The Hepburn Shire Council this month endorsed the release of several draft strategic documents which will guide the council for the next four to 10 years. 

Among the documents, the draft Council Plan 2025-2029 includes the council’s Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan.  

The Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 requires councils to prepare a Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan (MPHWP) within 12 months of a council election. 

The MPHWP identifies the health priorities of the municipality for the next four years.

To inform the plan, the Hepburn Shire Council has reviewed the priorities outline in the Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2023-2027, assessed the health status of the shire, considered relevant legislation and previous plans, engaged with relevant stakeholders to identify community needs and analysed consultation data.  

Mayor, Cr Don Henderson, said that the research that has taken place has highlighted opportunities to improve local physical activity and mental health.  

“All this work and consultation has informed the two priority areas in our Shire’s Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan, increasing active living and increasing mental wellbeing,” said Cr Don Henderson. 

According to the latest census data while 64.5 per cent of our population are sufficiently active, only 11.2 per cent participate in organised sport and just over 52 per cent are overweight or obese.

Under five per cent of adults in the shire met guidelines for fruit and vegetable consumption.  

“In doing this research, we have gained access to key data which describes the make-up of our population,” Cr Henderson said.d

“Our current population sits at just below 17,000 and is predicted to grow over 12 per cent between now and 2026.

“Nearly 43 per cent of our population is located in Daylesford and surrounds, with 31 per cent in Creswick and surrounds, 13 per cent in Clunes and surrounds and 12 per cent in Trentham and surrounds.” 

“Most of our residents work in the shire and of those who work, 14 per cent work in healthcare and social assistance.” 

The council says it will continue to work closely with key external stakeholders to work towards increasing active living and increasing mental wellbeing in the shire.

The council’s Health and Wellbeing Working group was formed in 2019 and brings together professionals from a diverse range of backgrounds, such as Central Highland Rural Health, Springs Medical, Ochre Health, Ballarat and District Aboriginal Cooperative, Victorian Department of Health and many more.  

To view the draft Council Plan 2025-2029 and submit feedback, visit Participate Hepburn.

Hard copy surveys are available in our libraries and customer service hubs. Drop-in sessions are also available to residents who would like the opportunity to speak with councillors and senior council officers. 

The Hepburn Shire Council expects to collect $43.9 million in revenue from rates, charges, grants, and other sources in 2025/2026.

This includes $11.42 million in grants and external funding, enabling the council to invest in key services and infrastructure.

Hepburn Shire Mayor, Cr Don Henderson, said that to support the council’s financial viability into the future, it has developed a draft Revenue and Rating Plan, along with a draft Council Plan, Budget, Financial Plan, and Asset Plan in accordance with legislation.

“These draft strategic documents will create a foundation for a strong future that focuses on core services like maintaining roads, improving parks, planning for our growing community, and delivering services our residents need,” said Cr Don Henderson.

“We are focusing resources on delivering core services and streamlining our organisation to be more efficient by creating operational savings of $2.53 million,” said Cr Don Henderson.

For 2025/26 the council will increase its rates by 10 per cent. This includes the State Government’s 3 per cent rate cap, plus an additional one-off 7 per cent uplift, approved by the Essential Services Commission.

This adjustment will generate approximately $1.36 million in additional revenue and is a crucial step in addressing long-term funding needs. Future year rate increases are budgeted to be in line with the State Government rate cap.

The average rates in Hepburn Shire for 2023/24 is $1,701 and this places the council as the 60th lowest of the 79 councils in Victoria. With the rate cap variation this will potentially raise average rates to $1,820 and places us 46^th of 79 councils. Even with the rate cap variation Hepburn Shire would be below average rates ($1,907). 

The rate variation has been necessary as part of financial plan to respond to an annual $4 million cash shortfall. The rate cap variation is in addition to the $2.53 million in service reductions which includes a reduction in staff from 174 to 156 full time equivalents.

