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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2025
$23.9M LOST ON LOCAL POKIES
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■ Mitchell Shire residents lost $23.9 million on poker machines in 2024-25. Mitchell Shire Mayor cr John Doiugall said the statistic highlighted the significant impact gambling has on local communities. Mitchell Shire Council is this week joining with the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission to raise awareness during Gambling Harm Awareness Week, October 27November 2. This year’s theme, ‘Set before you bet’, encourages everyone to set a limit before gambling and stick to it. By doing so, people can reduce their risk of harm. “Behind every dollar lost is a person, a family or a community feeling the impact,” said a mitchell Council representative. “Gambling harm can affect people’s selfesteem, relationships, health, work and social life. Setting simple limits can make a real difference," Cr Dougall said. Across Victoria, more than 440,000 people are at risk of or already experiencing gambling harm. Young people are especially vulnerable, with more than a quarter of those aged 18 to 24 who gamble reporting harm. The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission recommends setting these limits to help reduce the risk of gambling harm: ■ Spend no more than 2 per cent of your takehome pay on gambling ■ Limit gambling to once a week ■ Use no more than two different gambling products
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● $23.9m is lost on pokies locally
‘AWARENESS DIVIDE’ CONCERNS MAYOR
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● Cr Damien Gallagher, Mayor
■ Murrindindi Shire Mayor Cr Damian Gallagher said he is concerned about what he calls an “awareness divide” between Melbourne people and locals. “At Benalla, for the Hume Local Government Network forum of 12 Councils from Mitchell and Murrindindi up to Wodonga and Towong, I reported upon our financial sustainability challenges and raised my concerns about a growing ‘awareness divide’ between Melbourne and rural communities. “I heard similar stories from across the region along with a unified concern for the impacts of the Emergency Services Volunteer Levy on rural communities. “I thanked Strathbogie Shire Mayor Claire Ewart-Kennedy, for her chairing of the forum this past year. “That evening, I attended the Yea Saleyards complex to see the highly professional process of the yarding and weighing of cattle which progresses throughout the Thursday night that precedes a monthly store sale. “In the face of some recent climatic challenges, the quality of local cattle at the market was top-shelf, supporting the claim of farmers and participating stock agents of Yea being the premier sale facility in Central Victoria.” Cr Gallagher was also a guest on ABC Radio Melbourne, sharing “some of Council’s strategies for supporting the community with climate change mitigation and Council’s successful implementation of four kerbside bin collections”.