Phone 5862 1034 – Fax 5862 2668 – Email - Editorial: [email protected] - Advertising: [email protected] – Registered by Australia Post – Publication No. VA 1548 established 1895 LEADER NumurkahWEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2020 $1.30 INSIDE Katunga crash A cuppa with Lorna See story page 12& 13 IT was a miracle there were no life-threatening injuries when these two cars collided at Katunga on Sunday morning. See story page 2. 22 years for Restrictions eased - but only a little Strathy murder VICTORIANS are breathing a sigh ing a wedding or funeral. ST THMERTON man Rob- e sentencing judge, Supreme of relief this morning as an easing of ough club rooms will remain ert Strucelj has been sentenced to Court Justice Elizabeth Holling- some COVID-19 restrictions came closed, golfers can again take to the 22 years jail for the murder of Peter worth, ordered that 48 year-old into e ect as of 11.59pm last night. green in groups of four or less, and James Doyle at Strathmerton in Jan- Strucelj serve at least 18 years before ough Victorians are still being shers can cast a line in groups of no uary 2018. being eligible for parole. urged to stay at home for the most more than 10 - once again at a safe so- Numurkah The sentence was handed down Strucelj fatally stabbed 32 year-old part, we are now allowed to have ve cial distance. at the Supreme Court in Sheppar- Mr Doyle, from Bearii, at 1.40am on visitors to those homes at any one Weddings will now be allowed to ton last Friday, almost a year to the January 8, 2018, at a property at Wil- time, and gather in groups of up to 10 consist of the couple plus celebrant gets tested day after Strucelj was found guilty liams Road Strathmerton. people for any purpose outdoors - as and up to 10 guests, whilst funer- of one count of murder by a jury Mr Doyle was stabbed when he in- long as we maintain social distancing. als can now have up to 20 mourners in the same court, following a tri- tervened in an altercation between e big winners are those who have if held indoors, plus those required See story page 5 al in which he pleaded not guilty, his friend Adrian Walley, who was a been cha ng against the ban on sh- to conduct the funeral, or up to 30 claiming that he had acted in self tenant at the property, and Strucelj. ing and gol ng, as well as those hold- mourners if held outdoors. defence. Continued page 5. THE PURPLE SHED Cnr Tyack and Swallow Streets Details page 9 HAS EXPANDED 2 — NumurkahLEADER, Wednesday, May 13, 2020 PETER COX & SONS FUNERALDIRECTORS A message from Moira Shire mayor Libro Mustica Professional service tailored to your needs THE COVID-19 pandemic is continuing and crisis. and accommodation businesses during this dif- I would like to congratulate our local residents cult period. Locally owned & operated 24 hours - 7 days a week e rent for the June quarter has also been who have played their part by staying at home. waived for enterprises that operate from council Our environmental health o cers are provid- Funeral calls and information We understand these are tough times, and we owned or managed land which have been a ect- ing advice on implementing good hygiene prac- are encouraging individuals and businesses to ed by the enforced business closures. tices for businesses that have transitioned from 5862 3047 call us so we can work through the options to- Our economic development, maternal and eat-in to take away food establishments, and Cnr Meiklejohn & Quinn Streets gether. child health and community teams are speaking continue to deliver other crucial public health services including food safety and public health ACCREDITED MEMBER OF THE AUSTRALIAN FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION Payment arrangements for rates are available, directly with businesses, health centres and resi- so just call our friendly customer service team. dents and working hard to put measures in place ma ers, food sampling, food recalls, domestic Our COVID-19 nancial hardship policy is to bu er the impact this pandemic is causing wastewater management and investigations of just one of many initiatives we have put in place where we can. foodborne and infectious disease outbreaks. We are hoping the state and federal govern- We are also speaking with all food, public and this policy applies to all rateable properties health and accommodation businesses about an- within the shire. ments will respond to calls for rate relief packag- es so that council can continue to fund the many nouncements and directions made by the Feder- We are not