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Busking, art expo bring colour to Kilmore

Lauren Duffy
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Busking, art expo bring colour to Kilmore

By Colin MacGillivray

Click here to view the full gallery from the Kilmore Art Expo and Kilmore Regional Busking Championships

ORGANISERS of the weekend’s Kilmore Art Expo and Kilmore Regional Busking Championships are thrilled with the way both events ran, with both reporting record attendance.

The events have developed a symbiotic relationship, encouraging people to Kilmore’s Sydney Street each April.

Busking championships co-ordinator Rose King estimated more than 500 people watched performers on Saturday, labelling it ‘our best day ever’.

“In previous busking championships the street has gone pretty quiet by about 12.30 or 1pm, but we still had quite a few people out in the street right up until 3pm this year,” she said.

“There were lots of people out on the street, which was a fantastic result. That’s what we want to do – get people out enjoying being in Kilmore.

“The traders really love this event. It’s really good for them with increased business.”

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Young performer Jack Gregory impressed onlookers, finishing third in the secondary section. ​

The winner of the championships’ open category was a team of Japanese sword and dance performance group Rin-Pa with traditional Japanese music group A. Ya, who entertained onlookers with a colourful and energetic show.

Winner of the people’s choice award was singer-songwriter Grace Frost, who is also a Review journalist.

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Singer-songwriter and Review journalist Grace Frost was popular along Kilmore’s Sydney Street on Saturday, picking up the people’s choice award. ​

“We were so lucky to have great diversity with our performers this year. We had performers ranging from six years old to 86,” Ms King said.

Kilmore Art Expo director Cheryl Eve said the exhibition also saw a record number of attendees at its Friday preview night, thanks largely to an increase in younger entrants.

“On Friday night we had about 150 to 170 people through the doors, which is a record for us,” she said.

“With the kids being more involved this year we had a lot of parents and grandparents visiting, which really upped our numbers.

“Many of the kids’ artworks sold, which was a boost for them, and a few of our regular artists who have never sold anything before sold pieces for the first time, so they’re thrilled as well.”

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Young artist Indianna, 10, was one of an increasing number of youth entries at the Kilmore Art Expo. She is pictured with Denise Robinson, Danielle Stirling and Wayne Parker. ​
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Ms Eve said the inclusion of a new digital art medium was also a success.

“Every year we try to bring in something new. We had questions about whether we would run digital art because they’re teaching a lot of it through schools now,” she said.

“We introduced it as a new category to bring in some new artists and people interested in different mediums. It’s been quite successful we’ll continue with it.”

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George Katsimbas shows off one of his entries in a new digital art category at this year’s Kilmore Art Expo. ​

Best in show went to Caroline Lewallen for her pastel artwork Lillies In Green Vase.

For a full list of busking and art expo category winners, see next week’s Review.

Click here to view the full gallery from the Kilmore Art Expo and Kilmore Regional Busking Championships

WR (2023-04-25)

The North Central Review
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WR (2023-04-25)

NCR (2023-04-25)

The North Central Review
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NCR (2023-04-25)

Plea to fund the Seymour Community Wellbeing Hub

Lauren Duffy
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Plea to fund the Seymour Community Wellbeing Hub

By Colin MacGillivray

SHADOW Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Bridget McKenzie joined Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell, Mitchell Shire councillors and local health leaders in Seymour last week to call for the Federal Government to fund the Seymour Community Wellbeing Hub in next month’s budget.

The planned hub would bring together several health and other community organisations at a central location, allowing people to access services including adult and veterans’ mental health, family violence support, and employment and education resources.

Councillors have listed the project as one of their top priorities, claiming it would help reverse decades of intergenerational disadvantage and poor health outcomes in Seymour and the surrounding district.

The estimated cost of the hub is $26 million, with council pledging $3 million and asking for $14 million and $9 million from the federal and state governments respectively.

The Liberal-Nationals coalition pledged $10 million towards the project before last year’s federal election – a pledge not matched by Labor, which subsequently formed government.

Mr Birrell said with the government discontinuing the Building Better Regions Fund, the project was left in limbo.

“In question time we have asked questions to [Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development Catherine King] about when we will see [regional] funding guidelines. The answer we get is ‘soon’,” he said.

“That doesn’t tell me much. I’ve got people all across this electorate who have got projects that they want to talk to the government about. They don’t need ‘soon’, they need a funding program, they need guidelines and they need real money in it.

“We didn’t win government, but the Labor Party who did said they would govern for all Australians. This is their chance to prove it by putting some money towards the regions.”

Ms McKenzie said Seymour’s large Australian Defence Force veteran population made it important to establish veteran mental health services at the hub, in line with recommendations from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.

