Mayoral Matters | Cr Karen Hyslop, February 27, 2026
Published on 27 February 2026
On Wednesday last week, Cr Jenny Greenberger, council’s chief executive Brent McAlister and I went to Melbourne for a Rural Councils Victoria members training session and networking conference.
Northern Grampians Shire is a member of Rural Councils Victoria, which helps represent rural Victorian communities and supports and promotes our councils to gain more attention, respect, investment and support.
It is vital our council is represented at these conferences, to participate in conversations and to ensure our voices are heard.
This is particularly important as we look ahead to the State Election in November this year.
The training session included a range of tips and ideas to help rural councils such as ours to be better placed when advocating to State Government, as we look to secure some election commitments in the lead-up to the vote.
Some of council’s advocacy priorities include Stawell Sports and Aquatic Centre aquatics redevelopment, St Arnaud Market Square play upgrades, Navarre Recreation Reserve netball court upgrades and Halls Gap to Zoo Trail development.
Advocacy priorities council is supporting include funding for St Arnaud Hospital upgrades, the Southern Wimmera and Northeast Pyrenees Pipeline project and Halls Gap East Enabling Sewage Infrastructure Project.
Cr Greenberger, Brent and I also participated in media training in Melbourne. Although I have had media training in the past, I find you can get never get enough good advice about how to work with the media to get the best results from your interview, campaigning or advocacy work.
It was a long day, up at 6am to catch the train at 7am, and after a big day of networking and training, home again on the train at 9pm.
Even though I do find these days really tiring, they are well worth it. The conversations we have, networking we do and training we receive are so important as we look for the best ways to help our shire grow and prosper.
Lastly, I want to say well done to Swifts Football Netball Club for hosting another very successful swap meet/show and shine on Sunday, February 22 at North Park.
I want to give a big shout-out to all the organisers and volunteers. It was a lovely day to walk, talk, chat with familiar faces, eat some lunch and have an enjoyable day, as there was plenty of market stalls, people and bargains.
Congratulations on your hard work and efforts raising money for your club and running a successful annual event that attracts people to our shire.
We are very lucky to have so many wonderful clubs and volunteers in our municipality, creating endless opportunities for community connection.
Thank you for all you do.