The Shepparton Club and Kialla Golf Club have joined forces in an amalgamation aimed at strengthening both organisations At a special general meeting held on Tuesday Kialla Golf Club members voted in favour of the amalgamation taking place Shepparton Club general manager Wayne Sutton said this was an exciting time for both clubs “Not only does this secure the future of the Kialla Golf Club but it also provides our existing members with expanded access to another quality facility within the Greater Shepparton region,” Mr Sutton said “This amalgamation represents more than just a merger of two clubs — it’s a celebration of what makes our community great.” The Shepparton Club’s amalgamation with Kialla Golf Club enhances its community support initiatives including the Biggest Ever Blokes Lunch and Ladies Who Lunch events Kialla Golf Club president Beryl Krake welcomed the development saying “the backing of the Shepparton Club should help increase member numbers and a younger demographic to their Kialla facilities” “They’ve been supporting us for a few years,” she said Mrs Krake said the reason behind the amalgamation came down to its lack of young membership and the issues that could pose for the future of the club and they’ve done their duties for various reasons in the golf club and elsewhere and want to enjoy their later life doing what they want and that’s playing golf,” she said “The committee out there (Kialla Golf Club) had to have a good think about how to get this into the future but it hasn’t dragged in a lot of commitments and we need a lot more people of younger age to join from kids to people in their 50s and 60s.” While the amalgamation is effective immediately no immediate changes to either facility's appearance or any new or current membership packages are planned yet Mrs Krake said that changes to the administration of the clubs will occur once further details about the amalgamation have been sorted out great balls of fire and fun – the Kialla Fire Brigade Open Day returns on Sunday this event is red-hot with family entertainment and resources to promote fire safety awareness Excitement will ignite for children as they delve into activities including miniatures from the Tatura Fire Brigade These smaller models are fitted with hoses enabling rookie rescuers to experience firefighting firsthand fun family day,” Kialla Fire Brigade health and safety co-ordinator Gina Sozzi said “But it’s also about engaging with community members in Kialla and beyond “They can talk to us about whatever they need regarding fire safety.” featuring a mobile education unit providing essential fire safety tips and designated stalls offering information on topics such as smoke alarm regulations Ms Sozzi said community outreach is crucial especially as the region continues to grow and new homeowners may not know what to do during a bushfire or home fire or how to obtain a fire safety kit,” she said “We have a lot of information available for people on a bit of land they may not know.” For those with a fire crackling in their belly Open Day is also a chance to learn more about local brigade volunteering Ms Sozzi said volunteering is about more than just darting to a fire It involves prepping homes and land for fire season “If anyone wants to join a brigade close to where they live this is a great opportunity to chat with local members,” Ms Sozzi said While the event showcases all things aflame the only thing sizzling on Open Day will be the sausages Gold coin donations are appreciated in exchange for a snag to support the brigade’s operations The Kialla Fire Brigade Open Day is on Sunday from 9.30am to noon at the Kialla Fire Station contact Kialla Fire Brigade health and safety co-ordinator Gina Sozzi at 0400 861 818 Looking for something unique to do during these school holidays You won’t want to miss the chance to see the Batmobile in the flesh on display this January at the Museum of Vehicle Evolution (MOVE) The 1966 Batmobile was licensed by DC Comics and Warner Brothers and comes in at 5.74m in length and a remote ‘Bat-computer switch’ The centre console features a light and silver T-arm lever while the rear has deist parachute packs to slow the Batmobile down at incredible speeds The Batmobile has been generously donated for display by the Superheroes Foundation a non-profit charity easing the financial strain faced by individuals living with brain cancer The Batman Fights Brain Cancer campaign seeks to help improve the quality of life for people diagnosed with brain cancer with 100 per cent of funds raised donated directly to impacted families You can donate to this worthy cause at MOVE With an ever-changing range of displays of modern and historical cars MOVE is an excellent choice for school holiday entertainment Other popular displays that you can explore include some of Australia’s very best show cars from Southern Rod & Custom and Maskell’s Customs & Classics visitors can take advantage of Greater Shepparton City Council’s ‘Summer Super Pass’ offer during the school holidays with $10 off a MOVE Family Entry and prizes to be won for spending school holidays at participating businesses including MOVE MOVE is located at 7723 Goulburn Valley Hwy We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve Copyright Newspaper Theme situated in the heart of Victoria’sprestigious Goulburn Valley a prime location for equine excellence.Whether you’re aseasoned professional or looking for an entry into the horse industry this property is arare find with tremendous potential.Offering a turn-key opportunity for thoroughbred breeding A proven thoroughbred nurserysprawled over 51 acresthat hasproduced excellent sales results andchampion racehorses over the past few years,including Snapdancer who sold at the Magic Millions Broodmare Sale for $3,200,000 This is an exceptional opportunity to acquire a well-established equine property in aprime location Two years on from the devastating 2022 floods which inundated Kialla Golf Club the northern Victorian club finally has its operations fully up and running in part thanks to the generosity of nearby golfers and clubs The clubhouse was reopened recently after prolonged repairs and renovations and a massive fundraising golf day run by the Goulburn Murray Golf Association chalked up more than $3000 to help The day was entitled ‘rising from the floods’ and was the concept of the Goulburn Murray Golf Association which provided all the prizes and an on-course barbecue Golfers from 12 different clubs in the region attended showing the support for Kialla within the fraternity Floodwaters from the Honeysuckle Creek which runs adjacent to the course devastated the clubhouse in October the club has battled to work through an insurance claim and sought government support to rebuild and it’s hot,” said Vice President Brian Reiners Kialla has been using a builders’ hut as an office and port-a-loos for toilets A couple of pateo heaters were all that they had for warmth in winter the club now has a new kitchen and toilets it’s really four years since we’ve been able to have a social event GMGA secretary David Roberts said he was delighted to see golfers band together “They were very appreciative of the day,” he said golf tips and access to partner promotions Join our newsletterGet weekly updates on news The landlord of the building from which Kialla’s Small Friends Childcare and Education operates has apologised to the community for the sudden closure of the centre on Wednesday afternoon acknowledged it was an inconvenience to the families with children enrolled at the facility but claimed the tenant hadn’t paid rent for several months and owed him around $220,000 “Turning people away from the centre and the workers away from work.” He says four final notices had been issued to Lan Hua Zhang and Lin Wang from early in November warning the premises would be locked up on November 27 at 5pm if debts remained unpaid Mr Awad travelled to Kialla on Wednesday to action the warning and arrange temporary fencing and security monitoring