The Local Government Inspectorate will not take any further action into the  investigation of Hepburn Shire Council and The Rex Theatre development –  and its report will never be released.  

The Inspectorate issued a media release last week which said it found there was  insufficient evidence to prove to the requisite standard of proof of the commission of  any disciplinary breaches or criminal offences contrary to the 1989 Act.  

“Further, the Chief Municipal Officer is satisfied that the council has taken  remedial action to put in place measures to avoid future complaints of a similar  nature, including the creation of a new governance and policy framework.”  

The release said in 2019, the LGI received a complaint that made allegations  relating to the council’s involvement with The Rex Theatre redevelopment.  

“Since receipt of the complaint, the LGI has undertaken a rigorous investigation  of the allegations. Throughout, Hepburn Shire Council and its councillors have co operated. The LGI’s investigation has now been finalised.”  

The release says the Local Government Inspectorate is the dedicated integrity  agency for local government in Victoria.  

“The Chief Municipal Inspector leads the LGI and has functions and powers,  including those set out in the Local Government Act 2020, to enable the LGI to  examine, investigate and prosecute any matter relating to a council’s operations and  any potential breaches of the 2020 Act and its predecessor the Local Government Act  1989 (1989 Act).”

Hepburn Shire Council response  

Mayor Cr Brian Hood said that it was extremely disappointing that it had taken so long for the Inspectorate to arrive at its conclusion and no report would be issued.  

“We are frustrated and very disappointed that a comprehensive, detailed  report won’t be released. The failure to issue a report into The Rex project denies  transparency and accountability and lets down the community, councillors and  council officers,” he said.  

Cr Hood said ensuring the appropriate checks and balances were in place meant  failures of the past would not be repeated and emphasised the importance of “having  a culture where officers of all levels feel able to raise concerns about governance”.  

“The same applies to councillors. The LGI media release acknowledges the current  officer and councillor group had improved governance oversight.”  

Cr Hood said he had other concerns including that the LGI undertook a  “rigorous investigation” yet has provided no reason why it will not issue any report.  

“The failure to report denies an explanation the community is owed. It prevents  accountability and transparency.”  

He added that the LGI concluded there was “insufficient evidence” to warrant  any disciplinary or legal action.  

“For any organisation to self-report to a regulatory authority is a significant  step. Council management of the day were obviously of the view that some matters  warranted investigation by an independent regulator.  

“It would seem there is a significant disparity between the council management  who self-reported to IBAC and the Inspectorate’s unexplained conclusion.”  

Cr Hood said The Rex saga highlighted what can go badly wrong in any  organisation if the culture isn’t right or if there is a light-handed approach to  governance.  

“The purchase of The Rex, contrary to community consultation, led to a  substantial financial loss – a waste of ratepayers’ money – and tarnished the council’s  reputation.  

“And let’s not forget while all the attention was on The Rex, the Daylesford Town  Hall was shamefully neglected and is only now getting its much-need new roof and  replacement electrical systems.”  

History

Hepburn Shire Council bought the Vincent Street, Daylesford former theatre in  2016 for $6 million – a move prompted after its toilets were closed to the public.  The council then spent $3 million on the building which was to house a cinema,  staff offices, a library and public toilets, with another $6 million needed to complete  the project.

Interim CEO Bruce Lucas paused the Hepburn Hub at The Rex project in June  2018, becoming concerned about governance failures, also reporting the issue to the  Audit and Risk Committee. Incoming CEO Evan King reported concerns to the  Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC), and ultimately the  Inspectorate commenced an investigation.  

In December 2021, council officers recommended that the council continue with  the project. However, four councillors voted against the project – Cr Lesley Hewitt,  Cr Don Henderson, Cr Juliet Simpson and Cr Brian Hood. In favour of continuing  with the hub were Cr Jen Bray, Cr Tessa Halliday and Mayor Cr Tim Drylie.  

