The mighty Bulldogs had a wonderful second quarter and blitzed the Swans by 40 at Manuka Oval. I’m very very happy about this.
I would have loved to be there, but didn’t buy tickets as I knew that I would be too tired to get there in time. As it happened, I was right, and slept until 1:30pm and ended up watching the game on Southern Cross Ten whilst listening to the other match, North Melbourne V Brisbane, on 3AW Football. It’s the first time (as far as I can recall) that Rex Hunt has sent the fat lady around the grounds to sing for a match which they aren’t covering…mid-way through the second quarter, and again near half time.
Now listening to the Friday edition of the The Rush Limbaugh Show (not a typo), and later tonight The Bill is on ABC1.
I am looking forward to returning to Canberra and seeing Nattie and the rest of the family again for the first time in two weeks, and it will be very nice to not have to think about Fairfax for a while.
33 dairy jobs are set to be lost in Kyabram following the sale of the Kyabram research centre at the end of next month.
The Brumby government is moving the jobs to Tatura, however the National’s member for Rodney, Paul Weller, says that the decision will have severe consequences for Kyabram.
The Tocumwal Lions club is holding a public meeting this morning to discuss the need to base an ambulance in Tocumwal.
MP John Williams and a member of the New South Wales ambulance service will be in attendance for the 10am meeting at the Tocumwal memorial Hall.
US President Barack Obama’s envoy to Victoria, Consul-General Michael Thurston, wraps up his first tour of rural Victoria today, visiting Echuca, Moama, Rochester, Colbinabbin and Heathcote.
Yesterday Mr. Thurston came under fire over the US government’s decision to prop up their own farmers who are competing for the same market as many Australian farmers.
In Deni Golf, the winners of the 4BBB event were B. Parks and L. Taylor, with S. Cohen and P. Aitken the runners up.
(Today’s headlines are shorter than usual as the bulletins have a large number of sport previews provided by representatives of various local sporting groups).
I just received a press release informing me that no passengers on the P&O boat the Pacific Dawn has tested positive to swine flu. This effectively kills the rumour of there being swine flu in Berrigan as the story was that a couple people who had been on the Pacific Dawn were in Berrigan.
It’s good news, but it means that I need to find another story for tomorrow.
Update:Town name corrected. Following up another story in Conargo, got the names mixed up. End Update
I’m surprised by the difference in attitude to the pig flu situation between Victorian health authorities and New South Wales health authorities.
For most of the week I have been inundated with press releases about just about every single diagnosis of pig flu in Victoria. The Victorian authorities seem to believe that keeping people informed is a good idea.
Then we have New South Wales. I’m trying to follow up on a tipoff we have received about a diagnosis of pig flu in Berrigan. Greater Southern Area Health’s media rep responded with “oh we don’t talk about individual cases. We have a website with overall numbers which we update daily”.
I have just checked back through all of the emails and faxes which have come in this week, and I can not find a single message from New South Wales health authorities. Apparently keeping people in the dark and fobbing the media off to a website is the way things are handled in New South Wales.
I much prefer the Victorian approach. Whilst it creates more of an uproar and media circus, at least people are informed about what is going on. The New South Wales way just causes confusion.
I just love it when I apply for a job and hear nothing for weeks and weeks and weeks, and then when I have forgotten all about it, I get an email informing me that I was unsuccessful.
I suppose I would have a bit of trouble if I received an email informing me that I was the successful applicant, as I would have to try and work out what the job was. At least when I’m unsuccessful I can brush it off.
I wrote the following at 5am…apparently I then hit “save” rather than “publish”.
Thank you Fairfax. It seems that pulses during the night caused a heap of the music log to be skipped, so rather than finishing at 6am it finished at 4:45am.
I just wasted fifteen minutes of my news preparation time inventing a new music log for the remainder of the morning.
Three people were taken to hospital last night after a car accident at the corner of Henry and Fowler Streets. Police believe that a driver failed to stop at a give way sign, causing both cars to roll.
No one was seriously injured in the accident, however the intersection was blocked for two hours.
Campaspe Shire Council have handed down their draft budget for 2009-10, with a cash surplus of $23,000. Rates are, however, on the increase, and will be going up by 6%.
The 4.3 million dollar Echuca library and community hub project has been placed on hold.
The budget can be viewed at www.campaspe.vic.gov.au and at customer service centres, and public submissions are welcome until the 30th of June.
The Deniliquin Council met last night and heard about a meeting which was held between senior council staff, and local developers and real estate agents, regarding ways to encourage development in Deniliquin and surrounds. The meeting was widely regarded as constructive and was welcomed by local developers and estate agents. A report will be handed to Council from the meeting in the near future.
Council also approved a fee increase at the Deni swimming pool. Fees are going up by an average of 4% from the first of July. It’s the first fee increase at the swimming pool since 2006.
United States Consul General Michael Thurston is touring Echuca, Barmah and Kyabram with Nationals MP Paul Weller today.
Mr. Thurston is US president Barack Obama’s representative in Victoria, and this is his first visit to rural Victoria since being appointed.
Ferrari defeated Porsche by one point in the final of the Deniliquin mixed netball competition.
And in Men’s basketball
The Vikings defeated the Warriors 41 to 37
And the Maples defeated the Under 19s Giants 33 to 26
Police have arrested a man following a 40 kilometre pursuit from Echuca to Kyabram last night.
The shire of Campaspe has released its draft council plan and draft strategic resource plan.
The documents will guide the future direction of the council, and Mayor Peter Williams is inviting locals to provide their feedback.
A student from Finley High School is spending the day in Sydney, shadowing a senior public servant in the education department.
Year 10 student Rhys Portbury is one of twenty students from across New South Wales to be chosen for the annual “Director-general for a day” program, and will spend the day with the education department’s Director of Legal Services.
Wunghnu rimary school has won a 27,000 litre rainwater tank by taking part in Bluescope Steel’s “tankaday” challenge, which is aimed at teaching students water conservation measures.
Campaspe Council will meet at midday to discuss their draft budget. The meeting will take place at the Echuca Civic Centre Function Room and everyone is invited to attend.
The Deniliquin council is meeting this evening. Items on the Agenda include a potential fee increase at the swim centre, and a public question time.
And Conargo shire residents are being encouraged to have a say at community meetings being held today.
In Ladies basketball, the Demons defeated the Deni Sports 35 to 32. Deni Sports’ Julie O’Brien was the top scorer with 14 points.
And the Gulpa Coachies defeated the Rams 34 to 25. The Rams’ Paula Parsons was the top scorer with 13 points.