Loddon Shire Mayoral Column

Published on 20 January 2020

Celebrate Australia Day

I hope you will join me at one of the Australia Day festivities taking place this Sunday across the Shire, which provide an opportunity to celebrate what is great about our nation.

Australia Day is a day for all Australians, to reflect on what it means to be Australian, to celebrate contemporary Australia and to acknowledge our history. We respect that not everyone sees Australia Day as an occasion for celebration, but we hope that Australians from all backgrounds can come together and celebrate a day of unity and inclusion. It is an opportunity for greater understanding and reconciliation between our first peoples and non-Aboriginal Australians.

Events will be held at Boort, Bridgewater, Dingee, Eddington, Inglewood, Newbridge, Pyramid Hill, Tarnagulla and Wedderburn. Events will vary depending on the locality and may include such things as breakfast, morning tea, barbeques, swimming carnivals or fairground rides.

The day includes flag raising ceremonies as well as the announcement and presentation of Australia Day awards, which acknowledge the outstanding contributions made by community members. This is a wonderful recognition of the hard work of those who give so much back to our community.

Australia Day competition entries will be on display at various locations. This year’s competition focussed on the theme ‘My Favourite Place’ and attracted a terrific variety of creative entries for the literature, colouring and photography sections.

Each event will feature a speech from one of the Australia Day ambassadors: Dr Norman Eizenberg (Boort and Pyramid Hill), Mr Robin Daubeny (Bridgewater and Inglewood), Mrs Alma Besserdin (Dingee and Wedderburn) and Mr Darryl Jones (Eddington, Newbridge and Tarnagulla). Each ambassador will offer words of inspiration and pride to our local communities and reinforce the diversity of achievements in Australia.

I congratulate the Township Committees for their tireless efforts to bring these events to our towns. Every year the committee works hard to ensure we can come together as a community and celebrate our nation.

To find out more, including ambassador details, event times and locations, visit Council’s website https://www.loddon.vic.gov.au/Our-Council/Ceremonies/Australia-Day/Loddon-Australia-Day-Celebrations-2020.

Tarnagulla Historical Archive

Earlier this month, the Tarnagulla Historical Archive Room enjoyed a stream of visitors as new regular open hours take effect. The Archive houses well over 1000 historical items, including photographs, records and artefacts relating to the local history of Tarnagulla and surrounds, with more items coming in all the time.

The collection is located within the historic Victoria Hotel and Theatre complex and managed by community volunteers from the Tarnagulla Public Hall Committee. A grant from Public Records of Victoria (PROV) enabled the set-up of archival quality storage facilities.

Previously only open by appointment, the Archive is now open on the second Sunday each month from 10am to 3pm. Visitors are able to ask questions of local historians, order copies of images, lodge research requests and purchase local history books.

You can gain an insight into the collection by visiting the website: https://victoriancollections.net.au/organisations/tarnagulla-archive-room#collection-records.

Did you know

Last financial year Council issued 8452 rates notices. The revenue collected from rates was $10.75 million, which provides 23.6 per cent of Council’s overall funding.

These rates help Council to deliver more than 100 services across the Shire, including: roads, family and children’s services, aged and disability services, animal management, immunisations, public toilets, parks and gardens (including swimming pools), youth programs, waste management, community building and economic development including tourism services.

If you have elected to pay your rates in full, you would have recently received a courtesy letter reminding you that rates are due on 15 February.

As well as reminding residents who opt to pay their rates in full, the courtesy letter is an opportunity to check your billing address and make sure it is correct. You may also choose to receive your rates notices via email.

Please make sure to talk to Council staff if you anticipate you might have an issue in paying your rates. Visit our website to find out where to find your nearest approved agency for payment of rates https://www.loddon.vic.gov.au/For-residents/Your-home/Your-property-valuation-and-rates/Payment-of-rates.