“When you’re in government it’s all about priorities when it comes to the budget. Where are you going to spend the money? We are arguing … that you need to spend it in the regions,” she said.

“We are Australians too and we deserve great services … just like the rest of Australia.”

Nexus Primary Health chief executive Amanda Mullins said the hub would help Seymour cope with the long-term effects of the floods that devastated the town last year.

“We haven’t seen a massive spike [in demand for services following the floods], but that’s not unusual with an event like this,” she said.

“Often people are concerned with getting a roof over their head and making sure they have clothes and food on the table. Down the track is when we see indications of that.

“Every time Nexus has worked in partnership to manage the impacts of disasters, we see it down the track – sometimes up to five or 10 years later.

“Ideally, we would want to have the hub in place before those effects start to become evident.”

Cr Louise Bannister said flood recovery was one of many reasons there was a need for the hub.

“There are some astounding stats about Seymour. It’s listed as one of the top 20 most disadvantaged towns in Australia – not Victoria, Australia – by the Dropping off the Edge report,” she said.

“One in three people won’t finish high school in Seymour; one in 14 need assistance daily; and it’s three times the state average for domestic violence. There are some atrocious statistics pointing to the need for this service.

“A no-wrong-door approach is not just about health services. When you enter that door anonymously, people don’t know whether you’re entering for a dental appointment, a mental health appointment, a doctor’s appointment or just to meet with a few friends for a chat and a coffee.

“It takes away the unjustified stigma that someone might feel when they reach out for help.”

Cr Bannister said one in five homes in Seymour was not connected to the internet.

“That’s why we need physical services on the ground here. Telehealth isn’t always appropriate for everyone,” she said.

“We’re pushing all the time to get this project done. We’ve done everything we possibly can from our end so far to get it there. We just need that commitment from the government now.”

Seymour Health chief executive Ward Steet called on the government to fund the hub as a matter of urgency.

“[This project] will improve access to services and it has potential to impact intergenerational disadvantage – three generations of poor health outcomes,” he said.

“Without it improving health access, that’s not going to change.

“I don’t want to be standing here in 40 years’ time saying ‘40 years ago we spoke about this, and nothing has changed’.”

New home for Whittlesea youth

Lauren Duffy
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New home for Whittlesea youth

A NEW homeless refuge will be the City of Whittlesea’s first youth emergency accommodation for people aged between 16 and 25 looking to stay in their community.

The State Government invested $5.06 million through the Youth Housing Capital Grants program to build a First Response Youth Service in South Morang, aiming to give young people the foundations and support to live their best lives.

Built in partnership with Hope Street Youth and Family Services and the City of Whittlesea, the First Response Youth Service will have 12 bedrooms, including a family unit and emergency accommodation, as well as mobile outreach and intensive, holistic case management.

Hope Street Youth and Family Services chief executive Donna Bennet said building the accommodation was imperative.

“Young people make up nearly a quarter of the homeless cohort in Victoria. Many of these young adults are at an extremely vulnerable and significant point in their lives and due to family breakdown, poverty, lack of affordable housing, and family violence find themselves without a home,” she said.

“If we as a community don’t intervene early, homeless youth become homeless adults who have entrenched disadvantages.”

Hope Street is an established youth service provider with services in northern and western areas of Melbourne and a long-standing partnership with the City of Whittlesea.

Chair administrator Lydia Wilson welcomed the announcement as one of council’s key advocacy priorities for social and affordable housing.

“Council, along with Hope Street, has been advocating to the Victorian Government for funding to build an accommodation facility in the City of Whittlesea,” she said.

“We are delighted the funds are now available to progress this important project.”

Construction will begin in the coming weeks and is anticipated to be complete by mid-2024.

Parliamentary concern

Homelessness rates across Whittlesea have continued to rise in recent years, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 census data showing 854 people were experiencing homelessness in the area.

Between 2016 and 2021, Whittlesea’s homelessness numbers have increased by 224 – well above the national average of 5.2 per cent.

Liberal Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell said the increase was evidence of the State Government failing to keep an eye on Victoria’s most vulnerable people.

Ms Lovell said the government was covering the extent of Victorian homelessness by not publishing the social housing waiting lists since June 2022.  

“Applicants with priority status are the most vulnerable who are homeless, at risk of recurring homelessness, escaping family violence, living with a disability or have a special housing need,” she said.

“These applicants have been given priority status because they are deemed to be in immediate need of housing, however the state budget performance measure shows applicants are waiting an average of 14 months to be housed.”

A government spokesperson said Labor will continue to provide funding to the City of Whittlesea, with $134 million invested in the area to date, to create 310 new homes under the Big Housing Build and other social housing programs.

