Tuesday, 14 January, 2025
Evelyn MP receives new roles under Battin’s Liberals
SES grateful for inclusive changes to funding for crews
Eastern 80 gearing up for 10th year
See Real Estate liftout inside
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A Star News Group Publication
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Honouring John Anker By Callum Ludwig Nearly 600 mourners gathered to remember a pillar of the Yarra Valley community on Thursday 9 January. John William Anker, owner of Wandin Park Estate and a familiar face in a number of community groups and the equestrian scene, died on Boxing Day 2024. Hosted in the new Grand Marquee at Wandin Park Estate by Tobin Brothers Funerals of which Tom Tobin was John’s nephew, the hundreds in attendance came to celebrate John’s life and show their love and support to his wife Angela, children Emily, Sarah-Jane, Rebecca and William and extended family and friends. John’s son William, who he worked closely with on Wandin Park Estate up until his death, said the family were truly blown away by the turnout. “I had no idea and I don’t think Dad ever would have had any idea how many people, my cousin Tom Tobin, the organisers, thought they had nearly 600 or at least they think close to,” he said. Turn to page 6 for more
The Anker family assembled at the front of the Grand Marquee during the service held at Wandin Park Estate. (Rob Carew: 452861)
Dominant Daniel kar Rally came to an end during Stage Three, with a technical fault costing the Three Bridges local some time. Sanders finished 17th on the stage but retained his overall position in first place, still six minutes and 51 seconds ahead of second-place Skyler Howes. Sanders picked up another stage win to extend his overall lead to 13 minutes and 26 seconds in Stage Four of the 2025 Dakar Rally. Two minutes and 33 seconds behind Tosha Schareina at kilometre 383 of the 415km stage, Daniel Sanders surged to claim the stage as the Australian fin-
ished with 15 seconds in hand over the Spaniard. In Stage Five, Sanders lead out the pack of racers in a 428km special and remained well clear on top of the standings at its conclusion. While only finishing 12th on the stage, none of his closest overall competitors made inroads in chasing down his lead with Tosha Schareina still seven minutes and two seconds behind. On Saturday 11 January, Sanders’ Dakar charge continued with a steady performance in Stage Six. Sander’s day started with the positive news that the speed penalties placed on him were
overturned, extending his overall lead to over 15 minutes, which would end up just over 11 minutes after the stage itself. In Stage Seven, Sanders ramped things up again to take his fifth stage win of this Dakar Rally, mirroring the achievement of KTM teammate Toby Price when he went on to win in 2016. Sanders finished the stage three minutes and 36 seconds ahead of Edgar Canet and with an overall lead of 15 minutes and 33 seconds over Tosha Schareina. Turn to page 33 for more
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Three Bridges’ Daniel Sanders has put in a dominant performance so far in the 2025 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia. Marking the first round of the first round of the 2025 World Rally-Raid Championship, Sanders has outright won five out of the first seven stages to lead by over 15 minutes in the race. Sanders went out and won all of the first three stages of the race; the prologue, Stage One and the marathon 967km Stage Two to open up a commanding overall lead. Daniel Sanders’ perfect start to the 2025 Da-
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