Mount Alexander Shire Council today announced that Chief Executive Officer Darren Fuzzard will conclude his tenure in July 2026, marking 10 years of service to the organisation and community.
Mr Fuzzard has advised councillors that he will not seek a new contract.
Reflecting on his decision, Mr Fuzzard said the past decade had been the most rewarding of his career.
“I cannot tell you how much this organisation, the work we do and the people in it mean to me and I know that when my final workday comes it will be the toughest of my professional life.”
He said he leaves with great confidence in the organisation’s strength and the council’s direction.
“I feel so proud of the leadership, capability and quality of the people we have in every part of our organisation, and of the focus that our councillors have embedded in their new Council Plan to ensure that we keep getting stronger,” he said.
“I have been enormously privileged to work for and with outstanding teams of councillors and mayors throughout my 10 years. I am deeply grateful for the effort, thought and time that they have invested, and continue to invest, in working so well as a team, both amongst themselves and with our staff.”
Leadership through major challenges
Mr Fuzzard’s decade of leadership included guiding council through some of the shire’s most disruptive events, including:
– the unprecedented COVID–19 pandemic, leading relief, community support and recovery efforts.
– the October 2022 floods, which caused extensive damage across the shire.
– the January fires, which placed significant pressure on emergency services and local communities.
His leadership ensured council was able to respond quickly, compassionately and effectively during each crisis.
Champion for an inclusive Australia Day – Survival Day
A hallmark of Mr Fuzzard’s tenure has been his commitment to the Australia Day – Survival Day event, co–designed with Dja Dja Wurrung Elders to acknowledge both community achievements and the deep history and survival of First Nations people.
The event – featuring Welcome to Country, citizenship ceremonies, community awards and a Survival Day concert – has become one of the shire’s most significant celebrations of identity and reconciliation, earning Council a 2024 Maggolee Award from Reconciliation Victoria.
“The event reflects who we try to be as an organisation in all that we do – it’s honest, respectful, done in partnership, and looks to create a better future for everyone,” Mr Fuzzard said.
Delivering for the community
During his decade as CEO, Mr Fuzzard oversaw major achievements, including:
– the two biggest grant funding investments from the State and Federal Governments in the shire’s history, and ongoing high levels of additional grant funding being secured year after year on the back of highly effective relationships with local State and Federal members of parliament and government departments.
– the expansion of council’s aged care services to support more than 1,000 of the most vulnerable people in our community.
– the creation of a sector-leading and award-winning economic development strategy that focuses on improving the wellbeing of people, place and the environment.
– the expansion of council’s services into nearby council areas to increase revenue streams and strengthen the organisation.
– a sector-leading approach to address housing affordability and supply challenges including investment in a Housing Solutions Broker role to identify and drive initiatives such as the Mount Alexander Affordable Housing Trust and significant housing developments on private, council and state Government land.
– the establishment of leading-edge community engagement processes and tools such as Shape Mount Alexander to better inform decision-making and shared understanding of the reasons for those decisions.
– consistent delivery of strong capital works programs including roads, bridges, footpaths, recreation and community facilities.
– the development and implementation of a wide range of strategies and plans in close partnership with the community and other institutions that are aimed at making the most positive collective impact on people’s lives and the environment that we live in.
Mount Alexander Shire Mayor Toby Heydon thanked Mr Fuzzard for his decade of service.
“Darren has led this organisation with integrity, steadiness and deep care for our community. His leadership through crises, his commitment to reconciliation, and his dedication to strengthening our organisation have left a lasting legacy. On behalf of councillors and the community, we thank Darren for his enormous contribution.”
Recruitment for the next CEO will commence in the coming months.
Local netball fans will be excited to learn that the Melbourne Vixens will be completing their tour of regional Victoria this Thursday evening March 5, heading north for the inaugural stand-alone Suncorp Super Netball pre-season derby, taking on cross-town rivals the Melbourne Mavericks in Bendigo as part of the 2026 Bound 4 Bendigo showcase.
Held at Red Energy Arena, the event marks the first time a Vixens vs Mavericks pre-season clash will be staged as a standalone derby, delivering elite netball to regional Victoria ahead of the 2026 Suncorp Super Netball season.
