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Kilmore farmer Kevin Butler calls for takeaway food container levy to help clean up region

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Kilmore farmer Kevin Butler calls for takeaway food container levy to help clean up region

By Colin MacGillivray

KILMORE East farmer Kevin Butler has called for Mitchell Shire Council to impose a levy on takeaway food containers to help clean up rubbish in the region, saying he has been a victim of targeted rubbish dumping.

Mr Butler said his next-door neighbour had been dumping rubbish on his property since November 2020 as part of an ongoing feud.

Mr Butler said he had been forced to pick up the rubbish daily, and had lobbied council to help.

“The shire aren’t able to tell me whether they’ve fined the man,” he said.

“From what I understand council do seem to fine people on major dumping issues, but not as much on smaller littering issues.

“I’ve been in touch with the EPA [Environment Protection Authority] who said they normally hand it over to the shires, but I don’t think a lot of the shires have been doing their work and issuing fines to stop it from happening.”

Mr Butler said he would like to see council impose a levy to discourage littering.

“Because Kilmore has got such a problem generally with litter, I really think council should consider levying a charge of $1 on every takeaway container that’s sold, because invariably it’s going to end up on our highways,” he said.

“Littering has become a massive problem for Kilmore now that it’s more of a peri-urban area.”

Mitchell Shire Council chief executive Brett Luxford said council was investigating Mr Butler’s complaints but was unable to comment further.

“Mitchell Shire Council and its local laws unit are aware of complaints raised by a community member,” he said.

“Due to privacy reasons, council is unable to disclose specifics about any cases in Mitchell Shire. We take reports of dumping very seriously and will investigate accordingly.”

Mr Butler said he wanted to see more deterrents for littering, especially when it was targeted in nature.

“It’s a neighbour-from-hell situation. I’ve not had this before,” he said.

“In nine months he’s filled up more than three rubbish bins full of litter on my property.

“I set up surveillance cameras and we’ve got photos of him throwing litter onto the road out front.

“If these sorts of people get away with it without any ramifications, they’ll just continue to do it.”

NCR readers reflect on lockdown as Melbourne’s lockdown breaks world record

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NCR readers reflect on lockdown as Melbourne’s lockdown breaks world record

FATIGUED, missing out, over it, bitter, grateful, happy, heartbreaking, done: these are some words Mitchell Shire residents have employed to describe their feelings about an extended local lockdown, as metropolitan Melbourne’s lockdown breaks the world record.

Melbourne has today overtaken Buenos Aires to become the city that has endured the longest cumulative lockdown in the world.

Melbourne has spent 246 days in lockdown since the pandemic was declared on March 12, 2020, beating the previous record set by Buenos Aires by one day. Mitchell Shire has spent close to six months in lockdown.

The Review asked readers on social media how they were feeling and coping, and the 80 responses showed a mixture of emotions.

Many commented that they felt for children and young people in lockdown.

“As a family with both parents still working, whilst I am thankful for this, I am watching my children’s grades slip and the impacts it’s having on them being at home 24/7. Missing once-in-a-lifetime age related events and activities,” Sharney Leighton wrote.

“Unfair for the children, especially on the school holidays, no art classes, no horse riding, no friends allowed over, no school holiday programs. What’s next? It’s making us feel sad,” Enza Bushby said.

Anna Barry, a Wallan-based maternity and newborn photographer, said she was tired of rescheduling clients, and that parents were missing out on special moments too.

“This time round is more depressing somehow. I think we have all given up hope,” she said.

Several were frustrated to still be waiting for eased restrictions despite having been fully vaccinated for months.

“My husband and I had COVID last year, we have both had both our vaccinations. But Dan says we still have to be home not see our grandchildren,” Jane Catherine Dickman said.

“In my opinion it’s time he just let everyone be responsible for their own lives now.”

Scott James said he was ‘double vaxed and happy to pay tax’, but said he thought Premier Daniel Andrews needed a better understanding of each industry’s struggles.

“Part of me wishes he’d at least had some exposure to the small business, hospitality and tourism portfolio and maybe we could have had a more balanced approach to pandemic management and not the world record.”

Some expressed anger towards the Federal Government’s vaccine rollout and hotel quarantine program.

“[Prime Minister Scott Morrison] has failed on both counts and it is due his inept government that we have been in lockdowns as a result,” Leigh Paice said.

Others put blame on non-compliance and people having parties, after Mr Andrews last week said AFL Grand Final parties were the cause of a steep jump in case numbers.

