Riddells Creek disaster recovery group recognised

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January 30, 2024

Riddells Creek disaster recovery group recognised

Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s Connecting Communities Award was awarded to the Riddells Creek 72-Hour Emergency Team for its significant contribution to community life.

The council presented its community award winners at event in Kyneton on Thursday night, where Tony Davis, of Kyneton, was awarded Citizen of the Year; Woodend Landcare took out the Healthy People and Environment Award; and Interval Art, of New Gisborne, received the Business and Tourism Award.

Established in 2023, the team was formed out of Riddells Creek Neighbourhood House ‘Resilient Riddell’ and ‘What Riddell Wants’ community initiatives and includes 15 volunteer community leaders.

The team has worked closely with council and other emergency agencies to understand how emergency management works and to research assets and vulnerabilities that affect Riddells Creek’s resilience to disaster.

Neighbourhood House community development manager Lisa Linton said it was amazing to see people come together to help members of their community.

“This group of 15 leaders, they come from different organisations like our Lions, CFA, some of our churches, social media representatives of our local community groups, but also interested individuals who are just pretty keen to get involved,” she said.

“The reason why it’s good to have so many is because if a disaster comes onto a town, there may be an evacuation order and peoples’ first priorities are their families and all that kind of stuff, so as long as there’s a couple of the group that are able to activate our 72-hour plan then that’s what we’re looking for.”

Through working collaboratively with businesses and organisations in the area, the group has developed strategies addressing gaps in the first 72 hours after an emergency where the community could be without support from external agencies for up to 72 hours.

Strategies include identifying and setting up community convergence spaces, looking after vulnerable people, and working closely with emergency agencies like the CFA to bolster disaster knowledge in the community.

“In small communities, everyone tends to step up in an emergency, but the 72-hour team is a coordinated approach,” Ms Linton said.

“It’s still getting traction in the community, but what we have found is when we’ve put the call out to meet with local businesses, a lot of them come. As soon as people understand what we’re trying to do, they get alongside it.”

Ms Linton said winning the award would be a step towards getting the exposure the group needed to further assist the community.

“They know we understand how to work with emergency agencies and that we trust them,” she said.

“Getting an award like this is going to build their recognition and trust in the community, but also with the emergency services.”

Seymour veterinarian awarded OAM

Max Davies

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January 30, 2024

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Seymour’s Andrew Hogan has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia, OAM, for his service to the town’s community.

A well-known face around Seymour, Dr Hogan has been involved in multiple community groups, organisations and businesses through various roles from as long ago as 1992.

Working primarily as a veterinarian, he has worked at Seymour Veterinary Surgery since 1992 before becoming a partner between 1996 and 2003 then principal owner in 2003.

Dr Hogan is also currently the veterinary officer at the Seymour Agricultural and Pastoral Society, where he has previously served as president, treasurer, council member and became an honorary life member in 2015.

In 2003, he was a founding member of Seymour Performers Workshop and then treasurer until 2014, switching to the role of president from 2015 to 2018. Dr Hogan has also contributed to set design and construction for the workshop and became a foundation life member in 2022.

He said he was surprised to have received the award and did not think it was real until he read the email in full.

“My first thought was I work with a lot of people and I don’t do any more work than anyone else really, so I felt a little bit like I was undeserving,” Dr Hogan said.

“At the same time, I’m chuffed, tickled pink to be recognised in this way.

“It wasn’t anything I expected or that it’s especially my right or deserved. I’m tickled, and my mum’s certainly pleased.”

Aviator honoured

An avionics technician who developed bespoke secure communications for C-27J Spartan aircraft and rapidly assembled a Hercules maintenance crew for deployment to assist in evacuating Afghan civilians was honoured on Australia Day.

Sergeant Justin Kurban, from Riddells Creek, received a Medal of the Order of Australia for his work over almost a decade at 35 Squadron and 37 Squadron, including technical achievements and new ways of managing personnel to improve efficiency.

He implemented a system to track the flying hours of maintenance crew, who are often required on board when a plane leaves on task.

Sgt Kurban joined the Air Force in 2005 after graduating from Gisborne Secondary College.

He said for him – having clocked hundreds of hours in the air, passing over deserts and snow-capped mountains – the mission was reward enough.

“With fast jets, it was a lot of training flights and bombing camps,” he said.

“In Air Mobility Group, I’ve been on countless humanitarian tasks and helped lots of people.