Off the court, the day will include coaching and umpiring workshops, providing valuable development from professionals for the Bendigo netball community. The two clubs will also be combining forces to put on a junior clinic, looking to develop the next generation of Netball superstars!
Thanks to the support of the City of Greater Bendigo and the Victorian Government, the day will also feature a Victorian Netball League curtain raiser, with the Bendigo Strikers taking to the court in an intra-club showdown to kick off proceedings – further strengthening the pathway connection between community and elite netball.
Both games will be live streamed via the Vixens’ YouTube channel, ensuring fans not able to make it in person can tune in to what promises to be a fantastic night of Netball. Melbourne Vixens Head Coach Di Honey said that the team is excited to return to Bendigo and embrace the local support.
“We’re really looking forward to heading to Bendigo to take on the Mavericks. It’s not just about testing ourselves on the court – it’s also a fantastic chance to connect with the local community and the fans who make netball so special.”
“It’s always special to play the Mavericks here in Victoria. Being a local derby, the intensity is always high, both teams know each other well, and every contest is fought hard. It’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase elite netball and test ourselves under pressure.”
Earlier in the day, the Bendigo Strikers will take centre stage in front of their home crowd, using the occasion as a crucial lead-in to their VNL campaign.
Ahead of this festival of netball, Bendigo Strikers Captain Elle McDonald said the opportunity to play at home in front of a strong, local crowd is invaluable.
“Playing at home is always special. To do it in front of our local supporters gives the group a real lift and helps us build momentum heading into the season.”
“It’s really important for us to have this hit-out in Bendigo before Round 1. Pre-season training is one thing, but match intensity is completely different. This gives us a chance to put our combinations under pressure and fine-tune those connections across the court.”
City of Greater Bendigo Manager Economy & Experience James Myatt said netball fans are in for a real treat, with the Bendigo Strikers inter-club game kicking off proceedings before the Melbourne Vixens go head-to-head with the Melbourne Mavericks in a thrilling local derby at Red Energy Arena this Thursday. Hosting this standalone derby reinforces the City’s commitment to supporting major sporting events and giving Greater Bendigo fans the chance to experience elite netball on their own doorstep.”
With elite competition, emerging talent and grassroots development – Bound 4 Bendigo shapes as more than just a pre-season fixture. Expect plenty of local support and a highly contested game with Bendigo providing the perfect stage for an exciting day of netball action ahead of the 2026 Suncorp Super Netball Season. For more details and tickets visit https://melbournevixens.com.au/community/2026-pre-season-bendigo
Following a massive weekend of Harcourt Rising fundraising events at Shedshaker Brewing (February 20-22) plans are now gearing up for a Bendigo event.
Bendigo industry identities have put together ‘Harcourt Rising – A Bendigo Music Festival for Bushfire Relief’ which will take place this Sunday March 8.
The festival will run across five Bendigo venues all within a short walking distance of each other – The Black Swan Hotel, Bendigo Brewing, The Social, The Courthouse Hotel, and The Deck.
With 40 live acts performing, the hotels, in conjunction with the volunteer crews from organising groups Bendigo Blues & Roots, Live Music Bendigo and Phoenix FM, aim to raise $50,000 to be donated to the Foundation For Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) a certified charity for Harcourt Fire Relief.
Black Swan Hotel manager Peter Phillips said venues in “the top end of town” have all been collectively thinking about ways they could assist in raising funds for the people and fellow businesses affected by the fires in Harcourt and surrounds.
“We are proud to partner with our fellow McCrae Street venues to get behind the community of Harcourt and surrounding districts in the wake of the fire.
“Thanks to the support of our event partners at Bendigo Blues and Roots Festival, Live Music Bendigo and Phoenix FM we will feature more than 40 live acts – soloists, duos and bands across the five venues and eight massive hours from 12 noon through to 8pm Sunday,” Peter said.
“Many musos are generously donating their time or heavily discounting their costs to get behind this special event.
“It promises to be an unforgettable day with 100 per cent of ticket proceeds going directly to the nominated charity: the Foundation For Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR),” he said.
The FRRR plans to work closely with Business Mount Alexander to channel this funding into tourism initiatives and other events to support Harcourt and district businesses and producers impacted in the long term.
