News
Boy in blue; Mario Miocic signs off after 28 years service
SERGEANT Mario Miocic has given 28 years of his life to Victoria Police, and 25 of those were spent here in Ararat.
Mario’s decision to move to Ararat was Melbourne’s loss and our gain.
“We’ve never looked back,” he said. “Country policing not for everybody. But it’s a great place. I’ve had an absolute ball.”
Born in Melbourne in 1968, Mario entered the police force because he felt policing offered job security, and “looked like fun.”
Mario met future wife Michelle, who had moved to the city from Ararat. The couple married and welcomed their children Olivia and Jake. They were living in East Bentleigh when they decided it was time for a change.
Lettuce shortage hits KFC
POPULAR fast food restaurant KFC is having to improvise due to the massive increase in the cost of the humble Iceberg lettuce.
If you’ve noticed a twist in your Twister, or a bit more zing in your Zinger, the lettuce shortage could be why.
KFC has advised customers that they are temporarily using a blend of lettuce and cabbage in stores in Victoria because of supply issues across the country.
Donation in memory of former Grease Monkey
A group of local car enthusiasts has made a generous donation to East Grampians Health Service in memory of a former club member.
Grampians Grease Monkeys member Gerald Hurkens passed away in 2021 and the club wanted to express its appreciation for the care he received at Ararat Hospital.
Last week, they handed over a donation of $2,000 to East Grampians Health Service Chief Executive Nick Bush, flanked by an impressive array of vintage cars.
Feedback sought on council budget
ARARAT Rural City Council will kick off a series of face-to-face and online consultations next week as it seeks community feedback on its draft budget for 2022-23. Mayor Jo Armstrong said the draft Budget is about organisational efficiency and getting back to basics. “Over the past two years, we have tackled big-ticket projects,” Cr Armstrong […]
Ararat community embraces Ukrainian refugees
LOCAL man David Ferguson reported to The Ararat Advocate on Wednesday that his sister-in-law, Sasha, and her children Maxim (5) and Dima (3) have come to live in Ararat on a humanitarian visa.
Sasha’s husband Alexander has remained behind in Nikolaev, a city in Southern Ukraine.
“He cannot leave, he must stay. There is currently bombing and fighting in Nikolaev,” David reported.
Little Maxim was embraced by the Ararat Primary School community, Principal Ryan Oliver said on Thursday morning – Maxim’s first day of school.
New laws for firearm owners
LOCAL firearm owners will have to update their storage facilities by the end of August, following the implementation of new legislation.
New regulations indicate license holders must store firearms in commercial made steel storage receptables, which meet Australian standards; prohibiting the use of hard-wood storage units.
The steel used must be at least 1.6 millimetres thick and weigh more than 150 kilograms when empty, to avoid having it bolted to the structure of the premise.
Impressive artwork in memory of ANZACS
AN impressive piece of art produced by two Marian College students has filled a prominent spot at Ararat RSL in memory of ANZACS.
Marian College VCAL students have been studying the ANZACS and the important of their legacy.
Their studies include re-enacting the movie Gallipoli, producing a slideshow on WW1 and WW2 and crafting poppies in various mediums including metal, tissue paper, plastic bottles, 3D printing, polymer clay, wood and paint.
Students Jacob Van Straaten and Thomas Bartlett are both of the view that the ANZAC story should be more prominent across society, including the classroom, and they wanted to produce something special.
300 of the best for Tim McDougall
TIM McDougall is Tatyoon through-and-through.
Not only does he personify every club’s dream of seeing players graduate from Auskick and junior programs into the seniors but demonstrates unquestionable devotion to the club every time he steps out onto the field.
Even when studies and other commitments took him as far as Ballarat and Horsham, his loyalty to the club never wavered; making sure he would be there for his team each Saturday.
With a guard of honour as long as the list of his family’s achievements at the club, McDougall ran out for the 300th time in the brown-and-gold, as Tatyoon picked up an emphatic win over SMW Rovers.