Media Releases

The Nationals member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty is inviting residents of the Lowan electorate to celebrate Volunteers Week between 9th and 15th May.

“The theme of for the week will be “Volunteering – Every One Counts” – and it is an opportunity to raise the profile of volunteering and highlight that volunteering is important to our local communities and the contribution of all volunteers must be recognised,” Mr Delahunty said.

“This year’s theme also sends a strong message to existing volunteers that they are valued and that every single volunteer makes an important contribution to the community.”

Mr Delahunty said more than 6 million Australians volunteer each year.

“Volunteers are the backbone of any community, especially country communities and they provide much needed assistance to not only organisations but also to individuals,” Mr. Delahunty said.

Volunteering is not only giving to the community but there are many rewards gained from volunteer work such as meeting people, learning new skills and developing self-esteem.

“The theme for National Volunteers Week is “Volunteering – Every One Counts” and with all the pressures of life it is now, more than ever, that we need our volunteers to keep our sporting, arts and community organisations viable.

“People who volunteer not only gain personal satisfaction in helping others but also develop social networks, gain work experience and maintain existing skills.”

“The importance of volunteers cannot be underestimated.  I take this opportunity to congratulate our volunteers for their wonderful contributions to our communities, and  I also encourage others to take up the challenge to become a volunteer.”

“I believe in the philosophy “in giving we receive” so on behalf of all the people in the Lowan electorate I say a big thank you to all volunteers,” Mr. Delahunty said.

The Nationals Member for Lowan, Hugh Delahunty announced today that the Dimboola Scout Group will soon be enjoying improved facilities thanks to a grant of $30,000 from the Victorian Coalition Government.

The Dimboola Scout Group will receive the funding to upgrade the hall in Muller Street including replacing the exit ramp, upgrades to the toilet and kitchen and improvements to storage facilities.
“Scouting and guiding play an important role in our rural communities in helping young girls and boys gain practical social and life skills as well as providing a safe environment for adventure.”

“The new facilities are a great boost to the Dimboola community and to the scouting community in particular,” Mr Delahunty said.

Mr Delahunty said the $4 million program delivered on the Government’s election commitment to upgrade Scouts and Girl Guides facilities across the state.

“With this new funding Scouts Victorian and Guides Victoria will be able to modernise facilities and to continue their fantastic work in supporting, training and mentoring young Victorians.

“This funding also ensures that these facilities are still available for other community needs, such as accommodating local not-for-profit organisations working with young people,” Mr Delahunty said.

Girl Guides Victoria’s Sate Commissioner Robinette Emonson said: “We are looking forward to working closely with the state and local governments and the community to achieve outcomes which will be of benefit to everyone.”

Chief Commissioner of Scouts Victoria, Bob Taylor, said: “It is fantastic that the Victorian government has recognised the importance and benefits of Scouting and Guiding in today’s society and are providing funding to assist up in upgrading our facilities across the state.”
To get involved with your local Girl Guide or Scout group visit www.guidesvic.gov.au or www.vicscouts.com.au

The Nationals Member for Lowan, Hugh Delahunty announced today in Kaniva that the Kaniva Scout Group will soon be enjoying improved facilities thanks to a grant of $45,000 from the Victorian Coalition Government.

The Kaniva Scout Group will receive the funding to upgrade the hall in Young Street including removal of asbestos, insulate walls and ceiling, reline interior walls, level floor and construct new toilets with disabled facilities.

“Scouting and guiding play an important role in our rural communities in helping young girls and boys gain practical social and life skills as well as providing a safe environment for adventure.”
“The new facilities are a great boost to the Kaniva community and to the scouting community in particular,” Mr Delahunty said.

Mr Delahunty said the $4 million program delivered on the Government’s election commitment to upgrade Scouts and Girl Guides facilities across the state.

“With this new funding Scouts Victorian and Guides Victoria will be able to modernise facilities and to continue their fantastic work in supporting, training and mentoring young Victorians.
“This funding also ensures that these facilities are still available for other community needs, such as accommodating local not-for-profit organisations working with young people,” Mr Delahunty said.

Girl Guides Victoria’s Sate Commissioner Robinette Emonson said: “We are looking forward to working closely with the state and local governments and the community to achieve outcomes which will be of benefit to everyone.”

