and Watts claimed one wicket each.
The home side were under immediate pressure during their run chase when Rudge fell for a duck at the top of the order, bringing Watts to the crease.
Watts and Tarran stabilised, putting together a 73-run stand that was finally brought undone when Tarran, 27, fell to Tim Rudd-Schmidt, followed almost immediately afterwards by Watts, 38, whose wicket was claimed by Jake Sutherland.
Sutherland went on to pick up the wickets of Andrew Dundon, 18, and Kalon Winnell, 3, later in the innings to finish with team-best figures of 3/17.
The Tallarook batsmen gave everything they had but were unable to withstand the Eastern Hill attack, as Shane Topham, 23, was the only other to reach double figures.
Madison Albers, who made her debut for Victoria’s women’s team last month, batted at the tail of Tallarook’s order and was the final wicket to fall, caught for four off the bowling of Bryant as the ‘Rook were all out for 145.
In addition to Sutherland’s three wickets, Rudd-Schmidt and Dan O’Sullivan took two apiece for Eastern Hill, which still tops the ladder with a solitary loss from nine games this season.
Tallarook is second with a 6-2 record, while Seymour looks likely to finish in last place after its loss to Yea Tigers on Saturday.
The Tigers notched an imposing 7/209 after winning the toss and batting, and Seymour struggled to reach half that score, bowled out for 104 with Lachlan Drummond, 22, Regan Kirby, 11, Brayden Finn, 20 not out, and Daniel McLarty, 10, the only batsmen to reach double figures.
Marc Steiner was the primary wicket-taker for Yea, finishing with 4/8 and five maidens in a brilliant nine-over spell.
Tallarook has a bye in round 17 this weekend, while Eastern Hill will host Yea Tigers and Broadford returns from its bye to play Seymour at Harley Hammond Reserve.
Broadford’s committee will host a special meeting on Wednesday from 6.30pm at Harley Hammond Reserve, inviting all life members, past and present players, along with junior parents to discuss the club’s future in the Seymour District Cricket Association. See next week’s edition of the North Central Review for more.
Mitchell Shire Council will explore options to promote cycling across the region after endorsing an action plan to guide cycling-oriented infrastructure spending during the next five years.
Council unanimously voted at its December meeting to endorse the plan, which was developed in conjunction with cycling stakeholders through a Cycling Consultative Forum, CCF.
While officers only recommended council note the action plan and allocate funding for a shire-wide integrated transport strategy in a future budget, Cr Rhonda Sanderson suggested council take more immediate action.
Cr Sanderson moved an alternative motion that council endorse the plan, advocate to state and federal governments for funding to support walking and cycling opportunities, and review the CCF terms of reference to establish an ongoing cycling committee.
She said it was important to take immediate steps to improve cycling support in the region rather than waiting for an integrated transport strategy.
“I don’t think [we should be] waiting for an integrated transport strategy, which might be in five years’ time, then followed up by a walking and cycling strategy, which would be another two years – so it would be seven years until there was a plan,” she said.
“We know Mitchell has got some challenges as far as health and wellbeing. We’ve got high levels of obesity and overweightness in our community – 62 per cent, I think.
“Cycling is great exercise, it’s great recreation, it’s great for kids and families, so I think it would be excellent to have an ongoing committee.”
Kilmore’s Wheel House Bikes owner Sam Cummins said he was keen to see more investment in cycling infrastructure across the region.
While he said the inclusion of cycling infrastructure in fast-developing regions in southern Mitchell Shire like Beveridge was encouraging, there was still a lack of options for people living further north.
“You see people riding their bikes on the Northern Highway because there’s nowhere else to ride,” he said.
“People shouldn’t have to travel to other areas just to be able to ride their bike safely.”
Cr Nathan Clark said the success of Wheel House Bikes showed why council needed to do more to support cycling.
“You can go in there on a Saturday morning and see the community’s passion for biking, and it’s great to see it happening at such a young age as well,” he said.
