Arts Mansfield will host  the next Klytie Pate Ceramics Award and Exhibition from 19 September to 6 October 2025 featuring ceramic artists and designers across Australia and New Zealand The awards are open to professional artists who have produced works within the last 2 years (since the previous Klytie Pate Award in 2023) now in its fifth year and established by her godson Dr Will Twycross honours the legacy of one of Australia’s most influential ceramicists Works from Klytie Pate Ceramics Award 2025 Finalists will be exhibited in Mansfield 145-147 High Street. The winners for the Klytie Pate Award and the Emerging Artist Award will be announced at the Opening Event.  Fields marked as 'Required' must be completed Enter your email address or your friend's email addresses all separated by commas Contact Us NEW PATH: A new shared path planned along Mansfield-Whitfield Road will soon provide better pedestrian and bicycle access to the centre of Mansfield. A NEW shared path planned along Mansfield-Whitfield Road will soon provide better pedestrian and bicycle access to the centre of Mansfield. A 2.5m wide gravel shared path is planned for the eastern side of the road. It will run from Kareen Court to Maple Tree Boulevard, with connections to existing footpaths on both those streets. The new path will extend an existing link between Kareen Court and M... Nigel Clough had a one-year contract extension triggered when he guided Mansfield to promotion last season Manager Nigel Clough says the future of his Mansfield Town squad will be prioritised over his own contract talks after they secured their League One status The Stags were already free of relegation fears on Wednesday night when they put an emphatic end to their six-match winless run by beating Peterborough United 4-2 at One Call Stadium Clough began talks about staying beyond this season in April and while they remain ongoing the 59-year-old said his discussions with chairman John Radford have involved more planning for next season "I had a very good meeting with the chairman and we sorted a good few things out, so give us a bit of time," Clough told BBC Radio Nottingham. "It's not actually the priority at the moment - the players are the priority and a few other things and getting that sorted "We have plenty of time in the next week or two to get it done." Mansfield thump Peterborough to end winless run Clough in talks to remain Mansfield Town boss When Clough took charge of the Nottinghamshire club in November 2020 they were third from bottom in League Two He oversaw automatic promotion to League One last season ending a 21-year absence from the third tier the Stags had spent just one season at this level in the past three decades A strong start to the campaign had them as high as third in the division in October but 14 defeats and just three wins from 21 matches before Wednesday night's triumph had the Stags battling for survival Before they faced champions Birmingham City on Sunday - a match Mansfield lost 4-0 - Clough spoke of his "relief" at staying up he said the absence of the "edgy" feeling of relegation anxiety helped deliver one of Mansfield's most emphatic wins of the season "Everybody was relaxed tonight," Clough said "It could have ended 8-6 and if we had won 8-6 it wouldn't have been an unfair reflection on the game "It's lovely to score some goals lovely to get the three points and to send the supporters home with a smile on their faces It hasn't happened too much in the last four months Clough now wants his side to ensure they "finish on a high" with another win when they host mid-table Exeter City on Saturday Alexander-Arnold to leave Liverpool & 'expected to join' Real Madrid - reaction and updates Alexander-Arnold to leave Liverpool at end of season 'Fire in my belly' led to team orders controversy The final series of Man Like Mobeen has arrived John Simm stars in the provocative 90s drama Warm-hearted comedy with Ben Miller and Sally Phillips Follow two ambitious river restoration projects Palmer's brilliance could be key moment in Chelsea's Champions League quest Europa League 'papering over cracks' for Man Utd - Rooney VideoEuropa League 'papering over cracks' for Man Utd - Rooney Ask Me Anything the new BBC Sport service designed to serve you Bayern's 'James Bond' - how Kane clinched his first trophy Nine bolters with a shot of making the Lions squad How 'absolutely outstanding' Palmer 'destroyed' Liverpool VideoHow 'absolutely outstanding' Palmer 'destroyed' Liverpool Still number one & 'sparring' with Draper - return of Sinner Saints 'punch' favourites Leinster in game for the ages How Bournemouth turned tables on set-piece specialists Arsenal VideoHow Bournemouth turned tables on set-piece specialists Arsenal Vardy the best £1m ever spent - Shearer VideoVardy the best £1m ever spent - Shearer 'Pretty special' - Leeds and Burnley's fight for Championship title Match-fixing scandal to Crucible final - fall and rise of Zhao Elton John & Happy Gilmore - McIlroy on Jimmy Fallon show 'Painful but we'll be back' - Luton's rise and fall 'Balls all over the Crucible floor' as pocket breaks during semi-final Video'Balls all over the Crucible floor' as pocket breaks during semi-final Two opposing views on football's transgender ban Varsho makes 'crazy' behind-the-back catch VideoVarsho makes 'crazy' behind-the-back catch You have reached ESPN's Australian edition. Stay on current site or go to US version England -- A player from a third-division English club was sentenced to 14 months in prison Thursday for causing the death of a cyclist three years ago was driving a Mercedes when it struck 33-year-old cyclist Adrian Daniel at an intersection near Huddersfield on March 17 was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court after having previously admitted causing a death by careless or inconsiderate driving was also disqualified from driving for a year Lucas Akins has been jailed for 14 months. Chris Vaughan/Getty Images"The club is considering its position with regards to Lucas and will be making no further comment at this stage," Mansfield said in a statement that also offered "sincere and deepest condolences to the family of Adrian Daniel." said in a statement after sentencing that "three years of hell three years of avoidance and adding further to my trauma has finally come to a close today with Akins' sentencing," according to the West Yorkshire police announcement "Never being allowed to fully live the reality of Adrian's absence," she continued "because of the farce Akins has made of the justice system and the chances offered to him has finally been put to bed and this man is no more deserving of any further of my time or concern." which "makes a mockery of any remorse that Akins offers for his actions." Akins has made several appearances for the Grenada national team As part of a 4-day ‘Town Booster’ blitz residents and retailers are invited to a series of workshops and events in Mansfield to boost the town’s shopping precinct and revitalise neighbourhoods The Town Booster program is run by David Engwicht who is considered one of the world’s most innovative thinkers on revitalising town centres David is the co-creator of the 7 Day Makeover where entire town centres are transformed in seven days using local volunteers at minimal cost The main shopping precinct in Mansfield is being used as a tester to roll out into other areas in the future community and Council to consider how everyone can play a role in boosting the local economy He will share trade secrets for creating flourishing town centres on a shoestring budget The audience will also hear how Mansfield Shire Council is cutting red tape to allow residents and retailers to undertake micro-initiatives that will breathe new life into the town David will challenge local businesses and Council to build a visitor experience together “What if the secret to rejuvenating Mansfield was not some expensive makeover but a series of mirco-interventions that you as residents and a business community can implement immediately?” David suggested “What would become possible if you had Council’s permission to really engage with the footpaths and public spaces and transform them?” “We’ll get to the heart of those questions in our workshops before getting stuck into a makeover of part of the town something for everyone in the community to join in,” David said President of the Mansfield and District Business Association Jon Gifford said the program was a great opportunity “MDBA are proud to partner in the delivery of the Town Booster Program with Mansfield Shire Council We think this is a great opportunity for our business community to connect and learn new approaches to boost their business,” he said Mayor Cr Steve Rabie encouraged all community members to get involved and the Town Booster program is a chance for us to build on that,” he said “The fact we can do it on a shoestring budget is even better – another way we can get the best bang for our ratepayers’ buck “I’m most excited about the chance for our community get involved directly to own their town centre and make a difference We’re really pleased as a Council to be able to bring this opportunity to our Shire,” Cr Rabie said ‘How to boost your town’ – Residents & business owners tools and strategies for how the program will boost the town ‘How to boost your till’ – Business Owners Learn simple hacks to boost sales and create memorable customer experiences ‘The makeover part’ – Residents & Business Owners Watch as we transform and makeover a section of the town in order to create a more attractive offering for customers For further details please contact economic.development@mansfield.vic.gov.au or search “Mansfield Town Booster’ on Eventbrite to book your spot for free Stephen Quinn has made 178 appearances for Mansfield Town since arriving in January 2021 Mansfield Town's experienced midfielder Stephen Quinn will leave the club following Saturday's home match against Exeter City The news was announced by a statement posted on X,, external in which the club also confirmed Quinn will captain the side against the Grecians The 39-year-old initially joined the Stags on loan during the 2020-21 season before signing on a permanent deal from Burton Albion the following summer Quinn helped Mansfield gain automatic promotion to League One He has so far made 29 League One appearances this campaign scoring a solitary goal against Barnsley on the opening day of the season Quinn started his career at Sheffield United where he went on to make 237 appearances in all competitions and won 18 caps for the Republic of Ireland international side between 2013 and 2016 MAJOR UPGRADE: AusNet crews will carry out critical substation and maintenance works on Sunday 4 May with a planned power outage affecting around 12,500 customers across Mansfield Shire and surrounding areas AUSNET will be undertaking major upgrade and maintenance activity on the local electricity distribution network on Sunday 4 May aimed at improving reliability for customers and contributing to the efficient operation of the network AusNet said a critical upgrade at the Benalla Zone Substation will replace some of the equipment which is reaching the end of its service period A new shared path planned along Mansfield-Whitfield Road will soon provide better pedestrian and bicycle access to the centre of Mansfield A 2.5m wide gravel shared path is planned for the eastern side of the road It will run from Kareen Court to Maple Tree Boulevard with connections to existing footpaths on both those streets The new path will extend an existing link between Kareen Court and Mansfield Botanic Park safety signage and drainage upgrades along the path are also part of the project Mayor Cr Steve Rabie