Greater Dandenong Council News September 209

SEPTEMBER 2019

Greater Dandenong Council News

Dance the night away PAGE 3

Australia Day Awards

Children’s Festival

Drum Theatre

►► PAGE 3

►► PAGE 7

►► PAGE 9

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Council News

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 All correspondence to: Greater Dandenong Council News PO Box 200 Dandenong VIC 3175 Email: news@cgd.vic.gov.au Phone: 8571 1000 Fax: 8571 5196 www.greaterdandenong.com @greaterdandy facebook.com/greaterdandenong

Mayor ’s message Welcome to the September issue of Greater Dandenong Council News.

This month we celebrate our youngest residents with one of Council’s flagship events the Greater Dandenong Children’s Festival. Read more about the two weeks of fun activities and workshops, and the headline event, the Little Day Out, on page 7.

But fun is not just for children. The annual Seniors Multicultural Dance is happening at the Springvale Town Hall later this month. Read more about it on the opposite page.

Mayor Cr Roz Blades AM

Council is working to reduce gambling harm for Greater Dandenong residents. Read about our involvement in the Alliance for Gambling Reform on page 6.

There is always so much happening at our libraries, and you can find out more about a campaign to introduce your friends to these wonderful community assets on page 12.

If looking after our planet is more your thing, then turn to page 13 and find out about two free composting workshops happening in Greater Dandenong.

Whatever you choose to do this month, I hope you enjoy yourself and all that our great city has to offer.

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

Important Numbers Emergency calls Police / Fire / Ambulance................................... 000

My City The synthetic soccer pitch at Tatterson Park is attracting players who are making the most of its great surface. It’s the perfect location for your soccer team to continue with training and friendly matches over the warmer months. The pitch is growing in popularity so bookings are essential. To book contact the Sport and Recreation Team at recreation@cgd.vic.gov.au or phone 8571 1000.

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: Dancers from the Ukrainian Womens Association, Noble Park Branch are warming up for the Multicultural Seniors Dance at Springvale City Hall this month. Photo: Hilton Stone.

This publication is available in alternative formats upon request.

Council News

Seniors Multicultural Dance Come and dance the night away at the popular Seniors Multicultural Dance.

Australia Day Awards

Join DJ Rick Charles as he entertains the crowd and keeps the dancefloor filled, at this annual dance that celebrates our city’s diversity.

Proudly sponsored by the City of Greater Dandenong the dance will be held at Springvale City Hall, on Friday 20 September, from 7pm–11.30pm.

Do you know someone who is making a positive impact on the community of Greater Dandenong? Would you like to see them recognised for their work?

Tickets are just $12 and include tea and coffee. Bring your own food and drinks.

Raffle tickets will also be available on the night. Visit drumtheatre.com.au or phone 8571 1666 for tickets.

Then consider nominating them for the City of Greater Dandenong’s 2020 Australia Day Awards.

Early Start Kindergarten

The awards recognise the exceptional contribution of people who work to enrich the lives of others. Nominations are open to people whose work has made a positive contribution to the Greater Dandenong community in areas such as community service, innovation, education, the environment, the arts, sport and civic participation.

Awards are presented in the following categories: ► Citizen

of the Year ► Young Leader of the Year ► Volunteer of the Year ► Sportsperson of the Year ► Corporate Citizen of the Year ► Community Group of the Year ► Sustainability Award ► Living Treasure Award

Kindergarten prepares children for school.

Kindergarten programs help children with language, development and selfconfidence. Through kindergarten your child is encouraged to make friends and have fun.

Children from an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background, or families that have had contact with Child Protection are eligible to access a kindergarten program (15 hours per week) for free in the two years prior to attending school.

Greater Dandenong Council works closely with the Department of Education to give our youngest residents the best start to life.

Children must turn three by 30 April in the year they wish to commence Early Start Kindergarten to be eligible.

Visit greaterdandenong.com/ kindergarten to find out more.

Winners will be selected by a community panel and will be presented with their awards at the Australia Day Festival on 26 January 2020.

Nominations close on Sunday 3 November.

