The BestWool/BestLamb and BetterBeef networks team invite Victorian livestock producers to join our online Biosecurity Planning workshop.

During this session we will guide you through the Animal Health Australia and Livestock Production Assurance program template with a panel of beef, sheep, dairy and goat specialists to answer your questions.

The two-and-a-half-hour workshop will also include a summary of current and emerging biosecurity threats and the potential impacts on Victoria’s farm businesses and rural communities.

At the end of the session you will have completed your own on-farm biosecurity plan, specific to your business.

Agriculture Victoria beef and sheep networks manager Lyndon Kubeil said having an on-farm biosecurity plan was one practical way that farmers can minimise biosecurity risks to their businesses and the livestock industry.

“If you don’t already have a biosecurity plan, now is the time to develop one,” he said.

“As a minimum a biosecurity plan should promote good hygiene practices and record the movement

“Once you have a biosecurity plan for your farm, you should regularly familiarise yourself, your staff and your family with it, and review and update it, as you would any other farm plan,” Mr Kubeil said.

“This workshop is also suitable for those wanting to review their plans.”

To take part in the workshop producers must have a property identification code (PIC). PICs are free and easy to get online, and help Agriculture Victoria contact you in case of an emergency. They are mandatory for anyone with livestock. To apply or update your PIC, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/PIC

The workshop is free and will run on Thursday 11 August from 1pm to 3.30pm. For more information on the webinar and to register visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/events

Practical biosecurity steps to take on-farm as well as biosecurity plan templates are also available on the Agriculture Victoria website at agriculture.vic.gov.au/fmd.

Battle of the Bands rocked Kyneton Town Hall last Friday night with six local bands competing to win the coveted crown.

The event, which was hosted by Council’s Music in The Sticks (MITS) crew saw around 300 people flock to the town hall, providing participants the ultimate opportunity to refine their skills in performing, live audio, lighting and video, and event management in front of an eager crowd.
The competition was open to young people aged 12–25 years in the Macedon Ranges including solo artists, duos and bands.
Two awards were up for grabs on the night including the Judges Prize and the People’s Choice Prize. The judging panel consisted of two community members from the local music scene, a young person and a representative from Council.
Junkyard Wizards were the big winners taking home the Judges Prize and receiving a merchandise pack valued at $500 to help support the promotion of their music.
The Mods won the People’s Choice Award by drawing the largest audience and took home a $200 voucher for Manny’s/Store DJ, a leading music retailer in Australia.
Mayor Cr Jennifer Anderson said it was fantastic to see so many of our local young people getting behind the event and supporting their peers to gain invaluable skills and experience.
“The last couple of years have been exceptionally hard for our young people with very limited opportunities to get out and socialise. It’s great to see Battle of the Bands back live and so many people, young and old, supporting it. The experience participant’s gain from events like these is invaluable, from all of those behind the scenes to the performers on stage. Congratulations to all involved on such a successful event!” she said.
A list of all participants is available on Council’s website along with details on how to get involved with Music in the Sticks and upcoming events. Visit mrsc.vic.gov.au/youth

Hepburn Shire Council is dedicated to keeping waste and valuable resources out of landfill, and is supporting residents on their low waste journey by offering subsidised compost bins to give a new life to food scraps and garden waste.  There will also be an opportunity to learn more about composting at an upcoming workshop.

Deputy Mayor, Cr Jen Bray, said Council has identified that landfill bins in our Shire contain up to 56% food and garden material.

“When this organic material breaks down and rots in landfill it produces methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. By composting at home residents can reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, divert organic waste from landfill and produce a nutrient rich soil that is great for the garden,” said Cr Bray.

There are a limited number of ROTO Tumbler and Composter bins available at our transfer stations to get the community started on their composting journey.  Proof of residency required.

“Composting doesn’t need to be hard and it’s something we can all do to divert waste from landfill. And there’s nothing better than compost for your garden,” said Cr Bray.

