Residents of Doreen and surrounds now have the opportunity to participate in the community consultation process for the Doreen Splash Park.
With $1.5 million in funding from the Federal Government through the Investing in Our Communities Program and the State Government’s commitment of $500,000 through the Better Parks and Playgrounds Program and the Community Support Fund, plans are underway for a modern play space.
The splash park will be situated at Hill Top Park in Doreen and will include a splash pad for water play, an all-ages playground and an early childhood play area.
Federal Member for McEwen Rob Mitchell and State Member for Yan Yean Lauren Kathage encouraged residents to contribute to the City of Whittlesea’s community consultations.
“This is your chance to have your say on what you would like included in the project,” Mr Mitchell said.
“We all know this is going to be an innovative and adventurous play space for the families of Doreen and beyond, and the more input we have from the community the better the outcome for all users.”
The council is developing a concept plan and is seeking feedback on the play spaces and water play concepts that residents would like to see included.
The concept plan includes upgraded public toilets, shelter and seating, drinking fountains, an extended car park, landscaping and new lighting.
“This is exactly the play space the community of Doreen need – a place for families to gather, celebrate and have fun without having to open their wallet. I know my kids will love it,” Ms Kathage said.
“Doreen continues to grow at a fast rate, it is a flourishing and young area that houses families and children, and recent statistics show 31 per cent of the population is under 16, and 23.7 per cent is under the age of 11.
“It needs innovative and accessible play spaces and the Doreen splash park will provide just that kind of space for its families and children.”
This Saturday’s Lancefield and District Farmers’ Market will offer a destination brimming with a diverse range of produce for the whole family.
Created with care by farming and food manufacturing family businesses from across the region, the market has recently expanded to accommodate up to 85 producers each month.
There is a huge selection of fresh produce; meats and seafood, cheese, eggs, nuts, honey, condiments, treats, beverages, regional wines, craft beer, skincare items, lots of plants; seedlings, herbs, natives, exotics, heritage fruits, plus live poultry, stockfeed and more.
Market manager Meggs Hannes said the market was this year celebrating 20 years of trading, but was always welcoming new stallholders.
This month’s market welcomes new producers Allenbee Fields – award winning preserves made in Tooboorac by Lee Butler; and Blue Eucy – high quality eucalyptus oil products grown and created in Inglewood by Richard and Jacob Jeney.
Pamela White, from Pyalong, also makes her market debut with vegetable seedlings and Martin’s Family Cherries are returning with their new season cherries and cherry icecream, produced on farm at Moama.
“While the market runs from 9am to 1pm, it is best to get in early for best selection from fresh produce vendors as the market has been very busy in recent months,” Ms Hannes said.
“If you are looking for great quality items that friends and family will love at Christmas time, this is also a great place to look.”
The market has a wide selection of market fare and locally-roasted coffee from Rafael’s Coffee and Waymaker Coffee is available.
A seated area is provided with shade, and Thermomix demonstrations are at 10am and 11am at the Lions Kiosk. There is also live music from artist Jarrod Shaw.
Community stalls this month are Lancefield Country Women’s Association; Lancefield Historical Society and Lancefield Football Club will be selling their history book; and the Country Fire Authority will provide information for fire season preparation behind the Lions Kiosk.
The market, an initiative of the Lancefield Neighbourhood House, is plastic bag free so people are encouraged to bring their own trolleys, baskets and bags.
Friendly dogs are welcome on a leash and there is free face-paint for children, provided by Pass-the-Parcel.
For market enquiries, call Meggs Hannes on 0493 452 757.
The fire danger period in the Mitchell Shire will begin at 1am on November 27.
Several other municipalities, including Macedon, Murrindindi and Strathbogie shires, will also enter the fire danger period on the same date.
The City of Whittlesea will commence fire restrictions at 1am on December 4.