around the facility He camped on the premises overnight Wednesday and said he was disturbed around 2.30am by unknown trespassers armed with wrenches and drills He believes they were attempting to dismantle the temporary fencing and gain entry to the building He says he armed himself with a stick and asked them to leave before police arrived and arrested him after what he says were wrongful accusations of assault Mr Awad said he was held at Shepparton Police Station for around four hours before being released without charges Shepparton Police did not provide information about any arrests or assaults that took place overnight on Wednesday Interested passers-by inquired about the activity when fencing was being put up on Wednesday afternoon which sparked an influx of concerned families arriving on-site Witnesses say the footpath was lined with people until late into the night On Thursday morning an announcement was sent to parents of children enrolled in the centre “This is to inform you that due to the unavoidable circumstances last night we have to close the centre today,” the announcement read “We will need today to organise the removal of fencing The notice was signed by Small Friends Child Care and Education area manager Farah Naqvi and posted by Anna Zhang A further update around noon suggested that the landlord had attempted to share the front of the centre for a catering business which Small Friends Childcare and Education did not agree to The post by Anna Zhang said the disagreement had led to the current situation The News reached out directly to Small Friends Childcare and Education for comment on the allegations but did not receive a response by the time of publishing teachers and students would be granted entry to the building to retrieve their belongings He said he expected the closure to be in place for up to three weeks before the centre was operational again with a new tenant If anyone would like to contact The News with further information, please email editor@sheppnews.com.au More than 2700 Powercor customers in Mooroopna and Kialla were left without power on the evening of January 12 after a bird struck electrical infrastructure just before 6.30pm Powercor crews restored electricity to most customers by 7.48pm with nearly all services restored by 9.15pm The final 10 customers had their power back by noon on January 13 customers were kept updated on the restoration progress through the company’s website and SMS alerts ANTHONY Brophy believes Greater Shepparton has a lot of potential that needs attention which is why he is again running in the upcoming council election for the Kialla Ward “After my first term as Councillor and with a number of things achieved I believe that I am the right person to represent Kialla Ward under the new ward structure,” said Cr Anthony “There is much that needs attention in Greater Shepparton the leadership and vision for what is needed not only in Kialla but across Greater Shepparton I am a good listener and take on board what the community priorities are against the budget of a council.” Serving on council for the last four years has given Anthony valuable insight into the key priorities of Greater Shepparton One of the main concerns is land availability whether it’s for residents who are owning or renting Water security is essential to ensure we have a productive agricultural and horticultural sustainability that flows on to service retention within our communities Anthony also highlighted the need for transport improvements be that road upgrades for locals or transport operators public buses matching the community needs and a train service to Melbourne that is more frequent and faster “I bring to the role experience in local government having been a Councillor the last four years and deputy mayor for two of those From my extensive experience working for two Federal Members of Parliament and one Senator skills from facilitating the Fairley Leadership Program compassion and understanding from over a decade of being a well-being officer across a number of schools in the region and commercial acumen from employment in retail and public organisations My community involvement includes being president or chair of several sporting boards and associations as well as educational providers.” Police are investigating after a car was found alight on a rural Kialla road on Wednesday CFA and Fire Services Victoria firefighters were called to a car fire at the intersection of River Rd and Central Kialla Rd about 7.30pm CFA District 22 commander Pete Dedman said the car was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived and it took about 10 minutes to extinguish the fire There was no-one with the Nissan Pulsar when firefighters arrived Police said the fire was believed to be suspicious and investigations were ongoing Anyone with information is asked to call Senior Constable Trevyn Pinto at Shepparton Crime Investigation Unit on 5820 5777 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report online at crimestoppersvic.com.au EASTER is a time to gather friends and family and celebrate with good food Kialla Cellarbrations Superstore will again be brewing bargains to celebrate the festive season Kialla Cellarbrations has some amazing specials across their range of wines Great Northern and many more are discounted until Easter Sunday Their friendly team will make sure to provide top-notch customer service so you can stock up for every end-of-year work break Christmas party and family gathering this festive season With a huge range of beer and wine available they pride themselves on their unique selection of spirits with friendly you can’t miss visiting Kialla Celebrations ahead of this Easter weekend to ensure it’s a great one For more specials head to Kialla Cellarbrations’ Facebook page Kialla Cellarbrations is located at Riverside Plaza Kialla Golf Club will merge with the Shepparton Club making a new chapter for both organisations and the sporting community described the decision as a significant and exciting step forward Not only does this secure the future of the Kialla Golf Club “Our vision is to provide the best possible experience for our members and guests whilst supporting our local community and our mission has always been to offer a safe and welcoming environment for all to enjoy.” A vehicle that was crashed and abandoned in Kialla overnight on Friday was set alight on Saturday night causing a potential bushfire risk close to homes Shepparton police believe the red Ford AU Falcon was not stolen; however the driver and occupants fled the scene after crashing the vehicle past the bridge that joins Shepparton to Kialla near the Prowash car wash on the Goulburn Valley Hwy A Fire Rescue Victoria spokesperson said FRV responded to calls to 000 at 8.36pm on Saturday when callers reported seeing a car in flames on the side of the road quickly extinguishing the fire and making the scene safe before handing it over to police ∎ If anyone has any information, CCTV or dashcam footage that might be helpful to police, please contact Shepparton police on 5820 5777 or Crime Stoppers at crimestoppersvic.com.au or on 1800 333 000 BRENDAN Gosstray has over 30 years of experience in local government and wants to give back which is why he is running in the Kialla Ward in the upcoming council election a life-changing experience that renewed my perspective and drive to give back to our community Running for Council is my way of honoring my donor’s family and friends and making a meaningful difference in others’ lives,” said Brendan “I have served on committees for several community organizations During my time over 20 years at Greater Shepparton I partnered with numerous community groups and enhancing engagement to build a stronger community.” Brendan understands the effect of the cost of living is having on the community he wants to make core services more affordable and strategically direct funds to areas that make the most impact for residents As well as build economic and community growth by