The Country Women’s Association has launched a new branch in Benalla “We are excited to share the launch of a new branch which was formed at the recent gathering of interested ladies last Monday in Benalla,” CWA Moira Group President Jan James said which they have named ‘CWA Night Roses Benalla branch’ “If you have been looking for a way to connect have a laugh or simply carve out time for yourself in the middle of life's chaos The Benalla CWA day branch still meets on the second Friday of the month at 1pm in Benalla’s CWA Hall The next meeting for the evening branch is on Wednesday Please contact president Claire Grellman on 0418 549 019 for the location As Benalla Theatre Company prepares its much-anticipated production of 9 to 5: The Musical the spotlight is shining brightly on the cast the musical follows three working women who turn the tables on their sexist boss and fight for equality The cast is deep into rehearsals—and loving every minute of it Wendy McLay takes on the role of Violet Newstead the smart and savvy office manager whose long overdue for a promotion Violet’s held it all together for everyone else—but this is the moment she finally claims her own power Doralee Rhodes is portrayed by Jacqui Creamer who brings a sparkling stage presence and powerhouse vocals to the role Rounding out the trio is Monique Hillenaar as Judy Bernley the timid new employee thrust into a world she’s not prepared for—until she learns just how capable she really is and Monique is having a blast playing her Directed by Molly Craig and Jamie Boatwood the production also features a dynamic supporting cast “What makes this show special is the chemistry between the leads,” Ms Craig said June 27 to July 5 at the Benalla Town Hall Tickets are available at stickytickets.com.au/ftz6t/9_to_5_the_musical.aspx Menu⁠Careers⁠News⁠Your safety⁠Our services⁠Can you help us? ⁠Report⁠About Victoria Police⁠Contact⁠Search⁠Quick exitOops!Sorry we couldn't find the page you were looking for Have a look at the web address to make sure it was typed correctly If none of our suggestions help you find the information you were looking for, please contact us. When Ewan Geals first competed at Historic Winton he had to travel from the other side of Victoria But he loved the area and the track so much he’s now a local “I've been racing in Historic Formula Ford for 11 years,” he said which is a company set up in England in the 1970s “They became one of the biggest Formula Ford manufacturers in the world.” you could be excused for thinking it recently rolled out of the factory so long as you keep on top of some simple maintenance they're very reliable and they're actually not all that expensive to run,” he said He said competing in Formula Ford was not just about cars it’s about the people you meet along the way And because you race against the same people all the time Geals said on some tracks you could get the Van Diemen up to 210km/h but at Winton with the tight bends and shorter straights he’d hit about 180km/h “It can be quite exhilarating when you’re racing at that speed and your bum’s only 40cm above the track,” he said He said he looked forward to seeing the community come down and support the 48th Historic Winton on May 24 and 25 Find out more, and get your tickets via www.historicwinton.org/ POLICE uncovered 26 mature cannabis plants at a Benalla address with a man to be questioned A Victoria Police spokesperson said Benalla officers executed a search warrant of the Sydney Road property on 14 April police located approximately 26 mature cannabis plants with a total weight exceeding 54 kilograms classified as a commercial quantity,” they said The latest designs of the Benalla railway station precinct have been released by Inland Rail and locals are invited to provide feedback before the project begins construction later this year Updated visualisations highlight an open railway station surrounded by landscaped gardens and serviced by additional parking and improved pedestrian and cyclist connectivity Station modifications include a new accessible railway platform and an unimpeded forecourt area open directly to Mackellar Street will undertake a month-long community engagement process to gather feedback on the landscaping The Benalla railway station precinct designs can be viewed Inland Rail Beveridge to Albury Manager Stakeholder Engagement and Communications said: “The latest designs transform the Benalla railway station precinct into an open “The station will be open to Mackellar Street and provide far better access for pedestrians “The Benalla community have played an important role to shape the plans for the railway station precinct and we’ve incorporated many of their ideas and suggestions from previous community engagement in the new designs.” View the designs More info: Beveridge to Albury Explore more: The Project Benefits Opportunities Media Centre Download Map Access images Information hub Visualisations for the two Hume Freeway sites and the Marchbanks Road bridge replacement in Broadford have been released by Inland Rail before construction begins later this year The new Seymour-Avenel Road bridge is open to traffic following the completion of works by Inland Rail Local and First Nations businesses and community members in Wagga Wagga will have a chance to find out about potential commercial opportunities on the Albury to Illabo section of the Inland Rail project at a ‘Meet the Contractor’ event being held in town tomorrow Inland Rail has taken a major step towards completing the Stockinbingal to Parkes section of the project on schedule after successfully conducting a 60-hour rail possession over the weekend in which all scheduled works were completed Inland Rail Pty Ltd is a subsidiary of Australian Rail Track Corporation Benalla is in line to receive a share of $1.8 million to improve flood mitigation infrastructure The federal and state governments are supporting Victorian communities affected by the 2022 flood and storm events with this funding Benalla Rural City is one of four councils sharing in the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements State Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes said this betterment funding allowed councils to upgrade disaster-damaged roads footpaths and drains to a higher standard — protecting them from future damage caused by serious weather events and we will always make sure these communities get the ongoing support they need to get back on track,” Ms Symes said Benalla Rural City Council and Pyrenees Shire Council will each receive further funding of $365,000 on top of funding they each received in 2023 Towong Shire Council will receive $708,000 in its first allocation of betterment funding through the DRFA The DRFA Efficiencies Betterment Program assessed the damage bill of each eligible council and made allocations to ensure the funding received was fair across the state DRFA assistance measures for councils are funded from the Victorian Natural Disaster Relief Trust administered by Emergency Recovery Victoria within the Department of Justice and Community Safety More information about the DRFA can be found at vic.gov.au/disaster-recovery-funding-arrangements Three of Benalla’s new street art murals are up for a prestigious award looks for the best street art in the world Verified artists have submitted their work resulting in a dazzling selection of 115 artworks in 70 cities and Benalla has three nominations in with a chance of becoming the street art city of the month The three nominations are Claire Foxton’s mural on the side of Polished Adnate and D.R.E.Z’s mural overlooking The Shed and Aurora Campbell’s mural on the Visitor Information Centre said each month artists from more than 100 countries submit work "Street art is one of the fastest-growing art movements worldwide it’s important to highlight the incredible creativity happening at street level," Mr Marschang said "Our Monthly Mural Competition is more than a contest because we understand you can't compare art or artists “This proven formula shines a light on both renowned muralists and emerging talents and opens the door to urban art in general when picked up by the media." The Benalla Street Art 2025 artists are up against some incredible murals from Germany to Ireland You can cast your vote now by visiting streetartcities.com/awards/2025-04/ Round four was a special occasion for the Benalla and District Junior Football Club as we hosted both the Imperials JFC and the Kangaroos JFC in a packed fixture that brought all teams together in one precinct For the first time since the completion of our clubrooms the U12s had the privilege of playing on the Arundel Street Oval the first time the oval had been used in a Wangaratta and District Junior Football game The Arundel Street Oval will be in use again very shortly for the Annabelle Cleeland Gather Round on May 25 which will see over 300 kids from the district playing footy at the Showgrounds precinct on the one day the U14s and U17s ran out on the wide expanses of the Benalla Showgrounds making