The Local Paper. Peninsula-Frankston-Greater Dandenong-Casey-Cardinia Edition. Wed., May 10, 2023

The Local Paper

Memories of Graeme

■ Tributes to the life of former Frankston MLA Graeme Weideman were paid last week in State Parliament.

Paul Edbrooke, current day Frankston MLA, said: “I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to this condolence motion for Graeme Weideman, who passed away peacefully at age 88.

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“Graeme was a devoted husband to Barbara for 63 years, and he led a life dedicated to serving Victoria – as a politician, a pharmacist and a community leader.

“He was a kind and well-respected gentleman who was much loved and will be sadly missed.

“I did not meet Graeme. I had to do a bit of research, and I asked around – some of our old political heads in Frankston on both sides of the major parties – and he was definitely well respected.

“I find it curious that he was part of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, which is kind of in the territory of the current member for Frankston, being a trade unionist, I guess, but I think we would have got along.

“He was elected in 1976 as the member for Frankston, and he went through some changes in the election boundaries through that time.

“He was still in as the member for Frankston in 1982, then lost to Jane Hill from the ALP, as we have heard, by 76 votes, but he was reelected in 1985 as the member for Frankston South and then in 1992 as the member for Frankston

Local News

Hub works begin

■ Construction has officially commenced for the new Active Recreation Hub at Eco Park, Mount Martha.

Long Shots

“He served as Minister for Tourism and Assistant Minister of Health from 1981 until the fall of the Liberal Government in 1982.

“I have absolutely no doubt that despite our political alignments or the different political alignments, Graeme and I would have got along over a cup of coffee through our shared passion for Frankston and moving Frankston and Victorians forward through our custodianship as state members.

“On November 30, 1994, Graeme raised the issue of asbestos in schools in an adjournment. On October 27, 1992, Graeme raised an adjournment matter on supporting Frankston TAFE’s expansion, via some land on Ballarto R d, for agricultural apprenticeships. On September 15, 1993 Graeme spoke on an adjournment concerning a lack of affordable kindergarten places for four-year-olds and a need for kinder for three-year-olds, and on November 15, 1994 Graeme raised an adjournment and asked for more public transport parking and bus services around the Frankston station.

“By all accounts all of the people, bar none, I have spoken to in the community of Frankston held Graeme in high regard as a good friend and a loyal colleague, and those who served with Graeme in Parliament say the same thing.

“So my deepest sympathy from the Frankston community to Barbara and her family. Vale, Graeme Weideman,” Mr Edbrooke said.

Mornington Peninsula Shire Council says that Mount Martha residents and visitors can expect a new and invigorated experience, including a pump track, skate bowl, sensory play elements, trampolines, seating areas, planting and trees.

Visitors who have previously enjoyed the Eco Park are assured that the upgraded site will retain sufficient car parking, significant vegetation and existing equipment that’s in good condition.

The Active Recreation Hub was endorsed by the Council in late October 2019, for the Eco Park site located on Glenisla Drive.

The Local Paper

Online weekly. Print copies fortnightly.

In association with the Established September 14, 1969

Published in localised editions in 40 areas across Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula and some country areas.

CASEY-CARDINIA

Incorporating the traditions of the Cranbourne Sun (Est. 1893).

The Casey-Cardinia Edition readership area comprises part of the City of Casey including Cranbourne, Cranbourne East, Cranbourne North, Cranbourne South, Cranbourne West, Devon Meadows, Doveton, Endeavour Hills, Eumemmerring, Hallam, Hampton Park, Harkaway, Junction Village, Lynbrook, Lyndhurst (part), Pearcedale (part). The entire City of Casey is home to more than 340,419 people, living in approximately 102,790 homes.

The Shire of Cardinia readership area includes Cardinia Shire includes the suburbs and localities of Beaconsfield (part), Beaconsfield Upper, Officer, Officer South, Pakenham, Pakenham South and Pakenham Upper. The entire Shire of Casey is home to more than 118,675 people, living in approximately 35,098 homes.

FRANKSTON

Incorporating the traditions of the Frankston Post (Est. 1913). Frankston comprises Carrum Downs, Frankston, Frankston North, Frankston South, Langwarrin, Langwarrin South, Sandhurst, Seaford and Skye. Frankston is home to more than 134,143 people, living in approximately 56,935 homes.

GREATER DANDENONG

Incorporating the traditions of the Dandenong Advertiser (Est. 1874).

Greater Dandenong comprises Bangholme, Dandenong, Dandenong North, Dandenong South, Keysborough, Noble Park, Noble Park North, Springvale and Springvale South plus parts of Lyndhurst. Greater Dandenong is home to more than 152,050 people, living in approximately 54,694 homes.

PENINSULA

MORNINGTON PENINSULA

Incorporating the traditions of the Peninsula Post (Est. 1913). Mornington Peninsula comprises Moorooduc, Mornington, Mount Eliza and Mount Martha. Mornington Peninsula Shire is home to more than 154,999 people, living in approximately 89,155 homes.

Ash Long

Features Editor: Peter Mac

Columnists: Len Baker, Matt Bissett-Johnson, Rob Foenander, Mike McColl Jones, Peter Kemp, Aaron Rourke, Jim Sherlock, Ted Ryan, Cheryl Threadgold, Julie Houghton, Kevin Trask, Gavin Wood, John O’Keefe

Honorary Reviewers: Juliet Charles, Sherryn Danaher, Peter Green, Lyn Hurst, Kathryn Keeble, Beth Klein, David McLean, Graeme McCoubrie, Maggie Morrison, Peter Murphy, Jill Page, Elizabeth Semmel.

Logistics: Graeme Hawke, Susan Karolyi, Gary McQuade

Credit Manager: Michael Conway OAM, Fast Action Debt Recovery, 0402 142 866

SOUTHERN PENINSULA

Incorporating the traditions of the Southern Peninsula Gazette (Est. 1953). Southern Peninsula comprises Blairgowrie, Boneo, Cape Schanck, Capel Sound, Dromana, Fingal, McCrae, Portsea, Rosebud, Rye, Safety Beach, Sorrento, St Andrews Beach and Tootgarook.

WESTERN PORT

Incorporating the traditions of the Hastings Sun (Est. 1977) Western Port comprises Balnarring, Balnarring Beach, Bittern, Crib Point, Dromana, Flinders, Hastings, HMAS Cerberus, Main Ridge, Merricks, Merricks Beach, Merricks North, Point Leo, Portsea, Red Hill, Red Hill South, Shoreham, Somers, Somerville and Tyabb.

Read online editions at: www.LocalPaper.com.au

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● ● Graeme Weideman.

● ● Christian Hillier

Air Wing in local car chase

■ Police arrested six male youths in two stolen cars in local suburbs on Friday morning (May 5).

Officers spotted the vehicles, a BMW X5 and Mercedes, travelling in convoy in Rowville shortly after 9am.

The vehicles separated and Police turned their focus on the fleeing Mercedes.

The Mercedes travelled into Langwarrin and dropped off one of its passengers, who was quickly taken into custody by Police.

Stop sticks were deployed in John St, Langwarrin where several tyres were punctured.

The Mercedes drove to Quality Drive in Dandenong South where Police arrested the two final occupants.

Reports then started coming in regarding the BMW driving erratically on Eastlink, heading towards Dandenong South.

The Police Air Wing took up position overhead and guided ground units back to Quality Drive where stop sticks were again successfully deployed.

Upon seeing Police the BMW fled, colliding with a civilian vehicle and then a Police car at slow speed. The BMW was found dumped on Jellicoe St in Noble Park

All six youths, aged in their teens, were in custody and assisting investigators with their enquiries.

Detective charged

■ A detective senior constable, 53, from eastern region has been charged following an internal investigation. The male detective has been charged with unlawful assault, assault police officer, resist a police officer and other assault-related offences. It is alleged the incident occurred in July last year while he was off duty.

Police re-open 40-year-old case

■ Moorabbin Crime Investigation Unit detectives have issued a fresh appeal for information after a Cheltenham man disappeared 40 years ago.

Peter Christofidis, who was 28 at the time, was last seen on Cameron St in Cheltenham on March 14, 1983.

He was driving a Volkswagen Beetle, which was located abandoned on the Calder Highway near Ouyen a few days later.

Police carried out extensive searches of the area but were unable to locate him.

Peter, who would now be 67, has never been seen or heard from since.

● ● ● ● Saeed of Narre Warren.

■ Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate missing Narre Warren man Saeed.

The 34-year-old was last seen getting on a bus in Bunerong Court, Narre Warren heading towards Fountain Gate Shopping Centre about 12.30pm on April 29.

Police and family have concerns for Saeed’s welfare due to a medical condition that requires medication.

Saeed is non-verbal. He has an olive complexion, short dark hair and beard with a slim build.

He was last seen wearing a red jacket, cream jumper, black tracksuit pants, white runners and a brown side satchel bag. Narre Warren Police are investigating and have released an image of Saeed in the hope someone may know of his current whereabouts.

Contact Narre Warren Police Station on 9703 3111.

Mini Ads

● ● ● ● ● Police want to speak with this

Investigators have released two images of Peter before he disappeared in 1983.

Anyone with information on Peter’s whereabouts is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crime stoppersvic.com.au

● ● ● ● Wally Wikaira

✖Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate Wally Wikaira. The 55-year-old is wanted for failing to appear at court for serious assault offences. Wikaira is described as having an olive complexion, approximately 170cm tall, medium build and black hair. Wikaira has not been seen by authorities for more than a decade but had previously been known to frequent Melbourne’s CBD, south and east suburbs. His current whereabouts are unknown. The image is the most recent available picture, but it is from 2012.

■ Armed Crime Squad detectives have charged a man following a non-fatal shooting in Clayton.

A 30-year-old Seabrook man has been charged with a range of offences including reckless conduct endanger life, home invasion (assault) with a firearm, aggravated burglary, intentionally cause serious injury, possess firearm when firearm prohibition order applies and possess loaded firearm in a non-public place with reckless disregard for safety.

The man is already in custody for unrelated offending and was to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court last Friday c(May 5).

Last week’s charges follow an incident where emergency services were called to Alice St in Clayton around 1.50am on Saturday, February 25, following reports a man had been shot in the torso.

The 33-year-old Bentleigh East man was conveyed to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

A man and two women also inside the property at the time were not physically injured during the incident. The investigation remains ongoing.

Phone

✖

● ● ● ● Peter Christofidis

✖ Transit Crime Investigation Unit officers are appealing for information following a sexual assault at a bus stop in Cranbourne. Investigators have been told a 22-year-old woman was standing at the bus stop on High St just before 10am on April 9. An unknown man approached her from behind and inappropriately touched her before walking away.

man.

Where to pick up your free copy of The Local Paper

■ ■ BALNARRING. Balnarring Village Newspower. Shop 2, 3000 FrankstonFlinders Rd.

■ BALNARRING. Ritchies IGA. Russell St.

■ BAXTER. Caltex. 1 BaxterTooradin Rd.

■ ■ BAXTER. Liberty Service Station. 161 Moorooduc Hwy.

■ BAXTER. Licensed Post Office. 72 Baxter-Tooradin Rd.

■ BAXTER. Newsagency & Lotto. Shopp 6/96 Baxter-Tooradin Rd.

■ BITTERN. IGA. 2428-2436

Frankston Rd.

■ ■ ■ BLAIRGOWRIE. Cafe. 2837 Point Nepean Rd.

■ BLAIRGOWRIE. United Service Station. 2867 Point Nepean Rd.

■ CAPEL SOUND. The Lott. 1643 Point Nepean Rd.

■ CARRUM DOWNS. 7-Eleven.

Frankston-Dandenong Rd (Cnr 10 Amayla Cres)

■ CHELSZEA. Longbeach Hotel. 380 Nepean Hwy.

■ CRANBOURNE. Newsagency. 105 High St.

■ CRANBOURNE. Woolworths Caltex. Cnr South Gippsland Hwy and Thompsons Rd.

■ ■ CRANBOURNE NORTH. 7Eleven. 945 South Gippsland Hwy.

■ CRIB POINT. Cellars and Newsagency. 182 Stony Point Rd.

■ DANDENONG. Dande Lotto. 308

Thomas St.

■ ■ DANDENONG NORTH. 7-Elevem. 1464 Heatherton Rd.

■ DANDENONG NORTH. Lotto and News. 56 Menzies Ave.

■ DANDENONG SOUTH. United Petroleum. 315 South Gippsland Hwy.

■ DROMANA. 7-Eleven. 335 Point Nepean Rd.

■ ■ ■ DROMANA. Caltex. 107 Point Nepean Rd.

■ DROMANA. Newsagency. 177 Point Nepean Rd.

■ EDITHVALE. Foodworks. 130/131 Station St.

■ FLINDERS. General Store. 48 Cook St.

■ ■ FLINDERS. Hotel. Cnr FrankstonFlinders Rd and Cook St.

■ FRANKSTON. Bayside News and Tatts. 194/28 Beach St.

■ FRANKSTON. Beach Street

Newsagency. 237 Beach St.

■ ■ FRANKSTON. Coles Express. 227

Frankston-Flinders Rd and Robinsons Rd.

■ FRANKSTON. Frankston RSL. 183 Cranbourne Rd.

■ FRANKSTON. The National Golf Club - Long Island. 165/235

Frankston-Dandenong Rd.

■ ■ FRANKSTON. Ritchies IGA. Cnr Hastings Rd and Golf Link Rd.

■ FRANKSTON NORTH. IGA Express. 54-56 Mahogany Ave.

■ FRANKSTON SOUTH. Foot St

Supermarket and Wine Cellars. 45

Foot St.

■ ■ FRANKSTON SOUTH. Licensed Post Office. 58 Yuille St

■ HASTINGS. 7-Eleven. 1835

Frankston-Flinders Rd.

■ HASTINGS. Coles Express. Cnr

Frankston-Flinders Rd (152 High St)

■ HASTINGS. Lucky Lotto and News. Shop 2/9 Queen St

■ ■ ■ HASTINGS. Post Shop. 68 High St.

■ ■ HASTINGS. Ritchies. Cnr Salmon St & High St.

■ HASTINGS. United. 1996

Frankston-Flinders Rd (Cnr Hodgins Rd)

■ HASTINGS. Westernport Hotel. Cnr Salmon St & High St.

■ ■ KARINGAL. 7-Eleven. 330

Frankston-Cranbourne Rd.

■ ■ KARINGAL. Coles Karingal. Cnr

Karingal Dr and Ashleigh Ave.

■ KEYSBOROUGH. 7-Eleven. 309

Cheltenham Rd (Cnr Kingsclere Rd)

■ KEYSBOROUGH. Caltex. 248

Cheltenham Rd.

■ ■ LANGWARRIN. Caltex

Langwarrin. McClelland Dr & Skye Rd

■ LANGWARRIN. Lotto. 230

Frankston Rd.

■ LANGWARRIN SOUTH. General Store. Shop 1/143 Warrandyte Rd

■ LYNBROOK. 7-Eleven. 760 South

■ LYNBROOK. BP. 7181 South Gippsland Hwy.

Court Lists

Dandenong Magistrates’ Court Plaintiff / Informant / Applicant vs Defendant / Accused / Respondent. Information Division.

Local Briefs

Gippsland Hwy.

