The City May 2017

THE

CITY

Greater Dandenong’s Monthly Magazine

MAY 2017

Library and Information Week PAGE 8 & 9

Recycling success

Compost Awareness Week

Sports Awards

►► PAGE 3

►► PAGE 12

►► PAGE 13

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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

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

Here at Greater Dandenong our vision is for our city to be one of the most sustainable cities in Australia by 2030. Reaching that goal will require everybody to make an effort. Read about how our community is rising to the challenge via our 2017 Sustainability Award winners on page 3.

Speaking about sustainability, Compost Awareness week is celebrated this month. See page 12 to learn more about composting and some free tours and workshops to help you get started.

Mayor Jim Memeti

May marks National Volunteer Week, and you can read about some of our generous volunteers and volunteering opportunities on page 7.

This month we also celebrate Library and Information Week, with some great initiatives. See pages 8 and 9 to find out more about our libraries and why they are more than just a place to borrow books.

Fax: 8571 5196

If you know of a local sporting hero consider nominating them for the annual Greater Dandenong Sports Awards. Turn to page 13 for more information.

www.greaterdandenong.com

I hope you enjoy reading this issue of The City and hope you have a great month.

@greaterdandy facebook.com/greaterdandenong cityofgreaterdandenong youtube.com/citygreaterdandenong TTY: 133 677 Speak and listen: 1300 555 727 www.iprelay.com.au TIS: 13 14 50

My City Students from Lyndale Greens Primary School last year repainted these totem poles at Tirhatuan Park, Dandenong North. The totems have been in the park for 10 years and were originally painted by students from Rosewood Downs Primary School in Dandenong North.

council@cgd.vic.gov.au

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: Tenzin and Mia are looking forward to National Simultaneous Storytime this month, where children across the nation will share in the book The Cow Tripped Over the Moon. Picture: Kylie Grinham.

This publication is available in alternative formats upon request.

News

THE CITY

Sustainable school wins toP award Yarraman Oaks Primary School proved its commitment to environmental sustainability by taking out top honours at the Greater Dandenong Sustainability Awards.

In a category that covered schools, community groups, households and individuals the Noble Park school triumphed to take out the Sustainable Community Award.

In their entry the school described staff, students and their families as energetic ‘environmentalists’ who diligently work on the school’s vegetable patch and garden, and waste minimisation and recycling programs “to ensure a greener and healthier community surroundings now and in the future”.

The school’s compost program includes: ► Collecting

food scraps from classrooms and breakfast club to feed school chickens ► Adding garden and food scraps to worm farm and composting for use on the vegetable patch

► Sowing,

growing and harvesting produce for community use and for sale.

The school aims to reduce, reuse and recycle by holding weekly nude food days, and by separating and sorting rubbish, and auditing the school’s bins.

Last year the school reduced rubbish from six bags a day to just two.

The school also has water tanks and places buckets under drinking taps to capture wasted water. The school also regularly takes part in educational and action programs and shares their learnings with the wider community.

Other finalists in the community category include: ► The

Australian Vietnamese Women’s Association ► Athol Road Primary School ► Noble Park Gardening Club ► Keysborough Resurrection School Community Swap Group Visit greaterdandenong.com/ sustainabilityawards for more information.

Sustainable Community Award

Pop-up Recycling days Greater Dandenong residents took advantage of two Pop-up Drive Thru Recycling Days held in March.

Almost 2000 cars attended the two sessions which collected 178 tonnes of unwanted household rubbish at Dandenong’s Greaves Reserve on 4 March and Council’s Springvale customer service centre on 18 March.

The events were hailed an outstanding success with more than half of the waste collected being donated to charity or given to recycling businesses for repurposing.

The feedback from residents was overwhelmingly positive, with many calling on Council to continue the service into the future.

Residents who missed out on the recycling days can still take advantage of Council’s hard waste collection which offers residents one free pick up each financial year.

