Greater BendigoApril 2019

Hop into Easter 2019!

Celebrating 25 years of Greater Bendigo

Royalty arrives

in Bendigo

2

CONTENTSNEWS

4 Celebrating 25 years of Greater Bendigo

6 Investing in the future of Greater Bendigo

7 Next chapter in city building begins

8 Hop into Easter 2019!

There is no better time in Bendigo than Easter!

Dai Gum Loong ready to make his big debut

Event highlights

12 Now boarding

SERVICES

13 What's in the works?

14 Getting clever about the weather with new sensors

15 Are your trees and shrubs a hazard?

E-waste landfill ban to start in July

16 Disabled parking spaces receive a star ranking

17 Stop the spread of Queensland fruit fly

18 Protecting our magnificent town hall for the future

19 Is your pet registered?

ACTIVE AND HEALTHY

20 Local facilities leading the way to healthier choices!

21 New projects proving poular

COMMUNITY

22 What we love about Sedgwick

24 Congratulations to our top citizens

25 Making our libraries more inclusive for all

26 Introducing the City's new Youth Council

27 One Planet Living

GB quiz!

BUSINESS

28 Local businesses trial organic waste service

29 Inclusive Towns - expanding business, attracting

new customers and strengthening the community!

WARD NEWS

30 What's happening in your ward?

LIFESTYLE

32 Huge numbers flock to Tudors to Windsors: British

Royal Portraits

33 A taste of royalty

34 What's on

35 Post Office Gallery exhibition reveals the stories

behind the royal visits to Bendigo

ON THE COVER: Kelsi Nelson and Vashti Lamaro visit the royal pop up tram at the Piazza as part of the Tudors to Windsors: British Royal Portraits exhibition celebrations. Read more on page 32-33.18

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8

Greater BendigoApril 2019

Hop into Easter 2019!

Celebrating 25 years

of Greater Bendigo

Royalty arrives

in Bendigo

3NEWS

Want to read this document in an alternative format? The City is committed to providing documents that are easy to read for all. If you would like to read the magazine in an alternative format e.g. large print or text only, contact Customer Service on 5434 6000 or requests@bendigo.vic.gov.au and we will endeavour to service your request in the quickest time possible.

CONTACT THE CITY OF GREATER BENDIGO

Main office 195-229 Lyttleton Terrace, Bendigo

Postal PO Box 733, Bendigo 3552

Telephone 5434 6000

Hearing or speech impaired? Call via National Relay Service on 133 677

Email requests@bendigo.vic.gov.au

Website www.bendigo.vic.gov.au

After hours/emergency number 5434 6000

Operating hours (Lyttleton Terrace office) 8.30am - 5pm, Monday to Friday

Follow us

FROM THE MAYOR'S DESK

Looking good Bendigo!Have you got a great photo of Bendigo? Submit your image to gbmag@bendigo.vic.gov.au and you might just see it featured here next edition.

This month Victorian councils will mark 25 years since amalgamation, when in 1994 the Kennett Government commenced dissolving all 210 councils and ‘super councils’ were later formed across the state.

In our case the City of Greater Bendigo was formed by the City of Bendigo, Huntly Shire, Borough of Eaglehawk, Strathfieldsaye Shire and part of Marong Shire, and later a major part of the Shire of McIvor.

This edition of GB Magazine features a great collection of projects to remind us just how far we have come since the days of amalgamation.

More than $1B has been invested in projects across our municipality in that time, all of which have helped create the liveable community we enjoy today. Major Local, State and Federal government investment in health, recreation, the arts, transport infrastructure, education and economic development projects, and private sector investment across a range of industries all demonstrate why Bendigo enjoys its reputation as a leading regional city in Victoria.

Our Commissioners at the time, Peter Ross-Edwards, Gordon McKern and Les Crofts,

and later Maurie Sharkey and Maxine Crouch, set Greater Bendigo on a path to succeed. They were followed by successive Councils that pushed for progress and were ambitious.

Today, we enjoy the fruits of that, at times difficult, decision making in the same way I know the decisions the current Council is making will leave a strong legacy for those that come next to build on.

The arrival of Qantas in Bendigo and regular flights to Sydney is one such example. The ‘flying kangaroo’ simply wouldn’t be here if former Councillors did not have a vision for something greater for our little airstrip.

No doubt there were plenty of people scratching their heads at the thought of building a new 1,600m runway with the hope an airline may one day come. But former Councils forged on, carefully planning how to raise the necessary

funds and deliver state-of-the-art infrastructure that would also

benefit our emergency services and local aviation hobbyists.

Now we have a highly regarded international brand with a foothold in our city, bringing

with it many opportunities for local businesses

to showcase all they have to offer to visiting friends, relatives and tourists.

The runway extension has also attracted the interest of RMIT University, which saw the new infrastructure as an opportunity to expand its flight school operations to Bendigo. This is another fantastic outcome that brings people to our city and makes it easier for local aspiring pilots to access a training course close to home.

I believe Council’s approval for the City of Greater Bendigo to become a tenant in the Victorian Government’s $90M GovHub building is another marker of progress and will kick start another wave

of optimism in the community, particularly for businesses in central Bendigo.

To place 1,000 workers in the city centre and bring together a range of government services, which place the customer at the centre of the experience, is an incredible opportunity for our city centre and our wider community.

As we have seen many times before, it’s the strong and at times challenging decisions that lead to the greatest outcomes.

Mayor Cr Margaret O’Rourke

Photo submitted by Andrew Perryman

4 NEWS

MAYORAL CHAINA beautifully ornate Mayoral ceremonial chain was commissioned and officially presented to the City of Greater Bendigo in 1998. It provides an historical reminder of how the City came to be, featuring the crests representing the six former Councils of Marong, Strathfieldsaye, McIvor, Huntly, Eaglehawk and Bendigo.

A spectacular replica of the gold medallion presented to the former City of Bendigo in 1893 by local mining magnate George Lansell hangs from the centre of the chain and features the Bendigo Coat of Arms.

