Council is inviting the residents in Lenne Street and surrounding roads (shown within the blue boundary on the photo on the right) to attend an information drop-in session for an update on the project and to ask any questions The drop-in session will be held on Monday 13 January from 5.00pm to 6.30pm at the Mooroopna Education and Activity Centre (MEAC) Residents are welcome to drop-in during this timeframe Residents who are unable to attend are encouraged to contact Council by emailing projects@shepparton.vic.gov.au or phoning (03) 5832 9700. 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 Shepparton Foodshare board chair Jeremy Rensford spoke with heart humour and happiness at the opening of the food aid organisation’s brand-new purpose-built facility in Mooroopna last week Mr Rensford welcomed the crowd of more than 100 to the event that celebrated the community’s collective efforts to address hunger in the region 13 years ago through to its move into its new home on Friday who would have ever thought it was the early 2010s when a whole lot of us in this community saw that we had way too many people who were hungry and what we understood was that a whole lot of different agencies were trying to feed people “And then some really smart people asked what could we achieve together that we couldn’t achieve alone what you see here is a result of that question and that dream.” The new warehouse is the first home fully owned by Shepparton Foodshare since it was established in 2012 It provides a secure base for the organisation to supply food relief and rescue services 390,000kg of food is distributed to more than 100 registered emergency relief agencies The new site has increased its service capacity providing more space where food can be stored and where staff and volunteers can work safely and effectively with modern facilities allowing for future growth and community partnerships Around 50 full-time jobs were created during the construction of the new facility with almost 30 local contractors and businesses engaged to provide products The new warehouse was funded by $2,918,970 from the Victorian Government and $600,000 from the Federal Government ​Contributions from the Margaret Attwood Trust and the Freemasons Foundation of Victoria went towards fitting out the facility while the land was donated by local philanthropists the Andreadis family After a Welcome to Country by local Indigenous man Paul Cooper Victorian Regional Development Minister Jaclyn Symes took to the microphone “What an honor to follow the passion of you I can’t think of a better way to spend a Friday than in the Goulburn Valley,” Ms Symes said there are so many people in Shepparton who wear multiple hats so I know that there’s councillors who are also board members part of the broader support for amazing organisations in Shepparton.” including Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell Suzanna Sheed and City of Greater Sheppparton Mayor Shane Sali while also making special mention of Foodshare’s acting chief executive and the organisation’s dedicated volunteers Shepparton Foodshare partners with supermarkets growers and other food rescue agencies to provide free it has distributed almost five million kilograms of food the director of Mooroopna Education and Activity Centre one of the more than 100 agencies registered with Shepparton Foodshare “I've worked in the community sector for many years,” Ms Phillips said “The growth of this one-stop food support service has been essential and phenomenal I see a real and lasting impact by Foodshare on children and our community I think of the young mother living in a tent in a friend’s backyard with her three children “With the help of food and meals from Foodshare she's able to stretch her limited grocery money it's reassurance that a community stands by her “She told me that knowing food relief was available gives her comfort There are now an additional 50 volunteer opportunities available across warehouse roles and on the board as well as a new commercial kitchen to maximise food usage and minimise waste Cooling and freezer rooms have doubled in size compared with the previous site allowing access by forklifts to reduce manual handling processes and perhaps the most welcome addition for the volunteers “This new warehouse is a game-changer for our organisation,” Mr Rensford said “It gives us the capacity to store and distribute more food to more people and respond faster in times of need so we can better support those who need it most.” Mr Rensford and Ms Symes officially declared the new site open with the unveiling of a plaque before staff and volunteers facilitated warehouse tours and finished the occasion by doing what they do best Shepparton Foodshare’s new facility is at 7 Doonan St For more information or to get involved, visit sheppartonfoodshare.org.au REBOUNDING PLAY: Jake Penman drives the football forward RETURNING to their regular clash over the ANZAC Day weekend the Euroa side took to the field at Memorial Oval against traditional rival Seymour Euroa captain Jett Trotter and A-grade captain Kellie Davidson both won their respective toss-of-the-coin to begin their matches it was a while before Euroa were able to claim much e.. TRAFFIC was thrown into chaos this morning after a truck collided with a vehicle at the Mooroopna entrance of the Peter Ross-Edwards Causeway around 8:15am on Wednesday Commuters in Mooroopna faced delays of approximately 20 to 40 minutes with the causeway reduced to a single lane near Geraghty’s Bridge Traffic from Shepparton was banked up near KidsTown while those travelling towards Shepparton experienced even longer delays with congestion stretching past the Black Bull Caravan Park on the Midland Highway.  Shepparton Police said the cause of the crash remains under investigation but confirmed that the vehicle was dragged for approximately 100 meters A male in his 40s was transported by road to Goulburn Valley Health in a stable condition with upper body injuries.  Emergency services had cleared the scene by around 8.40am Anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam footage is urged to contact Shepparton Police on (03) 5820 5777.  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 Photos: Sharon French / Save the Children Australia Stay up to date on how Save the Children is creating a world where every child has a safe and happy childhood *Save the Children Australia’s total expenditure for year ended 31 December 2023 expressed as a percentage. See 2023 Annual Report for full details. © Copyright Save the Children Australia Update your browser to view this website correctly Shepparton police attended an incident in Mooroopna in the early hours of Sunday where a person was allegedly injured by a vehicle Police and paramedics responded to a call reporting a brawl and vehicle collision on Echuca Rd at about 12.35am on January 12 Police believe a 23-year-old female driver struck a female pedestrian with her Mitsubishi four-wheel drive A 33-year-old Mooroopna woman was taken by ambulance to Goulburn Valley Health in stable condition with lower body injuries The driver was arrested at the scene and released pending further inquiries The circumstances surrounding the collision are yet to be determined and investigations are ongoing ∎ Anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV or dashcam footage, or any other information that can assist police, is urged to contact Shepparton police on 5820 5777 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a report online at crimestoppersvic.com.au THE Greater Shepparton/Mooroopna New Year’s Eve festival is on again The Rotary Club of Mooroopna has been hosting the event for over 40 years and this year will be as big as ever To ensure this wonderful yearly event is successful Rotary Club of Mooroopna is calling on volunteers to help with setup Sunday on the night of the event and clean up on Wednesday 9am to 12pm If you can only Volunteer for one or two days To volunteer email mooroopnanewyearseve@gmail.com or call Ken on 0408 253 501 The free family-friendly event held at the Mooroopna Recreation Reserve from 6pm Tuesday With non-stop entertainment on stage starting with local artists including Steph & Lucy Ludlow At 10.30pm the Major Car Raffle for a Kia Sonic Sports car and three $1,000 runners-up will be drawn before the spectacular Fireworks display by Sky Candy If you wish to purchase tickets beforehand go to www.rotarymooroopna.com.au and follow the links Following one of the worst flood events ever to hit Greater Shepparton in October 2022 The restoration project has been successfully completed after more than two years of dedication from the hall’s management committee and numerous contributions from various organisations A staggering $600,000 in flood recovery funding from state and federal governments and Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project has made this project possible the Mooroopna Kiwanis Club generously donated $1000 toward purchasing a new refrigerator for the halls Committee of management treasurer Christine Parnell said the group was “absolutely stunned” to receive this funding we were able to achieve so much