Present day  The Rex was bought from the council in December 2022 by entrepreneurs and  businesspeople Eddy and Malinka Comelli, and David and Yuge Bromley, for $3.75  million.

Words & image: Donna Kelly  

Breaking news on The Rex, Daylesford

The Local Government Inspectorate has issued a media release about the Hepburn Shire Council and The Rex Theatre Development.

“In 2019, the LGI received a complaint that made allegations relating to the Hepburn Shire Council’s involvement with the Rex Theatre redevelopment,” the release says.

“Since receipt of the complaint, the LGI has undertaken a rigorous investigation of the allegations. Throughout, Hepburn Shire Council and its councillors have co‑operated.

“The LGI’s investigation has now been finalised and the CMI has concluded that there is insufficient evidence to prove to the requisite standard of proof the commission of any disciplinary breaches or criminal offences contrary to the 1989 Act. 

“Further, the CMI is satisfied that the council has taken remedial action to put in place measures to avoid future complaints of a similar nature, including the creation of a new governance and policy framework.

“Accordingly, the LGI will not be taking any further action in respect of the investigation. Nor will the LGI be publishing any report.”

The release says the Local Government Inspectorate is the dedicated integrity agency for local government in Victoria.

“The Chief Municipal Inspector leads the LGI and has functions and powers, including those set out in the Local Government Act 2020, to enable the LGI to examine, investigate and prosecute any matter relating to a Council’s operations and any potential breaches of the 2020 Act and its predecessor the Local Government Act 1989 (1989 Act).”

Hepburn Shire Council response

Mayor Cr Brian Hood said that it was extremely disappointing that it had taken so long for the Inspectorate to arrive at this decision and that no report will be issued.

“We are frustrated that a comprehensive, detailed report won’t be released. The failure to issue a report into The Rex project denies transparency and accountability and lets down the community, councillors and council officers,” said Cr Hood.

Hepburn Shire Council CEO Bradley Thomas said that it was important to note that the Chief Municipal Inspector has concluded that “council has taken remedial action to put in place measures to avoid future complaints of a similar nature, including the creation of a new governance and policy framework”.

“We have significantly improved governance, policies, and the culture in the organisation, implementing systemic change and improvements to ensure that the failures of The Rex project are never repeated again. This should give councillors, and most importantly the community, confidence as we move forward,” said Mr. Thomas.

Some of the organisational changes put in place since the commencement of the Inspectorate investigation include:

• Creation of a Major Projects Team (that does not report to the CEO)
• Development of a Project Management Framework
• Updates on high risk/complex projects being provided regularly to the Audit and Risk Committee (the Audit and Risk Committee comprises four independent members)
• Adoption of a contemporary Risk Management Framework
• Established a CEO Employment and Remuneration Committee, with external, independent members, along with Councillors
• Adoption of a new Procurement Policy
• Development of a Disposal and Acquisition of Land Property Policy that ensures all purchases and sales comply with legislation, and that a current and independent valuation is obtained before Council enters into such arrangements
• Significant investment in the Governance and Risk Unit to ensure it has appropriately skilled and experienced staff to provide advice and monitor compliance with legislation and governance requirements. 

Interim Chief Executive Officer Bruce Lucas paused the Hepburn Hub at The Rex project in June 2018, when becoming concerned about governance failures, also reporting the issue to the Audit and Risk Committee. Incoming Chief Executive Officer, Evan King reported concerns to IBAC, and ultimately the Inspectorate commenced an investigation. 

Councillors, officers, and the Audit and Risk Committee have been fully supportive of the reporting, working through the investigation and have repeatedly called for the finalisation of the investigation to occur. The LGI have noted that throughout, Hepburn Shire Council and its councillors have co-operated in the investigation.

Cr Brian Hood said: “Ensuring we have the appropriate checks and balances in place means failures of the past will not be repeated, and having a culture where officers of all levels feel able to raise concerns about governance is vital.

“Council has been unable to find evidence that an independent, external valuation was completed prior to the purchase of The Rex building, something that is now a requirement due to the adoption of the Disposal and Acquisition of Land Property Policy.”

