The state government is ensuring the achievements of inspirational women are better represented and recognised, with a new program to fund and deliver more public art that depicts and is made by women.
Applications are now open for the new $1 million Victorian Women’s Public Art Program – recognising women leaders and ensuring greater opportunities for female artists who are also significantly underrepresented when it comes to major public commissions.
Grants of between $50,000 to $200,000 are available to organisations across Victoria, with applicants strongly encouraged to work in partnership with community or interest groups such as local sporting and advocacy groups or arts collectives.
Currently, of the 580 statues across Melbourne only nine depict women – the program will address this significant inequality by supporting projects that recognise women and their achievements through mediums such as statues, sculptures and other enduring public art.
Women artists will be prioritised, recognising that women have low representation in art media, commercial galleries and state museums compared to men.
The program builds on the government’s $300,000 investment in the Victorian Budget 2021/22 to design and erect a statue of an iconic netball player at John Cain Arena. Netball Victoria have found that across Victoria there are currently only three statutes of sportswomen compared to 29 statutes of sportsmen.
The program complements the Victorian Honour Roll of Women, which celebrates women’s outstanding leadership and contributions to life in Victoria.
Applications close on 10 January 2022. For more information about the grants program, visit rav.net.au/funding-opportunities/victorian-womens-public-art-program/.
Minister for Women Gabrielle Williams said: “While Victoria’s public statues may be silent, the unequal numbers of women speaks volumes – symbolising the structural inequality experienced by women across almost every setting.

“Victorian women have achieved amazing things in politics, activism, literature, civil life, science, medicine and on the sporting field – these achievements should be celebrated just as equally as those of men.”
“The program will go a long way in ensuring that female artists are prioritised – recognising that women artists have low representation in art media, commercial galleries and state museums compared to men.”

Hepburn Shire Council has elected Cr Tim Drylie (Creswick Ward) and Cr Jen Bray (Birch Ward) as Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

Mayor, Cr Tim Drylie, thanked his councillor colleagues and staff for their support.

“The opportunity to serve the Hepburn Shire community as Mayor is such an honour and I’m both thrilled and humbled.  I feel very lucky to live and work in such a beautiful part of the world. This shire is richly abundant in natural assets that we are fortunate to have to explore, appreciate, and protect.”

“I take comfort that our council can draw strength from and respond to the wisdom of a creative, hardworking and diverse community. The year ahead may still present uncertainties as we once again emerge and deal with the physical, mental and financial stresses of the COVID pandemic, the damage from unprecedented Climate Change related weather events and constant adaptation to new and different ways of relating, living and working together.”

“Over the next year, I wish to continue the good work that this council has begun in forging positive and more engaged relations with our community. We need to listen, foster local expertise and support our resilient, diverse systems including our businesses, industries, farming and community health and wellbeing,” said Cr Drylie.

Bradley Thomas, CEO, congratulated councillors Drylie and Bray on their election.

“The election of Cr Tim Drylie and Cr Jen Bray as Mayor and Deputy Mayor is recognition of the great work they do on behalf of their communities. Cr Drylie and Cr Bray will be important leaders as we deliver the commitments outlined in the Community Vison and Council Plan, a significant milestone over the last year. I look forward to working with the new Mayor and Deputy Mayor as we navigate the current COVID environment and storm recovery, while delivering many services our communities. I would like to extend my thanks to Cr Lesley Hewitt and Cr Brian Hood for their support and work in the community over the past 12 months, and in particular bringing together a very new councillor group,” said Mr Thomas.

As part of the international campaign of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, Hepburn Shire Council is inviting community members to gather together and enjoy a short stroll in Trentham, Daylesford, Creswick and Clunes on Thursday 25 November.

The walks will start at the library in each town at 10.30am on Thursday 25 November, which is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. This is the first day of the 16 day campaign, which runs until Friday 10 December – International Human Rights Day.

Council is using the walks as an opportunity to raise awareness about the key role that gender inequality plays in driving violence against women, and call for action to prevent it.

“We would love to see you at your local library at 10.30am in Clunes, Trentham, Daylesford or Creswick, and join your community in this positive way to highlight the problem of gender-based violence,” said Mayor, Cr Tim Drylie.

