Feature Profiles
6 January, 2026
PART 1: The year that was 2025 in local news
Selected highlights of some of the stories published in the Loddon Herald
JANUARY
CONSTRUCTION started on the first home at Bridgewater Rise - the Loddon’s first major housing estate - for Indi Abbott and Nathan Murphy and daughter Isla. Rebecca Luckman began her year as new principal at Inglewood Primary School where she had once been a student while Ian Bartels and Tyson Blair were named the shire’s Citizen and Young Citizen of the Year. The Inglewood district remembered the 60th anniversary of the Rheola fires and Boort mourned the death of a toddler in a caravan fire and respected stock agent Chris Nevins died suddenly.
FEBRUARY
TANDARRA cattle breeder Bill Govatt awarded life membership of Brown Swiss Australia while son Ben had a successful run in the ring at Australian Dairy Week. Wedderburn Old Boys and Girls held their centenary reunion in Bendigo and Tarnagulla was included as an area to be proposed for World Heritage listing with UNESCO. Peter Walsh announced he would retire from Parliament in 2026 after more than 20 years, Inglewood’s Kylie Carter was elected to the Australia Post National Licensee Representative Council and anger started brewing against the Government’s new emergency services tax.
MARCH
A REUNION of the former Newbridge Primary School was well attended while Wedderburn’s gold detector jamboree proved a hit with treasurer hunters. Loddon Shire marked 30 years since its creation and residents reflected on five years since the first COVID lockdowns and restrictions were imposed by the State Government. Terrick West Merino Stud was in major prizes at the Great Southern Merino Show and the Small Halls Festival made a stop in Inglewood. Proposals to send renewable energy transmission lines underground were backed by farmers but rejected by the Government
APRIL
LONG-TIME residents the Broadbents and Chambers were farewelled at a Campbells Forest function while in Eddington the 40th annual historic car sprints were held. Donna Doyle was re-appointed chief executive officer of Boort District Health and Wedderburn College named its rejuvenated stadium in honor of RA (Bob) Steel. Pyramid Hill’s community centre and a $13 million upgrade at East Loddon P12 College were officially opened while thousands of people again attended the annual Rheola Charity Carnival. RSL scholarships for four Wedderburn College students to walk Kokoda were announced.
MAY
BOORT butchers Jye and Kristy Arnold struck international gold for their smallgoods at the major industry show in Germany and Florrie Souslby turned 100. Thousands protested in Melbourne aganst the State Government’s emergency services tax. The historic water tower in Serpentine was demolished as was the former co-op petrol station in Inglewood. A deal was announced to return the former Pyramid Hill aged hostel to community ownership and Anne Webster won Mallee for the Nationals in the federal election that saw Labor re-elected. Labor promised $5 million for local child care.
JUNE
MEMORIES were being shared ahead of the 50th anniversary of the Wedderburn Oldtimers Band that took the folk music scene by storm in the 1970s. Loddon Shire released plans for the Inglewood streetscape including having the Mallee fowl as the town emblem, drawing immediate criticism from some residents. Farmers were seeing their sheep taken to Bendigo Livestock Exchange and fetching record and near-record prices. Wedderburn also celebrated 160 years of education and Tarnagulla’s Barry Condick was recognised for decades of dedication to the Neighbourhood Watch group.