Mayor's Message 9 June, 2023

Hello everyone,

As we head into our first King’s Birthday long-weekend, I’m excited for our tourism, hospitality and accommodation operators who’re all gearing up for a huge surge in visitation.

The June long-weekend has traditionally been a popular time for visitors to our Shire, especially with so many events and attractions on offer.

The renamed Roam Rutherglen Winery Walkabout is celebrating an impressive 50 years and remains one of the most popular events on the social calendar, with huge crowds expected to visit our famous wine region. On Sunday, Rutherglen’s Main Street will be closed for the annual Rotary Country Fair, one of the largest regional markets in Victoria.

I love browsing this market, not just for the stunning produce, arts and crafts and other goods, but for the atmosphere which is always lively. While the temperature may be on the cool side, the rain should have cleared by the weekend and we may even get some sunshine, which will be great for our event organisers and our many visitors.

No matter what you have planned, it’s a great weekend to get out and about and enjoy all that Indigo Shire has to offer and if you have friends and family visiting, why not show-off your hometown and region.

And speaking of showing off, we are thrilled that Chiltern will host the 2024 Off-Grid living Festival, planned for April. Having outgrown its traditional location at Eldorado, organisers have been searching for a new venue and this week, announced that the old Chiltern Racecourse will be the host location for next year’s festival. Not only is hosting the festival great for our local economy, with more than 8,000 people expected to attend, it aligns so well with our commitment to climate action and sustainability. Let’s all get behind this fantastic event and ensure that 2024 will be the first of many years that this event is staged in our backyard.

Enjoy your weekend and stay safe, especially if travelling.

Sophie Price