That’s more like summer: total fire ban in place for northern Vic with temperature forecast to reach 40 C.

After a cold and confusing start to summer, the mercury is tipped to hit a top of 40°C in Shepparton today with more warm weather on the way.

A total fire ban is in place across the Northern Country fire district, with a severe fire danger rating in place.

No fires are allowed to be lit or allowed to remain alight in open air across the 24 hour period from midnight.

Australian Bureau of Meteorology data shows the hottest December day was recorded last year at 43.2°C, with the hottest day of this year recorded on January 25 at 46.2°C.

With temperatures set to reach 33°C tomorrow and 31°C on Wednesday, there will be little reprieve until Friday.

The extreme heat also means slight changes to the Seymour train line services with speed restrictions in place.

V/Line chief executive James Pinder said extra precautions were taken on extreme heat days to help train services run smoothly, minimise delays and ensure passengers arrived at their destinations safely.

‘‘Heat speed restrictions are enforced on the regional network when the temperature hits 36 degrees and above due to the steel tracks expanding in the heat,’’ Mr Pinder said.

‘‘Our team closely monitors the weather forecast and activates the extreme heat timetables across the network when necessary.’’

Passengers can download a copy of the extreme heat timetable for their line from the V/Line website at vline.com.au or ask for a copy from their nearest staffed station.

People are reminded to keep themselves, young children, elderly people and animals hydrated during the day.

Ashlea Witoslawski’s story from The Shepparton News - “That’s more like summer: total fire ban in place for northern Vic with temperature forecast to reach 40 C.”

Gabrielle Chan learns and writes about people being "Rusted Off"

Gabrielle Chan is a political reporter with The Guardian, an author and was in Shepparton today.

Author Gabrielle Chan.

She was in the city to talk about her new book: “Rusted Off: Why Country Australia is Fed Up”.

Gabrielle who’s been a city girl all her life had no desire or intention of going to the country, but then she fell in love with a farmer and moved to the small southern New South Wales town of Harden.

She sensed there was something happend and wondered why country people were so fed up with politics, and why formerly rusted-on voters were fleeing major political parties in greater numbers than their city counterparts?

Puzzled by what she could see, Gabrielle talked with people on the street, researched this developing dynamic and wrote the book she discussed today.

Former Shepparton Mayor, Anne McCamish was the  MC, she had read the book, asked Gabrielle some wide-ranging questions and then offered the 40 or so people the chance to quiz the author.