Latrobe Valley Express Wednesday 25 February 2026

From paddock to plate

Tanjil South PrimarySchool student Bentlee helps out in the school garden. Students have been growing their ownproduce,learning all about sustainability and positivefood habits.

STORY-PAGE 12

KatrinaBrandon

MidGippy reinstates fourths footy

BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

AFULL Saturday showcase will return for Mid Gippsland football, with the announcementofanunder 16scompetition this season.

TheMid Gippsland Football-Netball League has been vacant of Fourths (U16s) for the past six years, but is currently eyeing upwards of nine clubs interestedingettinga junior team off theground.

This follows on from Mid Gippsland’s success in revitalising its Thirds (U18s) competition last season, where it grew to the largest number of teams since 2017, discounting the incomplete2021season What could be seen is the return to ‘the good old days’ with afull slate of football, featuring four games across a Saturday, from morning to afternoon. Ultimately, it will keep senior and junior teams aligned into the future. CentralGippsland Junior Football

League added an U15s competition for the 2021 season (movingtoU16sin 2024), in the aftermath of the pandemic and the most closely affiliate senior league (Mid Gippsland)acquiring six former Alberton FNL clubs from South Gippsland.

Stringing afew years together with four age groups, the Central Gippsland JFL U16s dropped to just fourteams in 2025, makingits viability difficult going forward.

Mid Gippsland,who had been seeking to re-acquire the U16sfor some time, held discussionswith Central Gippsland midway throughlast footballseason, and eventually confirmed the transfer by the end of 2025.

Mid Gippsland JuniorDevelopment OfficerKen Hutchinson saidthat the push for Fourths is off the back of the clubs themselves.

“Our clubs are doing all of the hard

work (and they) are rapt to have full Saturday football back,” he told the Express

To go alongwiththe consistent Mid Gippsland junior teams of Yinnar, Newborough and MirbooNorth, the likes of smaller clubs such as Boolarra, Tarwin and Hill End are hopeful of an U16s side.

Other South Gippsland clubs in Fish Creek, Mee niyan Dumbalk United (MDU )and acomb ined Toora and Foster team (coming from the Corner Inlet Junior Football Club) arealso throwing their hat in the ring.

Hutchinsonadded that clubsare beginning to recognise the importance of home grown talent as ameans to eventually lead into their senior sides.

“We’re on the slow build …clubs are starting to recognise that’s the future,” he said.

“Player points is driving all that (mind

set), when they have to recruit in a player fromaneighbouring club,the player points are comingwithit, and it’s starting to have an effect.

“So, they are reallyrecognising that one-point home grown players are the way to go.”

In 2025, Mid Gippsland surgedto its largest U18s competition in years, aftermanyseasons withonly four or five teams competing, climbed back up to seven.

Similar numbers are expectedthis year, with Morwell Eastpotentially having aThirds side for just the second time since 2017, however, Yinnar are unlikely to get an U18s on the park.

TheMagpies didn’tget aThirds team up in 2019, ayear where Mid Gippsland had just afour-team U18s competition, but are typically strong in junior grades and will eventually rebound through its U16s.

WildMoe smash and grab

By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

THREE men were arrested followinga slew of burglaries and attempted burglaries in Moe and Newborough on Monday, February 16.

One of the men, a23-year-oldfrom Newborough, was revealed to have been charged with 30 offences.

In an overnight rampage, atotal of 11 incidents terrified the community, spanning from 12.10am to 2pm.

It began when two offendersstolepower tools from autility vehicle parked outside aproperty on Alcott Drive,Newboroughbefore one of the men left with avehicle.

Fiveminutes later,ataround12.15am,an offenderallegedly armed with amachete attempted to enter aproperty on Freeman Circuit.

The same man then stood up someone at a residence on Caspian Court justbefore 11am, allegedlyslashing afly screen window and then demanding money from the male victim, but left empty handed.

The offender then allegedly attempted to steal a vehicle on HayesRoadat1.15am,setting off inside only for the car to halt in the middle of the street. He allegedly pinched abankcard when leaving the car at thescene, and officers discovered a machete nearby upon their arrival.

Those incidents all took place at the Thompsons Rd, Newborough residential estate, which will eventually make up part of the developing Lake Narracan precinct.

Offendersthen attended aproperty on Thompsons Rd, allegedly stealing aride-on lawn mower and then unsuccessfully attempting to steal another vehicle.

The lawn mower was then driven through Moe, allegedly usedtoram the doorofashed at the Moe Racing Club, in which tools and alcohol were looted from the business.

The racing club's all-terrain Polaris was then allegedlystolen and used to fleethe scene, after the lawn mower was dumped.

One offender then attended aproperty on Della Torre Rd, allegedly stealing awhite Ford Laser.

Tools were also allegedly stolen from ashed.

The stolen Ford Laser was then seen at roughly 10.55am doing burnouts outside of aKing Street propertyinMoe, in whichthe male occupant of the house and the driver were involved in an altercation.

The offenderallegedly assaulted the man, before getting back in the vehicle and deliberately driving intoaparkedHolden Equinoxbefore fleeing the scene.

Significant damagewas sustained to the Holden however, the victim was not injured.

Police then located the Ford on Luke Ct ashort while later, but the driver allegedly sped off.

The stolen vehiclewas then involved in an alleged petrol drive-offatthe Saviges Road Fast &Ezy service station, before being dumped on Giggs Ct.

One offender then allegedly stole an Izuzu truck from aworksite on Della Torre Rd and then attended the Westbury FireStation situated on Old Sale Rd at around 12.15pm.

The man allegedly forced his way into the shed of the fire station, damagingthe door and stealing items such as achainsaw,agenerator, abackpack, and two CFA radios.

Not only that, the brigade's Forward Command Vehicle (FCV) was also damaged, making it unavailable on aTotal Fire Ban Day the following day.

The vehicle had its windows smashed and the side cabinets on the tray-back were forced open.

Following the break-in, Westbury Fire Brigade was unable to use its FCV for an extended period of time, forced to pick up the pieces onwards from the surprise hit.

"As asmall ruralbrigade, mostmoney raised for equipment comes from membersthemselves, as we have no commercial business in our brigade area,"Westbury CFACaptain, David Gridley told the Express "It's extremely disappointing that acommunity organisation that only helps the community is targeted."

Apology

IN January 2026, the Latrobe Valley Express published an article in print and online which identified avictim of child sexual abuse, without her consent. We unreservedly apologise for the distress this caused and have committed ourselves to furthertraining on ethical reporting of violence against women and children.

The wildevents finally came to an end on Tuesday, February 17 when acitizen identified the stolen Izuzu truck outsideofa property on King St at around 12.30am.

Police soonarrived to the residence, arresting the 23-year-old who was located inside.

That individual has been charged with;

 Four counts of burglary;

 Five counts of theft;

 Two counts of theft from amotor vehicle;

 Three counts of theft of amotor vehicle;

 Attempted aggravated burglary;

 Two counts of attempted theft of amotor vehicle;

 Three counts of criminal damage;

 Careless driving;

 Improper use of amotor vehicle, and;

 Unlawful assault.

The Newborough man was remanded to appear at Latrobe Magistrates' Court on June 15.

A32-year-old man and a26-year-old man, both from Moe, were then arrested following the alleged incidents.

Eachwerereleased and are expected to be charged on summons.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone who witnessed theseincidents,withfootage or with information, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make an anonymous report at: www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

CFMEU, state government put on high alert

By LIAM DURKIN

ABSOLUTE power corrupts absolutely. Pressure is mounting on the stategovernment in thewake of widespread corruption allegations on CFMEU Big Build sites.

Areport tabled by barrister Geoffrey Watson SC,titled Rotting from the Top,identified serious misconduct allegations within Victoria's CFMEU, includinglinks to organised crime networks.

PremierJacinta Allan spent most of last week deflecting and clashing with reporters overthe issue, while the Opposition has called on the state government to announce aRoyal Commission.

Local Nationals MPswere scathingwhen addressing stateParliament. Member for Eastern Victoria Region Melina Bath called it "the largest corruption scandal in Victoria's history".

“The CFMEU didn’t just lose its way -itdescended into corruption linked to gangsters, bikies and criminal networks.

“Warnings were ignored, corruption spread and Victorian families are now paying the price.

“The report makes clear that union misconduct is linked to an estimated $15 billioninmajor project blowouts -money that should havebeen used to build hospitals, schools and support vital

TRAFALGAR HIGH SCHOOL INFORMATION EVENING YEAR 72027

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communityservices,” the Member for Eastern Victoria Region said.

Member for Gippsland East Tim Bull has joined achorus of people demanding aRoyal Commission.

"When you haveevery other party in the Parliamentagreeing on amatter likethis, it is fairly obvious it needs investigating," he said.

"Everyone knew there was something inappropriate about the CFMEU’s involvement with the government and the underworld.

"It has been raised time and time again, but the Premier wants us to believe she knew nothing.

“Her excuse is she referred concerns to the IndependentBroad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC), knowing full well it did not have the powers to investigate -and then refused to give it the powers."

Mr Bull pointed out that the $15 billion figure was a"conservativeestimate"byMrWatson -a Senior Counsel and integrity expert.

subject of accusationsoradversefindingshave either been removed or have left the union."

The Gippsland Trades and Labour Council was also approached for comment.

Gippslandsites have been subject to CFMEU misconduct in the past.

The Wonthaggi desalination plant was rife with druguse and nefarious activity during its construction in the early 2010's.

Details from aconfidentialreportbyaformer Construction Code ComplianceUnit officer published in 2014 revealed outlaw motorcycle gangs supplied drugs and prostitutes to construction workers at the plant.

Accordingtothe report, bikies were also employed to drive construction management to andfrom work and to social functions.

Staying in Bass, the stategovernment lost the Phillip Island MotoGP lastweek, which will surely make the job of former Latrobe Valley Authority Chief Executive and Labor candidate in this year's state election, Chris Buckingham, all themore challenging.

•Make an informed choice regarding secondary school in 2027.

“The Trafalgar High School community strives to achieve success through the values of Respect, Effort and Kindness”

The Express rang and sent alistofquestions to CFMEU Director of Public Affairs,ClancyDobbyn, asking if any Gippsland sites had been subject to corruption allegations.

The union sent the following one sentence response, attributed to aCFMEU administration spokesperson:

"All persons namedinthe Watson report into the Victoria Branch of the CFMEU who were the

Meanwhile, punk rock bandGood Charlotte played aone-off concert in the Premier's hometown of Bendigo at the weekend.

The concert may have been ideal timing for the Premier to let her hair down following ahot week on Spring Street.

PolicearrestMorwellman

DETECTIVES have arrested a29-year-old Morwell man following aseries of recent incidents.

As reported by the Express last week, the alleged was involved in astabbing, attempted carjacking, and another altercation which injured adog, all of which occurred over the course of half-an-hour on Wednesday, February 11.

The stabbingvictim,a39-year-old Morwell man, was taken to hospitalwith non-life threatening injuries.

All threeencounters tookplaceless than two kilometres apart from one another.

The offender fled the scene after thefinal incident on Peter Street.

After an extensive search of the area, the man was discovered in the roof of aresidentialflat on Dell Circuit, Morwell the following day,on Thursday, February 12.

He was allegedly found to be armed with aknife, and assaulted multiple police officers while resisting arrest.

The officers sustained minor injuries and ataser was deployed to detain the offender before he was taken to hospital under policeguard.

The Morwell man was remanded to appear at LatrobeMagistrates' Court on May 6, after being charged with;

 Intentionally causing serious injury;

 Cause pain/suffering to animal -cruelty;

 attemptedcarjacking;

 attempted robbery;

 attempted aggravated burglary, and;

 criminal damage.

Public appeal

ASENIOR citizen has describedaharrowing sexual assault to police, who are now seeking public assistance to help identify aman.

Detectives from the CentralGippsland Sexual Offences and Child Abuse InvestigationTeam have been told that the individual attended the victim's residence at Elliott Street, Traralgon on February 10 around 7pm.

The man only knownas‘Jaz’, who is saidto oftenwalk up and down the street, befriended the 69-year-old victim before being invited into their home.

The man made unwanted physical advances towards her,including grabbing the victim and attempting to kiss her before bitingher on the cheek.

PoliceBeat

with BlakeMetcalf-Holt

The victim reported the incident to the police after the man left.

The altercation caused bruising, but did not require medical treatment.

Acomputer-generated image of aman police believe may be able to assist with their enquiries has beenreleased, describing an Indian SubContinentalman aged in their 60s, around 182cm tall with ashort grey beard.

The man was wearing awhite turban, orange t-shirt, beige trousers,and brown leather sandals.

Help: Policeare seeking public assistance to identify aman they believewas involved in the sexual assaultofa69-year-old Traralgon woman. This is acomputer-generated image of the alleged.

Tropical weather comes to Latrobe

By KATRINA BRANDON

LATROBE Valley reached 35 degrees by 2pm on Tuesday (February 17), causingauthorities to raise the alarm.

ATotal FireBan was calledfor Tuesday as recent dry and hot conditions continue to increase the risk of fire in the area.

Multiple fires were seen in the Latrobe Valley, at Tyers, Moondarra, Yallourn Heights and Morwell.

Wind gust up to 42.6km/h to 53.7km/h WNW were also marked alarming, with conditions increasing the risk of fire spreading.

Whilethe evening broughtraininsome areas, rapid windsstill marked concern and some areas such as Trafalgar and Yarragon lost power.

Last Friday (February 20) and Sunday (February 22) also presented hot weather, leading to stormy weather Sunday afternoon Multiple fireswereseen throughout the region, particularly on Sunday morning.

On Saturday, asmall fire was seen at Walhalla, with more activity up the hill.

While not in Latrobe, abushfire has started burning through communitiesnearWoods Point, with nearby communities being issued awarning to travel towards the Erica area as the firereachedmore than 1200ha by Monday (February 23).

On Sunday night, Latrobe saw up to 25mm, althoughsome areasseeing virtually nothing until 9pm.

Authorities warn that while the "summer" period is over, peopleshould keep alert as conditions continue to be dry, despite recent rainfall, with some expe riencing "flash flooding".

People are being urged to ensure they have emergency plans in place, whether it be fire or flood. More rain was predicted for yesterday (February 24) after the Express went to print.

For more information, go to: https://www. emergency.vic.gov.au/

Anumberoffireshaveburnt in thelast week.

More: Page 17

Anyone with informationisurged to contact Crime Stopperson1800333 000 or make an online anonymous report at: www.crimestoppersvic.com. au

Seymour Street arrests

TWO teens were arrestedonFriday, February 20 following the alleged theft of avehicle in Moe, which was then dumped in Traralgon.

Police responded to reports of an allegedly stolen black CX5 at around 4.30pm.

The vehicle was said to have crashed into a gutter and then come to rest on anature strip on Seymour Street.

There was no reported injuries.

The occupants of the vehicle, two girls aged 15 and 17, were arrested nearby and were interviewed by police.

Theother alleged occupants of the car remain outstanding.

Investigators allege that the vehicle was stolen from aMoe address earlier in the day.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam footageisurged to contactCrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit an anonymous report online at: www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

Lynn applies for bail

By AIDAN KNIGHT

FORMER Jetstar pilot Greg Lynn, the man at the centre of the alleged High Country Killings in 2020, has applied for bail in anticipation of his upcoming retrial. Lynnwas acquittedofthe murder of 74-year old Russell Hill, and convicted of the same charge for the death of Hill's partner,Carol Clay, 73, in November2024. He received asentenceof32years, with 24 years non-parole.

He was initially arrested at Sale Police Station.

The high-profile casemadeheadlines around the country, as increasing details were released regarding whatoccurred in the Wonnangatta Valley in March 2020, throughout which Lynn maintained his innocence and referred to both deaths as an accident.

An appeals ruling last December heard how the conviction should be retried, under fourgrounds of "excessive" sentencing, mostlystemmingfromthe prosecution's management of the side of the case, which has been decided to reflect amiscarriage of justice, valid for fresh contest. The Court of Appeals accepted two of these arguments, which foundthe onus of proof was reversed at particular points of the cross-examination,inrelationto the police ballistics evidence. The other ground was that the prosecutorrepeatedly breached alegal rule requiring lawyers to directly challenge awitness if they intend to disputetheirevidence, rather than raising it later. Under Victoria'sdoublejeopardylaws, this can only occur for the deathofMsClay, as the acquittal for Mr Hill is not open for revisiting. The original trial saw asplit jury, 18 months before the appeal verdict. The retrial currently has no date set, but Lynn's legal team has made confirmation theirclientislooking to be released back into the community.

Invites youtoour annual Light Up that leads to salvations, healings, signsand wonders

Peak body urges PM to actontobacco

Crack that whip, deputy whip

FEDERAL Memberfor Monash Mary Aldred has been appointedDeputy Opposition Whip

Ms Aldred wasgiventhe jobbynewly elected Opposition Leader Angus Taylor.

Ms Aldred will also co-chairthe Coalition’s new IllegalTobacco Taskforce alongside Senator Richard Colbeck.

The MonashMPsaidshe was delighted to take up the two roles, with the taskforce position buildingonher work over the last fewmonths.

“Since the ram-raid of alocal grocery store in my electorateofMonash, I’ve taken up the issue of illegal tobacco, and the impact it is having on communities acrossAustralia," she said.

“From Inverloch to Longwarry, local people have been raising with me theirconcernabout the impact on children being sold vapes, retail staff being assaulted and the increase in people being driven to theblack market to buy illegal cigarettes because of the excessively high tobacco excise tax."

Ms Aldred has continued to advocate for action on the growing illicit tobacco trade, pointing out that the proceeds are funding organised crime and suspected terrorist activities, as well as the impactoncommunity safety.

“State and federal Labor governments have their head in the sand on this issue, and I’m pleased to have been askedtotakeonthis roletohelp develop the Coalition’s policy response,” Ms Aldred added.

By AIDAN KNIGHT

FOLLOWI NG new economic modelling,the Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) has urged the Prime Minister to reassess the country's tobacco excise.

Tobacco was recorded in 2020 as the fourthlargest sourceoffederaltax revenue,collected through levies on production,transport, storage andretail.

AACS ChiefExecutive, Theo Foukkare called the current excise self-defeating,asthe modelling appears to be directlyresponsible in the rapid rise of the illicit tobacco trade that has swept the nation in recent years.

Mr Foukkare pointed to areport by Oxford Economics publishedonFebruary 16,which estimated the legal tobacco market was down $16.3 billion in 2019/20,inthe mostrecentcomplete dataset. Based on current modelling, afurther $5.5 billion decline is projected by the end of this year, with around $67 billion lost over the past decade as smokers increasingly turn to cheaper, illegal alternatives that avoid excise.

"The legalmarket is being replaced by an illegal one,” Mr Foukkare said.

“Going by this report, if the currenttrajectory continues, Australia risks losing its legal tobacco market entirely by 2029.”

Beyond lost tax revenue, the issue is increasingly tiedtocrime,with concernsgrowing in regional areasincludingGippsland.

The Express spoke to Memberfor Monash, Mary Aldred, who has raised the issue in federal parliament, citing concerns about illegal tobacco and vape sales across her electorate.

"Itisnolongerametropolitanproblem; it has spread out to the regions, including Monash," she said.

"Since 2023, more than 200 arsonattacks of grocers and tobacco shops have been reported across Australia, including aram-raid and subsequent firebombing in Longwarry.

“These crimes are putting communities across Monash at risk. Ispeak with retail workers and small business owners in my community who are worried about being assaulted and robbed. Ihave heard from parents worried about their kids being sold vapes.Our community is genuinely concerned about this."

Speaking in the House of Representatives earlier this month, Ms Aldredpointed to Inverloch as

MASSIVE DISCOUNTS CLEARANCE

Issue: Member forMonash,Mar yAldred is concerned local kids can access vapesand tobacco products tooeasily. Photograph: iStock

an exampleofthe growing problem, claiming an outlet allegedly continued selling illicit vapes even after being raided by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. Sources close to the Express also claim there is asimilar store in Yallourn North, within walking distance of the primary school -an obvious concern to the community.

"I’ve had local residents reach out to voice their concerns,” she said.

“Despite being raided by federal authorities just days ago, this outlet continues to allegedly sell vapes to children.”

Ms Aldredargued the issue extended wellbeyond asingletown, describing illegal tobacco as agrowing national crisis fuelled by organised crime and high excise rates.

Shecited estimatesofhundredsofarson attacks linked to tobacco turf wars and billions in lost legal sales, while seizures by Australian Border Force and other agencies continue to rise.

According to Ms Aldred,escalating tobacco taxes have pushed smokers towards the black market, claiming nearly $30 of a$50 cigarettepacknow goes to tax.

“Government priceincreases on cigarettes are driving up crime and smoking,” she told parliament.

Mr Foukkare echoed the urgency in adirect appeal to the Prime Minister, urging areview of current settings.

“The Prime Minister needs to step in and have an honest conversation with his Health Minister Mark Butler, and Treasurer Jim Chalmers about whether current excise settings are unintentionally driving the black market.

“If we lose the legal retail channel,welosecontrol

of tobacco control. Plain and simple," he went on to say.

“The PM has achoice-aregulated market that pays tax and follows the law, or amarket100 per cent controlled by organised crime. If we don’t act soon, that choice will be made for us.

“Ifthe legal market disappears, the taxrevenue disappears with it -but demand doesn’t disappear. It simply shifts into the hands of criminal networks."

Ms Aldred has calledfor sweeping reforms, including areassessment of the excise rate, a national taskforce led by the Australian Federal Police, and stronger powers to shut down illegal retailers.

She also suggested licensing reforms and landlordtermination powers to close illicit outlets. The renewed push follows broader concerns from industry groups that the legal tobacco market could shrink dramatically if illicit tradecontinues to grow.

Her vocal stance saw her named co-chair of the Coalition's new Illegal Tobacco Taskforce (ITTF), by fresh Liberal leader Angus Taylor.

The first iteration of the ITTFdates backto 2018, as part of theTurnbull government's 'Black EconomyPackage', and was led by the Australian Border Force. It was within this that laws were first introduced requiring apermit for all tobacco imports.

Ms Aldred has suggested excise levels could be wound back to around 2018 settings -potentially lowering the cost of apacket of cigarettes to under $30 -alongside stronger enforcement measures.

“Reducing the tobacco excise is just one aspect of the multi-pronged federal reform required Absolutely, the AFP taskforce needs to be beefed-up and enforcement powers strengthened to pull down the shutters on illegal tobacco shops.”

However, public health advocates continue to defendhightobacco taxes as oneofthe most effective tools for reducing smoking rates, highlighting the ongoing tension between healthpolicy and economic concerns.

For now, the debate is set to intensify as pressure builds on the federal governmenttobalancepublic healthgoals with rising concerns about crime, enforcementand the future of Australia’s legal tobacco mark.

Statistically,illicit tobacco crime in Victoria has seen more than 100 arson attacks linked to tobacco turf wars since 2023 and more than 100 arrests tied to illicit tobacco investigations Police havemade more than 200 raids and search warrants targeting the trade.

Chester backincabinet

By DAVID BRAITHWAITE

FEDERAL Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has retained his veterans' affairs portfolio in the shadow ministry.

New federal opposition leader Angus Taylor revealed his new shadow ministry last week.

Mr Taylor claimed the Liberal leadership after defeating incumbent Sussan Ley in avote of Liberal MPs 34 votes to 17 on February 13. The leadership spill was prompted by poor results in opinion polls and arise in support for One Nation.

ONC EITS GO NE,ITS GO NE FLOO RSTOCK

Soon after, Ms Ley announced her intention to quit politics, with aby-election to be held in her New South Wales seat of Farrer.

Mr Chester said he wouldworkwith the government, whereverpossible, in abipartisan way to support the interestsofveterans and their families.

"I will have no hesitation in speaking out when we believe more action is required," he said.

"Work in this portfolio area is never finished becausethe needs of modern veterans will be different to those of previous generations.

"Ourrecordonveterans' wellbeing as aCoalition government was substantial and included major changes to how benefits are assessedand paid, increased focus on mental health and reducing suicide, and the formation of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.

"Thereisaneed for more transparency, accountability and reformtothe systemasrecommended by the Royal Commission, and we will be keeping the pressure on theLaborParty to deliver.

"Thevast majorityofour ADF personnel will train well, serve well,and transition well to civilian life, but if support is required, it must be deliveredinatimely way and be accessible across the country."

Nationals MPs, including Mr Chester, resigned fromtheirshadow ministries, afterthree colleagues, Senator Bridget McKenzie among them, had to step down from their frontbench positions for breakingshadowministry solidarity rules when they voted against the Combating Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill.

This prompted another brief break-up of the Liberal-National Coalition.MsLay andNationals leader David Littleproud soon reached anew agreement,withthe Nationals returning to the frontbench, with the exception of the three "rebels", who were suspended from their roles until March 1. That hiatus ended last week, when they were

Resuming: FederalMember forGippsland Darren Chestersayshe’shappytobebackin ShadowCabinet to represent the interests of AustralianDefence Forceveterans andtheir families. Photograph contributed

broughtbackearly in Mr Taylor's shadow cabinet announcement.

“Today marks afresh beginning,anopportunity to put our past behind us and to remember that our historicstrengthcomes through unity,” Mr Taylor said.

BESS won’tharm environment, company assures

By PEACE IJIYERA

THE Latrobe Valley mightbehome to another battery energy storage systems (BESS) after a project proposed by European Energy entered the planning stage.

Last week, the team at European Energy hosted adropininformation session at Hazelwood North Community Hall.

Throughout the session, about 15 locals came to learn about the proposed project, Gippsland BESS. The project willsee thedevelopment of a600 MW, two hour storage duration BESS, that willbe located near Tramway Road, near the Hazelwood Terminal Station.

For many years, the Latrobe Valley has held a long history in coal mining and powering Victoria. As the transition towards renewable energy begins, the battery will help with energy storage, grid stability and helping to power houses in the event of a power outage. With aconstruction timeline of 2027, the project promisestodeliver an estimated 200 to 250construction jobs. If successful, Gippsland BESS will join two such already operating and one under construction in the Latrobe Valley. Having multiple BESS units means increased reliability and efficiency.

Largely, locals seemed to be on board with the project, with one local exclaiming, "bring it on". Another had the idea of inviting Grade 5/6 students, who are the future and long term beneficiaries of renewable energy, in the hopes that they advice their parents and startthe conversations even from their early years.

In an opposing view, one local wasn't convinced.

"I'm not excited about it at the moment, I'm to see the benefits of all these renewables. I'm convinced yet about renewable energy. For hours of energy, it's alot of money".

The re wa sa lso some concerns aroun environmental implications that this project have on the land.

However, European Energy Executive, Catriona McLeod says of the environment remains their "Environmental safety has bee concern by some residents, but European hasa strong track record in this assure everyone that the Gippsland prioritise environmental impact safety."

On behalf of European Energy, extended her thanks.

"We'd like to thank everyone who recent drop-in sessions for our Gippsland project. The event was well atte consider everything we heard as development process.

"Werealise that these projects, can be daunting for locals and engage with the local community updates on aregular basis in perso in writing. As we do with all our also ensurethe local community project through acommunity benefi by supporting local businesses and

Wholesale price down,

By PHILIP HOPKINS

VICTORIA has recorded the lowest wholesale power prices in Australia, according to the state government, but Origin Energy maintainsthe cost of new towers, wires and substations will negate any enduring benefit fromfalling wholesale electricity prices.

Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio, said record investment in renewables had helped Victoriaconsistently achieve the lowest wholesale power prices in the country.

Over the last year, Victoria’s average wholesale price was $78 per megawatt hour,compared to $103for New South Wales,$96 forTasmania, $87 for South Australia and $85 for Queensland.

Origin Energy’s boss, Frank Calabria, acknowledged strongeroutputfromrenewables and batteries had pushed wholesale prices down from the extreme highs triggered by plant outages and global gas shocks, but said benign weather and improved coal plant reliability were other factors, the Australian Financial Review reported.

“Those benign inputs will feed into the Australian EnergyRegulator’s next default market offer decision -the benchmark that underpins howpower is priced,” the AFR said.

Mr Calabria stressed that wholesale energy was only one component of the electricity system. He was lessconfident in the market’s ability to forecast

for

the price of greening the grid by adding transmission and distribution infrastructure to move renewable generation to homes and businesses.

The warning lands at apolitically sensitive moment.

After successive increases in benchmark electricity prices, the Albanese government faces mounting pressuretoshow its energytransition willultimately deliver cheaperpower, the AFR said

However, Ms D’Ambrosio said Victoria had exceeded its 2025 renewableenergy target, with renewables accounting for 44.6 per centofthe state’s electricity generation last year –well above the legislated 40 per cent target.

“Victoria is on track to reach 65 per cent renewable generation by 2030 and 95 per cent by 2035,” she said.

Victoria has nearly 100 large-scale renewable energy projects now operational across the state.

These included54solar farms which, together with rooftop solar, supplied about 16 per cent of Victoria’s electricity in 2025, she said. Wind farms generatedabout 24 per cent of the state’s power.

“This capacity is set to grow, with 10 additional onshore wind farms approved for construction,” she said.

To acc elerat ed eliv ery, th eD evelo pment FacilitationProgram is fast-tracking priority renewable energy projects.

Enough with hoon motorbikes

By PEACE IJIYERA

AT around 9pm most weekends, Morwell resident Dave Lethborg says you can almost guarantee you'll hear the sound of motorbikes howling through Well Street, Robert St and Junier St.

Mr Lethborg, who lives on Robert St, has had enough, and wants to see the hooning stop. The perpetrators, mostly teenagersand young kids, ride up and down the streets with no helmets on motorbikes and pit bikes that are unregistered; posing athreat to themselves and others in the community.

Dates delayed on Valentine’s

Day trains

By AIDAN KNIGHT

NO love was lostontrainsonFebruary 14, as the Gippsland Line services were held up on Valentine's Day due to an equipment fault.

The major disruption saw no movement on the line for about an hour, and then affectedtrain servicesthe following day (Saturday, February 15) with delays on the line for 70 minutes -reminding commuters you can't spell Valentine without V/Line.

In response to the story 'Station works causing confusion' published in the Express on February 11, V/Line provided an explanation forworks doneatTraralgon station post-completion of the Gippsland Line upgrades, which some readers noticed the week before.

“Thenew enclosed pedestrian overpass built as part of the Traralgon station upgrade hasmadethe station saferand moreaccessiblefor allpassengers, with lift and stair access to each platform, and protectionfrom weather conditions," V/ Line said.

“We thank passengers for their patience during recent works on the overpass Passengers were provided alternative access to the platforms during this time.”

The rail provider also made apoint to include that the works for the pedestrian overpass were included in the Gippsland Line Upgrade project budget, and that the project supported 500 local jobs in the numerous benefits it's now provided Traralgon and Bairnsdale line users with.

In an effort to put astoptotheir shenanigans, Mr Lethborg has tried involving the police; all to no avail.

"Each time Iring the police about it, they don't show up, and they say there’s nothing that we can do about it," he said.

Frustrated, he pointed outthe doublestandards the police seem to have, pullingupdrivers for havingataillight out, but letting kids get away withridingunregistered motorbikes and pit bikes illegally. In Victoria, rules around ridingdirt bikes state that to be ridden on public land, bikes must be registered.

Mr Lethborgisworried these kidslack awareness and risk perception. He's not being aKevin about the matter, in fact Mr Lethborg is all for children playinginthe streets and is an avid motorbike lover himself -hejust wants them to be safe.

"If somekids were out the fronthereplayingball or somethinglike that, Idon't worry about that, that's notwhat I'm worried about," he said.

"One of these pit bikes came through here, had a teenagerridingit.Onthefrontwasthislittlegirl,probably fourorfive-years-of-age, sitting on top of the fueltank, and they're getting on, riding through (at a) high speed."

Citing an example of ayoung man who died afterbeinginvolved in atrailbikeincident on Hourigan Road in 2011, Mr Lethborg is urging kids to remember that they are not invincible.

Just last year, another young man died after a dirt bike ride through Moe resulted in tragedy.

"It's just dangerous, someone is going to die again," aconcerned Mr Lethborg said.

As well as having concern for the safety of kids, Mr Lethborg is mainly troubled by the state of his wife's health.

His whole world nearly came crashing down

last December when his wife Tracey suffered two heart attacks and astroke. In what could only be amiracle, Tracey was resuscitated twice and is on theroadtorecovery.

Having recently just returned home from hospital, restisher best medicine.However the sound of the motorbikes "screaming" interrupts her sleep, directly affecting her health.

"At night after dark, on the weekends here, this place absolutely lights up with the screaming of these motorbikes, and she’strying to sleep, so this

is the biggest issue," Mr Lethborg said. Some nights the howling can be heard as late as 11pm.

