Irony in council actions
THE Ararat Rural City Council is to be commended for adopting its Youth Strategy Charter, thereby indicating recognition of the importance of appropriate facilities and opportunities for young people to participate in community affairs and activities.
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However, it is somewhat ironic that the services and resources of the YMCA have been lost at this time, due to council's recent decision to award operation of the aquatic and recreation centre to a commercial body.
The Y, a non-profit organisation, which has, for many years, been a foremost provider of youth services, both locally and nationwide, would have welcomed the opportunity to interact with council in developing such a charter.
KINGSLEY SPALDING
Ararat
Have your say on local government review
WIMMERA residents are encouraged to have their say on the Andrews government’s review of the Local Government Act 1989.
The recent release of a discussion paper and launch of the consultation website, Your Council, Your Community, was the first stage in the review process.
The review is an opportunity for communities in Horsham Rural City, Hindmarsh Shire, Yarriambiack Shire, Ararat Rural City, West Wimmera Shire and Northern Grampians Shire to reflect on the role of local government and shape the future of Victoria’s local councils.
The Act review will be far-reaching and comprehensive, examining issues from the role and functions of councillors and CEOs, to donation regulation and how complaints should be handled. It is the first in-depth review of the Act since its inception, and responds to calls from the local government sector and the community for reform.
The review underscores the Labor government’s local government agenda, which includes improvements to the integrity and capacity of local government, a modern productive relationship between councils and the Victorian government, and the implementation of the Fair Go Rates system.
The Local Government Act review is an important opportunity for councils, the community and the Victorian government to work together to decide what local government should be. With more than 90 amending acts resulting in hundreds of individual changes, the review is well overdue.
The Andrews Labor government is committed to ensuring strong, accountable and responsive local government, and an Act that reflects and responds to the needs of our state. Input into the Local Government Act review is welcome until December 18.
JAALA PULFORD
Member for Western Victoria
Devotion
‘YOU, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world’ (1 John 4:4).
Adam and Eve were tempted by the serpent in the Garden of Eden and fell for it. Jesus Christ, the second Adam, was tempted in the desert, yet did not fall for it.
The fact is that the devil tempts you. But my question for you is who is it in you that the devil tempts? There are only two choices. Is it your old nature, called the old Adam, who is tempted to sin? Or it is the new Adam, called Jesus Christ, who is tempted to sin?
To these questions Dietrich Bonhoeffer said in his posthumous book Temptation; ‘either the Adam in me is tempted – in which case I fall. Or the Christ in me is tempted – in which case Satan is bound to fall’.
Through faith in him, Jesus Christ dwells in you. You have been given the power of God to make Satan fall. You have a greater power at your disposal than has Satan. As James said, ‘submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you’ (James 4:7).
PASTOR CHRIS RAATZ
Grampians Lutheran Parish
