The Ararat Advocate in Ararat, Victoria | Media/news company

The Ararat Advocate

Locality: Ararat, Victoria

Phone: +61 3 5352 2866

Address: 93a Barkly Street 3377 Ararat, VIC, Australia

Website: http://www.theadvocate.net.au

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25.01.2022 Ararat's new councillors were sworn in today heralding a new era for our municipality. Crs Gwenda Allgood, Jo Armstrong, Rob Armstrong, Peter Beales, Henry Burridge, Bob Sanders and Bill Waterston took the Oath of Office at a ceremony a short time ago. See the details in Friday's Ararat Advocate. Locally owned. Locally made.

22.01.2022 40 kilograms of cannabis has been seized and two Vietnamese nationals arrested in Ararat overnight. Police noticed the two men in a BMW acting suspiciously in the McDonald’s carpark, and when they approached the noticed a distinctive smell. 3 rubbish bags of cannabis was located in the vehicle. The men have been arrested and will face court this morning.

21.01.2022 TOURISTS BRING ECONOMIC BOOST FOR ARARAT BUSINESSES ARARAT’S Green Hill Lake is proving a drawcard for Melbourne residents escaping the COVID-19 lockdown, with more than 100 camp sites popping up last weekend. Green Hill Lake Development Board chairman Gwenda Allgood believes the influx of tourists will have economic benefits for Ararat retailers. We took a call on Saturday from a family wanting to buy a bag of wood.... They had jumped in their car with no destination in mind when the lockdown bans were lifted in Melbourne, Mrs Allgood said. They saw the signs for the lake and decided to take a look and they couldn’t believe you could pay $5 a night for a campsite with access to hot water and toilets. They didn’t bring any food or water with them, so they were heading into town to buy supplies. This is what we want to see. While people aren’t spending money out at the lake, we want them to know how close to town they are, what’s available to eat, places to shop and activities to do while they’re here. Board members have started handing out bags to campers containing catalogues from local businesses including supermarkets, Reject Shop and Target, as well as vouchers from fast food restaurants, cafes and tourist attractions. Mrs Allgood said the bags were proving popular with visitors. Even receiving one voucher to J Ward or a McDonald’s meal is something they welcome, she said. It shows Ararat welcomes them but also benefits local businesses because families are likely to pay for their entire group to tour J Ward or buy meals at McDonald’s for everyone in the family. Mrs Allgood praised campers for cleaning up after themselves and not leaving any catalogues to litter the lake. The board hopes to collect catalogues, brochures and locally sourced products to include in the bags. People wanting to donate can drop goods on the front veranda of 40 Vincent Street, Ararat. PICTURED: Green Hill Lake Development Board volunteers John Robertson and Morris Allgood.

21.01.2022 GRACE RECOGNISED AS A TRAIL BLAZER FORMER Ararat town clerk Grace McNeill has been officially recognised as a trail blazer for her work in local government. Grace, the first woman in Victoria to serve in an executive role in any form of government administration, was one of two women inducted as trail blazers into Victoria’s Honour Roll of Women last week. The induction follows a push by Melbourne historian Jenny Hannett to have Grace recognised as a trail blazer.... In 1911 there were 208 local government areas in Victoria. Only one had a female executive officer and that was Ararat, with Grace serving as town clerk. Grace was the first women in Victoria to sit the 1903 legislated municipal clerk exams. The Victorian Municipal Directory of 1907 identifies Grace as assistant town clerk of Ararat. From 1911 to 1914 she was town clerk of the Borough of Ararat. By 1914, Grace was under significant pressure from her council peers, who questioned the appropriateness of a lady serving in the role of Town Clerk. As the first woman to take a leading management role in a local government district in the state, Grace and her work was scrutinised on many levels by councillors, ratepayers and other municipal council officers from across Victoria. She endured significant scrutiny and humiliation of a public debate over her role which resulted in her demotion to assistant town clerk so a male engineer could be appointed to the role of town clerk. The election of Cr Impey unleashed a bitter and destructive campaign to replace Grace as town clerk with a male engineer. Cr Impey, told a well-attended public meeting that: No matter how competent in the office, who would expect a lady to be capable of supervising the many important outside works? His views were not shared by all councillors and heated debate followed, but Cr Impey had the numbers 5-4 and carried his proposal through. The implications for the council were disastrous and played out publicly in the media over two years, covering Grace’s intense and increased work load, her illness and subsequent leave, her resignation and subsequent appointment to the Shire of Stawell, the demise over 15 months of Ararat’s newly appointed town clerk, the subsequent demise of council’s financial administration, the speculation that Grace would be reappointed and the somewhat late glowing and public testimonial the council wrote for Grace. The economic impact for her was enormous as her salary as town clerk was two hundred and fifty pounds per annum half of the salary of the existing assistant town clerk. The savings made enabled the council to pay the appointed male town clerk a salary of three hundred pounds a year. Grace never married and died in 1946. See more

19.01.2022 KEVIN REWARDED FOR SERVICE TO RACECOURSE KEVIN Smith admits a feeling of pride washes over him every time he steps through the gates of Ararat racecourse. He only needs to look at how green the race track remains year round and across to the trees which now provide a spectacular backdrop to the course to see the fruits of his labour as a member of the Ararat Racecourse and Recreation Reserve committee of management over the last three decades. Smith was still a horse racing t...Continue reading

19.01.2022 The Grampians region will receive over $13m in funding from the State Government to maximize investment in the Grampians Peaks Trail and support the visitor economy following a year of bushfires and COVID closures across the region. The money will be allocated in the Grampians National Park for improvement and critical infrastructure at Mackenzie Falls, trail heads on Grampians Peak Trail and Brambuk Cultural Centre. The funding will be used to support projects to help increase visitation to the region, support enhanced dispersal and improve the visitor experience. We are thrilled to hear this funding announcement for some of our most popular attractions at a time when we need help the most, said Grampians Tourism CEO, Marc Sleeman. Pictured : Marc Sleeman, Mayor Jo Armstrong and Ararat Rural City CEO Tim Harrison.