“That’s been a driving factor to make the platforms a better capability and made my work feel more worthwhile – but never in my wildest dreams did I think someone would nominate me for an award.”

Mitchell Shire police tackle hoon boom

Max Davies

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January 30, 2024

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Police are tackling an increase in hoon activities in recent months, with Broadford proving to be a hotspot for driving offences and dangerous driving.

Broadford police have impounded five vehicles in the past two weeks, many of which had already been on the radar for authorities with their drivers facing multiple different driving offences.

Sergeant Rhonda Coates, of Broadford police, thanked the community for its assistance in identifying and tracking down offending drivers.

“We’re concerned. Broadford still prides itself on being a country town and the community was telling us they weren’t feeling safe at night,” she said.

“[The town] has a combination of an older population plus the new families moving in and everything in between. They were sick of it, and we were sick of it.

“We’ve been able to work collaboratively to start stamping out some of those people. We’re continuing on our efforts and we’re hoping that there will be a lot more police presence in the area.”

Offences include serious conduct endangering life and driving without a licence or on a disqualified licence, which alongside drug driving and unregistered vehicles, shape a large part of police work in the area.

Focus areas also include cars with false number plates stolen from other cars, which can be prevented by installing one-way safety screws available at police stations across the shire.

“It’s been a mixture of people that don’t have licences or are driving on disqualified licences and just thinking they’re above the law,” Sgt Coates said.

“We’re putting an emphasis on no discretion as far as traffic offences and hoon driving is concerned because it is a real concern to us.”

The community has assisted through both Crime Stoppers reports and contacting police with information such as registration numbers, as well as video footage taken on phones.

Sgt Coates said there were also issues involving unregistered dirt bikes across the Mitchell Shire, but offenders were much more difficult to identify.

“It’s a bit of an issue for us because of the fact they can go off-road, once they’re off-road there’s not a great deal that somebody in a police car can do,” she said.

“We’re just intel gathering, trying to find out where those bikes are coming from, targeting the addresses before they actually get out on the roads, involving the air wing, and looking at operations towards getting traffic assistance from units down in Melbourne.”

Anyone with information on dangerous driving or hooning is encouraged to contact their local police station or Crime Stoppers by calling 1800 333 000 or reporting online.

VCAT approves Hidden Valley retirement village

Jordyn Grubisic

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January 30, 2024

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VCAT approves Hidden Valley retirement village

Another retirement village will be constructed in Hidden Valley to be located at 175 Hidden Valley Boulevard, Wallan.

The proposed village comprises 50 two-bedroom and three-bedroom dwellings on lots of about 300 square metres.

The northern part of the land is currently undeveloped and shown on plans as a proposed golf driving range.

Hidden Valley Retirement Estate Pty Ltd brought Mitchell Shire Council to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, VCAT, to determine if a public notice was required or if they were exempt having regard to the proposed development and its location.

Tribunal member Geoffrey Cole heard the matter and stated both parties agreed the site was ‘properly characterised’ for a retirement village.

The subject land is in Comprehensive Development Zone Schedule 1, CDZ, Hidden Valley Comprehensive Development Plan, CDP, under the planning scheme.

An applicant is exempt from the notice requirements if it is generally consistent with the CDP.

Mr Cole said it was ‘unnecessary to consider in any detail’ whether the retirement village use was generally in accordance with the CDP.

“This is because a residential village is a use that is nested within ‘accommodation’ under the planning scheme and the CDP provides that, in the golf course precinct, use for ‘accommodation’ does not require a permit,” he said.

Mr Cole said determining whether the retirement village was in the golf course precinct was difficult due to council’s concept plan being ‘undeniably imprecise’ with unclear external boundaries.

“There is little doubt that the lack of detail and imprecision of the CDP means that more flexibility should be accorded in determining ‘general accordance’ or ‘general consistency’ [with plans],” he said.

“I agree with [Hidden Valley Retirement Estate] that the southern part of the subject land on which the residential village is proposed ‘generally aligns’ with the rectangular portion of the golf course precinct.

“This residential village is located primarily in the golf course precinct under the CDP. Building and works are generally consistent with the CDP and in respect of both matters the conditions are met.”

However, a small strip located along the southern boundary of the property was indicated by council as possibly being in the equestrian centre precinct.

