Ride for Esme passes through

Jan 25, 2024

The hay fire on Moonee Swamp Rd is still smouldering a week later.

You may have noticed a group of cyclists with a support crew pass through the region at the weekend.

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The charity fundraising team had departed from Tocumwal on Saturday morning, and rode through Deni before making their way to Wakool and beyond.

The end destination is South Australia at the end of this week.

The ride is being led by Toc businessman Jamie Hayes who is using his personal goal of completing the ride to raise money for Effort4Esme.

The charity was founded in 2022 to initially raise money for the Wodonga Maternity Unit.

It is named for Esme Mackay - the daughter of Tocumwal’s Jacqui and Nathan Mackay - who survived a horror birth in March 2022.

Jacqui’s placenta had detached and Esme was not breathing, and the Mackays said the team at Wodonga played a huge role in Esme’s survival before she could be transferred to specialists in Sydney.

The charity has continued since, and expanded to help Southern Riverina families in a variety of ways.

All donations can be made by clicking on the ‘donate’ icon at efforts4esme.com.

Hay fire still burning

A hay fire which started on a Moonee Swamp Rd property last week is still smouldering.

About one tenth of the 1000 bale stack was lost to fire Tuesday last week, believed to be caused by spontaneous combustion.

The Mid Murray Rural Fire Service warned later in the week that, due to the nature of the fire, it would take some time for the fire to be completely extinguished.

The RFS yesterday confirmed is was still “bubbling away”, which means smoke may still be visible in the area.

If you see an unattended fire, please call Triple Zero (000) immediately.

Cobb Highway Roadworks

Murray River Council is advising heavy patching works are being undertaken on the Cobb Highway between Beer Rd, Moama and Crump Rd, Mathoura for the remainder of the week.

Please slow down in the area and allow some extra travel time.

Works are expected to continue until, January 26.

Boil water advice

At the time of going to print yesterday, readers in the Moama area were being reminded of a boil water advice issued by Murray River Council.

This comes after earlier requests to conserve water due to increased levels of sediment and colour in the Murray River slowing the treatment and filtration process.

Murray River Council also advised Moama residents treated water may show discolouration and may have a muddy odour.

All water used for drinking or food preparation should be brought to a rolling boil to ensure it is safe for use.

Kettles with automatic shut off switches can do this.

Water should then be allowed to cool and stored in a clean container with a lid and refrigerated.

The Boil Water Advisory does not affect any other filtered water supply network within Murray River Council.

For more information contact the service centre on 1300 087 004.