Whitehorse News January 2019

WHITEHORSE NEWS • January 2019

Celebrate Australia Day in Whitehorse at our annual concert and fireworks!

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Whitehorse Centre

Chinese New Year

Have Your Say

Whitehorse Centre Season

Read about the future of Whitehorse's performing arts centre.

Celebrate the Year of the Pig in Box Hill.

A new online portal is making community consultation easier.

A touch of grace is heading to Whitehorse in 2019.

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January 2018

Contact us Whitehorse City Council, Locked Bag 2, Nunawading, VIC 3131 customer.service@whitehorse.vic.gov.au whitehorse.vic.gov.au Phone: 9262 6333 Fax: 9262 6490 NRS: 133 677 then quote 9262 6333 Customer service centres

Sustainability

Whitehorse Civic Centre

Whitehorse News is printed on paper manufactured at a PEFC and FSC Certified Paper Mill and is produced using soy based inks.

Forest Hill Chase Shopping Centre Box Hill Town Hall

Council meetings Ordinary Council Meeting Tuesday 29 January at 7pm These meetings are held in the Council Chamber at Whitehorse Civic Centre.

Council meetings are live streamed at webcast. whitehorse.vic.gov.au

Acknowledgement of Country In the spirit of reconciliation, Whitehorse City Council acknowledges the Wurundjeri people as the traditional custodians of the land. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Whitehorse News online Sign up to our e-version and read the Whitehorse News online at www.whitehorse.vic. gov.au/whitehorse-news.html

Translation services For free interpreting assistance call 131 450. Mention the language you speak and ask to be connected to Whitehorse City Council.

Chinese / 中文

Greek / Ελληνικά

如需免费口译协助，请致电 131 450。电话接通后，请说出 你说的语言，并要求转接白马 市政府。

Για δωρεάν βοήθεια με διερμηνεία τηλεφωνήστε στο 131 450. Αναφέρετε τη γλώσσα που ομιλείτε και ζητήστε να συνδεθείτε με το Δήμο του Whitehorse.

Italian / Italiano

Vietnamese / Tiếng Việt

Per assistenza di interpretariato chiama il 131 450. Indica la lingua che parli e chiedi di essere messo in contatto con il Whitehorse City Council.

Để được hỗ trợ thông dịch miễn phí hãy gọi số 131 450. Hãy nói tên ngôn ngữ của quý vị và yêu cầu được kết nối với Hội đồng Thành phố Whitehorse.

Celebrate Chinese New Year Saturday 2 February, 11am-1am

With tens of thousands in attendance each year, the Chinese New Year Festival in Box Hill is the biggest annual event in the City of Whitehorse.

Celebrate the Year of the Pig as you explore the wonder of the Lunar New Year in Box Hill with the colour, food and art of Asian culture.

Enjoy music, dance, rides, firecracker displays, market stalls and much more.

Whitehorse City Council is once again proud to support the Asian Business Association of Whitehorse as it hosts one of the largest Chinese New Year celebrations in Melbourne.

More information (including changed traffic conditions) www.whitehorse.vic.gov.au/ Chinese-New-Year-Festival.html

Council Launches New Online Consultation Platform Council wants to hear your ideas.

Join our new online engagement platform and find out about upcoming opportunities to help shape the future of your community, suburb and municipality. There will be opportunities to participate in discussions around planning matters, the annual budget and the development of strategic plans and policies.

Have input into Council decisions which balance the needs of everyone in our community. Simply register your details, and you can choose to be

notified about issues that are of interest to you and be kept informed on projects where you’ve had your say. Your Say Whitehorse is mobile and tablet friendly, and users can even share engagements with their social networks through one click!

Don’t worry if you’re not online though.

We will continue to offer other methods of community consultation.

To register, visit oursay.org/whitehorsecitycouncil

January 2018

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Whitehorse Centre Redevelopment Design Competition Council is transforming the Whitehorse Centre in Nunawading into a highly accessible, flexible and modern venue that will meet the diverse and changing needs of our community, centre users and patrons.

The new centre will offer a wider array of performing arts, functions and festivals for generations to come.

The Whitehorse Centre is Council’s performing arts and cultural venue and a beloved community facility, attracting over 100,000 attendees and 40,000 festival goers annually.

What will the new centre offer?

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200-seat studio theatre for smaller scale works

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multipurpose rehearsal/dance studio

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multipurpose function room

Next steps

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a greatly expanded range of shows, functions and events

The Whitehorse Centre will continue to operate throughout 2019. As construction and site planning are confirmed, Council will advise on the closure date of the existing centre and the transition plan for clients and patrons during construction.

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However, now more than 30 years old, it is nearing the end of its functional working life.

Design Competition A national design competition will be held this year.

The competition will bring together some of Australia’s best architectural minds to propose a new vision for the Whitehorse Centre.

