Loddon Shire Mayoral Column 20 September
Published on 20 September 2022
Loddon Victorian Seniors Festival
It is fantastic to see the return of the Loddon Victorian Seniors Festival in 2022, which will be celebrated across Loddon Shire from 29 September to 14 October.
Incorporating aspects of this year’s theme of Takin’ it Easy, this year’s Seniors Festival will also see the welcome return of one of the most anticipated annual events in the calendar – the Seniors’ Gala Day.
To be held at the Boort Memorial Hall on Wednesday 5 October, this year’s Gala Day will feature award-winning country singer Tania Kernaghan. Light refreshments will be provided.
The 2022 Loddon Victorian Seniors Festival celebrates ageing positively and recognises the important contribution older people make to our community. As we know, seniors are an integral part of Loddon Shire's story – this includes their highly valuable contribution to our community via a range of volunteering roles.
Additionally, this year’s festival provides a range of opportunities for reconnection among attendees and local service providers.
This is particularly important for our seniors who may be unable to obtain the everyday information they need due to lack of access to technology or confidence navigating the digital space.
On behalf of Council, I encourage all our Loddon Seniors to get involved in this year’s festival including attending the Gala Day and other activities available across the Shire during this time.
For more information about this year’s Loddon Victorian Seniors Festival, please call Loddon Shire Council on 5494 1201 or visit Council's website.
The Seniors Festival is delivered in conjunction with the Victorian Government, through the Office for Senior Victorians in the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.
Pyramid Hill Community Transport helping to celebrate Seniors Week
To help celebrate this year’s Seniors Festival, Pyramid Hill Neighbourhood House will be having a Community Car-beque on Friday 7 October between 12pm to 2pm.
The community of Pyramid Hill and surrounding districts are invited to the event to learn more about the Pyramid Hill Community Transport Program.
The Community Car is the result of a successful grant applied for by the neighbourhood house to the Department of Transport to buy a vehicle to be used for non-emergency medical appointments.
Clients can book and hire the Community Car through the Neighbourhood House, which then contacts and books their available Volunteer Drivers.
I’d like to congratulate Pyramid Hill Neighbourhood House on the Community Transport Program, which is now more than halfway to their goal of 10 Volunteer Drivers. The response from clients has also been very positive of this new ‘door-to-door' service.
Stage 1 Little Lake Boort Foreshore Recreation Precinct opening
It was fantastic to attend the official unveiling of the newly installed synthetic turf at the Boort Bowling Club, as part of Stage 1 of the Little Lake Boort Foreshore Recreation Precinct.
As well as bowls club members, attendees on the day included Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh as well as my fellow Councillor Neil Beattie who also made a speech at the event.
I’d like to congratulate the Boort Bowls Club on the project, and thank the club for the great celebrations.
Council, through its collaboration with Boort Tourism and Development Inc. and relevant user groups are in the process of developing the scope for Stage 2 works for the project. This includes planned works for the tennis courts, installation of a pump park and basketball half court, along with additional works at the croquet club.
Dingee Railway Hotel reopening
It was a great honour to attend and to cut the ribbon for the official reopening of the Dingee Hotel last Friday.
The pub’s reopening is thanks to a great community effort from a group of locals who came together to buy and renovate the hotel after its closure in November last year. This effort includes the two locals who have leased the hotel.
The reopening on Friday saw a great crowd of local and visitors in celebration, and was a great occasion.
Congratulations
I’d like to congratulate the East Loddon Lions Club which celebrated 40 years of service on Sunday.
I was honoured to attend the celebration to mark this significant milestone, including the official opening of the Lions Memorial Garden and mural, where together with Lions District Governor Neil Stuart, I unveiled a memorial rock.
It was a great day of celebrations, which included local and surrounding Lions Club members, as well as past members and partners.
I’d also like to congratulate Wedderburn local Louis Holt who will represent Australia at the prestigious Isuzu World Technical Competition on 4 November.
Louis, from Bendigo Isuzu, will join Tamworth’s Brad Hickey at the international competition after taking out the top honours at the Isuzu National Technical Skills Competition in Melbourne last month. The competition consisted of a one-hour written exam and a one-hour on-vehicle exercise.
Public holidays this Thursday and Friday
A reminder that due to the National Day of Mourning for Queen Elizabeth II this Thursday and the AFL Grand Final public holiday this Friday, Council offices will close at 4.45pm on Wednesday 21 September and reopen at 8.15am on Monday 26 September.
The Loddon Visitor Information Centre will be closed on Thursday 22 September, and will open from 10am to 2pm on the Grand Final public holiday as well as the Sunday, and on Saturday from 9am to 5pm. For enquiries phone (03) 5494 3489.
Kerbside collections will take place as normal on Thursday and Friday so please put your bins out as usual on your collection day.
All waste facilities across the Shire will be closed on the public holidays this week.