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The Border Watch : October 23rd 2013
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8 OPINION EDITORIAL GRANT District Council must be applauded for getting on the front foot and calling for bipartisan support for the region’s struggling agricultural food processing industry. The shock announcement that the Penola Safries plant would close before Christmas has resonated across all agricultural sectors in the region and illustrates how growers and jobs are at the mercy of changing markets and conditions. While the potato industry is not one of the most prominent sectors in the region, it is an important cog in our agricultural wheel and helps to underpin the South East economy. Grant District Mayor Richard Sage raised the issue that chip giant McCain Foods imports processed potatoes into Australia, despite crying out about the rises in imports. While this is true, it is understood these imports are not as cheap as products fl owing from Europe and North America. Meanwhile, let’s hope the closed Safries plant can be bought by a new owner and it can reopen and create fresh employment. It is also crucial McCain continues to support regional producers and helps to alleviate growing concern over freight costs to Ballarat. With the closure of the plant throwing the issues around agriculture into the spotlight, the time is now ripe for regional civic leaders to call for an urgent discussion on subsidies and tariffs on imported products. With thousands of cheap products fl owing across the Australian borders by ship, it is crucial our industries not only survive, but also fl ourish. It’s time state and federal governments rallied behind the agricultural sector and delivered key policies to rejuvenate embattled sectors. While the chips may be down for the sector, the long-established industry must survive this latest chapter in its long history. COMMENT Community assistance network provides ongoing support MAYORAL MATTERS Mount Gambier mayor PERRYMAN STEVE SCOTT GROUP OF COMPANIES 538600 8 - The Border Watch, Wednesday, October 23, 2013 CURTIS FOX Mount Gambier The social aspect. HEATHER TELFORD Mount Gambier I’m an exhibitor, so I’m looking forward to some nice weather and seeing a lot of people there. I haven’t been to the Mount Gambier Show before, so I’m looking forward to having a look around with some of my mates. JETHRO VICTORY Kingston THE passion and determination of the many agencies and volunteers within our community continues to shine. With an ever-increasing number of families requiring assistance within our community, it is thanks to the tireless work of the community assistance network that many less fortunate families can celebrate and enjoy Christmas. The network consists of fi ve key agencies, all providing invaluable contributions throughout our city, including UnitingCare. UnitingCare is an emergency organisation working hard in Mount Gambier to support the needy and vulnerable people of our community. Located at 26 Elizabeth Street, UnitingCare supports our community in a number of ways, offering grocery items, cooked frozen meals, Coles vouchers, emergency fuel and chemist prescriptions. However, a “special needs” component is also available, which is often used for specifi c needs and is assessed on a one-to-one basis. STREET SWEEPER What are you looking forward to at the Mount Gambier Spring Show this weekend? UnitingCare is strongly supported by the Uniting Church congregations, who on a regular basis supply grocery items collected at their church services. UnitingCare offers Christmas hampers and is involved Australiawide with the Target Christmas Tree Appeal. Lifeline South East is another community-based organisation working hard to serve the people of the South East for more than 30 years. The Lifeline centre is probably best known for its 24-hour 131 114 crisis telephone service, which assists those in need across Australia with a call into Lifeline received every 50 seconds. Here in the South East, Lifeline is deeply committed to suicide prevention and offers a range of initiatives across the community, which focus on reducing stigma and encouraging help seeking. Lifeline South East also delivers fi nancial counselling through the low income support program. Programs such as this have been seen to not only resolve current fi nancial diffi culties, but increase money management knowledge and skills for the future. Lifeline South East continues to deliver the Limestone Coast Gambling Help Service, which provides support, information and barring referrals to people in the South East affected by problem gambling. Located at 5 Mark Street, all programs at Lifeline South East are provided free of charge by accredited counsellors in a safe and confi dential environment. The Salvation Army is another agency in Mount Gambier that provides multiple services to people within our community in their time of need. Located at the corner of Gray and Wyatt streets, the Salvation Army offers assistance with groceries at Woolworths, chemist prescriptions, Telstra bills, clothing, shoes, household items and much more. The Salvation Army also offers interest-free loans for fridges and washing machines, furniture, referrals to community support services, bus tickets and fuel assistance, as well as I Care, a spectacles program for low income people who cannot afford the government scheme. The community assistance network is driven by enthusiasm and a desire to assist those less fortunate within our community and is proudly supported by the council. The sheer level of work and ongoing support offered by these agencies is astounding and continues to have a large impact on the welfare of our community. VISIT US ONLINE borderwatch.com.au
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