all of a sudden a party that's barely moved the needle for decades has become a force in Bendigo politics 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 areaContinueLeader David Littleproud has visited the seat multiple times and talked it up as a place his party could make inroads Labor's Lisa Chesters remains the favourite to win at 10pm on election night the Liberals' vote has been blown out of the water and Chesters did not claim victory when she addressed supporters at Bendigo Trades Hall earlier in the evening Lisa Chesters. Picture by Darren HoweIt seems a fair way from what one election analyst said earlier this week: "I doubt it will be competitive," that expert said So as the dust settles on this election one thing is clear: the Nationals have emerged as a force in Bendigo politics Chesters only won her first election in 2013 by 2333 votes and it was still a marginal seat when voters returned to the polls three years later Her Labor predecessor Steve Gibbons almost lost the seat in 2004 The Nationals have made an impact like this before albeit not as emphatically as they have in 2025 Back in 2010's state election, Nationals candidate Steven Oliver outpolled the Liberals to come second to Labor's Maree Edwards including the specific dynamics of that election But here was one that is salient to 2025's federal election Oliver was a well known Bendigo businessman with deep links to the sporting community It is a lesson the talking heads should note has deep business ties to Bendigo and is well-known in many circles It seems not to have been enough this time around but Lethlean is fighting a national swing against the Coalition Imagine what might have happened if the Albanese government had been on the nose Picture by Darren HoweWhat does it all mean?So what does this all mean going forward Lethlean might not have won Bendigo but he has proven the Nationals can be a force in regional Victorian towns that shows the conventional wisdom that Bendigo's alternative party is the Liberals - one that has been around for decades - is wrong Liberal candidate Matthew Evans should have done better he did not benefit from the same financial boon Lethlean got from his party this election He is a former deputy mayor of Bendigo with the profile that comes from four years working with ratepayers The big question for the Nationals now is what they do next Do they throw Lethlean into the state election to follow in Oliver's footsteps and try to win Bendigo West or even go after premier Jacinta Allan's Bendigo East Or does Lethean have a second crack at trying to unseat Lisa Chesters Tom O'Callaghan is a Bendigo Advertiser journalist I grew up in Bendigo and I want to tell your stories. 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Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Picture by Darren HoweA massive swing to the Nationals "would have to" be very concerning for Bendigo East MP and premier Jacinta Allan a state politician says as the fallout continues for Labor Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe party could lose the federal Bendigo seat to the Nationals in a nail-biting vote count expected to draw into a fourth day on Tuesday The results were reverberating through state politics where Coalition MPs like Danny O'Brien wanted to unseat a long-term Labor government "I think the premier would have to be very concerned," he said as he stood in Hargreaves Mall on Monday State MP Danny O'Brien speaks in Hargreaves Mall Picture by Darren HoweNats may pick and choose targetsMr O'Brien was in Bendigo helping his party's election scrutineers keep an eye on one of the few bright spots in a disastrous federal election for the Coalition Bendigo swung so hard towards the Nationals that it was within striking distance of experienced Labor MP Lisa Chesters in a what was supposed to be a safe seat Yet the question remained whether the Nationals would field candidates in both Bendigo East and West at the 2026 state election "I would expect we would run candidates in Bendigo not necessarily in both seats," Mr O'Brien said Obviously our focus is to get rid of a bad Labor state government and we'll be working with our Liberal colleagues across the state to maximise the opportunity to do that." Liberal candidates had typically taken the lead in attempts to unseat Labor over the last two decades but none had been successful at a federal or state level Mr O'Brien would not be drawn into commentary on the Liberals' election results He said there was a mood for change in Bendigo's state electorates "I don't want to get into who should be our candidate but the key point is that the Nationals have a good brand in Bendigo a good brand in regional cities as well," Mr O'Brien said Premier Jacinta Allan with Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards and federal Bendigo member Lisa Chesters Picture by Darren HoweAllan watching the election countMeanwhile Ms Allan was in Melbourne talking up the statewide swing to Labor at the federal election "What we have seen is that Victorians aren't focused on the commentary Victorians are focused on who was going to be on their side," she told reporters she said the Nationals had "worked so incredibly hard to make sure the community didn't know they had anything to do with [Coalition leader] Peter Dutton and his Liberal outfit" Ms Allan said she had been in touch with federal Bendigo candidate Lisa Chesters and would wait and see how the count panned out "Lisa has a deep commitment to the Bendigo community she has worked hard and I am proud to have supported her as a colleague and as a friend," she said Hargreaves Mall bloomed with colour during a Mexican Fiesta street party Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe party took place on Saturday May 3 from 11am in the heart of the city with dancers music performances and food showing off the very best Mexico has to offer The City of Greater Bendigo has curated the event in partnership with the Mexican Social and Cultural Association of Victoria View +11 PhotosFamily funThere were also numerous activities for children at the event including pinata popping City of Greater Bendigo creative co-ordinator Maree Tonkin said the event was one of many events the city helped put on in the mall Ms Tonkin said part of the aim of events similar to the Mexican Fiesta was to get more people into Bendigo's CDB more often The Frida Kahlo exhibition will be on display in the Bendigo Art Gallery until July 13 WA boy in Bendigo, happy to be in Central Victoria. Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueMr Lethlean cut a nervous figure throughout election night at one point pausing to watch his AFL team Collingwood as they took on Geelong it may be a while before the winner of the Bendigo seat is declared Labor was declared the winner of the election however Bendigo's result was likely to come down to pre-poll and preferences he was proud of his campaign and the effort of the 'machine' behind him we would've loved to get a result," he said "We'd love to know that we are going to win the game's still playing and we're going to time-on and we'll wait to see what happens in the next couple of days." About 300 people worked tirelessly on Mr Lethlean's campaign right up until election day Yellow shirts flooded the town for the past two weeks with corflutes and signs visible all over town the volunteers and the people who have backed us Here are the results for Bendigo as they stand: The campaign saw Nationals leader David Littleproud visit Bendigo multiple times which senior Nationals staff said wouldn't happen if he didn't believe Mr Lethlean could win the seat Mr Lethlean's wife Sharee said she was "so proud" of her husband "He's so passionate about Bendigo," she said "He's doing this for the Bendigo community Mr Lethlean admitted the job as candidate was more work than he expected "I thought it would be just something where you represent the people but the machine behind the campaigning and also the Nationals party is something that's blown me away Jonathon has been living and working in Bendigo since March 2021, currently working as a general reporter. Contact him on jonathon.magrath@austcommunitymedia.com.au. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) The seat of Bendigo is currently too close to call. The current Bendigo MP Lisa Chesters holds the first preference count lead, with 29,729 votes, while Nationals candidate Andrew Lethlean trails closely behind with 27,234 votes. On the two candidate preferred for the seat, Mr Lethlean holds a slight lead over Ms Chesters, with 52.98 per cent and 47.02 per cent respectively. The seat will come down to preferences as the vote continues to be counted. Previously, the seat of Bendigo has been seen as a traditionally safe seat for the ALP, with the party holding the seat since 1998. Ms Chesters has held the seat since 2013, and it seemed that she would be a shoe-in once again come the May 3 election. However, redistribution in the Bendigo seat saw the gain of Rochester, a traditional Nationals stronghold town from Nicholls. This brought down the margin held by the ALP to 11.2 per cent. The current results coming in are seeing a strong swing against the ALP, favouring the Nationals. Mr Lethlean has been heavily campaigning in Bendigo, with a reported $1 million budget according to the ABC. Mr Lethan is also the first Nationals candidate to run for the seat of Bendigo in a number of years. So far, both Ms Chesters and Mr Lethlean are staying quiet on social media as votes continue to be counted, however supporters are expecting the Bendigo vote to go into recounts, with the final result potentially not clear for a few days. The seat of Bendigo is situated in Central Victoria, and also covers parts of the Macedon Ranges and surrounds, including Kyneton, Heathcote, Maldon, Harcourt and Castlemaine. Other parties on the ballot at the 2025 federal election included the Greens Avery Barnett-Dacey, Liberal candidate Matt Evans and One Nation’s Heather Freeman. If Mr Lethlean wins the seat of Bendigo, it would be the fourth Nationals seat in Victoria, including the seats of Mallee, Nicholls and Gippsland. 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 Nationals challenger, Andrew Lethlean, trailed closely behind on 30.57 per cent. On Monday afternoon, 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. In Rochester, Mr Lethlean received 48.41 per cent of first preference votes, Ms Chesters 18.54 per cent, 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. In Elmore, Mr Lethlean received 48.3 per cent of first preference votes, Ms Chesters 22.45 per cent, 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. In Goornong, Mr Lethlean received 45.76 per cent of first preference votes, Ms Chesters 24.85 per cent, 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. In order of the ballot, the first preference count for each candidate across Bendigo is as follows: Evelyn Keetelaar, Family First Party Australia 2.85 per cent Avery Barnett-Dacey, Australian Greens 11.15 per cent Heather Freeman, Pauline Hanson's One Nation 4.66 per cent Lisa Chesters, Australian Labor Party 33.89 per cent Andrew Lethlean, the Nationals 30.57 per cent Matthew Bansemer, Libertarian Party 0.91 per cent Rohan Tyler, Victorian Socialists 1.70 per cent Wayne Taylor, Legalise Cannabis Australia 3.21 per cent Matthew Evans, Liberal Party of Australia 10.08 per cent Federally, the ABC was projecting Labor to obtain 85 seats, the Coalition 39, independents eight, and Centre Alliance and Katter’s Australian Party one each. The remaining 16 were still in doubt, particularly in metro Melbourne and Brisbane. For a party to form a majority government, 76 of 150 seats are needed, 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. NORTH Bendigo achieved a long-awaited A-grade netball victory against White Hills in Saturday’s third round in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season. The Kiralee Kinder-coached North Bendigo teamed superbly on the Demons’ court at Winslow Constructors Oval in White Hills to record a 48-37 victory. The team in red, white and blue had not beaten White Hills in the league’s top grade in nine years. Although it had not played for a couple of weeks because of the Easter break and then bye, North Bendigo made a brilliant start against the red and black and did not let up. The Elly Lawton-coached White Hills has the bye next Saturday before it plays at Huntly on May 17. The great form of the Harlowe Huntly Hawks kept rolling against Elmore. At half-time it was the Annie Hockey-coached Elmore which led 27-17. After the break the brown and gold took charge in all thirds of the court. Huntly won the third term, 15-4, and then closed out the match brilliantly. The Ashlea Sherlock and Kym Bell-coached Huntly won the last quarter, 11-9, to complete a 43-40 victory. Colbinabbin charged to a 20-3 lead by quarter-time of its clash on Lockington Bamawm United’s court. The Jen McIntyre-coached Grasshoppers had goalkeeper Elle Palmer win plenty of rebounds or intercept passes on the way to a 79-24 victory. It was another tough hit-out for the Kerryn Giorgianni and Shelby Stone-coached LBU. Mount Pleasant netted a 63-33 victory on its court at Toolleen against Leitchville Gunbower. The Anthea McCleary-coached Mount Pleasant leads the ladder going into next Saturday’s match at Elmore. A young Letichville Gunbower team coached by Grant Matthews hosts Colbinabbin at Leitchville next Saturday. Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition: Mount Pleasant 208 per cent, 12 points; Huntly 140, 12; Colbinabbin 367, 8; White Hills 112, 8; North Bendigo 108, 4; Elmore 100, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 61, 0; Lockington Bamawm United 44, 0; Heathcote 30, 0. In next Saturday’s fourth round, Elmore will be at home against Mount Pleasant. North Bendigo and the in-form Huntly Hawks play at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street. Lockington Bamawm United will be at home against the Chloe Meulenmeesters-coached Heathcote. Leitchville Gunbower and Colbinabbin clash at Leitchville. Huntly 80 d Elmore 27, White Hills 12 lt North Bendigo 45, Mount Pleasant 71 d Leitchville Gunbower 15, Lockington Bamawm United 48 d Colbinabbin 40, Heathcote bye. Huntly 71 d Elmore 38, White Hills 48 d North Bendigo 43, Mount Pleasant 56 d Leitchville Gunbower 16, Lockington Bamawm United 39 d Colbinabbin 36, Heathcote bye. Huntly 47 d Elmore 31, White Hills 29 lt North Bendigo 37, Mount Pleasant 64 d Leitchville Gunbower 19, Lockington Bamawm United 47 d Colbinabbin 32, Heathcote bye. Huntly 59 d Elmore 23, White Hills 54 d North Bendigo 22, Mount Pleasant 40 d Leitchville Gunbower 18, Lockington Bamawm United 61 d Colbinabbin 26, Heathcote bye. Huntly 39 dr Elmore 39, White Hills 70 d North Bendigo 24, Mount Pleasant 27 lt Leitchville Gunbower 51, Lockington Bamawm United 53 d Colbinabbin 23, Heathcote bye. Huntly 7 lt Elmore 52, White Hills 8 lt North Bendigo 28, Mount Pleasant 17 lt Leitchville Gunbower 28, Lockington Bamawm United 29 d Colbinabbin 10, Heathcote bye. Huntly 260 per cent, 12 points; Mount Pleasant 242, 12; White Hills 160, 8; North Bendigo 136, 8; Colbinabbin 131, 4; Lockington Bamawm United 69, 4; Elmore 48, 0; Heathcote 44, 0; Leitchville Gunbower 29, 0. Huntly 237 per cent, 12 points; White Hills 172, 12; Mount Pleasant 153, 10; Lockington Bamawm United 74, 6; Heathcote 121, 4; Elmore 84, 4; Colbinabbin 70, 0; North Bendigo 50, 0; Leitchville Gunbower 29, 0. Huntly 195 per cent, 12 points; Mount Pleasant 158, 8; North Bendigo 147, 8; White Hills 133, 8; Heathcote 113, 8; Lockington Bamawm United 97, 4; Colbinabbin 73, 0; Elmore 69, 0; Leitchville Gunbower 29, 0. Huntly 265 per cent, 12 points; Mount Pleasant 187, 12; White Hills 144, 12; Lockington Bamawm United 99, 4; Elmore 87, 4; Heathcote 77, 4; Colbinabbin 60, 0; North Bendigo 47, 0; Leitchville Gunbower 46, 0. Lockington Bamawm United 278 per cent, 12 points; Elmore 144, 10; White Hills 189, 8; Leitchville Gunbower 96, 8; Colbinabbin 106, 4; Heathcote 65, 4; Huntly 69, 2; Mount Pleasant 45, 0; North Bendigo 34, 0. Elmore 875 per cent, 12 points; Lockington Bamawm United 486, 12; Leitchville Gunbower 325, 12; Colbinabbin 111, 4; North Bendigo 68, 4; Mount Pleasant 65, 4; Heathcote 41, 0; White Hills 18, 0; Huntly 11, 0. Picture by Tom O'CallaghanPlans for a beloved sports ground have been unveiled in Bendigo and building works could start by the end of the year 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 areaContinueIt could transform facilities that players say have passed their use-by date Bendigo's council has revealed plans for stage one of works at North Bendigo's sports precinct on Fenton Street which it is paying for along with the federal and state governments View +4 PhotosArtist's impressions of the proposed clubhouse building Picture suppliedAn artist's impressions show a new building earmarked for land next to the soccer pitches It would house multiple clubrooms for Golden City FC's men's and women's soccer teams as well as Swordcraft Bendigo The new build would also have room for storage The playground currently on the site would be moved elsewhere in the precinct Bendigo mayor Andrea Metcalf said plans were about to go out to tender "[We'll] start the build later this year and be finished by about September next year," she said Golden City FC committee member Julian Dove was looking forward to upgrades to facilities Women and men currently share ageing changerooms when they play on the same day "We've got so many junior girls teams coming up," he said The announcement came as Labor member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters pledged $3 million for stage two of works at the other end of the precinct That would involve a new pavilion for the North Bendigo footy and cricket clubs It's really important that on game day women all players have access to decent facilities that officials have decent facilities," Ms Chesters said The Coalition has also pledged $3 million for pavilion upgrades Both parties' decisions have been welcomed by people who use the grounds "It's very exciting," North Bendigo Football Netball Club committee member Adam Kinder said "There's been members of the club who've been working for over 20 years to try to see the facilities upgraded So it's good to get that commitment that we know it's going to happen now." Exact design plans for the pavilion are yet to be finalised Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueIt may take days Picture suppliedLabor currently holds 85 seats and independents and minor parties roughly 10 seats Here are the seats that have not been finalised yet While the Nationals had always claimed they could win Bendigo this was one of the surprises of election night and one of the rare pieces of good news for the Coalition The safe Labor seat was previously held on a margin of 11.2 per cent by Lisa Chester Picture by Enzo TomasielloDue to the two-candidate preferred count being assigned by the AEC between Labor and Liberal a recount is taking place between Ms Chesters and Nationals candidate Andrew Lethlean Official numbers on the morning of May 5 had The Nationals ahead by around 2000 in the two-party preferred, with on the day votes expected to be stronger for Labor as the count continues in the afternoon It's the first time the Nationals have run a candidate in the seat in nine years Climate 200-backed independent Jessie Price has mounted an impressive challenge to Labor's David Smith in the largest electorate in the ACT There are only around 200 votes between Ms Price and Mr Smith in both the official two-candidate count and projections Climate 200 told ACM's The Canberra Times the seat was a sign that safe seats can't be taken for granted One of the surprises of election night was Menzies where the Coalition's rising star Keith Wolahan looked set to be turfed out Australia's longest-serving prime minister has only ever been held by the Liberal Party Mr Wolahan has clawed back some of Labor's Gabriel Ng's lead with around 25 per cent of the vote yet to be counted a former army officer and commercial barrister is seen as a future leader of the Liberals Just 900 votes separate independent challenger Nicolette Boele and the Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian in the former safe Coalition seat on Sydney's north shore The retirement of long-serving MP Paul Fletcher made this seat particularly vulnerable for the Liberals Independent MP Monique Ryan leads by less than 2000 votes her Liberal rival Amelia Hamer in the wealthy Melbourne electorate of Kooyong With 25 per cent of the vote still left to call Ms Ryan has held off claiming the seat "It will take some days - possibly some weeks - for the result to be confirmed," she wrote on X A razor-thin margin of 95 votes separates leading independent MP Zoe Daniel and Liberal challenger Tim Wilson with the result to come down to preferences Mr Wilson said on May 4 that he remained optimistic because postal votes were favouring him over Ms Daniel A close battle is underway in one of Labor's safest seats with MP Josh Wilson under threat from independent challenger The decision by the Liberal party to preference the independent over Labor in this seat could prove crucial in deciding the seat Election analysts have projected Ms Hulett ahead by 200 votes but the AEC is undertaking a recalculated two-candidate count It's a 50-50 split between Labor's Trish Cook and her Liberal rival Matt Moran Bullwinkel is the only new electorate added this election Labor MP Peter Khalil is facing a challenge from Greens candidate Samantha Ratnam in this inner-Melbourne seat Mr Khalil is leading by 2,813 votes in the two-candidate preferred count who have poured significant resources into this seat and still believe they can clinch it Greens leader Adam Bandt is in a fight to save his seat from Labor challenger Sarah Witty The Greens leader's vote share is down 5.5 per cent and with no left-wing candidates to draw preferences from Estimates have Mr Bandt trailing Labor's Sarah Witty by 2900 votes only a few thousand postal votes were included in the official two-candidate count Mr Bandt said he is "confident" in keeping his seat, remaining leader of the minor party and potentially holding the balance of power in the Senate A three-way contest has emerged in the Brisbane-based seat between Greens MP Elizabeth Watson-Brown the coalition's Maggie Forrest and Labor's Rebecca Hack but the result will come down to preference flows of the party that finishes third You can check the official count of all seats below Carla Mascarenhas is the NSW correspondent covering breaking news, state politics and investigations. She is based in Sydney. Contact her on carla.mascarenhas@austcommunitymedia.com.au historic and "very attractive" building in Bendigo's city centre has landed on the market and could attract a multi-million-dollar sale price The building is a total 1106m in size across two levels with an 18-space car park with secure electronic access The building could attract offers between the mid and high $3 million range according to McKean McGregor commercial sales agent Tom Harlop If someone was going to buy it you'd spend a bit of money just doing some refurbishment on it and how much you spend will be up to an individual purchase," Mr Harlop said "Someone might go in there and completely redo it and spend $1 million someone might just give it a bit of a basic makeover and spend $300,000 to $400,000 depending on what a prospective purchaser has in mind for the use of the building." The Bendigo Advertiser has been unable to confirm the history of the building however it is understood it has been used previously as government offices A plaque on the building states the building was opened by former Bendigo West MP Arthur Cook and former public works immigration and mines minister John Percy Jones in 1930 The building is located adjacent to the Bendigo Civic Gardens and neighbours the Bendigo GovHub Galkangu the Bendigo Town Hall and the Bendigo Law Courts very attractive looking building and it's just one of those iconic buildings that's been around for a long very nice looking feature about it," Mr Harrop said The building is available via expressions of interest before noon on Thursday For details contact Tom Harrop on 0409 014 657 Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOSLABOR POLICIES TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN SECOND ALBANESE TERM Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinue* HECS debts will be cut by 20 per cent for those with student loans Prime Minister Anthony Albanese flagged this as the first piece of legislation that will be introduced when parliament resumes * Bulk-billing will be expanded to 90 per cent by 2030 with an extra $8.5 billion to be spent on a boost to Medicare * A further 50 Medicare urgent care