Media Releases

Member for Swan Hill, Peter Walsh, is urging young adults to involve themselves in family discussions on organ and tissue donation during DonateLife Week which runs from February 19 to February 26.
"How many of our young people are aware of other family members’ feelings about organ and tissue donation?” Mr Walsh asked today.
“Do they know if a family member wants to be an organ or tissue donor?
“Although more young people are discussing organ and tissue donation, one in two young people do not know their family members' donation wishes,” he said.
“The family will always be asked to confirm the donation wishes of the deceased and families that have discussed and know each other's donation wishes are more likely to uphold those wishes.
“Some young adults still find it difficult to bring up the subject of organ and tissue donation with family members but deciding to actually have the discussion can help normalise the subject and make it OK to talk about,” Mr Walsh said.
“I urge all families to use DonateLife Week to initiate the conversation which will help you be prepared should you ever be asked to confirm a loved one’s donation wishes.
“It will also help your family be prepared should they ever be asked to confirm your wishes. It’s a conversation that could one day save lives.
To assist in engaging family members in discussing organ and tissue donation, an online kit is now available at www.donatelife.gov.au

Small businesses in the Swan Hill area will be able to access relevant, reliable and affordable information on business planning thanks to a forthcoming seminar announced today by Member for Swan Hill Peter Walsh.
Mr Walsh said the Business Planning Basics seminar, supported by the Coalition Government, would be held at Swan Hill Region Information Centre at 6pm on Wednesday 22 February.
The workshop, a partnership between the Swan Hill Council and Small Business Victoria, provides anyone interested in establishing a new business access to expert professional advice at a local and convenient location.
Last year more than 3,000 businesses throughout the state participated in Small Business Victoria’s workshops and seminars. Through the program, businesses and prospective business owners are provided with the facts and advice needed to make informed decisions and create a platform for ongoing success.
Popular topics in the program include starting up, financial management, employing people and marketing.
All workshops and seminars are delivered by private sector business specialists who are well-qualified and experienced in small business.
Innovation, Services and Small Business Minister Louise Asher said the Coalition Government recognised the vital role Victoria’s 495,000 small businesses played in the economy of the state.
“We are committed to encouraging small business and individual initiative, and to creating an environment that rewards those who work hard, save, invest and create employment,” Ms Asher said.
For more information about other workshops and seminars and to register for this workshop please go to: www.business.vic.gov.au/businessevents

Member for Swan Hill, Peter Walsh, is calling on local communities to consider nominating for the 2012 Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria awards.
“Under the Tidy Towns - Sustainable Communities Award there are 11 separate awards including the Victorian Tidy Town of the Year,” Mr Walsh said.
“This is an excellent opportunity for our communities to demonstrate the pride that we all share in the towns in which we live,” he said.
“Last year Wycheproof Vision Inc won the Community Leadership Award whilst Lake Boga featured as finalists in a number of awards and St Arnaud was a finalist in the Community Action Award.
“This goes to show that regardless of the size of the community we can all participate successfully in these Awards,” Mr Walsh said.
Minister for Environment and Climate Change Ryan Smith said the awards were a great way to recognise Victorians who take practical action to improve their local environment.
“For thirty years these awards have been encouraging Victorian communities to look after their local environment and be proud of the community they live in.
“I support these awards because they encourage practical and local efforts to improve our environment,” Mr Smith said.
Entries for the Tidy Towns – Sustainable Communities Awards close on 11 May.
For more information visit www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/kabv.

