BROWNLOW medallist and former St Kilda star Neil Roberts will be a guest at Cobden's Australia Day celebrations.
As Corangamite Shire's Australia Day ambassador, he will speak on "What being Australian means to me".
Mayor Matt Makin said the community was invited to a free morning tea and entertainment from the Lakes and Craters Band at the Cobden Civic Centre from 10am.
"Roberts is bound to be a hit for sports fans, particularly with the talent we have produced on the football field," he said. Roberts played with St Kilda from 1952-62 and won the 1958 Brownlow.
Reading room booked in
A LIBRARY outpost will be set up in Lake Bolac's Business and Information Centre.
The $180,000 project, which will include a reading room, will replace the Central Highlands Mobile Library Service, which is due to close in June.
Ararat Rural City Council Mayor Colin McKenzie said: "The project will give residents from all of the southern communities access to the library in Lake Bolac seven days a week, and will replace the current mobile service with a much improved and more cost-efficient library service."
The council said it was looking at options to replace the mobile library in other parts of the shire.
Trade expo to tempt Chinese
THE Latrobe City Council is encouraging Latrobe Valley businesses to break into the Chinese market.
Latrobe City economic sustainability general manager Allison Jones said a trade expo in March aimed to promote and expand imports to China.
Key industries would be machinery and information technology.
Ms Jones said more than 200,000 Chinese importers and buyers were expected to attend.
"The expo will provide ideal opportunities for local businesses to explore, market and publicise products and services to China," she said.
For more information, phone the council on 1300 367 700.
Cash gives land a hand
EIGHTY landholders in West, Central and South Gippsland will share $2.5 million to protect native vegetation and biodiversity on their properties.
The money is part of the Victorian Government's West Gippsland EcoTender, which focuses on 17,700sq km in the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority Area, from Warragul to Sale and the Great Dividing Range to Wilsons Promontory.
Maffra landholder Stephanie Beddgood said the money meant she would be able to eradicate introduced weeds to attract wildlife to her property.
Cash for community events
CAMPASPE councillors have decided to give money to the Torrumbarry Community Plan to boost community spirit.
The Torrumbarry Community Club will receive $1000 to host three events.
The money will be used for equipment hire and to promote Vintage Weddings through the Ages, celebrating 100 years of weddings in the district, the community Christmas concert and the Twilight River Traders and Real Food Market.
The council also allocated $10,000 to the Murray River Marathon, which attracts 700 paddlers and 2800 members of support crews.
It starts in Yarrawonga on Tuesday and finishes in Swan Hill.
