Mitchell Shire council unveils six 2050 vision themes based on 1500 responses
Based on nearly 1500 responses from across Mitchell Shire, the emerging themes of the My Mitchell Our Future 2050 Community Vision will be presented via two interactive online sessions.
Mitchell Shire Council will host its first session on Friday and the second on Wednesday, September 1.
The six themes to emerge include: vibrant communities; working, learning and tourism; travelling and getting around; shaping neighbourhoods; nature and parks; and climate action.
At the interactive sessions council will seek input on the themes, focus areas and words for the draft vision statement.
Originally planned as four in-person workshops, the activities have had to move online due to Victoria’s COVID-19 lockdown.
The current engagement phase follows consultation in April and early May, which included pop-up stalls at markets, events, shopping centres and train stations as well as workshops and an online survey.
The input from the online events will be used to help develop a draft vision statement document, which will be presented to council for adoption in October.
The 2050 Community Vision is a high-level plan that captures the long-term dreams and aspirations of the community.
The vision is used to assist council in developing its priorities to deliver a range of services and infrastructure.
Council will also use the vision to guide focus areas in Mitchell’s health and wellbeing plan and council plan and to support the development of financial and asset plans.
Mitchell Shire Mayor Rhonda Sanderson said council asked people what they loved about their community, what they wished for in the future and what was important to them as the shire grew and changed.
“We’ve had such a wonderful response from people right across the shire as well as people who regularly visit Mitchell for work or leisure or who might look to call Mitchell home in the future,” she said.
“It’s now time for us to check back in as we work together to shape a vision for the next 30 years.
“It’s unfortunate that we had to cancel our face-to-face activities, but this is the next best thing and a great way to keep the conversation going as we head towards 2050 and the adoption of a draft vision document in October this year.
“The meetings will be held through Microsoft Teams with a link provided after registration. We have staff on hand who can help walk people through how to set up if they are interested in taking part but are not sure about the technology.”
18-year-old Wallan singer releases debut single
WALLAN singer-songwriter Grace Frost has released her debut single ‘Heads or Tails’, a song she wrote herself.
Frost joined Mitchell Community Radio OKR FM’s Youth Zone hosts Matt Whitfield and Ben Rask last week to discuss her journey into music with the help of social media.
Growing up with a passion for singing, Frost began to take her music more seriously when she was in year seven, beginning guitar lessons and taking part in school musicals.
It wasn’t until she completed high school that she realised writing songs and creating music could be more than just a pastime.
After realising music was bringing her more joy, she decided to withdraw from her course and solely focus on a career in music.
The 18-year-old turned to social media platforms Instagram and TikTok to share videos of her singing, and now boasts more than 145,000 followers on TikTok.
Frost said she loved the process of writing songs and wanted to create a song that was detailed with its storytelling and catchy with its melody.
“I always include my own feelings and experiences in the songs I write,” she said.
“For Heads and Tails, it’s a made-up story but it’s partially about how I want to find love one day, I want someone to look at me in the crowd.”
Mitchell Shire veterans and residents ‘upset’ by government response to Afghanistan crisis
By Aleksandra Bliszczyk
Veterans and residents across the Mitchell Shire have condemned the Federal Government’s response to the crisis in Afghanistan, where Afghan nationals who worked with the Australian Army are stranded and fearing for their lives under a Taliban regime.
Member for McEwen Rob Mitchell said he had received a wave of emails and messages from constituents concerned for the safety of Afghan interpreters, drivers and diplomats who now face persecution for assisting Coalition forces against the Taliban during the past 20 years.
“We’ve had a lot of emails in particular in relation to the interpreters, who were local Afghans who worked with Australian soldiers,” Mr Mitchell said.
“They have been absolutely mistreated by this government [and] it genuinely disgusts me they’ve just been left behind.”
Following the withdrawal of US and Australian troops, the militant group seized control of the country this month, with the capital Kabul falling on August 15. It marked the beginning of a new Taliban regime, who had not been in control since before the US invasion in 2001.
The group emerged in the early 1990s in Pakistan after the withdrawal of Soviet forces from Afghanistan, but it was not until al-Qaeda’s September 11 attack on New York’s World Trade Centre that the Taliban drew global attention for providing sanctuary for the al-Qaeda movement’s leader Osama Bin Laden, leading to the beginning of the US-Afghanistan war.
Close to 30,000 Australia troops have served in Afghanistan, aided and protected by Afghans who are now in hiding or fleeing.
“It’s not something you should be doing to people who help you,” Kilmore-Wallan RSL president Rod Dally told the Review.
“They’ve got to try and get them out … you can’t take everybody, but the ones that helped, they’re in trouble now.”