Chief Commissioner of Scouts Victoria, Bob Taylor, said: “It is fantastic that the Victorian government has recognised the importance and benefits of Scouting and Guiding in today’s society and are providing funding to assist up in upgrading our facilities across the state.”
To get involved with your local Girl Guide or Scout group visit www.guidesvic.gov.au or www.vicscouts.com.au

The Nationals member for Lowan, Hugh Delahunty this week praised the good work of emergency services personnel, councils and many volunteers who worked tirelessly during the Victorian floods, in a statement during the first week of Parliament this year.

“In a week that marks the second anniversary of Black Saturday, where so many scars remain for people who’s homes and businesses being destroyed by fire, Western Victorians have still managed to pull together to avoid more damage from record flooding,” Mr Delahunty said.

“There would have been greater damage if it were not for the good work of all those who sandbagged houses, businesses and community assets,” Mr Delahunty said. “And in many areas, Western Victorians are still suffering from unseasonable weather conditions.

“Over the last couple of months, floods and storms have had a major impact on our agricultural and tourism sectors, and water has inundated houses and businesses.”

Mr Delahunty thanked the Premier, the Deputy Premier and other Ministers who had visited affected areas and implemented grants and programs to assist communities. He also paid tribute to many other MPs who assisted with clean up working bees.

“The cumulative effect of drought, fires, code red days, locusts and now floods has impacted hard on our community,” he said.

“It does not matter if it is a house in Wickliffe, a business in Dadswell’s Bridge or farm in Western Victoria, the Victorian Government will walk with these communities, whether they be fire or flood affected, in their recovery phase.”

The Nationals member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty said this week a Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition Government will establish a $6 million Regional Community Leadership Fund to provide funding over four years to secure and reinvigorate Community Leadership Programs across regional and rural Victoria.

“Strengthening Victoria’s regional network of Community Leadership Programs will drive future prosperity, growth and confidence in rural and regional Victoria,” Mr Delahunty said.

The $6 million strategic initiative, delivered through the Coalition’s $1 billion Regional Growth Fund, will support community leadership and create opportunity across regional and rural Victoria.

“Community Leadership Programs are invaluable to the resilience of Victorian communities because they educate and empower current and emerging leaders to proactively respond to local issues,” Mr Delahunty said.

“I am very aware of the benefits the participants gain and the positive flow on effects to the community.  The Leadership Wimmera and Leadership Ballarat and Western Region will be programs benefiting from the fund and provide an excellent environment in which to meet and learn from existing and emerging leaders and the opportunity to explore the major issues confronting western Victoria,” Mr Delahunty said.

“Tomorrow night I will be attending the Leadership Wimmera Graduation Dinner and look forward to congratulating the future leaders on the positive steps they have taken.”

“The graduates learn so much about our community, the challenges we face and the opportunities for growth.

“The Labor Government has under funded Regional Community Leadership Programs for years and many are now struggling.

“This funding is a significant boost which will give leadership programs a secure, genuine funding stream over four years which will allow them to plan and grow.

“Only a Coalition Government is committed to securing Community Leadership Programs into the future so that regional and rural Victoria can continue to contribute to Victoria’s fortunes,” Mr Delahunty said.

The Nationals Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty said the Brumby Government has delivered a poor deal to the state’s 58,000 volunteer fire-fighters.

“The decision by the government and the Country Fire Authority leadership to conduct and finalise EBA negotiations based on discussions with the Fire Fighters Union but by-passing the volunteers was now causing major unrest,” Mr Delahunty said.

“The Government is party to a CFA Volunteers Charter signed by all parties, but it has chosen to ignore these obligations in order to deal directly with the union. It is a slap in the face for volunteers, who are such a vital part of the state’s fire-fighting system,” he said.

The new deal would affect volunteers in a number of ways, and they should have been involved in all stages of the discussions.

“I understand that the new deal over-rides the CFA chief officer’s decision making powers and excludes CFA volunteers from having an effective say over matters that directly affect their brigades and the local communities.

“It also determines and limits how training will be managed by the CFA, it dictates how paid support can be provided to volunteer brigades regardless of need and it blocks volunteers from being employed in roles that they are qualified to do,” Mr Delahunty said.

He said the new deal covered paid CFA staff, who represent one per cent of the total CFA workforce, and excludes the rights of 58 000 volunteers.

“I am very concerned that these actions will have an adverse effect on both the working conditions and morale of the volunteers in western Victoria, who bravely confront fires threatening communities.

“Quite obviously the Brumby Government wanted to lock away this poor deal with its union mates prior to the coming November election, and it was prepared to abandon the volunteer fire-fighters to get that result. Volunteers are angry about this, and they have every right to be,” Mr Delahunty said.