The gentle walk will be manageable for people of all levels of fitness and all abilities. Please bring a hat and drink bottle and we encourage you to wear a piece of orange clothing, as this is the colour of the campaign.

Libraries will also have activities from 10am prior to the walk, and will feature displays throughout the 16 days.

Why walk against gender-based violence*?

• 1 in 4 women experience violence by a current or former partner.
• Victoria Police respond to a family violence incident every six minutes
• Intimate partner violence is the greatest health risk factor for women.
• Family violence is the single largest cause of homelessness for women.
• 1 woman is killed every week by her current or former partner.
• 43% of women in crisis accommodation have no income.
• 39% of people in crisis accommodation are children under the age of 14.
• 68% of mothers who experienced violence said their children had seen or heard the violence.

*Source: https://safesteps.org.au/

The state government is helping the next wave of Victorian kids learn to swim and have fun safely at the beach and in the pool this summer.
Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence has visited Sunshine Leisure Centre to announce $800,000 in funding to run the popular VICSWIM Summer Kidz Program for another two years.

The learn-to-swim summer program has been running since 1976, helping generations of young Victorians aged between four and 12 learn life-saving skills, swimming basics, water safety and survival knowledge. The program provides families with five low-cost, 30-minute lessons across a week.
A record 16,141 children took part in the program last summer at 167 venues across Victoria – including 123 regional venues – coordinated by Aquatics and Recreation Victoria. The program will support 300 casual workers to deliver three weeks of water safety and skill development in January.
Tragically, 13 children under the age of 17 drowned in Australia last year, which highlights the importance of programs like the VICSWIM Summer Kidz Program to teach kids water safety and skills.
The state government is investing $55.2 million to support swim and water safety education programs in government, Catholic and special schools, and will also introduce them in government English language schools.
For more information and to enrol in VICSWIM Summer Kidz Program 2022 classes, visit vicswim.com.au.

Women leading their communities through disaster, helping address cybercrime and lifting-up vulnerable communities are some of the 23 remarkable inductees to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women this year.
Minister for Women Gabrielle William has announced the 2021 Victorian Honour Roll of Women inductees – women from all walks of life who have made outstanding contributions to the Victorian community.

Among them is Central Highlands resident Taryn Lane, who was inducted as a “trailblazer” for her pioneering work as a community development practitioner in community energy and community-led climate transitions, co-founding RE-Alliance and the Coalition for Community Energy.

