The Rezzadent - April 2022 by The Rezzadent

I s su e 8

A p r il 2 0 2

By Priscilla Ong

April 2022

Contents LOCAL 06 On Yer Bike 08 I Don't Want to Miss a Swing 10 Out of the Park Picnic 24 "Leaders' Art Exhibition at RWPS

PROFILES 04 Priscilla Ong 14 Reservoir Vintage Tour

COLUMNS 18 Dear Reservoir Dogs 35 The many faces of Reservoir

COMMUNITY 12 Looking for work in Rezza? 27 Community News

FUN 16 Preservoir Trail 23 One month of Raftimes Reservoir orders

COVER IMAGE: Priscilla Ong

THE REZZADENT

Contact us: rezzadentnews@gmail.com Follow us on insta @therezzadent Receive the paper in your inbox: https://bit.ly/3tv3Pkd With a huge thanks to our volunteer contributors: Editor-in-Chief Shannon McKeogh By Nicole Robertson

Deputy editor Viktoria Komornik Making things beautiful/Designer: Delyse Baldwin

Acknowledgement is not enough but still important The Rezzadent was made on stolen land in Reservoir, Victoria. We would like to acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation who are the traditional custodians of this beautiful land. For many of us, our local creeks, trees, and our lake have been such a comforting balm to the soul during these chaotic times. We would also like to pay respect to the Wurundjeri Elders, past and present, and extend this respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait people from other communities who may be reading this.

Our clever illustrators: Nicole Robertson Rhiannon Poley We love our Marketing guru: Vinisha Pulikkaparambil Our big brained writers: Andrea Wegner Viktoria Komornik Camille Short Ellen Muller Carmen Lahiff-Jenkins Nicole Robertson Kate Jost Mango With massive thanks to our proofers and their eagle eyes this month: Jenny Brown and Hayley Culley

It always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land.

April 2022

Priscilla Ong

H A N Z A M O N S TA S Words by By Camille Short

Priscilla Ong is a visual artist and playing card enthusiast. Her sketches of mythical creatures, which err on the darker side, are perfect cladding for playing cards, skateboards and anything else you might want to adorn with cool looking critters. Priscilla draws under the label Hanzamonstas. Hailing from Singapore originally, Han is related to her Chinese name. The rest, relates to a favourite subject matter - monsters. When I met Priscilla on a sunny morning at Edwardes Lake she was in the final days of a Kickstarter* campaign to print a deck of playing cards she designed. I am very happy to see that the campaign for Hanzamonstas Playing Cards was successfully funded. All the cards are hand-drawn based on a daily prompt from Inktober. Inktober is a popular online art challenge created by New York Times illustrator, Jake Parker. At the start of Inktober (i.e., October 1st), 31 prompts are published, one for each day.

My favourite card in the Hanzamonstas deck is the Queen of Hearts, which was drawn based on the prompt “Vessel”. The prompt made Priscillar think of the heart, her chosen vessel, as well as water. She says that naturally it was only fitting to draw a pirate queen.

Priscilla Ong

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Raising the funds for the printing and distribution of the Hanzamonstas playing cards was no doubt a huge effort. One that saw Priscilla fronting up to markets all over Melbourne to showcase her work. With card tricks to boot no less. If you are interested in buying a pack of Hanzamonstas Playing Cards you can pre-purchase them via this link https:// hanzamonstas.bigcartel. com/. You can also see more of Priscilla’s work on her Instagram page https:// www.instagram.com/ hanzamonstas/. Priscilla moved to Reservoir from Cairns and completed this project in Rezza during the last lock down.

*Kickstarter is a platform artists can use to generate the funds they need to complete their projects.It isn’t charity, people essentially prepurchase the art they are interested in. If the funding target isn’t met, the artist doesn’t get any of the funds that have been pledged. It is hard work and I’m so glad this one made it over the line.

April 2022

On Yer Bike By Andrea Wegner I have a confession. I’m a bad feminist. I claim autonomy and self-reliance but there are certain tasks that I have refused to learn and happily leave to my partner. Maintaining my bike is one of them. In the 15 years I’ve been riding the same bike I have not done a single thing to care for her. She faithfully takes me all around Rezza and never lets me down. Not because she is infallible but because my partner checks the brakes, the tyres and truth be told I don’t know what else he does, but she never breaks down and I’ve never asked. I can’t be responsible for everything in our house, so I let the bike mechanics be his domain. The problem with this is my daughter. She also has no idea how to care for her bike, so I decided I needed to put an end to this vicious cycle. The solution to our rotating problem was provided by Darebin Council. They have three different programs for people wanting to give their bike a once over, learn basic bike maintenance or build up their confidence with riding on the road. With determination and a spring in our wheels, Mini Me and I headed down to Reservoir Leisure Centre to take advantage of the free bike checks. We were met by Bart from Dr Cranky, who checked over our tyres, brakes, chains and wheels. My bike was the picture of health (thanks hubby!), but the kid’s bike needed some work. He helped her replace the bell, safety lights and suggested she pull back from the skids.