said the path was part of delivering on Council’s Footpath and Shared Path Strategy and was included in the 2024-25 Budget in response to community submissions “We engaged thoroughly with our community to develop the Footpath and Shared Path Strategy in 2022,” he said “We listened to the Council Budget submissions The new paths we’re delivering around our Shire reflect what we heard from our community about their priorities for new walking and cycling links,” Cr Rabie said Construction of the Mansfield-Whitfield Road shared path is scheduled from Monday 28 April to Friday 6 June All road users advised to follow the directions of traffic signs The $170,000 project is funded jointly by Council and the Department of Transport and Planning’s Flexible Local Transport Solutions Program The Department’s contribution of $229,000 also supported the recently completed Kidston Parade shared path For enquiries email capitalworks@mansfield.vic.gov.au or phone (03) 5775 8555 The young people of Mansfield’s FReezA Committee joined in the statewide program summit held at the Melbourne Recital Centre on 9 April Part of Mansfield Shire Youth’s School Holiday Program the event offered the chance for FReeZA members to gain valuable knowledge of event planning hurdles and strategies for leadership and teamwork Committee members engaged in a range of hands-on workshops event management and running large-scale events in small towns The committee is made up of passionate young people aged 12 to 25 who take the lead in planning and delivering youth-focused events and training opportunities in their local communities the committee secured a three-year grant to continue delivering the FReezA program across Mansfield Shire Mayor Cr Steve Rabie said the program provided valuable opportunities for Mansfield Shire’s young people “FReezA has allowed our young people to have some fantastic leadership experiences,” he said “The summit was a great opportunity for them to learn and make connections with other future leaders from across Victoria “We’re so pleased to be able to continue the program When Council advocates for and secures funding like through the FReezA program it means we can offer more opportunities for our community and our young people,” Cr Rabie said A major announcement at the Summit revealed that Freeza will soon undergo a rebrand with the program set to relaunch under the new name AMPLIFY FReezA has already made its mark this year with youth music artists taking the stage at the Jamieson Autumn Festival the committee is gearing up for upcoming events including the North East Skate Park Series participation in the Mansfield Lantern Festival and Battle of the Bands If you’ve got an idea for how our community local laws could work better They’re here to protect our shared environment Over the coming months Council will be conducting a full review of the Shire’s local laws This is a chance to make sure the rules are clear Community members are invited to give feedback and will have the chance to participate in pop-up discussion events set to be announced in the coming weeks These events include the Town Booster events in Mansfield between 14 to 16 May and other events to be scheduled both in Mansfield and outlying communities Mayor Cr Steve Rabie said Council wanted to hear from as many community members as possible “Our community local laws affect everyone in our Shire Your feedback is important to help us make things better for our whole community,” he said “We’re asking for your thoughts on what kind of activities should be covered in local laws for our community This could include things like open-air burning or how public spaces and footpaths are used “We also want your feedback on how Council regulates activities covered by our local laws and what is a fair and reasonable response when the laws are broken “Our aim is that our local laws are easier to understand and make sense for everyday life in our Shire,” said Cr Rabie Community members can give feedback online via engage.mansfield.vic.gov.au any time until 2 June You can also send feedback via email to council@mansfield.vic.gov.au Council will be announcing pop-up discussion events and community members are encouraged to keep an eye out for these opportunities to participate The local law review is supported by the Victorian Government through the Business FRIDAY 13 DECEMBER Mansfield Shire Council Mansfield Produce Store and Mansfield Courier present…… 2024 Community Christmas Picnic 2 – “The Carolers Strike Back” After a lighting strike took out the power and ended the first 2024 Community Christmas Picnic the MAD Orchestra and Choir got even MADDER Monica Sketcher said they would be back and they are This Friday 13 December from 6pm – 8pm in the High St Median Strip under the Christmas Tree they will carol harder than ever before and Santa will Sant as hard as he has ever Santa’d visit the Mansfield Produce Store Artisan Christmas Market and enjoy the carols in the main street before the Grinch strikes back 6.00pm – 6.45pm – Carols First Set 7.15pm – 8.00pm – Carols Second Set loud noises and food around we have decided it would be best if pooches were left at home for this one High St Median Strip under the Christmas Tree, Mansfield, 3722 A full weekend of activities at Mansfield Botanic Park is planned for our residents and visitors to join with the community to celebrate Australia Day 2025 Horse Power in the High Country runs from 10am to 2pm returning for its third year to raise funds for Mansfield Autism Statewide Services Over 200 cars will be welcomed by the Delatite Drivers Car Club to form one of regional Victoria’s largest show-n-shine events it’s a great event for the whole family Australia Day celebrations starting at 8.30 am on Sunday 26 January will provide an opportunity to join family respect and celebrate being part of our nation’s story The event is a chance to reflect on our shared history including the unique history and culture of our First Nations people and to acknowledge the contributions made to our community by all those who have chosen to make Australia their home Sunday’s event will also include the announcement of our Citizen Award winners speeches by Mayor Cr Steve Rabie and our Australia Day Ambassador Arthur Gerrans Affirmation ceremony and free entertainment will be provided by the Mansfield and District (MAD) Orchestra.  Mansfield Shire Councillors will announce the winners of our annual Citizen Awards acknowledging the hard work and dedication of our local achievers Several strong nominations have been received in each category Mayor Cr Steve Rabie said Mansfield Shire is incredibly fortunate to have so many dedicated individuals and groups who work tirelessly to make a positive impact on our community “The Citizen Awards celebrate their unwavering commitment and the significant contributions they make to the community and to the lives of those around them." "We also look forward to welcoming five of our community members as they become Australian citizens Each of them brings unique skills and cultural perspectives that will further enrich our community." “Australian citizenship allows us to fully participate in our community and democracy I wish each and every one of them the best in this new stage in their lives “I also encourage everyone to participate in the Australia Day activities and to take a moment to reflect on the meaning of Australian citizenship: our shared values our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage and our ability to join together as one community The Australia Day events are jointly funded by Mansfield Shire Council and the National Australia Day Council’s Community Grants Program To learn more about Australia Day visit www.australiaday.org.au or the events section of our website Highton Lane works are scheduled in coming weeks with a prime seal of bitumen emulsion being applied this coming Thursday 10 April 2025 Mayor Cr Steve Rabie wanted to let the community know that the spray seal was just step one of the process with more to come to get the road in shape we’ll be applying the prime seal to the road then letting it dry for a couple of weeks before asphalting near the end of April “The final asphalt will be 40mm deep as Council has approved an increased thickness due to the mix of heavy traffic Placement of the asphalt will be followed by line marking and signage,” said Cr Rabie with a break in works over the Easter period we don’t want residents to worry that the process is complete The spray is a crucial priming step,” said Cr Rabie This crucial step protects the road’s subgrade layers by sealing the surface with an emulsion to prevent moisture infiltration ensuring the foundation remains stable until the asphalting can be completed “We expect that residents can enjoy the new road from May “We look forward to seeing the improvements on yet another part of Mansfield Shire’s critical road network,” said Cr Rabie These works are part of the IMPACT Route project The IMPACT Route (Integrated Mansfield’s Productivity Agricultural Communities and Tourism) project is funded with $9.8 million from the Australian Government’s Remote Roads Upgrade Pilot Program and $2.5 million contributed from Council’s budget For more information about the project or the works on Highton Lane A new childcare centre is in the works with the Greenvale Lane development having its slab poured this week which was approved by Council at its meeting on 19 September 2023 is the site of a childcare centre that will have spaces for up to 100 children The site also has received a permit for the building of a potential future 25-metre long indoor pool Mayor Cr Steve Rabie said this was an example of Council’s strong town planning in the face of population growth “Birth rates have been relatively consistent within the Mansfield Shire over the last eight years with an average birth rate of 73 With more families moving into the area as well we know we’re experiencing shortages in childcare services that are resulting in waiting lists to get into existing providers,” he said This was a smooth process with no objections This represents good development and great work in the planning space.” said he could see the local need for the facilities “It was great to work with Mansfield Shire Council to meet the community’s need in this space,” he said “We have started pouring the slab and we hope to complete construction in time to open early in 2026.” For more information about Council’s town planning service Council has completed a range of upgrades to Highton Lane and Chapel Hill Road across 2024 as part of the wider IMPACT Route project to improve access in the Delatite Valley area The route will link outlying towns and farm businesses with an upgraded all weather access road and touring route between Mansfield Mansfield-Woods Point Road and Mt Buller Road Upgrades on Highton Lane will ultimately result in a wider Works were completed in December 2024 on the east side of the road Works on the west side are scheduled to start on 6 January 2025 starting at James Street The Highton Lane upgrades are on track for completion in March 2025 The upgrades will address issues raised by residents and the wider community over a long period including road surface Traffic management will continue to be in place as works progress and traffic will be reduced to one lane during works on each section Chapel Hill Road has seen improvements to creek and river crossings allowing heavier vehicles to access the whole length of the Road It has also been graded and resheeted with a new layer of gravel A new culvert at Chapel Hill Road’s Lanky Creek crossing was completed in September 2024 Previously vehicles had to cross through the creek bed Completion