Home Blog Page 91

Letters to the Editor – March 10, 2026

The North Central Review
-
0
Letters to the Editor – March 10, 2026

Welcome rain

The recent rainfall across our region is very welcome. After a long dry spell, it has brought much-needed relief for farmers, families, and our local environment.

Paddocks are turning green again, water supplies are improving, and it is heartening to see the land beginning to recover.

For those working on the land, every drop counts. Crops and pastures benefit, livestock have better access to water, and local wildlife is given a chance to thrive.

This rain is a small but important step towards easing the pressures our rural communities have faced over recent months.

It is a reminder of just how much our community depends on our natural resources and how quickly conditions can change.

While there is still work to be done, it is encouraging to see the land respond and to know that our region is capable of bouncing back.

Annabelle Cleeland

State Member for Euroa

Jungle Kids facts and perspective

My name is Kylie, and I am the owner of Jungle Kids Indoor Play Centre at Wallan. I am writing in response to recent coverage and online commentary regarding the closure of Jungle Kids, to clarify key facts and to share my perspective on what has been an incredibly distressing time for my family.

Firstly I would like to confirm that all monies paid for pre-paid parties and functions have been refunded in full. Any promotional offers, bonus inclusions, return visit credits, complimentary items, or non-cash incentives associated with those bookings were conditional upon continued trading and cannot be honoured, substituted, or converted to a cash payment following the closure. 

I would like to make it clear that neither myself nor my family received any financial benefit or gain from the closure, only loss. 

In the immediate aftermath of the closure, there was significant uncertainty around whether liquidators would be appointed immediately and what actions they may take. For that reason, I did not want to publicly promise refunds in the initial announcement if there was any risk that promise could not legally be fulfilled. However, it was always my intention to pay everyone back.

I would also like to address some miscommunication and incorrect assumptions circulating online:

The attempted sale of the business was completely unrelated to the closure. Exploring a potential sale was not connected to, nor an indication of, the business ceasing to trade.

In the lead-up to the closure, the business remained fully operational. Bookings continued to be taken and payments processed as normal while the business was still trading. At that time, I did not know the business would be forced to close in the way it ultimately did.

What has been most confronting has been the slander, untruths, and abuse directed at me and my family following the closure. This has included death threats made via phone calls and online, some of which referenced my children. As a result, my family and I no longer feel safe going out in public. This has been devastating on a deeply personal level.

For the past 13 years, I have done nothing but give back to this community. Jungle Kids was built to be an affordable, welcoming, and inclusive space for all families.

Over the years, I have proudly supported local kindergartens, schools, sporting clubs, Love In Action, and many other community organisations through cash donations and ongoing support. That commitment has never wavered.

I want to be clear that I am not asking for sympathy. I am simply asking for understanding and human compassion during an incredibly difficult time for my family.

We appreciate and thank the many loyal customers and community members who have reached out with kindness and who have defended us online; your support has meant more than you could know.

We will not be making any further comments on this matter.

However, I felt it was fair to share both sides of the story and ensure the facts are accurately represented.

Kylie

Owner, Jungle Kids Indoor Play Centre

Weekly Quiz (10/03/2026)

The North Central Review
-
0
Weekly Quiz (10/03/2026)

NCR Weekly Quiz

Loading…

Want more Puzzles?

You can find more of our brain teasing puzzles here at puzzle corner!

From the Boundary with Ray Carroll – March 10, 2026

Ray Carroll
-
0
From the Boundary with Ray Carroll – March 10, 2026

WHEN WINTER COMES

Across Australia the cricket season is drawing to a close with tens of thousands of teams putting away their gear as football, rugby and soccer takes over for the long winter months. Training has been under way for some time and hope will spring anew for district clubs in the Riddell, Northern, GV and Bendigo leagues. Broadford is to debut in the latter after a couple of seasons in recess. Numbers have been good at training and new coach Nathan Thompson will be hoping for a good season. The former Hawthorn star widely experienced in coaching is also in charge of Assumption First XVIII in the AGSV competition. He will have a busy year combining the two roles.

***

AFL TO INDIA?

The AFL is the nation’s richest sporting body. Like the other sports – e.g. cricket, rugby, tennis, soccer – it wastes a lot of money. Over the years it has spent multi-millions of dollars trying to take the code to England, New Zealand, China, South Africa without any success. Now it talks about taking the game to India where cricket is “religion” and playing space at an absolute premium. It has lost in excess of $50 million a year with the women’s AFL. Maybe its money would be better spent propping up aligning leagues and clubs – and there are plenty of them in regional and rural Australia.

