Macedon Ranges Shire Council will move the Community Satisfaction Survey interviews from being conducted annually to quarterly. This decision is in line with best practice – allowing for any seasonality that may influence results and providing Council with a more accurate reflection of key themes and opportunities for improvement or development.

Approximately a dozen councils in Victoria are now undertaking quarterly interviewing and have found it to be beneficial in capturing community sentiment at different points throughout the year.
Residents are therefore being advised that the first round of quarterly interviews for the next survey will commence on 16 June and run until 3 July. Some households may receive a call from independent market research agency, National Field Services who have been commissioned to conduct the survey on behalf of Council. Calls will only come from a fixed line number, not a mobile phone and the caller will always identify themselves and state that they are from National Field Services.
Chief Executive Officer Bernie O’Sullivan said the Community Satisfaction Survey would still involve approximately 400 interviews being conducted by phone among a representative sample of residents, however, they will be over the course of the year compared to only once per year.
“The survey is an important method of assessing Council’s performance across a range of measures and to identify ways to provide improvement or more effective service delivery to residents.”
“Our hope is that in spreading the survey across the year, the data will enable even greater insights and ultimately responsiveness from Council. It is one of the ways we are seeking to strengthen our engagement with the community this year.”
“For those people who do receive a call, we appreciate your taking the time to assist us with valuable feedback.”
“Please be assured that your details and individual responses are confidential. Only the overall results are shared with Council,” he said.
Residents with questions regarding the Community Satisfaction Survey can contact 5422 0333.
To learn more about National Field Services visit nfs.com.au

With heavy snow already blanketing the region, Victoria’s alpine resorts are open and preparing for a busy winter season.

Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio today visited Mount Buller to officially launch the start of the season – where snow is falling, lifts are running and accommodation rapidly filling up for the months ahead.
Victoria’s six alpine resorts are major economic drivers of the state’s tourism industry with Mount Buller, Falls Creek, Lake Mountain, Mount Baw Baw, Mount Hotham and Mount Stirling contributing more than $1 billion to the Victorian economy and supporting nearly 10,000 jobs.
Winter forecasts are predicting a better than average snow season, with welcome natural falls boosted thanks to state-of-the-art snow making ensuring a great experience for visitors.
For the Queen’s Birthday weekend, a variety of activities will be on offer at resorts regardless of snow cover, with resort websites providing updates on conditions, access, events and activities.
To support our alpine industry amid the ongoing effects of the global coronavirus pandemic, the State
Government provided more than $77 million to help protect jobs and support the thousands of livelihoods the industry sustains.
This support included rent relief programs, infrastructure funding, grants to attract green season visitation and funding to ensure the continued operation of the alpine resort management boards and resort businesses. Victoria’s alpine region is a popular tourism destination year-round, with biking, 4WD adventures, trail running, music festivals, and food and wine events attracting a significant number of visitors to the alpine resorts in the green season.
Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio said:
“Whether it’s cross-country skiing, the rush of downhill skiing and snowboarding or the family fun of tobogganing and snow play, there’s something for everyone on Victoria’s snowfields.”
“Visiting the Victorian snowfields is always a unique and exciting experience with wonderful opportunities to take in our beautiful alpine environment.”

A community-owned and led early learning centre embracing and embedding Aboriginal perspective into its service is now open to families living in Sebastopol, ensuring more local kindergarten places thanks to the State Government investment.

