DONALD BIRCHIP Phone: 5497 1222 Phone: 5492 2735 Email: The Buloke Times Fax: 5492 2863 [email protected] Email: [email protected] birchipblc@ Est. 1875 bigpond.com Published Tuesdays and Fridays PRICE (inc. G.S.T.) $2 PP331336/0000 1 Friday, May 21, 2021 For the Shire of Buloke, and the districts of Birchip, Charlton, Donald, St. Arnaud, Watchem and Wycheproof Bank Backs Birchip Historical Society Last Friday, the Commonwealth Bank Birchip generously donated $500 as part of the community donations program, to the Birchip Historical Society. Like so many in the Research COVID-19 era, the Histori- Maureen Donnellon and cal Society has been Elaine McCallum, both severely impacted, being members of the Historical unable to complete its nor- Society, have been kept mal work like taking tours busy with research for “Bu- and receiving donations. loke Times” articles, and Elaine is continuing to pro- • Birchip Historical Society representatives Maureen Donnellon (left) and Elaine McCallum accept the Commonwealth At its general meeting, vide information for the 100 Bank’s donation from staff members Louise Lee and Marcia Burns (right). the Historical Society mem- years ago segment, as well clubs like the tennis, foot- need of new members. At community members are members of the public who bers voted to put the CBA as updating all newspaper ball, hockey and netball the moment, one of the tasks eager and willing to be a have never attended the mu- donation towards a much- indexes. clubs to create digital needing completion is the part of this, please get in seum. needed update of its com- The Historical Society records and paperwork, sorting of family files, under touch with a member of the If you are interested in puter and printer. Covid has worked with various which assists with reunions a general surname, into sep- Historical Society. visiting the museum, it is restrictions have meant the townships, including and celebrations, life mem- arate family groups. This The Historical Society open by appointment under buildings have been inac- Nullawil, Donald, Charlton berships and record keep- has been a very interesting members are looking for- COVID restrictions. If you cessible for members in any and Wycheproof completing ing. task for members, and ward to further easing of are interested in research, numbers, so research has research. would be a great job for COVID-19 restrictions later fees are $20 plus photocopy- been done by members at Members Needed long-time Birchipians, or in the year, to allow school ing and postage. Please see a home, or by short visits at The Society has also The Birchip Historical family members, willing to students to return for tours, member if you are interested the museum. been working with sporting Society is desperately in sort out their families. If any and to open up to the many in either. Ambulance Response Times Miss the Mark in Buloke The Member for Ripon, Louise Staley, has called on the State Government to address worsening ambulance response times in Buloke immediately. Recent Ambulance Victo- “Our region’s hard-work- “In the lead-up to the 2014 ria data reveals that only ing paramedics, Ambulance election, Daniel Andrews 34.1% of Code 1 call-outs in Community Officers, and spoke about ambulance re- Buloke are attended by an Community Emergency Re- sponse times, saying, ‘Those ambulance within the target of sponse Teams do an incredi- minutes matter, and too many 15 minutes. Buloke is well ble job under challenging people have waited too long below the state-wide average circumstances, but they ur- for an ambulance and, you of 75.1%, and even further gently need more resources,” know, people have actually behind the Ambulance Victo- Ms Staley said. died, and we can’t settle for ria target of 85%. “Everyone of these statis- that’. These statistics reflect call tics is a person who didn’t get “It seems that, in the case outs from January 1 to March an ambulance in the time the of Ambulance response times, 31, 2021. The percentage of Labor Government promised the Premier’s memory is Code 1 patients treated within he or she would, and they re- short, and when it comes 15 minutes has fallen by flect an ambulance system at down to it, he is willing to risk 0.5%, compared to to the breaking point and badly lives and settle for a system in same period last year. under-resourced. crisis.” Record Investment in Fire Risk Fight The Victorian Government has unveiled a record funding package to protect local communities across the state, especially here in Northern Victoria — aimed at reducing bushfire risk for the longer, hotter fire seasons to come. • Rachel Downes. As part of the Victorian the announcement, and said radios for Forest Fire Man- Budget 2021/’22, a $517 mil- the investment of $339.5 mil- agement Victoria staff – help- lion investment will deliver lion will continue to fund our ing them avoid black spots Rachel Graduates important