Bulletin

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Have your say on Nillumbik’s key plans

DO WE HAVE our future priorities right?
This is your chance to let us know.
Following our Nillumbik — Now and Beyond community consultation earlier this year, when we heard from more than 1,000 Nillumbik voices, we have drafted four important plans that will guide Council’s direction.
These are:

  • Council Plan 2025–2029
  • Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2025–2029
  • Financial Plan 2025–2035
  • Asset Plan 2025–2035

The draft plans were endorsed by Council at this week’s meeting and are now available for community feedback.
You can read the plans and share your thoughts on them at our Participate Nillumbik website.
Once the consultation period is complete and community feedback has been considered, the drafts will be reviewed and the plans finalised for this Council term.
Mayor John Dumaresq said residents have a genuine opportunity to shape Council’s direction.

“I personally encourage all who live, work, study or play in Nillumbik to review the draft plans and let us know if they think we’ve got them right,” Cr Dumaresq said.
“The plans identify Council’s goals and priorities and the actions we will take to help us achieve them.
“Please take the time to read through the plans and provide your feedback by the closing date,” he said.

You have until 11:59pm on Wednesday, July 9 to read and review the plans.
Visit participate.nillumbik.vic.gov.au/now-and-beyond

Local firefighter recognised in King’s Birthday honours

GROWING up in The Basin, Colin Brown dreamt of becoming a full-time firefighter and joined his local CFA Brigade in The Basin as soon as he was able to.

“As a teenager growing up in The Basin, there was little to do to occupy my time,” Colin said.
“The local fire brigade was near my home, and hearing them regularly respond to incidents prompted me to join.
“Once I became a member, the camaraderie within the brigade and a sense of helping the community led me to pursue a career as a firefighter.”

However, in the early 1970s, to become a career firefighter in CFA or join the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, you needed to be 21.
This age limit had been established to counter National Service commitments in place at the time for the Vietnam conflict, where young, newly trained firefighters could be called up for 12 months of military duty.
Ever the strategist, at the age of 18, Colin discovered he could enlist in the Australian Defence Force as a firefighter.
So, in 1974, Colin commenced a 22-year career with the Army Fire Service, which entailed operational and training positions across Australia, and he instructed firefighters in Malaysia with the Army Fire Service training team.
He left the Army in 1996 as a Warrant Officer Class Two and began his career as a civilian firefighter.
Colin’s career has led him the role of Fire Rescue Victoria Commander at CFA District 13, and a former CFA Deputy Group Officer of Seymour Group.
He is also an accredited wildfire and structural fire investigator and has mentored prospective investigators undergoing training in the past.
He is currently also an active volunteer firefighter with Warrandyte CFA.
With more than 45 years of service, Colin has made a significant contribution to the protection of life and property at major fires, including Ash Wednesday (1983), Dandenong Ranges (1997), Black Saturday (2009), and the Cambarville fires (2019–2020).
He also managed emergency response as Incident Controller for complex fires including Dutson Downs Bombing Range (1999), Hazelwood Power Station (2000) and Maryvale Paper Mill (2001), and provided strategic leadership during the Victorian Alpine Fires (2002–03), Emu Track Fire (2003), the 2019–20 fires (in both Victoria and NSW) and numerous other large-scale emergencies.
Additionally, he has been involved in multi-agency emergency operations, working alongside Victoria Police, CFA, DELWP and other emergency services.

“One of the incidents that stands out for me is the Longford gas explosion in 1998.
“It was my first day as a CFA Operations Officer, and I was asked to lead the CFA Fire Investigation team in determining its cause,” Colin said.
“I was then privileged to be asked by ESSO Australia to support the Longford team to obtain their licence as a major hazards facility.”

Colin’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity in operational roles involving air operations and fire investigation paved the way for the first accredited female CFA air observer, and a joint agency training manual between CFA and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.
His outstanding dedication and professionalism in improving operational incident management and fire safety has gone over and above any reasonable expectations and embodies the true spirit of an exceptional firefighter.
This wealth of experience and achievement led to him receiving the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours.

“Receiving the AFSM is very humbling, and I am privileged to be honoured by this significant award,” Colin said.
“CFA is a fantastic organisation.
“It allows you to challenge yourself and contribute to protecting your community.
“It provides you with opportunities to develop diverse skills, including leadership and teamwork, outside of your normal day-to-day life.
“I have also made many friends and acquaintances over my 45 years of service to the organisation and the community.”

Tickets to Thunderball will go like lightning

TICKETS ARE about to be released for the “flashest” event of the year.
Thunderball is a gala ball being held at Bramleigh Estate, Warrandyte, on August 16.
The event is the culmination of two years of work by the Foundation for Volunteer First Responders, aka the Thunderball committee.
The Thunderball committee has spent the last 18 months strengthening community connections by raising awareness of the mammoth task performed by Manningham SES volunteers during flood, storm, and swift water rescue, and laying the foundations for the Thunderball gala.
Thunderball’s goal on the night of August 16 is to raise enough money to allow Manningham SES to purchase a new vehicle.
This will enable them to more effectively assist police, ambulance, and fire services in a range of emergencies.
Manningham SES’s current fleet does not provide enough carrying capacity for all the equipment they need, given the range of emergencies they attend.
Precious time is lost having to remove gear and replace it with other equipment, depending on the job.
Do they need the marquee, the stretcher, or the boating gear for this job?
An additional vehicle will enable them to have all that gear ready to go.
Chairperson of the Thunderball committee, Sandi Miller, said when she heard the Fireball committee — an initiative that fundraised for CFA brigades in Warrandyte, North Warrandyte, Wonga Park, and South Warrandyte between 2014 and 2023 — were standing down in 2023, she couldn’t think of a better way forward than picking up the mantle for our hardworking SES.
The owner of Bramleigh Estate, Mary-Anne Lowe, agreed and immediately offered to supply the venue, including food, drinks and staff — for free — for the event.
General Manager of Bramleigh Estate, Dave Munn, said they were delighted to support such a great cause.

“We love to support fantastic organisations, and it’s a really good cause.
“The SES does great work for the community, and we want to help them continue that by supporting Thunderball.”

Sandi said the SES provides an amazing service to the community.

“The men and women at Manningham SES are out in all weather, all year round, responding to life and death emergencies.
“It’s not all chainsaws and tarps, although that is critical work; it’s also recovering bodies from the river, cleaning up after floods, and reuniting families with their missing loved ones.”

And she said to enable them to do all that there is hours and hours of training, and community education.
And if that’s not enough of a time commitment, the unit has to do its own fundraising to pay for essential equipment.

“The unit has to pay for uniforms, boots, stationery, phones, tools — the funding they get from the government isn’t nearly enough to allow them to do everything the community expects them to do.”

Sandi added the community connection the committee has fostered is already making a difference.

