Mayors Message Thursday 20 January 2022

It has been an exciting, yet sobering start to the New Year. COVID is upon us and whilst suddenly just about everyone knows someone who has it or has had it, we are adapting. By getting boosted and following health advice we can continue to enjoy summer. 

With two weeks of the Summer Sundays music festival left I encourage those that haven’t been, to go. Particularly this weekend where we have some of Ballarat’s very own talented musicians performing.

The fireworks last weekend were spectacular and it was fantastic to see so many out enjoying the perfect evening around the lake.

This weekend will see the Selkirk Stadium come alive to the 3x3 Hustle National Basketball Championships event with the best 3x3 teams from around Australia coming together to compete over two days. It’s also an absolute pleasure to welcome the Perth Lynx Women’s National Basketball League’s team to Ballarat, their new home away from home throughout January. 

RoadNats finished last Sunday and not only did it once again deliver a world class event with stages that challenged the very best, but it’s broadcasting nationally and internationally provided a brilliant advertisement for Ballarat, Buninyong and the region. 

On January 26 Ballarat’s Survival Day Dawn Ceremony will again be presented at Lake Wendouree. I would encourage people to accept the Koorie Engagement Action Group’s (KEAG) invitation to attend. The service commemorates Sovereign First Peoples who fought in the frontier wars and those who died in widespread massacres across Australia during colonisation. It is a ceremony that brings our community together in respect and acknowledgement of our First Peoples.

In closing I would like to thank the community for their understanding as our swim centres have gone through challenging staffing times with COVID. Our administration team and lifeguards do a tremendous job and we are steadily returning things to normal.  

Mayor 

Cr Daniel Moloney