full use of the great facilities and drawing a strong crowd The atmosphere was electric with every game on home turf providing the perfect stage for some standout individual and team performances across all age groups Benalla Black Under-12s recorded a solid win over Imperials in a fast-paced contest at the freshly manicured Arundel Street Oval After steadily warming up in the first quarter showcasing clean ball use and smart decision-making bringing strength and cool headedness in defence alongside the firm presence of Jackson Quarrell Bailey King stormed through the right wing with sharp hands and composure under pressure Ben and Toby Fitzgerald gave it everything with Piggott crashing into contests and inspiring his teammates with his effort Tom Lambert ran hard through the centre with the ball in hand supporting the as always silky smooth Jimmy Jackson Owen Schirmer worked magic up front bagging two goals and linking up well with the midfield Both teams played with great spirit and showcased impressive junior footy Score: Benalla Black U12 11.8 (74) def Imperials JFC U12s 0.0 (0) Perfect conditions greeted the players at the newly prepared Arundel Street Ovals as the Benalla Reds looked to return to the winners list in an important home and away match up against the Kangaroos The game was seemingly won in the first half with the ball locked inside the Benalla half for the majority of time Davies and Reynolds driving the ball forward feeding the talented forward line led by powerhouse Teddy Sheehan and the electric forward Hudson Pickering first year player Harley Kupke also continued his stellar run of form creating numerous scoring opportunities Taking a 45-point lead into the half-time break a spirited Kangaroos side threw everything they could at the Reds slowing down the scoreboard and creating a great contest Louise Horne kept the scoreboard ticking over along with developing big man Angus Roscoe who converted after taking a strong mark deep in the forward 50 A special mention to Eli Fielding whose pressure acts and one per cent plays were a feature throughout the day Score: Benalla Red U12 9.9 (63) def Kangaroos JFC U12s 3.3 (21) A special mention to Angus Roscoe for his excellent performance Black was looking for an improved performance this week From the first bounce it was clear that Black was switched on and ready to play with Josh Montgomery leaping high giving the mid field first use with clever ruck work inspiring his teammates with his high work rate covering the showgrounds wide open spaces and delivering the ball deep into attack for Black his fierce attack on the ball was there for all to see brushing opponents aside Ollie Parker was dangerous in front of goal all day resulting in a bag of seven goals for the small forward Ollie Wardill was also a focal point up forward with strong hands pulling down numerous telling marks whilst creating further scoreboard pressure adding 3 majors for the day In his second game of the season Jordan Streader worked hard on his wing shutting down his opponent whist having a hand in many attacking moves Ben Wells continued on with his recent good form setting up teammates with pinpoint passing by foot Score: Benalla Black U14 19.13 (127) def Imperials JFC U14 4.6 (30) Benalla U14s Red had several strong individual efforts that kept them competitive throughout the match Jack Pollard took on a new role in defence and stepped up impressively providing structure and stability in the backline His ability to read the play and apply defensive pressure helped limit Kangaroos' attacking opportunities Jack Hart was instrumental in the midfield consistently winning the ball around the ground His presence at stoppages ensured Benalla had plenty of forward momentum creating opportunities for teammates and maintaining drive throughout the match Benalla saw strong contributions from Noah Cooney who each made an impact in different areas of the ground Their efforts helped the team stay competitive Tom Mount led the scoring charge with an impressive 4 goals showing great positioning and finishing ability to keep Benalla within reach Benalla U14s Red battled hard across all four quarters showing resilience and determination against a well-organised Kangaroos outfit the team impressed with their midfield effort and attacking creativity—highlighting clear areas of growth and potential With standout performances from key players Benalla can take plenty of positives from the match as they continue to develop and build momentum for the season ahead Score: Benalla Red U14 8.10 (58) def by Kangaroos JFC U14 12.10 (82) The challenge was always going to be significant for Benalla's U17s as they faced the ladder leaders The team welcomed back co-captain Bryce Cooney Benalla had a strong start and dominated possession early in the first quarter Despite trailing by 14 points at quarter time the home side was getting good contributions from its defence Oscar Beaton worked well with young ruckman Hudson Blyss to maintain pressure Nate Nicholas moved into the midfield in the second half and made a solid impact with his tackling being a standout feature of the game Kobi Thwaites proved to be a threat in front of goal finishing the match with three goals and delivering his best performance of the season Braedon Blackford was impressive throughout all four quarters Although the Imperials extended their lead at each break Benalla remained competitive and increased their effort as the match progressed Score: Benalla U17 5.0 (30) def by Imperials JFC U17 15.15 (105) police from the Benalla Criminal Investigations Unit and Benalla Neighbourhood Policing Unit executed a search warrant at a property on Sydney Rd police located about 26 mature cannabis plants with a total weight exceeding 54 kilograms—classified as a commercial quantity A 36-year-old man is expected to be interviewed and charged with cultivating Police are committed to disrupting illegal drug activity to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the community Anyone with information about drug cultivation or trafficking is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au/ It was a tough outing for the Benalla All Blacks at the weekend going down to a strong Whorouly side 162 to 24 the All Blacks battled hard all day and showed glimpses of promise throughout the match Ashton Hillaire worked tirelessly through the midfield providing drive and effort around the contest David Button held firm in defence under relentless pressure intercepting and repelling numerous forward entries Jesse Walker played extremely well down back and through the midfield It was a great example of keeping your head up and pushing right through to the final siren the team never dropped their heads and continued to compete until the final siren brighter days are ahead for the All Blacks Score: Benalla 3.6 (24) def by Whorouly 24.18 (162) they battled hard and never stopped fighting Scott Nicholson worked tirelessly in the ruck and around the ground Ayden Amos continued to lead from the middle while newcomer Trent Nicholson impressed with his strength and composure in the backline Despite having no bench and running on empty by the final siren the effort and heart shown by the team was something to be proud of Score: Benalla 0.4 (4) def by Whorouly 26.14 (170) Defensive pressure was the highlight of Saturday’s matchup for Benalla’s A-grade side The team worked tirelessly across the entire court creating numerous opportunities to force turnovers they were unable to fully capitalise on those gains there were plenty of positives to take from the tough hit-out Jo Toms made a welcome return in the black and white showcasing her extensive netball knowledge and experience Gertie McCallum continued her strong form with another impressive performance in the centre displaying grit and going hard at every contest Elyse Felstead had a solid game in goal defence combining well with Jo to apply pressure in the defensive circle Awards: Royal Hotel Award - Gertie McCallum Jenny Milner Pharmacy Award - Nat Pritchard It was another hot day on court as the All Blacks faced a tough challenge against a strong Whorouly side maintaining solid defensive pressure across the court they struggled to capitalise on opportunities in attack and couldn't match Whorouly’s scoring firepower With a home game against Moyhu next Saturday the All Blacks will be aiming to regroup and focus on sharpening their attacking execution during training this week The All Blacks faced a strong Whorouly side this week with the Lions taking control early and putting on scoreboard pressure from the first whistle But the Blacks responded well in the second quarter making key changes that helped steady the game and shift momentum starting strong in defence and then moving into goals where her versatility and calmness earned her best-on-court The team came out firing in the third quarter outscoring Whorouly by four goals and showing real fight constantly putting her body on the line and winning key turnovers disciplined play and sharp passing