Loddon Shire Mayoral Column 13 April
Published on 13 April 2021
Volunteer with the Loddon Visitor Information Centre
The Loddon Visitor Information Centre is inviting volunteers to become part of an enthusiastic team that enjoys helping visitors and sharing knowledge of the region.
Rewards for volunteering are free familiarisation tours that are fully catered, a Christmas function, team building and friendship, knowledge of the area, free internet access when volunteering, and meeting new residents or visitors from around Australia and overseas.
Volunteers are required on Sundays or public holidays and your commitment can be limited to as little as three hours a year. Shifts are from 10am to 1pm and 1pm to 4pm. Volunteers can nominate their preferred month and shift.
The Loddon Visitor Information Centre is coordinated by the Loddon Shire, including Tourism and Marketing Officer Robyn Vella, Tourism Assistant Shelby Hutchinson and Loddon Visitor Information Centre Officer Pauline Brown, all of whom are passionate about the growth of tourism in our region.
To get an information pack and learn more about this fantastic service please contact the Loddon Visitor Information Centre on (03) 5494 1257.
New residents are more than welcome to volunteer – the tourism team will teach you the knowledge of our region.
Loddon Healthy Minds Network art competition
Continuing to raise awareness of mental health within the Loddon community, the Loddon Healthy Minds Art Competition is on again in 2021.
Categories include an open section for those aged over 18 years (or under 18 if no longer attending secondary school), upper secondary students in years 9 to 12 and middle school students in years/grades 5 to 8. There are also two junior students’ categories – grades 3 and 4 and grades Prep to 2.
The competition also includes literary entries between 500 to 1000 words.
There are two themes for the open section and upper secondary students’ categories: Community Connection is Critical or It’s OK not to be OK – Stay Connected.
Themes for the middle school students’ category are: Be Your Own Definition of Amazing or Be Kind.
The junior students’ categories will be a colouring competition (poster provided), with the theme I Am Awesome (grades 3 and 4) and Bee Kind (grades Prep to 2).
To find out more about the competition and to download an entry form, visit the Loddon Healthy Minds Network website: https://bit.ly/3wNhODb
If you would like to receive an entry form via mail please contact Council’s Community Wellbeing Officer on (03) 5494 1230. Entry forms are also available for students via participating schools.
All entries are to be completed and delivered to the Loddon Shire office at Wedderburn or Serpentine by the first Monday in August 2021.
Please note: the ability to deliver entries to Council offices will depend on COVID-19 restrictions at that time. If these restrictions do not permit delivery of items, alternative arrangements can be made by contacting Council’s Community Wellbeing Officer on the number above.
You can also call the Community Wellbeing Officer for any other enquiries about the competition or by emailing: healthyminds@loddon.vic.gov.au
Webinar for rural and regional not-for-profits
Social enterprise Our Community has teamed up with the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) for a special webinar focusing on the issues important to rural and regional not-for-profit organisations.
The free webinar titled Good Governance in Regional and Rural Areas will focus on finding funding, recruiting new members and volunteers, getting help from peak bodies and community leaders, and conflicts of interest – and how to approach them.
The webinar will take place on Thursday 29 April from 1pm to 2pm. To register go to https://bit.ly/3d9ehHB
Tidy Towns Awards Program entries now open
Entries are now open for the 2021 Keep Victoria Beautiful Sustainable Communities – Tidy Towns Awards Program for rural and regional areas of Victoria.
The Sustainable Communities – Tidy Towns Awards recognise, celebrate and share grassroots initiatives and positive actions taken by community groups, educational institutions, businesses and councils in rural and regional areas in Victoria.
Entries close 14 May 2021. To find out more visit https://awardsonline.net.au/2021/tidytowns/