Get ready - it's almost time to ChillOut

SOME fresh faces and feel-good favourites join the line-up as ChillOut Festival approaches.

Choir of Hard Knocks and Lion will perform at the annual LGBTQIA+ pride festival event.

Australia's most famous choir was introduced to the public in 2006 in the awardwinning ABC TV series Choir of Hard Knocks. Now in its 16th year, they continue on their journey, with some of the original members from the award-winning documentary, to ChillOut Festival’s annual carnival day.

The choir is an incredible tool for members to overcome social isolation and homelessness through the joy and connection of singing.

Also joining the line-up is queer, black electropop/alt artist, singer, songwriter, producer and dancer Lion who recently wowed audiences at Big Sound festival and the Midsumma Festival Victoria’s Pride street party.

They join a star-studded rainbow line-up including MCs Nate Byrne and Art Simone, Kate Miller-Heidke, Karen From Finance, The Lost Girls, Cerulean (Miss First Nation 2021), Jude Perl, Elektra Lite, Tuck Shop Ladies, Greg Gould, Freddie Merkin, Dean Arcuri, DJ Eddie, Diamond and York and DJ Du Jour.

Festival ambassadors Rudy Jean Rigg, commissioner for LGBTQIA+ Communities Dr Todd Fernando, Sally Goldner and Jude Munroe will also make appearances.

Festival director Emma Ireland said that ChillOut Festival was for the whole LGBTQIA+ community, young and old, city and country. “We’re so excited that Lion will bring his high energy, joyful performance to the stage in Daylesford.”

The ongoing and regular contact the Choir of Hard Knocks provides to the members has had a profound effect on their lives, leading many of the original 52 back to either part-time or full-time study or work.

Many had become socially excluded due to their socio-economic circumstances, and the choir has enabled them to acquire new skills and rebuild personal confidence and self-esteem, which Ms. Ireland said “is the goal of ChillOut Festival for the broader LGBTQIA+ community, and the essence of this year’s theme ‘Find Your Wings’”.

“ChillOut Festival was founded on the principle of being a safe space for people to be themselves, connect, to create and celebrate community. The Choir of Hard Knocks is a gorgeous example of that in action. ChillOut is a space for people to overcome social isolation to connect with community. We are thrilled to have them perform at ChillOut Festival.”

The full festival program features over 50 events running over five days around Daylesford and Hepburn Springs. Events will range from large late night outdoor dance parties, circus, drag and comedy shows, and a Sunday morning street parade, to the more intimate, like art gallery exhibitions, social drinks, speed dating, all-gender sport events, and rainbow storytime. (Check out pages 4 and 5 in this edition of The Local.)

ChillOut Festival will run from March 9-13 (Victoria’s Labour Day long weekend) in Daylesford and Hepburn Springs, with events also organised in nearby towns Clunes and Creswick.

Lion will perform at Ballroom Blitz on Saturday, March 11, 8pm–midnight.

Choir of Hard Knocks will perform at Carnivale, Victoria Park on Sunday, March 12, 11am-5pm.

Link: www.chilloutfestival.com.au

The Local Publishing Group is proud to once again be ChillOut's Media Partner. See you in the parade!

Message From The Mayor

Council met for the first time this calendar year on 21 February. It is very pleasing to report that a Disability Action Plan for 2023-26 was adopted and the new terms of reference for the Gender Equity Advisory Committee were endorsed.

Council prepared the Disability Action Plan in partnership with our Disability Advisory Committee. Through the development of the action plan, we have identified opportunities to improve access to Council services and facilities to eliminate barriers that may prevent or inhibit access and inclusion by people living with disability.

The February Council meeting also endorsed a special rates charge to fund the Solar Savers program for another 15 residences. The program was first delivered in Hepburn Shire in 2018, and 2022/2023 is the fifth round offered to eligible residents. Solar Savers is amongst the first programs in Australia enabling households to install solar photovoltaic systems (solar PV) and pay them off through a special charge scheme over 8 years.

An affordable housing forum was held on 8 February, attended by a diverse audience of interested parties. The forum’s outcomes will help shape Council’s strategy, but discussions again highlighted the need for Council to better inform the community on its powers, ability to influence through advocacy and the resources available at its disposal to address what is a critical issue.

Council recently celebrated the completion of its successful Artisan Agriculture Project. Key project stakeholders and special guest speaker Annie Smithers shared their stories about the fruits of their labours and their growing vision for small-scale artisan agriculture in the Central Highlands region. Key achievements of the project were:

• delivering 15 events to 432 participants

• awarding $34,000 in grants to 18 artisan agriculturalists

• providing individual professional mentoring support to 29 artisan producers and growers

• establishing an online food hub for the region (Central Highlands Growers Collective)

• connecting regulators with producers to share understanding of the sector’s unique challenges.

• collating a database of 370+ artisan producers and related stakeholders in the region

• conducting and disseminating 6 ‘Meet the Maker’ interviews with local artisan producers

• developing a repository of marketing materials, including imagery, to use in future promotions/initiatives for the sector.

At the time of writing, AEMO has just made a major announcement on the VNI West project. There is mixed news for Hepburn Shire in that announcement and much more work to be done. Council’s media release can be found at www.hepburn.vic.gov.au

Cr Brian Hood MAYOR

Areas

New Disability Action Plan

Council has a new Disability Action Plan that will guide its actions in removing barriers and making adjustments to help provide an equitable experience for people living with disability.

The plan was developed in partnership with its Disability Advisory Committee, with committee members helping to identify the most meaningful and beneficial priority actions. The action plan includes a range of priorities, from raising community awareness and encouraging opportunities for employment and inclusion, through to advocating to other levels of government for improved health, housing and transport services.

We would like to thank committee members for their input and also thank those who took the time to review the draft plan and provide feedback. You can view the plan on our websitewww.hepburn.vic.gov.au

Your Town Your Future

Council will develop a range of plans and strategies in 2023 and 2024 that will guide the future of townships across the Shire. These include township Structure Plans, Urban Design Frameworks, Neighbourhood Character Assessments, Integrated Transport Strategy, Agriculture Land Study and Rural Settlement Strategy. This is part of the strategic planning work that Council is doing to protect and enhance the natural and built environment to improve livability in our Shire. Throughout this process we will be seeking input from the community to inform these documents. Watch this space.

CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

Join friends, family and community at a special evening to celebrate local women and their contribution to Hepburn Shire this International Women’s Day (IWD). IWD is celebrated on 8 March each year. Since 2005, Hepburn Shire Council has held an annual event to celebrate this day and to induct new members onto the Heather Mutimer Honour Roll.

The honour roll was established to pay tribute to women in the Shire whose contributions, courage and examples have led to significant social change for women.

When: Wednesday 8 March from 6pm to 8pm

Where: Daylesford Town Hall, 76 Vincent Street. For catering purposes please RSVP at www.trybooking.com/CFVON or at a Council Customer Service Office.

Storm Book

After the June 2021 storm Council compiled a book of stories. We are planning to do a second print run for the people who missed out. Please email us on kmexted@hepburn.vic.gov.au if you would like to order a $25 copy. There is a copy of the book at each of the Hepburn Shire Libraries for loan if you wish to read it. We’ve also put a copy in each of the cafes in Trentham and the Cosmopolitan Hotel. We plan to reprint mid-March, so please get your orders in as soon as possible.

The Council Plan 2021-2025 describes how Council will strive towards our vision, where to focus efforts, and how to measure progress. Each Focus Area has a series of priority statements, with actions against each item.