HOMICIDE Squad detectives are investigating the death of a Kalkallo man after what they believe to be a ‘targeted incident’ in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Emergency services were called to an address on Ooodgeroo Road in Kalkallo at about 4.15am yesterday after reports a man was injured during an altercation at the address.
Police arrived to find a 22-year-old man dead at the property.
A 23-year-old woman who was at the address at the time of the incident was physically uninjured.
Detectives are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the man’s death but believe the attack was targeted.
Police wish to speak to anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity in the area on Wednesday morning, as well as anyone living or travelling through the area between midnight and 5am who has CCTV or dash-cam footage.
Anyone with further information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
The Northern Football Netball League junior award winners were announced at a presentation event earlier this month.
Winners were:
Under 13 Blue 1st – Caylin Ingram (Kilmore) and Campbell White (Kilmore) – 18 votes; 2nd – Zayne Broderick (Laurimar) and Jaxson Meyer (Whittlesea) – 9 votes; 3rd – Lachlan Peggie (Kilmore), Andrew Sevas (Mernda) and Albi Williams (Eltham) – 8 votes.
Under 13 Red 1st – Campbell Rooks (Montmorency) – 19 votes; 2nd – Max Lehner (Wallan) – 15 votes; 3rd – Carlo Baggio (Research) and Max Tabain (Diamond Creek) – 14 votes.
Under 13 Green 1st – Nate Tsobanopoulos (Greensborough) – 17 votes; 2nd – Xavier Delbridge (West Ivanhoe) and Benjamin Hull-Brown (West Ivanhoe) – 14 votes; 3rd – Benjamin Hodgson (Hurstbridge) – 12 votes.
Under 14 Blue 1st – Matthew D’Amico (Eltham) – 27 votes; 2nd – Lachlan Galletly (Montmorency) – 23 votes; 3rd – Lewis Houndsome (Yarrambat) – 22 votes.
Under 14 Red 1st – Robert Marchant (Kilmore) – 27 votes; 2nd – Banjo Walsh (Greensborough) – 21 votes; 3rd – Ethan Hardman (Diamond Creek) – 13 votes
Under 14 Green 1st – Jack Schembri (Keon Park) – 27 votes; 2nd – Michael Bellissimo (Keon Park) and Taj Trevenen (Mernda) – 14 votes; 3rd – Jonathan Yacoub (Mill Park) – 10 votes.
Under 14 Girls Blue 1st – Deena Gerges (Epping) – 30 votes; 2nd – Maddison Meagher (Diamond Creek Women’s) – 29 votes; 3rd – Somer McCormack (Yarrambat) – 20 votes.
Under 14 Girls Red 1st – Mietta Datson (Wallan) – 26 votes; 2nd – Lana Carroll (Kilmore) – 17 votes; 3rd – Chloe Hicks (Montmorency) – 13 votes.
Under 15 Blue 1st – Daen Brown (South Morang) – 22 votes; 2nd – Seth Hudson-Joseph (Epping) – 16 votes; 3rd – Sebastian Murphy (Montmorency) – 15 votes.
Under 15 Red 1st – Jackson Mansfield (Kilmore) – 19 votes; 2nd – Jack Cornwell (Laurimar ) – 13 votes; 3rd – Jacob Genis (Eltham), Oliver Jephson (Diamond Creek) and Darcy Kinash (Mernda) – 12 votes.
Under 16 Blue 1st – Jesse Callaway (Yarrambat) – 17 votes; 2nd – Cooper Herbert (Laurimar) – 15 votes; 3rd – Taj Logan (Diamond Creek) – 14 votes.
Under 16 Red 1st – Jesse John Christidis (South Morang) – 14 votes; 2nd – Izak Fyffe (South Morang) – 13 votes; 3rd – Jake Bohan (Bundoora Park) and Harvey Hempenstall (Whittlesea) – 12 votes.
Under 16 Girls Blue 1st – Abbey Vaughan (Eltham) – 30 votes; 2nd – Jade Mclay (Diamond Creek Women’s) – 28 votes; 3rd – Brianna Cowley (Diamond Creek Women’s) – 17 votes.
