families enjoyed an active morning at KidsTown
with engaging activities for children running from 9.30am to 11.30am
Let’s Get Active is just one of the free and low-cost activities that make up Greater Shepparton City Council’s Activities in the Park program
Over 150 activities are delivered throughout Greater Shepparton to encourage residents and visitors to get out and active in their community
For more information, visit the Get Mooving Greater Shepparton Facebook at facebook.com/GetMoovingGS/
There were plenty of iterations of a well-known Kyabram name playing in the red sash on Saturday
Round two of the Goulburn Valley League’s under-18 competition was held at the weekend
with the Bombers eager to keep their form going after a 129-point round one win
while the Bulldogs were keen to bounce back after their heavy opening defeat
Searing conditions led to the two sides feeling hot under the collar at times
The Bombers rocketed out of the hangar with six goals straight in the opening quarter to open up an 8-36 gap at the first break
As the match continued the margin grew steadily with each quarter that passed
Kyabram eventually ran away a 103-point winner
with the score finishing 2.2 (14) to 17.15 (117)
Shepparton continued its stellar start to the season thanks to a 137-point victory over Benalla
A Bears forward made for frosty opposition as Ned Frostick booted four goals
Frostick leads the competition for goal-kickers with seven after two matches
Mooroopna overcame inaccuracy in front of the big sticks to defeat Rochester 6.12 (48) to 5.9 (39) at home
Cats vice-captain Will Emanuelli kicked four goals
Shepparton United secured a comfortable 42-point victory over Mansfield at Deakin Reserve
The Demons had a few familiar club names on their roster with the likes of Zane Chalcraft
Last year's grand finalists Shepparton Swans defeated Seymour by 38 points at Kings Park
The Swans’ key to victory came in the second term when the visitors blew the Lions away with a 6-31 effort
Reigning premier Echuca defeated Euroa by 73 points away from home
Shepparton and Kyabram make up first and second place on the ladder
Echuca and Mooroopna are the other two clubs who remain undefeated heading into Easter weekend's round three
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A Kyabram mother stole more than $260,000 from three Kyabram businesses while working as a bookkeeper
pleaded guilty in the County Court to three counts of theft
The court heard she stole a total of $261,761 from three businesses she worked as a bookkeeper for between March 2019 and September 2021
This included more than $151,000 from JAG Plumbing owned by Jarrod Gale
and almost $59,000 from Campaspe Hydraulics and Engineering and more than $51,000 from AW Ag Contracting
The missing money was first discovered in September 2021 when Sellick had stopped working for Mr Whipp’s businesses and the new bookkeeper noticed some abnormalities
she found $23,000 that had been deposited in Sellick’s own ATO account
When the bookkeeper questioned the mother of three about it
Sellick repaid the money in two days and told the bookkeeper not to tell Mr Whipp about it
In January more money was discovered to be missing from Mr Whipp’s accounts
and a forensic accountant was used to find just how much money had been taken
Mr Whipp told Mr Gale about the money that had been taken from his accounts
Mr Gale then discovered 164 separate transactions totalling more than $151,000 had been taken from his accounts
with most using false descriptions of where the money went
Judge Paul Higham noted Sellick’s defence counsel argued the offending was “not particularly sophisticated”
Judge Higham said Sellick could not say where the money had been spent
with some going towards a house they were building and others to “expenses over time”
He also said the Sellick had believed she was “doing the right thing” by her children so they “did not experience the financial difficulties you did as an adolescent”
he said both Sellick and her husband were both working and the time
The judge noted all the money had eventually been paid back to Sellick’s employers but said the thefts had been serious
“It was a gross abuse of the trust placed in you by your employers,” he said
Judge Higham said the thefts were for Sellick’s “own personal gain” and that she had used her employers’ businesses as “extra income”
Sellick was sentenced in Melbourne County Court to 10 months in prison
to be followed by a 24-month community corrections order
The corrections order will include mental health assessment and treatment
Police are investigating a ram raid in Kyabram that occurred on Wednesday
A police spokesperson said it was understood two stolen Toyota utility vehicles went to a service station on Allan St about 3.45am
One of the vehicles rammed the front of the business
The spokesperson said it was believed nothing was stolen
The spokesperson said the vehicles were stolen from another Kyabram business earlier in the night
a Campaspe Investigation Unit spokesperson said the vehicles were stolen from Albion Motors Toyota
and the Kyabram Club was also targeted in a ram-raid incident
Anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV/dashcam footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au
but slowing down and pulling over when you pass the Kyabram Cemetery will be worth it over the next week
Veterans buried at the Kyabram Cemetery were honoured by Kyabram P-12 College staff and students on Thursday
headed by community connections co-ordinator Janine Kreymborg
had students clean each veteran’s gravestone at the cemetery and place flags beside them
Hundreds of Australian flags fluttering in the breeze
and a scene of pride and community strength
The ceremony attended by a crowd of 50 filled with Kyabram P-12 staff and students
and business owners who each contributed to the project in their own way
Mrs Kreymborg said she was proud of the students for what they achieved over the past few months
“There’s something quite powerful about wandering through a cemetery,” she said
the little stories you can piece together — it’s like walking through a garden of memory.”
Visitors were invited to walk around the cemetery to see what stories they could uncover and the memories they could evoke
For Peter Fitzgerald it was a memory of Maurie Wood
a former mayor of Kyabram Council for whom Mr Fitzgerald’s wife worked as a secretary
“He served in the air force and was in the Lancaster Bombers at the time ..
Kyabram RSL secretary and treasurer Bob Stone spoke to Kyabram P-12 students before the service and said he was “incredibly moved” by the project
“It is a humbling sight — a reminder of sacrifice
service and the unbreakable bonds of mateship.”
Kyabram P-12 College principal Marina Walsh said it took many hands to get the project finished
including support from community members and businesses
Kyabram Steel donated the sheets of steel for students to make the flag holders
and Kyabram Paint and Panel offered its services and resources to paint the flag holders
Bunnings Echuca donated supplies for the students to clean the graves of each veteran
and Greenham’s and Kyabram Club donated additional money
which went towards the purchase of the flags
“It wasn’t just a couple of days or weeks — this took months to do,” Ms Walsh said
and it’s great we can work with the community like that.”