Two new categories were also introduced this year, to recognise young women in the early stages of their career and acknowledge women’s leadership in bushfire and COVID-19 response and recovery.
Jenny Lloyd was integral in the Mallacoota New Year’s Eve bushfire recovery and future planning, and Mary Agostino established the Mitchell Leadership Alliance to bring together local health and community service provider CEOs to develop a coordinated approach for people affected by the pandemic.
The latest inductees have been recognised across diverse fields such as business, education, health and medical research, child welfare, gender equity and public life.
Other inductees include founding chair of Women in Mathematics, Professor Asha Rao, leading Aboriginal Disability Cultural Trainer and Consultant, Jody Barney, Master Builders Victoria’s first female CEO Rebecca Casson and Afghan Women’s Organisation Victoria founder Gulghotai Bezhan.
The youngest ever inductee – Yasmin Poole, 22 – is a national ambassador for Plan International Australia and a passionate advocate for young women being included in Australia’s political conversations.
Each year, the Honour Roll celebrates exceptional women in Victoria who have made significant and lasting contributions to the community. Women were able to self-nominate for the first time in 2021 – resulting in the most nominations ever representing diverse women from across Victoria.
The latest inductees join more than 700 women named in the Honour Roll since the program began in 2001.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Women Gabrielle Williams
“Women make outstanding contributions in every aspect of our lives, and through the Honour Roll we’re pleased to celebrate and recognise some of these significant and lasting contributions.”
“Celebrating the achievements of women of all backgrounds and experiences helps open the door for the next generation of outstanding women to be leaders.”
“This year’s inductees are true leaders who contribute every day to making Victoria – and in some cases the world – a better place.”
Women’s Honour Roll 2021 inductees
Change Agent
• Kerryn Pennell
Inducted for her advocacy for youth mental health services both within Australia and internationally, and her pivotal role in developing responses to early psychosis and youth mental health in Australia.
• Zoe Condliffe
Inducted for her advocacy around ending gender-based violence, founding ‘She’s a Crowd’ – a tech start-up dedicated to collecting stories about gender-based violence and sexual harassment.
• Dr Bridie O’Donnell
Inducted for her extensive work as a physician, professional athlete and gender equality expert, becoming the inaugural Director of the Victorian Government’s Office for Women in Sport and Recreation in 2017.
• Kate Kennedy
Inducted for her extensive work in complex human rights advocacy on an international level, including work on anti-slavery, child protection and systemic change for the disadvantaged.
• Joanne Crawford
Inducted for her contribution to gender equality, sustainable development and anti-poverty through extensive research, policy and advocacy work.
• Jody Barney
Inducted for her advocacy and education work for the needs and empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disabilities.
Emerging Leader
• Shabnam Safa
Inducted for her work founding multiple initiatives to support refugees and host communities, focusing on strengths-based leadership and capacity-building approaches.
• Dr Skye Kinder
Inducted for her clinical and advocacy work for rural and other marginalized patients and their communities to address health inequality.
• Yasmin Poole
Inducted for her work as a youth advocate, as well as work advocating for girls’ rights to be recognized around the world.
Leading Through Disaster
• Rosie King OAM
Inducted for her work advocating for gender equality in sport, and leading the netball industry through the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
• Rebecca Casson
The first female CEO of Master Builders Victoria, inducted for her collaborative work steering and advocating for the building and construction sector through the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
• Jenny Lloyd
Inducted for her integral work in Mallacoota’s recovery from the 2019-2020 bushfires and the area’s future planning, as part of the Mallacoota and District Recovery Association.
• Mary Agostino
Inducted for her work establishing the Mitchell Leadership Alliance, bringing together CEOs of local health and community service providers to develop a coordinated approach for people affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the Mitchell Shire.
• Marisa Vedar
Inducted for her work as a leader in the Filipino community, in particular raising funds and delivering emergency relief to East Gippsland in the wake of the 2019-2020 bushfires and for international students and temporary workers in need during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Local Champion
• Aunty Lola James
Yorta Yorta elder inducted posthumously for her extensive work in Aboriginal health and child welfare, it is estimated that she personally cared for two hundred children within her own home when there were shortages of extended biological family and/or foster carers available.
• Margaret Ellen James
Inducted for her pioneering work improving the status of and rights of women in Victorian universities, in particular transforming the scholarship program of Graduate Women Victoria to address disadvantage among women students of higher education.
• Dr Sunila Shrivastava
Inducted for her work as a respected community leader in Victoria’s Indian community, in particular supporting newly arrived migrants and raising awareness about respectful relationships and prevention, and providing assistance to those experiencing family violence.
• Gulghotai Bezhan
Inducted for her work as a respected community leader and advocate in Victoria’s Afghan community, in particular providing a range of supports to newly arrived Afghan women in the Casey and Greater Dandenong communities.
• Selba Gondoza Luka
Inducted for her work as a mental health clinician and founder of Afri-Aus Care Inc, providing culturally appropriate support services to at-risk African-Australian youth, their families and the community at large.
Trailblazer
• Professor Asha Rao
Induced for her work as a mathematician and cybersecurity expert, and in particular working to improve gender equality within the mathematical sciences in Australia.
• Taryn Lane
Inducted for her pioneering work as a community development practitioner in community energy and community-led climate transitions, co-founding RE-Alliance and the Coalition for Community Energy.
• Professor Robyn Guymer AM
Inducted for her trailblazing work in ophthalmology, in particular age-related macular degeneration, becoming Victoria’s first female medical retinal specialist, and committed to promoting women in research.
• Dr Nouria Salehi AM
Inducted for her trailblazing work as a nuclear physicist and biophysicist in Afghanistan and Australia, as well as her provision of support to families in Afghanistan, and refugees to settle in Australia.

Gold mining in Victoria is booming with production at levels not seen in more than a century, supporting jobs growth and business strength – and the impact has been especially stunning in Stawell.
Minister for Resources Jaala Pulford has visited Stawell Gold Mine to see how the mine has proved a boon for the town and the Wimmera region.