Visit greaterdandenong.com for more information.

www.greaterdandenong.com

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Council News

Councillor Contacts Lightwood Ward Cr Youhorn Chea 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

Right: Mayor Roz Blades thanked a team of workers from Décor who carried out an organised clean-up of Dandenong Park recently. The workers were visiting Décor’s Dandenong head office for a national conference when they organised the community initiative.

Below: City of Kingston Mayor Georgina Oxley and councillors recently visited the City of Greater Dandenong councillors to talk about being close neighbours and how they can work together into the future.

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

Paperbark Ward Cr Roz Blades AM – Mayor 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 Sophie Tan 0466 793 727 sophie.tan@cgd.vic.gov.au

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

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

Red Gum Ward Cr Jim Memeti 0434 560 239 jim.memeti@cgd.vic.gov.au

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

Council Meetings MONDAY

MONDAY

TH URSDAY

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SEPTEM BER

SEPTEMBER

SEPTEMBER

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 September meetings will be held:

www.greaterdandenong.com

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SEPTEM BER

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.

Monday 9 September Monday 23 September

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

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NOVEMBER

M O N DAY

To view meetings online simply go to greaterdandenong.com/ councilmeetings

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Council News

Cr Maria Sampey council is the Multicultural Seniors Dance, which will be held on Friday 20 September at Springvale City Hall. Tickets are only $12 each and can be booked on 8571 1666. An Afternoon Dance will also be held on Friday 25 October at the Jan Wilson Centre. The event is free, please phone 8571 5503.

I am passionate about supporting our older residents to be happy and healthy. It is important for older residents to have the opportunity to socialise with other seniors and each year Council supports the annual Seniors Festival, which includes many social activities and events. One of the highlights on the calendar, which I brought back to

The Master Plans for Wal Turner and Barry Powell Reserve are currently out for final consultation. Please let me know if there is a need for a full netball and basketball court on the reserve at Barry Powell or whether a half-court basketball court would be a more useful alternative. Should the new playground be located on the east or west sides of the Jan Wilson Centre or where it is now? Visit greaterdandenong.com to have a look at these plans and provide your feedback. You can also email me your views. The chance to have your say closes on 8th September.

The health of our children is very important to me. Three years ago I obtained support for Council to stop

In June councillors voted to adopt the 2019–20 Annual Budget with an extensive capital works budget of $69 million.

Ross Reserve. NPAC is one of our most popular community facilities and Council wants to make sure it continues to cater to community need well into the future.

The Budget is a financially responsible balance of current commitments and investment in new priorities.

The Annual Budget has set aside more than $4 million for road renewal, including a $250,000 project to construct a second lane on Chandler Road on approach to Cheltenham Road.

The project will help reduce congestion, dust and damage to vehicles that currently drive on the unmade portion of road.

Council will continue to implement the Ross Reserve Master Plan, with $3.43 million committed in this budget to undertake a series of smaller and larger scale projects. One of the most exciting projects is the creation of an all abilities playground.

Still on Ross Reserve, Council has recently undertaken community consultation to map out the future of our aquatic facilities, including the Dandenong Oasis and the Noble Park Aquatic Centre (NPAC) which is at

using Glyphosate weed killer (Roundup) in our children’s playgrounds therefore providing a safer environment. We now hand weed all playgrounds and this service is provided by Waverley Industries, Council’s contractor, who have incorporated the hand weeding with an existing weekly litter collection program undertaken across all of council’s parks. Waverley Industries is an employer of people with disabilities and their staff take great pride in helping us maintain our lovely parks.

This innovative approach has seen wins all round in maintaining children’s play areas weed free, whilst at the same time providing much needed employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

If you would like to discuss any local issues please email me at maria.sampey@ cgd.vic.gov.au or phone me on 0438 800 027.

Cr Sophie Tan

► Paperbark Ward

There are a lot of projects happening in Paperbark Ward that will be of huge benefit to the community, and I will use this column to outline just a few.

