July 2015 - City of Greater Dandenong

July 2015
Budget
breakdown
page 7
Drum
Theatre
pages 8–9
The Hive
page 12
Fight graffiti
page 13
CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTRES
MAYOR’S MESSAGE
Dandenong office
225 Lonsdale St
Dandenong
Hello and welcome to the July edition of The City.
The City of Greater Dandenong is attempting to reduce
our energy bills by replacing 5000 street lights across
the municipality. The new lights should help cut energy
consumption by 77 per cent. Read more about the
changeover on page 3.
Springvale customer service
397–405 Springvale Road
Springvale
Keysborough customer service
Shop A7 Parkmore
Shopping Centre
Keysborough
The Hive Creative Network is connecting artists and art
lovers from all over our city. Read an interview with one
artist who is exhibiting locally on page 12.
If theatre is your interest, turn to pages 8-9 and see a
preview of all shows coming to Drum Theatre for the
remainder of the year.
Paddy O’Donoghue Centre
18–34 Buckley Street
Noble Park
All correspondence to:
The City
PO Box 200
Dandenong VIC 3175
Email: [email protected]
Graffiti is a huge problem for communities all over Australia, and here at Greater
Dandenong we are trying to work with residents and businesses to prevent the
problem on our streets. Read about an animated video that is spruiking our
message on page 13.
Enjoy reading this edition and have a great month.
Phone: 8571 1000
Fax: 8571 5196
Mayor Sean O’Reilly
www.greaterdandenong.com
@greaterdandy
facebook.com/greaterdandenong
cityofgreaterdandenong
youtube.com/citygreaterdandenong
TY: 133 677
T
Speak and listen: 1300 555 727
Internet: www.iprelay.com.au
TIS: 13 14 50
[email protected]
IMPORTANT NUMBERS
Emergency calls
Police/Fire/Ambulance.................... 000
Street lighting faults/
non-operational
United Energy ........................ 13 20 99
Traffic signal faults/
non-operational................... 8571 1000
Hoon Hotline.................. 1800 333 000
Hard waste collection
WM Waste
Management Services......... 9721 1915
my CITY
A common site at Springvale Shopping Centre is the men playing Xiangqi through
the day. Often several games are going at once and interested onlookers take
sides as the men battle it out in this traditional game. Picture by Ewen Bell.
Cover photo: This young princess enjoyed snow falling in Springvale as part of Snow Fest 2014. The icy event is
on again this year on Sunday 19 July at the corner of Buckingham and Balmoral avenues. Picture: Hilton Stone.
Australian Animal
Protection Society............... 9798 8415
RSPCA................................ 9224 2222
Nurse on Call.................. 1300 606 024
This publication is available in alternative formats upon request.
2 the CITY
Students from Athol
Park Primary School
prepare seedlings
for planting.
is good for your health, great family
time and you are helping to plant
habitat for all the wonderful fauna of
Greater Dandenong,” he said.
“Last year the community managed
to plant more than 25,000 indigenous
seedlings in our reserves and parks.”
NATIONAL TREE DAY
W
ould you like the opportunity to
connect with nature, meet others
in your community and help beautify
your neighbourhood?
City of Greater Dandenong will hold two
planting events, on Saturday 25 July at
Tatterson Reserve and Sunday 26 July
at Fotheringham Reserve.
National Tree Day is a perfect
opportunity to achieve all these things.
Mayor Sean O’Reilly says that by taking
part, you’ll be contributing to Australia’s
largest community tree planting event
and joining thousands of others in
inspiring positive environmental change.
The Planet Ark initiative will be held over
the weekend on 25-26 July, and this
year’s theme You Can Grow So Much,
focuses on the many opportunities that
come from engaging with nature.
“There are so many benefits from
participating at one of these events – it
Other community planting days will be
held across Greater Dandenong:
•Saturday 4 July at Falkiner Reserve,
Dandenong North
•Sunday 9 August at Tirhatuan Park,
Dandenong North
•Sunday 23 August at Coomoora
Woodland Flora and Fauna Reserve,
Keysborough
•Saturday 5 September at
Alex Wilkie Nature Reserve,
Springvale South
All planting events start at 10am and
are followed by a free BBQ lunch.
For catering purposes, bookings are
essential. Please phone 8571 1702.
LIGHTING UP
DANDENONG
Families enjoyed last
year’s Snow Fest on the
streets of Springvale.
T
he City of Greater Dandenong is
looking to address the rising cost
of electricity by replacing street lights
across the municipality.
In partnership with the Australian
Government’s Community Energy
Efficiency Program and United Energy,
Council will replace more than 5000
inefficient mercury vapour lights with
LED (light emitting diodes) lights in
residential streets.
Snow Fest
T
he third annual Springvale Snow
Fest will create a chilled out vibe in
Greater Dandenong this month.
More than 25,000 people are expected
to attend the free community event,
which will see 40 tonnes of real snow
transported from Mt Buller to the streets
of Springvale.
As well as snow play, visitors can enjoy
the street festival, including live music
and performances on the main stage,
roving performers, ice sculpting, art
and craft activities, Leyton Real Estate’s
Cubby Town, food and market stalls,
family rides and fireworks.
