Gippsland United senior men’s basketball team celebrates after winning the Big V Division 1 premiership The victory brought not only a flag, but also a long-awaited return to the Championship Division The Traralgon-based club will now be represented in the top-tier of Victorian state basketball for the first time since 20 09.
MORE -PAGES 42-43
By AIDAN KNIGHT
THE Latrobe Valley could soon swap smokestacks for skyports, with Swinburne University using a Morwell conferencetopitchthe region as the home base of Australia’s next great industry: Advanced Air Mobility (AAM).
Swinburne recently held an all-day conference covering the potential future of air industries in the Latrobe Valley, titled 'Introduction to Advanced Air Mobility'.Hosted by the Morwell Innovation Centre, around 40 participants from various organisations attended lectures from what was described on the day as "Australian aerospace royalty".
Amultitude of topics and programs were discussed, all centred around future advancements in air mobility both as aservice and business.
Howev er, everyon e's attenti on on the day was focusedonthe future of the Latrobe AAM Technology Precinct.
Speaking passionately on this was Peter Smith, aleadingfigure in Australian aerospace.Boasting an impressiveresume as aveteran of the sector
who has served as vice president of the Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems, Director of the Association of UnmannedVehicle Systems International (AUVSI), and aglobal defence and aerospace consultant, his message to the Valley was simple: why not build the future of aviation here?
Mr Smith effectively pitched to the room that theLatrobe Valley should become the producer of Advanced Air Mobility for the rest of Australia.
This is abroad concept that encapsulates many sectors, Smith explained, but essentially would mean the production, development and implementation of anew variety of small aircraft that produces zero emissions.
AAM as aconcept are large, unmanned drones, utilising digitalised development and vertical take-off and landing,
While there are multiple variations on design, AAM are constructed from advanced composite material, rather than aheaviersteel or aluminium, and fly autonomously, utilising amultitude more propellers than what is accustomed to thinking of
smallaircraft, whichMrSmith explained "arethe most dangerous ways to travel".
An AAM is "a helicopter, but safer, quieter and more sustainable".
The ultimategoal once implementedisthatAAM be poweredfrom adistributed electric battery and hydrogen propulsion.
In October 2024, Toyota invested $500 million into Joby Aviation,acompany developingAAM as an electric air taxi brand, or as Peter Smith put it, "Uber in the sky".
Interestingly, the AAM concept was first coined by Uber itself in 2017, under 'UberElevate', before the company withdrew in 2020 after development took longer than expected.
The first certified AAM originated in China last year, and is expected to be certified by early 2026.
SwinburneisurgingAustralia to undertake measures and investments allowing the nation to be at the forefront of this certification, being one of the first countries to rollout what they see as an inevitable, innovative technology.
This technology is important to Australia, particularly regional areas, as regionalairports are declining in their current state, with only Mildura currently being accessible for passenger planes from Tullamarine.
The successful introduction of AAM couldpresent anew mode of transport bypassingthe cities, across the country,connecting region-to-region,more effectively than ever before.
If city commute was the desire, Mr Smith saysthis couldbedone from Morwell in about 40 minutes flat -better than any iteration of the Gippsland train line.
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ADVANCED Air Mobilitycan land and take off from any paddock, oval, field or cattle station, making it ahighly flexible transport with the capability forpostal, medical, and emergency services uses as well.
"AAM can be used to get results back to patients quicker, transport bloods, organs and other important resources, safer and more efficiently," Smith said during the session.
"It can be used for traffic control and fighting bushfiresand evaluatingawide range of emergency scenarios.
This is technology currently being researched by NASA, The European Union, the United Arab Emiratesgovernment, and manyother bodies,and withthe current trajectory of Chinaand Australia, experts are estimating 41 per cent of the market by 20245 will originate from South East Asia.
Latrobe City has been working with Swinburne to develop an integration of AAM into the existing aero industrysince 2023, with much of the groundworkinthis partnership doneunder previous council mayor, Kellie O'Callaghan.
Upon announcingthis partnership in March 2023, Ms O'Callaghan said, “As our region transitions from the traditional industriesthat have underpinned our economy, we need to look towards new industry and be innovative in our thinkingof what the jobs of the future look like."
This perspective has been carried by now-mayor
Dale Harriman and his team of councillors, four of whom were in attendance to hear of the benefits of AAM.
While the potential is enormous,experts caution there are significant challenges ahead.
AAM technology is still in its early stages, and fully autonomous flight carriesinherent safety risks.
Beyond proving safety cases, developers must secure large-scale funding, overcome the limits of current battery density, and earn public trust. Certification frameworks remain underdeveloped,
and integrating new aircraft into national airspace willrequire careful coordination withexisting aviation systems.
So while nobody’s promising flying DeLorean's just yet, locals could be forgiven for thinking the Valley’sfuture looks alittle more back to the future than back to the drawing board.
The attraction zero-emission aspect of the plan alsocompletelyeliminates Doc Brown yelling something about 1.21 gigawatts, as well.
Swinburne's currentprojected timelinefor commercial operations of AAM within Australia is 2027, which they estimate will be successfully hydrogen powered ayear after.
The researchers are aiming for the firstcertified autonomous passenger carrying by the end of the decade.
As Mr Smith said to the group plainly, "the Jetsons got it right, and it could mean tremendous things for the Latrobe Valley."
PASSERS-BY driving through Traralgon may have noticed developments taking place near the train station.
The new 7-Eleven service station is coming to town, at the site of the previous United.
The station is scheduled to open tomorrow (Thursday, August 28).
The company says thismarks an important step in itsregional expansion acrossthe LatrobeValley and wider Gippsland region.
The store will create around 12 new local jobs, with astore leader and team from the community readytowelcome customers day and night.
Located in avibrant and growingregionalcentre, the Traralgonstoreofferslocalsand travellers24/7
access to fuel, freshly groundcoffee, food-to-go, everydayessentialsand digital services including theMy7-Eleven app with fuel price lock feature.
Wherever possible, local contractors and supplierswere engagedinthe store’s construction and fit-out, helping to keep investment circulating within the Gippsland region.
“We’re proud to open our first full-format store in Traralgon, athriving community withastrong local economy and growing population,” a7-Eleven spokesperson said. “Our team lives locally and knows this community well, which meanswe’re able to tailorour offer to suit the needs and preferences of Gippsland residents.
"This store embodies our mission to be my
convenient neighbourhood store for Australians, offering quality, choice and convenience right on the doorstep.”
Customers are encouraged to download the My 7-Eleven app to enjoy the fuel price lock offer. The first 1000 customers to shop at the Traralgon store and scan their My 7-Eleven app will receive aspecial giveaway.This launch follows ayear of serving the Gippsland community through amicroformat store at the Opal Paper Mill in Maryvale, supporting more than 300 local workers. Looking ahead,7-Elevencontinues to explore opportunities to openmorestoresregionally, bringing convenience and choice to even more local neighbourhoods around Australia.
By AIDAN KNIGHT
APOLICE helicopter circling above Mid Valley Shopping Centre caused asensation recently.
The chopp er wa ss pott ed around 2pm on Tuesday, August 12.
Reports initially came through that police units were becoming aware of astolen vehicle in the Morwell area around 12.30pm, after observing a white Hilux being driven in erratic fashion.
The car was allegedly abandoned on the Princes Highway median strip, close to Tramway Road.
The occupant was not nearby when police arrived on the scene, but locals allege to have seen aman running from Bunnings at Mid Valley towards the directionofMorwell McDonald's on Princes Drive.
Up to 10 officerswere then seenscanningon foot across the grasslands between these areas, whilethe chopper circled overhead in searchof the driver of the alleged stolen Hilux.
Police continued to patrol the area, and the
By LIAM DURKIN
ERIN Patterson was back in court last Monday and Tuesday (August 25/26).
Friends and familyofthe victims killed by Ms Patterson's death cap mushroom-laced beef wellingtons were given the chance to speakabout the impact the crimehas had on their lives.
Details of the proceedings happened after the Express went to press.
At adirections hearing in Melbourne's Supreme Courtearlierthis month,Justice Beale set the date for apleahearing ahead of sentencing.
It was expected alarge number of Victim Impact Statements were to be read out by family, friends and both legal teams in Melbourne's Supreme Court this week.
Ms Patterson was required to attend court.
Ms Patterson was last monthfound guilty of murdering three of herin-laws and attempting to murder another via a beef wellington lunch lacedwith death cap mushrooms in 2023.
The marathon 10-weektrial thrust Morwell under the global spotlight.
The accused has maintained her innocence, saying the deaths were atragic accident.
The plea hearing wasnot held in Morwell due to maintenance works at the venue. Express journalist, Liam Durkin was in Melbourne on Tuesday, and will have afull report for next week's paper.
Express was informedhewas apprehended around midnight (August 12) in Morwell.
Police then revealed the perpetratorwas a 36-year-old Pakenham male,accused of acquiring the vehicle via aggravated carjacking in Glen Iris earlier that morning.
The accused confronted the ownerofthe Hilux at his Charles Street address in the Eastern suburb at 5.30am on the Tuesday, as he was backing out of his driveway.
The ownerwas then threatenedwithasharp object of some description, and was forced to relinquish his vehicle to the thief.
He is now assisting police with their enquiries.
Eyeinthe sky: ManyMorwell residents were puzzled by thelong hanging birdofsteel scanning over the skies near MidValley.
Photograph supplied
By KATRINABRANDON
LATROBE City was left feeling mightycold on Tuesday, August 19, as the temperature dropped to -2.9 degrees.
Frost covered the grass planes aroundthe Gippsland area during the morning, but the day warmed up closer to lunchtime, before heading back to awintery feeling.
The following day (Wednesday, August 20) also fell below zero in the Latrobe Valley, but did not quite rival the temperature reached the day before.
FIREWOOD thieves who allegedly targeted Tarnagulla State Forest have been tracked more than 290 kilometres to Drouin, where Police and DEECA officers seized their vehicle and phone.
On May 29, it is alleged the men were detected illegally cutting and loading ironbark timber into awhite Nissantipper truck in Tarnagulla State Forest, west of Bendigo.
Authorities say asignificant number of ironbark trees were felled, with the firewood believed to havebeen intendedfor commercial sale.Ironbark provides important habitat for threatened species, including the Swift Parrot.
Following adetailed investigation, DEECA Taskforce Ironbark officers, with supportfrom Victoria Police,executedasearch warrant at a Drouin property on August 7. Atruck and mobile phone were seized.
People are urged to report suspicious firewood activity by calling 136 186. Reports can be made anonymously.
LAT ROB EC rime Inv est igat ion Unit is
Currently, August temperatures are provingtobe averaging lower than thistimelast year, whereas temperaturesinJuly were higher on average. The coldest day of the year so far was May 19, which was -3.9 degrees.
The Bureau of Meteorology(BOM)issued a severe frost warning for temperatures as low as -3 degrees last Wednesday morning.
Despite higher temperatures last month, July sawslightly morerainhit the groundthis year (87.6mm) compared to last year (85.8mm).
investigatinga burglary at aretail business on Church Street, Morwell, earlier this month.
Around 2am on Sunday, July 13, amaleoffender allegedly smashed awindow to gain entry.
Police say the offender stole anumberofmobile phone boxes before realising they were empty. He then took abattery charger before leaving the store.
The offender was last seen riding apushbike towards Hopetoun Avenue, Morwell.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Latrobe Crime Investigation Unit on 5131 5000, or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or submit aconfidentialreportonline at: www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
TRARALGON Police intercepted a29-year-old man in the early hours of Sunday morning (August 24) afterhewas caught drink driving for the fourth time in five years.
The man was pulled over on BreedSt, Traralgon, where he returned apositive preliminary breath testbefore being takentoTraralgonPolice Station, where he returnedanevidentiary reading of 0.103.
Police said the man did not hold alicence
The vehicle he was driving, whichbelonged to his unlicensed girlfriend, wasimpounded for 30 days.
The man will be summonsed to appear in court at alater date.
Leading change: Shadow Minister forHousing RichardRiordan,Member forGippslandSouth, DannyO’Brien,film-maker Jessika Mylne,Quantum Gippsland Housing Suppor ts General Manager, Mitchell Burney, Housing Minister,Harriet Shingand Member forNarracan, Wayne Farnham.
By KATRINABRANDON
MORE than 1500 origami houses were displayed during Homelessness Week (August 4toAugust 10), with the Gippsland Performing Arts Centre (GPAC) hosting the local closing event.
On Friday, August 8, the Gippsland Homelessness Networkgathered at GPAC to talk about and recognise the ongoing issue together.
About 40 people attended the event, including local state politicians.
Quantum’s Gippsland Housing Supports General Manager,Mitchell Burney emceed the event, with local film-makerJessika Mylne,Aunty Eileen Harrison, Member for Narracan,Wayne Farnham, Shadow Minister for Housing, Richard Riordan, Member for Gippsland South, Danny O'Brien, and Member for Eastern Victoria Region and state Housing Minister, Harriet Shing speaking.
Aunty Eileen spoke about her experience with homelessness and her journey to where she is today.
“In the middle of the late 70s, Iprobably would have been about 16, Iran away from home with my boyfriend, who would later become my husband,” she said.
“(The) reason Ileft home was because of domestic
violence.Backinthose days, it was unheard of, and it made me think about my own life.
“Every step that you take forward is astep towards your own hope. You are walking apath that others oncestoodon, and you are not alone in this journey. Remember that it’s not your fault. Chin up, shoulders straight and walk forward.”
According to Mr Burney,therehas been a32 per cent increase in people in Gippsland sleeping rough,and 3644people in thelast year have walked through the doors of the Gippsland Specialist Homelessness Entry Point for housing support.
Across the state,the Victorian Homelessness Network and Cooperationwith thehousing and homelessness peak bodies continue to call for at least 60,000 new social workers to be built in Victoria to meet current demand for social housing waitlists and for theimplementationofabold 10-year national housing and homelessness plan to reduce and end homelessness.
Mr Turney emphasised that society needs to work together to help solve the issue.
Ms Mylne reiterated Mr Turney’s point and followed with her story on the matter.
“This is afull circle moment for me,” she told the crowd.
“At 15-years-old, Ialsoexperienced homelessness. (Now) I'm also aproducer of adocumentary that Imadetoshine awareness on homelessness in Gippsland.
“I'm terrified of the cost of living, I'm terrified of the housing crisis, and I'm terrified that one day my children might add up, end up in the statistics sleeping it rough in our community that we call home.”
After sharing herpersonalconnection to the issue,
Ms Mylne laid down the statistics.
According to Ms Mylne, more than 4000 women over the age of 50 are on the brink of homelessness,and 7500 households in Gippsland are on the priority housing waitlist, withmore than 15 per cent of people across the region sleeping rough in cars, tents or out in the open.
Ms Mylne also mentioned that peoplewho experience homelessness are dying up to 30 years earlier thanthe general population, withthree to four young people aweek dying on the streets, primarily due to suicide.
“As acommunity, we cannolonger lookaway and leave it to the next person or the next election or the next generation,” she said.
“All you need to do is look over there at origami
houses behindmetosee that we are in acrisis. These aren't just paper. They represent real people, real families, desperatelylooking for aplace to call home.”
After recognising Homelessness Week, the group networked and spoke on possible solutions in the warm sun and with asnag in hand.
By KATRINA BRANDON
BRINGING recognition to those who sacrificed it all, Morwell RSL hosted aceremony for Vietnam Veterans Day on Monday, August 18.
Starting at 11.30am, people gathered to pay their respects.
“Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War spanned from1962to1973,approximately 61,000 Australian service personnel served during that period,” Morwell RSL President, Don Fuller said.
“We should, as we always say, let's never forget the sacrifice that not only myself and other guys madeputting that uniform on, but the sacrifice that those guys never came home to see their wives or their grandchildren or get married or see their mum and dad. We've got to remember.”
Within his speech, Mr Fuller recognised the soldiers who had fought, those who had fallen and others who are still alive.
Currently, there are only 15 veterans from Gippsland left standingout of 123 from the Vietnam War.
Recognition and remembrance takes place on August 18 due to the Battle of Long Tan, which was asmall skirmish that took place in arubber plantation near Long Tan in Phuoc Tuy Province, SouthVietnam.
During this battle, DCompany of the 6th Royal Australian Regimentfaced amuch larger force of Viet Cong from the 275th Regiment and D445 Battalion. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the Australian forces, with strong artillery support and resupplybyIroquoishelicopters, successfullyheld off the enemy assault.
The battle resulted in 17 Australians killed and 25 wounded (with one more dying later from wounds).This engagement demonstrated the courage and effectiveness of Australian forces during the Vietnam War, and remains an essential part of Australia's military history.
Mr Fuller also recognisedthe involvement of the
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and the navy during the war.
“We must also remember the Royal Australian Air Force's involvement with its chairman of the 35 Squadron flying their Caribou in supporting roles such as area reconnaissance, personnel,and equipment problems,” he said.
“We also remember the men of ninesquadron flying their Iroquois helicopters, lifting men and equipment in and out of battlezones and the jungle. We should also remember the bombers of two squadrons for their low-level five bombing missions, supportingour troops and groups on the ground.
“I wastold by someone who was supported by that that those moments were bloody close. Atotal of 14 RAAF personnel lost their lives in Vietnam. The Royal Australian Navy's role in Vietnam was sometimes overlooked by the comparison of the army's larger numerical involvement, as well as serving in our ships, navy personnelserved as clearance divers, clearance teams, the navy helicopters, logisticalsupport and medical teams.
“The official records record that over 60,000 served in Vietnam; 523 Australian servicemen died in Vietnam.”
AlongsideMrFuller, Vietnam Royal Australian Engineers veteran,Graham Burgess also stood tall at the ceremony, talking about the work that is being done for local soldiers. Mr Burgess fundraises to provide headstones for Gippsland veterans.
“We found in Gippsland that there are alot of unmarked graves,” Mr Fuller said.
“They deserve to have at least aplaque put on them. Alot of them, when they went or when they passed away, had no families, or no families to be found. Bruce has taken it upon himself over the last probably 15 years to try and recognise these peopleand makesurethatatleastthey've got something over the topofthem, distinguishing that they served our country and they went before us.”
ON behalf of Stroke Foundation, Iwant to extend our heartfeltthanks to newsrooms,journalists, producers and editors across Australiawho helped share our life-saving message during National Stroke Week 2025 (August 4to10) By sharingthe F.A.S.T message on air and online, through stories in print, broadcast interviews with experts, survivors of stroke and their families and carers, you played avital role in educating Australians about the signs of strokeand the importance of acting quickly.
When stroke strikes, it attacks up to 1.9 million brain cells per minute. Thanks to your support, millions of Australiansare now better equipped to recognise the F.A.S.T. signs of stroke and know to call the ambulance without delay:
Face -Check their face. Has their mouthdrooped? Arms -Can they lift both arms?
Speech -Istheir speech slurred? Do they understand you?
Time -Time is critical. Call 000 immediately. Every National Stroke Week story you shared has the potential to save alife.You have helped amplifythe messagethatstrokecan happento anyone, at any age, and that fast action is the key to survival and recovery.
From everyone at Stroke Foundation, and on behalf of the more than 440,000 Australians living with theimpact of stroke around Australia- thank you for standing with us this National Stroke Week!
Dr Lisa Murphy Stroke Foundation Chief Executive
IT'S about time people supportedthe farmers in this dictatorial stateofVictoria
People are struggling to putfood on the table due to the high cost of living. Farmers have been threatened with fines up to $12,000 if they don't allow people to come onto their land to erect transmission lines.There is aproperty in Bendigo that we could put transmission lines through, and another one in Brunswick. I'm sure the owners wouldn't object, would they?
Victorian Energy Minister, Lily D'Ambrosio proposed giving farmerscompensation of $200,000 per kilometre of transmission they hosted, paid in instalments of $8000 per km over 25 years. At the same time, the state government stood to earn $76 million ayear in easement land taxes from Treasury Corporation Victorian on its 240km VNI west route and Ausnet's 190km Western Renewables link, equalto$177,000per km. These transmission lines were going to impact 250 farms and private properties. What would happen to our food if even half of the farmers walked away from their farms? Imagine the cost at the checkout.
Getting deliveries to the shops is becoming more
of atask thanks to cutbacks on road funding. Back in 2023/24, the Allan government slashedroad funding to $37.6million, down from $201.4million the previous year.Nowonder we have potholes on our roads, wrecking the suspension of our vehicles. On topofall this, we have this high-taxing, secretive and deceitful government increasing the fire services levy. Now they are talking about atax on the family home to pay for the SRL. Incidentally, the SRLhas 650staff,102 executivesand was costing $32.9 million in 2023/2024. Imagine the cost today.
Another perceived toll maywellhit trucksusing the West Gate Bridge. Let's not forget the City Link tolls,which Daniel Andrews signed off on, thatwill continuefrom 2035 to 2045 and increase by four per centeachyear after 2035. Tolls,taxes and debtare costing Victoria dearly, and the future is decidedly bleak, especially the cost of living.
Patricia Correa ('Future query', Latrobe Valley Express Opinion, 20/08)and Isee thesamesad future.
Timefor Victoria to openits eyes,support the farmers and give this Victorian Labor government one almighty boot at the next state election.
Brian Mawhinney
Traralgon
AN open letter from Victoria’s greyhound racing power hous etoTasma nian Premier ,Jeremy Rockliff.
Greyhound Racing Victoria and the thousands of participants in this state are standing beside the entire Tasmanian greyhound racing industry today, following your sudden and inexplicable withdrawal of support for our wonderful sport in your state. Recently, you pledgedyourunqualifiedsupportto all three racing codes, including greyhound racing, because you knew how much work has been done by TasRacing to make greyhound racing in your state as safe as it has ever been.
And just 21 days later, you have renegedonthat promise, puttingyour personal ambition above the livelihoods of hundreds of greyhound racing participants in Tasmaniawho loveand care for their greyhounds.
To cave in and side with those who want to ban everything based on no facts is both soul-destroying and incredibly disingenuous for those who believed yourprevious commitments. How can the rankand-file have any faith that you will do what’s in their best interests?
Greyhound racing is athriving sport -we’re seeing that here in Victoria -and that’s because across Australasia,our racingbodies and participants are investing millionsofdollars and time and effort into the continuous improvement of both welfare and integrity outcomes for our beloved greyhounds,
LEBEN Homes hasbuildSpecialistDisability Accommodation (SDA) in Traralgon.
The SDA is especially meaningful for one local woman who waited threeyears in hospital for suitable accommodation. NDIS participant Agatha was the first occupant to arrive at Leben Homes’s tailored SDA in Traralgon,after spending three years in hospital waiting for suitable housing that met her needs.
Agatha was first hospitalised after afall. She didn’t realise it at the time but due to alackofsuitable housing in her area, she would have to wait in that hospital for three years. This extended stay took atoll on her mental health. She remembers the hardest parts of ahospital stay that long were missing the comforts of her home.
“Not being able to see my partner John and our cats every day, strugglingtosleep while in hospital as it was noisy, not being able to care for myself and needing help made me feel sad alot of the time,” she recalled.
Leben Homes first heard about Agatha’s situation ayear into her hospital stay.
“We started working immediately to get asuitable home together,” Leben Homes representative, Danny McGrane said.
“Multi-disciplinaryteams that can work together productively can really get things done in the SDA space.”
Construction on the Traralgon SDA began at the start of 2024, and was completed by November that year. The accommodation was built to fit Agatha’s needs and specifications.
Long waits like Agatha’s for suitable housing is not uncommon when it comes to SDA projects in regional Australia, achallenge made worse when
while also ensuring those greyhounds become the pet of choice for thousands of Australians when they retire.
It is an industry, alifestyle andapassion for thousands of Australians which provides at least 460 full-time equivalent jobs and generates an annual economic contribution of no less than $60 million in your state alone.
The effects of your short-sighted withdrawal of support, however, will ripple and reverberate acrossacountry where more than 14,500 full-time equivalentjobs are sustainedbygreyhound racing and nearly $2.5 billion is contributed to state and territory economies annually.
That’s why our industry here in Victoria and across Australia will stand side by side with our peers in Tasmania and ensure they have our full backing to fight your selfish and ill-conceived decision and ensure their future.
Peita Duncan Greyhound Racing Victoria Chair
"IT does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live."
These words are fromJ.K.Rowling's HarryPotter and the Sorcerer's Stone, and they emphasise the supreme importance of reconciling dreams with reality, or, in the case of building windtowers and solar panels to power our electricity system, reconciling fantasy with engineering reality and thelaws of physics.
To be sure, Australia'sreality-proof Energy Minister, Chris 'Blackout' Bowen, is so convinced, so consumed, so obsessed with his renewables-only pipedream, that he is prepared to utterly neglect and sacrifice the happiness and lives of millions of Australians for some mythical, far-off net-zero Nirvana in 2050.
Iamsurehedoes not realise it, but Bowen is amodern-day Jim Jones leading his deluded followers to doom.
Joseph Lis Morwell
THE Latrobe Valley Express welcomes letters to the editor.
Preference will be given to brief, concise letters which address local issues.
Theeditor Liam Durkin, reserves the right to edit letters for reasonsofspace and clarity, and may refuse to publish any letter without explanation.
The Express does not publish letters from anonymous contributors.
Letters mustinclude aphone number, email address and the author's hometown for purposes of substantiating authenticity.
Readers are entitled to aright of reply to a letter directed at them.
While healthydebate is encouraged, the editor will stamp out any that cross the line to defamation.
Theviews expressed in letters to theeditor are those of the writers, and do not necessarily reflectthe viewsofLatrobe Valley Express management or staff.
Readers should be equally aware that facts presented in letters are selected to support a person's point of view.
As such, statistics can quite often be fabricated depending on the pool of data used or people involved in surveys.
The letters section is designed to allow people to have their say, and not be hijacked for political agendas.
Letters regardingreligion will not be published.
Email letterstonews@lvexpress.com.au and include 'Letter to the Editor' in the subject line.
Deadline for letters is Thursday 3pm.
developersdon’tfully engagewiththe communities they aim to serve.
“You can buildSDA by thebucket load,but if you don’t aim to go beyond standards and if you don’tengage the community, the housing just isn't going to be suitable,” Mr McGrane said.
Finding out she had secured SDA built for her specific needs, Agatha was elated, “I am very thankful to have the house Iliveinnow and the care Iget from my carers.”
Agatha moved in the day the SDA opened, ending her years-long wait for suitable housing.
“I was shocked in agood way,” she said, “I didn't believeIwas goingtoget ahouse like this ever.”
Leben Homes’s Traralgon SDA features two purpose-built homes suitable for participants who require high physical support, fully accessible or improved liveability standards, plus specialised features to support bariatric participants. This includes adjustable heightbenches,private courtyards and generous living spaces.
It was tailored features likethese that struck Agatha the most.
“I love the oven becauseyou can open it from the side and not up and down, how the bench moves up and down, my bedroom is nice and big, but I like spending my time in the lounge area as Iwas not able to do this at my temporaryhouse or at the hospital."
It’s been nine months since Agatha moved in. Her new home has opened anew chapter in her life, one that allows her to focus on her goals.
“I love it, Ifeel it is alot more positive and it is easier to achieve my goals for maintaining my independence in this house," she said.
Join us for a FREE life changing seminar. The aim of the seminar is to empower the community to help deal with those impacted by suicide to help make adifference along with practical ways to help make that happen.
Come and listen to our experienced presenter Mark Bateman.
We will cover;
What are the high risk indicators?
What are the Myths surrounding suicide? What to Say?
How can we care for carers of those with mental health?
How do we support family and friends impacted by suicide?
Anyone is welcome to attend. Each session is tailored to the needs of aspecific audience.
RU OK Day
Thursday 11th September
High Street Community Hub 4High Street, Moe 9:30- 11am Groups &Volunteers Sports, Service Clubs etc 1-2:30pm Professionals Health, Welfare, Education etc 6:30 -8pm Community, Family &Friends
For more information
Please contact Val on 0412 724 990 or scan the QR code
BY JOHN CAMERON
VICTORIANp roperty owners will receive an unwelcomeshock when they receive theirrate notices this month.
There has been asubstantial increase in what was called the ‘Fire Services Property Levy’. It now is politically marketed by the government as the ‘Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund’, but it is essentially amismanagement tax.
The old Fire Services Property Levy was to fundthe CountryFire Authority (CFA)and FireRescue Victoria (FRV).
The new ‘Emer gen cy Ser vic es an d Volunteers Fund’ is to cover other emergency services includingVictorian State Emergency Services (SES), Triple Zero Victoria, Emergency Management Victoria, Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMV), Emergency Recovery Victoria as well as the CFA andFire Rescue Victoria.
Under the newlevy, owners of a typical home with acapital improved value (CIV) of about $885,000, will pay about 40 per cent more than last year and about double what they paid five years ago (Table 1).
The Victorian govern ment has achieved afourfoldincrease in the variable component of the levy by linking it to escalating Capital Improved Value (CIV) and substantially increasing the variable rate applied ($/CIV). The variable component which was previously much smaller, hasincreasedfour-fold over five years and is now larger than the fixed component. CIV typically increases at about 10 per cent pa, so the levy has the potential to grow much faster than property owner’s incomes and other costs.Welcome to abroke government’s creative new taxation initiatives and another setbacktothose struggling to get into home ownership and/or pay off their mortgage.
Theincreaseinthe levy for primary producers is six times higher than home owners, and the increase for commercial and industrial propertiesisover7.5 times higher than for home owners (on asameCIV basis). The year-on-year increaseinthe tax is $5439 for an average Victorian farm valued at $10 million and is $5439 per year and $6669 for asmall industrial property valued at $10 million.
For primary producers, this is a huge tax increase on acohort of CFA volunteers and those frequently burnt out by bushfires escaping frompoorly managed public land. The higher tax on commercialand industrial properties is atax on economic development and the new jobs that creates.
Victoria’s new tax is essentially to pay for mismanagement. It is to cover huge over-spendondisaster control and recovery as aresult of substantial under-spend on mitigation and containment of disasters. Recent bushfires and floods havebeen far worse than normal because of inaction on fire and flood mitigation and also mismanagement. Victorian bushfirelosses in 2019/20
have been attributed to insufficient fuel reduction, tardy fire detection, delayed initial attack and failing to mount suppression withsufficientforce. Twoofthe Tambo complex BlackSummer bushfires of 2019/20 were not detected for many hours after ignition, and initial attack was not mounted until the second and third day after ignition. For two weeks after ignition the Forest Fire Danger index was below 30, considered suitable for effective suppression. However, these two fires went on to burn almost 1 million hectares and added about $300 million to FFMV’s fire expenditure for 2019/20.
Fuel reduction area in Victoria over the last 25 years has been well below five per cent of the forest each year as recommended by the Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission, and the eight per cent called for by fire behaviour experts. Victoria’s effort compares unfavourably againstbestpractise in South West WA (Table 2).
Poor bushfire mitigation and control has contributed to substantially higher average insured bushfire losses in Victoria relative to Western Australia for the period 1957 to 2020 (Table 3).
Operating expenditure against target or operating income has been analysed for three Victorian fire agencies to see if past levy moneys have been used efficiently and effectively. Results suggest the substantial increaseinthe levy is to paper over mismanagement.
The financial reports of Victoria’s fire agencies areasea of red ink, with accumulative overspend or deficits totalling $1869over the last nine years for just three fire agencies, almost two billion dollars. Salient points from the results for the last nine years to 2023/24 are: FFMV, the government agency responsible for bushfires on public land, exceeded its budget target by a total of $1147 million dollars;
The CFA, the government agency responsible for bushfires on rural private land, have run up acumulative deficit of about $193m, (ignoring supplementary grants to cover cost overruns e.g. $160m supplementary grant in 2019/20). CFA volunteers are down 11 per cent over the nine years, and;
Fire Rescue Victoria including the Metropolitan Fire Brigade before it, ran up acombined deficit of $529m.
Property owners can expectmore hefty increases in what was called the fire services propertylevy,but is now about to grow into ahuge ‘mismanagement tax’.
Not only is buying ahome difficult, but now the ongoing running costs are increasing well in excess of wages and CPI. Government inaction on bushfire and flood mitigation hasled to escalating home and business insurance costs. To top it off, the Victorian governments new ‘mismanagement tax’ is increasing faster than just about every other household or businesscost, and probably faster than policy driven power and gas bills.
Failed government bushfirepolicy andfireagencies notfit-for-purpose
(suboptimal organisational structure and strategy etc) are not supporting efficientand effective execution by frontlinefirefighters and volunteers. Inadequ ate bushfi re mit igatio ni s exposing these dedicated people and the widercommunity to unacceptable bushfire risk.
Expect the government to continue to controlthe narrative (spin), but not the expenditure nor the bushfires.
Victoria’sper capita fire services ex pend itu re is 35 per cent hig her thanthe Australian average and well in excess of neighbouring states of NSW and SA, suggesting substantial inefficiency in delivery of fire services in Victoria (Data from the Report of Government Services 2025) (Table 4). FFMV spends ahugeamountonfire suppression and recovery because it only spends about 5.5per cent of its total annual expenditureonfuelreduction, thekey to bushfire mitigation. FFMV’s per hectare fuel reduction costs are exceptionallyhighbecause overhead costs account for 80 per cent of total per hectarefuel reduction costs, indicative of inefficie ncy. Only 26 per cent of priority planned fuel reduction burns were executed over the last two years (2022/23 and 2023/24), indicative of ineffectiveness.
The average Victoriandomesticfire insurance claim has almostdoubledover four years and fire deaths are also up (Table 5). This is further evidence that the above average spend by Victorian fire services is not delivering increased effectiveness.
The fire agencies are not achieving targets on 11 key performance indicators (Table 6).Note that the total fire output cost was$533m on above target just for 2023/24. FFMV is not meetingits ‘risky’ fueldriven fire risk targetsinfivehighly populated districts. Prescribed burning is well below375,000 hectares peryear requiredtomeet the fiveper cent target recommended by the Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission (VBRC), following the Black Saturday bushfires of 2009.
About the Author:John Cameron (Dip Hort. Burnley, MBA Monash, and tertiary units in economics, mathematics and statistics) is aforestry and business consultant previously holding positions in gene ral manag ement, corpora te development and research in forestry and forest products. Former roles includeChairman of Private Forestry Gippsland, ChairmanSouthern Tree Bre edin gA ss oc iat ion, Ch ai rm an Australian Research Group on Forest Gen et ics, Boa rd Me mber CRC for ForestryHobart &CRC for Pulp and Paper Science Monash.
Table1: Under the newlevy, owners of atypical home with acapital improved value (CIV)ofabout $885,000, will payabout40per cent morethan last year and aboutdouble what theypaid five yearsago,astabled below.
Table2: Fuel reductionareainVictoriaoverthe last 25 yearshas beenwell belowfivepercentofthe forest each year as recommended by theVictorian BushfireRoyal Commission.
Table3: Poor bushfiremitigationand control has contributed to substantially higher average insuredbushfirelossesinVictoriarelative to WesternAustralia forthe period 1957 to 2020.
Table4: Victoria’sper capita fire ser vices expenditureis35per centhigher than the Australianaverage
Table5: The average Victorian domestic fire insurance claim has almost doubled over four year
Table6: Fire agencies arenot achieving targetsonmorethan 10 key performance indicators
11 September, 2025
f
NATIONALS Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron, has renewed calls for astandalone hospice facility to be built in the Latrobe Valley.
With just five dedicated palliative care bed sa tL atrob eR egional Heal th, Mr Cameron said Valley residents were once again being short-changed by the state government.
“Five palliative care beds for aregion with apopulation of more than 80,000is completelyinadequate,” Mr Cameron said
“There is ahugeneed for more palliative care services in the Valleyand astandalone hospice facility would allow people to die with the dignity and care they deserve.”