“In positive news for ratepayers, waste service charges and kerbside collection fees will remain unchanged in 2025/26, and residents using the food and garden organics service will benefit from a $40 annual reduction in their charges,” said Cr Don Henderson.

The council is also increasing support for eligible pensioners, doubling the local pensioner concession from $21 to $42, complementing the existing State Government rebate.

There are no proposed changes to current rating differentials, maintaining consistency across ratepayer categories.

“Council has outlined a strategy in its draft Council Plan and Revenue and Rating Plan to actively pursue alternative revenue opportunities. Feedback from the community-based deliberative panel reinforced Council’s understanding that increasing rates alone is not the solution,” Cr Henderson said.

“Instead, Council is committed to working with the community and other levels of government to identify and develop new funding opportunities that will support the continuation of essential programs and projects.”

The fourth instalment of rates for 2024/2025 for Hepburn Shire ratepayers is due by Saturday 31 May.

“We are committed to supporting ratepayers and we encourage anyone experiencing financial difficulty to contact Council to discuss payment plan options,” said Cr Don Henderson.

The draft Revenue and Rating Plan is now open for public feedback. It outlines the council’s approach to ensuring adequate funding for the goals set out in the Council Plan, Budget, and other strategic documents.

“This draft Revenue and Rating Plan strikes a balance between financial sustainability and supporting our community,” Cr Henderson said.

“We have worked hard to minimise impacts where possible and we are delivering targeted relief, especially for pensioners and users of our waste service. We encourage the community to take part in the consultation process.”

The winners of the Macedon Ranges Community Awards 2025 have been officially announced, with
inspiring individuals and groups recognised for their contributions to the shire.

Held at the Kyneton Town Hall on Thursday 22 May in National Volunteer Week, the event celebrated
outstanding efforts across eight award categories, as part of a newly consolidated format combining
the former awards in January and Youth Awards in September into one flagship celebration.

Nominees were put forward by the community through a public process earlier this year, then
assessed by a panel and scored according to three weighted criteria relating to impact to the
community, alignment to Council goals and equity of recognition.

Macedon Ranges Shire Mayor Dom Bonanno congratulated all the nominees and award recipients, saying the night highlighted the strength and heart of the Macedon Ranges.

“These awards are a testament to the incredible people who passionately and consistently make our
shire a better place. Their stories reflect a community that values compassion, connection, and
contribution,” he said.

“Volunteers are not paid, not because they’re worthless, but because they’re priceless. Congratulations to all the winners in each of the categories, but also more broadly to all the nominees and those who took the time to nominate them.”

The awards acknowledge a wide range of achievements, from grassroots environmental initiatives
and inclusive arts programs to youth leadership and community sport.

The evening also served as a reminder of the essential role of volunteers and changemakers across
the shire – people who continue to lead with generosity, creativity, and care.

The winners and their categories can be found on the Macedon Ranges website.

The CFA has further extended the Fire Danger Period in parts of northeast Victoria as underlying dryness continues to elevate fire risk.

With an average rainfall of 41mm and only 2mm reaching the far northeast in April, the area is susceptible to fire ignition which could be challenging for firefighters to control.

As a result, the fire restriction has been extended for Towong Shire Council until 1:00am on 23 June 2025.

All other Victorian municipalities fire restrictions have been lifted.

District 24 Acting Assistant Chief Fire Officer Brett Myers said the decision to extend restrictions was necessary to protect communities while dry conditions persisted.

“While cooler days are arriving, the landscape remains dry enough to allow fires to start and spread quickly if a burn-off gets out of control,” Brett said.

Residents within Towong Shire Council are reminded that burning off remains prohibited unless a valid permit is obtained.

Between1 April to 20 May, the CFA responded to 178 escaped burn-offs across the state.

“Escaped burn-offs continued to cause significant concern,” Brett said.

“By extending the fire restrictions, we’re hoping to avoid preventable fires caused by complacency or misunderstanding.

“Escaped burns tie up our resources and present a real danger to both the community and our volunteers.”

