Matthew George Young Stockman Award 2013 Applications Now Sought

Matthew George of Stockyard Hill was tragically taken in a car accident in November 2007, at 21 years of age.

Matthew had an absolute love of animals together with a thirst for knowledge and a passion for breeding. Matthew’s dream was to travel overseas to study developments in beef cattle breeding and to bring this knowledge back to Australia to enhance our herds by sharing this knowledge with fellow breeders.

The Matthew George Young Stockman Award was established in September 2008 as a sub-fund of The Ballarat Foundation to allow young breeders, aged 18 to 25 years, the opportunity to live Matthew’s dream.

This award offers a wonderful opportunity annually to one deserving young stockman to travel overseas, to become an ambassador for the industry, to study other beef cattle breeding programs, developments and practices, and then to share their new-found knowledge to advance the beef cattle industry in Australia.

Matthew’s industry colleagues and friends were instrumental in establishing this Award through their generosity along with support from business, both locally and across the country.

The annual Award recipient will be announced at the Royal Melbourne Show.

Application forms and criteria can be found at: www.ballaratfoundation.org.au and need to be received by Sunday 30 June.

Draft budget released for public comment

Media Release - Tuesday 14th May 2013

A commitment to roads, community-driven projects and maintaining services through a period of financial pressure underpins Corangamite Shire’s draft 2013-2014 budget.

Mayor Chris O’Connor said 2013-2014 would in many ways be a year of financial recovery for the Council following an unprecedented Defined Benefits Superannuation call of $2.9 million paid this financial year and government grant reductions.

“What we have done is build a budget that will deliver what the community values, while at the same time managing a period of fiscal recovery,” Cr O’Connor said.

The draft budget includes;

• $6.2 million for capital road works
• $5 million for other capital works including playgrounds, footpaths, bridges and buildings
• $673,000 for community planning projects

Councillors this evening voted to approve the draft budget for public comment. It includes a five per cent municipal rate rise.

Cr O’Connor said it was a challenging time for Local Government.

“Council’s cash position has been impacted this year by about $6 million due to the Defined Benefits call, a reduction in grants and the timing of other grants,” he said.

“The key focus of this draft budget is to recover from those external hits quickly, while at the same time spending more on roads and more on community planning projects.”

Mayor Chris O’Connor said the Council had been forced to lift waste collection charges by 7.2 per cent to meet added costs imposed by the EPA, including the landfill levy and the requirement to install liners at the Naroghid Landfill.

“The other measure taken to restore our cash position quickly is the proposed introduction of a one-off $60 municipal charge on all properties,” he said.

“This has been designed to provide a cash injection now when we need it, but without raising rates above five per cent which would have had a compounding effect into the future. In essence, we’re taking a short term pain approach.”

Cr O’Connor said the combined impact of the five per cent rate rise, 7.2 per cent waste collection increase and the additional $60 municipal charge would be an 8.2 per cent rise in rates and charges on an average property.

“The flipside of this is that our longer term financial planning forecasts that the net impact of this 8.2 per cent rise will drop considerably in 2014-2015 following our recovery,” he said.

“As an organisation we have already worked hard to find more than $800,000 in efficiency gains, project deferrals and other savings this financial year to lessen the impact of these external events on ratepayers. In addition to that we saved nearly $100,000 in interest costs by paying our $2.9 million Defined Benefits call early.”

Cr O’Connor said more than $670,000 was budgeted to deliver priority projects identified by communities through Council’s Building Stronger Corangamite Communities project.

“Seven of the 12 community plans have already been completed, another one is almost done and the last four will be completed in 2013-2014,” he said.

“Great community-inspired projects are underway right across the Shire and some have already been completed. Other communities are just getting started with their plans.

“We were determined to ensure that the hard work of all our communities, in coming together to develop these plans, continues to be rewarded with funds to help deliver their visions.”

Cr O’Connor said council’s funds would be used to attract grants for many of the projects.

“We’ve budgeted for these community projects to attract up to $1.3 million in external funds which would mean $2 million will be injected into community plan outcomes,” he said.