A GP service is set to make Kyabram District Health Service a health hub for regional after-hours care
Addressing the need for urgent but non-life-threatening care
KDHS will launch a bulk-billed after-hours GP service on Wednesday
The service will open on Wednesdays from 6pm to 9pm as of Wednesday
and then on weekends from 9am to 5pm from the first weekend May
aiming to address a high need for after-hours general practice in regional areas
KDHS partnered with Murray Primary Health Network to develop this service
aiming to ease pressure on regional emergency departments while improving care for local residents
KDHS chief executive Anne McEvoy said Campaspe Shire was identified as an area with limited access to urgent after-hours primary health care services
In the assessment undertaken by Murray PHN
it was found a “high level” of patients presenting to the Kyabram Urgent Care Centre were found to be semi-urgent or non-urgent
"With no GP-led service available locally after hours
understandably people seeking care present at our urgent care centres and EDs,“ Ms McEvoy said
“We want to provide another choice that aligns with the needs of our community
The service aims to be the bridge for regional residents who need care urgently but it isn’t life threatening in Kyabram and surrounding towns such as Rushworth
KDHS director of medical services Dr Ka Chun Tse said this service would provide the right care for the community without having to wait over a weekend
while also de-clogging urgent care centres
“Having this service should be a win — a win for the patient
and also for the urgent care centres and emergency departments in our region so they don’t use those resources for lower acuity patients,” he said
KDHS project clinical lead Cherie Hunter said it was important to distinguish that the after-hours GP would not offer ongoing treatment like typical GP clinics
and support the patient to go back to their home and to their primary GP,” Ms Hunter said
Ms Hunter explained that each shift would be staffed by a GP
with the goal of seeing three patients per hour
so bulk-billing patients is going to be the model — no out-of-pocket contributions by the patients,” she said
with an allocated amount of funding to run the service
director of medical services Dr Tse said he was hopeful it would open the doors to expanding the funding to a yearly basis and
and also how the service alleviates stress from surrounding urgent care centres like GV Health and Echuca Regional Health
“We are very grateful for the dedicated GPs and staff who have agreed to work with us on this innovative service
and to Murray PHN for providing us with the necessary funding and other supports,” Dr Tse said
with a booking system set to come in place for the following Wednesday sessions
Information on the booking system once it goes live, will be available on the KDHS website at www.kyhealth.org.au however for this first clinic on April 16
walk-ins via the main entry at KDHS will be taken by reception within the consulting suites
After an impressive win over Benalla in round three to get in the winner’s column
Kyabram wasn’t able to ride the momentum in its contest against Shepparton United
Travelling to Deakin Reserve to challenge the Demons
the Bombers appeared out matched in the first quarter
conceding a run of goals to start and end the term to fall behind by 10
The Bombers weren’t going to go down easily
mounting a strong fightback in the second period and going toe-to-toe with Shepparton United
the Demons were still able to outscore Kyabram by a point in the lead up to half-time
extending their lead to 11 at the major break
Both sides could only manage seven goals apiece in the third term
with fatigue and tight defence making scoring scarce
A 16-goal final effort by Shepparton United left the Bombers dead and buried
with the travelling side only able to produce eight goals of their own
The 25-goal loss serves as a reminder of Kyabram’s place in the Goulburn Valley Netball League’s hierarchy as the side continues to develop as the season wears on
they will return home to face Mansfield in round five
a side who has yet to win a game so far this season
The match will be a nice test to see how far Kyabram can push itself against a weaker side and potentially get another win under its belt before the season’s midway point
Kyabram lost one its greatest all-round sportsmen last week with the passing of Herb Prior
who had been battling ill health for some time
he was known as an astute Kyabram businessman who conducted a fruit shop in Kyabram for 40 years on the western side of today’s Kyabram Bakery
That venture came after driving a taxi for many years
But Herb’s sporting prowess was what he was best renowned for in the Kyabram community and beyond
a top golfer and lawn bowler and a crack claybird shooter
His football career with Kyabram started in the 1940s and lasted for over 200 senior games with the Bombers
He is a life member of both the Kyabram Football Netball Club and the Goulburn Valley Football League
As a footballer he was an athletic utility who could hold down any position
But he was probably best known for his performances as a full back after starting his career as a full forward
He played in Kyabram’s senior premiership sides in 1950 and 1958 and in runners-up senior sides to Tongala in 1949 and to Lemnos (Shepp Swans) in 1959
Early in his footy career he was in Kyabram’s flag-winning reserves team in 1948
In the 1958 senior premiership triumph over Nagambie under coach Tony Bull he was named in Kyabram’s best players along with Alan Vick
Herb was a star golfer and lawn bowler who had stints with both Valley View and Kyabram bowls clubs
He is the only person to have won club championships at both golf and bowls at Valley View
He was a member of some of the Kyabram Bowls Club teams that went through a golden period of winning pennant premierships in the 2000s
He was a member of 12 Kyabram division one bowls premierships sides
There were numerous other bowling triumphs
sharing pairs titles at club and association levels with James Lally
His record as a lawn bowler resulted in him being inducted into the GV Hall Of Fame in 2017
Herb was once described by a star claybird shooter as a ‘‘rare talent’’ but he didn’t pursue this sport for long due to his other sporting commitments
But long enough to win Echuca Gun Club’s State Double Barrel Sparrow Championship in 1961
But Herb had shown his all-round natural sporting prowess well before his days on the football ovals of the GVL and the district’s bowling greens and golf courses
He won swimming championships in his early teen years when competitions were held at the primitive Kyabram pool where the Kyabram Zoo is today
He also played cricket and tennis at the top level with Kyabram teams for a couple of seasons as a teenager
It seemed nothing that Herb turned his hand to in sport was difficult for him and he was named in Kyabram’s top 10 sporting greats at one stage as a reward for his stellar performances at numerous sports
Just a true sporting champion who has left a huge legacy and fond memories of his halcyon feats for ever
etched into the fencing at Kyabram P-12 College
highlights the severe bullying one student has endured over the past month
A disturbing video recently shared on social media platforms
showing a physical altercation at Kyabram P-12 College
the school has implemented disciplinary measures against the involved students
Veronica joins three other parents expressing their worries about recent bullying incidents at the Kyabram state school
walked through the school gates at the beginning of the 2025 year on Wednesday
First with seemingly childish acts like throwing half-eaten apples and wood
but it quickly escalated to more aggressive behaviours such as spitting
physical shoving and being locked inside buildings
Chris was being shoved around before he “stood up for himself” and punched the other student in the face
Chris is diagnosed with ADHD and chronic-PTSD
which means his senses become what Veronica describes as “heightened” in high-stress situations
which can trigger his “fight or flight response” in situations such as when he is being bullied
The incident on that Friday would be only the beginning of Chris’ journey with his aggressors
a group of students showed up at Chris’ house and grabbed him by the throat
It was the first time Veronica had to involve the police
Veronica revealed that Kyabram P-12 College acknowledged the escalating bullying incidents and implemented a “student safety plan” designed to keep Chris away from his bullies
when Kyabram P-12 College students were filmed by a student fighting during school hours
The video was posted on social media and showed a group of students crowded near fencing before a student began to push Chris
One student was seen jumping in between them before being pushed out of the way by the student pushing Chris
but were either held or pushed back by other students
Veronica said Chris came home that day with scratches on his face
Two other students who attempted to intervene in the incident ended up in the hospital: a school captain left with a dislocated shoulder
and another student ended up with a broken rib
The ‘student safety plan’ assessed the place where the fight broke out was meant to be a ‘safe spot’ for Chris
“These students are not meant to be there,” Veronica said
Multiple times they’ve breached the order in two days,” she said
written on the fence is the statement ‘Chris is dead’ engraved in the metal
Veronica said she was appalled at how the bullying had reached this point
and wondered how much longer it would take until the next big incident happened
“Is it going to take a death before something happens
That’s what is written on the fence — that’s their plan
Veronica also expressed frustration over the limited communication from the school
revealing she had had to rely on other students contacting her directly to learn about some of these incidents
She has taken Chris and her other children out of school three times since the beginning of the school year
and has requested remote learning to be set up for Chris so he can continue his education without fear of being bullied
My kids shouldn't have to be forced to change schools — it needs to stop,” she said
said Adrian had been the victim of similar attacks
but it had now begun impeding on Adrian’s ability to learn
“(The college) pulled Adrian out of Small Engines class because of the bullies — because they are always picking on him,” she said
“(The class) was going to set him up for life because he’s not good academically
Lucy has made the difficult decision to keep Adrian home from school since the filmed fight incident
“(Teachers) can’t keep him safe,” she said
“He’s 16 years old — it’s a crucial time of life to be getting career paths set
and yet I’ve had to take him out because he isn’t safe
“(The school) seems to support the bullies ..
