Road and rail upgrades delivering better transport connections and supporting tens of thousands of jobs for the regions will ramp up this spring.
Regional Victorians are asked to prepare for disruptions on two regional passenger lines as well as two major roads over the coming months.
Works to enable VLocity trains to run to and from Shepparton for the first time later this year will continue in the north, improving service reliability and providing passengers with more comfortable journeys.
Upgrades to level crossings between Donnybrook and Shepparton will make life easier for road users, and works will progress on a new stabling facility north of Shepparton Station to house VLocity trains.
To facilitate this, coaches will replace regional trains between Southern Cross and Shepparton from Friday 9 September to Monday 19 September, and between Seymour and Shepparton from Friday 14 October to Sunday 16 October.
On the roads, construction of a new culvert bridge on Donnybrook Road near Doreen will begin, ensuring a key link in Melbourne’s booming outer north remains safe and accessible. Bridge strengthening works will take place on Donnybrook Road between Epping Road and Darebin Creek from Saturday 17 September to Monday 3 October with changed lane arrangements in place until Monday 7 November.
As part of the Gippsland Line Upgrade, work begins on station upgrades which will deliver much-needed extra services between the peaks between Traralgon and Melbourne.
These include upgrades of the car parks at Bunyip and Longwarry, a new platform at Morwell and upgrades to electrical equipment to service the new accessible overpass lifts at Traralgon. Coaches will replace trains between Southern Cross and Bairnsdale from Thursday 15 September to Sunday 18 September.
Trains won’t stop at Bunyip and Longwarry stations from Monday 19 September to Friday 14 October as these works intensify, with passengers to be advised of alternative arrangements. From Saturday 5 November to Sunday 13 November, coaches will replace trains between Southern Cross and Bairnsdale.
Early works will continue on the South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Duplication to prepare for upgrades that will improve stations, remove dangerous level crossings and enable more peak services to Marshall and Waurn Ponds.
The installation of signalling infrastructure between Colac and Warrnambool for Stage 1 of the Warrnambool Line Upgrade will prepare the line for commissioning and the introduction of a fifth daily service on the line later this year.
Work will also progress on the new stabling facility at Waurn Ponds, with the finishing touches being made to the staff buildings and construction to begin on the staff car park.
Coaches will replace trains between Geelong and Warrnambool from Saturday 1 October to Sunday 9 October, and from Saturday 5 November to Sunday 4 December 2022.
At Marshall, work will continue on removing the level crossing and a new bridge as part of the Barwon Heads Road Upgrade.
To allow for these major works, coaches will replace trains on sections of the Geelong and Warrnambool lines at various times from Friday 26 August to Tuesday 6 September.
Barwon Heads Road will also be closed between Barwarre and Marshalltown roads from the evening of Thursday 25 August to Tuesday 6 September. Victorians are asked to check for delays before they travel at bigbuild.vic.gov.au, as well as continue to wear a mask while on public transport.

Macedon Ranges Shire Council has announced the recipients of its Community Funding Scheme (CFS) grant program for 2022-23 with twenty-one local community groups receiving a share of $174,868 in funding.
The Community Funding Scheme provides funds to not-for-profit community groups for programs and initiatives that benefit residents of the Macedon Ranges and help achieve the Community Vison and Council Plan goals.
Funding is allocated under four streams including: community and cultural development projects, enhancing the effectiveness of local community groups, supporting local environmental priorities, and enhancing community places and infrastructure.
The program provides an opportunity for community groups to source funding to support programs and initiatives that would otherwise be difficult to obtain.
Macedon Ranges Shire Council Mayor Cr Jennifer Anderson said not-for-profit community groups rely heavily on grants and fundraising from the local community for projects and facility upgrades. The challenges of the last couple of years with the pandemic and rising costs of living have made these funds more difficult for these groups to obtain.
“The Community Funding Scheme helps to fill that gap and allow our local community groups to implement initiatives and complete projects they otherwise may not be able to. To assist further, this year we have allowed each organisation to apply for up to two grants. The uptake by our community groups this year has been really pleasing to see,” she said.
Some of the projects to receive funding in this year’s round include:
 Lancefield Neighbourhood House – Extinct, Lancefield Megafauna Festival – $4,000
 Macedon-Woodend Scout Group – Purchase of hike tents, camp cookers and BBQs – $3,400
 Romsey Neighbourhood House Inc. – Feed It Forward equipment including freezers – $6,000
 South Gisborne Tennis Club – Accessible picnic setting and area – $12,000
 Woodend Golf Club Inc. – Woodend Golf Club Community Paths project – $12,000
 Friends of Bald Hill Reserve – Install seating in the shelter, development of a design for a brochure and interpretative signage for the shelter – $12,000
 Riddells Creek Lions Club – All-inclusive double BBQ and power – $12,000
 Bullengarook Pony Club – Bullengarook Equestrian Arena upgrade – $12,000
 Friends of Maxwell Street, Tylden – Maxwell Street Reserve walking track and gates – $10,000
A full list of recipients is available on Council’s website, mrsc.vic.gov.au/grants

