Community health push for 20% funding jump

NORTHERN District Community Health wants a 20 per cent increase in State Government funding. The Kerang-based service that operates in Boort and Pyramid Hill says indexed core funding increases are needed to “ensure ongoing delivery of critical services and health promotion work”.

NDCH has joined a statewide campaign by 24 services across Victoria in their Community Health First push.

“The soil is not harmful, the EPA restriction on the soil is about movement to other sites.

“There will be pedestrian bunting as well as silt retention and hydro seeding to minimise run off.

“Stage two of the redevelopment scheduled for late in 20232024 financial year will require additional fill. This material will be utilised at this later stage.”

Mr Phillips said earthworks would continue over the next couple of weeks.

“Preparation for the building construction is well underway, with footings and services planned to be going in during February,” he said. “Council and contractors are doing all it can to minimise impacts to the community during this project”

CEO Mandy Hutchinson said: “Northern District Community Health is supporting the Community Health First campaign because we know that the key to solving our current healthcare crisis sits within our services.

“No other part of our healthcare system has the same level of community connection and stewardship and ability to rapidly enact scalable responses to emerging public health issues.

“Victoria’s community health services ensure that world-class healthcare is accessible to all, especially the most vulnerable and hard-toreach people in our communities.”

NDHC says it has enjoyed “working closely with the Andrews Labor Government over the last few years of the pandemic, but while Government seeks solutions to alleviate the current health system crisis, we hold the answers within our services.

“Our strong connections to local communities built across 50 years of operation and our ability to reach those who need world-class healthcare the most make us a pivotal component in addressing the sustained pressure being felt by our health system,” the service says.

Harvey’s special 80-year jewel

FORMER Pyramid Hill resident Harvey Bawden has been presented with a jewel marking 80 years membership of Freemasons Victoria.

The presentation to the World War Two RAAF veteran was made in Shepparton where Harvey now lives. He had been a master of the Pyramid Hill Mason Lodge.

He later retired to Bendigo where he continued membership of Freemasonry before moving to Shepparton where family members, including former federal minister Sharman Stone, live.