Our rivers and creeks are essential to our way of life. That’s why at Melbourne Water we’re working with the community to improve the health of a section of the Werribee River in Bacchus Marsh We are removing trees and vegetation that are invasive weeds then replanting the area with native trees and plants Our maintenance program will also include rabbit control These works will improve the health of this waterway by protecting it from erosion while ensuring the local platypus population and other native animals and plants can thrive In consultation with Moorabool Shire Council Friends of Werribee River through Bacchus Marsh and Bacchus Marsh Platypus Alliance we are removing vegetation and selected trees to make way for native replanting. These invasive trees include peppercorns elms and willows which negatively impact waterway health as they have thick canopies and prevent lower native vegetation from establishing.  We are retaining trees important for shade and habitat for native birds and animals We will then replant the waterway with native trees A maintenance program will include rabbit control which will help to protect the new native plants while they develop By working together with the community we can protect this section of the Werribee River and restore native habitat for generations to come Traffic management and signage along a shared user path will be in place for pedestrians and cyclists while the works are taking place Tree removal works will commence around 7 May and take approximately 5 weeks Replanting is scheduled to commence in June Works will be done along the Werribee River in Bacchus Marsh from Halletts Way through Peppertree Park to Boyes Close Bridge We use reCAPTCHA to protect our website from spam, for more information about the data we collect see our privacy website statement Melbourne Water respectfully acknowledges the Bunurong Wadawurrung and Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land and water on which we rely and operate We pay our deepest respects to their Elders past Picture by Lachlan BenceBacchus Marsh has moved quickly to lock in its senior coach for another season extending Dennis Armfield's contract until the end of next season All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe former Carlton AFL player says he has fallen in love with the club and the town of Bacchus Marsh and is keen to remain a part of the community going forward "It's great what we've been building together and it's terrific to be able to have some continuity around the club which is really pleasing for I'm not someone who's really striving for higher levels I love the community and I love what I've been able to learn "I've become a bit of a jack-of-all-trades which is something I've learned very quickly you need to be as a coach of a local footy team "The club came to me and asked 'what I was thinking?' I told them what I was thinking about everything Armfield was the key driver in the recruitment of AFL star Zach Tuohy to the club this season given his relationship with the premiership winner from their days at Carlton already half the amount of wins the club had for all of last season Bacchus Marsh coach Dennis Armfield will remain as coach until at least the end of 2026.Amrfield said he and his family had felt a part of the community since arriving revealing he was emotional talking about what the Bacchus Marsh meant to his family including his wife and four-year-old daughter "I never really had the sense of community I got thrown straight into a WAFL system which is professional and business and then straight in AFL but at the end of the day it's a business and you are judged on kicks "I think being part of the community in football being able to have that impact on people's lives but also with a community is something I don't take for granted "We've always had intentions to move to Bacchus Marsh my wife has run a dance studio in Bacchus Marsh for 20-odd years I love being near family and we've not got a four-year-old it's pleasing we've got some stability with what we know what we're doing and we're locked into for another year and we'll re-assess after that." He said the club would now be able to "front-load everything" going forward "Maybe Bacchus Marsh in the past has got to the end of the year in the past and started looking at coaches we thought let's just nip this in the bud now while we can," he said "All the assistant coaches have signed on as well So the boys all know now what will be the future going forward." Newsletters & AlertsView allDaily Today's top stories curated by our news team Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert Your digital replica of Today's Paper Test your skills with interactive crosswords Bacchus Marsh Cricket Club will celebrate its 50th anniversary on the weekend of February 22 The club will host a gala on the Saturday night before the club’s annual PC Cup on the Sunday The events aim to bring former players and life members from across Australia to celebrate the changes and growth the club has seen since 1975 Former Australian bowler Damien Fleming will be at the dinner The past 50 years the club has seen many successful players pass through its programs The celebration also looks into the future with the introduction of a new turf wicket which should be opened before the next season said club spokesperson Peter Lalor “It opens the opportunity to play on turf wicket and grow our club to be more competitive stronger and attract more players,” he said The club has changed and grown immensely during its time including a shift from the Gisborne and District Cricket Association to the Ballarat competition The club has also grown to include one women’s team “There has been different eras over the years and we are bringing everyone together for the weekend” Lalor said The anniversary marks a moment in time for players from all generations of the club a player who emerged from the club in the 2000s and went on to play in the North Melbourne and with the Canberra Comets as one of the success stories Other key players who emerged through the junior squad and Cricket Blast program include Jacob Pawlowicz who plays in Victorian Premier Cricket with Essendon and Jack Daniel and Archie Lalor who have all represented Victoria to various levels and play at premier club Northcote Lalor said on the women’s side the success of players like Tomeka Fowlie who has returned to coach the current women’s team The day after the anniversary dinner the club will host two matches held along with a special luncheon The first match is the women’s match between the Bulls and Gisborne before the battle for the intra club PC Cup which includes under-23 and over-23 teams The cup honours life member Peter Christie Details: www.facebook.com/BacchusMarshCricketClub the new Halletts Way interchange opened to traffic The upgrade added new entry and exit ramps at Halletts Way and a separate bridge over the Western Freeway for pedestrians and cyclists reduced pressure on existing roads and created a convenient way for residents and businesses to access the Western Freeway we asked for community feedback on the Halletts Way upgrade We used the responses to influence changes to the project design The rapid population growth of Bacchus Marsh means the number of vehicles using the Gisborne Road/Holts Lane intersection continues to increase To ease congestion at this important access point to the Western Freeway the Victorian Government invested $2.5 million to upgrade the intersection and Melbourne-bound on-ramp During a community drop-in session in February 2018 we shared the proposed design with local residents We used their feedback to influence changes that included keeping the pedestrian crossing facilities south of Holts Lane open and making improvements to the layout of the service road access Currently no recent news for this project. See all Victoria's Big Build news. Ready to roll: Full gates will be the order of the day when Bacchus Marsh BMX Club hosts the state series round. Photos: SUPPLIED The Bacchus Marsh BMX Club will host a round of the series for the third time at the Bacchus Marsh Racecourse Recreation Reserve track in Maddingley, following successful instalments in 2022 and 2023. Club president Juliette Holland said with families and support personnel, as many as 1000 people could be at the venue on the day. “It’s a big day of racing; it’s a big step up from club racing,” she said. Spectators will be welcome to watch the action free of charge, and Ms Holland said there is ample space at the venue for viewing the racing. The annual eight-round series is the premier level of BMX competition in Victoria, with successful competitors eligible to progress to national competition. Ms Holland said the club is expecting up to 500 riders from throughout Victoria and possibly interstate to compete at the event. She said many entries would come from the eastern side of Melbourne – from clubs in Frankston, Knox, Lilydale and Park Orchards – while clubs from the west and north of the city such as Bacchus Marsh, Ballarat, Sunbury, Werribee, Geelong and Mildura would be represented. Ms Holland said the club was grateful for local support in organising and hosting the event, and was particularly thankful for sponsorship from the Community Bank Bacchus Marsh and Melton Toyota, which she said had helped make the day happen. Age groups and categories for the day will include Mini Wheelers, Sprockets, Challenge, Challenge Cruiser, Junior Superclass, Superclass, and Masters. Official practice is scheduled to start at 8.30am, with racing to take place from 11am to 3pm. Prize money and medals will be awarded, while all Mini Wheelers and Sprockets will receive an award for participation. Round 8 of the series is scheduled for Sunbury on 22 June. AusCycling is the national governing body for cycling in Australia, and represents the interests of affiliated cycling clubs and individual members. Picture by Kate Healy.Bacchus Marsh has