General News
7 January, 2026
PART 2: The stories that shaped 2025
A look at selected highlights of the Loddon Herald between July and December
JULY
CALIVIL Merino breeder achieved the ultimate when he took out champion fleece in the national competition at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show, a prize he said had been 20 years in the making. Cobram Estate said its olive harvest had produced 14 million litres. Demolition order was put on the former Jennings Store building in Inglewood damaged by fire last year but descendants later rallied to help owner David Oakley preserve the rear of the 1860s shop. Bendigo Bank pulled the pin on its agency network with Wedderburn and Boort to close in October. Farmers push for 5km buffer zone around wind farms.
AUGUST
COUNTRY Fire Authority service medals were presented to volunteers throughout the year with Terrick Group holding a ceremony in Calivil. Fire destroyed the home of a Wedderburn family and the community quickly rallied to support them. The first of 10 new cabins were installed at Bridgewater Caravan Park. Northern residents formed the Loddon Valley Renewables Awareness Group as multiple wind and solar farm companies began circling the Pyramid Hill district and it was revealed that the cost of the controversial VNI West renewable energy transmission line had blown out to $11 billion.
SEPTEMBER
FARMERS and CFA volunteers kept up their anger against the State Government’s emergency services tax attending a rally in Bendigo. While the Government later announced a further 12-month reprieve on the 150 per cent hike, opponents and Loddon Shire have vowed to continue the fight up to next year’s Victorian election. Terrick West Merino Stud sold a ram before auction for $80,000 while Boort’s Alan Streader, still playing the Last Post on Anzac Day and Remembrance Day, turned 100. East Loddon P12 students raising funds for their trip to Turkiye next April receiving strong community support.
OCTOBER
HELEN Stephens presented with the Royal Historical Society of Victoria’s top award while thousands visited exhibitions, workshops and musical performances as part of the Loddon Valley Arts Festival. Renowned Loddon vineyard Turners Crossing hit the market with owner Phil Bennett heading to retirement and ripping out vines amid market challenges for the industry. Catalyst Metals receives State Government approval to build an exploration tunnel near Mitiamo in its quest for gold and father of the Loddon council Gavan Holt bounces back after major health issues.
NOVEMBER
INGLEWOOD and Districts Community Bank expands its community to Loddon swimming pools by continuing to sponsor half-price season tickets and adding free learn-to-swim classes for Inglewood, Wedderburn and Mitiamo. The bank also backs moves for child care in southern Loddon communities while young Boort families call for the northern child care desert to also end. Farmers on the VNI West transmission line route block access to VicGrid as the standoff continues and a new map shows growing number of Loddon landowners opposed to renewable energy projects on their properties.
DECEMBER
CHRISTMAS brought Loddon communities together in celebration with donkey rides, rubber duck races and donkey kissing. Newbridge Wines took out a major trophy for its fiano variety. Pyramid Hill P10 College produced the Loddon Mallee region’s best results in NAPLAN results. However, P12 schools in Boort, Wedderburn and East Loddon will lose hundreds of thousands of dollars a year after the State Government cut the P12 complexity allowance. Volunteer firefighters had a hectic start to summer with multiple fires and urged extra care over the holiday period.