Operations at the Stawell Gold Mine ceased in 2016 but since reopening with new owners in 2018, it has gone from strength to strength with production growing and 300 local workers now on its books.
Stawell Gold Mine’s return to production mirrors the rise of the sector statewide. In 2019-20 annual gold production in Victoria reached the highest yearly total since 1906, increasing by just on 40 per cent to almost 800,000 ounces.
Ballarat’s Gekko Systems has been working with Stawell Gold Mine since its 2018 upgrade and the restart of production, providing innovative automatic processes to recover more gold – demonstrating the flow-on benefits the mine has had even beyond the Wimmera.
Victoria’s gold sector is valued at $1.9 billion and the outlook remains positive with minerals exploration, the precursor to mining investment, growing in recent years. Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows statewide minerals exploration expenditure increased to $183.8 million last financial year, up by more than 35 per cent.
Released in August 2018, the Government’s five-year minerals strategy, State of Discovery, is on target to deliver on its goal of boosting total exploration investment spending to $220 million by mid-2023 with the aim to deliver at least one significant discovery by 2028.
In October the state government announced the outcome of the North Central Victorian Goldfields Ground Release tender, which could see more than $100 million invested across northern Victoria.
Minister for Resources Jaala Pulford said: “Stawell Gold Mine’s resurgence has been stunning and that means hundreds of jobs for local workers and significant flow-on benefits for businesses across the Wimmera and beyond. The future of gold mining in the region looks bright with the next phase of exploration to commence soon, increasing the likelihood of finding even more gold.”

The Victorian Government is bringing kindergartens and long daycare centres in line with school settings, providing free rapid antigen test kits to help manage coronavirus outbreaks and limit disruption to children’s learning. From today, all eligible kindergarten and long daycare services can opt-in to the program to receive at-home rapid antigen test kits for children who have been identified as primary close contacts – reducing both quarantine time and pressure on families, while ensuring early childhood settings are as low-risk as possible. Test kits will be available to early childhood services subject to outbreaks from today and will be distributed to eligible services by the end of this week, ready to be used from Monday, 22 November. The rapid antigen tests will be provided for free to kindergarten and long daycare services who have a system to collect, record and hold the testing information and parents and carers will opt-in for their children to be part of the scheme. Once tests have been delivered to services, children can return to their early childhood service after seven days of quarantine if they get a negative standard PCR test on day six at their local testing site, and then return a negative rapid antigen test result each day they attend their early childhood service from days eight to 14.
The quick and easy tests indicate a result for coronavirus within 15-30 minutes, with families required to report the test results to the early childhood service each morning prior to attending – supporting children to return to early learning as quickly as possible. The Therapeutic Goods Administration has approved rapid antigen testing for home use from Monday, 1 November. The tests indicate whether a person is likely to have coronavirus, but a standard PCR test is still needed to confirm a positive infection. In addition to the rapid antigen testing program for early childhood settings, the Victorian Government has also implemented staff vaccination requirements, grants for improved ventilation and improved cleaning and contact tracing regimes to get the state’s youngest learners back to their learning quickly as possible.
Minister for Early Childhood Ingrid Stitt said: “We want to help our young children get back to face-to-face learning with their teachers and educators as quickly and safely as possible. These rapid antigen tests will help limit disruption for our children and their families while supporting our early childhood services.”

New parents will soon have better access to the vital mental health support they need, with an investment from the state government to expand and reform community perinatal mental health teams across the state.
One in five women will experience a perinatal mental health concern between conception and the time their baby is 12 months old, with anxiety and depression the most common types of illness. For women who experience a perinatal mental health illness, up to one in eight of their partners will also experience a mental health condition.
With lockdowns and restrictions on women having visitors in hospital, the pandemic has placed even more stress on new parents – and an investment of $6.89 million will help meet the extra demand to ensure every new parent who needs support can get it quickly, and close to home.
Work to rebuild Victoria’s mental health system is well underway with a record $3.8 billion funded in the Victorian Budget 2021/22 to implement every recommendation made by the Royal Commission into Mental Health System.
The Royal Commission outlined the critical importance of perinatal mental health for parents with their infants, taking a family-centred approach.
The Royal Commission also recommended people with lived experience of the mental health system are put at the heart of its reform – and this extra perinatal support will ensure those who have experienced mental health concerns as new parents can use their experiences to support other new families.
Minister for Mental Health James Merlino said: “We can’t expect new parents to give their newborns the best start in life without first looking after themselves – and this extra support will make sure every Victorian who needs support can get it quickly.
“We’re not wasting a moment getting on with the job of rebuilding our mental health system from the ground up for every Victorian – and delivering for young families is a key part of supporting our state’s mental health.”