one hand on the Ballarat Cricket Association firsts premiership Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe Bulls have the frontrunning in the grand final encounter with Wendouree having a 61-run first-innings lead at the halfway mark of the four-day fixture at the Eastern Oval Bacchus Marsh made 239 on Sunday in reply to Wendouree's 178 The Red Caps now must chase an outright win if they are to be premier Bacchus Marsh took a first-innings lead late on Sunday with five wickets It lost 3-3 in a late-order collapse in which Wendouree picked up 4-5 before number 11 Josh Calvitto stepped up with some big hitting to open up the handy lead in a 10th-wicket stand of 49 to change the complexion of the game Daniel Hopkinson took 4-62 for the Red Caps set up the successful run chase with a second-wicket stand of 115 runs getting the Bulls within 58 runs of their target Wendouree struck back when it dismissed the duo within the space of three balls but was unable to keep the momentum going sufficiently The Red Caps struggled to get its innings after winning the toss and batting on Saturday A 78-run stand between Murphy Skinner and Mick Nolan and a late flurry from Ash McCafferty rescued Wendouree from what could easily have been a disastrous day Wendouree was 2-21 when Nolan and Skinner joined forces while Skinner was more conservative with 43 (5 fours) off 109 balls They were just starting to look dangerous when Nolan was out Cole Roscholler c: Alex Porter b: Angus Jones 10 Leigh Lorenzen c: Will Lalor b: Angus Jones 5 Mick Nolan c: Ian Spiteri b: Joshua Calvitto 49 Brock Reid c: Alex Porter b: Joshua Calvitto 1 Liam Brady c: Joshua McGrath b: Serafino Crea 12 Daniel Hopkinson c: Spencer Jenks b: Serafino Crea 10 Ash McCafferty c: Spencer Jenks b: Joshua Calvitto 34 Tom Batters c: Jayden White-Powell b: Will Lalor 1 Ian Spiteric: Murphy Skinner b: Cole Roscholler 52 Will Lalor c: Cole Roscholler b: Tom Godson 32 Sam Crea c: Murphy Skinner b: Daniel Hopkinson 6 Wendouree's Mick Nolan was on the front foot as he took the attack up to the Bacchus Marsh bowlers getting 49 at the Eastern Oval on Saturday Picture by Kate Healy.BCA 1st XI grand final day 1: Wendouree struggles with batBacchus Marsh has started its run chase nervously after dismissing Wendouree for 178 on the opening day of the Ballarat Cricket Association's firsts grand final at the Eastern Oval The Bulls reached 1-30 at stumps on Saturday Sam Crea and Josh Calvitto each claimed three wickets as Wendouree struggled with the bat after winning the toss and a later flurry from Ash McCafferty rescued the Red Caps from what could easily have been a disastrous day +69Pictures by Kate HealyWendouree was 2-21 when Nolan and Skinner joined forces survived some vigorous appeals to be at the crease for Bacchus Marsh The second of four days will be played on Sunday Murphy Skinner on his way to a valuable 43 for Wendouree before being trapped in front of his stumps Picture by Kate Healy.WENDOUREE V BACCHUS MARSH WENDOUREE Josh McGrath throws himself into his work in the field for Bacchus Marsh in the BCA firsts grand final on Saturday and Sam Crea (Bacchus Marsh) are ready to lead their teams into battle in the BCXA firsts grand final Pictures by Kate Healy.See what the captains have to say | BCA grand final previewWendouree and Bacchus Marsh take settled line-ups into the Ballarat Cricket Association firsts grand final There is no surprise each has stuck with semi-final winning combinations for the four-day encounter which begins at the Eastern Oval on Saturday Wendouree is pursuing its first premiership since 2016-17 Wendouree has been the most prolific First XI premiership-winning club in the 2000s with grand final victories in 2004 and a remarkable five in a row from 2009 before 2017 and is eager to add to the tally after missing last season Bacchus Marsh has been the story of the season Under new captain-coach Sam Crea and with a new-look team the Bulls have reached their first BCA grand final in their second season in the competition boxing themselves into a corner with losses in rounds 12 and 13 to put their finals hopes in jeopardy and then defending a meagre total in the last home and away round against cross-town rival Darley to secure a semi-final berth Round 12 - Red Caps 8-150dec d Bulls 101 and 5-90 First-season captain-coach Sam Crea says off-field contributions have played as big a part as any factor in Bacchus Marsh reaching the Ballarat Cricket Association's first grand final at the Eastern Oval from Saturday He said a holistic approach across the club had been a key to the Bulls' success over many years Crea said Bacchus Marsh had been highly successful in the Gisborne District Cricket Association before making the move to the BCA last season He said while the playing personnel had changed since those days many who were part of that were still around the club and it's great to have past experiences being shared with the playing group we now have," Crea said Crea said moving to the BCA had been a big decision but it had been done for the benefit of the whole Bacchus Marsh community He said playing finals and now a grand final had been a big achievement progressed to the grand final with a shock win over minor premier and premiership favourite Mt Clear Crea believes a key to winning finals is playing your natural game He said while he believed Mt Clear went away from doing that Bacchus Marsh stuck to what it knew best and it had paid off "Mt Clear left the door open and let us off the hook," he said Crea said he would again encourage his team to play with freedom We're working on that right across the club The Bulldogs struggled to 125 against Darley in the last home and away rounds and passed Mt Clear's 97 with five wickets down The captain-coach is well aware that they might not be so fortunate if they repeat those efforts and that 200 runs will be a minimum requirement Crea said Bacchus Marsh had a lot of respect for Wendouree as a club "They have a great set-up and do things right." Crea says it is time to put the head down and get on with it Captain Heath Pyke says spreading the workload will be essential if Wendouree is to come out on top against Bacchus Marsh in the Ballarat Cricket Association firsts grand final at the Eastern Oval from Saturday Pyke says while the Red Caps have done this across the season it has not happened within matched as much as he would like to see He said it had been pleasing to have different players stand up as required and play their part "There's been times though when we've relied on too few "We need to spread the workload with bat and ball." Wendouree's semi-final win over Ballarat-Redan was an example of this Liam Brady and Ash McCafferty having to dig it out of trouble after its top order failed Pyke said the Red Caps are well-placed to tackle another grand final with plenty of experience Wendouree has added plenty of experience over the past three seasons to join longstanding Red Caps in Cole Roscholler Ash McCafferty and Leigh Lorenzen from North Ballarat The 2002-03 EJ Cleary Medallist and former North Ballarat and Mt Clear all-rounder has come out of the cricket wilderness to become an integral part of the Wendouree make-up Pyke said it was really by chance Hopkinson had finished up in the mix after linking up with the club several years ago through having a son playing juniors He said Hopkinson had gradually worked his back and made a commitment to a full-on comeback this season Pyke said osteitis pubis had held him back in the first half of the season but since then it had been onward and upward "He's brought that and the knowledge to go with it." Hopkinson made a valuable 39 in the last home and away round and then took a match-winning 5-30 in the semi-final ensuring he will be one Bacchus Marsh will have to watch carefully with bat and ball Pyke said an ability to experiment a little more than usual this season would ensure the Red Caps had plenty of options over the four days of the grand final "We're well aware we're going to fight hard and we're ready to do that." BALLARAT FIRE BRIGADE v DARLEY at Wendouree West BALLARAT-REDAN v LUCAS at Russells Square No.3 David Brehaut is a contributor. He is a former sports editor with The Courier and has been covering country football for almost five decades. Today's top stories curated by our news team. Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. Love footy? 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Picture by Lachlan BenceIn what is shaping up to be an even Ballarat Football Netball League season it's going to be the moments that matter more than anything else Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueAnd it's those moments that make the difference between a side good enough to make a grand final and a side that is still striving to be there East Point's 17-point win over Bacchus Marsh in the Good Friday blockbuster at Maddingley Park both sides traded momentum in a high-quality contest but it was just a few moment here and there that ultimately separated the teams Bacchus Marsh's 11.4 was mostly good conversion but two critical moments probably swung the game in the visitors' favour A missed shot from 15m out into the wind in the first quarter which would have made the score 3.1 to 3.4 for Bacchus Marsh against the wind instead turned around in seconds as Jordan Johnston scored from the near impossible angle at the other end of the ground A similar miss in the third quarter could have had the home side within a goal late in the term instead three kicks from full back and it was another East goal at the other end In the space of one minute of football across a two-hour match in a game that was decided by just 17 points Of course East Point missed plenty of opportunities of their own but they were never as directly costly as at the other end Zach Tuohy was quiet in his first game for Bacchus Marsh Picture by Greg GliddonAs we saw in last year's preliminary final win over Darley East