By AIDAN KNIGHT
MOE'S Edward Hunter Bushland Reserve is now home to anew Indigenous yarning circle, erected in recognition of Moe's rich ancestral history of the Gunaikurnai people.
The installation was madeincollaboration between several communitygroups,led by the reserve's asset managementcommittee.Also working on the project were Kooristudents and teachers from Moe's Elizabeth andSouth Street primary schools, who run a'KooriClub' each week for students of Indigenous heritage to come together,learn about and discusstheir culture under the mentoring of visiting aunties and uncles from within their community.
On the day of the official opening of the Yarning Circle (August 20), Elizabeth St studentsMillie and Brandon spoke to the crowd about the sense of pridethey feltbeing able to honour their ancestors in thisway, acknowledgingthosewho have walked before them, and asked the onlookers to 'reach to the sky' to wave to those ancestors, before grounding one's self by reaching down and touchingthe soil of
the land on which they gathered. The actual area of the instalment was previously quite sloped and swampy, and requiredsome earthmoving before thetimber could be placed.
The installation was funded by Energy Australia, who were representedonthe day by David Burt (also aformerCityofMoe councillor),aswell as Thorpdale-based Ruslin timberwho provided materials for the project.
TheGunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC) providedcultural guidance, design input and construction support, with assistance from Local Elder Aunty Michelle Briggs. Michael from GLaWAC said he was thoroughly excited to be apartofthe project, both as an individual of his background andconnection to the country on which it exists, and as an Aboriginal Corporation.
"This is thefirst yarning circle installation we've beenabletobeapart of," he said, particularly notingthe importance of each of the pillars of timber representing one of the five clans of Gunaikurnai.
Thecommunity inputdidn't stop therehowever,
as the preparation and treating of the timber, as well as the screwingofthe tiles painted by the children to the posts, was kindly provided by the Moe Men's Shed.
Each tile was painted as an individual piece by the Koori students at each of the primary schools.
The children were given the brief to paint "what it means to be Indigenous to them".
Mr Burt noted before cutting the ribbon to officially openthe circle how variedthe artworks were.
"They're all so individual, but Isee acommon theme of hands, sky, and Country, so that's what these children identify as beingimportant to them and that's an important message Ithink".
The new yarning circle now stands not only as a physical landmark in Edward Hunter Reserve, but also as asymbol of connection between generations past, present and future.
The circle is more than timber and tiles; it is a reminder of what can be achievedwhencommunity, culture and carefor Country come together, to honour the five clans that looked after theland we stand on today.
LATROBE Regional Health is supporting Aboriginal families with anew birthing trolley, helping mums deliver their bubs in aspace that’s culturally safe, respectful, and welcoming.
The trolley is packed full of cultural goodies for new mums, including acuddlypossum skin baby wraptotakehome and abackpack full of essential items such as nappies, toiletries and ointments.
It also includes ahand carved redgum coolamon to lay the newborn in, some clap sticks and the Aboriginal and aTorres Strait Island flags to display in the birthing room.
Some of the panels feature asection of the large mural in the hospital’s new 3A area, by Gunaikurnai artist Alfred Carter, with amotif that represents awoman’s pregnant belly.
The trolleywas created as partofthe Healing thePast, Nurturing the Future project which is aiming to reduce trauma-related distress for First Nations families at the time of having ababy.
Oneofthe key recommendations was to create culturally appropriate birthing suites and family rooms to encouraging moreIndigenous families into the hospital.
Thomson ward nurse unit manager, Cathryn Heywood said approximately 65 Aboriginal babies are born at LRH each year.
“The response has been amazing when we see thesmile on people’s faces. When they have their
taken with their baby, they feel so respected,” she said.
Mr Cameron recently wrote to Minister forHealth, Maryanne Thomas, requesting ameeting to discuss the state of palliative care in the region –arequest he says was ignored.
“The state government contributed$5 million towards astandalone hospice in Geelong, but the Minister has refused to entertain the idea of helping establish a similar facility in the Valley,” Mr Cameron said
“LatrobeCityCouncil has asked the state government to work with them to find a suitable location forapalliative care, to no avail.
“Even the LatrobeHealth Advocate –appointed by Labor –implored the state government to build adedicated hospice.
“The Minister claims she is "committed to ensuring all Victorians… can receive the essential palliative care they need” but hasignored all evidence that proves Valley residentsdo not have access to the care they need.
“I’m again calling on the Minister to meetwith me and discuss the direneed foradedicated palliative care facility in the Latrobe Valley.”
ONE POINTERS
1. What is the name of the female actor that has just left the TV show Home and Away?
2 What colour is Big Bird from Sesame Street?
3 A bird in the hand is worth what in the bush?
4 How many years has the Latrobe Valley Express just celebrated? TWO POINTERS
5 What is the name of the musical artist per forming shows in Australia in 2026 with his ‘LOOP TOUR’?
6 If I was visiting the town of Murray Bridge, what state would I be in?
7 What is singer Beyonce’s maiden name?
8 Peeing on a jellyfish sting helps with the pain? True or False THREE POINTER
9 In the nurser y rhyme ‘Little Jack Horner’ what did he pull out of his pie?
10 Name the song from these lyrics, “Let’s go girls ”?
11 What part of the atom has no electric charge?
12 Which Avenger is the only one who could calm the Hulk down? FOUR POINTER
13 What is the scientific term for the “little brain” at the base of the brain that coordinates movement and balance
14 Who is often called the father of the computer? FIVE POINTER
15 Name the song from the first line of vocals 1 point for each correct answer 1 Once I smoked a Danneman cigar, I drove a foreign car 2 When I was six years old I broke my leg 3 It’s been seven hours and fifteen days
4 When you’re wear y, feeling small When tears are in your eyes, I will dr y them all 5 I’ve
How did you fare?
37: Top of the class; 30-36: Outstanding; 22-29: Well done; 15-21: Solid effort; 9-14: Room for improvement; 0-8: Hit the books
Howtoplay.
Using the 9letters in the gr id, howmany wordsoffour letters or morecan you list? The centreletter must be included and each lettermay be used onlyonce No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural wordsending in ‘s’. Solution page53
Solution page53
NEXT function of the Moe Latrobe Valley Jazz Club will be held this Sunday (August 31).
Music will be from 1pm to 4pm and the band will be The New Nite Owls led by Pat Miller. Pat has led this band for many years andhas always proved very popular at Moe. Also playing in thisbandistrombonist MattDickson, leaderofShirazz, who livesatMoe South.
For further information, phone Bruce on 0427 743 516.
THE Get Together groupwill meet againonWednesday, September3at theTraralgonUniting Church(19-29 Park Lane) from 10am.
Come and join us for acuppa anda chat. All are welcome.
GET dancing this Springwith Latrobe Valley Dance Promotions Inc.
Head to the Morwell Girl Guide Hall (18 MargaretStreet) on Thursday nights from7pm to learn or brush up on new vogue/old time sequence dances.
Waltz into better health and make new friends.
Admission is $5.
Wear comfortable footwear.
Phone Len on 0439683 834 or Lynda (0428 489 041) for more information. Email: latrobevalleydancepromotioninc@gmail.com
THE Mid Gippsland Family History Society Inc will hold its annual meeting tomorrow (Thursday, August 28) from 2pm.
Meeting will be held in the society roomat44AlbertSt, Moe, directly oppositethe postoffice. All are welcome to attend.
The meeting will be followed with members and visitors sharing stories about unexpected discoveries, shocks and surprises as aresult of researching ancestors.
The group would love to hear your stories over acuppa.
The Family History Centre is open to the publicevery Wednesdayafternoon between 1pm and 4pm.
We welcome anyone interested in learningmore abouttheir ancestors and background –whether araw beginner or an experienced family historian/genealogist –tocome along and have achattoone of the experienced researchers who are keen to help you navigate the resources available.
You’ll be amazed at what you can discover about your ancestorsby using such resources as Trove, Find aGrave, Family search etc., and our large holdings of cemetery records and transcriptions.
For further information, phone 0403 611 730.
CRAFT market at ChurchillShopping Centre this Saturday (August30) from 9am to 1pm. Celebrate the end of Winter and shop for your upcoming Fathers Day gifts.
The market will be on, regardlessof the weather. Most stallsare indoors or
under the cover of nearby walkways. There'll be free sausage sizzles, children's entertainment, face-painting and live music. Plus there'll be giveaways-your choice of fruit or chocolate.
Some randomly selected shoppers will receive free vouchers to spend in store at nominated Churchill retailers. More than $300 worthofvouchers will be given away, but you must be shopping in ChurchillonSaturday morning to be eligible to win.
All retail stores will be open, including the Churchill Lifeline Op Shop from 10am to 12 noon.
Thismarket event is organised by Churchill &District Community Asso ciat ion in pa rtner ship with Churchill Neighbourhood Centre and Churchill &District News.
For more inf orma tio n, sear ch 'Churchill Shop Local' on Facebook.
TRARALGON Bridge Club results.
The Traralgon Congress (August 16 to 17) was wellattended, attracting players from acrossGippslandand Melbourne.
The Trara lg on te am of Helen McAdam, Don Tylee,Moira Hecker and Robin Hecker led the Traralgon club, coming second overall in the teams competition.
Intra-club results were:
Monday, August 18: 1st Robin Hecker and Don Tylee (69.05 per cent); equal 2nd Richard Webster and Ken Tierney, Barbara Brabets and Anne Moloney (54.76).
Tuesday, August 19:1st KenTierney and Anne den Houting(64.35), 2nd Kaye Douglas and Roshni Chand (59.26).
Thursday,August 21: 1st John Marsiglio and Pam Dingwall (63.43); 2nd Maria Mactaggart and Heather Henley (57.41).
If you would like to playorlearn more about bridge, call Traralgon Brid ge Club Presi dent, Hele n McAdam, on 0438 164 528.
MEMBERS of Moe ProbusClublearnt aboutcyber security at its August meeting.
The presentation by Linda Rowley began with details on the number of scams taking place across Australia. Linda then explainedthe various ways in which scammers operate and how to avoid beingcaught and losingmoney.
The September meeting will enjoy atrivia session. People interested in joining the club can phone secretary, Fay on 5127 1651.
ONLY one blemish left Peter Bakker in first place at Latrobe Valley Chess Club last week.
Oscar Machen enteredthe scene with plenty of positive signs.
Steve Ahern enjoyed asatisfying series of games.
Oversights were too frequent for Ian Hamilton.
Price Samaseia was not able to complete the victories.
Cliff Thornton allowed the attacks to cause trouble.
Phone Cliff Thornton on 0413 330 458 or Ian Hamilton (0400 221 649) for details.
THE Silh ouettes entertained at Newborough Hall.
The club meets every Monday from 7.30pm and dances includes waltzes, tangoes, cha chaas and saunters.
Theclub hosts many special dress up andfun nights
All welcome. Cost is $8. The club would love to see some new faces.
NEXTopenday forthe Traralgon &District Historical Society will be held this Sunday (August 31) from 2pm to 4pm.
The society invites you to 'Have your say on the futureofVictory Park Precinct'. Latrobe CityCouncilisseeking community feedback through a survey on the futureofthe Victory Park Precinct -c overing Victory Park, Newman Park, Doorty Park, Eric TaylorReserve, and the Bert Thompson Reserve.
The society warmly invites you to its open day,where we will be hosting discussionsabout what the future holds for this area. Bring your ideas and help shape the plans the society will put forward to council.
Everyone is welcome -the more voices we hear, the better the outcome for the community.
The societyhas been working on plans for Victory Park with council since 2017, and are very keen to have input into the outcomes.
To get in touch withTraralgon District Historical Society, email: secretary@traralgonhistory.asn.au, phone: 5174 8399 or 0402 911 950.
Roo ms are locate da tt he Ka th Teychenne Centre (11 Breed Street) Traralgon.
SE PT EM BE Rm eet in go fM oe View Club will be held Wednesday, September3 at Moe Hotel (Leggies) Lloyd St, Moe from 10.30am. Moe View Ladies visited Latrobe Valley Enterprises, then enjoyeda
great lunchatMorwell Bowling Club. Aguided tour of LVE wasmost interesting, being shown all aspects of the organisation. LVE empowers communities by creating sustainable jobs for individuals with disabilities. Staff explained how they make safety and road construction signs and braille signs, plus garden,grounds andfacilities maintenance and the Container Deposit Scheme.
For more information on Moe View Club, phone Sue on 0417 515 745 or Maureen (0458 842 256).
THE Lighthouse Op Shop,Morwell is having a$10 bag sale on women's winterwear until September 12. Ladies, it's time to layer up in style withoutbreaking the bank. For alimited time only, fill abag with women’s winterwear for just $10.
The Lighthouse Op Shop is located next to the Well St Milk Bar, Morwell. Open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10am to 3pm.
TRAMPS (Traralgon and Morwell Pedallers Inc.) rode from Meeniyan to Venus Bay on Sunday, August 17.
The recent rainhad left the country with afresh and clean feeling.The air was still and cool with occasional cloud cover.
Venus Bay is apleasant resort town where riders enjoyed the new picnic facilities and associated skate park.
The return ride through Buffalo along the Great SouthernRailtrail took riders through some stunningly beautiful bush.
TRAMPS next ride will be from Stratford on August 31 for lunch at the Port of Sale.
TRAMPS welcomes new riders. For more information, visit: www.tramps. org.au
Club contacts are Paul on 0459 823 422 or Vance (0403 662 288).
NEXT Toongabbie Old Time Dance will be Friday, September 5. Venueisthe ToongabbieMechanics
Institute Hall, starting at 7.30pm. Music will be supplied by Norm Lade with monte carlo, lucky door prize and raffle.
Admission is $8. Those coming are asked to bring aplate to share. For further information, phone 0419 874 958.
Everyone is welcome to come along for anight of fun and dancing.
MEET at the Yallourn Production Centre (Yallourn Drive, Yallourn) on the secondMonday of the month from 12.30pm.
Craft meeting on the third Monday of the month from 12 noon. Phone Anne Freeman on 0417 993 111 for more information.
STRZELECKI Stringbusters play at The GippyNook (Sale) Saturday, September 6. Doors open 2pm. Entry is $20pp and includes door prizes.
Drinks available at bar prices. Enjoymusic, food and raffles raising money for Sale Food Support INC.
AS OCI AL lu nch will be held Saturday, September6 at theMorwell Club (Helen St) from midday for anyone who was ever involved in the Latrobe Light Opera/Latrobe Theatre Company.
Com ea lo ng and have ag iggle and al au gh about the fun we had over the years. Bring an item of memorabilia if you so wish.
RSVP to Chris Billings via: drfangster@hotmail.com, or phone 0408 416 532.
Copi es of Chris’ boo k‘ Poncing Around the Stage in Tights’ will be available to purchase.
HAVE aChat, barbecue and support, fortnightly at Moe Apex Park from 2pm to 3.30pm. Phone 0412 418 431 for more information, or email: info@bettermentall. com.au
TRARALGONRSL BowlsClub Open Day will be held this Sunday (August 31).
Come along and discover thegame of lawn bowls in arelaxed and welcoming environment from 10.30am Everyone is welcome. Afree sausage sizzle and bowls coac hing and equipme nt will be provided For more information, phone Greg Pratt (memberofficer) on 0484 813 609orLorraine McClare (secretary) on 0413 332 070.
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.
FOR most of us, it is asubject that we just don’t want to think about.
But, in anumberofsituationsthe conversation, as an act of love, can provide comfortand security for everyone involved.
Discussing and planning end of life, is not easy, but when wills aremade, funeral arrangements have been discussed, special songs and photos chosen and the funeral or cremation paid for in advance, it does relieve the burden of those grieving.
When aloved one passes thereisgreat comfort in not having to think about making arrangements that will celebrate their life as they would have wished.
At such adifficult time having plans in place provides the family with moretime to supportand comforteach other
Making sureour lovedoneslife is celebrated according to their wishes, their remains areplaced wherethey have requested and their estate is settled with dignity is abig responsibility
But when everything is already in place we can relax and take time to be kind to ourselves. And then, once the service isover,the visitors have stop coming, theestate is settled and life begins again, those left behind will find peace in knowing that their loved one was honoured and celebrated in just the way they wanted.
● Paid at today’s cost and price fixed INDEFINITELY - Nothing more to pay Ever
● Security Assured All our Prepaid Funeral Plan Monies are invested with Foresters Financial, they are based in Melbourne and have been looking after Victorians since 1849 The money is NOT held in the Funeral Director’s bank account It’s inaccessible to the Funeral Company until we provide a Death Certificate This complies with the PrePaid Funerals Act
● You get YOUR wishes You get exactly what you want for yourself Take the guesswork out of the equation for your family
● It’s a legal means of reducing your asset base Pre-Paid Funerals are not classed as an asset by Centrelink Therefore you may find your benefits improve
● Can be an important part of your financial strategy when downsizing or planning your will and estate management
● Pre-Paid Funeral plans can be tailored to suit your needs, and can be paid off over 12, 24 or 36 months, with a 30% deposit upfront
● Planning ahead greatly reduces the financial and emotional burden on your family
● Get it fixed, attached to your will, and get on with your life
Julie Harwood Funerals is family owned and operated, from our base in Traralgon We have no affiliation with any corporate company and our sensibly priced packages are tailored to suit your individual needs We proudly put people before profit and believe in keeping money in the local area We use local florists, local caterers, and the local Crematorium
Pre-Planning Makes Sense
Contact us today
We can help you get your affairs in order
better to know a
What can be pre-purchased?
Almost ever ything is available to be pre-purchased, including graves, cremation and memorials. We have Gippsland’s biggest selection of keepsake vases, ur ns and jeweller y, for cremated remains. We can also create aspecial memorialplaque for your organisation or home’s garden.
The Traralgon Cemeter yalso has its own Chapel and Function Room, so when having aburial,itismuch easier to organise as it’s all in the one place. We realise that people have different needs and cultures and so we also offer Above Ground Cr ypts, aNatural Burial Area and Islamic Burial grounds.
Why is it impor tant to organise amemorial?
Many people find comfor tinhaving aplace to visit and reflect after the passing of aloved one, even if the loved one rests elsewhere. Amemorial is asymbolic place shared with family,friends and futuregenerations.
My loved one’s plaque is faded and can’t be read properly.
What can Ido?
We can remove the plaque for cleaning and repolishing. When it is retur ned to the cemeter yweplace it back on the grave.
How many people can be buried in agrave?
Agrave usually accommodates two burials, with some accommodating three. Agrave will also accommodate up to four sets of ashes.
Who erects the monument for agrave?
AMonumental Stonemason is responsible for erecting amonument for a grave.
My loved ones’ grave is sinking, what should Ido?
Is morethan one person cremated at the same time? No, only one person is cremated at atime.
Do Ineed acoffin/casket for cremation?
To meet the requirements of the Cemeteries and Crematorium Act, the deceased is required to be in asuitable receptacle. Coffins/caskets and some shrouds meet these requirements.
How long does cremation take?
On average, the cremation time is 2hours. Ashes can generally be collected 48 hours after the cremation takes place.
What happens to the ashes after cremation?
Following cremation, ashes aresealed in an ur nwith an identifying label. They arethen collected by the chosen Funeral Director or secured in our crematorium for safekeeping until the Authorising Person (the person who signed the paper work for cremation) collects.
As the ground settles following aburial, it is natural for agrave to sink. Unfor tunately,this is unavoidable. Our grounds staffundergo routine maintenance, including the topping up and dressing of graves as they are identified.
THE majority of deaths in Australia occur within a hospital or aged carefacility and the staffwill offer supportand take careofthe medical formalities and legal requirements.
However,when adeath occurs elsewhere, the first person that should be contacted is adoctor, who is responsible for issuing the medical death certificate.
In the event whereadoctor is unable to sign the certificate of death, the death may be referred to the coroner
Wherever and whenever adeath occurs Latrobe Valley Funeral Services areavailable 24 hours a day,7daysa week to assist.
WHEREaperson is involved in aChurchcommunity,theywill often choose to have the funeral service held in their church.
Latrobe Valley Funeral Services funeral homes in Moe, Morwell and Traralgon can provide atruly memorable funeral service and they can offer catering and refreshments at the conclusion of the service.
Funeral services held at these chapels can be conducted by aminister,clergy or civil funeral celebrant.
Alternatively,you may choose to have the service at another suitable location, such as the family home, community hall or alternate venue that’ssignificant to the deceased.
They can also cater for memorial services where your loved one is celebrated after aburial or cremation hasoccurred.
APHOTOGRAPHIC video presentation uses a selection of photographs of your loved one, set to one of their favourite songs or apiece of music
and provides amoving and personalised element to the service.
The presentation is provided tofamilies on a USB with aprinted memorial book as amemento of their loved one.
AVIEWING offers family andfriends the opportunity tosee and spend time with their loved ones after death andprior tothe funeral Letters, photographs, flowers, special mementos or significant objects can be placed in the coffin or casket with your loved one at this time.
AT Latrobe Valley Funeral Services they understand that selecting acoffin or casket is ahighly personal decision.
They have arangeofcoffins andcaskets available that varyinsize and design.
Decorating the outside with apictureand displaying personal objects canhonouryourloved one in averypersonal way
Naturally,pricingvariesaccording to the material used in manufacture, the style anddetailof design and the trimming.
LATROBE Valley Funeral Services proudly maintains aprestigious fleet of motor vehicles offering dignified transportfor both mourners and the deceased.
THEcost of afuneral will varysignificantly accordingtothe natureof the funeral service, whether the family has selected aburialor cremation, the number of personnel and vehicles, the venue and facilities required, etc.
Latrobe Valley Funeral Services policy is to
advise and explain all costs at the time of making funeral arrangements.
Their Funeral directors will help you obtain any financial benefits to which you may be entitled. For those who need to be conscious of expenses, they can provide options to assist, while still maintaining their high standardofservice.
LATROBE Valley Funeral Services funeral homes in Moe, Traralgonand Morwell areideal for people residing in the greater Latrobe Valley and Gippsland areas, with easy access to the local cemeteries.
PROTECT your loved ones from unnecessary stress at adifficult time -and ensureyour wishes arecarried out.
Latrobe Valley Funeral Services offers funeral preplanning which allows you to discuss your wishes and record them in a‘my wishes’ book. This easy-to-read book guides you through the options available and allows you to update and change your mind.
Your favourite song may not have been written yet!
Funeral Bonds allow you to set money aside for the specific purpose offunding your funeral service, without having to organise the service details in advance.
LATROBE Valley Funeral Service have been serving the local and wider communities for over 80 years.
Their experienced, friendly and compassionate staffare available 24 hours aday to care for you and your family with funeral and preplanning needs.
THE importance of end of life planning may be missed or pushed tothe side until atimewhereit is too late; planning and making decisions about the endofyourlifecan be apositive experience. It is agoodopportunity toreflect on the things that areimportant to you, and to make arrangements that suit you
End of life planning not only includes funeral arrangements but is aculmination of ensuring you have aLast Will andTestament, Enduring Power of Attorney,Medical Treatment DecisionMaker and Advance CareDirectives in place.
Ensuring you have the necessarydocuments and aplaninplace takes the stress offnot only you but your loved ones who will assist when the time comes.
Principal Lawyer,Nathan Pace often attends the local hospitals for families in need whereheand Associate Lawyer,Monica Wallace provide advice and draftdocuments prior toones passing.
He comments that while he is also able toassist, it is morehelpful and alot less stressful for loved ones when these areinplace beforehand. In some circumstances, when apatient is admitted to hospital, it can be difficult to determine whether the person has capacity toexecute a legal document or arefusalbymedical staffto provide supporting letters of capacity This could resultinthe person being declared intestate (dying without aWill) andresultin unnecessarycostand stress for families.
With afamily focused approach, expertWills and Estates law firm, Pace &Associates Lawyers can provide advice and assist with your end of life planning as required.
Planning ahead will make it easier for yourfamily to put things into place and know they areacting according to your wishes, providing peace of mind tonot only you, but your loved ones as well. This can also assist in preventing futureclaims against your estate which can often result in
ongoing and costly litigation. End of life planning can also include palliative care, and the careprovided to your loved onesby all health professionals.
Discussions about end of life planning may also involve talking about beliefs, values, and preferences about the typeofcareand treatment aperson wants in their final days, weeks or months of their life.
It is important that aperson’sfamily,guardians,
carers, friends, and health careprofessionals are awareof their end of life planning wishes.
Working with families, carers and guardians will help you understand the person’svalues, priorities and beliefsthatwill guide their palliative care needs
Youcan achieve this by using shared decision making, which will make surethe person receives quality careand asafe and respectful end of life.
WHEN organising aservice to celebrate the life of a loved one thereare many decisions to be made.
Do youwant afuneral, a memorial service or just to spread cremated ashes in your own time?
AFUNERAL involves the presence of your loved one and gives the family and those attending an opportunity to pay their respects to the deceased in person.
This may be followed by agrave side service or acremation.
Amemorial service is whereyourloved one is not present and usually aphoto or special memorabilia replace acoffinand agraveside service.
This can be less confronting if children are involved.
Wheredoyou want the celebration to take place?
AFUNERAL or memorial can take place in a church, funeral home, chapel or any venue that is relevant to your loved ones life.
Howdoyou want to celebrate their life?
AMUCH loved grandfather wanted his family to celebrate his passing rather than mourning his loss so they all worebright colours and family members told stories of his antics.
Needless to say therewas alot of laughter at that service.
Ahighlyesteemed Pastor of an African church had energetic dancing and singing performed at her funeral.
She wanted everyone to praise God that she had now received her rewardinheaven.
Alot of celebrations now include photo presentations with favorite music playing while the guests enjoy memories of the life of the one who has passed away
Speeches from family members and friends are also seen as ahighlight as they provide amazing insights to your guests.
It is not unusual on these occasions to hear “I never knew that” at the wake.
Do youwant to hold awakeor justaprivate gathering?
WAKES arewonderful ways for guests to reminisce and catch up.
They can also bring great comforttothe family However,ifa wake is too much to organise a quiet family gathering in ahomemay be more suitable.
It doesn’tmatter whereyou hold aservice or how you celebrate your loved ones life.
The important thing is to celebrate them and honour them in away that they would appreciate.
Our team at Pace & Associates Lawyers has a broad range of experience in all areas of Will and Estate law, including Wills, Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration, Will and Estate Disputes, Enduring Power of Attorney and Advance Care Directives. We provide responsive, cost-effective and diligent assistance
At Pace &Associates Lawyers, we believe that each Will should be as individual as the person making it, don’t settle for a pro forma Will Kit or an online prepared Will that may not reflect your wishes correctly
Our office can assist you in appointing an appropriate person to take care of your investments and other financial matters by preparing what is known as an Enduring Power of Attorney (Financial).
$165 Wills&Power of Attorney
Not having aWill increases the legal, financialand emotional burden involved in administering your Estate with all of your assets distributed pursuant to the relevant rules under intestacy law rather than your wishes.
Advance care Directives
Making an Advance Care Directive (ACD) allows you to plan for your future care should you lose the capacity to consent to or refuse medical treatment. Contact Pace &Associates to plan for your future care, today
Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration
Administering an estate can be a complex, stressful and an expensive process if not handled appropriately Pace &Associates Lawyers will clearly articulate the steps ahead and keep you well informed throughout the process until the very end of disbursing funds to the beneficiaries and finalising the Estate.
Wills &Estate Disputes
If you are considering challenging aWill, or you are abeneficiary or executor of aWill that is being challenged, our team at Pace & Associates Lawyers can help you.
CANCER Council Victoria has launched anew campaign in the Latrobe Valley to raise awareness of the importance of regular cervical screening and the option to self-collect your test using a small swab.
If you’reawoman or person with acervix, aged 25 to 74, aCervical Screening Test everyfive years is your best protection against cervical cancer
Now,you can choose how you do your test –you can have adoctor or nurse do the test, or you can self-collect your test using asmall swab! Aself-collected test is done in aprivate space at the clinic, such as in the bathroom or behind a screen.
If you can’tget into aclinic, you may be able to book atelehealth appointment and have a self-collected test kit sent to you. Book atelehealth appointment for aselfcollected Cervical Screening Test with Sexual Health Victoria.
It’squick, easy,private and just as accurate as a test done by adoctorornurse.
If you’redue for aCervical Screening Test, book in today and speak to your doctor about your testing options, including self-collection. Find out moreat cancervic.org.au/cervical AGippsland woman shares howa simple cervical screening brought peace of mind—and whyrural and regional women shouldn’t putitoff “I HAD been meaning to book acervical screening for months.
It had been one of those things that lingered
on my to-do list –animportant task but always pushed to another day
It wasn’tthat Iwas afraid.
Not really
Ihad cervical screenings beforeand remembered them being uncomfortable, sometimes painful and always awkward.
So, between those not-so-fond memories, work deadlines, chasing after young kids and family commitments, Ijust never found the right time. Until one day,scrolling through the news, I found out that GPs werenow offering cervical self-collection.
It sounded so easy!
Ifinally picked up the phone and booked it. Living in asmalltowninGippsland, Iwas sceptical that the GP would offer me self-collection. It is anew initiative, andwetend to get things later than our city friends.
Ineedn’t have worried -The GPwas friendly and knowledgeable and offered me the option to self-collect straight away
She explained what to do and offered me the option to self-collect in the GP bathroom or in her office –I opted for the bathroom.
It was totally painless and so easy and quick! The whole appointment took less than 5 minutes.
This simple test can make all the difference. It’squick. It’sfree.
And it could save your life.”
Find out moreabout the work Gippsland Women’sHealth is doing across Gippsland, become amember and read theirrecent AreYou Covered Magazine by visiting the website https://gwhealth.asn.au/
IN women’shealth plastic surgeryisa much discussed topic especially cosmetic procedures.
Child bearing causes significant and permanent changes to the abdomen or tummy,causing stretching of the abdominal wall and sometimes also causing hernias.
The post-partum abdominal wall or tummy in many women ends up with permanent laxity with awrinkled appearance and loose skin folds forming an abdominal apron that can cause hygiene problems.
It is asensitive issuefor many women who long for aflat tummy and to returntoamore youthful figure.
Intentional and dramatic weight loss whether through dieting or morecommonly after lap band or gastric sleeve surgeryalso can end up causing loose skin folds and an abdominal apron that just won’tgoaway
It can result also in similar folds under the upper arms.
Removal of the loose skin folds, the abdominal apron or armfolds can’tbe achieved by conservative measures and eventually surgeryisthe only real method fora permanent solution to achieve aflat abdomen or tummy
Liposuction alone as asolution doesn’thelp and an abdominoplasty or excision of the loose skin and tightening of the abdominal wall is the accepted method for achieving a flat tummy and the desired result.
It is not aweight loss operation but rather a re-contouring procedure.
Of course, all surgeryisaserious undertaking but results areusually verygoodachieving aflat tummy and loss of the abdominal overhang.
The exact type of operation needed, stay in hospital and recoveryall depend on individual circumstances and can varyfroma relatively minor proceduretosomething more demanding.
In usual experience it is not averypainful procedure.
It is an undertaking that needs proper individual evaluation.
To find out moreinformation about what it means for you and also whether your circumstances mean asmall or larger procedureplease make contact for an initial discussion.
The cost of the procedureisusually covered partly by health funds or it can also be self-funded.
At the end of any initial consultation aproper quote can be provided.
This information is provided by Mr Adrian Aitken who is an experienced specialist general surgeon who undertakes abdominoplasty and other operations at Maryvale Private Hospital.
For referrals and questions please phone Fitzpatrick House on 5144 4555 and chat to any of the experienced andfriendly staff.
MESOTHELIOMA, acancerlinked to asbestos exposure, is less common in women but is still diagnosed, with women accounting for nearly 25 percent of cases.
While men historically experience higher rates due tooccupational asbestos exposure, women areincreasingly diagnosed with mesothelioma through secondaryexposure.
This can happen when women areincontact with family member’sworkclothes, in the same room as therenovator or worse, helping without protection.
It isveryimpor tant to understand that although youmay be only a‘helper’in therenovation process,you alsomust have protection from asbestos dust.
Asbestos is amaterial that was used in building of residential and industrial buildings between the 1940s and late 1980s, beforeits health risks were known.
Asbestos materials werebanned nationally from
December 31 of 2003, but remain an important material to look out for today especially when renovating.
Thereis6.4 million tonnes still in our environment across Australia.
Morethan half the homes in the Latrobe Valley still contain asbestos, so extra caremustbetaken for people renovating their homes.
Any home pre1990 will have asbestos lurking in it.
Due to asbestos’ versatility and heat resistance, materials containing asbestos can be found in many areas of the home that one may not consider
Afew places to be especially careful of when renovating are; roof sheeting, floor coverings, inside of walls, fireplace infills and wall heaters, wet areas and ceiling cavities.
Beforeyou renovate ACV/GARDS highly recommends that you obtain an asbestos audit on your home.
ACCESS to timely,quality healthcareshouldn’t depend on whereyou live.
Yetfor many women and Trans and gender diverse people in regional and rural Victoria, health services can mean hours of travel, time away from work or family,and extra costs.
That’swherethe Women’sHealth Mobile Clinic comes in, bringing essential healthcareservices directly to communities across Gippsland, providing breast screens and women’shealth consultations delivered in awelcoming clinic space nearby
The Women’sHealth Mobile Clinic is afully equipped, custom-built space on wheels, staffed by experienced health professionals who understand the unique needs of women.
On board, women aged 50 to74 without breast symptoms can access free 10-minute breast screens.
In anearby primarycareclinic or community centre, women and teenagers can book afree 45-minute consultation with an experienced Nurse Practitioner or Sexualand Reproductive Health Nurse about any women’shealth issue, such as cervical screening, contraception, sexual health, menopause, pelvic health, pregnancy choices counselling, andmore.
The Nurse Practitioners can provide tests, prescriptions andput in long-acting birth control devices, like implants or IUDs.
Nurse Practitioner Cathy Halmarick, says the goal is to make healthcaremoreaccessible and less daunting.
“This service gives women the opportunity not only to have their breast screen, but also to
access afree45-minute sexual and reproductive health consultation with clinicians experienced in women’shealth.
Importantly,thisservice supports local GPs and makes it easier for women toaccess careclose to home.”
The Women’sHealthMobileClinic has been travelling through westernand central Victoria over the last seven months, and it is now visiting Gippsland.
It willtravel to Foster,Yarram, Mallacoota, Orbost and Omeo between August andDecember 2025.
The service has already made adifference for women across regional Victoria.
Over 300 women and teenagers have visited a Nurse Practitioner at the Women’sHealthMobile Clinic, with many clients saying they appreciated being able to have alonger conversation about their health.
Clients also liked that the service is free, convenient and allows them tosee afemale healthcareprovider they do not know
Many clients have come in to discuss issues such as having that overdue cervical screening test, adviceand referrals for pelvic pain, managing the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, and contraception information, scripts and Implanon insertions.
Aclient who attended earlier this year,says it was exactly what she needed:
“Was fabulous tospeak to awoman who understands and has knowledge of what Ineeded toknowwithout having to goout of town.”
When the Women’sHealth Mobile Clinic visits yourtown, it’syourchance to prioritise your health.
Book an appointment for yourself, or encourage the women in your life -mums, sisters, daughters and friends todothe same.
For breast free screen, women aged 50 to 74 can book afree, 10-minute breast screen by calling 13 20 50 or online at breastscreen.org.au or to speak to aNursePractitioner,women of all ages and teenagers can book afree, 45-minute women’shealth consultation by calling 03 9675 0050 or online at breastscreen.org.au/whmc.
For moreinformation on dates, locations, and services, visit breastscreen.org.au/whmc.
If you can’tmakeanappointment while the mobile clinic is in your area, they encourage you to make an appointment with the Virtual Women’s Health Clinic (free, specialist reproductive and sexual health careappointments by video or phone for women and gender diverse people of all ages).
VARICOSE veins affect morewomen than you might think —upto50percent will experience varicose veins or spider veins at some point in their lives.