■

■ LYNBROOK. Coles Express. 850

South Gippsland Hwy.

■ McCRAE. Coles. McCrae Plaza.

Cnr Nepean Hwy and Lonsdale St.

■ McCRAE. The Lott. 739 Point Nepean Rd.

■ MENTONE. Coles Express. Cnr

Nepean Hwy and Warrigal Rd.

■ ■ ■ MERRICKS. Merricks General Wine Store. 3460 Frankston-Flinders Rd.

■ MORDIALLOC. Woolworths. 600 Main St.

■ MORNINGTON. 7-Eleven. 893

Nepean Hwy.

■ MORNINGTON. Caltex Woolworths. 223 Main St.

■ ■ MORNINGTON. Coles Express.

1010 Nepean Hwy.

■ MORNINGTON. Farrells Bookstore. 143 Main St.

■ MORNINGTON. Grand Hotel. 124 Main St.

■ MORNINGTON. Newspower. 241 Main St.

■ ■ MORNINGTON EAST. Benton Square News and Tatts. 210 Dunns Rd

■ MOUNT ELIZA. Newsagency. Shop 7/85 Mount Eliza Way.

■ MOUNT MARTHA. Beachbox Fish and Chips. 5 Lochiel Ave.

Criminal Case Listings

Wednesday, May 10

Electric Peninsula

■ A Go Electric Action Plan has been developed by Mornington Peninsula Shire Council to assist residents convert their energy systems in their homes and businesses.

■

■ MOUNT MARTHA. Dava Hotel.

614 Esplanade.

■ MOUNT MARTHA. Newsagency. 2 Lochiel Ave.

■ MOUNT MARTHA. Ritchies Supermarket, 8-16 Lochiel Ave.

■ MULGRAVE. BP Truckstop. Cnr Springvale and Wellington Rds.

■ ■ ■ NOBLE PARK. Lucky Star Lotto & Newws. 1268 Heatherton Rd.

■ NOBLE PARK. Newsagency. 22 Douglas St.

■ PORTSEA. Portsea Hotel. 3746

Point Nepean Rd.

■ RED HILL. Red Hill General Store.

83 Arthurs Seat Rd.

■ ■ RED HILL. United Service Station.

87 Arthurs Seat Rd.

■ RED HILL SOUTH. Cellar and Pantry. 141 Shoreham Rd.

■ ROSEBUD. Newsagency. 1083 Point Nepean Rd.

■ ■ ROSEBUD. The Lott Shop. Shop K002,. Rosebud Plaza, Cnr McCombe St and Point Nepean Rd.

■ RYE. Newsagency. 2369-2371 Point Nepean Rd.

■ RYE. RSL. 5/11 Neilson St.

■ RYE. Supermarket. 4 Hygeia St.

■ RYE. Whitecliffs General Store. 2507 Point Nepean Rd.

■ SAFETY BEACH. Cafe Del Sol.

■

81 Marine Drive.

■ SAFETY BEACH. 3/154 Marine Drive.

■ SEAFORD. BP. 298 FrankstonDandenong Rd.

■ ■ SEAFORD. Caltex. 467 Frankston-Dandenong Rd.

■ SEAFORD. Newsagency. 124

Nepean Hwy.

■ SEAFORD. Riviera Hotel. 30

Nepean Hwy.

■ SEAFORD. United Service Station. 267 Seaford Rd.

■ ■ SEAFORD. Woolworths. Cnr Seaford Rd and Nepean Hwy.

■ SHOREHAM. Licensed Post Office. 87 Byrnes Rd.

■ SOMERVILLE. Coles Express. 1045 Frankston-Flinders Rd.

■ SOMERVILLE. Newsagency. 27

Eramosa Rd East.

■ ■ SOMERVILLE. United. 1025

Frankston-Flinders Rd.

■ SORRENTO. News & Books. 66

Ocean Beach Rd.

■ SORRENTO. Stringers Store. 2-8 Ocean Beach Rd.

■

Aitkins, Luke Aljija, Edin Alvarez, Taylah Anuwar, Mohd Ball, Hayden Bandarage, Buddhike Bell, Daniel Bell, Natalie Boyce, Chai Bryan, Taylor Budgen, Nicholas Clark, Zachary Clarke, Colin Costa, Pamela Cowley, Isaac Crofts, John Dabwali Transport Pty Ltd Dacey, Scott Davenport, Ellie De Silva, Venaka Dean, Zach Deng, Chol Docherty, Jason Du, Kevin Edwards, Valda Erbulut, Gokhan Espie, Shanon Etiene, Christopher Feneache, Ismail Fitiao, Alec Flood, Yasmine Forbes, Brandon Fox, Jason Leigh Galea, Aaron Gardner, Renae Garevski, Svetan Gibson, Anna-Marie Gilbert, Keith Robin Gregory, Oliver Hassani, Ali Madad Hepburn, David Hindes, Lauren Hout, Phy-Run Hugo, Tyson Hume, Raymond Hunia, Kiley Huot, Phy-Run Hynam, Ashley James, Tibisa Jardine, Erica John, Travis William Johnstone, Liam Michael Karitharasan, Vilvarasa Karunanayake, Tharaka Kater, Daemon Kaur, Sarabjit Kent, Aleisha Khat, Hannah Kunabalasingham, Prasanthan La Porta, Casey Lang, Matthew Lazjam Window Furnishings Lodin, Ja Ma Lowrie, Hamish Malcolm, Davin Marsh, Steven Matagi, Peter Matapo, Marcel Mclean, Scott Mclure, Bayley Mcqualter, Travis Mendis, Sanjiv Miller, Paul Mould, Jeffrey Muirhead, Nevin Nowrozi, Mukhtar Oakley, Shaun Obena, Lou O'brien, Adam Ochaya, Justin Ocico, Godfey Papley, William Parkes, Luke Pierson, Dylan Prior, Jake Ra, Zat Ragkeb, Nicholas Rau, Jason Reichmann, Travis Riang, Nyanhial Dak Rigby, Jala Riggall, Jayden Gret Rodwell, Paula Roelink, Skylar

Contents of Court Lists are intended for information purposes only. The lists are extracted from Court Lists, as supplied to the public, by the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria, often one week prior to publication date; for current Court lists, please contact the Court. Further details of cases are available at www.magistratescourt.vic.gov.au The Local Paper shall in no event accept any liability for loss or damage suffered by any person or body due to information provided. The information is provided on the basis that persons accessing it undertake responsibility for assessing the relevance and accuracy of its content. No inference of a party’s guilt, innocence or liability should be made by publication of their name as a defendant. Court schedules may be changed at any time for any reason, including withdrawal of the action by the Plaintiff/Applicant. E&OE.

Roth, Chamren Roussety, Brandon Joseph Samko, Shady Singh, Bachittar Smith, Michael Soer, John Sorn, Dy Stevens, Shane Sunthararasa, Arulkumaran Syed, Ibrahim Tan, Ying Hooi Tasarur, Andy Thea, Abraham Tin, Andre Tootell, Kyle Tyson, Jamie Vaifale, Alan Vanes, Michael Anthony Veeramah, Nuvin Viliamu, Martin Watt, Christopher Williams, Nathan Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court

Wednesday, May 10

Antaras, Konstadinos Atzil, Reuven Barlabas, Theo Bausch-Buttigieg, Jasmine Bishop, Sharon Tania Bristow, Thomas Burns, Beaudey Charteris, Joshua Cowley, Mia-Anne Crawford, Tyson Cregan, Russell De Hoedt, Nathan Devlin, Anthony Dhillon, Jagjeet Eddy, Robert Fittje, George Fogelman, Chaim Galliott, Clint Ghorbani, Hodi Gilbert, Justin Giordamnis, Tsambiko Halas, Larissa Claudia Hamilos, Peter Jamonts, Blake Jean, Paul Khairy, Michael Kogan, Svetlana Kyriacou, Sofia Laughlin, Michael Legkos, Michael Liu, Yuzhe Lovett, Liam Mcevoy, Anthony Mcintyre, Jordi Mehla, Charitar Morabito, John Anthony Morel, Konrad Nazari, Mohesen Ogle, Matthew Perera, Ruvan Mark Poly, Chris Riddock, John Stuart Riquelme, Carlos Robinson, Damien Rohthaisong, Anusa Schmidt, Matthew Singer, Ari Smith, Christopher David Strangio, Paul Turcarolo, Antonio Violatzi, John Whiteley, Tanya Xipolitos, Stavros

Five key steps are being promoted:

■ Install solar or switch to Greenpower.

■ Switch to reverse-cycle air-conditioning for heating.

■ Replace old gas hot water with heat pump system.

■ Upgrade to induction cooking.

■ Move to electric transport (bikes and cars). Experts will be ready to answer questions about going electric live on Facebook, from 10am until 1pm today (Wed., May 10).

Sport borrowings

■ Greater Dandenong Libraries are offering members the opportunity to now borrow sporting equipment from Springvale Library for use at the Springvale Community Hub’s outdoor sport and recreation facilities.

Library members can use their library card to borrow basketballs and table tennis sets for two hours at a time, with more sporting equipment options to come.

Mayor, Cr Eden Foster, was joined by members of the Greater Dandenong Table Tennis Club, who are already making the most of this initiative.

“It is so important for Council to provide lots of opportunities for our community to enhance their overall health and wellbeing and ‘Make Your Move’,” Cr Foster said.

Short Story Awards

■ Mornington Peninsula Shire and Peninsula Writers' Club are present ingthe third year of the Mayor’s Short Story Awards and and are invite local emerging writers to enter the Awards.

The Awards aim to encourage and support Mornington Peninsula writers of all abilities, celebrate the region’s diverse talent, and showcase local stories and voices.

The judging panel comprising notable authors Garry Disher, Else Fitzgerald, Monica Dux, Sam-Ellen Bound and Coral Vass will read through the entries before a shortlist will be revealed on July 24.

Winners and highly commended writers will be presented their prizes at an Award Ceremony at the Peninsula Community Theatre on Thursday, August 24.

Mornington Peninsula Shire is funding the prize money and the residency at Police Point, while bookstore vouchers have been donated by local businesses Antipodes Gallery and Bookshop, Farrell’s Bookshop, Peterson’s Bookstore and Rosebud Book Barn.

Casey tenders open

■ The City of Casey is encouraging suitable businesses to apply for seven open space maintenance contracts currently being advertised.

The current grounds maintenance services are provided by three contractors which were selected following an open and competitive market tender process in 2021.

“A number of factors – including the impacts of COVID-19, challenges in recruitment and retention of staff, supply chain issues and economic conditions, have impeded some of the contractors' ability to deliver services to the standards expected by Council and the community,” said a City of Casey representative.

“As such, we are tendering new contracts to ensure the best value services can be delivered across the municipality over a proposed initial four-year term, with an option to extend for a further four years.”

Contracts are available to view and tender on Tenderlink until 3pm on Wednesday, May 24.

Artwork installed

■ The P.B. Ronald Reserve artwork at the Pakenham Outdoor Pool has been erected. The Pakenham Outdoor Pool is located at P.B.Ronald Reserve, Henry St, Pakenham, in the Shire of Cardinia.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/03/from-cpac-dc-why-we-need-new-federal-state-of-china/

From CPAC 2023: Why We Need a New Federal State of China

by Kelly John Walker

Anyone who attended February’s CPAC event in Washington, D.C. could tell you that one exhibitor was impossible to ignore: The New Federal State of China (NFSC). Who are these people, and what do they seek to achieve?

NFSC is perhaps America’s greatest anti-CCP ally in the Cold War against the CCP

On June 4, 2020, the New Federal State of China launched in New York City with one overarching goal: “Take down the CCP (Chinese Communist Party).” Yet, these freedom-seeking people encountered an America that has been infiltrated by the evil communist regime they came here to escape. America is not the beacon of freedom it once was…but a base of 500 million supporters desperately want to see our country resume the mantle of World Leader and Champion of Liberty. As American lawmakers are increasingly realizing, America cannot do that until it decouples from the CCP.

Tough times make tough people, and the New Federal State of China is made up of graduates from the school of hard knocks. Some have been arrested, others have been tortured; many worry that the CCP is targeting family members back in China in attempts to intimidate them. One young man shared that his mother sits in a CCP prison back in China. Nevertheless, the NFSC’s people are brave enough to face down a regime arguably worse than any of the 20th-Century’s most insidious regimes, including Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, and the Japanese Empire.

“Take down the CCP” needs to be a defining slogan of our times.

The New Federal State of China is perhaps America’s greatest antiCCP ally in the Cold War against the CCP , and their rallying cry of “take down the CCP” needs to be a defining slogan of our times.

The group brought their energy, enthusiasm, and tech savvy to CPAC at three booths buzzing with non-stop activity, reportedly doing about 90 interviews per day, livestreamed to NFSC Speaks onto their GETTR account: https:/ /gettr.com/user/NFSCSpeaks.

These NFCS efforts are a key component of the Information War against the CCP

Guests included congressmen, heads of state, NGO leaders, independent news organizations, journalists, prominent dissidents from all over the world, and more.

“You can count on Congress to take back America from the CCP’s manipulation and weaponization of U.S. federal government agencies.” -Congressman Keith Self

Pennsylvania Representative Scott Perry discussed his bill, which would “label the Communist party of China a transnational criminal organization.” He also pointed out the importance of separating the CCP from the Chinese people, who want to be free.

“The Communist Party is not the friend of the United States of America,” he added.

Texas Representative Keith Self shared his conviction that “you can

count on Congress to take back America from the CCP’s manipulation and weaponization of U.S. federal government agencies. I think we will do that through the select committee on the CCP . We’ve got to find the facts, we’ve got to lay out the case, and then we’ve got to move forward!”

My Pillow Founder, Mike Lindell said during his interview that he will share NFSC’s call for an investigation into the CCP’s lawsuits against Mr. Miles Guo using America’s top law firms and proxies within the DOJ and FBI: “I’ll take what I’m hearing from you…I’ll get it before…Jim Jordan and Kevin McCarthy…we’re behind everything you’re doing.”

“We’re not going to deny any righteous people that are speaking the truth like the NFSC,” said Washington Times Holdings Chairman, Michael Jenkins. “We’re happy to meet your leader and founder to discuss what are the facts, and I’m sure you’ll help enlighten the public!”

While in D.C., NFSC representatives visited a D.C. studio for a live interview with Grant Stinchfield on Real America’s Voice. “The CCP is so scared right now,” said NFSC co-host, Prince Li after the interview. “Grant Stinchfield is amplifying our voice to expose their corruption to the world!”

The weapons of NFCS’s warfare are not rifles and grenades, but information.

In the war against the Chinese communist regime, NFSC is the modern-day equivalent of the French Resistance that opposed Nazi aggression and the occupation of Europe. With over 500 million followers, NFSC operates all over the world, including in China. Some are even providing intelligence from within the government and military. Unlike the freedom fighters of the past, however, the weapons of NFCS’s warfare are not rifles and grenades, but information.

China took an early lead over the U.S. in the information and political warfare arenas. If we are to avoid a “hot war” with China, the U.S. must take back control of the narrative, win back hearts and minds, and—perhaps most importantly—heal the division the CCP has purposely exacerbated within our society and between our political parties.

We cannot free China until we first free America.

