Find Geelong - January 2025 Edition by Find

COLUMNIST CONTRIBUTORS COLUMNIST

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About the Find Geelong

By Warren Strybosch

The Find Geelong is a community paper that aims to support all things Geelong. We want to provide a place where all NotFor-Profits (NFP), schools, sporting groups and other like organisations can share their news in one place. For instance, submitting up-and-coming events in the Find Geelong for Free.

We do not proclaim to be another newspaper and we will not be aiming to compete with other news outlets. You can obtain your news from other sources. We feel you get enough of this already. We will keep our news topics to a minimum and only provide what we feel is most relevant topics to you each month.

We invite local council and the current council members to participate by submitting information each month so as to keep us informed of any changes that may be of relevance to us, their local constituents.

EDITORIAL ENQUIRES: Warren Strybosch | 1300 88 38 30 editor@findgeelong.com.au

PUBLISHER: Issuu pty Ltd

POSTAL ADDRESS: 248 Wonga Road, Wararnwood VIC 3134

ADVERTISING AND ACCOUNTS: editor@findgeelong.com.au

GENERAL ENQUIRIES: 1300 88 38 30

EMAIL SPORT: editor@findgeelong.com.au

WEBSITE: www.findgeelong.com.au

OUR NEWSPAPER

We will also try and showcase different organisations throughout the year so you, the reader, can learn more about what is on offer in your local area.

To help support the paper, we invite local businesses owners to sponsor the paper and in return we will provide exclusive advertising and opportunities to submit articles about their businesses. As a community we encourage you to support these businesses/columnists. Without their support, we would not be able to provide this community paper to you.

Lastly, we want to ask you, the local community, to support the fundraising initiatives that we will be developing and

The

rolling out over the coming years. Our aim is to help as many NFP and other like organisations to raise much needed funds to help them to keep operating. Our fundraising initiatives will never simply ask for money from you. We will also aim to provide something of worth to you before you part with your hardearned money. The first initiative is the Find Cards and Find Coupons – similar to the Entertainment Book but cheaper and more localised. Any NFP and similar organisations e.g., schools, sporting clubs, can participate.

We value your support,

The Find Geelong Team.

Geelong

ALL THINGS GEELONG

The City of Geelong is one of Victoria’s largest regional capital cities. Geelong had a population of approximately 230,000 as at the 2019 Report which includes 16,000 businesses. Geelong’s location is in strong growth corridor, making it an ideal location for businesses to explore options outside of the capital city.

The Find Geelong acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands where Geelong now stands, the Wadawuarrung people of the Kulin nation, and pays repect to their Elders - past, present and emerging - and acknowledges the important role Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to play within our community.

The Find Geelong was established in 2019 and is owned by the Find Foundation, a Not-For-Profit organisation with is core focus of helping other Not-For-Profits, schools, clubs and other similar organisations in the local community - to bring everyone together in one place and to support each other. We provide the above organisations FREE advertising in the community paper to promote themselves as well as to make the community more aware of the services these organisations can offer. The Find Geelong has a strong editorial focus and is supported via local grants and financed predominantly by local business owners.

Readers are advised that the Find Geelong accepts no responsibility for financial, health or other claims published in advertising or in articles written in this newspaper. All comments are of a general nature and do not take into account your personal financial situation, health and/or wellbeing. We recommend you

by Genevieve Brazil

Chinese New Year in Australia in 2025 will fall on Saturday, January 25, marking the start of the Year of the Snake. It is one of the most vibrant cultural celebrations, especially in cities with large Chinese communities such as Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. Chinese New Year in Australia is a vibrant celebration, especially in cities with significant Chinese communities. In 2025, the festivities will usher in the Year of the Snake, beginning on Wednesday, January 29, and continuing for 15 days, culminating with the Lantern Festival.

Expect colorful and energetic performances in Chinatown areas and public spaces. These dances symbolize good fortune and warding off evil spirits. Cities often organize beautiful lantern festivals and displays, showcasing traditional Chinese culture and artistry. Major cities such as Sydney and Melbourne frequently host fireworks displays as part of the New Year celebrations. Enjoy food stalls, traditional performances, and markets at events like the Melbourne Chinese New Year Festival or Sydney’s Lunar New Year celebrations in Darling Harbour. For many, it’s a time for reunions and feasts, featuring traditional dishes symbolizing prosperity and longevity.

The tradition of giving red envelopes with money as a symbol of good luck is observed widely, especially among families. Lion and Dragon Dances shows symbolic performances bring good luck and are performed in public spaces like Chinatowns, shopping centers, and festival grounds. Traditional performances will take place in Chinatown districts and various community festivals, symbolizing prosperity and driving away bad luck.

Chinese New Year in Australia in 2025 will be a spectacular and vibrant celebration that brings communities together to honor traditions and culture. Though not a national public holiday, the festival will be widely observed across major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth, where residents

can experience traditional practices, festive food, cultural performances, and grand events.

Chinese New Year 2025 in Australia promises to be a lively and colorful celebration, bringing together diverse communities to celebrate the Year of the Snake. While not a nationwide public holiday, the festival will be joyfully observed across major cities, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth, through cultural performances, fireworks displays, street parades, and traditional food festivals

The Year of the Snake will symbolize renewal, prosperity, and self-reflection, and celebrations will feature beloved traditions like lion dances, fireworks, lantern festivals, and the exchange of red envelopes. Markets, parades, and street festivals will offer opportunities for people of all backgrounds to immerse themselves in Chinese culture and the excitement of the new lunar year.

This annual event not only highlights the deep-rooted cultural significance of the holiday, such as the pursuit of prosperity, good fortune, and family unity but also promotes cultural diversity and unity within Australian society. In 2025, communities across Australia will continue to engage with the rich Chinese traditions of lion dances, red envelopes, and lantern displays, creating an atmosphere of excitement and renewal.

Whether through a gathering with loved ones or exploring festivities in the city, Chinese New Year 2025 in Australia will undoubtedly be a time of joy, celebration, and reflection, marking a fresh start with optimism for the year ahead.

Overall, Chinese New Year 2025 in Australia will be a celebration of joy, prosperity, and tradition, creating an inclusive atmosphere that honors both cultural roots and the shared values of community. It promises to be a memorable Chinese New Year in Australia, as it fosters community spirit and cultural exchange, making it a wonderful time for celebration, reflection, and connection.

Geelong Column

Do you have an amazing woman in your life, who’s making a positive impact in Greater Geelong.

If so, I urge you to nominate them for our 2025 Women in Community Life Awards.

We want to celebrate these women and recognise their contribution to making Geelong an even greater place for all, which is why we hold these annual awards.

Across our region, women are making highly valuable contributions to our community and to our lives every single day.

They lead the way in neighbourhoods, clubs, business and work with every contribution, however small, further progressing gender equity and human rights.

This is a cause we champion at the City of Greater Geelong.

Nearly two thirds of our employees are female, and women are also leading the way in management roles, holding 56% of these positions.

Our chief executive officer Ali Wastie leads our executive leadership team, which includes Executive Director Placemaking Tennille Bradley.

But we are also aware that women do not receive awards or recognition at the same rate as men, including Australia Day awards and Nobel Prizes.

The Women in Community Life Awards are part of our commitment to progressing gender equality in this area with our community.

This year, the awards will feature four categories: Leadership and Advocacy; First Nations Woman; Human Rights; and Strengthening Healthy Communities.

To be eligible for an award, a nominee must live, work or study in the Greater Geelong region and identify as a woman or gender non-binary person.

Organisations and community groups based in the Greater Geelong region can also be nominated.

With this being such a busy time of year, Council has extended the nomination period until 15 January.

To nominate an extraordinary woman, go to www.geelongaustralia.com.au/wiclawards

By City of Greater Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj

How to Set Yourself Up for Success in 2025

LEADERSHIP & TEAM SPECIALIST

By Sally Higoe

Although it is something everyone sets out to achieve, success is a concept with a different meaning for everyone. It could mean having a great career, a perfect family, or a dream home. There are a wide range of success variables, but they all have one thing in common; when they are achieved, you feel proud, fulfilled, and motivated to be better in the future.

But how do you set yourself up for a journey towards success?

Have The Right Mindset

For obvious reasons, this one is crucial when gearing up. Your success all starts in your head. Asking the right questions is crucial for your definition of success and the foundation you lay for it. What do you want to achieve in 2025? What is the main objective at the moment? What are the actionable steps towards achieving your goal?

The truth is, that many obstacles will fly right in your face when you are going after these goals. Without the right mindset, you will easily fall out of track. You know yourself best and how to be positive, even in the face of adversity.

Having the right mindset revolves around trusting yourself and getting rid of any self-deprecating thoughts. By identifying the challenges that you might encounter along the way, your mind is prepared to overcome them and keep moving forward.

Decide on Your Strategies and Write Them Down

Your imagination is the only limit to what you can achieve, and should guide your strategies. A bundle of healthy strategies leads to achieving goals. Writing down strategies is important because:

• It motivates you.

• You get a clearer image of what your success looks like in progressive steps.

• It helps you stay focused on the target.

• You can track your progress with time.

• You move each day with intent.

The simple rule for strategising to work is that the strategies should be smartly crafted, well-defined, achievable, and committed. Strategies should also be motivating enough to make you excited about working on them each day. To ensure the strategies are motivating, let them answer the question “Why is it important to achieving success”.

Now, the next question that needs to be answered is the “HOW”. And that is by..

Getting the Right Tools for The Job.

One of the mental traps when setting out to be successful is to assume that you are capable of doing, and know everything. Most people do not know what they need to be successful, yet they still start off, hoping to learn from experiences.

It is true though, that a lot of the things you will learn to help you achieve success will be learned from experiences along the journey. But many of the mistakes that would be made could have been avoided if you equipped yourself with everything you need at the very beginning.

In every journey, there is a lot one doesn’t know, and even a lot more that the person is not even aware that they do not know. Taking time to prepare and learn before starting is important.

However, there is an exemption, you might fall into the temptation of overpreparation and delay in starting your actual success journey.

Take time to understand everything that is needed. That might mean having the right skills, and equipment or putting together a small team.

For constantly evolving industries, you might need to upskill to catch up.

Shying away from professional help impedes the progress toward your success. When you bring a different perspective into the process, you get new ideas and the motivation you need to keep going.