Mr Lethborg is calling for police patrols in the area, but also for parents to keep their kids in check.

"The parents should be held responsible".

“Get the police down here with the police motorbikes, which they’ve done before and pull them up. Lets impound these, they’re not supposed to be on the road."

Chief officer on hand at Morwell brigade

MORWELL Fire Brigade celebrated its 110th year of service in 2025.

The annualawards night wasoverseen by the CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan.

Several service awards were presented:

 Firefighter Mathew Lindsay: five years service award;

 Lieutenant Bailey Charalambos: 10 years service award;

 Jamie Batchelor: 20 year service award and national medal;

 Firefighter Bill Hedges: 30 years service award;

 Firefighter Steve Darling: 45 years service award, CFA life membership and national medal second clasp;

 Ex-lieutenant Pat Quinn: 45 years service award and CFA life membership;

 Lieutenant Mick Franchetto: life membership of the brigade and national medal first clasp;

 Lieutenant Aaron Mitchell: national medal;

 Secretary Don Lovision: first clasp national medal;

 Captain Wayne Draper: first clasp national medal;

 Firefighter Kevin Findlay: nation emergency medal with 2019/20 fires clasp;

 Member Sharon Grey: 50 year auxiliary service award, and;

 Lieutenant Jamie Batchelor: firefighter of the year.

One Nation has some explaining to do

COMMENT

BY JOHN GWYTHER

GREG Hansford('Collecting jar of smarts to catch some coal', LatrobeValley Express Opinion,18/02)

continues to place One Nation's hopes on the stalled and discredited Shine Energy Collinsville HELE coal-fired power plant.

He implies Collinsville's future was damaged by Labor but the project failed to get funding from the Morrison government's Underwriting New Generation Investments program in 2019.

It still hasn't attracted any capital and, in 2025, was one of only five remaining coal plant proposals in OECD nations.

The Institute for EnergyEconomicsand Financial Analysis (IEEFA) criticised the project as “totally

unbankable [without] massive ongoing government subsidies and amassive ongoingexemption from carbon pricing."

So, Ithink my claim of "coalisdead"still stands, as does my claim that Mr Hansford cannot back up his claim of "cheap" power from such plants.

One Nation'srecentlyreleased energy policy contains many such project promises that simply bear no relationship to the statusofand the trends in thenationalgrid,nor theunderlying economics

Rather thanslash electricityprices by 20 per cent, their policywill be morelikelytoincrease them by alarger amount.

One Nation has alot of explaining to do around how their policy will deliver.

John Gwyther is aCoongulla resident Moreopinion: Pages34-35

Treaty elections this year

TRADITIONAL Owners of Country in Victoria

arebeing encouraged to stand as candidates in the upcoming Treaty Elections, withnominations opening last week, and closing on March 2.

The elections will see Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the state vote for who they want on the next term of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria,the democratically-elected representative body for First Peoples.

Last year Assembly Members negotiated and signed Australia’s first Treaty between government and First Peoples.

The next termofthe Assembly willberesponsible for delivering the outcomes negotiated through Treaty. These include making decisions on First Peoples’ matters, advising and advocating to government on behalfofFirst Peoples and continuing the truth-telling and healing journey in Victoria.

Assembly Co-chair and Wamba Wamba, Yorta Yorta, Dja Dja Wurrung and Dhudhuroa woman Ngarra Murray urged Traditional Owners of different ages and backgrounds to consider nominating as acandidate for the elections.

“Generations of Blak resistanceand activism has secured this country’s first Treaty and now we need the next round of community representatives to step up and make sure Treaty improves our peoples’ lives,” said Ngarra.

“Our people have built this democracy from the ground up. Through Treaty, we can now use our local knowledge to come up with and deliver practical solutions for our communities. This means we can get better outcomes because Aboriginal people know what does and doesn’t work for us.

First Peoplesaged16orolderwho areeither Victorian Traditional Ownersorhave lived in the state for three of the past five years are eligible to enrol and vote in the Treaty Elections.

Candidate nominations close on March 2and voting opens March 21.

Previous TreatyElectionswere held in 2019 and 2023. Successful candidates in the 2026 Treaty Elections will be elected for afour-year term.

To learn more, nominate to be acandidate or enroltovote in the Treaty Elections, visit: treatyelections.org

Healthcommittee

THE Gipp sland Reg ion Publi cH ea lth Un it (GRPHU) is proud to announce that Public Health Physician, Dr ShereenLabib, has been appointed to Victoria’s strengthened and expanded Multicultural Health Advisory Committee.

Dr Labib willrepresent Local PublicHealth Units (LPHUs) on the statecommittee following acompetitive selection process.

Her appointment recognises her leadership in publichealthand hercommitment to advancing equitablehealth outcomes for culturallyand linguistically diverse communities.

Announced by Minister for Health Mary-Anne Tho mas ,t he Mult icul tura lH eal th Ad vis or y Committeebrings together diverse voicesfrom across the health sector to shape health priorities and strengthen engagement between Victoria’s multicultural communitiesand the health system.

Victoria is one of Australia’s most culturall yd iverse states, with people from more than 300 ancestries, speaking over 290

languages and practising more than 200 faiths.

While this diversityisa strength, many communities continue to face barriers accessing appropriate care due to social, cultural, faith and languagerelated challenges.

The committee includes experiencedhealthsector experts from multicultural backgrounds, alongside representativesfromkey multicultural peakbodies.

Chaired by ParliamentarySecretary for Women’s Health, Kat Theophanous MP, the committee will support delivery of anew Victorian Multicultural Health Survey openinginearly 2026, expand its remit to include mentalhealth, and advise on implementation of key stateframeworks and action plans.

Dr Labib said she was honoured to represent Gippsland and local public health units at astate level.

“It is aprivilege to contribute to acommittee that is focusedonensuring everyVictorian can access a health system that is safe, inclusive and responsive to their needs,” she said.

“Across Gippsland, we see first-hand the importanceofculturally informedpublichealth approaches.

"When communities feel heard and understood, health outcomes improve.”

GRPHU Director, Dr Alyce Wilson, said Dr Labib’s appointment reflected both her expertise and the commitment of LPHU’s to health equity.

“With Dr Labib representing LPHUs at this level, the connection between local communities and state health reform is strengthened. This appointment highlights the essential role prevention plays in improving health and wellbeing outcomes for multicultural communities, and reinforces the commitment of LPHUs to advancing equity, inclusion and culturally responsive public health practice.”

Aux cord stays put in name of road safety

TAC has rolled out Vanessa’s Place,aboldnew road safety initiativedesigned to connect with young Victorians at the heart of their social lives: music festivals and events.

Buildingonthe legacy of Vanessa Bus, Vanessa’s Placeisa fullyimmersive tiny homeexperiencethatdeliverslife-saving road safety messages in afun, relatable and unforgettable way. Inside the tiny home, festivalgoers will navigate an escape-room-styleexperiencethat explores the risks of drink and drug driving, fatigue, and speeding.

Ahidden room behind the fridge door adds a shareablemoment to explore, while the front yard offers achill-out zonewith beanbags TAC, Head of Community, Hannah Meredith hoped the initiative would lead to less road trauma.

“After more than adecade on the road,the Transport Accident Commission’s beloved Vanessa Bus has had amajor glow up and has returned as Vanessa’s Place, awelcomingtinyhomewherethe focus is goodvibes, rechargingand makingsaferchoices on the road,” she said

“Choosing to be safe could mean planning adesignated driver, organising asaferide, separating drinking from driving, or making sure you’re rested before driving, all of which mean you and your mates get home sweet home.”

Research has shown that young drivers have higher crash risks due to still developing cognitive and perceptual skills, lack of driving experience and propensity to be over-confident, over-estimatetheir driving ability and to take risks.

The tiny home offers arangeofeducational and engaging features in afun setting, including free breathtesting,free toast with baked-in road safety messaging,and interactive games Phone charging stations will also be available to encourage young people to visit and engage with road safety.

Vanessa’s Place has alreadyattracted more than 7500 visitors at Spilt Milk and Beyond the Valley since launching in December last year, and was also featured at Laneway Festival in Melbourne this year.

More than 2000 people have taken abreath testtocheck their alcohol levels, almost 2000 spins on the Hills Hoist game, and thousands of pieces of toast have been served, bringing road conversations to life.

With awarm, welcoming vibe and aclear message, “Get Home Sweet Home”,Vanessa’s Place is set to become amust-visit destination on the festival circuit. Head here for more information: vanessasplace.com.au

Combined benefits: Anew studyhas found that bringing early learning,health andfamily support services together throughschools is having ahugelypositiveimpact on families

Photograph supplied

Support services helping Morwell

AMAJOR new evaluation has found thatbringing earlylearning, health and familysupport services together in schools improves access for families and outcomes for children, adding weight to calls for integrated school and early learning hubs to expand across Victoria.

Despite significant investmentinstandalone programs, many children in disadvantaged communities continue to start school behind their peers.

The 2025 Our Place Evaluation Report suggests how and where services are delivered, not justwhat services exist,iscritical,showing measurable gains when supports are coordinated aroundschools as trusted one-stop hubs.

The evaluation examined integrated school and early learning hubs across nine Victorian communities and found:

 a98per cent increase in wrap-around health and wellbeing supports;

 80 per cent of families reported positive transitions into school;

 90 per cent of caregivers felt confident supporting their child’s learning at home;

 83 per cent of service partners reported improved service delivery, and;

 Emerging improvements in education outcomes and school attendance rates.

The evaluation includes findings from local hubsincommunitiessuchasMorwell,where

integrated support services are improving access for regional families.

The findings suggest that embedding services within schools -places families already know andtrust -reduces access barriers when supported by dedicated facilitation that aligns education, health and community partners around shared goals, bringing together sectors that traditionally operate separately.

“This evaluation shows that effective integration changes how families experience support and how systems work together,” Our Place Chief Executive Sean Cory said.

“If we want to close equity gaps and improve outcomes, we need approaches that connect education,health and family services around children and communities.”

The findings come as policymakers consider recommendations for “full-service schools” outlinedinthe federal government's Independent Expert Panel (IEP) review,alongsideimplementation of the Better andFairer Schools Agreement and broaderschool funding reforms

Researchers say integrated school and early learning hubs offer apractical, scalable model thataligns existingservicesaround children and families.

To accessthe report, visit:https://2026roadmap. ourplace.org.au/evaluation

Medical students ready for theyear ahead

By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT CONNECT,

inspire, thrive.

MonashRural Health saw more than100 medical students arrive for its Student Welcome Day, offering an opportunity for the cohort and staff to interact and spark friendships ahead of awishful year.

Welcomed to Latrobe Leisure Churchill, the fresh and fun initiation served under the theme of the 'mini-Olympics', with the chance to win special prizes and cater to the students' competitive spirit.

Monash UniversityFaculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences is one of Australia's oldest ruralclinical schools, with many undergraduate medical students electingtocomplete their training regionally.

"Whenthey(students) are in their firstclinical training year, theyactually staywithin ateaching hospital across the region for an entire year," Monash Rural Health Gippsland Director, Associate Professor Catherine Haigh told the Express "So, it really givesthem achance to putdown roots and really connect to the community and connect to the health service."

Those arriving for the Student Welcome Day wereyear three to fivestudents,meaningthey are currently in the midst of completing pre-intern training, essentially acting as ajunior doctor.

A/Prof. Haigh said that the event was designed to bring the entire cohort together, so that they could understand the magnitude of what was ahead as they enter their final yearsofschooling.

"We wantedtogive them an opportunity to network (and) give them an opportunity to meet the teaching faculty and to givethem an opportunity to have fun," she said.

"We started off with really fun activities and we catered to their competitive spirit, because medical students are very, very competitive."

Students shared knowledgegained throughout their study in apractical environment.

Activities included;

 Yoga challenge;  Pop-quiz and ice breaker challenges;

 Discharge the patient rate;

 Diagnose the condition;

 Compression bandage or basic life support, and;

 PPE and IV Relay.

As anew initiative for Monash Rural Health, A/Prof.Haigh said that this more casual type of event will continue into the future due to feedback from students.

"They had alot of fun, they appreciated getting to know people (and) appreciated being able to do it in arelaxed way," she said.

"Some of the students because they're very, very sporty, really liked the running, and other students said they wanted to do more cognitive activities (and) cerebral activities."

A/Prof. Haigh added that the Student Welcome Day also serves to reinforce the undergraduates of their decision to choose them.

"Our remit is to encourage students to come to us, to preference us, and to stay with us, and then to join local workforce training pathways," she said.

"We're keen to grow our own workforce."

Monash Rural Health has six health services and afurther 20-plus associated teaching general practices across Gippsland.

Neerim Artsfest

Ta ke aB re ak

ONE POINTERS

BRAIN STRAIN

1. Name the actor who voiced the train conductor character in the movie ‘The PolarExpress’?

2. Whatwas the name of thewizardwho wasthe headmasterat Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?

3. Whatthree coloursare on the Italian flag?

4. Who wrote‘TheCat in theHat’?

TWOPOINTERS

5. Which coffee brand is famous forits green mermaid logo?

6. Seis is whatnumber in Spanish?

7. In the game of UNO,how manycards aredealttoeach player at the startofthe game?

8. Whatdoanisland and the letter Thaveincommon?

THREE POINTER

9. What British rock group released adebut album called Parachutes?

10.What 1990sTVseries featured ahang-out named “The PeachPit”?

11. If Iwas visiting the town of Kingaroy,what Australianstate would Ibein?

12. Who playedCedric Diggory in theHarry Potter movies?

FOUR POINTER

13. Whatisthe name of the One DayInternationaltrophythat is contestedbyAustralia and NewZealand?

14. Queen guitaristBrian Mayisalso an expert in which scientific field?

FIVE POINTER

15. Name the approximateyear (-3/+3) these Australian shows aired.

1. The Sullivans 2. HeyHey itsSarurday3.Skippy

4. Home and away.5.Neighbours

Howdid youfare?

37: Topofthe class; 30-36: Outstanding; 21-29: Well done; 15-20: Solid effort; 9-14: Room forimprovement; 0-8: Hit thebooks.

om:T:1rsweAns Hanks; 2: Albus e;Dumbledor 3: een,Gr ndeawhit d;re 4: sseu.SDr 5: arbucks;St 6: Six (6); 7: achneveSe (7); 8: yThe henthiotebar leddmi of r;tewa 9: 0:;1ayplldCo eyrlveBe Hills 210;90 11: QLD; 12: bertRo ttinson;Pa 13: Chappell-Hadlee y;ophTr 14: ics;ysophtrAs

Using the9 lettersin thegrid, howmany wordsoffour letters or more canyou list? Thecentrelet termust be included andeach letter maybeused onlyonce. No colloquialorforeign words. No capitalisednouns, apostrophesorplural wordsending in ‘s’.

Sunflowersfor Niko

By KATRINABRANDON

TAKING awalk through fields of yellow, Flowersbythe Vines in Traralgon invited everyone to participate in a fundraiser earlier this month to help treat ayounglocal.

The fundrais er offered locals a relaxed, family-friendly sunflower maze whereattendees could pick theirown sunflowers. All proceeds from the event went

toward overseas treatment and ongoing medical care for youngster Nikolai

Bian con, who su ffe rs from ar are condition known as Moderate HypoxicIschemic Encephalopathy (HIE).

Nikolai, or 'Niko', was born in 2025 with HIE and hearing loss

HIE is aneurological condition that affects how the brainfunctionsand can impact development in different ways.HIE is atype of brain disorder

or dysfunction that occurs early in life. It is duetoa combination of hypoxia (when the braindoes notreceiveenough oxygen for aperiod of time), ischemia(when blood flow to the brain is restricted for aperiod of time), and encephalopathy(a brain disorder or dysfunction).

“For Nikolai, this means he may face challenges with learning, movement and everyday activities as he grows. He is consideredathigherriskofconditions such as cerebral palsy, cognitive difficulties, epilepsy and other ongoing complications,”Niko’s mother,Jaye Biancon told the Express

“It (the fundraiser) went incredibly well,and we honestly couldn’tbelieve the level of supportfrom the community. Seeing so many peopleshow up, bring their families,donate,share kind words and check in on us was really emotional and meant more than we can say.

“It was one of those momentswhere you truly feelhow much peoplecare, and it reminded us that we’renot going throughthisalone. We’re so grateful to everyone who took the time to support Nikolai and our family.”

Unfortunately, there are no specialised treatmentoptions for HIE in Australia, such as Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Stem CellTherapy.

Becom ing aware of his condit ion shortly afterhis birth,MsBiancon said that emotionally it has been overwhelming for the family andthatthe condition has brought many challenges.

“Learning about Nikolai’s condition and the treatments available has been an ongoing and sometimes overwhelming process,” shesaid.

“As parents, we’ve had to quickly educate ourselves about his diagnosis, what it may mean for his development and how besttosupport him as he grows.

“The process has been emotionally and financially challenging, as it means balancing hope with uncertainty while making importantdecisions for his future. At the same time, it has shown us

Student sustainability

By KATRINABRANDON

PROMOTING sustainabilityinschools, Tanjil SouthPrimary School (TSPS)has started a kitchen garden project.

The school's program,which provides hands-on experience,isfunded by the Stephanie Alexander KitchenProgram, an Australian not-for-profit founded by legendary cookStephanie Alexander AO. The programpromotes children's health and wellbeing and delivers fun, hands-on food education.

TSPS education support staff member Belinda Whitecame up with the idea to run the program, having astronginterest in gardening.

“Last year, she put in agrant for us to become aStephanie Alexander school, and we were successful in getting that grant,” TSPS principal Jason Horton explained.

“We're just in the process of setting up what that lookslikefor our school, including some additions to the breakfast club room. We received some donations of seedlings, and the kids have grown that out and been involved in planting that, and they allhavetheir ownlittleveggie patches,plus the combined veggie patches.”

Havingstarted the programlast year, the school was worried that the dry season would affect work before summer.

Ms White thenfoundterracottapots,whichare specially designed to hold and release water into the ground.While traditional terracotta pots are generally quite expensive, the school got creative and made its own.

Students and staff were involved in creating the pots.

“She's been able to develop asystem for us so thatwhenwe'reonholidays, we can just fillthem up and then it waters the garden so it doesn't need electricity,” Mr Horton said.

“All we have to do is come and fill them once aweek, and that seeps out into the garden. The kids actually were involved in building those. So we used terracotta pots,but we had to sealthem so they would hold water and wouldn't run out through the hole in the bottom. So she came up with the method of doing that, and then got the kids involved and planted them into the garden, and then planted the seedlings around them.”

After successfully creating the watering system, the school shared the solution with the Stephanie Alexander GardenProgram andthe other groups.

The TanjilSouth garden is thriving, and allowed students to participate in their first kitchen garden activity on Friday, February 6.

Students created Okonomiyaki (Japanese pancakes) using produce from the garden.

Mr Horton said that being abletouse what they had grown brought alarge sense of achievement to students

"(In the garden) there's ahugevariety of different fruits and some mostly vegetables," he said.

“There is also avariety of different foods that maybe they don't eat at home.

“Belinda gets out in the garden during playtime. Shedoesn't ask the kids to come and join her. Theyjust crowd around her and start jumping in.

Once a week, we do a kitchen garden hour. So the lasthourofthe week is kind of awellbeing thing for us. We all get into the garden or do something with the produce. So it's either cooking or out in the garden, tending to the garden.”

Whilethe school is just startingits journey, Mr Horton said there are many opportunities TSPS hopes to adopt throughthe program.

Recently, the Warragul Show approached the school, offering studentsand teachers the chance to sell some of their produce, where they also have adisplay. Due to the size of the program, Mr Horton saidthey aren’t ready yet, but are looking to consider it in the future.

Being “smack in the middle” of farming land, Mr Horton said the program helps students both appreciate the paddock-to-plate process and explore possible future pathways.

The kitchengarden program allowsstudents to learn about soil,plants and the cycle of life in the garden.

The school and theprogram's opportunity help reflect the area’s history and its transition from pastoral lands to athriving agricultural settlement. This rich history is detailed in the publication Settlers and Selectors: Tanjil Hills to Tanjil South by Joan Hasthorpe and J.G. Rogers, whichoffersinsights into the school’s development, including lists of former teachers and pupils,aswell as itsroleinthe broader district’s evolution.

“If we're able to foster that in this environment, that's really important to be able to key them into just, maybejust the beginning,” Mr Hortonsaid.

“(It’s the)beginning seeds of those, and then maybe later on, team up with people like Dairy Australia or Agriculture Victoria, those type of

how important earlysupport, informed care and advocacy are

"We continuetolearn every dayaswe navigate this journeyalongside Nikolai.”

The Bianconfamily hasbeenworking closely with specialists, attending appointments and learning about early intervention therapies and support strategies, while researching options on howbesttosupport their son.

Living in regional Victoriahas come with its own challenges, such as theneed to travel to Melbourne for treatment, longer wait times and fewer local options when accessingservices

“While it hasn’tbeeneasy, we’re grateful for the support we’vereceived, and we do our best to navigate these challenges so Nikolai can accessthe care he needs,” his mother said.

Accordingtothe Child Neurology Foundation, HIE is arelatively rare event, occurring in two to four of every 1000 births.

In add ition to the fun dra is er ,a GoFundMe page has also been created to help treatNikolai

For mo re inform ation ,g ot o: https://www.gofundme.com/f/ helping-nikolai-reach-his-full-potential

organisations, to build us as having those skills to be able to provide the kids there, even if they don't go and workonafarm, theycan build their own veggie garden.

“Then, food security, the risk of not having food,

is reduced because they can then grow their own. And Ithink that's the way of the future,being able to know where your food comesfrom, know that it'shealthy, and be able to produce something really enjoyable to eat.”

School Principal Your 2026

Who leads your child’sschool?

Do you really kno wthem outside of aschool newsletter, or an assembly?

Theprincipals of schoolson these pages give you some insight into who they are, what drives them, their passions, their focus and importantly their leadership expertise,along with their staff,tolead their school to provide maximum educational opportunities for your child.

community, is both Catholic famil y respect for do.

As Principal at Chairo Christian School in Traralgon, Ibelievewholeheartedly in the power of community to help giveevery student the strongest possible startto their educational journey.

It is my privilege,together with Krystal Lear (DeputyPrincipal) and Troy Stephens (Head of Teaching & Learning), to lead adedicated team of educatorswith arich blend of experience

problem-solving skills, thus preparing students to become lifelonglearnerswho

One of thegreatest joys of my role is watching each student grow—from three-

Traralgon

chairo.vic.edu.au

as they develop academically,personally and spiritually.Itisincredibly rewarding to see students discover their strengths, perseverethrough challenges and learn

whole, unique individuals.

Keryn de Bruyn,Principal (Traralgon)

As Ih ave spoken of many times previously, Ib elieve school should be ap la ce of be longing and ap la ce wh ere young people can realise their full potential by learning together, achieving together and growing t ogether.

Positiv e, producti ve and caring relationships are essential and it makes me proud to say that at Lavalla, our students and staff work tirel essly to build and nurture ac ulture, which is grounded in as ense of deep care and respect for one another.

Staff at Lavalla are focused on helping students real ise their learning goals and creat ing al earning environment where students strive for their absolute best in all that they do. We value and celebra te academic achievem ent and most important ly, we value the formation of our young people positive contributions pathway they

Ia ms teadfast our students and driving students be. For local secondary education the most important encourage all with us, so that form well-rounded strong minds

FOL LOW US

School Principal Your 2026

AMessagefromthe ActingPrincipal

Iampleasedtointroducemyself to theLowannaCollege community as theActingPrincipal. It is agenuinehonour to serve in thisrole andtosupporta school with such astrong sense of purpose andpride

My teachingcareerbegan at Kurnai Collegein2001,where I spent many rewardingyears in arange ofroles.I laterworked with theDepartmentofEducation as aLeadership Partnerbefore joining Warragul Regional CollegeasanAssistantPrincipal for fiveyears.I commenced at LowannaCollegeinSemester Twoof 2025, also as an Assistant Principal, andIamdelighted to now lead theCollegeinanactingcapacity

Iamdeeplycommittedtocreatingenvironments whereyoung people feel known, valued andsupported by trustedadults

Strongrelationshipsare at theheart of effective learningand our school community works hard to livethe valuesofRespect, Integrity,Determination, Growth andExcellence. LowannaCollege isa placewhere people care forone anotherand strivefor the bestoutcomesfor every student.Our WellbeingTeam provides vital supporttostudentsand families andour Disability Inclusion Team ensures that every learner hasthe opportunity to thrive LowannaCollegecontinues to strengthen engagement and attendancethrough programssuchasthe SportsAcademy,the KoorieProgram (proudly aMarrung Lead School)and theLowanna Institute of theArts. We arealso investingheavily in Literacy and Numeracy,supported by adedicated team of tutors

Our vision of High Expectationsremainscentralto everything we do.Webelieve every student can achieve excellence in their chosen pathway andweare committed to buildinga school whereall studentsfeel safe,inspired andproud to belong

BernadetteCropper

Acting CollegePrincipal LowannaCollege

72-96 Newark Avenue,Newborough Phone 5127 9200 www.lowanna.vic.edu.au

School Principal Your 2026

Icontinuetofeel deeply privileged to ser ve as PrincipalofTraralgon College.

Iamfor tunate to be supported by an amazingexecutive leadership team. Our team, drawntogether from signif icantlydif ferentbackgrounds and pathways to education, cares deeplyfor thecommunity in which theyliveand work. We stand unitedinour collectivevisionofimprovingstudent educational and life outcomes, alongside ourcommitmenttopar tneringstronglywithour broader local community.Our Associate Principal,Belinda Ludlow;BusinessManager,Claire Gibson; andA ssistant Principals, Daniel King,Narelle Loechel,OwenHenderson and AaronReid, bringa diverserange of experience andskillstoleading thecore work of the college. Togetherthey are responsible forday-to- dayoperations and driving theimprovement agenda across thecollege.This talented, passionate teamcontinues to builda new eraatthe college,one of high expectation, continuous improvementand academic excellence

Whilstnot born on thelandsofthe GunaiKurnaipeople, Ihavelived in this beautifulGippsland region for mostofmylife. It is on theselands that Ihave chosen to study, work, relaxand raisemyfamily.Icurrentlyreside in Trafalgar with my teenageson.I took the helm at TraralgonCollegein2023, shortly af ter the passing of my husband,alsoa passionate educatorand principal,following ashor tbut bravebat tlewithbowel cancer. Iowe himagreat debt of gratitude for all he taught me aboutleadership andprincipalship,longbeforeI ever knew I wouldbecomeone

Ibegan my career as amedical scientist, workingacrossGippsland andthenin large teachinghospitals in theUK. As ateacher,I havebeenfor tunate to have worked at TrafalgarHighSchool, Lowanna Collegeand nowTraralgon College. In addition, Ispent some time workingfor the Depar tment of Education in the School ImprovementDivision. Ihavetechnical and educationalback grounds in each of themajor fields of science, international developmentand gifted education. This eclectic rangeofinterests drives my core pas sionsofengaging girlsinSTEM, overcoming disadvantageand ensuringequity in education for all youngpeople.I havebeenable to leverage thisdiverse rangeofexperience to buildafocus on strategic improvement at thecollege. This focus, and the suppor tofmyleadership team and staf f, hasresultedinremarkableimprovement in academic,wellbeingand culture measures across thecollege. We are exceptionallyproud of thefac tthatweare one of the mostimproved schools in thestate andthatour NAPL AN grow th acrossreading, writingand numeracy hasexceeded the stateaverage.Traralgon Collegeisaschoolofwhich ourlocal community canbemostproud

Iamexcited by theoppor tunit ytocontinue to lead ourdedicated andcommitted staf f, knowing that our ongoingimprovement ef fortscontinuetodrive us forward with arenewedcommitmenttoprovidingexceptional educational outcomes for ever ysingle student.

FionaMilkins Principal TraralgonCollege

At Sacred HeartPrimary School, Iam inspired by our vision: “Christian values empower our learners to thrive within an ever-changingworld.”Our studentsare at thecentreofeverythingwedo. This student-focused approach has shaped my teachingexperiences across Melbourne andGippsland. Ihave adeep love for working in Gippslandand proudly celebrate theuniquegifts our studentsbringto school each day.

At Sacred Heart, thestrongrelationships we form allow us to workcollaboratively to create individuallearningpathways that enhance outcomes forall students. Being proactive within our faith community continues to inspireand guide my commitmenttomeetingthe needsof Sacred Heart Primary School, Morwell. GuidedbyGospel values,we: •Valueour people as our greatest resource •Work together to improve student outcomes.

School Principal Your 2026

As Principal of St Paul’s since 2018, Idivide my time between our three campuses in Traralgon, Warragul and Drouin. Our Traralgon Campus is growing substantially, with our inaugural Year 11 VCE classes graduating students in 2027. Ilove planning and bringing dreams to fruition, so this is an especially exciting time.

It is important to me that children feel adistinct sense of belonging at school, together with agenerosity of spirit. Iwanteachchild to be properly acknowledged as an individual, known well by their teachers and catered for with apersonalised approach and adynamic learning culture. Ibelieve in emphasising effort and the pursuit of personal excellence.

Withoverthirty yearsofteachingand leadership experience in Tasmania, Queensland andWesternAustralia, Traralgon is nowmyhome.Ilovemy townand my school, St Paul’s Principal, Cameron Herbert DipT,BEd, GCEdAdmin,PGCBus,MEd,MAICD.

Please join us at an upcomingevent by visiting our website upcoming event ourwebsite

stpaulsags.vic.edu.au

St Michael’s Primary School Traralgon

At St Michael’sPrimary School, we areinspired by our Catholic faith to provide asafe and inclusiveschoolenvironment for all students. Through the teaching of the Gospels, St Michael’sisa school wherechildren are nurtured as independent, responsible and confidentlearnersfor life

We arecommittedtoworking with students and their families to make adifference in the lives of the children. Our Vision “Lear ning for Life” continues to inspireustosee lear ning as ajourney over time that brings together the academic, spiritual, and social dimensions of life

Iunderstand howimportant it is to select the right school for your child.Wepride ourselves on being awelcoming, inclusiveand safe learning environment. Our rich senseofCatholic Education fostersasense of belonging foreach childand their family

Ihavebeen apart of the St Michael’steaching community for ten yearsand Iamproud to be leading adedicated andpassionate staffgroup who have their students at the centreofall that they do. I welcome allfamilies to contact our office to arrangeaschool tour

Principal Lia DiCorleto

Phone: 5174 3295 www.stmtraralgon.catholic.edu.au

Email:office@stmtraralgon.catholic.edu.au for further details

Matthew's Quarry bushfire

ACOLUMNofsmoke on the TyersWalhall aR oad appeared Tuesday, February 17, leadingauthoritiesup the hill.

The bushfire appeared seven kilometres north-west of Tyers, near Matthew's Quarry, around 11.50am.

Two aircraft responded to the scene around 12.04pm, with aVic Emergency alert warning that the road was closed due to fire.

Fire fighting crews from Tyers, Erica, Glengarry, Yallourn, Traralgon, Westbury, Fire Rescue and Forest Fire Management Victoriaworked hard to bring the blaze under control.

Around1.40pm, the fire was being marked as contained on the Vic Emergency app.

"Earlier today, our crews responded to two callouts within minutes of each other," the Tyers Fire Brigade posted to Facebook.

"Aerial appliances quickly confirmed both reports were the same incident, allowing crews to get on scene fast near Matthew’sQuarries.

"With support from air attack, Erica

&District Fire Brigade, Glengarry Fire Brigade, Yallourn North Urban Fire Brigade, Traralgon Fire Brigade -CFA Volunteers and Fire Rescue Victoria Pumper 77, crewsworked alongside FFMV swiftly to contain and extinguish the fire.

"A huge thank you to all the brigades who assisted today, and to our members who crewed the station to ensure arapid response when it mattered most."

The cause of this fireiscurrentlyunder investigation.

Asmall fire was also reported on Yabbie Track, Moondarra at 11.43am, attended by three vehicles.

Nilma-Warragul fire

AGRASS fire was sparked alongside the Princes Freeway between Nilma and Warragul on Monday, February 16.

The fire was said to have been lit around 10.30am, when workers were attempting to put out the fire before fire crews came and took over.

The incident was marked under control as of 11.30am.

While ablaze,drivers pulled alongside the opposite side of the road to let crews work to get it under control.

No go zone: Tyers-Walhalla Road wasclosedfromMatthew’sQuarr yand up fur ther towardsErica as a0.1-hectarebushfirearose Photographs: Katrina Brandon (unlessspecified)

Morwell bin fire

FIRE Rescue Victoria responded to an incident on Commercial Rd,Morwell on Tuesday, February 17 at 10:59am following acall to Triple Zero (000) reporting abin fire

Firefighters arrived on sceneinfive minutes to find asmall bin fire and quickly extinguished the flames. The in ci den tw as deeme du nd er control at 10.09am.

