Picture suppliedA Wodonga couple is taking the lead from their children on their latest venture 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 areaContinueNgiyampaa/Wiradjuri man Taylor Hampton and his wife Jacinta Daniher are passionate about educating young people on Aboriginal culture They inspired them to make picture books that reflected their culture and experiences as young Aboriginal children growing up in Australia the couple recently published their second children's book Hampton said they had written Our Mob two years ago to introduce preschoolers to First Nations culture and to make their own children proud "Our Dance is about celebrating that identity," he said "It's about practising dance and celebrating that part of Aboriginal culture." Having moved to the Border as a couple to study and work in 2014, Hampton said his own cultural journey only started in Albury-Wodonga Growing up at West Wyalong in the northern Riverina he knew he was Aboriginal but he was disconnected from his cultural background "My dad grew up not being able to speak his language," Hampton said "The education system was all about Captain Cook and there was nothing until [Australian film] Rabbit-Proof Fence came out "Ella is now in a koori dancing troupe at her school and she loves dancing; she's always saying she's proud to be Aboriginal "That was something I didn't have as a kid." Our Dance will be launched at Booktique Albury on Saturday the couple founded Birrang Cultural Connections to offer cultural workshops in schools and preschools with the vision of creating content that is educational Hampton said he and his wife brought complementary skills to their work "I use the cultural knowledge I have and I understand the cultural protocols while Jacinta is a childhood educator," he said "I'm focused on the Aboriginal culture and she has that early childhood background; in our books she's putting the words together and I'm putting the cultural lens onto it." Our Dance is a joyful celebration of First Nations culture and Australia's native animals through dance and music with rhyming actions to get young readers moving and vibrant illustrations from Paris-based Noongar illustrator Janelle Burger The couple's children feature as characters in the book Hampton and Daniher will launch Our Dance at Booktique Albury on Saturday a song of the same name by Gamilaraay woman Sue Ray was also now available on streaming platforms Newsletters & AlertsView 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. Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. Love footy? We've got all the action covered. The latest news, results & expert analysis. 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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 gun Bulldogs' midfielder limped from the ground against North Albury on Good Friday and advised it is a 12-14-week recovery "There's a tear four-fifths of the width of the tendon," O'Sullivan explained either the PRP injections or surgery and for the long-term effects I'm trying everything to avoid surgery as you get a lot of scar tissue there with surgery." PRP injections use a patient's own blood to accelerate the healing process Unlike some players who struggle to grasp the medical terminology the professional O'Sullivan understands the treatment and what he needs to do "You have to be extremely diligent with the recovery so I'll be tonguing for it by the 10th or 12th week (laughs) but I just want to avoid that surgery," he outlined The Bulldogs produced a gritty effort against Wangaratta on Saturday Dangerous forward Tom Miller and veteran swingman Tom Johnson also missed the game "Tom Johnson is under the concussion protocols after he fell heavily taking that great mark against (Wodonga) Raiders on Anzac Day he should miss only two games with the 21-day stand down period," O'Sullivan revealed "Tom Miller injured his AC joint last Thursday night He trains with the Box Hill Hawks and was tackled "He was in good form and got himself a lot fitter so Tom had changed his body shape for the demands of the bigger grounds in the O and M." Wodonga has a 1-3 record and hosts a resurgent Yarrawonga on Saturday Albury's season-reviving two-point win over Corowa-Rutherglen has been tempered by a second injury to a popular player "Billy Robbo (Robertson) got another head knock the poor fellow so he will miss another few weeks," co-coach Max Lynch said Robertson was forced from the ground against Yarrawonga on April 12 The Tigers were 27 points down at three-quarter time last Saturday but stormed home as recruit Jake Ryan had a second successive blinder You have a picture in your mind about what your best game is that might be taking marks and kicking goals he can still impact by chasing down tackles and applying pressure inside forward 50," Lynch added The Roos have a host of new players and first-year coach Daryn Cresswell said in the pre-season it will take time to gell He believes the last term collapse is linked to that but it was very evident in the first quarter that is what we want to look like," he offered The away team kicked seven goals to three in the opening term "We will get back 'Footey' (Jordan Foote) and 'Clayts' (Josh Clayton) that will help a lot with their experience we lacked some experience there," Cresswell added And North Albury coach Tim Broomhead has told it straight on his four-disposal first half against Lavington I put myself in the midfield in the third quarter and thankfully got a little more involved," he said After trailing by 22 points late in the second quarter Broomhead had set up two goals in the first four minutes of the third stanza as the Hoppers grabbed the lead for the first time The Hoppers are now home to Wodonga Raiders File picturesA new look Cudgewa has sprung a surprise against Bullioh after prevailing by two-points against the reigning premier at Cudgewa on Saturday someone forgot to tell the Blues as they dominated the first-half to set-up plenty of scoring opportunities but short-changed themselves after kicking 4.10 to 3.0 Brandon Whitehead and Sean Swinnerton were all lively and created plenty of chances for the Blues' forwards the squandered opportunities left the door ajar for the Bulldogs who wrestled back the momentum in the third-term to get within seven points at the last break The Blues were able to hold their nerve in the tense final term to eventually win 8.14 (62) to 9.6 (60) File pictureBlues coach Josh Bartel said it was satisfying to silence a few critics who predicted his side could be on the slide this season after losing a third of their list over the summer "I don't think too many people expected us to win on the weekend after losing quite a few players over the off-season," Bartel said "But it was your typical Cudgewa and Bullioh clash and I think seven out of the last 10-matches we have played have been decided by less than a kick "On the weekend was no exception and it could have gone either way in that last-quarter "We were in front on the scoreboard but the opposition were coming hard and it was a relief to hear that final siren "I think Bullioh had a couple of extra practice matches and played last week when we didn't and certainly had an edge in match-fitness "But we were able to hold on after a few of the guys were able to stand tall under pressure in that last-quarter "There were a couple of brave efforts that got us over the line in the end "The inaccuracy in that first-half nearly come back to bite us though." Chiltern recruit John Spencer provided a strong marking target for the Blues deep in attack but let himself down with some inaccurate kicking after finishing with 3.7 Spencer was a recruiting priority for the Blues to help replace spearheads Prior alongside Telford who returned to his former club Kiewa-Sandy Creek Telford booted four goals for the Hawks on the weekend in their big win over Chiltern Picture by Mark JesserKiewa-Sandy Creek recently named the club's leading goalkicker the Guy Telford Medal in honour of Telford who is among the Hawks' greatest ever goalkickers He holds the record at the club for the most goals kicked in a season after booting 147 majors a decade ago in 2015 Bartel revealed that Telford had told him that he had only departed Cudgewa and returned to Kiewa so he could try and win the medal named in his honour "Guy told me that he wants to win his own goalkicking medal," Bartel said "He said it would be funny to get his name on the trophy that is named after him and I guess it's hard to argue with that "The way big John sprayed them on the weekend I might have to get Guy back up here for training one night and give Johnny a few tips on how to kick a bit straighter." Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueGone – at least for now – are any coupe convertible or high-riding allroad wagon variants The previous A4 Sedan and A5 Sportback have been replaced with a single liftback body style confusingly called the A5 Sedan Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now 2025 Audi A5 and S5 price and specsThere will be just one of these sedan variants available in Australia with the other four members of the A5/S5 lineup being S5s with a turbocharged 3.0-litre mild-hybrid V6 powertrain effectively a launch edition that foregoes some of the niceties of the pricier S5 but comes at a lower cost you now have to pick either the S5 Avant or S5 Avant edition one Audi says the five-member lineup is due in showrooms soon 2025 Audi A5 and S5 price and specsAudi says the S5 can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.5 seconds both liftback and wagon versions of the A5 and S5 share the same wheelbase and the same overall length 2025 Audi A5 and S5 price and specsServicing and WarrantyAudi Australia backs its vehicles with a five-year It has yet to announce service pricing for the new A5 and S5 The Audi A5 and S5 have yet to be tested by ANCAP though the A5 received a five-star rating from sister authority Euro NCAP in 2024 2025 Audi A5 and S5 price and specsStandard safety equipment across the range includes: There's just one A5 variant with the new generation while the sportier S5 can be had in either standard or edition one variants 2025 Audi A5 and S5 price and specsThe A5 Sedan S line comes standard with the following equipment: 2025 Audi A5 and S5 price and specs2025 Audi A5 and S5 price and specs2025 Audi A5 and S5 price and specsS5 variants add: All models come with a complimentary three-year Audi connect subscription There are a handful of option packages available A black exterior styling package (standard on S5 edition one Arkona White is the standard exterior finish for the A5 and S5 with the following finishes costing an extra $2100 on the A5 and edition one versions of the S5: These finishes come at no extra cost on non-edition one versions of the S5 Ascari Blue metallic is a $1200 option on these models and $3400 across the rest of the A5 and S5 lineup