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Cash splash for rural communities
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By Lachlan Ellis
The Moorabool News – 29 March, 2022 Page 13
Vandalised and out of tune By Lachlan Ellis A piano arranged by Moorabool Shire Council for free public use over summer has sadly been vandalised, with the culprit unknown. Situated at the Eddie Toole Reserve, Bacchus Marsh, the piano is one of two set up by Council under the ‘Pop-Up Pianos’ project, with the other located at A.A. McLean Reserve Ballan. Both pianos were sourced from the community, and were painted by local artists with beautiful, eyecatching designs. However, photos of the pop-up piano at Eddie Toole Reserve were posted on social media on 19 March, showing a panel smashed off the piano. A Council spokesperson said it was disappointing to
see the piano vandalised, but it was due to be removed anyway. “The piano was due to be decommissioned, as rain had made it unplayable. Our arts team has arranged for it to be removed,” Council’s spokesperson told the Moorabool News. “The piece was always planned to be ephemeral for use over the summer months, or as long as it lasted. It lasted well, and was a shame it was vandalised but was due to be removed anyway.” The pop-up pianos were set up last December, and are due to be removed at the end of March from both locations. The community piano had the top panel ripped off in a vandalism attack. Photo - Diana Warner
Vandalised AUSTRALIA’Sand ECONOMIC PLAN out of tune
Crime drops in Moorabool
The latest figures released by the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) are out and according to those statistics, crime has dropped, not just in Moorabool but across the state. The CSA’s data for the 12 months to the end of December 2021 shows that there were 477,999 criminal offences recorded in Victoria in 2021, representing a decrease of 12.8 per cent, or 70,087 offences, from 2020. The total marks the lowest number of criminal offences in a calendar year in Victoria since 2014, with robberies also at their lowest since 2014. Burglaries/break and enters, were at their lowest in Victoria since the Law Enforcement Assistance Program was introduced in 1993, at 21,277 homes broken into. Moorabool saw an even sharper decline in crime proportionally speaking, with 1,617 offences in 2021 compared to 2,048 in 2020 - a decrease of 21 per cent. “While the highly unique environment in Victoria last year clearly contributed to the overall decrease in crime, it was incredibly positive to see a reduction in serious offences which impact the community such as home burglaries, robberies and car thefts,” Deputy Commissioner of Regional Operations, Rick Nugent, said. “While each victim of crime is one person too many, we are pleased that last year we had the lowest number of victims in Victoria since 2010, with almost 14,500 fewer victims of crime than the year prior.” The top five suburbs for crime in Moorabool remained the same as in 2020 – Bacchus Marsh, Darley, Maddingley, Ballan, and Gordon. All five towns saw a decrease in crime – Bacchus Marsh experienced almost 300 less crimes, from 907 in 2020 to 608 in 2021. However, incidents in Moorabool of stealing from a motor vehicle increased from 149 offences to 159, and breaching family violence orders increased from 108 offences to 113.
We’re taking the next step to keep our economy strong. • • • • • •
The Moorabool News – 5 April, 2022 Page 23
Keeping taxes low, because money in your pocket eases the cost of living Infrastructure projects like Snowy Hydro 2.0 and the Inland Rail are creating jobs Skilling the workforce for the jobs of tomorrow Committing to making more goods in Australia to help secure our supply chain Delivering affordable and reliable energy to our homes and businesses Backing Australian businesses to modernise and innovate for our future
(M/News 29 March)
Australia’sto Economic Plan hasup helped cameras us through the last twonext years. Theretime, are 260,000 how “Guess you’ll have put more people in work than before COVID. Australia has performed better than major advanced economies through the pandemic. That’s why we’re taking the next step. disgraceful!” To find out more, visit economicplan.gov.au - Virginie Jost
“I hope the one in Ballan stays a bit longer. I have seen and heard some lovely sounds from it even in the last week.” - Debbie Curwen-Walker “My boys are going to be shattered! They love giving it a go when we’re in the Main Street.” - Cammy Julie Authorised by the Australian Government, Canberra.