► Silverleaf Ward

I had my photo taken this month at Chandler Road Reserve, where a project to install exercise equipment is about to start. This reserve is already popular among locals and once the fitness circuit is introduced I expect to see more people taking advantage of this wonderful open space.

As a council we are keen to encourage our residents to be more active, and the introduction of free equipment is sure to help everyone get involved.

Across Greater Dandenong we celebrate our youngest residents during the annual Children’s Festival. The upcoming school holidays will be filled with activities for the whole family and I encourage you all to get involved.

If you want to discuss any local issues with me please email me at Sophie.tan@cgd. vic.gov.au or phone me on 0466 793 727.

www.greaterdandenong.com

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THE CITY Council News

Working for You

Paperbark Ward Meeting

Leading the fight against gambling harm Electronic gaming machines (pokies) in Greater Dandenong swallow $120 million each year.

A further $80 million is lost to sports betting and other forms of gambling.

This makes Greater Dandenong one of the biggest losers in Victoria.

Paperbark Ward councillors Mayor Roz Blades, Cr Sophie Tan and Cr Tim Dark will this month host a meeting for residents to discuss local issues.

The meeting will be held in meeting rooms 2 and 3, at Noble Park Aquatic Centre (NPAC), Memorial Drive, Noble Park, on Wednesday 11 September, from 5.30pm–7.30pm.

Residents are invited to talk informally with councillors and council officers on a range of topics, including traffic management, major projects and aquatic facilities.

We are also seeking information, objects and stories from those who have been involved with the Noble Park Community Action Forum or Noble Park Keysborough Drug Action Forum over the years in preparation for a digital history exhibition at the new Springvale Library in 2020.

For more information or to register your interest phone 8571 1000.

Unregistered beauty therapist The Department of Health and Human Services has issued a health warning for clients who underwent procedures at the Sonoun Kimlee Salon in Springvale.

The unregistered premises was immediately shut down by Council when it was uncovered in July. The discovery prompted immediate warnings from Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Dr Brett Sutton.

Dr Sutton urged people who had cosmetic procedures at the Sonoun Kimlee Salon, at the rear of a jewellery shop in the Springvale Shopping Centre, to get tested for blood borne diseases including hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.

www.greaterdandenong.com

“We are contacting clients we are aware of, (but) if you, or someone you know, had cosmetic procedures at this salon, see your doctor as soon as possible to have a blood test,” Dr Sutton said.

For more information visit dhhs.vic.gov.au/unregisteredbeauty-therapist or phone 1800 356 061.

Gambling contributes to financial hardship and poverty, making it hard for struggling families to pay for food and rent. It may also cause personal distress, fuel family violence, and contribute to crime, unemployment and homelessness.

To combat gambling harm Council is a leading member of the Alliance for Gambling Reform.

The Alliance is made up of councils and organisations who advocate for reforms in the gambling industry.

Over the past year Council has been involved in campaigns to remove deceptive features of pokies, lower minimum bets on machines, encourage AFL and RSL venues to rid their clubs of pokies, and urge government legislation to stem the flood of sports betting advertising.

Last year Council successfully contested an application for more pokies by the Dandenong RSL. More recently Council successfully opposed another application by a local pokies venue. We will continue our fight to reduce gambling harm in our community.

Free confidential advice and support for people experiencing gambling problems is available from Gambler’s Help on 1800 858 858.

Community Calendar

Council News

Get Creative

Find out ways to explore your creative side at the Get Creative Open Day these school holidays.

This event is running as part of the Greater Dandenong Children’s Festival and will include free art and craft activities across two local venues.

Visit Drum Theatre and experience the Science Discovery Dome’s inflatable planetarium, and hourly backstage tours, or go to Heritage Hill and explore space themed art and craft activities.

Deckchair Movies Grab a picnic rug and some movie snacks and join us for the return of the popular Deckchair Movies in Harmony Square.

Experience fun that’s out of this world these school holidays at the eighth annual Greater Dandenong Children’s Festival.

Activities and workshops will be held at venues across the city, including Harmony Square, Drum Theatre, Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Gardens, Parkmore Shopping Centre, Dandenong Market, IKEA Springvale and sporting complexes.

