Transport for NSW is proposing to upgrade Heathcote Road at Engadine Expressions of Interest opened in late April 2025 for the design and construction of a new overtaking lane along this section of the corridor We will keep the community informed on progress of the project The proposal will extend the existing westbound overtaking lane beyond the new Heathcote Road Bridge this will allow traffic to safely overtake slower vehicles on the ascent to improve traffic flows and reduce delays.  The project is part of a $180 million Government commitment to improve safety and efficiency on Heathcote Road and build on the gains won with the duplication of the new Heathcote Road Bridge Transport is undertaking investigations to understand the landscape at the location of the new overtaking lane You may see us out and about in the next few months as we conduct these site investigations We plan to consult the community in late 2025 on early design for the overtaking lane Heathcote Road is a major arterial road that runs between Liverpool and Heathcote connecting Sydney’s southern suburbs to the motorway network in the south-west including the M5 and M7 motorways It is also a key link for commuters who drive walk or cycle to Holsworthy Train Station and the Holsworthy Army Barracks Heathcote road is around 24km long and connects Newbridge Road at Liverpool with the Princes Highway at Heathcote.  Transport for NSW is delivering many improvements along the Heathcote Road corridor Included in this investment is widening the road between Holsworthy and Voyager Point planning for duplicating Heathcote Road between Voyager Point and Engadine and the already completed Heathcote Road Bridge widening at Woronora River Phone: 1800 684 490 (during business hours) Email: projects@transport.nsw.gov.au Transport for NSW recognise and celebrate the diversity of Aboriginal peoples and their ongoing cultures and care of Country We pay respect to traditional custodians and Elders past and present Group 1-winning trainer Robert Heathcote is hopeful of hitting the target with his first Queensland Racing Carnival bullets in the Group 2 Victory Stakes at Eagle Farm on Saturday Heathcote’s old warrior Rothfire and last year’s Magic Millions Guineas-winner Abounding launch their winter carnival campaigns in the 1200 metre Weight for Age feature Rothfire is a veteran Weight for Age performer and will be chasing his second Victory Stakes win after claiming the race two years ago Abounding has had one start at Weight for Age level when she finished fourth to the Ciaron Maher-trained Bella Nipotina in last year’s Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara at Eagle Farm Heathcote is the most successful Victory Stakes trainer in the past 25 years with three wins from Rothfire (2022) along with his multiple Group 1-winner Buffering who claimed the trophy in 2010 and 2012 Rothfire - a Mark Du Plessis mount - won a jump-out at Eagle Farm in early April which pleased Heathcote while Abounding also was an impressive winner in her heat the same day Rothfire hasn’t raced since finishing fourth to the Tony Gollan-trained Transatlantic in The Buffering at Eagle Farm in late December “We know it’s race-by-race and week-by-week with Rothfire and he’s better off in Weight for Age races these days,” Heathcote said “They’ve both have had a trial and a jump-out and I’m very happy with them going into this race “I’m a realist and I know it’s going to be very hard during the winter Heathcote conceded Rothfire was past his best but refused to throw in the white towel in the Victory Stakes “He’s past his best but he’s such a competitor you can never write him off and he’ll be highly competitive again,” Heathcote said Heathcote is reluctant to plan too far ahead into the winter with Rothfire unlike Abounding Abounding's goal is the Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara at Eagle Farm.  “The Tatt’s Tiara is her main goal and there’s some nice races along the way for her,” Heathcote said “If her form warrants it there’s even a chance she might have a go at the Stradbroke if she can get in For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au Paying respect: Leader Laraine Leask, with Indie, laid a wreath from the Heathcote Brownie Guides. Photos: SANDRA JAMES THE Heathcote community and RSL members gathered on Anzac Day to pay their respects, beginning with the Dawn Service at the Lone Pine Memorial on Camp Hill. The service was followed by a traditional Gunfire Breakfast at the RSL Hall. A Commemoration Service in the hall at 10am featured guest speakers, local school children, official guests and tributes in song. Heathcote RSL Sub-Branch president Miles Humphrey said he was very pleased with the attendance for all events throughout the day. “Anzac Day is an important day for all who served in the Great War, the Second World War and all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations,” he said. “And there has never been a more important time to reflect and hope we never see the horrors of war again.” Indie, of the Heathcote Brownie Guides, said she found it moving to remember all those who served. “It is good to acknowledge what they did for us and to take a moment to appreciate it,” she said. Picture by Noni HyettA Heathcote man is expected to be charged with handling stolen goods after two motorbikes were found at his address during a week of police raids in two states 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 areaContinueOne motorbike had been allegedly stolen in a carjacking in Narre Warren in 2023 and the other had allegedly been stolen in Springvale in 2022 The motorbikes were found at the 31-year-old's property on Sunday, April 27 as part of Operation Blue Ember an annual week-long joint operation between Victorian and NSW police which targets organised crime groups and outlaw motorcycle gangs near the state border A total of 26 arrests were made during the operation including a man from Wharparilla (near Echuca) who was charged with possessing an illicit firearm incorrect storage of ammunition and possessing cannabis The 42-year-old has been bailed to appear at the Echuca Magistrates Court on Tuesday 26 firearm prohibition order compliance searches carried out at locations in NSW and Victoria ammunition and a number of drugs of dependence seized during the operation VIPER Taskforce Detective Inspector Craig Darlow said outlaw motorcycle gangs were recognised as having high levels of involvement in drug importation, production and distribution multi-jurisdictional operation highlights the importance and significant resources both Victoria Police and NSW Police are prepared to place on disrupting organised criminal groups from causing harm within our communities," he said "The message is simple: if you are involved in serious and or organised crime we will be unrelenting in our mission to disrupt your activities and protect our community." Journalist at the Bendigo Advertiser. Email me at georgina.sebar@austcommunitymedia.com.au Latest in your inboxView allDaily Today's top stories curated by our news team Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert Your digital replica of Today's Paper Test your skills with interactive crosswords Minister for Emergency Services Jacyln Symes visited Heathcote Fire Station and VICSES facilities to announce the rebuild of a shared hub after the facilities were severely affected in the Victorian Flood events of October 2022 CFA Acting Deputy Chief Officer North West Bill Johnstone and Heathcote Fire Brigade 1st Lieutenant Jim Staggard joined Minister Jacyln Symes and VICSES Heathcote Unit Controller Darren O’Connor at the new site today (15 November) The new home base for community protection will be located on Herriot Street and will feature seven drive through motor bays and two ancillary sheds alongside individual administrative offices Bill Johnstone said the new facility will allow both agencies to provide greater service to the local community “Not only will the hub enable effective response to fires but it will also support the retention and recruitment of new volunteers,” Bill said “Many areas within the new facility will be shared reinforcing our existing close working relationship and shared dedication both agencies have toward protecting their local areas “It’s also positive to see the inclusion of female-friendly change rooms and showers and areas for volunteers to meet and unwind.” VICSES Interim Chief Executive Officer Kate White said VICSES Heathcote Unit volunteers play a critical role in their community “Today's land dedication to build a new fit-for-purpose facility in 2025 will provide them state-of-the-art amenities to continue to offer that support,” Kate said “This will be a colocated facility for both VICSES and CFA volunteers which will only strengthen and refine emergency response for the Heathcote area and surrounds with more space available for members to respond Heathcote brigade has more than 45 volunteers and 19 operational firefighters who average 77 callouts each year VICSES Heathcote has more than 24 volunteers and averages 213 requests for assistance (RFAs) annually Funding for the Heathcote Emergency Services Hub has been provided by the Victorian Government with construction expected to commence mid to late 2025 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) Heathcote Road closures have been rescheduled three hours before they were due to start on Monday night Transport for NSW issued a media release at 5pm on Monday stating "The community is advised that closures for preliminary safety work on Heathcote Road will not start tonight "Heathcote Road will instead be open under stop/slow control between 8pm and 5am from Monday 7 to Thursday 10 April "Heathcote Road will then be closed nightly between 8pm and 5am from Saturday 12 to Wednesday 16 April with a detour in place "The 10-day closure required later this month to allow essential realignment of this busy arterial road will still commence at 8pm Thursday 17 April "Transport for NSW apologises to the local community and motorists for any inconvenience and thanks them for their patience while this work is carried out." Heathcote Road will be closed for 10 days this month to address what government officials say are "critical safety issues" Transport for NSW (TfNSW) said "the essential realignment of this busy arterial road" was "triggered by the extreme rainfall events of 2022 that resulted in two landslip incidents" "Emergency repairs were completed later in 2022 but the area continues to experience movement and is considered a safety risk so immediate slope realignment is required to ensure the safety of motorists and cyclists," a statement said Heathcote Road will be temporarily reopened in a single direction on the following dates: Motorists will be detoured via Bangor Bypass during all closures and are advised to expect delays and to allow extra travel time Local residents will be able to access their homes under traffic control while access for National Parks and Wildlife Services and emergency services will be maintained during the road closures The statement said the realignment work was separate to plans announced in late 2024 to upgrade Heathcote Road between Lucas Heights and Engadine with a new westbound overtaking lane along a critical section of the corridor TfNSW coordinator general Barbara Wise said Heathcote Road was in "an environment that has dense vegetation and a cliff adjacent to the road adding complexity to closures and realignment work" "Consideration was given to further patching repairs and insertion of more piles to stabilise the hillside but the work would be extensive expensive and ultimately result in the closure of Heathcote Road for a longer period of time," she said "Cracking caused by water-related ground movement was detected in the westbound lane of Heathcote Road east of the Woronora River at the start of July 2022 forcing a closure of the westbound lane between Princes Highway and New Illawarra Road "The cracking and continued ground movement on Heathcote Road is entirely due to this extreme wet weather and has been replicated elsewhere on Sydney's road network "Temporary patching and piling was carried out later in 2022 to stabilise the road but permanent realignment work must commence without delay "We thank the local community and motorists for their their patience while we carry out this essential work." Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy Sign up to receive the TV WEEK e-Newsletter and offers we choose to share with you straight to your inbox  By joining, you agree to our Privacy Policy & Terms of Use The unpredictable nature of acting is par for the course.
