Well it doesn’t feel like it’s been that long since I last shared what’s been happening, but there sure is plenty happening in Hindmarsh!

Great to see the crops in our region looking well-watered after the reasonably consistent amounts of rain that we’ve been getting. If the year finishes off well it will be a massive harvest in our area, almost doesn’t seem fair given what is happening further north and in NSW.

The Rainbow-Nhill Road bridge over Outlet Creek has been opened for use, however traffic control at the site will still be in place for an extended period of time, including 40kmph restriction at the site. Council has now moved in and has started to complete the associated road works, including road widening.

On Wednesday 6 September 2019 Hindmarsh Shire Council hosted The Order of Australia Association, Central Highlands Wimmera Regional Group, Student Citizenship Awards for 2019, which I had the privilege of conducting the ceremony.

These awards are presented by the Order of Australia Association dignitaries, members of the Central Highlands Wimmera Regional Group.

Congratulations to the award recipients: Macy Fuller – Rainbow P-12 College, Jack Kalms – Dimboola Memorial Secondary College, Solly Marshall – Nhill College.

Thank you to all the members of the Order of Australia Association Central Highlands Wimmera Regional Group for organising this event, and also to the school principals for your support and attendance including Mrs Anne Gawith, Principal Dimboola Memorial Secondary College, Mrs Kim Magrath, Deputy Principal Nhill College, Mr Steven Leach, Rainbow P12 College and the family and friends of the students that attended the event.

Installation of the new Dimboola Rowing Club pontoon has now been completed.

Contractors were able to complete the installation ahead of the 2019/20 rowing season and I’ve already heard the Club reporting that the rowers are very pleased with the new structure.

The pontoon, measuring almost 40 metres in length, was funded by Wimmera CMA, the Dimboola Rowing Club and Hindmarsh Shire Council and will provide local and visiting rowers with much easier and safer access to the river during training and competition. The official opening for the newly installed pontoon will be on Wednesday 2 October 2019 at 10am.

The Honourable Martin Pakula, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events visited Hindmarsh on Thursday 19 September 2019 to officially open the recently completed Dimboola Football Netball Club netball change rooms and the Nhill skate park. Both of these openings unfortunately had to be held in Dimboola due to the Ministers shortage of time.

I recently attended the Rail Conference event in Melbourne which I found very interesting and relevant to the future of our region. The Maroona to Portland line was mentioned several times, the upgrading of this line is important to our region.

Also that week I accompanied some of our staff attending the Australian HPV (Human Powered Vehicles) Super Series 24 Hour Event in Murray Bridge. The venue was very similar to the Dimboola Recreation Reserve and I think we have potential to host, on a smaller scale, a HPV event.

Moving on to other upcoming events we have the Australian Skate Park League Nhill Skate Park Competition, featuring scooter, BMX and skateboard competitions for all ages happening Thursday 26 September 2019 between 11 am and 4 pm at the new skatepark in Jaypex Park, Western Highway, Nhill.

A couple of upcoming events at the Nhill Memorial Community Centre include the Hindmarsh Shire Council along with the Victorian Seniors Festival hosting ‘SOS - The Australian ABBA Tribute Show’, and a ‘Balance Expo’, about achieving more balance in your life. This will be brought to Nhill by naturopaths Emily Grieger and Ebony Jordan from Des Lardner’s Organic, along with Kaye Bothe, Nhill farmer, and Hayley Grosser, Rural Women Empowerment Coach, who will be giving talks and sharing information on nutrition, selfcare, gut health, stress, and juggling the family and farm.

Another big project that isn’t too far away from starting is the Dimboola Library construction.

The official opening of the Rainbow Men’s Shed is happening on 24 October 2019 at 11am.

Don’t forget that free green waste receival at the Hindmarsh transfer stations for the month of September. If you haven’t already made the most of it there is still time to get out in the garden.

I hope you enjoy an extra day off in the working week for the AFL grand final public holiday on Friday. Bring on the good spring weather!

Cr. Ron Ismay
Mayor – Hindmarsh Shire Council - 25 September 2019