A CFA volunteer since the age of 14, Guildford Fire Brigade Firefighter Will Dodson is always happy to help.

“I’m proud to be a CFA volunteer and wherever I am in the world I feel like I should help people,” Will said.

Will recently travelled around Ireland on holiday. While he was between Dublin and Cork he saw a plume of black smoke on the horizon and immediately knew it was a car accident.

“As we approached the accident, I saw a car engulfed in flames and an elderly man standing next to it. I pulled up to help him.

“The man looked like he was in shock and was standing quite close to the burning car. He said he’d lost his wallet and phone in the fire. He really needed some help and I was happy to give the man my time.

“I shouted to him to come over to me to move him to safety and I gave him water. Shortly after, the car exploded.

“A young man stopped to see if he could also help. I asked him if he could give the man a lift to the nearest town.”

Until recently, Will was the community safety coordinator for Guildford brigade and found the role very rewarding.

“I was the community safety coordinator for six to seven years and enjoyed engaging with the community,” Will said. “I liked building relationships and making a real difference in the community helping to organise fuel reduction burns and home inspections.”

Will is also a firefighter and will soon be carrying out pre-season training including a burnover drill, draughting and skills maintenance.

“The last couple of fire seasons have been quiet and brigade motivation can drop off. But we are gearing up for a much busier season this summer.”

There were 506,408 criminal offences recorded in Victoria in the twelve months to June 2023, representing an increase of 37,259 offences or 7.9% from the twelve months to June 2022.

These are among the latest statistics released by Victoria Police last week after the numbers were officially crunched for the past financial year, giving some insights into crime trends in the state.

When population growth is considered, overall crime increased by 5.7% year-on-year (7,494.4 offences per 100,000 people, up from 7,087).

Given the twelve months to June 2022 included around three months of strict COVID lockdowns, the most accurate comparator when gauging overall Victorian crime trends is the most recent reporting period unaffected by any restrictions – the twelve months to June 2019. As such, all references to ‘pre pandemic’ from here on refer to this period.

When compared to pre-pandemic levels, overall crime is lower by 1.4% and 4.7% per 100,000 people.

The most recent data also reveals Victoria’s crime rate per 100,000 people is at its second lowest point in the past decade – behind only the heavily COVID affected twelve months ending June 2022.

The City of Ballarat is seeking Expressions of Interests from local organisations or entities keen to deliver projects that will benefit Ballarat.  

In its second year, the City Partnerships Program for the 2024/2025 financial year will undertake a different process than its inception for the 2023/2024 financial year.

This time, interested parties will be required to initially complete the EOI, with invitations to formally apply for a partnership to be delivered at a later date.

The EOI process opened on 1 October and will remain open until 15 November. Invitations to apply will be sent out early in 2024.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said the change in process was to help guide potential applicants through the application process.  

“We look forward to working closely with organisations who have expressed their interest in applying and providing guidance to submit quality applications to go through to the approval process,” he said.

“The City Partnerships Program has already delivered enormous benefit to Ballarat and I’m sure the future round of the program will help us identify some truly worthy partnerships.

“We strongly encourage interested organisations to undertake the less onerous EOI process so we can work closely with them to deliver the best outcome.”

The City of Ballarat partnered with 12 community organisations as part of the 2023/2024 City Partnerships Program, delivering more than $900,000 in partnership funding.

Once again, there are two streams of funding available and either stream can be a multi-year agreement up to three years:  

• Community stream: Funding of up to $100,000 per applicant per year  
• Commercial stream: Funding over $20,000 per applicant per year with no upper limit  

The City Partnerships Program is designed for organisations that have a well proven record of delivering relevant programs, projects or activities that provide community and economic benefit to Ballarat.

It is also designed to fund organisations or entities that deliver on the goals identified in the City of Ballarat Council Plan 2021-2026:

• An environmentally sustainable future  
• A healthy, connected and inclusive community  
• A city that fosters sustainable growth  
• A city that conserves and enhances our natural and built assets  
• A strong and innovative economy and city  
• A Council that provides leadership and advocates for its community

For more information those interested can visit the grants page on the City of Ballarat website.