Community members can complete a short survey to express their interest in a Beginners Composting Workshop at https://forms.office.com/r/YU2vp8jxYk

              180L ROTO Tumbler $40                                                   220L Composter $25

Daylesford Transfer Station – Ajax Road

Operating hours:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday – 9am to 5pm

Wednesday – closed

Creswick Transfer Station – Ring Road

Operating hours:

Monday, Thursday, Friday – 12noon to 5pm

Tuesday, Wednesday – closed

Saturday, Sunday – 9am to 5pm

Trentham Transfer Station – Cosmo Road

Operating hours:

Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday – 9am to 5pm

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday – closed

The Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance (AFSA) has announced plans to publish its second book, titled Eating Democracy, in 2023. Following the success of AFSA’s groundbreaking first book Farming Democracy in 2019, Eating Democracy will focus on ethical, ecologically-sound, and socially-just provisioning and consumption within our food system. 

“So many of our allies have joined the movement after considering ethical ways of sourcing and consuming the food they eat,” says AFSA President, Tammi Jonas.

“This book will be an opportunity to share stories from different kinds of eaters, from all walks of life, who consider food sovereignty at the core of how their households grow, shop, barter, and eat,” Jonas continues. 

AFSA has commenced the research stage of Eating Democracy, calling on all eaters to submit a response to its survey, informing a clear picture of how people navigate the food system in Australia. The survey also intends to find out if recent challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic have changed people’s food sourcing and consumption habits. AFSA National Committee member Penny Kothe is leading the book’s development, which is open for collaboration with other organisations in the food sovereignty movement. 

“We’re keen to collaborate with other organisations committed to ensuring that all eaters have access to socially-just, ecologically-sound and culturally-appropriate foods”, says Kothe. 

“Eating Democracy is the perfect opportunity for like-minded organisations to partner with AFSA and help deliver the book’s vision for fairer, more ethical food choices for eaters,” says Kothe. 

AFSA’s Eating Democracy survey is open until 6 September and encourages its allies to share it with their networks and communities. At this stage, AFSA intends to publish Eating Democracy, in 2023 and will be available for purchase on its website and allied stockists.

A native fish species declared extinct in Victoria in 1998 is the focus of an inspiring new breeding program at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium.

For more than 20 years, the southern purple-spotted gudgeon was thought to be extinct until two of the fish were discovered near Kerang in 2019. Since then the North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) has been determined to restore a thriving population of the so-called “zombie fish” by establishing a breeding program.

SEA LIFE Melbourne has seized a rare opportunity to partner with North Central CMA to house a number of the endangered fish and create the perfect environment for breeding while also educating visitors on the importance of wetland conservation.

“We are proud to help support the recovery of the southern purple-spotted gudgeon. We currently have a population of sub-juvenile fish here and are aiming for them to have their first fry (offspring) within 6-12 months. Once they are around 2-3cm long, the next step will be to rehome the new generation into pest-free ‘surrogate’ sites to further establish the population before hopefully reintroducing them in native wetlands around northern Victoria,” said Sam Fawke, Curatorial Supervisor at SEA LIFE Melbourne.

“It’s the first time SEA LIFE Melbourne has bred native fish onsite with the aim of releasing them into the wild. We hope to be involved in more programs like this in the future to help conserve marine and freshwater species, particularly those that are endemic to Victoria.”

This is the first time the North Central CMA has partnered with SEA LIFE Melbourne.

“We are really excited to be involved in the breeding program. It’s a terrific opportunity to raise the profile of the southern purple-spotted gudgeon and will also give visitors to the Aquarium a glimpse into the work we do to protect and enhance the environment across 13% of Victoria,” said Peter Rose, Project Manager at North Central CMA.

Visitors to SEA LIFE Melbourne can currently see the southern purple-spotted gudgeon up-close and learn about the breeding program in the newly created Wetlands Recovery Nursery on Level 1. The Aquarium is open 7 days per week with tickets and further information available at www.visitsealife.com/melbourne.

