Highlands Hub

04/06/2026

Tease up the mullet, dust off your finest flanny, and prepare your ears for some serious 80s rock anthems! 🎸🔥

Mitchell Shire Council and Murrindindi Shire Council are throwing a Bogan Bingo & Pasta Night and it is going down TOMORROW night! Because honestly, why settle for a quiet Friday when you can scream at a bingo ball while carb-loading in a shearing shed?
​See below for the details:

​We’ll be at the Habbies Howe Shearing Shed (110 Dropmore Road, Highlands) tomorrow, Friday, 5 June, from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM (kickoff at 6:00 PM) for awesome pastas from Seymour Pizza & Pasta, air guitar battles, and classic tunes.

​Calling all Mitchell and Murrindindi legends: bring the family, bring your neighbours, and dress up or come as you are!
​💬 Drop a comment below: Who is bringing the best mullet, and what track are you absolutely dominating the air guitar competition with? TAG your bingo partner in crime so they don't miss out! 👇

02/06/2026

🗓️ What’s On at the Highlands Hub This Week!
​Hey Highlands community! We’ve got a steady week ahead at the Hub. We have some important support services visiting midweek, followed by a massive night of fun, food, and laughs to wrap up Friday. Here is everything you need to know:

​Wednesday, 3 June:
​🤝 GV Family Care | 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
If you’re looking for a bit of guidance, GV Family Care will be on-site to offer a calm space to set goals and get connected with:
​Case management and disaster legal help
​Insurance advocacy and financial counselling
​Health, wellbeing, and government grant registration

​📝 PCC Emergency Recovery Team | 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
The PCC team will be here to help simplify the recovery process and handle the "heavy lifting" of paperwork. Drop in for help with:
​Grant Applications: Navigating the forms together.
​Financial & Legal Support: Sorting through insurance and hardship options.

​🎸 Friday, 5 June: Bogan Bingo & Community Pasta Night! 🍝
​The legends at Mitchell Shire Council and Murrindindi Shire Council are putting on a massive community night, and you won’t want to miss it! Here are the details:
​When: Friday, 5 June from 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM (Dinner and bingo kick off at 6:00 PM).
​Where: Habbies Howe Shearing Shed, 110 Dropmore Road, Highlands.
​The Feast: A delicious range of pastas from Seymour Pizza & Pasta.
​The Fun: Expect plenty of laughs, an air guitar competition, and some classic 80s and 90s tunes.
​What to wear: Dust off your favourite flanny, or just come as you are!
​Who: All welcome! Bring your family, friends, and neighbours along for a great night out.
​📍 The Hub is here for you, see you there!

02/06/2026

Want up to 20% back on last years rego? Applications are open now through Service Victoria until 31 July. Check your eligibility and apply at service.vic.gov.au/services/registration-rebate

Heard about 20% off your rego but not sure if it applies to you? Here’s what you need to know.

📩 You must apply, it's not automatic.
2️⃣ Claim for up to two vehicles per person.
✅ The vehicle must be registered in the claimant's name.
🛻 Eligible vehicles include cars, utes, vans, motorcycles, scooters and light trucks.
💰 Pay your registration in instalments? You are still eligible.
💼 Sole trader? If the vehicle is registered in your name, you are eligible.
⚠️ Only the current owner can apply.

Applications are open now through Service Victoria until 31 July. Check your eligibility and apply at service.vic.gov.au/services/registration-rebate

01/06/2026

26/05/2026

Over the last week or two, I’ve noticed some things creeping into the conversations I am having with people.

There’s been tears.
Long pauses.
People staring at the ground trying to hold it together.

And what I’m seeing more and more now is people quietly pulling away.
Not because they don’t care.
Not because they don’t want support.
But because they are exhausted.

Emotionally. Mentally. Physically.

This stage of recovery can be incredibly lonely.
The adrenaline has worn off now.
But the emotional toll is still sitting there heavily in the background.

The reality is, after trauma and prolonged stress, isolation can start to feel safer than connection.

I’m hearing things like: “I don’t want to be a burden.” “I’m sick of talking about it.” “People don’t understand anyway.” “I just want to be left alone.”
And underneath those words is hurt.
Exhaustion. Uncertainty. Disconnection.

Some people are tired of explaining themselves.
Some are tired of trying to be strong.
Some are carrying guilt because others have lost more.
Some honestly don’t know how to put what they’re feeling into words anymore.

And the hard part is, many still look okay from the outside.
They’ll still wave in the street.
Still help others.
Still crack a joke.
Still show up.
But underneath, many are running on empty.

I think this is where recovery can become dangerous if we’re not careful.

Because isolation grows quietly.
The check ins become less frequent.
The phone stops ringing as much.
Yet emotionally, many people are only just beginning to process what they’ve actually been through.

That’s why communication, connection and support matter so much right now.
Not fixing people.
Not forcing conversations.
Just showing up. A coffee.
A message. A drive together.
Sitting beside someone without needing the perfect words.

Sometimes the most powerful thing we can say is: “I’ve got your back mate.”

Communities don’t recover simply because time passes.
They recover through connection.
And right now, behind a lot of “I’m fine” there are people trying very hard to hide the tears.