they are getting handed everything because (the school) doesn’t want to ruin their lives — but hang on
was one of the students injured while trying to break up the fight
is “not happy” with how the situation unfolded
“I’m not happy that another child has put his hands on my daughter
Jackie said her child had heard from another student that a fight had broken out and had rushed over to help stop it
Becca was “reefed out” of the way by one of the students involved in the fight
“She shouldn’t be getting hurt while trying to do the right thing
She said kids who did the wrong thing had to be held to account
“(Students) need to know that there’s going to be a consequence,” she said
“If you’ve got other kids who are doing the wrong thing
and kids blocking the teachers from getting over there to step in between them
college principal Marina Walsh released a letter addressed to parents and carers
She wrote that safety and wellbeing for everyone on campus was the school’s “highest priority”
“Any form of violent behaviour within our school is entirely unacceptable
This incident does not reflect the safe and supportive culture at our school or the behaviour of the majority of students,” Mrs Walsh wrote
She said there would be “consequences” for students involved
and for students who filmed or were filmed using mobile phones
Mrs Walsh wrote that teachers would be working with students involved to ensure they understood the required standards of behaviour and techniques of conflict resolution
The Free Press contacted Mrs Walsh for comment about the filmed fight incident and the ongoing bullying claims
Mrs Walsh forwarded the questions to the Victorian Department of Education
The following statement is from a spokesperson for the Department of Education:
“Violent behaviour is unacceptable in any Victorian school
Kyabram P-12 College has taken action in relation to the incident in line with Department of Education policies
The college is providing wellbeing support to impacted students,” they said
“We remind content providers that publishing this type of material can have long-lasting harmful impacts on young people
If you or someone you know is experiencing bullying
private and confidential 24/7 phone and online counselling service for young people aged five to 25
Contact by calling on 1800 55 1800 or by reaching out through WebChat Counselling at kidshelpline.com.au/get-help/webchat-counselling
*Any parents and students mentioned have been given different names to protect their identities
Kyabram scored its fourth percentage boosting win for the season
outclassing Shepparton United by a whopping 116 points at Shepparton’s Deakin Reserve on Saturday
Showing the way for the Bombers was smooth-moving left-footer Riley Ironside
a gifted utility who made his mark on the game with a seven-goal haul
Along with other dominant on-ballers Mick Mattingly
Kaine Herbert and Mitch Googlioti and ruckmen Aidan Robinson and Zac Norris the Bombers overwhelmed their rivals with a relentless running game
With noted goal-kicker Anthony Depasquale making his VFL debut for Werribee on Friday
Ironside stepped up in front of goals along with Zac Cerrone (four goals) Charlie Barnett (three) and Herbert
to ensure United was under scoreboard pressure for most of the game
Despite what the final scores may have suggested it wasn’t all one-way traffic with United never surrendering and at times unleashing some good link play to put the Kyabram defence under the pump
and with help from young talents in Charlie Isaac and Angus Scoble
among the baby Bombers in this talented Kyabram team certainly aren’t overawed with the standard they are playing and will be a keen watch when the Bombers meet the powerhouses — Echuca and Shepparton — of the competition
This Saturday the Bombers will start favourite to start the season with five successive wins when they host Mansfield
Mansfield was stopped in its tracks by Rochester last Saturday after an impressive start to the season
so will be extra keen to bounce back to regain some credibility
Former skipper Josh Dillon will return to the Kyabram side for his first game for the season after suspension and another of the team’s young guns Archie Watt could also be ready to resume after missing the United clash
thumping United by a neat 100 points to give their mind boggling percentage another hefty boost
With six goals Will Wild again did the finishing off work of Cooper Fawcett
Brady Corso and Billy McLay who ensured the ball was in Kyabram’s forward half for a good portion of the game
Bailey Pyke was a lively forward who kicked three goals along with Jarryd Pertzel
This is a talented Kyabram side that will be hard to beat in any contest this season if it doesn’t let its guard down
· Kyabram thirds played a tie with another of the competition’s unbeaten sides in a stirring duel
But co-coach Peter Ryan was disappointed to only share the premiership points
citing a lack of pressure from his charges
‘‘We just didn’t keep them under as much pressure as we would have liked,’’ Ryan said
‘‘We really only got serious in the last 10 minutes after they (United) had a got away to a 14 points lead.’’
Jack Donaldson starred in defence for the young Bombers and got great support again from the ever reliabe Max Carroll
Isaiah Scoble in the midfield and forward showed off his silky skills at times and kicked three vital goals
Bottom aged player Tyler Doolan in the midfield and James Hargreaves on a forward flank continued his impressive start to the season
Charlie Isaac didn’t play so there is plenty of scope for improvement in this talented young Kyabam side
Facing off with the defending champion is never an easy task
So it proved for Tongala in round four of Murray Netball League
but ultimately suffering defeat at the hands of Rumbalara
Rumba earned a valuable advantage in the first quarter
which they then extended to nine by the main break
The Blues found themselves 17 goals behind after a tough third period
Tonny technically defeated Rumba last season and denied it an unbeaten year
awarded their final round game after the champions were pulled up on a player eligibility misstep
but on the court the 2024 champion now possesses a 24-match winning streak
the Blues currently hold eighth position on the ladder
Their next contest is against last year's preliminary final opposition Moama
which has rebounded from a 0-2 start to level the ledger at 2-2 heading into the game on Tonny’s home court
The first patient of the new after-hours GP service
marked the official opening of this much-needed clinic by helping cut the ribbon
Kyabram District Health Service threw open its doors to its brand-new after hours bulk-billed GP clinic
allowing residents to get the medical help they need
The service operates every Wednesday from 6pm to 9pm
it will be available on weekends and public holidays from 9am to 5pm
to alleviate financial pressure on local residents seeking urgent but non-life-threatening medical assistance
The service was developed in conjunction with the Murray Primary Health Network to address the high-need for after-hours general practice in regional areas
with Kyabram chosen to trial the service for three months
Murray PHN's assessment revealed Campaspe Shire had limited access to urgent after-hours primary healthcare and many patients at Kyabram Urgent Care Centre were found to have semi-urgent or non-urgent conditions
A booking system set to come in place for the Wednesday sessions is available at the KDHS website
A special connection to a special service made Anzac Day all the more important for the residents at Warramunda Village
The village held its Lone Pine service on Thursday
The service is an annual prelude to Anzac Day for residents who may not be able to make it to official ceremonies
It holds significance for resident Alwyn Drysdale
whose legacy lives on through the Aleppo pine he planted
now a cherished backdrop for Anzac and Remembrance Day services across the Kyabram district
Warramunda chief executive officer John Clark said the Lone Pine had become a central event for residents
we feel strongly connected to the story of the Lone Pine
which of course originated at Gallipoli and has been kept alive in our region through the work of her late husband Bob and the other members of Kyabram Legacy,” he said
Five residents at Warramunda receive vital support from Kyabram Legacy
an organisation dedicated to assisting local widows of veterans since World War I
Warramunda’s Lone Pine ceremony was led by Legatee Gwen James and also featured readings and presentations by Graeme James
The service also featured readings from Kyabram P-12 College captains Chloe Heald and Ruby Phillips
Mr Clark emphasised that the captains' involvement was crucial in bridging generations
ensuring the Anzac spirit endures from past to present and into the future
Kyabram businesses have been targeted overnight in a series of break-ins
believed to have been carried out using an allegedly stolen vehicle
A Campaspe Investigation Unit spokesperson said officers were investigating a series of break-ins that occurred on the morning of Wednesday
A vehicle allegedly stolen from Albion Motors Toyota was used to gain access to the Kyabram Club and a BP petrol station on Allan St
The vehicle was allegedly driven into a south-facing entry at the club
and later through the front entrance at the petrol station
The Bombers dominated the past decade with four flags in seven years and
a premiership hasn’t yet materialised in the 2020s
the black and red brigade is looking simply scary this season
Kyabram tore strips off Shepparton United in Saturday’s Goulburn Valley League affair at Deakin Reserve
landing a mammoth 29.19 (193) to 11.11 (77) result over Shepparton United — the biggest total witnessed in the league in 10 months
Deakin’s scoreboard was working overtime as Kyabram’s forward line peppered the posts
with Riley Ironside running away with seven majors as the game’s top marksman
the key to raining hell on the Demons resulted from Kyabram’s off the ball shift
but it’s the defensive stuff — we're not going out there to say let's try and kick a massive score,” he said
“I think that helps; if you win it back at the source
then you tend to get an overlap going the other way which helps with the score.”
Kyabram’s pressure rating was through the roof from go to whoa
United took the lead five minutes in via a smartly taken bomb from 50 off Liam Serra’s boot
The host was rapid around the outside when shifting the ball out of the corridor and midway through the first quarter the Demons found themselves 20-13 up
that was as close as it came to building a lead
Kyabram surged ahead with a flurry of goals and
despite a superb mark and conversion late on from Jayedon Hexter
the Bombers led by 23 points at the close of a 37 minute-long opening term
Zac Norris and Adam Pulsoni hit the post in rapid succession for the Bombers — a theme of the first half — but after a lull
Ironside broke the tension with a left-footed dart that curved nicely through
United barely got hands on the pill inside Kyabram’s defensive 50 for a 20-minute spell
and Mick Mattingly got some reward for effort as he hung out the back
found himself with nothing but green stuff ahead of him and bolted through for his first major
After a first half of domination on the tackle count
Kyabram made United pay with a romping 10.2 third quarter to lead 146-63 with a term left to play
Kyabram’s liquid brand of offence flowed into the final quarter
pouncing on United’s mistakes with ruthless aplomb
as Ironside made the last five minutes his own with three goals to close out the game
Reflecting on such a hammer-fisted performance
Carver said the game was broken apart by Kyabram’s willingness to go hard at the contest and allow United zero space to breathe
“It was just on our work rate again,” he said
we just have to make sure you're working hard on the body
“I've always been a big fan of once you do that
so that was probably the most pleasing part.”