The state government is continuing to support projects that tackle the causes of crime through the Building Safer Communities Program.
Councils, not-for-profit groups and other specialist organisations are encouraged to submit locally driven projects for the next round of grants, with up to $300,000 of funding available to make local communities safer through two streams.
The Creating Safer Places grants provide funding for councils for urban design projects which aim to prevent crime by creating inclusive environments and safer public places.
Previous projects from this fund include CCTV, lighting and streetscape upgrades at Hemmings Street in Dandenong and a security upgrade of activity precincts in Mordialloc, Chelsea and Carrum.
The Crime Prevention Innovation Fund provides supports councils and not-for-profit organisations to develop innovative community safety and crime prevention initiatives.
Previous projects include an Aboriginal mentoring program in Mildura for young people who have been in contact with the justice system, a program to improve women’s safety in the CBD and a mentoring program for South Sudanese youth in the Western Suburbs of Melbourne.
Applications are currently open and close at 4:00pm on Friday, 11 February 2022.
The Building Safer Communities program is a cornerstone of the Government’s Crime Prevention Strategy, which sets out a long-term approach to address the root causes of a crime in order to keep Victorians safe.
The grants are in addition to funding of $4.2 million allocated to six priority communities through the Empowering Communities grants last week.
Ballarat, Casey, Dandenong, Knox, Shepparton and Wyndham councils were provided $700,000 in funding for projects that build local capability to effectively keep vulnerable people away from crime, encourage local community partnerships and strengthen relationships to deliver crime prevention activities

. For more information, including the application guidelines and frequently asked questions visit www.crimeprevention.vic.gov.au/buildingsafercommunities.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Crime Prevention Natalie Hutchins “We’re taking action and providing necessary localised support to tackle the causes of crime and keep at-risk people away from offending.” “Our Building Safer Communities grants will invest in projects tailored for those who need a bit of extra support to stay on the right path.”

Each year the Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s Australia Day awards recognise and celebrate community members and organisations that make significant contributions to their local communities.

Nominations and applications are now open for the 2022 Australia Day Awards, and township celebration grants for community groups planning to hold free Australia Day community events. The awards provide the opportunity for Council and the community to recognise and celebrate inspirational people who make ongoing contributions to the shire.
Council has introduced three new categories of awards for 2022 – the Connected Communities Award, the Healthy People and Environment Award, and the Business and Tourism Award – which reflect the themes in Council’s new Community Vision and Council Plan, developed in collaboration with local community members via the Citizens Assembly.
Nominations are open in the following categories:
 Citizen of the Year Award – will be awarded to an individual of any age who has made a significant contribution to their community in the past calendar year or has demonstrated community service over a period of time.
 Connecting Communities Award – will be awarded to an individual or group who has made a significant contribution to community life in the shire. This could be in the area of physical connections such as trails, paths, open spaces or other infrastructure that enables the community to connect and participate. It could also be social connections that ensure people have access to services and which create a sense of community and belonging.
 Healthy People and Environment Award – will be awarded to a group or individual who has made a significant contribution in the areas of promoting healthy lifestyles for all ages and abilities – such as supporting mental health, recreation, community safety or arts and culture. It also includes protection of the natural environment such as biodiversity, climate change and waste reduction.
 Business and Tourism Award – will be awarded to a group or individual who has demonstrated a significant achievement or ongoing community contribution to the economic vitality of the shire, including tourism, agribusiness, small business and local employment. Entry in all categories is open to people who live, work or study in the Macedon Ranges Shire at the time of nomination.
If you’re involved with a community group that is planning to hold a free Australia Day event, you can apply for an Australia Day township celebration grant of up to $500. Both award nominations and grant applications close on Sunday 28 November 2021.
For more information about the award categories, nomination forms and grant applications, visit mrsc.vic.gov.au/australiaday

Sustainable Hepburn is a new strategy that will be Council’s
updated commitment to environmental sustainability. Community
consultation activities will kick off during November with the
formation of a Sustainable Hepburn Community Reference Group.
This will comprise four technical working groups including:

• Beyond Zero Emissions
• Biodiversity and the Natural Environment
• Low Waste and Resource Recovery
• Climate Resilience.
  Expressions of interest to join the groups will open on Tuesday
  9 November and close on Friday 26 November. Find out more at
  https://participate.hepburn.vic.gov.au/sustainable-hepburn.