Audi exclusive individual paint is exclusive to non-edition one versions of the S5 MORE: Everything Audi A5MORE: Everything Audi S5 Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au Photo: Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOSDamien Hardwick has called for better "protection" of Matt Rowell after the Gold Coast midfielder's quiet night against Brisbane and argued the result wasn't indicative of the gap between his Suns and the best Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueGold Coast looked up for the fight at the Gabba on Sunday when they finished the first half with some momentum and trailing by just 11 points the third quarter one-way traffic as the Lions shot clear for a 12th win from the last 13 encounters Three late goals papered some cracks for the Suns in a 9.12 (62) to 7.7 (49) loss in wet conditions Hardwick's side falling to 5-2 while the reigning champions (7-1) regained top spot on the ladder Rowell and Lachie Neale having a not so friendly conversation in the QClash (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)"We were hoping to be better," the coach said "We saw the demolition of the Saints (by the Lions) last week and similar today "We've got some things we can get to work on and we know the answers." Lachie Neale (25 and 10) and Hugh McCluggage (30 and eight) showed their class while Josh Dunkley (26 disposals) kept Suns stoppage king Rowell to just 16 touches and one clearance off contract beyond this year and in demand began the season brilliantly but was also kept relatively quiet in a 16-disposal game against Sydney last week He'd had at least 10 clearances in three of his previous six games and averages 6.4 in his 91-game career "He does battle and he doesn't get a lot of protection (from officials) I'm not going to lie," Hardwick said of the 23-year-old The coach believes his midfield bull could be appealing for more free kicks given the man-handling he receives around the contest I'm talking throughout the course of the year,' he said "He doesn't get enough protection for a ball player did some stuff up there as well (to try to get into the contest) Suns players took the field with plenty of hope before the reality check came very good year and a couple of quieter weeks." will play sixth-placed Western Bulldogs and third-placed Hawthorn at home-away-from-home Darwin in the next fortnight "That's the best place to be," Hardwick said of the challenge ahead "Instead of running away from it you step straight into it." He didn't agree that the one-sided loss to the Lions you don't give yourself a chance," he said but when they absolutely destroy you in that part of the ground .. 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 areaContinueIn line with the association's female football week 19 girls' and women's matches will be showcased at Albury's Jelbart Park on Sunday all AWFA clubs are set to come together at a single venue for the first time this season in an effort to highlight female participation AWFA president Kiera Hayes said the festival reflects the strength of female involvement in the game throughout the community one that celebrates how far the women's game has come in our region," Hayes said "We have every female team playing at one venue and clubs working together to make the day really special." Albury City FC will host St Pats FC in the regular scheduled fixture to round out the display at Jelbart Park "It's shaping up to be one of the biggest days on our calendar," Hayes said Albury Wodonga Football Association presidnet Kiera Hayes File picture"We would love to see the broader community come down Player of the match medals will be awarded to those recognised for standout performances Photo: James Ross/AAP PHOTOSErin Patterson had shared with true crime fans her love of mushrooms excitement over buying a food dehydrator and plans to cook beef Wellington Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe 50-year-old mother of two has pleaded not guilty to all counts against her including three murder charges for killing her estranged husband's family after feeding them lunch at her Leongatha home Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson all died in hospital from death cap mushroom poisoning after eating a beef Wellington Patterson had prepared for them on July 2023 Heather Wilkinson and Don and Gail Patterson died after eating lunch at Erin Patterson's home (HANDOUT/INTRAWORK BUSINESS SERVICES)Patterson claims it was "a terrible accident" Three members of a true crime Facebook group Patterson was part of gave evidence on day five of her Supreme Court trial in Morwell The group was created to go over the case of convicted baby killer Keli Lane she was a really good researcher," group member Christine Hunt said about Patterson's online reputation said in 2023 Patterson had shared photos of a black dehydrator with mushrooms inside "She was a bit excited that she'd purchased a food dehydrator," Ms Barkley said via video link Screenshots of Patterson's messages to the group were also shown to the jury "I've been hiding powdered mushrooms in everything the kids had no idea," she wrote in one post Simon Patterson finished his evidence to the jury after almost three days in the witness box said Patterson "seemed to really like mushrooms" In the weeks before the deadly mushroom meal Patterson asked the group if anyone had cooked a beef Wellington and if they had advice Erin said she was making beef Wellington," Ms Hay said "I think she was at the supermarket and she messaged us something about the beef that she was buying." She said Patterson had told them the mushrooms came from an Asian grocer Ms Hay said Patterson asked her for tips on how to make sure the beef Wellington pastry did not go "soggy" as it was one of Ms Hay's favourite dishes said she joked: "I'd make a tofu Wellington" so we had a good laugh about that," she said Patterson's estranged husband Simon finished his evidence to the jury after almost three days in the witness box Simon Patterson said his mother stopped reading messages from Erin after trying to solve a dispute (Diego Fedele/AAP PHOTOS)Defence barrister Colin Mandy SC put it to Simon that he had asked Erin - two days after the lunch - "is that what you used to poison them?" "I did not say that to Erin," Simon responded The jury of 15 people were shown messages from a family group Signal chat between Simon his former wife and his parents - in December 2022 - after he last week claimed she had sent "extremely aggressive" messages to his mother and father which he said were from a few months later having a crack at me and accusing me of some things in response to what I'd messaged her about," he said After his parents tried to help Erin and Simon resolve a dispute over his child support payments his mother Gail took a step back and stopped reading messages from Erin in the group chat "Mum really struggled with anxiety," he said The trial before Justice Christopher Beale will continue on Tuesday Home/Classifieds/Trades & ServicesService Feature 1SaludosSaludos @Saludoscafe | Saludos.com.au All tickets Eventbrite: Saludos You may have heard the news — we have decided to close Saludos! It’s been a wonderful nine years since we first opened, but with the building set to be demoltished, we’re taking this as a chance to rest and recharge. Our last service will be Sunday 8 June (long weekend) — which means this Mother’s Day will be our very last! To say thank you, all mums will receive a complimentary glass of sangría on arrival. Before we say our final goodbye, we’ve planned a few last hurrahs:  • Two final paella cooking classes • One Basque cheesecake workshop • A farewell degustation dinner • And… we’re launching a cookbook! we’ve learned from Spaniards and our travels through Spain and have been cooked by our chefs and enjoyed by our customers (you!) many times over. These are special recipes made for collecting special memories. Join us for the book launch, tickets are free and include canapés.  ¡Saludos Albury, 2640https://www.saludos.com.au/Similar Listings stle & FernThistle & Fern& Fernon't forget Mum this Mother's Day,••Sunday 11th of May!•••Order with Thistl... Kathryn Hammerton•Beechworth• •59 Ford Street•Beechworth•3747 Vic•PH: 03 5728 1981 Happy Mothers Day•Daisy Cow Soap & Skincare• •141 Main Street Rutherglen We also clean BBQs, cooktops & rangehoods.•Our professional oven clean will restore your oven to near show room condition.••We take the do... Neville and Dean Jacob from Jacob Toyota are excited for the grand opening of the new Albury-Wodonga showroom to celebrate 50 years in the Border community Picture supplied.A genuine passion for people is one of the many elements that has set Jacob Toyota apart as a leader in Albury-Wodonga for the past 50 years Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueCelebrating this milestone on Thursday Neville and Susan Jacob are thrilled that their business is not only successful but also one that has a clear focus on giving back to the community which has been in the pipeline since before COVID the pair are delighted to have a hand in setting up the Jacob family and all their current and future staff for the next 50 years They've taken great pride in bringing along their loyal customers in a shared vision for the future "We had dreams and goals when we decided to get into the automotive side of the industry back in 1975 It was exciting and a challenge - and it still is," Susan said "It's a lot of work and a very large commitment to your personal life this is something we are still quite passionate about and we've strived to make it happen." a real sense of excitement among the staff This new building stands as proof of their commitment to the local community for our family and for our staff to end up with such a lovely facility," Susan said dealer-principal Dean Jacob was proud to give them excitement and an assurance that the Jacob family would continue to give them the best to work with a real sense of excitement among the staff," he said Five generations have made and continue to make their mark in the Jacob Group and this renewal will see the next generations flourish "This will be something great for the upcoming generations to enjoy for the next five decades and maybe beyond," Neville said The new showroom was built by Zauner Constructions on the original site where the Jacobs have been since 1986 Having been an old yellow-and-blue Clarke-Rubber store the Jacob group has developed the site over the years to now reach this magnificent evolution Susan said it has "given Melbourne Road a bit of a profile" "The building has become an iconic landmark in Wodonga in particular," she said "We hope that other businesses can follow along and put Wodonga on the map as far as commercial buildings go." The official opening ceremony and celebration of 50 years will be held today (RJ) = Regent Junior (GC) = Gold ClassGOLD CLASSA MINECRAFT MOVIE (PG)SAT SUN 12:00 (GC) Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueSINNERS (MA15) FRI SAT SUN 8:15 (GC) THU to WED (RM) 3:30 (RM) 6:30 (RM) 9:30 (RM) THU FRI MON TUE WED 11:00 1:30 4:00 6:30 8:45 Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe premiers kicked 9.16 in edging out Lavington in round 3 but landed an impressive 18.9 (117) to 5.11 (41) "We were pretty efficient and cleaned that (inaccuracy) up last week we nearly doubled Lavington inside 50s but we got on top in the clearances in the second half and had better entries," coach Sam Murray explained Lochie O'Brien and Ed Dayman chipped in with three apiece while Will Christie was best on ground with a double O'Brien has continued his strong start in his second season out of the AFL while Noah Scholte impressed in his fifth game "Noah's pressure as a small forward was outstanding," Murray praised Corey Rich kicked two goals for the home team joining Beau O'Neill and Brad St John in the best fast brand and they'll get some sides," Murray said of the winless opposition Raiders are away to North Albury in round 5 while Rovers have the week off after playing the season-opener against Wangaratta The Hawks lead the competition from Wangaratta on percentage with a 4-1 record HomeTributes & FuneralsDeath NoticesHEHIR, Margaret1930 - 2025 • Aged 94 years • Wodonga, VIC Dearly loved sister-in-law of Tom and Elsie (both dec). Loved Aunt of Christine and Doug Doubleday, Graeme and their families. Forever in our hearts. File picture by Mark JesserALBURY5.30am Dawn Service Monument Hill Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinue9am March commences at Macauley Street proceeding down Dean Street and finishing in Elizabeth Street 10am Service at Monument Hill 11.30am Service at the Balldale War Memorial Attendees are requested to bring their own seating 10am Memorial Service and laying of wreath at War Memorial 11am March commences from corner Ford and Church Streets to Cenotaph 11.20am Memorial Service and laying of wreath 6am Dawn Service in the memorial precinct in the Benalla Botanical Gardens 10.30am March will leave from the corner of Bridge and Carrier Streets and finish at the memorial precinct in the Benalla Gardens 11am The Cenotaph Service will take place in the memorial precinct in the Benalla Gardens 8.30am Service and wreath laying at Cenotaph 6am Dawn Service at the Tim Fischer Community Park followed by gunfire breakfast 5.50am Dawn Service at Mafeking Square in Ireland Street Everyone is welcome at the RSL Hall in Camp Street for light refreshments afterward 9.15am Ceremony conducted at the Brocklesby War Memorial 11am Memorial Service and laying of wreath at War Memorial 11.20am March commences from War Memorial to Soldiers Memorial Hall 10.30am Assemble at the corner of Sanger and Isabel Streets for march 9.50am Marchers gather at Culcairn Bus Terminal 11am Service and wreath laying at Cenotaph followed by light refreshments reflect and remember the sacrifices made by those who serve our nation File pictureHENTY10.15am Marchers gather at Ivor Street between Sladen and Lyne Streets 11am Service and wreath laying at the Cenotaph 5.45am Dawn Service at Cenotaph Ten Mile Creek Gardens 10.30am Gather on corner of Bowler and Albury Street 11am Ceremony at Cenotaph Ten Mile Creek Gardens 5.45am Dawn Service at Cenotaph Lowe Square 11.45am Assemble at the corner of Larmer Street (Lowe Square) 5.30am Dawn Service at the Memorial Park followed by a Gunfire Breakfast at the Fire Station 8.45am March commences from St Mark's Church 9am Memorial Service and laying of wreath at Cenotaph head over to Mountain Monk Brewers for light refreshments 6am Dawn Service at Memorial Square in Clyde Street enjoy a traditional gunfire breakfast at the Buffalo Hotel (gold coin donation) All are welcome at the RSL Hall in Smith St afterward for light refreshments 8.55am March commences from Jaspers Corner to Cenotaph 10.45am Service and wreath laying at Cenotaph 5.20am Dawn Service at Thurgoona Community Centre 11am Service at Urana Soldiers Memorial Hall 9.30am March commences from School of Arts Hall Foord Street to Memorial Garden immediately followed by Commemorative Service and laying of wreath at Memorial Garden 10am Assemble at corner of Short Street and Railway Street 9.30am - 2pm Anzac Memorabilia display at the Walla Walla Hall 10am Service at the Cenotaph followed by light refreshments 10am Assembly in front of King George Gardens (opposite RSL) 5.55am Dawn Service at Woodland Grove 10.30am March Steps off and heads down High Street finishing at the Water Tower 11am Mid Morning Service at Woodland Grove Following both services we welcome all current serving personnel and the general public to join us at Wodonga RSL 9.30am March commences from William Street to Memorial Gardens 10am Memorial Service and laying of wreath at Memorial Gardens 9.15am Mulwala - Assemble at Hicks Butchery 9.30am Mulwala - March to Memorial Park for Commemoration Services 10.45am Yarrawonga - Assemble at Old Fire Station 11am Yarrawonga - March to Cenotaph for Commemoration Services (roundabout cnr Belmore and Piper Streets) 12 noon Comradeship for Veterans and family members at ClubMulwala That depiction has prompted dismay from some community quarters.Wodonga mayor Michael Gobel had a video with Indi MP Helen Haines pulled from the internet because he was worried it could be seen as "political" Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe social media clip about housing sparked Benambra MP Bill Tilley to upload a satirical cartoon take on the original post which in turn has prompted Dr Haines to accuse the Liberal representative of playing games which was on Instagram and Facebook in February Dr Haines interviews Cr Gobel about housing development in Wodonga can you tell me if this land was to be developed for housing how many houses could be built here?" Dr Haines asks "Over a period of probably 25 to 30 years our projections are for a population of 45,000 you're probably talking about circa 30,000 homes," Cr Gobel replies The pair then go on to discuss the need for infrastructure in new estates Mr Tilley this week uploaded his reply on Facebook stating "in a now deleted social media post there were claims that with the wave of a magic wand there could be as many as 45,000 house lots created in Wodonga" It was accompanied by a three-minute animation telling the story of "The Pied Piper of Murraytown" quoting the mayor as saying "we need 45,000 houses right now" in front of a group of tradies upset at high building costs Then Dr Haines portrayed as the Pied Piper with a flute emerges saying "I can fix this" and the cartoon Cr Gobel states "she'll lead us to greatness Residents clad in orange then dance behind the imaginary Dr Haines to the Murray River and walk into the stream as though hypnotised with the narrator stating they entered with "not a struggle or shout" The video has been described as "nasty" and "disappointing" and the drowning aspect criticised for being tasteless Dr Haines said the animation reflected a lack of seriousness "I think it just demonstrates the party games that the Liberal Party play Mr Tilley and the Liberal Party spending more time coming up with cartoons rather than doing the hard work," Dr Haines said I spend my time fighting for a single-site greenfield hospital and things that matter to the people of Indi." Dr Haines said the interview with Cr Gobel was prompted by her "critical enabling infrastructure fund" She said "mayor Gobel indicated if we could get that kind of funding through a fund such as the enabling infrastructure that would allow up to 45,000 homes Cr Gobel confirmed he requested the footage be pulled notwithstanding council interest in advocating for enabling infrastructure given the proximity to the likely calling of an election I did not want the advocacy to be perceived as political," Cr Gobel said He declined to respond to Mr Tilley's cartoon File pictureWodonga Golf Course has been quietly listed for sale "off-market" with price expectations of "around $16 million" Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe 18-hole course on 72 hectares with a bar and bistro will be part of phase one of the potential sale discreetly announced to an exclusive database last week Selling agent Savills director Benson Zhou said the sale of the course has "not been actively promoted" "We've signed an exclusive authority with the owners," Mr Zhou said "They just want to explore some options at the moment It's not going to affect the operational side of the golf course and it's not in a public advertisement as well "We're looking at around $16 million as a total figure." Mr Zhou said the site was a "large parcel of land with significant potential for future growth". In marketing material sent to the database Savills described the investment as a "prime location with stunning views of the surrounding area" The Wodonga Golf Course is frequented by several species of native wildlife File picture by Mark Jesser"It's an off-market campaign that we sent out just under a couple of weeks ago because they've got different shareholders they haven't fully committed to put on the market "So what they're trying to do is off-market first which is to the database only and it depends on the feedback we receive "They may consider putting it [officially] on the market later this year we have another golf course we're selling at the The Sands in Torquay so we have a database [of people interested] to buy a golf course "So that's what this whole exercise is about at this stage." In May 2015, the SS&A Club accepted a then-undisclosed sum from an unknown consortium to buy the course The following November, it was revealed the club was sold for $2.8 million to a secret consortium The figure was contained in the SS&A Club annual report and ended a six-year saga to sell the course The SS&A Club had taken over the course in 2005 Mr Zhou said he understood the same consortium was selling the course now Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueOrey Douglas McMahon targeted The Wash Up on Beechworth Road in the early hours of March 14 work gloves and backpack and tried to pry a door open with a bar It had followed two break-ins at Tower Laundry three days earlier McMahon was wearing the same clothes when he broke a rear entry used by employees and smashed a coin machine McMahon - who was arrested at the Warrina Motor Inn on March 14 - was already on bail at the time He had targeted vehicles on Crow Street in Baranduda on January 27 and left with a $700 nail gun A resident had managed to puncture a tyre of a van McMahon was driving as he fled the area Police followed gouge marks left by the vehicle to an Avondale Drive home The owners of The Wash Up told the Wodonga Magistrates Court on April 9 they were operating under "constant anxiety" Magistrate Megan Casey on April 30 noted the impact McMahon had had on the small businesses "It's really incumbent on you to make sure that you manage yourself on release," she said "You've had a period of time to get clean of drugs you'll find yourself back in custody again and again and again." McMahon has already served multiple stints behind bars. His Victorian criminal record spans 26 pages He was recently charged with manufacturing pen pistols but the allegations were dropped Ms Casey ordered McMahon to pay $8394 in compensation to Tower Laundry and $2449 to The Wash Up He must complete 180 hours of community work 50 hours of which can be replaced by treatment File pictureA Wodonga jury has found a man charged with five counts of rape not guilty Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe man's partner made a complaint to police in June 2021 The prosecution alleged during the man's trial that he had raped her on multiple occasions in Wodonga in July the man called the woman his "filthy whore" The court heard the man would conduct body inspections of the woman to check if she had been with anyone else and their relationship was marred by violence The man told police he did "treat her like s---" and that he had slapped her and bashed her His lawyer told the Wodonga County Court the credibility and reliability of the man's partner was central to the case Jurors were not told of the man's extensive criminal history They found the man not guilty of all rape charges The man was jailed for four months on one sexual assault charge and was ordered to serve four months in jail The man had already served the sentence on remand He was released from Victorian custody in mid-April but was taken back to prison in NSW for breaching parole saying it would not be beneficial to Farrer the seat the pair contested in Saturday's election Speaking to The Border Mail as Mr Dutton was giving his concession speech on Saturday night "I think that being Liberal Party leader detracts from what we need to do here in the electorate," Mrs Milthorpe said because already as [deputy Liberal] Opposition leader "She hasn't been present in these communities for a really long time," she added When The Border Mail asked Ms Ley on Saturday night if she was interested in the leadership tonight is a night to take in the messages that we have been sent by the Australian people and very much to thank my volunteers The former health and environment minister has been floated as a possible Liberal Party leader alongside shadow treasurer Angus Taylor, Wangaratta-born former SAS soldier Andrew Hastie and country MP Dan Tehan Albury Anglican priest Father Peter MacLeod-Miller speaks with Sussan Ley at her election party at the SS and A Club on Saturday night Picture by Mark JesserMrs Milthorpe said her advice to Ms Ley for the next three years would be to be more present in Farrer and "show the people that you care" Ms Ley rejected the argument she had been overly absent "My role as deputy leader has taken me out of the electorate but I've been in the electorate maybe 30 out of the 50 weeks of the last 12 months so I don't agree with that proposition," she said Ms Ley also said "over the last five years I've delivered $1 billion to the seat of Farrer and much of that was not in the last three years because when Labor is in power Farrer Labor Party candidate Glen Hyde said while whether Ms Ley sought the leadership was a "matter for her" "I would think after 24 years and what will now become 27 years as a sitting member her most effective years are behind her," Mr Hyde said Former Albury electorate candidate for Labor Marcus Rowland and his wife Lauren with the party's candidate for Farrer Glen Hyde outside the Albury Public School polling booth on Saturday Picture from Facebook"She will have a lot of experience to offer up and I wish her all the best in whatever decision she makes but I think it's a younger person's game now." Mrs Milthorpe reiterated her prepoll view that she would be likely to recontest Farrer after recording a 20 per cent primary vote there's been a real thirst from everybody to make sure that we just don't do this the one time," she said flees scene after second crash for the day on Wodonga's Melrose Avenue Picture suppliedA Border man has allegedly tested positive for drugs after being involved in two separate collisions in Wodonga on Monday causing significant damage to the car's right-hand wheel The driver was nowhere to be seen when emergency services arrived It's believed the man had also been involved in an earlier collision on High Street the same day Police and ambulance were called to the scene on Melrose Drive where the driver had veered off the road and struck a metal cage Picture suppliedA spokesperson for Wodonga Police said the driver was a 43-year-old man who held a NSW driver's licence but lived in Wodonga "He underwent a drug and alcohol test but failed the drug test," the spokesperson said "He will no doubt be going to court at a later date." Fire Rescue Victoria firefighters were called to a campfire at 11.45am on the Lincoln Causeway bridge The fire was extinguished by a community member with no action required from FRV 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 TRAPPED: Claire Wilson will return to the side after missing last week with an ankle injury as the Magpies take on Wodonga at the Wangaratta Showgrounds WANGARATTA’S A grade will be looking to cut key lapses out of their game this weekend against Wodonga at the Wangaratta Showgrounds as they look to break a three-game slide The Magpies have been licking their wounds after a tough four goal loss to Myrtleford last Friday but spurts of consecutive goals for the Saints in the second half cost the Magpies.. If you are a studying at the Albury-Wodonga campus now’s the time to explore the bursary and scholarship opportunities available to you The Albury-Wodonga Student Materials Bursary is valued at up to $500 could be awarded to you to help you meet your educational goals To find out more and to apply, visit the Albury-Wodonga Student Materials Bursary webpage Albury-Wodonga students are also eligible to apply for the Lisa Malone Scholarship students need to demonstrate a commitment to humanitarian ideals To find out more and to apply, visit the Lisa Malone Scholarship webpage. Applications for the Albury-Wodonga Student Materials Bursary and the Lisa Malone Scholarship open on 3 March 2025 and close on 30 March 2025. Don’t miss out! REBOUND TIME: Fraser Ellis and the Magpies will look to regain some form this weekend against the Bulldogs after falling to Myrtleford by four points in round three. PHOTO: Kurt Hickling AFTER sustaining their first loss of the season on ANZAC Day, Wangaratta’s senior football squad will look to bounce back in emphatic fashion. The Magpies were well and truly in the contest for the entirety of their Friday afternoon showdown with Myrtleford, but a strong fourth-quarter from the Saints handed the ‘Pies a four-point loss. Coach Jason Heatley said the competition was so strong and ... Picture suppliedA man linked to the broad daylight theft of a high-powered Holden in Wodonga was spooked while trying to fill up a fuel can at a nearby petrol station Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueJason Gursoy was in a white Holden ute that he parked next to a blue HSV GTS at the Signs by Knight staff car park on August 1 last year Wodonga police released images of Jason Gursoy a day after the theft of the high-powered HSV at Signs by Knight in Wodonga on August 1 last year Picture suppliedThe Wodonga court heard Gursoy's partner The blue vehicle was stolen about 12.15pm but had little fuel Signs by Knight staff also released still images from a security camera that captured the theft Picture suppliedGursoy was seen filling up a red petrol can at the 7-Eleven on Anzac Parade and was spotted by Signs by Knight staff MORE COURT STORIES was found dumped on the Riverina Highway at Thurgoona about 2.10pm Benalla police arrested Gursoy on August 18 and he was later jailed for six months for other offending Signs by Knight staff also released still images from a security camera which captured the theft Picture suppliedHis earliest release date is May 13 Lawyer Charles Nikakis told the Wodonga court on Thursday "He has a lengthy history and a lifestyle that I'm certain his family wouldn't encourage," he said Picture suppliedMr Nikakis urged magistrate Megan Casey not to add further time to Gursoy's sentence Ms Casey told Gursoy he had been around long enough to know what he shouldn't be doing and hoped he had a plan after his release from prison "I've been engaging with all the services here as much as possible," the inmate replied which will be served at the same time as his present sentence This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Photo: HANDOUT/NRL PHOTOSComeback kings Canberra have stunned Melbourne to win 20-18 in golden point in one of the most controversial finishes in NRL history Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueRaiders captain Jamal Fogarty landed the match-clinching 85th minute penalty after Storm forward Trent Loiero was pinged for a high shot on Hudson Young in front of the posts. The Storm looked set for a Magic Round victory in regulation time their fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen appeared to have sealed the win with a 75th-minute field goal in his 100th NRL game The one-point was disallowed due to Loiero being penalised while in possession for an elbow to the head of Raiders prop Joe Topine in a previous play after referee Gerard Sutton appeared to ask the Bunker for a review It's a pretty hard one to take," Storm coach Craig Bellamy said Three minutes later Raiders fullback Kaeo Weekes scored a stunning individual try regathered and scored to send the match to golden point "Special," Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said of the play The skill to catch the ball in those conditions was probably the most outstanding part." The drama escalated when Storm prop Stefano Utoikamanu was penalised and sin-binned while in possession for stomping on Raiders hooker Tom Starling when his team was in front of the sticks It was the second time the front-rower had conceded a penalty while in possession "I'm not exactly sure what happened," Bellamy said "If he was in the wrong he needs to pick his discipline up You show me a bloke that gives away two penalties when you've got the ball in a game Fogarty then stepped up to win it with a pressure penalty Scintillating Storm winger Sua Fa'alogo earlier shone The final Magic Round clash lived up to its billing as the match of the round with both sides inside the top four There was plenty of heat in the clash between two top-four teams (HANDOUT/NRL PHOTOS)Pocket rocket Fa'alogo set up two tries scored one and made three line breaks in a dazzling display They had come back from an 18-point deficit to win their previous clash with the Dolphins They were behind 14-0 after 25 minutes against