Member for Swan Hill, Peter Walsh, today congratulated Jody Croft from Swan Hill on being one of twenty artists shortlisted for prizes totalling more than $50,000 as part of the Victorian Government’s 2012 Victorian Indigenous Art Awards.
Announced this week by Premier and Minister for the Arts Ted Baillieu, the Victorian Indigenous Art Awards play an important role in celebrating and promoting the work of the State’s Indigenous artists and our unique Koorie culture.
Twenty-seven works were selected from 132 entries for this year’s awards, with Mrs Croft shortlisted as a finalist for her work Rainbow Energy.
“This quite large painting by Mrs Croft is very striking and expressive,” Mr Walsh said today.
“Its depiction of a rainbow using indigenous forms rather than the more traditional structure is particularly notable and very appealing.
“I wish her the very best in the final judging process and I look forward to viewing all the artist’s works at the fortyfivedownstairs gallery later in March,” he said.
Mr Baillieu said the shortlisted artists worked across a variety of mediums, from traditional painting and weaving techniques to photography, sculpture, video and street art.
“There are many voices and many generations of Indigenous artists in Victoria working to uphold traditions and to express their culture in new and distinct ways,” Mr Baillieu said.
The awards, which give prizes across five categories, are open to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists living in Victoria and, now in their seventh year, profile the diversity of Indigenous arts practice in Victoria and showcase the uniqueness of south-east Australian Aboriginal art.
This year’s finalists include both regional and metropolitan artists, past winners and several who have not been shortlisted before. Seven of the shortlisted artists have two artworks on the shortlist.
The finalists were selected by an expert judging panel comprising Dr Treahna Hamm, an Aboriginal artist; Clinton Nain, a Torres Strait Islander artist; and Jason Smith, Director of Heide Museum of Art.
The winners of the 2012 Victorian Indigenous Art Awards will be announced on 9 March 2012 and the finalist exhibition will be open to the public from 10 to 31 March 2012 at the awards partner gallery, fortyfivedownstairs at 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne.

February is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, part of an international campaign to raise awareness of the disease and its associated symptoms and Member for Swan Hill, Peter Walsh, is urging women to be aware of the signs.
“It is imperative that all women know the symptoms of ovarian cancer and are able to recognise the warning signs if they occur,” Mr Walsh said
“There is no detection test for ovarian cancer which is why it is so important for women to recognise the symptoms.
“More than 1,200 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year in Australia – that’s three women a day. This is a startling and worrisome fact.”
The 4 types of ovarian cancer symptoms most frequently reported are:
1. Abdominal or pelvic pain
2. Increased abdominal size or persistent abdominal bloating
3. Needing to urinate often or urgently
4. Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
During February, Ovarian Cancer Australia invites the community, volunteers and friends to raise vital funds for support programs and resources for women and their families affected by ovarian cancer and for a national research program into the disease.
“2012 Teal Ribbon Day is Wednesday, 29 February, when Australians are encouraged to purchase and wear a teal ribbon to raise awareness of ovarian cancer,” Mr Walsh said.
“Show your support this February, buy a teal ribbon, host a morning tea, or simply talk about the symptoms of ovarian cancer with the women in your life.”
For more information visit www.ovariancancer.net.au or call 1300 660 334

The definition of what it means to be an Australian particularly resonates this year twelve months after the devastating floods of January 2011.
Over that time we have seen the true character of people across the nation through the enormous groundswell of support for those affected by the floods.
Our nation’s character is epitomised by the qualities of a ‘fair go’ for all and the willingness to come to the aid of a neighbour in need.
On this Australia Day we recognise the challenges and opportunities that this country presents to us and it is the way in which we respond to these challenges and opportunities that truly define us as individuals and as a nation.
We must ensure that these characteristics of our nationhood, of which we are so rightly proud, are extolled and celebrated.
It is vital that we take the next generation of Australians along with us in this celebration.
Promote with them the value of mateship and looking after our neighbours. Lead by example by shopping locally and buy Australian.
And, most importantly, on this day join with other Australians and celebrate what it means to be a part of this great country by attending one of the many functions being held across the district.
Have a great Australia Day.

Low-income earners are reminded that they have until the end of the month to apply for a non-mains energy rebate.
“Under a Victorian Coalition Government election commitment, the concession available to non-mains electricity users has been extended from six to 12 months to cover the summer period,” Member for Swan Hill, Peter Walsh, said today.
“This initiative allows residents of caravan parks, retirement villages and other residences that use embedded electricity networks to receive a rebate on their electricity for the whole year.”
“It also ensures concession card holders who don’t receive a mains electricity bill will receive the same benefits as mains electricity customers.”
About 7000 Victorian households, mainly in regional and rural areas, claimed the previous winter-only electricity rebate for 2010 and may now be eligible for the extended rebate for 2011.
Concession cardholders who use other non-mains energy, including LPG, heating oil, firewood or generators for their domestic heating or cooking, were already eligible for year-round concessions.
The amount of the rebate, which ranges from about $40 to $300, depends on the how much energy is purchased.
Holders of a Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card, Centrelink Health Care Card or Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) Gold Card may be eligible for the Non-Mains Energy Concession.
Applications for rebates on all forms of non-mains energy close on 31 January 2012.
Further information is available from the Victorian concessions information line on 1800 658 521, or www.dhs.vic.gov.au/concessions

