Olympic Boxer Harry Garside took on Victoria’s iconic Bogong 2 Hotham Rooftop Run which returned to the high country over last weekend delivering everything trail runners dream of; tough terrain, dramatic weather, breathtaking scenery, a deep sense of camaraderie, and some truly remarkable athletic performances. First time Ultra Trail runner and Olympic Bronze Medallist, Commonwealth Gold medallist Harry Garside achieved a top 10 finish. The 42-year-old event, first held in 1984, continues to grow in stature and participation, and this year was no exception. With three distances on offer, 29km, 35km and the full 64km epic, runners from across
conditions.
Classic High Country Conditions on Course Race day delivered an experience the Alps are famous for, cold temperatures, wet ground underfoot, wind across the exposed ridgelines, surface water through the valleys, and visibility that shifted throughout the day. True to form, the mountains reminded everyone why mandatory alpine survival gear exists in runners packs.
From river crossings at Big Summiting Bogong, wading through Big River to the final push over the Hotham summit ridge, participants faced constant terrain changes and weather swings, the perfect canvas for an unforgettable mountain adventure.
Volunteers: The Unsung Heroes
While the runners took on the mountains, an extraordinary team of radio operators,
each race category delivered tight battles, big gaps, courageous comebacks and some truly impressive mountain running.
64km Male Winner, Chad Freak with a stunning 7h:01m for the 64km, while 64km Female Winner. Nicole Paton produced a PB performance to win in 8:49:023 Full results, are available at: bogong2hotham.com.au
A Bright Future for a Proud Mountain
I Am Australian.
I came from the dream-time
From the dusty red-soil plains
I am the ancient heart
The keeper of the flame
I stood upon the rocky shores
I watched the tall ships come
For forty thousand years I've been
The first Australian
I came upon the prison ship
Bowed down by iron chains
I bought the land, endured the lash
And waited for the rains
I'm a settler, I'm a farmer's wife
On a dry and barren run
A convict, then a free man
I became Australian
I'm the daughter of a digger
Who sought the mother lode
The girl became a woman
On the long and dusty road
I'm a child of the Depression
I saw the good times come
I'm a bushie, I'm a battler
I am Australian
We are one, but we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come
We'll share a dream and sing with one voice
"I am, you are, we are Australian"
I'm a teller of stories
I'm a singer of songs
I am Albert Namatjira
And I paint the ghostly gums
I'm Clancy on his horse
I'm Ned Kelly on the run
I'm the one who waltzed Matilda
I am Australian
I'm the hot wind from the desert
I'm the black soil of the plains
I'm the mountains and the valleys
I'm the drought and flooding rains
I am the rock, I am the sky
The rivers when they run
The spirit of this great land
I am Australian
We are one, but we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come
We'll share a dream and sing with one voice
"I am, you are, we are Australian"
We are one, but we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come
We'll share a dream and sing with one voice
"I am, you are, we are Australian"
"I am, you are, we are Australian"
Written in 1987 by Bruce Woodley (The Seekers) and Dobe Newton (The Bushwhackers)
These words pretty well sum it up. We are all in this together. Trying to change the past is a self-defeating exercise. Let’s work together for the future. The way to earn respect is to put in – not take! Ed
8am to 11am, Hydro Park
Lakeside Ave, Mount Beauty VIC 3699
Join with the local community in Hydro Park, Mount Beauty, to celebrate those individuals and groups who have gone above and beyond to make the Alpine Shire a great place to live.
Bring your own chairs or picnic rug and a gold coin donation for the barbecue breakfast, proudly provided by the Upper Kiewa Valley Lions Club.
Master of Ceremonies will be Councillor Noah Tanzen and the guest speaker will be Owen Stickels
Free entry and live performances by the Mount Beauty & District Community Band will start at around 8am with official program and Alpine Shire Community Award presentations from 9am. Everyone Welcome! •
Every January Mittagundi Outdoor Education Centre opens its gates for the Mittagundi Open Day, Bushdance and Festival, its biggest event of the year. This is a family-friendly weekend and a great chance for supporters, new and old, to spend a weekend on the farm, meet up with old friends and find out more about this special place Mittagundi. Set on a 520 acre property near the old gold mining town of Glen Valley, the camp sits on the Upper Mitta Mitta River, north of Omeo.
It’s a great weekend of camping, music, bush dancing, tours, pioneer skills demonstrations and more. This year the Gippsland based Briagolong Bush Band will be strumming up a storm on their fiddles Friday night at the Glen Valley Hall playing a mix of original and traditional music to get the weekend started. Festival goers can camp at Mittagundi and travel via shuttle in Mittagundi’s iconic troopy vehicles.