to make this a much better space for the public to use,” she said That ‘achievement’ is in the buckled floorboards the most severe damage was the partial collapse of the suspended ceiling in the Mooroopna Hall due to an ageing ventilation system failing to keep out the heavy rains that pounded down Ms Parnell said this was “a blessing in disguise” “When we looked at the possibility of replacing the suspended ceiling and renewing the tiles we discovered seven sheets of plaster lying on the suspended ceiling,” she said “The whole lot could have come down at any time.” but they also uncovered hidden treasures during its restoration “After we pulled the suspended ceiling … we found this cornice work from 1932,” Ms Parnell said which was completely overhauled after the floods What was once particleboard wood and a maisonette is now fitted with stainless-steel walls and flooring – one of the conscious decisions to integrate flood mitigation into the restoration plans “We don’t want to go through all this again … we can move the refrigerator out and do as much sandbagging as we can,” Ms Parnell said a newly constructed laneway stands as a reminder of the water’s wrath complete with a plaque indicating the previous flood level While it’s unsettling to think about the time of torrential rains it serves as a reminder of community spirit Ms Parnell is especially grateful to the local tradespeople who have dedicated their time energy and thought to the restoration work “I never dreamed that we’d ever be able to achieve what we have achieved and it's a testament to our tradespeople,” she said really pleased with them – they put such pride in their work.” and create memories in these cherished spaces and a lot of people are still trying to recover,” Ms Parnell said “We’re so excited to let people know that something good has happened.” O’Brien halls are located at the corner of McLennan and Archer streets in Mooroopna Past calendar events are archived for future reference. Show me anyway Presented by The Kiwanis Club of Mooroopna with support from After producing a mixed bag to open its Goulburn Valley League campaign Euroa is officially on the board for 2025 the Magpies have begun the year with four consecutive losses — three in tightly contested battles and one blowout to Seymour The previous weekend’s 48-point loss to the similarly placed Lions had been the low point in the season for the Magpies who despite losing some key players and figures at the club during the off-season Euroa travelled to take on Mooroopna — the Cats also lost a number of star players during the off-season — for a round five clash at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve The Magpies produced a consistent four-quarter effort to peck apart the Cats’ defence and secure the four points Euroa held Mooroopna at arm’s length for most of the game and in the end cruised to a 27-point victory After locking away the Magpies’ first win for the season Euroa coach Dave Gleeson said his players’ mix of increased forward entries and pressure helped them get over the line against the Cats it is just good for the boys and the club to get a win after starting the season off not so well,” Gleeson said the pressure was up early and we maintained it for most of the game so that was the most pleasing aspect of it “We understand where we are at the moment in terms of not having a big powerful body-sized forward line “We have to make the most of it when we get the ball in there and recently we haven't been getting it in there clean enough we were probably a bit cleaner and gave our forwards opportunities to kick goals.” A shining light in the black and white this season has been young gun Cohen Paul’s impact Gleeson said Paul has been mightily impressive in his first full season of senior football “Cohen has been outstanding across half-back,” he said “His marking and intercept marking has been really good “He is reading the game and providing a good amount of leadership and direction down back so I think he is where he needs to be if he wants to play a higher level; now he just needs to keep improving.” Gleeson sees no reason as to why Euroa can’t push for the final fifth and sixth spots in finals this season The Magpies' next game is a round six match-up at home against an in-form Shepparton Swans while Mooroopna will travel up the road to Deakin Reserve to take on Shepparton United Both sides will be busting to get their first wins for the season More than 1,300 players will converge on the region to participate in tennis on the court and social activities off the court for the week-long event All tennis is played on natural grass courts making the event the largest grass court tournament in the world The Shepparton Lawn Tennis Club and Mooroopna Lawn Tennis Club will be involved with the delivery of the event with Council set to build approximately 76 temporary additional grass courts in Mooroopna to help host the event The event will see 28 grades across men’s and women’s competitions Teams consist of four to eight players (all men or all women) and each grade will have up to eight teams Three rounds of tennis will be scheduled each day with teams playing on average two rounds a day expressed his enthusiasm for the event’s return highlighting the benefit it brings to the region “We are very excited to welcome Tennis Victoria Country Week back to Greater Shepparton in 2026 after very successfully hosting this historic event in 2014 and 2019,” he said “Unfortunately due to the October 2022 floods in our region Shepparton was unable to host the 2023 Country Week so it is fair to say we are very excited to have this prestigious event back in 2026 I hope all the participants and spectators enjoy their stay in our region.” “This event will be provide an amazing boost for our visitor economy with visitors staying a week in the region visitor attractions and entertainment sectors helping keep our businesses busy and our economy strong with a $2 million plus economic injection.” expressed his enthusiasm for bringing Country Week to Shepparton “We are delighted to announce Shepparton as the host of Country Week in 2026 The Shepparton Lawn Tennis Club has a proud history of supporting tennis and hosting events,” he said “Shepparton is already lined up to host the under 12 and under 14 Grasscourt Nationals in December 2026 so it will be a real festival of grass court tennis in Shepparton next summer!” Registrations for Tennis Victoria Country Week 2026 will open mid-2025 For more details visit the Tennis Victoria Country Week website here. Shepparton is knocking down houses on the road to glory in 2025 The Bears claimed another big scalp in Goulburn Valley League at the weekend backing up its 11-goal victory over Mooroopna in the Anzac round by defeating Echuca 62-45 at Deakin Reserve Saturday’s fixture had the billing of a fascinating encounter between two powers Belinda Lees’ Echuca: a team whose very name has become shorthand for dominance in recent seasons But as the Bears led at every change and didn’t look like throwing the game away at any point on the way to a firm four points Borger remained pragmatic after her side swung to 5-0 thanks to a statement triumph at home “Echuca are always a really tough side,” she said but they've got some really good younger girls coming through they're still very much a danger side even if they are seventh on the ladder “Because their line-up's changed a few times we weren’t exactly sure what we were going to get it's our ladies’ day and we want to get there Shepparton ran riot in the opening few minutes breaking out to a 6-1 lead as Borger dropped goal after goal through with surgical precision Molly Kennedy kept things ticking in the midcourt with Eliza Bicknell for company but Lees managed to drag her side back within striking distance by quarter time as Echuca struggled to keep pace with the hosts and Ruby Higgins joined the party for Shepparton to help shoulder Borger’s shooting load Lees’ Murray Bombers pushed and pulled to try and wear the Bears down and a bright start to the fourth term manifested as Rose Byrne found her form under the ring Shepparton was about to administer the killer blow An 11-goal streak ripped the rug from beneath Echuca hoisting the hosts to a casual finish off the back of a stirring three-quarter time chat from Borger “They're very much a side that can come back and come back very quickly so I demanded from the girls that we get out of second gear and push forward,” she said “We were making a few little silly errors with our given possessions so I said we must score our given possessions and then anything else we put that in the bank after as well “It was just more about raising the intensity and more attention to detail.” Borger lauded a number of her side’s top performers from the win which places Shepparton alongside Euroa as the only two sides with flawless records after five rounds “Honestly there was quite a few girls out there (who played well) “She was just running around in sixth gear the whole game to run a full game of centre just so effortlessly as well was really nice “I think our defenders were really good as well she was fantastic and got a great