By the numbers: ► 550 mattresses ► 220 bicycles ► 10 tonnes of unwanted televisions ► 11.5 tonnes of household items and clothing ► 11.8 tonnes of television sets ► 31 tonnes of whitegoods/metal ► 81.2 tonnes of general waste You can book your hard waste collection by phoning WM Waste Management on 9721 1915 from 8am–5pm, Monday to Friday.

www.greaterdandenong.com

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Councillor Contacts Lightwood Ward Cr Youhorn Chea Ph/Fax: 9584 5149 0417 320 645 youhorn.chea@cgd.vic.gov.au Mayor Jim Memeti, Yarraman Oaks Primary School wellbeing coordinator Elissa Sewell, Cr Matthew Kirwan and Cr Sean O’Reilly at the presentation for the Sustainable Community Award.

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

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

Paperbark Ward Cr Roz Blades AM Ph/Fax: 9701 5021 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

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

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NOVEMBER Red Gum Ward Cr Jim Memeti – Mayor 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

Mayor Jim Memeti and State Member for Dandenong Gabrielle Williams get colourful for the Holi Festival at Tatterson Park.

Council Meetings MONDAY

8 MAY

MONDAY

22 MAY

www.greaterdandenong.com

00 10 MAY

NOMAY VEMBER

M O N DAY

8 MAY

Council meetings are held on the second and the fourth Monday of the month.

Did you know you can watch Council meetings live online via our web-cast service?

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

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.

The May meetings will be held: Silverleaf Ward Cr Maria Sampey Ph/Fax: 9790 1291 0438 800 027 maria.sampey@cgd.vic.gov.au

MONDAY TH URSDAY

Monday 8 May Monday 22 May

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

MOND

22 MAY

THE CITY

Cr Jim Memeti

► Red Gum Ward

The Springvale Town Hall refurbishment is on schedule to be completed shortly and ready to re-open for bookings in July.

This is one of our most popular community facilities, with hundreds of thousands of people using the hall every year for all sorts of celebrations and gatherings. The larger space, outdoor deck and commercial kitchen will give visitors even more to work with.

I am pleased to have been re-elected to council for a fourth term and am proud that my colleagues elected me Mayor.

The past six months in this role have proven to be busy. There is so much happening in our community, but I would like to highlight just a small slice of our achievements in this column.

► Silverleaf Ward Representing Silverleaf Ward means a lot to me and I am grateful to have been re-elected so I can serve residents for another four years.

Older residents, those with disabilities or those caring for people with disabilities and community safety are some of the things I am most passionate about so I thought I would dedicate this ward profile to these topics.

In Greater Dandenong we have 22,000 residents over the age of 65. Looking after them is important to me and that is why I am an active member of Council’s Positive Ageing Committee – consisting of a group of older residents, Council staff and Councillors who are currently developing a new Positive Ageing Strategy.

I particularly want to see our Council buses giving older people the opportunity to get out more and be able to shop and socialise more easily.

Social isolation is a big issue and due to feedback that I have received from the various groups the Greater Dandenong International Senior Citizens Dance will

Eventually this facility will be complemented by the new Springvale Community Precinct which is still in the design phase.

Council recently went out to the public to talk about plans for upgrades to Dandenong Park. A shared path with lighting and furniture will be one of the first projects implemented there. The path will provide a new pedestrian and cycle link from Lonsdale Street to the Dandenong Creek.

In our quest to be one of the most sustainable cities in Australia by 2030, Council has committed to establishing a Sustainability Advisory Committee to help implement the Greater Dandenong Sustainability Strategy 2016–2030.

Community safety was the focus of a forum held in Keysborough South recently, which attracted more than 100 community members. The forum discussed government and Council initiatives that help improve perceptions of safety, and while council’s role is not to solve crime, we do invest a lot of time, money and resources in creating safer spaces for our community.

If you would like to talk about any local issues please feel free to contact me at jim. memeti@cgd.vic.gov.au or on 0434 560 239.

Cr Maria Sampey make a return in approximately October to coincide with Seniors Week.

On the topic of disability, the new Greater Dandenong Disability Plan has just been endorsed by Council after extensive community consultation. Like the Positive Aging Strategy this has benefited from our Disability Advisory Committee where Greater Dandenong residents that have a disability are well represented and where I am one of the Councillors heavily involved.

Finally, community safety is also one of my priorities. Feeling safe is a basic need for people and that requires safer roads, better lighting and, where necessary, CCTV cameras. CCTV has already been successful elsewhere in Greater Dandenong and I would like to advocate for cameras to be introduced at the Brady Road shops.