High angle rescue

TAKING advantage of the good weather, afew adventurers unfortunately went off track north of Walhalla.

On Saturday (February 21), an incident was alarmed where acouple of peopleneeded assistance on Pheasant Track.

Paramedics and ahelicopter team were called out to the incident around 11.50am.

Traralgon fire bug

MULTIPLE alert sw ere rais ed on Sunday (February 22) relating to fires in Traralgon.

At 11.35pm, asmall fire was recorded on Vic Emergency on Traralgon West Rd.

Another fire was found alongside the Princes Freeway, near Northern Avenue at 2.39pm.

Cigarette safety

ALARM was raised on the Mirboo North Community Facebook Page on Tuesday, February 17 as acigarette was found in Baths Reserve.

The poster warned that due to high fire danger, dry and hot conditions, people should be more aware of their cigarettebutts and of therisks involved near high-fuel areas.

According to Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV), smoking is the leading cause of house fire deaths in Australia.

Half of fatal fires attended by FRV in the last financialyear involved discarded smoking materials such as cigarettes, lighters and matches.

In high and dry conditions, authorities warn that even atoss of acigarette out the car window can risk starting afire, particularly where thereishigh grass alongside the road.

While qui tting is recom mended, FRV said that there are afew ways to minimise the fire risk, particularly for homes:

with Katrina Brandon

 If you can, smoke outside the home in asingle location;

 If smoking occurs in the home, there should be asmoke alarm in every room;

 Never smoke in bed;

 Don’t smoke when affected by alcohol, drugs or medications that may cause drowsiness;

 Use heavy, high-sided, noncombustible ashtrays to dispose of cigarette butts. Pour some water on the ash and butts to make sure they’re out;

 “Stick it don’t flick it” -never flick cigarette butts, either inside or outside;

 Never leave alit cigarette unattended and butt out your cigarette before you walk away, and;  Keep matches and cigarette lighters out of reach of children.

FRV recommend when emptying an ashtray or cigarettes into the bin, ensure all cigarettesand ash have been extinguished. This can be done by pouring some water on the ash.

For more fire safety information on safesmoking practices, visit the FRV website: https://www.frv.vic.gov.au/ smoking-practices

Safety first: Acigarette butt was found at Baths Reser ve,Mirboo Nor th. People have been reminded to dispose of cigarettes correctlytoavoid potentiallyfatal fires. Photograph supplied

By AIDAN KNIGHT

GOOD Land Brewing has quickly become an iconic staple of Gippsland since its doors first opened five years ago, and arecent award has cemented that status within the community.

National recognition was given to the Traralgon business after one of its beers was named in the top 100 in the country last month.

The Great Australian Beer SpecTAPular, or the GABS Hottest 100, is an annual countdown coinciding with and inspired by the widely celebrated Triple Jcountdown of the same name. Each year, consumers vote on their fivefavourite Aussie beers, which are then presented in alivecountdown on January 25, which often sees breweries around the nation hosting themed partiesinhopeofseeing theirnameinthe list. While no such party took place at Traralgon thisyear, the team at Good Land were overjoyed to see their entry, LITTLE MATE, make the cut.

Owner-brewer Jimmy Krekelberg said the result was ahugemilestone for the independent establishment and all involved.

"We've been trying to get abeer in the Hottest 100 since the day we opened," he said.

"Being asmall regional Victorian brewery, it's very hard to get traction when you're up against big national brands with taps and fridges right across the country. So this is the first year we've got in, and we're stoked."

This year, 22 Victorianbeers were included in the top 100, and Good Land's LITTLEMATE wasone of only three mid-strength entries that won aspot.

"For us, that's massive," Mr Krekelberg told the Express "Ittells us thatpeople are not just drinking it, they'reenjoying it, and choosing to vote for it."

LITTLE MATE is a3.5 per cent hazy pale-style, brewed to deliver maximum flavour without the higher alcohol content usually associated with that leveloftaste.The beer has become aquiet success story for Good Land, evolvingsignificantly since it firstappeared shortly after the brewery opened in 2021.

"It started life as a3.2 per cent Extra Pale Ale," Good Land explained, "now amid-strength brewed with completely different hops, yeast, and malt. We've just refined it to exactly where we want it, and people have really responded. We've got 12 taps (in Traralgon) and it still outsells every other beer, every weekend."

Now pouring on tap at around 30 venues across Gippsland, from Omeo to Metung, Fish Creek to Warragul, the award is sure to boost the profile of both beer, brewer, and the locals involved in each process of crafting it.

Mr Krekelberg, who began commercial brewing in 2011 prior to opening Good Land, said the recognition from GABS reflected how far Australian, and particularly Victorian,independentbrewing has come. He credited earlier waves of smallbreweries, especially in Melbourne and Perth, whose efforts more than adecade ago helped pave the way for today’s independent operators.

GoodLand prides itself on using Australiangrown grain and hops, and on remaining firmly local in its focus, brewing more than 180 different

SAME location, same great product.

Latrobe Valley Express staff are preparing to enter anewly refurbished office.

Passers-by the George Street, Morwell premises will have noticed afresh coat of painttothe building.

Interior fit-outsare nearing completion, which will see all staff working at ground level.

Exterior signage situated above the current main entrance has been taken down.

The new office will essentially move everything 'over', with reception to be located next door near the laneway carpark. The address and telephone line will remain the same: 21 GeorgeStreet,Morwell, on 5135 4444.

beers since opening. For now,the Traralgon business is simply proud that asmall Gippsland brewery can stand alongside some of the biggest names in Australian beer.

“At the end of the day, we just hope people choose local and independent over the mass-produced, foreign-owned stuff,” Mr Krekelberg said. “That’s the dream.”

Nearing completion Local brewer gainshigh beercheers

Reel Ta lk

WITH the Winter Olympics back on screens this month, culminating last Sunday, the sudden urge to bobsled increased by about tenfold around the screens of loungerooms far and wide.

This also applied to theExpress offices, where sports writer Blake Metcalf-Holt indoctrinated his colleague Aidan Knight (whose sports knowledge doesn't extend further than Mario Kart), with the iconic Disney production Cool Runnings

Released in 1993 and loosely inspired by the true story of the Jamaican national bobsleigh team, Cool Runnings follows four unlikely athleteschasing an Olympic dream in asport they’ve never even seen in person.

Led by adisgraced former champion turned reluctant coach (John Candy), the team’s journey from disbelieftodeterminationblendssports-movie formula with adisarming sincerity that has helped the film endure for decades.

Equal parts comedy and feel-good drama, it’s a reminder that Olympic stories aren’t always about gold medals -sometimesthey’re about showing up, holding the line, and finishing the race withdignity. Now, it’s time for REEL TALK...

Aidan Knight: Thisisone of those titles that everyone's parents rave about everyfour years whenthey remember snow exists, and then promptly forget aboutituntil the nextWinter Games. This reverence as aclassic, however, is quite deserved, and this rewatch solidifiedmy hand-me-down opinion that every parent should forcethis upon their child at some point, just as they should Ferris Bueller.Cool Runnings breeds nostalgia notonly for the time it was released, but also forthe type of movie it belongs to. The studio did agreat run of inspirationaland originalsports movies fromthe 90's to the early 2000's -with titles like The Mighty Ducks, Remember the Titans,and Angels in theOutfield being afew standouts. I'd even classifythe magic basketball flick, Like Mike, in the same boat, and it's honestly refreshing to visit these movies that didn't rely on CGI to adapt alive-action rendition of aprevious classic, as the studio seems to be hooked on pumping out these days.

BMH: The cast is of course one of the film's strong suits, and that's even moving Candy to the side. Any sports movie is reliant on the chemistry demonstrated within, just as what's requiredin asports team, and the Jamaican Bobsled Team (trying desperately to say that without repeating the jingle) have impeccable synergy. they get over the typical of disliking one another, evenwhenthose earlyc are playing out, the four-man crew bounce off each to the point that you extend their time together further and it wouldn't the movie. This is com fromaman whoisa proponent for most films to be no longer than 90 minutes, for which this one sits withi n. We

could have seen amore drawn-out period of time where the team is practicing for the winter sport in the fields of scorching hot Jamacia or some extended scenes with Leon and Candy, and that speaks to the charisma that is on display from all that's involved.

AK: It feels good whenachildhoodfavourite does indeed hold up to your memory of it, which I've found not to be the case for avast majority at this point in my life. Good-natured and high-spirited, while somewhat cheesy and obviously playinginto some patronising racial stereotypes, it is overall a surprisingly entertaining, sweet sports film that doesn't possess the same manicurgency alot of others in the genre rely on. One could say that John Candy'scharacterinCoach Blitzer is a'white saviour' Disney stereotype, as he was an addition to the mostly truestory of the Jamaican team. Iwould argue that he doesn't do all that much for the athletes, and it is their ambition to make their country proud that makes them what they are. Disney succeeded in maintaining this strong message in astory more about perseverance than anything else. The comedic energy is much of what keeps the audience engaged in the story, though it leans into the typical Western perception of the athlete's culture and demeanour to achieve this, whichtakes away fromtheir image as elite competitors somewhat.Iwas also crushed to discover that my favourite of the gags was fictional as well -in the sleigh's brakeman Sanka having a'lucky egg' he kissed for good fortune before each descent. It seems even the core of the narrative was reshaped for cinema, with the real-life athletes not failed but actually Jamaican

to thisasone of the first moviesthey think of when his name gets brought up. That's probably due to Cool Runnings being one of his final screen performances before his untimely death. Coach Blitzer has little laugh lines, which honestly is quite staggeringonarewatch,and is more treated as asympathetic character for the audiencerather thansomeone to laugh at. Thisisn't astandard performance for Candy, who relies on his overthe-top nature and larger than life persona which madehim so popular with audiences, this one is of adifferentlens,and yet it still worksfor him.Even still, the likes of Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Uncle Buck, Home Alone,and Spaceballs make up the Mount Rushmore of Candy performances. AK: While it is full of tropes, evenjust in the unproblematic sense of asportsfilm (underdogs with no foot in the door get mentored by adisgraced former great and shock everyone around them), it remains asolid watch all round. The score and soundtrack are also both noticeably great -something Ioften look for when considering how well afilm ties together. Idohope there is one day an accurate-to-the-truth adaptation of the story,as I'dlovetosee an honest depictionofthe events, which even includes the interesting storylineofthe Prince of Monaco investing in the team to compete.

BMH: ★★★☆☆

AK: ★★★☆☆

Cool Runnings is rated Gfor mild sports action, abar brawl, and some thematic elements The film is availabletostream now on Disney+

HOROSCOPES

by Joanne MadelineMoore

February23-March 1, 2026

and

and

are

contemplation and

to a successful week But be extra careful and cautious on Friday and Saturday, when the unpredictable Mars/Uranus square could stir up your restless reckless accident-prone side

Slow-moving Bulls prefer things to proceed smoothly, with no sudden surprises However, with Uranus still transiting through your sign life continues to be a series of ups and downs Particularly this week, as unpredictable Uranus squares Mars, and Mercury goes retrograde Don t be afraid of change! Your motto comes from movie star (and birthday great) Elizabeth Taylor: “There are so many doors to be opened, and I m not afraid to look behind them ”

Mercury starts reversing through your career zone on Thursday, so relations with a boss, work colleague, client or customer could be challenging Over the next few weeks do your best to pick your battles very carefully choose your words very wisely, plus check all meetings and appointment times thoroughly The period from Thursday until March 21 is a good time to do things with an re in front revise remember rehearse revisit rethink and reboot

On Monday, lucky Jupiter (in your sign) makes a lovely aspect with pleasure planet Venus so make the most of any good fortune and fun times that come your way On Thursday, Mercury starts reversing through your travel and adventure zones If you are going away (especially interstate or overseas) make sure you double-check your itinerary And (if possible) avoid signing contracts and legal documents (and making expensive purchases) until after March 21

Hey Lions Mercury Retrograde season starts on Thursday So – if you stir up grievances with an old adversary – you could find you’ve bitten off more than you can comfortably chew! When it comes to relationship problems, avoid quick fixes (especially with relatives) You ll come up with a satisfactory solution if you think things through and act on your hunches Tune into the peace-loving influence of Venus as you learn to smile sweetly, forgive and forget

Monday’s terrific for socialising and setting long-term goals With Mercury (your ruling planet) in retrograde mode (from Thursday until March 21), resist the urge to over-analyse, over-worry, overstress and overreact Especially involving close relationships (of the romantic and platonic variety) plus joint ventures By all means think things through, but avoid getting caught up in an endless, obsessive loop Try to relax and go with the flow

The week starts well with a happy welcoming Venus/ Jupiter trine But then – on Thursday – Mercury starts reversing through your daily routine and wellbeing zones, which encourages you to revise and reboot your diet and fitness habits plus streamline your work output Nutritious food, regular exercise and careful planning will help you through the week with extra pep in your step But if you don t communicate clearly, misunderstandings are likely

Mars, Uranus and retrograde Mercury are stirring up your domestic and friendship zones Which could rattle your composure fire up your frustrations and amplify any relationship problems you re facing at the moment But don’t waste your time (and everyone elses) with endless sulking and complaining Instead, be inspired by movie legend (and birthday great) Elizabeth Taylor: Pour yourself a drink, put on some lipstick, and pull yourself together ”

Most Sagittarians are happy, glass-half-full kind of folk, so Mercury Retrograde doesn t usually throw you You re used to being disorganised and love it when plans change at the last minute! And you prefer to focus on the positives This Mercury retrograde period (from Thursday until March 21) is a good time to do anything with an re in front of it revise rehearse review remember and reconnect Especially involving family members and domestic projects

Mercury turns retrograde on Thursday It’s the planet of clear thinking communication (talking texting and writing) transport travel commuting commerce computers media and the internet So its not a good time: to gossip; sign contracts; start a job or business; buy a phone, computer, car or home; launch a website; install new software; go on an important business trip or embark on a big holiday Instead, be extra patient and wait until after March 21

Is an ongoing financial problem bugging you big time?

A combination of clever research and old-fashioned hard work will lead to a smart solution that ticks all the boxes

From Thursday onwards retrograde Mercury challenges you to reboot your thinking, revise your money goals and devise a practical plan With Mars and Pluto both visiting Aquarius, its time to be proactive and strategic as you charm the cynics persuade the critics and dazzle the doubters

Monday is fabulous for fortuitous meetings as lucky Jupiter trines sociable Venus (in your sign) On Thursday Mercury turns retrograde (in Pisces) and – for you –health, personal projects, communication, computers and travel could be affected So expect some of the following – fatigue, dodgy deadlines and delays, misunderstandings and mix-ups, backflips and breakdowns, reversals and recalls A calm patient Piscean approach will see you through

COPYRIGHT Joanne Madel ne Moore 2026

McLean St, Morwell

McLEAN Street, Morwell is named afterAllan McLean.

He was apoliticianwho was the Memberfor Gippsland North and becamethe 19thPremier of Victoria, and later elected as the first member of the Gippsland Electorate in the Federal Parliament.

Allan McLean was born in 1840 at Oban, Argyll, Scotland,and came to Australia with his family in 1842.

His father, Charles McLean became agrazier near Tarraville. Allanwas educated at the local state school, assisted his father on his cattle stations and for ashort period he was on the staff of the Express'sister paper, the Gippsland Times In about 1870 Allan and his brother Norman acquired the lease of 'The Lowlands', asheep station on the shores of Lake Wellington, near Sale. In 1872 he was the primary founder of the firm A. McLean and Co., Stock and Station Agents at Maffra. This business became very successful with further offices openedinBairnsdale, Traralgon, Warragul,Mirboo and Morwell.

Allan wasanauctioneer and his knowledge of the valuationoflandand stock was well regarded and increased hispopularity within the community. A. McLean and Co. built the saleyards in Morwell in December 1884

McLean became acouncillor of the Shireof Maffra in 1873 and was shire president from 1876 to 1879. Whileshire president, he wasactive in the formation of the Municipal Association of Victoria in 1879.

He was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Gippsland North in 1880 and promoted to cabinet in 1890.

McLean replaced George Turner as Premier in 1899 but was defeated in the next generalelection. He entered the new Federal Parliament for the electorate of Gippsland in 1901 as amember of the Protectionist Party.

He lost his seat at the 1906 federal election. Allan married MargaretBadaliaShinnickat Stratford in 1866 and they had eight children. After Margaret died in 1884, Allan married Emily Macarthurnée Linton at Port Melbourne in 1885. After aperiod of ill-health, Allan McLean died at his home at Albert Park, Melbourne, in July 1911. He is buried at Sale Cemetery. Allan McLean’s original homestead, 'Duart', at 20 McLean St, Maffra is now afunction centre. Information and photo supplied by Morwell Historical Society.

Film festival aims to inspire

WOMEN in Gippsland will host aminifilmfestival to celebrate International Women’s Day.

The festival will feature two powerful Australian documentaries that highlight the courage and determination of women whofought to change workplaces and society.

The event aligns with thisyear’sUnitedNations International Women’s Day theme, Balance the Scales, which calls forfair, inclusiveand accessible justice for every woman and girl.

WomeninGippsland Co-Founder Kerry Wilson said the day was about recognising progress while acknowledging there is still work to be done.

“Workplacesand society have progressed greatly over the years, but there is still balancing of the scales to be done,” Ms Wilson said.

“It takes hard work and action to make change and even small steps can have abig impact.

"We want to remindwomenand ourallies of the inspiring actions that led to change between the1960s and 1990s-and encourage continued progress today.”

This is the 11th InternationalWomen’s Day event hosted by the group.

Thefirstdocumentary, Women of Steel,tells the true story of local women who fought for 14 years for the right to work in Wollongong’s steel industry. AQ&A will follow the screening to explore what has changed and progressed for women in male-dominated industries, and where challenges remain.

The second film, Brazen Hussies,lookS back at Australia’swomen’s liberationmovement and the bold activists who reshaped the social landscape for generations to come.

on the long weekend, we’d love to see you there,” Ms Wilson said.

“All are welcome.”

Between screenings, attendees are invited to head out for lunch and relaxed networking -providing an opportunitytoconnect, reflect and continue the conversation.

“If you’re local, or up for aGippsland day trip

Tickets are $19 per film and can be purchased on the Peninsula Cinemas Warragul website at: https://www.movietkts.com.au/movielist php?siteCode=WARGUL Screenings will take place at 10am and 2.30pm on Sunday, March 8.

ShortageofJPs in Latrobe

LATROBE City is struggling to fill days for Justices of the Peace.

There is currently two document signing centres, one in Traralgonand one in Morwell. Bothlocated within the respective police stations.

This lightens the load considerably on police as far as witnessing documents is concerned.

The roleofJPs is to be an independentand objective witness to documents used for official or legal purposes, such as:

 Attesting the execution of adocument;

 Taking an affidavit for use in court;

 Witnessing astatutory declaration, and;

 Certifying atrue copy of an original document or aperson’s identity.

Traralgon is currently manned fourdaysper week, while Morwell is two days per week. At the moment, there is only 12 JPs who volunteer at Traralgon and eight at Morwell. Any JPs areasked to consider adding themselves to the local document signing centres by getting in touch with the Royal Victorian Association of Honorary Justices Central Gippsland Branch Secretary. For details, email: admin@rvahj.org.au or phone (03) 9525 7099.

TheGuide

PROFESSOR T

ABC TV,Friday,8.30pm

“Truth and justice arenot always compatible,”musesProfessor Jasper Tempest(BenMiller,pictured) after witnessing the process firsthand. Having spent some time on remand charged withattempted murder, the fastidious academic finally gets his day in courtthisweek. As the trial progresses, Tempestmustweigh whether to tell the truth andsavehimself,orlie and protect his former lover, DCI Christina Brand (Juliet Aubrey). Thecourt proceedingsunfold alongside DS LisaDonckers (Emma Naomi)and DS DanWinters’(BarneyWhite) investigation into the grisly death of aprison officer –a crime forwhich Tempest’scellmate Omar (Chris Ryman) seems intent on taking the blame

As the streets of Sydneytransform into aglittering celebration of pride and diversity,the ABCisbeaming thejoy andexuberance of the Mardi Gras party nationwide.DragiconCourtneyAct and journalistMon Schafter (both pictured) lead the glitzy telecast, joined by ABCNews’Jeremy Fernandez and comedian Nath Valvo. Morethan 12,000 participantsare set to light up Oxford Street foradazzling display of artistryinspiredbythe 2026 theme, “Ecstatica”, led by the pioneering78ers. Reportingfromthe beatingheart of the revelry, BrookeBlurton,chef AnnaPolyviou and former AFL player Mitch Brown havethe action coveredfromall angles

Wednesday, February 25

ABCTV (2)

SBS (3)

6am Morning Programs. 9.20 My Unique

PICK OF THE WEEK

SOCCER:AFC WOMEN’S ASIAN CUP,AUSTRALIA V PHILIPPINES

10, Sunday, 7pm

Having inspiredthe nationwiththeir stellar semi-finalrun at the2023 FIFAWomen’s World Cup when it washeld Down Under,the Matildas return to home soil hungry fora major title andready to takeonthe world for some serious silverware Held across three host cities –Sydney,Perth andthe Gold Coast –the AFCWomen’s Asian Cup begins on Sunday at Optus Stadium with asold-out crowd cheeringonour Tillies as they face the Philippines. It’sahigh-stakes homecomingfor returning captain Sam Kerr.Australia walked away 8-0winners in theirlast encounter,but with fellow Aussie Mark Torcaso now at the helm, the Filipinas squad ispacked with rising starswho havenothing to lose.

Sunday.

Lastyear,53per cent of Australians surveyedbythinktank theLowyIns believethe number of migrants arriving in Australia is too high–afigure 62 per cent of respondents overthe ageof60. Amid cost-of-living,infra housing pressures, migration remains ahotly contested political concer perfect starting point forAustralia’s leadingforum program to begin its 2 HostKumi Taguchi (pictured) returns to guide the discussion, examining figures around Australia’s historically high overseas migration, while goin statistics to explorethe lived experiences of thoseonboth sidesofthe i

SEVEN (7,6)

NINE (9,8) 6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 ABC News Mornings. 10.00 Four Corners.(R) 10.45 ForeignCorrespondent. (R) 11.15 The Assembly.(PG,R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 12.30 National Press Club Address. 1.35 Media Watch. (PG, R) 2.00 GrandDesigns Transformations. (R) 3.00 Spicks And Specks. (PG,R) 3.30 Anh’s Brush With Fame. (PG, R) 3.55 Love Your Garden. (PG, R) 4.45 Long Lost Family.(PG, R) 5.30 AntiquesRoadshow.(R)

6.25 HardQuiz (PG, R)

7.00 ABCNews.

7.30 7.30

8.00 Hard Quiz. (PGa) Hosted by TomGleeson.

8.30 TheWeekly With Charlie Pickering (PG) Asatirical newsprogram.

9.00 Dog Park (Ml, R) Spikegoesmissing.

9.25 QI. (M) Hosted by Sandi Toksvig. 10.00 Planet America. (R) 10.35 ABC Late News

10.50 TheBusiness. (R)

11.05 LiveAtThe Wireless. (PG,R)

11.40 Love Your Garden. (PG, R) 12.30 Long Lost Family.(PG,R) 1.15 Rage.(MA15+adhlnsv)

2.20 Smother.(Mal, R) 5.00 ABite To Eat With Alice. (R) 5.30 7.30.(R)

B&B. (R) 10.10 Paddington Station24/7 (PGal,R) 11.00 Secrets Of The Killer Mega Shark. (PGa, R) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 France 24 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 Legends Of The Pharaohs. (PGsv, R) 3.00 Going Places. (R) 3.30 Plat Du Tour.(R) 3.35 The CookUp. (R) 4.10 Robson Green’s British Adventure. (PGa, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 LettersAnd Numbers. (R) 6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 TheMorningShow. (PG) 12.00 Seven’sNational News At Noon. 1.00 SevenNewsWithAlexCullen. 1.10 Blankety Blank. (PGas,R) 2.00 Bridge Of Lies 3.00 TheChase. 4.00 SevenNewsAt4 5.00 TheChase Australia.

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R) 6.30 SBS World News.

7.35 Saving Yellowstone: TheBellweathers.

8.30 Australia’s Greatest Conman? TheNo-Person (PGal) Marc Fennell concludeshis investigation of John Friedrich. 9.30 Trespasses. (MA15+l)

10.25 SBS World News Late. 10.55 Face To Face. (Ma, R) 11.50 Darkness: Those Who Kill. (MA15+a, R) 1.40 Divided We Stand. (Mal, R) 3.25 My Name Is Reeva: IWas Murdered By Oscar Pistorius. (Ma, R) 4.20 Bamay.(R) 4.50 Destination Flavour: Singapore Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC PhilippinesThe World Tonight.

6.00 SevenNews. 7.00 Home AndAway. (PGa)

7.30 The1%Club UK. (PG) Hosted by LeeMack.

8.30 Highway Patrol (PGl) While on his waytoBonnie Doon,a driver is caught racing througha stop sign.

9.00 Operation Dark Phone:Murder By Text (MA15+a) Theinvestigation reveals afirst drug exportation.

10.00 Air Crash Investigations: APerfect Storm. (PGa) 11.00 To Be Advised 12.40 The Act. (MA15+ans, R) 2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

7TWO (72, 62) SBSVICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 4.25pm Mojo Swoptops 4.35 Vida The Vet. 4.50 Bluey. 4.55 PeppaPig. 5.10 Maddie And Triggs. 5.20 Millie Magnificent 5.30 Fireman Sam. 5.40 KangarooBeach. 5.55 Octonauts. 6.05 PJ Masks. 6.20 Bluey. 6.25 Paddington. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.45 BenAnd Holly 7.00 Superbuns. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun TheSheep 7.35 Ninjago 8.00 Deadly 60 8.30 BTNNewsbreak 8.35 StevenUniverse. 8.55 Adventure Time. 9.20

6.20 ThirteenDays.(2000, PGal) 9.00

10.00

(2022, Madl, Spanish)

Amadeus. (1984,Mans, R)

AKing In New York. (1957,PGa,R) 4.35 The39Steps. (1935,R) 6.15 Philadelphia (1993,PGals, R) 8.30 Adaptation. (2002, MA15+ad, R) 10.40 One Cut Of TheDead. (2017,MA15+vw, Japanese) 12.25am The Big Short. (2015,Mln) 2.50 The Peacock. (2023,Malns) 4.40 The MovieShow. 5.50 Boychoir.(2014, PGav)

6.00 Today

2.00 Pointless. (PG,

stitute saidthey e that jumps to astructureand n, makingitthe 2026season. g the facts and ngbeyond the issue

TEN (10, 5)

3.00 Tipping Point (PG) 4.00 9NewsAfternoon 4.30[VIC]TippingPoint Australia.(PG) 5.00 Tipping Point Australia. (PG) 5.30[VIC]WINNews.

6.00 9News

7.00 ACurrent Affair

7.30 Married At FirstSight (Mls) Abride sends the dinnerparty into chaos. 9.00 MOVIE: I’mChevy Chase And You’re Not. (2025,MA15+aadl) Alook at the life and career of Chevy Chase. Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd 11.00 9News Late

11.30 ARemarkable Place To Die. (Mlv,R) 12.20 TippingPoint. (PG, R) 1.10 Great Australian Detour.(R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Global Shop.(R) 3.00 Home Shopping 4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo.(R) 4.30 ACurrent Affair.(R) 5.00 TodayEarly News. 5.30 Today.

Thursday,February 26

ABC (2) SBS (3) SEVEN (7,6) TEN

6.00

6am Mor ning Programs. 10.30 The Weekly.(Ml,R) 11.00 Creative Types. (PGv,R) 11.30 QI. (M, R) 12.00 News. 1.00 Bergerac. (Ml, R) 2.00 Grand Designs Transformations. (PG, R) 3.00 Spicks And Specks. (PG, R) 3.30 Brush With Fame. (PG, R) 3.55 Love Your Garden.(PG, R) 4.45 Long Lost Family (PG, R) 5.30 Antiques Roadshow.(R)

6.30 HardQuiz. (PG, R) 7.00 ABC News.

7.30 7.30. 8.00 Grand Designs Transformations: Mulgrave Spanish Arch And SandfordGlasshouse. (Final) Twobuildings aretransformed.

Amanda &Alan’sItalian Job. (Final) Amanda and Alan renovate the last two rooms.

9.30 Muster Dogs. (PG, R) The handlers and their pups perform assessment tasks.

10.30 If You’reListening. (R) 10.55 ABC Late News.

11.10 The Business. (R)

11.25 Love Your Garden. (PG, R)

12.15 Long Lost Family.(PG,R) 1.00 Rage. (MA15+dhlnsv) 4.00 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.00 ABite To Eat With Alice. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

ABC FAMILY (22)

6am Children’s Programs. 5.40pm Kangaroo Beach. 5.55 Octonauts. 6.05 PJ Masks. 6.20 Bluey 6.25 Paddington. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.45 Ben And Holly 7.00 Superbuns. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.20 Bluey 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Ninjago. 8.00 Deadly 60. 8.30 BTN Newsbreak. 8.35 Secrets Of The Zoo. 9.20 The Wonderful World Of Kittens. 10.45 Late Programs.

NITV (34)

6am Morning Programs. 1.40pm Road Open. 2.00 Kriol Kitchen. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.25 Small Business Bitesize. 5.30 Going Places. 6.00 Bamay 6.30 News. 6.40 Great Blue Wild. 7.29 NITV Weather 7.30 Going Places. 8.30 The Green Veil. 9.30 MOVIE: Godzilla Minus One. (2023, M) 11.45 Late Programs.

6am Mor ning Programs. 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 France 24. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 Legends Of The Pharaohs. (Ma, R) 3.00 Going Places. (R) 3.30 Plat Du Tour.(R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.10 Robson Green’sBritish Adventure. (PGa, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.35 Toronto Airport Uncovered. Spring break brings asurge in passengers.

8.25 Robson Green: World’sMost Amazing Walks. (PG) Robson Green heads to souther nPoland as he explores the legendary Trail of the Eagle’sNest.

9.20 ASpy AmongFriends. Lily knows Elliott will never reveal his secrets.

10.30 SBS World News Late.

11.00 In Memoriam. (Malsv)

11.50 The Hollow (Malv,R) 1.50 Silent Road. (Mav,R) 4.00 Mastermind Australia. (R) 4.30 Bamay (R) 5.00 NHK WorldEnglish News Mor ning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SBS VICELAND (31)

6am

WorldWatch. 11.00 The Food That Built The World. 12.30pm WorldWatch. 1.00 The Billionaires Who Made Our World. 1.55 Bamay 2.15 Insight. 3.15 News. 3.20 WorldWatch. 5.20 Mysteries From Above. 6.15 Curse Of Oak Island. 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.35 8Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 History’s Greatest Mysteries. 10.10 Late Programs.

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32)

6am Boychoir.(2014, PGav) 7.45 Philadelphia. (1993, PGals) 10.00 The Peacock. (2023, Malns) 11.55 The Big Short. (2015, Mln) 2.15pm Thirteen Days. (2000, PGal) 4.50 Love And Friendship. (2016, PGa) 6.30 Guess Who’sComing To Dinner.(1967, PGal) 8.30 Michael Clayton. (2007, MA15+l) 10.40 Late Programs.

Friday,February 27

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away (PGa) Leah comforts Lacey

8.30 MOVIE: Notting Hill. (1999, Mls, R) The life of abookshop owner changes after aHollywood celebrity enters his shop in Notting Hill while promoting her latest movie. The unlikely duo soon face all manner of obstacles to make their romance work. Hugh Grant, Julia Roberts, Rhys Ifans.

11.05 To Be Advised.

12.35 DareMe. (MA15+asv) Addy,Beth and Colette get involved in afaceoff.

1.35 Harry’sPractice. (R)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

6am Morning

6.00 9News. 7.00 ACurrent Affair

7.30 RBT (Mdl) Follows the activities of police units.

8.30 Murder Down Under: Byron Bay Murders. (Mav,R)Takes alook into the cases and the people involved in some of Australia’smost notable and gruesome killings. 10.30 9News Late. 11.00 The Equalizer. (Ma) Aboy disappears from ashopping centre.

12.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) (R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Global Shop. (R)

9GEM (92,81)

Programs. 1pm Escape To The Country 2.00 South Aussie With Cosi. 2.30 House Calls To The Rescue. 3.30 Harry’sPractice. 4.00 Medical Emergency 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country 6.30 Bargain Hunt. 7.30 Father Brown. 8.30 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries. 10.30 Murdoch Mysteries. 11.30 Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. 10.30 Pointless.