Part of the investment includes $50 million through Youth Housing Capital Grants to build more accommodation for youth.

The spokesperson said the Liberal Party had been guilty of underinvesting in homelessnes, which escalated across Australia due to broader economic pressures including the COVID-19 pandemic, rising interest rates and cost-of-living pressures.

“The last time the Liberals were in government, they cut hundreds of millions of dollars from housing and homelessness services and now their federal colleagues are blocking billions of dollars of investment in new social and affordable housing across the country, including Victoria,” they said.

New tech has potential to end stock theft

Lauren Duffy
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New tech has potential to end stock theft

By Colin MacGillivray

KILMORE East’s Kevin Butler is encouraging livestock farmers from across Victoria to attend a demonstration of technology, he believes could end rural stock theft, in Kilmore on Monday next week.

Mr Butler will host a field day at Assumption College to demonstrate tracking technology for cows and sheep enabled by a direct-to-satellite smart ear tag.

David Smith, the co-founder of the Ceres Tag technology, which is now used in 24 countries worldwide, will be on hand for the demonstration.

Mr Butler is himself a victim of stock theft, having had nearly 400 lambs worth an estimated $50,000 stolen from his property in January.

He said track technology had the potential to disrupt what he termed a ‘dark crime industry’ of between $70 and $100 million annually.

“Every farmer knows at least a few other farmers who have been the victims of rural theft,” he said.

“We know there were 1251 rural thefts in Victoria in 2022 and only one person has been charged.

“That’s the thing about rural theft – they get away with it. There’s a 99.99 per cent chance that thieves will get away with it, and this stops them in their tracks.”

Mr Butler said he heard about the technology after his lambs were stolen and immediately recognised its potential benefits.

He said the software costs of the satellite tracking system could be reduced if farmers agreed to band together in clusters.

“If I was going to do it on my own it would cost me about $3000 but by having three or four other farmers in a cluster it comes down to about $300 because we’re able to share the costs over three years,” he said.

“I can have a farmer in my cluster who is from Willowmavin, another person on Kangaroo Island and another person in Western Australia. Geographically it doesn’t make any difference.”

Mr Butler said farmers would receive an instant notification on their phone or another device if the tag detected livestock outside the boundary of the property or if they appeared to be moving too fast.

He said the technology had other applications including notifying farmers of escaped or trapped livestock.

Mr Butler said he expected up to 100 people to attend the field day, which will be from 9.30am to 2pm at Assumption College’s Neale Daniher Pavilion.

People can find more information about the Ceres Tag by visiting cerestag.com and people can register for the open day by calling Mr Butler on 0418 530 471.

Mr Butler said attendees would have a photograph of their licence taken to discourage thieves from attending the demonstration.

Reality check for disappointing Panthers

Lauren Duffy
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Reality check for disappointing Panthers

By Colin MacGillivray

WALLAN’S division two men were delivered a reality check in a 28-point loss to Sherbrooke – their first of the Big V basketball season.

The Panthers had been undefeated through the first four rounds of the season but struggled from the outset against the Suns, scoring only six points in the first quarter and trailing by 32 points at the final change.

With the result beyond doubt, the benches of both sides received extended playing time in the last term of the 51-79 loss.

The normally dominant trio of Arcaim Lallemand, Tyler Best and Tom O’Connor was held to a collective 23 points, and the Panthers were outrebounded 61-49.

Wallan’s starting guard tandem of Dominic Bruno and Lincoln Stewart fared little better connecting on only three of their combined 15 field goal attempts.

Keenan Gorski top scored for the Panthers with 15 points off the bench, although he required 18 shots to do so on a night when the visitors converted at only 26 per cent from the field.

Simon Lokan led the Suns to victory with a massive 17-point, 18-rebound double-double, while Christian Solderholm added 20 points and nine rebounds.

The Panthers will attempt to bounce back from the performance on Sunday, when they host Melton at RB Robson Stadium at 3pm.

The teams met in round one, Wallan emerging with a tough 87-81 win.

Also in action this weekend will be Wallan’s division two women, who were handed a walkover win against Mornington in round five.

The Panthers will play Surf Coast at Wurdi Baierr Stadium at 1pm on Sunday.

The youth league division two men will return from a bye, also set host Melton in a 1pm curtain-raiser to the men’s game on Sunday.

Tony’s Trek to support emergency service workers’ mental health

Max Davies
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Tony’s Trek to support emergency service workers’ mental health

By Max Davies

A WALK across more than 1500 kilometres of Victoria has been underway for the past month to support the mental health of Victoria’s emergency management workers.