Cr Hood said that although extremely disappointing “that we won’t have a report, we can now endeavour to draw a line in the sand and move forward as an organisation and community”.

“I’m pleased this announcement was made before the end of this council term. We have a busy couple of weeks ahead of us with the consideration of the next stages of the Future Hepburn project including township structure plans, the financial vision and the last council meeting for the term.

“Council is progressing a project to assess the feasibility of maximising the community use of the Daylesford Town Hall site, with an option to consolidate and upgrade the building so it could become more of a community hub, and possibly incorporate the Daylesford Library. This has included the creation of a community-based Project Advisory Group, and also the appointment of a lead architect for the Daylesford Community Facilities Project.

“It is imperative that the Inspectorate has the appropriate powers to investigate failings in local government and that it has adequate resourcing into the future, preventing delays such as with this investigation, and ensuring that there is transparency and accountability in the use of ratepayers funds.”

Words: Donna Kelly | Images: File

The Hepburn Shire Council has joined a new $2m initiative to empower young people to say no to vaping.

Delivered by VicHealth, Vape-Free Victoria will see 29 local councils, 5 universities, 5 sporting bodies and teams, the Alcohol and Drug Foundation, Quit Victoria and the Victorian Government work together to support young people aged 14 to 25 to understand the harms of vaping.

The project aims to elevate the voices and experiences of young people through the UNCLOUD platform, giving them the opportunity to help create local solutions to address vaping. 

Mayor, Cr Brian Hood: “We are very pleased to be launching this important health initiative with the State Government and its various partners. We hope that our younger community members will take the chance to access this program, to understand the realities of vaping, and to share those learnings with their peers.”

VicHealth expect this project to encourage authentic peer-to-peer conversations.

Michelle Murray, Executive Manager Health Promotion Systems at VicHealth, said “We know that too many young Victorians started vaping because they weren’t aware of the harms – they had no warning.”

As part of Vape-Free Victoria, sporting bodies and teams including Swimming Victoria, Athletics Victoria, Melbourne Vipers, Deakin Melbourne Boomers and Hockey Club Melbourne, will share and promote the UNCLOUD platform at sporting carnivals, youth holiday programs, events, and across social media platforms.

The Alcohol and Drug Foundation will upskill coaches at sporting clubs across Victoria with vaping prevention and cessation education.

“Hopefully, as our youth and young people start to share their stories about the effects of vaping on their health, these true stories will go a long way to helping reduce the incidence of this harmful practice within our Shire,” said Cr Hood.

If you or someone you know needs support to stop vaping, contact Quit via phone, SMS, WhatsApp, or Facebook Messenger. For more details, visit quit.org.au. 

Hepburn Shire Council has just recently endorsed its  first Arts and Culture Strategy with the aim to provide  a strategic framework for artists, art organisations,  businesses and visitors to ferment a healthy arts culture.  

It was compiled with the assistance of community feedback,  surveys and interviews with relevant bodies such as regional  museums, Daylesford Macedon Tourism and most importantly for sector support and funding opportunities, Regional Arts  Victoria.  

Regional Arts Victoria was formed in 1999 from the bones  of the old Victorian Arts Council. It is an independent, not-for-  profit organisation with over 700 members across the state.  

They work in long-term partnerships at every level of  government, encompassing all art forms of creative practice and  artistic experience.

Due to their efforts regional art networks are  growing stronger, giving cause for optimism among creatives  outside of the big smoke, a trend being repeated here in our own  shire.

Today, as demographic changes continue to reshape country  Victoria and many local economies shift from predominantly  primary industries such as logging, mining and agriculture to  include tourism, lifestyle and services connected with population  growth, creatives are becoming more assured about their place  within those communities.  

Jo Porter, academic, consultant and current CEO of Regional  Arts Victoria, explains further: “I think there is a  growing sense of confidence in being a regionally based artist and  the understanding that one’s art form may be informed by its  context but not be defined by that context.”  

