Picture by Phoebe Adams.A prime commercial property in West Wodonga has sold All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe 4 Footmark Court property, previously occupied by Aspire Support Services Auctioneer Andrew Dixon of Dixon Commercial Real Estate said the sale reflected strong interest in quality owner-occupier opportunities in the tightly held precinct and we're all very happy with the sale," he said Mr Dixon said the buyer would occupy the premises which had plenty of "opportunity and potential" featuring a 378 square metre office building was sold with vacant possession-offering buyers the flexibility to "occupy featuring a 378 square metre office building sold for $890,000 Picture supplied.Both the vendor and buyer's agent were pleased with the result and Mr Dixon said it reflected the current market conditions The property provided plenty of space and functionality with open-plan and separate office configurations Newsletters & Alerts View allDaily Today's top stories curated by our news team Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert Your digital replica of Today's Paper Test your skills with interactive crosswords huge six-car garageShona Hendley A striking acreage boasting its own private lake cabana and Euro-style main house is turning heads on the Victorian border Designed by a local luxury home builder for his own family The Lakehouse stands out from other properties in the region with its sophisticated European-inspired design With parklike gardens and water features, the property at 2 McGaffins Rd, West Wodonga is akin to a personal retreat RELATED: Surprise generation that will make Boomers look poor ‘Man from Snowy River’ high country haven gets international interest Vic govt looking to cash in on mountain snow resorts three bathroom property has a $2.75m-$2.85m price guide “We were attracted to the home for its unique location and point of difference,” vendor Al said You’d be forgiven for thinking you’re coming home to a postcard with an entrance like this is listed for sale with price hopes from $2.75m to $2.85m “The amazing grounds and ornamental lake surrounding the home and the peaceful outdoor living areas among established English trees “Early morning and dusk are the prettiest times with the sunlight filtering through the large trees and garden It is a relaxing time of the day in the gardens.” the property has also been the perfect location for quality and more action-packed family time “It’s been our family home with Christmas at the lake teaching children and grandchildren to ski and wakeboard in a safe environment and many summer hours with children and friends in the large salt pool,” Al said self-contained guesthouse with kitchen facilities spacious loft bedroom with a freestanding bath and an ensuite bathroom has been the setting for birthday parties and events The property also has a separate guesthouse Where else would you rather be on a hot day MORE: Indian interest in Melbourne homes skyrockets New boom: 31 Melb spots to get land under $500k its evident how the European-inspired grandeur continues The informal living area features light oak timber flooring and a stunning feature window for natural light The kitchen boasts stone countertops and premium appliances the master suite commands the entire level “We’ve travelled to Europe extensively and love the architecture and gardens,” Al says “This home’s design gives us a sense of those experiences.” “The beauty of the area is the all-year-round amenities at your doorstep such as Lake Hume for summer water sports and Alpine region for winter sports,” he said “The region has a large network of bike paths and parklands It is close to the regional airport and has been great for work commitments.” Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox MORE: ‘Gutted it’: Former AFL star reveals huge pub play Melbourne auctions: Interstate buyer numbers increase as city’s median house value stagnates Melbourne housing affordability: Units in sought-after suburbs offer big discounts third parties have written and supplied the content and we are not responsible for it completeness or reliability of the information nor do we accept any liability or responsibility arising in any way from omissions or errors contained in the content We do not recommend sponsored lenders or loan products and we cannot introduce you to sponsored lenders We strongly recommend that you obtain independent advice before you act on the content realestate.com.au is owned and operated by ASX-listed REA Group Ltd (REA:ASX) © REA Group Ltd. By accessing or using our platform, you agree to our Terms of Use. Home Tributes & FuneralsView PhotoFuneral NoticesWallace, Gwen2025 • Wodonga, 3690 WALLACE The Funeral for Gwen Wallace will be held at Tobin Funerals, 4 Moorefield Park Drive, West Wodonga on Thursday 23rd January 2025 at 11.00am. She will be laid to rest at Kiewa Cemetery, Gundowring. inset supplied.A driver has escaped injury after a truck caught fire in West Wodonga on Tuesday evening All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueEmergency services were called to the scene at the McKoy Street and Hume Freeway intersection on March 11 about 9.25am to find a single B-Double alight Nine CFA units from local brigades attended the incident alongside Fire Rescue Victoria The fire was deemed under control at 10.35pm and deemed safe at 12.05am The driver received no emergency treatment or transport Trains were alerted of the blaze and the scene was handed to VicRoads Remains from the load remain on the side of the road Picture by Mark JesserRemains from the load remain at the scene In other news, a driver was transported to hospital after a truck rollover on Tuesday morning, causing a North East road to temporarily close. The man was driving towards Wodonga on Myrtleford-Yackandandah Road at about 5.30am, March 11, when he struck a tree that had fallen on the road. The collision happened just north of the Dederang turnoff in Yackandandah. Today's top stories curated by our news team. Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. Love footy? We've got all the action covered. The latest news, results & expert analysis. Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Picture by Mark JesserAn 18-year-old West Wodonga man has been identified as the driver who died in Wednesday's crash at Allans Flat Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueA grey Ford Falcon sedan and a utility towing a trailer collided on Wodonga-Yackandandah Road around 2pm on July 10 The driver of the Ford Falcon, an 18-year-old West Wodonga man, died at the scene. was flown to hospital with life-threatening injuries Police said the utility veered off the road and crashed down an embankment was taken to hospital in a critical condition was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries It is understood the utility was carrying a delivery from Wodonga's Parkside Produce and the driver worked for the company Parkside Produce was unaware of the medical condition of the driver when contacted by The Border Mail on Thursday A damaged grey Ford Falcon sedan following the fatal crash at Allans Flat Picture by Mark JesserThe exact circumstances surrounding the crash are yet to be determined and investigations remain ongoing Anyone who witnessed the collision, has CCTV, dashcam footage or any other information that could assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au Layton is a journalist at The Border Mail. He is interested in profiles, features, and hard news. If you have a story please reach out to him at layton.holley@austcommunitymedia.com.au Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinue2 Mcgaffin Road West WodongaExpressions of interest close October 31AGENCY: Stean NichollsAGENT: Lachlan Hutchins 0457 888 212INSPECTIONS: By appointmentDiscover a stunningly unique world of grandeur at The Lakehouse and prepare to have your breath taken away Nestled behind a grand entrance on nearly 2.5 acres of meticulously landscaped and established grounds this architectural masterpiece redefines luxurious living Selling agent Lachlan Hutchins said rarely does an estate of this caliber become available "How often do you come across a home near the golf course with its own private lake?" View +13 PhotosThe estate comes onto the market as a regretful sale with work commitments taking the current owners away from the region The main residence has been designed for indulgence Seamlessly blending casual and formal living the open-plan layout has a separate formal lounge and dining area as an entertainer's dream Ascending to the second floor you discover an opulent master suite a sumptuous ensuite and a private balcony that overlooks the serene lake adorned with composite stone countertops and top-of-the-line modern appliances revel in the delights of your own private paradise Lounge by the sparkling salt-chlorinated swimming pool The ways to enjoy alfresco living are limitless - all against a backdrop of sweeping and elaborate garden vistas A separate and fully self-contained guesthouse offers all modern amenities including a built-in bar or a lucrative Airbnb rental income opportunity With an oversized six-car garage and workshop there's plenty