This year’s theme is Space Adventure and the program promises fun for the whole family.

The festival will launch on Saturday 21 September and runs right through the school holidays, culminating in the Little Day Out event on Sunday 6 October.

Visit greaterdandenong.com/ childrensfestival for the full range of activities, or drop into a customer service centre or Dandenong or Springvale library for a festival booklet.

Each weekday from 12pm the Urban Screen will feature different space themed family-friendly films for all to enjoy.

The program includes: 23 September ★ Monday

– E.T (G) 24 September ★ T–uesday Astro Boy (PG)

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Wednesday 25 September – Jetsons: The Movie (G) Thursday 26 September – Wall E (G) Friday no film due to public holiday Monday 30 September – Zathura (PG) Tuesday 1 October – Escape From Planet Earth (PG) Wednesday 2 October – Muppets from Space (G) Thursday 3 October – Tomorrowland (PG) Friday 4 October – The Iron Giant (PG)

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The open day will be held on Wednesday 25 September from 11am–3pm. Drum Theatre is at 226 Lonsdale Street, while Heritage Hill is a short walk away at 66 McCrae Street, Dandenong.

Visit greaterdandenong. com/childrensfestival for more information.

Little Day Out The headline event of the Children’s Festival is the Little Day Out at Ross Reserve.

Up to 10,000 people are expected to celebrate at this free day of family friendly fun.

Watch live stage performances, visit the pop-up planetarium or watch the Shorter Cuts Film Festival screening.

Then take part in some fun science and space themed activities, visit the super-sized animal farm and enjoy the free rides, attractions and workshops.

Join us for the Little Day Out at Ross Reserve, Memorial Drive, Noble Park, on Sunday 6 October, from 11am–4pm.

Visit greaterdandenong. com/littledayout for more information.

www.greaterdandenong.com

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Council News

CALL FOR ENTRIES

Two new exhibitions

Walker Street Gallery The Walker Street Gallery and Arts Centre will launch two new exhibitions this month.

The Ron Rado Memorial Acquisitve Prize will be held in Gallery One and features the work of Chisholm Institute art students.

The annual prize honours the memory of highly successful, community-minded local businessman Ron Rado, and features a variety of mixed media work including ceramics, printmaking and sculpture.

In Gallery Two you can see the drawings of artist Hung Lin. The Daily Routine is inspired by art, films, literature and music. Lin’s work focusses on the everyday lives of people that surround him, examining the complex interweaving of both the mundane and surreal aspects of life.

Both exhibitions open on Thursday 5 September, at 6.30pm, and artists from the Ron Rado Memorial Acquisitive Prize will be at the launch to talk about their work. The exhibitions run until Saturday 28 September.

Walker Street Gallery and Arts Centre is at the corner of Walker and Robinson streets, Dandenong. The gallery is open Tuesday to Friday, 11am–5pm and on Saturday, 11am–3pm.

Visit greaterdandenong.com/arts or phone 9706 8441 for more information.

Exhibition call out Expressions of interest are now being sought to exhibit at Walker Street Gallery and Arts Centre in 2020.

Individuals and collaborators from all creative disciplines are welcome, including visual artists, filmmakers, performing artists and everything in between.

www.greaterdandenong.com

Walker Street Gallery and Arts Centre is an innovative and inclusive contemporary art gallery located in the heart of Dandenong. The gallery presents a series of professionally curated exhibitions each year from emerging and professional artists.

Visit greaterdandenong.com/ culturalopportunities to find out more.

shortcutsfilmfestival.com.au

YOUTHWORKS TAKE SHORT CUTS The Greater Dandenong Short Cuts Film Festival returns for its fourth year and may contain more local flavour thanks to a collaboration with Youthworx.

The Short Cuts Film Production Program gave 15 young people from Greater Dandenong a chance to explore careers in film and media.

The seven week course introduced participants to documentary making and gave them access to professional grade equipment and resources.

They learnt about camera work, script writing, sound recording, directing and project management.

Professional filmmakers and producers from Youthworks also served as mentors throughout the program.