The NFSC organization is young and filled with optimism and energy to take down the CCP, but their momentum isn’t just about their own struggles. As NFSC representatives will tell you, we cannot free China until we first free America. The testimonies and information these people have to share are key to restoring the greatness and independence of the People of the U.S. and the governance we all deserve.

As the Chinese Whistleblowers who escaped the oppressive regime back in China can attest, if communism wins, we all lose.

Kelly John Walker is an American statesman, writer, branding professional, and entrepreneur. He is the founder of FreedomTalk, host of FreedomTalk TV, and a freelance writer.

● ● Grant Stinchfield of Real America’s Voice discusses the CCP threat with Arizona radio show host, Kathleen Winn.

Ex-DOJ Attorney George Higginbotham Testifies in Pras Michel Trial About Guo Wengui/Miles Guo: Everything You Need to Know

by Matt Palumbo

Disgraced ex-employee of the Department of Justice, George Higginbotham, who was instrumental to a $100 million conspiracy financed by CCP-linked Jho Low, is expected to testify in Pras Michel’s ongoing criminal trial in Washington D.C. on April 6th, 2023. Higginbotham was reportedly paid $41 million after visiting the D.C. Chinese Embassy in 2017 to conspire with Ambassador Cui Tiankai to send Guo Wengui/Miles Guo, a prominent CCP dissident, back to China. Michel’s attorneys have also requested Mr. Guo’s testimony but were rejected by the DOJ. Notably, While Michel stands trial facing decades in prison, Higginbotham not only walks free after the DOJ cut him an apologetically lenient plea deal, but he also appears to currently work at the heavily CCP-linked Citadel. Others including Leonardo DiCaprio have previously testified at the highlypublicized Michel trial.

George Higginbotham worked as Senior Congressional Affairs Specialist at the DOJ from 2016 to 2018. He had been friends with Michel for a long time, going back to when Higginbotham operated a law firm and Michel was reportedly his client. The two reconnected around 2017 when Michel, on behalf of Jho Low and the CCP, reached out to Higginbotham soliciting his help in removing Mr. Guo from the United States. Ironically, Mr. Guo currently is held without bail by the DOJ on bogus fraud charges, because the Justice Department reportedly wants to prevent Mr. Guo from testifying at Michel’s trial.

But Michel and Higginbotham didn’t operate alone, their long list of notable co-conspirators includes Casino Mogul Steve Wynn, RNC Finance Chairman Elliot Broidy, and now convicted-felon Nickie Lum Davis. Steve Wynn defeated his DOJ lawsuit alleging him to be

a foreign agent for China with the help of the CCP-linked law firm Paul Hastings, whose partner Luc Despins has been relentlessly persecuting Mr. Guo as DOJ-appointed bankruptcy trustee. Broidy has pleaded guilty to violating FARA and acting as an agent of the CCP to remove Mr. Guo, but was issued a Presidential pardon.

The public’s fascination with George Higginbotham centers not only around his role as a DOJ official, but also the extent and extravagance with which he carried out his crimes. Higginbotham walked in broad daylight right into the Chinese Embassy in D.C., where he reportedly told the Chinese Ambassador that the DOJ was “working” on Mr. Guo’s removal.

Higginbotham also traveled to Hong Kong with Michel, Broidy, and Davis in 2017 to meet with Sun Lijun, Vice Minister of Public Security of China. According to sources familiar with the trip, once the group arrived in Hong Kong, they were told that Minister Sun wanted to meet in Shen Zhen instead. The group had initially expressed concerns that they lacked the Chinese Visa necessary to cross the Chinese border. Minister Sun had reportedly replied that “Only two men run everything in China, President Xi runs Beijing, and outside of Beijing, I run everything.” The group was then secretly brought over the border to Shenzhen without ever showing

passports, where they met with Minister Sun and Jho Low to discuss how to force Mr. Guo’s return to China.

Together, the group would illegally lobby then-President Trump, Attorney General Jeff Session, the DOJ itself, and the NSA in an attempt to force Mr. Guo’s return to China – all for hundreds of millions of dollars of personal financial gain. In Steve Wynn’s court filing, it was revealed that when President Xi visits President Trump in 2017, Xi personally requested Mr. Guo’s return to China, offering even new assistance packages for North Korea in return.

Mr. Guo has made himself the arch nemesis of the CCP by exposing three highly classified CCP documents he had obtained in 2017: the BGY Plan (which exposed the CCP’s efforts to infiltrate all aspects of American society), the 3F Plan (which exposed the CCP sending tens of thousands of spies to the U.S.), and the 13579 plan (which revealed the CCP’s plan to create and release a biological weapon – now known as Covid-19 – within three years).

Mr. Guo’s recent arrest, on March 15th, and the prosecutor’s argument that Mr. Guo might face deportation to China, makes one wonder if Higginbotham’s involvement in 2017 had anything to do with Mr. Guo’s current criminal fraud charges, which many experts have commented as bogus

and lacking substance. Specifically, of the 5,500+ alleged “harmed” investors, the prosecution has identified exactly zero of them as victims. In fact, according to independent research, there are only 4 GTV investors who have ever publicly filed complaints against Guo, one of whom recently came out and admitted that he was forced to file such accusations by Chinese Authorities and was given step-by-step filing instructions by policemen. This amounts to 0.05% of the investor base – practically a rounding error.

If the DOJ does not make an effort to sugar coat Higginbotham’s testimony at Michel’s trial, which many has suspected the Department might do in the interest of protecting “one of their own”, then we can expect to hear from Higginbotham the details of his peculiar trips to China and Chinese Embassy in 2017.

The Higginbothams of America are the reason why our nation is in extreme peril. A conspiracy is in plain view, involving high-ranking DOJ officials, a sitting U.S. President, and an Attorney General, executed by American traitors who have the best interest of Beijing at heart, and financed by a CCP billionaire who stole from the Malaysian people, all to return one man, Guo Wengui, back to China. As Attorney Adam Waldman points out, “It’s all one overlapping case.”

Mr. Guo, the center of this BIG overlapping case, currently sits in federal prison without bail while his testimony at Michel’s trial had long been requested. It’s about damn time: FREE MILES GUO and LET HIM TESIFY.

About the author: Matt Palumbo is the author of The Man Behind the Curtain: Inside the Secret Network of George Soros (2021), Dumb and Dumber: How Cuomo and de Blasio Ruined New York (2020), Debunk This!: Shattering Liberal Lies (2019), and Spygate (2018).

Bugs Bunny at the Symphony

■ Warner Bros. Discovery's Bugs Bunny at the Symphony, performed by the magnificent Melbourne Symphony Orchestra under the baton of the expert George Daugherty at Arts Centre Melbourne Hamer Hall, has been another outstanding concert in the 2023 MSO Season..

This program featured much of the original score, combining live and soundtrack, accompanying the original cartoons on the screen.

Created by George Daugherty and David Ka Lik Wong as a tribute to Bugs Bunny, this delightful and pleasurable experience took us down memory lane to enjoy the unforgettable characters of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, the Road Runner and many more, still a favourite of many children and adults. I heard a 10 year old boy exclaim to his Mum – “this was sooooo good!”

The program included much loved and well known cartoons such as Baton Bunny , The Rabbit of Seville, What’s Opera, Doc? and others.

These clever animations were always accompanied by a fabulous variety of classical music such as Johann Strauss’ The Blue Danube, Waltzes From the Vienna Woods, Rossini’s 'The Barber of Seville' and of course Wagner’s dramatic The Ride of the Valkyries, The Flying Dutchman, Gotterdammerung, Tannhauser and more, and also the famous What’s up Doc? and Merrie Melodies' "That’s All Folks", allowing us to slip back into a treasured bygone era.

This program also included some new updated works which were created during the recent years of lockdown and cleverly resonated with the younger audience members.

George Daugherty is an experienced orchestra conductor who has won many awards for his work in film and television including a Primetime Emmy Award, and has conducted more than 250 American and international orchestras.

The mum of a four year old told me her daughter learns piano and she brings her to MSO concerts.

The audience standing ovation and cheers attested to the enjoyment and popularity.

Congratulations MSO!

- Review by Jill Page

St Kilda Film Festival

■ The St Kilda Film Festival will open on June 1 and run until June 12, featuring more than 100 films to be shown over 18 screening sessions at venues across St Kilda and also in South Melbourne.

A red carpet opening night will be on June 1 and feature a program of comedies, drama, animation, horror and fantasy, MC'd by Claire Hooper. The screening will be followed by an after party expanding into Encore at St Kilda Sea Baths to celebrate Australian short films.

Port Phillip theatres screening the program include the Palais Theatre, the Astor Theatre and the Alex Theatre, as well as spaces throughout St Kilda and South Melbourne.

Now in its 39th year, St Kilda Film Festival is Australia’s longest-running short film festival, recognising the genre of short film, including music videos, gaming and immersive forms, celebrating some of Australia’s best local short filmmakers and screen artists.

SKFF is supported by major government partners Screen Australia and VicScreen.

- Cheryl Threadgold

Nina Simone music

■ After a knock out performance at Memo last year, Ruth Rogers-Wright returns performing ‘The Great Songs of Nina Simone’ in a concert including original music and poetry evoking the spirit of this acclaimed artist.

Date: Sunday, May 28.

Time: Doors 3pm, Show 4pm

Venue: Memo Music Hall, 88 Acland Street St Kilda

WORSTWOOD HO

■ The Victorian Theatre Company presents the Australian premiere of Samuel Beckett's Worstward Ho, May 24-June 3 at the Explosives Factory, Rear Laneway 67 Inkerman St, St Kilda

Directed by Richard Murphet and performed by Robert Meldrum, this collaborative team will present a text regarded as 'direct in impact, exuberant in energy, revolutionary in form, physical in its thought, urgent in its relevance.'

The story tells of a man beginning with nothing except the need to keep going. To survive without unnecessary baggage.

Gradually, through the care and rigour of his thinking and his use of language, he gathers in ‘the dim void’ of his imagination, a set of figures, detailed in their actions and their physicality.

Then, systematically and with equal care, he strips everything away until he is left with nothing except the empty space in which the ghosts of what he has created just barely hover.

Worstward Ho , written in 1983, was Beckett’s final extended prose text and is widely recognised as the most perfect summary of his life’s project and as ‘one of the supreme poetic texts of the 20th century’.

It is, however, little known, rarely read and even more rarely presented.

“Rob and I are fascinated by this text,” Murphet explains. “Separately, we have spent many decades attempting to find new artistic ways of responding to life, and trying to find the means (the style) for expressing what we experience.

“It is a rare gift to work together on a piece that so rigorously, vividly and wittily embarks on just such an endeavour. And that does not let up until the bitter end.”

Worstward Ho sets out to discover how little we need to survive the challenges of life. It is truly a parable for our time.

Performance Details: May 24 at7.30pm (Preview), May 25 at 7.30pm (Opening Night) May 26, 27, 30, 31, June 1, 2, 3 at 7.30pm

Venue: Explosives Factory, Explosives Factory, Rear Laneway 67 Inkerman St, St Kilda

Duration: 60 minutes

Booking: www.eventbrite.com.au/e/ worstward-ho-tickets-479671399067

- Cheryl Threadgold

Blue Caftan

■ The Blue Caftan, the Moroccan submission for Best International Feature Film, Academy Award (2022) and Un Certain Regard, Cannes Film Festival, is a beautifully produced, thoughtful film.

From the gorgeous extreme close-ups of sensuous blue fabric, dextrous hands and shimmering gold thread which introduce the film, a luxuriousness of image, music and mood seduces the senses.

Immersed in the ancient medina of Salé, Morocco, Halim (Saleh Bakri) and his wife Mina (Lubna Azabal) create gloriously embroidered caftans with only the best fabrics and impeccable workmanship.

As one of the very last remaining maalems (master tailors), Halim has a dedication to absolute quality of materials and workmanship. To achieve this faultless standard, every fabric must be perfectly draped, every thread must be laboriously hand spun, and every thread hand stitched.

Consequently, their self-important and wealthy clientele are increasingly impatient with the slow pace of traditional production.

The film's languid pace emphasises the subdued restraint and integrity of the couple, who remain stoic and considerate of each other.

The arrival of a much-needed apprentice Youssef (Ayoub Messioui) is a catalyst which injects a gentle conflict between these attentive companions.

A debilitating health issue further assaults the couple, but pain, strength, and sensitivity lead to expressions of love. This love enables accep-

tance of a moment of a hitherto unspoken truth and is strengthened by the spoken understanding.

Contrasting with the close confines of shop, apartment, and bathhouse, the raï music constantly heard in the narrow alleyways, imbues an irrepressible vitality which eventually unites the trio and allows them to escape societal restraints.

Director Maryam Touzani (who wrote the screenplay in collaboration with Nabil Ayouch), cinematographer Virginie Surdej and composer Kristian Eidnes Andersen, together create an ambience which embraces us in the glorious texture of life.

One can only say (Shukraan), which translated to English means 'thank you'.

The Blue Caftan opens in Australian cinemas on May 18. Distributed by Potential Films www.potentialfilms.com

- Review by Evelyn Cronk

Grease to return

■ Grease is set to return as a Melbourne’s summer musical at Her Majesty’s Theatre from January.

The multi-million dollar production promises that’s dazzling costumes and all those unforgettable songs from the movie, including Summer Nights, Sandy, Hopelessly Devoted to You, You’re The One That I Want, Greased Lightnin’, and Grease is the Word.

“I am thrilled that Grease, one of the world’s all-time favourite musicals, is returning to Australia in a brand-new production featuring an all- Australian creative team,” said producer John Frost.

“Grease has always been about having fun and coupled with the much-loved songs and choreography, I know that this will be the party musical that everyone is talking about for a long time to come.”

“Melbourne is internationally renowned for its musicals, theatre and live entertainment. We can’t wait to roll out the red carpet for the spectacular national premiere of Grease, which is set to draw huge crowds in 2024,” said Lord Mayor Sally Capp

Casting announcements will be made in the coming months.

Book, music an lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. Additional songs by Barry Gibb, John Farrar, Louis St Louis and Scott Simon. Director – Luke Joslin. Choreographer – Eric Giancola. Set and Costume Design – James Browne. Lighting Design – Trudy Dalgleish. Sound Design – Michael Waters.

● ● ● ● Sam

■ Since the first curtain call in 1984, Arts Centre Melbourne’s State Theatre stage has been graced by the likes of Prince, Anthony Warlow and Kylie Minogue – entertaining hundreds of thousands of theatre goers in the nearly 40 years since it opened.

Today a significant milestone has been reached in the Victorian Government’s $1.7 billion Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation , with the appointment of a head contactor, Lendlease as the provider of the Main Works package that will breathe new life into a treasured Melbourne icon.

As a major component of MAPT, Arts Centre Melbourne’s Theatres Building (under the Spire) is undergoing significant upgrades, ensuring that it’s fit-for purpose for future generations of performers and audiences.

Works include the restoration and enhancement of the heritage State Theatre auditorium including new seating, flooring and other air conditioning improvements for audience comfort.

Technology at the theatre will be upgraded with new state-of-the-art lighting, sound system upgrades and broadcast infrastructure –bringing the creative icon into the 21st Century. Improvements will be made to accessibility of the State Theatre, with the addition of new lifts and wheelchair positions in the Stalls, meaning that for the first-time wheelchair users will have choice from all three seating levels.