Jo has been involved with theatre production for many  years from Circus Oz to executive producer duties at Malthouse Theatre and more.  

Over the years much of that work has included touring  programs across regional areas of Australia where she was  and continues to be “inspired by the specificity of experience  that feels available and possible in places where the natural  environment is more immediate and people say hello in the  street”.  

With their focus on regionally based artists, the organisation  is continuously engaging with the question of what creative  practice means outside of metropolitan life.  

And while the city/country divide may have become  distinctly blurred over the years, the notion that regional simply  means everything that isn’t in a city remains.

“However, when you are a practitioner in a regional setting,” says Jo “you acquire  a very clear understanding of the granular diversity there is across all these little  towns, big towns and all those areas where there are no towns at all.”  

Having grown up in the bush, at a time when there were no mobiles or internet, three TV channels and one rubbish-littered two-lane highway passing through to the  capital cities, I just assumed that anything interesting only happened in those places –  be it theatre, painting exhibitions or whatever.  

Maybe age changes your perspective on things but it certainly seems that  opportunities have improved for bush-based artists over the years. Maybe I’m wrong. Perhaps I’m not seeing the complete picture?  

“Nearly all of RAV’s staff are regionally-based.” says Jo.

“Eyes on the ground,  you might say and some of them are specifically tasked with supporting people’s  capabilities and helping their network make connections.  

“I think that one of the things that’s changed is the sense of feeling closer to  audiences and marketplaces.

“Today connectivity has become something that is taken  for granted but it has only really come about in the past 15-20 years.”  

As mentioned there is fresh resolve in the regional arts landscape and among its  community for the arts to be supported from touring and promotion to assistance  with professional development and employment.  

And in doing so to dissolve the usual ingrained perceptions of some kind of  disparity between urban and regional arts practice.  

“You may have a different work context or a different set of ideas to explore  because you walk out the door and see very different things, but it does not, or should  not denote hierarchy. I do think that we are stepping away from that.”  

Creative practice outside metropolitan life  If anything acts as a stumbling block to the development of a meaningful arts  environment in Hepburn Shire it is the ever-familiar argument about what should be  prioritised with limited budgets, especially when the council is a fair bit into the red.  

Why should we throw money at public sculpture or a youth arts space when our  roads are in disrepair? Why should we spend money on venues when we need public  housing? And so on.

“Traditionally there has just been focus on some hierarchy of needs,” says Jo.  “That garbage collection and fixing the potholes should come first. But I would like  to just move away from those binary conversations.  

“If you are not investing in the whole system, then just fixing the roads or rubbish collection is not enough.

“No one is going to move to the regions if they can’t get a  doctor and why would a doctor want to move here if they can’t send their kids to a  school where there is a music teacher?”

 Words: Tony Sawrey | Image: Contributed    

Funding from Telstra’s Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal is enabling the Hepburn Shire Council to host ongoing free sessions for local residents to learn how to make better use of their devices, stay safe online and improve their tech knowledge.

Interested locals are being invited by the council to: “just turn up with your devices to learn about scam awareness, getting the most out of your phone or tablet, staying safe online, trouble shooting, and the shutdown of the 3G network”.

The sessions have been designed to be fun and social and are open to all participants, regardless of age, experience or the type of device they are using.

Sessions begin on 2 September at the Creswick Hub on Mondays 10am-12pm, The Warehouse – Clunes on Mondays 2pm-4pm, Daylesford Library on Tuesdays 10am-12pm, The Mechanics Trentham on Tuesdays 2pm-4pm. 

The Hepburn Shire Council has adopted a new Reconciliation Action Plan at its meeting last Tuesday evening.

The new Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (or RAP for short) is part of a four-step reconciliation model that seeks to build on the foundations of the first stage, Reflect RAP.

The plans are intended to enable the council to gain a deeper understanding of its sphere of influence, to then establish the best approaches to advancing reconciliation within the shire.