26/05/2026

✨ WHAT’S ON AT THE HUB: THIS WEEK & BEYOND! ✨
Hey Highlands community! We’ve got a massive week ahead with visiting services, social catch-ups, important insurance clinics, and an exciting community celebration. Here is everything you need to know:

📢 🚨 PLEASE NOTE: OUR NEW HOURS
Our hours have changed to help us serve you better:

Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Saturday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

⚠️ CRITICAL NOTE: The Hub will be CLOSED this Saturday, May 30th for the UFO (UnFinished Objects) weekend! We can't wait to see what amazing projects you’ve been working on! 🧵🎨

📋 IMPORTANT: INSURANCE COUNCIL CONSULTATIONS 🏛️
Do you want to talk directly to your insurer? The Insurance Council of Australia and insurers are travelling to regional Victoria to host one‑on-one consultations for customers affected by the severe January bushfires. Bookings are highly recommended:

https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule/6a43c42b
🗓️ Tuesday, 26 May (9:00 AM – 3:00 PM): Euroa Recovery Hub - 34 Railway Street, Euroa

🗓️ Wednesday, 27 May (10:00 AM – 4:00 PM): Alexandra Shire Hall - 55 Grant Street, Alexandra

🗓️ Thursday, 28 May (10:00 AM – 4:00 PM): Harcourt Leisure Centre - Binghams Rd, Harcourt

📅 THE WEEKLY LINEUP
🗓️ WEDNESDAY 27TH MAY (Big Day at the Hub!)
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 GV Family Care | 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM If you’re looking for a bit of guidance, the GV Family Care team will be on-site to offer a calm space to set goals and get connected with:

Case management & disaster legal help
Insurance advocacy & financial counselling
Health, wellbeing, and government grant registration

🤝 Primary Care Connect (Emergency Recovery Team) | 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM The PCC team is here to help navigate the aftermath of the January fires. They are brilliant at connecting the dots and can assist with:

Applying for grants
Financial & Legal: Navigating insurance questions and financial hardship options.

📚 Murrindindi Mobile Library | 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM The bookmobile is back in full swing! It’s the perfect chance to restock your bedside table or grab some new reads for the kids. Come down and make use of this fantastic local service while they're parked at the Hub.

🗓️ THURSDAY 28TH MAY
🥩 Secret Men’s Business | 5:30 PM @ Michael Kopanica’s Place A local favourite! This gathering is open to everyone in the community. A great chance to vent, laugh, and catch up.

🍻 Bring your own drinks
🌭 $5 donation for the BBQ

🏆 SATURDAY 30TH MAY: FOOTY & CELEBRATION! 🐯
We have some incredibly exciting news to share, Highlands! This coming Saturday, May 30th, our amazing friends at the Yea Tigers are hosting us for a very special presentation.

Thanks to their incredible fundraising efforts for our bushfire recovery, they will be officially presenting us with a donation cheque! 🐯

⏰ Time: Around 3:30 PM (during the Senior football half-time break)
📍 Where: Yea Recreation Reserve

We don't have the final tally just yet - once it's locked in, we will absolutely share the grand total with everyone. But numbers aside, the generosity of this club is already legendary.

Let’s pack the sidelines! We want to invite all our local residents to head on down to the footy this Saturday, wear your support on your sleeve, and help us give a massive thank you to the Yea Tigers. Let’s cheer them on loud and proud! 🏈🖤💛

🗓️ SAVE THE DATE!
📅 Friday 5th June: Shire Community Dinner Bogan Bingo 🍽️❤️ More details to come

21/05/2026

TOMORROW at the Hall: Have Your Say with the Recovery Commissioners

​We’re pleased to announce that the Emergency Management Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner for Relief and Recovery will be visiting Highlands Hall tomorrow, Friday 22 May.

Because this is a last-minute visit, we really need a strong turnout to ensure our community's needs are front and center. This is a rare, direct opportunity to talk face-to-face with the people making the big decisions, share your recovery experiences, and let them know what we still need on the ground.
Whether you want to speak up, listen in, or just show support for the neighbourhood, your presence matters.
​📍 Where: Highlands Hall
🗓 When: Tomorrow, Friday 22 May
🕝 Time: 2:30 PM
Afternoon tea will be provided. Please spread the word to your neighbours and come along, let's make sure the Highlands voice is heard!

19/05/2026

Let’s do tea! 🫖 Join us this Saturday at 10:30 AM for Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea.

​The team here at the Hub is hosting to raise crucial funds for the Cancer Council, and we need your help to make a difference!
​We know everyone is feeling the pinch at the moment, so please know that absolutely any amount helps, even a gold coin donation makes a real difference.
​Your support does incredible work, from funding world-class research (which has pushed survival rates up to 71%!) to supporting the 150,000 Australians diagnosed with cancer every year.

​How to get involved:
​Come along this Saturday morning for a cuppa, a catch-up, and bring a gold coin if you can.
​Hit the link to donate online and help us back this great cause: 👉 https://www.biggestmorningtea.com.au/fundraisers/Thehighlandshub

​Let's team up for a cancer-free future. See you Saturday!