The City August 2018

THE

CITY

Greater Dandenong’s Monthly Magazine

AUGUST 2018

Children’s Book Week PAGE 8

Community Satisfaction Survey

Snow White at The Drum

Small Business Festival

►► PAGE 7

►► PAGE 9

►► PAGE 14

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THE CITY

Customer Service Centres Dandenong Civic Centre 225 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong Springvale Customer Service 397–405 Springvale Road, Springvale Keysborough Customer Service Shop A7 Parkmore Shopping Centre, Keysborough Paddy O’Donoghue Centre 18–34 Buckley Street, Noble Park All correspondence to: The City PO Box 200 Dandenong VIC 3175 Email: news@cgd.vic.gov.au Phone: 8571 1000 Fax: 8571 5196

Mayor ’s message Welcome to the August edition of The City.

Every year Council plants about 2000 street trees, which helps create green and healthy streetscapes for our residents.

Read about our street tree planting program on page 6.

Greater Dandenong Libraries are celebrating STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) month with a full program of exciting events. Turn to page 8 to read more about the range of workshops and sessions.

Mayor Council has joined with the National Motor Vehicle Theft Cr Youhorn Chea Reduction Council and Victoria Police to help residents protect their cars from theft. Read more about Operation Bounce Back on page 12.

Council is committed to supporting the community through its Community Support Grants Program. Find out more about how to apply for the one-off grants, and read about how one local school put their grant to use on page 13.

I hope you enjoy reading this issue of The City and look forward to seeing you out and about enjoying our great city.

www.greaterdandenong.com @greaterdandy facebook.com/greaterdandenong cityofgreaterdandenong youtube.com/citygreaterdandenong TTY: 133 677 Speak and listen: 1300 555 727 relayservice.gov.au TIS: 131 450 council@cgd.vic.gov.au

My City Here at the City of Greater Dandenong we love your four-legged friends. This beautiful pooch was photographed at a recent Autumn Fest event. We understand how important pet ownership is for the health and wellbeing of our residents and we encourage the involvement of pets through many of our community events and public spaces. Visit greaterdandenong.com/animals to find out more about responsible pet ownership, dog off-leash parks and lost and found pets in Greater Dandenong.

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 Australian Animal Protection Society.............................. 9798 8415 RSPCA....................................................... 9224 2222 Nurse on Call................................ 1300 606 024

www.greaterdandenong.com

Front Cover: A young reader taking part in a regular children’s storytime session at Springvale Library, in preparation for Children’s Book Week.

Picture: Hilton Stone.

This publication is available in alternative formats upon request.

News

THE CITY

Recycling charges increase Greater Dandenong residents will notice an increase in their waste management charges when they receive their 2018–19 rates notices.

This unavoidable rise, due to unforeseen cost increases to Council as a result of changes in the global recycling market, will equate to an increase of 16%, or $53, on the default waste charge for each property.

Greater Dandenong Mayor Councillor Youhorn Chea said that the changes to the global recycling market, triggered by China’s new standards for recyclable materials, had resulted in an increase in the cost of processing kerbside recyclables.

“Unfortunately this means that Greater Dandenong residents can expect an increase in their waste management charges in the new financial year to ensure the continuity of recycling collection and processing services in the city,” Mayor Chea said.

“Whilst not ideal, this increase is necessary to ensure that the quality and standard of service currently offered to our residents is maintained.

“Council has done its best to minimise this increase while ensuring that residents’ kerbside collection service continues to operate as normal.”

Mayor Chea said kerbside recycling services would remain unchanged despite the pressure faced by the industry. He encouraged residents to keep doing the right thing and continue to recycle as usual by placing recyclable materials in their yellow-lidded bin.

Sign up to receive your rates notice via email Did you know that you can receive your rates notice via email?

All you have to do is register with BPay View or EzyBill to have it delivered directly to your inbox.

BPay View – register with BPay View via your bank or financial institution to have a copy sent to your internet banking account. This method offers convenient email, SMS or bank message reminders and secure online or mobile access.

EzyBill – simply register your details by visiting greaterdandenong.ezybill. com.au. Once you have activated your account, you can then register your properties to receive any future rate notices via email.

If you register to receive your rates via email through one of these two options, you will no longer receive a paper notice in the mail. However, if you want to continue to receive your rates notice via post, you do not need to do anything, your rates notice will continue to be mailed to you.

Greater Dandenong Mayor Councillor Youhorn Chea encouraged residents to consider one of the electronic delivery options.

“Choosing to receive your rates notice electronically is not only a more efficient and timely method, it also helps the environment by reducing our carbon footprint,” Mayor Chea said.

The City of Greater Dandenong offers a number of options to pay your rates, including via the Council’s My Greater Dandenong online portal.

Simply log on to mygreater dandenong.com and use the Online Payment menu to pay your rates or other Council bills such as infringements, animal registrations and permits. You can also access your property details, rates payment history and registered animal information.