But where it takes you can make or break a career this is a life she’s become accustomed too – and she zooms into our interview from Atlanta where she’s currently filming her latest project “I’m very insecurely geared, so I
never feel confident until the first day – even week – is done,” Bella, 38, tells TV WEEK “I feel the pressure to rise
to the occasion and do it justice.” This sentiment is echoed by her Scrublands co-star “There’s always some ‘it’s not going to work’ anxiety so you never go in with too much confidence,” he says “I may have made that mistake in my early days… rocking up to the next thing thinking 
I could carry that confidence over It was a lesson he learnt while playing INXS frontman Michael Hutchence in the 2014 miniseries biopic Never Tear Us Apart: The Untold Story of INXS His blistering performance sent him on an upward trajectory that could have given him the ego of a real-life rock star because no one wanted to see me unsure of whether or not 
I could be Michael,” Luke explains of portraying the renowned musician “There was no time for doubt because, if I’d stuffed it up, I’d be living on the other side of the world, never letting my hair grow out again and never speaking a word to another Australian,” he laughs. At the time, Luke was flying back and forth between commitments for
the miniseries and US drama series Black Sails “I got a bit of s* when I returned to continue filming Black Sails ‘you’re still walking like a rock star’ I carried back more of him than I should have,” he says with a grin “It’s a nice thing at some point to think ‘maybe I’m not terrible’ But it’s
a danger to play any other role like I played Michael.” which launched to rave reviews when it debuted on Stan in 2023 Martin and Mandy – played by Bella and Luke – are now together and navigating the complexities of their relationship during a trip to his hometown But things get murky when Martin’s childhood friend is murdered and Mandy is the prime suspect “She can’t catch a break,” Bella says of her ill-fated character “The stakes are pretty high from the start the location and atmosphere set the tone for the
series which co-stars Australian legends such as Debra Lawrance “It was so moody and the landscape and costumes were all shades of blue which lent itself to the unravelling of everything,” says Bella so that when they got taken away in the series It’s easier to access that than to wonder what it would be like to be accused of murder!” While season one introduced the characters Luke says Silver gives viewers an in-depth look at who they really are – and allowed the co-stars to become good friends “We only had a few scenes together in
the first season so we weren’t doing the level of work we are now,” he explains “We have a lot of emotions and 
a complex issue to navigate which is a lot for a new couple to go through “Bella and I work similarly and we
get excited by the same things She challenged me to dig deep and do
the work.” with catch-ups scheduled for whenever they are in the same location “Luke is such an incredible actor and he made it so easy so they came to hang out with my husband and me And so did Sarah [Roberts],” says Bella who splits her time between LA and her home in Phillip Island “We all became a bit of a family on set the unpredictable ride is seemingly never-ending for the pair is busy promoting his graphic fantasy novel series is juggling commitments in the US with upcoming Aussie drama The Family Next Door “I always try to bring something from home with me when I travel,” Bella says adding she’s always keen to delve into the Aussie traits “One thing
I love about Scrublands and the character of Mandy is how uniquely Australian she is but it creates an instant bond back home.” the allure of travelling abroad is always there but he’s happiest just where he is – in Australia “I like knowing the people I’m working with every day,” he says “In the US the productions are so big that you often work with people you’ll never see again.
I have my career and relationships here “There’s always the possibility of being pulled overseas but right now,
the quality of projects here is incredible This is probably not the page you’re looking for AFTER an exhaustive slog through summer training the Bendigo Bank Heathcote District FNL clubs are just weeks away from fighting for premiership points on the footy ovals and netball courts All clubs were incredibly active in landing several gun recruits as they strive for the ultimate prize or to be more competitive than last season There were also plenty of changes on the coaching front Action kicks off April 12 in which the opening round will be highlighted by night matches at Winslow Constructors Oval in White Hills and at Lockington Here’s a club-by-club glance leading into the ’25 campaign: After a hat-trick of premiership victories as Marong’s senior coach Linton Jacobs makes his way back from the Loddon Valley to take charge at the Grasshoppers The club has appointed Tim Kelly as assistant coach The green and gold will be determined to build on last season’s win-loss tally of eight-eight across the home-and-away series Colbinabbin’s run was ended by Heathcote as the Saints won the elimination final by eight points The Grasshoppers have gained gun full-forward Brandyn Grenfell who will significantly bolster the team’s scoring output Grenfell passed the century mark in Marong’s premiership years of ’22 and ’23 and also starred in Nyah Nyah West United’s run to grand final glory last season Colbinabbin also welcomes back Matt Riordan who played in the club’s premiership victory in 2008 and starred for Marong last season Riordan’s versatility and marking ability are two of many strengths he brings to the field Newcomers in the green and gold include Isaac Carracher from Sandhurst and Daniel Hill from Perth’s Curtin University Colbinabbin takes on Heathcote at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve in round two The stretch of away games in the opening month of the season has the Grasshoppers to play at Lockington in round three and then at Leitchville a week later A lucrative recruiting spree by the Nathan Kay-coached Bloods netted Tullamarine’s Matt O’Dwyer and Phil Smith who bring experience from being at AFL clubs to Elmore Both are likely to play in defence for the Bloods O’Dwyer played seven AFL matches for Sydney Swans across the 2008 and ’09 seasons Smith also played at VFL level with Box Hill Hawks and Williamstown The Nathan Kay-coached Bloods will be desperate to improve on last year’s win-loss record of 1-15 In terms of goals kicked from opportunities James Harney was one of the league’s best last season as he led Elmore’s attack on 57 majors A lengthy list of newcomers to the club includes Riley Chivers-Sellings and Harri Jenkins from Cohuna Kangas; White Hills ruckman Reilley Porter; Oska Macfarlane from Moama; Rochester’s Cooper Harbour; Jackson Lowry from Kyabram; and Liam Bianco from Avondale Heights Elmore fans will also be keen to see the play of Echuca’s Charlie O’Toole; Lachie Munro from Park Orchards; Lachie Gawel from De La Salle; Kyan Evans from Lyndhurst; and Nash Kerr from Wycheproof Narraport A tough start for the Bloods as they play at North Bendigo in round one and then host White Hills in the second round Elmore then plays at Huntly and then takes on Mount Pleasant at home The Saints’ run in ’24 was ended when the first semi-final against Leitchville Gunbower was abandoned in the third quarter because of lightning and heavy rain The LG Bombers held a two-point lead and went on to contest the grand final Disappointment from that scenario will drive Heathcote’s players and coaches all season It’s a fourth season in charge for coach Andrew Saladino who will be assisted by Tim Bannan A new-look Saints team will include 200cm ruckman Aaron Gundry who kicked from Coates Talent League action with Bendigo Pioneers to play at VFL level with Carlton and Coburg Tigers The past few seasons Gundry has played at Avondale Heights and Doncaster In attack the Saints will have Dylan Johnstone from Cohuna Kangas as a key target Johnstone’s career includes time at Golden Square Other ‘ins’ for the Saints include Will Tobin from Bell Park and mid/forward Justin Bateson from Kangaroo Flat A knee injury meant the classy Zak Saad played just nine matches but did kick 23 goals in his debut season with Heathcote The Saints start the season against fierce rival Mount Pleasant at Toolleen In round two Heathcote is on home turf at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve to tackle Colbinabbin A bye in round three will be followed by the hit-out at Lockington The Harlowe Huntly Hawks soared to six victories on their way to seventh placing in ’24 Second-year coach Hamish Morcom will be determined to build on the brown and gold’s momentum The Hawks have Darby Walsh as assistant coach Key recruits include Sam and Nathan Dunstan from Corowa-Rutherglen to play as full-forward and ruckman respectively An attack which has Sam Dunstan and Lachy Wilson as key targets will test all defences Experienced midfielder Jayden Cowling also returns to Strauch Reserve from a stint with Pyramid Hill in the Loddon Valley Cowling is joined by Bulldogs’ team-mate Jack Burns Other newcomers are Golden Square’s Lachlan Ross; Sandhurst’s Jameson Barber; and Dion Rafaeles from Mitiamo It’s consecutive away games to start the season as the Hawks travel to Lockington and then Leitchville First home game will be against Elmore in round three A great run by the Hawks last season included beating North Bendigo both times Huntly returns to the Atkins Street kennel in round four The Shannon Keam-coached LG Bombers soared into last season’s grand final on the back of a 10-6 record to be third in the home-and-away series Stung by a one-goal loss to North Bendigo in the qualifying final the Bombers led in the third quarter when the first semi-final against Heathcote was abandoned The Bombers then beat North Bendigo in the preliminary final by 19 points before they met a rampaging White Hills in the grand final Most of the team which played in the season decider will play on Among them will be ruckman Jobee Warde who earnt the Sam Cheatley Medal as league fairest and best Across the summer James Brereton and Billy Hawken played in the Northern Territory Both were premiership winners with Banks in the NTFL Premier Reserves competition A newcomer is the experienced Colin McVeigh who has played at Hastings The Bombers also welcome back Fletcher Ball and Ben Embleton to a squad in which Ayden Walton is assistant coach It’s a rematch of the ’24 grand final under the White Hills lights in round one The Bombers then take on Huntly at Leitchville in round two and then play on Mount Pleasant’s turf at Toolleen Opening month of the season is rounded out by hosting Colbinabbin at Leitchville Consistency will be the key for the LBU Cats following a 5-11 record and eighth placing last season The Cats have appointed Jayden Howe as senior coach Recruits at Lockington include Echuca ruckman/forward Cody Mann forward/midfielder Nick Sheldon and defender Jack O’Callaghan who played in the Goulburn Valley and Picola leagues The Cats kick off the season with a run of four home games in a row First-up will be the night match against Huntly and then Mount Pleasant It’s a testing rung for the new coach and new-look team against three of last season’s finalists in the opening four rounds The Blues fell from being reigning premier to the sixth rung and a 7-9 record last season Gun on-baller Josh Hann makes his way from Kerang to Toolleen to be playing co-coach as Cam Carter stays on as non-playing coach Mounts is likely to be a serious challenger for a top-three berth and higher in ’25 Premiership winners Bryce Hinneberg and Will Wallace are back at Toolleen The defence will be bolstered by the return of both who spent last season playing for Trentham and Northern Bullants respectively Joey Bell is also back with Mounts from Prahran The on-ball division is strengthened by the recruitment of Brodie Montague who was a senior premiership player with Sandhurst in 2016 Montague’s running power and work at centre clearances with ruckman Chris Down will be a key to the Blues’ game plan Other recruits at Mount Pleasant include Seb Greene and Brodie Leonard-Shannon from Maldon Charlie Cowan and Harvey Hughes from Huntly juniors and Harley Strachan from Strathfieldsaye juniors Mount Pleasant kicks off the season by facing Heathcote at Toolleen The Blues then travel to Lockington and then  host Leitchville Gunbower in round three Action in round four includes the clash of the Bloods and Blues on Elmore’s turf Plenty of premiership-winning experience was added to North Bendigo’s squad following last season’s third placing The Bulldogs marked a 12-4 record across the home-and-away series and then won the qualifying final against Leitchville Gunbower A 10-goal loss to White Hills in the second semi was followed by the preliminary final defeat inflicted by the LG Bombers Rob Bennett stays on non-playing coach as Ryan Hartley steps up from being assistant in ’24 to now be co-coach A powerful attack will include Ryan Gillingham a nine-time premiership winner with Kerang a triple premiership winner with the Bulldogs who returns from Eaglehawk The ruck set-up will be led by Jordan Hargreaves from Wedderburn as premiership winner Jeremy Lambden makes a comeback New and/or returning players to Atkins Street include Ben Knight from Pyramid Hill The Bulldogs are at home for the first-round clash with Elmore North Bendigo plays at White Hills and will then be in the kennel again to tackle the Huntly Hawks Although there’s been plenty of focus on who left the reigning premier White Hills will still field a strong line-up in ’25 New coach Peter Learmonth brings hundreds of games of experience Talented on-baller Ben Taylor also steps up to be co-coach of the red and black Newcomers at Scott Street include Eaglehawk forward/wingman Andrew Bennett Strathfieldsaye defender Jacob Beattie; and Bridgewater’s Ben Irvine A talented attack includes Cohen Kekich and Mitch Dole The Demons kick off the season with the grand final rematch against Leitchville Gunbower under the Winslow Constructors Oval lights in Scott Street White Hills then plays at Elmore in round two and then hosts North Bendigo in the third round before a bye A brilliant run by White Hills in ’24 included a 14-2 record and top spot at the end of the home-and-away series A 64-point win against North Bendigo in the second semi was followed by a 71-point victory against Leitchville Gunbower to end the premiership drought It’s a vastly different line-up which is hungry to achieve back-to-back premierships Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon The best of Melbourne straight to your inbox We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news Sign up