Kyneton Town Hall will host a spectacular one-night only performance of Fred Smith and the Urban Sea Shanties Community Choir on Saturday 10 September. The not-to-be missed performance is the culmination of months of choir rehearsals under the guidance of choral leaders Andrew Price and Seija Knight.
The Urban Sea Shanties Community Choir was formed in May 2022 following a call-out to the Macedon Ranges singing community. The intention behind the project was to raise awareness of community choirs whilst promoting the health and wellbeing benefits derived from being involved in a community project and singing in a choir.
Thirty-eight locals formed the temporary choir ranging in age from just 12 years old to 80+. Those who responded to the call-out included enthusiastic local singers and musicians wanting to try their hand at singing. Over the past four months, participants have learnt a repertoire of songs, which will be performed on stage alongside celebrated singer/songwriter and comedian Fred Smith and his Four-Piece band.
Fred Smith is renowned for his storytelling through music. Some of his songs are sad, some witty. All reflect the world he has seen including in his time as an Australian Diplomat living in a war zone. His melodies provide memorable stories for his audiences and cover a gamut of human emotions. Mayor Cr Jennifer Anderson expressed how lucky Macedon Ranges residents have been to be part of this experience and wished participants well for their performance and the culmination of months of hard work and practice. “I think the audience will be captivated by this unique show. From Fred’s thought-provoking and sometimes humorous lyrics through to the accompanying vocals of our very own Urban Sea Shanties Community Choir, it really will be a show not to be missed. I encourage everyone to go along to Kyneton Town Hall and enjoy a great night out,” she said.
The performance is scheduled for Saturday 10 September at 7.30pm at Kyneton Town Hall. Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for concession, and $10 for children.
To purchase tickets call 1300 888 802 or visit mrsc.vic.gov.au/shanties

Do you have a dog or cat, or want to have a say on how pets are managed in Hepburn Shire? Council’s draft Domestic Animal Management Plan (DAMP) is now open for feedback.

Mayor, Cr Tim Drylie, said the draft plan is informed by what Council heard from the community last year.

“More than 450 submitters completed a survey last year on how they would like to see dogs and cats managed in our Shire. The main areas for concern were nuisance cats, dog aggression and attacks, dog walking issues, and a lack of education and enforcement,” said Cr Drylie.

“This feedback has guided the development of the draft plan, which has a focus on reducing instances of nuisance animals and promoting animal welfare.”

Some of the objectives of the new plan include investigation and implementation of a cat curfew, development of an off-lead dog park masterplan (which is progressing this financial year), easier reporting of dog attacks, and increased community education.

There are 2273 dogs and 817 cats registered in Hepburn Shire.

“So many households have a dog or cat or have neighbours with pets. This draft plan affects most residents in our Shire so I would really urge people to take a look and let us know what they think,” said Cr Drylie.

“You don’t need to be a pet owner to take part, we want to hear from everyone in the community.”

Read the draft plan and complete an online survey at https://participate.hepburn.vic.gov.au/ or read the plan and complete a survey at your local Council hub. Feedback will be accepted until 5pm on Thursday 8 September.