“When we first met with the SES, they showed us the phones their duty officers were using for communicating with the dispatchers and the community.
“The phones they had were still running on the 3G network and had a battery life of perhaps 20 minutes.
“Something had to be done urgently as the 3G network was about to be shut down.
“We spoke with some local organisations, and the Warrandyte Riverside Market stepped up and not only became a major sponsor of Thunderball, but they went out and bought brand new iPhones for the unit.
“So, it’s not just the ball, but it has been about making connections with the whole community and supporting them over the two years it takes to organise the event.
“We have been turning up to community events like Run Warrandyte, Finns Festival, and the Warrandyte Festival to show our support.
“Next month, to coincide with our ticket launch, we are planning to be at Heide Market selling a range of SES merchandise, lunchboxes, drink bottles, stickers and toys — we are doing the fundraising, so they don’t have to.”

So, head down to Heide Market on May 10 and say hi, book your table for the event, and get yourself some SES goodies.
All SES merchandise sold at the Heide Market will see funds go straight back to Manningham SES.
To find out more about the Thunderball gala, visit thunderball.net.au.

Driving Force

ONE OF THE most dangerous aspects of firefighting can be getting to the fire.
Taking the wheel of a 10-tonne heavy vehicle filled with thousands of litres of water requires skill and training.
Now, CFA is boosting its driver training capability across Victoria with 10 new driver training trucks along with additional driving educators.
The first of the dedicated driver training trucks were officially handed over to CFA by the Victorian Government.
Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Services, Sheena Watt, said the initiative is part of the $8.84 million “upskilling and protecting our volunteers” program and $2.2M for the 10 new driver training vehicles.
Deputy Chief Officer Operational Doctrine and Training Rohan Luke said the new custom-designed driver training trucks will be delivered to CFA training grounds across the state, providing greater access to driver training without needing to draw on operational vehicles.
“These trucks have been built to replicate the size, weight, and configuration of operational firefighting vehicles,” Rohan said.

“We’re one of the first Australian fire services to have purpose-built driver training trucks for our volunteers to use for driver training.
“Driver training courses are important for future capability within a brigade as they provide the key elements to ensure our drivers operate safely in high-risk environments whilst protecting Victorian communities.”

The 10 new trucks can be used for both on-road and 4×4 off-road driver training as they are self-sufficient, containing everything the trainer needs to deliver driver training.
The key to this driver training is its driver educators, who provide volunteers with both theoretical and practical skills needed to get behind the wheel of a fire truck.
CFA recently offered the first female-only Driver Educator Course(DEC), which six women have successfully completed.
CFA Commander State Driving Malcolm Hayes said this group of newly qualified women will soon deliver driver training to both male and female volunteers in their area and across the state when required.
“As a result of this female-only course, we will have tripled the amount of volunteer female driver educators in CFA which is an incredible achievement and asset for the future of driver training,” Malcolm said.

“While we always encourage any CFA members to undertake the course, we do find creating female-only courses provides a more comfortable space and environment for them to train.”

Four of these driver educators are based in Nillumbik brigades.
No longer confined to auxiliary roles, female representation in all areas of CFA brigades across Nillumbik is growing, with women on the fireground and in leadership positions in many local brigades.
Female driver educator and 2nd Lieutenant of Kangaroo Ground Fire Brigade Kate Lamble said CFA has a strong representation of women and should be encouraged to take on these challenges.
“I want to help break down those barriers and empower women to become CFA truck drivers and educators, creating a more equal representation across the organisation.”
Kate told M&N Bulletin she recently ran a come-and-try truck driving day at Sugarloaf Reservoir for female volunteers in Nillumbik brigades to give women a taste of getting behind the wheel.

“A lot of women don’t think that they can do it, and don’t even consider it to be an option, so days like that just show that it actually is easy to drive.
“Women feel a bit more comfortable when blokes are not around, they feel like it’s okay to make mistakes and ask the dumb questions — or what men may think are the obvious questions like, ‘what’s a diff?’ — it’s just because you’re not in that blokey world, where you’re doing mechanics and stuff like that.
“So, in having that opportunity to ask those types of questions, they can get a better understanding.”

She said training with men is not unsafe, “but it’s just a different environment that encourages women to get out of their comfort zone”.
“My motto is ‘you can’t be what you can’t see’, if we want more women to do these things, we need to show women we can do it, and we need to get women out there doing it,” Kate said.

A celebration of community

THE ROTARY Club of Eltham is hard at work organising this year’s Rotary Eltham Festival to be held on Saturday, November 9, from 9am to 9pm, at Alistair Knox Park, Panther Place, and Eltham Central Oval.
Organised by the Rotary Club of Eltham for over 20 years, with support from the Nillumbik Shire Council and many local and long-standing sponsors, the Festival is a celebration of the fabric and diversity of the Eltham community.
Attracting thousands of visitors from Nillumbik and the surrounding areas, the festival is an annual event that is eagerly anticipated and is added to the diary early in the year.
Eltham Rotary Club President Alison Cooper says that locals who grew up attending the event are now bringing their own children.
This year, the festival will be held on one day only, and the full music program has something for everyone.
The Community Stage will showcase the emerging talents of many of our local school children and established community groups throughout the day until 4pm.
Smaller kids will love The Animals of the Magic Mountains on the Main Stage at 11am.
The headline act on the Main Stage is the Joel Quinn Band, a high-energy cover band renowned for its ability to breathe new life into classic hits and contemporary favourites, who will take the crowd through the evening ahead of the fireworks at dusk.
The Festival aims to be family-friendly and includes free rides for smaller kids, roving entertainers, free face painting and many other activities to keep kids entertained.

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Have a Go Oval will feature many of our local sporting and community groups showcasing their activities with an invitation for everyone to try out.
Kids will love the Abseiling Tower provided and supervised by the District Scouts.
Or the Viking enactments of life in the Middle Ages by the New Varangian Guard.
There will also be camel rides around the Oval. Back in Alistair Knox Park, there will be over 100 craft, community, and business stalls to browse and loads of food and drink options.
As usual, the Carnival will operate at the Bridge Road end of the Park.
Need we say more?
Whether for an hour or the whole day — be part of it and celebrate our Eltham community!
To see the full program, visit elthamfestival.org.au or the festival’s social media page, @elthamfestival.

New phones “a life saver” for our SES

THUNDERBALL is not just about raising money for the Manningham SES.
It is also about raising the profile of these very important emergency responders.
As part of our fundraising efforts, the Thunderball committee has spoken with a wide range of community groups and businesses to discuss sponsorship and donations for Thunderball.
But we also highlight the great work the SES, do and the fact they have to fundraise for themselves to keep their equipment repaired and up-to-date.
Even something as necessary as compatible mobile phones for use in their vehicles and by the duty officer requires a substantial fundraising effort.

One such conversation was with the Warrandyte Riverside Market, and it struck a chord with their management committee.
Not only has the Warrandyte Riverside Market become a sponsor of Thunderball, they have also organised new mobile phones for the unit for use by the duty officers.
Market Manager Greg Rowell said the Thunderball presentation was a catalyst for reaching out to provide other means of support for the SES.
The presentation highlighted the unit only had old phones 3G with limited battery life, and they were struggling to fund replacement handsets for this simple but vital communication tool.

“It appeared that the State Government weren’t funding them for two vital pieces of equipment, which are the duty officer’s phones.
“So, committee president Rob Edwards said, ‘Well, let’s help them’,” Greg said.