the Storm and again rallied to narrow the margin to two at halftime Fa'alogo's 59th-minute try restored a six-point advantage Cameron Munster's  left-foot kick was precision personified Fa'alogo set up a try for Papenhuyzen with a play of pure audacity.The speedy winger broke down the right from 70m out and at full speed hooked an inch-perfect kick onto a flying Papenhuyzen's chest Their hulking winger Savelio Tamale got the better of Fa'alogo with brute strength to score in the corner Raiders centre Matt Timoko was too strong and determined for three Storm defenders as he scored and it was game on at the break There was plenty of feeling between two rivals with a history of titanic battles Two skirmishes between multiple players broke out before Utoikamanu and  Tapine exchanged open-handed shoves with the Storm giant penalised while in possession  Papalii was also put on report for foul play after he gave Papenhuyzen a facial AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Picture by Beau GreenwayA Wodonga resident has been told to remove multiple signs promoting an Indi election candidate after complaints were made 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 areaContinueLloyd Deane, who previously owned the Belvoir Village Motel on the corner of Melbourne Road and Moorefield Park Drive received a notice from Wodonga Council this week to take down signs displayed on the site supporting Liberal Party hopeful James Trenery The former secretary of the Wodonga Liberal Party branch said he had two double-sided corflutes on the property to capture the attention of passing traffic Wodonga Council rules stated only one election sign was permitted per property A $100 fine can be issued and signs can be seized and impounded Mr Deane was ruled to have four signs in place and told three had to go "It's a bit ridiculous," he told The Border Mail on April 16 "I've had signs displayed here in previous elections and had no issues until this year "The rules do not differentiate the size of the sign other than the sign can't be bigger than five square metres You are not allowed any more signs if the signs are smaller "Also the law does not make any difference if the land is 450 metres or 6000 metres as my block is a farmer with 500 acres is only allowed one sign "Are we living in a 'police state' or is this political censorship?" Wodonga Council referred The Border Mail to its website Lloyd Deane has been asked to remove all but one sign promoting Liberal Indi candidate James Trenery as it exceeded Wodonga Council's limit for election material Picture by Beau GreenwayOther Wodonga Council requirements for election signage include signs not exceeding five square metres in size signs not being animated or internally illuminated and not being displayed longer than 14 days after the event is held Mr Dean said it was "overkill" to have a paid council staff member handing out notices for signs "All of these signs will be gone in 18 days so why are you spending this money on a guy going around to get the signs taken down?" he said "There would be heaps of places with multiple signs Signs on Thurgoona Street were cut into four pieces a matter of days after several of Mrs Milthorpe's signs were ordered to be removed across the city for exceeding the 0.8-square metre size limit A spokesperson for Mrs Milthorpe's office told The Border Mail on Friday the campaign was working with the council to resolve the matter 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 Its impact was considered as part of a planning appeal Picture by Mark JesserA helicopter landing site in east Wodonga would not distract motorists and noise generated by landings and take-offs was below mandated levels The building firm's owners want to travel by helicopter to their site off Victoria Cross Parade near White Box Rise and south of the homemaker centre noise and dust grounds were cited by council as reasons for the plan being rejected transport planning expert Charmaine Dunstan and consultant acoustic engineer Jordan Growcott told the tribunal their studies had shown no outstanding distraction or noise concerns They were engaged by Afonso to assess the impact of helicopter flights arriving at the site from a north-westerly direction near Wodonga racecourse and taking off to the south-east Ms Dunstan said she had attached a camera to the windscreen of a vehicle and then driven past the proposed helipad site from north and south directions She said she was satisfied a driver would not be distracted by a helicopter given the height at which it would be travelling in and out and that the helipad would be screened to passing motorists "There's no inherent road safety distraction associated with helicopters," Ms Dunstan said Mr Growcott said following the council's refusal he was engaged to do an in-situ noise assessment with six flights in and out conducted on December 19 They were accompanied by noise monitoring equipment being set-up at six sites in the vicinity of the proposed helipad including near a childcare centre and homes to the west of the site and the homemaker centre and Blazing Stump motel to the north They produced readings between 68 and 70 decibels during landings and take-offs Mr Growcott said those numbers were "far below" the 82 decibel figure set by the Environment Protection Authority as its guideline for acceptable noise "We acknowledge that the helicopter arriving and departing will be audible but [it] does fall within the context of the existing acoustic environment," Mr Growcott said the Afonso's solicitor Dominic Scally told VCAT member Nick Wimbush that his clients had agreed to reduced their planned number of weekly helicopter trips from 28 to 10 to now six and what was proposed was a "very limited use operation" He added given the weather in Wodonga was "pretty miserable in the winter months" there would be weeks where there was no flying in or out Mr Scally said the area already was a "noisy place" with the SES and fire station and Murray Valley Highway nearby he flagged a condition that a management plan be put in place and mitigation measures such as irrigation and grass be adopted The tribunal was told the council had put to Afonso that the land cease being a helicopter landing site within 10 years of a permit being issued Mr Scally said that offer was put to his client as part of a deal and a sunset clause most definitely would not be accepted The council's lawyer Amelia Hunter said the city wanted that point along with one related to the helipad not being used for joy rides to remain in conditions to be considered by Mr Wimbush A decision on the appeal will be handed down on a date to be fixed with Mr Wimbush saying he may inspect the site before making his decision Find stories about shows here:Shows Wodonga Show Society I Calendar and Map The gates to the 2025 Wodonga Show will open at 9am on Saturday 15 March 2025 at the Wodonga Showgrounds The Show continues to strive to be an affordable family friendly event for everyone and will include a wide range of attractions An exciting feature of the 2025 Wodonga Show is the Flying Fruit Flies Circus who will running interactive workshops as part of their aerial display performance The Wodonga Show Society Inc have worked hard to retain a link with the local community and are pleased to welcome the CWA Creative Arts and Cattle Competitions back for 2025 as well as Highland Cattle The amusement rides will provide the thrills and spills and are complemented by camel pony and carriage rides drawn by Clydesdale horses The science of toys and nitrogen show is a new attraction at the Wodonga Show Play Zones will provide an opportunity for patrons to come and try their skills with Cornhole The 2025 Wodonga Show will be an exciting opportunity to view the new and old up close with the Bear Foot Monster Truck and vintage cars tractors and machinery as well as a wide range of stallholders and an international food court featuring a cuisine from around the globe The program is being updated on the Wodonga Show Society website and social media channels Sign up for updates from Australian Rural & Regional News Manage your subscription We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info Check out our Events Calendar for details of ag shows picnic races and other events right across Australia We can sell tickets to your show or event.Competitive rates. Just ask us.Store@ARR.News Picture by Mark JesserThree fire truck units rushed to a shed fire at Wodonga on Saturday afternoon with police being called in to control curious onlookers Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueFire Rescue Victoria said it responded to a structure fire at 3.52pm on Clover Avenue on March 1 after calls to triple zero reported a shed fire Firefighters arrived on the scene within seven minutes to find smoke and flames pouring out of a seven-metre-long metal and wooden shed An FRV spokesman said three people required medical attention for smoke inhalation "FRV and CFA [Country Fire Authority] crews wore breathing apparatus to conduct an internal attack on the blaze and the scene was deemed under control at 4.12pm," the spokesman said Tankers from the NSW Rural Fire Service were also requested The spokesman said police were called owing to bystanders blocking the street Three firefighting units attended a fire at Clover Avenue Picture by Mark Jesser"The power company and a building surveyor were requested to attend," the spokesman said The fire follows a blaze that gutted a Wodonga home on Glen Avon Terrace on Tuesday, February 25. In other news, a man was allegedly stabbed in Albury in the early hours of Saturday morning Picture by Mark JesserA house has been badly damaged by fire in Wodonga on Tuesday night Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe fire started in the garage about 7.40pm on February 25 before spreading to the rest of the home in Glen Avon Terrace black smoke could be seen billowing from the building as two people were evacuated A man in his 50s was treated for smoke inhalation as firefighters in breathing apparatus tackled the blaze View +8 PhotosPictures by Mark JesserCommunications controller Paul McGowan said fire investigators would inspect the scene on Wednesday He said firefighters had done a good job to bring the blaze under control as an advice message was issued for smoke in the area In other news on Tuesday, Federation Council is seeking the biggest special rate variation in NSW for the 2025-26 financial year Meanwhile, Indigo councillors have resoundingly decided to flag their opposition to a plan for a 24-hour roadhouse near Rutherglen before a final decision is made by VCAT Also, Wodonga Council will advocate against the collection of an increased emergency services levy Xavier started at The Border Mail in Albury-Wodonga in 2001, covering sport and general news before moving to the subs' desk. He was editor of his hometown masthead from 2016 to 