Lesley Hewitt
A big shout out to Max Primmer who received the Victorian Senior of the Year Ageing Well Award at Government House on 12th October. Max, as most of us know, founded Ageing Disgracefully, a group of older locals that meet every Thursday at the Mill Market. He hosts the morning show on Hepburn Community Radio and as Miss Di Alysis has been the star of the Chill Out Parade for many years. The award is a fitting acknowledgement from the rest of Victoria, of what we in the community know, that Max is a person who connects people. Congratulations Max.
Congratulations also to the Daylesford and District Historical Society with Djaara Elder Uncle Nick Nelson who this week, were presented with the 2023 Victorian Museums and Galleries First Nationals Project of the Year Award for their exhibition Coranderrk Portraits. The moving exhibition was curated by Gary Lawrence and featured portraits of Dja Dja Wurrung ancestors from circa 1866, artwork from local children and a film narrated by Uncle Ricky Nelson and Professor Barry Golding. It gave us all a chance to reflect on the impact of colonisation and the removal of Dja Dja Wurrung from their land to Coranderrk. Congratulations to all those involved and thanks for providing our community with the opportunity to see these portraits and remember and reflect on our local history. A reminder too, that if you haven’t voted in the referendum already you need to on Saturday 14th October. According to the AEC Website (https://www.aec.gov.au) we can vote on the day at Daylesford Primary School, Hepburn Primary School, Glenlyon Shire Hall and Yandoit Primary School. Hepburn Shire Council supports a Yes Vote.
We are moving into the fire season and with an El Nino weather event. It’s predicted that there will be an early start to the season and that it will continue for longer. Predictions include an increased likelihood of heatwaves (more consecutive days over 35 degrees), a greater likelihood of thunderstorms and the potential for thunderstorm asthma as well as an increased grass fire risk. Council officers are involved in the Regional Emergency Management Committee undertaking the necessary planning to ensure that all agencies with a role are ready to act if necessary. Now is the time for the community to get prepared. Update your fire plan, know where your bushfire place of last resort is and attend the various community information pop ups that will be held. These will be advertised on Council’s Facebook page. Prepare your property. (Council’s free green waste disposal starts in November.) And if applicable, make sure your details are up to date on the Shire’s Vulnerable person’s Register. Action now can help mitigate impacts during the summer season.
Finally – the agenda for Council’s next meeting g on 17th October can be found at https://www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/Council/Council-meetings/Agendas-and-minutes The agenda includes two planning items, the appointment of members to various Council Committees including Sustainable Hepburn, the Audit and  Risk Committee and International Women’s Day Committee.
As always, please contact me by email at lhewitt@hepburn.vic.gov.au or on 0408793941 if you have any Council issues that you wish to discuss.
Lesley Hewitt is the Deputy Mayor of Hepburn Shire and an elected councillor for Birch Ward.
Councillor Columns are a regular feature in The Wombat Post. We offer this space as an information channel from Council to the community. Councillor Columns are not subject to editorial review by our editorial committee but are published as we receive them from our elected Councillors.