Armed with a 3-string cigar box guitar, bottleneck slide, trusty 6-string and shed-built foot drums, Jungle Jim Smith is a one-man-electric-boogie-band based in the rolling hills of South Gippsland Prom Country.

He’s been delivering high energy performances since 2021 and is headed to The Daylesford Hotel on Friday October 27. It’s an evening gig that’s free to attend and gets started from 6pm in the pub’s front bar.
Jungle Jim’s blend of up-tempo garage grooves and stompin’ blues sits somewhere between RL Burnside, ZZ Top and The Black Keys. Delivered with a grin, Jim’s songs are charged with infectious hooks and a riffage finesse, with vocals that conjure up shades of Elvis and Morrison crooning over primal percussive riffs and rhythms. He seamlessly creates a full band sound that’s been described as a ‘swampy mix of rockabilly grit and hill country blues’, charming a diverse range of music fans wherever he plays.
The debut 7-track EP ‘Electric Boogieland’ has just been released to an enthusiastic response. Jungle Jim has barely paused, now laying down demos for a follow up album for release later this year.

Police have been left bitterly disappointed after a P-plate driver was allegedly caught drink driving twice in 12 hours in recent days.

The 29-year-old Epping man was pulled over driving a red Mazda after he was detected speeding on Western Freeway in Myrniong about 6pm last Thursday, 28 September.

After a positive roadside reading, he was taken to a police station and returned an evidentiary breath test of 0.133.

The man’s license was immediately suspended, and he was issued with infringement notices for drink driving, exceeding the speed limit by 20kmh and failing to display P plates.

Just 12 hours later police were called to the Western Highway at Warrenheip in relation to a suspected drink driver.

As officers were heading to the location, they were advised a red Mazda had been involved in a collision with a pole.

The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, the same 29-year-old Epping man from the previous incident, was assessed at the scene and taken back to a police station where he returned an evidentiary breath test 0.134

Police discovered his infringement notices and paperwork regarding his license suspension inside the crashed vehicle.

He was charged with exceeding the prescribed concentration of alcohol and driving whilst suspended.

The man has been bailed to face Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on 21 November.

These intercepts form part of Operation Scoreboard which runs state-wide this weekend and will see police conducting widespread roadside alcohol and drug testing across the state.

Attributable to Ballarat Police Senior Sergeant Paul Maslunka

““Whilst this incident is an isolated incident it does highlight the fact that some people still aren’t getting the message or are so self-absorbed, they don’t care about other road users.

“Realistically we deal with less than 1 per cent of road users doing the wrong thing throughout the year but it’s that group that are consistently involved in causing road trauma.

“I’d like to acknowledge the other 99% out there who are doing the right thing and encourage everyone to do their part to keep the roads safe this long weekend.”

Five local parks in Ballarat are set to be upgraded this summer, as part of the Small Parks Development Program.  

Local company SHAE Enterprises have been awarded the tender to complete the upgrades at five neighbourhood reserves.  

The community helped shape their local parks in September 2022 and from this feedback the final designs have been prepared.  

Full designs can be viewed on the City of Ballarat’s MySay page.

The five parks to be improved as part of this tender include:  

• Cuthberts Road Reserve, Cuthberts Road, Alfredton  
• Vale Street Park, Vale Street, Alfredton  
• Horsham Crescent Reserve, Horsham Crescent, Alfredton  
• Hearn Road Reserve, Hearn Road, Brown Hill  
• College Street Reserve, College Street, Wendouree

Works are expected to commence in December 2023 at Cuthberts Road and College Street reserves.

At Cuthberts Road Reserve, in Alfredton some of the upgrades include:  

• Replacement of the playspace to include climbing structure, swings and spinner
• Construction of a path to connect to the play area and a looping path around the reserve
• Installation of multi-sports goals
• Additional tree plantings

And at College Street Reserve, in Wendouree, the improvements include:

• New play equipment, including swings
• Additional tree plantings  
• Installation of seating near the play equipment  
• New shelter with picnic seating and more

Works on the three other parks included in this tender will commence in early 2024.

