Football clubs receive TAC funding

-

November 7, 2023

Victorian football and netball clubs – including at Wallan, Lancefield and Broadford – will share in more than $600,000 rewarding efforts in campaigning to eliminate road trauma in their communities.

The Transport Accident Commission, TAC, Club Rewards Program gives grassroots football and netball clubs the opportunity to earn a share in the funding by participating in a campaign to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on the road.

All AFL Victoria-aligned clubs across regional Victoria and metropolitan leagues could apply and earn up to $10,000 in funding by promoting road safety in their community with distracted driving a key focus this year.

Delivered in partnership with AFL Victoria, 251 clubs will receive up to $10,000 – the highest number of recipients in the program’s five years.

Wallan Football Netball Club and Wallan Junior Football Club, WJFC, were two of the grant recipients.

WJFC child safety and player welfare officer Michelle Gussenhoven said the club wanted to go beyond the TAC round hosted by majority of the clubs each year.

“Most of the time we have the coaches before the games just have a chat about the importance of road safety and we all wear the TAC armbands. This year we wanted to take it that step further,” she said.

“We have many players that are ‘L’ or ‘P’ platers driving to and from games and training around our younger players running around our club carparks.

“So we wanted to promote the importance of safe driving around our ovals – to watch out for young ones that are still learning road safety and our parents or guardians to be patient with our new drivers. Also the importance of not distracting your driver.”

Leading up to the TAC round, clubs must meet the criteria including placing posters around the club, posting TAC provided material on social media, and having honest and open conversations with club members.

All efforts are then submitted for evaluation to the TAC program and for its work, WJFC received $6800.

“This is massive for a small, out of Melbourne junior club,” Ms Gussenhoven said.

“This will go a long way to continue to promote safe driving with our new player drivers through preparations but also help with general club items [like] new footballs.

“I encourage all to get involved in the TAC round but also continue promoting it all year round.”

Broadford Football Netball Club and Lancefield Junior Football Netball Club were also listed as grant recipients.

Minister for Road and Road Safety Melissa Horne said the clubs were important channels for the campaign.

“Victoria’s grassroots football land netball clubs are influential in their communities, so it is wonderful to be able to incentivise them to roll out critical initiatives that promote safer driving,” she said.

So far this year 236 people have died on Victoria’s roads and more than half of the deaths have happened in regional areas, with distracted driving one of the major causes of fatal and serious injury crashed on Victoria’s roads.

TAC chief executive Tracey Slatter said all clubs rewarded should be proud of their efforts.

“Road trauma has a significant ripple effect and there’s no denying the power of peer-to-peer support and education at sporting club level,” she said.

“These clubs should be proud of their efforts to create a culture that priorities road safety.”

Pitch upgrade at Broadford Secondary College oval

The North Central Review

-

November 7, 2023

0

Pitch upgrade at Broadford Secondary College oval

An upgrade of Broadford Secondary College’s synthetic cricket pitch will help cater for the growing number of cricketers in the town.

Broadford Cricket Club, which has three senior and three junior teams and a Woolworths Blast program, uses the college oval for training and matches.

Due to the club’s growth, the oval is required more often and for longer periods.

The old synthetic centre wicket was non-complaint, sat low in the ground and both the pitch and bowlers’ run-ups retained water during rainfall.

Thanks to $10,000 from Cricket Victoria’s Australian Cricket Infrastructure Fund and $30,000 from Mitchell Shire Council, the club now has a new future-ready facility.

The project included removal of the old synthetic pitch and concrete base, replaced with a new synthetic wicket, base and junior line markings. The surrounding areas have also been re-turfed.

The upgrade works will help better service the increasing demand for junior cricket and improve playing conditions.

Mitchell Shire Mayor Fiona Stevens said sport was an important part of the shire and a growing population was placing demand on sporting facilities.

“This project is a fantastic outcome for current and future cricketers, and I know it will be well utilised,” she said.

“I want to thank Cricket Victoria, Broadford Secondary College and Broadford Cricket Club for their support to make this project a reality.

