Vic

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The independent review of Inland Rail led by Dr Kerry Schott AO found major deficiencies in the governance and delivery of Inland Rail. It confirmed that Inland Rail is an important project to meet Australia’s growing freight task, improve road safety and to help decarbonise our economy. However, it also confirmed that the project is running significantly over budget and significantly behind schedule with just over 16% of the 1700km of track completed so far.

330 primary school students participated in the successful hip hop dance program run by Stomp Dance Company after a $9,000 donation by cluBarham ... The program included the Cohuna, Kerang and Koondrook schools after Cohuna Consolidated School teacher Michelle Howard saw a need to bring students, families and the community back together in a fun and interactive way...

The Bendigo Bank has announced that it will terminate 16 agencies as the bank seeks to build on last year’s measly profits of $488,000,000 ... Customer advocacy, satisfaction and community prosperity seem to be far from the driving force behind the decision that will see the closure of Barham, Cohuna and Pyramid Hill Bendigo Bank agencies on Friday, July 28, 2023. 

It has been a whirlwind ride to the top for former Cohuna lad, Jamie Harrison. The 22-year-old competed in the Australian Track & Field Championships in Brisbane at the weekend making it through to the finals of the 800m event ... Jamie has advice for Cohuna and district youngsters who are keen on athletics.

Corryong local, Vicki Kane, has created a YouTube channel titled ‘Hidden History of the Upper Murray’ which delves into past incidents and events in the region ... "With an increase of tourism due to Easter visitors and The Man from Snowy River Festival I wanted to create some clips that told more about the Upper Murray," Vicki said. "We have such a rich history. It took resilience and community spirit to survive in this remote area."

The North East is Australia’s most active community energy region and Corryong is at the forefront of new technology. Indigo Power is driving a number of new initiatives including building community energy hubs in towns across the North East and Southern NSW.

This year’s Man From Snowy River Bush Festival is set to be bigger than ever ... "While we have had much support from volunteers committees and staff in the lead up to the festival, this year has also focused on welcoming back locals to join us celebrating our Australian Bush heritage, which will include Sunday beinga free day for all locals": board chair, Cameron Jackson.

Roxy Theatre project developers the Lloyd Group entered voluntary administration on Friday. Leeton Shire Council was telephonically advised at 11.30am that day that the Lloyd Group had gone into voluntary administration at 7am that morning. The Group has 59 state and local government projects under construction in Victoria and NSW.

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John Williams. The Nhill Free Press predicted in 1922 that one day all homes would have a wireless set. But would Nhill ever have its own wireless station? ... What you might call Nhill’s first local radio station was 3HS which was based in Horsham and began broadcasting in 1933 ... 3YB toured the country towns in mobile studios that included an A-model Ford and a railway carriage.

An Australian-first program designed to restore critical environmental water flows to the Murray-Darling Basin, while meeting the ongoing needs of local irrigators and growers, has been proposed as an “immediate, affordable and genuine” solution to the nation’s Basin Plan – avoiding the need for short-term, unpopular water buybacks as announced by the Federal Government.

Congratulations to brothers Grant and Luke Robins who competed on Friday evening in the ‘Dash for Cash’ and won their class (30HP Standards) in the Riverland Dinghy Club Inc. Championship Series which includes multiple races in Renmark throughout the year ... Luke and Grant came in third in their category.

There’s always something happening at the Nhill Aviation Heritage Centre ... Last Tuesday, members of the Rolls Royce and Bentley Car Club called in on their way home from a rally in Hahndorf. They spent several hours hearing the stories of the men and women who trained at the Nhill RAAF Base during the ‘40s ... Another mid-week Melbourne visitor was Tania Jacobs, who has been working with the NAHC Board to help with tourism ideas.

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Donald’s footballers had their one and only practice hit-out leading up to North-Central’s 2023 season at Swan Hill last Saturday, fielding a team that combined plenty of youth and experience.

Greater Shepparton City Council is excited to welcome back the Illuminate festival to the shores of Victoria Park Lake next month. The event creates a full sensory experience, incorporating lights, music and food in a way that celebrates the region and builds Greater Shepparton’s brand as regional Victoria’s abundant, dynamic, cultural capital.

The end of term 1 and Easter is fast approaching, and the local children in Birchip are enjoying a number of Easter traditions that make this time of year all the more fun and exciting ... The Birchip playgroup children had lots of fun on Friday in the park scavenging for eggs and were delighted with their results, as they devoured the chocolate and played in the ever-popular Morton Bay Fig trees and on the playground equipment.

The Victorian Minister for Regional Development has completely avoided answering a question in the Victorian Parliament regarding the forced takeover of private land near the 12 Apostles ... “Why are you removing another safeguard of the private property rights which define civilised society?” Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur asked.

Rural residents in the Gannawarra Shire are reminded to secure all livestock on their properties following several recent collisions between roaming animals and vehicles. Council’s Local Laws officers have attended a higher number of incidents involving collisions between roaming animals and vehicles compared to previous years.