Point remains the kings of the big moments in games Despite having 14 players in Friday's team under the age of 21 there is something innate in the club that knows how to win the moments that matter It helps to have quality like Jackson Merrett patrolling half back if he's down Mickitja Rotumah-Onus will bulldoze his way through and that's not even counting Matt Johnston Bryson McDougall or Billy Jones who all missed Friday's match Bacchus Marsh wants to get to that point and they are coming with a bullet This match last season resulted in a 140-odd point to East Point this time the game was separated by 10 points at the 22 minute mark of the last quarter East Point players lifted late to record a 17-point win over Bacchus Marsh Picture by Greg GliddonThe Cobras unveiled Zach Tuohy for his first game and the former Cat champion looked a little short of a gallop Tuohy would spend most of his time forward before going into the middle late as Bacchus Marsh tried to snatch the game but Geordy Slater - who East coach Joe Carmody revealed had been set for the role regardless of where Tuohy played - took the honours Carmody said he was rapt with his team's persistence on what was a taxing day "Our good players really stood up for us," he said "It's what we've been consistent on is that when we are successful we have 22 contributors our young guys came in today and did their role We're ecstatic with what they were about to produce today I thought their midfield until three-quarter-time was on top which is something we'll have to work on Bacchus Marsh coach Dennis Armfield said he felt had "butchered the ball" a lot throughout the day they brought pressure all day and I thought we had a good patch in the middle of the game but I didn't think we played the brand of football we're used to playing as we've seen in the first two weeks of the season A big day at Bacchus Marsh for Simon Lafranchi who played his 200th game Picture by Greg Gliddon"I think it's a credit to our side that we've played a game that we're not too happy with and we've run a side like East Point but we sometimes missed the simple one and East Point are quality (and will make you pay)." Sunbury overcame a slow start to get the better of Redan winning 17.12 (114) to 14.4 (88) Redan opened up a 17-point at the first change but a six-goal-to-one second term gave Sunbury the lead at the long break Both teams traded what would turn out to be 13 goals in a blistering third quarter but Sunbury was able to shut the game down late and hold on for its first win of the season But the win looks to have come at a huge cost with VFL-listed player Cody Bramble looking to have seriously hurt his knee late in the second quarter which the club is fearful could be a season ender Dean Muir also reported neck soreness throughout the match leaving the home side two players short on the bench Coach Matt White was full of praise for the opposition saying Redan would be team that would shock many opponents this season Gary (Learmonth) has some young blokes coming through and we were just very lucky we were able to hold on use the ball a bit better than we did the week before Sunbury's Cody Bramble looks to have seriously damaged his knee in his team's win over Redan East Point 12.15 (87) d Bacchus Marsh 11.4 (70) Bacchus Marsh 13.15 (93) d East Point 6.8 (44) East Point 8.13 (61) d Bacchus Marsh 8.5 (53) The liberals have pulled out all the stops ahead of the election listening to the Moorabool council’s advocacy requests. An elected Liberal government will commit funding towards the improvement of the Moorabool Aquatic and Recreation Centre’s (MARC) new multi-use stadium as well as Bacchus Marsh’s historic Avenue of Honour. Hawke Liberal candidate Simmone Cottom said $500,000 will go towards a retractable seating grandstand for MARC whilst $100,000 will go towards a walking trail for at the Avenue of Honour. Ms Cottom said feedback from the Bacchus Marsh community highlighted the need to provide modern facilities that encourage greater participation in local sport and to ensure that more people can appreciate the significance of this special local place. Bacchus Marsh Netball Association president Matt Hawkins said the stadium seating for the Bacchus Marsh Netball Association would enhance spectator experience by providing comfortable, elevated views of the courts. “It would improve crowd capacity, create a more professional atmosphere, and potentially attract larger events, boosting community engagement and support for local netball,” he said. Moorabool mayor Paul Tatchell said the two projects the Liberal Party announced funding commitments for, are projects from the council’s advocacy document. “The retractable grandstand seating at MARC stadium and a walking trail along the Bacchus Marsh Avenue of Honour will both improve existing amenities – MARC is a new much-needed facility in Bacchus Marsh and a grandstand will be a terrific addition to the stadium,” he said. “The Avenue of Honour is one of our most significant assets in the shire and a walking trail will enable people to safely appreciate the beauty and significance of the historic Avenue.” Both major parties are seeking to invest funding for Bacchus Marsh with Labor having previously committed $25 million to build the Bacchus Marsh Indoor Pool. Labor has also committed to an investment of $4 million for a new sports facility at Bacchus Marsh Racecourse Recreation Reserve and $1.8 million for a new pedestrian and bike path along Griffith Street in Maddingley. THE issue of health service staff cuts in Bacchus Marsh continues to simmer, this time with the proposed move of a 1.4 equivalent full-time nursing position from the local urgent care centre to Melton. Moorabool Shire councillor Sheila Freeman raised the matter as an item of urgent business at last week’s council meeting, resulting in a vote to write to local MPs, Western Health officials, Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas about it. The letters will seek an assurance from Western Health that safe patient care will continue to be delivered at the centre and that workable nurse-to-patient ratios will be maintained. The shire will also ask for a meeting to discuss the issue. Cr Freeman’s move follows similar action by Cr Rod Ward late last year when he sought a reassurance that commitments given on jobs and service levels at the time of the Western Health–Djerriwarrh Health Services merger in 2021 would be honoured. The shire wrote to Ms Allan, Ms Thomas, Member for Eureka Michaela Settle and Western Health chair Jill Hennessy seeking those reassurances. Shire chief executive officer Derek Madden told last week’s meeting that Ms Thomas was the only one to have replied, although he did not detail what her reply said. Cr Freeman told the meeting she had received two documents in her letterbox, one from Western Health and one from staff – which have been seen by the Moorabool News – revealing the 1.4 EFT position relocation to Melton. “They are saying that presentations at the urgent care have gone down when in actual fact they haven’t,” Cr Freeman said. “And staff are saying that Bacchus Marsh has had in excess of 15,000 [presentations] for the last year and they are currently under-staffed. “Their ratio is one-in-four patients when it should be one-in-three, which is putting our residents at risk within the hospital.” Cr Freeman said losing the position would “lead to significant negative and unsafe consequences for patient care, safety and overall hospital operations.” Earlier this week, Cr Freeman said she had found a further document in her letterbox outlining a proposal to reduce three medical staff shifts from a mix of 12 and 12.5 hours for a daily EFT of 37 hours to three 10-hour shifts, or 30 hours a day. The document said doctors had indicated a desire to work shorter shifts. If they proceed, the shift changes would be supported by a hospital medical officer switching from a mornings-only shift to a morning and afternoon shift five days a week. But staff say that hospital medical officers are not in the urgent care centre at all times. Cr Freeman said she did not know who was putting the documents in her letterbox. Approached for comment, a Western Health spokesperson said only that board chair Professor Jill Hennessy had actually responded to a letter from then mayor Cr Ally Munari on 12 November last year. They did not provide details. A Moorabool Shire Council spokesperson confirmed the 12 November response but similarly did not provide details of what it contained. Picture by Getty ImagesThe wait is over for the BFNL with Cobras coach Dennis Armfield confirming star recruit Zach Tuohy will make his debut for the club on Good Friday Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe 2022 AFL premiership star was the biggest off-season signing in the BFNL and will finally suit up for his new club on Friday in the blockbuster top-of-the-ladder clash with East Point It's the perfect storm for Bacchus Marsh this week with Tuohy's debut coinciding in a week where East Point will be without a host of its top-line performers including Henderson Medalist Matt Johnston who are unavailable due to prior Easter commitments a bumper crowd can be expected at Maddingley Park for the showdown Armfield said his team was excited to see what Tuohy can add to the line-up we'll welcome Zach into the fold which will be exciting for our football club both on and off the field," he said so it will be a great stepping stone to see just how far we've come." Armfield said his side would have a light week on the track after playing hot conditions on Saturday at City Oval against Redan who copped a big hit late in the game would be monitored for any concussion symptoms after being 'slightly dazed' in the rooms afterwards East Point coach Joe Carmody said it would be a great experience particularly for what will be a very young side to line-up against a player so respected in the football community "We've found a way to