Councillor Column - 18 March 2026 - Cr Lesley Hewitt
Published on 18 March 2026
Since my last Councillor Column, it has been a busy time across the Shire with several events highlighting the strength of local partnerships and the importance of community connection.
I was gratified to be asked to attend the celebration of the redevelopment of the Creswick Hospital and aged care facility. This upgrade has delivered a modern 30-bed residential aged care service operated by Central Highlands Rural Health. I remember standing on the site back in 2018, as the Deputy Chair of the then Hepburn Health Service, watching the Hon. Mary-Anne Thomas turn the first sod to mark the beginning of the project (details at A New Chapter for Care in Creswick - Central Highlands Rural Health.) Seeing the completed facility now is a powerful reminder of what long-term planning, securing funding, and sustained collaboration can achieve. Projects like this take years of persistence and involve governments, health providers, staff, and community members all working together toward a shared goal. The Daylesford Town Hall upgrade is a similar project that will require the same amount of commitment, persistence and work if it’s to be achieved.
March also brought the 29th year of the much-loved ChillOut Festival, once again demonstrating why it remains such an important and vibrant event for Daylesford and the wider region. It was wonderful to see so many visitors and locals enjoying the festivities.
Among other events, I attended Drag Story Time at the Daylesford Library, an event organised by Council’s hard-working library staff. Frock Hudson read stories to the children who then created planets as part of a craft activity. My congratulations to the librarians who organised the event. The stories shared simple but important values — kindness, curiosity, imagination and respect. Values that most of us would hope to nurture in our children.
While at the library I joined the Open Access program. Library members who register can access the library outside normal hours, greatly expanding opportunities for people to use the space for reading, study, and community activities. If you are a library member, I encourage you to look into joining this program. You can find information at After-hours access.
We also celebrated International Women’s Day, a global day recognising the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. Its origins date back to the early 20th-century movements for women’s rights and fair working conditions. It’s a timely reminder that work still needs to be done globally to address women’s disadvantage. My congratulations to the four women who were inducted onto the International Women’s Day Heather Mutimer Women’s Honour Roll for their huge contribution to our community. Read about the event and inductees.
Finally, there are matters involving Council currently before the courts. As these are subject to legal process, I will not be commenting further. Due process will take its course.