TUESDAY, 12 MAY, 2026
Defib to help save lives in Maddingley It only took an hour between the idea of installing a defibrillator at Maddingley Cemetery being raised and the project been given the green light. Bacchus Marsh General Cemetery Trust member Rick Dickson was at a funeral on the other side of town when he saw a defibrillator at another cemetery. “I was at Warrandyte recenlty and came out of the toilets and there was a defibrillator. It had been donated by community bank.” Mr Dickson wrote an email to Community Bank Bacchus Marsh asked it to fund a defibrillator for Maddingly
Cemetery and one hour later the bank replied that it would provide the funding. The defibrillator was installed within three weeks. The device is registered with Ambulance Victoria, enabling emergency call operators to guide bystanders through its use while help is on the way. This integration ensures that even those without prior training can confidently assist in a critical situation. The bank said it reflected a shared commitment to community wellbeing and preparedness.
Moorabool council Jarrod Bingham, Community Bank Bacchus Marsh representatives Claire Sutherland and Veronica Mayne and Maddingley Cemetery Trust’s Alan Comrie, Denise Werner and Alf Hawken. (Damjan Janevski) 550236_01
Club is hit for six By Tara Murray Eynesbury Cricket Club has been hit for six after funding for additional cricket nets at Eynesbury Recreation Reserve wasn’t included in the Melton council draft budget. The club has been told by the council since 2023 that funding for two additional nets was proposed to be included in the 2026-27 council budget. But when the budget was released in late April, it wasn’t included. “We were looking forward to telling club members when work would get underway,” club treasurer Jason Davis said. “We need to get some movement on this. We got a letter from the council after the 2023-24 budget that the nets were to be funded in the 2026-27 budget as a priority.
“We got another letter for the 2025-26 budget that said they would be future funded in 2026-27. “We did it once more for the 2026-27 budget and after the letter they sent us, we weren’t so sure.” Star Weekly has seen the letters sent to the club by the council for the 2023-24 and 2025-26 budgets along with more recent letters. In July 2023, the council said that it notes this project is prioritised already in the council’s cricket facilities new and upgrade program for delivery in 2026-27. In June 2025, the council said the project for extra practice nets has been programmed to occur in 2026-27. A letter on 5 December, 2025 said the project for extra cricket nets has been proposed for future funding during the term of this current council.
“Delivery of the project in 2026-27 remains subject to council’s adoption of the 2026-27 budget.” Davis said the club was already having issues making sure all the teams it has can train properly. In the recent season it had four senior teams and four junior teams. “It makes training hard,” he said, with sides already training Monday through to Thursday, “We have under-15s who are effectively having to train with the seniors or have short training sessions,” he said. “We’re aiming to have a girls team next year and with their different abilities you can’t expect them all to train with the boys.” Davis said while the club was told funding for the nets was a priority, it was also informed that under council policy its
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two nets per oval. Both the Eynesbury football and cricket clubs have been calling for a second oval to be constructed which requires council funding subject to future budget considerations. A council spokesperson said the budget had not been fi nalised and community consultation was open until 12 May. “Council understands the Eynesbury Cricket Club submitted a request for the nets as part of the 2026-27 draft budget process,” the spokesperson said. “The club can provide feedback on the draft council budget during this consultation period. “Council will continue to work with the Eynesbury Cricket Club and the Eynesbury Football Netball Club to look at ways to support them to continue to maximise growth opportunities.”
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