COMMUNITY UPDATE AUTUMN 2022
WELCOME TO COMMUNITY UPDATE This publication is for and about the residents of Geelong and focuses on the caring and creative individuals and groups throughout the region who contribute to making Geelong such a vibrant and thriving community.
DEPUTY MAYOR’S MESSAGE The merit of looking out for mates and finding a sense of belonging can’t be overstated throughout the pandemic. That feeling of discovering ‘your people’ is heart-warming and gives us something to look forward to during lockdowns. In fact, many of us have found that these values have been vital to nurturing our mental health. In this edition, you’ll read about interesting people forming strong relationships at community centres and facilities, highlighting just how important this infrastructure is to Greater Geelong’s social fabric. The uplifting story from Corio’s Cloverdale Community Centre is one of breaking down barriers through a love of Thai food and cooking, while reading about the Leopold Men’s Shed instantly brings to mind the word ‘mateship’. 2 | geelongaustralia.com.au
I strongly encourage you to find a program or activity at your local community hub that will support your wellbeing and expand your friendship circle. Head to geelongaustralia.com.au to see what’s in your area. Council is continuing its focus on assisting the community’s social and economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, as well as the region’s business sector. Our seventh support package, worth $2.04 million, aims to help those having a rough time of it, boost our unique arts and culture scene and attract more visitors and investment into our region.
Given the pandemic continues to challenge us in new and different ways, we know recovery will take time and that a multifaceted approach such as this is the best way forward. The resilience and ingenuity shown by the Greater Geelong community has been amazing to witness. Thank you for your efforts.
Cr Trent Sullivan Deputy Mayor, City of Greater Geelong
PG 12: LEOPOLD MEN’S SHED A LIFELINE FOR MANY
PG 14: LOOKING OUT FOR OUR PAW-SOME PETS
IN THIS ISSUE OF COMMUNITY UPDATE
PG 8: GREATER GEELONG IS GOING NET ZERO
YOUR COUNCILLORS For more information, visit geelongaustralia.com.au/ councillors
CR STEPHANIE ASHER Mayor, Bellarine Ward 0413 369 719 sasher@geelongcity.vic.gov.au
CR TRENT SULLIVAN Deputy Mayor, Bellarine Ward 0434 307 050 tsullivan@geelongcity.vic.gov.au
CR ANTHONY AITKEN Windermere Ward 0434 307 044 aaitken@geelongcity.vic.gov.au
CR KYLIE GRZYBEK Windermere Ward 0434 307 043 kgrzybek@geelongcity.vic.gov.au
CR BRUCE HARWOOD Kardinia Ward 0434 307 042 bharwood@geelongcity.vic.gov.au
CR EDDY KONTELJ Brownbill Ward 0455 532 006 ekontelj@geelongcity.vic.gov.au
CR SARAH MANSFIELD Brownbill Ward 0436 343 642 smansfield@geelongcity.vic.gov.au
CR JIM MASON AM Bellarine Ward 0434 307 048 jmason@geelongcity.vic.gov.au
CR BELINDA MOLONEY Kardinia Ward 0435 219 198 bmoloney@geelongcity.vic.gov.au
CR PETER MURRIHY Brownbill Ward 0434 307 045 pmurrihy@geelongcity.vic.gov.au
CR RON NELSON Kardinia Ward 0429 531 875 rnelson@geelongcity.vic.gov.au
COMMUNITY UPDATE AUTUMN 2022 | 3
Pictured: render of the Northern Aquatic & Community Hub, Norlane
NEW LEISURE CENTRES A STEP CLOSER Following a competitive tender process, Kane Construction has been appointed for the construction of the Northern Aquatic & Community Hub. On-site works are due to commence soon and are anticipated to be complete in September 2023. Kane Construction have also been appointed by the City to build a new 50-metre outdoor heated pool at the Drysdale Sporting Precinct.
OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS ABC RADIO POP-UP
WHAT’S YOUR WHY?
The outdoor pool is being delivered through $15.5 million in joint funding from the City and the Australian Government, and will form stage one of the North Bellarine Aquatic Centre. It is expected to be complete in the first half of 2023.
Throughout March, ABC Radio Melbourne presenters, including Sammy J, Virginia Trioli, Jacinta Parsons, Matt Preston and Raf Epstein, will broadcast live from a pop-up ‘Radio-in-Residency’ in Geelong.
When we asked our employees and others about why they’re vaccinated against COVID-19, their answers had one thing in common: other people! Children, partners, parents and friends were all mentioned.