About the southern purple-spotted gudgeon:

• The southern purple-spotted gudgeon (mogurnda adspersa) is an attractive purplish-brown to yellowish-brown small fish; that has a rounded head and a small mouth.
• The fish grow up to 12cm, breed best in summer and like to live in dense reeds.
• It is thought that the population declined in Victoria as a result of increased river regulation, habitat destruction and the introduction of pest species.
• After the rediscovery of the fish in Victoria in 2019, the Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon Advisory Group was set up, with representatives and experts from the Department of Environment, Land, Water, and Planning, North Central CMA, Arthur Rylah Institute, Connections, Goulburn Murray Water, Parks Victoria, the Victorian Environmental Water Holder, and environmental services company Austral Research and Consulting.
• For further information, visit: www.nccma.vic.gov.au

Victorians needing elective surgery will get the tailored care they need faster, thanks to a new public surgery centre set to open in Melbourne’s east later this year.

The State Government will transform Bellbird Private Hospital in Blackburn into a dedicated public
elective surgery centre. When it’s operational, the new centre will help more than 5,700 Victorians get the surgical care they need each year.
The centre will be operated by Eastern Health and consist of four operating theatres, a ten-bed day procedure unit, 43 inpatient beds and offer a range of services including gynaecology and general surgery.
All 95 of the hard-working nurses, allied health professionals, technical and patient support staff currently working at Bellbird Private Hospital will be offered equivalent ongoing roles with Eastern Health, to retain their skills and expertise for when the new centre opens.
This is the second private hospital repurposed by the Labor Government as a planned surgery centre, with
Frankston Private Hospital on track to transition into a public health service in September. Together, once fully operational, the two facilities will deliver close to 15,000 surgeries each year.
Thislatest initiative isjust one of many under the Labor Government’s $1.5 billion COVID Catch Up Plan – the state’s long-term strategy to reform the elective surgery system so every Victorian family can get the care they need, when
they need it most. The plan will deliver more surgery than ever before by bolstering staffing and resources state-wide to better coordinate and streamline surgical activity across the system.
These investments will gradually build up to deliver a record 240,000 surgeries every year by 2024 – an additional 40,000 procedures annually compared to pre-pandemic levels.
The plan includes funding for 400 nurses to complete postgraduate training in perioperative nursing, 1,000 nurses to upskill in general surgery and recovery and the upskilling 30 theatre and sterilisation technicians.
It’s also delivering eight new Rapid Access Hubs – which exclusively perform specific surgeries such as hernia repairs, cataract surgeries and joint replacements – and more ‘public-in-private’ partnerships to maximise private hospital capacity and generate more bed availability.
Premier Daniel Andrews said:
“The dedicated Blackburn Public Surgical Centre will mean more patients get the care they need, close to home.”
“We have a clear plan to support our nurses, doctors and paramedics to deliver the best care for their patients with major boosts to hospitals, increased support for our health workforce and more home-based services.”
Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas said:
“The global pandemic has put health systems around the country under unprecedented pressure – Victoria is no different. We have a clear plan to catch up on elective surgeries deferred due to COVID-19 and ensure patients are treated as quickly as possible.”

Victorian teachers will be supported to retrain as vocational specialists, and those working in in-demand trades can upskill to become teachers, thanks to the State Government’s huge boost to applied learning.

Minister for Education Natalie Hutchins attended the opening of the EduTECH conference to announce an
investment of $24.6 million will support Victoria’s vocational and applied learning workforce, building capacity as the education system prepares for the new VCE Vocational Major to be introduced in schools from 2023.
The funding will attract those from industry to become VET trainers, enabling them to pass on their skills and knowledge to enthusiastic young learners keen on a vocational pathway – as part of an $87.9 million package in
the Victorian Budget 2022/23 to strengthen the workforce for the new-look VCE.
The State Government’s $277 million overhaul of the senior secondary system will see the VCE Vocational Major replace VCAL from next year – preparing students to move into apprenticeships, traineeships, further education and training, non-ATAR university pathways or straight into the workforce.
Students undertake specific studies – like literacy, numeracy, work-related skills and personal development – that will keep them in good stead for whatever they choose to do after school, as well as at least 180 hours of VET, their choice of other traditional VCE studies, and time in the workplace which will provide credits towards their VCE.
The reforms will mean Year 11 and 12 students across Victoria have better access to high-quality vocational and applied learning opportunities – whether they’re interested in pursuing a career in engineering, mental health, early childhood, automotive, hospitality, hair and beauty or dozens of other in-demand sectors.
The new certificate will better enable students with to be part of hands-on projectsthat not only provide them with
transferable skills for future jobs, but open doors to career paths they may have never previously considered.
The EduTECH conference willshowcase the products and talents ofsome of the state’s best and brightest vocational students, many of whom intend to follow the VCE Vocational Major pathway when they reach Year 11.
Bendigo Tech School’s Girls in STEAM Electric Car Project has seen students from government, Catholic and independent schools work to convert a Range Rover into a Tesla-style electric vehicle – giving them practical, transferable skills in the industries of the future, whether they go on to apprenticeships, TAFE or higher education.
Minister for Education Natalie Hutchins siad:
The reforms to our senior secondary system will open more doors to all Victorian students, whether they want to pursue higher educational studies or move straight into work – that’s why we’re boosting our teaching workforce
to deliver world-class vocational and applied learning to the industry leaders of tomorrow.”
“It’s fantastic to see some of Victoria’s most accomplished vocational students at the EduTECH conference today – it’s proof that no matter what your dreams or ambitions, there is a pathway for everyone in Victorian schools.”

