Panthers women set the pace

Michael Thompson

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March 31, 2026

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IT was a mixed weekend for Wallan in the Big V competition as it hosted two home games across Saturday night.

Saturday night’s action started with Wallan’s women looking to make it two from two against Shepparton.

Any fears that Shepparton might catch the Panthers out by surprise were very quickly negated as Wallan did what it pleased throughout the first quarter, scoring at will and opening up a 22-point lead after scoring 31 points to nine.

The Panthers continued to dominate in the second quarter, scoring 23 points to seven and opening up a 38-point lead at the main break, 54-16.

While there may have been a slight excuse to take the foot off the pedal, Wallan wasn’t interested in the third quarter, and the Panthers continued to dominate affairs, scoring 27 points to 13 for the term to lead 81-29 at the final change.

Shepparton negated Wallan’s scoring power in the last quarter, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Panthers from winning 97-45.

Five Panthers scored in double digits, led by Ranika Guyton with 19 points, five assists and three steals, while Emmie Gardiner had 17 points and 16 boards. Kody West-Linnett and Ruby Pantisano scored 12 points apiece, while Carley Cranston had 11 points and seven assists.

The men followed as the Panthers hosted Sherbrooke, but despite a reasonably competitive opening half, they just couldn’t quite go with the Suns as they lost by 40 points.

The Panthers had a spirited start, scoring 25 points in the first quarter, but conceding 32 to trail by seven at the first change.

Wallan kept in touch, but Sherbrooke was just that little bit better in the second term, scoring 27 points to 20 to lead 59-45 at the main break.

Sherbrooke then broke the game open in the third term, scoring 31 points to 15 to essentially seal the game, leading by 30 points at the final change, 90-60.

The Suns scored 22 points to 12 in the last term to eventually win 112-72.

Lachlan Lombardo had a good individual game, scoring 26 points, while Nathan Aikman was relentless in spending the whole game on the court, collecting 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Similarly, Wallan’s youth league men struggled against Sherbrooke.

A first quarter barrage where the Suns scored 33 points to 13 meant the Panthers were in a hole they could not dig their way out of all day, while Sherbrooke continued to manage the margin.

Try as they might, the Panthers couldn’t make inroads on the margin, losing 79-104.

Rhylee Leighton performed strongly to have 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists, while Hunter Graham and Brody Thrum scored 14 points apiece.

Similarly, the Panthers youth league women were outclassed by Wyndham, losing 95-48.

The Panthers started okay and kept in touch at quarter time, trailing 25-14, but Wyndham took over in the second and third quarters to blow the margin out, before easing home in the final term.

Paige Schultz led all scorers for the Panthers with 12 points.

Bakehouse claims best hot cross bun title

The North Central Review

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March 31, 2026

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Bakehouse claims best hot cross bun title

WHITTLESEA Bakehouse is continuing to prove it is Australia’s best and most delicious bakery, taking out the national title for Australia’s best Hot Cross Bun in a big boost ahead of Easter.

The award was handed out in Bendigo on March 14, continuing its hot form in taking out national titles for its range of food.

Whittlesea Bakehouse beat out a quality field, with 134 exhibitors and 375 products displayed across the weekend, including sausage rolls, meat pies, iced donuts and bread loaves.

The hot cross bun features a recipe which has been perfected over 25 years.

In 2025, Whittlesea Bakehouse was successful in the South Australian Baking Show for Best Sausage Roll, winning thanks to a secret, hand-made recipe which made the taste irresistible.

Previously, the bakery also won major titles for their plain mince pie and also placed among the best in the country for vanilla slices.

The family-owned Bakehouse is managed by Adrian Caporetto and now boasts more than 30 years’ experience.

A new chapter on vital drops

The North Central Review

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March 31, 2026

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A LESSON in water scarcity, and hardship faced by some less fortunate people to get the precious drop — this is what Year 6 students of Our Lady of the Way Wallan East learnt the practical way.

One hundred and six Year 6 students were joined by others from the school as they trekked around the 500-metre school oval throughout the day last Wednesday, carrying bottles and big buckets of water, two at a time.

Year 6 teacher Mark van Zyl said the Big Water Walk was part of the Project Compassion, a fundraiser at the school.

“It’s about raising awareness about the importance of lack of fresh water,,” Mr van Zyl said.

“The kids learnt that some people in African towns are walking three miles a day to get fresh water for their family and are missing education, and other things in life.

“It is all about compassion. We are trying to get the kids to walk in the footsteps of these people and just feel and realise that there are a lot of people that have less than us, and we need to be grateful for what we have got.