The aim of the program was to encourage local people to create familiar stories for the film festival, which attracts entries from all over the world. Films created during the program will screen as part of the film festival.

Short Cuts will be shown at Drum Theatre on Saturday 5 October. Visit shortcutsfilmfestival.com.au for more information.

Community Calendar

Council News

Drum Theatre

Herman’s Hermits

Dandenong’s iconic Drum Theatre has something for everyone this month.

The Cat in The Hat Two bored kids. One rainy day.

And one crazy cat wearing a red-striped hat.

Herman’s Hermits When the world was rocked

by British bands in the 1960s, Herman’s Hermits was one of the most popular bands to come out of the UK. They were very popular in Australia with number one hits Mrs Brown you’ve got a lovely daughter and No milk today, plus a string of songs in the top ten.

Herman’s Hermits first toured Australia in 1966 with Tom Jones opening for them, and now return more than 50 years later to play all their biggest hits in a two hour spectacular.

This show is not a tribute, but your chance to enjoy the band as they bring the 1960’s back to the stage.

Join Herman’s Hermits for the 6 O’Clock Hop at Drum Theatre, on Thursday 5 September at 6pm. Visit drumtheatre.com.au or phone 8571 1666 to book.

C elebrating Paul McCartney From Beatlemania to Wings and a blockbuster solo career, Paul McCartney has been entertaining the world for decades.

Wingspan – Celebrating the Songs of Paul McCartney is a magical mystery tour through some of McCartney’s greatest hits.

See Dr Seuss’s The Cat in The Hat live on stage at Drum Theatre these school holidays.

This classic Dr Seuss tale was first written in 1957 and adapted for the stage in 2009 by the National Theatre of Great Britain.

Fresh from a sold out tour of New Zealand this show features more than 70 props that the cast use to bring to life every details of this well-known book.

Young and old alike will delight in this faithful adaptation, but here’s a spoiler alert: things get out of control – quickly.

Join the fun at Drum Theatre, on Sunday 22 September, at 10.30am and 1pm. Visit drumtheatre.com.au or phone 8571 1666 to book.

This show is part of the popular Encore series, and includes morning tea and complimentary parking.

Join the fun at Drum Theatre on Thursday 19 September, at 10.30am.

Join a special backstage tour of Drum Theatre following the show. The free tour starts at 12.30pm, but bookings are essential.

Visit drumtheatre.com.au or phone 8571 1666 to book tickets for the show or backstage tour.

FAST FACTS Drum Theatre first opened in February 2006 and hosts more than 170 shows for over 85,000 patrons each year.

www.greaterdandenong.com

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Council News

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

What’s On September 2019 MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

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► Library

Tech Assist Dandenong Library 10am–12pm Ph: 1300 630 920

September Worm farm

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► Combined

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

► Conversation

Circle – Advanced Dandenong Library 6pm–7.30pm Ph: 1300 630 920

► Dandenong

Evening VIEW Club Dandenong RSL, 44-50 Clow Street 7pm Ph: 0417 511 588

► Mindfulness

Mondays Dandenong Library 6.30pm–8pm Ph: 1300 630 920

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► Combined

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

► Dandenong

and District Diabetic Support Group Meeting Paddy O’Donoghue Centre 2pm Ph: 9546

Compost, Worm Farm and Bokashi Workshop Heritage Hill 10.30am Ph: 8571 1702

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11 Ward Meeting Meeting Rooms 2 and 3, NPAC, Memorial Drive, Noble Park 5.30pm Ph: 8571 1000

► Make

Your Move Health and Wellness Forum Dandenong Civic Centre, 225 Lonsdale Street 6pm Ph: 8571 1000

Tennis for Seniors Burden Park Tennis Club, Olympic Avenue, Springvale South 9am–12pm

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► Sahaja

Yoga Meditation Dandenong North Senior Citizens Club Latham Crescent 7pm (every Wednesday) Ph: 0497 783 946

