We are wangaratta

We Are

WANGARATTA

SHOWCASING THE PEOPLE, PLACES, INDUSTRY AND SUCCESS STORIES OF OUR RURAL CITY Special supplement by the Wangaratta Chronicle. June 2017

Page 2 - We Are Wangaratta 2017

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We Are Wangaratta 2017 - Page 3

There is a lot to like about living in the Rural City of Wangaratta THE Rural City of Wangaratta remains one of the most liveable regional cities in Victoria, if not Australia.

The most recent population figures indicate our strongest growth in a decade, which is not surprising given everything on offer, in the heart of the beautiful North East.

In this special ‘We Are Wangaratta’ supplement, we provide but a snapshot of some of the strengths and positive stories in our community - among local businesses and industries, schools, health, and other sectors.

Our rural city remains a vibrant commercial hub

for the many smaller rural townships which offer real country living.

Together, we are all serviced by: Ȉ vate health care facilities and professionals; Ȉ ǡ secondary and tertiary/adult education options;

Ȉ made up of family operators and national enterprises; Ȉ sector with local services and produce competing in world markets; Ȉ and recreational facilities which continue to be a breeding ground for elite

sportsmen and women; Ȉ tural scene which nurtures creative talents; and Ȉ evolving tourism businesses which allow us to enjoy fabulous festivals, adventurous activities in the great outdoors, and produce second to none.

RURAL CITY OF WANGARATTA POPULATION 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

26,776 26,871 27,005 27,111 27,200 27,212 27,221 27,169 27,108 27,246 27,499

Arts and tourism are thriving

By KYLIE WILSON FROM performing and visual arts, to a host of tourist attractions, Wangaratta is home to a thriving cultural scene and offers much enjoyment for visitors and locals alike.

In the 2015-16 period, 86,598 people visited the Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre (Wangaratta PAC) to attend their varied season of performances and other events, while the Wangaratta Art Gallery saw 7595 visitors and an impressive 120,000 people utilised the services of Wangaratta Library.

The state of the art Wangaratta PAC, which was officially opened in September 2009, hosts many events and performances each year, from touring theatre productions to conferences, awards nights, community events and more.

Its foyer is regularly home to small scale art exhibitions, as is the foyer of the Wangaratta Library.

The Wangaratta Art Gallery, situated next door to the PAC, is home to many different arts exhibitions each year, and is currently hosting the Wangaratta Contemporary Textile Award until early August,

SAVOURING THE REGION: Festivals - from jazz to that offered by local wineries in the King Valley (pictured above) and Glenrowan region - allows locals and visitors alike to relax and enjoy home grown fabulous experiences.

PHOTO: Marc Bongers

among other exhibitions.

Located in Docker Street, Wangaratta Library not only has a large array of books and other items such as DVDs for loan, it is a meeting place for many local clubs and also holds regular sessions that nurture a love of music and reading in young children.

Their regular sessions also

include book discussions, author visits, justice of the peace services and more.

People visit Wangaratta and surrounding towns from all over the world, whether it is to enjoy the laid back atmosphere of the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz each spring, participate in other festivals such as the upcoming Stitched

Up Textile Festival, find out more about the region’s rich history, or just enjoy Wangaratta’s café culture, shopping and dining.

Wangaratta is also positioned at the epicentre of a number of different wine regions, with plenty of interesting and diverse wines to sample all within a short drive,

or easily purchased from a number of local vendors.

Cycle tourism is another rich part of Wangaratta life, with local cycling amenities frequently used by local and visiting cyclists alike.

When it comes to arts, Wangaratta has a rich cultural life.

The Wangaratta Arts Council works constantly to

increase awareness and appreciation of the arts, present or support artists and arts activities, foster cultural initiatives and also work in partnership with other organisations to support the arts.

The Goulburn and North East Arts Alliance (GANEAA) is another local organisation that helps foster the arts in the community, both in Wangaratta and across the region.

Their many initiatives include the biennial Across the Arts Forum, with the most recent one having been held in May 2017.

Local performing arts group, Wangaratta Players Inc, is still going strong after 66 years, making it one of the longest established community performing arts groups in the state.

Group members are now deep in rehearsal for their upcoming September production of Company.

Apart from rehearsing regular productions each year, members of the Wangaratta Players Inc also promote the love of performing arts in the younger generation with their youth production group.

Wangaratta is also home to a range of choirs, bands, community musical groups and much more.

Not only a performance and entertainment venue ...the Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre provides a versatile venue for your next business meeting, association dinner or wedding.

With Intermezzo Café providing the in house catering, your next conference or dinner is sure to be a crowd pleaser!

Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre | Cnr Ford & Ovens Streets, Wangaratta | 03 5722 8105 | www.wangarattapac.com.au K/06D12627/2417

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Region’s health in safe hands

By SHANE DOUTHIE ONE of the essential factors in the strength and future prospects of a country town is the depth of its health services.

The Rural City of Wangaratta is blessed with the major public health care provider in the region with Northeast Health Wangaratta (NHW).

NHW provides quality health care to more than 90,000 people across North East Victoria and is the major referral facility for people with complex health needs from Bright, Myrtleford, Mansfield, Beechworth, Yarrawonga, and Benalla.

It also provides a telehealth service to these smaller facilities, allowing doctors at NHW to provide medical advice via video link from the NHW Emergency Department, to patients in the Urgent Care Centre’s in the surrounding district hospitals when this support is required.

In an exciting further development, Telehealth services are now being expanded, under NHW’s leadership, to decrease the need for patients to travel when accessing specialist outpatient appointments in Melbourne.

The health service has a 24/7 Emergency Department (ED) and saw 23,396 patients through the ED last year.

NHW is supported by a

wide range of dedicated Specialist Medical Staff, whose expertise enables NHW to achieve a high self-sufficiency in meeting the health care needs of the community.

NHW offers an extensive range of healthcare services, including community based, oncology and dialysis units and a wide range of outpatient services, as well as a residential aged care facility, Illoura.

Despite a growing demand for its services, including the treatment of a record number of admitted inpatients (18,946) last financial year, NHW has continually surpassed state-wide performance targets as well as introduced the latest in medical technology and equipment.

Last financial year there were 609 babies born, 23 more than the previous year; while 6170 patients had surgery undertaken, a 3.51 per cent increase.

Day Therapy Allied Health programs provided over 8000 occasions of service, and 59,834 occasions of service were provided through the Medical Imaging department, along with 2760 episodes of care through the antenatal clinic.

NHW is one of the region’s major employers with 1250 staff. NHW enjoys strong and valued partnerships with a range of tertiary education providers which enables the organisation to

be a major education and training facility for medical students, interns, nurses and allied health clinicians.

