Shepparton Update

Member for Shepparton and Minister for Local Government, Jeanette Powell was pleased to present 11 year old Bree Logan of Shepparton with the Goulburn Valley Regional Library Corporation’s Summer Reading Club competition trophy.

The competition stems from a Children’s Program titled the Summer Reading Club and the theme for 2011-2012 was “the amazing read”. This program is a national campaign to promote libraries and reading throughout the school holiday period.

Mrs Powell said to be selected out of over 200 entries is a major achievement for Bree.

“Her colouring of the ‘Wild Thing’ showed a great deal of talent, care and effort,” Mrs Powell said.

“Judging by the number of entries received it’s a very popular school holiday program.”

GVRLC has over 500 members aged between 1 and 17 who were eligible to enter the colouring competition through the libraries which form part of GVRLC within the

The future of Mooroopna Historical Society has been secured thanks to a $200,000 Victorian Government grant and support from Greater Shepparton City Council (GSCC) and the local community, Member for Shepparton Jeanette Powell said today.

The money fulfils an election promise Mrs Powell made prior to the Coalition’s election victory last year. The Victorian Government funding for the purchase was provided to Greater Shepparton City Council which also contributed $50,000.

Mrs Powell met with the Historical Society Committee and the Acting CEO of GSCC Julie Salomon at Grutzner House today to celebrate the purchase.

Jeanette with Owen Power (President MHS), David Fordyce (legal advisor) and Julie Salomon (Acting CEO GSCC) and other committee members

Mrs Powell said the funding has enabled the Society to purchase the historic Grutzner House, which is part of the old Mooroopna Base Hospital and the society’s home for the past three years.

“The Society has done a wonderful job in raising the remaining funds from the local community who were keen to see the museum stay onsite at the old Mooroopna Hospital,” Mrs Powell said.

“The Museum houses one of the most significant, complete and unique medical collections in Australia.

“It also has an extensive collection of war memorabilia and photographs and artefacts depicting the history of Mooroopna.

“Grutzner House is ideal for the Society’s needs, being in good condition and occupying nearly two standard house blocks.

“The space required to store all these items is considerable and I am pleased that Grutzner House is now in the hands of the Historical Society.”

Mrs Powell said the grant has ensured the society will keep its collection for the enjoyment and interest of the people of Mooroopna and visitors to the town.

“It is important for the volunteers of the Mooroopna Historical Society to have a museum to house this unique historical collection so it was not sent to storage and lost to the community forever.”

Member for Shepparton, Jeanette Powell today presented the Tatura & District Historical Society with a $3000 grant from the Victorian Coalition Government’s Local History Grants Program.

Mrs Powell said the Local History Grants help local communities record and preserve their local stories allowing them to be shared with future generations


Jeanette presents a certificate and cheque to Tatura Historical Society Preseident Evert Worm, along with research officer Arthur Knee

“The Tatura Historical Society will use the funds to preserve its valuable collection through the scanning and digitising of its photos and records, bringing it into the 21st Century,” Mrs Powell said.

“The Society has a unique archive of records, photos and memorabilia which covers the history of irrigation in the area, local and family histories since white settlement and the prisoner of war and internment camps established during World War 11.

“It is a valuable source of research material for academics, school students and families and by scanning and digitising the records it will allow worldwide access to the collection.

“This grant will ensure the many amazing stories of our past held at Tatura are preserved and able to be shared with the community.”

“It also recognises and celebrates the valuable contribution made by the volunteers of the Tatura Historical Society in preserving our local history and heritage.

“They hold a wealth of stories which cover the rich and diverse history of our great region which will be preserved and eventually available for worldwide access,” Mrs Powell said.

On 1 Wednesday June 2011, Jeanette along with other members of parliament help launched the Heart Foundation's Healthy Heart Challenge at Parliament House.

Mrs Powell said the campaign aimed to raise awareness of heart disease as the number one killer of Australian women.

“I attended the Go Red For Women event at Parliament House to celebrate its launch and learned that heart disease kills four times as many women as breast cancer and almost as many women as men, yet research has found that most people still assume heart disease only affects older men.”



As part of this year’s Go Red for Women campaign the Heart Foundation will stage a Healthy Heart Challenge as a practical way for women to improve their health.

The challenge starts on June 1 and is a free 10-week challenge designed to provide women with realistic steps to build changes into their lifestyle to improve their heart health in the long-term.

On registering, participants will be asked to select one of six key goals and they will be supported to achieve this through weekly tips and information to keep them motivated.

The Heart Foundation’s target is to have 20,000 Australian women sign up nationwide.

Member for Shepparton, Jeanette Powell officially opened the Shepparton Public Cemetery Mausoleam at the Cemetery on Rudd Road, Shepparton today.



Mrs Powell congratulated the nine Shepparton Public Cemetery Trust members for their efforts in bringing the project to fruition.

She also acknowledged Emilio Fiorenza and Frank Mammone for their input and work with the Cemetery Trust on behalf of the Italian Community in the establishment of the Mausoleum.

“This is a first for the Shepparton district and was a vision that took years to complete,” Mrs Powell said.

“This project was completed thanks to the generosity and fundraising of the Trustees and the community.”

The Mausoleum was blessed by Mons Peter Jeffery and Father Michael Grace following the opening ceremony.

There are 48 Crypts in the first stage of the Mausoleum, 18 of which are still available to purchase by members of the community.

