The Wimmera Regional Sports Assembly’s mission statement is “providing active participation and opportunities in sport and recreation for all.” This statement drives our strategic direction and forms a large part of our Vichealth (Regional Sport Program) and Sport and Recreation Victoria (Supporting Victorian Sport and Recreation) funded programs.

We are all very aware of how obesity exacerbates health issues and it is imperative, we as a community are supporting our children to be active at an early age and educating them on the benefits of being physically active is the challenge we face as a community into the future.

Fully compliant, modern, accessible and up-to-date facilities will go a long way to achieving community’s goals, and turning this generation into the next generation of healthy adults, is what our community could be striving to support.

As a member of the Project Control Group I have been involved in the project from day one. That’s not to mention I have been a member of this community for well on 30 years now. In my role at the Wimmera Regional Sports Assembly I believe I have a good understanding of what our local community sport needs are.

The work the Project Control Group has done in answering the brief that was put in front of us and the diligence put into selecting the site and the input into the concept design has been a long and intense process. Members have put a lot of thought and used a great deal of science to come up with the answers we believe are right for this project.

All members have taken a big-picture view of this project. It is what this community needs for the next 50 years.

The Wimmera Regional Sports Assembly believes council has stood strong through this whole process and will continue to stand strong in support of what this community needs for the future.

As an organisation that actively encourages participation and accessibility for all, the Wimmera Regional Sports Assembly would love nothing more than to be able to deliver opportunities from a venue that is accessible, compliant and modern.

The time is right now for this community to get behind a major project that is going to benefit all sport and potential new sports well into the future in new facilities that meet 21^st century standards.

David Berry, executive officer, Wimmera Regional Sports Assembly

AUSTRALIA Day on January 26 is a day of unification for all Australians.

It is a day to recognise and take pride in the way the nation has matured. It celebrates new migrants and our commitment to the history, and future, of Australia’s Indigenous people. 

Like all nations, Australia has a pitted past of memorable and forgettable events – neither a reason to dump our national day. 

The Greens Party is deep into dangerous territory by trying to create division, derision and animosity within Australia by seeking to change the date to a day that better reflects the troubled Indigenous experience from 1788. They want to rewrite history. 

The Greens Party’s Geelong City Councillor, Sarah Mansfield, is indicating she won’t attend civil duties on that day as a form of protest. With the greatest respect to Ms Mansfield, I am not sure that she will be overtly missed. But she will no doubt be satisfied she has complied with the ugly demands of her leader Richard Di Natale.

Aboriginal people don’t all agree with the calls for change.

Alice Springs Councillor and indigenous women, Jacinta Price, told 3AW radio that the message is not coming from remote Australia – but from the inner-city – and a divisive Di Natale. She draws the comparison with Anzac Day – with Turks and Australians standing together in memory, forgiveness and hope for the future together.

Changing the date or the name does not change history. We have said Sorry. We spend billions every year for Indigenous advancement. Australia Day on January 26 celebrates all that we are and all that we want to be.

Simon Ramsay, Member for Western Victoria

WITH a number of hot days ahead, I would like to reinforce the message to your readers not to leave their children in cars this summer under any circumstance.

Concerning new data shows ambulance crews responded to 1696 callouts across Victoria in the year to August, with the vast majority being cases involving toddlers and babies. A number of those callouts were in Western Victoria.

The Andrews Government is working with agencies like Kidsafe and Ambulance Victoria to increase awareness and remind parents just how easy it is to underestimate the time it can take to run a quick errand.

On average, four children a day are being put at risk of serious heat-related injury or death by being left unattended in parked cars. A car’s temperature can more than double within minutes, meaning on a typical summer day the temperature inside a parked car can quickly become 20 to 30 degrees hotter than outside. Kids’ body temperatures rise three to five times faster than an adult’s, meaning they are at greater risk of life-threatening heat stroke, dehydration and organ damage when left in the car.

In Victoria, it is against the law to leave children unattended, with offenders facing fines of up to $3900 or jail for six months, or both.

Jaala Pulford, Member for Western Victoria.