Other options to pay your rates include: ► In

person at any of Council’s customer service centres or any Australia Post outlet

► Online

via PostBillPay or BPay

► By

post by sending a cheque to the City of Greater Dandenong

► By

phone using credit card or via BPay using telephone banking

► Paying

debit.

in instalments via direct

For assistance phone 8571 1000.

www.greaterdandenong.com

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THE CITY

Councillor Contacts Lightwood Ward Cr Youhorn Chea – Mayor Ph/Fax: 9584 5149 0417 320 645 youhorn.chea@cgd.vic.gov.au

Lightwood Ward Cr Sean O’Reilly 0422 523 258 sean.oreilly@cgd.vic.gov.au

w Kirwan, Youhorn Chea, Cr Matthe yne Neumann, Mayor Cr lors Sha ncil tion Cou igra ong Imm den for r Dan r Shadow Ministe in Canberra. Greate ham MP Claire O’Neill and spoke to federal bly em Ass l era Cr Sean O’Reilly and Hot Gen nt me s. the 2018 Local Govern vices for asylum seeker travelled to Canberra for to funding of support ser the reversal of changes for te oca adv to ans politici

Lightwood Ward Cr Loi Truong 0466 004 618 loi.truong@cgd.vic.gov.au

Paperbark Ward Cr Roz Blades AM Ph/Fax: 9701 5821 0417 053 612 roz.blades@cgd.vic.gov.au

Paperbark Ward Cr Tim Dark 0466 403 914 tim.dark@cgd.vic.gov.au

Paperbark Ward Cr Heang Tak Ph: 9548 2340 0403 072 291 heang.tak@cgd.vic.gov.au

Red Gum Ward Cr Matthew Kirwan 0403 072 295 matthew.kirwan@cgd.vic.gov.au

Ben Tatterson, Cr Roz Blades, Cr Sean O’Reilly, Cr Angela Long, Mayor Cr Youhorn Chea, Member for Isaacs Mark Dreyfus, Judi Tatterson and Cr Jim Memeti celebrate the official opening of the Ian Tatterson Pavilion and synthetic soccer pitch as part of the Tatterson Park Precinct.

Council Meetings

THU RSDAY

MONDAY

MONDAY

TH URSDAY

Red Gum Ward Cr Angela Long AU GUST Ph/Fax: 9795 6574 0466 004 616 angela.long@cgd.vic.gov.au NOVEMBER

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Red Gum Ward Cr Jim Memeti Ph/Fax: 9792 4683 0434 560 239 jim.memeti@cgd.vic.gov.au

Silverleaf Ward Cr Zaynoun Melhem 0466 518 082 zaynoun.melhem@cgd.vic.gov.au

Silverleaf Ward Cr Maria Sampey Ph/Fax: 9790 1291 0438 800 027 maria.sampey@cgd.vic.gov.au

www.greaterdandenong.com

AUGUST

AUGUST

Council meetings are held on the second and the fourth Monday of the month, at 7pm.

All Council meetings are held at the city chambers at the Dandenong Civic Centre at 225 Lonsdale Street Dandenong.

The August meetings will be held: Monday 13 August Monday 27 August

AU G UST

NOVEMBER

M O N DAY

14 AU G UST

The general public is always welcome to attend meetings, but 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 greaterdandenong.com/ councilmeetings

MON

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AU G US

THE CITY

Cr Matthew Kirwan

► Red Gum Ward

Having personally instigated the festival based on resident suggestions in 2015 it is great to see the festival gaining momentum. With me in the photo opposite is the deserved winner of the Mayoral Prize, Greta Nash successful with her absorbing short film on sexual harassment Locker Room.

Advocating for Greater Dandenong

There has been a lot happening in Greater Dandenong as usual.

In June I attended the 3rd Annual Greater Dandenong Short Cuts Film Festival at the Drum Theatre. It was a great success with twice as many people attending as last year and a threefold increase in entries – an amazing 1,889 from around the world.

► Paperbark Ward Noble Park is home to a number of wonderful community facilities that provide lots of opportunities for residents to become actively involved in their local community.

The Noble Park Aquatic Centre (NPAC) is a state-of-the-art facility that gives residents access to a range of recreational opportunities.

The YMCA swimming lessons not only teach children vital swimming strokes but they also learn survival skills to improve their safety in the pool as well as other waterways such as the beach, rivers and lakes.

Some of the other programs on offer include the Water Safety Program for both adults and children which enables them to gain experience in the water in a safe and controlled environment, and the Aqua Play interactive sessions for parents and children that promotes water familiarisation and social interaction. There is a range of health and wellness programs and group fitness sessions, including water

With State and Federal Elections coming up we are advocating for many improved outcomes for our community. For a full list visit the web page greaterdandenong.com/advocacy but here are some key ones you may not know about that I have been very involved in personally: A new Keysborough South Secondary College – We are wanting a commitment by the State Government for a government secondary school in the vicinity of the new estates of Keysborough South.