“The future of exercise in Mitchell is definitely cycling.”
Cr Rob Eldridge said he was in favour of an ongoing cycling liaison committee.
“One of the things that points towards the need for an ongoing committee is the fact that when we look at who is a single point of accountability for cycling and active transport through the staff, there is none,” he said.
“The engineers did a great job on this [report], but it was an engineering outcome, and it didn’t touch on the recreational, strategic and non-physical aspects of what’s needed to implement a cycling strategy across Mitchell.
“I think it’s a great initiative … but I think it’s a beginning only.”
The running of the 1690-metre Bendigo Bank Lancefield Pacing Cup and the Mustad Australia Lancefield Trotters Cup was the highlight of Kilmore’s harness meeting on Sunday.
Fourteen-year-old Bettors Delight-Tyalla gelding Baccarat, having start 270, was victorious in the Pacing Cup.
Baccarat is one of the large team of Tasmanian Ben Yole currently being trained in Kilmore under the care of Robbie Walters.
Driven by James Herbertson, Baccarat eased wide in the straight from a midfield inside trip to finish all over the top of his rivals and record a 1.1-metre margin from Abbie Lincoln along the sprint lane, which trailed the leader and stablemate Nifty Jolt who held down third. The mile rate 1-59.4.
The 2180-metre Trotters Cup saw heat winner Aldebaran Stevie, driven by Chris Svanosio, lead throughout from the pole to just last by a half head from the other heat winner Buslin Brody in a rate of 2-05.5.
Millee ran on late out wide after breaking mid-race to run third 11.7 metres back. The rate 2-05.5.
Leading was certainly the place to be on the night with several front runners saluting the judge.
Lemnos trainer Nathan Jack snared the quinella in the BRD Excavations 2Y0 and Older Maiden Pace with two-year-old Vincent-Miss Skeeter colt Hammer Dan, raced in partnership by Dominic Martello and Danny Zavitsanos, defeating first starter Chart Topper in a mile rate of 1-57.9.
Last week’s winner, four-year-old Yankee Spider-Bold Invasion gelding Sheetweb Weaver, ran his rivals ragged in the North Western Property Valuers Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres.
Trained at Chiltern by Peter Romero and driven once again by Cameron Maggs, Sheetweb Weaver never looked like being caught, scoring by a huge 52.3 metres in advance of Stockman Peter. The mile rate an exceptional 2-00.3 for that grade.
The 2180-metre Quick Fix Services Pace went the way of long odds-on favourite Big Bad Ossie, a four-year-old Life Sign-Trulyawork Of Art trained in partnership by Kialla’s Stephen O’Donoghue and Rebecca Bartley.
Driven by Bec, Big Bad Ossie led all of the way from the pole to greet the judge 1.1 metres ahead of Well Said Harps, with Averio third 5.6 metres back. The mile rate 2-03.1.
Riddell trainer Chris Lang combined with John Caldow aboard seven-year-old gelding Don’t Touch The Duco to lead throughout in the Lancefield Bus Lines Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres.
He accounted for Beau Garcon by 1.9 metres in 2-04.1. Downunder Barkers used the sprint lane for third 2.5 metres away.
Bolinda duo Alison and Chris Alford landed the 1690-metre Jet Roofing Pace (2nd Heat) with Maas Betting Again, a four-year-old daughter of Betting Line and Maastricht.
Racing exposed for most of the trip, Maas Betting Again was too tough at the business end of proceedings for Smiling Shandy along the sprint lane by a neck after trailing. Pacemaker Princess Chilla held third 5.1 metres back in a mile rate of 1-57.7.
Merrigum trainer Luke Bryant’s ex-Kiwi four-year-old gelding Franco Novelist was another all the way winner in the Lancefield Light Harness Club Pace over 1690 metres.