for our email to enjoy Melbourne without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush) Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Melbourne Time Out Melbourne never writes starred restaurant and bar reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills, and anonymously reviews, so that readers can trust our critique. Find out more here the state’s gilded home of top shiraz there’s a small yet stately Georgian sandstone structure that looks like something out of a Jane Austen novel it was the office of early town surveyor Phillip Chauncy it’s home to one of Victoria’s most inviting countryside restaurants It’s run by French native Louis Naepels (ex-head chef of Grossi Florentino) and his partner Tess Murray (ex-sommelier at Supernormal) one of the most naturally enthusiastic sommeliers I’ve had the privilege to encounter in some time Turning into the heritage-listed building’s driveway you’ll first spot an organic garden abloom with life Its towering sunflowers look so yellow and cheerful it’s as if they’re beaming at us My partner and I are lucky to have arrived 15 minutes before our booking so we wander leisurely among the happy bees and “ooh” and “aah” at all the fresh produce nestled amidst the leaves – zucchini flowers spinach and lots more that the restaurant cultivates and prepares in its kitchen Provenance-conscious dining is nothing new in Victoria in 2025 so I’m curious about how the afternoon will set Chauncy apart from the rest tall arched windows and an antique mirror and chandelier mark the dining room as the dream parlour of any respectable high tea hostess “I’d like this to be my lounge room,” I murmur to my partner We’re started off with a crisp Champagne on arrival a smart traditional ally for our first snack: two warm Comté gougères airy shell encases a cashmere-soft centre; we savour each with relish This is French snackery at its most gratifying is a dry white style from classic dessert wine country brimming with fleshy stone fruit and pizzazz It’s a more colourful style of aperitif than I’m used to in commencing a set menu The first course makes yet another pitch-perfect impression: a humble triptych of pork rillettes; cucumber and radish with bagna càuda; and a plump carrot but that lightly spiced and sumptuous pork has got to take the top gong for the tastiest meat starter I’ve enjoyed in a long while Smearing it across lightly charred rectangles of toasted bread I sigh at the pleasures of simple food executed so well another veg-forward dish commands our attention: smooth curls of zucchini with Dreaming Goat cheese curd brightened by lemon verbena and interspersed with heavenly hazelnuts zucchini has got to be one of the sexiest vegetables of all time Its textural adaptability and faithful subservience to its innumerable saucy dominatrixes have impressed me ever since I first got my hands on a zoodle spiralising implement in a Berlin department store in 2017 The dish is a stunner with a phenomenal 2023 gruner veltliner from Weingut Knoll.  Chauncy’s menu du jour on this fine sunny January afternoon steps it up with the third course a plate of delicate soft herb and ricotta ravioli fleshy sweetness of its scattering of Skull Island prawns and I gratefully wash each parcel down with a drop of its pairing – Domaine Gavoty’s Clarendon Cotes de Provence 2022 “It’s summer in a glass,” our hostess tells me with a smile that translates more like a fun-loving wink It’s impossible not to be charmed by her zest for wine – the kind of passion so contagious it makes you want to pack a small backpack fly to France and intern at some vineyard in the middle of nowhere for the hell of it then the ravioli’s pesto spirit certainly evokes European summer in a dish There are two books about France I remember loving in my early twenties: A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle Calva and Creme: Exploring France’s Culinary Heritage by G.Y there’s frequent mention of France’s regional culinary magic outside of the hot Michelin territory of Paris From thriving farmers’ markets to unsung cooks nailing classics at homestyle bistros the disarmingly humble yet exceptional hospitality experiences in small French towns are a deserving source of cultural pride smack-bang in the middle of Victorian wine country In a development that surprises neither of us the duck l’orange is the showstopper of the day Perfectly cooked breast and thigh meat come alive with the sweetness of cherry and beetroot served with an irresistibly nutty haricot amandine and a Macedon Ranges pinot noir Dessert combines the treasures of apricot and speculoos (that festive-spiced biscuit) The entire meal is all so wonderfully approachable each bite anchoring one back to an important but occasionally forgotten truth: aside from nourishing may simply refer to that 1800s surveyor we mentioned earlier But it also translates loosely to “good fortune” – and though the ultra-talented and experienced Naepels and Murray certainly don’t need anything like luck to bolster their efforts it’s clear that Chauncy is both blessed and blesses those who settle in at its sunlit tables Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! twitterinstagrampinterestAbout us Contact us Transport for NSW is currently developing the Heathcote Road corridor strategy The NSW Government is working to improve safety on Heathcote Road with plans to add an overtaking lane between Lucas Heights and Engadine Transport for NSW is releasing designs to install koala protection fencing at Deadman’s Creek Heathcote Road overtaking Lane, between New Illawarra Road and Princes Highway (heading west from the Heathcote Road Bridge) As part of a $180M NSW Government commitment Transport for NSW is planning to prioritise construction of a west bound overtaking lane which starts at the recently completed Heathcote Road Bridge over Woronora River at Engadine and extends west towards New Illawarra Road at Lucas Heights Planning is underway for the duplication of approximately 18kms between Voyager Point to Princes Highway at Engadine For further information about this project Email: projects@transport.nsw.gov.au Transport for NSW recognise and celebrate the diversity of Aboriginal peoples and their ongoing cultures and care of Country. We pay respect to traditional custodians and Elders past and present. Local support: Alison Jeavons, with fellow volunteer Wendy Collins, said locals came out in droves to view the new Court House Crafts premises. Photos: SANDRA JAMES AFTER months of uncertainty, Court House Crafts has finally moved into new premises in the former McIvor Times building next to Palling Bros Brewery. It comes after more than 32 years in the former Heathcote Court House, which will be redeveloped as part of the Heathcote Civic Precinct project. “It goes without saying that the massive relocation of Court House Crafts has been a sad undertaking,” Court House Crafts secretary Christine Raniolo said. “The City of Greater Bendigo allowed us to tenant the building for a little over 32 years and we do sincerely wish to thank them for this time. “Even with the limited amenities we were happy with the space the building provided for our displays of arts and crafts. “We acknowledge that it is dire need of repair and restoration and are hoping the beautiful building can be restored to its original glory and will be enjoyed into the future by the Heathcote community. “Having said this, we are now very grateful to Peter from Palling Bros, who has kindly let us continue our community service selling arts and crafts on consignment for the Heathcote community. “Limited space has unfortunately forced us to discontinue our stocks of old wares. “As a not-for-profit cooperative, any profits made have been used to purchase yarns, haberdashery and fabrics and obviously pay the bills. “We will build on these stocks as funds become available. We look forward to welcoming customers, old and new, to visit our new shop, even just to browse. “We ask that everyone tells their friends and family so we can increase the volume of customers and continue trading, always remembering that without our customers, we wouldn’t be here. “Any new friends who have some spare time would be very welcome to volunteer and join our group. “A fantastic crowd turned up on our opening day and we especially thank all those family members, friends and people from the community who helped in this move.” Court House Crafts is open Thursday to Sunday from 10am to 4pm at its new location at 170 High Street, Heathcote. offering the ultimate in rural lifestyle living Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueA popular short-stay accommodation property has been listed for $2.3 million The sale would include the Mt Ida eco cabin and Cranford Cottage The Mt Ida Eco Cabin has a 4.97-star rating on AirBnB making it one of the most popular destinations on the website between the Northern Highway and the One Eye State Forest It includes a 100-year-old renovated four-bedroom homestead with generous living spaces Picture suppliedIts kitchen comes equipped for serious chefs and the living room overlooks an in-ground swimming pool and vineyard Cranford Cottage is a purpose-built cottage tucked behind ironbark trees offering traditional farm stay accommodation The Mt Ida Eco Cabin offers off-grid living for guests kitchen area and lounge overlooking a deck and a dam The property includes a residance and two popular short-stay options Picture supplied"Guests appreciate the chance to disconnect and unwind in a serene environment without wi-fi minimising their carbon footprint," according to the property's listing "Both Cranford Cottage and Mt Ida Eco Cabin enjoy consistent bookings with the current owners taking two months off annually "A true testament to their success is that one-third of bookings come from repeat guests The current owners are selling as they look towards retirement View +7 PhotosElmdale Park up for grabsAt 468-470 Heathcote-Redesdale Road the property known as Elmdale features a three-bedroom home with each bedroom containing an ensuite There is an extended and renovated 1865 stone miner's cottage you'll find manicured gardens developed over 25 years with its own articulated irrigation system Bifold doors open onto a large wooden deck overlooking a water feature circulating water from the upper to a lower dam "Elmdale offers superb privacy and tranquillity making it perfect for a wide range of buyers," Maher Real Estate's selling agent said "Whether you are seeking a peaceful retreat a horse enthusiast's facilities or you're someone wishing to establish a vineyard with your own wine label The property is on the market for $2.8 million 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. looking from Princes Highway across Veno Street Picture DAA proposed development on the Heathcote Hotel site the unanimous decision by Sydney South Planning Panel is not the end of the matter as the developer has lodged an appeal with the Land and Environment Court on the basis of deemed refusal The panel endorsed the recommendation by Sutherland Shire Council planners to knock back the development application (DA) The proposed building heights and the impact on traffic were among issues identified by the council's assessment report "It is acknowledged that the site is appropriately zoned for higher density development which is complemented by the site's large area and proximity to public transport services," the report said the proposed scheme is significantly higher and of a higher density than that espoused by planning controls and the future character of Heathcote Village "It is recognised that the design incorporates a number of infill affordable housing apartments in response to the housing shortfall "The provision of infill affordable housing is considered to be much needed not only in throughout the Sydney Metropolitan and broadly across the state "In the circumstances of this application and the location of the site the provision of additional housing stock should not be at the expense of the future desired character and urban design outcomes permitted and envisaged by the applicable environmental planning instruments and planning controls that relate to the site and this type of development form Artist's impression of the view from Strickland Street Picture DA"There are very few developments within the Heathcote Village exceeding three storeys "The village is low density in character and the proposal has failed to comprise a building that is compatible with the surrounding land use activities and to act as a transitional building form to the surrounding residential neighbourhood." Issues of concern included traffic impacts and insufficient parking excessive building height and overdevelopment of the site the development did not fit in with the existing character of the area with the first stage to be the apartments and a cold shell for what could in the future be a new hotel Marathon effort: Runners in the O’Keefe Marathon will set out at 8am and the Half Marathon at 9am THE O’Keefe Challenge and Heathcote Community Games will return to Barrack Reserve on Sunday The not-for-profit event promotes health and wellbeing in the community “The O’Keefe Challenge is more than just a race fun run or relaxing walk,” said O’Keefe Challenge president Kerstin Brauns nature and the community spirit of the greater Heathcote region “The O’Keefe Challenge has been running for 10 years and attracts around 1000 registered participants as well as observers to our region “Our participants often make a weekend of it in Heathcote supporting local businesses with accommodation and meals as well as visiting attractions and wineries in our beautiful area “The O’Keefe Challenge has a variety of running and walking events to cater for all ages and abilities “Our events include a full marathon (42.2 kilometres) 10-kilometre and five-kilometre run/walk against dementia all-abilities 1.5-kilometre quiz walk through town where participants follow directions looking for clues to answer a series of quiz questions about Heathcote attractions and businesses “There is plenty on offer for the kids with a one-kilometre race and 500-metre superhero dash where everyone is encouraged to dress up as their favourite superhero “We also offer two relay events for teams of six the Ekiden Relay is 42.2 kilometres over six legs and the mini-eki is 21.1 kilometres over six legs.” Athletes follow the O’Keefe Rail Trail between Bendigo and Heathcote farms and past Lake Eppalock as well as utilising the McIvor Creek Trail in Heathcote past the Valley of Liquid Ambers “The finish area on Barrack Reserve is located on the main High Street providing easy access for family and friends to visit the event village and cheer their loved ones on,” said Ms Brauns “There they can join in the Heathcote Community Games family entertainment with a rock-climbing