***

LOTS TO SHOW

Assumption enters its 68th year in the competition with 40 premierships to show and a long line of VFL/AFL graduates, a number of whom are immortals of the game. Names such as Francis Bourke, Brendan Edwards, Neale Daniher, Shane Crawford are at the forefront of a long list.

***

The late Bernie McCarthy – one of five brothers who came to ACK from a farm near Yea – was a champion for ACK, North Melbourne, Preston, South Bendigo, Rushworth, Seymour and Broadford. He played until his 40s and is fondly remembered.

***

Assumption has found it tough in recent times, and many will be hoping 2026 ushers in a new era. Jane Vaughan’s iconic painting shows the college versus Trinity in the 60s.

***

One of a host of former collegians who still follows ACK’s fortunes closely is veteran ear, nose and throat specialist Jack Kennedy. Jack has been involved with Collingwood in various roles over a long period. Jack still recalls his long-ago college days with affection and nostalgia. “Different times, often tough, but great Marist teachers, and the beginning of lifetime friendships. We learned valuable lessons not only in the classroom but on the playing fields” Jack told me.

***

Assumption First XI cricketers have had another good season with finals in prospect. Coach Luke Hamilton has done a fine job at the helm for several seasons with his teams very competitive and regularly in finals. Several ACK players of his time are playing with premier clubs in Melbourne.

***

TURNING HEADS

A visit from 1979 cricket premiership captain Tim Scala the other day was a reminder of a prediction he made some 20 years ago. Then a member of cricket South Australia he’d been watching a young kid practice in the Adelaide oval nets. Tim phoned and told me: “This boy will play for Australia”. The lad was Travis Head.

***

JOYS OF SCHOOL DAYS

These two lads may be discussing the joys of school-day life – in the classroom and on the playing fields. For most, these formative years bring happy memories. But they pass so quickly, as the years rush by. Every student should endeavour to make the most of their school days.

***

RELIEF AT LAST

Recent and long-awaited rains across much of Australia, including this region, has brought relief to farmers. The long “dry” has been punishing and on top of ever-increasing taxes has pushed many to the brink. The outback homestead with its red dirt and pitiless blue sky has been too familiar a scene.

Art program puts women centre stage

Jo Kubeil
-
0
Art program puts women centre stage

VICTORIAN Minister for Women and Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas is celebrating the achievements and contributions of women throughout Victoria’s history with the unveiling of a powerful new mural dedicated to Aunty Margaret Tucker MBE in Footscray last week.

aunty marge tucker Studio portrait by Dennis Mayor State Library Victoria. 1068w WebRdy

Aunty Margaret (Lilardia) Tucker MBE

A survivor of the Stolen Generations, Aunty Margaret Tucker went on to help found the Aborigines Advancement League and Victorian Aboriginal Health Service in the late 1950s and 1970s. In the years between, she was the first woman to take her seat on the state’s Aboriginal Welfare Board.

As far back as the 1930s, she was a leading voice in the advocacy for Indigenous people as Victoria’s representative at the first Day of Mourning on January 26.

The Yorta Yorta and Wiradjuri woman is now immortalised for all to see at Lilardia Park, Joseph Road, Footscray, as BE. ONE CREATIVE founder Grace Diabik produced the art backed by an all-Indigenous creative team led by Wiradjuri person Jessi Rebel.

art Funding 1068w WebRdy

TRIBUTE: BE. ONE CREATIVE’s Grace Dlabik, lead artist and Wiradjuri person Jessi Rebel
and Margaret Tucker’s great-granddaughter Tania Rossi in Footscray.

Lilardia is a 12-metre-wide and 9-metre-high mural featuring Yorta Yorta totems the long neck turtle, and Lilardia meaning flowers. The language was taken from Aunty’s autobiography.

Ms Thomas was there for the unveiling.

“It’s really important that we honour the legacy of such extraordinary women like Aunty and what a beautiful way to be able to do it,” she told the National Indigenous Times.

“We are making decisive steps towards a fairer, more inclusive Victoria and Aunty Margaret Tucker was an extraordinary woman who made Victoria a better place.”

Aunty Margaret Tucker’s great-granddaughter Tania Rossi said: “My great-grandmother used to say, ‘It does not matter if you’re black, white or brindle, we all bleed the same colour and we must respect each other’.

“Just treat each other how we wish to be treated,” Ms Rossi said.

“It is not hard; we should all live by it.”

To read the full list of projects visit, http://vic.gov.au/victorian-womens-public-art-program

Local women help trauma victims

Jo Kubeil
-
0
Local women help trauma victims

A GRANT has helped Zonta Club of Mitchell to make fire recovery gift packs for families whose lives were impacted by the Longwood bushfires earlier this year.