While many expressed frustration, there was also understanding and gratitude, particularly for modern technology and tools like Zoom.

“I’m not angry at the lockdown, I understand why it’s necessary,” Nicole Rudd said.

“Let’s get real people, get vaccinated, there’s a choice of three now. Let’s stay home, do the right things and follow the rules, we are so close, yet not following these simple steps will push us back.”

Lions take home two top honours at GVL awards night

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Lions take home two top honours at GVL awards night

By Tricia Mifsud

SEYMOUR Football Club’s senior coach Ben Davey and first-year Lions recruit Jack O’Sullivan have taken out top honours at the Goulburn Valley League, GVL, awards night on September 21.

The duo’s awards reflect the season had by the Lions, who were top of the league’s ladder until the last round where they then fell to a third-place finish.

Davey was awarded the league’s coach of the year while O’Sullivan, in just his first season with GVL, was awarded the Morrison Medal, the league’s best and fairest, and did so seven votes clear of Kyabram’s Zac Keogh.

O’Sullivan, 23, polled 22 votes in the Morrison Medal count and became the first Lion in 17 years to receive the award, and only the fifth in the club’s history.

Davey said that he was “rapt” for O’Sullivan, and the medal was an award for his efforts.

“He’s obviously a very talented footballer and he works incredibly hard,” Davey said.

“As a role model, what he provides for all the young guys is great, he sets such a great example on how to work hard. He’s not quiet, and he’s always willing to help.

“He’s been good for me too and suggesting new ways to help in the midfield and implementing different techniques he’s very good at.

“I would say he is one of the best recruits Seymour Football Club have had in a long time.”

For himself, leading up to the awards night, Davey said he hadn’t thought of the awards in the slightest, particularly the coach of the year award, and despite the way he led the side, wasn’t expecting his name to be read out on the night.

“I’ve been that focused on our teams and players, and been flat out resigning players, and having player meetings, that the awards didn’t cross my mind,” he said.

“I was watching the livestream, and I had it on mute because I had the TV on too, then I could see things rolling across the screen, and there I was.”

Davey said that the award recognises the amount of work that goes into being a head coach, but he’s more than willing to commit to a club like the Lions which he said has a talented young and exciting list.

“It’s such a cliché that you’re not trying to ever be rewarded something, but it was nice for that bit of recognition for your hard work.”

“I think until you coach a team or are involved in a team, you don’t realise how much time goes into it. You’re always on the phone to the players, having conversations, then the hands-on time, and so much time goes into game plan, selection reviewing of other teams and your own team.

“I think just being part of a young and exciting group has kept me going and you just feed off the enthusiasm that they bring and their hunger to be good and better.”

From when GVL announced the season’s cancellation, Davey and the leadership group set priorities to commence preparations for 2022.

Davey said this began by resigning all the club’s 2021 list and acknowledging that despite the season they had this year, they must begin preparations for next year from the “bottom of the mountain”.

“The leadership group really wanted to drive the direction of the club and as soon as the season got called off, we got with the team and reviewed what we thought went well and what didn’t,” he said.

“They were keen on getting resigning done, and we did that in three weeks, and everyone signed. Now we can focus on bring other talent in.

“We’re going to change quite a bit next year; we’ve got a good grounding but it’s going to be different.

“We’ve done really well and had a great year but now we’re back at the bottom of the mountain and it’s what we do starting now to get to the top again next year.”

NCR (2021-10-05)

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First-time coach Brooke Currell wins junior coach of the year for Broadford

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First-time coach Brooke Currell wins junior coach of the year for Broadford

BROADFORD Junior Football Club’s under 9s coach Brooke Currell was awarded junior coach of the year for the Seymour District Junior Football and Netball League, SDJFNL, in  her first ever season coaching side.

Currell said that the award came as a major surprise and recognised the amount of work she had put into the position during preseason to coach the team to the best of her ability.

“It was my first official coaching gig full stop; it was a little tricky because there was no position description or a detailed guide on what needed to be done. The main thing is that you get your coaching certification online through AFL Victoria and that’s what I did,” she said.

“I put a lot of hours into researching and learning, when I put my hand up for something I fully commit to it, and what helped also was that AFL Victoria give you a lot of reference tools and heaps of sample training drills when you do the certification.”

At first, Currell was a little reluctant to take on the role, unsure of how well she would be able to coach the side with no experience. Once settled into the position, Currell was amazed at how well the side took to one another and showed an eagerness to learn.