We also got a written report explaining some other more significant things that needed attention. The talented Dr Cranky also runs a school program where they set up a bike hospital, and teach kids how to maintain their own bike. A fabulous idea to suggest to your school. www.drcrankys.com.au While Dr Cranky was teaching Mini Me some valuable life lessons, I chatted to members of the Council's Sustainable Transport Team and heard about the commitment council has made to supporting our community in accessing sustainable transport options. You can be a part of supporting their work by having your say on the Darebin Transport Strategy and new Electric Vehicle Charging Policy. Both in development now. Head to www.yoursay.darebin.vic. gov.au/transport

On Yer Bike

A special offer for BIKE SKILLS WORKSHOPS AUTUMN April - May 2022 Basic Bike Maintenance and On-road Bike Confidence RESERVOIR LEISURE CENTRE 2A Cuthbert Road Reservoir BOOK NOW: darebin.vic.gov.au/ bikeskills

the Readers of The Rezzadent. 50% off Bike Skills Workshops and On Road Bike Confidence classes. Use the Code ‘REZ’ at checkout.

If you are aiming for more sustainable travel around Darebin, grab yourself a new Travelsmart Map. Available from Darebin Customer Service Centres, neighbourhood houses, the library and the Leisure Centre. The map has a useful key with on and off-road bike paths, walking trails and my favourite; ‘The Shimmy’ Bike route. The map also gives you direction to bike repair stations throughout Darebin and the everimportant public loos. Bike Maintenance Checks are held at Reservoir Leisure Centre on the 4th Sunday of every month between 12.30- 3 p.m. Bookings are essential. These programs only keep running if we support them. I recommend dusting off your bike and getting down to the Leisure Centre for your free bike health check. www.darebin.vic.gov.au/Transport-and-parking/Bike-riding-and-walking/Bikeprograms

April 2022

THE REZZADENT

I Don’t Want to Miss a Swing by Ellen Muller As an adult there’s one particular piece of playground equipment which my inner child is still very excited to spot (and which I can still fit on) – the clown swings with the triangular face that can take you up, down, back and forth and around in a circle. And while I strongly suspect that these swings were created for the sheer purpose of terrifying unsuspecting coulrophobes as they walk through the park, I find their shifty eyes, rosy cheeks and soul-patch charming…during the day anyway. Designed in 1975 by US company, Miracle, and their fibreglass faces made in Perth; gradually these swings have become increasingly rarer, yet here in Darebin we’re lucky to have two in our midst – one sporting a red hat/goatee combo at C.H. Sullivan memorial park, Reservoir and the other in blue at AJ Davis Park, Preston which has sadly been out of commission since the beginning of this year (a former clown swing is also located Bundoora Park; however the clown face was replaced with a new wildlife design – a bitter disappoint to those of us who prefer their swings in creepy-clown form). These two remaining clown swings have been in the community for around fifty years, and speaking to Darebin City Council, they confirmed that these swings are much loved; with many residents reaching out to express how much they missed the Sullivan memorial park swing when it underwent restoration in 2019. The council was also pleased to advise that there are plans to reinstate the AJ Davis Park swing soon, however due to covid related delays, the repair works were taking longer than anticipated. So fellow fans of staring at a retro clown grin while spinning around in circles can rest easy knowing the Wood Street clown swing will soon be back in business.

I Don't Want to Miss a Swing

April 2022

Out of the Park Picnic By Kate Jost

On a sunny Sunday Darebin locals met at Edwardes Lake to celebrate its 100th birthday (technically it's 102nd birthday but the celebration was delayed due to COVID restrictions) with the Out of the Park Picnic, closing the event of FUSE Autumn 2022. The event was hosted by Queen Acknowledgements and curated by Neda Rahmani. Before the tunes started guests were welcomed to Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung country with a smoking ceremony, inviting them to take a moment’s pause to pay respects to the tradition owners, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. The stage featured the musical sounds of Kylie Auldist, who has been described by The Music Magazine as Melbourne’s high priestess of soul. A regular visitor to Edwardes Lake, Kwame Tosuma also performed, getting the crowd up and dancing. Next to the stage, Tina Demelo, dancer and choreographer continued the dance party. DJ-in-Residence Maya Vice and electric-chill trio Belove were also there to ensure the crowd was moving to the groove until sunset. 3KND, Melbourne's first Indigenous owned and managed radio station were there to cover the event live. Along with the Friends of Edwardes Lake volunteers

Out of the Park Picnic

who offered visitors a chance to get involved with caring for the waterway and the biodiversity that calls it home. Children had their faces painted, hungry bellies were filled by local food trucks like Moon Rabbit Café and community spirit was in full force. It was a true celebration of the diverse community that is Darebin.