technology up- Forest Fire Management and communicate better with grades for firefighters, and workers and firefighters - as other emergency services. On April 8, 2021, Rachel Downes, daughter of Bernard and Julie improved risk management well make sure our technol- Better communication on Downes, of Litchfield, graduated from Australian Catholic University across agencies to reduce the ogy, fire towers and equip- the ground and in remote ment stays up to scratch. areas will help detect fires with a Bachelor of Nursing degree. risk of bushfires in a changing The graduation ceremony was held at the Mecure, Ballarat. climate. Digital Radios earlier, and improve efforts to contain them faster. Rachel is currently undertaking her graduate year program with East Wimmera Health Member for Northern Vic- A $133 million investment Service and Ballarat Base Hospital, and hopes to continue nursing in a rural setting in the future. toria, Mark Gepp, welcomed will deliver brand-new digital • Continued on page 2. will be eligible for up to $6,000 for accommodation Woes of the Fruit Farmer and travel costs ($2,000 for visiting backpackers). Much publicity has been given to the problems of The federal government’s Minister for Employ- people engaged in the horticultural industry. ment stated that the changes would encourage workers This is especially so since the measures taken to FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021 to stay in farm jobs that meet the needs of farmers who keep out the COVID-19 virus, and the resultant had short, but intense, harvest seasons. The federal government introduced an incentive difficulties for the customary “backpackers” on whom The Agriculture Minister said the revamped farmers have come to rely. program which started in November last, after being announced in the October budget. But, according to program would help in the economic recovery from At a fruit and vegetable market, we asked why the figures released by the relevant Department, only 1,171 the virus. It was a time when farmers had produced usual supplier of fresh-pressed juice was absent, and claim agreements have been negotiated through em- “bumper crops, prime livestock, and the best fibre in were informed that there was no-one to pick his fruit. ployment providers. Out of this small number, 803 the world”. To the further question of how it came about that were for visitors and 368 for Australians. The peak body “Ausveg” commented that the his neighbour and competitor had the usual stall, the The scheme was considered not generous enough, changes were fine, but growers needed assurances that answer was that the latter’s property was small enough and so the government in Canberra has increased the they could access a workforce. “Unfortunately, history that the owner could pick his own fruit. incentives. Under the rebranded “Ag-Move” program, tells us that we cannot rely on domestic workers taking Local people in this shire have had their troubles Australians can access up to $2,000 (temporary visa up the package in numbers.” with the Queensland fruit fly, and that problem is being holders $650) for relocation expenses after 40 hours of In other words, has the action come with a “too tackled by the appropriate biosecurity practices. But agricultural work in a two-week period. If those workers little, too late” label? Our own experience suggests that this is a completely different situation. then complete 120 hours over at least four weeks, they it’s the case in 2021. • Intra-school Cross Country Individual champions: Back left to right: Hannah Cook, Sassia Coffey, Chloe Gleeson, Patrick Sheahan, Jenna Angel, Harry Cook. Front: Nicholas Belleville, Gabby ODonnell, Tate Knight, Ella Walsh, Lachlan Belleville. Cross Country at Home and Away After the success of the intra-school cross country events, our representative teams for both the primary and secondary sections attended the next level of competition in St. Arnaud. All competitors tried their 11-Year-Old, 8th, Asha BULLETIN hardest, and there were some Lee; 17th, Hugo Warne. excellent individual and team Monday, May 31, in Warr - results. 12-Year-Old, 5th, Zara nambool. Lowry; 4th, Noah Dean. Junior Cross Country Re- sults: Zara and Noah will com- Secondary Results 10-Year-Old: 11th, Lily pete in the Greater Western Junior Girls: Gaby O'Don- Adriaans; 8th, Willow Ryan. Region Cross Country on nell (6th), Sassia Coffey (9th), Eva Coffey (13th), Keira Lowry (16th). Record Investment in Fire Risk Fight Junior Boys: Lachlan • Continued from page 1. Budget Boost Belleville (1st), Harry Cook Funding will also further de- “A Budget boost of $15.6 (6th), Austin Dean (10th), liver on recommendations of two million will help keep our Jeswin Daniel (22nd), inquiries into the devastating Cameron Belleville (26th), state safe, addressing long • Cameron Flowers with students Sassisa Coffey, Keely Bidstrup, Verity Rafter and Ruby Kemp.