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Happy Easter!
Newborough’s Sophie and Alec Edmondson, and two-year-old Maeve, enjoyed the Life Skills Easter Twilight Market in Moe last week. Schools and community groups have been getting into the Easter spirit, while Latrobe Valley locals have again given generously to the Good Friday Appeal. MORE - INSIDE
Collective safety By KATRINA BRANDON
THIS Easter, Victoria Police are reminding drivers that safety is everyone’s responsibility. Local authorities will be out during the holiday period with a road policing operation targeting dangerous drivers. Acting Senior Sergeant David Harrison told the Express, “Road Safety is a shared responsibility. Everyone plays a role in protecting their own lives and those around them. Another road policing operation will be in effect over the upcoming long weekends of Easter and Anzac Day.” “It’s everyone’s responsibility to be safe on the roads. Driving is a privilege. Holding a driving license is a privilege, so for those who abuse that privilege, it’s not a case of if we find you, it’s when we will catch you, and we’ll try and prevent loss of life and tragedies.” Operation Winston was launched last month in the Morwell, Churchill, and Tyers areas. During the operation, police detected 18 offences. Police booze buses were also set up during the operation, testing more than 900 people. “The aim (of the operation) was to keep people safe on the roads, detect dangerous driving, and remove high-risk drivers from the roads,” Acting Senior Sergeant Harrison said. “Road trauma isn’t just a statistic. Last year, 15 people lost their lives in our region, 239 people suffered
life-altering injuries. Behind every number is a family devastated as well. These aren’t just numbers, they’re real people whose lives have been shattered.” Some of the offenders nabbed in Operation Winston included; One driver detected with a blood alcohol reading of 0.074, resulting in the driver’s license being cancelled and disqualified for six months and a $593 fine; Another driver with a blood alcohol reading of 0.124, resulting in loss of license for 12 months and an $840 fine; One driver detected with cannabis in their system; and, One driver caught driving 140km/hr in a 100 km/hr zone on Monash Way, Morwell, resulting in an extended license suspension. According to the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) analysis of road fatalities from 2020 to 2024, new research reveals that most deaths on regional Victorian roads over the past five years involved residents, showing that the unexpected can happen even on the most familiar roads. The research follows a tragic start to the year on Victoria’s roads. January was the deadliest month on Victoria’s roads since March 2008, and the worst start to a year since 2001. The new TAC data analysis dispels the myth that
people dying in fatal crashes in regional Victoria are predominantly visitors or people unfamiliar with the roads they’re traveling on. Just four per cent of deaths were people travelling from outside Victoria or Australia. Around 70 per cent of the regional fatalities analysed happened on high-speed roads, most of which had low traffic volumes and gravel shoulders and involved either a vehicle running off the road or into an oncoming vehicle or crashing at an intersection. “People get into their mindsets of knowing that road; they do it day in and day out. Their minds might be on other things, such as what they’re doing for the day and how their day at work will go,” Acting Senior Sergeant Harrison explained. “They miss those small tell-tale signs, and just those small things can add up, just always be aware, and just always stay alert and keep an eye out for each other. “I think we need to reiterate that safety is everyone’s responsibility, so they just need to remember that the smallest things can have the biggest impact. Speeding just that small amount, or failing to obey a simple road sign, can result in devastating consequences. So the public just needs to be reminded to go easy and look after each other out there.” Police Beat, suspected Moe stabbing - Page 6
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SHOWER OR TWO
Voting options By LIAM DURKIN
CAN’T you just smell the democracy sausages already... The federal election is getting closer, and so too is early voting. Early voting opens next Tuesday, April 22. Early voting centres are open throughout the Latrobe Valley, for those voting in the Gippsland and Monash electorates. Those wishing to vote early for Gippsland can visit: 40-50 Queens Parade, Traralgon, or; 34 Princes Drive, Morwell. Those voting in Monash can visit: 34 Fowler Street, Moe. All early voting centres will be closed on Easter Monday (April 21) and Anzac Day (April 25). Those who have nominated for a postal vote should receive their packs in coming days. Election day is Saturday, May 3. When voting, you will receive two ballot papers: a green one for the House of Representatives and a white one for the Senate.
House of Representatives
ON the green ballot paper, you need to put a ‘1’ in the box beside the candidate who is your first choice, ‘2’ in the box beside your second choice and so on. You must number every box.
Senate
ON the white ballot paper, you can choose to vote either above or below the line. If you vote above the line, you must number at least six boxes from one to six. If you vote below the line, you must number at least 12 boxes from one to 12. The Australian Electoral Commission does not declare results on election night, but rather indicates to parties, commentators and voters that margins in a count are larger than the potential amount of votes left to receive. The official declaration takes some weeks to determine. THE race to Monash unwittingly gained state-wide attention last week, after Independent candidate Deb Leonard dropped a rap video in an effort to win over younger voters. While the sight of a middle age mother-of-two spitting rhymes was largely derided due to its cringe factor, the viral publicity it generated could actually prove to be a masterstroke for the campaign. In any event, MC Leonard may have missed a golden opportunity to dis Canberra with some Cardi B inspiration: “There’s some flaws in this house.” Ballot draws - Page 7