Wodonga Crime Investigation Unit detectives are appealing for public assistance following a theft in Beechworth last month.

It is understood unknown offender/s attended a property on Flat Rock Road between 1.30am and 5.15am on 16 November.

They loaded a shipping container onto the back of a prime mover before fleeing the scene.

Officers were told the shipping container had $25,000 worth of mining equipment inside it.

The prime mover is described as a white Mercedes Actros and it was towing two trailers.

Investigators have released CCTV and images of a truck and a man who may be able to assist with their enquiries.

The man is described as wearing a black singlet, black shoes, and shorts.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV/dashcam footage or with information are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

Daylesford’s dedicated local cinema group is holding a fundraising Christmas movie event at the Stanbridge Hall on Daylesford’s Central Springs Road this Friday evening December 6.

The group will be screening family-friendly film Miracle on 34th Street with dollars raised going toward efforts to resurrect the town’s cinema as Phoenix Cinema@The Rex.

Doors will open at 6pm for this Friday evening’s fundraising Christmas movie event and it’s expected that Santa will make a grand entrance around 8pm with lucky dip bags for children, and an opportunity for photos.

The community’s previous cinema had served as a cultural hub before its closure, offering films and events that brought together both locals and visitors.

Now, after years of uncertainty following the sale of The Rex, a plan has emerged to re-establish the cinema as a community-run venture in the original home of the cinema in Daylesford, the Rex building.

The Cinema Group aims to fit out the existing upper floor of The Rex into a modern, 60-70-seat cinema, with a café and bar.

But they say that the planned renovation will remain true to the art deco style of the original structure.

The group also plans to add an imposing street entrance complete with attractive lighting and signage that will invite both locals and visitors to experience the venue.

They’re calling for donations to assist in fitting out the cinema space and to support its ongoing operation.

The group has applied for a Victorian Tourism Infrastructure Grant and will also seek additional corporate funding. Donations can be made via: https://www.gofundme.com/…/phoenix-at-the-rex-a…

For more information, or to offer support, contact Jules McDonald, president of the Daylesford Cinema Group, at 0400 455 993 or via email at julesmcd11@gmail.com.

A collision in Mill Park on 20 November has turned fatal after a young boy died in hospital in recent days.

It’s believed a car and an e-scooter collided at the intersection of Betula Avenue and Childs Road just after 6pm.

The rider of the e-scooter, a 12-year-old Mill Park boy, was taken to hospital in a critical condition but has since died in hospital, police reported in recent days.

The driver of the vehicle, a 34-year-old Greensborough man, stopped at the scene to assist.

The exact circumstances surrounding the collision are being investigated.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has footage, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

For the current provisional lives lost tally please see – https://www.police.vic.gov.au/road-safety.

Happening 2pm on the third Sunday of each month, the Three Chord Club is a friendly and supportive open mic event that takes place at Castlemaine’s Maurocco Bar.

The atmosphere-soaked Maurocco Bar is located in the Midland Hotel, oppsite the town’s railway station and the next Three Chord Club date is December 15.

The Three Chord Club offers a unique opportunity to get up and play, or listen to a variety of folk, blues, country, ethnic, bluegrass, rockabilly and singer-songwriters.

The generally amazing line up of talented musicians and fabulous venue with its yesteryear bohemian vibes make fr a popular event with average attendance of about 80. Drinks are available at the bar.

Every month nine acts can each perform three songs with those eager to play, invited to put their name on the board any time after 1 pm. Music starts at 2 pm. Enquiries: johnhannah45@outlook.com

A man has been charged after allegedly performing the Nazi salute and displaying the Nazi symbol, as well as threatening a police officer in Frankston in recent days.

The man was allegedly wearing a hat marked with the Nazi symbol when he threatened a male officer, before performing the Nazi salute outside Frankston Police Station n Thursday, November 21.

Police from the Frankston Crime Investigation Unit commenced an investigation into the incident and arrested a 41-year-old Seaford man that afternoon.

