Kilmore Races: Community and businesses unite for great cause
Despite challenges faced by the club in the lead-up to the event, Kilmore Racing Club’s community and charity race day on Saturday was a resounding success.
The community came out in droves to support the event, creating a favourable atmosphere.
Heavy rain and flooding in the spring of 2022 forced the club to cancel four turf races, including the Kilmore Cup and Northern Health race day.
But refusing to let the setbacks dampen its spirits, the club turned its first turf races of 2023 into a special event, incorporating elements of both the cup and Northern Health race day into a community and charity day.
To make the event as accessible as possible, patrons were able to attend the race meeting for free, Country Racing Victoria gave away free children’s merchandise packs, and a large kids’ zone was enjoyed with the support of NorCen Financial Services – Wallan, Kilmore and Broadford Community Banks.
The annual Northern Health Foundation Charity Luncheon, again hosted by Bev Carman, gathered sponsors, raffle prizes and sold tickets to raise money for life-saving equipment – highlighting how business and community can come together to support a great cause.
Sponsors received a race named in their honour, advertising and 10 seats to the three-course luncheon that included complementary wine.
Anyone interested in supporting the Northern Health Foundation can contact Ms Carman via email bev.carman@bigpond.com.
“Saturday was just unbelievable, with good food and lots of laughter, it was just wonderful,” Ms Carman said.
Emergency services volunteers needed in Mitchell Shire
By Colin MacGillivray
MITCHELL Shire leaders have extolled the importance of volunteering as emergency services across the north of the municipality face a shortage of participants.
In the wake of record floods that struck Seymour, Broadford and other towns in October last year, former Mitchell Shire Council mayor Bill Chisholm called for council to advocate to all levels of government, the Municipal Association of Victoria, MAV, and all relevant politicians to address perceived emergency response issues.
Cr Chisholm, a volunteer with the Country Fire Authority, CFA, said with the increasing effects of climate change becoming more apparent, it was critical that emergency response agencies were adequately resourced and staffed.
“I regard it as important that we recognise the serious shortfall in volunteer numbers, especially the mean age of volunteers in emergency roles, and instigate a state and federal level combined response and recruitment campaign,” he said.
“I’m involved in a small fire brigade and the age of many of the participants is extremely old.
“We’ve got a growing community, so people should be more aware of their responsibilities. If you expect a fire truck or the SES [State Emergency Service] to turn up, it’s really good if you contribute in whatever way you can to that organisation.”
Cr Chisholm’s call came after the Victorian SES experienced its busiest month on record responding to October’s floods.
SES volunteers responded to a staggering 13,705 requests for assistance statewide during October, representing a 28 per cent increase on the previous monthly record of 10,740 requests set in June 2021.
Leaders of Seymour SES said the unit responded to more than 200 requests for assistance in the days following the flooding.
Cr Louise Bannister backed Cr Chisholm’s call, saying emergency services would see skyrocketing demand as Mitchell Shire’s population grew.
“It’s [unfortunate] … that the volunteering age is getting higher and higher and we’re getting fewer volunteers in the younger generations,” she said.
“It’s a scary prospect when that includes the CFA. There are many people out there who owe their lives and the safety of their homes to our CFA members, so it’s a very important community volunteer group that we need in the country.”
One group that has bucked a trend of volunteer numbers declining is the Kilmore SES unit, which has more than tripled its membership base in less than three years.
Unit controller John Koutras said it was important for emergency services to be inclusive when seeking to attract younger volunteers.
Mr Koutras said he made a concerted effort to make everyone feel welcome at the unit when he took over as part of a new management team.
“I think organisations really need to look at themselves and ask ‘are we inclusive? Are our doors open? Are we a true community organisation?’” he said.
“We’ve specifically opened our doors to everyone, no matter what your skills are.”
Mr Koutras said he was particularly proud to emphasise gender diversity at the unit.
“We’ve tripled our numbers in the past two years, and I would like to double them again from where we are now, because our town and the towns that we go to in Kilmore, Broadford and Wallan are all growing,” he said.
“There are housing estates going up everywhere, so the amount of people and traffic that goes through here is increasing year by year.
“At the minute we have 44 members. We needed every one of those 44 members during the floods. It’s important to have what is called surge capacity so that when a major event happens we can help as many people as we can in the community.”
