DEPARTMENT OF RURAL HEALTH; Living and Working in Echuca, Victoria. INFORMATION PACK. 1 CONTENTS. LIVING IN ECHUCA 3 Attraction, Culture and Climate 4 Getting around Echuca 5 Local facilities 6 Eating Out 8 Going Rural Health student support team 9 Accommodation 10 MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ECHUCA 11 CONTACT US 11 This information booklet has been developed to provide you with relevant information about your living and working arrangements within Echuca, Victoria. 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 Echuca, 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. 2 LIVING IN ECHUCA: Echuca is located in the Campaspe region, located on the VIC / NSW border around 206km from Melbourne. It is home to approximately 14,500 people. The city of Echuca is the closest settlement on the Murray River to Melbourne. Named after the Aboriginal word for ‘the meeting of the waters’, the historic Port of Echuca sits on the junction of the Murray and Campaspe rivers and just downstream from the Goulburn River. It is Australia’s Paddle Steamer capital. Echuca was once the state’s most substantial inland river port. Paddle steamers traded along the Murray and Darling Rivers almost as far as the Queensland border and brought their cargoes of wool to Echuca for transport to the Port of Melbourne. Echuca’s largest industries nowadays are Manufacturing, retail, accommodation and health. 3 ATTRACTIONS, CULTURE AND CLIMATE: The world’s biggest fleet of operating paddle steamers is based at Echuca and each has its own history and character. A small section of the original red gum wharf still remains today, preserved as part of the recreated Port Of Echuca tourist attraction. Along with the wharf the port features a museum, historic buildings, equipment displays, demonstrations and cruises on paddle steamers. Heritage buildings house shops and cafes, including the 1864 Star Hotel with its underground escape tunnel. The town also hosts one of world's biggest water ski festivals ‐ the Southern 80, as well as a number of festivals including: the Riverboats Music Festival; and the Winter Blues Festival. The Echuca region has a temperate climate. Summers are hot and dry, spring and autumn are typically warm, whilst winter mornings that are cold and frosty turn in to bright sunny days. Season Average maximum Average minimum Summer 30.6 C 15.2 C Winter 13.4 C 3.9 C Echuca’s warm climate and location make it a popular destination for swimming, boating and fishing. It is also the joining place for the Barmah National Park (VIC) and the Murray valley National Park (NSW), which forms the world's largest river red gum forest. Located within the old police station, built in 1869, is the Echuca Historical Society Museum housing a priceless collection of memorabilia from the paddlesteamer era and early life in Echuca. The old Bond Store is home to Sharps Magic Movie House & Penny Arcade ‐ a 1930s amusement arcade with classic machines you can play games on Other notable attractions include: Beechworth Bakery; National Holden Motor Museum – Australia’s largest collection of Holdens; and the Great Aussie Beer Shed – a museum of beer and brewery history. 4 GETTING AROUND ECHUCA: Getting around Echuca is easy, roads are well signposted and easy to navigate. (http://www.liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au/living‐in‐victoria/melbourne‐and‐regional‐victoria/north‐west‐ victoria/echuca#.WH2JO1V96Hs) Public Transport. Buses and taxis operate a regular service throughout Echuca. Local bus timetables are available from the https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/regional‐buses/, while taxis can be booked by calling (03) 5482 2700 OR 0447 902 279. If travelling by train, both V/Line and Country Link offer services to Echuca Moama. For detailed information on time tables please call V/Line on 136 196 or visit: www.vline.com.au