Football and netball clubs are the lifeblood of regional Victoria.

They are a place where families make friends, young players become stars and the community gathers to support its local heroes.

Our government is giving players, parents, volunteers and fans the facilities they need.

Applications for the Country Football and Netball Program funding are now open and I would urge clubs in the Ararat and Northern Grampians municipalities to apply.

The grants give clubs a chance to apply for grants of up to $100,000 for facility improvements like change room upgrades, court refurbishments, ground resurface works or lighting installation.

The Labor government is listening to grassroots clubs in country Victoria, who say they need infrastructure upgrades to keep up with growing participation rate.

For more information or to apply online, visit www.sport.vic.gov.au or contact my office on 5332 2405.

JAALA PULFORD

Member for Western Victoria

WEST Wimmera Shire is to be commended for its commitment to end domestic violence.

However, I feel disappointed that the focus is only on female victims of family violence, when it is believed - and debated - that one in three victims are male.

Regardless of the statistic, wouldn’t it be terrific if the spotlight on violence in families was re-tuned without gender bias, acknowledging that some people (not men or women specifically) are abusive towards family members.

It must be humiliating enough for men to acknowledge being abused by a partner; now, with the focus on helping women who have experienced abuse, can you imagine how much harder this makes it for abused men to be open?

To be the ‘stronger sex’ comes with a greater responsibility to neither do harm to, nor actively defend oneself from physical harm if attacked by, a female partner.

To be the ‘stronger sex’ makes it harder to risk being the brunt of your mates’ jokes or disbelief if you admit to being abused.

By minimising the reality of men also being victims of family abuse and violence, we risk excluding them and making them feel unacknowledged. 

The issue of family violence - regardless of which partner is the abuser and which the abused (including, of course, same-sex relationships) - can only be improved by encouraging and facilitating open discussion in our communities and eliminating the belief that it’s only men who hit.

MELANIE Y’LANG DONOVAN

Harrow 

WIMMERA residents are urged to make sure they are prepared for the coming fire season, as the predicted hot weather and warm winds over coming days will create a very real fire risk. 

With the onset of hot weather and low rainfall over the past few months, it is a clear call for residents to be prepared for an early fire season.

The hot weather we have experienced in spurts over recent weeks, along with continuing dry conditions, means that the introduction of the fire danger period won’t be too far away.

What we are seeing is low rainfall and a rapidly yellowing landscape.

If people haven’t already done so, now is the time to get busy around their homes and to clean their gutters; clear leaf litter and other fine fuels from around homes; to remove flammable items such as paper, boxes and crates; and to store fuel supplies and chemicals away from houses.

With the fire danger period just around the corner, farmers need to ensure their equipment complies with requirements (water extinguishers or knapsack, exhausts systems that comply, free of mechanical defects).

Farmers also to check any burns that have been done in the last few months that have involved trees or stumps.

In the past, many fires have started from burn-offs conducted months previous to the fire danger period.  Farmers are also urged to check their vehicles as some vehicles pick up grass in the bash plates and the exhaust can cause them to ignite.

By taking a few extra minutes in their planning, people could save endless hours for CFA volunteers who are being called out to fires only to find it is a burn-off.

The CFA is urging all landholders who are commencing burning off to register their burn with Vic Fire on 1800 668 511.

If a member of the public rings Triple 000 to report a fire or smoke sighting and people have pre-registered their burn-off with Vic Fire, brigades may not need to be activated as authorities could cross check if it is a registered burn-off.

Under the Summary Offences Act (1966), landowners must not leave a fire unattended as it could result in damage to or destruction of life and property.

It is important that all landholders are aware of their responsibilities when incorporating burning off into their farm safety plan and take adequate precautions to ensure that all requirements are met.

For more information about preparing your property, or the fire danger period go to www.cfa.vic.gov.au

TREVOR EBBELS

District 17 Acting Operations Manager