ROBYN'S CROSSING
When a young Robyn Tracey applied for a job as a School Crossing Supervisor at Tullaroop Shire in February 1981, she never imagined how much she would give to the Carisbrook community over so many years.
When lifting the STOP sign and walking out onto the Pyrenees Highway at the start of term one, Robyn clocked up 45 years of service keeping our children safe on a busy – and at times – dangerous stretch of road.
In 1994, an elderly driver claimed they couldn't see the crossing – or its faithful Supervisor with her STOP sign held high, and drove straight through. Robyn, seeing the danger as it approached, shoved a child away and took the brunt of the car's impact.
With serious injuries, she was transported to Maryborough Hospital, then later to Ballarat for surgery. After five months, she took up the STOP sign again – more determined than ever to get those children to school safely.
Now it's 2026 – Robyn's 46th year on the busy highway, and she's still counting every child she knows and meeting new "preppies" starting school this year at Carisbrook Primary.
In fact, Robyn has been patrolling this crossing for so long, that some of the children starting school many years ago are now grown up and bringing their own children to the crossing. There's even a claim that children ushered over the Pyrenees Highway decades ago are bringing their grandchildren to Robyn for a safe crossing.
Congratulations, Robyn, on your service, and thank you for your continued dedication to the safety of children in Carisbrook.
GROUP PHOTO CAPTION: From left: Jimmy Murphy, Robyn Tracey, Daisy Murphy, Bree Murphy, Bindi Murphy.
TEAM PEOPLE
Introducing our friendly Customer Service team, who are often the first voice that many people hear and the first face they see when interacting with us.
Anne, Sharon, Helen, Helen and Jaqui are all highly experienced in Council operations, and they enjoy helping people to get the information and support they need.
In 2025, the team answered 14,232 phone calls, handled 9,006 payment transactions, and served thousands of people at the front counter.
Our team is committed to providing outstanding service as the first point of contact for our residents, ratepayers and visitors.
YOUNG VOICES
New Central Goldfields Shire Youth Officer Kyan Laslett O'Brien is focused on increasing participation and engagement among young people across our Shire.
Kyan brings a strong vision for youth-led initiatives shaped by the ideas of young people aged 14 to 23. His first step is to form a diverse youth advisory group to ensure youth voices are heard and represented in Council.
The group will help shape priorities, including deciding how they wish to identify themselves, with a name to be chosen by its members.
If you know a young person who can represent the youth in our Shire, encourage them to have a go. Applications are now open online:
FLOOD FACTS
The Carisbrook Flood Study Advisory Reference Group is hosting its third community session next Tuesday 10 February from 3 to 6pm at Carisbrook Recreation Reserve, 8 McNeil Street.
We are seeking practical feedback on new flood modelling, now calibrated to the 2010, 2011 and 2022 flood events. This model includes the constructed western levee.
This is an opportunity for the community to review and provide a constructive response to how existing waterways and infrastructure will perform under various flooding and rain events.
Presentations will be held at 3.15pm and 5.30pm followed by questions and input from the local community.
A summary of past meetings, along with access to the designed levee heights and final build heights can be accessed online at: www.engage.cgoldshire.vic.gov.au/carisbrookfloodplanning