“It is raising awareness for our school community to realise that there are people doing it hard. We have to learn about facts about the water usage in the world and we realise that only 3 per cent of the world’s water is actually fresh and drinkable water.

“They even learnt some scary facts about how every minute a child under three dies due to not having fresh drinking water, and the fact how kids and people are walking at least three miles a day to get fresh water, and some of that water is not fresh. Some of that water is full of bacteria and disease, but they do have to end up drinking it because that is the only water they have got.”

Mr van Zyl said the project is more about raising awareness and education. The school is also collecting money in Project Compassion boxes and support Caritas to carry out works for establishing wells in various African towns.

Milestone birthday for Faye

Jo Kubeil

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March 31, 2026

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MACEDON Ranges resident Faye Foster turns 90 years tomorrow and one of the greatest gifts will be meeting her great-granddaughter Delphi, still a baby, from Darwin for the first time.

“I’ll be clucky,” she said.

Mrs Foster looks forward to the celebration at the families’ favourite mid-way meeting point Byron Bay on April Fools Day.

Born in 1936, Mrs Foster attended public primary and secondary schools in Essendon. A short career as a dental nurse followed from which she retired to marry and begin a family.

Family is important and gardening is a labour of love. Mrs Foster’s garden features 70-odd roses, an abundance of magnolia trees, and dozens of rhododendrons and azaleas.

She made a career breeding Australian and world class champion Jack Russells with such a high pedigree that buyers around the globe prefer to purchase pups from the progeny of Inverbrae-bred Jack Russells.

Mrs Foster said she became smitten with small dogs since her parents gave her an Australian terrier.

“I loved every one of my dogs and they loved me. I bred [Jack Russells] for temperament. I am world famous for my dogs. Its pedigree needs to be faultless to begin with.”

Mrs Foster has made many dog-friendly friends across 30 years of breeding Jack Russells alone and many keep in touch and invite her to visit them. Her well-worn passport stamps include visits to Germany, Mexico, Italy, Luxembourg and Russia and on her 80th birthday, she saw tombs of Pharaohs in ancient Egypt, a bucket-list item.

All creatures great and small have star appeal. The largest animal Mrs Foster has called a pet was a rhinoceros. Here’s why: “My daughter Lynette had three girls, and they needed my help. Eventually the man who owned the Darwin property they lived on, Tipperary Station, decided he wanted to create a zoo and my son-in-law [Ross Ainsworth] became the manager,” Mrs Foster said.

“The rhino was most interesting to me. You see them on television charging [at people] but they are really quite nice. We tamed him like a horse.”

Lynette and Ross have three girls, Zealie, Louisa and Pippa-Jane. Zealie, who also has three children, lives in Melbourne. Louisa is in Byron Bay.

It’s Pippa-Jane’s first newborn Delphi that Mrs Foster is most eager to cuddle, and they are coming from Darwin.

Louisa has one boy and one girl, which makes up six wonderful great grandchildren for Mrs Foster to adore.

Happy birthday Mrs Foster from the Review.

Long wait for ambos

Ashok Verma

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March 31, 2026

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THE ideal response target time of 15 minutes for 85 per cent for ambulances in Code 1 emergencies remains a pipe dream for regional municipalities, figures show.

Ambulance Victoria 2025/26 quarter 2 data shows the regional localities are falling well short of the mark.

In the Mitchell local government area, paramedics attended only 51.6 per cent of Code 1 patients within 15 minutes. The average response time was 18.33 minutes, and total number of first responses was 1000.

The figures show this was a deterioration from the quarter 4 for 2024-25, when ambulances attended 55 per cent of Code 1 patients, and the average was 17.14 minutes. In Code 2 cases, the average time was 45.40 minutes, and the total number was 588.

Code 1 relates to life-threatening time critical, and code 2 means urgent and acute cases.

Macedon Ranges fares no better in the quarter 2 data, with 58.7 per cent of Code 1 patients attended in 15 minutes. The average time was 16.53 minutes, and total number was 738. In Code 2, 41.19 minutes was the average response time, and the total was 487.

In quarter 3 of 2024-25, 60.2 per cent responses were in 15 minutes. The average was 16.6 minutes and the total was 601.

The Whittlesea LGA fared slightly better in the quarter 2 data, with 64.5 per cent responses in 15 minutes. The average time was 15.42 minutes and the total was 3686. For Code 2, the average time was 42.22 minutes and the total number was 1495.

In the Wallan major population centre, between October and December 2025, paramedics attended 64.2 per cent of Code 1 patients within 15 minutes – up from 55.3 per cent in the previous quarter. The average Code 1 response time decreased by 55 seconds.