Open Day on Saturday will include open mic sessions (bring your instrument of choice!), pioneer skills, woodwork demonstrations with skilled artisans Bryon from Kiamba Valley Woodworks and traditional bush woodworking with Brian. Local Mount Beauty yoga instructor Karen Crumpler of Luminance Life Yoga will start the morning right with
a yoga session, there will be a kids and all-ages activities planned, family lawn games, and a delicious café selling coffee and home-made treats. 2025 Program Leader Gen, who featured on SBS Insight this year on Mittagundi, will be helping festival-goers screenprint their own unique t-shirt. Fundraising is supported through a much-loved and supported auction, with attendees typically raising their hands with characteristic generosity. Dinner on Saturday night is included in tickets and this year lamb-on-the-spit is being organised with plenty of delicious vegetarian options.
Mittagundi was the brainchild of Ian Stapleton back in the mid 1970’s, who after working at Timbertop, Geelong Grammar School’s outdoor and academic educational program, felt very strongly that ALL young people, not just those with the financial needs, should be given the opportunity for an outdoor experience designed to foster self-reliance, self-esteem, independence and the capacity to contribute to a community. Mittagundi is now coming up to its
50th anniversary in 2028 and has helped countless young people in their formative years (14-17) find their purpose in life through their year-round trademark 10-day and follow-up programs.
The atmosphere at Mittagundi is simple, honest and happy. There are no watches, no timetables and no money. Instead there is an opportunity for young people to live and work together in an environment where people matter more than anything else. They spend time bush walking, camping, abseiling from nearby cliffs, rafting the Mitta Mitta River, xc skiing and helping to run a farm.
Mittagundi is lucky to receive generous donations from individuals throughout the year so that they can offer sponsored places to Young People in financial need and over the past 48 years have assisted many young people to get to Mittagundi who otherwise would not have had the chance.
Locals here will be used to seeing the white Mittagundi troopies passing through Falls Creek and Mount Beauty, driven by their friendly staff who are always up for a g’day and chat when they stop in.
If you’re free this long weekend – head on up over the hill and support this wonderful local organisation. You can go for the Bushdance Friday night, Open day on Saturday or the whole weekend. If you haven’t bought a ticket yet, you can pay cash at the gate. •
Bogong High Plains Road, St Falls West
P: 03 5758 3009 | F: 03 5758 3034
Em: fallscreek@countrygrocers.com.au
Regular Hours till end Jan 10am – 5pm Seven Days
Mount Beauty FoodWorks
4–16 Kiewa Crescent, Mt Beauty
P: 03 5754 1400 | F: 03 5754 4829
Em: mtbeauty@countrygrocers.com.au Open 8am – 7pm Seven Days
January 17/18 saw the influx of over 240 Downhill mountain bikers into town. They came to do battle on one of Big Hill Mountain Bike Parks most notorious trails (DH2: Shortcourse).
Saturday was practice day and it was quick to see that the track was not your typical manicured and sculpted Flow Trail that this generation is used too. Instead, the athletes were faced with awkward flat corners, long off-camber sections and a few brand-new features that had never been ridden before this weekend. The highlight spots were the new Road Gap (that jumps 8m over Pole Track) and the Old Rock Garden in the lower woods. Team Mount Beauty has a 30 year history of DH racing and is still drawing some big name athletes to this day. World Cup top 10
rider Oliver Zwar (once from Yackandandah, who now lives and rides for Sweden) was the main drawcard for spectators, he delivered the winning run on Sunday beating Canberra’s Kye A’hern (a former junior World Champion) and Jackson Frew (A former Oceania Champion). The Elite male category was stacked with other well-known names in the Aussie MTB scene which turned out to be a great start to their 2026 season. Tilly Boadle was the fastest Female racer on the weekend (her first race in the U19 category)! Tilly will be heading over to Europe in a couple of weeks to meet up with her new World Cup team mates on Commencal Les Orres (one of whom is 6x World Champion Vali Holl!!!), so she’ll be a name to remember this year! Another name to remember is Indiana Lambert who, in the U17 category, had the 2nd fastest female time of the day!
Some of our Team Mount Beauty locals also had a great weekend, in fact it was the biggest turn out of local racers in recent memory! Some of the star performances were U15 Annabelle Panozzo in 2nd and U17 Isabelle Ingram in 3rd. We’re stoked to see the locals mixing it up with some of the best racers in the country!