“I just don't understand why that would be something someone would do.” - Jane Jenks
Close to $1.4 million has been provided for 117 projects across remote, rural and regional Australia, and Moorabool has been granted a piece of the pie. Of the 117 projects given funding by the Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal (FRRR), 33 are in rural Victoria, sharing a total of $366,637 in grants. Two projects in Moorabool will receive funding under the Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) program – the first, in Dunnstown, will see $4,640 supplied for back-up batteries, boosting the area’s disaster preparedness. Moorabool Shire Mayor Cr Tom Sullivan said the funding would be vital to boost preparedness for future disasters, after last year’s devastating storms. “We’ve had a few incidents in the past 12 months, where the first thing that happens is, telecommunications go out. Even getting updates and advice on what’s happening when the power goes out is impossible – that was quite evident during the storms in Blackwood, Greendale, Korweinguboora, and Barkstead last year,” Cr Sullivan told the Moorabool News. “This funding will allow the local community to become more resilient...I think resilience is something we’re going to have to get good at going forward. Disaster readiness and those issues have been really elevated to government… if there’s any opportunity to put in funding for it, Council would be more than willing to promote that.” While the damage storms cause is inevitable, Cr Sullivan said, it’s the “lack of knowing what’s happening” and being unable to connect with family and neighbours that projects such as the back-up batteries can remedy. The second Moorabool recipient was Djerriwarrh Community & Education Services, which runs the Melton and Moorabool TAC L2P Program. Acting L2P Project Officer at Djerriwarrh, Debra Milvain, said the program was vital for young drivers, and the $10,000 in funding would help the program continue to grow. “The TAC L2P Program assists young learner drivers aged 16-20 years, who are without appropriate family support
to achieve their necessary 120 hours of supervised driving experience. The Moorabool L2P Program provides a muchneeded pathway to a licence and independence for our young people,” Ms Milvain said. “A fully fuelled car is provided as part of the program and at present, we are using a borrowed car from a Djerriwarrh Youth program. The grant will go towards a new Moorabool L2P vehicle, supporting ongoing growth of the program. “The geographical location of Bacchus Marsh and surrounding towns means transport options for work and education are limited, and present a barrier to our youth.” The Program has serviced over 100 local disadvantaged youths over the past decade, with 5000 driving hours supervised by its generous volunteer Mentors, and 35 drivers getting their probationary licence through the Program. The purchase of a new vehicle for the L2P Program is also being financially supported by Moorabool Shire Council. A further two rounds of SRC funding will be announced this year, with Round 13 closing for applications on 31 May, and Round 14 opening for applications on 1 June.
koorie kids services Maternal & Child Health (MCH) Central Booking
Moorabool
Website www.moorabool.vic.gov.au/MCH Phone 5366 7100
Melton
Website melton.vic.gov.au/MCH Phone 9747 7287
Email MCHAdmin@moorabool.vic.gov.au Email babycentralbookings@melton.vic.gov.au
MCH Hotline State-wide
13 22 29
Playgroups
Website
13 22 29
Website melton.vic.gov.au/playgroups Phone 5366 7100 Phone 9747 7136 Email MCHAdmin@moorabool.vic.gov.au Email playgroups@melton.vic.gov.au
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www.moorabool.vic.gov.au/playgroups
Central Enrolments 15 hours a week FREE kindergarten available at licenced, funded Kindergartens for 3 and 4 year old children for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
Website
Child Care Programs Occasional Care Family Day Care Vacation Care
Website www.moorabool.vic.gov.au/childcare Phone 5366 7100
Website
www.moorabool.vic.gov.au/kindergartens melton.vic.gov.au/kindergarten
Phone 5366 7100
Phone 9747 5408 Email Kindergartens@melton.vic.gov.au
PR
Email earlyyears@moorabool.vic.gov.au
Email earlyyears@moorabool.vic.gov.au
Website melton.vic.gov.au/childcare Family Day Care Phone 9747 7307 Email familydaycare@melton.vic.gov.au Vacation Care Phone 9747 7200 Email vacationcareprogram@melton.vic.gov.au
Immunisation
Contact your doctor
Website
other services
Aboriginal Organisations
O
Council services
F
for our community
melton.vic.gov.au/immunisations Phone 9747 7200
BADAC (Ballarat & District Aboriginal Co-operative) Ballarat 5331 5344 Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation 4308 0420 Wurundjeri WoiWurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation 9416 2905 Kirrip Aboriginal Corporation 26 Exford Rd, Melton South 8088 0764 VACCA 43 Bakery Square, Melton 8746 2776 VACCA 75-79 Watton St, Werribee 9742 8300
Koolin Balit Babaneek Booboop Early Years Project Western Health – Melton Health & Community Services Support for families with pregnancy and parenting needs, health or education concerns, linking with playgroup or kinder and referrals to services for children aged 0-8.
8746 1511
Koorie Engagement Support Officers (KESO) DET Central Highlands Region, Moorabool Email Rick.Balchin@education.vic.gov.au
P 03 4334 0553 M 0477 725 789
DET South West Region, Brimbank-Melton Email Janelle.Taylor2@education.vic.gov.au
P 03 9194 6350 M 0448 526 955
VACCA Koorie Kids Playgroup (Melton)
8746 2776
Urgent Care All Emergency Services – Police, Fire & Ambulance Nurse On Call Orange Door – Bacchus Marsh Poison Information Safe Steps – 24 hour crisis service Sunshine Hospital Western Health – Bacchus Marsh Western Health – Bacchus Marsh Community Health Centre Western Health – Melton Western Health – Melton Health & Community Services
000 1300 60 60 24 1800 219 819 13 11 26 1800 015 188 8345 1333 5367 2000 5367 9674 9747 7600 8746 1100