of this crossing now allows all road users to travel safely over the creek Strengthening works and other upgrades at the Delatite River Bridge were completed in December 2024 Although the bridge remains one lane due to the high cost of widening and the low traffic volume expected the load limit has been increased from 18 tonnes to allow it to carry heavier vehicles Works also included asphalting the bridge and approaches and increasing the minimum turning circle needed at the approaches Sealing of Rifle Butts Road is also planned as part of the IMPACT Route project Council has now secured the required permits for the works and expects to start working on initial road stabilisation early in 2025 Sealing the road will ultimately reduce dust for residents and create a safer route Mayor Cr Steve Rabie said the IMPACT Route project demonstrated Council’s commitment to improving infrastructure within the Shire “We’ve had several great outcomes with this project over the year,” he said “The Chapel Hill Road upgrades are now finished and that road is open and providing a more direct route for stock trucks and other agricultural transport vehicles “Rifle Butts Road is ready to go ahead and we look forward to delivering easier and safer access both for residents along the road and for travellers to Howqua Goughs Bay and Lake Eildon,” said Cr Rabie “We’d like to thank everyone in our community who has contributed feedback on our designs and plans throughout this project Thanks to your participation we have been able to deliver better upgrades that meet your needs “We’re also grateful for your support and patience as we complete these important upgrades,” “The IMPACT Route project will provide an all-weather route with no weight or size restrictions serving as a critical route for agricultural business as well as making trips easier for our residents and visitors,” Cr Rabie said Agricultural Communities and Tourism) project is funded with $9.8 million from the Australian Government’s Remote Roads Upgrade Pilot Program $2.5 million contributed from Council’s budget and $1.3 million of development contributions The project is expected to be completed in 2025 For enquiries on the project email capitalworks@mansfield.vic.gov.au or phone (03) 5775 8555 Several roads in Woods Point will now stand up better to flooding and erosion Council delivered a range of improvements to Hurley Street All 3 roads have had their roadside drainage reshaped to ensure water flows as intended as well as resurfacing works at intersections Hurley Street received additional works including sealing and extensive new drainage with new stormwater pits The roadside drains on Hurley Street are also now benefitting from a new cutting-edge concrete matting system used to stabilise roadside embankments Mayor Cr Steve Rabie said the works would help ensure access for the local community “When our roads can handle heavy rain events they’re more likely to stay clear in an emergency when our community really needs them,” he said “There’s a benefit to all our ratepayers too More resilient infrastructure means we spend less of your money on maintenance in the long term,” said Cr Rabie The upgrades were completed at a cost of $129,232 The roads are also planned to have lines marked in the coming weeks Council encourages residents to take part in the 2025 Community Satisfaction Survey and give feedback on Council’s performance The survey will be undertaken from 28 January to mid-March It is designed to be quick and will cover a broad range of topics related to Council services Mayor Cr Steve Rabie highlighted the importance of community involvement in the survey process "Your feedback helps us understand what matters most to you,” he said “Whether it’s about local planning the community satisfaction survey is an important chance to tell us how you think we’re performing Last year our community told us they wanted Council to do better on roads and planning for growth We’ve made huge efforts in those areas this year,” said Cr Rabie “We’ve renewed 43km of roads and covered nearly 500km with our maintenance grading this financial year We upgraded James Street in Bonnie Doon to a spray seal We also continue to advocate for better maintenance of the state-managed roads in our Shire like Mansfield-Woods Point Road and Maroondah Highway “In planning we’ve recently adopted a new online portal system increasing our capacity and efficiency in processing development applications so Mansfield Shire can meet future demand for housing “We’re also developing strategic plans for our outlying communities like Goughs Bay and the Delatite Valley to meet their growing needs and we’ve proposed an amendment to the Mansfield Planning Scheme to protect the character of our township approaches,” Cr Rabie said In previous years Council has been scored highly on parks and public spaces – a sign that its approach is on the right track in that area Independent market research agency National Field Services will conduct the survey over the phone Residents and ratepayers are selected to participate at random to capture feedback from various parts of the Shire's community Individual details and responses kept confidential and only the overall results are shared with Council we strongly encourage you participate and take the opportunity to share your views,” said Cr Rabie Residents can view past Community Satisfaction Survey results on Council's website at mansfield.vic.gov.au Feedback can also be provided to Council at any time through the “Report or Request” function on Council’s website via email at council@mansfield.vic.gov.au or by calling (03) 5775 8555 Some information that might be important for you to know There are new state planning rules that have come into place that affect Mansfield Shire and Council’s ability to make sure new developments comply with our existing and preferred future neighbourhood character a planning scheme amendment was gazetted and put in place after being announced in late February with no exhibition period Planning applications that meet the new standards will automatically be ‘deemed to comply’ and pushed through for approval without communities or councils having any say known as ‘Rescode,’ allows for three story buildings up to 11 metres high if they comply with the standards outlined in the code There are no appeal rights and councils must approve a planning permit without ‘considering any other matter or decision guideline’ if the permit application does meet all the standards The changes also remove the ability of local councils to vary the standards to meet any preferred neighbourhood character the ability of a council to apply requirements for landscaping or building setbacks (how far the building is from the front of the property line) All developments will now be required to comply only with the state-wide standards which also apply across metropolitan Melbourne Mayor Cr Steve Rabie said Council was gutted by the changes “The removal of the planning power of local government has taken yet another hit this week,” he said “When you remove local government powers We have worked so hard at Council to make sure we have a strong planning scheme that meets the needs of our community we have been listening and we have acted firmly in our planning controls to make sure Mansfield Shire retains the beauty and amenity that we all love “The new rules take away the ability for councils to make decisions in the best interest of our communities “The standards here encourage ‘codification,’ which means we have lost our control to stop cookie cutter developments and to protect our rural character “This is yet another example of Spring Street making changes that suit metro and trying to apply them here “Local governments are the only level of government that should decide what a community’s character should look and feel like from a planning perspective,” said the Mayor For more information about Council’s planning services Council’s focus on reducing planning permit application times saw the rollout of a new online portal in 2024 together with continued strong performance in assessing applications The new portal is powered by Greenlight and accommodates both planning and building permit applications It gives applicants greater and easier control over their application and provides instant status updates Council officers can more efficiently manage open applications and connect with permit applicants developers and stakeholders through Greenlight An example of this is the new option for online payments avoiding the need for officers to spend time processing payments manually via phone The time to determine new applications has already decreased since Council began using the new system Kirsty Swinton from Taylor Engineering + Design spoke highly of the portal “Greenlight has given me greater control over my communication with Council staff including across different departments,” she said “There’s more accountability and traceability of my requests and applications Council dealt with them quickly and graciously It is an effective management tool that I feel will only improve,” Ms Swinton said The portal will continue to be improved as Council adapts to the new functionality and receives more feedback from users Council received 157 planning permit applications during 2024 representing approximately $42.3 million of development in Mansfield Shire The average time for Council to determine an application was 46.5 days lower than the statutory timeframe of 60 days and the current statewide average of 128.7 days Sixty-nine percent of applications in Mansfield Shire were determined within the statutory timeframe Mayor Cr Steve Rabie said Council is planning for growth in several ways “Council can’t control population growth but we can respond to the challenges it brings,” he said “Adopting Greenlight means we can process planning and building applications in a more timely manner That’s an important part of keeping up with our Shire’s demand for homes “We’re also developing strategic plans to guide the future of our outlying communities We engage with those communities and listen to what they value about their area now as well as what new amenities and services are needed and where Council can help,” said Cr Rabie Strategic plans for Bonnie Doon and Merton have already been completed Work is underway on plans for Goughs Bay and the Delatite Valley "We’re continuing to work on amendments to the Mansfield Planning Scheme so we can protect the character of our towns when it comes to new development applications,” Cr Rabie said “Amendment C56mans is one example currently out for public exhibition focussing on Mansfield’s township approaches Other amendments are ready to go and just waiting for approval from the Department of Planning,” he said Greenlight can be accessed via Council’s website: mansfield.vic.gov.au For information on upcoming strategic plans and planning scheme amendments visit engage.mansfield.vic.gov.au Council performs renewal works on the Great Victorian Rail Trail (GVRT) to keep it safe and pleasant for its many users Renewal works for 2024-25 were completed in February ahead of the annual Tour de Trail event Maintenance grading between Withers Lane and Pikes Road has addressed erosion and soft spots on that section Low spots were also re-sheeted with new material to restore an even surface and spoon drains were reshaped where required to manage water flow Works were also done in 2024 to remove vegetation overhanging the trail improving safety and allowing family and friends to ride side by side where safe to do so Mayor Cr Steve Rabie said the GVRT is an important recreational asset “Many of our residents and visitors use the trail for recreation and