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www.wangarattachronicle.com.au
Phone (03) 5723 0100
FRIDAY, February 24, 2023
Weekend Edition $1.50 INC. GST
NOT IN OUR NEIGHBOURHOOD BOBINAWARRAH farming family the Conroys (from left) Jack, Jess (mum), Isla (front), Anna, John (dad) and Will are determined to do everything they can to prevent the construction of a major solar factory in their valley. Story page 10. PHOTO: Kurt Hickling
Tarra’s top fireman Page 2
Your help is needed Page 3
Sienna’s a smash hit Sport
Funding secured By SIMONE KERWIN FUNDING has been secured to ensure Wangaratta’s Grit and Resilience Program can continue its community-led approach to driving positive mental health and wellbeing. Through the State Government’s Social Inclusion Action Group (SIAG) funding, the program will receive ongoing funding of $213,334 per year as part of
State Government delivers to support pp Grit and Resilience Program g a $9.1 million investment by the government in early mental health care to establish groups in 10 local government areas. This will ensure Grit and Resilience continues beyond the period of its current four-year $1.2 million funding support from the Federal Government, which is due to expire in June. The SIAG program is a flagship initiative rec-
ommended by the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, so it is fitting the fund will assist Grit and Resilience, which was used as a case study in the Royal Commission’s final report released in March, 2021. The aim of the SIAG program is to support the community in identifying opportunities, shaping solutions, and developing
initiatives that will promote participation, inclusion and engagement - just what the local program has been doing since 2019. Chair of the Grit and Resilience Program consortium, Jacki Eckert, said the funding announcement was great news for the community. “Securing recurrent funding and enabling the program to continue within
Rural City of Wangaratta has been a huge achievement,” she said. Grit and Resilience Program coordinator Bek NashWebster said the program would continue to evolve with an enhanced focus on social inclusion initiatives, building further on its efforts to strengthen connectedness and inclusion among local residents. “We are working to
transform the mental health of our community through social inclusion, and all of the outcomes and learnings of the program over the past four years will be used to guide the program,” she said. “Our greatest asset is our community and our partnerships, and we are looking to grow community representation in driving program activities and initiatives going forward.” ■ Continued page 3
APPLICATIONS CLOSE MONDAY APPLY HERE GRANTS OF UP TO $2,500 ARE AVAILABLE FOR CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS & PROJECTS.
APPLICATIONS CLOSE MONDAY 27TH FEBRUARY 2023. APPLICATION PACK AVAILABLE AT GARRY NASH & CO. REAL ESTATE.