Mayoral Column 1 January 2017

Published on 01 January 2018

Welcome to 2018!

Welcome to my first Mayoral Column for 2018. I hope all our residents had a great Christmas and enjoyed their New Year celebrations. On behalf of Loddon Shire Council, I would also like to wish you and your family a happy and successful year ahead.

Together with Council, I look forward to continuing to work with our community towards enhancing the liveability of our Shire – be it through community and infrastructure projects or promotion of our fantastic region.

As we embark on this New Year, I would also like to acknowledge another great characteristic of our Shire – our volunteers.

Volunteers are essential to our community and we are fortunate that so many people dedicate their time to unpaid work in our region, with Loddon Shire experiencing strong rates of volunteerism.

In my final column for 2017 I made mention of a Christmas event to thank the wonderful volunteers at the Loddon Visitor Information Centre.

The Loddon Visitor Information Centre is a vital component when encouraging people to visit and stay in our rural communities, and the centre always welcomes more volunteers to come on board.

By volunteering at the centre, you will become part of an enthusiastic team that enjoys helping visitors and sharing knowledge of the region.

There are many benefits to volunteering with the visitor information centre; not least the opportunity to connect with other volunteers and share Loddon’s hidden gems.

If you’re new to the area, volunteering at the centre is a great way to meet new people. If you have just finished school and are looking to gain some work experience, volunteering at the Loddon Visitor Information Centre can help achieve this.

As a volunteer, you will be required to help staff the centre on Sundays or public holidays and can limit your volunteering to as little as three hours per year. Shifts are from 10am to 1pm and 1pm to 4pm, and you can nominate your preferred month and shift.

As well as being part of a great team, as a volunteer, you will take part in free familiarisation tours of key tourism attractions. You will also have free internet access during your shift and a number of social and networking opportunities.

To find out more about volunteering at the Loddon Visitor Information Centre and to obtain an information pack, contact the centre on 5494 1257.