THE REZZADENT

April 2022

Looking for work in Rezza? by Carmen Lahiff-Jenkins

Do you live in Rezza and are you looking for a job? The state jobseeker data indicates that after the impacts of COVID lockdowns, Reservoir has the highest rate of jobseekers in the Darebin local government area (LGA). Australians can have a negative

Looking for work in Rezza?

view about long term job seekers, assuming that people who are long term unemployed are people who don't want to work (remember that time Scomo said “the best form of welfare is a job”). Most job seekers are only temporarily out of work due to factors like layoffs,

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economic downturns in their industry, or the nature of casual work. However, there are also hundreds of thousands of Australians for whom unemployment lasts years. Even though someone may be keen to work, there can be unseen barriers to employment, such as mental health issues, grief, neurodiversity, language, cultural diversity, racism, disability, ableism, family violence, homelessness, and ageism to name a few. We know from evidence gathered in the 2020 ‘I want to work report’ that the traditional work agencies do not have the experience and understanding to support the long term unemployed, or the complex unemployed to get a job. Since 2020, Darebin Council has engaged in the Victorian Job Advocates program. Job advocates are highly skilled at supporting people who want to find a job but may be struggling with barriers to work. What do job advocates do? A local Rezzadent can reach out to the Job Advocates network and get a range of support towards employment. Rezzadents can easily access the job advocates via phone call, drop in, or local area pop ups. The advocates can help with filling in forms, connecting you to services, such as: finding childcare recommendations, homeless services, mental health supports, disability services, specialist training programs and more. They can link you to a Jobs Victoria Mentor who can give you handson practical support with job search tips, writing a resume, practicing interviews, talking to you about how your interviews went, and checking in with you on your work search journey. Who are the job advocates? Lisa Forbes is a proud Wiradjuri woman who works with Indigenous communities across Darebin, Banyule and Moreland. Lisa and the rest of the diverse team that includes Ebrima Sarr, Tesfu Asgadom, Jamad Ahmed, and Skyla O’Shea speak up to 12 languages and come from a

variety of backgrounds including social work, education, community services and film making! The Rezzadent met with job advocate Skyla O’Shea who took us through some of the program’s success stories. The Job Advocates have a focus on Reservoir right now and have been able to investigate the interests and employment goals of many diverse groups in the community, including people with asylum seeker backgrounds, young people, women returning to the workforce after parental leave and more.

Job Advocates schedule: Mondays: Northcote library 10amMidday Wednesdays: Reservoir library 10am-Midday Thursdays: PRACE Merrilands Community Centre times tba Fridays: Preston library 10ammidday Appointments by phone, Zoom and other locations are also available. Pop ups at Summerhill Shopping Centre tba. Northland 19-22nd April To get in touch with Darebin Job Advocates please use: jobsadvocates@darebin.vic.gov.au Ph (03) 9240 2275

April 2022

RESERVOIR VINTAGE TOUR First Round By Viki Komornik

I must admit, I really enjoyed researching this piece. Spending time wandering through the local vintage shops ( not op-shops! ) was really fun, and meeting their committed owners was even more so! So what defines vintage? I don’t think there is a single definition we can all agree on.

Reservoir Vintage Tour

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That’s the beauty of it; there is something for everyone. There are actually not many that call themselves vintage shops in Reservoir, therefore I will venture over the suburb boundary and write about those ones in the coming issues. Stay tuned!

Marie opened her shop during 2021 when Melbourne was still going in and out of lockdowns - an idea many others would think crazy at that particular time! It wasn’t an easy start, but she was committed to opening a store where there would be something for everyone.

First up is a small shop, one of five shopfronts at 160 Boldrewood Parade called “ the shop with no name”. As soon as I pulled into the parking spot I knew I’d stay there for a while. A small table, two chairs and two women were sitting, chatting and laughing at the front. One woman had a large fan in her hand, attempting to swat the heat away. Her name is Marie, a larger than life character whose laugh is infectious and her passion for her shop is commendable.

