News
News blog, May 17: Fatal Hume Fwy truck crash, election campaign heats up
Check back during the day for all the latest headlines across the Goulburn Valley.
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It’s a chilly Tuesday in Shepparton, heading for a top of 15 degrees and partly cloudy.
Anna McGuinness is at the blog desk to bring you all the latest from the GV.
UPDATE, 5:35PM: No cause for concern.
The gas leak in Mooroopna is under control.
That’s it (again) for today’s blog.
UPDATE, 5:15PM: Gas leak in Mooroopna
News editor Tyler Maher here.
Some late-breaking news has just dropped into the inbox which may affect your drive home from work.
A hazardous materials advice warning has been issued for Mooroopna and Kialla.
There is a significant gas leak at 20 Echuca Rd, Mooroopna. Emergency services and the gas company are currently working to contain the leak.
There will be a strong smell of gas in the area until the leak is contained.
There is currently no threat to the community, but you should avoid the area if possible and keep the roads clear for emergency services.
More to come.
UPDATE, 4.45pm: Podcast incoming
The Shepparton News office is going through some change at the moment and our sports team are this afternoon enjoying our new podcast/audio room.
The Rundown with the Midday Warriors covers all things local sport across the Goulburn Valley.
Keep an eye on the episode dropping tomorrow on all good streaming platforms and our website. Or catch up on past eps here.
That’s all for today, see you again tomorrow.
UPDATE, 4.30pm: FoodShare Shepparton fundraiser
Shepparton FoodShare’s annual fundraising dinner, ‘Make A Meal of June’, is back at The Woolshed at Emerald Bank on June 1 after two years.
The much-needed profits will go towards funding the construction of FoodShare’s long-term home.
The event, which will seat up to 200 guests at $100 per ticket, is a crucial step in the fundraising campaign by FoodShare to build its forever home.
FoodShare is running out of time to get its new home built, after receiving notice to vacate its warehouse in Mooroopna.
But the site for the new warehouse continues to sit vacant, as raising sufficient funding for construction remains a big challenge.
Read Gianni Francis’ story here.
UPDATE, 4.05pm: Cameron Mooney locked in for July 23 cameo
Zac Standish has brought us the sports scoop on former AFL star Cameron Mooney’s much-anticipated cameo for Kyabram District League side Longwood.
The club has announced the three-time premiership star will take to Redlegs Stadium on July 23 in its round 14 clash against Violet Town.
Zac had a chat with Longwood president Ricki Shiner about what it means for the club.
UPDATE, 3.25pm: Nicholls rushing to vote early
An interesting yarn from Darren Linton has just gone up online, revealing one in five voters in the electorate of Nicholls have already cast their vote at pre-poll.
Might need to order a few less democracy sausages for the barbie on Saturday.
UPDATE, 2.55pm: Schools woo student teachers in effort to overcome shortages
Murray Silby has the latest on an initiative to try to address a teacher shortage at local schools.
He reports 17 student teachers from Melbourne are being hosted by the Greater Shepparton Secondary College and Wilmot Road and Toolamba primary schools.
“It’s a difficult one because it’s not just Shepparton, this is a statewide problem and in every sector of education,” principal of Guthrie Street Primary School Brendan Bicknell said.
“It’s problematic. I think we’re going to have more pain because we’re only coming into winter now.”
UPDATE, 12.20pm: Puppy pics to cure a midday slump
Nothing brings me more joy than cute dogs so this Georgia Rossiter yarn immediately caught my eye.
My lucky colleague got to cover Euroa Kennel Club’s championship shows at Wunghnu Recreational Reserve on the weekend.
It was pure puppy heaven with more than 600(!) dogs and their owners turning out for judging.
Countless breeds were on show, including these majestic Afghan hounds, Picasso and Paloma.
UPDATE, 11.15am: Dipping into the ag world
Tuesday is also Country News day, so lets see what capable colleagues have got for you this week.
Geoff Adams brings us multiple stories from the ‘Raising the Roof’ event in Echuca earlier this month.
It saw the gates open to multiple farms for interested farmers wanting to step up to a more intensive operation.
There was the Quinn family’s dairy farm at Leitchville, which has undergone a multi-million-dollar expansion.
Or the ‘the accidental carbon neutral farmer’ at Warrenbayne beef farm.
UPDATE, 9am: Sad news to start the day
One truck driver is dead and another seriously injured following a fatal collision on the Hume Freeway near Violet Town overnight.
Emergency services were called to the Hume Freeway to reports of the collision on the southbound side of the freeway involving two trucks just after 12am on Tuesday, 17 May.
The driver of one of the vehicles, who is yet to be formally identified, died at the scene, while the driver of the other vehicle was flown to hospital with serious injuries.
Meanwhile, the election campaign in Nicholls is heating up.
Darren Linton reports the Nationals have rebutted claims independent Rob Priestly was offered the candidacy but Mr Priestly has also rejected Nationals campaign material that links him to Labor.