under pressure Coach Hughes praised the team for their unity the All Blacks once again proved they are a tight Awards: Taitum Hemming - Royal Hotel Award The under-17s put in a gutsy performance against a tall and physical Whorouly side on Saturday ultimately falling short with a 30-24 loss with Whorouly’s significant height advantage proving difficult to overcome in the early stages showing resilience and determination across the court taking out the final quarter with fierce defensive pressure and quick transitions but the goal difference proved too much to claw back Eleanor Renkin was awarded best on court with yet another standout game in defence She capped off her performance by moving into the goal ring in the last quarter where her versatility and availability down the court stood out Amali Mackenzie also had a huge game in goal keeper pulling off crucial intercepts and displaying great movement in the ring Alicia Langlands impressed with her work rate finding space and creating strong leads throughout the match The under-17s will take plenty of positives from the game as they continue to develop and grow together this season Awards: Eleanor Renkin - MVP Benalla All Blacks Thursday Night Meal Deal Alicia Landlands- The Coffee Merchant Award Our 15-and-under team faced off against a determined Whorouly side starting the game with a slow first quarter down by two goals they put Thursday night’s training into action creating multiple turnovers and executing well-structured court set-ups that transitioned the ball smoothly into the attacking circle Libby Renkin was awarded the Benalla All Blacks Club Award for her great performance in defence consistently shutting down Whorouly’s attacking opportunities Sharni Hughes received the Chill Out Smoothie Bar Award for delivering another strong and consistent four quarters in Wing Defence Her strong defensive pressure disrupted Whorouly’s attacking flow and made it difficult for them to move the ball into their circle The Spot 4 Icecream Award went to Imogen English who was a standout with her versatility after being shifted into Goal Shooter The team’s hard work and cohesion throughout the second half showed on the scoreboard leaving the game with a 10-goal win Awards: Benalla All Blacks Club Award - Libby Renkin A special celebration took place in Ballintine St House manager Leeane Bullard said it was a relief to be back home “We've been closed for nine long months,” Ms Bullard said “This building (19 Ballintine St) was affected by termites so we weren’t allowed on-site until that was dealt with “We were around the corner at 41 Ballintine St which wasn't very good at all because it was just a little house “So we're just super excited to come back to Waminda.” Community members flooded the re-opening and were treated to a sausage sizzle which was a really good mix,” Ms Bullard said “We had a visit from a group from Yooralla after school; that’s when all the kids turned up We did a wall of hands where the kids traced and put their names on them to decorate a wall.” Ms Bullard said that now the termite issue is fixed and the dust has settled on the re-opening the focus can be back on providing community services and programs which are desperately needed in Benalla which supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children within the Benalla region who are attending full-time education in mainstream schools “Tonight they’re doing some maths,” Ms Bullard said Another program run in collaboration with Tomorrow Today is Reading Buddies where trained volunteers help improve the literacy levels of students they’re matched with “We also had our link-up group here for the re-opening; they were doing some art in the back The link-up group is all about social inclusion every Wednesday during school term from 10am That will include two new elements as of Term 2 And there’s much more going on at Waminda in the coming months Ms Bullard said she wanted to remind the community that on Thursday Homes Victoria would be in Benalla West conducting community consultations on the Benalla West redevelopment Waminda House is currently on the lookout for volunteers and will host a volunteer information evening on Monday In the meantime, if you would like to volunteer, you can call Waminda House on 0491 630 213. To find out more, visit www.wamindabenalla.org.au/ Despite being considered a safe Labor seat the Division of Bendigo saw a shift away from incumbent member Lisa Chesters at Saturday’s federal election Ms Chesters has represented the seat since 2013 and the Labor Party has held it since 1998 While Ms Chesters received 33.89 per cent of the first preference count the ABC projected a narrow win to Ms Chesters estimating a result of 50.3 per cent to 49.7 per cent on a two-party preferred basis following the distribution of preferences First preference counts have been received by the Australian Electoral Commission from all 66 polling places Mr Lethlean received 48.41 per cent of first preference votes the Liberal Party’s Matt Evans 11.02 per cent Heather Freeman of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation 7.52 per cent Family First’s Evelyn Keetelaar 4.34 per cent and the Greens’ Avery Barnett-Dacey 4.13 per cent The remaining candidates each received around one per cent or less Mr Lethlean received 48.3 per cent of first preference votes the Liberal Party’s Matt Evans 9.07 per cent Heather Freeman of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation 8.39 per cent the Greens’ Avery Barnett-Dacey 5.44 per cent the Legalise Cannabis Party’s Wayne Taylor 2.95 per cent Family First’s Evelyn Keetelaar 2.49 per cent and the remaining candidates each received less than one per cent Mr Lethlean received 45.76 per cent of first preference votes The Greens’ Avery Barnett-Dacey 7.58 per cent the Liberal Party’s Matt Evans 6.06 per cent Heather Freeman of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation 5.76 per cent Family First’s Evelyn Keetelaar 4.55 per cent the Legalise Cannabis Party’s Wayne Taylor 4.24 per cent and the remaining candidates each received less than one per cent Preferences will determine the final result of the seat in coming days the first preference count for each candidate across Bendigo is as follows: Family First Party Australia 2.85 per cent the ABC was projecting Labor to obtain 85 seats and Centre Alliance and Katter’s Australian Party one each particularly in metro Melbourne and Brisbane with the ABC chief election analyst Antony Green calling the election to fall in Labor’s favour early on Saturday night In what is being described as a landslide election for Labor the LNP have managed to secure terms locally once again including in Sam Birrell’s seat of Nicholls and Sussan Ley’s seat of Farrer Benalla is on the board for the 2025 Goulburn Valley League season putting together a solid four-quarter performance to down Tatura and record its first senior football win of the season Travelling to Tatura Park for their round five clash against the Bulldogs the Saints led from first bounce to final siren clinching an impressive 17.9 (111) to 7.4 (46) win that never looked in doubt The Saints’ opening term was a carbon copy of their first-quarter efforts against Echuca a week before only this time they restricted Tatura to two behinds taking a 22-point advantage into the quarter-time huddle By half-time the lead ballooned out to 10 goals as Benalla ran riot torching the Bulldogs in a seven-goal-to-one term that essentially put the game to bed Coach Jarrad Waite pulled on the boots for the first time this season and wasted no time in making his mark booting three of his side’s seven majors for the second term while Jordan Wolff added two and Chris Welsh and Nick Mellington slotted one each as the Saints set themselves up for their first victory of the year leaving the Bulldogs with a 48-point deficit to overcome in the final term But Benalla let it get no closer than that peppering the goals with a return of 5.5 in the last quarter handing the Saints an emphatic 65-point victory it was Nick Warnock that was named the Saints’ best for the second week running alongside Mellington (two goals) and Welsh (one goal) while the ever-reliable James Martiniello (one goal) and young gun Ryley Ely were also impressive There were also a number of milestones notched in the win with 17 goals the best return during Waite’s tenure as coach while 46 points is also the lowest score the Saints have conceded since Waite took the reins at the beginning of last year a tangible sign that things are beginning to turn around for Benalla The Saints will look to carry the momentum forward into their clash against Rochester at home this weekend while the Bulldogs face a road trip to Kings Park as they take on Seymour in search of their first win of the season AusNet will be undertaking major upgrade and maintenance activity on its electricity distribution network on Sunday May 4 to improve reliability for customers and contribute to the efficient operation of the network A critical upgrade at the Benalla