Minister for Early Childhood Ingrid Stitt and Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle announced the new Yirram Burron centre open, supporting Ballarat’s growing Aboriginal community and combatting existing barriers the community has faced in getting equal access to early childhood education and care.
The $1.3 million centre, whose name means ‘Morning Child’, is a place where children can access affordable, highquality education and care, delivered by an expert team of qualified educators, with an emphasis on culture, education, and community.
Yirram Burron will offer 22 daily places for three-and four-year-old kindergarten and 16 for long day care, aimed at children not old enough for kindergarten.
In an Australian-first, the Labor Government is investing almost $5 billion to deliver two-years of funded kinder for all Victorian children.
As part of this roll-out, the Government is expanding infrastructure through a $1.68 billion co-investment with the early childhood sector in new and expanded kindergarten facilities across the state.
To find out more visit: schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au/yirram-burron-morning-children
Minister for Early Childhood Ingrid Stitt said:
“We are supporting early childhood education programs that are led by the community, and their cultural needs – Yirram Burron will do just that.”
“Creating more places for children to attend kindergarten and ensuring their access to the best facilities across the state is vital to ensuring a world-class early education.”
Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle said:
“We’re proud to be boosting early childhood services in Sebastopol – especially one owned and run by our local Indigenous community. We know how important the early years are in setting our kids up for the rest of their lives.”
Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison said:
“It is an absolute joy to open Yirram Burron Kindergarten during National Reconciliation Week. This community owned kinder will celebrate Aboriginal culture and ensure our earliest learners are getting the best education.”

The State Government is supporting Victorian councils to build the infrastructure they need for
communities in the state’s fastest growing suburbs.

Minister for Local Government Shaun Leane today announced applications are now open for the Growing Suburbs Fund, with $50 million available as announced in the Victorian Budget 2022/23.
The funds will support councils develop projects such as community centres, sporting facilities, playgrounds and open spaces.
Previous investments from the Fund include the newly opened Golden Plains Youth Hub in Bannockburn. Backed by $270,000, the Golden Plains Shire Council has transformed the site into a purpose-built and welcoming space for young people from across the shire to gather and create new social connections.
The Fund also provided Casey City Council with $3.3 million in funding for the Cranbourne North Active Open Space Reserve which features three football pitches, a cricket oval, flood lights, a playground, cricket nets and public art.
With unisex and fully accessible change rooms, a community room and kitchen, the facility will be inclusive for women and people of all abilities when it’s completed this month.
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council will soon open the Somerville Active Recreation Hub, after receiving $742,500 from the Fund, with the free community space featuring a new skate-park and parkour equipment.
This year’s Budget continues to strengthen communities by investing in projects tailored to local areas, while also providing an economic boost across the state as Victoria responds to the ongoing impacts of the pandemic.
The Growing Suburbs Fund is available to Melbourne’s 10 interface and six peri-urban councils, and aims to deliver more playgrounds, parks and community centres to help transform communities.
Since being established in 2015, the Fund has now invested a total of $425million to support more than 300 projects and helped create more than 10,000 jobs.
Applications are now open and for more information, visit localgovernment.vic.gov.au/grants/growing-suburbs fund.
To find out more about the projects helping communities and businesses thrive in your local area,
visit delivering.vic.gov.au.

Minister for Local Government Shaun Leane said:
“We are creating the vital facilities and infrastructure that communities in our fastest growing areas need.”
“Victorians in our fastest growing suburbs deserve to have spaces and facilities to help them develop new
connections, that will support wellbeing and help strengthen communities as they continue to grow.”

Victorians will today pay tribute to the sacrifice of thousands of Aboriginal service men and women.