Mayor Sean O’Reilly invites visitors to
experience the fun of the snowfields in
the heart of Springvale.
The energy efficient lights are expected
to reduce energy consumption by 77
per cent, in turn cutting operating costs
and greenhouse emissions. LED lights
can last up to 20 years, which also cuts
maintenance costs.
“This is the third annual Snow Fest,
and it promises to be a fun day for big
and little kids,” Cr O’Reilly said.
Mayor Sean O’Reilly said the lights
would improve visibility and the
perception of safety across the city.
“This spectacular, award-winning event
will finish with a bang, with a fireworks
display set to go off at 6.50pm.”
“Greater Dandenong Council is
committed to reducing its footprint on
the environment,” Cr O’Reilly said.
Springvale Snow Fest will be held on
Sunday 19 July, from 12pm-7pm. Road
closures will take place during the event
in Windsor, Buckingham and Balmoral
avenues. Parking will be available at the
Number 8 multi-deck car park.
Works to replace lights started in May,
and are expected to be completed by
June 2016.
Visit www.greaterdandenong.com for
more information.
Disruptions to street accessibility are
expected to be minimal, but visit
www.greaterdandenong.com/lightup to
keep up to date on when the crews will
be in your neighbourhood.
the CITY 3
your COUNCILLORS
COUNCILLOR CONTACTS
Lightwood Ward
Cr Youhorn Chea
Ph: 9547 5745 Fax: 9547 3586
0417 320 645
[email protected]
Lightwood Ward – Mayor
Cr Sean O’Reilly
0422 523 258
[email protected]
Lightwood Ward
Cr Loi Truong
Ph: 0466 004 618
[email protected]
Paperbark Ward
Cr Roz Blades AM
Ph: 9701 5821 Fax: 9798 5927
0417 053 612
[email protected]
Paperbark Ward
Cr Peter Brown
Ph/Fax: 9584 5149
0408 138 939
[email protected]
COUNCIL MEETINGS
Council meetings are held on the second and the fourth Monday of the month
at 7pm.
All Council meetings are held at the Dandenong Civic Centre at 225 Lonsdale
Street Dandenong.
The July meetings will be held:
•Monday 13 July
•Monday 27 July
Did you know you can watch Council meetings live online via our web-cast
service?
You can keep up with all the latest decisions, hear questions from
residents and find out the many ways your local councillors are serving the
community.
To view meetings online simply go to www.greaterdandenong.com and look
for the ‘Watch Council Meetings Live’ page in the Your Council section.
COUNCILLORS
Mayor Sean O’Reilly, Cr Matthew Kirwan and Cr Angela Long joined
members of the Inter Council Aboriginal Consultative Committee (ICACC)
for a tour of Aboriginal sacred sites in and around the City of Greater
Dandenong in May. Cr Long co-chairs ICACC with John Murray. The tour
included a visit to the Dandenong and Districts Aboriginal Cooperative
and Dandenong Park, as well as Dandenong Police Paddocks for a
Welcome to Country Smoking Ceremony.
Paperbark Ward
Cr Heang Tak
0403 072 291
[email protected]
Red Gum Ward
Cr Angela Long
Ph: 9795 6574 Fax: 9795 4412
0466 004 616
[email protected]
Red Gum Ward
Cr Matthew Kirwan
0403 072 295
[email protected]
Red Gum Ward
Cr Jim Memeti
Ph: 9792 4683 Fax: 9792 4683
0434 560 239
[email protected]
Silverleaf Ward
Cr John Kelly
Ph: 9793 1777 Fax: 9706 0186
0418 350 743
[email protected]
Silverleaf Ward
Cr Maria Sampey
Ph: 9790 1291 Fax: 9790 6104
0438 800 027
[email protected]
4 the CITY
Silverleaf Ward Cr Maria
Sampey was one of three
councillors recognised by The
City of Greater Dandenong
for 15 years of service to the
Greater Dandenong community.
Councillors Angela Long
and Peter Brown were also
presented with a certificate for
15 years of service.
Councillors Roz Blades and
John Kelly were also recognised
recently for serving 20 years
with local government.
Paperbark Ward
Cr Peter Brown
T
he commencement of grade
separations of railway lines has
been recently announced by the State
Government.
The first contracts were signed midMay. The Heatherton Road, Noble
Park, crossing is included in the future
works program. When completed the
positive flow-on effect for Noble Park
will be substantial.
Linked in with this, is the adjacent Ross
Reserve Skate Park.
It will become a regional attraction, set
in landscaped surrounds, for which
money has been allocated in Council’s
2015-16 Budget for landscaping and
beautification works.
The project has attracted a great deal
of interest from young residents.
Further works for Ross Reserve are
being staged in accordance with a
Master Plan.
Noble Park resident Sandrino Vokic and Cr Peter Brown
are photobombed by a tradesman while inspecting the
finishing stages of the Noble Park Skate Park.
The future of this area of Noble Park is
exciting. We can all look forward to a
much needed boost to our town centre
and the works of the State Government
and Council should provide it.