of space for cars as well as your boat Additional features include a 5kw solar system watch as their Brewer Drive home in West Wodonga is engulfed in flames Picture by Blair ThomsonUPDATE: Two residents and their dogs have escaped a major blaze at their West Wodonga home with the three-storey property suffering extensive damage Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueDespite one of the owners attempting to extinguish Friday morning's fire with a garden hose Firefighters were called about 8.30am on April 12 Picture by Blair ThomsonNeighbour Phil Thompson noticed smoke and rushed to assist the couple the whole bottom floor in the back corner was engulfed when I walked up there," he said it went straight up just before the firies arrived The fire at the Brewer Drive property on Friday Picture by Blair Thomson"The windows started exploding with the heat Smoke was visible from several kilometres away as about 40 firefighters tackled the fire while the couple watched on Picture by Mark JesserOne of the residents had been inside the house and the other outside when the flames took hold Their two small dogs also escaped and while the couple weren't hurt Picture by Mark Jesser"I'm devastated for them," Mr Thompson said "The house just had a whole lot of freshening up work done on the timber." The cause of the fire is being investigated but there appears to be no signs of foul play Picture by Blair ThomsonThe three-storey home will have to be examined to determine if it is unlivable "A very quick response by Fire Rescue Victoria and CFA saw that fire contained to the garage and some extension to the second storey and into the third roof space as well," Wodonga West CFA firefighter Ross Coyle said West Wodonga firefighter Ross Coyle said good work prevented the flames from spreading Picture by Blair Thomson"The damage to the house is extensive to the garage area and the bedroom above "The fire travelled in an upwards direction through the three storeys "It was some very solid work to prevent that extending through either of those spaces or the rest of the house." Mr Coyle said the house had been heavily smoke logged it was important for people to check their heater systems He said firefighters were seeing more fires sparked by charging batteries left in areas where they could set fire to homes Smoke can be seen coming from the Brewer Drive house in west Wodonga Picture by Blair ThomsonEARLIER: Firefighters are tackling a house fire in west Wodonga on Friday morning Fire crews were called to the Brewer Drive home shortly before 8.30am with police and paramedics also arriving at the scene A large amount of smoke can be seen coming from the spacious multi-storey house on the residential street Neighbours are watching on and the residents appear to be outside the premises In other police news, officers are investigating a fatal crash at Taminick on Thursday April 11 involving a vehicle towing a horse float Inquiries also continue into a break-in at Tallangatta Secondary College this week Google picture UPDATE: A 60-year-old Wodonga man has been arrested and charged over an alleged armed robbery in West Wodonga on Wednesday Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinuePolice said it was believed the man attended a business on McKoy Street about 11.50pm He allegedly threatened a male staff member with a handgun and a knife The man then fled the scene with the money and was last seen heading along McKoy Street A 60-year-old Wodonga man was arrested by Wodonga Crime Investigation Unit detectives and charged with armed robbery He was also charged with theft and 11 counts of obtain property by deception relating to an unrelated incident He has been remanded to Wodonga Magistrate's Court on Friday EARLIER: An armed robbery at a Wodonga service station overnight saw a "substantial" amount of cash stolen Wodonga police said the incident occurred just before midnight on Wednesday at the United service station on McKoy Street Detective Leading Senior Constable Tracy Jarrott said one male offender entered the building and threatened the male attendant "The offender has gotten away with a substantial amount of cash from the till," she said Police declined to specify the amount at this stage and are investigating the weapons used which appeared to be a handgun and a knife Detective Leading Senior Constable Jarrott said the offender then ran out of the service station and remained at large The attendant was not injured in the robbery "It was obviously very frightening for the attendant," the detective said The man sought is described as aged between 40 and 60 years of age He had tried to hide his features by wearing a face mask Police are looking into possible CCTV footage Anyone with information can call Wodonga police on (02) 6049 2600 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. he inflicted on a man at the Springdale Heights Tavern.He sat next to the young bloke at a pub then moments later threw a slap followed by two punches the second strike with his fist knocking him out Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueA video of the incident at the Springdale Heights Tavern graphically shows the force of that second punch The victim lost consciousness before his knees buckled under his now dead weight the West Wodonga welder instantly turning on his heels near the outside tables and fleeing on to the street and into the night Prosecutor Sergeant Andrew Pike played the CCTV security footage to assist Albury Local Court magistrate Sally McLaughlin Ms McLaughlin asked for the video to be replayed so she could see how the vision tallied up with the police outline of the case Ms McLaughlin said it was obvious from the violence - the victim's eyes closed and all life drained from his face from the second punch - that "Mr Mudie is clearly facing a period of imprisonment" That is where he remains in the wake of the incident Ms McLaughlin ordered a full sentence assessment report to investigate whether there were any options available to the court that did not involve full-time custody "This is his third occasion of a violent incident," she said Defence lawyer Eva Medcraft said that was the case though she urged the court to not leave her client behind bars "On sentence I'm making the bold assessment that an ICO (an intensive corrections order) is appropriate," she said In late 2022, magistrate Chris Halburd was scathing of the violence meted out by Mudie a few months earlier after he initially stepped in to try to stop a fight "The reality is people are entitled to walk the streets they live in without idiots carrying on and belting up people for the sake of it," he said on sentencing Mudie The 29-year-old pleaded guilty before Ms McLaughlin to assault occasioning actual bodily harm over the Springdale Heights attack on February 24 Police told the court how the victim was sitting at an outside table about 8.50pm with a friend and a few other people He and Mudie were chatting for a short time before Mudie stood and slapped him to the left side of his face The man stood up next to Mudie and swung his left arm towards him Mudie grabbed the victim's shirt with his right hand and punched him with his left to the eyebrow region "The accused then punched the victim once more to the head area before the victim fell unconscious and fell to the ground other patrons administered first aid after first putting the victim into the recovery position MORE COURT STORIES He did not regain consciousness for another three minutes then police arrived and saw he was bruised and bleeding from the left side of his face "was swollen (and) it could not be opened." but he could not provide a version of events due to his injuries Ms McLaughlin was told the victim went to the Albury police station on February 29 "The victim informed police that he had sustained a concussion as a result of a three millimetre concave (fracture) to the side of his face." Police later made contact with Mudie to request he attend the station Mudie told police he was approached by the victim earlier that night in the pub as the other man said he knew Mudie's brother the accused got out of his seat and assaulted the victim thinking he would hit him back." Other popular galleries are listed below: All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinue- Throwback Thursday: School formals 2001-2009 - Albury Gold Cup Hot 100 - MEGAGALLERY: School formals 2014 - Morris Medal 2014: Photos from the red carpet Victorian Bushfire Information Line: 1800 240 667 Or The home of family or friends that is away from the warning area CFA crews will continue to fight through the night as the blaze is not yet under control. Conditions could deteriorate quickly as major gusts are predicted throughout the evening and overnight. Heavy machinery will focus on building containment lines. Smoke is visible in the area and particularly heavy on the Hume Freeway from Klings Hill (Bald Hill) to the west of Wodonga. turn on your headlights and drive carefully. Wodonga) has been established as a relief centre. Representatives of Wodonga Council Plunkett's Road and Coyles Road remain closed to the public Business owners and residents will be allowed through with appropriate photo identification