Lloyd Polkinghorne, The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper

781 POSTS

Division decision

Segregation of the community based on vaccination status is now the norm after Gannawarra Shire Council (GSC) implemented the Andrews Government roadmap. The unvaccinated 16 years and over will now be excluded from Gannawarra Library Service branches and swimming pools, despite being able to mingle in many other retailers, essential services and localities.

“Locked out” council divided

Kendall Jennings. The trio of councillors said the Zoom meetings have been difficult from their residences due to service connectivity and wanted to use the council offices for the scheduled meetings for the day. However, the councillors have been told that the offices are not a working space because there is no disability access, and to use the space would be against the anti-discrimination act.

Rice paddies to racetrack

The glitz and glamour of the race that stops a nation is a far cry from the heavy clay, black box lined rice paddies, but two Moulamein farmers dropped the shovels for champagne at Flemington to cheer on Grand Promenade. As part owners of Grand Promenade, Paul and Anthony Gorey are ecstatic about the chance to run in the Melbourne Cup.

Dr Belot President of RDAA

Kirstin Nicholson. Dr Megan Belot is the new president of the Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA). Locals will know Dr Belot through her previous role as a GP at the Cohuna Clinic, and her current roles as a GP anaesthetist at Cohuna Hospital, GP at Northern District Community Health (NDCH) Medical Clinic in Kerang and a GP anaesthetist and Visiting Medical Officer at Echuca Hospital.

Labor’s permanent power grab under fire

The Bill to amend the Public Health and Wellbeing Act has drawn fire from expert legal minds and politicians. The Bill would allow Premier Andrews alone, the ability to declare a pandemic empowering the Minister of Health effectively unlimited power to rule the state by decree, for an indefinite period, and without effective judicial or parliamentary oversight ... Member for Murray Plains, Peter Walsh, said democracy has already gone out the window in Victoria, with Daniel Andrews ‘drunk on power’ and determined to entrench himself in a position where not just the parliament itself is at risk, but the individual liberties of every Victorian.

Gunbower watering

Geoff Wakeman is not against the principles of environmental watering. He does, however, have a huge problem with the way it is being used in the Gunbower Forest/National Park, particularly around Cohuna ... As a geologist, his interest was piqued when he came across some commentary surrounding the Barmah Choke, which prompted him to take a closer look at what was happening out in the Gunbower Forest. It was then he became alarmed.

Loud & clear

With just two days’ notice, community volunteers at the heart of the Koondrook Perricoota co-design welcomed a shiny entourage of politicians, bureaucrats and media. The whistlestop tour was part of a $330 million funding announcement with no less than five state and federal politicians ... The Koondrook Perricoota project has been a white elephant of government spending with the $120 million over-designed project sitting idle.