600-seat auditorium with larger stage and modern backstage area

Community Focus It is expected that 80 per cent of use will come from community groups and community-based Council programs such as the Whitehorse Centre professional season, midweek matinee season and sports awards, among others.

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improved soundshell capability for community festival season multi-deck car park located at the rear of the Nunawading Police Station for visitors to the Whitehorse Centre, Nunawading Library, Whitehorse Civic Centre and the Walker Park sports precinct.

Council will ensure the new venue preserves what people most value about the current centre – the warm atmosphere, intimate experience and exceptional customer service.

Get to Know Your Council Whitehorse City Council is proud to announce its results in the state-wide Local Government Performance Reporting Framework (LGPRF) indicators for 2017/18.

LGPRF is an initiative of the state government that aims to give the community a greater understanding of the work Councils do and how they are performing.

More information and to sign up to regular email updates www.whitehorsecentre.com.au/redevelopment.html whitehorsecentre.redevelopment@whitehorse.vic.gov.au 9262 6165

Aquatic facilities

Recycling

Council’s recreational facilities are one of the top performing areas in Council’s Community Satisfaction Survey, significantly exceeding the state-wide averages for the period 2016-2018.

The amount of waste sent to organics and recycling facilities in Whitehorse was 50.18 per cent compared to the metro average of 45.10 per cent.

Through the Know Your Council website, residents can see how Whitehorse compares with other Councils across a range of services and measures.

More information www.knowyourcouncil.vic.gov.au

Governance

Transparency

Roads

The percentage of Council decisions made at meetings closed to the public for Whitehorse was 3.93 per cent compared to the metro* average at 7.4 per cent.

Council scored 70 out of 100 in satisfaction with sealed local roads, significantly exceeding the metropolitan group and state-wide averages.

Satisfaction with Council decisions scored 58 out of 100 in the 2018 Community Satisfaction Survey. This was consistent with the metro average and exceeded the state-wide average of 54 out of 100.

Whitehorse Mayor Councillor Bill Bennett recently visited Aqualink Box Hill to congratulate staff on their excellent results.

Councillor attendance at council meetings was 100 per cent.

Animal Management Time taken to action animal management requests decreased to 1.22 days, compared to the metro average of 2.28 days. Overall, the number of impounded animals has increased due to a program aimed at reducing stray animals within the municipality.

Maternal and Child Health Financial Performance Indicators Council performed well across all indicators demonstrating Council’s financial sustainability.

Participation in this service has increased to 85.71 per cent.

* Metropolitan Melbourne is considered the geographical area that defines Melbourne as a city. Of the 79 local government areas in Victoria, 31 are in metro Melbourne.

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January 2018

10 Top Tips for Keeping Your Cool 1. Drink plenty of water or other cool non-alcoholic fluids even if you’re not thirsty. Avoid drinking extremely cold liquids as they can cause stomach cramps.

6. Eat smaller meals more often and try cold meals such as salad.

2. Reduce activity and avoid exercise. If activity is unavoidable, try to schedule it for the cooler part of the day and rest often.

8. Place wet towels on your body, put feet in cold water and take cool (not cold) showers.

3. Whenever possible, stay indoors or in the shade.

4. Stay cool and keep air circulating around you. Keep windows covered and use a fan or air conditioner if possible.

5. Consider visiting an air conditioned shopping centre or public library.

7. Wear light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing made from natural fibres like cotton and linen.

9. Never leave infants, children, older people or pets in cars, as the temperature in a car can rise in minutes to up to 30 degrees higher than outside temperatures.

10. For urgent help if someone is suffering from heat-related illness or stress, or you witness a vulnerable person left inside a car, phone 000 and ask for an ambulance.

Should I put sunscreen on my baby?

Babies under six months old need special care when it comes to staying sunsmart.

Using sunscreen on babies less than six months old is not generally recommended due to babies’ very sensitive skin which could suffer an adverse reaction to the ingredients in sunscreen.

A visit to your local Aqualink is the perfect way to beat the heat!

The best way to protect infants from the sun is to use shade, clothing and wide-brimmed hats.

Sunscreens labelled ‘for babies’ or ‘sensitive’ are less likely to cause skin irritation. Always test the sunscreen on a small area of your baby’s skin to check for any skin reactions.

More information raisingchildren.net.au sunsmart.com.au

January Immunisations

Whitehorse Civic Centre (Willis Room)

Council provides free vaccinations against infectious diseases for children from six weeks to 19 years of age and a limited range of vaccines for eligible adults in accordance with the National Immunisation Program Schedule.

18 and 23 January – 9.15am-10.45am 10 January – 6pm-7.30pm

No Jab No Pay For all enquiries regarding legislation please call the Centrelink Families and Parent Line on 13 61 50

A love of drama and performance played a key role in Kate Gerraty’s life last year as she completed Year 12.