Some other ideas you should consider during your preparation include:

1. Managing time effectively. This does not only help you account for all the time you spend preparing but also trains you on how to manage your time once you transition into the actual work.

2. Get a good workstation.

3. Prepare to pay the “entry fee”. Almost every venture needs some kind of investment as you start, whether it is a downpayment for a house, capital for a business, money for the right equipment, etc. Having that at hand is an essential part of your success journey.

I don’t know exactly what you want to achieve in 2024, but if you start flexing your thinking muscle now, assembling all the tools you need and strategising before the year ends, you’re halfway there.

Leadership and Team

sally@team-resilience.com.au

If you’d like help with your planning, let’s book in a time for a 30 minute complimentary chat and we’ll lay out your path to success right there and then! Email me by the end of January and mention this article, from there we’ll find a time for our chat - sally@team- resilience. com.au.

& Team Specialist

www.linkedin.com/in/leadership-development-coach/ sally@team-resilience.com.au

Cybersecurity: Securing Your Devices

Whether you are a Not-for-profit, a small business, a government department or an individual, the first line of defence is having good endpoint protection software installed on your computer. Let’s continue where we left off last month, focusing on cybersecurity and how you can protect yourself.

You may ask, “but my computer or Mac comes with protection, why do I need more?”. The simple answer is that the attack methods have increased in complexity and the basic protection is not sufficient, even for IT professionals, to mitigate the vulnerabilities.

Many individuals and businesses don’t know they’ve been compromised until their data is being ransomed or their money has been transferred out of their bank account.

What

is an endpoint?

An endpoint is a device that connects with a computer network and exchanges information, this can include your laptop,

mobile phone and other devices you use daily. Each of these devices are potential points of vulnerability for you and should be adequately protected.

How do I protect my devices?

In the past security was set and forget, as easy as having anti-virus installed on your computer. Today, the approach is much more proactive – no longer weekly scans checkups but instantaneous scanning of files, checking that applications are only accessing the files and resources required.

Protection from leaders in endpoint protection vendors, including Sophos, Microsoft, Bitdefender, CrowdStrike and SentinelOne encompasses solutions that:

1. Protect your email

- Checking links (URLs)

- Scanning files

- Flagging social engineering attempts

2. Scan files on your device

3. Firewall inbound and outbound malicious connections

4. Test potentially unsafe applications in a sandboxed environment

5. Use machine learning (AI) to detect similar patterns to existing and emerging malware

6. Revert ransomware attacks

7. Filter web content

8. Provide user training (e.g., on recognizing phishing)

Help! What if I’m not sure?

Cybersecurity and endpoint protection can be a complex area. Software can be installed, but how do you know if it is working properly? Are emails you should be getting not coming through? Do you have a server that may potentially be vulnerable?

If you have a complex environment or are unsure of what protection you need, consult your local IT specialist.

Erebus IT supports the Geelong and Melbourne regions and will do a free evaluation before providing you with a list of recommendations to improve your business’ cybersecurity posture.

Resources

https://www.cyber.gov.au

https://www.gartner.com/reviews/ market/endpoint-protection-platforms https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/ security/blog/2023/03/02/microsoftis-named-a-leader-in-the-2022-gartnermagic-quadrant-for-endpoint-protectionplatforms/

At Erebus IT, we are dedicated to providing reliable, and cost-effective IT solutions that empower businesses to thrive in the digital age.

• BUSINESS CONTINUITY PLANNING (BCPDR)

• IT HEALTH CHECK

• IT GUIDANCE & SUPPORT

• DATA BACKUP & REPLICATION

• MICROSOFT 365

• PHONE SYSTEMS

• IT INFRASTRUCTURE

DIGITAL MEDIA

By Ethan Strybosch

Are You Tapping Into the $156,000 Per Year Google Ad Grant Yet?

For not-for-profit organisations (NFPs), standing out online can feel like an uphill battle. But what if you had $156,000 annually to boost your online presence and drive more people to your cause?

Enter the Google Ad Grant program, a powerful opportunity that provides NFPs with free advertising credit to spread their message, attract new supporters, and increase donations. If your organisation isn’t leveraging this game-changing resource yet, here’s everything you need to know to get started.

What Is the Google Ad Grant Program?

Google offers eligible NFPs up to $10,000 a month in Google Ads credit—totalling $156,000 a year. These funds allow you to run targeted ad campaigns that appear in Google search results, helping you reach the right audience at the right time.

Whether your goal is to raise awareness, drive traffic to your website, or engage with potential donors, Google Ad Grants can transform your online marketing efforts.

How to Apply

1. Check Your Eligibility

Start by ensuring your organisation meets the requirements. You must:

• Be a registered not-for-profit.

• Hold valid charity status in your country.

• Agree to Google’s nondiscrimination policies.

Visit Google for Nonprofits for full eligibility criteria.

2. Submit Your Application

Once your eligibility is confirmed, you can apply directly through Google for Nonprofits. The process is straightforward, and guidance is available at every step.

3. Set Up Your Account

After approval, you’ll need to set up your Google Ads account. Google provides a guided setup to ensure your campaigns comply with the program’s policies.

Optimising Your Ad Campaigns

Getting started is just the first step— ongoing optimisation is key to making the most of your ad credit. Here’s how to create impactful campaigns:

• Keyword Research

Identify the terms your audience is searching for using tools like Google Keyword Planner. Focus on keywords that align with your mission and services.

• Engaging Ad Copy

Craft compelling ads that resonate with your audience. Use clear and direct calls to action, such as “Donate Now” or “Learn More.”

• Landing Page Optimisation

Ensure the landing pages your ads link to are relevant and user-friendly. A clear call to action on these pages—like signing up for a newsletter or making a donation— can drive better results.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

While the Google Ad Grant program is an incredible opportunity, it’s essential to avoid these common mistakes:

• Low Click-Through Rates (CTR)

If your ads aren’t attracting clicks, test new keywords and refine your ad copy. Small changes can lead to significant improvements.

•

Poor Quality Scores

Google assigns Quality Scores to your ads based on their relevance to the landing page. Ads and landing pages must align closely to maintain performance.

Ready to Make an Impact?

With $156,000 per year in free advertising, your organisation has the potential to reach new heights in visibility, engagement, and impact. Whether you’re just starting or looking to optimise existing campaigns, the Google Ad Grant program is a resource no NFP should overlook.

Take the first step today—visit Google for Nonprofits to learn more and apply. Your cause deserves to be seen.

BUILD Your Business: A Strategic Approach to Success PLANNING TO BUILD

of

BUSINESS COACH

By Deb Fribbins

Are you thinking of starting a business, investing in one, or expanding your existing operations? Thorough planning is crucial for success. By utilizing the BUILD framework, you can create a solid foundation for your business goals and maintain momentum throughout your journey.

B: Be Aware

Start by researching your market. Understand who your clients are, where to find them, and who your competition is. Ask yourself the critical question: Why do you want to start or expand your business? Identify the best locations for maximizing customer flow and determine your launch timeline. Ensure you have comprehensive planning in place, and consider what marketing strategies resonate best with your target audience. Recognize your differentiators and the tools—both digital and physical—that you’ll need to implement your vision.

U: Understand Customer Needs

In today’s market, customers often operate with a “WIIFM” mindset—What’s In It For Me? Address their needs by understanding their pain points and how you can make their lives easier. Think about how to capture their attention, what special offers you can provide, and how to present your products clearly. Consider complementary products they might be interested in and ensure you offer robust after-sales service.

I: Invest in Yourself and Your Business Investing in a mentor can significantly enhance your journey, helping you stay focused on your goals. Identify the best networking groups relevant to your industry and determine how many to join. Explore the opportunities these networks provide for investing time and resources to fuel your growth. Staying informed about current trends is essential for remaining competitive.

L: Learn from Customers and Competitors

Listening to your customers is vital. What are their requests and complaints? What do they expect from you? Make inexpensive adjustments to your services based on their feedback and assess the potential financial and operational impacts of these changes. Ensure your marketing effectively communicates with your audience and delivers the information they need.

D: Deliver on All Parameters

Craft a comprehensive Business Plan that includes a Marketing Plan and a Financial Plan. This should be built on a solid analysis of competitors, market conditions, product assortment, purchasing strategies, and cash flow projections.

By following the BUILD framework, you’ll establish a resilient foundation for your business. As challenges arise, you’ll be better equipped to resolve them by considering their effects on all areas of your operation. Make your entrepreneurial journey smoother and more successful by building your business on these essential principles.

If you would like support ways to address this in your business book a time for a complimentary Appointment With Purpose (A.W.P.). We will explore your options together. https://calendly.com/deb-fribbins/ appointment-with-purpose

Potential threats to your business value

ACCOUNTANT

By Anjana Jogi

Once you’ve built up a successful business, you’ll want to see a healthy return on this investment. But in today’s turbulent business environment, a once stable and profitable company can quickly decline and fail to grow and losing the hard-won value you’ve built up.

If you’re a mature owner looking to retire in the near future, or an ambitious entrepreneur who’s planning to exit and start your next business idea, this loss of value is seriously bad news!

The key is to spot the potential threats to your business value and to ensure you’re doing everything you can to keep your business viable, relevant and profitable.

Five potential threats that are damaging your business value.

The value and equity that’s locked up in your successful business is your nest egg. It’s the asset that will power your future retirement, buy your family that new home, or the unrealised capital that will allow you to invest, begin new enterprises or fund your lifestyle.

So if the value in your business drops, this can fundamentally undermine your future plans and leave you without the capital to take these next steps.

Here are five key threats that may be decreasing the value of your business:

1. A reliance on the founder that limits growth potential.

A modern business should be [systemised and scalable] (https://www. business.com/articles/the-importanceof-scalable-business-models/). If you, as the founder, are still integral to your everyday operations, this blocks innovation and limits the potential growth of the business.

2. Outdated equipment or technology.

If you’re using [outdated equipment, technology or software] (https://www. pulsetechnology.com/blog/5-waysoutdated-technology-is-holding-yourbusiness-back#), this can reduce your overall operational efficiency, increase your running costs and make your business less competitive in the marketplace.

3. Failure to keep pace with the market.

Markets change quickly! The emergence of disruptive competitors, innovative new products or changes in customer behaviour can leave you lagging behind your competitors and losing sales and revenue as a result.