The Shop With No Name is not just a vintage shop, Marie also collects and stores goods for those with little, or nothing to spare - community is very much at the centre of her actions. Have I mentioned that she also knows EVERYONE in the area? If you get a chance to visit her shop, spare a minute to ask Marie if she is collecting for a special group that you could help, enjoy a chat, or buy a book, like I did.

The Preservoir Trail by Nicole Robertson

Have you seen a “free lemons” box lately? Or a pile of mattresses? Maybe a mini public library? If you have, you may be one step closer to winning Preservoir Trail bingo. The Preservoir Trail is the brainchild of Reservoir artist Constance Hunter and her business partner Charlotte. Charlotte and Constance run K’nochen Joint together on Broadway. Constance, who “loves a scavenger hunt”, drew a map and bingo card designed to encourage folks to explore the neighbourhood and support local businesses. The bingo squares include deals at the 11 businesses participating in the Preservoir Trail along with squares like “bin out but it is not bin night” which capture a certain je ne sais Reservoir. Each participating business was given 10 bingo cards to hand out. (Yours truly managed to nab one from High and Wild and got a sweet deal on a dark and stormy!) The aim of the Preservoir Trail is both to provide a boost to local businesses after two difficult years and also to foster a sense of curiosity about our humble hood. The bingo squares are funny, sweet and celebrate the specifics of life above Bell Street. Constance’s favourite square is the cool veggie patch, which “makes [her] so happy, because people in this community want to share.” I’m fond of the punk pigeon myself. I asked Constance how one defines a punk pigeon, and she advised that seeing either a crested pigeon or just a pigeon with attitude should suffice for ticking off that square. Constance grew up in Eldorado, a Victorian country town of 300 people and one very cool name. After moving to Reservoir in 2011, she was surprised to find immediate friends and “the

most community I’ve ever experienced.” “People offer to help here,” she says. “The businesses care about the area.” She completed a Bachelor of Illustration at NMIT (now Melbourne Polytechnic) in Preston and now creates murals and illustrations alongside her work at K’nochen Joint. You might already be familiar with her artwork – she’s the artist behind the pink skeletons at K’nochen! In 2018, she traveled to Berlin and took part in a dérive, which my trusty Wikipedia search tells me is “an unplanned journey through a landscape, usually urban, in which participants drop their everyday relations”. She explained that each participant is given cards with prompts such as “follow the next bus you see” which serve as a starting point for wandering and seeing the landscape from a new perspective. Constance and Charlotte sought to recreate some of that experience through the Preservoir Trail, giving local residents a jump off point from which to discover backroads. Each bingo card has a map on the back, plotting out the locations of participating businesses. Constance told me that she was gratified to see an Instagrammer comment, “Finally a purpose for our walks!” The response thus far has been so positive that many businesses have run out of their maps. Constance and Charlotte credit the collaborating businesses for bringing the project to life along with their friend Kath for inspiring the bingo component and K’nochen Joint staff member Bella whose events experience informed the project. I asked Constance if there will be a second bingo card in the future. She told me that K’nochen Joint plans on

Preservoir Trail

creating another in a few months and that she is also designing stickers for the main thoroughfares in the neighbourhood. She showed me her sketch for her Broadway sticker, which she hopes can be a badge of pride for people who live and work on the East side. Like the Preservoir Trail project, her sticker project is playful and inclusive, recognising the unique aspects of the neighbourhood and reaching out to the people who live here. Constance’s artwork displays the kind of generosity that is so abundant in our community – a generosity that might earn you a tick on your bingo card if you happen to spot a mini public library on your next walk.

April 2022

Dear Reservoir Dogs Every month a different Reservoir dog helps a troubled Rezzadent through this column; one tail wag and wet kiss at a time. Treats welcome. Send your qualms with the subject line “Dear Reservoir Dogs” to rezzadentnews@gmail.com. If your best-legged mate wants to get involved, also get in touch. We love our Reservoir doggos!

April’s question is answered by two-yearold good boy Mango Mayhem.