If you would like to discuss any issues with me you can contact me on email at maria.sampey@cgd.vic.gov.au or phone me on 9790 1291 or 0438 800 027.

www.greaterdandenong.com

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THE CITY

Working for You

Pet registrations now due

Bernard Zhang, Alfred Pavia and Josephine Pavia are volunteers for Greater Dandenong’s Digital Archive.

Residents are reminded that animal registration fees were due on 10 April.

Registration is an important step in helping reunite lost pets with their owners, and fees are set at a level that aims to cover the cost of delivering animal management services provided by Council.

The reduced fee, which is paid by most pet owners who have desexed their animals, has increased from $25 to $30 for cat registrations, and from $36 to $46 for dog owners.

In considering the costs of pet registration, Council recognised that all ratepayers were contributing to running animal management services and decided a fee increase was the fairest way to cover the increase costs of delivering the service.

Council has not raised pet registration fees for several years.

We compared costs to neighbouring municipalities and found that despite the fee rise Greater Dandenong remain among the cheapest among these surrounding councils.

Animal registration fees help pay for animal management services, including putting officers on the street who can attend to reports of: ► Wandering dogs ► Dog attacks ► Nuisance barking ► Trespassing cats ► Stray and feral cats The officers also help monitor pet shops, boarding facilities and breeding establishments, and help set up and maintain off-leash dog parks.

A portion of the fee also goes to the State Government’s Animal Welfare Bureau to help pay for research and education into responsible pet ownership.

Visit greaterdandenong.com for more information.

www.greaterdandenong.com

Volunteer Week In Greater Dandenong there are many services and organisations that could not continue without the efforts of volunteers.

May 8–14 is National Volunteer Week and a chance for us to celebrate and thank the people who generously give up their time to help others.

In this issue we speak to three volunteers who are helping to catalogue Greater Dandenong’s history through our Digital Archive facility in Dandenong South.

Bernard Zhang said that while volunteering looked good on a resume, it was also an opportunity for him to learn more about his home suburb’s history.

The 22 year old Master of Engineering student said he enjoyed finding out what the area was like before his parents settled here in the early 90s.

“I have a lot of fun, and learn so much from talking to the other volunteers,” he said.

Fellow volunteers, who don’t mind sharing their knowledge are Alfred (69) and Josephine (70) Pavia.

Mr Pavia started volunteering in 2002 at Heritage Hill, but has had several breaks due to health issues. His wife joined him a few years ago, and they volunteer at the Digital Archive together once a week.

Mr Pavia said he enjoyed looking at historical documents and photographs. His wife encouraged others to get involved in volunteering.

“I get a lot of satisfaction from this and there is always something new to learn. More people should get involved,” she said.

Council is always looking for volunteers to help across a range of roles, including museum tour guides, reading buddies, assisting at festivals and events, meals on wheels deliveries, and much more.

Visit greaterdandenong.com/volunteer for more information.

Community Calendar

Short Cuts

THE CITY

A series of light boxes that wrap around the side of the Civic Centre…

The Short Cuts Film Festival returns to Drum Theatre for a second year, and this year’s event promises to deliver some amazing films.

Curator Richard Moore, who is an experienced artistic director and filmmaker in his own right, said this year’s program had something for everyone.

Short Cuts has also worked in collaboration with the Melbourne International Animation Film Festival, which means there are a significant number of high quality animated films entered.

“There is more comedy, definitely more animation, the program this year has more of a sense of humour about it, there is more music and more entertainment,” Mr Moore said.

“The winner of last year’s Emerging Category (Sebastian Broadbent) has submitted another film this year, so that’s exciting. He has done another documentary based on a local musician – a blue grass guitar player.”

The number of entries for this year’s festival was significantly higher than the inaugural festival last year, and with more films to choose from Mr Moore said the program was strong.

“We had entries from people who have entered Tropfest and Flickerfest, so we are talking about some very talented and experienced film makers.”

There are even some well-known faces from Australian film and television popping up.

Short Cuts Film Festival will be screened at Drum Theatre on Friday 5 May at 7pm. Tickets are $5 plus booking fee. Visit shortcutsfilmfestival.com.au for more information.

around our city

The Gatherers Two artists explore hunter-gatherer culture in different ways for the latest exhibition at Walker Street Gallery.

Lexington Gardens presents The Gatherers: Form of Containment, by Meg Viney-Bell and Susan Hall.