clinics will be build across the country * Tax cuts of up to $268 will be rolled out from July 2026 with a further cut of $536 in July 2027 and every financial year after that Australians can expect tax cuts under the second-term Labor government (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)* Taxpayers will receive an instant $1000 deduction when they complete their tax return * A scheme allowing a five per cent deposit to first-home buyers will be expanded to all people looking to buy their first property * Labor has promised to build 100,000 homes solely for the purchase of first-home buyers * Non-compete clauses will be banned for workers changing jobs if they earn less than $175,000 a year * Households will get a 30 per cent discount to install electric batteries from July 2025 * The Albanese government has promised to set up a national environment protection agency after plans were stalled in his first parliament * Work will be done to bring the port of Darwin back to Australian ownership * A critical minerals strategic reserve will be set up to stockpile mining materials to trade on global markets It is to be done by way of a rebate is based on a battery's usable storage capacity and excludes installation costs It offers roughly $370 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) equating to about 30% off the battery's base price priced at around $11,900 (plus installation) Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueWhen COVID hit It's been reliable - even sent a text before a cyclone saying it was charging from the grid in case of a blackout Consider a typical day in a household with solar and a battery It starts with the battery at minimum and no solar power As the sun rises-if it does-solar begins to offset grid use solar output exceeds usage and the battery charges the house draws from both the battery and the grid the battery ends the day nearly empty-especially in winter when the sun sets early To see how the numbers work let's pretend it's been a perfect day And note that solar batteries are required to hold back around 15% of their capacity as a reserve in case of blackout - to keep essential systems like gates and lighting running during a power failure That reserve isn't available for day-to-day household use reducing the battery's effective capacity even further and by sunset your battery is full - charged entirely from your own solar panels at zero cost Keep in mind this is also the time most people return from work just as power generation fades and demand surges We're currently paying around 30 cents per kilowatt-hour which means a fully charged battery holds just $3.60 worth of electricity It's great to be using free power from your battery And solar generation varies greatly depending on where you live let's assume you manage to fully charge and use your battery on 200 days of the year That means the total annual saving amounts to just $720 - not nothing but hardly the game-changer it's claimed to be Given Labor's proposal offers a $5,000 discount on a battery like a Tesla Powerwall the homeowner is still left with the balance - around $12,000 - once installation is included and the total cost climbs to about $17,000 it would take 16 years to recover the cost - which is also the estimated lifespan of the Tesla Powerwall battery Another major drawback is its basic unfairness The people most likely to be cash-strapped are renters and they cannot install solar and batteries on a rental property because they'll never get their money back There's an argument that savvy landlords might install the wiring solar panels and battery to increase rents but we're heading for an unholy alliance of Labor and the Greens It is Greens policy to freeze all rents - so what landlord would go to the expense of installing a solar system when there's every chance their rents would be frozen Government's solar rebate plan not what it's cut out to beASK NOELQuestion: I am 71 with a superannuation pension account balance of just over $1.7 million and an accumulation account exceeding $100,000 I currently withdraw only the minimum required amount from my pension account is there any advantage to keeping the accumulation account Answer: Your accumulation account is taxed at a flat rate of 15 per cent which is marginally lower than the 16 per cent marginal tax rate (plus 2 per cent Medicare levy) on your $40,000 income It may be beneficial to keep the funds in accumulation until you stop earning an income Question You have written previously about bring-forward non-concessional superan?nuation contributions which this year has a cap of $360,000 for eligible contributors Does the contribution need to be a single payment or can it be staged through the year Is there a form or notification that I must provide to the ATO or my superannuation fund that I am using the bring-forward arrangement Answer: Mindy Ding of the Entireti Technical team tells me there is no notification that is required to advise your super fund After the contributions are reported to the ATO by the super fund the ATO will automatically reconcile the amount(s) against your non-concessional contribution cap under the bring forward rule where eligible Question: Why does the current government require Clearance Certificates for Capital Gains Tax from every property seller in Australia I understand the need to identify foreign property owners for CGT but why apply it to everyday Australians who own and reside in just one property I don't want to downsize because my one-acre block brings me joy through flower and vegetable gardening in my retirement The issue is that many people might miss this requirement and risk losing a significant percentage of their home's sale price Answer: Mark Molesworth Tax partner of BDO tells me the tax law in relation to withholding tax on sales of Australian real estate has been extended from 1 January 2025 For contracts entered after that date all sellers must either obtain a residency clearance certificate (if they are a resident of course) or suffer the buyer withholding 15 per cent of the market value of the property These rules have progressively been extended by governments of all persuasions since they were first introduced in 2016 Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueSunday dawned clear Autumn's chill lingered a while in the shadows but was quickly banished by the sun And the sky did not fall the morning after the night before At least not for most ordinary Australians The scale of the Coalition loss was historic and largely unforeseen - except by one poll last week When YouGov modelling predicted Labor would be returned with a substantially improved majority and the Coalition would suffer its worst result since 1946 most polls had predicted Labor would hold its small majority Turns out it was almost on the money - "almost" because it underestimated the extent of the Labor win But this one poll wasn't the only vindication to be had As analysts crunched the numbers on Sunday morning Labor under Albanese had outperformed Chifley all of them historic ALP wins in their day The Marrickville mumbler had found his voice and Anthony Albanese's second election victory will rank among the greats. Picture Getty ImagesYouGov predicted Labor would win 84 seats, which seemed fanciful last week. By midday yesterday, it was being projected to win 88 and was within shooting distance of a final outcome somewhere in the 90s. If Canada's election result was breathtaking the landslide sets up huge challenges on both sides of the dispatch box With Peter Dutton's loss in Dickson the opposition has the monumental task of rebuilding itself It must choose a new leader from a badly diminished field Andrew Hastie and Dan Tehan are touted as the top contenders but none of them presents a particularly inspiring choice And the Liberal Party must somehow re-emerge as the senior partner in the Coalition even if the numbers suggest that status is now unjustified and that the LNP acronym ought to be changed to NLP "Will we see a Littleproud for PM campaign in 2028?" a landslide win brings with it enormous expectations cost of living and energy hasn't gone anywhere Albanese in this next term will be expected to be bolder in his reform agenda - certainly less timid and incremental than he was in his first term But he'll also have to be wary of creeping hubris - and risk taking - within Labor ranks Which gets us back to election night and the grace shown in both victory and defeat Finally, we got to see that softer side of Peter Dutton in his concession speech He took full responsibility for the Coalition's defeat saying his mum would have been proud of him who had taken the seat he'd held for so long Dutton said her late son would be immensely proud of her ticked off a supporter who had nasty words for Peter Dutton we treat each other with respect irrespective of our differences Grace on both sides is something that should make us proud of our democracy HAVE YOUR SAY: Did the extent of the Labor win take you by surprise? What do you expect from the PM in his second term? Who is best suited to lead the coalition out of the political wilderness? Email us: echidna@theechidna.com.au SHARE THE LOVE: If you enjoy The Echidna, forward it to a friend so they can sign up, too - Just days before the Vatican convenes to elect a new pope, US President Donald Trump has stirred controversy by seemingly sharing a doctored image of himself dressed in papal regalia The digitally altered image was posted without explanation on Trump's social media platform at 10.29pm on Friday night (12.30pm Saturday Australian time) It quickly triggered criticism - and amusement - online - Labor is set to have an easier path to implementing its second-term agenda, picking up several Senate seats at the federal election. Fresh from its increased majority in the lower house, Labor looks likely to pick up three more seats at the coalition's expense - The Nationals have again outperformed the Liberals battening down the hatches in their seats as their coalition partner experienced an electoral storm The junior coalition party has retained almost all of its seats and took large chunks out of Labor's margin in the Northern Territory seat of Solomon and Victorian seat of Bendigo THEY SAID IT: "Grace is not part of consciousness; it is the amount of light in our souls YOU SAID IT: The other clear winner in the election was democracy itself the Australian version of which has no time for extremism or populism "This column hit the nail on the head," writes Louise "We do enjoy a democratic process in Australia no mention of the horrific domestic violence and a significant increase in funding to get on top of this shameful stain on our community we must remain vigilant that the rise of Trumpism does not make its way into our enviable way of life." and within that context he was perfectly accurate When Trump trumpets himself in the same fashion he is not restricting his context and his main believer is himself While there will be some Australians who see his style his message and his apparent success as something worth adopting or following I believe the majority of Australians are sufficiently unimpressed to support his political style but the vast majority of us accept that other people have opinions too." "Many people can be so easily persuaded by simplistic slogans towards easy solutions Being disrespectful of others is never the answer to a cohesive society Joan writes: "I think we are in great danger of the Trumps of this world we are too complacent with our democratic rights too many Australians are only concerned with their own backyard and their hip pocket They only get upset when either of those are directly affected by a political manoeuvre." "Trump's actions have made many people across the world realise how lucky they are not living in America and to appreciate our own countries "If we allow inequality and greed to thrive here as they do over there We need to explain the long-term benefits of this to the community as a whole If we properly support people who are struggling instead of locking them up build interesting communities from our diversity Crazy to squash people down until they become desperate and act irrationally to deal with their pain." Jeanette writes: "Australia can remain immune to Trump's style of politics as long as we remain vigilant and become far more perceptive than we are at present Trumpism is multifarious and that's the biggest danger - not recognising it for what it really is." Australian Community MediaFour decades in the media Formerly editor of the South Coast Register and Milton Ulladulla Times 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 Survival skills: City of Greater Bendigo community partnerships acting manager Nikki Williams said the subsidised program which costs just $5 per person per session blends Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu-based techniques with practical situational awareness strategies THE City of Greater Bendigo is joining forces with local self-defence school OVAIT to provide a low cost four week Women’s Self Defence and Situational Awareness group program designed for women aged 55 and over Participants will be separated into two groups one starting on Thursday 8 May and running each Thursday until 29 May with the other starting on Thursday 26 June and running each Thursday until 17 July Sessions will be 60 minutes in duration from 5.15pm to 6.15pm City of Greater Bendigo community partnerships acting manager Nikki Nikki Williams said the program is subsidised by the City with the cost of each class $5 per person “The program blends Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu-based techniques with practical situational awareness strategies and will equip participants with skills that focus on using leverage timing and energy efficiency,” she said “These are techniques that work for all ages and abilities recognising and assessing risk in different environments and setting boundaries using verbal and psychological strategies “Learning self-defence can empower people “It decreases fear and anxiety and increases confidence and helps you feel stronger and more confident in your bod(y).” OVAIT is a family owned business operated by husband and wife team and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioners Tracey and Adam McCurdy providing a range of services aimed at preventing violence Bookings for the limited places in the program can be made on the COGB website at bendigo.vic.gov.au/events/womens-self-defence-and-situational-awareness-group-program. Photo: AP PHOTORussia continues to press its offensive in eastern Ukraine with high intensity with more than 200 clashes in a single day Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueUkraine's General Staff said on Facebook fighting had intensified particularly around the strategic city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region where Ukrainian forces said they repelled 70 attacks over the course of Sunday The town serves as a key transport hub and Russian forces are reportedly approaching from the east The information could initially not be independently verified Attempts by Russia to break through to the west into the neighbouring industrial area of Dnipropetrovsk have so far been repelled by Ukraine Russia's air defence systems destroyed 26 Ukrainian drones overnight TASS news agency reported on Monday citing Russia's defence ministry data The attacks come despite ongoing diplomatic efforts by the United States to broker a ceasefire between Moscow and Kiev US President Donald Trump recently proposed an unconditional 30-day truce a plan Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accepted Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected the offer Putin has declared a unilateral 72-hour ceasefire to coincide with the annual Victory Parade on Moscow's Red Square to mark the end of World War II The ceasefire is scheduled to start at midnight Wednesday-Thursday in Moscow and end at midnight Saturday-Sunday Kiev has rejected the limited pause and demanded that the ceasefire be extended to 30 days "The Russians are asking for a ceasefire on May 9 and are themselves firing at Ukraine every day This is cynicism of the highest order," Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram on Sunday 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 areaContinueMs Robinson and her husband, Paul won business of the year in 1994 for Sedgwick's Camel Farm a hospitality and tourism business offering camel rides Alida and Paul's daughter Lindsay Tod won the community minded award at the 2024 awards with Lindsay and her husband Jason's business Passion Pizza through which they own multiple Dominoes franchises in Bendigo "It makes me very proud," Ms Robinson said of her daughter's achievements she's very passionate about growing people They've got a really good team and they do leadership programs and other career programs to help the young people in their group to understand their own potential "We always taught the kids when they were young Sedgwick's Camel Farm won the 1994 hospitality tourism award going up against bigger corporations the Golden Dragon Museum and Central Deborah Gold Mine Ms Roobinson said the award was huge for the business it helped us get some credibility locally," she said "People were able to see that there was an interesting small business happening It seems many other businesses are looking at the awards as a way to grow, with a record number of nominations A total of 500 businesses have been nominated "It's so exciting and I'm just so happy for those businesses that are nominated," Be.Bendigo CEO Hayley Tibbett said "Because it means a lot to them to know that someone's actually gone to the trouble of thinking that they're worthy of being included," It's Ms Tibbett's first time heading up Be.Bendigo for the awards As the owner of cafe and chocolate shop Indulge Fine Belgian Chocolates Ms Tibbett won two awards and was a finalist in the businesswoman of the year category Nominations for the awards have now closed and nominated businesses have until 11.59pm on Sunday Ms Tibbett's advice for businesses and people going through the application process is simple - "enjoy it" "It's a great process and it's what you get out of doing the application that's really valuable as well," she said maybe pieces that you haven't noticed before that you need to actually pick up on or where you can improve and that's just going to make your business better overall for knowing those things." The business awards committee was always looking at ways to streamline the process "It used to be a document that you would lodge .. it's a whole lot different now; all online," she said "Each year we're refining that process and this year is a little bit easier for people as well." Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOSMelbourne captain Max Gawn has dismissed the latest trade speculation around Clayton Oliver and expects the star midfielder will to return to the AFL club imminently Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueOliver missed the Demons' win over West Coast last round due to personal reasons granted temporary leave after what the club described as "a difficult week personally" Gawn expects the 27-year-old to re-join his teammates when Melbourne resume training on Tuesday in preparation for the clash with Hawthorn at the MCG in round nine Max Gawn says it was a mature decision for Oliver to take a break for personal reasons (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)"There is going to be stories about him until we're done," Gawn said on Triple M on Monday "He's an elite player who's on a good pay packet and those guys are always going to have stories written about them "He made a very mature decision to spend the week off this week It's been a big first eight weeks (of the season) for him "He came to the club and they organised a good situation He felt like he was getting a bit overwhelmed and just wanted a week off from the club "He'll be in tomorrow and I actually really applaud the mature decision from both the club and Clayton." Oliver had a desire to be traded to Geelong at the end of last year but Melbourne held firm on their contracted four-time best-and-fairest winner A Nine report on Sunday night claimed Oliver will again seek an early release from the multi-million dollar deal "I am literally week-to-week with both the footy club and with Clayton so all I care about is him getting up for Hawthorn and him doing it with a smile on his face Oliver has been the subject of more trade speculation but skipper Gawn dismisses it (Richard Wainwright/AAP PHOTOS)Gawn said the latest Oliver trade speculation won't be an issue for Melbourne this week as they seek to extend a three-match winning streak "I've lived with so many of these stories .. "It's all a beat-up in May because anything can happen in May "Let's say I have made a decision that I want to go next year and to somewhere else I'm going to pretend it hasn't even been written - nothing to see here - and continue my relationship with Clayton." After last Saturday night's win over West Coast Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said he hopes Oliver will be in the mix to play against Hawthorn But Goodwin stressed Oliver's wellbeing is "the biggest thing for us" and said the club won't put any pressure on him to play Fifteen local groups have shared a total of $116,656 in funding from the City of Greater Bendigo's Community Grants Program Medium Grants category to undertake a diverse range of projects. City of Greater Bendigo Healthy Communities and Environment Acting Director Andie West said the City's Community Grants Program is very important for many local groups to undertake important activities that benefit many people in the community. "The City's Medium Grants category provides up to $10,000 to support activities that align with the aims of the Greater Bendigo's Council Plan 2021-2025 Mir wimbul or a local community plan," Ms West said. "The Community Grants Program is an important program that has benefited many diverse groups over a long period of time." In the latest round the following grants were provided: Picture by Enzo TomasielloA former Australian Tax Office prosecutor has put up his hand for election after 30 years working in the public service saying he will champion "honesty" and "truth" if elected 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 areaContinue"My kids put me up to it," said David Vincent, who is running as an independent for the seat of Bendigo Mr Vincent, who is originally from California Gully, resigned from the ATO in 2018 after the Richard Boyle scandal broke The scandal centred on allegations of aggressive tax collection practices "I've done the executive side of government There's only the parliamentary side left," he said Mr Vincent said independent voices were important especially when the major parties seem to have "lost their way" "There's a small clique that calls the shots for the whole lot You're no longer getting quite the same integrity in your frontline politicians anymore." Mr Vincent previously ran for state government in 2022 contesting then opposition leader Matthew Guy for the seat of Bulleen After losing the election, Mr Vincent unsuccessfully lodged a petition in the Supreme Court calling for Mr Guy to be removed from office alleging he was not a fit and proper person were driven by his anger at the "infernal arrogance" of governments around the world but admitted his challenge to Mr Guy was a "pure emotional "There was no real thought process involved," he said Mr Vincent said he had a number of discussions with his family and friends about politics "This is a much more clear-headed campaign and effectively it's really a completely new kind of thing," he said "I'm still doing my Don Quixote kind of thing to try and improve the quality of government." Mr Vincent is running on two policies: first that there should be no nuclear-powered submarines and the money which would have been spent on them should be given back to the electorate When asked what he would like to see in the electorate of Bendigo "nuanced" and "common sense" approach to government which would reduce bureaucracy He conceded cost-of-living and crime rates would be big ticket items for voters this election and said his grandparents would have been "aghast" at seeing people sleeping in train stations He said he would like to see a return to small businesses over large corporations as a cost-of-living measure but admitted he hadn't thought of how he would facilitate that if elected Mr Vincent acknowledged he was unlikely to win the election on May 3 "I think I have a better chance of winning Tattslotto than becoming the new member for Bendigo," he said "But I'm also hoping that my main political promise - no nuclear-powered submarines - gets picked up by whoever forms the