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22 MARCH, 2022
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A honey pot of learning
Isobel Campbell was delighted her design was chosen for the Salesian College honey. (Supplied)
Things are looking pretty sweet for attendees at this year’s Rupertswood Harvest Festival, where Salesian College will be selling honey from their onsite bees. While the honey-making process is still being developed by the school’s farm team to be incorporated into their agriculture curriculum, students have been involved in the design and entrepreneurial side of the venture. Year eight student Isobel Campbell was delighted her artwork was selected as the design for the honey. “My two most favourite interests are the environment and art, this combined my love for both,” Ms Campbell said. Acting farm manager Peter Syrimi said setting up the project and working beekeeping into the students’ learning would help them understand the importance of every creature within complex ecosystems. “As an amateur beekeeper for 14 years, setting up the apiary was relatively easy and enjoyable, as well as getting industry suppliers to come on this journey with the college, knowing the benefits the project would have,” Mr Syrimi said. After two years, Rupertswood Harvest is back on April 1, with live music, food vans, student exhibitions, farm animals and local business stallholders.
Crime falls in the Ranges By Elsie Lange The overall crime rate in the Macedon Ranges decreased 26 per cent last year, while it fell 18 per cent in Hume. From robbery to arson, stalking to drug manufacturing, Crime Statistics Agency data demonstrates a general downturn in most recorded offences. In Gisborne, the crime rate plummeted by 25 per cent, 20 per cent in Kyneton and 41 per cent in Woodend. Sunbury recorded a 16 per cent downturn
in crime, while Diggers Rest and Bulla experienced increases in crime, at 33 per cent and 29 per cent respectively. Bulla’s increase can be linked to a sharp increase to breaches of orders – in 2020 there were just eight offences, in 2021, there were 71. Breaches of orders include breaches of family violence orders, intervention orders and bail conditions. The crime behind Diggers Rest’s increase was theft, with 42 offences recorded in 2021, compared to 15 in 2020. A spokesperson from the Macedon Ranges
crime investigation unit said he has seen the reduction in crime on the ground, especially since they adopted a “community policing approach” about six months ago. “We’re engaging at the policing level with these offenders, where we refer them to programs to treat the cause of their offending, whether it be drug use, or alcoholism, or breakdown of family, or breakdown of financial circumstances,” the spokesperson said. He said a change in personnel and a younger police force in the region had a tangible impact on communities in the region.
“We’re not above the community, we are the community,” he said. Victoria Police regional operations Deputy Commissioner Rick Nugent said they were “pleased” Victoria had the lowest number of victims in the state since 2010. “While it is likely that overall crime will increase as the community returns to normality, the early signs are relatively positive,” Mr Nugent said. “To date, we have not seen a rapid return across all crime categories, with police intelligence indicating overall offending still remains below pre-pandemic levels.”
Mary-Anne Thomas MP
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LABOR MEMBER FOR MACEDON DELIVERING FOR OUR COMMUNITY
Authorised by MA Thomas, Shop 14, Nexus Centre, 9 Goode Street, Gisborne
A: Shop 14, Nexus Centre, 9 Goode Street, Gisborne, VIC 3437 P: 5428 2138 E: mary-anne.thomas@parliament.vic.gov.au MaryAnneMacedon @MaryAnneThomas maryannethomasmp
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