4. Negative reputation or brand awareness

Poor customer satisfaction scores, or bad behaviour by your employees or top team, can quickly dent your [reputation as a company] (https:// determ.com/blog/what-are-the-effectsof-reputational-damage/). Negative reputation can damage your brand, deter customers from engaging with

you and, subsequently, reduce the company’s value.

5. Poor financial health as a business.

Potential buyers want to see that your business is financially viable. A high debtto-equity ratio can make a business more vulnerable to economic downturns, and poor cashflow will hinder your ability to invest in growth, pay bills and meet your financial obligations (all red flags for investors and potential buyers).

Talk to us about stabilising the value of your company

The business value of your company isn’t static. For the business to maintain value, it needs to keep up with a changing market, adopt new technologies and make solid plans for growth.

We can help you review your potential value and come up with a business strategy and tactical approach that keeps your company relevant and valuable well into the future.

Anjana Jogi

ACCOUNTANT

preparing for the perfect paint job

By Steve Dahllof

Interior painting relies for success on the quality of its preparation. Preparing a room for painting is time-consuming and laborious, but if you follow these tips, you will have beautiful, smooth walls every time.

Preparing the room

Shift all possible furniture out of the room and cover what’s left with canvas drop cloths. Canvas absorbs paint and prevents it leaking onto the floor, a common problem if you use old cotton sheet or plastic sheets. You can also cover odd-shaped furniture with cling wrap.

Dust all surfaces to be painted whether you believe they are clean or not. Minute fibres or dust particles will interfere with the painting process. You can use a damp cloth but the best tool for dusting is a longhandled microfibre duster, preferably with an extension handle to reach up to ceiling level. It is a good idea to wear a face mask while doing this, even if you don’t have allergies or your walls have been dusted recently.

To ger rid of cobwebs and persuade spiders and all creepy crawlies to leave, use a long-handled brush.

To protect skirting boards and other surfaces you don’t want painted, apply

masking or painter’s tape. Using a putty knife, press down firmly on the tape, especially where the unpainted and tobe-painted surfaces meet. This reduces paint bleed.

Check for any indentations or cracks in the surface. Use a putty knife and a minute amount of putty to fill in. Wipe off the excess and sand back gently.

Washing the walls

Whether DIY or done by professionals, washing the walls is mandatory. If you’ve hired professionals, washing walls is not usually part of their service and they will charge extra for doing it. Hire a professional cleaner or do it yourself.

Using a sponge mop, clean the walls (and ceilings if you are painting those) with a solution of sugar soap, also known as TSP (trisodium phosphate). It is essential to apply sugar soap in kitchens, especially near greasy areas like stoves, as grease can prevent paint adhering to the walls. Walls previously painted with a satin or gloss paint also need sugar soap so that the new coat of paint will not crack due to the slippery sheen of the gloss. Note that sugar soap will darken some wooden surfaces such as mahogany.

To apply, put on rubber gloves and goggles and mix sugar soap into a bucket of warm water until it is dissolved completely. Dip the sponge mop into the solution and wipe down the walls. Rinse the surface with a clean sponge and let it dry before starting to paint.

For small rooms, you could try Selley’s Sugar Soap Wipes. Clean with the smooth side and scrub with the other, rougher side to remove marks and stains. For more stubborn stains, try Mr Clean Eraser Pad Block. Cut to the size you need and test on an inconspicuous area. Scrub off those hard-to-lift pen scribbles or oils stains and rinse with water – easy!

Painting the room

First, set up a safe workstation. Access to and from the door should be free and uncluttered. Avoid situations where you have to reach over or across a ladder or painting equipment.

While you are painting, cover your paint trays with aluminium foil, or a plastic or garbage bag. Put a paper plate of baking foil to catch the drips under each paint can. Have a damp cloth within reach to be able to immediately wipe up drips before they dry.

Even when closing a paint tin carefully, there is the likelihood of paint splattering across the room. When you first open the can, punch a series of holes (using hammer and nails or a nail punch) in the rim’s channel where the paint collects so it will drain into the can and not all over your newly painted project.

Stretch a rubber band or tie a piece of string vertically over the paint can. Use it to scrape the excess paint off your brush. This reduces the amount of paint collecting in the channel of the rim.

Preparing your room thoroughly before painting will be worth it when you see the magic result at the end!

For all painting and colour advice, contact Dahllof Painting Services at sjd67@bigpond.net.au. We will be happy to answer all your inquiries.

Steve Dahllof

Peace of mind when traveling

NATUROPATHY

By Kathryn Messenger

If you’re like me, you probably take herbs and supplements regularly, if not daily. When it’s time to go on a holiday, it can be difficult to choose what to take. Do I take them all, do I leave them all at home, or something in between?

When I’m travelling, I want to be prepared for things that may be more likely when outside, such as injuries, bites, and stings, as well as other more specific sickness, such as travel sickness and stomach bugs. But I also want to be prepared for more regular ailments such as headaches, nausea, and cold/flu.

Usually, I just take my homeopathic first aid kit, this is a kit of 20 remedies that all have multiple actions, meaning they are helpful for more than one ailment. This kit has remedies to improve travel sickness, injuries, bites/stings, digestive issues, colds/flu and so much more. The instructions are very easy to follow, allowing you to select the best remedy based on your symptoms.

I also have a smaller travel homeopathic kit with just 7 remedies, which still covers

a wide range of ailments despite being small. I formulated it specifically thinking about what health issues may crop up when travelling or on holidays.

Homeopathy is a gentle system of medicine originated from Germany, and gently stimulates your body to heal, but just because it’s gentle, doesn’t meant it’s not powerful! On multiple occasions I have seen injuries that were in the early stages of very severe bruising, turn to almost nothing after a few does of homeopathic arnica. I also have many patients who use homeopathy for mental and emotional issues, and tell me that it has changed their life.

The selection of a remedy is based on the presenting symptoms, and the nuances between the symptoms will determine the best choice. You will know you have selected the correct remedy if the symptoms start to reduce. If there has been no change at all after a few hours, you can go back to the instructions and try a different remedy.

Homeopathy is decreasing in popularity in the western world, not because it is ineffective, but because it is cheap to make and can’t be patented. This means that no one can make their fortune off of it,

which leads to very little money available for research and promotion. However, homeopathy is thriving in India, a country where the government doesn’t have the money to subsidise expensive medications, and is looking for a safe, cheap and effective option. Many medical doctors in India treat only with homeopathy and there are homeopathic hospitals set up to treat people with this modality.

If you’ve never tried homeopathy before, I would recommend starting with something like arnica which is used for bruising, and once you’re seen the results, there’s no turning back!

If you’re interested in purchasing a homeopathic first aid kit you can do so here or send me an email

GEELONG COUNCIL NEWS

Safety first at Eastern Beach during the summer break

With up to 10,000 visitors per day expected at Eastern Beach over summer, we have introduced some new safety initiatives to the swimming enclosure.

These initiatives follow Life Saving Victoria’s 2023– 24 Drowning Report, which reported the highest number of drownings on record for any summer.

These include:

• Full supervision of the Children’s Pool from 11:00am – 7:00pm daily, with closures of the pool outside these hours.

• Lifeguard monitoring of the dive tower and dive boards to ensure rule enforcement and safety.

• A restriction on lap and recreational swimming under the dive tower and dive boards while diving is in progress.

• The temporary closure of the dive boards due to insufficient clearance depth – the boards will be moved to a location with greater clearance and re-opened in the coming days.

• The installation of a public defibrillator and rescue equipment in the coming weeks.

Signage will be installed at Eastern Beach to ensure everyone understands the rules and safety initiatives, and the Children’s Pool gates will be locked outside supervised hours.

Executive Director City Life Anthony Basford:

The decision to close the Children’s Pool outside supervised hours strikes the right balance to ensure everyone can visit and enjoy their summer at Eastern Beach, then return home safely at the end of the day.

Having the pool open after hours without supervision currently poses an unacceptable risk, especially with the increase in drownings across Victoria.

Children’s Pool hours Extended at Eastern Beach

The City of Greater Geelong has extended the supervised hours for the Children’s Pool at Eastern Beach from 9am - 7pm daily from Boxing Day until the end of January 2025.

The extension comes in response to community feedback, which showed the people value using the pool in the mornings in peak time early in the new year.

City of Greater Geelong chief executive Ali Wastie:

“The national industry standard for aquatic facilities has different safety requirements for chlorinated pools as opposed to beaches – which is why the Children’s Pool has been fenced when the beach is not.

With growing popularity and usage of the area along with an increase in drownings across the state, we must take reasonable steps to ensure public safety.

We recognise that not everyone will agree with the steps that we’ve taken, but these concerning statistics leave us with no choice.

We ask everyone to be respectful towards our staff who will enforce this decision by locking the pool gates, and who will be supervising the area to make sure everyone can return home safely at the end of the day.”

Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM:

“Council heard your feedback about the supervised hours, and we’ve taken action to get the Children’s Pool open for longer.

Eastern Beach is a beautiful location for families to enjoy, and these extended hours will a big win for families wanting to get down and enjoy a swim during those warm January mornings.”

A delegation from Lianyungang visited Wurriki Nyal this month to mark 30 years of its sister-city relationship with us.

The sister-city relationship dates back to a proposal by the Shire of Corio in 1989, with the relationship established after it became the City of Greater Geelong following amalgamation in the 1990s.

Lianyungang has many similarities to our city – known as China’s ‘East-West Freight Corridor’, it is a port city linking eastern sea routes with western land routes. It has a strong history in farming and agriculture and is developing new healthcare, materials, and energy industries.

During their visit to Geelong, the delegation visited Geelong Port and learnt about the Advanced Fibre Cluster.

As part of the visit, the delegation participated in a book exchange with us, with each city receiving a collection of cultural, historical and tourism-focused books.

The exchange was led by the Chair of the Economic Development Portfolio, Cr Trent Sullivan, and Mr. Ma Shiguang, Secretary of Lianyungang Municipal Committee of CPC and Chairman of the Standing Committee of Lianyungang Municipal People’s Congress.

The books exchanged from the City of Greater Geelong, including ‘Humans in Geelong: Inspire, Connect, Strengthen’ and ‘Geelong Gallery Collections’ will go to a special sister city shelf at the Lianyungang library, while the books received from Lianyungang will be made available to the Geelong community, encouraging people to learn about and visit Lianyungang.

There have been multiple delegations from Lianyungang over the relationship’s three decades, with City of Greater Geelong representatives travelling to Lianyungang in 2016.

Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM:

As a former president of the Geelong Ethnic Communities Council, now known as Cultura, I’ve seen first-hand how these types of relationships support multiculturalism and cultural exchange in our city.

With so many different cultures in Geelong, our city is a great success story, and we enjoy relationships with cities in several countries including China, South Korea, Japan and East Timor, which are very important to us.

Councillor Trent Sullivan:

It was a pleasure to host Mr. Ma Shiguang and the Lianyungang delegation at Wurriki Nyal.

A selection of books highlighting Geelong will be in Lianyungang’s library, and we’ll be making the books we’ve received available to the community.

The delegation from Lianyungang meets City of Greater Geelong representatives, including Cr Trent Sullivan and chief executive Ali Wastie

Mrs. Hui Qian, Director of the Foreign Affairs Office, Lianyungang Municipal People’s Government with City of Greater Geelong chief executive Ali Wastie

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL NOT-FOR-PROFIT

Friend in Me

JANUARY 2025

THE FIND FOUNDATION: EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES AND SUPPORTING LOCAL ORGANISATIONS

Founded in 2021, the Find Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting other not-for-profit entities, including community groups, schools, and sporting clubs throughout Victoria. The Foundation was established by Warren Strybosch, whose vision was to create a better way to assist local organisations in his community.

Warren was driven by his concern over the rise of scams affecting his community.

He realised that his vision for the Find Foundation could also play a role in helping protect people from these scams. He saw an opportunity to help educate the community on financial matters, including tax and financial planning, while supporting local initiatives. This led to the creation of the Find Maroondah Community Paper, which has since expanded to other regions across Victoria.

While the Find Maroondah is not a newspaper, it is a community-focused publication designed to bring people and local information together in one place.

The paper aims to offer a platform for organisations to reach a wider audience with their stories and events, fostering collaboration and support within the community.

Our Mission

The Find Foundation addresses a unique need that was previously unmet: offering a centralised place for local not-for-profits, schools, and community organisations to share their information with the broader community. While each organisation may already have their own methods of communication, the Find Foundation’s community papers provide a space where all groups can come together and reach the entire community.

Community Engagement

The Find Foundation is committed to creating online community papers that offer free advertising for organisations holding fundraising events or running community initiatives. This platform allows not-for-profits to share their stories and raise awareness for their causes.

Fundraising Efforts

At the heart of the Find Foundation’s mission is the support of organisations in their fundraising efforts. The Foundation has set a goal of organising three major fundraising events each year to help raise the funds necessary for local organisations to continue their valuable work, so watch this space!

Networking Support

The Find Foundation also facilitates the Find Network, a collaborative space where small businesses can connect and support one another. This network is made possible through the participation of local business members from across the regions.

Our Commitment to Community

The Find Foundation is deeply committed to supporting the work of not-for-profits, schools, sporting clubs, and other similar organisations. These entities play an essential role in providing services and support to the community, and the Foundation strives to ensure they can continue their work. By providing resources and opportunities, the Foundation helps these organisations thrive and make a lasting impact.

NOT-FOR-PROFIT

Our commitment extends to helping organisations, particularly in the area of fundraising, by amplifying their voices and sharing their stories. We aim to help them promote their services and reach the individuals they serve, whether by relieving suffering, addressing needs, or enhancing the quality of life for those in need.

Through its commitment to community, networking, and fundraising, the Find Foundation plays a critical role in supporting not-for-profits, schools, sporting clubs, and other local organisations, enabling them to continue making a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and communities across Victoria.

info@findfoundation.org.au

www.findfoundation.org.au

Before your child starts to walk or ride to school by themselves, it’s important to build their safety skills and confidence, and get to know your local area and its potential dangers, together.

Much of parenting young children is about preparing and celebrating for milestones. Our job as parents is to balance encouraging our children to be self-reliant, to embrace the development, while still protecting them.

One major milestone is when your child can travel to and from school without you. Although your child might think they’re big enough to go to school by themselves, it can be a real worry for you as their parent to know if they’re truly ready.

How can you:

• assess whether your child is ready?

• encourage them to be out in the community while making them aware of potential dangers?

• react and respond to them, while not scaring them?

• make sure your child knows what to do if they feel unsafe?

Travelling alone within in your neighbourhood is a critical step toward a child’s emerging independence –whether that be to school, a friend’s house, or the playground, by bike, scooter or walking. But children first need the skills and knowledge to stay safe before they take that step.

Travelling Safely e-learning journey

Neighbourhood Watch Victoria’s Travelling Safely platform is an interactive learning journey that parents and kids can do

Is your child ready to travel to school without you?

together to help prepare children for safe, independent travel around their neighbourhood. It’s part of our Neighbourhood Watch 4 Kids programhttps://www.nhw4kidsvic.com.au/

The e-learning platform provides important information in an accessible way and is full of fun activities – including quizzes, videos, virtual neighbourhoods and drawing – that parents and kids can do together or separately. It aims to:

• helps parents evaluate if their child is ready to travel within their neighbourhood by themselves.

• helps kids improve their safety knowledge, increase their confidence and empower them to trust their instincts and react appropriately to unsafe situations.

And the best part is, you can stop and come back at any time.

Head to Travelling Safely - https://www. nhw4kidsvic.com.au/ and work together with your child to prepare you both for this huge milestone.

Preparing your kids for independent travel Here are 6 things you can do to help prepare your child for travelling around your local neighbourhood without an adult.

1. Take the route together

You and your child should set an agreed route to and from school to take every day and go with them on a test run. Familiarise your child with dangers they may encounter on the route, like reversing cars, barking dogs, strangers, roundabouts, motorbikes and road crossings by using the Neighbourhood Watch 4 Kids virtual neighbourhood tool.

2. Understand your child’s physical reaction to fear.

Fear triggers physical changes, like butterflies in the stomach, sweaty palms or wobbly legs known as “early warning signs”. Each child’s reaction to feeling unsafe is different so ask your child what they physically feel when they’re scared and recognise that feeling.

3. Create a personal network.

Draw up a list of five trusted adults and their contact details. These are people a child regards as safe and who they can talk to about anything. It’s good to show a child safe places in the neighbourhood, like a library or police station, if they feel unsafe.

4. Teach your child the 3 “R”s of unsafe situations.

Teach your child to recognise and trust their early warning signs. Then, if someone makes them feel unsafe, they should react by using key words like “stop”, “leave me alone” or “no”, and get away from that person. Once the child is out of danger, they should report what happened to a trusted adult in their personal network or a police officer.

5. Ensure they carry personal details.

It’s important a child knows their home address, school, contact details for their parent or carer and contacts for emergency services and carries these details in a safe place, like a school bag.

6. Play games to teach them how to react in different scenarios.

Spend time playing games to test how your child reacts in a series of situations such as being approached by a stranger, getting lost or falling off a bike and injuring themselves. Then teach them what to do.

Attitude

What separates the best from the rest? What separates a gold medalist from a silver medalist in the Olympics? What separates a successful business person from someone who goes bust? What makes it possible for one person to learn and flourish after making a mistake while someone else just gives up? Attitude!

An old proverb says, ‘For as a person thinks, so is he.’ Our attitude can be our greatest asset or our greatest liability. It makes us or breaks us. It lifts us up or drags us down. The right attitude may not let us do everything, but it will help us to do anything better than when our attitude is wrong. The happiest people in life don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they simply try to make the best of everything. They’re like a person in a remote village who daily goes to the well for water and says with gratitude, ‘Every time I come to this well, I come away with my bucket full,’ instead of complaining, ‘I can’t believe I have to keep coming back to this well every day to fill up my bucket!’

Our attitude has a profound influence on our success in life. Ask a doctor if a patient’s attitude can affect recovery time for healing after an illness. Ask a teacher if a student’s attitude has an impact on their performance on a task.

As parents we want to demonstrate a positive attitude for our children’s sake, particularly during the difficult times. Remaining calm, grateful and kind in our routines and the hard times sets an example and models a behaviour that our children can follow. Not easy, but it works.

All the best.

Kindest regards, Rob. LPS Chaplain

Robert.Hunter@education.vic.gov.au

JANUARY 2025

LEOPOLD SPORTSMANS CLUB BOWLS

In 1971 a couple of locals, Len Lewis and Kevin Ash had an idea for a bowls club in Leopold. The idea took hold, a committee formed and money raised. A location was needed that would have enough space for two bowling greens and a clubhouse. Finally this was located in Kensington Road, our current location and 5 acres purchased for $8500.

In May 1975 the club was officially opened as a family friendly sporting club by Brian Dixon, the then Minister for Youth, Sport and Recreation.

You can see the results for yourself on visiting our club.

There are so many people to thank over many years for their support, encouragement and voluntary help along with the the original crew that helped established the club.

Leopold Sporties, located in Leopold, Victoria, is a club based on sports. We offer Bowls, both social and Pennant, Golf, Racquet Ball and Squash.

FC LEOPOLD

FC Leopold was established in 2016 by Jared Larkins and Mitchell Vials. The club is based in Leopold, Victoria and played its first competitive games in 2017. In our first season we had over 100 registered players and expect those numbers to grow in 2018 and continue to grow into the future as the club continues to develop.

The club aims to provide a positive family friendly enviroment for our members to develop their skills off the field and to also become great people off the field.The club is run solely by volunteers and we are always looking to get members involved in helping the club grow and develop.

We are aiming to become a huge part of the Leopold community and look forward to growing the sport of football (soccer) in our beautiful town.

FC Leopold is a community club that fields senior mens teams, a senior womens team and multiple miniroos and junior teams in Geelong competitions.

FC Leopold are looking for enthusiastic members of the community who would like to contribute to the clubs ethos and family friendly feel - whether that is through being a committee member, volunteer, coach or player.

Like the page to keep up to date with the clubs progress as exciting things are happening with lights and a massive COGG funded pavilion project.

in the spotlight

Getting to know your find Geelong contributors

Deb Fribbins

• Business Coach • Member of Find Geelong

Deb Fribbins is an entrepreneur, strategic planning coach, mentor, speaker, author, social enterprise up to a scalable sale Business Owners who are empowered to achieve their goals.

Deb enjoyed a long successful career in the corporate retail world with Myer, David Jones, Target, up to $480Million. Since leaving retail she has worked extensively with small business retailers, clients in the UK, Bali, USA and all over Australia. Her experience in each business and her knowledge

Deb is honest and authentic in her approach, gaining the respect of both her clients and their Association of Top Professionals, Outstanding Professional of the Year by Cambridge Publishing.

