Entries are now open for the Victorian Community History Awards, offering a first prize of $5000 and six $1000 awards for the finalist in each award category, The Nationals Member for Murray Valley, Ken Jasper, said today.

The awards, coordinated by Information Victoria, with assistance from the Royal Historical Society of Victoria, encourage innovative ways of recording Victorian community history, Mr Jasper said.

All Victorians have a story to tell, from the 40,000 year old Koorie culture to the first European settlers, through to the most recent migrants, whether from Europe, Asia or the Middle East, and all have made a significant contribution to the Victorian community.

Huge concerns have been raised over the implementation of Victoria’s new liquor licence fees, The Nationals Member for Murray Valley, Ken Jasper, said today.

Mr Jasper said licensees are confused and angry, not only with the massive fee increases, to fund policing of hot spots, mainly in Melbourne’s night club centres, but also with their rushed implementation.

It is disappointing that despite the anomalies and inequities which are clearly apparent and the general confusion amongst the licensees, these fee hikes come into effect on January 1 2010, he said.

Immediate action has been taken by Ambulance Victoria to strengthen ambulance services at Yarrawonga over the Christmas and January holiday period, The Nationals Member for Murray Valley, Ken Jasper, said today.

Health Minister, Daniel Andrews, has confirmed the Yarrawonga ambulance station is operating with additional paramedic resources to support the popular tourist area during this period, Mr Jasper said.

The Minister was responding to my personal and written representations following the accident which occurred at Yarrawonga on December 17 2009, when Ms Kim Broadbent, who had unfortunately become impaled on a steel fence, had to wait 47 minutes for an ambulance to arrive from Wangaratta, because no ambulance services were available at Yarrawonga.

Assurances on reciprocal fishing licenses between Victoria and New South Wales must be ratified immediately by the two State Governments, The Nationals Member for Murray Valley, Ken Jasper, said today.

Mr Jasper said it was extremely disappointing assurances that reciprocal licences would be introduced by the two Governments during the early part of 2009 had not been honoured.

Following the Joint Cross Border 2008 conference I was advised that the Victorian and New South Wales Primary Industry Departments were committed to reaching a resolution on reciprocal recreational fishing licences, with the proposed arrangements to be announced in February 2009, he said.

It is now the end of December and nothing has been confirmed on this issue, Mr Jasper said.