Despite a contingent of its three-peat winning squad exiting the fray to join rivals and other leagues in 2025 the reigning Goulburn Valley League champion Echuca still has every ounce of its premiership DNA following a strong 2024 grand final rematch against Shepparton in round five As the league begins to shake out and tiers of contenders form the Murray Bombers have finally returned to their rightful place at the top of the tree after downing arguably their most fierce challenger for the flag this season Echuca drew first blood in the highly anticipated contest through Sam Reid with Liam Tenace Kane Morris and Makai Cronin following suit for the visitors The Murray Bombers managed to keep their kicking on target slotting 4.2 while the Bears remained in the hunt with 3.3 of their own Echuca’s lead just five at the first break A slump in attacking production from Shepparton (2.1) opened the door for the Murray Bombers to take a strong lead heading into half-time but too many chances went begging with eight shots on goal converting into behinds (3.8) Echuca still strolled into the major break up by 18 and would remain in the driver’s seat through the third term It was a similar song for both sides after half-time with the Bears’ inability to navigate inside 50 resulting in just one goal and two behinds for the period while the Murray Bombers remained consistent in their efforts (3.6) recalling memories of its historic defeat at the hands of Echuca in the 2024 grand final meant Shepparton wasn’t going to roll over slotting 5.4 down the stretch to scare the visitors Echuca lifted its game to match the Bears’ sudden surge in energy also slotting five goals and just one behind less in the fourth meaning the green machine was able to weather a late storm and come out on top 15.19 (109) to 11.10 (76) Hugh Byrne led the way in front of goal (4) and was joined by Mitchell Wales The 33-point victory was perhaps Echuca’s first true test to see if it still had anything in the tank following its three seasons of unrivalled greatness Next round’s road trip to Kyabram will be an equally challenging test for Echuca with the Bombers eyeing a return to premiership glory Through their unbeaten start to the season the reigning champions have reaffirmed a message that spectators and rivals may have forgotten Ryan Phelan has found some great value for the Easter Sunday meeting at Echuca R1 – 5:32m – Llowalong Farms Pace - 1755m Four Starzzz Ruby has been in solid form this season winning two of her five starts and showcasing versatility in those victories finishing under a hold in a stronger race than this expect Chris Alford to bide his time and unleash a strong late run BACK: 8 Four Starzzz Ruby – 2 Units (win) 2 Units (place) R2 – 6:02pm – Super Clean Linen Service Pace – 2160m  R3 – 6:32pm – Mal & Lorraine Keeble’s Rich River Auto Body Works Maiden Pace – 1755m  R4 – 7:01pm – Noel Evans Memorial Trotters Handicap – 2130m  Champagne Charley is a reliable performer under standing start conditions While the 20m handicap looks a challenge on paper winning the Lang Memorial off 30m back in December he’s capable of overcoming the back mark again BACK: 10 Champagne Charley – 2 Units (win) R5 – 7:39pm – Byford Equipment Easter Cup Echuca 2025 – 2160m  Lorimermajor drops into a very winnable race after a challenging recent campaign he looks the likely leader from a good draw and can roll along at a strong clip His 1:55.5 mile rate five starts ago is quicker than most of this field and a repeat of that effort makes him the one to beat BACK: 2 Lorimermajor – 2 Units (win) 2 Units (place) R6 - 8:14pm – Rich River Golf Club Pace – 1755m  R7 – 8:45pm – Echuca Steel Sheds Trot – 2160m  R8 – 9:14pm – Alabar Farms Proudly Supporting Echuca HRC Pace – 1755m  For all your harness form in one place go to goodform.thetrots.com.au  ** A betting unit is typically a percentage of the total bankroll or the amount of money you are willing to risk on a particular bet – for example 1 unit is 10% of your bankroll therefore with a $100 bankroll 1 unit equals $10 Chances are you’re about to lose. For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au The Echuca East Pump Track was officially launched along with the Walk This Way project on Saturday Campaspe Shire Council welcomed bike enthusiasts of all ages to the event The pump track has been open to the public since November 2024 Also celebrated was the Healthy Loddon Campaspe Walk This Way initiative with a new walking loop and footpath stickers around Echuca East Recreation Reserve The project aims to encourage more walking and time spent outdoors particularly centred around Echuca East Primary School and Shine Bright Kindergarten Saturday’s launch event began with a Welcome to Country by Uncle Rick Ronnan including Campaspe Shire Council Mayor Daniel Mackrell and Cr Rob Amos Guests were also treated to a free barbecue and Boost Juice The pump track project marks the final piece of the Echuca East Reserve Masterplan 2016-25 redevelopment Echuca East Recreation Reserve is located at 54 Sutton St A local Echuca business will play an important role in 2 of Victoria’s biggest freeway upgrade projects – providing regional jobs and a boost to the local economy Local business A2B Consumables will supply the workwear and personal protective equipment (PPE) including a range of uniforms and high-vis workwear to crews on the M80 Ring Road Completion and the Eastern Freeway Upgrades This has directly led to the local business employing 2 women in Echuca as well as setting up a partnership with social enterprise SisterWorks which has secured another 2 jobs in the border town The Aboriginal owned company is also partnering with its sibling business A2B Personnel – an Echuca labour hire and recruitment company that has provided 36,000 hours of employment for Indigenous personnel on North East Link tunnels The new PPE and workwear is being rolled out to crews on the M80 Ring Road Completion project which will include 5 new lanes and smart technology from Plenty Road to a new M80 interchange while seamlessly connecting to the new North East Link tunnels More than 5000 workers are currently working across North East Link as part of 12,000 jobs the project is creating with a commitment of 2.5% of work hours to be completed by Aboriginal people and 10% of work hours delivered by apprentices The M80 Ring Road Completion, Eastern Freeway Upgrades and North East Link tunnels will be complete in 2028 Police are investigating an incident at a licensed premises in Echuca on the morning of Friday A spokesperson from Victoria Police said an incident occurred as two boys attempted to break in to a property “It is believed two boys were attempting to break into the Pakenham St premises The spokesperson said a male staying within the premises confronted the group and sustained a laceration to the face “The man did not require medical treatment,’’ they said Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential online report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au The Echuca Moama District Parkinson’s Group will be hosting a Parkinson’s seminar on Thursday The event aims to connect community members with local services and other support groups Committee member Sue Solly said there had been growing interest in the event we’ve had a good response so far,” she said “We’re working with the Kyabram support group as well as ours and really trying to engage with people who aren’t aware of what’s available putting brochures right across a lot of places and people are really pleased that we’re doing something.” The day will start at 10am with a light morning tea allowing guests time to register and settle in the group will start by sharing information on local support groups from Echuca and Kyabram and the services they provide an educational Zoom session will be held with the ‘Fight Parkinson’s’ organisation A representative will speak about what the organisation does the resources it offers and its free services an interactive session with a speech pathologist will start at 11.30am The guest speaker will also touch on what Kyabram District Health Service offers in support another interactive session will begin at 1.15pm with a physiotherapist from Hopwood Gardens They will speak about the other health services available through the Hopwood Centre at Echuca Regional Health a Q and A session will begin and guests will have the chance to ask the panel of presenters any questions they may have An afternoon tea will be served after