MONSTER trucks will take over the Latrobe City Sports and Entertainment Centre on Saturday.
Attractions include a jet car, "tank carnage" and record-breaking monster truck wheelie attempt.
The event will also feature a carnival and fireworks display.
Latrobe City Mayor Ed Vermeulen said the council acquired the lease for the stadium in 2010 and the monster trucks proved it was versatile space.
He said the stadium would host statewide soccer championships next weekend.
Stroll to health
HEALTHY lifestyle changes and exploring nearby towns are all part of Shepparton's summer strolls program.
Tomorrow the series kicks off in Merrigum at 6pm at Judd Park, and other walks are planned for Toolamba, Undera, Tallygaroopna and Shepparton over the next two months.
Greater Shepparton's leisure facilities officer, David Quinn, said there would be activities for children and free barbecues with healthy food options.
"The strolls will involve a walk around each town, finishing at a recreation reserve or swimming pool," he explained.
Art of country
EIGHT regional artists are up for the Victorian Indigenous Art Awards.
Twenty artists are in the running for prizes totalling more than $50,000 as part of the awards, to be announced on March 9.
Nominated artists include Jody Croft, of Swan Hill, Katrina Doolan, of Mildura, Jason B. King, of Sale, Simon Penrose and Lyn Warren, of Bendigo, Eva Ponting, of Shepparton, Dallas Scott, of Pakenham. and Gloria Whalan, of Yallourn.
There will be an exhibition of the works from March 10 to 31 at Melbourne's fortyfivedownstairs gallery.
Climate changes on the agenda
WIN weather presenter Jane Bunn will join the Department of Primary Industries' AgFutures forum in Serpentine this month.
DPI project officer Sheri Streilein said climate variability, increased competition for natural resources, population change and global economic conditions were providing real challenges for rural communities.
"We want to arm local communities with practical information about climate change and other topics relevant to the rural community, which they can then use to make better decisions in their businesses," Ms Streilein said.
"By providing local communities with the most up-to-date and reliable information about changes affecting agriculture, food and fibre producers and other rural business owners will have a stronger platform from which they can make better long-term decisions for their rural business."
The forum will be held at the Serpentine Hall, Chapel St from 8am to 11am on February 14. To book, phone (03) 5448 7124.
Goats blown out of the park
SHOOTERS hunting feral goats in the Murray Sunset National Park have killed 4000 goats during the past nine years.
The milestone was reached last month when the Nhill and Mildura Sporting Shooters Association of Australia groups headed into the park.
The Nhill group collected 301 goats in the southern Murray Sunset National Park to reach a milestone of 3000 feral goats over 44 outings.
The Mildura group reached a total of 1000 in the northern section of the park.
Parks Victoria program manager Robert McNamara said the Feral Goat Pest Animal Program began in 2003.
"With good rain over the last two years, the park hasn't looked this good for a very long time. That's also due to a lot less grazing pressure from feral goats; there are young trees and shrubs where everything used to be chewed off," Mr McNamara said.
He said the goats had trampled Malleefowl nests, killing chicks.