The Council has also budgeted for $11.2 million in capital works, including $6.21 million on roads – up from $6.16 million this year.

“Despite the tough times, we will not compromise on our local road network. It’s important we continue to be a leader in our road assessment, maintenance and renewal techniques.”

The 2013-2014 draft budget can be downloaded from the Council’s website at www.corangamite.vic.gov.au. It is also on display at the Council offices in Camperdown and at libraries across the shire.

Submissions will be received until 5pm on Wednesday 12 June 2013. People wishing to be heard on their submissions will have the opportunity to do so on Thursday 20 June.

The budget is expected to be adopted with or without change at Council’s ordinary meeting on Tuesday 25 June 2013.

Five Million Steps For Global Poverty

Matt Napier is currently walking from Perth to Sydney bouncing an AFL football to raise awareness of global poverty. He commenced the 4,400km journey on 2 February and will take over five million steps, bouncing his AFL football the whole way.

Matt’s journey has recently taken him through Adelaide where he met with several Federal Members of Parliament and appeared at half time in the Port Adelaide v West Coast game at AAMI stadium last weekend. He is now back on the road and has just crossed the SA/VIC border and is on his way towards Ballarat.
Events are planned in Ballarat, Bendigo, Bannockburn, Geelong, Melbourne, Albury and Canberra before finishing the walk in Sydney in late June.

Why is he doing this?

1.3 billion people live in extreme poverty around the world and 7.6 million children under the age of five die every year from starvation and related illnesses. Matt and Wendy Napier, husband and wife team, are two Australians who are passionate about seeing an end to global poverty within the next generation and that’s why they’ve founded The Global Poverty Walk.

This is the ambitious couple’s second initiative; last year they sold their business to embark on The Long Ride to Stop the Poverty Cycle, which took them six weeks to ride across Australia by bicycle.
“The ride was such a success that we decided to up the challenge this year and walk across Australia.
“People say that walking from Perth to Sydney is a long way – and it is – but if everyone in Australia took one step on that route it would be pretty easy. It’s the same to end global poverty – one person or country can’t do it on their own but if we all do our little bit we can create history and be a part of the generation that ends global poverty,” said Matt.

During the walk, which is supported by Make Poverty History, Matt and Wendy will visit schools, sporting clubs, Members of Parliament and community groups to talk about poverty, the progress that has been made so far and how it is now possible to end extreme poverty in the next generation.

Matt and Wendy are urging Australians to sign the Make Poverty History petition to encourage the Australian Government to keep its promise to increase foreign aid to 50 cents in every 100 dollars of national income by 2016. According to Make Poverty History’s 2012 projections, this increase could save around 500,000 thousand more lives each year.

Wendy, who is doing all the behind the scenes and logistics management for the journey, said it’s easy for people to get involved and support The Global Poverty Walk.
“People can come along to our events or join in on sections of the walk, anything from five minutes to a day or more.

“People can also jump online to sign the Movement to End Poverty Petition on our website, read Matt’s blog and track our progress across Australia,” said Wendy.

Lindsay Arts Trail – From Dream To Reality

Community members are invited to attend an Information Session regarding the Lindsay Arts Trail on Tuesday 14 May at 7.00pm in the Lindsay Room at the American Hotel, Albert St, Creswick.  The session is an opportunity for the community to hear about the concept design for the Trail, which has been developed by Artscape and their partners, in consultation with the Lindsay Arts Trail Working Group.

The Lindsay family is a well-known family of artists who were born and raised in the town of Creswick in the late 1800s and early 1900s.  The Arts Trail will showcase the story of Creswick through the eyes of the Lindsay’s and celebrate their contribution to Creswick and the broader Australian arts community.

Council successfully applied for a grant of $40,000 from the Victorian Government’s ‘Putting Locals First’ Program, with a contribution of $25,000 from Council to engage art and design experts to design the Trail. At the end of this project Council will have fully costed and documented design specifications for the interpretive signage, public art works, site markers and landscape design as well as a style guide and branding that can be used to promote the Trail. Council has allocated $100,000 towards construction of the Trail and will be seeking matching contributions from other sources.