fitness so it’s important that we keep it in good condition,” he said “It’s also part of the gateway to Mansfield for anyone travelling along the trail We want those people to have a good experience when they first arrive so they can fully enjoy our beautiful town and its surrounds,” said Cr Rabie The 2024-25 renewal works were funded with $54,800 from Council’s budget said the group was grateful for Council’s continued investment in looking after the trail “Mansfield is at the end of one of Victoria’s premier rail trails The GVRT is a wonderful community asset that locals and visitors can enjoy,” he said “Our region’s economy is largely driven by tourism The rail trail and the community events that take place on it attract participants and visitors from Victoria and interstate to experience what our region has to offer “We compete with other rail trails in Northeast Victoria It’s important that we maintain and upgrade our trail aiming for a consistent surface along the whole length “As a volunteer group we promote the rail trail and advocate for funding to further develop and improve it We also work on the trail to improve its appeal and the user experience and we receive overwhelmingly positive feedback from users “We’re pleased that Council values the trail and it’s satisfying to see investment in maintaining it continuing,” said Mr Vaughan The GVRT has attracted nearly 60,000 users in Mansfield Shire alone since June 2024 It is most popular in the warmer months from October to April The Tour de Trail (2 March 2025) is a family friendly bike ride with the choice of two destinations participants can either ride 28km to Maindample or 44km to Bonnie Doon Registrations for the 2025 event indicate that 95% of participants come from outside the local area – visitors who are likely to bring more business for accommodation and dining providers in Mansfield Coming up later in March is the Lake High Great Victorian Walk for Autism (22 March 2025) where teams of 2 to 10 walk either 15 or 30 kilometres along the trail to raise funds for Mansfield Autism Services the Mansfield Athletics Club hosts the annual Mansfield Marathon along the trail taking advantage of its excellent surface for running For information on upcoming events on the GVRT visit mansfieldmtbuller.com.au or follow the Friends of the Great Victorian Rail Trail on Facebook Mansfield Shire Council unanimously voted to advocate for its community against the new Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF) which it says will be an unreasonable burden on the community and on local governments The motion reflects the concern of many local governments and supports the recent statement by Regional Councils Victoria that the changes were unfair on rural councils and rural communities the Victorian Government announced that the Fire Services Property Levy (FSPL) will be replaced with the new Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF) from 1 July 2025 This ESVF is a significant increase over the existing levy (FSPL) particularly in the primary production (farming) areas which could see an increase of around 3 times the existing levy All ratepayers will incur this tax and in Mansfield Shire alone this could mean an additional $2 million in property taxes This is a significant burden for ratepayers on top of their existing rates and on top of the recently implemented Vacant Residential Land Tax Mayor Cr Steve Rabie said the new tax was unfair on communities and unfair on local government have a high proportion of primary producers This tax transfers the burden of this cost to our community members This increased tax is an excessive burden during the cost of living crisis with implications for the economic health of the Mansfield Shire community,” said Cr Rabie “It’s also unfair to local governments in regional areas We are one of the smallest local governments in Victoria we’ll be asked to play tax collector for the state government We’ll have to pay more than $2m in total in additional taxes to the state government Then we have to collect this from our community This shouldn’t be the role of local government and we don’t have the resources to do it We’re the only level of government with a front desk our customer service team and the staff we have to administrate our rates will have to answer to our community who will be surely questioning this unreasonable tax “It is an excessive burden that is being asked by the state government of our community and of us We estimate that it will cost more than $2m on top of rates Council will have to pay that to the state government and then collect this from our ratepayers very careful with how we spend ratepayers money delivering exceptional value for money in every decision we have made all the while trying to keep the burden of tax as low as possible for our ratepayers To now have to ask our community members to cough up this massive spike on top of rates is unreasonable “We’re asking other local councils to join us in asking the state government to reconsider this tax and how they apply it,” said Cr Rabie “It’s not fair to tax our primary producers who will be asked to carry the brunt of this tax It’s not fair on our communities – these are hard times and raising a tax now directly to households but also to those who put food on the table of those households – both of these factors will take a hit on family budgets “This Council has unanimously said – we are taking this opportunity to advocate for our community members and asking the state to review the tax and to review how it asks local government to participate in its collection.” Council passed two other key advocacy motions at its meeting on Wednesday 12 February One that supports the development of a fully funded single site hospital in a new central cross-border location for the Albury Wodonga region and another to take a motion to the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) State Council meeting that asks the state government not to take funding from Commonwealth grants awarded to local councils View this post on Instagram A post shared by NZ Intl. Comedy Festival (@nzcomedyfestival) this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read Mika Austin plays eight different university lecturers in Amy Mansfield's verbatim show at the NZ International Comedy Festival Amy Mansfield spent hundreds of hours in lecture theatres collecting thousands of words of wisdom during her seven years at Auckland University I took 1000 throwaway lines by lecturers, collected during my seven years at the University of Auckland studying law and arts and turned them into a verbatim comedy about nothing less than the nature of being I’d have liked to have been a Francoise ...” And suddenly we didn’t care about promissory estoppel or the Treaty of Versailles but what it might be like to be someone else altogether I didn’t know what I was going to do with all these moments I was recording at the bottom of my pad of lined refill I didn’t realise I was playing the long game I Didn’t Invite You Here to Lecture Me is set in a lecture theatre with comic actor Mika Austin playing eight different characters all lecturers in (respectively) literature Mika and I have been clowning around for decades first in the form of earnest performance poetry as undergrads and in plays performed entirely in German (a language I don’t really speak) I Didn’t Invite You Here to Lecture Me is about language — at the macro level, of power relations built into our laws and our grammar (activists: unite), and, at the micro level, of vowels, consonants and stress in the English language (linguist geeks: unite). Heavy stuff for comedy, you might think, but also outrageously funny. Initially, it was staged in neighbourhood living rooms around Auckland where Mika and I would create a pop-up theatre for the night. We’ve since toured the show nationally and to Melbourne, including performances in actual lecture theatres at the Universities of Auckland and Otago, as well as more obscure locations, including a church, a reclaimed warehouse and above a schnitzel shop. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NZ Intl. Comedy Festival (@nzcomedyfestival) the lines had already been tested in the laboratory that was the large lecture theatre With so many students now “attending” lectures remotely I guess that couldn’t happen as easily these days The sound of an entire room laughing together is much more human Enrolling in a degree is a bit like getting an annual subscription to a very weird kind of theatre and the differences are in the in-between moments when the lecturer suddenly reveals something about their mental state of mind: “Extraordinary decision Or they state they prefer the Socratic method and ask a question I didn’t come here to become a revolutionary” what you thought you were there for and what you actually were there for turned out to be quite different things When I did a giant edit of my education via my uni notes in-between lines I’d recorded offered up these questions: How do we understand what we’ve done or what we are doing I’ve recently returned from travelling in the northern hemisphere and there’s nothing like standing in a holding pen before a ride at a theme park or in a queue at immigration to make you think twice about when to time your own revolutionary moments I remembered this line from my notes and from the show: “I don’t think you need to have studied German history from 1933-45 to know that Tarrant County reported its first cases of measles in decades – and they are in Mansfield measles had been eliminated in the United States until January when a strain hit West Texas and began to spread across the state and the nation the United States has reported 935 cases in 2025 with 121 of those requiring hospitalization and three people dying from the virus Tarrant County reported an adult and child with measles visited Methodist Mansfield Medical Center emergency department The unvaccinated patients were in the emergency department from 8 p.m Anyone who was at Methodist Mansfield during that time and believes they may have been exposed should contact their healthcare provider immediately and monitor for symptoms Symptoms of the measles can begin from seven to 21 days after exposure and include fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit red and watery eyes and a red blotchy rash that begins on the face and spreads down the body Measles is highly contagious and spreads through airborne contact The virus can remain on surfaces for up to two hours People who are fully vaccinated (two doses) are not likely to contract the disease People who are not immune and develop symptoms should isolate and contact their doctor The Mansfield ISD has not had a case reported Students are required to be immunized for rubeola (measles) before entering school Students may be exempt if they present an affidavit from a physician stating that the immunization is medically contraindicated or poses a significant risk to the student of a member of the student’s household Students can also be exempt if their parent or guardian declines due to reasons of conscience The Mansfield Record is the only local newspaper serving Mansfield the Mansfield Record is bringing the focus back where it should be The Victorian Government has released widespread planning reforms with a new plan for Victoria on 28 February 2025 Mayor Cr Steve Rabie said the Plan would diminish the planning powers of local governments and make it harder for councils to work toward the vision of communities “Communities lose their voice in decisions about how their community is shaped when powers are taken away from local governments,” said Cr Rabie “Our community have told us very clearly strategic progress