Vol. No. Vol. 2818No. 1727
FREE PUBLICATION
A FREE PUBLICATION FROM YOUR LOCAL RADIO STATIONS 3WM AND MIXXFM
Wednesday, October January 22, 13, 2025 2016 Wednesday,
THAT’S A WRAP: Horsham College year-12 students dressed to impress yesterday as part of their farewell to their secondary education. Pictured are, from left, Paige Millar, Lily Picture: PAUL CARRACHER Flett, Lucinda Ferguson, Dusty Schellens, Lucy Hudson and Ella Hion.
‘Keep our doors open’ BY BRONWYN HASTINGS
M
ore than 200 neighbourhood houses across the state might close if Neighbourhood Houses Victoria’s State Government campaign fails to secure a $11.7-million funding increase.
An extra 25 per cent of funding is needed to meet the cost of employing managers during funded hours, to continue to meet community-specific local and State Government services as well as interest and wellbeing activities. Neighbourhood Houses Victoria chief executive Keir Paterson said the pressure on neighbourhood houses was unprecedented. “Rising costs, growing community demand, and eroded core funding are forcing houses across the state to cut hours, staff and programs,” he said. “Years of underfunding has pushed almost half into deficit, leaving them
at risk of closure.” Each week, more than 185,000 people access community support and local services through more than 400 neighbourhood houses across the state. Mr Paterson said many neighbourhood houses and community centres were grappling with increased community need due to cost-of-living pressures, while having to deal with cost increases themselves. “Without urgent action, communities risk losing the safe, inclusive spaces thousands of Victorians rely on every week,” he said. “Our data shows that for every $1 of ongoing neighbourhood house funding received from the State Government, communities benefit to the tune of $21.94.” The state peak body is also calling on the State Government to fund 25 currently unfunded neighbourhood houses, and commit to 20 new neighbourhood houses in Victoria’s
outer metro and regional growth areas. Hopetoun and District Neighbourhood House, HDNH, customer service representative Laura Moore said as well as being an agent for VicRoads, Services Australia and Yarriambiack Shire Council, HDNH offered a meeting place for groups such as Red Cross and CWA. “We host the Men’s Shed, we have a gym that comes under our neighbourhood house, and we have a small library here,” she said. “We’re the tourism information centre, and we offer technology support, printing, emailing and photocopying – we’re very busy.” Ms Moore said HDNH also assisted people from Yaapeet, Beulah, Woomelang and beyond, for a range of services, available from 9am to 4.30pm five days a week. “We feel like we are the central hub of the community. We try and help anyone in any way we can,” she said.
Ms Moore said the community was supportive of HDNH and its government campaign. “At the moment we’re fighting to keep the doors open, and we’re getting a fairly good response from the community,” she said. “We have postcards here, and anyone who comes in can fill one out with their details and the reasons why they love their neighbourhood house. “We will then send the postcards to Carers and Volunteers Minister Ros Spence. “For this small town, we do cover quite a bit. We’re fortunate to get the services we have, and the town definitely does not want to lose them.” Mr Paterson said 94 per cent of statewide neighbourhood house visitors’ experiences improved physical wellbeing and 96 per cent reported emotional wellbeing as a result of participating. “We calculate the overall benefits to
the Victoria community at $922-million per year,” he said. “We are saving the government money, now it’s time to save our sector and keep our doors open.” Ararat Neighbourhood House, ANH, manager Teli Kaur said the main motive of Ararat’s service was to bring people together and prevent isolation, as well as to provide other essential services. “We are helping in various ways for our community – we’ve got legal services, justice of the peace, and lots of great networks who support our community in various ways, such as dementia and NDIS,” she said. “We are doing really well with CAFS Ballarat, they have lots of sessions regarding tenancy, finance, all kind of things. And we work with the local bank, they run how to prevent scams sessions.” Continued page 3
IN THIS ISSUE • Donald project status shift • Hospital housing opens • Tourism finalists • Horsham Cup Phone: 03 5382 1351 Read it online: www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au
21,505 COPIES DISTRIBUTED EACH WEEK (average)
NEW – MASSAGE
Massage, full body, face massage, cupping, ear candling, foot spa
MASSAGE
Trading Hours: Monday to Thursday 9am-6pm; Friday 9am-7pm; Saturday 9am-6pm; Sunday 10am-6pm
HORSHAM PLAZA
Phone or text 0410 888 248 •
•
•
•
•
KMART BEST AND LESS SPOTLIGHT REJECT SHOP WIDE RANGE OF SPECIALTY STORES WWW.HORSHAMPLAZA.COM.AU