So, straight after the presentation, the Market Committee discussed funding new mobile phones.

“We then contacted Adrian D’urbano at the SES and said we want to cover the cost of the phones and the cost of the ongoing plan.”

Adrian said while the State Government covered the data plan, they desperately needed to update the handsets for the duty officer.

“We have daytime and nighttime duty officers at the unit; when the SES gets a call for assistance via either 000 or 132 500, the call goes firstly to the duty officer, who will assess if it’s a job we can assist with or not.
“From there, we will ring the person who’s made the request and communicate with them to make sure the location is in our area and what services they require — if they need a boat, or if it’s one crew or two crew — so we use that phone to communicate with the callers.
“The phones we were using were probably eight or nine years old; they have to be an iPhone because that’s the portal that Emergency Services Telecommunication Authority (ESTA) uses.”

He said the phones were no longer holding charge and might have about an hour of battery life between charges.

“So, we had to be close to somewhere to have it on charge all the time.
“If it’s a major storm event, well, it’s a problem.”

The imminent switch off of the 3G network also compounds the issue.
Adrian said the market generously donated two of the latest iPhone 15s, which have more than one day’s battery life.

“If it’s a tricky job, we might need to know if power lines are involved, but if they’re not sure, we ask them to send us a photo, and then we can see what we are coming into — so it’s not just about being able to talk to the caller, we need the data, we need to be able to visually see, especially when it’s a major event, like the storms in August, where there’s a lot of jobs we have to prioritise.
“The duty officer is running on absolutely borrowed time to get to the next call.
“They have to make decisions fairly quickly. “If we had those old phones in that recent storm event, it would have been much more difficult because the phones had to be continually plugged in.”

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He said the new phones can integrate with an iPad using the Trello App, which the old phones couldn’t run.

“Trello is an iPad app that stores notes from the caller, and I can also add notes via the phone, so it’s integrated as well.
“If I’m out on the road, I can’t pull out the iPad while in the car, but I can pull over and quickly allocate a job to Trello.
“When the guys jump in the truck, they can open up the job, and they can see notes that have been added about anything to look out for — if there are some other dangers like power lines, or if it’s a flood, or if there are any other services that are coming such as ambulance, Fire, or Police.

Adrian said the new phones have made it much easier to assist the community.
Greg was pleased that what may seem like a small thing made such a big difference to the Manningham SES unit.

“As being involved with the Thunderball, this was something the committee could do straight away; within 2–3 weeks, they had their new phones.
“So, they were certainly well received by the unit, and hopefully, they are making their lives a little bit easier.”

There are many ways you can help the SES.
Thunderball will be held in 2025 at the beautiful Bramleigh Estate, and we are looking for donations, large or small, that will all contribute to the purchase of a new vehicle to further assist Manningham SES in responding to our community when we need them most.
Visit thunderball.net.au to see how you can support our SES.

Council concern with Park and Ride plan

MANNINGHAM COUNCIL has made a detailed submission during the public consultation period of the the UDLP (Urban Design and Landscape Plan) for Doncaster Park and Ride.
The consultation period closes on September 24.
Doncaster Park and Ride is scheduled to close in January 2025 for development works, which are expected to take up to four years.
Council submits the current design proposed should not be approved and proposes Doncaster Park and Ride be developed as a mixed-use zone, transit-orientated development (TOD) and had previously commissioned concept designs (July 2022) for such a development which incorporated commercial spaces and additional parking.
While NELP has previously rejected the concept, Manningham Council persists Doncaster Park and Ride as a TOD is a better outcome for the area, especially in the light of future urban growth.
Council’s submission goes on to critique the NELP’s UDLP; issues raised include (but are not limited to) the use of Perspex for noise walls as the material is suspectable to scratches and can appear dirty and will encourage graffiti, which is noted as a recurring issue within the North East Link Urban Design Strategy; the Drop and Go Zone as being inadequate and likely to cause congestion; and the limited tree planting is a wasted opportunity to plant more trees.

Parliament advocacy

Council also approved a letter of advocacy to be sent to Sonja Terpstra MP to highlight “growing concerns” about public transport capacity and amenity when Doncaster Park and Ride is closed in 2025.
The letter asks for more consultation on the temporary bus stops that will come into effect when the Park and Ride facility (and its car park) is closed.
It notes that the temporary bus stops will be in use for three years and that pedestrian safety and comfort “must be prioritised.”
The letter also expresses concern about commuter capacity, stating that the upgraded Bulleen Park and Ride — designed to offset the closure of Doncaster Park and Ride — is already at high capacity.
It goes on to say:

“The limited appetite of NELP to provide any additional measures to mitigate the impacts caused by this closure is incredibly challenging.
Increased parking congestion in nearby local streets is anticipated, and commuters will have to make alternative arrangements (including potentially shifting to private vehicle travel).
The parking congestion in particular will fall to Council to manage and will impact the lives of residents for a significant period of time.
Council’s position is that these issues are the responsibility of the State to resolve, given they will be a direct result of NELP works.”

How will this impact you?

Public transport around Manningham is a hot topic, further compounded by congestion and disruption caused by the North East Link construction.
Council’s response to the Doncaster Park and Ride UDLP indicates it may get significantly worse before it gets better, further challenging the promotion of transport methods that reduce the number of cars on the road.
With Doncaster Park and Ride closing, M&N Bulletin would like to know how users of public transport around Doncaster and Bulleen anticipate changing their movement around Manningham and beyond in the coming years.
Email us at bulletin@warrandytediary.com.au.

Richard Stockman resigns

Nillumbik Shire Council announces the resignation, effective immediately, of Blue Lake Ward Councillor Richard Stockman.
Cr Stockman was elected in 2020 as the representative for Blue Lake Ward, and during his time as Councillor has served as chair on a number of Council committees.
Most recently, Cr Stockman chaired the Health and Wellbeing Advisory Committee and the Recreational Trails Advisory Committee.
Council CEO Carl Cowie thanked Cr Stockman for his service.

“On behalf of Councillors and Council staff, I would like to thank Cr Stockman for his contribution to the community, representing Blue Lake Ward constituents as well as the broader Nillumbik community over the course of his term.
I wish him and his family all the very best in their future endeavours,” Mr Cowie said.

Cr Stockman’s resignation does not impact the function of Nillumbik Council, which will proceed as normal until the onset of the “caretaker period” on 17 September ahead of the Victorian Local Government elections on 26 October.
Blue Lake Ward contains the towns/suburbs of Yarrambat and Plenty

Nillumbik Community Awards 2024

Congratulations to the 2024 Nillumbik Community Awards winners.
Presented at an event at the Eltham Community and Reception Centre on August 23, the awards were given to individuals and groups for their contributions and achievements in the Nillumbik community.
Congratulations go to:

Volunteer of the Year: Warwick Leeson OAM
Warwick has represented the Shire of Nillumbik as a councillor and mayor.
He continues to actively serve the community with dedication and enthusiasm through a diverse range of community groups.
His focus is always directed towards making communities stronger, healthier, more resilient, and engaged.