The project is also increasing the numbers of enhanced amenity seating (with more space between rows) to aid mobility impaired patrons.

Two new hospitality spaces will be built into the western and northern façades of the Theatres Building, giving more choice for pre- and post-theatre dining.

Back-of-house improvements include an expanded underground Loading Dock, effectively doubling its current size, giving the potential for more shows to be staged, with greater efficiency in bumping in (and bumping out) productions.

A new rehearsal space and studio, built to the same dimensions as the stage, will allow performers to rehearse and warm up right next to the stage for the first time.

Most of the Theatres Building is underground and elements of the specialist engineering system that protects the building’s foundation from corrosion will be replaced –safeguarding the building’s future.

Lendlease has been managing the early works on the project since July 2022, during which critical shared services were relocated to keep Arts Centre Melbourne’s shows running during construction.

A concrete and steel terrace at the rear of the building has also been removed, making way for future excavation works to expand the building’s footprint under Sturt St.

The transformation of the Melbourne Arts Precinct brings together and is spearheaded by leaders in the creative industry including the Melbourne Arts Precinct Corporation (MAP Co), Creative Victoria, National Gallery of Victoria and Arts Centre Melbourne, along with Development Victoria.

Arts Centre Melbourne remains open during works which are due to be completed in 2027.

● ● ● ● Robert Meldrum in Worstward Ho.

Fallon (left), Casey Donovan, Karen Quinlan AM, Isabella Triscari, Estelle Crompton-Lamb, Steve Dimopoulos and Nina Taylor.

Photo: Charlie Kinross.

- Cheryl Threadgold

Shows

■ Peridot Theatre: #Bacchae Too (based on The Bacchae by Euripedes) Until May 14 at Clayton Theatrette, Cooke St., Clayton. Adapted and directed by Elise D’Amico and Joe Dias. Bookings: www.peridot.com.au

■ Bairnsdale Production Line Theatre: School of Rock (Musical) Until May 21 at the Forge Theatre and Arts Hub, Director: Peter Martignoles. Bookings: www.bairnsdale productionline.org

■ Williamstown Musical Theatre Company: The Boy From Oz Until May 20 at Centenary Theatre, 71 Railway Place, Williamstown. Bookings: 1300 881 545 www.wmtc.org.au

■ CLOC Musical Theatre: Catch Me if You Can May 12 – 27 at the National Theatre, 20 Carlisle St., St Kilda. Director: Richard Perdriau; Musical Director: Tony Toppi; Choreographer: Felicity Bender. Bookings: www.cloc.org.au

■ The Mount Players: Buried Child (by Sam Shepard) May 12 – 28 at the Mountview Theatre, Macedon. Director: Robert Wallace. Bookings: www.themountplayers.com

■ Mansfield Musical and Dramatic Society (MMUDS): Shirley Valentine (by Willy Russel) May 13 – 27 at the Mansfield Performing Arts Centre, Mansfield Secondary College, 15 View St., Mansfield. Director: Karen Pirie. Bookings: www.mmuds.org.au

■ Warragul Theatre Company: Jekyll and Hyde (Musical) May 19 – 27 at the West Gippsland Arts Centre, Warragul. Bookings: www.warragultheatrecompany.org.au

■ The 1812 Theatre: Waiting for Godot (by Michael Aitkens) May 18 – June 10 at 3 Rose St., Upper Ferntree Gully. Director: Neil Barnett. Bookings: 9758 3964 admin@1812theatre.com.au

■ Beaumaris Theatre: The Three Musketeers (by John Nicholson and Le Navet Bete) May 19 – June 3 at 82 Wells Rd, Beaumaris. Director: Richard Keown. www.beaumaris theatre.com.au

■ Mordialloc Theatre Company: It’s Only a Play (by Terrence McNally) Until May 13 at the Shirley Burke Theatre, 64 Parkers Rd., Parkdale. Director: Peter Newling. Bookings: 9587 5141 or www.mordialloctheatre.com

■ Mountain District Musical Society: The Sound of Music May 26 – June 4 at The Karralyka Centre, Ringwood. Bookings: www.mdms.org.au

■ Wonthaggi Theatre Company: Dusty the Pop Diva Musical May 26 – June 10 at the Wonthaggi Union Community Arts Centre, 96 Graham St., Wonthaggi. Enquiries: (03 5671 2470 or wonthaggi.artscentre@basscoast. vic.gov.au

Auditions

■ Essendon Theatre Company: A series of One Act Plays, written and directed by members of the company. Auditions: May 13 3pm5pm (Dance auditions only); May 16, 18 from 7.30-9.30pm (Callbacks May 20 if required). www.essendontheatrecompany.com.au

■ Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre Company: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (Revised) (Again) (by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield) May 11 at 7pm at 39-41 Castella St., Lilydale. Director: Katie-Jane Amey. Audition bookings: Katie-Jane Amey kjamey327@gmail.com

■ Moonlite Theatre: An Evening of Three Short Plays (by William Alexander, Katrina Samaras and Debbie Barker) on May 13 at 2pm and May 18 at 7pm at the Holy Trinity Church Hall, 19 Gisborne Rd., Bacchus Marsh. Directors: Alex McMurray and Debbie Barker. Audition bookings: almac45@gmail.com or mickeyleigh@ bigpond.com

■ Brighton Theatre Company: Fracked! Or Please Don’t Use the F-Word! (by Alistair Beaton) May 21 at 7.00pm, May 23 at 7.30pm at Brighton Theatre, Cnr Carpenter and Wilson Sts., Brighton. Director: Alan Burrows. Audition enquiries: aburrow1@bigpond. net.au or 0412 077 761

■ Melbourne French Theatre: Flagrant Délire (in Flagrente Delirium) (Flagrantly Delirious)(by Jean-Pierre Martinez) on May 13 at 2.00pm, May 15 at 7.00pm at La Maison de Maitre Building, 203-205 Canning St., Carlton. Director: Luca Romani. Please note: Fluent French-speaking actors only. Audition enquiries: www.melbournefrenchtheatre. org.au/audition

■ Peridot Theatre: Things I Know to be True (by Andrew Bovell) May 15 and 17 at Fleigner Hall, Oakleigh East. (Director: Kellie Tweeddale) Audition bookings: k.tweeddale@yahoo.com )

MARIE ANTOINETTE

■ Monash Uni Student Theatre (MUST) presents Marie Antoinette from May 11-20 in the MUST Space, 2 Chancellors Walk, Monash University.

Written by David Adjmi and directed by Annabelle Wemyss, this interpretation of Marie Antoinette transports the often-contested historical figure into an entirely new world - an expressionist fever dream.

For Marie, extravagance is escapism while she strives for comfort in her life away from Austria as the new queen of France.

She longs to bear children, and all eyes are on her to produce an heir, but instead, she is forced to deal with the immaturity of her own husband, Louis XVI

As gossip flies and revolution simmers, Marie burrows her 10 feet of hair further into her world of sugary opulence, until it soon begins to sour.

For director Annabelle Wemyss: "Marie Antoinette is a melange of nightmarish confusion and ethereal beauty. Marie's psyche is examined with moral ambiguity - served to audiences on a golden platter."

Performance Dates: May 11-20

Tickets: $16 MSA+, $18 Conc, $22 Full Bookings: msa.monash.edu/must

Venue: The MUST Space, Ground Floor, Western End, Campus Centre, 21 Chancellors Walk, Monash University, Clayton

Run Time: approx. 100 mins with interval

Age Suitability: 13+ Content Notes: Coarse Language, Physical Violence - Cheryl Threadgold

Hans Zimmer

■ In one of its MSO at the Movies series, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, in association with Concert Lab, paid a magnificent tribute to the composer Hans Zimmer in a Music of Hans Zimmer concert at Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne.

Hosted by the presenters of the popular podcast Art of the Score, Andrew Pogson and Dan Golding, with the orchestra led by the everreliable Nicholas Buc (also a host of Art of the Score), those in attendance were treated to a wonderful uplifting evening which celebrated the genius of Zimmer.

You may not know the name but you’ve almost certainly seen a film that Zimmer has scored as music from films such as Driving Miss Daisy, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Lion King, the Batman Dark Knight trilogy and Gladiator was performed.

Film scores can be a neglected artform but they are critical in setting the mood and tone of a film. Zimmer is a pioneer in using electronic instrumentation and collaborating with fellow composers in writing scores.

Pogson and Golding (and occasionally Buc), through their introductions to each of the 12 pieces performed, added interesting context and commentary on the pieces and Zimmer’s composing process. Their contributions gave extra insight into the creative process.

However, the night really belonged to the MSO which, with Buc at the helm, gave rousing renditions of the bigger bolder pieces while finding great depth and subtlety when interpreting quieter moments.

My one reservation about the evening was a problem with sound balance during parts of the performance. This was most obvious when, after the hosts had sung the praises of the use of the organ for the Interstellar score, it was hard hearing the organ at times.

Overall, however, this night was another wonderful example of the bold, successful and highly entertaining programming and performances that the MSO continues to deliver to Melbourne audiences.

www.mso.com.au

- Review by Peter

Selling Kabul

Having translated for the American forces, he is now listed for reprisal by the Taliban. His sister, Afiya (Nicole Nabout), arrives with news but cannot tell Taroon the entire story about his wife or new child lest he endanger those that have tried to shelter him.

Neighbour and friend, Leyla (Claudia Greenstone), is also kept in the dark because information shared in confidence can compromise everyone.

Afiya’s husband, Jawid (Farhad Zaiwala) tries to make arrangements to smuggle Taroon out but he is simply a lowly tailor and powerless against the forces assailing them all.

The challenge for director, Brett Cousins, has been to convey the light-heartedness of the normal social dynamic between siblings, partners and friends while at the same time insinuating how, at each level, the dynamics we often take for granted have been perverted by the Taliban’s social perspective.

Khoury’s dramatic shifts have made this a little protracted but Nabout’s depiction of a harried sister and wife serves as the moral centre of the play.

She conveys the overwhelming exhaustion of her character’s position; a flawed individual who still insists on doing what she sees as ethical.

Sophie Woodward’s set and costumes add authenticity to both the Afghan location and the sense of confinement. The kitchenette is cramped. The rugs and cushions are almost too good in a poor home.

Whilst long, Khoury’s play depicts a society that has lost any sense of trust. Individuals are trapped by repressive laws and attitudes that undermine the social fabric and foster lies, deceit and betrayal. Doing what is right under such circumstances is almost impossible.

- Review by David McLean

■ Corononations are in the news this week – from the one that happened in England last weeked to one coming to a theatre near you soon.

Lyster Opera’s touring production of Monteverdi’s The Coronation of Poppea is about to start its Victorian tour.

Composed in 1643, The Coronation of Poppea was an immediate success and was played across Europe.

The score then mysteriously disappeared for over two centuries, and when it was rediscovered, it was met with renewed acclaim.

It’s set on Mount Olympus, where three goddesses compete to establish their supremacy over the mortal world.

They set into action the story of the Emperor Nero, who is determined to have his mistress Poppea ascend the throne –but needs to remove a few obstacles along the way, including anyone who might stand in the way.

The roles of Poppea and Nero are sung by soprano Piera Dennerstein and tenor Hew Wagner, with Helen Koehne as the Empress Ottavia, Michael Lampard as Poppea’s discarded lover Ottone and Kerrie Ann Bolton as Poppea’s nurse, Arnalta.

Other roles are sung by Mandy Lyn Brook, Angelique Tot and Adelaide Soccio Greenaway, Troy Castle and Josh MortonGalea. Audience favourite Pamela Christie is musical director and accompanist.

Director Jamie Moffat also sings the role of Seneca, and he says that The Coronation of Poppea presents special challenges.

“It’s a witty and really theatrical work, so we shouldn’t smother it with too much reverence. It clearly wasn’t intended by its creators to be taken literally. And it has survived over the centuries because its story and music are so strong. It’s a very accessible opera which I have loved since I was a kid,” Jamie says.

Lyster Opera will be performing the opera in English with costumes designed by Maddy Connellan.

The first performance is Victoria Theatre, Tarnagulla on May 13 at 2 pm, followed by a Melbourne performance at The Edge, Federation Square on May 19 at 7.30pm. Other performances are in Oxley and Daylesford. For full details visit lysteropera.com.au or call 0410 890 388.

Julie Houghton

Media Flashes

■ After 19 years as Michael Bublé’s Musical Director, Los Angeles based singer-songwriter and pianist Alan Chang is going solo with his catchy debut song Love As A Weapon. For his solo debut, Alan called on legendary bassist Pino Palladino and saxophonist Dave Koz to craft a song that sits in the Australian Indie Pop Alternative market and reveals a clever jazz aesthetic.

Murphy

■ There is a claustrophobic sense of both physical and moral entrapment in Sylvia Khoury’s, Selling Kabul.

Hiding in his sister’s apartment, Taroon (Khisraw Jones-Shukoor) is awaiting news regarding a putative visa to America as well as information regarding the birth of his first child.

■ Lucy Manly has started at Daily Mail Australia as a Senior News Reporter.

■ Alexandra Middleton is now a City Reporter for the Herald Sun.

■ A broad-reaching partnership between the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and London Symphony Orchestra signed in London last year, has resulted in the launch of a new in-house record label for the MSO that will expand the Orchestra’s international reach into more than 200 countries.

ABC Classic 100

■ ABC’s Classic 100 will make its way to Hamer Hall with a highlights concert performed by the MSO under the baton of Benjamin Northey, Principal Conductor in Residence and the concert’s Creative Director.

In 2023, ABC Classic and ABC Jazz are asking audiences to nominate their favourite musical instrument from all musical cultures and traditions including classical, jazz, pop, folk, and everything in between.

On the weekend of June 10-11, the top 100 instruments will be counted down live on ABC Classic and ABC Jazz, and on the ABC listen app.

On Thursday-Friday, June 22-23, ABC presenters and special guests will join the MSO and Northey for a special MSO concert that will celebrate instruments from the Top 100, as voted by Australian music lovers.

- Prue Bassett

● ● ● ● Felicity Barrow in Marie Antoinette

● ● Farhad Zaiwala, Khisraw JonesShukoor and Claudia Greenstone in Selling Kabul.

Photo: Jodie Hutchinson.

● ● ● ● Piera Dennerstein

GRAHAM KENNEDY REVEALS HIMSELF

■ Australian television ‘King’ Graham Kennedy described radio man Henry Gay as his “oldest living friend”.

The pair met at Melbourne radio station 3UZ in 1950, and continued their association until Kennedy’s death in 2005.

Henry Gay died last month (April 2023) after many years of retirement at Hervey Bay, with wife Maureen.

Long before his own death, Henry Gay gave permission for the Melbourne Observer newspaper to publish his memoir, Graham Kennedy Reveals Himself, with includes a number of personal letters and faxes from Kennedy.

PART 1

Dear Oldest Living Friend

I realise the ambiguity of the above - I meant, that of all the people I know and consider friends, I’ve known you the longest.

John Wesley, my school chum and very best friend, died (years ago) at age 38 and I’ve never quite recovered from it. He was a very special person.

His widow and I still keep in touch and she stays with me when she visits Sydney.