Against cuts to Status Resolution Support Services (SRSS) Program – The Federal Government has begun implementing cuts to the SRSS program for people seeking asylum living in the community. Many of the 2000 people seeking asylum living in Greater Dandenong will be left without any money leaving them hungry and homeless. Such destitution in our community could lead to greater crime and unrest.

As well as advocating for the cuts to be reversed – we organised and hosted a joint roundtable of Victorian Councils in July in Dandenong, and councillors recently visited Federal MPs in Canberra – we are working with local agencies to prepare for the expected increased need for food, clothing and housing.

If you would like to discuss local issues or tell me your ideas please email at matthew.kirwan@cgd.vic.gov.au or phone 0403 072 295.

Cr Roz Blades am aerobics and Zumba classes, to improve residents’ health and wellbeing.

Another wonderful community asset in the heart of Noble Park is the Paddy O’Donoghue Centre. This wonderful intergenerational facility is leading the way, providing everything from childcare to education and social outlets for older residents. Local community groups also run a variety of activities there and Council provides a number of services from the centre. Look out for the Positive Ageing Forum at the centre on Wednesday 10 October, from 2pm–4.30pm.

Noble Park is a bustling centre of activity all year round. The variety of fine food retailers is growing all the time, why not visit for a family meal, a casual lunch or grab some takeaway for a relaxing night at home. Through the week or on weekends, I know you won’t be disappointed.

Visit greaterdandenong.com for more information.

Meanwhile if you would like to contact me about any local issues you can do so via email at roz.blades@cgd.vic.gov.au or on 0417 053 612.

www.greaterdandenong.com

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THE CITY

Working for You

The street tree planting program is part of the Council’s Greening Our City: Urban Tree Strategy 2018–2028.

…trees form part of Greater Dandenong’s rich urban forest

The strategy sets out a series of actions to help increase the tree canopy cover across the city with the aim of increasing this coverage from 9.9 per cent to 15 per cent by 2028.

As part of the development of the strategy, street tree data was collected in 2016 and found that: ► Greater

Dandenong is home to 55,276 street trees.

► The

Creating green and healthy streetscapes More than 2,000 street trees will be planted across the city this year as part of the City of Greater Dandenong’s street tree planting program.

The street tree renewal program includes planting new trees in vacant street tree sites and replacing unhealthy or dying trees.

Abandoned vehicles If you have noticed a vehicle in your street that you think may have been abandoned, there are a number of steps you can take.

If you are unsure who owns it, the City of Greater Dandenong encourages you to have a friendly chat with your neighbours to find out whether it belongs to a friend or family member who is staying with them.

If you’ve spoken to your neighbours and are still unable to find the owner of the vehicle, you can check the

www.greaterdandenong.com

Greater Dandenong Mayor Councillor Youhorn Chea said that the City of Greater Dandenong managed approximately 55,000 street trees and a significant number of trees in parks and reserves.

“These trees form part of Greater Dandenong’s rich urban forest, which is a very valuable asset for our city as it provides a range of environmental, social and economic benefits such as shade, streetscape amenity, air pollution reduction and habitat for wildlife,” Mayor Chea said.

“Our street tree population is worth an estimated $182 million and provides $122,800 of environmental benefits to the community each year.”

registration status via the VicRoads website at www.vicroads.vic.gov.au If the registration is not current or there are no registration plates, take note of the make, model and colour of the vehicle, its exact location and the period of time it has been at this location, and report it to Council by phoning 8571 1000.

Council reminds residents that anyone can leave their vehicle parked on a public road as long as it is parked legally. A registered vehicle is not considered abandoned unless it has remained in the same location and hasn’t been moved for two months.

If a vehicle is found to be unregistered or abandoned, Council may attach a

tree canopies and root systems help avoid 19,108 cubic metres of storm water run-off worth $43,200 per annum. This is equivalent to about nine Olympic swimming pools of water each year.

► Together,

the trees sequester 510 tonnes of carbon each year.

► The

trees produce 1,361 tonnes of oxygen each year.

► The

trees remove 11 tonnes of air pollution each year.

“Increased tree planting in residential areas will not only improve the overall canopy cover of the city but will result in many benefits to residents whilst enhancing the city’s already established streetscapes,” Mayor Chea said.

tow-away notice and the vehicle may be impounded. Any costs incurred may be the responsibility of the last registered owner of the vehicle.

If you would like to dispose of your vehicle before it is impounded, you could get a tax deduction by donating it to a charity that accepts vehicle donations. Kids Under Cover, a notfor-profit organisation that works to prevent youth homelessness, will collect your vehicle for free and sell it at auction.

Visit www.kuc.org.au or phone 1800 801 633 for more information.