Cr Chisholm also pointed to outdated CFA equipment as a concern.
“Currently in the CFA, the replacement period for fire trucks is 30 years. This used to be a 20-year replacement cycle, and it’s getting longer,” he said.
“We’re putting volunteers in extremely hazardous and dangerous situations with old equipment, and it definitely needs to be addressed.
“Hopefully we can use this motion to bring those issues to the attention of State Government.”
Kilmore community and charity race day a success
By ‘Pegs’
KILMORE Racing Club hosted its first meeting for season 2022-23 on Saturday with a successful event in the form of a community and charity race day, including an annual Northern Health Foundation fundraiser.
The first of a seven-race card was brought forward to 11.41am due to the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting the mercury to hit 36 degrees in the region.
Only one favourite was successful at the bet365 Park Kilmore program, with Kilmore trainer Jody Thompson saddling up the $3 favourite Irving Again to impressively take out the 2000-metre Epping Plaza Hotel Maiden Plate.
The consistent New Zealand-bred Rip Van Winkle, a four-year-old gelding ridden by Jack Hill, defeated Six Feet, $3.10, by four-and-a-half lengths, with Starvaceous, $15, a further two-and-a-quarter lengths away third.
A $25,000 purchase at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, the gelding is raced by the trainer along with stable clients.
Irving Again had three minor placings prior to his win.
New acquisition successful
Race four, the Verandah Solutions Maiden Plate over 1200 metres, saw the Danny Laws-trained Prudden, at $20 odds, having his first start for the new stable.
He motored home to defeat Manuka Bay, $26, by three quarters of a length with Prancing Queen, $4.60, a short half-head away third.
Ridden by Lachlan King, the Per Incanto four-year-old gelding had his unplaced debut run with Ben and JD Hayes.
Thompson’s big weekend
Jody Thompson made it a winning double for the day when Kermalaw, $11, took out the last race, the Boost Financial Services and BMTG IT 0-58 Handicap, over 1450 metres.
The Kermadec five-year-old gelding, raced by the trainer, her parents, son and stable clients, made it three wins for the day for in-form hoop Jack Hill.
Kermalaw, previously trained by Steve Richards, has now won three races with three minor placings from 21 starts.
Thompson was back in the winners stall at Moe the following day.
She saddled up Avid General, $13, for back-to-back wins, taking out the 1000-metre $37,500 Club Eastwood Launch Fri 27th Jan BM64 Handicap.
The Casino Prince seven-year-old gelding, giving Teo Nugent a winning double, defeated Super Thief, $4.40, by one-and-a-quarter lengths, with High Risk, $13, a length away third.
“It was an 11 out of 10 ride from Teo,” Thompson said.
“I was rapt in the run when he grabbed hold of him instead of being three deep. He just tries his little heart out, this horse.”
Avid General, raced by the Thompson family and former Kilmore trainer Angie Barton, has now won nine races with eight minor placings from 40 starts.
Lone winner
Seymour co-trainers Lee and Shannon Hope took out the only race run at Benalla on Sunday when the consistent Good Morgen, a $1.65 favourite, took out the bet365 Maiden Plate over 1206 metres.
The race was marred by a bad fall on the home turn, with Lachie King and John Keating having to be conveyed to hospital.
Good Morgen, a Kuroshio five-year-old mare, was bred and is raced by long-time stable client John Brown.
The mare had four minor placings prior to her win from eight starts.
Country Basketball League: Seymour’s men remain undefeated
Seymour Blasters picked up where they left off as the Country Basketball League season resumed earlier this month, remaining undefeated in the north-east division men’s competition.
The league resumed play on January 7, with Seymour playing a double header in round 13.
The Blasters easily dispatched the Albury Cougars 102-63 at home, with Jordan Hockley putting up a season-best 24 points, including five three-pointers.
Seymour travelled to Mansfield the following day to take on the Eagles, again winning easily, 80-49, behind 17 points from Keenan Gorski and 16 from Tyler Best.
In round 14 on Sunday, the Blasters chalked up another dominant victory, romping to a 114-64 win against the Wangaratta Warriors on the road.
While Best, 24 points, and Gorski, 23, again led the team, younger players like Eden Hobbs, 18, and Zac Donoghue, 10, got court time to show their abilities.