Community Group of the Year: Lions Club of Eltham
The Eltham Lions is a small but vibrant service group of 13 members, who run myriad events and also assist other groups to run events.
They provide financial support for individuals and groups and assist individuals in times of need.
Community Group of the Year (High Commendation): Rotary Club of Eltham

Nillumbik Young Citizen of the Year: Bethany Woodman
Inspiring and tireless, 24-year-old Bethany Woodman embodies selflessness and dedication as a midwife and Research CFA volunteer firefighter, junior CFA leader, and CFA social media co-manager.
With each local CFA planned burn she attends Bethany ensures community safety.
Nillumbik Young Citizen of the Year (High Commendation): Mikayla Mountney

Contribution of the Year award recipients were all recognised to have helped advance a cause that strengthens the community. 

Contribution of the Year — Arts Culture and Heritage: Pat Reynolds
Pat has made invaluable contributions to the St Andrews community and is recognised as an instigator and champion of numerous projects.

Contribution of the Year — Diversity and Inclusion: Phil Petersen
Phil has made a remarkable impact as a mentor to James, a young man with Batten’s Disease, which has left him with almost complete vision loss and other significant disabilities.

Contribution of the Year — Environment & Sustainability: Boomerang Bags Nillumbik
Boomerang Bags Nillumbik is a small group of volunteers who attend the Hurstbridge Community Hub each Tuesday to sew sustainable bags for the community.

Contribution of the Year — Reconciliation: Research Junior Football Club
Research Junior Football Club is an inclusive, family-oriented club that provides a diverse, fun, safe and family friendly environment for members.

Nillumbik Mayor Ben Ramcharan congratulated nominees across all categories and thanked them for their contributions.

“We have had another year of truly outstanding nominees across our broad range of categories, which reflects the diverse talent and passion in Nillumbik, as well as our community mindedness,” Cr Ramcharan said.
“Nillumbik is fortunate to have so many residents committed to helping others and making a difference,” he said.

Read more about the incredible nominees by visiting nillumbik.vic.gov.au/community-awards

If you’d like to get more involved in the Nillumbik community, you can find some great places to volunteer by visiting nillumbik.vic.gov.au/volunteer-info.

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Celebrating 20 years of Hurstbridge Wattle Festival

Hurstbridge Wattle Festival celebrates 20 years in 2024, with a huge celebration planned.
Held Sunday, August 25, 10am – 4pm, the annual festival signals springtime in Melbourne’s northern suburbs and is a free, family-friendly event, guaranteed to have something for everyone to enjoy.
Hurstbridge Wattle Festival brings meaning to the term Community Festival.
It happens because of the ongoing commitment of almost every community group in Hurstbridge.

“I have been volunteering on the Wattle Festival organising committee for 20 years, and it’s amazing to see how it has grown in 20 years.” says Festival Coordinator, Carol Jenkinson.

The keynote event of the festival is the Steam Train, which runs between Hurstbridge and Eltham throughout the day.
The train line extension between Eltham to Hurstbridge railway station opened on June 25, 1912.
When it opened, it was proposed to hold a banquet.
However, due to uncertainty of opening date, a luncheon for adults and a picnic for the children was arranged instead.
In honour of this, Hurstbridge Wattle Festival began in 2004 as a picnic.
A nod to the history of the Hurstbridge train line, and historically being a popular place for families to come orchard picking as a day trip out of Melbourne.
Fast forward to 2024, a packed program of music and activities will span 1km of the main streets of Hurstbridge.
The festival has a focus on supporting local traders, small businesses within Nillumbik and surrounds.
This includes prioritising Nillumbik based businesses in the over 200 stallholder market areas. It includes working alongside the majority of Hurstbridge community organisations, as well as opportunities for community organisations from Wattle Glen, Panton Hill, Arthurs Creek and Cottles Bridge to be involved.
Famously promoted as the festival with something for everyone, it includes:

  • Live music by local young people and established local musicians
  • Youth BMX, skate and scooter competitions
  • Dog obstacle course
  • BMX Show and Shine
  • Camel rides
  • An array of vintage cars
  • The famous Wattle Witches performances; and
  • Sell out CWA scones.

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There is limited parking in Hurstbridge.
Even if you are local, we encourage you to ride, or catch one of the free festival busses from Mernda, Diamond Creek or Wattle Glen stations.
Hurstbridge Wattle Festival is proudly supported by Nillumbik Shire Council, Bendigo Bank and Jaybro Group.
Further information about the festival and the full program can be found at https://www.wattlefestival.org.au

Follow the festival on social media at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hurstbridgewattlefestival
Instagram: @hurstbridgewattlefestival

DOWNLOAD YOUR 2024 FESTIVAL PROGRAM HERE!

Pilates for Men: Embracing the physical and mental benefits

Photo: BNG Media

PILATES, long perceived as a predominantly female domain, is breaking through traditional gender barriers and finding its way into the fitness routines of more men.
Interestingly, Pilates was initially designed for men, specifically soldiers recovering from war injuries, as Joseph Pilates developed this method to help rehabilitate injured soldiers during World War I.
Later, when Pilates transitioned to New York, his studio was located near the ballet district, naturally attracting dancers who benefited from the practice’s focus on core strength and flexibility.
Men increasingly embrace this versatile exercise regimen as they recognise its immense potential for physical conditioning, injury prevention, and mental well-being.
Pilates blends precision movements with mindful breathing to deliver powerful results, making it an attractive option for enhancing overall fitness.
A key aspect drawing men to Pilates is its focus on core strength and engaging multiple muscle groups simultaneously to improve posture, balance, and flexibility.
Pilates exercises’ controlled, low-impact nature is ideal for injury prevention and recovery, particularly by enhancing flexibility and promoting correct alignment.
Pilates is a valuable cross-training tool for athletes.
It improves flexibility, balance, and core strength, which translates into better performance in various sports.
Pilates is also beneficial for aging people as it enhances flexibility, improves balance, and increases muscle endurance.
This helps maintain mobility and reduce overall body pain and aches.
The mental well-being benefits of Pilates are equally significant.
The practice requires focus on controlled, precise movements combined with coordinated breathing, which reduces stress and enhances mental clarity.
This mindfulness aspect provides a form of moving meditation, leading to overall improvements in mental health.
Joseph Pilates once said:

“Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness.
Our interpretation of physical fitness is the attainment and maintenance of a uniformly developed body with a sound mind capable of naturally, easily, and satisfactorily performing our many varied daily tasks”.

Why Pilates is a game changer for men?
Enhanced flexibility and mobility: Pilates lengthens and stretches muscles, improving mobility and helping prevent discomfort and injuries associated with stiffness and poor flexibility.
Core strength and stability: Strengthening the deep abdominal and back muscles improves overall stability and posture and reduces strain on the spine, supporting better performance in other physical activities.
Injury prevention through balanced training: Pilates promotes muscle balance by strengthening smaller muscle groups often neglected in traditional fitness routines, preventing injuries from overtaxing certain body parts.
Mental health: The mindfulness required in Pilates reduces stress, increases mental clarity, and enhances concentration, providing a mental break to recharge.
Functional strength for everyday life: Pilates involves multiple muscle groups, enhancing daily functioning and making everyday tasks easier.