Community Satisfaction Survey

THE CITY

Community Calendar

The survey results also found that: ► Council’s

strongest performance is in the area of customer service, with a score of 71

► Council’s

performance rating in relation to sealed local roads increased significantly from 2017, up four points to 69

► Residents

voluntarily praised Council for its diversity, with 11% of respondents rating this as the best thing about Greater Dandenong (up three points from 2017)

…ranking higher than the state average

► Waste

management was another area residents praised Council for, with 8% of respondents rating this as the best aspect in 2018 (an increase of three points on the previous year).

…Greater Dandenong has recorded its highest ever performance rating

Visit greaterdandenong.com for the full report.

Performance Measure

Metro State- CGD Average wide 2018 Average 2018

The City of Greater Dandenong has recorded its highest ever performance rating as part of an annual customer satisfaction survey of residents.

Overall performance

65

59

66

Every year Council takes part in the Local Government Community Satisfaction Survey which assesses the performance of Council across a range of measures.

Community consultation (community consultation and engagement)

57

55

60

Council achieved an overall performance score of 66, seven points higher than the state average, and two points higher than our 2017 result.

Advocacy (lobbying on behalf of the community)

56

54

60

Making community decisions (decisions made in the interest of the community)

58

54

63

Sealed local roads (condition of sealed local roads)

68

53

69

Customer service

72

70

71

Overall Council direction

54

52

64

A total of 64 of the 79 Victorian councils participated in this year’s survey, which was co-ordinated by Local Government Victoria.

Greater Dandenong performed well when compared to other councils, ranking higher than the state average in all seven performance measure categories and above the metropolitan average in six of the categories.

LOCATE more information The City of Greater Dandenong has launched an interactive online tool to help residents find community services and facilities near them.

The interactive location service is called Locate and can be accessed on any smart device via Council’s website.

Locate provides individualised information for residential and commercial properties within the City of Greater Dandenong. Key information for each property includes dates for waste, garden and recyclable collections and

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street sweeping, as well as Councillor and ward information.

The tool can also be used to locate up to 15 services nearest to the property, including community facilities, dog offleash parks, playgrounds, kindergartens and child care centres, schools, customer services centres, libraries and leisure centres, just to name a few.

Visit greaterdandenong.com and follow the Locate link to discover more.

www.greaterdandenong.com

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THE CITY

Full STEAM ahead at Greater Dandenong libraries Writing, coding, podcasting and knitting are just some of the new skills you can learn during August as part of Greater Dandenong Libraries’ STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) program.

Spoken Word Writing workshops guided by internationally-renowned spoken word artist, Abdul Hammoud. Ages 12+.

Dandenong Library, Wednesday 1, 15 and 29 August.

Children’s

BOOK WEEK

Children’s Book Week will this year be celebrated from August 18–24.

Each year, the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) aims to bring children and books together as part of Book Week celebrations.

A range of activities will be held at Greater Dandenong libraries with local school groups to celebrate Children’s Book Week.

Carp Productions’ will put on a show based on stories from the 2018 Book Week short-listed and notable books.

Other visitors will include author and illustrator Gabrielle Wang, children’s book author Patrick Guest, writer Alison Lloyd and New York Times bestselling author Adam Wallace.

Visit greaterdandenong libraries.com for more information about our library services.

www.greaterdandenong.com

Coding for Disaster Relief Run by Engineers Without Borders, this workshop focusses on how coding can be used in times of disaster.

Students are introduced to how coding technology can be used for rapid aid and communication. For children aged 7-11. Dandenong Library, Saturday 4 August, 3pm–4pm.

VR and other stuff Discover VR and other cool stuff in the Dandenong Library Youth Space, Tuesday 7, 14, 21 and 28 August.

Code Club LEGO Mindstorms Have fun building, coding and competing in challenges with your very own LEGO robot. Bookings essential.

Ages 11–14. Springvale Library,

Wednesday 8, 15, 22 and 29 August, 4.30pm-6pm.

Podcasting Learn everything you need to know to develop, write, record, edit and publish your very own podcast. Ages 16+.

Dandenong Library, Wednesday 8 and 22 August, 6.30pm-8.30pm.

Social Knitwork Share stories, laughs and knitting patterns. All ages and skill levels welcome. Dandenong Library, Wednesday 8, 15, 22 and 29 August, 10am–12pm.

Introduction to Photoshop Learn everything you need to get started in this Introduction to Photoshop program. Ages 16+. Dandenong Library, Thursday 9, 16 and 23 August, 6.30pm-8.30pm.

Safe Structures Hosted by Engineers Without Borders.

Students will work in teams to construct a model house from craft materials to withstand simulated earthquakes and cyclones. Ages 7–11. Springvale Library, Saturday 11 August, 3pm–4pm.

Visit greaterdandenong libraries.com.au for more information.

Melbourne Writers’ Festival The Melbourne Writers’ Festival will be celebrated in Greater Dandenong with a number of local events.

This year is the third year Greater Dandenong will be hosting events as part of the festival, which runs from 24 August to 2 September.

Storytelling Futures – Walker Street Gallery and Arts Centre, Saturday 25 August at 6.30pm.