6.30 Antiques Roadshow 7.30 M*A*S*H. 8.30 To Be Advised. 11.40 Late Programs.

7TWO (72, 62) 6am Morning Programs. 2pm Golden Girls. 2.30

HardQuiz. (PG, R) 7.00 ABC News. 7.30 Gardening Australia. 8.30 Professor T. (Ma) Professor T must make atough decision.

9.20 HardQuiz. (PGa, R) Hosted by TomGleeson.

9.50 The Weekly With Charlie Pickering. (PG, R)

10.20 Dog Park. (Ml, R)

10.45 ABC Late News.

11.00 Smother (Mal, R)

12.50 Rage New Music. (MA15+adhlnsv) 5.00 Rage. (PGadhlnsv)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.30 Going Places With Er nie Dingo. 8.30 Fukushima: Days That Shocked The World. (Premiere) Chronicles the 2011 Fukushima disaster 9.25 Fly With Me. (PGal, R) Looks

10.30 SBS World News Late.

11.00 Sisi. (Retur n, Ma)

12.00 Babylon Berlin. (MA15+as, R) 1.50 El Immortal: Gangs Of Madrid. (MA15+av,R) 3.45 Mastermind Australia. (R) 4.20 Bamay.(R) 4.55 Destination Flavour: SingaporeBitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK WorldEnglish News Mor ning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6am Morning Programs. 12.40pm Patriot Brains. 2.30 History’sGreatest Of All-Time With Peyton Manning. 3.15 News. 3.20 WorldWatch. 5.20 Mysteries From Above. 6.15 Curse Of Oak Island. 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.30 News. 7.35 8Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over.(Final) 9.25 Stacey Dooley: Rape On Trial. (Final) 10.25 Late Programs. SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 6.40pm Hey Duggee. 6.45 Ben And Holly 7.00 Superbuns. 7.05 Gardening Australia Junior 7.20 Bluey 7.30 Do Not Watch This Show 7.40 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 8.05 Scooby-Doo And Guess Who? 8.30 BTN Newsbreak. 8.35 My Adventures With Superman. 8.55 BattleBots. 9.45 Gladiators UK. 10.45 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22)

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs. 2pm Kriol Kitchen. 2.30

6am Morning Programs. 8.10 Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner.(1967, PGal) 10.10 The Conference. (2022, Ma, German) 12.15pm The Bridges Of Madison County.(1995, Ml) 2.45 Boychoir.(2014, PGav) 4.40 The Assassin. (2015, PGv,Mandarin) 6.40 Driving Miss Daisy.(1989) 8.30 The Departed. (2006, MA15+lsv) 11.15 Late Programs.

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Better Homes And Gardens. Adam Dovile transforms acluttered garage.

8.30 The Marlow Murder Club. (Mav) After arevered member of the sailing club is brutally bludgeoned to death, Judith, Becks and Suzie must navigate simmering grudges within the tight-knit community in ahuntfor justice.

10.30 To Be Advised.

12.10 GetOn Extra. Alook at the weekend’sbest racing.

12.40 DareMe. (MA15+asv) Addy and Colette struggle with ashared secret.

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R)

5.00 NBC Today.

6.00 9News.

7.00 ACurrent Affair

7.30 Taronga: Who’sWho In The Zoo: Sea Lion Surprise. (PGm) Akoala is treated after being struck by acar

8.30 MOVIE: Olympus Has Fallen. (2013, MA15+lv,R)After the White House is taken over by terrorists, aformer secret service agent must save the president. GerardButler, Morgan Freeman, Aaron Eckhart.

10.50 MOVIE: Lions For Lambs. (2007, Mlv,R)Tom Cruise.

12.35 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R) 4.30 Global Shop. (R) 5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 5.30 Postcards. (PG, R) 6.00 10 News+. Hosted by Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 6.30 Deal Or No Deal. (R) Hosted

Saturday, February 28

ABC (2) SBS (3) SEVEN (7,6)

6am Mor ning Programs. 10.30 Rage Vault Guest Programmer.(PGadhlnsv) 12.00 News. 12.25 Call The Midwife. (Final, PGa, R) 1.25 Professor T. (Ma, R) 2.15 The Piano. (PG, R) 3.10 Extraordinary Escapes. (PG, R) 4.00 The ABC Of... (PG, R) 4.30 Todd Sampson’s Why? (PG, R) 5.00 Aust Story.(R) 5.30 Landline. (R)

6.00 Kath &Kim. (PGals, R) After Kim decides to give up smoking, it has an adverse effect on her weight.

6.30 HardQuiz. (PG, R) Presenter TomGleeson grills four self-declared experts in acomedic quiz show

7.00 ABC News. Takes alook at the top stories of the day,including coverage of developing stories and events.

7.30 Sydney Gay And Lesbian Mardi Gras 2026. Coverage of Australia’s largest celebration of diverse LGBTQIA+ communities from Sydney.Presented by Courtney Act and Mon Schafter 10.00 This England. (Ml, R) Looks at Britain during COVID-19. Cabinet discusses setting up atemporary hospital in East London. 10.55 Rage. (MA15+dhlnsv) Continuous music programming.

ABC FAMILY (22)

6am Mor ning Programs. 10.05 Vintage Voltage. (R) 11.00 World Wide Nate: African Adventures. (PG) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 France 24. 1.00 Cycling. ProVelo Super League. Round 3. Melbour ne to Warr nambool. Men’srace. 4.00 StoriesFromThe Cities. 4.30 PBS News. 5.30 What Are We Fighting For?

6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 Neil And Martin’sBon Voyage. offthe coastofBiarritz.

8.25 Travels With Agatha Christie And Sir David Suchet: Australia. (R) Sir David Suchet follows Agatha Christie to Australia. 9.20 Shaun Micallef ’s Origin Odyssey: Lizzy Hoo. (PGa, R) Shaun Micallef heads to Ireland.

10.20 Highclere: The Real Downton Abbey (PG, R) 11.15 Outlander (MA15+av,R) 1.35 El Immortal: Gangs Of Madrid. (MA15+av,R) 3.30 Mastermind Australia. (R) 4.00 Bamay.(R) 4.40 Destination Flavour: Singapore Bitesize. (R) 5.15 Euronews. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 6.20pm Bluey 6.25 Paddington. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.45 Supertato. 6.55 Piripenguins. 7.05 Let’sGoBananas! 7.20 Bluey 7.30 HardQuiz Kids. 8.00 Chopped Jnr 8.40 Shaun Tan’sTales From Outer Suburbia. 9.05 Mr Bean: The Animated Series. 9.25 Fresh OffThe Boat. 10.10 Abbott Elementary 10.30 Late Programs.

NITV (34)

6am Morning Programs.

1.45pm Great Blue Wild. 2.35 Road Open. 2.45 Sammy Butcher: Out Of The Shadows. 3.20 WhereThe Dreamings Come From. 3.30 Soh Presents: Generations And Dynasties. 5.00 First Australians. 6.00 Haututu Hunters. 6.30 News. 6.40 The Other Side. 7.30 Alone Australia. 8.35 MOVIE: Lady In The Water (2006, PG) 10.35 Late Programs.

6am

WorldWatch. 10.30 The Movie Show 12.10pm Hoarders. 2.30 Heroines. 3.30 News. 3.35 WorldWatch 5.30 Sailing. SailGP Sydney 7.00 Mastermind Australia. 7.35 Engineering From Above. 8.30 Icons Unearthed: Marvel. 10.20 Marcella. (Return) 12.10am WWE Legends. 1.45 Dark Side Of The ‘90s. 2.40 Late Programs.

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32)

6am The Movie Show 6.30 The Assassin. (2015, PGv,Mandarin) 8.30 Driving Miss Daisy.(1989) 10.20 Radioactive. (2019, Mavw) 12.20pm The Daughter.(2015, Mals) 2.10 Love And Friendship. (2016, PGa) 3.55 Discovering Film. 4.45 Mia And The White Lion. (2018, PGal) 6.30 My Girl. (1991) 8.30 Argo. (2012, Mlv) 10.55 Late Programs.

6.00 NBC Today 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 10.00 The Mor ning Show: Weekend. (PG) 12.00 Horse Racing. Verry Elleegant Stakes Day and Australian Guineas Day 5.00 Seven News At 5. 5.30 Border Security: Australia’s Front Line. (PG, R)

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Border Security: Australia’s Front Line. (PG, R) Apassenger tries negotiating adeal. Authorities investigate afamilythatappears to be hiding asecret.

7.30 MOVIE: Fast X. (2023, Mv) Aterrifying threat from the past surfaces and is determined to destroy everything and everyone Dom loves. VinDiesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Jason Statham.

10.30 MOVIE: Baby Driver (2017, MA15+v,R)Agetaway driver gets involved in adoomed heist. Ansel Elgort, Lily James. 12.50 Devils. (MA15+av,R) Abusinessman is denied apromotion.

2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Tales Of Aluna. (R) 5.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R)

7TWO (72, 62)

(

6am Mor ning Programs. 12.00 My Way. 12.30 Destination WA.(R) 1.00 Find My Beach House Australia. (PG, R) 1.30 Great Australian Detour.(R) 2.00

6.00 9News Saturday. 7.00 ACurrent Affair

7.30 Space Invaders. (Retur n, PG) The team transforms afamily’s chaotic basement.

8.30 MOVIE: Runaway Bride. (1999, PGls, R) Asacked the thrice-bolting bride who cost him his job. Julia Roberts, RichardGere, Joan Cusack.

11.00 MOVIE: Something Borrowed. (2011, Mls, R) Ginnifer Goodwin.

1.05 Find My Beach House Australia. (PG, R) 1.35 Great Australian Detour (R) 2.00 The Incredible Jour ney Presents. (PGa) 2.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 Global Shop. (R) 5.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 5.30 Helping Hands. (PG, R)

9GEM (92,81)

6am Morning Programs. 1.30pm Better Homes And Gardens Summer 3.00 Better Homes. 4.00 Wildlife ER. 5.00 Horse Racing. Verry ElleegantStakes Day and Aust Guineas Day 6.00 Luxury Escapes: World’sBest Holidays. 6.30 Bondi Vet. 7.30 The YorkshireVet. 8.30 Lewis. 10.30 Escape To The Country 11.30 Late Programs. 6am Morning

Programs. 10.30 My Favorite Martian. 11.00 Edgar Wallace Mysteries. 12.15pm MOVIE: Contraband Spain. (1955, PG) 2.00 MOVIE: The Colditz Story.(1955) 4.00 M*A*S*H. 5.00 MOVIE: M*A*S*H: Goodbye, Farewell And Amen. (1983, PG) 7.30 Death In Paradise. 8.40 MOVIE: Under Siege. (1992, M) 10.50 Late Programs.

6.30 The Dog House Australia. (PGa, R) Narrated by Mark Coles Smith. 7.30 Love It Or List It Australia. (PGl) Megan and Justin are on the hunt for ahome that suits

8.40 The Graham Norton Show (Ml, R) Graham Norton is joined by Sir Idris Elba, Martin Freeman, Erin Doherty,Wunmi Mosaku and singer-songwriter Olivia Dean. 9.50 Gogglebox Australia. (R) TV fanatics open up their living rooms to reveal their reactions to popular and topical TV shows. 11.00 Matlock. (PGa, R) The team takes on aharassment case. 12.00 Elsbeth. (Mv,R) 1.00 Home Shopping. (R)

6am Mor ning Programs. 1pm Blokesworld. 1.30 Cool Cars With Dermott And Elise. 2.00 RidesDown Under: Workshop Wars. 3.00 Motor Racing. Night Thunder.High Limits World Tour 4.00 Frozen Gold. 5.00 Counting Cars. 6.00 Pawn Stars. 7.00 Storage Wars 7.30 MOVIE: Robin Hood. (2010, M) 10.25 MOVIE: The Game. (1997, M)

6am Morning Programs. 3.40pm MOVIE: Undercover Blues. (1993, PG) 5.30 MOVIE: Dennis The Menace. (1993, PG) 7.30 MOVIE: Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince. (2009, M) 10.35 MOVIE: Looper.(2012, MA15+) 12.55am MOVIE: Kane. (2023, MA15+) 2.35 MOVIE: Isaac’sDream. (2023, M) 4.20 Bar ney’s World. 4.50 Late Programs.

Sunday,March 1

ABC TV (2)

SBS (3)

SEVEN (7,6)

NINE (9,8) 6.00 Rage. (PG) 7.00 Wknd Brekky 9.00 Insiders. 10.00 Offsiders. 10.30 World This Week.(R) 11.00 Compass. (PG, R) 11.30 Songs Of Praise. (R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 12.30 Landline. 1.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 2.30 Muster Dogs. (PG, R) 3.40 The Piano UK. (PG, R) 4.30 Amanda &Alan’sItalian Job. 5.00 Antiques Roadshow.(R)

6.00 Grand Designs Transformations. (Final, R)

7.00 ABC News.

7.30 Muster Dogs. (PG)

8.30 Dog Park. (Ml) Penny announces Farty Marty has to be put down.

9.00 This England. (Ml) Looks at Britain during COVID-19.

9.45 MOVIE: Shine. (1996, PGav,R) Apianist suffers anervous breakdown. Geoffrey Rush. 11.30 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 1.40 Ragdoll. (MA15+av,R) 4.00 Dream Gardens. (R) 4.30 ABite To Eat With Alice. (R) 5.00 Insiders. (R)

ABC FAMILY (22)

6am Mor ning Programs. 12.00 PBS News Compass Points. 12.30 PBS Washington Week 12.55 ThePoint: Road To Referendum History Bites. (R) 1.00 Cycling. ProVelo Super League. Women’s. Round 3. Melbour ne to Warr nambool race. 4.00 Steady 4.25 Entanglement. (PGa, R) 5.25 Her War, Her Story: WWII. (PGa, R)

6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 Rome: Secrets From Above. (Premiere) Sweeping drone footage reveals the sights of Rome. 9.35 Ancient Empires. (MA15+av,R) Looks at the life of Julius Ceasar, who is notorious for destroying the Roman Republic and bringing about the Roman Empire. 11.40 Powerful Women.

12.30 MOVIE: Fiona Clark: Unafraid. (2021, Malns, R) Fiona Clark. 2.00 MOVIE: The Endangered Generation? (2022, PGal, R) 3.35 Mastermind Australia. (R) 4.35 Bamay (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Mor ning. 5.15 Euronews. 5.30 PBS News Horizons.

SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 5pm Thomas And Friends: Sodor Sings Together 5.55 Octonauts. 6.10 Knee High Spies. 6.20 Bluey 6.25 Paddington. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.45 Supertato. 6.55 Piripenguins. 7.05 Let’sGoBananas! 7.20 Bluey 7.30 The Inbestigators. 8.00 Meet The Hedgehogs. 9.30 Fresh OffThe Boat. 10.15 Merlin. 11.00 Late Programs.

NITV (34)

6.00 NBC Today 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 10.00 The Mor ning Show: Weekend. (PG) 12.00 MOVIE: Love Blossoms. (2017, PGa) Shantel VanSanten. 2.00 To Be Advised. 3.45 Surveillance Oz. (PG, R) 4.00 Surf Patrol. (PG, R) 4.30 Weekender. (R) 5.00 Seven News At 5. 5.30 Border Security: Inter national. (PG, R)

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Australian Idol. Hosted by Ricki-Lee Coulter and Scott Tweedie.

8.20 The Mystery Of The Lady In The Lake. (Mav) Takes alook at how aforensic breakthrough helped to crack the 35-year-old unsolved murder of Shani Warren.

9.50 The Hunters: The Car Bomb And The Underworld War. (Madv,R)Takes alook at the murder of John Furlan.

11.20 24 Hours In Police Custody: The Norfolk Narco Cartel. (Madl, R) 12.20 Temple. (MA15+alv)

2.30 Home Shopping. (R) 3.30 Million Dollar Minute. (R) 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

7TWO (72, 62)

TEN (10, 5)

6am Mor ning Programs. 11.00 Fishing Aust. 11.30 Ready VetGo: The VetParamedics. (PGm, R) 12.00 Take Me Home. (PG, R) 1.00 NRL Season Preview.(Retur n) 3.00 NRL Sunday Footy: Las Vegas Pre-Show 3.30 Rugby League. NRL. Round 1. Canterbury Bulldogs vStGeorge Illawarra Dragons. 5.30 Postcards.

6.00 9News Sunday

6.30 10 News+. Comprehensive coverage of the day’stop stories, investigative reports and stories that haven’tbeenheard. 7.00 Soccer AFC 2026 Women’s AsianCup. Group stage. Australia vPhilippines. 10.30 MOVIE: The Italian Job. (2003, Mlv,R)Agangofthieves tries to steal millions in gold. Mark Wahlberg, CharlizeTheron. 12.4510News+. (R) Hosted by Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 1.10 Law &Order: SVU. (Mv,R)Arunaway bride calls the SVU for help. 2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 6am WorldWatch. 10.30 Movie Show 12.15pm Aust Superbike C’ship. 1.15 Jeopardy! 3.45 Fashionista. 4.00 WorldWatch. 5.00 PBS News Compass Points. 5.30 SailGP Sydney 7.00 The ArchitectureThe Railways Built. 7.55 Abandoned Engineering. 8.50 Mysteries Unearthed With Danny Trejo. 10.30 Late Programs.

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs. 2.30pm Tiwi Islands League. Grand Final. Imalu vMuluwurri. 4.00 MOVIE: Category: Woman. (2022) 5.20 Soh Presents: Generations And Dynasties. 6.40 News. 6.50 Great Blue Wild. 7.40 Most Endangered Species New Zealand. 8.30 Tree Kangaroos: Ghosts Of The Forest. 9.30 MOVIE: Finding Forrester.(2000) 11.55 Late Programs.

6am Mia And The White Lion. (2018, PGal) 7.35 Discovering Film. 8.25 My Girl. (1991) 10.25 The Tunnel (Part 1) (2001, Malv) 12.05pm Argo. (2012, Mlv) 2.25 The Assassin. (2015, PGv,Mandarin) 4.25 The Orator.(2011, PGa, Samoan) 6.25 Charade. (1963, PGv) 8.30 Parasite. (2019, MA15+sv, Korean) 10.55 Late Programs.

7.00 Married At First Sight. (PGls)

8.45 60 Minutes. Current affairs program, investigating, analysing and uncovering the issues affecting all Australians. 9.45 9News Late.

10.15 Hunting Bundy: Chase For The Devil: The Devil Comes To Utah. (MA15+asv)

11.15 The First 48: Cover Story (Mav,R)

12.05 Wild Cards. (Mv,R) 1.00 Ready VetGo: The Vet Paramedics. (PGm, R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R) 4.30 The Garden Gurus. (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today

9GEM (92,81)

6am Morning Programs. 1pm Luxury Escapes: World’s Best Holidays. 1.30 Harry’sPractice. 2.00 South Aussie With Cosi. 2.40 The Amazing Homemakers. 3.40 The YorkshireVet. 4.40 Secrets Of Beautiful Gardens. 5.40 Escape To The Country 6.40 Vicar Of Dibley 8.30 Vera. 10.30 Miss Scarlet And The Duke. 11.30 Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. 1.15pm MOVIE: Hobson’s Choice. (1954, PG) 3.30 MOVIE: Night Boat To Dublin. (1946, PG) 5.30 NRL Sunday Footy: Las Vegas Post-Match. 6.00 Midsomer Murders. 8.00 David Attenborough’sPlanet Earth III. 9.10 Paramedics. 10.10 Emergency 11.10 Late Programs.

6am Morning Programs. 2.30pm Snackmasters. 4.00 Basketball. WNBL. Playoffs. Grand Final Series. 6.00 TBA. 8.00 MOVIE: Ocean’s8.(2018, M) 10.10 MOVIE: National Lampoon’sVacation. (1983, M) 12.15am Gotham. 1.10 Arrow 2.50 Jeopardy! Australia. 3.50 Motor Racing. IndyCar Series. Detroit Grand Prix. H’lights. 4.50 Mia &Codie. 5.10

Monday,March 2

ABC (2)

6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 ABC News Mor nings. 10.00 MOVIE: Shine. (1996, PGav,R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 Landline. (R) 2.00 Parliament Question Time. 3.00 Grand Designs Transformations. (PG, R) 4.00 MOVIE: Murdoch Mysteries: Except The Dying. (2004, Mdnsv) Peter Outerbridge, Colm Meaney 5.25 Antiques Roadshow.(R)

Alook at American politics.

10.05 Foreign Correspondent. (R)

10.35 ABC Late News.

10.50 The Business. (R)

11.10 The Weekly With Charlie Pickering. (PG, R)

11.40 MOVIE: Murdoch Mysteries: Except The Dying. (2004, Mdnsv,R) Peter Outerbridge, Colm Meaney 1.05 Parliament Question Time. 2.05 Rage. (MA15+dhlnsv) 2.35 Ragdoll. (MA15+v, R) 5.00 ABite To Eat With Alice. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

ABC FAMILY (22)

6am Children’s

Programs. 5.55pm Octonauts. 6.05 PJ Masks. 6.20 Bluey 6.25 Paddington. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.45 Ben And Holly 7.00 Superbuns. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.20 Bluey 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Ninjago. 8.00 Deadly 60. 8.30 BTN Newsbreak. 8.35 Gladiators UK. 9.35 Kids BBQ Championship. 10.15 Merlin. 11.00 Late Programs.

NITV (34)

6am Morning Programs. 1.30pm Nganampa Anwer nekenhe. 2.00 Kriol Kitchen. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.25 Small Business Bitesize. 5.30 The 77 Percent. 6.00 Bamay 6.30 News. 6.40 Great Blue Wild. 7.30 Who Do YouThink YouAre? 8.30 Karla Grant Presents. 9.00 Reclaiming The West. 10.00 Late Programs.

(3)

6am Mor ning Programs. 12.10 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 France 24. 1.00 PBS News Compass Points. 1.30 Al Jazeera News Hour 2.00 Legends Of The Pharaohs. (Ma, R) 3.00 Going Places. (R) 3.30 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 The Wonders Of Europe. (PGav, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (PG, R)

6.30 SBS World News.

7.35 Inside The Tower Of London. (PG) The Tower of London is alive with summer activity

8.30 8Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. (M) Game show, featuring contestants tackling awords and numbers quiz. Hosted by Jimmy Carr

9.25 Never Mind The Buzzcocks. (M) Hosted by Greg Davies. 10.10 SBS World News Late. 10.40 Other People’sMoney (Ml)

11.35 The Old Man. (MA15+v,R) 2.45 Greenland: Survival At The Edge. (R) 3.40 Mastermind Australia. (R) 4.40 Bamay.(R) 5.00 NHK World English News Mor ning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

SBS VICELAND (31)

6am Morning Programs. 12.45pm Secrets Of America’s Shadow Gover nment. 2.30 The Swiping Game. 2.50 Stories From The Cities. 3.25 WorldWatch. 4.20 PBS News Compass Points. 4.50 WorldWatch 5.20 Alone. 6.15 Curse Of Oak Island. 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.30 News. 7.35 8Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 MOVIE: G.I. Jane. (1997) 10.55 Late Programs.

SBS WORLD MOVIES (32)

6am The Orator.(2011, PGa, Samoan) 7.10 Charade. (1963, PGv) 9.10 Discovering Film. 10.05 Man Up. (2015, Mls) 11.40 Michael Collins. (1996, Malv) 2.10pm Mia And The White Lion. (2018, PGal) 3.55 Sometimes Always Never.(2018, PGas) 5.40 Metropolis. (1927, PGav,German) 8.30 Blood Diamond. (2006, MA15+adv) 11.05 Late Programs.

6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Home And Away John accepts his limitations.

7.30 Australian Idol. (PGal) The contestants strive to avoid elimination and ear n aplace in the live shows.

9.15 9-1-1. (Masv) Hen’sattempts at keeping her health issues private start to impact morethan just her physical wellbeing.

10.15 Granny Killer: The Unsolved Murders. (Mav,R)Takes alook at John Wayne Glover

11.50 Autopsy USA: Frank Sinatra. (Ma, R)

12.50 Conviction. (MA15+av,R)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R)

4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

6.00 9News. 7.00 ACurrent Affair

7.30 Married At First Sight. (Mls) Family and friends week begins. 9.00 Epstein: Making Of AMonster Tara Brown investigates the powerful people who werepart of Jeffrey Epstein’snetwork

10.00 9News Late.

10.30 Love Cheats. (Retur n, Ma) Looks at twin sisters who werescammed. 11.30 Sight Unseen. (Retur n, Mv)

12.20 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 1.10 Hello SA. (PG) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Global Shop. (R) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R) 4.30 ACurrent Affair (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today 6.00 10 News+. Hosted by Denham

9GEM (92,81)

6am Morning Programs. 10.30 Better Homes. Noon Australian Idol. 1.30 Home In WA 2.00 Weekender 2.30 This Rugged Coast. 3.30 Harry’sPractice. 4.00 Medical Emergency 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country 6.30 Bargain Hunt. 7.30 Doc Martin. 8.30 Endeavour 10.30 Ambulance: Code Red. 11.30 Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. 10.30

Roadshow 7.30 Death In Paradise. 8.40 The Brokenwood Mysteries. 10.40 Late Programs.

7TWO (72, 62) 6am Morning Programs. 2pm Golden Girls. 2.30 Nanny 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family 5.00 Bewitched. 6.00 Golden Girls. 6.30 Nanny 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.30 MOVIE: San Andreas. (2015, M) 10.45 Seinfeld. 11.45 The 100. 12.35am Love Island UK. 1.35 Legacies. 2.25 Big Rigs Of Oz. 2.55 Motor Racing. IndyCar Series. St Louis 500. H’lights. 4.00 Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. 1.30pm Rides Down Under: Workshop Wars. 2.30 Motor

Tuesday,March 3

ABC TV (2) SBS (3)

SEVEN (7,6)

NINE (9,8) 6am Mor ning Programs. 10.30 Planet America. (R) 11.00 Mission To Space With Francis Bourgeois. (R) 12.00 News. 1.00 Restoration Aust. (R) 2.00 Parliament. 3.00 Grand Designs Transformations. (R) 4.00 MOVIE: Murdoch Mysteries: Poor TomIs Cold. (2004, MA15+) 5.25 Antiques Roadshow.(R)

6.25 HardQuiz. (PG, R) 7.00 ABC News. 7.30 7.30. 8.00 Foreign Correspondent. (R) 8.30 Todd Sampson’sWhy? Doomsday Preppers. (Ma) 9.00 If You’reListening: Black Swans. (R) 9.35 Grand Designs Transformations. (Final, R) 10.35 ABC Late News. 10.50 The Business. (R) 11.05 Diabolical: The Epstein Files. (R) 12.20 Media Watch. (PG, R) 12.40 MOVIE: Murdoch Mysteries: Poor TomIsCold. (2004, MA15+, R) Peter Outerbridge. 2.05 Parliament Question Time. 3.05 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 4.00 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.00 ABite To Eat With Alice. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)

FAMILY (22)

6am Children’s Programs. 6.05pm PJ Masks. 6.20 Bluey 6.25 Paddington. 6.40 Hey Duggee. 6.45 Ben And Holly 7.00 Superbuns. 7.05 Batwheels. 7.20 Bluey 7.30 Shaun

6am Mor ning Programs. 11.00 Wonderland: Lewis Carol To JRR Tolkien. (PGa, R) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 France 24. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 Legends Of The Pharaohs. (Ma, R) 3.00 Going Places. (PGa, R) 3.30 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 The Wonders Of Europe. (PG, R) 5.05 Jeopardy! 5.30 Letters And Numbers. (R)

6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R) 6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 Great Continental Railway Jour neys. (PGav,R) 8.30 Insight. (Retur n) Kumi Taguchi looks at the issue of immigration. 9.30 Dateline. (Retur n) 10.00 Rock Legends. (PGa) 10.30 SBS World News Late. 11.00 Exit. (MA15+ads, R) 11.55 Syndrome E. (MA15+s, R) 1.55 Safe Home. (Mal, R) 2.50 Greenland: Survival At The Edge. (PG, R) 3.45 Mastermind Australia. (PG, R) 4.50 Destination Flavour: Singapore Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Mor ning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.

6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Mor ning Show.(PG) 12.00 Seven’sNational News At Noon. 1.00 Seven News With Alex Cullen. 1.10 Blankety Blank. (PGas, R) 2.00 Bridge Of Lies. 3.00 The Chase. 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia.

6.00 Seven News.

7.00 Home And Away (PGa) 7.30 Australian Idol. Hosted by Ricki-Lee Coulter and Scott Tweedie. 9.10 Doc. (Mav) After receiving tragic news, Jake refuses to give up on abeloved patient, several Westside surgeons. 10.10 Ambulance: Code Red. (Mal) Follows the work of an ambulance service. 11.10 St. Denis Medical. (PGals) 12.10 MOVIE: Taken Again. (2023, Mav,R)

2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 NBC Today 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.

Morning Programs. 9.00 Medical Emergency 9.30 NBC Today Noon Australian Idol. 2.00 Creek To Coast. 2.30 Escape To The Country 3.30 Harry’sPractice. 4.00 Medical Emergency 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country 6.30

Today 9.00 Today

(PG) 11.30 9News Mor ning. 12.00 Married At First Sight. (Mls, R) 1.30 Getaway.(PG, R) 2.00 Pointless. (PG) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG) 4.00 9News After noon. 4.30 [VIC] Tipping Point Australia. (PG) 5.00 Tipping Point Australia. (PG)

6.00 9News. 7.00 ACurrent Affair

7.30 Married At First Sight. (Mls) Abombshell is dropped about one bride.

9.05 The Hunting Wives. (MA15+lsv) Jed considers arun for gover nor 10.10 9News Late.

10.40 Wild Cards.

6am The Movie Show 6.30 Discovering Film. 7.25 Metropolis. (1927, PGav,German) 10.20 Eiffel. (2021, Mas, French) 12.20pm First Snow Of Summer.(2023, Ml, German) 2.10 The Orator.(2011, PGa, Samoan) 4.10 Charade. (1963, PGv) 6.10 Wings Of Desire. (1987, PGan, German) 8.30 Memoirs Of A Geisha. (2005) 11.10 Late Programs. SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs. 2pm Kriol Kitchen. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.25 Small Business Bitesize. 5.30 Indian Country Today News. 6.00

TEN (10, 5)

Countrymusic

FIRST Sunday of every monthat MonomeathSenior Citizens Hall (Vict ory Park, corn er of Prin ces Highway and Whittakers Road).

Music from 11am to 4pm. Walk ups welcome.

For more information, phone0409 149 309.

Prostatesupport

LATROBE ValleyProstateSupport group will meetWednesday,February 25 at Morwell Club beginning at 7pm. Anumberofmembers meet before the meeting to enjoy ameal at the club. All are welcome.

Leanne Posser will report on her EVPHC Prostate Cancer charity drive event.

If anyone has any queries or questions,phone John Ellinghamon0427 337788 or email: w.john.ellinghan@ gmail.com

Worthy awards

TRARALGON Community DevelopmentAssociation Inc.was delighted to honour volunteers at the inauguralTCDA Australia Day Volunteer Award.

Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron presented certificates to threeoutstandingwomenMargaret Morrison, GlenysCrozier and Janet Young.

He recognised them for their highly valuedand veryworthwhile contributions to the community. These ladies go aboveand beyondserving the community in avoluntary capacity.

TCDA congratulates all winners across Latrobe City and hoped everyone enjoyed abeautiful Australia Day.

Worldday of prayer

TRARALGON World Day of Prayer Service is Friday, March 6.

The event will be held at Traralgon District Baptist Church (Kay Street) from 10.30am.

This year, attendees will pray for the country of Nigeria. The theme is “I will give you rest: Come”. All are welcome.

For enquiries,phoneJenny on 0409 237 944

Guest speakers at Morwell's World Day of Prayer will be Eileen and Graeme Rule, who workedfor the church in Nigeria for many years.

World Day of Prayer is aglobal Christian ecumenical movement that welcomes people to jointhem in prayer and action for peace and justice.

St Luke's Uniting Church Morwell (279 Princes Drive) will also host its event from 10.30am.

It will be followed by ashared morning tea. All welcome.

For more information, phone Zelma on 51342699orAnne (0434 799 921). Email: morwellunit ingchurch @ gmail.com

Moe Historical Society

MEETINGS for 2026 have resumed.

Newmembers welcome. Just turn up to the rooms at No. 2High St, Moe.

The meeting has ashow and tell theme where members are askedto bring along an object or perhapsa photo which has ahistory they can tell to members.

Meetings start at 2pm.

Craftsale

FIRST Morwell Scout Group is hosting acraft de-stashsale on Sunday, March 1at1st MorwellScout Hall (Margaret St) from 10am to 1pm.

Browse 20 stalls featuring afantastic mixture of paper crafts, yarn, fabric, jewellery making supplies, ceramic pieces and much more. Whetheryou're aseasoned crafter or just starting out, you're sure to find treasures to inspire your next project.