Under 17 Blue 1st – Dean De Propertis (South Morang) – 18 votes; 2nd – Zane Anderson (Whittlesea) and Levi McCormack (Yarrambat) – 17 votes; 3rd – Thomas Indian (Whittlesea) and Connor Lidgerwood (DIamond Creek) – 12 votes
Under 17 Red 1st – Ethan Parkinson (Greensborough) – 21 votes; 2nd – Takudzwa Chitima (Eltham) – 17 votes; 3rd – James Tasiyan (West Preston-Lakeside) – 13 votes.
Under 18 Girls 1st – April Woodward (Montmorency) – 20 votes; 2nd – Grace Robinson (Montmorency) – 15 votes; 3rd – Matilda Fitzgerald (Rangers) and Tiana Richmond (Diamond Creek Women’s) – 10 votes
Junior Club of the Year: West Ivanhoe Sporting Club
NFNL Representative Award – Under 14B Boys: Joshua Fitzgerald NFNL Representative Award – Under 14A Boys: Matthew D’Amico NFNL Representative Award – Under 15B Girls: Rylee Mountney NFNL Representative Award – Under 15A Girls: Katelyn Busuttil NFNL Representative Award – Under 15B Boys: Justin Chambers-Jones NFNL Representative Award – Under 15A Boys: Tyson Gresham Junior Umpire of the Year: Grace Antoniou.
Wallan Panthers capped a successful season of Big V basketball with an awards night earlier this month.
The Panthers’ division two men and youth league division two women each progressed to semi-finals, while the club’s division two women were knocked out in the first round of finals.
While the men’s team fell short of its championship aspirations, there was still plenty to celebrate as first-year United States import Arcaim Lallemand was named among the division two All Star Five, and forward Tyler Best was named the division two Youth Player of the Year. Lallemand was named the team’s most valuable player at the association’s award night and said he was excited about the team’s direction after his first season in the Panthers’ teal and black.
“When I was named in the All Star Five it was more about how the team helped me to be a leader. It wasn’t always me dominating the ball as much as just being on the receiving end of a great play,” he said.
“I can create my own points and I do a times, but for the most part other people create for me – I just get found in the right spots.
“It was awesome to get that award because I do the rebounding and grunt work, but a lot of times I’m just the person who finishes the job off of plays that one of my teammates created.”
Lallemand said he was committed to returning to the Panthers for the 2023 season and believed the team could take another step forward together.
He said he had adjusted to the pace and physicality of the Big V competition as the season wore on and was keen to return with experience under his belt.
“I think I had to get a feel for things. I had some frustrations adjusting to the physicality of the game, not necessarily because it was too tough, but just understanding when and how to match that toughness,” he said.
“I didn’t realise how crafty some guys were, and how aggressive they are in the right moments.
“Personally, I wasn’t happy about how the season ended, so it will be great to be back next year.”
Lallemand said his connection with Wallan Basketball and the wider community made the decision to return to the Panthers an easy one.
“During our games we’ve got kids who are coming to see us and I’m stopping during warmups to shake somebody’s hand or go wave to a kid,” he said.
“I’m excited, because I think we’ll look a little different and surprise people even more. At the same time, it’s all because of the work we put in last season that we can hopefully reap what we sowed this year.
“What’s keeping me around isn’t just the basketball side, it’s the community and the connections I’ve built.”
Big V award winners
Division two men: MVP, Arcaim Lallemand; runner-up, Abraham Solano; coach’s award, Jaak Ponsford.
Division two women: MVP, Sarah Scott and Kaitlyn Wakartschuk; runner-up, Jacinta Scott; coach’s award, Katarina Kekez.
Youth league division two men: MVP, Sebastian Villegas; runner-up, Dion Stacey; most improved, Dion Stacey.
Youth league division two women: MVP, Olivia Dalmau; runner-up, Ruby Pantisano; most improved, Melissa Buckley.
Victorian Junior Basketball League award winners
Under 20 boys: MVP, Oliver Stewart; runner-up, Tyler Jackson; coach’s award, Oliver Stewart.
Under 14 boys (1): MVP, Rivva Scully; runner-up, Orlando Andersen-Wells; coach’s, Ed Stephenson.
Under 14 boys (2): MVP, Lincoln Pappin, runner-up, Brooklyn Smith; coach’s award, Brooklyn Smith.
