“I have been writing for a long time, it has always been something I love to do,” Ms Cleary said.
“I mainly write short stories and poetry.
“I enter competitions and have some published in anthologies.”
While Ms Cleary hasn’t published any books, her work has appeared in various anthologies and literary journals.
Her winning entry was an autobiographical piece about a childhood memory.
“It was the story of going for a walk with my sister when I was a child,” she said.
“Going mushrooming and climbing to the top of a hill and seeing everything below me and really, that sense of wonder that you get, a sense of awe seeing all the world laid out before you.”
Ms Cleary has been an active member of the Campaspe Murray Writers’ Group, which recently celebrated its silver anniversary, for 25 years.
Council submits opposition to VicGrid
At its Tuesday, July 15 meeting, Campaspe Shire Council voted to lodge a formal submission to VicGrid over its draft 2025 Victorian Transmission Plan.
The plan, which has been developed by the Victorian Government to inform its renewable energy targets, includes seven draft proposed renewable energy zones.
This includes the Central North Renewable Energy Zone, which falls in Campaspe Shire and covers almost 160,000 hectares.
In this zone, VicGrid has estimated an additional wind capacity of 60 to 80 megawatts, the lowest contribution of the seven zones.
Campaspe Shire Council is concerned the plan does not align with its future planning and biodiversity goals.
Councils make voices heard in Canberra
The Murray River Group of Councils delivered seven motions at the Australian Local Government Association’s 31st National General Assembly in June.
Representing member councils Campaspe, Gannawarra, Loddon, Moira, Mildura and Swan Hill, delegates travelled to Canberra for the event.
The motions, put forward by Loddon Shire Council on MRGC’s behalf, were centred on disaster resilience, housing, roads, pools and water buybacks.
MRGC chair and Loddon Shire Mayor Dan Straub was happy to see the group’s collaborative efforts met with a positive reception.
“This is a great endorsement of our advocacy as a united group of councils,” he said.
“We spoke with one voice on some of the big issues facing our communities, and I am pleased to say our message was heard loud and clear.
“Every motion we put forward was grounded in the lived experiences of our towns and rural industries.
“We made the case for common-sense, local solutions that can deliver safer regional roads, more homes in our towns, safeguard our irrigation districts and ensure our communities benefit from the energy transition that is happening right here in our region.”
