News blog, March 2: GSSC evacuated, believed to be false alarm; Twilight Stroll returns

It’s meant to get to a top of 27 degrees today in Shepp, with showers expect in the morning.

UPDATE, 5.00pm: Signing off with Treaty Day Out

Rain and lightning did not put a dampener on the region’s first Treaty Day Out.

People of all ages gathered at Rumbalara Football Netball Club in Shepparton, relaxing on picnic rugs and in camping chairs, ready to enjoy the star-studded line-up of First Nations artists in support of Treaty.

The event, held by the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, was to coincide with the assembly’s by-election in which voting opened for First Nations people in Victoria’s north-east region to choose a representative throughout the Treaty process.

Caitlyn Grant was there and has the wrap-up. Check it out, along with more photos, here.

That’ll do us for the blog this arvo. I (Max) will be back tomorrow to wrap up the news from across the Goulburn Valley.

UPDATE, 4.00pm: Chopping off the locks for a good cause

As someone with long locks, I have huge respect for anyone willing to lop ‘em off for any cause, let alone one as good as this.

So, I have immense repsect for Kyabram’s Yael Fry, who as Gianni Francis writes has lopped off his locks for the Leukaemia Foundation.

He smashed his fundraising target of $5000, raising more than $20,100, making him the top shaver in Victoria, and the fourth-highest fundraiser in Australia.

It’s a fair dinkum, ridgy didge effort — read more about it here.

UPDATE, 3.05pm: False alarm at GSSC confirmed

All students are safe following a fire alarm going off at the Greater Shepparton Secondary College.

Operations principal At GSSC Megan Michalaidis said firefighters had investigated following an alarm and determined there was no fire or danger to students.

She said she had alerted families that students were safe.

“We had an alarm go off so we followed procedure and evacuated the students and immediately alerted parents,” she said.

UPDATE, 2.50pm: Evacuation at Greater Shepparton Secondary College a false alarm

An evacuation at the Greater Shepparton Secondary College appears to be a false alarm.

The whole 2000-plus students are on the oval, milling about.

There’s been no official word at the moment, but Nicola Ceccato is up there (she was there for a completely different story) and said it appears to be a false alarm.

We’ll have more for you shortly.

UPDATE, 2.00pm: Look at this haul from a North Shepparton spider

Gday all, Max Stainkamph stepping into the blog hot seat for the arvo with Georgia heading to Nagambie and Avenel.

Oddie has been out and about this week and noticed a boatload of mozzies buzzing about, but not quite this many!

This photo was taken on Wednesday morning in North Shepparton near the river, showing the overnight catch for one very happy spider.

Check out the rest of Oddie’s musings here.

UPDATE, 12.15pm: Pets of Shepparton

If you’re looking for something to keep you amused over lunch, reporter Nicola Ceccato compiled a photo gallery of some of the cutest pets in Shepparton.

These two Labrador puppies belong to Maddy Threfall, are utterly adorable and are only the first picture!

See the cute pics here.

UPDATE, 11.40am: Twilight Stroll returns to Shepparton

After a three year hiatus, the Twilight Stroll from the bridge behind Aquamoves towards the KidsTown is back this Friday, March 4.

They’ll be a scavenger hunt developed by RiverConnect on the way, and a range of other kids activities upon the arrival to KidsTown.

“It is a fantastic community event which encourages people to get outside, get active and enjoy the picturesque bushland in our backyard,” Greater Shepparton City Council mayor Kim O’Keeffe said.

“Council is extremely excited to see the return of the Twilight Stroll.”

The walk begins at 5.30pm.

UPDATE, 9.30am: Checking up on COVID-19

I know we’re not as concerned about daily numbers any more, but I thought it was worth a check up today.

Victoria recorded 28 coronavirus related deaths in the latest reporting period, and there are 264 people in hospital.

The state also recorded 7,126 new cases of the virus, bringing the total number of active cases to 41,162.

Almost 60 per cent of Victorians aged 18 and over have now that three doses of a vaccine.

UPDATE, 8.55am: What’s making news

Heartbreaking evidence on aged care lockdown: Shepparton Villages chief execuive Veronica Jamison told the Victorian Parliament Pandemic Declaration Accountability and Oversight Committee some of the heartbreaking impacts of lockdowns on Shepparton Village’s residents.

She started with a series of quotes from residents, including “it felt like we were in prison”, and “I’d rather be dead than put through another lockdown”.

Region’s firefighting capacity not up to standard, says Ryan: The Shepparton region has been serviced by an inferior firefighting helicopter over summer Deputy Nationals Leader Steph Ryan has claimed.

Ms Ryan said Mangalore-based Kestral Aviation, a specialist company that had developed many of the modern aerial firefighting techniques, including night firefighting, was overlooked for the tender for the 2021-22 fire season.

Maintenance to resume on overgrown McGuire campus this week: Contractors will be at the former McGuire College site this week to perform much-needed maintenance following months of neglect.