Mr Dally, a Vietnam veteran, said the government had learnt nothing from the Vietnam war, which similarly saw thousands of Vietnamese people internally displaced and desperately fleeing Saigon in 1975.
The then Liberal Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser opened Australia’s door to Vietnamese refugees, resettling more than 100,000.
As of yesterday Prime Minister Scott Morrison has brought in 1000 Afghans after initially denying hundreds of visa applications.
“The government within half an hour can get visa for French au pairs for their friends, but for years these Afghan locals that have been fighting for us and wearing our uniform, have been left to rot and it is absolutely heartless by the government to do this,” Mr Mitchell said.
Of the Kilmore-Wallan RSL’s 405 members, 107 served in Afghanistan, and Mr Dally said most were unnerved by the government’s decisions.
“Most people are upset about it. There’s a general dissatisfaction that this has happened again – no lessons learnt anywhere on the way through,” he said.
Mr Mitchell said not providing protection to locals who worked with the Australian Army would hurt its reputation and standing in future conflicts.
“The message this sends on a foreign policy level, it’s one that greatly concerns us. If we go into conflict in the future, we go to countries, we’re asking locals to help, what are they going to say? Why would you risk your life for people who are going to just throw you to the scrap heap?” he said
“It’s really destroying our reputation globally. And instead of being pigheaded, it’s about doing the right thing for people who need help.”
Support services available include Defence’s all-hours support line for ADF members and their families 1800 628 036. Open Arms provides 24-hour free and confidential counselling and support for current and former ADF members and their families 1800 011 046.
Could a $1 billion support fund help Victorian manufacturing grow?
By Tricia Mifsud
MEMBER for Euroa Steph Ryan is calling on the State Government to establish a $1 billion fund that will support Victorian manufacturers and help local industries grow.
Ms Ryan visited National Paper Industries, NPI, in Broadford on Wednesday, to discuss the importance of the fund that would realign the government’s purchasing policy, and prioritise local manufacturing over cheap imports.
“A $1 billion fund would encourage businesses to bring manufacturing back to Victoria as well as supporting existing manufacturers to expand, innovate or invest in research and development,” Ms Ryan said.
Ms Ryan said NPI had been the heart of the Broadford community and running synonymously with the town since 1890, producing pasted paper and boards that could be turned into advertising boards, palette protection, food tray and drink dividers.
The Nationals deputy leader said it was businesses like NPI that should provide products across Victoria, including to the government.
“The government is a big consumer of [paper and cardboard] product, and we have great local businesses like NPI manufacturing these products,” she said.
“Instead of buying cheaply produced product from overseas, the Victorian Government could use its buying power to help business like NPI grow and employ more local people.
“The Victorian Government uses many products that the business could supply; from laminated paper for advertising to cardboard lunch boxes and the tree guards used by water authorities, Parks Victoria and VicForests.”
Another example of the government choosing cheap, international products was the decision to import facemasks from China, instead of purchasing from Shepparton-based manufacturer MedCon.
“I think a lot of us were shocked to discover that the State Government was buying face masks from China, when we had a local manufacturer in Shepparton who actually rescued Australia when we had critical shortages of PPE,” Ms Ryan said.
Ms Ryan said the lack of plans from the government to rebuild the state after the devastation caused by lockdown was ‘concerning’.
“Victoria has lost more jobs than any other due to the pandemic and we need an urgent and bold plan to turn our fortunes around,” she said.
NPI general manager David Buttle said that no clear direction out of lockdowns had caused many setbacks for NPI.
Plans to invest into new products produced on site, which would also then create more local jobs, have had to go on hold.
“[NPI] have a lot of new projects in mind that we’re looking into investing in … the numbers did stack up but with us permanently in lockdown, we’re having to have a relook at things in that investment,” he said.
“It’s 50-50 at the moment because there is no clear view out of lockdown, because we’ll come out of this lockdown then we will be in the same position … no one can see a way out at the moment.
“We’re not doing anything different to address it and that’s the issue we’re getting; and businesses are worried about that, there’s no way out.”
MP Danielle Green responds to reports she left Melbourne’s lockdown for Warrnambool
MEMBER for Yan Yean Danielle Green has announced she will take a period of personal leave due to personal and family health issues.
Several media outlets last week reported Ms Green and her husband, who has cancer, were staying at a property they own in Warrnambool despite Ms Green attending Parliament on August 5, hours before Melbourne’s COVID-19 lockdown started at 8pm.
Premier Daniel Andrews said he was comfortable with Ms Green’s decision to stay with her husband in Warrnambool as it was for the purpose of caregiving.
In response Ms Green issued a statement saying that caring for her husband in the midst of the pandemic had taken a toll on her and she needed time to recover.