The Wallan Panthers’ men had a round 13 bye but returned to action with a surprise 20-point loss to the Myrtleford Saints on Sunday.
The Panthers were outscored 62-82 on their home court. For Wallan, only Ryan Philippe, 21, Luke Liesegang, 14, and Riley Mclay, 12, notched double figures.
The result, combined with a pair of wins for Benalla Breakers, saw Wallan slip to third place on the ladder, while undefeated Seymour sits comfortably atop with two rounds remaining.
This weekend the Blasters host Wodonga Wolves at 7.30pm on Saturday before travelling to face Benalla on Sunday.
Wallan will play a single game in round 15, hosting Albury Cougars at RB Robson Stadium at 3pm Sunday.
There was less action in the women’s north-east division, with Seymour’s January 7 game against Albury abandoned after five minutes when the Cougars’ Jade McCowan was seriously injured.
Wallan was awarded a forfeit win against the Shepparton Lady Gators the following day, meaning both teams had to wait for round 14.
On Saturday, Seymour was also handed a walkover win against Shepparton before beating Wangaratta Warriors 66-50 on Sunday.
Tayha Watkins played one of her best games in an already dominant season for Seymour, scoring 32 points.
Wallan downed Myrtleford 77-53 on the back of a dominant third quarter, with Carley Cranston, 16 points, Kaitlyn Bickerton, 13, and Ruby Pantisano, 10, scoring.
This weekend Seymour’s women will host Wodonga Lady Wolves at 5.30pm Saturday, with Wallan also at home to Albury at 1pm Sunday.
Kilmore tennis juniors visit Melbourne Park
KILMORE Tennis Club’s junior players and coaches earlier this month embarked on a trip to the state’s capital, visiting Melbourne Park to experience the world-class tennis facilities in the lead up to the Australian Open.
The club last year received funding through Tennis Victoria’s ACE Grants Program, allowing 20 players to travel to Melbourne Park to tour Rod Laver Arena, show court three, and the players’ lockers and change rooms, along with an opportunity to have a hit on the indoor courts of the National Tennis Centre.
Kilmore’s junior players also had the chance to explore Melbourne Park’s underground tunnels and the ‘walk of fame’, following in the footsteps of tennis stars such as Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, and Ash Barty.
Kilmore Tennis Club junior president Claire Gallagher said the players took full advantage of the unique opportunity.
“Many of the junior players, who had never ventured in the city or travelled on a train, were in awe of the sheer size of Melbourne Park, and all that Melbourne has to offer, especially leading up to the Australian Open,” she said.
“The players admired the well-maintained indoor courts and appreciated the opportunity to play tennis in this prestigious environment without the worry of the wind offsetting their serve or the Kilmore rain adding extra weight to the ball.”
The ACE Grants Program is aimed at encouraging participation in tennis for underrepresented groups, supporting communities who could experience barriers to accessing tennis and being involved with the sport.
Mitchell Shire Weekly Police News: January 17, 2023
Thefts
Three male offenders entered a liquor store in Seymour at about 2.55pm on Friday and stole various amounts of liquor, valued at more than $150.
The next day, on Saturday, an unknown offender stole a handbag out of the front seat of a vehicle parked at a takeaway store on High Street, Wallan. The handbag included an international passport, gold ring and about $50 cash.
On Sunday, at 6.10pm, an unknown offender entered a convenience store on Anzac Avenue, Seymour, and stole three cans of Pringles chips.
Criminal damage
Unknown offenders drove through a fence at a residential address on Jones Road, Broadford on Wednesday, causing damage valued at about $1000.
The offenders then proceeded to dump four loads of rubbish in the driveway and flee.
Between 11pm on Wednesday and 6.30am on Thursday, unknown offenders damaged two vehicles parked on Howe Street, Seymour.
The offenders damaged both vehicles’ windscreen wipers causing them to be inoperable.
Theft of plates
In two seperate incidents, licence plates have been stolen from vehicles parks at Kilmore East train station last week.
Between 10.30am on January 9 and 6pm on January 14, unknown offenders removed and stole a front licence plate affixed to a vehicle.
Another vehicle was hit between 10am on January 12 and 8am on January 13.
Burglaries
A takeaway shop in Bank Street, Avenel, was broken into between 10pm on January 14 and 8am on January 15.