He was charged with intentionally displaying the Nazi symbol, making threats to kill, intimidation of law enforcement officer and threatening to assault police.

The man was bailed to appear in Frankston Magistrates’ Court on 19 December.

Returning by popular demand, the Water and Native Animal art competition showcases the talented artists and designers in kindergartens, schools and community groups.

The entered artwork will ends up displayed at the 2025 Ballarat Begonia Festival with the 2025 competition now open and all those planning to enter invited to register now.

The competition is supported by the Ballarat Wildlife Park, Ballarat Begonia Festival and Central Highlands Water.

The theme is Water and Native Animals with entrants encuraged to send in their best interpretation of an Australian native animal interacting with that most precious natural resource – water.

All artwork will be displayed in the open air gallery on the Ballarat Botanical Gardens Main Lawn from 8 to 10 March during the 2025 Begonia festival.

Details for entrants

• Registrations open 1 November 2024 and close 5 February 2025, limited to x24 entrants.
• Canvas paintings are due to the Central Highlands Water Ballarat Office by 5:00 pm Wednesday 26 February 2025. (CHW can collect your artwork from you by arrangement prior to this date – please email info@chw.net.au).
• Artwork will be on display for the entire Begonia Festival long weekend (Saturday 8 March to Monday 11 March 2025).

Voting will take place at the Begonia Festival via a QR code displayed onsite. This is linked to an online survey.

Categories:

• Overall winner – judged by CHW
• Kindergarten/early learning centre
• Primary school
• Secondary school
• Community group

Terms and Conditions

Read the full terms and conditions.

Prizes

• Overall winner will receive entry for one class (approximately 22 students) and up to 3 teachers to the Ballarat Wildlife Park (valued at approximately $450) plus the cost of the bus trip.
• Category winners receive a $150 nursery voucher.

The 2025 competition is now open, register now or you can email info@chw.net.au for more details.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a fatal crash which occurred in Longwarry in recent days.

Investigators have been told a Harley trike was headed east along Mackey Street about 9.45pm on Friday, Nvember 22 when the male rider lost control of the trike and crashed.

Emergency services were quickly on scene but the rider died at the scene.

The exact circumstances surrounding the collision had yet to be determined and investigations remained ongoing.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has footage, was urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

For the current provisional lives lost tally please see – https://www.police.vic.gov.au/road-safety.

A man has been charged after an incident on Phillip Island that left a police vehicle damaged in recent days.

Police patrolling on Phillip Island Road in Newhaven on Saturday November 21 detected an allegedly stolen vehicle speeding in an 80km/h zone.

The officers intercepted the vehicle in a carpark at Forest Caves where the driver allegedly provided a false name before driving off, performing a U-turn and driving toward the police vehicle.

The police officers were forced to take evasive action, but the vehicle was struck and extensively damaged.

Police members were not injured.

The offending vehicle ended up in a grass drain on the side of the road and the driver was arrested.

The 27-year-old man of no fixed address has been charged with aggravated and intentional exposure of police officer to risk by driving and other driving offences.

He has been remanded to appear in Latrobe Magistrates’ Court on 21 February 2025.

A new white-flesh fish variety could be swimming onto Australian plates adding more than $1 billion to the economy, following successful breeding trials by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, and promising initial market testing with chefs and consumers.  

As consumer demand continues to grow for Australian-sourced white fish, there’s a huge opportunity to diversify aquaculture and cultivate species at scale efficiently and in a sustainable way. 

The Pompano (Trachinotus anak) has been identified as the ideal white-flesh fish for developing in northern Australia’s tropical climate. 

A new Pompano industry is expected to help Australian aquaculture reduce its reliance on around 100,000 tonnes of white-flesh fish imports, while helping to sustainably meet growing demand for seafood.   

