July 3
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FCJ College released a video of students re-enacting the past ahead of its popular annual Let’s Find Our Voice concert.
Tomorrow Today’s Connect 9 program saw local students given an opportunity to take a glider flight.
Benalla’s teen lawn bowls sensation, Koby Cromie, won the Under-18s Australian Open title on the Gold Coast.
July 10
Friends and family filled St Joseph’s Church to farewell Benalla’s Des Moylam, who passed away on June 25.
Benalla’s Jack and Nola McDonald celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.
The Goorambat Bat’s Amelia Gall celebrated her 400th game for the club.
July 17
A groundbreaking new native plants guide was launched at Winton Wetlands as part of NAIDOC week celebrations.
A petition was submitted to Benalla Rural City Council asking to include squash facilities at a redeveloped Benalla Indoor Recreational Centre.
Local car enthusiasts prepared for the annual Historic Winton event.
July 24
The Great Moscow Circus prepared to entertain Benalla with an array of acrobatic circus performances.
Family members from across Australia visited Benalla for a reunion celebrating the life of patriarch Gordon Willis, who migrated to Australia from Northern Ireland in the 1850s.
Jarrad Waite announced he had re-signed as senior coach of the Benalla Saints.
July 31
The Benalla homelessness response group reached out to the community to ‘work together’ to address the issue in the Rose City.
Benalla’s Yarnbombers decorated Bridge St with colourful characters.
Benalla shot putter, Anakin Pastuska, 16, celebrated success in a recent track and field tour of North America, which local people helped to fund.
August 7
The community got dressed up to dance the night away at the Benalla Health Winter Ball.
An online fundraiser was set up for Benalla’s Warren Hunter-Barton, who lost everything as well as being injured in a house fire.
Goorambat FNC announced Ben Wapling had been re-signed to be the club’s senior football coach.
August 14
Pippa Rotherham, 14, walked from Wodonga to Benalla’s FCJ College to raise funds for the Fred Hollows Foundation.
Benalla students celebrated 100 days of Prep with a day of dressing up and activities.
The Benalla All-Blacks senior football side won its first game of the season with a victory over Tarrawingee.
August 21
Benalla RSL held a service to commemorate the men and women who served Australia during the Vietnam War.
The Benalla Suicide Prevention and Awareness Network encouraged the community to take part in its annual March across the Monash.
NE Tracks LLEN held its annual Hands On Trades Career Expo at Winton Motor Raceway, with hundreds of businesses, services and organisations offering fun and games as well as future career opportunities.
With none of its senior teams making the cut, the All-Blacks under-15 netball team headed into finals as one of the favourites.
August 28
Students from across Benalla dressed up as their favourite characters to celebrate book week 2024.
The Benalla Homelessness Response Group held a community meeting at the library to gain more support and update the community on its activities.
Benalla farmer Paul Christie won a Victoria Masters Boxing title.
September 4
The Salvation Army, Tomorrow Today and Ray White Benalla teamed up to form the ‘Benalla Community Christmas Cheer’ initiative, with the aim of ensuring no local family misses out on celebrating the festive season.
A Benalla woman who was allegedly attacked in her home was airlifted to a Melbourne hospital. A GoFundMe page was set up to assist her recovery.
The Benalla Saints B-reserve netballers were heartbroken after a one-goal defeat ended their finals dream.
September 11
The committee behind the Benalla Short Film Festival celebrated after it was nominated for a Victorian Community Achievement award.
Local youth group the Full Impact Squad spent a day cleaning the banks of Lake Benalla.
The Benalla Red junior footy side just missed out on a premiership, going down in its grand final to Myrtleford.
September 18
Inspired Abilities launched a new community space at 108 Bridge St East. It is designed to offer a comforting space where community members can relax, unwind and connect with others.
Benalla photographer Rene Martens was honoured with an award for his black-and-white photography.
Violet Town under 15s were premiers after winning their grand final over Dookie United.
September 25
Well-respected local surgeon Simon Permezel was farewelled by staff at Benalla Health after 37 years.
A man was arrested in Italy over the murder of two Benalla women, in Collingwood, in 1977.
The Greta under-15 netball team was heartbroken after losing its grand final with Bonnie Doon.
October 2
The Ensign featured a photo spread from the well-attended Benalla Gold Cup.
Benalla’s April Tuddenham donated her hair to be used in wigs for people living with cancer. The salon that helped her, Tangled up Hair, also donates hair scraps to be used to soak up oil spills.
Up-and-coming hockey player Noah Gillies was assisted by the Benalla Young Sportspersons Trust to represent Victoria at the National Under-14s Hockey Championship in Perth.
