MAYOR’S COLUMN – September 13, 2018

Transition Towns Borough of Queenscliffe, in association with the Queenscliff and District Men’s Shed, is inviting people with specialist skills such as sewing and mending, jewellery and clock repairs, and information technology, to donate their time and capabilities at the first Queenscliff Repair Café event.

A Repair Café is an event where specialists volunteers endeavour to fix broken items for the cost of parts and a small donation. The Transition Towns Borough of Queenscliffe Repair Café will be held at the Queenscliffe Neighbourhood House on Saturday October 6 2018 from 10am until noon.

Council encourages handy people in our community to volunteer their services at the Repair Café. If you would like to find out more, please contact Brooke Connor on 0422 705 768.

2018–19 Valuation and Rate Notices
The First Instalment of Borough of Queenscliffe 2018–19 Valuation and Rate Notices was distributed to all ratepayers at the beginning of September.

Council is encouraging ratepayers with access to the internet to sign up for our improved eNotices system and receive your Valuation and Rate Notices by email. Nearly 18 per cent of Borough of Queenscliffe ratepayers are already signed up for eNotices, saving time for themselves and supporting Council to save on distribution costs and paper usage.

Visit queenscliffe.enotices.com.au to sign using the unique eNotices Reference Number found on your rates notice. If you have any questions about eNotices or your 2018–19 Valuation and Rate Notice, please contact Council’s Customer Service Team on 5258 1377 or [email protected].

2018 Victorian Seniors Festival
Council has a range of local events scheduled to celebrate the 2018 Victorian Seniors Festival, including a bus trip and luncheon to a National Trust property, the Mayor’s Over 80s Luncheon, a musical comedy by the Queenscliffe Lighthouse Theatre Group, book launches, guest speakers, movies and more.

With more than half of the people in our community aged 60 or over, the annual Seniors Festival is a wonderful way to celebrate and acknowledge their contribution to our community.

Seniors Festival events in the Borough of Queenscliffe will run throughout October. Look out for the program of local events, which will be available from Council’s offices at 50 Learmonth Street, Queenscliff, the Visitor Information Centre and the Queenscliff Library in late September. Details for each event, including any associated cost, will be listed in the program.

Public transport will be free for Victorian Seniors Card holders from Sunday October 7 to Sunday October 14 2018. Visit the Seniors Online Victoria website, www.seniorsonline.vic.gov.au, for further details on free travel and Victorian Seniors Festival 2018 events and activities across Victoria.

Get active with Walk to School
Council is proudly supporting our local primary school students to get active during Walk to School month in 2018.

The VicHealth initiative encourages children to build healthy habits for life by walking, riding or scooting to school during October.

We are delighted to partner with Camp Wyuna to host a healthy breakfast for local primary school students again this year. Council is encouraging the students to be creative and have fun, with prizes to be awarded for participating and getting active.

Walk to School month runs from Monday October 8 2018 to Friday November 2 2018. If you would like to read more about VicHealth’s Walk to School program, please visit walktoschool.vic.gov.au.

Take care of our wildlife
Our Customer Service team recently received an enquiry from a Borough resident who found a dead barn owl in her garden. A local veterinary practice has advised Council that any resident who finds a dead bird of prey or sees a bird of prey that is obviously unwell should contact the nearest vet or, if there is no vet nearby or available, call Wildlife Victoria on 03 85400 7300. Vets will cover any cost associated with treatment or disposal of these birds.

R U OK Day
Thursday September 13 2018 is R U OK Day, the national day of action to remind us that any day is a good day to ask family, friends and colleagues “Are you ok?”

The R U OK website provides a range of information to help people start a meaningful conversation and stay connected. Visit ruok.org.au to find out more about this important initiative.