Broadford’s Salvation Army Thrift Shop re-opens

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October 17, 2023

Broadford’s Salvation Army Thrift Shop re-opens

Salvation Army branches in the Mitchell Shire have faced many changes in the past year but are reminding the community they are committed to supporting them through hardship.

At the start of the year, Salvation Army branches in Broadford and Seymour came together under the new banner of ‘Mitchell Shire Salvos’.

Broadford’s already-established Thrift Store has recently undergone changes including a move to a different building and is now co-located with the Salvation Army Church on the corner of Powlett and Gavan streets.

Mitchell Shire Salvation Army corps officer Lauren Kirkham said all funds raised through the thrift shops in Seymour and Broadford would continue to go back into the community.

“We have heard from the local community that the thrift shop is important to them,” she said.

“Thrift shops provide an opportunity for social connection, recycling and vital fundraising for supporting those doing it tough.

“The local Salvos are grateful for the continuing support of the community as we do what we can to share the love of Jesus with those who need it most.”

To continue to provide support to the community, the Salvation Army is calling for community members to volunteer or support their local Salvation Army in any way they can.

“We’re so grateful to the local community who have always rallied together and supported the Salvos year after year,” Ms Kirkham said.

“We cannot do what we do without you. If you have the means, please consider becoming a volunteer or supporting our work by shopping at our thrift shop.

“Your generosity and support will help us to show the community there is good in the world and a reason to hope.”

For more information on volunteering in the Mitchell Shire area, people can contact 5735 8421.

For more information, people can visit the Mitchell Shire Salvos Facebook page or email mitchellshiresalvos@salvationarmy.org.au.

Nature strip gardens now allowed in City of Whittlesea

Grace Frost

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October 17, 2023

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Nature strip gardens now allowed in City of Whittlesea

THE CITY of Whittlesea’s new Nature Strip Garden Guidelines will allow residents to explore options for creating sustainable nature strip gardens.

Under the guidelines – which outline what modifications can be made to nature strips while ensuring clear pathways for movement – residents can apply to plant edible crops in removable planter boxes, providing opportunity to grow their own produce, as well as adding plants and shrubs up to height of 90 centimetres.

The changes will provide more variety of plants, helping to create vibrant and diverse neighbourhoods.

Chair administrator Lydia Wilson encouraged residents to explore the new guidelines and learn how to modify the nature strip adjacent to their properties.

“At the City of Whittlesea, we are committed to creating spaces that not only contribute to our beautiful city but also enrich our lives,” she said.

“These new guidelines reflect our community’s desire to shape the look and feel of their surroundings, while highlighting our commitment to sustainability and safety.”

Ms Wilson said the guidelines would help add to the appeal of the neighbourhoods and offered opportunities for people to connect with neighbours over urban gardening.

“We thank the community for their input in developing the guidelines. We’re excited to see the changes our residents will make to nature strips and the benefits these will bring to our community,” she said.

The guidelines also limit the use of materials that can have a detrimental environmental impact, such as artificial turf, granitic sand or crushed rock.

Residents can find more information or apply for a permit to modify the nature strip adjacent to their property at www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/naturestrip.

Fundraiser for food relief supports Whittlesea community groups

News

Pam Kiriakidis

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October 17, 2023

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Fundraiser for food relief supports Whittlesea community groups

By Pam Kiriakidis

Whittlesea Community House and Second Chance Animal Rescue were beneficiaries of a fundraiser with several community groups uniting to assist people struggling with cost-of-living pressures.

More than 100 residents socialised over high tea at Whittlesea Bowls Club on Tuesday, with representatives from the senior citizens, Whittlesea craft group, ladies lunch group, and other surrounding groups, treated to an afternoon of conversation, entertainment, and food.

Whittlesea Community House 1 — Whittlesea Community House volunteers Magda Burridge, left, Glenys McDonald and Judy Morgan at Whittlesea Bowls Club, raising money for food relief and Second Chance Animal Rescue.

Raffles, lucky door prizes and silent auctions helped raise money at the event, with donations provided by several businesses such as Hidden Valley Golf Resort, Coles Mernda, Whittlesea Fruit Shop, TSID Clothing and Kinglake Hotel.