investing in assets and services with genuine community benefits and advocating for better State and Federal funding “This approach will support sustainable development and maintain a high quality of life without overburdening ratepayers “We need to increase housing supply by streamlining estate development and expediting building and planning permits We need to ensure people can build homes faster to meet demand and support regional growth “I bring 34 years of local government experience including significant expertise in strategic planning and community engagement My extensive involvement in developing key community facilities has provided me with valuable insights into what our community needs for future growth.” A company and its director have entered a plea to charges after one of its employees died in a fatal road accident at Kialla West in 2022 Onkar Group Pty Ltd pleaded guilty in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court to a WorkSafe charge of recklessly engaging in conduct that placed another person at a workplace in danger of serious injury under the Occupational Health and Safety Act also pleaded guilty to two WorkSafe charges each under the Occupational Health and Safety Act A delivery van and a truck collided head-on at the intersection of Goulburn Valley Hwy and Moira Dve in Kialla West on August 17 and the truck driver sustained serious injuries and was treated by paramedics WorkSafe alleges the company failed to reduce the risk of slower reaction times lapses in attention or falling asleep by ensuring the worker took adequate rest breaks and time out of the vehicle It’s also alleged the company failed to provide and maintain safe systems of work and failed to provide necessary supervision in relation to fatigue management Both the Onkar Group and Nagi will face the Shepparton County Court in May A new basketball court has recently been installed at Kialla Lakes Dve a timely investment given the sport’s surging popularity in the region and on the heels of the Shepparton Gators’ explosive season Young hoopsters were joined by Gators players Josh Kooiman and Dylan Wilkie for a basketball clinic hoping to mirror the skills of the star athletes giant games and giveaways boosted the day’s festivities News photographer Megan Fisher captured attendees of the opening event having a ball The 1st Kialla Scouts are back from their first Australian Scout Jamboree Kialla Scouts made the 30-hour bus drive to Maryborough where they were joined by around 10,000 Scouts from all over Australia The jamboree happens once every four years popping up as a mini city in towns across Australia Scout leaders Rob and Melissa Graham went along with the Scouts for their very first jamboree which included 10 days of fun and activities from abseiling to mud runs to challenge courses,” Melissa said one was exploring Maryborough and what Maryborough had to offer and the other one was to Hervey Bay to do activities at the beach.” with comedians such as Dave Hughes and big Australian bands such as Shepard Melissa went to the jamboree as a line leader assisting in the health and wellbeing of both leaders and Scouts within her unit Only just a few weeks before the Scouts were set to make the journey to Queensland “I was lucky enough to be cleared to go still,” Breanna said Crutches and a leg brace weren’t enough to stop her from making the most of her jamboree with her unit altering their own activities to ensure Breanna could have a go “One of the activities was walking along a beam and because I couldn’t walk without the crutches and everyone else saw me bum-shuffling across it so they all tried to bum-shuffle across the beam as well,” she said The 13-year-old only joined Scouts last year but loved spending the jamboree meeting new people and making friends Zac Riseley and Patrick Shields all joined Breanna on the jamboree and all made memories that will last a lifetime “At Australia Zoo we went to the Crocoseum and we got to see a lot of animals,” Liam said “My favourite was doing the abseiling and zip-lining .. Patrick said he loved his trip to Hervey Bay and Cody said he loved seeing the crocodiles and alligators at Australia Zoo Venturer Scout Taj Leader also went to the jamboree as a youth service leader his role was constantly changing in what was the first time he had attended in a youth leadership role one of the days I worked at the international tent which was the world organisation of scouting so I learnt a lot about that and the other countries,” he said “Some of the days I worked with activities After having so much fun at the Australian Scout Jamboree these Scouts said they had their sights set on the World Scout Jamboree It was a (fire)cracker of a day at the Kialla Fire Station at the weekend the brigade members hosted an open day to promote fire safety and strengthen community connections Attendees were able to tap into the knowledgeable heads stationed in Kialla through a mobile education unit and designated stalls offering information on topics such as smoke alarm regulations and fire safety kits including a visit from CFA’s Captain Koala News photographer Rechelle Zammit was behind the lens for the event Multiple people are in custody after police swooped on a Kialla car wash on Thursday night Three men were arrested at Shinezilla car wash on Kialla Lakes Dve around 7.15pm on October 24 in relation to an ongoing investigation into alleged aggravated burglaries and firearms thefts They were allegedly driving a stolen Toyota HiLux while the third is an 18-year-old Mooroopna man Residents of Merrigum and Kialla Lakes can now ball to their hearts content thanks to the completion of new basketball courts Council is asking basketball enthusiasts to bring their energy and enthusiasm to the launch events for a fun session of basketball to help usher in the new courts The Shepparton Gators will make an appearance at the events There will also be a basketball shooting machine giant games and giveaways for all to enjoy a coffee van will be on site at both events identified through Community Action Plans and funded through council’s 2023-2024 capital budget have been long-awaited facilities for both communities The courts will help promote physical activity strengthen social inclusion and community connections City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Cr Shane Sali encouraged community members to make the most of these new courts “It is fantastic to see both of these projects completed for residents to enjoy The courts can be utilised for local sports events and tournaments bringing people together and fostering community spirit,” he said “I encourage everyone to get down to the official launch events and make the most of these fantastic new courts.” contact council’s Community Development team at (03) 5832 9700 Police are investigating a two-vehicle collision near Riverside Plaza in Kialla on Friday A police vehicle and a black Mazda collided on the Goulburn Valley Hwy when police were trying to intercept a truck driver who was allegedly not wearing a seatbelt Police said both vehicles sustained minor damage Anyone who witnessed the collision or has dashcam footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au advocacy began for a pedestrian underpass at Kialla West Primary School after a frightening accident that seriously injured a mother and her three daughters the Victorian Government has made a decision “An underpass is not a viable option,” Roads and Road Safety Minister Melissa Horne said This recent announcement follows state Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell raising the issue in parliament last month urging Ms Horne to carry out the upgrades desperately needed for the safety of local students “The community has spent six years pleading with the government to do something to improve pedestrian safety at the Kialla West Primary School crossing,” she said “The Labor government has constantly dragged its feet on this issue perpetually delaying the project and refusing to release