News
Horse shooting “senseless”
A Norval couple have spoken of their pain after a loved family horse was shot dead last Friday.
Sheryl and Graeme Cox found the animal dead in the front paddock of their property on Better Route Road.
The horse named Cathy had been shot from close range and appeared to have struggled for several hours before passing away.
Another horse in the paddock was uninjured.
Sheryl Cox said it appears the horse was shot sometime between 8pm Good Friday and early Saturday morning.
Harold’s all class
At 89 years of age, local wool classer Harold Thomas shows no signs of slowing down.
In fact, he’s just renewed his wool classing licence for another three years.
The Ararat Advocate caught up with Harold last week while he was wool classing in the sheds at John McDougall’s property in Tatyoon.
Early voting in Ararat
THE popularity of early voting is expected to grow at next month’s federal election, as more and more people avoid queues on election day. The Australian Electoral Commission told the Ararat Advocate this week early voting centres will open on the 9th of May. But the AEC said they couldn’t confirm if there will be […]
Staley pushes for school refurb
THE Victorian Government is being urged to fund “urgent” refurbishment works at Ararat College.
Ripon MP Louise Staley recently visited to school to discuss maintenance issues with school principal Ellie McDougall.
Ms Staley said the condition of some of the 1960s buildings was a credit to the school, but they are no longer fit for purpose.
Radio presenter to moderate Wannon debate
ABC Ballarat radio presenter Steve Martin has been secured to moderate a debate in Ararat later this month involving the candidates running at the federal election.
The Wannon debate has been arranged by the Greater Ararat Business Network along with the Ararat Advocate and Pyrenees Advocate and aims to give local residents access to the people vying to be the next member for Wannon.
All six Wannon candidates have indicated they will attend the forum.
Sitting MP Dan Tehan, Labor’s Gilbert Wilson, independent Alex Dyson, Liberal Democrat Amanda Mead, United Australia Party’s Craige Kensen and the Greens Hilary McAllister are all scheduled to appear.
Here’s to 40 years
KATHLEEN Leggett is the epitome of a great volunteer.
Kathleen, or Kathy as she prefers, recently clocked over 40 years as a volunteer at the St Vincent de Paul Society op-shop in Ararat, including over 30 years as manager.
Six days a week, Kathy is in the shop helping with everything from serving customers, setting up displays and co-ordinating the shop’s 22 volunteers.
Last weekend, her service was recognised at a “call to serve” ceremony hosted by the St Vincent de Paul Society in Melbourne.
Bakers Delight serving up classic treats
MICK Menzies and the team at Bakers Delight are baking up 10,000 hot cross buns this Easter.
Every Easter, Mick bakes three times a day, twice in the morning and once in the afternoon, to ensure that locals can enjoy fresh-baked hot cross buns all throughout the Easter period.
Bun-lovers can choose from three flavours – traditional, chocolate, and apple and cinnamon.
Of the 10,000 buns baked this year, Mick said that they sell most of them, if not all.
Dr Brennan reflects on 35 years
AFTER treating literally tens of thousands of local animals over more than three decades, popular local vet John Brennan is moving on.
Dr Brennan recently sold the Ararat Veterinary Clinic to Dr Alexandra (Ali) Cuttler after 35 years treating local pets and livestock.