► Council

Meeting Dandenong Civic Centre, 225 Lonsdale Street 7pm

► Valewood

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

www.greaterdandenong.com

Hermits – The 6 O’Clock Hop Tour Drum Theatre 6pm Ph: 8571 1666

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► Get

Creative Open Day Heritage Hill 11am–3pm Ph: 9793 4511

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► Storytime

Dandenong and Springvale Libraries 10.30am Ph: 1300 630 920 ► Creative

Writing Group at The Open Door 110 Ann Street, Dandenong 10am Ph: 9791 8664

19 – Celebrating the Songs of Paul McCartney Drum Theatre 10.30am Ph: 8571 1666

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

23 Games night

► Herman’s

► Wingspan

► Greater

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Circle Dandenong Library 11am Ph: 1300 630 920

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► Social

► Reading

► Paperbark

Meeting Dandenong Civic Centre, 225 Lonsdale Street 7pm

► Springvale Fresh Tour 11am–1pm Ph: 8571 1666

► Beginner

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► Council

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► Backstage

Tour Drum Theatre 12.30pm Ph: 8571 1666

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► Planting

Under the Stars Hidden Grove Reserve, Hidden Grove Boulevard, Keysborough 5pm–8pm Ph: 8571 1702

Community Calendar CITY OF CELEBRATION

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Contact:

SUNDAY

1

► Greater

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

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► Alex

Wilkie Nature Reserve Open Day Harold Road, Springvale South 9am–3pm Ph: 8571 1702

Rotary Sunday Market Springvale Railway Station Carpark 6am–12.30pm Ph: 0425 806 006

Planting Workshop Noble Park Community Centre, Memorial Drive 10.30am–11.30am Ph: 9547 5801

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► Sisters

of Mercy English Tutoring Dandenong Library 9am Ph: 1300 630 920

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► Springvale

► Spring

Council News

City of Greater Dandenong Ph: 8571 1000 Drum Theatre Ph: 8571 1666 Dandenong Library Ph: 1300 630 920 Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Gardens Ph: 9793 4511 Jan Wilson Community Centre Ph: 9795 9279

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► Advanced

Compost Workshop Heritage Hill 10am Ph: 8571 1702

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► Alex

Wilkie Nature Reserve Open Day Harold Road, Springvale South Ph: 8571 1702 10am–5pm

Springvale Library Ph: 1300 630 920 Springers Leisure Centre Ph: 9701 5900 Walker Street Gallery Ph: 9706 8441

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► Language

Playgroup for Families Seeking Asylum Dandenong Library 11am Ph: 1300 630 920

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► Springvale

Rotary Sunday Market Springvale Railway Station car park 6am–12.30pm Ph: 0425 806 006

Dandenong Market Ph: 9701 3850 Cultural Tours Ph: 8571 1666

► Dr

Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat Drum Theatre 10.30am and 1pm Ph: 8571 1666

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► Home

Grown Swap Day Noble Park Community Centre, Memorial Drive 10.30am Night (Ages 16+) Dandenong and Springvale Libraries 6.30pm Ph: 1300 630 920

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Send your event listings to news@cgd.vic.gov.au List your community event online at greaterdandenong.com/ eventlistings

► Games

Spring planting www.greaterdandenong.com

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Council News

…a library book club for everyone

Celebrate reading at the libraries Reading Circle is a library book club for everyone.

It’s a place to get reading inspiration, share your own recent reads and enjoy social time with other book lovers.

Greater Dandenong Libraries now has two Library Reading Circles: ► On

the third Thursday of the month at Springvale Library, from 6.30pm–8pm

► On

the first Wednesday of the month at Dandenong Library, from 11am–12pm

Library staff will run the sessions, but there is no set book. No bookings are required, just come along and join in.

To celebrate Australian Reading Hour we are holding special Reading Circles on Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 September. Listen to readings from some of our favourite books and enjoy light refreshments.

BRING A MATE Do you love your local library?

Why not share your passion with a friend.

As part of the Libraries Change Lives advocacy campaign, Greater Dandenong Libraries have launched the Bring a Mate promotion to ensure everybody makes use of this wonderful community service.

www.greaterdandenong.com

At Dandenong Library (Community Room 2), on Wednesday 18 September from 11am, and Springvale Library on Thursday 19 September from 6.30pm.