the session to finish off the event allowing guests time to socialise with one another The seminar was made possible through a $950 Seniors Program Grant from Campaspe Shire Council with an extra $500 to be covered by the group through fundraising efforts The Echuca Workers Club will also be donating the use of the venue for the event registrations are essential for catering purposes Shepparton is knocking down houses on the road to glory in 2025 The Bears claimed another big scalp in Goulburn Valley League at the weekend backing up its 11-goal victory over Mooroopna in the Anzac round by defeating Echuca 62-45 at Deakin Reserve Saturday’s fixture had the billing of a fascinating encounter between two powers Belinda Lees’ Echuca: a team whose very name has become shorthand for dominance in recent seasons But as the Bears led at every change and didn’t look like throwing the game away at any point on the way to a firm four points Borger remained pragmatic after her side swung to 5-0 thanks to a statement triumph at home “Echuca are always a really tough side,” she said but they've got some really good younger girls coming through they're still very much a danger side even if they are seventh on the ladder “Because their line-up's changed a few times we weren’t exactly sure what we were going to get it's our ladies’ day and we want to get there Shepparton ran riot in the opening few minutes breaking out to a 6-1 lead as Borger dropped goal after goal through with surgical precision Molly Kennedy kept things ticking in the midcourt with Eliza Bicknell for company but Lees managed to drag her side back within striking distance by quarter time as Echuca struggled to keep pace with the hosts and Ruby Higgins joined the party for Shepparton to help shoulder Borger’s shooting load Lees’ Murray Bombers pushed and pulled to try and wear the Bears down and a bright start to the fourth term manifested as Rose Byrne found her form under the ring Shepparton was about to administer the killer blow An 11-goal streak ripped the rug from beneath Echuca hoisting the hosts to a casual finish off the back of a stirring three-quarter time chat from Borger “They're very much a side that can come back and come back very quickly so I demanded from the girls that we get out of second gear and push forward,” she said “We were making a few little silly errors with our given possessions so I said we must score our given possessions and then anything else we put that in the bank after as well “It was just more about raising the intensity and more attention to detail.” Borger lauded a number of her side’s top performers from the win which places Shepparton alongside Euroa as the only two sides with flawless records after five rounds “Honestly there was quite a few girls out there (who played well) “She was just running around in sixth gear the whole game to run a full game of centre just so effortlessly as well was really nice “I think our defenders were really good as well she was fantastic and got a great read on the game and was able to pick off a couple of balls out in the midcourt as well.” the Cats were undone in gut-wrenching fashion as reigning premier Euroa prevailed by two goals With the scores split 12-all at quarter-time the Magpies stole a march into the next two breaks and escaped from the Cattery with a 54-52 win despite some marauding Mooroopna movement late on Tatura cruised into third with a 53-25 beating of Benalla while Seymour nailed down fourth spot thanks to a nine-goal triumph against Shepparton United Shepparton Swans nabbed their second victory of the season while Mansfield got off the mark with a 60-37 win over Kyabram Connecting Communities Australia was in Echuca last week to help out at properties still recovering from the impact of past floods In collaboration with Echuca Regional Health the organisation identified three properties in Echuca that needed a helping hand The volunteers were also in Rochester to help out at 16 more properties CCA chief operating officer Glenn Price said Rochester and Echuca had been on the organisation’s radar for a while “You can tell it’s been a really big impact on the towns and people are still pretty affected,” he said someone from the Rochester Flood Recovery team rang me and I said we’d love to come and help.” Eleven volunteers travelled from all over Australia for the week to help out including two 17-year-olds completing their Duke of Edinburgh volunteer work Much of the work involved removing flood debris from gardens CCA aims to help smaller communities recover from natural disasters or prepare them in ways to reduce the impact Over the coming months its team will be working in the Bega Valley and along the mid-coast of NSW to help communities in the area stay prepared in case of a natural disaster CCA is also looking forward to helping those in western Queensland deal with the aftermath of flooding To learn more about CCA, visit tinyurl.com/2s4adpjh Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell said an elected Coalition government would provide $450,000 towards accessibility at Port of Echuca Mr Birrell said the port required modern infrastructure to make it fully accessible for elderly people and those with mobility issues visitors from across Australia and the world can live and breathe the era of paddle steamers plying their trade on the mighty Murray River,” he said “A Coalition government will make the much-needed investment to install a new universal all-access floating pontoon which will open up access for all and enhance the tourism offering.” The pontoon would rise and fall with river levels allowing for improved access to paddle steamer rides Mr Birrell said the key infrastructure investment would provide visitors with a positive experience The funding is contingent on a Coalition government winning office at the federal election Echuca has continued its underwhelming start to the 2025 season falling to yet another Goulburn Valley League contender in round five of A-grade netball to continue its time in the mid-table mire The first quarter of the contest saw both sides maintain a relatively even playing field with two separate run of goals saw Shepparton take a five-goal lead at quarter-time The Bears extended their lead in the second period putting in another 16-goal effort while holding the Murray Bombers to another 11-goal quarter to push the lead out to double digits at the major break The Bears continued on their merry way following half-time with the attacking duo of Kim Borger and Ruby Higgins proving too much With the deficit at 11 heading into the final frame Echuca would have its work cut out down the stretch the Murray Bombers could only manage 10 goals in the fourth quarter letting the Bears get away with a 16-goal effort to ice the game The final score was Echuca 45 to Shepparton 62 Borger’s staggering 47-goal performance was the main factor behind the Bears’ victory with Rose Byrne top scoring for the Murray Bombers with 25 Echuca is still trying to find its footing in 2025 with player turnover The Murray Bombers will have a good chance to add to their win tally in round six when they travel to Kyabram to face the struggling Bombers Take Echuca, which has been twinned with its NSW counterpart, Moama, since the days paddle steamers were a valid form of public transport. Their cross-border symbiosis was boosted three years ago by the opening of a second bridge across the river. Locals had been vocal about the need for a second crossing since 1965. (The 2012 campaign was creatively called “Build the bloody bridge!”) The Dhungala Bridge, as it’s known, helps reduce the pressure on Echuca’s centre, where around a million tourists descend annually. “The border doesn’t matter up here,” says Cate Jorgensen of Nutrien Harcourts Echuca. “I live in Moama and work in Echuca, like a lot of people. Schoolkids might live on one side and go to school on the other. Moama is growing, but most of the facilities are in Echuca.” Browse Domain’s property and lifestyle magazines. The Murray River has always been central to the town’s economic fortunes. Once a trading port, the modern era has turned it into a tourist mecca that’s home to the world’s largest fleet of paddle steamers and a port rocking all the ye olde feels. There are jet-skis and waterskiing for those who prefer high-octane watercraft, while anyone can throw a line in for the elusive (and delicious) Murray cod. Start your day the plant-based way at vegetarian cafe The Sweet Meadow with overnight oats, gooey