“Partnerships like this are key to providing for our current residents and those who will call Mitchell Shire home in the future.”

Questions raised in the Macedon Ranges over delay in fixing roads

Max Davies

-

November 7, 2023

0

Questions raised in the Macedon Ranges over delay in fixing roads

Featured series by Max Davies

Lancefield and Romsey in the Macedon Ranges Shire have both suffered from a lack of funding, leaving roads with semi-permanent reduced speed limits.

The Kilmore-Lancefield Road, managed by the Department of Transport and Planning, DTP, has had reduced speed limits to combat the issue.

A stretch of four kilometres has been reduced from 100 kilometres an hour to 60km/h as far as four kilometres east of the Lancefield township for almost two years, with the previous temporary signs recently upgraded to fixed signs signalling the new required speed.

The road, however, has remained largely in the exact same condition as when it was first damaged as long ago as June 2021.

Victorian Farmers Federation president Emma Germano said urgent action on the state’s road network was needed.

“We need actual dollars in the budget over the next four years to give road managers certainty, which is needed to properly plan and deliver maintenance and repairs,” she said.

“Dedicated funding for local government to repair road networks damaged in the 2022 floods must be a priority as well as reintroducing the Fixing Country Roads program to help local government are responsible for most of the state’s road network.”

Kilmore Lancefield Road — The speed limit on a four-kilometre stretch of Kilmore-Lancefield Road has been reduced from 100km/h to 60km/h for almost two years with no major repairs.

The Fixing Country Roads Program was a State Government initiative that provided $100 million in grants to rural and regional councils to undertake projects on council-owned roads beyond regular road maintenance throughout 2019 and 2020.

Under the program, State Government funding was provided over two rounds to the Macedon Ranges Shire Council for multiple projects, including the Romsey Road reconstruction that was completed in two parts during the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 financial years.

“Road maintenance funding just keeps going backwards, so it’s no wonder why our roads keep going from bad to worse,” Ms Germano said.

Further south, sections of the Melbourne-Lancefield Road, managed by DTP, have also had their speed limits reduced – a cause of concern for Romsey’s Cassy Borthwick.

“In our household we’ve got an L-plater whose responsibility is to go the speed limit, yet when somebody goes through the speed limits, they tailgate and it’s just not safe,” she said.

“The question to me is, who’s to blame for the condition of our roads? And whoever it is, get on with it and fix it.”

Ms Borthwick also said the safety barriers installed along the road created issues for crossing wildlife, adding to the potential risks of driving on poorly maintained roads.

“I think there needs to be a maintenance schedule that’s upheld by the responsible bodies, … Romsey’s about to undertake a whole lot of growth, which is going to mean additional traffic and additional road usage because we just don’t have public transport,” she said.

“While there has been some effort to [improve] that, there are certainly parts of the shire that need more attention, but the funds aren’t there.”

Seymour’s roads in ‘dire straits’

Goulburn River Trail parkrun sets off at Seymour

Max Davies

-

November 7, 2023

0

Goulburn River Trail parkrun sets off at Seymour

Seymour’s first-ever parkrun event went off without a hitch on October 28 and is set to become a Saturday morning staple of the region.

The inaugural Goulburn River Trail parkrun attracted more than 100 participants, some of whom chose to run for a competitive time while others enjoyed the scenery while haing a chat with friends.

Race director Peter Nunn said the event’s launch was encouraging and hoped the word would spread.

“We had a really strong turn-out for the inaugural event and there were a lot of comments saying that it was a beautiful and fantastic place for a parkrun,” he said.

“We hope many will return as the word keeps getting spread out, so overall it was a very good response from the first one.”

Beginning at 8am every Saturday at Lions Park, the event takes participants on a five-kilometre loop along the Goulburn River Trail – with the weekend’s fastest runner completing the course in a time of 16 minutes and 10 seconds.

The Seymour event now joins the Kilmore Racecourse Walking Track parkrun, which opened in June this year, as the two Mitchell Shire-based parkruns.