In 2006 Business and Tourism Creswick (formerly Creswick District Development Association) funded and administered the development of a Master Plan for the Trail (Stage 1), which provided a solid base for its development.  Stage 2 was development of the narrative for the trail sites. Stage 3 is the design phase of the Lindsay Arts Trail, a concept that has grown out of the Creswick community’s passion and energy.

The Council has worked closely with representatives from the Creswick community to pursue the development of the Arts Trail, with a focus on bringing the community together in the pursuit of this exciting project. A Working Group which includes representatives of Business and Tourism Creswick, the Creswick Museum, Creswick Neighbourhood Centre, along with Creswick and District Historical Society, is providing advice and direction for the project.

 

Entries Are Now Open For The 2013 Flanagan Art Prize/Exhibition

Entries are now open for artists across Australia wishing to enter the 2013 Flanagan Art Prize.

Now in its sixth year, the Flanagan Art Prize has secured its place as one of the most innovative and far-reaching art exhibitions in Ballarat each year, with a total of $7000 in prize money on offer.

In 2012 there were more than 200 entries from around Australia. Entries for 2013 close on Friday 21 June (no late entries will be accepted).  

Please visit http://www.stpats.vic.edu.au/art_exhibition.php  for more details on the exhibition and how to enter.

The University of Ballarat is proud to be the sponsor of the University of Ballarat Emerging Artist Award for another year.

(Artists entering in this category must follow the general application criteria and must satisfy the Judging Committee’s definition of an emerging artist: one who can demonstrate that he/she has not exhibited regularly in or through a commercial gallery and/or has practised as a professional artist continually for less than five years, but wishes to develop a career in a chosen art form.)

Public Art Gatherings: Have Your Say!

Hepburn Shire Council invites artists, arts organisations and members of the public to one of four gatherings to be held throughout the Shire to provide input into a draft Public Arts Policy.

Public art is generally defined as art in any medium that is displayed or occurs in a public place. It might explore local themes, and be made by professional artists or members of the community. It could include music, parades, sound and light installations, murals or sculptures. It might be permanent or ephemeral.

Council is particularly seeking your opinion on what types of public art should be encouraged, where it should occur, who should make it, and who should make decisions regarding selection, maintenance, funding and maintenance.

The public art gatherings will be held from 7pm at Daylesford Town Hall on Thursday 9 May, at Trentham Library on Tuesday 14 May, Clunes Town Hall on Wednesday 15 May and Creswick RSL on Thursday 16 May.

Drinks and nibbles will be provided. Please RSVP to Adam McSwain, amcswain@hepburn.vic.gov.au.

For those unable to attend, an online survey is available at www.hepburn.vic.gov.au

Hard copies are available at Council offices and libraries. People are also invited to contact Merle directly on 0419 324042 or merle.hathaway@bigpond.com

Anzac Guided Missile Frigate In Ballarat This Week To Commemorate Anzac Day

Commander Matthew Doornbos RAN, Officers and crew of HMAS Ballarat will be visiting the City of their ship’s namesake to take part in the commemoration events this ANZAC Day .

On Wednesday prior to ANZAC Day , the crew will be visiting a number of community groups who are interested in entertaining members of the crew and these include:

9.45am – 11.45am:  Hailey House Hostel – 703 Norman Street (ANZAC service and Morning Tea)

10.30am – 12.00pm:  LInk Up Program – Ballarat Learning Exchange, Camp Street (Joining Councillor Peter Innes and students for a chat and BBQ

11.30am – 1.30pm: Ballarat Senior Citizens Club – 16 Little Bridge Street (serving a cooked meal and meeting with the senior citizens)

1.00pm – 2.00pm: Nazareth House – 218 Mill Street (a cuppa and mingling with the residents with a talk about activities of HMAS Ballarat)

3.00pm:  Civic Reception - Town Hall Sturt Street (official reception with The Mayor and other dignitaries)

6.00pm – 7.30pm: CFA - Wendouree Fire Station, Learmonth Rd (BBQ dinner with CFA volunteers and partners from Group Brigades)

 

 

Young Endeavour Voyage Application Now Open

Applications are now open for Australian youth to join Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour for voyages along the Australian coast and across the Tasman Sea in 2013.