Both facilities are part of our commitment to deliver programs and services that improve health and wellbeing outcomes across all life stages.
The month-long residency will be located in the heart of the city at Deakin University’s Waterfront campus, overlooking Corio Bay.
Read more about the projects atgeelongaustralia.com.au/ northernhub and yoursay. geelongaustralia.com.au/nbalc
Deakin design students will transform the Waterfront Gallery for the month, with a special window display showcasing an exhibition featuring listeners’ favourite things about the region, an ‘ABC of Geelong’. The partnership between ABC Radio Melbourne, Deakin and the City will cover local topics, sharing stories and issues from the region’s residents. The full on-air schedule is available at the ABC Radio Melbourne website at abc.net.au/geelong
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Planning to get vaccinated helps protect you and the people you care about. Children aged 5 to 11 are now able to receive their Pfizer vaccine against COVID-19. Children will receive two doses eight weeks apart. Booster doses are also available to those over 18 years who have had both primary doses of a COVID-19 vaccine over three months ago. To book a COVID-19 vaccination appointment, visit portal.cvms.vic.gov.au/book
SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY’S COVID RECOVERY
Pictured: a family playing at Buckleys Bay, Breamlea
The impacts of the pandemic will be felt by our community for some time to come. To help those who have been hit hard, our Council has adopted a series of seven support packages valued at almost $19 million. The packages are aimed at assisting the ongoing recovery of our region’s community, business, arts, culture and tourism sectors. The latest round of support measures, valued at $2.04 million, include: • grants worth a combined $590,000 to assist community groups and the events, arts, culture and heritage sectors • media and marketing campaigns valued at $200,000 to encourage more domestic visitors to the region • marketing initiatives valued at $100,000 to promote local businesses and activate public spaces. The support package also features free parking in 2P zones in central Geelong during December 2021. “Tourism campaigns are focusing on targeted Melbourne markets as well as the significant visiting friends and relatives market, with locals
encouraged to become tourism ambassadors for the region,” says Executive Director for Tourism Greater Geelong and The Bellarine, Brett Ince.
and visitors to spread out and enjoy our region’s hidden gems so that popular spaces are not overloaded with crowds.”
“The established ‘It’s Our Backyard’ campaign is also being extended to further promote our wonderfully diverse mix of local businesses. With so many unique shops, restaurants and services on offer, there’s no shortage of inspiration to buy local.”
According to Deputy Mayor Trent Sullivan:
Ensuring our region remains COVIDsafe is a priority, so grants will help event organisers cover the added costs for meeting COVID-safe requirements, such as QR codes, signage, sanitiser stations, training and COVID-safe marshals. According to Mr Ince, reducing overcrowding will also be a priority. “With big numbers of visitors predicted, the ‘Embrace the Space’ campaign will encourage both locals
“THESE INITIATIVES WILL HELP BRING MORE PEOPLE BACK INTO CENTRAL GEELONG AND THE WIDER REGION AND LIFT OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.” “They’ll support community and sporting groups’ efforts to reconnect people, get our much-loved events back up and running and provide a needed boost for our arts and culture scene.” Find out more at geelongaustralia.com.au/COVID19. COMMUNITY UPDATE AUTUMN 2022 | 5
Pictured: back row L-R: Issara Saeyim, Manat Thom, Liu Shi Ping,Victoria Swan, Nitaya Mcdougall. front row L-R: Suphaporn Chainongbua, Thitirat Kantawong and Mike Quinn.
Pictured: Liu Shi Ping
“THE LOTUS FLOWER IS A SURVIVOR. IT PUSHES ITS WAY THROUGH MUDDY WATERS AND FINDS THE SUNLIGHT.” Pictured: Manat Thom and Issara Saeyim
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BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS THROUGH FOOD When the pandemic struck, Issaara Saeyim was starting a student placement at Corio’s Cloverdale Community Centre as part of her Diploma of Community Services. When her manager asked her to find a creative way to connect people, she felt the answer was obvious. “I’m from Thailand and I love cooking, so I use food to connect people,” she says with a smile. Every Thursday, Issara and a team of 10 volunteers come together to cook affordable Thai meals for the local community. The menu usually consists of authentic red, green and massaman curries, as well as chicken stir fries that locals can order via the centre’s Facebook page and pick up through a window. “We started out making 20 boxes at a time, but now we’re at 400 or 500 boxes, sometimes 600 boxes,” Issara says.
money home and don’t think about getting an education or help.” Issara now holds the role of wellbeing facilitator at the centre, and uses food and cooking as a means to reach out to those in need. “It is ice-breaking. The women tend not to want to go to support services initially, but they come here and we cook together, then they start to trust and open up. This gives them confidence to seek help.” Issara describes her role as a “bridge to link them with support services.”