I keep in touch with Kathy Whitta too but I’ve known you longer, of course,

So, like it or not, you are my oldest living friend. Two of my late mother’s sisters are still alive and one of dad’s brothers but they are relatives, not friends.

So began one of the many letters Graham Kennedy sent me in the last 30 years of our 50 years’ friendship which began at 3UZ, the Melbourne Radio Station’s record library in 1950.

I was under the impression Publishers would vie with each other to publish his letters but how wrong I was.

They were not interested, so I adapted excerpts of the letters into a play, Graham Kennedy on Graham Kennedy, to be performed with another friend of Graham, Jim Murphy and myself, but was told by entrepreneurs it would only be successful if famous actors played the roles.

Not knowing Geoffrey Rush nor Russell Crowe the play has been shelved. Also, I wondered, would Messrs Rush and Crowe toss a coin to see who wouldn’t play me.

In fact, as a result of a phone call from our youngest son, Christopher, on the night of Graham’s death, I sat down and wrote a play involving a not very nice action in which Graham was a prime mover but I will not reveal the action here but maybe, God willing, when I reach a 100.

All that is revealed on the following pages is what Graham reveals plus a few anecdotes from something Graham had written which spring mind (parts of which I’m constantly losing everyday) .. .

Infinity Pool

■ (R). 117 minutes. Opens in selected cinemas May 11.

While not as good as his last movie, the marvellous Possessor, Brandon (son of David ) Cronenberg’s latest offering again provides strong entertainment.

Young couple James and Em Foster (Alexander Skarsgard and Cleopatra Coleman) are holidaying in the (fictional) island of La Tolqa, so James can find inspiration for a new book.

One evening they meet Gabi (Mia Goth) and her partner, who are part of an upper class clique who invite the two into their world, which involves wild, highly dangerous behaviour, and soon James and Em find it hard to disconnect, with their very identities beginning to blur.

Dead Ringers

I can understand why publishers rejected publishing the letters Graham Kennedy sent to Hervey Bay, Queensland; where my family and I moved to in 1978.

The publishers all demanded the same thing with the letters, though they didn’t express it as such except one, they were only interested in the letters if they were controversial, mainly his sex life.

They were hoping the letters contained steaming homosexual liaisons with famous people, and gossip about the people with whom he worked.

These letters almost make it an autobiography by Graham Kennedy. He is not the person seen every night on television, nor what his fans would think he was like.

As a matter of interest I don’t think Graham wasted his time on anyone he didn’t like though, like all top name performers, he used people whom he didn’t consider his friends who often they declared themselves to be his friends..

Even a television station, which will be nameless, has (or had) an executive who told me that no one would be interested in Graham Kennedy these days and they were now concentrating on a younger audience under 39.

A week later they revived a one time popular Saturday night show, presented by a compere (now in his 50’s) having a successful return but the executive must have been disappointed for it didn’t attract the audience he was after.

Perhaps the executive was right. Audiences have changed. I have no intention of analyising the success or the character of Graham Kennedy. The letters will do it much better.

Hopefully the letters, and even the little bits I write, will give you another insight of this unique person. If I may offer one personal thought and, though he was more admired for his talents than the person himself, I, for one, liked him better as a person than his

TV performances, the reason being I knew him as a person before he became ‘The King’,sharing his interests in music and show business.

When people ask me why we were friends for so long I reply , “Because I was never a threat.”

Most of my friends call me a “cynical bastard” and they are right on two accounts. You will discover that Graham was nearly one, too.

The people working with Graham were all aware of his sexuality but, being professionals, the private life of their colleague wasn’t their concern; there may have been the odd moments but really, they couldn’t have cared less because Graham’s performances on TV provided them with a living and the television stations a steady income and profit. Many hated him but admired his talent.

One of the highlights of In Melbourne Tonight was the segment in which Bert Newton and Graham would spend 10 minutes in a routine that the viewers always thought were ‘off the cuff’ but it was a well rehearsed spot.

It was also an opportunity for Graham to remind viewers of Bert’s religion (Catholic) and suggesting he drank a lot; Graham occasionally played “camp” roles but, according to Bert who told Maureen, my wife, that if the “camp bit” went too long, Graham would often say, “That’s it, my mother may be watching.”

As you will discover, this was a strange remark when you read one of his letters about his mother.

Divorce was a taboo subject with him. In a play we were both in I asked an actor why he was getting divorced and Graham said to me in a voice of disapproval,

“You don’t ask people that.” The tone of his voice made me never mention or discuss divorce again.

In several of his letters you’ll find why.

Continued on Page 18

Though there is nothing new here in regards to criticising the actions and mentality of the rich and elite (a particular set-up early on is reminiscent of The Forgiven, with Ralph Fiennes), Cronenberg energetically, and at times imaginatively, dives head-on into this indulgent, bubble-like world, and his willing cast are up to the challenge, especially Goth (who mightily impressed in the recent Pearl), who is both intimidating and funny.

Darkly humorous, and not for the faint-hearted, Infinity Pool is splendid viewing, and if you like this, and have not seen Cronenberg Jr’s previous films, Possessor and Anti-Viral, then please seek them out.

RATING - ****

November

■ (M). 106 minutes. Opens in selected cinemas May 11.

The horrific, violent terrorist attack on Paris in 2015 is given mildly compelling treatment in November, which sadly doesn’t dig deep beneath its convincing surface. The film covers the five days after the shocking attacks, focusing on the anti-terrorism services, and the pressure on every officer and agent (which includes Jean Dujardin, Oscar winning actor from The Artist) to produce results quickly. Cowriter/director Cedric Jimenez keeps things pretty taut, and presents events in a very slick manner, but just like his 2014 drug empire movie, The Connection, frustratingly maintains a rather superficial sheen, when he should have provided far more meaty and provocative material, in the vein of Kathryn Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty and David Fincher’s Zodiac

If treated as a visceral thriller, November is effective, but for those wanting something more, they may come away somewhat disappointed.

RATING - ***

■ (MA) (2023). Six episodes. Now streaming on Prime Video. I was definitely wary of this new limited series, as the 1988 film version (an adaptation of the novel by Bari Wood and Jack Geasland) is one of my favourite films by renowned film-maker David Cronenberg ( The Fly, Naked Lunch, The Dead Zone, Eastern Promises), but the wonderful surprise is that Dead Ringers 2023 wants to create its own unique identity, and examine a number of issues relevant to what is going on today.

The basic story is still the same; two brilliant doctors, twins Beverly and Elliot Mantle (both played by Rachel Weisz), become hugely successful when they accept massive funding from controversial investor Rebecca Parker (a superb Jennifer Ehle ) to open their own, radically advanced birthing centre.

Things start to unravel when Beverly falls for actress Genevieve (Britne Oldford).

Weisz is fantastic, and the digital trickery to put two versions of the actor in the one frame is totally convincing.

However, it is made even more seamless by Weisz’s distinctively separate performances (and Jeremy Irons should have won the Oscar for Best Actor that year for his incredible performances).

The gender switch this time around is no mere gimmick, and is used by the writers and directors to explore a lot of rich subject matter (but beware, sometimes it is very graphic).

Visually the show is gorgeous, and is filled to the brim with symbolism, similar to the work of Park Chan-wook (Oldboy, Decision To Leave).

Dead Ringers 2023 is indeed a stand alone creation (much like both versions of Loilta, Stanley Kubrick’s in 1962, and Adrian Lyne’s in 1997, were both terrific in their own individual way), taking a bizarre true story and crafting something absorbing, confronting and memorable.

RATING - ****

● ● ● ● Aaron Rourke

● ● Australian TV legend Graham Kennedy with this horse.

■ I had the great pleasure of actually seeing Ray Milland onstage in a play titled Hostile Witness at the Princess Theatre in 1967.

I had watched Ray Milland in his many films over the years and it was a big thrill to see him ‘in the flesh’.

Alfred Reginald Jones was born in Neath, Wales in 1907 and only spoke Welsh until the age of five.

Alfred was a very keen sportsman in his teenage years and became an accomplished horseman.

At the age of 21 he went to London to become a member of the elite Household Cavalry (guard for the Royal Family).

To supplement his income he worked as an actor in films, firstly as an extra and then was gradually promoted to small roles.

In 1929 he was cast as a character in a film titled The Flying Scotsman where he used the stage name of Raymond Milland

This led to a nine month contract with the MGM studios and Ray moved to Hollywood to try his luck.

He married Muriel Weber in 1932 and they were together throughout his life.

In 1934 Ray was cast in We're Not Dressing for Paramount Studios and worked with Bing Crosby and Carole Lombard

His role in Beau Geste in 1939 was a turning point in his career. Ray Milland became a big box office star and was in demand for leading

Whatever Happened To ... Ray Milland

By Kevin Trask of 3AW and 96.5 Inner FM

roles. He was a licensed pilot and tried to enlist in the Army when the Second World War began but was rejected due to a hand injury.

Ray volunteered as a civilian flight instructor and continued to make films throughout the war years.

In 1942 he made a film titled Reap The Wild Wind with John Wayne and in later years stated that his premature baldness was due to the curling of his straight hair during that production.

In 1945, Ray Milland became the first Welshman to win a Best Actor Academy Award for his brilliant portrayal of an alcoholic in The Lost Weekend His notable films included, I Wanted Wings, The Uninvited and The Big Clock.

He had his own television series, The Ray Milland Show, in 1953 and played a university professor.

Ray Milland is best remembered for the classic film Dial M For Murder. He worked with Alfred Hitchcock and his co-stars included Grace Kelly and Robert Cummings

Another Ray Milland film that has gained ‘cult status’ was titled X but is also known as The Man With The X- Ray Eyes

He starred in many television shows during his career and discarded his toupee in his later years. He played small roles in two classic films, Love Story and Rosemary's Baby Ray Milland was in more than 126 feature films which must be some sort of a record. He preferred to stay at home with his wife rather than attend Hollywood parties. The couple had two children. Ray Milland passed away from cancer in 1986 at the age of 81.

I am so pleased that I got to see him onstage all those years ago - I thought Ray Milland was a wonderful actor.

Kevin Trask

Kevin can be heard on 3AWThe Time Tunnel - Remember WhenSundays at 10.10pm with Philip Brady and Simon Owens. And on 96.5 FM That's Entertainment - Sundays at 12 Noon. www.innerfm.org.au

SOFT vs EDGY AT BURRINJA GALLERY

Soft vs Edgy –

Natalie Wijeyeratne

Soft vs Edgy is a new collection of original acrylic paintings exploring the nature of Passivity / Growth, Loud and Quiet Expression/Surrender/ Directness/ Starkness of reality/ Sensuality; and the way these themes emerge both visually on the page and meta-phonically in relationship to one’s self and others.

Are these concepts mutually exclusive? Where do they overlap? How can we be both?

In a time where vulnerability is encouraged, is it Edgy to be Soft? Or Soft to be Edgy? These are the themes Natalie invites you to explore when viewing her 2023 series.

Exhibition closes May 27

Between Two Sites

The Between Two Sites exhibition and public programs respond to the impact of human activity on habitats in the Yarra Ranges and Alpine Shire.

Curated by Madelynne Cornish and Darah Lynch for the Bogong Centre for Sound Culture, it showcases the artwork of Victorian and international artists who participated in the centre’s residency program.

These artists have undertaken extensive fieldwork within the Yarra Ranges, Alpine National Park and Yarra Valley.

They have produced a new range of site - specific artworks that comprise a rich and diverse set of environmental references to deepen our understanding of these places.

Artists have used studio-visual installation, photography and sound composition to reflect the ecology of these region.

Exhibition opens May 27 and closes July 1.

Burrinja Gallery

351 Glenfern Rd, Upwey

Light Sensitive

Light Sensitive

is a major exhibition at Town Hall Gallery showcasing the narrative potential of light and its innovative application in art.

Drawing on the symbolic, conceptual, and functional qualities of the medium, from natural to neon, Light Sensitive offers immersive and contemplative experience celebrating the medium of light in its many incarna-

The Arts

Blender Studios

33-35 Dudley St, West Melbourne

Hot Lap

Eamon O’Toole

Self confessed revhead, artist and bike rider Eamon O’Toole is fuelled by his life-long passion for all things motorsport – a passion which he turns into sculptural creations of his favourite motorbikes and cars.

Painstakingly created out of hand-moulded plastic, enamel, aluminium foil, texts and more, O’Toole’s works are authentic scaled replicas if an impressive array of motor vehicles, tools, and motorsport paraphernalia.

Exhibition opens May 19 and closes July 16.

Benalla Art Gallery

Botanical Gardens

50 years for Ronnie Charles

tions. Exhibition closes July 15.

Out of Reach – Amy Cohen

From silicate shells to looming mountains Out of Reach by Amy Cohen is a community exhibition influenced by awe-inspiring organic structures.

Cohen experiments with form, materiality, and texture through ceramic sculpture and collages to emulate natural objects and landscapes.

Out of Reach explores the wonderment and possibilities of the vast world around us that fuels our imagination yet van sometimes leave us wanting.

Exhibition closes May 27.

Town Hall Gallery

360 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn

At Blender

Pop ‘Round is a group exhibition curated as part of Melbourne Design Week 2023.

Pop ‘Round is a casual, yet classy collection of furniture presented by Pop ‘Round collective, a trio pf emerging designers that have come together through a mutual passion for materiality, sustainability and love for sharing creativity with others.

They draw inspiration from the current trajectory of the world and aspire top produce work that is relevant and necessary.

Exhibition opens May 20 and closes May 25.

Bridge St, Benalla

- Peter Kemp

Farmers Markets

■ Regional Farmers Markets will be coming to Abbotsford Convent every month from this month.

Regional Farmers Market is one of the oldest and most established operators of farmers markets in Australia.

With 40 stalls featuring a wide range of seasonal fresh fruit and vegetables, eggs, honey, sustainably grown flowers, pastas and more from Victorian farmers, patrons can now look forward to filling their basket with the best of Victoria each month.

Regional Farmers Markets at Abbotsford Convent Saturday, May 13. 8am-1pm Cost: $2 (proceeds go to the Abbotsford Convent).

Len’s award

■ Len Baker, harness racing ccolumnist for The Local Paper/ Melbourne Observer, has been awarded the Graeme Goffin Media Award for Best Historical Feature, recounting each of the ten Inter Dominions held in Victoria from 1950 to 2018.

■ Ronnie Charles was lead singer in The Groop which was a big-time rock/skiffle band in Australia in the 1960s. They won Hoadley's Battle of the Bands and off to London they sailed. Ronnie hooked up with local UK musos writing and recording jingles. In 1974 he was lead singer on 'Prestidigitation ' featuring the London Symphony Orchestra and English Chamber Choir. No mean feat, imagine the logistics. Prestidigitation has now been remastered to cash in on the vinyl revival in this, the 50 th anniversary of Ronnie's involvement in the music business.

Bob’s good old days

■ Bob Phillips was Floor Manager of the Graham Kennedy Show on GTV during the early days of TV. Bob went onto work on Hey, Hey and many other live variety shows. He has written a book ' Like No Other Business' relating the crazy times when even the so-called experts learnt how TV worked. It's a fun read, so relive the memories. Amazon online, or better book stores are best places to order your copy.

Beer Week in Melbourne

■ For many readers the Annual Beer Festival is a 'must', this year the magic dates are May 20-27. One popular event is the Hair of the Dog Beer Breakfast on May 26, the morning after the night before, being the 2023 Beer Awards.

