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Volunteerism: Rethinking the role, the people, and the future
On Friday May 30, a group of ten passionate individuals came together to tackle a topic close to the heart of every community: volunteerism. Held in Barham, the roundtable brought together volunteers, committee members, and community leaders from Koondrook and Barham to reflect on what volunteering looks like today—and what it could become.
Urgent appeal to save the Barham Koondrook Show – secretary and volunteers needed!
The Barham Koondrook Pastoral, Agricultural, and Horticultural Show Society is sounding the alarm: without a dedicated secretary and additional volunteers, this year’s iconic community show faces cancellation. Time is running out, and we need your help to keep this beloved tradition alive!
Goods Shed looking good
Residents who have taken the train from Castlemaine Station in the past few months will have noticed scaffolding and works taking place at the nearby Castlemaine Goods Shed which is managed by Castlemaine State Festival. The Festival announced an update on Thursday 29 May, saying that the maintenance and upgrade project is on track to be completed by the end of 2025.
Surprise developments for new levy
The State Government announced on Friday 30 May, amongst a list of drought-relief measures, that it would pause the implementation of a contentious new levy to fund emergency services ... The Tarrangower Times has been following the story and chatting to various stakeholders as the story unfolded towards this unexpected pause to one aspect of the ESVF ... "their rage is white-hot"...
Arts About – Maldon Portrait Prize
Nancy Whittaker. The fifth Maldon Portrait Prize exhibition of finalists will be held at the Cascade Art Gallery from Thursday 5 to Sunday 29 June. It is open to all artists who have lived or are living or working in Australia. The Maldon Portrait Prize 2025 has attracted an exciting range of entries…
Reconciliation Week
There was a large crowd gathered in Victoria Street, at the Kerang Council Building, last Wednesday May 28 to mark National Reconciliation Week 2025. It has been estimated a record 350 people attended the flag raising with Gannawarra Shire Deputy Mayor, Cr Ross Stanton joining Ray Davis in raising the Aboriginal flag.
Meet Willie – or Wilma
Among all the animals Pam and Peter Rollinson might have expected to find back on the farm after a recent visit to Bali, a wombat was a very long way down the list ... a very parched wombat had had its thirst assuaged when Peter turned on the garden hose.
Sledgehammer taken to housing affordability
The State Government has taken a sledgehammer to the construction industry, introducing the Building Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 which will push the cost of building a home up by as much as $30,000 ... Shadow Assistant Minister for Planning and the Building Industry, Wayne Farnham, said the bill was just the latest example of Labor siding with fringe parties instead of backing Victorian families.
Changes needed in harness racing
Peter Hibberd. This is my opinion only – some very big changes are needed in harness racing. Over recent months, with the decrease in prizemoney back to $4,000 per race, one particular club did not get enough nominations to have its meeting, which was surprising as it is one of the biggest harness areas in Victoria. Another case was Charlton last Monday with only enough horses running for six races.
Council rejects VNI West project in its current form
Northern Grampians Shire councillors will call on the State Government to find an alternative to its VNI West transmission line project amid fears for the nation’s food security along with community mental health and wellbeing. Victoria to NSW Interconnector West – known as VNI West – is a proposed new 500kV double circuit transmission line connecting high-voltage electricity grids in New South Wales and Victoria.
The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 5 June 2025
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Landscape focus impresses judges
A local photography enthusiast has been commended for her entry in the 2025 Camera House Landscape Awards. Jennifer Fennel was recognized for her photo Mt Isobel, Hanmer Springs, New Zealand.
Drought package is too little too late
The Member for Benambra, Bill Tilley says drought affected farmers are desperate for meaningful help not a scheme to share the cost of hay sheds and poly pipes following the Victorian government's announcement of an expanded drought assistance package and a 12-month pause on Emergency Services Levy (ESL) increases for primary producers.
Council continues unfair fire tax fight
The Towong Shire Council intends to keep up its opposition to the state’s Emergency Services Volunteer Fund Levy despite the Victorian government’s announcement last Friday of a 12-month pause on the tax for farmers. At its meeting on May 28th, councillors unanimously opposed the levy, which was due to take effect from 1 July, 2025.
Ag group provides helping hand
It was the drought about a decade ago that the penny finally dropped for farmers in East and Central Gippsland. The tough times had brought people together and looking forward, the question on many farmers’ mind was ‘How to boost farm production in the good times better to cope with the tough times?’ ... in 2018-19 the Gippsland Agricultural Group was formed ...
Orbost corn popped across globe
In many European countries right now - Spain, France, Hungary and Poland - farmers are just putting the finishing touches on planting their sweet corn. Similar plantings occur in other parts of the world - from South Africa to Chile, Uruguay and New Zealand - at a different time of the year. They have one key thing in common: they source their sweet corn seeds from Snowy River Seeds in Orbost.
Ag production figures fall as outcomes for some rest on a knife’s edge: ABARES
The gross value of Australia’s agricultural production is expected to fall by 2.8 per cent to $90.7 billion in 2025-26, driven by lower crop and livestock production volumes, according to the June quarter forecasts released by ABARES ...
Why regional living and learning is a smart choice: CSU
House prices are decreasing and employment opportunities are increasing – there has never been a better time to live and study in regional areas. More young people in the city in recent years have given up on their dreams of owning a home – but are they looking in the wrong market?
Mayoral matters
Hindmarsh Shire Mayor Ron Ismay. I would like to commence by commending the thousands of regional people who took part in the protest over the recently legislated Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund (ESVF) levy on the steps of Parliament House in Spring Street last week ... This levy is an absolute disgrace!
