The Undera pub is back in business
The watering hole reopened recently after being closed for six months, with the congenial Brett Gilbert the new licensee.
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Originally from Newcastle, Brett lives in Tatura and has spent most of his working life as an electrical engineer.
This is his first foray into running a pub, but he is quick to point out that he has had quite a bit of experience on the other side of the bar!
‘‘I’m 61 now and hopefully slowly easing myself into retirement, so this seemed a good way to try to do it. It’s been great so far,’’ he said.
Brett said there would be a heavy emphasis on providing hearty meals, with Sunday roasts and Wednesday night parma specialities already on the pub menu.
Brett said he also had Friday, Saturday and Sunday breakfasts on his radar for when he gets everything in order.
He has introduced a Tuesday night pool competition for locals, which has been well received and supported.
‘‘I’ve been rapt in the support I have had so far and I’m looking forward to making the visit to the pub something really enjoyable for everyone.’’
Brett plans to open the pub at 4pm on weekdays and noon at weekends.
Kyabram awaits La Niña after El Niño soaking
A Traps reader reckons he might start building an ark for when the next La Niña weather pattern hits.
‘‘We are supposed to be in an El Niño pattern now and if that’s the case we are going to get some serious rain when the next La Niña comes along,’’ he said.
Most of Kyabram and the district was drenched with heavy rain last week for the second time in the space of 10 days and it was back with a vengeance again on Sunday and Monday, with the Kyabram weather station recording a total of 40mm on these two days.
After heavy rain (80mm) to see off 2023, Kyabram was hit with 64.8mm of rain on Tuesday, January 2.
Falls of nearly 100mm were recorded in some places, while others got a lot less.
The violent electrical storm caused power outages in many areas, with some residents having to manage without power for up to 48 hours.
Notorious low spots in Kyabram were flooded, and water penetrated some homes.
The CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology both predicted El Niño weather patterns for the next few months, but it’s a hard sell given what has happened in late December and early January.
Square dinkum
G’day.
It seems that I might have a very slight drinking problem.
At breakfast yesterday, my wife asked me to toast some bread — so I stood up, raised my beer glass and said, “Here’s to bread.”
Hooroo!
Driver allegedly nearly six times the legal limit
A lead-footed motorist allegedly almost six times the alcohol limit was caught as part of Operation Roadwise, a statewide operation, over the festive season.
The 43-year-old driver was breath-tested by police on Doyles Rd, Shepparton in December and allegedly recorded a 0.294 blood alcohol reading.
His car was impounded at a cost of $1056 and he will face several drink-driving offences when he appears in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court in April.
More fish for Moulamein’s rivers
Moulamein’s Men’s Shed is doing its bit to make life a bit more successful and enjoyable for fishermen in that neck of the woods.
Members have been busy with their battery drives and red gum furniture business, resulting in $12,000 being spent on stocking Murray cod and yellowbelly fingerlings in waterways in and near the town.
A total of 10,230 cod have been released and 4500 yellowbelly 20km upstream from Moulamein in the Edward River, also at the Moulamein boat ramp and 5km upstream from the Edward junction in the Billabong Creek. The Moulamein Men’s Shed donated $4000 and NSW Fisheries $8000 to finance the project.
Also active in restocking has been the Deniliquin-based group that runs the annual Edward Kolety Fishing Challenge.
Members of this group have released 30,000 yellowbelly fingerlings into local waterways.
The fish were purchased from profits from the Kolety Fishing Challenge, which is coming up in February.
Entries, which will be capped, are accessible at www.edwardfishingchallenge.com.au
Conargo continues 60-year cricket legacy
It's been going for 60 years, and it was on again in late December.
The event is a lot further than a good throw from the famous MCG and is held at the remote Conargo, where the locals take on Connell/Landale for bragging rights in an annual cricket game.
The tradition is strong among many families, with players clocking up huge kilometres to ensure it continues.
This time, Conargo prevailed with 6-129, while its rival was bowled out for 62 on a wet oval.
Euroa-Mansfield Rd raises alarms
Euroa-Mansfield Rd is proving to be dangerous and deadly, with its third fatality in six months.
On Christmas Eve, a 77-year-old Shepparton motorcyclist died after his motorcycle collided with another bike travelling in the same direction, driven by another Shepparton man, 34, who escaped with minor injuries.
A pillion passenger on the deceased man’s motorcycle received non-life-threatening injuries.
An 18-year-old Shepparton woman and a 59-year-old Shepparton man were killed in accidents on the same road in July and November of 2023.
Sad death of common sense
This one has got a few runs over the years in this column and we are acknowledging another request from a Traps reader to present it again. We are certain it will resonate with a lot of readers:
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend Common Sense, who has been with us for so many years.
No-one knows for sure how old he was because his birth records have been long lost in bureaucratic red tape.
He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as knowing when to come in and out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, that life isn’t always fair and maybe it was his fault.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you can earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).
Common Sense’s health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place.
Reports of students suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost more ground when parents attacked teachers for doing what they themselves failed to do in disciplining unruly children.
It further declined when schools were required to get parental consent to administer paracetamol or put sun lotion or a sticky plaster a student but couldn’t inform the parents when a student became pregnant and wanted an abortion.
His condition worsened further when he was barred from taking photos at the kids’ school sports without permission and also when he went to provide kids’ names for the local paper but was told he had to get permission from their parents.
Common Sense also lost his will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband, churches became businesses and criminals received better treatment than their victims.
Common Sense took another beating when you couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home, and the burglar could sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live after a woman failed to realise that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilt a little in her lap and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded by his parents, Truth And Trust and his wife, Discretion, their daughter, Responsibility, and their son, Reason.
He is survived by three stepbrothers: I Know My Rights, Someone Else Is To Blame and I’m A Victim.
Not many attended Common Sense’s funeral because so few realised he was gone.
Pass this on if you still remember him.
If not, join the majority — and do nothing.
Did you know?
1. The coyote is a member of the dog family, and its scientific name, Canis latrans, means barking dog.
2. A giraffe can clean its ears with its 50cm tongue.
3. A group of geese on the ground is a gaggle — a group of geese in the air is a skein.
Sports reporter