design plans.” Ms Lovell said there had been no evidence of progress in the past six years to support the government’s claim that it was working with Greater Shepparton City Council and Regional Roads Victoria to find a solution She said the local community had also been kept in the dark about the project’s status Ms Horne did not propose any alternative solutions “It is just not good enough for the Labor government to ruin all hope for a pedestrian underpass without coming back with an alternative safety upgrade option,” Ms Lovell said A collision on the Goulburn Valley Hwy slowed traffic on Thursday morning A car travelling northbound turned right on to Kialla Lakes Dve just before 9am and collided with a vehicle travelling south at the time The driver of the car attempting the right turn was taken to GV Health for observation with non-life threatening injuries were still at the scene at 9.30am clearing debris and directing traffic The southbound lane of the highway remains open but traffic was slowed and down to one lane through the intersection Traffic attempting to exit Kialla Lakes Dve on to the highway was being turned around and encouraged to seek an alternate route Magic came to life beyond the pages at Kialla Central Primary School on Tuesday as the students celebrated Book Week by dressing up as their favourite literary characters News photographer Rechelle Zammit was present to cover the festivities as they unfolded The Smokin’ Barrel has found a new home from which to serve up its tasty food — and it’s right in our backyard After starting as a food truck in Melbourne The Smokin’ Barrel has taken up permanent residence in Kialla and his sister Melissa Carton have been dishing up food since opening on Saturday burgers and ribs is The Smokin’ Barrel’s speciality the team is happy to whip up anything to suit your needs “(If you) tell us what you want or call ahead we’ll try to create something,” Mr Carton said towards night that we have that kind of vibe Mr Carton said the support from the Greater Shepparton community had been “unreal” and it was nice to see a lot of returning customers and regular faces “We did an appreciation post on Facebook and we had about 70 comments and no negative feedback “It’s the little things that bring people back You may find no food cooked when you first walk in “People might freak out when they walk in here and they don’t see anything in the bain-marie but that’s because I cook everything fresh,” Mr Carton said they’ll understand what we’re trying to do.” Although their experience has been exclusive to the food truck Mr Carton and his family are looking forward to filling the void of the old Kialla Lakes Milkbar so we thought let’s give it a go and just see what happens,” he said “(We wanted to) make something new and bring the community back down this way again “We’re just trying to bring all the locals back It should be good to start seeing people come back again.” The Smokin’ Barrel is open from 8am to 3pm on Sunday and Monday You can find it at 5/56-58 Kialla Lakes Dve Weekends in Kialla just got a little bit sweeter Talwinde Singh is the proud owner of Ice Cream Mates a new food van that sets up shop in Kialla on the weekends Ice Cream Mates opened at the end of August after Mr Singh decided to bring an ice-cream shop to Kialla in an accessible location “Most of the ice-cream shops are in Shepparton … I wanted to do something (in Kialla),” he said Ice Cream Mates sells various flavours of ice-cream but what sets it apart from other ice-cream shops is that it also sells açai bowls with different types of toppings available to put on both After living in Greater Shepparton for 10 years Mr Singh said he wanted to bring a piece of Melbourne to the region after seeing busy food trucks in the city sell the super-food The “small family business” is a side hustle for Mr Singh who works as a bus driver throughout the week He said the new venture was going well and hoped the upcoming warmer weather You can find the Ice Cream Mates van at 8020 Goulburn Valley Hwy Shepparton police arrested a man this week after he allegedly drove at more than double the speed limit in Kialla at the weekend and also charged him with several other unrelated offences Police allege the 21-year-old Shepparton resident failed to stop his Holden Rodeo at 11.30am on Saturday on the Goulburn Valley Fwy at Arcadia he was recorded travelling at 150km/h in a 60km/h zone near Riverside Plaza on Melbourne Rd Police lost sight of the vehicle on Saturday but say they were able to identify and track down the driver “Further investigations revealed there had been significant family violence involving the use of a shotgun,” Senior Constable Harrison Davis of Shepparton police said “Police later executed a firearms search warrant at a storage shed in Kialla.” Along with driving offences including dangerous driving while being pursued by police and reckless conduct endangering lives the man has also been charged with family violence and drug-related offences He has been remanded in custody to appear in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court later in February A man caught speeding at 148km/h “wasn’t paying attention” pleaded guilty in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court to speeding by 45km/h or more Prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Anna Hanlon said North was driving at 148km/h in a 100km/h zone on Euroa-Shepparton Rd at Euroa on July 18 North told police he “wasn’t paying attention” North said it cost him about $1200 to get his car out after it was impounded for 30 days North was fined $200 and suspended from driving for 12 months starting on Monday A terrified man ran into a Kialla car dealership fearing that the man in the passenger seat of the car he was driving was going to kill him pleaded guilty in Melbourne County Court to attempted armed robbery and false imprisonment as well as a summary charge of failing to answer bail The court heard the victim was a contractor for a farm and had $20,000 in cash on him to pay fruit pickers on the day of the incident on October 14 A subcontractor the then-45-year-old victim used to pay the workers had called the victim to come to Longstaff St in Shepparton to give him the money Desacada got into the car while the victim was waiting in Longstaff St and told him to give him the money Prosecutor Jordan Vassis said Desacada had a diamond tester in his pants and was holding it to make it look like a gun He also had a large kitchen knife with him the victim accelerated into the BP service station on the Goulburn Valley Hwy at Kialla hoping customers could help him He then drove into the Toyota dealership on the Goulburn Valley Hwy and fled from the car running into the service centre yelling “help Desacada fled from the car empty-handed and hid in bushland while police looked for him Phone checks on Desacada’s phone found the subcontractor the victim was to meet that day had been in frequent contact with the victim while there were also phone calls between Desacada and the subcontractor on the day of the incident with the last one only four minutes before the victim fled into Toyota dealership When Desacada was found by police 14 days after the incident he told police a “Malaysian set everything up” and that a man named “Mike” asked him to do the robbery Desacada’s partner gave evidence to the court about problems their three-year-old child had Desacada’s partner told how she had been refused a protection visa but had appealed it in 2021 and was waiting until her matter was heard by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal but that means she is also not entitled to any Centrelink benefits and would not be entitled to any childcare subsidy if Desacada was in prison because they received it in his name as he is from the Philippines but is now an Australian resident Desacada’s defence barrister Stacey Stanley is trying to keep her client out of prison saying the hardship of him being there would be “enormous” on his partner