Brett also urged landowners to help reduce unnecessary callouts, by registering their burn-offs.

“We’re asking all landowners in areas without fire restrictions to register their burn-offs online, to help prevent false alarms which divert resources from other emergencies,” Brett said.

Under the CFA Act, penalties for lighting an open-air fire without a permit during the Fire Danger Period can include fines of up to $23,710, 12 months’ imprisonment, or both.

Landowners can apply for a permit to burn off at firepermits.vic.gov.au.

Victoria Police is introducing a new 25-week academy training program that best prepares officers for the realities of the job.

Victoria Police initiated a review of its foundation training program in June 2023.

A key aim was to bridge the gap between what recruits learn at the academy and their experiences when placed out on patrol.

The new program will be more practical and interactive, with a greater emphasis on receiving mentoring from experienced officers, while supporting victims, patrolling the community, responding to incidents and keeping the roads safe.

Course content will be delivered in a sequential style that progressively consolidates knowledge and eliminates unnecessary repetition.

It’s the first significant change to the force’s recruit training program in almost 15 years.

The new academy training program, which replaces the existing 31-week course, will be introduced in July.

Police recruits will still complete a Diploma of Policing which remains unchanged at 116 weeks.

It’s envisaged the changes will allow more rapid deployment of new police to support the hardworking frontline.

Training has been streamlined to reduce duplication and make better use of contemporary teaching methods with recruits discussing real-life scenarios and practising how they respond.

Practical skills will be a focus, with less time learning ceremonial tasks like marching and more time dedicated to law, family violence, youth offending and crime prevention.

Some guest speaker sessions will instead be available in video format which recruits will access away from the classroom.

Recruits will have completed all components of the operational safety and tactics training needed to perform operational duties prior to deployment.

While field placement will occur three weeks later than currently, it means recruits will get their first taste of frontline policing accompanying serving police on patrol rather than observing police at the watchhouse.

A two-week field placement performing patrols in the city will move to immediately after recruits graduate, ensuring they can better respond to public order incidents.

The placement will be one week for recruits being deployed to the country.

The new program continues to meet registered training organisation standards and all legal requirements.

All human rights training has been retained.

Victoria Police introduced its existing 31-week program in March 2017, replacing a 33-week program which began in January 2011.

Before that training went for 23 weeks but included fewer practical elements.

The first intake for the new course is expected on 14 July with the final 31-week intake on 2 June.

Victoria Police is urging prospective police to join now, with all applications directed to the new-look course.

For more information about the changes go to police.vic.gov.au/police-officer-training.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Tim Hansen: “This change will deliver police who are street ready and better prepared for the realities of modern-day policing.

“Our recruit training program hasn’t changed substantially in almost 15 years so it’s crucial our training evolves as the demands of police continue to develop.

“That includes delivering content in a more engaging, interactive and impactful way to produce the best police possible.

“We also acknowledge a lot of material has been added to the program over the years and it’s imperative we remove unnecessary duplication and focus on those areas that matter most to the community.

“The new program is recognition that while classroom learning is crucial for basic knowledge, the greatest form of learning occurs under supervision on the job.

“Importantly, it will also get qualified police to the frontline sooner where they’re so very much needed.

“The total time it takes police recruits to complete their entire training remains unchanged, ensuring recruits have a comprehensive understanding of ethics, human rights and legal requirements.”

The Hepburn Shire Council is facilitating free accredited training for adults wanting to equip themselves with the practical skills and confidence to recognise, understand, and respond to a young person experiencing a mental health problem or crisis. 

This hybrid training course consists of online and face-to-face components. The online component will take around four hours to complete and the face-to-face component will be delivered over a full day by licensed facilitator Andy Bell from Youth Gurus. 

Face-to- face course dates:   

• Creswick: Monday 23 June 
• Trentham: Monday 7 July 

Hepburn Shire mayor, Cr Don Henderson, said that the program will be beneficial for any adults who interact with young people on a regular basis. 

