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The Moorabool News – 22 March, 2022 Page 11
Hosing for help By Lachlan Ellis A terrible accident has brought to light the incredible generosity of the transport industry, with over $200,000 donated to support a woman who lost both legs. 25-year-old Michelle Pillar is a new face to the trucking scene, and lost a leg after her truck rolled and became wedged between a tree and a bridge on Carlisle Road near Black Ridge, in the Otway Ranges in early January this year. Her other leg had to be amputated in hospital due to an infection, and doctors have also discovered a spinal cord infection. She spent a week on life support in an induced coma, and spent weeks having almost daily surgeries. While Michelle has a long road to recovery ahead, the trucking community has shown that she is not alone in her battle. Locally, Hodge Livestock Transport from Blakeville is just one of the many businesses chipping into the worthy cause. Fluff Tonkin works at the business with owner Rob Hodge, and said the decision to contribute was an easy one. “There’s a lot that have contributed to the account to help her, I’m not sure anyone rates a special mention. The staff here have inadvertently crossed Michelle loading or
Rob Hodge and his team are supporting the fundraiser for a woman truck driver who lost both legs in an accident. Photo – Helen Tatchell unloading, or working somewhere, but none of us have, I would say, a direct relationship with Michelle,” Ms Tonkin said. “It was more the fact of what happened to her could happen to any of us. It was so heartbreaking, the extent of the accident for a young person in the industry…we all felt something had to be done.”
Hodge Livestock Transport held a weeklong ‘Hosing for Hope’ initiative, where staff donated their wages from washouts, and their donations were matched by the business. “That was over $2,000…as a company we matched it. As people had seen what we were doing on Facebook, a few others made
cash donations to go to Michelle as well. We put through $4,577,” Ms Tonkin said. The Mortlake Roadhouse is one of the many businesses supporting Michelle, including opening a bank account for her recovery fund, which at the time of writing has collected an astounding $216,314. Mortlake Roadhouse owner Dion Symons said he was happy to play a part in Michelle’s recovery. “Her brother Lachie comes in here quite a bit, but two other stock truck drivers, wanted to do something for her, and came in and asked if I’d help them out one day,” he told the Moorabool News. Donations have come in not just from the local community, but from across the country and across the world. “Lots of trucking companies have gotten involved, people all over Australia and even people overseas. Truckers in America collected $490 in two and a half hours at a roadhouse over there, we had a lady in Denmark send us money, we’ve had mail coming in…it’s been pretty full-on,” Mr Symons said. If you’d like to donate to Michelle’s recovery, you can do so on her GoFundMe at www.gofundme.com/f/ the-michelle-pillar-foundation.
Farm zone dwelling approved We think that we can produce a much more productive use of the land than it currently is. At the moment it’s literally sitting there, not being used. We want to take the land, we want to grow fruit, vegetables, maybe some chickens,” Mr Spicer said.
By Lachlan Ellis An application to develop a dwelling in Clarendon has been approved by Council with conditions, with the original recommendation from Council Planners calling for a rejection. Council’s Planning Team argued the proposal “is inconsistent with the purpose of the Farming Zone”, and contradicted Council policy on developing rural land for residential purposes. Two speakers addressed Council on the application: a consultant for the applicants, Leah Clark, and one of the two applicants, Tim Spicer. Ms Clark said that her client and her company had not been approached by Council Planners to discuss any issues with the proposal. “The site is located in what we best describe as a rural living enclave to the Clarendon area. The area is developed with single dwellings and out buildings on lots which vary between one to five hectares in size,” she said.
“The application was lodged with Council on the 13th of September, and was advertised in November of last year. Officers did not request further information, nor did we receive correspondence advising us our information was insufficient. “We’re a little disappointed to now be facing a refusal, without being provided the opportunity to address the officers’ concerns now detailed in the grounds of refusal.” Mr Spicer said the establishment of a dwelling would allow his family to live a more pleasant lifestyle. “We love the property obviously, it has beautiful views.
“We want to turn the land, which is currently just an empty paddock, into a beautiful family home, where we can integrate ourselves into the community by sending our kids to local schools, joining in the community in productive ways, and giving the land a more productive use.” Cr Moira Berry asked Mr Spicer if the produce would only be for their use – in other words, non-commercial farming. “Yes, personal use, enough to give to friends and family, but not in a production way,” Mr Spicer said. Cr Tonia Dudzik moved an alternate motion to approve the proposal with conditions, which was seconded by Cr Paul Tatchell, with Cr Berry and Cr Ally Munari also voting in favour. Crs Rod Ward and David Edwards were apologies at the meeting.