Established in 1981 as the
proudly serving Sunbury and Macedon Ranges
29 NOVEMBER, 2022
12496404-AV22-21
FREE DIGITAL EDITION
SIG N U P N O W!
Gisborne’s festive cheer Back after a couple of pandemic-thwarted years, the Bendigo Bank Lions Gisborne Festival on Friday, December 9, will bring the community together to celebrate the festive season. Gisborne and District Lions Club vice president Russell Walker said they were expecting a large crowd to attend this year and he couldn’t wait. “[Attendees] can look forward to [a] street parade, which will include a range of community groups, Santa on a sleigh, a stilt walker, the Bendigo Chinese Lions, local emergency services plus a lot more,” he said. “There’s a significant social benefit to the community. “It’s an outdoor event with no entry fee with various free activities to ensure it’s affordable for people to join in and have fun.” From 4.30pm to 9pm, festival-goers can enjoy live music, free children’s activities, market and food stalls, carnival rides and even fireworks. The Lions Club said about 5000 people attend the festival each year, which is held on the second Friday in December annually. Ken and Marilyn Bryce can’t wait to welcome residents to the Bendigo Bank Lions Christmas Festival
(Damjan Janevski) 309219_02
Labor holds onto seats The Sunbury and Macedon electorates have been retained by their sitting Labor MPs Josh Bull and Mary-Anne Thomas, despite a drop in both of the candidates’ primary votes of 14.7 per cent and 6 per cent respectively. In Macedon, with 73.6 per cent of votes counted as of 8am on Monday, the health minister led Liberal candidate Dominic Bonanno 42 per cent to 30.3 per cent on two-party-preferred terms. With 75.3 per cent of votes counted in Sunbury, Mr Bull led Liberal candidate Simmone Cottom 56.6 per cent to 43.4 per cent.
Both Mr Bull and Ms Thomas said they were feeling humbled and thankful to have been re-elected on Saturday, despite swings against their party and votes flowing to independent and minor parties. “I love what I do, people in this electorate give me enormous energy. Their trust and confidence in me gives me enormous energy and I will work hard for them,” Ms Thomas said. She said she would rally to ensure her election commitments – including a half a million dollar upgrade at Romsey’s Lions Park reserve and $1.5 million for Kyneton Netball Club – would be funded in the state budget. Mr Bull also said his priority would
All Work Guaranteed Major or Minor Repairs All Insurance Smash Repairs Loan Cars Available 75 Vineyard Road, Sunbury 3429
be delivering his election commitments, including the development of a TAFE campus in Sunbury and $1.3 million for the local aquatic and leisure centre. “I think we’ve been able to show what we can achieve when we focus on getting things done,” he said. Addressing the sizable decline in his primary vote, and for both major parties, Mr Bull said there were more independents and minor party candidates at this election than at the last. “In 2018 there were only three candidates, the Liberals and the Greens … the drop in primary is mathematically expected,” he said.
Ms Thomas said there had been a “relentless campaign” against Labor by elements of the media, right wing groups and extremists, as well as some residual frustration over the pandemic. “And indeed the decisions that were taken by the government to protect the lives of people were acutely felt by many others in our community,” she said. Ms Thomas said she would continue to balance her responsibilities as health minister with her role as the member for Macedon. “You can’t be a minister in a government unless you’re a good local member first, so being a good local member is always my top priority,” she said.
SUNBURY COLLISION CENTRE 9740 8193
“Remember… your car, your choice of repairer”
12580146-AV48-22
By Elsie Lange