The 1.5m-long chain is made of gold mined from the Central Deborah Gold Mine and weighs more than one kilogram, and individual links are added to feature the initials of each new Mayor.

Local jeweller Tony Kean created the chain and Mayor Cr Barry Ackerman was the first to wear it.

The chain is worn on both formal and other occasions by the Mayor of the day.

Celebrating 25 years of Greater BendigoApril marks 25 years since the City of Greater Bendigo was formed, taking in the former City of Bendigo, Huntly Shire, Borough of Eaglehawk, Strathfieldsaye Shire and part of Marong Shire, and a major part of the Shire of McIvor was added in 1995 to bring the township of Heathcote into the fold.

In April 1994, the Victorian Government commenced dissolving 210 councils and created 78 new councils (later the Shires of Benalla and Mansfield split, creating the 79 councils Victoria has today).

All 1,600 elected councillors across the state were removed and commissioners were put in their place for two years.

When Greater Bendigo was formed, Commissioners Peter Ross-Edwards, Gordon McKern and Les Crofts, and later Maurie Sharkey and Maxine Crouch were appointed by the Victorian Government to oversee the newly created municipality. They were supported by Acting Chief Executive Officer Vern Robson and later Chief Executive Officer Peter Seamer.

Together, they kick-started the newly-formed Greater Bendigo municipality and set it on a path to

success, making some important decisions and laying the foundation for significant progress.

• Securing the historic Bendigo Post Office building so it could later become the Bendigo Visitor Centre and Post Office Gallery

• Attracting Graincorp to Marong

• Developing the indoor heated swimming pool at Eaglehawk

• Securing a future for Girton Grammar by providing a debt guarantee

• Helping facilitate the development of the Bendigo Marketplace

• Relocating the infant welfare centre and crèche to open up the entrance to Rosalind Park

• Taking on responsibility for the Bendigo Art Gallery and Capital Theatre

• Relocation and construction of saleyards in Epsom

In April 1996, Greater Bendigo returned to a democratically elected Council with seven newly-created wards to represent the interests of residents located in urban and rural areas.

Thirty-seven residents have proudly served their community as elected councillors for the City of Greater Bendigo. Of these, 17 councillors have served as Mayor.

On the opposite page is a summary of elected representatives who have guided the growth and success of our municipality over the past 25 years.

We acknowledge the time and effort given by the following people and thank them for serving our community.

(Pictured L-R) Former Commissioner Gordon McKern, Former Chief Executive Officer Peter Seamer, Former Chief Commissioner Peter Ross-Edwards and Former Commissioner Les Crofts.

SECTION HERE 5

1996 Election March (term 1996 to 1999)

Cr Megan Weston, Eaglehawk Ward (Mayor 1996/1997)

Cr Barry Ackerman, Grassy Flat Ward (Mayor 1997/1998)

Cr Maurie Sharkey, Whipstick Ward (Mayor 1998/1999)

Cr Daryl McClure, Sandhurst Ward

Cr Ann Jones, Diamond Hill Ward

Cr Laurie Whelan, Eppalock Ward

Cr Rod Fyffe, Fortuna WardCr Megan Weston

1999 Election March (term 1999 to 2002)

Cr Daryl McClure, Sandhurst Ward (Mayor 1999/2000)

Cr Laurie Whelan, Eppalock Ward (Mayor 2000/2001)

Cr Barry Ackerman, Grassy Flat Ward (Mayor 2001/2002)

Cr Willi Carney, Eaglehawk Ward

Cr Rod Fyffe, Fortuna Ward

Cr Ann Jones, Diamond Hill Ward

Cr Maurie Sharkey, Whipstick Ward

Cr Julian Hood, Whipstick Ward (elected at a by-election following the resignation of Cr Maurie Sharkey)

Cr Daryl McClure

2002 Election March (term 2002 to 2004)

Cr Willi Carney, Eaglehawk Ward (Mayor 2002/2003)

Cr Rod Fyffe, Fortuna Ward (Mayor 2003/2004)

Cr Greg Williams, Eppalock Ward (Mayor 2004)

Cr Daryl McClure, Sandhurst Ward

Cr Bruce Phillips, Grassy Flat Ward

Cr Kevin Gibbins, Whipstick Ward

Cr Alan Besley, Diamond Hill Ward

Cr Elaine Harrington, Eaglehawk Ward (elected at a by-election following the resignation of Cr Willi Carney)

Cr Willi Carney

2004 Election November (election term 2004 to 2008, election term changed from March to November, new nine ward structure introduced and ward names changed)

Cr Rod Fyffe, Golden Square Ward (Mayor 2004/2005)

Cr David Jones, Kangaroo Flat Ward (Mayor 2005/2006 and 2007/2008)

Cr Julie Rivendel, Flora Hill Ward (Mayor 2006/2007)

Cr Kevin Gibbins, North West Plains Ward

Cr Wayne Gregson, Sandhurst Ward

Cr Elaine Harrington, Eaglehawk Ward

Cr Trudi McClure, Epsom Ward

Cr Keith Reynard, Strathfieldsaye Ward

Cr Greg Williams, Eppalock WardCr Rod Fyffe

2012 Election November (term 2012 to 2016, new three ward, three councillor ward structure introduced)

Cr Lisa Ruffell, Whipstick Ward (Mayor 2012/2013)

Cr Barry Lyons, Lockwood Ward (Mayor 2013/2014)

Cr Rod Campbell, Eppalock Ward

Cr Peter Cox, Whipstick Ward (Mayor 2014/2015)

Cr Elise Chapman, Lockwood Ward

Cr Mark Weragoda, Eppalock Ward

Cr James Williams, Whipstick Ward

Cr Rod Fyffe, Lockwood Ward (Mayor 2015/2016)

Cr Helen Leach, Eppalock WardCr Lisa Ruffell

2008 Election November (term 2008 to 2012)

Cr Kevin Gibbins, North West Plains Ward (Mayor 2008/2009)

Cr Rod Campbell, Eppalock Ward (Mayor 2009/2010)

