■ COMMUNITY CONNECT

UPCOMING AGEING WELL IN A CHANGING WORLD

An overview of the feedback obtained from senior Victorians on what it means to age well Presented by Gerard Monsour, Commissioner for Senior Victorians. Widely respected and outstanding advocate for the needs of older people, with over 30 years of leadership experience within the aged and community services sectors Where: Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre When: 2pm Tuesday 20th July 2021 Who should attend: Older people, their family members or carers Cost: FREE – afternoon tea included Bookings are essential. Please RSVP by Friday 16th July 2021 to: infohub@nhw.org.au or 1800 319 333

ONGOING

GROW Mental wellbeing: Depressed? Anxious? Isolated? Suffering grief or loss? Know someone who is? Grow groups meet weekly to offer peer support and use a proven educational program for mental wellbeing. Shepparton: 11 Service St, 1pm Wed. Tatura: 9 Kerferd St, 10am Wed. Visit www.grow.org.au for online groups. Details: Lindy 0448 052 769

CARAVAN CLUB THE MURRAY RIVER

RAMBLERS Would like to invite you to join us for relaxing weekends spent with like-minded RV enthusiasts, phone Kaye, 0408 230 147 MOOROOPNA CROQUET CLUB have sessions of croquet on Wednesday and Saturday mornings starting at 9.15am and Thursday evenings at 6.15pm. A good sport for all age groups, all equipment supplied, very friendly club. Ring 5825 4541 for more information. FAMILY ANONYMOUS Family Anonymous is a self-help group for families and friends of those individuals with drug, alcohol or related behavioural issues. Meetings are held each Wednesday from 6pm to 7.30pm at Church of Christ meeting room, corner of Nixon St and Corio St, Shepparton. For more details phone 0475 272 680 or email fashepparton@gmail.com OVER 60S FRIENDSHIP GROUP The over 60’s Friendship group is a friendly social group that meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at Cassablanca Restaurant, 125 High St Shepparton at 6:00pm to have a meal and discuss the coming months itinerary for day time and evening outings. We welcome singles, singles and friend and couples from the Shepparton and surrounding areas. There is no committee, fees, or commitment to attend outings, but input on where to dine out, places of interest to explore and fun activities are welcome. For more information please contact David on 0409 133 044 or Jan on 0458 211 104

If you would like to have your community activity listed in our revised Community Connect, simply submit details in 50 words or less to editorial@sheppartonadviser.com.au

Make your Home Fire Escape Plan these school holidays

VICTORIAN fire services are calling on families to take time out these school holidays to update their home fire escape plan.

Each year in Victoria, an average of 18 people lose their lives in house fires and many more are seriously injured.

Statistics from Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) and Country Fire Authority reveal that young children, along with older people, people with a disability, and smokers are at a higher risk of not surviving a fire in their home.

While the dangers of a fire are very real, there are steps people can take to keep their families and homes safe.

Visit frv.vic.gov.au or cfa.vic.gov. au to download a Home Fire Safety Booklet (available in many different languages including Arabic, Dari, Greek, Mandarin and many more), to learn Top Survival Tips, what parents need to know about home fire safety, and how to treat burns.

DISPLAYS OF KINDNESS AROUND SHEPPARTON... With a small grant from the State Government, young people have committed to making a display of kindness in the community, artist Rafiki and Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor, Cr Kim O’Keeffe stand before a display of artwork prepared by VCAT students at GOTAFE. Photo: Steve Hutcheson

Message of kindness displayed around town

PEOPLE in the region will begin to see messages of kindness being displayed around the region for people to enjoy as part of Victorian Youth Week 2021.

Greater Shepparton City Council were the proud recipients of a State Government $2,000 Victorian Youth Week grant that made the Young People Activate Kindness project possible. Victorian Youth Week is an annual event aimed at celebrating the talents, achievements and contributions of young people to their community.

The Young People Activate Kindness project encouraged young people, aged between 12 to 25 years, to create a message of kindness which could be shared with community members in need of some positive support.

Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor, Cr Kim O’Keeffe, said “This is a fantastic collaborative and creative project which brought together local young people to express themselves and share their positive thoughts and messages - a true sign of the incredible community spirit that surrounds us”

Young artist, Rafiki, a student at GOTAFE said about her kindness piece, “I started and stopped and restarted again. Flowers seemed to symbolise kindness.”

GVW customers continue to benefit from lower prices

GOULBURN Valley Water customers will continue to benefit from low water costs, as prices fall for the fourth year in a row.

Customers can expect to save about $22 annually on a typical residential bill, with new water and wastewater prices in effect from 1 July.

Bill prices for an average residential household will be about $874 annually in 2021-22, compared to $896 in 2020-21 - among the lowest water bill costs in the state.

Managing director, Dr Steve Capewell, said “GVW aimed to strike a balance between affordability and ensuring safe and reliable water and wastewater services.

“We’ve heard feedback from customers that they want us to keep water costs as low as possible, so we have mapped out a plan that will help us deliver on that promise.”

A key commitment of GVW’s current pricing plan sees bill costs reduce on average by two per cent each year until the plan ends in 2023.

Goulburn Valley Water will also not be charging interest on overdue accounts until further notice as a result of the pandemic.

Water and sewerage prices reflect the costs associated with sustaining and upgrading Goulburn Valley Water’s critical water and sewerage assets, comprising the network of dams, water and sewerage treatment plants, reservoirs, pumping stations, mains and more.

Goulburn Valley Water’s prices are set every five years as part of the regular pricing submission process, and reviewed and approved by the Essential Services Commission, Victoria’s independent essential services regulator.