31 January 2025
Our annual Community Awards have once again shone a light on the incredible people who make the Alpine Shire such a great place to live. This year’s award recipients have gone above and beyond, dedicating their time, passion, and energy to helping others. Whether it’s volunteering, fundraising, or supporting local initiatives, these individuals and groups play a vital role in our community.
A huge congratulations to all award winners and nominees - it’s inspiring to see the difference you’re making. Their impressive achievements are showcased below, so make sure you have a read!
With the new school year kicking off, our roads are about to get much busier during the morning and afternoon rush. School speed zones are back in action, so please slow down, be patient, and keep an eye out for children, particularly around school crossings.
Our School Crossing Supervisors do a fantastic job helping kids get to and from school safely - give them a smile and a wave, and most importantly, follow their directions. It's up to us all to make sure students, parents, and teachers have a safe start to the school year.
We’re in the middle of summer, and with hot, dry conditions continuing, it’s important to be prepared for bushfires. A key part of fire preparedness is knowing where you’ll go if you need to leave - and just as importantly, understanding what a Neighbourhood Safer Place – Place of Last Resort actually is.
These designated locations are not evacuation centres. They are a last resort when all other options have failed. They are not staffed, they do not provide food, water, or medical support, and they are not designed for long stays. Features like toilets or showers do not make them safer - what matters is their location and suitability in extreme fire conditions.
Your best plan is always to leave early on high-risk days. Have a fire plan in place, know where you’ll go, and never rely on a Place of Last Resort as your first option. For more information on fire preparedness, visit the CFA website and our 72 Hours page, and make sure your plan is up to date.
Look out for one another, stay informed, and take care.
Until next time,
Mayor Sarah Nicholas
Alpine Shire Council
The contract for the Myrtleford Memorial Hall refurbishment, Budget Report - Quarter One Review 2024/25, and Essential Services Commission higher rate cap application were on the agenda at this month's Ordinary Council Meeting.
Dedicated, passionate, and determined are three words that stood out across the nominations for the recipients of Alpine Shire Council's 2025 Community Awards.
Mountain bikers now have access to greater scope for multi-use projects after power supply was successfully upgraded at the Big Hill Mountain Bike Park Trailhead.
Together with the Country Fire Authority (CFA), Alpine Shire Council invites residents of Wandiligong to attend emergency planning sessions to support preparedness initiatives for the community.
Parents and carers are invited to Move and Groove Playgroup in Bright and Myrtleford, where they can share songs and nursery rhymes with their babies in a safe and supportive group environment.
The Porepunkah Panthers Baseball Club is celebrating a major win, securing funding through the Australian Government’s Growing Regions Program Round 2.
Community members across the Alpine Shire are encouraged to participate in Halve Waste's Local Soft Plastics Recycling Pilot and commit to a more sustainable future.
Alpine Shire Council invites farmers in the Kiewa Valley and Upper Ovens Valley to attend workshops focused on supporting people to plan for emergency events.
Community members aged 18 years or older are invited to attend free mental health workshops held in Bright, Mount Beauty, and Myrtleford.
From now through until mid-March 2025, residents in the Alpine Shire may receive a call from an independent market research agency, National Field Services.
Works on the Dinner Plain Entrance Civil Works and Landscaping Project are now underway, marking an exciting milestone in the Dinner Plain Activation Project.
Kerbside bin inspections conducted earlier this year demonstrated that people with smaller general waste bins are more effective at diverting waste from landfill.
Disasters don't plan ahead, but we can.
Wandiligong is identified as a community at high risk of bushfire and ember attack.
Together with the CFA, we are seeking feedback from residents of Wandi to hold emergency planning sessions to ensure that everyone is prepared for disasters when they come.
To kick things off, we want to know times, dates, and locations that work for you.
Tell us your priorities by filling out this short survey: Click here to complete the survey
Supporting someone who is struggling with their mental health can be a daunting thing to do, especially if you're not sure of the best approach. We invite you to attend Mental Health Essentials to build your confidence so that you can support your loved ones as they need.