Council submitted the incursion of part of the residential village into the equestrian centre precinct was contrary to objectives to ‘provide for equestrian facilities’ that were key elements of the CDP.

“However, I am satisfied that the southern part of the subject land is ‘primarily’ in the golf course precinct because the strip that might be in the equestrian centre precinct … is narrow and likely to be no more than 10 per cent of the area of the southern part,” Mr Cole said.

Assumption College’s saintly statue refreshed

Max Davies

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January 30, 2024

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Assumption College’s saintly statue refreshed

Assumption College Kilmore’s statue of Saint Marcellin Champagnat has been restored after multiple years in disrepair.

Previously standing for a long time in the Fourviere Courtyard, the surrounding building and courtyard underwent a major refurbishment in 2015.

The Champagnat statue had been in the courtyard in a state of disrepair for several years, leading to the decision to commission a new statue that reflected the more accurate drawings of Champagnat that were released at the time of his Canonisation in 1999.

The statue that was commissioned decades ago was based on a painting of Champagnat made after his death in 1840.

The new version was based on his passport’s description and facial recognition software applied to the original painting and the faces of descendants of the Champagnat family.

Champagnat was a Marist priest born in 1789, who after his ordination was concerned by the isolation and lack of education in many of France’s rural areas at the time.

He acted to improve the situation surrounding Catholic teaching, however on his first day at school he witnessed the poor treatment of a student by a teacher – souring his thoughts on education.

It was from that incident that he and two other men worked to form the Marist Brothers in 1817, which now incorporates more than 600 schools worldwide including Assumption College.

The old, damaged statue was housed in Assumption’s maintenance area for eight years before Kilmore woodworker and sculptor Greg Stute offered to attempt the restoration.

Mr Stute said working with the concrete statue was a new experience and added to his portfolio of other pieces around Kilmore.

“It was a good little project to do. I’ve got quite a few projects here so at least for myself I know that I’ve actually contributed something to the school,” he said.

“If you drive past or you go to Assumption and you see it sitting there, you know that you’ve contributed to that. Otherwise, it would’ve just been broken and put into landfill and then that bit of history is lost forever.”

Mr Stute thanked Matt Gibson from Amos Painting and John Knight from ASAP Bins for their contributions to the project.

The final location of the restored statue is currently undecided, however it could end up at the College’s boarding precinct in recognition of the area’s historical significance.

After removing seven coats of paint and repairing the cracks and voids, Kilmore’s Greg Stute used Haymes paint for the undercoat and final finish, and modelled a missing finger and thumb off his own hand. The 620-kilogram statue will be reinstalled at Assumption College.

Seymour Lions squad locked in for 2024

The North Central Review

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January 30, 2024

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Seymour Lions have announced their A Grade netball squad following trials held over recent months.

The team remains largely unchanged from last year, with the Lions looking to bounce back strongly following a straight-set ousting in the 2023 finals series.

Former Broadford captain Ally Black will join Ruby Martin as new additions to the squad, which is headlined by reigning Wellman Medallist Sarah Szczykulski and superstar midcourter Casey Adamson.

Seymour’s A Grade coach Ellie Fuhrmeister said she was looking forward to challenging for the premiership again in 2024.

“We’ve got a fantastic bunch of girls who know what it takes to get the job done week in week out,” she said.

“To be able to keep Sarah and Casey in the squad is a great boost. They are a couple of the best netballers in country Victoria and provide the team with bucket loads of confidence.

“There’s plenty of experience in the squad and a huge amount of drive to make amends for a below-par finals series.

“If we keep our full squad on the court for most of the season, we’ll certainly be giving some of the top sides a run for their money.”

While the Lions have consistently featured at the pointy end of the A Grade season, Fuhrmeister said the club’s strength was in its depth.

“We’ve seen for a number of years consistent finals appearances across all our senior teams which is something we pride ourselves on,” she said.

“It’s a whole club effort throughout the course of our season, with players stepping in and out of different teams.

“While the A Grade squad is incredibly strong, we’ll be looking for opportunities to keep developing our younger players at a high level and building for a strong future.

“We’re all set to go for a big season and can’t wait for round one.”

Seymour’s A Grade Squad is Ellie Fuhrmeister, Rosie O’Sullivan, Sarah Szczykulski, Courtney Aldous, Ruby Martin, Ally Black, Jessica Lallo, and Casey Adamson.