wall “We raise funds for the Dementia Alliance which promises to be a game-changer in improving the design and delivery of innovative dementia care services with a focus on rural and regional solutions “Last year we raised over $6500 for Dementia Alliance to put towards their latest flagship project – Reflections at Eppalock a nature-based sanctuary nestled on twenty acres on the serene banks of Lake Eppalock “This haven offers an opportunity for people with dementia and their carers to recharge “The O’Keefe Challenge also donates funds to over a dozen local volunteer groups who operate our drink stations provide first aid support and marshal our course.” Bendigo Triathlon Club and SADARC and SAREG Amateur Radio Clubs “This year Heathcote SES is coming on board to operate an aid station and raise funds for their new 4WD Medium Rescue Truck,” Ms Brauns said “The money will be matched dollar for dollar by Heathcote & District Community Bank “Lions Club will be operating their BBQ trailer and the Heathcote Football/Netball Club will have the tuck shop open “We rely on the generosity of local sponsors as well as registrations to fund our event Connallys Real Estate and Heathcote Lions Club have been sponsoring our event since the first Challenge event with Emu Downs Contracting “This year Heathcote’s new At the Bar 24/7 Gym joins us a new sponsor “Tellurian Winery and Palling Bros Brewery donate goods for prize packs and Heathcote Visitor Information Centre donate their time to put them together with local goodies promoting our region.” The Event Village at Barrack Reserve will open at 8am Saints wing defence Brylee Tolsen prepares to pass to a team-mate in the A-grade netball clash with the Blues The Saints made their way to Colbinabbin’s M.J “We had some really great passages of play in attack where we are building connections,” said the Saints’ first-year coach It was the Anthea McCleary-coached Mount Pleasant which made a hot start in the warm conditions The Saints copped an early injury blow when centre Elisa Pica was hurt and off the court by the five-minute mark the heat and the lack of fresh legs really hit us hard,” Meulenmeesters said Heathcote was able to generate turnovers in defence and mid-court but converting chances into goals was at a low percentage Heathcote’s players will be on their home court at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve on April 26 to play Colbinabbin The Jen McIntyre-coached Colbinabbin which was runner-up in ’24 had the bye last Saturday “It’s going to be a great challenge,” Meulenmeesters said “We are up against a team which has great on-court connection and a lot of skill “We will put in the work at training and be focussing on our game style.” Round one of the Heathcote DFNL season tipped off with big wins in A-grade for Huntly and White Hills in Saturday night’s matches The Harlowe Huntly Hawks won 52-30 on Lockington’s court as the Winslow Constructor White Hills Demons won on their Scott Street court against Leitchville Gunbower by 24 goals Closest match of the round was at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo where Elmore fought on for a 36-31 victory against the Bulldogs Rob Heathcote is looking to the heavens for barrier assistance for his talented gelding Cosmo Centaurus ahead of the $1 million The Archer at Rockhampton Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing Followed categories will be added to My News Brisbane trainer Rob Heathcote knows he’ll be up against some “serious horses” in Sunday’s $1m The Archer slot race in Rockhampton but that won’t stop him from daring to dream The Heathcote-trained gelding Cosmo Centaurus will run in the slot for Karla and Peter McPhail in the 1300m race which costs $70,000 per entry and offers $565,000 to the winner Ironically it was Heathcote’s horse Emerald Kingdom which edged out Apache Chase in the inaugural edition of The Archer in 2022 and guess who held the slot for the runner-up “I got a bit of a surprise when I did get the phone for Cosmo Centaurus but I’m not surprised when you analyse his runs which have been a lot better than they look on paper,” Heathcote said “He’s the only three-year-old in the race but I’m a realist. He’s coming up against Iowna Merc, Sandpaper and Transatlantic Boom! 💥Boomtown Boss wins the Listed Daybreak Lover at Eagle Farm, giving @tonygollan his third winner for the day!@emilyyplang | @BrisRacingClubpic.twitter.com/bcIMhsy04D • Richard Callander’s best futures bets for Qld winter, plus Sydney and Melbourne spring “He hasn’t had a lot of luck in his last couple of races and I’m having a horror run with barriers lately,” Heathcote said It’s just getting to the stage where I’m exasperated with the continual run of bad barriers.” Iowna Merc ($4.20) and Sandpaper ($6.50) lead Ladbrokes’ market for The Archer Heathcote will be hoping for better luck for the barrier draw on Wednesday night and in a “big plus”, six-time Group 1 winner Chad Schofield will fly up from Sydney to ride the three-year-old gelding “I think the 1300m on that big track can suit him but the reality is that I have to temper my enthusiasm because he hasn’t proven himself against this type of quality,” Heathcote said “There’s no doubt it’s going to be tough but he’s a horse who I feel has a very bright future.” Originally published as Brisbane trainer Rob Heathcote knows he’ll be up against some ‘serious horses’ in Sunday’s $1m The Archer slot race in Rockhampton Accredited resumes at Gosford on Saturday after creating plenty of hype over the summer with some slashing performances Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising will have two runs in Sydney this Spring Thoroughbred racing’s biggest and brightest names of the jockey ranks have signed on to compete in a lucrative Grand Prix style franchise-based global circuit James McDonald is one of a number of champion jockeys to give the new global jockey league the tick of approval Melbourne jockey Ethan Brown will head to Saturday’s Hollindale Sakes at the Gold Coast in super form after a treble at last Saturday’s Caulfield meeting Annabel Archibald will be out to secure a fifth straight Hollindale Stakes this Saturday Sign up to receive the Gourmet Traveller newsletter and offers we choose to share with you straight to your inbox  which opened just off Heathcote’s main drag in 2021 the town is making some noise on the food and wine tourist radar Chauncy took out this year’s Best Destination Dining award at Gourmet Traveller’s Annual Restaurant Awards ahead of a pack of remarkable regional restaurants from across the country Opened in a handsome Gold Rush-era sandstone building by French-born chef Louis Naepels and his Australian sommelier partner Tess Murray Chauncy is a beautifully conceived triumph that takes its cues from both provincial French restaurants and the variety and quality of the local produce and wine Spending a few languid hours in the restaurant’s light-drenched dining room is well worth the 120-kilometre drive from Melbourne on its own but it also provides the perfect excuse to have a bit of a poke around this region that was recognised by UNESCO as a Creative Region of Gastronomy in 2019 Tess Murray is a brilliant sommelier who has assembled an excellent cellar at Chauncy (much of it highlighting great local makers) and it would be a crime not to take proper advantage of that Accommodation is definitely worth considering a big-skied mix of farm land and thick bush running between the granite boulder-studded McHarg and McIvor Ranges uncovering the good things to eat and drink and places to stay requires some research and forward planning apart from securing a table at one of Chauncy’s four lunch services a week consider this a primer for those interested in a road trip to a part of the world that’s more than ready for its close up Wine is one of the main draws of the area and the particular elevation, brilliant Cambrian soils and a winemaking heritage that can be traced back to the 1800s explain why. There are more than 70 wineries in the region and one of the best cellar doors to visit is Syrahmi the winery which was integral to the decision to open Chauncy in Heathcote Former chef-turned-winemaker Adam Foster has a love of Rhône varieties and his shiraz grown organically among granite boulders on a property in Tooborac is one of the best expressions of the grape that is the region’s main calling card For those inclined towards a themed wine tour, the Heathcote Women in Wine Trail is a good leaping off point Linked by the women who work in the business the cellar doors of these wineries – Silver Spoon Sanguine and Armstead & ECK Wines – are all within 20 minutes of each other This makes for an easy drive for the designated driver and an excellent snapshot of the region’s varietal strength including shiraz but also deft expressions of viognier an independent craft brewery on Heathcote’s High Street including a robust Oatmeal Stout and a full-flavoured Golden Ale live music and a beer hall and beer garden are also part of the pull There’s a rolling series of farmers markets being held most weekends in the region but for more permanent access to great local produce an easy 40-minute drive from Heathcote is an excellent snapshot of what’s in season locally beer and cider and native flowers are for sale and an excellent café with good coffee and a menu utilising much of the produce on sale make for a fun and tasty pit stop Heathcote may not have the variety of accommodation of some of the more famed tourist towns in central Victoria but there have been some recent additions to the mix which have helped raise the bar. The Cellars at Heathcote II are luxurious villas with amazing views to Mount Camel on the Heathcote II winery spacious outside decks and – best of all – a walk-in wine cellar well stocked with local and French labels The Cellars provide plush accommodation well-suited to the region’s upward trajectory Those after a little peaceful off-grid action should book a stay at Wilka Eco Escapes architect-designed cabins are not only good looking with their clean timber angles and huge windows that drink in the view they’re also 100 per cent solar powered and feature hot tubs wood stoves and supremely comfortable beds CoffeeBendigo, the city at the centre of the region, is worth its own story but for those craving excellent coffee and perhaps a bit of cleverly curated culture at the acclaimed Bendigo Art Gallery in their exploration the 40-minute drive from Heathcote is well worth considering For coffee fanatics, the best bets are Old Green Bean a café and coffee roastery where you can buy freshly roasted beans to take with you a tiny takeaway coffee joint with an expert owner-barista and Hustle Coffee another pint-sized joint with great coffee and attitude and an admirable side in baked goods Pulling up to Chauncy in regional Victoria in this show-stopping SUV is a power move that strikes where style meets performance Lexus introduced Australians to the luxury SUV category At the top of the range in its fifth generation this sleek new all-wheel-drive hybrid is its most powerful release yet And it’s as ready for the open road as it is for its close up all the better for filling with local wine and artisanal procurements As you’d expect from a Japanese vehicle at this level safety features are some of the best in class (think emergency steering assistance The tech is top level too thanks to a 14-inch interactive monitor smart connectivity and high-fidelity sound the multi-colour ambient lighting system evokes a range of emotional atmospheres to pair with the journey ahead Michael Harden worked in restaurants and bars in New York Tuscany and Melbourne for 15 years to support his writing he now spends much of his time writing about eating he is the Victorian and Tasmanian editor for Gourmet Traveller and works as a freelance author restaurant critic and editor for publications such as Good Food and Broadsheet He also holds the lofty title of Oceania Academy Chair for The World’s 50 Best Hotels including a cultural history of the Melbourne hospitality scene called Melbourne: The Making of an Eating and Drinking Capital and Lygon Street a history of Melbourne’s original eat street He is currently completing a novel that’s set You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Visit image gallery to purchase the image The 61-year-old was posthumously awarded the Souter Trophy for groundsman of the year at the Christchurch Metro Cricket Association awards Heathcote Cricket Club president Ralph Bungard accepted the trophy on his behalf “It’s a nice recognition and shows the important impact he has had not just for Heathcote but Christchurch cricket in general,” said Bungard Georgieff’s brother Nigel said he would have appreciated the award but it would not have been what mattered the most to him “He was more than happy to see the results of people playing good cricket on a good wicket.”  Bungard said people were “pretty torn up about” Georgieff’s death “He’s such an important part (of the club) not just as a character and an individual but an instrumental part of how the club operates we’re reliant on volunteers and when you get someone like Roger who’s passionate about the club he realised he would not be able to continue his work as a groundsman He put together a detailed ground management manual for the club to use after he died It included a day-to-day guide on irrigation even down to marking the pitch and putting the stumps in “He demonstrated to us what the standards should be for a ground like ours in a premiership competition,” said Bungard He was born and raised in Heathcote Valley and joined the club in 1971 for the school boys team and went on to play for various senior teams Georgieff stayed on as head groundsman for the club until the time of his death “In his last few months he was still physically showing people how to do the groundwork That was incredible on his behalf,” Bungard said “He was just so passionate and would always be there if anyone needed advice Georgieff was made a life member of the club in 2005 His passion for community sport extended beyond cricket as he was a team manager for the Sumner Rugby Club for 12 years and chair of Canterbury United football for five Sumner’s opening game of this season was dedicated to Georgieff where a moment of silence was held in his memory He also served as chair of the Christchurch Suburban Cricket Association from 2000-2012 and played a major role in combining it with the CMCA He was made a life member of the CMCA in 2016 He worked as head of procurement at MG Marketing for Summerfruit NZ of which he was made a life member for his 30 years of service He was husband to Janine Gemmell and father to Zach Said Nigel: “If you are going to do something you put your heart and soul into it and Roger was never one to sit back and watch Fittingly he spent his final day watching the Heathcote premier side play on the pitch he spent more than four decades curating I think he liked the fact that he could see his legacy and how strong it was.” It was his final chance to say goodbye to the people from the club that meant so much to him Said Nigel: “He’s made life long friends at the club and that was really important to him.” The following day he passed away through the assisted dying process Just under 600 people attended his funeral Said Bungard: “There’s a massive amount of people in the cross section of communities that he touched.” 