Kilmore Racing Club’s memorial night harness racing celebration

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July 26, 2022

Kilmore Racing Club’s memorial night harness racing celebration

By Len Baker

Kilmore Racing Club celebrated the first of two memorial nights on Saturday, remembering many the district’s trainers and drivers who had enjoyed success on the track over the years.

The action-packed night started with The Bob Knight Memorial 2022 Pace, over 2180 metres.

The victor was Tell All-Celestial Diamond seven-year-old Cestial Gossip, for Myrniong trainer Jess Tubbs.

Driven by the stable’s Bailey McDonough, Celestial Gossip spent little petrol to take the lead away from Stanbyme shortly after the start and rated well, recorded a head margin over Nulla Vale trainer/driver Steve Cleave’s tough gelding Mirakuru, which raced outside him most of the way.

Allshookup was third 5.2 metres away after being checked at the start. The mile rate 1-56.1.

The Roger Reeves Memorial 2022 Winter Trotters Cup (1st Heat) over 2180 metres saw Romsey trainer Chris Svanosio’s ever-reliable seven-year-old Kyvalley Finn return to the winner’s list for the first time since February.

Driven by the stable’s Ross Payne, the Skyvalley-Kyvalley Paris gelding trailed both Majestic Chick, which had moved off the back of Aldebaran Kiri.

Kyvalley Finn eased three wide on turning to run home best and score by 2.5 metres from the fast finishing Sultan Sass in a rate of 2-02.9. Aldebaran Kiri used the sprint lane for third 1.4 metres back, with Kyvalley Chichy fourth after moving to race parked.

Chris Svanosio was to make it a double after driving Trixton-Justa Phoenix gelding Arcee Phoenix to nab the almost unbackable favourite Cravache Dor in the last bound to take the 2180 metre Don Dove Memorial 2022 3Y0 Trotters Mobile.

Leading out from the pole, Arcee Phoenix was restrained to allow Cravache Dor to assume control.

But to the surprise of all, Arcee Phoenix, after easing off his back in the straight, made a last stride lunge to record a head victory. Ebonys Avenger ran on from the rear for third, nine metres back. The mile rate 2-01.4.

Riddell trainer/driver Chris Lang’s four-year-old Orlando Vici-Belle Galleon gelding Ollivici has returned from a spell in sparkling style and after a first up victory at Geelong a week earlier, was outstanding in taking the Leli and Mary Mifsud Memorial 2022 Winter Trotters Cup (2nd Heat).

Using plenty of petrol to retain the lead from the pole, Ollivici was tackled strongly by Parisian Artiste, which hung rather badly, allowing Ollivici to kick away on straightening and register a most impressive 6.6 metre victory over Parisian Artiste, who was far from disgraced in a 2-00.1 mile rate. Zarem was third 1.2 metres back.

The Ken (Snowy) Chapman Memorial 2022 Pace over 1690 metres was a stroll in the park for Emma Stewart’s Somebeachsomewhere-Trebla Trebla colt Khafaji with Nathan Jack in the sulky.

mifsud memorial OLLIVICI — Chris Lang, who trained and drove Ollivici, won the $20,000 Leli and Mary Mifsud Memorial 2022 Winter Trotters Cup (2nd Heat) is pictured with the extended Mifsud family. Photos: Stuart McCormick

Not bustled out from gate six, Khafaji one balanced was sent forward three wide to take the lead away from stablemate Beach Villa on the first turn and once there, coasted to the wire four metres in advance of Beach Villa in a slick rate of 1-55.

The 2180-metre Vin Knight Memorial 2022 Pace was an exciting affair with Bolinda trainer Brent Lilley’s evergreen seven-year-old Somebeachsomewhere-Bettorthankyou gelding Sicario was victorious in a 1-56.3 mile rate.

Driven by Daryl Douglas, Sicario possied mid-field in the moving line from gate four on the second line as polemarker Soxtra held out Accelere.

When Love Ina Chevy eased three wide racing for the bell with Yambukian four wide before joining the leader with a circuit to travel, Sicario immediately latched to his back for a nice ride home.

Easing wide at the straight entrance, Sicario raced to the front halfway up the running and held on to prevail by a half head from Rick Reilly along the sprint lane off the back of the weakening leader, with Yambukian a gigantic third 2.8 metres away. The mile rate 1-56.3.

