Nightlife in Macedon Ranges

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September 8, 2020

DAILY exercise habits sparked an idea for Macedon Ranges residents Tina Hardy and Monika Haller, who decided to explore the nightlife of wildlife and share their findings.

Ms Hardy and Ms Haller set up wildlife cameras at spots on their walking tracks, where they have seen burrows and homes of animals, like wombats.

Ms Hardy said the idea came to her while walking, when she showed Ms Haller a wombat burrow she had discovered.

“My friend and I started walking our dogs around my property a lot more with the advent of COVID-19,” Ms Hardy said.

“I knew of one wombat burrow and showed her it, then we started playing detective and discovered a lot more.

“One of them had been dug up a bit and I had an old wildlife camera, so I thought I’d put it in front of the burrow and see what happened.

“First couple of days were a bit disappointing with nothing coming up then there were four or five pictures and videos of two wombats, I was blown away.”

Ms Hardy said upon her observation of one of the wombats, who she named Wally, she discovered he had a mild case of mange.

She found a group online that could treat the mange for Wally.

“They supplied me with some treatment and a ‘flap’ which holds the treatment to go in front of his burrow,” Ms Hardy said

“I had to name him for them so I called him Wally Wombat. When I sent them the pictures of Wally, I also sent pictures of the other wombat and asked them to confirm that it didn’t have mange.

“They came back and said yep, she’s all good and she is probably carrying a joey in her pouch. As you can imagine, I was then completely hooked. She is called Wendy.”

Ms Hardy said after a few visits, she was able to see Wally fully recovered and gaining healthy weight.

“I had started posting some of the videos and pictures to my own Facebook page and people were loving it and loving each of the little personalities we were getting to know. Kangaroos, wallabies, kookaburras, possums, even pygmy possums, echidna and wombats of course.

“The feedback I was getting on my own page was incredible, people were sharing and commenting about how great it was to just see these guys doing their own thing in the wild and particularly at the moment with so much else going on.

“Wally was getting better, Wendy and her joey, Benny the Wallaby, Karen the Kangaroo and her joey and of course the echidna event.

“We decided the best way to show all of this was to set up its own Facebook page, so we did that last weekend and have loaded quite a bit – there is lots to come, though.”

To share in the nightlife of the animals, visit Wildlife Watching in the Ranges on Facebook.

Hanging rock group announced

Weather & Environment

The North Central Review

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September 8, 2020

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THE future of Hanging Rock lies in the hands of the newly elected Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG), made up of three community representatives and an independent chair.

The group will be responsible for advising Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio on appropriate management of Hanging Rock.

The three community members include Bryanna Sandercock, Steve Wroe and Dermot Henry, while the independent chair role calls on John Nevins.

Traditional Owners from the Wurundjeri, Taungurung and Dja Dja Wurrung peoples, have each been invited to nominate a representative to be part of the MAG.

This will help the MAG ensure the aspirations of Traditional Owners and community interest groups are considered in all decision making regarding Hanging Rock.

To implement high priority actions in the rock’s strategic plan over the three years, the group will receive $3 million for the process.

This may include environmental protections, greater recognition of Hanging Rock’s ancestral and cultural significance to Traditional Owners and enhancing recreation opportunities for residents and visitors.

Selection of the community members was based on a public expression of interest process and the independent chair was directly appointed by the Minister.

The group includes nine positions: three individual community representatives, independent chair, representatives from Traditional Owners, DELWP Loddon Mallee regional director and Macedon Ranges Shire Council chief executive.

“Hanging Rock is one of Victoria’s most significant natural assets and the Victorian Government is committed to protecting the site for current and future generations,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.

“Appointment of the Ministerial Advisory Group demonstrates the Victorian Government’s ongoing commitment to protecting Hanging Rock’s cultural, natural and environmental values well into the future.”

Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas congratulated the group.

“I congratulate the new MAG and know their number one priority will be to help protect this iconic place for future generations to enjoy,” she said.

“The MAG will ensure the aspirations of Traditional Owners and community interest groups are considered in all decision making for the strategic management of Hanging Rock.”

Candidate wants governance back on track

The North Central Review

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September 8, 2020

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Candidate wants governance back on track

A BELIEF that local governance has lost its way is the main motivation for Romsey resident Geoff Neil, who will stand in for Macedon council elections.