“It is important that we understand and look after our Shire’s youth. We need to equip ourselves with the necessary skills and tools to provide them with the best support,” said Cr Don Henderson.  

The course will cover how to recognise the signs and symptoms of common mental health problems in adolescents, how to respond to an emerging or worsening mental health problem, and the treatments and support available. 

“According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, around 40 per cent of Australians aged 16 to 24 experienced a mental health disorder between 2020 and 2022. By educating ourselves, we can protect our young people today and into the future,” said Cr Don Henderson. 

Using a practical, evidence-based action plan, course participants will learn how to approach a young person they are concerned about and initiate a conversation about those concerns. Participants also learn how to offer initial support and information, and how to help a young person to seek professional help or other supports.  

Adults who complete the course become Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAiders), and are equipped with the knowledge, confidence, and skills to provide someone with mental health information and support when it matters most.  

Reservations are available via Google Forms. 

This course is recognised by Suicide Prevention Australia as a safe, high-quality, and effective suicide prevention program.  

 For more information about the program is available by contacting Adam Ford at aford@hepburn.vic.gov.au 

The Victorian state government has used extraordinary powers to totally ban the sale of machetes today (Wednesday, 28 May).

Premier Jacinta Allan on Monday joined Minister for Police Anthony Carbines and Minister for Consumer Affairs Nick Staikos to announce the unprecedented ban on machete sales.

The dangerous knives are coming off retail shelves now to dry up the machete market ahead of a legislated ban on machete possession coming into effect on September 1.

Interim sale ban on 28 May: Australia’s first total ban on machete sales

Commonwealth consumer law allows a state minister for consumer affairs to introduce an interim ban on the sale of certain consumer goods for a time-limited period.

Using these powers, Victoria has banned the sale of machetes from 12:00 noon today, Wednesday, 28 May. 

The interim machete sale ban will expire when it is superseded by the legislated prohibition on the sale and possession of machetes that will come into effect on 1 September. 

When the interim sale ban is declared on Wednesday, a supplier (e.g. a retailer) must not supply the banned item for sale or possess them with the intent to sell during the banned period.

The interim sale ban will cover machetes, which are broadly described as a cutting edge knife with a blade of more than 20 centimetres. The interim sale ban does not include knives primarily used in kitchens. 

The purpose of the interim sale ban is to dry up the supply of these items as much as possible before the possession ban comes into place. A supplier who fails to comply with the ban may be found guilty of a criminal offence.

This is the toughest ban on the sale of machetes that has ever been attempted in Australia.

There will be no exemptions to allow the sale of machetes during the interim sale ban – Australian consumer law doesn’t allow it. It is a total ban on sales. 

This means some consumers who will be entitled to possess a machete with an exemption when machetes are prohibited will be denied the ability to buy them at all during the interim sale ban. 

Retailers are being advised to store excess stock in a safe location until the disposal, amnesty and exemption schemes for banned machetes starts alongside the prohibition coming into force on 1 September.

Prohibition on 1 September: Australia’s first ban on machete possession

A record number of knives were seized from Victorian streets in 2024. More must be done to keep people safe. That’s why the Control of Weapons Act was amended on 19 March to prohibit the sale or possession of machetes.

Machetes will be classified as a prohibited weapon from 1 September 2025. 

There will be exemptions. If people wish to get a machete for an allowed purpose such as agriculture, they will need to apply for an exemption. Government is consulting with industry on the exemptions framework.

To get these weapons off the streets safely, an amnesty will run from 1 September to 30 November 2025. During that time, people will be able to safely dispose of their knives without committing a crime. 

They will be able to do this using secure bins in safe locations at outdoor areas at select police stations. These bins will start opening on 1 September. 

Machetes can be broadly described as a cutting edge knife with a blade of more than 20 centimetres. Government has been consulting on this definition, with kitchen knives not intended to be included. 

