lucky last day

There is never a dull week in local government and this week has been no exception with one issue overshadowing all others in the Lyster Ward.

Today is my last day as the Lyster Ward Councillor for this term. It has been a great four years and my thanks must go to all those people in the community who have been overwhelmingly supportive of me and what I have tried to achieve on behalf of the people of Lyster and the Shire of Yarra Ranges. There have been so many well wishers and I feel most humbled by your best wishes and kind words.

I must also thank my colleagues, for without their support no councillor can achieve what they set out to do, after all I am only 1 vote in 9. Whatever happens on Election Day I know I have done the best I possibly could for our community over the last four years and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.

 

Authorised by S Dunn, 1/377 Lt Bourke St, Melbourne 3000.

awesome again

Stax the Didgeman, read out the observations
of the first Europeans to see the platypus, which
proved to be very curious.

It was terrific to, once again, be part of the Southern Dandenongs Landcare Group's Awesome Ornithorhynkids day at Belgrave Lake Park (aka as Playtpus Day).

Funded through a Yarra Ranges Council community festivals grant, it is a great celebration of community, children and our famous local resident, the platypus. With plenty of activites for children including screen printing, face painting, story telling, arts & crafts and an interactive & live wildlife display, it is a wonderful way for children to spend the afternoon and learn more about our local environment.

Rudy the One Man Band
kept everyone entertained
with an array of specially
written platypus songs.

The day is also supported by the Selby CFA who provided the sausage sizzle and we were all entertained by Rudy the One Man Band and Stax who'd written some songs especially for the platypus, one of the highlights being the Ornithorhynchus Pokey (a hiliarious version of the Hokey Pokey).

Cr Samantha Dunn spots a couple of platypus!

The day included a platypus walk, led by James, who is one of the coordinators of this year's community platypus count. It's great to learn more about this fascinating animal and we all felt priviliged to know that we have them in our own local waterway, the Monbulk Creek.

Two platypus were spotted at the most recent count, with this information being fed back to the Australian Platypus Conservancy, who are the key body involved with conserving the species.

Belgrave Lake Park is a great venue for
Awesome Ornithorhynkids.

James talked about the importance of habitat and healthy waterways to encourage platypus and the platypus walk included an inspection of the most recent weed works and plantings undertaken by the Shire of Yarra Ranges and the local Friends of Monbulk Creek, Belgrave Lake. It's looking great.

Well done to organisers, a great day out for all ages.

samantha in the press - vlga

Taking up Mornington Peninsula challenges
Peninsula Weekly
by Samantha Robin
25 July 2012

Hard work and a little fun for Frankston's Mayor
Frankston Weekly
24 July 2012

community grants awards night

What a terrific night tonight at the Mooroolbark Community Centre. Tonight was the Grants for Community Awards night and it was wonderful to celebrate the diversity of projects successful for shire funding through our Community Grants program.

Some of the Lyster Ward Community Grant recipients.
From left to right: Sue Clisby - Dandenong Ranges
Music Council, Cr Samantha Dunn - Lyster Ward,
Marina Dennis - Belgrave Buskers Festival, Dave
Millar - Selbyfest and Renate Crow - Belgrave
Lantern Parade.

I was delighted to be able to personally hand out certificates to successful applicants from the Lyster Ward.

Local artist, Pauline Molenaar, Kallista Kindergarten Director
Lu-Ann Randall and Cr Samantha Dunn - Lyster Ward.
Kallista Kindergarten are very excited about their
artist in residence project to develop a community mosaic.

I was impressed by the breadth of projects being undertaken in 2012/13 throughout the hills. It's a place a great creativity and this is reflected in the grants awarded.

Peter McIlwain is the creative behind Imaginary Ornithology,
a project that centres on computer generated sound art
that includes software models of birds. These models
 create a range of bird sounds but have the curious property

that none of the sounds exist in the real world.