to accommodate for housing needs while being sure to not ruin the beauty and amenity of our shire we need to manage planning carefully to make sure we can provide the required housing supply while not destroying the Shire “Council is disappointed that the state government’s blanket rules take away our power to shape the community the way we know the community needs it to be Only local government can get close to understanding its community’s unique needs “We have to protect what is great about our Shire That’s why we’ve been so strong on protecting the alpine approaches and spending a great deal of time and resources on strategic planning “We’re already work closely with the state government to make sure we meet the needs of our growing population This is why it’s disappointing to see our ability to control how we plan for those needs reduced sacrificed as part of a state-wide concern that doesn’t fit our local issues here “We’re pleased to see that there is movement on the housing issue We’ve taken the lead on this in our community and it is the role of the state government to address shortages in the housing supply “We don’t need land unlocked in Mansfield Shire Our community needs certainty that the land that has already been unlocked will actually be developed,” said Cr Rabie “The state is taking away the power of local government without first using the great power it actually does have – the tax system – to reduce the burden on developers and get housing supply moving “The state government have ordered that councils unlock more land for housing but this is not an effective way of addressing housing supply in our community What we need is for the state to consider addressing the real issues at the core of the housing supply shortage – the taxes that keep the developers from being able to develop their land “Only local government can plan effectively for its communities The problem is not local government and the shortage in housing won’t be fixed by unlocking more land houses are just one element of building a community Where will get the infrastructure to support those houses “We want the state government to use their power and resources to influence the housing supply in ways that respect communities and allow local governments to plan for the needs of their communities into the future,” said Cr Rabie “We are the ones who listen to our communities We know the unique needs of our community and will continue to work toward a future where we get to maintain everything that makes Mansfield Shire such an attractive place to be.” The future Mansfield Heritage Museum is a step closer to bringing local history to life with new designers appointed and beginning their concept designs for the museum exhibits and fit-out following the completion of external construction works for the new building was selected through a competitive process has worked with the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery in Launceston the Tasmanian Aviation Historical Society and the HIVE Science Centre on the Central Coast He has worked in a range of creative industries as a designer artist and project manager including events trade exhibitions, museums, galleries and public art commissions Andrew recently visited the site and consulted with project stakeholders including members of the Mansfield Historical Society Mansfield Cultural Heritage Arts Centre (MCHAC) and experts in fish fossils and palaeontology in a collaboration supported by Mansfield Shire Council Mayor Cr Steve Rabie said this project would be the most significant cultural project the Shire has ever seen “This is an excellent example of a truly community-led project with a shared vision for a spectacular outcome,” said Cr Rabie “These project stakeholders have worked together for years to bring a museum to Mansfield the external construction has been delivered and the next phase is to design the exciting spaces and exhibitions that will bring our history to life.” The Mansfield Historical Society has been one of the main community advocates for a museum in Mansfield for the last 40 years President of the Mansfield Historical Society emphasised that the local community has demonstrated that it was right behind the project "The Society launched an appeal last year which was quickly supported by Mansfield people and now means we have over $300,000 in the bank “These generous donations in turn have helped to attract supporting government funding which means it looks likely we will have the full $600,000 required to build exhibits to a standard that Mansfield will be proud of "This is an example how strong communities like Mansfield which includes our very active Shire Council can pitch in and help themselves and not just wait for handouts which may never arrive,” Mr Stoney concluded Taungurung Land & Waters Council (TLaWC) representative said “It is a great honour to share the history and contemporary culture of the First Peoples of the Mansfield Shire Mansfield is home to the Yowung illam balluk clan The exhibitions we are developing for the museum will reflect Taungurung peoples’ connection to this land from time immemorial It is a significant opportunity as a Taungurung Elder and member of the Local Aboriginal Network Gadhaba which translates to ‘together’ and welcome members of our community into the new museum.” said this was an exciting phase of the project “This is the biggest public infrastructure project since the Rail Trail was developed It is essentially the realisation of the dream that started almost 50 years ago when community action resulted in the Railway Precinct being saved from private sale and preserved for community use,” he said “It is a golden opportunity for whole of community story telling and the further evolution of our shared sense of belonging.” Consultation and concept development will continue over the coming months to ensure that the museum is a meaningful resource for the Mansfield Shire community into the future It is expected that the design drawings will be completed mid-2025 The results of the local government elections for Mansfield Shire Council were declared on Friday 8 November 2024 naming the five Councillors who will sit for the next four year term Chief Executive Officer of Mansfield Shire Council “I am delighted to welcome the new Councillors and look forward to working with the new Council over the next four years,” she said “On behalf of the Mansfield Shire community I want to thank everyone who stood for Council It is a great commitment to put yourself forward to serve the community for a four-year term.” Councillors will be inducted into local government and Mansfield Shire Council with a rigorous induction process The Local Government Act 2020 has new guidelines that determine significant sections of mandatory training and a model code of conduct for all councillors the new Council will also be consulting with the community to understand its key priorities for the development of the Council Plan – the four year strategic action plan for Council to achieve during its term movies and Virtual Reality are all on offer at Mansfield Library this school holidays Mayor Cr Steve Rabie invited families to join in the community fun at the Library over the Summer Holidays “I am so pleased that the young people in our community have so many opportunities to experience the joy of their local Library this school holidays,” he said The Big Summer Read is all about encouraging kids & young people to read over the summer break Mansfield Library invites everyone aged 4 - 18 to participate and be in the running win great prizes Collect your first reading record and start to read Collect a prize for every reading record you complete Return your reading records no later than Friday 25 January 2024 to be in the running for the main prizes Prizes include a 10th generation iPad for ages 10-18 and 2 x $100 book vouchers for ages 4-9 All prizes are donated by Friends of Mansfield Library Teddy Bear’s Picnic in the park preschool storytime Bookings are essential for all activities except for the VR session, the afternoon LEGO session and the Teddy Bear’s picnic. To book your place drop into the Library on Collopy Street, call 5775 8621 or email library@mansfield.vic.gov.au parks and gardens have been doing it tough Council officers have been watering and mulching street trees but even the most mature trees are suffering in the recent dry conditions These dry conditions mean we all need to be mindful of how we utilise water during the recent heat wave in early February GVW and Council worked together to manage the demand by proactively reducing usage in parks and gardens this ensured there was adequate water during this period This was also actively supported by some local water carting businesses who went out of their way to assist Mayor Cr Steve Rabie said this demonstrated the balancing act required to help with responsible water use “Our parks and gardens are well loved and we know how important green open spaces are to our community,” said Cr Rabie we are asked to support responsible and sustainable water usage by shutting down sections where we would usually water This impacts our ovals and other public spaces “We operate by watering in sections to systematically and strategically target the open spaces recreational reserves and other areas that need it most our parks and gardens crew are out trying to make sure street trees have all the water they need to survive as well “If you have a street tree out the front of your place we’re asking you to please give it some water if you can it doesn’t take much to give some love to your street tree We’re out there as well but in these conditions even mature trees are suffering and need all the help they can get,” said Cr Rabie Contact Council if you have questions about street trees by calling (03) 5775 8555 The Stags had a let-off inside the first 30 seconds as Reece Cole turned a low Ilmari Niskanen cross against the outside of the right post the hosts then took the lead after 25 minutes Louis Reed's 22-yard free-kick hit the underside of the bar and Stephen McLaughlin was on hand to head home from close range as it bounced back up Mansfield's second also came from close range when Brighton loanee Caylan Vickers beat his man cut into the box and teed up a tap-in for former United States international Dom Dwyer Exeter goalkeeper Joe Whitworth then had to turn over a powerful Vickers shot before the break to deny the Stags a third Six minutes into an improved second half for the visitors Niskanen raced on to a Cole through ball and rounded Scott Flinders the Stags wrapped up the win after 83 minutes as Reed's cutting pass sent Ben Waine clear to slot home Cole rattled a Mansfield post a minute later as City's afternoon ended in frustration while Jordan Rhodes hit the Exeter upright on the break with the last kick of the match To load Comments you need to enable JavaScript in your browser The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made Yogane Match OfficialsReferee: William DavisAssistant Referee 1: Sam WessonAssistant Referee 2: Declan FordFourth Official: Karl BuckleyMatch StatsKey Scroll LeftScroll RightMansfield Town have lost four of their last six league games against Exeter City (W1 D1) failing to score in three of those matches Exeter City have lost just one of their last 12 away Football League games against Mansfield Town (W7 D4) failing to score in just one match during that time Mansfield are unbeaten across their last four final games of a Football League campaign (W2 D2) Exeter have netted just 19 goals in total across their 22 away league games this season (W7 D5 L10) their fewest on the road in a Football League campaign since 2011-12 (15) Jordan Rhodes (Mansfield Town) hits the left post with a right footed shot from the centre of the box Assisted by Ben Waine following a fast break Ed Francis (Exeter City) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick Ronnie Kokkinos (Mansfield Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul Andrew Oluwabori (Exeter City) wins a free kick in the attacking half Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time Stephen McLaughlin (Mansfield Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half Ilmari Niskanen (Exeter City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked Reece Cole (Exeter City) hits the left post with a right footed shot from the right side of the box Ben Waine (Mansfield Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner Assisted by Louis Reed with a through ball Andrew Oluwabori (Exeter City) wins a free kick on the left wing Six community groups have been awarded funding from Council’s 2024-25 Outlying Communities Infrastructure Fund The successful applicants and projects are: Council confirmed funding for 3 groups at the December 2024 Council meeting and continued to work with the remaining applicants to help firm up their project proposals All recipients were confirmed at the March 2025 Council meeting Council offers the Outlying Communities Infrastructure Fund to support communities to develop or improve community facilities that enhance liveability and improve community resilience and connectivity Mansfield Shire’s outlying communities Mayor Cr Steve Rabie congratulated the groups on their successful applications “We’re grateful to all those in our community who take the initiative to make a difference,” he said “Council is proud to support these initiatives They make our Shire a better place to live we’re putting power back into the hands of our locals,” Cr Rabie said with applications open from July to October For more information visit Council’s website or email council@mansfield.vic.gov.au Councillor Steve Rabie has been re-elected as Mayor for the first twelve months of this new Council term and Councillor James Tehan will serve as Deputy Mayor Both positions were uncontested and all Councillors supported the motion to elect the Councillors to their roles Cr Rabie said he was pleased to have the confidence of fellow Councillors to continue in the Mayoral role “It is indeed an honour and a privilege that I take seriously and diligently “The previous Council achieved a lot in its four-year term and I’m excited by the opportunities this new Council presents as we have a strong team and a great balance of experience “I want to continue to keep serving Council on its current course which focuses on being financially responsible with ratepayer’s money I look forward to working with this new Council to continue to support the Historical Society as they complete the future Museum Council will continue to lobby for the emergency services hub and to lobby for new childcare facilities to keep up with our growing population “I look forward to the completion of construction works on Highton Lane and Rifle Butts Road as part of the IMPACT Route Through strong economic development and by investing through these challenging years of growth “It’s critical to our community that Council continues to lobby the state government to protect and preserve our rural amenity advocating for more autonomy in our planning scheme so Council has the power it needs to keep it country,” he said “I look forward to continuing to listen to the community.” Cr James Tehan reflected on being elected as Deputy Mayor four years ago “While this Council is forming and building on the strong foundations of the previous Council I am committed to continuing to serve the community through a new Council term,” he said “I ran for Council again to provide stability in local government as this community works through the challenges of a period of significant growth we continue to be committed to strong financial management of ratepayer funds and strategic town planning,” he said “I want to continue the trajectory of strong leadership we have laid as a foundation in the last term.” Mansfield Shire Council Chief Executive Officer Kirsten Alexander congratulated the Mayor and Deputy Mayor “The first decision a new Council makes is to elect a Mayor and Deputy Mayor for the first 12 months of a new term,” she said “I look forward to working with the new Council the Mayor and Deputy Mayor and congratulate them on being elected to their positions.” New Zealand international Ben Waine has ended a 181-day goal drought for English club Mansfield Town scoring in what’s likely to be his last appearance for the club Waine (23) has had few chances to shine at Mansfield Town where he’s been on a season-long loan from parent club Plymouth Argyle Waine was given 20 minutes off the bench in the Stags’ final game of the season raced towards the Exeter City goal and calmly slotted the ball into the net to make it 3-0 Waine showed his joy with a knee-slide celebration to the delight of home fans Main photo: Ben Waine … happy to score in what was probably his last game for Mansfield Town His last goal for Mansfield was in the FA Cup against Curzon Ashton on November 4 WATCH: All Whites score FA Cup goals to send clubs through to second round >>>> His only other goal for Mansfield was against Crawley Town on October 2 WATCH: All Whites striker Ben Waine scores his first goal for Mansfield Town >>>> A 22-player squad has been named to represent New Zealand at the six-nation FIFA Youth.. A hat-trick from Henderson Eels’ Madeline Arukau has led her side to an impressive opening.. Defending champions Auckland United are ready for strong competition at the OFC Women’s Champions League.. Tahiti have suffered their second straight Group C defeat at the FIFA Beach Soccer World.. The final round of the men’s A-League regular season produced 23 goals and settled which.. New Zealand international Claudia Bunge has given her Melbourne Victory side a big chance of.. Here’s our round-up of top results from the weekend Auckland FC have confirmed their home leg of the men’s A-League semi-finals will be played.. May 3-9: OFC U-16 Men’s Championship – qualifying, Tonga (click here for details) May 5-18 (NZT): Auckland United at OFC Women’s Champions League, Tahiti (click here for details) May 16-18: Grand final, women’s A-League (click here for details) Monday May 19 (2.30am NZT): New Zealand U-16 men v Switzerland, FIFA Youth Series, Zurich (click here for details) Tuesday May 20 (2.30am NZT): New Zealand U-16 men v Guatemala, FIFA Youth Series, Zurich (click here for details) May 26-June 3: FIFA international window (women) May 30-June 1: Grand final, men’s A-League (click here for details) May 31-June 1: Second rounds of Chatham Cup June 2-10: FIFA international window (men) Sunday June 8 (11am NZT): All Whites v Côte d’Ivoire, BMO Field, Toronto, Canada (click here for details) Wednesday June 11 (9am NZT): All Whites v Ukraine, BMO Field, Toronto, Canada (click here for details) June 15-July 13: FIFA Club World Cup, United States (click here for details) Monday June 16 (6am NZT): Auckland City v Bayern Munich, FIFA Club World Cup, TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio (click here for details) Saturday June 20 (6am NZT): Auckland City v Benfica, FIFA Club World Cup, Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, Florida (click here for details) Wednesday June 24 (7am NZT): Auckland City v Boca Juniors, FIFA Club World Cup, Geodis Park, Nashville, Tennessee (click here for details) June 23-July 1: FIFA international window (women) July 5-6: Quarter-finals of Kate Sheppard Cup August 1-14: OFC U-16 Women’s Championship, Samoa (click here for details) August 15-30: OFC U-16 Men’s Championship, Solomon Islands (click here for details) August 16-17: Semi-finals of Kate Sheppard Cup September 2-9: FIFA international window (men) September 17-24: University of Auckland at FISU Men’s Football World Cup September 20-24: OFC Futsal Men’s Cup September 21-October 4: OFC U-19 Women’s Championship September 27-October 19: FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup September 27-28: Season starts for men’s and women’s National Leagues October 7-15: FIFA international window (men) Wednesday October 15 (k/o TBC): Norway v All Whites, international friendly, Ullevaal Stadium, Oslo, Norway (click here for details) October 17-November 8: FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, Morocco (click here for details) October 20-28: FIFA international window (women) November 4-28 (NZT): FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup, Qatar (click here for details) November 10-18: FIFA international window (men) November 17-22: OFC Futsal Men’s Champions League November 21-December 7: FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup, Philippines (click here for details) 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup Oceania qualifiers December 13-14: Grand finals of men’s and women’s National Leagues June 12-July 20 (NZT): FIFA Men’s World Cup © 2025 Friends of Football Site designed by Hurricane Press Ltd using - WordPress Theme by Kadence WP Mansfield is preparing to welcome the Melbourne Football Club as part of the 2024 AFL Community Camp The Demons will be holding several community events at the Mansfield Recreation Reserve from 25 – 26 November First off will be a Welcome to Country at 4pm followed by an Auskick clinic at 4.30pm and a training session with Mansfield Junior Football Club for under 14 and under 17 sides at 5.30pm Both sessions will include a Q&A session and an opportunity for signatures a community business breakfast event will be held for local businesses and community leaders Registration is required – visit surveymonkey.com/r/CNHR9KP All community members are then invited to watch the Demons’ open training session at the reserve from 9am – 10.30am the Mansfield Football Netball Club and the Mansfield Junior Football Club partnered with the Melbourne Football Club to organise the events Mansfield Football Netball Club president Bo Christopher said he was thrilled to be able to welcome the Demons to Mansfield “Having an AFL club come to town is such a game-changer for grass-roots footy,” he said “Our young local players are super passionate Giving them the opportunity to meet the Demons will really help them feel part of the game and the community beyond Mansfield.” “More and more AFL clubs are organising high-altitude training in our region and we have such a great opportunity to promote our town and Mt Buller as AFL pre-season training destinations moving forward.” “I hope a greater connection to the major clubs will help many of our young people be inspired to be part of the next generation of players,” Mr Christopher said Chief Executive Officer at Mansfield Shire Council said Council was proud to support the events “The Community Camp is a great opportunity for our local players to take part in the training and other events,” she said “Council works collaboratively with local sporting groups to promote connection and fitness “We’re excited to welcome the Demons and we love seeing local clubs take the initiative to bring these kinds of events to our Shire,” Ms Alexander said visit the Mansfield Football Netball Club or the Mansfield Junior Football Club Facebook pages A large crowd gathered at the Botanic Park to celebrate Australia Day acknowledge nominees and announce this year’s Citizen Award winners and welcome Mansfield Shire’s newest citizens The Citizen Awards honour outstanding individuals who have made exceptional contributions to their communities The 2025 awards were awarded across five categories with a winner in each: Mayor Cr Steve Rabie congratulated all