DEPARTMENT OF RURAL HEALTH

Living and Working in , Hopetoun & Beulah, INFORMATION PACK

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CONTENTS.

LIVING IN WARRACKNABEAL & SURROUNDS 3

Attractions, Culture and climate 3

Getting around the area 6

Local Facilities 7

Eating out 8

UNIVERSITY OF 9

Ballarat Campus 9

Going Rural Health student support team 9

Accommodation 10

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE RURAL NORTH WEST 11

CONTACT US 11

This information booklet has been developed to provide you with relevant information about your living and working arrangements within Warracknabeal & surrounds, . We acknowledge that re‐locating to a new region is a daunting yet exciting experience, and there are many logistical aspects to consider. Therefore the ‘Going Rural Health’ team wish to make this transition as easy for you as possible. Please consider the information in this booklet as a general guide to living and working in Warracknabeal and surrounds, Victoria. Our information booklet contains general information and is to be used as a guide only.

This activity has been supported by the Australian Government Department of Health through the Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training Program programme. The Department of Rural Health takes no responsibility or liability of the accuracy of the information provided in this document or information provided on the listed websites. This booklet does not endorse the products/services listed throughout.

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LIVING IN WARRACKNABEAL & SURROUNDS

Warracknabeal is situated in the ‐ region of north‐west of Victoria in the Shire of Yarriambiak. Warracknabeal is less than an hour north east of Horsham, and Hopetoun and Beulah are both located less than an hour north of Warracknabeal.

ATTRACTIONS, CULTURE AND CLIMATE:

Warracknabeal

Warracknabeal is situated on the banks of the lovely Yarriambiak Creek (below), which is lined by gum trees and winds through the township. Parks and gardens are located where the creek widens, and a number of footbridges span its length. A flora and fauna park is located on a bend in the creek, which has BBQ and picnic areas, a playground, and native animal enclosures. Tracks along both sides of the river, the Walk, take in some interesting sights.

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The town boasts a number of historic buildings, including the old State Savings Bank building that now houses the Warracknabeal Historical Centre. The old court house is now used by the Warracknabeal Historical Society. A log lock‐up for police, and an old brick water tower for the steam trains, are also sights worth a visit.

Warracknabeal has diverse agricultural industries including sheep & wool, wheat, barley, canola and lupins.

Hopetoun

Hopetoun is an agricultural community predominantly growing grain and legumes, along with some animal farming of goats, sheep and cattle. It has a number of historical buildings that the local Historical Society helps to restore and maintain, including a settler homestead.

The town is close to the Wyperfeld, Hattah‐Kulkyne and Murray Sunset National Parks, so is an ideal base from which to explore these sites in the Mallee.

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Lake Lascelles is located in Hopetoun, and is popular for walking, swimming, boating, bird watching and fishing. Camping is also available on the foreshore at the Mallee Bush Retreat complex. It is filled by the Grampians Wimmera Mallee pipeline, which ensures the lake will always have water.

Hopetoun Historic Mural (above) was painted by local artists, and is a backdrop to the Memorial Park in the main street. It is 20m x 3.5m in size, and depicts the many different faces of Hopetoun’s heritage such as wool bales, native fauna and flora, indigenous Australians, and drovers.

Beulah

Beulah is an agricultural community in the heart of the Barley Belt. The town stands on what was a sheep station. It was founded by early pastoralists who were following the Yarriambiack Creek. The creek itself flows through the town, and has walking tracks, picnic and camping areas along its banks. Boating is permitted on the creek.

Some historic buildings still remain standing, like the railway station (above). Beulah also has many murals depicting its heritage scattered around the area. A tour booklet can be found at www.beulahvictoria.com.au/images/stories/muralbooklet.pdf .

Climate

The region has a hotter, drier climate than Melbourne. The summer temperature average is approximately 30◦C . Winter months are milder, with sunny days averaging around 14◦C.

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GETTING AROUND THE REGION:

Public Transport.

