NO ONE is complaining about the unexpected visit by Premier Jacinta Allan to Mirboo North last Tuesday, October 21, or that she practiced shooting hoops with Belinda Snell, the town’s much-loved Olympic hero.
Practice makes perfect, they say.
And locals are hopeful that the practice run last week will be a precursor to a funding announcement by Premier Allan in the run up to the next State Election in November next year, if not before.
The visit came at the initiative of Eastern Victoria Labor MP Tom McIntosh, who capitalised on a visit by Premier Allan to the Latrobe Valley to announce free travel on the newly refurbished Gippsland Line throughout November.
The Mirboo North Secondary College and Primary School posted its appreciation for the Premier’s visit:
“Today we were visited by the Hon. Jacinta Allan Premier of Victoria, who was accompanied by Tom McIntosh MP Labor Minister for South East Victoria a very big supporter of ours and our community. Tom made his second visit to MNSC and MNPS with the Premier (which was a big surprise for us all), and her entourage in tow, to see how our gym ‘really’ looks first hand, and to highlight the long overdue need for an upgrade
“No promises were made (yet) but we think Premier Allan was more than impressed by our outstanding Primary School captains and some of our aspiring secondary college leaders, the grounds (which looked beautiful this morning) and our passionate sports teachers Ms Burke and Ms Hogg who have been lobbying for this facility.
“Ruth Rogan from the Mirboo North and District Foundation were also there to explain its important role in helping us get this project happening.”
Ms Allan was keenly interested in the town’s recovery from the February 2024 storm and was left in no doubt, over morning tea with Mr McIntosh and staff members, that a replacement gym is much needed.
Gippsland South MP, Danny O’Brien, has also weighed in, thanking the Premier for her visit and for inspecting the old stadium.
“It's decidedly out of date, it doesn't meet requirements, it's the only stadium in town and we had nearly the entire town sign a petition a few years ago, that I took to Parliament, calling on the government to provide more funding,” said Mr O’Brien.
“Great that you visited, but please now can you now send us a cheque and actually get a new stadium built in Mirboo North.”