Red Gum Ward
Cr Matthew
Kirwan
R
ed Gum Ward is the largest and
most diverse council ward in Greater
Dandenong. For this ward profile I am
concentrating on the new estates of
Keysborough and Dandenong.
KEYSBOROUGH Over 250 people
took part earlier this year in the
consultation for the proposed
Keysborough South community hub. It
was great for me to speak to so many
residents personally about their ideas.
In the 2015/16 budget $3 million has
been allocated for the purchase of
land in Keysborough South for the
purposes of establishing the hub. To
find out what people said and to keep
up to date on the project as it evolves
visit www.greaterdandenong.com/
document/28622/keysborough-southcommunity-hub
DANDENONG By the time you
read this article the new shade sail in
Hemmings Park will either be installed
or soon will be. Thanks to those parents
who suggested the idea to me so their
families can make more use of the park.
You may have noticed some
improvements to the Hemmings Street
shopping strip as well – new brighter
white street lights and new bike
hoops. But there is still a way to go
with revitalising the shopping strip and
improving community safety in this part
of Dandenong.
Based on residents asking for it
I have organised a Dandenong
West Community Safety Forum
on Tuesday 21 July, from
7.30pm-9pm in the Multi-Purpose
Room of Dandenong West Primary
School, corner Birdwood and
Benga avenues, Dandenong.
Please come and have your say
and invite others too.
As always, if you have any questions,
concerns or ideas please email
[email protected]
or phone 0403 072 295.
the CITY 5
working FOR YOU
Federal funding for
Tatterson Park
Tatterson Park will become a
sporting and community hub.
Commonwealth
commits to
kindergartens
A
campaign run by the City of
Greater Dandenong and other
Victorian local government bodies
to secure kinder access has 840
million reasons to smile, but families
are not celebrating yet.
The Federal Government announced
it would continue funding the
Universal Access to Early Childhood
Education program in Victoria for
another two years.
The Universal Access program gives
all four year old children access to
15 hours of kindergarten programs
each week.
The $840 million, two year
commitment gives security to
families going through kindergarten
in the short term, but Council
will continue to lobby to see the
agreement extended further into the
future.
Under the current agreement the
State Government funds 10 hours
of four-year-old kindergarten each
week, and the Federal Government
covers another five hours.
Without an ongoing commitment
from the Commonwealth, kinder
fees would have to increase or hours
would decrease, placing a greater
burden on families.
6 the CITY
T
he Tatterson Park sport and
community hub is one step closer
following the delivery of a $4.865 million
grant from the Federal Government.
The money matches the commitment
by Council, and will help turn the park
into Greater Dandenong’s premier
sporting and community hub, including
facilities that will cater for everyone
from grass roots sports clubs to elite
level competition.
Plans feature a state of the art
multipurpose community pavilion,
which will include unisex change rooms,
community meeting and function rooms,
offices, a commercial kitchen, kiosks
and a spectator viewing area.
A synthetic playing field and
floodlights will also be developed
in accordance with FIFA guideline
suitable for high level sports
competition and grass roots
participation.
Sporting groups won’t be the only
ones to benefit from the project,
community groups and agencies will
also be able to access facilities for a
range of activities.
The project will make best use of
the 52 hectare parcel of open space
in Keysborough South and will
complement the existing facilities,
including Springers Leisure Centre,
wetlands and playgrounds.
SOCIAL COHESION FUNDING
T
he City of Greater Dandenong will
use a $100,000 grant from the State
Government to promote harmony,
tolerance and understanding.
The grant will be used to fund four
programs including:
•Schools Introducing Difference
– multi-faith and multicultural
education programs in primary and
secondary schools;
backgrounds to come together to
share their experiences through the
sharing of food; and
•Multicultural Breakfast and
Lunchbox series – forums for local
businesses to meet with community
leaders and hear speakers from
different cultural groups.
•Interfaith Network Tour Program – for
local asylum seekers and refugees to
volunteer as tour guides;
These initiatives provide an excellent
opportunity to bring people of many
different backgrounds together to
share information and learn a little
about each other.
•Engaging Women Through Food
and Conversation - for women of all
To find out more about the programs
contact Council on 8571 1000.
BUDGET BREAKDOWN
2015-16
C
ouncil’s 2015-16 Budget aims to
find a balance between the needs
of the community, the maintenance
of existing assets and the provision of
high quality ongoing services.
This promises to be another significant
year for capital investment with works
commencing on the Springvale
Civic Precinct Master Plan and
early planning works (including land
acquisition) for the Keysborough
South Community Hub.
Greater Dandenong’s Chief Executive
Officer John Bennie said this year’s
budget continued to build a solid
foundation upon which Council
would grow.
“Our priority has always been to
ensure our ratepayers continue to
have access to the best possible
facilities and services,” Mr Bennie said.
“Whilst Council has delivered
significant new facilities in the past
five years we are mindful that there
remains other critical projects to
Budget highlights
•$3 million to purchase land in
Keysborough South to establish a
future community hub
•$1.5 million to commence work on
the Springvale Civic Precinct project
•$5.125 million for a range of works to
renew Council buildings
complete to meet future community
needs.
