By Jackson Russell
Backlash regarding the disproportionate share of money from council rates being invested into Mitchell Shire’s south has sparked a resistance from southern ward councillors.
All three south ward councillors David Lowe, Bob Cornish and Rob Eldridge, voted against the motion to endorse the council’s 2019-20 draft budget.
But they were outvoted by their fellow councillors, meaning the draft budget was endorsed.
Cr Lowe said a disproportionate share of council’s rates income was being spent in the north and central wards.
“A new motto for the south of the shire – pay the most in rates and get the least back,” he said.
“About 45 per cent of the rates income comes from the south and this budget sees less than 25 per cent of our capital budget, raised from rates, spent in the south.”
Council sought community input before designing the draft budget, with community consultation from July to November last year.
Cr Lowe said he reached out to Mayor Bill Chisholm to organise a meeting for councillors to work on an alternative to the draft budget but failed to receive a reply from any councillor outside of his south ward counterparts.
“Perhaps because the other councillors were enamoured of the current draft given the proposed expenditure in the north and central wards,” he said.
Rates for 2019-20 are to be capped at 2.5 per cent with overall rate will increase by 7.6 per cent due to an 18.5 per cent increase in the waste collection charge to make up for cost increases in council’s recycling contract.
A new capital works program worth $28.9 million is included in the draft budget, with a total capital works program of $35.3 million after projects from 2018-19 carry over.
North ward councillor Rhonda Sanderson said council reached out for community input early.
“We thought we would go to the community early on and we’ve received many suggestions, some of which we’ve included,” she said.
“There is some good news, we’ve turned a corner and look like we might have a surplus this year.
“If we can get 90 per cent satisfaction, we’ve done a good job because it’s very difficult.”
Central ward councillor Bob Humm said council received input from the community and the community had another chance with the draft budget.
“They may find they’re quite happy with it or we can take their suggestions on board and do something about it,” he said.
Crs Chisholm, Sanderson and Humm all voted in favour of endorsing the draft budget for public consultation along with deputy mayor David Atkinson and Cr Annie Goble.
Cr Fiona Stevens was an apology at last week’s meeting.
Council also endorsed a revised Strategic Resource Plan 2020-23 as part of the same motion.
Both documents will be on display for community input from April 25 to May 22 and council will hear submissions on June 3.
Final documents will be presented for adoption at the June 24 council meeting.
Council split on draft budget
Raising money for children
Wallan’s Laylah Cook is tying up her hair and making scrunchies to raise money for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal.
The idea came to the seven-year-old after doing a workshop in Kilmore two weeks ago.
“At the workshop we made scrunchies and I loved it so I asked mum if we could make some more,” Laylah said.
“We then wanted to sell them to people and get money for the Good Friday Appeal.”
An online post by her mother went viral and the family have been working hard to keep up with demand.
“It’s been crazy, we’re running out so we have to keep making more,” Ms Lonsdale said.
“It takes about 30 minutes each for the kids to make one scrunchie – I spend about five hours a day helping them out because they can’t do it all themselves.”
Laylah said she really liked making the pink and purple scrunchies to sell.
“We’re making them for the children’s hospital to help people get better,” Laylah said.
“We go to the Good Friday Appeal every year, so while we’re down there we can take the money with us,” Ms Lonsdale said.
“We’ve sold about 30 or so online – it’s such a good cause.”
Kilmore’s busking competition a success
Kilmore’s annual Art Expo and first-ever National Busking Championship event proved a success with large crowds and eager performers belting it out along Sydney Street on April 13.
Twenty-four buskers competed on the day and three winners – Gryff, Finnigan August and Alejandro Aguanta – will now have the opportunity to perform in Cooma, NSW at the National Busking Championships in November.
Organiser Rose King said it was great to see so many smiles on the day.
“I haven’t seen that many people so happy in Kilmore – it had a really happy air to it,” Ms King said.
“We received lots of positive feedback from performers and spectators who asked when it would be happening again.”
The event coincided with the annual art expo and an Easter egg hunt, which attracted a large number of children and families.
“It was great for all of them to team up. More people than usual attended the Art Expo opening on Friday night,” Ms King said.
“I remember hearing people say ‘I love this town’.”
Twelve-year-old girls Rose, Anique and Georgia named ‘Acro Trio’ performed at the event.