On a day when Kyabram ruled the roost at Deakin
Carver paid credit to a select few Bombers who caught his eye
“Our mids have had a really good start to the year
‘Dogga’ (Jack) Russell has only started with us this year and he’s been really good and I thought Zac played well in a ruck as well,” he said
“So when you've got all four of those guys going to work
“I thought Zac Cerrone had probably his best game for us as well
Kade Chalcraft and Jesse Cucinotta (two goals) shone during the heavy defeat while Liam Serra was the other Demon to kick multiple majors
its 2025 campaign with back-to-back losses
Kyabram’s A-grade netball side got on the board in round three at home against Benalla
While the Saints struck first in the opening quarter
it wasn’t long before the Bombers unleashed the full extent of their attacking power
netting six unanswered goals through the middle of the first period
Taking a narrow one-goal lead heading into the second quarter
Kyabram did its best to continue on with its momentum
scoring the first five goals and maintaining its lead through the rest of the term
stretch its lead to three by half-time of the Goulburn Valley League clash
with the two sides trading goals with the Bombers ultimately scoring one goal more than Benalla to increase their lead to four with a defining final frame looming
Knowing if it didn’t bring its best the Saints would sneak away with the win
Kyabram strung together by-far its most impressive quarter of netball in 2025
Goaling 13 times down the stretch while holding Benalla to nine goals to achieve victory demonstrated a mental resolve and the ability to rise to the occasion from the Bombers
The final score was Kyabram 40 to Benalla 32
Kyabram goal defence Jemma Hall was named best-on-court for her side in the victory
The Bombers will hope they can build on the momentum of the win when they travel to Deakin Reserve in round four to take on Sheapprton United
Kyabram’s favourite school holiday hotspot is heading into the break with a brand-new accreditation attached to it’s name
The Kyabram Fauna Park has become the fourth
Zoos Victoria location to achieve Quality Tourism Sustainable Accreditation
the accreditation comes at no better time for the team down on Lake Rd according to visitor experiences manager Ariyana Gant
who has been working towards achieving the accreditation for the past six months
“They don't give (the accreditation) to everyone
so it’s definitely a seal of approval for the team here,” Miss Gant said
The accreditation was presented by the Victoria Tourism Industry Council and represents an ongoing commitment to excellence in conservation
Zoos Victoria chief executive Dr Jenny Gray said the organisation is thrilled to have all four locations honoured with the accreditation
“We are so proud that all four of Zoos Victoria’s zoos are now carrying this accreditation
which is a reflection of our enduring commitment to conservation and sustainability in our operations and visitor experiences,” Dr Gray said
The park’s tourism reputation isn’t the only thing changing
Miss Gant said there has been nonstop development at the park for the past couple of years
‘(The accreditation) just means that the trajectory of growth that Kyabram Fauna Park is the real deal.”
Although the accreditation is about their commitment to visitor tourism
Miss Gant emphasised the importance of having local support behind the park
“We want to make sure that people know we still have the nuts and bolts of the original things you knew and loved about the fauna park… but know that everything that is changing
“We want people to come in and see what the changes are that we’re making
It’s not just a better-looking place – it’s going to be a better place for the welfare of the animals
if you haven’t been here in two decades it’s time to come back and have a look,” she said
The park will be starting the school holiday season with a bang
giant bubbles and experiences where children can become zookeepers for the day
To keep up to date with events at the Kyabram Fauna Park, head to its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/KyabramFaunaPark/ or visit its website www.zoo.org.au/kyabram
A car was stolen from a Kyabram home on Thursday
Kyabram police Sergeant Adrian Staudt said two men were seen stealing a white Mazda from a south Kyabram residence
Sgt Staudt said the car was parked in a garage when the men gained entry to the car and drove off at about 6.15am
He said the Mazda was then seen by witnesses “in convoy with a white Hyundai”
The car was recovered on the same day; however
Sgt Staudt advised residents to lock their vehicles at night to avoid “opportunistic thieves” making the most of the situation
Sgt Staudt said anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage around the time of the theft should call Kyabram Police Station on 5853 1777 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au
There’s more to Easter than just the chocolate eggs
Kyabram's churches are uniting for the annual Good Friday in the Park event in the memorial gardens
Kyabram P-12 chaplain Liz Spicer said the churches thought they would “bring something different” to the usual Good Friday service
Kyabram P-12 chaplain David Czech will create a live mural
“It’s a bit different to what we usually do..
but come out and see what the mural is,” Mrs Spicer said
What’s not different is the hot cross buns which will be on offer for attendees who make it to the park bright and early on the public holiday
Community Church senior pastor David Lloyd said the occasion was a “lovely opportunity“ for the churches to join forces for something they all have in common
“It’s probably the most important day on all of our calendars
It will be a lovely opportunity to get together and be together,” Mr Lloyd said
Mrs Spicer said to bring a chair to make sure you have a comfy seat throughout the service
The Good Friday in the Park is the first service of many across the weekend held by churches in Kyabram
See below for a full list of services in Kyabram across Easter weekend
Families looking for a fun and educational day out this school holiday season are flocking to Kyabram Fauna Park
and family-friendly activities are taking centre stage
known for its strong focus on conservation and native species
offers a unique opportunity to get up close with kangaroos
Keepers are running daily talks and feeding sessions
giving visitors a chance to learn more about Australia’s diverse fauna in an interactive setting
New meerkat Juno has recently joined the mob
adding to the playful atmosphere in the exhibit
While the arrival has drawn some extra attention
the park continues to shine a light on all its animals and the vital conservation work it supports
To help families make the most of their visit
children receive free entry on weekends and during the school holidays
An exciting new website showcasing Kyabram for tourists and visitors has officially launched
Kyabram’s business breakfast held bright and early on Friday
April 4 was a feast for the senses: for the sight
It was also the site where Kyabram’s brand-new website Visit Kyabram was launched to the public
hoping to angle Kyabram as a more tourism-focused town
one of the first to be held in the newly renovated Kyabram Club
saw 70 enthusiastic business leaders gather over a hearty breakfast to share inspiring business stories
The event also attracted the likes of Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell
State Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh
Campaspe Shire Mayor Daniel Mackrell and Crs John Zobec and Jessica Mitchell
The Kyabram Development Committee organised the event to encourage open conversation between business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs over a delicious breakfast
Tim Nelson of NuSHADE Awnings and Blinds expertly emceed the lively morning conference
keeping the program on track and the audience engaged
owner of Empire Signs Group spoke of his struggles servicing the retail sector in the height of COVID-19 and the remodelling and rebuilding of his business
He spoke of the support from his mentors and friends
mentioning Scott Collins of Cantech Engineering
and the overall importance of having people to bounce ideas off or receive reassurance from
the Visit Kyabram website was launched and attendees were asked to jump on to be the first to have a look
The website was first announced in June 2023 at the launch of the Destination Ky campaign
Jump online and visit www.visitkyabram.com.au to see the website in full
Thirteen-year-old tennis ace Kade Starling has been tearing up the court recently and has begun to cement himself as one to watch in the Kyabram community
Kade is barely a teenager but already has a whole bag of accomplishments on the tennis court as well as being a strong all-round sportsman as a midfielder for Kyabram Bombers and in netball for Girgarre
but he also made the representative interleague side last season as well as playing in the V Squad Junior Football Academy in Melbourne
The young gun has won six premierships in a row in his tennis career
with his crowning achievement coming in the season just gone
earning runner-up best-and-fairest honours in the Goulburn Murray section two division one senior Kyabram Bombers tennis team
Kade said he was looking forward to next season where he would chase a seventh consecutive premiership
“Getting the runner-up best-and-fairest was really good
“Winning the six premierships in a row is pretty cool
He started playing competition tennis at age five with his twin sister
His development was accelerated due to his father
The twins have won the junior section four
section three and section two premierships in consecutive seasons for Kyabram
Kade wasn’t old enough to play in section one despite having ample skill
so he was moved to Tongala where he was the side’s standout best player and won three junior section one premierships in that time
but a string of injuries to his sister and dad meant it was just Kade and Sheree left to play the season in senior section two
The side made it to the semi-finals in that competition
Kade highlighted the jump in competition playing in the seniors and how he liked to tactically counteract the strength of older players
“Playing senior section two was different hitting-wise
“The main difference was how the older people play; their core craft is better
and they are definitely stronger compared to juniors
“I like to defend a lot and get to many balls
and then try and turn that into offence when I can
“I’ve seen a big jump in skill over the last year or so
Despite losing in the semi-finals in the seniors
Kade was part of the Kyabram Lawn Tennis side that won the Shepparton Junior Tennis Association A-grade competition
He also found success in the 2025 Victorian State Tennis Teams Championships
winning the section two under-14 boys doubles tournament alongside Eoin Ryan
In the under-14 Victorian Junior Tour Year-End Finals ranking
Kade was ranked 69 with a point score of 182.5
Kyabram Lawn Tennis Club has finished off a busy 2024-25 season with its annual Easter Tournament
brought together players and families from the club over the Easter long weekend
With more than 150 players competing across three days in multiple events such as doubles
it is the highest attended Easter Tournament for the club in recent memory
The tournament has a special and steeped history
with the internal competition running annually for almost a century and is the major fundraiser for the club
It is the final event for the club each season and provides a nice platform for club members and families to come together after a busy summer
Kyabram Lawn Tennis Club vice-president and Easter Tournament organiser Mitch Cox reflected on the event and it’s importance to the club
“It’s been one of the most successful tournaments we’ve had and the most successful since I have been running it
“It is the last thing we tick off for the year
so it is a nice exclamation mark on our season.”