Lead scientist, Dr Polly Hilder, spoke at the CSIRO’s AgCatalyst2024 event last month, highlighting the goal to produce a highly nutritious protein source while prioritising sustainability and welfare.  

“The Pompano is a robust, sociable fish endemic to northern Australia that grows really quickly and tastes great, making it an ideal candidate for adapting to our aquaculture environments,” Dr Hilder said.  

“We’re bringing a new species to Australian plates to give consumers more options, while opening up new export opportunities to strengthen Australia’s white-flesh fish industry. 

“We’re now working to scale production processes in commercial trials with industry.” 

An initial market study, conducted by Fishtales, involving chefs found the Pompano is versatile, easy to prepare and tastes great.   

MasterChef Australia judge and co-owner and chef at Three Blue Ducks, Andy Allen, was highlighting the Pompano’s culinary qualities in a live cooking demonstration at AgCatalyst2024.     

“I’ve had some time to work with this fish in my kitchen at home and it tastes great as a mildly sweet, high quality white meat that is firm but finely flaked,” Mr Allen said.   

“I’ve been able to use the whole fish in a variety of ways – from simply cooking the fillets in olive oil, salt, pepper and lemon, to getting a bit wilder by crisping up the wings and using the head in a couple of different ways too. 

“It’s awesome to think we can breed this fish here in Australia sustainably and supply it to consumers in the future.” 

By partnering with industry to bring Pompano to the mainstream market, the CSIRO aims to create a new, sustainable Australian white-flesh fish industry in near future to diversify the market and reduce reliance on imports. 

“We’re applying innovative circular economy approaches designed around welfare that make use of resources end-to-end – from capturing value from production processes, through to utilising the whole fish at the consumer end,” Dr Hilder said. 

“For example, fish waste is high in phosphorous and nitrogen nutrients and can be turned into valuable byproducts such as fertiliser capsules.” 

CSIRO’s National Protein Roadmap states that industry ambitions to produce 50,000 tonnes of white-flesh fish could create more than 1000 jobs for Australia. It’s one of a suite of future protein solutions CSIRO is working on to meet growing global protein demand, sustainably. 

CSIRO’s aquaculture research and development spans breeding and genomics through to health, nutrition, and production processes.  

This story based on a CSIRO media release

Anyone with information relating to a large variable messaging sign being vandalised in the Creswick area recently is being urged to contact police.

The Variable Messaging Sign (VMS) is the property of the Hepburn Shire Council and was vandalised in the Creswick area in recent days, the council reported via online social media during the week.

The sign is used to communicate important messages and promote events to the community and acts of vandalism cost ratepayers, the social media post reminded.

A report had been filed with Victoria Police and those with information were being urged to reach out to the Creswick Police.

With below average rainfall leading to unusually low water levels in many farm dams, Agriculture Victoria has issued a timely reminder for farmers and landholders to keep a close eye on their dams and other water supplies.

As we head into the summer months Agriculture Victoria is keen to remind farmers and other landholders that it has information and tools available to help assess stock water supply and calculate how long on property water supplies will last. 

Agriculture Victoria is also inviting farmers and other landholders who would like to access assistance with managing farm water supplies to email drought.support@agriculture.vic.gov.au

A new venture from the CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, has secured $15 million in seed funding to commercialise next generation solar thermal technology that will help reduce industrial emissions, which account for 20 per cent of Australia’s annual carbon footprint. 

The company, FPR Energy, was launched on Tuesday in collaboration with global advisory and funds management firm RFC Ambrian and utilities leader Osaka Gas, raising the largest seed funding for a CSIRO co-founded venture to date. 

FPR Energy aims to cut emissions in heavy industries such as minerals refining, steel, cement and chemical production using CSIRO’s particle-based Concentrated Solar Thermal (CST) technology, capable of producing temperatures up to 1200 degrees Celsius – an industry first. 

The technology uses abundant and low-cost ceramic particles to store sunlight as heat, enabling long-duration energy storage to support industrial processes, green fuel production and reliable, dispatchable power. 