379 Whitehorse Road, Nunawading

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Box Hill South Family Centre 1228A Riversdale Road (Rotary Court), Box Hill South 2 and 24 January – 9.15am-10.45am 17 January – 6pm-7.30pm •

Burgess Family Centre 15 Barwon Street, Box Hill North 16 January – 9.15am-10.45am 22 January – 6pm-7.30pm •

More information 9262 6197 whitehorse.vic.gov.au/ Immunisation.html

Young Person of the Month

Sportlink Vermont South ***Note new location*** 2 Hanover Road, Vermont South 11 January – 9.15am-10.45am

Get the buzz!

Kate, 18, has been named Council’s Young Person of the Month for January.

Council uses Flexibuzz to communicate all the latest news on local family events, programs, immunisation, parenting information forums, maternal and child health, Whitehorse Early Learning Centres (WELS), Aqualink’s occasional care and information on parenting youth.

The former Koonung Secondary College student was involved in school drama as an ensemble member, a principal cast member and the head of the hair and makeup crew at various times over her last four years of secondary school.

Download Flexibuzz in your app store, register and then search for Whitehorse City Council and select the categories that relate to you.

Kate prides herself on helping and mentoring others around her. She was drama captain last year while juggling the demands of VCE study, being a player and volunteer at her local tennis club, and a volunteer for the School of Hard Knocks choir which sheds light on family violence and domestic abuse.

She also had key roles throughout her secondary school years as a band member playing flute and piano and as a solo singer with Koonung’s music department.

Kate had a coveted place at the Big Camp last year run

by Lord Somers Camp and Power House, where she learnt leadership skills and the principles of team work.

January 2018

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The Summer Reading Club is on again Great prizes are up for grabs just for keeping up your reading over the summer holidays!

1. Join Register online at www.wml.vic.gov.au or join at any library branch.

2. Mark off each day you read (or are read to) Download the special map at www.wml.vic.gov.au or pick up one at a library branch. Move forward one space for every day that you read or are read to.

3. Return activity sheet to library Land on a curious creature to get a prize.

Reach the end to enter the Grand Prize Draw for a $250 book voucher, plus runner-up prizes. Complete an island task to get a bonus entry into the Grand Prize Draw.

4. Join the party!

Winners will be announced at our Summer Reading Club Grand Prize Party on Saturday 2 February at Nunawading Library.

Who will win the major prizes? Be there for the Big Prize Draw!

Join the fun of our family event, with face-painting, games, activities, and a fun photo booth!

When: Saturday 2 February, 11am-12pm Where: Nunawading Library Bookings: Free - No bookings required

Want more Summer Reading Club fun?

Join the official Australia-wide club at www.summerreadingclub.org.au to go into the draw for additional prizes.

Image: Cr Prue Cutts encouraging a young reader to take part in the Summer Reading Club.

January School Holiday Program Aqualink Box Hill

Sportlink Vermont South

Chill Zone

Bookings: www.sportlink.org.au/ school-holiday-programs.html

When: Weekdays 7–25 January Cost: Normal price of pool entry

Kelly Sports – School Holiday Program

Dive boards and Tarzan rope: 12.30pm-4pm Inflatable: 1.30pm-4pm Book for the following programs at www.aqualink.com.au/SchoolHoliday-Activities.html

Ages: 4-12 years When: Weekdays 7–25 January Cost: $55 per day

Experience soccer, footy, cricket, hockey, basketball, crazy games, karate, dancing and more.

Team Holiday Ages: Prep-grade six When: Weekdays 3–29 January

Toptenn Tennis Ages: 3-14 years When: 21–25 January

No Limits Basketball When: Monday 14, Tuesday 15, Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 January

Aqualink Nunawading When: Weekdays 7–25 January Cost: Normal price of pool entry

Small inflatable: 12.30pm-1.15pm Giant inflatable: 1.15pm-2.15pm Tarzan rope: 2.15pm-3pm

Box Hill Community Arts Centre

Mixed Media with Ashby Age: 12 years + When: Wednesday 23 January, 10.30am-3pm Cost: $60

Develop unique stencil designs and live art sketches. iPad drawing Age: 6-12 years When: Wednesday 23 January, 11am-12.30pm or 1pm-2.30pm Cost: $21

Bookings: bhcac.com.au

Turn drawings into digital masterpieces. BYO iPad with Tayasui Sketches app.

Toon Time

Kindy Craft Library Bag

Age: 8 years + When: Monday 21 January, 10.30am-12pm Cost: $21

When: Thursday 24 January, 11.30am-12.30pm Cost: $27

Learn techniques for drawing your own cartoon characters.

Adult and child work together to create imaginative art pieces.

