In the first part of our 2022 retrospective, journalist Tom Parry shares his favourite stories, and photos, from the past 12 months.
FEBRUARY
Chester calls for swift fix of a ‘farcical’ issue (25th)
Local MP Darren Chester has leant his support to three bushfire-affected communities whose application for funding was rejected by the federal government.
His advocacy comes after volunteer-based committees in Sarsfield, Waiwera and Ensay were denied access to the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery fund because they were considered a “State government entity”.
MARCH
Longford’s lengthy wait over (4th)
Longford Cricket Club are still buzzing after their victory last weekend.
“It almost felt like a Final win, to be honest,” captain Lachlan Floyd told the Times.
The Lizards won their first (and only) A-grade match of the 2021/22 season, defeating Sale by 54 runs at the latter’s home ground.
What’s more, the win was Longford’s first in 798 days.
Photo: Tom Parry
Doesn’t Wash: Loch Sport residents launch yet another bid to solve erosion issue (8th)
Residents of Loch Sport are still waiting for a solution to the ongoing erosion of the Lake Victoria foreshore.
The Northern foreshore, which runs adjacent to Seagull Drive, is continuing to wear away at an alarming rate, threatening the infrastructure and homes that border the beach.
Read the full story HERE.
Pure delight for new venture at Longford (15th)
Construction has officially commenced on a new CO2 Purification Plant at Longford.
The structure will be built within the grounds of the existing Gas Conditioning Plant to capture and store excess carbon-dioxide.
The announcement was made at a sod-turning ceremony on Friday, March 11 at the same site by representatives from ExxonMobil and Air Liquide, who will jointly be constructing the new Plant.
Full story HERE.
Breaking point reached at Yarram (29th)
Firefighters in Yarram are still waiting for a new station to be built as their current building continues to deteriorate.
The volunteer-led Yarram Fire Brigade has been promised a new building since 2016, with no confirmation as to when construction will begin.
Funding and budget restraints within the Country Fire Authority are being cited as reasons for the delay.
Full story HERE.
APRIL
Something very fishy in Loch Sport (5th)
The town of Loch Sport has been left concerned and bemused after witnessing thousands of dead fish along the Lake Victoria foreshore.
The incident occurred on Thursday, March 31 and saw numerous species of fish appear floating in the water, or washing-up on the sand.
In a statement to the Gippsland Times, the EPA confirmed that their investigations into the fish kill have concluded and that pollution was not the cause.
Reg passes the baton (22nd)
ANZAC Day is generally a time of reflection for veterans and their families, as well as the community more broadly.
In Sale, the event is typically commemorated with a March along Raymond Street, where one can hear music played by the Sale City Band.
For Reg Monck, 2022’s commemorations have extra significance, for they are his final time leading the ensemble in an ANZAC Day March.
Photo: Tom Parry
MAY
One to a thousand for Sale umpire (3rd)
This weekend’s North Gippsland senior football clash between Heyfield and Yarram brings with it a milestone for one of the region’s unsung heroes.
Pete Perillo will be overseeing his 1000th football game as umpire, a feat unmatched by any of his peers.
Read more HERE.
Mrs Hector honoured (10th)
A stalwart of Sale’s netball community has been honoured for her decades of contribution to the sport.
The Marion Hector Timekeepers Box was unveiled at the Sale Netball Association’s inaugural Life Members Day, held at the Gippsland Regional Sports Complex two weekends ago.
As its name implies, the booth pays tribute to Marion Hector, in recognition of her many years of selfless service to the Association.
Read more HERE.
Morgan’s Aussie Debut (31st)
Heyfield cricketer Justin Morgan is on his way to Brisbane this weekend to represent Australia.
The wicket-keeper and batsman will be playing in the International Cricket Inclusion Series as part of the Australian National Deaf Squad.
The selection came as something of a surprise to Morgan, who only joined the Victorian Deaf Squad a few months ago.
Read more HERE.
JUNE
More Winds of Change for Wellington (14th)
Announced publicly on Friday, June 10, the proposed Great Eastern Offshore Wind project will be built 22 kilometres from the Wellington Shire coast and power up to 1.6 million households.
The project is being pursued by UK-based firm Corio Generation, with the financial backing through Macquarie Bank’s Green Investment Group.
If approved, Great Eastern would be the largest offshore windfarm in the Southern Hemisphere, generating 2.5 gigawatts of energy.
Read more HERE.
Maffra Primary takes the plunge (14th)
Maffra Primary School took a leaf out of the MCG’s playbook and hosted their own Big Freeze event.
Excited students and their families watched on as staff took an icy plunge on Thursday, June 9, in support of Neale Daniher’s charity FightMND.
Photo: Tom Parry
Blue Wiggle a cut above (21st)
A local business is the talk of the town after providing a haircut to none other than Anthony Field, a.k.a the Blue Wiggle.
The children’s entertainer and longest-serving member of The Wiggles visited Leigh’s Barber Shop on Thursday evening, much to the delight of hairdresser Lisa Leenders.
Full story HERE.
JULY
Top Dog stands alone (5th)
On the afternoon of June 25, Sale City stalwart Daniel Bird achieved a feat no other Bulldog had previously.
The Bulldogs’ home match against Woodside was Bird’s 326th senior game at the club, breaking a long-standing record in the process.
For his teammates and supporters, it was a milestone worthy of celebration.
Yet for the ever-humble Bird, the experience was mystifying.
Full story HERE.