The El Niño weather pattern means Victorians can expect a hotter and drier summer than in recent years, and the Country Fire Authority, CFA, advised that communities prepare their properties and create a bushfire survival plan.
CFA north east deputy chief officer Ross Sullivan said towns and districts across the region were experiencing grass dry out significantly, with vegetation now presenting as a yellow colour, indicating an increased fire risk to communities.
“As we head into summer, fuel loads are becoming greater, so we are asking residents to take this opportunity ahead of the restrictions to clean up their properties,” Mr Sullivan said.
“All it takes is some basic maintenance such as clearing your gutters, picking up loose leaves and twigs, pruning tree branches so they aren’t overhanging the roof of your property, or even just keeping your lawn under 10 centimetres tall.
“We are also urging landowners to conduct safe private burn-offs where possible and to register them online in advance.”
While the CFA is poised to respond and support communities this bushfire season, fire brigade members are urging people to use common sense and take responsibility for preventing fires.
People conducting burn-offs must notify authorities online at the Fire Permits Victoria website at www.firepermits.vic.gov.au, or by calling 1800 668 511.
Registering burn-offs online allows emergency call-takers to allocate more of their time taking calls from people who need emergency assistance immediately.
No burning-off is permitted during the fire danger period without a permit to burn, which can be applied for through the Fire Permits Victoria website.
There are strict conditions attached to the permits and the liability sits with the permit holder to ensure they always act safely.
To find out what can and can’t be done during the fire danger period, visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au/can or by calling VicEmergency on 1800 226 226.
Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland is encouraging support groups to apply for newly available Disability Self-Help Grants of up to $7000.
The grants provide an opportunity to strengthen and enhance the social and emotional connection for both people living with a disability and their carers.
The funding boost has wide parameters and will allow support groups to deliver meaningful and enriching experiences for their members, including assisting with administration costs, communications, and activities that strengthen the operation of the group.
Groups in regional and remote Victoria will also be considered as a priority for the first round of funding.
“The broad criteria ensures applicants have access to funding that can cater to their support group’s unique needs,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Whether you need to purchase digital equipment to support virtual access, need assistance with the costs of catering at gatherings, or you’re looking to secure a guest speaker at an event, these grants will be able to help.
“The grant can also be used to hire support workers and interpreters to deliver successful and inclusive peer support activities for the participants and their carers.”
Ms Cleeland said support groups across the electorate were ensuring some of the region’s most vulnerable people were well looked after, engaged socially, and participating within their community.
“Our local groups are so important when it comes to reducing the feeling of isolation for people living with a disability and those who support them,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Social connection improves health outcomes which is both good for the individual and good for the community.”
Ms Cleeland said she would be happy to assist with any applications, encouraging groups to contact her at Annabelle.cleeland@parliament.vic.gov.au or by calling 5762 1600.
Further information on the grants can be found by visiting providers.dffh.vic.gov.au/disability-self-help-grants-program. Applications close on December 14.
A new book exploring the best pubs across Victoria also delves into the family history of author Paul Chai – some of which centres on Seymour.
Chai’s grandparents lived in Seymour, and he spent many holidays there during his childhood.
Despite admitting to having ‘loved to hate Seymour’ because it was too far from the big city of Melbourne, Chai details how he now appreciates the region, particularly new additions to the food and wine industry.
While the Nagambie Brewery and Distillery, Mitchelton Winery and Avenel’s Bank Street Wood Fired Pizza and Gardens are all glowingly mentioned, Chai also details stories of his childhood and links to his grandparents.
“But you travel to a place long enough and you get to know it intimately,” the book reads.
“You discover hidden duckboard walks behind the Seymour Football Club where my grandfather used to run a hamburger stand, you accidentally hook a platypus and let it go while fishing on a bucolic bend of the Goulburn River, and you watch your own kids turn the metal dials and handles on the old, retired black steam train you used play on as a child while your grandparents watched.
“You discover that inside the Seymour Railway Station are some of the oldest hand signals on the entire rail network that are over 150 years old and still in operation.
