CHRISTMAS is upon us, and don’t we need a bit of celebration in our lives! It really feels like 2020 was a decade, not just a year.
Amid all the difficulties and hardship we faced due to COVID-19, it could be easy to overlook the many positives for our region.
The return of Mildura Base Public Hospital to public management was a landmark moment. It was a battle fought for 20 years and we were finally able to put the failed privately managed, public hospital model behind us.
There have been a lot of small changes happen since the transition which have had a positive bearing on patient experience but there is still more to be done.
The service review will be released early in the new year and I will continue to lobby the Victorian Government to increase the services and level of care at OUR hospital.
The State Budget released last month also included more than $150 million in investment in the Mildura electorate – a significant achievement which will introduce spending across all part of our electorate.
I was particularly thrilled for $40 million to be allocated for new public and affordable housing in the Mildura LGA. This could build up to 180 new properties, which will obviously be a boon for jobs during the construction phase, but it will have long-lasting impacts in providing accommodation for some of our most vulnerable citizens.
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IF you are like me, there’ll be plenty of last-minute Christmas shopping you’ll need to do between now and next Friday.
This year, more than any other, the need to shop locally has never been so great.
Our small businesses have borne the brunt of restrictions and lockdowns, so I’d urge everyone who hasn’t done their Christmas shopping yet to #shoplocal.
Small business is the backbone of our economy and spending our money locally has so many positive flow-on impacts.
I would like to finish by saying thank you to my hard-working staff, who have done a remarkable job this year under very difficult circumstances.
I also want to thank everyone in the electorate – my supporters and critics alike – because it is the shared values and love of our community that brings us together.
Merry Christmas to all, and here’s to a safe, healthy and prosperous new year.