4.52pm: One person has been taken by ambulance to Bendigo Health Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueTwo others were assessed at the scene but not taken to the hospital EARLIER: Emergency services are on the scene after one person was seriously injured in a two-motorbikes crash on Chapmans Lane in Heathcote Two others were injured and the entirety of Chapmans Lane has been closed following the collision which occurred at 3.10 in the afternoon of Saturday All three injured people were alert and breathing half an hour after the crash as well as Ambulance Victoria and Victoria Police Leitchville Gunbower v Lockington Bamawm United (L) Lockington Bamawm United v Leitchville Gunbower LEFT: The APS Heathcote hope locals will be encouraged to grow more native plants like this banksia to encourage birds into their gardens THE Australian Plants Society Heathcote is calling for stallholders for the Annual Heathcote Flower Show and Plant Sale The event will be held at Barrack Reserve stadium on Saturday 12 April from 9am to 3pm “Last year was a huge success and we are hoping to build on that again this year,” said secretary Tania Biagioni “Most of last year’s stallholders will be returning as well as some new ones including the Men’s Shed and Heathcote Writers’ Playgroup “We would welcome other community groups who would like to have a stall.” incorporated community organisation dedicated to growing Australian native plants conserving native plants and promoting general knowledge of Australian plants “Our theme this year is promoting conservation and growing local native plants to attract local bird species,” said Ms Biagioni plant it and they will come,’ and we hope people will be inspired to plant more native plants and enjoy the bird life they bring to our gardens.” Anyone who would like to have a stall with products in line with the APS Heathcote theme can contact Ms Biagioni on 0425 707 606   A new eastbound bridge on Heathcote Road over Harris Creek will open today which is part of the jointly funded $188 million Heathcote Road upgrade has been built to withstand a 1 in 100-year flood event It’s the third of five new bridges being constructed as part of the 2.2-kilometre Heathcote Road upgrade “The new bridge is a key component of the upgrade and its opening will enable the construction of a parallel bridge to the west,” says MP Cameron Murphy Labor spokesperson for the Holsworthy electorate “These bridges are providing additional flood resilience for this busy section of Heathcote Road which sees around 36,000 vehicles per day travelling along it.”  Traffic was scheduled to be switched across onto the new bridge from around 5am this morning Once the switch has been successfully made This will then create the space needed to construct a new westbound structure which will significantly increase the capacity along Heathcote Road It will be part of a scope of works that will see a change in traffic conditions between Infantry Parade The works being undertaken will see a reconfiguration to shift traffic lanes for the installation of traffic lights Activities will involve utility adjustments These works will be carried out during nightworks on the following dates Heathcote Road between Infantry Parade and MacArthur Drive – 8pm Friday 14 February to 5am Saturday 15 February 8pm Friday 21 February to 5am Saturday 28 February Heathcote Road near The Avenue: 8pm Friday 21 February to 5am Saturday 22 February 8pm Friday 28 February to 5am Saturday 1 March Heathcote Road at the MacArthur Drive Intersection: 8pm Friday 28 March to 5am Saturday 29 March 8pm Friday 7 March to 5am Saturday 8 March Partial lane closures and traffic control will be in place for the safety of workers and road users.  Road users are advised to drive to the conditions and follow the direction of signs and traffic control For the latest traffic updates across the network, call 132 701, visit livetraffic.com or download the Live Traffic NSW App.  However Cambridge Road has been in desperate need for one for decades Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" the South West Voice is a free news website which serves Macarthur and Liverpool © 2023 South West Voice • All Rights Reserved • Proudly Supported by Simply WordPress Sydney Record ANZAC crowds New Mayor appointed Remembering ANZAC Residents invited for budget feedback Mobile pledge towards Whittlesea Where to vote: Whittlesea CCTV promise for Whittlesea 2026 Prep enrolments now open Magpies record first win Eagles back on track Laurimar powers past Demons Kilmore stay perfect Wallan treks to the coast Kilmore clips Hawks’ wings Len Baker’s Sulky Snippets: April 29, 2025 From the Boundary with Ray Carroll: April 29, 2025 Children are continuing to risk their lives and the lives of others by engaging in dangerous pranks Motorists passing the Heathcote Junction Railway Station have been warned to remain vigilant as a group of youths have escalated from jumping out in front of unsuspecting drivers and throwing water balloons to hurling rocks at passing cars and placing broken tree branches and tyres across the road The latest incident occurred on December 12 at 3.30am when local business owner Bek Swan pulled over to avoid hitting the objects and inform police before taking it upon herself to clean up the scene “Most of the time I am able to throw whatever they put on the road into my car,” she said “But [earlier this month] they pulled down large tree limbs and I couldn’t remove them from the area 30 minutes later it was all back on the road.” Locals once again took to Facebook to share their concerns with many suggesting community members take matters into their own hands to catch the culprits “They’ll end up killing someone,” one user wrote “How do the brains of these kids not compute how dangerous this is Acting Senior Sergeant Stephen Solyom of Kilmore and Seymour Police Stations warned that those behind the incidents could face criminal charges “Police have been made aware of this issue,” he said “Police believe this behaviour is potentially very dangerous for unsuspecting motorists We have increased patrols in the area and … our members [have visited] the possible culprits [to] have an open discussion.” Anyone with information is urged to call Kilmore Police on 5782 1211 © The North Central Review Pty Ltd The league's executive board has a new look to it this year Picture by Darren HoweROD Stephens is leading what is very much a new-look Heathcote District Football Netball League board for season 2025 Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe HDFNL's executive board for this year of seven features four new faces Stephens is stepping up from vice chair to take on the role of chair Cindy Clarkson and Mandy Walker (netball portfolio) and Sam Walker and Jacinta Gee (general members) are four new members on the board the only returning board members from last season are new vice chair Colin Bacon and treasurer Tina Prout "I'm a little bit nervous because you never know what could crop up but we've got a very good board and Jan (Mannes so I will have a lot of support," Stephens said on Wednesday Stephens previously joined the HDFNL board having formerly been involved on the committee at Leitchville-Gunbower "I've enjoyed my involvement on the board; it has been good to see things from the other side," Stephens said "When you come from club land you are self-centred on your club so to see things from the whole league perspective on the other side has been very interesting." When you come from club land you are self-centred on your club so to see things from the whole league perspective on the other side has been very interesting Round one games are Lockington-Bamawm United v Huntly (night) White Hills v Leitchville-Gunbower (night) Mount Pleasant v Heathcote and North Bendigo v Elmore White Hills enters the season as the defending senior premiers while Elmore is the reigning premiers in the A grade netball Nathan Williams is confident the AFL Central Victoria women's competition and junior football in the region is well-placed to continue to grow Williams recently finished up at AFL Central Victoria where he had worked since 2018 as firstly the junior football operations manager before also taking on the added role of overseeing the Central Victoria Football League women's competition The CVFL women's competition was formed in 2018 with five teams and by last year had almost doubled to feature nine teams - Castlemaine The league also for the first time last year incorporated an under-18 division "The under-18s was a really good addition to the league last year in terms of strengthening the pathway," Williams said "Having the under-18 girls get the chance to play before the senior teams in the finals in particular was really good exposure and showcase for the competition "And getting the finals onto the QEO in recent years has been really good for the competition Nathan Williams has finished up at AFL Central Victoria to take on the position of Bendigo Senior Secondary College sports co-ordiantor Picture by AFLCV"The competition is fortunate to have some really good people involved at club level that are really good drivers to keep it growing "And the junior football role has been fantastic; I love junior football and junior sport "I think the size of the Bendigo Junior Football League can be a bit undervalued We have a really big cross section of teams and clubs and it has been consistent for such a long time "People like John Hewitt and Norm Sheahan before me have helped to build a really strong foundation for the BJFL." Williams has taken on the position of sports co-ordinator with Bendigo Senior Secondary College "Nathan's innovative thinking and vision have been instrumental in the progression of both leagues (CVFL and BJFL)," AFLCV said in announcing Williams' departure "His focus on professional administration has greatly enhanced the operations of the CVFL and BJFL ensuring they continue to evolve and thrive "Through his effective communication and leadership Nathan has built countless lasting relationships within the football community that will endure for years to come." Today's top stories curated by our news team. Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. Love footy? We've got all the action covered. The latest news, results & expert analysis. 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"Unfortunately, following a thorough investigation of the pool facility, we have failed to find the cause of the issues originally raised by patrons. "We are now looking into other factors outside the actual pool facility in the nearby precinct that could be causing any problems and affecting the operation of the swimming pool." A notice outside the pool says investigations have already been undertaken by Powercor, Coliban Water and several contractors and engineers. The Facebook post said the City of Greater Bendigo apologised for the closure, but said "the safety and wellbeing of patrons and staff is of the utmost importance". The closure of the pool was announced on February 12. but we don't want to lose you.\"}],[\"$\",\"div\",null,{\"className\":\"notfound-page__text-block\",\"children\":\"We recently updated the way we organise our articles 'div-gpt-ad-1511396693346-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/728x90_Leaderboard_Position_1' 'div-gpt-ad-1511394032333-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/970x90_bottom_leaderboard' 'div-gpt-ad-1511396722471-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/728x90_Hompage_Leaderboard_Position_1' 'div-gpt-ad-1661741627089-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/undefinedTUD_Homepage_Internal_728x90' 'div-gpt-ad-1534480172990-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n // home leaderboard (mobile)\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/970x90_top_leaderboard' 'div-gpt-ad-1511397345189-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n 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googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/300x250_Middle_MREC' 'div-gpt-ad-1511395202314-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/300x250_RHS_MREC' 'div-gpt-ad-1511395237641-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/300x250_Mobile_Middle_MREC' 'div-gpt-ad-1511489982092-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/300x600_2nd_homepage_skyscraper' 'div-gpt-ad-1511938773649-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/728x90_leaderboard_position_2' 'div-gpt-ad-1510792120057-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/300x250_Article-page_Position01' initial-scale=1\"}],[\"$\",\"meta\",\"1\",{\"charSet\":\"utf-8\"}],[\"$\",\"title\",\"2\",{\"children\":\"Affordable Infill Planned for Former Sydney Pub Site | The Urban Developer\"}],[\"$\",\"meta\",\"3\",{\"name\":\"description\",\"content\":\"A pub shoptop apartment block has been proposed for a south Sydney suburb a former pub site in the Sydney suburb of Heathcote will be redeveloped into apartments.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe project in Sutherland Shire is taking advantage of affordable infill housing policy changes and the Heathcote project has made use of bonuses that allow expanded projects if they have at least 10-15 per cent of gross floor area allocated to affordable housing.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe proposals for 1 Veno Street about a 50-minute drive south-west of the CBD consist of 168 apartments of which 25 will be affordable although a housing provider is yet to be secured.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhile the current Heathcote Hotel will be demolished to make way for the new development the project includes a retail tenancy and a ‘cold shell’ commercial tenancy for a future pub over which the residential building will sit.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThere is not currently an operator for the pub so the proposed development does not yet seek consent for a hotel/pub use on the ground floor site.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 7245sq m site has street frontages to Veno Street and is 200m from Heathcote railway station.