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JUNE 18, 2019 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
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NEWS + SPORT + PROPERTY GUIDE
Grease is the one they want Grease is the word at St Monica’s College this month. Students are perfecting their lines, practising their dances and warming up their vocal chords for the school’s production of the timeless classic on June 20-22. More than 100 students are staff are involved in the production of Grease, taking on acting, production, front of house and band roles. Principal Brian Hanley said the school’s annual production is a major event for the college community. “Considerable time goes into this production and I applaud all of the staff and students involved,” he said. “Theatrical extravaganzas like Grease give our students a wonderful opportunity to develop and display their talents whether as an actor or one of the many off-stage roles that are so important in a production of this size. “We are looking forward to showcasing our fantastic students to the local community.” Grease will be performed at the Plenty Ranges Arts and Convention Centre, Ferres Boulevard, South Morang. Tickets are available by calling 9409 8800.
Ava as Frenchy, Lisa as Marty, Jaidyn as Kenecki, Aidan as Danny and Nicoletta as Jan. (Marco De Luca)
Laura Michell
Country fest cash switch By Laura Michell Whittlesea council has had a change of heart over funding for the Whittlesea Country Music Festival, allocating $40,000 for the event in its 2019-20 budget. The council shocked the festival’s volunteer committee in March when it decided to axe funding for the annual event, which attracts country music fans from across Victoria and Australia. The council had been providing $70,000 a year to the festival for 19 years. The Whittlesea Country Music Festival was
one of six events to have its recurrent funding cut to allow the council to introduce a new event funding program. The new program will offer funding in two categories. Category one funding will provide up to $2000 to small neighbourhood gatherings, while category two funding will provide up to $20,000 for larger events. Applications will need to be made annually, with the Whittlesea Country Music Festival eligible for up to $20,000. The country music festival committee said the future of the event was uncertain following the funding cut.
But last week, councillors voted to include $40,000 for the 2020 festival in the council budget, following a submission from the festival committee, letters of support from community groups and a petition signed by 108 local businesses calling for funding to be reinstated. The committee had asked the council to provide it with $210,000 over three years. Cr Emilia Lisa Sterjova said funding for the festival had been a contentious issue. “It was never my intention as an individual councillor not to allocate funding to that festival,” she said. “I absolutely see the huge
array of benefits it provides to our community, particularly to the Whittlesea township, making it such a wonderful tourist destination.” Whittlesea Country Music Festival committee vice-president David Watson said that while the committee was grateful for the $40,000, the need to apply for funding annually would harm the festival. “The process of applying for a budget submission and subsequent grant application adds layers and time to festival planning and we will be unable to book and secure artists and commence festival planning until our funding is 100 per cent secured,” he said.
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