Entry is free and morning tea will be available Come along,supportyour local Scouts, and pick up some crafting bargains.

For more information, phone Julie on 0423 457 199.

Tyersclean up

FRIENDS of Tyers Park will participate in Clean Up AustraliaDay (Sunday, March 1) from 9.30am.

Community

Corner with

Liam Durkin

Outstanding: Traralgon CommunityDevelopmentAssociation Inc. presented Australia Dayvolunteer awards to Janet Young, MargaretMorrison andGlenys Crozier.Making presentations wasLatrobe CityCouncillor (Jeeralang Ward)Joanne Campbell, Latrobe CityDeputyMayor Dale Harriman and Member forMorwell, Martin Cameron. Photograph supplied

Meeti ng point is the Wiri lda Environment Park, Clarkes Rd, near the Gippsland Water Pump Shed. Wear well covered clothing (long sleeves, long pants) gloves and sturdy footwear. Bring water and atrailer if possible.

Scone drive

CWA Morwell Evening Branch is inviting the community to enjoy a morning of freshly baked treatsat its upcomingscone driveand baked goods sale.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, March 14 and will run at Morwell Historical Society (12 Hazelwood Road, Morwell) from 10am to 1pm. Visitors will easily spot the event by looking for the yellow marquee set up on the historical society lawn.

In aspecial addition to the day, the Morwell Historical Societywillalso be open, giving attendees the chance to explore local historywhile supporting avalued community organisation.

The CWA’s famous plain anddate scones will be baked fresh on the morning and available for purchase.

To avoid missing out, the branch is encouraging people to pre-book their scones via TryBooking before March 8.

Bookings can be made via: https:// www.trybooking.com/DJMVP

The event promises awelcoming

atmosphere, delicioushomemade good s, and ac ha nce to support the ongoing work of both the CWA Morwell Evening Branch and the Morwell Historical Society.

Photography sessions

MONTHLY photography discussion group sessionsare currently being held in Traralgon. These sessions are free to join, and agreat wayfor people to take advantageofthe different perspectives of the photographyprocess, i.e.: image capture, image editing and the visual languageofthe photograph.

If you would like to be involved, phone Ivan on 0418 108 909 or email: ivankobiolkephotography@gmail.com

End of lifeplanning

WE plan for all our special life events -engagements, weddings,births -yet we don't give consideration to our death.

Come along to the Moe Library on Thursday, February 26 from 6.30pm to discuss dying at home, body disposal options, legal requirements and paperwork.

This is asafeand inclusive environment for all.

Bringa friend, all your questions and curiosity. Meetings are held on the last Thursday of every month.

For more information,phoneGlenda on 0409529 588 or Ros (0400 999315). Email: gippsdoula@yahoo.com

Moe LadybirdsCWA

NEXT meeting willbethe first Monday of March (March 3) at 12.30pm.

Mee tin gs are hel da tt he Ol d Yallourn Production Centre(Yallourn Rd, Yallourn).

On the third Monday of the month, meetings starts around 11am, which is acraft day.

Phone Ann Freeman on 0417993 111 or email: moeladybirdscwa@ gmail.com for more information.

Dance lessons

DANCE your way through 2026 with Latrobe Valley Dance Promotions Inc. Head on an adventure one step at atime, to learn or brush up on new vogue/old time sequence dancesatthe Morwell Girl GuideHall (18 Margaret St)onThursday nights from 7pm. Dance lessonswill be heldupto May 28. Waltz through life into better health and make new friends. Admission is $5per person.

Those attending are asked to wear comfortable footwear.

Phone Len on 0439683 834 or Lynda (0428 489 041) for more information. Email: latrobevalleydancepromotioninc@gmail.com

Follow Latr obe Valle yD ance Promotions Inc on Facebook.

Acoustic music

GIPPSLAND AcousticMusic Club meets on the first Sunday of every month.

The group has concertsfor members and the general public at Tyers Hall. Next concert is Sunday, March 1 at 7.30pm.

Featured musician is Nick Charles -Australia’s preeminent exponent of blues and roots guitar.

Lastyear, Nick wasnamed ‘best solo guitarist’ at the International Blues ChallengeinMemphis, adding to his numerous awards over avast career.

Support act on the nightwill be Andrea Hadley.

Costis$25 adults, $20member/ concession and under 18s are free. Tickets can be purchased through: www.trybooking.com/DIYGR or cash entryatthe door.

For more information, go to: musicclub.org.au, Facebook or Instagram @ gippslandmusic

Trycroquet

IF you would like to try anew sport whichissuitable for all ages, come alongtothe Traralgon Croquet Courts (66-110 McNairn Rd, Traralgon).

Flat soled enclosed shoes are the only requirement, and the club will provide everything else including assistance frommembers to understand the game.

Times for social play are Saturday and Tuesday from 10am to 12pm,and 12.30pm-4pm.

Wednesday night social play runs from 5pm-8pm, which gives another opportunity to try croquet outof working and school hours. Cost is $5. For further information, phone 0447 276 783.

Viewclub

MOE View Club's March meeting will be held Wednesday, March 4atMoe Hotel, Leggies (Lloyd St, Moe) from 10.30am.

Lunch outing this month was at the Criterion Hotel, Trafalgar. Raffle money raisedwentt ot he Smith Family.

If any interested ladies would like to join view club, they are very welcome. Aguest speaker each month follows the meeting, and then lunch. Membership and joining fees are being raisedto$30 each from April1 For further information, phone Sue on 0417 515 745 or Maureen (0458 842 256).

Trivia night

WALHALLA Heritage League is hostingacommunity trivia nightthis Friday (February 27).

Trivia will be held at the Walhalla Mecha nic sI ns titu te (M ain Rd, Wal halla) fro m5 .30 pm witht he games starting at 6pm. There are lots and lots of raffle prizes to be won. Checkout the Walhalla Corner StoresFacebook page or phone the Walhalla Corner Store on 5165 6250 for tickets.

Boolarra market

ACOMMUNITYmarketwill be held at the Boolarra HotelonSunday, March 8from9am to 2pm.

Market stalls, live music, display cars, face painting and apetting zoo. All welcome.

Youcan be apartof Community Corner

IF you are acommunity groupand have any news items you need publicised, feel free to email us at news@ lvexpress.com.au

You can address correspondence to the editor, Liam Durkin.

Please write 'CommunityCorner' in the subject line and nothing else. Deadline is Friday 9am to appear in the following Wednesday issue.

Pop and rock memories,Beatles notonhis beat

Traralgon resident John Jennings recently experienced flashbacks to Australia's early rock era thanks to his purchase of arather special book -a370 -page Beatles Anthology brought memories of their initial visit to Australia more than 60 years ago.

By JOHN JENNINGS

IHAD 'Op Shop Luck' to buy at Lifeline Traralgon arelatively heavy Year 2000 publication on which thefly-leaf stated: “Here for the first time in print is the history of The Beatles -byThe Beatles".

This copy by Chronicle Books, San Francisco, stated: “Thisextraordinary project was made possible because Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr agreedtotelltheircombined storyand, together with Yoko Ono Lennon, made available fulltranscripts through painstaking compilation John Lennon's words wereequally represented and the book concluded with hand-written words attributedtoLennon: “By Hook or by Crook, I'll be last in this book”.

The book took me back to 1964 and The Beatles first concerts in Australia -inAdelaide -where I was working as ajournalist.

Imissed the chance to actually see The Beatles perform (as reported in this article)but my wife Wendy and Icertainly saw them “standing there” on the city's Town Hall balcony high abovethe crush of people in King William street.

Page 140 of the Anthology covers Adelaide with John quoted, “Australia was ahighmoment like the first time in America, us appearing on every (TV) channel and 10 records in the charts more people came to see us Ithink the whole of Australia was there. we must have seen amillion people good security everybody washappy;nobody got hurt.”

George: "I used to hate waving from balconies Paul was good at waving and signing autographs

“What's your name? Betty. To Betty. Love Paul.”

"Three hundred thousand people welcomed us to Adelaide at the Town Hall. in thecentre of the city .wewere still close enough to our Liverpool rootstoknow how it would feel and and what it would mean we came in from the airport and the crowds were lining the route.”

Some readersmay recallthat drummerRingo was initially left behind in the UK because of illness and asessiondrummer Jimmie Nicol was engaged for first concerts with Ringore-joining the team soon after.

In the book Ringo said, “I hated to leave the other three Imet up with them in Melbourne …(my) flight (to Australia) washorrendous .it'sahell of along way it was fabulous in Australia and of course great to be back in the band.”

As Adelaide prepared for the visitwith tickets sold weeks earlier by John Martin'sstore,asareporter for the afternoon daily Adelaide News,Chief of Staff Frank Shaw sent me to check ticket sales.

When Iarrived the long overnight queue had gone and John Martin's staff reported all ticketshad sold quickly except, curiously, two seats together, three rows from the front.

At the time Ihad little idea of The Beatles steeply rising popularity but Ibought the tickets anyhowand duly reported the sell-out to Frank who remarked that his two boys, mad-keen Beatles fans, would miss the concert.

Imentionedrather casuallyhecouldhave my two 'front row' tickets. Frank stared at me in amazement then swiftly pulled the cash from his pocket. Itrust the Shawbrothersenjoyed, some62years ago at Wayville'sCentennial Hall, The Beatles famous songs drowned by audience screams. And with those ageless melodies in mind, Ifinally caught up withtheir LP The EssentialBeatles which is sittingonmydesk today rather than 'Yesterday.'

50 years ago

The Express, February 25, 1976

Double the charge on bottles: Shire

MORWELL Shire Council will press for the deposit on soft drink bottles to be raised fromfiveto10cents. Councilbelievesthat ahigher impost will result in fewer bottles being abandoned. Among other recommendations adopted by the council last week were: Kelly Bros. Motors be allowed to paint a"no standing" sign in BuckleyStand thatthe traffic officer police parking over driveways. St Vincent's Carinval is now granted permissiontouse CommercialRdLawnsfor aband recital and fete. The SEC's objection to the HazelwoodPlanning Scheme amendment has also been dismissed.

30 years ago

The Express, February 27, 1996

National parkrescues

CONSERVATION and Natural Resources

Rangers were involved in two back-to-back sea rche sa nd rescu es in the Ba wB aw Na ti on al Pa rk on Sunday. In the first incident, abushwalker was reported to be in difficultynear Mushroom Rocks on Mt Erica.The walker's medical condition was assessed, and he was winched out at 7pm. The second incident involved two canoeists who were reported missing after setting out on Sunday afternoon from Beardmodes Crossing below the Thomson Dam. They were found at 8:30pm walking out to avehicle track. The rescues included local ambulance and police. 10 years ago

The Express, February 25, 2016

Parent's horrible discovery

AGRIEVING mother is appealing for thieves to return aThai Buddha statue stolen from her son's gravesite at Yallourn Cemetery. KarrenRenwicksaiditwouldhave taken "someone strong" to move the two-foot-high statue, which is estimated to weigh about 30 kilograms."Ijust want somebodyto please return it," Ms Renwick said. "It's bad enough burying achild as it is without somebody robbing his grave."The statue was taken sometime between December 15 and February 9. It had sat on the gravesite for about 10 years.

Rainbow roadin sight

Student leaders congratulated

STUDENT leaders have been appointed at Nambrok-Denison Primary School.

The students were congratulatedbyFederal Member for Gippsland, Darren Chester, following a visit to the school’sassembly to present leadership badges for 2026.

Mr Chester thanked the school community for the warm welcome and said he was always inspired by young Gippslanders who stepped forward to lead and support their classmates.

“Student leadershiproles in primary school help young people build confidence, responsibility and

astrongsense of community from an early age,”

Mr Chester said.

“Whether it’s school captain,house captain, sports captain or student council,these roles give students the opportunity to make apositive difference in their school.

“These opportunities can buildconfidence and spark an ongoing commitment to volunteering, community service and civic participation.

“Well done to the teachers and parents in supporting our young leaders of the future to have such apositive impact.”

Narracanstudents collaborate

NARRACAN Primary School students have had the opportunity to work with local ceramic artist Ruth Bruten.

The school was able to connect with Ruth via the Mental Health in Primary Schools Funding opportunity provided by the Department of Education.

Ruth put forth the idea of creating several large totem polesinwhich cylinders and base plates combined to produce the final artwork.

Smallgroups of students met with Ruth and she encouragedthem to personalise their pieces using avariety of different stencils, tools, and eventually glazes to produce their individual piece.

During the process, Ruth invited staff and studentstoher studioupinthe Trafalgar hills called ‘The Gallery of Good’.

This was awonderful day making exploring the countrysideand constructing miniclaybirdhouses.

Narracan Primary School held an art show at the school to showcase all the other beautiful creations, such as self-portraits and painted canvases, and to unveil the totem poles.

Build: Students also made miniature birdhouses out of clay. Photographs supplied

Back to school,back to connection

FOR the firsttime,many kids are navigating atech-restricted world and rediscovering what connection looks like beyond ascreen.

As familiesacross Australia settle into the school yearand re-establishroutines,ScoutsAustralia says this year marks asignificant shift for young people.

Generations of young people involved in Scouting have been saying the same thing. They come for adventure, stay for friendship, and keep coming back because it feelsreal. Now, new national research from Resilient Youth Australia confirms what young people have been telling adults for years.

Researchshows Scouts are more positive, better at coping with challenges, more likely to help others and significantlylesslikely to use devicesovernight thantheir non-Scouting peers.Italsohighlights strongersocialconnection, confidence and agreater sense of belonging.

Chief Commissioner of ScoutsAustralia Brendan Watson OAM said the findings reflect the power

of routine, community and face-to-face connection.

“Routine is not abad thing for young people. In fact, it is essential,” Mr Watson said.

“When young people know where they belong each week, who they can rely on and what they are working towards, their confidence grows.”

As young people adjust to new boundaries around technology, Scouting offers somethingfamiliar, safe and proven. Weekly activities provide structure without pressure, opportunities to try new things without judgement,and friendshipsbuilt through shared experiences rather than screens.

Scouting is alreadyseeing increased membership numbers, with many parents wanting their children to experience the same sense of adventure, independence and belonging they remember from their own childhoods.

“Scoutinghas alwaysbeen tech-light by design,” Mr Watsonsaid.

“We focus on teamwork, problem-solving, leadership and getting outdoors. That balance is more important than ever as young people learn how to

Standards set from young age

Restecp: St Paul’s AnglicanGrammar School Year 7studentsHarrison,Ellie,Abi and Blake took par tinthe RISEUPProgram. Photograph supplied

YEAR 7marks asignificant milestone in the transition from primary to secondaryschooling.

St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School students are helped to settle confidently into their new routines.

As part of the transition, studentshave completed the school’s six-day RISE UP (Ready to Inspire, Succeed and Excel) Program.

Part 1was deliveredduring last year’s threeday orientation, andPart2continued across the first three days of Term 1. Designedtosupport aconfident transition, the programequips students with the skills they needtoengage successfully in St Paul’s learning culture and community. Through explicit instruction and clear explanations, students complete the RISE UP Programwith astrong understanding of the school’svalues, along with the learning expectations and social behaviours required of aStPaul’sstudent.

Educators delivered aseries of tailored activities and workshops, alongside guest speakers, to help students explore the school’s values of wisdom, integrity, compassion and respect,and howthese aredemonstrated in daily school life.

By the program’s conclusion, Year 7students had builtaclear understanding of classroom expectations, social behaviours and school routines, helping to foster wellbeing and prepare them for success on their pathway to VCE graduation at St Paul’s Traralgon Campus in 2031.

Head of St Paul’s Traralgon Secondary School, Leonie Clark said that when students understand clear, consistent expectations, including wearing their uniform, their wellbeing is supported and this contributes to asafe, predictable and calm learning environment.

“It is anticipated that studentswill feel reassured by the predictabilityofexpectations, safeinunderstanding the routines and that this will, in turn, foster greater wellbeing and independentlearnershipineach of our new Year 7students;the graduatingclass of 2031!”, she said.

Following its successfulintroduction in 2025, the RISE UP Program was extended this year, with Years 8to11taking part in reminder sessions at the start of term to reinforce expectations for positive learningbehaviours anduniform standards.

live well without being constantly online.”

Scouting is open to all young peopleaged five to 25 and is delivered in asafe, supportive environment by trained volunteers.Programs are designed to build resilience, independence and social skills, outcomes that align with the Resilient Youth Australia findings.

“This is not about taking something away from young people,” Mr Watson said.

“It is about giving them something better. Aplace to belong,people who know them, and experiences that help them grow.”

As the school year gains momentum and families settleinto new routines, Scouts Australia is encouraging parents to see this moment as an opportunity.

“Back to school also means back to community,”

Mr Watson said.

“Scouting gives youngpeoplea place to reset, reconnect and thrive. If you have ever considered Scouts, this is agreat time to start.”

Active: Scoutingprovides manybenefits to young people.Local scout groups always welcome newmembers. Photograph supplied

Regional scale treasure hunt

By JOHN JENNINGS

SOME 80 years ago, one of the first books Iread from Mildura Library was certainly Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.

This timeless tale of buccaneers and buried gold would have been afavouriteofmyfather, well supported by adevoted mother, aregular visitor to the library who keptalist of ourborrowings, for example, the Biggles series, so no repeats were brought home.

So, with that in mind, readersofthe Latrobe Valley Express may wish to know there is available from Morwell library, achildren's version of Treasure Isandwithillustrations by Robert Ingpen in the UK in 2005, with the abridged edition published in Australia in 2018.

Yes,the name wasIngpen -asMichaelCaine repeated, “You cannot make these things up.”

The original Treasure Island was first published in 1883; Scottish novelist Stevenson was born in 1850 anddiedin1894.

According to Google, during the past 100 years more than 50 film and TV versions have been made; Disney's 1950version -their live-actionfilm in colour -isconsidered to be the perfect adaption of the classis tale.

Modernretelling: An illustrated version of TreasureIslandfrom the Morwell Librar y. Photograph: John Jennings

The 65-page library book has at least one or two colour illustrations per page and it would be pleasing to think this version would have impressed Stevenson, who began writing Treasure Island in 1881, setting down the adventures of cabinboy Jim Hawkins to amuse his parent's stepson. Stevenson's father persuaded Robert to complete the fullstory for publication and aseries of successful novels, poems and plays followed.

Today, Treasure Island may read like arather vivid Hollywood script;the copy promptedmeto checkour own bookcollectionwhich turned up a1987 Readers Digest edition with 13 full-page illustrations (yes- includingthe treasure map!) and other smaller sketches.

To quote part of the Reader's Digest leaflet containedinmybook:“Of all theworld's great tales ofadventure, none has kindled more imaginations than the narrativeofyoung Jim Hawkins, Long John Silver and the crew of cutthroats, bent on finding gold plunder buried on Treasure Island."

But, if readerswill forgive me, today residents need look no further for treasure than their prolific regional libraries, or, in more recent times, arich lodeofbooks andDVDsonthe shelves of our various op shops together with their welcome sign on the door.

Thecastlebuilt on grand slogans

AS Iprepare to pay our quarterly rates bill, Phil Edwards ('Hansford'srecord', Latrobe Valley ExpressOpinion,04/02/2026) has reminded me of the waste of $35,000 of Latrobe City ratepayer resources in 2024.

The expenditure Iunderstand relateddirectly to afailed application to VCAT by Greg Hansford concerning the resultsof2024Latrobe CityCouncil election and the Yallourn Ward.

Whether Iagreewiththe result or notisirrelevant. Iknow the VEC and its staff managed the democratic election process very well.

FollowingMrEdwards' letter is aletter from Mr Hansford whichcritiques aprevious contribution from DanCaffrey ('Intermittentelectricitynot a Caffrey opinion', 04/02/26).

Mr Caffrey, aregular contributor,presented very honest and accurate understandings of aspects of energy production anddistribution. His opinion is well supported by Rod Sims and Rebecca Burdon (‘Don’tbegaslit on climate and energy’, The Age Opinion,18/02/26).

Ifound myself reading Mr Hansford’s challenge to Mr Caffrey with much scepticism, given the reminder from Mr Edwards of Mr Hansford’s apparent poor judgement relating to his VCAT foray. Together with Danny O’Brien’s political slogan thatthe Victorian Labor government ‘can’t manage money, can’t manage the energy sector’ Iamleft, yet again, with the sense that the Nationals and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation are only interested in hindering and disrupting all and any progress.

Consider the gangofNationals who scupperedthe

questfor First Nationsacknowledgement through aVoice to Parliament.

Consider their current attempts to scupper the implementation of renewable energy.

Consider their support of the ever-growing negative impact of human activity in accelerating climate change and destroying natural biodiversity.

Wendy Castles Traralgon

Politicians we could trust

AUSTRALIANS are currently oppressed by lunatic left-wing governments which never miss an opportunity to maliciously undermine the national interest and attack honest law-abiding citizens.

FederalLabor connives to import ISISterrorists from Syria and cowardly refuses to utter the phrase 'Islamic terrorism', while state Laborunder Jackboot Jacinta siphons offbillions from infrastructure projects to enrich her union puppeteers in the CFMEU.

That wouldbethe same CFMEU of which her drunk-drivinghusbandYorick Piper is aformer senior official.

Perhaps Piper was celebrating the $15 billion that the CFMEUfleeced from Victorian taxpayers when he was caught exceeding the 0.05 breathalyser limit at 9am in the morning! One cannot think of abetter symbol of the old saying that Labor and the unions are drunk on power.

However, there remains reason to be optimistic.

The great mass of theAustralian peopleare much

smarter and deserve much better than what our insipidstate and federal governmentscurrently offer.

After reading the letters page in this esteemed publication,Iamconvinced thata Cabinet comprising Janet Kingman, Brian Mawhinney, Patricia Correa, Joseph Lis and Oliver Bergens would rapidlydeliver muchmore sensiblegovernance for our state and country.

They'd prosecute corrupt union thugs and trace every last cent of stolen funds. Scrap the racist 'Treaty' with rent-seeking Aboriginal secessionists. Build new coal-fired powerstations and eliminate the green tape and green taxes suffocating the economy to give industry achance. Cut taxes and eliminate wasteful spending.Respect our flag, Crown, and constitution. Then our country would have afighting chance of delivering adecent and dignified life for the vast majority of Australians.

Nicholas Tam Traralgon East

Thereishope

AFTER reading John Duck's letter ('Recent inclusions miss the mark', LVEOpinion, 18/02/26),Ican only suppose that he is ahappy voter.

Not so the rest of us.

Iagree with Oliver Bergens ('Bloody brilliant!' 18/02/26),abrightlight willappearjustintime for the election in November.

Money will fall from the sky. Jacinta Allan will deliver us to the promised land. Promises will be

Merrymen being left behind

Just: Regional Cities Victoria Chair,Ben Blain is on aRobin Hood-stylemissiontoensuremoney generated by

COMMENT

BY DANCAFFREY

THE circus that is presently the conservative side of politics in Australia was entirely predictable, but asnippet of arecent interview from Malcolm Turnbull is very enlightening.

He quotedTed O’Brien, untilrecently the Shadow Treasurer, who toldhim back in 2016 that “talking to members of his electorate waslike they had just come from talking to Peta Credlin or Andrew Bolt.” (I’dalsoinclude Rowan Dean after his dummy-spit in the Express recently, 'The majority are fed up', 11/02/26).

Yes, it appears that Sky News and the Murdoch media in general have instigated and perpetuated political discussion based around themes of Islamophobia, racism, small government, xenophobia, anti-immigration and trickledown economics to such an extent that it has become normalised for right-wingpoliticalparties to incorporate these venomous sentiments into their policies, appealing to the baser instincts of the electorate.

COMMENT

BY BEN BLAIN

IF this were amedieval tale, Isuppose I’d be cast as Robin Hood.

Not because Iweargreentightsorroam Sherwood Forest -but because I’m standing outside the gates of power asking why the treasure collected from the people isn’t finding its way back to them.

According to allegations now emerging,upto $15 billion from Victoria’s metropolitan Big Build may have been funnelled through the CFMEU to bikie-linked interests.

In the old legend, the Sheriff of Nottingham took from the many and protected the powerful.

In modern Victoria, regional communities are wondering whether something similar is happening -whethermoney raised from taxpayers across this state went into vast metro projects, only to be siphoned away from the public good.

Andwhile this washappening, regional Victoria wasbeing told therewasn’t enough money for our projects.

In 2022, just before an election, we were promised the Commonwealth Games, then told they would cost around $7 billion -too much. The Games were dumped and Victorians paid hundreds of millions so others could host them.

In 2023, the state government scrapped the RegionalJobs andInfrastructure Fund -an investment program that once allowed councils to partner with the Commonwealth and private sectortodeliver the infrastructure that underpins homes, jobs and liveable communities.

Now it’s practically government folklore, but for decades it was practical governance.

It helped delivercommunity hubs, sporting facilities, revitalised town centres and economic

precincts. It was how regional Victoria turned opportunity into delivery.

We desperately need it back.

But we aren’t storming the castle for $15 billion, and Iwon’t be wearing tights.

Instead, we are proposing atransparent plan for $1 billion investment in regional Victoria.

One billion dollars -torestore aRegional Fund that unlocks up to 300,000 homes by funding the pipes, poles, roadsand services that make development possible.

One billion dollars -tobackinvestment-ready economic drivers like the inland port in Wodonga, the Circular Economy PrecinctinBallarat,the Clean Energy Centre of Excellence in Warrnambool and the Aerospace Technology Precinct in Latrobe.

One billion dollars -tobuild the community infrastructure that attracts families and businesses.

Stop takingfrom regional Victoria and start giving back.It’s not like we’re not already contributing. We generate more than 25 per cent of Australia’s global food and fibre exports.The Regional Movers Index shows our cities leading population growth as people choose opportunity beyond the capital.

Robin Hood wasn’t about rebellion. He was about correcting imbalance when the system lost its way. In every good legend, the imbalance is corrected.

Regional Victoria is ready to build homes, create jobs and drive growth.

All we are asking is that the wealth collected from Victorians is used for Victorians -openly, responsibly and in places ready to turn it into happily ever after.

The End.

Councillor Ben Blain is Chair of Regional Cities Victoria and Mayor of Warrnambool

sprouted just like the ones we heard before which never eventuated.

Although, if Iremember it well, she was never elected Premier.

Voters were fooled once, then twice, by Daniel Andrews. Surelythey havelearnttheir lessonover the past 10 years.

Moving on to Brian Mawhinney's letter ('Election year promises', 18/02/26), all those hospitals may never eventuate -they are only promises. Melton was promised ahospital by Andrews when he stood forhis first election. Should you go to Melton,donot look for thehospital. It never eventuated. Promises, promises, they only grab votes.

Albanese's promises from 2022 we will never see delivered either.

But Iamsure state and federal Labor are feeling the new heat that is spreading in our once great country.

Patricia Correa Traralgon

Analogue rap battle

Ode to Joe

EVERY Wednesday, Imust confess,

I'm immediately drawn to The LV Express, To read what no one can afford to miss, The gospel of our very own "Zorro" Joseph Lis. For those sadly not "in the know", He's our "anti net zero hero" is Joe, Fighting for principles we all let go, Probably nigh on 50 years ago. His aim is to cover the topic history, Starting at "A", all the way through to "Zee", But after Albo andthen"Blackout" Bowen, The ideas sadly stopped flowin'. With adistinct predilection for abuse, There's absolutely no way Joe is obtuse, But old fashioned debate is not on his page, For sadly he simply refuses to engage. There's not an analogy Joe doesn't favour, To illustrate he alone is our saviour, He can mould anythin ginto something fantastic, To serve an ego as big and as doomed as Titanic.

But in the end, though I'm still salty, He's made me feel alittle bit guilty, And Ifreely admit my antipathy is waning, Cos Joseph (gulp) somehow finds me "entertaining". (LVE, 04/02). Now, I'm not aligning myself with what anyone supposes, But to findmyself favoured, like Joseph's prize roses, Means Inolonger need to strive to be famous, Now thatI'm published in Joe's "Listradamus." John Duck Trafalgar

Noweverybodyinthe

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The most egregious of theirmistruths though, has been the characterisation of climatechange as a hoax and in so doing, ignoring what science tells us. Everyone,especially those livinginbushfire proneareas and on afloodplain knowsthat climatechange is very real when they pay their home insurance premiums. That is, if they can find one that they can afford.

To this extent the Murdochmedia became the echo chamber for the Lib-Nats Coalition, not realisingthattheywerejust fuelling One Nation’s views, becauseofwhatthe LibNats’ hardlinersupporters were feeding back to them.

In effect, the Lib-Nats felt that they had to head towardsPaulineHanson’s policies,because they did not have the courage or judgement to stand up to what was being trolled on Sky News.

In doing so, they lost most of their city seats to Labor and the Teals. In trying to 'out-Pauline' their base, they have essentially lost the moderate middle ground and to their dismay, are now losing the hardliners to PHON. This was no accident.

TheMurdoch modus operandi is to stir up anger in good, honest, working class people and to blame anyleftleaningpolitical partyfor allthe problems they feel in theirlives.Theydothis to appease their rich mates like Gina Rinehart and co who want to funnel more of the nations’ wealth into their own pockets, which has the effect of widening the gap between rich and poor in society and increasing their powerwithin our nation. Very muchthe Trump play book.

How ironic then, that the Murdoch media, especially Sky After Dark,who were formed to help keep the LibNats in power, have been the instrument of their demise. But it is hard to feel sorry for them becausethey brought it upon themselves by ignoring sound science and economics and succumbed to gutter populism.

Dan Caffrey is aTraralgon residentand president of Latrobe Valley Sustainability Group.

YES John Duck you are right, Iama rank sentimentalist, Sentimental over the days that are no more, Sentimental for atime that makes my eyes mist, Over, sentimental for the lost innocence that yet lives in my heart's core. Ah, the long hot summers of youth, too sweet to last, And yet too sweet to die; Ohow Imiss those simple joys of the past, and golden hours of days gone by.

Ohow Iremember the olden time, That has now grown old; And of friends Iknew indaysofLang Syne, The skies of the present are overcast, but the past's wereblue and gold. You see, John Duck, Icannothelp feeling the way Ido, When the cost-of-living and power bills continue to soar; When millions of Australians feel trapped in anet zero zoo, Icannot help longing for the Morwell that is no more.

Joseph Lis Morwell

The choice may be difficult, but it’sobvious

COMMENT

BY JOSPEH LIS

"LIVEordie,but don'tpoison everything," Ann Sexton.

The prologue to the opening of the poignantly tender tearjerker, Maytime (1937),shows ayoung girl quarrelling with her boyfriend after aMay Day celebration in 1906.

The boyfriend is in love and wants to marry her. However, the girl doesn't want to give up her dream of being an opera star which means uprooting herself and going abroad.

Sheconfidesinher neighbour,amysterious old lady living in lonely seclusion, Miss Morrison (played by Jeanette MacDonald in aduel-role) who, it turns out, was once the most famous opera singer in the world,but now lives in obscurityby choice because she chose acareerover true love. In flashback, the old lady tells the storyofher life to the girlasthe camera fades in on Marcia Mornay (a young MacDonald) as she sings for Emperor Louis Napoleon in 1865 Paris.

Sheisaglitteringtriumph, the toast of all Europe. Composers begin writing operas for her. Marcia's fame has been due, in part, to her skilful

COMMENT

BY ADRIAN COSGRIFF

FOR alongtime, we have debatedwhether renewables can replace traditional baseload fossil fuel electricity generation.

Twenty years ago, agrid poweredbyrenewables was largely aconcept.

Ten years ago, it was showing alot of promise.

Five years ago, the thinking was that they could do agood share of the heavy lifting.

In 2026, the game has changed.

According to areport by the World Economic Forum, in 2025renewables surpassed coal as the largest primary electricity generation source globally.

In the lastquarter in Australia, renewables produced as much electricity as coal. The longterm trend is there and it's very clear. Renewables with energystorageare the new king of power generation.

In very recent times,wehave seen grid batteries start to push gas peakers out of the way. Verifiable NEM datashowshow grid batteries are now displacing gas generation. Much faster than anyone predicted. With 30GW of batteries to come on line over the next two years, those that think that gas has a future might want to update their information sources.

No longer are renewables, energy storage and electrification atrial, apilot project or atest. In 2026, they are the real deal. Globally, more than 90 per cent of new generation being built is clean energy.

Not only are we not building new baseload fossil plants anymore, we are increasing the rollout of solar, wind and battery storage at an exponential rate.

And before anyone asks, yes, there are afew nuclear baseloadplants that come under the banner of "clean energy ". But when compared to thenumberand growth rates of renewable energy infrastructure, nuclear power is tiny by comparison and not financially competitive.