Locals and visitors to Buninyong can now enjoy better and safer streets with improved access to transport, shops and outdoor dining thanks to an investment from the State Government.

Minister for Regional Development Harriet Shing and Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle today visited along the upgraded Warrenheip and Learmonth Street’s which have been revitalised with $300,000 through the Labor Regional Infrastructure Fund.
The new streetscape enables easier and safer access to the town with additional car parking, repaved footpaths and street furniture.
Garden beds and vines have also been installed to complement the town’s heritage and modern buildings.
Located 10 kilometres from Ballarat, Buninyong is surrounded by farmland with many of its facilities, such as the town hall, dating back to the gold rush era.
Buninyong also features several restaurants and cafés that are set to benefit from outdoor alfresco dining spaces that are a part of the streetscape upgrades.
The streetscape upgrades will also improve pedestrian access and amenities to support Buninyong’s wide range of cultural, food and sporting events.
This includes the biennial Buninyong Festival and Buninyong Village Market which offers fresh produce, live music, food and drink offerings.
The Regional Infrastructure Fund is central to the Government’s record investment of more than $36 billion across regional and rural Victoria since 2015.
For more information on the Regional Infrastructure Fund visit rdv.vic.gov.au/rjif.
Minister for Regional Development Harriet Shing said:
“Better and safer streets in Buninyong create more opportunities for locals and visitors to spend locally and enjoy everything this historic town has to offer.”
“We’re continuing to support local towns, because we know it will deliver benefits for local businesses now and into the future.”
Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle said:
“This project is so important to Buninyong locals and will make a world of difference for people who want to visit the town and enjoy its variety of restaurants, cafés and events.”
“It’sso important that we support our local towns where it matters, and thisstreetscape upgrade isjust one example of how we are helping to make community-driven projects a reality.”

The State Government is bringing lived experience to the heart of the mental health sector, launching a new workforce initiative as vital work continues to transform Victoria’s Mental Health and Wellbeing system.