To get tickets to this special event visit https://events.humanitix.com/harcourt-rising-bendigo-music-festival-for-bushfire-relief or pop into the ticket booth outside the Black Swan Hotel for your wristband which will provide entry to all five venues.
The newly launched ‘Harcourt Rising- Phoenix Pacific Pale Ale’ fundraising brew – a collaboration between 10 local breweries – will also be on sale at select venues. With fresh galaxy hops, citrus aroma and a beautifully balanced aftertaste, be sure to grab a pint on tap or purchase a can (also available at supporting local breweries) and help support the Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal (FRRR) in rebuilding the community.
The Mt Alexander Friends of Lolotoe have kindly shared a special tribute to their friend and passionate Timor Leste advocate, Rae Kingsbury, who passed away late last year…
Rae was a remarkable individual whose bond with Timor Leste (East Timor) was demonstrated numerous times over the 26 years she was involved with Australia’s tiny neighbour.
In 1999, Rae initially lobbied the Australian government to send an observer to the ‘Popular Consultation’, Timor-Leste’s much anticipated vote for independence. Following the then Howard government’s muted response, Rae established, in conjunction with the then head of the Australian Council for Overseas Aid Human Rights Office, Pat Walsh, the Australian observer mission to the Popular Consultation. It was known as the Australia-East Timor International Volunteers Program and was critically important as an observation body monitoring the first free vote in Timor Leste’s history.
It was through this process that Rae met Damien, later to become her husband, in his role as coordinator of the observer group.
Rae later observed the Popular Consultation in Dili and Balibo as a guest of the Australian Parliamentary delegation.
Following the violence and destruction of the Popular Consultation by Indonesian forces Rae organised, as the airlines organiser for the Australian Services Union, a black ban of all flights to Indonesia until it accepted a UN-approved international peacekeeping force. This was indeed a remarkable achievement.
In December 1999, in co-operation with Timor-Leste’s soon to be ambassador to Australia, Abel Guterres, Rae founded the community based Australia-Timor-Leste Friendship Groups. There are now still more than 30 of these groups across Australia who owe their existence to Rae Kingsbury.
In Central Victoria, Mt Alexander’s Friends of Lolotoe, Macedon Ranges Friends of East Timor who focus on Turiscai and Bendigo’s Friends of Maubisse all have active, long lasting and very involved connections with their respective Timor communities.
Construction, educational, agricultural, sanitation and food security projects developed over the years and now continuing to grow in these often very isolated areas of East Timor can be traced back to Rae’s initiatives.
Apart from personally establishing the City of Darebin Friends of Baucau and being instrumental in the establishment of City of Port Phillip Friends of Suai/Cove Lima and City of Moreland Friends of Alieu, Rae always took a deep interest in the activities of all Friendship groups.
As a progression of this interest, Rae established the Australia Timor-Leste Friendship Network in 2008 to facilitate coordination and sharing of knowledge between the groups.
Rae went on to coordinate the Australian observer groups to Timor-Leste’s presidential and parliamentary elections in 2002 and in partnership with her husband, Professor Damien Kingsbury, to later elections in 2007, 2012, 2017 and 2018/19.
In December 2012 Rae was appointed Honorary Consul for Timor Leste Victoria, a position she retained until 2017.
Rae’s work was acknowledged by her being inducted into the Victorian Women’s Honour Roll by the state government, with a member of the Order of Australia, and by the Timor Leste government with a Medal of Merit.
Rae and Damien were active members of Mt Alexander Friends of Lolotoe when they came to live in the area in recent years.
Sadly, Rae passed away on December 9, 2025 after a period of illness.
She will be remembered with great fondness by many in both Australia and Timor Leste for her boundless enthusiasm and energy, her warm and engaging nature and her deep love for the tiny developing nation of Timor Leste. She will be missed.
Local business advocate and author, Kerry Anderson, will be the guest speaker at the Castlemaine Historical Society’s monthly meeting on Monday evening, March 2.
Kerry is the author of Australian Rural Entrepreneurs and Entrepreneurship: It’s Everybody’s Business.
