Numurkah Chosen for Rotary Drought Program
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Phone 5862 1034 – Fax 5862 2668 – Email - Editorial: [email protected] - Advertising: [email protected] – Registered by Australia Post – Publication No. VA 1548 established 1895 LEADER NumurkahWEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2020 $1.30 INSIDE Katty fights back See story page 7 Award winners Demolition LOCAL individuals and groups have been recognised in Moira Shire’s 2020 outcry Australia Day Awards, including Citizens of the Year Michael Coates and Dylan Sidebottom. See story page 3. See story page 5 Numurkah chosen for Rotary drought program THE Numurkah community has been chosen by at the core of the program will be the distribution because there is no more efficient means for us to the Rotary Club of North Balwyn, located in Mel- of vouchers which can only be used at selected local get funds and programs into a community than bourne’s inner east, as the next location for its suc- businesses which provide essential services such as through working with the local Rotary club.” cessful drought relief program. food, fuel and medicine. “Through all of that, Numurkah stood out as the Rotary has been successfully running drought re- Chair of the program, Geoff Kneale, told the audi- best location because there is a very serious need Gratitude lief programs across eastern Australia since 2014, ence that Numurkah had been selected for the pro- here with the impact on the dairy industry, and that disbursing around $10 million to drought affected gram due to a number of factors. flows on to the rest of the community.” communities. “We spoke to farmers and interest groups from shown The most recent program, in the small communi- across Victoria to see where there was a strong Although a limited number of businesses are in- ty of St Arnaud in western Victoria, has seen what need,” he said. volved, an analysis of the program by University equates to around $250,000 injected into the local “We were looking for a place that was suffering as a of Queensland researchers has shown that money economy, meaning some businesses have been able result of the drought but wasn’t benefiting from sim- spent at one business will circulate through the local to remain viable. ilar programs delivered by other Rotary clubs. economy five to seven times, as the owners of that See story page 6 Attendees at an information session held at the “We were also looking for a place that had a strong business spend money at other local businesses. Numurkah seniors hub last Wednesday heard that, Rotary club that could help us deliver the program, Continued page 4. www.numurkahleader.net.au 2 — NumurkahLEADER, Wednesday, January 22, 2020 PETER COX & SONS FUNERALDIRECTORS Independent investigation into fire season Professional service tailored to your needs The Victorian Government has announced an • State evacuation planning and preparedness Locally owned & operated 24 hours - 7 days a week independent investigation into the 2019-2020 process and practices. Investigation ,,, The State Victorian fire season. • Preparedness ahead of the 2019-20 fire sea- Government has announced Funeral calls and information With significant fires continuing to burn across son. an investigation into fire a large part of the North East, Gippsland and • Effectiveness of immediate relief and recov- preparedness and response. 5862 3047 Alpine regions, the government has asked the ery work and arrangements, and the creation of Cnr Meiklejohn & Quinn Streets Inspector General for Emergency Management Bushfire Recovery Victoria, the National Bush- ACCREDITED MEMBER OF THE AUSTRALIAN FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION (IGEM), Tony Pearce, to lead an inquiry into fire Recovery Agency and how they work togeth- Victoria’s preparedness for, and response to, er. Meals on Wheels Roster these recent fires, and to review relief and recov- Preliminary recommendations into Victoria’s ery efforts. preparedness and response for the 2019-20 fire Rnd 1 Rnd 2 Rnd 3 Minister for Emergency Services Lisa Neville R. Kennett K. Steel R. Pendlebury season are due to the government by July 31 this said the IGEM was established for exactly this year, to allow for appropriate consideration and 27/1 E. Rees purpose – to investigate fires and other major V. Bunny E. Newby K. Moodie implementation of the report before the next fire emergencies and provide advice so that Victo- 28/1 G. Varley G. Russell season. ria’s response can be continually improved. S. Morley C. North Baulkamaugh IGEM’s investigation into Victoria’s relief and “As we move into supporting communities 29/1 J. Watson C. Boldt CWA recovery arrangements is due to report back to Church of M. Crowther - Lions Club of through the recovery stage, the inspector general 30/1 Christ Harris Numurkah will help ensure that we have all the appropriate the government by June 30, 2021, as that work is G. Russell VOLUNTEER Lions Club of measures in place to protect lives and property,” only just commencing. 