The new $11.45 million Lived and Living Experience Workforce Development Program will grow and retain the lived and living experience workforce – offering training and supervision, practice and organisational support, ongoing education and career pathways.
In response to the Royal Commission’s recommendation, the Labor Government is ensuring lived and living experience sits at the heart of our mental health system reform.
This is a 10-year mental health reform journey and the Lived and Living Experience Workforce Development Program supports this early crucial work to ensure our lived experience workforce is one that meets the needs of Victorians living with mental illness and alcohol and other drug issues.
Nine agencies will lead this mental health workforce program: Self Help Addiction Resource Centre, Harm Reduction Victoria, Tandem/Carer Lived Experience Workforce, Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council, Centre for Mental Health Learning, The Bouverie Centre, Centre for Mental Health Nursing and Mind Australia.
This workforce program is building on the Leadership Pathways and Development Package for Specialist Mental Health Services, which this year has been expanded to deliver $8 million into a thriving leadership network for mental health workers.
Expanding peer networks and professional development ensures lived experience workers and leaders co-design all levels of the rebuilt mental health system.
The Government has invested more than $50 million since 2020 to build the required supports, structures and career pathways for the lived and living experience workforces – ensuring a solid foundation as we build the mental health system from the ground up.
Since the Government added the Certificate IV in Mental Health to its signature Free TAFE program, the course has seen a surge in commencements, as Victorians are drawn to the growing career pathwaysthe state’s mental health
reform is delivering. In the 17 months since the Royal Commission’s final report was delivered, new services have opened and more Victorians than ever are getting the help they need, with work underway on more than 90 per cent of the
recommendations.
This year’s budget included $1.3 billion to rebuild the mental health system and ensure more Victorians than ever are getting the help they need. This is on top of the $3.8 billion allocated in the Victorian Budget 2020/21.
Minister for Mental Health Gabrielle Williams said:
“A highly skilled mental health workforce with their own experience in the system means better treatment, care and support for all Victorians – and as we rebuild our mental health system, we’re expanding this workforce.”
“Listening to the feedback of people with lived experience and then acting on those recommendations is critical in achieving better experiences and outcomes for Victorians with mental illness.”

The State Government is putting young people’s experiences, needs and ideas at the centre of its plan to support young Victorians and their recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minister for Youth Ros Spence launched Victoria’s first Youth Strategy, backed by more than $600 million from across government in this year’s state budget.
To complement the strategy, an additional $5.3 million will open doors for young Victorians to be involved in policy development, to access opportunities in education, jobs and community, and to support their mental and physical wellbeing.
The strategy, developed in consultation with more than 2,000 young people, sector partners and community members, includes 74 initiatives that will be delivered over five years.
It includes a $1 million investment for youth hubs in Geelong and outer metropolitan Melbourne to improve access to services, as well as $750,000 for a Life Skills Toolkit – answering young people’s call for practical guidance during their transition to independence.
More than $1.5 million will provide employment pathways for more than 2,000 young people in the creative and sport and recreation sectors.
Under the strategy, young people with lived experience of mental ill health will be directly involved in the design and delivery of a new mental health system that responds to the needs of young Victorians.
Vulnerable young people will have better accessto affordable public transport, with $847,000 allocated in the 2022- 23 State Budget for 30-day free public transport passes for school students in crisis.
The Head Start apprenticeships and traineeships program will be expanded to every government school across the state – backed by $69.4 million in the 2022-23 State Budget.
Organisations such as the Youth Affairs Council Victoria, Koorie Youth Council and The Push will help deliver youthfocused initiatives under the strategy, with the sector and the Victorian Youth Congress to help guide its implementation.
For more information visit youthcentral.vic.gov.au/youthstrategy.
Minister for Youth Ros Spence said:
“On International Youth Day, we are incredibly proud to launch this strategy. It is the framework that will shape a positive future for all Victorian young people.”
“We’re ensuring young people are empowered to address the issues that affect them. The Youth Strategy ensures that young people’s voices are heard at every level of government.”
Victorian Youth Congress member Nathaniel Diong said:
“Young Victorians are more resilient, innovative and driven than ever before to drive systemic change – and we welcome this opportunity to give young people a say in their futures through the Victorian Youth Strategy.”

Teenage boys are just as likely to be victims of cyberbullying as teenage girls, prompting a timely reminder for parents to be on top of internet usage and access.

A recent study conducted by Griffith University academics looked at the conditional effects of parental internet supervision on online victimisation for early adolescent boys.
School of Psychology’s PhD candidate Molly Speechley and Senior Lecturer Dr Jaimee Stuart researched a cohort of 13-year-old boys from a single-sex school, their internet usage and availability of internet-enabled devices in the home.
Ms Speechley said when parents decide to become involved in their children’s internet use to counteract risks like cyberbullying that they need to do so mindfully.
“Parents need to be aware of the contexts and motivations for their children’s online engagement,” she said. “The strategies parents use should be personal to the family and their child’s needs, but our paper suggests that when using a more autonomous approach, parents should be ensuring their advice and strategies are relevant, up-to-date and well-reinforced.
“If parents prefer limiting access to devices then they should be cognisant of the potential downsides of such a strategy, especially if their boys are highly motivated to go online, and adapt or shift their approaches to better meet their child’s specific needs as necessary.”
Dr Stuart said the purpose of the study was to better understand the key risk factors facing contemporary young men.
“We know that parental internet supervision is thought to be an effective means of mitigating these risks for both boys and girls, but the efficacy of supervision for young men specifically is unclear,” Dr Stuart said. “Ultimately, positive or negative associations between internet supervision and cyber victimisation must be considered in context.
“This means looking at the adolescent’s social context, their access to technologies, and how, when, or why parents are choosing to employ parental internet supervision.
“Investigating forms of internet supervision without considering these contextual factors may lead to inappropriate or incorrect conclusions for the efficacy of internet supervision within distinct adolescent populations.”