eggplant toasties and Allpress coffee. Feeling Greek? Opa Echuca fires up the chargrill for authentically smoky takes on Hellenic classics including lamb skewers, chicken yiros and butterflied king prawns. The town has no shortage of historic pubs: Try 1895 The Royal for old-school charm and a menu of burgers, pizza and parmas. Look forward to the cold weather with Echuca’s Winter Blues Festival. Held this year on July 24-27, the festival will host live music performances across the town’s parks, streets and pubs as well as in the historic Echuca Heritage Port Precinct. Start training now for the annual Sweat vs Steam running event, in which amateur athletes run along the banks of the Murray in the quest to beat a timber paddle steamer. Camberwell: Hiring a stall at this suburb’s Sunday market is no mean feat Apollo Bay: Why people say this beach town is ‘a good place to open a business’ Geelong: From sleepy and overlooked to vibrant foodie paradise 2 Baths6 ParkingView listing This rambling period home on two hectares of land offers plenty of opportunities for the creatively minded. A few minutes’ drive from the centre of town, it also has a separate studio, swimming pool and multiple sheds and workspaces. The information on this website is intended to be of a general nature only and doesn't consider your objectives, financial situation or needs. where we are privileged to live and operate AFL Victoria has unveiled two groundbreaking football facility projects in Shepparton and Echuca as part of a new national program to develop ovals on school sites or other innovative locations The new locations at Wanganui Oval in Shepparton and St Joseph’s College in Echuca are the first projects in Victoria to be announced through the AFL’s ‘Breaking New Ground’ program design and development of Australian Rules Football facilities in partnership with a range of government and non-government bodies Breaking New Ground aligns with the ‘Australian Football Infrastructure Plan: Towards 2030’ in which the AFL has committed to building or developing an oval a week every week to keep up with the growth of community football and the need to increase facility capacity.The projects in Shepparton and Echuca will provide communities and local clubs in those areas with access to enhanced facilities that provide more welcoming and inclusive environments for all involved in the game AFL Victoria Venue and Government Partnerships Manager said: “Community football is the foundation of the game and the heartbeat of so many towns and communities across Victoria so it’s important that participants have access to welcoming inclusive and modern facilities.“The AFL’s aim is to develop upgrade or build an oval a week to cater for the growth in community football which sets out to work with schools and other innovative locations will help us achieve this as we need to look at different ways to provide great facilities for grassroots footy.“On behalf of the AFL I would like to thank the various stakeholder groups who have come together to commit to these projects It’s extremely exciting for the local clubs and communities in Shepparton and Echuca who will benefit from having much improved footy facilities that bring people together.”Greater Shepparton Mayor said: “Council is grateful for the support of the AFL in helping bring to life these exciting upgrades to Wanganui Oval The new lighting and irrigation system will bring significant benefits to our region and its passionate sporting community.“Council and the AFL have a shared commitment to enhancing grassroots facilities and ensuring the growth of local sport Upgrading our facilities is an important step in ensuring Greater Shepparton remains a place where sport and recreation can thrive.”Echuca Football Netball Club junior section representative said: “Echuca Junior Football has been a growing presence in the AFL Goulburn Murray landscape for a few years now and with the increasing participation numbers The partnership with St Joseph’s College Echuca the AFL and our club through the conception and completion of the new playing surface and lighting allows our junior program to expand further providing participation experiences coaches and families as well as being a great asset to our community.”St Joseph’s College Echuca Principal said: "Our partnership with the AFL – Breaking New Ground Project and Echuca Junior Football Club (EJFC) has enabled us to provide lighting for our new AFL size oval and accelerate the development of our master plan which will ultimately benefit the entire community A central focus of this plan is to promote a healthy and active environment for both our students and local community will play a key role in fostering community connections we aim to strengthen these bonds."We are dedicated to nurturing these partnerships ensuring they support not only our students but also the youth of Echuca Moama The school community takes great pride in the accomplishments of our AFL players as well as the rising stars of the AFL and AFLW We are excited about the future of this project and the opportunities it will bring ensuring the continued growth and success of the game in Echuca Moama and surrounding district for generations to come."About the project at Wanganui Oval Works are anticipated to be completed by commencement of 2025 football season The announcement of the projects in Shepparton and Echuca come towards the end of a calendar year in which the AFL and AFL Victoria have partnered with stakeholders from state government through to local councils local football clubs and community groups across the state  in 2024 to deliver access to 23 new ovals 66 more grounds with at least 100 lux lighting while 58 per cent of local football venues now have gender neutral player change facilities Further information on the ‘Breaking New Ground’ program and other facility management and funding programs can be found at https://play.afl/facility-management/funding Please update your browser to the latest version and re-open the website to access the widget Sophie and her Echuca Fire Brigade teammates were returning to their accommodation after a long day of competition when the smell of smoke caught their attention Driving through the streets to investigate they discovered flames lighting up the night sky we couldn’t see or hear any fire trucks so I got on the phone to call Triple Zero,” Sophie said We introduced ourselves to the crew and asked how we could help.” who had only recently completed her General Firefighter training soon found herself assisting at the fireground “Everything I’d learned during training really came together in that moment,” Sophie said Sophie’s father and CFA member Doug Amos “To see her head off to her first fire was a moment I’ll always remember,” Doug said  “I knew she was with a capable crew from helping during the 2022 Echuca floods to earning Junior Firefighter of the Year last summer.” Firefighting is a family tradition for the Amos family all members of Echuca Fire Brigade at one time or another She joined CFA’s Junior running team aged 13 and has been a dedicated member ever since “CFA has really helped me grow as a person,” Sophie said “I’ve met amazing people and gained skills I never thought I’d have I’d recommend it to any young person you never know where it might lead you.” Sophie hopes her experiences can inspire other young people to consider volunteering “Being on the front line of an actual fire showed me the real impact we can have,” she said “It’s not just about fighting fires it’s about being part of something bigger.” For more information on becoming a CFA volunteer, visit the CFA website View all stories View more contacts The Facebook feed is contained within an iframe and as such is not available via keyboard access. 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Tweets by CFA_Updates We are currently experiencing issues with our embedded Twitter feed We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land Copyright 2025 CFA (Country Fire Authority) Tuesday's trials at Echuca will be streamed live on Racing.com from 8.30am AEDT.  