“We do tumbling and acrobatics. We love showing off our talent and having fun,” Anique said.
“We had to work very hard for many hours – probably more than 30 hours,” Georgia said.
Ms King said she was looking forward to what the competition would bring next year.
“I think it was a really big boost for the people of Kilmore – everyone is looking forward to next year,” she said.
Headspace for Mitchell Shire
By Jackson Russell
A new headspace centre will be established in Mitchell Shire should Labor be elected in May 18’s federal election.
Shadow Minister for Mental Health Julie Collins and Member for McEwen Rob Mitchell joined Mitchell Shire councillors and youth councillors in Wallan last week to make the announcement.
Mitchell Shire Council, and its youth council, began campaigning earlier this month for better mental health services in the shire.
Youth councillors shed tears of joy at the announcement of the headspace centre, which will provide tailored and holistic mental health support to 12-25 year olds and focus on early intervention.
The service also promotes young peoples’ wellbeing across mental health, physical health, work and study support, and alcohol and other drug services.
Youth Mayor Ebony Layley said the headspace service could change lives in Mitchell Shire.
“The fact that it’s going to be local is the most amazing thing because we don’t have to travel and its easier access for those kids that can’t travel outside of the shire to get there,” she said.
“That’s probably one of the most incredible things about the entire thing that it’s just going to be accessible for almost everyone and it’s going to make it easier all round which is incredible.”
A Youth Survey in 2017 identified suicide prevention, support for drug addiction and mental illness help as the three top priorities for Mitchell Shire youth.
With studies showing that half of all lifetime cases of mental health disorders being by the age of 14, Mitchell Shire has a higher than average rate of adults experiencing high or very high psychological distress.
Ms Collins said the commitment of more than $3 million over four year comes was due to the advocacy of council and local youth.
“We saw the passion from the young people about just how important these services are,” she said.
“It’s important that we have services that intervene early. We also know that the closer they are to local people they are in the community, the more likely people are to access the services rather than have to travel or rely on public transport to see services.”
Mr Mitchell said early intervention services were desperately needed throughout regional Victoria, particularly in fast growing peri-urban fringes such as Mitchell Shire.
“We’ve been doing a lot of work on suicide prevention through the Mitchell Shire Suicide Prevention Network, Live4 Life, Bully Zero, and we’ve known for a long time that this has been an issue,” Mr Mitchell said.
“However, when a young person is experiencing mental ill health and is looking for help, help should be there for them.
“This is why we have listened to the local community and health professionals to commit to a headspace centre where it’s needed.”
Mitchell Shire Mayor Bill Chisholm said it was great to see youth mental health services a focus in the shire.
“Having an organisation like headspace in the region working directly with our youth will make a significant difference,” he said.
“We have heard from the local service providers that they are employing staff without funding just to support our community so this is really great.”
Health organisations have backed Mitchell Shire Council’s campaign for better mental health services to be funded in the May 18 federal election.
With the Mitchell shire’s population forecast to grow to more than 270,000 residents over the next 30 years, the council is pushing for more mental health services before the community grows further.
Nexus Primary Health chief executive Suzanne Miller said Nexus Primary Health recognised critical gaps in the health care system in Mitchell Shire and increased their workforce to support residents.
“Nexus employs 12 people working as psychologists, mental health occupational therapists and mental health social workers.
We did this to respond to demand even though we get very little funding for mental health services,” she said.“We receive funding for two of these workers, but we have employed this team to meet demand.
“The funding we do receive is minor and usually is made up from state and federal government funding and the Primary Health Networks. Each funding source has its own set of rules and expectations that we must meet.”
Ms Miller said the service also employs counselling staff in Alcohol and Drug and Family Violence Services, which was also in high demand.
“Up until the start of March, our counselling services alone have had 428 referrals which is an average of more than 50 new referrals each month. This doesn’t include family violence and alcohol and drug services,” she said.
“As of February, this year, residents were waiting for 26 days at the most before some type of service response. The clients we see range from mild to severe symptoms, and the therapy we provide is tailored specifically for each person.”
“For people to wait 26 days, that is pretty extraordinary to wait in the mental health sector.”
Melinda Lawley, chief executive of The Bridge Youth Service, which operates a service in Seymour, said mental health prevention was key for youth living in rural areas.
“We want to see improvements in youth mental health and we believe we can do this by working with young people earlier, before their mental health deteriorates,” she said.