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe project has been in the works for a number of years before Dickson Rothschild were brought on as architects on behalf of DK Heathcote Pty Ltd the sole director of which is listed as Morgan Talbot.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf approved \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eStage 2 will deliver the new pub and 108 apartments across two buildings.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOf the units another 77 will offer two bedrooms and 41 will contain three bedrooms.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Sutherland Shire local government area (LGA) population is forecast to increase from 238,255 in 2024 to 251,531 in 2036 and is thus in dire need of housing.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe development would “make a positive contribution to housing affordability and diversity in the LGA” it said.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe developer was planning to support student and key-worker accommodation at the site given the Heathcote location which has good public transport accessibility.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhile development in Sutherland Shire has come in fits and starts centred historically around suburbs such as Cronulla \u003ca data-mce-href=\"https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/333-woolooware-road-burraneer-sydney-transaction-record\" href=\"https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/333-woolooware-road-burraneer-sydney-transaction-record\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003ewhich lean towards the ultra-luxe apartment market\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHowever major developers have been turning their attention to the LGA Lendlease’s third residential building in the Collins Wharf precinct of Victoria Harbour.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 28-storey building at 971 Collins Street in Melbourne’s Docklands will deliver 312 homes in a mix of one two and three-bedroom apartments as well as townhouses and penthouses.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAccording to Lendlease the project has already secured more than 50 per cent in presales.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHickory is the construction contractor—it completed the precinct’s first development in 2019 and is also working on LendLease’s second tower Regatta.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor Ancora Hickory is implementing several technical construction methods including various piling techniques and precast concrete solutions that enable a parallel-track construction program.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe building’s facade designed by architect Warren and Mahoney uses a three-stage design incorporating double-glazed glass and textured precast concrete with Reckli and brick finishes.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe structural design transitions from a solid podium base to lighter upper levels “reflecting a maritime theme” aligned with the Collins Wharf design objectives.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAncora will connect to the neighbouring Regatta development via a podium allowing resident access to shared amenities.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDesigned as an all-electric building that includes electric vehicle infrastructure the development is targeting a 5 Star Green Star certification Completion is expected in 2027.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRegatta including build-to-rent and build-to-sell units.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eExtensive wharf works including remediation of pre-existing wharf piles installation of raker piles and construction of the extension to Australia Walk are also part of the project.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTechnical challenges include constructing on the finger wharf and co-ordinating extensive above-wharf road reserve and public parkland works.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Collins Wharf precinct will ultimately comprise six residential buildings of more than 1800 homes surrounded by over 5000sq m of parks and community space.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLendlease is developing the parkland concurrently with the residential components including the extension of Australian Walk that forms part of the City of Melbourne’s Greenline project.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLendlease executive director of development Adam Williams said Collins Wharf “is fast becoming a sought-after address .. which took just a handful of hours to emerge on Saturday night the Coalition’s failure to sway voters has come under intense scrutiny.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIts lack of policies around property that resonated with voters has been a large part of that criticism.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmong those policies was a $5-billion infrastructure program to unlock up to 500,000 new homes was greeted with no small amount of scepticism.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Coalition also campaigned on its previously revealed plan to allow first home buyers to draw down on their superannuation giving access to up to $50,000 to help fund mortgage deposits.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhile that proposal had won some support it got the thumbs down from many of Australia’s top economists who said the measure could prove highly inflationary among other issues.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSimilarly its plan to allow mortgage interest for first home buyers to be tax-deductible was roundly criticised for its likely inflationary and regressive effects.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt has also been pointed out that the Coalition’s rejection of the Green’s policies around housing supply affordable housing and help for renters did it no favours.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe ALP went to the polls spruiking an extension of schemes introduced during its previous term including a $10-billion promise for its first-home buyers’ scheme to encourage 100,000 more homes.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt also had its Help to Buy shared equity scheme under which the Government pays up to 40 per cent of the house price to point to.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf it was these policies per se or the lack of detail and depth to the Coalition’s the nation's ready for the Albanese government to act.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat is clear been endorsed to follow through on its policies and fix the crisis that is crippling the Australian property sector.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs Urban Taskforce Australia chief executive\u0026nbsp;Tom\u0026nbsp;Forrest has pointed out it is time for the Federal Government to get back to work.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Housing affordability and housing supply featured large during the campaign,” Forrest said.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“The key now is for the Government to strike while the iron’s hot.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“If legislation is needed to support the delivery of Labor’s $10-billion 100,000 new homes commitment—then pass it through the parliament now and get on with it.”\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe states have made many changes to how they enable home development The Federal Government’s support of that is crucial to its success material supply assistance or any other factor that affects getting homes out of the ground.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis has been a pivotal election Then Cities for Total Fan Immersion\",\"slug\":\"billionaire-arsenal-rams-denver-nuggets-sports-anchored-precincts\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-04-30T00:00+10:00\",\"tags\":[],\"summary\":\"Why your next home might be stadium-adjacent; sports are the hook a former pub site in the Sydney suburb of Heathcote will be redeveloped into apartments The project in Sutherland Shire is taking advantage of affordable infill housing policy changes, introduced last year by the NSW Government. While the infill housing reforms may not be a silver bullet, they have certainly encouraged expanded development and the Heathcote project has made use of bonuses that allow expanded projects if they have at least 10-15 per cent of gross floor area allocated to affordable housing although a housing provider is yet to be secured While the current Heathcote Hotel will be demolished to make way for the new development over which the residential building will sit There is not currently an operator for the pub so the proposed development does not yet seek consent for a hotel/pub use on the ground floor site The 7245sq m site has street frontages to Veno Street and is 200m from Heathcote railway station The project has been in the works for a number of years the sole director of which is listed as Morgan Talbot construction will be staged with the first six-storey building constructed in Stage 1 consisting of 60 apartments with communal open space at level five Stage 2 will deliver the new pub and 108 apartments across two buildings another 77 will offer two bedrooms and 41 will contain three bedrooms The Sutherland Shire local government area (LGA) population is forecast to increase from 238,255 in 2024 to 251,531 in 2036 The development would “make a positive contribution to housing affordability and diversity in the LGA” The developer was planning to support student and key-worker accommodation at the site given the Heathcote location which has good public transport accessibility While development in Sutherland Shire has come in fits and starts, centred historically around suburbs such as Cronulla, which lean towards the ultra-luxe apartment market However, major developers have been turning their attention to the LGA, with Landmark announcing plans for a 242-apartment project across eight buildings in the suburb of Caringbah last year. Not out: A Heathcote cricket team in the mid-1890s. Photos: GATES COLLECTION/HEATHCOTE MCIVOR HISTORICAL SOCIETY CRICKET was a popular summer pursuit in Heathcote during the second half of the 19th century. Local clubs sprang up across the Victorian goldfields and teams travelled long distances to pit their skills against one another, often meeting at a halfway point for a game. In January 1861, the fledgling Heathcote Cricket Club beat the newly-formed Diggers Cricket Club at Barrack Reserve. A return match at the Diggers’ Wattle Flat home ground in February saw Heathcote as the victor for the second time. The following summer an all-England side visited Australia, and this maiden tour inspired what the McIvor Times referred to as a “monomania for cricketing”. The two countries met in their first Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 15 March 1877, but the Ashes series did not begin until 1882 when the Australians won at the Oval in south London. In Heathcote, cricket teams came and went at a local level – ­­ as with most pastimes in a small town, the ebb and flow of activity was generally dependent on a few dedicated individuals. By the 1890s cricket was a regular part of sports days and picnics, with women’s matches becoming more common. In April 1897 the McIvor Times provided details of the upcoming Heathcote Hospital Fete. “We hear that the latest novelty on the ground, will be a cricket match consisting of Heathcote ladies and judging from the form recently shown by some of them this will not be the least interesting feature of the programme,” it reported. A year later, in April 1898, it commented on how well women played at a picnic match in Tooborac. “Cricketing was also indulged in by the ladies, many of them being adept with the willow, and they made the ball travel along the turf in a surprising manner,” it said. “It would be a very good idea if the Ladies of Tooborac next season would meet the Ladies of Heathcote in a match in aid of the charities.” In December of the same year, a “ladies cricket match” at the state school picnic was described as “very interesting and provocative of much fun”. At the end of 1899, representatives of the Heathcote, Costerfield, Redcastle and Knowsley cricket clubs met to form the McIvor District Cricket Association after a trophy, in the form of a silver salad tureen, was donated by the Victorian Sports Depot. This appeared to be a one-off series, and various other associations were formed in the following years. Heathcote residents could also take advantage of world-class cricket on their doorstep. In December 1897, the McIvor Times advertised a “grand international sporting carnival to be held in the Bendigo Showground on Boxing and New Year’s day”. It included a match between the touring English cricket team, known as Stoddart’s XI, and a Bendigo side. However, to this day it’s grass roots cricket that binds communities – sometimes in local teams, but more often in street and backyard matches where families, friends and neighbours meet in competition and comradeship. In the late 1890s, Heathcote bank manager Roderick Gates photographed his family playing cricket in a Heathcote park, and while the outfits are old-fashioned, the image still resonates today. Picture by Noni HyettFormer Bendigo Pioneer and VFL ruckman Aaron Gundry has signed at Heathcote for the 2025 HDFNL season Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe 200cm Gundry will replace last year's Saints' best and fairest winning ruckman Since his top-age year at the Pioneers in 2019 a season in which he also featured in three senior games for South Bendigo Gundry has been playing high-level metro footy Picture by Heathcote Football Netball Club Facebook pageThis has included stints in the Carlton VFL setup where he played two games in 2021 and three appearances for Coburg in 2023 Gundry's local footy has been played at Avondale Heights (22 games) in the Essendon District Football League's premier division and Doncaster (14 games) in the Eastern Football Netball League two of the strongest competitions in the state "He'll be a good pickup for us," Saints coach Andrew Saladino told the Bendigo Advertiser "I'm trying to get Jimmy Orr to play a few games but he's pretty adamant he's going to retire "We finally got a great ruckman in Jimmy last year so it was pretty important to find a replacement and we got lucky that one of our other recruits Picture by Darren HoweGundry only played five reserves games for Doncaster last season after spending the majority of the year travelling overseas right time for both parties," Saladino said "It will take him a bit of time to get his match fitness back he's going to be a very good player for us," Saladino