AV authorities were asked for comments on the reasons for ambulances not coming any closer to the ideal target of 85 per cent in 15 minutes. But the Review was not provided any direct answer.

A spokesperson instead pointed to an old press release saying during the October to December quarter across Victoria, AV crews responded to 65.1 per cent of Code 1 cases within the statewide target of 15 minutes — up from 64.1 per cent in the previous quarter. The state-wide average response time to Code 1 emergencies was 15 minutes and 40 seconds — six seconds faster than the previous quarter.

State Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland MP has called on the State Government to explain the continuing delays in ambulance response times in regional communities.

She said a formal parliamentary question asked in December 2025 remains unanswered months later.

In December last year, Ms Cleeland asked the Minister for Ambulance Services what specific actions the government would take to improve ambulance response times in regional communities.

She said despite the seriousness of the issue, the question remains unanswered.

“This is not a political game — it’s about life and death in our regional communities,” Ms Cleeland said.

“Families across our region deserve to know what the government is doing to ensure an ambulance arrives quickly when someone is experiencing a life-threatening emergency.”

Great Victorian Rail Trail remains closed

The North Central Review

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March 31, 2026

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Great Victorian Rail Trail remains closed

HEED the signs and keep off – this is Murrindindi Shire Council’s call to the community about closed sections of the Great Victorian Rail Trail.

It said while some closed sections of the Great Victorian Rail Trail may appear safe, significant risks remain. It has urged residents and visitors to respect closure signage and safety barriers.

Ongoing inspections following the January 2026 bushfires have revealed extensive damage across multiple sections of the trail. Some bridges and culverts that appear intact from above have severely weakened or missing supports underneath, with several at risk of collapse. Fire‑damaged trees also remain along the trail and may fall without warning until arborists can safely complete necessary works.

Given the scale of the fire and the number of impacted assets, council is continuing detailed asset and environmental inspections to determine the full extent of the damage. To date, 27 bridges and major culverts along the trail have been inspected, with three bridges identified for full replacement and at least seven sustaining significant damage. These figures may increase as assessments continue.

Mayor Damien Gallagher thanked the community for its patience and understanding.

“The Great Victorian Rail Trail is a much‑loved attraction for our region, and we know how important it is for both locals and visitors,” Cr Gallagher said.

“While safety must come first as we work through these assessments, Murrindindi is very much open. Our towns, villages and natural landscapes are ready to welcome visitors, we simply ask that everyone respects the trail closures until it is safe to reopen.”

The Great Victorian Rail Trail is a key tourism asset in Victoria’s High Country, attracting about 150,000 users each year and contributing an estimated $17.5 million to the regional economy. An extended closure is expected to have flow-on impacts for local businesses and communities across the region. The scale of damage also highlights the need for external funding support to restore this critical regional asset, particularly as the current Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements exclude the trail.

Council is seeking funding to implement a comprehensive recovery program for this much-loved and treasured asset. The detailed assessments for the rebuilding program is under way. Council is also working closely with partner councils and the Victorian Government to clarify funding options for repair and restoration.

Currently, about 60km of the trail is open to the public, including:

Tallarook through to the far side of the Cheviot Tunnel (with the tunnel open);

Mansfield to Merton; and

Alexandra trailhead to Maintongoon Road.

The central section of the trail, spanning about 70km, remains closed. This includes areas through Cheviot, Molesworth, Cathkin, Koriella, Yarck and Kanumbra, as well as the Cathkin to Alexandra spur line.

Council said safety remains its highest priority, and the trail will not fully reopen until all identified risks have been addressed. For the most up‑to‑date information on closures and access, visit https://greatvictorianrailtrail.com.au

Ingenia delivers successful open day

Milla Webster

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March 31, 2026

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DESPITE cold and lightly rainy weather, Ingenia Lifestyle Springside in Beveridge’s Open Day attracted a steady flow of visitors and went ahead as planned.

The day functioned as a showcase of Stage 1 of the development, along with the first 12 homes from Stage 2. The display homes presented a modern, resort-style approach to over-55s living, with a strong emphasis on community, independence and lifestyle.

The design and messaging throughout the site focused on creating a sense of belonging and encouraging social connection, positioning the development as more than just housing.

The open day itself was well-organised and welcoming. Visitors were offered a free sausage sizzle, a coffee cart, guided tours of the display homes and tours of the (currently under construction) main clubhouse.

