www.LocalPaper.com.au
The L ocal Paper - Wednesday, December 14, 2016 - Page 5
Local News
Commission boss hits back Volunteers complete course
● Hillel Benedykt, Past Grand Master of Freemasons Victoria
5 scholarships at Middle Kinglake PS ■ A Past Grand Master of Freemasons Victoria, Hillel Benedykt, attended at Middle Kinglake Primary School on Monday (Dec. 12) to present five scholarships to local students. Mr Benedykt said: “I'm here once again to present scholarships to five students on behalf of Freemasons Victoria “It's very humbling. Freemasons have been supporting this and two other primary schools in the area that were destroyed by bushfires several years ago.”
Just Briefly Yea changeover
■ We hear that Andrew Seamers from Whanregarwen Pastoral has purchased the Yea Car Care (RACV) business, taking over on January 9. Renovations are said to be planned for the premises.
Local MHR visits
■ Communities surrounding Lake Eildon are invited to a celebration morning tea for the official launch of the Devil’s River mobile phone base station. The celebration will be held at 10.30am tomorrow (Thurs., Dec. 15) at the Herb Fitzroy Day Visitor Centre in the Fraser National Park. “The mobile phone base station is the second of 38 to be launched or upgraded across Indi under the Mobile Black Spot Program, funded by the Federal and State Governments, Telstra, Optus and local councils,” says a spokeswoman for Indi MHR Cathy McGowan. “Improvements to mobile reception will benefit residents, visitors, emergency services personnel and tourism operators in the area. Ms McGowan and Telstra General Manager Steve Tinker have extended an open invitation to celebrate the launch. “Come along and celebrate this great achievement for Murrindindi,” Ms McGowan said. “It is the result of local people lobbying effectively with council and the Indi Telecommunications Action Group,” Ms McGowan said. An announcement was made this month of an additional tower for Mt Dom Dom under Round 2 of the Program. People can RSVP for the morning tea invitation to 5721 7077 or cathy.mcgowan. mp@aph.gov.au
Pith and Par
■ Yea early morning simmer Grant Oppy says the Yea Swimming Pool now opens at 7am, rather than 6.30am, with life saving attendants pointing to sufficient daylight being required to view the bottom of the pool. ■ The renewed Country Club Hotel in Yea has some attractive exposed stonework on the eastern side of the building. ■ Nick Charles, outgoing Yea Rotary Exchange student, is off to Denmark next month.
● Ron Ben-David ■ Essential Services Commission Chair Dr Ron Ben-David has hit back at allegations made by Cr Eric Lording and ex-Cr Chris Healy about Murrindindi Shire rate increases. The Commission earlier this year allowed a 5.1 per cent rate increase, despite a 2.5 per cent cap put in place by the Andrews Labor Government. In a letter late last month to a Parliamentary Inquiry Into Rate Capping, Dr Ben-David said that the then-Councillors alleged that the Commission’s decision had been “politically motivated”. Dr Ben-David said ex-Cr Healy implied that the Commission coul have only reached its final decision if it had been subject to “some sort of external influence”. “These allegations are unfounded and wrong,” Dr BenDavid said late last month. “As a regulator established under our own Act of Parliament we take with great seriousness our responsibility to discharge our duties independently and impartially.”
■ The City of Whittlesea has successfully secured $8.1 million in state government funding to build seven community projects with $4.3 million to be invested into projects in the North Ward. Painted Hills Recreation Reserve and Community Soccer Centre in Doreen South ($3.925 million), Oakbank Boulevard Playground and Township Link project in Whittlesea ($220,000) and the Community Facilities Solar Photovoltaic Roll-out at 32 kindergartens and community centres ($200,000) are among the projects to receive the funding boost. - Whittlesea Review
Tablelands lit
● Back row: trainer Claire Taylor from GOTAFE, Doug Ridd. Middle row: Chrissi Ridd, Julie Olsen, Robyn Hickey, Christine Siciliano. Front row: Maureen Collard, Louise Flowers, Julie Nicholson, Greta Vallance ■ Volunteers from Visitor Infor"There are four Visitor Information Centres across Murrin- mation Centres in Murrindindi dindi Shire have completed their Shire, located in the townships of Certificate III in Tourism as part Alexandra, Eildon, Marysville of a training initiative delivered and Yea. through Goulburn Ovens Insti“The Centres are managed by tute of TAFE. Local Business and Tourism AsMurrindindi Shire Council sociations and Committees of Chief Executive Officer Marga- Management. ret Abbey said Council was “More than 90,000 people pleased to be able to support such have visited these Visitor Infora worthwhile training program. mation Centres in the last 12 "Volunteers play a vital role in months. assisting visitors who come to our "Despite the increasing numShire and work to ensure that our ber of visitors using online platVisitor Information Sessions are forms to seek information, our open as often as possible. Visitor Information Centres still “Council recognises and val- play a major role in helping visiues the significant contribution tors once they are in the region. that these volunteers make. “Not only can the visitor have "The course, which was de- an authentic experience by interlivered through a series of four acting face to face with local workshops, provided the 22 vol- people, they can also gain local unteers with the opportunity to knowledge on things to see and receive formal recognition for do around the Shire and purchase their existing skills, knowledge local produce, souvenirs and and experience and to further gifts", said MsAbbey. ■ Further information about bebuild on that experience. "Subjects completed included coming a volunteer can be found conducting safe work practices, on Council's website at enhancing the customer experi- www.murrindindi.vic.gov.au or ence, meeting customer needs, by contacting Council on 5772 and building technology skills and 0333. - Contributed confidence.