While genetics arethe biggest factor hormonal changes during pregnancy and menopause often make them worse.
For years, women weretold varicose veins were“just cosmetic” —something you had to accept and live with.
But the truth is, they’reamedical condition.
Left untreated, they can cause aching, heaviness, swelling, skin changes, and in severecases, ulcers.
For many women, the impact isn’tjust physical.
Dr Vein’s staffhear countless stories in their clinic of women who have hidden their legs for years, avoided wearing shorts, or missed out on swimming with their children —all because they felt self-conscious.
Treating varicose veins can be truly lifechanging, restoring not just comfort, but the confidence to enjoy life without holding back.
The great news is that moderntreatments arenothing like the old days.
At Doctor Vein,theyoffer state-of-theart, minimally invasive procedures like Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA) and Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy
These areperformed right in the specialised medical clinic, with no hospital stay,no general anaesthetic, and minimal downtime —most women returntotheir usual routine straight away
If you’ve been putting your family and everyone else first, maybe it’stime to put yourself first.
Healthy,confident legs aren’tjust about looks -they’reabout living life fully
Dr Ganesha Param consults at the Warragul Specialist Centrefortnightly on Mondays. Call 03 9781 0646 or email reception@doctorvein.com.au to book. No referral required.Medicarerebates available. Don’twait, Book Today!
By KATRINA BRANDON
JOINING local mother, Amy in her cancer journey,PhysipoleTraralgonand Sale, Salty Lens Photography and Buckle Bunny Line Dancing are hosting an event to help provide abit of help to her family.
In April 2021, Amy was diagnosed with Stage 4 bowel cancer, whichwas discovered by accident when her doctor ordered blood tests and an ultrasound, suspecting pancreatitis.
into remission again. She has just completed her seventh cycle of this chemotherapy. She is also on Oxaliplatin, which is nerve-damaging, and as aresult, she is losing feeling in her fingers, toes, tongue and lips.
“Weare fundraising for Amy, who's alocal lady, mummy through here,” Salty Lens Photography’s Jaimi Garner told the Express
“All the funds are going to Amy and her kids. We're running the raffle, and heaps of local businesses areputtinginfor the raffle-it'sniceto be able to raise some money in the community.”
On the morning of her ultrasound (a week after the blood tests anddoctor’svisit),Amy was feeling better and considered cancelling, thinking she was fine. But her husband convinced her to go ahead with the scan.
She went alone, expecting aroutine procedure. Duringthe ultrasound,they unexpectedly scanned her bowel and discovered an eight centimetre lump on the right side of her colon.
They reassured her that it might be nothing, but asked her to return the next day for aCTscan with dye. That was the scan that completely changed her world and threw her life into aspin.
Currently, with few options for treatment, Amy is back on chemotherapy, restarting the FOLFOX regimen from 2021 in hopes of putting the cancer
Donations from the event and GoFundMe page are raised for Amy’s ongoing treatment, including therapiesnot covered by her hospital care,such as oxygen therapyand red light therapy, general bills and qualitytime with children Amy is currentlyundergoingher 38th roundof chemotherapyand is in her thirdfightagainst cancer.
The fundraising event was held last Sunday (August 24) at PhysiPole Studios, Traralgon. For more information, go to: https://www.bucklebunnylinedancing.com/unite-for-amy-s-fight, or to support the GoFundMe, go to: https://www. gofundme.com/f/ncevgq-amys-fight-against-cancer
by Joanne Madeline Moore
August 25 -August 31, 2025
It s a good time to connect, network, negot ate and social se with l ke-minded souls w thin your sphere of influence It s not what you know but who you know! You could also be approached to contribute your ta ents to a group dynamic l ke a class or c ub But the Mercury/Pluto oppos t on stirs up your creativ ty and friendsh p zones, so projects and peop e will be hard to p n down You’ll find the more pat ent and flexible you are, the better the week wil be
might just accept your advice! When it comes to a paid ob or a volunteer position, a practical step-by-step plan could lead to more productivity in the future But avoid being an unreasonably stubborn Bul at work, especial y on Wednesday
Expect a busy bust ing week when the planets stir up your curious mind and restless heart, and you want to soar and explore like an eagle Energy and enthusiasm are high but don’t say or do someth ng un ntent onal y hurtfu Hasty words can upset others so think before you speak and self-edit along the way Be inspired by birthday great singer-songwriter Florence Welch (who has the Sun in V rgo and Moon in Gemini): “I like the dea of taking off ike a bird ”
When it comes to work, career, creat vity and/or financial matters, things could be very frustrating this week So, heed the wise words of b llionaire Warren Buffett (who was born on August 30, 1930): “ ’ve had per ods of my ife when I’ve had a bund e of deas come along, and I’ve had long dry spel s ” Be pat ent, keep th ngs in perspective and keep p ugging away as you put your clever Crab m nd to good use via reading, writing and researching
Don’t be deceived by g ossy, g amorous appearances!
You can be dazz ed by outer beauty but this week you need to ook beneath the surface to evaluate a person’s true worth You’re also keen to escape the harsh real t es of da ly l fe as you read a fantasy novel, l sten to uplifting music, watch a romantic movie or daydream the hours away Just make sure you can different ate between fact and fiction Avoid gett ng drawn nto a power struggle on Wednesday
Be ng k g ind of heart and doing good deeds are highlighted, as Mercury and Venus stimulate your human tar an streak So it’s a suitable week to express your Good Samaritan side Perhaps you can nurse a sick fam ly member support a friend n need do some volunteer work or end a helping hand n your local community? But thr fty Saturn cautions you about financial matters With the cost of living soar ng, there may not be as much in the kitty as you think!
COPYR GHT Joanne Made ine Moore 2025
You’re keen to call the shots but remember there’s a big difference between eading others and being pla n bossy This week domineering behaviour and control-freak tendencies wi l ust lead to unnecessary dramas So sl p on your hum lity hat and be more consu tative and cooperative, especia ly at work and home W th Saturn activat ng your hea th-and-we lbe ng zone, find time n your busy l fe to prepare nutr tious mea s and fol ow a regular fitness routine
This week’s stars encourage nurtur ng a ong-term relationship or starting a new romance that has the potentia to last the distance Don’t be afraid of making messy mistakes and learning from them
As music diva (and birthday great) Florence Welch observes: “If you do something w th your whole heart and it’s a mistake, you can live with that ” But if you communicate with too much fiery intensity (especially on Wednesday) then it could scare others away
The Sun (in fel ow earth sign V rgo) boosts productivity and activates your asp rat ona s de, so it’s a good week to dream b g dreams and take p enty of pos tive action Even in tough times – nothing ventured; noth ng ga ned! Be nsp red by Swed sh movie star ngr d Bergman (who was born on August 29, 1917): “I don t regret a th ng I ve done I on y regret the things didn’t do ” But resist the temptation to over-promise and underdeliver, especial y at work
Avoid being a lone wolf this week Aquarius If you nurture partnerships, then you can combine your ta ents on a creative jo nt project You’ l have to be patient, though, as you work towards ach eving a ong-term goa But a relat onsh p w th a work colleague or fami y member could cool suddenly, as responsibil t es overtake hav ng fun Don’t stress and worry If you keep the l nes of communication open, then the storm in a teacup w ll soon blow over
It’s a good week to dream, imagine, create and innovate, as Venus and Uranus form wonderful aspects w th inspirational Neptune (your patron p anet) So, t s time for Fish to fly nto the great imaginat ve and mystical unknown! Be nsp red by singer-songwriter Florence We ch (who turns 39 on Thursday): “I try to ma ntain a healthy dose of daydreaming, to rema n sane But resist the urge to slip into negative thoughts and sabotaging se f-talk on Wednesday
AT the eastern end of Traralgon (south and east of the Traralgon College JuniorCampus) there is an estatewhere manyofthe streets have been named after past mayors of the municipality, whether it be the Shire, Borough or City of Traralgon.
The followingisalist of themayors of Traralgon who have astreet named after them in this defined area, together with the date they were appointed mayor: J. Maskrey (1961); J.D. Cameron (1962); D. A. Cooper (1963); Mrs. G.E. Farrington (1964); Mr. T.J.Priestley (1965); Mr.J.L. Dyer (1969); Mr. E.J. Cowell (1970); Mr. B.A.S. Watkins (1973).
This article commences aseries of articles about the streets named to honour mayors of the municipality.
Maskrey Street was namedafterJohn 'Jack' Maskrey, first mayor of the Borough of Traralgon, in 1961.
He has the distinction of being the only person to serve on all three councils, i.e. the Shire, the Borough and the City.
Jack was Shire president when the Borough of Traralgon was proclaimed.
He was then nominatedtobeMayor of the Borough. Thus, completing his one-year term as mayor.
JackMaskrey arrived in Australia on April 1, 1926 with his parents when he was five-years-old. He attended Grey Street State School.
Jack’sfather was the share farmer for Phil
Nixon, who had adairy farm on the Latrobe River flats. They experienced many floods while on the property including the “horrific” 1934 floods. The family was rescued from the roof of their house after spending the nightinthe ceiling watching the farm’s livestock float away in the floodwaters Jackjoined the State ElectricityCommission (SEC) as ametering officer in 1939, where he worked until 1979.
He lived in Traralgon with his wife Jean for more than 30 years and two children.
Jackwas astaunchsupporter of many groups in the community including Pax Hill Progress Association, Traralgon Benevolent Society, Red Cross and the Olympic Pool Committee just to name afew. He held numerous positions including as Chair of the Dalkeith Home for the Aged and YallambeeVillage, and Honorary Secretaryof the Fish &Game Society and as amember of the RSL as areturned serviceman and committee member at the Traralgon Waterworks Trust and Sewerage Authority.
Jack first became aShire Councillor in 1956, serving until his retirement from the Borough Council in 1963.
Jack was elected to the City of Traralgon Council in 1982,finallyretiring from Municipal duties in 1988.
Like many councillors, Jack was aJustice of the Peace (JP).
THE 46thTyers Art Festival entries are now open, and anew award celebrating renowned Gippsland botanist Jean Galbraith is up for grabs.
The festival has grown from asmall exhibition of local artists taking place in alocal residence to becoming one of the major regional arts events in Gippsland, attracting entries from throughout Gippsland, Victoria, and beyond.
the GunaikurnaiLandand WatersAboriginal Corporation. Tyers Art Festival Director, Peter Harrison said preparations were underway for another great show.
Each year, the Tyers Art Festival delivers an ever-evolving and innovative arts event, providing artists, young and old, the ability to showcase their artwork and allow many supporters and patrons the opportunity to view and purchase artwork.
“The TyersArt Festival is pleased to continue to offer artists from across Gippslandand beyond the opportunity to showcase and receive recognitionfor their work, and we encourage artists to enter this year’s exhibition. Last year was ahighlysuccessful year with large numbers of visitors attending over the three days and over 60 artworks sold.”
As always, the Tyers Art Festival is held on the second weekend in November, this year being Friday 7toSunday, November 9.
Awards for thisyear’s Tyers Art Festival Exhibition include the Tyers Award for Best Exhibit, Best Exhibit –Oil, Acrylic, Watercolour, Pastel, Mixed Medium,Craft and Drawing, the Jean Galbraith Prize, GLaWACArt Award, HangersChoice Award, PopularChoice Award and seven Young Artist Awards.
To celebrate the vast contribution renowned botanistJean Galbraith made to the protection of the region’snativeflora, the Tyers ArtFestival, in conjunction withthe Galbraith familyand the Latrobe Valley Field Naturalists Club, are honoured to announce the Jean Galbraith Prize. Titled ‘Gippsland Flora’ this category is open to all media (excluding photography).
The GLaWAC Art Award in the open and Young Artist sections will continue in 2025, and is open to all First Nations artists in partnership with
“We look forward to seeing what amazing artworks our artists will create this year. We encourage art lovers to visit this year’s Tyers Art Festival Exhibition to view whatweare surewill be an amazing exhibitionaswell as enjoying themany activities on offeroverthe weekend,including the Makers and Bakers Market on the Saturday, the Gallery Graze afternoonsand children’sart activities with our feature artist Isla McRae," he said. Winners in each category will be announced on Friday, November 7atthe gala evening. The gala evening is an opportunity to mingle with fellow art lovers and immerse yourself in anight of inspiration, flavour and connection.
Prospective entrants can enter this year’s exhibition by completingthe online entry form at: https://tyersartfestival.com.au/ about/#online-submission-form Winners from the past five years can be viewed at: tyersartfestival.com.au Tickets
VTHE WORLD
10, Sunday, 7pm
SBS, Friday, 7.30pm
Sun, fun and presumably an unlimited drinks package –it’snosurprise that the luxurycruise ship settingofthiscosycrime series providesarather fertile hunting ground foranpair of pickpockets in tonight’sepisode.Relieving no less than 20 passengers who’d let their guard down of theirprecious possessions, the enterprising duo then sell the loot on to an associate onshoreinAlexandria. Former-cop-turned-cabaret singer Jack (Shayne Ward, pictured) is tasked with tracking down the thieves,but soon hasa murder investigationonhis hands when one of the light-fingered bandits is killed. There’snoshortage of suspects, with her numerous victims –and former loverand partner in crime –under suspicion.
Seven, Tuesday, 9
Aquick game’s agood game and that’scertainly true of th abridged international Survi brawl. It’sall killer no filler –w youbring together 14 of the of the franchise’s players fro Australia, the US,New Zeala Finland, South Africa and Ca fora16-day season, there’sn time forniceties… even if the A$250,000 prizeisjustpoc change fortwo-time Americ winner Tony Vlachos(whose prizetotal stands at US$3 m and counting).OnSunday while Kass tries to solidifyhe alliance withaday spa trip, Australia’s “King of the Jungl Luke (pictured) workstosow divisionbetweenthe remain World players –beforea wild tribal council and adouble elimination flip the tables.
Wednesday, August27
ABCTV (2) SBS (3)
SBS, Monday, 7.30pm
Grantchesterstar Robson Green (pictured) may not haveatypical nine-to-five,but theBritish actor staunchlybelievesinthe power of aweekend, considering them the“bookends” to our overscheduled modernlives. Green prefers to spend his immersing himself in the outdoors, taking time to look after his mind,body and soul. In this third season of relaxation and recharging,he’sagain joined by celebrity guests, family and friends on adventures that reconnect us with nature. In Monday’sreturn, Green invites his co-star Kacey Ainsworth fora staycation in hisbelovedNorth East England, wherethe pair take abracingcold-water swim in theRiver Tyne.
SEVEN (7,6)
Though it wasn’t inte as such, it’sagood id consider thistwisted drama as alimited se given that US TV net NBC has already nip it in the bud. The intriguing premise surrounds Alice (AnnaSophia Robb), Brett(Ben Rappapo Catherine (Aja Naom King)and Birdie (Melissa Fumero, pictured), members of aDetroit garden club whose lives areentangledby scandal. Ripe with botanical language, the saucy saga takes aleafout of Desperate Housewives’book, as the green thumbs taketurns to narrate their schemes. Tuesday’spremiere sowsthe seeds of amurder cover-up, but who killed whom and why? That’s a mystery that will tak 13 episodes to bloom
(PG) 11.30 9News
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TEN (10, 5) NINE (9,8) 6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 ABC News Mornings. 10.00 Four Corners.(R) 11.00 Antiques Roadshow.(R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 12.30 National Press Club Address. 1.35 Media Watch. (PG, R) 2.00 Parliament QuestionTime. 3.00 Anh’s Brush With Fame. (R) 3.25 Grand Designs. (R) 4.15 Long Lost Family:What Happened Next. (PG, R) 5.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 6am Morning Programs. 10.05 Destination Flavour.(R) 10.15 Susan Calman’s Grand Day Out. (PG, R) 11.05 America’s Great Trails. (Premiere, PGa) 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 France 24 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 Dateline. (R) 2.30 Insight.(R) 3.30 Plat Du Tour.(R) 3.35 The Cook Up.(R) 4.05 Jeopardy! 4.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) 5.00 Cycling. UCI World Tour.LaVuelta. Stage 4. Highlights. 6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 TheMorningShow. (PG) 12.00 Seven’sNational News At Noon. 1.00 TheVoice. (PG, R) 2.30 Border Security: International (PG, R) 3.00 TheChase (R) 4.00 SevenNewsAt4 5.00 TheChase Australia.
6.00 Spicks And Specks.(PG,R) 6.30
Quiz. (PG, R) 7.00 ABC News.
7.30 7.30
8.00 Hard Quiz (PGs)
8.30 Shaun Micallef’sEve Of Destruction. (PG) Hosted by Shaun Micallef 9.05 Would ILie To You? (R) Hosted by RobBrydon
9.35 Austin. (PG,R)
10.05 ABC Late News. 10.20 The Business. (R) 10.35 PlanetAmerica. (R) 11.10 YouCan’t Ask That. (Ma, R) 11.40 ParliamentQuestion Time. 12.40 Grand Designs.(R) 1.30 Long Lost Family:What Happened Next. (PG, R) 2.20 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.40 Parkinson In Australia. (Mas, R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30.(R)
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.35 Costco Vs Supermarkets. (Premiere) 8.30 DNA Journey: JayneTorvill And Christopher Dean (Premiere) JayneTorvill andChristopher Dean embark on aDNA journey.
9.35 Smilla’s Sense Of Snow. (M) Sailing toward Greenland, Smilla navigates danger 10.40 SBS World NewsLate. 11.10 Estonia. (MA15+al) 12.50 Das Boot. (MA15+av,R) 1.50 Ancient Egypt: Chronicles Of An Empire. (PGv,R) 3.50 24 HoursInA&E (Ma, R) 4.40 Bamay.(R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight
6.00 SevenNews. 7.00 Football. AFL.Round 24 Gold CoastSuns vEssendon. 10.30 AFL Post-Game Show. Post-game discussion andinterviews taking alook back at all the action from the game.
11.00 Armed And Dangerous: Heists. (Mav,R)Takes alook at Australia’s greatest bank heists, which remain unsolved to this day 12.30 Imposters (Madlv,R)Jules comesface to face with her past.
2.30 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 NBCToday. News and current affairs. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.
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Alone: TheSkills Challenge. 1.50 Tales From ASuitcase. 3.25 BBC News At Ten. 3.55 France 24 4.25 PBS NewsHour 5.25 Food That Built TheWorld. 7.00 Jeopardy! 7.30 8Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. 8.30 MOVIE: Letters From IwoJima. (2006, MA15+) 11.00 MOVIE: Chiliheads. (2021, M) 12.20am Cycling. UCI WorldTour.LaVuelta. Stage 5. 2.50 Dark Side Of The‘90s. 3.40 NHK World English News 5.00 Al JazeeraNewshour 6am Home Shopping. 6.30 Escape To The Country 7.30 Harry’sPractice. 8.00 MillionDollarMinute 9.00 RSPCA Animal Rescue 9.30 NBC Today. Noon Better Homes And Gardens. 1.00 Escape To The Country 2.00 Sydney Weekender 2.30 The YorkshireVet 3.30 Harry’sPractice. 4.00 Better Homes And Gardens. 5.00 Escape To The Country 6.00 Bargain Hunt. 7.00
12.00 TheBlock. (PGl,R) 1.30 Great Australian Detour Snow.(R) 2.00 Pointless. (PG) 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
6.00 9News
7.00 ACurrentAffair
7.30 TheBlock. (PGl) There is bignewsfor one couple.
8.40 Clarkson’s Farm:Harrowing. (Mal) Jeremy Clarkson treats Kaleb to something he hopes will help with hisfarming.
9.45 TheGrand Tour (MA15+l) The boys test three SUVsinCanada. 11.05 9News Late.
11.35 DamianLewis:Spy Wars (Mv,R) 12.30 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Global Shop.(R) 3.00 Home Shopping. 4.00 Believer’sVoice Of Victory. (PGa) 4.30 ACurrent Affair. (R) 5.00 TodayEarly News 5.30 Today
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Antiques
Farm With MattBaker
SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Children’s Programs. 4.25pm Mecha Builders. 4.40 Ariel. 4.50 Bluey. 5.00 Peppa Pig. 5.15 Big Lizard. 5.20 Thomas And Friends. 5.35 PeterRabbit. 5.45 Kangaroo Beach 6.00 Octonauts. 6.10 PJ Masks Power Heroes. 6.20 Bluey 6.30 Paddington. 6.40 HeyDuggee. 6.50 IsadoraMoon. 7.00 Supertato 7.05 Piripenguins. 7.20 Bluey. 7.30 Shaun The Sheep 7.35 Star Wars:Young Jedi Adventures. 7.50 The Inbestigators. 8.05 Operation Ouch! 8.35 BTN Newsbreak. 8.40 Fresh Off The Boat. 9.25 The Mysterious Benedict Society 10.15 Merlin. 11.00 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22) 6am MorningPrograms. 7.30 TheatreDome 8.00 Cards And Collectables Australia. 8.30
6am TheGrass Harp.(1995,PGal) 8.00 The Movie Show 8.35 My Neighbor Adolf.(2022, PGal) 10.25
Is Bliss.(2017,Madlns, Italian) 12.15pm PingPong: TheTriumph. (2023,Ml, Mandarin) 2.45 The Movie Show 3.20 TheBookshop.(2017,PGal) 5.25 ThePersonal HistoryOfDavid Copperfield. (2019,PGav, R) 7.35 Aftersun. (2022, Mals, R) 9.30 TriangleOfSadness (2022, Malsv, R) 12.10am Kill Bill: Vol. 1. (2003, MA15+lv) 2.10 Unleashed. (2005,MA15+v) 4.05 Hundreds Of Beavers. (2022, Mas)
Wars Noon American Pickers. 1.00 Pawn Stars. 2.00 Outback Truckers. 4.00 Swamp People:Serpent Invasion. 5.00 AmericanRestoration. 5.30 Storage Wars. 6.00 American Pickers. 7.00 Pawn Stars. 7.30 The
6.00 10 News+.
7.00 Deal Or No Deal. 7.30 DogsBehaving (Very) BadlyAustralia (PGl) Presented by Graeme Hall. 8.30 Gordon Ramsay’sSecret Service. (PGl) In arace to avoid foreclosure, Gordon Ramsayinfiltrates adiner in desperate need of astaff makeover. 9.30 FBI: International. (Masv) The Fly Team partners withdetectives
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ABC (2)
6am Mor ning Programs. 10.30 Back Roads. (R) 11.00 Shaun Micallef s Eve Of Destruction. (PG, R) 11.35 Nigella Bites. (R) 12.00 News. 1.00 Silent Witness. (Ma, R) 2.00 Parliament. 3.00 Brush With Fame. (PG, R) 3.25 Grand Designs. (PG, R) 4.15 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PG, R) 5.00 Antiques Roadshow.(R)
Grand Designs New Zealand. (Retur n, PG) Hosted by TomWebster
9.15 The Family Next Door (Mls, R) Isabellesinvestigation zones in on Lulu. 10.10 ABC Late News.
10.25 The Business. (R) 10.40 Grand Designs. (PG, R) 11.30 Parliament Question Time. 12.30 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PG, R) 1.20 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.40 Parkinson In Australia. (PG, R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)
ABC FAMILY (22)
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6am Mor ning Programs. 12.30 France 24. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 The Point: Road To Referendum History Bites. (R) 2.05 Secrets Of The Royal Palaces. (PGav,R) 2.55 Garage Dreams. 3.25 Plat Du Tour.(R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Jeopardy! 4.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) 5.00 Cycling. UCI World Tour.LaVuelta. Stage 5. Highlights.
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Great Australian Road Trips. (PG)
8.25 National Parks From Above: Ireland. Showcases the beauty of Ireland from the skies.
9.20 Snowpiercer (MA15+sv)
Melanie stages the trial of the Snowpiercer killer
10.15 SBS World News Late.
10.45 Dopesick. (MA15+ad, R) 11.55 Blue Lights. (Malsv,R) 1.55
Ancient Egypt: Chronicles Of An Empire. (PGa, R) 3.55 Lap Of Luxury: Escapes Down Under.(R) 4.25 J SchwankesLifeInBloom. (PG, R) 4.55 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Mor ning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Childrens Programs. 7pm Supertato. 7.05 Piripenguins. 7.20 Bluey 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 7.50 The Inbestigators. 8.05 Operation Ouch! 8.35 BTN Newsbreak. 8.40 Secrets Of The Zoo. 9.25 Teenage Boss: Next Level. 9.50 The Mysterious Benedict Society 10.40 Late Programs.
6am WorldWatch. 10.00 Front Up. Noon WorldWatch. 12.30 ABeginnersGuide To Grief. 1.50 What Does Australia Really Think About 3.00 Insight. 4.00 News. 4.05 WorldWatch. 6.05 Over The Black Dot. 6.35 Travel Man. 7.05 Jeopardy! 7.35 8Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 The Curse Of Oak Island. 10.10 Late Programs.
Sunrise. 9.00 The Mor ning Show.(PG)
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Football. AFL. Legends Game For Prostate Cancer Victoria vThe All-Stars.
10.00 Kick Ons. Kane Cor nes, Josh Jenkins and Jason Richardson debate the hottest topics and preview the upcoming AFL matches.
10.30 What The Killer Did Next: Megan Newton. (Mav,R) Hosted by Philip Glenister
11.30 Autopsy USA: Chris Benoit. (MA15+adv,R)Alook at the death of Chris Benoit. 12.30 Life. (Madv,R)Amonks body is discovered.
1.30 Travel Oz. (PG, 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 RBT (Mdl) Alook at police random breath-test patrols.
8.30 Emergency (Mlm, R) At The Royal Melbour ne Hospitalsemergency department, doctors fear acyclist has life-changing injuries.
9.30 RPA. (PGm, R) A25-year-old adventurer and rock climber has hit the limits of survival from his lifelong liver disease.
10.30 Chicago Med. (MA15+am)
11.20 9News Late. 11.50 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 12.40 Pointless. (PG, R)
1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Global Shop. (R) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 BelieversVoice Of Victory.(PGa) 4.30 ACurrent Affair.(R) 5.00 TodayEarly News. 5.30 Today 6.00 10 News+. 7.00 Deal Or No Deal. Hosted by Grant Denyer 7.30 Gogglebox Australia. (Retur n) Opinionated viewers discuss TV shows. 8.30 Law &Order: SVU. (MA15+a) The squad scrambles to locate avictim after an assault at gunpoint is witnessed through aneighbouring window 9.30 The Cheap Seats.
6am Morning Programs. 1.50pm First Sounds. 2.00 Strait To The Plate. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.25 Black As. 5.30 Te Ao With Moana. 6.00 Bamay 6.30 News. 6.40 Guardians Of The Wild. 7.30 Going Places With Er nie Dingo. 8.30 Tribal. 9.20 MOVIE: Kill Bill: Vol. 2. (2004, MA15+) 11.45 Late Programs.
SBS WORLD MOVIES (32)
6am Morning Programs. Noon Aftersun. (2022, Mals) 1.55 It All Began When IMet You. (2013, PGa, Japanese) 3.50 Arthur And The Revenge Of Maltazard. (2009, PGahv) 5.35 Francis: Pray For Me. (2015, PGals, Spanish) 7.30 Argo. (2012, Mlv) 9.55 August: Osage County.(2013, MA15+al) 12.10am Late Programs.
Spicks And Specks. (PG, R)
HardQuiz. (PG, R)
ABC News. 7.30 Gardening Australia. Sophie Thomson visits acooling urban oasis.
8.30 Professor T. (Ma) Professor Tisembroiled in ahostage situation, and tries unconventional negotiating tactics. 9.15 HardQuiz. (PGs, R) Presented by TomGleeson. 9.45 Shaun Micallef s EveOf Destruction. (PG, R) Hosted by Shaun Micallef. 10.20 ABC Late News. 10.40 Austin. (PG, R) 11.10 Silent Witness. (Mav,R) 12.10 Rage New Music. (MA15+adhlnsv) 5.00 Rage. (PG)
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R) 6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 The Good Ship Murder (PGv) 8.25 24 Hours That Changed The World: JapansSurrender 9.20 Lost Treasures Of Egypt: Pyramid Palace. (Premiere) 10.10 SBS WorldNewsLate. 10.40 Catch Me AKiller.(Malsv) 11.35 Pray For Blood. (MA15+av,R) 1.30 Ancient Egypt: Chronicles Of An Empire. (Mav, R) 3.30 Lap Of Luxury: Escapes Down Under.(PGa, R) 4.25 JSchwankes Life In Bloom. (R) 4.55 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Mor ning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
Problem!. 8.55 Robot Wars. 9.55 Merlin. 10.40 Late Programs. ABC FAMILY (22) 6am Morning Programs. 10.00 Triangle Of Sadness. (2022, Malsv) 12.35pm Argo. (2012,
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 Better Homes And Gardens. Hosted by Johanna Griggs. 8.30 MOVIE: Downton Abbey. (2019, PGa, R) The Crawley family the owners of Downton Abbey, alarge estate in the English countryside, deals with all the drama of avisit by King George V and Queen Mary during aroyal tour of the region. Michelle Dockery, Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville. 11.00 To Be Advised.
12.25 Touching Evil. (MA15+av) Amercy killer goes after Creegan.
1.25 Travel Oz. (PG, R)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R)
5.00 NBC Today.
6.00 9News.
7.00 ACurrent Affair
7.30 Rugby League. NRL. Round 26. Melbour ne Storm vSydney Roosters.
9.55 Golden Point. Awrap-up of the Melbour ne Storm versus Sydney Roosters match, with news and analysis.
10.45 MOVIE: Rush Hour 2. (2001, Mlsv,R)Two detectives investigate adouble murder Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker 12.40 Tipping Point. (PG, R) Hosted by Ben Shephard. 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R) 4.30
BY LIAM DURKIN
"There's no mountain Ican't climb, there's no tower too high"
Eminem -The Eminem Show 2002 HAVING tiptoed through 18 home-and-away rounds, attention now turns to Gippsland League finals.
The last round of the regular season still saw three ‘live’games,althoughitsoon becameobvious who was going to feature in finals action. Morwell and Warragul simply needed to win, and completed those tasks with relative ease.
Wonthaggi meanwhile needed alot to go right, heading into the round equal-fourth but behind the Tigers and Gulls on percentage.
While the Power ended up missingout,the manner of their victory over Moe certainly sent shockwaves throughout the league.
The Lions came into the match with adoublechance secured, as did Traralgon, who will go into their qualifying final against Moe wearing home shorts at Maffra.
Moe heads in with very patchy form -two wins by lessthan20points and twolosses to teams outside the top three.
Either one of the Maroons or Lionswill play Leongatha for adirect ticket to the Grand Final Saturday week.
The machine that is the Parrots just continued for another year, with Leongatha finishing on top of the ladder for asixth time in nine seasons. Many were predicting this would finally be the year the Parrotsdropped away, following ahost of player movements to minor league clubs. Yet once again, it is looking likeifyou wanttowin the premiership, you will have to go through Leongatha.
MORWELL made sure of it.
After acouple of close calls the last two seasons, the Tigers qualified for finals for the first time since 2022after beating Bairnsdale 16.10 (106) to 7.4 (46).
Ending the regular season with an East Gippsland road trip, Morwell got the result it so desired. What’smore, they willenter finals in red hot form with four consecutive wins under their belt. Just if back-to-back trips to Bairnsdale and
Business end: Morwell captain Aidan Quigley will lead his side intoGippsland League finals this weekend. Photograph: Gippsland League
Wonthaggi (the venue for the elimination final) has an impact remains to be seen, but in the meantime, the Tigers will have every reason to be confident of getting past the first week of finals.
If they do, they will face one of their Latrobe Valley rivals Traralgon or Moe in the first semi, and could easilysend either of them packing in straight sets.
Morwell couldn’t miss in the first quarter at the weekend, kicking 5.0 (30) by the time the siren sounded.
With scores from the Moe game filtering through the huddle, it only further reinforced the need for the Tigers to win and win by some distance.
The visitors added another four goals and kept Bairnsdale to just 1.0 (6) in the second term, and had victory in the bag by three quarter time, leading by 40 points.
Morwell has hada good spread of goal-kickersthis season, and that wasagainthe case at the weekend.
Big man Isaac Abas had his turn, kicking four, while Josh Galea and Nathan Noblett added three each.
While leading scorerBrandonMcDonald (34 goals thisseason) has had to retire due to concussion, playing-coachBoyd Bailey (28), Galea (25), Abas (19)and Rosato(16)have all kicked 15 or more majors playing predominately from the midfield.
Nobletthas also madeawelcome returninrecent weeks, and his role as alinkman couldbepivotal during finals.
Noblett was best against Bairnsdale, along with Burkeley Macfarlane, Aidan Quigley, Sam Walsh, Abas and Harri McColl.
CooperHarvey played agood game for Bairnsdale, as did Tyran Rees, Ricky Tatnell, Ethan East, Oscar Clarke and Will Mitchell, who is reportedly already
andUnder: LaraNoblett(Boolarra)-481
GIPPSLAND LEAGUE
AGrade: Emma Ryde (Warragul) -1243
BGrade: Zoe Ryde (Warragul) -840
CGrade: Erin Barlow(Morwell) -638 17 andUnder: Hannah Smith (Traralgon) -508
15 andUnder: Taylah Voumard(Moe) -622
13 andUnder: Clancee Salmon (Leongatha) -442
MID GIPPSLAND
AGrade: Imogen Law(Tarwin) -625
BGrade: EbonyBest (Foster) -722
CGrade: Vicki Halliday(Boolarra) -467
DGrade: Beth Liley(Mirboo Nor th) -477
andUnder: ZaydaAngwin(Foster) -338 13 andUnder: Ella Hor ton(Newborough) -298
NORTH GIPPSLAND
AGrade: Maddy Dark (Gormandale) -612
BGrade: KimberleyWright (Woodside) -619
CGrade: Emma Callahan (Rosedale) -463
DGrade: Nicola Thatcher (Sale City) -424 17 andUnder: Emma Callahan (Rosedale) -554 15 andUnder: Indi Gieschen (Sale City) -434
shopping himself around for next season with the assistanceofhis Brownlow Medal-winning brother Brayden McCarrey kickedthree goalsinhis 100th matchfor the Redlegs. The pocket rocket has kicked some of the most incredible goals during his career, and would have ahighlights package to rival anyway.
Showing just how muchthe demands on local footballershas changed, McCarrey is also one of aselect few left whostill plays AGrade cricket during summer and Gippsland League senior football during winter. His Bairnsdale teammate East, Traralgon pair Jackson McMahon and Tye Hourigan and Warragul’s Sean Masterson are just about the only others (there’s probably more, the point is, it's very hard to do both).
Having got this far, Morwell will be desperate to break its finals win drought dating back to the 2014 premiership.
If 2022 was all aboutmaking finals, thisyear has to surely be all about winning afinal.
TRARALGON also enters finals with four wins on the bounce.
The Maroons finished the regular seasonin second following a22.21 (153) to 11.9 (75) demolition of Sale.
Having (typically) been somewhat unconvincing in the first half of the season, Traralgon appears to be hitting it straps at the most important time of the year.
The Maroons jumped out to a37point lead at halftime at Sale Oval, and went on their way from there against what was, understandably, a distracted Magpiesoutfit grapplingwith majoroff fieldissues (see story on Page 27).
Departing Saleplaying-coach, Jack Johnstone didhis best in an admirable performance, along withArcher Gerrand, Ben Hall,Cooper Whitehill, Thomas Glenn and Jack McLaren.
Jackson McMahon continued his astonishing form in front of the big sticks, nailing five for Traralgon, along with fellow playing-assistant Dylan Loprese, who returned the same amount.
McMahon’s move from defence to attack has been amasterstrokeonthe part of reigning premiership coach, Troy Hamilton.
McMahon and Lopreseboth ended theseason with close to 50 goals, to be third and fourth among the league leaders.
