Divercity #91 - December 2017 - February 2018

CITY O F PO RT PHIL L IP M AGA ZI N E - I S S U E 9 1 D E CE MBE R 2 0 1 7 - F E B RUA RY 2 0 1 8

wheels on the water

New repair cafe opens headed for gold

Councillors will be at markets and shopping strips in February to meet you. Stop for a chat and share what you’d like to see happening in Port Phillip.

See the Council website for details. Councillors (left to right) Cr Dick Gross, Cr Tim Baxter, Cr Bernadene Voss, Cr Ogy Simic, Cr Louise Crawford, Cr David Brand and Cr Katherine Copsey. Cr Andrew Bond and Cr Marcus Pearl were unavailable for the photo.

cover photo

Wheels on the water Amanda Lawrie-Jones is thrilled to be the first to use the new beach wheelchairs that make St Kilda and Port Melbourne beaches more accessible than ever.

From Saturday 2 December, with support from Port Melbourne and St Kilda life saving clubs, Council is providing beach wheelchairs during patrol hours on Saturdays and Sundays.

Please book ahead ASSIST 9209 6777 access@portphillip.vic.gov.au For further information www.portphillip.vic.gov.au

St Kilda Life Saving Club has a Changing Places facility with a hoist to assist and support transfer to the beach wheelchair.

First year, big year One year into a four year term, your Councillors look back on a big year.

With five first time and four returning councillors, we are proud to have achieved so much in our first year.

We appointed a new CEO and adopted an ambitious Council Plan with clear goals to take us forward.

The blend of new and experienced councillors contributed to dynamic fresh approaches to big questions such as flooding in Elwood, the future of Fishermans Bend and heritage protection.

With overwhelming community support we tackled pressing social issues, including homelessness and the same-sex marriage survey. One highlight was Council’s successful bid to locate Australia’s first Pride Centre in Fitzroy Street.

Another notable achievement has been the refurbishment of the Palais Theatre.

Not only has the outside received a fresh coat of paint, but the inside has also been lovingly restored and made more accessible.

Other highlights include increased street cleaning, programmed events in the new Acland Street Plaza, the Gasworks Theatre Upgrade and improving Olive’s Corner in Port Melbourne. All achieved with prudent budget management, which meant repair of assets with virtually no debt and a budget surplus while adhering to rate capping.

We’ll be starting our New Year with Councillor pop-up conversations across the City. We look forward to meeting you again and hearing your ideas.

Meanwhile, we wish you a happy and healthy break over the holidays.

Your Councillors

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contents

co nte n t s 11

contacts

www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/ contact_us.htm Phone:

03 9209 6777

For more information please visit: www.relayservice.gov.au

St Kilda festival 9

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Please contact ASSIST on 03 9209 6777 if you require a large print version.

Audio recordings of Divercity are available on the City of Port Phillip website and on CD at Port Phillip libraries.

Divercity 91 - Dec 2017 / Feb 2018 Editor: Greg Day - gday@edunity.com.au

Amy at JewMu

Pride marches on

Get a glimpse of Amy Winehouse from those who loved her.

Get colourful on Sunday 28 January and share the love.

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OMG oBike

More toy time

An understanding with oBike promises more ride and less disruption.

Elwood Toy Library now open over January.

Story suggestions are welcome: Next deadline 12 January for March / April 2018 Divercity feedback: engagement@portphillip.vic.gov.au Information included in this magazine is accurate at the time of publishing, but may be subject to change.

The City of Port Phillip respectfully acknowledges the Yalukut Weelam Clan of the Boon Wurrung.

We pay our respect to their Elders, both past and present. We acknowledge and uphold their continuing relationship to this land.

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Photo: Chris Cassar

Passing the baton.

Front: Luca Amore.

Second row: (l-r) Vanessa Shaw, Elizabeth Pollock, Robyn Manning and Kathy Hilton.

Third row: (l-r) Adair Bunnett, Chloe McCradel, Kerryn Longmuir.

Back row: (l-r) Anthony Lewis, Matthew Haanappel and Julian O’Shea.