Amie Kaufman – New York Times bestselling Australian author of science fiction and fantasy for young adults, Dandenong Library, Sunday 26 August at 3pm.

Ted Chiang – Celebrated American writer of ‘humanist’ science-fiction, whose short story Story of Your Life was adapted into the film Arrival, will be at Dandenong Library on Wednesday 29 August at 6.30pm.

Dr Karl – High-profile scientist and author, Dr Karl, will be at Dandenong Library on Friday 31 August.

Bookings for all events are essential. Visit www.greater dandenonglibraries.com.au for more information.

Community Calendar

Victorian State Ballet

Snow White

THE CITY

…full length ballet spectacular

The Victorian State Ballet’s production of Snow White will grace the stage of Dandenong’s Drum Theatre this month, presenting a spectacular classical ballet rendition of the famous fairytale.

With a cast of internationally-recognised artists, Snow White will bring to the stage a full length ballet spectacular. Director Michelle Sierra will bring her enchanting take on the Disney masterpiece, with performances from world-class dancers.

The story is retold through superb classical ballet skill which honours the traditions and story line of this classic fairytale.

The Victorian State Ballet’s Snow White will be held at the Drum Theatre, corner of Lonsdale and Walker streets, Dandenong, on 11 August at 7.30pm and 12 August at 2.30pm. The Drum Theatre is offering audience members the opportunity for a meet and greet with the cast, including photo opportunities and a give-away of pointe shoes signed by Snow White. Children are encouraged to dress up.

For more information visit drumtheatre. com.au or phone 8571 1666.

AMES Heartlands exhibition The AMES Heartlands 2018 exhibition at the Walker Street Gallery celebrates 70 years of diverse migration to Australia.

The photo series, presented by AMES Australia in collaboration with the Victorian Multicultural Commission, has been gathered by a group of young migrants and refugees.

The subjects of the exhibition share their stories which include fleeing war ravaged Europe in the 1950s, travelling by boat in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, running from the killing fields of Cambodia and fleeing the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The AMES Heartlands exhibition is being held at the Walker Street Gallery, corner Walker and Robinson streets, Dandenong, until 18 August.

Get creative at Heritage Hill Do you have little artists at home who love to be creative? Or have you ever wondered how to add more fun and creativity to your leisure time?

If the answer is yes, then look no further than Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Gardens. A range of creative classes and lifestyle workshops are on offer, as well as tours of this unique historic precinct.

From Little Crafts for Little Hands to life drawing for adults and designing your own ink tote bag, there is something for everyone.

For more information, visit greaterdandenong.com/arts or phone 9793 4511.

www.greaterdandenong.com

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THE CITY

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

What’s On August 2018 MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

1

► Baby

August

Bounce Dandenong Library 10.30am (every Wednesday) Ph: 1300 630 920

2

► Noble

Park Community Centre Art Show launch Noble Park Community Centre, Ross Reserve, Memorial Drive 10.30am Ph: 9547 5801

6 7 8

9

► Combined

► Burmese

Probus Club of Noble Park and Dandenong Club Noble, Moodemere Street, Noble Park 10am Ph: 9546 2346

► D andenong

Evening View Club Dandenong RSL, 44–50 Clow Street 7pm Ph: 9795 1222

► Interfaith

Network Tour 39 Clow Street, Dandenong 8.30am–3.30pm Ph: 8774 7662

2 Peer Study Dandenong Library 4pm–6pm Ph: 1300 630 920

Women’s Alliance Friendship Group Noble Park Community Centre, Ross Reserve, Memorial Drive 12pm Ph: 0432 021 888

► Peer

► Introduction

13 14 15

16

► C ombined

► B allroom

Probus Club of Sandown Club Noble, Moodemere Street, Noble Park, 10am Ph: 9791 6807

► C ouncil

Meeting Dandenong Civic Centre, 225 Lonsdale Street 7pm

to Photoshop Dandenong Library 6.30pm–8.30pm Ph: 1300 630 920

► B ilingual

Storytime – Bengali Springvale Library 10.30am Ph: 1300 630 920

► D andenong

and District Diabetes Support Group Paddy O’Donoghue Centre 2pm Ph: 9546 2346

► G reater

Dandenong Neighbourhood Watch Committee Meeting Paddy O’Donoghue Centre 7.30pm Ph: 0407 325 030

Dancing Keysborough Senior Citizen’s Hall, 352 Cheltenham Road, Keysborough 8pm–11pm (every Thursday) Ph: 0428 549 995

20 21 22

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► T oddler Time Springvale and Dandenong Libraries 10.30am (every Monday) Ph: 1300 630 920

► G ov4U

► Conversation

► T axation

► A rt

for Small Business Springvale Customer Service Centre 6.30pm–8.30pm Ph: 1300 630 920

Seminar for Small Businesses Dandenong Civic Centre 10am–1pm Ph: 8571 1550 Series Springvale Library 6.30pm–8.30pm Ph: 1300 630 920