next government." Journalist at the Bendigo Advertiser. Email me at georgina.sebar@austcommunitymedia.com.au Picture by Brodie EveristT'was all quiet the night before the election Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueIn an election marked by ubiquitous campaign advertising its team was giving one final push: they had volunteers at polling places across Bendigo erecting signs under the waning light who had had erected signs in Junortoun on election eve the AEC had said they could start after 6pm "We were told not to get too greedy though," he said He said it helps them get the most prominent advertising The Bendigo Advertiser inspected four voting centres last night (May 2) and all featured Nationals and Liberal advertising 2 banners across a fence in Epsom on May 2 Picture by Brodie EveristAt Epsom Primary School approximately 37 metres of a blue "Let's Get Australia Back on Track" banner was erected on a fence There was also around 10 metres of a "We Can't Afford Three More Years of Labor" banner This masthead also saw two volunteers putting up advertising at the Huntly Memorial Hall at around 9pm the night before the election When this reporter returned he found that they had put up around 25 metres of banner and 10 signs Signs erected on election eve at the Father Ted Harte Centre in White Hills Picture by Brodie EveristAdvertising galore The advertising push is a prominent full stop to a local election campaign marked by Coalition marketing In October last year Andrew Lethlean confirmed Bendigo was a target seat for the Nationals the electorate has been flooded with candidate advertising - both physical and digital A Bendigo Advertiser analysis of Google ads found that one campaign video of Andrew Lethlean may have been viewed more than a million times. As of April 24, Google's publicly available financial data suggests the Nationals had funnelled between $18,900 and $22,300 into advertising. The same ad campaign had run on platforms owned by Meta, including Facebook, for an estimated $15,000- $20,000. On election day, Labor volunteer Jordy Sacharov said he was surprised to see the signage in Epsom when he got there before voting had started. "I didn't see many volunteers out and there were already placards around," he said. Labor volunteer Irene, who declined to give her last name, said she arrived at the Eaglehawk polling booth at 7:30am to find Coalition advertising already up. Attempts were made to contact Coalition candidates Andrew Lethlean and Matt Evans. Check out our live Bendigo election tracker ORGANISERS of the upcoming Mother’s Day Classic (MDC) national fun run and walk are hoping for another record-breaking year with early registrations at unprecedented levels Last year more than 85,000 participants took part in the event across 75 locations nationally raising money for breast cancer and ovarian cancer research The Bendigo leg has a new location in 2025 at the Canterbury Park Event Space behind the McKern Skate Park in Eaglehawk with the two kilometre course taking in both Lake Neangar and Lake Tom Thumb Mother’s Day Classic Foundation CEO Zara Lawless said events like the MDC have facilitated a significant improvement in survival rates for more than 21,000 Australians diagnosed each year with breast cancer “The MDC community has shown that it can and wants to strive for more (and) to also improve the outcomes for women with ovarian cancer a disease for which there is still no early detection test,” she said the fundraising total of $3.3 million represented a jump of 30 per cent on the previous year and was the biggest in a decade “We believe this marks a crucial milestone in transforming the landscape of ovarian cancer research – driving increased funding and raising vital awareness within the community about the importance of (it),” Ms Lawless said The Bendigo leg of the 2025 Mother’s Day Classic takes place on Sunday 11 May at the Canterbury Park Event Space in Eaglehawk Registrations can be made on the MDC website at mothersdayclassic.com.au/event/mothers-day-classic-bendigo/home. The Australian Federal Election is this Saturday 3 May. Photo: FILE THE 2025 Australian Federal Election, which will determine the makeup of Parliament and the leadership of the nation for the next three years, is this Saturday 3 May. Ahead of the election, the Times News Group sent a list of identical questions to nine candidates in Bendigo, either to a direct e-mail or via their party. No contact information could be found for 10th candidate David Vincent (Independent). Responses from candidates are on this page. We received no responses from Avery Barnett-Dacey (The Greens), Heather Freeman (Pauline Hanson’s One Nation), Matt Bansemer (Libertarian), Rohan Tyler (Victorian Socialists), David Vincent (Independent), or Wayne Taylor (Legalise Cannabis Party). For information on how and where to vote, head to aec.gov.au. Photo: Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOSKEY STORYLINES TO WATCH FOR IN ROUND NINE OF THE AFL SEASON Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueCROWS HOT They say form goes out the proverbial window when it comes to clashes between South Australia's bitter rivals Adelaide and Port Adelaide The Power will hope so after suffering a 90-point loss to the Bulldogs which joins their 91-point drubbing from Collingwood in round one as the two heaviest defeats of coach Ken Hinkley's 13-year tenure PRESSURE ON JUSTIN LONGMUIR AHEAD OF HUGE PIES CLASH Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir is a man under pressure after a humiliating 61-point loss to St Kilda and the spotlight will be firmly on the underperforming Dockers on Thursday night when they host Collingwood at Optus Stadium The Magpies will come off a five-day break for the Perth trip and coach Craig McRae says "watch this space" about team changes If the Magpies take a depleted line-up west and still win West Coast are 0-8 in a disastrous start to Andrew McQualter's tenure as coach but Sunday's clash with fellow strugglers Richmond (2-6) at the MCG gives the Eagles a chance to get off the mark Co-captain Oscar Allen is set to play in defence for a third straight game and the responsibility on him will be huge after Jeremy McGovern was ruled out with concussion Former Western Bulldogs player Bailey Smith has had a dig at his old club saying he'd rather be playing for Geelong in front of a huge MCG crowd than at the Ballarat construction site It sparked a cheeky war of words with Marcus Bontempelli three weeks out from red-hot midfielder Smith's first game against the Dogs since his high-profile switch HOW DO THE BOMBERS HANDLE THEIR INJURY CARNAGE Essendon looked all at sea against North Melbourne when defensive chief Jordan Ridley went down with a hamstring injury The Bombers will have to take on rejuvenated Sydney - and face several weeks - without key interceptor Ridley while Harry Jones and Jade Gresham are also injured Melbourne's revival from a horror 0-5 start has so far included wins over Fremantle Richmond and West Coast - all sides who sit outside the top eight But the challenges quickly get far more difficult starting with red-hot Hawthorn at the MCG in round nine That test is followed by a tough trip to the Gabba to face reigning premiers Brisbane Monday's trials at Bendigo will be streamed live on Racing.com from 8am AEDT.  All 21 trials can be watched live in the video player below from 7.55am AEDT, with replays to follow shortly after each heat FIND YOUR ONE NATION CANDIDATE, LOCAL POLLING BOOTHS AND HOW-TO-VOTE CARD HERE. The One Nation political party was launched on the 11th April 1997 at Ipswich by its founder, Pauline Hanson. Authorised by P. Hanson, Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, 2/6-12 Boronia Rd Brisbane Airport QLD 4008 HomeTributes & FuneralsFuneral NoticesCLARKE, Travis (Trav) John A Funeral Service to Celebrate the Life of Mr Travis (Trav) John Clarke will be held at 1.30pm, Monday 12th May 2025, at Mulqueen Family Funerals Chapel, 15-25 Bridge Street, Bendigo. A private cremation will be held for Travis following the service. To view the livestream of the service, please go to www.mulqueen.com.au/live-stream Abbey Ryan (Kangaroo Flat) and Sophie Shoebride (Sandhurst) during Saturday's BFNL match of the round at the QEO.Pictures by Luke WestKANGAROO Flat has now accounted for two of its fellow "big three" opponents across the opening rounds of the Bendigo league's A Grade netball season Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueHaving disposed of two-time reigning premier Gisborne by 28 goals in round one the Roos took care of rivals Sandhurst by 10 on Saturday at the QEO to enhance their status as this year's team to beat following their strong off-season of recruiting Kangaroo Flat defeated Sandhurst 64-54 to now be the only unbeaten team after four rounds of a season that this year features just seven teams in the A Grade competition with Castlemaine not participating "It was a high-scoring game; all the goalers shot reasonably accurately across the two teams and we were fortunate enough to come away with a 10-goal win which is as big a win as we've had against Sandhurst for a while," Kangaroo Flat coach Jayden Cowling said In what was a rematch of last year's preliminary final the 10-goal margin was the Roos' biggest over Sandhurst since they won by 17 in round 13 of 2022 It was also only Kangaroo Flat's fifth win in their past 21 encounters against the Dragons stretching back to 2017 "It was pleasing to get a good win on the board and gives us some confidence moving forward," Cowling said "We had some really good patches across the game "We didn't finish off the way we would have liked being outscored in the last quarter when we went away from our strucutres a bit but I was really happy with the first 45 minutes we played "I thought Ruby Barkmeyer (goal attack) played an outstanding game for us She controlled that goal circle really well with Abbey Ryan.. they were both very formdiable," Cowling said Chelsea (Sartori) and Milly (Wickks) were really consistent throughout View +45 PhotosPictures by Luke West"We're happy with how we've started and we can continue it on throughout the rest of the year but we know there's still a lot of hard work ahead "We know teams will continue to improve as the year goes on so we have to continue improving as well." It has been a disjointed start to the season for Kangaroo Flat - and that will continue this weekend The Roos beat Gisborne in round one and knocked off Eaglehawk by 53 in round two beat Sandhurst on Saturday will have this week off due to the split round "It's hard to find that consistency and we probably saw a bit of that in the way we played today but there are other teams in similar positions as well," Cowling said At Tannery Lane Strathfieldsaye broke through for its first win of the season against Golden Square Both teams had gone into the clash hunting their first victories of 2025 and it was the Storm that emerged victorious winning 48-43 in the closest of the round's three games "We know there's going to be no easy wins this year so it was great to get that first one today," Strathfieldsaye coach Jess Mangan said The Storm set their win up in the second term when they outscored Square 15-6 to build a 10-goal buffer at half-time "In that second quarter we really showed what we're capable of We're a team that has moments of brilliance and then we'll have a few turnovers so we're really hoping we can play the way we did in the second quarter for a whole game moving forward," Mangan said centre) did a great job in that second quarter; she had something like five turnovers and helped to really turn the game for us with her pressure "And I thought Annie Hughes (goal attack) was really good all game making shots under pressure but overall it was a really good team effort by the girls." And at Canterbury Park Gisborne accounted for Eaglehawk 48-32 with the reigning premiers racing to a nine-goal lead at quarter-time and holding the Hawks at bay throughout the remaidner of the game North Bendigo is celebrating its first win over White Hills for almost a decade in the Heathcote District league North upstaged the Demons 48-37 at Scott Street beating White Hills for the first time since round 16 North Bendigo had lost its previous 14 games against White Hills by an average of 34 goals before Saturday's stunning triumph by last season's wooden-spooners against the perennial power a huge win for the