SamHallyburtonkicked three for good measure, while others to play well were Luis D’Angelo, Tye Hourigan and Harvey Neocleous.
Traralgon now has arematch of last year’s qualifying final against Moe this Saturday.
Amazingly, the venue is also the same as 2024 -MaffraRecreation Reserve.
The Maroons have the luxury of choosing from allseniorlisted players, as its reserves have the week off due to winning the minor premiership. Moe in trouble? Page 26
Sharpshooter: Ben Crockertopped the goal kickingchar tinGippslandLeague seniors.Hemay yetadd to his overall tally as Moebegins its finals campaign this weekend Photograph: Julie Sim
GIPPSLAND LEAGUE
BY LIAM DURKIN
IMEAN, Idid pick Wonthaggi to win the flag. It just took them 18 rounds to show why.
SWalsh IAbas HMcColl.Bairnsdale: CHar veyW Mitchell TRees R Tatnell EEast OClarke
A1.0
JMcQuillen2NChristyH
ACarr BEST: Leongatha: AHeppell PIreland JGarnham JHume BHarding JWalker.Maffra:ACarr AMcKenzie DBedggood DButcher T Scott JMcQuillen
BEST: Leongatha: XBolge BDavidson JWarne TMarriottJ Harr yT Gannon. Maffra: WRoss JLambourn STudor WGieschen S Pendergast BMissen
GOALS: Morwell: SMakepeace3JBlackford2 JSeymour DMakepeaceE Porigneaux L Patterson CWhite. Bairnsdale: MNeate 2HCook 2T Scott CCroftsHNichollsJ Waddell BEST: Morwell: CBlewett DMakepeaceL Patterson EPorigneaux SMakepeaceLDalziel.Bairnsdale: TSelleck PBills CCook MStephenson MNeateMJeffer y
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GOALS: Warragul: DRidgway VKuol THillardCMacLean PCarpenter.Drouin: KSmith. BEST: Warragul: JCassonT HillardPCarpenter TCarpenter BDentHCant. Drouin: KKeady W Brewer KSmith CCaddy FBethune HPiner
The Power finished the regular season with an emphatic win overMoe on the Lions’ home deck, 17.13 (115) to 6.9 (45).
The win meant Wonthaggi defeated every top-three team this season -and still missed finals by what equated to around 50 points.
Ashock loss to Drouin in Round 12 effectively sealed the Power’s fate, and there can be little to no doubt anumberoffinals-bound teams will be pleased the Hawks did so.
Had Wonthaggi qualified, they would have had ahome final this Sunday.
As it is, league pundits will have to ponder ‘what if?’, although as far as Moe is concerned, the questionof‘what now?’ is hard to escape.
Granted the Lions went into the weekend’s match knowing they could not lose the double chance,and players perhaps subconsciously played to avoid injury, the way Moe has been going the last four weeks, you could not back them with good money.
Since beating bottomsideDrouin by nearly 100 points in Round14, the Lions have only narrowly escaped ninth-placed Sale on the road (eight points), lost to Morwell, beatenWarragul (16 points), and nowlost to Wonthaggi.
The final scoreboard at the weekend only told part of amultifaceted story.
The Power led 7.5 (47) to no score at quarter time, and it took Moe until the 15 minute mark of thethirdquarter to register their first goal.
The goal was met with bronx cheers from the Lions faithful standing at the Can Bar -a most telling sign given how devoted some Moe supporters are to their team.
Those supporters and the Moe coaching staff will surely have concerns on the eve of finals.
This is supposedly the best team Moe has had this century, yet 13 wins during a home-and-away season offers afair counterargument (the 2023 team went 16-2).
Poor starts have been aconsistent theme forthe Lions in recentweeks, and may have alarm bells going off at Ted Summerton.
Moe dropped eight first quarter goals against Sale, three to none against Morwell the following week, and then, staggeringly, seven to none against the Power at the weekend.
The coach tookaim at the players’ inability to follow instructions, channelingthe late, great Ron Barassi in doing so (“if we’re gonna fail, we’ll fail my way!”).
As the coach laid out, Wonthaggi’s strength was their clearancegame, and weakness once the ball was out in the open.
Yet Moe played right into the hands of their opposition.
“Worst tackling team in the comp and they had 24 tackles,” Poholke lamented.
Hisfrustrationwas evident in thequarter that followed
At one stage, youngster Jordan Shields had the ball at half-back, butwithnokey position player to kick to as abailout option down theline.
Poholke screamed at hisnearest tall to move into position, offering some sympathy to the kid in the process, saying, “He can’t kick it 80 metres!”
Although Wonthaggi only kicked one goal for the term, the game was effectively done by the main break when the visitors led by 52 points.
Speaking to Power officials during the halftime luncheon, they pointed to aretched run with major injury (five ACLs in the last two years) as the main reason why the team has found itself in virtual elimination finals by the middle of the year the last two seasons. The officials also admitted players knew following the loss to Drouin that their chances of playing finals were all but done given the games that were to come (Traralgon, Leongatha and Moe).
Wonthaggi was not predicted to win any of those, yet ended up winning two.
That the Power only missed finals by percentage after seemingly beingoutside calculations with fourrounds to go really does emphasis how the season is amarathon, not asprint.
Sparkes was best for Wonthaggi, followed by Brodie Mabilia, Cooper McInnes (six goals), Anthony Anastasio, Jarvis Harvey and coach Jarryd Blair, who has now completed five seasons.
EWildblood.Wonthaggi: WSimmons WHullick J Brouwers LTon MOri LLidstone BAIRNSDALE 4.5 6.7 14.9 19.15 (129) MORWELL 1.2 2.5 4.5 4.8 (32)
GOALS: Bairnsdale: RHargreaves4OEmmett 4CCook 3JFarley 2BNugent- BrownBFenner LSykes TScott NTough. Morwell: LAinswor th 2ONania 2. BEST: Bairnsdale: JFarley MNeate DAshbyRHargreavesCCook OEmmett. Morwell: SDawsonJ Mooney CPage TJames O Nania LAinswor th
WARR AGUL 3.3 4.3 7.6 8.9 (57)
DROUIN 2.0 3.3 4.6 8.7 (55)
GOALS: Warragul: CMcintosh 2HHodge 2W MacLean NMcDonald CThompson RNettle. Drouin: KWalmsley2 TWilliames OHermansen MWilliames CKleevenJ WierzbickiBBibby BEST: Warragul: HHodge DHammond TO’Lear yC Mcintosh CThompson LMoore. Drouin: J Huston JWierzbickiJObernhumer WVir tue MWilliames CAmey MAFFR A2.3 6.4 6.4 8.9 (57) LEONGATHA 0.2 0.4 2.5 3.7 (25)
GOALS: Maffra: BCottrell 2MPendergast JDowsett DScott TPhillips Astobie WRuthberg. Leongatha: MSheahan 2A Williams BEST: Maffra: TPhillips SRichardsJ Henr yBCottrell D Scott LHarrington. Leongatha: FDonohue KMcGrath MSheahan AGannon CReid HBowler
(40) GOALS: Traralgon: JMurdoch 3D Smith2 EPass AHarle MFarley LMacumber JBrand.Sale: JHalligan 2W Moon MMcMaster BHarrisonJRoads BEST: Traralgon: LConnelly DSmith L Macumber HPirie WAmbler LHooper.Sale: JGreenwood STreglown
Again, the Lions managed/rested key players Trent Baldi and Scott van Dyk, and were without ruckman Chris Prowse (illness), speedster Callum Nash, small defender Matt Heywood, midfield bull Jaryn Makepeace, key defender DeclanKeilty and gun midfielderNathanScagliarini, along withp laying-coac hL eigh Poho lke, yet to drop 47 points in the first 20 minutes was farfrom acceptable in theeyesofthe coach, irrespective of who wasn’t playing.
Poholke let rip at the quarter time break, delivering an old-fashioned, profanity-laden, tune up.
Afilm crew has been following the Lions at times this season for adocumentary. They perhaps picked ashockingweek not to have thecameras rolling.
(It would have made greatTV, although whoever wasonthe censor buzzer would have been busy in post-production).
The Power showed exactly why they were rated so highlyinpreseason, with Ryan Sparkes kicking an insane goal while hugged up against the boundary at the scoreboard end.
The best goal however came at the 16 minute mark, when Wonthaggistreamed the ball through in numbers post stoppage from Moe’s attacking 50. Achain of handballs ended with Hunter Tiziani taking abounce andkicking truly on the run from 45 metres to blow themargin out even further.
As good aplay as it was, one couldn’t help but wonder ‘where has this been all season from Wonthaggi?'
On the flipside, having known their finals chances were just about shot following the loss to Drouin, perhapsmeant the Power was able to attack the last two games with real venom.
Their performances over Leongatha and Moe may keep opponents on notice even this far out from season 2026.
As far as Wonthaggi is concerned, Round 1next year might just be Round 3.
His younger brotherJackonlymanaged ahandful of games this season,adding to the Power’s woes.
Key Moe midfielder, Myles Poholkeand leading forward Ben Crocker both sat on the bench for the entire fourth quarter at the weekend.
The Lions will hope to have Keilty, Baldi, van Dyk and Makepeace available for the qualifying final.
Tom Blackshaw, Shields, Ben Maslen, Ben Daniher, Aaron Paxton and AlexDijkstra more or less ensured theirselection by featuring in the best.
As patchy as the form has been, Moe can look to its nearest Valley rivals for some inspiration.
Traralgon lost five consecutive games heading into the2023finalsseries,and won thefirst week.
Morwelllostthe last round of the 2013 season by 120 points on their way to the premiership.
This finals series is settobea cathartic
GIPPSLAND LEAGUE
BY LIAM DURKIN
THE Express is aware of an email that has circulated among Sale Football-Netball Club members
The email was sent by an imaginary journalist, and contained outrageous claims of drug use and explicit sexual messaging by Sale FNC officials.
The Express understands the email was an inside jobbyagroup of disgruntled former Sale FNCjunior coaches, who were dismissed earlier in the season.
Sale FNCreleased astatement condemning the email.
“The Sale Football Netball Club is aware of an
email circulated to specific long-term members of our netball program,select U16 parents,committee members, and others connected to our club,” the statement read.
“This email contains unverified and potentially harmful allegations directed within the club.
“These allegations may cause reputational harm and undermine confidence in our club’s values.
“Investigations to date confirm that the domain used to circulate the email is not legitimate.Itwas only createdonAugust 8, 2025 and appearstohave been set up solely to spread unverified claims.
“We are also extr emely disa ppo int ed that personal email addresses of members appear to have been used without consent.
This is aserious breach of trust, is being investigated, and we will be reviewing our privacy policies
to strengthen protections for our members.
“In addition, we have contactedboth the Herald Sun and the Weekly Times. They have confirmed that the individual named in the email does not exist within their organisation, contrary to the details listed in the email footer, and the matter has been referred to their legal team.
“The club will continue to fight these allegations and ensure those responsible are held to account.
“The SFNCremainscommitted to the highest standards of integrity and respect, and we reaffirm our unwavering commitmenttoChildSafety Standards.”
By LIAM DURKIN
WHISPERShavestarted thatWarragul legend and two-time North Smith Medallist, Gary Ayres might be returning home next season.
Ayres, who played 269 games for Hawthorn and coachedGeelong and Adelaide before enjoying aprolific coaching career with VFL club Port Melbourne, has been coaching Eastern Football League Division 1sideMontrose for the last four seasons.
He informed Montrose halfway throughthis season of his intention to finish up, and his phone has undoubtedly been running hot from possible suitors since.
Ace Herald Sun sports scribe, Paul Amy (whois also aFishCreeklocal) got the conversation going even further last week, posting on his X/Twitter handle:“Is the great Gary Ayres goingtofinish his football career where he started it almost 50 years ago?”
Ayres grew up in Warragul,and was playing seniors as a16-year-old before catching the attention of Hawthorn recruiters in 1977.
He would go on to feature in five premierships in the brown and gold, winning the Norm Smith Medal in 1986 and 1988.
The playerjudgedtobebest throughout theAFL finals series as voted by the coaches receives the Gary Ayres Award.
Warragul is after anew coachfor the next Gippsland League season,although the club has denied speaking to Ayres about apossible homecoming.
Ayres has connectionselsewhereinthe Gippsland League, having coached anumberoflocal players at PortMelbourne.
Maffra’s Sam Pleming played in Port’s 2011 flag under Ayres, and Sale’s Shannen Lange did likewise in 2017.
Korrumburra’s Tristan Francis also played in the 2011 triumph, and is rumoured to be taking over from his former Collingwood teammate, Jarryd Blair as Wonthaggi coach next season.
Moe brothersChrisand Nick Prowse had abrief stint at Port Melbourne, while Leongatha veterans Tom Marriot and Sean Westaway tried out.
As Westaway revealed, Ayres’ methods were very old school.
“I got cut, and he (Ayres) went through and pointed everyoneout: "youcan’t kick, you can’t do this, you can’t do that", and he comes up to me and goes: "you’re too fat, you’re too slow", he was pretty clear, pretty direct about it all.
“It’s definitely an experience when you get told some hard truths in front of 30 blokes,” Westaway said on an episode of the Talking Parrots Podcast last year.
Westaway has since gone on to become the Leongatha senior games record holder.
Another funny story involving Ayres centres around his namesake -Drouin’s Gary Ablett Senior.
As the story goes, acarload of Gippsland players zoned to Hawthorn would carpool to training.
Stopping by Drouin, Ablett Sr would quite often be anoshow.
Upon arrivingatGlenferrie Oval, Hawks officials wouldask “where’sGary?”, and pointing to Ayres, it soon became obvious they were more interested in ‘the otherGary’.
While Ablett Sr kicked more than 1000 goals at AFL level for Geelong, three-time Hawthorn premiershipcoach, Allan Jeans always maintained the Hawks made the right decision to part ways with the freakishly gifted but at-times wayward superstar.
As the late Jeans pointed out, Geelong didn’t win any premierships with Ablett in the team.
Like Ayres, Ablett Sr’s ability was clear from an early age.
As a17-year-old,hekicked 62 goals to be third
IN any other Gippsland League season while afinal five has been in place, Wonthaggi's 11 wins wouldhave easily meant qualification. The Powermissed finals by just 4.02 per cent, equivalenttoaround50points. Aloss to wooden spooners Drouin however ultimately sealed their fate.
Sixth-placed team win/loss record (final five system) 1993 -Warragul(8-10) 1994Bairnsdale (8-8) 1995 -Bairnsdale (7-9)1996 -Warragul (8-8)1997 -Warragul (8-8) 1998Sale (6-10)1999- Maffra (4-13) 2005 -Garfield (6-10) 2006 -Morwell (6-10) 2007 -Traralgon (5-11) 2008 -Garfield (6-10) 2009 -Warragul (7-9) 2010 -Moe (7-9) 2011 -Wonthaggi (9-9) 2012 -Wonthaggi (7-11) 2013- Bairnsdale (9-9) 2014 -Traralgon (9-8-1) 2015 -Morwell (8-10)2016 -Sale(8-10) 2017 -Sale(7-11)2018 -Warragul(9-9) 2019 -Wonthaggi (7-11) 2022 -Maffra (9-9) 2023-Morwell (7-11)2024 -Morwell (9-7-2) 2025 -Wonthaggi (11-7) With thanks to Paul Carter for information.
The episode is another chapter in the season from hell for Sale FNC, who finished among the bottom sides in every senior football and senior netball grade this year bar one (reserves football). GIPPSLAND LEAGUE FINALS
in the West Gippsland FootballLeaguesenior goalkicking in 1979.
Histwo brothers, Kevin and Geoff also played AFL football, while sisterFay added another branch to the family tree by marryingMichael Tuck, who went on to become the AFL games record holder.
Geoff AblettcoachedMoe in 1989 and 1990, and brought his two brothers, Grahamand Len across with him.
As is oftenthe case with brothers, Graham, who played some reserve grade games for Hawthorn, was said to have been good enough to make it to the top level, but didn’t have the passion.
Interestingly, the Abletts only put their family farm at 10 Walton Road,Drouin on themarket in 2021 after 40 years of ownership.
GaryAblett Juniorisalso familiar withthe Latrobe Valley.
The Little Masterisgood friends with formerHill End coach, Mike Santo, and opened the Lowanna College Sporting Excellence Program (where Santo works) 10 years ago.
Ablett Jr played agame for Drouin in 2023, while his brother and fellow Geelongpremiership winner, Nathan has perhaps been the one to carry their famous father’s eccentricity.
Playing for HalloraCricket Club in the mid2000s, Nathan Ablettcausedquitethe scene when he strode out to bat wearing asombrero against Trafalgar.
Thinking it was ajoke, the Trafalgar bowlers were quickly puttothe sword, as Ablett began teeing off, sending alofted straight drive for six straightthrough the goalsatthe Hallora Recreation Reserve.
Ablett Sr and Ayres both have aplace on the Baw Baw Shire sporting Walk of Fame in Warragul’s Civic Park.
Other footballers on the walk are Barry Round (Warragul), Peter Knights (Longwarry), Alan Noonan (Essendon) and Les Griggs (Yarragon).
GIPPSLAND LEAGUE BY
LIAM DURKIN
IT’S finally over -for Drouin at least.
The Hawks’ magical mystery tour of season 2025 finally made its way home at the weekend.
Drouin hostedWarragulattheir actual home ground, as the ribbon was cut on the redeveloped Drouin Recreation Reserve.
The Gulls however were in no mood to provide niceties, needing awin to sew up afinals spot.
Warragul did just that, winning 18.12 (120) to 11.11 (77).
That scoreline in itself showed just how good the new deck at Drouin will be, provided there is no drainage issues moving forward.
To have close to 30 goals kickedonDrouin Recreation Reserve was an absolute rarity across the lastdecade,when the ground wasusually reduced to amudbath by the start of winter.
The visitors led at every change, and had the game in their keep by the main break.
Warragul brought some big guns back on the eve of finals, including Brayden Fowler (four goals) and Will Hayes (best on).
Riley Senini also returned for the Gulls, as did the Stewartboys, Jordan and Zac, and Tom Hobbs from suspension.
Sam Whibley, Isaac Wallace, Sean Masterson and Tom Stern were all productive in the win.
Best players for Drouin were Aden Quirk, Seb Amoroso,Noah Lafrantz,ZayneAtkins,Denver Lund andRylie Baker.
Baker kicked three goals, and also won the thirds league goalkicking with 68 majors -anoutstanding effort in ateam that finished seventh.
The Hawks will surely want to secure his services before any minor league clubs swoop.
Drouin couldyet join aminor leaguethemselves, if their application to West Gippsland gets past a few more hurdles.
The Hawks still need AFL Gippsland and AFL Victoria to tick off theapplication. It is understood the GippslandLeague is confident Drouinwill remain in the major league.
LEONGATHA fine-tuned before finals.
The Parrots won adead rubber against Maffra, 21.15 (141) to 5.4 (34).
With the mi nor pr em ie rs hip in the bag , Leongatha showed just how professionalthey are, refusing to simplygothrough the motions at Parrot Park.
Dyson Heppell played for Leongatha at the weekend, getting in the four games he needed to qualify for finals.
The Eagles will still have teams to supportduring finals, with the reserves, thirds and fourths all in.
Saturday, August 30 at MaffraRecreation
Traralgon vs Moe (2.20pm) Reserves Leongatha vs Moe (12.30pm) Thirds Leongatha vs Moe (10.45am) Fourths
MaffravsWarragul(9am) ELIMINATION FINAL
Sunday, August 31 at WonthaggiRecreation Reserve Seniors Morwell vs Warragul (2.20pm) Reserves MaffravsWonthaggi(12.30pm Thirds Traralgon vs Warragul (10.45am) Fourths Moe vs Bairnsdale (9am) Clubs represented: 8/10 Winner of qualifying final plays minor premier Winner of elimination final plays loser of qualifying final.
FOOTBALL
MID GIPPSLAND BY ROB POPPLESTONE
THE first weekofMid Gippsland Football-Netball League finals produced the high level, high intensity footballexpected at this time of the year,where all teams were acutely aware there wouldbeno tomorrow for the losers.
All of the excellent workproducedbyall clubs over the home-and-awayseason was for this opportunity, wherethe pressure is immense but also aprivilege to be apart of At the end of the weekend, Yinnar and Meeniyan Dumbalk United lived to fight another day.
The Magpies and Demons defeated spirited opponents, Boolarra and Thorpdale respectively. As the final structure goes, Yinnarand MDU will now play each other, with the winner to take on the loser of the clash between top-twosides, Foster and Fish Creek.
Either one of the Tigers or Kangaroos will go straight to the Grand Final if victorious this weekend.
YINNAR VS BOOLARRA
THIRD-PLACED Yinnar entered the first of the MGFNL finals as firm favourites.
The Magpies' form was as good as they could have hoped for, cutting through opponents as they pleased.
Now, however was the challenge of confronting an enthusiastic Boolarra side still on ahigh from itslastgasp victory in the final round of the homeand-away season that secured afinalschance,
What unfolded was somewhat expected, the Demons staying in touch early, but with the quality of the Magpies proving too much late.
Yinnar defeated Boolarra 16.9 (105) to 11.8 (74) at Meeniyan Recreation Reserve.
After imploring afast start, Boolarra coach,
Brendan Mason was filthy as Yinnar jumped the Demons through Jaxon Notman.
MickGerry was in everythingearly forthe Magpies, and bar for inaccurate kicking, Yinnar maywell have put the game to bed early.
Hearing nothing of awhite flag, ageless Boolarra president, James Holmes slotted his first for the day and the Demons were soon in the contest.
Young Yinnar gun Harvey McKay opened the scoringwith aquicktransition goal beforethe Demons presidentagain stood up for Boolarra and kicked truly.
Afterbeing held goalless when they last met, Yinnar's Kane Grinstead-Jones wasn’t going to be quietinthe rematch,especially being afinal When he marked and goaled it reflected the fact thatthe game had reallyopenedup.
As if spurredinto action, it was the Demons with the next couple.
Firstly it was BaileyFlanagan afterhigh contact, and then Lachy Smith, who may finally have the belief he belongs in the late game, booting one from the boundary to reduce the gap to justseven points with 23 gone in the second term.
The Demons, hanging on for dear life, took a much needed chance for adeep breath, achance to composeoneselfand then give 60 minutes of their best.
As good sides do though, Yinnar dug deep.
Firstly, Ben Cheffers set up Grinstead-Jones and then JoshBugeja again turnedonthe jets and in the blink of an eye, the margin was out to 14 points again.
After ascoreless few minutes, Grinstead-Jones again goaled, and then after alate free kick, he kicked yet another to all but end the contest with the Magpies 25 points up at the last change.
If the game wasn’t over it surely waswhen Cheffers found Geary only 90 seconds into the last to push the margin beyond five goals.
As if to close the circle, it wasleft to Geary, so
instrumentalearly, to icethe cake and closethe scoring. His goal extended the final margin to atick over five goals and consigned Boolarra's season to the history books.
The Demons year, courageous, but just short of what was needed, Yinnar, on the other hand, with theirenormous final experience, looked composed for most of the afternoon.
Magpies coach, Sam McCullochwas roundly pleased with how things went.
“Was atypical finals game with plenty of pressure from both teams," he said.
"We got our game going and managed to get abit of breathing space during the second quarter, but to Boolarra’s credit they were able to work their way back into it.
"Throughout the day we threatened to kick away, but as you’d expect in afinal, they never gave in and we were able to steady each time we were challenged.
"The composure of the groupthroughoutthese momentswas very pleasing.”
MDUVSTHORPDALE
MDU (who finished the regular season fourth) coming off aconfidence building win just seven days earlier against Tarwin,seemed ready to go against what appeared to be afragile Thorpdale team.
The Blues were given afootballing lesson in the last round of the home-and-awayseason by Yinnar, but thatloss masked apre-planned decision to restmanyoftheir first choice playersinorder to give the underdogs the best possible chance of surprising the favouredDemons, and for aperiod of the afternoon at Terrill Park, it seemed the Blues' strategy might pay off.
It didn't however, with MDU winning 12.14 (86) to 9.12 (66).
The heat was on from both sides early, the intensity an expected highfor an elimination final that had several lead changes within the first 30
FOOTBALL COATES TALENT LEAGUE/AFL EXPORTS
BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT
GIPPSLAND Power was downed in the final homeand-awaygame of the CoatesTalent League, losing to Dandenong Stingrays, 13.8 (86) to 11.9 (75) at Shepley Oval on Saturday afternoon.
Aclosely contestedfirstquarter then wentthe way of Power, who booted four goals to two in the second term to lead by 12 points.
The Stingrays returned out of halftime with anew force, booting five goals in the third quarter alone, keepingmomentumall the way through to the end.
Despite theresult, Gippsland Power Boys remain in third position on the ladder ahead of finals, still in contention for the flag.
Gipp slan dP ower Girls also suc cumbed to Dandenong earlier in the day, 12.17 (89) to 3.1 (19) Despitetrailing by justthreepoints at quarter time, the Power Girlswereoutscored by 67 the rest of the way home.
Traralgon duoEllaStoddart(two goals)and Lily Milner performed admirably and were some of the best players on the ground.
Gippsland Power Girls finished fifth on the ladder, readying for finals.
THE last round of the 2025 home-and-away season of the AFL still left time for significant changes on the ladder.
Localboy: Traralgon’s TimMembrey,pictured whilebackhome acoupleofmonthsago, playedhis 200th AFL match on Fridaynight.
Photograph: File
Collingwood were at risk of falling to as low as eighth, but held on to atop four finish by defeating Melbourne, 11.16 (82) to 11.10 (76) on Friday night at the MCG.
Chalmers RWaddell SGriffin TCameron LKeily DCardy.Toora:A Rhodes MHoppner SVening LdeBoer JGriffinJ Cripps
GOALS: Meeniyan Dumbalk Utd: LWright 5HFennell 2J Br ydon MSmith LHarris. StonyCreek:SRoche AWright. BEST: Meeniyan Dumbalk Utd: HFennell LWright TRuedin J Whiteside SBright THarris. StonyCreek:RBaudinetteT Davies A Wright JStuar tSRoche CBatten
(47)
NNAR
3T Patten BPisa HBritten SPickering CMillsom HFerguson. BEST: Meeniyan DumbalkUtd:S Wilson TCorr yNNagel J Kennedy ABattersbyFKelly.Thorpdale: GLow JPatullo SFalla B Melbourne JBurgess BBritten
GOALS: Mirboo Nth: TMcDuffie6 CCrutchfield 3OMahoney 2 MMcConachyJConlan MBriscoe TWilliams AWoodall.Yinnar: PMills XMcCaffer ty HMcCulloch GRyanBDurea BBeecher H Berechree BEST: Mirboo Nth: TMcDuffieA WoodallOMahoney
CCrutchfield JConlanMBriscoe.Yinnar:BRansomDHobbs H
Bugeja MMooreG Ryan BDurea
HILL END 3.3 6.3 7.5 9.10 (64)
TARWIN
Tarwin: B-Gibson 3R Waddell 3ABell DLeggo.Toora ARhodes 3J Guganovic 2JMabilia JCoulthard. BEST: Tarwin: J
minutes,but three goalsdeep into time-on gave the Demons some breathing space and aquarter time lead of 21 points.
The Blues were never going to turn this one up however, and the secondquarter saw Thorpdale digdeep in an attempt to claw its way back into the game, the margin back to just eight points at the main break.
The thirdterm,the 'premiership quarter'saw the best of the Blues, lifting its pressure, showing composurewhenitcountedand arrestingthe lead by fivepoints with 30 minutes to go.
Thisiswhere the favoured MDU really flexed and found what was needed. The Demons finally managed to shrug off acourageous Thorpdale side to win by 20 points.
MDU coach, RhettKelly breathed asighofrelief afterwards.
"What agreat game. Ithought we had the edge on them early, but to their credit they just fought and fought and fought their way back into the game," he said.
"I was just so happy that our boys couldfind something in thelast30minutes and get the prize of another step forward in the finals."
Thorpdale coach,DanielTaylorwas gracious in defeat.
"Always disappointing when the season comes to an end but proud we made the finals and put in a decent performance," he said.
"We got outplayed in the first quarter and at quarter time it probably looked like MDU by how far. Proud that we got ourselves back into the contest and Ifelt like we had the game on our terms in the third quarter but probably didn't capitalise enough on the scoreboard.
"FullcredittoMDU though,they finishedthe game alot better and were deserving winners. In my opinion the best four teams are still in it which is good for the competition, I'm looking forward to seeing how it pans out."
The Magpies were given ascare in the middle stages of the last half, but broke aheadlatetoavoid afour-game losing streak.
In his 200thgame, Traralgon’s Tim Membrey didn’t impactthe scoreboard, but had eight touches and two marks.
Gold Coast will now have to rely on defeating Essendon tonight (Wednesday,August 28) after they failed to lock in afinals berth, losing to Port Adelaide, 10.11 (71) to 9.13 (67) at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.
The Suns were outdone in Power coach Ken Hinkley and Port Adelaide champion Travis Boak’s farewell game.
Morwell’s Ben Ainsworth finished with 13 disposalsand threemarks, while Fish Creek’sand former Moe junior SamFlandershad eight touches as the sub.
Moe’s Bailey Humphrey has missed the last two matches for Gold Coast with akneeinjury,but could be available for tonight’s match against the Bombers or the first week of finals if the Suns qualify.
Hawthorndropped into an elimination final after succumbing to Brisbane, 11.23(89) to 11.13 (79) at the Gabba on Sunday night.
The Hawks started off well beforethe Lions finally broke into alead.
Morwell’s ChangkuothJiath finished with 13 disposals and five tackles on the night.
By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT
THE real stuff has arrived.
Both Mid Gippsland and North Gippsland leagues opened their finals window at the weekend, with all teams going at it to reach the ultimate prize.
Yinnar made sure their redemptive season lived on, defeating Toorainthe first eliminationfinal, 48 to 37 at Meeniyan Recreation Reserve.
After adifficult patch midway through the season, the Magpies of Yinnar rebounded to win their final three games of the home-and-away season to get back into form.
Last year’sminor premier opened up against Toora during the second quarter, after the opening stand was of significant low scoring.
A16-10 second term led Yinnaraheadbydouble digits, giving them the necessary distance to hold on if Toora was to mount acomeback.
Yinnar extended its lead with the first four goals of the third quarter, pushing the margin to 15 goals, and ultimately scored10ofthe first 13 goals of the term.
Saturday, August 30 at StonyCreek
AGrade: Foster vs Fish Creek (2.15pm)
BGrade: Foster vs Fish Creek (1pm)
CGrade: Yinnar vs Newborough (12pm)
DGrade: Mirboo NorthvsYinnar (11am)
17 andUnder: BoolarravsMDU (10am)
15 andUnder: Yinnar vs Toora(9am)
13 andUnder: Yinnar vs Newborough (8.10am)
Sunday, August 31 at Thorpdale
AGrade: Yinnar vs MDU (2.15pm)
BGrade: Yinnar vs Newborough (1pm)
CGrade: MDUvsFishCreek (12pm)
DGrade: TooravsFishCreek (11am)
17 andUnder: Mirboo NorthvsToora (10am)
15 andUnder: Hill End vs Boolarra (9am)
13 andUnder: Tarwin vs Boolarra (8.10am)
Saturday, August 30 at Woodside
AGrade: Churchill vs Sale City(2.20pm)
BGrade: Sale CityvsWoodside (1pm)
CGrade: Woodside vs TTU (12pm)
DGrade: Sale CityvsTTU (11am)
17 and Under: Sale CityvsTTU (10am)
15 and Under: Sale CityvsRosedale (9am)
Sunday, August 31 at Rosedale
AGrade: GormandalevsHeyfield (2.20pm)
BGrade: Heyfield vs Rosedale (1pm)
CGrade: Rosedale vs Sale City (12pm)
DGrade: GormandalevsChurchill (11am)
17 andUnder: Heyfield vs Rosedale (10am)
15 andUnder: Woodside vs TTU (9am)
Winnersofsecond
GIPPSLAND LEAGUE ROUND 18
Toora converted on the final six goals to three quarter time, but Yinnar respondedfirmly to keep thelead.
PattyMcInnes nailed 35 goals for Yinnar, with Claire Thorburn adding 10.
Hannah Weston (21) and Tayah Jenkins (16) combined for all of Toora’s score.
Aslightlyhigher scoring game played out on Sunday in the second elimination final.
Meeniyan Dumbalk Unitedtook downMirboo North, 60-54.
With each of their seasons on the line, the Demons opened with a6-2 run from Alahna Arnason and LillycaWhite,but the Tigers quicklyreplied to take back the lead.
Mirboo North held the lead at quarter time, and the game went back-and-forth deep into the second term.
An 8-3 run to conclude the first half saw MDU jump in front to lead by five goals.
The Tigers responded with aquick run returning from the main break, bringing the margin back to three goals.
Aftera back-and-forth few minutes, the Demons managedtostringtogether multiple unanswered scorestoenter three quarter time up by seven goals.
While Mirboo North tried their best, the efforts of MDU’s attack was too much to handle, and the Demons held strong.
Arnason added agame-high 48 goals alongside 12 from White, while the Tigers’ Jessica Holland led her team with 35.
Yinnar nowplays MDU in the first semi-final this SundayatThorpdale Recreation Reserve, while top-placed sides Foster and Fish Creek do battle on Saturday at Stony Creek Recreation Area for aspot in the Grand Final.
TWO heated contested took centre stage in North Gippsland.
Sale City and Gormandale opened on Saturday for the Qualifying Final, withthe Bulldogs gettingthe job done, 47-42 at GeorgeBates Reserve, Yallourn North.
In apolar opposite road to finals,SaleCityis eyeing back-to-back premierships, having consistently played postseasongames,while Gormandale returned to finals for the first time since 2014.
Nerves may have played apartinaslowstart, with themoreexperiencedBulldogs scoring the opening six goals of the game.
That had the Tigers chasing tail the rest of the first quarter,withSaleCityleading 13-7 at the first break.
Gormandale’s star shooter Maddy Dark added the first two goals of the second term, but the Bulldogs responded with a5-1 run.
The Tigers did well to answer at every point the rest of the first half, including a3-1 run to conclude down six goals.
Returning from the main break, Dark again rose to the occasion, as Gormandale scored five of the first six goals to get back within three.
Sale City’s Charlotte Ronchi and Madeleine Rodwell practically went shot-for-shot against Dark the rest of the third term, with the Bulldogs lead by four goals.
Gormandale had grand supportintheir corner and were very vocal all game long, getting even louder as the Tigers got within agoal in the opening minute of the last quarter.
The Bulldogs knew they needed to knuckle down, and did so,going on a7-2 run in the next eight minutes.
Asix-goal edge was all that was necessary to see Sale City survive.
Ronchi added 34 goals alongside Rodwell (12), while Dark dominated with 37 for Gormandale.
The Bulldogs now play minor premier Churchill in the second semi-final on Saturday at Woodside Recreation Reserve.
After along seasonfilled with doubtifthey’deven make it to the finals, Heyfield knocked Traralgon Tyers United outofthe postseasonina 47-45 thriller at Glengarry Recreation Reserve.
The Bombers openedstronglyafter sustaining the first three goals to the Kangaroos, with TTU leading by agoal at the first break.
Heyfield responded as play resumed with five of the first seven goals of the second quarter, but the Bombers were unfazed.
Despite trailing with two minutes to go in the
Searching: Gormandale star shooter Maddy Dark readies up during theTigers Qualifying Final againstSale City.
Photograph: BlakeMetcalf-Holt
opening half, TTU rallied with six of the final seven goals to lead 22-20 at the main break.
The thirdquarter was as closeascan be, with neither side managing to break the deadlock and lead by no more than agoal either way.