Offenders removed seven louvers and climbed into the shop, where they filled a backpack full of alcohol bottles and left.
Between 5pm on January 5 and 5pm on January 12, unknown offenders entered a shed on a property on Vearings Road, Avenel, and stole a red Ducati hypermotard motorcycle.
Police urge anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 if they have any information about any of the above offences.
Kilmore locals shine at trots
By Len Baker
Kilmore-based Robbie Walters, presently looking after Tasmanian Ben Yole’s large team as well as his own, joined Bolinda’s Brent Lilley and Kilmore’s Monique Burnett and Josh Duggan on the winners’ list at Kilmore’s 11-race card on Friday.
Lilley was first to arrive when Kyvalley Amanda, driven by Chris Alford, led throughout to win the World’s Best Hoof Oil 3Y0 and older Maiden Trotters Mobile over 1690 metres.
She easily accounted for Sheetweb Weaver by 4.4 metres in 1-58.9, with Chasing Calder holding down third.
Burnett took all the spoils in the 2180-metre Jet Roofing Pace when her seven-year-old Four Starzzz Shark-Rock Melody gelding Have No Choice scorched away from outside the front line to lead.
He was never headed and lasted by a half head from Dabyminga, with Kellys Delight third. The mile rate 2-00.7.
It was then the Walters/Yole show with 10-year-old Mach Three-Madame Lily gelding Paddy Mach, also driven by Walters, chalking up his 14th victory in 194 outings by taking the C and M Build Group Pace over 1690 metres.
As Yole’s Fly Like An Eagle led from gate three, Paddy Mach finished best to score from a death-seating Final Bow, with Fly Like An Eagle third. The margins 1.1 by 3.2 metres in a mile rate of 1-58.9.
Six-year-old mare Didnt I, also trained by Yole, landed the Momentum Gaming Pace over 1690 metres.
Another Kilmore reinsman Josh Duggan, husband of Monique Burnett, guided Torrumbarry trainer Faye McEwan’s five-year-old Sky Valley-Misty Elle gelding Watch And Act to victory in the O’Brien Electrical Trotters Handicap over 2150 metres, bringing up two wins in a row.
Watch And Act coasted to the wire 12.2 metres in advance of Aldebaran Jaytee, with Tetra 1.7 metres away third in an all Kilmore area trifecta. The mile rate 2-04.6.
The highlight of the night was the 2180-metre $7000 Tellurian Wines Pace Final, for horses that qualified in the heats a week earlier.
The victor was Axedale trainer Mick Carbone’s heat winner five-year-old mare Smiling Shandy, driven by owner James Herbertson who was given an easy time from the pole.
Other winners at the meeting were Long Forest trainer Andy Gath with Robinmemates in the Beraldo Coffee Trotters Mobile over 2180 metres; Wheres Seggy, trained by Joe Pace, of Harkness near Melton, in the Grays Bendigo Pace over 2180 metres; Gigarre East trainer Gary Pekin’s tough gelding Cresco Threepeat won the MC Security Pace over 1690 metres; Lara owner/trainer Carson Miller snared the Georgina and Co Pace over 2180 metres with Night Spirit; and Daylesford trainer Anne-Maree Conroy’s six-year-old mare Aldebaran Belle overcame a 10-metre handicap to land the Carlton and United Breweries Trotters Handicap over 2150 metres in a mile rate of 2-04.7.
Kilmore harness races are on again this Thursday.
Country Week success for junior cricketers
By Colin MacGillivray
SEYMOUR District and Gisborne and District junior cricketers had plenty of success in Country Week competitions earlier this month, winning a combined three grand finals.
Seymour District under 13 coach Ash Wood praised his side for ‘a brilliant week of cricket’.
The side proved too strong for each of its first three opponents, defeating Shepparton, Goulburn Murray and Murray Valley by 47 runs, 95 runs and 54 runs respectively.
Up against a powerful Bendigo association in the grand final, the team put in its best performance of the week.
After winning the toss Seymour sent Bendigo in to bat, with opening bowlers Blake Jones and James Wilkins displaying consistent line and length.
Jones claimed the first wicket, but Bendigo stabilised until Seymour bowler Harrison Wood entered the attack, striking with two quick wickets in one over.