18.01.2022 A 3.6 magnitude earthquake rattled the region just before 8am. Geoscience Australia reports the quake was centred north of Glenorchy. People from across the region have reported homes shaking at the time of the earthquake at 7.58am. What happened at your house?

15.01.2022 A small group gathers in Ararat for a brief Remembrance Day service. Lest we forget.

14.01.2022 The station commander at Ararat Police Station, Damian Ferrari, was tonight elected Mayor of neighbouring Pyrenees Shire Council. Cr Ferrari, who represents the Beaufort ward, was unanimously endorsed by his colleagues. Read the story in Friday’s Ararat Advocate.

13.01.2022 Are you looking for that perfect gift for a friend or relative who lives outside the Ararat district? Why not buy them a 12 month subscription to the Ararat Advocate? For $156, you can have a copy of the Ararat Advocate delivered to someone special anywhere In Australia for 12 months (52 editions) Call 5352 2866 or email [email protected] for further information.

08.01.2022 Looking for that perfect lifestyle property? Look no further.

08.01.2022 Elmhurst Primary School has confirmed it will close at the end of the year after a meeting of the school council on Wednesday night. As we reported in last week’s Ararat Advocate, the school was facing the likelihood of closure, with no students enrolled for the 2021 school year. The 152-year-old school had just three students this year. School Council President Wess Edgar confirmed the vote had been taken on Wednesday night, but was reluctant to speak publicly until the dec...ision was formalised. It’s understood the vote to close the school was not unanimous. See more in today's Ararat Advocate. See more

08.01.2022 How good is this. Ararat Market is back in business.

07.01.2022 Did the earth just move for you? Several people have reported what might have been a slight earth tremor just before 8am. What happened at your place?

06.01.2022 The CFA has issued a warning about a fire burning at Mount Cole which could impact on nearby communities. Residents in Ararat, Bayindeen, Ben Nevis, Crowlands, Dunneworthy, Elmhurst, Eversley, Glenlogie, Mount Cole, Mount Cole Creek, Warrak, Buangor, Dobie, Glenlofty and Raglan are advised the fire is not under control and to monitor the CFA or Emergency Vic websites or local ABC radio for regular updates. A number of crews are on scene fighting the fire. More information to follow.

05.01.2022 Yes, we’ve had another earthquake or an aftershock, except this time most of us slept through it. A 3.1 magnitude Earthquake was recorded at 5:49am this morning (Sunday) near #Glenorchy. It follows a 3.5 magnitude in the same area on Friday. Did you feel it? Picture courtesy of google maps.

05.01.2022 Check out today’s Ararat Advocate. This week we report the sad news a local school will shut in December, the cancellation of Ararat’s Christmas carols, $13 million to boost local tourism, a big list of new businesses opening during the pandemic and a great history piece on the Willaura silos. And there’s heaps of local sport too. The Ararat Advocate is your locally owned, locally made and locally staffed newspaper.

05.01.2022 Check out your locally owned Ararat Advocate. In today’s edition full coverage of local Remmebrance Day commemorations, our new mayor, a report on our beloved Astor Cinema reopening, a Lego Christmas coup for Ararat and heaps and heaps of sport including a wrap of the Ararat Cup. Your locally owned and locally made Ararat Advocate. Here to stay!

04.01.2022 FROM ARARAT TO A WORLD OF MOVIES FROM humble beginnings sweeping floors at Ararat’s Town Hall Picture Theatre, Graham Burke was always destined to become head of one of the biggest movie distribution empires in the world. A self-confessed movie junkie as a kid, Mr Burke set his sights on a job in the industry at the tender age of 14 after seeing an advertisement for a new cinema coming to Ararat.... And the rest, as they say in the movies, is history. Read this week's edition of The Ararat Advocate to see how Mr Burke went on to become CEO of a multi million dollar company and founder of Australia's premier tourist attraction, Movie World.

03.01.2022 Cr Jo Armstrong has just been re-elected Mayor of Ararat Rural City Council with Cr Peter Beales elected Deputy Mayor.

02.01.2022 Dylan Wittingslow is known to frequent Ararat. If you spot him, call police. https://www.police.vic.gov.au/dylan-wittingslow-wanted-warr

02.01.2022 Check out today’s Ararat Advocate for your weekly wrap of local news. In this edition a bomb scare at St Mary’s, a story about two young entrepreneurs and their new accredited egg business, the closure of Target ahead of the launch of Khub, police frustration with our road behaviour, a visit by the CFA chief and Parkrun is back. Plus so much more in your locally owned and locally made Ararat Advocate.