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Whittlesea Agricultural Society president Erica Hawke with Bronco at the Whittlesea Show. (Damjan Janevski) 314778_02
The Whittlesea Show will open its gates later this month after being postponed last year due to flooding. Having started in 1859, the show brings locals and visitors the best of agriculture, farming, and rural knowledge. Whittlesea Agriculture Society president Erica Hawke said patrons can expect a fun filled weekend at the show. “It’s a true agriculture show that has something for everybody,” she said. “We have super cute animals in the hobby livestock pavilion, blacksmiths working away, a massive line up of free attractions, ferret racing, an apple peeling competition, and chook racing. “It’s something fun and something different … great for kids over the school holidays.” Ms Hawke said the show is an integral part of the community. The show was meant to be held in November, having been cancelled the two years before that due to COVID-19. “The Whittlesea Show is very important to the local community, and the community groups use the show for fundraising which filters back into the community,” she said. The show is on January 21 and 22, starting from 9am.
Residents left off radar By Millicent Spencer The people of Banksia Gardens have once again been left off the “radar” as the state government announces a pilot program for public housing tenants to report issues, of which the estate in Broadmeadows is not included. Five local maintenance repair crews will be piloted across public housing estates in North Melbourne, Flemington, North Richmond, Sale, and Wodonga, giving renters the opportunity to report maintenance issues in a more timely way. Hume councillor Naim Kurt said he wasn’t very shocked that Banksia Gardens was not included as one of the five sites the program
will be piloted in. “Banksia Gardens doesn’t get picked up on the radar,” he said. “Over the past six years since I have been in council there doesn’t seem to be any prioritisation on a needs basis. “Maintenance issues and the quality of housing in Banksia Gardens is one of the top issues raised by residents with me. “With that in mind, the estate should have been a priority for the pilot.” As reported by Star Weekly, Banksia Gardens residents, such as Marie, are concerned about the conditions of their homes. “I’ve got a great big crack through the floor from the last earthquake,” she told Star
Weekly in December.. “I haven’t got carpet because we made an agreement that the carpet would go in after the renovations that have not been done, so I still have not got carpet.” “Then there’s the taps that are leaking, which is causing a gas bill, and that’s been over eight months.” A spokesperson from VincentCare Community Housing, who manage nine properties in the Banksia Gardens estate, said last quarter they received six standard job requests raised from renters. Homes Victoria said maintenance work will have been carried out at more than 140 houses in Banksia Gardens by June.
Housing Minister Colin Brooks said Banksia Gardens was not discussed as a pilot location for the maintenance program, noting the pilot program was “limited in scope“. “I’m aware of Banksia Gardens because [when] I was sworn in about a month ago and a half ago and the first phone call I got was from the local member of parliament advocating for improvements at Banksia Gardens,” he said. “I want to be completely honest, I’m not entirely happy with the maintenance of public housing stock we have across the state. “I think the answer for maintenance and more broadly for locations across the state is will be overhaul of the maintenance contracts [which are up for review this year].”
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