FREE Issue 36 – August 2015 A community newspaper The art of living together Photograph by Barbara Oehring. A new look in the Shopping Centres The enticing new street mural in Mountain Other work in progress includes strategic In this issue: Gate Drive is just one of many initiatives planning for the Upper Ferntree Gully Activity proposed or in planning to refurbish public Centre, the implementation of the Strategic Victoria Day Awards page 4 open spaces in the Gully. Plan for Ferntree Gully Village and the Knox Historical Society turns 50 page 9 The mural is part of Knox Council’s Wall-to completion of Streetscape works in Mountain Wall Mentoring program and was carried Gate. See pages 3 and 4 for more on these Winter Arts Feature pages 20-21 out by students from Fairhills High School activities. Plus under the direction of artist Andrew Bourke. Barbara Oehring’s photograph, taken This winter edition is full of news of all the Community News, Schools & Churches, recently on a winter afternoon, captures well things people do together and the arts that Food, Fashion and more the integration of painting and street life. inspire and reflect them. Free circulation to 9500 households and businesses in Ferntree Gully 2 Home Page From the editor Judy reaches new heights Judy Wolff, an enthusiastic member of our production The heart of the Gully team, recently showed her ‘other side’ with an aerial Sometimes people say, ‘Ferntree Gully has no heart’. This tissu performance at Burrinja Theatre, Upwey. This is usually a starting point for explaining the historical spectacular move was part of the RUCCIS Circus reasons why there are three smallish shopping centres School annual production. (Photo by Jennifer rather than one big one, as in Boronia. Further thought Downs-Brew). might take you to the benefits of ‘small is beautiful’ (people know each other) and the downside (fewer Judy, at age 63 is the oldest aerial student of the resources and a smaller customer base). But it also circus, and enjoys learning new moves in an age- means we can learn from each other. As Dobson Ward inclusive environment. ‘I’ve never been prouder of Councillor Karin Orpen points out (page 3), Knox my grey hair than on this night’, she said. Council is at present inviting participation in various RUCCIS circus trains in Kilsyth Sports Centre. stages of renewal in all three Activity Centres. Details can be found on the website ruccis.com.au The look of things in public places is important and residents have always been quick to express opinions. A letter to the Melbourne Argus 100 years ago could have been written today (think graffiti instead of enlistment Getting out the News posters). Thank you to Murray Snell who is helping to get Sir, I am sure that visitors to the Sherbrook Falls, the paper to shops and walkers on publication day. Belgrave and Ferntree Gully must find their pleasure Murray has been delivering his own round since the much intensified by the addition to these beauty spots paper began and this extra help is much appreciated. of thousands of coloured posters on trees, posts, and Thank you also to walkers, Jim and Eileen bridges. Surely the council or some of our progress Morrison, who are retiring after delivering two associations might take action in the matter, and have this unsightly nuisance removed-Yours, &c. INDIGNANT, rounds in Mountain Gate around Adele Avenue, Belgrave, May 5, 1915. (The Argus, 7 May 1915 quoted Garden St and Mountain Gate Drive. Offers to take in Ray Peace’s book Knox Anzacs.) over these rounds would be much appreciated. Today the visual arts play an important role in building Another street that now needs a deliverer is The identity, raising awareness, prompting thought, offering Avenue. Our thanks to Shirley Rendell who has glimpses of delight (see our cover and pages 20 and 21). retired after her long service to Neighbourhood Teresa Cannon’s profile of two members of the Ferntree Join the Gully News Team Watch and Gully News. Gully Arts Society), reminds us that ‘without the arts We now have more than 50 wonderful there is no soul’. volunteer walkers and an enthusiastic team Pick Up Points And the heart of Ferntree Gully? As so often, the in the office but we continue to look for If you do not get a paper delivered in your street artists, the children and the animals point the way. They more helpers. If you would like to help, and would like to offer, please phone Jenny Ford all feature in this issue, from the children’s story time either with gathering or editing news, stories on 9758 1370. Otherwise, you can pick up a copy at the CFA, to the care of chooks and the Blessing of and photos, managing advertisements or at the following: Animals on St Francis Day. delivering the paper, contact Anne Boyd Finally, after hours concentrating on putting this paper 9758 8278 or Jenny Ford 9758 1370, or together, I stepped outside