NHWs service to the community is also greatly supported by a fabulous team of 322 volunteers.

The community’s trust and respect for NHW was evident when $350,000 was raised last year for a fundraising appeal to refurnish the Community Care Centre and establish a Robotic Rehabilitation Service, the first of its kind in regional Australia.

A $15.2 million State Government grant announced earlier this year for Stage 1 of a major redevelopment will allow NHW to move towards establishing another 22 medical beds along with the development of a new Critical Care Unit, and a substantial expansion to the ED. “It’s all about the people in the region we serve,�

NHW chief executive officer Margaret Bennett said. “It’s the passion and commitment of our dedicated staff and volunteers that enable us to continue to expand and improve the services we provide.

“NHW also prides itself on providing local employment opportunities and maintains focus on growing our own future staff‌sometimes starting from a great work experience program or a certificate program, in partnership approach, for secondary school students. “Taking a strong partnership approach is central to our service approach‌ whether it’s working with local schools, Gateway Health, the Rural City of Wangaratta, Wangaratta Private Hospital, surrounding health services or tertiary services. “The focus for the future is to build on what’s gone before and further develop the infrastructure and service capability to meet the growing needs of the community including the further establishment of wellness strategies, enhancing technology to support care delivery and growing our workforce. “Our mantra, or promise, to our community is ‘Every patient‌Every time’ which is how we strive to ‘bring alive’ the Vision and Mission of NHW.â€?

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We Are Wangaratta 2017 - Page 5

Busy times, and plenty of positives ahead A SNAPSHOT OF THE RURAL CITY OF WANGARATTA

By Ken Clarke OAM, Mayor of the Rural City of Wangaratta I AM pleased to write this article on behalf of my fellow councillors.

It has been a very busy six months since our election, getting to know what and how things work in Local Government.

That said, rest assured that the elected councillors have been making decisions on where we want to go over our term of office and know we will not be able to please all of our ratepayers.

But we now are confident that decisions we make will see our city return to the top of the tree.

We are certainly pushing ahead with our plans to upgrade our satellite towns with $350,000 being put into the 2017/18 budget and a commitment of $450,000 for the following three years.

This is in addition to money that has been placed in the budget for roads, kerb and channel and drainage and there should be some exciting improvements in our smaller towns over the next four years.

Our biggest infrastructure project will be the bridge over the Three Mile Creek at Cruse Street and the building of the connecting road to take our heavy transport away from the CBD. That in total exceeds $8 million and work should start on this in July.

We are also very confident that we will shortly receive the green light from the EPA which will see the city commence its own organic processing plant at the old landfill site known as Bowser East.

I reported to council at the May

INDUSTRY

Jobs

Wages & Salaries

Output

Regional Exports

Regional Imports

Value-Added

Health Care & Social Assistance

2,147

$148.785 M

$245.940 M

$87.665 M

$29.360 M

$176.985 M

Manufacturing

1,347

$101.271 M

$838.850 M

$576.111 M

$454.577 M

$191.387 M

Retail Trade

1,327

$74.284 M

$145.298 M

$9.356 M

$20.901 M

$89.120 M

Education & Training

897

$71.415 M

$107.393 M

$12.999 M

$9.751 M

$81.456 M

Accommodation & Food Services

840

$57.089 M

$112.960 M

$30.824 M

$34.012 M

$48.310 M

Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing

830

$49.850 M

$211.595 M

$126.169 M

$52.595 M

$93.278 M

Public Administration & Safety

778

$40.131 M

$152.647 M

$41.735 M

$24.948 M

$89.056 M

Construction

577

$34.960 M

$248.023 M

$20.837 M

$44.798 M

$74.807 M

Other Services

416

$33.722 M

$57.309 M

$9.166 M

$10.821 M

$29.488 M

Professional, Scientific & Technical Services

397

$30.888 M

$103.916 M

$7.337 M

$21.650 M

$48.378 M

Transport, Postal & Warehousing

379

$29.339 M

$97.994 M

$20.947 M

$21.482 M

$43.236 M

Administrative & Support Services

325

$23.408 M

$103.465 M

$35.025 M

$19.070 M

$55.109 M

Wholesale Trade

319

$20.280 M

$117.743 M

$28.877 M

$26.784 M

$56.679 M

Financial & Insurance Services

208

$18.560 M

$124.731 M

$15.373 M

$17.255 M

$82.331 M

Information Media & Telecommunications

148

$12.334 M

$70.530 M

$14.565 M

$22.847 M

$29.745 M

Arts & Recreation Services

130

$11.132 M

$22.951 M

$1.125 M

$5.505 M

$8.514 M

Rental, Hiring & Real Estate Services

117

$5.118 M

$314.974 M

$9.340 M

$35.015 M

$221.740 M

27

$3.087 M

$19.659 M

$0.721 M

$4.441 M

$9.899 M

8

$0.577 M

$2.810 M

$0.882 M

$0.890 M

$1.293 M

11,217

$766.230 M

$3,098.787 M

$1,049.050 M

$856.702 M

$1,430.809 M

Electricity, Gas, Water & Waste Services Mining Total

Source: Latest REMPLAN data incorporating Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) June 2016 Gross State Product, 2013 / 2014 National Input Output Tables and 2011 Census Place of Work Employment Data.

meeting that in addition to extending the life of our landfill by some 12 years, this will in the long term see us being able to provide the agricultural industry with fertiliser type products thus generating an income stream.

There are exciting things planned for the CBD, and whilst some councillors have shown a reluctance with some of the projects proposed, that is what democracy is all about.

I am excited about the concept plans associated with the King George Gardens and I trust that rate-

payers concerns will be addressed in this beautification project.

Of course the ability for us to entice new business to the city is paramount and I cannot wait until I see the solar farm in operation.

We are also looking at a couple of more industries which are contemplating re-location, but we are also anxious to promote tourism.

The four year council plan has attempted to address all these issues and hopefully the council will be blessed with its accept-

ance by our community.

It is a living document and being our first attempt we hope we have got it right.

Something that the council sees as important is more private investment in accommodation, especially to complement our magnificent King Valley wineries.

Also, approval of both the Glenrowan and Oxley township plans should see the release of further lifestyle blocks for those wishing to have a parcel of land where they are

able to keep a horse, whilst still being part of the town community.

Council is anxious for development of the North West corridor and we hope that in our term of office we will see much of this development take place as we look to increasing our population toward 35,000 residents.

On behalf of all councillors, we think the Rural City of Wangaratta has a great future and if you want our support then the door is always open.

R u r a l C i t y o f Wa n g a r at ta

Our vision is the Ultimate in Liveability j/25d11349/24-17

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Tertiary options look fabulous Innovative thinking in our primary schools

By SIMONE KERWIN TERTIARY education options are looking ‘fab’ in Wangaratta, as courses and facilities grow to suit a variety of career pursuits.