Dear Reservoir Dog, Is Reservoir really the centre of the universe? It’s been a weird two years and I get a bit nervous venturing out of my fenced yard to be honest…. From ‘Restless in Royal Parade’

Dear Reservoir Dogs

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Dear Restless in Royal Parade, Well you’ve come to the right dog to answer this contemplative conundrum- one of my middle names is Tarantino because I’m a Reservoir dog! (I’ve got six middle names but that’s a story for another day …) OK - where was I? Yes, right - well I’m a Border Collie see, and I’ve got an annoying little brother Morti who’s a Border Collie too ….so we know something about diplomacy when it comes to patrolling the borders of our esteemed ‘hood - known as REZZA to those lucky enough to reside here (we let other poor lesser beings visit and bask in the REZZA awesomeness from time to time - after all we’re not complete savages!) To the west of our great territory we sometimes visit Merri Creek at westy Preston - play ball on the oval and swim in the creek. To the south we scour the business district around Tyler St for tasty treats given to us by Hilde Marguerita cafe and This Borderland burger joint, and coax pats and cuddles from the Hard Rubbish Bar crew who treat us like family. To the east we walk the creek track behind Northland up toward Bundoora Homestead parkland via the La Trobe Uni lake behind the sports stadium - again a fave swimming hole of ours with plenty of stickies to fetch.

magnificent lake - Edwardes Lake Park, and Edgars Creek. This is our special treat to visit like today - when our work is done touring and protecting the borders, and it’s time for a Sniffari, walkies and splash in the water! The people come out and picnic and a new doggy park will be created for us four-footed soldiers of the realm there soon too. Soooooooo ...YES …Rezza is the epicentre of our universe, and if you haven’t been outside your yard lately, it’s time to lead your human(s) (or fur-family) and explore our urban utopia cos it’s got so much to enjoy and explore. We will all get our winter coats soon and until then bring on the sunshine and outdoorsy adventures! Love Mango

Heading north you can find yourself on top of a mountain no less! Mt Cooper Lookout and walk the track toward Thomastown or back toward the Bundoora golf course. There are even sheep on the other side of a nice bridge and we like to play the “stinkeye stare off” game with Dolly & Rambo and their tribe …it’s a serious level skill that comes naturally to us herding fellas. But the jewel in the crown of this great Urban Oasis - splat in the middle is a

April 2022

The many faces of Reservoir

TURKISH By Viki Komornik Illustration by Rhiannon Poley

Turkey occupied a special interest in my primary and high school studies. Hungary - where I am from - was occupied by the Ottomans for 150 years during the 16th and 17th centuries. The occupation left both a positive and negative mark on my homeland. We were left with some stunning architecture, baths, and even our language was impacted by the Turks. Lately, you would have heard in the news about the Turkish government’s attempts to negotiate peace between Russia and Ukraine. Closer to home in our part of Melbourne, you may think of Turkey as you go past the sheesha cafes, where men are sitting outside, smoking shisha and socialising. The Nargile, also known as Hookah, Hubble-bubble, Sheesha or the Turkish Water Pipe, is an old tradition in Turkey for smoking Turkish tobacco.

telling old mystical stories of Sultans with Harems.

Visions of Turkey are also seen when you walk past shops with colourful Turkish plates, windows full of pastries and of course, Turkish delight. You may see Bellydancers entertaining at parties

The Republic of Turkey is situated mainly in Asia with a tiny part in the Southern part of Europe. The modern Republic of Turkey was founded in 1923 after the collapse of the ottoman Empire.

The Many Faces of Reservoir

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The largest city is Istanbul which used to be called Constantinople, until the Turks conquered the city in 1453. Its second largest city is the capital, Ankara. Turkey’s population is approximately 85 million, with over 14 million people living in Istanbul.

Turkish. According to their constitution, all citizens of Turkey are considered Turks; however, even though the majority of the population (over 65%) claims Turkish as their mother tongue, almost 20% claim Kurdish and a smaller minority Arabic.

Large parts of the country border water, the Black Sea, the Aegean Sea, Sea of Marmara and the Mediterranean Sea. On land it is bordered by eight countries, Bulgaria, Greece, Georgia, Iran, Armenia, Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan, Syria and Iraq.

A large majority of the country’s population is Muslim (mostly Sunni) but interestingly Turkey is a secular country, having removed Islam as the official state religion in 1928.

The language spoken in Turkey is

I might have sounded like Wikipedia condensed above, but I think it’s important to read some of these facts

April 2022

in order to understand their impact on the present.I love discovering what each nation has gifted the world in relation to innovations. The first on my list may surprise you. Tulips were brought to Europe by the Ottoman Empire during the 16th century, but presently when you think of Tulips, the Netherlands is more likely to jump to mind. Personally I can’t say I’m a fan of military marching bands but they were the first to send bands accompanying the military to war in the 13th century. When it comes to Turkish coffee, the verdict is not quite out as to its origins, but their way of brewing coffee is definitely specific to Turkey, cooked in a brass pot, unfiltered, thus allowing the grains to settle - resulting in a very rich, strong blend. Santa Claus might live at the North Pole but he was inspired by the Byzantine Saint Nicholas of Myra who was born in southern Turkey. He was a Greek Christian bishop in the 3rd century and according to legend he dropped bags of coins down chimneys of poor people’s houses. Turkish food is colourful, rich and flavoursome, influenced by many of its neighbours over millennia. With a vast array of flavours, there is something for everyone. Depending on where you travel in Turkey, you will find traditional dishes specific to what grows in that region.

