Skipton Community News
Now in its 42nd year, SCN has been serving Skipton & District with a weekly newsletter for all of those years.
Skipton Progress Association Inc.
To promote and foster the progress and prosperity of the Skipton and the surrounding District.
To attract population and business to Skipton and District and to work towards the improvement of the existing amenities of the town.
To act as a communication link between the people of the community and the Corangamite Shire Council.
To protect and preserve the history and heritage of Skipton and District.
The Intent of Skipton Progress Association:
- Produce weekly newsletterfor Skipton & District
- Improve the town centre
- Maintenance of parks and public areas
- Approaches to town [tree planting and signage]
- Tourism [information boards,brochures,walking trails,Ballarat-Skipton rail trail and website]
- Work with other groups in the community assist to reach their goals.
Recent Accomplishments of Skipton Progress Association:
- Completion of Streetscape works [$200,000]
- Clearing of non indigenous species from banks of Mt. Emu Creek.
- Gateway to the start of Skipton-Ballarat rail trail.
- Planting of avenue of trees at Skipton entrance to the Trail are growing very well.
- New tourist information boards.
- Third tourist brochure completed.
- Tree planting at entrances to skipton looking good.
- Significant new plantings and tree works completed by Corangamite Shire.
- Town Entrances at four entrances to Skipton.
Current Activities of Skipton Progress Association:
- Further tree planting around town planned by Tree Sub-Committee - ongoing looking great.
- Skipton Community News now on website each week and on Facebook.
- Restoration work at Jubilee Park and the Linking Skipton Walking Track is complete.
- Walking Trails all link up and avenue of trees at the Railway Station end growing well.
- Linking Skipton Walking Trail complete with Ballarat-Skipton Rail Trail being well used.
- Historical Walk available for locals and visitors. Pamphlets available.
Participation in Skipton Progress Association:
Meetings of Skipton Progress Assocition are open to everyone to attend and people are invited to raise any issues they may have in the meeting. The members after hearing the information can formulate a motion and a vote can be taken as to how to proceed.
If the person wishes to participate in the voting process they must be a member of the Progress Association. A small fee of $5.00 is all it takes to be able to make a real difference in your community.
It is for Men and for Women. Young and for those who are a little "More Mature".
SKIPTON PROGRESS ASSOCIATION MEETINGS
Meeting Venue: Supper Room of Skipton Mechanics Hall.
Light Supper after meetings
The venue is wheelchair accessible.
Meeting Times: 7:30 pm on the 1st Thursday of each month
Membership Fees: $5.00. Must be a Member to have voting rights.
Also Available Alternative Meeting Venue:
Jubilee Centre, 10 Montgomery Street, Skipton.
Available for Meetings and Informal Gatherings.
Contact: 5340 2043 for Bookings.
PUBLIC HALLS AND BOOKINGS FOR EVENTS
Skipton Mechanics Institute Hall
Anderson St, Skipton.
Home of the Monthly Skipton Market and Skipton Senior Citizens Club meetings.
Hall is available for General Use for any public gatherings and also available for private functions.
Complete with fully functional kitchen, tables and chairs.
The Hall is the Hub of the Skipton Community and the venue for many events throughout the year.
The large stage, two side dressing rooms, accessed with steps at both sides.
Skipton Mechanics Institute Hall Committee:
President: Barbara Pett ph 5340 2086
Contact for bookings: Hazel Robson
Phone: 5340 2446
Mannibadar Hall 1445 Skipton Rokewood Rd
Contact: Sue Collins ph 5344 7203
Marg Fraser ph 5340 3530
Bradvale Hall Crawfords Rd, Bradvale
Contact: Margot Barr ph 5340 3551
Carranballac Hall Glenelg Hwy, Carranballac
Contact: Fiona Liston ph 0428 307 289
CLUBS AND ORGANISATIONS
Skipton Senior Citizens Centre Inc.
Seniors meet at the Mechanics hall every Monday at 2 pm.
They enjoy a wide range of activities and also hold a monthly meeting after their "Lunch Days" which are held on the last Monday of every month starting at 12 noon.
Contact: President Frank Hutchinson on 5340 2175, or
Secretary: Pat Hutchison on 5340 2029
Skipton Garden Club.
President Pamela Neil (0438 698 619)
Secretary
Lilla Orton (phone 5340 2043 email blackstumpbooks@bigpond.com
Address 31, Lyons Street, Skipton 3361.
Having its start in February 1996, Skipton Garden Club is now in it’s 23rd year of offering fellowship, advice, and contact with the great world of gardening.
Meeting in various members’ homes and in other outside locations, Skipton Garden Club meets on the third Thursday of each month, from February to November. The highlight of the meetings is the exchange of cuttings and handy tips along the way which assist friends to be able to get more from their time spent in the garden.
