Elpho Info

Venue: Elphinstone Primary School, Wright St, Elphinstone

Community Newsletter for the Elphinstone, Faraday, Sutton Grange and Metcalfe districts

Extra Elpho Expo Edition April 2013

Love Elphinstone? Why? Dislike some things? What are they? Now is the time to get involved. Besides ... theres free food!

Elpho Expo Sunday 26th May 2013

A community meeting where you privately (in writing) or publicaly (talking/writing/interactive whiteboard) decide what is important for a community plan for Elphinstone. 11-2pm Food: Free sausage sizzle (courtesy of Mt Alexander Shire Council) Format: Informal chatting, meet with community groups, fill out quick surveys, have your say on a post-it note wall and more. You can even run your own information or fact gathering stall. Contact Lisa 0412 137 345 or elphinstonetc@gmail.com

6-8pm Food: Pizza and wine (courtesy of Mt Alexander Shire Council) Format: The forum from earlier in the day will still be open but this later session will also allow ANYONE in the community who is interested, to start working on the actual plan for Elphinstone.

Elphinstone Survey Results

Elphinstone Community Planning Priorities

1. Return of the Saw Pit Gully Festival 2. Upgrade of the recreation facilities/recreation reserve (tennis courts, hall, cricket club, playground) 3. Natural environment 4. Town centre beautification 5. Mapping and signage 6. Re-opening the pub 7. Public services (Transport/library)

In March residents of Elphinstone were given the opportunity to partake in a survey about Elphinstone and its facilities. Just 32 people in Elphinstone completed the survey but strikingingly, they were very consistent in their feedback. Several people who completed the survey registered their interest in taking part in the Community Planning Project. They have looked at the survey results and identified seven key priorities. They are listed to the right (in no order of priority).

NEXT EDITION

Articles and advertising for the June Elpho Info are due by June 12. Email your articles to gattfiona@gmail.com Please also email me photos, jokes, stories, poemsalmost anythingat any time. The Elpho Info is compiled and edited by Fiona Gatt, using a template designed by Beth Melleck. Gill at the shop is the contact for billing queries. Elpho Info is a member of the Community Newspapers Association of Victoria. It is printed on 100% recycled paper.

What is a Community Action Plan?

A community action plan is written and developed by community groups who identify the needs and aspirations of their town and prioritise these within a community action plan. The plan will identify the need/aspiration and will then identify a time frame which the community would like to achieve this aspiration by. Actions can also be written within the plan which identifies who has been delegated or is responsible for a particular action and what avenues or approaches that these people/person may take to achieve the action. For example an action within a community plan may look like the following: It has been identified that Elphinstone needs a new community noticeboard Aspiration: Install a new community noticeboard outside the General Store Person responsible: George Brown Time Frame: 6 months Strategic approach: Apply for a community grant through Mount Alexander Shires community grants scheme. Actions necessary to achieve outcome: Find out more information on grant writing. Find out due dates of grant applications. Identify who at council is responsible for community grants. The 9 towns identified to take part within the community planning project are: Harcourt, Newstead, Taradale, Chewton, Guildford, Elphinstone, Maldon, Campbells Creek, Castlemaine. Harcourt, Newstead and Taradale are well on the way to completing their town action plans. Chewton, Guildford and Elphinstone are now also engaging in broader community consultations to start the process of writing a community action plan. Later in the year Maldon, Campbells Creek and Castlemaine will be engaged to take part within the community planning project. This is the link to Elphinstones community profile on the council website. The community profile was put together prior to community
engagement and gives residents the opportunity to get a sense of the towns demographics, history and community groups: http://www.mountalexander. vic.gov.au/Files/Elphinstone_ Community_Profile_2013.pdf Benefits of community planning for the Elphinstone community: Community plans provide structured, strategic and transparent accounts of Elphinstone planning associations intentions as a group. Community plans can identify the priorities of Elphinstone through survey feedback and broader community conversations. Action plans spread the responsibility, work load and ownership of community projects. A greater number of people can potentially be involved to achieve the many priorities identified within the town which enhances democratic processes. The development of a plan gives more weight to funding applications, as endorsed community plans are recognised by local government, state government and other funding bodies. There are small amounts of money within the community planning project which can be allocated to towns that could be beneficial for use towards small scale projects identified within community plans. Benefits for council: The community planning process also has broader objectives for council as it aims to build the capacity of council staff to engage more effectively within community engagement processes. Build stronger relationships between council and communities within the shire.