Comic Art

Fun with Clay – Gnome House

Age: 12 years + When: Monday 21 January, 12.30pm-2pm Cost: $21

When: Thursday 24 January, 12pm-1.30pm Cost: $44 for one child and one parent – extra participant $20

Develop your skills in cartooning, illustration and comics.

Hand build and paint a clay project for firing and glazing.

Morack Golf Course Bookings: morackgolf.com.au/ for-juniors.html

GSM Junior Golf Academy Beginner and Intermediate Junior Golf Camp Age: 6-16 years When: 7-10 January, 8.30am-9.30am Cost: $100 for all four sessions

Golf clubs will be provided if participants don’t have their own equipment.

ParksWide Bookings: parkswidewhitehorse. eventbrite.com Remember your hat, sunscreen, suitable enclosed footwear and water bottle. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

If it is declared a Total Fire Ban Day the event will be cancelled. Please check the CFA website the evening before.

Homes and Hollows Ages: 6-12 years When: Wednesday 23 January, 10am-12pm Where: Yarran Dheran Nature Reserve, Ashburton Drive, Mitcham

Explore Yarran Dheran looking for animal homes.

Australian Animals at the Lake Ages: 5-12 years When: Friday 25 January, 10am-12pm Where: Blackburn Lake Sanctuary Visitor Centre, Central Road, Blackburn

Discover some amazing Australian Animals.

Youth ConneXions

School Holiday Program

Bush Detectives

Youth ConneXions will facilitate a range of fun activities for young people these school holidays.

Ages: 5-12 years When: Monday 21 January, 10am-12pm Where: Blackburn Lake Sanctuary, Central Road, Blackburn

For further details please visit the Youth ConneXions Facebook page or go to www.whitehorse.vic.gov.au/ Youth-Services.html

Can you find the animals of Blackburn Lake Sanctuary?

Whitehorse Australia Da

Saturday 26 Janu Whitehorse Civic Pre Celebrate our great nation and multicultural community with a bonanza of musical delights.

Rumour Has It – Naomi Price Say ‘Hello’ to award-winning Australian theatre darling Naomi Price as she headlines this year’s Australia Day Concert with her smash hit Adele show, featuring hits such as ‘Rolling in the Deep’, ‘Someone Like You’ and the Oscar winning ‘Skyfall’.

A spectacular 10 minute fireworks display will cap off this wonderful night.

Fireworks Finale A spectacular fireworks display will round out this fabulous evening. The breathtaking show will be fired from Walker Park, with great viewing opportunities from the festival site.

Like This After wowing Whitehorse audiences in 2016, we are thrilled to have Like This back on the Australia Day stage. Now as an eight piece band featuring extra horns, this energetic performance will be filled with classic hits.

Please note that should a total fire ban day be declared or there are high winds, the fireworks display will not take place.

Australian Girls Choir

All Day Fritz All Day Fritz will kick off the night with their rootsy, swingy, jazzy, rocky, rowdy, mellow, groovy and harmonious music.

Enjoy a rousing rendition of the national anthem and some Aussie classics as the iconic choir brings their youthful exuberance to the Australia Day stage.

The Intrepid Hounds Enjoy jazz, funk, R’n’B and soul covers from Stevie Wonder, James Brown, the Doobie Brothers and more. The dancing shoes will get a work out as the Hounds ignite the dance floor with an energetic gumbo of funk and soul music.

Note: There is no access inside Walker Park for the entire event.

Please take care of your pets at home if you think they may be scared by the fireworks.

Getting There As parking is limited, guests are encouraged to take public transport, cycle or walk. To plan your journey, visit Public Transport Victoria's journey planner at www.ptv.vic.gov.au or use the interactive map at bit.ly/AUSdayMap

ay Concert and Fireworks

uary, 6pm-10pm ecinct, Nunawading

Accessibility Accessible parking and toilets will be available. An accessible viewing area will be located at the top of the lawn off the main path.

The full concert will be AUSLAN interpreted with a dedicated viewing area at stage left, with interpreters also on the big screens throughout.

Rides, Refreshments and Giveaways

STAGE PROGRAM

Kids big and small will love the free rides, which start from 5pm.

A wide variety of food stalls will be on site, as well as novelty Australia Day items for sale, with funds going to local charities and community service organisations.

There will also be giveaways and exciting activities galore from our event sponsors.

6pm

Welcome from MC Wendy Stapleton

6.05pm

All Day Fritz

6.30pm

Official Opening and Welcome to Country

6.35pm

Civic Award Presentations

6.45pm

National Anthem

6.50pm

Australian Girls Choir

7.10pm

The Intrepid Hounds

8pm

Like This

8.50pm

Rumour Has It – Naomi Price

9:50pm

Fireworks

10pm

Concert ends

5pm-9.40pm Free Rides *Times are subject to change

MORE INFORMATION www.whitehorse.vic.gov.au

PRINCIPAL SPONSOR

MAJOR SPONSOR

ASSOCIATE SPONSORS

Whitehorse Festival Season bit.ly/AUSdayMap Retirement living and aged care

at its best!