win these past two weeks without necessarily playing our best footy," he said "We will be missing a few players this week "It's an opportunity for us to showcase our club and also Bacchus Marsh and the league in front of a large crowd Those experiences are gold at any stage of your career "We've got players like Paddy Hannaford who's played five games for these sort of guys it's going to be a special occasion." despite eventually getting a win on Monday but there was no denying Bacchus Marsh on Good Friday with a thrilling A grade win over East Point Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe Cobras - stubby holders with the words to the club song in hand and all - sang loud and proud for the first time in eight years with many fans at a packed Maddingley Park scarcely believing what they were seeing as a third-quarter blitz turned the match on its head despite some tense moments early in the last quarter they were able to hold their nerve before running out solid winners so proud she was of what the team had finally been able to achieve to finally get that win we'll celebrate it," she said but they did it well and it's hopefully the first of many more to come." Gleeson said the third-quarter had been the moment where the game was won after just one goal separated the sides at half time "We gave our centre a spell and got her sister an opportunity and we feel it helped us "To do it in front of our home crowd and supporters there's nothing more rewarding than to give this back to the club after all the hard work they've put in over so many years." Good Friday's other match said Sunbury survive the fright of its life to hold by four goals against Redan The home side went into the match as heavy favourites but Redan stayed within striking distance throughout the whole match Sunbury never once pulled out to any sort of lead it could be comfortable with Rebecca Hicks again the star under net for Sunbury finishing with 37 goals from 40 attempts continuing her outstanding start to the season Star turn: NBL player and Bacchus Marsh Grammar alumni DJ Vasiljevic (back, centre) with participants in the camp clinic. Photo: SUPPLIED JUNIOR basketballers in Bacchus Marsh had a rare opportunity to learn from one of the best when former local DJ Vasiljevic came to town for a clinic earlier this month. Vasiljevic – who plays as a guard for the Adelaide 36ers in the NBL and has been an Australian Boomers representative – returned to the town where he went to school to share his knowledge and experience in the one-day camp. The star, who attended Bacchus Marsh Grammar during his school years, shared personal insights from his journey to professional basketball and emphasised the importance of hard work, discipline and resilience. Bacchus Marsh Basketball Association president Tenielle Brown said the camp focused on core basketball fundamentals including ball handling, skill development and gameplay strategies, blended with Vasiljevic’s trademark energy and passion for the sport. “More than just drills, the event was designed to spark motivation, confidence, and a love for the game among aspiring young athletes,” she said. “One of the day’s most memorable moments came when DJ casually stepped up to the half-court line and proceeded to drain seven half-court shots, each one earning a lucky participant free tickets to his next Melbourne game. “The athletes erupted in cheers, creating an unforgettable experience for those in attendance.” Ms Brown said that in addition to mentoring junior players, Vasiljevic – a two-time NBL champion – also reconnected with Bacchus Marsh Grammar principal Debra Ogston and senior students, who assisted as court coaches throughout the day. “Their involvement added to the positive atmosphere and gave older students the opportunity to develop leadership skills alongside one of the nation’s best,” she said. “For many of the young athletes who took part, the camp wasn’t just a chance to improve their game – it was a reminder that greatness can start in small towns and familiar gyms, with big dreams and relentless effort.” Bacchus Marsh commuters will benefit from a new V/Line timetable from December. As part of a state government plan to extend trains services across the Ballarat, Albury and Bendigo lines, three evening peak V/Line services on the Ballarat line will be extended to Bacchus Marsh instead of terminating at Melton. The government said the five morning and five afternoon Bacchus Marsh services will also have journey time savings of three to five minutes, making travel easier and more convenient for passengers. Public and Active Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams said the government was adding new services across the regional train network to make it easier for Victorians to get where they needed to go. The Ballarat train line is one the state’s busiest lines, according to the government. It attributed the increase in demand for trains along the line to it’s regional fare cap, which has resulted in more than 33 million train trips taken across the V/Line network and more than $90 million saved by commuters since it was introduced last year. The new timetable will come into effect on Sunday, December 1. Insets: Bacchus Marsh and Wendouree players worked hard on Sunday to remove water off covers after rain to ensure semi-finals were able to resume Pictures by Kate Healy.Bacchus Marsh will contest its first Ballarat Cricket Association firsts grand final Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueIn their second season in the BCA the Bulls will meet Wendouree at the Eastern Oval Wendouree is striving for its first premiership since 2016-17 Bacchus Marsh shocked minor premier Mt Clear by five wickets in a semi-final at Eastern Oval on Sunday after a rain delay of 165 minutes The Bulls finished the opening day on Saturday on 5-83 Bacchus Marsh needed only three overs to secure a first-innings win Wendouree fought back after suffering a mini-batting collapse late on Saturday to defeat Ballarat-Redan by two wickets in another encounter delayed by rain on the second day The Red Caps started Sunday 3-27 in reply to Redan's 152 but after reaching 4-82 began to struggle again and at 8-121 was in all sorts of strife It took a ninth-wicket stand between Liam Brady Veteran Daniel Hopkinson played a huge part in Wendouree's semi-final win over Ballarat-redan Picture by Lachlan BenceBACCHUS Marsh took a stranglehold on its encounter by dismissing Mt Clear for 97 on Saturday The Mounties lost Zack Maple cheaply early after being sent in No one else reached double figures as the wickets tumbled Josh Calvitto did most of the damage with the ball There had been doubt about him leading into the finals owing to knee trouble but he put that behind with a five-wicket haul Captain-coach Matt Crea claimed the prize scalps of Le Lievre and dangerous Akshay Ballal and then Calvitto struck He captured 5-17 off 12 overs in a remarkable spell while Matt Crea finished with 2-4 and Sam Crea 2-31 Mt Clear then took its turn to dominate with the ball hitting back hard to have Bacchus Marsh in all sorts of trouble at 5-40 to get Bacchus Marsh back on top and then to victory McGrath cut loose with some free hitting to get his half-century with Prabath Ranaweera and Ballal taking three wickets each Ballarat-Redan's Riley Fisher takes evasive action during his innings of 29 runs against Wendouree Picture by Lachlan Bence.BALLARAT-Redan also looked like falling cheaply on Saturday after also being sent in but they managed to stay in the match with a middle-order revival led by skipper Chris Egan and Riley Fisher The Two Swords lost wickets steadily through the top order and it was only when Egan and Fisher joined forces at 5-79 that they managed to some supremacy over the ball 29 (4 fours) dug in with the primary aim to bat as long as possible and see where that took them They added 39 in what might yet prove to be the match-winning moment put on 21 - not a big number but significant in the context of the match status When Egan eventually fell after facing 146 balls with the last three wickets going to Daniel Hopkinson in the space of three runs Hopkinson turned back the clock by returning the figures of 5-30 off 14.4 overs Tom Batters took 3-38 and Ash McCafferty 2-45 Wendouree's innings could not have started much worse with Matt Aikman claiming the wickets of Cole Roscholler and Murphy Skinner in successive balls in the second over Tom Godson and Mick Nolan managed to get to stumps without anymore damage being done Nolan lifted the Red Caps' hopes with a bright start on Sunday but fell for 46 (6 fours) and Wendouree lost its way to slump to 7-102 It took a massive effort from Brady and McCafferty to lift Wendouree across the line despite of the Heroics of Aikman Thomas Le Lievre c: Will Lalor b: Matthew Crea 37 Akshay Ballal c: Serafino Crea b: Matthew Crea 1 Joel Moriarty c: Shanin Silva b: Joshua Calvitto 9 Jacob Smith c: Alex Porter b: Serafino Crea 1 Kylan Jans c: Spencer Jenks b: Joshua Calvitto 2 Prabath Ranaweera c: Jayden White-Powell b: Joshua Calvitto 7 Ashley George c: Spencer Jenks b: Shanin Silva 0 Jayden White-Powellc: Joel Moriarty b: Prabath Ranaweera 11 Alex Porter c: Joel Moriarty b: Prabath Ranaweera 1 Will Lalor c: Lachlan Payne b: Akshay Ballal 10 Angus Jones c: Kylan Jans b: Prabath Ranaweera 4 Joshua McGrath c: Joel Moriarty b: Ashley George 57 Spencer Jenks c: Lachlan Payne b: Akshay Ballal 6 Randhir Sandhu c: Leigh Lorenzen b: Tom Batters 7 Michael Hayes c: Liam Brady b: Daniel Hopkinson 11 Bowling: Ash McCafferty 17-5-45-2,Tom Batters 15-4-38-3 Cole Roscholler c: Max Riding b: Matthew Aikman 5 Leigh Lorenzen c: Chris Egan b: Nathan Patrikeos 4 Mick Nolan c: David Carton b: Matthew Aikman 46 Brock Reid c: David Carton b: Matthew Aikman 6 CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Bacchus Marsh had to dig deep to come away with the Bowls Victoria weekend pennant Bacchus Marsh trailed for much of the match up against