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, JANUARY 20, 2021 $1.30 INSIDE Happy 60th See story page 10 NUMURKAH police seized cannabis plants and a rifl e from a property at Meiklejohn Street on Monday. See story page 5. Ed Cox re-elected Drugs and gun seized See story page 6 New era begins at the Leader AS today dawns, a new era has com- dedication to the high standards the In the past three years I have met so community strong. And if the com- menced at the Numurkah Leader. Leader has always aspired to as all many wonderful people who are do- munity stays strong, so can we. For the rst time in over a century those members of the Leader team ing great things, running great busi- Help us let the community know - 112 years to be precise - the edition throughout its history. nesses, making big plans and helping what’s going on by bringing us your of the Numurkah Leader you are now I know I have big shoes to ll, not each other out. I have come to consid- stories - telling your stories and le ing reading has not been not been pro- least those worn by Bev and her mum er those people to be my people, and I you know what’s going on is why we’re duced under the editorship of a mem- Lorna, both of whom have blazed want to go on telling their stories. here. ber of the Morris family. a trail from the editor’s o ce of the I also feel, and I hope I’m not wrong Lastly, but perhaps most important- at’s an incredible record, and as Leader, but I am going to give it a red about this, that I have developed a lot ly, advertise with us. If you have some- nice as it is to think the Leader would hot go. of good will within the Numurkah thing to sell, whether it’s merchandise, remain in the hands of the same fam- To say that I am excited to take on district community, and I hope that I memberships or tickets, run an ad in can rely on that good will in the days, ily forever, it is not necessarily realis- the challenge of owning and running the Leader. It’s how we pay the wages tic. ough they no doubt hold great a newspaper is an understatement; to weeks, months and years ahead. of the local people we employ and the a ection for the Leader, the next gen- say that I am also terri ed by the pros- I’ll need it, because regional newspa- bills of the local businesses that supply eration of Morrises have professional pect, even more so. But you have to pers are, by their nature, community us. dreams and ambitions of their own take risks in life if you want to get the newspapers, and they can’t survive We are a small, local business and we that don’t include it. good stu . without the help of their communi- need your business. We promise we’ll Hair raising So it is that Bev Hutchins, keen to re- And with dozens of regional news- ties. provide good value. tire, made the decision to sell outside papers having closed their doors for So, what can you do to help me, and Now, as much as today is an historic the family. good in recent years, it is a risk. the rest of the Leader team, as we em- day, it’s also business as usual and I’ve donation However, though I may not be a But it’s a calculated risk. It’s a risk I’m bark on this new adventure? got a newspaper to put out, so I’ll leave member of the Morris family, I consid- prepared to take, not just because the First and foremost, read the news- it there for now. er myself to very much be a member of gures stack up, but because the com- paper; engage with us and the stories See you in the Leader. the Leader family. munity does. I have a huge amount of and news that we work hard to bring See story page 9 Dominique Cosgri Having worked here for almost three respect and a ection for, and faith in, you. By engaging with us, you engage Owner and Editor years now, I feel that I have the same the Numurkah district community. with the community, which makes the www.numurkahleader.net.au 2 — NumurkahLEADER, Wednesday, January 20, 2021 2021 PETER COX & SONS FUNERALDIRECTORS Professional service tailored to your needs Locally owned & operated 24 hours - 7 days a week AwardsAwards Funeral calls and information Cnr5862 Meiklejohn &3047 Quinn Streets ACCREDITED MEMBER OF THE AUSTRALIAN FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION Steward honoured with Moira’s top gong at 2021 Australia Day awards Meals on Wheels Roster Rnd 1 Rnd 2 Rnd 3 R. Kennett K. Steel R. Pendlebury 25/1 E. Rees V. Bunny