She will talk about her latest literary challenge that features a rural business family with a history and mystery twist. Set in a fictional place called Parkers Flat that some may recognise as Wattle Flat, this fictional story has presented a few dilemmas when blended with historic content. Currently a work in progress, Kerry will share her reasons for taking this pathway in her quest to showcase the value of businesses to communities, and to simultaneously engage readers with local history.
CHSI are pleased to welcome Kerry and invite interested community members to come along to the meeting at their headquarters at the Former Court House, 7 Goldsmith Crescent, Castlemaine at 7.30pm.
Mount Alexander Shire Council is holding an information session to update residents on the outcomes of the Newstead Flood Study.
The council is committed to working with the community to improve safety, reduce impacts and build long–term flood resilience in Newstead.
The flood study has been delivered over three stages, with strong community involvement throughout Stage One (2024) and Stage Two (2025). The project is now in Stage Three, where the council is sharing the study results and recommendations.
A community information session will be held to present flood mitigation plans and other key findings.
Community members will be able to discuss the outcomes with staff from the council, Water Technology, and the North Central Catchment Management Authority.
The Community Information Session will be held on Monday, March 16 from 6pm to 7pm at the Newstead Community Centre, Main Hall, 9 Lyons Street, Newstead.
Mount Alexander Shire Mayor Toby Heydon said that community engagement played a vital role in the Newstead Flood Study.
“I’d like to thank everyone in the Newstead community who took the time to review the flood study and provide feedback,” said Cr Heydon.
“This is a fantastic example of the council and community working together to come up with the best possible solution – one that focuses on the safety and wellbeing of Newstead now and into the future.
“I invite residents to come along to the upcoming information session to learn about the recommended mitigation option, view the flood study reports and ask questions.”
Information packs detailing the study results and recommendations will be available from March 17 at the Newstead Post Office, Newstead Rural Transaction Centre and Castlemaine Civic Centre.
Information is also available online at www.shape.mountalexander.vic.gov.au/newstead-flood-study.
Coliban Water has announced a package of bill relief and support for its customers in Harcourt following the bushfires that impacted the community on January 9.
Managing Director, Damian Wells, said the Bushfire Bill Relief Program was designed to directly assist those most impacted by the fires and contribute to the community’s broader recovery effort.
“We know the fires have had a devastating impact on the whole community, and we know the road to recovery for Harcourt will be a long one.
“We hope the support we’re providing will have an immediate positive impact for the whole community and ease some of the financial pressure for customers who have experienced the loss of their home or business,” he said.
For its urban customers in Harcourt who lost their primary dwelling or business to the January fires Coliban Water will waive its entire bill for the current quarter and waive its fixed services charges for the following quarter.
“This means customers who lost their homes will pay nothing now and only pay for any water they use on their property in the following quarter,” Mr Wells explained.
“We’re also providing bill relief for our rural customers who access water from our network of rural channels and pipelines and are billed using a different structure.
“All rural customers will receive $450 in bill relief, including a $300 rebate off their current bill and a further $150 rebate off their next bill. They may also be entitled to an additional $500 if their primary dwelling was destroyed by the fires,” Mr Wells said.
Coliban Water will communicate directly with individual customers to explain the bill relief entitlements.
As part of its Community Rebates Program, Coliban Water announced an additional $6,000 contribution to the Harcourt Progress Association who are supporting local recovery efforts.
“We recognise the widespread impact the fires will continue to have on the whole community. Our contribution will ensure our whole-of-community support following the Do Not Drink Advisory caused by the fires can be directed exactly where the community believes it will be best spent.”
Mr Wells said Coliban Water had structured its Bushfire Bill Relief Program to provide as much immediate support as possible but acknowledged the social and economic impacts would likely extend beyond this.
“I would encourage our customers to speak with us if they are having difficulties with their water bills, want to discuss their services, or just need a helping hand or some general advice.
“Through our Coliban Assist program, eligible customers can access support ranging from Utility Relief Grants, free financial counselling, and referrals to hardship programs,” he added.
“Our message to Harcourt is clear. We’re here to do whatever we can to help and are only a phone call away.”
You can call Coliban Water between 8am and 5pm weekdays on 1300 363 200 or visit www.connect.coliban.com.au/harcourtColiban Water continues support for Harcourt customers