► Learning

Help for Adults Springvale Library 2pm–5pm Ph: 1300 630 920

► E-smart

Connect workshop Dandenong Library 10.30am–11.30am Ph: 1300 630 920

Circle – Beginner Dandenong Library 6pm–7.30pm (every Thursday) Ph: 1300 630 920

27 28 29

30

► C ouncil

► T aking

Meeting Dandenong Civic Centre, 225 Lonsdale Street 7pm

► V alewood

Toastmasters Club Dandenong North Senior Citizens Club, 41a Latham Crescent 7.30pm

www.greaterdandenong.com

► L earn

to Sew Springvale Neighbourhood House, 46–50 Queens Avenue 12.30pm–2pm Ph: 9548 3972

► S ocial

Knitwork Dandenong Library 10am (every Wednesday) Ph: 1300 630 920

your Business Online Dandenong Civic Centre, 225 Lonsdale Street 6pm–8pm Ph: 8571 1550

Community Calendar CITY OF CELEBRATION

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

3

4 5

► L anguage

► Afghan

Playgroup for Families Seeking Asylum Dandenong Library 11am (every Friday) Ph: 1300 630 920

Bazaar Cultural Tour Dandenong 6pm–8pm Ph: 8571 1377

SUNDAY

► Greater

Dandenong Environment Group Dandenong Wetlands, Stud Road, Dandenong North 9.30am Ph: 8571 1702

THE CITY

Contact: City of Greater Dandenong Ph: 8571 1000 Drum Theatre Ph: 8571 1666 Dandenong Library Ph: 1300 630 920

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11 12

► S isters

► F amily

of Mercy English Tutoring Dandenong Library 9am–11am (every Friday) Ph: 1300 630 920

Fun at the Library Springvale Library 11am (every Saturday) Ph: 1300 630 920

► V ictorian

State Ballet presents Snow White Drum Theatre 7.30pm Ph: 8571 1666

► T ree

Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Gardens Ph: 9793 4511

► V ictorian

Jan Wilson Community Centre Ph: 9795 9279

Planting Leon Trembath Reserve, Ellt Crescent, Noble Park 10am Ph: 8571 1702 State Ballet presents Snow White Drum Theatre 2.30pm Ph: 8571 1666

17

18 19

► Baby

► The

Bounce Springvale Library 10.30am (every Friday) Ph: 1300 630 920

Think Tank: Professor Brains Dandenong Library 3pm Ph: 1300 630 920

► Tai

Chi Qi Gong Springvale Neighbourhood House, 46–50 Queens Avenue 9am and 10am (every Sunday) Ph: 9548 3972

Paddy O’Donoghue Centre Ph: 8571 1436 Springvale Library Ph: 1300 630 920 Springers Leisure Centre Ph: 9701 5900

24 25

26 ► S pringvale

Rotary Sunday Market Springvale Railway Station 8am–2pm Ph: 0438 303 939

Afghan Bazaar Cultural Tour 31

Walker Street Gallery Ph: 9706 8441 Dandenong Market Ph: 9701 3850 Cultural Tours Ph: 8571 1666

Send your event listings to news@cgd.vic.gov.au

Tree planting

List your community event online at greaterdandenong.com/ eventlistings

www.greaterdandenong.com

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THE CITY

Act now to secure your car Statistics show that 75 per cent of stolen cars are taken from close to home, including driveways, garages and streets outside your property.

Council has joined with the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council for Operation Bounce Back, promoting ways to help make your car safer and prevent car theft.

Council continues to work with Victoria Police and Neighbourhood Watch to share tips and tricks with the Greater Dandenong community to help residents protect their cars.

Community stalls at Dandenong, Springvale and Noble Park train stations recently helped spread the message.

A short video screening on the Urban Screen in Harmony Square is also spruiking these top tips: ► Provide

a clear line of sight from your house to the street

Sports Awards 2018

C #1

► Lock

all doors and windows, including internal access to your garage

► Consider

installing security lighting and a home alarm system

► Be

a good neighbour – if you notice any suspicious activity report it immediately to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or your local police station.

Visit greaterdandenong.com for more information.

The City of Greater Dandenong is now calling for nominations for its annual Sports Awards.

The awards recognise the exceptional contributions made by local clubs, teams and individuals whose outstanding work has made a positive contribution to the Greater Dandenong sporting community.

Categories include: ► Male

Athlete of the Year Athlete of the Year ► Junior (U17) Athlete of the Year ► Team of the Year ► Club of the Year ► Volunteer of the Year ► Coach of the Year ► Masters (Over 35) Award ► Sports Achievement Award ► Positive Community Engagement Award ► Sportsperson of the Year. ► Female

Grants for business The City of Greater Dandenong offers small and start-up businesses the opportunity to secure funding and business development support through the Business Grants Program.