This year’s event extended to 110 tickets, including a waiting list, a significant increase from the 60 attendees last year.

Money raised will go to Whittlesea Community House food relief and Second Chance Animal Rescue, who supplies the house with pet food for its food relief program.

Whittlesea Community House has seen a greater increase in providing support in the past 12 months, assisting 297 people with 355 agency referrals.

Through the house, 110 meals are provided fortnightly, and about 35 families are assisted each week for food relief, pet food relief and vouchers.

Volunteer Glenys McDonald, who organised the event, said there were many residents in need of help who were facing the cost-of-living pressures.

“There’s so many people who are really struggling at the moment with high costs of petrol, electricity, rent going up, and all that sort of stuff, so we’ve got all of our local groups here and this is a really great social day,” she said.

Ms McDonald thanked the sponsors for their support.

“I want to thank the bowling club especially because they’ve done so much to help me and … how beautiful it all looks,” she said.

Ms McDonald said the fundraiser was a ‘great day out’ for residents to bond and support one another.

“Women in this town are very isolated and the Whittlesea Community House has been running for 30 years, helping with social isolation, financial help,” she said.

“The job that the Whittlesea Community House does is just absolutely amazing. I’m proud to be a part of their community, to work in the house.

“It’s a great day to socialise, it’s a great day to find out what’s going on in the town and also to have a lot of fun, to enjoy themselves and to raise money.”

Feedback on Goulburn Valley Water services

Max Davies

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October 17, 2023

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Feedback on Goulburn Valley Water services

Residents are now invited to share their feedback as part of an annual Goulburn Valley Water customer satisfaction survey.

In an effort to enhance the water and sewerage services provided to the community, a sample of customers will receive an email and be asked to complete a short survey to share their thoughts on satisfaction with water and sewerage services.

Organisations aim to gather feedback from more than 2000 customers across the seven participating water corporations, which include Westernport, South Gippsland, Gippsland, East Gippsland, Central Highlands, Goulburn Valley and Coliban Water.

Goulburn Valley Water managing director Steve Capewell encouraged customers to provide honest feedback to help the organisation continue to build great customer experiences.

“Gaining insight into the customer experience allows us to identify whether we are meeting customer expectations for water and sewerage services. The survey is one of the most important ways we learn from our customers and improve our services,” he said.

“Regardless of whether customers receive an email invitation, everyone can participate by visiting our website and taking the survey to ensure their voices are heard.”

To encourage participation, each corporation is offering customers the chance to win one of 10 $100 bill credits for completing the survey before 6pm on October 31.

Winners will be announced after the survey closes in early November 2023.

For those eager to provide feedback and potentially win a $100 bill credit, the survey will also be made accessible on Goulburn Valley Water’s website for four weeks from October 9.

Wallan tennis court upgrades complete

Jordyn Grubisic

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October 17, 2023

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Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence joined Mitchell Shire councillors and Wallan Tennis Club members on Wednesday to open the $300,000 Wallan Tennis Courts upgrade project.

The project involved major base works to fix the large depression running across courts one to four causing an uneven playing surface.

Perimeter, court and underground drainage was also installed to fix current drainage issues along with new synthetic surfacing.

Mitchell Shire Council contributed $75,000 to the project with $225,000 through the Sport and Recreation Victoria’s 2022 Local Sports Infrastructure Fund Community Facilities stream.

Ms Spence, also Member for Kalkallo, said she was thrilled to have another ‘terrific partnership’ with Mitchell Shire Council.

“Thankfully we’ve been able to get this done for the community’s benefit because I hear the courts before were not in good shape at all,” she said.

“Now this won’t just provide a more enjoyable experience for people here, but it will also be a much safer experience and stop people being unable to use these courts when there is wet weather so it’s a really great outcome.

“What we also hope comes from this outcome is a participation increase in community sport because that’s what all of our investment is all about.

“I wanted to say thank you so much to Mitchell Shire Council for such a great partnership and I want to say congratulations and thank you to all of the hardworking volunteers at the tennis club because it’s your advocacy that actually gets these projects underway in the first place.

“This is a really good outcome. We really should celebrate it and we really want to boost that participation even more.”