E. Newby K. Moodie 26/1 G. Varley G. Russell L. Decker C. Boldt M. Caccianiga 27/1 V. Dickinson C. North L. Trimby VOLUNTEER VOLUNTEER B. Palmer 28/1 REQUIRED REQUIRED G. Russell VOLUNTEER Lions Club of 29/1 K. Steel REQUIRED Numurkah Coordinator – MHA Care Phone 5742 1111 COME AND SEE US FOR ALL YOUR PRINTING FLYERS BUSINESS CARDS Due recognition ... Decades of hard work for Numurkah from MENUS Bernadette Steward was acknowledged last Thursday with the MAGAZINES prestigious award. CALENDARS POSTERS UP TO A1 PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS WE CAN EVEN DESIGN IT FOR YOU! NumurkahLEADER Ph. 5862 1034 88 Melville St, Numurkah Numurkah Leader is bound by the Standards of Practice of the Australian Press Council. If you believe Art, Culture and/or En- the Standards may have been breached, vironment Project of the you may approach the newspaper Year ...Deputy mayor Ju- itself or contact the Council by email lie Brooks with the Than- ([email protected]) or by phone kyou Nathalia Firey’s ([02] 9261 1930). For further information Group committee. see www.presscouncil.org.au. NumurkahLEADER 88 Melville Street, Numurkah VIC 3636 Dominique James Harrison Heather Joanne Bradley Phone: 03 5862 1034 Cosgriff Su on Reid Kelly Crisara Skidmore www.numurkahleader.net.au Editor & Senior Graphic Cadet/Sport Sales Admin Sports Journalist Journalist Photographer Published by Jinki Sixteen Pty. Ltd. Designer and printed by Newsprinters Pty Ltd [email protected] design@ sport@ sales@ printads@ Registered by Australia Post - Print Post publication no. 100002644 [email protected] leader.net.au leader.net.au leader.net.au leader.net.au NumurkahLEADER, Wednesday, January 20, 2021 — 3 AwardsAwards 20212021 Steward honoured with Moira’s top gong at 2021 Australia Day awards NUMUR H’S Bernade e Steward’s around to house a er house to visit the el- causes like breast cancer and MND. one of those things I expect to come along tireless dedication to the Numurkah com- derly and do their shopping for them. But she still de ects credit to her peers, at all, I just enjoy helping out with the com- munity over a number of decades has - Being so heavily involved with the ceme- rather than accepting her fair share of it. munity. nally been recognised, a er she shared the tery trust, she also had to a end every sin- “Everybody does community work, and “You’ve got to give something back to the Moira Shire Citizen of the Year award last gle funeral it held this year, even when large to single out just one or two people is a bit community from what you get out of it, ursday night. majorities of grieving families couldn’t at- hard, I think, everybody who was there was and I enjoy giving back to the community.” Because of an unprecedented 13 nomi- tend. obviously doing something good for their Such was the calibre of the eld for the nees for the award, Moira Shire decided it Her involvement with the cemetery trust community and they all deserve to be rec- award, both a male and female runner up was only ing to award both a male and didn’t stop there, though. She did countless ognized.” were also awarded. Mary Kennedy from female Citizen of the Year for the rst time. hours of work behind the scenes, on top of Picola legend McKenzie, who now re- Cobram and David Vaughan from Nathalia Steward shared the honour with Pico- all the hours she dedicated to the Histori- sides in Nathalia, is more than deserving of were the joint runners-up. la football and community legend, David cal Society. his share of the award, too. Isabella Boys from Cobram and Justin McKenzie. Still, she was so shocked she won the He started volunteering at age 10, through Watson from Nathalia were joint winners e two accepted the award at Cobram award that she didn’t even consider prepar- football in Picola. It’s an absolute mouthful of the Young Citizen of the Year award. Civic Centre in front of a socially distanced ing a speech, she told the Leader. just to read out his incredibly sel ess re- Other award winners from the night in- crowd of distinguished guests, media and “A couple of people said to me that I sume. cluded ank You Nathalia Fireys, which other award winners and nominees. might win, and I said don’t be stupid, I just He was a commi ee member at Picola was named the Arts/Culture or Environ- Steward is a vital cog in the Numurkah do what has to be done,” she said.