Snake season Watch your step, p5
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Smart Shopper How to get gig tickets on the cheap, p28
Leader Brimbank
brimbankleader.com.au
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2009
$1 Incl. GST
CHEERS KEILOR HOTEL CELEBRATES p7
FAMILY AFFAIR LITTLE ATHS GOING STRONG p8
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CUP OF CHEER: Cup fever arrived early for staff, patients and visitors at the Sunshine Hospital this year. The iconic Melbourne Cup made a dashing visit to the children’s ward as part of the annual Emirates Melbourne Cup Tour before today’s big race. Sevenyear-old Maili, who broke her arm falling from a trampoline, managed to get her hands on the prized trophy. Western Health will hold its own community race day on December 12. All proceeds from the annual event will go towards the refurbishment of the children’s ward. Picture: GLENN DANIELS N19BM805
A STATE Government move to improve rooming house standards and crack down on unscrupulous operators could ease Brimbank’s rooming-house crisis. Premier John Brumby announced last Friday the Government would bring in new laws to improve safety and security in rooming houses, ensure rooming houses were registered, increase the powers of Consumer Affairs Victoria to sanction bad operators and spend an extra $7 million on crisis accommodation. There are several thousand illegal rooming houses in Mel-
Crackdown could ease city crisis bourne, many in appalling condition, with one operator owning at least 200. Housing workers say they have flourished in recent years because of the housing crisis. Tenants can pay up to $260 a week for a single room, they say. Since June, Brimbank Council officers have discovered 44 illegal rooming houses in the municipality, including one place where a pantry was being used as a bedroom. Officers have made 140 inspec-
tions and are investigating up to three complaints a week about illegal rooming houses in Brimbank. There is one registered rooming house in the municipality. Squalid conditions were found in many of the inspected houses, with bedrooms converted into locked rooms where people slept and ate. There was limited sharing of toilets and bathrooms, and in several cases a garage was used as a room. ‘‘At one property the inspectors
found a pantry converted into a bedroom, but that was one of the more extreme examples,’’ said Jeremy Wood, Brimbank Council’s general manager of city development. ‘‘In a number of cases the owners have been surprised to find their property is being used as a boarding house.’’ Tenants Union chief executive Mark O’Brien, a member of the taskforce that reported to the Government on improving rooming houses, welcomed Mr Brumby’s
announcement. ‘‘Private rental is too scarce and too expensive for a lot of people. We as a community have abandoned many low-income people to the private rental market. The market is incapable of meeting people’s needs,’’ he said. Mr Brumby said that as a result of the Government’s measures, rooming house tenants would have greater protection, with stronger laws, more inspectors and a central register of all operators for the first time. ‘‘There is growing evidence of illegal and unscrupulous behaviour by some landlords, which is why the Government is taking action,’’ he said. 19BMV434103F/KE/9
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The Youth Junction will hold its Off-Street Festival on Saturday, November 28, from noon to 4pm at the Visy Cares Hub in Harvester Rd, Sunshine. This is an end of year magical/musical celebration and will feature live bands and youth talents, hiphop dancers, rappers, horizontal bungee, sumo wrestling, circus acts with free lessons, recreational activities, lots of free food and prizes and loads more. It is open to the whole community and entry is free. Details: Visy Cares Hub 9091 8200 or info@youthjunctioninc.net.au
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Nearby, the Eid Al-Adha (Muslim festival to mark the annual pilgrimage to Makkah) will be held at Debney Park, Flemington (Melway 29 B12), on Thursday, November 26, from 8am-3pm. Rides and a vast array of foods can be enjoyed, as well as experiencing an important annual event. The festival begins with the Eid Prayer.
The Around Brimbank Leisure Challenge started on October 25 and runs through to November 29. It’s at the St Albans Leisure Centre, where the opening of the outdoor pool for summer will also be celebrated. The Around Brimbank Leisure Challenge encourages residents to increase their physical activity and is open for people of all ages and abilities. To help them achieve this, a variety of planned
Throughout November, the Brimbank Festival offers a smorgasbord of great family entertainment and activities that bring the community together in celebration. This free entry event culminates in a fireworks spectacular. Details: Brimbank Council on 9361 6600.
activities will take place throughout the challenge. All participants will receive a logbook which provides helpful tips, details of the activities available and a log to record all activities and physical activity undertaken. Winners will have their names published at the conclusion of the challenge, as well as being presented with their prizes at the closing ceremony at the pool. Inquiries: Luke Casey on 9249 4854 or lukec@brimbank. vic.gov.au
The Maribyrnong Makers Market, on November 14 from 10am to 3pm, is held at the Seddon Uniting Church Hall, corner Gamon and Mackay streets, Seddon (Melway 42 A7). It features more than 35 talented craftspeople offering a diverse range of products, including photographs, paintings, funky felting, crochet and a huge range of handmade gifts. The market is a not-for-profit communitybased craft market run by a volunteer group.
