The Woady Yaloak Herald is a community newsletter that was established in 1977 by the Haddon and Community District House (now The Haddon CLC).

We publish the newsletter in hard-copy quarterly (in line with each season), in March, June, September and December. We circulate the newsletter to our community through letterbox drops and via busy local businesses and shops.

Each newsletter is printed as an A3 Booklet (2 x A4 folded in the middle) in full-colour with a print run of 1200 (and can increase if demand dictates), and each newsletter is roughly 28 A4 pages.

Our content is always fresh and community-focussed – and we try to source information from our range of different clubs, schools, local businesses and community groups.

Our readers come from the communities of Haddon, Smythesdale, Scarsdale, Smythes Creek, Ross Creek, other localities in the north of The Golden Plains Shire and the growing suburbs in the West of Ballarat.

In 2025 we have started an exciting new project redeveloping our community garden. We have secured grant funding with a view to achieving the following objectives:

• Objective 1: Develop a Sustainable Community Garden
• Objective 2: Foster Intergenerational Activities and Community Engagement
• Objective 3: Promote Sustainable Gardening Practices
• Objective 4: Enhance Nutrition and Health
• Objective 5: Build Strong Community Partnerships

The project made its first major step with our Permaculture Guild Blitz in early May – sewing the foundations for the garden with 8 new wicking beds and planting hedge shrubs around the perimetre to shield the area from wind.

Food Security is more than just access to food items, it refers to the state in which all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.

It encompasses four main elements:

• Availability: Ensuring that enough food is produced and supplied to meet the community’s needs.
• Access: Ensuring that individuals have the resources (financial, social, and physical) to obtain appropriate foods for a nutritious diet.
• Utilisation: Ensuring that food is used properly, including proper storage, preparation, and distribution, as well as adequate health and sanitation services.
• Stability: Ensuring that food availability, access, and utilisation are consistent over time, without significant fluctuations or shortages.

We have made some significant steps at the start of 2025:

1. We have signed a partnership agreement with The Linton Emergency Relief Pantry
2. We have joined the Golden Plains Local Food Network
3. Expanded our own Emergency Relief Pantry here at The Haddon CLC

We are hoping to help ‘connect the dots’ with important stakeholders around our region – and try to help solve some of the challenges around community need for Food Security. 

Having quality local artists is important for communities because it enriches the cultural landscape, fosters a sense of local identity, and provides accessible creative inspiration.

Local art often reflects the unique spirit and stories of a community, creating a shared visual language that residents can connect with. It also offers opportunities for community members to engage with art directly, whether through viewing exhibitions, participating in workshops, or supporting local creatives.

This support, in turn, can stimulate the local economy and encourage artistic development within the area, making the community a more vibrant and engaging place to live.

Need Help? Get In Touch!

By Email

Email our manager at:
manager@haddonlearning.org.au