One of the highlights each year at Kilmore is the Group Three Jet Roofing Winter Championship with the $30,000 Final, over 2180 metres.

This year is was won by Interest Free, a three-year-old Art Major-Picobello gelding raced by Rob Martin and Heather Anderson.

Bred by E and H Anderson Nominees Pty Ltd, trained at Strathfieldsaye by Julie Anderson and driven by Daryl Douglas, Interest Free began fast but couldn’t pass polemarker Monsieur inside him, with Serg Blanco crossing the pair.

Accelerating quickly, Interest Free was gifted the lead and proceeded to lead throughout, accounting for Serg Blanco along the sprint lane by a neck. High Flying Harry was third 4.3 metres away. The mile rate 1-59.

The $24,000 Popular Alm Sprint for open class over 1690 metres named after Kilmore’s champion pacer went to the odds-on favourite Honolua Bay, an exciting five-year-old gelded son of Somebeachsomewhere and National Gallery, bred and raced by Lauriston Bloodstock, managed by Anne Anderson.

Trained by Stewart and driven by Jack, Honolua Bay, from gate two on the second line, settled mid-field in the moving line, as polemarker Jilliby Chevy led before being crossed by Torrid Saint who in turn surrendered to Max Delight.

Moving three wide, racing for the bell to park out for the final circuit, Honolua Bay took a slender lead approaching the home turn to register a 2.9 metre margin in a track record mile rate of 1-53.4.

Better Be The Bomb after trailing the winner was a great second, with Tango Tara (one/two at bell) third 1.3 metres back.

The Bob Cain Memorial 2022 Vicbred Pace over 1690 metres was an upset result when nine-year-old Village Jasper-Our Angel Flight gelding Carload at odds of $34 bloused the odds-on favourite Dessie Gee.

Given an easy time from the pole trailing Dessie Gee, Carload through the agency of the sprint lane finished best to score by 1.8 metres in 1-56.5, with Sunraysia pacer Cemetery Bay running on nicely for third 4.1 metres away. The victory gave Julie Anderson a double on the night.

The Don Logie Memorial 2022 Pace saw Pootilla trainer Sebastian Steenhuis’ most consistent Pet Rock-Shes Got It All five-year-old gelding Wyattflynn greet the judge in a rate of 1-58.6.

Driven by Anthony Butt, Wyattflynn finished full of running on turning to record a head margin over the poleline pacemaker Eagle Watch, with Pocket Thedeal third along the sprint lane.

Kilmore harness races are on again this Thursday.

Sandown win for Lee and Shannon Hope

The North Central Review

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July 26, 2022

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By ‘Pegs’

HAVING only her second start for the father-son training duo of Lee and Shannon Hope, Teramia was most impressive in taking out the $50,000 Ladbrokes Mates Mode Handicap over 1000 metres at Sandown’s Ladbrokes Park Hillside on Wednesday.

The five-year-old daughter of Deep Field and Pimpinella, tightening from $8.50 to $6.50, was patiently ridden by the in-form apprentice Alana Kelly.

She defeated The Sisters, paying $12, by one and a half lengths with the $3.30 favourite a short-half-head away third.

After the win, Lee Hope said the mare would probably have only one more race start.

“The owners are keen to get her to stud and she’ll probably go there at the end of the month,” he said.

Formerly trained by Matt Laurie, Teramia is raced by the Sheldon family of Macedon Park.

The mare has now won three races with five minor placings from her 16 starts.

Wardy Boy Ballarat dead heat — Wardy Boy is flanked by Alana Kelly, left, and Lesia Masnyj after the gelding’s dead-heat at Sportsbet-Ballarat last Tuesday.

Lesia’s Boy shares prize

Kilmore trainer Lesia Masnyj’s Wardy Boy, $8, was forced to share the winner’s purse at Sportsbet-Ballarat Synthetic last Tuesday.

The judge couldn’t split the six-year-old Reward For Effort gelding and the $21 pop Big Darryl.

Wardy Boy was coming off a narrow defeat at Donald last month with Alana Kelly on board, and the promising apprentice partnered the gelding again in the Porter Plant BM58 Handicap over 1500 metres.

Quick Enuff, $6.50, was a further three quarters of a length away in third place.