The Developing Excellence in Business (DEB) philosophy is to empower business owners with the developed is customised for each individual business needs, leading to increased sales, profits

the knowledge, skills and expertise to achieve and exceed their goals. The unique 5 D process profits and a greater brand awareness in the marketplace, through increased traffic. Geelong

enterprise advocate and champion for equality. Her passion is to support small businesses from start Target, and Harris Scarfe over more than 30 years. Leading businesses small and large from $240,000 retailers, service providers, manufacturers and wholesalers, both locally and Internationally. Servicing knowledge in a wide range of products enables her to support businesses across the board. their customers. She has been recognised as the Top Private Consultant by the International Publishing.

Twist & ShoutA Salute to Rock n Roll

Twist & Shout - A Salute to Rock ‘n’ Roll is returning to Geelong in 2025!

An international tribute celebrating the hits of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Legends of the 50’s 60’s with tributes to – Elvis, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Roy Orbison, The Everly Brothers, Little Richard, Del Shannon, Jerry Lee Lewis and Australia’s Johnny O’Keefe, as well as the No 1 hits of The Bee Gees, The Beatles, The Monkees and The Hollies to name a few.

Starring the multi award winning & internationally renowned The Williams Brothers.

Rock ‘n’ Roll fans this is the show that you all have been waiting for all the No 1 Hits of The Rock ‘n’ Roll Legends of the 50’s & 60’s. Hit after massive hit the magical sounds come alive again with Internationally renowned and one of Australia’s most successful vocal trio’s The Williams Brothers. Supported by their own multi-award winning band The Shy Guys this show is a non-stop journey through the greatest songs of all time.

The Williams Brothers are the sons of one of Australia’s leading Rock ‘n’ Roll pioneers, Warren Williams, the boys were born to carry on the tradition of one of the greatest

Sat, 18 Jan 2025 07:30pm

TRIBUTE SHOW

eras in music history. The multi award winning Williams Brothers recapture these magical hit songs with harmony that only brothers can produce together with a special celebration to the Rock ‘n’ Roll legends of that era.

This international audio visual production show and “Full Live Band” will have audiences dancing in the aisles.

Rock ‘n’ Roll fans this is a show not to be missed.

BUY TICKETS

Hoodoo Gurus Back To The Stoneage

Performing Stoneage Romeos in its entirety plus all their hits! Hoodoo Gurus have been blown away by the reaction to their Back to the Stoneage Tour with the original shows now SOLD OUT.

Due to this unprecedented demand, the ‘Gurus’ are excited to announce a final run of shows on the Back to the Stoneage Tour.

Don’t miss this incredible show with all your favourite hits!

Hoodoo Gurus announce final Back to

CENTRE SEASON 2025

If you think you’ve got what it takes to step into the spotlight and bring home the prize, registrations for are now open for heat competitors at https://rawcomedy. com.au/competition

Your path glory involves a five-minute act of original humour and the desire to win.

RAW Comedy 2025

Brace yourself for the emergence of our newest comedy stars!

Get ready to witness the rise of the next wave of comedy legends as they take the stage in the quest to find the ultimate ‘hidden gem’ of the comedy world.

For the past 28 years, emerging comedians have gathered for a showdown of wits in this nation’s most extensive and esteemed open-mic comedy competition. This year is no different!

Don’t miss out on experiencing our talented competitors in peak condition as they engage in hilarious battle at RAW Comedy 2025!

RAW Comedy Alumni include: Anne Edmonds, Hannah Gadsby, Ronny Chieng, Matt Okine, Becky Lucas, Aaron Chen, Sarah Kendall, Sam Simmons, Celia Pacquola, Luke McGregor, Rhys Nicholson, Tom Ballard, Sam Campbell, Georgie Carroll, David Woodhead, Cassie Workman and more.

Fancy yourself a heat competitor?

Registrations for RAW Comedy 2025 are now open!

RAW Comedy 2025 Host - Matt Stewart

Matt is an award-winning Melbourne based comedian, writer, actor and director. He has been writing, directing and creating comedy since 2009. Starting his career as a community TV and radio presenter, he went on to be a founding member of the Stupid Old Man sketch group and a Company Director of the comedy production house Stupid Old Studios. Read more

PERFORMANCES Sat, 01 Feb 2025 07:30pm

TICKET PRICES Single

Based on one of his real-life Bondi litigation matters, lawyer/playwright, Tony Laumberg will have you cheering for our down-to-earth Aussie heroes who are up against a cold Big Corporate Australia.

This chaotic courtroom comedy about trusting in your principles and standing up to bullies will be a funny, feelgood start to Rep’s 2025 season.

Performances

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 07:30pm Sat, 08 Feb 2025 07:30pm Sun, 09 Feb 2025 02:00pm Thu, 13 Feb 2025 07:30pm Fri, 14 Feb 2025 07:30pm Sat, 15 Feb 2025 07:30pm Sun, 16 Feb 2025 02:00pm Thu, 20 Feb 2025 07:30pm Fri, 21 Feb 2025 07:30pm Sat, 22 Feb 2025 07:30pm

GEELONGwww.findgeelong.com.auLOCAL

Dachshund Dash @ GHRC

We are super excited to announce that the Dachshund Dash is back @ GHRC on Friday 24 January 2025.

Registration is now open for race entry and best dressed competition.

Please see the Geelong Harness Racing Club Facebook site for all the details.

Contact: Jodi Wood

Email: jodi@geelonghrc.org.au

Phone: +61 3 5275 4880

Associated organisation: Geelong Harness Racing Club

Website: https://www.geelonghrc.org.au/ Follow us: https://www.facebook.com/ GeelongHarnessRacingClub https://www.instagram.com/geelonghrc

Geelong Beer Festival returns to Johnstone Park this January 18th, this iconic festival celebrates the region’s best in food/drink, arts, and entertainment combining a stellar list of world-class breweries, cideries, distilleries, cocktail specialists, vineyards and local gourmet street food, complemented by a dynamic program of live entertainment and curated activities.

Non-stop free entertainment and activities including: Live cooking demonstrations at the Culinary Stage showcasing local ingredients featuring our favourite culinary names.

The Masterclasses will be fun and informative with brewer forums, trivia, beer/food matching, free tastings and more delivered by local industry stalwarts Tiffany Waldron and Lindsy Greig.

The Sound Lounge will deliver roving and interactive performances with the Ale Capones, DJ and saxophone sets, dance competitions and a not to be missed finale from the Piano Bars’ Andy Pobjoy and the Ale Capones.

The Main Stage will feature British India, Felipe Baldomir and Jordy Maxwell.

Roving performers, kids’ entertainment and family friendly activities.

Contact: kieran blood

Email: info@geelongbeerfestival.com.au

Phone: 0401187245

Associated organisation: Australian Beer Ambassadors

Website: https://geelongbeerfestival.com.au/

LOCAL EVENTS

Join us for a day of joy and excitement at the Free Children’s Fun Day...!

Kick off the festivities with the convenience of our free Carpark and indulge in delicious treats from our food and drink vendors. The fun truly begins with free rides and entertainment, where kids can explore the Interactive Scouts Compound and discover the world of Emergency Services through engaging activities.

Keep your eyes peeled for roving entertainment that will surprise and delight throughout the event. Don’t miss the grand parade, featuring an array of captivating floats.

When

26 January 2025, 11:00 AM - 04:00 PM

Centre Stage Performances

Mesmerising performances and displays include:

• Flag raising

• National anthem

• Geelong Scottish Dancers

• Cheer on the brave participants in the Emergency Services Fire Extinguisher Competition for a thrilling spectacle.

Geelong Outdoor Living and Caravan Expo

The Geelong Outdoor Living & Caravan Expo is coming in hot with our BIGGEST EVER expo with over 120 exhibitors and a record number of brands, it’s going to be HUGE!

With all the big name brands, a first look at 2025 models and new technology, it’s one you won’t want to miss.

Contact

Website: https://outdoorlivingcaravanexpo.com. au/

with Luke Elliot

In this 4-hour workshop, young creatives will explore self-expression through various art techniques, using mixed mediums like collage, pastels, watercolours, drawing and natural materials. With a crowd making their way into the city and surrounds for the celebrations, a little planning can make it a night to remember.

Portarlington will be celebrating Australia Day on Sunday January 26, 2025 and during the long weekend with a free community event.

Come along and enjoy the day’s celebration and support the National Australia Day Council message - Reflect, Respect, Celebrate - we’re all part of the story. Multiple venues will be holding family friendly events and activities.

Led by Luke Elliot, participants will start their own art journal, reflecting their unique personalities and ideas through games and fun art making exploration. Each participant will receive their very own art journal and learn some art-making prompts to continue their creative journey at home. It’s a perfect opportunity for kids to explore creativity and self-discovery during the school holidays!

What to bring

Please bring your lunch, snacks and a drink bottle

Ticketing

$95 includes all art materials and an art journal (4hour workshop)

ENROL HERE:

https://www.bluebirdfoundationinc.org.au/ workshops/creative-art-journalingt1

When

22 January 2025, 10:00 AM - 02:00 PM

Contact: Sarah

Email: sarahmoore@bluebirdfoundationinc.org.au

Associated organisation: Bluebird Foundation Inc.

Website: https://www.bluebirdfoundationinc.org.au/ workshops/creative-art-journalingt1

https://www.facebook.com/BluebirdFoundationInc/ https://www.instagram.com/bluebird_ foundation/?hl=en

The detailed program will be posted progressively on the Portarlington Community Information Booth Facebook page.

When

Daily from 26 January 2025 to 27 January 2025, 09:00 AM - 04:30 PM

Contact Phil Cameron

Email: eltcam@bigpond.com

Phone: +61 419 381 039

Associated organisation: Portarlington Community Information Booth Inc.

https://www.facebook.com/PortarlingtonInfoBooth

Kids Summer Holidays - learn to sail programs!

sip & stretch

Tackers is a fun and active program for kids aged 5 to 12 years who are new to sailing.

Course Overview

This course aims to provide children aged 7-12 with a fun, safe and affordable way to get into sailing.

Course Prerequisites

Water confident 7-12 years-old

Who should do this course?

This course is designed for participants who wish to have fun and learn the basics of sailing through games on and off the water.