Farmers are being encouraged to look out for signs of disease in field crops coming into spring and take action to minimise the impacts on their crops.

Agriculture Victoria Senior Cereal Pathologist, Dr Mark McLean said diseases in cereal and pulse crops in Victoria were observed earlier than usual this season due to the wet conditions.

“We’ve so far had reports of powdery mildew and stripe rust in wheat, Ascochyta blight in lentils and bean, and Botrytis grey mould/chocolate spot in bean, lentil and vetch.

“Given the wet conditions, and the outlook for a wetter than average couple of months ahead, growers and advisors are encouraged to inspect and monitor crops closely for diseases. Proactive disease management with fungicide is warranted under these conditions to avoid crop losses.”

Stripe rust has been found in many wheat crops in the Mallee and Wimmera, a good month to two months before it would normally be detected. It can be controlled with a well-timed fungicide application soon after detection, with a follow up application four to five weeks later, if needed.

“Stripe rust and powdery mildew are most damaging in seasons like this when they appear early. In such seasons, timely fungicide sprays are required in at risk varieties,” Dr McLean said.

Agriculture Victoria Senior Pulse Pathologist, Dr Joshua Fanning said farmers should also monitor pulse crops for Ascochyta blight.

“Ascochyta blight can result in reduced grain yield and quality if it is uncontrolled and conducive disease conditions continue. “

“The early infection of Ascochyta blight in pulse crops will result in a higher chance of pod infection later in the season if rainfall continues. This can lead to seed discolouration, sometimes resulting in discounted prices or grain being rejected by some buyers,” he said.

Botrytis grey mould (BGM), also known as chocolate spot, has been reported in bean, lentil and vetch crops. It can develop rapidly given the right weather conditions and requires early intervention to minimise damage to crops.

“We’re encouraging growers to be alert to evidence of these diseases emerging earlier in the season than usual, to check the disease ratings of their varieties, and to take action to avoid crop losses or damage.”

Further information on these and other field crop diseases can be found in the online Identification and Management of Field Crop Diseases in Victoria manual. The 2022 cereal and pulse disease guides are also available on the Agriculture Victoria website at Pulse Disease Guide or Cereal Disease Guide or from Apple eBooks (just search ‘Victorian disease guide’).

For assistance in diagnosing field crop diseases, contact the Horsham Field Crop Diseases research group on (03) 5450 8301 or at crop.safe@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Macedon Ranges Shire Council has decided to change the way it provides aged care services as of 1 July 2023, following Commonwealth Government changes to the sector under Aged Care Reforms.
After much consideration, Council has decided not to become a Support at Home provider under the new Commonwealth arrangements, and instead look to other ways it can support its ageing population on a larger scale.
The Commonwealth Government is making fundamental changes to the way it will fund and provide aged care services into the future, which Council needs to respond to.
This decision means that the Commonwealth Government will allocate other providers to deliver services currently provided by Council including, domestic assistance, personal care, respite, social support and centre-based meals.
Macedon Ranges Shire Council CEO Bernie O’Sullivan said that significant and continuing reforms by the Commonwealth Government mean that Council is not best positioned to continue providing these services.
“Council has been reviewing its own service delivery in aged care since reforms began to be introduced 10 years ago, which includes the way home support programs are funded, planned and delivered. The aim of these reforms is to increase the number of service providers, and create more choice and flexibility for clients. These reforms encourage providers to have size, scale and efficiencies, making it difficult for councils to continue delivering direct care services.”
“Making this decision now, before the Commonwealth’s proposed shift to the new Support at Home model, ensures our valuable clients and dedicated staff will be as prepared and supported as they can be for the change.” “Our goal now turns to continuity of care until our current contract ends in mid-2023, and ensuring our clients experience a seamless transition to new service providers when the time comes.” Mr O’Sullivan acknowledged the professionalism shown by staff and volunteers, thanking them for their continuing dedication to their more than 400 clients, particularly through the recent challenges of COVID-19. The decision will now see a staff consultation process commence which is set out in Council’s enterprise agreement. “We are committed to providing whatever support we can to both staff and clients over the coming 10 months, as we prepare for this change,” he said.
Mayor Cr Jennifer Anderson said that whilst direct individual support to remain at home is a critical aspect of wellbeing, there were other areas Council delivers, and will continue to invest in, looking after all our older residents to ensure fulfilled and healthy lives. Such investments include social connection for ageing residents, improving infrastructure, advocating the important role older residents play in the community and ensuring support services required are attracted to the shire.
“We believe this is an opportunity to work with older people across the shire to co-design a new model of information, advocacy and services, ensuring that we reinvest in the activities that will provide benefit to a broader range of older people, addressing local needs beyond the Commonwealth Government’s aged care program.”
“Currently, less than five percent of the almost 10,000 people aged 65+ living in the shire are accessing commonwealth supported aged care services through Council, including cleaning and respite. Council is keen to expand the reach of the work we will do in the future to support an increased number of older people in different ways, outside of the commonwealth’s Support at Home model,” she said.
Current service agreements for delivering Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) supports are in place until June 2023. Council has committed to working with the Commonwealth Government to negotiate timing and transition processes that will protect the interests of clients, their families, staff and the broader community. It will continue to play an active role in ensuring the community receives high-quality aged care services and will advocate for the needs of vulnerable community members.
Over the coming month, Council will consult further with seniors across the Macedon Ranges, to understand what is important to them. This information will assist in developing a new model of information, advocacy, activities and supports that are developed with residents of the shire, for residents of the shire.
Council currently has a range of ongoing commitments towards supporting older community members, which continue beyond the delivery of CHSP in home services and include:
 World Health Organisation Age-friendly Cities and Community accreditation
 Every Age Counts pledge – 2022
 PARTICIPATE: Positive Ageing Plan 2020–2025
 Council Plan 2021–2031
 Municipal Health and Wellbeing Plan
 Disability Action Plan
 Affordable Housing Interim Policy 2021–23

