Seymour to host trials
No to recorded council meetings
Wallan’s big win
WALLAN received a $5 million boost to develop better roads and enhance the town centre for small businesses and residents, creating over 60 jobs.
$3.8 million will be provided to develop road projects including providing southern ramps at the Hume Freeway and Watson Street interchange and improvements to Watson Street between the Northern Highway and Station Street as well as exploring intersection upgrades and duplication of the Northern Highway from the Hume Freeway to Wallan Secondary College.
The upgrades will improve access to the developing residential areas east of Wallan as well as Wallan train station, while also providing a vital alternative Hume Highway access point.
Northern Highway duplication would significantly reduce traffic congestion, improve travel times and make it safer for drivers to access Wallan during peak periods. PLUS THE Community Bank Adventure Playground in Wallan is the toast of the state after taking out a major award, and will now vie for a national title later this year. The playground won the prestigious Major Playspace Award at the Parks and Leisure Australia (Victoria/Tasmania) 2017 Regional Awards of Excellence last week. The award celebrates play spaces in Victoria and Tasmania over $500,000 that create a sense of ‘place’ in the community, and exhibit innovative designs that aid childhood development.
Cuts concern council
Sister act
“My sister Audrey has set me an awesome example of what you can achieve when you set your mind to it. She has done a lot to help those less fortunate and the youth in our community and I am really looking forward to getting involved in certain projects with her,” Vivien said.
“I hope I can offer a different perspective and put my own ideas into action. I hope to help the youth in our community explore physical and musical pursuits which are passions of mine and also hope to help the Youth Council promote the needs and abilities of our community’s younger generation,” she said.
Sleeping rough at ACK
Assumption College students aim to raise awareness of the significant plight of the homeless with the ACK Sleeps Out 2017 event on Friday, August 25.Keen to ensure the experience is an authentic one, Certificate 3 Events students have encouraged the school community to get involved and experience the conditions thousands of Victorians do each night as they sleep rough in the school’s Gonzales Centre and gain an understanding of what it means to be homeless.
“Our aim with the event is to raise awareness but also challenge traditional perceptions of what is a homeless person. That image of an old scruffy man or drug addict isnt always the reality with the numbers of people living in cars or as couch surfers rising.
We are hoping to make it an authentic an experience as possible, with a simple meal of soup for dinner and no creature comforts to help participants really gain an understanding of what being homeless feels like.
We also hope to raise valuable funds for St Vincent De Paul who assist the homeless through donated goods and the soup vans.” Year 12 student Mia Brennan said.
As part of their Certificate 3 in Events, the Year 11 and 12 students have been fully involved in planning the entire event, including activities, management, marketing and registration, catering and staffing.
“It has really taught us a lot about the planning and organisation that goes into an event of this scale and the need to work together as a team and make sure everyone has a say and contributes ideas,” Year 11 student Ben Gregory said.
Australia Day alive and well
“Australia Day is Australia Day. It is a most important date on the calendar,” Cr Eldridge said.
“The awards are an important part of the day and it is important that they stay,” Cr Goble said.
Local breeders take the awards
“It is a rare occasion that a ewe beats a ram for supreme champion, but this one is just exceptional. Our main aim is to get our name out there and success at events like Sheepvention is certainly helping this. A few wins has heightened our exposure.” Jodie said.
“We breed Suffolks because we like them and they look good,” Jodie said.