Emergency Services Foundation, ESF, chair Tony Pearce began the charity walk dubbed ‘Tony’s Trek’ on March 10, travelling through areas affected by the Black Summer bushfires in 2019 and 2020 to acknowledge their impact on mental health for both emergency personnel and members of the community.

Tony’s Trek aims to raise awareness and funds for ESF’s effort to build a collaborative approach to preventing ill mental health through two initiatives – a Lived Experience Program and a Pilot Residential Wellbeing Program.

Mr Pearce said it was important to support the mental health of emergency workers as they dealt with the severe and long-lasting effects of disasters across Victoria.

“I was just thinking about some recent issues with some people I know who were suffering with their mental health and were emergency service workers like I have been for most of my life,” he said.

“I decided that with my position as the chair of the ESF, and my knowledge of so many agencies and knowing so many people that it was probably an opportunity for me to try and do something small that might help raise awareness of the work emergency services workers do and the impact on their mental health.”

The walk began at the State Control Centre in East Melbourne and has seen Mr Pearce travel as far as Traralgon, Bairnsdale, Mallacoota, Mt Hotham and Wodonga, with the trek set to visit Broadford, Kilmore and Wallan early next week.

From 6.30pm on May 2, a dinner has been organised at Broadford Golf Club to help raise funds, and anyone interested in supporting the walk or talking with Mr Pearce is welcome to attend.

On May 3, Kilmore Fire Brigade will host a lunch at Hudson Park from 11am as Mr Pearce travels through the town and all are welcome to attend.

He will then visit Wallan CFA at 6.30pm to talk with emergency services from the Mitchell Shire.

Slow start costs Roos in painful loss

Lauren Duffy
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Slow start costs Roos in painful loss

By Colin MacGillivray

BROADFORD’S senior footballers are ruing a missed opportunity for an early-season victory, paying for a slow start against Yarra Glen in round two of the Outer East competition.

The Roos were outscored 0.1 (1) to 4.3 (27) in a lopsided first quarter but dominated the contest thereafter, registering 27 scoring shots to 15 for the remainder of the game.

Unfortunately for Broadford many of those scoring shots were behinds, as wayward kicking plagued the Roos’ comeback attempt in an eventual 8.17 (65) to 10.12 (72) defeat.

While the competitive result was a positive sign for a club that has endured many one-sided defeats in recent seasons, coach Jayden Welch lamented a chance gone begging.

“It took us a quarter to settle, really. We seemed rushed – we weren’t hitting targets and we were dropping easy marks,” he said.

“Once we started playing our brand of footy we really got on top – it’s just that we couldn’t convert in front of goal, which really hurt us.

“There were probably four or five shots that really should have gone through. Others were tough shots, but there were a few that you’d really like to think we’d kick.

“We need to rock up ready to go. For the second week in a row we’ve had a slow start, and if we didn’t have that slow start the game would have ended a lot differently.”

Despite the loss there were plenty of encouraging signs, with Dean Tydell and Sean Duggan combining for five goals in the Broadford forward line and Adam Miles excelling in the back line, while Jack Stevenson and captain Liam Lucas were good on ball.

With a tough home game against Alexandra looming on Saturday, Welch said his team would discuss the loss to work out what changes needed to be made.

“We can’t let the pressure get to us. I don’t know if that was the problem or not, but we’re going to have to have that conversation at our team meeting after training,” he said.

Netball

Broadford’s A Grade netballers made a strong start in their game against Yarra Glen but were unable to sustain the momentum, succumbing to the River Pigs by 10 goals.

Ebony Heers was the Roos best player in the 41-51 loss, while Kate Berger fought hard to notch 18 goals.

Broadford dropped to a 1-1 record with the loss and will attempt to rebound against Alexandra in front of a home crowd on Saturday.

1930s film brings Kilmore to life

Lauren Duffy
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1930s film brings Kilmore to life

THE Kilmore Historical Society, KHS, is contributing to the National Trust of Australia’s celebration of Heritage Month, which runs until May 18, with a special all-day showing of films taken by Father James McHugh in the late 1930s.

Father McHugh was a devotee of early movie making and documented scenes of Kilmore from about 1937 until 1939.

The hidden treasure was found by the KHS years ago and has been copied to CDs and DVD formats.

The society’s most recent project was to add a soundtrack, the included names of some of those in the film.

The original films are now in the National Film and Sound Archive in Canberra, where they are preserved in ideal conditions.

Father McHugh’s film will be shown this Saturday, April 29, from 10am to 3pm at the Old Kilmore Post Office, corner of Powlett Street and Skehan Place.

The film will screen on a continuing basis throughout the day and everyone is welcome to view it free of charge.

KHS thanked the Bendigo Bank, Assumption College and other sponsors for enabling the project to go ahead.

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