AN emergency alert is being issued for residents at the foot of the Warby Ranges near Wangaratta The 40ha blaze sparked at Lake Rowan between 4pm and 5pm today but is moving quickly through Bungeet and Boweya and is expected to reach the Warbys by 7pm A CFA spokeswoman said the fire would impact farmhouses in the area and would likely start spot fires and start moving uphill quickly About 25 tankers are at the scene at the moment but air support is limited due to the high level of fire activity across the state Smoke is visible from Wangaratta and Glenrowan but those towns are not under threat Firefighters are struggling to control a bushfire burning near Woomargama and hold fears it may cross the Border into Victoria. Four aircraft from have been bombing the Tunnel Road blaze for most of the day but it continues to burn out of control. Rural Fire Service inspector Margie Wehner said 12 local trucks were tackling the 220ha fire. Most were from local brigades such as Talmalmo but crews from Lavington Jindera and Thurgoona are also on their way to provide extra support. With wind gusts peaking at 60-70km/h and tipped to get worse she could not say whether the fire would be brought under control soon. "Our problem is that the fire is on the north-west side of a ridgeline which runs parallel to a road and that road also runs parallel to the river," she said. "As soon as that fire comes over the top of that rideline the embers are going to fly and could start spotting over the Border. firefighters on the Victorian side of the river are busy enough as it is." Damaging winds averaging 60km/h and gusts of 95km/h are forecast right across Victoria this afternoon. The Bureau of Meteorology says a cold front over central Victoria will move rapidly to the east of the state this evening and an associated deep low pressure system would pass just south of Tasmania Winds will rapidly ease inland on nightfall. The highest winds in the Border area were recorded at Mount Hotham with a peak gust of 122km/h at 7am on Tuesday. Firefighters will be working right through the night at the west Wodonga bushfire Incident controller Graham Healy said the use of three water bombers from Melbourne had not proved as effective as hoped Mr Healy said it had been hoped the aircraft would have a more “drenching” effect on the fire Several spot fires also popped up on the northern side but these were quickly brought under control Mr Healy said Plunketts and Coyles roads were closed to ensure firefighting vehicles could get through safely The roads are still open to local residents Crews are expecting the fire’s activity to remain steady PLUNKETTS and Coyles road have been closed and residents of west Wodonga are asked to remain vigilant as conditions are tipped to worsen. Wind gusts have reached 70km/h and firefighters say the blaze could impact on homes at any time today Property owners and landholders in the area are asked to remain vigilant review their fire plans and listen for updates as conditions may deteriorate quickly A community information meeting will be held at 3.30pm today at Victory Lutheran College Auditorium All residents to the west of Parkers Road should attend this meeting slow down and turn on your headlights; smoke will make it difficult to see SEVERAL small fires have sparked elsewhere in the North East this afternoon but the CFA is urging people to stay informed, not alarmed Columns of smoke have been sighted in Tallangatta Valley on the JC Track and on Murray River Road at Thologolong A CFA spokeswoman said both were classed as small incidents at present and it unknown at this stage what sparked those fires A small fire at Bullioh’s McCormacks Road has been contained The Department of Environment and Primary Industries are also attending small fires at Whiteheads Road are still going but are under control at the moment “Certainly at the moment the west Wodonga fire is our biggest concern,” the CFA spokeswoman said “There’s a lot of other activity but the vast majority are safe.. but we want people to keep updated on their local situations for themselves.” Two Wodonga West childcare centres have taken the precaution of evacuating due to the Plunketts Road fire It is understood K 4 Kidz in Lawrence Street and NurtureOne Childcare in Moorefield Park Drive - which are owned by the same operator based interstate - have chosen to close their doors for the day Rumours that other centres including Bumble Bees in Melbourne Road and the Wodonga TAFE childcare had also evacuated are untrue A spokesmwoman from the TAFE’s Kids on Campus said many parents had chosen to collect their children but they were officially still open A spokesman from Bumble Bees said they were keeping a close eye on updates from the CFA but were also still operating A community meeting on the west Wodonga fire will be held at 3.30pm today at the Victory Lutheran College auditorium with police and SES doorknocking residents all morning Police and State Emergency Service volunteers have started doorknocking houses to make householders aware of a 200 hectare blaze in west Wodonga They are focusing on isolated properties in the Plunketts, Coyles and Probyns road areas though householders are not being asked to leave Rather they are being given details of the CFA's watch and act warning Authorities are also planning a community meeting for around mid-afternoon When details are confirmed these will be released via the CFA website and media outlets CFA region 24 incident controller Graham Healy said this doorknocking did not involve many residents but if they’re not confident they should leave,” he said Mr Healey said residents should keep a watch on what was happening If they were in doubt about their ability to defend their property they should leave The fire is located 3km west of Probyns Road and 4.5km west of Brewer Drive It has burnt 200ha in total but is roughly 110ha in size at 1pm The eastern side of the fire faces Danson Road. The fire is contained on the western side but if the east cannot be contained it will threaten homes on the urban side of Wodonga A containment line is being established at the bottom of the eastern side of the hill. Three planes have been called in from Avalon with one monitoring the situation by air and the other two expected to start dropping water just before 1pm One firefighter has been hit by a branch that fell with water but the firefighter is not injured Mr Healy said the 150 firefighters involved in the incident were “not doing too bad” "The ground crews are doing tremendous work under quite stressful conditions," he said. A firebombing plane dumps retardant on this fire on Black Range Road at Barnawartha North on Monday Picture: MATTHEW SMITHWICKWIND CHANGES Firefighters are cautiously optimistic about their ability to contain the blaze which was started by lightning from storms on Monday afternoon “But we’re not so confident that we shouldn’t be preparing the community,” Mr Healy said He said there had been no change to today’s weather forecast though the wind change had been delayed until about 8pm would create a longer fire front and so firefighters are now focusing on the eastern front Mr Healy said the quietest section of the fire was in the west and so the current response was focused on the eastern section closer to Wodonga “While we’ve got the aircraft we’ll bomb the hell out of it,” he said High winds remain a key threat for CFA crews battling the west Wodonga blaze but fire chiefs are "quietly confident" they'll get it under control Firefighters have established a perimeter and managed to hold the fire in place but say if the wind picks up they'll be "in it all day". The key pressure point is east of Black Range Road. No evacuation notices have been issued but this could change quickly if the fire crosses the perimeter A public meeting is likely to be held later this afternoon but there are no further details at this stage CFA crews are also tackling two small blazes on the Murray River Road at Walwa and Mount Morgan near Corryong The first fire is rated as small and is confined to grassland while the Mount Morgan blaze has burnt out 1.9 hectares of bushland and is listed as under control a CFA spokeswoman said control lines for a medium-sized bushfire at Lurg and Kilfeera 14 tankers and a bulldozer are at the site of the fire An aircraft is being used to find hot spots from the fire which like many in the area was caused by lightning strikes The spokeswoman said the only concern was wind change now predicted to come through the area about 4pm Wind speeds would build up to 50km/h before a wind change from the north-west to west-south-west CFA strike crews from across the North East have been called into help battle the West Wodonga blaze with the increase in wind speeds across the Border in the past hour. THE West Wodonga bushfire remains the CFA’s main focus in the North East with all other fires in the region declared safe or under control Up to 50 fires of various sizes were sparked by lightning strikes across the region on Monday afternoon but overnight rainfall has helped the situation A CFA spokeswoman said a watch and act alert for a medium-sized bushfire at Lurg and Kilfeera was downgraded after the blaze was brought