Clunes has clinched its first Maryborough and District Cricket Association A grade premiership in more than 30 years, toppling the Maryborough side to claim the flag.

The health of Central Goldfields Shire and Pyrenees Shire residents is set to benefit from $410,000 worth of Federal Government funding.

Visiting Maryborough yesterday to announce the funding alongside Federal Member for Bendigo, Steve Gibbons, Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon said the shared funding would tackle the twin issues of obesity and healthy eating.

The joint grant between the two shires is one of 12 pilot programs under the Rudd Government’s Healthy Communities program, with the pilot round specifically targeting disadvantaged groups, particularly those who are unemployed and at risk of developing lifestyle-related chronic disease.

For the full story, see the current edition of The Maryborough Advertiser.

With a VCFL review to be conducted in the region beginning next month, and many football followers bemoaning the state of country footy, as many clubs wallow in financial troubles and face recruiting difficulties, the LPFL board has developed the Goldfields District Football League proposal, which would see up to 19 clubs competing in what is being pitched as “the best district league in the state”.

The man accused of slashing the face of a Maryborough teenager with a knife was refused bail in the Bendigo Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

Twenty-two-year-old Scott Pearson will remain in police custody until June after he was arrested over the alleged incident, which left the 19-year-old victim with a 20 centimetre scar running from his left ear to his chin.

Central Goldfields Shire Council will write to VicRoads seeking a speed reduction through the Dunolly shopping centre from 60 to 50 kilometres per hour, after receiving a petition from Dunolly residents containing 187 signatures.

At its meeting on Wednesday evening, council’s director of technical and development services, David Sutcliffe said VicRoads has previously been requested to lower the speed limit through Broadway Dunolly between Tweeddale and Thompson streets on a number of occasions.

“However, current government policy, as advised at the recent annual VicRoads liaison meeting with the VicRoads regional director, is to resist 50 km/h requests,” Mr Sutcliffe explained.

For the full story, see the current edition of The Maryborough Advertiser.

Clunes is poised to win its first Maryborough and District Cricket Association A grade premiership in more than 30 years after its domination of the first weekend of play.

A 19-year-old Maryborough man is recovering in hospital after being slashed across the face with a knife in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The incident occurred near the band rotunda in Princes Park at 1 am on Sunday morning.

The victim was with a group of friends in the park, when the offender and his girlfriend walked past the group, pushing a pram with a baby in it.

For the full story, see the current edition of The Maryborough Advertiser.