Come and help plan the Elpho Expo

Meeting at the Elphinstone Hall, 7:30pm, Monday 13th May. Everyone welcome. Contact Lisa 0412 137 345 or elphinstonetc@gmail.com

Gather an understanding of the needs and aspirations of the 9 towns identified within the community planning project. Councils role within the project is to provide the necessary support to the community planning groups identified and formed through the community planning process. This is achieved through the: 1. Facilitation of groups 2. Administrative support 3. Engagement with communities identified to take part within the community planning process. 4. Collation of community data gathered 5. Communication to all community groups identified feeding back any information gathered about their towns This Community Planning Project is part of a State Government initiative. You can read established plans from other council areas on the websites for City of Greater Bendigo, Loddon Shire, Swan Hill Rural City Council and others. Sharlene Farrugia | Community Planning Support, Community Planning | Mount Alexander Shire Council

Contacts at Council
Chris Walters, Community Planner, Mount Alexander Shire Council 5471 1821 or email c.walters@mountalexander.vic.gov.au Christine Henderson, Coliban Ward councillor 0466 004 628 or email coliban@mounalexander.vic.gov.au

Elpho Info

April 2013

Elphinstone Calendar May-Dec 2013

Regular calendar events Elphinstone CFA training on the first and third Thursday night each month from 7pm and every Sunday morning. Elphinstone Playgroup, Tuesdays from 9:15 - 11:15am. Elphinstone Tennis Club Social Club, Fridays from 9:30am, weather permitting. Elphinstone Carpet Bowls Association, Tuesday nights, 7:30pm - last week 11th June. New players welcome. May 9 Thursday 13 Monday 23 Thursday 25 Saturday 26 Sunday 27 Monday June 12 Wednesday 18 Tuesday 18 Thursday 22 Saturday 24 Monday 25 Tuesday 28 Friday Elphinstone Carpet Bowls Singles Competition night, 7pm Elpho Expo planning meeting. Everyone welcome. Elphinstone Hall, 7:30pm Elphinstone Carpet Bowls Doubles Competition night, 7pm Pizza night & movie at the Sutton Grange Hall, 6pm Elpho Expo, Elphinstone Primary School, 11am-2pm and 6-8pm Elphinstone Primary School Council, 7:30pm Deadline for June Elpho Info submissions Elphinstone Carpet Bowls team competition semi-finals, 7:30pm Elphinstone Carpet Bowls team competition preliminary finals, 7:30pm Carpet bowls at the Sutton Grange Hall, 6pm Elphinstone Primary School Council, 7:30pm Elphinstone Carpet Bowls team competition grand final, 7:30pm Elphinstone Carpet Bowls season break-up, 7:30pm

July 24 Wednesday Elphinstone Community Facilities Committee of Management meeting, 7:30pm at the hall (all welcome) 27 Saturday Trivia night & cassarole tea at the Sutton Grange Hall, 6pm Late-month Date TBA: Elphinstone Cricket Club AGM August 23 Friday 24 Saturday September This month October This month This month 19 Saturday 23 Wednesday Mid-month Late-month November 9 Saturday 9 Saturday 10 Sunday 10 Sunday 20 Wednesday December 2 Monday mid-month Deadline for September Elpho Info submissions Sports/games night at the Sutton Grange Hall, 6pm Elphinstone Cricket Club, Seniors training resumes. New members welcome. Elphinstone Junior and Senior tennis competitions resume. New members welcome. Elphinstone Tennis Club MLC Hot Shots program starts. New members welcome. Oral history night at Sutton Grange Hall, 6pm Elphinstone Community Facilities Committee of Management meeting, 7:30pm at the hall (all welcome) Elphinstone Cricket Club, Seniors competition resumes Elphinstone Cricket Club, Juniors training and competition resumes. New members welcome. Elphinstone Cricket Club home game and past players reunion Elphinstone Primary School 150th anniversary dance (evening) Elphinstone Primary School 150th anniversary celebrations Proposed 2013 Saw Pit Gully Festival Deadline for December Elpho Info submissions Annual Christmas tea at the Sutton Grange Hall, 6pm Elphinstone Community BBQ possibility - TBA

For any enquiries about events at the Sutton Grange Hall please contact Sue on 54748271 or Nat on 0419799987.