for a break and a gaze at the call in at our office at No. 8 The Avenue, Mountain Gate Shopping Centre: Woolworths, mountain. To my delight there was the eagle (emblem open Tuesdays 10.00am until 3.00pm or by Coles, and the Newsagent. of our city), flying high in effortless circles, moving appointment at other times. slowly down across the Gully towards the west. What Editor: Anne Margot Boyd 9758 8278 On Burwood Highway: Ferntree Gully Library and is that bird’s eye view of our place? A canopy of trees, Office: Heidi Lighten, Mary Trinnie, Pam McConnell, Judy Woolworths half-hidden roofs and ribbons of traffic? Or something Wolff and Alice Collins. more? It’s all in how you see things. Website: Meg Hellyer Writers: Teresa Cannon, Graham Crichton, Peter Stagg In the Village: Newsagent, Post Office, IGA and Anne Margot Boyd and others Mountain District Learning Centre, 13-15 The Distribution Manager: Jenny Ford 9758 1370 Avenue. Book-keeping: John Ford Design and Formatting: Dandystripes Design Illustration: Pete Rowe 2015 Deadlines for copy & advertising Photography: Barbara Oehring, Gary Fevreau and others. Issue Month Deadline Distribution Community News: Lynn Brewster and Diana Brown Ferntree Gully News is published by the Printed by McPherson Media at Newsprinters Mountain District Learning Centre, 37 October 11 Sep. 2 Oct. 13-15 The Avenue, Ferntree Gully 3156, 38 Dec. 30 Oct. 20 Nov. (telephone 9758 7859) in collaboration with 39 February 15 Jan 5 Feb Find Ferntree Gully online the Lower Gully Traders Inc. Ferntree Gully News can be accessed on the website ferntreegullynews.com. email to [email protected] The Ferntree Gully online identity is growing. Gully News Office: 8 The Avenue, The newspaper website is ferntreegullynews.com The Neighbourhood House, Mountain District Ferntree Gully Disclaimer Open: Tuesdays 10.00am to 3.00pm Learning Centre is mdlc.com.au The views expressed in Ferntree Gully News are not necessarily News and events: those of the supporting organisations unless acknowledged as such. or by appointmentTelephone 9758 3056 or contact ferntreegully.vic.au No endorsement of products and services is implied by the listing MDLC 9758 7859 ABN: 20 093 868 002 lowergullytraders.com.au of advertisers and sponsors. While every effort is taken to print contributions accurately, the publishers take no responsibility for errors. mountaingateshoppingcentre.com.au Ferntree Gully News August 20152011 Village News 3 Around the shops Councillor’s Column adjacent car park. Dry Cleaning More opportunities expressed included: Sad to see the Station Street Dry Cleaner closing • The design of a space to accommodate after many years serving Village customers. And markets, events, outdoor exhibitions and congratulations to Des Higginbotham for picking up gatherings; so quickly on the need to fill the gap. Dry cleaning • The incorporation of tree ferns and the can now be left and picked up at the Newsagency, consolidation of garden beds; 2/69 Station Street. • The provision of new paving materials to complement or replace existing pavers where Beyond Bella Welcome to Chelsey and Christine and their new required; business Beyond Bella Hair and Beauty at 52 • Addition of feature lighting or a water feature; Forest Road. Owner Chelsey served a broad-based • More public art to build upon the iconic apprenticeship and for the last 2 years co-managed a ‘Down on His Luck’ statue, Village timeline salon in Knox City. Her clients follow her wherever Achieving our vision for the landmark and the horse chestnut tree; she goes and she brings to her salon a tradition of Village • And the possible overhaul of the intersection’s personalised service for a total pampering experience. Twelve months ago, Council endorsed this Plan for design to enhance the centre of the Village. our Village, and we have been working with the Council is currently in the process of considering Chelsey works closely with her mother Christine. community to advance some of the initiatives to all of your feedback and is finalising a design plan They chose to open in the Gully because it has such achieve the vision for the Village. to present back to the community for further input a great supportive community. Beyond Bella is a A key direction of the Structure Plan for Ferntree in the coming months. one-stop shop for weddings, debs, hair-ups through Gully Village is to ‘better utilise space for community Of interest, Council is collaborating with the to tans with a make-up artist also available. uses’. We’re keen to enhance this space and build Mountain District Learning Centre and The Lower Opening hours are Tuesday and Wednesday upon what the community likes about the space Gully Traders Association with preparations for 9-5.30pm; Thursdays 9-9pm; Fridays 9-7pm; by revitalising it into Ferntree Gully’s thriving the Village Discovery Day, which is planned for Saturdays 8-1pm.