“MAGICAL” and “phenomenal” are just some of the accolades handed down by the Victorian Governor on her visit to the Glenelg Shire.

Her Excellency, the Honourable Linda Dessau, AC and her husband, Anthony Howard AM, QC, made nine stops across the region during their visit, including a visit to Casterton’s Kelpie Centre.

The three-day tour kicked-off with a stop at the Portland community garden and a catch-up with volunteers, a wreath-laying at the Portland Cenotaph and a business and industry round-table meeting, before the couple ventured north, through Heywood and to Casterton.

“This is beautiful countryside – that goes without saying – and we are so pleased to be able to make this visit,” the Governor said.

“This morning we met with a terrific group of business leaders, to understand all the issues for business and industry in the region … we’ve been at Budj Bim today; we’ve been there before but now, after the UNESCO world heritage has been achieved, is quite special,” she said.

“We visited the new aquaculture centre, which is just phenomenal and then … the Kelpie Centre, which is so clever and attracts so many people to the town and that’s a terrific thing.”

The Governor said she was pleased to be visiting the area during National Volunteer week, where much of Victoria’s unpaid workforce was found.

“We know that our state can’t function without volunteers and no more than when you’re in the regions and the rural parts of the state,” she said. “And of course, the smaller the community the more jobs each volunteer is doing, so it’s a day to say thank you and congratulate all of them.”