The annual program provides University of Technology Sydney students, and a few other students from other universities, the chance to give back to regional communities who need a helping hand.
Over the nine-day trip, the students will stop in one town per day, arriving in each town just before dinner time to eat and rest before spending their mornings doing volunteer work.
In Echuca, TBL helped the Crossenvale Community House relocate their garden and do some painting.
Road recovery milestone
Recovery from the October 2022 flood has reached a major milestone in Gannawarra Shire, with all flood-damaged roads now repaired.
Since late 2022, work to repair the more-than 600km of council-managed roads has been under way following major flooding of local waterways.
Gannawarra Shire Council chief executive Geoff Rollinson thanked residents and drivers for their understanding while works occurred.
Mr Rollinson said the finished works would allow residents to travel with ease, and improve connections between farmers and services they access.
Meanwhile, the council is continuing to advocate for improvements along Regional Roads Victoria-managed motorways in the region.
Roads include the Loddon Valley Hwy, Murray Valley Hwy, and other local roads identified with a ‘C2-’ prefix on maps and signage.
‘Toxic workplace’ claims
Moira Shire Council has denied claims of a toxic workplace culture and accused the Australian Services Union of misrepresentation and undermining trust.
The ASU has called for urgent intervention to address systemic failures in employee wellbeing, safety and leadership after a Commission of Enquiry revealed “an appalling workplace culture”.
But the council’s chief executive, Matthew Morgan said the results of a survey were in stark contrast to their own staff surveys and feedback from employees.
The ASU presented the survey as “a damning picture of a council in crisis”.
“Sexual harassment, bullying, intimidation, and burnout are rife at Moira Shire Council,” branch secretary Tash Wark said.
“When issues are raised, there’s a culture of secrecy, cover-up, and neglect that is unacceptable.”
Mr Morgan said the contradiction was so strong that the council would be requesting a copy of the union’s survey to better understand how the claims were constructed.
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