Men’s Pilates returns to Warrandyte

Recognising the growing interest in men doing Pilates, Wellness by PP is excited to reintroduce Men’s Pilates to the weekly timetable.
Scheduled every Wednesday from 7pm to 7:45pm, these sessions are designed specifically for the male physique, focusing on movements that enhance flexibility, build core stability, and improve overall fitness.
The classes emphasise hands-on corrections and maintaining correct technique, ensuring maximum benefits from each exercise and minimising injury risk.
Wellness by PP invites men of all abilities and ages to join Men’s Pilates classes, whether they are looking to supplement a current fitness routine or start a new path to wellness.
For just $28, you can experience a casual class or join under a membership for $48 for unlimited access to all classes at the studio, including Pilates, a variety of Yoga, Stretch & Tone, and Strength & Conditioning.
At Wellness by PP, you’ll find a supportive environment where you can safely explore the benefits of Pilates under the guidance of experienced instructors.
Pilates is more than just a series of exercises; it’s a path to better health, increased strength, and mental clarity.
For more information, visit www.wellnessbypp.com.

Thank you, Manningham SES!

WEAR ORANGE Wednesday, or “WOW Day” (May 22, 2024), is the national day of recognition to say “thank you” to State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers.
The Manningham unit has been serving the Manningham community for 62 years, made up solely of volunteers responding 365 days a year.
There are currently 30 active volunteers ranging in age, background, and experience, with the longest serving volunteer having been with the unit for over 35 years.
Over the last five years requests for assistance, to the Manningham unit has risen by 40 per cent.
Which means on average that is at least 1-2 requests for assistance per day over the year, making Manningham SES a very busy unit! As well as storm, tree, and flood response, Manningham SES provides assistance to other agencies with water and land search-and-rescue, crime scene assistance, and lighting.
Established in the wake of the devastating 1962 bushfires, over the last 62 years, the unit has been involved in numerous operations.
These include the 1965 Warrandyte bushfires, and Ash Wednesday in 1983 — where the unit was deployed for five days and nights in Cockatoo.
They have attended aircraft accidents, including the RAAF Boeing 707 which crashed into Bass Strait in 1991 and a passenger aircraft, which crashed into homes in Essendon in 1993.
As well as numerous flooding events both locally and around the State, search-and-rescue events along the Yarra River, and even assisting Victoria Police during Christmas 1974 with the tracing and registering Cyclone Tracey victims at a special section of the Russell Street Police Complex.
All in all Manningham has something to be thankful for, so show your support and say thanks this Wear Orange Wednesday.
How you can get involved this WOW Day:

  • Wear orange on Wednesday, May 22
  • Visit www.givenow.com.au/manninghamses to make a donation
  • Post a photo or video to social media and say THANK YOU – using the hashtags #WearOrangeWednesday #WOWDay #WOW and #ThankyouSES.
  • Host an orange themed morning tea or casual dress day.
  • Put up banners and posters in your workplace to celebrate our volunteers.
    Download a colouring sheet from www.ses.vic.gov.au/news-and-media/campaigns/wear-orange-wednesday for the classroom at your local school or kinder.

If you need storm emergency assistance, call the SES on 132 500, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If it is life-threatening, call Triple Zero (000).

Development a tall order?

YOUR LOCAL shopping strip or centre might look very different in the next decade as Manningham Council begins community consultation on the look and feel of the municipality’s Neighbourhood Activity Centres (NACs) as part of its response to the significant population increase projected by the State Government.
Council has identified nine NACs:

  • Bulleen Plaza
  • Donburn
  • Doncaster East Village (Devon Plaza)
  • Jackson Court
  • Macedon Square/Plaza
  • Park Orchards
  • Templestowe Village
  • Tunstall Square
  • Warrandyte Goldfields

In its Victoria in Future 2023 report, the State Government predicts the state’s population will grow from its current 6.8 million to 10.3 million by 2051; the metropolitan/region split predicts growth in Metropolitan Melbourne will increase from 5.1M to 8M in this period, and from 1.7M to just 2.3M in regional Victoria.
Manningham is expected to have an influx of an additional 18,300 residents by 2036, taking its population to 144,120 and, compared with neighbouring Nillumbik, which is expected to gain an extra 3,970 residents (to 67,420) in the same period.
Manningham’s other more suburban municipal neighbours, Banyule and Maroondah, are predicted to increase by 21,490 and 17,490, respectively.
The bottom line is that the State Government sees the population growth in the state is likely to be focused in Metropolitan Melbourne, and the suburbs will bear the brunt of this population increase as significant new housing is needed.
Manningham, for example, needs to build an additional 8,000 homes to accommodate the 18,000+ residents.
New homes need to be balanced or complemented by access to nature, essential services, public transport, hospitals, and education, and both the State Government and local councils are exploring ways to do this.
One part of this is the Activity Centre Design Concepts community consultation, which is open for feedback — via a survey — until June 16.
The survey asks whether you agree or disagree with aspects of your local NAC, such as subterranean parking, the amount of natural light, and footpaths/cycleways.
Manningham Mayor Carli Lange said:

“We want to hear from the community on how we can best accommodate growth and development while ensuring that our activity centres and surrounding neighbourhoods maintain their liveability.
“If you’re a resident, chances are you regularly visit at least one of our vibrant activity centres across the municipality.
“We want to ensure that they continue to provide desirable destinations for people to live, shop, work and play — offering a range of retail, office and business opportunities, housing, community and education facilities.”

However, the most contentious detail of the Design Concepts is the proposed building height changes.
The document notes six development typologies in Manningham, ranging from single-storey “fine grain” development, such as the Donburn shopping strip, to high-rise housing, eight storeys, in areas such as Doncaster Hill.
The Design Concepts document states:

“It is proposed to support building heights of 4-6 storeys throughout our neighbourhood activity centres, with strategic redevelopment sites identified for up to eight storeys.
In keeping with the existing character of Warrandyte Goldfields and Park Orchards it is proposed to allow for heights up to 3-4 storeys.
This height will provide for growth and development beyond the current single or double storey character, while ensuring an appropriate transition to the public realm and sensitive interfaces”.