and child asked for a combination sentence that would include prison and a community corrections order Judge Richard Maidment said he wanted to hear more about any supports that would be available to Desacada’s wife and son — including if the child would be eligible for a carer — under the National Disability Insurance Scheme Ms Stanley said this information would not be known until he had met with a paediatrician with the child having an appointment on February 5 after having been on a waiting list for a year for it Judge Maidment said Desacada’s life had “changed dramatically” since the offence and that he had “reasonable prospects of rehabilitation” he said the offence was “planned” albeit “ham-fisted Judge Maidment adjourned the court case until March to allow for more information about the supports available to Desacada’s son and partner if Desacada were to be imprisoned IT IS beginning to look a lot like Christmas it is time to celebrate with friends and family with a selection of choice beverages to suit every budget and taste The team at Kialla Cellarbrations Superstore has curated an extensive range of products to suit every taste this Christmas They offer a diverse selection of local products and an array of choices to cater to every preference Kialla Cellarbrations has specials right across their range so hurry in and enjoy a few tasty beverages with your loved ones Make this Christmas extraordinary by visiting Kialla Cellarbrations Superstore at Riverside Plaza or give them a call on 03 8657 0694 to find your perfect festive additions CHOOSING the right school for your child is one of the most important responsibilities as a parent or caregiver Education isn’t just a pathway to a successful career it’s a foundation for a life full of growth and the ability to navigate an increasingly complex world Education is not a simple task; it’s a dynamic field with many different research-backed approaches aiming to engage students and foster their development each emphasising a unique way to help students learn The search for the most effective way to educate has been ongoing since the Industrial Revolution St Anne’s College Kialla opened in 2019 with a clear vision: to offer an inquiry-based approach to learning This model places students at the center of their education encouraging them to explore complex problems and questions The college’s focus on collaboration and independent learning has been a key feature of its growth with its first Foundation and Year 7 students leading the way St Anne’s College sought to foster curiosity and creativity in students St Anne’s is set to implement a major shift in its approach to education the college will adopt a new teaching model called Magnify Sandhurst This new approach has been in development for over a year and represents a significant change in the way education will be delivered at St Anne’s The program has been created by a steering committee of Catholic education leaders all aiming to create a more structured learning environment the college will shift to a more traditional school structure with separate cohorts for Foundation to Year 6 and Years 7 to 12 This change proposes to bring greater consistency to teaching and learning across the school helping to clarify expectations for both students and teachers this shift aims to provide a more predictable and effective educational experience for all students “The teaching will be more specific and explicit and it will provide the consistency that’s been proven to work and they will benefit from hearing consistent language and using the same strategies across their learning,” Mr Butts explained This shift will also introduce a consistent approach to behaviour management making it clear what is expected of students and giving teachers the tools to focus more on teaching rather than managing behaviour One of the key goals of the Magnify Sandhurst approach is to ease the workload of teachers allowing them to focus more on how they teach rather than what they teach working together to deliver the best possible education This will also make it easier for teachers to step in for one another ensuring that learning continues without disruption if a teacher is absent The new approach follows a similar model that has already been successfully implemented in other Catholic schools across the country leading to improved standardised test results While Mr Butts acknowledges the importance of standardised testing he emphasised that the main focus is on creating the best learning environment which will naturally lead to better outcomes “Standardised tests are important because they reflect where a school stands in terms of teaching quality but they are just one outcome of a high-quality curriculum,” he said the college is also excited about the opening of a new robotics lab which will complement the existing flexible learning spaces which were originally intended to support student-led inquiry will continue to foster collaboration and engagement in line with the college’s new approach As St Anne’s College enters its seventh year With the support of Catholic Education Sandhurst the college is set to continue its journey of growth guided by a commitment to providing students with the best possible learning experience Please note Watt Road is currently closed due to flood water these works are anticipated to continue as scheduled Watt Road may re-open prior to the closure for these works We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and request that you plan your routes accordingly on the mentioned date These essential maintenance activities are crucial for ensuring the safety and quality of our road infrastructure Council appreciates the community's understanding and cooperation during these essential maintenance works For further information regarding the closure, please contact Council on (03) 5832 9700 or email council@shepparton.vic.gov.au Want to get the latest news and events in your Facebook feed? Just go to our Facebook page and click the Like button See All Events A company and its director were in court on WorkSafe charges after one of its employees died in a fatal road accident at Kialla West in 2022 A Melbourne company and its director appeared in a filing hearing in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court and face seven charges each under the Occupational Health and Safety Act which relate to the incident in Kialla West on August 17 A delivery van and a truck collided head-on at the intersection of Goulburn Valley Hwy and Moira Dve in Kialla West one is of recklessly engaging in conduct that placed another person at a workplace in danger of serious injury It is alleged both the company and director failed to reduce the risk of slower reaction times WorkSafe alleges the company failed to provide and maintain safe systems of work The company and director are due back in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court in October It was almost a crime that the region’s young racqueteers had to wait seven weeks to hit the courts again Shepparton Junior Tennis Association action resumed on Saturday for the first time since mid-December The A-grade witnessed a host of enthralling encounters and among them was Kialla Park Old Students White’s 7-43 to 1-31 victory over Shepparton Lawn Green Yi Reh Tay and Harry Pell were involved in five of the combine’s seven rubber victories including a bagelling of Tristan Baldi and Cooper Pogue News photographer Megan Fisher swung by the Kialla courts to capture the players in their element The works will improve the wetland and the lake’s water quality and overall functionality In order to give contractors access to remove the flow control gate the water in Lowanna Lake will be lowered starting on Wednesday 3 April contractors are expected to start working on the project with completion due by Monday 15 April weather permitting Lake Lowanna will be refilled to the necessary levels Council would like to inform the community and residents that lower lake levels will appear unsightly and may have an odour during this period of works The lake levels will not harm native fish.  