2022
Incorporating
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Phone: (03) 5775 2115
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www.mansfieldcourier.com.au
INSIDE
HIGH COUNTRY ALIVE -
Melbourne Cup Long Weekend
2024
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mansfieldcourier.com.au
High
Edition Melbourne Cup Weekend
Coun try
Cup weekend fun gallops and several Cup action, a large screen Day long live coverage from AS THE Melbourne Cup monitors will broadcast Shire is weekend approaches, Mansfield Flemington. series of events, private gearing up for a vibrant On-site amenities include to enjoy. seating, and with something for everyone marquees, general admission shady trees the From thrilling races to family-friendly family-friendly zones under to be a grandstand. activities, this year promises or in the centrally located Leanne Backwell, weekend to remember. President of the MDRC, the Mansfield hard to The weekend kicks off with noted that the club is working Night. Cup that this year’s Melbourne High Country Festival Opening will transform ensure remember. to one is High Street’s median strip meeting vans, offering from Marks into a bustling hub of food “With continuing support cuisine, we’re a range of local and Melbourne IGA + Liquor and our sponsors, to this performances. live innovations and carnival rides, excited to bring new will feature for all,” The FReeZA Rock Out stage adding to year’s races and a memorable day bands, an exciting lineup of local she said. patrons to the lively atmosphere. The MDRC is encouraging best packages, A torchlight parade honouring its book early to secure the will wind in club memberships and emergency service heroes interest with culminating in way through the town, hospitality already strong. display at the Marquee will a spectacular fireworks The popular Lawn Party promising to lunch from The Mansfield Football Oval, return, offering a picnic the tone for the views, a light up the skies and set Kitchen Door, prime trackside from the weekend. private bar, and entertainment Grand The Mansfield Motor Group November Punters Club. on it easy with Parade returns to High Street For those wanting to take “Mansfield Mosaic,” general 2, with the 2024 theme, a picnic blanket, affordable and qualities that make celebrating the unique admission tickets are available, for free. to live and visit. enter Mansfield a great place children 17 years and under Day Picnic decorated Cup Expect to see an array of Mansfield’s Melbourne groups enthusiasts. bikes, cars, floats, and community Races aren’t just for racing through the heart Fashions on the as they make their way The event also features prizes for the best and live music of town, competing for Field, children’s activities, entries. entertainment. the Marks a racing fan or just you’re Tuesday, November 5, marks Whether Picnic Races at the atmosphere IGA Melbourne Cup Day looking for a day out, the Club (MDRC). for all ages. Mansfield District Racing to as ‘the promises fun referred screen for big often a event, buses, This annual With free shuttle local racing action Josh Heriot on town’s party,’ promises live race viewing, and race caller thrilling races. for a fantastic day at with close viewing of six hand, everything is set the The sound of hooves pounding the races. opportunity to ticketing, track, combined with the For more information and family, makes g.com/mansfield, socialise with friends and visit www.country.racin Mansfield’s ryraces on this a standout event on or follow @mansfieldcount for updates. calendar. Instagram and Facebook Melbourne the follow to keen For those
into town
Marks IGA again hosts the Mansfield day on the calendar, Mansfield on the Field’, casual COUNTRY RACING: A favourite Day. For up-close racing, fabulous ‘Fashions Cup Picnic Races on Melbourne experience there is something for everyone. country comfort or a catered
G MANSFIELD PICNIC RACIN
s IGA rkrne Mabou Cup Mel Day
LAWN PARTY
MARQUEE
TUESDAY 5TH NOVEMB
ER 2024
Join the party! with a picnic lunch, complimentary welcome drink, punters club, DJ and shaded forecourt.
AS REAL AS
IT GETS
racing means. very best of what country lot of country. at Mansfield bring out the Our picnic race meetings close, more local and whole is more relaxed, more up Racing in the High Country
IELD COUNTRY.RACING.COM/MANSF
Pages 4-5
A STORM STORY
Pages 10-11
FUNDRAISING FOR CHARITY LAST week Mansfield Primary School hosted a series of markets as part of the Social Enterprise program with year six students Heidi Stumpf, Isabella Aistrope, Lara Hempenstall, Tyson Parks and Levi McCoomb creating pom-pom birds for sale. Turn to page 12 and 13 for more pictures from the fundraiser. PHOTO: Emma Oliver
YEAR 12’S GRADUATE
Ballots in the balance By MIKE SMITH ACROSS the state of Victoria, voting came to a close in local council elections at 6pm on Friday 25 October. The nine candidates who campaigned in Mansfield Shire, competing for five places on council, will now have to patiently wait for officials to undertake the count before a new council is declared. Any ballots returned to the election office or entering the postal system after the Friday 6pm cutoff will not be counted
Final count underwayy as Mansfield Shire awaits new council lineup p towards the final vote. The count will be finalised as of Friday 1 November when the final eligible votes, currently still making their way through the postal system, arrive. Extraction of ballot papers from envelopes commenced Saturday 26 October, with counting commencing on Monday 28 October and lasting three weeks. All results remain provisional until official declaration ceremonies are held, at which point
Mansfield Shire will declare a new council of five councillors from the nine nominated candidates. The retirements of Cr Paul Sladdin and Cr Mark Holcombe mean there will be at least two new faces at council meetings going forwards. As of end of day, Friday October 25, 78.52 per cent of the 8176 enrolled to vote in Mansfield Shire have returned their ballot. The overall statewide turnout rate in 2020 was 81.47 per cent, with
Something BIG has
ARRIVED!
Mansfield Shire at 79.83 per cent. In 2020, of the 10,205 shire ratepayers enrolled, 8147 participated in the vote. 7692 votes were counted while 455 were informal votes, meaning the ballot paper was either not completed or completed incorrectly, and were not counted towards the final vote. The final turnout for 2024 will be known after the close of the postal vote receipt period on
Come in and check out the full range of
instore
Friday 1 November. Though the shire is amongst the fastest growing in the state, the number of ratepayers enrolled to vote has experienced a significant 20 per cent drop off from 2020 when 10,205 were enrolled. State government changes to the enrolment process meant 3494 nonresident ratepayers were removed from the roll in 2024, though still eligible, they were required to reenrol to retain their right to vote.
Many did not and the electorate’s vote numbers have consequently shrunk by over 2000. Provisional results will be published on the VEC website as they become available following completion of preference distributions or computer calculations, with results slated to be available between Wednesday 6 and Friday 8 November. Declaration ceremonies are expected to be held in all localities across Victoria between November 8-15.