Keilor at Deer Park and was headed towards disappointment But Bacchus Marsh found something late and was able to come over the top of Keilor to win Bacchus Marsh’s Tanner Dickson-Arthur said it was a pretty special feeling “It’s pretty good to be honest,” he said not long after they claimed the title Keilor jumped out of the blocks and had a massive lead “We bobbed up in front in the final four to five ends and that was the difference.” Dickson-Arthur said the group realised during the match that this was it for the season and they couldn’t leave anything out there He said that was when they started to turn things around “It was no use saving them for next week if we didn’t have a game.” Glenn Sargent’s rink won 19-17 and Matthew Young’s rink won 21-19 Dickson-Arthur said the performance of Young against Keilor coach Mark Jacobsen was pivotal in getting the win “Mark Jacobsen is one of the greatest players of all time,” he said Dickson-Arthur who came back to the club this season said they had set out a couple of goals at the start of the season which they had been able to achieve He said they always had a lot of belief in the squad They will return to division 1 next season Last time Bacchus Marsh played in division 1 “We lost a couple of players and myself moved away “We have the talent to stay up in division and we were competitive last time Some of those sides we were competitive against last time are now up in premier division.” Dickson-Arthur said coming back and winning another premiership at his home club was pretty special Bacchus Marsh’s second side suffered a defeat in its grand final on Saturday to Hoppers Dickson-Arthur said they had been outplayed on the day but had already secured the goal of being promoted up into division 3 “Both our first and second sides have been promoted “When we joined the competition we had teams in division 2 “Hopefully we can attract some more players.” Bacchus Marsh was back in action on Sunday in the sectional finals Dickson-Arthur said before the match that anything now was a bonus The vehicle was jointly funded through a successful grant from the Victorian Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP) the Bendigo Bacchus Marsh Community Bank and Bacchus Marsh Fire Brigade Captain Ryan O'Shannessy said the brigade had traditionally relied on other BA support brigades as far away as Eltham or Ballarat to replenish its used air cylinders "We were grateful to have other brigades help us with our BA requirements but we were also conscious that it would take them valuable time to go back and forth," Ryan said "Having our own vehicle not only makes things easier for our brigade but it also helps ease the demand within our patch "Another benefit is that the future growth of the brigade is secured because as key operational members decide to scale back they can still have a meaningful place within CFA performing some of these support functions "It's not just about getting out to a fire it's also the team behind the scenes that help reinstate getting back to normal." Local MP Michaela Settle visited Bacchus Marsh station on Monday night for the official handover "Despite being a bit chilly in the engine bay "Michaela is a previous CFA volunteer and was acutely aware of the extra capabilities the BA support vehicle provides "Now it's our time to pay back the generosity by providing the support when called." CFA Head of Fleet & Protective Equipment Danny Jones said BA support vehicles are used to assist firefighters at incidents where breathing apparatus is needed such as hazmat incidents and major structure fires “These vehicles will also provide future benefits as we move to a more contemporary cylinder management arrangement where brigades will be able to exchange an empty cylinder for a full one on the spot without the need for double handling,” Danny said View all stories View more contacts The Facebook feed is contained within an iframe and as such is not available via keyboard access. 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Tweets by CFA_Updates We are currently experiencing issues with our embedded Twitter feed We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land Copyright 2025 CFA (Country Fire Authority) work on the site will aim to improve local food production MEMBER for Eureka Michaela Settle represented Minister for Regional Development Jaclyn Symes to tour and inspect a new glasshouse facility in Bacchus Marsh last week the site will have a focus on developing and growing hardy fruit and vegetable seed strains that will benefit everyday consumers The business works in the seed research and development space and aims to help growers problem-solve “Food cultivation and agricultural development are key pillars of the regional economy and it’s wonderful to see Rijk Zwaan well on the way to establishing state-of-the-art facilities that will bolster these sectors,” Ms Settle said The glasshouse construction is backed by a State Government grant of $400,000 through Regional Development Victoria The works also include the establishment of offices The facility is on a flood plain and has been designed to let water move through with minimal impact on produce or the glasshouse It is expected that 40 full-time workers will be employed once the glasshouse is open “These facilities mean more jobs and economic growth for Bacchus Marsh and I look forward to seeing them operational,” Ms Symes said Victory in tomorrow night’s Bacchus Marsh Harness Racing Club Committee Trotters Cup Final would be a truly special result for veteran horseman Robert Young The 75-year-old president of the Bacchus Marsh Harness Racing Club owns and trains the wayward-yet-talented Scar and will be in the driver’s seat when he tackles the $10,000 feature at Melton Entertainment Park very important,” Young said of a potential win on Friday night “I’ve been part of the club since it was inaugurated in 1975-76.” Young purchased the son of Danny Bouchea from the Murphy family a few months ago and has won three races with the five-year-old since August He galloped in both heats of the Bacchus Marsh Harness Racing Club Committee Trotters Cup at Geelong and Ballarat and will start from gate two in tomorrow night’s 2240m assignment “David (Muphy) rang me and said he was going to advertise this horse Ginger Gleeson and I are pretty casual about the way we work our horses and he thought he might respond to that bit of TLC,” Young said “His history even before I got him was very much that he was hit and miss He’d go well for two or three starts and then he’d muck up for two or three but hopefully we’ve got the rubbish out of him this time and he does at least compete.” Heat winners Noble Count (Dianne Giles) and Ai Sedhai (Kerryn Manning) are drawn in barriers five and eight respectively tomorrow night and the Gary Murnane-trained Senna Storm won qualifiers of the Bacchus Marsh Farm Supplies Pacing Cup and will battle out the $10,000 final at 8.33pm Magic medley: Up to 30 stalls will be present at the fair presenting an assortment of mystical supplies INTERESTED locals will be afforded the curious opportunity to delve into the mysticism of witchcraft at the Bacchus Marsh Witches Fair on Sunday 16 March Rather than some kind of Hollywood-type dark force casting wicked spells over a bubbling cauldron scenario witchcraft could be seen as a form of spiritual practice that includes rituals Fair organiser and practicing witch Guy Walter said his own experience in witchcraft for over 40 years has simply involved being one with nature and respecting others “It’s not necessarily the image that you see on TV,” he said He added that while the term witch is often seen as something female Mr Walter said the fair promises an eclectic mix of vendors each presenting an assortment of mystical supplies “It’s an opportunity for people to come along if they’re exploring their own craft or they’re exploring their own sense of magic,” he said “It’s an opportunity to come and talk to our stall holders but also purchase some products that they might want to apply for themselves as well “There’ll be something for everybody You don’t have to be a hardcore witch family-friendly Bacchus Marsh Witches Fair takes place on Sunday 16 March from 10am to 3pm at Bacchus Marsh Public Hall with two more fairs planned for July and October Find out more on the Welcome to Moorabool website. There is a spot on the Western Highway, in Victoria, just through the cutting after Hopetoun Park, where the valley opens up in all its lush glory. After the almost arid drive that precedes it, it can take your breath away. I have often thought of travellers of the colonial era on that trip: of how much longer the horse and cart journey would have been from Melbourne, and how much more glorious the view of the valley must have seemed at the journey’s end. In that valley is the ever-expanding township of Bacchus Marsh, the last outpost of the Archdiocese of Melbourne as you head towards Ballarat. St Mary Mackillop made this journey many times on her way through to South Australia, stopping at the convent of her school here in Bacchus Marsh, praying in our beautiful Church, St Bernard’s. It’s a surreal thought that we too pray where she knelt. The phrase ‘small but mighty’ often comes to mind when I think of this parish, and this was certainly apparent at the celebration of the 150th anniversary of St Bernard’s on 23 June 2024. We are not a huge parish. Bacchus Marsh is still really a country town—growing certainly, but, in the scheme of things, a small community. As in so many places, we are constantly trying to bring Christ to those who are just not sure of his place in their lives. Yet our hardworking parishioners prepared for the anniversary with dedication, love and, literally, the sweat of their brows over the course of many working bees. Old and young worked together to tidy up gardens, pressure-wash buildings and prepare the ground for pavers inscribed with the names of supporters of our parish. As the day got closer, the work increased. There were booklets to finalise, music to practise, seating to arrange, vessels to polish and large quantities of food to get ready. On the Saturday before the big day, I watched and listened as I helped to cream what felt like 1000 cakes as the older women in the parish reminisced about their years of involvement in parish events, bringing both laughter and a sincere attention to detail to their work, determined that everything would be done to the best of their ability. They love this church so much; they love their community so much. When the day finally arrived, so did Archbishop Peter A Comensoli, along with almost 400 people, who happily packed themselves into the small church. In his homily, the Archbishop—apparently also inspired by the travellers of old—quoted passages from Archbishop Goold’s diary on the less than ideal conditions he experienced travelling the roads in the Bacchus Marsh area! ‘Jesus remains the sure anchor who wants our good. “Have faith in me,” he says to us. Or, as St Paul put it, allow the love of Christ to overwhelm us, not the storms thrown up at us.’ After the Mass, the Archbishop blessed the foundation stone of the very first church of our community, St Laurence O’Toole’s, which had miraculously been discovered in the rubble of the old building. After the ceremonies were concluded, the grounds of the church came to life with chatter, as people caught up, made introductions and generally enjoyed themselves. Very slowly, they made their way to the beautifully decorated hall, where plenty of refreshments were waiting. The faith community here in Bacchus Marsh is very much alive. It’s sometimes said that if there are no children crying in the church, then the church is dying. We are definitely not suffering from that here. (It is often commented from the pulpit that the ‘children’s choir’ is in full voice!) Many families are moving to our part of the world, especially over the last ten years, and over this time, our local families and priests have so graciously welcomed and engaged with each new face. We thank all those who have helped nurture the faith of the parish over all its 150 years, especially our more recent parish priests Fr Brian Glasheen, Fr Fabian Smith and all the assistant priests who have spent time with us. We are very grateful for our current parish priest and assistants—Fr Alex Clemente RCJ, Fr Wilford Urmaza RCJ and Fr Lucas Myint—for all they continue to do for us. Banner image: Margaret Love, Fr Wilford Urmaza, Kerrie Shea, Veronica Fitzgerald, Fr Brian Glasheen, Pat Griffiths and Fr Lucas with the parish’s first chapel foundation stone, now re-housed in the gathering space at St Bernard’s Church and blessed as part of the 150th celebrations. All photos courtesy of St Bernard’s Catholic Parish. Get the latest posts and other things in your inbox. Australian drinks retailer Dan Murphy’s has announced the grand opening of its new store in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, located on Main Street within The Village Shopping Centre. ‍In time for the festive season, the new store opened its doors on 13 December and promises to offer an exceptional shopping experience to the Bacchus Marsh community. ‍The ~630sqm Dan Murphy’s store will provide a unique mix of different services and facilities focused on its “huge range, great customer service” and Dan Murphy’s famous Lowest Liquor Price Guarantee. ‍Dan Murphy’s Managing Director Agi Pfeiffer-Smith said the team was thrilled to be a part of the Bacchus Marsh community. ‍“We are excited to deliver our fantastic range and value for our customers,” she said. ‍“We employ 17 locals, we work with many amazing local Victorian suppliers and have curated a range of products we know the community will love.” What will customers be drinking during the festive season?‍ ‍As we approach Christmas, Ms Pfeiffer-Smith reveals insights into the festive drinking trends anticipated for this year. ‍“We expect our customers to be enjoying premium categories, with Whisky, Agave, and Sparkling Wines over $35 leading the way,” she said. ‍“Prosecco, Moscato, and Wine Spritz Cocktails will also feature prominently, benefiting from the ongoing popularity of the Spritz trend,” she said. ‍“Within Beer, sessionable styles such as Hazy Pale Ales and Lagers will be customer favourites, with Ginger Beer expected to be a popular choice. ‍“Meanwhile, Spirits like Limoncello and Baileys will enjoy the spotlight during Christmas week, catering to both gifting and hosting needs.” ‍Dan Murphy’s Bacchus Marsh invites everyone to visit the new store and explore its exciting range of products, just in time for the holiday season. ‍“Whether shopping for gifts or planning the perfect Christmas feast, customers can expect to find value, a great range and inspiration.” To be updated with all the latest news, offers and special announcements. Picture Kate Healy.Bacchus Marsh will contest the Ballarat Cricket Association firsts finals for the first time Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe Bulls locked in fourth position with a 19-run win over Darley at Darley Park on Saturday looked to be on its way to a comfortable victory when Darley slumped to 8-49 the Lions made the Bulls more than nervous thanks to a stand by Jarrod Burns and Madushanka Ekanayaka Darley coach Nathan Yates stated leading into the day's play with the Lions 4-35 in reply to 125 that he felt one partnership of 40 to 50 runs had the potential to get them the win they needed This was exactly what Burns and Ekanayaka produced with a ninth-wicket stand of 42 to get Darley within 35 runs and striking distance of its target and with it fourth place and a semi-final berth Jarrod Burns almost became a match-winner for Darley with a fighting knock of 42 Picture by Lachlan Bence.Darley finally broke the partnership with the dismissal of Burns for 42 He fought on gallantly after seeing wickets tumbling at the other end early in the day - the Lions lost 4-4 to be on their knees - in a stay that saw him face 153 balls It took a brave bowling change by Sam Crea to get through Burns with Sam Lalor getting through his defences in his second over adding another 15 runs before Crea secured the win for Bacchus Marsh by dismissing Longhurst Ekanayaka finished unbeaten on 20 off 87 balls who picked up the prize wicket of Sajith Dissanayaka Crea said the Bulls had not helped their own cause early in the Burns and Ekanayaka partnership "I think that played on our minds for a while but we always knew we were just two balls away from getting the win Crea paid credit to the batting of Burns and Ekanayaka It was all about dot balls and building pressure He's such a club-first person and that showed." MT Clear withstood some aggressive hitting by East Ballarat at Mt Clear to get the points by 20 runs and finish on top of the ladder With finals out of reach and nothing to lose the Hawks took the long handle to the Mounties attack on resuming at 1-12 in pursuit of the home team's 243 They put themselves well in the hunt with a run rate of five runs an over They put on 97 before Jerram was out in the 18th over Although this sparked a series of wickets with the loss of 3-14 East Ballarat pressed on He smacked 67 off 33 balls with three fours and seven sixes This included three consecutive sixes off an Ash George over Ettridge gave the Hawks a chance of an upset win but once he was gone the end came quickly as the last four wickets fell for 19 Prabath Ranaweera took 3-31 and Joel Moriarty 3-41 GOLDEN Point denied Buninyong by one wicket in a nail-biter at Buninyong The scores were locked together for three balls before White broke the deadlock After seeing Point get to 6-153 the Bunnies pounced by taking 3-2 This left Golden Point needing three runs for a seventh win - a target achieved after another eight balls They were at the crease at the start of play and added 65 runs Although he lost his wicket in the late collapse Josh White's 19 was instrumental in getting Golden Point home Rupinder Singh took 4-13 off 10 miserly overs Buninyong batted again and finished on 3-27 NAPOLEONS-Sebastopol avoided an outright loss at the hands of Ballarat-Redan at Marty Busch Reserve with some help from Mt Clear Ballarat-Redan declared at the start of the day at 8-115 Naps-Sebas was in trouble again early 3-4 and later 5-27 before Jack Goossens helped stop the slide While there was time for Ballarat-Redan to pursue maximum points with Naps-Sebas 9-116 Mt Clear's win over East Ballarat was enough to persuade the Two Swords to call it a day Mounties' success meant top spot was out of reach for second-placed Ballarat-Redan Nathan Patrikeos finished the home and away season with a prized 5-24 BROWN HILL gave its run chase against Wendouree at the Western Oval a real go 49 (5 fours) opened with a 72-run stand to give the Red Caps something to think about but keeping up with the run rate was always going to be an issue even with wickets in hand Viraj Pushpakumara later chipped in with 53 (3 fours Cole Roscholler was third-placed Wendouree's most successful bowler with 4-70 Jayden White-Powell c: Rockey Hoey b: Madushanka Ekanayaka 20 Alex Porter lbw: Hasitha Wickramasinghe 43 Will Lalor c: James Martindale b: Benjamin Longhurst 2 Spencer Jenks lbw: Hasitha Wickramasinghe 4 Joshua McGrath c: Dilan Chandima b: Hasitha Wickramasinghe 4 Josh Cavitto c: Rockey Hoey b: Sajith Dissanayaka 9 Rockey Hoey c: Spencer Jenks b: Shanin Silva 10 Dilan Chandima c: Alex Porter b: Matthew Crea 3 Hasitha Wickramasinghe c: Ian Spiteri b: Serafino Crea 5 James Martindale c: Joshua McGrath b: Serafino Crea 2 Zack Maple c: Jacob Eyers b: Kyle Ettridge 29 Lachlan Payne c: Jacob Eyers b: Kyle Ettridge 25 Akshay Ballal c: Jacob Eyers b: Kyle Ettridge 4 Joel Moriarty c: Rory Low b: Lewis Hodgins 47 Ajay Mada c: Samuel Cocks b: Kyle Ettridge 6 Chris Jerram c: Jack Jeffrey b: Joel Moriarty 58 Harry Ganley c: Jacob Smith b: Ashley George 8 Rory Low c: Jacob