Ferntree Gully
Belgrave
Mail Covering the Dandenongs in the Yarra Ranges & Cardinia Shires
7 Tuesday, 18 February, 2014
Belgrave Buskers Festival
5
Liquor licence controversy
A Mail Newspaper Group publication
18-19
Phone: 9751 9300 Trades and Classifieds: 1300 666 808
■ Sooki has space for art, food, drinks and more...
Cool hills hub By REBECCA BILLS
Local couple Suzana Pozvek and Stephen Crombie outside their newest cafe Sooki in Belgrave. 115000 Picture: REBECCA BILLS “The council is starting to be more proactive as well.” The couple previously owned and ran a successful café in Croydon but were inspired to create a space in the hills that promotes community as well as a place that is not found typically in the area. “What inspired us to create this space is we wanted to do something local but also offer a type of food that isn’t really available in the hills at all,” he said. “There’s that mentality that people
DON’T STOP BY ACCIDENT
FIREFIGHTERS have again slammed the gall of people continuing to use the 1000 Steps on days of Total Fire Ban. Despite many warnings from fire crews that those with the feel for lycra and working up a sweat on the stairs to stay away, firefighters were again fuming over the weekend. Upwey volunteer Noel Nealon said cars blocked the side of the Tourist Road on Sunday from 7am, making it hard for fire trucks to get past in the event of a fire. “There were no trucks left at the Upper Ferntree Gully Station and that meant neighbouring brigades would have to try and get people out if there were a fire,” he said. “I was so angry, all local volunteers manned the stations over the weekend and the public can’t do their bit and stay away.” Upper Ferntree Gully CFA captain Peter Smith agreed. “The Belgrave police went down there three times to move people on and book them,” Mr Smith said. “We’re doing a lot of work to educate people to stay away on days of fire danger, and it’s disappointing that we are still having these problems.” Do you agree that the athletic types and fitness fanatics should stay away from the Steps on days of Total Fire Ban? We’d love to hear from you. Email editor@yvnews.com.au <mailto:editor@yvnews. com.au> –Melissa Meehan
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lot more - you’ve got tourists coming through all the time going to Puffing Billy and the national parks, and I think as a town we could offer so much more to bring people to the area. “There are quite a few other retails that have the same sort of ideas as we do so it’s great to see. “Creating an action plan is something we are working towards and we have already had conversations on ideas on how we can improve community involvement here.”
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think ‘oh you can’t do that’ or they hit a base and don’t push anymore in terms of standards and quality and we are here, and not being arrogant at all, but we are here to say in the long haul you can have these high standards. “This is a space for everybody, we want people from 18 to 70 in an environment that is comfortable for all.” Ms Pozvek said although Belgrave was starting to move forward she thought a lot more could still be done. “I think Belgrave itself could do a
1067818-JJ13-13
OVER THE last few years, Belgrave has struggled with being a hip haven for locals and tourists to enjoy. In a bid to create a space that is inviting and usable for all of Belgrave as well as the wider community, local couple Suzana Pozvek and Stephen Crombie have rejuvenated the old Ruby’s venue into what is now called Sooki. A creative hub full of music, art, food and drinks, Sooki is not only a space for local and national artists to perform their work – the couple are also opening up their downstairs room for public use. “We like to think of it as a creativity hub for the community, so we have the music aspect of it that includes acoustic and jazz jam nights,” Ms Pozvek said. “It’s also a place for local artists to exhibit their work and we are also offering free space in our downstairs room for anyone who wants to offer belly dancing classes or art classes and so on. Taking over the lease in August 2013, Sooki opened its doors in October last year. “Having such a welcomed response from the community is great because it really shows we have done the right thing,” she said. “That’s what it’s all about, a space that people enjoy and also a space that brings more people to the area.” Ms Pozvek and Mr Crombie both said as locals themselves, they had been frustrated with the stagnant hills mentality that had held the town back from moving forward as a hub for all members of the community. “I grew up in the hills as did Suz and there is a lot of young professionals around the 35-40 years of age (bracket) that are coming back out here because they have kids and things out here are changing,” Mr Crombie said. “There is a hills mentality that has been around for quite a long time that’s slowly breaking down.
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