The collective volunteer network promotes equality for women and girls. Zonta is a worldwide movement that says No! to gender-based violence.

thumbnail Zonta Club of Mitchel Trish Bulluss 1

Zonta Club of Mitchell President Patricia Bulluss

Local President Patricia Bulluss said: “[Following the fires] it was identified that people wanted bathroom and laundry staples. When the grants were announced (by the Community Bank, Wallan, Kilmore and Broadford) we had to say what our ideas were. It was a quick turnaround to a generous grant of $2000.”

“It was very meaningful to us that we could buy quality items,” she said.

The grant made it possible to assemble 20 welfare packs and these are being distributed by Mitchell Shire Council’s Fire Recovery Officer Abby Egan.

The practical washing basket gift pack contains laundry liquids, cleaning detergents, insect repellent, pegs, soap,  bath towels and toilet paper.

What keeps the Zonta Club of Mitchell moving forward is members’ similar sense of purpose around helping its most vulnerable communities.

Three new members joined last year, increasing the numbers to 12.

“One of our core values is friendship and we always welcome new members,” Mrs Bulluss said.

“The core group has stayed the same over the years. We work hard but our friendships grow deeper all the time. We all have the same sense of purpose around helping our community.”

One of those values aligns with the 2026 International Women’s Day theme to “Balance the Scales,” underscoring the fact that women, girls and gender diverse people still face discrimination in laws, policies, and practices.

Detectives 1068w WebRdy

HELPING IN A CRISIS: Detectives Senior Constable Matthew Whiteside, Detective Leading Senior Constable Andrea Taylor and Detective Sergeant Julie Trimble of the Seymour Sexual Abuse and Child Investigation Team appreciate Zonta’s trauma packs.

Zonta’s children’s trauma distraction bags are distributed by Detectives at the Seymour Sexual Abuse and Child Investigation Team (Mitchell Shire Police Service Area).

Designed for children in times of family trauma, these are distributed across Mitchell Shire via various organisations, including Orange Door, Beyond Housing and schools as they contain colouring books, art items and squishy stress balls to distract and ease the stress of a crisis.

The Zonta dignity bags are another practical measure to help local women and girls in a crisis to access free, essential toiletries and these are also distributed via the Orange Door, Beyond Housing and schools.

All genders benefit from Zonta’s work as members also hand sew breast cushions for men and women recovering from breast surgery.

Across the year, the Zonta Club of Mitchell will be preparing for its annual craft market and also creating ‘yarn bombs’ for the 16 Days of Activism campaign, held annually across November and December.

Volunteers are asked to knit or crochet (in orange) any sized square for it to become part of a display the club makes for the campaign. It fits into the world-wide movement to address gender inequality.

Zonta meetings are held at the Broadford Living and Learning Centre on the second Thursday of each month from 7pm. Occasionally a local guest speaker is invited and there is always a tasty supper complete with beverages.

To get involved with the group and support not only your neighbours, but also women around the globe, email zontaclubmitchell@gmail.com

Jane makes her mark on International Women’s Day

Jo Kubeil
-
0
Jane makes her mark on International Women’s Day

ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY we pay homage to the women who inspire one another with tangible actions like mentorship, resource sharing, and addressing systemic barriers to foster an inclusive world where women thrive.

Dr Jane Melville, AM, began her career with Museums Victoria as curator of herpetology (amphibians) from 2002 to 2008, and promoted. She is now the senior curator of terrestrial vertebrates.

In 2002, she  was appointed an honorary herpetologist at the University of Melbourne and also at Monash University. She supervises PhD, Masters and Honours students who are interested in museum-based biological research.

Dr Melville was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2021 for contributions to the museums sector and also made the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for significant service to herpetological research.

Dr Melville has authored the only book on the amazing diversity of Australian dragon lizards: Dragon Lizards of Australia: Evolution, Ecologyand a comprehensive field guide, and has authored numerous popular science articles that have featured in Cosmos, Australasian Science, Science Victoria, and The Conversation.

Writers group 3PIC 1068w WebRdy

SHARING: The Writers of Mitchell Shire Group invited Dr Jane Melville (front second from the right) to be its guest speaker at its meeting held at the Kilmore Gaol in October.

The writers of Mitchell Shire group is lucky to have Dr Melville in its fold, willingly mentoring people of all ages since October last year.

“I found out about it because my daughter said I should join the BookTok community on TikTok and I posted that I liked Sci-fi Dystopian. Caroline Angel contacted me and recommended her book on Audible … Origins of Evil … and I loved it … then I came and met her at a book fair and she invited me to the writers group as a guest and I have been to them all. I love meeting people and hearing their story,” Dr Melville said.

Caroline Angel

MYSTERY: “The worlds not going it end in my books, I enjoy writing a good, intelligent, suspenseful story!” The Dead Spot Author Caroline Angel said.