Mr Neil grew up in Melbourne and moved to Romsey in 1977 where he started work in the Macedon Ranges a year later.

After starting his own family, Mr Neil became involved in local governance in 1986, for three reasons that were of importance to him.

“There was a lack of play equipment around the town. It needed a footpath between the estate where we lived and Main Street, and there was a lack of kindergarten facilities,” he said.

“They were my concerns as a parent, and as usual the time it took to complete these tasks [meant] my kids were about to go to high school.

“That’s where it started for me – giving back to the community. Since then there have been many community groups and projects.”

Mr Neil said his interest in running for council was to close the ‘widening gap’ between government, and the people they were ‘serving’.

“I am running for council because of my belief that local governance has lost its way,” he said.

“It is becoming disconnected from the community it is supposed to serve. Becoming very corporatized with minimal communication.

“Not supportive of local businesses and trades, a budget of percentages and not dollars. I want to reconnect. Local governance is supposed to be the area of government closest to the people but all that I see is a widening gap.

“What plan have we got when COVID-19 is over? The silence is deafening.”
Mr Neil said his previous work experience meant he had the qualities needed to be a councillor.

“I must have [leadership qualities] given my work environment. I have previously been a shire president and mayor. I believe I did that well,” he said.

“I think you need to talk to people to find out exactly what the issue is then address it.”

Feedback wanted on Yan Yean Road

The North Central Review

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September 8, 2020

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THE community is being asked for feedback on the design of stage two of the Yan Yean Road upgrade.

The project’s environment effects statement has been made available to the public through an exhibition that started on Wednesday and is open until October 9.

The statement examined the potential environmental, social, cultural and economic impacts of the upgrade and how they will be managed during construction and beyond.

Member for Yan Yean Danielle Green said it was a further opportunity for the community to have input into design for the project and encouraged submissions to Planning Panels Victoria on the road upgrade.

Through submissions, community members can allow their views to be considered as part of planning approval decisions for the project.

The Yan Yean community has already played a key role in the design process, with the design for the Bridge Inn Road intersection selected following extensive community consultation and technical investigations.

The proposed intersection will reconstruct the current intersection to the north-east of its current position in order to retain two Doreen river red gum trees, in line with community wishes.

The design will also retain the old Doreen Post Office building and provide a new service lane for commercial property access.

The upgrade, which stretches from Kurrak Road in Yarrambat to Bridge Inn Road in Doreen, aims to improve safety and traffic flow and complete the Yan Yean Road corridor with two lanes in each direction between Plenty and Doreen.

Ms Green said the upgrade would provide a safer and faster journey for 24,000 drivers daily.

“The community made it clear they wanted to save the two heritage-listed river red gums at Doreen’s gateway,” she said.

“So, we’re thrilled that this design delivers the result locals hoped for, and the much-loved Doreen General Store will be saved too.”

The environment effects statement can be viewed online and a free information pack can be sent out on request. The deadline for submissions is 5pm on October 9.

For more information on how to make a submission or to view the environment effects statement, visit www.roadprojects.vic.gov.au/yyr-ees or call 1800 105 105.

New CEO to guide Whittlesea

The North Central Review

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September 8, 2020

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THE City of Whittlesea has appointed a new chief executive to help guide the municipality’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Craig Lloyd will take over from acting chief executive Joe Carbone next month after spending two and a half years as chief executive at neighbouring Murrindindi Shire Council.

Mr Lloyd’s appointment means Mr Carbone, who did not apply for the permanent chief executive position, will return to his consulting business and directorship positions.

Mr Carbone was appointed acting chief executive prior to the dismissal of Whittlesea councillors in March this year.

Mr Carbone will stay on until October 12 to help provide a smooth transition into the job for Mr Lloyd.

Mr Lloyd has extensive senior executive experience, including roles with state and local government, emergency services and not-for-profit organisations.

As well as serving as Murrindindi Shire Council’s chief executive, Mr Lloyd was previously a director at the City of Greater Bendigo.

His qualifications include a masters of business administration, masters of project management and a postgraduate certificate in community development.

