The Macedon Ranges Shire Council will host a range of free events – including film screenings and a community and family day – as part of this year’s NAIDOC Week celebrations.

NAIDOC Week is held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This year’s celebrations will be held from 7 to 14 July with the theme “Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud”.

“Celebrating NAIDOC Week and the history, culture and achievements of our First Nations people continues to be an important part of Council’s Reconciliation Action Plan and Council Plan,” Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s Director Community, Maria Weiss said.

“I encourage our community to get along to the great events on offer, to broaden their knowledge and help us continue to work towards improved outcomes for our Traditional Owner groups and First Nations people.”

Registrations for all events is essential with more information available through the council’swebsite.

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council is hosting a range of activities and events for children and young people in the shire throughout the July school holidays.

The program includes:

Creative Kids Shadowland at the Kyneton Town Hall, 10-11 July, is an interactive workshop for children to design, create and play with their own shadow creatures inside the different shadow worlds of 10 domed tents set up inside Kyneton Town Hall.

The workshops are facilitated by artist and designer Lynne Kent who has been involved with various companies including the Victorian Opera, Terrapin Puppet Theatre, Erth Physical Theatre, The Melbourne Women’s Circus, The Australian Centre for the Moving Image and the Queensland Theatre Company.

Dance holiday program, from 8-10 July, 9am-12pm at the Buffalo Sports Stadium in Woodend., is for children aged 6-12 years.

Over three sessions, children will learn hip-hop, acrobatic and acting skills in a fun and engaging environment with a qualified professional.

Intensive Learn to Swim Program, at the Gisborne Aquatic Centre and Kyneton Toyota Sports & Aquatic Centre, will run intensive swimming programs during the holidays as follows:

• GAC: four-day program, 1-5 July (no lesson 3 July); five-day program, 8-12 July.
• KTSAC: five-day program, 8-12 July.

The pool inflatable ─ featuring obstacles, climbing hills and slides – will also run on various days at both aquatic centres throughout the holidays.

More information is available on the council’s website.

There were 535,673 criminal offences recorded in Victoria in the twelve months to March 2024 – an increase of 39,261 offences or 7.9%, newly released crime data shows.

The true crime rate, which factors in Victoria’s population growth, stands at 7,687.5 offences per 100,000 people – a 5.5% increase from the year before.

While overall crime has gradually increased since Victoria emerged from the pandemic, offending has still not reached pre-pandemic levels.

The true crime rate remains 6.2% below the twelve months to March 2020, while there were 6,381 fewer criminal offences committed than in the twelve months immediately before coronavirus reached Victoria.

The top five offences to record the greatest year-on-year increase were:

• Theft from motor vehicle (59,160 offences, +9,281). While this offence recorded the greatest increase, there were still 5,248 less crimes of this nature than in the twelve months to March 2020. Police intelligence shows unlocked vehicles are targeted, with more than 60% of cars recently broken into in one hotspot found to be unlocked.

• Theft from a retail store (29,747 offences, + 7,635). Targeting of essential items such as food, alcohol and groceries is driving this increase. Other states are also experiencing rising shop steal offences, in line with inflation, cost of living pressures and high interest rates. Police intelligence indicates as many as 50% of offenders are first time shop stealers, while a quarter are first time criminal offenders.

• Theft (other) offences (48,339 offences, +4,638). The most common theft (other) offence is theft of petrol, which may also be linked to cost of living pressures.

• Motor vehicle theft (21,463 offences, +3,964). This is the highest number of offences since 2017. Police intelligence indicates the three most common places cars are stolen are from a residential area (with no associated offence), non-residential street or carpark, and during an aggravated burglary.

• Criminal damage offences (38,638 offences, + 3,045) round out the top five offences to increase year-on-year.

Victoria Police recorded the highest number of arrests in the last five years, with 67,937 people arrested and charged in the past 12 months.

Police intelligence indicates recidivist offenders account for over two thirds of the state’s total crime. This was particularly relevant for offences such as home burglaries and thefts, Victoria Police said in a statement issued last week.

One of Australia’s leading rural romance writers is headed to Daylesford – and Creswick – next month to feature in conversations discussing her latest book.

Leonie Kelsall will feature in conversation with ‘The Kid’ has they discuss her new book The Homestead in the Eucalypts which is described as ‘” fresh and compelling novel with an intriguing historical twist”.

Raised initially in a small town on South Australia’s Fleurieu coast, Léonie is a country girl through and through.

Growing up without a television, she developed a love of reading before she reached primary school, swiftly followed by a desire to write.

The Hepburn Shire Council is hosting two sessions:

Daylesford Library Saturday 6 July at 11.30am

Creswick Hub Friday 12 July at 2pm

Bookings are through Eventbrite online but both sessions are free to attend.

Detectives from the Financial Crime Squad have arrested a man as part of their investigation into over 500 fraudulent applications for COVID-19 temporary isolation payments submitted during the pandemic.

With assistance from Darebin Crime Investigation Unit, a search warrant was executed at a residential address in Braybrook last Thursday afternoon.

A 41-year-old Braybrook man was arrested and interviewed by investigators. He is expected to be charged on summons with numerous deception and fraudulent document related offences.