Cr Rod Fyffe, Golden Square Ward (Mayor 2010/2011)

Cr Alec Sandner, Flora Hill Ward (Mayor 2011/2012)

Cr Keith Reynard, Strathfieldsaye Ward

Cr James Reade, Sandhurst Ward

Cr Peter Cox, Eaglehawk Ward

Cr Lisa Ruffell, Epsom Ward

Cr Barry Lyons, Kangaroo Flat Ward

Cr Bruce Phillips, North West Plains Ward (elected at a by-election following the death of Cr Kevin Gibbins)

Cr Kevin Gibbins

2016 Election October (term 2016 to 2020)

Cr Margaret O'Rourke, Eppalock Ward (Mayor 2016/2017, 2017/2018, 2018/2019)

Cr George Flack, Eppalock Ward

Cr Yvonne Wrigglesworth, Eppalock Ward

Cr Jennifer Alden, Lockwood Ward

Cr Matt Emond, Lockwood Ward

Cr Rod Fyffe, Lockwood Ward

Cr Andrea Metcalf, Whipstick Ward

Cr James Williams, Whipstick Ward

Cr Julie Hoskin, Whipstick Ward (resigned September 2018)

Cr Malcom Pethybridge, Whipstick Ward (elected by countback following the resignation of Cr Julie Hoskin)

Cr Margaret O'Rourke

Chief Executive OfficersVern Robson, Acting CEO (1994)

Peter Seamer (1994 to 1996)

Hadley Sides (1996 to 1999)

Andrew Paul (1999 to 2003)

John McLean (2003 to 2007)

Craig Niemann (2007 to present)

Craig Niemann

5NEWS

6

Investing in the future of Greater BendigoOver the past 25 years, the City of Greater Bendigo, Victorian and Australian Governments, and private industry have invested more than $1B in our municipality.

Health, water, sport, arts and culture, education and business infrastructure has been rolled out across Greater Bendigo, benefitting not only residents but the wider region.

These projects are fantastic examples of city building that contribute to our vision of liveability and make Greater Bendigo somewhere people want to live, visit and invest.

These projects represent employment and an investment in our economy. The flow on effects of this city building means jobs for supporting industries, such as construction/manufacturing, hospitality and retail.

This incredible development has transformed the face of Greater Bendigo. Some of the most significant projects are now part of our community’s daily life and we couldn’t imagine living here without them!

Bendigo Health redevelopment - $630M

Various Calder Highway upgrades - $414.4M

Bendigo train network, track and station upgrades - $114.5M

Goldfields Superpipe (Bendigo link) - $98M

Ravenswood Interchange - $86M

Bendigo Bank building - $75M

Bendigo Water Treatment Plant - $70M

Recycled Water and Factory Network - $47M

St John of God redevelopment - $40M

Gurri Wanyarra Wellbeing Centre - $32.4M

Midland Highway/Napier Street upgrade - $30.4M

Bendigo Groundwater Project - $27.4M

Ulumbarra Theatre - $25.8M

Bendigo Stadium expansion - $23.65M

Bendigo Police Station - $20.1M

Great Stupa of Universal Compassion - $20M

Bendigo Airport runway - $15M

Epsom Huntly Recreation Reserve - $15M

Edwards Street car park - $14.9M

Bendigo Creek Sewer Duplication Project - $12.4M

New generation Library - $9.5M

Bendigo Art Gallery extension - $8.5M

Bendigo Regional Hockey Centre - $6.52M

Bendigo Tennis Centre - $6.2M

Canterbury Park precinct – $5.85M

Raywood-Sebastian Pipeline - $5.75M

Bendigo Livestock Exchange - $5.7M

Dai Gum San - $4.65M

Bendigo Botanic Garden, Garden for the Future - $4.6M

Soldiers' Memorial Institute - $4.5M

Strathfieldsaye Road and Tannery Lane upgrade - $4.5M

Bendigo Exhibition Centre - $4.27M

Lighting the Regions - $3.59M

O’Keefe Rail Trail (Axedale to Heathcote) - $3.2M

Scott Street bridge works - $3.1M

Bendigo Tram Depot upgrade - $3.1M

Heathcote Barrack Reserve pavillion - $2.7M

Tom Flood Sports Centre redevelopment - $2.5M

Flora Hill Stadium - $1.7M

Goornong, Raywood and Axedale police stations - $1.47M

Resurface Flora Hill athletics track - $900,000

NEWS

7

Next chapter in city building beginsWhen you think of the world’s great cities they are never really finished, development dominates and new buildings sit alongside iconic landmarks to prove that new and old can co-exist.

Progress is part of life and the business of city building never really rests, not in Melbourne or New York or London and certainly not in Bendigo.

Over the next five years our city centre will welcome a new $60M TAFE campus, $152.4M state-of-the-art Law Court facility and $90M Bendigo GovHub.

Investment of this scale by the Victorian Government delivers critical infrastructure that will generate jobs, grow business confidence and represents an exciting opportunity to revitalise central Bendigo.

The GovHub alone will bring 1,000 people into the city centre each day to work. Four hundred City of Greater Bendigo staff will share the building with a range of Victorian Government departments, including the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Department of Jobs, Regions and Precincts, Parks Victoria and 100 new jobs, which were promised by the government if the project went ahead.

That’s more people getting their morning coffee, buying their lunch and shopping, or simply going for a walk on their lunch break and activating the city centre.

Customers will be the real winner from the new centralised model of service delivery and from an activation perspective, again, that’s more

people able to make planning enquiries, obtain permits, make general enquiries and pay bills all in one place.

The flow-on effects to the local economy cannot be underestimated either. The project will generate approximately 90 construction jobs and contribute $131M to the economy while it’s being built.

I applaud Council’s bold decision to give this project the green light. The site of the main City office on Lyttleton Terrace, which also includes three other buildings, will be sold to the Victorian Government and make way for the GovHub.

As we reflect on 25 years since Council amalgamations took place across Victoria and six municipalities (in whole and in part) came together to form Greater Bendigo, the need for a building to centralise service delivery remains critical.