Headed for gold

In the Australian leg of the Queen’s Baton relay, which begins on Christmas Day, 3,800 community nominees will carry the baton around the nation before arriving for the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony on the Gold Coast on 4 April 2018.

Forty local bearers (including those pictured) will carry the baton from St Kilda to South Melbourne.

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Spectators are welcome along the route. St Kilda Life Saving Club and South Melbourne Market are two of the best sites for viewing.

Check the route www.gc2018.com/qbr

Saturday 10 February (morning)

news

Don’t waste your summer

Watch for Council’s Summer Rangers as you enjoy the parks and beaches over summer. They’ll be handing out giveaways and chatting to people about reducing litter.

New lease ahead for St Kilda Marina Council is planning a competitive process to secure a new lease for St Kilda Marina.

Located on Crown land and currently anchored by a 50 year lease, the marina was built by the current lessee on a man-made harbour developed from reclaimed land. Community consultation to help shape the future of this prominent foreshore site will occur during 2018.

Keep up to date www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/

st-kilda-marina.htm

Do you need ASSIST over the holidays?

The Council Plan 2017-2027 includes a long-term commitment for a connected City with transport networks that make it easy to move around.

It’s a crucial strategy because it will guide all current and future use of our streets over the next 10 years.

To achieve this we are developing an Integrated Transport Strategy to guide smarter parking management and streets designed for people.

Future Streets survey closes 4 December

The holiday hours for the City of Port Phillip ASSIST service centres are out now.

You can help shape the strategy by sharing your ideas in an online survey.

haveyoursay.portphillip.vic.gov.au

www.portphillip.vic.gov.au

03 9209 6777

New school rising The new primary school at Ferrars Street, South Melbourne, is on track to open for the 2018 school year.

As well as space for over 500 students, the building will also house a Council-run long day care kindergarten, consulting rooms for maternal-child health and community services, multipurpose rooms for community use, and sport and recreation facilities.

Find out more www.portphillip.vic.gov.au

Stories show how easy it is YouMeUs is an award winning range of disability awareness resources developed by councils to help make local businesses and groups more accessible to eveyone.

Easiest to use is a set of postcards and short online videos that carry practical hints on how to make life easier for customers with disabilities and the staff who meet them.

In the three-minute videos, you’ll meet Jeff who communicates with a small whiteboard, Ted who travels with an

assistance dog called Oscar, Jen who appreciates wheelchair access and Fiona who enjoys friendly, understanding service.

The resources show practical ways that being open to staff and customers with a disability can improve your business and create the best possible customer experience.

See YouMeUs materials and videos www.portphillipbusiness.com.au/

accessible-business.htm

Linden Arts Gallery Works to repair and upgrade the heritage listed Linden New Art Gallery have started. Council has committed over $1 million to improve the arts spaces and install a new passenger lift to improve accessibility to first floor exhibitions.

Follow progress www.portphillip.vic.gov.au

Give feedback on the Draft Fishermans Bend Framework by 15 December. www.fishermansbend.vic.gov.au 6

Recycling e-litter just got easier Electrical items with power cords or batteries can now be included in booked hard waste collections or dropped off for recycling at Council’s transfer station in South Melbourne. The collected items will go to local accredited recyclers, never to landfill.

Book a hard waste collection ASSIST 9209 6777 www.portphillip.vic.gov.au

Council joins age friendly declaration The Older Persons Consultative Committee (OPCC) is delighted that Council has signed the Age Friendly Victoria declaration initiated by the Victorian Government and Municipal Association of Victoria.

The declaration commits state and local governments to work in partnership to create age-friendly communities.

Read the declaration bit.ly/agedfriendlydeclaration

Don’t despair, repair Here’s a practical and good environmental alternative to chucking away your household items in need of repair. That vacuum cleaner. The chair with a wobbly leg. A toy that has seen better days. Those pants with a zip that won’t close.