Mr Lloyd is a board member of both the Bendigo Cemeteries Trust and Regional Development Australia’s Hume region.

Whittlesea council administrator chair Lydia Wilson said Mr Lloyd’s community-focused character, depth of local government experience and skills in several technical areas made him a stand-out candidate.

“With my fellow administrator colleagues, The Hon Bruce Billson and Ms Peita Duncan, we have undertaken an exhaustive recruitment process that attracted many high calibre candidates to our CEO role,” Ms Wilson said.

“We were very impressed by Craig’s extensive qualifications and his experience, which extends beyond local government and includes multiple Victorian emergency services agencies.

“However, it is Craig’s deep commitment to grass roots community engagement and his shared vision that the panel of administrators have for this council to be an exemplar in local government and deliver at a very high level for our community that we were most drawn to.”

Ms Wilson said Mr Lloyd was skilled in many facets of local government such as community engagement, environment, economic development, emergency management and IT.

Ms Wilson thanked Mr Carbone for his efforts as acting chief executive during a tough transition period.

“I would personally like to thank Joe for his stable guidance during what was a significant period of change at the start of his tenure in March 2020,” she said.

“Since then he has put in a huge amount of time, effort and energy into leading this organisation and our community through the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Council approves extra COVID relief

The North Central Review

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September 8, 2020

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THE City of Whittlesea administrators voted unanimously in favour of a provisional allocation of $1 million towards the city’s COVID-19 relief and recovery efforts at last week’s council meeting.

Included in the allocation is a further $300,000 on top of the $200,000 already assigned to council’s COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund to help the city’s non-government organisations to continue to provide food, clothing, blankets and access to support services for residents during metropolitan Melbourne’s extended stage-four lockdown.

Council also set aside $500,000 for a Business Relief and Resilience Program to help businesses withstand the lockdown period.

Administrator chair Lydia Wilson said the allocations reflected council’s commitment to helping residents and businesses through the COVID-19 crisis.

“We are very pleased to commit a further $300,000 to fund a second stage of our COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund that was established in April and has already helped nearly 6000 people living in our city,” she said.

“The initial $200,000 Emergency Relief Fund is almost exhausted, having provided financial grants to 18 non-government organisations on the front line of delivering basic material goods and support services to people in need at this very challenging time.

“We are also very pleased to announce $500,000 to support our local businesses who continue to experience a very tough time due to ongoing closures and reduced trade.

“The Business Relief and Resilience Program will provide financial support and local economic stimulus initiatives to help maintain business viability, re-activate our shopping precincts and boost our local economy.”

Acting chief executive Joe Carbone said council would mentor business to help them adapt to the challenges of COVID-19.

“The pandemic remains very much in the response and relief phase and council continues to play a strong role in that phase,” he said.

“The activation of spaces in and around businesses will be a key theme that will drive our business assistance grants approach.

“There will be opportunities for businesses to get creative, and for council to be creative alongside our businesses with how we can encourage more people to visit and transact with local businesses.

“Funding is available to all of our non-government organisations, including CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse) and Indigenous groups that are providing direct support to the people living in the City of Whittlesea.”

Ms Wilson said funding allocations had been considered based on gaps in other financial support available and in consultation with front-line agencies, the broader community and local businesses via surveys and other engagement activities and insights.

“We knew that the recovery phase of COVID-19 was still a long way off when the State Government re-introduced stage-three restrictions in July and soon after, these current and very strict stage-four containment measures came into effect,” she said.

“Our community and our local businesses are experiencing wide-scale socio-economic impacts that are not subsiding and we need to provide further relief and response measures now.”

Radio station tunes in to seniors festival

The North Central Review

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September 8, 2020

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Radio station tunes in to seniors festival

WHITTLESEA broadcaster Plenty Valley FM 88.6 is offering a unique program for the region’s older residents as part of this year’s Victorian Seniors Festival.

The station has joined other community radio stations across the state to broadcast the festival’s Radio Reimagined program, which includes music, radio plays, spoken-word features and other entertainment.

The festival, in its 38th year, was forced to adapt its usual program of live performances to cope with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent social-distancing requirements.

Festival manager Chris Reidy said radio programming played a key role in helping this year’s festival reach as many people as possible.

