WINNERS ARE GRINNERS
Denis and Pamela Hucker were thrilled when they were announced as the winners of a double pass giveaway to a music legends concert at Melbourne’s Crown Casino.
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The competition — held by the Riverine Herald — awarded two lucky local couples with two double passes to a concert, which paid tribute to icons Elton John, Elvis, Cher, Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson and Cyndi Lauper.
The Huckers revelled in the excitement of the weekend and dined out at a restaurant at Crown before the show.
Speaking about the concert, Mr Hucker said there was a great turnout.
“It was a very well done show, we had great seats and our own private little table,” Mr Hucker said.
“They saved our favourite act for last, Elvis, and he dedicated the song Always on my mind to Lisa Marie Presley. You’ve got to admire him for that.
“They all did a good job, the legends. We enjoyed the performances thoroughly.”
Margaret Gumbleton was the other winner of the competition.
Both couples attended the entertaining performance on Friday, January 13.
WHAT’S THE BUZZ?
Last week the great astronaut Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin featured in our famous birthdays segment.
Well Buzz, who turned 93, celebrated his latest milestone in grand style.
He got married.
Dr Aldrin spent his birthday tying the knot with his "longtime love" Anca Faur at a small ceremony in Los Angeles.
"I am pleased to announce that my longtime love Dr Anca Faur and I have tied the knot. We were joined in holy matrimony," Aldrin shared on Twitter with two photos of them dressed in tux and gown.
Dr Aldrin added that he and his bride "are as excited as eloping teenagers“.
Dr Faur is 63 and has been employed at Buzz Aldrin Ventures LLC as an executive vice president since 2019.
She finished her graduation from the University of Pittsburgh with a Ph.D in Chemical Engineering and Catalysis in 1996.
She started her career as a project leader at Union Carbide, where she worked for three years.
This marks Dr Aldrin's fourth marriage.
FROM NORTH TO SOUTH
A family of northern quolls is back home in the Far North Queensland bushland after going on an accidental 5600km return journey to Melbourne.
The Department of Environment and Science (DES), the Victorian Conservation Regulator and Melbourne Zoo worked together to bring the family of endangered marsupials home.
Five northern quolls — a mother and her four dependent babies — were found in a box of pumpkins at the Melbourne Wholesale Market in Epping, Victoria, on December 13.
It is believed the quolls entered the box while at a farm in Far North Queensland and were transported to Melbourne along with other cartons of vegetables.
After the stowaways were discovered, the Melbourne Market Authority worked with the Conservation Regulator who organised for the quolls to be taken to Melbourne Zoo and receive care from veterinary staff.
While the quolls were recovering from their travels, Conservation Regulator forest and wildlife officers identified their original location near Cairns in Far North Queensland.
Once the quolls were deemed healthy and ready for release, they were flown back to Queensland on January 5.
DES wildlife officers collected the small animals from Cairns Airport that evening and transported them to the Tablelands, where a vet once again assessed their health.
After getting the all-clear, DES wildlife officers successfully released the quolls back to their natural habitat that night.
DES Senior Wildlife Officer Dinouk Perera said this was a great outcome for the family of protected marsupials.
“Northern quolls are native to tropical and sub-tropical climates across Australia and have adapted to thrive in warmer conditions, which means they are not built to live in a typically colder place like Melbourne,” Mr Perera said.
“These quolls are very lucky to have been rescued and taken into care, as they had travelled a long way without food or water. We are very grateful to the Melbourne Market Authority, Melbourne Zoo and Victoria’s Conservation Regulator for working with us to bring these animals home where they belong.”
Victoria’s Chief Conservation Regulator Kate Gavens also welcomed the news that the tiny marsupials were successfully returned to the Queensland outback.
“Protecting native wildlife is one of the core functions of the Conservation Regulator in Victoria and our goal is always to keep wildlife in the wild where it belongs,” Ms Gavens said.
“This is an excellent outcome for our officers and these special native animals.”
MARVELLOUS MACORNA
This terrific photo was doing the rounds on social media last week.
Macorna Football Netball Club, a member of the Golden Rivers Football League competition, brings in some sheep to keep the grass down at the recreation reserve ahead of the new season.
It is a terrific little ground, even though the only time I played there, I was in a side which got belted by 162 points.
JOKE OF THE WEEK
How do trees access the internet? They log in.
TERRIFIC TON
Collingwood footballer Jack Ginnivan showed he is a handy cricketer last weekend.
Ginnivan lined-up for his local club Barkers Creek in an A-reserve clash against Castlemaine United.
He scored an unbeaten 118 from just 85 deliveries as Barkers Creek chased down the target of 208.
Ginnivan hit 11 fours and seven towering sixes during his explosive knock.
Barkers Creek plays in the Castlemaine and District Cricket Association.
Ginnivan’s ton generated plenty of headlines and responses, including “how many bouncers did he duck?” and “what did Kane Cornes think of him playing?”
The talented forward, who turned 20 in December, has played 28 AFL games for the Magpies since debuting in the 2021 season.
TIP OF THE WEEKEND
Good result for us with Unflinching doing the job, albeit at an odds-on quote, at Moonee Valley on Saturday. They do say small fish taste sweet. This week we’ll head back to the Valley and go with Dane On Tour (Race 3, No.6) to get the job done.
FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS
Alan Cumming, actor, 58.
Rebecca Judd, TV presenter, 40.
Adam Brand, musician, 53.
Alicia Molik, tennis star, 42.
Doug Cameron, politician, 72.
FAST FIVE QUIZ
1. What is the 11th letter of the English alphabet?
2. What colour is a pelican’s bill?
3. According to the proverbial saying you make a silk’s purse out of what?
4. Alastair Clarkson is the coach of which AFL club?
5. True or false: The Big Prawn is in NSW?
FINALLY
The Riv has said farewell to a couple of our journalists. Nicole Thomson finished last Friday and has taken on a role working in the production department of a movie being filmed in Byron Bay. Bransen Gibson officially finished yesterday and will embark on a new role as a sports reporter with the Shepparton News, starting Monday.
FAST FIVE QUIZ ANSWERS
1. K
2. Pink
3. Sow’s ear
4. North Melbourne
5. True
Gregor Mactaggart is the editor of the Riverine Herald.