As well as the development over recent years of Tone Road’s Wangaratta Regional Study Centre, for use by Charles Sturt University and GOTAFE students, GOTAFE received a major boost from the State Government late last year.

The institute was granted $550,000 in funding for new teaching equipment, which included $200,000 for creation of a fabrication laboratory, or ‘fab lab’.

Brett Ambrosio, GOTAFE commercial manager automotive and engineering, described the fab lab as a “disruption ready creative engineering technology workshop” that will provide access to modern means for invention.

Equipment will include 3D printers, a computer controlled laser cutter, direct to fabric printer, 3D scanner and vacuum former.

An initiative borne out of last year’s inaugural STEM (science, technology, engineering, maths) Expo held in Wangaratta, the planned facility will be a combination fab lab/TechShop, with the capacity to design and make almost anything.

There will also be an opportunity for use by special interest and community groups.

GOTAFE design and gaming courses will be relocated to the area to operate in and around other activity, and engineering programs will design training content specifically for the facility.

“The philosophy is collaboration, problem-solving and entrepreneurial thinking, engineering solutions in advance of the problem – think beyond

By SIMONE KERWIN

FABULOUS: Brett Ambrosio, commercial manager automotive and engineering at GOTAFE Wangaratta, is excited about the development of the local campus’s ‘fab lab’.

PHOTO: Emma Hillier

tomorrow,” Mr Ambrosio said.

The fab lab is expected to be ready by early 2018.

Meanwhile, the $7 million Wangaratta Regional Study Centre continues to provide state of the art facilities to accommodate flexible learning for both GOTAFE and Charles Sturt University students.

A partnership between the two organisations, the centre’s role is to create educational opportunities through building aspirations, supporting online learning, creating pathways to higher education, delivering short courses, and developing industry capacity.

Activities at the centre include public lectures, VCE study sessions,

science days, or computing and residential schools for CSU students, with a high school outreach program attracting 1500 students to the centre each year.

The centre also collaborates with partners to create events like the Wangaratta STEM Expo, Dookie Food and Fibre days, and the North East Health Expo.

“All expose students to the diversity of careers they can explore in their lives, through interactive workshops,” centre manager Ilena Young said.

“We constantly seek to find ways to make STEM (science, technology, maths and engineering) exciting, which can mean anything from having school science classes come

in to use our labs, buying virtual reality headsets teachers can borrow, bringing an astronomy dome to town, or supporting Vex Robotics.

The range of modern facilities at the centre includes lecture theatres and tutorial rooms, interactive video teaching, and information technology facilities.

Computer labs enable students to access their institutional information in the one virtual environment, there is a science laboratory on site, and a student learning commons to support distance learning.

Ms Young said anyone with ideas about what more could be done at the Tone Road facility was welcome to contact the centre on 5713 9061.

Healthy bid to satisfy us all

By SIMONE KERWIN BOOSTING access to healthy, affordable food for everyone in the community has been a major focus in Wangaratta over recent years.

Development of the Community Food for All (CFFA) network, which works together to support activities to improve access to wholesome, nourishing food, has resulted in a number of off-shoots which continue to build rural city residents’ capacity to care for each other.

CFFA is a network of people, agencies and groups with representation from health services, welfare services, community services, service clubs, education, government, neighbourhood houses, local producers and the general community.

The network’s objective is to assist in the sharing of information and resources, and to strengthen partnerships.

Its goal, through regular forums and other activities, is to strengthen and sustain the local food system, and advocate for improvements.

Activities that have emerged from the network include food swaps, farmers

markets, fruit and vegetable boxes, breakfast clubs, a community refrigerated vehicle, preparation and distribution of healthy meals in the community, collaborative grant applications, and access to food skills.

As it works to ensure all locals involved in the food system are on the same page, the network has also produced brochures which tell people where to find fresh fruit and vegetables, and where to find community food.

The work of CFFA is summed up in a vision for the Wangaratta food system developed by community workshop participants in September last year: “The Wangaratta community will have a generous, thriving and transparent food system that cares for and respects people, values local food and local producers, and is empowering and collaborative,” the vision reads.

“This will be a food system where food is grown everywhere, where no one is hungry, and where everyone knows how to cook and eat well on low incomes.

“Wangaratta will be a place whose food system is integral to creating an energy and food efficient

PLANTING FOR THE FUTURE: Mary Daly, Jo Turner and Rebecca Coad are excited about the prospect of the Wangaratta Food Hub. PHOTO: Emma Hillier

future, and in supporting young people into agriculture via increased employment and training opportunities.”

This vision was outlined in relation to a plan that has emerged from the CFFA network, to establish a ‘food hub’ in The Close, behind Holy Trinity Cathedral.

A feasibility study on the food hub was completed in 2015-’16, but it was determined that the network needed a better

understanding of local food producers and their work.

To that end, a food mapping exercise has been under way to provide what will be an evolving outline of what is available in the community.

“This is the next step from the feasibility study,” food mapping project researcher Rowan O’Hagan said.

“It’s about providing more data and information for the committee to

think about what a food hub might look like, if it needs to be a physical place, and whether it should be more central, or virtual.”

Ms O’Hagan said the mapping project had been very informative, and indicated how the regional economy could be developed in a sustainable way.

“It shows that people want to eat local produce if it’s affordable and accessible,” she said.

FLEXIBLE learning opportunities are becoming an increasing focus for the Rural City of Wangaratta’s primary schools.

Reinforcing findings that students learn in different ways, local schools are working to adapt to the necessary facility changes.

In most schools, traditional classrooms with lines of desks have given way to spaces that offer breakout zones, wet areas, and information, communication and technology provision to suit the digital age.

For instance, a $2.2 million redevelopment is under way at St Bernard’s Primary School, focusing on facilities for foundation (prep) and grade 3/4 students.

Using an $800,000 Federal Government grant, the works will make space for quiet activities, a kitchen, and a studio area for foundation children, as well as office space for associated services like speech therapy, occupational therapy and psychology.

Grade 3/4 students will have access to a multi-purpose facility, with recording space and an outdoor learning area.

This comes on the back of last year’s completion of a $1.7 million upgrade at Our Lady’s Primary School, and amid a funding bid for St Patrick’s Primary School to redevelop to the tune of $2 million The city’s state schools are also moving with the times, with Wangaratta Primary School working on a master plan it hopes will enable facilities such as a mooted sports stadium to be available to the public.

The central school has been working with the Rural City of Wangaratta about moulding its future in line with council’s CBD master plan.