The Bombers entered the final turn with aone goal lead, and looked even more confident of extending their season as they scored the opening three goals of the fourth.
Heyfield responded with four of the nextfivegoals to get the margin back to agoal, giving them the necessary momentum to roll on through.
Phoebe Richardson and Chloe Jones shot the lights outwhen it mattered most to seal alast minute victory for the Kangaroos.
Richardsonled the gamewith32goals, while TTU’s Maleah Travers added 31.
Heyfield now play Gormandale in the first semifinal at Rosedale Recreation Reserve on Sunday.
IN the final round of the Gippsland League, little changed ahead of finals action.
Moe decimated Wonthaggi at Ted Summerton Reserve, 108-20,withthe Lionsalready locking in the minor premiership.
AshleaMawerdominated with 78 goalsinagame where the Power were disallowed from any more than nine goals in any quarter.
Morwell was made to workwhentravelling to Bairnsdale, victorious 40-35.
The Tigers held aminor two-goal lead after the first quarter, but began to slowly chip ahead as the game went further along.
Despite the Redlegs outscoring Morwell in the final term, the visitors did enough to hold on.
The Tigers had an all-around scoring outfit featuring Erin Barlow who came up for her AGrade debutwith17goals,Isabella Bettridge (13) and Claire Marks (10).
While not playing finals this season, Traralgon finishedits seasonstrongly with three straight wins, with their last one coming against Sale, 65-41 at Sale Oval.
The Maroons wereattheir best from start to finish, outscoring the Magpies at every turn.
Emma Whitescored 41 goals, followed by Sophie Lecchino (24).
Other resultsincluded; Leongatha defeating Maffra, 78-32 at LeongathaRecreation Reserve, and Warragul besting Drouin in the Western Derby, 71-46 at Drouin Recreation Reserve.
Gippsland League finalsbegin this weekend with Warragul taking on Morwell in the Qualifying Final at Maffra Recreation Reserve, while Drouin plays Bairnsdale in the Elimination Final on Sunday at Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve.
AGRADE: Leongatha 78 def Maffra32, Morwell 40 def Bairnsdale 35, Traralgon 65 def Sale 41,Moe 108def Wonthaggi 20, Warragul 71 def Drouin 46.
BGRADE: Leongatha 75 def Maffra32, Morwell 63 def Bairnsdale 52, Traralgon 76 def Sale 35, Wonthaggi 41 def Moe 37,Warragul 51 def Drouin 47 CGRADE: Leongatha 68 def Maffra27, Morwell 53 def Bairnsdale 32, Traralgon 36 def Sale 25, Moe 36 drew Wonthaggi 36, Drouin 32 def Warragul 27 17 AND UNDER: Leongatha 55 def Maffra27, Bairnsdale 70 def Morwell 14,Trarlaogn 38 def Sale 36, Moe 38 def Wonthaggi 23, Drouin 44 def Warragul 23. 15 AND UNDER: Leongatha 48 def Maffra19, Bairnsdale 40 def Morwell 5, Traralgon 58 def Sale 35, Moe 69 def Wonthaggi 9, Warragul 39 def Drouin 35. 13 AND UNDER: Leongatha 37 def Maffra28, Bairnsdale
AGrade: Moe 72 (185.94), Warragul 64 (176.30), Morwell 56 (124.57), Drouin 42 (119.17), Bairnsdale 36 (97.56), Leongatha 34 (102.98), Traralgon 32 (93.17), Wonthaggi 12 (63.53), Sale 8(60.87), Maffra4 (46.46).
BGrade: Wonthaggi 68 (160.14), Leongatha 64 (165.22), Moe 54 (132.10), Traralgon 44 (116.80), Warragul 42 (118.24), Drouin 32 (90.52), Morwell 32 (89.31), Maffra16(64.29), Bairnsdale 6 (70.71), Sale 2(58.26). CGrade: Morwell 66 (161.26), Leongatha 58 (131.81), Wonthaggi 54 (145.36), Drouin 48 (109.90), Moe 38 (99.22), Bairnsdale 36 (104.41), Traralgon 32 (105.72), Sale 12 (75.19), Warragul 12 (66.00), Maffra4(51.85). 17 and Under: Traralgon 68 (219.28), Bairnsdale 68 (195.40), Sale 56 (123.30), Drouin 38 (95.76), Leongatha 36 (97.34), Moe 34 (87.53), Maffra28 (82.36), Warragul 18 (72.53), Wonthaggi 8(61.06), Morwell 6(52.55). 15 and Under: Traralgon 72 (252.71), Sale 62 (147.69), Moe 50 (141.54), Warragul 48 (142.78), Leongatha 36 (112.85), Bairnsdale 34 (113.83), Drouin 28 (95.27), Maffra22(67.57), Morwell 8 (44.24), Wonthaggi 0(11.47). 13 and Under: Leongatha 72 (261.54), Sale 54 (175.47), Moe 54 (153.85), Maffra46 (164.47), Traralgon 44 (141.48), Bairnsdale 38 (137.50), Drouin 20 (74.72), Morwell 20 (68.27), Wonthaggi 8(39.39), Warragul 4(18.19).
AGrade: Foster 68 (186.61), Fish Creek 64 (155.92), Yinnar 60 (143.25), Mirboo North 52 (139.42), MDU 50 (120.71), Toora48 (105.89), StonyCreek 40 (111.76), Morwell East 36 (98.29), Tarwin 34 (103.52), Newborough 32 (94.82), Boolarra14(62.93), Hill End 14 (49.26), Thorpdale 8(33.03).
BGrade: Foster 70 (163.87), Fish Creek 62 (154.07), Yinnar 60 (152.15), Newborough 52 (130.47), Mirboo North 52 (122.95), Toora48 (137.48), StonyCreek 44 (116.64),MDU 32 (91.08), Morwell East 32 (83.07), Hill End 28 (71.64), Tarwin 16 (62.40), Boolarra16(44.61), Thorpdale 8(49.23)
CGrade: Yinnar 64 (155.95), Newborough 52 (137.31), Foster 52 (126.24),Boolarra52(115.84), Fish Creek 52 (113.00), MDU 46 (122.89), Tarwin 42 (124.67), Toora36(111.96), StonyCreek 34 (100.20), Mirboo North 32 (90.85), Hill End 30 (98.45), Morwell East 20 (75.14), Thorpdale 8 (19.49).
DGrade: Mirboo North 72 (198.41), Yinnar 66 (218.79), Toora60(172.97), Tarwin 60 (146.26), Fish Creek 50 (150.38), Newborough 48 (114.51), StonyCreek 36 (99.80), Morwell East 32 (101.19), Hill End 28 (110.34), MDU 24 (77.05), Foster 20 (56.92), Boolarra16(67.70), Thorpdale 8(11.34). 17 and Under: Boolarra68(243.83), MDU 64 (249.69), Mirboo North 62 (216.25), Yinnar 62 (180.58), Toora52(162.04), Hill End 48 (114.46), Fish Creek 40 (95.06), StonyCreek 32 (65.08), Morwell East 24 (42.79), Newborough 24 (41.80), Tarwin 20 (36.58), Foster 16 (33.64). 15 and Under: Yinnar 72 (235.10), Toora68 (238.26), Hill End 60 (202.70), Boolarra56 (162.00), Foster 44 (115.66), Newborough 44 (100.88), Mirboo North 44 (88.08), MDU 40 (100.30), Tarwin 26(57.17), Stony Creek 20 (48.65), Morwell East 20 (39.22), Fish Creek 18 (37.17). 13 and Under: Yinnar 64 (275.00), Newborough 64 (231.63), Tarwin 60(188.49), Boolarra60 (194.96), Fish Creek 48 (137.04), Mirboo North 48 (127.56), StonyCreek 44 (143.59), Foster 44 (120.21), Hill End 24 (65.03), Toora24 (32.13), MDU 16 (21.63), Morwell East 16 (17.74).
NORTH GIPPSLAND
AGrade: Churchill 52 (150.22 per cent), Sale City48(127.4), Gormandale 48 (127.2), TTU 48 (108.12), Heyfield 44 (128.57), Woodside 44 (119.06), Rosedale 24 (85.04), YYN 24 (84.85), Glengarry12(77.59), Cowwarr 8(44.79) (Yarram did not field AGrade
32 def Morwell 18,Traralgon 31 def Sale 23, Moe 33 def Wonthaggi 10,Drouin 22 def Warragul 15 MID GIPPSLAND ELIMINATION FINALS
AGRADE: Yinnar 48 def Toora37, MDU 60 def Mirboo North 54.
BGRADE: Yinnar 49 def Toora40, Newborough 57 def Mirboo North 42.
CGRADE: MDU 33 def Foster 24, Fish Creek 47 def Boolarra36. DGRADE: Toora43def Newborough 24, Fish Creek 35 def Tarwin 24. 17 AND UNDER: Mirboo North 46 def Hill End 18,Toora 50 defYinnar 49. 15 AND UNDER: Hill End 40 def Newborough 28, Boolarra53def Foster 35.
13 AND UNDER: Tarwin 24 def Mirboo North 21, Boolarra 33 def Fish Creek 22.
FINAL
AGRADE: Sale City47def Gormandale 42.
BGRADE: Woodside 56 def Heyfield 45.
CGRADE: TTU 49 def Rosedale 26.
DGRADE: TTU 31 def Gormandale 25.
17 AND UNDER: TTU 34 def Heyfield 31 15 AND UNDER: Rosedale 32 def Woodside 28. ELIMINATION FINAL
AGRADE: Heyfield 47 def TTU 45. BGRADE: Rosedale 50 def YYN 49. CGRADE: Sale City36def Heyfield 21 DGRADE: Churchill 39 def Woodside 34.
AND UNDER: Rosedale 46 def Glengarry29.
BGrade: Sale City56(156.49), Woodside 56 (139.97), Heyfield 52 (135.80), Rosedale 48 (137.24), YYN 34 (111.54),Churchill 32 (109.40), Glengarry30 (97.43), Yarram 16 (82.30), TTU 16 (80.60), Gormandale 12 (70.71), Cowwarr 0 (39.35). CGrade: Woodside 60 (154.90), Rosedale 50 (131.13), TTU 48 (153.00), Sale City44(155.61), Heyfield 38 (120.27), YYN 36 (121.25), Glengarry 28 (82.17), Gormandale 22 (78.65), Churchill 14 (68.73), Yarram 8(63.32), Cowwarr 4(45.42) DGrade: Sale City60 (217.52), TTU 48 (134.16), Gormandale 44 (140.41), Churchill 44 (138.16), Woodside 40 (127.81), Rosedale 40 (121.76), Heyfield 32 (86.55), Glengarry24(80.59), YYN 12 (85.52), Yarram 4(46.76), Cowwarr 4(29.63). 17 and Under: Sale City64 (273.40), TTU 56 (258.28), Heyfield 52 (183.91), Rosedale 42 (165.25), Glengarry38(132.95), Woodside 36 (125.23), Churchill 24 (64.87), YYN 16 (39.11), Gormandale 14 (62.98), Yarram 10 (31.19),
Hands: Woodside’s AshtonJanssen looks to dishoff during their QualifyingFinalwin over Heyfield. The Wildcats will playTTU foradirecttickettothe North GippslandGrand FinalthisSaturday
BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT
THE best time of the year arrived.
North Gippsland finals started at the weekend, as all qualifiedsidesgot busyto set up ahopeful month that sees only one eventually lift the cup.
GOALS:
Foat
LJohnson
TMarchesi DPatmore RMcMillan KHole CRonan KWoodland
(56)
GOALS: Rosedale: SFox 5W Logan 2M Caruana RDiamond OSmith LMcDonald NHeathcoteJ Fraser Hanley.Sale City: KMartin 2KMcculloch 2D Carstairs CEvans JSchuback BEST: Rosedale: TNorthe RDiamond JDiamond LStuckey CBarnett BSafstrom. Sale City: DMcGuiness KMartinKMcculloch TBowman JWhitehill L Carman
TTU4.0 7.2 9.3 10.3
TTU: BPoel 5M Anderson RRichards NAlbanese PMoio CTurnbull YYNFNC JETS Men: AAnderson2 DBenson KSavage JKing BEST: TTU: MAnderson BPoel BFlemingN Rutter RRichards SDuguid.YYNFNCJETSMen: BMetcalf-Holt D Benson JHall JPheeney JKing DCartwright ELIMINATION FINAL
WOODSIDE 3.24.4
GOALS: Woodside:D Mckean 3BReedBAskew CHanning.Cowwarr:RFerguson J Anderson SFerguson JChalmers BEST: Woodside:HFoat NTourtoulas BAskew R Benis BWilson AJeffs. Cowwarr:T Darling SGrovesNFarley AMcLeanD Websdale JChalmers
QUALIFYING FINAL
ROSEDALE 1.15.3
Rosedale: TOuslinis 5BAllan 2RDickson 2HLeech JMurrayJ Reid Heyfield: JHanratty3PCox 2BLindrea ABrooker MCox BEST: Rosedale: TOuslinis BSyme CGriffinJ MurrayJRiddle HPettie.Heyfield: LPacewicz JParker WStevens BLindrea BMcDiarmid JHanratty
GOALS: Sale City: RDonohue 10 HWynd 3JKelly 2B Wilson 2JMcDonald Woodside:CRoberts 2NLucas RHinkley CEarles. BEST: Sale City: HWynd R Donohue RWells TJerome ZBirdCDuck.Woodside: CEarles AFrancis JScott M Mattern BNorman TBatters
By the time the main game arrivedonboth Saturday at the Qualifying Final and Sunday at the Elimination Final, the weather held up well to produce perfect conditions.
Muchanticipationsurrounded both matchups,asthe topofthe linebattledit out with afew hoping for their first finals victory in some years.
STILL hard to top.
Woodsidelooked at their very best to begin the 2025 finals campaign, with the reigning premier dismissing Heyfield, 12.10 (82) to 8.4 (52)inthe QualifyingFinal at George Bates Reserve, Yallourn North.
While Saturday morning shifted between clear skies and wet weather, by the time play arrived for the Wildcats and Kangaroos, it was as pristine as ever.
Such conditions would have left many suspecting it would produce atight, backand-forth affair between two of the top three sides, but Woodside proved too strong.
It appeared as thoughHeyfield would be in fine form, with playing-coach Leigh Brown getting out on alead as the Kangaroos won the opening bounce and converting for the first goal within afew seconds.
The Wildcats sprayed afew opportunities as they controlled the ball in their forward half, but Michael O’Sullivan lowered his eyes to find Lee Stockdale closer to home, who subsequently slotted their first.
Following on, Woodside continued to pound the ball into its forward line, and despite not converting, they routinelyintercepted upon the Kangaroos kick-outs.
Heyfield eventuallyworked the ball out and down into their forward 50 for only the first few tries,but Browneasily clunkeda markwithadefender allover him,giving the Kangaroos their second and back the lead.
However, in 10 minutes of play, the Wildcatsalready had six scoring shots, giving signs to the dominance that was to come.
Even as Heyfield held strong, Woodside defenders easily picked off their exiting passes to get the ball back to an attacking position.
One thing that was working for the Kangaroos was the matchup between Brown and Woodside’s Rowan Missen, as Heyfield eventuallyworked togethertoget intotheir forward line, where Brown drew afree kick and added his third goal early.
DespiteWoodside having most possession, the Kangaroos held aseven-point edge deep into the opening quarter.
Brody Stainer brought down his first major for Woodsideafter the Wildcats clinically worked the ball down the far wing, primarily from Ashton Janssen, and then Stainer added another shortly after to give them the lead before quarter time.
Upon the first break, Woodside returned
NORTH GIPPSLAND FINALS SEMI FINALS SECOND CHANCE
Saturday, August 30 at Woodside SENIORS
TTU vs Woodside (2.15pm) RESERVES
Heyfield vs TTU (12pm) THIRDS
Churchill vs Rosedale (9.45am)
SUDDEN DEATH
Sunday, August 31 at Rosedale SENIORS
Heyfield vs Rosedale (2.15pm)
RESERVES
YYN vs Woodside (12pm) THIRDS
Heyfield vs Sale City (9.45am)
Winner of second chance semi goes straight intoGrand Final
Winner of sudden death plays loserof second chance in preliminaryfinal
in the same gear, perhapsa fewabove, while Heyfield continued to be second bested around the ground.
The Wildcats added four straight goals to begin the second quarter, withthe last coming fromJeremy Morganpinging one on the run from beyond the 50 metre arc.
After aclose first quarter, Woodside had now gotten out to a29-point lead, and could have made it worse had Stainer not hit the post from ashort range set shot.
Heyfield began to connect through the middle of the ground,better than what they’d done most of the day, before Tom Marchesi scooped up on the run and bombed from deep for the Kangaroos' first of the term.
Knowing his side needed some light, Brown moved himself to centre half back to give them more poise in attack.
Aresult Heyfield waslooking for happened almost instantly, with Kyle Graham slotting one beautifully to bring the margin back to three goals before halftime arrived.
Still in position to create some nerves for their opposition, Heyfield had to start well to begin the second half.
However, Stainer collected atough mark whilefalling backwards and subsequently slottedhis third to push the Wildcats' lead out to 26 points just three minutes into the third quarter.
Workingasone unit, Woodside didn’t give Heyfield an inch, as the Kangaroos failed to produce anything sufficient with ball in hand.
Ryan Foat rose close to goal above the pack, taking down the markand then sending it through as the Wildcats pushed out to a five-goal lead.
Matt Dyke then added another for Woodside,pushing doubt into the minds of Heyfield players, who needed to make up seven goals with aquarter-and-a-half to play, with 13 less scoring shots.
However, Brown got out in front for the first time since the opening term, adding his fourth, while further confidence entered as Graham slotted one on atight angle.
Withtwo goals straight andthe margin backto26points, the Kangaroos had no other option but to continuetobuild and chip away at the deficit.
Woodside, deliberateintheir approach, sent multiple defenders at Heyfield’s two key targets in Brown and Graham, which thwarted any attempt at scoring easily.
KodieWoodland didn’t get enough on a tight snap, resulting in the Kangaroos first blemish deep into the third quarter.
Right as momentumappeared to be swayingHeyfield’s way, Staineragain tookdown atough mark and slotted dead in front to shunt that swing.
At the next centre bounce, Foat won the ballout of the ruck and poundedthe ball ahead, with O’Sullivan competing well and eventually getting on the end of aJames Matternhandball to bang home his third goal for the day.
The three quarter time siren rung with Woodside ahead by 36 points.
While many would have assumed one side would run out strongly through to the final whistle, few chances were providedfor major scores in the last quarter, with all bodies on the ground beginning to get sore.
Graham added his third goal at the seven-minute mark for Heyfield, but that was practically all she wrote for the game.
TheKangarooshad one final opportunity, but perhaps summed up their day, with Brown taking downa markless than 10 metres in front of goal, electing to play on before getting smothered.
Even former AFL players can make mistakes, so get over yourself.
Thelast 15 minutes didn’t add anything either way, resulting in Woodside heading for aSaturdayGrandFinal rematch against Traralgon Tyers United at the Wildcats’ home ground.
Ashston Janssen, Foat, Stockdale, Rob Michaelides, Luke Johnson and Adam Janssen were some of Woodside’s best on the day.
Heyfieldwillhavetogothe long way around if they are still to win the premiership, facing Rosedale at Rosedale Recreation Reserve this Sunday in the first semi-final. Marchesi,Dylan Patmore,Robert McMillan, Kail Hole, Caleb Ronan and Woodland held firm for the Kangaroos.
FOOTBALL
NORTH GIPPSLAND
BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT
BLUES back.
Rosedale garneredits firstfinals victory since 2019, knocking Sale City out of North Gippsland contention, 13.8 (86) to 7.14 (56) at Fred King Oval, Glengarry.
No lovewas lostevenbefore theopeningbounce, with abit of biff between both sides, each seeking to advance in finals for the first time in awhile. Chirp was aconstant either way, withplayers
Observe: Rosedale’s Lachlan Speairs looks inside during theBlues’Elimination Finalwin over Sale City.
lettingitbeknown when their opponentsmade amistake.
TheBlues nailed the first punch after Spencer Foxgot behind his defender and played on to run into an open goal.
While playwent back-and-forththrough the opening 10 minutes, WillLogan was givenaset shot from adownfield freekick,convertingona tight angle andgiving Rosedale the firsttwo majors. Sale City eventually added their first through Chad Evans, sparking the Bulldogs.
The Blues combined well late in the piece, with Logan awarded afree kick right in front of goal and slotting his second with little time to spare.
However, out of the next centre bounce, Hudson Tollner sent along ball inside Sale City’s forward 50 before CameronJohnson laid off to Declan Cairstairs for the Bulldogs'second, getting it back to aseven-point ballgame.
As playresumed afterquarter time, each side continued to hit the contest with no regard, only wishing to see their season continue.
Rosedale playing-coach Michael Driscoll was as impactful as ever, not allowing anything easy for the Bulldogs into their forward line, and worked equally well in attack.
Mitchell Caruana produced some magic out of a boundary throw-in for the Blues, unmanned and cleanly picking up before connecting boot to ball forthe first major of the second.
JoshFraser Hanley rose above and slotted his first, giving Rosedale three straight goals to go ahead by 25 points.
Tempers began to flare for Sale City, who over the spanofjust10minutes, gave up four50-metre penalties during the Blues’ scoring blitz.
The Bulldogs eventually found some life from veteran Kane Martinbanginghomefrom deep, bringing the margin back to 20 points.
Better signs than whatthey’d shown all quarter, Sale City would have been happy to see out the half down just shy of three goals.
Rosedale however kicked truly on the eve of halftime through Fox to stave off any Bulldogs momentum, and go into the main break up by 22 points.
Still within striking distance, Sale City would have hoped for agood start to the third quarter, but Rosedale’s Ned Heathcote had other plans, chipping one in for the Blues close to home.
Despite Driscoll exiting the ground with ahand injury,Rosedalecontinued to work, knowingtheir season was alive and well.
The Blues keptthe ball in their forward half through the first eight minutes of the second half, before Fox manically swung the ball onto his boot through multiple players while getting tackled to add his third.
The Bulldogs responded instantly however, with Kaden McCulloch nailing his first and keeping them within 28 points.
Fox thenequally responded for Rosedale, banging home his fourth from 45 metres out to keep their lead safely above 30 points.
The third term had to be the time Sale Citymade its move.The Bulldogs addedtwo beforethree quartertime, howeverRosedale did equally as much to keep the margin the same as it was at the half.
While the Bulldogs appeared to be out for the count, Rosedale revelled in theirsignificant performance through to the end.
The Blues added three goals to one to the final siren, eventually electing to maintain possession and chip the ball around as Sale City players refused to man up.
Fox finished with five goals for Rosedale, while Tom Northe,RohanDiamond, Jay Diamond, Luke Stuckey, Caleb Barnett andBlakeSafstrom(former Bulldog) were key performers.
The Blues will play ahome final against Heyfield in the first semi-final this Sunday.
Daine McGuiness, Martin, McCulloch, Tom Bowman, Jaxsyn Whitehill and Lachlan Carman performed admirably for Sale City.
boot her first goal from her first kick -joining an exclusive club.
Hawthorn has opened the season with abang thanks to two straight wins.
TWO rounds of the ninth AFLWseason have already passed,with many Latrobe Valleyexports getting on the winner’s list for 2025.
After losing in the season opener to Carlton by 24 points, Collingwood responded by taking down GWS in Round 2ina4.9 (33) to 4.1 (25) win at Victoria Park.
Traralgon’s Lily-Rose Williamson arrived for her AFLW debut against the Giants, gathering nine disposals, five tackles, and was unlucky not to add her first goal as well.
Williamson was added to the Magpies list as a replacement player for inactive midfielder, Mattea Breed aweek out of the season after time spent with the affiliate VFLW side and with the Victoria state side.
FellowTraralgon localAmber Schutteadded nine touches out of the back line after aseven disposal performance in Round 1against the Blues.
AFLWnumberone draftpickand Seaspray’s Ash Centra saw amore productive second game of her careerinmore game time, finishing with12 disposals, three marks and fourtackles.
Centra was on the ground for just 61 per cent of the game in herdebut.
Coming in with much hype, she still added excitement, flying in for anice mark and went back to
The latest came against Carlton on Saturday night, 3.12 (30) to 2.10 (22) at Kinetic Stadium, Frankston.
Morwell’s Casey Sherriff had aquiet game with six touches, but had impact in the little ways with eight tackles.
In the Hawks' Round 1victoryover Brisbane, Sherriff was one of the most important players on the ground, slotting acrucial goal on the halftime siren, andthen finding teammate GretaBodey who booted the winner.
The win was asignificant one for Hawthorn, who got revenge over the Lions after they downed them in the Qualifying Final last season by six points.
Traralgon’s Darcy Guttridge was dropped for St Kilda’s 74-point loss to Melbourne in Round 2.
Guttridge featured in theSaints opening win against Adelaide, 6.5 (41) to 2.7 (19) at RSEA Park, Moorabbin, finishing with five touches and two tackles.
Moment: Traralgon’s Lily-Rose Williamson made her AFLW debut in Collingwood’swin over GWS on Saturday. She wasonlyrecentlyadded to theMagpies list as areplacement player. Photograph supplied
Liam Durkin
CHURCHILL is facing auniquesituation this North Gippsland finals series.
The Cougars finished on top of the ladder in AGrade netball and thirds football, and will play their first final in those respective grades this Saturday.
However, both grades will go intothe second semi-final having not played agame for two weeks.
Churchill played Yarram in the last homeand-away round. The Demons do not have an AGrade netball, and forfeited the thirds football game.
Potentially compoundi ng the issue, Churchill thirds also won via forfeit against TTU in Round 16.
So,ifthe Cougars happen to win this weekend, they will go into aGrand Final having played two games in seven weeks. Not exactly ideal preparation or the chance to gain much momentum heading into a decider.
CURRENTLY working on astory investiga ting the in ju ry cl aims most clu bs liketobrandy around as the reasonwhy performances are either poororinconsistent. It has made an interesting study thus far. At the moment, Ihaveput together a list of seniorplayers used for everyNorth Gippsland club, and will be doing the same for Mid Gippy and the Gippsland League. In North Gippy, pretty muchevery club used around 40 senior players this year. With this information, it does then become tiresome wheneveryou hear the term “injury crisis” tossed about. By the same token however, speaking to someone on the topic recently, they also made agood point: “itall depends when you get your injuries.”
THERE could be the opportunity for clubs to potentially ‘get oneback’ on opponents for previous thrashings this finals series.
Afunny story on this subject involves Latrobe Valley UmpiresAssociation stalwart and local cricketer, Scott Moorhouse. Having racked up adecent total in agame once, the man known as ‘Moose’ was about to declare, before afellow club veteran intervened, promptly grabbing him by the shirt and saying “don’t you dare”. Whatfollowed werewordstothe effect “Do you know how many times these blokes have left us out here?”
Maybe replace the word blokes witha much stronger term.
WITH finals in full swing, the value of teams having selfless role playersisperhaps never more important.
The epitome of the roleplayer is surely departing Richmond winger, Kamdyn McIntosh.
The two-time premiershipwinner was never ahugepossession getter across more than 200 games, but his work off theball often made all the difference for teammates.
His farewell speech is worth listening to.
“There have been plenty of games where I’ve had 10 touches but Ifelt like Iplayed the game of my life,” he said.
“With time and growing as aplayer, I realise the game is more than just the person with the ball in theirhand, it involved every playeronthe field, every second of the game
“By me covering off the outlets and the open side, put just that little bit of hesitation in the oppo’s mind.
“I wouldn’t get akick, mark or handball for any of it, but during the week I’d have teammates reiterate how important that role was.”
As he made acareer out of -you don’t have to be the best player, you just have to be the best player at your role.
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ABC (2) SBS (3) SEVEN (7,6) TEN (10,
6am Morning Programs. 9.00 Rage. (PG) 12.00 News. 12.30 Beyond Paradise. (Ma, R) 1.30 Professor T. (Ma, R) 2.15 All Creatures Great And Small. (PG, R) 3.00 Great Southern Landscapes. (Final, PG, R) 3.30 Killer Whale: AustraliasMegapod. (R) 4.30 Would ILie To You? (R) 5.00 Home Delivery.(PG, R) 5.30 Landline. (R)
6.00 Australian Story: Small Wonders Eden Tiny House Project. (R) Takes alook at an offer made for atiny home.
6.30 Back Roads: Harvey,WA. (R) Lisa Millar visits the town of Harvey,WA.
7.00 ABC News. Alook at the top stories of the day
7.30 Beyond Paradise. (PGa, R) Humphrey investigates astrange case.
8.30 Midsomer Murders. (Mv,R) Barnaby and Winter investigate when akiller strikes during amurder mystery weekend.
10.00 The Family Next Door (Mls, R) Isabellesinvestigation zones in on Lulu.
10.55 I, Jack Wright (Mlv,R) 11.40 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)
ABC FAMILY (22)
6am Childrens Programs. 6.20pm Bluey 6.30 Paddington. 6.45 Steve And Aneeshwar Go Wild. 6.50 Andy And The Band. 7.05 Do Not Watch This Show 7.20 Bluey 7.30 Teenage Boss: Next Level. 8.00 Kids Baking Cship. 8.40 Chopped Junior 9.25 Fresh OffThe Boat. 10.05 Abbott Elementary 10.25 Late Programs.
NITV (34)
6am Morning Programs. 1.55pm Nula. 2.25 Skate Or Cry 2.35 Stand Up And Be Counted: ANAIDOC Concert Special. 4.35 Yarning CultureThrough Film. 4.40 Closed Doors. 5.00 Hunting Aotearoa. 6.00 Amplify 6.30 News. 6.40 The Other Side. 7.30 Big BackyardQuiz. 8.30 MOVIE: The Conjuring. (2013, MA15+) 10.30 Late Programs.
6am Morning Programs. 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 France 24. 1.00
PBS News. 2.00 The Point: Road To Referendum History Bites. (R) 2.05 2002 World Cup: Seven Games From Glory.(Premiere) 4.20 Plat Du Tour.(R) 4.30 Cycling. UCI World Tour.LaVuelta. Stage 7. Highlights. 5.30 SBS50. (R) 5.35 Hitler: ALifeInPictures. (PGa, R)
6.30 SBS World News. 7.30 Swiss Alpine Rail Journeys: The Luxurious Glacier Express. (Premiere)
8.30 Leonardo Da Vinci: PainterGod Pt 2. (PGadn) Da Vincipours his knowledge into aportrait.
9.30 Stanley Tucci: Searching For Italy: London. (R) Stanley Tucci visits London.
10.20 Great Australian Walks. (PGa, R)
11.15 Homicide: Life On The Street. (Ma, R)
2.35 SBS50. (PG, R) 2.40 Australia With Julia Bradbury.(R) 3.40 Lap Of Luxury: Escapes Down Under.(PGaw,R) 4.10 JSchwankesLife In Bloom. (R) 4.40 Bamay.(R) 5.15 France 24 Feature. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
SBS VICELAND (31)
6am
WorldWatch. 10.00 Front Up. Noon Abandoned Americana. 12.50 Battleground Texas. 1.40 Red Flag: MusicsFailed Revolution. 2.55 Fashionista. 3.05 12 Dishes In 12 Hours. 3.40 News. 3.45 WorldWatch 5.45 Mastermind Aust. 6.45 The Frontier 7.40 Impossible Engineering. 8.40 Little Fires Everywhere. 10.50 Late Programs.
SBS WORLD MOVIES (32)
6am Morning Programs. 1pm American Pastoral. (2016, Mals) 3.00 The Man Who Knew TooLittle. (1997, PGlsv) 4.45 Manganinnie. (1980, PGa) 6.25 Agatha ChristiesCrooked House. (2017, PGals) 8.30 Looking Glass. (2017, MA15+asv) 10.25 Grand Ecole. (2004, MA15+ansv,French) 12.30am Late Programs.
Sunday,August 31
ABC TV (2) SBS (3)
6am Morning Programs. 10.30 Australian Service In The Malayan Emergency: 75th Anniversary 11.30 Praise. (R) 12.00 News. 12.30 Landline. 1.30 Gardening Aust. (R) 2.30 David AttenboroughsGalapagos. (R) 3.25 Grand Designs NZ. (PG, R) 4.10 Martin 5.00 Antiques Roadshow
6.00 First Communion. (PG)
7.00 ABC News.
7.30 Austin. (PG) Austin appears on acontroversial podcast.
8.00 The Family Next Door (Ml) Fran struggles with her husbandsdepression.
8.50 I, Jack Wright (Mlv)The Wrights recover from Jacksbombshell will.
9.35 MOVIE: BMX Bandits. (1983, PG, R) BMX riders become mixed up with bank robbers. Nicole Kidman, David Argue. 11.05 Take 5With Zan Rowe. (Final, Ml, R) 11.35 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv)
3.00 Ask The Doctor.(PG,R) 3.30 The Art Of... (Malns) 4.00 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.00 Insiders. (R)
ABC FAMILY (22)
6am Morning Programs. 10.00 Blue Water Safari. (Ma, R) 12.00 APAC Weekly 12.30 PBS Washington Week. 12.55 The Point: Road To Referendum History Bites. (R) 1.00 Speedweek. 3.00 Going Places. (R) 4.30 Cycling. UCI World Tour.LaVuelta. Stage 8. Highlights. 5.30 Plat Du Tour.(R) 5.35 Hitler: ALifeInPictures. (PGa, R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Titanic: Our Secret History (PGa)
8.25 Titanic In Colour (R) Charts the history of the RMS Titanic
9.20 Monster: The Mystery Of Loch Ness: The Birth Of A Monster (R) Explores the mystery of the Loch Ness monster
10.20 The U.S. And The Holocaust. (Mav,R)
12.50 Surviving An American Concentration Camp. (Ma, R) 1.55 Miscarriage And Me. (Mal, R) 2.45 Australia With Julia Bradbury.(PG, R) 3.45 Lap Of Luxury: Escapes Down Under.(PGa, R) 4.45 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK World English News Morning. 5.15 France 24 Feature. 5.30 APAC Weekly
SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Childrens Programs. 6.20pm Bluey 6.30 Paddington. 6.45 Steve And Aneeshwar Go Wild. 6.50 Andy And The Band. 7.05 Do Not Watch This Show 7.20 Bluey 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 The Mysterious Benedict Society 8.25 Fresh OffThe Boat. 9.10 Abbott Elementary 9.50 Speechless. 10.10 Merlin. 10.55 Late Programs.
6.00 NBC Today 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 10.00 The Morning Show: Weekend. (PG) 12.00 Horse Racing. Opener and ClubsNSW West Metro San Domenico Stakes Day 5.00 Seven News At 5. 5.30 Border Security: Australias Front Line. (PG, R)
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 The Great Outdoors. (PG) The team enjoys the
7.30 MOVIE: Jumanji: Welcome To TheJungle. (2017, PGlsv,R) Four teenagers become trapped in ajungle-based video game as the playable characters.
Kevin Hart, Dwayne Johnson. 10.00 MOVIE: Jumanji: The Next Level. (2019, PGlv,R)Agroup of friends re-enters adangerous adventure-based video game to rescue one of their own.
Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart. 12.30 Riviera. (MA15+adlsv,R) 1.30 HarrysPractice. (R) 2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 ItsAcademic. (R) 5.00 Million Dollar Minute. (R)
7TWO (72, 62)
6am MorningPrograms. 1pm Real Seachange. 1.30 Animal Rescue. 2.00 Better Homes. 3.30 HarrysPractice. 4.00 TheYorkshireVet. 5.00 HorseRacing. West MetroSan Domenico Stakes Day 5.30 Animal Rescue. 6.00 Every Bite Takes You Home. 6.30 Yorkshire Vet. 8.30 Escape To The Country 10.30 Late Programs.