MEDIA PARTNERS

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The views expressed are those of individual Councillors and do not necessarily reflect Council policy or the views of Council as a whole.

Central Ward

Elgar Ward

Morack Ward

Cr Andrew Munroe 0429 138 140 andrew.munroe@whitehorse.vic.gov.au

Cr Tina Liu 0418 121 357 tina.liu@whitehorse.vic.gov.au

Cr Bill Bennett (Mayor) 0409 195 530 bill.bennett@whitehorse.vic.gov.au

Cr Denise Massoud 0409 230 499 denise.massoud@whitehorse.vic.gov.au

Cr Blair Barker 0459 857 280 blair.barker@whitehorse.vic.gov.au

Cr Raylene Carr 0400 886 889 raylene.carr@whitehorse.vic.gov.au

By Cr Andrew Munroe

By Cr Blair Barker

By Cr Bill Bennett

Late last year for the first time Box Hill City Band had two winners in the State Band Championships held in Ballarat.

By the time you are reading this, the mad rush of Christmas will be over and hopefully you are continuing to enjoy a relaxing time with family and friends.

Box Hill City Band, under the leadership of Simon Brown, and Whitehorse Brass, under Broden Ford, won all four of their items in their respective divisions. Box Hill City Band has a proud history and this year celebrates 130 years with a concert at the Box Hill Town Hall on Sunday 9 June.

I adore the festive season locally, it has been a privilege and joy to attend outstanding school fairs and to join local cricket clubs, dog walking social groups, the model boat club and local faith based organisations in Christmas celebrations.

Fleur De Juin Business Park is the intriguing name for a proposed new development at the Hewlett Packard site on the North West corner of Springvale road and Burwood Highway.

The Whitehorse Carols held in late December was a fabulous evening and a marvellous tribute to the local church choir groups that have powered this celebration for many years. I am always encouraged by the generosity of people in Whitehorse, so many volunteer for and donate to those less fortunate.

I thank them all sincerely.

Keep Safe in the Heat

Above: Simon Brown, Cr Andrew Munroe and Broden Ford.

Hon Robert Clark As your Council representative I have worked with numerous State and Federal Members of Parliament from both main parties. Due to a redistribution prior to the election before last, a significant part of Central Ward fell within the Box Hill state electorate.

From day one, the member Robert Clark was a strong advocate for issues and concerns, often forwarding constituents' concerns where Council may be best placed to assist. After three decades of public service I can attest that Robert’s work ethic never waned and I am sure his advocacy will be sorely missed following his involuntary retirement from State Parliament due to the election. I celebrate his enormous contribution to public life and wish him and his family well for the future.

Summer is a relaxing time, but it is important to be alert to the dangers of extremely hot weather. In the driest months, it is important that grass is kept trimmed, as long dry grass and a careless cigarette butt can quickly escalate into disaster. If you have a vacant block next to you that needs clearing or a vacant home in your street that has been neglected, you can take a picture of any grass that is over 20cm and advise Council, who will notify owners and rectify the situation if need be. You can use Snap Send Solve the phone app that Council recently introduced.

Australia Day Council’s Australia Day Concert and Fireworks will be on 26 January. It is always hugely popular and if you haven’t previously attended I’d encourage you to get along. I look forward to seeing many there.

Community drop in sessions were held in December to get feedback from local residents. The concept is to develop the site with a mixture of residential, commercial, community facilities, green space and retail. No details are available at this stage.

Festivals Late last year there were many cultural festivals including the Indian Diwali Festival, the Greek Orthodox 50th Anniversary Celebrations and the Persian Fair. We have a rich and diverse community that adds to the social fabric of our lives. With Christmas behind us, we look forward to Australia Day Celebrations and then to Chinese New Year.

Mayoral Role It was an honour and a privilege to be elected as Mayor of the City of Whitehorse for this year.

As you can imagine it will be a busy time, but I’m looking forward to the opportunities of representing our great City. One of the most rewarding honours is conducting Citizenship Ceremonies at Box Hill Town Hall where approximately 140 new residents are welcomed into our community every couple of months. It’s certainly exciting to witness the absolute joy of those people as they embark on a new chapter in their lives.

Until next time, Bill

Eastern Climate Action Melbourne (ECAM) ECAM continue to engage and inform the community on climate change issues. In late November they held an Energy Smart Cities forum. The presenter Paul Brown is the Managing Director of Ironbark Sustainability, a consultancy that often advises local government on managing climate change. What was interesting was that Paul’s figures had Electric Vehicles becoming cheaper than the combustion engine within the decade. Regardless of the policies of successive governments it will be continuing fall in the price of renewables that will no doubt see a massive shift from fossil fuels in our lifetime.

