Agriculture
1 January, 2024
The year that's been 2023 - - highlights of our stories
The Loddon Herald looks back at your stories that made news in 2023 JANUARY THE year started with news of the shire’s first major residential estate at Bridgewater as blocks went on the market. Howard Rochester and Jake Murphy were named the...
The Loddon Herald looks back at your stories that made news in 2023
JANUARY
THE year started with news of the shire’s first major residential estate at Bridgewater as blocks went on the market. Howard Rochester and Jake Murphy were named the shire’s citizens of the year while Pam and Bruce Turnbull, of Wedderburn, celebrated their golden wedding. Inglewood started a campaign to reduce the Brooke Street speed limit after a truck rollover blocked the Calder Highway for 10 hours. Lawn bowls octagenarians Phyllis McEwen, Edna Patterson and Joan Roberts spoke of their love for the sport.
FEBRUARY
THE Major’s Vision art show in Pyramid Hill finally opened after false starts through COVID and then the floods, attracting praise and large crowds. Boort butchers Jye and Kristy Arnold snapped the prize for Australia’s best bacon and sausages while one new business opened in Korong Vale as the local hotel also changed hands. Railway boom gates were announced for Boort, police investigated a major sheep theft at Logan. Loddon councillors split on how often Aboriginal acknowlegement of country should be recited at events and meetings
MARCH
The Turkish consul-general visited East Loddon P12 College to thank students for their support after devastating earthquakes. Laanecoorie’s Abbey Curnow became the first Australian to win the trans-Tasman Golden Shears junior wool handling title while new covers backing band Rusty Bearings was reheasing at Tandarra. An issue that was to dominate 2023 - the route change for VNI West renewable energy transmission lines - broke when the route was suddenly changed. And there was concern about the AFL’s plans for junior football in the region.
APRIL
THE Loddon’s oldest family business, Inglewood stock agents FP Nevins and Co, celebrated its centenary. In Pyramid Hill, Bendigo Bank said the local bank agency would close in July while the town’s fire brigade captain Steve Mann was awarded life membership. Boort cricketer Drew Crilly announced his retirement from the sport. Rheola Charity Carnival celebrated its 150th event in a ripper day with a record crowd and gate. Loddon Shire backed the continuation of duck hunting in Victoria but would eventually dump a call for another climate change report.
MAY
THERE was royal fever and fervour ahead of the coronation in London of King Charles III with Bridgewater’s Jany Clutton trying out the Coronation Quiche recipe. We featured the story of Tyson Woodman who had been dead for 12 minutes and now on the road to rebuilding his life. VNI West plans were under fire at a special Loddon Herald forum. In sport, Bulldogs AFL flag star Shane Biggs made his debut for Boort, four sets of brothers were in the Pyramid Hill senior side and there was another big turnout for Run for Resilience.
JUNE
ANOTHER VNI West route alteration captures people north of Boort for the first time without consultation. The controversial project came as the Federal Government also flagged more water buybacks. Pressure continued on the State Government to make a decision on the site of the Loddon’s first child care centre while long-term leases were signed by the shire for caravan parks in Bridgewater and Wedderburn. In sport, it was de ja vu with Marong and Maiden Gully launching new bids to jump to the Heathcote league. Newbridge’s Chris Dixon had his 300th game.
JULY
LODDON Merino studs again had success at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show where Terrick West kept titles for champion and reserve champion national March-shorn pairs. Traders were up in arms over a Loddon Shire move to crackdown on the display of goods on footpaths while the Inglewood community called for its old ambulance station to be retained for local use. In sport, Mal Burge umpired his 700th game of football while at Newbridge one umpire dished out close to 20 50-metre penalties in one match. And anger continued over VNI West.
AUGUST
TRACTORS and banners were taken from Loddon communities to the steps of Parliament House in a protest over VNI West. Buckranbanyule Hall closed the doors on its local hall while local goverrnent satisfaction surveys showed a dip for Loddon Shire, although results were at least equal to other rural councils with roads a top local concern. Michael Hobson was awarded life membership of Inglewood-Bridgewater RSL and Pyramid Hill’s Tom Smith began trials of industrial hemp production. In sport, the Bulldogs’ Dylan Collis won the Loddon Valley best and fairest.
SEPTEMBER
COMMUNITY anger erupted when the old Inglewood ambulance station was demolished and the Government backtracked on claims the building contained asbestos. Alan Jackson retired from the outdoor staff of Loddon Shire ater 51 years and veteran Boort bus driver Kevin Sutton sold his run to family. A State Parliament report recommended an end to duck hunting and mystery surrounded membership of the VNI West community reference group. Marong again won the trio of Loddon Valley football flags, Boort the under 17 North Central, the Pies also won the C Grade netball title.
OCTOBER
THIS was one huge month - Boort Show, Melbourne Cup on tour, inaugural Loddon Valley Arts Trail, Whole Loddon Love music festival playing in four towns as part of recovery activities on the first anniversary of the October 2022 flood emergency and in Bridgewater, centenary of the memorial hall and the school’s 150th anniversary. Bendigo East MP Jacinta Allan became premier after the resignation of Daniel Andrews, Matto Catto continued a family tradition with his election as Rheola Charity Carnival president. Carly Isaac won the Wycheproof Queen of the Mountain race.
NOVEMBER
DINGEE Bush Nursing Centre celebrated its centenary while at Bears Lagoon, the local church hosted a blessing of the pets service. Yarrawalla’s Ingolston Fresian stud celebrated its centenary while the new cash for cans scheme had a rocky start in Loddon communities. Gavan Holt was elected Loddon Shire mayor but not before saying he wanted to end the woke virus. Wedderburn Fire Brigade signs up nine new recruits. The month saw a win for Inglewood and Wedderburn communities with the decision to introduce 40kmh speed limits in their main streets.
DECEMBER
A WIN ending the child care desert that has been the Loddon Shire. The Government confirmed Wedderburn would be the site of a co-located centre from 2026, ending a three-year campaign. The Inglewood ambulance station issue continued to brew with the Government saying a report clearing the building of asbestos made no difference to its demolition decision. Boort’s Phoebe Malone was the region’s top VCE student, the second year running Boort has topped the region. As storms and rain hampered harvest, compliance officers checked grain trucks.
And just when we thought the year was winding down, in came the Christmas Eve storms and floods on Christmas Day across the region forcing evacuations and rescues in Wedderburn, hundreds of kilometres of farm fencing washed away and stock losses.