6am Morning
6.00 Getaway.(PG, R) 6.30 ACurrent Affair.(R) 7.00 WeekendToday 10.00 Today Extra: Saturday.(PG) 12.00 Drive TV:LaunchPad. (PG) 12.30 Space Invaders. (PGl, R) 1.30 My Way. (R) 1.35 The Block. (PGl, R) 4.30 The Garden Gurus. 5.00 9News First At Five. 5.30 Getaway (PG) 6am Morning Programs. 11.00 Survivor: Australia VThe World. (PGl, R)
6.00 9News Saturday
7.00 ACurrent Affair
7.30 Rugby League. NRL. Round 26. North Queensland Cowboys vBrisbane Broncos. From Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville.
9.30 Soccer English Premier League. Matchweek 3. Fulham vChelsea. From StamfordBridge, Fulham. 11.30 Law &Order: Organized Crime. (MA15+av,R)Stabler
12.30 AustraliasTop TenOf Everything. (PG, R) Acountdown of the top 10 Logie guests. 1.30 The Garden Gurus. (R) 2.00 The Incredible Journey Presents. (PG) 2.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 Rugby Union. WomensRugby World Cup. Pool A. USA vAustralia.
9GEM (92,81)
6am Morning Programs. 2.30pm NRLWWrap. 3.15 Rugby League. NRL Womens. Dragons vNZ Warriors 5.00 Rugby League. NRL Womens. North Qld Cowboys vRoosters. 7.00 Rugby League. NRL. North Qld Cowboys vBroncos. 7.30 MOVIE: Wedding Crashers. (2005, M) 9.55 MOVIE: Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past. (2009, M) Midnight Late Programs.
9GO! (93, 82)
6.30 The Dog House Australia. (PGa, R) Narrated by Dr Chris Brown. 7.30 Selling Houses Australia. Sisters aredesperate to sell their childhood home.
8.30 Ambulance Australia. (Ma, R) The low blood sugar levels of a23-year-old type-1diabetic have led to adangerousseizure. 9.30 Gogglebox Australia. (R) TV fanatics open up their living rooms to reveal their reactions to popular and topical TV shows. 10.30 Gordon RamsaysSecret Service. (PGl, R) Gordon
11.30 FBI: International. (Masv,R) 12.30HomeShopping. (R) 5.00 Hour Of Power
10 COMEDY (11,
NITV (34)
SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs. 1.20pm Football. NTFL. Mens. Under 18s. Round 8. St MarysvDarwin Buffaloes. Replay 2.40 Stable: The Boxing Game. 3.40 Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90. 6.30 News. 6.40 Guardians Of The Wild. 7.30 Extraordinary Animals. 8.30 Camels And The Pitjantjara. 9.25 MOVIE: Along Came A Spider.(2001, MA15+) 11.15 Late Programs.
6am Morning Programs. 10.45 The Perfect Dinner.(2022, Mlsv,Italian, Neapolitan, English) 12.40pm NowhereSpecial. (2020, Ml) 2.30 Whina. (2022, PGa, Maori, English) 4.30 Dancing At Lughnasa. (1998, PGa) 6.15 Lucky You. (2007, PGav) 8.30 Phantom Thread. (2017) 11.00 Late Programs.
7MATE (73,64) 6am Shopping. 9.00 WhatsUpDownUnder 10.00 On
Programs. 11.30 Your 4x4. (Return) Noon Garage 41. 12.30 Timbersports. 1.00 Blokesworld. 1.30 Teeing OffWith Daisy Thomas. 2.00 TBA. 5.00 Counting Cars. 6.00 Pawn Stars. 7.00 Football. AFL Womens. Round 3. WesternBulldogs vHawthorn. 9.15 Storage Wars. 9.45 American Pickers. 10.45 Late Programs.
6am Morning Programs. 3pm 3.30 Ski Rescue Down Under 4.30 Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge. 5.30 MOVIE: Goosebumps. (2015, PG) 7.30 MOVIE: Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore. (2022, M) 10.25 MOVIE: Species II. (1998, MA15+) 12.20am MOVIE: Loop Track. (2023, MA15+) 2.15 Supernatural. 4.00 Late Programs.
SEVEN (7,6)
6.00 NBC Today 7.00 Weekend Sunrise. 10.00 The Morning Show: Weekend. (PG) 12.00 Behind Behani. (PGal, R) 1.00 Football. AFL Womens. Round 3. Collingwood vMelbourne. 3.00 Football. AFL Womens. Round 3. Fremantle vNorth Melbourne. 5.00 Seven News At 5. 5.30 Border Security: International. (PG, R)
6.00 Seven News. 7.00 The Voice. (PGal) Hosted by Sonia Kruger
8.25 7NEWS Spotlight. 9.30 24 Hours In Police Custody: Left For Dead. (Madl, R)
CambridgeshireConstabulary as they investigate asuspicious death.
10.30 Crime Investigation Australia: Most Infamous: The Kimberley Killer (Mav,R) 11.30 HMP Styal: Women Behind Bars. (MA15+av,R) 12.45 Jamestown. (MA15+av)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R)
3.30 Million Dollar Minute. (R) 4.00
NBC Today 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.
7TWO (72, 62)
NINE (9,8)
TEN (10, 5)
6.00 Rugby Union. WomensRugby World Cup. Pool A. USA vAustralia. Continued. 6.45 My Way. (PG, R) 7.00 Weekend Today 10.00 AFL Sunday Footy Show.(PG) 12.00 Wide World Of Sports. (PG) 1.00 Fishing Australia. (R) 1.30 Ski Rescue Down Under.(PG, R) 2.30 The Block. (PGl, R) 5.00 9News First At Five. 5.30 Postcards. (PG) 6am Morning Programs. 8.30 4x4 Adventures. (R) 9.30 Everyday Gourmet. (R) 10.00 GCBC. (R) 10.30 Survivor: Australia VThe World. (PGl, R) 1.15 Location, Location, Location Australia. (PGa, R) 2.30 House Hunters Aust. (R) 3.00 Australia By Design: Architecture. 3.30 Wheel
6.00 9News Sunday.
7.00 The Block. (PGl) The teams
8.40 60 Minutes. Current affairs program, investigating, analysing and uncovering the issues affecting all Australians.
9.40 9News Late.
10.10 Footy Furnace. (Mlv) Alook at the latest round of the AFL.
11.10 The First 48: Inside The Tape Special #9. (MA15+a, R) Abody is discovered in abridge.
12.05 The Gulf. (Madlsv,R)
1.00 Our State On APlate. (Return)
1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R)
4.00 BelieversVoice Of Victory (PGa) 4.30 Fishing Australia. (R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today
6.00 10 News+. Hosted by Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 7.00 Survivor: Australia VThe World. (PGl) Fourteen returning contestants head to Samoa. 8.30 Watson. (Ma) The team helps awoman whose memory resets every three minutes as Watson struggles with auditory hallucinations and questions whether someone is behind his current decline. 9.30 FBI. (Mv,R) When abombing at alocal restaurant leaves several injured or dead, the team races to apprehend the suspect. 11.30 10 News+. (R) 12.30 Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 CBS Mornings. 6am WorldWatch. 9.30 Small Business Secrets. 10.00 Front Up. 11.00 Front Up 2000. Noon Idris ElbasFight School. 2.00 Jeopardy! 4.05 WorldWatch. 4.35 PBS Washington Week. 5.00 Kars &Stars. 5.50 Alone Sweden. 6.40 Abandoned Engineering. 8.25 Cursed Gold: AShipwreck Scandal. 9.20 Great Australian Road Trips. 10.20 Late Programs.
6am Morning Programs. 1.30pm The Real Seachange. 2.00 HarrysPractice. 2.30 The Great Australian Doorstep. 3.00 Your Money &Your Life. 3.30 Animal Rescue. 4.00 Escape To The Country 7.00 Greatest Escapes To The Country 7.45 Mrs BrownsBoys. 8.30 Vera. 10.30 Manhunt: The Night Stalker 11.30 Late Programs.
6am Morning Programs. 11.30 Storage Wars. Noon The Fishing Show By AFN. 1.00 Fishing Addiction. 2.00 Fishy Business. 2.30 Fishn Mates. 3.00 Mighty Planes. 4.00 Mt Hutt Rescue.
9GEM (92,81)
6am Morning Programs. 1.45pm Rugby League. NRL WomensPremiership. Broncos vCanterbury Bulldogs. 3.30 Rugby League. NRL. Dolphins vTitans. 6.00 Rugby League. NRL WomensPremiership. Round 9. Gold Coast Titans vParramatta Eels. 8.00 M*A*S*H. 8.30 MOVIE: The Sentinel. (2006, M) 10.45 Late Programs.
6am Morning Programs. 3pm Big Rigz Of Oz. (Premiere) 3.30 Project Impossible. 4.30 Made In Korea: The K-Pop Experience. 5.30 MOVIE: Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past. (2009, PG) 7.30 MOVIE: WereThe Millers. (2013, M) 9.35 MOVIE: Horrible Bosses. (2011, MA15+) 11.35 Gotham. 12.35am Arrow 2.30 Oz OffRoad TV 3.30 Late Programs.
ABC (2) SBS (3) SEVEN (7,6)
6.00 News Breakfast. 9.00 ABC News Mor nings. 10.00 Teenage Boss. (R) 10.30 Midsomer Murders. (Mv,R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 Landline. (R)
2.00 Parliament Question Time. 2.55
AnhsBrush With Fame. (PG, R) 3.25 Grand Designs. (PG, R) 4.15 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PG, R) 5.00 Antiques Roadshow.(R)
6.00 Spicks And Specks. (PG, R)
6.30 HardQuiz. (PG, R)
7.00 ABC News.
7.30 7.30.
8.00 Australian Story Presented by Leigh Sales. 8.30 Four Cor ners. Investigative jour nalism program.
9.15 Media Watch. (PG) Presented by Paul Barry
9.35 Planet America. Hosted by Chas Licciardello and John Barron.
10.05 ABC Late News.
10.20 The Business. (R)
10.40 ALife In TenPictures. (PG, R)
11.30 Parliament Question Time. 12.30 Grand Designs. (PG, R) 1.20 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PG, R) 2.10 Rage. (MA15+adhlnsv) 3.40 Parkinson In Australia. (PG, R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)
ABC FAMILY (22)
6am Childrens Programs. 6.40pm Hey Duggee. 6.50 Isadora Moon. 7.00 Supertato. 7.05 Piripenguins. 7.20 Bluey 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 7.50 The Inbestigators. 8.05 Dr AnnsSecret Lives. 8.35 BTN Newsbreak. 8.40 Contraption Masters. 9.25 The Crystal Maze. 10.15 Merlin. 10.55 Late Programs.
NITV (34)
6am Morning Programs. 2pm Strait To The Plate. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 4.25 Little JAnd Big Cuz. 4.35 Waabiny Time. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.25 Black As. 5.30 The 77 Percent. 6.00 Bamay 6.30 News. 6.40 Guardians Of The Wild. 7.30 Who Do YouThink YouAre? 8.30 Karla Grant Presents. 9.00 MOVIE: The Tracker.(2002, M) 10.45 Late Programs.
6am Mor ning Programs. 12.30 France 24. 1.00 PBS News Weekend. 1.30 Al Jazeera News Hour 2.00 WorldsMost Scenic River Jour neys. (R) 2.55 Garage Dreams. (PG) 3.25 Plat Du Tour.(R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Jeopardy! 4.30 Letters And Numbers. (R) 5.00 Cycling. UCI World Tour.LaVuelta. Stage 9. Highlights.
6.00 Mastermind Australia. (R)
6.30 SBS World News.
7.30 Robson GreensWeekend Escapes: Kacey Ainsworth. (Retur n)
8.35 Abandoned Railways From Above: Scotland. (PG, R) Alook at an abandoned railway line.
9.30 Moulin Rouge: YesWe Can-Can! (Mn, R) The recruits begin three weeks of training.
10.30 SBS World News Late. (Malsv)
11.50 Tokyo Vice.(Malsv,R) 1.50 Blackport. (Mls, R) 2.45 WorldsMost Amazing Festivals. (PGa, R) 3.20 Lap Of Luxury: Escapes Down Under.(R) 4.15 JSchwankesLife In Bloom. (PG, R) 4.45 Destination Flavour China Bitesize. (R) 5.00 NHK WorldEnglish News Mor ning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
SBS VICELAND (31)
6am Morning
Programs. Noon WorldWatch. 12.30 Ten Year Old Tom. 1.00 Alone UK. 1.55 Appetite. 3.00 Bamay 3.25 Wine Lovers Guide. 3.55 WorldWatch. 5.50 The Food That Built The World. 6.40 Jeopardy! 7.30 News. 7.35 8Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 The 2000s. 9.25 Never Mind The Buzzcocks. 10.10 Late Programs.
SBS WORLD MOVIES (32)
6am Morning Programs. 10.15 Kompromat. (2022, Malsv,French, Russian) 12.35pm Hive. (2021, Ma, Albanian) 2.10 Manganinnie. (1980, PGa) 3.50 WhereIsAnneFrank (2021, PGadlsv) 5.40 Finding You. (2020, PGal) 7.55 The Unknown Country.(2022, PGa) 9.30 Parallel Mothers. (2021, Mals, Spanish) 11.45 Late Programs.
6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Mor ning Show.(PG) 12.00 SevensNational News At Noon. 1.00 To Be Advised. 2.25 Border Security: Inter national. (PG, R) 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) Theo stands his ground.
7.30 My Kitchen Rules. (Retur n, PGal) The competition kicks offwithbest friends Justin and Will and their South African and Tongan inspired menu.
9.20 The Rookie. (Mav) Ahead of Nunesretur nhome, Nolan looks for clues to locate Jason Wyler
10.20 The Agenda Setters. (R) An expert panel tackles the biggest AFL topics. 11.20 S.W.A.T (Mv) Yakuza assassins descend on LA.
12.20 Hooten &The Lady (Mav)
1.20 Travel Oz. (PG, R)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 NBC Today. 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.
6am Morning
Programs. 1pm AustraliasBest Drives. 1.30 The Great Australian Doorstep. 2.00 Weekender 2.30 Impossible Builds. 3.30 HarrysPractice. 4.00 Animal Rescue. 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To TheCountry 6.30 Bargain Hunt. 7.35 Doc Martin. 8.30 Endeavour 10.30 Air Crash Inv: Accident Files. 11.30 Late Programs.
(9, 8)
6.00 Today 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Mor ning. 12.00 The Block. (PGl, R) 1.30 Young Sheldon. (PGa, R) 2.00 Pointless. (PG) 3.00
6.00 9News. 7.00 ACurrent Affair
7.30 The Block. (PGl) The teams work on their rumpus rooms. (Ml) Ateam of footy experts tackles the AFLs big issues and controversies.
9.45 Players. (Ml) Three of the AFLs biggest stars talk about all
10.45 9News Late.
11.15 Opal Hunters: Red Dirt Road Trip: Queen Of Gems. (PGlv)
12.10 100% Footy (M)
1.05 Hello SA. (PG)
1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.30 Global Shop. (R) 3.00 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 BelieversVoice Of Victory (PGa) 4.30 ACurrent Affair.(R) 5.00 Today Early News. 5.30 Today
9GEM (92,81)
6am Tennis. US Open. Day 8Late. 3pm Antiques Roadshow 3.30 Our Dream Farm With Matt Baker 4.30 AreYou Being Served? 5.30 Yorkshire Auction House. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow 7.30 Death In Paradise. 8.40 Shakespeare And Hathaway 9.40 London Kills. 10.40 The Closer 11.40 French And Saunders. 12.20am Late Programs.
7TWO (72, 62) 6am Morning Programs. 2pm Golden Girls. 2.30 Nanny 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family 5.00 Bewitched. 5.30 Jeannie. 6.00 Golden Girls. 6.30 Nanny 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.30 MOVIE: Wrath Of The Titans. (2012, M) 10.30 Seinfeld. 11.30 Veronica Mars. 12.30am Pretty Little Liars. 1.30 Supernatural. 3.30 TomAnd Jerry 4.00 Late Programs. 6am Morning Programs. 1.30pm Garage 41. 2.00 Rides Down Under: Aussie Truckers. 3.00 Boating. Circuit Boat Drivers Cship. 4.00 Swamp People: Serpent Invasion. 5.00 American Resto. 5.30 Storage Wars. 6.00 American Pickers. 7.00 The Agenda Setters. 8.00 Outback Crystal Hunters. 9.00 Aussie Gold Hunters. 10.00 Late
(10, 5)
6.00 10 News+. Hosted by Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. 7.00 Deal Or No Deal. Hosted by Grant Denyer 7.30 Survivor: Australia VThe World. (PGl) Fourteen retur ning contestants head to Samoa. 8.40 Have YouBeen Paying Attention? (Malns) Celebrity panellists compete to see who can remember the most about events of the week. 9.40 Aaron Chen Comedy Special. (PGal, R) Aaron Chen performs stand-up comedy 10.40 10sLate News. 11.05 10 News+.
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Tuesday,September 2
ABC TV (2) SBS (3)
SEVEN (7,6)
NINE (9,8) 6.00 News. 9.00 News. 10.00 Australian Story.(R) 10.30 Planet America. (R) 11.00 First Communion. (PG, R) 12.00 ABC News At Noon. 1.00 I, Jack Wright. (Mlv,R) 2.00 Parliament Question Time. 3.00 AnhsBrush With Fame. (PG, R) 3.30 Grand Designs. (PG, R) 4.15 Long Lost Family: What Happened Next. (PG, R) 5.05 Antiques Roadshow.(R)
6.00 Spicks And Specks. (PG, R) 6.30 HardQuiz. (PG, R) 7.00 ABC News. 7.30 7.30. 8.00 Foreign Correspondent. Inter national affairs program. 8.30 Inside Our Minds: Inside Our ADHD Minds. (Premiere, PG) Chris Packham meets two people with ADHD. 10.30 Mental Wealth. (PGa) 11.20 ABC Late News. 11.35 The Business. (R) 11.50 Four Cor ners. (R) 12.35 Media Watch. (PG, R) 12.50 Hawke: The Larrikin And The Leader (MA15+l, R) 1.50 Parliament Question Time. 2.50 Grand Designs. (PG, R) 3.40 Parkinson In Australia. (PGa, R) 4.30 Gardening Australia. (R) 5.30 7.30. (R)
ABC FAMILY (22)
6am Morning Programs. 12.00 BBC News At Ten. 12.30 France 24. 1.00 PBS News. 2.00 WorldsMost Scenic River Jour neys. (R) 2.55 Garage Dreams. (PG) 3.25 Plat Du Tour (PG, R) 3.35 The Cook Up. (R) 4.05 Every Family Has ASecret. (PGa, 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: Brest To St Brieuc/ Rennes To Mont Saint-Michel. (PG) 8.30 Insight. Explores the way young people areembracing spirituality
9.30 Dateline: IndiasVirginity Test. An investigation into virginity tests.
10.00 SBS World News Late. 10.30 Secret World Of Snacks. (PGas, R) 11.25 The Cranes Call. (Premiere, Malv) 1.05 New York Super Airport. (R) 3.55 WorldsMost Amazing Festivals. (R) 4.30 JSchwankesLife In Bloom. (R) 5.00 NHK WorldEnglish News Mor ning. 5.30 ANC Philippines The World Tonight.
SBS VICELAND (31) 6am Childrens Programs. 6.50pm Isadora Moon. 7.00 Supertato. 7.05 Piripenguins. 7.20 Bluey 7.30 Shaun The Sheep. 7.35 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. 7.50 The Inbestigators. 8.05 Operation Ouch! 8.35 BTN Newsbreak. 8.40 Deadly 60. 9.10 Expedition With Steve Backshall. 10.00 Merlin. 10.45 Late Programs.
6.00 Sunrise. 9.00 The Mor ning Show (PG) 12.00 SevensNational News At Noon. 1.00 To Be Advised. 3.00 The Chase. 4.00 Seven News At 4. 5.00 The Chase Australia. Hosted by Larry Emdur
6.00 Seven News.
7.00 Home And Away (PG)
7.30 My Kitchen Rules. (PGal) Hosted by Colin Fassnidge and Manu Feildel. 9.05 Grosse Pointe Garden Society (Premiere, M) Four members of a lives intertwined by scandal, mischief and asharedsecret.
10.05 The Agenda Setters. (R) An expert panel tackles the biggest AFL topics.
11.05 Tik Tok: Murders Gone Viral: The Mother And Daughter Killers. (Mav,R) 12.05 Fairly Legal. (Mav,R)
2.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.00 NBC Today 5.00 Sunrise Early News. 5.30 Sunrise.
6.00 Today 9.00 Today Extra. (PG) 11.30 9News Mor ning. 12.00 The Block. (PGl, R) 1.10 Getaway.(PG,R) 1.40 My Way. (R) 2.00 Pointless. (PG) 3.00 Tipping Point. (PG) 4.00 9News After noon.
4.30
6.00 9News.
7.00 ACurrent Affair
7.30 The Block. (PGl) The teams
8.40 Paramedics. (Mlm) Ayoung mother is bleeding heavily (Ml) Footy experts tackle the AFLs bigissues.
10.40 9News Late.
11.10 La Brea. (Mav,R)
12.00 Tipping Point. (PG, R) 1.00 Lets Eat With George. 1.30 TV Shop: Home Shopping. (R) 2.00 Home Shopping. 2.30 Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. (R) 3.00 Home Shopping. 4.00 Believers Voice Of Victory.(PGa) 4.30 ACurrent Affair.(R) 5.00 TodayEarly News. 5.30 Today
9GEM (92,81)
NITV (34) 6am Morning Programs. 9.00 Animal Rescue. 9.30 NBC Today Noon Better Homes. 1.00 Escape To The Country 2.00 Creek To Coast. 2.30 Impossible Builds. 3.30 HarrysPractice. 4.00 Animal Rescue. 4.30 Better Homes. 5.30 Escape To The Country 6.30 Bargain Hunt. 7.30 Call The Midwife. 8.45 Foyles War. 10.55 Late Programs. 6am Tennis. US Open. Day 9Late. 3pm Antiques Roadshow 3.30 Our Dream Farm With Matt Baker 4.30 AreYou Being Served? 5.30 Yorkshire Auction House. 6.30 Antiques Roadshow 7.30 New Tricks. 8.40 Agatha Raisin. 9.40 Grantchester 10.50 The Closer 11.50 French And Saunders. 12.30am Antiques Roadshow 1.00 Late Programs.
TEN (10, 5)
6.00 10 News+. 7.00 Deal Or No Deal. 7.30 Survivor: Australia VThe World. (PGl) Fourteen retur ning contestants head to Samoa. 8.40 The Cheap Seats. (Mal) Presenters Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald take alook at the week that was. 9.40 FBI: Most Wanted. (Retur n, MA15+a) The team investigates astring of gruesome killings. 10.40 10sLate News. 11.05 10 News+. (R) 12.05 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. (PG) 1.00 Home Shopping. (R) 4.30 CBS Mor nings. 6am WorldWatch. 10.00 Front Up 2000. Noon WorldWatch. 12.30 Alone UK. 1.25 A BeginnersGuide To Grief. 2.50 Aussie Jokers. 3.20 News. 3.25 WorldWatch. 5.25 The Fast History Of. 5.50 The Food That Built The World. 6.40 Jeopardy! 7.35 8 Out Of 10 Cats. 8.30 Hoarders. 10.20 Late Programs.
SBS WORLD MOVIES (32) 6am Morning Programs. 1.55 Yarning CultureThrough Film. 2.00 Strait To The Plate. 2.30 The Cook Up. 3.00 Jarjums. 5.00 Harlem Globetrotters. 5.25 Black As. 5.30 Indian Country Today News. 6.00 Bamay 6.30 News. 6.40 Black As. 6.45 Ocean Parks. 7.35 Ice Vikings. 8.30 ProBull Riding Australia. 9.30 Over The Black Dot. 10.00 Late Programs.
6am Morning Programs. 10.20 Phantom Thread. (2017) 12.55pm Today We Fix The World. (2022, Ms, Spanish) 3.00 The Movie Show 3.35 Anton ChekhovsThe Duel. (2010, PGasv) 5.25 Mr Blake At Your Service! (2023, PGal, French) 7.30 The Big Short. (2015, Mln) 9.55 Malnsv,Spanish) Midnight Late Programs.
Morning Programs. Noon American Pickers. 1.00 Pawn Stars. 2.00 Outback Crystal Hunters. 3.00 Aussie Gold Hunters. 4.00 Swamp People: Serpent Invasion. 5.00 American Resto. 5.30 Storage Wars.
7TWO (72, 62) 6am Morning Programs. 2pm Golden Girls. 2.30 Nanny 3.30 Seinfeld. 4.30 Addams Family 5.00 Bewitched. 5.30 Jeannie. 6.00 Golden Girls. 6.30 Nanny 7.30 Seinfeld. 8.30 MOVIE: Plane. (2023, MA15+) 10.40 Seinfeld. 11.40 Veronica Mars. 12.40am Pretty Little Liars. 1.40 Supernatural. 3.30 TomAnd Jerry 4.00 Late Programs.
For me, it doesn’t matter if it’sa camera or apenit’sall about creating something that resonates.
LUKE ROBSON
AFTER winning awards for films screened across Australia and internationally, Carrajung-based filmmaker, Luke Robson has turned his creative lens to the written word with the release of his debut novel, This Incredible Xennial Life Described as a“raw and nostalgic coming-of-age odyssey,”the novel spans four decades and follows Benji Mathews -born in 1979,caught between Gen Xand the Millennials -ashenavigates love, loss, rebellion, and arapidly changing world.
From1980svideo storestoAI-driven chaos, from youngromance to off-grid solitude, Benji’s journey blendshumour,grit,and reflection, with just enough mystery to keep readersturningthe pages. Many of the book’s chapters are set right here in Gippsland, inspired by the region’s landscapes and communities.
Luke’s local ties run deep -helives off-gridin Carrajung, while his family are based in LochSport, the coastal town where he filmed his feature A Small Punch in aLittle Town six years ago. With multiple awards for filmmak ing and editing -includingworkonHollywood features such as Cash 2 and the upcoming Cash 3 -Luke is no stranger to telling stories that connect with audiences.
“Forme, it doesn’t matter if it’s acamera or apen -it’sall about creating something that resonates,” he said.
“I hope this book hits the sameemotionalchords with readers that my films have with audiences.”
Luke Robson is afilmmaker, writer, drama teacher, and former plumber who built ahome on a
mountain in Carrajungand then wrote abook in it.
Born in 1979,he’s spent alifetimechasing waves, questioning everything,and balancing analogue roots with adigital future. His debut work, This Incredible Xennial Life, is anostalgic, reflective, and occasionally wild ride through ageneration caught in the middle of it all.
When he’s not writing or making films, Luke teaches drama, edits other people’s movies, brews his own beer, talks to lyrebirds, and gives his dog Kat agood belly rub.
This Incredible Xennial Life is available now on Amazon, or -intrue country style -straightfrom the boot of Luke’s car.
Luke can be reached via: l_robson@hotmail.com
Read: Luke Robson’s debut novelexplores love,loss and rebellion.
ABAIRNSDALEman thought he was dreaming when he checked his Weekday Windfall ticket last month,only to discover he was wide awake and $1 million richer.
The East Gippsland resident held the only Division 1winning entry nationally in Weekday Windfall draw 4584, drawn Monday, August 11, 2025.
His winning 50-game QuickPick entry was purchased via The Lott app.
The victorious Victorian was beaming with excitement when an official from The Lott called to confirm the thrilling news.
“I still can’t believe it!” he laughed.
“Thank you very much. Ididn’t know what to think or do!
“I checked my ticket at 9.30pm last night and honestly, Ithought Iwas dreaming!
“I’ve probably played for three years, and never thought I’d win the big one. I’ve also always gone with random numbers.
“I called my sister right away and she was very happy and excited for me.
“It’s safe to say, Ihardlysleptlast night!
“It’s still sinking in.”
When asked what he planned to do now that he was anewly-crowned millionaire, the gleefulman shared he was looking forward to finally taking awell-earned break.
“I’llpay offsome bills too. The boring stuff.”
The winning numbers were 11, 17, 5, 39, 10 and 13, while the supplementary numbers were 35 and 45.
GET readyfor an action-packed adventure at Phoenix Paintball, Gippsland’spremier paintball arena!
Perfect for thrill-seekers, young players, or groups looking to bond, they’ve got the ultimate experience for everyoccasion!
FOR ages 16+.
Dive into the ultimate team sport!
Battle it out playing new custom-made games for maximum fun.
Ideal for groups craving high-energy fun!
FOR ages 16+, alow-impact paintball delivering all the excitement with less sting, perfect for players who want fewer marks but just as much fun!
DESIGNED for ages 8+, low-impact Splatball is exclusively for schools, camps and large birthdays, offering asafeand thrilling introduction to paintball.
Perfect for Team Bonding: Phoenix Paintball is fantastic for work breakups, sporting group outings, and team-building events!
The custom-made games aretailored to everyoccasion, ensuring unforgettable fun and camaraderie for your crew
TAKE your game to the next level with the vibrant Gippsland Paintball Club!
Club members enjoy exclusive perks like monthly training days, discounts on paint and gear at the ProShop, and the chance to compete in thrilling tournaments.
Book your unforgettable day at Phoenix Paintball today or join the Gippsland Paintball Club for year-round excitement!
Contact them at 1300 78 53 78, email play@phoenixpaintball.com.au, or visit www phoenixpaintball.com.au to reserve your spot.
Let’smake everyshotcount!
LATROBE Valley AeroClub has been flying high for over 75 years and they areabsolutely committed to providing the highest quality Flight Training in asupportive environment. Learning to fly is avaluable qualification, whether it is for pleasure, or to provide opportunities for businesses and professional people, or even to provide career opportunities for others.
Through learning to fly with Latrobe Valley AeroClub you will find that flying is not only a verysatisfying and rewarding experience, but also alot of fun as well.
All flight training at Latrobe Valley AeroClub takes place with aqualified instructor by your side in aone-on-one environment.
ATrial IntroductoryFlight is the perfect way to see if the process of learning to fly is for you.
During aTrial IntroductoryFlight booking, you will be taken through apre-flight briefing and then be taken up in one of their well-maintained aircraft whereyou will get to experience your first time at the controls of an aircraft.
This flight will be for adurationofapproximately 30 minutes.
Trial IntroductoryFlight prices startfrom $199.00.
Contact Latrobe Valley AeroClubon 5174 2591 for moreinformation.
SINCE early 2025, Community College
Gippsland (CCG) has proudly returned to the Latrobe Valley,offeringfreeand low-cost courses, plus job support, from the Morwell campus at 1Hoyle Street.
In addition to being aregistered training organisation, CCG is apartofVictoria’s Adult, Community and Further Education (ACFE) LearnLocal network.
Their goal is to help adults improve literacy, numeracy and digital skills and build the confidence to take the next step.
That might mean getting ajob,starting further training, or simply feeling morecapable in everyday life.
CCG work closely with local businesses, employment agencies and supportservices to deliver nationally recognised programs that strengthen foundation skills and open new pathways for learners.
WHEN people build skills, confidence and connections, they change their futures.
That’swhy the Morwell campus offers abroad range of practical, hands-on employability programs.
They’redesigned to match the types of jobs available locally,and to give you the skills employers arelooking for right now
At Morwell, you can join programs like:
•BeWork Ready
•Gainthe Edge –Language, Literacy and Numeracy
•Workplace Administration Basics
•Ready forHospitality
•Kick StartYour Career in Customer Service Contact Centre
•Branching Out into Landscaping
•Warehousing and Distribution
•Launch into aRole in Health
•Get Ready to Work in Careand Support
•Small Steps –Big Careers in Early Learning
•Espresso Yourself –Barista
These programs do morethan just train you for ajob, they build your confidence, help you meet new people, and give you aclear plan for your next move, while helping you to thrive in any workplace setting and life.
ALONGSIDE CCG’straining, is their Work and Learning Centre(WLC), supported by the Brotherhood of St Laurence, offering free, personalised supportfor job seekers across Gippsland.
The WLC helps with:
•Career advice and goal setting
•Resume, application and interview preparation
•Training and education pathways
•Job referralsand employer connections
•Ongoing supportafter starting work or study
It’slocal, it’sfree, andit’stailoredtoeach individual’sneeds.
RICHARD, arecent graduate of the Launch into aRole in Health course, shared his experience:
“I’m acasual barman in aTraralgon restaurant, and Ifound out about this course through my job network provider
My experience at CCG has been lifechanging, positive in all aspects and socially enriching.
The supportIreceived from all staffatthe Morwell campus was just above and beyond what Iexpected.
Ihave learnt new and extremely valuable skills, both for employment and for general social interaction.
Ihonestly feel I’m abetter person because of the experience CCG has given me.
Ithought Iknew everything, but I’ve discovered so much moreafter doing the course. It has changed my life, attitude and confidence.
If you’rethinking of getting back into work or
study,CCG is asafe and friendly place to start.”
CCG’S return to Morwell is partofamuch bigger story.
CCG began in 1975 as the West Gippsland and Latrobe Valley Community Education Centre, founded by passionate volunteers with avision to give people asecond chance at learning.
From those humble beginnings, they have grown into anetwork of campuses in Warragul, Leongatha, Pakenham, Dandenong and Morwell.
Over 50 years, thousands of students, staff, volunteers and community partners have been partoftheir journey,and many have gone on to inspirethe next generation.
In 2025, CCG will celebrate their 50th Anniversary, honouring their past, celebrating their present, and looking ahead to an even brighter future.
Visit https://ccg.asn.au/event/celebrating50-years-of-changing-lives/ for details.
IF you’reready to build your skills, find anew career path, or simply connect with asupportive learning community,CCG is readytohelp. Drop into the Morwell campus at 1Hoyle Street or visit www.ccg.asn.au/pathwayprograms/ or simply call on 5622 6000 to explore courses, supportservices and upcoming programs.
Your futureisjust one conversation away
CHAIRO Christian School, Traralgon ended Term 2with the annual Multicultural Day.
Students and staff were invited to wear traditional dress representing their own heritage or acountry of their choice.
Classroom activities were held, and at lunchtime, everyone enjoyed adelicious feast featuring dishes from various cultures represented at the school.
Each year on Multicultural Day, guests from
acultureinthe local community are invited to visit the schooland speak to students. This year, agroup from the local Filipino community performed traditional dances and shared insights intotheirculture,highlighting the beauty and uniqueness of Filipino traditions.
Multicultural Dayisa celebration of the richcultural diversity within the local community, shared through food, music and cultural storytelling.
ST PAUL'S studentshad achangefrom an ordinary school day for Book Week.
Studentsstepped into the shoes (and sometimes wings, tails or capes) of their favourite storybook characters for the time-honoured celebration.
This year’s Book Weektheme was 'Book an Adventure', and this was certainly evident in the playground, where dinosaurs stomped, unicorns sparkled and wizards waved their wands as they turneditinto aliving storybook.Studentshad fun guessing who was hiding beneath each costume, whilecarrying along their much-lovedbooks to share.
Educators joined the fun too, swappingtheir everyday outfits for adventurous costumes.
The big moment came with the Book Week parade, where families were treated to acolourful procession of characters.
The day was acelebration of literacy, filled with laughter, imaginationand the magic of storytelling.
Team effort: Educatorshad just as much fun dressing up as Book Week characters. Photographs supplied
Warning: the following contains subject matter some readers may find disturbing.
By JACINTA ALLAN
EVERY parentdeserves to trust that when they drop their childoff at childcare, they are safe andprotected.
The recent allegations of shocking abuse in childcare centres have broken that.
They have broken families’ trust and they've brokenmytrust –asVictorian Premier and as amum. That’s why the Victorian government is announcing achild safety overhaul.