“There would have been probably 30 people who just simply went for a stroll and had a chit chat, catching up on news or just walking and talking, so it’s for all ages for people to do at their own discretion,” Mr Nunn said.

Goulburn River Trail parkrun organisers are now looking to the future as they target the first milestone of 25 events, as well as create a strong group of regular participants from across the Seymour region.

.

For more information, visit parkrun.com.au or the Goulburn River Trail parkrun Facebook page at .

parkrun 2 — The Goulburn River Trail parkrun will run every Saturday from 8am.

New books for Edgars Creek Primary School

Max Davies

-

November 7, 2023

0

New books for Edgars Creek Primary School

By Max Davies

Students at Edgar’s Creek Primary School at Wollert were last week treated to a visit from Australian author Gabrielle Wang as part of a grant from the Australian Children’s Laureate Foundation, ACLF.

The ACLF provided a grant of $10,000 to the school, which will be used to buy culturally-diverse books for the school’s library as well as hosting Ms Wang for a series of interactive workshops.

Ms Wang, a children’s author and illustrator from Melbourne, is the current Australian Children’s laureate and has been travelling to numerous schools across Australia to host workshops to promote her chosen theme of ‘Imagine a Story’.

The Laureate is appointed on a biennial basis and serves to promote the transformative power of reading, creativity and storytelling in young peoples’ lives.

“I love it. It’s a joy to know that your books have been borrowed from the libraries,” Ms Wang said.

“The more kids that read, the better, and as an author, that’s what you write for. First of all, you write for yourself, but then you write for the children.”

Edgars Creek 1 — Children’s author and illustrator Gabrielle Wang hears answers from grade two and three students at Edgar’s Creek Primary School.

Ms Wang is the ACLF’s seventh laureate and her time in the role has included opening two libraries at new schools, all while promoting her ideas of imagination in storytelling.

Through two sessions at Edgars Creek Primary School, students were encouraged to share their sources of inspiration and were shown how to draw a character from one of Ms Wang’s stories.

“The kids were fantastic, especially when I asked them where they get ideas for stories from. Their responses were exceptional,” she said.

“Sometimes it’s just the ordinary ‘from your head’ or ‘from stories’, but the kids’ answers were really so diverse, and I was very, very impressed.

“I just think it’s fantastic that we have the opportunity to host this sort of event, and it’s really good to promote the [ACLF] to promote reading and the love of reading.”

Assistant principal Matthew Dunstone said the school was thankful to have received the grant to support students’ reading.

“As a new school, we’re always looking at building our resources to support our learning programs and to receive a grant like this supports us no end,” he said.

“It’s a great opportunity for the students to hear from a professional author and it broadens their horizons so they have access to different kinds of resources, different inspirations for their own writing and reading.”

The school also hosted guests from Lendlease, Bendigo Bank and the ACLF on Friday to officially present the new books.

Mulholland hosts duck hunting forum

Jordyn Grubisic

-

November 7, 2023

0

Liberal Member for Northern Metropolitan Region Evan Mulholland hosted a forum for more than 400 attendees trying to keep ducks on the table in the face of a potential duck hunting ban.

Nationals Victorian deputy leader Emma Kealy, Nationals Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland, Liberal Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell and representatives from Field and Game Australia also attended the event.

“These great Victorians told me about how duck hunting is a significant family activity, passed on from generation to generation, and it would be heartbreaking if it were lost,” Mr Mulholland said.

“The adaptive harvest model, as recommended by the Liberals and Nationals in our dissenting report, provides for a sustainable duck hunting season that is backed by ecologists and the science.”

Ms Cleeland said the forum was a great opportunity to express the feelings that many in her community had shared, with the overwhelming majority reaching out against the proposed ban.

“I received hundreds of emails during the inquiry into duck hunting and it was clear the commitment that these hunters have to upholding sustainable and ethical principles,” she said.

“Many of my constituents also take exception at the lack of understanding and falsehoods that the Labor government continues to pedal.