CSIRO Energy Technologies Research Director, Dr Daniel Roberts, said FPR Energy is a major step in meeting the growing demand for renewable solutions in hard-to-abate heavy industries.  

“FPR Energy is building on years of solar thermal research, demonstrating CSIRO’s commitment to supporting emissions reduction using impact-focussed science and technology,” Dr Roberts said. 

“Diversifying the way we harness Australia’s abundant solar resources will help develop a low-carbon economy and support economic growth and job creation in the Hunter region.  

“Helping heavy industries to transition to cleaner energy sources is essential to reaching Australia’s net-zero emission targets,” he said. 

FPR Energy plans to develop a 50 megawatt thermal demonstration plant, with up to 16 hours of integrated thermal energy storage. The plant aims to prove the commercial viability of FPR Energy’s CST technology at a utility scale.  

Osaka Gas, a major Japanese utility operating in Australia, brings valuable knowledge and expertise to advance the CST technology to market, with energy, heat and electricity solutions tailored for the Australian resources sector.  

Hiroki Tanaka, Head of Next generation Business Development Department of Osaka Gas, said he was excited to collaborate with CSIRO and RFC Ambrian to create and offer unique solutions for industries. 

“Emission reduction and affordability of energy are often a dilemma for many industrial energy users and this particle-based CST and possibly thermal energy storage can offer practical solutions for them,” Mr Tanaka said. 

“Through our history, we have been contributing to the low carbonization by switching heat sources from coal, fuel oil to gas with efficient energy solutions. We are thrilled to bring our knowledge to help FPR Energy to create real-life solutions for industrial customers.” 

Rob Adamson, Chair of RFC Ambrian, said he was delighted to partner with CSIRO and Osaka Gas to launch FPR Energy. 

“The decarbonisation of high-temperature industrial processes is crucial, and particle-based CST technology stands out as a high promising solution, offering both high-temperature heat and long-duration storage at competitive costs,” Mr Adamson said. 

“FPR Energy’s technology embodies Australian innovation in solar technology and is designed for scalable, local manufacturing.” 

About FPR Energy 

FPR Energy is a new venture co-founded by CSIRO, RFC Ambrian and Osaka Gas commercialising particle-based Concentrated Solar Thermal (CST) technology to drive industrial decarbonisation and support Australia’s transition to net-zero emissions. 

FPR Energy draws on the success of previous CSIRO and RFC Ambrian ventures, including Chrysos , NextOre, Hadean Energy and MRead.  

Headquartered at CSIRO’s Energy Centre in Newcastle, FPR Energy is built on CSIRO’s particle receiver technology research program, developed through the Australian solar Thermal Research Institute (ASTRI), with support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). 

FPR Energy plans to expand the technology to other high-solar regions worldwide, including North and South America, the Middle East and Africa. 

This story based on a media release from CSIRO

First responders to last year’s devastating Daylesford crash have been honoured one year after the horrific accident that claimed five lives on November 5, 2023.

Last Sunday, November 23 CFA dignitaries, including CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan and board member Rosemary Martin, presented the distinguished unit citation for service to the Daylesford, Hepburn, Franklinford, and Musk fire brigades during a commemoration service marking the tragedy’s first anniversary.

Nineteen members of the Daylesford Fire Brigade, nine from Hepburn, one from Franklinford, and one from Musk also each received Individual unit citations for service recognising their outstanding service.

“This award honours not only the bravery and professionalism of our CFA volunteers during such a harrowing event but also their unwavering commitment to their communities,” CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said.

“These volunteers worked under unimaginable conditions, demonstrating the very best of CFA’s values.

“This award is about appreciating the service of our members while also acknowledging the profound loss felt by the families and loved ones affected. We stand with you, as does this community.”

Daylesford Captain Glenn Webster, who also received a commendation for service alongside his citation, expressed immense pride in his fellow brigade members and the emergency responders who assisted.