“The pandemic has been a challenging experience for all of us. My family and I are no exception to that,” she said.
“In the past 12 months my husband has had multiple surgeries, and despite our best post-operative efforts we have just been informed that he will need to undergo further surgeries in the next month.
“While caring for my husband, my own health has taken a downturn and I have been hospitalised twice in the past month.
“Through this difficult time for our family, I have continued to serve my community and fulfil my portfolio responsibilities as the parliamentary secretary for regional Victoria and for sport.
“However, in consultation with my family, I have made the decision to take a period of personal leave – to care for my husband and take the time I need to recover my own health.”
A spokesperson from Ms Green’s office said she was expected to be on personal leave for between four and six weeks.
The spokesperson said Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes would assist Ms Green’s electorate staff during her absence.
“There will be a formal arrangement with the speaker that Jaclyn takes over in an acting capacity for official purposes like sign-offs,” the spokesperson said.
Ms Green said she was committed to returning to her electorate after a break.
“I love my job and the Yan Yean community. My desire to work hard to deliver for all my constituents remains as strong as when I was first elected,” she said.
Two Kilmore artists will have their paintings exhibited in Japan
TWO of Kilmore Art Society’s best-known artists have works headed to Japan to be displayed as part of a sister city program between Mitchell Shire and the city of Honbetsu.
Helen Miles and Maureen Runge, both of Kilmore, will have their works displayed at an exhibition celebrating Honbetsu’s 130th anniversary as well as the 30th anniversary of its sister city relationship with Mitchell Shire.
Ms Miles’ work ‘Fields’ is a pastel work. Ms Miles is known for her love of colour and light, and has finished works in a range of media.
She was a featured artist at the recent Camberwell Art Show and to date has garnered more than 120 awards, prizes and commendations.
Ms Runge’s work is a watercolour titled ‘Gum Tree Study’.
Ms Runge is mainly self-taught in the wet style of watercolour painting, which she said she found challenging and exciting.
She is also known for portraiture using pastel and has received many awards and commendations at several solo exhibitions in addition to teaching adults and children.
Mike Phillips, of the Mitchell Honbetsu Sister City Association, said the relationship was one of the most enduring and active within Victoria and even in Australia-wide.
He said sister city relationships were about cultural exchange and knowledge and many visits had occurred between officials from both regions in the past 30 years.
He said the paintings were chosen because they were great representations of Kilmore and Mitchell Shire.
Both works will add to Ms Miles and Ms Runge’s international portfolios, with other works currently hanging in England, the USA, Germany, Croatia and other countries.
Both artists have works hanging locally in the Kilmore Art Society gallery at Oddfellows Café. The gallery is open from Monday to Saturday from 10am to 3pm.
Kilmore health professionals plead for community vigilance and vaccinations as Shepparton cluster grows
Health professionals are urging the community to be extra vigilant of the increased risk of COVID-19 Delta variant transmissions following an outbreak in Shepparton last week.
Regional Victoria was plunged into lockdown at 1pm Saturday with two hours’ notice, following the discovery of 17 cases of COVID in Shepparton on Friday.
As of today, the Shepparton cluster has grown to 44, with cases reported in Mansfield and Wangaratta.
There is again only five reasons permitted to leave home: to shop for food and supplies needed, to exercise for up to two hours no more than five kilometres from home, for care or caregiving, authorised work or education if not possible from home, or to be vaccinated at the nearest possible location.
Face masks remain mandatory outdoors and indoors, and primary school aged children are now being advised to wear a mask, when not at home.
Stricter workforce permits came into effect last night, and a high rate of transmission in young people has forced all childcare centres across Victoria to be closed except to children whose parents are authorised workers vulnerable children.
Playgrounds, basketball hoops, skate parks and outdoor exercise equipment are now closed.
The age demographic of the current outbreak is very different to previous cases, with about 80 per cent of active cases aged below 40 and about 25 per cent under the age of nine. The cases currently in hospital include people in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s.
Kilmore District Health chief executive David Naughton urged people to wear fitted face masks at all times if they had to go out, use QR codes to check-in at all public places, maintain social distancing and wash their hands.
Mr Naughton advised people to regularly check the COVID-19 list of exposure sites that now included multiple regional locations, some backdated to August 9.
He urged people to get vaccinated.
“We know these simple actions work to protect you, your family and the community,” he said.
Kilmore District Health’s drive-through COVID-19 testing clinic is open seven days a week – by appointment only. The clinic is situated just outside the hospital’s urgent care centre entrance. To book a COVID-19 test, call 5734 2024.
Testing and vaccination clinics are also operating at Seymour Health and Nexus Primary Health, while some doctor’s clinics and pharmacies are also providing vaccinations.