The volunteers come from various multicultural backgrounds and age groups, with the youngest aged 14 and the oldest being 83. Many of the women have experienced domestic violence.
“We show them how to become independent, by teaching them English and things like the Australian road rules, the levels of governments, as well as history,” she says.
Helping women who’ve experienced domestic violence is a particular passion for Issara, who came to Australia in 2013 on a partner visa before spending time in a women’s refuge in Melbourne.
“When they’re here they feel a sense of belonging and they learn new skills, which lifts their mental health and quality of life. Then they want to give something back, so they come and volunteer and cook for the community.”
“Family violence victims tend to have low self-esteem,” Issara says. “They’re afraid to come to community centres because they find places run by government intimidating and worry that people won’t understand them. “A lot of people are in this situation because they don’t have an education, they don’t know their rights, and have no family or support around them. They think they just have to work and send
The program is called the Lotus Kitchen, which Issara says stands for “liberating ourselves together, united and strong”. “The lotus flower is a survivor. It pushes its way through muddy waters and finds the sunlight.” “We love spending Thursdays together and seeing people line up for our food. After we cook, we always share a meal together.”
Issara has turned her sights to her next project, a cleaning business to create opportunities for women to be independent in a safe working environment. “I want to show them the right way – the legal way – of how people should be treated at work.” As well as building other women’s confidence, the centre has helped Issara build her own. “People told me I was too soft or not aggressive enough to advocate for people, but it’s not true. “My manager helped me so much by believing in me and encouraging me. “All of this was inside of me, but I was too scared to believe it. The team here has worked beside me and helped me with whatever I needed. It slowly helped me grow my confidence. “You can create a good thing and change lives with your passion. “I really love what I’m doing. I have the same amount of passion as when I walked in at the start.” The Cloverdale Community Centre is funded by the City through the Neighbourhood House Grant program. Visit Monday to Friday from 9am until 3.30pm and enjoy a wide range of social, educational, recreational and support activities.
COMMUNITY UPDATE AUTUMN 2022 | 7
Pictured right: processing organic waste into compost as part of the food waste trial in Lara will reduce greenhouse gases
REDUCING EMISSIONS In 2019, the Greater Geelong region’s community greenhouse gas emissions were estimated to be 3,232,000 tonnes, with electricity accounting for 60 per cent of this total. Other major sources of emissions included transport (21 per cent) and gas (15 per cent).
GREATER GEELONG IS GOING NET ZERO
As an organisation, our operational greenhouse gas emissions amounted to 36,780 tonnes in 2019–20 – around one per cent of total community emissions.
By 2035, it’s our aim that the Geelong region will have net zero carbon emissions.
OUR CLIMATE IS CHANGING
It’s an ambitious municipal-wide target that responds to strong community support for climate change action, and is a key feature of our City’s Climate Change Response Plan.
If emissions continue to increase at the current rate, 2030 daily maximum temperatures are expected to increase by up to 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels.*
The plan sets out 80 actions to collaboratively reduce carbon emissions and increase community resilience to climate change impacts. It follows endorsement of our Sustainability Framework, and was developed in consultation with the community and the Sustainability Advisory Committee.
We’re already seeing the impacts of climate change through extreme weather events, prolonged heatwaves, flooding and bushfires.
Other expected changes include rising sea levels, decreasing rainfall in autumn and spring, and a greater number of high fire danger days each year. These changes will also have indirect health impacts, such as poorer air quality, an increasing incidence of infectious disease, risks to food safety and drinking water quality and impacts on mental health. In short, climate change will affect every aspect of our lives. There is no single answer that will help achieve the scale of change we need over the next decade: it will take a collective response. The Climate Change Response Plan identifies two key areas that must be addressed: reducing emissions and managing climate-related impacts. *Estimates taken from the CSIRO and Victorian Government’s Barwon Climate Projections 2019 report.
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Our street lights, libraries, leisure centres and facilities are now powered with 100 per cent renewable electricity and we have installed solar panels, totalling more than one megawatt, across 27 facilities. We’re also rapidly transforming our fleet to zeroemission vehicles and recovering 95 per cent of the methane generated from our landfills. All of this will help us achieve our target of zero emissions from all City operations by 2025. Other actions promising to reduce emissions in the plan include: • developing environmentally sustainable design plans for new urban developments, including the Northern and Western Geelong Growth Areas • actively discouraging gas infrastructure in nominated new developments and supporting renewable alternatives • working with Deakin University to support the establishment of a regional renewable energy research and development hub • establishing a climate action strategic partnership fund.