said getting in the best players pretty much every week." Gundry fights for the tap out while playing with the Bendigo Pioneers in 2019 Picture by Glenn DanielsGundry is a modern-day ruckman who can use his athleticism to beat opponents in the air and at ground level Gundry was the fastest ruckman over 20m in state combine testing in his draft year "He trained a couple of sessions pre-Christmas and he looks very athletic and fit," Saladino said "I'd describe him as a lean mobile tap-ruckman who can take a good grab "We threw him behind the ball a bit before the break "I think the big grounds in the country will suit him "Aaron was saying the grounds he played on in Melbourne were smaller The Saints will return to training in a fortnight where they'll look to build continuity through a group that is looking fairly different than in previous seasons star forward Corey Grindlay has gone to Strathmore Coming in with Gundry is former Golden Square gun goalkicker Dylan Johnstone and BFNL midfielder Justin Bateson. "The vibe around the traps has been that people have written us off a little bit due to the talent we've lost "The competition is pretty good at the moment so you need to keep bringing guys in; otherwise Heathcote's 2025 season begins with a road trip to old rivals Mount Pleasant before returning to Barrack Reserve in round two against Colbinabbin Heathcote’s season over as match abandoned HEATHCOTE’S run at the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL senior footy premiership was cut short in gut-churning circumstances on Sunday Down by two points at the 13-minute mark of the third quarter Heathcote’s season was ended when league officials decided to abandon the first semi-final at White Hills It had been a terrific contest between Leitchville Gunbower and Heathcote at Winslow Constructors Oval in Scott Street A place in the preliminary final against North Bendigo was at stake Lightning and the condition of the ground following hail and heavy rain at half-time meant league officials decided to abandon the match HDFNL operations manager Jan Mannes said player safety was paramount Leitchville Gunbower led 7.8 (50) to 7.6 (48) when the game was called off Play had been halted in the second quarter after a flash of lightning The Bombers held a nine-point buffer going into what was an extended half-time break because of the heavy rain which lashed the ground Heathcote scored two of the three goals in the third quarter before the decision was made to abandon the contest It was  not the way Leitchville Gunbower wanted to progress but it does and will now focus on the preliminary final to be played at Toolleen next Saturday The Bombers’ attack in the first semi-final was led by Zeb Ellwood and Billy Hawken on two goals Rhys Bolton and Zak Saad booted two goals for the Saints Just days after claiming the Sam Cheatley Medal as league fairest and best Leitchville Gunbower Jobee Warde led the way along with Josh Hawken and Xavier Colvin The Shannon Keam-coached Bombers take on a North Bendigo team determined to strike back after a 64-point thrashing from White Hills in the second semi-final For the Andrew Saladino-coached Heathcote it was a bitterly disappointing way for the season to end Saladino said the experience would be used to galvanise the playing group for next season and beyond White Hills is a win away from ending its premiership drought Despite an extended break because of the round 18 bye and finishing on top of the ladder White Hills made a hot start to Saturday’s second semi against North Bendigo at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve The Demons slammed on 6.6 in the opening term as Cohen Kekich and Mitch Walsh kicked two goals apiece and co-coach Kaiden Antonowicz and Thomas Brereton were also on target North Bendigo’s goals were kicked by Dylan Klemm and Bailey Cain The Demons were up by more than seven goals when Kekich and Ben Taylor capped their team’s great play through midfield North Bendigo hit back with goals by Klemm in the 12th minute and a Hakeem Johnson snap a few minutes later to cut the deficit to 31 points Hopes of a Bulldogs revival were quickly quashed when Jack Lawton goaled after a downfield free Excellent work by Mitch Dole who started an attack from half-back and followed up with four efforts through midfield was capped with a Jake Dickens goal Bulldogs’ young gun Will Gilmore kicked a superb goal from beyond the 50m arc White Hills slammed on six goals in the third The run was started by Antonowicz and was followed by Ben Taylor A bouncing shot from Antonowicz on an acute angle was one of the goals of the day When Kekich kicked his fourth the Demons led 110-34 going into the last quarter The Rob Bennett-coached North Bendigo fought the game out and won the term Among the positives for the Bulldogs were the play of Cody Riddick to kick two goals and another major by midfielder Bailey Cain Pat Bogers and triple premiership player Jordan Ford were also on target for the Bulldogs As the final siren sounded White Hills led 130-66 On a day where so many contributed it was Ben Taylor Thomas Brereton and Jack Lawton who were best for a White Hills team which also has Jack Fallon as playing co-coach The Demons will now await the winner of the preliminary final between North Bendigo and Leitchville Gunbower match to determine who advances to the September 7 grand final in Huntly White Hills won the second semi-final against Leitchville Gunbower by a point White Hills was able to clinch a 50-49 victory against the Bombers but the Demons fought back strongly to score 3.4 to 1.2 in the third as scores were 35-all at a quarter to play Aaron Schofield led the White Hills attack on two goals as Kaiden Skelton Joe Gardy and Hamish Richards were best in one of the games of the weekend A five-goal haul by Jack Mackenzie earned best on ground honours as Mount Pleasant fought on for a 66-63 victory in the reserves first semi-final against Lockington Bamawm United but the Blues worked hard to cut the deficit to just three points going into the final quarter Bart Phillips kicked a team-high three goals for the the LBU Cats but it was Mounts which kept premiership hopes alive Nick Edwards and Coby Dunlop were best in a memorable win for the Blues’ ‘twos’ Lockington Bamawm United’s best were Luke Thompson White Hills won the under-18s second semi-final against Lockington Bamwm United by seven goals O’Malley Parker and Patrick Conlan were best for the red and black LBU will now take on Huntly in the preliminary final The Harlowe Huntly Hawks unleashed a last quarter blitz of 5.5 to beat North Bendigo by 29 points in the under-18s first semi-final North Bendigo led 24-22 at three quarter-time Huntly could not be stopped in the final term as it kicked away for a 61-32 victory Leitchville Gunbower 7.8 (50) d Heathcote 7.6 (48) Match abandoned at 13-minute mark of third quarter because of player safety concerns Lockington Bamawm United 5.1 6.1 8.2 10.3 (63) White Hills 7.8 (50) d Lockington Bamawm United 1.2 (8) Lockington Bamawm United: Nicholas Mitchell Schedule for Saturday’s preliminary finals at Toolleen: Under-18s at 9.45am: Lockington Bamawm United v Huntly Reserves at 11.50am: Leitchville Gunbower v Mount Pleasant Seniors at 2.15pm: North Bendigo v Leitchville Gunbower Grand final day on September 7 at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve will feature White Hills in all three levels of footy Warde claim Heathcote DFNL medal victories HEATHCOTE centre Brooke Bolton and Leitchville Gunbower Jobee Warde marked historic victories in this season’s fairest and best awards in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL Bolton claimed a third Esther Cheatley medal It’s been another superb season in senior footy by Warde who became the first Bombers player to claim the Sam Cheatley medal Bolton’s led or been to the fore in the league’s medal race The Saints’ star was number one in 2021 and ’22 and runner-up last year In a closely-fought finish it was Bolton who polled 24 votes as Leitchville Gunbower’s Ava Hamilton and Colbinabbin’s Ella Kerlin were joint runners-up on 22 votes Umpires awarded Bolton the maximum three votes for best on court in rounds one Her consistency meant she gained votes in six other matches as the Saints made their way to consecutive A-grade finals campaigns Bolton’s season ended in last Sunday’s elimination final against Leitchville Gunbower at Leitchville Her latest medal victory puts her in an elite group of netballers to have won the Esther Cheatley medal at least three times The “three-plus” club is led by Zenda McConnell from White Hills on six and includes Colbinabbin’s Olivia McEvoy and North Bendigo’s Bobbie Simpson on three This Sunday’s first semi-final at White Hills will feature Hamilton and Kerlin in action for the Bombers and Grasshoppers as they fight to stay in the premiership race Bolton joins White Hills’ Zenda McConnell (six) North Bendigo’s Bobbie Simpson (three) and Colbinabbin’s Olivia McEvoy (three) to have won at least three Esther Cheatley medals Ruckmen dominated the race for the Sam Cheatley medal Jobee Warde led the way to the prestigious honour on 20 votes The top Bomber gained maxium votes against Colbinabbin He claimed two votes in the fourth round against Elmore Warde’s footy journey included a stint with the Bendigo Pioneers He joined the LG Bombers in 2022 and will play a crucial role in this Sunday’s first semi-final against Heathcote at White Hills Top five in the Sam Cheatley Medal included Mount Pleasant ruckman and captain Chris Down 16 votes; Heathcote’s gun recruit and ruckman James Orr 15; and Callum Crisp who has also starred in the ruck in his first year at White Hills Heathcote DFNL medal winners for the 2024 season: Lockington Bamawm United; and Lillie Taylor said he couldn't be more proud of what has been achieved at Heathcote Primary Health Chief Executive Officer of Heathcote Health said the collaboration had been the best possible move for Heathcote Health “I believe it saved the hospital,” he said “I could not be prouder of the way we work together for the Heathcote community “Heathcote Health and Heathcote Primary Health work together seamlessly “The service is easily accessible for everyone and the care for patients shines out “I am very pleased to announce that we have signed up for another 15 years of this partnership.” Director Heathcote Primary Health and St Anthony Family Medical Practice thanked staff for their support over the past fifteen years “Without the continued commitment from all involved this could not have happened,” he said “The staff are all amazing and this is one of the most successful practices we have “Everyone puts the community first and provides the best medicine and I am looking forward to the next fifteen years of working together.” The luncheon was attended by current Heathcote Primary Health doctors staff and practice manager Michelle Carroll a former member of the practice who returned for the celebration loved his family and the community that responded when needed THE Heathcote community has been praised for compassion concern and community spirit following Eddie Manton’s heart attack at Mitre 10 recently His daughter Sarah Manton contacted the McIvor Times to express her gratitude for the response by staff despite initial response to treatment when his family thought he would survive my father passed away eight days later,” said Ms Manton my father lived long enough to spend quality time with family members and passed peacefully and with dignity “I don’t know if I will ever possess enough words to express my gratitude and that of my family.” Mr Manton was born in Heathcote and has four children and four grandchildren The retired truck driver was a passionate Collingwood supporter He played as a rover for Heathcote and later volunteered as a scorer for the local teams “Family was everything to Dad,” said Ms Manton “My brother Anthony was able to come from Dubai to see Dad before he passed “My sister Emma couldn’t get back from London but face-timed Dad with her children Violet and Henry frequently “My family and I are forever in debt to those who came to my father’s aid ambulance officers and community members rushed to the site and worked as a united front to help Dad “Tess Holmes from Holy Rosary responded to the GoodSAM App and immediately came to help me but the community of Heathcote should always be proud that when a community member is in need the town’s heart and arms embrace them The funeral for Edmund Keith Manton will be held at Mary Help of Christians Church Heathcote today at 11am We've got your itinerary covered with these three wineries to visit An easy drive north of Melbourne, Heathcote makes for an idyllic weekend getaway The historic High Street is dotted with welcoming cafes and bakeries and is the perfect base for visiting the region's stellar wineries and beautiful bushland trails for biking or hiking The Cambrian soils are millions of years old but the region's wine industry is much younger Pioneering German settler Henning Rathjen planted some grapes in the 19th century but it wasn't until the a group of hardworking visionaries laid down roots in the 1960s that the region really took off there's a huge variety of wine styles on offer "The sheer enormity of the region means that the characteristics of the same variety can vary greatly from place to place," says Rachel Gore we chatted to the producers about what makes Heathcote unique and each puts forward a wine for you to try Winemaker Rachel Gore says: Established in 1978 Heathcote Winery was one of the region’s first commercial wineries It was purchased by an independent group of wine enthusiasts in 1997 who share a commitment to producing wines that reflect the region while retaining our renowned style.  