Police seized a card printing machine, a card embossing machine, a number of blank Victorian drivers’ licence cards, numerous false identification documents including proof of age cards, Medicare cards and drivers’ licences, four mobile phone signal jammers and numerous mobile phones, tablets and computers from his address.

It will be alleged that over 500 fraudulent COVID-19 grant applications were successfully submitted under a variety of false names worth almost $60,000 between 2020-2021.

The investigation remains ongoing.

The Victorian Department of Health has launched an Inquiry into Women’s Pain and is establishing the Women’s Health Research Institute.

The Inquiry into Women’s Pain wants to hear from women and girls (over 12) about their experience with pain (all pain), and from carers and healthcare clinicians in caring for women and girls with pain.

They are hoping the Inquiry will inform improved models of care and service delivery for Victorian girls and woman experiencing pain in the future.

Women and girls are being invited to respond to the Inquiry and the survey closes on 31 July.

Link https://engage.vic.gov.au/…/inquiry-into…/participate

Victoria Police detected more than 470 offences during a major road safety operation on the Hume Freeway last week.

Operation Hamilton saw regional and State Highway Patrol units highly visible and enforcing on the Hume Freeway between Melbourne and Wodonga.

The operation ran in conjunction with Operation Furious, a New South Wales road policing operation on the Hume Freeway over the border between Albury and Sydney.

The cross-border operations saw police focused on behaviours like speeding, distraction and impaired driving that contribute significantly to road trauma.

More than half of the offences detected during Operation Hamilton were speeding-related, with the majority of those detected speeding between 10km/h and 25km/h over the speed limit.

Police conducted 777 preliminary breath tests and 161 roadside drug tests, with five drink driving and seven drug driving offences detected.

There was also a focus on heavy vehicle compliance, with police detecting 50 heavy vehicle offences during the operation.

The Hepburn Distillery is providing a great example of the circular economy in operation with the Hepburn Shire Council publicising it as an example as it promotes a special toolkit for businesses.

The distillery’s process waste is being delivered to local farms as pig food.

Guests of a local wedding provider then get to enjoy both pork from the pig farm and Hepburn Distillery vodka on their special day.

The distillery is one of three case studies being highlighted in the council’s Circular Hepburn Toolkit for Businesses and Beyond.

Further information is available via the link https://ow.ly/Ykur50Ry7wx

Police on Sunday issued an appeal for public assistance to help locate missing man Max who was last seen in Bendigo.

The 30-year-old was last seen on Barnard Street in Bendigo on 21 June.

Police and family have concerns for his welfare due to a medical condition.

Max is known to frequent the Bendigo area.

It is believed Max may be travelling in a 1996 Red Toyota Camry, with registration 1US4TU.

Officers have released an image of Max (above) in the hope that someone can provide information on his current whereabouts.

Anyone with information was urged to contact Bendigo Police Station on 03 5448 1300.

The Mechanics Trentham was officially opened last Friday by Hepburn Shire mayor Cr Brian Hood, Mary-Anne Thomas MP and The Hon. Catherine King MP.

This state-of-the-art facility is intended to embrace the needs of the whole community, with playgroup space, a library and study nooks, workspaces, visitor information, a commercial-style kitchen, and a function space for 245 people standing or 180 seated.

Cr Hood acknowledged that the key project had been a major investment for Trentham and surrounds, and followed a 2013 review of local facilities.

“I’m thrilled to see the newly completed building open,” Cr Hood said.

“We are very grateful for the funding from both state and federal governments, and the dedication of Council, its officers, and the community-based Project Advisory Group who worked together on this wonderfully progressive design.

“It incorporates highly flexible spaces that cater to a wide range of groups and events.”

Ratepayers in Hepburn Shire will have to contend with a 2.275 per cent rate rise after the council adopted its new 2024-2025 budget yesterday.

At a special meeting, councillors have chosen to increase rates at 2.75 per cent which is the maximum rate set by the state government.

They have also endorsed a reduction in operational costs by $1.5 million, a move expected to produce challenges in avoiding impacts on service delivery. 

In a media statement issued following yesterday’s special meeting the council said: “Victorian councils, and in particular Hepburn Shire, have been adversely impacted financially by a sub-CPI rate cap environment, increased costs due to inflation, natural disasters including storms and floods, increasing community and government expectations and limited alternate income streams”. 

Mayor, Cr Brian Hood, says that this will be the fourth and final year budget under the council’s current Council Plan, noting that it funds important services such as roads, parks, waste and recycling and more. 

“Like many other Victorian councils, Hepburn Shire Council must make difficult financial decisions to ensure its long-term economic viability,” Cr Hood said.

“The budget has a strong focus on the completion of current works, projects and infrastructure, services and programs. 

“Councillors have chosen to increase rates at 2.75 per cent as per the maximum rate set by the State Government, which is below the current CPI rate of 3.6 per cent for the period to March 2024.

“Our shire revenue is expected to be $40.7 million, while our operating expenses are projected to be $42.8 million. The budget also includes the capital works program of $8.4 million encompassing roads, infrastructure, improvements to assets and completion or progression of community facilities.”