“You find out Seymour is kind of interesting.”
But one of the best stories about Chai’s grandparents has nothing to do with road trips or pubs – it is about his grandfather who used to be a train driver.
“My grandfather had a very unique claim to fame as a train driver, a profession not known for its excitement,” the book reads.
“On one of his shifts his train hit and killed a rogue elephant in the outer suburbs of Melbourne.
“Topsy the elephant had escaped from the local circus after a small dog had nipped at her heels and she had stumbled onto the railway line as my grandfather’s train headed in town.
“He was saddened by the event of course but it earnt him a fair degree of notoriety.”
Little gems of stories are dotted throughout the book, as well as plenty of research, local knowledge garnered through interviews with key people within the local hospitality industry and general observations of buildings, menus and wine lists.
Whether looking to sample a mouth-watering pub lunch with a group of friends, checking out a great band, or hiding quietly in a nook with your phone and a pint, there are venues of all shapes and sizes detailed in the book.
Chai takes readers on the road to check out some of the best pubs in Victoria, from the Victorian high country to the wine regions, and a pub where people can pull up by boat.
Chai said a great pub fits its location like a glove: it attracts local people, reflects local producers on the menu and taps into, and feels part of, the fabric of the neighbourhood.
The book description is: “A great pub will have warmth, intimacy and be welcoming to all, including kids.
“There are quirky locals, sprawling country beer barns and the odd crafts brewery.
“Some you stay at, some you drink at and some you catch a band at, but all of them are embedded in their local communities, so Paul celebrates the alpine hikes, the winery tours and the wildlife treks that surround them.”
The book will inspire people to hit the road for the perfect pint, the longest of lunches and the comfiest couches – all to enjoy the best pubs in Victoria.
‘Road Trips to the Best Pubs in Victoria’ is published by New Holland Publishers and retails for $24.99. It is available from all good bookstores or www.newhollandpublishers.com.
Second Chance Animal Rescue was a successful recipient of the third round of the State Government’s Pet Desexing and Equine Rehabilitation grants.
The organisation was granted $75,000 in the latest round and aim to present a series of free ‘desexathon’ days, with a goal of desexing 340 cats.
The new round of grants includes $5000 to support councils and not-for-profits to deliver free or low-cost desexing programs for cats and dogs, as well as $330,000 to organisations that rescue and rehome horses.
Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence, who visited Second Chance Animal Rescue in Craigieburn to announce the grants earlier this month, opened applications for round 11 of the program – providing grants of up to $200,000 to help animal shelters, community foster care networks, expand or upgrade their equipment or services.
Eligible organisations can now apply for funding for projects that support companion animals such as rabbits, caged birds and ‘pocket pets’, in addition to cats and dogs.
Ms Spence said the grants would enhance animal welfare and keep essential services accessible to all Victorians.
“These grants will alleviate the pressure on animal shelters while ensuring our companion animals and owners have access to affordable services,” she said.
Applications for round 11 of grants are open until December 9.
The North Central Review won two awards at the Victorian Country Press Association awards on Friday night.
General manager/ editor Lauren Duffy, journalist Max Davies and former journalist Colin MacGillivray won best news story in the circulation over 6000 category for their coverage of floods in the Mitchell Shire in October, 2022.
Mr MacGillivray also won an award for best photo study, over 6000 category, for his photographs of Kilmore wrestler Mitch Waterman.
See the full report and the photograph series here.
The awards night celebrated the best work by regional Victorian newspapers across journalism, photography, advertising and newspaper excellence.
Ms Duffy, who attended the awards ceremony at Melburne’s RACV Club, said she was thrilled the Review’s work was judged among the state’s best.
“To be recognised in the over 6000 circulation category competing against some major regional newspapers is a fantastic achievement for our small team,” she said.