Dear Sir,
There are several pieces of Legislation that will be debated in the next sitting of Parliament which may be of interest to residents of the Swan Hill electorate.
The Associations Incorporation Reform Bill repeals a 1981 Act and replaces it with a new, modern piece of legislation governing the incorporation of voluntary organisations and makes provision relating to governance and financial accountability.
The Control of Weapons and Firearms Acts Amendment Bill creates a new indictable offence for prohibited persons to possess, use or carry imitation firearms and provides for new rules relating to the minimum number of shooting events a person licensed to possess certain categories of handguns must participate in.
The Emergency Services Legislation Amendment Bill continues the Coalition Government’s reforms of how Victoria’s emergency services are governed.
The Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (Investigative Functions) Bill implements an election commitment by detailing the wide range of investigative powers the new IBAC will have.
The Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Bill
The Freedom of Information (Freedom of Information Commissioner) Bill
Copies of the above may be obtained from website: www.parliament.vic.gov.au.
I am keen to receive people’s views about these and any other pieces of Legislation that come before Parliament. Anyone wishing to comment can do so by writing to me at 274 Campbell St Swan Hill, 3585 before Friday 3rd February.

Applications are now open for the Victorian Women’s Governance Scholarship, a joint initiative of the Victorian Coalition Government and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Member for Swan Hill, Peter Walsh, said the scholarships were designed to enhance board expertise and skills and will provide 34 women with training in corporate governance through the Company Directors’ Course.
The Government has provided $180,000 in funding for the scholarships which are available to women who are serving directors on non-profit boards that currently receive state government funding.
In announcing the scholarships Minister for Women’s Affairs, Mary Wooldridge, said the Government recognised there was a need for more women on boards.
“The course is highly regarded and will enhance the knowledge and skills of participants, making them better directors in their current roles and preparing them for further directorships in the future,” she said.
It will also strengthen the governance of the non-profit boards of which these women are currently directors, she said.
Mr Walsh encouraged eligible women to consider applying for one of the 34 scholarships available.
Applications close on February 10 2012 and must be made on line with further information available from the website, www.companydirectors.com.au/vicwomenscholarships

The Nationals have once again entered a team in the YMCA Murray River Canoe Marathon.
The team is headed by local Member Peter Walsh and consists of the Member for Murray Valley, Tim McCurdy, ex Swan Hill Mayor Greg Cruickshank and Swan Hill locals Gerard Maloney, Daniel Maloney and Kim Kirby.
“The Marathon is a great event which highlights the mighty Murray and particularly this magnificent region we live in,” Mr Walsh said.
“It also raises much needed funds for a very worthwhile cause.
The 404 kilometre, five day race along the Murray River starts in Yarrawonga on December 27 and heads downstream through Cobram, Tocumwal, Picnic Point, Echuca Torrumbarry and Murrabit before finishing in Swan Hill on New Year’s Eve.
Crews come from every State in the country and a wide range of classes cater for a variety of craft from racing canoes and kayaks to touring craft.
“While the event is incredibly challenging it is also wonderfully rewarding in that you join with so many inspiring competitors that make life on and off the water so enjoyable,” Mr Walsh said.
“The members of our team have been training hard for many weeks now and I am sure we will put in a very credible effort.
“This is my fifth marathon and, while, they never get any easier, I certainly don’t intend it being my last,” he said.
“The effort everyone puts in, the atmosphere that is created along with the benefits that flow from the event make it all worthwhile and I am really looking forward to another great 5 days on the water,” Mr Walsh said.