The seventeenth annual Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Service is a time to reflect on the sacrifice, dedication, and loyalty of Aboriginal people who have served, or who are currently serving, in the Australian Defence Force.
The service, held annually during Reconciliation Week recognises the significant contributions of First Nations Victorians, and acknowledges that for far too long these sacrifices were not adequately commemorated.
Elder Aunty Dot Peters first initiated the service in 2006 to honour Aboriginal Victorians who, for more than a century, have served in every conflict and peace keeping mission involving the Australian military.
The service today also recognises 100 years of service from the Royal Australian Air Force in 2021, and the sacrifices of Aboriginal Air Force people throughout a century of conflict.
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Gabrielle Williams and Minister for Veterans Shaun Leane will join the Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Committee in recognising the sacrifice and service of First Nations Victorians.
Members of the public are also encouraged to attend, with the service commencing at 11am at the Shrine of Remembrance. The event will also be livestreamed.
For more information about the Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Service, please visit
www.firstpeoplesrelations.vic.gov.au/victorian-aboriginal-remembrance-service.
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Gabrielle Williams said:
“The Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Service is an opportunity for us to recognise the service and sacrifice of Aboriginal Victorians who have proudly served Australia in conflicts for over a century.”
“Recognising and understanding the histories, achievements and immense sacrifices of First Nations Victorians in all fields of service is an important step towards reconciliation.”
Minister for Veterans Shaun Leane said:
“Today’s Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Service is an important opportunity for us to reflect upon the strength and resilience of the thousands of Aboriginal service people.”
“We owe a great debt of gratitude to Aboriginal veterans, their families and communities, and today we honour their sacrifice.”

Macedon Ranges Shire Council is pleased to announce that local business Newearth Constructions has been awarded the design and construct contract for the Macedon Ranges Shared Trails Project.

The $11.24 million Shared Trails Project will deliver a 24-kilometre trail for walking, running, low-volume cycling, and commuting all the way from Woodend to Riddells Creek—linking rural landscapes, towns and heritage places. Construction of the trail is taking place in stages and is expected to take two years, with completion scheduled for mid-2024. Currently, stage one of the project encompassing an initial section of the trail in Woodend has started, with works expected to commence on the second stage from Riddells Creek to Gisborne, and Gisborne to Macedon late 2022. The works will then be paused during the winter months of 2023 and recommence in late 2023. The final trail sections between Woodend and Macedon will be finalised in mid-2024. The Macedon Ranges Shared Trails Project is supported by the Victorian Government through the Crisis Committee of Cabinet – Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. Council’s Chief Executive Officer Bernie O’Sullivan said the Macedon Ranges Shared Trails is going to be an amazing asset for the community – who have increasingly sought the provision of safe walking and cycling opportunities – and for investments that support our growing tourism sector. “Residents will have another reason to get out and be active and enjoy our unique landscapes and the Trail will also be a major drawcard for visitors from further afield. Research tells us that access to nature is one of the key drivers for visitation to the region, and a project such as this will really enhance our nature-based offer. We can’t wait to see this project take shape!” he said.
Newearth Constructions is a family-owned business based in Romsey with local employees and suppliers who have been delivering projects across the Macedon Ranges since 1927. They are strongly committed to creating careers in the civil construction industry in the region, particularly amongst youth. In 2018, they were awarded Employer of the Year by the Civil Contractors Federation of Victoria as a result of their commitment to training and development and in 2021 one of their local apprentices won the CCF Victorian Apprentice of the Year.
Newearth Constructions’ General Manager Mick McCarthy expressed great delight at being awarded the significant project for the Region.
“The Newearth Constructions team all live in the area and all of our works are done throughout this Region. We are really pleased to have this fantastic opportunity to partner with Macedon Ranges Shire Council to deliver a Region-enhancing project and leave a great legacy for future generations to enjoy. This project will of course also help us to continue to support local youth with training and employment.”

Victoria’s world-famous live music venues have received a boost from the State Government to get artists back on stages, audiences back in venues and help live music make a strong return across the state.

Today, Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas, visited the Macedon Railway Hotel who has received a grant through the Victorian Live Music Venue Support Program. The Palais Hepburn also received funding under the program.
Last week, Minister for Creative Industries Danny Pearson visited Queenscliff’s iconic Blues Train to announce grants to 131 venues, including the music-fuelled train, through the Victorian Live Music Venue Support Program.
Targeting venues with capacities of 50 to 1,200 people, the program provides grants of up to $65,000. This investment recognises the critical role music venues play in the state’s live music scene, not just setting the stage for memorable gigs but providing a vital platform for artists and employment for industry workers.