The program offers grants of up to $8,000 plus a business mentoring and marketing package valued up to $2,000, in a bid to attract investment and stimulate business and employment growth in Greater Dandenong.

www.greaterdandenong.com

Grant categories cover business: ► Start-up

(under 6 months operation)

► Growth

(includes graduation from home-based to commercial premises)

► Relocation

to Greater Dandenong (some exclusions apply).

xpressions of Interest close E on Wednesday 29 August at 4pm. Visit greaterdandenong. com/businessgrants or phone 8571 1550 for more information.

Nominations close on 31 August with the winner to be announced at the Sports Award celebration at Dandenong Basketball Stadium on Wednesday 10 October.

For information visit greaterdandenong.com or phone 8571 1000.

Community Calendar

THE CITY

Community Support Grants Applications are now open for the second round of the City of Greater Dandenong’s 2018 Community Support Grants Program.

Students reap benefits of urban farm Athol Road Primary School in Springvale South has developed an innovative urban farm thanks to funding support from the City of Greater Dandenong as part of its Community Support Grants Program.

The school received funding to create a highly productive and water efficient modular urban farm, giving students the opportunity to grow fresh fruit and vegetables.

A total of 72 sustainable mini garden beds will enable the school to grow 288kg of fresh produce worth an estimated $5,000 each year.

The fresh produce is able to be shared with the wider school community and incorporated into the school’s cooking programs, which aim to teach students and their families how to prepare and cook healthy meals using produce they can grow themselves.

Community groups and organisations are invited to apply for one-off grants of up to $20,000 to carry out projects, programs and events in 2019 that will benefit the Greater Dandenong community.

Due to the extraordinary level of demand in round one, there are limited funds for round two and applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss their proposal with Council officers.

Council is committed to supporting the community through its grants program and last year provided more than $448,000 in grants to 117 applicants for projects to be carried out this year.

The closing date for round two of the 2018 funding program is August 22. Projects funded through this round must be undertaken between 1 January and 30 December 2019.

Applications must be submitted via Council’s website, where you will also find a number of other resources to assist in the application process including the Community Support Grants Writing Tool Kit, project planning tools and templates and links to non-Council grants opportunities and other resources.

People who require assistance in navigating the online portal are

invited to attend a Grants Information Session or to contact the Council’s Community Funding Team for assistance.

Grants Information Sessions will run for 30 minutes and will be followed by Grants Writing Workshops. Sessions will be held on: ► Wednesday

8 August, 5.30pm– 7pm, Springvale Neighbourhood House, 46–50 Queens Avenue, Springvale

► Thursday

9 August, 1pm–2.30pm, Meeting Room 1 and 2, Level 1, 39 Clow Street, Dandenong

► Friday

10 August, 11am-12.30pm, Springvale Neighbourhood House, 46–50 Queens Avenue, Springvale

Appointments can also be made with Council’s Community Funding Team during business hours to discuss grant applications. Alternatively, afterhours sessions with the team will be held at: ► Dandenong

Library on Tuesday 7 August and Tuesday 14 August from 5.30pm–7.30pm

► Springvale

Library on Thursday 9 August and Thursday 16 August from 5.30pm–7.30pm Community Support Grant recipients will be announced in December. For more information visit greater dandenong.com/grants or phone the Community Funding Team on 8571 1432.

Immunisation Timetable – August 2018 Date

Time

Location

Monday 6 August

4pm–6.30pm

Springvale Service for Children, 23–28 Lightwood Road, Springvale

Wednesday 8 August

4pm–6.30pm

Dandenong Civic Centre, 225 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong (enter via Harmony Square)

Tuesday 14 August

10am–11.30am Paddy O’Donoghue Centre, 18–34 Buckley Street, Noble Park

Monday 20 August

1pm–1.45pm

Jan Wilson Community Centre, Halton Road, Noble Park North (BJ Powell Reserve)

Monday 20 August

4.30pm–6pm

Springers Leisure Centre, 400 Cheltenham Road, Keysborough

Wednesday 22 August 10am–12pm Saturday 25 August

Springvale Service for Children, 23–28 Lightwood Road, Springvale

10am–11.45am Dandenong Civic Centre, 225 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong (enter via Harmony Square)

www.greaterdandenong.com

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14

THE CITY

Business News

Kitchen Challenge – a recipe for success

Support for small business

A dash of leadership, a portion of personal development and an abundance of teamwork are the key ingredients for participants involved in the award-winning Kitchen Challenge program that is being run in the City of Greater Dandenong.

Six corporate leaders and six people seeking asylum were recently given a unique opportunity to work together as part of the eight-week program, which culminated in a final challenge in June to produce a restaurantquality lunch for 50 people.

The group of managers from whitegoods manufacturer Miele and the local residents seeking asylum learnt more than just cooking skills as part of the program. They shared a journey that pushed them out of their comfort zone to achieve personal and professional growth.

Participants were able to explore and develop their leadership skills, discover their own learning styles and face a range of challenges in a safe and supported space while also learning a range of cooking skills.