Photo: Chris Cassar

The Jewish Ecological Coalition and Port Phillip EcoCentre are now running a free monthly St Kilda Repair Cafe. Bring a beloved but broken appliance, piece of furniture, toy or clothes to be repaired by skilled volunteers. Watch and learn their techniques while enjoying a cuppa at this family friendly drop-in event.

More volunteer fixers and menders are always welcome.

Monthly St Kilda Repair Cafe Second Sunday of every month, 2 pm - 5 pm, (No cafe in January) EcoCentre 55 Blessington Street, St Kilda www.stkildarepaircafe.org.au

Fixers and members unite: Eva (and baby Yarra), Nadav, Allan, John, April, Saphira and Tammy are ready to repair.

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what’s happening in your city Your guide to what’s on, in and around your city.

Port Melbourne

South Melbourne

Albert Park

Middle Park

Windsor

St Kilda

Balaclava

Elwood

arts and entertainment

St Kilda’s alright: the Fred Negro experience

Postcard perfection

Friday 10 November - Sunday 12 January Linden (temporary) Domain House Dallas Brooks Drive, South Yarra Choose your favourite mini masterpiece from over 1,000 entries in this year’s postcard exhibition. www.lindenarts.org

Song for a weary throat

Wednesday 29 November Sunday 10 December

Auslan show and Q&A

Sunday 5 December Theatre Works, 4 Acland Street, St Kilda Rawcus is an award-winning ensemble of performers with and without disability. Their latest production reminds us that hope is never out of reach.

Friday 1 December - Sunday 17 December Brightspace Gallery 8 Martin Street, St Kilda An exhibition celebrating Fred Negro, from his start in the 1970s St Kilda punk scene to his current incarnation as illustrator, musician and St Kilda legend.

St Kilda music walking tour Saturday 9 December A tour of St Kilda’s iconic music venues.

Free; donation appreciated (bookings essential) www.skmwt.com.au

Piranhas in Love launch

An All Saints’ Christmas All Saints’ Church 2 Chapel Street, East St Kilda

Advent carol service

Weekends during December St Kilda Botanical Gardens Melbourne Shakespeare Company presents Much Ado About Nothing under the stars. melbourneshakespeare.com

Laurent Gallery exhibitions Opening night Thursday 7 December 7 pm - 9 pm Exhibition runs until 2 January Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays 9 am - 5 pm Laurent Gallery, 115 Thistlethwaite Street South Melbourne Concentric unity: A collaboration between Indigenous Australian artist Alice Napurrurla Nelson and Julian Di Stefano. Their work uses digital star flow mapping overlaid with traditional dot painting techniques.

Mech-mania: Eerik Owerhall’s work on paper features imaginary machines created with charcoal and bio-bitumen. www.laurentgallery.com

Desert, 6:29 pm

Sunday 3 December, 5 pm Annual carols, hymns and readings preparing for Christmas.

Christmas vocal extravaganza Sunday 10 December, 4 pm

Lawrence Allen and friends present Christmas favourites, including ‘O Holy Night’ and a selection from Handel’s Messiah. $15 / $10 / free for students (with student card)

Sunday 10 December, 2 pm - 5 pm Brightspace Gallery 8 Martin Street, St Kilda

Christmas carol service

Until Thursday 14 December Red Stitch Actors Theatre Rear, 2 Chapel Street, East St Kilda

Piranhas in Love is a graphic novel written by Elizabeth Reale and illustrated by Fred Negro.

Launched with a gig by The Black Molls.

A joyful presentation of Christmas carols and hymns.

In a small town in the middle of nowhere, it’s dinnertime and we are invited into the lives of Xan and her family.

www.brightspace.com.au 8

9534 3388 theatreworks.org.au

Shakespeare in the gardens

Sunday 17 December, 7.30 pm

www.allsaints.org.au/concerts.html

redstitch.net

active

Stick an oar in

Confined 9 exhibition

Sundays 3 December, 7 January and 4 February, 10 am 34 Lakeside Drive, Albert Park Lake

Wednesday 14 February - Wednesday 14 March Carlisle Street Arts Space 99 Carlisle Street, St Kilda

Try crew rowing in a four-seater Olympic-style shell (boat). Suitable for beginners of all ages.