“While there is little room for any new projects, community consultation on the budget attracted some important community feedback that was considered by officers and councillors, and will be used to inform future financial planning. We received just over 20 submissions.

“We will continue to listen to the community’s needs and strive to deliver high quality services that align with our community’s priorities and expectations.”

The budget endorsed a reduction in operational costs by $1.5 million, while striving to minimise the consequent impact on service delivery. 

Financial pressures are mounting across government, business and communities. The Victorian local government sector faces challenges that will most likely lead to potential changes to the council’s service offering and capacity to invest in infrastructure. 

The council is committed to the delivery of a revised long-term financial plan and will engage with the community through July on a Financial Vision, with adoption to be considered in September.

The council needs to find an additional $4 million in revenue and savings in coming years to develop a financially responsible long-term financial plan that delivers on the Community Vision.

“We want to hear from the community as we plan for future financial sustainability, delivering the services they need and managing our assets responsibly,” Cr Hood said.

Anh Do’s bestselling book The Happiest Refugee has made readers laugh and cry, and was described by Russell Crowe as ‘the most surprising and inspiring read I have had in years.’

The celebrity artist is headed to Kyneton Town Hall this August with his stage show that takes it a step further, combining stand-up comedy with real life stories, photos and filmed pieces to retell his amazing story.

When one of Australia’s most talented comedians delves deep into his own life’s joys and sorrows, the result is an unforgettable night at the theatre that leaves an audience uplifted and quite simply experiencing… happiness.

Anh’s upcoming show takes place at Kyneton Town Hall on Wednesday 21 August, 07:30 PM to 09:00 PM with more information abut bookings available through the Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s website.

Victorians that know or suspect an older person is being abused are being urged to come forward to police to help combat the crime.

Elder abuse is any act which causes harm to an older person and is often carried out by someone they know and trust, such as family, friends or carers.

It’s a complex crime that takes many forms and doesn’t occur in isolation.

Some abuse involves psychological manipulation and intimidation – the threat that if an older person doesn’t do this or that, they will put in an aged care home.

There could also be adult children trying to sell the house without consent, or maybe the older family member is forced into childcare or other work against their will.

In many of these instances the crime is recognised or suspected by a third-party person – such as banking institution professionals, aged care workers and lawyers – which can be reluctant to report this type of crime as they do not want to get those involved into trouble.

Victoria Police is calling for these third parties to not ignore the signs and speak up by making a report to police, with any information provided crucial to help stop those causing abuse to older people.

The call to action coincided with this month’s World Elder Abuse Awareness Day – held annually on 15 June – and is vital as the crime continues to rise.

Crime Statistics Agency figures show the number of elder abuse victims over the age of 65 has increased by 35 per cent in the last five years.

Last year alone there were 5944 reports of elder abuse. Two thirds of victims are women and a third male.

The forms of elder abuse include:

• Financial abuse: using someone’s money, property or other assets illegally or improperly or forcing someone to change their will or sign documents. Police are seeing cost of living pressures contribute to an increase in reports of financial abuse.

• Physical abuse: includes assaulting or causing personal injury to a family member or threatening to assault or cause personal injury.

• Emotional or psychological abuse: behaviour by one person towards another person that torments, intimidates, harasses or is offensive to the other person. May include threats to pets or to withhold access to loved ones such as

grandchildren.

• Social abuse: Stopping the older person from participating in usual forms of enjoyment

• Neglect: failing to provide the basic necessities of life, either intentionally or unintentionally.

Victoria Police is committed to responding to elder abuse, supporting victims and holding perpetrators to account.

If you or someone close to you discloses they are a victim of elder abuse, please believe them and encourage them to contact police.

In an emergency call Triple Zero (000). If you can’t get to a phone, ask someone else to do it for you.

In non-urgent cases if you know or suspect an older person is being abused and prefer to make an anonymous report, you can do so online via the Crime Stoppers Victoria website

There are also many support services available. Victorians can contact Seniors’ Rights Victoria on the organisation’s free confidential helpline: 1300 368 821 or visit seniorsrights.org.au for further advice.

The Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre Committee of Management needs a new treasurer.

They don’t have to be an accountant with the bookkeeping and financial reporting done by an external accounting firm.

They just need to be someone with a good head for numbers, who can read a P&L and ask relevant questions.

It’s all on Xero, a cloud-based accounting system with the current treasurer able to provide a handover.

The other committee members are financially literate and have been on the committee for a number of years so will be able to assist in the transition.

The centre is an important community organisation, with people who want to give back to the Daylesford community, and have fun.

Those interested in inding out more should contact chair Gina Lyons on 0405 533 557.

To celebrate National Water Week, October 21-27, Central Highlands Water is inviting local early learning, kindergarten and primary school students to enter this year’s National Water Week poster competition.

This year’s theme, Water for all, inspiring action, highlights the importance of access to clean water.

CHW managing director Jeff Haydon said the poster competition provided a positive opportunity to engage the younger generation around the importance of the most precious resource, water.

Youngsters planning to enter still have a little time to get cracking on their poster designs as entries close on Friday, September 6.