Construction at the Vale Street Park, in Alfredton includes:  

• Creation of a path from the street to the play area
• Additional tree planting to increase shade
• Garden beds to be planted for nature play

Horsham Crescent Reserve, in Alfredton will see upgrades such as:  

• Construction of nature play area  
• Installation of seating near play areas  
• Addition of an in-ground trampoline at the existing playspace

And at the Hearn Road Reserve in Brown Hill there will be:  

• Construction of a concrete path through the park  
• Installation of a shelter over existing picnic setting  
• Planting of trees along the boundary and more  

Most plantings for the local parks will take place in autumn during the planting season.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said it was great to work with the users of these parks to create a space for them.  

“Now that we have reached a final design outcome for the reserves, we can now begin implementing these changes for the local communities,” he said.  

“Some of these parks haven’t seen changes in decades. They need some love and care to be able to bring them up to a consistent standard that the community needs.”  

The second group of local parks in the program are expected to be constructed in mid-2024. The final designs for these parks below can be viewed on MySay.  

• Inkerman Gully Reserve, Simpson Street, Ballarat North.  
• Glenvale Road Reserve, Mount Clear.  
• Peel Street Park, corner of Peel Street, Chisholm Street and Nicholson Street, Black Hill.  
• Webb Avenue Reserve, Ballarat East.  
• Shaw Avenue Reserve, corner of Shaw Avenue and Cromwell Street, Wendouree.

The Small Parks Development Program is another example of the City of Ballarat working to ensure community infrastructure can support the city’s future growth as part of delivering a better Ballarat.

CFA firefighters were quick to control a private burn-off that escaped at Werribee South last week.

CFA responded to an out-of-control burn-off on K Road at about 1.30pm last Wednesday.

When crews arrived they found a grass fire that had spread to around six hectares in size, and multiple piles of green waste had caught alight. 

CFA was also supported by Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria, Fire Recue Victoria and FFMVic. 

The fire was brought under control at 2.12pm but crews remained on scene for some time blacking out.

CFA had nine vehicles on scene.

Events that were delivered or funded by the City of Ballarat have generated more than $44 million for the city’s economy in the most recent financial year.

As part of annual reporting under the Ballarat Events Strategy 2018–2028, the 2023 report card, endorsed by Ballarat City Council last week, provides an evaluation of the outcomes from the 2022/23 period against the strategy’s primary objectives.

The strategy’s three primary objectives for events across the City of Ballarat are: economic objectives; identity (brand) objectives; and civic and liveability objectives.

The report shows for the 2022/23 period, events delivered and funded by the City of Ballarat generated a $44,295,135 economic impact for Ballarat. This is an increase of 7% on 2021/22.

Across the events delivered by the City of Ballarat, a 49% increase in economic impact was recorded. This can be attributed to significant growth in the economic impact from Ballarat Begonia Festival and Ballarat Heritage Festival.

Most notably, the Ballarat Begona Festival contributed $4.5 million to the Ballarat economy and attracted 65,000 people.

For events that are funded but not delivered by the City of Ballarat (externally operated events that receive financial support from City of Ballarat), there was a 1:22 return on investment. This means that for every dollar the City of Ballarat invested in externally operated events, there was $22 injected into the Ballarat economy.

In 2023, a dedicated public relations agency was appointed to work across three major events: Begonia Festival, Heritage Festival, and Winter Festival.

Ballarat Begonia Festival saw significant growth in the media value generated by the event to $2,336,506. This compares to 2019 when the media value generated was $184,813.

Media value generated for Ballarat Heritage Festival was $688,482, which was awarded bronze in the Festivals and Events Category of the Victorian Tourism Awards.

New websites were also developed for the major events and assisted in improving the customer experience.

Events in 2022/23 were well attended by local residents and all City of Ballarat-delivered events achieved a minimum of 50% local suppliers, artists and stallholders.

In total events attracted more than 165,000 residents, with some residents attending multiple events. They also attracted almost 190,000 visitors.

In total there were 368 events that spanned over a total of 1,808 days.

Other new highlights included attracting international dining experience Le Diner en Blanc and the establishment of a Sturt Street Easter activation.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said events continued to be a major part of what made Ballarat a great city.  

“It’s extremely promising to see Ballarat events contribute such an enormous amount to the city,” he said.