Council recommends irrigation users from Lowanna Lake seek an alternative irrigation supply We appreciate the community’s patience during this period as the continued improvement works will benefit all lake users and the health of the lake in the long term If you have any questions please contact Greater Shepparton City Council on (03) 5832 9700 Blue-green algae occurs naturally in waterbodies and contains toxins that are harmful to humans and animals Signs of algae contact are skin rashes or itchiness Warning signs have been positioned around the first lake and will remain in place while high levels of blue-green algae are present Council staff are also conducting water testing Kialla Lakes will not be closed to the public Council recommends water users from Kialla Lakes seek an alternative water supply You can still enjoy other activities at Kialla Lakes that do not involve direct contact with the water It is not possible to predict how long the algae will remain at high levels Council is continuing to monitor the situation at Kialla Lakes Water supplied by Council is not suitable for human consumption without first being properly treated For more information about blue-green algae and your health, visit www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/Harmful-algal-blooms or phone NURSE-ON-CALL on 1300 606 024 Northern Victorian Goulburn Valley harness racing legend Geoff Hill has repaid a favor to fellow district trainer David Farrar – 56 years later a young Farrar was playing football for Nathalia and helping Hill out at his stables “I went with Geoff as his strapper to a meeting held at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds and I geared up his horse Chester Abbey Geoff repaid the compliment by strapping a horse of mine Kialla Kid (Sunshine Beach) which was successful at Wagga Wagga,” he said “I don’t know if it could be some sort of record but it was a really proud moment for both of us!” the Wagga road trip was a drive down memory lane for both Farrar and Hill who not only won at the final Showgrounds meeting but also followed up at the first Moonee Valley fixture winning many driving titles including three at Shepparton and a couple at Echuca and Cobram He was also renowned for his prowess with wayward horses Both Farrar and Hill still fondly remember that particular night of racing at the Showgrounds “There were 30,000 people there and 100 bookies operating in three betting rings In those days you put on a white coat and paraded the horses in the middle of the track before the drivers walked out and got in the sulky,” he said “The two fellas who owned Chester Abbey I think I had about 300 quid – 50 was mine “I finished parading the horse then I went to head off to the bookies and the stewards told me I wasn’t allowed to leave the track jumped the fence and put the money on at 50/1 who was off the back row but still started odds on “I ended up getting fined for disobeying stewards who was second on the metro trainers’ list at the time also got fined – for putting the number on upside down all the money was counted out on the table – 15,000 quid in total!” who still helps his son Darryl at his stables near Shepparton “I’ve been going up to Wagga since they started at the new track He’s been wanting to go with me for a while and I reckon there will be a few more trips now,” Farrar said “He’s just a gentleman and it was lovely to see many of the trotting greats like Bruce Harpley and others come up and have a chat.” A lot of outstanding horses passed through Hill’s stable in the 1970s and 80s including Orandra Prince (also a winner of the last race at that Showgrounds meeting) Jack Springs And while Geoff is a harness racing institution he is also an extremely popular figure in his local community at Mooroopna where he resides in a Village the RSL and he’s always helping out some organization in any way he can He still drives his car and goes to the gym twice a week,” Farrar said Farrar was successful at Wagga with four-year-old gelding Kialla Kid “It’s a three hour and 40-minute trip to Wagga but I’ve probably taken three or four maidens up there before they’ve won in Victoria I race Kialla Kid with Mark O’Sullivan and Phil Foyster who have both got businesses in Shepparton,” Farrar said and I used young Ky Bloomfield for the first time I was very impressed with the way he handled the horse because he’s terribly gaited but Ky didn’t have any worries and led all the way,” he said and I had no hesitation on putting him on because I’d watched him drive at previous meetings.” who shares a barn with Patrick Ryan at the Shepparton training Centre has always had a nice horse going around over many years while Gangster Boy posted 19 wins and 28 placings from 84 starts Others that come to mind include Arriens and My Mums A Star (10 apiece) Always Be Chloe and Attackamach (nine); Lavra Cloe (eight); and Here’s A Real Go and National Draft (five) by Terry Gange Harnesslink.com is the only harness racing website dedicated to covering news and events in the Standardbred Industry world-wide © 2024 Harnesslink | All Rights Reserved | NV © 2024 Harnesslink | All Rights Reserved | NV Council voted to adopt the recommended amendments to C233gshe and C239gshe which will now go through to the Minister for Planning for approval a combined Planning Scheme Amendment and planning permit seeks to amend the minimum subdivision area from eight to two hectares for land at 480 Raftery Road with the planning permit seeking to facilitate the subdivision of the land into six rural residential lots Amendment C239gshe applies to approximately 271 hectares of land within the Kialla West Growth Corridor (to the north of Mitchell Road and east of Raftery Road) and rezones the land from the Rural Living Zone to the Urban Growth Zone to allow for the future development of the area as a residential growth corridor The Amendment also amends the Greater Shepparton Planning Scheme which guides all development across Greater Shepparton to provide guidance for any planning permit applications on the land until a precinct structure plan is prepared and incorporated through a future planning scheme amendment Council is currently preparing the precinct structure plan for the land which will then allow for the subdivision of the land into residential lots Both Amendments were placed on public exhibition from June to July this year Each of the submissions were considered by the Planning Panel and resulted in two final Panel Reports the Greater Shepparton Planning Scheme Amendment C233gshe and Planning Permit Application 2021/208 Kialla Panel Report and the Greater Shepparton Planning Scheme Amendment C239gshe Investigation Area 2 Kialla and Shepparton South Framework Plan Panel Report which were received by Council on 7 November 2022 The Panel Reports recommended that Amendment C233gshe be adopted with post-exhibition changes to the planning permit and that Amendment C239gshe be adopted with post-exhibition changes to the amendment documentation said Council has now considered the recommendations of both Panel Reports and resolved to adopt the recommendations and submit both amendments to the Minister for Planning for approval “By Council adopting both Amendments it will assist in providing additional housing opportunities for future residents of Greater Shepparton,” he said “Amendment C233gshe will assist in providing rural-living housing lots that are not readily available within the region Amendment C239gshe will lay the groundwork for Council to prepare a precinct structure plan for the Kialla West Growth Corridor which will one day provide a new community in Kialla with housing open space and necessary infrastructure.” and sweet treats were enjoyed by some of our oldest community members as they came together for a special high tea exclusive to those aged 90 and up and 85 and up for First Nations peoples and Torres Strait Islanders was one of the