Loddon Shire Mayoral Column 20 April

Published on 20 April 2021

Tiny Towns Arts Trail this weekend

Bridgewater on Loddon and Tarnagulla will be part of more than 20 locations for the fifth annual Tiny Towns Arts Trail to be held this weekend from 23 to 26 April.

Bridgewater on Loddon will feature three locations on the arts trail – Mulwarrie Studios and Gardens, Arts of Olde and Secret Platypus.

At Tarnagulla, the Community Centre and Country Café, a studio at 87 Commercial Road (Mel Young and Mathew Bishop) and garden art space Octopus and Queen will all be featuring works.

All spaces are open throughout the arts trail weekend (Friday to Monday).

This year’s arts trail will also include the inaugural Tiny Towns Arts Trail Portrait Prize, which will be shown at the Dunolly Historic Courthouse, with finalists selected from the submitted entries. The winner will then be selected by People’s Choice with a cash prize awarded to the artist whose work receives the most votes.

To find out more about the Tiny Towns Arts Trail – including a complete list of the trail’s locations and participating artists, visit their Facebook page or Instagram page.

Maps and a list of locations on the Tiny Towns Arts Trail are also available at information centres, cafés and all arts trail venues.

Initiative to support Aboriginal businesses and economic development

Loddon Shire is part of a new initiative to support Aboriginal businesses and economic development across central Victoria.

Led by the City of Greater Bendigo, the Aboriginal Business Capability Building Initiative is funded through Regional Development Victoria, and also includes Mount Alexander and Central Goldfields shires.

The initiative seeks to strengthen local, social and economic outcomes by maximising local spend in the region and focusing on creating local jobs, including jobs for Aboriginal people.

Local businesses and Council contractors are invited to attend a series of industry briefings to hear about local, social and Aboriginal economic development and discover how their business can engage and support regional opportunities. Businesses will also learn about the Aboriginal business sector landscape and respond to local, social and Aboriginal tender clauses.

The first industry briefing will be held next Tuesday 27 April at the Fosterville Gold Bendigo Tennis Centre, Nolan Street, Bendigo from 6pm to 8pm. Please register here.

The second industry briefing will be held Tuesday 25 May at the same venue from 6pm to 8pm. Please register here.

Securing your future water needs – webinar

Agriculture Victoria will be holding the next in its irrigation webinar series on Thursday 29 April from 1pm to 2pm.

The title of the webinar is Securing your future water needs. Harnessing carryover and other water products.

The webinar will discuss the current allocation outlook, different options for carrying over water into next season as well as other options to secure water for the 2021-22 season and into the future.

Boort MASH meeting success

The More Australian Solar Homes (MASH) solar and battery storage bulk-buy program meeting in Boort last Tuesday went very well, with around 13 people attending the meeting. There were also a number of follow-up enquiries, including requests for quotes around solar power for homes, farms or businesses.

I’d also like to thank the Boort Resource and Information Centre (BRIC) staff, who MASH said were extremely helpful. MASH also complimented BRIC on being a great venue to host the event.

The MASH solar bulk-buy program is part of Council’s ongoing partnership with the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance. The program makes it easier and more affordable for Loddon Shire households and businesses to install a solar power system in order to cut their electricity bills and CO² emissions.

To find out more visit the MASH website or call 1300 466 274.

Lest we forget

This Sunday we will pause to honour the service and sacrifice of all our veterans who have fought in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

Anzac Day commemorations this year will again be different due to the uncertainty of how COVID-19 will impact the community in future months, however the public are most welcome to be present at local services. Please ensure you arrive in plenty of time so CovidSafe protocols can be followed.

Alternatively, if you are not able to be present at a service, consider participating in “Light up the Dawn” – by standing at your front gate or on the verandah at 6am with a candle to honour and remember the Anzacs.

For more information on services in the Loddon Shire, visit Council's website.