News blog, January 26: Shepparton teacher awarded OAM; car fire on the Goulburn Valley Fwy; 43 new cases of COVID-19 in Greater Shepp

It’ll reach a top of 37 degrees, so put a bowl of water out for the birds if you can, and check in on friends, neighbours and family who might struggle with the heat.

There’s the chance of a thunderstorm to close the day in the late arvo or evening.

UPDATE, 5:05 pm: Signing off

It’s a close finish over in the A-grade grand final between Northerners and Central Park-St Brendan’s.

But before you go and catch the end of that, we had to leave you with this photo of Invergordon’s Travis Murdoch — which we thought encapsualted the day of cricket in the heat perfectly.

UPDATE, 4:20 pm: Shepparton Australia Day award winners announced

Lloyd Healey was gobsmacked to learn he was Shepparton’s Citizen of the Year for 2022.

“I never expected to be standing up here ... I’m lost for words,” he said.

For more than 15 years Mr Healey has undertaken the self-appointed and unpaid role of groundsman-in-chief for Congupna’s school, Congupna General Store and the town’s football and netball club.

He gladly tackles maintenance issues for those communities, and also tends to a nearby walking track as gardener — to the benefit of everyone who crosses that path.

“You don’t do things to come up and get awards, you do things because you want to do it,” Mr Healey said.

UPDATE, 3:30 PM: John Ferguson named Murchison’s Senior Citizen of the Year

As our reporters make their way back into the office from across the district, stories of award winners and recipients are flowing in.

John Ferguson is a name all in Murchison would be familiar with, and his efforts around the community have seen him recognised this year.

“I’ve lived here all my life; I just love the town,” he told News reporter Anna McGuinness this morning.

UPDATE, 2:30 pm: Grand final results filtering through

Mooroopna has claimed the Cricket Shepparton B-grade Twenty20 title, defeating Central Park-St Brendan’s by 36 runs at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve.

Brad Boyle was the star for the Cats, hitting 53, taking 1-5, snaring a catch and affecting a run-out in the triumph.

Jayden (50 from 21) and Andre Gagliardi (4-27) steered Old Students to success over Pine Lodge in the D-grade decider.

A, C and E-grade grand finals are beginning now.

UPDATE, 12:55 pm: Greater Shepparton COVID-19 numbers

The number of active cases in Greater Shepparton has dropped to 348, with 43 new cases reported today.

There are 13,507 new cases across Victoria today, and close to 140,000 active cases.

As of today more than one third of the population aged 18 or over is triple vaccinated in Victoria, after the state government cut the recommended interval between second and third doses to three months.

UPDATE, 12:20 pm: Free water!

Everyone is feeling the heat out there today, and Mooroopna Woolworths is giving away free water to help out.

News photographer Rodney Braithwaite was among those appreciative of the efforts.

UPDATE, 12 pm: One lane of traffic closed on the GV Fwy

A car fire on the Goulburn Valley Fwy has been swiftly extinguished by a pair of fire trucks attending the scene.

One lane of the GV Fwy between Dargalong Rd and Burkes Rd remains closed.

UPDATE, 11:50 am: Car fire on the Goulburn Valley Fwy

A car has caught fire on the side of the Goulburn Valley Fwy at about 11:50am.

Northbound traffic has been stopped.

Two fire trucks — one from Murchison — are currently at the scene.

UPDATE, 11:10 am: Shepparton teacher awarded OAM

Greater Shepparton Secondary College teacher Vincent Branigan has been awarded an Order of Australia Medal as part of the Australia Day honours.

He will be known to many as a beloved teacher and mentor, having spent two years at McGuire College prior to moving to GSSC in 2020.

Before that he held teaching roles in Swan Hill, Benalla and Euroa.

He is receiving the honour for services to the community of Benalla where he has been involved in a number of local groups, volunteering for many years.

UPDATE, 10:05 am: Bindii causing frustration at Shepparton Cemetery

News reporter Nicola Ceccato this week highlighted the prickly problem facing Shepparton Cemetery, with bindii weeds running wild in the current weather conditions.

Local residents are understandably upset, but the Shepparton Cemetery Trust has explained the situation here.

UPDATE, 8:50 am: Cricketing feast at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve

Also being hosted today is Cricket Shepparton’s Twenty20 grand finals.

Central Park-St Brendan’s and Northerners will do battle in the A-grade clash on the main oval at 2:30pm, with the Tigers also taking on Mooroopna in the B-grade decider from 11am.

Invergordon, Murchison, Pine Lodge, Old Students and Tatura are also represented across the grades — and News sports reporter James Kleeman has the full details here.

UPDATE, 8:30 am: Events across the Goulburn Valley

The first event held today was a 6 am Survival Day dawn service at Kaieltheban Park in Mooroopna.

Survival Day is a celebration of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s survival of a people and culture, expected to die out since British invasion in 1788.

The first Survival Day celebration was a concert held in Sydney in 1992.

Throughout the day, Australia Day award ceremonies and celebrations will take place in towns throughout the region.

We’ll bring you stories from Survival Day and award ceremonies as the day progresses.