Victoria’s horticulture industry will benefit from a new round of grants delivered through an expansion of the Horticulture Netting Program.

An $11.2 million program expansion will build upon an initial $4.6 million in funding provided in 2021 by the Commonwealth Government for the first iteration of the program.

The new round of grants will be open to all eligible horticultural enterprises, excluding wine grapes, for the purchase and installation of new netting over established production areas.

Agriculture Victoria Executive Director, Policy and Programs, Sarah-Jane McCormack, said the grants are ideal for producers looking to future-proof their farms.    

“The expansion of the Horticultural Netting Program provides a terrific opportunity for horticultural enterprises to receive support for installing netting infrastructure that will increase their resilience to adverse weather events and improve efficiency.”

As with the previous round of grants, the Victorian Government’s Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR) will implement the expanded program on the Commonwealth Government’s behalf.

The grants (capped at $150,000) are available to eligible producers covering up to 50 per cent of the cost to purchase or install horticultural netting over commercial production areas.

Netting has been shown to deliver productivity benefits by protecting crops from extreme weather and predators and increasing water use efficiency.

“These grants provide valuable assistance to growers to increase productivity at a time where they are also bouncing back from the impacts of COVID on their businesses,” Ms McCormack said.

Applications are open between 17 August 2022 and 17 October 2022.

For more information on the Horticulture Netting Program or to lodge an application, visit the Agriculture Victoria website.

Agriculture Victoria has widened its permit system for anyone who wants to move bees into Victoria to include anyone bringing bees or bee products into any part of the state to further safeguard the pollination industry against Varroa mite. 

As of Tuesday 23 August this includes anyone bringing bees, hives, queen bees, used beekeeping equipment and bee products, including pollen and honeycomb into any part of Victoria from any state or territory.

Permits will not be granted for movement from New South Wales at this time.  

Victoria’s Chief Plant Health Officer Dr Rosa Crnov said the widening brings Victoria’s permit system in line with those of other states and territories, including South Australia and Queensland.

“This new permit system, combined with beekeeper registration requirements and the BeeMax system which allows beekeepers to register their bee movements, will provide confidence in delivering safe pollination for industries across the state,” Dr Crnov said

Victorian registered beekeepers will be able to move their hives out of Sunraysia to other parts of the state without a permit, providing they are registered on BeeMax.