We have justexperienced avery hot period on the eastern seaboard.Consecutive high 30s and low

voiceteacher, Nicolai Nazaroff (played by John Barrymore, very spellbinding and 'Svengali'-like here)who now asks her to marry him.

Because of her gratitude for the fame he has helped bring her, she accepts.

Later she is swept off her feet by Paul Allison (a dashingbut poorbaritone played by Nelson Eddy) and falls hopelessly in lovewith him. Unfortunately it is too late, and she remains true to her promise to marry Nazaroff.

Sevenyears pass, andwhen Marcia and Paul co-star in an American production (Czaritza), their love is rekindled. However, their new found happinessisshort-lived. When she asks Nicolai for adivorce, he promises to give Marcia her freedom. Butnot theway she thinks.

The fiercely jealous maestro takes his pistol from itsvelvetcase, goes to Paul's apartmentand shoots him dead. At this dramatic point, the story shifts back to Marcia as an old lady. The moral of her story is clear: there can be no choice between true love and acareer.

Andthe young girl takes her advice and marries hertrue love.

Mutatis mutandis, for millionsofstruggling Australians the moral is also clear: there can be

40s for days. In the past, we wouldbeverynervous about that. Remember the bank of 100 portable generators installed at Hazelwood power station?

This year, we have sailed through unscathed. No giant banks of temporary gensets required.

As the data from the NEM shows, that was because renewable energy,particularlysolar, carried agood partofthe load. Taking the pressure offbaseload.Newly installed grid batteriesstarted as the sun went down. Even wind generation did its part.

The result?Our transitionfrom baseload coal generation to renewable energy with storage has started to prove itself in the real world. Not atrial. Not atest. Just areally hot period in atypical hot Aussie summer where grid demand is at record highs and it passed with flying colours.

In fact, if it wasn't for renewable energy's contribution over the recent high heat period, we would have experienced blackouts because coal fired power can't provide enough power any more.

The NEMdata is there for all to see. Renewables are now carrying coal just as much as coal has been carrying renewables.

Of course, such atransition can't happen overnight. Theelectricity industry is massiveand it will take at least another decade for the changeover to play out. Just as it took more than 20 years for the automobile to largely replace horse transport in the 20th century, our transition from the old power technology to the new will be similar.

If we look at history, we can see many examples of where horses were used to cart the materials requiredtobuild new car factories and fuel processing plants. Those faithful old horses moved the materials that would eventually form the machines that replaced them.

In asimilar way, that is what's happening with baseload power. It will continue to operate for another decade or two, but at asteadily declining rate until it'sjust about all gone. Thetrendisvery clear.

Of course, we still have the naysayers such as Larry Flint* who has recently made claims that renewables can't get the job done.

Strangely enough, he didn't put up any engineering evidence to support his claim. It is no coincidence

no choice between future happiness andanet zero future of eternal impoverishment and misery. In other words, if we continue down the ruinous net zero path we are on, it means the certain death of the economy and thusanever-worsening of the current cost-of-living crisis for at least the next 25 years (until 2050: the fabled year of net zero Nirvana).

Or, put another way still, if we keep gullibly believing the net zero BS of Australia's messianic, 'Svengali'-like EnergyMinister,the reality-proof Chris 'BlackoutBowen', we are doomed.

Bowen belittles anyone who questions his multibillion-dollarpipedream of solar and wind power.

There is no debate, just asneer at the likes of us commonerswho dare to pointout to developments overseas which utterly contradict his dogma.

Labor'sone-size-fits-all-all-eggs-in-one-basketall-or-nothing renewables-only approach to energy is failing Australians.

Career politicians likeBowen and Albanese have never quite accepted that the cost-of-living is the only issue that really matters to the electorate. It is notmerely one problemamong many but the defining problem, in thesameway that a

that Mr Flint is abig supporter of baseload nuclear despite that industry shrinkingover time. It seems Mr Flint should pay more attention to Australia with regard to batteries.

Thanks to thedomestic government subsidy, we have builtmore battery storageinsix months than theSnowy 2.0scheme that is still years from being finished. An absolute new build record. And the clever thing is that building it within the confines of domestic houses bypasses years and years of red tape and nimby complainers who don't want a community battery project built near them. Same amount of storage built in afraction of the time.

We are finding new waystoget things done that the old traditional thinkershaven't taken into consideration. Which is the very reason why disruptionhappens.The incumbents just don't see the changecoming because their thinking is stuckinthe past

The domestic buildcomprehensively proving that with the right policy settings and some clever thinking, we can build large amounts of storage in very short time frames right where it is needed.

When one considers that the average build time of anuclearbaseloadplantismeasured in decades, I'dliketosee Mr Flint explain howthe datacentres that arebeing built around Australia right now will be powered? Does he think that those data centres will wait 20 years for nuclear power?

Remember when we had the "renewables will make the grid unstable claims". We are getting to over 70 per cent renewables during the day on the NEM and it's as steady as she goes.

Remember the claims "electric vehicles are rich mans toys" Fifty per cent of China's car sales are now electric. New electriccars canbebought in Australianow for less than $40k. Hardly rich mans toys.

Rememberthe claim "there's not enough lithium in the world".

And so on. One by one,all the big claims made by the "experts" who aren't in the renewable energy industry have been smashed.

Ithink Mr Flint might want to reconsider. It is onlyrenewableenergy and storage that can be built at such fast rates. The proof is there for all to see. Renewable energy is adding more generation

Tyrannosaurus Rex loose in your lounge room is your only immediate priority.

To repeat, and contrary to the vile propaganda spewed out by Labor, the cost-of-living crisis we are currentlyfacingand suffering throughisbeing driven almost exclusivelybyrecord high energy bills,the number one issue facing mainstream Australian families, business, and industry. It also lays bare the reality of Labor governments, both stateand federal, that zealously prioritises its net zero transition over ensuring people in hard economic timescan keep the lights on through cheap and reliable baseload power sources such as coal and gas.

Thus the radical renewable ideology pursued by Canberra and Spring Street Labor governments is making us poorer and eroding our manufacturing competitiveness.

The gaslighting on energy has to stop.

However, this is unlikely to happen if we continue to allow engineeringreality to be trumped by ideology and vested interests.

Joseph Lis is aMorwell resident.

capacity at afaster rate thanany other technology in history. Fossil fuel and certainly nuclear simply cannot compete.

So, the question now is not whether we can do this.Itishow can we get this done evenfaster? Renewables, storage andelectrification have proved to be superior to the old technology in just about every way. Faster to build,much cheaper,much lesswateruse, much lesspollutionand muchmore reliability of supply.

More than four million households in Australia now have home solar and consequently are enjoying very low electricity costs. How can we accelerate that so that all households in thecountry, even those that can't have solar but can have abattery and access free solar during the day via new government programs, get to the same position? Imagine that? Every house in Australia powered by the sun and where theinput energy cost never goes up. The benefits to the community are ridiculously good. The debate about whether the new technology can replace the old is over. That's done. We have proved renewables can do the job. It is no longer theoretical. We have proved that it is competitivelycheap andsuper abundant.Our challenge nowishow to speed up the transition so that the entire community gets the benefits of clean, cheap energy even sooner.

It is no longer aquestion of which type of technology we will use. It is just amatter of how quickly, fairly and smoothly we can get the job done. Ilook forward to reading the energy policies of the various political parties for the upcoming state election. We don't want to hear "we'll tell you the details after the election". We need to see the details of their policies beforethe election so thatwecan makethe bestchoices whenitcomestoexercisingour votes. Adrian Cosgriff is aTraralgon resident. Editor's note: Larry Flint is not to be confused with Larry Flynt, the late American publisher of pornographic magazines. LarryFlint is the former chief executive of globalinvestment firm BlackRock.

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aravan Services are ised service agent for am cantakecareof antyjobs or servicing ements foryour new avan, along with the enance/fitting of aftermarket ies

aravan Services are tified ALKOElectronic

StabilityControl (ESC) installer and adealerfor GRIPSPORT bikeracks

Duetocustomer demand, they also stockasmall amount of commonlyused par ts,and can

order in anything else needed within the week (ifinstock with the supplier).

Drop in and see the J&S CaravanServices team at their workshop located at 11

Stirloch Circuit, Traralgon. Forafreequote, ring J&S CaravanServices on 0447 518 300, visit: jandscaravans.com.au or check outtheirFacebook page forthe latest updates

Business Guide

LCC-913 Supply,Delivery,and Placement of Asphalt Products

LCC-914 Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre-Geothermal Pump Replacement

Tenders are invitedfromsuitably qualified contractors for the above See www.latrobe.vic.gov.au/tenders for details

Submissions aretobelodged as detailed in the documentation. Council is notbound to accept the lowest or any tender

GARDEN MULCH

7days aweek, pick up or delivery.

Morwell Garden Supplies

85 Old Melbourne Rd 51342110

-Hardwood chips

-Pine Bark

-Coloured mulches

-Euca Mulch

-Carrajung Mulch

-Playground chips Small and Bulk Loads 7Days a Week.

Landscaping Mulch

Beautify your garden. Bulk quantity available, $30m3, $50 delivery. 0412 613 443 or 1800 468 733.

Tall Bearded Iris, Bare Root Rhizomes, over 200 varieties. Visit website: irisendeavours.com

100% First time in town. From Taiwan, aclassy, sexy lady. Good services. 0421 367 038

Notice to ADVERTISERS and RESPONDENTS

Voicemail introductions advertisements and voice messages may only be submitted by persons 18 years and older. When making contact with people for the first time, it is advisable to meet in apublic place and let amember of your family or atrusted friend know where you will be. We would advise readers and advertisers to exercise caution in giving out personal details. This will be respected by genuine respondents.

Safetyon PublicLandAct2004

ROYAL Caravan 1992, 2 xsingle beds, fair cond. Has not been used for past 4years. Need to sell. $10,000 VIN 6D9T2IRTA N2CM2111.

NOTIFICATION OF PUBLIC SAFETY ZONE DECLARATION

I, Chris Hardman, Chief FireOfficer,asdelegate of the Secretary of the Department of Energy Environment and Climate Action, give notice pursuant to section7(1)(a) of the Safetyon PublicLandAct2004,that Ihave made apublic safety zone declaration published in the Victoria Government Gazette.

The declaration made on 19/02/2026 takes effect 01/03/2026 to 31/08/2026 inclusive.

They specify areas of State forest which have been declared public safety zones for; •conducting fireoperations and the maintenance of public safety

The declaration specifies the period for which the areas have been declared public safety zones; the times or periods during which access to the public safety zones is restricted or prohibited; activities permitted, prohibited, or restricted in the public safety zones; restrictions or conditions (if any) applying to the public safety zones; and persons or classes of persons exempt from their operation.

Acopy of the declaration, and maps showing the location of public safety zones, may be inspected at the Department of Energy Environment and Climate Action, 8Nicholson Street, East Melbourne, Victoria, 3002 (by appointment with the Joint Fuel Management Program Coordinator,telephone 136 186).

Acopy of the declaration is available at Department of Energy Environment and Climate Action web site at: https://www.ffm.vic.gov au/permits-and-regulations/closures-of-parks-and-forests

Acopy of the maps showing the location of fireoperations is available at Department of Energy Environment and Climate Action web site at: www.ffm.vic.gov.au/JFMP,orby appointment with the Joint Fuel Management Program Coordinator,telephone 136 186.

Active planned burns arelisted on the Planned Burns Victoria Website (plannedburns.ffm.vic.gov.au)aseither‘Within 10 Days’, ‘Next 24 hours’, ‘Now’ or ‘Patrol’.

Jason Hellyer, A/Chief FireOfficer, as delegate of the Secretary of the Department of Energy,Environment and Climate Action

for afree measure and quote, call Lennie. 0438 850 287

• Statutor yPlanner PermanentFull Time

Leisure Facilities Cleaner– Casual

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Much hardship and difficulty is caused to job seekers by misleading advertising placed in the employment columns. Our Situations Vacant columns are reserved for advertisements which carry aspecific and genuine offer of employment. Ads for `Business Opportunities' and `Training Courses' and `Employment Services' should be submitted under those headings. Placing misleading ads is an offence against the Trades Practices Act and state/territory fair trading acts and all advertisements are subject to the publisher's approval. For further advice, contact the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on 1300 302 502 or your state consumer affairs agency.

DELIVERERS WTD

Would you like to deliver the Latrobe Valley Express newspaper to individual homes on Tuesday and/or Wednesday afternoons in Morwell, Traralgon, Moe, Newborou gh and Churchill? Please apply to the Circulation Manager 0456 000 541. Please note: Children must be 11 years or over as we will need to apply for agovernment Child Emplo ym ent Pe rmit Children younger than 11 cannot or will not be accepted. Adult deliverers also welcome.

Expression of Interest

Clinical Council Members

GippslandPrimary Health Network (PHN)is part of anational network of 31 PHNs across Australia PHNsare fundedtoaddress thehealthneedsof the most vulnerable peopleinthe community or those at greatest risk of poor health outcomes. GippslandPHN works closely with the community and the primaryhealth sector to identify opportunities for improvinghealth outcomes in Gippsland. This is achieved through better coordination and support of existing health services, as well as commissioning new services to address identified health needs.

GippslandPHN is seeking expressionsofinterest for Clinical Council members to commenceon 1July 2026, for athree year term.

We arelookingfor individuals who wouldlike to provide input and advice to help enhance healthcare services in Gippsland.Gippsland PHN is seeking clinicalcouncil members from arange of backgrounds,with differentperspectivesofthe health system.

• Areyou aGeneral Practitioner, clinician,allied health professional, or other health championof theprimaryhealth caresystem?

• Do youhaveexperience working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander individuals?

• Do youhaveparticular interest in mental health? If youare interested, we would love to hearfrom you.

Howtoapply:

Reviewthe information onlineand complete the Expression of Interest form available at: https://gphn.org.au/about-us/ clinical-council/ Formoreinformation, please email cc@gphn.org.au

Support WorkersWanted

Jacqui.russell@homecaring.com.au

Expression of Interest

Administration Officer

Part time 0.32 FTE(Thursday&Friday)

Applic ations arei nv ited from suitab ly ex perienced per sons fo rt he par tt im e0 .32 FT E( Thu rs da y& Fr id ay) on go in gp os ition of ad minis tr at io no ff icer to co mmenceo n2 6/ 03 /2 6( neg otiable). This is an Ed ucation Support Emplo ye eC ate go ry BL ev el 2p osition under the Victorian Ca tholic Ed ucation Multi Enterprise Agreement 2013.

The successful applicant will have ademonstrated commitment to Catholic education and to thesafety and wellbeing of children. The successful applicantwill be appropriately qualified, demonstrate enthusiasm and ability to deliver the appropriate curriculum to arangeof educational abilities, and be able to provide careand support forstudents whilst supporting and respecting theethos of the school andits environment.

The successful applicant will be subject to aWorking with Children Check and aNational PoliceRecordCheck.Training in First Aid is preferable but not necessary

How to apply:

Adetailed position description andapplication requirements areavailable by accessing the St. Joseph’s School Trafalgar website at: www.trafalgar.catholic.edu.au

Applications close: 12/03/26

St Joseph’s School community promotes the safety,wellbeing and inclusion of allchildren.

An Australian Government Initiative

CommunityAdvisoryCommittee Members

Gippsland PrimaryHealth Network (PHN) is part of anational network of 31 PHNs across Australia. PHNs arefunded to address thehealth needsof the most vulnerable people in the communityor those at greatest risk of poorhealth outcomes.

Gippsland PHN works closely withthe community and theprimaryhealth sector to identify opportunitiesfor improvinghealth outcomes in Gippsland This is achieved throughbettercoordination and supportofexisting health services,aswellas commissioning new servicestoaddress identified health needs.

Gippsland PHN is seekingexpressions of interest for CommunityAdvisoryCommittee members to commence 1July 2026, for athree year term. We arelooking for individuals who would like to provideinputand advice to help enhance health care servicesfor consumers in Gippsland.

GippslandPHN is seeking Committee members from arange of backgrounds, with different perspectives of the health sector

• Areyou aconsumer, carer and/or patientofthe primaryhealth caresystem?

• Do youhavelived experienceofdisability or carefor someonewithdisability?

• Areyou Aboriginaland/or Torres Strait Islander?

• Do you identifywith the LGBTIQA+community?

• Do you have amulticulturalbackground? If youare interested, we would love to hearfrom you.

Howtoapply: Reviewthe information online and complete theExpression of Interest form available at https://gphn.org.au/about-us/ community-advisory-committee/ Formoreinformation, please email cc@gphn.org.au

ANDERSON (née Lee)

CLASSIFIEDS S 4455

Perioperative Registered Nurse

Mater nity leave, multiple fix ter mpositions available (up to 1.8 EFT available).

Ce nt ra lG ip psla nd He alt h( CG H) is see kin g Pe rio pe rat ive Reg ist ere dN ur se with at le as to ne ye ar ’s experien ce, who is a positive and moti vated individu al with high at ten tion to de ta il to jo in ou rg reat tea mi n providing exceptional health ser vice deliver y.

Th is ro le in vo lves all aspe cts of Scru b/ Scou t, Re cov er ya nd /o rA na est he tic sN ur si ng Spe ci al iti es in cl ud eE ndos cop y, Or tho pae dic, Gen eral, ENT,O pht halm ology,g ynae cology, De ntal, Obste trics, paed iatrics and Urology Thereisalsoparticipation in the on-call roster

Youmust be eligible for registration as aRegistered Nurse Division 1w ith the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency(AHPRA) and hold acurrent Practicing Certificate and have highly developed interpersonal and communication ski lls along wit hp ro fic ie nc ya nd commit ment in complying with current standardsofpractice.

To applyfor therole or for furtherinformation,goto: https://www.cghs.com.au/recruitment or contact Mauricio Yanez or Narelle Mcleod, on (03) 5143 8182 or or num@cghs.com.au

PE Teacher

We seekcommitted and enthusiastic individuals forthe following opportunities:

• Full-time (Garnsey Campus, Sale)

Humanities Teacher

• Full-time (Garnsey Campus, Sale)

Learning Assistant

• Part-time (Garnsey/St Annes Campuses, Sale)

IT Support Desk Technician

• Full-time (Garnsey Campus, Sale)

Gap Assistant

• Full-time contract to mid December (Garnsey)

Voice Tutor

• Bairnsdale and Salecampuses

Cleaner

• Part-time (StAnne’s Campus, Sale)

Ann Catherine Passed away peacefully in her sleep, Wednesday 18 February 2026. Aged 83 years Loved and loving mother and mother-in-law of Shona and Frank (dec.) Alan and Sharon, Kevin and Charla and Graeme. Doting Granny of Michelle (dec.) Timothy, Zed, Saran, Jack, Tamika, Jenna and Marley. Loving sister of Ches and Murdo (both dec.). Ann was amuch-loved teacher at Presentation College, Newborough. She was adearly loved matriarch of her family and will be deeply missed by anyone whose life she touched.

CHESSUM

Desmond John 27/12/1952 -13/02/2026 Passed away suddenly at home on 13th February 2026. Aged 73 years Loving husband of Anne. Loving father of Russell and Daniel. Grandad to Chelsea, Austin, Archie, Olivia and Mason. Rest in Peace.

CUTAJAR George 26/2/1939 -20/2/2026 Passed away peacefully at Latrobe Valley Village Moe aged 86 Years. Much loved father and father-in-law of Rosmarie and Graeme, Anthony and Deb and Pauline (dec.). Grandfather of seven and Great-grandfather of 14. Gone Dancing.

DRI Mario 'Murray' Passed away suddenly, but peacefully at home, on Saturday 7February 2026. Aged 79 years. Loved and loving partner of Alison. Adored 'Muz' to Rick, Dana and Ashton, and Cruz, Chelsy and Deliliah. Desperately missed. Forever in our hearts.

HANSFORD Karen Desiree Passed away peacefully at home (Abilene) on Monday 16 February 2026. Aged 79 years. Loving wife of Norm for 60 years. Much loved Mother of Sandra and Danny and Mother-in-law of Kellie. Nan of Summer, Chase, Amber and James, Jade, Brendan. Old Nanny of Skyler, Arlo and Taj. Sister of Valmai. At Peace.

APrivate Cremation to be held.

KINGSLEY Wyman Dea Passed away peacefully on 17 February 2026 at Latrobe Regional Health Traralgon. Aged 58 Years

Late of Churchill. Dearly loved husband of Gabrielle. Father of Jordyn, Harrison, Caledan (Dec), Johnathan, and Larissa. Grandfather of Lainey Gone home to Jesus.

MEMBREY Doug

Doug, you were so much more than astep dad to us. With your quiet nature, your steady guidance and support, you shaped our lives in ways we will forever be grateful for. We will miss your kindness, your warm smile and your dependable nature. We will miss you. Love you always Doug. Rodney, Christine, Chris, Emma. Your grandchildren Caitlyn, Cameron, Olivia, Nicolas.

PHELAN (nee McCarthy)

ANDERSON The Funeral Service and Committal for Cremation for Mrs Ann Catherine Anderson will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 6Ollerton Avenue Moe, FRIDAY (27 February 2026) commencing at 2pm. The service for Ann will be livestreamed. To view the livestream, please visit our website.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON

MOE 51261111 Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

CHESSUM Desmond

The Funeral Service and Committal for Cremation for Mr Desmond (Mongrel) Chessum will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 260 Princes Hwy Traralgon, on FRIDAY (27 February 2026) commencing at 11am.

CUTAJAR George

The funeral service for Mr George Cutajar will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 6Ollerton Avenue Moe, Thursday (26 February) 2026commencingat 1pm. The funeral will leave at the conclusion of the service for the Moe Memorial Park Cemetery. George's service will also be livestreamed. To view the livestream please visit our website: latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON MOE 51261111 Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

KINGSLEY

Amemorial service to celebrate the life of Wyman Dea Kingsley will be held at the Traralgon and District Baptist Church 60 Kay Street Traralgon on Monday (2 March 2026) Commencing at 1pm. Wyman's service will also be livestreamed. To view the livestream please visit: latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au and click on the link.

RAUSCHDORF Karl Hans

8/11/1932-18/2/2026.

Forever in our hearts and finally reunited with Mum. Much loved Father and Father-in-law of Petra, David, Ken and Christine. Adored Opi to Daniel, Elizabeth, Bianca and Ryan. Great Grandfather to Emily.

TATTI Emanuel Passed away peacefully at home with Leonie by his side on Wednesday 4 February. Loved father of Bec and Chris, poppy to Jesse, Kobey, Hayley, Charlie and Vincenzo.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON TRARALGON 5174 2258 Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

YOUNG The Funeral Service and Committal for Cremation for Mr. Peter James Young will be held at Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 437A Princes Drive, Morwell on FRIDAY (27 February, 2026) commencing at 11am. The Service for Peter will be privately livestreamed. To access the livestream pin number, please contact the family directly.

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON

MORWELL 5134 4937 Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

In Memoriam •

BUSH Stan Passed away 25/2/2023. We missed you today, we will miss you tomorrow. We grieve for what we lost, but are grateful for what we had. Always remembered. Your loving family.

IKIN Gordon Herbert 21/4/1917 -24/2/2003 Dad, Ilove and miss you every day. Love Suzanne XXX.

Nanette Mary Born Huonville Tasmania on 17/4/1942. Passed away Traralgon Victoria 17/2/2026. Surrounded by her loving family. Loved Wife of Terry. Adored Mother and Mother in-law of Vincent and Sheree, Matthew and Lisa, Marcus, Louise and Derik, Jonathan (dec), and Denis and Ros. Cherished Grandmother and Great Grandmother. With broken hearts we said goodbye, until we meet again. Reunited with her beautiful boy. When you lose someone close to you, it can be hardto put your thoughts and feelings into words All notices placed in print also go in our digital edition Apersonal message in the Latrobe Valley Express can say so much

Em you will be missed by us all and you will be forever in our hearts. You provided hours of laughs and good memories that will keep us all going on the toughest of days. Even your stubbornness makes us smile as it reminds us you did things your way, right until the end. Em was laid to rest on Wednesday 11 February at Erica Cemetery with loved ones present just how he wanted it. Followed by afew beers at the pub.

YOUNG Peter James Passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, at home on Tuesday 17 February 2026. Aged 66 years. Loved and loving husband of Julie. Loved and respected father and father-in-law of RickiLee and Chris, and Steven and Sarah. Adored Pop to Stephanie, Hunter, Mackye, Dacodah, Lucinda, Hudson and Ashton. In our hearts, you'll always be remembered. Ride high.

LITTLE AFuneral Service for Mary Little will be held at David WBull Funeral Home 190 Princes Hwy Pakenham, THURSDAY (26 February 2026) commencing at 10:30am. After light refreshments a burial will follow at the Willow Grove Cemetery Main Road, Willow Grove, arriving at approx. 2pm. In Memory of Mary please consider wearing bright, colourful clothing. www.davidbull.com.au

PHELAN (nee McCarthy) Requiem Mass for the repose of the soul of Mrs Nanette Mary Phelan will be offered at St Michaels Catholic Church, 33-35 Kay Street Traralgon on WEDNESDAY (February 25, 2026) commencing at 11:00am. At the conclusion of Mass, the Funeral will leave for the Traralgon Cemetery, Gippsland Memorial Park. The service for Nanette will also be livestreamed. To view please go to: latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

MOE-MORWELL-TRARALGON TRARALGON 5174 2258 Place your tribute on latrobevalleyfunerals.com.au

Forfriendly advice on howtoplace amessage contact The Classified Department 5135 4455

—The Latrobe Valley Express, Wednesday, 25 February, 2026

LATROBE VALLEY FUNERAL SERVICES

Familyowned and locally based Funeral Directors

We bring 35 yearsexperiencetofamilies in Traralgon, Morwell, Churchill, Moe, Trafalgar, Korumburraand surroundingareas. THE

Fantastic Fleming

Queenofconsistency: Kaydence Fleming from Glengarry, claimeda thirdconsecutive Victorian 400mtitle,having wonunder 16,17 and 18 agedivisions Photograph supplied

ATHLETICS

By ERIKA ALLEN

WINTER Olympic medal tallies weren't the only onesbeing counted recently,withWellington Athletic Club athletes collecting seven medals -two gold, two silver and three bronze -atthe Victorian Junior Track and Field Championships.

Glengarry sprinting sensation Kaydence Fleming stormed to athirdconsecutive Victorian 400-metre title.

Starting from lane five,Kaydence etched her name into cluband state history, crossing the line first in 57.18 seconds. She made up the stagger down the back straight and took control with 200 metres remaining, before ablistering 300-metre split saw her enter the home straight in under 42 seconds. Alatechallenge from aBallarat rival in the final 50m tested her resolve, but Kaydence heldher nerveand powered through the line to secure the trifecta.

Now the under 16, 17 and 18 400m Victorian champion, Fleming, along with afew other Wellington athletes, has her sights set on the national championships in April.

At the state championship level, the first three place getters automatically qualify for nationals. However, athletes can also qualify by running undercertain benchmark times, likeMoe's Lachlan Rosato, who placed fourth in anational qualifying time of 50.72 seconds.

Rosato and Flemingwere just two of alistof sprinters to compete at Lakeside Stadium,Albert Parkduring thechampionships.

Aspokespersonfor Wellington Athletic Club congratulated all athletes who represented the club "with pride, determination and sportsmanship". "Beyond the impressive results, Wellington Athletics Clubwouldlike to sincerely thankall familiesand supporterswho contributedacross the three days by fulfilling clubduties,"the spokesperson said.

"Championship events rely heavily on volunteer support, and the commitment shown by our families ensuresthe smooth running of competition while strengthening our club community."

Behind every result is the work done out of the spotlight, with Wellington Athletic Club recognising coachesDenis and Craig Huffer for their expertise and guidance in developing the athletes. Flemingisthe granddaughter of legendary local footy umpire and cricketer Rod Fleming.

Golf croquet tournament success

CROQUET

TRARALGON Croquet Club held its annual Golf CroquetSingles tournamentrecently,bringing in playersfrom across the state to the region. On the weekend of February 14, atotal of 31 competitors took the court across four sections. To go along with those representing clubs and towns across Gippsland, some arrived from Orbost,Phillip Island,Bendigo, Sandringham and Mornington.

The winners for each section included:

Section 1: Omar Soydas, runner-up: David Budge.

Section2:Ray Biffin, runner-up: Michael Butterfield.

Section 3: Reg Armstrong, runner-up: Kevin Young.

Section4:Christine Scott, runner-up:Gary Wellsmore.

All winners werepresented withatrophy, while both winners and runner-up recipients took home cash prizes.

"I was very pleased with the weekend and received many comments on what awell organised and friendly tournament it was," tournament manager, Lynette Taylor said.

Gameswere exceptionally run due to the efforts of the three referees in Shane Downie, Michael North and Taylor.

Traralgon Croquet Club members were outin force to make sure the tournament was set up well, ensuringthe courtswereinfine condition ahead of play.

Where will

message reach?

Latrobe Valley Express Distribution area L t b

Facts:

to homes and businesses including roadside mailbox delivery in many rural areas. Available for free from outlets in smaller towns.

Total audited circulation 32,600 copies Published Wednesday

•“Thereiscontinued strongdemand(and passion) forthe printedproduct in ruraland regional Australia.”

•“Audiencesoverwhelmingly view aprinted copy of theirnewspaper as an essentialservice fortheircommunity.”

Hot and humid Moeracemeeting

HORSE RACING

By LIAM DURKIN

MOE Racing Club held its second meeting for the year at the weekend.

The community race day meeting brought sporting organisations and local groups together from across the region.

Yallourn Yallourn North Football-Netball Club volunteers manned one of the canteens, while Moe FNC and Moe Cricket Club had function spaces booked.

Moe footballers held their time-honoured golf day last Sunday morning, before making the trek across to the races.

TrafalgarBowls Club members werealsoin attendance the day after winning theirpreliminary final.

Very humid conditions meant on-course numbers were alittle lower than usual, yet fortunately for those in attendance, rain stayed away until the last race.

As they say, if you wantittorain, holdarace meeting at Moe.

While the humidity threatened to open up the sky, it did nothing to affect the condition of the track, which was rated aGood 4from start to finish.

Moe Racing Club's turf has stood the test of time in recent years

It is hoped the newly laid turf just up the road at TedSummerton Reserve will do likewise.

Moefootballers and cricketerswill have anew oval in afew months' time, as works progress on the Commonwealth Games Legacy project.

Turf was laid last Friday, and is set to cure over the next few weeks.

Moe Racing Club Vice Chairman and Moe FNC and Moe CC Life Member Brad Law has seen Ted Summerton undergo countless upgrades over the years, yet this one undoubtedly looks the best. New 70 metre highlight towershavebeen erected, with the LED at international standard for night cricket.

Whether or not Moe Racing Club ever goes downthe night racing pathremainstobeseen (a night Moe Cupwould be something), but for

now, the most recent daytime meetingsaw largely competitive fields.

High-profile trainers Peter Moody and the LindsayPark stable of Ben,Willand JD Hayes again sent horses to Moe.

TeamHayes hadawinner in the Race6 LV Drafting BM65 Handicap over 1600 metres, after High Tempo broke from the pack in the last 400m.

Thorpdale's Chloe Durkin was on deck strapping for Lindsay Park.

Celine Gaudray secured ariding double,winning Race 6and the Race 3McDonald's Gippsland Maiden Plate (1000m) with Bruiser Murphy.

Trafalgar jockey Jason Maskiell rode Hook 'N' Spur to victory in the Race 2PhoenixMaiden Plate (1200m) by more than two lengths. He came second in the Race 5John Kerr Real

Whiteback on national duty

BASKETBALL

FIBA BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

TRARALGON'S Jack White makes his first appearance for Australia in 2026 tomorrow (Thursday,February26) with the Boomers' tour of Guam and the Philippines.

Apartofthe FIBA World CupAsian Qualifiers, Australia take on both countries as part of atwo-leg series that extends to July to officially qualify for the World Cup.

During these two games, White features as one of the Boomers' seniorplayers alongside former Olympic bronze medallist Nick Kay, as Australia welcome three debutants.

It also sees the return of Mitch Creek to the national side for the first time since 2019, who has previously ventured down to the Latrobe Valley during his time with NBL team South East Melbourne Phoenix.

Theformer NBA call-up has been playing for Romanian basketball club U-BT Cluj-Napoca for the past two seasons.

The Boomers are currently undefeated for

two straight wins during the Asian Qualifiers, having beaten New Zealand in adoubleheader at the backend of last year.

Both gamescame down to the wire,with fivepoint and two-point victories, in which White was crucial in each win.

During those games, Melbourne United coach and Warragul's Dean Vickerman served as interim head coach as Boomers coach Adam Caporn completed duties with NBA franchise Washington Wizards.