Prohibited weapons are the most strictly regulated in Victoria. They are not controlled. They are banned. Penalties of 2 years imprisonment or a fine of over $47,000 for being caught in possession will apply.

The prohibition comes on top of Australia’s toughest bail laws – which include tougher bail tests for many serious and high-risk offences like knife crimes – plus a huge expansion of random knife search powers.

Premier Jacinta Allan: “In Victoria, community safety comes first. We must never let places we meet become places we fear.”

“I hate these knives, and I will keep introducing as many laws as it takes to get them off our streets, out of our shops and out of our lives.”

The Central Victorian Indigenous Film Festival has returned to celebrate National Reconciliation Week.

The festival got under way yesterday, Tuesday May 27 and runs through to Tuesday, Jun 3 2025.

It offers a great chance to experience a range of films, videos, activities and discussions in local venues and online.

This year’s festival showcases an exciting range of First Nations films, documentaries and videos starring and telling stories about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People from Central Victoria and across Australia.

Award winning film “Contact”, to screen at Yandoit Cultural, is constructed around one of the most extraordinary pieces of footage in Australian history: the moment when a group of Martu women and children walked in from their nomadic existence of millennia into the universe of European modernity.

The film centres on Yuwali, the beautiful 17-year old girl we see making that giant leap on the 24th of September 1964.

Now 62, Yuwali’s account of the “first contact” experience is probably the fullest and most revealing ever caught on film.

Her group of twenty were the last remnant Aboriginal mob still living traditionally, without any contact or knowledge of modern Australia, in the remote Great Sandy Desert.

A huge space rocket test – Blue Streak – was to be fired in May 1964 at their home in the dry Percival Lakes. The authorities sent in patrol officers to evacuate anyone living there to protect them from rocket debris.

The days counting down to blast off drive the narrative of the film. Back at the Lakes, Yuwali gives a riveting account as she and her group are chased hundreds of kilometres around the desert trying to escape the “devilmen” in the “rocks that move” (four wheel drives). The climax is both extraordinary and emotional.

The film, directed by Bentley Dean and Martin Butler, has won numerous awards including Best Documentary at the Sydney Film Festival, 2009 and Best Achievement in Directing for Documentary, Australian Directors Guild, 2009.

The film will be introduced by co-director, Bentley Dean, and the presentation will be followed by a Questions and Answers session.

Date: Sunday June 1, 2025
Time: 5pm
Venue: Yandoit Cultural- the old church in the bush- Uniting Church Rd, off High St, Yandoit
What: Screening of CONTACT- Introduced by co-director, Bentley Dean, followed by Q&A
Entry by Donation: Support film makers, indigenous programs & community venues.
Bookings: https://yandoitcultural.org/bookings/

The full program can be downloaded from bendigo.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-05/City-Greater-Bendigo-CVIFF-program-2025.pdf

On Thursday May 15 the Victorian Government announced an additional $15.9 million support package for practical support to farmers across Victoria impacted by drought and challenging seasonal conditions. 

Farmers can access financial support, mental health programs and one-on-one consultations with agriculture experts. 

Hepburn Shire Council mayor, Cr Don Henderson, said that the support comes at a crucial time for local and other farmers who are doing it tough at the moment. 

“We are extremely pleased that Hepburn Shire farmers will directly benefit from this support package announced by the Victorian Government,” said Cr Don Henderson. 

“We have a diverse group of farmers across the region who significantly contribute to our local economy,” said Cr Don Henderson. 

The On-Farm Drought Infrastructure Grant program supports on-farm upgrades that provide immediate support in managing drought and build future resilience.  

Eligible farmers can apply for on-farm improvements such as water infrastructure upgrades, stock containment areas, grain and fodder storage and drought management tools such as soil moisture monitors and weather stations.  

Additionally, farmers impacted by drought and challenging dry conditions can register for a one-on-one farm advisory consultation as part of the Drought Support Package. Farmers can book in with a consultant to discuss the best way forward for their business in the current climate/season. 