Encouraging development of healthy lifestyles, schools like Yarrunga and Wangaratta West primary schools teach their students important skills around growing and preparing food.

Yarrunga has been part of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program for a number of years, while Wangaratta West won funding through the Gateway Health/Federal Department of Social Service Grow Your Idea program to expand its kitchen garden, to benefit its breakfast club.

Appin Street remains a hub, with Appin Park Primary School and the Wangaratta District Specialist School continuing to provide innovative programs for their student cohorts.

There are building developments in the municipality’s rural schools too, including Myrrhee Primary School’s construction of a new multi-purpose building for its 20 students.

Everton Primary School is another developing its gardening and cooking program, and at Oxley, enrolments have swelled; after starting 2016 with 67 students, its student base grew to 92 by the start of 2017.

The future is indeed bright municipality-wide for students, with plenty of options for parents selecting primary schools for their youngsters.

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We Are Wangaratta 2017 - Page 7

Students benefit from facility upgrades

By SIMONE KERWIN ALL three Wangaratta secondary schools are continuing to build for the future in 2017.

Facility upgrades at Wangaratta High School, Galen College and Cathedral College are ensuring local students have access to the best possible facilities to complete their secondary education.

At Galen, senior students started 2017 in long-awaited new classrooms and learning spaces.

Relocation of the college’s senior area to the Park Lane side of the campus was completed over the summer holidays, and officially opened earlier this year.

Galen principal Bernard Neal said the new facilities included classrooms, a larger senior study area, eight new offices, meeting rooms, interview rooms, breakout spaces, and a shared open kitchen facility for staff and students.

While year seven and eight students will be located close to the new senior school this year, work has started on developing the new junior school, on the Phillipson Street side of the campus (the previous senior school area).

This renewal will see Galen’s existing traditional teaching spaces transformed into flexible, contemporary learning spaces, suited to the needs of junior students.

Mr Neal said completion of the initial stages of the college’s $30 million, 15 year master plan – valued at $3.4 million – had progressed well and according to the scheduled plan, with input from staff, students and parents.

The school last year received $1 million in Catholic Capital Grant funding, which has enabled redevelopment of the library and IT centre,

BIGGER THAN THE MCG: Cathedral College head of junior school Greg Newbold and principal Adrian Farrer in front of the school’s new oval, in full use by PE classes at the start of this year.

PHOTO: Emma Hillier

FLEXIBLE LEARNING: New Wangaratta High School principal Gary Fletcher in the middle years learning space, which was available to students from the start of this year.

PHOTO: Emma Hillier

stage two of the 15 year master plan, to also be undertaken this year.

At nearby Wangaratta High School, students returned to classes in February to see plenty of progress in the grounds of their campus.

Stage three of the school’s redevelopment works involved the demolition of several old buildings, and the removal of hazardous materials, over the summer holidays.

Demolition of the remaining three original school blocks continued into the school year, and these buildings will soon be replaced by a new oval, which will be linked to sporting complexes, with a new community gym also planned.

New principal Gary Fletcher said there would be scope for local groups to make use of this planned facility, to strengthen links between the school and the wider community.

Also this year, students and staff have moved into the new flexible learning centre building, created for use by

NEW HORIZONS: Galen College deputy principal – teaching and learning, Marie Salinger, and deputy principal – staff and students, Patrick Arcuri, near the school’s new senior school building.

PHOTO: Emma Hillier

middle years classes from years seven to nine.

Mr Fletcher said the new state of the art facilities would provide the latest resources to support the teaching and learning that would take students into the 21st century.

He said the new centre would complement the M building, which comprises space for technology, arts and specialist subjects, and

the senior school, and further work would be done to enhance the performing arts centre, student wellbeing area, health and PE learning areas, and a new student leadership centre.

At Cathedral College, the school year opened with building works continuing at the burgeoning Murdoch Road school, but students

were perhaps most excited to finally take to their new oval.

The oval will benefit not only the students, but the wider community, with the school entering into a memorandum of understanding with AFL North East Border that will enable junior football matches to be played at the venue this year.

The new venue, which has also been used by the Murray

Bushrangers, is expected to assist with ground availability issues that affected junior football fixtures during last year’s wet winter.

In other areas of the school, principal Adrian Farrer said 2017 would be a $3 million year for the college, with work under way on an extended IT hub and student services building, and expanded canteen, which will all be finished mid-year at a cost of $1.2 million.

The college’s administration house, business centre and parent services areas (including uniform shop and P&F base) are also being redeveloped, and another art room constructed.

Students are also making use of a general science lab, staff area, preparation area and physics lab, constructed last year, which completed construction of the science and food tech centre.

Cathedral’s next major build is a $6 million project that involves a new VCE centre and library, anticipated to get under way in coming years.

enabling every child to achieve their personal best Wangaratta High School’s vision is to enable every child to achieve their personal best, build positive relationships and contribute to their local and global community. Our values; personal best, ready to learn, safe and respectful, together with our mantra; “Learning matters, Relationships matter and I matter” are the key elements of our core beliefs and are the basis for all the work we do together to ensure that your child enjoys their educational journey, and exceeds their own expectations.

We offer a vast range of educational experiences both inside and outside the classroom, including very strong links with our local and broader community.

Our core focus is on Quality Learning in which every child knows and understands themselves as a learner and works at their pace to develop their skills in a range of areas to broaden their horizons and stretch their aspirations about their future.

We invite you to make a time to visit our school, tour the facilities and ask the questions you have to ensure that your child’s special talents are nurtured and valued, through participation in academic, sporting, artistic, leadership and citizenship events.

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Page 8 - We Are Wangaratta 2017

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Floyds a true local success story

By SIMONE KERWIN A WANGARATTA business which began in a Glenrowan shearing shed 43 years ago has become one of the city’s real success stories.

Robert Floyd, originally from Wangaratta, moved back to the rural city with wife Merilyn in 1973, starting an electrical contractor business in December of that year.

Floyd Industries paired Robert’s electrical skills honed through an electrical apprenticeship he began at age 16 and time spent teaching electrical trades at Collingwood Tech School with Merilyn’s business acumen and attention to detail.

Starting by serving the Glenrowan community, the business grew steadily.

“We were there six months, and put on our first apprentice,” Robert said.

“That quickly grew to five employees, and we were fortunate to pick up work with a number of industrial and commercial customers including Mawson’s Quarry at Glenrowan – we’ve worked for them ever since, all over Victoria and we really value our relationship.

“Over the years, lots of local companies have grown and developed, and we have grown and developed with them; we’ve built lots of great partnerships and connections.”

An opportunity arose in 1987 to diversify and start in switchboard construction, then to take on air conditioning and refrigeration work.