The main office was built only for City of Bendigo staff. After amalgamation and the years that have followed, the City of Greater Bendigo’s operations have stretched across seven buildings in the northern end of central Bendigo in an effort to accommodate staff and maintain service standards to a growing community.

The Commissioners, who acted in the role of Councillors between 1994 and 1996, knew a fit-for-purpose central administration building was needed but there was simply too much to do.

After contributing the proceeds of the sale of the land, Council will invest up to $7.285M of its own money to participate in the GovHub. But the $90M cost of the project will be invested by the Victorian Government, minimising the financial risk to Council.

A number of efficiencies will be realised through moving into the GovHub. Building maintenance will be the responsibility of the Victorian Government and our utility costs will be much less in a state-of-the-art building. Customers will have access to a one-stop-shop for a range of government services and the contemporary building will enable a new way of working for staff, creating efficiencies for our operations.

It will also be a building that Council can collect rates on, which is expected to be upwards of $500,000 annually.

The GovHub is exactly what central Bendigo needs. The time is now.

Craig Niemann, Chief Executive Officer

It’s time to update the Greater Bendigo Active Living Census, which was last undertaken in 2014 and was a first for Victoria.

Over the past five years the results from the census have helped to improve local recreational facilities to get residents more active. The results also helped obtain funding for major recreational and health and wellbeing projects within Greater Bendigo.

This year the census has been expanded to include all households in the Loddon Campaspe region. By completing the census you will help Loddon Campaspe Region Councils and health agencies

and government departments to better plan, develop and enhance recreational facilities and health promotion services to improve the health and wellbeing of our communities in the future.

By filling out the census you will be eligible to win some great prizes too! Lookout for the census forms after Easter in your mailbox or complete the census online at www.bendigo.vic.gov.au

If you would like more information on the census please contact Anne Mangan at the City of Greater Bendigo on 4408 6660.

Complete the census and help our region become the healthy heart of Victoria!

Healthy Heart of Victoria 2019 Active Living Census

COMING SOON

NEWS

SECTION HERE 8

Bendigo TAFE BENDIGO EASTER FESTIVAL April 19-22, 2019

8 NEWS

EasterHop into

2019!

9NEWS

The Bendigo TAFE Bendigo Easter Festival is one of the most vibrant and exciting events on offer in Bendigo, with something for everyone.

All your festival favourites return again in 2019, including:

• Bendigo Advertiser Gala Parade on Sunday at 1pm

• O'Brien Electrical Bendigo Torchlight Procession on Saturday at 8pm, followed by fireworks (pre-parade entertainment from 6.30pm)

• Rotary Art and Craft Market on Friday and Sunday

• Vision Australia Easter Egg Hunt on Friday and Saturday. Tickets still available

• Carnival Central in Mundy Street all weekend

• Chinese Spring Festival at 11am and Awakening of the Dragon at 2pm on Saturday

You can also immerse yourself in creative activities and celebrate the diversity of cultures in Bendigo at the Emerge Cultural Hub, enjoy the live stage show PJ Masks in Rosalind Park, visit the 1000 Doors art installation in Rosalind Park or rock out at the Bull Street Festival.

It’s a special year this year, as we prepare to welcome our new Golden Dragon Dai Gum Loong, who will make his debut on the streets of Bendigo in the Bendigo Advertiser Gala Parade.

Manager Tourism and Major Events Terry Karamaloudis said it was set to be another big year for the festival.

“We expect about 80,000 people to visit the festival, which is a fantastic number of people visiting our city, spending money in our cafes, restaurants and shops, and soaking up the amazing festival atmosphere,” Mr Karamaloudis said.

“Bendigo is a very special place to be over the Easter weekend, which is thanks to so many community groups and volunteers, so I encourage everyone to come out and enjoy what’s on offer.”

Head to the Bendigo TAFE Bendigo Easter Festival website for information about accessibility, amenities and road closures www.bendigoeasterfestival.org.au

Bendigo TAFE BENDIGO EASTER FESTIVAL April 19-22, 2019

There is no better time in Bendigo than Easter!

Dai Gum Loong ready to make his big debutBendigo, meet Dai Gum Loong. Dai Gum Loong, meet Bendigo!

The City of Greater Bendigo and Golden Dragon Museum are delighted to welcome our new dragon, which will continue a proud tradition of parading Golden Dragons in the Bendigo Easter Festival Gala Parade.

His name means ‘Big Gold Dragon’ in Cantonese, which incorporates both the Chinese name for dragon, Loong, and Bendigo’s Cantonese name meaning ‘Big Gold Mountain’.

Dai Gum Loong is 125m long and has more than 7,000 scales. He is protected by two gold and silver lions and accompanied by a qilin, a Chinese unicorn, which is a heavenly creature that symbolises long life, celebration and magnificence.

As Dai Gum Loong is a 21st century dragon, he will also be a champion for equality and men and women will carry him in the parade.

Previously only men had been allowed to carry Bendigo's other Golden Dragons, Loong and Sun Loong.

To properly introduce Dai Gum Loong, a special parade route has been planned, with Loong* expected to lead Sun Loong and Night Dragon Yar Loong from the Queen Elizabeth Oval and meet Dai Gum Loong at the Alexandra Fountain.

Sun Loong will then lead Dai Gum Loong back up and down View Street to show him off to parade spectators, before re-joining the other two dragons. Loong will then lead all three dragons along Pall Mall and back to their home at the Golden Dragon Museum.

The Alexandra Fountain is where Loong met Sun Loong in 1970 for the first time, so the decision to introduce Sun Loong to Dai Gum Loong in the same location continues an important tradition.

In Bendigo, Golden Dragons are also known

as Imperial Dragons.

* Loong's appearance is subject to Heritage Victoria approval.

10 NEWS

Event highlightsBendigo Advertiser Gala Parade

Sunday 1pmParade route (see map on opposite page)

Experience a festival tradition filled with colour and excitement. Watch the amazing dragons Loong*, Sun Loong and Yar Loong as they welcome new dragon Dai Gum Loong to make his very first gala parade appearance.