Reflecting on the season that was for the club
Cox was thrilled with the progression of teams and tasting premiership success for the first time in five years
we had twice the number of junior teams we had last year and managed to sweep the Kyabram District Tennis Association finals in those sections before Christmas,” he said
“It was the first year our section one junior side played in the Shepparton competition and they managed to take that out as well
“In our seniors we had our first premierships since about 2020 and we’ve had a few of those this year in the division four opens and division three
so it’s the first time we have had that on court success in a while.”
Cox has enjoyed the energy around the club this season
with increased social events and more player interaction
but it’s been great to see that pay off with the amount of success the club has had this season
there’s been a great vibe around the club with more social functions,” he said
“Everyone has seemed to really enjoy taking to the courts here
Men's Open (Sponsored by Hurley's Bar and Bistro)
Women's Open (Sponsored by Hurley's Bar and Bistro)
Runners-up: Cameron Dempster & Jayce Broadbent
Winners: Callan Harrington & Jack Oudshoorn
Runners-up: Seong Leong Jeong & Kyung Sub Kim
Runners-up: Abby Prycroft & Justine McConnell
Open (Sponsored by Hurley's Bar and Bistro)
Runners-up: Miller Connors & Rebel Connors
A discount store is set to open imminently in Kyabram and the store’s manager hopes the shop can change the way community members spend their money
the space left by K-Hub on Union and Allan Sts is soon to be filled
with The Reject Shop set to open its doors on Thursday
Kyabram regional manager Josh Dobbie said the team was looking forward to helping locals “lower their weekly shopping bill”
“By making us their first stop before heading to other grocery stores
customers can expect significant savings across household essentials and seasonal products
especially in the lead-up to Christmas,” he said
The store will open at 8.30am with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony
Three people have died in a plane crash at Tinamba West
emergency services responded to reports of a plane crash in a paddock off Hayfield-Upper Maffra Road at approximately 5.45pm
Police were informed that the plane was circling the area before it crashed and and burst into flames
16-year-old Tongala boy and 15-year-old Tinamba West boy died at the scene
Police will prepare a report for the coroner
Anyone who witnessed the incident, with footage, or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
The Reverend Jacob Kelly is resident minister of St Andrew’s Kyabram in rural Victoria.
Mr Kelly’s story is part of a series profiling workers in different areas
engaging in God’s work in the world.
Resident minister is essentially like being the vicar: I run the church
In our context all the normal trappings of ministry
One of the things that’s interesting or unique to our location
is the amount of 1-1 context in our community
People from the community will come and talk to me about marriage crises
or new children coming into the family.
Read more: A life built around the Eucharist: Ministry stories
most people are reasonably known to each other
How did you end up in the position you’re in?
and towards the end of my initial stage of training
What led you to feel called to train for ministry?
and I felt the desire to do everything I could to play my part in God’s kingdom
the more it just seemed that ministry was the way to do that
I was the most hesitant person going into ministry
because I really didn’t think it was the right thing.
How do you see it fitting in the big picture of God’s work in the world?
I was just thinking about that actually because I was reading first Corinthians chapter three
and Paul talks about people building the foundation of God’s house
and the debates about different apostles and so on
Read more: A small community, a church plant, and good surf: Sharing the gospel in Dodges Ferry
That’s how I see what I’m doing in Kyabram: encouraging the people here to follow Jesus
to play their role as God’s people in God’s kingdom
So we’re a medium-sized rural church
We really do have kids all the way to nursing homes
Probably the biggest need in Kyabram in terms of the church
is “What’s the best way to live my life?” The pressing question is “How do we live life in a way that’s good
and a way that’s faithful to God?”
That question comes about because of a really close connection to the land
Kyabram’s in the middle of the dairy industry in Victoria
and in the middle of one of the biggest fruit growing regions in Victoria
How do we wisely have good relationships with each other?”
How do you see God at work through your work?
Probably the greatest thing I see God at work in is in a ministry of healing and reconciliation
I really see it as enemies choose to forgive
or people who’ve been hurt or traumatised come to find life again.
One thing that is quite prevalent in our town and community is domestic violence
Farmers and the farming industry have the highest rates of deaths in workplace accidents
so most people know someone who has died on a farm
is something that often happens and I’m often invited to be a part of
It’s wonderful to see God give people hope for the community after they’ve had trauma in their family
Read more: The blacksmithing youth minister forging strong foundations
That really comes from God’s big story of Jesus overcoming trauma and tragedy and bringing hope
And that big story plays out in little stories across our church and across our community.
One story that comes to mind is a family that we were able to share Jesus with
they’d both experienced tons of violence and abuse in their life
Somehow or other they got connected with our church
and we were able to share the message of Jesus
and it was something they’d never heard before
they were awestruck by what Jesus would do for them
All their life they’d known people who would take from them
not people who would do something for them
We’ve seen a large amount of growth at the church across the last three years
we’ve had about 10 people join our church
Given we’re a small church this is a lot
Read more: We are ‘with’ as God is with us: Serving at St Vincent’s
it seems that God kind of taps them on the shoulder
Whether that’s through going to a funeral
and being confronted with the death of a loved one makes them look beyond themselves
“Why don’t you come to church?” They come once
and find that’s something missing in their life.
What fruit do you hope to see in your context
What is your dream for this ministry?
The biggest thing that we hope to see is people living humbly before God
The first thing is we want to see God glorified
We want to see people live together as his people
And we really want to see people in our church community see themselves as agents of God
Whether that’s sharing the message of God
whether that’s sharing the healing of God
or any way of bringing about God’s purposes in the world
and brigingin about His purposes for his mission.
One way I saw that recently was with one of the people at our church
and they saw this person strung out beside the road almost like they were dead
And this person was stopped at the place where their brother had passed away
and they’d drunk a bottle of booze there
So this person from church took the time out of the day to stop
And they offered what they called the compassion of Christ
The person beside the road said they had counted dozens of cars go past
That was an encouraging story for me: that someone saw themselves as Christ’s ambassador in the world
Our church’s mission statement is “informed by the world
is we have that personal and community transformation by the trinity.
and I’m encouraged by the many people who’ve heard God’s call and chosen to go to all sorts of rural
I’m encouraged by the people who trained and formed me
I think about the pastor when I was a teenager who met with me probably every month or two
and really prayed with me and discipled me
And I’m encouraged by the people who told me about Jesus.
and something that encouraged me was the local church that I was a part of
in I guess what’s called an incarnational approach
and so they came with that sense of healing
When I remember what Christ has done for me
but is still carried out by the work of people in churches
because of the ministry I’ve received from Christ through them.
