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Kyabram Teen Challenge student Jake Bennett has been training in preparation for a 100km ride to raise money for the rehab centre. Photo by Kyabram Free Press

2014

Giving back to the rehab centre

Recovering ice addict and student Jake Bennett is planning to cycle 100km for Teen Challenge Victoria next month.

Jake, who is taking part in a drug rehabilitation program at the Kyabram centre, is aiming to raise $5000 for the centre before taking part in the Freedom ride.

The ride is a challenge in terms of completing the event and raising funds for Teen Challenge.

Jake, 20, has been at the centre for about six and a half months and considers himself lucky to have had the chance to change his fortunes.

The money donated will go towards fee costs for new students and will help pay for solar panels to be installed at the centre, which will reduce electricity costs.

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Zoe Hayes said she would once again compete in the Kyabram Show after taking home the state competition and earning her spot in the nationals next year. Photo by Kyabram Free Press

The right moo-ves: Zoe proving a top heifer handler

Handling heifers is simply in Zoe Hayes’ blood.

And the state’s best handlers have agreed.

Kyabram girl Zoe, 16, has taken home the State Final Junior Parades competition at the Royal Melbourne Show and earned herself a spot in next year’s nationals at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

Zoe, whose family owns and runs the Illawarra Llandovery Stud in Stanhope, took home the award with 20-month-old heifer Cherrylock Malda’s Pride.

To win the state award, Zoe had to lead her heifer for more than 30 minutes and show that she could handle the cow and not crack under the pressure.

“The judges said that I stayed the most calm throughout, which was nice to hear,” Zoe said.

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A map of the Victorian Government’s new $15 million Target program that will drive mining exploration in northern Victoria. Kyabram is in a large area where there is thought to be gold. Photo by Kyabram Free Press

Gold prospect in Ky

Kyabram is smack bang in middle of a Victorian Government blueprint to fast-track mineral exploration – and the target is gold.

The government announced its $15 million Target initiative to boost mineral exploration.

Drilling at Mitiamo in 2012 has already proved viable – with high gold mineralisation found as part of the Catalyst Metals Four Eagles Gold Project.

But it won’t be all good news no matter how much gold is or isn’t found.

Farmers own most of the land that could be turned into major mining enterprises as the exploration expands.

1994

1994 Captain Payne champions, ‘Yalca Jill’ and her owner Francis Pugh of Yalca. Photo by Kyabram Free Press

‘Yalca Jill’ wins Captain Payne at Kanyapella

Francis Pugh from Yalca guided his five-year old border-collie “Yalca Jill” to victory in this year’s Captain Payne dog trials held at Kanyapella this week.

The 1994 trials marked the 20th anniversary of the prestigious event being held at Tongala, and the trial was the 64th overall.

In 16 minutes an owner must cast his dog 400 yards down the course to retrieve three sheep, which are then rounded up by the dog.

In total 86 entrants from all states except Western Australia were represented at the trials, which attract the best dogs and their owners in the country.

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Echuca name opposed by Kyabram Council

Kyabram Town Council is strongly opposed to the names of Echuca or Hopwood being used for a new municipality.

Kyabram may be included in the municipality called Campaspe by the Local Government Board, depending on the board’s final report and the Minister’s subsequent decision.

The move by Echuca to change the name was revealed in a copy of Echuca City Council’s submission to the board.

Cr Stuart Gemmill said at Tuesday night’s Kyabram meeting, the council should make it clear that it strongly opposed the name Echuca or Hopwood.

Council will tell the board and Member for Rodney, Mr Noel Maughan, that it objects to the names.

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Has Kyabram seen its last passenger train? Photo by Kyabram Free Press

Passenger rail link finished?

The Toolamba-Echuca railway line may have seen its last passenger train.

The line has been officially downgraded to “freight only” status, which was outlined at the Deakin Shire Council meeting on Monday.

V/Line passenger managing director Mr Geoff Smithwick informed the council by way of letter after the shire sought information as to the line’s present status.

In the letter, Mr Smithwick advised council that the only regular traffic on the line was super phosphate to the GV Fertilisers siding near Kyabram.

Just for the record, the last time a passenger train travelled the Toolamba-Echuca line was on Thursday, December 30, last year.

1974

The dairy 'monster' in question. Photo by Kyabram Free Press

Dairy ‘monster’

Above is pictured the rather strange looking calf which was born recently on Mr Keith Maudsley’s property at Stanhope.

Described as a “no sex” calf, its head looks more like a sheep or a goat than a calf.

A local vet said the malformation of the head was the result of the embryo not developing properly.

The calf has been taken to a Department of Agriculture Centre in Melbourne.

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Steep rises in hospital, ambulance fees

Heavy increases in both hospital and ambulance charges have come into operation in Kyabram this week.

Hospital fees, as from yesterday are: Public Ward now $27 per day (previously $20). Intermediate $41 (30). Private $55 ($40).

Commenting on the increases Kyabram Hospital Manager Mr R. J. Thrussell said the local Board had virtually no say in setting the fees.

“The fees are set by the State Treasury on the recommendation of the Hospitals and Charities Commission.

Mr Thrussell said that the fees were in no way related to the running costs of the hospital.

In fact, Private and Intermediate patients were subsiding other patients.

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Bond for streaking

A Kyabram man was placed on a good behaviour bond for 12 months on a sum of $100 for streaking outside the Milloo Public Hall.

He was Davis William Carland of Julia St, Kyabram, and he was naked with the exception of a pair of socks and a green crash helmet when he streaked at Milloo.

He told Pyramid Hill Court which was presided over by Mr A. J. Curtain, SM, that he was a bit drunk at the time and his mates fared him to do it, so he did it.

He knows now that he was stupid and he was no going to drink any more.