We will take immediate action to strengthen the Working With Children Check and child safety in early childhoodeducation and care settingswith a$42 million boost to the sector, by:
Accepting and implementing all 22 recommendations of the independent Rapid Child Safety Review;
Bringing legislation to the next sitting week to allow for the immediate suspension of individual Working with Children Checks (WWCC);
Establishing anew, nation-leading regulator that will more than double the frequency of compliance checks;
Beefing up the Social Services Regulator (SSR) by bringing the WWCC, the Reportable Conduct Scheme and Child Safe Standards under the one roof by the end of the year, giving it new powers, removing silos and weeding out predators;
Introducing mandatory child safety training and expanding professional support programs, including through changes to the National Law, to build agreater culture of speaking up, and;
Calling on the federal government to prioritise quality and safety in the national childcare system.
The work has already started and will continue in the coming weeks and months to restore trust in the sector.
THE Review was commissioned by the government following serious allegations of child sexual abuse in earlychildhood education and care (ECEC).
Led by Mr Jay Weatherill AO and Ms Pam WhitePSM, the Review was delivered to the government on August 15, 2025.
The reportmakes 22 recommendations to improve child safety.
Of these:
Six recommendations are directed at strengthening the Victorian ECEC regulator and their functions;
Three recommendations include improvements to training, professional development and education for those working in the ECEC sector and families;
Two recommendations go to reforms to governance and regulatory functions, including WWCC and the RCS.
Eleven recommendations propose advocacy to the Commonwealth or advocacy in national forums.
The report sets out clear actions to reinforce Victoria’sregulatory framework, strengthen awareness about identifying and raising child safetyconcerns, andadvocate for urgentaction to occur at the national level.
By accepting all recommendations, the government is ensuring stronger safeguards are in place to protect Victorian children and support families to have confidence in the WorkingWith Children Check and the safety of earlychildhood education and care.
THE early childhood education and care sector has expanded with rapid growth, and we need to not onlycatch up butstay aheadofthese changes to address future risks.
The government will establishanindependent, strengthened authority to regulate early childhood services under the National Law, and will more than double the frequency of compliance checks.
The independent regulator willbeestablished by the end of this year.
This na tion-l ead ing bo dy will also be
responsible for the Early Childhood Workforce Register introduced in July.
This strengthenedregulator willprovide families with confidence that children are safe and supported.
FOR too long, too many pieces of information about an individual have been left and gone unchecked.
We need abetter understanding of child safety to protect all children -including those at risk due to disability, neglect, family violence and other forms of abuse.
That’s why we’re taking action to strengthen the safetynet aroundchildren,bringing the Wor king with Childre nC hec k( WWCC ), Reportable ConductScheme and Child Safe Standards into the Social Services Regulator (SSR) by the end of this year.
Childsafeguarding schemes willalsobe overhauled to ensure predators can be quickly detected, excluded and never allowed to work with children again.
This includes providing the beefed up SSR with powers to considerunsubstantiatedallegations and intelligence in deciding whether to grant clearances and proactively share this information with other regulators.
The government will alsointroducelegislation into Parliament to make some immediate changes to Working withChildren Check, including to immediately suspendclearances while reassessments are finalised.
All people applying for aworking with children clearancewill alsoberequired to undertake mandatory online training and testing,with review rightsremoved from VCAT for those who have had their clearance refused, revoked or suspended.
THOSE who are best-placed to respond to and report child safety concerns must be equipped with the tools and confidence to raise them.
That’s why the government is taking actionto introduce the national mandatory child safety training for all early childhood education and care workersand expanding the professional support program, including through proposed changes to national law,tobuildagreater culture of speaking up.
We will also work with experts to provide parents and carers with evidence-based advice and online training on prevention awareness, signs of grooming and how to raise concerns.
Anyone with concerns about the safety of children in early childhood services should call the RegulatoryAuthorityon1300307 415. Reports can be made anonymously.
All notifications are taken seriously and investigated.
THIS is anational system that requires a national response.
We cannot do this alone. We now have apartnerinCanberraand we call on them to make thesafety of children paramount in recognition of the significant role they play in the early childhood system.
The government willpushfor immediate changes to the National Law,including imposing higher penalties on operators who breach the National Law and establishing anational Early Childhood Worker Register.
The Government will also advocate for the Commonwealth to lead areform of the ECEC system to prioritise quality and safety, directly support regulatory functions and to set a10-year strategy to fundamentally reform the national system.
YEAR 9Live4Life Crew Members at St Paul’s AnglicanGrammar School recently welcomed Year 8students to an excitingand informative Live4Life Launch event,designed to promote mentalhealth awareness and wellbeing within the school community.
The crew opened the event with apowerful speech and avideo they created, outlining the purpose of the Live4Life program and its importance in supporting mental health across the region.
The launch continuedwitha range of fun, handson activities focused on key wellbeing messages,
Wellbeing: Michael and Brookeexplaining how positive thoughts can promotegoodmental health.
including the benefitsoffitnessfor mental health, healthy eatingtofuel the brain,the powerofpositivethinkingand how musiccan influence moods. Ahighlight was aspecially decorated Live4Life cake, which was shared and enjoyed by all -asmall but much-appreciatedtreat to mark the occasion. Following the launch, Year 8studentswill now undertake the Teen Mental Health FirstAid course. Upon completion, they will receive acertificate and be offered the opportunity to continue their journey by applying to become Live4Life Crew members themselves in the future.
BASKETBALL
BIG V BY BLAKE
METCALF-HOLT
LEVEL unlocked.
Gippsland United men eclipsed the efforts of their previous two seasons, taking out the Division 1Big VGrand Final.
United defeated Warrandyte, 99 to 90 at the GippslandRegional Indoor Sports Stadium, Traralgon in Saturday night's decider.
After falling in last year’s Grand Final and thus failing in promotion to the premier Championship Division,United rebounded emphatically in front of aclose to sell out home crowd.
The Gippsland side now returns to the top-tier of Victorian state basketball (outside of NBL1) for the first time since 2009 when the basketball club was known as Latrobe City Energy.
It was fast pacedand all-out to begin proceedings, withthe visitingVenom appearing to be more comfortable in the do-or-die environment.
The trio of Jalin Wimberly, Joel Winderlich and team captain Ben Barlow started well for Gippsland with their first three scores, which would soon be reflective of how instrumental those players would be as they rallied to win.
One impressive moment came from Barlow,who rosetopull downaterrific two-handed block on the defensive end and then tipped in his own miss on the other.
Rebounding was asignificant problemfor United in the openingquarter, with Warrandyte working hard for multiple second chance efforts if they were to miss their first shot during their possession.
As such, the combination of Jackson Dean and Angok Angok for the Venom were able to break free, contributing heavily in their early run.
Unitedcoach Scott McKenzie wasforced to call a quick timeout as the margin went to eight points in favour of the away side midway through the first quarter, much to the delight of the Warrandyte faithful.
Despite the travel and the large majority of Gippslandsupporters in thecrowd, the Venom did have ahealthy cheer squad, motivating their team anyway they could.
United quickly responded out of the timeout to bring the game back to three points, with Barlow shaking off adefender for atough midrange shot before Michael Johns drilledacorner three-pointer.
That fast turnaround didn’t deter Warrandyte, with Angok asserting himself again, both inside and out, to extend their lead back out to eight points.
Unitedmissed afew opportunities lateinthe opener, while the Venom ceased theirs to hold a 31-20 edge by the first break.
The Gippsland side still remained confident, given the fact that abulk of Warrandyte’s scoring was coming from two players in Angok and Dean, while United promoted awhole team effort -which would prove correct.
That confidence was on display early as play returned, with youngsters Kody Tibballs and Rohan Demczukconnecting on threesinthe first two possessions to bring the game immediately back to five points
Thanks to a12-0run to begin the second quarter, United wasnow in front through attackboth at the rim and from the perimeter.
Warrandyte finally broke their drought and the rest of the first half played out in aback-and-forth affair.
Winderlich continued to be aforce at the block for United, converting on an and-1 attempt, but the Venom stayed above water the rest of the way through to the main break.
Gippsland failed to score on afew close range shots (bar alastsecond highfloating layupthat dropped in for Winderlich), which contributed to them not being able to get ahead by halftime.
While all players would have clearly understood what was at stake if they failed at the last stop again, something must have been said, as United returned with anew focus and energy.
After trailing to begin the second half, United quickly hit the front through anice hook shot inside by Winderlich,and then the big man kicking out to Gooiker in thecorner for atripletosend Gippsland ahead by two points.
Warrandyte finally responded, but both Barlow and Johns repliedinstantly to negate such for United.
Momentum had clearly gonethe way of the home side, with Johns knocking down another deep shot
from three-point land, and then Wimberly got in on the fun by picking off apass and leading asole fast break and converting on asweet eurostep. The Venom were finding their offensive flow again, gettinginto the paint for easyshotsorarrivingatthe freethrowline, but nothing appeared to be getting in the wayofthe Gippsland sidefrom here
Almost in aflash, United forced the margin out to the largest of the game.
Wimberly scored on anice hop-step finish, before Tibballsfound Demczuk on another fast break, and then Tibballs went himself withatough second chance score inside.
United held anine-point edge however, rebounding again became prevalent,with the Venom’s JordonTimmons garnering multiple opportunities on the offensive glass, including two second chance scores off missed free throws, resulting in afivepoint possession.
O’Brien got one back for United late with adish from Tibballs to see Gippsland lead by six points entering the final turn.
One quarter, 10 minutes, separated who would rise to be calledchampions and who would be digging their head into the ground.
Demczuk openedthe final standfor Unitedby first getting to the free throw line for two points, and then again did it on his own with ashort jumper inside the paint.
While many suspectedthe last period would equal the showcase contest, United rolled through and held firm to their lead the entire way home.
Through acombination of the crowd asserting themselves into the game with athunderous defensive chant that shook the seat stanchion and the relentless attackofaUnited sidewho didn’t want to fall this late into the season again, it becamemore evident who would come out on top Gippsland kept at around a10-point buffer for the majority of the fourth quarter, answering every punch Warrandyte threw.
As the final minute ticked down, the realisation began to trickle in for the winners.
By the time the final buzzer sounded, family, friends, and other young supporters rushed the court to embrace their team who capped off a phenomenal year.
Coach McKenzie arrived out the front for presentations after Warrnadyte were handed their runners-up medals, and cited the journey the team has been on and how they set this goal exactly to begin the season.
Leader: GippslandUnitedcaptain BenBarlow lookstoattackduringthe big game
Sitscomfortably: The Division1 Championsbanner graces the backboard of the Gippsland Regional Indoor Spor ts Stadium.
Eight players remained from United’s Division 2Grand Final win in 2022, including Simon Vannapraseuth as aplayer then and now assistant coach, meaning this truly was an odyssey for this group specifically.
To no surprise,Wimberly wasacknowledgedas MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the game, with an all-around performanceof18points, eight assists, seven rebounds and three steals.
This was Wimberly’s second year at United, who arrived from college basketball in the States, including at NCAA Division 1school, Purdue University Fort Wayne.
Gippsland had six players tally double figure scoring, with Winderlichtop of thelistwith 21
points and Tibballs adding 15 and eight rebounds off the bench.
Unitedwill return to the Championship Division of Big Vfor the first time in 17 years next season.
UNFORTUNATELY, Gippsland couldn’t make it two-from-two on the night, with the women’s side falling to Keysborough, 93-75, in the Division 2Grand Final.
Playing at aneutral venue at Dandenong Basketball Stadium, United appeared destined to repeat their efforts from two years ago after they opened the game hot out of the gate.
Leading for much of the first quarter, and despite being outscoredinthe second term, Gippsland
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controlled much of the first half and only trailed by apoint as the main break arrived.
Despite this, Unitedwouldn’t see themselves in front ever again, as the Cougarsbegan running rampant, keeping the Gippsland side to just 10 points for the third term while adding 27 themselves.
Thatperiodwas ultimately the difference in United having afighting chance, and while they scored more frequently in the final quarter, Keysborough was able to do so equally as much. MishClarke top-scoredfor United with18points and four rebounds, whileAlahnaArnason and Macey McGlead added 14 points each.
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By KATRINA BRANDON
AN EXPEDITION into the deep can be found at the Latrobe Regional Gallery.
Into the Deep, by artist Bridget Hillebrand, is on show at the localgallery, where visitorscan plunge into aspeculative deep-water zone.
Astepinto the exhibit, where the dark encloses the spectator and the deep, cool sounds of the ocean flood ears. As the eyes of the audience get used to the room, the work -a12metre display from the roof to the floor, appears beforetheir eyes in a black and white form.
Working in collaborationand partnership of work and viewer, movement around the piece moves like waves, with different intensity depending on the flow given by the audience.
Last month, locals were invited to ask questions aboutMsHillebrand’s work.
“I was approached by the gallery afew years ago to create aseries of works for this space,” Ms Hillebrand told the group.
“I was going to make this very large work in response to the deep oceans.
“Our planet is 70 per cent water, 90 per cent of that is deep oceans. That's an enormous amount of ocean. Eighty per cent is unexplored, unmapped, unknown. It's avast amount of our ecology that we have no understanding of or even aconcept of. What is there? What is here?
“The work is aimed to primarily think aboutthat how things that are hidden from us and unseen and unmanned,how can we have arelationship with that?”
Bridget HillebrandisaNaarm/Melbourne-based artist whose interdisciplinarypractice is concerned with time, ecologies,embodimentand place, with a focus on material relations withnaturalwaterways and coastal ecologies.
Aseven-minute looped soundtrack by composer Erasmus Toscano was created in collaboration with Ms Hillebrand, to help give the illusion of the “deep blue”, with aboat-shaped piece made using linocut, silver leaf on washi paper, and organza to complete the vision.
Sounds captured by Toscano were created by getting ahydrophone recording, amicrophone that you can place into the ocean.
Ms Hillebrand told the group,“The beautiful sounds you're hearing, of course,from my collaboration with the composer Erasmus Toscano.
“He'sayoung composer. He's in his third year studying musical composition, and Iwas very
Crafty: Artist BridgetHillebrand spokeatthe Latrobe RegionalGalleryabout her latest work Photographs supplied
fortunatetowork with him, because Erasmus has an incredible abilitytosense whatyou're trying to say.
“I wanted the sounds to be suggestive.Hemakes these beautiful shifts in tone. It was through this process of understanding acoustics and sound, too, thatIgot into hydrophone recording,where you just have amicrophone that you can place into the ocean. It picks up all the really incredible sounds that you can't normally hear if you're diving or if you're scuba diving or snorkelling.”
Clicking noises were highlighted by Ms Hillebrand in the audio part of the piece, as she was mesmerised by them. She mentioned that the clicking came from shrimps and that whilethey don’tknow whatthey are doing to make the sound, it is aconstant in the deep blue.
Bringingonmore ideas for future pieces, Ms Hillebrand saidthat she is looking at the possibility of using soundtracks in other works.
During the groupdiscussion, audiencemembers asked Ms Hillebrand questions about her work and gained adeeper understanding of the little pieces and the inspirations of the piece in front of them.
To complete the work, Ms Hillebrand described the creation of the piece as arepetitive process as she cut and printed different strips that varied in tone.
In total, Into the Deep took up to six months to complete.
Within those sixmonths,manychallengesarose during the process, which were discussed during the talk. Challenges likechoosingthe right material to create the work and then finding enough of it to make the piece were one of the things that Ms Hillebrand talked about.
“I bought it (the materials) just from my local store up the road,” she told the crowd.
“I liked the material as it was matterather than sheen, so Iwent back to the store and asked for more. Unfortunately, the store didn’t havethe amount Ineeded, so Ispent quiteabit of time hunting down the exact organza.”
Working in asmaller space with different lighting,MsHillebrand wasunsure what the final perspective would appear once installed in the gallery. What was once pieces of blue strips, became aspectrum of black to white pieces,and silver strips turned to gold due to the lighting in the room. Lighting for the piece is only central to the work and not the room. One or two lights highlight the work as the restofthe room appears in the shadows.
One of the audience members asked Ms Hillebrand about the darkness and why certain lighting choices were made.
“It'sreally interesting when Iwas making the work,these are all printed as blueblacksand blue greys. But of course, when you're in adarkspace, they read as grey,” she said.
“It takes about five minutes for your pupils to get used to the dark. Then, over 20 minutes or so, you'll see about 90 per cent of what you can see in the dark. Ilove the idea that the more light allowed intoyour eyes, the more familiar you become with the work, and themoreyou get to explore. This is what we're trying to do -it'sthe unknown that scares us.
“I read alot and Itry to learn about what's happening with our deep emotions in the ecology of the deep ocean. For me, swinging in the deep ocean is incredibly scary.” Into the Deep runs until September 28.
FIVE Gippsland health services are benefitting from the first clinical cluster tender conducted in the region for single-use patientair transfer mattresses.
Thetender, which resulted in acost saving of up to 50 per cent across the region, was led by LatrobeRegionalHealth, supported by Health ShareVictoria (HSV) and included West Gippsland Healthcare Group,Central Gippsland Health Service, Bairnsdale Regional Health Service and South Gippsland Hospital.
HSV is apublic sector entity provider of procurement and logistics services to Victoria's public health facilities. Single-use patientair transfer mattresses are increasinglyused at health services to transfer patients from atheatre to ahospital ward. Patients that exceed acertainweight-usually around 80 to 100kg -are movedusing the single-use air mattresses which aremorecosteffective and hygienic than reusable mattresses.
Typically used to transfer apatient from atrolley to abed, the patient air transfer mattresses are inflated before use, lowering the risk of staff injuries because less force is requiredtomove patients.
The single-use patient air transfer mattresses lower the risk of infection associated with reuse andcost only three per cent of areusable transfer mattress,whichrequire significant capital investment as well as ongoing maintenance, cleaning and laundering.
Many health services are expanding the use of single-use patient transfer air mattresses to areas such as aged care, says HSV Senior Customer Relationship Manager -Southeastern Region, Emma Hammond.
“We identified that costs were going up due to this increased usage and there was also asignificant price variation across the region. We knew we could cap thatbyleveraging bulk purchasing,” she says.
The single-use air mattresses will be included in afuture HSV collectiveagreement,and the regional tender allowed health services to benefit from reducedcosts in the interim, Emma said.
Perioperative Services Manager at Central Gippsland Health Service, Mauricio Yanez says there were alot of benefits to HSV leading the tender.
“The team worked well together, and we achieved great outcomes not only for hospitalsinthe region, but also for patients,” he said.
The framework used for the single-use air
Collaboration: Air mattresses have been rolled out acrossGippsland health services thanks to asuccessfulclinical cluster tender
Photograph: GippslandRegional Health
mattresstendercould also be applied to future clinical tenders in Gippsland.
“It proves that regional agreements can workand now that we’ve completed this process, we can use it for other equipment and products. Regional hospitals should be able to collaborate and buy in bulk to reduce our costs.”
Chief Operating Officer at Latrobe Regional Health, Jon Millar saidthat in addition to cutting costs, the tender process was valuable because it brought together subject matter experts from acrosshealthservicesinthe region
“This opened up the opportunity for us to collaborateinareasother than procurement -the benefits were multifaceted,” he said.
“It’s helpful for us to have asinglesupplier because we have thatcontinuityofservice. If demand increases at one health service, we can borrow stock from each other. This is huge because in the past with three or four different suppliers, we wouldn’t have been able to do that.”
Jon said that with one regionaltendercomplete, the group wouldwork with HSV to identify the next opportunitythat will benefit the region.
“The support HSV provides us with locallyis invaluable. We work closelywith Emma Hammond who offers alot of support to the region,” he said.
GIPPSLAND Water hasreleased its annual Community Report, showcasing the organisation’sperformance over the last 12 months againstits 2023-28 Price Submission.
The delivery of major projects, including replacing asection of theregional outfall system in Traralgon and upgrading the north-east sewer in Warragul, were among the highlights. The north-east sewer upgrade ensuresthe security of water by accommodating for the future growth of the region, reducing the risk of main failures.
Asection of the regional outfallsystem in Traralgon was replaced to protect the surrounding houses and the environment, while ensuring the continuityofservices to major customers.
The organisation also undertook the complex task of replacingageing covers on two industrialwastewater lagoons at the Gippsland Water Factory in Morwell, an industry-first in the Victorianwatersector. Gippsland Regional Organics, one of Gippsland Water’s commercial businesses, was expandedtoreduce the amountof waste going into landfill, makingitthe largest composting facility in Victoria.
The organisation collaborated with GLaWAC and Gunai artist Alice Pepper to install First Nations artwork on the Stratford water tower.
Customers were engaged on arangeof issues and projects important to them, and theirfeedback helpedinform the organisation’s future planning and delivery of its promises.
To read the 2025 Community Report in full, visit: www.gippswater.com.au/ communityreports
By JUDE BERGMANN
THE 65th annual Gippstar Awardswere hosted on Thursday, August 14 at the MoeRSL. More than 120 guests gathered, representing sportspeople, teams andclubs fromacross Gippsland.
Netball Victoria Eastern Region Manager, Judi
Buhagiar servedasthe evening's emcee, while several dignitaries from Gippsland local government authorities presented awards. With along and illustrious history, the Gippstar Awards honour exceptional athletic accomplishmentsbygifted Gippslanders in awide range of sports
This year, individual athletes as well as teams and clubs represented the following sports: polocrosse, bocce, taekwondo,IPSCpistol shooting, Brazilian jiu jitsu, table tennis, swimming, clay targetshooting, netball, hockey, athletics, AFL, mountain biking, lawn bowls, cricket, cross country, modern pentathlon/tetrathlon,surflifesaving beach sprint and flags, golf-croquet,showjumping, basketball, soccer and tennis.
THE humble potato has once again proven it’s more than just amealtime hero -it’sa community champion as well.
Thankstothe Thorpdale Potato Festival’s generous$60,000 grants program, local groups have received ahealthy boost, including Mirboo North based-BooFIIT.
BooFIIT used its share of the funding to bring threefree fitness classes to the Thorpdale Public Hall, open to locals from Thorpdale and surrounding communities.
Theclasses were achancefor residents to move, laugh,and connect -nogym membership required.
BooFIITFounder, Stacey Harriage said the program was all about community spirit.
“We wanted to make fitness fun and accessible for everyone. It’snot justabout the exercise -it’sabout getting people together, building friendships,and supporting each other’s wellbeing,” she said.
The Thorpdale Potato Festival’s grants program continues to be acelebration of community generosity, with avariety of local projects benefiting from its support.
THE stategovernment is backing in the heartbeat of local communities, with anew wave of sports club grants -providing more opportunities for people to get involved in thecommunity and sports they love.
Acting Minister for CommunitySport, Gayle Tierney visited Brunswick Stadiumto announce827 grants for sports clubs across Victoria through the Sporting Club Grants Program, totalling more than $1 million.
The program provides funding for equipment and uniforms, taking the financial burdenoff clubs and support for volunteers and officials to learn new skills and deliver new programs-helping local clubs grow.
The program is investing $4000 to help TrafalgarPark Bowls Clubintroduce pickleballtothe local community, with a new 40-week program for people of all ages and abilities to get involved.
This round alsoinvests$4000 for Brunswick Magic Basketball Association’s new ‘Girls in Sport’ program, which is running free workshops featuring aWNBL1 player to encourage girls’ participation.
The newly established Port Melbourne Chargers Women’s Football Club has received $1700 for courses that enhance skills and develop new coaching methods to help the club grow.
WangarattaGolf Club willuse $4000 to offer asix-weekprogram to increase women’s participation in golf.
Since 2014, the Sporting Club Grants Program has invested morethan $19.5 million in local communities to support thousands of sport and recreation clubs across the state.
The program is backed by the Regional Community Sport Development Fund,which is delivering infrastructure upgrades and other programs including the Regional Community SportInfrastructure Fundto help more regional Victorians get active and be apartoftheir local sporting clubs.
These highly regarded Gippstar Awards aim to provide an important opportunity to recognise and acknowledge the tremendous efforts and results achieved by so many talented sporting Gippslanders.
The 26 successful nominees for the monthly awards between July2024and June 2025 received trophies in both the Open and Junior categories.
Kody Said of Traralgonwon the Annual Gippstar Overall Junior Award for his swimming performance.
Kody has had an outstanding2024/25 swimming season, winning multiple state and national gold, breaking various Gippsland openmen'srecords, andrepresenting Victoria at the highest levels.
Kody won three gold medals (400 metres, 800m, 1500m freestyle) and threesilvers in the2024 VictorianAge Short CourseChampionships, breaking men'sGippsland records in the 800m and 1500m freestyle by 30-39 seconds despite being only 14-years-old. He also succeeded at the Victorian Country Short Course Championships, capturingthree gold medals and being selected for the Victorian Pathways State MarlinSquad. In longcourse competition, he dominated the 2024 StateChampionships, winning gold in the 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle, breakingnew records At the 2025Country Championships,hewon gold in the 400m and 800m freestyle, as well as the relay.
Kody performedsolidly in Age Nationals (Brisbane 2025), finishing 11th in the 1500m freestyle with a14-second personal best, and was nominated for (and won) the Gippsland Sports Academy's Tim ForsythOutstandingAchievement Award. He also won the Jeremy Saunders Trophy, which recognises the best senior performance outside of Gippsland.
Kody has been selected for Team Victoria again, and will compete in eightindividual and four relay events in Brisbane, cementing his status as one of Australia's most promising young distance swimmers.
Ashley Nicholes of Traralgon won the Gippstar Overall Open Award for Swimming.
Ash is undoubtedly one of Gippsland's top swimmers, and aGippsland Sports Academy athlete for the past four years, now competing in masters swimming.
Ash has been an outstanding captain of the Traralgon Swimming Club, and he coaches squads in the club and teaches Learn to Swim at Traralgon's Ford Swim Centre.
In March 2025, he won 10 gold medals, asilver medal, and broke two Gippsland records.
In May 2025, he was named Premier Swimmer of the Year at Traralgon Swimming Club for accumulating the most points during the season.
Ash has 88 Gippsland records, including long and shortcourses, as wellasfour Country Victorian records.
He was nominated for the Tri StateTeam to compete against Western Australia and two New Zealand teams in July.
With an amazingly dominant performance at the State Championships in the 18 to 24 age bracket, Ash earned 12 goldmedals and broke three Australian and seven Victorian records as a Masters Swimmer for the TraralgonMasters team.
At the Australian Age Swimming Championships, Ash ranked seventh in the 18 years 50m freestyle.
Ash swam two personal bests to keep his position as seventh, with 0.6 of asecond between first and 16th. He also competed for Victoria in the state freestyle relay.
Each year Gippstar has four additional awards:
GIVEN to aGippsland Team based on their performance over the Gippstar year.
This year, therewas two sections to this category, and the winners were: Lindenow Primary School lawn bowls Team A(juniors), and Traralgon Masters swimming team (open).
TraralgonMasters won the team trophy against allclubs,metro and country. No country club has ever won amasters points scoretrophy in the history of MastersSwimming in VictoriaorAustralia for more than 50 years.
Atotal of 40 swimmers competed, the most among all competing clubs.
Swimmers won 67 golds,45silvers and 37 bronzes, setting six Australianand 14 Victorian records.
Relays were won with nine gold, eight silver and one bronze medal, setting threeAustralianand four Victorian records.
Theclub startedplanning for this meeta year ago, after finishing fifth at the previous one.
Overall, a12-month project that paid off with a resounding win.
GIVEN to aGippsland club based on theirclub achievements over the Gippstar year.
This was awarded to FishCreekFootball-Netball Club.
The Kangaroos,who compete in the Mid Gippsland Football-Netball League, were victims of an arson attack in November2023which burned their club memorabilia, change rooms and social rooms.
The club has worked tirelessly to keep teams on thecourts and football fields, and has won the last twosenior football premierships.
THIS is given in recognition of outstanding service to sport over asignificant period of years.
This year saw two worthy award winners: Jane Mitchell from Traralgon Swimming Club, and Wayne Sear from Warragul Little Athletics Club.
Jane was president of Traralgon Swimming Club from1997to2024, and is the current vice president.
ShehasbeenthesecretaryofGippslandSwimming from 2009 and been awardedAdministratorofthe Year by Swimming Victoria twice.
Jane joined the club in 1991 and has been a dedicated member for almost 35 years.
Duringher management, the club has consistently finished in the top 10 at State Championships for
almost 25 years,winning21Country Championship titles and 26 Gippsland titles in arow. She has coached with the clubfor almost adecade and swam with the club for many years. Nowamember of the Traralgon Masters, who recentlywon the Team Trophy at the Victorian ShortCourse Championship,her four children swim with the club, three of whom were nationalqualified swimmers.
TO receive thisaward, the athlete must have commencedtheir sporting careerwitha Gippsland club and/or association and continued to achieve in their sport outside of the Gippsland area while maintaining family connections in Gippsland. This year’s recipient was Eleanor Patterson of Leongatha in her sport of high jump.
Eleanor was unable to attend the awards as she is currently in Italy training and competing in the European athletics summer season in preparation for the 2025 World Championships.
Eleanor is aWorld Champion (2022), World Championships silver medallist, Olympic bronze medallist (2024), Commonwealth Games Gold medallist (2014), and two time World Indoor Championships silver medallist. JULY and August nominations for Gippstar are now open, and close on September 8, 2025. If you would like to recognisethe sporting achievements of aGippsland athlete, coach, administrator or official (amateurofprofessional), nomination forms can be downloaded from Gippsland Sports Academy webpage: https://www.sportgippsland. org.au/gippstar-award-nomination-forms/
By MICHAEL HOLROYD
TRARALGON Bowls Club representedStrzelecki BowlsRegion in the Champion of State Weekend Pennantheld at Moama Bowls Club earlier this year There was 12 teams: YarravilleFootscray representing Metropolitan Melbourne area and the winners from each of the 11 country regions within Victoria.
Traralgon was in Section 1, comprising Wodonga, Birchip, Yarraville-Footscray, SheppartonGolf and Chalambar Golf,withthreegames on the Saturday and afurther two on the Sunday followed by the final between the winners of Section 1and 2across the Anzac Day weekend.
The first match was anail biter, with Traralgon defeating Wodonga by one shot in ascore of 39 to 38. After three games of 15 live ends, Matt Ferrari and his rink of Michael Morgan, Shane Chapman andWayne Lynch defeated Peter McLarty 21-9, while Vin McIlwqain lost 9-15 to Kylie Lavis and James Scullin lost 9-14 to Duane Crow.
Game 2was against Birchip. Matt Ferrari continued his good form, defeating Richard Haddrick 27-5. Vin McIlwain and his rink of Pat Trewin, Ian Hilsley and Michael Yacoub won 23-8 against Des Ryan.James Scullin and his rinkofJedd Ladgrove, Wayne Barnes and Ian Kirkup completed the clean sweep witha14-4victoryoverMark Bowen,leaving Traralgon the winners 64-15.
Game3was against Melbourne champions, Yarraville-Footscray,with added intrigue with Traralgon skipper Vin McIlwain being apremiershipplayer with each of the teams thisseason having to play with his home club Traralgon. This match waslive streamedaround the world, with the featured rink being McIlwain versus Nelson Ball with McIlwain winning 21-9. Matt Ferrari had another win against Brett Mahoney, 14-9. James Scullin lost 12-23, leaving Traralgon the winners 47-41 and the only unbeaten sideinSection1 afterthe completion of Saturday's matches.
Game 4was against Shepparton Golf and was againthe live streamed match, with the featured rinkofMattFerraridefeating AnthonyFlapper 18-8.
Mcilwain defeated Kris Feguson 17-12, while James Scullin defeated Brad Orr17-13,leaving Traralgon winners 52-33.
Game 5was against Chalambar Golf who had won three games compared to the four of Traralgon. Yarraville-Footscray had ahugewin over Birchip 73-19 and if they beat Shepparton Golf and Traralgon lost they would win the section with abiggershots margin than either Chalambar
GOLF
CHURCHILL ANDMONASH
StablefordpairsMultiplication 16th August 2025.
Winners: A. Jenkins/G. Byer 71 pts
RunnersUp: C. Waring/M. Hutchinson 51 pts
D.T.L: 1. D. Taylor/D.Burridge 49, 2. M. Smith/R. Madigan 49, 3. P. bolding/P.Kearns
47,4.I.Heppleston/R. Davidson 44 c/b
N.T.P: 3rdG.Sanders, 5th D. Cluderay,12th
A. Jenkins
Target Hole: R. Madigan
StablefordTuesday19th August 2025.
Winner: R. Dent 31 pts
D.T.L: M. Hutchinson 30 pts
N.T.P: 3rdC.Barnes,5th S. Caldwell,12th
M. Dear,14th M. Dear
MIRBOONORTH
Tuesday19th August, Stableford.
AGrade: SWoodall(9) 39pts c/b
BGrade: DSymons (22) 39pts
DTL: PWoodall 37,MPayne,D Woodall 34, JMcFarlane 33 c/b
NTP: 4th DSymons,6th SWoodall, 16th S Mc Kenzie
Birdies: 4th DSymons,6th, SWoodall, G Shandley, DTaylor, 16th SMcKenzie
Saturday23rdAugust,Ambrose
AGrade: N& TBaker 62nett
BGrade: MPayne,D Taylor,RClark,60.3
Mixed Ladies: AMoscato, MJarvis,68.75
DTL: J&CGunn 63.5, TimTraill& N Bickerton 64, ALiebe &DJerram 64.75, T Bradshaw& JTaylor65.5, M&S Woodall
66.25.
NTP: 4th DJerram, 6th SBeitz, 13th JMc Farlane
Valleypride: Traralgon BowlsClub hadanoutstandingtournament representing Strzelecki Bowls Region at the Champion of StateWeekend Pennant, making it all theway to thefinal against some of thebestteams in thestate Photograph supplied
Golf or Traralgon. There was plenty of tension in the match as the lead changed end after end with competitive bowls being played.
MattFerrari, afterleadingwell, hung on to draw 16-allwith ShaneTodd. James Scullin drew 12-all with Chris Young after gaining five shots on the seventhend. Vin Mcilwain gained one shot on each of the last three endstosecure a13-12 win over Jess Austin. leaving Traralgon the winners by one shot and off to the final.
The final wasagainst astrongMoamateam on their home green, with anumberofleading Australian and international bowlers in their team and plenty of local supporters.
James Scullin and his rink of JeddLadgrove, Wayne Barnes and Ian Kirkup were the featured rink of the live stream as they played Kevin Anderson, losing 11-17.
Vin McIlwain and his rink of Pat Trewin, Ian
MOE
Sunday, 17 August 2025 OPEN Sunday
Mixed Stableford
Grade AWinners: Duncan, Nick(15)35
Grade BWinners: Enzinger,Michael (24) 36
Place Getters: Donaldson, Murray 34, Spiteri, Paul 33 C/B
Wednesday, 20 August 2025 WOMEN'S WEDNESDAY 9HOLEStableford
Overall Winners: Lee,Judy (37) 17 Wednesday, 20 August 2025 WOMEN'S STABLEFORD
Grade AWinners: Tate,Sandy (21) 33
Grade BWinners: Wallis,Elizabeth (28) 33
Place Getters: Shaw, Karen32C/B , Donaldson, Leanne 32
Nearets to Pin: 4th Chrissie Backman ,8th ElizabethWallis ,14th Marj Lang
Target Hole Prize: Chrissie Backman
Thursday, 21 August 2025 OPEN Mixed Stableford
Grade AWinners: Yeomans,Wayne (10) 37
Grade BWinners: Harber,John (14) 37 C/B
Grade CWinners: Howard,Bernard(15)38
Grade DWinners: Matthews,Max (23) 36
C/B
Place Getters: Lalor,Garry37C/B Robinson, Mark36C/B ,Hayes,Albert36
C/B ,Mifsud, Matthew36C/B,Borg, Manny
36,Dunstan, Craig 36 ,Condon, Jeff 35 C/B ,Wolski, Ted35C/B ,Randall, Damien 35
C/B ,Gniel, Glenn 35 ,Panozzo, Gavan34
C/B ,Donnison, Terry34C/B,White, Lockie
34 C/B ,Mead, Barry34,Buckman, Peter 33 C/B ,Harland, Bob 33 C/B ,Van Der Meulen, Luke33C/B Great Score: Chris Hancock(Eagle) @ 13 ,Les Stansbury(Birdie)@14, Wayne
Hilsley and Michael Yacoub lost 5-13toMatt Robertson, and Matt Ferrari and his rink of Michael Morgan, Shane Chapman and Wayne Lynch lost 8-16 to Cameron Keenan.
