Tiana Preston from Ecology Australia will present the results of Malmsbury Landcare’s recent platypus survey on May 1 at the Malmsbury Town Hall.
Tiana led the survey and provided the necessary permits and oversight. Her presentation will discuss the biology and ecology of the platypus and will examine why variable water flows are important to it.
Malmsbury Landcare’s survey checked on the health of the local Coliban River platypus population.
It was the fifth such survey since these began in 2001 after North Central Catchment Management Authority acted on reports of platypus sightings in the river.
NCCMA subsequently recorded ten platypus at sites within Malmsbury town and a short distance downstream.
Malmsbury Landcare president, John Walter, said the purpose of the most recent survey was to look for evidence of successful breeding in the 2024 breeding season.
“This may be impacted by unseasonal high or low river flows,” he said.
NCCMA and Dja Dja Wurrung’s Kapa Gatjin group have been working together to find ways to better manage river flows throughout the year. Both organisations actively supported the recent survey.
The presentation will take place at the town hall on May 1 at 7.30pm and is suitable for all ages.
This female platypus was one of the animals captured during the recent March survey.
Lancefield-Romsey Lions Club’s annual swap meet is always popular but this year is expected to even bigger with the addition of a 4×4 car show.
The 4×4 event is believed to be one of the first in Victoria and has already attracted significant interest, adding to the typical attractions at the event to be held at the Clarkefield Oval on Sunday.
The 4×4 show will have trophies to win across six categories: Best Touring, Best Rough and Tumble (Best Feral), Best Classic, Best Modified, Best Chick’s and Best Showstopper (Best 4×4).
Swap meet coordinator Ged McLaughlin said Lions members had already had more than 500 enquiries about the 4×4 show and notices had been sent to more than 450 Victorian car clubs and enthusiasts.
“It’s what we believe to be the first of its kind, so it’s creating quite a lot of interest,” he said.
The swap meet will also include its popular car show, also with trophies to win across six categories: Best British, Best America, Best Asian, Best European, Best in Show, and Best Ute.
People can expect to find plenty of items of interest at the swap meet too with vendors ready for another strong event.
There will be a range of food stalls available on the day including pizza, spud on a stick, hot doughnuts, Danish pastries, and of course, the popular Lions barbecue with snags and burgers.
The Clarkefield Oval is located at walking distance from the V/Line service for easy access. There will be disabled parking and facilities available on site. Traffic measures will also be in place for the duration of the event.
A major fundraiser for the local Lions, this year’s event aims to raise funds towards the much anticipated Romsey Skate Park development. It’s a project the Lions have long been championing to provide an outlet for local youth and other users.
The event has sponsorship from Bendigo Bank, Forbes Automotive Centre, Frost Timber and Building Supplies, Romsey Auto Spares, and Off-road and Outback.
Now is also a good time to sign up to become part of the Lions club with many exciting projects ahead. New members are always welcome.
The Lancefield-Romsey Lions always put on a good swap meet and car show, this year is expected to be even bigger.
Castlemaine Football Netball Club played host to top-of-the-table Sandhurst in the final round of the home and away season last Saturday.
It was a big day for the Castlemaine club hosting their annual Life Members Day and with several players notching up game milestones – Kalan Huntly playing his 100th game, Tyson Hickey his 50th and netballer Sharon Dredge notching up 200 games.
The Magpies were keen to bounce back from their loss to Gisborne and take the game right up to the highly fancied Dragons and did just that.
Castlemaine slammed on three goals and a couple of points before the Dragons awakened from their slumber and got their first goal on the board.
The visitors soon turned the tide banging on another four goals and by quarter-time had snatched a 13-point lead.
Sandhurst kept the momentum rolling early in the second term kicking another two goals off the boot of Fergus Greene before Castlemaine rallied and added two of their own through the in-form Zavier Murley and Jackson Hood.
The Dragons slipped through two more and at half-time led by a commanding 33 points.
The Magpies continued to battle hard in the third term, putting their bodies on the line to shut down the Dragons’ passages to goal and held them to just two goals for the term, but failed to convert their own opportunities. At the final change the margin had blown out to 42 points.
Magpie coach Michael Hartley stood up in the opening minutes of the final term kicking a much-needed goal but Greene soon found one in reply for Sandhurst.
Bradley Keogh snatched one back for the home side but the Dragons continued to dominate bagging two more via Lachlan Tardrew and Joel Wharton.