zone substation will replace some equipment which is reaching the end of its service period extending its lifespan for another 50 years To safely complete the necessary works to switch over from the old power assets to the new AusNet will turn power off from 8am to 6pm AusNet will also undertake over 70 maintenance jobs originally planned for later in the year including power pole and fuse replacements across Benalla Rural City to reduce the need for some future outages in the area AusNet General Manager Network Operations and Delivery said that to minimise the impact of the power outage required for the substation upgrade the company had engaged with customers about the planned works and agreed to schedule them on a weekend “We know that it’s inconvenient to be without electricity but by completing the works on the weekend it avoids disruption to local businesses and schools and ensures that we can complete this essential upgrade before the snow season therefore avoiding peak tourism impacts,” said Mr Young Customers affected have already received a notification from AusNet directly about the planned outage About 12,500 AusNet customers will be without power to complete the work Further details on the Benalla Zone Substation upgrade can be found at ausnet.com.au/mansfield, and customers can check the status of the planned outage on the day by searching ‘Benalla’ on AusNet’s Outage Tracker at outagetracker.com.au/ Just before 5pm on April 24, police from the Benalla Highway patrol detected a vehicle travelling at 172km/h on the Hume Fwy, Baddaginnie. The 21-year-old male driver, a probationary licence holder, overtook an unmarked police vehicle in the right lane at high speed. The driver was intercepted and will be charged on summons for driving at a dangerous speed and exceeding the speed limit. His vehicle has been impounded for 30 days, incurring a release fee of $1280. Victoria Police said it remained committed to enforcing road safety and holding dangerous drivers to account. Benalla Rural City Council wants changes to the Victorian Government’s revamped emergency services levy due to its significant financial impact on rural ratepayers, particularly farmers. At its meeting on April 23, council resolved to fight for substantial changes to the proposed Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF) to protect the community from what it sees as an unfair levy model. The ESVF is set to replace the existing Fire Services Property Levy (FSPL) from July 1. Modelling predicts the total levy collected from Benalla Rural City ratepayers will increase by 81 per cent, rising from $2.37 million to $4.29 million. Local farmers are expected to be the most disadvantaged by this change, with an average 137 per cent increase in their levy contributions. Residential landowners will face a 58 per cent average rise, while commercial properties are projected to see a 69 per cent increase. Council has expressed deep concern over the disproportionate impact on rural ratepayers, particularly primary producers, who already face unique financial pressures. Without adjustments, the levy would further strain these communities. To address these concerns, Council has endorsed amendments proposed by Rural Councils Victoria (RCV), including recalculating the levy formula to ensure fairness, guaranteeing that funds raised in rural areas are reinvested locally, and advocating for the State Revenue Office to handle levy collection rather than councils. To ensure rural voices are heard when the legislation is next considered, an advocacy strategy will be developed to engage key decision makers, including the Victorian treasurer and Legislative Council crossbench MPs. Benalla Mayor Bernie Hearn said that by pushing for a fairer and more balanced funding model, council aimed to reduce the financial burden on its community while supporting valuable emergency services. "Benalla Rural City Council supports Rural Councils Victoria's call for the tax to be made fairer for everyone and council remains committed to protecting its ratepayers and advocating against policies that negatively impact our residents,” Cr Hearn said. “We want to see the proposed levy recalculated to make it fairer and to reduce the financial burden it will bring, especially to our farmers. “At the very least, this new tax burden should be shared equally amongst all Victorian landholders. “Only a small percentage of this levy will actually be passed onto volunteers, and there is no guarantee any of the revenue raised in Benalla Rural City will be used to support our CFA or SES volunteers.” Cr Hearn said there was still time for the Victorian Government to acknowledge the inequities and unforeseen consequences of the new levy and to make the necessary legislative changes. Picture suppliedA Benalla labour hire company has been hit with heavy fines after operating without a licence and deducting wages from workers to live in squalid conditions 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 areaContinueLinna Chiem was the sole director of the company and owned two properties on Cowan Street and Exton Court in Benalla Migrant workers were housed at this Cowan Street home in Benalla and each charged $100 without their written permission The Supreme Court heard the business provided workers for the horticultural and wine industries Picture suppliedMorm was introduced to Guru Labour Hire Pty Ltd in mid-2022 by people from the Cambodia and Indian communities and Morm started a business relationship with the company Picture suppliedMorm provided accommodation and transportation to Guru's workers and charged each worker $100 per week to stay at the Cowan Street residence Cameron Workforce provided workers to four businesses Stanton and Killeen and Chambers Rosewood between May and July 2023 Picture suppliedMost of the businesses were wineries based in the North East Cameron Workforce received $35 an hour to provide the workers and paid them $25 per hour and did not authorise the $100 accommodation fee being deducted from their wages They lived at the Cowan Street home in Benalla and complaints were made about their welfare Picture suppliedPhotographs were taken of their living conditions Labour Hire Licensing Authority staff investigated and found the property failed to meet minimum accommodation standards Picture suppliedThe licensing authority sought to ban Cameron Workforce from providing labour hire services in August 2023 due to concerns about the business The business was taken to the Supreme Court in April for labour hire licensing breaches The Benalla business had agreed to pay a fine of $1.37 million but Justice Michael McDonald considered the penalty to be too high 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 The Victorian Government is supporting business expansion in Benalla with investment in a new freight facility that will create new jobs and boost the local economy Agriculture Minister Ros Spence announced on Wednesday April 23 that Midland Freight in Benalla would receive a $1 million grant from the Forestry Transition Fund to support the construction of a new $3 million multi-purpose freight facility Known to be the largest Forestry Transition Fund grant to date the initiative will support the delivery of the new facility which will feature an undercover freight transfer area Midland Freight currently has 35 employees and the project will create 10 new jobs — seven drivers Midland Freight has been operating since 1989 providing a delivery service to north-east Victoria for companies including Fisher and Paykel The current owners purchased the business in 2012 The investment complements the work of the Future of Benalla and District Local Development Strategy which aims to create new industries that will support Benalla’s economy in the future “Benalla is situated at an important transport corridor and this project will support the expansion of industry and manufacturing in north-east Victoria,” Ms Spence said Benalla Rural City Council has also received $500,000 from the Forestry Transition Program’s Community Development Fund to further progress the area’s LDS work supporting job creation and business development in and around communities impacted by the end of native timber harvesting A $20,000 employment incentive payment for the employment of former native timber workers is also available “Benalla Rural City Council welcomes this investment in jobs for Benalla,” Mayor Bernie Hearn said “The Future of Benalla and District Local Development Strategy identifies Benalla Rural City as an important hub for regional logistics and this funding helps cement our place in this sector.” For more information visit deeca.vic.gov.au/forestry or call 1800 318 182 John Holland will continue site establishment works in and around the Benalla Station precinct in May These works are required ahead of Inland Rail construction starting later this year where worker facilities and plant and materials will be located is being established within the railway precinct along Hannah St Works can sometimes be