Recently, Vickerman was unavailable for United's Round 21 contest against Cairns Taipans, thrusting Sale's RhysCarter into the lead chair.

The Traralgon star was apartofAustralia's Asia Cup gold medal-winning side back in August, 2025,which secured White his first senior medal with the Boomers.

Australia faceGuam on February 26 at MangilaoVillageand the Philippines on Sunday, March 1atManila, before they play each country again on July 3and July 6, presumably in Australia.

Estate BM65 Handicap (2400m), won by Avenues for Michael Kent.

The meeting started withahuge turnup, after $28 outsider Devine Grunt won the Hurricane Hire Maiden Plate (1600m).

The four-year-old gelding caused ahurricane of its own, especially after seeing off the Moody-trained Shrewdness.

In other races, Stahnado wonthe Race 4Law Somerville Industries BM56Handicap (1000m) for John McArdle.

Perhaps appropriately, given Moe Racing Club's next meeting will be held on Anzac Day, the Raymond Matthews-trained Aussieaussieaussie won the Race 7Ladbrokes Hosted PotsBM56 Handicap, giving racecaller Ed Sadler no shortage of content.

Awayfromracing, MoeRacing Club is continuing its strong community footprint with anumberof upcoming events.

The club will host another 'Tools Down, Heads Up' apprentice wellbeing session for young workers across the region next month, while fashions on the field is set to go to thenextlevel,with a'Battle of the Brushes'competition featuringsome of the country's leading makeupartists

For tickets, visit: https://www.trybooking.com/ events/landing/1523534

Another blowfor Gippsland,Phillip IslandlosesMotoGP

MOTOGP

BY DAVID BRAITHWAITE AND BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

ADAY after the state government pledged to support keeping the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island, Victoria lost the event to South Australia.

The current contract to host the raceexpiredafter this October's staging, but the state government was unable to secure anew agreement with MotoGP championship organiser Dorna Sports.

Afterhostingtheeventtwiceinthelate1980stoearly 1990s,PhillipIslandhasheldthegrandprixannuallysince 1997,withtheexceptionofpandemic-hit2020and2021.

The government last week confirmedithad ruled out arequest from Dorna to move the event from Phillip Island to Albert Park, home of the Australian Formula 1Grand Prix

Thegovernment also announced it would "contribute additional funding" to help Dorna boost the Australian grand prix beyond 2026.

However, the event will move to Adelaide in 2027, racing on astreetcircuit which hosted the F1 GP from 1985 to 1995.

It would be areversal of fortunes for Adelaide, afterthe F1 moved to Melbourne in 1996.

Talk of having acity MotoGP race began after Liberty Media, owner of F1, took over Dorna last last year.

The loss of the motorcycle grandprix strips $54.6 million in economic impact from Victoria, including $29.4million in direct local spending in Bass Coast Shire.

The event, the biggestinGippsland, also supported 284 full-time jobs.

ATHLETICS

GIPPSLAND

Round 14 of Gippsland Athletics Club trackand field season washeldTuesday17 th February 2026.

ROUND14RESULTS:

200M

Women: U/14–Brooklyn Wyatt 30.34

Men: U/16–LiamMcCandless 28.84; Masters– Wayne Seear 39.75 HIGH JUMP

Women: U/14–Brooklynn Wyatt NJ;Masters –Fiona Saltmarsh 1.00

Men: U/14– TajMakepeace 1.35; U/16–Liam McCandless 1.30; Masters– Aaron Makepeace 1.35

DISCUS

Women: U/14–Brooklyn Wyatt 28.80; Open –Edwina Knowles 12.29; Masters-Brandy Forget 26.29, Edwina Knowles 20.73, Fiona Saltmarsh 14.21

Men: U/16–LiamMcCandless 15.74; Open –Wayne Seear 17.43; Masters–Wayne Seear 26.27

HAMMER

Women: U/14–Brooklyn Wyatt 38.50; Open –Brooklyn Wyatt 24.09; Masters–Brandy Forgèt 26.75, Edwina Knowles 25.64, Fiona Saltmarsh 18.80

Men: U/16–LiamMcCandless 16.26; Masters– Wayne Seear 22.13 100M

Women: U/14–Brooklyn Wyatt 14.36

Men: U/16–LiamMcCandless 13.21

BOWLS

STRZELECKI NORTH

Weekend Pennant Preliminary Finals Sat 21 February

Division 1: Trafalgar85Longwarry77

Division 2: Moe 96 Traralgon (2) 62

Division 3: Newborough (2) 80 Longwarry (2) 75

Division 4: Newborough (3) 98 Yarragon

State Tourism, Sport and Major Events Minister

SteveDimopoulos said Victoria remained the "major events capital", while wishing "organisers all the bestwith their secondchoice” of grand prix venue.

“Theprivateforeign owners of the MotoGP demanded we move the event to the city, and we said no," the Minister said.

“We know we could have kept the MotoGP in Victoria if we sold out Philip Island, but we never will.”

According to its media release, the government is working on "securing anew major event for the region and will invest to drive more visitation, supporting local businesses and tourism".

Opposition leader Jess Wilson said the decision was emblematic of Victoria’sdecline underthe

CHURCHILL ANDMONASH

Stroke14th February 2026

AGrade Winner: M. Brereton 67 Nett

BGrade Winner: A. Auld 66 Nett

CGrade Winner: G. Corponi 68 Nett

D.T.L: 1. C. Wilson 67,2.I.Heppleston 68, 3. P. Jordan 68, 4. P. Flanigan 69, 5. D. Burridge, 6. G. Leahy71, 7. S. Allison71, 8. P. Smart

71 c/b

N.T.P: 3rdD.Byers (Propin), 5th B. Jenkins, 12th G.Tatterson, 14th S. Allison

Birdies: 12th R. Madigan, M. Brereton, G. Tatterson

Target Hole: C. Wilson

Stroke–17th February 2026

Winner: L. Brent 70 Nett

ScratchWinner: S. Caldwell 95

D.T.L: C. Gosling 75 Nett

N.T.P: 3rdS.Caldwell, 5th L. Brent, 12th S. Caldwell,14th L. VanRooy

MIRBOONORTH

Tues 17th Feb26- Stableford

AGrade: TBradshaw(8) 42

BGrade: SHill-Smith (16) 37

DTL: PWoodall 40, SWoodall 39, NBaker, GShandley37c/b

NTP: 4th MWoodall, 6th WEdwards,13th T Whitelaw, 16th MHeiberg Eagles: MHeiberg12th Birdies: 6th NWhichello,13th TWhitelaw.

Sat 21st Feb26- Par

AGrade: TBaker (6) +5

BGrade: JMcFarlane (16) +2

DTL: MWoodall, NBickerton, PWoodall, P Cummaudo +2, MHeiberg+1c/b

NTP: 4th NBickerton, 6th DWoodall, 13th M

Heiberg, 16th ALiebe Birdies: 4th JMcFarlane,P Woodall, N Whichello,6th PWoodall, DWoodall, ALiebe 13th MHeiberg, 16th MWoodall, TWhitelaw. MOE

Sunday,15 February 2026 OPEN Sunday9

hole Stableford

Grade AWinners: Lee,Judy (21) 20

Sunday,15 February 2026 Competition: OPEN SundayMixed Stableford

Grade AWinners: McKinnon, Scott(11)41

Grade BWinners: Shaw,Karen (22) 37

Place Getters: McKinnon, Peter35C/B, Stansbury, Les 35 C/B

Wednesday,18 February 2026 WOMEN'S WEDNESDAY 9HOLE Stableford

Overall Winners: Davy,Kerri(30) 14

Wednesday,18 February 2026 WOMEN'S STABLEFORD

Grade AWinners: Savige,Karyn (26) 38

Grade BWinners: Wallis,Elizabeth (31) 37 C/B

Place Getters: Stewart, Leahann 37 C/B, Griggs,Andrea 37 C/B,Bates,Linda 37

Great Score: Linda Bates (Birdie) @4,Linda

Bates (Birdie) @9,GwenYoung (Birdie) @ 12 Nearest to Pin: 4th Lee Weaver,8th Amy

current government and a"huge blow to the local businesses of Phillip Island".

Frustration was also felt from the sport's top names, including former Grand Prix winner and Sports Australia Hall of Fameinductee Wayne Gardner.

Gardner,whoiscommemoratedwithastatueatthe PhillipIslandcircuitduetohisachievementsincluding winningthe500ccPhillipIslandeventinback-to-back years(1989and1990),issuedabluntstatementwhen asked about the future of his likeness.

"I might jam it up their (state government and Dorna)arses, actually," he told ABC Melbourne Radio

The main straight of the circuit is also named after Gardner.

Fellow MotoGP great, Casey Stoner also issued astatementonsocial media,deeply upsetabout theannouncement.

"Oneofthe greatest motorcycle circuitsinthe world that has produced someofthe greatest and most entertaining races we have witnessed, and continues to do so year after year, is being pushed to the side in place of arace in Adelaide and supposedly astreetcircuit," the two-time world champion said.

Stoner secured six consecutive wins at Phillip Island from 2007 to 2012, the second-longest premier-class record in the sport's history.

Bass Coast Coast Shire Mayor, Councillor Rochelle Halstead said that they will work with the state government to secure certain replacement for local business and tourism in the area.

SCOREBOARD

Taylor,14th Anne Mead

Target Hole Prize: Lee Weaver

Wednesday,18 February 2026Twilight

Stableford

AGrade Winner -B.Mead (18) 20 C/B

BGrade Winner -D.Boad (23) 23

Thursday,19 February 2026 Competition: OPEN Mixed Stableford

Grade AWinners: Stirzaker,Jason (8) 41

Grade BWinners: Taylor, Amy(12)38C/B

Grade CWinners: Griggs,Daryl (19) 39

Grade DWinners: Jackson, Mark(25) 38 C/B

Place Getters: Taylor,Brayden 38 C/B,Pisa, John 38 C/B,Boyce,John 38, Scammell, Shaun 37 C/B,Jamieson, George 37, Beveridge,Eric36C/B,Dunstan, Craig 36 C/B,Blunt, Philip 36 C/B,Scammell, Larry36 C/B,Wilkinson, Wally36C/B,Savige, Bruce 36, Peel, Michael 35 C/B,McDonald, Finn 35 C/B,Stansbury, Les 35 C/B,Winters,Jamie

35 C/B Great Score: AmyTaylor(Birdie)@ 4, John Harber (Birdie) @8,KarlGarlick(Birdie) @ 4, Dael Scurlock(Birdie) @14, KaiMcDonald (Birdie) @8,EricBeveridge (Birdie) @ 14,KarlGarlick(Birdie) @14, John Boyce (Birdie) @14, Jason Stirzaker (Birdie) @4 Nearest to Pin: 4th AnthonyGauci, 8th Kai McDonald, 14th Karl Garlick

Saturday,21February 2026 WOMEN'S SATURDAY OPEN Stableford

Grade AWinners: Donaldson, Leanne (24) 34 Saturday,21 February 2026 Competition: MENS Stableford

Grade AWinners: Yeomans,Wayne (11) 40 C/B

Grade BWinners: Johnson, Luke(15)39 C/B

Grade CWinners: Purcell, Rodney(27) 39 C/B

Place Getters: Hayes, Gerard 40, Scullin, Aaron 39 C/B,Wright, David 39 C/B, Jamieson, Justin 39 C/B,Somerville,Ross 39 C/B,Weir,Charles 39, Brien, Kevin 38 C/B, Matthews,Max 38 C/B,Savige, Bruce 38 C/B,Collings,Dale 38, Jackson, Mark37C/B, Geisler,Graham 37 C/B

Great Score: Aaron Bassman (Eagle) @ 2, Simon Noy(Birdie)@8,Aaron Heafield (Birdie) @14, PeterKeenan (Birdie) @14, GerardHayes (Birdie) @14, Bob Harland (Birdie) @8,Paul O'Mara(Birdie)@8,David Wright (Birdie) @4,Kevin Brien(Birdie) @14

Nearest to Pin: 4th GerardHayes,8th Simon Noy, 14th AnthonyColvin

MORWELL

Wednesday18th February 2026 Women's Foursomes Championships

27 Hole Scratch: Deb Vuillermin &Correna Boers94+45=139 27 Hole Handicap: LynFrench &Carmel

Peter69+38½ =107½ 18 Hole Handicap: LynFrench &Carmel

Peter103 −34= 69

9HoleHandicap: IyokoYoshimura& Sue Karleusa 50 −15½ =34½ NTP: 11th ShirleyTurner

TRAFALGAR

WednesdayWomen's results 18/2/26 1st Rd Singles Knock-out/ Stableford

AGrade Winner: AngeBayley(21) with 41 points

AGrade Runner-Up: Lorna Risol (24) with 40m (points)

Bakker creams them in local chess

CHESS

THINGS out nicelyfor Peter Bakker in Latrobe Valley Chess last week.

Bakker overcame each challenger on the path to victory.

Dev Winnel said that finding theright move was not easy, when piece placement was seen to be acomplicated task.

Chris Proctor reached required goalsin two battles, while in the other games, was baffled by King safety.

Dave Proctor began with acomment about the approaching difficulties before finding the chess games to have helpful outlets. The improvements in style for Steve Ahern continued to growand severalrewardswere received.

Ian Hamilton had chances but the moves that mattered most caused problems.

Both Price Samaseia and Cliff Thornton accepted the forfeiting options. For more on localchess,phone Ian Hamilton on 0400 221 649 or CliffThornton (0413 330 458).

BGrade Runner-Up: Aija Owen (28) with 41 points NTP: 5th SamCaldow11th SamCaldow

Stableford9-Hole with8players

Winner: Karen Swingler (17) with 18 points

Runner Up: Sue Tabuteau (16) with 17 points c/b

Gobblers: None

Winnersfor the 1st Rd knock-out: Christine Payne7&5 vs Di Moody,Lorna Risol 2&1 vs BevKeily, Aileen McNair 5&3 vs Linda Chapple,AijaOwen3&2 vs Donna Mellon, Cheryl Deppeler 7&5 vs JanGriffin, Jan Jansen 2&1 vs Cheryl Toyne,Ange Bayley 7&5 vs Anne Outhred, KarenMacGregor 5&4 vs Sue Klemke.

Congratulations to all the winners.

Pennant: The pennant Ateam had aforfeit and the BTeam lost to Warragul 3/2.

Tuesday:17/02/26 -Stableford

Players: 29, Women 2, Men 27

Winner: RayWilliams (24)

Runner Up: Tony Shearer (21) c/b

DTL's: SteveKlemke(21) Dave Rose (21)

Duane Baker (20) Harold McNair (20) John Kerr (19)c/b Craig Scanlan (19)c/b

NTP: RayWilliams (5th)

Lucky Card: GeoffFallon

Thursday19/02/26 -Stableford

Multiplication

Players: 47,Women 14,Men 33

Winners: Ed Hayward&GeoffThomas (61)

RunnersUp: RonPike& RonKeith (51) c/b

DTL: SteveLawrence &Ian Outhred (51)

Laurie Snowball &MickBennett(49) Norm Mether &Sue Williams (48) Sue Balfour & LynPowell (43) c/b

NTP: 13th SamCaldow&John Kerr

Lucky Cards: RobCusworth/ Warner & PeterCooke, ChrisMoody &Chris Barfoot

FridayFebruary 20th,Open Men’s& Ladies

Stableford

AGrade Winner: Adrian Jones 37 pts

BGrade Winner: Paul Massey38pts

DTL's: Jackson Giles 36, TomCouling 36, PeterCooke36, Craig Hams 36, Anthony Sparkes36, Ryan Mortimer 36, David Winfield 35, MarkAndo 35 C/B

Eagle: 14th: DavidWinfield

Birdies: 5th: TomCouling,Craig Hams 11th: Tony Bickley15th: TimFord

SaturdayFebruary 21st,Stableford

AGrade Winner: Jordan Chapman 40 pts

BGrade Winner: WarwickGriggs 41 pts

CGrade Winner: DirkMeyer38pts

DGrade Winner: Glenn Doolan 37 pts

DTL’s: Phil Town 40, Tony Shearer39, Jason Kraan 39, Brad Griffin39, TomWoodhouse 38, Chris Thorn38, Tony Gray 38, Tony O’Reilly 38, Ramon Dyke 37,Josh Clarkson 36, NormMether 36, RobBoon 36, Peter Rhodes 36, RayWiseman 36, Christine Stevens 36 C/B

Hole in One: 5th: Symon Lee

Eagle: 14th: WarwickGriggs

NTP’s: 2nd: Adrian Jones 5th: SymonLee

–Matilda McKinnon 11th:Adrian Jones 13th: Josh Clarkson 15th:StewartCluning –Di Moody

YALLOURN

Thursday19-2-26 February Ladies Monthly

Medal Winner: Loretta Booth 95-32-63

DTL: Lola Carter 82-18-64, Sue Riches

105-35-70

BGrade Winner: Chris Payne (39) with 41 points c/b

NTP: 2nd Heather Ware,8th Donna Brown, 14th Heather Ware &birdie,16th Sue Caldow

Count Putts: Lola Carter 30 Gobbler: Lola Carter on 13 Tuesday17-2-26 9Hole Stableford Winner Div 1: Loretta Booth22pts Div 2: Evelyn Graske21pts PISTOLS

Mon 9/2/26

Air pistol

BGrade: BKelly506-59-565-. CGrade: VBaldwin 522-75-597.B Goodwin 474-96-570. DO'Rourke 475-105-580. DNewman 463. HMiller 426-132-558. T Goss 416-176-592. LMorris 372-184-556. LDePetro312-121-433. KBeaufort 274-201-475.

Ladies Air

DGrade: RMiller 409-137-546. Wed11/2/26

50 mt pistol

DGrade: CBenelli 336-190-526. FBorgnine 330. BKelly328-176-504. LMorris 266-261527.D Best 133. Sat 14/2/26

Morning Centrefire

DGrade: RMiller 296-284-580. NPenfolds 260. 25 mt pistol

DGrade: TGoss 452. HMiller 429-155-584. WNash 280. Classic pistol

DGrade: LMorris 270-187-450. Afternoon50mtpistol

DGrade: LMorris 302-262-564, FBorgnine 296. TGoss 273.H Miller 265-257-522. TENNIS

RIVERSIDE

CLVfinalsspotsare up for grabs

CRICKET

CLV

BY LIAM DURKIN

TWO spots remain live on the Cricket Latrobe Valley Premier Aladder with one round to go. Glengarry (33 points),Churchill (33),Imperials (32)and Moe (31) occupy places three to six,meaning it is all on the line over the next two Saturdays.

Only two of those sides will qualify for finals, and play either Ex Students or Morwell.

The Sharks and Tigers are both equal first on 51 points, and have home semi-finals sewn up.

At the other end of the ladder, Toongabbie (19) and Centrals (13) cannot avoid relegation, and have afortnight remaining to play in the top division.

 ONE of the greats.

Ex Students superstar Lee Stockdale completed an outstanding individual game, taking his side to victory over Churchill.

Having already tonned up on Day 1, the Vic Country veteran took 5/69 off 21 overs on Day 2.

The Sharks had little troubledefending 286, bowling the Cobras out for 159 at Andrews Park West. Stockdale ripped Churchill apart, taking four of the first five wickets to fall.

Having dismissed nightwatchman Chris Williams (not Squid, the other one), he then had Jordan Higham and Ben Kearns -fresh off acentury the previous game -backinthe sheds.

The home side sank to 5/15, which effectively took the sting out of the contest.

John Keighran added some respectability to the scoreboard with 30, before he was bowled by Adam Brady with adelivery that seemed to get onto him alot quicker.

Ex-regular Kurt Holt filled in and made 31 off 38 balls down the order.

Stockdale bowled mostly in tandem with Jimmy Pryde, who took 3/49 off 15.4 overs.

Ex Students will most likelylooktoget batting practiceinbeforefinals,asthey playCentrals in the last round.

One imagines the order might be rejigged to give blokes who don’t usually get much of abat ahit.  ARE we now seeing the real Imps?

Theteamfrom CatterickCrescent lost its third consecutive game at the weekend.

Imps surprised manybygoinginto the Christmas break as atop-two side, yet the reality of along cricket season might now be coming to the surface. Imperials haven't won since January 10.

The latest result saw them lose narrowly to Toongabbie by 15 runs -amarginseldom seen in two day cricket.

The Rams resumed at 7/215, and took the scoreto 241 off the entitled 10 extra overs on Day 2.

Toongabbie legend Tom Shippen fell just one run short of ahome ground century, after spending the entire week on 94 not out (when is cricket good). His captain Tim Dunn batted through for an unbeaten 32.

Wickets were shared between the Imperials bowlers. Charlie Pilling (3/29), Tylah Donoghue (2/46) andScott Aitken (2/81) all chipped in.

Ryan Morley played an innings of similar substancetoShippen for Imperials, scoring96opening the batting.

He combined with Brett Chapman (29) to take the score into triple figures before the innings took adramatic turn.

From 1/102, the visitors were soon 4/110.

Dennis Caulfield (41 not out) did his best to stabilise the situation, yet wickets fell around him.

When Morley was dismissed the score was 7/173, which allowed Toongabbie's experienced bowlers to control the rest of the gameuntil victory was secured.

The Rams survived afew nervy moments, especially after letting 19 extras slip.

Shippendelivered onceagain, taking6/65 off 30.4 overs, adding yetanother outstanding performance to his career CV.

NathanFarley (2/32) tookthe game-changing wicket of Morley, while Gayashan Munasinghe (2/39) bent his back across 19 overs.

Imperials play Glengarry in the last round, in what is essentially an elimination final.

 PITCHES they come, they go.

Moe was knocked over for 81 in pursuit of 177 against Centrals.

The result could have huge ramifications for the maroon Lions, who would have just about secured afinals position with victory.

Conditions howeverwere reportedly markedly different on Day 2atApex Park, which was perhaps reflected as 15 wickets fell between the two sides.

By the same token, it is hard to see why the pitch wouldhave been doctored, given Centrals had nothing to gain from potentially winning outright.

Even if they took 10 points, the blue Lions would still be getting relegated.

And when you have abowler the calibre of Tyron Gamage, you don't need any extra assistance.

The express quickwas simply toogoodfor few Moe batsmen, who copped inch-perfect deliveries.

Of his 5/35, all were top order players, while two clipped the very top of the stumps -one sending leg stump cartwheeling,

At the other end, left arm swinger Marc Fenech took 4/31, as the pair bowled 43 of the 50 overs in Moe's first dig.

Centralsbattedagain, yet showed themselves just howtricky conditions were,finishing at 8/65 off 49 overs.

Royce Colgrave took 6/16, to make it 10 wickets in the match.

Fortunately for Moe, results in other games this round hardly altered the ladder.

The maroon Lions simply have to beat Toongabbie and rely on Morwell defeating Churchill in the last round to make finals.

It will neverhappen, but is it worthplaying a one dayer in the last round to take pitchesout of the equation?

 MORWELL will be rightly daring to dream.

The Tigersclinically took downGlengarry, needing just 16 overs to do so on Day 2.

Resuming at 1/76chasing 118, club stalwart Mark Cukier steered his side home with an unbeaten 67. Morwellwas only three down when the score was passed,and werehappy to haveanearlybeer at Keegan Street.

It perhaps wasn't all bad news for the Glengarry boys, who would have been home so early their wives would think they'd just been to Bunnings.

Morwell celebrated club favourite and all-round nice guy Rob Semmler, who brought up his 400th game in the Premier Bmatch

 SIMILARLY in AGrade,six teams are still alive as far as finals go.

Thedifferencehowever is the parity,with anumber of teams still achanceofsecuring ahome semi.

In aladder that would confuse even some mathematicians, Raiders are first, yet have lost the same number of games as sixth-placed Latrobe.

The team from Yinnar has catapulted to first with 48 points off the back of acouple of outrights, after sitting near the bottom of the table before Christmas Traralgon West is second on 43, while Rovers has slipped out on 40.

Willow Grove (39) is on track to feature in finals, while CATS (36) have hit ahugestumbling block after appearing anearcertaintyoffinishing top-two.

Latrobe (33) is still in the hunt,and can play finals if it defeatsCATSand Willow Grove loses to Mirboo North.

The Sharks are the only team not to gain any bonus points this season, which may come back to haunt them.

TheA Gradecompetitionisshaping as one where anyteam inside the top four could realistically win the premiership.

Thatbeing said,itishardtoremember amore 'random' competition, where results have fluctuated so drastically week-to-week.

 WILLOW GROVE took agiant leap toward finals.

The Wolves chased theremaining runs against Rovers, winning by seven wickets at Duncan Cameron.

Resuming at 1/49, the visitors got the 180 needed in less than 50 overs.

Nathan Wheildonplayed arguably his bestinnings for the club, scoring an unbeaten 65.

That his knock came off 169 balls showed he has perhaps finally turned acorner, where previously he was guilty of being areckless slogger.

Luke Payton also reined in his usually attacking ways, scoring 60 off 103.

Both players cleared the rope on three occasions.

 RAIDERS defeated CATS outright.

Afast-movingand somewhat farcical gameat Yinnar saw the home side skittle CATS inside 25 overs second time around.

That 76 of CATS' 113 second innings runs came from Tinashe Panyangara off 45 balls perhaps said it allabout thedifference in attitude some had.

CRICKETLATROBEVALLEY

JMurdoch cB McCartney bRColgrave 9

LSpeairs cN Kane bRColgrave 7 THourigan not out 23

NGamagecB Zomer bRPhoenix 3

TGamageb RColgrave 0 BWilliamsonbRColgrave 1 TShankland cBZomer bRColgrave. 0 HRajapakse cunknown bAAnubhav. 0 CWhitehead not out 17 Sundries (1b 0lb 0w 0nb) 1 TOTAL (49 overs). 8/65 MOE 2NDINNINGS BOWLING

RColgrave 17-10-16-6,R Phoenix 11-6-16-1,MHibbs 7-3-9-0, A

CGrant 4-2-9-0,APhilip 1-0-3-0, JJacovou 1-1-00, CRobinson 1-0-5-0 Centrals wononfirst innings by 96 runs MORWELLVGLENGARRY at Keegan Street

GLENGARRY1ST INNINGS

CGraham cBClymo bT Ford 0 SMarks cJ Campbell bR Whelpdale

Beforethat,Raiders declared at 7/222, giving them alead of 152.

SkipperLiamMaynard bumped his average up with 73 not out.

Dane Fawcett (3/19), Ben Hagley (2/52) and Panyangara (2/59) took multiple poles.

Adding to the farcical nature of CATS' second dig, two players took five wicket hauls for Raiders. Keenan Hughes added another ball to the mount with 5/45, while Harvey Rogers-Collen took 5/22.

 YOU can just never write these blokes off.

While Mirboo North can't play finals, they can still have amajor say in who does.

TheTigersput aserious dent in Latrobe's aspirations, defeating the Sharks by four wickets.

Taking to the Mercer/McKenzie wicket, aZach Hollis masterclass took the home side to victory.

The big boy and big hitter smacked a129-ball ton, whacking 16 fours across the pristine Mirboo North outfield.

His effort helped the Tigers out of aprecariouslyplaced 3/54, and with captain Ben Heath (45 red) holding up an end, Mirboo North won in the 63rd over.

Latrobe youngsters Izayah Terrick (2/31) and Jacob Bloomfield (2/38) were productive with the ball.

 ANOTHER bizarre game played out at Jack Canavan Oval.

Traralgon West wononfirst innings, but not before Gormandale tried admirably to set up asneaky reverse outright.

The Tigers dangled an outright carrot to the Eagles, who accepted, only for the match to fizzle out after eight fourth innings overs.

Traralgon West began the day 5/85 chasing 92 on first innings.

The home side took six points after getting to 146, thanks mainly to AlfiePeck, who scored at virtually arun-a-ball in his 46 not out.

They were however thwarted by YohanSoyza's mastery, with the Tigers allroundersnaring insane figures of 7/18 off 20 overs.

Buddhima Dissanayake (2/79)was also noteworthy.

The Eagles only took 20 overs to win on first innings, meaning Gormandale had ample time to bat asecond time around.

The Tigers used up 61 overs to compile145,making asporting declaration eight down.

Yohan scored52not out, while Nimesh Soyza made apatient 32 and Bailey Fulham 26. Ben Fleming was impressive for Traralgon West, taking 4/56, as was Peck (3/48).

With 91 to get, the Eagles were content with first innings points, seeing off eight overs for 2/26.

Dissanayake took both wickets.

TraralgonWestand Roverswill battlefor ahome semiina possible semi-final preview in the last round.

Gormandale meanwhilewill play for pride against Raiders.

INNINGS BOWLING

CGraham 13-3-20-1, MMerton8-2-30-1, BMayberry2-0-9-0,A Jenkin 2-0-6-0, SMarks 7-2-21-0, NFreitag 11.5-4-16-1, TDuncan 5-3-11-0 Morwell wonbyseven wickets

CHURCHILLV EX STUDENTS at AndrewsPark West EX STUDENTS1ST INNINGS

MDyke cRAyres bANorman 33

JPryde cLUrand bC Williams 21 FGraham bC Williams 1

LStockdale cR Velardi bJHigham 134

RBattista lbwANorman 17 MStockdale bS Warr..................................................................................... 43

ZBastinlbw CWilliams 4

DTreasecANormanbC Williams 11

MHarris not out 4

AMatthewsnot out 0

Sundries (8b 4lb 3w 3nb) 18

TOTAL (80 overs) 8/286

CHURCHILL1ST INNINGS BOWLING

RAyres8-4-13-0, KHolt12-4-17-0, CWilliams 18-3-74-4, BMarks 8-2-14-0, SWarr 12-0-61-1, JHigham 11-0-36-1, ANorman 11-059-2

CHURCHILL 1STINNINGS

SWarr cABradyb LStockdale 0 CWilliams bAMatthews. 2

RVelardicR Battista bLStockdale 4

JHigham c&b LStockdale 5

RAyres cM Dyke bJPryde 57

BKearnscM

BBrincat

cunknown bM Fenech 3 Sundries (0b 0lb 0w 0nb). 0 TOTAL (50.5 overs) 81 CENTRALS 1STINNINGS BOWLING MFenech 25.5-11-31-4, TGamage 18-4-35-5, NGamage 5-3-4-0, C Whitehead 2-0-5-0

CENTRALS2ND INNINGS (LEAD BY 96)

HBerrycNKanebR Colgrave 4

QUICK SINGLES

Rising stars

SOME young names to watch.

Campbell Adams (ExStudents) and Hayden Rawson (Traralgon West) both had outstanding games recently.

The pair played each other in the under 14s, and both raised the bat after making half-centuries.

Campbell scored arun-a-ball 80, while Haydenwho is still eligible for under 12s, made 52 not out. These weren't one-offseither.Campbell had previously made a62, and Hayden astringof40s in the under 12s.

Without putting too much pressure on the kids, these numbers usually correlate to players who go on to become (at the very least) good AGrade players in senior cricket

There are late developers of course, but some just stand out from an early age.

My schoolteamdidn't think much when ayoung Sam Harper,who was barely taller thanthe stumps, walked out to bat for Yarra Valley Grammar's First XI.

Afew clean pull shots later quickly changed that

Well bowled

BOWLS finals are this weekend.

Best wishes to all teams and players competing.

Many cricketers take up lawn bowls in later years, and rest assured, the competition is just as fierce. Some good stories are also in the works.

Traf is into its first Division 1decider in some 10 years, whileBoolarra has risen from virtual unknowns to play off in Div 2.

If Boolarra can get up and win, they will go into weekend Div 1for the first time in club history.

This would have to be the biggest sports story to come out of Boolarra since the 2011 Mid Gippyflag ATraf (who Boolarra beat in thatfooty grand final incidentally)flag would also be afair comeback story.

The club was forced to just about shut up shop a few years ago, after it was discovered money kept finding its way from the till into the pokies. Unfortunately, this is asagafamiliar to many sporting clubs, and more often than not, the person responsible is the one you’d least expect. It is asad sight though looking at the honour

Saturday, February21

Premier B(Round 19): Glengarry3/201 (P Henry95*, C Dunn 60, JCochrane 25) def Jeeralang-Boolarra9/164 (H Hewawsam 55*, BMcCormack38, Stanton 25, G Waack-Hawkins 2/18, PHenry2/21, DCochrane 2/27, JPorter2/31), CATS 1/128 (D Wilson 57*, MAnthofer 35) def Centrals 9/124 (B Hourigan 55*, NMiller3/16, JGuy 2/24), Morwell 5/128 (R Semmler 39*, JMason 38, KO’Connell 2/17) def Thorpdale 7/126 (K O’Connell 60*, BRoberts 3/48, LDay 2/15), Ex Students 2/96 (J Zapulla 42, AJaensch 39) def Churchill 94 (J Robertson 5/18, JZappulla 2/23), Toongabbie 3/230 (G McIlroy 71, MDunn 65, KStoddart53*) def Moe 85 (M Johnstone 41, KStoddart4/12, JVeenman 2/13, MDunn 2/19, M Whitechurch 2/20). BGrade (Round 19): Latrobe 9/156 (T Dhawan50, J Varghese 4/16, ZQuinsey-Munro2/31) defRaiders144 (R Sidhu 82, SGedara5/9, SRasool 2/33), Imperials 7/222 (R Williams 93,RMartin 36, DThompson 25, HBright 3/46, JGiles 2/41) def Traralgon West 9/60 (J Randall 6/7,D Thompson 2/17), Gormandale 2/127 (D Ganegodage 69, PShrubb44*) def Willow Grove122 (T Norton60, DNorton3/11, GSwann 3/26, PShrubb2/33), Rovers 2/103 (A Sachdeva 368) def Mirboo Nth 101(S Carney 2/13, IBrown 2/22).

