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Passionate public service recognised with OAM

Passionate public service recognised with OAM

O’Shannassy Ward Councillor and four-time Yarra Ranges Mayor, Cr Jim Child, has been recognised for his work in local government, receiving an OAM in the 2026 Australia Day Honours. 

Cr Child was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) on Monday as part of the annual honours, where people are recommended to the Governor-General for recognition. 

Serving as the Shire President for the Shire of Upper Yarra in 1985, Cr Child was elected to Yarra Ranges Council in 2012,  becoming Mayor for the first time in the same year.  

Yarra Ranges Mayor, Cr Richard Higgins, said that Cr Child had continually served his community with integrity, purpose and care. 

“We’ve been truly privileged at Yarra Ranges to have a Councillor as committed and dedicated to the community as Cr Child,” Cr Higgins said. 

“From driving major initiatives across the municipality, to providing calm, consistent leadership during times of crisis such as COVID or natural disasters, Cr Child has been a passionate and unwavering advocate for his community.   

“From championing the ongoing delivery of local services and projects to responsible financial management and engaging directly with residents to understand their needs, Cr Child always brings a thoughtful and community-minded approach to his role as Councillor. 

“When we recently welcomed four new Councillors to Yarra Ranges following the 2024 elections, Cr Child set a clear example of what it means to serve in elected office for the benefit of the community.   

“While our Councillor group naturally brings a diversity of views, it is undeniable that Cr Child is someone we all respect.  The community has truly benefited from his steady leadership and passion for Yarra Ranges. 

Cr Higgins said that projects such as the Warburton Bike Park (formerly Warburton Mountain Bike Destination) wouldn’t have progressed without Cr Child. 

“The community may not always know, but the role of Mayor requires a lot of advocacy to the State and Federal Governments – representing the views of the community and projects across our region, to try and help put the Yarra Ranges on the map,” Cr Higgins said. 

“The Warburton Bike Park has been more than a decade in the making, and Cr Child has championed not just the project, but the many side conversations about community infrastructure, support for local business and the local environment. 

“We’ve been very successful in receiving State and Federal funding for this project, thanks to tireless work from our project staff alongside advocacy from Cr Child. 

“Congratulations, Jim, on a very well-deserved award.” 

Cr Child joins Cr Len Cox OAM as the second serving Yarra Ranges Councillor to be awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia. 

This morning at the Yarra Junction Cenotaph. .... 11/11/2024

We will always remember them.

Lest We Forget

*** HOW TO VOTE 1 - JIM CHILD ***

 *** HOW TO VOTE 1 - JIM CHILD ***

On your Ballot Paper simply Vote 1 - 7 as shown below.
Follow the instructions on the ballot pack and make sure your completed vote is in the mail or hand delivered to the election office at the Silvan Public Hall, 271 Monbulk Road Silvan VIC 3795 before 6pm on Friday 25 October 2024. ....

Authorised by Jim Child, 265 Tarrango Road Wesburn 3799.

A strong vision for O'Shannassy and the Yarra Ranges - What we must strive to achieve in the coming years

I commit to working together with the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments, we will strive to generate critical investment and policy shifts that will:

·   create vibrant townships with infrastructure and amenities to keep our communities connected, healthy and active

·   provide better transport connectivity, making it easier to move across the urban, hills and valley regions by car, train, bus or bike

·   strengthen resilience across our local communities, businesses and critical services, including telecommunications and energy, in the face of extreme weather events

·   make our roads safer and our drainage systems more effective to reduce flooding, enable safer evacuation in emergencies and ensure local growers can transport their prized products to market in-tact

·   accelerate the transition to net zero through electrification and expansion of renewable energy systems

·   protect our natural environment and ecosystems, including precious endangered plant and animal species

·   increase housing opportunities, to deliver the safety and security our communities need and deserve. Through my advocacy Council will advocate for the Cerini Centre Social and Affordable Housing project which is being led by the Warburton Advancement League to build social housing in the Upper Yarra Valley.

·   create world-class experiences and build infrastructure to support our agricultural and tourism industries to thrive – creating jobs for locals and bolstering our state and national economies

Together with our community, Council has shaped a strong vision for Yarra Ranges as a thriving and resilient municipality – the best place in Australia to live, work and visit.

This year Council launched a refreshed Advocacy Agenda that highlights key opportunities to unlock the immense potential of our region.

We must prepare for the 100%+ increase in tourist visitation over the next 10 years.

"If nothing else changes in the region day trip visitation will move from 4.1M to 9.1M as Melbourne continues to grow" - Yarra Ranges Tourism Destination Management Plan.

2024 Advocacy Agenda: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Gwvn8evJZ1mucorYms5cu8-MrxFAHToW/view?usp=sharing

 

Social and Affordable Housing

 As your elected O'Shannassy Ward Councillor I will continue my strong advocacy for:

• The release of suitable government land in Yarra Ranges for social and affordable housing. 

• Provide investment to urgently increase the number of social housing dwellings, and crisis accommodation units in Yarra Ranges. 

• Increases to Commonwealth Rental Assistance to assist those struggling in private rentals. 

• Amend Victorian legislation to better enable the provision of social and affordable housing including: the introduction of ‘inclusionary zoning’, controls around underutilised properties, and controls to improve the safety and affordability of rooming houses. 

• the Warburton Cerini Centre Social and Affordable Housing project which is being led by the Warburton Advancement League to build social housing in the Upper Yarra Valley.

A big shout out to the Warburton Advancement League & ADRA Community Care Centre - Redwood/Warburton for being such strong advocates for the Cerini Centre Warburton – Affordable Social Housing Project.

https://cerinicentre.com/

Telecommunications Needs For Our Region - Getting Stuff Done

I will continue to strongly advocate for better Telecommunication Services to our Upper Yarra Region.

Thank you so much Aaron Violi MP and then Shadow Minister for Telecommunications Senator Sarah Henderson for meeting with myself and Council's Team and taking on board our concerns and asks for a more Resilient Telecommunications Network for businesses, visitors and residents of the Shire of Yarra Ranges.

What we’re asking for:

1. Improve mobile connectivity in 5 key areas with low or no mobile service quality: Dandenong Ranges, Hoddles Creek, East Warburton, Steels Creek, Fernshaw.— at Yarra Ranges Council.

2. Upgrade NBN broadband services from fixed wireless, satellite and FTTN to FTTP in key areas with slow broadband service.

3. Strengthen telecommunications network resilience during power outages and emergencies e.g. increased battery back-up at mobile towers, generator power for mobile towers and NBN nodes.

4. Establish telecommunications as an essential service.

This would enable a faster response when the system fails, ensure accurate reporting of network issues and require the development of contingency plans.

This could prove lifesaving through future disasters.

For more information about Council’s telecommunications study and updates on our advocacy, visit:

yarraranges.vic.gov.au/telecommunications