Every year the VDHS brings a spectacular event to our small town. It’s the community volunteer spirit that really keeps this event going. Without the support of numerous locals who prepare the track for weeks and weeks, to the small crew of behind-the-scenes logistics and paper work people. From the volunteer marshals who stand in the dust and deal with crashed riders, to the people who get last minute messages to deliver some water to the top of the hill during a track delay. The event runs like clockwork as you look from the outside, but is chaotic and flat out behind the scenes to keep it running smoothly, it’s those same few people every year who sacrifice a small piece of sanity to bring this event to life. My thanks go to them, you have no idea how much difference you really make! •
Matt Rousu, President Team Mount Beauty
My name is Byron Lester, and I'd like to introduce myself.
I have been a mental health advocate for last few years, firstly raising money $7000 for Beyond Blue 24/7 support line with 144k runs and 70km runs on trails, along with being the first Australian to complete a Marathon in a high altitude chamber - and l have depression.
My goal in life is to help others like myself with mental health conditions.
Now I'm also heading a new The Man Walk which will start at 10am each Saturday – we first started on Saturday 29th November at Bicentennial Park on the Pondage in Mount Beauty, and be a place to walk, talk, support each other, in a welcoming environment, on a weekly basis.
The walks will be an easy 30 min walk around the pondage, and I'll be there each week, rain, hail, or shine.
Really look forward to a walk and chat to whoever turns up each Saturday at 10am. •
APDA Physie is a fusion of fundamental physie and the art of dance. Physie is a sport for all ages and abilities, from Tiny
Tots through to Ladies in their 80's who are still enjoying the fun and friendship that attending classes brings.
Throughout the year, members all over Australia learn 4 - 6 choreographed routines. Each routine has its specific skill set and focuses on movement, musicality, technique, performance, flexibility, cardio and strength – all in one class! Catering to beginners through to Open Elite.
Physie includes elements of Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary, Pilates and Modern Dance. For beginners wanting to join, no experience is necessary at all. Physie is also a great option for those wanting to return to dance for recreation.
Physie is a wonderful sport for selfconfidence. We have seen children go from being extremely shy and anxious when they first start to running into class smiling enjoying time with new found friends along competing on the National Stage with confidence and poise.
Come along and bring a friend for a Free no obligation Trial class in February you won't regret it!
Mount
5754 3500
Falls Creek (closed in summer) 5758 3238
Mount Beauty 5754 3400
POLICE (non-emergency) 131 444
Falls Creek 5758 3424
Mount Beauty 5754 4244
Wangaratta 5723 0600
REGIONAL ROADS VICTORIA 133 778
Falls Creek 5758 3287
WILDLIFE RESCUE – Alpine Shire
Jody
Tuesdays: 4:45pm – 5:30pm. (5 – 8 years) 5:30pm – 6:15pm. (9 – 12 years) 6:15pm – 7pm. (13 – 16 years) 7pm – 7:45pm Adults
Thursdays: 5.45pm – 6:30pm (13 – 16 years) 6:30pm – 7:15pm Adults •
The Alpine Arts Trail is a wonderful initiative driven by a group of our local and talented artists. It is about Nine Open Studios scattered around the Upper Kiewa Valley where you can call in and appreciate (and possibly buy) some of the glorious art on display.
The Galleries (some based at the artist’s homes) will be open both Saturday and Sunday of Australia Day weekend from 10am – 3pm. To help you with directions to locate and visit these studios, a very good brochure/map has been produced and is readily available at many locations in the area – including the Mount Beauty Visitor Information Centre, most of the shops in town, including the bakery and also Ariel’s Laundrette.
ADVERTISING RATES:
DISPLAY:
•
* Downhill National Series Falls Creek. Lead up to Peaks Challenge Ed 10 * 06.03.26 * Peaks Challenge Falls Creek. Great Alpine Rally. Easter Activities
DISTRIBUTION: • All accommodation houses, restaurants, businesses, club lodges & apartments in Falls Creek, Bogong Village, Mount Beauty, Tawonga South, Tawonga & Dederang, plus the RMB’s between Dederang & Tawonga & selected venues in Bright & Myrtleford.
WEBSITE: • www.thisweekinfallscreek.com.au
ONLINE: • Available in PDF form at: www.fallscreek.com.au/whatson/
The artists involved are: Daniel A’vard; Charlie Brown; Joanne Russel; Steve Baird; Sue Bright; Kate Maclurcan; Bronwyn Van de Graaff; Kate Belvedere and Madelynne Cornish.
Track down a copy of the Alpine Arts Trail Open Studios brochure and make the most of your visit to our wonderful area. •
Football
Player Call-Out – We want you! The Dederang Mount Beauty Football and Netball club is in need of players for all three junior grades. This includes our Under 12’s, Under 14’s and Under 17’s. The team at the club would welcome all players to come and join our club. We also support female participation in out Under 12’s and Under `14’s teams.