The gelding, formerly trained by Luke Oliver, is owned outright by Masnyj and has now won five races with nine minor placings from his 46 starts, earning just shy of $130,000 in prizemoney.

City of Whittlesea seeks feedback for 2040 community vision

The North Central Review

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July 26, 2022

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CITY of Whittlesea residents are now able to give feedback on the council’s list of strategic indicators, which it developed to align with its Whittlesea 2040 community vision.

Whittlesea 2040 is a long-term vision that directs council’s work and future partnerships with the community.

The plan involves strategic indicators to record the council’s performance and progress in achieving its long-term plan and a recently adopted community plan 2021-2025.

Chair administrator Lydia Wilson said reforming the strategic indicators would match the needs of the community and the council.

“We have added a number of new indicators based on the feedback we heard from our community when we consulted with them earlier this year to develop the community plan 2021-2025, including mental health, access to open space and carbon emissions,” she said.

“We have also made some changes to existing indicators to ensure they remain current and can adequately reflect the needs of our growing community.”

The list includes five new indicators, including customer satisfaction, community engagement and community satisfaction with council decision-making.

“These indicators are a critical measure for council and enable us to strategically plan and prioritise our projects as we work towards achieving our shared vision,” Ms Wilson said.

Quarry Hills Regional Parkland will be home to a new Granite Hills Park, featuring play equipment for different ages and abilities, water play, giant slides, a 50-metre flying fox, barbecue and picnic facilities, and connected walking tracks, as part of a City of Whittlesea’s plan.

CFA awards for Mitchell Shire, Whittlesea firefighters

The North Central Review

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July 26, 2022

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CFA awards for Mitchell Shire, Whittlesea firefighters

FIREFIGHTERS from Mitchell Shire and the City of Whittlesea were among those honoured at a Spirit of CFA Awards ceremony earlier this month.

The awards recognised the contributions of CFA, Country Fire Authority, members across a variety of categories from community engagement to innovation, with awards for both individuals and teams.

Retrospective 2020 awards were presented alongside 2022 awards after the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the cancellation of the 2020 ceremony.

Among the firefighters awarded were CFA district 12 commander Justin Dally, district 12 assistant chief fire officer Rob van Dorsser and Hilldene Fire Brigade second lieutenant Jake Kociancic, who picked up the 2022 team Excellence in Interagency or Group Cooperation Award.

Also recognised were Wandong Fire Brigade’s Caitlin Roberts and Epping Fire Brigade’s Liam Gallagher, who were 2020 joint winner and 2022 winner respectively of the youth award.

Uniform Photography 0B6A786520220717 0B6A7865 — Epping Fire Brigade’s Liam Gallagher with CFA chief executive Natalie MacDonald.

Mr Dally, Mr van Dorsser and Mr Kociancic picked up their award for a collaborative approach to fighting a fire at Puckapunyal Primary School in December 2020.

Agencies including the CFA, Fire Rescue Victoria, Military Police, Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria, Victoria State Emergency Service and private firefighters contracted by Ventia all responded to the blaze.

CFA chief executive Natalie MacDonald said the district 12 leadership team and Hilldene Fire Brigade drove the response and helped save most of the school through teamwork and interoperability.

She said cooperation between firefighters and military personnel before the fire laid the groundwork for a successful operation.

“CFA members identified that an incident at this site would be complex so a great deal of work went into developing a memorandum of understanding between CFA and the Department of Defence for the Puckapunyal Military Area,” she said.

“There was a lot of engagement to familiarise the neighbouring brigade, Hilldene, with the site, its processes and personnel.”

Ms MacDonald said the groups also reviewed their response to assess what worked well and what needed improvement.

Mr Kociancic is a full-time Australian Defence Force member in addition to being a firefighter and lives at Puckapunyal. He was the incident controller and played a central role during the firefight.

“It was clear from the outset that CFA was going to end up being the control agency for this incident, so my team and I had to engage with many key stakeholders to get the job done,” he said.

“I was lucky to be incident controller that day. A lot of work had been done by the district 12 [operations] team and group management team prior to the event. Everything worked very well.”

Uniform Photography 0B6A785420220717 0B6A7854 — Wandong Fire Brigade’s Caitlin Roberts receives her Youth Award from CFA chief executive Natalie MacDonald.

