Mayoral Column 27 August 2018
Published on 27 August 2018
Join Lorraine Marwood for seniors writing workshops
If you’re a senior living in Loddon Shire, make sure you don’t miss your chance to take part in free writing workshops with award-wining author Lorraine Marwood at the Dingee Library Agency.
The workshops will run from 10am to 12pm on Wednesday 29 August, Wednesday 12 September and Wednesday 19 September (a light lunch is also included). Please note, the program does require attendance at all three workshops.
The workshops will produce a very special collaborative book for the Loddon community featuring your stories and recollections.
With only 15 places available, seniors are encouraged to not miss this great opportunity.
To express your interest contact: Liz Plumridge at Goldfields Libraries on 5449 2789 or email: lizp@ncgrl.vic.gov.au
The workshops, which are being held by Goldfields Libraries, are supported by the City of Greater Bendigo and the Strengthening Seniors Inclusion and Participation Program.
Kindergarten enrolments close 31 August
Having mentioned kindergartens in last week’s column. I thought it timely to also provide a reminder that enrolments for four-year-old and three-year-old kindergarten in Loddon Shire close this Friday 31 August.
If your child will be three years old or four years old by 30 April 2019, please contact Loddon Shire Early Years Department for enrolment advice on 5437 7999.
Council's aim for kindergarten is for children to learn about themselves, who they are and what they can achieve, and to like the individual that they are. Kindergarten encourages self-confidence, self-reliance and resourcefulness through play and gives children the skills and processes to cope with and solve situations that occur at home or later at school.
Enrolment forms are available online at www.loddon.vic.gov.au, from local kindergartens (Boort Preschool, Dingee Preschool, Inglewood Kindergarten, Pyramid Hill Preschool and Wedderburn Kindergarten) or from Council offices at Wedderburn and Serpentine. Enrolment forms are also available from your local Maternal and Child Health centre.
Bridgewater Bakehouse takes out vanilla slice honours
Congratulations to the Bridgewater Bakehouse who have taken out the top honours at the Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph, held in Mildura on 18 August.
Bridgewater Bakehouse’s vanilla slice was proclaimed the best in the country, winning out over entries from bakeries across Australia.
According to WIN News, Bridgewater Bakehouse is seeing people line up out the door to sample its award-winning vanilla slice, with some people travelling up to three hours to the bakery.
Fourth “fee” free waste day held
On 18 and 19 August Council held its fourth and final “fee” free waste day as part of a trial, which started in November 2017.
The quarterly waste days enabled residents to dispose of up to four cubic metres of general domestic waste free of charge, including green waste, mixed recyclables and general household waste.
While the final figures regarding the total waste collected for the latest “fee” free waste day are not available just yet, I have received a lot of positive feedback from community members. Statistics regarding the quarterly waste days from November 2017, February 2018 and May 2018 are noted in the Did you know? section below.
The waste days also complemented annual hard rubbish days, held once a year in townships across the Shire around the week after Clean Up Australia Day.
Although the “fee” free waste trial has come to an end, I would like to remind our community that you can still dispose of up to four cubic metres of metals and up to one cubic metre of recyclables (glass, cardboard, plastics) for free at Council’s waste facilities year-round.
A report regarding the trial will now be prepared for Council’s consideration.
Did you know?
A total of 987 people used the quarterly “fee” free waste days held in November 2017, February 2018 and May 2018, with 617m³ of waste and 378m³ of green waste disposed across the six Council facilities.