Described as “amazing” and “non-stop entertainment”, talented burlesque performers Camilla Cream, Liberty Foxx, Nellie Noble and Stella Del Lure are fusing their artistry and skills to create their super show sensation “Shimmy & Shake”. After three sold out shows across Victoria, this show is sure to set Hepburn Springs audience’s heart aflutter.

Allow the cast to take you back to the golden era of Hollywood and burlesque, a time of glamour, feathers and fun! The show combines a thrilling mix of classic showgirl tease, silly neo burlesque, dance and jazzy vocal cabaret in a backdrop of rhinestoned costumes at the ‘Palais-Hepburn’ in Hepburn Springs/Daylesford. A perfect show for the burlesque-curious and efficianados alike!

The Sugar Showgirls are a brand new burlesque, cabaret and dance troupe based in Melbourne, Australia who combine their decades of live performance experience with a thrilling mix of classic showgirl tease, silly neo burlesque and jazzy vocal cabaret to entertain all audiences.

About the cast:
-Camilla Cream (2x World Record Holder, #9 Most Influential Burlesque Figure in Australia 2018, Miss Burlesque Tasmania 2018, Burlesque Idol Victoria – Runner Up 2017)
-Nellie Noble (“Best Newbie” & “Biggest Tease” at Grand Tease New Zealand 2018).
-Liberty Foxx (World Record Holder)
-Stella Del Lure (AAPC Amateur Burlesque Beauty 2020, RU Burlesque Muse, Melbourne 2021 and Apprentease Victoria winner 2022)

The State Government is holding a landmark festival of pride events throughout Victoria this summer to celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) Victorians.

Minister for Equality Harriet Shing today launched Victoria’s Pride – an annual celebration across the state for the next four years to support and celebrate our LGBTIQ+ communities.

The State Government is funding a series of events across regional Victoria, which will kick off Victoria’s Pride in December. The summer of pride will close with a one-day street party in Melbourne’s iconic Gertrude and Smith Street precinct on Sunday 12 February 2023.

Grants of up to $15,000 will support arts and culture projects which showcase regionally based LGBTIQ+ artists and highlight regional communities’ voices and stories, from community parties and art exhibitions to theatre shows and festivals.

The events will provide an opportunity for LGBTIQ+ people to connect with one another and feel represented, and for people across the state to demonstrate their pride in and support for LGBTIQ+ communities.

The Government has invested $6.8 million to make Victoria’s Pride a staple in Victoria’s events calendar for years to come – building on the success of Melbourne Pride, a statewide event held across the 2021-22 summer to mark more than 40 years since the decriminalisation of sex between men in Victoria.

More than 67,500 people are estimated to have attended last years’ events, with almost 30,000 people participating in 22 regional activities last summer, with events including a pop-up festival in Bendigo, art exhibitions, theatre shows and a movie screening.

The Government has partnered with leading LGBTIQ+ arts and cultural organisation Midsumma to deliver Victoria’s Pride. 

To apply for a Victoria’s Pride regional grant or to find out more, please visit midsumma.org.au/regional-activation. Applications are open from now until Monday 26 September at 5pm.

Minister for Equality Harriet Shing said:

“Victoria’s Pride will be a welcoming and inclusive celebration of LGBTIQ+ communities across the state – a chance for all Victorians to show visible love and support and for our community to celebrate who we are.”

