BP Kilmore has temporarily closed its doors ahead of a major renovation.
The site closed on January 15 and is expected to reopen in about 12 months once renovations are complete.
All entrances have been closed off to the Sydney Street site, including the gravel carpark behind the store.
Other available BP sites nearby include BP Wallan outbound and inbound on the Hume Highway, as well as BP OPT Laffans Accident Repair Centre at 104 High Street, Wallan.
A focus on hearing from the City of Whittlesea’s diverse community has been embedded into council’s updated Community Engagement Policy 2023-2027.
Endorsed at the December council meeting, the policy is an update to the A Voice for All: Community Engagement Policy 2021.
The policy highlights council’s commitment to engagement as well as highlighting policy focus areas including further developing consultation practices with under-represented cohorts and continuing to evolve council’s journey towards more deliberative practices.
City of Whittlesea chair administrator Lydia Wilson said the updated policy would back the continued development of council’s community engagement ahead of the Local Government Act 2020 VIC.
“We are committed to providing genuine and meaningful community engagement and hearing from the voices of our community on projects, plans and activities that impact them,” she said.
“This policy provides the framework for us to grow and develop this important function of council.”
Ms Wilson said community engagement was crucial for good governance.
“Ensuring our community have the opportunity to have their say and that council considers this as part of its decision-making means that we can remain transparent and informed in the decisions we make on behalf of community,” she said.
“We are a diverse community, and we need to ensure that we are hearing from a diverse range of people from different age groups, different abilities and different cultural backgrounds to make sure our engagement is representative of our community.
“We also want to embed more deliberative practices which means ensuring people have the time and information they need to provide meaningful, in-depth feedback.”
The final policy was adopted following community consultation, which included community-based pop-ups at different locations including citizenship ceremonies, festivals and events, libraries and community centres and an online survey.
Consultation also took place with key stakeholder groups.
To view the Community Engagement Policy 2023-2027, visit www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au or engage.whittlesea.vic.gov.au.
Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell is encouraging members of organisations to apply for the Strengthening Rural Communities grant program.
The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal, FRRR, has been funded by the Federal Government to provide grants of up to $10,000 to help organisations across regional, rural and remote Australia boost communities.
Mr Birrell said the program was to help the work of regional and rural organisations and their members.
“Local organisations are the backbone of regional communities and consistently provide opportunities for people to come together whatever the event, sport, occasion or hobby they specialise in,” he said.
“From COVID to recent flood events our community groups continue to be disrupted leading to reduce numbers, limited fundraising opportunities as well as opportunities to organise community events and projects.
“These groups need to be supported to ensure they can bounce back to normal operation as well as remaining sustainable for the benefit of people living in regional and rural areas like Nicholls.
“These grants focus on a broad range of projects and include funds for volunteer support, events and activities, enhancing community spaces, and developing services to support local vulnerable people.”
Mr Birrell encouraged community groups to also look at other grant opportunities, which may be available through the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal.
Applications close at 5pm on February 26. .
Ambulance Victoria is urging the community to never leave children or elderly people in cars and take simple, preventative steps to beat the heat this summer.
Paramedics were called to more than 310 reports of people locked in cars in the past three months and a total of 1240 call outs from December 1, 2022, to November 30, 2023.
The temperature inside a vehicle can double and become deadly within minutes.
It is particularly dangerous for children to be left inside vehicles as a child’s body temperature can rise three to five times faster than an adult.
Ambulance Victoria operational communications executive director Danielle North said people should take steps to reduce the risk and be mindful during hot weather.
“Too often our paramedics are responding throughout the summer months to a child left inside a vehicle, which is incredibly dangerous,” she said.
“Last summer we thankfully saw a drop in cases, however, in spring this year paramedics responded to more cases of people locked in cars compared to the previous spring.”
High temperatures can also increase the risk of serious heat-related illnesses, such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Heat stroke is fatal in up to 80 per cent of cases yet entirely preventable. Most at risk are elderly people, young children and those with medical conditions.
“We don’t want complacency to set in, so we’re asking parents and carers to always take their children and elderly people with them whenever they get out of the car,” Ms North said.
