The annual Remembrance Day service was as usual held at the Winchelsea Memorial Cairns, run by the RSL – a moving ceremony with wreaths placed around the 3 cairns. The weather was fine right up until the last couple of minutes; a big “Well done” to the school Grade 5 & 6 students who put up with the heavy rain until the national anthem finished! My thanks too to the SES for the very-short-notice use of their generator to power the public address system when it was discovered the rotunda power wasn’t working.
Growing Winchelsea is a local volunteer-powered organisation providing the Winchelsea community with a united voice to support the community achieve a thriving Winchelsea. Their recent AGM highlighted just how much they have achieved – the Christmas celebrations coming up, the Arboretum Trail, the ‘mud hut’ wall, the monthly market, the Movie Club, the train station beautification, the Women’s Business Network and more. Such a great example of community guiding its own destiny. With leadership stepping down, now would be an excellent time to join Growing Winchelsea and help out with your own special skills, experience and/or enthusiasm. Find out more at growingwinchelsea.com – they’re particularly looking to fill the President, Treasurer and Secretary roles. Know someone??
In fact, there are several groups around Winchelsea looking for more help. There’s a committee that handles the Eastern Reserve, the football-netball club, the Community House, Scouts/Cubs…. Volunteers add so much value to our community, there’s bound to be something that grabs your interest or suits your skills/time/abilities. Please don’t leave it to ‘someone’, step up and join in.
I’d like to welcome aboard our new Councillor, Phoebe Crockett (Torquay Ward), who fills the vacancy left by the resignation of Rebecca Bourke. Phoebe is now playing catch-up on all that we’ve done over the last 12 months as well as the mandatory induction training. She’ll be straight into it with a couple of Council Meetings close together as we prepare for the summer break over January.
Did you know over 1,000m3 of mulch has been made as part of fire prevention work? This season is again high-risk due to the growth above ground and the dryness beneath. Be sure to use your Green Vouchers to take your larger garden waste to the tip for recycling.
The Winchelsea Repertory Society has finished this year’s play, Granny Get Your Gun. Congratulations to the (large) cast for once more demonstrating how to put on a good show that involves all sorts from the community, raises funds for good causes, and all while having good fun!
You will probably have seen that the Winchelsea RSL was officially reopened after a revamp and redecoration. There’s some great stuff on display, and the RSL will next work on making the most of their space to show even more. The memorial grandstand building is now 100 years old. If you haven’t been inside, I encourage you to drop by the first Sunday of the month in the afternoon.
Last week’s Star had an item about Daz’s Deadly December Challenge (9am Sat.13th Dec.). Sounds like a significant physical challenge! With a free competitor T-shirt sponsored by the Winchelsea Star and prizes to be won to the winners of a series of gruelling exersises, it’ll be well worth getting along to cheer them on.
To finish with, my thanks to Winchelsea Primary School Grade 3 & 4 and Hesse Rural Health residents for hosting me for an overview of Council, Councillors and what’s going in and around Winchelsea and the Shire. I was certainly peppered with plenty of taxing questions but it’s great to get a feel for what matters at each end of our age spectrum.
PLEASE NOTE – “Chat with your Councillor” will be A WEEK EARLY due to mandatory Councillor training on the 4th. So if you have anything to discuss, come along on the 27th November 10am-12.
Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this communication are my own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, position, or views of Surf Coast Shire or its staff. They are offered in my capacity as an individual Councillor and should not be interpreted as representing the collective views of the Council or Shire.