Mitchell Shire Mayor Fiona Stevens said the upgrades encouraged community involvement.

“These facilities encourage people to get out and about even if they’re not tennis players,” she said.

“They can come down, they can watch, they can have a cup of tea and they can socialise so I think this is the value of these sorts of facilities – not just the physical component but the interaction and the social component.

“Hopefully the community of Wallan will pick up on that and come and enjoy, if not pick up a racquet as well.”

Wallan Tennis Club president James Viskovic thanked council, Ms Spence and the government for their support.

“The continued investment in these facilities allows us to provide an excellent playing field for our local community,” he said.

“We would like to also acknowledge council’s continual support of tennis across the whole shire.”

The works come after competition standard lighting was installed on courts five and six, with lighting on courts one to four also scheduled to be upgraded from metal halide to more energy efficient LED in February next year.

Wallan Tennis Centre currently has six lit courts used for coaching, training, mid-week competition and Saturday competition.

Real-time data now available for regional travellers

Max Davies

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October 17, 2023

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Real-time data now available for regional travellers

Travelling on Victoria’s regional train network is expected to become simpler and more convenient with access to real time information now available on phones and other personal devices.

Since October 5, real time data on V/Line train services has been available on the key apps people across Victoria use when they travel including Google and Apple Maps and AnyTrips apps.

Until now, real time data for V/Line train services has only been available at stations on platform display boards.

Minister for Public and Active Transport Gabrielle Williams said real time data would make coordinating trips easier and help to avoid any unnecessary travel time.

“We’re taking the next step towards a smarter, more responsive and more coordinated public transport system in Victoria with real time information widely available across our trains, trams and local buses,” she said.

“With the regional fare cap proving to be extremely popular with Victorians, we’re ensuring passengers have more information at their fingertips to take full advantage of the reduced fares and a better travel experience.”

Passengers using Melbourne’s tram network will also have access to real time data through more channels.

Passengers across the state and on all modes of public transport now have access to real-time travel information, except for V/Line coach and freight services.

From heartbreak to hope to heaven for Edgar’s Mission sheep

Max Davies

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October 17, 2023

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From heartbreak to hope to heaven for Edgar’s Mission sheep

Baarack, a much-loved once woolly mammoth of a sheep rescued by Edgar’s Mission animal sanctuary, has passed away aged about 10 years of age, succumbing to cancer.

Found wandering the Cobaw State Forrest in 2021, Baarack looked more like a moving cloud than a sheep.

Burdened down with some 35 kilograms of wool, Baarack was delivered to Edgar’s Mission in Lancefield, and sanctuary founder Pam Ahern was fearful he would not survive as he struggled to see and stand.

While Baarack’s fleece had taken at least six years to reach its wild and woolly state, his transformational rescue story quickly went viral reaching more than 12 million people around the globe.

“Since posting news of his passing, people from all around the world are reaching out with their sympathy,” Ms Ahern said.

“He really was one truly amazing sheep. That he could touch the hearts of so many without them even meeting him speaks of this.”

The sanctuary’s tribute post tells of Baarack’s ‘soft and gentle’ nature, along with the fact he never feared humans despite his many years of never being in contact with them.

A recent post spoke of his penchant for offering sanctuary staff his endearing toothy grin.

“While our hearts are indeed heavy from the passing of our much-loved woolly friend, Baarack’s legacy will long stay with us, reminding us all of just how amazing and forgiving sheep are,” Ms Ahern said.

“And too, the incredible power of kindness, for had the kind heart who saved Baarack that day, all those years ago, looked the other way, Baarack would never have been seen.”

City of Whittlesea electoral structure review begins

Grace Frost

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October 17, 2023

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CITY of Whittlesea are among 10 Victorian local councils to undergo an electoral structure review in 2023-24.

The Local Government Act 2020 has introduced several changes, including that all metropolitan, interface and regional city councils must have single-councillor ward electoral structures.

The reviews, an on-going process throughout 2023-24 across 39 councils, are conducted by two electoral representation advisory panels, appointed by the Minister for Local Government.

The panel will make a recommendation to the minister on electoral structure for councils under review.

