Council has engaged CollectAU to assist in the recovery of rates and charges which are overdue from the 2024/25 financial year. If you receive correspondence from CollectAU regarding outstanding rates via email, post, or SMS, please contact CollectAU as soon as possible to discuss your options.
The Fire Danger Period for Hepburn Shire started at 1 am on Monday 24 November.
Published on 28 January 2026
On Australia Day I joined around 40 valiant locals for the walk up Mount Beckworth, mustering at 5:45 am in order to catch the sunrise. After the walk to the summit we gathered at the Dam Picnic Area for a dual flag-raising and a stirring rendition of Advance Australia Fair. It was a clear morning and the trek to the top was well-rewarded with a superb view across these ancient lands. As has been noted in recent days, while the Council does not coordinate a formal centralised Australia Day event, it does support a range of activities run by the community. This family event had a wonderful sense of heartfelt engagement, respect and community ownership and I pay tribute to Helen Hardy for her unflagging work in organising the event and to John Drife for acting as master of ceremonies, as well as the efforts of all who got up so early to attend and take part.
As one of seven Councillors I continue to seek your guidance in the many complex matters we will consider this year. Do reach out at any time with a phone call or an email or even a text if that is more comfortable. While I am more than happy to support you with any concerns about day-to-day matters that are on your mind, I can also give considerable time to discussing the bigger picture. It is an unavoidable fact of local government across this country that there are only a finite amount of dollars and the matter of how we spend those sums is unavoidably subject to a contest.