the winners and nominees “We have a wonderful community in Mansfield Shire with many individuals and groups committed to making a positive impact,” he said “These awards are our way of showing gratitude to those people and organisations who make an exceptional contribution "It’s important that we celebrate their efforts over the past year They have worked diligently to improve the lives of others and inspire those around them our Shire would not be as strong and vibrant as it is,” Cr Rabie said “These awards are our way of expressing appreciation and gratitude to those people and organisations who volunteer their time and expertise driven not by the desire for recognition or glory but by a genuine commitment to making a difference to our community.” Cr Rabie said Award winners were selected by the Australia Day Awards judging panel 2024 Citizen of the Year Cathy Raeburn,2024 Senior Citizen of the Year Karen Pirie and 2024 Young Citizen of the Year The Australia Day celebrations were also an opportunity to welcome 5 Mansfield Shire residents as new Australian citizens Nepal and New Zealand reflecting Mansfield Shire’s increasingly diverse and multicultural community Mayor Cr Steve Rabie officially welcomed each one at a Citizenship Ceremony thanking them for their commitment to Australia’s values and way of life “Australian citizenship ceremonies are an important part of our nation’s celebrations with more people becoming citizens on Australia Day than any other day of the year Our newest citizens have joined a special group of Australians who celebrate the anniversary of their citizenship each Australia Day,” said Cr Visit our Australia Day, Awards and Citizenship page for full details about all our award winners and the nominees Council has been successful in securing grant funding for a battery storage and solar PV installation at the Bonnie Doon Recreation Reserve as part of round two of the Victorian Government’s $42 million 100 Neighbourhood Batteries Program The project at Bonnie Doon Recreation Reserve is being funded as part of a joint initiative led by the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance in partnership with 10 councils across regional Victoria with support from the Goulburn Murray Climate Alliance Climate change and extreme weather events pose an increasing risk to electricity infrastructure in Mansfield Shire Mansfield Shire has experienced multiple storm and fire events in recent years With extreme weather events in the region becoming more frequent there is a growing need for the establishment of an energy resilient hub in Mansfield Shire Following detailed feasibility and business case work undertaken in partnership with the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance in 2024 Bonnie Doon Recreation Reserve was identified by Council as a suitable location for an energy resilience hub for the town and surrounding areas An energy backup system comprising of a 25kw/50kWh battery and additional 8kW solar PV system installed at the Bonnie Doon Recreation Reserve will future-proof this site as an energy resilient hub for residents of Bonnie Doon and surrounding areas to access in the event of an extended grid outage The proposed system is expected to provide up to 3 days backup power for critical power and lighting circuits from the battery alone with capacity to charge from solar in island-mode to extended backup power duration if required Mayor Cr Steve Rabie said Council was proud to play a leadership role in facilitating local energy solutions with long-term benefits “The battery and solar installation at Bonnie Doon Recreation Reserve means people will be able to access a powered relief site during emergencies,” he said “When we partner with other organisations and advocate for federal funding we can get better bang for ratepayers’ buck We’ve been able to get a $163,000 battery and solar installation for only $8,000 of cost to Council “We’re grateful to the Victorian Government the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance and the 10 partnering councils for their support “The upgrades will make the Bonnie Doon Recreation Reserve a more energy-efficient and sustainable space for the community,” said Cr Rabie A community-wide campaign to trap European wasp queens has reduced wasp numbers across the Shire by 800,000 or more this summer Council now hopes to expand the project in the future Their opportunistic and competitive diet can have major negative impacts on native species Council targeted queens between September and December last year – the period when new queens come out of hibernation and establish new colonies Council set up 24 traps in several spaces including the Botanic Park in Merrijig and at the Resource Recovery Centre Community members also collected a total of 125 traps from Council for use at home and a QR code allowed keen trappers to register their catches At least 285 queens were successfully trapped and killed throughout the campaign It is estimated this has prevented at least 800,000 wasps from being hatched in new colonies over summer Mayor Cr Steve Rabie was thrilled by the level of participation in the community “So many people came together to support this project and we’re grateful to every one of you,” he said “This whole community effort has made a real impact on the European wasp population in our Shire That’s great news for our environment and we won’t miss the wasps at our barbecues either,” Cr Rabie said A major contributor to the project was Keith Padbury who provided expert guidance and knowledge to community members and helped develop a fact sheet with instructions for making traps “It’s great to hear that we’ve prevented 285 nests from being established,” Mr Padbury said There’s no way we’ve caught every queen coming out of hibernation last year to establish a new nest “Late summer to autumn is another critical time for people to be on the watch If a nest is active it will start producing new queens at this time which then disperse and go into hibernation “I’m really happy to see the community get on board with tackling our wasp population and I hope more people continue to get involved A nest in your backyard or on your house will spread more wasps to all the surrounding areas The only way we can get on top of this problem is to all work together at the same time,” Mr Padbury said Other key project supporters included Steam Café in Mansfield who supplied milk bottles to be made into traps and Carley Burdon at the Woods Point Hotel who brewed bait solution and set up traps for use by Woods Point locals the overall project was successfully delivered for less than $200 in materials Due to the campaign’s success in 2024 Council hopes to expand the project next year to include all outlying towns carry out” campaign kicking off again this year to reduce peak-season waste in camping areas and public spaces Council is again partnering with the Goughs Bay Area Progress Association and Forest Fire Management Victoria to inform and educate visitors on how they can dispose of waste responsibly as well as boosting public bin collections and opening the Resource Recovery Centre (RRC) on more days Last year’s successful campaign saw a total of 739 bags of waste were handed in up to and during Easter – waste that could otherwise have ended up in the reserve or in the Delatite River Over 100 bags of waste were handed in on each long weekend the RRC will be open on all days from 20 December 2024 to 6 January 2025 Camping waste can be dropped off for free from 20 December until the end of January – a measure that effectively reduced overflowing public bins last year Posters and signs promoting the RRC will be placed in high-traffic areas and flyers will be distributed to campers during their visits Mayor Cr Steve Rabie said the campaign aimed to make it easy for people to do the right thing “We had a great response from our visitors last year,” he said “Huge numbers of people made use of the Resource Recovery Centre and the free drop-off option We clearly saw the difference at our public spaces and bin locations “We’re grateful to everyone who helped out and particularly to the Goughs Bay Area Progress Association and Forest Fire Management Victoria for their efforts to spread the “carry in carry out” message,” Cr Rabie said The Resource Recovery Centre is located at 163 Monkey Gully Road Major upgrades to modernise Mansfield Recreation Reserve’s changerooms are moving forward with Council successfully lobbying for additional funding from the federal government Council successfully applied for $1,280,772 from the Australian Government’s Play Our Way Program to fund the Mansfield Female Inclusive Rooms Project The project aims to break down barriers to women’s participation in sport by providing more welcoming and inclusive facilities It involves design and construction of new changerooms suitable for all players Council has also committed $22,250 to the project from its budget with further contributions committed by several local sporting groups totalling an additional $22,250: Mayor Cr Steve Rabie said Council was delighted that the project can now go ahead “It’s been a barrier to women and girls playing sport to know they didn’t have access to decent changerooms This barrier will be eliminated by this project and hopefully encourage more women to participate in sports,” he said “We need to plan for the future of sport in our community Our Shire saw a big increase in female sport participation in 2024 The Female Inclusive Rooms project is an important part of making sure our infrastructure is ready to meet our growing community’s needs “We’ve listened to feedback from our local sporting groups that female-friendly amenities are an important part of helping women and girls feel comfortable to participate.” Cr Rabie said Council advocates for funding from federal and state government for major projects “We have to fight for every dollar,” he said “We just don’t have enough money to build facilities like the new inclusive changerooms so we work hard to apply for grants to support these projects “Council is particularly grateful to all the sporting clubs who also agreed to contribute funding,” said Cr Rabie Design work on the new changerooms is expected to start early in 2025 "The funding for upgrades to changerooms at the Mansfield Football Netball Club is a game-changer for female participation in sport.” modern facilities sends a strong message that women and girls deserve the same opportunities and respect in sport as their male counterparts.” “These upgrades will not only enhance comfort and accessibility but also encourage more females to get involved breaking down barriers to participation.” “It's fantastic to see investments like this creating inclusive spaces that support the growth of women's sport at the community level.” “Having somewhere our women’s football team can change and prepare for training and game day all year round before running onto the rec reserve will be so important to the continued growth of our women’s program.” “The recent funding announced to deliver modern and inclusive unisex changerooms at the Mansfield Recreation Reserve is a fantastic step forward in supporting women and girls participating in sports and team activities.” “We have many junior girls participating in both Auskick and the junior football club program and the addition of safe gender-inclusive spaces goes a long way in supporting their football journey through juniors and hopefully into the senior Mansfield women’s team one day.” “This is a great outcome for the community with broad benefits for all girls and women breaking down barriers to getting involved in team sports.” Free green waste drop-off at the Mansfield Resource