May 9th, 2022Community News from HSC

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

I was honoured to speak at the opening of Clunes Booktown Festival last weekend. I stayed on for most of Saturday to enjoy the fabulous program of author-led talks, indulge a little in the local food and entertainment and wander the many book seller stalls in and around the historic main street of Clunes.
It was great to see a diverse range of writerly viewpoints represented. These included First Nations, feminist, differently abled and local interests. It was also an amazing community effort in terms of the multiple levels of organisation and the volunteer resources required. I’d like to congratulate everyone involved for helping create such a successful and enjoyable event.
One of the discussion panels I attended was hosted by The Melbourne School of Discontent – a self-described ‘collective of like-minded Aboriginal and Islander academics, activists, artists, writers, poets, and pests.’ Their topic of discussion, ‘In discontent there is hope power’ playfully challenged the festival’s theme of ‘Hope,’ but with quite serious intent.
This spirited and poignant session helped remind me exactly how powerful and important arts and culture events, the creative arts and good books for that matter, are for the health and wellbeing of our community. A robust values discussion, a well-considered art piece, and a good book alike can challenge us in different ways; draw us together socially to think outside our own comfort zones; help us travel momentarily in someone else’s shoes, and on occasion to fundamentally question the prevailing status quo.
Historically, this is where powerful forces for transformational change can appear and take hold. This is something The Melbourne School of Discontent group was asking for in terms of real action on issues such as First Nations people’s sovereignty and empowerment.

Currently, Hepburn Shire Council is calling for community input as it develops its first Arts and Culture Strategy and we would love to hear from local residents and creatives to guide the development of the four-year strategy. Hepburn Shire is home to a celebrated and important artist population and hosts a broad selection of arts organisations and creative sector businesses.
We are also home to a culturally rich and diverse community that is invested in and eager to engage with the arts. The first step in developing the strategy is the creation of a shared vision that the community, creative sector and Council can work towards.
The strategy will define key priority areas where Council can focus on services, programs and facilities so that the creative community can thrive. To have your say, come to a face-to-face, or online focus group session, or fill out the survey. For more info go to
https://participate.hepburn.vic.gov.au/arts-culture-strategy.
Cr Tim Drylie
MAYOR