“These include the completion of the
Springvale Civic Precinct which will
provide a new library, community
centre and upgraded Springvale Town
Hall, the provision of a community
hub in Keysborough South, the future
redevelopment or replacement of
Dandenong Oasis and a community
hub for central Dandenong.”
Mayor Sean O’Reilly said Council’s
history of financial responsibility had
allowed it to keep rates low, while
continuing to deliver high quality
projects and providing exceptional
community services.
He said this year’s 5.5 per cent rate
rise was in-line with Council’s overall
strategic and long-term financial
planning framework.
“The average increase for residential
properties would be an additional
$45.62 per year,” Cr O’Reilly said.
•$1.545 million in drainage works
•$1.012 million for the replacement
of street lighting ($469,000 from
government grant funding)
•$1.025 for completion of works at
Ross Reserve, Noble Park
•$500,000 towards the signalisation
of Robinson Street and Princes
Highway intersection, Dandenong
•$450,000 for refurbishment works
at the former Clow Street Council
office, which will accommodate the
relocation of the Maternal and Child
Health Centre and Toy Library
•$300,000 towards floodlights for the
Noble Park Junior Football Club at
Ross Reserve
•$1.7 million for the renewal of
footpaths and kerbs and channel
networks
•$330,000 to upgrade cricket net
facilities at Noble Park and Wachter
Reserve
•$400,000 for playground renewal
works
•$1.173 million for new books and
equipment for the Dandenong and
Springvale libraries
•$300,000 for streetscape upgrade
works in Douglas Street, Noble Park
the CITY 7
JULY
The Australian Ballet presents
The Dancers Company –
Classical Triple Bill
Friday 17 July 7.30pm
Saturday 18 July
1.30pm and 7.30pm
DRUM
THEATRE
SEASON
2015
Drum Theatre is enjoying one
of its busiest years yet and
in the coming months will
welcome some of the biggest
names in entertainment.
Touring shows from The
Australian Ballet, Opera
Australia, Circus Oz and
the Russian National Ballet
Theatre perform alongside
musical tributes, pantomimes
and dramatical productions.
Drum Theatre Season 2015
has something for everyone.
Opera Australia presents
Hansel and Gretel
Wednesday 1 July 10.30am and 1.30pm
Children and families will be captivated
by the bewitching characters met by
Hansel and Gretel on their journey
of hardship, forgiveness and self
discovery. The morning show includes
Auslan Shadow Interpreting.
AUGUST
Graeme Connors-North,
25 years on
Saturday 1 August 7.30pm
See Australia’s
greatest storyteller,
live on stage with
his legendary
band in a
two hour
performance,
celebrating
25 years since
the release of
his pioneering
hit album North.
Box Office
The Beggars Sing the Seekers
Drum Theatre Box Office is open
Monday to Friday 9am-5pm and
1 hour prior to ticketed events.
Thursday 6 August 10.30am
You can book in person or over
the phone during open hours, or
online 24 hours a day.
Find Drum Theatre
Cnr Lonsdale and Walker
streets, Dandenong
8571 1666
[email protected]
www.drumtheatre.com.au
8 the CITY
A musical homage to
The Seekers.
Experience word class ballet live on
stage with this stunning classical
triple bill featuring Swan Lake Act III,
Paquita and Rimbombo.
SEPTEMBER
Flinders Christian Community
College presents
Oliver!
Thursday 3 September 7.30pm
Friday 4 September
11.30am and 7.30pm
Saturday 5 September
1pm and 7.30pm
The Wizard of Oz – Young
Performers Edition
Thursday 24 September 1pm and 7pm
Friday 25 September 1pm and 7pm
Saturday 26 September 7pm
Sunday 27 September 3pm
OCTOBER
Sleeping Beauty
Thursday 1 October 10.30am and
1.30pm
Circus Oz: But wait...
there’s more
Friday 21 August 8pm
Saturday 22 August 2pm and 8pm
Jane Rutter – French Kiss
Thursday 8 October 10.30am and 8pm
Following the success of her film
An Australian in Paris, internationally
acclaimed darling of the flute
and number one recording artist,
Jane Rutter demonstrates her
incomparable classical and cabaret
artistry in French Kiss.
Australia Day
Friday 2 October 8pm
The country town of Coriole is getting
ready for Australia Day, but nothing is
sacred as the national identity is put
through the ringer in this thoroughly
modern ripper of a comedy. Written
and directed by acclaimed playwright
and Sydney Theatre Company satirist
Jonathan Biggins.
Stunt-jumping acrobatics, cuttingedge juggling, virtuosic hoop
diving, elegant flying trapeze,
cheeky impersonations, ridiculous
knockabout and multi-skilled human
physical exuberance – this show is
an exhilarating two-hour spectacle
for audiences of all ages.