For more information phone 1300 630 920 or ask a library staff member.

FAST FACTS Bring a friend or family member to the Springvale or Dandenong library, and when they sign up for membership – which is completely free – you both go into the draw for some great prizes.

Visit the Springvale or Dandenong Libraries for more information.

Did you know that Greater Dandenong Libraries offer free holds to library members for all library items?

Simply visit greaterdandenong libraries.com.au and enter your membership number to place a hold on any book, magazine, DVD, CD or audiobook and then pick it up at a branch once it arrives.

Community Calendar

Council News

Spring holiday activities

Recycling organic waste

Youth and Family Services will help bust school holiday boredom with awesome activities.

The activities will be open to young people aged 12–25 who live, study, work or have a significant connection to the City of Greater Dandenong.

Soccer Tournament Composting at home is a great way to reduce your environmental footprint, and no matter how much space you have there is an option for every household.

Beginners composting, worm farm and Bokashi workshop Find out which system is best for your household and how to set up and maintain it.

You could consider a compost bin, Bokashi bucket or worm farm, and spring is the perfect time to get out into the garden and explore your options.

Organic waste that is sent to landfill decomposes without air and produces dangerous methane gas emissions.

Returning organic waste to the soil via composting has benefits to the environment and your own garden, whether it’s a veggie patch or pot plants on a balcony, compost can help your garden grow.

Two free composting workshops will help get you started.

Workshops

Wednesday 4 September, 10.30am–12.30pm Heritage Hill, 66 McCrae Street, Dandenong Advanced composting workshop Take your composting to the next level.

Youth and Family Services are partnering with Entrepreneurs Movement Club (EMC) for the 2K19 October Soccer Tournament.

The tournament will be held at JC Mills Reserve, Dandenong, on Friday 4 October, from 9am–5pm, and is open to teams (5–7 players) and individual players across four divisions, including under 14 male, under 16 male, under 25 female and under 25 male.

Visit youth.greater dandenong.com or phone 9793 2155 for more information.

Saturday 14 September, 10am–12pm Heritage Hill, 66 McCrae Street, Dandenong

FAST FACTS Both workshops have limited places and bookings are essential. Workshop attendees will go into the draw for a lucky door prize. Phone 8571 1702 to book.

About 270 people took part in the July school holiday programs.

About 400 young people took part in the 2K19 April Soccer Tournament.

Immunisation Timetable – September 2019 Date

Time

Location

Monday 2 September

4pm–6.30pm

Springvale City Hall (Supper Room) 397–405 Springvale Road, Springvale

Tuesday 10 September

10am–11.45am

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

Wednesday 11 September

4pm–6.30pm

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

Monday 16 September

4.30pm–6pm

Springers Leisure Centre, 400 Cheltenham Road, Keysborough

Thursday 19 September

2.30pm–4.30pm

Springvale City Hall (Supper Room) 397–405 Springvale Road, Springvale

Wednesday 25 September

10am–12pm

Springvale City Hall (Supper Room) 397–405 Springvale Road, Springvale

Saturday 28 September

10am–11.45am

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

www.greaterdandenong.com

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Council News Business

Op Shop creates opportunities

CoCO’s is a different type of op shop.

So says Springvale Learning and Activities Centre (SLAC) manager Elena Sheldon.

The name is short for Community Creating Opportunities, and while the shop sells great quality second hand goods at reasonable prices, it is also set up to support job seekers to get work ready.

In 2017 SLAC took over from the Dandenong Benevolent Society, and while they still offer emergency material aid and food hampers, the focus of the service has shifted to helping people find employment.

Last December the shop moved to a new location at shop 2, 48–52 McCrae Street, and opened with the new name CoCO’s. In the past 12 months the shop engaged 36 new volunteers with the objective of getting work experience – 22 of them have found jobs.

“We are often dealing with people who have been out of work or socially isolated for a while and their confidence levels may not be that great. Volunteering at CoCO’s gives people the opportunity to learn how to communicate within a workplace and with customers,” Ms Sheldon said.