When

01 February 2025

Where

Royal Geelong Yacht Club

Wadawurrung Country, 25 Eastern Beach Road, Geelong Victoria 3220

Cost: Participant Entry Fee: $380.00

Contact: Sailing Office

Email: sailing@rgyc.com.au

Phone: +61 3 5229 3705

Associated organisation: Royal Geelong Yacht Club

Website: https://rgyc.com.au/learn-to-sail/ tackers/

Sip and Stretch is a fusion event that combines a gentle yoga or pilates session with a social element.

Sip beverages provided (wine, tea, or other) before, during, or after the gentle movement practice.

The concept merges the relaxation benefits of yoga with a more casual and social atmosphere, encouraging members to unwind in both body and mind.

Salt and Wood is a serene retreat nestled amidst a Zen-inspired native garden, just steps from the Ocean Grove beach.

Location & Parking

We are located along the walking track at 73 The Esplanade.

Park in the surrounding streets, wander down Hodgson Street and look for the signs. See you there! Book here

Contact Katrina Harris

Email: thestudio@saltandwoodco.com.au

Phone: +61 459 678 144

www.saltandwoodco.com.au/

Associated organisation: Salt & Wood

The Festival of

As the largest sailing regatta in the Southern Hemisphere, it’s not just about racing—it’s where world-class sailing meets a three-day

festival packed with live music, gourmet food, and unforgettable entertainment. From family-friendly activities under the sun to epic performances and fireworks lighting up the night sky, the event offers something for everyone.

Set against the backdrop of the Royal Geelong Yacht Club and Eastern Beach, the festival transforms the waterfront into a lively playground that draws tens of thousands of visitors each year.

Whether you’re here to cheer on the yachts or join the party with the crowd, the Festival of Sails brings together the thrill of competition and the joy of celebration, creating an experience that truly captures the spirit of Geelong.

Upcoming dates

25 January 2025, 10:00 AM - 11:30 PM

26 January 2025, 10:00 AM - 11:30 PM 27 January 2025, 10:00 AM - 08:00 PM

Where

Royal Geelong Yacht Club Wadawurrung Country, 25 Eastern Beach, Geelong VIC 3220

Contact: RGYC Office

Email: Info@rgyc.com.au

Phone: 03 5229 3705

Associated organisation: Royal Geelong Yacht Club

Website: http://www.festivalofsails.com.au

https://www.facebook.com/ FestivalofSails

Sails is Geelong’s ultimate summer celebration, held every January long weekend on the stunning waterfront.

Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race

Geelong will host the 10th anniversary of the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race from January 31 to February 2, 2025. Experience all the action from the start-finish line at Steampacket Gardens on the picturesque Geelong Waterfront, or make your way to the Challambra Live Site to cheer on the riders as they tackle the iconic King and Queen of the Mountain Climb.

With world-class cycling in our own backyard, there are countless ways to get involved and soak up the excitement of the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race!

Decorate your home or business and win!

Geelong is home of the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race and we want everyone to know it!

Showcase your community spirit and creativity by decorating your home or business in support of this world-class cycling event.

You could use recycled items like old bike parts, old fabric and clothing, cardboard boxes and more to create eye-catching displays. We’ll be looking for vibrant colours, innovative designs, and sustainable materials.

Register below to be part of the competition, then get decorating for the big event 29 January – 2 February 2025 to claim your share of $2,000 worth of prizes.

Elite Road Races

The world’s best cyclists will descend on Geelong as the Elite Women and Men hit the roads in this global celebration of cycling.

Enjoy front-row viewing as riders negotiate scenic roads, rolling hills, technical corners and the infamous Challambra climb in this modern one-day classic.

Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race - Women: Saturday 1 February 2025

Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race - Men: Sunday 2 February 2025

Geelong Port Family Ride

Full of smiles, the free GeelongPort Family Ride is the perfect family activity that kicks off an incredible weekend of cycling action. The family ride provides a special opportunity to create new life-long cycling memories.

Date: Friday 31 January 2025

Start & Finish Times: 5:30pm Start – course open for 60 minutes. 6:30pm finish line closed

Start & Finish Location: Steampacket Gardens, Eastern Beach Rd, Geelong VIC 3220

TAC People’s Ride

For those who love their bikes there is the TAC People’s Ride. With a 59km and 124km race option, riders of all abilities and experience levels have the chance to participate on the same roads as the elite riders in this world class event.

Date: Saturday 1 February 2025

Start & Finish Times: Long Course - 7:00am; Short Course starts at 7:30am

Start & Finish Location: Steampacket Gardens, Eastern Beach Rd, Geelong VIC 3220

With world-class cycling in our own backyard, there are countless ways to get involved and soak up the excitement of the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race!

When Daily from 31 January 2025 to 02 February 2025

Where

Steampacket Gardens

Wadawurrung Country, Eastern Beach, Geelong VIC 3220

Email: info@cadelevansgreatoceanroadrace.com.au

Associated organisation: Visit Victoria

Website: http://www.cadelroadrace.com

http://www.instagram.com/cadelroadrace http://www.facebook.com/CadelRoadRace

Five Things to Look Forward to in 2025

With the new year upon us, it is time to get excited about what lies ahead for the Cats in 2025

The new year has arrived and it is an exciting year that lies ahead, as the Cats prepare themselves for a massive 2025 campaign.

With a number of riveting matchups scheduled, new recruits pulling on the Hoops for the first time and a plenty of milestones within reach, there is no better time to be a part of the Geelong Football Club.

The Cats will continue to ramp up preparations into the new year, with their first match simulation scheduled for the 17th of February.

With the calendar officially flipped over to 2025, we take a look at the top five things to look forward to this year.

1. 10 Games at GMHBA Stadium

Geelong are set to host 10 games at GMHBA Stadium in 2025, the first time that has occurred since the 1996 AFL season.

The first clash at the venue is set for Round One, with the Cats to host Fremantle in a Saturday afternoon showdown.

One of the biggest matchups slated at Kardinia Park this year comes in Round 15, with Geelong set to host Brisbane in a Friday night blockbuster.

Other teams set to play at GMHBA Stadium in 2025 include Melbourne, the Western Bulldogs, Essendon and Port Adelaide.

2. Geelong’s New Recruits

Through the 2024 trade and draft period, Geelong’s list altered significantly with a total of 10 changes made heading into 2025.

Among the exciting acquisitions, the Cats secured young midfielder, Bailey Smith via trade and dynamic forward, Jack Martin as a free agent.

Geelong also brought in seven players through the national and rookie drafts, while acquiring Cillian Burke as a Category B Rookie from Ireland.

The plethora of new faces join the Cats emerging young core, as they look to make their Geelong debuts in 2025.

3. Dangerfield’s 350th

Geelong’s captain and champion player, Patrick Dangerfield can join an exclusive club in 2025 as he looks to reach his 350th AFL game.

Entering the 18th season of his glittering career, Dangerfield currently sit on 337 games needing just another 13 appearances to reach the milestone.

4. An Opening Round Blockbuster

Geelong will make their Opening Round debut in 2025, the second year of the AFL’s new concept as the Cats kick off the season in the first game of the year.

It will be no small occasion in any sense, with Geelong set to take on the reigning premiers, Brisbane at the Gabba to commence 2025.

The clash will be an exciting rematch of the 2024 Preliminary Final, with the two sides squaring off in plenty of memorable clashes over the past few years.

Both teams will be looking to start their year on a positive note, setting up a blockbuster clash between two of the competition’s top teams.

5. Jeremy Cameron’s 700th Goal

He will need to put together another solid campaign, but Jeremy Cameron has a chance to reach 700 goals in his AFL career this year.

After a great season in 2024, Geelong’s star forward finished on 648 goals leaving him 52 majors short of the next significant milestone.

Cameron has booted 65 goals (2022), 53 goals (2023) and 64 goals (2024) in his last three seasons meaning that based off recent form, the 700 goal milestone could be within reach.

If he can reach the number, Cameron would become just the 27th player in V/ AFL history and the fourth Geelong player to kick 700 career goals.

Fred Wooller Presents Bailey Smith His New Number

Ollie Henry Highlights | Prelim Final

The Geelong Football Club will remember a pioneer of our game, Cyril “Bill” McMaster OAM who sadly passed recently aged 94.

Vale Cyril

“Bill” McMaster

Former Geelong player and official Bill McMaster poses for a photo during a portrait session for the AFL Record, at GMHBA Stadium.

The Geelong Football Club will remember a pioneer of our game, Cyril “Bill” McMaster OAM who sadly passed recently aged 94.

Bill McMaster flys for a mark against Collingwoodin the 1952 Grand Final at the MCG.

McMaster was a dual premiership winner in 1951 and 1952, playing a total of 61 games and kicking 75 goals from 1951 to 1954.

He later returned to Geelong as a coach in 1971 for two seasons before becoming Football’s first ever full-time recruiting officer in 1973, a role he held at the Club until his retirement in 1994.

McMaster began his football journey at St. Joseph’s College in Geelong where he was a prominent member of the senior side.

From 1947 to 1950 he played his football at Lake Bolac Football Club, winning back-toback premierships from 1948 to 1950, and a Club Best and Fairest in 1949.

In 1950 McMaster also played in the Wimmera Football League for Ararat Football Club, on permit from Lake Bolac.

At 193cm, or 6’3½” on the old scale, McMaster’s performances at both clubs caught the attention of Geelong, to which he joined in 1951.

Wearing the number seven, McMaster made an impressive debut for the Cats, kicking five goals against South Melbourne.

McMaster would go on to establish himself as one of Geelong’s most consistent performers in the ruck, culminating in a premiership in the final game of his rookie season against Essendon.

Geelong would go on to go back-to-back with another premiership the following year and it was during this period that McMaster featured in a Geelong side that won 26-consecutive games.

McMaster would return to his local side Lake Bolac as Captain/Coach, leading them to consecutive premierships in 1955 and 1956. He then moved to Mortlake Football Club as Player/Coach from 1957 to 1963.

After his playing career, McMaster returned to Geelong in 1971 as the Senior Coach for two seasons, before being appointed Recruitment Officer in 1973.

McMaster was a pioneer for the League in the first full-time recruitment role and oversaw the recruitment of Gary Ablett Snr, Greg Williams, Garry Hocking, Paul Couch and many other champions of the game.