Breakfasts and lunches are kept effortless, unlike dinners when the families get together to enjoy their meal. There is another ‘unofficial meal’ after dinner, called “yatsilik” consisting of fruit, nuts and black Turkish (often flavoured) tea. If you are vegetarian or vegan you may already know that Turkish food provides plenty of options with vegetable based dishes. We all know about Turkish bread, so it won’t come as a surprise that Turkey has the highest bread consumption per person in the world! Melbourne’s culture, no doubt, has become richer with the Turkish infusion. Think carpets, kilims, mother of pearl inlays, mosaics, music and dance. In our local hood we have quite a few eateries with Turkish influence along Broadway and Edwardes St, so why not feed your curiosity to discover these local treasures?

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23 One Month of Raftimes Reservoir Orders

April 2022

‘Leaders’ Art Exhibition at RWPS By Viki Komornik Credit for photos: Blacknote Photography When we think of our future and the future decision makers, we look to our children. We seek to inspire them while they inspire us. We need to listen. Kids are honest, even too honest at times; however this honesty is a positive trait and our elected leaders can learn valuable lessons from them. I learn from my daughter every day, even if it’s only patience! - on her more challenging days. Between 2016 and 2021, Dr. Claudia Escobar Vega developed her PhD in Leadership at the University of Wollongong, on the topic of children’s thinking of leaders. As part of her research she collaborated with Reservoir West Primary School, and asked its students to participate in what became an art exhibition of over 900 pieces. On the opening evening, the room was buzzing

'Leaders' Art Exhibition at RWPS

with visiting parents, kids running around, speeches from Claudia, RWPS student leaders and the mayor for Darebin, Cr Lina Messina. Children were asked to “Draw a leader leading”. The first drawings were created in 2018 from prep to Year 6, then again in 2022 for the same year levels. There were some obvious differences between pre-pandemic 2018 and pandemic early 2022, for example, Trump no longer made an appearance in the 2022 drawings. They were also asked to describe their drawing and to add an orange sticker next to the leader character in their drawing to easily identify the leader and make it more obvious for the viewer. From each drawing the audience could reach their own conclusions as to how age, gender, environmental

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esteem and environmental messages. Overall the qualities of the leader were kindness and being helpful. Hmmm…. personally, it makes me think of Jacinda Arden.

and social roles shape the children’s idea of ‘ leaders’. We can only make assumptions on whether the young artist was impacted by the media, their friends and family, or a project at school. They weren’t specifically asked to draw a human leader, so the artworks varied between a single person in the image, multiple people, a person leading a dog or one animal leading more animals. There were headphones set up opposite some drawings where the viewer could also listen to the artist’s description of their drawing. As Dr Claudia explained, kids in Prep are the group that most often draw themselves as a leader. From Year 1 onwards they mainly draw adults, shifting the focus to the functional, while later shifting to the emotional aspect of the leader - eg: How does a leader make me feel? During Year 6 we see more focus on the humanitarian side of a leader, such as, what they are doing for society, are they improving the lives of many? The older kids also included more messages in their drawings, focusing on positive self

Did we see more female or male leaders appear in the drawings? Well, it saddens me but also didn’t come as a surprise, to see more male leaders in the art than female. Between Prep and Grade 5, about 70% of the girls drew female leaders, and in year 6 this drops to about 40%. There is definitely some more learning to be

had here. The drawings and messages brought up a tirade of feelings in me. Some messages surprised me, some made me hopeful or laugh out loud, but some made me want to cry. It was truly an emotive exhibition. I’m glad these conversations begin early, as these kids will become the adults in charge, either through their votes or their personal leadership and lead us to whatever the

April 2022

The exhibition was proudly supported by Darebin City Council’s Community Grants Program, Artists for Kids Culture, Reservoir West Primary School, The Wheeler Centre of Books, Writing and Ideas and peopleartpeople. For more information visit claudiaescobarvega.com/ leadersartexhibition.

future holds. On the opening evening, the room was buzzing with visiting parents, kids running around, music performances, and speeches from Dr Claudia, school representatives, school captains, the Mayor of City of Darebin and the Executive Director of Artists for Kids Culture. You can watch a short ABC segment of the exhibition. Claudia also presented on children and leadership at the Wheeler’s Centre, you can watch her presentation here.