Experienced rowers contact Y Rowing for additional session times and details.

Confined 9 features artworks by Indigenous artists who are part of the Torch’s Indigenous arts in prison and community program.

$15 www.yrowingclub.com.au

Image: Trevor Mitchell

Amy Winehouse: A family portrait

Beginner’s weaving classes Thursday 8 and Friday 9 February 10 am - 4 pm Australian Tapestry Workshop 262-266 Park Street, South Melbourne Learn to weave with the experts at the tapestry workshop. www.austapestry.com.au

Integrative Qigong

Sundays 7 - 21 January, 9 am - 10 am Elwood Beach Foreshore Qigong is a unique combination of movement, breathing and meditation that originated in China. Try a free class over summer. www.pursuitofwellness.com.au

Learn to sail

Ossicle Duo

Sunday 18 February, 2 pm Temperance Hall, South Melbourne Until Sunday 25 March Jewish Museum of Australia 26 Alma Road, St Kilda An exhibition exploring Amy Winehouse’s inner world and the influences that shaped her career and personal life. Stay on for a late night boogie and a drink with the Thursday Series of music performances. www.jewishmuseum.com.au

Ossicle Duo’s debut performance Natural Order features contemporary art music for trombone and percussion, inspired by natural systems.

Tickets $25 / $15 concession and City of Port Phillip residents www.ossicleduo.com

Lessons start Saturday 3 February Port Melbourne Yacht Club Beach Street (near end of Bay Street) Port Melbourne Join Port Melbourne Yacht Club to get six weekly sailing lessons as part of the deal. The three hour sessions will prepare you to get out on the bay.

Club boats available.

Memberships start from $105 per year. office@pmyc.asn.au 9645 3107

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what’s happening in your city Your guide to what’s on, in and around your city.

Port Melbourne

South Melbourne

Albert Park

Middle Park

Windsor

St Kilda

Balaclava

Elwood

community

Christmas Tree Festival

Asylum Seekers Comedy Benefit Friday 1 December, doors open 6 pm St Kilda Town Hall, 99 Carlisle Street St Kilda

Ending violence towards sex workers

A comedy fundraiser featuring Denise Scott and ten other comedians to raise money to support refugees in Port Phillip. Food and drinks available. $40 / $35 www.trybooking.com/321026

Camera club on show

Saturday 2 - Sunday 3 December Saturday 9 - Sunday 10 December 11 am - 5 pm Melbourne Camera Club Cnr Ferrars and Dorcas streets South Melbourne

Thursday 30 November Sunday 3 December Thursday 10 am - 8 pm Friday 10 am - 4 pm; concert 7 pm Saturday 10 am - 4 pm Sunday 12 noon - 4 pm, carols start at 4 pm Holy Trinity Church Cnr Chapel and Dickens streets Balaclava Local families, businesses, community groups and schools have decorated Christmas trees to create an amazing display.

Gold coin donation, children free christmastreefest@hotmail.com

Port Christmas Festival

Friday 1 December Bay Street, Port Melbourne

Port Melbourne Business Association presents the Community Christmas Festival in Port Melbourne.

3207port.com.au 10

See a showcase of the Melbourne Camera Club’s best pics - from landscapes to photojournalism. All welcome. melbournephoto.org.au

French Christmas Market

Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 December 10 am - 5 pm Alliance Française 51 Grey Street, St Kilda

Discover French products, including food and wine. Enjoy face painting, other children’s activities, demonstrations, French books for sale and language trials. afmelbourne.com.au

Solstice global healing

Sunday 10 December, 2 pm - 5 pm Acland Plaza, St Kilda

Join a community solstice celebration that will include an Indigenous smoking ceremony and a release of doves. All welcome to celebrate peace and harmony. www.planetaryhealingartists.org

Sunday 17 December, 2 pm - 4 pm O’Donnell Gardens, St Kilda Red Umbrella Day is the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. This year RhED will be hosting an event at which sex workers will be creating a red umbrella sculpture.