cancelled at short notice depending on weather and other factors For any concerns, inquiries or to book an appointment to talk about these works, phone 1800 732 761, email inlandrailvic@inlandrail.com.au or visit the Inland Rail shopfront at 2/53 Carrier St Benalla RSL is busy preparing to join local people in the Rose City honouring Anzac Day The day will begin with the annual dawn service to be held at the Benalla Cenotaph at 6am on Friday A Benalla RSL spokesperson said the second Anzac Day service will be held at the Benalla Cenotaph at 11am community members will gather at the corner of Bridge St West and Nunn St at 10.30am to take part in the annual Anzac Day march It will proceed to the cenotaph in time for the 11am service “We have scheduled a flyover with the assistance of Benalla’s Aviation Museum,” the spokesperson said “For those veterans unable to march or drive a bus will depart Benalla Bowls Club at 10am and will follow the march.” This is probably not the page you’re looking for Racing Victoria (RV) wishes to advise that the meeting scheduled at bet365 Benalla today (Tuesday, 11 March) has been rescheduled due to the state of the track. The track was inspected this morning following 15mm of rain overnight which was not forecast. The decision was made to reschedule the meeting due to a wet patch at the 1000m mark which is not suitable for racing. Due to the issue with the track, the meeting will now be run at Sportsbet-Wangaratta on Thursday, 13 March. Nominations will be reopened with a closing time of 3pm today and acceptances taken at 9am tomorrow (Wednesday, 12 March). Horses that were final acceptors after final scratching time for today’s meeting will receive ballot preference. Those horses can also nominate for bet365 Park Kilmore and Cranbourne on Friday, 14 March and Ladbrokes Geelong on Saturday, 15 March until 1:30pm today.  The updated program with distance changes is as follows: © 2025 Racing Victoria Limited. Any unauthorised reproduction, adaptation or communication is strictly prohibited. File picturePolice have seized 26 mature cannabis plants from a Benalla property Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueOfficers searched the Sydney Road site on April 14 and seized the plants A 36-year-old man is expected to be interviewed and charged with drug cultivation "Police are committed to disrupting illegal drug activity to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our community," a spokesman said and urged people with information to call Crime Stoppers In other news, a dangerous driver who killed two people in a crash at Tocumwal will be sentenced in Albury court on May 23. A wanted man facing 10 sets of charges in Wodonga court is back in custody, with one of his alleged offences involving a home invasion Precast concrete segments made in Benalla have now arrived in Watsonia ready to line the walls of Victoria’s biggest road project – North East Link More than 46,000 concrete segments are being made by Benalla business LS Precast for the 6.5 kilometre North East Link tunnels Ninety segments are being made per day creating jobs for 120 locals and providing a massive boost to the local economy The first of these segments have been delivered and are currently being housed in a large shed at Watsonia and will be installed by the tunnel boring machines when the first one begins its journey to Bulleen in the coming weeks the segments will be transported from the shed and to the back of the TBM which will pick them up and place them in the tunnel wall LS Precast has already supplied 49,000 concrete products for the West Gate Tunnel Project and the transition to providing segments for the North East Link tunnels has secured a pipeline of regional jobs a massive amount of work is underway to prepare for tunnelling The 200-metre-long TBM launch box is complete and work is underway to prepare the Lower Plenty Road and Manningham Road sites for the arrival of the TBMs which will begin tunnelling in the coming weeks Works are also underway to prepare for the upgrade of the freeways that will connect to the North East Link tunnels with barriers and worksites being set up along the Eastern Freeway and M80 Ring Road The North East Link tunnels and freeway upgrades are jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian governments and will be complete in 2028 Stay updated about North East Link with the key announcements and milestones Madeleine McCann's family has marked the 18th anniversary of her disappearance by remembering her as a "very beautiful and unique person" ahead of what would be her 22nd birthday Madeleine was three when she vanished while on a family holiday in Praia da Luz "The years appear to be passing even more quickly and whilst we have no significant news to share our determination to leave no stone unturned is unwavering," a statement from her parents Kate and Gerry McCann and the family said "We continue to celebrate her as the very beautiful and unique person she is thanked supporters "for standing by us and never forgetting about Madeleine" The family expressed gratitude to the UK charity Missing People for their ongoing ministers approved more than £100,000 ($A205,926) in additional funding for Scotland Yard detectives investigating Madeleine's disappearance Madeleine was three when she vanished while her parents went to dinner with friends leaving their three young children asleep in their holiday apartment who is serving a seven-year prison sentence in Germany for the rape of an elderly woman at her home in the Praia da Luz in 2005 has denied any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance Benalla is set to welcome the multi-ARIA-award-winning jazz artist Vince Jones John Mackey on the tenor sax and drummer James Hauptmann Mr Jones will bring his soulful vocals to Benalla Art Gallery “My father was a jazz lover and a jazz musician Mr Jones kick-started his career by playing throughout Melbourne’s renowned club scene Five decades in the industry and 25 albums has led Mr Jones to where he is now His dedication to the craft shines through laying claim to being creator of the bestselling Australian jazz album of all time “Music has the ability to sort of sneak into people’s psyche and help them see something that wasn’t clear or help them understand something that wasn’t necessarily easy to understand,” Mr Jones said “I like to paint little stories in people’s psyche “There’s elements of everything in the music that we write.” Mr Jones said his trip to Benalla would act as a way to increase the accessibility to arts in the area “It’s an opportunity for them to hear music that they wouldn’t necessarily hear,” Mr Jones said “The largest cities know where we’re coming from it takes a minute or two to understand what they’re being confronted with.” Mr Jones and his band will be playing at Benalla Art Gallery on Sunday Mr Jones said he was looking forward to bringing his sound to the region “I’m excited if the audience gets excited,” Mr Jones said so I’m really fortunate to be surrounded by these players that are just extraordinary “As long as we’re allowed to wash over them and they’re not too critical of us To secure your spot for the show, book online at tinyurl.com/y4fbv4bv or call 5760 2619 or email gallery@benalla.vic.gov.au A magnitude 5.2 earthquake has struck the southern US state of Texas The European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said it struck in the state's west late on Saturday at a depth of 10km The quake was revised down from an earlier 6.5 magnitude Tuesday's trials at Benalla will be streamed live on Racing.com from 8:30am AEST.  All 11 trials can be watched live in the video player below, with replays to follow shortly after each heat The Australian National Heritage Festival is the nation’s largest community celebration of heritage the Benalla Heritage Network has curated a rich and engaging local program for the 2025 event which it is calling ‘Unearthed Benalla — A celebration of heritage With over 30 volunteer-run groups and individual historians involved the network has arranged 14 events in and around the Rose City The festival kicks off with an official public opening on Friday May 2 from 11am at the Benalla Visitor Information Centre It will begin with a welcome to country from Winton Wetlands Koorie cultural officer Yorta Yorta woman Nikki James and Auntie Cheryl Cooper’s fascinating yarn where she will discuss the stories behind a kangaroo skin that she is decorating Benalla Mayor Bernie Hearn will formally open the festival ‘Unearthed Benalla’ offers immersive stories from Indigenous custodianship to colonial streetscapes they’re recommended for a smooth experience Expect a program full of ‘I didn’t know that’ moments May 4 with a community celebration highlighted by keynote speaker Alana Johnson 11am to noon: Festival opening ‘Unearthed Benalla — A Celebration of Heritage and Heart’ at the Visitor Information Centre 12.30pm to 1.30pm: Reel History — Benalla’s story on screen Experience Benalla’s past through captivating short films