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, February 12, 2021 For the Shire of Buloke, and the districts of Birchip, Charlton, Donald, St. Arnaud, Watchem and Wycheproof Village Extension Close to Completion As reported in the “Buloke Times” in May, 2020, Goodwin Village made a start to build a five bed extension to the existing 33 bed residential aged care building. Locks Constructions of the painting is being finished Horsham had commenced the off, floor coverings are going pour of the foundations. in, and both the plumbing and The extension is posi- electrical “fit offs” are in tioned at the end of the south progress. wing of the Johnson-Good- Improvements win Memorial Homes. Apart from the 5 beds with single The original residential ensuites, there are other aged care building was built spaces that are being con- over 43 years ago in 1978, structed including dining and but has had several improve- lounge rooms, increased stor- ments, and extensions added over the years. This new ex- age, public toilets, and offices. • New extensions at Goodwin Village. The Commonwealth De- tension is just another step by partment of Health is provid- the management to ensure the The residential care build- Future Growth “baby boomer” generation, Goodwin Village is look- ing a grant for a total of building keeps pace with the ing will also remain the busi- In building the 5-bed resi- but this won’t really com- ing for people who need $1,862,000. When architect demands of modern aged care. ness centre for the dential care extension, Good- mence until around 2035. residential aged care who and other consulting fees are After the new extension, administration of the organi- win Village is endeavouring In the meantime, the num- have National Screening As- included with the overall the residential care building sations’ 15 community to prepare Donald and the ber of people in the target age sessment Forms (NSAFs) cost, Goodwin Village’s con- will have 38 places. This will client’s care. surrounding district for the group averaging around 88 (Aged Care Assessments), to tribution will be in excess of be positive for the local com- Community care is deliv- current strong demand for years is already steadily in- put their names into Goodwin $500,000 net of GST. munity. The larger upgraded ered for the regional approved residential aged care, as well creasing, due to advance- Village for the opportunity to Since the start of the build, facility, will continue to be providers Uniting AgeWell, as the expected future growth. ments in general public be considered as the first res- the project has been running co-located with the existing Annecto, Benetas, Bendigo The need will eventually be health, which is translating to idents for one of the 5 aged to schedule. At the moment, 31 retirement units. Health, and also the NDIS. coming from the so called increased life expectancy. care places. Meeting Netball Needs The Annual General Meeting for the Wycheproof-Narraport Netball Club was conducted on Thursday, February 4, 2021, at the Royal Mail Hotel. It’s to be hoped this was not in vain, as was the 2020 season. It was very disappointing President Jenna Allan secretary’s report, Suzanna that the attendance was low, welcomed and thanked ev- Fawcett. and always left up to the eryone for attending. She This was all noted by same people to take charge. read out her president’s re- dedicated secretary, Tamara port, which was nothing like Harrison. There are still positions what has been compiled be- Thank you to these vol- vacant for the executive fore after such a bizarre year unteers for their time and committee and coaching, living through a world-wide support to the Wycheproof- and if families want their pandemic that stopped the Narraport Netball Club, de- daughters to play netball, season from even commenc- spite the season being a “No they should be willing to put ing — first time in history Go”. their hand up to take a turn (as far as I am aware). President Jenna Allan to support the club and then commenced the elec- maybe take on a role. There Following Jenna’s report, tion process of the 2021 of- is always great support and other reports were duly read fice bearers which are as guidance from the outgoing out and moved accordingly follows: officers, so you will not be as follows: Treasurer’s re- Committee Members on your own if you decide to port, Kim Bish; umpires’ President, vice-president, take initiative in fulfilling a convenors report, Tiarnee secretary, all still to be filled. position. Hall (via facetime); score Treasurer, Kim Bish. Score secretary, Suzanna Fawcett. Umpires’ convenor, Tiarnee Hall. Media liaison, Rhonda Monthly supplement for The Buloke Times, Sea Lake & Wycheproof Times Ensign, Allan. North West Expressand