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30 JUNE, 2026
NAIDOC Week in Moorabool
Moorabool mayor Steve Venditti-Taylor is inviting residents to celebrate NAIDOC week across the shire. (Damjan Janevski) 561796_04
Moorabool residents are invited to celebrate NAIDOC Week, which marks 50 years of recognising the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The celebrations begin on 7 July with a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony led by a Wurundjeri Traditional Owner, followed by a community gathering and a basket weaving workshop. On 10 July, families can enjoy cultural crafts activities at the Ballan Library. This will be followed by another Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony led by a Wadawurrung Traditional Owner. Attendees can then join in for afternoon tea. “We are proud to celebrate 50 years of NAIDOC Week as we acknowledge the generations of Elders, leaders, artists, advocates and community members whose dedication has helped shape the nation and inspire future generations,“ said mayor Steve Venditti-Taylor. All events are free to attend, but bookings are required for the basket weaving workshop. Details and bookings are available at the Moorabool council website.
Suspended again By Jack O’shea-Ayres
the Local Government Act. The same councillors then applied for a further internal arbitration process on 5 September, with Cr Phillip Zada acting as a representative in both applications. It was alleged that Cr Vandenberg breached the Model Councillor Code of Conduct when making various posts to Facebook between 25 February to 28 August, 2025. The posts were made from Cr Vandenberg’s ‘Ashleigh Vandenberg for Jackwood Ward’ Facebook page, which she used to communicate with the public about council-related matters and was linked to her profi le on council’s website. The posts were said to continually tag, target, and reference Cr Zada and the Mt Atkinson ward, while also insinuating
corruption, misinformation and misleading commentary, the arbitration report stated. It was also alleged that between 21 February and 14 April, 2025 Cr Vandenberg made several Facebook posts which contained inaccurate, exaggerated, or misleading claims about council decisions and infrastructure matters. The arbitration report highlighted Cr Vandenberg had repeatedly breached the councillor code by making social media posts which, without foundation, implied corruption within council, including through posting misleading material relating to council and issues within the municipality. Continued: Page 10.
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Suspended Melton councillor Ashleigh Vandenberg will run for the seat of Sydenham at November’s state election. In the meantime, Cr Vandenberg said she would continue advocating for residents despite being suspended from her duties as a councillor for two months following an internal arbitration process. The determination, handed down by arbiter Diana Price on 16 June and tabled at Melton council’s 22 June meeting, found Cr Vandenberg had repeatedly breached the councillor code of conduct through a series of social media posts. The process ended in Cr Vandenberg being suspended as a councillor for two months and ordered to undertake training
on council’s social media policy upon her return. The suspended councillor said the sanction would not end her involvement in the community. “For the next two months I will continue listening to residents, attending community events, responding to concerns, advocating on issues and helping others navigate wherever possible,“ she said. “The only real difference is that I will not be receiving a councillor allowance while doing so.” An application for an internal arbitration process was lodged by eight of Melton’s nine other sitting councillors on 22 April last year. The complaint called for an internal arbitration process to make a finding of misconduct against Cr Vandenberg under
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