Search is on for Sale’s Water Dragons (26th)
Gippsland Water Dragons are calling for a permanent home at the Port of Sale to ease their storage woes.
The Sale-based sporting club’s plea comes after months of uncertainty regarding their future.
Full story HERE.
AUGUST
Whale makes a splash in Loch Sport (9th)
A surprise visitor greeted Loch Sport last week, with a Bryde’s whale making an appearance in the shallow waters of Ninety Mile Beach.
The mammal was spotted by eagle-eyed resident Rachel Hunter at approximately 7.45am on Wednesday, August 3.
Ms Hunter was fishing at Stockyard Hill Surf Beach when she made the sighting and has since shared her photos of the whale with the Gippsland Times.
Full story HERE.
Lucky to be alive after dog act (16th)
A Sale resident is urging pet-owners to take greater responsibility following a “vicious and violent” attack on her dog.
Melissa Edwards and her son Francis were walking Percy, a Jack Russell-cross-Toy Poodle, last Friday evening after visiting friends at a residence on Glass Street.
Luckily, the much-loved family member survived and is recovering well.
Full story HERE.
Photo: Tom Parry
Energetic event hailed a success (16th)
At least 380 people attended the inaugural Gippsland New Energy Conference in Sale, which took place on August 11 and 12 at The Wedge and The Stables.
The event saw delegates from the private and public sector hear speeches and seminars from industry leaders, plus representatives from all three levels of government – local, state and federal.
Full story HERE.
SEPTEMBER
1000 games for ‘Tatto’ (2nd)
A stalwart of the local football scene joined a prestigious club in August, officiating in his 1000th game of football as part of the Latrobe Valley Umpires Association.
Sale resident Robert Tatterson reached the milestone as a goal umpire in the Morwell Tigers’ Round 18 home-game against the Magpies in the Gippsland League.
The occasion was marked with Tatterson leading his fellow umpires onto the ground, before flipping the coin in the ceremonial coin-toss between the two captains.
Café booted from Bairnsdale line (9th)
Catering facilities will soon be removed from all Gippsland train services, despite continuing to be available on other routes across the state.
The news comes as V/Line prepares to retire its fleet of N-class locomotives and carriages on the Bairnsdale line, with a view to replace all services with VLocity trains.
Advocacy group Rail Futures Institute has described the situation as “inequitable” and is calling on V/Line to reverse its decision.
Full story HERE.
Bill Cane Collection unveiled (20th)
A local legend and renowned horticulturalist has been honoured with a new curation at the Sale Botanic Garden.
Known as the Bill Cane Collection, the curation was officially unveiled to the public on Wednesday, September 14 by the family of the late Maffra resident.
The collection features 70 different native plant species, all chosen with the input of the Cane family.
Full story HERE.
OCTOBER
600 not out for Wurruk legend (11th)
Wurruk’s greatest stalwart has notched up 600 games of club cricket.
Rob Young reached the milestone playing in the fourth-grade competition at Wurruk’s home-ground on Saturday afternoon.
The 70-year-old described his achievement as a “very nice feeling”.
Full story HERE.
Melbourne Cup tours the region (21st)
With just under two weeks to go until the Melbourne Cup, locals have been lucky enough to get up close-and-personal with the eponymous trophy.
The 2022 Lexus Melbourne Cup visited Rosedale, Maffra and Seaspray as part of a regional tour facilitated by the Victoria Racing Club (VRC).
Full story HERE.
Photo: Ernie Hug
Bundy Primary brings up 150
Memories were shared and days of youth reminisced as Bundalaguah Primary School observed its 150th anniversary on Saturday, October 22.
Students, parents and staff, past and present all gathered at the school grounds on Sale-Maffra Road to mark the occasion.
Full story HERE.
NOVEMBER
Here’s to 151 years of Sale City Band (1st)
In the lead-up to its sesquicentennial concert, members of the Sale City Band reflected on their time with the band and the integral role it has played in their lives.
The band’s 150th anniversary celebration took place in its 151st year of being – commemorations were scheduled to occur last year, but had to be postponed owing to the pandemic.
Full story HERE.
Veteran reflects on Remembrance Day (11th)
Visit the Gippsland Armed Forces Museum at West Sale Airport, and chances are you’ll encounter one Malcolm “Mal” Cotton.
Mr Cotton is a veteran of Britain’s Royal Air Force who reached the rank of Acting Corporal in his 14 years of service, in that time observing an astonishing, and controversial, chapter in Australia’s history: Operation Buffalo.
Full story HERE.
Local school showcases movie magic (22nd)
Guthridge Primary School have debuted their latest production in a red-carpet ceremony at Sale Cinema.
The world premiere of their feature-length film When We Got Lost in Dreamland took place on the evening of Wednesday, November 16 with the cast, crew, their families and teachers in attendance.
Full story HERE.
DECEMBER
New garden raises spirits (6th)
A NEW sensory garden has officially been opened at the George Gray Centre.
The opening took place on Thursday, December 1 with employees and clients of the Centre, plus their families and local dignitaries, in attendance.
Full story HERE.
Could Sion be St Thomas’ new home? (9th)
THE former Sion campus of Catholic College Sale could soon be home to St Thomas’ Primary School under a plan drafted by the region’s Catholic education providers.
A statement from the Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Ltd (DOSCEL) revealed that it had been consulting and exploring the possible relocation of the primary school to the Our Lady of Sion building.
The building was previously used as the site for Catholic College Sale’s junior campus, which has since amalgamated with the senior campus on Macalister Street.
Read more HERE.
