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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.
$2.00
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 30th 2023.
Circulating in:- St. Arnaud, Charlton, Donald, Rupanyup, Bealiba, Stawell, Marnoo, Navarre, Dunolly, Wycheproof, Wedderburn, Birchip, Korong Vale, Stuart Mill, Redbank, Avoca & Moonambel.
(Incl. GST)
Community uproar over the Market Square carpark THEY came from everywhere and the room at the Senior Citizens was full of those that wished to hear about the PrePrep Modular buildings that the Northern Grampians Council has passed to be located in the Market Square carpark. A well run and informative meeting hosted by Karen Probst and Graeme Ross with over 80 attendees and many who had sent their apologies with comments of support to the “Save Market Square” movement. The evening commenced with information about the community engagement process that Karen and Graeme and their supporters believe was inadequate in that once the Market Square precinct was a possibility for the location of the PrePrep modular that the stakeholders engaged with should have been clearly widened to include all those that have an interest in the operation of the Market Square. Many of those who were at the Public meeting were disturbed that they had not been included in the community engagement and expressed that concern and anxiety at the prospect of such an important decision being made with insufficient consultation. Many attendees spoke against
Above: A large crowd attended the Public Meeting last week to catch up on the issue of much of the Market Square carpark being used for PrePrep Modular buildings. Right: Cr Murray Emerson does his best to answer questions and provide fair advice to the meeting. the location of the Market Square carpark citing the problem for organisers of events in the town hall setting up, for the ladies of the Community Kitchen having close access to the facilities in the Perry Room, sufficient parking to accommodate visitors to the Library and the need for a large, open space public area for gatherings as well as the use of visitor parking with RVs and cars and caravans. It was also stated that as the car park area sits on the St. Arnaud Creek that flooding would be an issue for any buildings that were placed there.
Town Council mystery decision A 2003 Editorial in the North Central News was raised by Karen Probst which indicated that a decision had been made in the 1980s by the former Town of St. Arnaud Council to retain the Market Square carpark free of any structures for all time.
Cr Emerson takes the floor Cr. Murray Emerson and Kara Kara Ward Councillor Karen Hyslop were in attendance, with Cr Eddy Ostarcevic an apology due to another meeting.
Cr. Emerson took questions from the floor and it was clear that the issues raised were surprising to him. He offered his knowledge of the Local Government Act which would now, after three months have elapsed since the decision, not allow the motion to be rescinded. Cr Emerson stated that either an approach to each of the
Councillors in an effort to have them change their minds or an approach to the Ombudsman would be the only way forward for any change of location for the buildings. Cr Emerson made it clear that plans had not been finalized and the location of the VLine bus stop was one of those issues still to be resolved.
Skin checks are a REAL need in the community THE Skin Check bus has been in St. Arnaud doing skin checks and a healthy number rocked up to the van. Over the two days 118 appointments were achieved with a waiting list of 50. Unfortunately, only one farmer made the trip when farmers are a most important group that require checking due to their sunny working environment. At least 30% of those that attended were referred to have their suspicious marks checked on Friday and 32% on the Thursday. All lesions are suspect only until proven otherwise. Donations received on both days totalled $702-90.
For donations Above: (left to right) Julie Driscoll (Bendigo Community Bank), Carl Leach (Gilmac, St. Arnaud), Arnold Bond (President Lions Club), Rod Wilton (CFA, St. Arnaud), John Beggs (Secretary, Lions Club) Bruce Hudgson (Chairperson of the Foundation), Julianne Clift (Dermatologist Coordinator and Chair of the East Wimmera Health Service Board).
For anyone wishing to give a donation: Bendigo Bank BSB 633 000 account No. 168189413
Lions V District Cancer Foundations public Fund (reference, name or public donation)
Low access to dermatologists Addressing the identified need that exists in our country, namely a high incidence of skin cancer and morality due to melanoma, exacerbated by low levels of service and access to dermatologists in rural and remote areas, the Lions V Districts Cancer Foundation was formed in 2018 with the initial aim of putting a Skin Cancer Check and Awareness Unit on the road. Supported by Lions Clubs, Lions Foundations, as well as public and private philanthropic organizations, the Unit was operational by 2021
and officially launched in March of 2021. It provides a free skin check facility, which also serves to educate and inform people of the important need for skin care and production. Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world with two in three Australians diagnosed with skin cancer by the age of 70. More than 2,000 Australians die from skin cancer each year. In 2015, 379 Victorians died from skin cancer which is one and a half times the Victorian road toll that year. The Lions Skin Checks in St. Arnaud were sponsored by Gilmac, CFA, Bendigo Bank, East Wimmera Health, St. Arnaud Dentist and the Lions Club of St. Arnaud.