“The four aspects have complemented each other, and allow staff to become multi-skilled,” Robert said.

LOCAL AND BEYOND: Robert Floyd with some of the projects under way in the workshop at Floyd Industries and (inset) with a photo wall of Floyd Industries’ achievements.

PHOTOS: Emma Hillier

“The great thing is that they are all inter-linked; air conditioning has a lot of electrical work, so our staff are able to diversify and multi-skill.

“It can be hard to find niches in a city with a large number of electrical contractors, but our diversification has helped.

“The business has developed with partners outside a 100km radius of Wangaratta, including Tatura Milk and Uncle Toby’s, which allows us to develop a more widespread client base not restricted by one economy.

Ten years ago, Penny Floyd joined the team, and Robert said his daughter was responsible for the

ongoing development of the business, which now has 20 employees, and has trained 45 apprentices over 43 years.

“Our staff are integral to our business...they live nd work locally and are committed to delivering outcomes and value to our customers,” Robert said.

Development has included looking even further afield for projects.

In 2015, Floyd Industries was successful in a tender process to supply MPM Group of Western Australia’s companies with mechanical services, air conditioning controls and switchboards for the first stage of the Mooka Railway workshop project.

“We put forward our concept and functional description for approval, manufactured the first six switchboards, and commissioned the system on site at the BHP Billiton Mooka Railway workshop near Port Hedland,” Robert said.

This year, the business won the tender process for the project’s second stage, with O’Donnell Griffin as its principal, to supply controls, and four mechanical services air conditioning switchboards.

“The boards and controls were designed to maintain the critical environment for the robot units inside the railway workshop,” Robert said.

“The system is a vital

component, as the robots play a major role in the workshop operations, lifting the iron ore trucks from the rail, removing the two bogie assemblies, fitting the new bogies, and returning the ore truck back to the rails in a short time period.

“They give us the functional idea of what they wanted to happen, and we made it work.”

While he is proud of the interstate work the company has done, it’s something closer to home that is among Robert’s favourite projects.

Floyd Industries won a National Electrical Contractors Association award for excellence in 2015, having

Over the years, lots of local companies have grown and developed, and we have grown and developed with them...

Robert Floyd advanced from the state awards, for its work on a cogenerator at the Wangaratta Indoor Sports and Aquatic Centre that cut energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.

The award was the cherry on top of a project that allowed the company to contribute to its community.

“The award also recognises the quality of work undertaken by our staff, of who we are exceptionally proud,” Robert said.

“I love my job, and I love this place.

“Wangaratta’s quite unique, with a lot of good people.

“I see a really bright future for Wangaratta.”

Runner up NECA National Industrial Apprentice of the Year 2016

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We Are Wangaratta 2017 - Page 9

Social enterprise is big business

By SAMANTHA DICK FOR more than 20 years, Merriwa Industries has been a national leader in social enterprise, paving the way for disadvantaged members of the Wangaratta community to gain meaningful employment.

The company, founded in 1975, aims to develop the skills of disabled or underprivileged people by providing them with employment opportunities and ongoing support.

Merriwa Industries comprises of six professional businesses, including Merriwa Timber and Merriwa Packaging, which deliver products and services to a range of clients.

Chief executive officer, Bart Crawley, said Merriwa Industries works hard to train its team members in modern manufacturing disciplines and to provide them with a stable income and support network.

“If Merriwa ceased to exist, it would leave a large gap in the Wangaratta community,” he said.

“Not only in the engagement and care for vulnerable people; but also in the day-to-day spending of an organisation that has sales in excess of $25 million annually.”

Mr Crawley said Merriwa has grown considerably since its inception, currently employing more than 83 supported employees and over 240 employees in total.

“Merriwa will continue to grow its business divisions, ensuring at all times it operates within a social enterprise business model,” he said.

“Having adopted a true social enterprise approach to business back in the mid-1990s... Merriwa is seen as a leader in its field.”

“Through all six of our businesses, we provide sustainable incomes to our team, deliver continued support and skill development, and support them to be strong contributors in the community.”

Merriwa Industries has operated as a social enterprise for the past 22 years, placing it in a firm position to transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme and capitalise on other opportunities related to disability funding in Australia.

If Merriwa ceased to exist, it would leave a large gap in the Wangaratta community. Not only in the engagement and care for vulnerable people; but also in the day-to-day spending of an organisation that has sales in excess of $25 million annually.

Bart Crawley

Monthly

MEET THE TEAM: Merriwa Industries management team members (from left) Jo Ryan, Jo Maples, Bart Crawley, Mark Currie and Paul Rundell.

BACK TO BUSINESS: Irene Heim (left) and Sharon Petersen have their hands busy at Merriwa Packaging - the packaging division of Merriwa Industries.

PHOTOS: Samantha Dick

Page 10 - We Are Wangaratta 2017

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Housing affordability a key

By STEVE KELLY HOUSE prices, affordability, the market and development in the Rural City of Wangaratta are four of the main factors on the minds of people wanting to buy or sell a property, but also the people who help them find their dream home.

It could be a first home, an upgrade in family home, or an investment property - whatever the case - prospects in Wangaratta are attractive from all angles.

Wangaratta real estate agents have strong connections with the area and have been in the industry for many years.

Joe McKenzie from Landmark Harcourts remarked that an upside is Wangaratta’s housing affordability compared to the rest of the country.

“As the rest of Australia debates housing affordability, our median price market from high $200,000s to early $300,000s seems still attainable for most and the option of solid first homes from $185,000 as recent as Hallett Crescent and Gemmell Street is great,” he said.

“You may not get your dream home first buy, but what generation ever did?

“Choose what you can afford and start as early as you feel comfortable.

“Markets will always be moving. No doubt for continued growth we need more blocks in popular locations where buyers like to buy.

“Oxley, Milawa, Tarrawingee and Eldorado have all featured in keen demand this year.

“Glenrowan and Hamilton Park also suit a market and

BRIGHT PROSPECTS: Local real estate agents pictured are (from left) Connor Tait – Insite, Cameron Meggs - Garry Nash & Co, Simon McKay - Stockdale and Leggo, Joe McKenzie - Landmark Harcourts, and Brett Goodwin – Morris Bros. PHOTO: Emma Hillier

pricing sorts out value in all of the above.”

Mr McKenzie said rural is up at least 30 per cent in the past 18 months and that demand seems to have plenty of life still.

“Good schools, transport and roads allow us to live in one of the best places in Australia.

“Full seasons, hot and cold, consistent rainfall and good regional medical facilities.

“We all need to keep positive, support council and our fine local retailers to make bold growth moves and enjoy what we have.”

Cameron Meggs of Garry Nash & Co highlighted that there was frustration from a lack of residential land to build.

