I urge farmers to take advantage of what we have been granted and to contact the rates department to find out what their new rates may be. I especially urge those farmers who were lucky enough not to have a revaluation increase in 2016 to collect this information and pass it on to our group. We need farmer assistance to help you in compiling our case to council. 

If you own a house in Horsham we would like to know how much your rates discount will be. Farmers must pay an increase of $646,000 to fund the $539,211 rates reduction council intends to give to the residential sector.

I urge farmer's to contact the Horsham Rural City Council’s rates department with your property ID to request a copy of your interim valuation. 

Neville McIntyre, McKenzie Creek

NATIONAL Volunteer Week last week was a time to celebrate and acknowledge the generous individuals who help make our communities what they are.

Whether it be looking after the canteen at the footy club, delivering meals on wheels, tending to the environment, responding to emergencies with the Country Fire Authority or State Emergency Service, or helping with fire recovery like BlazeAid, we are all better off for their efforts. 

Without the tireless efforts of volunteers, many organisations in the area simply would not be able to function.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, more than one in three Australians volunteer. In regional areas, 41 per cent of people report volunteering. They are the threads that bind communities together. Of course, for many, as well as giving something back to the community, volunteering itself is a fulfilling and enriching experience, a way to make new friends and derive a sense of purpose. 

I encourage everyone reading this to consider what they may able to be do for their local neighbourhood, and extend my warmest congratulations to everyone who contributes, in whatever way, big or small, by volunteering in our community.

Gayle Tierney, Member for Western Victoria

THE Transport Accident Commission is supporting one woman’s mission to help severely injured people gain independence.

Katherine Johnston became a TAC and Guide Dogs Victoria client after she suffered a severe brain injury eight years ago following a car crash that left her in a coma for six weeks and having to learn basic tasks again.

During her rehabilitation, Katherine and her team of providers developed a system using a TAC-supplied iPad to communicate and store crucial information Katherine needed access to.

Kathrine believed this system could help others and developed the iReach app to assist in their rehabilitation.

The TAC will provide $48,846 to Guide Dogs Victoria through the Small Grants Program to help Katherine develop the iReach app so that others can benefit from her learnings.

The iReach app will provide personalised messages between users and their chosen health care providers, therapists and carers. 

The app will also enable medical professionals, therapists and carers to effectively share and communicate client updates, appointments and care instructions with each other and the user; it will provide a simple GPS function to assist users with independence and navigation; send automated reminders of medical and therapy appointments; and provide audio/visual assistance for users, including step-by-step video guidance for therapy tasks.

Robin Scott, Finance Minister