At Heathcote Winery the differentiation of fruit characteristics can be extreme – shiraz from Colbinabbin and shiraz from Tooborac can be so different you wouldn’t be wrong if you thought they were from entirely different regions Even Heathcote Winery's two estate vineyards can have completely different primary fruit notes distinctive spices and structural distinction that fascinate and motivate us to highlight their excellence and diversity porcini mushroom risotto or a simple steak sandwich Serve between 16 and 18°C (cooler is probably better) Favourite local spot: O’Keefe Rail Trail – a well-established easy rail trail that provides options of half- or full-day rides between Bendigo Axedale and Heathcote through box ironbark and yellow gum woodland and grazing farmland across the Campaspe River and past Lake Eppalock RRP $36 | Drink to 2039 | heathcotewinery.com.au | Shop this wine Winemaker Mark Hunter says: Nestled on the renowned 510-million-year-old Cambrian earth fault line just a nine-minute drive from the heart of Heathcote our boutique winery and cellar door is proudly owned and operated by the Hunter family With a winemaking heritage dating back to the 1860s our passion for the craft shines through in our multi-trophy-winning wines winemaking isn’t just a tradition – it’s in our blood lima bean purée and foraged greens served with a side of potatoes roasted in garlic and rosemary Decant this wine for at least two hours and serve at room temperature into a Plumm European Crystal No.1 or Reda glass shape Favourite local spot: Visiting the top of Mount Ida with its panoramic views of the surrounding countryside and the views from the summit provide a stunning perspective of the Heathcote wine region and the nearby vineyards RRP $70 | Drink to 2036 | sanguinewines.com.au | Shop this wine Winemaker Tobias Anstead says: Tellurian was born of our founder Ian Hopkins' passion for Heathcote shiraz Offered the opportunity to establish a new vineyard on the Mount Camel range in 2002 Ian’s enthusiasm was driven by the idea of crafting something fine and beautiful from Heathcote’s 550-million-year-old Cambrian soils my focus on the future potential saw the first vintage of Tellurian shiraz bottled in 2008 Within four years we had completed building of an Australian shed-style winery and cellar door overlooking 32ha of vineyards. Shiraz was our first planting but over time we have added a number of Rhône and Italian varieties perfectly suited to our continental climate Best enjoyed: Pair with duck breast with cherry reduction and decant for 30–60 minutes before serving to allow the wine to open up and reveal its nuanced profile Use a large-bowled red wine glass to concentrate the aromas and allow the wine to breathe Favourite local spot: My favourite spot in the region is a long lunch at Chauncy restaurant I'd suggest Ms Batterham’s in Bendigo – they also run a pop-up restaurant every Saturday at our cellar door RRP $40 | Drink to 2034 | tellurianwines.com.au | Shop this wine Under the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998 it is an offence Hardie Grant acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the country on which we work the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation and the Gadigal people of the Eora nation and recognises their continuing connection to the land craft beer and gin will be on display at the festival HEATHCOTE will celebrate the beginning of autumn and the harvest season for local vineyards and producers once again when the Heathcote Harvest Festival takes place on Sunday 9 March Organised and run by Heathcote Tourism and Development (HTD) A variety of local and regional market stalls will be set up with items and produce such as jewellery Festival-goers will be able to sample local wines while the food offerings will include barbecue meats but a $10 charge per adult will apply to those who want to buy alcoholic drinks That price includes a reusable polycarbonate glass to use throughout the festival Paper Jane and Willowbank Grove from 4.30pm and free children’s entertainment and outdoor games will also be on the roster The festival was officially launched in 2022 after the success of a previous event called the Heathcote Community Festival in 2021 HTD treasurer and festival organiser Tim Oudenryn said the event was first organised because the group wanted to create a community and family focused event to help promote the local produce of Heathcote and its surrounds through its members “It was called the Heathcote Harvest Festival as wineries distilleries and other local producers commence their harvest around the same time,” he said Mr Oudenryn said the 2024 instalment attracted about 1000 people and HTD is hoping to at least match that this year He said festival-goers were usually a 50/50 mix of locals and people from outside the Heathcote region “It’s a family and community orientated event so it’s [appropriate for] all ages,” Mr Oudenryn said face painting and music that will suit all tastes.” Information is available on the heathcote.org.au website Jeni Port tells us why there's more to the Heathcote wine region than just one grape is six years young and looking like it was newly bottled but it has the added benefit of being super crisp and juicy as a youngster Arinto is but one Mediterranean grape variety making a name for itself in a region that has traditionally been associated with a single grape – shiraz we need to thank the wine producers who drew the official Geographical Indication boundary for the district (registering it in 2002) and choosing to go big rather than small It could have gone either way with one group favouring Heathcote that took in a 70km long skinny area from Tooborac in the south to Rochester in the north and the other group preferring a much smaller area surrounding the town The wines offered a complex journey – grapes like ribolla and piedirosso aren’t exactly well-known in Australia but The tasting was filled with plenty of emotion along with healthy debate from winemakers leading the way and embracing the kind of risk-taking that comes with a region on the move “I am certain Heathcote grenache will develop its own unique voice,” he says There are a range of soil types in the Heathcote region that will no doubt produce some unique expressions.” Mario Marson at Vinea Marson loves the phenolic intensity of friulano which is a white grape of Italy’s Friuli region “I’m not inventing anything new,“ he explains “both my grandparents made fruilano.”  The vote, at the moment, has fiano and nebbiolo in the lead The Heathcote tasting saw a solid selection of seven fiano and nine nebbiolo wines The fiano grape doesn’t like (or need) too much oak easy-going flow with the added fresh crunch of acidity The grape can also be elevated by a lovely savouriness planted the first nebbiolo grapes in the region in 1991 Heathcote is a long GI that's filled with a range of microclimates – the cooler south and the warmer north – and comprises of decomposed granite (Tooborac) the 510 million-year-old red rock Cambrian greenstone soils which start 20km east of Heathcote and run through the town turning north along the Mount Ida and Mount Camel ranges Second-generation winemaker Liam Anderson of Wild Duck Creek has seven vineyards scattered across the region with a strong focus on Rhône varieties noting a 10-day difference in picking from north to south “It’s such a glorious region viticulturally lots of sunshine – not baking hot but warm – and low disease pressure Kim Chalmers at Chalmers speaks of the important role the region’s diurnal range plays The gap in temperature – between warm days and cold nights – is important for the retention of natural acidity in grapes Wine producers are also looking toward a more sustainable future with around 700ha of approximately 1800ha in the region now accredited with Sustainable Winegrowing Australia All of this places Heathcote’s most celebrated grape – shiraz – in a very good place “I always knew that the wines were better with age,” he says He also loves the role that ceramic eggs (for maturation) play in his wines namely a finer texture and an extension of the palate Simon Osicka, former group red winemaker at Hardys worked at Domaine Jean-Louis Chave in the northern Rhône in 2010 and believes it is a “strength” of the region that a number of local makers also have experience with Rhône syrah Liam Anderson is establishing his own style at Wild Duck Creek It's one that embraces the lovely richness of shiraz but with an added fineness And that means more moderate alcohols than consumers might have seen in the past “I’m not into 17 per cent alcohols,” he says Heathcote winemakers have gathered annually for a deep dive into the local product The descriptors most associated with Heathcote shiraz Cooler vintages like 2022 and 2023 can see finer levels of spice producers are looking for good depth of flavour Building 1, 658 Church Street, Richmond VIC 3121 Australia Hardie Grant acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the country on which we work, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation and the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, and recognises their continuing connection to the land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. Sacred space: Heathcote Uniting Church was erected as a Methodist Church in 1929 It was built in front of an older weatherboard structure which remained on site and was used as a Sunday School and hall until the 1990s nineteenth century Heathcote boasted a number of churches The Anglicans and Catholics laid claim to the highest numbers of members the population was 1,515 and 626 ticked the Church of England box 177 Presbyterian and then there were 95 under the general Methodist umbrella which included the Wesleyans and the United Methodists The remainder were a variety of smaller protestant denominations and 44 “pagans” Nobody selected “no religion;” a sharp contrast to 2021 when almost 41 per cent of district residents chose this option By 1891 the measurable pagan population had shrunk to zero but the proportional membership of the mainstream churches remained similar The town had both a Wesleyan and United Methodist Church and these two groups also had congregations at a number of other nearby settlements including Argyle they were very vocal about a number of issues – particularly temperance They saw the consumption of alcohol as an essentially anti-Christian activity that led to a downward slide into drunkenness and penury the Heathcote Total Abstinence Society met at the Wesleyan and United Methodist churches In December 1869 a McIvor Times report noted the society’s belief that beer shanties trading on Sunday were “in every way highly injurious to the morality and prosperity of the community.” were local council members for many years and used this as a platform to promote their own beliefs In December 1870 Cr Crowle moved that shire hall fees be refunded to a temperance group as their meeting was “for the benefit of the ratepayers.” This was successful opposed by Cr Robinson who said “he could scarcely think that the expense was incurred for the benefit of the ratepayers the object of the entertainment is one on which there exists a considerable diversity of opinion.” But while the temperance movement gained traction across all the mainstream Christian denominations some attitudes and beliefs were exclusive to non-conformist groups such as the Methodists superintendent of the Heathcote Methodist Church wrote to the McIvor Times saying he understood this was being done to raise money to repair the church “While I thank them through this medium for their kind intentions to undertake repairs to the Church decline to allow money raised in the manner indicated to be used for Church purposes,” he said Given the immense popularity of balls and dances across the district Walton’s principled stance was remarkable The five Australian Methodist denomination the United Methodist Free and the Methodist New Connexion churches united under the banner of the Methodist Church of Australasia on 1 January 1902 although Heathcote’s Wesleyan and United Methodist churches had already amalgamated in about 1898 In 1977 most Methodists joined with the Congregational Union of Australia and the Presbyterian Church of Australia to form the Uniting Church in Australia The present-day Heathcote Uniting Church building was originally a Methodist Church dating from 1929 the Methodists had been accommodated in poor quality congratulated the congregation on their achievements “It was highly commendable for the Methodist people to erect a building more in keeping with the great purpose of divine worship and which will ultimately reflect upon the religious life of the community,” he said Winemaking: Wild Duck Creek Estate director Liam Anderson with Federal Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters WINE tourism in Heathcote has been given a boost through the latest round of the Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grant program Wild Duck Creek Estate is one of more than 200 wine and cellar door businesses across Australia to benefit from the grant Grants will help to support producers to invest in infrastructure upgrades to improve their cellar doors to host additional wine events to attract visitors The $55,916 received by Wild Duck Creek Estate will be used to renovate a building to be utilised as their cellar door installation of cabinetry and the creating of a wheelchair access pathway from the carpark “This grant program demonstrates the Federal Labor Government’s commitment to the growth and success of the wine and cider industries,” said Federal Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters “It provides support to Bendigo’s wine businesses including those that have faced challenges in recent years “Funding like this is building on our government’s work to rebuild trade around the world and provides crucial support for the industry to thrive well into the future.” Wineries around Australia will share in $10 million of new funding The Bendigo electorate is home to over 2000 wineries While international demand for Australian wine is increasing the Federal Labor Government is committed to helping Australia’s grape and wine sector thrive and is also delivering a multimillion package to boost the sector’s long-term viability The Government’s $3.5 million Grape and Wine Sector Long-Term Viability Package includes the establishment of a new National Vineyard Register and an independent impact analysis of the sector’s current rules concerning fair trading Picture by Murray TrembathPolice have expressed "significant concern" over the safety of inebriated patrons in the proposed Heathcote Hotel development A council assessment report said police noted the future tavern would have doors opening on the Princes Highway "This causes significant concern as there does not appear to be any traffic mitigation shown in the plans with potentially intoxicated patrons or patrons who have consumed alcohol and reduced balance and co-ordination navigating a footpath only steps away from a 60km/h six lane highway," police said "The current venue sits significantly back from the roadway and footpath." Police said there was no designated pick up and drop off location for Ubers and taxis "Given that there will be a likely usage of taxi/uber usage there may need to be consideration for management of a dedicated zone on Veno Street to avoid traffic build up/hazards on the highway," Picture DAPolice were also concerned about the parking situation and the application proposes 89 spaces," police said "Given the likelihood of residents and guests using the commercial parking spaces long term there appears to be insufficient parking for the potential 200 patrons that the venue may hold." but said the application did not show the fitout of the future tavern A separate DA would have to be lodged for that use