On November 18 at Sunshine RSL Bowls Club, in Dickson St, Sunshine. The lawn bowls tournament will include special high schools within the western suburbs that will be matched with a local bowls club for a series of training sessions, followed by an inter-school tournament. Details: Brimbank Council 9249 4854 (bh).
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Brimbank Leader
November 3, 2009
Every second Thursday, a Lions Club of Sunshine market is held at Sunshine Shopping Centre, corner Devonshire and Hampshire roads, Sunshine. Details: 0411 082434 or www. sunshinelionsclub.org.au
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Keilor Rotary’s Village market is held on the first Sunday of the month, 9am1pm, next to the Keilor Hotel, Old Calder Highway, Keilor. Details: 0412 949 302.
The Hunt Club Community Arts Centre, located in the historic Deer Park Hunt Club, 775 Ballarat Rd, Deer Park, will have some interesting exhibitions over summer. Curated by Heath Lander, Sunshining IV will be open in the Foyer Gallery and Gallery 2, displaying for the fourth year works from the Sunshine Special Development School.
Yooralla’s Independent Living Centre is showcasing ability with an art show. Prizes will be awarded, including a people’s choice award. It will be held from 11.30am to 1pm on December 3 at 705 Princes Highway, Brooklyn. Details: 9362 6111 or visit www.yooralla.com.au
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On Australia Day, January 26, Brimbank welcomes its newest citizens and pays tributes to its residents and local community groups who go above and beyond the call of duty. The council will present its Australia Day awards to the city’s citizen of the year, young citizen of the year and those who have devoted themselves to the community, the environment and cultural diversity. Brimbank will also celebrate all things Australian with a mini festival and barbecue at Sunshine Marketplace, 80 Harvester Rd, Sunshine, 9.30am to 1pm.
Footscray’s Community Arts Centre will become a mecca for music lovers when it hosts the 2010 St Jerome’s Laneway Festival on Saturday, January 30. What started out as a small event in a laneway in 2004 has become a national event. Details: melbourne.lanewayfestival.com.au
DATE: 3/11/09
Get a headstart on your Christmas shopping with unusual art works at the Delahey Artist Market, open Sunday, December 6, from 10am to 2pm at the Delahey Community Centre. The market features 25 local emerging and established artists. You can see indigenous paintings, Indian saris, Christmas cards, children’s art smocks, patchwork quilts and pottery. Plus works painted in oils, pastels and watercolours; photos and jewellery.
December 3, the International Day of People with a Disability, will be celebrated in Brimbank with activities during November and December. The WestNets Performing Arts Group will run Hey, Hey it’s Thursday, with each performance running about 1-1/2 hours with plenty of music, dance and skits. It’s on December 3, at 11am and 7pm at Marian College auditorium, Glengala Rd, West Sunshine. Details: 9361 8500 or allareception@westnet.vic.edu.au
Brimbank in January...
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Brimbank in December...
The exhibition Sunshine: Leigh Bowery, the home-coming project, will be on display from Wednesday, December 9, at 6pm in the Foyer Gallery until January 22. Homage is paid to iconic Sunshineborn performance artist Leigh Bowery (1961-1994).
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If you’re still needing some inspiration for craft and decorating ideas for Christmas, try heading to Yarraville on Wednesday, November 25. Use recycled magazines to make an inexpensive Christmas tree centrepiece or decoration, jazz up plain candles and give them a Christmas touch, or turn plain paper into unique Christmas wrapping, gift tags and more. Runs from 6.30-9.30pm, at 114 Blackwood St, Yarraville. Inquiries: Sue Paligorova 9687 1560 or email yarracc@ycc.net.au
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Brimbank Leader November 3, 2009
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At GIO, we get what it means to be meticulous. We step through insurance nitty-gritty with you and happily answer any of your questions too. When you’re certain what you’re covered for, you’ll know where you stand, right down to the last detail at hand. Search
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Brimbank Leader
November 3, 2009
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