“Stay hydrated by drinking water throughout the day, wear a hat and sunscreen, and avoid being outside during the hottest time of the day, if possible.”
Heat and heat-related illnesses can affect anybody, especially if people are not prepared or have not taken preventative action.
Triple zero is for emergencies and if people are feeling unwell, they can contact the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department, visit a Priority Primary Care Centre, call NURSE-ON-CALL on 1300 60 60 24, or see a doctor or pharmacist.
Regional Victorians are being urged to lookout for snakes and act quickly this summer.
Victoria’s snake season is usually between September and April, with sightings more common in summer months and in rural areas.
Ambulance Victoria emergency management director Justin Dunlop said paramedics have been responding to snake bite cases across Victoria this summer, and it was a timely reminder for people to act if they were a victim of a bite.
“There’s an increased risk of snakes during the warmer months, particularly in places such as bushland, farms and campgrounds,” he said.
“Most snakes in Victoria are venomous and a bite can be life-threatening.
“If someone is suspected to have suffered a snake bite, even if you’re not sure, you should call triple zero immediately.”
Snake bites may cause pain and swelling around the bite, or there may be a few signs left on the skin and can be easily confused with a scratch from a branch or twig.
Symptoms that snake venom is in your system may include dizziness, blurred vision, breathing difficulties, nausea, muscle weakness or paralysis.
“For conscious patients, keep them still and reassured while waiting for help and only move them if it is too unsafe to stay put,” Mr Dunlop said.
“Apply a pressure immobilisation bandage around the affected areas from the top to the bottom of the limb.”
The Federal Government will continue to provide small businesses with targeted support in 2024.
As small businesses continue to be affected by economic headwinds, the government is providing them with support to manage the challenges, and take advantage of the opportunities ahead of them, without adding to inflation.
The support includes:
Federal Member for McEwen Rob Mitchell applauded the support the government was providing small businesses in McEwen.
“Labor is delivering for small business, helping them to bounce back from challenges and improve their long-term resilience,” he said.
“We’re levelling the playing field for small business owners, and ensuring fairness is front and centre for 2024.”
Businesses can find more information about the supports and opportunities available to them at www.business.gov.au.
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The City of Whittlesea has endorsed three key strategies that are designed to set the blueprint for the municipality’s future.
The Connected Community Strategy 2023-2033, Liveable Neighbourhoods Strategy 2023-2033 and the Long-Term Community Infrastructure Plan were endorsed at the December council meeting.
Each document identifies priorities to enable liveable neighbourhoods and connected communities, such as providing community infrastructure, programs and services, and the planning design of places for people.
Community feedback gathered over several stages of consultation made its way into the final strategies, including capturing community priorities from last year and presenting the opportunity for residents to have their say on the draft documents.
Consultation also meant establishing a community focus group for more in-depth discussion and inviting key community stakeholder groups to provide feedback.
City of Whittlesea chair administrator Lydia Wilson thanked residents who made time for the consultation, especially the focus group participants who gathered for three sessions.
“It is vitally important that these strategic documents, which will guide council’s efforts over the next 10 years, are shaped by our community and reflect what’s most important to them,” she said.
“We were delighted with the level of interest from people sharing their priorities and providing feedback.”
Ms Wilson said the three strategies would accompany the Sustainable Environment, Strong Local Economy and High Performing Organisation strategies to complete a suite of documents created for each of the Whittlesea 2040 goals, designed to lead the municipality towards reaching the Whittlesea 2040 Vision of A Place for All.
“These strategies are the guides to take us into the next 10 years where we anticipate significant growth and change in our municipality,” she said.
“They will ensure we stay on the path towards what our community has told us is most important to them in the place where they live, work or play.”
To read the strategy documents, visit www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/plans or engage.whittlesea.vic.gov.au.
Assumption College Kilmore, ACK, will welcome its 27th principal as it begins its 132nd year.
Paul Finneran will take the reins of the historic school.
From Sligo, Ireland, Brother Andrew Somers was the first to be at the helm way back in 1893.