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Community News If you have a tip-off or know of an event coming up that you’d like featured please contact us at rezzadentnews@gmail.com

Darebin Draft Budget - Have your say If council budgets float your boat, make sure you check out 2022/23’s draft one. It includes, among other things: •

Declaration of concessions aligned to equity measures to support ratepayers with the impact of the public waste service rate and service charge for kerbside waste collection (reflected in the Revenue and Rating Plan and Rates Financial Hardship Policy)

•

Declaration of a Pensioner Rebate for general rates

•

Declaration of a special charge for the Reservoir Village Business District

Visit the www.yoursay.darebin.vic.gov. au/budget2022-23 and tell them your thoughts.

Well done to Friends of Edwardes Lake for winning the Sustainability Award Every year the Darebin Community Awards highlight the wonderful and impactful contributions our community members make to the City of Darebin. This year the Sustainability Award goes

to our local heroes - Friends of Edwardes Lake! The Friends of Edwardes Lake are a committed group of volunteers, dedicated to preserving, restoring, and caring for the diverse ecosystems of Edwardes Lake and Edgars Creek wetlands and surrounds, through activities such as weeding, planting, litter collections and education. By educating the community in environmental conservation, they provide opportunities to participate in the restoration and maintenance of the biodiversity corridor and promote recreational opportunities to observe nature. A local resident said: “The park would not be as nice without their contribution which is entirely voluntary. They should be commended for their efforts.” The Group is always on the lookout for more volunteers to become environmental guardians by joining Friends of Edwardes Lake. A reminder your Love Local Cards need to be used by 31 May Time to dust it off and head to your local shops, before all cards expire on 31 May.

Community News

April 2022

New Food and Garden Waste Services! During June and July there will be new food and green waste bins delivered to 22,000 households in Darebin. All residents that use Council’s kerbside waste services will now have a food and green waste bin.

• •

community initiatives. Biodiversity projects Sustainable transport: projects which increase sustainable transport use

Small Grants – up to $3000 Medium Grants – up to $15,000

This will help us divert more waste from landfill and turn valuable food and garden waste into compost for use on farms, parks and gardens across Victoria. It will also help save on waste costs if we can significantly reduce waste to landfill.

Applications: open 4 April – close 31 May

For further information go to www. darebin.vic.gov.au/foodwaste

Reservoir Stomp

Small and Medium Community Grants opening 4 April The Community Grants Program supports community projects and activities that address local priorities, strengthen community relationships of mutual respect, build social inclusion and environmental sustainability and enhance the well-being of City of Darebin residents.

For more information and to submit your application, visit the www.darebin.vic. gov.au/about-council/darebin-grants.

Kingsbury Bowls Club Saturday 30 April, 2 – 8:30 p.m. Music festival featuring barefoot bowls, local food and drink vendors. To book visit www.reservoirstomp.com

Richie 1250’s Unlimited Love Lounge Free entry

Many wonderful groups and individuals make incredible contributions to our community. In line with Council Plan priorities, we look forward to receiving your environment and sustainability project applications for:

K’nochen Joint

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First Friday of the month, 5 – 11 p.m.

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Climate emergency engagement projects which engage community to take genuine and measurable action on the climate emergency Climate emergency projects which build the resilience of our communities to avoid heat stress and fuel poverty Waste reduction, food security, sustainable food production, increased food recycling and stimulation of local circular economy

www.facebook.com/KnochenJoint/ 206 Broadway, Reservoir VIC 3073 Ph 0414 704 077

Music and DJ event held monthly

Special pie and margarita deals Hard Rubbish Bar www.facebook.com/HardRubbishBar/

THE REZZADENT

670 Plenty Rd, Preston VIC 3072 Ph 0414 704 077 Pie Thief pies on Wednesdays and $12 Margaritas on Thursdays

To book visit www.oshunyoga.com.au/ special-events/cacao-sound

Bee Hotel Workshop Edwardes Lake Park, $11.64

Transition Darebin Food Swap

Saturday 30 April, 10 – 11:30 a.m.

Reservoir Library, free

Bee hotel making workshop run by Katrina from www.buzzanddig.com.au and hosted by Friends of Edwardes Lake

Third Saturday of the month, 10 – 11 a.m. Monthly meet-up to swap excess food, meet local folks, talk about gardening and sustainability.