What’s one thing you’d like Christians in Melbourne to know about your work?
The thing I often say is “People in the country need Jesus too”
The second thing I often say to people considering ministry in the country
There’s actually a lot of joy living in a country area
More than 40 people attended the kintsugi workshop where they repaired cracked plates while reflecting on how Christ’s sacrifice mends human brokenness
Refugee advocates renew calls for a Royal Commission and an end to offshore detention amid ongoing health concerns
Anglicans will take a stand against domestic violence in homes
Iranian refugees Hass and Mahi were granted permanent residency after over a decade of visa uncertainty
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CFA crews responded to a structure fire at the Kyabram Wrecking Yard on Wednesday
three CFA crews responded to reports of a fire on Everard Rd in Kyabram
A CFA spokesperson said crews found “as large amount of cars on fire”
they confirmed as many as 30 cars were on fire
and the fire spanned around 1000 square metres
“The fire was caused from car crushing activities at the car wreckers,” the spokesperson said
19 emergency vehicles responded to the fire
which was categorised as ‘small’ on the VicEmergency App
Kyabram police blocked off Everard Rd where the scrap yard is located and Ambulance Victoria was also on the scene
A ‘Stay Informed’ message was issued to residents in Kyabram by VicEmergency
The message informed residents to keep roads clear for emergency service vehicles
and to turn off heating and cooling systems
A CFA spokesperson said the “relevant power company” for the area was called to the scene of the fire
The Powercor website showed that residences in Tongala
Timmering and Yambuna were left without power
The pads have been packed away until next summer
but that doesn’t necessarily mean cricket stops
Georgia Leonard has found a clever way to improvise and refine her game as the climate cools and ovals are flooded with footballers
The keen teen went down an alternate route
travelling to Melbourne to trial for the Victorian under-16 girls indoor cricket side in March
Leonard will head to the 2025 Indoor Cricket National Championships at Joondalup’s Bouncer Stadium
continuing her cricketing crusade throughout winter when most sport-mad girls her age are on the netball court or soccer field
Kyabram Cricket Club vice-president Andrew Porch
who has coached Leonard for the past few seasons
spoke about the up-and-comer’s rise to state recognition
she works really hard on her game and she’s very dedicated to her sport and that’s probably why she is doing as well is she is
so that probably helps her a lot and she really is keen to learn
Leonard played a stack of cricket during the 2024-25 season
senior and representative duties over the summer
playing for the club’s senior women’s side and under-14 mixed team
in addition to a couple of cameos for the E-grade open contingent
making the grade for Northern Rivers’ under-15s and Cricket Shepparton under-14s
The all-rounder had a breakout season with bat and ball
notching 157 runs with a high score of 31 while taking 17 scalps
She doubled her wickets and runs from the prior season
showing her stock is rising no matter the environment she plunges herself into
“To come into a club or a sport that is really male dominated and play in the boys teams and the men’s teams
she’s done really well in that regard too,” Porch said
“She just takes to it like a duck to water
“Full credit to her — she was actually co-captain of our under-14 boys team
(Her) leadership skills and the respect she gets from her teammates really shines through.”
Porch said Leonard was also ferrying to and fro to Melbourne to work with Essendon Cricket Club
lining up a spot in the Bombers’ under-age girls squad
one thing’s for certain: the cricket doesn’t stop when Leonard’s around
“The cricket club is proud of her and is right behind her
but she also should be proud of herself,” Porch said
Dust off your boots and don your finest cowboy hats Kyabram
the Kyabram Rodeo returns to kick-off a three-event tri-series that also includes Merrijig and Chilton on the same weekend
This historic event has been throwing bull riders around the Kyabram Showgrounds every year since 1946
spectators will be immersed in the thrilling world of rodeo
featuring heart-pounding events like bull riding
Food and coffee will be available at the event
however attendees are permitted to bring their own food as well
with convenient ticket options available both online and at the gate
Purchase tickets online at: https://tinyurl.com/Kyabram-Rodeo
A community group in Kyabram has reignited the push for a new pool after unearthing decades-old council plans that were never implemented
The Kyabram Deakin Residents and Ratepayers Development Group has breathed new life into a 30-year-old vision for a heated pool adjacent to the indoor stadium at the Kyabram Showgrounds
The Kyabram Council originally planned a two-stage development project on council-owned land at the showgrounds
When the council disbanded and the municipality of Campaspe Shire was created in 1994
the stadium portion of the plans was followed through on
while the proposed pool plans were lost to time
Original plans obtained by the group show the basketball courts on the eastern end of the plot of land
spa and sauna were designed to be situated on the western side of the land
KDRRDG resident Glenn Maddock said the existing pool
which opened in 1953 and is situated next to Jaycee Park on Fenaughty St
Council announced in August that Jaycee Park would undergo redevelopment aimed at rejuvenating the area
and that it was considering upgrades for the pool
KDRRDG secretary Sandra Brown said there was no better time to support the pool project while community consultation was sought for the Jaycee Park site
we’re right on the cusp of a significant population increase
and we should be improving our infrastructure for our future growth,” she said
“My thinking was that if we relocated the pool from Jaycee Park and built a new pool up at the stadium
this would give us more room at Jaycee Park to develop a nice big recreational area of park and playground.”
Local architectural draftsperson Carl Webster
recently reviewed and updated the 1994 designs for a sleeker and more modern look to get people excited about the potential of this site
He used the Wangaratta Aquatic Centre as an example that he looked to before mocking the designs
and kept everything within the original parameters of the site
“I wanted to show that we can fit all these facilities into the same area,” he said
“It’s a starting point to get the community talking about what is possible and what they can visualise for the town’s future,” Mr Webster said
The group envisions year-round aquatic access
enhancing Kyabram’s lifestyle and supporting local clubs such as the Kyabram Swimming Club
eliminating the need for its members to travel to Echuca for training when outdoor facilities are closed in the colder months
Seven of the eight council-owned pools are open only from November to March
Mrs Brown said the group has been in contact with council
urging council to review the option as part of its future Aquatic Strategy
and ideally a decision to be made before development of the Jaycee Park master plans
Mr Maddock and Mrs Brown urged residents to take an active role in thinking about Kyabram’s future aquatic services
“We really need community activism to get this up and running; otherwise nothing will get done,” Mrs Brown said
Acting director for communities Janelle Wheatley said in 2025
council would be beginning work on a new aquatics strategy to deliver improved aquatic facilities and wet play areas across the shire for the next 15 to 20 years
She said she had “recently responded” to the KDRRDG in relation to the proposed matter
“(Council) is committed to working with the Kyabram community to explore viable options and ensure that any new developments respond to the needs and expectations of our residents,” she said
A car accident at Kyvalley left a driver and three passengers injured on Sunday
Kyabram police Leading Senior Constable Damien Duggan said a white Toyota HiAce was travelling along Graham Rd at 9.30am when it ran off the road
He said the car crashed between Scobie and Meldrum Rds
An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said a man in his 20s suffered upper body injuries and was taken to Echuca Regional Health in a stable condition
were transported to ERH for observation after being assessed
The car sustained moderate damage and was towed from the scene
Leading Sen Constable Duggan said police were investigating the incident
Kyabram police are probing an act of vandalism that has marred the area near the Kyabram water tank murals
has been dislodged from the ground and the chairs have been damaged
Kyabram police Leading Senior Constable Damien Duggan said police believed the vandalism could cost thousands of dollars to repair
He said police believed the damage occurred between Wednesday
Leading Sen Constable Duggan asked for anyone who saw anything suspicious around Drum St between those times to call Kyabram police on 5853 1777 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000
The man who allegedly broke into the Kyabram Swimming Club last week is facing charges of burglary and theft
Kyabram police Senior Sergeant Justin McAuley said a 24-year old Kyabram man had been charged with burglary and stealing from the Kyabram Swimming Club rooms on Fenaughty St
a Kyabram Swimming Club volunteer found that the clubrooms had been “broken into and made a complete mess of”
A Victoria Police spokesperson alleged the man broke into the club at around 6am on March 6 and stole clothing and food before fleeing on foot
The man was arrested on March 7 and charged with burglary and theft
Sen Sgt McAuley said the man was interviewed in relation to burglaries of commercial businesses in Kyabram
The man was bailed and will appear at Echuca Magistrates’ Court on May 6
THE KYABRAM RV COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL WILL BE BIGGER AND EVEN BETTER IN 2024
Kyabram RV Country Music Festival president Allan Weeks counted 180 vehicles camping at the festival in 2023
we are hoping for upwards of 250,” he said
“It will be bigger and brighter than last year.”