Bookings on 8571 1666
www.drumtheatre.com.au
NOVEMBER
The Spirit of Christmas 2015
with Roy Best
Wednesday 25 November 10.30am
Thursday 26 November 10.30am
DECEMBER
Russian National Ballet
Theatre – Swan Lake
Monday 7 December 7.30pm
Led by compere Chris McKenna and
starring one of Australia’s most popular
tenors Roy Best alongside singer/
actress Michelle Fitzmaurice, this show
features a mix of traditional Christmas
blended with some well known
contemporary Christmas songs and
plenty of good comedy along the way.
the CITY 9
community CALENDAR
JULY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
Nocturnal
Combined Probus Club
of Noble Park
Club Noble, Moodemere Street
10am, Ph: 9546 2346
6
Ball games and face painting
Jan Wilson Community Centre
10am-noon, Ph: 9795 9279
13
Library Toddler Time
Springvale and Dandenong
libraries
10am
Ph: 1300 630 920
20
Cheeky Little Monkey’s
14
Playgroup
Noble Park Community Centre
2.30pm, Ph: 9547 5801
Live cooking demonstration:
winter vegetables
Dandenong Market
12pm-1pm
27
Live cooking demonstration:
shepherd’s pie
Dandenong Market
12pm-1pm
1
2
School Holidays Lego Club
Dandenong Library
2pm-3pm
Make your own bird watching kit
Heritage Hill
10am, Ph: 9793 4511
Home/Here/Now opening night
Walker Street Gallery
6.30pm, Ph: 9706 8441
School Holidays Lego Club
Springvale Library
2pm-3pm
Koala Gymnastics
Heritage Hill
10am, Ph: 9793 4511
Noble Park Community Action 8
Forum Annual General Meeting
Paddy O’Donoghue Centre
6pm, Ph: 9701 5821
Making healthy snacks
(age 5-10)
Jan Wilson Centre
10am-noon, Ph: 9795 9279
School Holidays The Sand
Dragon’s Tail
Dandenong Library
11am
Nocturnal
Harmony Square
(Dandenong Council offices)
5.30pm-9pm
Digital Literacy Intro to Email
Springvale Library
9.30am-11.30am
Character Archaeology
Heritage Hill
10am, Ph: 9793 4511
Greater Dandenong
Neighbourhood Watch
Committee Meeting
Paddy O’Donoghue Centre
7.30pm
Ph: 0407 325 030
15
9
16
Burmese Women’s Alliance
Friendship Group
Noble Park Community Centre
10.30am
Ph: 0432 021 888
Baby Bounce
Dandenong Library
10.30am
Ph: 1300 630 920
22
Digital Literacy Intro to the
Internet 1
Springvale Library
9.30am-11.30am
23
Heritage Hill Garden Tour
and Picnic
Heritage Hill
12pm
Ph: 793 4511
The Social Knitwork
Dandenong Library
10.30am (every Wednesday)
28
All Sports Fun Day
Edinburgh Reserve
10am
Ph: 0423 020 054
THURSDAY
Hansel and Gretel
Drum Theatre
10.30am and 1.30pm
Ph: 8571 1666
21
Dandenong West
Community Forum
Dandenong West Primary
School, corner Birdwood and
Benga avenues
7.30pm
Ballroom Dancing
Burden park Bowling Club
6.30pm (every Monday)
Ph: 9798 1784
10 the CITY
School Holidays
The Jungle Book
Springvale Library
11am
Art Series – Rubaba Haider
Dandenong Library
6.30pm
Library Toddler Time
Springvale and Dandenong
libraries
10am
Ph: 1300 630 920
Springvale View Club
Sandown Greyhounds
6.30pm, Ph: 9700 1976
7
Top Cat Dancers Rock & Roll
& Swing Classes
Edinburgh Hall
7.30pm, Ph: 0413 393 345
Indigenous Weaving Workshop –
Native Grass Baskets
Heritage Hill
10am, Ph: 9793 4511
Council Meeting
Dandenong Civic Centre,
225 Lonsdale Street
7pm
Noble Park Country Women’s
Association General Meeting
Paddy O’Donoghue Centre
10am, Ph: 9547 7261
Drum Theatre
Dandenong Evening View Club
Dandenong RSL
7pm, Ph: 9560 9717
Ballroom Dancing
Burden Park Bowling Club
6.30pm (every Monday)
Ph: 9798 1784
Council Meeting
Dandenong Civic Centre,
225 Lonsdale Street
7pm
WEDNESDAY
29
30
Digital Literacy Intro to the
Internet 2
Springvale Library
9.30am-11.30am
Springvale
Snow Fest
www.greaterdandenong.com/Calendar
2015
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
3
Flash Twinkle Toes
Dandenong Library
11am
4
Ballroom Dancing
Burden Park Bowling Club
8pm
Ph: 9798 1784
Kids in the kitchen
Dandenong Market
12pm-1pm
10
Robotics with Robogals
Dandenong Library
12pm-1.30pm
Springvale Library
2.30pm-4pm
11
Springvale Computer Swap Meet
Springvale Town Hall
10am
Marsupial masks workshop
Heritage Hill
10am, Ph: 9793 4511
17
The Australian Ballet Presents
the Dancers Company
Classical Triple Bill
Drum Theatre
7.30pm
Ph: 8571 1666
Me and My Dad: Insectomania
Dandenong Library
2pm
Ph: 1300 630 920
18
Dandenong Library
1300 630 920
Heritage Hill Museum
and Historic Gardens
9793 4511
Jan Wilson
Community Centre
9795 9279
Chand Raat Eid Festival
Tatterson Park
2pm
Ph: 0412 881 597
25
Shabe Tarannom 2015 –
Hazaragi Cultural Celebration
Drum Theatre
8pm