under control about 7.46am “There is no threat to properties but smoke will be visible from that one,” she said is also contained with no threat to people or properties Residents are warned however to remain alert and monitor conditions. Firefighters are attacking the head of the West Wodonga bushfire in a bid to contain it before an anticipated turn in the weather hits CFA District 24 operations manager Paul King said conditions were reasonable at the moment but forecast winds averaging 65km/h could be devastating “It will wreck us if that transpires,” he said because of the rain and humid weather overnight so we’re hoping to contain it before that happens.” The 170ha grassfire is still not under control and is travelling slowly in an easterly direction from Black Range Road toward the western side of the city 20 trucks and four water bombers are currently fighting the blaze Wodonga West residents are on watch and act alert Or The home of family or friends that is away from the warning area March 29Investigations continue into a crash that saw a car with a mother and baby inside plough through a fence and into a Wodonga home Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinuePolice responded after a car crashed into a house on Silva Drive in West Wodonga just after 3pm on Thursday "It is believed that a white Holden Statesman crashed through a fence and into the side of a property on Silva Drive about 3pm," a Victoria Police spokesperson said on Friday "The lone passenger and the occupants of the house were not injured "An investigation into the circumstances of the crash is ongoing." Anyone who witnessed the incident, has dashcam or CCTV footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au Police inspect the scene after a car crashed through a fence and into a house on Silva Drive in West Wodonga on Thursday March 28A woman and her baby are being treated in hospital after her vehicle crashed through a fence and into a home in Wodonga on Thursday Ambulance Victoria paramedics and at least eight police officers responded to the incident on Silva Drive said he felt "a decent shake" from the impact on the house A keep left sign was dislodged from the ground as a result of the single-vehicle crash on Silva Drive in West Wodonga on Thursday March 28."Initially we thought it was just the cat getting up where he shouldn't be and knocking some stuff over but then we felt the house shake and it was something more," he said "I think the first bang we heard was the driver hitting another car and the second one was the fence." Mr Lovett said by the time he stepped outside nearby residents had started to help the woman and her baby out of the vehicle before they were transported to Albury hospital by paramedics shortly after Beau GreenwayJournalistBeau Greenway is a journalist at The Border Mail. He likes to tell great stories of people in our communities. Email: beau.greenway@austcommunitymedia.com.au Beau Greenway is a journalist at The Border Mail. He likes to tell great stories of people in our communities. Email: beau.greenway@austcommunitymedia.com.au Picture by James WiltshireA BORDER pizza shop popular for almost two decades is back in business Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueGino's Pizza will reopen to the public in West Wodonga on Tuesday after it sold on a different site about a decade ago He operated it for 16 years before it changed hands "I've been working for other businesses for six years and I've been desperate to go back into my own business," he said Mr Vaccaro moved to Melbourne when he first sold the business He worked for Italian dining icon Topolino's in St Kilda "Topolino's had a lot of gourmet pizzas and I've taken a bit from my experience working with them," Mr Vaccaro said Gino's Pizza will offer both traditional and gourmet pizzas using a 48-hour dough fermentation in a Neapolitan style Mr Vaccaro said Gino's Pizza would only have pick-up pizzas steering away from all of the delivery models "The worst thing you can ever do with a pizza is put it in a bag (for delivery)," he said "If customers were aware it was far quicker and fresher to pick up their own pizza Mr Vaccaro said he learnt the art of pizza making from his brother Patrick on the Border more than four decades ago He said Patrick was a co-founder of Red Pepper Pizza on the Five Ways at Lavington "I would have been about 15 at the time," he said Mr Vaccaro has been involved with many Border pizza shops and has always had a "lend-a-hand" attitude towards the pizza community; working in their stores swapping equipment and helping out wherever possible Gino's Pizza will initially employ four staff The business has been flooded with requests to be the "first order" on Tuesday The shop stocks Billson's Brewery soft drinks Gino's Pizza will operate Tuesday to Saturday Our journalists work hard to provide local This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: ABC News News HomeBushfire threat eases in Victoria's West WodongaShare Bushfire threat eases in Victoria's West WodongaTopic:Bushfires Wodonga residents are being urged to be prepared for the wind change. (PRIME7 Albury: Samantha Lowcock) Link copiedShareShare articleFirefighters have managed to stop an out-of-control grassfire from reaching homes in West Wodonga. Residents were on high alert on Tuesday as strong wind gusts fanned the blaze towards the town. A Watch and Act alert remains in place but conditions have now eased. Fire crews will spend the night blacking out the blaze before ramping up their efforts at first light tomorrow. The 170-hectare bushfire, which was started by lightning on Monday, has been burning within six kilometres of homes. Deputy incident controller Tony Long said fire crews had to work very hard to keep the fire within those lines. Ground crews had been assisted by "significant air resources", including several large fire tankers that flew up from Melbourne. "On top of that we've got significant issues with trees and embers. The trees are alight," Mr Long said. "So we're doing a lot of felling of trees within the containment lines." Contingency lines have been built using graters and heavy machinery further east in case the fire does escape. Local residents were doorknocked and majority of them have said they plan to stay and fight. "What residents have been told is to implement their fire plans and [they have been] given clear instruction that they need to keep an eye on fire, keep an eye on the weather and implement fire plans," Mr Long said. Two Canadian water bombing aircraft doing a practice run for the media at Avalon Airport were called in to help fight the blaze. The Hercules and RJ tankers can hold more than 12,000 litres of water or fire retardant, which is almost double the capacity of the largest water bombers used last year. Emergency Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley said the two tankers would be crucial to firefighting this summer because they can fly longer distances. "They'll be based at Avalon but they can reach either ends of the state," he said. "[They can go] over to Mallacoota or across into the far south-west in around 30 minutes, so their flying time is quite significant." AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueTerrified the woman began walking the short distance from Albury's SS&A Club to the police station He got in his car and stalked her while unleashing more foul-mouthed abuse c ...," he called out after winding down his window Magistrate Richard Funston was scathing of the actions of Sullivan - who had to be told to be quiet when he belligerently tried to argue his case while being sentenced - in the early hours of November 15 "He's got a major problem with anger and a major problem with disrespecting women and people want to get away from him," he said to defence lawyer Mitchell Irwin Adrian Sullivan stalked his former partner as she walked in fear to the Albury police station to report his intimidation and abuse."How terrifying this would have been for her "I'm absolutely appalled by the behaviour." Even his lawyer didn't shy away from what Sullivan did MORE COURT STORIES Mr Irwin said Sullivan had not been in trouble since 2016 and that "there has been times when he was a law-abiding citizen". But Mr Funston wasn't swayed, pointing out there was nothing in Sullivan's favour aside from his guilty plea to two charges each of intimidation and common assault. Sullivan, 36, and the victim had recently separated after a five-month relationship when he approached her at the club about 1am. Thug admits he's 'absolutely disgusting' for intimidating his ex-partnerHe wanted to speak but she declined so Sullivan became agitated and said: "It's not over I'll kill your family and burn down your house." A male friend who tried to help was threatened with: "If you touch her I'll hunt you down and kill you Latrobe Valley: Victoria’s top cheapies with prospectsSamantha Landy Victorian buyers hoping to land the ultimate investment — a cheap home that will make you money in the long run — should have the Latrobe Valley and Albury-Wodonga regions on their radar This is the verdict of Hotspotting’s latest report which identifies the nation’s top five regional “cheapies with prospects” and