McMaster stayed connected to the Club following his retirement, as a member of the Honouring the Past Committee and Memorabilia Working Group from 1994 to 2015.

His unique contribution to our game saw him awarded GFC life membership, Jack Titus Service Award and R.J Hickey Awards. He was also awarded the Australian Sports Medal in 2000.

In January 2024, McMaster received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division for service to Australian rules football in the Barwon South West Region.

The Club sends its heartfelt condolences to Bill’s family and friends.

Rest peacefully, Bill.

Juggling, impersonations, and the worm: Hidden talents of AFLW players

There’s no shortage of talent among AFLW players, but not in the way you might think

IF YOU thought the skills of AFLW players were limited to what they do on the field, you’re sorely mistaken.

From secret musical prowesses to hidden gymnastic abilities - and even a world record in unicycling - our W players are a talented bunch.

A few clubs have nominated players whose skills extend beyond the footy field.

Here are some of their hidden talents you’d never guess just from watching a game.

Adelaide

Brooke Smith and Maddi Newman have excellent memories - they know every W player’s number from every team across the entire league.

Anne Hatchard’s aim should never be questioned, as she can hit a three-pointer from the carpark.

Not satisfied just with being a star AFLW player, Eloise Jones is also a keen golfer and was in the state golf team as a kid.

If you’ve noticed Kiera Mueller is particularly good at jumping high to get a mark, there’s a reason why. She’s a talented skipper who even represented the state in jump rope.

Grace Kelly is handy on the keys and even used to be a piano teacher!

Collingwood

She’s not just an athlete! Sarah Rowe loves to rap, while Mattea Breed does a great Hermione Granger impression.

When she’s not repping the black and white, Eliza James may be found focusing on the colours of a Rubik’s Cube, which she’s incredibly good at solving.

Meanwhile, Mikala Cann’s party trick is being able to juggle.

Essendon

If she wasn’t an AFL player, Mia Van Dyke could have gone into gymnastics: she’s double-jointed and is weirdly flexible.

Another Mia with skills on the mat, Mia Busch can perfectly nail a ‘Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders’ kick.

Fremantle

Jo Cregg isn’t just a good piano player, she also worked as a piano teacher for 10 whole years.

Not content with just playing footy, Meg Kauffman also dabbled in circus arts during high school. She’s a mean juggler and can do some Diabolo tricks.

Mim Strom is also good with logic puzzles and can solve a Rubik’s Cube in 40 seconds.

Emma O’Driscoll is also known to whip out a backflip when the Dockers win.

Gold Coast

It sounds like she’s the brainiac of the team –– Wallis Randell can recite the first 25 digits of pi from memory.

Greater Western Sydney

You can bet Georgia Garnett will bring the beats and the vibes at Giants parties thanks to her handy DJ skills. She even competes in DJ comps when she’s not on the field.

Pepa Randall is an absolute fiend when it comes to the Good Weekend Quiz, so you probably want her on your team for trivia nights. She also has a strong passion for ATO tax claim hacks, but maybe it’s best to chat with her in person about that one.

Any geography questions you have, go straight to Isabel Huntington. This legend can name every single country in the world, and place it on a map.

Meghan Gaffney isn’t just a star forward, she’s also got a hidden musical talent: she can sing and play guitar.

Hawthorn

Emily Bates and Bridie Hipwell can both play the harmonica - and not just the opening bars of ‘Piano Man’!

It’s a musical team – Aine McDonagh can play the ukulele too.

Lucy Wales spent a long time practising and is now an excellent juggler.

Mackenzie Eardley is such a fan of the Pitch Perfect trilogy that she can recite all the songs performed in each movie.

Kristy Stratton can do the worm, a great one to bust out at parties.

North Melbourne

She’s a star athlete: Kate Shierlaw competed for Australia in Javelin in the 2008 junior world championships, before moving on to basketball and then footy.

Niamh Martin can play the fiddle.

Don’t challenge Ariana Hetherington to a Candy Crush competition. She’s currently on level 7703 and counting.

Partnership Announcement: City Of Greater Geelong

CITY OF GREATER GEELONG AND GEELONG UNITED BASKETBALL: A GAME-CHANGING PARTNERSHIP FOR WOMEN’S SPORT

The City of Greater Geelong and Geelong United Basketball (GUB) are thrilled to announce a transformative partnership, solidifying a shared commitment to advance women’s sport, foster community engagement and celebrate the vibrant spirit of Greater Geelong.

This landmark collaboration will see significant investment into Geelong United’s Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) program, championing pathways for female athletes, coaches, and administrators, and elevating women’s basketball to new heights across the region.

The partnership reflects a joint vision to inspire and support female participation in sport, from grassroots to elite levels. The City’s investment will bolster resources for Geelong United’s WNBL team, ensuring world-class facilities, development programs, and opportunities for women to thrive both on and off the court.

“This new partnership will significantly enhance the visibility of Geelong United as a brand,” said Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM, sharing Council’s excitement to support Geelong United’s WNBL team in its inaugural season and the NBL1 sides. “As our region’s largest indoor sport venue, Geelong Arena will continue to be the home of basketball, and we can’t wait to watch the athleticism and determination of our first WNBL team at the elite level there. I urge the broader community to show their support and get behind Geelong United.”

A cornerstone of this collaboration is the commitment to community engagement. Together, the City of Greater Geelong and GUB will roll out initiatives that connect the WNBL team with local schools, junior athletes, and community groups, providing inspirational role models and encouraging greater participation in physical activity.

Geelong United Basketball CEO Mark Neeld emphasised the importance of this partnership, “This is a pivotal moment for our organisation. It demonstrates the City’s belief in the power of basketball to bring people together and create lasting positive impacts in our community. We’re proud to represent Geelong on the national stage and look forward to what we can achieve together.”

2025

Don’t miss seeing some of Australia’s best golfers at the Vic Open, the first event in the world where men and women played at the same time, on the same venue and for the same prize money, with this tradition continuing to this day.

Get up close to our next generation of stars, and bring your friends and family for plenty of food and drink and fun golf activations in the tournament village.

Saturday evening from 7pm sees an Australian Long Drive Event – come see players hit over 350 metres!

Free entry, and everyone welcome –dogs included!

When

Daily from 06 February 2025 to 09 February 2025, 7:30am - 07:00pm

Where

13th Beach Golf Links

Wadawurrung Country, 1732 Barwon Heads Rd, Barwon Heads VIC 3227

Contact

Therese Magdulski

Email: golfoperations@golf.org.au

Phone: +61 3 9626 5050

Associated organisation: Golf Australia

Website: http://www.vicopengolf.com

https://www.facebook.com/GolfAust/ https://www.instagram.com/golfaust

What’s Happening...

What’s on at Westfield this summer

What’s on at Westfield Geelong this summer

It’s summertime, and the livin’ is easy. In celebration of the sunshine and long, relaxed days that mark the season, Westfield Geelong has an incredible lineup of free activities, events, live performances, giveaways and more for you to channel that summer state of mind! From live music to Face Painting and competitions, there’s something for everyone.

Giveaways and competitions

Summer is coincidentally concert and festival season, and you don’t want to miss out! In partnership with Live Nation, we’re giving you the chance to win 1 of 4 Golden Tickets, each worth $10,000 in VIP and premium tickets of your choice.

Enter between 16 Jan – 12 February. Find out more here

Plus, participate in our many giveaways and competitions for your chance to win exclusive prizes and experiences.

Australian Open Competition

Outside Myer Thursday, 16 - sunday, 26 January

In celebration with the Australian Open, we will have a photos opportunity and guessing the tennis balls competition outside Myer for all customers.

Find out more soon!

Live music

What better way to get into the swing of summer than with live music? Featuring local musicians, DJs, and performers across a variety of genres, you’re in for a treat with live entertainment.

Live Music Sessions

Every Sunday from January - March

11am - 2pm in the Food Court

Fun for kids and families

Spend quality time with your loved ones and make unforgettable memories with these events, activities, games and performances that both children and adults alike are sure to love.

Back to School Craft Workshops

Monday, 13 January - Sunday 2 February

Our Craft Zone will be available throughout the school holidays and free for all Kids and Family! We will also have craft classes on specific days running from 11am - 2pm.

Find out more here soon!

Free Face Painting

Every Saturday from January - March.

Enjoy free face painting outside Myer every Saturday 11am - 2pm

Westfield Local Heroes 2025 nominations now open

What’s Happening...

The Original, Market Square.

Welcome to Market Square Shopping Centre – your premier destination for a delightful summer shopping experience, nestled in the heart of the Geelong CBD!

Enjoy stress-free shopping with ample parking facilities conveniently located via Yarra St.

For more information on the LED glow stick product recall, head to: Market Square Geelong — Promotional LED glow stick torch | Product Safety Australia

JANUARY 2025

geelong waterfront

The Geelong Waterfront is one of Australia’s most stunning waterfronts. Having started from humble beginnings when Geelong was founded as a port in 1836, the Waterfront has now attracted a series of prestigious awards.

This cosmopolitan and vibrant area is a hive of activity with restaurants and cafes, beautiful landscaped gardens, attractions and public art, all with amazing views of Corio Bay. It also provides a full events calendar, tourism, education and accommodation services:

Our historic Carousel, Poppy Kettle playground and youth activities area is great for kids of all ages. See Geelong’s famous bollards.

There are plenty of possibilities to explore and view the Waterfront: take a ride on a Harley Davidson motorcycle, ride the trackless train if you prefer a more leisurely look around, check out the view from the air in a helicopter or take a boat cruise along Geelong’s spectacular Waterfront.

A visit to Geelong is not complete if you haven’t seen our spectacular waterfront.

poppy kettle playground

Situated on the Geelong waterfront, this park is jam-packed with awesome play elements, has beautiful sea views, has picnic facilities, and is a short walk away from cafes and other Geelong attractions. It makes for a beautiful day out for all ages, and is certainly a must-do in summer.

The interactive play equipment include a multi-coloured tubular slide that winds down the hill, a dragon emerging from the ground, a timber tower, swing, boat (atop the sand pit), bouncers, and a unique pyramid climbing net.

The playground is also well known for the interactive Poppy Kettle water fountains and miniature statues, situated amongst a rock area, which seem to be the main attraction for little ones. In fact, this feature was inspired by a children’s book written by local author, Robert Ingpen, and gives the park a magical quality. During the summer months the slide area has additional water play features.