While not everyone in the group at 58 years of age has a PhD in zoology, or been to university, or won the Ralston Trust Prize for Best Honours, the group’s diversity is what keeps it moving forward. The writers meet monthly at various cafes for brunch and those who are willing too can share their ideas or their drafts. Most importantly, the encouraging members are inspired by each other’s achievements.

The novel, For Her Love of Birds, is a narrative nonfiction book that addresses the systemic barriers that prevent women from thriving, it’s the untold story of  a women pioneer naturalist and taxidermist, Jane Ward Tost, 1816-1889.

Set in the 19th century, the story defies the times’ societal constraints. Its heroine becomes one of England’s and Australia’s first salaried female museum employee, leading naturalist and taxidermist.

Dr Melville co-authored Rare Reptiles are moving up mountains as the world warms. They can’t keep doing it forever with associate student Till Ramm on October 29, 2025.

Not one to sit idle, Dr Melville’s current projects include investigating the impacts of habitat disturbance, particularly around the recent Victorian bushfires.

For Her Love of Birds, by Jane Melville, is available for pre-release orders at major bookstores, and it will be officially launched on April 1.

Sudoku – Hard (09/03/2026)

The North Central Review
-
0
Sudoku – Hard (09/03/2026)

Sudoku puzzle of the day

How to play Sudoku

The objective of Sudoku is to fill each row, column and sub-grid with exactly one of the possible entries (usually, the numbers 1-9). A conflict arises if you repeat any entry in the same row, column or sub-grid.

Play Sudoku together

Use the Play together option in the navigation bar to invite a friend to play this sudoku puzzle with you. Once connected, your friend’s icon will turn green. If either of you is disconnected from the Internet, the icon will turn red. If either of you is inactive, the icon will turn gray. You and your friend can now enter letters at the same time. Click on the chat icon at bottom right to talk with your friend. (Chat is not available if either player is on a mobile device.)

Want more Puzzles?

You can find more of our brain teasing puzzles here at puzzle corner!

Sudoku – Medium (09/03/2026)

The North Central Review
-
0
Sudoku – Medium (09/03/2026)

Sudoku puzzle of the day

How to play Sudoku

The objective of Sudoku is to fill each row, column and sub-grid with exactly one of the possible entries (usually, the numbers 1-9). A conflict arises if you repeat any entry in the same row, column or sub-grid.

Play Sudoku together

Use the Play together option in the navigation bar to invite a friend to play this sudoku puzzle with you. Once connected, your friend’s icon will turn green. If either of you is disconnected from the Internet, the icon will turn red. If either of you is inactive, the icon will turn gray. You and your friend can now enter letters at the same time. Click on the chat icon at bottom right to talk with your friend. (Chat is not available if either player is on a mobile device.)

Want more Puzzles?

You can find more of our brain teasing puzzles here at puzzle corner!

Sudoku – Easy (09/03/2026)

The North Central Review
-
0
Sudoku – Easy (09/03/2026)

Sudoku puzzle of the day

How to play Sudoku

The objective of Sudoku is to fill each row, column and sub-grid with exactly one of the possible entries (usually, the numbers 1-9). A conflict arises if you repeat any entry in the same row, column or sub-grid.

Play Sudoku together

Use the Play together option in the navigation bar to invite a friend to play this sudoku puzzle with you. Once connected, your friend’s icon will turn green. If either of you is disconnected from the Internet, the icon will turn red. If either of you is inactive, the icon will turn gray. You and your friend can now enter letters at the same time. Click on the chat icon at bottom right to talk with your friend. (Chat is not available if either player is on a mobile device.)

Want more Puzzles?

You can find more of our brain teasing puzzles here at puzzle corner!

Mini Crossword (09/03/2026)

The North Central Review
-
0
Mini Crossword (09/03/2026)

Mini Crossword puzzle of the week

How to play Mini Crossword

You can solve the clues in any order. Click or tap on either a clue or a box in the grid to start entering an answer. You can also use the arrow keys, enter/shift-enter or, tab/shift-tab to move around the grid. The clues for words that have been entirely filled in are marked gray, whether the answer is correct or not.

Play Mini Crossword together

Use the Play together option in the navigation bar to invite a friend to play this Mini Crossword puzzle with you. Once connected, your friend’s icon will turn green. If either of you is disconnected from the Internet, the icon will turn red. If either of you is inactive, the icon will turn gray. You and your friend can now enter letters at the same time. Click on the chat icon at bottom right to talk with your friend. (Chat is not available if either player is on a mobile device.)

Want more Puzzles?

You can find more of our brain teasing puzzles here at puzzle corner!

1...909192...1,148Page 91 of 1,148