read on the game and was able to pick off a couple of balls out in the midcourt as well.” the Cats were undone in gut-wrenching fashion as reigning premier Euroa prevailed by two goals With the scores split 12-all at quarter-time the Magpies stole a march into the next two breaks and escaped from the Cattery with a 54-52 win despite some marauding Mooroopna movement late on Tatura cruised into third with a 53-25 beating of Benalla while Seymour nailed down fourth spot thanks to a nine-goal triumph against Shepparton United Shepparton Swans nabbed their second victory of the season while Mansfield got off the mark with a 60-37 win over Kyabram The 2024-25 list of roads to be re-surfaced is as follows will be scheduled around weather conditions and under traffic control between 7am and 7pm Streets may be partially closed at times while resurfacing works are undertaken Local residents and businesses in the area will have access to their properties with some delays expected during construction Streets/Roads in the vicinity of school(s) will be re-surfaced between the hours of 9.30am and 2.30pm to accommodate school traffic visitors and motorists are reminded to obey all road work and advisory signage including any worker’s direction for their safety and the safety of others For any queries regarding the roads listed, please contact the Projects Department on (03) 5832 9700 or projects@shepparton.vic.gov.au Thank you for your co-operation and we look forward to delivering these roads for the community’s ongoing use Friday 7pm Saturday 2:30pm and 7pm Sunday 7pm What I Know Now” explores the themes of success music and movement come together to create an authentic and moving work The Creative Team have interviewed four members of our local community at different ages and stages of life and these interviews will be combined with original music to create the backing tracks for the dancers to interpret for a live audience The goal for this performance is an intimate emotional journey for our dancers and our viewers as everyone learns from another human being’s lived experience Two men locked themselves in a Mooroopna house and held police at bay during a siege that lasted for nearly four hours on Monday Shepparton police Sergeant Darren Wagstaff said police went to the Rosalind St house to execute a warrant of possession on the house on behalf of the owners and evict the two occupants The two occupants — a father and son — locked themselves inside the house about 11.50am and made threats to police Police negotiated with the main occupant of the house for hours before he eventually came out of his own accord about 3.40pm Sgt Wagstaff said police decided to negotiate with the man because there was a high likelihood of physical confrontation otherwise One man — a 20-year-old — was arrested on outstanding arrest warrants for other unrelated matters The other man — a 42-year-old — was evicted from the house in line with the warrant of possession “It was just that he refused to come out,” he said An icon of Mooroopna Recreation Reserve has been beaten and battered but remains standing The Ted Davis Stand was left black and charred on Tuesday morning after CFA crews responded to reports of the heritage-listed structure being on fire Having stood the test of time for 140-odd years — being moved to new locations a couple of times during its history — the beautiful old stand now looks a scorched version of its past self Mooroopna Football Netball Club president Bill Dowling said he hopes the fact the structure appears to still be intact is a sign that the Ted Davis Stand can return to its former glory “I can’t believe it is still standing,” Dowling said “I think that just shows how well it was constructed and it offers a glimmer of hope that it might be able to be restored or something.” The stand is a key part of the Mooroopna Recreation Reserve aesthetic and the football-netball and cricket clubs It is also the well-worn home of the Cats thirds’ players who sit in the Ted Davis Stand boisterously cheering on the seniors every second Saturday during the football season Dowling said the stand is a charming glimpse into years gone past “As part of the precinct it is a really nice throwback to another era,” he said “It is a lovely old timber stand that adds to the precinct — it certainly doesn’t detract “It was moved to the Mooroopna Recreation Reserve in the early 1900s when the race track was there — it was the shining feature and the grandstand for the race club “When Tatura became the centre for horse racing and the Mooroopna Racing Club closed down then the stand was moved to its current location “It was only moved a couple hundred metres in my understanding but it was moved to its current location where it has been for over 50 years probably.” A decision on whether or not the stand will be renovated or knocked down has yet to be made Mooroopna Recreation Reserve offers a unique picture of country football with three grandstands surrounding the Cats’ and the cricket club’s home ground Leon Williams Stand and the Ted Davis Stand families and friends refuge from either the searing sun during cricket games in summer or the pelting rains that come with the football in winter The Ted Davis Stand was named after Edward Davis OAM who was a long-standing member and treasurer of the Mooroopna Recreation Reserve Committee City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali commented on the incident via social media “It is extremely disappointing to see the damage caused to the Ted Davis grandstand at the Mooroopna Recreation Reserve,” he said I saw first-hand how heavily utilised the site was “Council will continue to work with the user groups to determine the next steps.” After falling short to Seymour in its first game of the 2025 Goulburn Valley League season Rochester rebounded in its second match to claim an 11-goal win over Mooroopna But it wasn’t always smooth sailing for the Tigers who found themselves short against the Cats in the opening quarter After trading blows in the first five minutes Mooroopna got away thanks to a strong stretch of attacking play by Claudia Plattfuss Rochester surged back into the contest with a strong run of form and at one point halfway through the second period tallied seven unanswered goals via Tia Webb This flip in fortune saw Rochy take a seven-goal lead into the major break Things went from bad to worse for the host as the Tigers remained consistent with their attacking play added 18 goals of their own in the third stretch of play to bring Rochy’s lead down to six with a big final quarter looming Mooroopna’s 11-goal effort down the stretch was admirable but was undone by the sheer will of the Tigers who pressed on with 16 goals to bury Mooroopna and claim an 11-goal victory Goal shooter Webb did the heavy lifting for Rochy while goal attack duo Ella Kerlin (10) and Ava Nihill (2) chipped in The final score was Rochester 56 to Mooroopna 45 The match sees the return of Rochester to its winning ways in the GVL but it will have its work cut out when it returns home to face reigning champion Euroa Community Feedback: 26 August to 13 September 2024 This first stage of consultation was to receive and review all the community’s great feedback The second stage will be see the designer collate all the feedback collected to produce initial concept designs for project These designs will then be made available to the public for additional feedback before the final design is locked in The final (and most exciting) part of the design stage will be development of the final design and presentation to the public Council will begin planning for delivery of the project We collect information that you provide via this website’s feedback tools Even if you are not a registered member of this site we may request personal information for the purpose of ensuring a varied range of submissions or to provide you with news and updates about the projects you interact with We may update the content of this Privacy Policy from time to time for any reason The updated version of the Privacy Policy will apply to you as soon as it is posted on the website so we suggest that each time you return to the consultation website you should review the Privacy Policy (and the Terms of Use) to make sure you are aware 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Log in the heritage site was once used for events such as dances and social functions it’s set to become an early learning centre that will serve families in Mooroopna and the surrounding area Believe Early Learning in Mooroopna is expected to open later this year offering programs for children aged six weeks to five years According to managing director Andrew Kelly there has been strong demand for the service already demand has risen,” Mr Kelly said of the need for childcare A report published by the Mitchell Institute in 2022 showed about nine million Australians lived in neighbourhoods that could be classified as ‘childcare deserts’ multiple children are competing for a single spot in care for kids aged four and younger The report showed childcare deserts in regional Victoria A separate report released this month by not-for-profit