“We have a highly productive agriculture sector which is incredibly important to our community and we must ensure they know they can access support,” said Cr Don Henderson. 

Ongoing seasonal pressures are having an impact on our farmers and their mental health. A new mental health program, Look Over the Farm Gate, is being developed to help communities come together and support farmers under stress.  

The Victorian Budget 2025/26 adds more than $2 billion in additional funding for the criminal justice system, courts and emergency services.

This is backing the work of frontline police and emergency services and increasing capacity in the state’s prisons and youth justice centres, the state government said in a media statement.

The state government introduced Australia’s toughest bail laws to put a stop to serious offending while out on bail – and now, more repeat alleged offenders are remanded, not getting bail, according to the media statement.

This Budget will direct $727 million to ramp up the capacity in the state’s prisons and youth justice centres – bringing more prison beds online to deal with the increasing number of alleged offenders being denied bail. 

The Budget expands the capacity of the youth justice and adult corrections systems and supports the opening of the new Western Plains Correctional Centre, which ramps up operations mid-year. 

In total, almost 1,000 additional adult prison beds will open across the system, and a further 88 beds will open at youth justice facilities at Cherry Creek and Parkville. 

The Budget will also recruit a further 320 new roles in youth justice and 400 new roles in adult corrections. 

The Budget includes more than $46 million to establish a tobacco licensing scheme to break the business model of organised crime, delivering boots on the ground to crack down on those breaking the law. 

The new regulator will deter the sale of illicit tobacco, prevent unfit individuals from entering the industry, and strengthen intelligence gathering to support Victoria Police and other law enforcement in shutting down illegal operations.

This story based on a state government media release

About $5000 has been raised for the Daylesford’s Phoenix @ The Rex Cinema at a sold-out movie trivia night featuring enormous fun and generosity.

More than 120 keen competitors got into the action at the event that was held earlier this month at the Daylesford Bowling Club with film knowledge songs, sayings and stars’ identities being put to the test.

The range of prizes also showed widespread backing with vouchers from Daylesford Gourmet, the Hepburn Golf Club, Walters Café, Picnic Lake, Byzantine Tiles, Melbourne and Blooms Chemist.

The Bowling Club donated the $250 cash first prize, the Barefoot Bowling Club gave $150 and bottles of wine worth $50.

A further step for the Phoenix@ TheRex Cinema now involves intense work on sponsorships.

Words & Image: Supplied

The year was 1975, I was a freshfaced little boy minding my own business in a classroom of the Hora Hora Primary School in the small city of Whangarei in Northland, New Zealand.

In fact, to get you into the nostalgia, I encourage you to scan the QR code where I have prepared a musical track to take you back. Over the school speaker the (ding, ding, dong) chimes sounded followed by the crackling voice of the secretary: “Kyle Barnes, please come to the dental clinic, I repeat, could Kyle Barnes please come to the dental clinic.”

I dragged myself from class and slowly made my way over the bitumen hopscotch court and down through the muddy playground where fonder memories of innocence and play evaporated as I turned the corner and faced the “Murder House”.

I was immediately ushered into the chair and introduced to a student dental nurse. As the music of Seasons in the Sun, a song by Terry Jacks, came over the radio, she began her assault. Hitting every piece of gum and lip on her way to my molar, and without much of an inspection to start, she rammed the needle in and got to work with the drill.

Don’t get me wrong, I was quite comfortable in the afternoon sun, listening to the radio with her rather large boob resting on my forehead, and sometimes making its way into my eye. Forward an hour or so and I left the clinic with a huge lip and both cheeks swollen up like a chipmunk from the misplaced needle at the shaky hands of the trainee and a large filling in my molar.

This happened a couple of times on each side of my mouth, my brand-new adult teeth gouged out and filled with half a tonne of amalgam. It seems like that is what the Murder House did in the seventies. You had a ready stream of lab rats to practise on, they just needed to be plucked from the classroom.