and documentaries and personal stories —bringing the town’s heritage to life on screen 2pm to 3pm: Benalla’s grand design: A township built for greatness Discover the story of surveyor Thomas Wedge’s 1848 vision for Benalla — an ambitious blueprint that shaped a town with aspirations for regional greatness Explore how this vision still influences Benalla today 9am to 5pm: Un-Earthed Benalla — The William Howship Collection Step back in time with an extraordinary photographic exhibition featuring over 2000 images taken between 1900 and 1930 by early Benalla photographer William Howship adapted streetscapes and a trove of portraiture— many subjects unknown Enjoy a timeless Devonshire tea and discover the warmth and creativity of Benalla’s CWA members stories and community spirit at the beloved CWA Hall Noon to 5pm: Meet the ghost of Miss Switzer once a men-only club and now a welcoming social hub Hear the whispered tales of Miss Switzer and enjoy drinks garden vibes and a festival-only two-for-one social membership offer Marvel at stunning stained-glass windows and hear Victoria’s oldest pipe organ in Benalla’s historic Uniting Church Learn the stories of Benalla’s founding families and enjoy the warm welcome of a church at the heart of community life 1pm to 2.30pm: Walk with us to discover the history of Bridge St Take a guided tour of Bridge St and uncover the original Post Office the once-numerous hotels and the history of Miller’s Department Store Learn who designed the buildings that now form the heart of Benalla 5pm to 6pm: Reel History — Benalla’s story on screen 11.15am to 12.30pm: Unearthed — Tales of a gravedigger Gravedigger and storyteller Mark Beazley shares fascinating tales of burial customs grave-digging challenges and the lighter side of farewell surprising celebration of one of history’s most misunderstood roles 12.30pm to 1.30pm: Reel history — Benalla’s story on screen 1pm to 3pm: Walking on country: Aboriginal and early colonial Benalla Join historian Hamish McPherson and Yorta Yorta community members for a moving two-hour guided walk along the Broken River Learn about thousands of years of Aboriginal connection to country and the violent upheaval that followed colonisation 3pm to 4pm: Festival closing event at the Visitor Information Centre Reflection — What did the festival tell us about our past Benalla Rural City Council is set to receive a share of $2.5 million to address road safety concerns The Victorian Government is funding BRCC along with 37 other government authorities as part of the latest round of the Transport Accident Commission’s Local Government Grant Program BRCC will receive the funding for its 2025-2030 Road Safety Strategy which will be developed on the four pillars of the Safe System and will provide alignment through local community and stakeholder engagement and addressing common road problems in the Rose City State Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes said funding would also be allocated to the Active Transport Project 2025-2030 which will prioritise raised pedestrian crossings designing shared paths and off-road trails proposing speed limit adjustments and developing concept designs for key local connectors and facilities to improve active transport safety and connectivity in Benalla Rural City “I am pleased to see these safer road initiatives that will address localised road safety challenges in northern Victoria,” Ms Symes said The LGGP provides funding to projects that help prevent road trauma particularly among pedestrians and cyclists — the most vulnerable road users 48 pedestrians and 12 cyclists lost their lives on the state’s roads; in 2023-24 556 pedestrians and 401 cyclists were hospitalised as the result of a road accident All funded projects have adopted one of the four focus areas of the ‘Safe System’ approach to road safety: The 2025 TAC Local Government Grant Program will open for applications in mid-June Figures show 1040 residents of Benalla Rural City are living with diabetes And leading diabetes organisations are asking for urgent help for them during this federal election campaign Diabetes Australia is calling for both major parties to commit to expanding affordable access to life-changing technologies for people living with diabetes The cost-of-living crisis is hitting Australians hard with many people living with diabetes forced to choose between essential medical technology and basic necessities The latest Diabetes Australia cost-of-living survey found that for 61 per cent of people the cost of diabetes medicines and technologies was their greatest challenge There are 912 people living with type 2 diabetes and 98 people with type 1 diabetes Diabetes Australia group chief executive Justine Cain said Australians living with all types of diabetes should have equitable access to the technology they needed to live well “Nobody should have to decide between good health care and putting food on the table,” Ms Cain said “The bipartisan support to expand continuous glucose monitoring device subsidies for people living with type 1 diabetes and we thank both the government and the opposition for that people living with type 2 diabetes requiring multiple daily insulin injections are still being denied the same subsidy thousands of Australians living with type 1 diabetes who can’t afford top-level private health insurance Not only are we falling behind the diabetes technology provided in many other developed nations we are now failing to provide what is considered standard care in the management of diabetes “There is clear evidence that access to diabetes technologies reduces overall healthcare costs for both the individual and the healthcare system “A person’s bank balance or postcode should not be a barrier to good health.” April 24 there is yet another reason for tourists to flock to Benalla The Benalla Historical Society hosted the official opening of the newly refurbished Costume and Kelly Museum Despite being in a slightly different position inside the building the museum has long been a part of the old Mechanics Institute which also houses the Benalla Visitor Information Centre and cinema BHS secretary Alan Monger welcomed guests including state Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland Cr Hearn said she’d like to acknowledge Creative Victoria specifically its senior manager of assets and delivery “I'm so delighted to be here today at the official opening of this newly refurbished Benalla Costume and Kelly Museum,” Cr Hearn said “This project marks a significant milestone in preserving and showcasing Benalla’s rich culture and historical heritage “This beautiful space required an extension to our existing building which also houses our Visitor Information Centre “This was purposely built to improve the display of the two iconic pieces in the gallery The nationally significant Ned Kelly sash and the Ned Kelly cell “The enhanced refurbishment of the Costume and Kelly Museum ensures that they are seen in the light they deserve Cr Hearn said she was pleased Benalla Rural City Council could donate $75,000 to the project “A great big thank you to Creative Victoria and the Victorian government for your contributions to our refurbishment,” she said “I also would like to acknowledge all those who contributed to the success from the planners “We look forward to welcoming many more visitors through these doors to learn reflect and experience the legend of Ned Kelly and the wider tapestry of our local industry.” Several speakers took to the lectern at the event including Creative Victoria’s Emma Harvey and Benalla Historical Society president Ellen Crocker Ms Cleeland said it was a pleasure to be in Benalla to celebrate the unveiling of “this incredibly new chapter in our local museum's history” I am so proud to see such meaningful investment in our region’s cultural and historical heart,” Ms Cleeland said Benalla is looking magnificent at the moment but with the street art and now the museum “This museum has always been more than bricks and mortar our people and the legacy that we’re building as a community “It all began in 1965 at the old Mechanics Institute which is a relic of its own that was first built in 1860 but one built on big dreams and community spirit the museum accepted everything that came through the door allowing it to build an incredible archive of local artefacts “The museum has never lost its sense of curiosity and continues to accept incredible items from across our region And it will blow your mind what is just behind these walls “It’s a testament to the dedication and passion of the many The most amazing and ambitious volunteers and staff and I really have to emphasise Benalla Rural City who have got behind this project wholeheartedly.” After the speeches and some well-deserved bubbles all that was left was the official opening The Benalla Costume and Kelly Museum is located at 14 Mair St 10am to 2.30pm on Saturdays and 10am to 1.30pm on Sundays TAKEN AWAY: A man's utility was impounded after he was caught more than five times the legal limit in Benalla