Lyster Ward recipients include:

• Dandenong Ranges Music Council - Sunnysiders, a celebration in Kallista
• Pocket Bonfire - Three One Six Oh! Film Festival no. 8
• Belgrave Community Arts Partnership - Belgrave Lantern Parade
• Belgrave Trader's Association - Belgrave Buskers' Festival
• Selby Community House - Selbyfest
• Belgrave Survival Day - Belgrave Survival Day 2012
• Southern Dandenongs Landcare Group - Awesome Ornithoryhynkids Festival 2012
• Peter McIlwain - Imaginary Ornithology
• Kallista Kindergarten - Kallista Kinder Art Incubator Project
• Kierea Brew Kurec - Belgrave Temporary Art Gallery

I look forward to seeing this fabulous range of community projects develop to provide wonderful opportunities for people in the Dandenongs.

samantha in the press - vlga

Run for Bayside Council for 'right reasons'
Bayside Leader
by Jon Andrews
16 July 2012

Cathy Oke is the Greens candidate in the upcoming Melbourne by-election.



Cr Samantha Dunn - Yarra Ranges and Cathy Oke,
Greens candidate for the Melbourne by-election.

She's a councillor with the Melbourne City Council, has had a great record of embedding sustainability and has worked hard to keep Melbourne liveable and affordable.

On Council she's the Chair of the Future Melbourne (Eco-City) Committee, Deputy Chair of the Future Melbourne (Connected City) committee and Co-Chair of the Parks and Gardens Advisory Committee - showing a great committment to the people of the City of Melbourne.

Her work on council sees her supporting programs to ensure Melbourne is a safe, vibrant and creative city. She'd make a great local MP for Melbourne.

If you'd like to know more about Cathy click here.

belgrave lights up the night

Marina Dennis - parade organiser and the engine room
behind the festival, Emma Johnson - local artist who's
spend countless hours creating lanterns with the
community at the many lantern workshops and
Cr Samantha Dunn - Lyster Ward. I'm proud to be
able to support this event through a Yarra Ranges
Festivals and Events Grant.

Congratulations to organisers of this year's Belgrave Lantern Parade.

In it's sixth year, the community came out in droves to parade with their lanterns or to stand by and watch the passing parade.

The event wouldn't go ahead without countless hours of work by the organising committee and all the volunteers who came out on the night to help in a myriad of ways.

The Belgrave Lantern Parade is a wonderful event, I thank everyone involved, it is a wonderful celebration of creativity and community.

These powerful owl lanterns are superb. Created by
lantern festival artists, Emma, Jane, Renate & Glenn.

Liz Beaton from BRAG with her
whimsical lantern. The great thing
about the lantern parade is it gives
locals the chance to let their creativity
unfold.

It was terrific to see Michelle Jones and the team
from Transition Sherbrooke march in the parade.

Our Young Environmentalist of the Year,
Jordan Crooka, was there with an amazing
hammerhead shark lantern as part of
promoting Fin Free Ranges.

Charmaine Jeffery, Belgrave Bendigo Bank Manager, is
a great supporter of the Lantern Parade.

Captain Neville Aldham from the Selby CFA was on
hand volunteering along with many of the hills
brigades.

Fire twirling made up part of the post parade celebrations.

Here's Emma Johnson with this gorgeous sun lantern.
This lantern has featured in every parade.

This Viking Ship lantern is a family affair, first launched
last year, it was great to see it back again for parade
number six.

The streets were abuzz with people carrying lanterns of
all shapes and sizes. This whale lantern is spectacular.

This is the first year that Puffing Billy have been in the
parade, what else but a Puffing Billy Lantern!

Local band, Fat Chance, provided pre parade
entertainment while people waited for the night to come.



The Mater Christi Girls College band, The Deep End,
got the street rocking in pre parade entertainment.

This Owl and the Pussycat lantern is extraordinary and
has set new heights in creativity when it comes to
lantern design. Well done to lantern artist Jane, great
work.

I am always impressed by the diversity of
designs in lanterns. It's great to be part of
such a creative community.

These Belly Dancers led the parade.

This peacock lantern is wonderful, it's creator makes a
new lantern every year, this year's looks great.

Nice to see the Dalek make another lantern outing,
accompanied by various spacecraft - great effort.

Nice to see this Echidna Lantern, the natural
environment provides great inspiration for the
Belgrave Lantern Parade.

Local artist, Simon Duiker, with this year's creation.

The zombies made an appearence this year.

bikefutures 2012 - time to pencil it in your diary

BikeFutures 2012

EtihadStadium, Melbourne: Thursday 18 – Friday 19 October 2012

Johan Diepens, CEO and founder of Mobycon, the leading edge Dutch transport and mobility consultancy will give his vision of what the future holds for bike riding at Bike Futures 2012 in October.