October 9
Benalla’s own X-Games legend, Rob Adelberg, returned to the Rose City with another gold medal.
George Oliver, whose father opened Oliver’s Mensland in the 1920s, spoke to the Ensign about the store’s history after it closed its doors for the last time.
The Regional All-Abilities Rebellion Football team put a call out for assistance to help it fund its upcoming season.
October 16
There were bargains to be had across the Rose City, with the Benalla Lions Club hosting its annual antiques fair on the same day local youth group the Full Impact Squad held a youth market beside Lake Benalla.
The Benalla community had a chance to meet the candidates for the upcoming local government elections at a forum set up by local volunteers.
Chris Randall celebrated her retirement with colleagues at Jenny Milner Marsha Watson Pharmacy. She began working there in 1981.
The Lake Benalla Foreshore was a hive of activity as the North East Skate Park series held an event.
October 23
The Benalla Agricultural Show was hailed a success, with attendees pouring through the doors to enjoy exhibits, fairground rides, food, drink and much more.
Fifteen-year-old Glider Pilot Chloe Wilkin spoke to the Ensign about her journey from watching her dad take flight, to getting behind the controls herself.
Benalla lawn bowls sensation Koby Cromie, 16, claimed a third successive national title.
October 30
The Ensign featured a 12-page wrap showcasing all the events that make up the upcoming Benalla Festival.
Five Benalla students planned a 12-hour charity walk around Lake Benalla, with all funds raised donated to the Live4Life foundation.
Devenish youngster, Lilly Binion, 12, planned to cut her hair to donate and be made into wigs for people living with cancer.
Benalla footy star Harry Morrison played his 100th game for Hawthorn Football Club.
November 6
The Benalla Pony Club paid a heartfelt tribute to much-loved life-member Donny Dowell.
The Sydney to Melbourne XPT train broke down in Benalla and had to be craned on to a truck to be taken away to repair.
There were big engines on show at Winton Motor Raceway as the Australian Super Trucks’ round five took place.
November 13
The Benalla Festival concluded, and the Ensign featured a gallery of photos from the annual event.
The results of the local government election were confirmed, with Peter Davis, Nathan Tolliday, Justin King, David Blore, Bernie Hearn, Jillian Merkel and Puna Hewa Gunaratne making the cut.
Benalla Racing Club hosted the Mulwala Water Ski Club Yarrawonga Cup
November 20
Local rescue centres rushed to assist animals that had been displaced by land clearing for a new solar farm at Goorambat East.
Ray White Benalla encouraged the community to donate to its annual initiative, which collects presents to be distributed to families at Christmas with the assistance of Tomorrow Today.
Benalla CFA announced it had created a digital honour roll to be unveiled at its next meeting.
The Ensign reported on the upcoming AFL draft, with local footy player Joe Berry a favourite to be picked up.
November 27
Disability support provider InLife opened its first office in Benalla.
A new dreaming garden and yarning circle was unveiled at Benalla’s Flexible Learning Centre.
As expected, Benalla’s Joe Berry became an AFL player, signing for Port Adelaide.
December 4
The Benalla community celebrated the festive season with a community Christmas Party on the Lake Benalla foreshore.
Cooinda Aged Care began fundraising to help it complete upgrades, which include a 1940s style Main St.
Bernie Hearn was elected Benalla Rural City mayor, and Justin King was elected deputy mayor.
The Victoria Country Veterans hosted an England over-60 cricket side at the Benalla Gardens in a game that came down to the final ball.
December 11
Benalla police walked off the job for 30 minutes to protest pay and conditions.
Benalla couple Jayson Cuming and Andrea Box introduced the Ensign, and the community, to their nine-month-old Macaw, Valkai.
Father and son duo Cam and Hugh Ross enjoyed a special moment when they both lined up for the Benalla Bushrangers C-Grade Blue side.
December 18
A Lurg family’s house was destroyed by a mini-tornado, leaving the family homeless just before Christmas.
The CFA honoured local legend Jack Harrison by naming the Benalla Local Command Facility in his name.
The festive period kicked off with the Living Here Christmas Party Race day at Benalla Racing Club.
December 24
The Benalla Homelessness Response Group, with the assistance of Benalla Rural City Council, had lockers installed under the library. The lockers provide a place for homeless people to store their belongings, as well as offering a non-perishable food store, and an emergency kit including tent and sleeping bag.
A new 35-bed rehabilitation centre opened in Mollyullah.
Kevin Donnelly was named a life member of Benalla Racing Club.
Editor