I even saw a young cohort come out of there with a shiny new silver filling on her front tooth. Her parents were livid. I have been lucky enough to sport a good set of chompers and have never since had a filling, so I am pretty sure my attendance to the cavity creator was simply to practise on.

However now the amalgam on both molars has started to subside and the teeth crack, and that costs. It seems I must get it all scraped out and get the two munchers capped. And although I have paid over $100 per week since I was 30, all those tight bludgers at the health fund will pay for is $500 on the first $1900 cap.

And because they work on calendar years, I have to wait until next year to get the second one done if I want to claim.

It seems cruel that the practice of the day was to bugger up someone’s smile in the name of knowledge and make them pay dearly when they get into their 50s. Hora Hora Murder House rant over…

(Ed’s note: I had a great fear of dentists as a kid, so much so one of them put me completely under for a filling, aged seven. No anaesthetist needed. Hmmm.)

The Victorian Budget 2025/26 will make public transport free on the weekend for Seniors Card holders, statewide.

It’s a change that means seniors can visit family, enjoy a day out with the grandkids, or experience all our state has to offer – without the extra expense.

From 1 January 2026, more than 650,000 seniors who use public transport will be able to catch a train, tram or bus for free on weekends – saving seniors who travel more than $360 per year. 

Currently seniors enjoy free travel on weekends in any two neighbouring zones, allowing for short trips such as from Morwell to Traralgon, from Macedon to Woodend, or within metropolitan Melbourne. 

But Victoria’s train network has 16 zones, so a senior from Ballarat can’t access free travel to see her grandkids in Ballan, or a grandmother from Melbourne can’t travel free to see regional galleries in Geelong or Bendigo. 

The investment in this Budget will extend free travel to seniors anywhere across the state on weekends – from Wodonga to Warrnambool and everywhere in between.

Before the state government introduced its regional fare cap in 2023, a daily concession fare from Bendigo to Melbourne cost $24.08, and a daily concession fare from Albury to Melbourne cost $41.20. 

The regional fare cap slashed the cost of that fare significantly, and now from 2026, seniors on weekends will pay nothing at all.

Free travel for seniors on weekends is a huge boost for tourism across regional Victoria and will encourage more people to explore what this state has to offer.

Passengers with a senior myki will need to carry their Seniors Card while travelling and use their Senior Myki to touch on and off as usual – but myki cards won’t be charged.

Cardholders will continue to be eligible for a 50 per cent discount off the full fare on weekdays.

For more than two years, Victorians have embraced the regional fare cap with more than 50 million trips taken – saving passengers more than $132 million. 

Senior passengers will also continue to benefit from almost 200 extra weekend V/Line services being delivered across the state since the regional fare cap was introduced.

To be eligible for a Seniors myki you must have a Victorian Seniors Card. Victorian Seniors Card holders must be permanent residents of Victoria, aged 60 or over and work less than 35 hours a week.

Premier Jacinta Allan: “Costs can add up – especially for seniors – and I’m on their side. That’s why we’re making public transport free on weekends for seniors, saving them more than $360 every year.”

Minister for Public Transport Gabrielle Williams: “We’ve added hundreds more weekend services and now we’re making it free for seniors to travel on the weekend – making public transport an even better option, whether it’s for a trip to see family or to explore Victoria.”

By Donna Kelly

We have two great features in this edition – Education and Volunteers. The first came about because schools told us this is the best time for them to talk about their schools for parents looking to enrol their children. The second because it is Volunteer Week right now.

Looking at the Education Feature is quite enlightening, schools look like very different places to when I was attending. I went to Overport Primary School in Frankston – it’s still going strong – and I think we had about 1000 students.

My first memory was writing my name in cursive and being admonished by the teacher because “we don’t do that yet”.

I loved the library and used to read a couple of books a week. I even wrote to children’s author Ivan Southall once – and he wrote back. I guess it’s where my love of writing came from. When I finished with primary school I headed to Mount Eliza High School.