He said this has been dem-

onstrated in both the speed that residential subdivisions have sold recently and a lack of ‘title ready’ land supply.

With the housing market over the past 12 months, Garry Nash and Co has consistently seen a strong volume of buyers competing for a historically low number of available listings in all price ranges throughout Wangaratta and surrounding areas.

Mr Meggs said Wangaratta does not have the higher peaks and troughs some other areas in Victoria experience, making it a stable market.

Properties that have a high level of presentation and considered by the market as accurately priced (in any price bracket), are experiencing competition among buyers and have

less days on the market.

Housing affordability continually makes national headlines since the millennium boom.

“By every measure (across Australia), housing affordability has worsened over the past 15 years. The cost of buying a house currently takes 7.2 times the annual income of a typical household – up from 4.2 times income 15 years ago,” according to CoreLogic ‘Perception of Housing Affordability’ report 2017.

The Victorian median sale price over the past 12 months was $530,000 while the median sale price in Wangaratta was about $275,000.

“We believe this is a contributing factor as to why we are consistently seeing more new residents from the

cities purchasing in Wangaratta, while the number of residents selling to leave Wangaratta has reduced,” Mr Meggs said.

Peter Morris from Morris Bros Real Estate said if you live in a Victorian regional city like Wangaratta you should already appreciate and enjoy the fantastic benefits of the marvellous country lifestyle.

“The stress and strains of living in metropolitan Melbourne, particularly with their major traffic problems and unattainable house prices, are virtually foreign to us,” he said.

“The ability to buy a home in a regional area is within the reach of most families and at a fraction of Melbourne or Sydney prices.

“It’s a terrific message we should all be sending to our

city cousins who have not yet discovered what we take for granted here in Wangaratta — the place to be.”

Peter Joyce from Stockdale and Leggo believes Wangaratta’s location is perfect for any lifestyle, offering a relaxed and value for money style of living.

“With a median house price of $272,000, and a high demand of rental properties in town, we are finding Wangaratta is becoming a destination to invest as rental returns are now seen around a 7-8 per cent return,” he said.

“Not only do we have a shortage of rentals, but land is becoming very hard to get as there isn’t enough land currently zoned to develop.

“We are also finding that once land hits the market, it is selling pretty much straight away.

“Some 12 months ago we started marketing 22 blocks for sale, and within 15 minutes of hitting the market, we had sold one, and 14 hours later another three.

“The development hasn’t even started yet, but already we have 13 out of the 22 lots under contract.”

Like all the agents, Stockdale and Leggo is looking forward to council rezoning areas of Wangaratta, so that more development can happen.

Mr Joyce said the First Home Owners Grant (which comes into effect July 1, 2017) will enable more buyers into the market, but will also make the market more saturated with buyers.

He said this could create higher demand, but a higher demand can create higher sales prices.

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We Are Wangaratta 2017 - Page 11

Rob helps build a strong future

By STEVE KELLY AN eye for detail and an appreciation of what his clients want is what has helped local builder Rob Humphreys meet the grade time and time again over the years.

R&R Quality Homes is a state Housing Industry Australia (HIA) Victorian award winner for best custom built home, going on to place third in the national titles for the category.

Homes with a difference and an obvious edge of quality are what the fourth generation carpenter, his wife Nicole, and his five builders strive for every time they take on a project.

Rob entered the building trade working for his father as soon as he turned 16, carrying on the family tradition.

He found himself kicking around building sites growing up and by 16 he knew enough about the trade to realise he wanted to make a career of it.

“It was a good outdoor job and there was no way known I was going to be in an office,” Rob said.

Work in Wangaratta has picked up over the last 18 months for R&R, with a spread of projects on the go ranging from residential to commercial.

“It’s improved out of sight and I have a fair few jobs lined up now that are just waiting on planning and a few design elements,” he said.

A large portion of his client base is families who just want something different than the standard home layout and finish.

“The houses have set designs and I don’t just go up there and say plonk that on your block,” Rob said.

“We can get high end archi-

CUSTOMER FRIENDLY: Fourth generation family builder Rob Humphreys has come a long way since entering the industry as a 16 year old, turning R&R Quality Homes into a top rating, Victorian industry award winning business.

PHOTO: Emma Hillier

Solid building activity in rural city: residential growth leads way BUILDING activity in the Rural City of Wangaratta has a positive outlook over the next 12 to 18 months based on council’s most recent annual permit figures.

The 2016 figures revealed building permit figures totalled $70,376,593 in 2016 compared to $69,146,853 the previous year with total permits up by 10 per cent from 509 to 559.

Residential permits made up $49,946,448, which was well above the $46,854,731 in 2015.

Commercial building was down from $11,911,913 for 53 permits in 2015 to $10,158,276 for 25 permits last year.

There was just one industrial

BUILDING STATS

permit approved worth $160,000.

Community permits were up slightly in value, $9,819,385

compared to $9,755,757.

Council director of development services, Barry Green, said the figures

reflected a “fairly consistent result” which he expected to continue through 2017 and into 2018.

tects or drafts people in and come up with a design based around the orientation of your block to get the best values.

“The homes we build have a higher finish and quality items all throughout, for instance walls can be spray

painted instead of using a roller and brush.”

A lot of the houses R&R does are for retirees or

they’re about to retire.

“They’ve built up a nest egg and they want the wow factor for their last

2015

Type of building permit

# permits

Residential (includes units, new dwellings, alterations / extensions) 414 Retail (includes new builds and alterations / extensions) Commercial (includes new builds and alterations / extensions) Industrial (includes new builds and alterations / extensions) Community (includes new builds and alterations / extensions) TOTAL

2016 Value

# permits

Value

$46,854,731

501

$49,946,448

10

$394,452

2

$292,484

53

$11,911,913

25

$10,158,276

2

$230,000

1

$160,000

30

$9,755,757

27

$9,819,385

556

$70,376,593

509

$69,146,853

home,” he said.

“There are a few who have come off farms and want something smaller in Wangaratta so they can get their kids around to sporting activities easier.”

The established home market has risen to all-time highs in Wangaratta and this has closed the gap between the cost of a newly built home and a pre-existing property.

“Some of those houses in Arlington Estate for sale, they’re asking $750,000, whereas you could nearly build a house for exactly how you want it for that price,” he said.

“If you get it built yourself you can have it exactly how you want it and not how someone else has had it.”

The changing shape of technology keeps builders on their toes with more and more fitted home appliances computerised and the varying techniques of installation are constantly being updated.

“The after-hours work that people don’t see to make sure it’s exactly how people want it, is huge,” he said.

“It’s not like the old days when it was a three bedroom house, you just show up and you knock it up in your sleep, there’s a lot of work involved.”