“I’m in awe of what they did that day. They responded without hesitation and faced the most horrific scene you could imagine,” Mr Webster said.

“They worked professionally, did everything they could to assist the injured, and supported paramedics when they arrived. They were just outstanding.”

Reflecting on the wider impact, Mr Webster highlighted how the community rallied in the aftermath of the tragedy.

“On that terrible day one year ago, and in the days that followed, community was everything,” he said.

“They were fantastic – dropping off flowers to the brigade and even bringing meals on the night of the event because they knew we were exhausted.

“There was a great deal of kindness shown to us, and it’s a privilege to serve such a compassionate community.”

Turning his thoughts to the families impacted by the tragedy, Mr Webster offered a heartfelt message of support.

“They were not alone. They and you will forever remain a part of the extended family of this community.”

This story based on a media release from the CFA

Artists for next April’s CresFest have been announced with a huge diversity of music and acts in store for the award winning folk and roots festival.

Headliners for the April 4-6 festival that’s set to transform the township of Creswick, range from Neil Murray, The Maes and Queenslands’ Joe Geia to Grace Barbe from the Seychelles, Grassy Strings from India and Kofti Kunkpe bringing West African grooves to the party.

Organisers say friend and subscriber offers are already proving very succesful with sales up on any previous year, and earlier this month they opened sales to the general public.

Alongside the concerts featuring a generous array of international stars and talented newcomers over the three days, festival-goers will also get the chance to participate in a packed program of workshops including singing, dancing and playing.

There’ll also be the chance to learn new skills and take part in an African Extravaganza when Kofi Kunkpe’s ensemble and the Creswick Drummers take over the centre of town.

Budding performers will also get the chance to enter the IGA Busking Competition for a chance to take home prizes along with the glory. Local players will be invited to perform with visiting professionals, in an inspirational two way collaboration.

Tickets and camping have now on sale now via the festival website, where the impressive diversity of music that will be on offer can also be perused at https://cresfest.com.au/.

Coming up Sunday December 8, Clunes’ Booktown on Sunday series is set to feature the acclaimed still-life artist Criss Canning OAM in conversation with Clunes creative Rebecca Russell.

The Booktown on Sunday series features writers and creatives in conversation in an intimate setting, providing audiences with rare insights into their work and oeuvre.

The upcoming session will take place at 1.30pm at the town’s historic Clunes Railway Station Booktown venue affording a rare chance to hear Canning discuss her new book, The Paintings of Criss Canning: The House and Gardens at Lambley.

For 35 years, Criss and her husband, acclaimed garden designer David Glenn, have lived at Burnside, the charming 1860’s farmhouse with the adjoining famed gardens of Lambley, a highly regarded nursery at Ascot situated between Clunes and Ballarat.

Canning is one of Australia’s finest and most celebrated still-life artists. She has explored flowers, textiles and decorative objects in her paintings over five decades.

Her husband’s great love of gardens has offered Canning visual inspiration at every turn. She paints the poppies, irises and sunflowers that grow in the garden at Lambley and explores Australian native plants, especially the banksia, in all its forms.

Canning – also a keen collector of jewel-toned glassware, vases, tea sets and vintage kimonos – is celebrated as one of Australia’s most exceptional still-life artists and her new 320-page book that was published in Australia in October is a fully illustrated monograph on the life and art.

With newly commissioned photography, and essays by Georgina Reid, Jenny Zimmer, Julie McLaren and Criss herself, the book strives to capture the garden, the studio, the house and the collections that are the basis of Criss’s paintings.

In an attempt to see what the artist sees, photographer Eve Wilson photographed the house and garden that make up Canning’s world, showing just how closely art can imitate life.

Entry to the upcoming Clunes Booktown on Sunday session is free but organisers say those intending to attend should book a ticket, which can be done online at https://linktr.ee/clunesbooktownfestival.

Words: Eve Lamb.