December, 2015 - Suzanna Sheed

Suzanna’s Weekly Blog

December 15, 2015/in Blog, Latest News

Last week was the final week of Parliament for 2015. I am so pleased to be back in the electorate for the next couple of months. With my large extended and blended family we had our first Christmas family gathering on Saturday and combined it with Peter’s birthday. He is a real gadget man and loved his present. I always struggle with presents for those members of the family whose birthdays are so close to Christmas!

My week began with a full day of the Family and Community Development Committee public hearing in Melbourne. We heard testimony from several witnesses and organisations. It has been very disappointing to hear how the system has failed a number of people. I hope the recommendations of the committee will be taken into account by the government to change this.

Road safety – During parliament, I used my members’ statement to discuss road safety. It seems that lately every other news story is about a road accident. I mentioned that ten people have died on the roads in the Shepparton local government area this year. At the same time last year it was only two. Thirty-five people have died in motor vehicle accidents across the Goulburn Valley this year to date. I urge the community to take extra care on our country roads so that holidays for all Victorians and their families are happy and peaceful.

Crown land – I also spoke on the Land (Revocation of Reservations) Bill 2015 which I supported. One very small bit of land that is in my electorate at Waaia was referred to in the bill and the permanent reservation of that land was revoked. The piece of land in question occupies only 0.2 of a hectare on the Broken Creek, east of Nathalia but it belonged to a family who had purchased the land only to find that part of their house had been built over the boundary on Crown land back in the 1930s. The legislation will revoke a permanent reservation and enable this family to purchase the land which their house occupies.

Public transportI had the opportunity to catch up briefly with the Minister for public transport Jacinta Allen. She arranged for me to be briefed by her advisers who also sought my feedback from the community consultations. I anticipate that we will hear more about the outcomes of the Regional Development Network Plan early in the New Year.

Events that I and/or my staff attended during the week include:

A joint Amnesty International and Oxfam breakfast on the issue of Indigenous Youth Justice. We heard from Antoinette Braybrook, CEO of the Aboriginal Family Violence Legal Prevention Service.
I attended a seminar entitled ‘Detroit: What lessons for Victoria from a post-industrial city?’ presented by Dr Tom Barnes. Detroit is perhaps the global exemplar of industrial decline. After decades of depopulation and deindustrialisation, the ‘Motor City’ was severely undermined by America’s recession in 2008-09 and the bankruptcy of its city government in 2013. Importantly, Detroiters are implementing a range of innovative measures in response to these challenges. I was most interested to take on board that some of the work in education could be relevant to our electorate.
I was honoured to meet with several local volunteers from the electorate at parliament on Wednesday. Congratulations to local volunteers Joan Mitchell and June Murray. Joan received the Molly Hadfield Special Commendation and is one of several public housing tenants recognised on Tuesday at the Penington Hadfield Awards for work in their communities. Rumbalara independent living resident June also received a Certificate of Recognition at the Pennington Hadfield Awards. You can read more about these awards here: http://www.housing.vic.gov.au/frances-penington-and-molly-hadfield-awards
I used my constituency question to ask the Minister for Police to find a solution for volunteers who are currently required to obtain police checks for each organisation they volunteer for.
Ronni from my office attended the McAuley Champagnat Programme (MCP) “True Colours” ceremony on Tuesday. The school put on a lovely ceremony which included Katrina Mohamed singing the Cyndi Lauper song, True Colors. There were 5 teams of students that each presented what they have achieved during the year. MCP is an innovative educational programme of Notre Dame College, designed to meet the educational needs of disengaged students in the Greater Shepparton Region that are not being met by current education providers. They have just celebrated their 10^th year and have had some fantastic outcomes for our local youth. I wish all the students good luck.
Ronni also attended the launch of the latest mural on Welsford St at the Shepparton police station. This mural was painted by Echuca resident Neva Atkinson. The new addition depicts two turtles that represent the land of the Yorta Nation and denotes police and aboriginal people working together for better outcomes. This mural was added to the others done by local artist, Tank. This is a great visual which represents the social cohesion within our region. Kudos to Thelma Bull for having the foresight for this project.

I am sure that most students are very excited about this being their last week of school before the break. For those who are graduating this year, I send my congratulations.

I hope many of you can come along to the GV Health Community Advisory Group public forum tomorrow night at the Parklake.

Suzanna

Agencies meet to discuss Barmah fire risk

December 15, 2015/in Media Releases

The biggest issue firefighters face this summer in Barmah National Park is access to the park and the heavy dry fuel load, Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed said after a tour of the forest with DELWP chief fire officer Alan Goodwin this week.

“After meeting DELWP, CFA captains and Parks Victoria staff in the forest, I’m satisfied that agencies understand the risks and will work co-operatively to manage the park over the holiday period,’’ Ms Sheed said.

“That said, they have made it clear that compliance will be enforced if people ignore warnings on Total Fire Ban and Code Red days.”

Ms Sheed met Mr Goodwin, senior DELWP and Parks Victoria staff and local CFA members at Yalca before they went into Barmah National Park to inspect Chinamans Garden where there was a bushfire in February 2014 and a planned burn later that year. Next the group moved on to Browns Camp, which had a planned burn in October 2008.

Mr Goodwin discussed fire behaviour in Red Gum Forests and outlined how fuel hazards are assessed and how they build up again after fires.

