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Celebrating our local GP leader Dr Olivia Stuart
I’d like to extend my warmest congratulations to Wangaratta’s own Dr Olivia Stuart, who has been named the Victorian GP Supervisor of the Year by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. This is an outstanding achievement and a wonderful recognition of Dr Stuart’s dedication to her patients, her students, and our wider community. Her commitment to mentoring and supporting the next generation of doctors ensures that regional areas like ours continue to have ac
Oct 7
Celebrating Seniors Month across the North East
The Nationals’ Member for Ovens Valley, Tim McCurdy, is encouraging locals to get involved in this year’s 43rd Victorian Seniors Festival, running throughout October 2025. The annual festival celebrates the invaluable contribution older Victorians make to our communities, offering a month of free and low-cost events that promote connection, activity, and positive ageing. Mr McCurdy said the festival is a wonderful opportunity for older residents to stay social and try somethi
Oct 7
Regional Victorians hit hardest by housing crisis
The Nation al s' Member for Ovens Valley, Tim McCurdy, has slammed the Allan Labor Government for its ongoing failure to address Victoria’s worsening housing affordability crisis, as new figures reveal regional renters are being pushed to breaking point. According to the Government’s own March Quarter 2025 Rental Report, median rents in regional Victoria have soared by 6 per cent in the past 12 months – rising to $460 per week; compared to a 3.7 per cent increase in Melbourne
Oct 3
Celebrate culture with support from new grants
The Nationals’ Member for Ovens Valley, Tim McCurdy, is encouraging local multicultural organisations to apply for funding through the Multicultural Festivals and Events Grant Program. The program offers grants of up to $50,000 to support community groups in delivering cultural festivals and events, with applications closing on 23 October 2025. Mr McCurdy said this funding provides an important opportunity for multicultural groups across the Ovens Valley. “Our multicultural o
Oct 3
Call for safer protest measures in Victoria
The Nationals' Member for Ovens Valley, Tim McCurdy, has backed moves to introduce a registration system to make protests safer across Victoria. Recently in Parliament, The National's and Liberals brought forward the Safer Protest with a Registration System and a Ban on Face Coverings Bill 2025 in Parliament. Mr McCurdy said while peaceful protest is an important part of democracy, recent years have seen a concerning shift. “Too often we’ve witnessed protests that create ch
Oct 2
Labor failing regional drivers with deadly road ratings
The Nationals’ Member for Ovens Valley, Tim McCurdy, has raised alarm after new state government data revealed many local roads in the Ovens Valley are rated just one or two stars for safety. The independent AusRAP system shows that the lower the star rating, the higher the risk of serious injury or fatalities. Worryingly, several key routes in the region are among the lowest rated, including parts of the Great Alpine Road (1.8 stars), Wangaratta–Whitfield Road, Myrtleford–Ya
Oct 1
Remembering our Police
Dear Editor, September 29 is National Police Remembrance Day, also observed as Blue Ribbon Day, a moment for our community to reflect on the dedication and sacrifice of police officers who have lost their lives in service. This day is especially poignant for our region following the tragic deaths of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart. Their commitment to keeping Victorians safe will always be remembered. Across the sta
Sep 25
Locals left devastated as Allan Government signs off on Kiewa Valley battery project from China
The Nationals' Member for Ovens Valley, Tim McCurdy, has joined Senator Bridget McKenzie in Dederang today to stand alongside disheartened locals, following the announcement of a $453 million battery storage facility in the Kiewa Valley. Mr McCurdy said the community was devastated to learn of the approval, not from their Premier in person, but by postcard from China, where Jacinta Allan made the announcement while promoting her “China strategy”. “Locals deserved honesty and
Sep 18
The Nationals commit $100 million to safer communities across Victoria
The Nationals' Member for Ovens Valley, Tim McCurdy, has condemned the Allan Labor Government for slashing youth crime prevention funding at a time when regional communities are facing a statewide crime crisis. Mr McCurdy said Labor’s record shows a drastic cut in support, with youth crime prevention funding dropping from almost $13 million annually between 2014 and 2022 to just $541,000 a year over the past three years. “In contrast to Labor’s neglect, The Nationals have a r
Sep 18
Time to visit Porepunkah and Bright and support recovery
The Nationals' Member for Ovens Valley, Tim McCurdy, has welcomed the easing of travel warnings in and around Porepunkah and Bright...
Sep 15
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