With dedicated funding for programming live gigs, the initiative is getting musicians back where they flourish – on the iconic stages across the state that showcase why Victoria is the live music capital of Australia.
Since the start of the pandemic the State Government has provided more than $80 million in dedicated support for the music sector, including earlier tranches of the Live Music Venue Support Program.

The Victorian Budget 2022/23 continues this commitment with an additional $2.9 million to establish and strengthen regional touring circuits for live music and expand revenue streams for local artists.
In further support for live music, the Government is also offering music fans a 25 per cent rebate for ticket purchases over $40 through the Victorian Entertainment Program.
For the full list of venues supported through the Live Music Venues Support Program, visit creative.vic.gov.au.
Mary-Anne Thomas said:
“ Congratulations to the Macedon Railway Hotel and The Palais Hepburn. The community can look forward to more live music, close to home.”
“ Our local music venues have done it tough throughout the past two years, the State Government is committed to getting our venues back on track so everyone can enjoy live music”

The State Government is backing community sports clubs get back on the ground after being affected by
natural disasters or unforeseen events such as theft of equipment.

Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence announced grants of up to $2,000 are available from today through round one of the State Government’s Emergency Sporting Equipment Grants Program.
The grants provide swift and practical support to clubs to help them back on their feet in times of need, replacing essential equipment lost through fires, theft and other setbacks.
Previous grant recipients include Traralgon City Soccer Club which received almost $2,000 to assist after flooding,
while North Sunshine Tennis Club also received $2,000 towards replacing stolen equipment after a break-in. The Program complements the Sporting Club Grants Program which has delivered more than $13 million to support community sporting clubs since 2014.
The recent Community Sport Sector COVID-19 Survival Package has also provided $50 million to more than 7,500 clubs, leagues, state associations and other organisations across the sport and active recreation sector during the pandemic.
These Government initiatives make community sport more accessible and inclusive, stimulate local economies, build local sport and volunteer opportunities, and increase participation.
For more information about the Emergency Sporting Equipment Grants and how they can help visitsport.vic.gov.au.
Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence said:
“Our emergency grants provide the lifeline clubs need so they can continue doing what they do best, bringing communities together and helping people play the sport they love.”
“This is about supporting clubs get back to normal after setbacks beyond their control.”
Traralgon City Soccer Club City President Miimetua Paku said:
“The emergency grant has provided us with welcome financial assistance at the time we most needed it.”
“The grant helped us replace essential equipment and meant we could start the season asif nothing had happened.”
North Sunshine Tennis Club President John Harvey said:
“The robbery at our club was a considerable setback. They took tennis equipment that was used by those in our community who cannot afford to purchase racquets and balls.”
“In times where clubs are finding it difficult to raise funds, we are most grateful that the Government stood behind our community members and the club by providing this grant.”

The State Government is investing in Victoria’s agriculture workforce of the future, with an extra
investment in agriculture education in secondary schools supporting more students to embark on a career in the primary industries.

Minister for Education James Merlino and Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas today announced
applications are now open for the Labor Government’s $5.5 million Secondary Schools Agriculture Fund which will support schools, industry groups and community organisations to inspire students into local agricultural careers.
The Fund will support Victorian schools and the sector to raise awareness of the opportunities available in
agriculture, uplift agriculture teaching capability and offer more opportunities within schools for students to develop the skills they need to transition into modern careers in agriculture.
Funding will be available for a range of agriculture education activities like designing programs, engaging with local industry, purchasing equipment and other needs schools have in order to deliver quality agriculture studies.
This boost will help meet the growing demands of the local agriculture sector – seeking innovative young workers with digital, business and marketing skills, as well as food and fibre entrepreneurs who can take products to international markets.
The SSAF is part of the State Government’s $50 million commitment over four years to the Agricultural College Modernisation Program, helping more Victorians pursue exciting careers in agriculture.
This program also supports the Government’s $277.5 million investment in the biggest reform to the senior
secondary system since the inception of the VCE – a transformation that will set young Victorians up for brighter futures in vocational education and training, no matter what their dreams and goals are.
Applications for the Secondary Schools Agriculture Fund: Schools and Place-based stream are now open, and will close on 24 June. For more information, visit vic.gov.au/secondary-schools-agriculture-fund.
Minister for Education James Merlino said:
“The future of Victoria’s nation-leading agriculture sector is bright – and we’re proud to be supporting more Victorian students to get involved in the modern, growing industry while they’re still at school.”
“This program is all about making sure our students have real-world opportunities to make the most of existing and emerging agriculture and horticulture career pathways.”
Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas said:
“We want to attract the best and brightest young innovators who are keen to get into our agriculture sector – developing the food and fibre industry’s leaders of tomorrow and setting them up for exciting careers.”