“A permit system was required for the Sunraysia given the huge volume of hives coming from across the country just as Varroa mite was detected in New South Wales,” Dr Crnov said.

“We are confident given the smaller number of hives required for pollination from now on, that the existing BeeMax system will give us the information we need for tracking and tracing in the event of a Varroa detection in Victoria.

“Currently Victoria remains free of Varroa mite and in the event of a detection, Agriculture Victoria will undertake appropriate risk management actions to respond.”

Almond pollination is expected to start winding up in Sunraysia by early September and bees will be needed to pollinate other crops, such as summer fruit in Swan Hill and the Goulburn Valley and seed canola, mustard and clover crops in the Wimmera.

Beekeepers can apply for a permit and access permit conditions on the Agriculture Victoria website  or contact honeybee.biosecurity@agriculture.vic.gov.au for more information.

Did you know that food waste – swill – containing meat or other animal by-products must not be fed to pigs as it may contain viruses that cause diseases in animals?

Australia is free of foot-and-mouth disease. Feeding pigs waste food containing meat and meat products, irrespective of whether they are locally produced or imported, or imported dairy products puts this at risk.

Banning the feeding of prohibited food waste to pigs provides an important defence against the introduction of FMD or African Swine Fever to Australia.

Learn more about what you can and can’t feed to pigs here

By Richard Smith, Dairy Industry Development Officer

Following recent detections of foot-and-mouth disease and lumpy skin disease overseas, biosecurity has hit the headlines, with national and state biosecurity measures front and centre. 

Whether it be a dairy farm, a hobby cattle herd, a pet alpaca, or even just an irrigation paddock, biosecurity management and farm biosecurity planning can help protect your property from biosecurity threats.

Biosecurity risks increase when livestock, people, vehicles, equipment and supplies are brought onto a property, moved around the property, or leave the property. 

A biosecurity management plan is a document that outlines the processes you have in place to reduce the risk of disease, pests, or weeds impacting your property.

While developing your plan, the following practices can be quickly enacted now on your property:

• Request National Vendor Declarations (NVD) and animal health statements. Ask questions about animal health, vaccinations, disease and treatment history.
• Ensure your Property Identification Code (PIC) details are up-to-date, and livestock movements are uploaded on the National Livestock Identification Scheme (NLIS) database. PICs are free to get or update your PIC on the Agriculture Victoria website.
• Isolate livestock moving on to your property from others, using a yard or holding paddock. This allows time to empty the gut and enables you to monitor for signs of disease or sickness. 
• Supply footwear or personal protective equipment (PPE) for farm workers and ensure footwear is left on farm reducing risk of contamination.
• Have spare boots and overalls for visitors and contractors and keep a record of people entering the property including their contact details, areas visited and previous contact of farm animals. 
• Provide an area for washing with a wash tub, scrubbing brush and disinfectant to clean boots or equipment. Any household or general detergent is also fine.
• Manage feral, pest animals and weeds by storing feed securely, cleaning spilled feed and keeping areas around buildings and production areas clear of long grass and clutter.
• Prevent nose to nose contact between your livestock and other animals. This can be achieved by not grazing boundary paddocks while neighboring livestock are grazing the adjacent paddock, or by planting shelterbelts along boundaries.
• Allow only essential people into areas with young stock. Have a separate set of farm clothing/boots to wear around young stock and clean them regularly.
• Match frequency of inspections to periods of higher risk, such as calving or lambing, increased insect and feral animal activity, and after rain events or natural disasters.

Stay tuned for the next article in our biosecurity practices series which will cover risk assessment and action plans. 

Agriculture Victoria is hosting a number of biosecurity planning workshops and webinars over the next few months. Visit Agriculture Victoria’s events page for details. 

For more information visit the biosecurity page on the Agriculture Victoria website, and for information and resources about foot-and-mouth disease, head to this page on Agriculture Victoria’s website.