The City of Greater Dandenong has received funding from VicHealth to run two more kitchen challenges this year, in August and October.

Local businesses interested in accessing the program for their leaders and managers should contact Jennifer Ebdon at the City of Greater Dandenong via email jebdon@cgd.vic.gov. au or phone 0438 510 840.

www.greaterdandenong.com

Small business owners in Greater Dandenong are invited to participate in a range of events in the city as part of the 2018 Small Business Victoria Festival.

The festival runs across metropolitan and regional Victoria throughout the month of August and gives small businesses the opportunity to access information, exchange ideas and establish networks.

Business Planning Essentials Presented by Small Business Victoria Take the guesswork out of your next steps and fast-track your business towards success at this practical twohour workshop that will show you how to clarify your long-term goals into a solid business plan.

When: Thursday 9 August, 6pm-8pm Where: City of Greater Dandenong Civic Centre, 225 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong Cost: $20 Bookings: greaterdandenong.com/ business

Gov4U Presented by AusIndustry and the City of Greater Dandenong This seminar will cover how to access the advice, support and grants available from local, state and federal governments (including helpful Tax Office information) to help your business grow and become more sustainable.

When: Tuesday 21 August, 10am–1pm Where: City of Greater Dandenong Civic Centre Cost: free – bookings essential Bookings: greaterdandenong.com/ business Taking Your Business Online Presented by Small Business Victoria Build your understanding of online advertising, search engines, websites, blogs and social media through practical exercises and real-life examples, then learn how to bring them all together into an effective online strategy that matches your objectives.

When: Thursday 30 August, 6pm-8pm Where: City of Greater Dandenong Civic Centre Cost: $20 Bookings: greaterdandenong.com/ business

Community Community Calendar News

THE CITY

Bringing the community together Home grown food swap Do you have an abundance of home-grown produce?

If so, why not come along to Noble Park Community Centre’s home grown food swap on Friday August 31 and trade it for something just as delicious.

The food swap, held at the centre every second month, gives community members the opportunity to bring any excess home grown fruit, vegetables or herbs and exchange them with other community members.

Noble Park Community Centre’s Events and Promotions Coordinator, Elise Logan, said anyone was welcome to attend this free community event.

“It’s a great way to bring people together to socialise and meet new people while also learning more about gardening and leading a healthy lifestyle,” she said.

The centre runs a range of gardening activities including garden planting, guest presenters and information mornings, and a Community Garden Club meets at the centre every Friday. Upcoming events at the centre include a children’s spring gardening morning on September 26 from 10am and a seniors craft gardening morning on October 12 from 10am.

For more information, or to volunteer to help maintain and develop the community garden, phone 9547 5801 or email info@noblepark communitycentre.org.au

Do you want to brush up on your English language skills or learn the traditional movements required to make the Chinese lion come to life through dance?

The Springvale Neighbourhood House has just the class for you.

The centre, which has a strong 35year history of supporting the local community through its programs and classes, offers a range of weekly open door classes that anyone is welcome to attend. Classes are offered for $5 or less, with some provided free of charge.

Springvale Neighbourhood House Manager, Melanie Virtue, said the open door classes were an affordable way to learn new skills and connect with other community members.

“The classes bring people together, giving them a reason to leave the house, have somewhere to go, make new friends, learn new skills or join in a healthy lifestyle activity,” Ms Virtue said.

“It also helps break down barriers by giving people the opportunity to connect with others from different cultural backgrounds. And that sums up what our house is all about – cross cultural connections, learning new skills and being more socially engaged in life.”

The open door classes include: ► Yoga

meditation class – every Monday from 9.30am-10.30am.

Cost: $2

► Welcome

Café – an English language tutor offers English conversation classes every Monday from 10am– 11.30am and from 11.30am-1pm.

Cost: free

► Sewing

classes – for men and women and covering all aspects of sewing every Tuesday from 12.30pm– 2.30pm. Cost: $3

► Multicultural

women’s sewing group – every Thursday from 9am– 12pm. Cost: $3

► Chinese

painting and calligraphy – run by a Chinese painting master every Thursday from 2pm–3.30pm.

Cost: $2

► Learning

Lounge – designed for people who want to learn digital skills using their own device every Friday from 9.30am–11.30am. Cost: $2

► Tai

Chi Qi Gong – suitable as a gentle form of exercise, Thursday from 7pm–8pm and Sunday from 10am– 11am. Cost: $2

► Chinese

lion dancing – learn the art of making the lion come to life in a fun and healthy way to exercise.

Cost: free.

The neighbourhood house also runs accredited and pre-accredited classes in English and computers for eligible participants.

For more information, phone the neighbourhood house on 9548 3972 or visit www.snh.org.au

www.greaterdandenong.com

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FU al N l a fo ge r s

STEAM Festival Events

AUGUST

2018

STEAM into your libraries as we celebrate Science Technology Engineering Arts and Maths More information: greaterdandenonglibraries.com.au or 1300 630 920