last Seniors Festival events in Shepparton as the month-long celebration draws to a close The Centennial High Tea was held on Tuesday and gave a chance for our oldest residents to connect and enjoy a fun day out Entertainment was provided by Frank Powell and there were plenty of fun and prizes to be had with trivia and raffles throughout the day “The Cenntennial High Tea was a wonderful success bringing out community together to celebrate Seniors Month and honour our oldest residents,” she said “It was heart-warming to see everyone enjoying music trivia and raffles while embracing the theme of ‘Embracing Wisdom “Events like these highlight the joy and importance of connection across generations making our local community stronger and more vibrant.” News photographer Rechelle Zammit came along to snap up all the fun Water samples from Kialla Lake have been taken to monitor the situation since the algae was first detected the recent warm weather has caused the algae to bloom and multiply The affected area will be treated with an algaecide tomorrow morning Warning signs will remain positioned at major recreational areas around Kialla Lake and will remain in place while high levels of blue-green algae are present The area around Kialla Lake is not closed to the public Council recommends water users from Kialla Lake continue to seek an alternative water supply You can still sightsee and enjoy other activities at Kialla Lake that do not involve direct contact with the water Council will continue to monitor the situation For more information about blue-green algae and your health, visit the better health website or phone NURSE-ON-CALL on 1300 606 024 Warning signs will be positioned at major recreational areas around Kialla Lakes and will remain in place while high levels of blue-green algae are present You can still sightsee and enjoy other activities at Kialla Lakes that do not involve direct contact with the water For more information about blue-green algae and your health www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/Harmful-algal-blooms or phone NURSE-ON-CALL on 1300 606 024 Bin collections in Kialla and Tatura will alter to see the green lid bin collected weekly and the red bin collected fortnightly The yellow lid bin will remain a fortnightly collection Council will be answering questions and assisting the community to implement the changes via online platforms and in person at local events Greater Shepparton City Council Director Infrastructure said the changes will help improve Greater Shepparton’s waste disposal practices “The changes form part of a State Government initiative to help reduce waste across the entire state Many other councils within Victoria have already made the change in frequency collections.” but know residents in Kialla and Tatura are up to the task This is all about making improvements now to ensure we have a better future in reducing our waste.” Mr Randhawa said The changes will take effect in Kialla from Thursday 16 March and in Tatura from Wednesday 22 March Kialla – please place your red and green bin out the night before 16 March Tatura – please place your red and green bin out the night before 22 March For further information and to print off your bin collection calendar visit greatershepparton.com.au From now the Queen of the Desert dwells by the lakes Such is the life of prominent Kialla motorbike competitor Madi Healey who conquered all before her to claim the official Priscilla-inspired title following a competition in the Northern Territory The gruelling Finke Desert Race was on the menu for two furious days of action across 225km of track between Alice Springs and Aputula the furthest-inland populated dwelling in Australia The 19-year-old local embarked on her first attempt at the arduous outback competition suiting up as one of only two Victorian representatives in the 19-strong women’s field through the usual midday heat throughout the Northern Territory Healey was first in the women’s class with a three-minute gap to nearest rival Dani Foot Foot crashed out and left a sizeable buffer for Healey to work with on the much tougher return leg to Alice Springs where her GasGas #922 machine was an easy number one on the ride north Finishing a comfortable first outright in the women’s class Healey claimed 54th on the overall classification following an impressive showing in the nation’s most challenging motorcycle race She was certainly relieved about it all as well “The buggies and some other bikes all went before us so the terrain gets rough and then rougher again,” Healey said but you’re allowed to train on it all year long becoming very rocky and making it a different sort of race “Finishing 54th outright with all the boys was pretty cool and so was getting crowned Queen of the Desert.” Having gone up a month prior to competition for testing and preparations a totally different set of track conditions greeted Healey on race day Having already overcome such adversity to take honours on her first attempt she’s not afraid to take on the challenge again in a year’s time I’ll do a little bit of testing and spend more time up there so I know the track inside out “To be able to win the race without doing the whole track before was cool since I didn’t have much knowledge.” The majority of the funding for this project was provided by the Victorian Government - Female Friendly Facilities Project Grant and the remaining was funded by Old Students Cricket Club The upgraded facilities have seen the expansion of the existing change room facilities and upgrades to all the amenities to meet current standards The upgrade works include the construction of female friendly change rooms along with a first aid room and two unisex umpire’s change rooms and amenities to ensure this facility is female friendly Kialla Park Recreation Reserve is home to the AFL Goulburn Murray headquarters and a number of sporting clubs including women’s football It will also be the home of the GV Umpires association from 2020 Greater Shepparton City Council Director Infrastructure Phil Hoare said “the upgrades to the pavilion at the Kialla Park Recreation Reserve will make it a female friendly facility and we are excited to have these new facilities operational and ready for use after the COVID-19 restrictions are eased” “These much needed works cater for the increasing number of female participants in cricket and football.” “They will provide further support for the increasing number of women and girls in football The various sporting groups and users will be excited to be back playing sport when the time comes These works have been done concurrently with the redevelopment of the oval and installation of lighting” said Mr Hoare Essendon’s AFLW team visited Shepparton on Monday The Community Camp program brings teams to regional communities aiming to connect with young fans and inspire the next generation with the team visiting Kialla Central Primary School and Orrvale Primary School to provide free clinics for students and guiding handballs and wayward kicks towards the goals News photographer Rechelle Zammit joined the event to capture the clinic It’s apparent that joy and opportunity flow freely at Kialla’s St Anne’s College as outgoing principal Sue Carroll and her incoming replacement discuss the unique learning centre they’ve both been tied to since its inception Ms Carroll will step down from her role when the current school term ends in about five weeks after three terms as deputy principal in 2019 — the college’s first year of operation — and the remainder of her time there in the principal’s chair It’s a bit sad to be leaving a community you’re a big part of “It’s a great opportunity for St Anne’s to move into its next phase and I can go on to new and exciting things as well.” Ms Carroll began her teaching career at St Anthony’s School in Lara before moving to Kyabram 29 years ago where she taught at St Augustine’s College she moved into a senior education officer position as leader of pedagogy at the Catholic Education