Applications are now open for Victorian Agricultural and Pastoral Societies to access funding to support free entry for children to shows and field days and boost their COVID recovery.
The funding has been made available through the Victorian Government’s one-off investment in the Children Entry COVID Recovery Grants program.
Agriculture Victoria Executive Director, Policy and Programs, Sarah-Jane McCormack, said the program ensures regional and rural shows come back stronger than ever.
“For the past two years, most of the state’s agricultural shows have been significantly impacted by COVID-19 and these grants help organisers return to pre-pandemic attendance and revenue.”
“Free entry for kids makes it easier for families to come along and see firsthand best on-farm practices and to immerse themselves in learning experiences to better understand agriculture,” said Ms McCormack.
The grants are open to all eligible Victorian Agricultural and Pastoral Societies that are hosting up and coming agriculture, horticultural or pastoral events including the Royal Geelong Show, the Whittlesea Show, the Mildura Show and many more.
Grant amounts will be capped and based on previous ticket revenue from recent shows, events or field days held by the Agricultural and Pastoral Society.
Regional and rural shows are a fixture of Victorian society, building community spirit by celebrating agriculture in a fun, entertaining, educational and inclusive environment.
Executive Officer of Victorian Agriculture Shows, Rod Bowles said he is delighted to see the program open for applications. “The past two years have been challenging for the Societies and we’re looking forward to welcoming more families to the upcoming spring show season,” Mr Bowles said.
Applications now open until 26 September 2022.
For more information on the program and to apply, visit the Agriculture Victoria website.

The state government is giving newcomers to recreational fishing a chance to reel in a new hobby this
spring with five free introductory clinics to be held across the state.
Minister for Fishing and Boating Sonya Kilkenny and Member for Cranbourne Pauline Richards has visited Casey Fields Lake in Cranbourne East – which will be one of the locations to host the VicFishKids and Fishing For All clinics.
The other clinics will be held in Lilydale, Seymour, Shepparton and Bendigo, and come as part of the government’s $35 million Go Fishing Victoria plan, to get more people fishing more often.
VicFishKids events are designed especially for children keen to learn the basics in a safe and supported environment with help from experts.
Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) Ambassador Lee Rayner will join Fisheries Officers and the Education Team to chat with participants and share tip and tricks.
VicFishKids events are run with the help of local fishing clubs and Fishcare, ensuring participants learn from experienced fishers about knots, casting, bait selection and what to do when they land their first fish.
Catchable size rainbow trout from the VFA’s Snobs Creek hatchery will be stocked prior, improving anglers’ chances of success. Children who pre-register for clinics will receive a free fishing rod to take home, with 120 up for grabs at each event.
There will also be filleting and cooking demonstrations and tips on how and where to catch your target species.
VicFishKids events run from 10am to 4pm at the following locations:
• Lilydale Lake in Lilydale – Sunday, 11 September
• Goulburn Park in Seymour – Sunday, 18 September
• Casey Fields Lake in Cranbourne East – Saturday, 15 October
Fishing For All clinics are open to people of all ages and abilities and will run from 10am to 4pm at the following locations:
• Kennington Reservoir in Bendigo – Sunday, 2 October
• Victoria Lake in Shepparton – Sunday, 22 October
Fishing For All clinics are open to people of all ages and abilities and will run from 10am to 4pm at Kennington Reservoir and Victoria Lake, both of which will be stocked. Register at www.vfa.vic.gov.au/fishingforall
More information on both event series can be found at vfa.vic.gov.au

Macedon Ranges Shire Council will begin its annual elm tree treatment program in the coming weeks as part of the yearly management program to protect the shire’s 2,700 elm trees from the Elm Leaf Beetle. The Elm Leaf Beetle feeds on the leaves of elm trees and defoliates mature trees. Trees that have been attacked present a distinctive round hole in their leaves, and repeated infestations can seriously weaken trees leading to issues with visual amenity, safety and lifespan. While it is impossible to eradicate the beetle, Council has developed a preventative management program to protect significant stands of elms, predominantly in parks and avenues. Treatment generally occurs from September to November, and methods include spraying and injecting the soil around the tree’s root zone with low toxicity insecticide. This safe and effective method of treating large trees generally protects them for more than one season. For more information, please view Council’s Township Street and Park Tree Management Policy at mrsc.vic.gov.au/Tree-Management-Policy or call 5422 0333.