Mr Diepens, a trendwatcher and strategist, will discuss different smart mobility solutions that are being introduced around the world.

He is one of the keynote speakers at Australia’s leading bike conference fornational and local leaders, planners, architects, urban designers and builders who use bike transport and recreation to advance their communities.

Now in its fourth year Bike Futures will tackle the issue of ensuringthat the growth in bike riding around the country now requires its own transport and planning response.

Harry Barber, CEO of Bicycle Network, said: “What was once seen as asub-culture is now fashionable, healthy and part of the transport solution”.

“While bike riding is a key factor in reducing traffic and public transport congestion, it does need a new approach that many political and planning leaders are now grappling with.”

“A multi faceted approach is required to meet the mobility needs of society,” he added.

The conference will also hear from Professor Ross Garnaut, author of Australia’s Climate Change Review, who will share his view on the environmental role the bicycle can play.

Bike Futures 2012 will discuss how to best provide bike infrastructure,essential for mobility, to changing the ways cities work. World leading experts as well as some of Australia’s leading practitioners will explain how to best respond to the issues confronting communities as they embrace the bicycle revolution.

Workshop themes for the conference will include:new and innovative bicycle treatments, bicycles and public transport, motor vehicle speeds in neighbourhoods, cycling and liveability, bike planning, shared paths and shared spaces, cycle tourism and bike separation.

The two-day conference is presented by the Bicycle Network and hosted byBicycle Network Victoria.

Public inquiries Bike Futures 2012: www.bikefutures.com.au

or
Call Bicycle Network on: 1800 616 600

I very rarely promote conferences on my blog, but this one cuts the mustard so I'm happy to promote it to readers.

open studios open for business

What a wonderful display of creativity this year's open studio in the Dandenong Ranges is.

Glass artist, Kirsten Laken, from Spirit of Glass (Studio 16) 
and Cr Samantha Dunn. This is Kirsten's wonderful creation
as part of this year's open studio. It's an extraordinary piece
made out of recycled chandeliers and a beautiful piece of
wood sourced locally in Kallista.

On for two days over the weekend of 26 & 27 May and in its ninth year, the event is going from strength to strength.




Cr Samantha Dunn, with the Juet Sculpture team,
Michael Hyett and Martin Judd - Studio 6. Michael
and Martin used reclaimed materials, including steel, iron
copper and stone to make their beautiful garden sculptures.

This weekend artists throw open their studios and encourage visitors to walk through their space, chat to the artists and perhaps buy a piece you like.

Yarra Ranges Council is pleased to support Open Studios through a community cultural grant.

It's not too late to get to see some wonderful art in a beautiful environment. Artists studios will be open again on Sunday(27/5) from 10am to 5pm. If you'd like to know more, visit Open Studios here.

Local artist, Emma Johnson with Cr Samantha Dunn
at the lantern making workshop - Studio 13.
Emma is part of the team behind this year's
Belgrave Lantern Parade, you can make your own
lantern for the parade on the 23rd June, get some
help at a lantern making workshop or purchase
one of these gorgeous butterfly lanterns.

If you're not sure where to head, perhaps start at Burrinja and visit Curves and Corners, the Open Studios group exhibition for a taste of many of the artists in this years event.

You can find Burrinja at 351 Glenfern Rd, Upwey.

samantha in the press - vlga

New laws keep Brimbank under admin until 2015
Brimbank Leader
by Caitlin Ryan
17 May 2012

monbulk aquatic club presentations

I was delighted to be invited to the 2012 Monbulk Aquatic Club Presentation Night to present the perpetual Yarra Ranges Handicap Trophy - 400mts.

Winner of this year's Shire of Yarra Ranges
Handicap Trophy 400mts
Nathir Alkhlawi with Cr Samantha Dunn.

Always a hotly contested trophy, club swimmers are always left guessing who'll be the winner.

It is a delight to present the award and share the surprise and delight of the winner and their family.

This year's winner, Nathir Alkhlawi hails from Monbulk and is a keen swimmer.

He was very happy to receive the 2012 perpetual trophy.

I was also delighted to be able to announce a grant of $5,000 to assist the Monbulk Aquatic Club maintain their club whilst their "home ground", the Monbulk Pool, is under refurbishment.