MN Bulletin contacted the Park Orchards Ratepayers Association (PORA) for feedback on the proposed potential growth of the Park Road/Hopetoun Road NAC.
A PORA Spokesperson provided this response:

“PORA has been absolutely blindsided by Council’s ‘consultation’ (or total lack thereof) regarding the Neighbourhood Activity Centres.
However, PORA has been actively involved in communication with the Manningham Council regarding many other issues we now face in this area in the last 10 months.
These communications have involved face-to-face meetings by appointment at the Manningham Council offices.
At no time were any of these issues raised by any representative of Manningham Council present.
Looking at Manningham Council’s initial consultation, the local Park Orchards area was never actively consulted, and Park Orchards was never identified as being considered a Neighbourhood Activity Centre.
We were grouped in with responses from Warrandyte and Wonga Park.
Given that surveys were conducted in Warrandyte, it stands to reason that input from Park Orchards and Wonga Park residents would be minimal to non-existent.
Looking at Manningham Council’s Liveable City Strategy Results summary, the Park Orchards area was never identified as a Neighbourhood Activity centre.
Consultation was not offered or given locally to the Park Orchards area.
The Liveable City Strategy report by Manningham Council shows that the Park Orchards area is now identified as a Neighbourhood Activity Centre.
Where is the basis for this inclusion, considering no consultation has effectively taken place in the area of Park Orchards? How did Park Orchards go from not being a Neighbourhood Activity Centre in the Liveable City Strategy Results summary to being declared a Neighbourhood Activity Centre in the Liveable City Strategy report?
The number of total submissions was 360 across Manningham.
The total population of Manningham is estimated to be approximately 130,000 people.
The number of submissions is woefully disproportionate to the number of residents these proposed outcomes will affect.
There is so much more to this; we haven’t even discussed building heights and building areas, the effectiveness of Council-initiated building ‘guidelines’, and the strength of existing overlays.
Overlays that are controlled by the State Government, who is also working with Council to push these initiatives through.
The same State Government has recommended that current residents who may be directly affected by medium-density housing projects have their rights to object removed.
The same State Government has also put local councils on notice regarding any failure to issue building approvals based on a numbers outcome.
All residents have a decision to make.
How much do they value their current neighbourhood amenity?”

The State Government has pledged to build 80,000 homes in Victoria in the next 10 years, and it will be up to local governments to make that happen.
Now is the time to have our say The first stages of determining where these new homes go are in the bones of surveys such as the Activity Centre Design Concepts survey.
We all need to ask ourselves what housing in our street, suburb, NAC—wherever we are in Manningham—looks like now and what we want it to look like in the coming decades.
There are numerous surveys circulating at the moment which will, ultimately, contribute to housing outcomes over the next decade.

The Victoria in Future 2023 report can be found at planning.vic.gov.au/guides-and-resources/data-and-insights/victoria-in-future.
What do you think? Email bulletin@warrandytediary.com.au.

Public meeting in Park Orchards

PORA has convened a public meeting on Tuesday, May 28, to discuss a number of issues/strategies/policies impacting Park Orchards residents, these include:

  • The Park Orchards Chalet
  • Manningham Residential Strategy
  • Neighbourhood Activity Centre Design Concepts

The meeting will take place at 7:30pm at St Anne’s Primary School, Knees Road.

Bulleen Park goes pink for breast cancer

THE YARRALEEN Cricket Club (YCC) in Bulleen recently hosted a successful fundraiser on Ladies’ Day on February 3, raising $2,326 for the McGrath Foundation.
The day included Pink Stumps matches for the 1st and 3rd XI, bottomless drinks and afternoon tea, and a chance to boogie into the night with the iPod shuffle disco.
Each event raised awareness of the dangers of breast cancer and money for the Foundation, which supports Breast Cancer nurses in communities across Australia.
The fundraiser held a special significance for the club members, as it symbolised their ongoing efforts to foster an inclusive and supportive environment within the club.
This means so much to the men and women of the club to continue to create an inclusive and happy environment in which members can promote important causes close to their hearts.
The response from the wider community was overwhelmingly positive, with league officials and friends of the club showing their unwavering support.
From generous donations to spreading the word about the event, the community’s involvement played a crucial role in the fundraiser’s success.
Over 50 women attended the club’s first-ever Ladies’ Day Bottomless Tea and Drinks, and their presence and contributions made a significant difference.
Breast cancer hits close to home for many members of Yarraleen Cricket Club, including the club President, Michael Cromie — with his mother, sister, and wife all being diagnosed with breast cancer — it is a disease and a cause, which has had a profound impact on Michael’s family.
A club representative said that through these fundraising efforts, YCC aims to raise funds for the McGrath Foundation and provide a platform for open discussions about the disease.

“We want to use our platform to raise awareness and support breast cancer research and advocacy.
“By coming together as a community, we can make a meaningful difference in the fight against breast cancer,” they said.

The club stands united in its commitment to supporting those affected by breast cancer and promoting a future free from the disease. In the spirit of camaraderie and compassion, YCC looks forward to continuing this tradition for many years and making a positive difference.

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Cat confinement in Manningham

RESIDENTS of Manningham with registered cats would have received a notice in the recent animal registration mail-out about the Trial 24-hour Cat Confinement Order, which commences on April 1, with an amnesty period running until December 2024.
The pilot (overall) will be evaluated in December 2025.
Despite being a major component of the Domestic Animal Management Plan (DAMP) 2021–2025, and the trial officially adopted at the December 2024 Ordinary Council Meeting — compared to the roll-out of other schemes, such as the Food Organic Green Organic (FOGO) bin system — information about when the trial would begin, how long it would run for, and what actions cat owners need to take to ensure they (and their cats) comply has been minimal, or at the very least not as obvious as the extensive advertising and information campaign that accompanied FOGO.
The information in the animal registration mail-out also says Council will “provide support and information to help with the transition, including educational information, videos and practical advice on preparing your pet and your property.”
Some of this information is already on the Council’s dedicated cat confinement page, manningham.vic.gov.au/pets-and-animals/cat-confinement, and it is worth reviewing if you have any questions about the trial.
What is of note is the details of the amnesty period, with the webpage stating:

“If we find your cat outside of your property during the amnesty period we will try to reunite the cat with you.
We will only take the cat to our Pound facility if its owner cannot be found.
If your cat is registered and microchipped, this will assist Council Officers in getting your cat home to you safely.”

Manningham-based pet advocacy group Friends of Manningham Dogs and Cats (FOMDAC), which supported the cat confinement concept while the current DAMP was out for public consultation in late 2020 and early 2021, has run a series of workshops and events over the last three years to help cat owners prepare.
The latest is a presentation by local Animal Aid volunteer Jennah Rose, who will discuss keeping your cats happy, healthy, and indoors and how to do it cost-effectively.
Jennah spoke to the Bulletin about what the presentation would entail.

“Having only recently been domesticated on the timeline of things and more recently asked to live indoors, cats are still hunters at heart.
When you see kittens play, they are effectively learning hunting and fighting skills.
When a cat catches a live creature and commences to play with it, it is instinct.
They teach their offspring by giving them live bait for them to learn to kill.
Such behaviour needs to be mimicked if a cat is confined, which is why there are all manner of sometimes costly toys and gadgets on the market.
It is a lucrative business, but you do not need to spend a fortune confining your feline to your property.
Among other things, the presentation will cover multiple reasons for property confinement, how to create ‘happy cat’ environments, feeding and play enrichment, suitable toileting arrangements, rest and sleep, causes of behavioural change, time outdoors, and effective property confinement.
It is a big adjustment for our furry friends to be asked to change their routines, but the first topic in the talk — reasons to keep cats confined — will hopefully convince you of the benefits.
It is not just about Australia’s precious wildlife.
It’s about quite disturbing diseases, parasites, and infections that your friend can pick up that cause incurable suffering. Building a stress-free, enriched life for your cat around your home is the most cost-effective approach.
The difference in vet bills between indoor and outdoor cats is considerable, as is their lifespan, the former being the longer.”