Mayor, Cr Brian Hood, said the council has worked hard to bring this second stage of the plan to fruition.

“We will continue to work with DJAARA on shire projects, with a view to developing and utilising opportunities for procurement and employment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses where possible,” he said.

“By engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, Council expects to strengthen its relationships with them, and continue to develop strategies for further reconciliation,” said Cr Hood.

Innovate RAP adheres to Reconciliation Australia’s guidelines for a four-step overall plan, which will be implemented over the next two years.

Following the endorsement last week the council will finalise the Innovate RAP with Reconciliation Australia with the plan to then be made available following this process.

The Hepburn Shire Council has achieved a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over the last financial year.

The council’s emissions were down 18%, which equals 161 tonnes of carbon dioxide, the council has reported earlier this week.

All of the council’s power is now renewable, while it is also prioritising electrification of its facilities and fleet.

Compared to the baseline year of 2021, the council has managed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 42%.

The Hepburn Shire Council is inviting nominations to honour local women who go above and beyond to enrich life in their community, in the lead up to the next International Women’s Day.

Nominations are open until 30 September with the 2025 event to be held next March.

Mayor, Cr Brian Hood says the council’s IWD event (pictured above) is a highlight on the shire’s event calendar attracting large attendances and impressive keynote speakers.

“We are asking our community to nominate women from the Shire that have brought about positive change with inspiring stories of achievement from our past or present,” he said.

Since its commencement in 1911, International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8 has been celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women globally.

In 2005 the Heather Mutimer Honour Roll was established to pay tribute to women in the Hepburn Shire whose contributions, courage and exemplary actions have led to significant social change for women.

Successful nominees are announced and inducted into the Heather Mutimer Honour Roll at a special event hosted by the council.

“The event provides an opportunity to elevate and focus on local women’s achievements, celebrating and acknowledging those who have had a positive impact on their community and have become role models for generations to come,” Cr Hood said.

The council is now encouraging members of the community to nominate women who they think deserve to be recognised. This can be done at: https://www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/IWD

Clunes residents are being encouraged to start thinking about what items they may like to discard – or instead donate to their nearest tip shop – ahead of the town’s annual hard rubbish collection.

The well-patronised annual household clean-up opportunity is set take place from Monday September 9, prompting the Hepburn Shire Council to begin publicising it on their social media site.

Residents of the town are being advised to place items for hard rubbish collection out on their nature strips by 6am on the morning of Monday September 9 – but not before Saturday September 7

Items collected items include scrap metal, e-waste and white goods and also green waste.

Not collected items include recyclables, concrete or rubble, household rubbish, chemicals, motor oil and batteries.

The council is urging residents to “please consider if the item you are putting out might be able to be used by someone else before placing it out for collection”.

Those who make use of the annual opportunity to bid farewell to broken items and unwanted clutter are also being urged to ensure clear access to their nature strip so the council team can easily collect and load the material

A flyer with full details would be delivered to residents’ letterboxes ahead of the collection, while more information could also be obtained by looking up the council website.

The Hepburn Shire Council has adopted its inaugural Rainbow Action Plan for LGBTIQA+ inclusion.

The plan was adopted at last week’s scheduled July meeting of the council with mayor, Cr Brian Hood, stating that the plan commits the council to a clear and achievable set of actions to “create a safe and welcoming community for all LGBTIQA+ people”.

“Our Shire recognises and celebrates the important contributions that our LGBTIQA+ people, businesses and visitors bring to the life of our shire,” cr Hood said.

“Together, we share an inclusive, resilient, vibrant, sustainable, innovative and diverse community.

“Council is committed to treating all people fairly, equitably and with respect. We will not tolerate discrimination or violence in any form, against any part of our community.”

The plan aims to help to ensure that all LGBTIQA+ people feel supported, connected, visible and safe in our community. It will also guide the council in providing an inclusive workplace for its LGBTIQA+ staff and volunteers.

“We would like to thank our LGBTIQA+ Advisory Committee and other community members who provided advice and input into the plan,” said Cr Hood.