The long line of Marist ‘bosses’ lasted from the long-ago beginnings until 2006.
Without exception they were fine leaders and splendid educators and countless students across the decades owe them a great deal.
From 2006 until the end of 2023, the long line of Marists was succeeded by lay principals Michael Kenny and Kate Fogarty.
Mr Finneran comes to Assumption with a wealth of experience behind him.
His most recent posting was as principal of St Paul’s College at Greystanes, Parramatta, NSW, with 1200 students.
He has a Bachelor of Education, a Master of Religious Education and Master of Educational Leadership.
Best wishes to Paul as he takes up his new role. I’m sure he will be warmly welcomed by staff, students and families and the ACK Alumni.
Test cricket is the pinnacle of the sport. The names of it’s greatest players are timeless and immortal.
The legend of Victor Trumper from the sports golden age, 1890-1910, lives on more than a century after his death, tragically young. Half of Sydney’s population lined the streets as his funeral cortege passed by. Most had tears in their eyes.
Australia has played England since 1877. Ashes battles are at the peak of world sport rivalry.
When England comes to Australia the summer after next, crowds and interest will be massive.
It seems likely the English side will be younger, by quite a bit, than the Aussies under chief selector George Bailey unless he changes his approach and invests in some youth.
He is certainly not a bold selector, and many fans believe what he is doing to the game’s future in this country is a disservice.
I never thought roles would be reserved and we would be the ‘Dads Army’ and not the English.
The compelling book ‘Bush School’ by Peter O’Brien is a nostalgic read.
Published recently, it is a memoir and the people, places and events in the book are recounted from 60 years ago. It is the result of the author’s memory of a time long past and a difficult world.
In 1960, newly-minted teacher Peter O’Brien started work as the only teacher at a bush school in Weabonga, two days’ travel by train and mail car from Armidale.
There was a bed, a timber floor, thin tar paper on one side for privacy from the nearby road but nothing else. The flimsiest of ‘walls’, no pegs or nails to hang even a hat, no door, no rug for cold morning bare feet, no bookshelf for a voracious reader, no bedside cupboard for a lamp or a glass of water, no light source – just a bed and a suitcase for the next two years.
Peter was only 20 years old and had never before lived away from his home in Sydney.
He’d had some teaching experience, but nothing to prepare him for the monumental challenge of being solely responsible for the education of 18 students, ranging in age from five to 15 years old.
With few lesson plans, scant teaching materials, a wide range of curious minds and ages to prepare for, Peter was daunted by the enormity of the task ahead.
Because of Weabonga’s remoteness, the students were already at a disadvantage, but they were keen and receptive and had been blessed with an enthusiastic and committed teacher.
Indeed it was the children and their thirst for learning who kept Peter afloat during the early days of shockingly inadequate living conditions, a deficient diet and the terrible loneliness he felt being isolated so far from family, friends and his burgeoning romance.
‘Bush School’ is an engaging and fascinating memoir of how a young man rose to a challenge most would shrink from today.
It tells movingly of the resilience and spirit of children, the importance of learning and the transformative power of teaching.
Times have since changed, most of all the ‘bush’ schools have disappeared across Australia.
History tells us the children were well taught, responded well to discipline, made the best of little, and benefited from parents supporting teachers wholeheartedly, also students were taught to love Australia.
These elements are not nearly so prevalent today. It is very sad to note the decline of standards.
Received a beautiful card from Edna Daniher for Christmas.
Mother of Neale and 10 others, she lives still on the remote family farm in the north Riverina.
Husband Jim died a few years back and youngest son Chris looks after the farm.
A stoic lady of great faith, Edna is truly a product of the real Australia, which is slowly disappearing.
Among locals I briefly caught up with lately were long-time Kilmore residents Neville Jinnette and Kate Archer.
Neville is fighting bravely a health battle. He gave fine service for many years as the trainer for Kilmore Football Club and Assumption First XVIII – the type of volunteer thin on the ground today.
Kate Archer is a faithful servant of St Patrick’s Parish and friend to many. Glad to learn her daughter Mary, now in Geelong, is going well.
