Friday, May 3
Local advocates for victims of family violence said the announcement of $925 million for a new Leaving Violence program didn’t go far enough in regional areas.
State and federal leaders met to discuss their response to what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called “a national crisis” of gendered violence.
The National Cabinet meeting committed to the Leaving Violence program, which will make survivors of domestic violence eligible for up to $5000 in financial support.
Many Swan Hill contestants competed in various categories of the Northern District Agricultural Show’s group finals at The Hub at Swan Hill Racecourse Bowls Club.
The winners of the regional finals would compete in the state finals at the Melbourne Show in September.
Victorian Agricultural Shows consists of 100 Victorian rural and regional agricultural societies, which exhibit in 115 shows and 10 agricultural field days throughout the year.
There was colour, laughs and a lot of fun at the St Mary’s Primary School colour run.
Students, staff and parents enjoyed the dual-purpose event, combining some fundraising and the culmination of the school’s great race.
Held at lunchtime over the past week, the great race had students and staff run or walks laps of the oval for their house teams, in preparation for the school’s cross-country event.
Tuesday, May 7
A municipal monitor was appointed for Buloke Shire Council, confirmed in a sudden announcement by Local Government Minister Melissa Horne.
Former Greater Shepparton City Council chief executive Peter Harriott would monitor the council, starting from Thursday until December 31.
Ms Horne said the measures were to support good governance processes and practices at the council, and to “ensure stability” for the council in the lead up to the election.
Governor of Victoria Margaret Gardner was warmly welcomed by businesses, community groups and schools across the Swan Hill municipality.
Ms Gardner embarked on a four-day tour across the state’s north-west, making her way from Mildura to the Swan Hill municipality to get a taste of the region and its industry.
Ms Gardner planted a tree in Robinvale Memorial Park to commemorate the city’s 40-year partnership with Villers-Bretonneux
One of Swan Hill’s most generous and selfless residents, Daryl “Mully” Pearse, was honoured with the official naming of Swan Hill Town Hall’s bar and cafe as Mully’s Place.
The unveiling was attended by a large crowd of family, friends and community members who celebrated the hard work of the Town Hall’s former manager.
Friday, May 10
Swan Hill District Health said the hospital’s upgraded emergency department would open on time, despite Tuesday’s Victorian Budget pushing back an ultimate stage two project timeline by 18 months.
Budget papers said the estimated completion date for the upgrade works would be the second quarter of 2026-27, taking construction to between October and December 2026.
In the 2023 budget, the estimate was for April to June next year.
A grieving Balranald mother said her life has been turned upside down by the tragic death of her son William Ellis, who was struck by a car on his way home from school in 2023.
The incident occurred on Market Street on December 13, just days before the end of the school year and nine days before what would have been William’s eighth birthday.
“It has been nothing short of a living nightmare,” Will’s mum, Kylie Reid (Gebert), said.
Member for Northern Victoria Georgie Purcell defended Photoshopping her face onto an image of Jesus in her latest war against duck hunting.
The Animal Justice Party MP posted the graphic to her Facebook page, with the text “Monday mantra: I will put the fear of God into duck shooters”.
She added, “Also God is a woman.”
Tuesday, May 14
A Swan Hill toddler drowned in a suburban lagoon in Melbourne’s south-east.
Ali Aminzadah, aged 4, was staying with family in Officer before the tragedy unfolded about 5pm on Sunday.
The boy’s father, Nasir, told the Herald Sun his son was “a good boy” who “loved life”.
Patients at Swan Hill District Health noticed the return of masks across the town’s hospital and health services, as SHDH attempted to quash a rise in COVID-19 cases.
SHDH “strongly encouraged” the wearing of masks for visitors across their numerous sites, including the town’s emergency department and hospital.
An unusually strong solar storm hitting earth produced stunning displays of colour across Mallee skies.
Aurora Australis lit up skies across southern Australia after an “extreme” geomagnetic solar storm that created the beautiful auroras but also threatened infrastructure and essential services, including power supply.
Friday, May 17
A high school student was punched in the face in an unprovoked attack in Swan Hill earlier in the month.
