it's official, burrinja open for arts

It's been a big weekend for the arts community in the Dandenong Ranges. It was wonderful to join with my colleagues to celebrate this monumental night.

Pictured left to right: Cr's Noel Cliff, Samantha Dunn, Terry Avery (Mayor) and Jeanette McRae.

Friday night saw the official civic opening of the Burrinja performing arts theatre. A grand night, attendees were treated to an amazing performance by Deborah Cheetham and the Short Black Opera including Tiriki Onus.

It was full circle for Burrinja, it's name taken from Lin Onus' Yorta Yorta name meaning Little Star, it was wonderful to hear his son Tiriki sing in his beautiful bass baritone voice.

Many, many community members are responsible for the success of Burrinja, current president of the Committee of Management, Louis Delacretaz and his wife, were there to represent the efforts of many.

Neil McLeod, local artist, was part of the celebrations. Neil's generous gift to the people of the Shire of Yarra Ranges, comprises an exquisite collection of over 300 Aboriginal paintings, Oceanic works from New Ireland and New Britain PNG, drawings, artifacts and photographic slides. We are fortunate to have such works and as a consequence Yarra Ranges has one of the best municipal collections of indigenous art in the country.


There are many people who've played a key role in the journey of Burrinja, from the community who galvanised to save the Shire of Sherbrooke offices as early as 1994, through to the local councillors who continually advocated on behalf of the Dandenong Ranges to ensure unanimous support of council for the project to proceed, the local state member to ensure a financial contribution and the local federal member who filled a desperately needed funding shortfall.

It's been a great collaboration by community and all three tiers of government and I look forward to seeing Burrinja go from strength to strength as a premium performing arts venue in the Dandenongs.

patch eco garden officially open

Yesterday I had the great pleasure of attending the Patch Primary School’s official opening of their Eco Garden. In true Patch School tradition contingency plans for weather was required and the opening was held in the hall rather than outside near the garden.

The Patch School have done an amazing job creating their sustainable garden, environment education centre and chook house (the only one in all of Australia with a 'green roof'). All the children have contributed to the development of the space and it couldn’t have been achieved without the extraordinary vision of Michelle Rayner, the school’s environmental educator and the support of successive school councils and past principal, Michael McClare and current principal Debra Herrmann.

The children were fantastic and the celebration included performances by the Year 3 & 4 Choir singing All the World is Sacred, the Year 6s performing Solid Rock, including drumming, didgeridoo and bass guitar, 2 Year 6s performed a breathtaking instrumental consisting only of acoustic guitar and violin and the entire school sang a stirring rendition of From Little Things Big Things Grow.

Peter Kinrade, Patch School Councillor and me at the gateway to the garden. Peter showed me around the garden and the environment centre. The children, parents and teachers have built something that is from the heart, the garden is a very unique and special place to be.

The garden is part of the heart and soul of the school, the students feel a great connection with the garden and the environment. The garden has provided the students with vast range of learning opportunities including the importance of treading lightly on the earth. The Patch School should be very proud of their achievements, well done, you have set a fine example for other schools to follow. It was wonderful to be part of this special celebration in our local community.