Robinvale Sentinel. Uniform officer, Ceri • New members of the Wycheproof-Narraport Netball Club executive, left to right, Ceri Jones. Jones (uniform officer), Suzanna Fawcett (score secretary, recreation reserve representative, Rec reserve representa- junior coach), and Kim Bish (treasurer). tive, Suzanna Fawcett. Like the executive posi- • Determining the best ju- • Membership fees. If anyone is interested in tions, there are still coaching nior grade structures for the • Senior player recruit- taking on a role, please see positions to be filled. Con- 2021 season (this will be ment: “A” grade coach outgoing President Jenna gratulations to all of the voted on at the next North- Nakia Nunn has continued Allan. abovenamed who have put Central Netball Association to contact many potential Coaches their hand up to take on meeting). new players, and is also The 2021 netball coaches roles in 2021, and good luck • 2021 game times. keeping current players up- (some) were also an- for the upcoming season. • Possible North-Central dated with what the club is nounced, as follows: “A” Netball Association Execu- up to (many thanks, Nakia). grade, Nakia Nunn; “B” General Business tive positions on rotation • Possible amalgamation The Mallee Farmer grade, TBA; “C” grade, TBA; There were several items basis (this will be voted on discussions (including the February edition, in this issue. Junior grades, Suzanna discussed in general busi- at the next North-Central football and hockey). This will Fawcett; 13-&-Under, TBA; ness which included the fol- Netball Association meet- be followed up at a special NetSetGo, TBA. lowing: ing). • Continued on page 2. • System connectivity. By digitisation, enhance Biosecurity and the Nation data sharing across supply chains and the human, agri- Some strange events have accompanied the cultural, environmental, and marine health sectors. COVID-19 virus. This will ensure that emerging risks are identified and There has been much debate about the idea that the FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021 managed. coronavirus first jumped from animals to human beings • Shared responsibility. Improved community en- in China, possibly via bats or another animal at the “wet It will all have to be taken into account for Aus- gagement, collaboration between organisations and in- markets” in Wuhan. tralia's biosecurity system. Quite apart from the prob- dividuals, and working with industry to develop its role The World Health Organisation (WHO) technical lems with COVID-19, in 2020 alone farmers have seen in surveillance. lead for COVID-19 told a briefing in Geneva recently the arrival of army worms, outbreaks of “bird flu”, and • Science and technology. Tech.-enabled start-ups that “transmission of the virus between animals and hu- the discovery of some twenty new weeds. that create business opportunities for biosecurity. mans was a concern”. The Danes, for example, are not taking any This is highlighted in a new CSIRO report headed In relation to the last theme, the Centre for Invasive chances. Their State Serum Institute said a mutated “Australia's Biosecurity Future: Unlocking the next Species Solutions, which had a role in the Report, said strain of the SARS-COV-2 coronavirus had been found decade of resilience”. It found that Australia is at risk that transforming our biosecurity system could open in at least 214 people and on five mink farms. The of increased disease outbreaks and pest incursions, new export possibilities for Australian companies. mink appears to be much more susceptible to infection weakened exports and further damage to our global The full text, which can be viewed at than other farm animals. As a result, Denmark plans trading reputation. csiro.au/biosecurityreport, gives detail on what needs to be done. to cull its entire mink population, and has announced The report states that, in the five years to 2017, the new lockdown measures in the north to prevent a mu- amount of biosecurity risk materials intercepted in Aus- While it was launched at almost the same time as tated coronavirus from spreading, both in animals and tralia increased by almost 50%, while biosecurity the biennial CSIRO-Bureau of Meteorology study human beings. threats like pandemics were on the rise. giving a rather jaundiced view on climate change, the The concern of the WHO and others is that the mu- Report does suggest that the community can co-operate tations could affect the potential efficacy of the There are 20 recommendations, under the three key in improving this country's everyday biosecurity in the COVID-19 vaccines which are in development. themes : time to come. Meeting Netball Needs Call to Deliver Defensive • Continued from page 1. Training has just recom- meeting on March 26, 2021.