group The Parenthood stated that lack of early learning and childcare access in regional rural and remote areas of the country was causing multiple negative impacts for families It stated that lack of access “undermines the wellbeing of children Mr Kelly said Believe Early Learning would have capacity for 110 children once it was licensed and open He said the centre was currently hiring staff and would then open enrolment for children Mr Kelly said the historic site was chosen for the centre because of its appealing location but he also said he was delighted to play a part in preserving local history “Mooroopna’s Athenaeum Hall is the perfect place for young children to learn about local heritage,” he said Mr Kelly said he hoped that revitalising an old space could also help teach kids about sustainability and re-using what already existed The historic hall is being renovated to preserve the original structure while also incorporating contemporary features according to the group completing the work “Working with heritage buildings can be a challenge but the results — both for the building and the local community — are always worth the effort,” Concept Construction Group managing director Aaron Martin said Believe Early Learning is expected to open in mid-November The roughly $6.8 million renovation project includes six education rooms The Cats were dog-hungry on Saturday night Round four of Goulburn Valley League had Mooroopna fall to Shepparton in what turned out to be a Saturday night 5.8 (38) to 11.11 (77) ground and pound In the Bears’ previous three victories for the season they had been allowed to roam freely through the corridor the Cats were not willing to give their opponents one bit of clean air at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve After the touching Anzac Day tributes had concluded spectators were treated to a high-pressure and hotly-contested slog Old-fashioned football purists would have had smiles across their faces as the two sides threw their bodies into each other to a symphony of thuds Bears part-time recruit Tom Clurey left the ground after his leg was caught in a tackle in the first term but didn’t play too big a part in the rest of the match Shepparton snared an early 15-point lead in the first quarter before the contest turned to a war of attrition in near-perfect conditions The pressure on display was highlighted by Bears player-coach Ted Lindon who performed a spectacular chase-down smother on Cat Logan Campbell who was taking a running shot on goal with eight seconds left in the quarter As Shepparton took the points for the first bout Mooroopna spat a tooth into the bucket and pounded its gloves as the two sides launched into another physical quarter of football Mooroopna made a habit of forcing Shepparton long down the line which kept the ball movement slow and the contest tight and physical the Bears continued to grind and finished the half up by 22 (15-37) Shepparton player-coach Xavier Stevenson said his star midfield mix of Ned Byrne Adam De Cicco and Luke Smith were crucial in the clinches “(The game) was a little bit ugly; it was ugly in the way for the spectators I thought,” Stevenson said “We probably struggled to get the game on our terms in the way that we wanted to play we found another way to win which was through contest and more effort really good in the contest and I thought they stood up for us and got the game on our terms at times.” The influence of Shepparton's gentle giant Ash Holland can’t be understated Stevenson said the 2024 Morrison medallist’s impact on the Bears was immense he probably isn’t playing the highest level of footy right now and he is growing into the season but he is still having a huge influence on games “I have been really privileged to play with him for a long period of time and I think he is one of if Fox Footy’s mystical pressure rating measurer was applied to Saturday night’s game both team’s bars would have been pushed to the limit The Cats and Bears continued to hunt the ball and each other in a manic way with tensions threatening — but never eventuating — to boil over at stages Mooroopna clawed its way back to an eight-point deficit (30-38) as the potential of an almighty upset rose into view two quick goals from league-leading goal-kicker Lewis McShane pushed the Bears’ margin back out to 21 at three-quarter time Mooroopna coach John Lamont called for his players to believe and “have a throw at the stumps” in the final term And although the push from the Cats did come their “throw” was wayward as they missed crucial shots on goal early Shepparton put a line through any potential comeback with a four-goal-to-one quarter Stevenson said his side had had a natural progression from the talented yet inexperienced Bears outfit the league saw last season “What people forget is that our list demographic last year was still pretty young so another pre-season under the belt is huge,” he said “That natural progression in terms of body shapes and sizes “We know by all means we had a successful season last year but when it came to the last day we weren’t good enough THE iconic Ted Davis Stand at the Mooroopna Recreation Reserve went up in flames in the early hours of Tuesday CFA crews from Mooroopna and Tatura responded to the blaze a little before 3am with Fire Rescue Victoria also on hand the fire was deemed under control by 4am While there are no suspects yet on who started the fire Shepparton Police have confirmed that it is arson and call for anyone with any information to come forward and the structure of the stand remains erect essential equipment regularly used by the Mooroopna Cricket Club was destroyed The Ted Davis Stand was built in the 1800s and over the years has been in two different locations around the recreation reserve before settling in its final position The Shepparton Police urge anyone who witnessed the incident has CCTV footage or information to call Shepparton police on 5820 5777 or contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au died after becoming trapped in a car boot Credit: FacebookThe family of a boy who died after becoming trapped in a car boot in sweltering heat has revealed the tragedy was the result of a game of hide and seek gone wrong Tributes are flowing for 10-year-old “shining star” Bentley who died on Sunday at a home in Mooroopna Bentley’s mother reportedly discovered her son in the car It is not known how long he was in the boot before he was found Get the first look at the digital newspaper curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox Get the NewsletterBy continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Emergency services were called to the home at 3.20pm with temperatures rising to 35.5C on the day Bentley’s aunt Lainey Sutton said December 15 would “forever be the day that we pause for a moment to remember our inquisitive neurodiverse 10 yr (sic.) old Bentley,” she wrote “In a tragic end to a game of hide and seek our hearts are broken as we try to find some sense in a place that no longer feels whole.” Lainey revealed the incident comes just two weeks after Bentley’s grandmother died Ten-year-old boy dies after becoming trapped in car boot Victoria1 Min Read16 Dec 2024Another on Bentley’s aunts has taken to social media to express her devastation you are the shining star in all of our lives and you (sic.) sense of uncanny adventure is courageous Aunty Steph is struggling to comprehend what the future without you is going to be like You made one hell of a noise coming into this world “The loss of Bentley has been nothing short of an absolute tragedy and we hope that you can see through the misconceptions rumours and assumptions made within the media.” Lainey Sutton has launched a GoFundMe campaign on behalf of the family the heartache and costs of dealing with the loss of one family member is numbing let alone losing a second in such a short time frame,” she wrote “We understand that this time of the year can be financially and emotionally difficult for anyone It is with heavy hearts that we ask for financial support to help us give our precious Bentley the send off he deserves.” Neighbours told the Herald Sun it was a distressing scene, with one woman saying a blood-curdling scream alerted her to the tragedy. She said all the car’s doors and boot were open and other children had seen what happened. “I feel sorry for those kids, it was terrible,” the neighbour said. Victoria Police said a report would be prepared for the Coroner. “The death is not believed to be suspicious and the circumstances surrounding the death are still being established,” a police spokesperson said. Latest EditionEdition Edition 5 May 20255 May 2025All-powerful Anthony Albanese says give me some R.E.S.P.E.C.T Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time A 10-year-old boy who died after accidentally trapping himself in the boot of a car during a game of hide-and-seek in Victoria’s north has been remembered as a “shining star” with an “infectious smile” died after climbing into his mother’s car at their home in Mooroopna who died in a game of hide-and-seek near Shepparton on Sunday The neighbour said Bentley took his mother’s car keys and