charging user fees to all sporting al and Victorian governments which impact on clubs that use municipal land or buildings and services and facilities that we all rely on. We are continuing to assist food, public health their business operations. whose seasons have been a ected by this health We are all in this together - stay safe. Fuel and vehicle thefts Collisions across the district cause THERE has been entered the property damage and a spate of thefts and with the intent to steal attempted thefts of fuel, however was injury and from vehicles disturbed by a witness across the district in POLICE BEAT who saw the vehicle at A DRIVER was temporarily trapped in their the past week, as well the property. vehicle on Sunday, following a two car col- as some actual, and e o ender has lision at the intersection of Spences and La- attempted, thefts of fuel. then stolen a red and white dirt bike from the buan Roads, Katunga at around 11.45am. A silver Fairlane sedan, registration TJJ 351, address and taken o , leaving his vehicle behind. It is believed that the driver of a Toyota was stolen from an address in Wasers Rd, Police a ended a short time later and processed wagon travelling east on Spences Road failed Strathmerton between May 5 and 7, and has the scene, towing the o ender’s vehicle away. to give way at the intersection, clipping the since been used in petrol drive-o s at service e stolen dirt bike was located undamaged at a front driver side of a silver Commodore sedan stations in Tallygaroopna and Strathmerton. property in Waaia the following day although it travelling south on Labuan Road, causing the Anyone with information is asked to contact had been spray painted. Commodore to ip over an irrigation channel. Leading Senior Constable Warr at Cobram Approximately $200 worth of damage was e driver of the Commodore was trapped police station. done to a rear door at Capri Pizza in Numurkah in their vehicle for a short time, before being At around 1.10pm on Friday, witnesses during an a empted burglary overnight last freed by members of the Numurkah SES unit. observed two males in a quarry o Hancocks Wednesday. e air ambulance a ended the scene but Bridge Rd, Kotupna, one of whom was was not required, and both drivers were a empting to steal fuel from a prime mover, O enders ripped open metal mesh on the door of the shop to gain access to the door handle, but taken to Goulburn Valley Health with non whilst the other was a empting to steal ba eries life-threatening injuries, and kept overnight did not manage to gain access to the shop. from an excavator. for observation. e witnesses began driving towards the men, Residents are being reminded to lock their Two pre-school aged children who were who then got in their vehicle and a empted to vehicles, a er a spate of the s from vehicles in passengers in the Toyota were taken to GV drive away. McGregor Street, Numurkah last Wednesday Health by a family member who a ended the As the two o enders a empted to drive past the night. scene following the incident. witnesses the two vehicles collided. As a result A jerry can of fuel was stolen from the back of e re brigade also a ended. of the collision, the o enders’ front bumper was a ute, and around $10 in change was stolen from Police are also seeking any witnesses LEAVE ripped o and le at the scene. e o enders another vehicle. e owner of a third vehicle to a collision between a silver Mitsub- then continued driving away, apparently having only became aware that their car had been ishi sedan and a gold Torago at the in- failed to steal anything from the scene. accessed when they received a call from their tersection of Tweddle and Exhibition NO ONE At approximately 11.15am on Tuesday, May bank reporting suspicious credit card activity the Streets, Numurkah at around 3.20pm last 5, an o ender drove his vehicle into a private following day. Wednesday, May 6. Anyone with information property located on Singapore Road, Muckatah. Two unsuccessful a empts to steal vehicles is asked to contact Leading Senior Constable IN NEED It appears the o ender may have initially were also made. Damien Duggan at Numurkah police station. e driver of a Ford Falcon parked on Mel- Please donate now ville Street at lunchtime last ursday re- ceived a nasty fright when his vehicle was side Letter to the Editor swiped by a large white ute with a bull-bar. e driver of the ute said their vehicle friendly town and are not welcome. lurched into the Ford when they sneezed un- RED Now’s the time to be When COVID-19 restrictions are li ed, expectedly.