Victorian businesses are being connected to key international markets and driving jobs
growth with a packed schedule of more than 30 trade missions around the world in the next 12 months.
The trade missions will take Victorian companies to key regions including South East Asia, the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States.
Exports play a critical role in Victoria’s economy, contributing over $44 billion annually and helping to support more than 330,000 jobs. Global Victoria’s trade programs have facilitated more than $3 billion worth of export sales over the past six years, supporting 14,400 Victorian companies in reaching key international markets.
Major Victorian employer Bulla Dairy Foods achieved record sales in China and Singapore last financial year after participating in trade missions.
The benefits of export sales are clear – the company employs more than 800 people in a range of roles with headquarters in Derrimut and plants in Colac, Mulgrave and Dandenong. Bulla started its export push in South East Asia and now sends products to more than 25 markets throughout Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific.
Technology developer Key Options has participated in a number of trade programs including missions to London Tech Week and Big Data World and CommunicAsia in Singapore. As a result, Key Options has opened an office in London to drive sales in the UK market and secured a major deal in Indonesia, South East Asia’s largest economy.
In addition to tech and food, the trade missions promote Victoria’s capability in key sectors such as health and life sciences, advanced manufacturing and sustainability.
Exporters can also access Victorian trade and investment offices in 14 countries – the largest network of any Australian state or territory – for in-market assistance.
Upcoming trade missions include participation at major international industry events such as Food and Hotel Asia and Big Data World in September and October respectively. For more information go to global.vic.gov.au.

Went out for lunch the other day. Not locally, a sushi train restaurant.
In the old days, well not so old, but older than now, they actually looked like little trains running around on the tracks. But I think people had too much sake and then tried to derail the train which sounds like fun but in reality ends up a rice and fish mess.
They are quite cool though. You used to sit at a stool but now you sit in a very safe booth and watch as lots of different coloured plates rail by, tempting you with everything from eel to Hello Kitty ice-creams. Having spent some formative years in Japan, apart from being in the country, this is my go-to place. Well, was.
Always someone going to spoil something. And why is it always a kid? Actually, that is not true, I blame the parents. When did all kids become free range and allowed to wander around, touching everything?
But this kid, in the booth next to us, took it to the next level. Aged maybe three, I don’t know, old enough to climb onto the booth’s couch, so maybe four. Perhaps a really smart and active two-year-old.
Anyway, there he was with his doting father, or maybe grandfather, who knows these days. My dad was 41 when I was born and when he picked me up from Girl Guides, a cheerful, helpful Guide would always say “someone’s grandfather is here”. I was mortified. But how do you stop them picking you up, without hurting their feelings, when you are only 12?
Mind you, we were once in the family Valiant, sleepy six and all that, and we were sitting at the lights. Me in the passenger seat, dad with his balding head in the driver’s seat. The car next to us had four young blokes in it, all laughing, and then they starting revving the engine. As if to say “see how you go, old man”. And so Dad did. He hit that accelerator as soon as the light turned green, the Valiant lurched forward and we left them in our wake. I was pretty impressed with that move. Old man on the outside, young buck on the inside. Much like Kyle…just joking, honey.
But back to the sushi train and keep in mind, not just normal dining-out etiquette but also we are in the middle/end of a pandemic etiquette. We watched in stunned silence as the kid leant over, I kid you not, and started to lick the plastic cover of each and every plate as it floated past. Licked it. WTAF?
I looked at Kyle and said “I used to do that at the sushi train in Frankston with my parents”, and then we both laughed uproariously. Of course, no sushi in Frankston when I was growing up – just a Chinese and the wonderful Rugantino’s Italian joint. And, of course, the chances of me licking a plate in front of my parents and living to tell the tale. Not a chance.
So why didn’t we say anything? I really don’t know. Maybe because we had ordered our meals from the menu and had not picked them from the train? Maybe we had just run out of fight after years of dodging and weaving, asking people to step back, asking people not to crowd lifts, asking people to pop on a mask? Dunno. It’s been a long pandemic. But I do know we left not long afterwards.
There is only so much you can put up with. Just sayin’…