PARK PARTY RAISES CONCERNS
To the Editor,
On Saturday, June 21, a bunch of local rabbits, masquerading as young humans, lit a fire and held a boozy party in Chinaman’s Gardens, Mooroopna.
The next day, when the smouldering fire was dying, the cans (about 30) and stubbies (about 12) from beer boxes were strewn about the park, only metres from a rubbish bin.
Now, littering is a learned flaw – taught to children by parents, in the same manner as is religion and politics.
I suppose some might say the people involved were young and not responsible and, in reply, I might ask then who is? Perhaps they were so young and could not read the sign banning the consumption of alcohol. Perhaps the parents of littering children should be held accountable?
Chinaman’s Gardens is a public park set by the Goulburn River and frequented by many citizens. Rules against camping and the consumption of alcohol in a public place have been created by City of Greater Shepparton but seem to be unenforceable.
I propose the erection of two, or more, solar-powered digital cameras which would cover some of the large park.
The cameras would run continuously and be recorded in the Council offices in Welsford Street, Shepparton. A Parks and Gardens staffer would be obliged to check for offenders, once or twice each week, checking number plates or any other identifying feature. Council might then have a chance of enforcing their own laws.
Sincerely,
John Mackellar
Mooroopna
TAXING US, THEN CUTTING SERVICES
Dear Editor,
The Allan Labor Government is taking more and giving less – and it doesn’t want you to know about it.
Regional Victorians are about to pay an extra $3 billion under Labor’s new emergency services tax, yet get less in frontline services.
A Government Gazette has revealed three significant funding cuts in 2025-26: Fire Rescue Victoria is losing $115M, the Country Fire Authority $42M and the SES $8.4M.
In Parliament last week, I asked the Emergency Services Minister to confirm the base funding for each organisation for 2025-26 but she refused to answer.
All the Minister needed to provide was a single number. She couldn’t or wouldn’t – confirming these cuts are coming.
So it is simple – Labor is hitting you for more, then taking it away from emergency services, clearly to plug holes in the budget.
Labor can’t manage money and regional Victorians are paying the price.
The Nationals and Liberals will scrap the tax and relieve this cost of living imposed on every Victorian.
Danny O’Brien MP
Leader of The Nationals
BECAUSE EVERY WORKER DESERVES TO GO HOME SAFE
To the Editor,
Whether it’s in the office, out on the factory floor or in the rows of the orchard, every worker deserves to go home safe after each shift.
However, one of the challenges for our horticultural workforce is accessibility of training materials, and an absence of support for workers whose primary language is not English.
Working with community representatives, local horticulture business stakeholders, and government organisations, it was a pleasure to recently see the fruits of our labour realised through targeted training materials for our culturally and linguistically diverse communities who work within the horticulture space.
Resources are publicly accessible on the Fruit Growers Victoria website, and I would highly encourage farm managers, pickers, and everyone who works in the horticultural space to access these resources and share them onto their contacts.
Because together we can make sure that every worker gets to go home.
Kind regards,
Rowan Farren
Mooroopna
