On Tuesday, July 11 that freezing, wet and windy day, our recycling truck was some four hours late, no doubt having spent much of that time picking up bins that had been blown over by gale force winds. It was about 5.30pm when they reached our house, raining, almost dark and five degrees. 

A car in our street had returned from work and parked right beside their unemptied bin. One collector alighted from the truck and moved the bin so they could empty it.

I’m sure many would have passed it by.

Just one more thing that makes our community a great place to be.

KATHLEEN RICKARD

Stawell

THE Berriwillock Bowling Green redevelopment ($200,000), Green Lake Water Security project ($50,000), Charlton Park 2020 development ($775,000) and Donald Community Precinct development ($475,000) will share in $1.5-million through the Drought Communities Program.

The proceeds need to be spent prior to June 30 2019.

Council will review the progress of each project in December 2017 and reallocate any money if they are not on track.

In May this year, the federal government declared Buloke Shire was eligible for support under the program.

The projects are seen as delivering the maximum benefits to the Buloke community by leveraging funding with other state and community funding streams to deliver important community projects.

The four projects are longstanding priorities for the Buloke community.

Three of the projects are backed by master plan and feasibility studies and they are key priorities in the local community plans.

The Green Lake Water Security project was given a high priority and is considered council’s most important community project. Through allocating $1.5-million towards the Berriwillock, Charlton, Green Lake and Donald projects, council is ambitiously aiming to undertake approximately $9.3-million of works.

When natural disasters such as drought happen, people need support to maintain connectedness.

While it has finally rained in the last few weeks, it hasn’t rained money.

The money enables community support through infrastructure and the employment of locals in building projects.

It is a very exciting day when we can announce investments in the Buloke community of this size and this nature.

Cr REID MATHER

Mayor, Buloke Shire

THE lens we choose to look through determines our perception of reality. Over the last few days, I have watched and listened to some people quickly judging and abandoning our Muslim community.

People, who choose to view the world through the frame of one lens, have only a one dimensional view of reality.

One dimensional people have little experience with the Muslim community and perpetuate racism based on media commentary, which only represents one experience and focuses on the extreme.

If we look through a one dimensional lens we risk becoming the voices of contempt, judgement, and irrationality.

The challenge for me is to view the world through many lenses to acknowledge the diversity within our country.

When I look through the lens of mainstream Australians I see the desire for peace and acceptance of all people.

When I look through the lens of mainstream Muslim community, I see decent people who value Australia and its values.

We must embrace our common humanity and as a united community, shout down the evil done around the world from extremists.

FATHER CHRIS RILEY

Youth Off The Streets