Bendigo looked in a comfortable position at 3/118, but excellent bowling from Jones and Matt Wal, along with exemplary fielding including three run-outs, saw the final six wickets fall for only 26 runs.
Wal had 3/35, Wood claimed 2/14 and Jones 2/22 as Seymour bowled Bendigo out for 144.
Seymour had an early setback when it lost opener Louis McAlpin for one run, but Edison Waghorn and Wal combined for 68 runs before Waghorn finally fell for 54.
Wal remained at the crease as Hamish Melville, 4, and Wood, 24, kept him company, before Wood’s dismissal opened the door for Harrison Christie to hit the winning run off the only ball he faced, with Wal remaining unbeaten on 41.
“[It was] a brilliant week of cricket for these young lads, and just reward for the effort, dedication and enthusiasm they put into their cricket,” Ash Wood said.
Six of Seymour’s players were named in the country week top 10, with skipper Wal notching 119 runs with the bat and 10 wickets with the ball to lead the side.
Waghorn finished with 170 runs and three wickets; Wood had 58 runs, two wickets and four catches; Jones took eight wickets; Wilkins five wickets; and keeper McAlpin had four catches and four run-outs.
Seymour’s under 15 team defeated Murray Valley but lost to Bendigo and Goulburn Murray during the group stage.
Gisborne fielded two under 13 boys teams, two under 14 girls teams, two under 15 boys teams and one under 17 girls team during Country Week.
A Gisborne under 15 team won its grand final against Grampians Cricket Association by 60 runs, with Archie Shore, 39, and Harrison Bobetic, 32, leading the way with the bat.
Bridget Stute’s 46 runs, Lola Coppin’s 43 and Emmerson Dempsey’s 3/5 led the under 14 girls to a dominant 114-run victory in their grand final against Northern Rivers, while the under 17 girls fell short by 15 runs in their grand final against Shepparton.
Broadford set for Australia Day celebrations
By Max Davies
BROADFORD is gearing up for a day full of activities next week, with the town’s Australia Day Festival set to return for its biggest event yet and Broadford and District Historical Society preparing a display of the town’s secondary education.
The Broadford Australia Day Festival will once again include a range of events and activities, including live music, roving magicians, and cartooning workshops, as well as free face painting, a miniature pet farm, pony rides and demonstrations by Snake Safe Victoria.
The festival, organised for the community by the Rotary Club of Southern Mitchell, is supported through joint funding from the Bendigo Bank Community Bank and the National Australia Day Council, allowing a wider range of free activities to build on the increasing attendance numbers of previous years.
Festival coordinator and Rotary Club of Southern Mitchell president Rose King said the festival continued to grow every year and was going from strength to strength.
“For something that was quite small in the beginning, that we used to hold on a small part of the service road in town, it’s become a much bigger event and we’ve been able to move down to the island park,” she said.
“People look forward to it. It’s a great event for the locals to be able to come out and enjoy some activities, food, and entertainment.”
This year’s Australia Day Festival will also be complemented by visits from a community groups and emergency services, including Mitchell Rangers Soccer Club, Broadford Football Netball Club, Broadford Lions Club, Broadford Fire Brigade, and State Emergency Service volunteers.
Broadford Cars and Coffee will also organise to have about 50 classic cars on display for visitors to admire.
“We’re hoping for nice weather, we’ve got a few activities that won’t be able to go ahead if it’s too hot but the festival will go ahead regardless,” Ms King said.
“It’s a great event, and it’s an opportunity for families and members of the community who might be doing it tough to come out and enjoy a day of free entertainment.”
Historical display
Broadford and District Historical Society will also continue its tradition of putting together a Broadford-oriented display for Australia Day, this year celebrating 60 years of Broadford Secondary College with historical memorabilia and archive photos.
The display will feature uniforms and photos of teachers, students, trips, and accomplishments, as well as historical documents regarding the planning of the school, finances, and attendance.
All buildings at the historical society will open from 10am to 2pm and provide an opportunity for visitors to explore Broadford’s past, including the Courier Office and the police lock-up. The Mills College will also feature a used book sale, with cheap books available for purchase.
The Broadford Australia Day Festival will begin at 7am on January 26 with a Lions barbecue breakfast, followed by the commencement of entertainment and activities at the island reserve from 9am to 3pm.