Casual and contract workers in Ballarat and Western Victoria are being encouraged to sign up to the State Government’s Sick Pay Guarantee before flu season takes hold – giving them a safety net if they become sick and miss work or need to care for a loved one.

Minister for Workplace Safety Ingrid Stitt today visited Federation University to encourage more people to sign up to the Sick Pay Guarantee and to meet with casual workers who are already benefitting from the program. More than a third of workers who have registered for the Sick Pay Guarantee are young people aged 18 to 25.
One such eligible worker is Louie, a casual chef in Ballarat who admits he’s gone to work sick because it was expected of him. Louie says having access to sick and carer’s pay will take the stress out of the job for himself and for his family and make it easier for him to recover from sickness.
The $245.7 million Victorian Sick Pay Guarantee will help eligible workers who are unwell to stay at home and not feel forced to choose between a day’s pay and looking after their health. This Australian-first initiative is expected to keep businesses healthier, safer and more productive.
Workers who sign up to the two-year pilot program can apply for up to 38 hours a year of sick and carer’s pay at the national minimum wage, fully funded by the State Government. More than 150,000 Victorian workers are expected to benefit from the first phase of the pilot.
Occupations in the first phase include hospitality workers, food trades workers and preparation assistants such as chefs and kitchen hands, supermarket and supply chain workers, retail and sales assistants, aged and disability care workers, cleaners, laundry workers and security guards.
Healthcare and social assistance are the largest industries in the greater Ballarat area, followed by retail and accommodation and food services – all of which are eligible industries under phase one of the Sick Pay Guarantee.
Casual and contract workers are encouraged to check their eligibility and register now at vic.gov.au/sickpayguarantee or use the Service Victoria app.
Minister for Workplace Safety Ingrid Stitt said:
“The Sick Pay Guarantee will provide a safety net for casual and contract workers when they are sick, so they can take the time they need to recover. I encourage all casual workers in the Ballarat area to check their eligibility, register now and don’t wait until you’re not well.”
Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison said:
“This scheme will protect more Victorians and give them the support they need so they don’t have to make the choice between a day’s pay and looking after their health.”
Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle said:
“Many casual workers are put in a difficult situation when they get sick – the choice they make isn’t wrong, it’s that they have to make it in the first place. We’re changing that with the Sick Pay Guarantee by giving them a safety net.”

The State Government is making sure Victorian students with disability in Macedon are better supported by their teachers and peers through a new partnership with Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott AO and Get Skilled Access.