All seven trials can be watched live in the video player below from 8.25am AEDT, with replays to follow shortly after each heat Stage 3 of the Echuca-Moama Bridge Project involved building a new link road between Echuca and Moama The bridges integrate with the surrounding natural environment with a simple and clean ‘bridges through the treetops’ design and clear spans over the 2 rivers minimises environmental disturbance to the waterway and aquatic habitat McConnell Dowell delivered the contract to build Stage 3 Works started in March 2020 and were completed in April 2022 Click play and take a journey through the treetops we installed 2 types of additional habitat hollows in Victoria Park: traditional nest boxes and carved hollows to provide more shelter for local wildlife This was in preparation for the start of major works on Stage 3 For more information about these works visit our Environment page Yorta Yorta elder Aunty Judy Atkinson joined by special guests at the unveiling of the monument An important new monument unveiled on the Echuca-Moama Bridge Project represents the tale of The Woman and The Serpent a Dreamtime story about the Yorta Yorta people and the creation of the Murray River Yorta Yorta elder Aunty Judy Atkinson using 17 steel panels The artwork is named Dhungala Dreaming – ‘Dhungala’ being the Yorta Yorta name for the Murray River The artwork has been installed along the new shared walking and cycling path near the Echuca Lawn Tennis Club in Victoria Park the United Nations designated the period between 2022 and 2032 as the International Decade of Indigenous Languages and promoting indigenous languages around the world Indigenous naming is a priority across the entire Victorian and NSW transport portfolio and we’re committed to supporting and celebrating Aboriginal culture and language Language plays an important part in the preservation of culture and connection for Traditional Owners who have strong ancestral connections to Country present and future generations to one another revitalise and promote Indigenous languages We’ve worked closely with Yorta Yorta Aboriginal Nation Corporation Moama Local Aboriginal Land Council and Cummeragunja Local Aboriginal Land Council to identify Aboriginal language names that resonate with the local area and the history and customs of the Traditional Owners First Nations People have lived alongside the Murray and Campaspe rivers for thousands of years The local rivers are part of their identity as it’s where they grew up and found their livelihood and where they continue to live on Country to this present day The name chosen for the new bridge across the Murray River is ‘Dhungala Bridge’ meaning Murray River Bridge in Yorta Yorta language The name chosen for the new bridge across the Campaspe River is ‘Yakoa Bridge’ meaning Campaspe River Bridge in Yorta Yorta language These new names align with the essential themes of nature and connection acknowledging the geographical location of the new bridges Echuca College held the first of many services honouring the ANZACs this week with its own school ceremony on Thursday morning The ceremony was led by the school captains who took turns to speak about the significance of Anzac Day one of four recipients of the Colin Sinclair Scholarship also spoke about her future journey to the Kokoda Track before the captains shared the origins of the Ode of Remembrance before a period of the silence was observed and The Rouse Sarah Mackenzie-Ross sang the national anthem before the Catafalque Party conducted its closing procession Variations of the same ceremony will be repeated throughout Echuca-Moama as Anzac Day services take place on Friday Echuca-Moama church and community members congregated on Good Friday for the annual Walk of Witness Participants assembled in the morning under clear skies and enjoyed a cup of tea before the walk began Uniting Church reverend and event co-ordinator Michele Lees said it was great to see a diverse range of walkers on the day “We gathered in front of the Uniting Church It’s always lovely to have the young ones running around.” Walkers set off down Hare St from 10.30am towards Christ Church Anglican and then to St Mary’s Catholic Church Musicians helped St Mary’s parish priest Fr Novie Lim lead the readings and hymns at each church while Rev Lees gave the closing meditation for the day Rev Lees said the walk mimicked the carrying of the cross by Jesus and Simon of Cyrene before His crucifixion “It’s a moving service and quite sombre in many ways because of what it’s all leading to but people were respectful of that,” she said participants returned to the Uniting Church at around 11.45am and were invited inside to socialise over a morning tea with hot cross buns and the kitchen was kept busy feeding the crowd There was great co-operation between the churches,” Rev Lees said The walk was reinstated by Rev Lees in 2021 and is expected to return next Easter but this event marked her last time co-ordinating the walk CFA volunteers and police attended a two-vehicle collision in Echuca on Friday emergency services were alerted to a traffic accident on Ogilvie Ave Senior Constable Stephanie Iskra said officers believed a truck travelling eastbound on Ogilvie Ave blew a tyre sending the vehicle towards a Holden sedan parked in the left lane No passengers were in the sedan at the time of the collision The truck driver was assessed by paramedics at the scene but did not sustain any injuries Two Echuca CFA vehicles including a pumper attended the accident Any dashcam footage from the incident can be submitted to Echuca police by contacting the station on (03) 5483 1500 or via ECHUCA.UNI@police.vic.gov.au or through Crime Stoppers at crimestoppersvic.com.au/report-a-crime/ Echuca locals are contributing thousands of the key components needed to build Victoria’s biggest ever road project – North East Link Precast concrete solutions provider Humes is making 4000 box culverts at its Echuca facility supporting 60 jobs in the regional border town The concrete culverts will be placed inside the twin 6.5 kilometre tunnels in Melbourne’s north-east that are being dug by two tunnel boring machines and will create a service tunnel that will provide clear access for maintenance vehicles and staff when the tunnels open to traffic in 2028 Humes is manufacturing up to 14 culverts per day with each one approximately 3 metres wide by 3 metres high and weighing approximately 20 tonnes The facility is using a type of concrete that adds alternative material to the cement which can help reduce the environmental impact of building and infrastructure construction projects The use of the Echuca facility adds to the regional Victorian expertise being utilised to build North East Link with almost 43,000 pre cast concrete segments coming from LS Precast in Benalla Manufacturing the concrete components is part of the huge amount of work currently underway on North East Link with two massive tunnel boring machines - TBM Zelda and TBM Gillian - on their journey from Watsonia to Bulleen Road headers are digging another part of the tunnel between Manningham Road and Trinity Grammar and work is well underway on the Yarra Link green bridge in Bulleen and the M80 Ring Road Completion will be complete in 2028 Stay updated about North East Link with the key announcements and milestones Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell has pledged $150,000 for CCTV cameras in the Echuca CBD if the Coalition is elected Mr Birrell made the announcement on Tuesday “I’ve heard first-hand from residents that safety is a priority and we’re responding with practical measures to help make public spaces safer for everyone,” he said “I think if a city really wants to maintain that great The funding will come from a revitalised Safer Communities Fund and is contingent on a Coalition government winning this year’s federal election Improved CCTV coverage has been called for by local businesses and organisations involved in the Echuca Moama Safe Towns Camera Project Campaspe Port Enterprise operations manager Naomi Murray said the project had been in the works since 2021 “I’m praying that we get this money because it will make (Echuca) such a better place especially in regards to events,” she said The project was initiated by Committee for Echuca Moama and has been supported by Campaspe Shire Council Echuca Workers, KFC Echuca and the Moama Bowling Club have previously made financial contributions to the project The federal election will be held on Saturday The new pump station building at the Echuca WTP Coliban Water has installed two new water pumps at its Echuca Water Treatment Plant as part of efforts to increase the town’s water security as the region heads into the peak of summer The two pumps have been installed in a repurposed well on the Coliban Water site and provide a back-up system for the two current pumps that currently serve the community As demand