Darren Constable

To book visit www.eventbrite.com.au/e/ friends-of-edwardes-lake-bee-hotelmaking-workshop-tickets-312778768717

Litter Collection

free entry

Friends of Edwardes Lake volunteer opportunity

High and Wild bar, 817 High St, Reservoir.

Sunday 8 May, 9 a.m. – Midday

https://www.highandwildbar.com.au/ pages/whats-on

Meet at the noticeboard between the bridge and playground on Griffiths St

Thursday 7 April, 7 - 10 p.m.

More information here www. friendsofedwardeslake.org/events

Live music

Deep Healing with Cacao, Sound and Reiki

Maker’s Market Free entry

Oshun Yoga

Future Mountain Taproom

www.oshunyoga.com.au

www.futuremountain.com.au

20 Gellibrand Cres, Reservoir VIC 3072

703-707 Plenty Rd, Reservoir VIC 3073

Ph 0450 959 690

(03) 9078 6745

$88

Sunday 1 May, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Friday 29 April, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Range of stalls selling local and handmade homewares, arts and crafts.

Healing workshop with cacao ceremony, sound and reiki

April 2022

DJs every Friday and Saturday

Mondays from 7 p.m.

Free entry

Trading card game tournament

Hard Rubbish 670 Plenty Rd, Preston

Dragon Ball Tournament

https://www.facebook.com/ HardRubbishBar/

The Game Experts

Ricotta Festival 2022 That’s Amore Cheesery - $12 general admission/$40 entry + ricotta feast/$120 entry + ricotta feast + Julia Ostro masterclass 66 Latitude Blvd, Thomastown VIC 3074, Australia Ph (03) 9463 4222 cheesery@thatsmorecheese.com.au www.thatsamorecheese.com.au/pages/ cheesery

944 High St, Reservoir VIC 3073 Ph (03) 9191 5155 www.thegameexperts.com.au Wednesdays from 7 p.m. Trading card game tournament

Live piano shows free entry Ragtime Tavern 206 Tyler St, Preston VIC 3072

Sunday 1 May, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Ph 0418 557 650

An Italian Sunday festa celebrating all things ricotta! Food stalls, live music, a petting farm for kids, talks by Giorgio Linguanti (founder of That's Amore Cheese) and ricotta gnocchi masterclass with Julia Ostro.

ragtimetavern.com.au

Book online at www.eventbrite. com.au/e/ricotta-festival-2022tickets-288360713657

Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 6 – 11 p.m. Follow their Instagram account www. instagram.com/ragtimetavern/ to see which artists are performing each week.

Sunday Jazz Sessions Flesh & Blood Tournament

free entry

The Game Experts

Ragtime Tavern

944 High St, Reservoir VIC 3073

206 Tyler St, Preston VIC 3072 free entry

Ph (03) 9191 5155

Ph 0418 557 650

www.thegameexperts.com.au

ragtimetavern.com.au

THE REZZADENT

Every Sunday, 5 – 10 p.m.

After School STEAM Club free entry Reservoir Library Wednesday 4 May, 4 p.m. After school STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and maths) crafts and activities for ages 5 - 12 For bookings visit www.eventbrite.com. au/e/after-school-steam-club-reservoirregistration-297870437497?aff=ebdsopo rgprofile

ReSpin Gambling Awareness Talk free event Reservoir Library Tuesday 3 May, 7:30 – 9 p.m. Reformed gambler and trained ReSPIN speaker Ian shares his experience to help educate others about gambling harm. To book visit www.eventbrite.com. au/e/respin-gambling-awareness-talkregistration-305247833487?aff=ebdsopo rgprofile

To book visit www.eventbrite.com. au/e/bring-in-your-bills-banyulehealth-financial-advice-registration305259528467?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Device Advice free Reservoir Library, Monday 16 May, 2 – 4 p.m. Free 20 minute one-on-one sessions with a Darebin Libraries staff member to help resolve your minor technical issues. to book visit www.eventbrite.com. au/e/device-advice-reservoir-libraryregistration-308558275107?aff=ebdsopo rgprofile or call 1300 655 355

1st Birthday Event My Asian Neighbour 760 Plenty Rd, Reservoir VIC 3073 Ph (03) 9470 5481 www.myasianneighbour.com.au Call for details

Mother’s Day Event Bring In Your Bills – Banyule Health Financial Advice free event Reservoir Library Tuesday 10 May, 6:30 – 8 p.m. Banyule Health financial advisors will be available to help you work out your finances

My Asian Neighbour 760 Plenty Rd, Reservoir VIC 3073 Ph (03) 9470 5481 www.myasianneighbour.com.au Call for details

April 2022

Illustration By Nicole Roberston

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