Mayoral Column 12 January 2015
Published on 12 January 2015
Best wishes for the year ahead
This first Mayoral Column for 2015 opens with good wishes from my fellow Councillors and myself for a bright and fruitful year for all Loddon residents.
I am keenly looking forward to the work before us, as Councillors, as we chart the course of Loddon Shire over the coming 12 months. We have an enthusiastic and committed team of people determined to bring about the best outcomes possible for residents.
I look forward to serving the Loddon community with all my energies for the coming year.
I wish for the best possible outcomes during 2015 for the whole municipality.
Australia Day celebrations secure esteemed guest speakers
Loddon’s Australia Day celebrations will feature guest speakers from around Victoria at the nine ceremonies across the municipality.
Esteemed business men and women, Order of Australia Medal recipients, entertainers and volunteers will feature as guest speakers across the Loddon region at its Australia Day ceremonies.
With these wonderful guest speakers locked in for our Australia Day awards I encourage all residents to attend the event in their local community.
Dr David Marsh, OAM and Clair Marsh, OAM, will guest speak at the Inglewood ceremony on the Australia Day morning, and then again at Arnold that evening.
Professor of Public Health at the University of Melbourne Dr Rob Moodie will attend the Boort function, while singer and songwriters Michael Cristiano and Lisa Edwards will talk at Dingee.
Starlight Foundation former chairman Gerry Hanily will guest speak at Eddington, while Yooralla chairman Dr Peter Langkamp will feature at Newbridge.
The 2007 Regional Victorian of the Year, Dr Bernard Jenner will guest talk at the evening function at Pyramid Hill while Accru Accounting CEO Aris Imbardelli will be at Wedderburn.
Bridgewater has invited along local guest speaker Peter Cumming, a representative from Water Wheel Wines.
My fellow Councillors and I will be attending ceremonies in each of our wards.
Loddon Valley Official Visitor Guide
Council’s tourism department has been working with businesses and community organisations to showcase Loddon in a new visitor guide.
At a recent ceremony I officially launched the Loddon Valley Official Visitor Guide at the Loddon Visitor Information Centre.
The guide features Loddon’s natural environment and showcases the outdoor activities on offer in our wonderful municipality.
The Shire worked with photographers Ian Bartels and Brian Boyton to showcase our wonderful outdoor playground.
We have included many of our activities and attractions in the guide, including fishing, our region’s winding walking tracks and sky diving.
We believe if we can incorporate all the brilliant activities in Loddon, we can draw people to our town centres which will benefit our economy.
This guide will be placed in all accredited visitor information centres that are the gateway to the Loddon Shire, including, Bendigo, Echuca, Swan Hill, Heathcote, Maryborough, Castlemaine, Maldon and Horsham.
Council will now work towards establishing an E-book and mobile phone app to feature the guide book.
School holiday fun in Loddon
The school holidays are the perfect time to show visiting friends and family the wonderful locations across the Loddon region.
Loddon has a with its rich gold rush history, open spaces, national parks, waterways, wineries and winding walking trails.
There are plenty of things to do across Loddon and I encourage residents to showcase the municipality to their visiting friends and family.
If you are looking for some ideas, you can take a stroll around Pyramid Hill or visit its local historical society museum. Pack a picnic basket or take advantage of a local eatery at Bridgewater, after a swim in the historic swimming hole.
If your relatives have a keen collectors eye, take them to visit the antique shops in Inglewood.
Cool down in the water at Lake Boort, or take a tranquil and peaceful walk around the lake to view the wonderful birdlife in Loddon.
Visitors can learn the history of the gold rush era by taking a walk around the township of Tarnagulla or visit Hard Hill in Wedderburn and view the historic gold mine and puddler.
If your friends and family would prefer to be on the water rather than in it, they can drop a fishing line in at Newbridge or canoe the Loddon River at Laanecoorie.
Don’t forget Council’s five pools are open for the summer season, weather dependent.
The Loddon Valley’s natural outdoor playground provides plenty of locations and attractions for family and friends to spend quality time together during the holiday season.