Odds and Ends with Gregor Mactaggart

The $500 prize winner was Carol Headberry, who also entered at My Perfect Home.

The $250 prize winner was Anne Peace, who entered at Collins Booksellers.

This year’s participating businesses were:

SAY G’DAY TO SAND-TA

Youngsters had the chance to walk through a sandy wonderland and build a sandman in Shepparton before Christmas.

It was all part of Greater Shepparton City Council’s Activities in the Park program in the central business district.

Among the things on show was a giant sculpture of Santa — or Sand-ta — created by a professional artist using only moulds of sand.

– KADY HADJAB

VALE BILL GRANGER

Tributes are flowing for renowned Australian chef and food writer Bill Granger following his death at the age of 54.

The Melbourne-born food identity died in hospital in London on Christmas Day.

“A dedicated husband and father, Bill died peacefully in hospital with his wife Natalie Elliott and three daughters, Edie, Inès and Bunny, at his bedside,” his family said in a statement.

“He will be deeply missed by all, with his loss most profoundly felt by his adored family, who are grateful for all the love and support that has been given.

“He will be remembered as the ‘King of Breakfast’, for making unpretentious food into something special filled with sunshine and for spurring the growth of Australian informal and communal eating around the world.”

A self-taught cook, Mr Granger operated restaurants around the world, published 14 cookbooks and made five television cooking shows.

He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in January 2023 for his contribution to tourism and hospitality.

“I admired everything he represented in food,” Jamie Oliver said.

“He helped shape the image of modern Australian food around the world,” former MasterChef judge Matt Preston said.

“Goodbye dear Bill Granger, the most gentle, charming, humble man. His London restaurant is an Aussie haven and headquarters of the Gumleaf Mafia, where he always greeted us with a warm, cheeky grin and his iconic avo on toast,” Kathy Lette said.

THREE SYDNEYSIDERS SPLIT $90 MILLION LOTTO JACKPOT

Three lucky people will begin 2024 as multi-millionaires after clinching Oz Lotto’s $90 million Boxing Day draw.

The winners, who are all from Sydney, say they’ll spend the money on a new home and an overseas trip while one couple plans to retire early.

A Sutherland Shire dad said he took a punt on the $90 million draw never expecting to take home the life-changing win.

“I just thought, ‘stuff it, I’m going for it’,” he said.

While getting ready for bed the man received a call from an official from The Lott on Tuesday night, mistakenly thinking he’d won $32,000, rather than the $32 million.

“What? Thirty two million!” he said.

“I read it as $32,000. I didn’t read it properly.

“This type of thing doesn’t happen to someone like me.”

The family man said he plans to buy a house, set the kids up and enjoy a holiday overseas.

A Campbelltown man and his wife are contemplating an early retirement after describing the win as “a dream come true”.

After multiple unanswered phone calls, lottery officials say they have finally been able to make contact with the third winner.

The Fairfield man said he had a sleepless night fantasising about entrepreneurship and early retirement after discovering his life-changing win right before bedtime.

“You’re not tricking me, are you?” he asked when officials called to confirm his new fortune.

Each winning entry took home a division one prize of $32,629,794.23.

The winning numbers in Oz Lotto draw 1558 on Tuesday were 17, 44, 22, 42, 31, 24 and 28, while the supplementary numbers were 3, 16 and 39.

NEW MARKER SYSTEM TRIALLED

Golfers were out in force last weekend to trial a new model to shorten the distance from tee to hole.

Kialla Golf Club introduced a third set of markers which have reduced the distance of the 18 holes to cater for beginner golfers.

It was introduced for players who find they cannot hit the ball as far as they used to and to make it easier when conditions are heavy and hard going.

The distance of the course has been shortened by approximately 900m.

FAST FIVE QUIZ

1. How many public holidays are there in Victoria each year — a) 11, b) 12, c) 13?

2. Name the renowned British singer born Harry Rodger Webb?

3. Which country is Australia playing in this year’s Boxing Day cricket Test match at the MCG?

4. Sn is the symbol for which element on the periodic table (hint — there’s a connection with the Wizard of Oz)?

5. Can you name the three countries that are landlocked by a single country (bonus point for each correct answer)?

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS

David Boon, cricketer, 63, Travis Head, cricketer, 30, Brad Hodge, cricketer, 49, Gideon Haigh, sports journalist, 58, Caitlin Thwaites, netballer, 37, Jenny Macklin, politician, 70, Mark Larkham, V8 supercar driver/commentator, 60, Jude Law, actor, 51, Ted Danson, actor, 76.

BET OF THE WEEKEND

He Can Jaja ran a disappointing fourth at Cairns last week. We’re heading back to South Australia tomorrow and going with Win O’Clock (Race 6, No.2). The import scored an impressive win in the Hamilton Cup three runs back, then finished down the track in the Bendigo Cup and Caulfield. He is well placed in a race of this quality and gets Todd Pannell in the saddle.

JOKE OF THE WEEK

Why don’t pirates take a shower before they walk the plank?

They just wash up on shore.

FINALLY

It was fantastic to see about the volunteer effort to get the Rich River Golf Club’s two championship-winning courses back to playable following the freak storm which hit the twin towns. Both the East and West courses are open, great news during what is a busy time of the year for the club.

FAST FIVE QUIZ ANSWERS

1. C (13), 2. Sir Cliff Richard, 3. Pakistan, 4. Tin, 5. Lesotho (South Africa), San Marino and Vatican City (both Italy).