Smith b: Joel Moriarty 4 Darcy Aitken c: Jacob Smith b: Prabath Ranaweera 12 Buddhi Samarawickrama c: Mohomed Feshal b: Simon Ogilvie 4 Clayton Geddes c: Joshua White b: Simon Ogilvie 12 Nicholas Schiemer c: Connor Maggi b: Noah Maggi 8 Sean Mason c: Connor Maggi b: Daniel McDonald 9 Manjula De Zoysa c: Bailey Ryan b: Jack Sheppard 47 Lukas Pegg c: Harrison Bond b: Jack Sheppard 7 Simon Ogilvie c: Campbell Palmer b: Rupinder Singh 53 Joshua White c: Buddhi Samarawickrama b: Rupinder Singh 19 Andrew Falkner c: Mathew Begbie b: Rupinder Singh 5 Harrison Bond c: Connor Maggi b: Noah Maggi 8 Bailey Ryan c: Andrew Falkner b: Noah Maggi 4 Jarryd Price c: Randhir Sandhu b: Matthew Aikman 2 Nathan Doonan c: David Carton b: Matthew Aikman 6 Jake Scott c: David Carton b: Matthew Aikman 9 Jack Goossens c: Max Riding b: Matthew Aikman 9 Dylan Price c: Matthew Sandford b: Michael Hayes 2 Luke Corden c: David Carton b: Matthew Aikman 1 Dylan York c: Riley Fisher b: Michael Hayes 2 Jesse Carroll c: Jack Harwood b: Zac Jenkins 5 Randhir Sandhu c: Nathan Doonan b: Harry Peirson 4 Matthew Sandford c: Nathan Doonan b: Luke Corden 1 Max Riding c: Jarryd Price b: Luke Corden 12 Zac Jenkins c: Jarryd Price b: Harry Peirson 4 Jack Harwood c: Jarryd Price b: Harry Peirson 3 Riley Fisher c: Harry Peirson b: Jake Scott 6 Michael Hayes c: Dylan Price b: Jake Scott 12 Daniel Scott c: David Carton b: Matthew Aikman 0 Jarryd Price c: Matthew Sandford b: Nathan Patrikeos 0 Nathan Doonan c: Max Riding b: Nathan Patrikeos 12 Jasper Walker-Corbet b: Nathan Patrikeos 4 Dylan York c: Max Riding b: Nathan Patrikeos 6 Murphy Skinner c: Shashi Fernando b: Viraj Pushpakumara 44 Mick Nolan c: Akila Lakshan b: Shashi Fernando 21 Heath Pyke c: Akila Lakshan b: Jason Knowles 34 Brock Reid c: Martin Porter b: Viraj Pushpakumara 5 Daniel Hopkinson c: Reece Wynd b: Viraj Pushpakumara 39 Ash McCafferty c: Jason Knowles b: Shashi Fernando 26 Ryan Knowles c: Tom Batters b: Tom Godson 49 Milan Kavindu c: Daniel Hopkinson b: Cole Roscholler 29 Jason Knowles c: Ash McCafferty b: Cole Roscholler 26 More to come: Bacchus Marsh Racecourse and Recreation Reserve redevelopment stage two works were officially opened in August last year ONE of Bacchus Marsh’s key recreational sites is set to be expanded with the backing of Federal Government funds The Bacchus Marsh Racecourse Recreation Reserve will soon be upgraded with a new community hub and multi-sports hub with Moorabool Shire Council staff successfully applying for $4 million as part of the Thriving Suburbs Program “It’s fantastic to receive this news,” he said “A community hub with changerooms and toilets was the missing link at the wonderful BMRRR precinct “To have a shared use facility in this growth area will provide our community with a fantastic asset in a great location.” The hub is to include accessible changerooms and public amenities and expansions to existing sporting and playground infrastructure as well as catering and event facilities aimed at allowing for cultural festivals The project is one of 26 community infrastructure developments to be approved in Victoria with successful applicants to share in $129 million The hub’s development will complete stage 2C of the rec reserve’s masterplan and is expected to be located between the site’s recently-developed sporting grounds and within walking distance of the all-abilities adventure playground The masterplan’s stage one works were completed in early 2021 and included a BMX track Melton City Council has also been successful in securing cash through the Thriving Suburbs Program receiving $15 million to develop the Plumpton Aquatic and Leisure Centre at Fraser Rise It’s a case of Double Trouble for the Moonlite Theatre The Bacchus Marsh and Melton district theatre company is staging its latest production Double Trouble – which is actually two separate plays Vice-president Tim Hawthorne said Double Trouble comprised Donut’s Can Kill You and Room 326 “Both have been written by local playwrights and produced locally,” he said “Both plays are comedies and people get in trouble “One is about family trouble and the second one is about a bank robber and hotel guests “Both plays are fun and it’s a good night out to have a laugh.” Hawthorne said the theatre group tries to stage productions written by local playwrights Moonlite Theatre normally produces two productions a year while also performing at local libraries and retirement villages throughout the year This production is part of Moorabool council’s Hide and Seek Festival “Room 326 ties in with the theme of Hide and Seek and it works out really well,” Hawthorne said Moonlite Theatre is always searching for new members the bigger productions we can produce,” Hawthorne said 9 and 16 at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church Hall Details: www.trybooking.com/CWGYS Bacchus Marsh will host three divisions of the Under 16 and Under 18 categories. THE Moorabool Aquatic and Recreation Centre in Bacchus Marsh will host a round of Basketball Victoria’s 2025 Junior Country Championships in March for the first time. Two venues at nearby Melton – Cobblebank Indoor Stadium and the Melton Indoor Recreation Centre – will also host matches. It will also be the first time that Melton has hosted championships games. Basketball Victoria has locked in 15 and 16 March as the days for the Under 16 and Under 18 Division 3, Division 4 and Division 5 games at the three venues. Its country competitions officer, Sarah Szczykulski, said she is eagerly anticipating the tournament, matches in which will also be played in Bendigo and Ballarat. “It’s so good to see the country junior athletes given the opportunity to take to the court and play against teams from across Victoria,” Ms Szczkulski said. “The families all make such a big effort and some travel huge distances to support their young basketballers.” The championships are held annually for boys and girls in the Under 12 to Under 18 age groups, spanning divisions from 1 to 5. All regional Victorian affiliated associations are eligible to nominate teams for the competition. Basketball Victoria hails the event as providing a great opportunity for athletes, coaches and families to experience high-level competitive basketball while developing their skills. A permanent fixture on the organisation’s calendar since the late 1960s, the championships have consistently served as a launching pad for country players who have gone on to achieve national and international acclaim. Notable alumni include Jack White, Jade Melbourne, Dyson and Dash Daniels, Jaz Shelley, Matthew Dellavedova, Shaun Bruce and Mitchell Creek. Last year’s tournament was contested by 337 teams over four weekends in the first three months of the year in a round robin format. A series of knockout rounds and grand finals determined the various category winners. Bendigo’s Red Energy Arena will host Under 16 and Under 18 Division 1 and 2 games on 15 and 16 February, and Under 12 rounds on 11, 12 and 13 April. Selkirk Stadium in Ballarat will be the venue for Under 14 competition on 5, 6 and 7 April. On a run: Bacchus Marsh Little Athletics Centre has seen an increase in participation this season. Photo: SUPPLIED BACCHUS Marsh Little Athletics Centre members have reached the halfway mark of the season with ten meets conducted so far. The club has 254 registered athletes who have broken 14 centre records, and 2799 personal bests have been achieved. Ten athletes have achieved 20 or more personal bests this season, 48 teams competed at the region relay carnival and eight teams progressed to the state championships. There was a record number of sponsors who supported the centre. Committee member Linda Thompson said it is great to see the growth of the club coming into 2025. “We’ve had a substantial increase from last year,” she said. “It’s a really great atmosphere around the centre this year with the excitement from the kids and we’ve had lots of new parents who are willing to help out.” Ms Thompson thanked the club’s volunteers for their support over the first half of the season. “‘Our volunteers are amazing, we have a great bunch,” she said. “We rely on volunteers, it’s a volunteer-based sport… our volunteers this year have been wonderful, and we have lots of new members.” The season will commence again at the end of January and Ms Thompson said there are a busy few months ahead. “The second half of the season is always very busy, and we have a lot of major events,” she said. “We have a fair few individual state championships and regional championships.” The club is also planning on holding a relayathon in March to raise money for the Royal Children’s Hospital. Bingo!: Bacchus Marsh Senior Citizens' president Hope Mann, vice-president Suzanne Jolley, and treasurer Sylvia Merry said bingo is one of the popular activities on offer. Photo: EDWINA WILLIAMS MEMBERS of Bacchus Marsh Senior Citizens are gearing up for another twelve months of fun and friendship at the Andy Arnold Centre on Bennett Street. President Hope Mann said the organisation is made up of a “happy group of members,” and the more that join, the merrier they’ll be. “We have about 40 members, 20 that attend regularly,” Ms Mann said. “We want to keep members happy and attract more people. On Tuesdays, the group supplies lunch including sandwiches, and members can make tea and coffee. “Some play bingo from 12.30pm to 3.30pm, which casts them $3 to play and they can win supplies or slippers, not money,” Ms Mann said. “On Thursdays, cards people meet between 12.30pm and 5pm, and both groups have afternoon tea, coffee, cordial, and biscuits. “We have a raffle where somebody gets free entry to play the following week, and somebody wins a gift voucher. “On Sundays, 1.30pm to 4pm, we have indoor bowls followed by afternoon tea which we supply. “On Thursday nights we have indoor bowls, from 5.30pm to 9pm, and supper afterwards.” The group has played against residents of Providence Aged Care. A bus trip is organised