* Loong's appearance is subject to Heritage Victoria approval.

O’Brien Electrical Bendigo Torchlight Procession and Fireworks

Saturday 8pmParade route (see map on opposite page)

This unique procession lights up Bendigo’s streetscape magnificently. Featuring illuminated entries from local emergency services, community groups and the Bendigo Chinese Association. To conclude, a vibrant fireworks display will erupt over Rosalind Park.

Vision Australia Easter Egg Hunt

The Bare Bird Good Friday and Saturday, 10am – 5pmRosalind Park

Now over two days, join in the excitement of searching for more than 170,000 hidden Easter eggs. For times and ticket details contact the Bendigo Visitor Centre on 1800 813 153 or visit www.bendigotourism.com

Bull Street Festival

Saturday and Sunday 2pm – 10pmBull Street, Bendigo

A huge line up of free live music will hit the Bull Street stage this Easter, along with pop up bars, food outlets, giveaway prizes, raffles and kids activity zone to keep the whole family entertained. Main acts Australian Bon Jovi Show and SOS - ABBA Tribute Show will be sure to end each night with a bang!

PJ Masks

Saturday 11.30am, 12.30pm and 1.45pmMain stage, Rosalind Park

Learn what it takes to be a hero and a member of the PJ Masks team with Catboy, Owlette and Gekko in PJ Masks Meet the Heroes. In this live interactive training session, everyone will have fun while learning the secrets of thwarting the night time villains. Sing, dance and perform the PJ Masks special super power moves to discover the real meaning of being a hero.

Emerge Cultural Hub

The Bare Bird Good Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 10am – 5pmRosalind Park

The Bendigo community is made up of diverse cultures and traditions. Immerse yourself in music, activities and dance performances and celebrate what makes these cultures wonderful and unique.

Bendigo Easter Fair Society Carnival Central

Friday and Saturday, 10am – 11pm Sunday, 10am – 6pmMundy Street, Bendigo

Delight in the thrill of the rides and try your luck along sideshow alley.

1000 Doors

April 6 – 28, open daily 2pm – 9pmEaster: The Bare Bird Good Friday and Saturday 10am – 10pm (last entry 9.30pm), Sunday 2pm - 9pm (last entry 8.30pm)

When we open a door and cross the threshold, we might move from one world to another in an instant. What will our hearts find in the unknown spaces beyond? Joy, grief, resentment or contentment may be awaiting us, memories or desires stirred, and buried feelings re-surface. Whatever happens, as we move through this doorway, we risk entering an altered state. Created by Christian Wagstaff and Keith Courtney.

Tickets available at the door. Adults $10, under 5 years and over 80 years free.

Awakening of the Dragon

Saturday, 2pm – 4.30pmDai Gum San

A traditional celebration of lion and dragon dance, presented by the Bendigo Chinese Association and visiting lion teams. It will conclude by setting off 100,000 firecrackers to wake Loong, Sun Loong and Yar Loong, who will greet Bendigo’s new dragon Dai Gum Loong in the Bendigo Advertiser Gala Parade.

Return of the Dragon

Sunday, conclusion of the Bendigo Advertiser Gala Parade

The Bendigo Chinese Association Lion Team and visiting lion teams from all over Australia will welcome Dai Gum Loong on his first return to the Golden Dragon Museum. This event will be made all the more spectacular by the return of historic dragon Loong and recently restored Sun Loong.

Bendigo TAFE BENDIGO EASTER FESTIVAL April 19-22, 2019

11NEWS

QUEENELIZABETH

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BENDIGOART GALLERY

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Bendigo TAFE BENDIGO EASTER FESTIVAL April 19-22, 2019

Dragon routes

Dai Gum Loong

Loong & Yar Loong

Sun Loong

First aid

Food

Food and retail

Pedestrian crossing

Car park

Multi-storey car park

Bicycle parking

Hydration station

Baby change

Toilets

Access toilets

Bendigo Visitor Centre

Rotary Art and Craft Market

The Bare Bird Good Friday and Sunday, 9am – 4pmBridge Street/Park Road

Take a wander through this expansive market, browsing a range of arts and craft, handmade goodies, unique treasures, collectables, tasty produce and much more. There will be more than 200 stalls, plus live local music and delicious BBQs.

Battle of the Voice

Sunday, 10amRosalind Park

Ten budding music stars will perform live on the main stage battling it out for top honours. Come along to support our local talent, where we might discover the next big thing!

12 NEWS

Qantas, the ‘flying kangaroo’, has bounded into Bendigo, bringing with it our region’s first-ever commercial passenger service to the harbour city.

But that’s not all, from there residents and business travellers can go just about anywhere after landing at Sydney’s international airport.

Mayor Cr Margaret O’Rourke said she was delighted to welcome Qantas to Bendigo.

“This new service is as much about locals travelling to Sydney and beyond, as it is about tourists choosing to come to Bendigo and central Victoria to experience all that we have to offer,” Cr O’Rourke said.

“Access to regular flights to and from Bendigo presents a great opportunity to further grow our tourism brand, better connect our businesses to domestic and international clients and colleagues, and provide residents with more options when it comes to leisure travel.

“The time saved travelling to Melbourne Airport and the cost saved in paying for long term parking cannot be underestimated. The convenience will be amazing.”

The arrival of Qantas is a major milestone for the City of Greater Bendigo, which opened a brand new, extended runway in May 2017.

“Less than two years on from unveiling our new 1,600m runway, we have achieved what we set out to do. It is a simply fantastic service that makes Greater Bendigo and the wider region more accessible than ever before," Cr O'Rourke said.

For flight times and to book tickets, visit www.qantas.com

First stop: Sydney. Next stop: the world!

RMIT FLIES INTO BENDIGORMIT University will expand its well-known flight training school to Bendigo this year.

Students will be based at the Bendigo Airport hangar and will take to the skies in new Cessna 172s with modern, glass cockpits. The announcement will also create eight new jobs in Bendigo.