The Federal Government has mandated that all residential aged care staff, volunteers, and students be vaccinated from September 17.
“To help prioritise vaccinations for residential aged care and disability support workers, Kilmore District Health will be facilitating priority bookings for people who fit within this cohort,” Mr Naughton said.
People are asked to notify staff when booking that they are an aged care or disability support worker – they will require their worker permit on arrival to their appointment.
Kilmore District Health is also offering Pfizer clinics for young people aged 12 to 15 years with a higher risk of severe illness and young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The clinic is also one of the state-run clinics providing the AstraZeneca vaccine to adults aged 18 to 39 years, with informed consent.
The vaccination clinic is appointment-only and is running seven days a week with some morning, afternoon and evening availability.
To book a vaccination, contact 5734 2127 between 8.30am and 4.40pm, Monday to Saturday, or the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398.
New requirements introduced over the weekend for COVID-19 screening prior to any elective surgery meant Kilmore District Health had to rearrange the planned elective surgery list scheduled for yesterday to later in the week. All other booked elective surgery continues as planned.
Mitchell Shire residents request food donations, businesses reel in ‘last straw’ lockdown
Mitchell Shire residents and businesses are reeling after regional Victoria was placed back into lockdown on Saturday.
Love in Action Wallan, a community group providing essential supplies to the community, posted an urgent request for food supplies on Facebook over the weekend, after it was inundated with requests for assistance.
“This current lockdown has been the last straw for many of our families and they are doing it so very tough. Some families have both partners losing their jobs [or] income.
“Our food stores are the lowest they have been due to the demand and in order to continue helping as many people as we can we are asking for food donations and lots of them.”
Premier Daniel Andrews called the lockdown on Saturday morning starting at 1pm.
Victoria’s daily case numbers also reached a record high for this outbreak yesterday morning, with 71 new cases.
Statewide, the five reasons to leave home are in place, with mandatory masks, workforce limits for construction, and workforce permits required for anyone who cannot work from home.
A package of automatic cash grants, jointly funded by the federal and state governments will provide regional Victorian businesses with support during lockdown, without the need for applications.
A total of 18,000 businesses in regional Victoria will automatically receive payments of $5600, $2800 per week from August 21 to September 2 when lockdown is due to lift, if they have previously received grants under the business costs assistance round two or July extension programs.
Automatic payments of $5000, $10,000 and $20,000 per week, tiered according to venue capacity, will be made to more than 2000 licensed hospitality premises in regional Victoria that have previously received grants under the licensed hospitality venue fund 2021 or July extension programs.
Commonwealth COVID-19 Disaster Payments will apply to workers and sole-trader businesses who have lost work hours in regional areas, as they do in metropolitan areas.
In Seymour, Little Stones Cafe owner Kris Medson had to cut staff to cope with a 60 to 75 per cent drop in turnover while the cafe operates as takeaway only.
“We’ve had to completely redo all of our rosters and slash our staffing, which is devastating,” she said.
“Most days we would have about six staff on and today [Monday] we have two.”
Ms Medson said she had seen an increasing number of hospitality businesses decide not to trade this time, due to the short notice and general lockdown fatigue.
She said her decision to open was driven by the urge to maintain normalcy for herself, her staff and the community.
“A lot of people have thrown their hands in the air, it’s really tempting to do that, but we also know there’s a certain amount of normalcy for us that’s important and also for the community that’s important,” she said.
Ms Medson successfully applied for a licensed hospitality venue fund grant in June and has received all the automatic top ups since, which she said had made life easier.
“Each payment has been automatic, which is really good because I suppose the bureaucracy of filling it out each time is quite frustrating,” she said.
“It definitely doesn’t mean that we can keep our staff on the same level that we would, but it does meant that we’re not looking down a dark hole.”
With the Delta variant is impacting young people at a much higher rate than the variants Victoria has previously dealt with, in both metropolitan and regional areas restrictions have been tightened, particularly relating to childcare.
Schools remain closed, and now only vulnerable children or children of essential workers are allowed to attend childcare.
Outdoor playgrounds have also been closed, as well as skate parks, basketball hoops and outdoor gym equipment.
Woman airlifted to hospital after dog incident in Seymour
A 29-year-old Wallan woman was airlifted to Royal Melbourne Hospital last night after an incident with a dog in Seymour.
Paramedics were called to a property on Martindale Crescent in Seymour at 5:45pm on Wednesday where the victim suffered serious but non-life-threatening upper body injuries.
She was transported by ambulance helicopter to Melbourne in a stable condition.
Mitchell Shire council officers were called to investigate the alleged dog attack in Seymour on Wednesday.
The dog, believed to be a Staffordshire Bull Terrier mixed breed, was seized and has since been put down. Investigations are continuing.