Resilience of borough residents shines through

Hello to all Borough of Queenscliffe residents, ratepayers and visitors.

It’s hard to believe that we have now ticked over into the second half of the year, and while it’s been at times challenging and unpredictable, the resilience and community mindset of the people of the borough continues to shine through.

2021–22 Budget signed off
At the recent June Ordinary Meeting of Council that took place last week, my fellow councillors and I were pleased to officially adopt the 2021–22 Borough of Queenscliffe Budget. This is a balanced budget that continues council’s ethos of being financially responsible and maintaining existing services and infrastructure, while delivering priority projects and services that are valued by our community.

Council also adopted the new Revenue and Rating Plan on the same evening. To read and learn more about both of these documents, and to watch back the draft budget presentation that explains the inner workings of the documents in greater detail, visit our website.

Community sport is back and thriving
After a short COVID-enforced layoff, community sport is back and thriving in the borough and for so many of us, that weekend ritual of watching and/or playing sport has returned once again.
Last Saturday’s round of matches welcomed back senior-age football and netball to the Queenscliff Recreation Reserve, with a bumper local crowd and plenty of tourist park campers having the privilege of being able to watch a game played for a very special cause.

The Queenscliff and Drysdale Football Netball Clubs initiated the ‘Hand Up Cup’ after both clubs were tragically touched by mental health over the past few years. The name of the event acknowledges that people are encouraged to ‘put their hand up’ and ask for help and assistance when necessary, as well as offering someone ‘a hand up’ in support as required. Honours were shared on the day with Queenscliff winning the A Grade netball and Drysdale winning the senior football, and donations were made to local mental health organisation Read The Play – a very worthy cause.

Queenscliff Music Festival tickets on sale
Queenscliff has become synonymous with live music over the past couple of decades, thanks largely in part to the wonderful Queenscliff Music Festival, now approaching its 24th edition. Following a year off due to COVID in 2020, the festival is back for 2021 and tickets are available from 10am today (July 1) by visiting the Queenscliff Music Festival website.

The Borough of Queenscliffe has been a major partner of QMF for many years now and the festival’s promotion of arts and culture has seen it become a cornerstone of our yearly event calendar. We look forward to welcoming back visitors from across the country to take in the sights and sounds of our cherished little part of the world.

Film Festival a great success
The Bellarine Lighthouse Film Festival took place over the last weekend of June and attracted a fantastic turnout of culture lovers and film buffs at the Queenscliff Town Hall. My family and I joined locals and visitors throughout the weekend, with one of the highlights being a special Iraqi dinner on the Saturday evening. Those with a weekend pass were able to take in as many as five feature-length films over the course of three days, as well as guest speakers and Q&A sessions.

Despite an interrupted preparation as we went into and came out of a lockdown, the team at Bellarine Lighthouse Films were able to keep excitement high through steady promotion and the success of the event bodes well for future years. I’d like to congratulate all the volunteers who worked hard to complete this event. Council is proud to have sponsored this festival and we look forward to many more to come.

As always, if you have any questions or just want to chat about the borough, feel free to drop me a line.
Kind regards,
Cr Ross Ebbels
Mayor, Borough of Queenscliffe