club," North Bendigo coach Kiralee Kinder said "We went into the game with the belief we could get it done We've got a really good group of girls that has been training really hard and we wanted to come out all guns blazing after a couple of weeks off We've got a really good group of girls that has been training really hard and we wanted to come out all guns blazing after a couple of weeks off The victory came at a cost though for North Bendigo with wing attack Emily Kinder suffering a severe ankle injury during the first quarter "It was a tough first quarter for us with the girls obviously worried about Em took a deep breath and knew what we needed to do to get it done and the girls played their roles really well," Kinder said "Our defensive pressure was fantastic from start to finish and our intensity was amazing which is something we've been talking about as a group "It was a very intense game of netball and a great result for us." the Hawks overcame a 10-goal deficit at half-time to defeat reigning premier Elmore 43-40 before the Hawks flipped the script in the second half outscoring Elmore 26-13 to remain unbeaten It was just the second win for the Hawks over the Bloods in their previous 10 meetings "Elmore got right on top in that second quarter so we had to reassess at half-time and in the third quarter our girls came back really strong," Huntly co-coach Kym Bell said "We were able to creep in front during that last quarter and hold on for the win so it was a great comeback from that far down at half-time "We brought up Rose Crowe from A Reserve and she was really good in defence with her intercepts and rebounding and helped to turn the game around Colbinabbin cruised to a 79-24 victory over Lockington-Bamawm United The tone for the one-sided match was set from the outset as the visiting Grasshoppers bolted to a 20-3 lead by quarter-time "We got off to a good start and it was really important the girls stayed disciplined throughout which they did," Colbinabbin coach Jen McIntyre said "Elle Palmer our goalkeeper got best-on for us playing a really good game." Colbinabbin - the beaten grand finalists of the past two years - has had two dominant performances to start the season with Saturday's 55-goal win following a 90-22 victory over Heathcote in its opening game And Mount Pleasant is off to its best start to a season in seven years For the first time since 2018 the Blues - who sit on top of the ladder - have won their opening three games continuing their strong start with a 63-33 win at home over the rebuilding Leitchville-Gunbower It was a one-sided round of matches in the Loddon Valley league with the closest margin 20 goals - Pyramid Hill's 60-40 victory over Bears Lagoon-Serpentine "We executed really well; we contained Serp's midcourt area and were able to stop their easy passes into their goalers which was a key," Pyramid Hill coach Chelsea Emmerson said "Our defenders really stepped up and took a lot of intercepts in the ring but all over the court it was probably the best we have played for the season so far." Morgan Dingwall was the standout player for Pyramid Hill in a bouceback win after the Bulldogs had lost to Mitiamo by 10 goals in the grand final rematch the previous week "Morgan started in centre and we then moved her into goals and she was instrumental for us," Emmerson said "Gemma Scott in wing defence also played a really good game for us in what was a strong win." Pyramid Hill will now turn its attention to a fellow side that has a 3-1 record through four rounds - Bridgewater - this Saturday Having lost to Bears Lagoon-Serpentine by two in round one Bridgewater has now strung together three wins on the trot after accounting for Marong 67-42 at home "We were expecting a really hard-fought battle today but the girls just kept pushing hard all game and the scoreline really reflects the connections we have been working on," Bridgewater co-coach Caz Wood said they didn't give up and kept challenging us all game and making us work nee Van Den Heuvel) and Rachel (Johnson) work together in defence With a 3-1 record to start the season the Mean Machine is set to be bolstered this weekend against the Bears by the inclusion of goaler Lou Dupuy The addition of Dupuy adds to Bridgewater's goaling stocks alongside Sidney Niemann and Dannielle Flood Picture by Luke West"She has a lot of experience with Colbinabbin and Kangaroo Flat and we're really excited to see how she will fit in," Wood said Reigning premier Mitiamo delivered an ominous warning with a clinical demolition of Maiden Gully YCW by 55 goals The Superoos - the only undefeated team - thumped the Eagles 80-25 at home with Maiden Gully YCW held to its lowest score since being restricted to just 22 against Pyramid Hill in round eight of 2018 Mitiamo asserted its dominance from the outset leading 21-5 at quarter-time and was consistent throughout the match adding 19 goals in the second term and 20 in each of the third and the fourth And Newbridge moved to 2-1 with a comfortable 52-22 win over Inglewood to complete a round where the average winning margin across the four games was 32.5 goals NOTE - the printed version of this wrap will appear in Tuesday's Bendigo Advertiser A GRADE: Kangaroo Flat 64 def Sandhurst 54 A RESERVE: Kangaroo Flat 47 def Sandhurst 42 B GRADE: Kangaroo Flat 47 def Sandhurst 45 B RESERVE: South Bendigo 57 def Castlemaine 9 17-UNDER: Castlemaine 48 def South Bendigo 25 A GRADE: North Bendigo 48 def White Hills 37 Mount Pleasant 63 def Leitchville-Gunbower 33 Mount Pleasant 71 def Leitchville-Gunbower 15 B GRADE: Mount Pleasant 56 def Leitchville-Gunbower 16 Mount Pleasant 64 def Leitchville-Gunbower 19 UNDER-17: White Hills 54 def North Bendigo 22 Mount Pleasant 40 def Leitchville-Gunbower 18 UNDER-15: Leitchville-Gunbower 51 def Mount Pleasant 27 Leitchville-Gunbower 28 def Mount Pleasant 17 B RESERVE: Pyramid Hill 51 def BL-Serpentine 19 15-UNDER: BL-Serpentine 33 def Pyramid Hill 26 CBA backs Bendigo for the win on the back of strong regional growth The Central Victorian LGA of Greater Bendigo is one of the most popular destinations for Australians looking to relocate to other desirable areas of the state according to recent data from CommBank and the Regional Australia Institute (RAI) which analyses the quarterly and annual trends of people moving to and from Australia’s capital cities and regional areas saw Greater Bendigo record a 65 per cent annual growth in net internal migration (2023 vs 2024) making it the most popular LGA in Victoria for regional movers Known for its thriving art and cultural scene and established education and health services Greater Bendigo has long been a favoured destination among regional movers the RMI has seen a rising attraction among city-dwellers seeking a tree change Greater Bendigo achieved the highest growth among capital to regional movers (63.2 per cent) and placed second nationally after recording a fourfold increase (278.7 per cent) in annual growth among capital-regional movers The release of the RMI data comes as CommBank’s Business Banking leadership and regional team met with several local businesses and community leaders across Central Victoria this week to discuss the issues and opportunities unique to the region Bendigo and the surrounding region have experienced a population gold rush which is only expected to grow due to the area’s rich cultural history Its close proximity to Melbourne also appeals to those seeking the convenience of city living and country charm job opportunities or housing affordability “Despite the growing cost of doing business in regional areas we are seeing strong gains across several sectors including health with Greater Bendigo uniquely positioned to capitalise on this continued population boom With the right investments channelled into the right areas Bendigo is well positioned to support the state’s economic growth.” To support the growing needs of Bendigo and Central Victoria’s community CommBank recently opened a dedicated business centre in the heart of the city the $2.1 million renovation and relocation to the new premise offers a vibrant environment complete with state-of-the-art banking facilities designed to provide business banking customers with tailored services The new centre is operated by a growing team of commercial agribusiness and small business banking specialists who live locally and have an unrivalled knowledge of the environments their customers operate in This is further strengthened by the recent leadership appointment of Fiona Corrigan to the role of CommBank Executive Manager Regional and Agribusiness Banking recently relocated with her family from Melbourne to Bendigo Mr Vacy-Lyle continued: “Our commitment to Bendigo and Victoria runs deep and we continue to invest in our people and banking facilities to support the everyday banking needs of the local community “To help business owners capitalise on economic opportunities across the region we are also working with local councils and chambers of commerce including Be.Bendigo as well as community leaders to unlock areas of investment and create sustained growth locally.”    Further bolstering the bank’s 100 year presence in the region is the recent opening of the Bendigo CBD branch relocating to a new location on 116 – 120 Mitchell St after undergoing a $2 million fit-out to offer customers an improved banking experience In addition to operating the largest ATM network in the country CommBank has renewed its commitment to maintaining its regional branch network until mid-2027 Go to CBA Newsroom for the latest news and announcements from Commonwealth Bank tracks movements between Australia’s regions and capital cities using Commonwealth Bank data from relocations amongst more than 14.3 million customers This enables early identification of growth trends and flags places emerging as hot spots needing fresh thinking on housing and infrastructure Data based on CBA customer address changes over the past five years with prior addresses resided in for at least six months Greater Capital City/Regional Area based on ABS 1270.0.55.001 GCCSA An LGA must have recorded net internal migration inflows in 2024 of 50 or more people to be included in the report The RMI is used primarily to map population movements between Australia’s regional areas and its capital cities it uses an ABS classification of regional that includes areas in and around other centres of population CommBank acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands across Australia as the continuing custodians of Country and Culture. We pay our respect to First Nations peoples and their Elders, past and present. ©2025 Commonwealth Bank of Australia ABN 48 123 123 124 AFSL and Australian credit licence 234945 HomeTributes & FuneralsDeath NoticesDILLON, Bryan John “Matt”2025  Much loved Father to Travis and Anna. “Matty Boy” to Ted, Scout, Matilda and Eadie. For Funeral arrangements please see later edition. Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueFirefighters from the CFA responded to a grass and scrub fire at around 12:26pm on Sunday May 4 on Taylor Street in the city's south Crews arrived on scene to find a grass and scrub fire spreading through fairly inaccessible terrain the CFA had ten vehicles on scene working to bring the blaze under control alongside Victoria Police A warning has been issued for the Golden Square fire Picture from VicEmergencyThe incident was declared under control at 1:15pm Following the fire an advice message has been issued for residents in the affected area telling them to monitor conditions While there is no threat to lives or properties there is still smoke in the area Elwood Street and Wilmont Street roads were closed while emergency crews worked in the area Crews remained on scene afterwards to black out the hot spots of the fire File pictureA 36-year-old man threatened to burn down a house as part of a long list of intervention order breaches 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 man faced the Bendigo Magistrates' Court on April 15 pleading guilty to charges relating to repeated order breaches and threats against a Bendigo woman The court heard that in an October 2024 breach the 36-year-old was staying at the Bendigo address when he twisted the woman's fingers and chased her into the street pushing her to the ground when she tried to call triple zero at a payphone Under interview he claimed to have tripped over a gutter instead of pushing her Later that month the pair had an argument while on a walk in which he said: "I'll bash your head into the concrete" He told police he had become angry after dropping his phone and didn't recall threatening the woman The court heard that in November that year the pair were staying in a northern Victorian home when they began arguing and the man threatened to kick her in the head When she tried to leave with another house occupant he poured petrol from a jerry can on the doorstep said he would burn the house down and imitated using a cigarette lighter the man said he had accidentally spilt the petrol when he stubbed his toe The court heard that at the same house in March this year he said he would "smash her head in with a shovel" he followed her in a car when she left the house The summary alleged he attempted to hit her with the car but she hid between vehicles and then escaped into a block of flats During a police interview the man claimed: "I never went anywhere near her with the car." The man's lawyer said his client was exposed to family violence and drug use from an early age a neuro-psychological report found the man had "long-standing cognitive limitations" but his prospects for rehabilitation were "cautiously optimistic" as long as treatment focused on drug use and behaviour change He said his client had signed up to a men's behaviour change program and had attended alcohol and drug treatment appointments before a methamphetamine relapse Magistrate Megan Aumair said the man's behaviour was "appalling", but he could be a candidate for the Assessment and Referral Court (ARC),which provides treatment for underlying causes of offending "This could be an opportunity you ordinarily wouldn't have," she said The man was ordered to be assessed for the Court Integrated Services Program (CISP) CFA is urging residents to remain fire-aware as dry Autumnal conditions combined with strong winds can still lead to fast-moving grassfires CFA Acting Assistant Chief Fire Officer Michael Hembrow said while the local landscape remains dry favourable weather conditions have made it the right time to lift fire restrictions.   “Autumn stems as an opportune time for people to clean up around their property following the fire season,” Michael said.   we still need the community to act cautiously and take precautions when and if they decide to burn off.”  it is important residents remain vigilant.   “While the Fire Danger Period will come to an end residents must register their private burn-offs check the weather is suitable and follow laws and regulations,” Michael said.   so any private burn-offs should have someone monitoring it at all times with enough water and resources on hand to effectively contain and extinguish it.”  Private burn-offs should be registered online at www.firepermits.vic.gov.au. If smoke or fire is reported it will be cross-checked with the register to avoid an emergency response and allow 000 call-takers to prioritise emergency calls.   landowners should also notify neighbours and those nearby who may be sensitive to smoke.   Residents travelling to other parts of Victoria are reminded to remain vigilant as fire danger periods in other regions may still be active.    Private burn-off safety checklist   View all stories View more contacts The Facebook feed is contained within an iframe and as such is not available via keyboard access. Please visit our Facebook page directly to view the latest feeds. The Instagram feed is contained within an iframe and as such is not available via keyboard access. Please visit our Instagram page directly to view the latest feeds. 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) Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueCharlie said the practice of "whole body listening" made school difficult for him leading to anxiety and not wanting to go to school leaves neurodivergent kids feeling distressed and emotionally exhausted The practice also requires students to keep "quiet hands" and make eye contact Charlie was once told he was being rude when he was looking away from the teacher "I knew [whole body listening] was not good and not many people knew it was affecting them and the teachers didn't know they were doing it," Charlie said "For a while I was thinking of a way of how you could stop it and then I thought the idea to send a letter to the principals Charlie wrote a letter addressed to principals and decision makers kickstarting his student-led Forced4Good campaign "We're writing to let you know that many students have been struggling with whole body listening expectations in schools," the letter says "These expectations are hurting our well-being and making it harder to learn our brains and bodies don't all work the same way - and that's okay "We need accessible listening practices that help us learn not ones that leave us out or make us feel wrong." Charlie said schools can make learning more accessible for neurodivergent students through inclusive learning That includes fidgeting or using sensory stimulation tools standing or moving around and taking breaks when needed Charlie believes he can be a force for good Picture by Enzo Tomasiello'Learn in the way that works for them'About 15 to 20 per cent of Australia's population is diagnosed as neurodivergent 38 per cent of students in Grades 1 to 10 were chronically absent "Every student deserves to learn in the way that works for them," Charlie wrote in the letter "When we're trusted and supported to manage our own bodies and attention we can truly engage and get the education we deserve - because learning is a basic human right "But being told how to listen makes us choose between blending in and actually learning "That's a choice no student should ever have to make." The campaign wasn't about blaming teachers it's just more something that hasn't been covered," Charlie said Charlie and his mum said the support they've received has been overwhelming the campaign has been viewed more than 10,000 times A petition on Change.org has more than 1200 signatures The campaign is named in reference to Star Wars He used "Star Wars Day" - May 4 - as a day to encourage neurodivergent students to write to their schools to call for change and share their experiences Charlie said he wanted his campaign to reach politicians including federal education minister Jason Clare "It's not the kind of thing you change in two months," he said it'll probably keep going until we can get that full goal "We're hoping that we can get a few more schools on board we'll probably try and start doing some stuff at the state level." To read Charlie's letter visit brilliantlittlegems.com.au/charliesletter Picture by Darren HoweOne of Bendigo's most significant heritage buildings could get upgrades if Victoria's government signs off proposed plans Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe move could make it easier to move people around the stately two-storey clubhouse in the heart of Bendigo The Sandhurst Club has asked Victoria's planning department for permission to make alterations at its clubhouse which has been nestled down a quiet lane off View Street since 1893 and comes replete with function rooms The exclusive members club wants to move the ground floor kitchen into the basement to make way for a new lift that would rise through the ground floor's "Strangers Room" to the second floor dining and meeting areas The lift would not just link the kitchens with the rest of the building there is no access to the first floor of The Sandhurst Club for those that are physically impaired," it said "Access to the existing toilets on the ground floor for the physically impaired is restricted." The club has long identified with the history imbued in the building the grandness of the building designed by [noted architect] WC Vahland the unbroken use as a club and the unique role it has played in Bendigo's history assure its future," the club said on its website Picture by Brendan McCarthyIt told the department any change needed to strike a fine balance "Without the ability to adapt to the changing needs of patrons and visitors to the club in the 21st century this site risks becoming redundant as an institution of state significance," the club said the site would lose one of its core heritage values '.. as 'the venue for Bendigo's most prestigious club over a long period'." glass-encased lift to minimise changes to the building's wall cornices and architraves It said it had considered multiple places to stick the lift but decided other spaces were either too small or too historically significant Part of the back balcony can be seen in this photograph a balcony extension would not affect "recognised architectural and historical values" which had already been extended in the past The club also wants permission to rebuild some stairs that are no longer up to code Victoria's government is expected to make a decision at a later date Pictures suppliedThe team behind Ms Batterhams and MacKenzie Quarters have revealed their next venture - a gourmet sandwich bar Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueGoldie's Sandwich Society a name which references the heritage-listed former Golden Gate Pub where the shop is located Sibling duo Rhianwen Seiter and Ellis Nuttall said they hoped to bring a "fresh and funky retro vibe" to the corner of Vine and High Streets "We believe a sandwich can be more than just lunch - it can be an experience," Ms Seiter said "That's why we've poured our hearts and taste buds into creating a menu of gourmet sandwiches that are as delicious as they are satisfying The shop will have a range of sandwiches available for takeaway Picture by GoldiesTalented duo"We're dedicated to using only the finest ingredients and our bread is baked fresh daily by our talented team." No stranger to high-quality offerings in heritage-listed buildings, the duo operates the fine-dining restaurant and bar Ms Batterhams in the basement of the old MacKenzie Hall on MacKenzie Street the former kindergarten of Ms Seiter and Mr Nuttall's mum The pair also operates the wedding and function space MacKenzie Quarters Rhianwen Seiter and Ellis Nuttall in 2020, before the opening of Ms Batterhams. Picture by Noni HyettPub last owned by schoolThe pair have revived the historic Golden Gate Pub after it was sold by Girton Grammar School. The school took over the pub in 1995 to provide Girton boarders with a kitchen and meals area the building was used for general-purpose learning the pub was used for technology subjects; however the school put it up for sale after relocating technology classes onto its campus Mr Ellis said Goldie's Sandwich Society would cater to everyone's needs with "freshly made lunchbox options" and a pre-order system The shop would also offer catering packs for events and functions "Come experience the difference at Goldie's Sandwich Society," Mr Nuttall said "We're more than just sandwiches; we're building a community See the menu at goldies.au 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 areaContinueHOW IS YOUR TEAM SHAPING UP: All the Addy's 2025 football/netball previews South Bendigo 17.13 (115) def Castlemaine 8.11 (59) Sandhurst 26.15 (171) def Kangaroo Flat 2.3 (15) Strathfieldsaye 8.14 (62) def Golden Square 6.7 (43) Gisborne 16.8 (104) def Eaglehawk 14.10 (94) North Bendigo 31.17 (203) def White Hills 5.3 (33) Mount Pleasant 18.10 (118) def Leitchville-Gunbower 5.2 (32) Marong 17.17 (119) def Bridgewater 10.5 (65) Maiden Gully YCW 15.5 (95) def Mitiamo 11.17 (83) Inglewood 20.8 (128) def Newbridge 6.10 (46) Pyramid Hill 14.15 (99) def BL-Serpentine 9.5 (59) Boort 11.4 (70) def Sea Lake Nandaly 8.14 (62) Wedderburn 20.15 (135) def Charlton 4.1 (25) Birchip-Watchem 14.5 (89) def Calder United 13.9 (87) Natte Bealiba 19.7 (121) def Newstead 6.6 (42) Avoca 10.8 (68) def Campbells Creek 5.5 (35) Trentha 22.20 (152) def Maryborough Giants 14.8 (92) Talbot 12.10 (82) def Carisbrook 10.15 (75) Picture by Getty ImagesBENDIGO'S Dyson Daniels has been recognised for his breakout season as the NBA's Most Improved Player for 2024-25 Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueDaniels was named the Most Improved Player on Thursday following his third season in the NBA - the first two with the New Orleans Pelicans before he was traded to the Atlanta Hawks this season The Most Improved Player was among two NBA awards Daniels was nominated for this season The shooting guard was also a finalist for the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year By winning the Most Improved Player Award - known as the George Mikan Trophy - Daniels joins an NBA honour roll that also includes Ja Morant (2022) Kevin Love (2011) and Tracy McGrady (2001) "This is my third year in the league; my first two being in New Orleans and I felt like I went in there and wasn't myself and took a backseat role," Daniels said in an interview on Inside The NBA 15-year-old Dyson Daniels pictured with dad Ricky in 2019 Picture by Darren Howe"I came into this third year wanting to really put my foot down and show what I could do It was a small step in the right direction this year and I feel like I've got a lot more in me." Daniels - whose basketball pathway began with the Bendigo Braves - started in all 76 of the games he played for the Hawks this season earning himself the nickname the 'Great Barrier Thief' for his work at the defensive end Daniels led the NBA in steals this season with 229 - almost 100 more than any other player with Oklahoma City's NBA MVP contender Shai Gilgeous-Alexander second with a distant 129 Daniels' 229 steals (an average of 3.0 per game) for the season are the equal 20th most in NBA history As well as averaging three steals per game Daniels also also significantly improved his offensive output with his 14.1 points per game almost triple his 4.8 point average in his two seasons in New Orleans Daniels also averaged 5.