If you are interested or require more information, please send a message to our page or leave a comment for us to contact you. •
VALLEY FUN & FITNESS CLASS
Every Tuesday at 9am at the Ladies Facility, Dederang Recreation Reserve. Bring a drink bottle and towel. $10 per session. Classes by Narelle Jones. Enquiries: Sharon McEvoy 0438 289 293 (the6maccas@bigpond.com) CLEVER!
Whoever put the S in fastfood is a marketing genius! FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Don’t just teach your children to read. Teach them to question what they read. Teach them to question everything. The value of an education is not the learning of many facts, but the training of the mind to think! George Carlin FOOD FOR THOUGHT
The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits! Albert Einstein MISSING BOOK
This ‘Missing Book’ advert has appeared for quite some time now. Your Journo has purchased a digital copy from Melbourne University. But, the book itself is important – because it was given to a member of the community to be kept in perpetuity for the community. Titled “The Interaction between Land Use, the Environment and the Hydrology of the Bogong High Plains between 1850 and 1985” it is a vital piece of local history. If anyone can help us, call 0400 350 488.
WHERE 2D Tawonga Crescent. WHEN 8:30am – 5pm Mon – Friday 10am – 12 noon Saturdays. HOW Ph: 03 5754 3400 for appointments
WHO Doctors: Jeff Robinson, Libby Garoni, Skye Delaney, Laura Zagorski, Lauren Cusson, Damian Heman, Daniel Florisson and Vanessa Cservid.
WHAT Fully accredited General Practice with 50 years of service to the Upper Kiewa Valley. CONTACT Ph: 03 5754 3400
Em: enquiries@mbmc.com.au Wb: https://www.mbmc.com.au/
If you need to see a doctor please contact Mount Beauty Medical Centre on 03 5754 3400. You may be directed to a doctor for a tele-health appointment. Our Doctors are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week from Mount Beauty.
Your local practice – supporting the community!
BOWEN THERAPY & MASSAGE
Tawonga South. Ph: Heather: 0428 993 125
BUILDING & ELECTRICAL
Duggan & Hanlon, your complete building service. Please cal Justin Mb: 0458 220 879.
CARPET CLEANING
Call Nathan of NatWest Home Maintenance, your local Carpet Cleaning Service. 0429 933 492.
CARPENTRY & BUILDING SERVICES
Oztek Constructions Pty Ltd. We do local building work, renovations, extensions and maintenance. Email Dave at: oztekconstructions@gmail.com. Or Ph: 0466 990 862
CIVIL CELEBRANT – HEATHER MULL
Quality Ceremonies – All Types. Mb: 0428 993 125.
COLLECTABLES & HOMEWARES
I Dream Of Snow - Vintage snow collectables & brand new homewares. Open on-line all year round. www.idreamofsnow.com
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR
LANDSCAPING
Design and landscaping - quality work. Contact Hamish at External Solutions: Em: admin@externalsolutions.com.au. Mb: 0400 160 532.
LD’S HOME PET CARE
Pet Care and Dog Walking. Ph: Lisa 0407 541 695.
LOCKSMITH & HANDYMAN
Codi Coutts – servicing the Kiewa Valley & North East Victoria. Ph: 0475 388 990. Em: kiewavalleylocksmith@yahoo.com
PAINTING SERVICES
Interior/Exterior, Domestic/Commercial. Obligation Free Quotes. Quality & Service Guaranteed. KLM Alpine Painting Services. Ph: Laif: 0437 023 921.
PHYSIOTHERAPY
Kiewa Valley Sports & Spinal Therapy, 5A Hollonds St, Mount Beauty. Out of Hours & Home visits available. HiCaps. Ph: 03 5754 1270.
Altitude Electrical – No job too big or too small. Domestic, Commercial & Industrial. Ben Svarc. Mb: 0419 801 109
FREIGHT – ALB – MTB – FALLS CREEK
Remo’s Transport from Albury/Wodonga to Mount Beauty and Falls Creek Mon to Fri inclusive. Refrigeration available. Ph: John or Esther 0417 414 320.
PILATES
Reformer, Group or Individual for a better quality of life. Wildflower Pilates Ph: 0433 017 660.