31/1 K. Steel REQUIRED Numurkah Ms Neville said. As the bushfires are ongoing and we are still at Coordinator – MHA Care Phone 5742 1111 The government will provide an additional the start of the fire season, the government will $2.55 million to the IGEM to undertake the in- work with IGEM to allow timings of the inquiry Moira Arts & Culture Inc. presents quiry, which will consider the following matters: to be adjusted to ensure its engagement with • Effectiveness of emergency management emergency management agencies will not im- command and control and Victoria’s operational pact current response efforts. response. IGEM was established as an independent mon- • Effectiveness of the declaration of a state of itor following the February 2009 bushfires, and disaster. since then has worked closely with the emergen- • Timeliness and effectiveness of activation of cy services sector to investigate bushfires and Commonwealth assistance and resource availa- other major emergencies and the response to bility. them. Maxwell calls for CFA funding review MEMBER for Northern Victoria Tania Maxwell MP has called on the government to review its requirement on CFA volunteer brigades to fund raise for their own equipment. an essential theatre production Volunteer brigades are currently required to contrib- ute $1 for every $2 of funding from the State Govern- Sunday February 2, 2020 ment. Ms Maxwell said that it was another example of the inequity between metro and regional areas. Byramine Homestead Ms Maxwell said the requirement was unfair, and a 1436 Murray Valley Hwy, disadvantage to regional communities, and given the severity of the current fire season, this should be ad- Yarrawonga dressed as a matter of urgency, and separate to the in- dependent investigation into the fire season. Gates open 4:30pm “Regional volunteer brigades provide an invaluable Show starts 6:30pm service to Victoria, demonstrated overwhelmingly in BYO picnic hamper. the last three weeks in their mobilisation to combat the firestorm battled across multiple areas,” she said. Strictly NO BYO alcohol. “Forcing volunteer brigades to fund raise for their Beer, Wine and Cider available own fire trucks and equipment compromises the safe- ty of our regions and places an enormous burden on for sale. volunteers and on communities, who often struggle Tickets: $55 or already. $50 for MAC Inc. members “This is another demonstration of the inequity be- Secondary School Students $20 tween metro and regional areas. It needs to be scrapped. “The general public would not expect police to pro- Phone enquiries: 0488 370 504 vide their own tasers or divvy vans or for paramedics to Call for fairness ... Member for Northern Victoria Tania Maxwell is calling for fairness Tickets: Byramine Homestead or pay for their own ambulances.” in emergency services funding. online www.trybooking.com/BGCSG Katunga property Numurkah Leader is A local reprieve for firies targeted twice bound by the Standards A HENDYS Road property has been the target of of Practice of the WITH many of the Numurkah district’s uary 14, resulted from a tree falling across a theft for the second time this year. Australian Press firefighters lending a helping hand by pull- power line on Mywee Road, Strathmerton. In the first incident, which occurred on January 4, Council. If you believe ing shifts at the Upper Murray fires out of The downed power line started a fire two four-wheel motorbikes were stolen, and a Hon- the Standards may have been breached, Tallangatta, as well as those in the alpine which burned around 50 square metres of da CRV motorbike was stolen when an offender/s you may approach the newspaper region, they have mercifully been given a grass before it was extinguished by brigades entered the property overnight last Tuesday, Janu- itself or contact the Council by email break on the home front, with just one call- from Strathmerton and Yarroweyah. ary 14. ([email protected]) or by phone out in the past week. The fire brigade remained on scene until A property on Nathalia-Waaia Road, Nathalia was ([02] 9261 1930). For further information The lone fire, at 1.25pm last Tuesday, Jan- Powercor arrived. also targeted last Tuesday, with a generator stolen see www.presscouncil.org.au. in that incident. NumurkahLEADER 88 Melville Street, Numurkah VIC 3636 Beverley James Dominique Heather Melinda Karen Sheryl Phone: 03 5862 1034 Hutchins Sutton Cosgriff Kelly Scott Harper Elliott www.numurkahleader.net.au Editor Graphic Journalist Sales Admin Sports Sports Designer Journalist Photographer Published by Jinki Sixteen Pty. Ltd. and printed by Newsprinters Pty Ltd printads@ design@ editorial@ sales@ printads@ sport@ Registered by Australia Post - Print Post publication no. 100002644 leader.net.au leader.net.au leader.net.au leader.net.au leader.net.au leader.net.au NumurkahLEADER, Wednesday, January 22, 2020 — 3 Outstanding local contributions honoured in Australia Day awards THE 2020 Moira Shire Australia Day Awards were held last Thursday, with 27 individuals, groups and events nominated in recognition of their outstanding contribution to local commu- nities.