“The floods in October last year were a major news event, especially for Seymour, and we tried our best to provide our communities with up-to-date information via our website and social media, as well as through our print edition.”
The Review‘s flood coverage for which it won the news award for:
A deafening roar greeted Seymour men during the Country Basketball League Mitchell Shire clash at Wallan on Saturday evening, with the Blasters returning up the Hume Freeway with the win.
Full stands of cheering supporters and fans sitting along the baseline smacking pool noodles on the hardwood floor matched the high energy on court from the moment warm-ups began.
Seymour didn’t miss from the three-point line in the opening quarter, shooting with incredible accuracy.
Down the other end, an impressive ‘ankle-breaker’ – a dribbling move with the ball that causes a defender to either lose balance or fall to the court – with a three-pointer finish by Wallan sent the Panthers crowd wild.
The move helped create momentum but the Blasters’ strong shooting had them leading at the end of the quarter, 23 to 19.
Wallan found its range in the second quarter, sinking three-pointers to bring the game to within two points and prompting a Seymour timeout.
Damon Anderson’s three-pointer put the Panthers ahead for the first time with just over three minutes remaining in the quarter.
The scoreboard continued seesawing before Wallan secured a five-point lead heading into halftime.
Seymour’s Eden Hobbs lifted in the third quarter and was a huge asset on court at both ends, securing rebounds and making crucial baskets.
Blasters captain Jack Murphy led from the front with two clutch three-pointers bringing the visitors within two points, before a steal and layup finish by Hobbs tied the game.
The physicality amped up the third quarter with some hard fouls and bodies hitting the floor.
The scoreboard continued changing the lead with every basket critical to the result as spectators became louder, matching the passion and intensity on court.
A free-throw from Murphy tied the game before Hobbs scored another steal and finished with a reverse layup to put the Blasters ahead once again before the quarter ended. Seymour led 67 to 65 at three-quarter time.
Tensions continued rising on court in the final quarter with words exchanged between players, fouls getting harder and the umpires chiming in – the neighborhood rivalry was alive and obvious.
With just under five minutes remaining, Wallan’s Lachlan Lombardo was carried off with an injury before a hard foul on Wallan’s Luke Liesegang further escalated tension.
The Blasters got their fifth team foul with just over two minutes remaining and with the game so close, every movecounted.
A foul by Seymour’s William Stewart sent Wallan’s Luke Cairns to the free throw line, where he made both, and put the home side back within reach.
But the Blasters hung on, winning 87 to 83.
Murphy was leading scorer for the match with 25 points followed by Hobbs with 21.
Keenan Gorski was reliable at both ends of the court for the Blasters, playing intense defence while lighting up the offensive end with his jump-shot accuracy.
Liesegang was a strong presence under the ring for the Panthers with 15 points, while Ryan Philippe had 14.
Murphy said the win came for an undermanned Blasters side.
“We went into the clash undermanned, missing four of our key guys through injury, so we were willing to rotate quickly through the bench to keep some fresh legs,” he said.
“Coming in as underdogs and losing a few of our guys before the tip-off wasn’t ideal, but we shuffled our offence around to try find some more score power.
“Eden [Hobbs] and Wally [Stewart] were fantastic on the night, both contributing on both ends of the floor.
“We were rapt to see Wally get his chance and make it count.”
Murphy said blocking out the noise of the crowd was a huge focus.
“We knew there would be a little bit of extra carry-on throughout the match,” he said.
“We made a big focus of zoning out their crowd. They pack out the stadium and make it really difficult for opposition sides.
“Credit to their supporters for showing out in great numbers to create a hostile environment.
“We have three home games in a row to finish, which is awesome. We have only played two games at home this season so to get some games in front of our own fans will be nice.”
It’s a double-header weekend for both sides, with Seymour hosting Shepparton on Saturday and Mansfield on Sunday at home.
Meanwhile, Wallan will host Wodonga on Saturday before the Panthers head to Myrtleford on Sunday.