The gates of the Kyabram showgrounds will open on Monday
Onsite caravan and motorhome facilities will be available
Rod and Rhonda Owen’s hugely successful open mic will run Wednesday through Friday from 2pm to 6pm for all aspiring artists and musicians
you don’t have to pack up and move to see the district
the ever-popular bus tours will visit places of interest in the district
Allan was a little bit secretive about the routes the bus trips will take in 2024
“The ever-popular bus tour will be on again and visit places of interest in the district
mystery trips no-one knows where we are going
they will be different to other years,” he said
To encourage visitors to attend the Kyabram Spring Market on Friday
every half an hour from the showgrounds to Kyabram’s main street
The main event at the Kyabram RV Country Music Festival kicks off on Saturday
Artists playing the best of country music include Lance Birrell
the backing bands are On the Run and Red Bak
the Poet’s breakfast will be held from 8am
followed by a country music marathon featuring all the weekend’s artists
The festival will finish with the grand finale
with all artists on stage at 6pm to close the weekend
search Kyabram RV Country Music Festival on Facebook
or you can turn up on Saturday and Sunday and purchase tickets at the gate
Bookings are required if you want a camping
Kyabram RV Country Music Festival will be held at the Kyabram Showgrounds
A woman has been left shaken following a two-vehicle crash in Kyabram on Tuesday
Emergency services were called to the intersection of Edis and Albion Sts at about 8.53am on Tuesday
Kyabram police Sergeant Phil Semple said a Toyota Prado and a Toyota Kluga collided
Sgt Semple said a 37-year-old Kialla woman was driving the Prado west on Edis St when she failed to give way at the Albion St intersection
He said a 48-year-old Yielima woman driving the Kluga south on Albion St collided with the Prado
Five emergency services responded to the accident with police directing traffic until around 10am when the scene was cleared
Both vehicles suffered moderate damage and were towed from the scene
The 48-year-old woman was checked by paramedics on the scene for whiplash and pressure to the chest
Onlookers said the woman was “quite shaken” by the accident
Senior Sergeant Justin McAuley said the Kialla woman would receive a ticket for failing to give way
Campaspe Shire Council has thrown their support behind a local charity after a recent event
not only provided a memorable meal for attendees
but also generated a generous donation for The Kyabram Gift
For those unfamiliar with the purple gift box icon seen throughout the shire
The Kyabram Gift is a charity organisation that provides financial assistance to cancer patients and their families during treatment
It also provides emotional support for those affected by the disease and practical assistance with daily tasks
The substantial donation was raised through fundraising efforts on the night
said the amount raised was a “testament to the generosity” of women across the shire
“Not only in the amount raised and donated on the night
but also in all the background work women do every day to organise and fundraise as they concurrently provide care and support across our community,” she said
Council decided to round up the sum to $1500
which was presented to The Kyabram Gift representatives Ali Walsh
The cheque was presented by Campaspe Shire Mayor Cr Daniel Mackrell and Cr Cook
“Any support we can offer The Kyabram Gift brings comfort in the knowledge that our contribution is helping those in our community who are struggling through a difficult situation that could indeed become reality for any of us at some point in our lives,” Cr Mackrell said
For more information about The Kyabram Gift, visit its website at https://www.thekyabramgift.com/
sportsman and hobby breeder Gus Underwood experienced the highs and lows of harness racing in the space of 24 hours last weekend
A colt foal by Propulsion out of Underwood’s former outstanding racemare and triple Vicbred champion Claudy’s Princess died as the result of a snakebite at a Brisbane property last Friday morning
Later on the same day another of Claudy’s Princess’s offspring in the three-year-old Claudy’s Hero sat parked throughout before scoring a last stride win in a career-best 1:57.7 rate for 1720 metres at Melton
The What The Hill colt has now won at his past two outings
“That win means that horses I have been involved with have won at their past five starts,” Underwood stated
an Angus Hall half-brother to Claudy’s Princess and who was bred and sold by Underwood
won twice at Melton in December in 1:56.5 and 1:58.7
He has notched eight lifetime successes to date
who is from a half-sister to the dam of Claudy’s Princess
posted her third win at Ballarat on December 19
who is the second foal of Claudy’s Princess
a winner of 22 races including 10 at Group level and $401,803 in stakes
The colt is owned by the Catchya Racing Group comprising Underwood
Eva’s daughter Kasey Harris and her husband Steve
Kyabram car dealer Ian Isaac and Harness Racing Victoria form guru Darren Carroll
Claudy’s Hero is trained at Cranbourne by former Kiwi horseman Kyle Marshall
“I really liked him as a two-year-old and he’s getting better as he matures,” Marshall said
“He’s gone for a spell and we’ll set him for the Vicbred series later in the season.”
The siblings Our Kinky Boots and Our True Colours
a three-year-old colt bred by Romsey veterinarian Dr Alison Miles
posted his first win at his second start at Melton
a Sportswriter daughter of the 2017 Broodmare of the Year Amarillen
A man has been charged with stealing from Kyabram buildings
Kyabram police Leading Senior Constable Russell Locke said the 24-year old Kyabram man was arrested and charged with stealing from the Kyabram library - located next to the Kyabram Community Learning Centre - the Kyabram Club and Kyabram P-12 College
The man was arrested by police around 9am at the Kyabram library on Saturday
February 1 after a security guard apprehended him
miscellaneous items from Kyabram P-12 College and food and grocery items from Kyabram Club
Leading Sen Constable Locke allege the man was also found to have “a small amount of amphetamines in his possession”
He was charged with burglary and possessing a drug of dependence
The man was bailed to face Echuca Magistrates’ Court in April
Throughout The Reject Shop’s inaugural trading day
eager customers flocked to explore the vast array of Christmas items and budget-friendly products showcased in-store
Just before the doors to the Allan St store slid open on Thursday
the opening was celebrated with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Campaspe Shire’s Mayor Daniel Mackrell and Deputy Mayor Jessica Mitchell
It is the first time since K-Hub left Kyabram in Februrary this year that the large retail space situated on the corner of Allan and Union Sts has been open to the public
social media discussions revealed disappointment that the vacant space wasn’t occupied by a discount clothing retailer — a gap in Kyabram’s local economy
residents travel to Echuca or Shepparton for lower-priced clothing options
many commenters agreed any new store in town would be a welcome addition
“Whether we agree or disagree on The Reject Shop (being) here
it’s amazing to have the building filled with new job opportunities for the locals
let’s all get behind every local store and keep our kids in jobs,” Maureen Walsh said
The new store has created employment opportunities for 15 local residents
who are now ready to provide the Kyabram community with a wide range of affordable products
The Reject Shop chief executive Amy Eshuys said she understood the town’s desire for more clothing options in town; however
expressed her hopes that the discount store would be able to fill gaps in trolleys in other ways
“We will always focus on having essential items
“In the summertime we try to bring in hats and thongs
slippers and accessories — so we’ll always try to look at how the store performs
look at the products and see if what we sell makes sense for that town.”