Radio Reimagined will be playing on Plenty Valley FM throughout September, with Victorian Senior Festival programs every Monday from 12pm to 2pm until September 28 and every Thursday from 12pm to 2pm until October 1.

Included as part of the station’s Monday programming are: A Night at the Theatre; At the Picture Palace; Radio Plays – Agatha Christie series and Scones, Lamingtons and Chocolate Rolls; Spoken Word – Stories from the Pier and Dark Tales.

Thursday programming will include spoken word, music features and radio plays including Bing Crosby and Friends, and one-off music specials such as Little Richard, Johnnie O’Keefe and Friends, The Day the Music Died and Jessie Lloyd’s Mission Songs project.

The new radio component of the festival was launched by Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers Luke Donnellan.

“Usually my simple message is to get out of the house and engage, participate, be involved and do something. This time around I’m encouraging people still to be engaged with the seniors festival, but it will be online and through radio,” Mr Donnellan said.

“During this period of coronavirus, we can’t be out of the house, we can’t be engaging with one another in the same way we usually do, so as a government and as a team we’ve put together [a lot of entertainment] for the seniors festival.”

The festival also includes an online component, and people can find more information at www.seniorsonline.vic.gov.au/festival.

MP defends COVID-19 road map

The North Central Review

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September 8, 2020

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By Colin MacGillivray

STATE Member for Yan Yean Danielle Green has defended the government’s roap map for reopening after stage four COVID-19 lockdown restrictions after several groups criticised the plan.

Groups such as the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Australian Hotels Association, and Real Estate Institute of Victoria were critical of the road map to ‘COVID normal’ announced by Premier Daniel Andrews on Sunday, saying a prolonged lockdown would further harm the economy.

Under the plan, the City of Whittlesea, along with the rest of metropolitan Melbourne, will enter the first step of the reopening process on Monday.

Curfew will be pushed back an hour from 8pm to 9pm and people may have one nominated visitor allowed to come to their home if they live alone and are not in an intimate relationship.

Whittlesea would enter the second step of the plan some time after September 28 when Victoria’s daily average number of new COVID-19 cases had been between 30 and 50 for two consecutive weeks.

Victoria recorded 41 new cases of the virus yesterday – the fewest new cases recorded in a single day since June.

The number of active cases within Whittlesea also continued to plummet, falling to a near two-month low of 74.

In the second stage of the road map, up to five people from a maximum of two households could meet outside and prep, grade one, grade two and VCE and VCAL students would return to onsite learning at school.

People will not be allowed to leave their home without reason until October 26 at the earliest, and the soonest possible time Victoria could hit its ‘COVID normal’ target is November 23.

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry labelled the road map a ‘massive blow for business’, saying many businesses would be forced to close and lay off employees with no exact timeframe for an easing of restrictions.

The Australian Hotels Association also warned many publicans faced a ‘debt cliff’ if licenced venues were not reopened soon, and the Real Estate Institute of Victoria said the plant kept ‘the property market shut down for an uncertain period’.

Ms Green said she understood the frustrations of the groups and the general public, but believed the economy would be worse off in the long term if restrictions were eased prematurely.

“I’m not surprised [people are frustrated],” she said.

“Everyone wants to get back to work. I want to get back to work.

“Now at least we have a road map and we have clear milestones that we need to pass for the various stages of coming out of lockdown.

“I think the business community needs to understand too that even when restrictions are lifted, it doesn’t mean consumers are going to vote with their feet immediately.

“Having a road map and some restrictions lifted is part of the equation, but another part of the equation is having the consumers and the community feel safe again.

“We’re all going to have to work hard to get their confidence back.”

Ms Green commended the people in the City of Whittlesea for continuing to abide by lockdown restrictions, and said better times were on the horizon if everyone continued to work together.

More information on the Victorian roap map out of lockdown is avialable at www.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-covid-19-restrictions-roadmaps.

Call for Community Comforter contributions

The North Central Review

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September 8, 2020

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Call for Community Comforter contributions

By Colin MacGillivray

PEOPLE can make a unique contribution to the social fabric of Whittlesea – literally – with the launch of a community textile art project.

The project, entitled the Community Comforter, will be a large fabric quilt made up of a patchwork of hand-stitched and woven squares donated by the City of Whittlesea community.

