Demand soars for COVID-19 tests as restrictions change in Victoria
AS the State Government today announced tighter restrictions due a spike in COVID-19 cases, Kilmore District Health has reminded the Mitchell Shire community of its testing practices.
The reminder comes after some people attended Kilmore District Health’s outpatients’ building to access vaccination services without an appointment and requesting onsite testing.
People across Australia are being forced to queue hours at polymerase chain reaction, PCR, testing sites, as rapid antigen tests, RATs, are in short supply.
Some testing sites, including Kilmore District Health’s JJ Clancy Reserve drive-through site, have been forced to close at times due to a huge spike in demand this week.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced yesterday that people no longer had to get PCR tests and that RATs were sufficient to confirm people had COVID-19.
A Kilmore District Health spokesperson said its only COVID-19 testing site was at JJ Clancy Reserve, Kilmore, and no COVID-19 tests were conducted onsite at the hospital.
“If you are a COVID-19 close contact and showing symptoms, you can access a COVID-19 PCR test at JJ Clancy Reserve drive through testing clinic,” she said.
“The clinic administers PCR tests only, the community will be advised when rapid antigen tests become available.”
The JJ Clancy Reserve clinic is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Sunday, and 9am to 3pm on Fridays. Clinic hours may change depending on weather and demand.
Access to Kilmore District Health’s vaccination clinic onsite at the health service’s outpatients building is via appointment only.
People can book an appointment via the COVID Hotline on 1800 675 398 or via the government online booking system portal.cvms.vic.gov.au.
“The staff at KDH are doing their very best to support the community as best they can, please be respectful when accessing these services,” the spokesperson said.
Under new pandemic orders that come into effect at 11.59pm tonight, people who test positive on a RAT test will be considered probable cases and be subject to the same requirements as confirmed cases from a PCR test – they must immediately isolate for seven days and notify their contacts.
It will be mandatory to report the result of a positive RAT to the Department of Health through an online form or by phone. Probable cases will be reported alongside confirmed cases in Victoria’s daily numbers.
Until RATs are in increased supply, Victorians who have symptoms, or asymptomatic household contacts required to use RATs, can still get a PCR test if they can’t access any RATs.
Moving forward, the change means PCR testing can increasingly be reserved for confirmation of clinical diagnoses in vulnerable settings and critical workforce testing.
A PCR test continues to be recommended for people who test positive on a RAT but don’t have symptoms and who aren’t contacts.
Due to the increased accuracy of RATs in higher-risk groups, PCR tests will be discouraged for contacts or people with symptoms.
Hospitality density changes
The new pandemic orders also require a density quotient of one person per two square metres be introduced indoors at hospitality venues, including restaurants, cafés, pubs and nightclubs along with along with entertainment venues including arcades and amusement parks, casinos and gaming venues across Victoria.
The change is similar to the measures already in place in New South Wales and aims to reduce the risk of superspreader events in hospitality settings.
It is also recommended that entertainment and hospitality venues and their patrons opt for seated service only and avoid indoor dancefloors.
It is strongly recommended that if possible people undertake a RAT prior to visiting aged care facilities or hospitals.
The government have also strongly recommended to work from home and study from home for adult education if possible. This will remain in place until Australia Day, when it will continue to be assessed.
Non-urgent elective surgery will also be temporarily be reduced for public and private hospitals in metropolitan Melbourne and Victoria’s major regional cities, helping hospitals respond to the increasing number of patients with coronavirus. All emergency surgery and urgent elective surgery will continue.
Seymour stable’s Curly Burgin collects followers a windfall
By ‘Pegs’
FOLLOWERS of the Seymour stable of David ‘Butch’ Bourne have had a windfall in the past few weeks with Curly Burgin.
At a Moonee Valley night meeting last month, the five-year-old gelded son of Lucas Cranach and Capacitor got up at $31 and at the same venue last Friday night the gelding came from the rear of the field to score at $21.
Apprentice Lewis German patiently needled Curly Burgin through the field to get up and take out the $60,000 PTA Landscapes Handicap over 2040 metres.
The gelding defeated Pentire’s Spirit, $31, by three quarers of a length, with Hard Squeeze, $12, a long neck away third.
Bourne said the application of blinkers prior to his first valley win was the answer to the improved form.
“We’ll keep the gelding going as we better make hay while the sun shines,” he said.
“There’s a nice ‘70’ (Benchmark) on New Year’s Day for him for his next start.”
Curly Burgin was a $11,000 purchase at the 2017 Inglis Great Southern weanling sale by Bourne for himself and stable clients, who include Seymour Football Netball Club president and Seymour Racing Club vice president Gerard O’Sullivan, and wife Sandra.
The gelding has now won four races with two minor placings from his 16 starts, earning $113,390 in prizemoney.