“Recreational hunting is a legitimate and disciplined pastime enjoyed by many country people – participants can be young, old, tradies, professionals, men and women and their negative portrayal for the sake of politics is unjust.

“Duck hunting remains a well-regulated past time and with the science and waterfowl surveys continuing to show evidence of healthy populations, it remains sustainable.

“In my experience, recreational duck hunters explicitly care for our natural environment and participate in volunteer habitat restoration works including tree planting and weeds and pest control.

“Respecting wildlife and participating in duck hunting do not need to be mutual exclusive ideals.”

Mr Mulholland said the seat of Yan Yean had 2252 licensed hunters while Macedon and Kalkallo had 2348 and 1035 licensed hunters respectively.

“Our message to the Labor party is clear – we will fight every day to stop a ducking hunting ban and make sure there are political consequences at the 2026 election for Labor MPs who back in this decision,” he said.

“It’s time for local Labor MPs Lauren Kathage, Ros Spence and Mary-Anne Thomas to declare where they stand on duck hunting.”

Member for Kalkallo Ros Spence said a select committee had been established to examine recreational native bird hunting.

“All Victorians had the opportunity to make their views known as part of this inquiry, and I encouraged local residents to participate in this process. The committee received more than 10,000 submissions,” she said.

“The final report of the committee was released on August 31 making a number of recommendations.

‘The Victorian Government will respond to the report once it has been considered in detail.”

Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas said she thanked the committee for its work on the inquiry and the government was ‘thoroughly considering the report, its recommendations and will respond in due course’.

Whittlesea community bonds over sport program

The North Central Review

-

November 7, 2023

0

Whittlesea community bonds over sport program

Three generations of the Whittlesea community made meaningful connections over mini-Olympics at the last session of an intergenerational program on Thursday.

Over four weeks, Whittlesea Secondary College students, Sparkways Whittlesea and Early Learning Centre and TLC Aged Care Sunlight residents came together at the aged care in Whittlesea, bonding through activities including music, arts and craft and banner making for the mini-Olympics.

A few residents at the aged care were cheering on the students with their kindergarten buddies during the mini-Olympics, while some participants stepped up and bowled in the ten-pin bowling and participated in the egg and spoon race for their team.

The project was initiated through Whittlesea Secondary College’s community engagement and partnerships project, where students from years seven to 11 work on several projects throughout the year that support the wider community.

Whittlesea Secondary College had already formed relationships with Sparkways Early Learning Whittlesea integrated kindergarten in a six-week program prior to the intergenerational program, and then included the aged care to enhance connections.

The college’s leading teacher community engagement and partnerships Kristen Jean said the intergenerational program was an amazing initiative that they had not experienced before.

“I think genuine friendships have been formed, kinder kids, the relationships that the older teenagers have developed with residents – being the glue between the two generations has been amazing,” she said.

“It’s building genuine connections and bridging that gap. It has proven benefits – we noticed that the residents were really excited and started to be really uplifted, they felt like there was a real energy.”

TLC Aged Care Sunlight resident participating in the ten-pin bowling at the aged care in Whittlesea on Thursday.

TLC Aged Care Sunlight wellbeing coordinator Angela Kleehammer said residents had thoroughly engaged with the younger generations.

“They love having that connection with the younger generation and socialisation and just a community connection for them is really important,” she said.

“It is important because not everyone has that opportunity to connect with a younger generation, maybe their families live away, so this gives them that opportunity within the home to have that time with them and engage.”

Kindergarten teacher Lauren Haynes said the three to five-year-olds were excited to get out and about with older people.

“It’s been amazing, our kids talk about it, all the parents comment and they’re like ‘all they do is talk about it the rest of the night and can’t wait until next week’,” she said.

“It’s just learning to be around different aged people. You get stuck in your own little friendship groups, so just getting used to the older kids.”

Funding secured for second stage of Macedon Ranges precinct

The North Central Review

-

November 7, 2023

0

Funding secured for second stage of Macedon Ranges precinct

A second stage of the Macedon Ranges Regional Sports Precinct has been secured through confirmation of a 2021 election funding commitment.