The presentation is free, but booking is essential to keep track of numbers.
Tickets can be booked at eventbrite.com.au/e/happy-healthy-indoor-cats-tickets-805458988517
The event will be held at the FOMDAC rooms, 55 Aranga Crescent, Donvale, on Thursday, April 18, 2024, 7pm-9pm

New carer support in Warrandyte

WARRANDYTE has a new carers support group, which commenced Term 4 2023, serving the Manningham, Nillumbik, and Maroondah areas.
MyTime is a free group for parents and carers who have children under 18 years of age with a disability, chronic medical conditions, or other additional needs, including developmental delay.
There are over 40 MyTime groups in Victoria, funded by the Federal Government.
However, until now, those living in Manningham and Nillumbik would have had to have travelled to Doreen, Rosanna, or Box Hill for their nearest group.
The advantage of MyTime is there is a Play Leader to keep the children under school age engaged while parents and carers meet.
During the planning phase of this group, MyTime was aware of the need to find a venue with well-equipped indoor and outdoor play spaces as well as a gated outdoor area so that it was suitable for parents to bring their children along.
Warrandyte Community Church was the obvious place for MyTime to meet due to its amazing facilities that meet these requirements.
MyTime sessions in Warrandyte started back in October, and the group meets fortnightly during school terms.
Parents and carers have expressed how well-suited the play area is and how much their children enjoy coming. Kate Green, the Play Leader, has put together an amazing children’s program for each session.
Her background in educational programs and environmental science means that there is a strong focus on nature-based activities.
Kate is extremely adaptable and easily changes the session’s activity to meet the children’s abilities and interests if needed.
If the children prefer to play with the vast array of toys rather than do the planned activity, which often occurs, Kate adjusts the program accordingly.
While the children play, parents and carers meet over morning tea.
The group is for parents and carers who have children at school as well as those who bring younger children along.
Each MyTime session is different and tailored to meet the group’s needs.
Making bliss balls to take home in a beautifully presented gift box was a well-received activity by the group.
Another favourite session was a talk from Julia Ryan from William Ready.
Julia has a son who is autistic.
She spoke about her journey since her son’s diagnosis and how it led to her starting her online educational and sensory resources store.
The group resonated with Julia and her journey to the point that discussions continued after the end of the session.
This year will again be packed with lots of great activities and speakers designed to support carers in gaining relevant information to help them in their role and also give them some time to do something for themselves.
The group has also allowed parents and carers to connect and share ideas with others who understand the challenges of having a child with extra needs.
MyTime Warrandyte meets on alternate Friday mornings 9:30am–11:30am during school terms.
If you want more information regarding MyTime Warrandyte, contact suzanneb@mytimevic.com.au or visit www.mytime.net.au, but note that at the time of publication, the Warrandyte group is still in the process of being added to the website.

Rocking down memory lane

THE “TICE” were a 1970s cult band from Eltham and are famous for being the most famous band that you’ve never heard of.
Members of Reuben Tice recently got together and played two reunion gigs in Eltham and St Andrews.
Readers may not recognise the name, but the band played a part in the history of the iconic 70s band Skyhooks.
Officially called the Reuben Tice Memorial Band (named after an American engineer who died trying to invent a machine that de-wrinkled prunes — but that’s a whole other story), the band has been likened to a local version of the Grateful Dead — or perhaps the Rolling Stones.
Warrandyte-born songwriter Greg Macainsh and Elthamite Tony Williams formed Reuben Tice in 1969.
Guitarist Mark Smith joined the band in 1975 when he moved down from Sydney, but he told the M&N Bulletin the band first started around Montsalvat, with people such as Marcus Skipper in the line-up.
“The band used to get together at Montsalvat and jam together.”
They were also on the bill for the first Skyhooks concert in April 1973, which Macainsh was also songwriter and bass guitarist for, penning such classics as Balwyn Calling, Million Dollar Riff, Horror Movie, Ego is Not a Dirty Word, Women in Uniform, Carlton (Lygon Street Limbo) and Living in the ‘70s.
Reuben Tice vocalist Tony Williams joined Macainsh in Skyhooks in 1978 when Shirley Strachan left to pursue a television career.

Flash forward to 2023, and many of the faces remain the same, as the reunion line-up featured:

  • Tony Williams (Vocal, Guitar, Harmonica)
  • Mark Smith (Guitar)
  • Roger Davies (Guitar)
  • George Kirov (Bass)
  • Jamie Slagmolen (Cajon)

They were also joined by local musicians, country singer Leslie Avril and singer/songwriter Sharin Anderson.
The reunion gig was to celebrate the release of their four-CD box set Rolling The Tice — Songs From An Unmade Road (Reuben Tice 1969–1979), which includes a mix of live and studio recordings.
“A good friend of ours, disc jockey Maurice Hurry, took a great interest in the band over the years.
“He gathered together a whole lot of recordings and had them remastered, and this is the result,” said Mark.
Maurice told the M&N Bulletin he and music producer Marcell Borrack spent the pandemic compiling the recordings.
“It’s quite interesting as a piece of lost rock and roll archive with all these 60s and 70s musicians.
“It all started at Eltham High and Montsalvat — this art rock and roll culture — we have a lost heritage, from the last 30–40 years.
“Some of the band members moved on to Skyhooks, and this incredible archive was left behind, which I have finessed and remastered,” Maurice said.
Reuben Tice performed nine songs at the St Andrews reunion gig, including originals The Way It’s Played, I Couldn’t Get High, Rock Bottom Shuffle, Down The Road I Go, as well as covers The Weight (The Band) and Emergency (The Fabulous Thunderbirds).
Guitarist Mark Smith said the reunion concert was “lots of fun — we had a lot of our fanbase turn up at the St Andrews Hall”.
However, he said he doubted there would be another concert.
“Roger Davies is 76 now, and Vic, the original drummer, can’t play anymore because he has arthritis, and Greg Macainsh is now working as an Intellectual Property Lawyer in Queensland,” 
Lead vocalist Tony Williams has released a memoir, Touched by the Tice, outlining his time in Reuben Tice and later as the vocalist for Skyhooks.
Maurice said Rolling the Tice will be on Band Camp in the next few weeks, and video of the St Andrews concert  is available to watch on YouTube and an audio recording is in the process of being produced and will hopefully be released in the coming months.
Tony William’s book, Touched by the Tice, is available to purchase from Amazon or to borrow from Eltham Library.

Photos by BILL McAULEY

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Works Notice: North East Link – Bulleen Road

Work is in full swing on Bulleen Road from this weekend to shift lanes west and create the space needed to build the new North East Link tunnel entrance.
From 8pm tonight, Friday, November 24, until 7pm, Tuesday, December 5, Bulleen Road will be closed in each direction between Thompsons Road and Trinity Grammar as crews work around the clock to build a new section of Bulleen Road.
For the next 11 days, motorists are being urged to plan ahead for up to 30 minutes’ extra travel time at peak times — and should seek alternative routes while crews carry out important work to build the new section of Bulleen Road.
If you’re driving between the Eastern Freeway and Manningham Road, allow extra travel time for the detour via Manningham and Thompsons roads.
Access to all homes, businesses, the Veneto Club, local schools and sporting grounds will remain open during this time, with traffic management in place on either side of the full closure.
Closing the road fully now will allow crews to get this important work done and allow the road to remain open when tunnelling works commence next year, reducing disruptions.
When the road re-opens in early December, traffic will use the new lanes on Bulleen Road.
And in good news for locals, Bulleen Road will be open in time for Veneto Club’s 50th birthday celebrations next month.