With Ellen Tormey in the sulky, Franco Novelist, having his second start in Australia, defied all challengers to score by 7.1 metres from Wingate Guy and Blissful Mind in a mile rate 1-57.5.
Ex-New Zealander four-year-old gelding Jaccka Connor, trained at Strathfieldsaye by Julie Douglas and driven by brother-in-law Daryl Douglas, also led most of the way from gate four to land the Carlton and United Breweries Pace over 1690 metres in 1-59.8, defeating Smooth Techy and Dancing With Flo.
The duo had earlier snared the 1690-metre Worlds Best Hoof Oil Vicbred Pace with six-year-old mare Shaded, who accounted for Magic Storm by three metres and Shes Lush third. The mile rate 1-57.8.
Kilmore’s next harness meeting is on Tuesday, February 28.
Broadford Fire Brigade will host its first open day at its new station on Saturday.
The open day, from 10am to 2pm, will be at the fire station at 47 Hamilton Street, Broadford.
Firefighting demonstrations, Country Fire Authority trucks on display, fire station tours, community education and other emergency services will be on hand for the community experience.
There will also be free children’s activities, such as a jumping castle and face painting, plus free sausage sizzle, popcorn and fairy floss for people to enjoy.
A Fire Safe Kids presentations will take place at 11am and 1pm.
Captain Jamie Duffy said people of all ages were welcome to attend the open day – the first time the brigade had open its station doors to the public.
“We have been in our new station for a couple of years now but it’s the first time we’ve been able to open to the public due to COVID and other logistics,” he said.
“But we’re very keen to show off our new station and let people wander through.
“There will be plenty of brigade members in attendance to answer questions and provide people with information about our trucks, our equipment, and everything we do as a brigade.”
Mr Duffy said it would also be an opportunity for people interested in joining the brigade to attend and check out their facilities.
“We are actively recruiting for more members to join us – we have an recruitment night on Tuesday, February 21 for people to come along and hear about the various roles people can do in a brigade,” he said.
“As well as being a fire fighter, there are also plenty of support and administration roles available to help the brigade function.
The recruit information night starts at 7pm on at the Broadford Fire Station.
WALLAN appears poised to post a much-needed victory in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association’s McIntyre Cup competition, posting an imposing total on the first day of its two-day match against East Sunbury on Saturday.
The Magpies are currently at the foot of the McIntyre Cup ladder but share the same 1-8 win-loss record as East Sunbury, which sits one spot higher.
Wallan took a big step towards its second victory of the season when it was sent in to bat by the visiting Thunder, riding a century by opener Kieran Atkin to a total of 254.
Atkin lost fellow opener Matthew Clayton, 7, in the early going but partnered with Spencer Whittingham, 34, Todd Keenan, 9, and skipper Bryan Vance, 25, as he continued to build his innings.
Between them, Wallan’s top five batsmen put 189 runs on the board, helping the team withstand a middle-order slump during which Tyler Dixon and Harvey Lehner were each removed for ducks by Thunder bowler Nathan Dent, and Chris Vecchie added only eight runs of his own.
Handy runs from Campbell Fowler, 13, and Russell Whittingham, 24, in the tail kept Wallan’s scorebook looking healthy and setting the visitors a big run chase.
Wallan had time to bowl three overs before the close of play and made a perfect start, with Vecchie trapping East Sunbury Alec Boorsma leg before wicket for one run, leaving the Thunder 1/1 at stumps and requiring 254 more runs for victory when play resumes on Saturday.
Romsey’s McIntyre Cup clash against second-placed Sunbury United is more delicately poised, with the Redbacks setting themselves to defend a more modest total of 180.
Openers Taylor Stevenson, 28, and Matthew Milne, 27, each made handy starts after Romsey was sent in by the Hornets, but it was Corey Day’s 40 runs in the middle of the order that allowed the home side to reach 180 before being bowled out in the 69th over.