“I was a little bit fearful to take on the role, I was worried that maybe I wouldn’t know enough,” she said.

“And there is a little stigma of women taking on roles like coaching and there was probably a little bit of fear that I’d be judged, but it was the complete opposite.

“There was a lot of work that went into training sessions, but one of the best things was halfway through the season, the kids’ skill set was quite incredible, so I started to tailor the sessions to trial technical drills, full field with different components to consider and they just excelled.”

Currell is no stranger to the Broadford Football Netball Club, having played netball for the Kangaroos since she was 14 years old, currently playing in the B grade where she also was awarded the club’s best and fairest for her grade this year.

She said that she wouldn’t have been able to commit to all her positions, and do them as well as she did, without the support of her assistant coach and the parents of the playing group.

“Considering how many hours were taken away from home life; I had lockdown interruption, two small businesses to keep afloat, family life, coaching, and still trying to scrape in a couple of seasons of netball before I retire, I am just glad that I was able to perform in all the roles,” she said.

“I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the playing group’s parents, and they never hesitated to volunteer to full roads on game days and my assistant coach Ash was a huge part of my growth and development and he kept the kids in line when the kids got a bit rowdy.”

Currell said that depending on whether she would be able to juggle the balance of family, work, and sport would depend on whether she takes a coaching position at the club again next year.

It is something she is interested in doing and hasn’t disregarded the idea yet.

“It was a lot to juggle, but it was such a rewarding experience, and I wouldn’t change it even knowing now the amount of work that went into it,” she said.

“I’d love to have some involvement again, but I just need to see how my two-year-old is going when the time comes round. If he needs me, then I won’t be able to allow that time, but if we continue to have the great parent group, and I know I have my amazing family supporting me, I would love to do it.”

COVID disaster payments to end when full vaccination reaches 80 per cent

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COVID disaster payments to end when full vaccination reaches 80 per cent

Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has announced the COVID-19 disaster payment scheme for workers who have lost income will end, state by state, when a full vaccination rate of 80 per cent is reached, regardless of lockdowns.

At the 70 per cent double dose mark, the payment will also stop being renewed automatically, and workers living in commonwealth-declared hotspots will need to reconfirm their eligibility to reapply.

Once a state or territory reaches 80 per cent full vaccination, the payment will drop over two weeks before ending, and no new applications will be allowed, even if an area goes back into lockdown.

Victoria is expected to reach 70 per cent vaccination by the end of October, an 80 per cent in early November.

Since June the disaster payments have provided weekly payments of up to $600 for those living in commonwealth-declared hotspots who’ve been stood down or lost 20 hours or more of work due to lockdowns. 2.16 million Australians have successfully applied for the disaster payments, which has totalled $9 billion.

The commonwealth declares an area a hotspot based on case numbers and threat, not based on lockdowns or restrictions implemented by the state governments.

“As I have said before we can’t eliminate the virus, we need to learn to live with it in a COVID-safe way. This means we must ease restrictions as vaccination rates hit 70-80 per cent in accordance with the plan agreed at national cabinet,” Mr Frydenberg said in a statement.

“As restrictions ease the economy is well-positioned to bounce back. Today’s announcement about the winding down of the COVID disaster payment will provide businesses and households with the certainty they need to plan for the future.”

New Kyneton interactive exhibition highlights Ranges’ biodiversity crisis

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New Kyneton interactive exhibition highlights Ranges’ biodiversity crisis

THE Macedon Ranges is facing a biodiversity crisis, with many threatened species at risk of extinction, despite more than 376 animal species and 1457 varieties of native plants recorded in the shire.

A new interactive exhibition launched at the Kyneton Museum showcases the unique flora and fauna of the Macedon Ranges while exploring the threats to biodiversity in the shire and what people can do to help.

The exhibition entitled A Biodiversity Crisis: Animals and Plants of the Macedon Ranges brings together a collection of historical accounts of local species and photographs.

Visitors can get up close with a collection of animal specimens or even peek inside some natural tree hollows to see who lives inside.

Director of planning and environment Angela Hughes said that the natural environment of the Macedon Ranges ws unique and consisted of a high diversity of threatened habitat types.

“This exhibit will teach you about our existing local flora and fauna, but also about that which has been lost,” she said.

“We need to learn about the past if we are going to have any chance at protecting diverse species of the future.”

Schools are encouraged to express interest in participating in educational workshops and talks associated with this interactive exhibition.

