General News
19 September, 2023
Recovery funds acknowledge work of committee
PERSPECTIVE By MARTHA HAYLETT I KNOW how hard the Loddon Shire was hit during last October’s devastating floods. In the days following, I watched in awe as local volunteers worked tirelessly to sweep mud and sewerage from football netball clubs...
PERSPECTIVE
By MARTHA HAYLETT
I KNOW how hard the Loddon Shire was hit during last October’s devastating floods.
In the days following, I watched in awe as local volunteers worked tirelessly to sweep mud and sewerage from football netball clubs, halls, and recreation reserves. I helped the Newbridge community with the clean up and met with many other communities impacted.
In those moments I saw, as we often do, the very best of our community in the very worst of circumstances.
Since then, so many volunteer committees have been working with their insurers, as well as with council and state department representatives to survey damage and apply for flood recovery funding.
That’s why I was so excited to share the recent news that through the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, the Federal and State Labor Governments have provided more than $1.5 million to over 20 volunteer committees across our region to restore important community facilities.
Our community facilities are at the heart of our rural towns, and I want to congratulate the committees who go above and beyond to maintain them. I’m so proud their hard work has been acknowledged and they can now enjoy the funds they rightly deserve.
In more positive news, the Australian-first Victorian Veterans Card is now available. It applies to all our state’s veterans who have served or are currently serving in the Australian Defence Force - saving them hundreds of dollars every year. The card provides a $100 discount for vehicle registration each year, free Public Transport on Anzac Day and Remembrance Day, free trailer and caravan registration, free annual fishing and boating licenses, and access to Veterans’ Employment Programs run by the Victorian Government.
The application process is done through the Service Victoria app and is designed to be easy and straightforward. I recently met with the Inglewood RSL Sub-Branch and committed to support their members to apply for the card. I will be offering this same service to all RSL sub-branches across our region, as it is the least I can do to thank veterans for their service and sacrifice.
Finally, I wanted to give a special shout out to students at Tarnagulla Primary School and St Mary’s Primary School in Inglewood.
Recently, I contacted all primary schools across the Ripon electorate to encourage students to enter my School Art Competition.
It was an opportunity for students to express their artistic flair under the theme the ‘Natural Wonders of our community’, with more than 140 entrants received.
Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of visiting Tarnagulla Primary School and St Mary’s Primary School to deliver certificates to all those who entered.
Olivia from Tarnagulla Primary School was one of the winners and received a big hamper of art supplies for her outstanding work. Olivia’s artwork will now feature on materials I send to our community as your local representative in State Parliament.
It’s been wonderful to not only receive all the fantastic artwork, but to meet the students who made them, as well as their hard-working teachers and support staff.
* Martha Haylett is the member for Ripon