entered the car wrote on social media: “Your laughter contagious and your sense of uncanny adventure is courageous “The loss of Bentley has been nothing short of a tragedy.” Lainey Sutton, another of Bentley’s aunts, created a GoFundMe page on behalf of the family and wrote that “in a tragic game of hide-and-seek “December 15th will forever be the day that we pause for a moment to remember our inquisitive neurodiverse 10-year-old Bentley,” she wrote Lainey Sutton said Bentley’s death came shortly after that of his grandmother’s and the family was struggling with the emotional and financial toll the GoFundMe page had raised more than $5500 of its $20,000 goal police said they would prepare a report for the coroner and that the death was believed to be not suspicious The circumstances surrounding the death were still being established RACV Emergency Roadside Assistance patrols received 664 calls to help rescue children accidentally locked in vehicles the interiors of vehicles can reach 70 degrees in a few minutes when the outside temperature is 30 degrees The temperature in Shepparton peaked at 35.3 degrees on Sunday Ambulance Victoria said paramedics responded to an incident in Mooroopna about 3.20pm on Sunday Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. A 10-year-old boy who died after accidentally trapping himself in the boot of a car during a game of hide-and-seek in Victoria\\u2019s north has been remembered as a \\u201Cshining star\\u201D with an \\u201Cinfectious smile\\u201D. A neighbour, who did not want to be named, told The Age that the boy, named Bentley, died after climbing into his mother\\u2019s car at their home in Mooroopna, just west of Shepparton, on Sunday afternoon. The neighbour said Bentley took his mother\\u2019s car keys and entered the car, but became stuck in the boot, which had no manual boot release. Bentley\\u2019s aunt, Steph Sutton, wrote on social media: \\u201CYour laughter contagious, and your sense of uncanny adventure is courageous. \\u201CI promise you that no matter what, people will always remember you. \\u201CThe loss of Bentley has been nothing short of a tragedy.\\u201D Lainey Sutton, another of Bentley\\u2019s aunts, created page on behalf of the family and wrote that \\u201Cin a tragic game of hide-and-seek, our world stopped\\u201D. \\u201CDecember 15th will forever be the day that we pause for a moment to remember our inquisitive, car-loving, Minecraft enthusiastic, neurodiverse 10-year-old Bentley,\\u201D she wrote. \\u201CAs a family, our hearts are broken as we try to find some sense in a place that no longer feels whole.\\u201D Lainey Sutton said Bentley\\u2019s death came shortly after that of his grandmother\\u2019s, and the family was struggling with the emotional and financial toll. At midday on Tuesday, the GoFundMe page had raised more than $5500 of its $20,000 goal. On Monday, police said they would prepare a report for the coroner and that the death was believed to be not suspicious. The circumstances surrounding the death were still being established, police said. In 2023, RACV Emergency Roadside Assistance patrols received 664 calls to help rescue children accidentally locked in vehicles. According to the RACV, the interiors of vehicles can reach 70 degrees in a few minutes when the outside temperature is 30 degrees. The temperature in Shepparton peaked at 35.3 degrees on Sunday. Ambulance Victoria said paramedics responded to an incident in Mooroopna about 3.20pm on Sunday. Start the day with a summary of the day\\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. . CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) A reopened Mooroopna pub has a new name to go with its new look Marilyn Parker and Ricky Turner bought the business in February and have been in renovation mode to get the doors open who is volunteering and showing them the ropes with his 25 years of experience as a publican Ms Parker said the new beginning was a “challenge” but also “exciting” “I may not have experience (behind the bar) I’ve been trying to engage everyone and bring everyone together,” she said Ms Parker said the new name was designed to create a family hotel environment and be more “community friendly” After being a community development worker in Melbourne Ms Parker said she was “very community focused” and keen to give something to Mooroopna we’ve all got to look after each other,” she said “You’ve got to have services in town to keep the town thriving.” A lot of the former local patrons have been “happy to come back” just sit here for a couple of hours and have a chat They’re just happy to come back and engage with mates,” Ms Parker said “One guy was nearly crying when he came in he just couldn’t believe how different it looked in here.” Getting the bar back up and running was their main priority but the bistro is set to open within the month Ms Parker said the bottle shop attached to the hotel would also be up and running soon and they’d eventually like to get the hotel rooms back open although it will be a while before that happens and we’ll get more and more things as time goes on,” she said they’ve been opening at noon and closing at about 9pm but are flexible to change depending on what the community wants Ms Parker said the response from the Mooroopna community had been “fantastic” and they’d love to keep getting feedback from people so they knew how to improve Mooroopna’s Jy Simpkin has beaten the leadership path at North Melbourne for years now and his newest appointment is a sign of his maturity as an AFL footballer Simpkin has held the co-captaincy since being anointed alongside Luke McDonald in 2023 becoming the first duo in the club’s history to share the role the former Murray Bushranger will serve as the Kangaroos’ sole skipper after McDonald decided to step aside prior to the leadership vote last week with the club indicating he will be supported by Nick Larkey and Harry Sheezel who have been named co-vice captains by their peers It marks a monumental point in the 26-year-old’s journey since entering the AFL via the 2016 AFL draft at pick 12 with the proud Yorta Yorta man now becoming one of two First Nations captains in the league With 152 AFL games under his belt across eight seasons in the royal blue and white Simpkin will now lead the charge with fellow Goulburn Valley products Matt Whitlock (Shepparton) and Brayden George (Girgarre) under his wing North Melbourne general manager of football Todd Viney was elated to announce Simpkin as the Kangaroos’ official captain while thanking McDonald for his service to the role and welcoming Larkey and Sheezel into their new roles Nick and Harry are outstanding leaders for our club and received strong support from the players and coaches,” Viney said “Jy has taken great strides forward in his leadership capabilities over the last two seasons supported by Luke McDonald and is well placed to lead as a standalone captain “The standard Harry has set since he walked into the club has been quite remarkable for his young age and Nick continues to be a clear standout leader in our group “In addition to the three key leadership positions we are fortunate to have a group of established and emerging leaders to give us additional depth and capabilities in this area “Luke has been an exceptional leader for our club “His experience has been critical for us in recent years with a relatively young group his strong connection across the whole club has supported our ‘one club’ ethos and I know he will continue his leadership on and off the field by supporting Jy We are continuing on from last week’s history about the Mooroopna Hospital The News in December 1918 featured a full-page story about the hospital’s history from 1876 to 1918 The photos shown here were on the front page and were taken by N ‘Col’ Colliver of the Toska Studio in Wyndham St and those of the Goulburn Valley were no exception to the rule who had set themselves to the task of carving homes out of the wilderness and as kindness was extended to and received from neighbours it engendered kindly feeling towards all and sundry; anything which might tend towards the relief of suffering was sure to receive the sympathy of the pioneers almost from the earliest attempt at agricultural settlement in the Valley it seems to have been recognised that a hospital of some sort But our first settlers were not of the class to content themselves with the admission that a thing should be done — they got to work and did it at least as well as the conditions under which they found themselves would permit And the conditions prevailing over the greater portion of the Goulburn Valley when The virgin soil was covered with heavy box timber and the roads which the government had surveyed were while the facilities were mainly of the roughest description had sprung up somehow where Mooroopna now stands its site being apparently determined in great part by a punt used as a ferry across the Goulburn a short distance above the site of the present bridge was the first hospital of the Goulburn Valley and at Mooroopna does the Goulburn Valley hospital yet stand The above illustration of the old Mooroopna hospital will probably provoke a smile