Tuesday, April 2
Crime Statistics Agency report showed criminal incident numbers skyrocketed across the Gannawarra Shire last year, with a 40 per cent increase in incidents.
The total number of criminal incidents across the region grew by almost 200 in 2023, from 498 to 697, almost two-thirds occurring within Kerang.
Thousands flocked to the Quambatook’s annual Tractor Pull on Easter Saturday, with the temperatures climbing over 34 degrees.
Drivers and machines competed to move an immovable object the longest distance along a 100m track.
Christopher Pang stole the show at the 2024 cluBarham Kerang Cup, winning the cup aboard Look Sharpish in his professional racing debut.
Also celebrating his 29th birthday, Pang described Look Sharpish as “such a good horse, and so professional on the track and she made my job much easier.”
It was confirmed construction of Kerang’s The Glasshouse multimedia hub and gallery would begin this year, after two Gannawarra Shire Council meetings became fiery on the allocation of funds.
A March 20 meeting was adjourned after Cr Keith Link and Cr Garner Smith walked out in disagreement with Mayor Ross Stanton over the $3 million project at Sir John Gorton Library.
Tuesday, April 9
Duck hunters who travelled to the region were ‘devastated’ to find 30 of Kerang’s lakes and wetlands had been closed to duck shooting this year.
Kerang’s Koorangie State Game Reserve, including the Marshes, Lake Bael Bael and Little Lake Bael Bael, were closed due to concerns of harming threatened freckled duck and breeding waterbirds.
A Barham father completed a gruelling physical challenge to raise funds for the disability organisation that has brought joy to his daughter’s life, Swan Hill’s Riding for the Disabled Association.
Dean McGowan raised more than $17,000 for the organisation through his 90km journey on foot, the bike and swimming.
Gannawarra Shire Council withdrew from the issuing of building permits due to the absence of a qualified building surveyor.
Mayor Ross Stanton said that it was unfortunate for the council to no longer provide the service to the community.
Tuesday, April 16
Kerang’s ninth annual Show and Shine attracted more than 2000 visitors.
Attendees perused the show which hosted more than 400 cars and 200 motorbikes at Kerang’s Alexandra Park.
Leitchville Memorial Hall prepared to celebrate its 100th anniversary with a collection of memorabilia, pictures and a video show at the event to mark the occasion.
Since it’s construction in 1924, the hall has been a constant host of weddings, debutante balls and community events.
Gannawarra Shire Council released its 2024-25 draft budget including a 2.75 per cent rise to ratepayers’ rates, the maximum rate increase allowed without exemption in the State Government’s rate cap.
Kerang and Cohuna residents took part in the Murray to Moyne bicycle relay to raise funds for equipment at hospitals in the two towns.
More than 400 riders from across the state took part in the event that has run for three decades, with Cohuna’s team believed to have raised over $10,000.
Tuesday, April 23
Residents from the Kerang Lakes area expressed their displeasure towards issues they experience with Telstra’s phone service.
30 residents gathered at Gorton Point where meeting organiser Helen Brook said residents “don’t want Telstra going in and pulling the wool over the councillors’ eyes, telling them that there are no problems.”
Gannawarra Shire Council decided not to fly the rainbow flag outside of Council’s office on May 17 which marked Inational Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersex Discrimination and Transphobia.
Cr Garner Smith said he “would prefer to do something genuine that makes a difference to people’s lives, rather than these symbolic gestures.”
After 11 years, Cohuna’s Men’s breakfast continued to draw a crowd at 8am on a Saturday morning every second month.
Event Organiser John Webb said the idea came from a religious epiphany in 2010.
In it’s decade of existence, the breakfast raised more than $21,000 for local neighbourhood houses.
Tuesday, April 30
ANZAC Day services took place across the Gannawarra Shire, with large crowds attending services in Cohuna and Kerang.
Seven soldiers from Puckapunyal army base formed the catafalque party for Cohuna’s commemorations, at which Cohuna RSL sub-branch president Trevor Powis said he “was more than happy with the turnout”.
A 70-year-old Kerang man was charged with multiple firearms offences after police uncovered more than 70 firearms that weren’t properly stored within the man’s home.
The bomb-squad were called in after police discovered a package they believed could contain “highly volatile explosives,” but the package turned out to be an imitation.
Kerang residents, North Central Catchment Management Authority and other organisations removed more than 35 carp from the Loddon River as part of the Kerang Carp Catch.
Local families learnt about native fish life and the impact that carp can have locally.
Attendees also had the chance to learn about the importance of turtles to the health of local waterways.
