Thanks to the vicious attack, our strawberry farmers are hurting, with large New Zealand chain Foodstuffs now halting their shipments from Australia and many of our own suppliers pulling punnets off the shelves.

As long as we can ensure the safety of ourselves and our family; please support farmers and pick up a punnet of strawberries where you still can.

Police will continue their investigation to find these culprits with the food safety watchdog to also investigate whether there are any supply chain weaknesses.

So please purchase your Aussie grown strawberries, give them a good wash and cut them up to ensure they are safe to eat.

While you are at it maybe even get yourself some local grapes and oranges too.

We can all play a small part to support our Australian farmers.

Andrew Broad, Member for Mallee

FOLLOWING the release of the draft VEAC Central West Investigation into public land at the end of August, there’s been a fair bit of media coverage and lots of discussion in the community.

This is great, and exactly what should be happening at this draft recommendation stage of the VEAC process.

It shows just how passionate Victorians are about their natural environment and the value and enjoyment local communities receive from getting out into the great outdoors.

The investigation is about making sure we have the most appropriate management arrangements in place to conserve, protect and enhance the natural and cultural values of the iconic Wombat, Wellsford, Mount Cole and Pyrenees Range forests.

Let me be clear though, the state government understands that these forests and reserves are important to locals for domestic firewood collection and have been loved over many years for walking, camping, prospecting and other recreational pursuits.

That’s why under a Labor Government they’ll continue to remain open for future generations to enjoy.

VEAC themselves recommend that four-wheel driving, trail bike and horse riding, mountain biking, bushwalking and camping should continue.

The final report will be delivered in March next year, but before then I really encourage the community to get involved and have their say by October 31.

VEAC are required to take this feedback on-board before finalising their investigation.

Feedback can be provided online, in the post or at one of the drop-in sessions happening across the region.

Fact sheets, the draft report and other information about the investigation are also publicly available via the VEAC website or by making a free call to VEAC on 1800 134 803.

Lily D’Ambrosio, Energy, Environment and Climate Change Minister

WE WOULD like to say a big thank you to Wimmera and district residents for their incredible support of Foodbank this winter through the Woolworths winter fundraising appeal.

With demand for food relief outstripping supply, you have significantly helped warm-up winter for some of the most vulnerable people in the community.

Across 16 years, 16 million kilograms of food has been donated – that is the equivalent of more than 30 million meals donated to Foodbank by Woolworths since our partnership began in 2002.

And this winter, thanks to Woolworths customers, that number is growing even larger, providing much needed help to some of the 3.2 million Australians who require food relief assistance each year.

By generously adding so many $2 Foodbank tokens to shopping trolleys, Wimmera and district residents helped us reach our national goal of providing 762,948 meals to Australian families in need.

With each $2 token enabling Foodbank to provide four warming meals, Victoria contributed 114,340 meals.

With 40 per cent of food insecure households families having dependent children, the funds raised during the winter appeal have helped struggling families make ends meet.

Thank you once again for your generosity at a time of year when families most desperately need assistance. Woolworths’ aim of supporting the growing need for hunger relief and helping feed millions of Australians in need would not have been possible without your support.

Luke Maguire, manager, Woolworths Ararat, Horsham and Stawell group