THERE IS NO SINGLE ANSWER THAT WILL HELP ACHIEVE THE SCALE OF CHANGE WE NEED OVER THE NEXT DECADE, IT WILL TAKE A COLLECTIVE RESPONSE.
COMMUNITY EFFORTS So many passionate locals are already doing incredible work to help address climate change, and the plan recognises these important contributions.
Pictured: Sparrovale Wetland Reserve provides habitat for a large number of migratory shorebirds and waterbirds
Take, for example, the Ocean Grove Community Association and 100% Clean Bellarine, who teamed up to develop a community solar and battery bulk-buy program, which led to 67 systems being installed. Pictured: The endangered Hooded Plover
MANAGING IMPACTS The other part of our Climate Change Response Plan focuses on adaptation, or actions we can all take to prepare for current and projected climate impacts – from extreme weather to coastal erosion. Key actions to manage impacts include: • increasing tree canopy cover in urban areas to 20 per cent by 2030 and 25 per cent by 2045 • developing a policy to ensure all new strategies and plans consider the implications of climate change risk and demonstrate how to manage such issues • developing coastal adaptation plans for priority coastal hazard sites.
The South Barwon Community Centre have also been proactive by making simple energy-saving changes, like swapping the 24-hour hot water boiler to on-demand urns and kettles, installing LED lighting and reconfiguring their space so that the most used rooms are in the warmer areas of the building. While much of what shapes climate change in the region is determined by global and national forces, there is still a lot we can all influence and control. As individuals, we can change our patterns of consumption and lifestyles. As groups and organisations, we can increase renewable energy use and maximise energy efficiency. Every effort counts. Read more about our Climate Change Response Plan and community action at yoursay. geelongaustralia.com.au/CCRP
Pictured: community planting in new growth areas COMMUNITY COMMUNITYUPDATE UPDATEAUTUMN SPRING 2021 2022 | 9
Pictured: Library Coordinator, Sandi McNeilly, reads to children inside Waurn Ponds Library
Pictured: the children’s section at Waurn Ponds Library
“FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, IT’S JUST A SPACE FOR THEM TO BE, AND I THINK IT GIVES THEM COMFORT TO KNOW WE’RE HERE.”
Pictured: the front of Waurn Ponds Library
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Pictured: Library Coordinator, Sandi McNeilly
BEYOND BOOKS: WAURN PONDS LIBRARY CREATING LIFELONG CONNECTIONS Sandi McNeilly loves watching Waurn Ponds Library members transition through life’s stages from her vantage point behind the front desk. “They start out at the baby time sessions, progress to toddler time and pre-school story time, then you see them at the school holiday activities,” she says. “It’s wonderful watching them grow and change with the library remaining that constant place for them to always come back to.” The library coordinator, who previously ran the children’s program, reflects on her best memories of the place. “My favourite story was when a young girl came in and said to me ‘I’m the best reader in my class because I’ve been coming to the library since I was a baby,’” she says. “It was such a lovely thing to hear – and coming from a sevenyear-old too! “And she was right. She’d been there since she was a baby. I’d seen her every week. Her parents took her to everything, from story time right up to the school holiday sessions.” Sandi says the girl was one of many local families who made the Waurn Ponds Library their base. “A guy used to come in all the time, I think he ran his business from the library. He was here every day and would bring his lunch in and heat it up in the microwave. Then, years later, his partner brought their baby in and he’d join them for story time then go back to his work. “I love seeing that crossover. Here he was using the library for business, but in the meantime
he has had a baby and the whole family is using the place.” Libraries have transitioned beyond simply being a home of books and now serve a wide range of purposes in communities. Perhaps connecting people is now their greatest achievement. “I’ve seen beautiful friendships formed here, from the mothers who hang around and chat with one another after baby time, to two homeless people who used to sit out the front when the library was closed and chat while they used our outdoor power point to charge their phones,” Sandi says. “For a lot of people, it’s just a space for them to be, and I think it gives them comfort to know we’re here. “It’s a great place to meet other people, and the activities are all free. There’s not a lot you can do for free these days.” In reminiscing, Sandi repeatedly refers to “pre-COVID” times, as it’s been a distinguishing point in time for the library. “There’s been a huge shift,” she says. “For a while there grandparents stopped coming in with the kids and we didn’t see many of our regulars, but it feels like things are slowly getting back.” The library has been a saviour for people from all walks of life and it served an important purpose during lockdowns. “We had a click and collect service running and every now and then we’d find lovely handwritten notes
slipped into the books,” Sandi says. “One that springs to mind said: ‘One of the highlights of the lockdowns was being able to get more books. Don’t know how we would have survived without the library.’” Sandi says it’s hard to sum up the typical profile of a library regular as it varies from families, students studying, people working or running their own businesses, people with special needs that come in with their carers, to the occasional author who is keen to get out of the house. She says Jobs Victoria staff also come in every Monday afternoon and offer to help people who are looking for work. The library runs regular book chats, craft classes, technology lessons designed for older people and sessions for helping you save on your energy and gas bills. It is an incredible free resource for everyone, no matter what stage of life you are at. Find out all that your local library offers at grlc.vic.gov.au. Libraries change lives and we are committed to ensuring that all residents have easy access to high-quality facilities. Designs are now underway for a new library in Armstrong Creek and a redevelopment of the Chilwell Library, while a new Drysdale Library is already under construction.