“Not only do they have such a significant economic impact, but they also contribute so much to the social fabric and also make Ballarat a great tourism and sports tourism destination.

“To see them grow considerably in just 12 months is extremely promising and I look forward to see what is on offer for the next 12 months.”

The Ballarat Events Strategy 2018–2028 aligns closely with the Goal 5 of the City of Ballarat Council Plan 2021-2025: A strong and innovative economy and city. 

Echo Taskforce detectives have been investigating the shooting of a senior Bandidos outlaw motorcycle gang member in Ballarat over the past weekend.

A 29-year-old Sebastopol man presented at a hospital in Ballarat with a gunshot wound about 1.20am on Sunday 1 October.

Police believe the man was shot in the vicinity of the Bandidos club house.

He sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

The incident comes after members of the Bandidos gang descended on Ballarat for their national run.

Echo and VIPER Taskforce officers, supported by local police and specialist units, monitored the event to ensure public safety.

Detectives are working to establish the exact circumstances around the incident and the investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone who with information was urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au .

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council has allocated $15,131.50 in small project grants to support various community groups including Kyneton Agricultural Society, Macedon Ranges Bowling Club, Kyneton and Districts Toy Library, Kerrie Hall, the Kyneton Backyard Growers, and Malmsbury Mail.

The decision to allocate the grants was formalised at the council’s September meeting held last week.

During the meeting a range of plans aimed at promoting positive community health and wellbeing were also progressed, including the Municipal Early Years Plan 2021-2025, the Disability Action Plan, and the Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan.

The council also passed a recommendation to advocate to the Department of Health through the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) for improved funding for its Maternal and Child Health services, including responsive and flexible funding to support surges in births and for breastfeeding support.

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council has adopted a Draft Cultural Diversity and Inclusion Statement which outlines its commitment to cultural diversity.

The statement was adopted during the council’s September meeting held last week.

It was developed in consultation with internal and external stakeholders, community groups and agencies, and by reviewing the council’s actions as a signatory to Refugee Welcome Zones and recent community events held for Cultural Diversity Week and Refugee Week.

Located in the Macedon ranges, Hesket-Kerrie and Newham brigades know that planning and training together is important because emergencies don’t respect brigade boundaries.

Looking after an area with a mixture of farms and bush properties, with parts of the Cobaw State Forest to the north, Macedon State Forest to the south and Hanging Rock in between, these two small brigades respond together to incidents in each other’s communities, surrounding brigades’ areas, as well as joining forces to form strike teams and composite crews for fire and other emergencies.

The brigades know that getting to know each other’s skills and resources ensures a collaborative effort that enhances capabilities and response to incidents.

Hesket-Kerrie and Newham work together in several ways including fundraising, supporting events at Hanging Rock, and community days at each other’s stations. They realise a connected community is a more resilient one.

The two brigades have also shared resources including crews and vehicles. For example, when Hesket-Kerrie’s tanker 2 was out of commission during the 2022-23 fire season, Newham lent its tanker 1 to Hesket Kerrie’s Cherokee satellite station. Joint knowledge meant brigade members understood the significance of having a truck in this extreme risk area, and that Hesket-Kerrie would support response into Newham from the Hesket station.

Hesket-Kerrie is now fundraising for a new medium tanker.

“It’s not about empire building, it’s about community risk and knowing how best to cover each other’s backs,” Newham Fire Brigade Captain Bryan Hornbuckle said.

Each brigade brings unique experiences and lessons learned. Sharing these experiences through joint training sessions helps identify best practice, areas for improvement, and fosters camaraderie. Training has included mobile props, scenario drills, burns-offs and members sharing knowledge such as air support expertise.

The brigades’ two training officers recently organised a joint training day at VEMTC Central Highlands. Hesket-Kerrie and Newham were the first brigades from District 2 to use this new training ground. Members ran through a motor vehicle accident and structure and smoke house props and drills, which provided an excellent insight into what members can expect.

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council has received a progress update regarding the ongoing management of the Barrm Birrm area in Riddells Creek.

The progress update was presented to the council at its September meeting held last week.