Viney-Bell discovered an affinity with Australian culture while on an overseas study of tribal cultures. Combining the spiritual with a deep love of her environment the artist has created a series of vessels that conjure the recognition that all life comes from a vessel.

Hall has taken plastic debris collected from regular beach walks to create a series of works intended to encourage people to think about the detrimental effects discarded plastic has on our waterways.

Lexington Gardens is also presenting a Drum Theatre Encore Series performance of Burt Bacharach songs on Thursday 4 May. The exhibition will be on display at Walker Street Gallery from Thursday 4 May to Sunday 28 May. Visit greaterdandenong.com/arts for more information.

Garnar Lane light boxes There is beauty and art around many corners in our city and Dandenong’s Garnar Lane has framed this concept with regular art displays.

A series of light boxes that wrap around the side of the Civic Centre is currently displaying an installation by Cyrus Tang.

The photographic exhibition is titled Lacrimae Rerum, which is Latin for “tears of things”, and focuses on the disappearance of things, people, places or objects and how they dissolve into memory or fantasy.

Tang made clay models of a city which she then destroyed by drowning over and over again as if by earthquake, war or tsunami.

Tang hopes that the mythological atmosphere of her fairy tale constructions will echo the sense of an immigrant’s or refugee’s experience of displacement and will speak to the heart of many of Dandenong’s immigrant residents.

The light boxes can be viewed 24 hours a day.

www.greaterdandenong.com

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THE CITY

Greater Dandenong Libraries celebrate In the last week of May each year we celebrate Library and Information Week.

The week (22–28 May) is a chance to recognise the important role libraries play in our community. Libraries offer more than just books. If you don’t believe us just pop into one of Greater Dandenong’s two public libraries.

In the past year more than 1.2million people came through the doors of our libraries at Dandenong and Springvale.

More than 900,000 items were borrowed, the computers were used more than 150,000 times and The Vault website was visited more than 275,000 times.

Local Library and Information Week celebrations include the following events:

Monday 22 May 10.30am

Dandenong and Springvale Libraries Toddler Time featuring digital stories

Tuesday 23 May 6pm

Dandenong Library Learn more about Lynda.com and Atomic eresources at our Conversation Circle

Wednesday 24 May 10am

Dandenong Library Discover ebooks, eaudio and Zinio magazines at our Social Knitwork

Tech Tuesdays

Wednesday 24 May 11am

From 3D printers and virtual reality to electronics the range of technology offered to library members is ever expanding.

Thursday 25 May 10.30am

Young people aged 12–25 years can discover the latest technologies every Tuesday after school in May at the Dandenong Library. Workshops include:

Dandenong and Springvale Libraries Simultaneous Storytime reading of The Cow Tripped Over the Moon Dandenong and Springvale Libraries Storytime featuring digital stories

Thursday 25 May 10.30am Springvale Library Discover eResources

Thursday 25 May 6.30pm Dandenong Library Discover eResources

► Osmo,

a unique educational gaming accessory that opens up your iPad to the infinite possibilities of physical play. The program allows children to explore science, maths, art and more.

► Makerbot

printer.

The most popular fiction title for adults was Tieu Lenh

by Phi Khanh La. Scorch Trials

by James Dashner was the most popular read for teens, and childr en loved The Diary of a Wi mpy Kid

by Jeff Kinney.

Replicator mini 3D

► HTC

Vive Virtual Reality kit, includes stunning graphics that make everything feel so real and surreal at the same time.

► Raspberry

Pi, a tiny and affordable computer that you can use to learn programming through fun practical projects.

► Electronic

Lab Kit, teaching children about transistors, diodes, capacitors, oscillators, electronic circuits and schematic symbols.

www.greaterdandenong.com

Community Calendar

THE CITY

Homework Club Greater Dandenong Libraries is proud to present its first homework club launching this month.

Get Tech assistance

The club has been created in response to increasing demands for a casual, library-based homework club that offers students the chance to walk in and ask for homework help.

As technology creeps into every aspect of our lives, the Greater Dandenong Library Service recognises the need to help more people embrace it.

The Peer2Peer Homework Club at Dandenong Library will provide students with a safe and comfortable environment to interact with other students, encouraging them to learn from each other and develop a positive relationship between students from different schools and year levels.