New South Wales’ Hunter Region round out the list chosen by veteran real estate researcher Terry Ryder who says the markets offer buyers a chance to “get ahead of the boom” RELATED: Outer Melbourne homesellers dodge lockdown pain Melbourne records greatest quarterly house price hike since 2000 Melbourne first-home buyer hot spots revealed Mr Ryder said Victoria-NSW border city Albury-Wodonga and Gippsland region the Latrobe Valley were among the many Aussie markets to have benefited from the “exodus to affordable lifestyle” trend amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic “The Albury-Wodonga property market continues to forge a path of increasing sales and rising prices as its population swells “(And) buyer demand in the Latrobe Valley has grown as more and more homebuyers abandon the higher prices of the Melbourne metropolitan area for affordable homes in regional Victoria “The appeal is enhanced by a country lifestyle for homebuyers and strong rental yields and very low vacancies for investors.” Postcodes in both regions had notched double-digit house price gains in the past year prices soared 20 per cent to $285,000 in Springvale Heights — the site of several house-and-land estates — and 19 per cent to $405,000 in West Albury Its cheapest suburbs were North Albury ($240,000) Springvale Heights and Lavington ($290,000) West Wodonga and Thurgoona also had median house prices below $400,000 Moe (up 18 per cent to $235,000) and Churchill (up 16 per cent to $215,000) were the Latrobe Valley’s annual growth stars as well as the region’s cheapest towns Vacancy rates are ridiculously low in Baranduda making 3 Mccubbins Lane a decent investment option Mr Ryder noted investors should be encouraged by the fact the markets offered some of the nation’s lowest rental vacancy rates — bottoming out in Albury-Wodonga at 0.2 per cent in Baranduda and 0.4 per cent in Wodonga at 0.4 per cent in Traralgon and 0.5 per cent in Moe He said these figures had dramatically improved in the Latrobe Valley since regularly rising above 4 per cent between 2015 and 2017 when the region was struggling through a “phase of change brought on initially by a serious fire at Hazelwood Power Station in 2014” Mr Ryder said its economy had bounced back from the power station’s closure and subsequent loss of 900 jobs in 2019 to successfully generate employment in health services aged care and food production — “all sectors that have strongly resisted the impacts of the COVID-19 period” This classic Aussie home at 10 Watt Street Albury-Wodonga’s “diverse economy” dominated by manufacturing construction and the public administration and safety sectors as well as its improving infrastructure and strategic border location held it in good stead for future property prosperity Wodonga Real Estate director Mark Rosevear recently labelled the region’s economy “recession-proof” being buoyed by employment opportunities in tourism “We’re a more affordable destination than traditional regional centres because we’re just a little further away up the Hume Highway,” Mr Rosevear said “It’s an extremely hot market at the moment with land sales going through the roof due to the federal government’s HomeBuilder grant.” MORE: Kensington Victorian terrace’s amazing lockdown transformation Port Melbourne apartment in The Block soap factory building for sale Why bidding for Wheelers Hill house stalled at $999,999 samantha.landy@news.com.au left an address in West Wodonga between 2am and 6am on Sunday Picture suppliedWodonga police are appealing for public assistance to locate a missing teenager Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinuePolice have been told the 14-year-old She had planned to see a friend on February 18 and hasn't been seen since "Police and family have concerns for Jessica's welfare due her behaviour being out of character," a police spokesman said "Investigators have released an image of Jessica in the hope someone knows of her whereabouts "Anyone with information is urged to contact Wodonga police station on (02) 6049 2600." Post Office and Tattslotto owner Marlene Smedley will retire on Saturday after almost 40 years in the West Wodonga business and more than half a century in the industry Picture: ASH SMITHMarlene Smedley can recall collecting money for newspaper sales alongside her brother at a booming Wodonga train station in the 1960s like it was yesterday Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueIt was the start of more than 50 years in the newsagency and lottery game Saturday will be Mrs Smedley's last behind the counter at West Wodonga's Birallee Newsagency Post Office and Tattslotto - a business she has owned since 1986 Her career path was mapped out from an early age when she worked for her father who purchased Mahony's Newsagency in central Wodonga in 1957 There were no sick days or anything like that," Mrs Smedley laughed Leisa and Rebecca) and had time away from the business but I went back part-time to fill in at the newsagency my job was to make sure the Tatts tickets were in order There used to be a coupon and a ticket and you had to make sure the right number was put onto the coupon "When lotto came (in 1972) it went crazy and dad and my uncle bought the TAB which was a few doors down in the arcade and the lotto went into there "I remember dad ringing when I was about due to have my second daughter (Leisa) and he needed me to give them a hand I was enormous behind the counter and the queues of people were down the street." Mrs Smedley said the Birallee shopping centre was vastly different when she first opened her store with a Tuckerbox supermarket and "Merv the baker" next door the only other businesses FLASHBACK: Marlene Smedley with a copy of the ticket and the payout slip of a division one Tattslotto syndicate winner worth $1.4 million at her West Wodonga store in 2009.The store has sold five first-division winning tickets one of which was particularly memorable for Mrs Smedley "There was a lady who would put tickets on for about five weeks at a time No-one had claimed the first division winner and she used to pop in each morning and ask if anyone had," she said "Low and behold two weeks later in the middle of a big OzLotto draw she came to check her five weekly tickets and she was the winner "What had happened is she didn't have her phone number on her Tatts card so Tattersalls were waiting for her to make contact for his support with the business and holding down the fort at home when she worked long hours some of whom have been by her side for more than 15 years I honestly don't know how she's done it for all these years He likes to tell great stories of people in our communities Email: beau.greenway@austcommunitymedia.com.au Beau Greenway is a journalist at The Border Mail As part of our roles as volunteers and the Community Safety team we have experienced many magical moments and this event reinforced to us why it is such a pleasure to be part of community engagement After a community safety session facilitated by AWECC (Albury Wodonga Ethnic Community Council) several months ago a number of Fijian community members living and working in Wodonga expressed interest in volunteering with CFA we arranged for them to visit Wodonga West Fire Station where brigade Captain Gary Lockhart and five brigade volunteers hosted the AWECC Fijian community's introduction to CFA volunteering More than 20 Fijian men and women attended the information session then moved into the engine bay to be shown all the vehicles and equipment warning lights activated and some went for a ride in the Wodonga West tanker There were many questions about how it all works and what it is used for The brigade volunteers also demonstrated the difference between 'structure' and 'wildfire' personal protective clothing with the outfits being tried on and paraded around the station The camaraderie that was born at this event between the Fijians and Wodonga West members was palpable “We have an open-door policy for all to join the brigade and CFA” a pastor with the Fijian community began to sing and all the Fijians joined in What a joy to listen to them sharing their culture the magic happened and the meeting room erupted into song with the Fijians sharing some of their culture with us," Gary said especially as members from other brigades in the group joined in to make it a group event "Events such as this make me a very proud CFA member." Not all the Fijians are interested in becoming firefighters though some of them will become part of the CFA family as a way for them engage and give back to the wider community The event reinforced to us that CFA needs to keep encouraging and welcoming the multicultural members of our community to join us as everyone would benefit View all stories View more contacts Tweets by CFA_Updates We are currently experiencing issues with our embedded Twitter feed We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land Copyright 2025 CFA (Country Fire Authority) Pictures: JAMES WILTSHIREDRIVERS filling up at two stations in West Wodonga have been paying 30 cents less per litre than petrol buyers in the heart of the city Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueAPCO in Moorefield Park Drive was on