Contribute to the collective art piece. www.sexworker.org.au 1800 458 752

Building reconciliation BBQ Tuesday 19 December, 6 pm Gasworks Arts Park Graham Street, Albert Park Port Philip Citizens for Reconciliation recently celebrated 20 years working within the community. Join the annual end of year barbecue; BYO. Formal meetings resume in February. www.ppcfr.org

Rainbow families

Fridays, starting 12 January, 9 am - 11 am Bubup Womindjeka Family and Children’s Centre 85 Liardet Street, Port Melbourne An LGBTIQ community playgroup for families with young children.

info@bwfcc.org.au 9676 8400

foreshore

Albert Jacka remembered

Sunday 14 January, 2 pm - 3 pm St Kilda Cemetery Dandenong Road, East St Kilda

Albert Jacka was the first Australian awarded the Victoria Cross in WWI. He was also a St Kilda mayor. Pay your respects at a service followed by afternoon tea.

RSVP 9209 6431 civicevents@portphillip.vic.gov.au

Feb op shop frenzy

Pride March

Sunday 28 January, 2 pm - 7 pm Fitzroy Street, St Kilda Celebrate gender and sexual diversity. Join friends, family, colleagues and strangers for the Pride March and the after march celebrations in the Catani Gardens. midsumma.org.au

Saturday 10 February

Spend over $20 in one transaction and get a $5 voucher to use during February at all Sacred Heart Mission op shops. sacredheartmission.org/melbourneopportunity-shops

St Kilda Twilight Market

Food, fun, flicks

Thursday evenings 30 November - 22 February, 5 pm - 10 pm O’Donnell Gardens, St Kilda

Open air cinemas Thursday 30 November - Wednesday 20 December

Market stalls with food, clothing, drinks and more, next to Luna Park beneath the palms.

Enjoy great music, food and sunset drinks before the latest releases light up the big screen.

stkildatwilightmarket.com

X Race

openaircinemas.com.au

Yalukut Weelam Ngargee

Saturday 3 February, 12 noon - 9 pm O’Donnell Gardens, St Kilda

Free Indigenous music and cultural festival. stkildafestival.com.au

To find out more about the Metro Tunnel and register for future updates:

St Kilda Festival

Sunday 11 February, 10 am - 10 pm St Kilda streets and foreshore

metrotunnel.vic.gov.au 1800 551 927 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Friday 2 December, 1 pm - 5 pm Elwood X Race is a mystery adventure race in which a parent and their child aged 6-14 race together and complete ten challenges. www.xrace.com.au

Australia’s largest free music festival. www.stkildafestival.com.au

Twilight Beach Polo

Friday 16 February, 3 pm - 8 pm West Beach, St Kilda twilightbeachpolo.com.au

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OMG! oBike is just the beginning The sudden appearance of yellow oBikes shows how disruptive new technology can be.

As traffic congestion worsens, new technologies offer enticing solutions.

Bike share schemes could be fantastic but few foresaw thousands of dockless bikes appearing on streets overnight, unregulated and unloved.

Councils have moved quickly to get bike operators to share public space more responsibly. Three inner city councils, including Port Phillip, have reached a pacesetting Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with oBike to better manage their bikes in public spaces. Faced with the prospect of confiscation and recycling, oBike has agreed to a clear management regime for their bikes in our streets and public spaces.

oBike has agreed to move poorly parked bikes within 48 hours, immediately take damaged bikes out of service and relocate bikes that cluster in strange places. Ultimately, it’s up to oBike (and other future operators) to meet these minimum standards. If they can’t, their bikes will end up in the recycling heap.

See the share bike MOU www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/ bike_share.htm

oBike hotline Report dangerously placed bikes causing obstruction or trip hazards for immediate action.

Report share bikes occupying bike hoops, or clusters of more than six bikes for 48 hour removal.

NSW visitors Kyra and Matt Florance found oBikes ideal for a ride along the foreshore on their second honeymoon.

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service@o.bike 24 hour hotline 0452 512 453 Photo: Chris Cassar

Transport and green space together

Beach Patrol now also loving streets With five local Beach Patrol chapters meeting regularly to remove litter from our local beaches, the love has spread to local streets - first in Elwood and now in Port Melbourne.