She said the company was excited to have opened before Christmas so it could help customers lower their grocery bills ahead of an especially expensive time of the year
“It was important for us to open before Christmas because The Reject Shop are famous for their Christmas products ..
we really do have something for everyone,” she said
Three quarters of hard-running football was all Kyabram needed to land another percentage building Goulburn Valley League win on Good Friday
On their home turf the Bombers dominated in the first half against Benalla to build a 74-point half-time lead
But they were outplayed in the third term before another dominant last quarter delivered a 105 points win — 24.18 to 8.7
Like the two previous big wins to start the season it was against opposition unlikely to play finals
so the significance of the win was difficult to gauge
Some much bigger challenges await the Bombers when a more accurate guide to their capabilities will go on the line
Last Friday the Bombers’ on-ball and midfield brigade set up an early dominance
Kyabram’s on-ballers and midfielders Mick Mattingly
Jack Russell and Eamonn Odgen in particular reaped the ruck dominance of Zac Norris and Aidan Robinson
The relentless running machine who is Mattingly kept his foot down all day to burn off a couple of taggers in a best afield performance for the second week running
Ironside and Ogden were four-quarter contributors in a side that had 11 individual goal-kickers
Depasquale booted four goals along with Charlie Barnett
while Ironside snared three in a team in which its main forward focus Tom Holman was held to two last-quarter goals
Kyabram’s defence was under pressure regularly throughout the game with Jason Morgan
Jake Parkinson and Angus Scoble the busiest backmen for the Bombers
Scoble was best of the abundance of the young talent in the side at the moment which welcomed another debutant from the thirds
in his senior second game also had some good moments again in defence and hit targets when he got the ball
The Bombers were again without gun defender Brad Whitford
Dillon has only one match of a four-week suspension from last year’s elimination finals to serve so will miss again this Saturday when the Bombers tackle another side without a win — Shepparton United — at Deakin Reserve
Whitford will probably return this week along with young star Archie Watt
who missed last Friday with an ankle injury
but McCarthy’s groin injury is still lingering and there is no date on his return
· Kyabram reserves had another big win on the back of another goal-kicking clinic from Will Wild
Wild bagged seven goals and along with Miller Griffiths with three majors played key roles in the Bombers’ 127-point win — 21.13 to 2.0
Griffiths was the key prime mover for the Bombers along with the consistent Ben Railton
The win keeps Kyabram’s unbeaten start to the season intact and the team on top of the ladder with a massive percentage
· Kyabram thirds also remain undefeated after three rounds
The young Bombers were in control for most of the game with their defence led by Max Carroll
Nathan Kupier and Cooper Learmonth restricting Benalla to two goals for the game
Carroll was the standout player on the field
Will McLean in the ruck and other on-ballers and midfielders in Lachlan Carver
Isaiah Scoble and Riley Carver also got a lot of the ball to set up scoring chances
The only downside for Kyabram was a knock to goal-kicking forward Hamish Stewart which may keep him sidelined for two weeks under concussion protocol
Kyabram began its 2025 Goulburn Valley League netball campaign on the back foot as it was outclassed by defending champion Euroa in round one
In what was always set for a tough contest
particularly as the Bombers finished last season with just one win and an 11th place finish
Kyabram was in the mix in the first quarter
Tallying eight goals in the first quarter to the Magpies’ 17
there was still hope for the Bombers to come out swinging in the second period
the 2024 premiers showed why they are a hot-favourite to go back-to-back this season
notching 19 goals in a dominant stretch before half-time
with the lead sitting at 20 at the major break
The Magpies continued their reign of terror in the third term
producing another 19 goal effort to continue creating distance between them and the Bombers
Kyabram had a slight dip in productivity in front of goal
adding just seven to its total tally to make the deficit 32 with a quarter to go
The final frame was the most productive attacking stretch of play for the Bombers
who goaled 10 to leave the match with 33 goals in hand
also manufacturing its greatest quarter in the final stretch
sinking 20 goals to bringing its total to a mammoth 75-goal effort
The 42-point victory will strike fear into the rest of the competition
as fellow teams will scratch their heads to find an answer to the Magpie machine
Abby Waasdorp was named best on court for the Bombers for her efforts up and down the court in Wing Attack
The loss means Kyabram finds itself in 11th once more
but a date with Tatura in round two could prove a more accurate yardstick for the Bombers’ potential in 2025
An engineering student hailing from the Goulburn Valley proved she is as capable of wielding a paintbrush as she is with a calculator
a graduate of St Augustine’s College last year
but two of her paintings hanging in the National Gallery of Victoria
Miss Graetz’ work is being featured in the NGV’s Top Arts exhibition
a celebration of the best of the best student work from 2024
The exhibition highlights the use of innovative use of materials and techniques employed by students completing VCE studies of Art Making and Exhibiting
Miss Graetz secured her place among just 40 artists selected from hundreds of students
“It didn’t feel real,” is what Miss Graetz said
describing seeing her paintings on the walls of the NGV
Her two pieces are a mix of acrylic and oil painting
both featuring the same scene but from different perspectives
and said she was inspired by pieces on social media which influenced her to be able to share and convey emotions in a vulnerable and emotional way
Prying Eyes is a painting which features a voyeuristic view into her painting process as she paints the portrait of herself
and was done as a trial case at the start of the year..
then the second piece was the last piece that I had done for the year..
I wanted to rework that and connect it back into the first piece,” Miss Graetz said
Seeing the exhibition on the opening night
Miss Graetz said she realised how “connected” all artists really were on that night
“It made me feel connected to everybody else
having the same feelings and going through the same things with artwork as everybody else,” she said
She didn’t have to travel far for the exhibition
as she has begun studying for a Bachelor of Engineering at RMIT
Although her current focus is on engineering studies
Graetz remains committed to nurturing her artistic talents
“I probably won’t have as much time (to do art)
head down to NGV and view the Top Arts exhibition
A solar farm proposed near Kyabram is slated to begin construction later this year
European Energy Australia will host open community drop-in sessions for residents who have questions regarding the Lancaster Solar Farm
It will be inviting residents to meet the team behind the project
“gather invaluable feedback on managing construction” and “getting local people and businesses involved”
There will be two sessions held over two days
One will be held at the Kyabram Bowls Club on Church St on Monday
The other will be held at Burnt Butter on Allan St on Tuesday
The Lancaster Solar Farm is a 106MW project located 9km east of Kyabram between Weller Rd and Ryan Rd
The solar farm is expected to cover 192.2 hectares of Lancaster soil
The Lancaster Solar Farm is slated to start construction in 2025
The project was initially proposed in 2018 when developer OX2’s pans were approved
Following two construction permit extensions
Mick Crompton makes no apologies for the early wake-up calls he’s about to give the residents of Kyabram
as the dedicated Kyabram CFA volunteers will be making their way down Allan St
collecting donations for the Royal Children’s Hospital’s annual Good Friday Appeal
This cause resonates deeply with Mr Crompton
who has led the annual fundraiser since 2008
drawing from his own experiences as a frequent visitor to the Royal Children’s Hospital
was diagnosed with hydrocephalus ‒ which is fluid on the brain ‒ at three months old
Doctors inserted a shunt in his head to drain the fluid
Mr Crompton said he is “forever indebted” to the hospital
what they’ve done for us and for saving Kayne’s life..
we’ll be forever grateful for that and what they continue to do for all sick kids in our community,” Mr Crompton said
he has set his sights on hitting the $25,000 mark for on-the-day donations
“I always try and beat the previous year’s result..
If we get $25,000 - I’ll be ecstatic,” he said
and I think this year will be no different.”
The Good Friday Appeal kicks off at 9am with a rousing siren call
fire trucks will travel down the northern end of Allan St with sirens blaring
encouraging residents to donate their spare change
The CFA will then do a second run at 1pm from the southern end of Allan St appealing for more
At the Kyabram Bombers football home game the same afternoon
the CFA will hop onto the pitch at half-time to do a blanket run around the oval
asking for attendees to throw cash into a blanket to rally even more funds
The Merrigum CFA will also be fundraising for the cause on Kyabram’s behalf
rallying to raise as much money for the Children’s Hospital as possible
volunteers will be equipped with EFTPOS machines
making it easy for everyone to contribute using their cards
Mr Crompton encourages residents awakened by the sirens on Good Friday to embrace the momentary disturbance as a reminder of the important cause and the community’s collective effort to support it
If you want to donate to the cause before Good Friday, visit online at fundraise.goodfridayappeal.com.au/fundraisers/Kyabram or call 03 9292 1166