“An agency like The Bridge Youth Services can help change lives by working with the young person and their family to improve communication and link them in with specialists if required.
“We use evidence-based programs that can demonstrate improvements in the mental health of young people. Something must be done now to stem the flow of young people needing specialist services and improve their quality of life in rural settings.”
Key statistics:
• Mitchell Shire has a high proportion of people who are at very high risk of developing poor mental health outcomes – 7.1 per cent. The Victorian state average is 3.9 per cent.
• Proportion of adult population with levels of very high psychological distress – 14.8 per cent.
• Proportion of adult population with levels of moderate psychological distress – 18.3 per cent.
Kilmore’s record-breaking Good Friday Appeal
Victorian’s banded together on Friday and raised a record-breaking total of $18,175,467 for The Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal.
Communities across the state shook tins, door knocked, organised fundraisers and auctions to help support children in need.
Throughout the Mitchell Shire, Wallan raised $14,384, Seymour $29,538, Broadford $6,046, Wandong $6902, Pyalong $2254, and Kilmore with its own record of $16,974.
Good Friday Appeal area manager for Kilmore and CFA volunteer Dee Quinn said there was a wonderful atmosphere in Kilmore on the day.
“Many adults and children walked alongside the firetrucks for the door knocks – I think there were about 60 tins being used for collection on the day,” Ms Quinn said.
“It’s great getting the kids out into the community and they were all aware of why they were raising the money.
“Our highest money-raiser was six-year-old Isabelle Costantini who collected $724.80 by herself. She received a big chocolate hamper for her work.”
Isabelle said she loved riding in the trucks and helping out the children.
“I knocked on the doors and asked if people wanted to donate to the Good Friday Appeal,” Isabelle said.
“I got to ride on the pumper truck and sit on the front of the bus.”
Isabelle’s mother Gemma Constantini said there was a great response from people answering the door.
“A lot of residents told us that they had saved for the year. One lady had collected a bag of $70 in coins for us,” Ms Constantini said.
Many of the residents donating shared their experiences with the Royal Children’s Hospital.
“So many spoke about when they were a kid and how the hospital saved their lives or that their child is now being treated,” Ms Quinn said.
“A family from Bundoora have been coming with us since 2013 – their eldest son is constantly being treated at the hospital.
“Some people would pull up at the station crying and tell stories of how the hospital had saved their child’s life – it’s so wonderful to meet these people.”
Ms Quinn said she received great support when organising the event.
“The CFA members were fantastic, especially Anthony Archer who had managed it previously for 17 years,” she said.
“Trent Jones was in charge of logistics and organised where all of trucks went. It was a great day.”
Wallan East transformation
By Jackson Russell
A proposed $14-million property investment in Wallan East will include an apartment block, a childcare centre, a hotel and other retail and hospitality premises.
The site at 21 Station Street is the former home of Rattlers Hotel and sits opposite Wallan Station.
The proposed development will be home to 32 apartments, four shops, two cafes, a micro-brewery and a supermarket with attached bottle shop across three buildings.
The development also includes the construction of the necessary service utilities, car-parking and internal roads, as well as landscaping treatments throughout the site.
Property developers from Bundoora-based developer Whiteman Property and Associates have lodged a planning permit to Mitchell Shire Council, which is currently available for public information at Wallan Library.
A decision will be made on the application after April 30.
Planning documents say the development will set the standard for future development surrounding the railway station.
According to the documents, the apartments have been designed to cater to sections of the community which are currently under-represented in the existing housing mix of the surrounding area.
Project manager Arun Broadhurst said Whiteman Property and Associates were hopeful the development will be beneficial to the community.
“The proposed development at 21 Station Street is an exciting mixed use application that activates the precinct and links to the Wallan Station,” he said.
“We hope to deliver this high quality development which will provide substantial benefit to the Wallan community as a whole.
“The application is currently being assessed by the Mitchell Shire Council and we respect the process it needs to go through. As the process further evolves we will be happy to provide further comment.”
More police needed
Romsey’s Thrifty Link Hardware owner Nick Waldhauser is devastated by the lack of police presence in the Macedon Ranges after his store was broken into last week – the fifth time in the past eight months.
Mr Waldhauser’s team had not long finished unloading 20 palettes of new Stihl and Makita stock when robbers broke in and stole the equipment.