Love Our Streets invites locals to get active with neighbours to clean up our streets and help intercept litter before it gets into waterways and ultimately our bay.

It’s a simple but compelling idea. There are now 21 Beach Patrols around the bay spreading from Werribee to Rye.

The light rail reserve in Port Melbourne is both a vital transport link and a much loved green space.

Here Beach Patrol 3207 share the love by holding regular cleanups. .

In just 12 months the patrols have removed seven tonnes of litter, mostly plastics.

Enrol in the patrol in your postcode www.beachpatrol.com.au

Photo: Chris Cassar

Have your say on the Integrated Transport Strategy. Take the online survey before 5 pm, 4 December.

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Photo: Chris Cassar

Maya and Boris enjoy dancing at the White Light European Folk dance during Seniors Festival.

Seniors step out in style The recent Port Phillip Seniors Festival attracted over 3,000 participants for a diverse program of dances, musicals, exhibitions, gardening, luncheons, and showcase events such as Hold Hands on a Tram, the Pinaroo Village threeday festival and Linking Neighbours

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Information Expo. The festival concluded with Port Phillip Writes, where 29 local authors contributed to the 13th collection of stories and poems.

Read Port Phillip Writes #13 www.portphillip.vic.gov.au

For general enquiries contact: www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/ contact_us.htm ASSIST 03 9209 6777

Canal Ward Cr Tim Baxter

More toys all summer long Thanks to a Council Community Grant, Elwood Toy Library will be open during January.

The library has lots of great toys for summer, including balance bikes, scooters, outdoor playsets, miniature cars and costumes for imaginative play.

There are also giant Lego blocks, a rollercoaster and a jumping castle, all perfect for summer parties.

Go online to see what’s available.

Wednesday, Friday and Saturday (excluding public holidays) 9.30 am - 11.30 am Rear of the Elwood St Kilda Neighbourhood Learning Centre 87 Tennyson Street, Elwood Borrow some summer fun elwoodtoylibrary.org

New year, new ideas

Here are some suggestions from Divercity readers for interesting activities you can start in 2018.

Enjoy a course

Gain new work skills

University of the Third Age (U3A) Port Phillip provides people who are retired or semi-retired with courses in physical exercise, art, current affairs, history, computers, film, languages, philosophy and science. New courses are frequently added.

Reception and customer service courses are available at Port Melbourne and Elwood Neighbourhood Centres. These are enjoyable and supportive six month courses of one classroom and one work experience session per week.

Free for concession card holders.

u3app.org.au

Join a string orchestra Internationally experienced orchestra coach Sonia Letourneau is looking for string players, including violin, viola, cello, double base, mandolin, guitar and banjo to join a new community chamber orchestra that will rehearse weekly in Balaclava.

Sonia 0405 570 045 before 9 pm

9645 1476

Get active in South Melbourne The newly formed South Melbourne Association invites local businesses, residents and arts organisations to get involved. They gather monthly at the South Melbourne Town Hall.

Rebecca FinnÂ

south.melb.assoc@gmail.com

tbaxter@portphillip.vic.gov.au Mobile 0466 495 250

Cr Louise Crawford lcrawford@portphillip.vic.gov.au Mobile 0466 514 643

Cr Dick Gross dgross@portphillip.vic.gov.au Mobile 0466 355 640

Gateway Ward Cr Marcus Pearl mpearl@portphillip.vic.gov.au Mobile 0466 448 272

Cr Ogy Simic osimic@portphillip.vic.gov.au Mobile 0466 517 360

Cr Bernadene Voss bvoss@portphillip.vic.gov.au Mobile 0413 246 704

Lake Ward Cr Andrew Bond abond@portphillip.vic.gov.au Mobile 0481 034 028

Cr David Brand dbrand@portphillip.vic.gov.au Mobile 0466 445 807

Cr Katherine Copsey kcopsey@portphillip.vic.gov.au Mobile 0466 478 949 15