From widespread flooding of the Border and North East to two life sentences for murders that rocked Wangaratta, it's been another big year for our region. DAVID JOHNSTON recaps the past 12 months.
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1. OUR BIG WET
Farmers’ eyes nervously looked skyward for rain at the end of April when Lake Hume was less than 20 per cent capacity.
But then the heavens opened and the rain, it seemed, just didn’t stop.
The Upper Murray recorded three successive months of 100-plus millimetres and things were even wetter in the nearby Mitta Valley.
Eventually soaked catchments started to create dramas; Lake Hume filled close to capacity with record in-flows, unexpected large-scale releases were then required and land beneath the weir wall became submerged for weeks. Paddocks were ruined, fencing destroyed, caravan parks went under and even the Riverdeck Cafe in Noreuil Park was evacuated.
The Murray Darling Basin Authority came under fire from all and sundry for its management of Lake Hume releases which culminated in a string of fiery confrontations with land-holders late in the year.
2. WHOROULY WEEPS
The death of mum of two, Karen Chetcuti, stunned the tight-knight community of Whorouly in January.
After being reported missing for several days, the Wangaratta Council employee’s body, was found in scrub near Lake Buffalo following the discovery of her burnt out car near Myrtleford. Neighbour Michael Cardamone has been charged with her murder, but the case is ongoing and will resume in March for a committal hearing.
Cardamone has claimed he was wrongly identified as Mr Chetcuti’s alleged killer and is yet to enter a formal plea to the charges.
The town’s population of 500 almost doubled for her funeral with many mourners turning out in her favourite colour, green, for a final tribute.
3. INDI TAKE 2
July 2 was another momentous day for independent Cathy McGowan and her Orange Army as they denied Liberal Sophie Mirabella a political resurrection in the federal seat of Indi. Unlike 2013, when the count dragged on for days, the result was confirmed on election night as Ms McGowan safely held off a twin Coalition assault from Mrs Mirabella and the Nationals’ Marty Corboy.
The campaign climaxed when Mrs Mirabella stunned a national TV audience with a claim her loss in 2013 had cost Wangaratta a major upgrade of its hospital.
It followed allegations of a “push and shove” at a Benalla retirement home with legal action still pending.
Ms McGowan’s other big win for the year was when electoral fraud charges against her niece, Maggie McGowan, and Sophie Fuchsen were dropped in April.
But the Indi MP didn’t escape the year unscathed when she was among a group of politicians who were caught out giving themselves an early mark from parliament.
Mrs Mirabella’s departure from politics was soothed by a job offer from mining magnate Gina Rinehart.
In Farrer, Sussan Ley comfortably retained her seat and remained in the high profile health portfolio.
4. CANCER CENTRE CELEBRATION
A massive grassroots campaign fought over many years came to fruition in September when the first patients were accepted at the $65 million Albury-Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre.
Two months later the official opening was held with a roll call of politicians and community leaders headed by federal health minister Sussan Ley and her Victorian counterpart Jill Hennessy.
NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner was a no-show which left Albury MP Greg Aplin the job of explaining why the NSW Government failed to provide one cent towards the construction cost.
The highlight of the opening was the huge cheer for one of the driving forces behind the fundraising campaign, Eric Turner, who was brought forward by another campaigner, Jenny Black, to unveil the plaque.
5. KILLING TIME
Killers Bowe Maddigan and Ian Thomas were both delivered life sentences in December for two murders which rocked Wangaratta.
They appeared in Wangaratta Supreme Court on the same day and Justice Lex Lasry showed no mercy.
Maddigan was sentenced to life in prison for the death and sexual assault of 11-year-old Zoe Buttigieg in the bedroom of her own home in October, 2015.
He will be eligible for parole after 28 years.
Thomas was also given a life sentence for the murder of his father, Bill, and 30 years for the murder of his mother, Pauline.
The sentences will be served concurrently and he must serve at least 32 years behind bars before being eligible for parole.