COMMUNITY UPDATE AUTUMN 2022 | 11
Pictured: members of the Leopold Men’s Shed
Pictured: Bob Clayton
MORE ABOUT MATESHIP THAN WOODWORK: LEOPOLD MEN’S SHED A LIFELINE FOR MANY
Pictured: Sam Sopovski
There are band saws and welding machines running, a veggie patch being tended to out the back, a group sitting around the wood fire and a game of cards going in the kitchen. It’s a typical day at the Leopold Men’s Shed and the scene perfectly sums up what the shed is all about. “It’s men working together, but ‘working’ is not the emphasis,” says president Ian MacLeod. “There’s certainly no forced labour here. If you come down to the shed you can sit there, have a chat and do nothing, but if you want to do something, go for it. “Some just come in to sit around the Coonara and solve the problems of the world, and others are on the tools or in the garden beds.” Located next to the Italian Social Club on the Bellarine Highway, the men’s shed opens from 10am to 12pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. “But you’ll often find some blokes getting there as early as 7am – they’re very enthusiastic,” Ian says.
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“And the card games are often still going at 2pm!” The shed’s 70-odd members are a mix of people from all walks of life. There are ex-school teachers and bank managers, as well as former tradies, with ages ranging from 50 to 80.
“THERE’S NO POLITICS, NO ALCOHOL, JUST A GREAT GROUP OF BLOKES WHO ENJOY CATCHING UP WITH ONE ANOTHER.” “We have a rule that there is no such thing as private conversation, so if two people are talking, you can go up and join them. We have very few problems here.” To cover the rent and electricity costs, the group sells kindling, garden boxes and other products.
“Bunnings donate their pallets to us,” Ian says. “We chip it down and sell it as kindling for six dollars a bag, which is less than half of what you’d pay at the shops.” Ian says the Leopold Men’s Shed also works closely with the local community on a range of projects. “We help build things for the local schools and those sorts of things. We’re also about to make tasting paddles for Flying Brick Cider Co. “A while back, we were approached by a lady who does a lot of volunteer work and asked us to create a cart where the community could exchange homegrown fruit and veggies. Using only recycled materials, our members created a four-tiered cart with a scalloped edge blind. She was over the moon when she saw it.
“Last year, one of our members wanted to make timber Christmas trees, so we made 20 of those out of the pallets and they flew out the door. We’re limited only by imagination and will look at any idea.” Ian says the men’s shed has been a lifeline to many.
“ALL OF THE TIME GUYS SAY TO ME, ‘THANK GOD I FOUND YOU BLOKES’ OR, ‘IF IT WASN’T FOR THE SHED I WOULDN’T BE HERE.’ THERE ARE A LOT OF BLOKES OUT THERE SUFFERING FROM DEPRESSION.
Working alongside community groups, our role is to deliver liveable and accessible places, promote active and healthy lifestyles at every stage of life, deliver services and programs more equitably and support people to stay connected with others in their local community. In recognising the need for more community sheds for our growing community, we are building the Mount Duneed Community Shed and community garden at Sovereign Drive Sporting Reserve.
“The pandemic was difficult, as a lot of blokes need the contact, especially if they’re on their own as their wives have died. So during lockdown they all started ringing around and checking on each other. We have a designated welfare officer.” Mateship is the overarching theme here. It’s clear they’ve all got each other’s backs. “One of our members is an exparamedic so he does regular health checks, testing everyone’s blood pressure, oxygen levels and that sort of thing,” Ian says.