Residents can dispose of green waste for free at our three transfer
stations in Creswick, Trentham and Daylesford throughout
November. This is to help you get your property ready for the fire
danger period.
Please ensure that green waste is free of noxious weeds and is
separated from other items. Visitors to the transfer stations must
comply with COVID safety requirements. For details on transfer
station opening hours visit www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/transferstations.

Do you know someone who goes above and beyond for our
community? Council is inviting nominations for the 2022
Community Awards, which recognise and celebrate significant
contributions from local citizens and groups.
Nominate now for Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year,
and Event of the Year. Nominations close on Monday 29 November

2021. Find out more at www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/communityawards.

Under the Victorian Government’s COVID roadmap, anyone over
16 years must show proof of vaccination to enter Council facilities.

This includes our libraries, hubs, Duke Street Customer Service and
Visitor Information Centres.
We understand that this may be difficult for some residents. Thank
you for your understanding and compassion for our staff, who are
simply doing their job and following the mandated requirements.
For information on how to get your proof of immunisation contact
the Australian Immunisation Register on 1800 653 809 or follow the
links from www.servicesaustralia.gov.au.

This month marks a year since the new Council was
sworn in. As you all know, it has been a tumultuous
year for all of us. Just to recap – we have lived
with the ongoing see-sawing of various lockdowns
with the impact on all of us – children’s schooling
disrupted, businesses restricted, events postponed
or cancelled and working from home the standard
way of operating. Then there was the June storm
impacting on 35% of the Shire’s footprint, responding
to that emergency and now the ongoing recovery phase. Then more
damage with the rain and wind this week. All in the context of Council
change – with 6 of 7 new Councillors elected and the resignation of the
then CEO in January, and the appointment of Bradley Thomas to the CEO
role. Throughout all of this Council has continued to provide it’s day to day
services – pretty impressive when you consider the requirements to work
from home unless providing essential services, and when the workload
for the storm recovery (with its estimated cost being a third of the Council
budget) has been added to that. I want to again publicly acknowledge and
thank all those Council staff who have stepped up and responded to the
storm emergency (it was our responsibility as part of the co-ordinated
response to run the Relief Centre in Trentham, as well as ensure that our
roads were cleared and safe) and then again in assisting with the popup vaccination centre at Victoria Park to respond to a COVID emergency.
That we were able to do so is evidence of both being well prepared and a
commitment to community.
Cup Weekend saw the return of visitors from metropolitan Melbourne, and
there was certainly a buzz in towns around the Shire. It was great to walk
around Lake Daylesford on Sunday evening and see our local young people
hanging out together on their bikes and swimming in the Lake. And seeing
several visiting families taking the chance to get together, picnic and even
brave the water. The return of visitors seems to have gone well and with
over 95% of residents having received at least one vaccination we have
all done our part in keeping our community safe. We need to continue to
follow the Chief Health Officer’s instructions in relation to mask wearing,
social distancing and requirements for vaccination before returning to
work locations, eating out, going to the pub and all the other things we
enjoy. We’re living with COVID now and need to continue to be mindful of
reducing our risk.
Some of the other achievements in the last year include the development
of a Community Engagement Policy, the adopting of the Community
Vision and Council Plan, the adoption of the C80hepb Planning Scheme
Amendment, the opening of a customer service desk at the Trentham
library, an organics bin trial at Clunes, distribution of free firewood to
residents, the opening of the refurbished Clunes Town Hall, and grants of
$8 million for projects across the Shire.
There will be a Statutory Council Meeting to elect the Mayor and Deputy
Mayor on 16 November at 6pm. COVID restrictions have meant that the
Mayoral role has been conducted virtually for most of the year. I expect
that with the Victorian COVID roadmap that will be different in the next
year and I want to take the opportunity to thank the community for their
support during the last year.
Cr Lesley Hewitt, MAYOR