for water increases in the summer Coliban Water said the new pumps will ensure there is a constant flow of untreated water into the plant that can be treated and turned into drinking water said the new pumps were a further investment into strengthening the reliability of Echuca’s water supply combined with the investment in the Echuca plant and community mean customers have extra water security in time for summer,” Mr Bull said Recent investment at the Echuca plant has seen the completion of two 3.3ML water storage tanks new high-lift pumps and a new ultraviolet water filtration system in 2023 as well as the current instalment of a new powdered activated carbon system to improve aesthetics of the treated water two new 3ML tanks were installed in 2019 to support the growing population in that area “Flows over the summer peak period increase and there is now extra storage capacity at the treatment plant thanks to the new tanks,” Mr Bull said “These new pumps perform well as a secondary system It doesn’t matter which pump system is running It’s all the same product just more reliable Mr Bull said Echuca’s untreated water quality will also benefit from works completed in 2024 “Last year we also upgraded the foot valves and the water intakes at Echuca which helps prevent large organic material being sucked up through the pumps,” he said Mr Bull said the works have increased the reliability of the Echuca’s system with Coliban Water continuing to invest in the Echuca service with $20 million approved in 2024 to continue to improve water quality and reliability of the system These works will be started in the next few years Visit connect.coliban.com.au/echuca-wtp-upgrades-project for more information about the Echuca Water Treatment Plant Featured image: the new pump station building at the Echuca WTP utilities are facing increasing pressure to deliver larger projects more often Under a new Construction Services Panel Agreement (CSPA) Transgrid will invite energy provider Genus to tender for a pipeline of.. An Australian-first autonomous robotic piling system is being trialled during construction of ENGIE’s Goorambat East Solar Farm All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media Perhaps saying that Echuca’s back-back losses are cause for concern is a bit premature particularly as they have come from strong finals contenders Euroa and Tatura As the Murray Bombers warm into the season and with new player line-ups it will naturally take a while to find a rhythm and they have just so happened to play two strong sides with good continuity in the early stages of its 2025 campaign as they stuck within striking distance for much of the contest including the opening quarter where they netted eight goals to Tatura’s 11 With Belinda Lees back in the fold and partnering rookie Rose Byrne attacking the ring flowed much more smoothly with the pair combining for 10 goals in the second period The Bulldogs came out firing in the second half with a game-high 14-goal effort while the Murray Bombers contributed nine the deficit now eight goals with a quarter to play Echuca tried valiantly to catch the Bulldogs but could only match its three-quarter time score while the visitors added eight more to claim victory The final score was Echuca 35 to Tatura 47 Stephanie Vick and Emma Head were named as the Murray Bombers’ best for the contest for their efforts in the midcourt Echuca will have a chance to bounce back when it faces Benalla on the road in round four Learn about the inspiring women in the Echuca-Moama community next month at the launch of Committee for Echuca Moama’s ‘100 Community Women: A Snapshot in Time’ The event will coincide with International Women's Day the global day which celebrates the social cultural and political achievements of women The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality includes a dynamic panel discussion led by facilitator Fleur Ferris Panellists include guest speakers Penny Silver ‘‘We are very excited that this event will serve as a launch to a 12-month project which will pay tribute to 100 inspiring women of Echuca-Moama contributions and influence within the community and showcasing their leadership and resilience,’’ Dr Lees said ‘‘Our event on March 2 will include the details on how to nominate a woman to feature in our project which will culminate in a book profiling 100 women from the district learn and celebrate the strength of the women in our community.’’ from 12.30pm at Moama Bowling Club’s The Venue The event will include a complimentary drink on arrival fabulous door prizes and giveaways provided by local sponsors Tickets are $40 for adults or $30 for concession and can be booked at https://tinyurl.com/4uk8a5we Craig Widdison is chasing a big payday at Echuca’s Good Friday meeting.  Racing the ever-consistent Majestic Reward Teo Nugent will be in the saddle as the 3YO contests the $100,000 Country Trainers Series Final Benchmark 70 (1200m) The Reward For Effort filly has done little wrong in three runs commencing her career as a debut winner at Wodonga over the 1100m on January 5 Following a solid second-up effort in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1100m) at Bendigo on March 2 Majestic Reward went to Geelong on April 1 She was game in defeat when on the speed and just missed out when second in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1143m) That runner-up effort at Geelong gained the Wodonga galloper a start in today’s $100,000 final Majestic Reward appears to be a good each-way chance in an open event.  Widdison and the stable will have their tails up heading to Echuca following some good recent form.  talented 2YO Deekaygeebee was a class above his rivals when winning the 2YO Handicap (1000m) Raced by Rick McIntosh, Greg McNulty, Brent Nally, Ross Smith, and company, they have enjoyed a terrific run of late, winning the $150,000 Capricornia Yearling Sale Classic QTIS 2YO Plate (1200m) with Kerzner for trainer Liam Birchley at Rockhampton on Saturday a Russian Revolution gelding out of Dip Dye was a $25,000 purchase at the same 2024 Capricornia Yearling Sale (21) as Kerzner and it appears connections have another nice horse.  the 2YO showed good early speed before kicking clear for a good two-length win at Wagga The stable continued its good run at Albury on Thursday with Explosive Rosie ridden by Brendan Ward to victory in the Benchmark 74 Handicap (1400m) Ward rode the 5YO Smart Missile mare midfield before the pair unleashed with a winning finish.  Explosive Rosie has now won five out of 18 races earning connections just shy of $120,000 in prize money.  While Widdison will race Majestic Reward in the $100,000 Country Trainers Series Final at Echuca today it’s set to be a busy period for the stable.  The team will race Fleet Destination in the Benchmark 45 Handicap (1300m) at Tocumwal on Saturday before starting up to five chances at Wodonga on Tuesday.  Today’s Good Friday meeting at Echuca will offer owners and trainers a share of $1,125,000 in prizemoney The $500,000 Country Discovery (1000m) will headline the bumper eight-race program and two $100,000 Country Trainers Series Finals over 1400m and 1200m the championships are an opportunity for brigades to practise and showcase critical fireground skills in a competitive environment.  Echuca Fire Brigade 1st Lieutenant Mark Hooper said the victory was a very special moment.  "Our brigade has a proud history of competing in championships and winning the Alfred Webb Cup as the only non-NSW team to do so is one of our greatest achievements," Mark said.  the championship was decided in the final event.  "We needed a third-place finish to hold onto our lead," Mark explained.  we were edged into fourth place by just a tenth of a second the team ahead of us received a time penalty that moved us up into third and secured us the championship."  The win was especially significant for the brigade which had to withdraw at the last minute from the previous championships because of severe flooding in Echuca.  "We had some extra motivation this time around," Mark added.  The NSW State Championships serve as a valuable training ground for brigades helping to refine firefighting techniques and strategies.  "The skills are immediately transferable to the fireground It's all about replicating what would occur in a firefighting situation," Mark said.  with the A team taking the championship title and the B team finishing a commendable 12th out of 24 competitors in their first-ever appearance.  