FLOOD ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT Do you have community facilities that have been impacted by the recent floods? We’re here to assist.
We are aware there will be impacts to many community facilities on public land as a result of the recent floods.
Once it is safe for you to attend the site to do an initial assessment, please then contact your regional DELWP Land and Built Environment representative to let them know of any damage.
This will help us to understand local impacts of the floods to inform our recovery planning in your area and how we can best support you now and into the future.
For advice or assistance in your area, please contact DELWP. You can find contact details at the bottom of this newslettter.
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Further in this edition:
- Stories from Crown land reserves across Victoria
- Fawcett Hall
- Castlemaine Historical Society
- Dooen Duchess
- Port Fairy - Warrnambool Rail Trail
- Overdue 2021-22 Annual Returns
- Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal
- Nature Fund
- Links to Grant Information
- DELWP website for committees
- Contacting DELWP
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Stories from Crown land reserves across Victoria Thanks to everybody involved with the latest stories and photos published here including Sandra Macalister and Sam Hicks from Fawcett Hall, Carol Dorman and Lou Citroen from the Castlemaine Historical Society, Kola Kennedy from the 'Dooen Duchess' and Jenifer Dwyer from the Port Fairy - Warrnambool Rail Trail.
You can write the story yourself or if you'd like some help with the write-up, let us know and a DELWP staff member will get in touch to discuss options.
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Left to right: Brian Thompson (DELWP); Sam Hicks, President of Fawcett Hall; Sandra Macalister, Treasurer; Emily Voogt (DELWP); Joy Burchell, committee member; Ian Newman, Secretary; Clare Kiely (DELWP)
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Fawcett Hall
- This story is an edited extract of Sandra Macalister’s Treasurer’s Report, which was included in the 'Additional Comments' section of Fawcett Hall’s 2021-22 Annual Return.
It has been a difficult time for Fawcett Hall since late 2019. We had so much success earlier in 2019 with a bushfire fundraiser and other events. We were able to progress with the brick paving to the end of the ramp and had big plans to continue the paving further.
We then found our income cut dramatically both with Covid-19 shutting the hall, preventing bookings, and also the loss of the long-term hirer of our commercial kitchen.
Fortunately we were supported by DEWLP with a grant and Murrindindi Council has also helped us out at various times, including with a “Quick Response” grant to replace the controller on our UV Water Filter.
We were able to take a few bookings in late 2020 and early 2021 but with on and off closures these were moved from date to date and some cancelled. We closed the hall, turned off the power, cancelled the phone and hunkered down!
Our bank account was getting dangerously low, so we looked for ways to generate some income. We were fortunate to have some garden art donated by Neville Wise, jams donated by Jan Young, and plants donated by various people including Sue Pain and myself.
Via on-line sales these items brought in $1,400. A couple of committee members offered to buy our stock of wine and drinks that we hadn’t used due to event cancellations. Every little bit of cash helped keep us afloat.
Our submission to DELWP’s Solar on Public Buildings program was successful which has assisted in reducing our electricity costs.
Big thanks also to Foundation Murrindindi for a Fawcett Muster grant to put on a community BBQ. And congratulations to Les Perry and his helpers for bringing in $1,160 from the Wood Auction in May 2022.
Unfortunately, due to the recent flood event, and predictions of further rain, our next big planned fundraiser, the Open Gardens Weekend (originally scheduled for 22-23 October) has been cancelled.
Fawcett received 75 mm of rain but Stony Creek didn’t break its banks. We are grateful our hall is unscathed but understand our communities within Murrindindi Shire at Acheron, Molesworth and Yea were not so lucky. We also feel for the wider region, Seymour and Shepparton and elsewhere in Victoria and have our fingers crossed that their communities stay safe.
Our team will re-group and work on an event either this year or next. Big thanks to our volunteer team and all the locals and small businesses who have come on board to support our fundraising efforts.
We look forward to our New Year’s event funded by Foundation Murrindindi and we are thankful for a recent generous business donation which has allowed us to purchase a new dishwasher.
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Carol Dorman, President of the Castlemaine Historical Society, presenting Peter Padreny with his DELWP Volunteer Recognition Award
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Castlemaine Historical Society
The Castlemaine Historical Society Inc. (CHSI) was formed in 1965 to study, record and promote the historical heritage of Castlemaine and district.
Since 1996 the CHSI has been based at the Old Castlemaine Courthouse reserve in Goldsmith Crescent. CHSI is the committee of management land manager of this Crown land reserve and its main building, the Former Court House.
One unusual feature of the building is that the back of the building is what you see from the road in Goldsmith Crescent. The front of the building faces away from the road towards the township. There used to be a pathway linking the front of the courthouse to the township.
The CHSI website includes a fascinating summary of Castlemaine and its history including the 1850’s when gold was discovered in and around the town.
Earlier this year, the Loddon-Mallee region of DELWP gave awards of recognition to both the committee of CHSI and one of their key volunteers Peter Padreny.
Current committee President, Carol Dorman, explains that Peter joined the CHSI team in 1998 and took on various roles with energy and enthusiasm, including Buildings and Grounds Officer and First Aid Officer.
"Peter’s care for the grounds which cover over half an acre of land plus the large nature strip has been exemplary. He cares for the gardens, edges the paths and prunes the bushes - even during the pandemic, Peter was rostered on to visit the site for a security check.