The final area to look at was the Gulf track strategic break. There Mr Goodwin outlined the agencies’ approach to fire management in Barmah including strategic fire breaks, access, protecting private land from fires originating in the forest, and methods of alternative fuel treatment.

Along with Mr Goodwin, Ms Sheed met key DELWP staff Shaun Lawlor (Hume Region fire and land manager), Goulburn District manager Lucas Russell and Hume Region operations director Tony Long along with Parks Victoria’s senior Northern Region operations manager Stuart Hughes and Northern Rivers district manager Dan McLaughlin.

Ms Sheed was told secondary road access would be looked at by DELWP as a matter of priority, as would various means of communication with campers.

She said DELWP staff would also be mapping where mobile phones work and driving around the campsites alerting people in the days before a Code Red weather event.

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Funding boost to get more people active

December 10, 2015/in Media Releases

Sports and active recreation clubs throughout Shepparton District will receive funding totalling $18,430 as part of the first round of VicHealth’s 2015-16 Active Club Grants program.

Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed said the grants aimed to increase or maintain participation in physical activity by funding essential equipment such as bats, portable goals, uniforms and balls.

“These grants aim to make clubs safer and more accessible,” Ms Sheed said.

“This funding will help more people in our community get the recommended 2.5 hours per week of moderate physical activity.

“As well as the physical benefits of preventing illnesses, getting active helps maintain mental wellbeing, keeping us alert and resilient against the stresses of modern life.

“Research also shows that sport builds community pride and loyalty and offers people the chance to get involved, providing them with a positive sense of self-worth.”

VicHealth CEO Jerril Rechter said VicHealth was proud to continue to support local sporting organisations, particularly in more disadvantaged areas of Victoria.

“VicHealth is committed to addressing the rising obesity levels in Victoria and as part of this, we want to make physical activity participation part of everyday living,” Ms Rechter said.

“Sports and active recreation clubs are a terrific way to get involved in the community, meet new people and keep active for good health.

“Previous rounds have shown us that these grants encourage people to try new activities, support them to join their local club or continue playing their favourite sport.”

Organisation	Amount
Mooroopna Cricket Club Inc	$9,680.00
Ardmona Football/Netball Club	$2,750.00
Central Park St Brendans Cricket Club	$3,000.00
Tatura Netball Association	$3,000.00
Total for Shepparton District	$18,430.00

For more information about VicHealth’s Active Clubs Grants, go to www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/activeclub

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Good neighbours recognised

December 9, 2015/in Media Releases

Shepparton volunteer Joan Mitchell has received the Molly Hadfield Special Commendation and is one of several public housing tenants recognised yesterday at the Penington Hadfield Awards for work in their communities.

At a ceremony in Parliament House, Melbourne, Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing Martin Foley presented Mrs Mitchell with her award for outstanding services to older tenants.

Mrs Mitchell has lived on the Parkside Estate for 30 years, and from 2003 became a valuable community volunteer when the Neighbourhood Renewal project began in the area.

Her voluntary roles included Chair of the Advisory Board and founding Chair of the Tenant/Community Voice Group monthly meetings. Mrs Mitchell was also instrumental in helping to establish the Let’s Get Together group for over 50s, initially supported with funding from the Mental Illness Fellowship.

She continues to be closely involved in community activities, including supporting the community barbecue every eight weeks that attracts as many as 60 locals.

Rumbalara independent living resident June Murray also received a Certificate of Recognition at the Pennington Hadfield Awards.

Mrs Murray is retired but had many valuable roles helping her community, including (many years ago) working with pastor Sir Doug Nicholls in youth housing.

Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed congratulated Mrs Mitchell and Mrs Murray and said: “Volunteers don’t do what they do because they seek recognition but Joan and June are proud to receive these honours; they are very well deserved.”

Ends

Picture: P-H awards. Caption: June Murray, Suzanna Sheed and Joan Murray at the Penington Hadfield Awards at Parliament House.

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A Court Too Far Away

December 7, 2015/in Media Releases

It is important that people can access their justice services locally, Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed said today.

“Moving the Supreme Court and County Court trial circuits from Shepparton to Wangaratta for the two years of the new court building project is an inconvenience to the users of the court that hasn’t been taken into account,’’ Ms Sheed said.

There is very limited public transport between Shepparton and Wangaratta and many who use the courts will find this a significant hardship.

She has called on Attorney-General Martin Pakula to ask Court Services Victoria to find suitable alternative court accommodation in Shepparton for the continuation of all court services as usual during the development of the new Shepparton courthouse.

Ms Sheed told Parliament: “The Federal Magistrates Court — that is, the Federal Circuit Court — conducts four family law circuits throughout the year and in recent times has had to use the Koori Court, a very small courtroom not suitable for the conduct of a busy family law list. It also needs suitable accommodation pending the redevelopment, as do the many other tribunals and services that operate from our local courthouse.

“Recently I received a heartfelt letter signed by 17 lawyers who practice family law and who described the Koori Court as ‘woefully inadequate’ for a very busy circuit. It is a small courtroom designed for a very different use. They said that their clients are entitled to better treatment, and I agree.”

Ms Sheed has looked at six different spaces in Shepparton to see if they might be suitable to set up a temporary court, and believes that with a bit of investment there are several viable locations.

“Circuit courts exist to service court users in their local communities and I urge all concerned to ensure that access continues during the redevelopment period,” Ms Sheed said.