REMEDIAL MASSAGE
Altitude Physio, Massage & Myotherapy. Ph: 03 5758 3766. Text: 0403 854 525
STORAGE
Caravans, Vehicles, Pallets, Large Lock-Up Units. Ph: 0428 361 497. www.alpinewarehousing.com
Visitors and locals will have noticed a young artist Elise Marciantio working away in different parts of the village – in front of AAC, at the school, at Cary Lodge. It’s all part of a project and Elise has kindly supplied some detail on her work.
Since moving to the Alpine area a few years ago I’ve been integrating art with adventure creating murals that reflect the area. I’ve been on a mission to bring some of the colours, plants and feelings experienced in the outdoors to the walls in the surrounding towns. I’ve previously painted a mural at the Mount Beauty Swimming Pool bringing some of the colour palettes and plants I’ve observed while out hiking, to the walls.
Falls Creek has received a grant to be able to bring a ‘Wildlife Quest’ to the village with a series of digital decals being stuck in windows by local artist Benii Squiggles and outdoor murals of five chosen endangered
animals to the area. Laura Coverdale gave a presentation to the Falls Creek Primary school and students chose the animals they wanted to see- Gang Gangs, Alpine Tree Frog, Broad Toothed Rat, Dingo and Platypus. These murals are scattered across the village and will become a part of a ‘Wildlife Quest’ to walk the village and find them. The platypus is the last remaining animal to be done- be sure to check them out when the Quest has launched!
There is another mural lined up at the Gateway Hub where the new downhill trail ends which will include a mountain pygmy possum to represent the trail ‘Burramays’ (mountain Pygmy possum).
I’m looking forward to continue bringing some of the calming and beautiful qualities the trails, plants animals and mountains bring to this town and continue to brighten the walls around us!
Further details from: @elisemarcianti. Wb: elisemarcianti.com. •
JAN 24, 31 Park Run. 8am at Bicentennial Park, Lakeside Ave. All welcome. Enquiries to: mountbeauty@parkrun. com
JAN 24, 31 The Man Walk - Bicentennial Park 10am Saturdays, 3km easy walk around the pondage, for anybody that would love a walk and a chat. https:// themanwalk.com.au/
JAN 23 – 25 Mittagundi Festival & Pioneer Skills Weekend. https://www.mittagundi.org.au/festival
JAN 24 & 25 Mile High Dragon Boat Regatta. Rocky Valley Dam. https://www.dragonboatvictoria.com.au/ events/299335
JAN 24 & 25 Alpine Arts Trail – Local Art Studios open to the public for a week of art appreciation. www. mountainartscontemporary.com.au. Refer Write-Up this edition
JAN 26 Australia Day Celebrations across the Shire. Mount Beauty at Hydro Park, Lakeside Avenue from 8am.
FEB 7 Mount Beauty Community Market, 8am – 1pm Hydro Park, Lakeside Avenue. You make it, you bake it, you grow it – you’re welcome! Enquiries to: mountbeautymarket@gmail.com
FEB 7 & 8 The Beauty of Yoga. Amber will be in town offering two sessions at the Community Centre. Information and Bookings: Mb 0409 355 545. Em: amber@thebeautyof yoga.com. au.
FEB 7 & 8 Victoria Gravity Enduro Tour – Falls Creek. Wb: https://www.alpinetiming.com.au/registrations/ rg555/
FEB 13 – 15 Feastival – a celebration of culture, music and living in the Alps at Falls Creek
FEB 21 Dederang Picnic Races. Gates Open 11am https://country.racing.com/dederang/calendar/ dederang-cup
FEB 21 Australian Grand Traverse. Run Falls to Hotham. https://www.peakadventure.com.au/ agt
FEB 28 Mount Bogong Conquestathon. www.hoppet. com.au/conquestathon
FEB 28 – MAR 1 Downhill MTB National Series – Falls Creek. Wb: https://www.fallscreek.com.au/listing/ downhill-mountain-biking-national-series-fallscreek-falls-creek/
MAR 6 – 9 Peaks Challenge, Falls Creek. 2000 cyclists challenge themselves to the ultimate 235km ride. www.fallscreek.com.au
MAR 7 Mount Beauty Community Market, 8am – 1pm Hydro Park, Lakeside Avenue. You make it, you bake it, you grow it – you’re welcome! Enquiries to: mountbeautymarket@gmail.com
MAR 28 – 29 Great Alpine Rally – the inaugural event based out of Falls Creek. https://www. australiantarmacrally.com/greatalpinerally
APRIL 3 – 6 Falls Creek Easter Festival
APRIL 11 Alpine Challenge, Falls Creek. The greatest run in the Alps From smaller distances to 100 mile. Runningwild56@bigpond.com. Mb: 0418 136 070
For further details on coming events, go to: https://www.fallscreek.com.au/whats-on/events/
