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St. Arnaud, Charlton, Wedderburn & Surrounding Districts
Est. 1864
18 Napier Street, St. Arnaud. 3478. - Advertising & Editorial Material - Ph.: (03) 5495 1055; Fax.: (03) 5495 1937. Email: ncn@iinet.net.au Published weekly. Registered by Australia Post, Publication No. VAC 4217.
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WEDNESDAY AUGUST 7th 2024.
Circulating in:- St. Arnaud, Charlton, Donald, Rupanyup, Bealiba, Stawell, Marnoo, Navarre, Dunolly, Wycheproof, Wedderburn, Birchip, Korong Vale, Stuart Mill, Redbank, Avoca & Moonambel.
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Above: In its 150th Year, the ‘new’ St. Arnaud Brigade.
One Brigade, Two Meetings – 150 years apart IT was a significant day in the history of the St. Arnaud Fire Brigade, Monday 29th July 1854. It was on this day that the first meeting was held at the Royal Hotel. One hundred and fifty years later to the day, the current members of the St. Arnaud Fire Brigade gathered within those same walls of the Royal Hotel to remember, commemorate and celebrate the occasion.
The day started early with a film crew from WIN News Bendigo meeting with Brigade members to talk about the big occasion. Later in the evening the Fire Brigade members gathered at the station to
have a whole Brigade photo taken. Once the formalities and photos were out of the way, the members made their way, en masse to St Arnaud’s Royal Hotel for a welldeserved and delicious roast dinner. At 7:30pm the meeting was opened with Joe Darlington, our longest serving operational member cutting a cake designed
- Contributed especially for the occasion, featuring our original ‘bucket cart’. CFA District 16 Commander Tony Miles and Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Steve Alcock addressed the meeting. • Cont. page 4.
Your generation premier lights up Town Hall THE St. Arnaud Town Hall came alive with the highly anticipated film premiere of the documentary "Talking about your generation" on Wednesday 17th July. Contributed The spectacular was a shared event with the community. The intergenerational project, funded by the Northern Grampians Shire (NGSC) Thrive 50+ hub, Western Primary Health Network and Vic Health brought
together the Year 12 VM students alongside some over 50 members of our community. The Stawell Secondary College also participated in collaboration with the program. The evening was extremely successful
with approximately 80 people in attendance. The hall was beautifully decorated with assistance from the students and everyone was greeted with a spectacular walk down the red carpet surrounded by fairy lights.
Above: Marg Batters at the film premiere of “Talking about your Generation” .
This enabled participants to be celebrated for their successful program participation. The documentaries were well received and most spoke of the connections they felt and the bonds formed. That is the power of storytelling - it brings people of all generations together. There is no doubt that the documentaries were popular and impressive, but what was even more impressive was how diligently the students conducted themselves through the whole process. Fr o m t h e f i r s t meeting of both young and ‘young at heart’ participants on the 18th March, the hard work and dedication began. From there followed seven full day workshops spread over four months. There were days spent filming and interviewing, many hours of editing, extracurricular filming with drones and extra footage
and through it all building relationships across generations. Students have learnt new skills, formed new friendships and bonds, learnt valuable history and capacity built with the painstaking art of film
making. Whilst speaking about the benefits for both generations some similar responses were given, connection, bond, friendships, history. One of the most powerful responses given was "our future is
in safe hands with these young people". The films will be available for public viewing in the not too distant future. Contact the Thrive 50+ hub on 5358 8700 to request a screening at your club or group.
Martha argues comprehensively to Minster on Teddington Res AT the Northern Grampians Shire Council ordinary August meeting this week Cr Eddy Ostarcevic spoke of the meeting that was held last month with the Minister for the Environment on the future of the Teddington Reservoir. Local Ripon Member Martha Haylett argued the case for the community with great knowledge and had persuasive arguments for the minister said Cr Ostarcevic. “She was very clear in her discussion with the minister. Cr. Ostarcevic spoke of the argument that Martha put forward that it was not Parks Victoria’s position to make a decision on whether or not the funds would be best spent decommissioning the reservoir. “Martha argued that the decision was for the community to make.” The Minister Steve Dimopoulos had obviously been briefed by the Member for Ripon said Cr. Ostarcevic and he thanked Martha Haylett for her astute representation on behalf of the community.
The meeting with Mr Dimopoulos was attended by Martha Haylett, Cr Ostarcevic, Danny Lloyd President of the Stuart Mill Water Board, the CEO of Northern Grampians Shire Brent McAlister and the Mayor Cr. Rob Haswell as well as representatives of Parks Victoria. Cr Haswell said in comment that he had not seen the Upper Teddington Reservoir before and was stunned by the beauty of the park and the reservoir. “It is obviously a tourist attraction that we need to hang on to.” The community and the Northern Grampians Shire Council will now await any further action taken on the issue of decommissioning the Upper Teddington Reservoir.