Candidate meets local MP
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Berrigan Shire Council elections have been postponed until Saturday, December 4, but Barooga candidate Dr Julia Cornwell McKean has been out speaking to residents to hear what they want from their council and how she may be able to help them.
Dr Cornwell McKean last week met with NSW Member for Murray Helen Dalton at Tocumwal Golf Club.
Mrs Dalton, a retired school teacher and mother of four adult children, operates a successful family farm near Griffith with her husband and son.
Elected in 2019 as the local member on her third attempt with a swing of 26 per cent, Mrs Dalton broke the National Party’s 35-year hold on the seat.
The two women discussed the fallout of border closures and zone ratings by the Victorian Government.
While the NSW MP has a strong awareness of ongoing issues relating to health, telecommunications and policing in the region and is open to feedback from residents on issues of concern in Berrigan Shire.
Dr Cornwell McKean spoke about her desire to improve life for residents of the shire.
She has aspirational goals for its future and believes now is the time to plan and implement enhanced infrastructure to ensure the shire is a place of choice to live and visit in the future.
She is chair of the Barooga Aquatic and Recreation Centre Advisory Group and a member of the committee of management of Cobram Community House.
The candidate also operates her own consultancy business T One P Enterprises Pty Ltd from her home office in Barooga.
She brings with her an impressive background as an experienced regulator and executive who has chaired a number of international committees and considered the lead expert at the United Nations Governance Forum.
Long time love for horses
When Carol Doherty’s dad came home with a pony for her when she was 10, it was the beginning of an exciting journey of love and association with horses.
Carol joined the local pony club and loved it, beginning a lifetime of involvement with pony clubs, and later as an experienced rider in dressage and eventing competitions as well as judging.
At 18, Carol purchased her first mare and foal.
She broke in the foal herself and along the way learnt so much about handling and getting the best from each horse.
One of her great loves was a horse that constantly amazed Carol.
“Ming was sired by Del Mingo, a quarter horse, and had previously been a rodeo horse and he could do anything,’’ she said.
``He took everything in his stride and was smart and gentle. A handsome golden chestnut he was a very special horse. He died at the age of 26.’’
Carol was the foundation secretary of the Cobram-Barooga Equestrian Club, chief instructor at Tocumwal Pony Club and became a stalwart of Riding for the Disabled in Cobram after being encouraged by friends to join.
RDA started in 1988 and when it was up and running Carol took along Ming and her son’s horse Snoopy, both mounts considered suitable for beginners.
This year has been particularly frustrating for RDA volunteers with so much of the program cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions - a huge disappoint for the student riders.
“The benefit to these kids is wonderful, they learn so much and they gain confidence, so it is disappointing that we have had to cancel so much of the year,’’ Carol said.
``We are busting to have our Christmas party. The kids love it and so do we.”
When joining RDA, Carol never could have envisaged that she would gain so much from it herself.
“I love the horses they are a bit like people, all have different personalities. I so love seeing what the riders get from it and how they grow in confidence and then the relationships and friendships we as volunteers have between us, is just wonderful.”
Carol is a life member of RDA, Tocumwal Pony Club and Cobram-Barooga Equestrian Club.
Carol was also awarded the Cobram Citizen of the Year in 2013, recognising her service to RDA and pony clubs in the district.
In 2020 and, after more than 30 years of pleasure and involvement with her horses, Carol’s 26-year-old Corio Jakeb (Bob) was put down.
Today the last equine left on the family property is Beeble, a Shetland who spends lazy days grazing in the paddock.
Today, Carol enjoys time with her family and plays bowls at Cobram in the division one side and skips for her rink.
Married to Brian (Doc) Doherty, she is the proud mum of Robert, who lives in Cobden, and Lee (Cobram South) and they have four grandsons.
Third time lucky for luncheon goers
Last weekend, on the third attempt, seven Cobram friends enjoyed lunch at Squires Winery to celebrate a birthday.
Yet, if the truth be known, it was about a celebration of being together and enjoying a day out with great friends.
Booked twice before, plans were cancelled each time at the last minute after notification of yet another lockdown.
Once regional Victoria was released from lockdown once again, the girls swung into action and, for those who have not journeyed to the modern winery/restaurant yet, Squires is worth a visit.
One highly-organised lunch-goer provided a bottle of bubbly and champagne flutes for the trip (glad I was in that vehicle) and the carload was utterly sparkling on arrival.
The other carload had some catching up to do, once seated in the modern and attractively furnished dining area, they were well looked after by attentive staff.
The three-course meal was quite wonderful and certainly what it was hoped it would be.
Starting with amazing antipasto platters, mains of eye fillet, confit of duck and barramundi were followed by desserts of panna cotta and salted caramel and chocolate tart.
Tastings of a variety of wines were served with each course.
Once numbers get back to normal, Squires can cater for up to 200 inside and out but with COVID-19 restrictions numbers are just 10 diners inside and 20 outside.
Squires Winery is at 6900 Murray Valley Hwy, Bundalong. Give it a try.
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