Echuca Fire Brigade Captain Daniel Moylan praised both teams.  "I'm incredibly proud of both our teams It's a huge achievement to see the A side come away with the win and it's fantastic to see the B side finish strong in their first championship appearance," Daniel said.  "The time and dedication each member put into training truly paid off and it's great to see their hard work rewarded on such a competitive stage.  we can hold onto the cup in two years' time."  Recycled building materials from the Echuca flood recovery operational hub are being put to good use by Echuca Primary School students as part of their Hands on Learning program The program supports young people to learn outside a traditional classroom environment We go down on a Thursday afternoon and we build stuff around the school' says one keen member of the Hands on Learning program Echuca was one of the many communities across Victoria impacted by the October 2022 floods. In response, we quickly started a Clean-up program to coordinate debris removal and 'mucking out' of mud from people's homes. We also: To coordinate the program, we set up operational hubs in impacted areas including Echuca. The hub was an operations base for assessment and building work in the area. It was also a safe space for volunteers to come together and debrief, building a sense of community and camaraderie. When it was time to close the Echuca hub, we wanted to ensure that materials and goods used to support recovery were reused by the community. Building materials from the Echuca hub were donated to Echuca Primary School to support new Hands on Learning projects. Scott Trewhella, Community Engagement and Wellbeing at Echuca Primary School, has been involved with the program for 5 years. When asked about the donation of materials, he says ‘we jumped at the chance because it is one of those wonderful things, it’ll stay in the community which is really important.' 'I think we’ve probably got 2 years of projects ahead of us now which is something that wouldn’t normally happen. We’d be scrounging week by week to try and come up with things. Now we’ve got some really great plans for what we’ve been able to collect today,' says Scott. Leah Sullivan, Manager Contractor Field Operations at Emergency Recovery Victoria adds: ‘We're really pleased we're recycling these building materials so that they continue to deliver positive outcomes to the Echuca community.’ Echuca Village and Bamawm Extension fire brigades responded to a fire on Monday units were notified of a fire in front of an Ogilvie Ave property by a Bamawm Extension Fire Brigade member passing by who blocked the road west-bound for around 30 minutes Detectives attended the property after crews had declared the scene safe a well-known and respected Echuca community member He built a reputation for his incredible ability to revive and repair shoes as the eponymous owner of Rex Kightly Shoe Repairs Rex worked on a farm and then at a bicycle store before his father Rex opened his first shoe repair business in Nathalia around 1950 It was at this café where he met his future wife Rex was a popular figure in town at the time known for his sharp fashion sense and love of dancing Shirley and Rex married in 1953 and relocated to Echuca where they started their reputable High St business after moving from a smaller shop across the street the Kightlys’ business has also sold fishing gear Shirley serviced upstairs rooms at the shop used to house boarders which later served as storage for the vast amount of items Rex collected It was a habit of Rex’s to hold on to things Through hard work and lengthy hours at the store Rex and Shirley purchased a block of land in town and built a two-bedroom house and driving to Melbourne during school holidays returning home with a haul of business supplies Rex and Shirley purchased a five-acre property in Moama which has been their home for the past 42-years It was a dream of Rex’s to own a larger plot of land which he developed with his remarkable work ethic that extended beyond his trade at the store installed a pond at the front of the property and paved a road into the property with his son such as creating hand-crafted wooden toys and chairs made from timber sticks he began collecting Hornby trains and model cars The shoe repair store would come to double as a model car seller around 1995 and now operates as Echuca Scale Model Cars Rex worked at the store into his final year until he was no longer able to and The store is running as usual under Shirley’s management with the help of Rex’s family Rex was the head of a loving extended family including his three grandsons and six great-grandchildren His funeral was held in Echuca on Thursday and attendees were encouraged to wear their R.M Funeral celebrant Ruth Turpin noted that many people did Williams representative was in attendance to pay his respects who put together and delivered Rex’s eulogy The Echuca Clay Target Club is facing action from the Victorian Environmental Protection Authority following noise complaints EPA Northwest regional manager Paul Ratajczyk said the club was issued with an improvement notice after the regulator conducted noise testing “Officers deployed noise logging equipment on two separate occasions at a nearby residential premises,” Mr Ratajczyk said “Data from the logger was analysed by our noise specialists and it was determined that noise generated by the club was in breach of provisions in the (Environment Protection Act 2017).” the club’s operators were required to prepare a plan that outlined how it would reduce unreasonable noise Club president Nicholas Dean said the EPA conducted noise testing during the recent four-day state carnival “The maximum decibels they could get was 80 which I might add is about the same as domestic washing machines,” Mr Dean said the club organised and paid for an acoustic sound engineer to visit the grounds and prepare a report on noise reduction Mr Dean said the engineer determined a five-metre concrete tilt wall may reduce the level of noise to be in line with EPA guidelines It’s half a million dollars,” Mr Dean said “As a not-for-profit community sports club meaning the catchment management authority would not approve the wall The club has disputed the EPA’s decision based on its lengthy history and number of days per week its members shoot EPA Victoria’s Noise from outdoor shooting ranges guidelines give recommendations on noise levels the club is allowed a higher level of maximum decibels compared to other ranges The guidelines also consider the number of shooting days per week with total allowable decibels lowered when shooting days are more frequent which Mr Dean said the EPA did not consider in its ruling you shoot four days over the state carnival’ “I would have thought common sense tells you that 48 days is under a day a week Mr Dean said out of consideration for nearby premises the club had put self-imposed restrictions on shooting times and may shut down the range or issue fines up to $40,000 if it does not reduce its noise levels which Mr Dean said could cost the club up to $80,000 in legal fees While the club will continue to operate in the meantime its uncertain future is looming over those who use the facility the club itself has some of the best shooters in the country “The Olympic Games squad come and train at Echuca We hold the zone school person shoot and the state school person shoot.” Mr Dean said the club held shoots on Sundays so as not to compete with other community sports “That’s before I start talking about the money it injects into the town with tourism,” he said let alone the 600 competitors of the state carnival that have family and friends here over the four days.” State Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh said the club’s situation set a concerning precedent for all other gun clubs in the state “This is an attack on the club’s very right to exist and those making all the noise knew there was a gun club there because it’s been there for decades,” Mr Walsh said “An attack which will leave the club and the Victorian Clay Target Association with a huge cost to defend their right to function.” Millions of dollars have been invested in the range over its 40 years of operation and the club and its members had the heartbreaking job of repairing the damage from that,” he said “This is a multi-generational shooting facility stifling Victoria’s ability to train world-class shooters has woven itself into the fabric of Echuca's crafting community since opening in 1995 