Above: Cr Barker with Corporal Ward “Wardy” at Remembrance Day.

Above: Mr Neil Angus MP, Cr Bill Bennett, David Lewis, coordinator Vermont Men's Shed.

The views expressed are those of individual Councillors and do not necessarily reflect Council policy or the views of Council as a whole.

Riversdale Ward Cr Sharon Ellis 0419 397 194 sharon.ellis@whitehorse.vic.gov.au

Cr Andrew Davenport 0407 652 145 andrew.davenport@whitehorse.vic.gov.au

Springfield Ward Cr Ben Stennett 0448 375 937 ben.stennett@whitehorse.vic.gov.au

Cr Prue Cutts 0409 867 540 prue.cutts@whitehorse.vic.gov.au

By Cr Sharon Ellis

By Cr Prue Cutts

I can't believe we are at the start of another year!

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas spent with loved ones and I wish you all a joyful, prosperous and personally rewarding 2019!

I hope you all managed to relax a little over the Christmas break and are ready to take on 2019. The last couple of months of the year are usually busy for Councillors, with many invitations to community events.

Whitehorse Excellence in Business Awards.

The annual Whitehorse Business Awards were held In November and again showcased the diverse range of businesses in our municipality. Awards were given out in a number of different categories, with the overall winner announced at the end of the evening.

I was delighted to see that Kingswood College not only won the Large Business Award but also took out the Overall Business Award 2018. This wonderful school was originally established in 1890 and has been at the Box Hill South location since 1930.

Representing the Community Part of the work of a Councillor is to represent and promote the Whitehorse community at different community organisations, bodies and committees.

At an Ordinary Council Meeting in November, Councillors were appointed to the following bodies: ■■

Citizenships Ceremonies It is always a great honour to attend Citizenship ceremonies. Committing to become a citizen of another country is perhaps one of the biggest decisions a person can make. As Australians we hope for a strong, harmonious and united nation.

We welcome all new citizens to our wonderful, multicultural, vibrant and caring community.

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Local Government’s Waste Management Forum (to support the Metropolitan Waste Management Group): Mayor Cr Bill Bennett, and Cr Andrew Munroe as a substitute when required Municipal Association of Victoria: Cr Andrew Davenport and Cr Andrew Munroe as a substitute when required Whitehorse Business Group Inc.: Cr Tina Liu and Cr Prue Cutts Whitehorse Manningham Regional Library Corp.: Cr Tina Liu and Cr Prue Cutts Victorian Local Governance Association: Cr Andrew Munroe and Cr Sharon Ellis as a substitute when required Eastern Region Affordable Housing Alliance: Cr Sharon Ellis Eastern Alliance for Greenhouse Action (EAGA) Executive Committee: Cr Tina Liu Eastern Transport Coalition: Cr Tina Liu Metropolitan Transport Forum: Cr Andrew Munroe

Above: Cr Prue Cutts with Whitehorse Mayor Councillor Bill Bennett welcoming our newest Australian citizens.

Heatherdale Mountain Bike Skill Loop

Above: Cr Ellis (right) with Elisabeth Lenders, Principal Kingswood College

Whitehorse Centre In early December I was pleased to attend the launch of the 2019 Whitehorse Centre program. As usual the program caters for all ages and tastes and delivers everything form musical performances to political satire.

Our theatre is extremely popular with local residents as well as people from adjoining areas, so you are encouraged to book early. Check out the program online.

Council meetings Our Special Committee and Ordinary Council meetings are now videoed and livestreamed from Council's website. You'll probably notice us smiling a lot more as we get used to being filmed!

It’s getting exciting! The machinery has come and gone, paths laid out, plantings marked, and the Mountain Bike Skills Loop is coming to life before our eyes! This uni-directional 370m loop will run alongside and extend beyond the existing BMX Pump Track which itself is getting a facelift with improved drainage. Community consultation overwhelmingly supported this initiative, the brainchild of local children. Cr Stennett and I commend these visionary youngsters, they will be leaving a wonderful legacy for generations to come!

Well done lads!

Walker Park Pavilion Cr Stennett and I attended the “End of an Era” event with the combined Mitcham Football and Cricket Clubs recently. The pavilion will be cordoned off soon. Everyone is eagerly looking forward to the wonderful $3.35 million redevelopment at Walker Park which includes the refurbishment of the existing pavilion and the new viewing platform addition.

Community Briefs Do you have a desire to assist in improving community palliative care in 2019?

Eastern Palliative Care is looking for Volunteer Consumer Representatives who have had some experience with palliative care and wish to make a difference for those who may need palliative care in the future. There would be various levels of commitment and you would have the option to participate in one of the following ways: ■■ ■■

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Be part of a committee Be available for projects that need consumer involvement Reviewing documents, policies, etc.