Member for Western Victoria, Jaala Pulford said:

“Our LGBTIQ+ community are Victoria’s pride, and this state-wide festival and grants are a great opportunity to celebrate them.” 

Commissioner for LGBTIQ+ Communities Todd Fernando said:

“It’s fantastic to see that right across Victoria we will continue to have opportunities for people to showcase their support for our diverse LGBTIQ+ communities. Whether you are a member of our fabulous rainbow communities or an ally, I encourage you to attend Victoria’s Pride events this summer.”

Midsumma CEO Karen Bryant said:

“This is an exciting opportunity for all diverse LGBTQIA+ Victorians and our wider communities to come together and celebrate our journey, our voices and our Pride.”

Work will commence in coming weeks to replace more than 50,000 wood sleepers with concrete sleepers on the Bendigo line between Sunbury and Kyneton.

allow trains to run at speeds of up to 130 km/h through the busy section of track.
V/Line will complete more than $15 million in works to convert all sleepers in the section to concrete, allowing the track classification to be lifted, increasing the maximum speed which trains can travel by 15 km/h.
The faster speeds will allow trains to recover more quickly from minor delays, while the new sleepers will also increase the resilience and longevity of the track, reducing the risk of disruptions caused by infrastructure faults.
Works will commence in August, with crews taking advantage of pre-scheduled works on other parts of the line to complete daytime works between 13 and 23 August, followed by a series of 10-day blocks of night works to complete the replacements between Sunbury and Kyneton.
More than 70 staff and 25 pieces of track machinery will flood the line each night in order to complete the works as efficiently and safely as possible, minimising disruption to passengers.
Coaches will replace some trains on nights where crews are working and select trains will run over the works area at slower than normal speeds immediately following the works as a safety precaution and to allow the newlyinstalled sleepers to bed down.
Passengers are encouraged to check the V/Line website closer to the start of the works for more information and to plan their journey.
Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll said:
“We’re committed to providing a high-quality regional rail network, and ensuring passengers have a safe, reliable and comfortable experience.”
Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan said:
“The new sleepers will increase the resilience and longevity of the track, reducing the risk of disruptions caused by infrastructure faults.”
Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards said:
“These works will help future-proof the Bendigo line by increasing the resilience and life-span of the rail
infrastructure and allowing trains to reach faster speeds.”

Seed balls consist of the seed of one species or a variety of different species
rolled within a ball of clay.
For the Pollinator Project, we have chosen to add a native plant soil and
compost mix to the clay providing nutrients and protection for the seed during
throwing and sowing!!!

Seed balls have been used for centuries as a means of sowing seeds. The
technique was used in ancient Egypt to repair farms after the annual spring
flooding of the Nile. The Japanese farmer and philosopher Masanobu Fukuoka,
rediscovered the benefits of seedballs during WWII, using them to reclaim
land degraded by poor farming practices in rural Japan and as a
means of increasing farm land without disturbing the land designated for
rice production.
The benefits of using seed balls to plant are many and varied. They are easy
to distribute, as you simply lay the seed balls on top of the soil rather than
planting them, so no digging is required. The clay protects the balls until
there is enough rain to penetrate the balls and stimulate the seed to germinate.
The seed will sit dormant in its compost and clay ball until the weather
conditions are correct for germination. They are not likely to be blown away
in high winds so suit exposed sites. The balls can be used to plant on sloping
sites and under existing plantings.
As part of the Pollinator Project, Landcare members in the Upper Campaspe
Catchment will be trialling their use under shelterbelts, along creek and
roadsides, to increase biodiversity at existing revegetation sites, for new revegetation
sites and to plant out areas damaged after the storms that ravaged
the Catchment.
A free copy of Guide to the insects of Central Victoria will be available to all
attendees, see https://www.uppercampaspelandcare.org.au/your-guide-to-the-insects-ofcentral-
victoria/
Please join us
10am on Sunday 4th September
Glenlyon Hall, Barkly Street Glenlyon
RSVP
· GULGG members should RSVP to John Cottrell
(glenlyonlandcare@outlook.com) by 28 August.
· HGFW members should RSVP to Jill Teschendorff
(jt.bee@bigpond.com) by 28 August.