Loddon Shire Mayoral Column 24 August

Published on 24 August 2022

Council is seeking expressions of interest from residents across the municipality to represent the community on the Loddon Healthy Minds Network committee.

The Loddon Healthy Minds Network promotes and advocates for improved wellbeing and access to appropriate services for people in Loddon Shire affected by mental health issues.

If you have an interest in improving mental health and wellbeing in the wider Loddon Shire community, the committee would be interested in hearing from you.

For more information or to obtain the Healthy Minds Network Terms of Reference or an Expression of Interest form, please contact Vicki Andrew on 5494 1230, [email protected] or visit the Loddon Healthy Minds Network website. 

I have mentioned before in this column about the integral role of volunteers in our community, whether it be through community groups, sporting clubs, emergency services (for example, SES and CFA), or helping deliver vital community services.

Council recognises that volunteers are the backbone behind communities – as highlighted in its Volunteer Strategy 2022-2026, which was adopted by Council in June. Volunteers provide vital support for the delivery of a number of Council services, activities, projects, programs and key community assets.

However, the latest Australia Bureau of Statistics data is showing that volunteer numbers are dropping, including in the Loddon Shire.

This is not a result of less volunteering opportunities – there is no shortage of the demand for volunteers. Whether it’s a few hours a week, a month or even a year, there’s plenty of organisations looking for volunteers.

If you’re looking for a way to support your community, meet some new people and contribute, please take the opportunity to consider volunteering. For young people, as well as connecting with your community, volunteering is a great way to gain a form of work experience.

Council’s website has information on volunteering, including for Loddon Shire, but also different areas of volunteering and volunteering resources.

The Australian Government Mobile Service Centre is coming to Pyramid Hill, Boort and Bridgewater.

The mobile service centre will be in Pyramid Hill on Monday 29 August from 9.30am to 4pm near the neighbourhood house in Kelly Street.

It will then be in Boort on Tuesday 30 August from 9am to 4pm opposite the information centre in Godfrey Street.

The mobile service centre will then visit Bridgewater on Monday 5 September from 9.30am to 4pm, at the Mobile Library site in Lyndhurst Street.

You can visit the Mobile Service Centre to find out about Australian Government payments and services for rural families, older Australians, students, job seekers, people with disability, carers, farmers and self-employed people.

Information about Department of Veterans’ Affairs programs and support services for veterans and their families will also be available.

Staff can provide you with information and support, including help you create a myGov account to access government services online.

To find out more visit the Services Australia website.  

I’d like to congratulate Wedderburn College’s Kerry Walker who has been selected as the 2022 Victorian finalist for the Australian Teacher Aide of the Year Awards.

Kerry has been working at Wedderburn College for the past 20 years as a teacher aide.  

The winner of the Australian Teacher Aide of the Year will be announced Thursday 1 September, during Australian Teacher Aide Appreciation Week.

Well done Kerry on being the Victorian finalist and I wish you all the best for the national awards.

Agriculture Victoria recently hosted 12 webinars focusing on key irrigation issues – of which the recordings are now available online.

Webinar topics included the southern Murray-Darling Basin water market, dealing with water price variability on-farm and where water prices are heading in the long term.

You can view all the webinar recordings here.