Community members aged 18 years and older are invited to attend these free workshops across the Alpine Shire:
Bright | 11am – 3.30pm | Sunday, 2 February 2025 at the Pavilion, Bright | Click here for bookings
Mount Beauty | 11am – 3.30pm | Saturday, 15 February 2025 at the Mount Beauty Community Centre | Click here for bookings
Myrtleford | 11am – 3.30pm | Sunday, 16 February 2025 at the Myrtleford Library | Click here for bookings
All workshops will include a light lunch.
Mental Health Essentials is presented for residents of the Alpine Shire through funding by the State of Victoria through Emergency Recovery Victoria's Community Recovery Hubs grant program and the Australian Government in response to the October 2022 Flood and Landslip which impacted Alpine Shire Communities.
Amid the rising flood waters and shearers’ strike violence, can one brave woman reclaim her future?
Don't miss this exciting opportunity to join Australian author, Darry Fraser, as she shares her experience as a writer and celebrates the launch of her new book at Myrtleford Library.
'The Night on the Darling River' is a riveting historical adventure about one woman's journey from a life of isolation to one of love and acceptance in Echuca in 1894.
Darry is a best-selling author of fiction set in Australian history, telling sweeping takes of empowering, feminist adventure.
This free event will take place at 10am on Wednesday, 5 February at Myrtleford Library. Click here for bookings.
This free event is being held in partnership with Edgars Books and News. While this event is free, you must register for your ticket.
Find out more about Darry by visiting: https://www.darryfraser.com/
What will you do for the first 72 hours on your farm if you have no access to power, water, gas, reception or limited food?
We invite farmers and farming enterprises to free workshops in Mount Beauty and Myrtleford this February to help them prepare for emergencies to their properties, assets, and businesses.
Mount Beauty | Mount Beauty Community Centre | 10am – 12pm on Wednesday, 12 February | Click here for bookings
Myrtleford | Myrtleford Senior Citizens' Centre | 1pm – 3pm on Tuesday, 18 February | Click here for bookings
The First 72 Hours is delivered by Alpine Shire Council and Moira Shire Council in conjunction with Country Fire Authority (CFA), Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES), and Albury Wodonga Ethnic Communities Council (AWECC) and in consultation with the Hume Region Municipal Emergency Management Enhancement Group.
The next Ordinary Council Meeting will be held on Tuesday, 25 February 2025 at the Bright Council Chambers from 5pm. The meeting will be livestreamed on Council’s YouTube Channel.
Community members are invited to attend in person or view online. The agenda will be available on the Friday prior to the Council meeting on Council’s website.
Please submit any questions on notice in writing to info@alpineshire.vic.gov.au by 5pm on Monday, 24 February 2025.
Our Maternal and Child Health (MCH) team provide free monthly immunisation clinics in Mount Beauty, Myrtleford, and Bright for children aged 0 to 5 years and students in Years 7 and 9, including students aged 15 to 19 years requiring a catch up.
Our 2025 immunisation schedule is now available to view.
Please follow these reminders when booking:
All children need an Immunisation Status Certificate to enrol in a Victorian primary school. Certificates are available from the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register.
Our immunisation schedule follows the Victorian Immunisation Schedule.
Last Tuesday afternoon, four residents of the Alpine Shire became new citizens of Australia!
Congratulations to Audrey, Melissa, Nadia, and Sven on their citizenship.
Thank you for choosing the Alpine Shire to call home!
This 10-month old kitten was a bit timid when he first came to us, but has shown himself to be a confident, playful, and affectionate boy who loves to cuddle his humans with both arms.
Dobby is a domestic short hair tabby who is microchipped and vaccinated, but not desexed.
See more photos of Dobby online at our Animal Hub – you can also put in an expression of interest if you'd like to meet this beautiful boy.
If you're unsure about adopting, but would be interested in keeping Dobby short-term, we also offer a fostering program.
All applications will be assessed for suitability by our Local Laws team.
Please remember that a new pet is not for now, but forever.
Our School Crossing Supervisors have the very important role of ensuring our children cross the road safely to get to and from school, but they aren't the only ones. It's up to motorists to also obey the road rules and make sure school zones are safe for all pedestrians.
Please remember:
We hope all of our students in the Alpine Shire – especially all of the new Preps - had a fantastic first week back at school for 2025!
Alpine Shire Council acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we work, live, and play. We recognise the continuing connection to lands, waters, and communities of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures across Australia and pay our respects to Elders past and present.