When all’s said and done, Rob’s favourite part of the job is the completion and the reveal of the home to clients.

“I’ve got some good friendships out of it which is always good and quiet often I’ll go back around there for a beer and they’ll drop in to the workshop to see how it’s all going with the business,” he said.

Rob has a son with his namesake but while it would be nice to have a fifth generation builder in the making, Dad definitely won’t be pushing him to get into the game.

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Page 12 - We Are Wangaratta 2017

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land options Stars shine bright within the King More for growth, with Valley’s burgeoning wine industry industry interest

By JEFF ZEUSCHNER

By JARRAH LOH SIBLING team Megan and Damien Star are getting their customers hands dirty and their feet wet at their King Valley winery.

The siblings are part of the new breed adding to the valley’s well earned reputation within the wine and tourism industries.

They grew up on a property outside of Albury and after university did other things, but both eventually came back to agriculture Megan studied in agricultural economics and Damien did wine science, so it only made sense to combine their efforts into the King Valley.

For a while they were running cattle on leased land in the region and when a 100 acre block went up for sale across the road from their lease, they decided it was time to jump.

But it has taken a few years and several hurdles to get where they are now, with their brand new cellar door freshly opened.

“It took us a little while to find our feet since we bought the property in 2009,” said Megan.

Patrons visiting the cellar door can expect to try high quality boutique tasty wines while enjoying a great view across the valley.

The name of the winery itself comes from the traditional stomping of grapes, producing red feet.

Getting involved in that is what patrons can come to expect from a trip to the winery.

“We offer experience

FAMILY AFFAIR: Brother and sister team Damien (above) and Megan (below) Star picking the grapes at Red Feet Winery.

events, especially during vintage and busy times of the year,” said Megan.

“Events where people can get hands-on exposure to winemaking and involvement in the vineyard, like picking grapes off a vine.”

The Stars are happy to offer the experience.

Aside from a unique experience, Red Feet also pride themselves on a quality selection of boutique wines that fly in the face of convention.

“We have a couple of varietals which are unique and interesting wines,” said Megan.

Red Feet offers seven varieties, including a Spanish Tempranillo and the French Gewürztraminer.

“The King Valley is known for its Italian varieties and already has a niche in that space,” she said.

“It is interesting for people to try different wines.”

And Megan doesn’t see Red Feet straying from their niche roots – determined to stay small and local.

The Stars knew from the start they had to make a point of difference in what is a competitive space.

“The world is our oyster, in a way,” she said, with a smile.

The King Valley is known for its Italian varieties and already has a niche in that space.

Megan Star

THE Rural City of Wangaratta is well placed for future growth.

Council’s director of development services, Barry Green, said more land was being opened up - both within Wangaratta and also rural townships - to continue to provide people a choice of urban or rural living.

More than 800 hectares of residential land is included in two growth corridors in Wangaratta.

The north west growth corridor between Cruse Street, Worland Road, Reith Road and Warby Range Road involves more than 750 hectares.

The south growth corridor - in Greta Road/Salisbury Street area - will open up around 84 hectares.

In addition around 60 residential lots at Waldara Golf Course and more lots within the nearby Waldara low density precinct are expected to open up in the next 12 months.

Mr Green said recent town planning works and sewer development would facilitate more residential land in Oxley, Glenrowan, Milawa and Moyhu.

He said there was also growing interest in inner city living in Wangaratta, with apartment plans for the CBD. Plans are progressing for the $40m solar farm at North Wangaratta, with Mr Green indicating that the proposal was generating other industrial interest.

“We’ve had several companies express interest with industrial land there, keen to tap into power to be generated by the solar farm,” he said.

“We’ve also had strong interest in the land at our Murrell Street estate, with five of the six lots having moved to the planning permit stage.”

Mr Green said council was about to undertake a review of its industrial land strategy, as well as update its airport masterplan, as part of planning and helping facilitate future opportunities.

On the private investment front, there remains keen interest in future development at Wangaratta Plaza, and the multi-million dollar Specialist Medical Centre in Green Street.

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We Are Wangaratta 2017 - Page 13

Domestic appeal for local green tea processor built on export success

By JARRAH LOH GREEN tea manufacturer Ito En has been operating a local processing factory in North Wangaratta for more than 13 years.

But until recently, their products haven’t been sold anywhere in Australia.

“Previously, 99 per cent of our stock has been exported to Japan,” Ito En manufacturing manager Peter Anderson told the Wangaratta Chronicle.

“Australia is a trusted name in Japan.

“It is known as a clean and safe destination without chemical and pollution problems.”

The Australian brand offers such a high premium that it is in the interest of Japanese companies to set up shop here and export their product back home, where they can sell it for a premium.

But now that green tea has begun to take off in Australia, Ito En is dipping its toe into the local retail market.

“We did previously sell some wholesale amounts to Australian merchants, but we have now launched into Woolworths and are hoping to get into Coles soon,” Mr Anderson said.

Ito En was the first green tea grower and processor in Australia, and until recently, the only one.

They grow tea on two of their own leased properties in the region and also have seven other farms that grow for them in Bright, the Kiewa Valley and Alexandra.

Ito En taught local farmers how to grow and har-

Positive results in beef and other sectors

By JARRAH LOH

LOCAL AND GREEN: Peter Anderson and Yuka Misawa from Ito En Australia enjoy some of their own green tea.

PHOTO: Emma Hillier

vest green tea when they first arrived in Australia and now there are 170 acres being grown for the company.

The business employs about 35 people in the peak season, and will be looking to put on a couple more as they expand into the retail market and online.

Supermarket sales are already going well, though their core product of loose leaf tea is only starting to take off Down Under.

But next year they will look at expanding again.

“People do prefer tea bags, but we have been slowly and slowly trying

to make the push with tea leaves,” said Mr Anderson.

“But in the next year we will be selling teabags for Australia, instead of just loose leaf.”

Currently, all their teabags are manufactured in Japan with our locally grown tea, but if the product does well next year they will look to install a teabag machine in Wangaratta.

“A lot of the teabags people buy here are made from really cheap tea and most often are not true green tea, but actually come from a black tea hybrid,” said Mr Anderson.

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“We want to offer better quality, fresher tea into the marketplace.”

But the growth won’t stop with teabags, with Ito En undertaking research and development work into matcha powder, ice tea and even green tea ice cream.

“In Japan we are a very big and well-known company,” said Mr Anderson, who hopes to grow the brand here.

“We have more than 6000 employees there and are a household name, but here we are small and have some work to do, but green tea is really growing.”

We have more than 6000 employees there and are a household name, but here we are small and have some work to do, but green tea is really growing.

- Peter Anderson

THE Wangaratta region has seen mostly positive agricultural growth this year.