It will enable students to develop their self-confidence through assisting other students and asking for assistance.

Available for students in Years 6–12, the club will also have older volunteers who can help students to complete homework and assignments. These volunteers will be supported by Dandenong Neighbourhood House.

The club is looking for more volunteers to support and inspire students.

Email cgdlibraries@cgd.vic.gov.au for more information.

Library Tech Assist helps provide opportunities for discovery, learning, communicating and sharing information. From logging onto a computer in the library, to downloading an app on your phone or an e-book to a tablet, support staff are there to help answer all of your questions.

Our libraries have a fantastic list of online resources, but they are no good if you can’t use them, so feel free to drop by the red information desk at Dandenong Library for more support. Drop-in sessions are held each week on Mondays, from 11am–12pm, and Thursdays, from 6pm–7pm.

National Simultaneous Storytime Across the nation children will be reading and listening to the same book during the 17th annual National Simultaneous Storytime.

Join us at the Dandenong or Springvale libraries and settle in for a reading of the book The Cow Tripped Over the Moon by Tony Wilson and Laura Wood, on Wednesday 24 May at 11am.

Libraries and classrooms across Australia will take part in the storytime which promotes the value of reading and literacy and the sheer pleasure that a great book imparts to young children.

This session can add to the tally if you are taking part in the 1000 Books Before School program. Visit greaterdandenonglibraries.com.au to find out more.

www.greaterdandenong.com

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Community Calendar

Event Calendar / May 2017 MONDAY

►

TUESDAY

1 e’re Going on a Bear Hunt – W Pyjama Party Drum Theatre 6.30pm Ph: 8571 1666

► Combined

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

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► Simply

Fitness Jan Wilson Community Centre 9.30am–10.30am Ph: 9795 9279

► Combined

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

2 Savvy Seniors – Serbian Dandenong Library 9.30am–11.30am (every Tuesday) Ph: 1300 630 920

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► Magic

► Conversation

► Haileybury

► Hart

Circle – Advanced Dandenong Library 6pm (every Tuesday) Ph: 1300 630 920

followed by meditation Jan Wilson Community Centre 12pm–1.30pm (every Wednesday) Ph: 9795 2346

Senior School Musical – The Drowsy Chaperone 855 Springvale Road, Keysborough 7.30pm (May 3–5) Ph: 9904 6301

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► Springvale

Men’s Group Springvale Neighbourhood House, 46–50 Queens Avenue 9am–12pm Ph: 9548 3972

► Dandenong

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

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► Composting

Workshop Heritage Hill, Dandenong 10am–12pm Ph: 8571 1702

Moments Burt Bacharach Tribute Drum Theatre 10.30am Ph: 8571 1666 Family Stories Gallery Talk Heritage Hill, Dandenong 6pm Ph: 9793 4511

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► Outdoor

Tai Chi Springvale Neighbourhood House, 46–50 Queens Avenue 8.30am–9am (every Thursday) Ph: 9548 3972

► Noble

Park Community Action Forum Paddy O’Donoghue Centre 6pm Ph: 0414 274 878

► Library

Storytime Springvale and Dandenong Library 10.30am (every Thursday) Ph: 1300 630 920

May 15

Planning Essentials workshop Dandenong Library 6.30pm–8.30pm

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► Business

► Art

► Burden

Series Springvale Library 6.30pm–8pm Ph: 1300 630 920

► Top

Park Social Dancing Burden Park Bowls Club, Springvale South 7pm–10pm (every Monday) Ph: 9547 1907

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► Noble

Park Country Women’s Association meeting Paddy O’Donoghue Centre 10am Ph: 9547 7261

► Council

Meeting Dandenong Civic Centre, 225 Lonsdale Street, 7pm

► Yoga

Meeting Dandenong Civic Centre, 225 Lonsdale Street 7pm

THURSDAY

► Tech

► Council

WEDNESDAY

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► L adies

of Talking Outings and Socialising (LOTOS) Jan Wilson Community Centre 10am–12pm (every Monday) Ph: 9795 9279

www.greaterdandenong.com

Cat Dancers Dance Classes Edinburgh Hall, Springvale North 7.30pm–10pm (every Tuesday) Ph: 0413 393 345

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17 with My Gov drop-in session Dandenong Library 10am–5pm Ph: 1300 630 920