In total, the full development will include 262 homes, with the main clubhouse set to open in June. There were tours of the clubhouse, which is a major feature of the development and clearly central to its community focus. It will include a pickleball court, barbecue area and pizza over, multipurpose court, indoor 18-foot heated pool, hair salon, yoga studio and gym, an outdoor terrace and firepit, undercover outdoor terrace, bar area, billiards tables and dart boards, lounge and kitchen spaces, gold-class style cinema, arts and crafts room and a library.

Another key focus of the development is sustainability and health-conscious design. The homes incorporate a range of eco-friendly features, including rooftop solar panels, heat recovery ventilation systems, airtight building design, fully electric appliances, recycled water systems, energy-efficient features and LED lighting, low-toxicity building materials, lighter-coloured roofs and net-zero home design principles.

Overall, the event highlighted not just the homes themselves, but the broader lifestyle and community model being promoted. The organisers were approachable and engaged, taking time to answer questions and acknowledge that relocating later in life can be a significant and sometimes challenging decision. That sensitivity seemed to resonate with visitors and contributed to a positive atmosphere despite the weather.

Wollert man loses licence

The North Central Review

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March 31, 2026

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A Wollert man has lost his licence allegedly over multiple offences.

He was allegedly caught driving over double the speed limit, under the influence of alcohol and without his P-plates in Lalor.

Greensborough Highway Patrol officers were conducting speed checks on the Hume Freeway when they spotted the black BMW sedan speeding just before 2am on Sunday, March 22.

The vehicle was allegedly detected travelling at 205km/h in a 100km/h zone northbound between the Metropolitan Ring Road and Cooper Street.

Officers intercepted the vehicle on Cooper Street, where they found the driver had failed to display his P-plates.

Police did an evidentiary breath test that returned an alleged reading of .021.

The 22-year-old Wollert man was arrested and immediately lost his licence.

He was charged with offences including reckless conduct endangering life, driving at dangerous speed, exceeding prescribed concentration of alcohol within three hours breath test, and driving without P-plates.

He was bailed to appear at Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on June 10.

Water boost for groups

The North Central Review

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March 31, 2026

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CITY of Whittlesea community groups have a chance to win up to $15,000.

Yarra Valley Water 2026 Community Grants Program is offering grants for initiatives that use water wisely, strengthen community connection, and restore and protect the natural environment.

Now in its second year, the program aims to build on its strong impact, having provided more than $100,000 to 14 community-led projects last round.

Two Whittlesea‑based organisations were among last year’s recipients, including Mernda Community Garden and Lalor Primary School.

Yarra Valley Water’s Managing Director Natalie Foeng said the organisation was expanding the program after the positive response to its pilot program.

“Every project we support creates a ripple effect of positive change, and we’re excited to see that impact grow even further this year,” Ms Foeng said.

This year, projects are invited to apply for funding across three categories:

Water efficiency and water conservation: for projects that help communities save water and build water-smart habits, such as installing water-saving devices, improving irrigation or rainwater systems, carrying out water audits and efficiency upgrades, or helping people build their knowledge about water.

Thriving communities: for projects that create positive impact in local communities. For example, initiatives that improve social and environmental wellbeing, or events and activities that help the communities connect and thrive.

Healthy natural environment: for projects that help restore and protect the natural environment. For example, rehabilitation of landscapes and waterways, supporting local biodiversity and wildlife or creating water-wise spaces in our community.

Eligible applicants include not‑for‑profit community organisations, schools, registered associations, charities, incorporated bodies and community groups across Yarra Valley Water’s service area.

Applications, which opened on Monday, March 30, close on Friday, May 1, at 5pm. Eligible organisations must be based in, or deliver services within, Yarra Valley Water’s service area.

For more information and to apply, visit: www.yvw.com.au/community-grants

Fifth person charged over Mernda attack

The North Central Review

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March 31, 2026

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A FIFTH person has been charged following the death of 22-year-old Good Samaritan Aidan Becker on March 6.

Homicide Squad detectives charged a 16-year-old girl from the Pascoe Vale area on March 26.

She has been charged with robbery, two counts of theft, hindering and assaulting police and possessing a drug of dependence.

The girl was summoned to appear at a children’s court at a later date.

Emergency services were previously called to reports of a group fighting on Bridge Inn Road about 5.50pm on March 6.

Mr Becker, from Mernda, had protected a 14-year-old from an alleged attack and robbery when he was stabbed, and died at the scene.

Police arrested a 16-year-old, 18-year-old and two 17-year-olds in relation to the incident. All four were charged with murder and armed robbery.

The 18-year-old will appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on June 24, while the three others will face a children’s court at a later date.

The investigation remains ongoing.