Castlemaine never gave up, securing late goals through Brodie Byrne and Bradley Keogh, but in the end the Dragons roared to a 51-point victory.
Castlemaine’s best were Michael Hartley, Declan Slingo and Zavier Murley.
The Magpies finished the season in sixth spot on the ladder just missing out on a finals berth. However, they will no doubt be pleased with the continued growth and development of the young side will aim to continue their positive trajectory and be a finals contender in 2025.
The Reserves had a tough day of it going down to fast-paced Sandhurst outfit. The Dragons opened with a five-goal first term. Castlemaine bounced back in the second term kicking three goals of their own but the damage was done and Sandhurst eventually ran out winners by 78 points.
Castlemaine was well served by Campbell McLennan who kicked 2, Ethan Hein and Ethan Maltby. The Under 18s faced a similar fate with the Dragons opening the match with a five-goal haul and going on to smash out a 91-point win.
Jackson Balcombe, Curtis McLennan and Thomas Ford never gave up working hard from start to finish for the Magpies. Despite the setback, the Magpies finished in fourth place on the ladder and will tackle Kangaroo Flat this Sunday in the Elimination Final at the Queen Elizabeth Oval at 10.15am.
Magpie Bailey Henderson fends off his Sandhurst opponents in an attempt to secure the ball. Photo: Max Lesser
Netball
On the netball court the Magpie A Grade side had a challenging day going down 23-96 despite a valiant effort. A Reserve 30 lost to Sandhurst 63. B Grade 29 gave their all against Sandhurst 44. B Reserve 36 lost to the Dragons 72. 17 & Under was once of the closest bouts of the day the young Castlemaine side 38 lost to Sandhurst 62.
Magpie stalwart Sharon Dredge celebrated her 200th game on Saturday
Women’s Football
The Magpie Women’s finals fate is up in the air after their semi final clash against Golden Square was forced to be abandoned due to the inclement weather and lightning at the Queen Elizabeth Oval on Sunday.
A meeting was scheduled to decide the path forward. But it is anticipated that Golden Square would meet the winner of the other semi final Woorinen in this weekend’s preliminary and given the Magpies’ unbeaten run they may earn a spot in the grand final.
Gisborne Football Netball Club needs some additional players to ensure it fields a strong women’s team at the top level in the Essendon District Football League next season.
Highly credentialed coach Bernadette ‘Bernie’ Marantelli has been working for several weeks with a core group to build up numbers.
“We need to make sure we have plenty of depth in our senior and Under 18 sides in 2025, and welcome inquiries from potential players now,” Bernie said.
Lack of players in the lead-up to the 2024 season led to Gisborne’s decision to withdraw from the EDFL for a season.
Marantelli began playing football in 1983, and has been in nine premiership sides, as well as winning two league best and fairests and several club B&Fs, also representing Victoria as a player and coach.
After coaching at various levels, Bernie spent three seasons at Strathmore leading up to a 2022 premiership and elevation to the Premier division.
“I thought I was retired, but Shannon McFerran convinced me to join Gisborne for 2025 … I previously coached Shannon and she was an outstanding player who captained Australia and ended up being rated in the top 100 Sportswomen.”
McFerran was Gisborne’s best and fairest in 2022 and 2023 and will continue playing with the Bulldogs in 2025, and be assistant coach to Marantelli.
The Bulldogs are very pleased to have such a very strong and accomplished duo at the top.
While some Gisborne players from 2023 joined other clubs in 2024, others are having a season off from football.
“I’m really enjoying the (coaching) role at Gisborne, but we need to build further for 2025,” the coach added.
Anyone women interested in playing for the Bulldogs in 2025 can contact Bernie on 0409 554 141, or email bmarantelli16@outback.com
Prepare to browse a diverse range of stalls at Maldon Events’ collectables fair at the Bendigo Showgrounds on May 4-5.
Held in the large Regional Events Centre, there will be room for more than 120 stalls with everything from traditional collectables through to vintage vinyl, rock and roll memorabilia and trading cards.
You can expect find an assortment of items such as tea trios, textiles, tobacco tins, chinaware, militaria, motoring memorabilia and much-loved bric-a-brac.
There will also be modern pop culture collectables such as ‘Pop Vinyl’ figurines, Marvel, and DC action figures, cos play paraphernalia, also collectable and antique books, including rare editions, and magazines.
Stunning prints of old maps, movie posters, old advertising prints, some framed, some ready to be framed, will also be available as well as Lego, die cast cars and Hot Wheels. There will also be suits of armour and chain mail, medieval tunics, and costumes.
