‘And the winner is’… Chelsea Stephen Taylor steve@baysidenews.com.au THE Oscars’ “night of nights” on Monday shone the glare of international publicity on an art and stationery company based in Chelsea. The adventure began when Marini Ferlazzo founder Nathan Ferlazzo contacted organisers of the 87th Academy Awards in Los Angeles two weeks ago offering his intricately made greeting cards and zodiac cards as gifts to category winners. His samples so impressed LAbased Distinctive Assets that they asked the Kelvin Grove business to arrange a 2000 card shipment – pronto – for inclusion in gift packs. The cards will complement other goodies, including a year’s rental of an Audi car valued at $20,000, a $14,500 train ride through the Canadian Rockies and a $20,000 dream analysis and horoscope from Enigma Life founder, Olessia Kantor. The awards – and the “premiumend” greeting cards - were presented to actors by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. The family-run Marini Ferlazzo came about when the graphic design student set up the business with its wildlife conservation theme and intricate pen-and-ink illustrations in 2011. His aim, through his collages of interwoven botanicals and wildlife, was to capture the imagination of people in a way that inspired them into active conservation of endan-
gered species, such as the Bornean orangutan and South China tiger. “It’s been an amazing experience so far,” he said. “The Oscars idea popped into my head a year ago after another company did a similar thing and it worked out well. I thought I might do it, too. “I called Christina at Distinctive Assets, who collates the gift bags, and told her what we did and a little bit about the business and she looked at the website and loved it.” Then it was all hands on deck as Ferlazzo family members sat around the kitchen table packing the huge order and having extra cards printed “right up until the last minute”. It was a big task: Each of the 26 gift packs contained 12 wildlife cards, 12 zodiac cards and 12 zodiac bookmarks – and there were 10 packs for the press and 35 packs for what’s termed the “satellite media tour”, including TV shows such as Entertainment Tonight. The cards gift was a well thought out labour of love – even though it cost “several thousand” to compile and send off. “It was a goodwill gesture as we had to donate the cards but it is all good publicity,” said Mr Ferlazzo, who attended St Bede’s College, Mentone, and lives at Carrum. “The cost is small fry compared to the amount we would be charged if we advertised in magazines. “These are the people who can really push our message and give exposure to worthwhile organisations, such as the World Wildlife Fund.”
Police patrol Conmen target elderly
SMOOTH talking conmen are fleecing often elderly people out of their savings by posing as roof repairmen, gutter cleaners or driveway repairers, Kingston police say. The often Irish accented scammers impress homeowners with their spiel but then disappear with payment before the job is done. Leading Senior Constable Peter Stephano, of Moorabbin police, said homeowners should be suspicious “as soon as cash is mentioned” in the lead up to a job. “Don’t be afraid to say no,” he said. “They make it easy to say yes so the best way to get rid of them is to end the conversation as quickly as possible.”
Store worker harassed
Eyes on the prize: Nathan Ferlazzo took his greeting cards to the stars of Hollywood at this year’s Academy Awards night. Picture: Gary Sissons
The products are designed to be kept and passed down through families. “We go to a lot of time and effort on each presentation,” said Mr Ferlazzo, who draws inspiration on life and nature from books on architecture, art, and by visiting galleries. “My most direct inspiration came through an exhibition of the works of the wilderness painter Eugene von Guerard at Federation Square,”
he said. The Austrian artist’s 19th century pen-and-ink drawings are remarkable for their shadowy lighting and fastidious detail. Since then the card designs have struck a chord and the resultant publicity is, in Mr Ferlazzo’s words, “priceless”. “Things are out of control now; people are engaging with us and the response has been fantastic.”
AN Aspendale Gardens woman working as a customer services officer at Coles Southland was verbally harassed and intimidated by an aggressive male customer earlier this month. The man approached the woman, ostensibly with a complaint, and became loud and aggressive. She told him to leave but, as he was being escorted from the store, he allegedly put his face up to hers and abused her race. A member of the public intervened. The store’s security cameras captured the incident. Police are appealing for anyone knowing the man’s name to call 9556 6565.
Traffic stop Did you know? THE driver of a car must ensure the number plates are not obscured, possibly by dirty or reflective plate covers, towbars and tow-balls or ropes/tiedowns. Road Safety Vehicle Regulations 50 (1) prescribes a $148 fine and three demerit points or up to a $280 fine at court.
Poppies project honours Anzac heroes A GROUP of keen volunteers at Frankston Library are well on their way to finishing 5000 handcrafted poppies to contribute to an Anzac Centenary Commemoration ceremony at Federation Square in Melbourne on Anzac Day in April. Group coordinator Judi McKinna said the Frankston volunteers initially planned to “make 30 or so” hand-sewn poppies but decided to contribute 5000 to the project. “Friends kept asking about making a few and it snowballed from there,” she said. Ms McKinna said some of the volunteers were contributing their time and effort to honour relations in previous relatives who served and in some case lost their lives during World War I. Volunteers all around Victoria will now contribute to a field of more than 100,000 poppies
on display in Federation Square as a tribute to Australian servicemen and women for more than a century of service in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. The Frankston group has been meeting at the library on Wednesday mornings for the past few months “Because it’s the 100th anniversary it’s resounding with everyone so greatly … this is what our country is all about,” Ms McKinna said. Ms McKinna said the statewide project is “up to 120,000 [poppies] at the moment” and the Frankston group has collected about 4500 poppies including contributions from Mt Martha, Mt Eliza, Mornington and Chelsea volunteers. Neil Walker
KINGSWOOD
RUSSELL MORRIS
PERFORMER HIGHLIGHTS
Sunday
Saturday
PIER STAGE
PIER STAGE
12pm Renee Geyer 3pm Hat Fitz & Cara 5pm Russel Morris
12pm Benny Walker Band 2pm Sal Kimber & the Rollin Wheel 9pm Kingswood
Beach stage
Beach stage
11.30Am Savore 1.45pmTodd Cook 3.45pm The Blue Souls
11.30AM Harrison Storm 2.45PM The Dirty Boogie Band 7.45PM Paul Williamson Hammond Combo
DELISH!
culinaryI N dT HeElights
Gozlame
CHEF’S KITCHEN Spice People blend your own spices Firegreen Foods vegan nibbles Oscars Hangout chef challenge
Sea of red: Linda Hicks, left, Cheryl Weaver, Judi McKinna, Sally Lim and Marion Capon have contributed to a 5000 poppies project to be displayed as part of an Anzac Centenary Commemoration ceremony in Melbourne. Picture: Yanni
GOURMET BURGERS
FALAFEL
pizza
gourmet sausage rolls
twisty potatoes
calamari
! CHICKEN
icecream
For full program and the latest updates go to kingston.vic.gov.au/MORDIFEST
Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News 25 February 2015
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