6. BEECHWORTH ABLAZE
The Opera In The Alps event in January was overshadowed by a deliberately-lit fire which destroyed Beechworth’s IGA supermarket.
A 15-year-old girl from the town was charged with starting the blaze, which put the jobs of around 50 employees at risk. But predictably Beechworth rallied with the parents of a part-time employee agreeing to vacate their plumbing supplies business so IGA could set-up a “pop-up” supermarket, which is still servicing the town.
7. BRIAN’S BIG BAN
The fallout from a Racing Victoria stewards inspection at the Wodonga stables belonging to leading trainer Brian Cox in March reverberated for the rest of the year.
Discovery of banned substance Nitrotain led to Cox eventually being whacked with a potentially career-ending three-and-a-half-year disqualification.
Well-known veterinarian Bob Fielding was fined $20,000 for his role in the saga.
Cox pleaded guilty to charges of possession and man-handling stewards at a hearing in Melbourne, where he collapsed at one point and was taken to hospital.
But the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board also found him guilty of administration of the banned substance which boosted the number of guilty charges to eight.
An application by Cox for a stay of proceedings pending an appeal was rejected.
He can’t train again until May 2020.
8. MACK TIME
Council elections were held late in the year and the Albury poll proved to be a resounding success for Cr Kevin Mack, who romped home with such a big personal vote he was able to get two other ticket members, John Stuchbery and Murray King, elected.
Another newcomer was the city’s first Greens councillor, Amanda Cohn, who became deputy mayor to Cr Mack, who was challenged for the two-year term by Cr Henk van de Ven. The departed included Ross Jackson and Daryl Betteridge as Alice Glachan, Graham Docksey, Darren Cameron and David Thurley were also returned.
In Wodonga, another incumbent, Cr Anna Speedie enjoyed a strong personal vote and Cr John Watson was also re-elected alongside newcomers, Kat Bennett, Ron Mildren, Danny Lowe, Libby Hall and Tim Quilty.
Long-serving councillors Rod Wangman, Lisa Mahood and Mark Byatt all retired before the elections, as did Eric Kerr.
Wangaratta Council welcomed the return of elected representatives following three years under the watch of administrators resulting from the dismissal of the former council in 2013.
Voters put their faith in a new team headed by 80-year-old Ken Clarke, who was elected mayor.
9. A NOT SO GRAND FINALE
Albury Tigers completed their second hat-trick of Ovens and Murray Football League premierships since 2009 by romping home against Lavington in the grand final.
Home-grown star Daniel Cross crowned a brilliant season for the Tigers by winning the Did Simpson medal for best player on the ground.
But talk about on-field heroics were quickly overtaken by discussion around why the grand final attracted one of its smallest crowds on record of only 4125 people to Lavington Oval. The O and M hierarchy tried its hardest to blame the poor turnout on the wet weather, but more objective types said fan fatigue with the Tigers’ ongoing success was a bigger factor.
The full fallout from the grand final and a lack-lustre finals series was sheeted home when the league went from a $60,000 profit to a $26,000 loss in the space of just 12 months.
The Tigers’ flag celebrations were also soured when Brayden O’Hara was captured on social media urinating in the premiership cup in a drunken state at the Albury Hospital emergency department.
O’Hara faced court in November with a $500 fine added to the $3000 and $1000 sanctions from his club and the O and M.
10. EDEN’S GARDEN
Corowa and Urana shires eventually got their wish to merge when a hugely unpopular move for a three-way union with Lockhart was eventually dumped by the NSW Government.
The two neighbours officially became one in May and an administrator, Mike Eden, appointed until elections to return councillors are held in September. But the new entity, under the stewardship of the former NRL star, has had a baptism of fire.
Plans for a compost facility on the outskirts of Howlong were lodged and met with immediate opposition and Corowa is a town divided over whether there will be a replacement 50-metre pool or a 25-metre pool indoor complex.
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