Page 6 The Moorabool News – 25 January, 2022
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Korweingy baller set for world stage By Lachlan Ellis A local basketballer could play on the world stage for the first time in 2022, after being named as part of Australia’s squad of 24 for the World Cup. Korweinguboora’s Abigail Wehrung made her senior debut for Australia at the Women’s Asia Cup last year, winning bronze with the Opals – and last December she was named in the World Cup squad. The competition will be on home soil for the first time in 28 years, with Sydney hosting from 22 September until 1 October. Ms Wehrung told the Moorabool News she was ecstatic at being named in the squad. “Being named in the World Cup squad of 24 was a great feeling – I was super proud that I’ve proved myself at the Asia Cup to maintain a position within the 24,” she said. “The next eight months for me will be flat out working on my game, at the moment we are in-season in the WNBL, so we’re pretty busy with games and travel, so the focus remains on getting more wins on the board with the Adelaide Lightning – however in the back of my mind is my Opals goal.” Being named in the squad isn’t a guarantee that Ms Wehrung will be on the court in green and gold during the World Cup – but
she’s determined to prove herself worthy of the honour. “I will keep working my butt off and do whatever I can to make the World Cup team, which would be so incredible, especially since it’s being held in Australia for the first time in a long while. It would be surreal,” she said. Opals coach Sandy Brondello said she was looking forward to the challenge ahead. “I am really excited about the talent we have in Australian basketball, and the squad that we as coaches have put together for 2022 is a great mix of experience and youth,” she said. “I was particularly excited by some of the performances from the younger players in the Asia Cup post the Olympics who were given a taste of international basketball, and there will be opportunities for those who work hard and make the most of their opportunities throughout the upcoming WNBL competition.” Ms Brondello said she remembers, like it was yesterday, how special it was to play in a World Cup on home soil. “We look forward to having the same support as we had in 1994 to help us get back on the podium. Our goal is to continue to grow, develop and be better as individuals and as group so we can achieve this goal.”
Rate cap tightens Council’s purse strings By Lachlan Ellis An announcement by the State Government of a 1.75 per cent rate cap for the 2022/23 financial year, will have Council thinking about how to provide services “more efficiently”, according to the Moorabool Mayor Tom Sullivan. The current rate cap of 1.5 per cent is the lowest since the Fair Go Rates System began in 2016, and the State Government says the 0.25 per cent increase will “help ease cost of living pressures for Victorians”. The rate cap is not a guarantee of how much rates will rise – it’s impossible to know exactly how much it may affect individual ratepayers until the State Government does property valuations, and differential rates are set by Council. However, Mayor Cr Tom Sullivan said the rate cap would have a significant effect on how Council plans its next budget. “It certainly has to have an impact in our revenue, it’s a global increase of 1.75 per cent on our total rate take from the previous year. We’ve lived with this system for a number of years now, so we’re virtually having to cut our cloth and find savings where we can,” he told the Moorabool News. “Having that imposed upon us does make us focus on savings we can achieve, or how we can be more efficient in
MN Moorabool News
I think Government needs to stop looking in the mirror, and look out the window. - Cr Paul Tatchell
our delivery of services. That’s not always so much saving dollars, but more to do with getting more out of the dollars you’ve got.” Central Ward Councillor Paul Tatchell has opposed the Fair Go Rates System since it was introduced. He argued that any increase in rates while people were suffering through the pandemic was unjust, and government bureaucrats were out of touch with the everyday Victorian. “I’m always amused when Government say they kept something down…has the State Government kept its charges below a 1.75 per cent increase? I mean, have a look at what’s going on with tolls, fines…everything the Government collects is totally ignorant of that 1.75 per cent,” Cr Tatchell said.
“What frustrates me is that a third of Victorians live in rural Victoria, and we pay our 30 per cent to the State Government, but only get about 6 per cent back. So, our roads are atrocious, rural people are under enormous pressure anyway…I think Government needs to stop looking in the mirror and look out the window. “I think they totally disrespect people who are just trying to put food on the table. There should have been a total stop to state and local governments increasing pressures on Mum and Dad Average.” Moorabool Shire Council CEO Derek Madden said that the increase was not a shock to Council. “This year a 1.75 per cent cap is proposed, and Council will incorporate this into its 2022/23 budget, this amount aligns with the lower estimates Council forecast as part of the development of its 10 Year Financial Plan,” Mr Madden said. “Individual impacts to varying property owners across the municipality will be different depending on how their properties valuation shifts as a result of the 2022 Revaluation compared to others.” Mr Madden said the rate cap was unrelated to Council’s in-principle decision to stop providing in-home aged care, which was made last December.
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