► Heritage

► Social

► Learning

Help for Adults Dandenong Library 2pm–5pm (every Thursday) Ph: 1300 630 920

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► Tech

► National

Hill Buildings and Gardens Tours 66 McCrae Street, Dandenong 10am Ph: 9793 4511

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

► Help

Tuesdays Dandenong Library 4pm (every Tuesday) Ph: 1300 630 920

with My Gov drop-in session Springvale Library, 10am–5pm Ph: 1300 630 920 Simultaneous Storytime Springvale and Dandenong Library, 11am Ph: 1300 630 920

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► Help

► Yoga

Jan Wilson Community Centre 7pm–8.30pm (every Tuesday) Ph: 9795 9279

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► Follow

Your Waste Tour 397–405 Springvale Road, Springvale 9.30am–2.45pm Ph: 8571 1702

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► Springvale

Food Lovers Tour 10.30am–12.30pm Ph: 8571 1377

► Evening

in the Park Fotheringham Reserve 5pm–7pm Ph: 8571 1702

Community Calendar

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

5

► Alex

Wilkie Nature Reserve Open Day Mackay Street, Springvale South Ph: 8571 1702

6

► Family

Fun at the Library Springvale Library 11am Ph: 1300 630 920

7

► Greater

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

► Short

Cuts Film Festival screening Drum Theatre 7.30pm Ph: 8571 1666

Contact:

SUNDAY

Lion Dance Springvale Neighbourhood House, 46–50 Queens Avenue 1pm–3pm (every Sunday) Ph: 9548 3972

► Bollywood

Dancing Springvale Neighbourhood House, 46–50 Queens Avenue 3pm–5pm (every Friday) Ph: 9548 3972

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► Me

and My Dad: Electric Circuits Dandenong Library 3pm Ph: 1300 630 920

Drum Theatre Ph: 8571 1666

Intimate Evening with David Hobson Drum Theatre 7.30pm Ph: 8571 1666

► Springvale

► Robotics

Jan Wilson Community Centre Ph: 9795 9279

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Springvale Library 12.15pm Ph: 1300 630 920

Paddy O’Donoghue Centre Ph: 8571 1436

David Hobson 19

► Zumba

Gold Jan Wilson Community Centre 9.30am–10.30am (every Friday) Ph: 9795 9279

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► Trident

Dandenong Library Ph: 1300 630 920 Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Gardens Ph: 9793 4511

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

► An

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► Friends

of Fotheringham Reserve working day Pyke Street, Dandenong 10am–12pm

Drum Theatre 7.30pm Ph: 8571 1666

Springvale Library Ph: 1300 630 920 Springers Leisure Centre Ph: 9701 5900

► Baby

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

City of Greater Dandenong Ph: 8571 1000

► Learn

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THE CITY

Walker Street Gallery Ph: 9706 8441

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► L anguage

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

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► Keysborough

Resurrection School Community Swap 414–418 Corrigan Road, Keysborough 10am–11am

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► Springvale

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

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

► The

Lion Dance

Everly Brothers and Buddy Holly Tribute Show Drum Theatre, 8pm Ph: 8571 1666

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

www.greaterdandenong.com

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Composting at home

Council is encouraging residents to explore the world of compost during International Composting Awareness Week from May 7–13.

Composting organic household waste, including garden waste, and fruit and vegetable scraps, can decrease household waste by up to 50 per cent as well as reducing Australia’s carbon footprint.

When placed into a normal rubbish bin, organic waste is sent to landfill where it decomposes anaerobically (without air) and produces potentially dangerous methane gas emissions. The emissions from landfills in Australia contribute 3 per cent of our total greenhouse gas emissions.

There are a number of ways you can reduce your organic waste at home.

Common systems include compost bins, worm farms and Bokashi buckets – all of which turn your old food scraps into rich, natural fertilizer and compost that you can use on your garden or pot plants.

To celebrate International Composting Awareness Week and to encourage residents to compost at home Council is running two free events.

www.greaterdandenong.com

TOUR Visit Natural Recovery Systems in Dandenong South to see what happens to the garden waste that goes into your green lidded bin at home. Following the visit a member of Council’s horticultural team will take you on a tour of the Benga House gardens at Heritage Hill.

