Vol. No. Vol. 2518No. 1527
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Wednesday, October January 12, 13, 2022 2016 Wednesday,
EYES ON THE PRIZE: Horsham’s horse racing couple and Horsham Cup hopefuls Dean Yendall and Christine Puls will saddle up for the 2022 Horsham Cup on Sunday as crowds return to the cup for the first time since 2019. Owners will be vying for a special crystal cup, honouring 15 years of Millers sponsorship. With jockeys waiting to confirm their rides, punters will make their final notes on the form guide and the Wimmera’s best dressed will get outfits in check ahead of the club’s biggest-yet fashions on the field competition. Story, page 55. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
‘We deserve better’ A
BY JESSICA GRIMBLE
Wimmera and southern Mallee advocacy group says establishing food manufacturing and processing options, rapidly increasing housing stocks and extending childcare options and availability remain the three biggest challenges facing the region. The Wimmera Southern Mallee Regional Partnership has shared its list of requests with The Weekly Advertiser as the State Election, scheduled for November 26, nears. Partnership chairman David Jochinke has written to Premier Daniel Andrews and his ministers to raise
the priority projects for election and budget funding consideration. While the budget is handed down in May, advocacy is ongoing. Mr Jochinke said the three challenges were among a list of nine priority projects submitted to ministers earlier in the year. They remained confidential until now. The priority projects include establishing an agricultural investment taskforce; implementing ‘Wimmera Southern Mallee Housing Blueprint’ initiatives including developing affordable housing options, releasing Crown land parcels for development and upskilling trades; and developing
a childcare strategy including priority sites for childcare and creating additional kindergarten and childcare hubs. Building family violence crisis accommodation; improving clinical care health service delivery and addressing mental health service delivery gaps; securing ongoing funding for paediatric health; upgrading an electricity transmission line; embedding selfdetermined based Indigenous tourism within the new visitor economy partnerships; and a fresh vision for a passenger rail solution are also included in the list. The priority projects align with the
partnerships’ overarching priorities, identified and developed since inception in 2016. Mr Jochinke said ministerial support for the projects was critical in getting the attention of the Treasurer and Premier, currently Tim Pallas and Daniel Andrews. He said particularly the top three priority projects featured in ‘every conversation’ with government. “None of this is a sugar-hit fix. This is all changing the fabric of our community – for the better – and that takes long-term vision and long-term dedication,” he said. “We should get louder and prouder
about what we demand. Sometimes we get crumbs and we think it’s a cake. “We are sometimes a bit passive and conservative in the region – but sometimes we have to get angry and say, this is absolutely broken and we deserve better.” Mr Jochinke said research and data such as the housing blueprint, developed through Wimmera Development Association; and Federation University research into social and cultural barriers to workforce participation helped partnership leaders advocate their case to ministers. Continued page 3
IN THIS ISSUE • Ararat service expansion • Progress at Lake Natimuk • New cricket additions Phone: 03 5382 1351 Read it online: www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au
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