For more information or to register your interest, please call 1300 130 813.

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January 2018

Check out the new look Riversdale Road Shops Council has recently completed streetscape works at the Riversdale Road shopping centre in Surrey Hills.

The works include the installation of light coloured pavements along the front of businesses, providing a bright and inviting streetscape space for the community and traders.

New furniture and trees have also been added.

The bus and tram stop area has been upgraded with new footpath surfaces, tactile ground surface indicators and a remodelled pram crossing.

The upgrades mean better access to the shops and improved safety and comfort for pedestrians. The design of the streetscape was conducted in consultation with the traders and community.

Think Local Buy Local With the Christmas rush behind us, January is the perfect time to relax, unwind and keep it local.

Make the most of this month’s beautiful weather and discover the array of delicious Whitehorse cafes and restaurants. Not only will you be spoilt for choice, they are all within easy reach.

Did you know... When $100 is spent locally:

Above: Councillor Blair Barker recently visited Churchill Café and Larder in Mont Albert to promote the Think Local Buy Local campaign.

Churchill Cafe was nominated as a favourite local spot as part of our recent competition.

See www.wbiz.com.au for all the winners.

For your chance to win one of three eftpos gifts cards to spend in your neighbourhood head to wbiz.com.au and tell us your favourite Whitehorse eating haunts.

All figures based on data sources from Australian Bureau from Statistics.

5-Star Food Hygiene Safety Focus Zagar's Charcoal Grill in Burwood East is Council’s 5-Star Food Hygiene Focus for January for achieving excellence in food safety standards.

All food businesses achieving a 5-star rating are promoted in Council publications and are eligible for the prestigious Food Premises of the Year Award.

Council’s online portal is a user-friendly listing of food premises in Whitehorse and their star ratings, open to the public.

To view the portal, visit ehealth.whitehorse.vic.gov.au More information www.whitehorse.vic.gov.au/ food-hygiene-system.html

Zagar's Charcoal Grill Location: 9 Royton Street, Burwood East Hours: 7 days, 7pm - Midnight Phone: 9884 4067

January 2018

Subscribe to the e-version at whitehorse.vic.gov.au/Whitehorse-News.html

Top Tips to Save Water in Whitehorse 1. Check for leaks ■■

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Locate your water meter outside (it is usually near the front gate or fence).

Turn off all taps, except the stop tap next to the water meter and at the toilet.

Make sure no one uses water during testing time.

Record all of the numbers displayed on the dial or clock meter.

Wait 10 minutes and record the number again.

If any of the numbers have changed, check that all water sources are off and repeat the test. If the numbers still change, you may have a leak, so contact your local plumber or landlord to investigate.

2. Install a grey water system Around 65 per cent of waste water from households is grey water, which might come from the shower, sink or laundry. Depending on the detergents and soaps you use, grey water is safe to divert to your garden during periods of low rainfall, but take care around delicate plants and minimise concentrated watering.

3. Install a water tank Water tanks are a simple, cost effective approach to water conservation. Rainwater can be used for watering your garden or in your house to flush toilets.

Whitehorse City Council supports residents to be water wise. Apply for rebates of up to $200 for the installation of grey water systems or water tanks. More information and application forms are available at whitehorse.vic.gov.au/ Sustainability-Rebates

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Your Reading Shelf – Summer reading inspiration for adults Are you stuck in a reading rut? Want to read more but just don’t know where to start?

Tired of waiting on your favourite author to write their next book and need some reading inspiration? Well we have the solution for you!

Tell us what you like and don’t like to read by filling in our online form. Library staff will have a customised batch of titles sent directly to your favourite library branch, waiting for you within the week! And all for free. Think of it as your personalised reading shelf. We do all the work and all you have to do is enjoy the reading.

More information wml.vic.gov.au

TAKE2 is the Victorian Government’s collective climate change program to help keep the global temperature rise to under two degrees.

Whitehorse City Council has signed up to TAKE2. We have made our pledge and are committed to taking action.

Some of our many actions include: ■■

Working with developers to support distributed renewable energy in new developments

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Setting targets for sustainable green spends

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Reducing contamination in kerbside waste collection

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Building more dedicated cycling paths and constructing more on-road cycling lanes Developing a sustainable procurement policy

You can track Council’s progress and make your own pledge at TAKE2.vic.gov.au.

Councillor Tina Liu enjoying the new bike path around Elgar Park.

Building more dedicated bike paths is one of the actions Council has pledged as part of the Take2 program.

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Subscribe to the e-version at whitehorse.vic.gov.au/Whitehorse-News.html

Tickets available soon for Town Hall Tunes

January 2018

Join Global Fiesta Are you part of a local, culturally diverse community group or not-for-profit organisation?