Following construction starting last year and builder Monaco Hickey taking on the works in June 2023 following the liquidation of the original building company, the first stage is progressing well.

A three-court sports hub, natural turf oval and sports pavilion, passive recreation facilities, landscaping and associated infrastructure forms stage one of the project, and is on track for completion by May, 2024.

A $15 million investment from the Federal Government, alongside $2 million from Macedon Ranges Shire council, will expand on the first stage to include the extension of the sports hub with three more multi-sport courts, more amenities, a second AFL/cricket oval, two outdoor sports courts, more car parking and landscaping.

Sports precinct 2 — Federal Member for McEwen Rob Mitchell, left, Federal Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories Kristy McBain, Macedon Ranges Shire Council Mayor Annette Death and Macedon Ranges Shire Council chief executive Bernie O’Sullivan.

Mayor Annette Death welcomed confirmation of the stage two funding, which would unlock further benefits for user groups and the community.

“These new, modern facilities will ultimately mean that more people can actively participate in the sports and recreational activities that they enjoy, both now and for generations to come,” she said.

“I’d like to thank the Australian Government for its support to make the next stage a reality, and I’d also like to thank all our other funding contributors – including the Victorian Government, Melbourne Water and AFL Victoria – for helping us to get the first stage off the ground.”

The $27.5 million first stage – a revised costing from April 2023 – includes funding contributions from council, $14.8 million from the State Government, $343,200 from Melbourne Water and $100,000 from AFL Victoria.

The council-managed precinct will open to the public with limited use following the completion of stage one works.

The revised stage two of the precinct is currently being tendered out for detailed design and documentation, with construction targeted to start in late 2024 or early 2025.

Sports precinct 3 — Attendees tour the inside of the new sports hub under construction.

Council is continuing to advocate for $8 million of funding needed to secure a third stage of works, which would include other upgrades within the precinct’s master plan such as retractable seating in stadiums, a sports pavilion extension and cricket nets.

“The funding we have will still result in a variety of excellent facilities for the community, but a third stage would mean getting the most out of the space and expanding what is on offer,” Cr Death said.

Community exchange program to support Macedon Ranges residents

The North Central Review

-

November 7, 2023

0

Community exchange program to support Macedon Ranges residents

Lancefield Neighbourhood House is among many in the region gearing up for the re-launch of Macedon Ranges Community Exchange, aiming to encourage the community to share their resources, skills and knowledge with one another.

The Community Exchange System provides people the opportunity to ‘trade’ their goods and services without conventional money.

Facilitator Samantha Wittenberg described the system as a ‘vibrant village level person-to-person economy’.

“We all have passions, resources, skills, services, knowledge and opportunities that we can share with others. And we all have things we need,” she said.

“When we get together with the intention to strengthen our community, we make visible the invisible gifts of everyone.”

The Offers and Needs Workshops bring people together to explore what people can offer with their time, skills and resources, and discover what other people are offering.

The two-hour workshops will be a guided process where people meet to identify and exchange passions, knowledge, skills, resources, opportunities, and needs.

From finding a place to live, to sharing a recipe, or engaging a professional service or a tutor, organisers said the opportunities were endless.

Following the workshops, organisers will host a market where people can bring along items to trade or let people know about the things they have on offer.

“Several years ago, in a meeting of the coordinators of the Macedon Ranges neighbourhood houses, we all agreed that reviving the Community Exchange was probably the single most important thing we could do for our communities,” Lancefield Neighbourhood House coordinator Vivien Philpotts said.

“Technology let us down when we first started the MRCE in 2012 but this is now all updated and it is fabulous to have the opportunity to work with Leanganook Exchange and have Samantha’s experience to start the offers and needs workshops.”

The workshops are on Saturday, at Woodend Neighbourhood House, and Sunday, at Castlemaine Community Centre. A gold coin donation is required for entry.

For more information and bookings, visit mrce.net.au or call 0490 501 671.

Community sharing to support residents

The North Central Review

-

November 7, 2023

0