Detailed ecological and cultural heritage assessments which demonstrate the significant values of the site have now been completed by the council.

The reports confirm that Barrm Birrm is a bushland area with significant natural and cultural values and that these values are subject to ongoing threats related to the complex land tenure of the site.

The council says it will provide these reports to the Victorian Government and continue to advocate for the public purchase of the privately owned lots within the area of Barrm Birrm for community benefit.

More than 5000 offences were detected by Victoria Police during Operation Scoreboard over the AFL Grand Final long weekend.

The four-day, statewide road policing operation saw police targeting high-risk driving behaviour, with a particular focus drink and drug driving.

Police detected 213 drink driving offences from 112,750 preliminary breath tests – a strike rate of one in 529 drivers caught over the limit.

Of those, 30 per cent were caught for exceeding a blood alcohol limit of 0.00 BAC – meaning they should not be driving with any alcohol in their system at all.

A further 130 drug driving offences were detected from 2,593 roadside drug tests.

The total 5,483 offences detected during Operation Scoreboard included:

• 2,341 speeding offences

• 489 unregistered vehicles

• 352 disqualified/suspended and unlicenced drivers

• 282 disobey signs/signals

• 251 mobile phone offences

• 213 drink driving offences from 99,099 preliminary breath tests

• 130 drug driving offences from 2,945 roadside drug tests

• 111 vehicle impoundments; and

• 95 seatbelt offences

Despite widespread police enforcement across the state, there were four lives lost over the weekend, including a 25-year old Newborough man who was hit by a truck while riding his skateboard at Moe on Thursday 28 September; a 41-year old Eltham North male motorcyclist who collided with a car at Templestowe on Saturday 30 September; a 19-year old Cowes male passenger who died in a collision at Cowes on Saturday 30 September; and a 21-year old Frankston male passenger who died following a collision with a caravan at Langwarrin South on Sunday 1 October.

The weekend’s fatalities brought the number of lives lost on Victorian roads this year to 216, 29 higher than the same time last year and the highest in seven years.

Operation Scoreboard was conducted from 12:01am Thursday 28 September to 11:59pm Sunday 1 October 2023.

Road Policing Assistant Commissioner, Glenn Weir: “It was busy across the state’s roads as many Victorians made the most of the long weekend, enjoying the AFL Grand Final celebrations and the fantastic spring weather.

“This also meant a busy weekend for Victoria Police, with our members detecting over 5000 offences over four days during Operation Scoreboard.

“Police focused heavily on drink and drug drivers, and while pleasingly the majority of those tested were doing the right thing, we still detected 343 drink and drug driving offences over the weekend – this is unacceptable.

“While many celebrated across the weekend, it was a tragic period on the roads with four lives lost in separate collisions.

“With the number of lives lost now at a seven-year high, it is paramount that we all do everything we can to stop more trauma on our roads this year. Now is not the time to be complacent”.

Central Highlands Water and the Hepburn Shire Council joined forces last week to launch a new Choose Tap drinking fountain at Creswick’s new Hammon Park Trailhead. 

The new fountain will provide easy access to quality drinking water, for the Creswick community including cyclists and other recreational user groups, including VOGA Cycling Club. 

This new amenity, combined with CHW’s ‘Choose Tap’ program, will continue to encourage the local community to choose tap water over bottled water, for heath, cost and sustainability benefits.

Hepburn Shire Council Mayor, Cr Brian Hood: “The Choose Tap drinking fountains are not only a great choice for your health, but also for the environment. It’s great to see more of these fountains being installed across our Shire and here in Creswick as part of the new Trail Network.”

“These will no doubt be well-used by the community including members from the VOGA Cycling Club and other active cyclists utilizing the park.”

Central Highlands Water Managing Director Jeff Haydon: “We are dedicated to improving the health of the local community, and are joining forces with Hepburn Shire Council to actively support initiatives that promote the importance of keeping hydrated all year round.”

“The new Creswick Trail Network creates a positive community link to encourage living a healthy and active lifestyle, while providing the opportunity to refill their reusable drink bottles, as we help reduce single-use plastic bottle waste. We can all do our part for the environment, make the sustainable choice and Choose Tap.”