Monday charging $1.67.5 for its E10 while nearby OTR was retailing its unleaded 91 for $1.69.5 Yet the equivalent petrol at Ampol at Wodonga's water tower roundabout cost $2.01.9 and the average price in the city was $1.87 APCO general manager Paul Armstrong said the low price was reflective of his outlet wanting to fight off OTR which opened within sight of his Wodonga station on May 11 High mark: Ampol stations in Albury and Wodonga were selling unleaded for over the $2 mark on Monday."They've come into town to try and buy customers and we're keeping the price down," Mr Armstrong said "OTR are trying to make a mark and get customers but we're not prepared to give our customers up." Mr Armstrong said since OTR began his outlet had "got busier" and he cited in-store made fresh as a key difference "OTR has done this to us at another site in Mildura where they opened and they can try to steal our customers but in the end it's two different businesses," he said OTR community relations manager Jennifer Staines told The Border Mail on Monday she could not respond because it was a public holiday has driven a price battle along Moorefield Park Drive.In North Albury APCO was selling unleaded for $189.9 a litre on Monday Mr Armstrong said that price showed how localised price battles can be in places "That reflects that geography (issue) and there's been times where they've been cheaper than what Wodonga is," he said Lavington independent fuel station Metro was charging $197.9 for unleaded which was just shy of the average price across Albury on Monday Thurgoona and Lavington BPs had a low price of $199.9 with the Ampol unleaded in Wodonga Place at $201.9 Peak price: The Ampol petrol station at Wodonga's water tower roundabout.Mr Armstrong said with the wholesale fuel mark having risen over the past week the low prices at his Wodonga station did not reflect that situation but Mr Armstrong said in 14 years in Border fuel retailing he had not seen a trend of prices rising alongside public holidays He described it as a Melbourne trend and the average unleaded price there was $2.16 on Monday As for when the APCO Wodonga price will rise Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueA man who decided to buy the two cows and one bull had transferred the money to an account in the name of a woman called "Narelle" When the buyer tried to follow through with the seller after delays in the delivery of the cattle Albury Local Court has been told the mobile phone number for a fictitious business called Rassa Highlands - the cattle were supposedly the miniature highland breed - was disconnected The victim then tried to return to the Facebook page on which he saw the advertisement but he was charged by police for his role in the ruse - his share of the ill-gotten gains was $550 where he is being held bail refused on unrelated matters to a single charge of recklessly deal with the proceeds of crime Albury court registrar Wendy Howard adjourned sentencing to September 2 the hearing date for the 40-year-old West Wodonga man's other charges Police told the court how the "Rassa Highlands" page link appeared on the victim's Facebook feed on February 21 The man sent a message asking what the business had for sale and in reply was sent photographs of the cattle Police said the victim believed he was conversing with Narelle who provided him with a photograph of the property where the cattle were supposed to be located Narelle contacted him via Facebook Messenger on March 1 and the victim agreed to buy the cattle for $4250 She requested he make three separate payments - of $1250 $1500 and $150 - to a Commonwealth Bank account in the name of "Narelle Wilson" then she messaged him to say the cattle would be delivered on March 4 she messaged to say delivery would have to be delayed until March 5 as she had been "too busy" Police said the victim immediately notified the bank of what had taken place and called police who with the Commonwealth's assistance established the account the money had been transferred to was actually in Lyons' name CCTV footage clearly showed Lyons withdrawing money from the bank's Albury branch on March 3 at 9pm and more cash a little later from the Wodonga branch Investigations revealed that Lyons had withdrawn $3700 which he then transferred to someone's bitcoin account "at their request" "The accused agreed to do so after being approached by an unknown third party via Telegram Messenger on the basis that the accused would retain $550," police said Picture: JAMES WILTSHIREA new service station in Wodonga will become the city's 13th petrol shop when it opens on Wednesday All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueOTR will welcome customers to its store on Moorefield Park Drive The store will offer barista-style coffee from C Coffee orange juice and New York-style hot dogs from Moe's Dog and Shake "OTR is delighted to be opening our OTR West Wodonga store tomorrow," an OTR spokesperson said "OTR is committed to bringing excellence in convenience to regional Victoria and we look forward to being an active part of the Wodonga community." and select a charity that OTR will donate to through our charity program OTRGive Residents on nearby Mayfair Drive raised safety concerns around the location of OTR with increased traffic on Moorefield Park Drive Natasha Icely lives on the corner and Mayfair and Moorefield Park Drives and called for a reduction in the speed limit "I think the council needs to look and act ASAP at the conditions around here and slow down the traffic Further issues were raised about the lack of vision in either direction when entering Moorefield Park Drive from Mayfair Drive due to cars parked on the side of the road Wodonga Council's planning and infrastructure director Leon Schulz confirmed the 60 km/h speed limit was appropriate “Our biggest issue was there was no formal process for how people joined and integrated into the brigade,” Dave said “The historical process was to pair a new recruit with a senior member who became their mentor and their role was to answer questions and help them work out their training needs “This may have been suitable when there were only one or two new recruits at a time and these senior members didn’t really have a consistent structure to work to and the attrition rate was high.” about half the brigade members on the books hadn’t been seen for two or more years and only about 12 people turned out regularly he was the recruitment officer for four-and-a-half years and the 2019-20 fire season gave him the opportunity he was hoping for “After the really bad fire season our district office had significant interest from people wanting to join brigades,” Dave continued But the brigade was too busy with the fire session to follow up the enquiries until halfway through the year “I contacted all of them and interviewed most of them and we initially had 24 new recruits These members had to do their General Firefighter training and I used this opportunity as a catalyst for something else I was keen to achieve “We didn’t have enough individual mentors for 24 new people so I contacted some of the senior members who were disengaged from the brigade and requested them to take on a new responsibility I formed five new recruit ‘crews’ which included two senior members as their crew leaders/mentors and four to five new recruits "My aim was to re-engage the senior members and fortunately I found that some of them got back their passion to lead and be involved with the brigade.” Kris Dykes was one of those who’d become disengaged mainly because of a busy life and believing that he didn’t have a place in the brigade “My skill set wasn’t being used by the brigade so I didn’t prioritise my involvement in brigade activities,” Kris said Since taking on the role of new recruit mentor/crew leader Kris has regained his passion to lead within the brigade and he was elected as 1st lieutenant in the recent brigade elections Following the successful completion of her General Firefighter training new member Janelle Beach said doing the training with a small group of people and a senior member as a mentor was an effective way to transition into the brigade “It helped create faster connections with members and created a team ‘feel’ right from the beginning,” Janelle said “We not only wanted to be successful in our training for ourselves but also wanted that success for everyone in our group without being lost as ‘just a number’ among recruits “This approach really brought out a close-knit team environment within the broader team of 24 new recruits We encouraged each other at every step of the training and assessment process which ensured we all passed together.” the brigade gained 13 new operational members who completed their General Firefighter training in February “Our new members have continued to breathe life into the brigade and weekly training is attended by an average of 16 new and senior members,” Dave said “The whole process has revitalised the culture in the brigade.” these are the areas where house prices are expected to surge according to a new report.Houses in Brisbane The city is expected to be Australia's property price growth leader in 2024 Source: Moment RF / RUSSELL FREEMAN/AAPIMAGE The