The Nationals Member for Shepparton Jeanette Powell today presented ten multicultural seniors groups in the Shepparton electorate a total of nearly $20,000 in funding from the Victorian Government.

Mrs Powell said each year the Victorian Multicultural Commission runs a Community Grants Program which provides support to Victoria's culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

“These grants are aimed specifically at supporting multicultural senior citizens clubs to hold regular social and community strengthening activities,” Mrs Powell said.

"The Shepparton district has been enriched by the presence of people from all over the world and with such a diverse multicultural society it is very pleasing to see these community groups receiving much needed funding from the Baillieu Government.

“These grants will assist them to hold regular activities and events which will provide them with friendship and support in their later years.”



Successful organisations to receive funds in the Shepparton electorate include: St Joseph’s Committee; Dutch Australian Society Social Club; Le Belle Arti; Dutch Independent Senior Citizens of Oz; Maltese Community of Shepparton and District; Shepparton Italian Women’s group; Saint Nicolaas Club of Greater Shepparton; Tatura Italian Social Club Inc; Tatura Italian Women’s group; and Tatura Italo Australian & Friends.

Mrs Powell said some of the activities funded included: luncheons, seminars, theatrical performances, festivals and other social and cultural events.

“I welcome this funding and thank the Minister for Multicultural Affairs Mr Nick Kotsiras for the funding.

“These grants will help to address the needs of our multicultural community, combat the disadvantages faced by many while at the same time promoting community cohesion and harmony,” Mrs Powell said.

Member for Shepparton, Jeanette Powell attended the City of Greater Shepparton Australia Day celebrations in Queen’s Gardens this week.

She is pictured here with Greater Shepparton’s Citizen of the Year, Mario Bettanin.



Mr Bettanin was rewarded for his long service to the Shepparton community. He arrived and settled in Shepparton in 1950.

His long list of service to the community includes membership of: St Mel’s Catholic Church parish council; Shepparton and District Ethnic Council; Shepparton Multicultural Hostel; Italian Services Advisory Council; Ave Maria Village; and the Italian Social Club.

Mr Bettanin has also contributed to the wider community through his 40 year Rotary club membership, the scouts, meals on wheels volunteer and member of Shepparton South technical College school council.

In 2004, he hosted the Italian Consul on an official visit to northern Victoria, helping to plan the tour which enabled the consul to meet hundreds of people.

He currently produces a weekly radio program for Vision Australia which helps elderly Italians who have difficulty reading the newspaper.

The Nationals candidate for Murray Valley, Tim McCurdy and Jeanette Powell, The Nationals Member for Shepparton, were in Beechworth and Wangaratta this week (Wednesday 21st).
Mr McCurdy and Mrs Powell met with Indigo Shire Council in the morning then travelled to Wangaratta to meet with locals and Mr Graham Nickless at Wangaratta Unlimited.
Mrs Powell said the meeting with Indigo Shire was important as it was recently named in the ‘Whelan Report’ as one of 18 small rural councils that face significant challenges.
“The Nationals understand the challenges faced by rural councils with a small rate base and were keen to hear of Indigo Shire’s specific issues.”
Tim McCurdy said that the Indigo Shire discussions included the need for VicRoads to match the shire dollar for dollar to continue the bypass strategy for Rutherglen.
“Importantly, we discussed the need to remove the trucks from the main street.
“The next phase of the bypass is to examine the environmental and social impacts of the best routes,” Mr McCurdy said.
“Other issues of concern to the council were the inadequate funding for control of roadside weeds and the continual increase in costs for the library.
“As a former councillor of the Moira shire I understand the struggle that faces each shire to maintain an excellent level of service with minimal increase in the rates.”



In the afternoon Mr McCurdy and Mrs Powell travelled to Wangaratta to meet with Graham Nickless of Wangaratta Unlimited.
Mr McCurdy said it was explained that Wangaratta Unlimited is the Rural City of Wangaratta's economic development arm and is committed to encouraging new investment and creating the right environment for businesses to achieve growth.
“This was an excellent meeting and it was important to hear of Wangaratta Unlimited’s initiatives to promote, enhance and generate sustainable economic development within the Rural City of Wangaratta,” Mr McCurdy said.
Mrs Powell said the visit was about listening to and talking with local representatives in Murray Valley to understand their needs.
“Tim showed he has an excellent understanding of local issues.
“He is an outstanding candidate for The Nationals and will make a tremendous Member for Murray Valley,” Mrs Powell said.

The Nationals Member for Shepparton was pleased to present Maddison Shultz and Simon Hutchings of Shepparton with their free Western Bulldogs Membership for season 2010 last Friday.
Mrs Powell said two weeks ago, the Western Bulldogs asked her to give away two ‘Community Year of the Bulldogs’ memberships, valued at $180 each, to reinforce the Western Bulldogs reputation as an AFL ‘Community Club’.



“I was very pleased to be part of this very generous offer by the club and it was great to have so many local Bulldogs supporters enter the competition,” Mrs Powell said.
“Maddison was pleased with her win, as with five in the family, the membership makes it more affordable now that they don’t have to pay for her ticket when they get to Melbourne.
“Simon is a passionate Bulldogs fan and already shares a membership with mates. He was extremely appreciative of the membership package as he can now attend and enjoy every home game with one of his friends.
“This was a great initiative by the Western Bulldogs and I congratulate them on their initiative in helping country fans enjoy the game,’’ Mrs Powell said.

Member for Benalla Bill Sykes and Jeanette planted the first tree at Odyssey House at Molyulah.