You're invited to take part in the 2019 Whitehorse Global Fiesta on Sunday 17 March!

Sunday 3 March, 2pm-4pm Box Hill Town Hall

Part of the Swing Pop Boom! festival, Town Hall Tunes returns to the Box Hill Town Hall for one delightful evening – this free concert is not to be missed!

This is a free event, however bookings are essential.

This Harmony Day event will feature an exciting mix of stalls, entertainment, dancing, music, food, games and fun from around the world. The popular annual event is a fantastic opportunity for local performing groups to showcase on stage, while community groups can raise awareness, fundraise and increase membership numbers.

Tickets will be available from 10am on Tuesday 22 January.

How to get involved

Witness the innovative Inventi Ensemble perform some of the great orchestral classics such as Rossini’s Barber of Seville.

Call the Whitehorse Centre box office on 9262 6555 to reserve your free ticket.

More information www.whitehorse.vic.gov.au/Event-Series.html

Application forms can be downloaded from www.whitehorse.vic.gov.au/Global-Fiesta.html

The Whitehorse Centre Season 2019 is full of GRACE.

Complete an expression of interest application

by Friday 8 February.

Experience comedy, drama, circus and music with performances from Silvie Paladino, Rhonda Burchmore, Jonathan Biggins, Naomi Price and many more. The hilarious Wharf Revue cast returns to deliver their uniquely satirical take on the all the world’s problems. The season also offers three fabulous children’s shows including the charming Possum Magic.

More information 9262 6352 hannah.milne@whitehorse.vic.gov.au 9262 6101 ellen.kimball@whitehorse.vic.gov.au

Subscription packages are available now and individual tickets are on sale from Monday 7 January.

More informaiton and the full program

whitehorsecentre.com.au 9262 6555

Συναυλία και Πυροτεχνήματα την Ημέρα της Αυστραλίας στο Whitehorse

Concerto e fuochi d’artificio di Whitehorse per Australia Day

Whitehorse澳大利亚国庆节 音乐会和烟花表演

Hoà Nhạc và Bắn pháo hoa ở Whitehorse nhân dịp Quốc Khánh Úc

Σάββατο 26 Ιανουαρίου, Whitehorse Civic Precinct, Nunawading

Sabato 26 gennaio, Distretto civico di Whitehorse, Nunawading

1月26日星期六，Whitehorse Civic Precinct，Nunawading

Γιορτάστε το μεγάλο έθνος μας με μια συναυλία που θα περιλαμβάνει την τραγουδίστρια Naomi Price (θα τραγουδήσει ως η Adele), τα συγκροτήματα ‘Like This’ και ‘The Intrepid Hounds’ κι οι καλλιτέχνες για παιδιά ‘All Day Fritz’.

Celebra la nostra grande nazione con un concerto con la cantante Naomi Price (che si esibirà come Adele), i gruppi ‘Like This’ e ‘The Intrepid Hounds’ e gli animatori per bambini ‘All Day Fritz’.

我们将举办一场精彩的音乐会，歌颂我 们伟大的国家。表演者将包括歌手Naomi Price（扮演Adele）、乐队Like This和The Intrepid Hounds，以及深受儿童喜爱的All Day Fritz。

Thứ Bảy ngày 26 tháng 1, Trung tâm Công dân Whitehorse (Whitehorse Civic Precinct), Nunawading

Wendy Stapleton farà il suo ritorno come presentatrice. Introdurrà l’Australian Girls Choir, che canterà l’inno nazionale.

Spettacolari fuochi d’artificio della durata di 10 minuti concluderanno questa meravigliosa serata.

Wendy Stapleton将再次担任主持人。她 将介绍澳大利亚女生合唱团，该合唱团 将演唱澳大利亚国歌。最后，10分钟的绚 丽烟花表演将为这个美妙的夜晚画上句 号。

Η Wendy Stapleton επιστρέφει ως παρουσιάστρια του προγράμματος. Θα παρουσιάσει την Χορωδία Αυστραλών Κοριτσιών, που θα τραγουδήσουν τον εθνικό ύμνο. Αυτή η υπέροχη βραδιά θα κλείσει με 10 λεπτά θεαματικών πυροτεχνημάτων.

Hãy ăn mừng đất nước tuyệt vời của chúng ta bằng buổi hoà nhạc với ca sĩ Naomi Price (biểu diễn như Adele), các ban nhạc ‘Like This’ và ‘The Intrepid Hounds’ và các nghệ sĩ tiêu khiển cho trẻ em ‘All Day Fritz’.

Wendy Stapleton sẽ trở lại dẫn chương trình. Cô sẽ giới thiệu Dàn Đồng ca Nữ của Úc, họ sẽ hát bài quốc ca. Buổi tối tuyệt vời này sẽ kết thúc bằng 10 phút bắn pháo hoa thật ngoạn mục.