“Peter is not only respected for his skills as a tradesman, but his vast knowledge of the Castlemaine community and local surrounds, and his dedication to the CHSI.
“During his long membership, Peter has made an outstanding contribution to the Castlemaine Historical Society, and we thank him for his continuing support. On behalf of the CHSI, DELWP, and the broader Castlemaine community, thank you Peter!”
Carol also noted “for many committees of not-for-profit volunteer organisations, fundraising is a huge challenge. In 2021 the CHSI Bargain Hunt and barbeque fundraiser was held and raised $3,000. The need to raise funds is a constant, demanding task.”
The building was fortunately not affected by the recent floods in Victoria but observant neighbours alerted CHSI that water was pooling at the lowest part of the reserve. Alan Pickering, Treasurer and Lou Citroen, Secretary did some nifty work with a shovel to dig a channel to the drain thus preventing water from entering one of the storerooms.
Like many old buildings, the Former Court House does require significant funds for upkeep. The committee will be continuing to explore grant opportunities and other fundraising opportunities.
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Secretary Kola Kennedy (far right) with current members of the Dooen Hall Committee of Management at the recent 70th anniversary celebrations.
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The Dooen Duchess
The small town of Dooen is about 5km from Horsham near the Grampians National Park. The Henty Highway which runs from from Lascelles to Portland passes through the town.
In a DELWP video titled "Dooen Duchess" about the installation of solar panels on the hall, committee Secretary Kola Kennedy recounts some of the history as she looks at photos of "the tennis players ... the debutante balls ... the Electoral Commission ... the car club."
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Colin, a key volunteer for the project, on the trail in Koroit
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Port Fairy - Warrnambool Rail Trail
The Port Fairy - Warrnambool Rail Trail is a 37km walking/cycling pathway encompassing the historic towns of Port Fairy and Koroit, rural countryside, woodlands and native vegetation, the north side of a 25,000-year-old volcano (Tower Hill, with an amazing history you can learn about through an indigenous lens at Worn Gudjidj at Tower Hill), extensive sea views of Killarney, woodlands, coastal sand dunes, the Merri River wetlands and Warrnambool breakwater precinct.
Port Fairy to Warnambool Rail Trail Committee member Jenifer Dwyer emailed to let us know about a fun and innovative project where committee volunteers and a group of students from Hawkesdale P12College combined to refurbish some old train signals and fit them out with solar powered audio:
"The 'warning bells' and 'approaching train' noises add a new dimension to the trail. Another item at the Koroit Railway Station that has sparked plenty of interest is the yellow Donations Box, made and set up with a sound system. If you insert a donation, you will hear words of appreciation.
"Our committee of management is very grateful for the support of our ingenious, resourceful volunteers, for the time and effort that goes into these projects, creating interest, entertainment and railway ambience!"
Thankfully, at the time of this newsletter's publication, the October floods had not had a major impact on the rail trail, although parts of the trail near Kelly's Swamp and Levi's Point were covered with water for some days.
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Overdue 2021-22 Annual ReturnsThe due date for 2021-22 Annual Returns was 30 September 2022. Thanks to all the committees who have submitted.
If the recent flood event impacts on the capacity of your committee to complete the Annual Return, please let us know on voluntary.committees@delwp.vic.gov.au or 0404 255 317 when you get the opportunity to do so.
As well as being a legislative requirement of the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978, the Annual Return provides valuable information for DELWP’s oversight and support role for committees.
In addition to the required financial information, your committee is encouraged to use the 'Additional comments' section of the Annual Return to provide details about your reserve, including highlights and achievements and any issues for DELWP to conside
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Foundation for Rural and Region Renewal
The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal, or FRRR (F-triple-R) is a not-for-profit organisation that connects "common purposes and funding from government, business and philanthropy with the genuine local needs of rural people and places."
In recent years FRRR has provided some much welcome grant funding to Crown land reserve committees of management.
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Nature Fund and Biodiversity 2037
The Nature Fund encourages collaboration and partnerships between government, business, philanthropy and the community.
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Grant information links
- Note: Best use of these grant pages requires some thought to the 'filters' used (for example filtering out grant rounds that have closed). Eligibility criteria also need to be closely scrutinised as not all grants listed will be available to or suitable for your committee.
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DELWP website for committeesThe section of the DELWP website for committees of management, includes:
- Stories of Crown land reserves from across Victoria (including the full versions of stories from this E-News bulletin).
- The Committee of Management Guidelines and model policies for committees on topics such as Dispute Resolution and Conflict of Interest.
- Links to grant information.
- Insurance information and more!
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Contacting DELWPFor information about this newsletter or the committees of management section of the DELWP website, including contributions of stories and news about your reserve, contact DELWP on voluntary.committees@delwp.vic.gov.au.
For day-to-day issues, including changes to committee member contact details, committee appointment process, or other matters:
- Log a query in the Crown Land Kiosk for response by DELWP.
- Contact the DELWP Land and Built Environment (LBE) team responsible for supporting committees of management in your part of the state. Relevant offices for committees of management include Geelong, Hamilton, Traralgon, Bairnsdale, Ballarat, Horsham, Seymour, Wodonga, Bendigo, Mildura, Knoxfield (for all of Melbourne metro). The Communities and regions section of the DELWP website includes contact details for these regional DELWP offices.
- Contact the DELWP Customer Contact Centre on 136 186 or customer.service@delwp.vic.gov.au.
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