The flight training program will give students an opportunity to pursue their dream of becoming a pilot without having to permanently move to Melbourne, and graduates will help address the growing pilot shortage in the aviation industry.

Bendigo has more than 300 flyable days a year and a new runway, making it the perfect training ground for the students.

(Pictured right) City Strategy and Growth Director Bernie O’Sullivan

with Robyn Lomas and RMIT Flight Training School Senior Manager -

Flight and Aviation Mike Heffey.

13SERVICES

1. Recently completed fence restoration works in Rosalind Park include new panelling and repainting. Works were estimated at $130,000.

2. An upgrade to the roundabout at Murphy Street and Strickland Road, East Bendigo has been completed. The $620,000 project has recently reopened to traffic in both directions following

the laying of asphalt and minor landscaping works.

3. A $1.9M project that has seen the installation of drainage pipes and the upgrade of culverts and road construction, including a roundabout at the intersection of Maiden Gully Road and Patas Road, is expected to be completed in April.

WHAT’S IN THE WORKS?As part of the City’s commitment to deliver improved infrastructure, a range of works are currently underway or have recently been completed.

1

2 3

AXEDALE

• Water stations at Bennetts Road and Axedale, O'Keefe Rail Trail

BENDIGO

• Bendigo Airport - baggage cart pavement area

• Bendigo Airport - public carpark

• Lyttleton Terrace/Mundy Street/Hopetoun Street - zebra crossings

• Cascades and fernery pond renewal

EAGLEHAWK

• Victoria Street, Eaglehawk - footpath construction

EPSOM

• Howard Street, Epsom - footpath construction

KANGAROO FLAT

• Windsor Court, Kangaroo Flat - half court

• Alder Street, Kangaroo Flat - footpath construction

MAIDEN GULLY

• Maiden Gully Road, Maiden Gully - shared path construction

SEDGWICK

• Sedgwick Road – road upgrade stage 1

STRATHDALE

• Condon Street, Strathdale - footpath construction

To keep up to date with works in your area, visit www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/roadworks

14 SERVICES

HOW DO THE SENSOR PODS WORK?The Clever Weather sensors are able to provide reams of accurate real-time data because they are tapped into the city’s new Internet of Things - a cutting edge network that brings together any small internet-enabled devices, from phones to ‘smart' appliances, to connect to the internet.

It acts in a similar way to Wi-Fi, except that the signal can travel over longer distances using far less power. This can allow the sensors to last many years without changing batteries.

Head of La Trobe’s Technology Innovation Lab at the Bendigo campus, Dr Simon Egerton, said the sensors are very responsive and accurate.

“We might find that some areas of Bendigo are up to two or three degrees cooler than others, having implications for the way people plan their day and protect themselves from extreme temperatures,” Dr Egerton said.

“It’s important that we cover the whole city thoroughly, as temperatures might vary significantly from one area to the next.”

This is the first stage in the Clever Weather research project. Further developments of the Clever Weather project could also see additional information like rainfall and wind speed data collected.

Getting clever about the weather with new sensorsTalking about the weather is a topic of conversation that has just got more interesting, with the roll out of 100 weather sensors in Bendigo designed to gauge real-time temperatures across the city.

Myl Duffy's morning routine is to make a cup of coffee and check the real-time weather temperature generated from a unique sensor pod that sits in her front garden in White Hills.

Ms Duffy is one of 100 volunteers taking part in Clever Weather, an innovative project led by La Trobe University’s Flora Hill campus in close partnership with the City of Greater Bendigo. The aim is to discover if temperatures vary significantly in different parts of the city, including the outer suburbs.

One hundred weather sensors are being installed across the city centre and outer suburbs at residents’ homes, businesses and landmarks to map accurate real-time temperatures to gain a clearer idea of

temperature differences. Data from the sensors also provide humidity and air pressure readings.

Ms Duffy was intrigued by the experiment as she suspected the general forecasts for Bendigo didn’t reflect the temperature where she lived. Her experience was that it felt hotter during the day in summer but cooler at night compared to the official forecast.

The sensor on a weather pod in her front yard confirmed her suspicions. Ms Duffy’s street day temperatures during the summer were often one or two degrees higher compared to the official Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) data generated at Bendigo Airport, which currently only gives a general reading for the whole of Bendigo based on conditions at that site.

The BOM readings do not factor in human activity, buildings, concrete and lack of shade, which can make one suburb’s temperature different compared to another just a few kilometres away.

“It has been interesting to get confirmation that the temperature at our house is different to the temperature on the weather forecast and now it’s official,” Ms Duffy said.

“It’s great to have access to data that is accurate and specific. I always watch the weather forecast then check what’s happening with my pod.

City Director Strategy and Growth Bernie O’Sullivan said over 350 people in the community volunteered to test the new technology and install a weather pod at their home or place of work.

“One hundred sites were carefully selected so that temperatures could be clearly mapped out across Bendigo and the outer suburbs to gain a clearer picture of the vulnerable areas and hot spots,” Mr O’Sullivan said.

“The data could prove to be an effective tool to help plan and improve the City’s services and projects, and to gain a much

better understanding of how temperatures impact the way we live.

“More accurate temperature readings will help the City make important decisions on how best to identify hot spots and manage heat in the city, such as where we plant trees, how we design infrastructure and how we can make improvements to the developments we approve in the urban environment.

“Working in partnership with La Trobe on this groundbreaking technology will allow us to consider how we deliver services to our community in the future and discover effective ways to cool vulnerable parts of the city.”

Ms Duffy shares the information with her neighbours and now they all regularly check the pod’s data to see the conditions for their street.

“We all love talking about the weather because it’s so fundamental to our lives,” she said.

"It’s great to have access to data that is accurate and specific."

15SERVICES

E-waste landfill ban to start in JulyThe Victorian Government will ban all e-waste from the state’s landfills from July 1, 2019.

E-waste is any electronic item with a battery, electric plug or cord. Examples of e-waste include hair dryers and straighteners, portable and plug in radios, computer equipment, old game consoles, lamps, electric fans, power tools and all toys that run on batteries.