more especially when we are told that the door of the smaller room of the hut bore the word ‘Dispensary’ For in few cases will they be accompanied by the sneers which bespeak minds unable to read the many lessons which the photograph of the rude old building suggests No sensible person derides first attempts or ridicules such cases as this For in the picture of the primitive old building may be seen by those whose heart vision is equal to it the outward and visible sign of the spirit which animated the Good Samaritan and all his successive imitators since the time his matchless story was told the men who appear in the picture are Mr Mark Phillips The illustrations we give of its present appearance though they form an impressive contrast to what it looked like at first For the Mooroopna hospital is built ‘all over the place’ if we may be permitted the use of an expressive colloquialism and to get an adequate idea of its size we should require a bird’s-eye view facilities for getting which were not available to Mr Colliver But when we say that Mooroopna hospital began in 1876 with four patients; that in 1892 the number of indoor patients had risen to 490 with a daily average of 43; while last year the indoor patients numbered 1211 we have surely furnished a perfect statement of the marvellous growth of an institution of which every dweller in the Goulburn Valley may well be proud It was not long until the hospital began to grow in response to the increasing calls upon it and it is interesting to trace its development through the medium of the earliest reports now available there were four patients for the whole year and we are gravely informed that no record was kept of the daily average and again there is no mention of the daily average and thenceforward the numbers steadily increased until in 1885 there were 354 patients for the year The year 1885 was an important one in the history of the institution as may be seen from the reports of the late Mr Michael Kavanagh Mr Kavanagh congratulates all concerned on the progress of the hospital and makes special mention of the erection of a brick laundry fitted with all the appliances then thought up-to-date for carrying on its work the male ward had also been doubled in size by taking down the south wall and spending £280 on enlargement work with separate padded compartments for male and female patients and it is stated that in all new hospital buildings (Shepparton Advertiser 1947 excerpt): “The hospital advanced to the status of a base hospital in 1935 and in 1936 a big forward movement was undertaken in the demolishing of some of the older portions and the erection of new up-to-date buildings The new works consisted of administrative offices dispensary and outpatients’ departments — these are all on the ground boor On the first floor there are two operating theatres intermediate male and female wards (which treat private cases at a moderate charge) and maternity wards Contracts have been let for the above at about £29,000 The nurses’ quarters are also being enlarged at a cost of £5000 so that each nurse will have a single bedroom.“ Geoff Allemand is an amateur photographer and Lost Shepparton Facebook page admin. Please share your Pics from the Past at pastpics@mmg.com.au A proposal has been made to build a private Islamic P-12 college on the former Mooroopna Hospital site Illuminate Australia — an educational initiative to build faith-based schools — is the applicant The independent school — named Mooroopna College — would be a not-for-profit facility initially catering to up to 90 students across all year levels of primary and secondary education A Greater Shepparton City Council spokesperson said the site “had been purchased for the purpose of establishing the college” the Victorian Minister for Planning was responsible for planning approval The Planning Department approved the initial proposal in June The News has been unsuccessful in contacting Illuminate Australia; however its website states: “We want to raise a generation of morally upright students who can contribute to the wider Australian society with the two wings of faith (Iman) and knowledge (I’lm) “Our mission is to establish independent not-for-profit faith-based schools aligned with Islamic values in all major cities of Australia.” Illuminate Australia plans to open Mooroopna College in 2026 It has already established two colleges — Bellfield College in the Sydney suburb of Rossmore and Playford College in the Adelaide suburb of Elizabeth — with plans to build another in NSW (Blacktown) and one in Perth By the time Mooroopna takes the field against Rochester on Saturday the loudest cheer may not be for a speccy mark or a goal from the boundary trotting along with a water bottle in each hand and a grin as wide as the Goulburn River or ‘’Ferg’’ as he’s known around the Cattery And on the weekend he’ll notch game number 500 he has been a fixed star in the Cats’ constellation a figure as familiar as the final siren on a cold July afternoon but he’s never let that define his role at the club finals runs and rebuilding years he’s laced up his runners and hit the turf with a handful of water bottles to do his bit and keep the players hydrated and motivated He began his journey with the Cats in the late 1990s when club volunteers were still lining the oval with chalk and meat pies cost the same as a litre of petrol recruited Ferguson and he soon became a fixture of the side: part hydration specialist they don’t say anything — I just go on and give them a drink “Probably once or twice during the year they say ‘Hey Ferg Ferguson has handed out more water than an irrigation system but he’s also no stranger to dishing out encouragement and the odd bit of banter He wasn’t recruited for his pace or disposal efficiency — but for his love of the game his reliability and his instinctive feel for the pulse of a footy club when Saturday rolls around — home or away — it’s action stations for Ferguson There are no prizes for guessing his answer when the self-proclaimed sports fanatic was asked if game day is the highlight of his week “After the game we go in and sing the Mooroopna Cats song — cheer boys cheer As for Ferguson’s response when quizzed about ever leaving for a rival Goulburn Valley League team “Never — I’m Mooroopna through and through,” he said proudly Ferguson has stuck fat with the Cats through the good years and bad and among his best memories at Mooroopna was the 2011 GVL grand final The Cats took on Shepparton United in the decider and suiting up in the hoops was none other than Ferguson’s cousin alongside other notable names such as Adem and Ramadan Yze Though Mooroopna went down by 15 points that day Ferguson ranks it as the best Cats side he’s seen during his time running the water The 2025 season — Ferguson’s 28th at the club — started last weekend with a three-hour round trip to Mansfield and the dedicated water runner cherished every bit of the journey that was a good day and night when we came home on the bus and went to the pub for tea,” he said “I enjoy doing the water with the boys — I love the boys (and their) passion and their love for the jumper I love the people and I’m passionate about the people here.” Ask around the Mooroopna sheds and you’ll hear the same thing: Ferg is the club Footy clubs are built on more than flags — they’re centred around connection contribution and community and Ferguson has embodied all three for more than two decades but it has always been vital and this weekend When newsagent Andrew Jones and pharmacist Paul Wickham were 12 years old they hadn’t yet crossed paths but shared a common title: paperboy the two boys tackled their stacks of newspapers their adolescent bodies anchored by the weight of the Herald Suns mustering the strength to toss each bundle on to their neighbours’ doorsteps Mr Jones never strayed too far from his paper route eventually becoming the owner of Mooroopna Newsagency while Mr Wickham traded delivering papers for dispensing medications “It feels like I’m going back to my roots,” Mr Wickham said The long-standing Mooroopna Newsagency has found a new home and a new vision under Mr Wickham’s ownership a cornerstone of the community for over 70 years now operating out of Wickham Pharmacy at 83 McLennan St after relocating from its previous spot at 84 McLennan St who has run his pharmacy for nearly 18 years believes this merger will breathe new life into both businesses we’ve noticed a major shift in the way people shop because of the two big supermarkets next door,” he said I thought the TattsLotto business would work quite well being near the supermarkets and it’d bring in new customers to the pharmacy.” While the merger presents new opportunities it also necessitates making tough decisions The discontinuation of newspaper distribution was unfortunately one of them as both print magazines and traditional papers have been on the decline “It’s important to keep the newsagency alive in small towns,” he said and they’re looking at different ways newsagencies can adapt and stay relevant to the community’s needs.” the former owner for 21 years and now manager of Mooroopna Newsagency is pleased that the community will continue to have access to these services the good thing is that the business still remains in the town,” he said “I always felt that Mooroopna is a small community “It’s always been a desire and a struggle to make sure that everybody in the town utilises and shops local because we’re here for them Under Mr Wickham’s new business model and Mr Jones’ management lottery services and pharmacy products have meshed offering residents a refreshing shopping experience in Mooroopna It seems the paperboys of yore are still carrying that ‘Extra Extra!’ mentality to keep the two pillars of the community strong The Goulburn Murray Cricket women’s competition had its stage set for a true grand finale as Mooroopna and Nagambie travelled to Cooma Recreation Reserve on Sunday The two dominant outfits appeared tough to split on paper in the previous week’s grand final preview if you put the Cats’ unbeaten record in season 2024-25 to one side another perfect home and away campaign with a resounding win in the semis could have threatened to be their undoing all the same having fallen over when it mattered most last season There were demons to exorcise for Mooroopna confidence had to be high early given a recent string of low totals to chase down and the opening duo of Kayla Shepherd and Amber Langham made a professional start to proceedings in the middle Once Charlie Nicholson knocked over the latter’s stumps Lakers captain Kait Carracher took it upon herself to deliver a masterclass that left Cats bowlers and fielders in a rare position of adversity On went the fireworks as Carracher mashed eight fours and the day’s only maximum to put Nagambie in cruise control early in the second half of its innings before walking off on her own terms On a week where Kayla Shepherd and Breanna Davison earned individual plaudits from the league — the latter claiming the overall best-and-fairest award — Carracher rubber-stamped her name among the best on the biggest stage The Cats were able to wrest a degree of control back down the stretch as Nicholson and Lauren Hall saluted with two apiece while a rare diamond duck involving Sarah Villinger earned Mooroopna some reprieve as well The girls in blue got themselves set to chase 133 for glory Mooroopna had a powder keg ready to blow at first drop as the always-reliable Gemma Boyd took centre stage once Hall was sent on her way who was only just short of the league batting title in her own right went in and showed out with seven fours on her way to a typical team-high 42 though she did match up against some inspired and restrictive Shepherd bowling on occasion Though the unbeaten side was a heavy favourite with a handful of overs to go the Lakers were able to inch their way in bit by bit Sleeth and Kelsey McDonald found themselves back on the sidelines less than an over apart and Kelsey Abbott would respond to an Amani Issell boundary by clean-bowling her on 10 a short time later Mooroopna’s healthy throng of observers had rumblings of unease doubtless confronted with memories of where it went wrong a year earlier and the run rate continued to slow after Boyd retired Mia Earl provided the desperately needed spark late on when the run rate actually briefly crept above a run a ball slamming back-to-back boundaries to ease the tension It all started to look like it might swing the other way once again when Carracher put herself on a hat-trick by removing Earl and popping Ava Wood back into her hands in the penultimate over but resolute calmness would see the Cats over the line as Nicholson steadied to win it with a four one more than fitting of such a stage and such a pair of sides as these two put up all season long Mooroopna had taken a perfect season all the way to stand above the rest with a premiership to its name “I’ve seen a lot of these girls since they were probably eight years old with many playing against boys for a while,” Vandermeer said post-match “We decided to join the women’s comp last year not knowing how we’d fare and he needs a good pat on the back for everything he’s done to help me.” He was quick to dispel any suggestions that past demons were on their way to engulf himself or his squad as Nagambie took pairs of wickets late in the chase so we had to make sure we were there and we were,” Vandermeer said “We know the girls are capable of hitting the ball and scoring the girls who followed Gemma played for the team instead of themselves having scaled the mountain at the second attempt is how Mooroopna makes this success viable long-term and several players questionable for next season with newfound university commitments and the like it becomes a matter of replenishing that talent year-to-year “We didn’t have a few training during the week but we have to bring other girls in and have new people coming all the time,” coach Jeff Vandermeer said so we have to make sure people want to come and play but one thing about this group is they just love the game “We kept the majority of our group from last year; Mia was probably the only one who came in I think they were pretty hungry and willing to work “Our girls are fairly young and have some improvement in them and you’ve got to get them up as that could well have been the difference today.” Paul Wickham is well known in Mooroopna and surrounding areas for the care and support he provides at the family pharmacy he has run for 17 years and now Paul has decided to run for the local council in the Goulburn River Ward “I am excited to represent the locals of Mooroopna Murchison and stretching over to Arcadia and south of the Broken River,” said Paul it is clear that there is an opportunity to revisit the Greater Shepparton and Mooroopna 2050 Regional City Growth Plan to see how we can create a more resilient community to the west of the Goulburn River.” Paul saw first-hand the effect the floods had on the wider Mooroopna community but he continued to serve the community by making deliveries via boat until the waters receded which gave him a deep understanding of how much the community suffered Paul has been an active member of the community supporting local groups like the GV Rail Club Undera Football and Netball Club and he even chipped in a pair of much-needed first aid kits to the Mooroopna Mens Shed and brought the gentlemen lunch when they reopened earlier this year “The GV is a vibrant agricultural and manufacturing area and we need to continue to build on these assets and also grow our tourism around the beautiful Goulburn River Our sporting and community groups are another important asset that makes us a great place to live By listening to locals we can identify local issues find local solutions and build local leadership “I love the Goulburn Valley and believe we can all prosper if we work together I am keen to listen to the needs of our community and also inspire people to dream of big ideas for the GV I believe it is important to make sure we create a great community for our young people to thrive and for our elderly to live long and healthy lives.” Thanks to what could be his best year on the golf course a Mooroopna ace could find himself in next year’s Victorian Open Mean on the greens and fearsome on fairways Brett Kellow recently grasped both hands around the Victorian Men’s Ivo Whitton Trophy named as one of four Order of Merit winners from across the state Kellow finished top of the Vic pile after playing a year’s worth of state Order of Merit tournaments racking up 873 points to beat second-placegetter Matthew Dahlsen by a whopping 151-point margin Winners were judged on a scoring system based on graded event placings from November 2023 until October 2024 “I’ve sort of been playing on and off for the last 10 years really but I just decided to have a little bit of a crack this year,” he said top five in nine of them and then had four wins as well That kind of consistency may see Kellow suit up for duty in the 2025 Victorian Open unless qualification criteria has changed for the open Mooroopna Golf Club’s marvel will be flying the fruit salad city’s flag on the state stage the Ivo Whitton winner has got an invitation into the Victorian Open,” he said “I’m still waiting to hear whether or not that is still the case but in previous years that’s what has happened “Fingers crossed I get an invite to that event Kellow labelled his Ivo Whitton Trophy collection as “nearly top of the list” of his golfing achievements and reaching the Victorian Open would surely rank high Kellow may not have had a more thrilling finish than his Mooroopna Golf Club Championship victory last month A gold-standard game of golf was contested between Kellow and Jordan Geisler with the former ending the final one-up to clinch the club title “That was a very high-quality match,” he said “I got it done on the first extra playoff hole; I think I was nine under par for the two rounds and Jordy was very similar — it was good.” While Kellow has travelled far and wide in 2024 to play a bucket load of golf He intends to play the Australian Amateur on January 14-17 at Melbourne’s Cranbourne and Commonwealth golf clubs where he could very well rub shoulders with some of the game’s future pros The last time Commonwealth hosted the nation’s