Back-to-back wins
Earlier in the day at bet365 Yarra Valley, Kilmore trainer Jody Thompson gave Chestnut Thunder, $14, a quick back-up and was successful in the 1950-metre Mathew ‘Gator’ Plummer BM58 Handicap.
Having been successful at Wangaratta six days earlier, the eight-year-old Testafiable gelding, ridden by claiming apprentice Hannah Le Blanc, showed plenty of fight in holding on to defeat High Done, $6, by a half head, with Anything But, $31, a further one-and-three-quarter lengths away third.
“It was a very gutsy win. He dug deep,” Thompson said.
“He only had the saddle on once for the week but he’s done super around the stables this whole preparation.”
Chestnut Thunder has now won four races at his past eight starts.
Career-wise in his 30 starts he has greeted the judge on five occasions with six minor placings.
Benalla winner for Dyer
The following day at Benalla, Kyneton trainer Neil Dyer saddled up In Bel’s Shadow, $8, for an all-the-way win in the bet365 Maiden Plate over 2046 metres.
In driving rain, Hannah Le Blanc handled conditions beautifully to hold on and defeat Write To Rossa, $6, by two-and-a-half lengths, with the Seymour-trained Egyptian Wonder, a $2.35 favourite, a further three quarters of a length away third.
The five-year-old Bel Esprit mare was a $42,000 purchase by Dyer at the 2018 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for himself and several stable clients.
In Bel’s Shadow had one minor placing prior to her win from 19 starts.
Osborne out of luck
With district trainers failing to greet the judge at bet365 Park Kyneton’s eight-race card on Thursday, local trainer George Osborne had a frustrating day, saddling up three second placings.
Mick Sell also had to be content with a second placing saddling up Magnum Bullet, $7.50, for a long-neck defeat in the Miranda Park BM58 Handicap.
Highlight of the meeting was the riding treble by the in-form Damien Thornton.
Broadford Cricket Club finishes year second on the ladder
BROADFORD finished the year with a flourish, defeating Tallarook to remain in second place on the Seymour District Cricket Association A Grade ladder.
Playing on the road against perennial powerhouse Tallarook, the home side started strongly with opener Cam Muir making nearly a run a ball, but fellow opener Leigh Irving struggled to get off the mark.
Irving contributed just one of Tallarook’s first 32 runs before falling leg before wicket to Broadford captain Taylor Shell.
It was the breakthrough the visitors needed, as Tallarook skipper Lachie Watts, batting at number three, fell for a rare duck and Kalon Winnell joined him in the sheds soon after for the addition of only two runs.
Tallarook stabilised when Andrew Dundon joined Muir in the middle for a 39-run stand, but Broadford bowler Jack Connell turned the match in his team’s favour with a strong spell, bowling Muir for 72 before inducing both Dundon (25) and Paul Arandt (9) into poor shots.
Shell and Riley Nolan helped clean up the Tallarook tail, bowling the side out for 150 with only three balls left.
Connell and Shell shouldered the bulk of the bowling duties, finishing with 3/29 and 3/25 respectively, while Nolan had 2/29.
Broadford was methodical in reply, losing wickets at regular intervals but getting runs from nearly all of its top and middle-order batsmen.
Riley Mason and Gareth Sharp put on 33 runs for the first wicket before Sharp was caught off the bowling of Irving for 19.
Mason was stumped by Tallarook keeper Corey Jones off Watts’ bowling for 19 soon after, and when first-drop batsman Mitch Collier fell for only two runs, Broadford looked vulnerable at 3/50.
Cooper Mason (19) and Connor Stute (36) put the visitors back on track with a 42-run fourth-wicket stand, and unbeaten late-innings contributions of 21 from Nolan and 16 from James Jones were enough to see Broadford to 8/151 with more than nine overs to spare.
The result leaves Broadford within striking distance of undefeated ladder leader Eastern Hill, with all teams having played each other once.
Kilmore also kickstarted its sputtering season with an 85-run win against Seymour, led by 67 runs from Dale Tassone and strong bowling performances from skipper Josh Buttler (3/32) and Mitch Van De Duim (3/21).
Tassone’s contribution with the bat was supported by opener Ryan Cumberland (29) and Ben Dawson (32) to help
Kilmore post 9/186 from its 45 overs, and the visitors bowled Seymour out for 101 in reply.
Reigning premiers Yea Tigers barely missed their second win of the season against Eastern Hill, which made 5/169 after winning the toss and batting.
In reply the Tigers finished 8/166, failing to find the winning runs in the final over.
The competition will resume on January 8, with Broadford hosting Yea Tigers, Eastern Hill taking on Seymour at Kings Park and Tallarook travelling to Kilmore.
