It's been awhile! Apologies for the lengthy hiatus, but we're all busy. Especially Charlie.

But we all managed to get into the newly fitted out Network House Community Studio thanks to FRRR and talk about Donny's footy come back.

This year we've got four riders hitting the red centre for the Tatts Finke Desert Race and I, for one, and gutted I can't be there to witness it.

Nathan Falvo, Phil & Broden Connell, Nicholas Boyd are all being supported by their mechanic Joey Heeps in their quest to finish the unforgiving two day race through all sorts of challenging terrain from Alice Spring to Apatula (Finke).

Nathan has done the race multiple times on a quad, but has never done it on two wheels and in fact, didn't even own his KTM 350 at the time of entry.

He leaves for Alice on Monday and has even promised to take the Big Brass Mug for me and get Toby to sign it!! AMAZING! I can't even tell you how excited that makes me!

Before we get to all this though, Donny and Jimmy come in to have a yarn about all sorts of things; mainly footy.

It really is a full dance card this week! It had to be with so many things happening.

First is obviously Phil Lamattina after a win at Heathcote last weekend putting him just 10 points shy of the top of the table in the Top Fuel Championships, it would be remise of us not to have him in.

We also chat to Rebecca Wells from Mallee Regional Innovation Centre about the $150million in partnership funding from the One Basin CRC and the work MRIC are currently doing.

Dr Anne Webster joins us on the phone quickly to chat about her run for Deputy Leader of the National Party and finally Joe Colombo, a MICA paramedic (much higher up than Charlie). joins us for a chat about the Ambulance Service and becoming a first aider.

It's been a while, but things have been hectic so we do episodes when we can get them out these days.

There were some important topics to discuss with Senior Sergeant Dale Long of Robinvale Police regarding the local spate of farm burglaries and some arrests that have been made.

We also discuss the new Neighbourhood Policing Model that he's pushing out.

Link to the VicPol survey: https://engage.vic.gov.au/annual-vicpol-community-sentiment-survey-2022

We also chat with Jessie and Justin from Elders Insurance Mildura on insurance and on MMA!

There's a bit of moisture around so Donny was able to make it into the studio this week to have a chat about the Don Falvo B & F medal which was an honour bestowed upon him last week.

Charlie is still too cool to come in but hopefully next week at some point, after he's come back to earth following Cochella.

There's so much going on over Easter we thought we needed an extra episode to cover it all.

Dale Long who is our senior sergeant at Robinvale Police is in for a chat about all sorts of things including the Manangatang homicide and other things keeping the unit busy.

Al and Vicki are in to talk about the Easter tournament which now has a total pool of $3,500 in cash prizes to be won!

Al and Vicki normally play together but there was a little incident at country week and the dream team became a nightmare so they've broken up and established new teams, We talk about it during the episode so you'll just have to listen.

Lt. Emma Wright is also in to talk about becoming a volunteer for the CFA. Robinvale CFA is 100% volunteer based, so no volunteers, no one to fight your fires! We talk to Emma about how that all happens and what happens when the volunteer base gets low like it is at the moment. There are only a few families who are volunteers, fewer still who are able to leave work, family etc to go fight fires at all hours of the day and night. Emma is really looking for new people to join and you can find out everything you need to know here: https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/volunteers-careers/volunteer-with-cfa

Trav Bussell, long time friend of the show, is now working at MVAC as the Men's Time Out Services Co-ordinator. What exactly does this mean? Well, essentially it means he gets to keep making a difference where he wants to and he's also working with Calvin Henry who is now a regular on the show.

We also talk footy and basketball too because why wouldn't we?

Sharon Peart was a long time Mildura Rural City Councillor and is now the chair of Lower Murray Water and a board member of Mallee CMA. She's also dedicated her life to women's breast health and well-being in her own business, All About Me - for lifestyle, wellbeing and fun.

We talk about it all.

We also catch up with Anne Webster and it was before the election date was confirmed and before Minister Littleproud had made his announcements but it's always a chat worth having with Dr Webster.

It's a bit of a random one this week. We'v had a lot going on and with a long list of people waiting to make an appearance on this podcast, we're falling behind a couple of weeks in terms of appearances.

RDHS has a new mental health clinician which is terrific and the walk in clinic is still running every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9am til 1pm.

No referral or appointment needed, no medicare required either, you can just walk in and be see by one of the mental health team at Robinvale District Health Services!

Bec is back too with a new listing in Robinvale and more of her story to tell which is awesome and we love hearing that.

If you'd like to help keep this podcast going, please consider becoming a VIP (Very Important Patron). via our Patreon page: patreon.com/thevalepodcast

It's a bit of a random one this week. We'v had a lot going on and with a long list of people waiting to make an appearance on this podcast, we're falling behind a couple of weeks in terms of appearances.

RDHS has a new mental health clinician which is terrific and the walk in clinic is still running every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9am til 1pm.

No referral or appointment needed, no medicare required either, you can just walk in and be see by one of the mental health team at Robinvale District Health Services!

Bec is back too with a new listing in Robinvale and more of her story to tell which is awesome and we love hearing that.

If you'd like to help keep this podcast going, please consider becoming a VIP (Very Important Patron). via our Patreon page: patreon.com/thevalepodcast

The March Long Weekend in this part of the world has always been a big one. We welcome a LOT of people to the area for the Robinvale Euston 80 Ski Race!

This week, Mitch came in to have a chat about pulling the event together after a two year hiatus because of covid, and you may not hear it in his voice, but he's clearly a bit excited about it.

We've also got a community basketball match between the Mildura Heat V Robinvale Basketball Association Men from 2pm on Saturday.

Coach Calvin came in for a chat about that and about his role at MVAC heading up the men's and youth services which is awesome and it means he'll be a lot more involved now within our community.

Phil is obviously in to talk about the Top Fuel Championship round at Mildura's Sunset Strip this weekend and to be reminded that he's been beaten by Jade TWICE on that very track.

Jack also checks the Dong for the first time in a while and fills us in on the market this weekend and some future events coming up!

Read more on our website and sign up to become a VIP here.