Recovery Centre will now be offered all through December Council provided the free drop-off option during November as a “Spring Clean-up” initiative helping residents and property owners remove flammable material from around their properties ahead of the fire season 275 cubic metres of green waste were dropped off across the whole month following the announcement of an increased fire risk for North East Victoria this summer Council is allowing households to drop off one 6x4 trailer load of green waste for free any time up until 31 December 2024 Mayor Cr Steve Rabie encouraged community members to take advantage of the offer “Keeping our Shire safe in the Fire Danger Period takes a whole community effort,” he said “By reducing fuel in your garden or elsewhere on your property you’ll be reducing your own fire risk and avoiding a risk to your whole township “We’re offering the free green waste drop-off to make it easier for you Please do the right thing and make sure your property is maintained and fire-ready,” said Cr Rabie The Resource Recovery Centre is located at 163 Monkey Gully Road, Mansfield. It will be open on all days from 20 December 2024 to 6 January 2025, except for public holidays. For operating hours outside these dates, visit mansfield.vic.gov.au/RRC It’s the time of the year to renew your pet’s registration Owners of registered cats and dogs will soon receive renewal notices for 2025-26 General Manager Investment and Planning at Mansfield Shire Council encouraged pet owners to make sure their registrations are up to date “Registration is a legal requirement It also means we can reunite you with your pet if it gets lost We have good animal management practices in our Shire and registration fees are an important part of how we pay for them “We’re trying to make it as easy as possible to register your animal Forms are available in person at Council’s offices or on Council’s website,” Ms Crane said Discounts are available for desexed animals dogs that have undergone obedience training with an approved organisation dogs registered with approved associations such as Dogs Victoria and hounds registered with the Game Management Authority Approved Assistance Dogs need to be registered All dogs and cats over three months of age must be registered with Council This is a requirement under the Domestic Animals Act 1994 and owners can be fined $395 if not paid by the due date Pet owners who have dogs and cats being registered for the first time must arrange for their pets to be microchipped This statewide regulation also applies to previously registered dogs and cats that move into Mansfield Shire from another municipality This year Council officers will be calling pet owners directly to follow up on overdue registrations If you have questions or concerns regarding pet registration please contact Council on (03) 5775 8555.  Lords Reserve in Mansfield is set to get a majestic upgrade with Mansfield Shire Council completing significant infrastructure improvements In addition to the drainage and car parking upgrade works completed at the reserve last year the next stages of upgrades will include a new pavilion building on the south-western side of the oval an upgrade to the public toilets and an upgrade to the existing clubrooms Mayor Cr Steve Rabie said he was pleased to see the completion of the drainage and carparking upgrades we’ve had delays in getting the grounds ready for play because the grounds were too wet for prep such as getting the roller on the ground for the pitch there wasn’t the same delay in getting on the ground as there has been in the past “This is just one of the many improvements for the reserve We’ll be going ‘around the grounds’ to upgrade not just the existing clubroom building and toilet block but we’ll be constructing a brand new pavilion “We’ve been consulting with all the groups who use the reserve and getting their input into the design and layout of the new pavilion The design draws on the unique character of the area and fits in really well with the picket fence and other buildings,” said Cr Rabie “The pavilion and the other works at Lords Reserve will set up our local sporting clubs for years to come.” toilet and clubroom upgrade is a $2.12 million project which is funded with a $1.41 million grant from the Australian Government’s “Growing Regions Program” and a co-contribution from Council of $710,000 Council completed drainage and carparking upgrade works at the reserve with thanks to both a Council contribution of $134,000 and a State Government grant from the 2022-23 Victorian Country Football and Netball Program of $222,000 “Our efforts will not stop there – we have also put in an application to the 2024-25 Country Football Netball Program to ‘Light up Lords’ with a funding application submitted to install lighting on the oval with a budget of $375,000 for the project,” said Cr Rabie “We are investing in the future of our local sporting clubs and asking other levels of government to help with providing funds to support this important work If we don’t get funding to install the lighting we’ll keep working toward being able to get it done” If you would like to see or provide comments on the proposed new pavilion, please contact capitalworks@mansfield.vic.gov.au.  the National Council for fire and emergency services has released its Seasonal Bushfire Outlook for Summer 2024 which shows an increased fire risk for North East Victoria Mayor Cr Steve Rabie encouraged people to be prepared for bushfire in every way possible “There are many things we can all do to keep ourselves and our community safe,” he said “Every ratepayer is entitled to pick up one free green waste voucher for a trailer of green waste This is a good time to make sure your yard is clear of garden waste and to come and grab that voucher from Council if you haven’t already This will reduce our overall fuel load for any potential fire “Council officers are also out inspecting properties across Mansfield Shire for fire hazards and issuing fire prevention notices to ensure works are completed to minimise risk “You can contact Council if you think there is a property that requires attention We need everyone to step up and make sure we stay safe during this high risk season,” he said Some tips for ensuring properties reduce the risk of fire during summer: There is guidance on the CFA website on how to prepare all types of property for bushfire. Go to www.cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/how-to-prepare-your-property for more information The AFAC Summer Outlook is available at www.afac.com.au/auxiliary/publications/newsletter/article/seasonal-bushfire-outlook-summer-2024 Council urges community members to prepare for emergencies. Go to www.mansfield.vic.gov.au/Community/Fire-Flood-Emergencies/Before-Emergencies to learn how to best prepare for emergencies A downtown business on North Walnut Street has expressed safety concerns to the city's safety-service director about homeless people loitering and defecating around their building they are pooping and peeing next to our cars and behind (the) dumpster," Marci Dick whose husband David owns a law firm on Walnut Street "They also say disgusting things to our staff and make them afraid to get out of their cars in (the) morning and afraid to walk out of work to their cars to go home." The parking lot in question is behind the Mansfield Memorial Museum and is shared parking "My staff shouldn't have to worry about their safety to come to work or leave work; we sometimes have to walk out with them because of these homeless," Dick said "I had to call the police several times in 2024 and I am hoping you can help to solve this problem for our downtown businesses." Mansfield Councilman Aurelio Diaz said the homeless or "unhoused" situation has experienced a drastic uptick since 2020 for a variety of reasons in downtown Mansfield "Which is why the Homeless Response Team was created," Diaz said businesses and patrons of businesses conveyed concerns of violence we knew that something had to occur to ensure safety for all." across the street from attorney Dick’s office and seconds away from 34 Park Avenue West so I have the opportunity to work and interact with the unhoused community frequently "Among this growing community are individuals who are unhoused for a variety of reasons: unmet mental/behavioral needs unable to stay at Wayfinders Ohio due to a history of sexual offenses with its impactful partnership of Angela Riley and the Mansfield Police Department has helped unhoused individuals on a path to independence all while not compromising the dignity of those individuals But the reality of this growing matter is safety." Museum head has never found evidence of complaintsEd Olson president of the board of trustees at the Mansfield Memorial Museum said he has never found any evidence of human feces on the property and he is on the premises regularly to check the mail and security of the people Olson has invited Mayor Jodie Perry to come to the museum's monthly meeting at 5:30 p.m Olson confirmed Perry plans to attend the meeting and noted the meeting is always open to the public "I don't know what the origin of these messages are as they are simply broad assertions being made with no evidence ever being presented," Olson said they are being asserted by (Richland) County Commissioner Tony Vero who has no jurisdiction within the city limits of Mansfield as I served as a county commissioner for 28 years and knew the limits of my elected authority." Mansfield Police Chief Jason Bammann could not be reached for comment "The City of Mansfield has been aware of the homeless problem since 1985 when it was discovered that people were sleeping under the overpasses of U "There have been a number of halfhearted attempts to address this problem but all have failed when the central issue came down to 'Who is going to pay for this?'" Olson said the homeless sleeping on the museum's portico was presented to the board last fall and the police asked if they wanted them removed but the board asked the police to not bother them "Removing them from our premises would only result in them being moved to some other location for them to seek apparent illicit shelter," he said "Since there has never been a single incident of vandalism to our property that can be linked to these persons our board has chosen to give them shelter when the rest of the community has turned their back on this 40-year-old problem."  Olson has met with them and asked those who sleep on the portico to keep the area organized and free of trash and vandalism "These individuals have established a waste container on the portico in which to put their trash and have attempted to keep the portico organized so that it does not present an eye sore for those pedestrians walking past our building," he said Olson also noted that "a significant percentage" of the homeless population has mental disabilities or is composed of veterans "We have had 20 years of ongoing foreign wars since 9/11/01 that has resulted in literally thousands of military veterans suffering from PTSD from battlefield trauma," Olson said Veterans Administration has failed to properly help these victims of battlefield trauma to re-integrate them into American society I personally saw how the nation turned its back on those returning veterans These damaged human beings are now walking the streets of our cities without a support system to help them to achieve a meaningful life." Diaz said he plans to attend the May 7 meeting "Richland County has a wealth of resources and many unhoused individuals come here or are brought here as a result," he said we’ve seen these numbers increase in spring and summer and when there are complaints of people feeling unsafe