Swan Hill police said two teenage girls were walking to school on Stradbroke Avenue, about 8.30am.
They observed a female who appeared to be on her phone yelling and behaving erratically.
A war of words broke out between Member for Mallee Anne Webster and a senior Federal Government minister over whether north-west Victoria had any wins in the Federal Budget.
Nationals MP Dr Webster claimed her electorate had been dudded by Labor in the Budget, saying she could not find any projects or benefits for Mallee, Wimmera, Sunraysia or the Grampians.
Blue Sky Outdoor Experts became the latest victim of break-ins targeting businesses across Swan Hill in recent weeks, with police working to identify those responsible.
Employees came to work to find the front door smashed, with glass scattered across the entrance of the store, and stock stolen from display cases.
Tuesday, May 21
Swan Hill Council announced feline friends across the municipality would need to be confined to their owners’ properties at all times if Swan Hill Council implements a proposed 24-hour cat containment curfew.
Cats would be allowed to venture outside their owner’s property only if restrained in a cat carrier or on a leash should the proposal go ahead.
Swan Hill Council said the municipality faced an “urgent situation” with a critical shortage of housing in regional Victoria reaching an “alarming level”.
The council said this had been exacerbated by the region’s growth in agriculture, manufacturing, education, health and potential mining jobs, and it had now called on assistance from locals.
The lack of autumn rain had done little to deter farmers who continue to dry sow.
And at the first sign of crops starting to emerge, farmers remained hopeful of a late autumn break.
The Bureau of Meteorology had predicted a drier-than-average autumn, Swan Hill having recorded only 39.2mm of rain since March.
Friday, May 24
Swan Hill Council secured $5 million in funding from the Federal Government to revitalise riverfront precincts in Swan Hill and Robinvale.
The grant, from the first round of the Growing Regions Program, will support the transformation of the precincts into contemporary community spaces.
Councillor Jacquie Kelly’s motion to audit Swan Hill Council’s climate change compliance ran into concerns about cost and workloads at May’s meeting.
Cr Kelly moved that a report be made to council at the July ordinary meeting on an audit of the adequacy of the council’s current plans, policies and strategies to address climate change, particularly compliance with the Local Government Act, Climate Change Act and other relevant legislation.
Rural veterinarians are on the frontline of biosecurity in Australia’s $71 billion meat and livestock industry, but veterinary students and graduates have again been excluded from financial relief.
The Australian Veterinary Association called for an extension of the student debt and placement assistance to veterinary students and graduates to recover the critical shortage of vets in rural areas.
Tuesday, May 28
The famous charity sausage sizzle was manned by Bunnings Swan Hill staff on Saturday to raise money for research into motor neurone disease.
FightMND, the foundation now its 10th year, has invested $97 million into research and care initiatives, and its annual Big Freeze fundraising push is again under way.
Saturday was officially the start of the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal doorknock, but in Swan Hill volunteers were manning pop-up tables at Bunnings and Woolworths on Saturday and Sunday.
Having been running for 60 years, the organisation is aiming to raise $38 million nationally.
Ownership and management of the Balranald Caravan Park would remain with the Balranald Shire Council until the end of the year.
The council said extending the time would give an opportunity for councillors elected in October’s local government vote to have a say on the park’s operations.
Friday, May 31
The Sea Lake community advocated improved conditions and ongoing maintenance at the town’s airstrip.
Advance Sea Lake president Jenny Newell said funding was needed to make much-needed improvements to the strip, citing safety and accessibility issues as a major concern for the town and, in particular, emergency services.
Swan Hill Rural City Council received gifts from a visiting group of Torres Strait Islanders, in a small gathering outside the municipal offices on Wednesday afternoon.
The two gifts represent the importance of rain and lightning to both Torres Strait Islands culture and local farming communities.
Swan Hill residents can’t contain their love of the Container Deposit Scheme, with the town’s designated CDS refund depot, Robloc Recycling, accepting 3.5 million bottles and cans since November.
In the scheme’s first six months, Victorians returned half-a-billion containers, adding $50 million to the pockets of Victorians.
