Around the region . . .
Red hot tips
Mooroopna school students have been learning critical fire safety tips from Country Fire Authority firefighters.
With the CFA/Volunteer Fire Brigade’s Victoria State Championships being held in Mooroopna over two weekends, schools have been visiting the Mooroopna Recreation Reserve site for fire safety education programs.
About 350 students, mostly from grades 2, 3, and 4, have taken part in the programs.
CFA District 22 community engagement co-ordinator Emily Guthrie said it was important to keep the activities fun and interactive to get the message across for this age group.
Webster excels
Benalla’s Becky Webster ended her excellent 2022 AFLW season with another prolific performance, the Cats falling just short in round 10 to Greater Western Sydney.
Registering 13 disposals and kicking a goal, Webster was again a force through the middle of the park as she has been all season.
The Cats hit the scoreboard quickly after a goalless round nine, with Webster converting quickly thanks to a superb dribble kick which trickled through for the opening points.
With the Cats trailing for much of the night, Webster did what she does best, breaking free of the centre circle to get her side forward — Darcy Moloney slotting it to restore the Cats’ three-point advantage.
Webster finished the season with averages of 16.8 disposals, 6.8 tackles and 2.4 inside 50s a game, taking her game to another level this year as she continues to develop into one of the competition’s elite midfielders.
New Elmore event
The Elmore Tractor Pull is an example of a community thinking outside the box to bring something new to the district.
Combining an organisation with the vision and an organisation with the know-how and facilities has been a recipe for success.
The team from St Joseph’s school, which worked with the volunteers and employees from the Elmore Events Centre over the past six months, has put together an event that will continue for many years to come.
St Joseph’s Primary School Rochester principal said the school was working on a ‘wishlist’ for the 2023 Elmore Tractor Pull, to benefit students and the event’s future.
‘End neglect’
Independent candidate for Nicholls Rob Priestly has called on the Federal Government to use the budget as an opportunity to end the neglect of the Goulburn Murray Region.
‘‘This region has so much opportunity, but it’s been hampered by decades of underinvestment in essential services and business generating investments,’’ Mr Priestly said.
‘‘It’s time the Liberal and National parties stopped taking us for granted, and started making the investments required for our communities to reach their full potential.’’
He nominated health and aged care as key budget priorities across the entire region.
‘‘We’re facing a critical decline in GP availability here and our mental health services are a long way from what is required,’’ he said.