V‐Line trains and buses run numerous times a day from Southern Cross Train Station in Melbourne to . From Ballarat you can catch the bus which travels through Warracknabeal, Hopetoun and Beulah. The other option is ‘’ which runs from Melbourne to and stops at Horsham, then catch a V‐line bus from Horsham which travels to Birchip via Warracknabeal. The Horsham to V‐Line bus travels through Warracknabeal, Beulah and Hopetoun. There is also a regional bus that connects Horsham and Hopetoun.

For travel information and an up to date timetables, please visit the V‐Line website (https://www.vline.com.au/) or phone 136 196. Alternatively, links to all V‐Line and The Overland timetables can be found at www.travelvictoria.com.au/horsham/transport/ .

Cycling.

Cycling is an excellent way to get around. Bike lanes are often available within towns and on major highways, though not on minor highways.

Driving Yourself.

From Melbourne, take the M8/A8 towards Ballarat, bypass Ballarat and continue on the highway to just past Stawell, and take the B210 north to Warracknabeal. From Warracknabeal, take the B200 north to Beulah and Hopetoun, or south to Horsham. You can take the B210 to Stawell, or turn off onto the B220 to St Arnaud. East if the C234 to Donald, or take this highway roughly west to .

From / to: Ballarat Melbourne Warracknabeal Mildura

Warracknabeal 227 205 337 - 253

Hopetoun 289 244 384 63 191

Beulah 262 218 358 37 217

(www.travelvictoria.com.au/victoria/distances/)

Further information on all transport to, from and around the region can be found at: www.travelvictoria.com.au/warracknabeal/transport/

For up to date emergency information and warnings for weather and bushfires, please see the VicEmergency website (www.emergency.vic.gov.au), or the VicEmergency app.

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LOCAL FACILITIES:

Shopping:

 Regional markets: www.yarriambiack.vic.gov.au/events/markets/  Supermarkets: Warracknabeal ‐ www.travelvictoria.com.au/warracknabeal/supermarkets/ Hopetoun – www.liquor.iga.com.au/bottle‐shops/vic/hopetoun‐iga‐ supermarket‐iga  Horsham Plaza: see www.horshamplaza.com.au

Entertainment:

 Centre Cinema: see www.ausaf.com.au/horshamcinemas.html for session times and movies showing.

Medical facilities:

 Medical Centres: Warracknabeal – Tristar Medical Group, 51 Scott Street, Warracknabeal. Ph 5394 1880 Hopetoun – Hopetoun Medical Clinic, 13 Strachan Street, Hopetoun. Ph 5083 3211  Rural North West Health Warracknabeal – 18B Dimboola Road, Warracknabeal. Ph: 5396 1200 Hopetoun – 12 Mitchell Place, Hopetoun. Ph: 5083 2000 Beulah – Cnr & Bell Street, Beulah. Ph: 5396 8200

Health / leisure:

 Horsham Aquatic Centre, see www.horsham.ymca.org.au/ for opening times and details.

Banks:

See the links below for bank locations, opening hours and ATMs. The postcode for Warracknabeal is 3393, Hopetoun is 3396, and Beulah is 3395.

 NAB ‐ see www.nab.com.au/locations for nab, and rediATM  Westpac ‐ see www.westpac.com.au/locateus/#/  ANZ – see www.locate.anz.com/anz/australia/  Bendigo Bank – see www.bankofmelbourne.com.au/locator#/  Commonwealth Bank – see www.commbank.com.au/digital/locate‐us/  Bank Australia – see www.bankaust.com.au/tools/find‐us/  Rabobank – see www.rabobank.com.au/branch/

Child care facilities:

See www.yarriambiack.vic.gov.au/about‐yarriambiack‐council/community‐directory/warracknabeal/

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EATING OUT IN RURAL NORTH WEST:

Warracknabeal, Hopetoun and Beulah have a range of places to dine out, catering for a variety of cuisines, diets and budgets. Some of the more popular facilities are listed below, including their price range.