20 years of fitness and friendship

MEMBERS of Fernwood Fitness Bulleen and the broader community celebrated health and well-being at the end of October with a special event at its home in Bulleen Plaza, marking the women-only gym’s 20th anniversary.
Throughout the day, events unfolded, honouring those with remarkable 20-year continuous memberships who shared their tips for going the distance.
Carmel, an original member, and a testament to the club’s appeal, reminisced about her early days.
Encouraged by her daughter to join, Carmel vividly recalls her first workout.
“It made me feel energised and happy to be working out,” she said.
For Carmel, the consistent commitment stems from understanding exercise’s profound impact on her life, fostering strength and a sense of well-being.
Drawing a parallel, she equates exercise to a daily ritual, stating, “Exercise is like brushing my teeth”.
The true highlight for Carmel lies in the friendships forged within the fitness community.
Penny, another dedicated member, echoes the sentiment of making fitness an integral part of life.
With a mindset of “don’t think about it, just do it,” Penny seamlessly integrates gym sessions into her weekly routine.
Stress relief and improved sleep are her fitness dividends, and she vividly recalls her first step into the world of BodyPump.
Like Carmel, she values the camaraderie and connections formed inside and outside the gym.
Shirley, also a big fan of BodyPump and nearing her 93rd birthday, attests to the dual benefits of exercise — physical mobility and social interaction.

“It’s a club atmosphere.
“It’s like extended family.
“It’s a community — you walk in, and someone always says hello.”

Inspired by her osteopath, Lorraine embarked on her Fernwood Bulleen journey and hasn’t looked back since.
Reflecting on her initial experience of one-on-one training, she emphasises the mental well-being aspect of exercise.

“Exercise makes you feel good, mentally.
“If I don’t come, I feel down. “[Exercise] lifts your spirits.”

Fernwood Bulleen is a family-owned franchise.
The current franchisees, Michelle and Ric Caldwell, have been running Fernwood Bulleen for nine years and offer various programs, including group fitness, small group training, reformer Pilates, and personal training.
Michelle said they love supporting their members to be healthy and strong in a safe women-only environment.

“Today has been a wonderful celebration of our beautiful community of members.
“We’re always keeping up with the latest fitness research and adapting our programs to provide the best fitness advice to our members.”

The anniversary celebration was not just a recognition of years spent in pursuit of fitness but a heartfelt acknowledgment of the enduring bonds and shared accomplishments within the Fernwood Bulleen community.

Dennis Clarke named 2023 Manningham Citizen of the Year

Manningham Council has announced its 2023 Manningham Civic awardees who go above and beyond for our community through volunteer or paid work.
The Civic Awards, held in September each year, shine light on the incredible and selfless people in Manningham who give so much of themselves to the community without expecting anything in return.
To the award recipients, helping others and volunteering their time comes from a deeper sense of purpose.
“It’s what we are born to do.
It’s what life is all about.
“Nothing in this world gives more of a sense of achievement,” says Dennis Clarke, Manningham Citizen of the Year.
Manningham’s Mayor Cr Deirdre Diamante attended the award ceremony last month and thanked the winners for their service to the community.
“Manningham is home to remarkable people who go above and beyond for our community.
“I feel privileged to recognise and celebrate their achievements on behalf of Manningham and to share their inspiring stories,” Cr Diamante said.
The five category winners are:

Citizen of the Year
Dennis Clarke

Dennis is a pillar within the community through his work with Doncaster RSL as the Senior Vice President, Secretary of RAEME Vietnam Southern Chapter (previously Inaugural President), Anzac and Poppy Appeals, active participant of committees such as VVAA Box Hill Committee, ALPGA, VACC, RACV and more.
As well as the many hours volunteering and working for committees, Dennis spends time calling other Vietnam veterans, talking to them, checking in on their mental health and making sure that they are okay.
Though he considers himself extremely lucky, Dennis’ own traumatic experiences from the Vietnam War influenced his sense of purpose to unite, acknowledge and take care of others with similar experiences.
Dennis championed mental health for war veterans before awareness was prevalent in society. His compassion for people who are struggling and his determination to help those in need is an example of how important Dennis is to the RSL community and Manningham more broadly.
Dot Haynes OAM, Doncaster RSL Secretary, told the Bulletin, “Dennis does so much for so many and is a high achiever for the members and community.
“Doing maintenance when there is no one around at the Doncaster RSL as well as initiating some of our events, especially ensuring our ANZAC, Remembrance and Vietnam services and Appeals get much support from others as well.

Doreen Stoves Volunteer of the Year
Frank Johnston

Frank has been volunteering for Manningham organisations for over 30 years.
He has dedicated himself to those groups including, Manningham Uniting Church, LinC Manningham Inc., MannaCare nursing home, Outback Links, Blaze Aid and planting trees for the Tree Project.
Janet van Leerdam, a fellow LinC Manningham Inc., member, nominated Frank for the award.
“Frank is a selfless person who has been giving to others for many years, especially since retirement.”

Sports Volunteer of the Year
Caroline Clarkson

Caroline has devoted her energy to the Committee of Doncaster Dolphins Masters Swimming club in various roles such as, club Registrar, Recorder, Secretary and President.

Community Organisation of the Year
LinC Manningham Inc

LinC Manningham Inc. is a community organisation made up of volunteers from various Christian churches within Manningham.
It provides house cleaning, social support to new migrants and women affected by domestic violence, home cooked meals, decluttering homes, gardening, goods from Eastern Emergency Relief, or even the little things like taking clients out for a coffee or to do their shopping.

Young Volunteer of the Year
Shin Thant (Berry) Eain

Berry is committed to making a difference and is determined to bridge the gap between local and international students within her school and also wider community.
Berry is an incredible role model to her peers and an advocate for student voice.
“As a young teenager and a female student (in Myanmar), I never had the privilege to explore concepts like human rights and democracy.
“I intend to grasp any opportunity that is presented to me and make the most out of my experience here as a proud international student by volunteering and helping those who may experience the same circumstances as me,” Berry said when describing her inspiration.

Highly Commended Community Organisation
Doncaster Junior Football Club

DJFL fosters the importance of sportsmanship, diversity, teamwork and pride in local community whilst also consistently working towards a community culture that enriches friendships and fosters joy in sport.
“Hundreds, if not thousands, of children have transitioned through the club over its 50 plus year history.
“Each child has brought with them an extended family who have visited and contributed to the club culture.
“All of them have benefited from the club’s environment and in turn the community it has created,” Michelle Taylor, who nominated the club, said.
Manningham Council is exceptionally proud to have such outstanding local heroes and recognises their invaluable contributions to the local community.

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