premier amateur tournament in 2013 the winners were Cameron Smith and Minjee Lee who both currently sit inside the world top 100 Do you ever find yourself listening to the chatter of birds and wondering what they’re saying Imagine if you could understand their language they are communicating — and Andrew Skeoch can teach you how to understand their language nature sound recordist and environmental educator is returning to the Goulburn Valley he’ll be at Mooroopna Library for an immersive audiovisual presentation that will change the way you hear the world around you Using spectrogram analysis and high-quality recordings Mr Skeoch will break down how birds communicate through their calls what their vocalisations reveal about behaviour and how to recognise different species by ear he has travelled the world capturing the sounds of diverse habitats Mr Skeoch has published over 100 recordings capturing the sounds of diverse habitats across multiple continents His work has been featured in installations such as Sydney Wildlife World and is currently part of Australian Geographic’s touring exhibition Our Country His recordings have also appeared in films Disney’s 2016 live-action adaptation of The Jungle Book and Force of Nature starring Eric Bana As president of the Australian Wildlife Sound Recording Group he works to inspire a new generation of nature enthusiasts to develop their auditory awareness His talk at Mooroopna Library will go beyond bird identification — it’s about understanding how ecosystems function and recognising the role we play in the natural world Book sales: Copies of Deep Listening to Nature will be available for purchase Bookings: Preferred via Goulburn Valley Libraries website under the events tab, by emailing mooroopna@gvlibraries.com Credit: CarExpertA 10-year-old boy has died after becoming trapped in a car boot in sweltering weather The boy was reportedly fascinated with cars and had climbed into the boot of the vehicle while his mother was resting at their Mooroopna home on Sunday afternoon The mother discovered her son in the car after waking and realising the car keys were missing Get the NewsletterBy continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.It is not known how long he was in the boot before being discovered It’s believed the boy may have suffered a cardiac arrest as outside temperatures rose to 35.5C Neighbours told the Herald Sun it was a distressing scene, with one saying a blood-curdling scream alerted her to the tragedy about 3.30pm. “I feel sorry for those kids, it was terrible,” she said. There’s not much on the line for Mooroopna.. except for a chance to ruin an enemy’s summer The Mooroopna and Waaia rivalry has been an entertaining watch over the past few seasons with plenty of memorable moments occurring when these two proud cricket clubs have met In the final round of the home-and-away Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield season Mooroopna has the opportunity to deny Waaia a spot in the finals series While the Cats languish down in 10th place the Bombers sit in fourth but could slip out of the top six if they lose this round 13 clash Mooroopna won the toss at Waaia Recreation Reserve and elected to bat in the two-day fixture on Saturday The Bombers' usual suspects Jesse and Will Trower were dangerous with the new ball early but failed to make inroads into the Cats' line-up Opening batter Joel May continued his fine summer with another 50 as he struck 75 runs from 126 balls (13 boundaries) It was May’s fourth and largest half-century of the season and partnered import Ethan Baker’s innings perfectly Baker produced his finest performance with the bat this summer as he made a classy 89 runs from 142 balls The innings featured four boundaries and three sixes as the young gun got to raise the bat for the first time in senior cricket Mooroopna player-coach Henry Barrow said he was proud of how his fellow Englishman performed with the willow without question he deserved a 100,” Barrow said “Even some of the better shots he was playing picked out fielders in the covers “It was great to see him pick up some form and he has been great for us this year anyway it was just nice to see him push on and make that bigger score yesterday.” The pair of May and Baker were unflappable as they forged a 152-run partnership to lead Mooroopna to a powerful position heading into day two Barrow said the duo did well to avoid the dangers of Waaia’s bowling attack early in the innings “It was a good batting track but there was enough there with the new ball,” he said “The boys did well seeing off Jesse Trower obviously we know how quality their opening bowling attack is with both Jesse and Will and they were doing plenty with it “We had a bit of fortune for probably one for the first times this year to be honest.“ Liam Evans (5-54 from 27 overs) continued his form with ball in hand as the tricky leggy worked his magic on the Bombers' home deck After May and Baker departed (both caught and bowled by Evans) Waaia’s Jordan Cleeland also chipped in with a handy 4-66 from 23 overs The Cats were eventually bowled out for 238 Although the visitors arguably left some runs out on the pitch given their strong start Barrow said he was confident his players could rain on the Bombers' finals hopes next Saturday “We have defended totals really well this year as our bowling attack has stood up for the majority of the year,” he said “One of the big positives we can take from the year is our all-round bowling performances “When you get to this point in the season and your own finals aspirations have come to an end it is really about trying to spoil the party for everybody else “We are trying to win as many games as we can if that puts a dent in their finals hopes then so be it.” there’ll be a few more Kangaroos in Mooroopna than usual Several schools in the region will be visited by a travelling contingent of Kangaroos throughout the day while a handful of lucky football clubs are set for drop-ins from North players later on culminates at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve North Melbourne is delivering a suite of interactive sessions kicking off with a Come and Play Superclinic for ages four to 12 from 4-5pm an autograph signing session and photo opportunity will be held allowing fans to connect with their favourite players in a memorable and personal way Recent Roos draftee and Shepparton product Matt Whitlock will be among the AFL talent attending — but he won’t be the only star present who hails from the region will lead an activation session for junior coaches alongside Tom Lynch from 5.30-6.30pm to round out the evening AFL Goulburn Murray participation co-ordinator Kevin Monaghan was rapt to welcome North Melbourne to the Goulburn Valley “North Melbourne Football Club's upcoming visit on Monday February 10 to the Shepparton region is set to create a significant positive impact on the local community “The presence of North Melbourne in Shepparton fosters a sense of belonging and pride within the community the visit serves to strengthen the ties between the club and the local area leaving a lasting impact on both the community's engagement with AFL and the promotion of Auskick A Woolworths employee from Mooroopna has recently been recognised as Victoria and Tasmania’s Checkout Operator of the Year This marks a significant achievement for the relatively new local who began his journey with Woolworths in 2020 initially worked in Melbourne before relocating to regional Victoria in July last year living and working in Melbourne,” Julian said I built my first property in regional Victoria I managed to secure an internal transfer to the Mooroopna store.“ more close-knit community” of regional Victoria has been a significant change but one that Julian has embraced wholeheartedly “It was a huge change from the city,” Julian said but I really appreciate the calmness and the sense of community “The people here have welcomed me with open arms Julian’s commitment to his work and the community did not go unnoticed I don’t do it for recognition or anything like that but for everything that has come since then.” The nomination process included customer and colleague feedback “One thing that definitely worked in my favour was the customer feedback,” Julian said “People in the community have been so supportive whether by ringing up head office or leaving feedback at the store like ‘I brightened up their day’ or ‘I’ve made their day better’ Julian is now preparing for the next big step – attending the national conference in Sydney on October 17 where he will represent Victoria and Tasmania among other top performers from across the country “It’ll be my first time on a plane; I’ve never left Victoria before Julian is “an uncle to beautiful nieces that I adore and try to see as much as I can.” He also enjoys cooking and hosting family and friends taking pride in showcasing life in regional Victoria Julian expressed his gratitude for the support he has received and his appreciation for his team at Woolworths and the broader community “I don’t take anything like this for granted “It’s beyond anything I would ever think could happen,” Julian said