2020 before swapping the Murray for Merewether. He returned to The Border Mail as editor in 2023. ‘There was really no communication,’ Daniel Dickinson says ‘We found it out through the school and the media’ The Dickinsons have been sending their children to Bandiana primary school on the outskirts of Wodonga for more than eight years But at the end of 2023, the community suddenly received notice the school would be closing when the lease for the site expires at the end of 2025. Students will be enrolled at a new primary school being built at Leneva, another suburb south of Wodonga, set to open in 2026 “There was really no communication,” Daniel Dickinson says “We found it out through the school and the media.” The new school at the heart of a growing subdivision would be a 20-minute drive from their house in the opposite direction to their workplaces Sign up to receive Guardian Australia’s fortnightly Rural Network email newsletter Dickinson says he would have “loved” to have moved his children to the new school where their friends and teachers are going if it was closer to their suburb of Killara But the distance and lack of communication from the department means they instead decided to move to Wodonga primary school at the start of this year The new school at Leneva will be built for 525 students including 50 places for students with disabilities The Dickinsons have one child with dyslexia and another with learning disabilities ‘I do understand why they’ve chosen [to build] near a bigger growth area,’ says Dickinson Photograph: Simon Dallinger“I do understand why they’ve chosen [to build] near a bigger growth area,” says Dickinson “But there’s also other schools around there that people could go to The Victorian education department annually reviews the need for new schools using demographic modelling based on residential growth and enrolment trends. The 2024-2025 state budget included $1.3bn for building, expanding, and acquiring land for schools, and a government spokesperson said Victoria had the largest school building program in the country It’s on track to open 121 new schools between 2017 and 2026 But Dickinson and other affected parents say communication with the school community is lacking We didn’t know anything about the bus [routes],” he says “We were literally told this on the last day of school and now we’ve got this question mark over our heads.” Eight years ago, when Jennifer Broadbent’s eldest son started at Delacombe primary school By the time her third and youngest child started prep in term one this year the school had grown to the largest in Ballarat Broadbent is concerned the school is so big now that her youngest Delacombe and neighbouring Winter Valley are the fastest-growing areas of Ballarat projected to grow from a population of 28,834 in 2023 to 48,500 people by 2036 “We desperately need a new school,” Broadbent says “Winter Valley is growing so quickly and still growing and it’s unfair on children when schools get too big They get lost in the crowd and there’s decreased teacher-child engagement.” says the school is managing the high growth “at the moment” but current enrolment trends put the school at 800 students within the next two years The Victorian government says the school currently has capacity for 725 students – but Phillips says he has been told their capacity is 675 accounting for the planned removal of a demountable classroom The student population is also undergoing a shift, with 7% now speaking English as an additional language and a growing number requiring in-classroom support “You have to find an office space for that person and it’s great to have that extra support for students but where do you place that person?” Phillips says “The template for our school is not keeping up with that.” Free newsletterSubscribe to Calla Wahlquist's fortnightly update on Australian rural and regional affairs It’s already stacked with demountable classrooms including a new double-storey demountable installed this year Two new public schools – one primary and one secondary – were approved by the state government as part of a 2012 structure plan for the Ballarat west growth area prescient which includes Delacombe and Winter Valley The Australian Education Union says the number of public school students is expected to grow by a further 160,000 by 2029 Photograph: Simon DallingerThe City of Ballarat lists the next steps for the project as “ongoing advocacy” The Victorian government says there are no immediate plans to fund the construction of a new school in this area A new Catholic school in Winter Valley was announced in 2023 and is expected to open in 2028 The delay in opening new schools has prompted some parents like Emma Edwards to turn to non-government schools Edwards’ daughter was initially enrolled to start prep at Delacombe primary school this year She instead started at a smaller Catholic school outside their zone “[Our school] has about 265 students in total and there are only two foundation classes,” Edwards says “The preps need more individual focus to help guide them in all directions.” A 2024 report commissioned by the Australian Education Union says the number of public school students in Australia grew by 160,000 in the seven years to 2022 and is expected to grow by a further 160,000 by 2029 with the outer western suburbs of Melbourne and Sydney and established regional cities like Ballarat and the Sunshine Coast in Queensland the areas of greatest need an associate professor in education at Deakin University says “band-aid temporary solutions” like adding demountable to increase the capacity of public schools sent a message that public education was “undervalued” we would build a school for students and ensure it had high quality facilities Parents are obviously still wanting to choose the public school but the government is not responding appropriately,” Prof Rowe says Sign up for the Rural Network email newsletter An elected Liberal Government will invest $1.8 million to upgrade the Wodonga Tennis Centre and deliver increased safety and necessary improvements to a key sporting asset in our community. Liberal candidate for Indi, James Trenery, has secured this commitment so that the Wodonga Tennis Club – the premier inland tennis complex in Australia – can improve the safety and accessibility of the facilities and get more people playing the sport they love. “I’ve heard from the tennis club and from many others in our community that these upgrades are needed so that more people can play in a safe and modern facility,” Mr Trenery said. The funding will mean the club can upgrade lighting, resurface the synthetic turf, install a practice hitting wall, upgrade fencing, and refurbish the canteen and clubhouse. Craig Farrar, President of the Wodonga Tennis Centre, welcomed the announcement. “This upgrade is a game-changer for our club and the broader Wodonga community. With improved facilities, we’ll be able to host larger events, support more junior development, and offer a top-tier experience for all players — from beginners to seasoned pros. We’re incredibly grateful for the support and excited for what this means for the future of tennis in our region,” Mr Farrar said. Shadow Minister for Education, Senator the Hon Sarah Henderson, congratulated the Liberal candidate for Indi, James Trenery for listening to his community. “James Trenery is working hard right across the Indi electorate, listening to every community, and this commitment to upgrade the Wodonga Tennis Centre is testament to his ability to get things done,” Senator Henderson said. “I’ll always listen and fight for our community. This project will keep our local community active and involved in grassroots sport for many years to come,” Mr Trenery said. This commitment is part of the Liberals’ plan to strengthen local communities and get Australia back on track. To read more about our plan, visit https://www.liberal.org.au/our-plan. 231-233 Moorabool St, Geelong Vic 3220Monday – Friday9am – 5pmPhone: (03) 5221 5900 Parliament HouseCanberra ACT 2600Phone: (02) 6277 3812 Authorised by Sarah Henderson, Liberal Party of Australia, 231-233 Moorabool St Geelong Vic 3220. Picture by Mark JesserWodonga Council's chief executive has been given permission to pursue a land deal for a new hospital The property had been previously identified by the council as the best option for a new Albury-Wodonga hospital south of the Murray River. Wodonga mayor Michael Gobel told The Border Mail the council resolved to "authorise the CEO to negotiate commercial terms on a draft option deed with the owners of the land and to bring back to council a draft option deed agreement for determination" He said there was no timeframe for the discussions with the owners of the land Cr Gobel said previous conversations with them had been very informal "As a courtesy to them we've said we've identified the site as a preferred site so we've had those conversations and there's been representations from council saying 'would you consider entering into a discussion regarding a potential option?'," he said Cr Gobel said the thinking behind pursuing a land deal was to provide an option to government if there was a rethink on hospital plans for the Twin Cities "We're trying to de-risk it for the respective governments," he said "By identifying a site and then securing that site to an option it just takes some of that uncertainty away "People have said 'it's all very well you've identified a site but if you've got no control over it then it's a bit hypothetical' so it just takes an element of commercial and political risk out of it to the respective state governments if we were to be successful in this advocacy for a new hospital on a new site." Cr Gobel said if a deal was reached it would not necessarily mean the council became the land's owner it may mean potentially we could transfer that option deed to someone else like Department of Health Victoria or Department of Health NSW or the federal government or whatever," he said The Border Mail contacted the Milos family for comment who previously showed off the land to former Victorian Opposition leader Matthew Guy as a hospital site declined to comment on the council's plan on the basis of needing more detail Picture by Mark JesserA woman has suffered a suspected broken ankle in a Wodonga hit and run Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe 22-year-old victim was hit by a vehicle about 5pm on Tuesday The incident occurred on Beardmore Street and detectives are still searching for the driver The alleged offender and victim are known to each other Wodonga police at the scene of the Beardmore Street hit and run on Tuesday Picture by Mark Jesser"We're looking for the offender at this stage," a police spokeswoman said on Wednesday morning "Those with information can contact Wodonga detectives." In other police news police are investigating a car fire involving a stolen Renault van at Bonegilla