The service is keen to help people overcome the many barriers that prevent people from gaining employment. One of which is financial.

www.greaterdandenong.com

The shop sells clothes that are appropriate for job interviews and for the workplace, and can offer styling advice for men and women.

“For $30 you can buy a man’s suit, shirt and tie. For the same price you can get a women’s outfit including a handbag.

Feeling confident in how you present for a job interview can make a very big difference,” Ms Sheldon said.

CoCO’s is looking for participants to join their 10–12 week Work Readiness Training program. The program offers real work experience in the shop, as well as advice on resume writing and presenting for interviews. The course will be tailored to help individual job seekers and will include an opportunity to debrief weekly with an independent mentor and a chance to learn more skills specific to your goals.

Ms Sheldon is also calling out for mentors and businesses who can support the program.

“I am not aware of any other place in Dandenong that offers this service in the way we do.”

This month we celebrate Adult Learners Week (1–8 September), and Ms Sheldon said CoCO’s Work Readiness Training program recognised the different ways in which we all learn.

“Learning can be done in different ways, not everyone learns from sitting in a classroom.”

To find out more about the program visit CoCO’s or phone Ms Sheldon on 9547 2647.

FAST FACTS Council has 220 volunteers across a wide range of services Almost 400 residents received 22,500 home delivered meals from Council’s Food Services in 2018–19 Council volunteers have carried out 170 home library deliveries

Community Calendar Community

Council News

Anniversary worth celebrating Council is hosting a community barbecue to celebrate a special anniversary at Burden Park in Springvale South.

The playground was built 25 years ago, thanks to efforts from the local community who fundraised and then jumped on the tools to help build the park.

Greater Dandenong Mayor Cr Roz Blades praised the community for taking a lead role in creating the playground, and wants to help celebrate those who were involved in fundraising, designing and building the playground.

“We would love for people to come and share their stories and photos with us

Bounce Back South Sudanese Australian Youth United (SSAYU) was born in a time where South Sudanese youth were being portrayed negatively in the media.

Dandenong’s Yong Deng and a group of friends were just finishing up university and at a time when they were supposed to be excited for the future, many of them felt trapped and were too scared to go out in public.

When the not-for-profit group formed they tried to change the wider community’s perceptions of the South Sudanese community.

“I realised that you can’t change people’s perceptions. When our focus shifted to working internally with our own community, we saw a big difference,” Yong said.

“We now focus on young people and help them reconnect with their own community. It is making an impact. I am confident that in five to 10 years time kids will come back and tell us this has changed their lives.”

so we can acknowledge the wonderful role our community played all those years ago,” Mayor Blades said.

“The playground has since been rebuilt into the iconic wooden fort, but without all of those civic minded people, this might be a very different site today.”

Join the fun at the Burden Park Playground, corner Heatherton and Springvale roads, Springvale South, on Sunday 8 September, from 11.30am–1pm.

The free event will include a sausage sizzle and face painting. Phone 8571 1000 for more information.

The “kids” Yong is talking about are participants in the SSAYU Bounce Back program. The program has three areas of focus.

The first is helping young people who are at risk, while the second supports those who have already been in trouble with the law. The third stream is for Year 11 and 12 students looking at life beyond school.

Bounce Back meets every Friday night at Doveton College and is supported by Positively Transforming Worlds (PTW) volunteers and Scanlon Foundation.

Participants play basketball, meet mentors and share a meal every week.

“We believe if young people are given the opportunity and are empowered they will be able to give back to the community. We see them as leaders.

“The way I look at it, I am where I am now because people invested their time in me, so the time I invest is nothing compared to what I have gained.”

helping young people

The Bounce Back program is keen to hear from volunteers who might be able to support their work with local youth.

For more information visit ssayu.org.au to find out more.

www.greaterdandenong.com

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Greater Dandenong

2019

21 September - 6 October

TH EAR

MAR

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er, Octob 6 y a , Sund -4pm 11am rve, Rese s s o R Park Noble

Two weeks of outer space adventure 8571 1000 greaterdandenong.com/childrensfestival