Jane Fonda is 85

■ In case you were wondering, Jane Fonda is aged 85, and claims she has never felt better: “Happiest I've ever been.” Jane has every reason to be on the bright side as she will feature in four films this year.

31 flavours to sample

■ During the month of May, the place to visit is the annual Rocky Road Festival being held at the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie in Bellbrae Thirty-one flavours to sample, your taste buds will go out of control. Festival winds up May 31.

- John O’Keefe

with Peter Kemp

OK. With John O’Keefe

● Ray Milland

●

● ● ● Ronnie Charles

Stateside with Gavin Wood in West Hollywood

AUSSIE STAR BACK FROM UNITED STATES

■ Hi everyone, remotely from my suite at the Ramada Plaza Hotel and Suites in West Hollywood comes this week’s news.

Still calls Australia home

■ Peter O'Brien is an Australian actor, best known for his role as an original cast member in 1985 of Australian soap opera Neighbours as Shane Ramsay

He reconnected with all the cast for an amazing final farewell. Peter came back to Melbourne for the taping from his home in West Hollywood where he is married to Australian actress Miranda Otto.

Life is grand in West Hollywood but the couple still call Australia home. It’s a trend with acting work starting back up again, the roles are on both sides of the Pacific Ocean

The big question is, will Peter O’Brien be in the new Neighbours which is now taping new episodes in Melbourne?

Long may the new version last for another 38 years. How many stories can the writers make up about the lives, loves and challenges of the residents in Ramsay Street, from their business relationships through to their deep pasts, in a cul-de-sac in the town of Erinsborough in Australia?

Soup company uses AI

■ Formed in 1869, Campbell Soup Company is now in its third century, and the iconic brand is embracing technology to make sure it survives to see a fourth.

Thanks to a growing product portfolio, and the use of AI to spot new trends, Campbell is evolving beyond its soupy roots, per Food Dive

To identify new food trends the company uses a process called ‘Insights Engine ’, which uses AI to review 300B menus, studies, and other data points per year.

Campbell’s employees use the data to understand where a trend is going, whether it will last, and if one of its brands is in position to capitalse on it.

Recent innovations include: oat milk-based soups, which the company rolled out in 2021 through Pacific Foods

Flavour Up, a cooking concentrate that comes in three flavors and enhances the flavour of food. And these products are impacting the bottom line, innovation products currently account for 2 per cent of net sales, and the company hopes to reach 3.5 per cent by 2025.

Gone in one minute

■ Police around theUS are using gumshoe detective work to break up sophisticated rings that steal catalytic converters from vehicles, though many fear that they aren’t making a dent in a crime wave triggered by pricey precious metals.

Catalytic converters, cylindrical hunks of metal within the exhaust system of most cars and trucks, transform harmful gases into less-harmful ones using precious metals including rhodium, palladium and platinum.

Some vehicles, such as Toyota Prius models, large pickups and delivery trucks, are often targeted by thieves because their catalytic converters contain a lot of the metals.

Criminals use high-speed jacks and battery-operated saws to steal the devices in less than a minute, according to police.

Silcon Valley cuts

■ A bloodbath in Silicon Valley, Facebook aka Meta is cutting 11,000 workers roughly 13 pet cent of its workforce. Redfin and Salesforce are also slimming down. At Twitter, Musk not only laid off workers, but he eliminated the ‘Days of Rest’, the employees’ monthly paid mental health days.

Amazon is on a hiring freeze as it becomes the first public company in history to lose a trillion dollars in value. A correction for big tech isn’t all bad, though. A lot of people at these bloated Silicon Valley behemoths are doing fake jobs, and with that free time comes time to do annoying things that have nothing to do with Facebook’s bottom line, like attempting to manipulate American culture and algorithmically decide elections.

Also, people should get out of the nap pods and start companies. There’s a semi-famous quote about modern Silicon Valley that I think of a lot, said by a data scientist Jeff Hammerbacher: “The best minds of my generation are thinking about how to make people click ads. That sucks.”

Someone now is in the business of a small business; I highly recommend it. New business formation, which slumped after a 40-year decline, is on the rise again, and those businesses might be able to actually compete for talent now that the unlimited poke bowl party is over.

Out and About Climaye

Change latest

■ Five years ago, the journalist David Wallace-Wells explored a worst-case scenario for climate change one in which the planet warmed by as much as 5 degrees Celsius by 2100 causing widespread extreme weather, economic collapse, famine and war.

Now, David sees that level of doom as much less likely, he writes in an essay for the climate issue of The New York Times Magazine, where he is a columnist.

While 5 degrees of warming once seemed possible, scientists now estimate that the Earth is on track to warm by 2 to 3 degrees.

That difference might not seem huge, but it translates to fewer record-breaking floods, storms, droughts and heat waves and potentially thousands or millions of lives saved in the coming decades.

So how did we get to this point? There are three major explanations: First, the use of coal, which provides about 30 percent of the world’s energy, is expected to further decline.

Second, renewable energy prices have plummeted since 2010, solar power more than 85 per cent, wind more than 55 per cent and that affordability has made them a viable alternative to fossil fuels.

Finally, global powers have adopted serious plans to fight climate change.

US elections

■ The US is an outlier in two ways: the frequency of its elections and the number of government positions that are elected, said Larry Jacobs, a political scientist who has analyzed election trends in the US and other countries.

In other countries, parliamentary democracies typically hold elections every four or five years.

Those that have elections more frequently are typically suffering political crises. Israel, for example, held its fifth election in less than four years last week and voted to restore the previous prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to power even as he faces corruption charges.

In the US, the Federal Government holds elections for Congress at least twice as often, every two years.

More local and state elections are sometimes pegged to the federal races, but not in most cases.

Americans elect more than half a million officials in total, from president to county coroner. It’s hard to compare this number to other countries, which might put more legislative seats to a vote but not, say, mine inspector or county engineer.

One example that’s particularly odd in a global context: “No other democracy in the world uses elections to pick judges or prosecutors,” said Richard Pildes, an elections expert at New York University. Instead, other officials typically appoint a country’s judges and prosecutors.

Service fee trap

■ You might’ve noticed something you didn’t order on your last dinner bill: a “service fee.”

Not to be confused with a tip, the service fee ranges from 3 per cent to 20 per cent of the bill, and it’s becoming increasingly common around the country.

But what exactly the fee represents isn’t always clear. The fee can indicate a range of things, including: A mandatory tip that goes directly to the server. Pay for back-of-house employees like chefs and dishwashers. Funds to cover workers’ minimum hourly wage. Money for a restaurant’s credit card fees or owners. The fees also vary widely by state.

California, here you come

■ If you are considering coming over for a holiday, then I have got a special deal for you.

We would love to see you at the Ramada Plaza Hotel and Suites, 8585 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood.

I have secured a terrific holiday deal for readers of the Melbourne Observer and The Local Paper.

Please mention ‘Melbourne Observer’ when you book to receive the ‘Special Rate of the Day’ for your advance bookings.

Please contact: Jennifer at info@ramadaweho.com

In California, the fees go to the restaurants; in New York, they go to the service staff and in Florida, they can be used for whatever the restaurant wants. The tab keeps growing.

In one month, Americans spent $87Billion on dining out, up 11.4 per cent, while the price of food at full-service restaurants was up 8.8 per cent. Google searches for “service fee” and “service charge” have hit an all-time high with customers scrambling to make sense of their checks.

With all the confusion, the fee can cause diners to tip less, mistakenly thinking the money is going directly to their server

Alan Johnson, Managing Director of Ramada Hotel and Suites in West Hollywood, with his good friend Peter O’Brien.

● ● ● ● Ramada Plaza Complex, West Hollywood

Lovatts Crossword No 37

Across Across Down Down

1. Most private (thoughts)

6. Eyeball membrane 11. Pond plants 15. Made anew (2-7) 20. Impact sound 21. Genuine thing, the real ... 22. Hawaiian island

172. Heavy horned animal

175. Jogs 176. Boys

179. X, Y or Z

180. Be defeated

182. Upon 184. Abrupt

185. Destitute

186. In the manner of (1,2)

188. Jazz legend, ... Fitzgerald 189. Rabble 190. Sacred

The self 193. Olden days, days of ... 194. Narrow roads 196. Type of lily

Defendant's bond money

Collier

Hawkers

Unwell

Moneylenders

Machinery serviceman

Captivated

Arabian sultanate

... & papa

Vapour

Irish sweater style

Lots of

Imminent

Drawing up roughly

Comfortable chair

Jump 229. Mad Roman emperor

Adolescent

Honourable

Amateur radio enthusiasts

Church celebration

Fume-filled

Stagger

Actress, ... Russo

South American dance

Different

Embroils

Former Soviet region (1,1,1,1)

Beatle, John ...

1. Terrible tsar

2. Hitler follower

3. More mature

4. Stares lasciviously at 5. Pairs 6. Weaving fibre

7. Gives off 8. Lit

9. Alters

10. Undeniable (facts) 11. Bobcats 12. Comedian, ... Ball 13. Nailfile (board) 14. Bar

145. Squander, ... away

151. FA Cup stadium

154. Wooden beams

156. Eye-watering vegetable

159. Fuss, ... & cry

164. Bushranger, ... Kelly

169. Complete task (3,2)

170. Architect, Frank ... Wright

173. Turning up (skirt)

174. Incapacitates (racehorse)

177. Positive electrode

178. Casseroles

181. Male rowers

183. Scottish emblem

187. Retriever dogs

192. French policemen

195. Atone for

199. Infuriate

201. TV award

202. Actress, ... Redgrave

203. Frighten

204. Ski-track

206. Singer, ... Abdul

207. Russian mountains

208. Sloped walkway

209. Risqué

213. Numerous

215. Pink-eyed rabbits

217. Loch ... Monster

221. Chops down

222. Bury

223. Biting fly

224. Authentic

225. Pursue

226. Pakistan's ... Khan

228. Legal trade bans

234. Compliance

236. Most avid

238. Conger

240. Convent sister

242. Diminishing

243. Early foetuses

245. Disillusions (4,4)

247. Uranus & Pluto's neighbour

248. Paris boulevard, Champs ...

250. Students

251. Wild ponies

253. Sunset

255. Utilised

257. Oil cartel

258. Moon about

261. Kremlin country

262. Responsible

Outshine

273. Irish lass

274. Undisguised

277. Rotated

279. Heroic tale

281. House lizard

284. Just OK (2-2)

286. Spiders' traps

288. Was expert (in)

292. Deck over water

294. Arranges, ... up

295. Grieve 298. Sticker

300. Sultan's wives

301. Colorado ski resort

303. Volley of bullets

306. Exhale & inhale

308. Scarce as ... teeth (3'1)

309. Successor 311. Stingiest 314. Chilly 315. Clash 316. Flamenco instrument

265. Rounded stone

266. Drift (into coma)

268. Corrosive fluids

269. The D of AD

275. Take part in ballot

276. Frolic

278. Boosts morale

280. Ringing (of bell)

282. Famous English college

283. 21st birthday symbols

285. Cosmonaut, ... Gagarin

287. Summer shoe

289. Lucky amulets

290. Covered shopway

291. Mental pictures

292. Looked intently

293. Delight

296. Pig's grunts

297. Reimburse

299. Record's secondary track (1-4)

302. Introduce gradually, ... in

304. Abundant

305. Indistinct

306. Skin eruption

307. Hindu garment

308. London's ... Park

310. Polishes

312. Repeat

313. Soft knocks

Crossroads

By Rob Foenander info@countrycrossroads com.au

Ben’s new single

■ Better Side Of Me is the new single release for singer-songwriter Ben Sorenson

Ben says that the song pays homage to the person in your life that brings out the best and understands you unconditionally.

It’s the second single this year for Ben following on from the success of Slow Lane which featured on ABC Radio Grass Roots program.

More info: facebook.com/sorensen music66

Energy and depth

■ Melbourne blues artist Lloyd Spiegel is celebrating the release of ‘ Bakehouse Dozen’

It was recorded live in session with no overdubs at Melbourne’s iconic Bakehouse studios. The album offers reimagined versions of songs from Spiegel’s last three multiaward winning recordings and showcases the raw energy and depth of the trio, signalling what’s to come, says his media release.

Album Launch: Friday, August 11, at Memo Music Hall.

Skyhooks Show

■ Bob 'Bongo' Starkie, guitarist with the legendary Skyhooks, performs the classic songs and a few more that need to be heard, in a personal celebration of one of Australia's most beloved bands. In between songs, Bob shares humorous anecdotes and insights into the inner workings of the Skyhooks. Birds Basement, Saturday, May 27.

- Rob Foenander

From Page 15

He was deeply hurt when I didn’t invite him to my 21 st birthday and I don’t think he ever forgave me. The reason I didn’t invite him was because most of those who attended were members of the football team I played with and I wasn’t sure if he would mix in with them but, when he became involved in a church concert with them, there were no problems.

He mixed in well with them. This was probably his second public performance. The year, by the way, was 1951.

As you read Graham’s letters you will begin to see another person emerge, surprising you not only by his humour, but by his interests and attitudes towards his parents.

I think he missed a normal family life. A friend and his young daughter and her friend once visited Graham’s Frankston home and as they watched the two young girls swimming Graham remarked how nice it was sit and watch the kids having fun.

You may be surprised, or even shocked by the remarks he makes about his parents, but one interesting theme running through his correspondence was the referral to his age and health.

If you didn’t know him you would think he had suicidal tendencies.

One of the strongest links of our friendship was music. Several of his letters have referred to suicides.

L N S FRIED SMOG N W A W C MANX LYNCH Y EWES NAME NOTRE ONES YOGI E A MONA OUTLASTS E RETIRING ICED S ASIA TIER H T W PRO N N N ELLE OAKS T L F THEREFORE RETENTION L N I TIDINGS I G R T NEE R Y N A SAGGING I E R ENDOW PINA GOAT PESTO M N E GULF A PGA ADAM LEA NOUS PEP B WALL H TRENCH L R NEST

One very depressing letter referred to George Sanders’ successful attempt at dispatching himself. The $28,000 he mentions in the letter caused him much pain though, at the time, I was unaware of it until I had lunch with him one Saturday afternoon in Sydney as I went down to meet Maureen and a friend, Laurel Hosking, returning from a Mary Kay Seminar in Melbourne.

Graham cooked spaghetti with a very tasty homemade sauce, based on a recipe given to him by an aunt who had married an Italian.

It was during this lunch in his Hunter’s Hill flat, sharing a bottle of red, that I paid him a compliment on his loyalty to Harry M Miller during his imprisonment.

Almost spilling his drink Graham immediately changed the friendly mood to one of anger telling me that he was taking Harry to court over secret commissions.

Graham told me that Harry, on behalf of Channel 9, had asked him to come back to do a News Show at night.

It was good money. Graham said he didn’t want to do it but Harry said that if Graham did the show he (Harry) would give his commission to any charity he nominated.

Graham agreed if the money went to the Sydney City Mission, but he found out that Harry was receiving a commission. Graham felt betrayed. Then the mood changed, we just chatted about other things and I never mentioned the subject again.