Wallan Cricket Club handed first loss in McIntyre Cup division
By Tricia Mifsud
WALLAN Cricket Club has fallen to its first defeat in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association’s McIntyre Cup, failing to match the impressive batting innings of last season’s McIntyre Cup premier Bacchus Marsh.
Hosting Bacchus Marsh at Greenhill Reserve on Saturday, the Magpies were sent in to bowl after losing the toss.
Wallan captain-coach Steve Bell was pleased with his side’s start, but acknowledged it was the middle period of the innings where the Magpies let themselves down.
“It was always going to be a tough game for us coming up against last year’s premiers. We bowled well, but the middle period we struggled to get a wicket and Bacchus Marsh put on a partnership of over 100,” he said.
“I think the pleasing thing was we still managed to get them all out. It looked like they were going to get around 260 runs at one stage but we kept fighting and we ended up getting them out earlier on.”
Bell led the way with the ball for Wallan, taking 4/16, including one duck, and bowling two maiden overs. Closely behind Bell’s effort was Hamish Mullavey-Clark, who took 3/48 as well as a pivotal catch to get Bacchus Marsh’s Nicholas Strangio out for 61, his side’s best performance.
Mace Cousins, who was caught and bowled by Chris Vecchie, was Bacchus Marsh’s next best with the bat, scoring 55 – another important performance to contribute to the visitors’ 215 total.
With the bat, Wallan knew it had a challenge at hand, but one Bell thought was achievable. However, the Magpies were all out for 113 by the 33rd over.
Wallan entrusted young batsman Bailey Fowler to open alongside Vecchie, with the pair making 11 and 26 respectively.
Vecchie led the way for the Magpies’ batting line-up, equal top-scoring with Bryan Vance, who also made 26.
“That was the first time we’ve been all out. We got off to a good start then we just collapsed. The second or third wicket we dropped was when it started to go down for us,” Bell said.
Bell said despite losing at the weekend, he was impressed with the stance the Magpies had made in their elevation to the top division of the Gisborne and District Cricket Association.
“For the first whole half of the season, our bowling has been really good – out of 50 wickets we’ve taken 49. I’ve been happy with batting but probably needs a little bit of improving,” he said.
“To be four [wins] and one [loss] and sitting third on the ladder, I’m extremely happy with that.”
Romsey was also unsuccessful at the weekend, batting out its 45 batting overs for a total of 7/155 against top team Sunbury United.
Tasked with the run chase, Sunbury’s Sammika Perera and Liam Sherlock made the task easy, scoring 61 and 50 respectively to lead their side to 156 at the conclusion of the 36th over.
The McIntyre Cup returns on January 8, when Wallan will travel to play Gisborne at Gardiner Reserve, while Romsey travels to play Woodend.
Local junior basketballers selected for state competition
THREE of the area’s junior basketballers have been selected to represent Victoria Country in the upcoming Kumon
Country-Metro Challenge after performing well at recent tryouts and camps.
Two of the basketballers selected are Whittlesea under 14 players Jaxson Meyer and Logan Oldmeadow, who both excelled in the Gold Nugget Camp in November. Wallan’s Cooper York was also selected as part of the under 16 team after a successful tryout.
Twenty country teams were selected by Basketball Victoria to attend to tournament, allowing the junior players to gain an insight into development and higher-level gameplay throughout the competition.
Basketball Victoria high performance head coach Zoe Carr said it was impressive to see return to the court to prepare.
“It’s been a difficult 2021 for these players, but they have been able to pick up where they left off before the last lockdown,” she said.
“It’s been a long time coming for these players to return to high performance basketball tournaments and they’ve shown how excited and passionate they are about representing country at the challenge.”
All three boys play for Diamond Valley in the Victorian Junior Basketball League and will also represent Whittlesea Eagles in the Basketball Victoria Country Championships.
The Country-Metro Challenge will be at the State Basketball Centre in Wantirna South from January 14 to 17, 2022.
Romsey celebrates Christmas with lights and decorations competition
By Tricia Mifsud
Romsey residents and businesses have once again embraced the Christmas spirit, participating in the Christmas in Romsey Light and Decorations Competition 2021.
First, second and third prizes were awarded to the best homes and businesses decorated, while a first place prize was awarded to the best fence/gate/hedge decorated as judged by three independent judges.
Deborah and Phil Young took out the best home decorated, with Ben Feldtman, and Luke and Rebecca Parks being recognised as second and third places respectively.
Old Mates Café was awarded the best business decorated, with Back to Business and Ruby Blu Hairdressing awarded second and third places respectively.
Old Mates Café was a crowd pleaser this year with its Grinch- themed Christmas decorations and was also awarded people’s choice for best business and best Christmas tree.
Christmas in Romsey is an annual event held by the town, sponsored by Romsey IGA, where businesses and homes come together for a weekend of festive celebrations, with the lights and decorations competition a much- anticipated part of the event’s program.