STS Young Endeavour will visit Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide, Devonport, Geelong, Sydney, Auckland and Wellington, offering hundreds of young Australians the voyage of a lifetime. Young Endeavour last visited New Zealand in 2007.

A voyage in Young Endeavour is an amazing experience, and one which develops skills for life. Youth crew participate in all aspects of sailing a tall ship, including learning to set the sails, take the helm, navigate using the ship’s charts, and climb to the top of the 30 metre mast. As each voyage draws to a close, youth crew have the opportunity to demonstrate their skills by taking command of Young Endeavour and sailing the ship to their final destination.

University student Charlotte Morrissey, of Wagga Wagga, sailed Young Endeavour to Newcastle in 2012 and says her voyage was unlike anything she had ever experienced. “Young Endeavour will challenge you, educate you, excite you and leave you with the skills and personal ambition to achieve whatever you set your sight on!”

While aboard the ship, youth crew complete the Young Endeavour Youth Development Program, an internationally recognised program which aims to increase self-awareness, to build self-confidence, and to develop teamwork, communication and leadership skills. No prior sailing experience is required as youth crew are supervised and supported by a professional Royal Australian Navy crew.

18 year old Sarah Hall, of Hobart, first sailed Young Endeavour along the Queensland Coast in 2012 and will join the ship again in September for the 2013 International Tall Ship Festival. “Sailing in Young Endeavour is an amazing achievement – it provides opportunities that aren’t available in your everyday life,” says Sarah. “Take the chance to join a voyage as it will change your perspective of the people and the world around you”.

Youth crew aged 16-23 are selected via an online ballot at www.youngendeavour.gov.au. The ballot for voyages in late 2013 and early 2014 will close on 31 May 2013. Corporate and community organisations can also provide opportunities for local youth by offering a Young Endeavour Scholarship to a young person in their community.

Since1988theYoungEndeavourYouthScheme,inpartnershipwiththeRoyalAustralianNavy, has provided challenging training voyages for over 11,000 young Australians. This year Young Endeavour will join an international tall ship fleet sailing to Sydney to participate in the Royal Australian Navy International Fleet Review and Sydney-Auckland Tall Ship Regatta.

For information or to apply for voyages, visit www.youngendeavour.gov.au.

Interested In A Community Grant?

Is your community group in need of a helping hand to support its special project or event?

Come along to a free Community Impact Grants workshop at Town Hall. There are two public workshops: 10am to noon, Tuesday 23 April; and 5.00pm to 7.00pm, Monday 6 May.

Presented by the City of Ballarat, the workshops will have valuable information about grant writing and staff will advise participants in the drafting of a Community Impact Grant application. All first time applicants and local groups are encouraged to attend.

People & Communities Councillor Des Hudson urges all not-for-profit community organisations, groups and associations to consider attending a grant writing workshop.

“The City of Ballarat Community Impact Grant program is a very broad funding option for many local community groups and we urge people to use the grants to build community relations, create connections and improve health and wellbeing opportunities in Ballarat,” he said.

 “If you’ve never written a grant application or you’re looking for some inspiration to get started, this is the workshop for you. The Community Development team have great knowledge and experience to share – for this application and for participants to use when seeking other funding.”

“This financial year, an impressive $189,412 has already been awarded in the Community Impact Grant program, giving the green light for 51 worthy community projects, programs and events,” Cr Hudson added.

To register for a Community Impact Grant program workshop, call the City of Ballarat Community Development team at 5320 5746. Grant program guidelines and applications forms are available at the Phoenix, Armstrong Street South, or visit: www.ballarat.vic.gov.au.

Gem Show – Creswick

 

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