The collectables fair will be held at the Bendigo Showgrounds on Saturday May 4 from 9am to 5pm and Sunday May 5 from 9am to 2pm.
There is free parking at the venue including disabled parking, on the arena, close to the action.
Maldon Events is always seeking more stallholders for events and it is not too late to register your interest for the fair.
For more information or to book a stall, call or text Mark on 0414 244 842.
Lancefield’s new women’s football team debuted against Woodend-Hesket at Gilbert Gordon Oval on Saturday evening.
Meaghan Lyons (at left) is pictured with captain Molly Heales after kicking the first, and only, goal for the Tigers.
The Hawks ended up winning 4.23 (47) to 1.4 (10) with the Lancefield players spending plenty of time defending.
Last week the Tigers were thrilled to be presented with their distinctive new guernseys by Glenice Rainey, who did a power of work for the club for many years.
Her late husband, Noel Rainey, was a life member of both the Lancefield club and the Riddell League, having been president of both.
Woodend-Hesket’s best players were Katrina Bau, Harmony Cassar, Molly Connell, Miriam Habib, and Maisie Crowther, while Molly Heales, Catriona Goldsworthy, and Madison Coates Crowley were prominent for the Tigers.
On Friday evening, Romsey women’s team travelled to Melton, and the experienced home side scored 10.10 (70) to no score.
Casey Rayment, Jemma Wilkins, Laura Lonergan, Kaitlyn Paterson, Taryn McAliece and Sacchi Rose-Grigg were the Redbacks’ best.
On Anzac Day, Macedon plays Mt Alexander Falcons at Tony Clarke Reserve at 11am, and Lancefield is at home to Kyneton at 4.45pm.
The other match in the round sees Melton at home to Woodend-Hesket at 10.45am on Saturday.
Lancefield’s new women’s football team debuted against Woodend-Hesket at Gilbert Gordon Oval on Saturday evening.
Kyneton and Gisborne senior football teams found the going tough against respective opposition Eaglehawk and Sandhurst on Saturday.
On June 3 this season, Kyneton downed the Hawks on their own territory with an after-the-siren goal to Cameron Manuel, but it was a different story at the Showgrounds in the return bout.
Gearing up for the finals, the Hawks ran right away from the Tigers after half-time.
The home side could only manage one goal in the second half as the Hawks poured on the pressure.
The final margin was 87 points, with the visitors playing precision football that produced a 19.10 (124) to 5.7 (37) margin.
Despite the victory, Eaglehawk has not locked up third place on the ladder with tough matches against Golden Square and Sandhurst in the next two rounds.
In contrast, fourth-placed Strathfieldsaye should be able to account for Maryborough and Kyneton and will finished third if the Hawks stumble.
The Tigers had just two goalkickers, Manuel managed three and Ethan Foreman two.
Best players for the Tigers were listed as Bailey McGee, Hamish Yunghanns, Manuel, defender Harrison Huntley, Harrison Sheahan and James Orr.
Kyneton Reserves went down by 33 points, 10.9 to 5.6.
However, the young Tigers gave their supporters plenty to cheer about with a pleasing 10.10 to 6.1 victory, their sixth for the season.
The Tigers travel to Kangaroo Flat on Saturday hopeful of securing three victories.
Lucas Ludica in action for Kyneton.
GISBORNE AT QEO
Playing on the Queen Elizabeth Oval brought back memories of Gisborne’s come-from-behind 2022 premiership triumph.
Ultra-consistent Ruckman Braidon Blake was best afield in the grand final, and he was again the Bulldogs’ best on Saturday.
In the first half the Bulldogs stayed in touch and trailed by 11 points at the long break.
Ladder-leader Sandhurst stepped up the tempo in the second half and drew away to record a 13.13 (91) to 5.7 (37) victory.
In addition to Blake, the Bulldogs best were captain Jack Reaper, Matt Weber, Macklan Lord, Flynn Lakey and Liam Spear.
Gisborne Reserves went down by 18 points and seem destined to play Strathfieldsaye in the first semi-final.
In the Under 18s, Gisborne fought hard to retain top spot against third-placed Sandhurst.
The home side won by nine points and as a consequence, Golden Square moved into top place on the ladder on percentage from Gisborne.
The young Bulldogs are still a strong chance of repeating their 2022 premiership performance.
This Saturday Gisborne will play South Bendigo at Gardiner Reserve in their last home game of the year.