The break-ins have taken not just a financial toll on the business, Mr Waldhauser and his staff have also suffered both physically and mentally.
“I get to a point where I think why keep doing this? How long until I can’t afford to keep the business running anymore?” he said.
“It’s wearing thin on our team. We’re in here at 4am every time this happens. When your staff come in at 6am and start crying, you know there’s something wrong.
“I’ve been sleeping overnight here for weeks on end. That means my wife is at home not sleeping worrying about me – it puts a lot of pressure on my relationship.”
Mr Waldhauser said the five break-ins have cost him around $40,000 in stock, wages and time spent on paperwork.
“We’ve spent about $25,000 on security to upgrade alarms, cameras and fog machines,” he said.
“This time there was only one police car in Malmsbury – I live 12 kilometres outside of Lancefield and I arrived before they did.
“I’m not having a go at Victoria Police because I’m very grateful for what they are doing but I don’t know how they do their job because they have no resources.”
He believes all five break-ins occurred about the same time because criminals know when police are off-duty.
“We’ve been hit around the same time every time – they have no fear at all because they know there are no police here at that time,” he said.
Mr Waldhauser believes a pattern of ‘cross-border offending’ is emerging within the Macedon Ranges – similar to what is occuring in the Mitchell Shire – where offenders are coming from Melbourne’s northern suburbs to commit crimes.
“People come out from places like Melton and Craigieburn and know they can get away with it – it’ll just get worst if something is not done,” he said.
“After people hear about us getting broken into, they come in and say they have as well. One man told me about his wife who was asleep at 1.30pm and someone came in her house, stole her keys and took her car.
“I don’t want to make this place look like a fortress – what would people think coming into the town and seeing bars all along the window?”
The burglary follows a Gisborne murder last weekend where a man allegedly tried to hand himself into police only to find the police station locked up – there was only one officer inside.
It was believed the alleged killer had to press an intercom button that connected him 30 kilometres away to Kyneton Police.
Police Association secretary Wayne Gatt said there had been a shortage of police in the Macedon Ranges for years.
“Policing in the Macedon Ranges is a collective effort with Gisborne, Kyneton, Woodend, Romsey, Malmsbury, Riddells Creek and Lancefield – these combined resources still present shortages,” Mr Gatt said.
“Gisborne Police Station was running a night unit until it recently ceased because of overall shortages in area – clearly having an impact on Victoria Police to provide policing and protect the community after hours.
“One of our members was rostered to work alone, this shouldn’t happen, but sadly this happens almost every day. Issues that result in risks to our members are not issues that we can simply ignore and deal with in the future.
Victoria Police spokesperson Inspector Chris Large said constant reviews were done on policing levels.
“Victoria Police constantly reviews police numbers, levels of offending and peak times when police are required in order to keep the community safe.
There is no current plan for Gisborne to become a 24-hour police station, however the allocation of staffing levels is reviewed regularly,” he said.
Mr Waldhauser said after the second break-in at his store, he met with Victoria Police and Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas to discuss the issue.
“She said she is really happy to report crime is decreasing – but look what happened? She needs to talk to the government and start pushing to get more police out here,” he said.
Ms Thomas said the Macedon Ranges continued to be one of the safest places to live in Victoria but understands there was still more work to do.
“I’ve listened to community concerns regarding the staffing at Gisborne police station and have raised these issues with the Local Area Commander, as well as the Police Minister Lisa Neville,” Ms Thomas said.
“As a result, a meeting for concerned community members was held with Inspector Chris Large in February and I’ll continue to work with relevant parties to ensure our community has the police resources we need.”
A hero to treasure
Epping RSL member Wally Whitworth will be one of the few World War Two diggers marching this Anzac Day in Melbourne.
Mr Whitworth said it was heartbreaking going to the Anzac Day service every year and seeing fewer of his mates.“I’ve marched since 1952 and carried the banner until the late 90’s until I started to get crook,” Mr Whitworth said.
“You go with all these fellas overseas, make friends in the camps that you’ve never seen before – you all join up and become mates and catch up every ANZAC day.
“You carry the Battalion banner together and we started with a fair crowd in 1952.
“The first turn-out we had was in the St Kilda Town Hall – there were over 2000 of us.“I had a friend who carried the banner with me for years – he passed away, that upsets you.
“Last year there were only four of us left.”