The recently upgraded Wangaratta Saleyards - now among the most modern in regional Victoria - are seeing store cattle pour in, with 8367 already sold this year, for a total of 14,678 head going through the saleyards.

More importantly, the price per head has risen substantially.

This year’s opening sale saw an impressive $1280.51 per head (311.3 cents/kg) – $129.83 higher than last year’s impressive prices.

The biggest auction of the year was the famed weaner sale, which had to be split into two days after last year’s huge numbers.

Over 4000 cattle were sold, with steers bringing in $1255.59 each and heifers $1136.71.

It has been a hard year for dairy, with continuing low–prices, alongside Murray Goulburn site closures.

There has been mixed fortunes at the silo for grain farmers, with wheat fetching $170 a tonne, down $70 from last year, when it was fetching closer to $240.

But oat quality has been arguably the best ever seen.

Wangaratta farmland prices have proved to be a real winner, bringing in $8432 per hectare – an increase of 14.1 per cent.

Page 14 - We Are Wangaratta 2017

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Alpine MDF builds for the future

By LEAH TINDILL MANY people know Alpine MDF for the great billowing steam that is visible against the North Wangaratta skyline.

But a walk around the 50-hectare site located on Crosher Lane shows there is much more to the manufacturer than meets the eye.

More than 5000 tonnes of wood is processed through the factory each week, with more than 100 workers employed at the Crosher Lane plant.

The company manufactures boards between 2.5mm and 32mm thick, as well as making additional products for the building and construction industry.

Most of the product is sold domestically, with some exported internationally as the local market is “soft�.

Chief executive officer Graham Church said the company was well situated to provide its services. “Essentially we are a wood processing plant, manufacturing MDF,� Mr Church said. “That involves taking logs from the local plantation (HVP plantations at Myrtleford) and turning them into wood fibre, adding some resin and then pressing it into MDF sheets of various thicknesses that are then cut into panel size to suit the market. “We also have a value adding process where we make MDF mouldings for the building and construction industry in the form of architraves, skirting boards and door jambs. “We also make flat panel boards that are mainly used

We employ around 112 directly and we estimate that we indirectly provide employment for an additional 400 people.

- CEO Graham Church for manufacturing panel doors.�

The plant operates 24 hours, seven days a week, processing some 750 tonnes of pulp logs per day.

Starting in 1996, Alpine MDF has gone through several changes, most recently changing ownership earlier this year. “We employ around 112 directly and we estimate that we indirectly provide employment for an additional 400 people,� Mr Church said. “As recently as April 1 this year the business changed ownership, it’s now owned

by Metro Fibre Pty Ltd, which is a company, a large panel manufacturer, based in Thailand.�

Mr Church has spent the past 12 years as chief executive officer of Alpine MDF and said the future looked strong for the local manufacturer. “We’ve come through some tough times, like everyone else through the GFC (global financial crisis), and we have rebuilt the business,� he said. “We see an exciting future ahead under this new ownership.�

TAKING STOCK: Some 750 tonnes of pulp logs are processed through the factory every day.

BUSY ON THE JOB: Kayleen Presser (left) cuts board lengths to size; Caleb Hajek (bottom left) wraps the finished product ready for market delivery; and operations manager Brett Forrest (below) examines some almost finished panels.

PHOTOS: Emma Hillier

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We Are Wangaratta 2017 - Page 15

Proud to call Wangaratta home NORTH East Media as publisher of the award winning Wangaratta Chronicle is proud to call Wangaratta home.

For over 95 years as a fourth generation family business, North East Media (NEM) has been committed to Wangaratta and the communities it serves across North East Victoria, reflecting opinions, lifestyles, aspirations, concerns and personalities, and assisting the growth of businesses of its many advertisers.

Our Rowan Street office serves as NEM’s head office and print production hub employing over 50 staff that support a diverse media business with offices in Melbourne, Adelaide, Mansfield, Myrtleford, Euroa and Healesville.

NEM has traditionally been a newspaper publisher, however in recent years the business has diversified, initially with magazines and special publications, to more recently launching websites, apps and digital editions.

NEM’s chief executive officer Edward Higgins said that while newspapers remain a core business, the company’s current and future direction is a news and information provider across a number of media platforms.

“Times are changing for major media players across the country and around the

We look forward to servicing Wangaratta and region media and communications needs for many more years to come.

Edward Higgins

BRIGHT FUTURE: North East Media chief executive officer Edward Higgins (left) with regional manager Terry Harding in the state-of-the-art printing area at the company’s Wangaratta premises.

PHOTO:Emma Hillier

world, however it is encouraging seeing that readership and advertising support for our newspapers remain strong,” Mr Higgins said “I put this down to the fact that our primary focus is on local content rather more generic state, national and international news which can be picked up from a variety different

publications and websites.”

The company continues to look at ways of improving and updating its operations, in order to better cater for clients and carry on its longstanding involvement with the local community.

In the recent years NEM has continued to embrace new technology to make the company’s publications

more professional looking and the layout and printing process more efficient.

The company’s partnership with PressReader digital subscription service has enabled NEM to offer digital editions via its website and App. This technology and product offering means that readers who prefer

to consume NEM group content digitally can do so on a smartphone, tablet or desktop device.

Despite the increased uptake of people consuming content digitally, NEM remains confident in a bright future for printed products.

NEM completed a recent upgrade to its high tech press facility in Wangaratta where

the group’s newspapers are printed together with a range of newspapers and catalogues for clients across the region and beyond.

New equipment arrived from the USA in January 2017 and has resulted in further improvements to the efficiency and speed of the press operation.

“North East Media would like to thank our loyal readers and advertisers for their support over many years and encourage the community to continue their support of local Wangaratta businesses so that they can continue to employ locals, invest locally and support the local community,” Mr Higgins said.

“We look forward to servicing Wangaratta and region media and communications needs for many more years to come.”

Proudly calling Wangaratta home The Award winning Wangaratta Chronicle was first published in 1884 and today it is still the ‘go to’ media for everything Wangaratta with a combined print and digital readership of over 50,000 people every week.

From humble beginnings Wangaratta Chronicle and North East Media have grown into a diverse media company producing over 40 publications and websites.

THE ALPINE

mt hotham fallsnews creek Incorporating Dinner Plain & The Great Alpine Road

WANGARATTA

Community and Business Directory

NEWS

MANSFIELD

Community and Business Directory

alpine news

NORTH EAST AND GOULBURN MURRAY

THE SOUTHERN

Covering the snowsports scene since 1983

ALPINE

Community and Business Directory

australasian

magazine

j/16d00901/24-17

INDEPENDENT & AUSTRALIAN OWNED

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