For residents the ban means that from July 1, 2019 you can no longer put e-waste items in your general waste bin and you will need to take them to the

resource recovery facility at the entrance of the Eaglehawk Landfill or one of the City of Greater Bendigo’s transfer stations located in Heathcote, Strathfieldsaye or Goornong.

E-waste contains hazardous materials that can harm the environment and human health, and it’s growing three times faster than general municipal waste in Australia due to increased technology trends, reduced product lifespan and consumer demand for new products.

The more electronic goods we buy, the more e-waste there will be in

the future, so we need to be resourceful and smart about disposing of old electronic items.

By keeping e-waste out of landfill, it can be disassembled, sorted and recycled into new products.

So from July 1, 2019 take your e-waste to a better place by not putting it in your general waste bin but by taking it to the resource recovery facility at the entrance to the Eaglehawk Landfill or one of the City’s transfer stations for recycling.

Are your trees and shrubs a hazard?Branches or plants that hang or protrude over footpaths can be hazardous, especially for the vision impaired, elderly and those who use wheel chairs and mobility scooters.

The City of Greater Bendigo regularly receives complaints about plants and branches protruding on or over footpaths, and would like to remind property owners or occupiers to ensure that pedestrian pathways outside their properties are free from over-hanging branches and shrubs.

People of all ages and abilities use our footpaths, so it is important to make sure pathways are clear.

While some plants may cause someone to trip, overhanging trees or plants could cause possible eye injuries.

Residents are encouraged to take reasonable steps to maintain and make their property a safe place to walk past to ensure there is no danger of causing injury or lack of confidence in getting around the streets.

16 SERVICES

Want to know which disabled parking bays suit various accessibility needs?

A new independent parking website has been created to help people with accessibility issues identify disabled parking bays in the city centre that suit their needs.

Created by start-up company Spot Parking, the website gives a star rating for the size of the disabled bays, hoist suitability, ramp access and suitability for rear-loading of wheelchairs.

The City of Greater Bendigo worked closely with Spot Parking during the development of the Bendigo parking website and invited the City’s Disability Inclusion Reference Committee (DIRC) to be part of the process.

Mayor Cr Margaret O’Rourke said the DIRC’s feedback was very productive and helped Spot Parking to rank the city centre’s accessible parking spaces.

“We found that many members of the committee who had long-term accessibility issues were familiar with nearly all of the parking spaces so their input was important. This can be a very useful website for those experiencing accessibility issues for the first time as well as carers and visitors planning a trip to the city,” Cr O’Rourke said.

A DIRC representative reviewed every disabled parking bay in the city centre for the new website, so a ranking system could be put in place on the website as a useful tool for the community.

The website has a star-rating system for disabled parking spaces for residents to identify the best options to meet their access needs.

Spot Parking CEO Elizabeth Zealand said the website also gave the community and visitors easy and quick information compared to other trip planning tools that only tell people how to get from A to B.

“The website helps people to better understand parking rules, time limits, fees applied at various locations, loading zones, free parking areas as well as a ranking for accessible parking,” Ms Zealand said.

“We very much encourage people to hop onto the Spot Parking website and try it out for themselves. We welcome feedback on the website on what new features would help or any aspects that could be improved to help you plan your visits into Bendigo."

To provide feedback and recommend new features on the Spot Parking website, please visit bendigo.spotparking.com.au or email support@spotparking.com.au Please ensure you are using an updated web browser to use the site.

N

Register now to do business with us in the future!

For more information on how to register go to www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/VendorPanel

The City of Greater Bendigo is encouraging businesses to register their services on a new centralised online tool for suppliers designed to make it easier and quicker to obtain quotes from local businesses for proposed goods, works or services.

The City had subscribed to VendorPanel Marketplace, an online tool which provides new opportunities for businesses in the region. This is a simpler centralised online purchasing system, which enables the City to search, nominate and invite local businesses to provide quotes for goods, services and works for upcoming jobs where there is no contract or agreement in place.

The City is committed to supporting local businesses and looking at ways to boost the local economy and this new system will help to give suppliers better access to the City.

The online tool is modelled on an open market approach, so other subscribers to VendorPanel Marketplace, including Parks Victoria and other local councils, can also have access to the details of businesses located in this region if quotes are needed.

Registration is free and no documentation is required until a quote for the work has been accepted.

ATTENTION BUSINESS OWNERS:

"This can be a very useful website for those experiencing accessibility issues for the first time."

Disabled parking spaces receive a star ranking

Local resident Vinnie Mammoliti utilises disabled parking in Hargreaves Street.

17SERVICES

Stop the spread of Queensland fruit flyHave you checked out our new videos on how to stop Ernie the Queensland fruit fly?

Ernie the Queensland fruit fly is the main animated character in five new videos produced by the City of Greater Bendigo and Mount Alexander Shire Council, in partnership with Agriculture Victoria.

The engaging films feature a mischievous Ernie intent on causing havoc in a home garden.

The five episodes reveal how Ernie and his family attack many different types of fruit and vegetables when he pays a visit to central Victoria. Learn how very simple tips on pruning, traps, garden hygiene, exclusion and best practice can stop Ernie in his tracks and reduce the spread of Queensland fruit fly in the region.

Fruit fly has already spread across some areas in Greater Bendigo and it poses a serious risk to the horticulture industry and home gardens as infestation can lead to total crop losses. It’s important to act if you spot them in your garden.

Queensland fruit fly is still very active in autumn so it is important to stay vigilant and maintain traps, exclusion netting and practise good garden hygiene. Monitoring traps should be maintained and checked all year round. Understanding how Queensland fruit fly breed and multiply will also

help you choose the right management and control options.

There are a number of different traps available to monitor fruit fly numbers, but managing the pest once they appear does not involve any specialist equipment. Traps can even be made using everyday household products.