first-home buyers who bought a home without the 'Bank of Mum and Dad' Visualised: This is how long it takes to save for a house in Australia Jordan is going after Australia’s empty houses ShareGet SBS News daily and direct to your InboxSign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.Your email address *Morning (Mon–Fri) Aspen is paying Gannon Lifestyle Communities $6.01 million for the part-developed Wodonga Gardens Retirement Estate contains 51 dwellings with a re-leasing value of $15.3m ($300,000 per home) It also includes a community building and caravan storage area The undeveloped portion is valued at c$4.5m Last week we reported Aspen spent $52m for 17 Perth residential investments Also this month, the group outlaid $18.5m on a Brisbane student accommodation complex with plans to repurpose it as a traditional co-living investment In May the landlord acquired the Lewis Fields Retirement Village (also known as Townsend of Strathalbyn) on Adelaide’s outskirts Aspen controls 490 leased dwellings and 460 sites across seven retirement living communities in four states (story continues below) Gannon purchased the Wodonga Gardens site in 2010 from Lendlease which acquired it from Babcock & Brown Communities which had take over Ted Sent’s Primelife “We propose to develop future stages under a land lease community model as we believe it is a more attractive ownership structure for our customers,” an Aspen statement said of its newest asset Last month, Stockland paid $620m for the Halcyon portfolio – which includes 13 Queensland over-50s land lease villages Subscribe to our newsletter at the bottom of this page A former property analyst and print journalist Marc is the publisher of realestatesource.com.au Forgot your password? You will receive mail with link to set new password Picture by James WiltshireRapid population growth across Wodonga and the Indigo Shire has fast-tracked a major upgrade of the North East's primary wastewater plant All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueNorth East Water announced on Tuesday a $73 million improvement would start in May 2024 at its West Wodonga wastewater treatment plant to support customers in Wodonga and Indigo townships of Kiewa The upgrades would also cater for industrial growth and reduce carbon emissions from the plant by 50 per cent due to less demand on energy Two covered anaerobic lagoons will be built to catch methane to be used through heat generators to produce electricity North East Water chairman Stephen Brown said the upgrades were vital with the Wodonga population expected to double in the next 25 years so we really need to invest in a significant upgrade for the site otherwise the growth wouldn't be happening," he said North East Water's West Wodonga wastewater treatment plant will double in capacity to cater for expected population and industrial growth in the region Picture by James Wiltshire"One of the key objectives of the project is to actually reduce our energy costs and manage the cost to the consumer We're trying to keep our bills as affordable as possible and this upgrade with new technology is helping to do that." Sydney-based company Icon SI Aust has won the contract for the construction and will partner with CCB Envico and LC Water to undertake the work It is expected to be completed by the end of 2025 "There will be significant opportunities for local contractors and suppliers We estimate that during the construction period the project will directly support the equivalent of 16 full-time jobs and require the sustained participation of over 50 local tradespeople and suppliers over the two-year project duration," Mr Brown said Managing director Jo Murdoch said the works will lay the foundations for future circular economy opportunities, which would include collaboration with a nearby planned $53 million hydrogen plant by Australian Gas Infrastructure Group. North East Water ultimately aimed to provide excess biogas oxygen and recycled water to other industries Project engineer Kevin Freeman said enough electricity would be produced to power the entire operation managing director Jo Murdoch and project engineer Kevin Freeman welcome major changes for the West Wodonga wastewater plant to break down the wastewater we would have to put a lot of energy into it reuse it and reduce that energy required at the time," he said "There's opportunities with the hydrogen plant in the future to be able to utilise waste oxygen from their process and bring that into our facilities and use oxygen to aerate the sewage to break it down effectively and efficiently "A key consideration with North East Water supporting the Australian Gas Infrastructure Group building the hydrogen plant project here is because there are significant synergies that can happen having those types of facilities together." The treatment upgrade will contribute to North East Water's commitment to be 100 per cent renewable by 2025 and net-zero carbon by 2035. Firefighters worked well into the night on the fire burning on the outskirts of West Wodonga Link copiedShareShare articleThe Country Fire Authority (CFA) has forecast dangerous fire conditions for Tuesday as a fire burns out of control near the Victorian-NSW border Lightning from a band of storms moving across central and north-eastern Victoria sparked at least 12 fires on Monday. There were fears Monday night that the fire in West Wodonga could threaten homes on Tuesday. The CFA's Paul King said the blaze was burning in bushland and conditions were too dangerous for air crews to work overnight. "It was a long drive in there for our firefighters and by the time they got there the fire had spread significantly," Mr King said. "Since then it's been very difficult for us to get to a lot of parts of the fire, it's very steep country and lots of long grass." He said residents needed to remain vigilant, as strong winds of up to 60 kilometres were forecast for Tuesday. "There's thunderstorms coming around through this area now, and if we don't have it contained tomorrow then the west north-westerlies up to 60 kilometres an hour will push the fire right into the western extent of Wodonga, and that's a pretty serious situation for us," Mr King said. A total fire ban has been declared for the northern half of the state, with strong winds and high temperatures forecast for Tuesday. Dangerous conditions are expected in the Wimmera, Mallee, north-east and north-central districts. CFA duty officer Peter Baker said residents needed to prepare for the first high-danger day of the bushfire season. "Some people think, 'oh, we only get bad days up in January or February' - that's not the case," Mr Baker said. "Days like Tuesday can in fact catch us out so the grassland is dry, the wind is up. That's the concern for us." Peter Crichton and Ross Coyle with the brigade’s new truck Picture: KYLIE ESLER WEST Wodonga will be better protected after upgrades to the McKoy Street CFA brigade Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueFive volunteer firefighters yesterday learnt how to use a second-hand truck the brigade received this week “It’s a huge upgrade on the truck we’ve had,” brigade captain Ross Coyle said “There’s been an incredible increase in demand — from 30 calls a year in 2002 to 280 now.” The new truck — known as a type-3 medium pumper — has seen service at Horsham The truck it replaces was a model from the mid-1980s “This truck will be used for structure fires and urban calls “We’re at our busiest time of year for house fires so it’s very timely.” The brigade also received two breathing devices valued at $10,000 The devices provide clean air supply by filtering out toxic smoke Mr Coyle said he encouraged those who wished to volunteer ahead of the fire season to phone 0419 494 419 All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe location of the earthquake on April 4. Picture by GeoScience AustrlaiaGeoScience Australia the federal government agency that monitors earthquakes reported a 3.7 magnitude earthquake striking the Albury Wodonga and Holbrook region on April 4 at 12.30pm This is the largest earthquake to hit the region since 1998 when a 3.8 magnitude earthquake struck Senior seismologist Jonathan Bathgate told ACM they have had 15 reports from the Aubury Wodonga region about the earthquake READ MORE: Are more earthquakes happening in Australia? "At this type of magnitude I wouldn't expect any significant damage," he said "Earthquakes of this size would have limited amount of shaking people experience a short sharp jolt," he said "They often hear it more than they feel it." The area has a history of small earthquakes "Over the last 20 years 29 earthquakes have occurred within 100km of the epicentre of this earthquake," he said Carla Mascarenhas is the NSW correspondent covering breaking news, state politics and investigations. She is based in Sydney. Contact her on carla.mascarenhas@austcommunitymedia.com.au Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy. All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe Sydney-based owners have proposed upgrades to all existing shop facades and awnings and shade structures over a section of the carpark. The planning application submitted to Wodonga Council states there are