On Tuesday 9 May a bus will pick the tour group up from Heritage Hill, 66 McCrae Street, Dandenong, at 9.30am. The tour will finish at 11.15am. Bookings are essential on 8571 1702.

WORKSHOP Find out about compost bins, worm farms and Bokashi buckets at this informative workshop. Learn which set up is the best for your home and lifestyle and see how to maintain it, on Wednesday 10 May at Heritage Hill, 66 McCrae Street, Dandenong, from 10am–12pm.

Bookings essential on 8571 1702.

To celebrate International Composting Awareness Week and to encourage residents to compost at home Council is running two free events.

Follow Your Waste If you have ever wondered what happens to the rubbish after your bins have been emptied at the kerbside then this tour is for you.

Join this free tour to learn where your household rubbish goes, how your recyclables get separated and how green waste is turned into rich compost.

The tour concludes with a guided walk around Alex Wilkie Nature Reserve.

Wednesday 31 May 9.30am–2.45pm Bus departs carpark at Springvale Town Hall Lunch included Bookings: 8571 1702

Community Calendar

What makes a healthy waterway?

THE CITY

The 2016 Female Sports Athlete of the Year Sophie Molineux.

All young people who live, work or play in Greater Dandenong can answer this question in a short video for their chance to win a $1000 cash prize.

SPORTS AWARDS

Council is pleased to announce that we have extended the entry period for the Healthy Waterways video competition, which is running as part of the Living Rivers program funded by Melbourne Water.

The competition has been broadened to include primary school aged children, so anyone aged 5–25 who lives, works or plays in Greater Dandenong can now enter.

The closing date has been extended to 30 June, so you have plenty of time to get creative and make a short video that explores how to keep our waterways healthy.

Chance to win

$1000

Visit greaterdandenong.com for more information.

Nominations are now open for the third annual City of Greater Dandenong Sports Awards.

The awards recognise the exceptional contribution by clubs, teams and individuals who support the Greater Dandenong community.

There are nine categories recognising athletes, coaches, volunteers and whole clubs who are working hard and achieving in their own fields.

Categories include: ► Sports

Club of the Year Coach of the Year ► Sports Volunteer of the Year ► Sports Project of the Year ► All Abilities Sports Award ► Sports Team of the Year ► Male Sports Athlete of the Year ► Female Sports Athlete of the Year ► Junior Sports Athlete of the Year ► Sports

Last year’s winners came from a range of sporting clubs and disciplines including basketball, cricket, football, baseball, rugby league and tennis.

Mayor Jim Memeti encouraged residents to nominate clubs and individuals for the awards.

“Council is a strong advocate for the widespread benefits of sport, and in a culturally diverse community such as Greater Dandenong sport is often a great mediator in bringing people together,” Cr Memeti said.

“If you know of someone who is doing great things on and around the sporting field then give them the recognition they deserve and nominate them for a Sports Award.”

Nominations close May 12.

Visit greaterdandenong.com for award guidelines, nomination forms and previous winners.

Immunisation Timetable – May 2017 Date

Time

Location

Monday 1 May

4.30pm–6.30pm

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

Tuesday 9 May

10am–11.30am

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

Wednesday 10 May

4pm–6.30pm

Dandenong Civic Centre, 225 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong

Monday 15 May

4.30pm–6pm

Springers Leisure Centre, 400 Cheltenham Road, Keysborough

Monday 15 May

1pm–1.45pm

Jan Wilson Community Centre, Halton Road, Noble Park North

Wednesday 24 May

10am–11.30am

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

Saturday 27 May

10am–11.45am

Dandenong Civic Centre, 225 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong

www.greaterdandenong.com

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THE CITY

Business News

Le Mans lights up sustainably Environmental sustainability is a key term for Le Mans Go Karts and Laserzone, which have been able to halve their energy consumption by making some simple lighting changes.

Le Mans Marketing and Promotions Assistant Rodney Pasura said the Dandenong South attraction was the largest go kart venue in Victoria.

“We have 23 acres of property and have four tracks – two adult tracks and two kids’ tracks – as well as paintball and laser tag,” Mr Pasura said.

“It’s our 25th year and we’re always looking for new ways to improve the business. We revamped our Laserzone last year with a Star Wars inspired

theme and we’ve replaced the LED lights – the murals glow in the dark and really leap out at you.