The exhibition will run until February 27, 2022.

Adult admission price is $5.10 or $3.10 for senior/concession, and a family admission ticket is $10.20. No prior booking is required.

The museum is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, from 11am to 4pm. Public holidays may affect hours.

For more information, including school group bookings, call 1300 888 802 or email at museum@mrsc.vic.gov.au.

June 9 storm impact assessments show greater damage than initially reported

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June 9 storm impact assessments show greater damage than initially reported

TARGETED calls and site assessments have recently confirmed nearly 1000 properties across Macedon Ranges Shire suffered damage from high winds and storms in early June.

A Secondary Impact Assessment (SIA) process led by council’s recovery team and support staff has involved calling residents and landowners across multiple townships and districts since early September.

Municipal recovery manager Tony Grimme said the assessment team’s work has revealed about 200 people had not previously reported the damage on their property to council or other authorities.

“This indicates many local property owners have been tackling debris on their own properties or securing contractors and activating claims through their insurance companies, without accessing other support,” he said.

Previously unreported damage to private assets over the past fortnight includes dwellings, water damage, equipment, vehicles, sheds, fallen trees, fencing and stock losses.

“This shows admirable community resilience, but we are aware some people may only just now be recognising some tasks are beyond them,” he said.

“They may still need extra on-ground resources or personal support and counselling to help them recover and get on with their lives.

“Consolidating the information on the damage caused to private properties will give us a clearer picture of what work still lies ahead as part of long-term recovery across the shire.”

The assessment is also providing evidence of future funding assistance needed in the Macedon Ranges while council advocates for resources from other agencies and levels of government.

Mr Grimme said that if any landowners had still not registered their storm damage with either Bushfire Recovery Victoria or Council’s Recovery Team, they should call council directly to join the SIA.

“We understand it’s a frustrating time for everyone affected by the storm, but the more detailed assessment Council and other agencies have of this emergency’s community impact, the better.”

“Not only can we help people with organising Bushfire Recovery Victoria’s site assessments and referrals to social support services like Sunbury Cobaw Community Health, we can identify gaps in the delivery of recovery services to help plan for the next major incident in our community.”

Residents are urged to keep reporting storm damage via email recovery@mrsc.vic.gov.au and provide their contact details for a follow-up call from the assessment team.

Wallan awarded junior football club of the year

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Wallan awarded junior football club of the year

THE Wallan Junior Football Club has been recognised as junior club of the year at the Northern Football Netball League, NFNL, junior football awards on September 13.

Wallan’s hard work both on and off the field in what was another challenging season for football clubs was acknowledged ahead of finalists Hurstbridge, Keon Park, Research and Yarrambat.

Club president of the Wallan Junior Football Club, Daniel Brundell, said that the award come to the surprise of the club.

“To be honest, it come as a surprise, and there were no secrets revealed prior to finding out on the night,” Brundel said.

“Basically, we were told of the awards night and when it was happening for the juniors.

“Junior football club of the year was Pretty much the last award of the night. We made the finalists of about half a dozen clubs or so, then all of sudden the junior club of the year was Wallan.”

Brundell said that the award recognised the efforts of the club, and not just the achievements of the players on the field. He added that the award makes the club impressionable for families looking for a junior club to play with.

“It’s a whole club effort right from the players, parents, and the committee members,” he said.

“It’s been a tough two years both on and off field so this recognises a massive community effort.

“I think everyone understands the dealing we’ve had to deal with and we’ve all just done our best and been as resilient as we can be.

“In the time I’ve been with Wallan, it’s the first time we’ve won the award and I’ve been here for about six years. It’s a good look for the area when families are contemplating ‘do we want to try football’ and they realise the club has been awarded club of the year.”

Fixtures across all football leagues the last two years have been compromised due to the COVID-19 lockdowns, but Brundel said this didn’t get in the way of the junior players.

He said that the children were always occupied with football, and other commitments like school that he didn’t see the pandemic detrimentally effect the players.

“I think on that front, we’ve been luckier than the seniors in the fact we’ve had more time on the ground, which has definitely helped,” he said.

“The younger the kids are, they seemed to be well occupied as well with things like school. They were just happy to be able to play the games they did.”

Brundel also took the time to thank the club’s sponsors which in a difficult year, still committed to the club.

‘It’s been a tough years for sponsors, so I’d like to thank the sponsors that support the club. They don’t go unnoticed.”

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