Club rails against Short but sweet film set for Cannes council rent rise Continued from Page 5 Cr David Gill - who also tried to rein in the rent increase “to give the club time to adjust” - told The News on Thursday that he had not been satisfied with the Ms Woods’s explanation that the rent hike did not contravene the Gambling Act. “My advice is for the club to hold its ground and see whether council will kick them out,” he said. The club also questions the $1.2 million value attributed to the buildings and land it occupies as “most of the capital improvement was provided by members of the Hastings Club”. The club is on Crown land managed by the shire. Mr Lewis said resentment was building among club members who saw their efforts to improve the site and buildings led to increases in rent. The shire’s Responsible Electronic Gaming (EGM) policy – acknowledges gaming makes “positive contributions to the community” – says it must consider the net socio-economic impact of gaming on individuals and the community in all council policy, planning, strategy development, land management and community development. The club, which raises money for cricket and football clubs, has been there since the 1970s and now runs gaming machines as well as providing meals, operating a bar and function rooms.
In her report to council’s Monday 27 March meeting property and strategy manager Yasmin Woods said the club had been paying $4000 a year in rent since 1996, and if three-yearly reviews had been made the current rent would have been $30,250. The club’s 2015/2016 annual report shows a net profit for the year of about $199,000 with the gaming room operating surplus of more than $930,000. Gaming revenue increased to $2.22 million in 2016 from $1.99m in 2015. “The council should not be expected to offer a rental subsidy because the club has an obligation to expend gaming revenue of community services or activities,” Ms Woods stated. The Valuer-General Victoria recommended charging the club $60,000 a year rent, but Ms Woods suggested giving the club a 50 per cent discount and making the amount $30,000 plus one per cent of gaming room receipts ($22,234) for a total of $52,234. The motion moved by Cr Kate Roper and adopted by council set the rent at $42,234, which includes $20,000 for land and buildings plus one per cent of gaming receipts. The rent will increase by $5000 for each of the two following years.
A TOUCHING short film by Mt Eliza filmmaker Michael Raso will screen at the internationally renowned Cannes Film Festival next month. His six-minute entry, Solitude, sponsored by the American Pavilion of Emerging Filmmakers Showcase, is part of a “festival within a festival” highlighting the works of the “next generation of filmmakers”. It is among just 20 short films selected by a panel of industry judges to be screened at the Cannes showcase. Raso, 32, was inspired to make Solitude while waiting for a train at Junee, a picturesque country New South Wales train station. He decided to make a film then and there. Around that time an elderly relative died and his mother told him that most women want to be “buried beside her husband”. The two ideas began to merge in Raso’s mind. “I’d always wanted to do my own project and was forever discussing ideas with my sister, Millie,” he said. “Nothing ever really clicked until I came up with the concept of Solitude and she said: ‘Yes, that’s the one’.” The plot involves an elderly woman (Maggie Blinco) who is desperately alone after the death of her husband. To find solace she visits the local train station which holds a special significance for the widow. “Maggie was not my first choice as the lead but I came to realise that she is absolutely ideal in the role,” Raso said. The former St Thomas More Primary School, Mt Eliza, and Padua College, Mornington student is now an indemand freelance cameraman who shoots AFL and rugby league in Sydney
On location: Director Michael Raso, above left, with clipboard, works on his short film Solitude with actor Maggie Blinco, above right.
for channels 9 and 10 as well as Q&A for the ABC. The short film was set to make its debut at the 2015 Tropfest Short Film Festival but didn’t appear since the festival was cancelled that year, Raso said. “It was a bit of a sad time for Solitude which took a year to become popular and be accepted for screening at various short film festivals all over the world. “Its first acceptance in an Australian film festival was a year after completion – the Wollongong Film Festival in NSW.” But things were looking up: after being shown at the Madrid International Film Festival Solitude received three award nominations. “Then I got a letter from ‘the Pavilion’ saying they loved the film and wanted to show it at Cannes, which is really exciting as it’s the pinnacle in the industry,” Mr Raso said. “Now we’ve had up to 35 film
festival acceptances – including this year’s Peninsula Short Film Festival – and have won 12 awards worldwide. “I think we’re up to 14 award wins now, which have been a combination of gold-plated statuettes, certificates, sashes, and cash. “We’ve also been accepted and award nominated into some Academy Award qualifying film festivals, like The Foyle Film Festival, which basically means if you win you go in the running to win an Academy Award. “The most recent Australian Film Festival we won was the Benalla Film Festival in Northern Victoria.” After a promising start with Solitude, his first film as director, Mr Raso is keen for more film directing experience. “I’ve been asked about future projects, which is nice.” The Cannes Film Festival will run 18-26 May, with Solitude to be screened 21-24 May. Stephen Taylor
‘A high performing provider of education on the Mornington Peninsula’ Dromana College is a school where students develop to their full potential. Our exceptional academic learning environment is built by offering a range of diverse learning experiences. With outstanding facilities, a committed professional staff and a caring school community, students are challenged to explore their interests and use their talents to achieve their best.
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RESPONSIBILITY, RESPECT, INTEGRITY, PERSONAL BEST Southern Peninsula News 25 April 2017
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