Hepburn Shire Council is one of only 18 local government authorities in Victoria to adopt an LGBTIQA+ Action Plan.

Hepburn shire residents have helped divert an impressive 275 tonnes of composable material from landfill in the first three months since the shire’s new food and garden organics household bins started being collected.

Hepburn Shire township properties have placed 275 tonnes of material (in the first 12 weeks) in the bins, and it has gone on to be converted in to quality compost for use locally, the council is reporting.

During the same period of time the amount of waste to landfill this year (as compared with the same 12 weeks in April, May and June 2023) has decreased by 100 tonnes – creating less greenhouse gases.

However it seems there is still room for improvement as currently contamination levels are 1.6% (items that should not be in the bins), the council has reported in recent days.

“While this is great, we would love to see it reduced as any contaminants are removed by hand and impact on the quality of compost made,” a post on the council’s social media site observed.

“The team are finding lots of bags and nappies.”

Residents keen to do the right thing and clarify exactly what should – and should not – be going into their green-lidded food and garden organics bins can go to www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/organics

Ten residents of the Hepburn Shire have taken Australia’s national citizenship pledge or oath in recent days.

In a social media announcement following the event held in the Daylesford Town Hall on Thursday July 11, the Hepburn Shire Council posted: “This is such an important day, and we’re very proud to warmly welcome them to our beautiful region.

“Thank you to Jason Kerr for the wonderful Welcome to Country.

“Our new citizens have come from the United Kingdom, New Zealand, India, the Philippines, and Ireland.”

Words & Images: Supplied

The Hepburn Shire Council has secured extra funding of $10,000 through the Victoria State Government’s 2024 Seniors Festival Active Living Fund to deliver Seniors Festival events this October.

The Victorian Seniors Festival runs from the 1st to 31st of October every year with events right across Victoria.

All of the state’s 79 local councils as well as community organisations, groups and club hold events.

The Hepburn Shire Council announced that it had been successful in securing the additional $10,000 via its social media last week. The added dollars that it has secured brings the council’s total funding for events this year to $13,000.

With the extra funding, the council says it is planning to host more events and encourage participation of one (or more) of the following priority groups:

Seniors with a disability

Veterans

Vulnerable men

Seniors from multicultural and/or multi faith backgrounds

First Nations Elders

LGBTIQA+ Seniors

The council’s team will be working closely with Central Highlands Rural Health, the Creswick Men’s Friendship Shed and John Curtin Aged Care to stage events locally as part of the festival.

Well known Daylesford identity Max Primmer features on the front cover of this year’s Victorian Seniors Festival booklet.

The Hepburn Shire Council has launched a ‘financial vision’ survey and information as it invites public submissions to help develop a financial way forward.  

The Victorian Local Government sector is facing severe financial challenges due to increased costs of service delivery and construction, a limited range of revenue options and recovery from costly natural disasters.

Hepburn Shire, and others, have been adversely impacted by rising inflation affecting the delivery of services and infrastructure, cost shifting from other levels of government, and extraordinary costs associated with climate change beginning to impact.

In a public statement, the council said that “Multiple years of state government-prescribed rate cap adjustments below inflation has also had a negative impact on its financial sustainability, and as a rural council, Hepburn has limited opportunities for alternate income streams”. 

The council says it’s committed to transparency and accountability surroundings its financial strategy and the service deliver.

In its newly adopted 2024/25 budget the council has committed to making $1.5 million in operating savings and is now committing to working with community in an effort to ensure its long-term financial viability. 

In 2025/26 and beyond, the council needs to find an additional $4 million in long-term savings or additional revenue to ensure it develops a financially responsible plan to deliver on its shared Community Vision. 

The council now wants to hear from ratepayers, community members and visitors on their priorities regarding service delivery, community infrastructure renewal or upgrades, and the potential for a rate increase.

The survey can be completed via the council’s Participate Hepburn webpage.  