A trip to this playground can be combined with a walk or bike ride along Geelong’s famous Bollard walk or a visit to The Carousel. Geelong’s Youth Activity Precinct is located a stones’ throw away from the playground, and features basketball ring, seating areas, open multipurpose area, and skate ramps.

This is the one of the most perfectly positioned playgrounds for so many reasons.

skate park geelong

Skate parks in Geelong have a variety of facilities available for skate boarders, bladers and BMX bike riders including quarter pipes, handrails, funboxes, vert ramps, pyramids, banked ramps, and stairsets.

We strongly advise the wearing of helmets and padding when using our Skate Parks, and enforce compulsory wearing of helmets at all skate events.

Looking to get into skating or want to know more about skating in Geelong?

Young people interested in joining in activities can call the Skate Program Worker on 03 5272 5272.

We have more skate parks per capital than any other municipality in Australia.

cunningham pier

The Pier Geelong offers uninterrupted bay views stretching from Rippleside to Point Wilson and the Geelong city skyline. It provides a large impressive area catering for small events to up to 800 guests seated or 1000 guests’ cocktail style.

The venue also housed City Quarter Bar a trendy lounge bar on Level 1. With loft ceilings, three decks, comfortable lounges, fireplace, gourmet pizzas and world inspired tapas, CQ is perfect for hosting engagements, birthday parties, hen’s high teas or pre or post event drinks.

Also housed within this iconic building is Wah Wah Gee, a funky Asian-inspired restaurant, offering an extensive menu leaving you feeling satisfied and content in an exciting atmosphere. Enjoy our delicious cuisine with floor to ceiling views of Geelong’s bay - you’ll feel like you’re floating on water.

Geelong’s iconic waterfront function venue is perfect for every occasion. Experience the most unique function venue in Geelong.

the old paper mills geelong

Geelong’s best kept secret The Fyansford Paper Mill is set on the Barwon River and overlooks the picturesque Buckley Falls. It was constructed in the 1870s and is one of the oldest paper mills in Australia.

The site is being transformed into a food, beverage, arts and cultural precinct, located within 10 minutes of Geelong’s CBD. With just under 5,000m2 of building space, the Mill is home to over 15 businesses, including a winery, café, gallery, yoga studio, homewares shop and escape room. There are also a number of small independent artists who have private studios across the site.

Visit the Fyansford Paper Mill once of Geelong’s historic places to visits. Discover all kinds of food, arts, activities, as well as our great history, see what’s on in Geelong here.

Fyansford Paper Mill once of Geelong’s most historic places to visit.

Geelong arts & Cultural precinct

The area between Johnstone Park and Ryrie Street to the west of the shopping and business district of Geelong is known as the Geelong Arts Precinct. This area is also home to the Geelong Town Hall, which is the main council offices of the City of Greater Geelong.

The city is currently seeking funds for a radical overhaul of the precinct where the current facilities will receive a substantial redevelopment. There are also plans for some pretty innovative landscaping and street works which will bring the area into line with the rest of our recently rejuvenated city. This massive renovation will make the precinct one of the best arts and cultural precincts in the state. The scale of the project put the cost of the whole redevelopment in the vicinity of over 130 million dollars.

The Geelong Art Gallery is attached to the Geelong Town Hall, and it houses a magnificent and varied collection of artworks. Two paintings in particular are extremely special to our Gallery, first being the “View of Geelong” which was painted by Eugene von Guerad in 1856. This painting was bought recently by the museum from legendary English musical creator Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. “A Bush Burial” by Fredrick McCubbin, painted in 1890 is another of the gallery’s most precious works.

Geelong Arts Centre, formerly the Geelong Performing Arts Centre, is a performing arts, functions and events venue located in Geelong, Victoria, Australia.

western beach geelong

In those days there was an unwritten rule designating Western Beach for men’s bathing and Eastern Beach for women. But some ‘dastardly gentlemen’ would disregard the agreement scaring respectable women away.

Today the area is rarely used for swimming, but it’s still a popular stretch of foreshore connecting Rippleside to the rest of the Waterfront.

Here you’ll find the Boat House restaurant (Geelong’s best spot for fish and chips), the Poppykettle Playground, a designated fishing area, and the marvelous Western Beach Boardwalk.

Curving out over the water the boardwalk has well-placed seats where you can sit back and watch the sea birds duck dive for fish. In the early morning, it’s perfect for watching the sun come up over the bay.

People have been swimming, boating, fishing and playing at Western Beach Geelong since the 1840’s

Geelong ripplesside park

Located on the western edge of the Waterfront, Rippleside Park Geelong is a pretty grass-covered foreshore reserve.

Popular with locals, Rippleside is less well-known to tourists who drive past en-route to more popular areas.

The park has magnificent bay views and is particularly appealing to families with young children who love the adventure playground.

The huge wooden structure has ramps, walkways, steps, and plenty of nooks and crannies to explore.

When the kids tire of the playground the reserve has wide-open spaces to run around in. Don’t forget to bring your footy!

Tucked in next to the reserve is tiny Rippleside Beach where you can bask in the sunshine or splash around in the water.

Overlooking the whole area is the bright and spacious Ripples On The Bay cafe. This stunning cafe serves excellent coffee and has huge windows with to-die-for water views.

Other amenities include picnic and barbecue facilities, toilets, and plenty of car parking spaces.

A community built wooden Adventure playground built over six days in 2001 with all the usual ramps, walkways, steps, nooks and crannies to explore.

steampacket gardens geelong

A path on the northern edge connecting the gardens to the bay has seats where you can enjoy the sea breeze and watch the nearby helicopter toing and froing.

On the eastern side you’ll find the Wharfshed Cafe serving yummy meals and to the west sits the delightful historic carousel.

There are some interesting art sculptures dotted around the park. Be sure to check out the Volunteer Rifle Band bollards and The Buoys sculpture, a group of former channel buoys that have been turned into a powerful piece of artwork.

The Geelong Waterfront Makers and Growers market (Steampacket Market) is held here on the first Sunday of each month. This popular market offers local produce, beautiful art and handicrafts, and lots of tasty treats.

Located right beside the water Steampacket Gardens Geelong is a big rectangle of lush lawn that’s perfect for a relaxing picnic or a game of frisbee.

the carousel Geelong

One of only a few in the world this beautifully restored carousel is considered by many to be the best that’s still in use today.

Housed in a modern steel and glass enclosure the pavilion has an old-world carnival atmosphere that’s enhanced by a pipe organ playing Dixieland melodies.

A ride on this enchanting carousel is a magical experience for children of all ages and abilities, with a mobility lift that assists wheelchairs onto the attraction.

Entry into the pavilion is free. Tickets to ride the Carousel are $5.00.

The Carousel Pavilion can be booked for wedding ceremonies, wedding receptions, photo shoots, and private or corporate functions.

Housing a beautifully restored Carousel, this competitively priced, exclusive all-weather venue is available for private hire seven days a week from 3:00pm.

The Carousel Geelong is a rare 1892 Armitage-Herschell hand-carved wooden carousel.

Old geelong Gaol

The Geelong Gaol Museum is housed in the 170-year-old Geelong Gaol, the third oldest prison in Victoria. Opening in 1853 and closing in 1991 it housed male and female prisoners.

Over its history, it has been used as an industrial school for young girls, a hospital gaol and a military detention barracks. It was the site of 6 executions.

Today it houses display illustrating not only the history of the Geelong Gaol but the history of the corrections of Victoria.

It features displays on the Hulks, Colonial Prisons, Executions and Saga Behind the Armour along with some of the prisoner stories who have spent time behind the bluestone walls.

The Geelong Gaol Museum is open on weekends, school holidays and public holidays.

A 19th century gaol which operated from 1853-1991 in the same conditions you see today.

Special Tax Return Offer

$99 Returns - PAYG Only

We have made it cheaper and easier for you to get your returns completed & you can do it all from the comfort of your own home.

Here are the steps involved:

1. Email to returns@findaccountant.com.au requesting your PAYG return to be completed. Provide us with your full name, D.O.B and address

2. A Tax engagement letter will be emailed to you for signing via your mobile (no printing or scanning required).

3. You will be then sent a tax checklist to complete online. Takes less than 5 minutes.

4. We will then require you to upload your documents to our secure portal.

5. Once we have received all your documentation, we will complete the return.

6. We will email you the completed return with our invoices. Once you sign the return and pay the invoice we will lodge the return on your behalf.

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a team where each individual is so strong in self that their focus is how to move together as one....

coaching that connects your team and drives results

TRADIES - FREE ADVERTISING

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Go to www.findgeelong.com.au/graphic-design to upload your details and we will create this for you.

The Dimensions of the Ads are:

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TRADIES - FREE ADVERTISING

Email your artwork to editor@findgeelong.com.au. If you wish us to create your ad, we will do this for a minimal cost.

Go to www.findgeelong.com.au/graphic-design to upload your details and we will create this for you.

The Dimensions of the Ads are:

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TRADIES - FREE ADVERTISING

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Go to

to upload

details and we will create this for you.

The Dimensions of the Ads are:

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TRADIES - FREE ADVERTISING

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Creative Design Hair and Beauty

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Email your artwork to editor@findgeelong.com.au. If you wish us to create your ad, we will do this for a minimal cost.

x 96 mm - 1/4 Page Portrait

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TRADIES - FREE ADVERTISING

Email your artwork to editor@findgeelong.com.au. If you wish us to create your ad, we will do this for a minimal cost.

Go to www.findgeelong.com.au/graphic-design to upload your details and we will create this for you. Go to www.findgeelong.com.au/graphic-design to upload your details and we will create this for you.

x 96 mm - 1/4 Page Portrait

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Colours Brow Waxing

watch this space!

A new Face of the Find Cards!

The local public can purchase a Find Cards for $4.99 per month. The Find Card is a mobile Application that members can download it for FREE in their mobile devices. It is available in Apple Store and Google Play. After many years of producing it printing, is now ecofriendly, interactive, easy to use and convenient for the members.

Find Cards consist of various discounted offers that are displayed on the Application.

To access the offers and redeem the deals you must sign up to be a member.

Members will be able to present their Find Cards App Profile to the local participating businesses to gain access to the advertise product or services.

Your membership makes a difference!

Stay a Find Card member for four months and give the two months of the fee to your organisation. Being a member, you contribute almost $10 annual to your chosen organisation when they sign up as a FREE In-kind sponsor.