The Community Comforter project was launched last month and is open to people of all ages.

City of Whittlesea art and engagement coordinator Mahony Kiely said creating textile art by sewing or weaving could often be therapeutic, and was encouraged for people who felt isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The weaving aspect utilises mindfulness tasks that were recommended by an art therapist, and the sewing aspect invites people to reflect on joyous times in the past when they felt comfortable and secure and safe,” she said.

“Knowing the way the brain works, if we reflect on those things we strengthen the neural pathways around feeling secure and happy and returning to those memories, rather than strengthening the neural pathways around feeling anxious.

“We are trying to encourage people to reflect on happy times when they felt secure and safe and make a piece of art based on that using materials they might find at home or be able to recycle from existing things.”

Ms Kiely said organisers hoped people might enjoy the process of creating a square for the Community Comforter so much that they would go on to stitch together their own quilts or rugs.

She said the project had the potential to unite isolated and elderly members of the community.

“People are now finding ways to be connected and look after their mental health,” she said.

“We’re thinking this might be good for older people who might be living alone or have plenty of spare time on their hands.

“I’ve had enquiries from activity managers at aged care homes.”

Ms Kiely said the ultimate aim of the project was to showcase Whittlesea’s diversity and creativity.

“It was about trying to get people to do something simple that might be good for their mental health and then inviting them to send that in,” she said.

“Ideally at the end we’ll see that idea of community reflected.

“Everyone’s an individual and they only send in one piece, but at the end when it all comes together it’s a metaphor for community.

“The message is that we’re not alone, no matter how alone we feel.”

People can find more information on the Community Comforter project, including details on how to submit a square, by visiting www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/media/5744/community-comforter-flyer.pdf or emailing connectingcommunity@whittlesea.vic.gov.au.

Submissions must be made by October 1.

Magpies re-sign coaches

The North Central Review

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September 8, 2020

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By Jackson Russell

Wallan has begun preparations for the 2021 Riddell District Football Netball League season, re-signing both football and netball senior coaches.

After breaking the Magpies’ finals drought and taking the side to a grand final appearance, Daniel Nolan will again head the senior football side next year.

Nolan said he was excited and honoured to be coaching the club for another season.

“I’m excited to get through the challenge of COVID-19 and work with the committee so we can be sustainable for the future,” he said.

“It was a quick and easy decision; I was ready to recommit.

“It’s a great family club, our playing group has a great culture and it’s somewhere I feel we can continue to have sustained success.”

Nolan said he was excited about the future of the club, with nine players from last year’s grand final side aged 22 or younger, the majority of which played their junior footy at Wallan and won the under 18.5 premiership in 2017.

“Now those players are coming through and really having an impact at senior level… which is exciting for the future of the club,” he said.

Nolan said last year’s finals success, including a reserves flag, and heartbreaking 85-point grand final loss to Rupertswood served as motivation for 2021.

“That style of football really held up for most of the finals series and we’re confident we can take it to the next level in 2021,” he said.

“My number one aim over this break is to retain our playing group because I believe this list is good enough to challenge. We won’t be going on a big recruiting drive, it’s about retaining from within.”

Senior netball coach Chris Cameron returns to the club after guiding the A Grade team to a preliminary final appearance, along with coaching the RDFNL side in interleague competition.

Cameron said with 2020 not panning out as planned, he had some unfinished business at Greenhill Reserve.

“We did a lot of work in the background last year building on a strong culture and this year would’ve been really exciting for all four teams,” he said.

“I know we’ve worked really hard since I jumped on in 2018 rebuilding netball and we’re in a really good position and I’m just not ready to step away.”

The Magpies have been able to retain most of their 2019 list and add some new faces with Victorian Netball League experience.

Cameron said the Magpies had added goal attack Chloe Gray, who has VNL experience with the Casey Demons.

“We’ve had a really strong A Grade squad but I think she’s the last piece of the puzzle to strengthen the squad we already have,” he said.

“What we’ve done is offered all the girls from the 2020 squad a spot in 2021 so we’re taking this as just a really long preseason and we’ll come out firing next year.

“I think it’s going to be a great and exciting 2021 season and I can’t wait to get back on the court and down to business.”