Around the traps with Gus Underwood

By Gus Underwood

Jun 18, 2024

Paul Wickham has put up his hand for Great Shepparton City Council seat. Photo by Megan Fisher

Locals put hand up for council

Kyabram raised Paul Wickham has put up his hand to contest the Greater Shepparton City Council elections later this year.

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The Mooroopna pharmacist will contest the Goulburn River Ward because he lives in it and feels a local connection with it.

Paul still has strong Kyabram connections with his parents Bev and Lindsay living in the town.

He also played cricket with his son Quinn with the Kyabram Cricket Club last season.

Go-getter businessman Steven Threlfall has also put his hand to become a Greater Shepparton councillor.

Owner of Trelly’s outdoor shops in Shepparton, Bendigo and Gelong, Mr Threlfall is a fifth generation Sheppartonite and is well known within the community.

He is making up his mind as to what ward he will contest, but has a preference for McEwen or Pine Loge wards.

The council elections will be held in October.

New book for Back Roads presenter

Murchison raised, award-winning journalist and the popular presenter of the ABC TV program Back Roads Heather Ewart recently launched a book at Longleat Estate in her home town.

Titled Back Roads: The Great Aussie Road Trip which she compiled from her experiences and insights as to where the most stunning places in Australia are.

During the most recent shoots for her show, Heather had an accident on set, suffering a broken arm and wrist.

Heather Ewart with partner Barry Cassidy.

Heather admits the book took a longer to write than she thought, taking a year to get the finished product.

Heather’s husband, political commentator Barrie Cassidy spent a brief period in the 1960s working as a journalist at the Kyabram Free Press.

Dry start to winter

Winter has arrived, but so far, not much rain.

Kyabram has received 11.6mm of rain in June up to Monday, which has taken the yearly to 256.6mm, above the long-term average of 215mm.

The June average rainfall is 42mm.

Expansion for vet practice

Work has started to expand Rochester’s Veterinary Practice.

The Lewry St business will double its hoof-print by the end of this year.

The business is working on the extensions with Cylclo Group, a construction company which specialises in vet practices, medical facilities, childcare centres and other commercial industries.

Fuel taken from fire brigades

Fuel thefts from remote rural based fire brigade trucks are a growing concern in the Deniliquin district.

Ram-raids recently have been made on fire stations in Pine Lea, Birganbigil and Tullakool to steal fuel.

The concerns are that in the case of emergencies, it will leave brigades unable to respond immediately and the cost to update security at these remote stations.

One for the high flyers

A free open day is being held at the Deniliquin airport on Sunday, June 23, to celebrate the opening of a new runway.

It is being held from 9am to noon.

Co-ordinated by the Deniliquin Aero Club, there will be static displays and, weather permitting, aerial displays.

The official opening of the runaway will be a separate function being held this week and will feature some special guests.

Zane’s on target

Avenel teenager Zane Kilroy is a young man on target — a straight thrower rather than a straight shooter.

So straight the National darts selectors have selected him as one of two representatives for Australia to contest the World Darts Federation Masters in Budapest, Hungary, in October.

Zane’s family is into darts, so it was no surprise he followed suit.

He led Victoria to its first championship win in 20 years and also claimed the Betty Hislop for Champion Boy in the Australian Junior Championships.

The Avenel locals are rallying around Zane to raise funds to help finance the trip of a lifetime.