Ph: 8571 1666
Live cooking demonstration:
Christmas in July
Dandenong Market
12pm-1pm
Drum Theatre
8571 1666
19
Springvale Snow Fest
Buckingham Ave, Springvale
12pm-7pm
The Australian Ballet presents
The Dancers Company
Classical Triple Bill
Drum Theatre
1.30pm and 7.30pm
Ph: 8571 1666
24
12
Springvale Rotary Sunday Market
Springvale Station
8am
Ph: 0425 806 006
Crazy Creature Animal Craft
Dandenong Market
11am-3pm
✆
City of Greater
Dandenong
8571 1000
Crazy Creature Animal Craft
Dandenong Market
11am-3pm
Bush Toys
Heritage Hill
10am, Ph: 9793 4511
Dandenong & District
Orchid Club Meeting
Greaves Reserve
7pm, Ph: 0412 188 263
5
Greater Dandenong
Environment Group
Dandenong Wetlands
9.30am, Ph: 8571 1702
Paddy O’Donoghue
Centre
8571 1436
26
Kattimoni performs live
Dandenong Market
11am-2.30pm
Springvale Library
1300 630 920
Springers
Leisure Centre
9701 5900
Walker Street Gallery
9706 8441
31
Dandenong Market
9701 3850
U3A Dandenong
Paddy O’Donoghue Centre
1pm
Ph: 9546 2997
Submit your community
event online at
Live cooking demonstration:
leftover love
Dandenong Market
12pm-1pm
Cultural Tours
9771 5777
www.greaterdandenong.com
The Social
Knitwork
the CITY 11
RUBABA
HAIDER
my paintings and come out of the
exhibition taking something with them.”
Haider encourages emerging artists to
work hard at their craft and stay honest
to themselves.
“You will have hurdles and hardships,
but that’s what life is. When I first came
to Australia I didn’t know anyone, I had
zero contacts and peers but slowly and
gradually I am finding my way here,”
she said.
R
ubaba Haider is a contemporary artist
based in Melbourne. Her work will be
displayed at Walker Street Gallery as part
of the Home/Here/Now exhibition.
A Hazara woman, Haider studied
miniature painting in Pakistan at the
prestigious National College of Arts, but
was forced to seek refuge in Australia
due to the persecution of her people.
Go to thehivegreaterdandy.wordpress.
com to read a full transcript of our
interview with Rubaba Haider.
For more information
on The Hive and all
things creative visit
greaterdandenong.com/arts
Historically the Hazara women were
expert weavers of rugs, and young girls
are expected to master the techniques
of sewing, knitting, stitching and
weaving to become a ‘whole’ woman.
“Fearing that these skills would tie me
to a restricted womanhood I resisted
learning the traditional Hazara crafts as
a child, I spent all of my time playing
with paints and colours,” Haider said.
While she did learn the basic skills for
weaving, Haider now finds herself trying
to redefine the traditional techniques
and uses traditional materials in an
unorthodox way.
For this exhibition Haider’s paintings
show the fragility of relationships, and
how a mere thread binds everything.
Home/Here/Now at
Walker Street Gallery
Haider’s own experience of resettling
informs the works that explore how
relationships are built and then broken
when someone is constantly moving.
“In a practical context it (a thread) is
something that can be used to mend
fabrics and used for sewing, but in a
lateral context it is a thread of human
affairs and relationships,” Haider said.
“I want my audience to experience all
of the abstract emotions hidden within
NOCTURNAL: ONE NIGHT ONLY
N
octurnal 2015 is Dandenong’s
much loved celebration of night,
light and life on our streets.
For one night only thread your way
through a shimmering world of oceans,
rivers, moons, forests, galaxies, stars
and the creatures that dwell there.
A hive of artists weave the urban
environment into a luminous dreaming
inspired by the natural world, and your
whole family is invited – even your pets.
Nocturnal is a one night event based
in and around Harmony Square
(Dandenong council offices), on
Thursday 9 July, from 5.30pm-9pm.
It includes public art installations,
interactive work, images on the Big
Screen and gathering spaces around
fire pits. Visit www.greaterdandenong.
com /nocturnal for more information.
12 the CITY
An installation from
last year’s Nocturnal.
Rubaba Haider (our featured artist)
is one of six artists exhibiting as part
of the Home/Here/Now exhibition at
Walker Street Gallery this month.
Other artists include Kosar Majani,
Khaled Sabsabi, Hossein Valamanesh,
Guan Wei and Gosia Wlodarczak.
Home/Here/Now is an exhibition
which aims to celebrate the vision
and voices of now established
Australian artists who arrived in
Australia as refugees.
