Don’t hold your tongue
Moorabool residents are being urged to take part in a survey and help develop strategies for the council’s disability access and inclusion plan. Interested people should go to haveyoursaymoorabool.com.au or call 5366 7100 to request a form. Surveys must be returned to PO Box 18, Ballan, 3342 by Friday.
Heat a whisker from record
Moorabool has fallen just short of recording its hottest November day on record. The temperature reached 37.8 degrees at 3.30pm on Thursday and it was still a warm 24.8 at midnight. The month’s hottest day was 38.3 on November 21, 2006. Last week’s heat followed wild and wet weather on Tuesday morning when a total of 16 millimetres of rain was recorded at the Sheoaks weather station. Bacchus Marsh SES said no damage was reported.
Road-rager clipped ute on highway
A Bacchus Marsh man has had his licence suspended for three months after he smashed into the back of another car during a road-rage incident. After initially contesting the charges, Jayden Lee Sidari, 25, last week pleaded guilty to careless driving and failing to stop after an accident. Ballarat Magistrates Court heard Sidari took offence after he was overtaken by a ute on the Western Highway on September 7 last year. After a series of lane changes he followed the victim, making gestures. He then clipped the vehicle while overtaking and drove away towards Bacchus Marsh. Sidari, who represented himself, initially claimed he didn’t know the accident had occurred. He was fined $700.
Time’s up for wood gleaners
This year’s firewood collection season finished on Friday, so anyone now caught collecting firewood in state forests or parks faces a maximum penalty of a $7042 fine, a year in jail or both. The autumn firewood collection season begins on March 1. More details, go to dse.vic.gov.au/forests/firewood or phone 13 61 86
Royal visits in the spotlight
An exhibition marking the Queen’s diamond jubilee will open at Bacchus Marsh’s Lerderderg library on January 4. Drawing on Public Records Office archives, We Saw The Queen highlights the energy residents put in to preparing for royal tours. It includes personal accounts and photos of Victorian landmarks. The exhibition will coincide with Bacchus Marsh Historical Society’s Our Local Champions, which documents the achievements of remarkable locals.