on Friday night A MAN has had his vehicle impounded and driver's licence suspended after being caught with a blood alcohol level more than five times the legal limit in Benalla’s main street last Friday night A police spokesperson said Benalla Highway Patrol officers observed a utility driving extremely slowly with no lights on along Bridge Street about 7pm “When the vehicle pulled into a nearby carpark Benalla residents can now jump on board a V/Line bus to travel to GOTAFE’s Docker Street Campus V/Line has introduced a new Benalla to Albury bus service which departs Benalla Station at 7am and arrives at Wangaratta Station at 7.30am on weekdays With our Docker Street campus just a stone’s throw away from Wangaratta Station we encourage our Benalla based students to make the most of this new service It’s great to see V/Line helping reduce barriers to vocational education in our region officers from Benalla Highway Patrol observed a vehicle travelling without headlights and at an unusually slow speed along Bridge St in Benalla After narrowly missing several street signs the vehicle was intercepted in a nearby car park where he recorded an evidentiary reading of 0.260 – more than five times the legal limit and his vehicle was impounded for 30 days at a cost of $1280 He will be summonsed to appear in court at a later date A police spokesperson said this incident was a stark reminder of the dangers and consequences of impaired driving “It is extremely disappointing to see this kind of reckless behaviour on our roads,” the spokesperson said This intercept falls under Operation Compass a statewide road policing initiative running over the April school holidays including Easter and Anzac Day long weekends the Benalla RSL conducted a commemorative service at the Benalla Cemetery War Memorial honouring air force personnel who lost their lives during preparations for World War II The ceremony was led by Benalla RSL president Paul Hartland and attended by fellow club associates and members of the public who were there to pay their respects Benalla Salvation Army Corps Captain Ben Anderson was there as a representative to lead the opening prayer the ending prayer and to perform the Last Post the following members were honoured and acknowledged: Attendees placed bright red poppies at the base of the flagpole paying tribute to fallen servicemen and women The ceremony concluded with the recitation of the Ode the Last Post and the Australian national anthem Inland Rail will use the upcoming 60-hour closure of the Albury Shepparton and Seymour lines to carry out important construction activity and prepare sites on the Beveridge to Albury section of the project for major works later in the year From 7am Saturday 22 March to 7pm Monday 24 March Inland Rail and its construction partners will complete a large program of works that can only be undertaken safely when rail services are suspended Inland Rail will perform construction activities at multiple Victorian sites including the removal of the Docker Street pedestrian bridge near Wangaratta station road safety improvement works at the Birkett Street level crossing in Euroa Inland Rail track possession works will also include: Coaches will replace trains during the track possession works period and passengers are advised to check the V/Line website for more information Inland Rail Delivery Director Beveridge to Albury said: “Track possessions are critically important for the completion of the Inland Rail project They allow our team to access the rail corridor safely and complete essential work without trains operating so we can complete a large volume of work in a short period and keep the disruption of the rail line to a minimum “The possession works are focused on finishing off the remaining work on our Tranche 1 sites at Wangaratta and Seymour-Avenel Road and preparing Tranche 2 sites for major construction later this year “We apologise for the disruptions and thank local communities for their patience and understanding as we carry out the work.” Image caption: Docker Street footbridge to the north of Wangaratta station will be removed following the opening of the pedestrian underpass on Friday Four people have been charged with drug and weapon offences following an ongoing investigation into the supply of drugs in the Southern Riverina Officers attached to Murray River Police District established Strike Force Bodallin last month to investigate the supply and distribution of prohibited drugs Police allege a number of people have been involved in the supply of prohibited drugs – believed to be methylamphetamine – in the Tocumwal Simultaneous search warrants were executed at four properties yesterday morning with the assistance from State Crime Command’s Raptor Squad The younger woman was charged with 78 drug and weapon related offences and “knowingly/recklessly direct criminal group assist crime” The three others were all charged with “participate criminal group” The older woman faces five charges relating to drugs the younger man was charged with 20 drug and weapon related offences and the older man has three drug related charges The two women are due to face Deniliquin court on May 13 and the 43 year-old man is to appear at Finley court on May 27 A court date for the younger man has not been made available at this time A flood damaged bridge in Benalla will be open soon Preliminary repair works on the Link Island Footbridge have started Following recent work by North East Water to relocate water supply assets Benalla Rural City Council has commenced work to repair the pedestrian bridge which links in with the Lake Benalla walking track Benalla Mayor Cr Bernie Hearn said she was excited about the works “The footbridge has long been a key piece of infrastructure for our community connecting locals and visitors to one of our most beautiful natural spaces (along) the Lake Benalla walking track,” Cr Hearn said with the support of the Victorian Government’s Council Flood Support Fund we are now able to construct a new bridge deck and repair walking paths connected to the footbridge.” Works are scheduled to be completed by June 30 “We appreciate the community’s patience and understanding while we complete this important infrastructure repair work,” Cr Hearn said The seniors started the game against Tarrawingee thinking a win was going to just happen leading at the first change with some better team work The game was still in the balance at half time with the boys finally getting on top in the second half with Victor Butler back to his best and lifting the boys with some brilliant play Matt Ryan played a good game from start to finish with his typical pressure on the ball carrier causing turnovers Congratulations goes to Sam Gladstone on his 100th game for the club you have been a great leader for all of those games for our club Best Players: Victor Butler (Peter Davis Rural) The reserves came up against Tarrawingee away from home hoping to get back to back wins for the first time for a long while Both Jeremy Hill and Charlie Briggs were the stand outs from start to finish who played a great team game to set up teammates down the ground The ever reliable Jeremy Sloan is getting better with each game he plays for the boys with great support from Matthew Priest with his run and carry setting up forwards like Jack Trevena who has made the most of his opportunities in front of goal Best Players: Jeremy Hill (Bouwmeesters Bakery) Nathan Holmes (Quality Wool Voucher) Matthew Priest (Early Bird Coffee Award) We went out with no expectations other than to just focus on playing our game and giving Tarra a red hot crack We managed to take a one-goal lead at half time playing the best netball we’ve played as a team so far this season who fought tirelessly for the whole game as we expected with them positioned top of the ladder Michele Button held us steady in the goal ring with her shooting and rebounds Amelia Gall and Molly Doidge gave us plenty of drive through the mid court and plenty of pressure Best: Michele Button - Riverbank $100 Cash Award Amelia Gall - Goorambat Railway Hotel Award The Bats knew it was going to be a tough trip to Tarra but they came out fighting and never gave up Nikki Wallace showed her strength in defence with some great rebounds and fought for every ball Madison Dunne showed great strength in WD helping to slow the ball for the defenders with great hands over ball Sophie Hammond kept strong in shooting against tough defenders They worked hard all game but couldn’t close the gap Madison Dunne - Advance Ag Thursday Night Meal Award Sophie Hammond - Terry White Chemmart Award while Goorambat had opportunities but goalies didn’t capitalise on them the Bats fought back with Brooke Haddrell being switched from defence into goals Abby Hammond worked endlessly in the midcourt and gave some great drive and feeding while defensively Kirby Davis and young gun Lacey Carter worked hard and didn’t make it easy for Tarra’s shooters The score board didn’t reflect the competitiveness of the game holding each other off