Cafes:

 Café Peppercorn, 122 Scott Street, Warracknabeal. Ph: 0409 504 059 $‐$$  Beulah Café & Takeaway, 67 Phillips Street, Beulah. Ph: 5390 2430 $  Wheat Milk Sugar, 93A Lascelles Street, Hopetoun. Ph: 5083 3009 $‐$$

Pubs & Wine Bars:

 Warracknabeal Hotel Restaurant, 44 Scott Street, Warracknabeal. Ph: 5398 1849 $$  Beulah Victoria Hotel, 12 Tavenor Street, Beulah. Ph: 5390 2248 $$  Hopetoun Community Hotel Motel, 16 Austin Street, Hopetoun. Ph: 5083 3070 $$

Restaurants:

 Empress King Garden Chinese Restaurant, 160 Scott Street, Warracknabeal. Ph: 5398 2422. $$

Only some of the restaurants in the area are listed. Find more on Trip advisor at: www.tripadvisor.com.au/Restaurants/ and type in the town name, or look in the individual town information pages 3‐5 above.

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UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE – Department of Rural Health

BALLARAT CAMPUS (DUNVEGAN HOUSE):

The Ballarat Rural Clinical School for medical students has been in operation since July 2002.

Academic ‘Going Rural Health’ staff have been on site since October 2016, to support nursing and allied health students in the Grampians, Hepburn, Pyrenees, Goldfields, East Wimmera, and Ballarat regions.

GOING RURAL HEALTH STUDENT SUPPORT TEAM:

‘Going Rural Health’ is a Commonwealth funded initiative run by the University Department of Rural Health (UDRH), as part of the University of Melbourne. Our programs have been developed to support Nursing and Allied Health students undertaking placements in a rural setting throughout the broader Shepparton, Wangaratta, and Ballarat regions. Our team actively works with health services and education providers, along with students directly to assist and improve the learning and experiences that students gain during their rural clinical placements. All of our programs and initiatives are targeted towards developing our future rural health workforce.

Some of the ways we are assist are: ‐ Accommodation ‐ Promote other local accommodation options for students

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‐ Clinical supervisor support & training ‐ Work with local organisations to develop pathways in the health workforce ‐ Financial assistance through student support schemes ‐ Training in Cultural Competency in Aboriginal Health ‐ Online Introduction to Rural Health Training

Team Members: Shepparton Campus:

 Keryn Bolte (Student Placement Manager)  Renee McCance (Education Support Co‐ordinator)  Cath Cosgrave (Research Fellow – Nursing and Allied Health Rural Workforce)  Ash Sloan (Community Placement Co‐ordinator)

Wangaratta Campus:

 Kirrian Steer (Education Co‐ordinator/Simulation Co‐ordinator)  Ben Flanigan (Community Placement Co‐ordinator)  Joelene Mitchell (Student Placement Project Officer)

Ballarat Campus:

 Trish Thorpe (Education Support Co‐ordinator)  Charmaine Swanson (Community Placement Co‐ordinator)

For more information, see our website: http://goingruralhealth.com.au/ ACCOMMODATION:

Student accommodation provided by the hospital is available on a first come, first served basis. Warracknabeal provides free accommodation to students, with breakfast and one meal on a shift included.

Contact the hospital directly for accommodation bookings.

Alternative options:

Warracknabeal: see www.tripadvisor.com.au/Hotels‐g552269‐Warracknabeal_Victoria‐Hotels.html

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MORE INFORMATION ABOUT RURAL NORTH WEST:

For more information on the region, and what it has to offer, please visit the web links below.

Tourist information: www.travelvictoria.com.au/warracknabeal/

http://www.hopetounvictoria.com.au/

http://www.beulahvictoria.com.au/

http://www.wimmeramalleetourism.com.au/

Yarriambiak Council information: http://yarriambiack.vic.gov.au/council/

More links have been provided in the relevant information sections above.

CONTACT US:

Should you have any further questions, queries or concerns about placement in the Warracknabeal region, please don’t hesitate to contact the ‘Going Rural Health’ team on the following details: General enquiries:

Website: www.goingruralhealth.com.au

Phone: (03) 5823 4500

Email: going‐[email protected]

Specific enquiries:

Website: www.goingruralhealth.com.au

Phone: (03) 4301 6853

Email: [email protected]

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