The Echuca institution is this year commemorating three decades of nurturing the local patch working community who moved from Inverness to Echuca 50 years ago established the business with her dressmaking expertise from Scotland “There was plenty of competition and running a business was something very new to me,” Liz said “I think my love of the work helped me get through but it was the great people I met and continue to meet that made it all possible.” The store has evolved significantly over the years transitioning from dress fabrics to specialising exclusively in patchwork materials by 2000 I started selling patchwork fabrics,” Liz said The shop has become a destination for quilting enthusiasts “I know people don't like looking for fabric online they would rather see it in person,” Liz said “If people want to keep having fabric shops open they need to help them out and come into the shop.” South Fabrics boasts a treasure trove of premium patchwork and quilting fabrics and inspiring patterns — everything you need to craft your unique Thousands made their way to the Echuca War Memorial on Anzac Day to commemorate the lives of Australian soldiers who were lost in war The day began with a dawn service at 5.45am to pay homage to the troops who would prepare for battle at the crack of dawn businesses and veterans gathered at the Hare St pedestrian crossing before beginning their march to the war memorial at 10.45am Members of the 301 Army Cadet Unit Echuca formed the Catafalque party who remained in position around the cenotaph for the duration of the commemorative service A floral tribute to the memory of unknown soldiers was also laid by Echuca RSL sub-branch member Robert Wark before Padre Ron Wood Having served as a soldier in the Australian Army Reserve for 10 years Campaspe Shire councillior Rob Amos was the guest speaker for the event Cr Amos took the chance to highlight the efforts of soldiers from Echuca and surrounds “Echuca and surrounding districts have always heeded the call in times of war sending local men and women into harm’s way,” he said Cr Amos shared a story about Sergeant James Stanton from Echuca who served with the 7th Australian Infantry Battalion Sergeant Stanton was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his bravery in France during a battle in 1918 where he put his life on the line to save his fellow soldiers In the written recommendation for the medal it was noted that Sergeant Stanton’s gallantry directly resulted in the enemy’s retreat Cr Amos said the legacy of soldiers such as Sergeant Stanton continued to live on “His bravery is the kind of story that moves beyond the history books it lives in the memory of this town and in the legacy of all those who served,” he said “The Echuca community salutes the service of Sergeant James Stanton and all those who have served our nation in its time of need.” Echuca College student Sarah Mackenzie-Ross then performed two songs as donations for the Echuca RSL Veteran Support and Welfare fund were collected All donations help support ex-service persons with a disability in the Echuca area Echuca College school captains Chloe Campbell and Zali Newman read the Anzac Requiem groups and organisations were invited to lay wreaths at the cenotaph followed by the reading of the Ode of Remembrance The Echuca Federal Band then performed the national anthems of Australia and New Zealand Echuca RSL president Denis Shanahan also shared a few words of appreciation about the day’s service “I’d like to introduce you to my two daughters.. many helpers and volunteers who have made today a very good ceremony,” he said it was a damn good day as far as I was concerned.” In an exciting development for the Echuca Moama and surrounding regions award-winning town planning and urban design consultancy Habitat is set to open a permanent central office in Hare St The official opening is planned for March 17 with the office on the first floor of the old bank building at 197a Hare St Habitat is readily and actively at work in the area with a remote office and support from its Albury and Wagga Wagga teams “The permanent move into Echuca is an exciting step for the business,” Habitat director David Hunter said “We’ve been working in the region from our head office in Albury for several years “The continued growth and development within the Echuca Moama and surrounding region supports our being here “We are looking forward to working alongside the community with a focus on providing innovative planning solutions that contribute to the growth and prosperity of the area for years to come.” who will bring a wealth of experience driving significant projects throughout Victoria and NSW Rod is passionate about finding the right balance to enhance communities and businesses for long-term liveability and viability “The region showed me a lot of support throughout my early career,” Rod said “Working with Habitat presents an opportunity to give back in a sense in helping guide our rural communities to a well-planned and sustainable future “Some exciting investments are coming to this part of Victoria where the flow-on effects of housing local businesses and supporting industries are all ready to take advantage of Habitat’s presence in Echuca Moama.” The move into Echuca is Habitat’s third office location after acquiring the established Wagga Wagga-based firm Salvestro Planning in the second half of last year clients will also be supported by the consultancy’s experienced team from its Albury and Wagga Wagga offices With a specialised and extensive service offering including advisory support and applications for residential or commercial projects as well as more complex developments such as land rezoning and subdivisions Habitat invites the Echuca Moama community developers and council partners to learn more about the expanded services and future opportunities that lie ahead Habitat Planning is an award-winning town planning and urban design consultancy based in Albury Wodonga with over 25 years of experience in public and private sectors Renowned for its innovative approach to regional planning Habitat provides practical and sustainable solutions for communities throughout regional Victoria and NSW To learn more about Habitat’s services, visit www.habitatplanning.com.au or contact habitat@habitatplanning.com.au Echuca United has moved to 2-2 in Murray Football League defeated in round four by an in-form Cobram The Tigers are now one of two undefeated sides remaining in the league getting the better of the Eagles 17.14 (116) to 8.3 (51) at their home of Scott Oval putting the first 20 points on the board before United responded with its opening major It would be the Eagles’ only goal of the quarter as they went into the first break trailing 32-7 The visitor would rally at the start of the second slotting the first two majors of the quarter to get within 14 before Cobram would kick away again to lead by 28 at the main interval The lead continued to extend in the third as the Tigers kicked four goals to two and Cobram closed things out with a further six majors in the final term to the Eagles’ three Anthony McMahon and Ryan Stobaus shouldered the goal-kicking load with three each while Cobram matched their efforts with three apiece from Will Irwin and Jackson Trengove Echuca United now sits in seventh place on the league table the lowest of three 2-2 teams by percentage The draw fails to ease up for United as the Eagles have hosting duties against the undefeated reigning champion Congupna on Saturday Iŋṯrëpîḏ released its first single on November 7 amid growing opportunities in Melbourne Zac Keele and Bonnie Verrall began their time as band mates jamming in the back of a friend’s factory Songs from one of the band’s biggest influences ACDC were some of the first songs the group played together and its influence can be felt within their music ‘Sick to my stomach’ is the first original music the band has released and lead guitarist Cooper Naylor said it was inspired by heartbreak experienced by their lead singer Mr Naylor also spoke about the joy the band gets from playing together and getting to perform their original music to receptive crowds and it is a bit of a breakup song with some poppy lyrics with a real ACDC Aussie rock and roll background to it,” he said we have done three-hour cover sets so now we have been playing some of our original stuff and the crowd seems to be getting behind that which is really good we are all best mates and to be able to go out play together and then have