The Winter meeting usually takes the form of a luncheon at the Mechanics Hall, with guest speakers and plant stalls. Irregular talks and garden tours are organised through the year.
New members are always welcome, local and district gardeners are encouraged to come to any meeting to make contact.
All details of meeting venues and outings are advertised in SCN so always watch out for Garden Club News. Dates and details are updated regularly so always keep the diary handy.
Skipton Historical Society Inc.
Skipton and District Historical Society Inc was formed in 1984.
Open to the Public on the Third Sunday of each month: from 2:00 pm till 4:00 pm
a visit to the Skipton Historical Society's Historical Precinct
is definitely well worth a visit.
The society, was originally based at the former Courthouse in Montgomery Street (Glenelg Highway), Skipton, which is just over the bridge, heading west, where Historical Society members have gathered together quite an extensive and unique collection of historical records
The main focus of the Society started out on local family history, and on collecting and publishing stories from former days in Skipton and the surrounding farming areas. There are many "locals" who have gone on to do quite remarkable things in later life. Their achievements are well noted.
Since those early days members have used the information they have gathered and have written histories on these remarkable "Early Settlers" of the various communities throughout the district, and the Skipton Historical Society Members have had a number of very special books published.
As their collections grew they too have grown, and now the Skipton Historical Society has also taken over the custodianship of the Former Police Residence, just perfect for an extension of their wonderful collection of photographic history as well as the written word.where they now have their extensive collection on display.
For further information please click HERE to visit the SHS website.
Beaufort & Skipton Health Service
The Beaufort and Skipton Health Service seeks to enhance the quality of life and health of community residents by co-ordinating health promotion, illness prevention, acute and extended care from a community based service that is compassionate, equitable, efficient, cost effective and consumer focused.
BASHS is in Two Campuses. Each campus has a Hospital with an Acute Ward, Nursing Home Facility and Hostel Accommodation for residents capable of independent care.
There is a Medical Practice (Doctor's Hours below), in both towns, and main administration is at Beaufort Campus. Full accreditation has been maintained and quality care of importance.
BEAUFORT AND SKIPTON HEALTH SERVICE CONSULTING HOURS FOR GP SERVICES (From 4th February 2019) | ||
Beaufort Medical Practice Walker St, Beaufort (03) 5349 1610 | ||
GP | DAY | TIME |
Dr Pushpa Ravindranayagam | Monday, Tuesday Thursday, Friday Saturday (1 day/month | 9:00am – 4:30pm 9:00am – 4:30pm 9:30am - 12:30pm |
Dr Phil Kyaw | Monday, Tuesday Wednesday, Friday Saturday 1 day/month | 9:00am – 4:30pm 9:00am – 4:30pm 9:30am - 12:30pm |
Skipton Medical Practice: Blake St, Skipton (03) 5340 1110 | ||
GP | DAY | TIME |
Dr Mohammed Al Naima | *Monday, Thursday Tuesday, Wednesday | 8:00am - 3:00pm 8:30am – 4:30pm |
Dr Malcolm Anderson | Friday | 9:00am – 4:30pm |
Please note the change of consulting hours for Dr. Mohammed Al Naima on Mondays and Thursdays, commencing 4th February 2019. (Reception staff will continue to be available on Mondays and Thursdays from 8:00am-4:30pm) We wish to advise the community that all our GP’s are currently taking new patients. *Times may be subject to change. |
There is also a full Team of Allied Health Professionals who visit Skipton regularly.
Including: Podiatrist, Dietitian, Physiotherapist, Psychologists, Maternal & Child Health Clinic, Health Promotional Programs - just contact Jane at Reception on 5340 1101 for bookings.
Skipton Health Services Activity Groups.
Bookings and Enquiries with Jane and Sandy 5340 1101
DAY CENTRE
Every Tuesday at 10 am
MENS CLUB
Alternate Fridays (2nd and 4th)
Games Days and Trips away.
OUT & ABOUT
Trips away on the 2nd Wednesday of each month
Thursday Morning Sessions with Sharee - Enquires Sharee Court, 54011125.
Held at the Skipton Health Service in the Activity Room .
¨ 9:15 am: Gait and Balance class.
¨ 10:30 am: Strength Training.
¨ 12:00 noon: Walking group.
¨ 2:30pm: Gentle Exercises in the Skipton Pool during the summer months.
Click HERE to visit their website.
Lions Club of Skipton.
President: Doug Smith
Address: “Castlegate” 55 Geelong Road, Skipton Vic 3361
Phone: 0427 041 146
Email: bullockflat@bigpond,com
Secretary: Stan Foote
Phone: 5340 2336
Skipton Friends of the R.S.L.