two stages to the project, but they will be carried out simultaneously by different contractors. There is no expansion of the property proposed. But demolition and replacement of part of the existing east and north facing building facades and awnings are proposed along with demolition and replacement of the existing main pedestrian entry awning. The works will require the removal of two existing carparking spaces to extend existing paved seating areas and awning. The Birallee shopping centre before its expansion in the early 2000s.Plans show the seating areas are located in front of the main entry and at the southern corner where the newsagency and chemist are located. Centro Property Group originally paid $5.2 million for the rundown Birallee centre in 2001 and spent more than $9 million on an extension to include an expanded Coles supermarket and other shops. The shopping centre is presently not fully tenanted. In 2011, the shopping centre was sold to Hadley Green Securities for about $14 million with an investment company BVPT Pty Ltd created and remains the present owners. Birallee shopping centre facelift plannedHadley Green Securities manages the property on behalf of the owners other shops in the centre include Haus of Meat Video Ezy has been re-branded as Bira Flix Land on the northern side of the shopping centre remains vacant Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueWodonga West Primary School principal Jocelyn Owen said her institution was one of few on the Border to have a "substantially above average gain" in the numeracy and literacy tests for 2015 Assessment and Reporting Authority chief executive Robert Randall told Mrs Owen "gains of this magnitude are significant and worthy of highlighting and acknowledgement" The results showed that while the school was below average against national benchmarks it was largely above average when compared with similar schools On the rise: Wodonga West Primary School principal Jocelyn Owen with year 6 Heath Hays who has been principal since before NAPLAN's introduction in 2008 said the results were reward for the school's approach "We've been working for a number of years on coaching and mentoring of staff and we've worked extremely hard at knowing every individual student and where they sit on the development continuum of learning," Mrs Owen said "We've put a lot of resources into concrete materials which students can use to understand the concepts were teaching "We looked really closely at the NAPLAN tests and how to best support students to understand the questions being asked and to break the questions down because many questions involve multiple sets of skills which students have to master." The use of NAPLAN for testing of grades 3 7 and 9 has been criticised for stressing students, pitting schools against each other and taking focus away resource needs Mrs Owen feels it has merit and is valued by parents "I think it's a really valid tool which we use with our other assessment tasks," she said "It helps us to validate where the children sit and I would believe it's quite accurate "It can inform us of where gaps are in our curriculum "If we have students that don't perform well on a particular question we can look at closing the gap "We can look at boys versus girls and the relative gain which shows how our students have grown from year 3 to year 5." Together they make four generations within the CFA Pictures: ELENOR TEDENBORGAs the newest Wodonga CFA station was unveiled long-serving members were acknowledged for their efforts in building Border brigades to what they are now Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueIT'S ALL CLEAR: Eoin Rossiter inspect the new Wodonga West Brigade station for their dad Second Lieutenant Dave Rossiter.Wodonga West captain Ross Coyle lead an open day at the new station and recognised his grandfather for 70 years of service and Les Boyes’ 65 years with an honorary medal “It’s a gem to be able to acknowledge the history of the brigade as we move forward into a new era,” he said DOORS OPEN: Wodonga West Captain Ross Coyle and First Lieutenant Shane French welcome the public into the new $1.6 million station as part of a CFA open day.“It’s recognising that transition – starting in that little station in 1997 with 20 to 30 calls a year to up to 300 now.” Mr Coyle said the $1.6 million building on Moorefield Park Drive featured local command facilities He said the station had a range of new features. “We’ve got rooms where we can clean our breathing apparatus instead of having to use the same kitchenette we made our coffee in,” he said. Second Lieutenant Dave Rossiter said the station would be “more visible” Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe concrete foundations have been laid for the Wodonga West Children's Centre a development which has been in the pipeline for five years It is being built at Wodonga West Primary School and is the brainchild of principal Jocelyn Owen who described it as a "one-stop shop for 0 to 12 year-olds" "Parents should be able to bring their babies along for child and maternal health services and it will be a place where we get to know the families before they start school All ages: Wodonga West Primary School's campus will cater for babies through to 12 year-olds as part of a $4.5 million development Picture: JAMES WILTSHIRE The preschool will cater to three and four-year-olds while health services will cover occupational therapy Existing before and after school care will also be housed in the centre "We expect the children will be able to start school six months ahead of what they've been so we can work with the family and it can be seamless curriculum," Mrs Owen said "It's very uplifting to know we're getting our turn at some modern and innovative spaces for our students staff and parents who are also excited and right behind the concept of a zero to 12 approach of working with families." which is the work of Wodonga company Premier Constructions will also house the school's reception area with the existing structure to be demolished and replaced with a playground "It will be finished in November ready for opening at the start of 2017 and we're taking enrolments now for the preschool," Mrs Owen said The project was welcomed by Wodonga councillors at their meeting last week Cr Mike Fraser noted building improvements were overdue with existing structures an "embarrassment" for the city "It's years and years overdue and great to see," Cr Fraser said Mayor Anna Speedie said she hoped the development would encourage more parents and children to utilise Wodonga West and ease the pressure on the Southern Rise preschool Wodonga West pupils turned councillors Eric Kerr and John Watson applauded the work Cr Watson talked of securing a grey brick from the doomed building. It's very uplifting for us to know we're getting our turn at some modern and innovative spaces for our students Ten-year-old Jason Cameron gets annoyed when he goes out in Wodonga with his grandmother – but only because “she talks to everyone” Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueKaylene Park has been a familiar face at Wodonga West Primary School for almost 40 years From her first dealings with staff as a mother in 1977 to then becoming part of the team eight years later Mrs Park has seen the small primary school transform – but as it starts a new chapter “I’ve actually gone from being an integration aid to working here in the office as a business manager,” she said “I guess I’m getting older and I think now’s the time to have a change “I’m probably getting out at the wrong time when the most exciting thing is happening.” Mrs Park has begun well-deserved leave and will officially retire in January as the school enters a fresh phase as the Wodonga West Children’s Centre The school will have one-of-a-kind combined early childhood learning and onsite allied health services “The most exciting change is the new building – we’re going to have a kinder here which is a first in Wodonga,” she said “Its great for parents to have a one-stop drop off instead of having to take a child to preschool and a child to school.” Mrs Park has worked under five principals and remembers a time when classes were held in demountable rooms “We’ve had a Stephanie Alexander Garden introduced we’ve got the toy library here now,” she said “I’ve seen children that have been here at school as students that now have children at school “It’s quite interesting really because a lot of them do remember me when they come back.” Assistant principal Sharon Mawby said she never ceased to be amazed by Mrs Park’s connections in the community and her seemingly limitless memory of students and families they were here five years ago and this has happened,” she said “She’ll think for a little while and might trawl through the system but she’ll find out “It’s sad because someone who has been here for a long time is going but so is the school that has been here for a long time too.” Mrs Park said she was leaving the business manager role in the capable hands of Peter Schneider and “there was no way” her retirement would mean the end of her time with Wodonga West “I’ve had a really enjoyable time here … they won’t get rid of me that easy,” she said