The 97-year-old was 17 when he joined the Militia Battalion in Oakleigh. He went on to serve in New Guinea with the 37th/52nd Battalion.From being in the Militia to serving overseas, Mr Whitworth knew how to fight and fire a rifle – but to learn how to fight in a war was completely different and at times – a scary experience.
In New Guinea, underground tunnels posed serious threats to allies. Often enemy troops would emerge from tunnels and fire at Mr Whitworth’s troop.
When the war ended, the digger didn’t go home immediately.
“They needed someone to go around and find all the bodies of the diggers who were shot and buried locally,” he said.
“We had to find their bodies, wrap them in a towel and bring them back to our leading officer – then the troops were buried in the Australian War Graves.”
Mr Whitworth remembers watching American soldiers running motorbikes, Jeeps and wagons off the pier into the ocean at the end of the war.
“They would jump off before it would hit the ocean – you can buy motorbikes for 20 pounds there – it would cost them another 100 to get them home – so they left everything behind,” he said.
Mr Whitworth eventually made it back to Melbourne via Cairns – a week later he picked up a full time job and eventually went on to have a family with his late wife Jean Whitworth.
“Life is what you make of it – I made it a good life,” he said.
Epping RSL will host an Anzac Day dawn service on Thursday, starting at 4:45am.
A prelude will begin at 5am with the dawn service commencing at 6am – a gunfire breakfast will be served after the service for a gold coin donation.
Wallan CFA helps out appeal
Wallan CFA members will be out rattling tins this week raising money for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal.
Volunteers will be out on Thursday at the corner of Watson Street and High Street, Wellington Square and the northbound BP service station on the Hume Freeway.
On Friday from 7am, they’ll be at the corner of Watson Street and High Street, both Hume Freeway service stations and at the fire station.
Good Friday Appeal bunny ears are also available for a gold coin donation.}
Good Friday Appeal area manager Allie Tuddin said every year the brigade raised more than $13,000 and the figure often climbed to $15,000.
“That’s all from tin rattling, we don’t do anything else,” she said.
“It’s amazing. I think last year was our lowest year and it was just under $14,000.
“We’re lucky that we get a lot of the holidaymakers come through the town.”
It takes a large crew from the brigade to raise that much money, with about 20 members volunteering their time. Some stay back to count, while everyone else is out shaking tins.
“It’s a massive two days for us but it’s worth it,” Ms Tuddin said.
“I think that’s just a drop in the ocean to them but we just do it for the kids. We’re a community brigade so we just like to help.
“Most of us have kids so we never want our kids to end up there so if we can help a family that does end up there, it’s does feel amazing. We mainly do it for them.”
Kilmore Mitre 10 expands to meet trade demand
KILMORE Mitre 10 is hoping to become a trade hub for an area that’s experiencing the most rapid growth in its history.
The hardware store has opened its new trade-focused warehouse in Kilmore, which caters to tradies for quick pickups or deliveries.
Kilmore Mitre 10 director Simon Meyer said he had gradually been building the business into a more trade-focused business over the past four years.
“We’ve really focused on having the materials that builders need to have in stock and undercover so they’re protected and ready to go,” he said.
The new warehouse on Anvil Court runs as a pick and pack or dispatch-only site, which means customers can’t shop there but can collect goods.
Orders are placed in-store and stock can either be picked up or delivered.
The massive new warehouse, at 2500 square metres, is one and a half times the size of the current retail site in Powlett Street, and currently holds enough timber to build 100 houses.
“We’re really just reacting to what our customers demanded,” Mr Meyer said.
“We needed to have more available and to be able to react faster so that we’re not constantly trying to get things in for people, we’ve got the majority of it available at all times.”
Planning for a new addition began two years ago, but the site only became available in October and after stock, racking and equipment was put in place, it only became operational in the past few weeks.
“The few builders who have been lucky enough to go down there to pick up stock, that we’re been able to supply directly onto their vehicles, have been very impressed with what they’ve seen and the volume and stock quality we have on hand,” Mr Meyer said.
“We’re expanding on what we have had but making sure we have the fast-moving lines in volume so we’re never caught short.
“We really want to be able to give the public here in Kilmore more than what they think we can give them.
“We try to pack a lot in and try to make sure that our value is as close as we can get it to the biggest competitors in hardware.
“Instead of driving half an hour down to the next biggest retailer, just give us a chance first and we might surprise you.”