The Governor of Victoria, Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, visited Dimboola on Wednesday afternoon.

After visiting several shops in the business precinct, the Governor attended the Secondary College, where a function was held in the Soldiers Memorial Hall, known to many as the library, where a plaque commemorating one hundred years of education on this site was unveiled.

College Principal Mrs Sally Klinge greeted Her Excellency and explained the significance of this year as the centenary of the Memorial Building and how it is the only remaining purpose-built memorial school in Victoria that is the location of the town’s Honour Roll.

With a particular interest in education, having previously been the president and vice-chancellor of RMIT University and the vice-chancellor of Monash University, Her Excellency enjoys visiting schools to experience the different ways they integrate into their communities.

Her address acknowledged DMSC’s unique place in the community as the town’s War Memorial, creating a thread to the past, linking the current generation with those volunteers from 110 years ago and ensuring their sacrifice is recognised.

The College’s motto of Facta non Verba - Words not Deeds, was also noted, emphasising the importance of what one does over what is said.

During the visit, the College was represented by College Principal, Sally Klinge, Assistant Principal Charlotte Pyers, College Captains Katie Griffiths and Will Thomson, College Council President, Rhianna Paech, Dimboola RSL Sub-branch President, Charles Rees, School Council Student Representatives, Ethan Angel-Hands and Rian Pyers.

The visiting official party included the Governor, Hindmarsh Shire Council CEO Monica Revell and Mayor Brett Ireland.

The Governor’s Wimmera visit, the first by a Governor since The Honourable Linda Dessau AM visited DMSC in November 2015, included a visit to Paw-Po, the business run by and selling products produced by the Nhill Karen community, a civic reception in Nhill on Tuesday evening which was attended by around 130 people from across the Shire representing the schools and many volunteer-run organisations.

On Wednesday morning visits included the Luv-a-Duck hatchery, the Nhill Aviation Heritage Centre, Ahrens’ factory at Tarranyurk, and the Silo Art at Arkona, before checking out several businesses in Dimboola, including the Imaginarium and the Forbidden Forest before DMSC.

The day concluded with a visit to the Grainflow Centre and a round-table discussion with local farmers.

Her Excellency noted that she likes to schedule her travels to areas of the state that have not seen the Governor for some time and likes to experience the scale and sophistication of the industries in the regions visited.

The following day, the Governor’s tour saw her travel to the West Wimmera Shire.