scoring for the first eight minutes of the game With our girls finding their rhythm and working well as a team they took a narrow lead into the second quarter With the attacking combination of Yolanda Bourke and Charli Button in the ring moving well and finding each other close to the post and brilliant feeding and movement from Pippa Martin and Cienna Berry the girls were able to move the ball in to score Added defensive pressure from Lacey Carter forced turnovers and bringing the ball out of the defensive end the girls were able to maintain their lead heading into half time The second half the girls began to fatigue and the Tarrawingee defence took advantage bringing them back to lead by one heading into the last quarter both teams gave their all going goal for goal until Tarrawingee scored off a few turnovers breaking away with only a few minutes left and maintaining that lead until the final whistle Bats came out firing this week against Tarrawingee with two new additions Havarna Long and Alarna Button coming back from injury We had great defensive pressure all the way down the court from every single player Their determination this week was reflected in their game Their passing and communication down the court with each other has come along way Movement in the ring saw the girls came away with eight goals for the game Having great rotation and fresh legs come through the mid court helped the girls keep that intensity up for most of the game Featured image: A render of the completed Benalla Station Inland Rail has released the latest designs for the Benalla railway station precinct with locals invited to provide feedback before construction begins later in 2025 Updated visualisations highlight an open railway station surrounded by landscaped gardens and serviced by additional parking and improved pedestrian and cyclist connectivity urban design finishes and heritage interpretation options and feedback shared until 16 March 2025 by:  Inland Rail B2A Manager Stakeholder Engagement and Communications said that the latest designs transform the Benalla railway station precinct into an open “The Benalla community have played an important role to shape the plans for the railway station precinct and we’ve incorporated many of their ideas and suggestions from previous community engagement in the new designs.”  The Women in Industry Awards are a platform to recognise and celebrate the achievements of women across a diverse range.. The size and make-up of Australia’s government sector has been the subject of some debate during this federal election campaign... The Port of Melbourne has unveiled its Draft 2055 Port Development Strategy (PDS) laying out a roadmap to ensure Australia's.. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media Benalla went over and above to honour the sacrifice of the Anzacs and all who have lost their lives or been injured serving their country with many commenting it was the best attended in years The crowd filled the area around the cenotaph and across the road outside the fencing The RSL also hosted a breakfast and lunch for former and serving members at its rooms on Nunn St and arranged a well-organised Anzac Day march Benalla RSL sub-branch president Paul Hartland hosted the dawn service introducing guest speaker state Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland “We are gathered here today in the quiet stillness of morning as Australians have done for over a century to remember those who have served and sacrificed so much in the name of freedom “Anzac Day is a time to reflect not only on the great battles fought far from our shores but also on the incredible individuals who came from places just like this and who carried our community’s values into some of the most challenging places on earth.” Ms Cleeland went on to discuss two of Benalla’s favourite sons Captain Hec Waller and Sir Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop let’s carry their stories with us and carry their stories for all of our fallen sons and all those who served and represented our region with pride,” Ms Cleeland said “Because Anzac Day is not just about the past It’s about who we are today and who we strive to be The dawn service also included readings from local students including Australian Christian College’s Flynn Mosley a recent recipient of a Kokoda scholarship Amber Armstrong from Benalla P-12 College and FCJ College’s Sophie Hammond Later in the day hundreds marched from the corner of Bridge St East and Nunn St to the cenotaph with crowds clapping and cheering along the way Brett Taylor-Parking was emcee of the service following the march Mia Hamm from Cathedral College Wangaratta and Salvation Army Captain Ben Anderson Benalla RSL member Delano Dube was on hand to sing the New Zealand and Australian national anthems The guest speaker for the service was Ian Robertson who was assisted by Benalla RSL sub-branch welfare officer Kylie Dennis The two told the story of the Gallipoli landings through the voices of those who were there fell prey to the bouts of depression he called the Black Dog he would dream about Gallipoli and the Dardanelles of the dead soldiers in the water and on the cliffs,” Mr Robinson said it could have changed the course of the war But it wasn't successful and all that was altered were the lives of many Australians men from around the country lined up at recruiting stations and willingly enlisted “Many believed they could even be home by Christmas They honoured their pledge and for thousands “During a farewell reception at Dimboola in 1914 the new recruits were given the following advice by the recruiting officer who was also the commander of the local military and a Boer War veteran...” your sisters and your brothers on every opportunity that you get They will be waiting anxiously and looking for news from you You may depend upon it that they will hand those letters around amongst friends and that they will be read with interest.” “These men sailed off to the war in the first convoy,” he said “Dimboola carpenter George Martindale was among them Benalla local Alfred Guppy and his commanding officer “Winston Churchill proposed a strategy to take the Ottoman Empire out of the war open up supply lines to Russia and protect British interests in the Middle East “This was approved and the Anzacs’ fate was sealed “Sir Ian Hamilton was selected to lead the expeditionary force to take the Dardanelles “He was handed his orders six weeks before the landings took place at Gallipoli as the men waited to head to the peninsula they were read a force order that Hamilton had written.” “Before us lies an adventure unprecedented in modern war,” she said we are about to force a landing upon an open beach in face of positions which have been vaunted by our enemies to be impregnable “The landing will be made good by the help of god and the Navy and the war brought one step closer to a glorious close that once you put foot on the Gallipoli peninsula you must fight the thing through to the finish “The whole world will be watching our progress Let us prove ourselves worthy of the great feat of arms entrusted to us.” the flotilla of ships sailed towards Gallipoli with the men sitting in silence or wondering what fate held in store for them was breaching the heavily mined Strait of the Dardanelles and would run amok for several days “Philip Schuler couldn’t go with the troops but reported the landings for his Melbourne readers as he saw them through a telescope and binoculars.” “The battle opened at 4.17am the racket of rifles reached the ears of the other brigades,” she said the men jumped from the boats into the icy Aegean up to their armpits sometimes their rifles held above their heads they at once dropped their packs and charged “Some Turks were running down the beach to oppose them “At other places around the northern extremity of the cove and along the broader shore were grounding on the beach only to be shattered and the whole parties in them decimated by machine gun.” places like Shrapnel Gully and battles such as the Neck sent a letter home and told his family of one such battle.” I don’t think the great devil himself could We stood up to it in a hail of bombs and bullets for three days and nights “Here also were some awful sights to be seen the decision was made to abandon the campaign,” he said the need to reinforce the Western Front and the mounting pressure from the people at home over the rising casualty lists forced the politicians and the top brass to make the decision “Brigadier John Monash was the officer in charge of the withdrawal of the troops from Anzac Cove Which was completed without the loss of one man “Monash went on to command the Australian Army Corps on the Western Front Become a revered leader and a household name he built the bridge which stands behind us today (in Benalla) wrote the following poem reflecting the emotions of leaving Anzac Cove.” “Not only muffled is our tread to cheat the foe We fear to rouse our honoured dead to hear us go the keenest smart which more than failure wounds the heart