How time flies. As another trip around the sun nears its completion, The Ensign is looking back at the year that was 2023.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
In this edition, we will be remembering the highs and lows from January to June.
Keep an eye out for the review of the second half of the year, covering July to December, in the next edition on January 3.
January 4
The Benalla Trust helped transform the lives of the Gardner family by helping them get a new therapy dog — Pudding.
In sport, Saints fans got their first glimpse of the GVL fixture list with a blockbuster meeting against Seymour locked in for Round 1.
January 11
VTAC gave the all-clear for developing the new cinema and café alongside the upgraded Costume and Kelly Museum and visitor centre on the foreshore of Lake Benalla.
The Benalla Breakers returned to their home court for the first time since the 2022 floods with an emphatic 100-68 win over Wangaratta.
January 18
A freak storm tore the roof off the John Cooper Hall and uprooted trees in Nunn St in Benalla on Saturday, January 14.
Some 38mm of rain fell in 24 hours, 20mm of which fell in 20 minutes during the storm’s peak.
The Benalla Bushrangers defended 111 runs in a hard-fought victory in a two-day match against Delatite.
January 25
Murals by Benalla artist Tim Bowtell at the Southern Aurora Memorial Garden in Violet Town made it to the final of the Australian Street Art Awards. The murals went on to win gold at the awards.
Benalla firefighters Michael Todd and Neale Cleeland were recognised for their long service at a medal ceremony in Wangaratta.
February 1
Students at Devenish Primary School were turned away on the first day of school by education department officials, who stated only one student had been properly enrolled and no teacher had been assigned.
At the Benalla All Blacks, Phil Spencer stepped into the role of president, as his son Nich was confirmed to be continuing as senior football coach after their premiership win.
February 8
Benalla Rural City Council secured $195,000 from the Victorian Government to conserve and repair Benalla’s migrant camp exhibition.
Council also announced plans to bring an EV charging station to Benalla.
The Breakers won their CBL semi-final with a 10-point win over Myrtleford, locking in a grand final against Seymour.
February 15
Devenish Primary School students and parents got the news they were hoping for as they were told enrolments would be accepted and a teacher would be found.
The Breakers fell short in their grand final against Seymour, losing 71-53.
February 22
Well-known community member Charlie Mead donated a bench to the Southern Aurora Memorial Garden in Violet Town.
Violet Town Football Netball Club called out for new players to join its ranks as low player numbers threatened to close the club as the new season quickly approached.
March 1
Twelve-year-old Casey Coady saved the day when he dived into Lake Benalla to rescue Benalla resident Deb Little’s dog, Rusty, from drowning.
Olivia Osborne claimed her maiden victory as a horse trainer on February 27 when Zooming Zebra won the Noorilim Park Thoroughbreds BM58 Handicap at Benalla.
March 8
The Benalla Family Research Group faced an uncertain future. The community group was desperately searching for a new home after it was informed it had to vacate the Old Presbyterian Church Hall.
Violet Town locals Richard and Anne Byrnes and Gary Abley brought Melbourne street artist Matt Ling to town to paint a mural to celebrate the late Shane Warne.
March 15
Racing car driver Zak Best started the Super 2 season in style as he claimed victory at the Newcastle 500 event.
The Swanpool Motor Festival went off without a hitch as around 3000 people descended on the town to see a diverse display of motor vehicles, old and new.
March 22
The highly anticipated Benalla Air Show drew huge crowds to Benalla Airport with displays for the whole family to enjoy.
Benalla-based jockey Hannah Edgley claimed her 80th career win at Swan Hill at the young age of 22, making her one of the most exciting prospects in the industry.
March 29
The Full Impact Squad, a local youth group run by Tomorrow Today, took to the Benalla market to raise $900 to fix the roof of John Cooper Hall.
The Benalla Saints seniors won their last practice match against Geelong League outfit Bell Park.
April 5
The Moorngag Mower Mania lawnmower racing event saw racers from across Victoria, NSW, and Canberra hit the dusty track at Moorngag Reserve.
The Goorambat and All-Black seniors and A-grade sides suffered defeats in their first-round matches in the Ovens and King League.
April 12
Volunteers from Benalla and district raised $45,008 for the Good Friday Appeal across the Easter long weekend.
The Saints made a slow start to their 2023 GVL campaign with an 8.10 (58) to 11.13 (79) loss to the Seymour Lions at the Benalla Showgrounds.
April 19
Thirty members of the protest group Farm Transparency Project halted work at the Benalla Abattoir on Thursday, April 13.
The Benalla community celebrated the South Asian new year on April 15 with various traditional rituals observed.
The Violet Town seniors came up just short in a thrilling game against Merrigum — 10.11 (71) to 10.13 (73)
April 26
The All Blacks A-grade netballers edged out Bright in a tantalisingly close match, with the final score being 38 goals to 36.
The Ellis family shared their story about two-year-old Sam’s mission to beat cancer. The family thanked everyone who had supported them along the way and those who had donated to their GoFundMe page.
May 3
Tony Pearce passed through Benalla on April 26 on his 1440km walk around the state, where he was speaking to local emergency services about mental health care.
The Saints A Grade netballers snatched a win against Mansfield in the GVL by the slimmest of margins — 38 goals to 37.
May 10
In James Martiniello’s 200th game for the Saints, Benalla defeated Shepparton United for its first win of the season — 10.14 (74) to 10.12 (72).
The 2023 Australian Heritage Festival in Benalla drew more than 700 participants over its five days.
May 17
Heather and Brendan Thomson, organisers for the Goulburn Valley Register of the MG Car Club Victoria, were getting their 1969 MGB ready for a 100-year celebration of the car manufacturer at the upcoming Historic Winton.
Matt Crittenden beat Leo Dormeuil to claim the Benalla tennis singles title at the Benalla Gardens Tennis Club.
May 24
Benalla’s Rob Adelberg became the Australian athlete with the most medals in X Games history at the Japan event on May 14, where he claimed a silver medal.
State Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes announced that $15 million of funding had been granted for the redevelopment of the Indoor Recreation Centre and Tomorrow Today.
And the Ensign got a new sports journalist, Hamish Donaldson.
May 31
Siblings Jake and Alara Jones reached milestones for the All Blacks on the same day. Jake ran out for his 150th game for the club, while Alara ran out for her 250th A-grade game, a club record.
Thousands attended Historic Winton at Winton Motor Raceway despite the cold and wet weather.
Sparks flew at the Benalla Rural City Council meeting on May 24 as a heated discussion about the proposed Arthur Baird sculpture broke out.
June 7
The Rose City community donated more than 200 blankets to the Bendigo Bank’s annual blanket drive.
Ex-Carlton and North Melbourne forward Jarrad Waite kicked eight goals for the Saints as he led the Benalla side to its second win of the season over Rochester.
June 14
Classic Holdens turned heads in Benalla as the HD HR Holden Nationals took over Fawckner Dve on Saturday, June 10.
The Racing Club of Victoria awarded Benalla horse trainer Wayne Nichols the 2023 Country Achiever Award.
June 21
The opening night of the Benalla Theatre Company’s production of The Drowsy Chaperone wowed crowds.
The Benalla Lions Club shed was broken into, and the club’s van and a fair amount of equipment were stolen.
June 28
CFA brigades from across the Benalla region descended on Winton Motor Raceway on Sunday, June 25, to honour CFA group officer Jim Renkin, who retired from the role after 26 years.
Boxing trainer Lennie Griffiths shared stories about his career as a boxer and his recent work at the L.G. Boxing Gym.