Observations with Matt

with Matt Bissett-Johnson

GIGA IS THE ONE TO BEAT

■ The top young V ictorian galloper Giga Kick is the one to beat in the Doomben 10000, to be run on May 13.

The son of Scissor Kick is looking to atone for an unlucky second in the T.J.Smith Stakes behind I Wish I Win, only beaten a half-length, after becoming unbalanced in the early stages.

His record speaks for itself with a brilliant win in the rich Everest event, beating the best in the land, a great effort for a three-year-old, prepared by young Mornington trainer Clayton Douglas.

With his win in the Everest,he has taken his earnings over nearly $8 million rom only nine starts.

Another outstanding three-year-old Aft Cabin, prepared by leading trainer James Cummings, is all class as shown by his big win in the Arrowfield Sprint over 1200 metres at Randwick on April 8.

Prior to that run he was never out of trouble in the Randwick Guineas over 1600 metres.

On that occasion he missed the start and became unbalanced.

Another that has become right into the market is the top Queenslander, Rothfire, who scored a clever win, although just getting there, in the last few strides in the Victory Stakes at Eagle Farm.

He has been first-class since he started racing under leading Queensland trainer Robert Heathcote.

He has suffered a couple of nasty injuries throughout his career, but always gives of his best. He will be right in the firng line here.

Another good run in the Victory Stakes was that of the second placegetter King Of Sparta, prepared by the Snowden team, Pat and Paul.

He came at Rothfire hard in the last few bounds to go down by a half-neck.

The favourite in the Victory Stakes, top Sydney horse Private Eye, I felt was a little bit disappointing finishing out of a place, after appearing to have every chance in the straight.

Private Eye is rated among the best in the land and can atone.

One of the best sprinters going around at the moment is another Sydneysider, Mazu.

He finished a good third behind two of the best sprinters in the land, I Wish I Win, and Giga Kick, in the T.J.Smith Stakes at Randwick on April 1.

The four-year old by the top Japanese sire, Maurice, has won over $7 million in his 17 starts, for the Snowden team at Randwick.

He will be there when the whips are cracking, that is for sure.

On the next line is another Sydneysider in Overpass, a surprise winner of the Tabtouch Quokka over 1200 metres at Ascot in Western Australia.

In the care of leading Sydney trainer, Bjorn Baker, he was able to hold on to narrowly beat Western Australian champion mare, Amelia’s Jewel.

It was a great effort by the star three-yearold filly, Amelia’s Jewel, who has won eight of her nine starts now, with two seconds.

After drawing the extreme outside of the 14 runners, her rider, Pat Carberry, decided to

Ted Ryan

but he has won some good races. Another of Queensland trainer Rob Heathcote’s, in Prince of Boom, ran a good race to just get beaten by top sprinter Rothfire in the Victory Stakes and is in fine form, after winning his previous start.

Then we have another good type in Mariamia, with Joseph Pride at Warwick Farm, although now six, the mare is showing plenty of fight in her runs, but she is meeting the very best here.

If he goes around the Evergreen old sprinter doesn’t know how to run a bad race. She has raced against the cream of sprinters and always puts in.

The James Cummings trained Vilana gives of his best each time he steps out, and was a winner back on April 15, taking out the Hall Mark Stakes at Randwick over 1200 metres.

The four-year-old has now won seven of his

12 starts for the top team. He beat a couple of smart ones, last start, In the Congo, and Apache Chase. Of the others, the John O’Shea trained, six-year-old Lost and Running is good on his day, but could be found wanting.

Back on April 15, he failed to fire in the All Aged Stakes among the top echelon. From his 19 starts he has accumulated nearly three million dollars in stake money, but as mentioned when he puts in, he goes hard.

Giga Kick as mentioned looks the one to beat, with Rothfire, Aft Cabin and Private Eye hardest to beat.

Darley flourishes

■ On top of the announcement that champion Anamoe will represent them in the near future, there are plenty of bright lights flying the All Blue flag.

Darley’s trio of 2023 Freshman Yearling Sales sires, Too Darn Hot, Blue Point, and Microphone, led their cohort at the yearling sales with Too Darn Hot, the only first-season sire to achieve a million-dollar result.

Blue Point led all the first-season sires by average, and the progeny of Microphone, were snatched up by all the leading stables. The highlight wasa $750,000 Magic Millions colt.

The three champion racehorses have unchanged service fees.

A leading first-season sire, Harry’s Angel’s second-crop yearlings realised up to $400,000, and averaged nearly eight times the service fee with 100 per cent clearance rate across all Book 1 offerings.

Following the performances of Blue Diamond placed Arkansaw Kid, Tom Kitten’s last to firstvictory in the listed Fernhills-Stakes, and Stretan Angel’s dominant win in the listed, Dequettvilleville Stakes, Harry Angel’s fee raises to $33,000 (inc. GST). Proven Group One Sires, Astern ($22,000. inc.GST). and Kermadec ($16,500 inc. GST).

her out to last to avoid being caught wide. He didn’t move on her until the turn, and she flashed home down the outside to get beaten a short half-head.

Overpass’s form of late had been ordinary,

Private Eye winning the Gilgai Stakes..Racing Photos.

WEEK STARTS AT HAMILTON, SWAN HILL

■ The week commenced with two meetings on Monday May 1 – Hamilton in the afternoon and Swan Hill at night.

At Hamilton, McKenzie Creek (Horsham)part-owner/ trainer Janet Exell was victorious with 7Y0 Elsu-Jagged Lady gelding Areuohkay in the Fincjetts Plumbing Pace over 1660 metres.

Starting solo on the second line, Areuohkay driven by Dunnstown’s Declan Murphy possied four back along the markers after Nifty Jolt burnt away from outside the front line to lead. Easing three wide to follow both Image Of Starzzz and Midnight In Memphis approaching the final bend, Areuohkay although right off the track rattled home to score by 1.8 metres from Image Of Starzzz returning a mile rate of 1-58.7. Be The One (three pegs) was third 4.5 metres away.

■ Another Horsham winner was Vinny Rock for Rod Carberry which landed the Alexandra House Sports Club Pace over 2160 metres.

With Aaron Dunn in the sulky, Vinny Rock, a 4Y0 gelded son of Pet Rock and Doutzen was given a sweet trip throughout from gate two following the pacemaker Vapar Fire (gate four). Angling off his back on turning, Vinny Rock ran home best to prevail by 1.2 metres, with Janet Exell’s It’s A Good Feeling (four pegs) running home late out wide for third 5.9 metres back. The mile rate 1-59.3.

■ Pootilla trainer ‘Bassie’ Steenhuis combined with David Murphy aboard 4Y0 Betterthancheddar-Im Tondelayo mare Chedalayo to land the 1660 metre Happy Mothers Day Sunday May 14 Pace.

Given the run of the race from inside the second line trailing the poleline front runner Iamawingate, Chedalayo used the sprint lane to blouse Iamawingate by a head in 1-59.3. Leica Buddy after racing outside the leader was third 3.8 metres away.

■ Honest 5Y0 Courage Under Fire-As Above gelding Zwick chalked up win number four from 35 outings when leading throughout from gate four in the 2160 metre Bendigo Bank Pace for Stawell based trainer/driver Jason Ainsworth, accounting for 50/1 chance Kintsukuroi which trailed from the pole by two metres. My Waterlou was third from mid-field in the running line 2.1 metres away. The mile rate 2-02.6.

Thrilling dead heat

■ Extremely competent former Tasmanian reinsman Jack Laugher now based in Bendigo took the honors on a big nine race Swan Hill card with three winners on the night including a thrilling dead heat.

The first to arrive was 6Y0 Shadow PlayImachicitoo gelding Rojenbye which dead heated with Bella Abby (Michael Bellman) in the VHRC The Members Pace over 1750 metres.

Trained by Reece Moore at Red Cliffs, Rojenbye was eased from gate two, settling midfield in the moving line as Friends flew away from gate four to lead with Bellasteel (gate five) after being caught wide going forward to race exposed giving Joe Costa’s local hope Bella Abby (gate three) one/one cover being trailed by Rojenbye.

With runs coming from all directions approaching the home turn, Friends shifted ground on straightening, with Bellasteel taking a slender lead momentarily and Bella Abby which was now in the centre of the track issuing a challenge.

Rojenbye after extricating six wide in the home running finished hard to join Bella Abby hitting the wire with the judge unable to separate the pair. Saint Win (three pegs) after obtaining a split between runners late in the straight dashed through a gap to be third a nose away making it almost a triple dead-heat, with Bellasteel a half neck away fourth and Friends a further half neck away fifth in an incredible finish. The mile rate 1-58.6.

■ Five year old Art Major-Collectable gelding Major Collect a raging hot $1.30 favourite was an easy victor of the 2240 metre $500,000 Available in VHRCS Super Bonuses Pace. Trained at Strathfieldsaye by Julie Douglas, Major Collect settled near last from the extreme draw with polemarker Hez Harrywho leading for Bunbartha duo John and Matt Newberry.

Harness Racing

■ Atego Dawn (gate two) outside him to take over leaving Meadowvalley Road (gate five) in the open with the hot favourite Triumph Stride (one/one) after easing away from the markers shortly after the start.

Vacating the prime spot to race outside the leader with a circuit to travel, Triumph Stride was able to drop to the back of Atego Dawn approaching the home turn with Hold That Gold commencing a forward move. In a slugging finish, Hold That Gold out wide prevailed by a head from Triumph Stride, with Meadowvalley Road third 1.9 metres back after gaining cover from Triumph Stride. The mile rate 1-59.6.

Sulky Snippets Sulky Snippets

This Week

len-baker@

bigpond.com

with Len Baker

Going forward with a rush three wide at the bell to park outside the leader for the last lap, Major Collect was much too solid in the straight, scoring by 4.8 metres from A Rocknroll Jet (one/ one – three wide last lap), with Hez Harrywho holding down third 1.8 metres away. The mile rate 1-57.4.

■ Former Kiwi 6Y0 American Ideal-Chloe Finn gelding Dhaulagiri which competed in the Mildura Cup Heats found the quality of the 2240 metre VHRC Super Bonus Program Pace a little easier and registered a strong 7.7 metre victory to give the Douglas stable a double. Pushing through from a solo second line draw to settle three pegs following both stablemate Mighty Flying Art which exploded away from outside the front line to lead with polemarker Diamond Eclipse trailing, Dhaulagiri eased away from the markers at the bell to race uncovered for the last lap and ran home best to defeat Mighty Flying Art which gave a sight in a 1-58.2 mile rate. Diamond Eclipse safely held third 3.1 metres back. Many readers will recall the top class galloper of the same name racing a number of years back trained by Brian Courtney.

■ Once again the trotters competing in the VHRC – Aldebaran Park Trotters Handicap put on a good show over the 2240 metre trip with victory going the way of Gordon father and son Tim and Darby McGuigan’s 7Y0 Repeat LoveMicro Chip mare Petite Love in a rate of 2-01.9. Settling four back along the markers from a 30 metre handicap as Aunty Ethal led from barrier four before being crossed by One Muscle Hill (10m) from three pegs, Petite Love angled away from the markers to race exposed for the last lap, proving too strong for One Muscle Hill, with Aunty Ethal third. The margins 5.8 metres by a head.

■ John and Matt Newberry were successful on the night when 5Y0 Rock N Roll Heaven-Universal Alice mare Kia Ora Beauty led throughout from gate four in the $10,000 Alabar Vicbred Platinum Mares Sprint Championship (heat two) over 1750 metres. Rated to perfection, Kia Ora Beauty defied all challengers to register a 4.3 metre margin over Blood Moon (one/two - three wide last lap – behind winner home turn), with Alwaysbealady (one/one) third 12 metres back. The mile rate a slick 1-54.2.

■ Bendigo’s Alex Ashwood trained and reined

5Y0 Art Major-Sparks Under Fire mare Major Fire to score in the VHRC 1750 metre Rich River Golf Club Pace .

Given a sweet passage one/one from outside the front line as Petreos (gate four) led before being crossed by Chogi (gate five), Major Fire given full rein led at the bell before coasting to a 19.4 metre victory in advance of Star Shine (three pegs – one/one – three wide home turn). Petreos came again in the straight for third albeit 9.5 metres away. The mile rate 1-56.2.

Shepparton thrills

■ Shepparton raced on Tuesday and Longlea trainer/driver Mattie Gath along with Echuca owner/breeders Norm and Joan Visca would have received a tremendous thrill when 4Y0

Angus Hall-Hold That Grin gelding Hold That Gold scored in the 1690 metre Cottrells Electrical Trotters Mobile, paying odds of $41.00. Settling mid-field from the extreme draw where Starlight Storm led from gate five before allowing

■ Smart 4Y0 Western Terror-Cold Outside gelding Alfresco trained at Tatura by Craig Turnbull and driven by daughter Abbey landed the 1690 metre Shepparton Travelworld Pace in a mile rate of 1-58.

Enjoying a perfect trip on the back of the poleline leader Zaras All Good from inside the second line, Alfresco although slightly held up approaching the home turn as the leader weakened was able to use the sprint lane on turning and raced clear over the concluding stages to register a 1.2 metre margin over Malava Miss (one/two – four wide home turn) and Alta Bedford (one/one – three wide home turn) who was a head away.

■ Moorilim owner/trainer Greg Fleming is having a great run with his large team at present and chalked up a double after Bettors DelightJazz Opera gelding Bart Bentley scored in the Your Sold Real Estate 3Y0 Pace over 2190 metres and American Ideal-Arctic Fire filly Maurlen Annie the 1690 metre Jims Diggers 2Y0 Maiden Pace, both driven by the stable’s Codi Rauchenberger.

Bart Bently led throughout from gate three, accounting for Dun Me Up Francy which trailed moving outside him on the home turn by a half neck, with first starter Island Feenix third 36.2 metres back third after following the pair.

The mile rate 1-59.5. Maurlen Annie greeted the judge in identical circumstances, defeating a game first starter My Four Sisters (four pegsone/one last lap – three wide home turn). Olivia Rose (three pegs) also on debut was third 3.3 metres away. The mile rate 1-59.5.

Excitement at B’rat

■ Ballarat held a massive 10 race card on Wednesday – the most exciting race being the low grade Ferndale Confectionary Maiden Pace over 1710 metres resulting in a dead-heat between Wichita Dance (Tina Ridis) and Gamer (Jason Hackett) in a mile rate of 2-01.4.

Wichita Dance a 4Y0 A Rocknroll DanceShes In Vogue gelding part-owned and trained by Daryl Crone at Great Western led from gate four with Gamer also a 4Y0 Rock N Roll Heaven-Nosotros gelding trained by Jason Hackett at Balliang immediately joining him from gate six.

With the pair having a great battle all the way up the running after turning together, the judge could not separate them on the wire. Remi Magic after trailing the leader gained a late split for third a half neck away.

■ Six year old Peak-Yankee Poem gelding My High Peak brought up his fifth victory in 29 outings when taking the 1710 metre Del-Re National Trotters Mobile. Trained at Moonlight Flats (Maryborough) by Joanne Franklin and driven by Michael Bellman, My High Peak enjoyed a sweet one/one trip from gate two on the second line as Rioterra led from gate six before being crossed by Well Deserved at the bell. Angling three wide on turning, My High Peak put the race beyond doubt in a couple of strides, scoring by 4.9 metres untouched over Rioterra in a rate of 2-01.4. Mulberry Pie (three pegs) was third 3.1 metres back.