It wasinteresting to note that Moama became the fifth side in arow to win the Champion of State Pennant after beingrunner-up the previous season Traralgon had agreat tournament,defeating the metro champions, Yarraville-Footscray and the well-performed Shepparton Golf and Chalambar Golfbefore comingupshort against tough opposition.
TRAFALGAR Bowls Club also represented Strzelecki Bowls Region in the Champion of State Midweek Pennant held at Moama Bowls Club.
There was 12 teams: Deer Park representing the metropolitan Melbourne area, and the winners from each of the 11 country regions withinVictoria.
Yeomans (Birdie) @8 ,AlbertHayes (Birdie) @14, Anton Devent (Birdie) @14,Craig Dunstan (Birdie) @8 ,Jeffrey Bassman (Birdie) @4 Nearets to Pin: 4th Shane Bruce ,8th Craig Dunstan ,14th Anton Devent Saturday, 23 August 2025 MENS
Stableford
Grade AWinners: Pickard,Andrew (4) 41
Grade BWinners: Hibbs,Steven(13)39 C/B
Grade CWinners: Wolski, Ted(22) 37
Place Getters: Donaldson, Murray 39, Wright, David 38 C/B ,Buckman, Peter38, Houston, Neale 37 C/B,Johnson, Charles 37 C/B,Devent, Anton 37 C/B,Stephens, Simon 37,Backman, Bradley36 C/B, Jamieson, Justin 36, Wilson, Lee 35 C/B
Great Score: Kallan Fitzclarence (Birdie) @14,Brian Dooley(Birdie) @8, Max Matthews (Birdie) @14,StevenHibbs (Birdie) @4, Anton Devent (Birdie) @14, Andrew Pickard (Birdie) @14,Joel Poole (Birdie) @4, Charles Johnson (Birdie) @ 14 ,Bob Harland (Birdie) @4, Andrew Pickard (Birdie) @4, Justin Jamieson (Birdie) @14, Tony Johnson (Birdie) @14
Nearets to Pin: 4th Maurice Papettas, 8th
Brian Dooley,14th Tony Johnson
WOMEN'S SATURDAY OPEN Stableford
Grade AWinners: Taylor,Amy (11) 32
MORWELL Women's Wednesday20th August 2025
Stableford
Winner: CPeter 32
Runner Up DVuillermin 31 c/b
DTL: IYoshimura31 c/b
NTP: 2nd APollutro15th STurner
Trafalgar was in Section 2, comprising Bendigo East, Kyneton, Wangaratta, Murray Downs and Ocean Grove.
Thefirst match was anail biter, with Bendigo East defeating Trafalgar by four shots 40-44 after Trafalgar heldanearly leadbeforelosing six shots in one end allowing Bendigo East to gain alead which they did not relinquish.
Afterthree games of 15 live ends, Matt Schreyer defeatedRobert Clough, Ian Mileslost to James McGillivray 14-15 and AdamProctor lost to Daryl Rowley10-16.
Game 2was against Kyneton, and Matt Schreyer and his rink of Wayne Hurst, Heather Taylor and David Cook defeated Conrad Dawson 14-10, Adam Proctor drew 13-all with Greg Podesta and Ian Miles narrowly lost 12-11 to Anthony Mathison, leaving Trafalgar the winners by three shots. Game 3was against Wangaratta, with Adam Proctor and his rink of Sue Robinson, Helen Robertson and Paul Dawson defeating Chris Randell 24-10. Ian Miles and his rink of Shirley Melsen, Noel Rubenstein and Matt Ogilvie defeated MauriceBraden 16-8. Matt Schreyerlost to Phillip Davern 9-15. Trafalgar won 49-33 and at the end of Day 1, were narrowly top of the ladder with all teams having lost at least one match.
Game 4was against the winless Murray Downs and Trafalgar was competitive early but fell away over the last few ends, with Ian Miles losing to Garry McCaig 13-18, Matt Schreyerlosing to Peter Furnell 10-17 and Matt Schreyer losing to Kevin Rowe 13-20, leaving Murray Downs the winners 55-36.
Theupsets continued in the other matches, with Ocean Grove and Bendigo Eastdrawing with BendigoEast, and Wangaratta defeating Kyneton. Game 5was againstOcean Grove, who were now the top team. Ian Miles and his team of Pat Tatterson, Noel Rubenstein and MattOgilvie defeated Tyson Cromie 17-9. Matt Schreyer drew 12-all, while Rod Brehaut and AdamProcto lost to Alan Drury 11-13, leaving Trafalgar the winners by six shots 40-34.
With three wins, Trafalgar finishedsecond on the points table, 10 shots behind Kyneton, who also had three wins, narrowly ahead of both Ocean Grove and Bendigo East who each had two wins and adraw.
This was the most competitive section over the many years of this competition, with five sides in contention for awin at the start of the last game. Kyneton went on to losetoTallygaroopna 48-46 in the final to complete avery competitive Champion of Midweek Pennant series.
Well done by Trafalgar, who werecompetitive with the best teams in Victoria.
WednesdayWomen's results 20/8/25
PuttoAmbrose: for18-hole players
Stableford: for9-Hole players
Winners: Sue Klemke, JennyEvison, Chris Payne and Cheryl Toyne with 47 points
NTP: 5th LynPowell 13th Cheryl Deppeler
Gobblers: Aileen McNair on the 5th 9-Hole players
Winner: Heather Savige (32) with 18 points
Runner-Up: SandraBalfour (34) with 12 points
Tuesday19/08/25 -Stableford
Players: 21, Women 3, Men 18
Winner: Chris Griffin(23)
Runner Up: Graeme Harris c/b (21)
DTL: BevKeily(21) Chris Barfoot (21) Norm Mether (20) SteveGould (18)
NTP: SteveKlemke(5th)
Lucky Gard: Harold McNair
Thursday: 21/08/25 -Stroke&Putting
Players: 45, Women 14,Men 31
Women’s Winner: SandraBalfour (32)
Runner Up: KarenMcGregor (34 )
DTL: LynPowell (35) Sonia Roberts (35) Sue Balfour (36)
NTP: Sue Klemke(15th)Putting- Lyn Powell (14)
LuckyCard: Sue Klemke
Men's Winner: Max Taylor c/b (30)
Runner Up: RichardGould (30)
DTL: AlGray(31) Tony Shearer (31) Duane
Baker(32) RonKeith (32)
NTP: Chris Moody (15th) Putting- Graeme
Grant,Duane Baker (13)
Lucky card: MickBennett
Friday,August 22nd, Open Men’s&Ladies
Stableford
AGrade Winner: Tristan Ashby40pts
BGrade Winner: Declan Leggo 37 pts
CGrade Winner: PeterPankhurst 36 pts
DTL’s: David Winfield 37,Rohan Berkhout 36, Jardan Chapman 36, David Turner 36, Mitchell Dyke 35, Jason Houghton 35, Greg Boorer 35, PeterFusinato35, Mal Davey34, Jamie Winters34C/B Eagle: 10th:Rohan Berkhout Birdies: 5th: NickRowe, MarkReynolds 11th:Dale Reynolds,Jamie Winters, Danny Bullen 13th:Dale Reynolds,David Turner 15th:Simon Caygill
Saturday,August 23rd, 4BBB Stableford
Winner’s: Stu Marriott& Tony Shearer 46 pts
DTL’s: AnthonyGould &TonyBickley45, Nathan Jenkins &Dwayne Jankins 44, Mark Ando &Peter Burghardt 44, Craig Scanlon &Brian Wattchow44, RichardGould &Paris Christian 43 C/B
NTP’s: 2nd: Brian Wattchow5th:Ron Pyke 11th:TonyGray13th: Brad Griffin15th: Symon Lee –Rex Daly
YALLOURN
Ladies Tuesday19-8-25
BY ALLAN ROBERTS
WHATbegan as an idle conversation arounda committee table in early 2024 about anew direction for Fortuna '60 Soccer Club has turned into a dream result with one round to go for the Morwell based team.
The Orangemen from Crinigan Road have secured the VetoSportState League 5South Men'sLeague with two rounds to spare and an undefeated season to date.
With the visionofthe clubtoprovide amiddle option between the localLatrobe ValleySoccer Leaguecompetitions and the StateLeague 1option of Gippsland United FootballClubfor local players, it now appears this vision has become areality, as the club has cemented it's position in the middle tier of the revamped seven division state league structure for 2026.
The match againstthe Bunyip Strikers at the weekendsaw the Lions run out 3-nilwinners over their closest geographicalopponent, and celebrate the leaguetriumphinfront of abig Saturday night crowd -with plentyoftravelling support in attendance.
Withnews filtering through prior to the 6pm kick off that Fortuna's onlychallenger for the title in Mt Eliza Soccer Club had suffered a3-nil loss to third-placed Seaford United, meant Fortuna had already secured top spot and the title before aball was played.Not content with justwinning the
league, the challenge wasput to the team by coach Clayton Bell to go the season undefeated -afeat that would create history and some waves within the state league structures.
With the whistle blowing for the start of the game, the Lions hit the pitch with purpose and endeavour, fullyintenttodeliver the win for the large travelling supporter base and ensure that the bus ride home was one to remember.
It did not take long for the Lions to put ashot on target, with Hayden Tanti being on the end of great build up that started down back from Robbie Stephens.
Tanti rifled ashot at the Bunyip goal that sailed over the crossbar -the Lion's intent from the get-go well and truly on display.
The next five minutes saw Fortuna pepper the Bunyip goal,withDamon Scott, JoelPalermo and Nonda Lazaris causing headaches for the Bunyip keeper,who was having to work hard early to protect his goal.
Sevenminutes into the game, Tanti took athrowin that was launched into Fortuna's 18 yard box, finding the feet of Jake Budija who scrambled ashot at goal, with the keeper fumbling the save, Scott for the Lions cleaned up the scraps and dispatched theloose ball into theBunyipgoal to give the Lions an early 1-nil lead.
The Lions again hit the back of the Bunyip goal in the 13th minute, with Budija and Scott linking up again. This time it was Scottwho received a ball outofthe middleand layed this off intothe path of Budija, who clinically dispatched the ball
into the bottom right corner to give the Lions a 2-nil advantage.
The next 25 minutes was all Fortuna, with the midfield of Jordan Campbell, Lazaris and Daniel Cooper dictating playand creatingmultiple opportunities for Fortuna's forward three to fire at will at the Bunyip goal.
When Bunyip didpress forward,their attacks could not getpastthe defensive lineofAlex Bowman, Robbie Stephen, Rayvel Whiting and Palermo -who werelikeabrickwall for the visiting Lions side.
With the timer ticking over 37 minutes,Scott received athrow-in from Palermo. Scott played acheeky one-two with Budija to receive the ball againand then found the back of the Bunyip goal for his second of the evening.
With the halftime whistle sounding,Fortuna headed to the shedsinacommanding positionwith a3-nil lead and acheeky eye on the league cup.
The second half started in similar fashion to the first, with Fortunacreatinghavoc all over the park for the home side.
The Lions seemed to be able to shoot at will, and if not for some heroics from the Strikers keeperwith eight genuine shots on target in the second half, the score could have been catastrophic for the home team.
Robbie Stephens, or 'Bob' as he is affectionately knownatthe Lions den, showed the formthat saw him crowned State League1bestplayerseveral seasons ago. The big Scotsman put on aclinic at several points during the second half. With the game well andtruly in thegrasp forthe Lions,
coach Bellensuredthoseonthe bench gotonto the park to savour what was history in the making for the club.
To Bunyip's credit, they continued to fightout the game but to no avail. Thefinal whistle sounded, and Fortuna celebrated its maiden state league title.
Clublifemember Duncan Hanlon Senior presented the team with acup to hold aloft on the ground. The team then headed to the dressing rooms to sing the club song loud and proud with theirtravellingsupporters, support staff and family.
With the league title sewn up, the club'sfocus now turns to the final game of the season, to be played at home this week against Mt Marth.
This will coincide with the club's sponsors day, which will be one for the club to celebrateand show off the league title to its home crowd.
Fortuna '60 would love to see abig crowddown at the Den, and encourages all football lovers to come celebrate. Entry is free to all at Crinigan Rd Reserve.
Having secured top spot on the table, Fortuna has also earnt the right to play in the state league 'Champions of Champions' finals at the end of the season against the North, West and East league title winners.
If the Lions make the Grand Final of this postseasoncompetition, they will get to play at the home of the Matilda's in Bundoora. Not bad for a country club that had avision!
The Fortuna reserves started the day positively for the club, winning 2-1.
SOCCER
LVSL BY
JOHN CARDONA
THEquarter finals of the Battle of Britain Cup were played on Sunday at Burrage Reserve, Newborough.
Four teams now advance to the semi-finals, to be played this weekend.
The matchbetween league champions, Moe United and runner-up Traralgon Olympians saw the Red Devils go down 4-1.
In the other senior men’squarter final games, Churchill United got afree pass into the semi after East Gippsland forfeited.
Falcons meanwhile defeated Sale United 1-nil and Monash defeated Newborough/Yallourn 6-1.
Falconswill playMonash, andChurchill United face Olympians for aplace in the final.
IN the Shopwell Trophy reserves cup, Monash won aclose battle 1-nil against Churchill United.
East Gippsland won its way into the semi-final after overcoming Traralgon City 2-nil.
MoeUnitedalso advanced with a4-3 win over Falcons after trailing 1-3 late in the first half.
Scorersfor Moe Unitedwere Harley Robinson
with two goals. There was also aFalcons own goal, whileMan of the Match, Zoran Winkelman scored the vital winning goal.
Sale Uniteddefeated Olympians 2-1 in extra time after the full time scores left things tied at 1-all.
The semi-final seesMoe Unitedplay Monash, while Sale United meets East Gippslsnd.
IN the woman’s quarter final games (BrowneHuzier Cup), Moe United, after ascoreless first half, went on to defeat Traralgon City 3-nil.
Miley Cooper scored abrace, and Rebeccavan der Koogh also mader her way onto the score sheet. League champion, Sale United was made to work hard in its match against Churchill United,
going into extra time before breaking the deadlock, recording a2-1 win.
Tyers overcame NYU 3-1 to progress, while Monash defeated Olympians 3-nil.
Sale Unitedand Moe United will clash in the semi-final, and Tyers will play Monash. ThirdDivision games (Nan Bosma Cup) saw Churchill United overcome Sale United 2-nil. Tyers defeated Moe United 3-nil, Olympians defeated Fortuna2-1, and Falcons defeatedMonash 2-nil.
Semi-finalswillsee Churchill playOlympians, andFalcons play Tyers.
HORSE RACING
By LIAM DURKIN
COUNTRY racing was all for the people at the weekend -evenmore so than usual.
Moe Racing Club held its members day last Sunday, while local racing officials and dignitaries gatheredinthe cityonSaturday nighttotoast season2024/25atthe annual Country Racing Victoria Awards.
The awards nightwas highlighted by Latrobe Valley Racing Club Chairman, Frank Bezzina winning the Tony Shanahan Award forservices to country racing.
Bezzina has injected agreat deal of enthusiasm to the Traralgon-based club over the years, leading the all-volunteer organisation.
Back at Moe, the members day was reported ahuge success, with upwardsof100 members attending agreat day of celebration, which saw a brand new MG car raffled off.
“We are so thankful for the incredible support of our members –you are the heart of our club, and
we can’t wait to bring you more exciting events like this,” the club posted. On track, the eight-card meeting again saw competitive fields on atrack initially rated aSoft 7, but was aSoft 6byRace 4.
Moe locals Peter Gelagotis, Christine Sexton and Craig Blackshaw had to contend with placings.
The Gelagotis-trained Zilzie Lad ran third in theRace 5LadbrokesTop 2/3/4 Betting BM64 Handicap over the long distance of 2050 metres.
The six-year-old gelding washowever some distance from the winner, Brilliant Venture, which won by twolengths from CaptainElectric, both trained by Andrea Leek.
Sexton narrowly missed awin in the Race 7 Ladbrokes Mates Mode BM64 Handicap (1600m), when Delightful Journeywas pipped on the outside by Sweet Jasmine for Luke Oliver.
Delightful Journeylooked to be doing as its name suggested, leading at the 800m and 400m marks before tiring.
TheBlackshaw stable was also stiff not to get on the podium in the Race 8Ladbrokes Same Race Multi BM64 Handicap (1100m), when Social Conscience crossed fourth amid abunched field.
Less than two lengths separated the top six finishes, with Mrs Archibald the horse to win for Jason Warren.
The only other Gippslander to feature was Sale trainer, Rebecca Kelly.
Her five-year-old gelding, Alesund, ran third in the Race 3Ladbrokes MatesMode Pots Maiden Plate (1200m),won by Torsheen for Shane Nicholls. Moe Cup 2023winning trainer and jockey combo, Trent Busuttin and Craig Newittagain teamed up for success, winningthe Race4Ladbrokes Odds Surge Maiden Plate (2050m), with Reliable Jo putting in aperformance to do his name proud.
The race actually ended up being one for bragging rights, as another Busuttin-trained horse, Omamori, engaged in asprint to the line, leaving the rest of the field more than six lengths behind.
In other races, Giggenbach won theRace 1 Ladbrokes Quick Multi Maiden Plate (1600m) for Mick Price and Michael Kent Junior; La Astro Chat the Race 2Ladbrokes Form Genius Maiden Plate (1000m) for Pat Carey and Harris Walker; and Bring Forth the Race 6Ladbrokes SRM in Multis BM64 Handicap (2400m).
Elsewhere, the stableofBen, Will and JD Hayes
were runaway winners of the George Hanlon Trophy for Trainer of the Year at the country racing awards night.
Will Hayes is also agun footballer, and will be playing for Warragul in this Sunday’s Gippsland League elimination final against Morwell. Warrnambool Racing Club took top honours at the awards night, claiming the bet365 Country Racing Victoria Club of the Year.
The club is famous for its three-day May Racing Carnival.Byall reports, it is just aboutthe best event on the country sporting calendar.
Casual discussion has done the rounds over the years for aGippslandequivalent, perhaps working its way up the highway from club to club (now that would be something).
For now however,attentionturns to MoeRacing Club’s next meeting on Thursday, September 4.
Withthe Spring Carnivalnot faraway,the countdown is also on to local cup days.
This year’s Moe Cup will be held Sunday, November 16.
The Traralgon Cup is Sunday, November 30.
By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT
GIVEN an opposite perspectiveonschool and sport.
During avisit from Latrobe City’s Japan sister city, Takasago, LowannaCollege welcomed sports exchange students onto campus.
Eight students and four staff attended the Newborough high school alongside Latrobe City Council representatives, taken on atour of Lowanna and its sports academy.
Sports academy students and staff walkedguests through the academy hallway, which features banners showcasingsome of the successes the academy hasproduced, including AFL players Sam Flanders and Bailey Humphrey, as well as WNBA draftee and WNBL player, Jaz Shelley.
Takasago students were then exposed to
Australian Rules Football, with askills session providedwhere Lowanna students taught their visitors the tips and tricks of the game.
Head Coach of the Lowanna Sports Academy, Allan Chandler spoke to the group about how far the academy has come since the program launched adecade ago, and how the opportunity was presented to them by Latrobe City.
“Showing schools and sports was the guide and they approached our school to highlight what we do within our program,” he said.
“They took to the AFL pretty well. (We) showed them the skills and let them play an indoor version of the game. Acouple of them kicked goals, which was obviously ahighlight.”
Trading recreations, Lowannastudentsand staff then heard from Takasago visitors about their native sports, such as Karate and Judo, as well as
detailing whata regular school day looks like in Japan, including extra-curricular activities.
Chandler added that while this was aone-off occasion, they’d be happy to host another visit or even travel to Takasago and see it for themselves.
Thisopportunity wasone of many headedby Latrobe City earlier this month, with the Takasago Mayor, Tatsuyoshi Tokura, official delegates, and students.
Latrobe City noted this was achance to showcase the region’s sporting talent, world-class venues, and educationalinstitutions -highlighting how sport is integrated intothe curriculum to support students in achieving their academic and sporting goals.
Other sporting ventures for visiting students included learning how to play pickleball and lawn bowls, as well as experiencing GippsTech’s sports science courses.
Latrobe City Mayor, Dale Harriman shared what was deliberated with the Takasago Mayor and other delegatestofurther enhance the relationship.
“We discussed the Future Goodwill Ambassador exchangeprogram,teacher exchange, communitybasedsportsclub management, and exchanged formal gifts,” Cr Harriman said.
The sister city relationship was solidified through amonumental planting of aJapanese flowering cherry tree on Breed Street, Traralgon.
The Latrobe-Takasago affiliation was born out of the friendship formed through economic projects in the 1980s, before being formalised as asister city partnership in 2000 and then reaffirmed in 2023.
This was the first time Takasago delegates had visited since 2018, with thekey aim to foster mutual understanding and cooperationacrossareas of education, culture, trade, tourism, and sport.
Kelso’s Krawl5km (Aug 7)
PeterCutler 19:03, JohnnSkordakis 22:11, Andrew Greenhill22:14, DempseyPodmore 22:17, Daniel Wright 22:36, Ian Cornthwaite 22:37,Adrian Sutcliffe 23:56, Aaron More 23:57,Clinton Jolly24:13,Jason Odlum 24:16, Trent Kooyman 24:20, Matthew Deppeler 24:35, Seth Bomers25:00,Peter Sanders25:13,Ron Verschuur 26:07, Andrew Broberg26:58, Stephen Mcleod 27:49, DavidHood 28:09, Dave Mann 28:11, Chelsea Fox 28:21, CoreyMilner 28:21, Stephen Renehan28:28, DesleyGray 30:00, MarkLansdown31:16, Toby Grzmil 31:45, Lauren Peter33:44, Kaye Livingstone 34:21, Becky Nowak34:33,Phillip Mayer 36:00, Daniel Symons 36:45, Tania Whitehead 37:07,BaileyRollandin 38:40, Paul Rollandin 39:52, BarryHiggins 42:40, Chris VanUnen43:18, DanelleWright 43:19, Anja Norwood 46:33, MollyIrvine 47:11, TimothyGraham51:56,TonyMarino 52:12, Des Dalton 53:06, Kristina Creighton 53:33, Sep Marino NTR, David Barr NTR, Ann BomersNTR
Netballcourts6km (Aug 14)
Pete Cutler 18:01, DempseyPodmore19:01, Ian Cornthwaite19:45, SavMavrofridis 19:46, JohnnSkordakis 20:09, Andrew Greenhill 20:27,David Barr 21:28, Seth Bomers21:30,Daniel Wright 21:40, Trent Kooyman 22:00, Aaron More22:13, Clinton Jolly22:30,RyanMcLeod 22:35, Andrew Broberg22:56, Geoffrey Francis 23:17, Adrian Sutcliffe 23:20, Darrel Cross 23:30, RonVerschuur 23:53, Chelsea Fox 24:24, CaitlinPitt24:30, GaryFox 25:00, Stephen Mcleod 25:39, Chris VanUnen 25:45, Stephen Renehan26:26, Michelle Sawyer 26:36, Belkey Podmore26:48, Liz Kenney26:48,David Hood 27:30, Mark Lansdown 27:40, Toby Grzmil 27:45, DesleyGray28:34,MariekaReilly28:34, Kim Essex28:40,ClaireMacumber 29:55, Paul Rollandin 30:05, CatLeonard30:09, Lauren Peter30:15,KateMayer 30:50, Phillip Mayer30:50, Ben Wilkinson 31:13, Kaye Livingstone 31:53, Leopold Notting 33:30, Owen Notting 33:32, Daniel Symons 33:45, Tania Whitehead 33:54, Bailey Rollandin 35:02, Alicia Turner 38:19, Barry Higgins 39:13, TimothyGraham41:35,Ree Graham 41:41, Ann Bomers42:52,Des Dalton 43:22, Kristina Creighton 46:00, AshleyMarsh 46:05, Lynda Jones50:38, KathyQuinn 50:42, Michelle Colwell 51:00, Tony Marino 51:29, Sep Marino 51:29, Molly Irvine 52:00, Andrew Legge 55:00, Nick Hodson 56:42, Kylee Earl56:42, Daniel Furmston NTR, Cour tney Ellis NTR LiddiardRoad 6km (Aug 21) SavMavrofridis 22:00, Ian Cornthwaite 24:12, Cour tney Ellis 24:25, Andrew Greenhill 25:00, Trent Kooyman 26:10, Scott Syme 26:13, Aaron More26:15, Darrel Cross 26:16, DempseyPodmore27:45, Adrian Sutcliffe 28:03, Daniel Wright 28:04, Geoffrey Francis 28:16, RonVerschuur 28:22, GaryFox 28:57,Peter Sanders 29:46, Stephen Mcleod 30:12, Shane Gavin 30:32, Stephen Renehan30:32, Andrew Broberg31:40, David Barr 31:43, Desley Gray 32:04, Chris VanUnen32:16, Seth Bomers32:18,Belkey Podmore32:20, Lucy Magaldi 32:46, Michelle Sawyer 32:46, AshleyMarsh 34:22, Ben Wilkinson 34:44, MarkLansdown34:49, ClaireMacumber 35:43, Meg Macumber 35:55, Phillip Mayer 36:30, Kaye Livingstone 36:38, Kim Essex 36:38, Matilda Lappin 36:56, WallyLappin 37:31, Toby Grzmil 37:34, ReeGraham 39:13, Catherine Leonard39:13, Tania Whitehead 39:57,Barry Higgins 47:07,Anja Norwood 47:43, Ann Bomers48:05,Jye Kaestner 53:38, Kristina Creighton 54:02, MollyIrvine 56:20, Michelle Colwell 58:37, KathyQuinn 58:37,TonyMarino 59:09, Sep Marino 59:09, Darren Fielden 1:00:00, Andrew Legge 1:00:00, Nicky Semmler 1:01:40, NickHodson 1:02:26, Kylee Earl 1:02:26, KayPickard NTR, Shane Wilson NTR, ShayLorenz NTR, Des Dalton NTR, Becky Grimwade NTR, BaileyRollandin NTR, Paul Rollandin NTR, Daniel Symons NTR, MariekaReillyNTR
BY MOLLYIRVINE
AUGUST has been abusy month for the Traralgon Harriers.
Runnerstooktothe Liddiard Road six kilometre course (onThursday, August 21) for aclear-skied, pre-spring weather run.
The run saw 64 participants complete the course around the surrounding neighbourhoods of Traralgon East.
The two-lap course started out the front of the Liddiard Road Primary School, before heading alongLiddiardRd, up the Tulloch Way ‘pinch’ and then back down the top end of Shakespeare Street,ending back to where the start/finish was. Thefirstthree runners across the line wereSav Mavrofridis in aspeedy time of 22:00, followed by Ian Cornthwaite in another great time of 24:12, and Andrew Greenhill in 25:00totakethirdplace.
For the females, the fastest three times were made by Courtney Ellis in 24:25, after her amazing feat at the annual Traralgon Harriers’ Ray and Dorris Ellis 23km trail run. She was followed by another dedicated endurance runner, Desley Gray (32:04) who is showing great running form. Lucy Magaldi and Michelle Sawyer cameacross the line together and were less than aminutebehind in 32:46 to round out the podium.
Tomorrow night's run (Thursday, August 28) is the ViewHillDrive5km course which starts at the
rotunda along View Hill Drive, Traralgon. Check-in time is from 5.30pm.
THE Thursday, August 14 run was the netball courts 5km course.
This run started and finishedatthe netball courts precinct on Breed St, Traralgon.
The run was aone-lap course that included parts of the Traralgon Parkrun path, along the Traralgon Creek and thesurrounding neighbourhoodsof Bradman Boulevard. More than 60 runners/walkers completed the course in crisp but calm conditions.
For the males, it was Pete Cutler who took line honours in aspeedytimeof18:01, followed one minute behind by Dempsey Podmore in 19:01 who has been named in the Victorian Cross Country Teamthat will compete at the 2025National Championships. Third for the males belonged to IanCornthwaite in another great time of 19:45.
In the female race, it was Chelsea Fox who took line honours in 24:24, second to her was Caitlin Pittonlysix secondsbehind in 24:30, and third was Michelle Sawyer in atime of 26:36.
ON Thursday, August 7, the Harriers took on the Kelso’s Krawl in Yallourn North across 5km.
More than 40 participants completed this 'new' undulating 5km run. With the run both starting and finishing near the Yallourn North Bowling Club, the course took runners up and down the hills that make up Yallourn North, particularly Kelso Rd (hence the course name) for atwo-lap course.
The first runner across the line was the ever-sospeedyPete Cutlerin19:03. The next three runners
to follow him all finished within sixsecondsof each other. These runners included relatively new member John Skordakisin22:11, another talented runner in the likes of Andrew Greenhill (22:14) and then talented junior-runner Dempsey Podmore in 19:24 who continues to go from strength to strength. First across the linefor the girls went to Chelsea Fox in 28:21, followed by newly-elected Harriers vice president Desley Gray in 30 minutes flat. Third place went to Lauren Peterin33:44, whocontinues to be consistent.
Among running events for the TraralgonHarriers, the club had numerous members run in Queensland for the Gold Coast Marathon.
Sav Mavrofridis completed the marathon in an impressive sub-three hourtimeof2.57.55 (finished 707 out of 12,707 participants), and Bec Anderson completed her first marathon in agreat sub-four hour time of 3.58.01 (335th out of 1015 participants within her age group). Very neat!
The club also had the following members compete in the 2025 Sunshine Coast Running Festival: Liz Kenney(1.55.18),Danielle Kenney(1.47.44)and Jordan Kumar (1.47.45) all completed the halfmarathon event in great times. Well done team!
The Sydney Marathon is this weekend (August 30-31),which several Harriers members have been training hard and getting ready for.
On October 5, the newlylocated Traralgon Harriers Memorial Run will take place, with 6km and 12km options on offer. For more information, visit: www.traralgonharriers.org.au
Page 54 —The Latrobe Valley Express, Wednesday, 27 August, 2025
TABLE TENNIS
By MARK STRINI
TRARALGONTable TennisAssociation held its Annual Club ChampionshipsTournament earlier this month.
More than 35 players competed in eight different events, where for the first time, the event was played alongside the Junior Club Championship, it what proved to be ahuge day of table tennis.
In lookingtoreclaim his club championship title thatherelinquished lastyear,Steve Warr went though relatively untroubled into the final with a four set victory over Peter Gomezinthe quarter final, and then astraight sets win over brother Mick Warr in the semi.
In the otherhalfofthe draw, reigningclub champion, Heath Sposato also won his waythrough, defeating Trent Gillespie in the quarters and Ian Strong in the semi, both in straight sets, to earn his spot in the final.
Unlike last year however, the fancied Sposato was neverallowed to take the ascendency, with Warr having all the answers in aclinical display to win in straight sets 11-8, 11-8, 11-6 ,and etch his name on the title for afifth time.
THE Ladies Open was ahardfought affair. Young gun MayaGomeztook four sets to see off aspiritedKatrina Brandon in the semi, whilst Sharon Collins cruised through to the finalin
straight sets to set up ashowdown with Gomez in the final. It proved to be afinal that didn’t disappoint.
The script read that Gomez was the one to beat, and after winning the first set 11-5, it looked that way. Collins however had other ideas and took the second set 11-9, meaning it was game on.
The big hitting Gomez did enough to win the third set 11-7, and while Collins had every chance in the fourth, it was Gomez who prevailed in aclassic, winning the fourth and deciding set 15-13, and earning her first club championship title.
THE Open Doubles was avery hotly contested event.
Steve Warrand Tim Owenmadelight workof Dhiira Slade and Trent Gillespie in their quarter final,and came from two setstoone down to defeat Peter Gomez and Mark Strini in aclassic match to advance to the final.
The other side of the draw was equally tight, with Mick Warr and Brent Causen fighting their way though afour set quarter final against Jeff Pollard andBrianConsodine, andagain,afour set encounter against Heath Sposato and Maya Gomez to advance to the final.
The final was also aclose affair, where Mick Warr and Causen tookthe first set 11-9, but Steve Warr and Owen proved the steadier pair,winning the next threesets11-9, 11-6, 11-6.
THE Restricted Singles is historically a well-contested battle, and the seedings proved somewhat accurate
Ian Strong wasted no time on his way to the final, cruising through with straight set wins over Brent Causen in thequartersand JeffPollard in thesemi.
Mark Strini on the other hand, was involved in epic matches, first coming from along way down to basically pinchthe quarter final against Alan Griffin in five sets, and then worked hard to grind afour set defeat of Peter Gomez.
The final saw No 1Seed Strongcomeout blazing in the first set, with Strini going on to win the secondset with his attempts to slow down Strong’s attacking assault working. Strong continued the all attack plan and went on to win the third and fourth sets 11-8, 11-8 in commanding style.
THE Section 2Singles was arelatively quick affair, with the finalists dominating the early rounds.
In making his way to the final, Saxon Long made light work of Henry Frannsen in the quarters and Charlie Boyd in the semis to advance.
Dhiira Sladetook four sets to get over Tung Phan in his quarter final,and displayed greatformto clean up Sharon Collinsinthreequick sets to advance to the final.
Thefinal saw the highly fancied Long have no answer to Slade’s onslaught, the latter hitting winners at will with avery high strike rate, and defeated Long in straight sets.
THE Section 2Doubles saw another very contested event, with both semi-finals and the final going to at least four sets for aresult.
BrianConsodine and Saxon Long battledhard to get over David North and Henry Frannsen over four setsinthe semi, and likewise, withSharon Collins and Dhiira Slade, won afoir set epic over Charlie Boyd and Ryan Jones to advance to the final.
Thefinal saw afive set classic in arguablythe matchofthe day.
Collinsand Slade took the early sets 11-8 and 11-9, but Consodine and Long had other ideas. In an incredibly closegame, they fought back,winning the next two sets 12-10, 11-9 to set up athrilling fifth set.
After going blow for blow, it was Slade and Collins who hung on only slightly better, surviving the decisive fifth set 12-10.
In the final events for the day, SaxonLong advanced to the Opposite Hand Challenge Final, beating Mark Strini in the semi finals two sets to one. Jeff Pollard had little trouble over Ian Strong in his semi-final, winning in straight sets.
The finalsaw Long prevail, 11-7, 14-12 over Pollard in avery close match.
The other late event saw 12 players compete in the much loved 'Doug Schoer Handicap',where bats were just ply with very thin pimpled rubbers, ballswere only 38mm in diameter, and sets were played to 21, not 11.
Schoer is alife member of the association, who still plays with his bat from 50 plus years ago, to which the event was derived from.
In an world of highperformance blades,rubbers, adhesive and 40mm balls, players competed to a variety of much laughter and frustration, as the playersstruggled to handle the 'dead bats' which awkwardly floated the smaller balls.
The handicapped event saw eventual winner Katrina Brandon take out the recently awarded club champion Steve Warr 21-17 in the semi-final, and then defeatedrunner-up club champion,Heath Sposato with an equal 21-17 score line in the final, to etch her name on the perpetualtrophy that honours the great man.
The championships concluded during abusytime for the association, with the 2025 Veterans Pennant in full swing, the Senior Winter Pennant Finalsin full swing, and the Junior Winter Pennant Finals coming up in the next few weeks.