Cricket clubs across Mitchell Shire will host free come-and-try clinics for children aged 5 to 10 with the support of the Big Bash League’s Melbourne Renegades.
Starting tomorrow, the Renegades’ mascot Sledge will attend clinics at Yea, Alexandra, Broadford, Tallarook, Seymour, Avenel and Nagambie, with state-level male and female cricketers joining for different sessions.
The Broadford clinic will be at Harley Hammond Reserve from 10.30am to 12pm on Thursday, with a session at Tallarook Primary School from 1.30pm to 3pm on the same day.
On Friday, the Renegades clinic will visit Eastern Hill Cricket Club at Seymour’s Kings Park from 1.30pm to 3pm, with another session at Seymour Cricket Club’s home at Chittick Park from 10.30am to 12pm on Monday.
Part of Cricket Australia’s Cricket Blast promotion, the sessions will be free for all junior boys and girls interested in giving cricket a try.
Broadford Cricket Club president Michael Mirabella said there had been plenty of interest in Thursday’s session at Harley Hammond Reserve, although an impromptu public holiday for Queen Elizabeth II’s death could affect numbers.
“We’ve had a fair bit of interest, not only from our juniors but from some other clubs,” he said.
“We should hopefully have a good turnout. We’ve got maybe 40 or 50 juniors from our club who are keen and then a few from other clubs.
“Anyone is welcome to any of the sessions, and you don’t have to book.”
Seymour District Cricket Association, SDCA, is celebrating the addition of Marysville Cricket Club to its B Grade competition as it prepares to kick off the 2022-23 season.
The association last week announced Marysville would cross from the Ringwood District Cricket Association.
SDCA president Ben Trezise said Marysville’s addition would bolster the association’s ranks after the departure of Kilmore for the Gisborne and District Cricket Association.
He said Marysville, nicknamed the Villains, would play in B Grade in its first season with the SDCA.
“We’d love them to be in A Grade, but it’s probably a bit unfair on them and everybody else if we don’t know what their standard is,” he said.
“They’ve come from the Ringwood association, and they weren’t sure where they should be.
“They prefer to play one-day cricket as well, because it’s what they’ve traditionally done, and obviously our A Grade competition is a combination of one and two-day matches.”
Trezise said the SDCA was approached by Marysville about the move.
“We didn’t have it on our radar – it was initiated by Marysville themselves. They contacted us to see if we’d be interested,” he said.
“I think they’d been struggling with playing in Melbourne. There was a lot of travel, and they decided that if they were going to do kilometres, they’d rather them be country kilometres.
“They’re also close to Alexandra and Yea, so there are a couple of close games for them.”
Trezise said the move was unanimously approved by SDCA clubs.
“We’d like to expand again next year, so we’ll be contacting clubs from other associations around the area to see if they’re interested as well,” he said.
“We’re looking forward to the start of the season, which is hopefully about two weeks away, weather permitting.”
South Morang’s Harry Austin has a special skill that saw him named a finalist for the 2022 NAB AFL Auskicker of the Year award.
The six-year-old Essendon fanatic can recall the final scores from each of the Bombers’ AFL games in the past two seasons.
When quizzed, Harry correctly recited the final scores of the July 2021 clash between Essendon and Adelaide, an 84-21 win for the Bombers; the Anzac Day meeting between Collingwood and Essendon last year, a 109-85 Essendon victory; and the Bombers’ round one 2021 meeting with Hawthorn, a 92-91 loss for his side.
The unique ability garnered Harry one of 21 nominations for Auskicker of the Year announced during the AFL season. The winner of the award, Archie Stockdale, was announced during Sunday night’s Brownlow Medal count.
South Morang Auskicker of the Year finalist Harry Austin at the MCG, where he will present a premiership medal this weekend.
South Morang Auskicker of the Year finalist Harry Austin at the MCG, where he will present a premiership medal this weekend.
Each of the 21 finalists will also take part in this year’s AFL grand final celebrations, joining Friday’s grand final parade and presenting premiership medals to the winning team on Saturday.
Harry’s parents said he was ‘very excited to run out onto the MCG in front of the full crowd, although probably a little bit nervous’.