Wallan’s Lennox embracing new expectations in 2024

The North Central Review

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January 30, 2024

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Wallan’s Lennox embracing new expectations in 2024

Wallan senior women’s premiership captain Kelly Lennox believes the benefits that have come out of the club’s triumph last year will help her side remain competitive in 2024.

In 2023, Lennox led the Magpies to a remarkable turnaround following a winless 2022 campaign, as they finished on top of the Northern Football Netball League’s division three ladder on their way to the club’s first ever premiership in the senior women’s competition.

It was also a brilliant year for her individually, as she picked up the competition best and fairest award as well as a second straight selection in the division three team of the year.

Reflecting on a season full of highlights, Lennox was grateful for the successes that came her way over the past 12 months, ranking the grand final win as a her most memorable experience.

“Looking back on everything that happened last year … I don’t think I could have 2023 over again but if I could, I would,” she said.

“Individual awards are great, but when you win a premiership with a team, it’s just something that everyone dreams of, and it sometimes just doesn’t happen over your career.”

The new piece of silverware has brought a bunch of benefits to the club’s women’s football program.

Not only has Wallan been able to retain the majority of the premiership winning squad, but it has also attracted new players both locally and from other clubs ahead of the 2024 season.

Lennox believes it will only add to the strong chemistry the team has built over the past 12 months.

“We’ve had a lot of interest, a lot of new girls have come down to the club and are doing some pre-season training,” she said.

“The connection of all the girls in the team has grown too, we’re all pretty much friends outside of the club, the bond there is really good and really strong, and I think everyone is just enjoying it.”

After playing all 16 games for Wallan last year, Lennox will also return to the playing field in 2024. She’s 12 matches away from playing 50 senior women’s games for the club.

The 48-year-old is confident she will again be able to lead her side this season.

“We’ll see how the body goes, I’m pretty sure I will [play], but I struggled at the end of last year, both my knees were absolutely cooked,” she said.

“I’ve had a pretty quiet off-season, just taking it easy. Hopefully the knee holds up and I’ll be right.”

While team nominations are still coming in for the upcoming campaign, Wallan could make an appearance in division two for the first time since their inaugural senior women’s season in 2021.

But it’s a challenge the Magpies star is embracing, as she believes the move to a higher grade will unlock even more potential for her side.

“We’re up for the challenge [of division two], I think we’re under no illusions that this year isn’t going to be easy on us, so I think we need to step up to another level, take that on board and just be competitive,” she said.

“I think it’ll be good for us [to play division two]. We’ll grow more as a team with the new people coming in and I think we’ll be competitive.

“We can do division two, we’ve done it before and we struggled, but it’s a different team now so I think we can go back there and give it another crack.”

With pre-season training ramping up ahead of the new campaign, Lennox tipped fellow 2023 division three team of the year member Kia Montgomery as one of the players to take her game to the next level this year.

Playing her first season of senior football in 2023, Montgomery kicked eight goals and played all 16 matches for the Magpies year.

“She was awesome in her first season last year and I think she really showed that she can play,” she said.

“She’s got very strong hands, she can go forward, she can go in the midfield, and I think she’ll go very good again this season.”

By Nicholas Sacco, for Northern Football Netball League.

Wallan author launches first book

Pam Kiriakidis

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January 30, 2024

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A Wallan resident has made the effort to publish a children’s book that reminds young people about finding their own ‘groove’ in life.

First-time author Karleigh Whyte merged her appreciation for dinosaurs and her childhood memories of dance to tell the story about a dinosaur named Dingley who tries to follow his dreams as a dancer but is challenged to find his own steps.

Ms Whyte, an educator at Hester Hornbrook Academy, said the heartfelt story showed young people there were ways of achieving their own goals.

“My hope for the book is that young people just enjoy it and follow their dreams and what they want to do,” she said.

“For me as an author, and being my first book, I always used to write stories as a little kid – I guess that I never really thought this could be possible or knew how this could be possible, and then now that it’s happened.

“It solidifies to me that young people can do what they put their mind to.”

The colourful, bold book, ‘Dingley The Dancing Dinosaur’ was first written ‘out of nowhere’ in 2018 and then left aside.

But when Ms Whyte saw the potential in her story a few years later, a friend recommended she complete an eight-week course at the Australian Writers’ Centre to help bring the dancing dinosaur to life.