Skipton Friends of the RSL keep Anzac spirit alive
After the closure of the Skipton RSL the formation of Skipton Friends of the RSL was formed.
The group meet to organise the formal annual ceremonies of Anzac Day on 25th of April, and Remembrance Day on 11th of November at 11 o'clock.
WreathLaying Ceremonies, and Guest Speakers are invited and it is always pleasing to see the very large numbers of people who attend the annual ceremonies.
Details are published in SCN nearer to the date and are available on this website.
Chairman: John Kavanagh 0408 211 926
Secretary: Amr Rasheed ph 5340 2458 / 0417 006 111
Treasurer: Lilla Orton ph 5340 2043
email blacksstumpbooks@bigpond.com
31 Lyons Street, Skipton, Victoria, 3361.
Friends of RSL groups keep Anzac spirit alive
By Meg Rayner (Ballarat Courier Mail)
THE Anzac spirit is being kept alive in small country towns lacking an RSL Club.Yesterday The Courier reported that dwindling membership would see the closure of more than half the state's 304 Returned and Services League clubs in the next 10 to 15 years.
There were fears that the closure could mean the end of small Anzac Day and Remembrance Day ceremonies.However, four years ago an innovative idea to form a Friends of the RSL group sprung out of Skipton, and has since proved popular across the state.The Skipton sub-branch closed in November 2004, but the sub-branch secretary, Keith Pitman, contacted the RSL Victorian Branch to see whether a community-led group could gain authorisation to provide a similar function as a formal RSL club.
"It allows anyone in a small community to come together to run Anzac Day and Remembrance Day services and keep the Anzac spirit alive," he said.The Friends of the RSL group charter was established as a by-law of the RSL Victorian Branch, which can now be adopted by other RSL sub-branches when the need arises.And Mr Pitman received the prestigious RSL Life Membership for the ingenious idea.Victorian Branch of the RSL chief executive officer Michael Annett said it was all about maintaining an "RSL footprint" across the state.Locally there are Friends of the RSL groups thriving in Skipton and Snake Valley.
Lest We Forget
Local Red Cross Units
Skipton Branch of the Red Cross has closed.
Our members still continue to support all Red Cross activities especially the Red Cross Calling in March of each year, via the Westmere Branch.
Westmere Branch Red Cross.
Members meet in Streatham in the Sunday School Hall.
Contact President Irene on 03 5350 2359 for further information.
Skipton Angling Club.
Skipton Angling Club is open to Fishermen and Fisherwomen of all ages.
Offering fishing competitions, some nice and close and others further away, there are various outings, barbecues (for those who miss the fish) and weekends away.
Terrific fishing spots on the list and "Nice Tight Lines" almost assured.
For all details about Comps and Membership etc,
Contact:
President: Andy Clark - 0428 402 088
Secretary: Les Meek - 0427 505 509
Treasurer: Gary Knight - 5340 2465
Combined Churches of Skipton
Skipton has three churches:
Christ Church, Anglican Parish of Skipton & Beaufort.
Contact 5340 3515 with enquiries.
Times for Anglican Church Services throughout the year are:
- On the 2nd & 4th Sundays of the month at 9:00a.m.
- On the 1st & 3rd Sundays in Beaufort at 9:00a.m.
- Then on the 5th Sundays Skipton alternates with Beaufort with service starting at 10.30a.m.
St Andrew's Presbyterian Church:
Contact Rev. Rod Waterhouse (0438 555 983 ) Stewart or Belle 5349 5553 with enquiries.
11:00 am Odd Months
9:00 am Even Months
Famous for its kangaroo gargoyles, the Skipton Presbyterian Church has many stories to tell.
There is a lot of history to read about this remarkable building and its past, possible more note-worthy is Francis Ormondwho through his philanthropic trust allowed the work on the church to take place. (Well documented after visiting the church a walk to Stewart park and across the 'Francis Ormond Suspension Bridge').
Then in to the Historical Society to learn more about this lovely old church.
St John's Catholic Church:
Mass Times are published in the weekly editions of SCN for Beaufort, Linton, Rokewood, Skipton, Smythesdale
Under the Direction of St Patrick's Cathedral Ballarat.
Please Contact the Cathedral Office 5331 2933. ballarat@ballarat.catholic.org.au
Skipton Playgroup Inc.
Playgroup is for Children from Birth to 5 years of age.
Playgroup is currently in recess in 2019.
Skipton Playgroup has always been very well supported but due to lower numbers the decision was made to close the group for now.
Parents are hoping for numbers and interest to be renewed in near future. If you are new to the area and have young children contact Sophia and talk about maybe getting a group srated again.
Contact Sophia Irving 0478 026 506 with any enquiries.
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