every three months. Ms Mann said if seniors are sitting at home with nothing to do, they’re encouraged to get involved. “Come around, join in the fun and meet new friends,” she said. “Anyone is welcome to just turn up but if we know you’re coming, we can look out for you. “I just love the friendship and can’t wait until we go back… I like being there for other people who sometimes need help.” Ring Ms Mann on 0417 905 364 or treasurer Sylvia Merry on 0405 966 910 for more information or to get involved with activities that begin later next week. Picture from Victoria PolicePolice are calling on assistance to locate a young Bacchus Marsh girl who has been missing for four days Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueOlivia was last seen in Bacchus Marsh about 2.30pm on Wednesday September 18 Victoria Police put out a call on social media for anyone with information of her whereabouts to contact Bacchus Marsh Police Station It comes just days after police increased search efforts in relation to a 74-year-old Golden Point man named Gary who has been missing since Saturday September 21 police stated they were "considering all possibilities" which included an expanded search area in bushland across Ballarat had been known to wander from home in the past but he had never been missing for this long before Victoria Police confirmed Gary was still missing and there were no updates regarding the search Need more news from The Courier? Follow our WhatsApp channel for the latest stories, or download our app for the fastest access to our news, Today's Paper and puzzles. Bacchus Marsh is into the Bowls Victoria weekend pennant Bacchus Marsh was set to play Werribee last Saturday in their semi final but it was postponed due to a total fire ban It was the same situation the following day with play finally getting underway on Saturday It was a repeat of last season’s grand final but it was a different result this season with Bacchus Marsh winning 87 (16)-67 (2) Bacchus Marsh’s Tanner Dickson-Arthur said while it was frustrating not to play the previous weekend there were things more important than bowls Bacchus Marsh teams can’t play on days of total fire ban due to safety concerns He said they were thrilled to be through to the grand final “Werribee are a good side and the two games we’ve played this season have been close,” he said “It was close all day before we kicked away and got a lead Phil Minniti’s rink was the difference as it won 28-11 Dickson-Arthur said it had been magnificent to get Minniti back into the team after he missed the first few rounds this season The other winners for Bacchus Marsh were Glenn Sargent said the group had been determined to finish the season off a lot stronger this year Last season they finished on top before exiting the finals in straight sets “We were outplayed on the Saturday and Sunday last year,” he said “We wanted to go at least one step further and have a chance to win it.” Bacchus Marsh will be going for its second Bowls Victoria weekend pennant division 2 title having won it in its first season in the competition Bacchus Marsh will face Keilor in the grand final before the Bulls beat Werribee comfortably in Sunday’s preliminary final Speaking before the preliminary final between Werribee and Keilor Dickson-Arthur said the top four had been so close this season that anyone could win with five and six shots the difference respectively in those two matches “There’s been a lot of close games,” Dickson-Arthur said “I’m expecting a close game between Keilor and Werribee Bacchus Marsh’s second side was in action on Sunday in a preliminary final against Point Cook in the division 4 The previous day it lost a semi final to Hoppers It bounced back to win the preliminary final Bacchus Marsh will face Hoppers in that grand final on Saturday History: An advertisement for the auction of lots in the Grantbank Estate TODAY marks the one hundredth anniversary of the sale of a significant piece of residential development land in Bacchus Marsh that the Grantbank Estate was offered for sale in 58 lots following its subdivision close to the town’s main shopping centre was part of the Millbank Estate and had been in the hands of the Grant family for 75 years The lots had frontages to Gisborne Road and Patterson and represented a major expansion of residential development in the town The Bacchus Marsh Express from 6 September 1924 reported that the newly-named Grantbank Estate was “ideal for the erection of private residences being in close proximity to the town – 10 or 15 minutes from the post office with a good metal road to the door; churches and schools adjoining; water electric light and phone wires waiting to be linked up to the new homes “Liberal terms are offered to purchasers and anyone in search of a home-builder’s block should not miss this great opportunity.” William Grant had owned land from the Werribee River up to Sutherland Street and his son William junior sold the top part of the land William junior named Patterson Street after his paternal grandmother’s maiden name Sutherland Street after his maternal grandmother’s maiden name and William Street either after his father or himself The book Centenary of Bacchus Marsh contains an entry about Grantbank saying the subdivision of “large tracts of rich and valuable land held by such early settlers as Gill has resulted in the birth of new streets and consequent expansion of the residential area “Grant Street was brought about by the gift of land by Mr William Grant and Mr Pilmer.” The book says about 35 new houses “all of a good type and commodious” had appeared soon after the sale and growth continued “Land at the sale brought as much as £2/4/- per foot when we remember that the growth of Bacchus Marsh has been a gradual one,” it says Power remains off at the Bacchus Marsh Racecourse and Reserve after thieves attempted to steal copper wires from the site There have been at least three attempted copper wire thefts at the reserve since November 23 Moorabool council chief executive Derek Madden said cables and electrical cabinets at the reserve were damaged “Council’s electrical contractors have also attended the site to make it safe and assess the extent of damage,” Mr Madden said and the matter has been escalated to the Moorabool [police].” Bacchus Marsh BMX Club and the Footscray and District Poultry Club have been impacted by the power cuts to the reserve Council is assessing the need for temporary power at each of the affected facilities “The extent of theft and damage is still being finalised,” Mr Madden said it will take a long time to restore power and is likely to be a very costly exercise “Council is prioritising the issue as best as possible and currently developing a plan to procure works for repairs.” Tin rattlers: Lions Club of Bacchus Marsh members Bobby Colvin and Gerry Monaghan spreading the word about the Good Friday Appeal at Bacchus Marsh Racecourse and Recreation Reserve playground MEMBERS of the Lions Club of Bacchus Marsh responsible for local collections for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal are calling on the community to support the cause today Lion David Atterbury is the GFA area coordinator and has been volunteering in the role for 12 years to give back to the RCH “So it’s my way to pay back to Australia for everything they’ve done for me since we came here.” The Lions have been given the job to coordinate appeal fundraising in the Bacchus Marsh area “Most of the club’s 41 members help out during the whole year in what we do for the Royal Children’s Hospital,” Lion Gerry Monaghan said the Lions have been visiting 30 to 40 businesses regularly around Bacchus Marsh to collect full donation tins and they have been tin rattling outside shops and shopping centres the Lions and their team of community volunteers will be on street corners across the town “Everybody available is invited to come to the Bacchus Marsh Fire Station on Main Street after 9am on Good Friday and we will find them somewhere to shake a can,” Mr Atterbury said “Our goal is to beat the $47,000 we raised throughout last year.” For those that wish to donate but do not have cash collectors will have QR codes that can be scanned via smart phones and Sandeep Kaur (Sandi) are bringing expert compassionate home care to the Bacchus Marsh-Werribee region with the opening of the newest local Right at Home office With 28 years of combined experience in community and residential aged care professional care to seniors in their community With a commitment to helping seniors live independently Right at Home Melbourne Werribee provides personalised professional care that allows people to remain in their own homes As Australia’s population continues to age the demand for quality in-home care is greater than ever The number of Australians aged 65 and over is growing rapidly placing increased pressure on aged care facilities moving into a facility is no longer the preferred or most affordable option — home care presents a safe flexible solution that supports both independence and quality of life Right at Home Melbourne Werribee offers a wide range of services tailored to each client’s unique circumstances From companion care and domestic assistance to personal care and skilled nursing the office provides a full continuum of in-home support As an approved provider of government-funded Home Care Packages (Levels 1-4) Right at Home ensures that those eligible can receive quality care at home For individuals who prefer to fund their own care or require additional services beyond their package flexible Private Pay options are available—an offering many not-for-profits are unable to provide Right at Home Melbourne Werribee is also supporting the local economy by creating new jobs and plans further recruitment If you or your family need expert home care, visit Right at Home Melbourne Werribee at Level 1, 160-194 Main Street, Bacchus Marsh, or call 03 7300 8804. For more information, visit rightathome.com.au.