JOURNALIST Michelle Brady looks back at the events and issues from March in The Guardian’s Year in Review series.
Tuesday, March 1
· Member for Northern Victoria Tania Maxwell put the botched Murray Basin Rail Project on her $77 million budget wish list. Ms Maxwell sought $5 million from the Victorian Government to match Commonwealth funding for a standardisation plan.
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· More than 100 paddleboarders made their way to Swan Hill for the conclusion of the Massive Murray Paddle. Participants travelled more than 400km along the Murray for the fundraising event which was held in February for the first time. However, a change in route, which will now see the race finish at Koondrook Wharf, means the even will not return to the town for the foreseeable future.
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Friday, March 4
· Member for Mallee Anne Webster said the Swan Hill community and hospital had been shortchanged, with a major shortfall of funding from the State Government for a much-needed upgrade of the facility. In a scathing letter to Victorian health Minister Martin Foley, Dr Webster said current funding would fail to complete the first stage of the redevelopment, noting the hospital was in “appalling condition and has been for decades”.
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· The Swan Hill municipality recorded 15 new COVID-19 cases overnight, marking 105 active cases within the local government area.
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Tuesday, March 8
· Variety the Children’s Charity headed to Swan Hill as part of a three-day Rally Around Victoria event. As part of the trip, nine-year-old Laine McKenzie was gifted with an insulin pump to help her with her type 1 diabetes.
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· Member for Murray Helen Dalton quit the Shooters Fishers and Farmers party because of its stance on water management. She said it was difficult being a woman in a male-dominated party, adding she didn’t feel her beliefs were taken seriously.
