Mayoral Matters November 2025 Published on 01 December 2025 As 2025 draws to a close, we reflect on all of the events that have taken place throughout the year, from bushfires to tragic road fatalities, and the introduction of the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF) to name a few. Drought, from the farmers I have been chatting with across most of the shire at least, can’t be included in the annus horribilis section. Our farmers sailed very close Tagged as: , Mayoral Columns
Mayoral Matters October 2025 Published on 05 November 2025 October has been a busy month, beginning with Councillor Barker, Councillor Aitken and I attending the Municipal Association of Victoria’s Annual Conference. This was a very worthwhile event for the three of us, and we were all able to attend different programs that were on offer. For my part, attending forums presented by a range of youth councillors was a particularly wonderful experience. Tagged as: , Mayoral Columns
Mayoral Matters September 2025 Published on 01 October 2025 The Nhill Town Committee met at the beginning of September and again two weeks later with very good and enthusiastic input from a wide range of community groups. It is exciting to see representation from community groups discussing ideas and projects important to West Ward. I’m hoping we can progress some of the ideas into projects to enable us to obtain grant funding. Tagged as: , Mayoral Columns
Mayoral Matters August 2025 Published on 04 September 2025 Firstly, and sadly, I would like to pay tribute to the police officers killed and injured last week in the terrible and ongoing incident in Porepunkah, a small town similar in size to our own. A senseless waste of life that has achieved nothing other than misery for all involved.What has been referred to as the “Patch” in Nhill is now the Wimmera Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect Centre. This Tagged as: , Mayoral Columns
Mayoral Matters July 2025 Published on 31 July 2025 A month ago, our Shire was advocating for drought relief, thankfully we have been blessed with widespread soaking rain in the last week or so. It is always pleasing to comment on favourable weather events, hopefully they will continue into spring as some forecasters are predicting. We should all spare a thought for South Australians and the farmers located further south that the rains have been to Tagged as: , Mayoral Columns
Mayoral Matters June 2025 Published on 30 June 2025 It is always pleasing to get to 22 June when the days start to get longer and warmer, at least for me as the short and cold days don't agree with me at all. However, the recent rain has been great for our gardens, tanks, and most importantly of all the farms. Great to see everything turn green and hopefully the second half of the year will bring more rainfall than average.A very well attended... Tagged as: , Mayoral Columns
Mayoral Matters May 2025 Published on 26 May 2025 I would like to commence by commending the thousands of regional people who took part in the protest over the recently legislated Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund (ESVF) levy on the steps of Parliament House in Spring Street last week. During cropping, as we wait for much-needed rain, this time taken away from farms and businesses to advocate for your neighbours and community volunteers is... Tagged as: , Mayoral Columns
Mayoral Matters April 2025 Published on 30 April 2025 It is great to finally see rain across the region in the last few days, maybe not quite enough in some areas, but at least it’s started, resulting in an amazing transformation in attitude in the farmers I deal with regularly. I recently had the pleasure of conducting citizenship ceremonies for two people, Lah Shwe and Wiremu Larkins on 1 April. This is always a rewarding experience for myself... Tagged as: , Mayoral Columns
Mayoral Matters March 2025 Published on 25 March 2025 I would like to commence by offering my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Bill and Margaret Bound who tragically passed because of an accident on the Western Highway. Losing community members is always a huge loss, even more so in our small communities. Rest in Peace Bill and Margaret. I attended a renewable energy information session in Warracknabeal recently, a hot topic in Tagged as: , Mayoral Columns
Mayoral Matters – February 2025 Published on 04 March 2025 Since writing the last column, we have conducted "Listening Sessions” in Rainbow, Yanac, Jeparit, Nhill and Dimboola. These were all reasonably attended. All the issues raised at the meetings have been documented and will be acted on where appropriate, while others will be listed for consideration when funding becomes available. As a Council, we rely on feedback from our communities to give us Tagged as: , Mayoral Columns