It's a challenging year for the club with no pool to call home and club members are all very keen to see the Monbulk Pool refurbishment completed, which I'm sure will see the club go from strength to strength. 

I was impressed to learn that the club is still growing with at least 31 swimmers, for a club with no pool this year, that's a tremendous vote of confidence in the club and what they offer. I congratulate Marg Evans, President of the Monbulk Aquatic Club, her committee, the families and swimmers that make up Monbulk Aquatic Club.

eco food fest at ecoss - 28 april

Be sure to pencil the ECO FOOD FEST into your diary for Saturday April 28th.

ECO FOOD FEST is the second festival celebrating sustainable food and living in the Yarra Valley.

Details:
Where: ECOSS, 711 Old Warburton Road, Wesburn
When: 9am to 5pm
Cost: free (workshops are anywhere from free to $5)

I had the great pleasure of speaking at ECOSS' 350.org event last year, this time round I've got the honour of opening the Environmental Earth Goddess Sculpture at 3:15pm. Artists Sioux Dolman and Dakini Maddock have created a larger than life earth sculpture. This magical ‘earth’ sculpture will be planted out during the day with the help of any willing hands.

ECO FOOD FEST will be jam packed with chats, tours, demonstrations and a stack of kids activities. There will be free eco-food workshops, stalls and music. Learn about home-brewing, backyard beekeeping, chooks, food preserving or no dig gardening. Or you can just sit back, relax and enjoy the beautiful grounds with great food and entertainment.

You can start the day with poets and pancakes for breakfast, or for the active, yoga starts at 9:30. Children's activites include a creative workshop for 6-12 year olds (10:30), whilst there's a circus workshop for 8+year olds at 2 - 4pm. Eager youngsters can also make fresh apple juice and face painting will be available for most of the day.

Fantastic food will be provided by Cafe Koha and ECOSS's pizza oven as well and the Gawler Foundation's super juices will be on hand too.

A great line of entertainment has been planned including:
The Sin Frontera Band (for a Mexican hoedown)
Rachel by the Stream
Starry Eyed Ramblers
Little Yarra Ensemble
West African drumming
and Santha Press will lead the popular Community Big Sing and Songs Across the Valley Project.

It will be a great day out, a wonderful celebration of all things sustainable. I look forward to seeing you there.

For more info click here.

selbyfest a superfest

Congratulations to organisers of this year's Selbyfest. What a great celebration of all things Selby and the hills.
























Leanne Hall and her organising committee did a great job, there was something at Selbyfest for everyone. It was a showcase of local talent, food, art and craft, entertainment, fashion - it was wonderful. I'm proud to be able to support such a great community festival.

Selby Community House volunteers were out in force offering raffle tickets, short courses or a cup of chai. Selbyfest got some great support from local businesses including Hair Down There and Bill's The Butcher in Belgrave.


























The Dreaming Space was a great place for younger festival goers to see some magic, visit storytime and be enchanted with the day's entertainment.



















Selbyfest offered local groups the chance to fly the flag. Pictured here is the ever dedicated members of Southern Dandenongs Landcare Group, encouraging people to improve their local environment.

Part of the day's activities included the World's Greatest Shave fundraiser for the Leukaemia Foundation. Felicity Hostettler's commitment to the cause enormous, her curly locks shaved off to raise money for this important fundraiser.

Children and adults alike were entertained by the rocket launch, a terrific event that had everyone talking.

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Selbyfest had no shortage of local entertainers, Lily and King were one of the crowdpleasers. It's great to see their career take off and hear them on radio stations like 3RRR and of course our very own community radio station 3MDR (97.1).

The fashion parade was a great hit, it's great to see local fashion being modelled by locals!

The bellydancers were another display of the diverse talent in the hills. They kept the audience mesmerised through their performance.

Local muso's The Jed Rowe Band were in fine form. Real crowd pleasers, everyone was up and dancing, including one of the bellydancers.

The Fashion from the Forest parade featured six local fashion designers/retailers, who did a great job. Buy local, support local is an important message as part of Selbyfest. If you want to read more about Fashion from the Forest click here.

Bendigo Bank is a major sponsor of Selbyfest along with the Shire of Yarra Ranges. I'm very proud to be able to support such a wonderful community festival through a Yarra Ranges Council Community and Festivals grant. I'm already looking forward to next year's Selbyfest!