They said Harry had played Auskick for the past two years, joining as soon as he was eligible, after becoming obsessed with football at the start of 2021.
They said he didn’t put special effort into memorising each of the Bombers’ scores – they simply stuck with him.
Harry said he was excited to present a premiership medal to a player and couldn’t wait to see who he would give it to.
South Morang’s Harry Austin is kicking goals, being one of the 21 AusKick finalists taking part in this year’s AFL grand final celebrations.
Mitchell Shire Council is hosting a community forum on September 28 to address a Northern Highway bypass of Kilmore.
The meeting, from 6.30pm to 8pm at Kilmore Soliders Memorial Hall, will allow council representatives to provide the community with an update on status of the bypass.
The bypass project has been the longest running issue in the shire – with plenty of conjecture over many decades surrounding about the planning of the project.
The council has made the Kilmore Bypass project one of its priority projects that needs to be funded and progressed ahead of the state election in November.
The forum will outline how council plans to advocate for a bypass, and how people can become involved and make their voices heard.
A council spokesman said the bypass was one of the most urgently needed road and infrastructure projects in the shire.
“There has been insufficient progress to date, and council are seeking your support to help us make this an achievable priority for the State Government in the lead up to the state election,” he said.
The spokesman encouraged anyone wanting to know more to attend the forum.
“Be part of making the Kilmore Bypass a reality,” he said.
The Whittlesea Show has returned to full operation, preparing for two-days of attractions and exhibits for families in early November.
After a three-year hiatus, the Whittlesea Agricultural Society is on track to organise the show’s welcoming atmosphere, with attractions, exhibitor sections and pavilion displays to feature at Victoria’s longest running show.
Whittlesea Agricultural Society president Erica Hawke said the society was thrilled to compile a high-octane show.
“It’s really wonderful to be working as a family again, having people in the office and on the ground. Everyone is happy to be back, and everyone is working hard and looking forward to having the show,” she said.
Families from across Victoria can engage with the attractions and pavilions, featuring an education section, farm and garden, live music, woodchop, and new attractions such as ferret racing.
“There’s a huge range of different areas where people can enter their exhibits in the show. People can enter craft or garden produce from a learnt new skill across the last couple of years,” Ms Hawke said.
“This year in farm and garden there’s a new class to enter ‘Jar of Honey’, which we haven’t had for a while. Lots of back yard apiarists have now come on board through COVID, which has been fantastic, so we’re trying to cater to those needs.”
Ms Hawke thanked sponsors helping to run the show and pavilions.
She said the society was thankful to the naming rights sponsors that contributed to the pavilions, including the animal nursery sponsored by real estate company Buckingham and Co.
Long-time sponsor TLC, an aged care facility, also pledged their support to the homecraft pavilion – another favourite attraction at the show.
The City of Whittlesea is the show’s major sponsor, offering its support as the naming right sponsor of the grand parade, which is held each day at 3pm.
Ms Hawke said the grand parade was a great combination of everything the Whittlesea Show encompassed.
“All of the winning exhibits parade as well as heritage vehicles from the heritage pavilion. We have cattle, horses, sheep, and the winners from the young person competition,” she said.
Ms Hawke said securing grants such as a City of Whittlesea grant for first-aid training for the society’s volunteers had allowed the show to prosper.
She said she was grateful for the grants, considering the society’s lack of events due to the pandemic.
“Having a grant gives us the funds and the ability to dress up these areas and make changes and improvements we wanted to do,” she said.
“Obviously not having the show for two years means the coffers are running low.
“There have been no income in general, which has been quite tricky for agricultural pastoral societies across Victoria and across Australia with cancellations.”
However, one benefit to lockdowns was that they allowed people to learn new skills that could be displayed at the show.
“They’ve had the opportunity to learn new skills, whether it was knitting or sewing, like growing beehives or growing things in their gardens,” she said.
“All of those things can be entered to the Whittlesea Show as an exhibit, so [for] those people who haven’t entered before, it’s going to be amazing to see two years’ worth of items.
“You can always hope it’s going to be bigger and better but it’s the crowd that also helps to make it the amazing show that it is, by people taking part, interacting and visiting.”
The show will be at Whittlesea Showgrounds on Yea Road, Whittlesea, on November 5 and 6.
