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3 MAY, 2023
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Happiness is a slow drive for Michael and his Morry Werribee’s Michael Crawcour looks and sounds a lot younger than he is. “I’ve gotta pull my wallet out to show people when I was born because they don’t believe that I’m getting on 90” said the remarkably spritley 87 year old. Fittingly, his car does too. “We bought it 35-36 years ago at least,” Mr Crawcour said of the blue 1956 Morris Minor, which at 67 years old, is only 20 years his junior. Unsurprisingly, neither travel too far these days, the result of a crash both were in years ago. “I was in a car accident in the Morry and I’ve got bone on bone on one leg and an ACL on the other leg,” said Mr Crawcour of the injuries he suffered, which makes household tasks like putting out the rubbish that much more difficult. Thankfully, he still has the car on hand to help. “If the bins are full I put them on the back of the car and off I go” he said with unerring optimism he credits for his longevity. When not towing wheelie bins down his driveway in a car built the year of the Melbourne Olympics, Mr Crawcour cares for ailing his wife, Phyllis, who sadly hasn’t aged as well. “She’s 83 and 80 per cent bed-ridden ,heart problem, kidney problem, diabetic and now fighting blood cancer,” he said, managing to remain upbeat while describing her grim prognosis. “I’m one of those very fortunate people who unless it’s a matter of life and death they don’t worry.” When it’s pointed out that this is maybe one of those moments, Mr Crawcour is undeterred. “She’s gonna be with us for a while yet,” he said. Michael and Phyllis’ ability to overcome adversity is what brought them to Werribee 15 years ago, after losing their
Michael Crawcour is 87, puts out the bins in his 67-year-old Morris Minor and looks after his elderly wife. (Picture: Damjan Janevski). 331674_01
home in a failed investment. Forced onto the aged-pension and in need of cheap rent, the parents of three sons and two grandkids moved west and
haven’t looked back. “I love it, absolutely love it,” said Mr Crawcour of Werribee. As for any tips or rituals, he assured
me he wasn’t religious, but said he started everyday the same way. “I wake up every morning and thank God that I’m awake.”
Rates, spending, debt rise By Cade Lucas Wyndham ratepayers will be hit with an average rate hike of 3.5 per cent – the largest amount allowable – in the next financial year to cover the impact of inflation, rising interest rates and population growth on the council’s bottom line. The rate rise was included in Wyndham 2023-2024 draft budget plan which passed a meeting of council on Wednesday, April 26. The draft budget, which shows an operating surplus of $239 million, was adopted despite councillors Josh Gilligan and Heather Marcus
abstaining over increased debt. Wyndham joins other western suburbs councils including Brimbank and Hobson’s Bay, in imposing a 3.5 per cent rate rise, the largest permitted under the state government’s rate cap. Rises in municipal and waste management charges will mean a total revenue from rates and charges rise to $289 million, a rise of seven per cent from the previous year. Along with the tough economic climate, population growth was identified as a reason for the rate rise, with Wyndham growing faster than any other municipality in the nation and
projected to have more than half a million residents by 2041. To meet demand, the capital works budget will grow by 12 per cent, to $168 million, before set to top $210 million in 2024-2025. Of the capital works budget, $33 million is allocated for roads, while $11 million for the Tarneit North master plan, $10 million for Truganina Community Centre and $8 million for Werribee’s Alfred Road Reserve. Community services receive $432 million, with $20 million for kindergartens and child services, $11 million for child immunisation and $10 million for libraries.
To help fund these commitments, debt will jump from $15 million to $67.5 million by the end of next financial year, and is projected to reach $155 million by 2027. Cr Josh Gilligan criticised the increased borrowing, warning Wyndham could end up like the state government and need to slash jobs and services in order to reign in debt. Mayor Susan McIntyre said the borrowings would only be drawn upon if needed and were within council’s prudential limits. The draft budget is now open for public consultation at pop-up sites. Details: https:// theloop.wyndham.vic.gov.au/