Wandong Fire Brigade member Caitlin Roberts said she was humbled to be a co-winner of the 2020 Youth Award.

Described by her peers as a kind and hardworking volunteer who always looked out for others, she said she was simply ‘doing what I can for CFA and the community’.

Ms Roberts joined Wandong Fire Brigade juniors in 2016 at age 11 and in 2018 was elected junior captain before later stepping down to allow another junior member to hold the position.

“After being a captain, I learned to see things from someone else’s perspective,” she said.

“I had done my time and this was his last shot at being captain before becoming a senior member. I wanted him to have the same opportunity that I did in his final year as a junior.”

Ms Roberts competed as part of CFA Team Yankee at the Australian Fire Cadet Championships and is now a senior member of the brigade.

“My dad has been in CFA since being a junior and CFA has always been in my life. I went to the station with him and I was always interested in it,” she said.

“My involvement with CFA is partly a family tradition and partly to give back to the community, to do something to help those who need it.”

Broadford Secondary College’s first careers day takes off

Pam Kiriakidis

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July 26, 2022

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Broadford Secondary College’s first careers day takes off

By Pam Kiriakidis

Students, parents and teachers attended Broadford Secondary College’s first careers day last week, designed to provide information about future pathways.

‘Creating My Footprint’ was designed for students and their parents to talk to teachers and senior peers at stalls about career pathways, and what to expect in coming years.

As part of the day, year nine and 10 students took part in a course counselling session to help make informed decisions for their senior years.

Year seven and eight students were able to explore other stalls throughout the day, learning about subjects such as English, art and history that they could choose in coming years.

Students were given a passport to stamp when making their way around the stalls, asking questions to discover answers about the VCE system and other subjects.

Career pathway manager Deb Hubbard said she was thrilled to see students and their parents become involved in their future careers.

“We’ve managed to have a lot of students voice what they want to do, and we’ve been able to work a curriculum around their interests,” she said.

As the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning, VCAL will no longer exist under the State Government’s plan for secondary education, VCE students will gain access to hands-on subjects through vocational majors.

Ms Hubbard said the careers day came at an opportune time, as the new system was dedicated to enhancing and furthering skills.

“They have more opportunities now than they ever had before with the new curriculum, and they got the opportunity to combine interests and make a timetable for them,” she said.

Brandon 18 Madison Whiteman GO TAFE Jamie 17 — Year 12 students Brandon, 18, and Jamie, 17, talk to GOATFE youth engagement officer Madison Whiteman.

Year 12 student Angus explained to students about diesel work at Seymour Railway Heritage Centre Diesel Engines as part of his final studies. Year seven students showed interest in the subject, and asked him questions.

“I hope to see some of the younger generations get more involved with older vehicles and even just getting into the mechanical trades,” he said.

“It’s a dying trade – a lot of people aren’t as interested in working on trucks. The best way to get people really involved in doing something is actually get them out there and see for themselves.”

He said he would have appreciated walking into a careers day in his junior years when considering options.

“If I had come in here when I was in year seven and seen something like this I would have been really interested. You get a really broad branch of everything out there, like building construction. You learn something you didn’t know,” he said.

GOTAFE youth engagement officer Madison Whiteman shared information about other careers students could consider.

Ms Whiteman said any type of discussion, whether about enrolment or making an informed choice, was what a careers day was about.

“Even if it’s just choosing something and they rule it out, that’s okay too. Sometimes you learn a lot from those experiences even if it doesn’t lead to anything,” she said.

Ms Hubbard said she hoped the event would grow bigger in and that universities would attend in the future.

Senior school leader Melissa Loterzo said careers day was a way to link students to their subjects.

“It’s a day to have those conversations and set goals for students’ future pathways. It’s great to see so many students connect with staff and parents,” she said.

Kilmore planting to celebrate National Tree Day

The North Central Review

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July 26, 2022

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Kilmore planting to celebrate National Tree Day

MITCHELL Shire Council will host a community planting day in Kilmore to celebrate National Tree Day on Sunday.

Council has participated in National Tree Day since 2001, planting more than 93,000 native grasses, shrubs and trees on council land and at local schools.