Office in Sandhurst she became involved with the development of St Anne’s College before jumping at the chance to help lead the school from within Ms Carroll said there had been many accomplishments during her time because everything was a first “It’s just been constant joy from our first Preps to our first Year 12s,” she said “The thing that’s been the most challenging is our registration to deliver senior secondary — Year 11 and 12 — it’s been a very big complex process and while it was a challenge it’s just been so exciting to see our first lot of Year 12s finishing up this year “I think leading that process has been my biggest accomplishment.” The school’s first Year 12 cohort will finish about two weeks into Term 4 — after Ms Carroll finishes up — before their exams but she hopes to be able to return for their graduation What’s next in her journey is still up in the air She said she was exploring a few options but that the only things set in concrete so far were that it would be in education The incoming Mr Butts said he was excited to be taking on the role “I was a part of the initial development team of St Anne’s Catholic Education Shepparton-Mooroopna through its infancy so I’ve always had a vested interest in St Anne’s and watching it grow for many years,” he said Mr Butts is coming from a principal’s position at St Mary’s Primary School in Mooroopna he was principal at St Joseph’s Primary School in Nagambie “It’s come at the perfect time both personally and professionally for me with my two boys now into their 20s so I’m definitely looking for a new challenge,” Mr Butts said “It’s my first venture into secondary education so I’ve been doing a lot of homework and research the school is set up brilliantly and I’m looking forward to coming in and following in Sue’s footsteps.” The pair have been working closely for a while to foster a smooth transition when it takes place and say while it’s not the most common occurrence for a school to change principals midway through a year one benefit of doing so would be that Mr Butts had a term to settle in so he would be well equipped to hit the ground running in 2025 “St Anne’s is very unique in its structure for Shepparton and being the only high school in south Shepparton there’s wonderful opportunities for kids to accelerate and expand their learning in a variety of different places,” he said “The school has some exciting learning areas and more being built in the coming years so I think the big word for me is opportunity “The school is over teething issues that all new schools have and ready to really take off and flourish Mr Butts has lived in the Goulburn Valley for 25 years He was a teacher at St Mel’s Primary School before taking up the principal’s role in Nagambie which I think is really important as a new principal to know a few people already know their faces and their stories is a great start.” Ms Carroll said being at St Anne’s from the beginning was a special time in her career “Starting a school from scratch is a whole other ball game but you really are building a culture and community,” she said but you don’t have the safety net of a very well developed structure behind you we used to stop and look at each other after a meeting and say ‘We have to stop and really enjoy this because we’ll never get this opportunity ever again’ “It wasn’t lost on us what a great opportunity it was to experience that very first year of operation of a school.” with some availability left in Prep and Year 7 levels The school’s open day was held earlier this year but private tours are always available by making an appointment “We’re always willing and proud to show people around and have a bit of a chat,” Ms Carroll said “We all need to find the things that bring us joy and connect to them We try and do things here that can tap into that joy for the kids.” Ms Carroll herself will move on to her next role with nothing but joyous memories of her time spent at St Anne’s BLESSINGS and celebrations were in abundance for the grand opening and official ribbon cutting at St Anne’s College Kialla The college officially opened Stage 2B of its development which includes science and design inspiration specialist learning areas along with some general learning and breakout space for secondary students It also included general learning areas and multifunction specialist breakout spaces for primary students Like the college’s previous building stages it was designed by architect Dr Ken Woodman “Continuing to build on the first two stages of St Anne’s College this extension delivers additional art spaces and the science centre,” Dr Woodman said “Guided by the innovative art and science educational approach Art provides for large studio work with the opportunity for smaller workshop spaces while science has larger laboratories for all the sciences with smaller labs for specific science experimentation.” St Anne’s College will add its final year level (Year 6) after the school began with just Foundation and Year 7 students in 2019 An additional year level has been added to both primary and secondary levels each year since opening to students 2019 The college is looking forward to the further expansion of its campus Future stages of the College Masterplan include technology the floods that devastated parts of the region 18 months ago are fast becoming a distant memory the long-lasting damage to its clubhouse is still very much front of mind The waters may have died down and the rooms stripped of their damage the clubhouse is set to finish its redevelopment in the next month or so Vice-president Brian Reiners wanted to thank the loyal members who remained part of the club over the past 18 months with the club recently running its annual Presidents versus Captains Day event “We had 26 people play with two teams of 13 and it was perfect conditions on the course and everyone was very happy,” Reiners said “(During the floods) the water came through the clubhouse so we are in the slow process (of rebuilding) “We would really like to be in before it starts to get cold because although we have portable heaters at the moment to keep us warm feeling the chill in the winter while waiting to hit the links is only part of the problem as Reiners said that the club hadn’t been able to run any events since the floods which was having an impact on the purse strings “We are losing the social atmosphere and social revenue,” he said we haven’t been able to have an opening day and invite people in “We have a big mixed event in honour of one of our past members called Frank Bush; we haven’t had Bushy’s day “We can’t cater and the women have a big event they call the Salver and all these events bring money in so we haven’t had money from those events come in since the floods.” As Kialla Golf Club get closer to cutting the ribbon to open the newly renovated clubhouse Reiners and his golfing colleagues can see the light at the end of the tunnel The vice-president believes prospective members will love the social atmosphere and quality of the course provided at the Kialla Golf Club “They (new members) will have the new clubhouse,” he said “The condition of the course is impeccable and everyone is commenting about how we are playing in perfect golfing conditions.” No one was badly injured after two vehicles collided in the rain on the Goulburn Valley Hwy at Kialla on Tuesday Police said both vehicles were travelling south at the time of the crash A Subaru Forrester SUV pulled to the left of the road and attempted to do a U-turn in front a Toyota Hilux ute The two females in the SUV were taken to Goulburn Valley Health by ambulance for observation The male P-plate driver of the ute was not injured Traffic was slowed on the highway near the greyhound race track ambulance and Shepparton Search and Rescue are attending an accident on the Goulburn Valley Hwy at Kialla on the afternoon of Tuesday The accident occurred on the highway opposite the greyhound racetrack in the western lane after 5pm Traffic is still moving slowly in both directions