Elpho Info

To be included in 2014 email gattfiona@gmail.com

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DISCLAIMER Articles and comments printed in this newsletter are the result of contributions from local groups and relevant news articles pertinent to Elphinstone/ Sutton Grange and Metcalfe areas. Views may be reflective of a group or organisation, and are printed as information to all readers. Neither Elphinstone/ Sutton Grange and Metcalfe Assoc. nor the Editorial Team are liable for any mistakes, omissions or misprints. It prints and makes no representation as to the truth or accuracy of any description and accepts no liability for any loss suffered by any person who relies on any statement contained herein. The Editorial Team may at time find it necessary to alter text so as to accommodate space, but will in no way alter the validity of a story. They will endeavour to make these changes with the authors.

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Elpho Info

Want to advertise? Contact Gill at the Elphinstone General Store or email gattfiona@gmail.com

What you can do & see at the Elpho Expo

Decide on the format for Community Planing
The current suggestion is to have a working group that sets priorities, delegates tasks and meets four times a year to update progress and add action items. Do you have a better idea? Can you be involved? Communicate and sign up at the Expo.

Elphinstone Skate Park

A particularly enthusiastic parent in the area has set up a Facebook page, hoping to create a forum where ideas for Elphinstone for 10 - 18 year olds can be discussed. http://www.facebook.com/ElphinstoneSkatePark What else does the town need for young people?

Rate the town priorities Elphinstone Fire Brigade

What is important to you? Sport groups? Town services? Services for the elderly? The pub reopening? Make sure you have your say so that the town gets its priorities right! Meets: Training on the first and third Thursdays from 7pm and Sunday mornings ... and whenever fire and other emergencies occur.

Elphinstone Tennis Club

An MLC Hot Shots program will run in 4th term. Senior & Junior Competitions start again in October. Social club meets Friday mornings 9:30am weather permitting. Cost: $10 to join and/or $2/week (morning tea included) Contact Lisa 0412 137 345 or elphinstonetc@gmail.com

Elphinstone Playgroup
Meets Tuesdays 9:15 - 11:15. Cost: $3 per session plus annual insurance. Elphinstone Hall. Contact: Rebecca Paine on 0488935558 For non school age children and their parents/ caregivers. Playgroup is a great place to get involved in your community and get to know your neighbours. We would love to see you there.

Elphinstone Land Management Association

Have you visited Elphinstnes arboretum? Are weeds under control on your property? What should be Elphinstones goals when it comes to landcare?

Elpho Info

April 2013

What you can do & see at the Elpho Expo

Elphinstone Art Group
The town currently doesnt have any art/craft groups. Why? Would you be interested? Could you teach a skill painting, drawing, knitting, spinning, sewing? There will be an opportunity to register interest.

Elphinstone Primary School

Wright St, Elphinstone 5473 3285 elphinstone.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au www.elphinstone.vic.edu.au

One of the best small schools in the country!

Elphinstone Carpet Bowls Association

Meets: Tuesdays 7:30pm March - June. Cost: $1 to join and $1 to play each week. Elphinstone Hall. A fun game for all ages. Played in teams each week but with a singles and doubles competition annualy as well.

Your own idea

ANYONE can have a (free) table, a poster, a survey, a sign-up form, etc at the Elpho Expo. Whats your idea? Yoga classes, a choir, homework group, business registry, cooking classes, movie night? It could be a once-off, annual, weekly or monthly. It doesnt matter what it is, if you would like to see a group start in Elphinstone, the Elpho Expo is the perfect ooportunity to find out if theres any interest.

Elphinstone Cricket Club

Currently in the off season, the cricket club will resume training and competition from September. New members welcome. In the new season the Club will launch the HANDY HUNDRED - a $100 cash prize, drawn at the Club, at the conclusion of home games. To be eligible to win, must be an ECC Social Club Member and be present at the draw. More info at the Elpho Expo. Bryan Keillor-Reed 0429 035 877

Elphinstone Pub
How passionate are you about getting the pub open again? Should the town petition the building owner or the tenant to give the town an official update? Can the town petition for action?

Elphinstone Community Facilities Committee of Management

Responsible for liasing with Council, this committee oversees management of Elpho facilities, ie. Reserve, Hall. Cricket Oval, Tennis Courts, Sawpit Gully Reserve.

Elpho Info

April 2013