Ferntree Gully
Belgrave
Mail Covering the Dandenongs in the Yarra Ranges & Cardinia Shires
Tuesday, 31 July, 2018
5
Council's CEO calls it quits
A Mail News Group publication
Musical maggots Walls stained with possum urine and faeces, maggots falling through the ceiling and a consistent pungent odour that permeates the entire building. This is not a description of a house featured on a home improvement show. Rather, it is the current state of the music rooms at Sherbrooke Community School in Sassafras. The ‘Mail’ spoke to music teacher Luciano Menolascina who described the grisly details. “The smell can be quite intolerable sometimes - particularly in summer,” he said. “It’s mainly possums; they die in the roof and the carcass starts to dry so I’ve had maggots come through the ceiling once. “I can’t make this stuff up and I’ve actually recorded it.” The room has not fallen into disrepair for lack of trying and the school has run a number of fund-raising days in conjunction with DIY work days to try and return it to teaching standards. With an enrolment of 160 students, Mr Menolascina said the room, which was previously a house, did not have enough space to adequately teach in. “I always have the biggest classes when it comes to the arts,” he said. “We have three instrumental teachers, which I organise for different days, but if we had a bigger room we could have more on the same day. “Today I’ve had to rejig the timetable so we can both use the space.” Visiting the site on 20 July Liberal Monbulk
Dr John Gyorki Belgrave Surgi Centre
This service is bulk billed Appointments are necessary New GP patients are also welcome Servicing the community since 1986
Ph 9754 7555
•TYRES•WHEELS•SUSPENSION•
UV 4&S the4x ialsts c e Sp
!
nuff said
12321009-PB35-16
Shop 1 / 1651 Burwood Hwy Belgrave
Widetread
Kids, bottom, Sadie, Aria, Kye, top, Alex, Reed, Leo and Zara enjoy the new playground. 183348 Picture: ROB CAREW
candidate John Schurink, State Opposition Leader Matthew Guy and Shadow Police Minister Edward O’Donohue were taken aback by the smell. They were reassured by students using the building that they would "get used to the smell". Following the visit, Mr Guy said that a Liberal State Government would invest $100,000 to upgrade the music facility. “A Liberal-National Government, together with John Schurink, will give Sherbrooke the facilities they so desperately need and rightly deserve,” he said. “The Sherbrooke Community School has a fabulous music curriculum that needs its facilities upgraded, not ignored.” Monbulk MP and Education Minister James Merlino said the Department of Education recently undertook maintenance and roofing works at the college, though it was not understood whether the music rooms were included in this. “I have been advised the department has recently completed maintenance and roofing works at Sherbrooke Community College to ensure the school premises are safe, secure and well-maintained,” he said. “If a school has urgent maintenance or repair issues which are beyond its budget capacity and directly impact on student or staff safety, it is important they contact the department immediately so any issues can be addressed.” It is believed that to date, the Sherbrooke Community College has not made an application for funding.
Offering full body skin checks on Tuesday afternoons
Phone: 5957 3700 Trades and Classifieds: 1300 666 808
Upwey’s in the swing of it Kids of all ages have a new place to play in Upwey's Main Street. The new playground includes swings, slides, climbing towers and cubes, and more. Yarra Ranges Councillor Noel Cliff said it replaced the ageing pirate ship playground. "The new design directly reflects the community feedback we received about preferred play elements, themes and lo-
cal values," he said. There were 314 responses to an online survey seeking feedback for the design, requesting natural elements, swing, climb and slide. Cr Cliff said there were timber steps, balance beams, cladding and panelling. The council removed the old shade sail beside the play space due to damage and will replace it before summer.
1238678-CG32-16
By Derek Schlennstedt
19-20, 23
Best in local sport
Experts in Property Management We have a dedicated team of rental professionals, who are committed to delivering the best results to our clients. For stress-free and effective management of your investment property, contact the team at Fletchers Yarra Ranges.
1561 Burwood Highway, Tecoma 3/1606 Mt Dandenong Tourist Road, Olinda 9751 0299 fletchers.net.au Approved Dealer for
F E R N T R E E G U L LY 9758 9288 1158 Burwood Highway (towards Belgrave) www.widetread.net.au
12394728-ACM32-18
3
Burn-off changes in place