The vehicle was found burning on Old Weir Road about 11am on Tuesday It had been stolen in the early hours of the morning Anyone with information can call (02) 6049 2600 or 1800 333 000 Multiple police officers have been recognised at an awards ceremony in Wangaratta on Tuesday for actions such as saving a man's life and investigating alleged sexual assaults involving a North East doctor This website uses cookies to ensure you get a better experience La Trobe University is proud to take a leadership role in addressing the regional health workforce crisis with the official opening of its new state-of-the-art Clinical Simulation Suite at the Albury-Wodonga campus This $4.9 million investment expands the University’s health education capabilities providing students with immersive learning experiences designed to prepare them for a successful career in healthcare It doubles the capacity of the Clinical Simulation Suite at our Albury-Wodonga campus from eight to 16 beds La Trobe Vice-Chancellor Professor Theo Farrell said this was part of the University’s $170 million investment across all Victorian campuses to improve the quality and capacity of health education facilities “The future of healthcare in regional and rural Australia relies on the higher education sector producing qualified well-prepared professionals who are committed to working in these areas,” Professor Farrell said “La Trobe’s investment in education infrastructure and partnerships ensures that we continue to be a key player in developing the health workforce of the future.” Nursing students represent one of the largest cohorts on the Albury-Wodonga campus and will be learning in an environment that closely resembles a hospital or other clinical setting Dean of La Trobe’s Rural Health School said this investment was in direct response to consultations with local health organisations Gateway Health and other regional north-east Victorian hospital networks “This investment reflects our ongoing commitment to providing world-class education in rural health and meeting the pressing need for more healthcare professionals across regional and rural areas,” Professor Mills said “By equipping our students with the best facilities and technologies we are enhancing their education and ensuring they are prepared to make a difference in communities that need them the most.” First-year Bachelor of Nursing student Eve McKenzie-McHarg will benefit from the new facility for the remainder of her degree “The simulation and hands-on practice will help to refine my clinical abilities such as assessing patients and administering treatments,” Eve said “I also like how the labs focus on team-based care helping me to develop communication and teamwork skills while collaborating with my peers The labs help to bridge the gap between theory and practice and will assist us to transition confidently into the workforce.” said the La Trobe Rural Health School expansion had created more opportunities for industry partnerships stimulating both student enrolment and employment pathways including Albury Wodonga Health and Wodonga TAFE have expressed interest in utilising the labs for their staff and students further solidifying our facility as a valuable community asset,” Dr Threlkeld said “The new Clinical Simulation Suite will further support student growth enrich the campus experience and help address the workforce shortages in the rural health sector.” La Trobe works with health partners to innovate and create more student placements to build the health workforce of the future.With a background in aged care Cindy Bulle entered the Bachelor of Nursing degree at La Trobe two years ago through a Wodonga TAFE pathway Cindy said La Trobe aided her transition into higher education through academic and wellbeing support her placements across regional and rural locations have prepared her for a successful career in nursing “Learning in La Trobe’s health education facilities gave me plenty of good practice for my 800 hours of placement,” Cindy said.“I feel well and truly prepared and I’m now looking ahead to next year when I will commence a postgraduate Diploma of Rural Health.” This redevelopment complements La Trobe’s existing investment in health and the care economy Director of the Care Economy Research Institute and Chair of the John Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research Further works will commence in October in the adjacent building to upgrade and refurbish the existing eight-bed simulation lab Next year will also see the introduction of La Trobe Rural Health School’s graduate entry Master of Nursing Practice which is aimed at career changers looking to enter the nursing profession this course will provide a further pathway to support the regional health workforce and meet the growing demand for qualified healthcare professionals in the region La Trobe enters FWO Enforceable Undertaking inset supplied.A driver has escaped injury after a truck caught fire in West Wodonga on Tuesday evening 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. Albury Wodonga Health staff have recognised preventative measures surrounding the sharing of information File pictureThe grandparents of a Wodonga man who died while on leave from a North East mental health facility say they hope changes made since the incident will help others Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe 24-year-old man was subject to an involuntary mental health treatment order after being spoken to by police on June 14 last year He had expressed concerns about demons and said he had been fearful and had locked himself in his car A summary inquest heard the 24-year-old was a drug user who had suffered psychosis and schizophrenia and had been admitted to mental health facilities on several prior occasions During a schizophrenic episode on August 13 the man punched his grandfather in his chest The Coroners Court heard the man was taken to Wodonga hospital on June 14 last year He was on a temporary treatment order at the mental health clinic and was assessed and reviewed on multiple occasions The inquest heard he had shown a lack of insight into his behaviour He denied his grandparents were worried about him and said he didn't want to go back on clozapine The 24-year-old had denied any thoughts of self-harm and sought to leave the clinic for his brother's surprise birthday Concerns were raised about the distance the man would have to travel and his possible exposure to drugs The man was disappointed and exasperated at the refusal The man's body was found off Castle Creek Road by a motorist about 2pm on June 24 Detectives did not find any suspicious circumstances Coroner Simon McGregor noted the mental health care provided to the late man was "reasonable and appropriate" The court heard Albury Wodonga Health staff had recognised preventative measures surrounding the sharing of information Coroner McGregor noted if those changes had been in place at the time they wouldn't have necessarily changed the outcome The late man's grandparents thanked those involved in the process His grandmother said she hoped the changes would help make a difference to others Picture from Google MapsA person has died after a late-night crash in Bonegilla Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinuePolice and emergency services were called after a vehicle left Mahers Road and rolled about 11.30pm on Wednesday was the only person in the vehicle and died at the scene The exact circumstances surrounding the crash are not yet determined Anyone who witnessed the crash or with dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au It has been a bad week on Border and North East roads A person was found dead in an overturned vehicle near Buffalo River on March 8 The car was spotted in water off Buffalo River Road, south of Myrtleford That came after a man died after a ute hit a tree in Boree Creek on March 7 Emergency services were called to Strontian Road at about 9pm where the man in his 30s died at the scene Forgot your password? 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Photo: Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOSCanterbury winger Jacob Kiraz has enhanced his State of Origin chances for NSW with a hat-trick of tries in a 38-18 NRL win over the Gold Coast Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueTitans coach Des Hasler had earlier dropped representative second-rower David Fifita to the Ipswich Jets in the Queensland Cup Fifita was playing 35km to the west of Suncorp Stadium at the same time as his teammates but was unable to inspire the Jets who lost 32-0 to the previously winless Northern Pride The Titans had a disastrous start with half Tom Weaver concussed when his head collided with the hip of giant Bulldog forward Viliame Kikau in a fifth minute tackle now under pressure after the side's fifth loss in a row moved fullback Jaylan De Groot into a playmaking role as cover but it was not a success Kiraz was magnificent for the ladder-leading Bulldogs and is a strong chance to debut for NSW with incumbent Blues wingers Zac Lomax and Brian To'o on the injured list class finishing and willing kick-chase that stood out Bulldogs fullback Connor Tracey had a stellar match with his running game a highlight Toby Sexton sent up a towering bomb for winger Kiraz to leap high and score Tracey scored next after a sensational late offload from second-rower Jacob Preston Bulldogs fans were out in droves to support their team at Suncorp Stadium (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)Against the run of play Titans back-rower Beau Fermor crashed over out wide in a deceptive interchange of passing with Brian Kelly The Titans often dish up a potpourri of the bizarre and fantastical and the next try was in that ballpark went into halfback mode with a chip and chase that led to a try to centre Phil Sami who landed just one goal from four attempts was sin-binned for a professional foul from a scrum and the Titans had let the Bulldogs off the hook were off their game for the last 25 minutes of the first half but a stern chat from coach Cameron Ciraldo got them back on track Kiraz scooted over after half-time for his second He then caught a Sexton bomb with panache to put Preston over Big men Viliame Kikau and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui meet head on (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton carved through threadbare defence to put Kiraz over for his third The Titans rallied with Fermor scoring his second and winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira running the length to score his 47th try in as many matches The Bulldogs had Preston sin-binned late for a crusher tackle which she said includes surgery on her kidney in 2023 File pictures and supplied by Tracey Stiles.A Baranduda woman has been left shattered after being stood down as an ambassador for a Border cancer fundraiser Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueTracey Stiles said she was blindsided after receiving an email about the decision on Friday which the Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre Trust Fund said was made after doubts were raised over the validity of her cancer journey The Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre board confirmed to The Border Mail in a statement it was assessing the matter "Thank you for your enquiry regarding serious allegations that have been brought to the attention of the trust fund board," the statement read "We have responded promptly and appropriately the trust will be making no further comment." Dean Harris, Al Taylor, Simone Russell, Tracey Stiles, Scott Russell, Greg Featonby, Ashleigh Ballard and Steve Ballard at the launch of the 2025 Sunshine Ride in January. File picture by Phoebe AdamsThe Sunshine Ride is a stationary bike ride that raises funds each year for the Border cancer centre and is scheduled for March 14 When chosen as one of the faces of the event in January Ms Stiles said she was diagnosed with cervical cancer when her now 22-year-old son was just six months old She said she later had to have her uterus taken out and in 2023 had a 43-millimetre tumour removed who has lived on the Border for almost 20 years said she "felt sick in the stomach" when she was told to step down as a Sunshine Ride ambassador "It made me doubt myself as a person," she said I'm probably one of the most honest people you can meet "I haven't had to undergo chemo or radiation I've just been incredibly lucky to have had good people around me who have managed to get it in time." Ms Stiles said for her most recent surgery she was forced to withdraw funds from her superannuation to pay for the more than $15,000 operation to remove the cancer in her kidney Tracey Stiles' scars after having surgery on her kidney in 2023 Picture supplied by Tracey Stiles."Due to the severity of it I had to go via the private system because the machine they needed was at Epworth hospital in Richmond," she said it turned out it was the exact equipment that last year when I did the Sunshine Ride that the funds were going towards to get that machine up here." After being told to step down from her role Ms Stiles sent the cancer centre trust board images of herself after surgery and shared her disappointment with the decision on Facebook "I've got so many friends who are supportive of me and have been with me through my cancer journey "I needed my friends to see what I was going through because they know how much my cancer journey to this day has affected me and to be made to feel like I'm some sort of fake monster isn't true "Not that I feel I should have had to prove myself but I'd sent them [the trust] as much of my paperwork from when I was admitted into hospital in 2023 "To hear they're worried about their reputation over fake allegations I feel like a fraud for something I know I've actually been through All funds raised from the Sunshine Ride support the Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre. File pictureShe participated in the 2024 Sunshine Ride as part of a team from her gym, PT Fitness Wodonga and was approached to become an ambassador for the 2025 edition after sharing her cancer survival story "I was so excited because it meant me making a difference," she said "I'm not the person that would make something like this up "They should have approached me to start me off with and said they had received these allegations and asked me if they were true "I still want to help people like you wouldn't believe maybe some sort of recognition that they were wrong and they recognised that I'm actually a cancer survivor." "I've basically hidden away because I feel like I have to bow my head in shame "Just because I'm here to tell the story doesn't make me less of a person or less of a cancer survivor." Picture by Mark JesserTwo drivers have had to be taken to hospital with serious injuries after a two-car collision in West Wodonga Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueWodonga Highway Patrol's Senior Constable Adam Presutti said the crash occurred along Drage Road on Saturday said it appeared the driver of an Audi failed to give way The incident prompted a warning by police to take extra care on the roads paying attention," Senior Constable Presutti said "Drivers just need to be vigilant - look at what you're doing and what others are doing on the road." Meanwhile, police have described the torching of yet another car on the Border as "senseless" with police receiving a report of a car engulfed in flames about 9.30am Police and Fire Rescue Victoria are on the scene of a car fire described as "suspicious." Picture by Mark JesserDetective Leading Senior Constable Ian Deverell, of Wodonga Crime Investigation Unit said the car was just a shell that had already been stripped of parts "It had been abandoned there for a long time," he said "It will be treated as arson and we are appealing for any witnesses to come forward." Senior Constable Deverell said two fire trucks quickly put out the flames so it didn't spread into adjacent bushland "It's senseless behaviour," he said of the arsonist's work After a multi-year collaboration with us, Mars has announced a renewable energy milestone Mars Petcare facility at Wodonga (Mars Wodonga) in Victoria will become the country’s first large-scale steam-based manufacturing site to operate entirely on renewable energy by 2026 Dominic Zaal is our Team Leader in this project He said the groundbreaking initiative showcases what can be achieved between us and industry as Australia works toward its net zero emission targets "Since we first spoke with Mars in 2019 about their ambitions to decarbonise their process heat operations we’ve been on a journey of discovery together," Dominic said "We’ve been their renewable heat technology partner from day one it’s very exciting to now see them deliver a completely renewable solution for their operation by 2026 "It’s another great example of a company taking a leadership role in the industrial decarbonisation space." To underpin Australia’s energy transition, we undertake a wide range of research on a wide range of solutions. These include concentrated solar thermal (CST) and associated thermal energy storage (TES) technologies Through our management of the Australian Solar Thermal Research Institute (ASTRI) we are working to make thermal technologies more efficient and competitive Dr Dietmar Tourbier is our Director of Energy "Thermal energy storage is a key component of the work program at ASTRI, which has been funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) since 2012," Dietmar said "One of CST’s major benefits is its ability to store large amounts of thermal energy cost effectively sufficient to generate over 15 hours of continuous renewable energy This heat can be used for overnight steam production or electricity generation "We have also been collaborating with industry on electrical thermal energy storage (eTES) systems to displace gas for steam-based manufacturing processes." This work led to the installation, in mid-2023, of an eTES demonstration system by Graphite Energy at Mars Wodonga that delivered significant savings industry accounts for 57 per cent of our total annual energy use with process heat accounting for more than 50 per cent of this energy 25 per cent of the site’s energy usage is electricity and 75 per cent is from gas burnt to make process heat While all of Mars’ electricity emissions are displaced through grid-connected renewable energy purchases displacement of the 75 per cent of process heat emissions has been more challenging Our breadth and depth of expertise in solar research enabled Dominic and his team to provide technical advice and support to Mars on cost risk and integration on a range of renewable heat technologies The cornerstone of Mars Wodonga’s thermal emission displacement efforts is a $39 million CST project mirrors concentrate sunlight onto a targeted location at high temperatures This can be in the form of steam to generate electricity via a turbine or used directly for a wide range of industrial process heat applications At Mars Wodonga, this involves the installation of an 18-megawatt Parabolic Trough CST plant providing between four and 10 hours of thermal energy storage. The project is jointly funded by Mars and ARENA CST was identified as the option that would deliver the highest abatement for Mars Wodonga’s available onsite land," Dominic said CST was able to generate more renewable energy per square metre than any other technology."  The project also builds on Mars’ implementation of eTES technology This allows the facility to utilise low-cost grid-connected renewable electricity during off-peak times to generate and store heat that can produce steam at any time of day or night In addition, Mars recently announced another joint initiative whereby the company is working together with Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG) to purchase Renewable Gas Guarantee of Origin certificates at Hydrogen Park Murray Valley This arrangement will displace over 10 per cent of Mars Australia’s total gas consumption the CST and eTES systems are complementary renewable heat technologies,” said Craig Sargeant “With the addition of the AGIG hydrogen purchase and Mars Australia’s existing 100 per cent renewable electricity agreement the Wodonga facility will deploy a 100 per cent renewable energy solution within two years.” This is a first in Australia for a large steam-based food manufacturing site CSIRO has been able to assist other Mars sites to assess eTES system benefits,” said Craig Our long-term collaboration with Mars could catalyse further action on sustainability. Both in Australia’s manufacturing sector, and in north-east Victoria, there are ambitions for a renewable energy hub "Mars Wodonga has been open in sharing their experiences with other Australian manufacturers as well," Dominic said "That same open-door approach at CSIRO is seeing us actively support other companies take advantage of renewable heat technologies and associated savings demonstrated at Mars Wodonga "Our work has been about providing trusted advice and guidance on existing innovative pathways in a technology and supplier agnostic manager we are providing assessment and consideration to facilitate improved decision making by companies on their carbon management "My team loves doing this work because they know that they’re making a tangible difference for Australian industry and our net zero goals," he said We are committed to child safety and to the implementation of Child Safe principles and procedures We could not sign you up to receive our newsletter Please try again later or contact us if this persists CSIRO acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, sea and waters, of the area that we live and work on across Australia. 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