The City of Greater Dandenong will
be celebrating the contribution of
artists from a refugee background
with an annual art prize, beginning
in 2016. The new art prize will be
launched at this exhibition, with the
first exhibition of entrants’ work held
at Walker Street Gallery in 2016.
Home/Here/Now is on at Walker
Street Gallery from Thursday
2 July to Saturday 1 August. Visit
walkerstreetgallery.com.au for more
information.
GRAFFITI PREVENTION VIDEO
T
he City of Greater Dandenong
is committed to keeping the
municipality clean from graffiti and
residents can play a part.
Instructional videos and free graffiti
removal kits are offering simple tips to
help clean up the city.
Graffiti is a world-wide problem
that affects the visual appearance
of communities and influences
perceptions of public safety. Its removal
and prevention is costly, in fact about
$387 million is spent on removing
graffiti in Australia every year.
In the City of Greater Dandenong,
77,000sq m of graffiti vandalism have
been removed in the past five years with
80 per cent of all the graffiti removed
being tags or graffiti vandalism.
Council’s Community Development Unit,
in partnership with Victoria Police, has
produced two videos to assist residents
and businesses in the City of Greater
Dandenong prevent and remove graffiti
from their property. A $9550 grant from
the State Government’s Community
Crime Prevention Program was used to
produce the videos.
An instructional video and brochure
demonstrates how to remove graffiti
from various surfaces using Council’s
graffiti removal kits.
A second video is an engaging
animation providing tips on how you
can prevent graffiti from occurring on
your property. The animation will be
played on the Big Screen in Harmony
Square (Dandenong Civic Centre) and
Reading challenge
C
hildren are being encouraged to
discover the magic of books while
challenging themselves through the
Victorian Premier’s Reading Challenge.
The Challenge is not a competition,
but an opportunity for children to
develop a love of reading with the
support of parents and teachers.
The 11th annual challenge has a
list of 9000 books grouped into age
appropriate categories, and Greater
Dandenong libraries have a great
selection of books in stock.
Since the Challenge began, nearly
2 million children and young people
across Victoria have turned the pages
of more than 34 million books.
Go to www.greaterdandenonglibraries.
com/thevault to sign up for the
challenge and keep an online record
of the books you read.
at customer service centres throughout
the municipality.
The videos can be viewed at
www.greaterdandenong.com/graffiti
and free kits can be obtained
from Springvale and Dandenong
Council offices.
Tips for graffiti prevention
•Reduce available solid wall space
with things like shrubs and trellis
•Remove climbing objects, such as
bins, that could be used to jump
fences or paint up high
•Call 000 when you see vandals
•Keeping your property tidy and
free from clutter can deter vandals
•Install sensor lights to deter
vandals at night
Top books from last year’s challenge
•The Fault in Our Stars – John Green
•Divergent – Veronica Roth
•The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins
•Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck –
Jeff Kinney
•Matilda – Roald Dahl
•Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
– J.K. Rowling
•The 39-Storey Tree House – Andy
Griffiths
•Deenie – Judy Blume
•Kiss! Kiss! Yuck! Yuck! – Kyle Mewburn
•Scarygirl – Nathan Jurevicius
IMMUNISATION TIMETABLE – JULY 2015
The Immunisation Timetable for the City of Greater Dandenong is available from Council’s customer service centres or Maternal and Child Health
centres and online. Phone Council on 8571 1000 or visit www.greaterdandenong.com for more information on the upcoming immunisation sessions:
DATE
6 July
TIME
5pm-6.30pm
LOCATION
Springvale Service for Children, 23-28 Lightwood Road, Springvale
9 July
10am-11.30am
Dandenong Civic Centre, 225 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong
14 July
10am-12pm
Paddy O’Donoghue Centre, 18-34 Buckley Street, Noble Park
15 July
4.30pm-6.30pm
Dandenong Civic Centre, 225 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong
21 July
10am-11am
Springers Leisure Centre, 400 Cheltenham Road, Keysborough
22 July
10am-12pm
Springvale Service for Children, 23-28 Lightwood Road, Springvale
25 July
10am-12pm
Dandenong Civic Centre, 225 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong
28 July
10am-11am
Jan Wilson Community Centre, BJ Powell Reserve, Halton Road, Noble Park North
the CITY 13
business NEWS
A dish at Dandenong’s
Tengri Tag restaurant.
H
ungry visitors have helped promote
Greater Dandenong as a true
foodie destination.
and food bloggers, in a bid to share our
suburban gourmet delights with media
outlets.
Greater Dandenong is widely
recognised as one of the most
culturally diverse communities in
Australia, and as such offers some of
the most diverse taste experiences in
the country.
Council has also revamped the
Great Bites booklet, which is an A5
pocket guide offering details on a
range of food outlets across Greater
Dandenong.
Council is doing its bit to encourage
food related experiences and is
working closely with businesses across
the municipality, including food tours
and the updated Great Bites booklet.
FOOD
TOURISM
Food tours run throughout the year
at Dandenong’s Afghan Bazaar, Little
India and through a range of Polish
businesses, as well as through the
South East Asian delights found in
Springvale.