a drink afterwards is wonderful It didn’t take long for the group to begin playing in venues around Echuca and build a following among locals who craved heart-pumping Australian rock The band then ventured out to do shows in towns such as Barham and Swan Hill it seems the band has finally cracked the big time with two shows in Melbourne throughout November November 7 at the Beast in Brunswick and will be the opening act for band Vollie at one of Melbourne’s most iconic rock venues Cherry Bar has historically been a popular concert after-party venue for world-famous touring bands and artists such as Oasis Lead guitarist Cooper Naylor highlighted how excited the group is to be provided the opportunity to perform their music on an iconic stage Telia organised (us) to play at Cherry Bar she was in another band for a little while and she noticed they were playing all around Melbourne and figured we may as well ask and they gave us an opening slot,” he said “Performing at Cherry Bar is a huge opportunity for us considering we are just a group of musicians from Echuca “It’s a great chance for us to get our names out there After a triumphant return to the boxing scene a few years ago Echuca resident Jason Garner is ready to challenge the world’s best this October Garner will be heading to the World Kickboxing Association World Championships from October 16 to 19 at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre in Sheffield The WKA World Championships will see fighters from a range of disciplines such as kickboxing Garner has been involved in the sport since he could walk and last fought at the Australian Championships in Tasmania in 2022 He finished that competition with a bronze medal after he was injured in his first fight “In the Australian titles I came home with bronze I could have and probably should have won gold so I was in hospital overnight and then came back and tried to jab my way through but lost in a split decision.” “Even to walk away with bronze after that injury was good enough Despite recent success in his return to the ring who battled a tough upbringing and had a three-year stint in jail starting in 2017 boxing has always been a north star for Garner who attributes the training and discipline required to be successful in the sport as a guiding force in his life “I had a pretty tough upbringing so I could never really go down the right path so I was always on and off with boxing,” he said who did the best he could for me in his eyes I don’t know what or where I’d be without it “I have always found that if I am not boxing “Which is obviously what has led me to jail and so many years away from my family.” there have been a few special people in Garner’s life who have set him on the right path a boxing trainer and family friend who first introduced the sport to him when he was two years old “I was trained by an excellent trainer for most of my life “He always trained me to believe and have faith in myself and that your heart is the best thing you can have I was two years old when Barry would come around to the house and show me a couple of moves “I’d go away and then a couple of weeks later run up to him and show him what I’d been working on “I think he could see that I’d practised it in my room so many times and knew I had something in me.” Quinlan wasn’t the only positive influence on Garner’s life has helped him navigate the various ups and downs of his journey “My wife has been a rock for me for basically my entire life “She has been the biggest part of my life and has done everything for me Always one to look at a situation in a positive light Garner emphasised that the trials and tribulations he had experienced meant that his son could learn from his mistakes “My three kids are the best thing I have ever done in this life,” he said “I believe that I have gone down the dirt road and smashed into every pole along the way “He’s definitely learnt from me and to take a positive out of my life instead of negatives I believe that is what god put me here to do so that my son and my kids can learn from my mistakes.” Looking ahead to his date with destiny in Sheffield Garner wants to make his upcoming competition less about himself and more about the town that has shaped him He wants any residents to rally behind him as he continues his training and has given an open invitation to anyone in Echuca-Moama to travel and support him so this is most likely my last year of fighting at that elite level,” he said “What I want it to be about this time is to make it about the town because I don’t remember anyone who has fought for a world title that has come from Echuca before “When I am running out on the street and training I want people to yell out and beep their horn and get behind me lonely road when you are out there running by yourself so if I can get that support while I’m out training it’ll give me that little boost and encouragement “I’m building a big team to come over with me “I’ll need the whole town’s support if I’m going to bring that belt home.” Not only is Divya Mallya Echuca Table Tennis Association’s club president she is also a newly crowned Victorian champion The Echuca-Moama resident travelled to Gippsland to take part in the 2025 Victorian Open Championships where she walked away with some silverware for her troubles things didn’t start according to plan for the table tennis maestro Mallya entered in both the open women’s competition and the over-30s competition and she went from strength to strength in the latter The championships draw the best players in the state from rural regional and metropolitan areas and has a wide range of grades to suit players of all ages there were six groups in the competition who played off against each other to then go on into the quarter-finals Mallya lost both of her matches in her group falling to 14-year-old powerhouse Shrinika Hariprasad in four games and 15-year-old Olympic hopeful Connie Psihogios in straight sets This high-level competition in the open competition provided Mallya with the perfect warm-up for the over-30’s division In her first match in the over-30s division found momentum in the third set and ultimately rode that wave all the way to a comeback win against Kate Carmichael Looking particularly strong throughout her other two group matches Mallya overcame Anushka Fernando in four sets and rolled through Michelle Bowd in straight sets Mallya had all the momentum in the world coming into the semi-final and continued on the steady path before facing off against Carmichael once again in the big dance stating she didn’t anticipate walking away a champion I got to know many people over the weekend and I didn’t get much of a break so I could find rhythm It was just an event to attend to qualify for nationals “I didn’t realise what a big deal it was to win until after when I had strangers come up to me and congratulate me.” not only was winning a great component to the event but making friends with fellow competitors gave her a sense of satisfaction and camaraderie “It was a lot of fun and I made some wonderful connections We had such nice banter because all the women in my division are around my age,” she said “It was lovely to make new friends in my sport and was such a great event to be a part of Mallya said she was keen to head to the 2025 National Championships in July and was honoured to be provided the opportunity to represent Victoria “I am so excited to be heading to nationals and am proud to be able to wear the Team Victoria uniform,” she said but I will give it my best shot and I am sure it’ll be a fun experience.” Echuca Lions Club will be marking its 60th anniversary this year and is calling for past members to join the celebrations June 3 the club will hold a dinner at Rich River Golf Club to mark the milestone President John Simson said it was a great opportunity to reconnect with members and reflect on the club’s history “We’ve got plenty of memorabilia from previous meetings One of our members kept all the Mains and Tails We’re running slides that Johnny Taylor had for many years that go right back so people will be very interested in coming along and seeing that.” While the club has reached out to ex-members and invited them to the event Mr Simson said not everyone could be tracked down Mr Simson said any ex-members who have not been contacted and are interested in attending are invited and we’ll look for a firm commitment probably three weeks before,” he said call Mr Simson on 0439 571 933 or secretary Jenny Brearley on 0414 565 354