“Internally we have replaced the LED lights and now we’re doing this externally to reduce our environmental impact.”

And the figures don’t lie. Each light now uses 400 watts, compared to 2100 watts, and energy consumption has been reduced by 50 per cent overall.

Le Mans Go Karts also practices environmental sustainability by recycling up to 26,000 litres of fuel per year from cars due for disposal.

Visit www.lemansgokarts.com.au for more information.

NBN rollout

Celebrating sustainability

The nbn network is Australia’s new landline phone and internet network delivering high speed broadband (HSB) to business and residential premises.

Significant areas of Greater Dandenong will be connected to the network during 2017–18.

Now in their third year the Greater Dandenong Sustainability Awards aim to recognise the sustainability leaders and champions helping make a difference in our community.

Network availability for your home or business can be identified by visiting nbnco.com.au/ check and typing in your address.

If your address does not yet have access you can sign up for email updates and the nbn network will contact you when you can connect.

When you can connect you will have to organise this with an internet provider, you will not be automatically connected.

Visit nbnco.com.au to find out more.

www.greaterdandenong.com

Council recognised the winners of the business and development categories at a recent business breakfast exploring the future of energy in Australia.

The Sustainable Business Award was presented to Smart Recycling Australia, who has pioneered the way in recycling in Greater Dandenong for 20 years.

Operating from a former landfill site, they have been innovative in creating products from waste materials of all kinds. Smart Recycling also co-founded the “Create a Crate” art exhibition which has been displayed at the Walker Street Art Gallery.

Biofuel Innovations were also highly commended for their efforts to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and the impacts of air pollution and waste to landfill by producing biodiesel that can be used in diesel engines.

The Sustainable Development Award was also given to Springvale’s ‘The Quarter’ residential development.

‘The Quarter’ took out the top gong for delivering sustainable dwellings that exceed best practice standards across energy efficiency, water conservation, stormwater management and indoor environmental quality.

Somerfield Estate in Keysborough was also highly commended for their efforts.

Visit greaterdandenong.com/ sustainabilityawards for more information.

Community Community Calendar News

THE CITY

Cricket program welcomes refugees

All Nations Cricket Program

A cricket program established to help refugees and asylum seekers socialise has been recognised at the Victorian Sports Awards.

In 2014 Council joined with Cricket Victoria and Monash Health to establish the All Nations Social Cricket Program, which met weekly during the cricket season at Greaves Reserve and Pop Up Park.

At its peak the program attracted up to 40 players each week with many discovering a real love of the sport and going on to play for Dandenong West Cricket Club.

The All Nations program promotes physical and mental health to some of the most vulnerable members of our community.

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Greater Dandenong has an enduring history as a safe and welcoming home for refugees and asylum seekers and has in fact been a Refugee Welcome Zone since 2002. Council recognises that sport can be a great mediator in bringing people together from all cultural backgrounds, and we are proud to have this recognised through the State Government’s Victorian Sports Awards.

Pioneering family service When the Springvale Service for Children was built in 2009 it was considered a pioneer in its approach to integrated Early Childhood services for families.

Today many services follow the same model but Director Vanessa Field said the Springvale site was the first of its kind in the City of Greater Dandenong.

Funded by the State Government the service offers a wide range of programs and supports for young families in Springvale.

Its mission is to provide young children and their families with experiences of high quality which promote their healthy development, learning and wellbeing.

“We do this by working together with families, children and the community,” Ms Field said.

“We really feel that we have become a place where people know they can come to get support, really be listened to and have their family’s needs addressed.”

The service offers early learning and kindergarten services to almost 300 families, while its toy library has about 150 members and up to 70 families access onsite playgroups each month.

Maternal and Child Health Services, immunisation sessions, psychologist and paediatrician services are also offered, making this a one stop shop for families.

The Springvale Service for Children is located at 23–28 Lightwood Road. For more information visit www.springvalesc.org.au/ or phone 8558 3800

We accept submissions for the Community News page in The City every month.

Email us at news@cgd.vic.gov.au to share your story.

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GREATER DANDENONG FILM FESTIVAL Screenings and Awards Night Friday 5 May, 7.30pm sharp Drum Theatre 226 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong Tickets $5 (plus booking fee) 8571 1666 or shortcutsfilmfestival.com.au

shortcutsfilmfestival.com.au