Loddon Shire Mayoral Column
Published on 27 April 2020
Loddon Shire COVID-19 updates
Thank you to everyone who is doing the right thing and staying at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Stage 3 restrictions have created difficulties for everyone, with some businesses forced to close while others have had to radically alter their delivery of service in order to survive.
By now school students and parents have settled into a new form of normal with the beginning of the third week of online learning. We need to remember that while most students are at home, a small number of students are physically attending school and speed restrictions during school hours still apply in school zones.
The message from the Government remains the same - if you can stay home, you must stay home. There are only four reasons to leave home: food and supplies, medical care and care giving, exercise and work or education. The Victorian Chief Health Officer has announced that physical distancing measures and staying at home are working to slow the spread of COVID-19, but we must keep it up.
All details about Council’s COVID-19 Financial Hardship Guidelines and ways in which Council is continuing to provide essential services may be found at the dedicated web page: www.loddon.vic.gov.au/covid-19.
To ensure you have accurate and consistent information about COVID-19, including what you can and cannot do under Stage 3 restrictions, check with the Department of Health and Human Services website: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus.
Anzac Day
Last weekend we paused to remember the sacrifice of men and women who have served or are currently serving our country during wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.
Despite being required to stay at home, Australians found novel ways to mark this important commemorative day. People in Loddon Shire demonstrated their respect and gratitude on Anzac Day by placing a cut-out poppy on the mailbox. This was an initiative of our tourism team to show solidarity during isolation.
Although the usual Anzac Day service at the Soldiers’ Memorial Park in Wedderburn was not able to take place, I am pleased to report that the planned refresh of the gates and fence at the park was nevertheless completed in time.
Active April
While we are all doing our part to reduce the spread of coronavirus by staying at home, we can still find ways to be active. Premier’s Active April encourages people to get moving for at least 30 minutes per day to stay positive and look after themselves. Many people in Loddon have taken part in the challenge, including many Council staff. Even though the challenge ends in a few days there are lots of reasons to keep moving.
With our usual routines disrupted, it can be harder to find the motivation to stay active. But now, more than ever we need to get moving to look after our health and wellbeing. The Loddon Shire has plenty of open spaces for exercising according to physical distancing guidelines.
Remember, all recreation facilities including playgrounds, outdoor exercise equipment and skate parks are closed at the moment. You can stay active by bike-riding, gardening, doing home workouts, jogging or walking. According to the Active Living Census, walking is the Number 1 activity undertaken by residents in the Loddon Shire.
The Healthy Heart of Victoria Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Healthy-Heart-of-Victoria-2480543132015688 and Active April webpage https://www.activeapril.vic.gov.au/ both have lots of tips for healthy eating and being active in your home or backyard.
Telecommunications relief package
In addition to the waived charges for additional capacity mentioned in an earlier column, nbn has also released details about a $150 million COVID-19 relief and assistance package.
This package aims to help internet providers to connect low-income households with home schooling needs, support emergency and essential services and assist small and medium businesses and residential customers facing financial hardship.
The support measures are directly aimed at allowing internet providers to help customers stay connected during this period of uncertainty. Customers should contact their provider for details on how this package can help them.
Victorian Community History Awards
Entries are now open for the 2020 Victorian Community History Awards. Since 1998, the awards have been held annually to recognise the contributions made by Victorians in the preservation of the state’s fascinating history.
Presented by Public Record Office Victoria (PROV) in partnership with the Royal Historical Society of Victoria, the awards celebrate the people who are dedicated to telling local stories which help all Victorians to better understand their past.
There are a number of award categories covering local projects, publications, cultural diversity, multimedia and oral history. In 2019, the ‘East Loddon Remembers Memorial’ by East Loddon P-12 College, East Loddon Historical Society and Loddon Shire received a commendation in the Collaborative Community Award category.
Entries must be received by 8 July. Visit the PROV website for details https://bit.ly/3crbYMO.
Maintenance grading program
Throughout Stage 3 restrictions, our teams at Loddon Shire Council have been able to continue outdoor work, including progressing the programmed road grading. From 1 July 2019 to 31 March 2020, 3,009 maintenance grading work actions were completed resulting in 1,470 kilometres of grading and 2,116 kilometres of inspections carried out.
Did you know
At the end of March we were saddened to hear of the closure of regional newspapers including the Loddon Times and the Gannawarra Times. The loss of local publications has a major impact on communities where stories are celebrated, news shared and relevant information passed on in such an accessible way.
For our region’s sake I am hopeful that these publications may be able to return after the current crisis has passed. Meanwhile, the Gannawarra Times is printing some digital content, including the Mayoral Column.