The new partnership will design and deliver a series of Abilities Awareness in Schools resources to promote disability awareness among students and staff as part of the State Government’s landmark Disability Inclusion reforms.
The resources will include videos featuring Dylan Alcott and others with lived experience of disability – exploring topics to build students’ understanding of disability and improve their confidence to interact with classmates with disability. It will target students of all ages in mainstream primary and secondary schools.
The resources, which will start to roll-out from Term 3 this year, will also see the delivery of workshops and new evidence-based resources for teachers and staff, helping them foster school environments inclusive for all students.
The Government’s Australian-first $1.6 billion Disability Inclusion reform has started rolling out in classrooms across Victoria – putting the needs of each individual student at the heart of our response and shifting the focus towards what a child can achieve, rather than what they can’t.
As part of this new approach, new facilitators are helping schools and families work together to identify each student’s unique strengths and how to best support their learning and participation – meaning schools will be able to better plan and adjust support for students throughout all stages of their education.
The record investment is also doubling the number of students receiving extra support in the classroom to 55,000 – and is expected to create up to 1,730 jobs across the state by 2025.
All government schools across the Barwon, Loddon Campaspe and Bayside Peninsula areas are already benefitting from the reform, with Outer Eastern Melbourne, Central Highlands and Mallee to join the program this year with more regions will be added each year until the reform is complete across Victoria in 2025.
The Victorian Budget 22/23 also included $326 million to deliver upgrades for 36 special schools – meaning every government special school will have had a major upgrade since we were elected in 2014.
Mary-Anne Thomas said:
“We can always do more to support students with disability at school – with these new resources from Get Skilled Access, we’re building our school communities’ understanding of disability to make every single school in Macedon an inclusive one.”
“Our kids are far more than their diagnosis. We’re rolling out our nation-first Disability Inclusion reform to completely change the way we support children in our schools – focusing on what they can achieve, rather than what they can’t.”

The State Government is ensuring young First Nations Victorians are supported to stay out of the youth
justice system and live fulfilling lives, guided by Wirkara Kulpa – Victoria’s first ever Aboriginal Youth Justice Strategy which was launched today in a youth friendly version.

The strategy is bolstered by almost $3 million in the Victorian Budget 2022/23 to deliver Aboriginal Youth Justice Hubs for young Victorians at risk of engaging with the youth justice system. This builds on the $11.8 million investment in implementing the strategy in the Victorian Budget 2020-21.
Wirkara Kulpa was written for and by Aboriginal young people and aims to make sure they’re not part of the youth justice system, because they are strong in their culture, connected to families and communities and living healthy, safe, resilient, thriving and culturally rich lives.
The youth-friendly version ensures young Aboriginal Victorians can access and engage with this important work.
Led by the Aboriginal community, the Hubs will provide a range of services, from early intervention and diversion through to complex needs in an accessible space where children and young people can engage in social and recreational activities.
The Hubs are an important step in realising a youth justice system that empowers the Aboriginal community and builds on their capacity to provide coordinated therapeutic and holistic supports and services to heal and nurture their children and young people.
The design and delivery of the model, including locations, will reflect a genuine partnership with the Aboriginal community through transfer of resources and empowered Aboriginal-led decision making.
Victoria has reduced the average daily number of Aboriginal children and young people aged 10-17 under youth justice supervision by 42 per cent between 2016-17 and 2020-21 and currently has the second lowest rate in youth justice custody and supervision in Australia – but there is more work to be done.
Wirkara Kulpa builds on the findings of the Koori Youth Justice Taskforce and the ‘Our Youth, Our Way’ Inquiry which examined the care of nearly 300 Aboriginal children and young people under youth justice supervision. It identifies a set of priorities which the Government is working towards in close partnership with the Aboriginal community.
The priorities include diverting Aboriginal children and young people away from the youth justice system, protecting cultural rights, increasing connection to family community and culture and supporting healing and rehabilitation.
Minister for Youth Justice Natalie Hutchins said:
“The youth-friendly version of Wirkara Kulpa is an important step towards a future where Aboriginal children and young people are not part of the youth justice system, because they’re connected to culture, supported and thriving.”
“The Hubs will provide a range of tailored services for young Aboriginal Victorians to receive the care and
engagement they need to stay on the right track and lead fulfilling lives.”

Winter may be here but that doesn’t mean residents have to stay inside and hibernate! Macedon Ranges Shire Council has a range of arts and culture activities for the community to enjoy throughout June.