It had just been built and they were looking for students, so we people from the wrong side of the tracks were accepted. Luckily they had a uniform because there is no way I could have kept up with the clothing allowances of the other girls.

They mostly lived in big houses (I didn’t really know about mortgages then), often with pools (which were nice to share), and very little parental care (which I thought was great).

A friend of mine told me later that she thought my helicopter parents were much better because they were alway asking where I was going and with who. I thought she had hit the jackpot, a bedroom with a door to the outside world which we made great use of to wander at will.

At Mount Eliza I also joined the school magazine’s editorial team. The mag was called Ripple and had a wide variety of features, photos, pictures and writings. I remember a couple of Year 8 boys wanted us to publish their drawing – which would have put the karma sutra to shame.

We said no so they photocopied about 200 copies and dropped them around the school instead. It was all about the notoriety, I guess.

The schools now, though, are all about building resilience, nurturing individual students, connecting to community and of course, the three Rs. It’s a whole new world and one that is really interesting to have an insight into.

Our volunteer feature only just scratches the surface of what happens in this amazing community. But it is indicative of how many people give up their time to help others and create a better world.

Everyone loves the 5000 Club and Kyle and I have had some great meals there – the desserts are the best! And I love that Sandy uses her amazing calligraphy skills to write up the day’s menu.

L2P is another great iniative where volunteers help learner drivers get enough hours to gain their licence. It’s all very well for kids who have parents who are happy, and have the time, to sit next to them for 120 hours but what do you do if your parents are working, maybe don’t have a car, or are looking after other kids?

Friends of Cornish Hill are an amazing bunch. Spending their time to revegetate Crown land, for all to enjoy. And as volunteer Kath Anderson says, there are plenty of different roles for people to take on.

Maybe grant writing? Riding for the Disabled has been going for years and is a heartwarming group of volunteers taking those with a range of disabilities out for a ride on gentle horses. I think anyone who has ridden a horse knows how relaxing and comforting it feels to be gently swaying out in nature. (Except for Kyle, who doesn’t like anything bigger than him.

Finally, who does not love Daylesford Community Op Shop? I have been so many times to shop for theme parties and ChillOut parades, or just to grab a new book, new to me anyway. Hope you enjoy this edition. We did. Love this community. Just sayin’…

The state budget delivers more rebates for energy efficient heat pumps and solar hot water systems, so that more families can save up to $400 a year on their energy bills, Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas says.

Ms Thomas, in a media statement, says the budget delivers a $100 Power Saving Bonus to eligible Victorian households with a concession card, in time for their August winter bills.

“For parents in Macedon, every dollar counts. It’s why we’re making public transport free for Victorians
under 18.

“It’ll mean savings of up to $755 a year – per child. With free PT for under 18s, we’re ensuring cheaper
school runs, more affordable weekends – and one less thing for families to worry about.

“It’ll make Victoria the first state to introduce free public transport for kids and teens, with the
investment beginning 1 January 2026.

“Costs can also add up for seniors. It’s why with this Budget, we’re making statewide public transport
free for Victorians aged 60 and over on weekends.

“From 1 January 2026, this change will help Victorians with a Seniors Card in Macedon visit the grandkids
or experience even more of our state – without the extra expense.

“No one should miss out on the things that make school fun. But the cost of camps, school sports and
excursions can be too much for some families in Macedon.

“That’s why we’re increasing the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund to help families with a Health Care
Card or concession card. Payments will increase from $154 per year for primary school students and
$256 per year for secondary students to $400, from 1 January 2026.

“Our buses give locals the choice to leave the car at home, saving money on fuel and parking, and
reducing congestion.

“That’s why this Budget invests $163 million to improve our bus network. It’ll deliver funding for seven separate bus services across regional Victoria, including funding to continue the Ballarat – Bendigo V/Line Coach.

“Together with free public transport for under 18s, and free weekend public transport for seniors, it’ll
make buses even better for families in Macedon.”