Saleyards works start ■ Murrindindi Shire Council has commenced Stage 2 development works at the Yea Saleyards. The works are funded through the Australian Government's National Stronger Regions Fund, and will increase sales capacity and provide additional comfort for livestock, clients and employees. Mayor and Yea Saleyards Committee of Management representative, Cr Charlie Bisset, said that both Council and the Section 86 86 Committee of Management were pleased to see Stage 2 works begin. They elieve that the upgrades will not only provide better facilities for existing clients, but will also attract
What The Papers Say $8.1 million growth
● Works have started at the Yea Saleyards new clients to the freeing up formal sellSaleyards. ing pens. The scales "Works will include and scale house will the construction of 32 be a key draw card for holding pens, scales both vendors and buyand scale house, forc- ers, adding to the exing pen and fixed B- isting advantages of Double loading ramp, selling and buying as well as a roof to through the Saleyards. cover the new holding “Works will be pens and the existing scheduled on non-sale hospital pen. "The addition of days with the Project new holding pens will on track for compleallow cattle to be held tion in mid 2017,” said for longer periods, Cr Bisset. - Contributed both pre and post sale,
● From Page 1
H’wood fatality Police say that a driver died at the crash scene at Homewood on Monday afternoon. It is believed a car travelling west on the Goulburn Valley Hwy left the road and wentdown an embankment about 3.45pm. The car crashed into a tree and immediately caught fire which also caused a grass fire nearby. CFA were in attendance and contained the fire. Identification of the deceased is still underway. The highway was closed between Strath Creek and WhittleseaYea Rds.
■ Tarcombe’s Peter Saglietti and Ruffy’s Phil Brown were showered with praise and the Tablelands Community Centre was showered with Christmas lights last week after they decorated the Californian redwood that has become the centrepiece of the Tablelands Christmas party. This signature event on the Tablelands’ social calendar attracted close to 100 community members from Caveat, Terip, Tarcombe, Longwood East, Ruffy and even a few from Euroa. - Granite News
Second chance
■ A woman who appeared in Mansfield Magistrates’ Court was lucky to be given a second chance by Magistrate John O’Callaghan, commented the Courier. The former Piries resident was charged with the theft of a motor vehicle, which was subsequently destroyed by fire. Her appearance in court was part of a successful police operation which had led to the arrest and conviction of her ex-partner for offences involving arson and burglary. In her case, she was charged with the theft of a hire car. She is also liable for a payout of $28,000 to the car hire company, as the car was subsequently destroyed by her ex-partner. - Mansfield Courier
Coldstream stories
■ Stories from Coldstream’s past and present are being broadcast around the world, with a new YouTube channel launched to put the town on the map. Coldstream Stories, a channel featuring videos of Coldstream residents young and old, was officially launched at the Coldstream Community Centre, on Friday, November 25. The channel is an off-shoot of the Melba Group project, a part of the township group, Coldstream Voice, working to establish a pathway between the Melba Estate and Coldstream proper. - Mountain Views Mail
Extra paramedics
■ Yarra Ranges’s emergency services will be boosted, with the State Government approving an extra 14 paramedics for Lilydale. The Government announced the expansion and new ambulance station as part of its $500 million investment in five years. Leader previously reported emergency services in the Yarra Ranges would have a state-of-the-art $3.5 million ambulance station built in Lilydale (Leader, July 12). - Lilydale Leader
Disabled left
■ A disability support service is furious with Nillumbik Council’s decision to renege on its Liveable Nillumbik project. The Diamond Valley Leader last week reported that the shire’s plan to build 40-50 dwellings on the old Hurstbridge High School site had been scrapped by the new council on November 22. The land will be retained as open space. It was earmarked as a residential development for the elderly and families with an adult child who has a disability by the previous council, a project known as Liveable Nillumbik. - Diamond Valley Leader