Romsey made the perfect start to its defence, with Adam Frost rattling the stumps of Sunbury United opener Liam Sherlock for a duck, but fellow opener Damien Edwards and first drop Steven Fogarty guided the visitors to 1/11 at stumps, requiring 170 runs for victory at the resumption of play.
Johnstone Shield
Kilmore’s bowlers will need to be on their game this weekend as the side attempts to defend a relatively meagre total of 138 set against Macedon on Saturday.
Blues skipper Josh Buttler, 32, and Ned Mckeown, 38, were the only Kilmore batsmen able to advance past the teens, with opener Kevin Craddock falling for 18 and keeper Jacob Walton dismissed for 17.
Tom Kean was Macedon’s danger man, taking 4/26 in seven overs.
The Cats were 0/10 in reply after 11 overs before the close of play, needing 129 more for a win.
Women
Lancefield Black claimed bragging rights – for now – after defeating Lancefield Yellow in the final round of the women’s competition, and the two will play off again this weekend in a semi-final.
Kilmore’s inaugural women’s season drew to a close as the Blues went down to Macedon by 50 runs.
Chasing 136 for victory, Kilmore openers Taylah Logie, 19, and Megan Farrell, 34, made a good start, but the rest of the team combined foonly 15 total runs as the Blues were bowled out for 85.
Kilmore finished fifth on the ladder, missing the finals by one spot.
Lancefield Yellow batted first after losing the toss and overcame the early loss of openers Miranda Sampson and Cori McPhail for five runs apiece when Carolyn Cusack made 70 before retiring and captain Bethany Reece notched 54.
Lancefield Yellow batted out its 30 overs to finish 6/172, an imposing target, but Lancefield Black showed why it finished atop the ladder with an impressive 2/180 from its own 30 overs, sealing an eight-run win.
Black’s Brooke Jeffery matched Cusack’s heroics with her own unbeaten innings of 72, while Nat Jeffery’s innings of 52 included eight boundaries.
Lancefield Black skipper Emily Consiglio and keeper Charli Laity paired for the winning runs, finishing unbeaten on 11 and 6 respectively.
Whittlesea Country Fire Authority, CFA, is encouraging more young people aged between 16 and 17 to become operational members, with unit numbers currently low.
The CFA Youth Team ran a series of cadet camps during the past few months aimed at giving young people who are interested in joining or are already part of a brigade the chance to better their skills and connect with other like-minded people.
Simon Corps, who regularly turns out alongside Whittlesea Fire Brigade with his 17-year-old son Josh, said he was a strong advocate of his son’s participation in the brigade.
“It will allow him to continue to build his community spirit while learning new skills and working with a great team,” he said.
“He will have experiences that people his age may never have, both positive and challenging. And we have been very impressed with the support he has already been given from the brigade and CFA.”
Simon said one of Josh’s reasons for volunteering with the brigade was to feel a part of his community.
“Youth his age need as much encouragement as they can get, and be given opportunities to show them they are valued as part of the team and the community,” he said.
Whittlesea brigade captain Richard Gardiner is also a supporter of youth participation, as he became involved with the CFA when he visited the station at the age of 16 with his father.
Since joining the CFA at a young age, Mr Gardiner has had a career in emergency management and has worked with the CFA, Ambulance Victoria, Fire Rescue Victoria, and Emergency Management Victoria.
He said joining the CFA at an early age was life-changing and was why he had remained passionate about giving young people the opportunity to be operational with a brigade.
“[Brigade Management Teams] need to develop really strong relationships with the young members and their families, even if the families are not involved in the brigade,” he said.
“This gives them insight into what the young person is into and what opportunities they should be offered and be able to have.
“If you build relationships with their families and guardians, you will open the door to get to know them and their capabilities, strengths, and skills.”
Mr Gardiner said he was keen to encourage and support the younger cohort and saw them as equals in the brigade.
For more information people can visit Whittlesea Fire Brigade’s Facebook page or www.whittleseacfa.com.