After the course, Ms Whyte was signed with Little Steps Publishing and worked with the book’s illustrator Aleksandra Szmidt, who she said ‘nailed’ her vision of the story.

“Once my illustrator became available, she was really receptive to feedback, and I kind of allowed her to do what she does best, and took on her feedback,” she said.

Carrying out the book’s message in her community, Ms Whyte said she hoped to find her books in stores around Wallan, as well as community libraries where mothers and their little ones complete reading days.

Ms Whyte said writing a children’s book was a ‘dream come true’.

“It was always something that as a little kid I always used to just write stories through primary school and high school – any opportunity I had to let my imagination run wild and write stories was something that I really enjoyed,” she said.

“It was something that I thought I’d see if I could do and I got the opportunity to do it.”

People can purchase the book online at karleighwhyte.square.site, Little Steps Publishing, Booktopia or QBD Books.

New private hospital set to open at Epping

The North Central Review

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January 30, 2024

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New private hospital set to open at Epping

A new private hospital that is set to deliver medical and surgical services will open early next month at New Epping.

Northern Private Hospital will be operated under Ramsay Health Care, a global operator of private hospitals and primary care clinics with 74 Australian sites.

Located at 12 Osburn Place, on the corner of Osburn Place and Norwell Street in the Riverlee New Epping estate, patients will be able to access a range of specialities including general medicine, vascular, plastic surgery, cardiology, orthopaedics, ear nose and throat, general surgery, gynaecology, urology, oncology, haematology, and gastroenterology.

Delivering high quality health care, the private hospital will use advanced digital technology to provide better patient experience, such as personalised comfort and entertainment, digital patient tracking, analytics, and decision support.

Ramsay will open the hospital in two stages, with the first stage to be completed this year and the second stage anticipated to open in 2027.

The first stage of the $133-million private hospital includes 70 inpatient beds including four for high-dependency patients and six in the critical care unit.

Stage one also features a cardiac catheterisation laboratory, 10 oncology chairs, four state-of-the-art operating theatres, and a super-theatre featuring a hybrid and general theatre for flexibility of use.

The Northern Private Hospital is co-located with the existing public Northern Hospital with a linked bridge to connect the two facilities.

The site is set to open on February 5, 2024.

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Japanese delegation visits Mitchell Shire

The North Central Review

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January 30, 2024

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Japanese delegation visits Mitchell Shire

Families of Mitchell Shire welcomed another successful delegation from the sister city of Honbetsu earlier this month, with 13 students and three staff among the group visiting from Japan.

The group was welcomed at Tullamarine airport by committee members of the Mitchell-Honbetsu Sister City Association before attending a welcome party at Kilmore Library.

A formal introduction from Cr Rob Eldridge was followed by a presentation of a Mitchell-Honbetsu hat for each delegate to take home, as well as a bag filled with local information and gifts purchased within Mitchell Shire.

Gifts between Honbetsu Town Mayor Motohiro Sasaki and Mitchell Shire Mayor Louise Bannister were exchanged to commemorate the delegation and further strengthen the 32-year partnership between the two councils.

The original agreement signing took place in Kilmore Library’s John Taylor room in 1991, making the Mitchell-Honbetsu Sister City relationship one of the longest and most active in Victoria.

The short visit ended with a farewell party attended by delegates, homestay families, and committee members.

An Australian barbecue was prepared by the Wandong Heathcote-Junction Community Group and its volunteers, with dessert provided by The Wallan Ice Cream Van. A demonstration by Snake Safe Victoria also took place before presentations.

Mitchell-Honbetsu Sister City Association chairman Chris Garrett said the visit was a great experience for all involved.

“The committee would like to thank all of the local host families who welcomed the people of Honbetsu with open arms and volunteered their time,” he said.

“Thank you to all committee members of the Mitchell Honbetsu Sister City Association for their tireless work in coordinating this year’s delegation.

“We would also like to thank Cr Rob Eldridge for attending the welcome party, representing Mitchell Shire Council in an official capacity.

“Lastly, we would like to thank the local businesses and community groups for contributing to a successful delegation, including Bramble and Hedge Flavours of the Garden who donated a small gift for each delegate to take home.”

The committee hopes to visit Honbetsu in the near future with other local residents. The program is available to all residents of the Mitchell Shire.

For more information, visit the Mitchell-Honbetsu Sister City Association Facebook page or email mitchell.honbetsu@gmail.com.