However, there are also good news stories all around us, with both the state and federal government recognising the difficult times ahead for our communities and initiating measures of support to lessen the impact of the conditions.

We need to remind ourselves of all the positive events happening throughout our shire and how fortunate we are to be able to live in a rural community which affords us freedoms that people elsewhere do not have.

I was reminded of this while visiting the Jeparit Primary School, the winning school in the ‘Walk to School’ competition. Jeparit students do not have the luxury of a bus service but enjoy healthy lifestyle habits and the freedom to walk to school in a safe environment. Hindmarsh Shire Council provided a water bottle and pedometer to all our primary school students as part of the competition and is proud of all the students who participated.

We are also equally proud and most grateful to the number of volunteers within our shire and their ‘can do’ attitude. The Dimboola Rowing Regatta and Dimboola Fishing Classic were both successful events despite the water level of the river. The events attracted large numbers of visitors to Dimboola and provided a much-needed economic boost. Likewise, the recent formation of the Dimboola Dragon Boat Club ‘Wurreguk’ will provide further opportunities for recreational use of the river as well as the added benefits of social interaction.

We are blessed with a diversity of natural assets that provide opportunities for events that attract large numbers of visitors to our shire. Hopefully in years to come we will once again enjoy water in Lake Albacutya and Lake Hindmarsh. Nhill Lake is integral to the community for recreation and is the venue for the Fiesta Fridays in February featuring live music, food and fun.

Unfortunately, the lack of rainfall, combined  with the commitment to allocate water into recreational lakes, will see reduced environmental flows and  will likely have a negative impact on the health of our beautiful heritage-listed Wimmera River.  

DEBRA NELSON

Hindmarsh Shire Council