■ Lancefield’s ‘Rocket’ Rod Petroff made a welcome return to the winners list after 4Y0 Bettors Delight-Eye Like Candy gelding Bettororworse snared the 1710 Regent Entertainment Pace.

Starting inside the second line, Bettororworse settled at the rear of the field after the heavily supported Ribelle Rose led from gate four. Still at the tail prior to the home turn, Bettororworse despite making the home turn four wide, finished full of running down the centre of the track

■ Wednesday – Geelong, Thursday –Cobram, Friday – Maryborough/Mildura, Saturday – Melton, Sunday – Cranbourne, Monday – Hamilton, Tuesday – Swan Hill.

to greet the judge 4.4 metres in advance of Glenline (one/one), with Ribelle Rose weakening for third 7.2 metres back. The mile rate 200.3.

10 events at B’go

■ Big race programs have been the order in recent times and on Thursday Bendigo held a 10 race card featuring some interesting racing during the evening.

One winner well worth a mention was 3Y0 Sweet Lou-Chloe Finn colt Loui Lou I who has a huge future, toying with his rivals in the Result Financial Services Pace over 1650 metres.

Raced by a huge syndication including renowned veterinary surgeon Alistair MacLean’s Family Group, avid trot fans Julie and Jennifer Coventry, ‘girl about town’ Carol Bass and always ready to assist Clare Payne to name just a few, Louie Lou I trained at Romsey by Chris Svanosio and driven by stable foreman Ross Payne used a little petrol from gate three to head off polemarker Another Nien, but once there , travelled beautifully, running out a 5.3 metre victor over Another Nien which stuck to his task. Andaman Bay (three wide trail last lap) from the rear on the back of well supported Goulburn visitor King Tintin was third 17.4 metres away. The mile rate 1-55.9.

■ Local trainer Trevor Monk landed a double on the night with 8Y0 We Will See-Little Bonzer gelding Magnified (Ellen Tormey) taking the 1650 metre Bendigo Power Coating Pace and 5Y0 Western Terror-Blue Seelster gelding Blue Cannon (Greg Sugars) the Nigel Milne Harness Racing (Insanity Lodge) Pace over 2150 metres. Magnified led all of the way from gate three, accounting for Sugoi Alto from mid-field by 3.2 metres in 1-59.4. Pinnacle Hope (one/one) was third 1.1 metres back. Blue Cannon (gate five) was most impressive peeling three wide off a one/one trip to blouse the long odds-on favourite Dougls Platter which led by 2.8 metres. Warrantee held on gamely for third after racing exposed. The mile rate 1-58.

Sour note

■ Two meetings Friday Yarra Valley and Mildura and Mount Wallace part-owner/trainer

Warren Green started Yarra Valley quaddie punters off on a sour note when Bling It On-Classy Dream filly Lunar Dream snared the first leg –the Ashmore’s Smash Repairs 3Y0 Maiden Pace over 2150 metres at odds of $34.00.

With Chris Alford in the sulky, Lunar Dream was restrained from gate five to settle mid-field in the moving line and although five wide on the final bend, finished all over the top of her rivals to register a 4.4 metre margin in advance of Shoobees Spirit (one/one) and Inexorable (gate three) which led until being crossed by the favourite Cool Night finishing 6.8 metres back in third place after being inconvenienced when the leader capitulated. The mile rate 2-01.5.

■ Seven year old Modern Art-Lavra Cloe gelding Nationaldraft has been a giant killer at times and was again when successful in the $10,000 Thanks To The Cup Week Committee Pace over 1790 metres at Mildura.

Trained at Irymple by Boris Devcic and driven by Tayla French, Nationaldraft starting inside the second line was quickly away from the markers to settle four back in the running line as United led from the pole.

Tayla enjoyed a great night also piloting Beaudacios and Cheeky Eagle to victory.

Broome Beach Resort welcomes all guests to this relaxing retreat, situated at Cable Beach in the magnificent Western Australian coastal town of Broome. Within a short leisurely stroll to the iconic Cable Beach, Day Spas, restaurants, cafes and bars, Broome Beach Resort is the ideal 4½ star family resort.

Set amongst lush, tropical gardens, each of our fully selfcatering, air-conditioned 1, 2 or 3 bedroom apartments are well appointed and feature full kitchen and laundry facilities, a spacious open plan dining and living area, a private verandah and free WIFI and FOXTEL. Free off-street parking is also available for in-house guests' vehicles.

FOR SALE

The business is ideally located in the prime Cable Beach area next to great amenities and is a short 500m walk to beautiful Cable Beach.

•Long-term agreements

•Close to everything Broome has to offer

•Set amongst tropical landscaping

•Body Corporate salary of over $129k

•Well-appointed two-bed, one-bath unit with large office and storeroom on the one title. Available for $560,000

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•Property inspections are by appointment only NET PROFIT: $381,153. PRICE: $1,143,459

Interested? Why not give Glenn Millar a call on 0412 277 804 or glenn@resortbrokers.com.au

FREE ADS ARE NOT ACCEPTED BY PHONE

Free ‘For Sale’ and ‘What’s On ads are available in The Local Paper to private parties and community organisations. There are no charges, no fees and no commissions.

GUTTER-VAC

PUBLIC NOTICES

BELT AND DISC SANDER. FC. $25. Greensborough. 0406 939 273.O-R

BOAT. 3.6m. Savage Kestrel, three seat, Dunbier trailer with spare wheel, 15HP , Suzuki outboard, 30 hrs, registered all safety gear, two fuel tanks, tonneau cover. EC. $4500. Flowerdale. 0411 577 050.L-O

CANE LOUNGE, Table, Chair, Sofa, Cushions. Never used. EC. $450. Frankston. 0488 062 837.O-R

CLOTHING. Concert and custom. Clearance. Music and Movie Memorabilia. ACDC, Pink Floyd, Billy Eilish, Kiss, U2, Guns and Roses, Billy Joel, Dua Lipa,. Elton John, Rod Stewart, Harry Styles, Ed Sheeren, INXS, Kraftwerk, Pink, Midnight Oil, Pantera, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Kate Bush, Iron Maiden, Alien, LOTR, Blade Runner, Ice cube and more. VGC. $30-$100. Cheltenham. 0401 623 388O-R

FOR SALE

FOR SALE FOR SALE FOR SALE

LOUNGE SUITE. ‘Fler’

CLOTHES. Boys. Approx. 200 pieces. New and as new. Age 0-14. Ex Op Shop stock. Excellent for market. VGC. $50 the lot. Tullamarine. 0417 999 224.J-M

COLLECTORS. Shelby Lane Bear, ‘Bridget’, $50. Rubik’s Cube, 1982 instruction book, $40. Frigidaire steel door handle, $25. Skippy Bush Kangaroo book, $35. Bone China cup/saucers, 9, $20 each. Disability scooter, hardtop canopy, under 1 yr, other extras, $2900. Alexandra., 0419 445 697.L-O

DINING TABLE. 150cm x 150cm. 8 chairs, blackwood colour. Micro fibre seat covers. $1350. Briar Hill. 0417 312 034.

ELECTRIC CHAIR LIFT.

Lan Franco Chelsea. Dual Motor Ambience Stone Fabric (Fawn). GC. $350. Eltham. 0438 801 928 L-O

PUBLIC NOTICES

ENCYCLOPEDIA

BRITANNICA. Complete full set with 24 volumes of 1965 edition. Maroon ‘leatherette’ covers. Original wooden shelving unit. GC. $50. Ashburton. 9885 2203.F-I

FLOOR MATS. Honda Accord. Euro luxury MY12 Genuine, front and rear. Genuine cargo mat/boot liner. Colour: Grey/black. EC. $85 ONO. Gladstone Park. 0402 282 477.F-I

FORD FALCON. 2006. RTV Ute. Gas. Reg. 9/23. New tyres, hard lid, canopy. RWC. Drives great. 335,000. Rego. 1HU9JS. $8750. Yarck. Barry, 0414 718 812.

GARDEN SHREDDER. GMC. Electric. GC. $25. Greensborough. 0406 939 273. O-R

HAY. Top quality grass hay. Square bales, $6.50. Rolls, $50. Kinglake West. 0400 529 469.

L-O

HORSE BITS. Two. Different sizes. Ex Light Horse Brigade. As new. $100 each. Rosebud. 0467 845 449.

J-M

KITCHEN ‘Cupboards and drawers in various sizes in American oak timber. $300 ONO. East Iavnhoe. 00418 322 569. F-I

KNICK KNACKS. Variety of items. $50. Springfield Lakes. 0408 777 876. L-O

Modular 6 Seater L-shaped Corner Unit with Fluro Light Sand Colour, would suit large room or Man Cave. EC. $200. Endeavour Hills. 0468 954 177.F-I

MARBLE TOP Coffee

Table. Solid. EC. $50. Frankston. 0488 062 837. O-R

MICROWAVE. $40. Walker, $40. VGC. Mill Park. 9436 8935. O-R

STOCK SADDLE. Davidson. Near new. With all accessories. GC. $500. Broadford. 0429 951 862. O-R

SUNBEAM 4-in-1 Air Fryer and Oven Model AFP 5000 BK. In box. Instructions. Never used. $250 ONO. Wantirna South. 0438 299 285. N-Q

SUITCASE. Antique. Old. Full of old board games. GC. $20. Tullamarine. 0417 999 224. J-M

WATER TRANSFER PUMP. Yardworks. 1100W model. YW1100TP integrated trolley. 4600 litres per hour. EC. $65 ONO. Gladstone Park. 0402 282 477.F-I

PROPOSAL TO INSTALL A NEW MOBILE PHONE BASE STATION AND 5G ON AN EXISTING FACILITY AT 237-243 REX ROAD CAMPBELLFIELD VIC 3061.

1. The scope of the proposal consists of:

Installation of triangular headframe on existing 30m high

Telstra monopole

Installation of nine (9) Optus 4G & 5G panel antennas mounted on a headframe on the pole

Installation of one (1) GPS antenna

Installation of six (3) future Remote Radio Units (RRU’s)

Installation of four (4) bay outdoor units at the base of the facility

The installation of new ancillary equipment including antennas mounts, feeders, cabling and other associated equipment

2. Optus and Vodafone regards the proposed installation as a Low-impact Facility under the Telecommunications (Low-impact Facilities) Determination 2018 (“The Determination”) based on the description above.

3. In accordance with Section 7 of C564:2020 Mobile Phone Base Station Deployment Code, we invite you to provide feedback about the proposal. Further information and/or comments should be directed to Ventia.

Name: David Hodgkinson, Town Planner

Phone: 0437015282

Email: community.consultation@ventia.com

Web: www.rfnsa.com.au/3095010

Address: 167-169 Cremorne St, Cremorne VIC 3202

Submission due by COB on Friday 12th May 2023

WHITE METAL BATH. Removed from a bathroom reno. Original from 1960s. No leaks or damage. surplus to needs, use for an animal water trough, lily pond, raised garden bed or could put back into a house. Pick-up in Watsonia. GC. $50 ONO. 0408 704 995.F-I

OVEN. Fisher and Paykel, double doors, approx. 6 years old with new element and all shelving. $300 ONO. East Ivanhoe. 0418 322 569.F-I

MICROWAVE OVEN. Samsung. Owners Instruction Book included. GC. $80. Box Hill South. 9890 7904.J-M TABLES. Small wooden table. 60cm extends to 120cm. $15. Small wooden cupboard, 900cm x 45cm $15. Plastic table. Oval white 90cm c 120cm, outdoor type. $15. Padded cahirs, $5 each. Box Hill South. 9890 7904. J-M

RECLINER CHAIR Princess, on wheels, with full tilt, pressure care, manual and pump. Hardly ever used. EC. Cranbourne. 0452 442 561.F-I

REGISTRATION

PLATES. ‘MISUBI. Slimline B&W. Great gift for Subaru owner. EC. $1500. Frankston. 9789 9634. J-M

ROCKING CHAIR. Antique. American style, adult size, spring based, casters, carved timber frame, EC. Upholstery in need of replacing. GC. $100. Croydon. 0408 332 181. F-I

SEWING CABINET. Horn. 110mm x 940mm. Has lift for sewing machine. Plus overlocker. GC. $300 ONO. Watirna South. 0438 299 285. N-Q

TANDEM TRAILER. 10’ x 5’, all steel construction, lights, brakes all in good working order. Made by Forest Hill Trailers. GC. $2000. Croydon. 9726 8513.F-I

VEGEPOD. Medium size. 2 covers. Base has been assembled (never used). One opened box which contains the cover/poles and joiners and a new unopened cover and all accessories/instructions. New cond. $250 ONO. Seymour. 0438 228 617. F-I

WALKING MACHINE. Electric. VGC. Paid $170, will sell for $70. Ferntree Gully. 0407 533 560. O-R

MOONEE PONDS BAPTIST CHURCH , 45 Eglinton St, 5.30pm Mondays, supports those from Moonee Valley in a tough place. All welcome for a free hot meal from 5.30pm on Mondays. If you have food handling, listening or cleaning skills, then contact us to help out. 0466 075 820. UFN

MORNINGTON Dutch Australian Seniors Club. Meets weekly in Tyabb Community Hall, Frankston-Flinders Rd, Tyabb on Mondays, 10am2pm. Morning coffee, games of Klkaverjas and Rummicub. New members welcome. Nel, 0414 997 161. Paula, 5779 8291. UFN

SOCIAL BALLROOM DANCING. Lessons and practice, 7.30pm -10pm Wed. Scots Church Hall, Yea. $5. Dance: 1st Saturday of month. 7.30pm11pm. 0490 425

Diana Trask: Memories Are Made Of This

A great CD by one of Australia’s popular singers $20 including postage

Diana Trask was one of the first popular Australian singers to be successful in the USA but soon after many others followed: Helen Reddy, Olivia Newton-John and in recent times Keith Urban. Diana's success began on the Sing Along with Mitch TV Show from New York. Coming back to Australia she had a national hit TV show The Di Trask Show.

Dear Friends, I am so happy and excited to have my CD “Memories Are Made of This” made available to you through The Local Paper. I trust you will enjoy hearing this great selection of wonderful songs I sang on “The Di Trask Show” all those years ago. With love, Diana

1. Memories Are Made of This

2. Unforgettable

3. Alley Cat

4. Que Sera Sera

5. Heather on the Hill

6. Half as Much

7. All or Nothing at All

8. Auf Wiedershen

9. Green Eyes

10. Blues in the Night

11. Hello Young Lovers

12. To the Ends of the Earth

13. Days of Wine and Roses

14. Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer

15. Goodnight Irene

16. Comes Love

Simply send the form below. All orders will be dispatched within two working days of cheque/money order clearance. Please include your name/address/phone number, and mail with cheque or money order to Kevin Trask Enterprises.

To: Kevin Trask Enterprises PO Box 200, Canterbury, Vic 3126

Yes! Please send me the CD “Memories Are Made of This” I enclose my Cheque/Money Order for $20.00

Name: .........................................................................................................

Address: .......................................................................................................

.......................................................... Phone: ............................................

$20 including Postage or “Memories Are Made of This” can be purchased from Diana’s website www.dianatrask.com