www.countrylink.com.au https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/view/1849 Myki is your ticket to travel on trains and buses in the Campaspe region. For more information on the myki card, please visit: https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/tickets/myki Driving Yourself. There are two primary routes to Echuca from Melbourne via either the Hume Freeway or Northern Highway. Given the nature of the weather patterns in the area, there may be road closures at particular times of the year that may affect your journey. For up to date emergency information and warnings, please see the VicEmergency website (www.emergency.vic.gov.au), or the VicEmergency app. 5 LOCAL FACILITIES: Shopping: Regional markets: http://www.echucamoama.com/event‐calendar Shopping guide: http://www.truelocal.com.au/find/retail‐shopping/vic/north/echuca/1/ Entertainment: Echuca Paramount Cinemas: http://www.echucaparamount.com/ Moama Bowling Club: https://moamabowlingclub.com.au/ Rich River Resort: http://www.richriver.com.au/ Echuca Paintball: https://echucapaintball.com.au/ Port of Echuca Discovery Centre: https://www.portofechuca.org.au/ Plus more! Medical facilities: Echuca Moama Family Medical Practice (179 ‐ 183 Annesley Street; Ph: 5480 6001 AND 1 Martin St, Moama; Ph: 5480 2933) Rich River Health Group (214 Ogilvie Ave; Ph: 5480 6700) Echuca Regional Health – Hospital (226 Service St) Health / leisure: Echuca Boat and Canoe hire: http://www.echucaboatcanoehire.com/ Walking and cycling in Echuca: http://www.echucamoama.com/walking‐and‐cycling Echuca War Memorial Aquatic Centre: City of Echuca Bowls Club: Campaspe Park Raceway: Next Level Fitness: https://www.nextlevelfitnessechuca.com.au/ FitMob: https://www.facebook.com/FitMob/ Snap Fitness: https://snapfitness.com.au/ Echuca Horticultural Society: http://www.echucahorticulturalsociety.com/ Echuca Moama Botanic Gardens: http://www.echucamoama.com/business‐directory/mama‐ echuca‐botanic‐gardens Plus more! Banks: See the links below for bank locations, opening hours and ATMs. The postcode for Shepparton is 3630. Bendigo Bank – see www.bankofmelbourne.com.au/locator#/ Commonwealth Bank – see www.commbank.com.au/digital/locate‐us/ Bank Australia – see https://bankaust.com.au/tools/find‐us/ Goulburn Murray Credit Union – see https://www.gmcu.com.au/locations‐mobile Child care facilities: Visit www.careforkids.com.au/child‐care‐centre/vic and enter 3564. 6 Supermarkets: Woolworths / Safeway; 10‐16 Nish Street, Echuca Coles; 91 Hare Street, Echuca Aldi; 218‐222 Anstruther Street, Echuca IGA; 39 Haverfield Street, Echuca 7 EATING OUT IN ECHUCA: Echuca has 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: Pubs: Beechworth Bakery; American Hotel; 513 High St 239 ‐ 249 Hare St $ $$ ‐ $$$ Wistaria Café; Caledonian Hotel; 51 Murray Esp 110 Hare St $$ ‐ $$$ $$ ‐ $$$ The Black Pudding; The Shamrock Hotel; 525a High Street 579‐583 High Street $$ ‐ $$$ $$ ‐ $$$ Café 3564; Border Inn Hotel; 252 Hare St Meninya Street, Moama $$ ‐ $$$7 Beans Coffee; $$ ‐ $$$ 604 High St Restaurants’ and wine bars: $$ ‐ $$$ The Odd Captain; Star Hotel; 609 High St 45 Murray Esp $$ ‐ $$$ $$ ‐ $$$ Ceres; Take‐away: 554 High St Domino’s Pizza; $$ ‐ $$$ 249 Ogilvie Ave The Mill; $ ‐ $$ 2‐8 Nish St Blue Pacific Fish and Chips; $$ ‐ $$$ 226 Hare St Moama Bowling Club; $ ‐ $$ 6 Shaw Street Taranto’s Pizza; $$ ‐ $$$ 252 Anstruther St Junction; $ ‐ $$ 6 Shaw St The River Thai; $$ ‐ $$$ 24 Meninya St Moama Echuca Workers and Services Club; $ ‐ $$$ 165 ‐173 Annesley St Echuca Curry Club; $$ ‐ $$$ 551 High St Bordello Wine Bar; $ ‐ $$$ 578 High St $$ ‐ $$$ Only a small number of the many restaurants in the area are listed. Find more on Trip advisor at: https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Restaurants‐g255349‐Echuca_Victoria.html 8 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 ‐ 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