Pictured: Leon Lewis
“He keeps a record of it so if there are any changes he sends us off to the doctor. “The shed is a very welcoming place and the members love it. I wanted to shut it over Christmas but they wouldn’t have it!” It’s only $50 to join the Leopold Men’s Shed, which includes a free t-shirt, and a $20 annual renewal fee. Ian’s always up for a chat with anyone looking to join. You can call him on 0417 139 101 to find out more.
Pictured: Leopold Men’s Shed President, Ian Macleod
COMMUNITY UPDATE AUTUMN 2022 | 13
LOOKING OUT FOR OUR PAW-SOME PETS
Pictured: Patricia Marshall, Animal Management Officer
We recently spoke to Trish to hear more about her job as an Animal Management Officer for the City of Greater Geelong. What does your job involve? I collect animals that are lost or have strayed from their home including cats, dogs, birds, guinea pigs, ferrets, sheep, cows and rabbits. Then I do my best to return them to their rightful owner. I also collect surrendered animals from owners who are no longer able to look after them. What attracted you to the job? I was working in cattle yards for 10 years, then moved to Geelong. I enjoy working with animals and saw the job advertised, so applied. That was in 2004, 17 years ago. What pets do you have? I have one dog, a rottweiler named Suzie who I picked up as a stray puppy five years ago, two cats called Ling and Angus, and one husband!
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What’s the most unusual animal you’ve come across? An alpaca in North Geelong. The owner had passed away and the animal was left in the backyard. Not your typical pet in a residential garden! What’s the best pet reunion story you have? There are so many great stories. Reuniting any animal with their owner is a privilege. Everyone is excited to be reunited, and it’s a wonderful part of my job. What’s the most heartbreaking animal situation you’ve seen? I had to assist the police when a grieving pet would not leave their deceased owner. The dog was keeping guard of the body and not allowing anyone to go near it.
The team and I also helped when a large livestock truck containing chickens crashed and rolled in North Geelong. It was a horrible, emotional day where we removed many deceased and injured chickens from the road. Best piece of advice for pet owners? Make sure your City registration tag is on your pet at all times, and all microchip information is up-todate, with a second contact person listed. The sooner we can contact you, the sooner we can reunite you with your pet. What percentage of pets are returned to their owners? Of the 2,840 taken to Geelong Animal Welfare Service each year, roughly 25 per cent are reclaimed by their owner and 61 per cent are rehomed.
UPCOMING EVENTS IN YOUR LOCAL AREA
Pictured: T20 World Cup
ALL FORD DAY
TOAST TO THE COAST
3 April 2022 Eastern Park
15 May 2022 The Pier, Geelong
If seeing Fords as far as the eye can see revs your engine, don’t miss the 31st year of All Ford Day. There will be over 1,200 Ford vehicles of all types and models on display, judged in 40+ categories.
Sample the region’s finest drops at Toast to the Coast. There will be 80+ wines on offer from 19 local wineries, plus tastings from local distilleries and breweries for a day full of sensational wine, food and music.
T20 WORLD CUP
AND MORE...
16 October–13 November 2022 Kardinia Park
Make sure you mark these dates in your diary
Geelong has been announced as one of the host cities for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Our beautiful city will be broadcast around the world with six matches coming to the region, including the opening match of the tournament.
2 April (new date) Great Australian Beer Festival, Johnstone Park 16 April The Squeeze – A Day On The Green, Mt Duneed Estate 10–13 June National Celtic Festival, Portarlington
More than 60 events celebrating clever design in Geelong
Pictured: All Ford Day
Pictured: Toast to the Coast
For the latest event information, please visit eventsgeelong.com.au
BE THE PERSON WHO HEARS IT FIRST! Sign up today to receive our newsletter at eventsgeelong.com.au
Yalik Beek Murrup Artist: Deanne Gilson
geelongdesignweek.com.au
Geelong and the Bellarine Music Festival 7 April – 8 May 2022
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CITY OF GREATER GEELONG Wadawurrung Country PO Box 104, Geelong VIC 3220 P: 5272 5272 E: contactus@geelongcity.vic.gov.au W: geelongaustralia.com.au
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Cover image: Members of the Lotus Kitchen Program, held at Corio’s Cloverdale Community Centre. Find out more about the program on page 7. Community Update is printed on recycled paper. Help protect our environment and recycle your copy responsibly. ISSN 2208-499