Celebrity foodie Maeve O’Meara
recently led her own tour for journalists
Stunning photography is a feature
of the new booklet which combines
listings for Dandenong, Noble Park
and Springvale in one easy to carry
book. The book will be released soon
and is available for free from Council’s
customer service centres, libraries and
from businesses themselves.
Whether you work, live or play in
Greater Dandenong, there is a snack,
meal or feast to suit every tastebud.
Visit www.greaterdandenong.com/visit
for more information about food tours
or Great Bites.
MONASH STUDENTS MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN INDUSTRY
A
n Australian-first program is helping
Monash University students get realworld experience in problem solving.
Monash University’s director of External
Engagement Madeleine McManus said
the Monash Industry Team Initiative
(MITI) matched multi-discipline teams
of students with businesses to help
solve real world problems.
“The partners for this year included
recognised leaders in industry,
engaging 18 teams across Victoria,”
Ms McManus said.
“All student teams delivered above
expectations, resulting in commercial
innovation and financial benefits.”
Greater Dandenong-based Hilton
Manufacturing’s product launch
engineering manager Darren
Williams said they asked students
to design and build an innovative
new product.
“Partnering with universities like
Monash is vital in helping develop
the next generation of engineers, the
industry experience they gain helps
them develop skills and experiences
that cannot be learnt in the classroom.
We look forward to being involved in
future programs,” Mr Williams said,
Find out more about the program at
www.miti.monash.edu or businesses
interested in participating can contact
Ms McManus on 9905 6870.
TRAM CONTRACTS A
Dandenong manufacturer will help
get Melbourne moving following
a $274 million order from the State
Government.
Twenty new E-Class trams will be built
at Bombardier’s Dandenong factory,
and should be completed by 2018.
The order formed part of a $20
million commitment to train and tram
manufacturing in the State Budget
announcement in May, and came
in the wake of the Dandenong on
Wheels event held in the civic square
in April.
Dandenong on Wheels celebrated
the amazing amount of vehicle
manufacturing businesses who call
the region home, and was attended
by industry leaders and State
Government representatives.
14 the CITY
community NEWS
Big Brothers Big Sisters
W
hen George Mondon decided to
do some volunteer work, it was
the idea of changing one life that most
appealed to him.
While researching different charities he
came across Big Brothers Big Sisters,
which matches children with adults
who can offer positive role modelling.
“I thought I could do something for a
bigger charity but in what way would
I be helping? When I thought about
actually changing a person’s life and
how that would reach to others in the
future, I knew that was what I wanted
to do,” George said.
The charity aims to positively change
the course of a young person’s life by
helping build resilience, and a sense
of self-worth. The idea is to help keep
children at school and improve their
relationships with their own family.
George Mondon
volunteers as a
big brother.
With one older brother and three younger
half-siblings, George knows about the
influence big brothers can have.
“I was not sure what to expect when I
started, but I can already see that the
friendship is a positive for both of us,”
he said.
The program asks mentors to commit
to quality time with a young person for
a minimum of 1-2 hours per week for a
year. The service is seeking more male
volunteers in Greater Dandenong.
“If you want to volunteer this is a small
contribution of your own time, but it is
so rewarding,” George said.
At just 22, George’s childhood is not
that far behind him, so it is probably no
wonder he connected with his 12-yearold ‘little brother’ almost instantly.
While the pair base their visits around
a sporting activity, like soccer or
basketball, George said travel time in
the car made for good conversation.
LIBRARY
LEGACY AN
ACHIEVEMENT
A
“Places like the Noble Park English
Language School provide new migrant
with a very firm basis for their education
in Australia,” he said.
Noble Park English Language School
principal Enza Calabro said Eric and
his wife Merle had both dedicated their
lives to the community.
“It is a very special school and the
people who run it are there because
they want to be there. They are doing
what they want to do and the children
respond enthusiastically.”
She said Eric had particularly focussed
on disadvantaged youth and immigrant
families.
s a former teacher and school
headmaster, Eric Mitchell knows the
value of books.
It is for this reason that the honour
of having a library named after him
sits atop his list of life achievements
(alongside his time as the final Mayor of
the City of Springvale).
Eric said school life revolved around the
library, and once a child could read all
the information they could ever need
was available.
Visit www.bigbrothersbigsisters.org.
au to find out about becoming a big
brother or sister.
“He is such a positive person and has
been an absolute pleasure to work
with over the years. He has created
a wonderful legacy and naming the
library after him was the absolute least
we could do,” Ms Calabro said.
The Noble Park English Language
School has named its library after Mr
Mitchell, who was a member of the
school board for more than 20 years,
17 of those as president.
Eric said as a teacher and principal at
Westall Primary School he taught many
migrant children and recognised the
importance of getting these children off
to a positive start in their education.
The Noble Park English Language
School called for community members
to form a school council, and Eric
proudly answered that call.
Noble Park English Language
School principal Enza
Calabro with community
stalwart Eric Mitchell inside
the library that has been
named in his honour.
the CITY 15
SUNDAY 19 JULY 2015, 12PM-7PM
Cnr Buckingham and Balmoral avenues, Springvale
www.greaterdandenong.com, 8571 1000
Springvale
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