Kyneton Town Hall will showcase two standout, live music performances.
To kick off, rock royalty Tex Perkins & Matt Walker will appear on Saturday 11 June at 8pm. Perkins and Walker will play a mix of new songs and old favourites, including tracks spanning Perkins’ career and discography. ‘The Honeymoon is Over’, a crowd favourite, is delivered as artfully and with as much intensity as its release in 1993, while the Beasts of Bourbon’s ‘This is not the Way Home’ takes the audience on a nostalgic journey, and Dark Horses gets a nod with a spine-tingling rendition of ‘Please Break Me Gently’.
For classical music fans, Peaceful Piano will appear at Kyneton Town Hall on Friday 24 June at 7.30pm. This double-bill tour featuring Australia’s foremost neoclassical pianist/composers Nat Bartsch & Luke Howard has attracted critical acclaim around the globe, and is a performance not to be missed!
Macedon Ranges residents will also have the opportunity to enjoy Kyneton Museum’s popular exhibition Biodiversity in Crisis: Plants and Animals of the Macedon Ranges. While the full exhibition has now been dismantled, different components will travel to various locations across the shire from May through to September. Pop-up displays can be seen at Romsey Hub, Gisborne Library, Woodend Library, and Kyneton Visitor Information Centre, with the exhibits rotating every few weeks, so return visitors can see something new each time.
The exhibition features a selection of objects that highlight the wonderful biodiversity we have in our region and shows how we can work together as a community to ensure we protect our precious flora and fauna.
Finally, residents have the opportunity to keep warm through singing this winter via the Urban Sea Shanties Community Choir—a temporary choir, drawing on existing choirs and members of the community.
Under guidance from choral leader and Macedon Ranges local Andrew Price and renowned singer/songwriter and comedian Fred Smith, participants are learning a repertoire of songs over a four-month period culminating in a performance at Kyneton Town Hall in September. The first workshop was a huge success, with over 60 people signing up. Participation is free and is open to people aged 12+. Registrations close Friday 3 June, so don’t delay!
Director Community Maria Weiss said Macedon Ranges Shire has a vibrant arts and culture scene that is active all year-round.

The State Government is investing in a pilot program to support Aboriginal Victorian farmers – boosting First Nations-led regenerative farming practices and realising business opportunities in the production of native products across Victoria.

The State Government has invested $980,000 in the Outback Academy Australia’s ‘Follow the Flowers’ initiative, helping address the demand for skilled Aboriginal agricultural workers.
The investment will support tailored, culturally appropriate training that meets the learning needs of up to 30 agricultural workers at Victorian farms, including Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative in Shepparton and Worn Gundidj Aboriginal Cooperative in Warrnambool.
The students will be supported by Workforce Development Managers who will help connect them with training providers, industry experts and further opportunities. A team at the Melbourne Innovation Centre will also provide support to the participating farms to establish them in local and national supply chains.
The pilot will inform the creation of up to 20 short courses and support for further training and employment pathways – with information provided to other First Nations farms in Victoria and across the nation.
The State Government investment will also support ‘Follow the Flowers’ in its work in improving soil and water quality and biodiversity – and support business venturesin the production of honey, food, botanicals and Australian Native Wildflowers as well as farm-based tourism opportunities.
A further pilot will be established with an influential farmer who can help build relationships with the broader regenerative farming sector.
The State Government is committed to self-determination and supporting Traditional Owners to reclaim their traditional agricultural practices with more than $3 million invested in the development of a Native Food and Botanicals Strategy and the Djakitjuk Djanga program to advance the industry’s development.
Since 2014, the Government has made a record $3.5 billion investment to rebuild TAFE and support universities and higher education to ensure Victorians have access to high quality education and rewarding career pathways.
Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney said:
“This is an incredibly special project that puts First Nations people at the centre of contemporary farming practices – giving them the skills they need to strengthen Victoria’s booming agricultural industry.”
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Gabrielle Williams said:
“First Nations people have looked after this land for tens of thousands of years and as we mark National
Reconciliation Week it is fitting that we are helping continue this proud and ancient tradition.”
Mary-Anne Thomas said:
“We’re working alongside Traditional Owners to ensure they have their rightful place in our nation-leading agriculture industry, with all the economic benefits it brings.”