WITH LIAM DURKIN

board of the Traf bowlo and seeing the disgraced former member has got aliteral blackmarkagainst their name.

Ultimatebragging rights

THIS wouldn't happen too often.

Father-and-son duo Brett and Ryder Pedlow are currently leading the Leongatha District BGrade battingand bowling averages.

Brett, the former Mirboo North big hitter and current Trafalgar High School Principal, is averagingnorth of 80, whilehis sonRyder is taking wickets at less than 10 runs apop for Koonwarra Leongatha RSL.

Ryder is still in under 15s, and has 15 wickets to his credit bowling wrist spin.

The old man meanwhile is onlyjust behindon the league aggregate, trailing abloke by the name of Steven Smith.

You honestly couldn't make this stuff up.

Lived to tell the tale

AT the risk of starting another pointless debate on whothe greatest local cricketerisorwas, Imust relay astory told to me over the weekend.

ApairofMornington-based cricketers said aspell they faced at Country WeekfromBrad Knowles was by far the most lethal they'd ever seen.

The Yinnar productwas fresh out of state cricket and reportedly sent the ball flying through neck height.

Knowles didn't have to dig them in the games Iplayed against him -hedid enough off the deck and in the air.

What made him so difficult was he made the ball move after you'd committed to ashot. Alot of bowlers swing the ball straight out of the hand,but Knowles made it go late.

Imaintain he'sthe best playerI'veplayed against. Eveninto his40s hispunching offthe back foot was effortless.

How lucky Raiders are to have such an asset at their disposal.

There is agreat photo of Knowles scratching his head while bowling to ayoung Steve Smith.

Little was anyone to know how many bowlers the world over would be left doing the same thing.

CRICKET LATROBE VALLEY HONOUR BOARD 2025/26

CENTURIES

Zach Hollis (Mirboo North) 100

Michael Boothey(Imperials) 122

Lee Stockdale (Ex Students)

134

Michael Johnstone (Moe) 102*

Rory O'Donnell (Rovers) 112

NickDuncan (Churchill) 175

Gael Greenway(Rovers)149*

RobSemmler (Morwell) 103

Phil Gibson (Traralgon West) 149*

Nathan-Lee Nikodemski (Gormandale) 164

Darren Brain (Rovers) 106

Paul Henry(Glengarry) 131*

BlakeMills (Morwell)104*

Ryan Ayres(Churchill) 105*

Keenan Hughes (Raiders) 115

Glen Smith (Jeeralang-Boolarra) 107*

Rupinder Sidhu (Raiders) 108*

MattStoddart(Toongabbie) 102

MattDyke(Ex Students) 118

David Pryde(Ex Students) 100*

Dale Fleming (CATS) 107

Evan Sheekey (Moe)107

RobSemmler (Morwell) 109

Declan Wilson (CATS) 112*

Paul Henry(Glengarry) 136*

Lee Stockdale (Ex Students) 100*

Donald Mcdougall (Latrobe) 144*

Darren Brain (Rovers) 138*

Jamie Kendall (Gormandale) 109*

MarkSmallwood (Gormandale) 105*

FIVE WICKETS

Lee Stockdale (Ex Students) 5/69

TomShippen (Toongabbie) 6/65

LOWER GRADE SCORES

Premier C(Round15): Rawson 8/133 (B Richards 44, LWatson 25, DTobin2/18, STobin2/19) def Churchill 9/131 (S Tobin 60*, DWilkie2/11, MMetcalfe2/17), Imperials 3/114 (D Andjelkovic 36, CFarley28, PDunstan 4/29, JJones 3/15, LBalalrishnan 2/17) def Toongabbie 112(AAshlin 37,A Domaille 2/35), Mirboo Nth 257 (P Woodall 66, DShields 42, KToogood 42, JSpeed 36, T Miller-Mowat5/26) defGlengarry226 (J Lawrence 72, J Hodson 45, TMiller-Mowat34, BClark 25, PBanks 2/10, PWoodall 2/30, JSpeed 2/45), Moe 8/168 (R Straughair 83, NKeltie 40, CJohnson 3/24) def Morwell 9/139 (J Cook 33, CVeenman 4/14, NKeltie 2/28), Ex Students 2/148 (M Bentley52*, MCropley51*) def Centrals 146(B Doble57, BHowlett 28, NMillington 4/29, TKosterman 3/35, CAshton 2/24). CGrade (Round 15): CATS 5/293 (C Beaver87, R Hendrix62, THarrup 55*, SWebley45, ZLong 4/47) def Raiders 7/94 (L Wilson 2/11), Latrobe 0/174 (N Brewer 87*, DMcdougall 76*) def Imperials 170(MBoothey 122, ASmith 4/28, SWernham 3/19, VPeddinti 2/20), Gormandale 4/63 (J Cecil 2/12, DGregor 2/15) def Jeeralang-Boolarra62 (J Ainsworth5/13, BPeavey3/10), Rovers 3/178 (G Greenway87*, DCanning 54*, DBrain 27) def Traralgon West 7/177 (S Varsaci 71*, GGreenway 3/37), Willow Grove- bye

MIRBOO NORTHVLATROBE at Mirboo North Turf

LATROBE 1STINNINGS TOTAL 8dec 223 (84 overs)

MIRBOO NORTH 1STINNINGS BOWLING

BHeath 14-7-44-1, LChila 8-3-19-0, DMathews10-2-23-1, FIngram 20-10-22-1, GFairbairn 18-3-68-3,DBanks 14-3-36-2

MIRBOO NORTH 1STINNINGS (RES 0/11)

CAnders cE Hopper bR Webber 21 FIngramc ABloomfield bJ Bloomfield 14 LChila cR Chokununga bABloomfield 11 NThillekarathna lbwJBloomfield 8 ZHollis cABloomfield bI Terrick 100 BHeath not out 45 GFairbairn c&b ITerrick 8

1STINNINGS BOWLING

RNoble 10-0-49-0, RWebber 12-4-22-1, JBloomfield 9-1-38-2, ABloomfield 6-3-23-1, LDuncan6-2-21-0, EHopper 4.3-1-14-0, ITerrick 9-0-31-2, SFreshwater 6-0-25-0

Mirboo North wonbyfour wickets on first innings

TRARALGONWESTVGORMANDALE at Jack CanavanOval

GORMANDALE 1STINNINGS TOTAL (58.4 overs) 92 TRARALGON WEST1ST INNINGS BOWLING

TyronGamage (Centrals) 5/35

RoyceColgrave (Moe)6/16

Keenan Hughes (Raiders) 5/45

HarveyRogers-Collen (Raiders) 5/22

Yohan Soyza (Gormandale) 7/18

Sandeep Kangana Gedara (Latrobe) 5/9

Joel Randall (Imperials) 6/7

Jack Robertson (Ex Students) 5/18

TimmyMiller-Mowat(Glengarry) 5/26

Kyah Murtagh (Ex Students) 5/22

TimFord(Morwell) 5/38

DarcyWalsh (WillowGrove) 5/46

Keenan Hughes (Raiders) 5/38

ZackO'Connell (Thorpdale) 6/23

Liam Gibbons (Centrals) 5/26

TimFord(Morwell) 8/50

JimmyPryde (Ex Students) 7/9

CamGraham (Glengarry) 5/31

Alfie Peck (Traralgon West) 5/19

Buddhima Dissanayake (Gormandale) 5/95

Lucas Vanderzalm (Mirboo North) 5/19

Keenan Hughes (Raiders) 7/17

Connor Hughes (Traralgon West) 5/22

Jesse Berryman-Lambert (Raiders) 5/24

Jake Ainsworth(Gormandale) 5/12

JamesPorter(Glengarry) 5/18

RobertGray(Morwell) 5/11

SteveCarney(Rovers)5/24

MarcMetcalfe(Rawson) 6/18

Liam Duncan (Latrobe) 5/30

Jake Ainsworth(Gormandale) 5/21

Matilda Freeman(Morwell) 5/9

Thursday, February19

Women’s Championship (Round 16): Raiders3/143 (M Quinn 31*, DKing30*) def Rovers 4/26, Morwell 2/114 (N Freeman 30*, BClymo 27) def Centrals 3/79 (K Doble 30*, CMayberry2/7), WillowGrove 0/90 (N Savige 32*, H Ferguson 29*) def Traralgon West 3/81 (L Ronalds 31*), Toongabbie 1/87 (A Robinson 32*) def Churchill 2/83 (T Vallance 29*, DPattinson 29). Women’s Premier (Round 16): Raiders2/78(MWinter 31*, MKearns 2/16) def Churchill 6/71 (Z QuinseyMunro3/12, EWebb2/18), Centrals 4/86 (K Collins 30*, IWilliams 2/12) def Imperials 3/83 (R Reid 30*, T McConnell 2/17), WillowGrove 0/46 def Latrobe 44 (T Anderson 4/13, Rvan der Stoep 2/7), Ex Students -bye

Juniors

Under 16 (Round 11;Friday, Feb13 &20): Mirboo Nth/ Jeeralang-Boolarra5/228 (C Stanton 51*, JCalafiore50*, OO’Brien 40, JHowell2/25) defMorwell/Latrobe 109(J Howell 53*, CStanton 4/10, OStanton 2/9, JCalafiore 2/10), Rovers/Gormandale 6/170 (K Senthilkumar 51*, J Bull 37,SBreddels 25, AGore2/17, TChurchill 2/32), def Ex Students 129(TChurchill 40, KSenthilkumar 3/25, J Armstrong 3/43, CBoyes 2/10), Centrals 137(AHurley47, CMoncrieff34, SRajapakse 30, CYoung 3/8, OJohnson 3/9, SFernando 2/25) def Toongabbie 82 (KMorrison 3/9, CMoncrieff2/18), Willow Grove8/184 (N Sallee 51*,M

CRICKETLATROBEVALLEY

APeck 21.4-9-32-4, JCooke 7-3-14-1, BFleming 11-4-21-1, HKimpton 8-5-11-1, RFalla 11-5-11-3

TRARALGON WEST 1STINNINGS (RES 5/85)

R Wilkie lbwBDissanayake 11

CGlynn c&b YSoyza 19

BBrightcunknown bY Soyza 2

JMonacella cB Fulham bB Dissanayake 15

HKimpton cCBettsworth bY Soyza 35

BFleming bY Soyza 0 STreasurec CPolo bY Soyza. 9 APeck not out 46

LBerminghamc unknownb YSoyza 0 JCooke bY Soyza. 3

BLever-Makin not out 2 Sundries (0b 0lb 0w 0nb) 0 TOTAL (43 overs 9/146

GORMANDALE 1STINNINGS BOWLING

BDissanayake 17-2-76-2, CWhite1-0-13-0, YSoyza20-8-18-7, J Armstrong 3-0-11-0, RFarley 2-0-28-0

GORMANDALE 2NDINNINGS

JBull cunknown bA Peck 1

0

BDissanayake cunknown bA Peck 6

CWhitecJMonacella bBFleming 2 RFarley not out 5 Sundries (4b 1lb 0w 0nb). 5 TOTAL(61 overs) 8dec 145

TRARALGON WEST 2NDINNINGS BOWLING

APeck

22-8-56-4, LBermingham 2-1-4-1

22-6-48-3, JCooke 6-1-12-0, HKimpton 9-4-20-0, BFleming

TRARALGON WEST 2NDINNINGS (TARGET91)

CGlynn cC Whiteb BDissanayake 3

HKimpton cCPeaveybB Dissanayake. 0 JMonacella not out 11

APeck not out 4

Sundries (0b 0lb 0w 0nb) 0

TOTAL (8 overs) 2/26

GORMANDALE 2NDINNINGS BOWLING

YSoyza 3-1-6-0, BDissanayake3-0-9-2,C White1-0-2-0, CPolo 1-0-1-0

Traralgon West wonbyfive wickets on first innings RAIDERSVCATS at Yinnar Turf CATS 1STINNINGS

TOTAL (35.4 overs) 70 RAIDERS 1STINNINGS BOWLING

KHughes18-4-38-5, WRobertson 17.4-8-30-4

RAIDERS 1STINNINGS BATTING (RES 4/158)

GCheshirec NHarrup bT Panyangara 10

MHiggins cJ Bellingham bT Panyangara 45

TRobertson cJMooreb BHagley 17

LMaynardnot out 73

HRogers-Collen cEPorigneaux bBHagley 23

THood cT Panyangara bDFawcett 5

KHughescBHagley bDFawcett 14 ASilva cEPorigneaux bDFawcett 3

WRobertson not out 20 Sundries (5b 3lb 4w 0nb) 12

TOTAL (70 overs). 7dec 222 CATS 1STINNINGS BOWLING

TPanyangara24-6-59-2, JMoore 3-0-19-0, BHagley 20-5-52-2, E Pass 3-0-15-0, JBellingham 5-0-31-0, DFawcett 10-5-19-3

Todd Mann (Imperials) 5/58

Dane Fawcett(CATS)6/35

Simon Duff (Rovers) 6/22

Alfie Peck (Traralgon West) 5/96

Keenan Hughes (Raiders) 5/43

Arun Antony(Latrobe) 5/31

Keenan Hughes (Raiders) 7/26

Yohan Soyza (Gormandale) 5/50

RobertWebber(Latrobe) 5/41

Gayashan Munasinghe (Toon) 5/51

Charlie Pilling (Imperials) 5/21

Andrew Winter (Glengarry) 5/21

Jie Armstrong (Gormandale) 5/30

SonnyDarby(Raiders) 5/10

Jake Zappulla (Ex Students) 8/11

Kade Hebbard(Latrobe) 5/22

Craig Boswell (Moe) 6/30

ShevanFernando (Toongabbie) 5/5

Shane Breddels (Rovers/Gormy) 5/10

RoyceColgrave (Moe) 6/42

Lee Stockdale (Ex Students) 7/14

Ben Edebohls (WillowGrove) 6/11

Ben Fleming (Traralgon West) 5/3

MattStoaddart(Toongabbie) 5/11

Jagbir Dhillon (Raiders) 5/20

Waseem Mohammed (Latrobe) 5/24

DarrenBrain (Rovers) 7/15

Angus Murdoch (Moe) 5/3

Cooper Stanton (Mirboo North/ JB) 5/11

Josh Pearson (Toongabbie) 5/16

Connor Hughes(Traralgon West) 6/21

Xavier Hurley(Toongabbie) 5/7

Boothman 37,L Walsh 25, KMicallef 3/18, MWhittaker 2/19, HSchultz 2/22) def Moe 182(BCake51*, KMicallef 50*, LHeiss 2/19, LDart2/46), Raiders-bye Under 14 girls (semi-final;Friday, Feb20): WillowGrove 3/84 def Morwell 5/79. Under 14 (Round 12;Wednesday, Feb11&18): Raiders/Latrobe 9/80 (W Frankland 3/22, LBell 2/8) def Morwell 72 (W Frankland 41, JMorsink 3/7,BBremner 2/4, BMcKay 2/12), Centrals 5/142 (C Howlett50*, M Whittaker3/14)def Moe 8/97 (J Romyn28, ECook 3/20, CHowlett2/7), Ex Students Gummy211 (C Adams 80*, ARobertson 30, DJoseph 3/19, HPhillips 2/8, A Green 2/24) def Traralgon West 8/163 (H Rawson 52*, PMcQuillen 42, MInglis2/7,L Mackay2/10), Imperials/ CATS 5/185 (M Cochrane 37*, CMilligan 34*, SMcCrorey 2/23) def WillowGrove 85, Ex Students Tiger 3/255 (J Churchill 51*, TFerguson 50*, BFalham 44, AShine 37) def Jeeralang-Boolarra138 (T Blake52, EConlan 30, K Murtagh 5/22), Churchill -bye Under 12 (Round 11;Monday, Feb16): Ex Students Great Whites 4/69 (A Brar 2/8) def Centrals 45 (R Morley 2/2, RBurge 2/3), Mirboo Nth 7/90 (J Stephens 3/10, JGray2/7)def WillowGrove 3/85 (JStephens 29*), Moe 3/79 (M Holden 2/20) def Morwell 5/44 (DGrose 3/1), CATS 3/114 (J Tomholt 30*, def Imperials 2/75, Ex Students Hammerheads 2/96 def Raiders7/84,Traralgon West -bye

No harm addingthisexperience

FOOTBALL

GIPPSLAND LEAGUE

BY LIAM DURKIN

THE worst-kept secret in local footy was confirmed lastweek, after Moe announced the signing of Melbourne premiership player James Harmes.

The Lions officially secured Harmes last Friday (February 20) following afrantic 24 hours.

Harmes, who walked away from the Western Bulldogs with ayear to run on his AFL contract, was linked to home club Devon Meadows, before agreeing to play in Gippsland.

Speculation of Harmes coming to Moe started a fortnight ago shortly after he announced his AFL retirement.

He is best mates with new Moe recruit Blake Mullane, played with formerMoe coachDeclan Keilty at Melbourne, and has connections to Moe through the Gelagotis racing stable.

Harmes also visitedMoe anumberoftimes when Melbourne teammateand mentor Bernie Vince played for the Lions during the 2019 season. It is understood Harmes, 30, was encouraged by Vince to play for Moe to escape the rat race of metro footy.

As they say, timing is everything. Harmes was announced on the same day Dustin Martin was reported to have signed with Murray River-based club Yarrawonga, offering Moe aperfectdistraction

In aslightly humorous coincidence, Devon Meadows Football-Netball Club also had its club golf day last Friday.

News of the Harmes development would have undoubtedly made for aless enjoyable round, and the amount of alcohol consumed likely contributed to some tense comments online.

While adding aplayer of Harmes'experience (174 AFL games) will boost the Lions'premiership credentials,there willbechallenges that comewith landing such abig fish.

Moe playing-coach Leigh Poholke willhave little choice but to drop himself when everyone is available, as player points will be maxed out.

Harmes will attract the maximumsix points, while fellowrecruitsMullane andRiley D'Arcy are three pointers.

The Lions also have ex-AFL players Ben Crocker (five points) and Myles Poholke (two) coming into their second year at Moe,along with imports Nathan Scagliarini, AlexDijkstra and Aaron Paxton who are all still worth more than one point.

Local players Keilty, Brock Smith and Harry Pepper take the number of Moe players with AFL experience to six.

Former Warragul coachand Yarram local Jed Lamb,himself an ex-AFL player, perhaps summed up the feelings of many at the weekend, commenting on the Leader Local Footy post running the Harmes story online: "This is beyond ajoke now." Got

Morwellbreaks 130-year drought (kind of)

BY LIAM DURKIN

FAIR to say this one was along time coming. More than 130 years in fact.

Due to aquirk in fixturing and league affiliations, last Saturday wasactually thefirst timesince 1890 thatMorwell defeatedGlengarry in First XI cricket The Tigers and Magpies now play each other in Cricket Latrobe Valley.

Historically, the clubs previously competed in Central Gippsland (Morwell)and TraralgonDistrict (Glengarry) before the leagues merged in 2023. Part of areport from the Morwell Advertiser, dated November 21, 1890 reads:

Morwell vGlengarry

THE above teams met for the first time this season, to try (indecipherable) for the Cup. The Morwell captain (H Ives) winning thetoss electedtobat first. Johnson and himself facing thetrundling of Lanadowne and WBaker. The partnership lasted averyshorttime, as Johnson wasclean bowledbyWBaker who was breaking from the off. Ives was given out lbwtoLanadowne whichwas very much doubted. Smythe, Graham and Liewelyn all went down for six runsand this

made things look very (indecipherable), but Henry and Kidney looked like making astand, playing good cricket. Eventually, Kidney was bowled for six and Henry was caught and bowled for four.

The rest of the report is impossible to read as the writing is smudged.

Morwell Cricket Club historian Mark Smith, through his research,has found Ives was agun for hire who played for several clubs and scored a few centuries. Charlie Smythe was also an early champion player for Morwell.

Downtown Morwell and Glengarry both probablyhad asimilar amount of shops then as they do now. The game would have been at the Morwell Showgrounds, which is just abit south of where the KeeganStreet oval currently sits. Two sibling trees of the old Morwell Showgrounds oval still remain today along the freeway boundary.

You can justhear the ghostsofcricket past saying "the standard was better back then".

The standard of 19th century sports writing certainlywasn't though -ifthe above is any indication. Changingtenses,missing first names,and not even telling the reader where the game was played arejust afew errors in the short dispatch.

How little has changed though -the poor umpires were copping it even back then: "Ives was given out lbw to Lanadownewhich was very much doubted."

God only knows whatan1890sdummy spit looked like.

Perhaps this is where the phrase "taking his bat and ball and going home" comes from.

Midweek semis

BOWLS STRZELECKI NORTH

MIDWEEK PENNANT BY MICHAEL HOLROYD

MIDWEEK semi-finalswere played Tuesday, February 17 in Strzelecki North. Division1 saw Newborough defeat Traralgon RSL 64 to 39 with all rinks up. Sammy Atkinsonand her rinkofMo Leighton, Craig Flanigan and Alan Grubb defeated Ross Sizeland 22-11. Phil Mustoe defeated Maurie Sutcliffe 25-15 and Sheryl Atkinson defeatedMargaret Gibbins 17-13 Traralgon RSL will play Trafalgar in the preliminary final after they defeated Traralgon, also with all rinks up 70-39. Nathan Cook and his rink of Pat Tatterson, Noel Rubenstein and David Cook defeated Kathy Smiles 25 9. Matt Shreyer defeated TrevorJames 27-13 and IanMiles defeated James Scullin 18-17.

 IN Division 2, Morwell defeated Newborough (2) 54-49 to progress to the Grand Final.

Danny McKeown and his rink of Shirley Skinner,AlexMonroe and Max Aumann defeated Trevor Kennedy 23-11, while for Newborough (2), Robert Cook defeated Col Grant 18-13 and Paul Gallagher defeated Steve Collins 20-18.

Newborough(2) will playTraralgon (2) in the preliminary final after they defeated Neerim District63-61 in avery closegame Ian Wills and his rink of Karen Hodgens, Darrell Curnikand Carolyn Roscholler defeated Julie Adams 21-17. Neerim District won two rinks, with Pat Fraser-Aurisch winning 24-23 and KarrenSheers 20-19, leaving Traralgon (2) the winner by two shots.

 IN Division 3, Longwarry defeated Warragul (2) 85-52 to progress to the decider. Trevor Kitchin and his rink of Jan Aubrey, Dale Weller and Graeme Aubrey won 33-12. Jason Lieshout won 27-16 and Richard Ross 25-24. Warragul (2) will play in the preliminary final against Morwell (2), who defeated Drouin (3) 69-44. Bob Wilson and his rink of Denise Pigdeon, Lyn Johnston and John Bradbury won 30-6 and Ian Auld 22-20. For Drouin (3), Dennis Daniels won 19-17.  IN Division 4, Garfield defeated Traralgon RSL (2) 90-39 to progress to the Grand Final. Gwen Fabris and her rink of Lex Taylor, Cheryl Breteler and Bob Lasmport won 37-15. Alan White 25-11 and Malcolm Newham 28-13. Traralgon RSL (2) will play in the preliminary final against Yallourn North, after they defeated Morwell (3) 75-41. Len Middling and his rink of Di Bertoli, Stephen Brien and Russell Center won 33-14. Ray Decarli won18-16 and Rod Dixon 24-11.  IN Division 5, Drouin (4) defeated Morwell (4) 50-28 to progress to the Grand Final. Stephen Kennedy won 26-14 and Geoff Pattison 24-14. Morwell(4) will play in thepreliminary final againstNeerim District (2) who defeated Warragul (3) 43-28. Graeme Wingrove won 31-7 and for Warragul (3). William Clarke won 21-14.

Early Power coach remembered

FOOTBALL

BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

FORMER Richmond footballer and Gippsland Power coach Trevor Wilson died recently.

After adecorated junior career career (three premierships and abest-and-fairest), Wilson featured in duel VFLgames for the Tigers in 1970.

Wilson's VFL debutagainst Fitzroy,inwhich they lost to the Lions by 26 points, had aclass above watchingonwith Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in attendance.

During his time for the Richmond reserves, Wilson played 33 games for areturn of 60 goals.

Finding himself at apowerhouse club, winners of five flags between 1967 and 1980, the young rover wouldhavefound it difficult to break into asidewhich alreadyfeatured the legendary Kevin Bartlett in the middle.

Following on from his time at Tigerland, Wilson made stopsatFootscray (for his

final VFL appearance), Williamstown, Bena, Dandenong, Korumburra and Pakenham. He most notably took outa leaguebestand-fairest in the now defunct Bass Valley (Wonthaggi District) Football League in 1974, and coached Korumburra and Pakenhamto premierships.

After leading the Bullants (Korumburra) to consecutive West Gippsland FL flags in 1976 and 1977, completingahat-trick of premierships for the club, Wilson then jumped ship to coach rival Pakenham to the 1982 premiership. Wilson had success at both Bena and Korumburra long before the clubs merged in 2001.

Following his playing days and club coaching, Wilson then had asuccessfulrun in junior programs, includingasGippsland Power's second-ever U18scoach in 1994, as well as coaching aVictorian representative U15 side. Wilson's family revealedthathediedon February 14 at Armitage House, Wonthaggi. He was 75.

Cricket community builds new picket fence

CRICKET

CLV

BY LIAM DURKIN

BANKSY'S gettin' wickets.

Fonz is clearin' pickets.

Choco's just the best we've ever seen.

Breaking out into song seems most appropriate at Mirboo North Cricket Club, which is now just about the most picturesque on the local circuit.

The ground, situated at the bottom of an embankment, has abrand new picket fence running along theeastern side

The fence adds to the country charm of the venue, with the huge embankment on the opposite side left untouched to retain its unique aesthetic.

There is also apractical element, with balls hit toward the bushland now havingsomething to stop them.

Thefence has been acommunityundertaking, with donations exceeding $35,000 to see it come to fruition.

Club members and past players have helped with the installation.

Through the 'Pitch in for aPicket' initiative, people have the opportunity to purchase awhite picket to help form part of the fence line.

With aturf wicket, bowling green outfield and electronic scoreboard, the new picket fence complements the ground greatly.

Primeviewing is also availableatMirboo North, with players and cars able to look directly below onto the field of play.

Great addition: Mirboo Northcricketers

Batsmen always haveextraincentivetoscore runsatMirboo North we well.The walk back up the hill can be especially demoralising following an early dismissal (speakingfrompersonal experience).

Pitch in for aPicket is still taking donations.

Donors purchasing afence panel will be recognised witha silver plaque engraved with their name, business or group on the picket.

To donate, visit: https://pitchinforapicket.com.au/ Wereany Mirboo players robbedofgettinga mention in the song lyrics?

Maybe Speedy, Damo, Ubby, Smity, Jed, Steve Rogers, Snelly, Wisey et al.

It's still not the most famous song ever sung up there though.

Teams decided for local bowls showdown

BOWLS STRZELECKI NORTH WEEKEND PENNANT

BY MICHAEL HOLROYD

TRAFALGAR defeated Longwarry at Traralgon in the Division 1Strzelecki North bowls preliminary final at the weekend.

Ian Miles and his rink of Noel Rubenstein, Mich Fleming and David Cook defeatedIan Peterson and his rink of Grant Pask, Jason Lieshout and Trevor Kitchin 22 to 14.

Nathan Cook and his rink of Peter Rosenboom,Tim Fraser and Chris Bortignon defeated Dave Ashby andhis rink of JodieAshby,GraemeAubrey and CraigCousin 25-20.

Matt Schreyer and his rink of Graham Hill, Ted Kuklinsky and Adam Proctor defeated Glenn Park and his rink of Jan Aubrey, Dale Weller and Ken White 19-18.

Longwarry had awinner in Ken Towt and his rink of Hank Metselaar, Richard Ross and Russell White who defeated Tommy Lodge and his rink of Matt Ogilvie, Matt Leicester andMattCouts 25-19 leaving Trafalgar the winners 85-7. Trafalgar go on to to play Traralgon in the Grand Final.

 DIVISION 2

MOE rebounded againstTraralgon(2) at Warragul with Jayde Leech and his rink of John Williams, Barry Hawkettand Michael Smogavec defeating Julian Wildenberg 25-9.

John Westerlo and hisrink of Dave Wurlod, Darren Kane and John 'Banger'Harveydefeated Garry Trewin 23-20.

Steve Pallot and his rink of Janine Williams, Jeff Thompson and Flynn Pallot defeated Abe Roeder 25-15.

Completing the cleansweep for Moe, SandyCaines

and his rink of Billy Nisbet,Chris Goldsbrough and Lachlan Sim defeated Austin Gapper 23-18 as Moe won 96-62.

Moe goes on to play Boolarra in the Grand Final.

 DIVISION 3

NEWBOROUGH(2) defeated Longwarry (2) at Yinnar, with Paul Gallagher and his rink of Bob Goldie, Tony Knipping and Lisa Arnold defeating John McCarthy 21-15.

Robbert Cook and his rink of Liam Jones, Michael Weatherall and WayneArnold defeated Simon Counsel 24-20.

Alan Ryan and his rink of Fran Clark, Jesse Hebbardand Barry Daley defeated Gerard Mitchell 21-18.

For Longwarry (2), Mark Serong and his rink of Peter Beechey, Chris Butler and Peter Lieshout defeatedTrevor Kennedy 22-18,leavingNewborough (2) winners 80-75.

Newborough (2) goesontoplay Trafalgar (2) in theGrand Final.



DIVISION 4

NEWBOROUGH (3) defeated Yarragon at Traralgon with Peter Policha and his rink of Chris Wagstaff, Maurie Ludlow and Ed Whelan defeating Sam Mazza 32-15.

Albert Van Stekelenburg and hisrinkofBrian Carp enter, Mary Whela na nd Bria nMilkins defeated Kevin McLaren 23-15.

Kevin Myrteza and his rink of Di Slayford, John Wasiukiewicz and SpencerGossdefeated Jason Roberts 22-18.

Gerry Wan Duin and his rink of Colin Croot, CarmelGoss and Alan Luckdefeated Richard Polmear 21-14 ,m ak in gi ta clean sweep for Newborough (3) as they won 98-62. Newborough goes on to play Warragul (2) in the Grand Final.

 DIVISION 5

TRARALGON(5) defeated Garfield (2) at Warragul, with Mick Reynolds and his team of Brett Sandy, Noel Murray and Ingrid Snell defeating Brian Fox 31-6.

Ron Hales andhis rinkofKelvinJames, Bill Justin and Max Cumming defeated Gwen Fabris 19-15.

For Garfield (2), Rick Sillett and his rink of Frank Prins, Les Dawes and Rob Matthews defeatedDavid Karsky 23-15,leaving Traralgon(5) winning65-44. Traralgon goes on to play Morwell(3) in the Grand Final.



DIVISION 6

LONGWARRY (3) defeated Morwell Club (2) at Yinnar, withSharonTwite and her rinkofElio Magetto, Andrew Parker and RonaldTeGiffel defeating Bob Pelchen 34-6.

Morwell Club (2) fought back with Geoff Unwin andhis rink of David Stobbart, David Evans and Chris Fox defeating William Cook 34-14.

Beryl Noblett and her rink of Iyoko Yoshimura, Michael Radfordand Glenn Rogersdefeated Graham Woolstencroft19-18, leaving Longwarry (3) the winners 65-58.

Longwarry (3) go on to play Newborough (4) in the Grand Final.

DIVISION 7



BOOLARRA (3) defeated Morwell (5) at Traralgon with Mandi Peter and her rink of Ashley Baker, Michael Williams and RyanLaukens defeating Alan Murum 41-9 in the biggest victory of the day.

ForMorwell (5), Phillip Butler and his rink of Eva Brinsmead, Daryl Coleman and Max Bloomfield defeated Scott Gregor 23-12 as Boolarra (3) won 53-32.

Boolarra plays Drouin (4) in the Grand Final in the only match which is not arepeat of the second semi-finals.