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game for a Hawks' team whose season ended when beaten by the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat in its two play-in tournament games "I really believe I could win this award twice because I know I've got so much more left in me to show in this league and so much more improvement," Daniels said I really believe I could win this award twice because I know I've got so much more left in me to show in this league and so much more improvement "For me it's about taking that next step next year be a championship player and set the bar high Daniels became only the fifth player since 1973-74 to average at least 14.0 points Michael Ray Richardson and Alvin Robertson as he relished his fresh start in Atlanta "Being in New Orleans my first two years I wasn't happy with how I performed; coming to Atlanta I got the opportunity to get a fresh start get that starting two guard spot and play alongside a really good team," Daniels said having a good Olympic campaign (with the Boomers in Paris last year) and going out there and being aggressive myself and not caring about making mistakes was the main thing this year my teammates and was able to just go out and be myself." Daniels beat fellow finalists Ivica Zubac of the Los Angeles Clippers and Cade Cunningham of Detroit The most improved player award was voted on by a global panel of 100 writers and broadcasters who cover the league and cast ballots after the end of the regular season Picture by Darren HoweHello and welcome to the Addy's live coverage of the 2025 Gala Easter Parade Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueRewatch the Gala Parade below: Feel free to check out more of our coverage including Easter Saturday's Torchlight Procession and photos from day two of the festival Bear with us through any technical difficulties We will try to get the feed back on as quickly as possible We might need to hit the "mute" button on the feed occasionally That's because we are filming right next to the event marshals (and they sometimes need to deal with issues without half of Bendigo hearing!) The upshot of being next to the marshals is that you get a ripper view of the procession Our thanks to the Easter Festival committee and City of Greater Bendigo for their help along with on-the-ground crew Darren Howe and Enzo Tomasiello (photographers) and Georgina Sebar and Brodie Everist (journalists) Email me at juanita.greville@austcommunitymedia.com.au Georgina SebarJournalistJournalist at the Bendigo Advertiser Email me at georgina.sebar@austcommunitymedia.com.au Tom O'CallaghanJournalistI grew up in Bendigo and I want to tell your stories I grew up in Bendigo and I want to tell your stories Jonathon MagrathJournalistJonathon has been living and working in Bendigo since March 2021, currently working as a general reporter. Contact him on jonathon.magrath@austcommunitymedia.com.au. The non-major banking group has moved Rural Bank customers to Bendigo as part of wider consolidation efforts Rural Bank customers have been transitioned over to Bendigo Bank in a move the lender said would provide a more consistent experience for agribusiness customers Bendigo Bank Agribusiness will continue to share insights and analysis so that farmers can stay up to date with developments in agricultural commodity markets If you check the box above before you log in you won’t have to log back into the website next time you return even if you close your browser and come back later Customers will also have access to an improved lending and product offering The move is part of Bendigo’s six-year transformation program that will see the group have two primary consumer-facing brands said the change means the lender can better meet evolving customer expectations Rural Bank has stood side by side with Australian farmers through every season helping them stay on top of challenges and cultivate opportunities while investing in the communities in which they live and work,” he said on Monday (17 March) proud history of contributing to a better future for farmers and strengthening rural communities by feeding into prosperity – and it is with this unique blend of heart and heritage that we’re excited to formally introduce Bendigo Bank Agribusiness “We know farmers want an agribusiness specialist who understands their business and with the ability and insights needed to meet the evolving needs of modern agriculture “With more than 150 specialist bankers positioned to provide the personal service our customers have come to expect we look forward to partnering with Australian farmers in [an] exciting new era for our Agribusiness division and to cementing our title as Australia’s most trusted agribusiness bank.”  Bendigo has recently been focusing on consolidating its brands and last year retired its Adelaide Bank brand for the broker channel, making Bendigo Bank the sole brand available to the third-party channel The group has also been investing heavily in the Bendigo mortgage offering in the past year including by rolling out a new lending platform Last month, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank released its financial results for the half year ending December 2024 (1H25) saying that the third-party channel had helped it deliver strong loan book growth the banking group’s residential mortgage flows increased to $10.1 billion over the half up from $7.8 billion on the prior half and up from $6.5 billion in 1H24 This took the residential loan book to $65.2 billion at the end of December 2024 The residential lending growth was the largest recorded for three years (or six consecutive halves) at 5.9 per cent The proportion of business coming from the broker channel has continued to increase with the third-party channel (comprising both brokers and white label partners and mortgage partners) accounting for 51 per cent of new mortgage business [Related: Bendigo and Adelaide Bank reports strong first-half residential lending growth] Become a free member to receive breaking news direct to your inbox each day. Do you think that more people are needing specialist finance now than ever before? Do you know which lenders are providing brokers and their customers with the best service? Use this monthly data to make informed decisions about which lenders to use. Simply contribute to the survey and we'll send you the results directly to your inbox - completely free! Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe council could approve plans for a four-storey building overlooking a street on the edge of the city centre office space and multiple two-bedroom apartments planned Bendigo is currently used as a private car park for Tomkinson It is flanked by Les Penna Motorcycles and an accounting firm and would share a boundary with Supacheap Auto on Lyttleton Terrace The proposed shop on the ground floor would have a glass frontage to Myers Street while the office would be 300 square metres Developers have told the council the building would suit the Bendigo city centre allowing for business and lifestyle for residents They said the project brought fresh housing opportunities close to key roads "The proposed development will provide for commercial and housing spaces that can meet the changing needs of Bendigo CBD," they said The building would include one car space for each apartment Two more carparks would be available on the street Developers said none of the apartments would overlook residential zones They said the nearest one was 30-metres away on the other side of Myers Street There was a "visible evolution" of heights of buildings in Bendigo's CBD The site is also down the road from the Uniting Church's large 73-home social housing building next to St Andrew's Church which was part of the state government's Big Housing Build "The proposal is responsive to and complementary to the surrounding environment and neighbourhood and will contribute to the desired neighbourhood character of the area," they said The council is expected to make a decision at a later date 12pm May 1: A fire investigator has visited the site of a blaze in California Gully yesterday afternoon Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe CFA investigator attended after a cubby house was destroyed in the backyard fire that spread to a house Police are not treating the fire as suspicious crews arrived to find a cubby fully engulfed in flames which had breached the house Firefighters responded to the blaze at around 4.03pm and the incident was declared under control at 4.14pm CFA had three vehicles on scene from Eaglehawk 5.50pm: Paramedics have aided a man at the scene of a fire in a quiet Bendigo street It is understood he was treated for smoke inhalation The man was able to walk unassisted to an ambulance and was taken to Bendigo Hospital Firefighters were called to reports of a cubby house on fire at about 4pm on April 30 in Imperial Court but parts of the home appear to have been damaged Firefighters wearing breathing gear have been heading in and out of the property View +3 PhotosFirefighters at the scene of a fire in California Gully Pictures by Darren HoweFire breaks out in California GullyEarlier 4.40pm: Firefighters are responding to a house fire in northeast Bendigo Smoke is issuing from the California Gully house it is not yet clear which parts of the property have been affected by the fire One person is is being treated by paramedics VicEmergency has listed the structure fire as under control Ambulance Victoria has arrived at the scene Photo: AP PHOTOBochum and Heidenheim are both staring relegation in the face after the struggling teams fought out a scoreless draw in a tense Bundesliga encounter Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueA defeat on Friday (Saturday AEST) would have condemned bottom club Bochum to the drop in Germany but a point means they survive at least one more week The Ruhr side remained last in the Bundesliga standings The result was equally frustrating for Heidenheim Heidenheim lost goalkeeper Kevin Muller to injury in the 50th minute when he was taken off on a stretcher after a goalmouth clash with Ibrahima Sissoko Picture by Darren HoweGood evening and welcome to the Addy's livestream of the 2025 Torchlight Procession Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueWatch it here: The procession is always special but tonight's one will have an extra significance for those who know former Bendigo councillor Rod Fyffe OAM The "Mayor with the Hair" passed away in July 2024 after decades of service to Bendigo and the Easter Festival Tonight doubles as a tribute to him from many grateful residents who miss him dearly Rod Fyffe telling a Chinese lion all about plans for the 2022 Easter Festival Picture by Darren HoweBear with us through any technical difficulties Festival goers watching the Torchlight Procession in 2022 Picture by Darren HoweOur thanks to the Easter Festival committee and City of Greater Bendigo for their help we plan to livestream the Gala Parade on Easter Sunday Tom O'CallaghanJournalistI grew up in Bendigo and I want to tell your stories.