News

  • Nod for Pomonal farmers market

    AFTER a lengthy investigation, Ararat Rural City Council has named Pomonal Estate vineyard as the destination for the municipalities new farmers market.
    Last July, council received $30,000 from the Victorian Government to establish a farmers market in the region.
    At the time, council CEO Tim Harrison said he wanted the market to be established in one of the smaller towns surrounding Ararat.
    On Wednesday, Dr Harrison visited Pomonal Estate to confirm they would be the ongoing hosts of a monthly farmers market.

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  • COUNCIL REVEALS ELECTION WISHLIST

    ARARAT Rural City Council has identified seven priority projects it would like funded as part of election commitments from the major parties.
    With a federal and state election due this year, Council’s CEO Tim Harrison said he and his team will be working hard to achieve commitments from both sides.
    He said 2022 was an ideal opportunity to get funding commitments.
    “We don’t get a double election year very often and it is the perfect time for us to get commitments to benefit our communities,” he said.
    “We’ve got politicians who want to get elected and we’ve got to take full advantage of, dare I say, pork barrelling.”

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  • Dedicated mental health service pleases health chief

    ARARAT will receive funding for a locally based mental health service in this year’s state budget.
    The Andrews Government has included Ararat in 21 locations for a Local Adult and Older Adult Mental Health and Wellbeing Service.
    The government said the service is a new model of care that will see Victorians get the mental health support they need, as soon as they need it, close to home.
    Member for Western Victoria, Jaala Pulford, said the local services will act as a ‘front door’ to the reformed mental health system, providing early intervention support for adults experiencing mental illness or psychological distress without needing a referral from a GP, and before people need clinical hospital emergency department.

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  • SES deployed to floodzone

    AN Ararat SES volunteer has spoken of the devastation he faced when deployed to flood impacted areas of northern New South Wales last week.
    Jordan Bush, the Acting Controller of Ararat SES, spent four days helping around Casino and Coraki, describing the damage as “incomprehensible”
    He said coverage of the floods on television could not prepare him for what he saw.
    “It’s way worse than what it is being presented as on the television,” he said.

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  • Dyson promises better representation

    INDEPENDENT candidate Alex Dyson says he’s running in the seat of Wannon to win and deliver a better outcome for locals.
    Alex Dyson would be known to some readers as an author and Triple-J radio presenter, but he is  passionate about politics, the Wannon electorate (where he grew up) and getting a better deal for locals.
    He was in Ararat last Friday to meet with locals and learn about the issues and aspirations of the local community.
    Alex Dyson ran as an independent in Wannon at the 2019 election, achieving an impressive 10.3% of the vote.

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  • Sheep Dog Trials commence next week

    By Max McLean. OUR 94th Annual Moyston Sheep Dog Trials will be held at the Moyston Recreation Reserve from Thursday 17th to Saturday 19th March. Our trials are the longest continuously running trials in Australia and with a lot of luck we managed to hold them during the main COVID times. The program for the […]

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  • New tourism boss

    GRAMPIANS Tourism has recently appointed a new chairman to lead the organisation though the post-pandemic period.
    The Ararat Advocate understands former Victorian Farmers Federation President David Jochinke was elected at a recent meeting of stakeholders.

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  • Raising funds for new tanker

    GREAT Western Fire Brigade have stepped up their fundraising efforts, with a new tanker in their sights.

    The brigade have recommenced their Friday night meat tray raffle at the Great Western Hotel after a two year break due to COVID.

    The brigade also recently received the proceeds of the Punters Club at this year’s Great Western races.

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