The Zero G Network is a range of tech free sanctuaries in the great outdoors that don’t get phone reception, and Great Northern has launched a campaign to preserve over 30 of these spots nationally with a petition calling to prevent the encroachment of phone towers into these pockets of untouched nature. 

The initiative also includes an interactive map of tech-free sanctuaries in the country so travellers can easily identify areas where they will be able to switch off completely without mobile reception. Many of these areas have been heavily affected by reduced tourism and severe weather events, so the hope is this encourages further visitation to remote locations across the state.

There are five locations in Victoria, including

• Joker’s Flat Campsite
• Sealers Cove, Yiruk/Wilsons Promontory National Park
• Koondrook State Forest
• Boronia Peak, The Grampians
• Billy Goat Bend, Mitchell River

We have two third-party spokespeople available to speak on the Zero G Network.

• Outback wrangler Matt Wright
• Endurance athlete, Sam Gash

They can talk about the value of preserving our environment, as well as the impact of our phone on being present in day-to-day life. 

Please also see below release with new research into phone use. 

GREAT NORTHERN LAUNCHES PETITION TO PRESERVE TECH-FREE SANCTUARIES IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS 

Australian beer brand Great Northern Brewing Co. has launched an initiative to protect remote pockets of the great outdoors from mobile data coverage, so the feel-good benefits of nature can always be experienced at their purest. 

Australians are being called on to sign the petition to protect ‘The Zero G Network’ – a selection of tech-free sanctuaries in the great outdoors. These pristine, remote spots are currently out of range and free of emails, notifications and hashtags. The intention is to preserve these tech-free sanctuaries for future generations so that people will always have places to experience the benefits of being outdoors and offline. 

And the time to do so is now. 5G is expected to reach 95 per cent of the Australian population by 2025, meaning very soon it will be hard to escape our phones. 

Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as just switching off your mobile, with recent research demonstrating that Australians are addicted to their devices, with 68 per cent of Australians admitting they haven’t left the house without their phone since the start of the pandemic.

On average, Australians spend 5.5 hours a day on their phone. That’s almost 17 years of our lives spent looking at our phones.

Half (49%) of Australians admit they spend too much time on their phone, while half (49%) have tried to limit the amount of time they spend on their mobile phone. 

This number is higher again for younger Aussies, with 69 per cent of Gen Z, and nearly three quarters (73%) of Millennials saying they know they spend too much time on their phones. 

Great Northern Brewing Co. Ambassador Matt Wright said that while technology is essential in the modern world, we need time away from our phones and devices to reset. 

“There are studies that prove being outdoors, and away from technology is good for us, and I see that change happen when people from the city visit us up north and don’t have the connection they are used to. It’s important to switch off and be present. That’s why I find the Top End the most beautiful place in the world,” he said.

“We aren’t always good at doing what’s best for ourselves, and as mobile coverage extends into more remote areas, it won’t be long before every corner of the great outdoors is online, all the time. If we don’t do something about it soon, future generations will never get to experience these areas of Australia as nature intended.”

Great Northern Brewing Co.  is asking Aussies to sign a petition for official protection of these pockets of nature, as well as submissions for spots that should be protected under The Zero G Network. 

To find out where the Zero G areas are, nominate locations and sign the petition, visit https://greatnorthern.com.au/zerog 

Note: The Zero G Network is not intended to limit coverage in any regional or rural towns. All spots will be remote, untouched places in the great outdoors.