The 11 councils, under round three of the program, have been divided into three groups, for public information sessions to announce the review, explain the processes and open the submission period.

While all round three councils must move to single-councillor ward electoral structures, the panels are considering the appropriate numbers of councillors and wards for each council, location of ward boundaries and ward names.

The Victorian Electoral Commission, VEC, provides technical and administration support to the panels.

The panels encourage Victorians, particularly those in local council areas under review, to add to the review process and have their say.

People interested in making a submission to the preliminary report can map the ward boundaries for their proposed electoral structure online, using the tool available on the VEC website as part of their submission.

The review process for the City of Whittlesea will be: public information sessions on October 23 and 24; preliminary report published, and response submissions period opens on October 25; and response submissions close at 5pm on November 15.

Five tips to boost mental health from Beyond Blue

Max Davies

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October 17, 2023

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Five tips to boost mental health from Beyond Blue

Coinciding with World Mental Health Day on October 10, Beyond Blue has shared mental health coaching tips to help people navigate everyday life stresses.

Developed by Beyond Blue in 2013, NewAccess provides support for mild to moderate anxiety, depression, and life stresses, using specially-trained and clinically-supervised mental health coaches. It’s free and doesn’t require a GP referral.

NewAccess mental health coach Gemma Danahay supports people using a low intensity Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, CBT, coaching program.

“More and more people are coming to me due to financial stress, as cost-of-living pressures escalate. The other main issues are relationship problems, work stresses, grief and loss and sudden life changes,” Ms Danahay said.

“I have found many people are looking for more than just someone to talk to, they want to walk away with practical suggestions. In mental health coaching, people receive proactive skills and tools to work on the problems affecting their mental health.

“Part of coaching is also around relapse prevention, so any dips in mood are an opportunity to explore early warning signs and what helps the person feel better so that they know what to do with any future drops on the roller coaster of life.”

The five practical coaching tips to help relieve stresses that can build up are:

Deal with problems one at a time – break down problems into bite-size pieces.

Notice common thinking traps – all or nothing thinking, self-blame, repetitive thinking.

Have realistic goals – make it achievable, it doesn’t have to be perfect.

Balance is key – schedule pleasurable activities as well as work/family commitments.

Healthy habits – keep both body and mind healthy.

Beyond Blue’s lead clinician Dr Grant Blashki said there were multiple benefits to using low intensity CBT and problem solving to support our mental health.

“These techniques are based on evidence and are shown to improve clinical outcomes for common mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. People who are using the skills are often able to reduce their negative thinking patterns, the severity of their symptoms, and find that they develop new coping skills that they can apply to other problems in their lives,” Dr Blashki said.

“A structured approach helps people to stay focused on their goals and people often come away feeling quite empowered that they have some new strategies to manage common stresses in life.

“An added benefit is these are skills that are useful in relationships, in parenting, and even in a workplace context and help people to be able to zoom out and look at thoughts, feelings and actions in day-to-day situations.”

Call for Nicholls calendar photos

Max Davies

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October 17, 2023

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Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell is calling on established and amateur photographers from across the region to submit photographs for the annual 2024 Nicholls calendar.

This year’s calendar will focus on all things local and capture what makes the electorate of Nicholls unique.

The Nicholls electorate includes the northern part of Mitchell Shire – towns such as Broadford, Pyalong, Tallarook and Seymour – and extends to the New South Wales border.

Mr Birrell said it was an opportunity to shine the spotlight on the region and encouraged people of all ages to submit a photograph.

“My 2024 calendar will capture the characters, culture and charms that define our electorate,” he said.

“It could be a shot of a local farm, community group, weather event, post box, puppy, cow, watering hole, tourist destination, sports club – whatever is local I want to see it.”

The top 12 entries, judged by Mr Birrell, will be used in the calendar with photo credit, while the photo for the front cover will receive a $100 gift voucher to a Goulburn Valley photography store of their choice.

Pictures should be named and must be in landscape form, either in colour or black and white. The photo may be lightly edited, and pictures taken on a mobile phone are acceptable.

To submit photos, email sam.birrell.mp@aph.gov.au or drop it in at 426 Wyndham Street, Shepparton, by November 1.