The Mitchell 2050 Community Vision identified nature as a key theme, with the community setting a goal that ‘our natural reserves will be home to a rich ecological system supporting our important native flora and fauna’.

To help achieve that goal, council will run its community planting day at Kilmore Creek near the Bourke Street bridge from 10am to noon on Sunday.

The event will include revegetation using indigenous grasses, groundcovers, shrubs and trees, aiming to enhance habitats including those of the platypus and rakali found in the waterway.

Native plants will also replace recently removed weed trees species.

Mitchell Shire Mayor Bill Chisholm said all community members were welcome to join the planting day, encouraging them to bring suitable footwear and gloves. He said all participants would receive a packet of Australian native wildflowers to take home.

“Connecting with nature is not only great for the improving the local environment but good for human health as well,” he said.

“Plants contribute to fresh air, shade and shelter. There is a direct link between increased tree canopy cover in urban areas and the health of people living in those areas.

“I encourage everyone to find a National Tree Day event near them and help to improve their town for the plants, animals and people that call it home.”

Several community groups have also registered National Tree Day events, including Dabyminga Landcare’s Reedy Creek planting day and Seymour Urban Landcare’s Whiteheads Creek planting event.

Mitchell Shire Libraries will also support National Tree Day with nature-themed rhyme and story times at all libraries starting Monday, with participants also receiving a packet of native Australian wildflower seeds.

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Mitchell Youth Council sworn in for 2022-23

The North Central Review

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July 26, 2022

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Mitchell Youth Council sworn in for 2022-23

THE next generation of Mitchell Shire leaders was sworn in as members of Mitchell Youth Council last week.

Mitchell Shire Council Mayor Bill Chisholm inducted nine youth councillors, including new youth mayor Georgia Fletcher and youth deputy mayor Cooper Price, for 2022-23 during Monday night’s council meeting.

Both Georgia and Cooper are previous youth council members, with Paris Ingham and Joshua Dixon also returning alongside fresh faces Gypsy, Hannah, Max, Nic and Bailey.

Mitchell Youth Council is a representative body allowing young people aged 12 to 24 to have their say on issues that affect them and advocate for all young people in the shire.

Cr Chisholm described the youth council as ‘a really great initiative’.

“Youth council are an important voice for youth in our shire. As senior councillors, the information we get about the services and facilities needed by young people is invaluable,” he said.

“I look forward to working with youth council and understanding what senior councillors can do to improve the lives of Mitchell Shire’s youth now and in the future.

“I congratulate these nine young leaders for stepping up and working to improve their communities.”

Georgia, who is in her third year on the youth council, said she was excited to serve as youth mayor for the first time and looked forward to seeing what the group could accomplish in the next 12 months.

Cr Chisholm said the youth council would help shape the future of the shire as its population grew.

“I truly believe this youth council before us will have a strong role to play as a unified voice that will provide us with the ability to understand our municipality’s younger population and their needs,” he said.

“Our youth council have been instrumental in advocating for services and support for young people in our shire.”

WR (2022-07-26)

Whittlesea Review

The North Central Review

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July 26, 2022

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NCR (2022-07-26)

North Central Review

The North Central Review

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July 26, 2022

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New local laws passed in Mitchell Shire

The North Central Review

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July 26, 2022

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Eased camping regulations, the management of shopping trolleys and the banning of circus animals are among a raft of new local laws changes coming to Mitchell Shire from September 1, 2022.

Following two rounds of community consultation, Mitchell Shire Council endorsed the Community and Environment Local Law 2022 at its meeting last week.

The Community and Environment Local Law 2022 replaces the Local Law No 1 Community and Environment Local Law 2013. Under Victorian legislation the Local Law are required to be reviewed at least every 10 years.

Some of the changes include:

Camping: is now allowed on residential land or land under .4 of a hectare without a permit for up to 28 days

Shopping trolleys: if a business has more than 25 shopping trolleys, the trolleys will need to be fitted with a functioning coin deposit and release mechanism or other satisfactory locking mechanism

Circus animals: a person is not permitted to operate a circus that includes animals.

Mitchell Shire Mayor Bill Chisholm said the Local Law helped address issues to support community safety and wellbeing and to protect public spaces for everyone to enjoy.

“The Local Law affects every resident in one way or another, from behaviour in public places to impacts on our environment from unlawful behaviour,” he said.