“We want to build our financial roadmap together, and we invite the community to attend one of our drop-in sessions across the shire or to have their say on the Participate Hepburn page of the website,” mayor Cr Brian Hood said.

“We can either increase rates or change the delivery of, or even cut, some of our services or undertake a combination of both options.

“We want to gauge community sentiments and ideas on reshaping the budget, and on the management of our buildings and infrastructure.’” 

The Participate Hepburn page will be open for comment between 1-17 July, with a long- term financial plan to be presented to the council for adoption in September.   

By Donna Kelly

Hmmm. If I don’t hurry up this could be the first edition of The Local without a Just sayin’… column. OK, I agree, maybe not a bad thing.

Sadly I am a procrastinator so I have lots of ideas but not a lot of action. And I am also a perfectionist so if I start a column and then read it through and don’t like it, I hit delete and start again.

So after staring at this page for some hours, and wondering if Jane (above) would make a nice pet, I have decided to write about a few things.

Someone once told me when you start writing about your dog then things have gone pear-shaped, so no more talk about Jane. Although she does look sweet and greyhounds do make nice quiet pets. Anyone?

Anyway, here goes.

Firstly, I already feel sorry for the next set of Hepburn Shire councillors. Personally I think you would have to be mad to stand. The council is broke, has a low satisfaction rating (again), and it still has to work through its highly unpopular town structure plans. And the rates have just gone up.

So why would you put your hand up to step into the firing line? I guess if you are really keen on giving back to the community – although there is no money to give back with – or perhaps someone who should be popped into an institution to have a bit of a think about life.

The lack of wards will be interesting. I think there will be an over-representation from Creswick and Daylesford which may not play out so well for the smaller areas.

I guess we wait and see. The last council meeting for this current mob is September and then it’s into caretaker mode. So watch this space.

I can’t believe it’s been four years since we lost my mum. She died in May 2020 and after thinking about it I do blame the pandemic. She was in hospital, not for much at all, but things just kept going wrong.

And I think because everyone was so panicky that the ball got dropped a little with small things (not) like stopping blood thinners, wrong medications, a fall the family was never told about.

Of course we were wearing masks, you could only have one family member in at a time to visit and everyone had that look of fear, if you remember that part. The look of “I can’t believe I am in a hospital in a pandemic”.

Anyway, she died and we had a stupid tiny funeral with just 20 people. And everyone had to stand in their own pew which meant my mum’s best friends, who I had known all my life, were standing alone, crying. And I couldn’t even hug them.

It was two years later that we could finally hold a ceremony with about 80 people and scatter mum’s ashes off Olivers Hill in Frankston. Her wish. She used to go fishing with her dad off there in a little dinghy when she was a child.

He would tie her with a rope so she wouldn’t fall in. Her called her Sammy. This year on her birthday, June 21, I reached out (I hate that expression) to a Frankston Facebook page and asked if anyone would give their horns a little beep as they drove up or down Olivers Hill.

Lots of people wrote back that they would or had. So that was a nice thing. I hope to make it an annual event – Beep for Betty. Sorry in advance if it takes off and you live on Hopes Rise…

Oh, I know a few people who have lost parents recently and send them my love. It is a such a hard time. And even if they are “a good age” or “had a good innings” it’s always too soon.

Finally, and very much alive and well, is Maureen Andrew. She got in touch to say she is in a production of The Boy from Oz. So being a former local, and just a great person, I did a bit of a story and we also have some double passes to give away. Check out the story on page 14 (The Local current edition).

Maureen says performers, and all creatives, have a little bit of insanity going on and just keep on going with their passions.

I remember her atop our TL ute in the ChillOut parade one year. She was Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. Just climbed up and over, no worries at all.

And Kyle watched her limbering up at the gym once. Let’s just say this woman can bend. I am sure the show will be a big hit – if you get time pop along and support our performers. They did it hard and are back with a vengeance.

And pop Beep for Betty in your calendar – you never know, you might just be in Franga for the day. Just sayin’..