Many preparations outlined in the videos can help protect garden crops from future Queensland fruit fly infestations. So check out the five videos and find out what you can do if you spot fruit fly activity in your garden at www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/fruitfly

HELP STOP ERNIE THE QUEENSLAND FRUIT FLY...• Maintain monitoring traps all

year round to alert you to fruit fly activity. Set mass traps when numbers increase (seek advice from your local garden supplier or make your own)

• Keep fruit trees well pruned

• Protect your fruit trees and vegetables with exclusion netting

• Remove unwanted fruit from trees and collect fallen fruit

• Solarise or freeze infected fruit and vege (leave in the sun for a week in a strong plastic bag or freeze in a bag for two days). Once solarised or frozen, bagged fruit and vege should be placed in the rubbish bin and not added to compost or the organics waste bin

Want to know more about Queensland fruit fly?

Agriculture Victoria is the lead authority and has also produced a video on the life-cycle of Queensland fruit fly. For more information about fruit fly management, please visit www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/qff

To view the new videos, please visit www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/fruitfly or contact your local garden supplier for advice.

SECTION HERE 18

Protecting our magnificent town hall for the futureThe City of Greater Bendigo has commenced a program of conservation repair works on the historic Bendigo Town Hall.

The restoration works include significant roof, window and door repairs, painting, repairs to the external façade, including the removal of existing paint and the application of a new coating system to protect the exterior of the building.

City of Greater Bendigo Property Manager Andy Walker said due to its age, the restoration works are important to ensure the building is well maintained.

“Our public heritage buildings are one of Greater Bendigo’s best assets and it’s important to undertake regular conservation works to protect and maintain them,” Mr Walker said.

“The Bendigo Town Hall is one of Greater Bendigo’s most iconic heritage buildings and since the mid 1990s the City has invested considerable funds to not only revitalise the building inside and out, but also to maintain it so that

it can continue to be enjoyed and used by the people of Greater Bendigo well into the future.

“This latest round of conservation works is being undertaken in several stages commencing with the roof repair work.”

The work is part of an overall façade restoration project valued at approximately $3M, which the City plans to undertake over a period of time.

BENDIGO TOWN HALL – A UNIQUE PLACE IN OUR HISTORY

• Bendigo Town Hall was the meeting place in the lead up to Federation when Sir Henry Parkes presided over the inauguration of the local branch of the Federation League at a packed meeting at the town hall

• It was the venue for a grand rally prior to the Federation referendum

• In 1901 it was used by the people of Bendigo to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the discovery of gold with a gold jubilee exhibition. This was a very ambitious exhibition with Australia’s first Prime Minister, Edmond Barton, along with the first Governor General, the Earl of Hopetoun, in attendance

• In 2001 it was the venue for an historic sitting of the Victorian Parliament. This was the first time the Victorian Parliament had sat outside of Melbourne

18 SERVICES

19SERVICES

ABOUT THE BENDIGO TOWN HALL

The Bendigo Town Hall is registered on the Victorian Heritage Register and is a building of national significance.

The original building was designed in 1859 by town clerk George Avery Fletcher. This was followed by a further addition of a Council chamber in 1866 and a hall for the trading of grain known as the Corn Exchange was added in 1871-1872. Although the architecture of the addition adhered to that of the original building, the completed building was not liked by the citizens or the Council of the day.

In a series of major works beginning in 1878 the hall was transformed by renowned architect William C Vahland, who was given the task of converting it into something befitting the city of gold.

Vahland commissioned Otto Waschatz who was fresh from decorating the royal palace in Copenhagan to design the town hall interior.

This work included extensive offices, enlargement of the main hall and council chambers, introduction of a superb interior decorative scheme, a clock tower and mansard roof, and the exterior facades were re-modelled in the classical style.

The end result was Vahland's most remarkable work and the finest boom-style building of its type in Victoria. When the work was completed in 1885 the modest building the people of Bendigo had known had been totally transformed.

Unfortunately, over the years the Bendigo Town Hall fell into extremely poor condition and following the Local Government amalgamations of 1994, the City of Greater Bendigo made a commitment to restore the building to its former glory to ensure it could continue to be used well into the future.

The restoration work commenced in the 1996/1997 financial year with extensive repairs to the building’s roof. The building was also treated to control a white ant infestation and floodlighting was installed to enhance the exterior of the building. Significant works to rectify major rising damp in the basement to stop it spreading to the upper walls of the hall were also undertaken.

Stage two works were undertaken from July to December 2000 and included the removal of a stage and proscenium arch, and the reinstatement of the balcony and foyer and the original Hargreaves Street entrance. The Hargreaves Street forecourt and the footway area at the Civic Gardens-side of the hall was also installed.

Stage three of the project was the actual restoration of the main hall interior. This included the painting of the hall, foyer and balcony in original colours, the restoration of the murals, replication of the stencil and art work, and the application of gold leaf to the decorative features.

Stage four and five works included the installation of new toilet facilities and a passenger lift, repairs to the windows, render, stairs, painting and provision of access for the disabled. The old Council Chambers were also restored as part of this work.

The overall restoration was an important project that resulted in one of our most treasured heritage buildings being transformed into a functional public building with the ability to cater for a range of events and occasions.

Since then the City has also undertaken several smaller repair and maintenance projects to fix blocked and rusted downpipes, programmed paint work, restoration of the flag pole, and portico roof and portico plaster ceiling works on the building.

Is your pet registered?Animal registrations are due for payment by April 10 each year and the City of Greater Bendigo is reminding residents to check if their animal registrations are paid and up to date.

Greater Bendigo has more than 17,500 dogs and 6,200 cats on its database and owners need to re-register their pets annually.

Pet registration is a basic measure that can help ensure your pet is returned to you should it get lost or if it escapes from your property. If this happens and your pet is picked up by our animal control officers, it will be returned to you.

Registration fees go towards the City’s pound and animal management services, which respond to wandering dogs, dog attacks and nuisance problems like barking dogs and cat trespass.

The fees also contribute towards facilities such as the City’s three dog parks located in Crook Street, Strathdale, Allingham Street, Kangaroo Flat and Truscott Reserve in California Gully.

So if you haven’t already paid your animal registration for 2019, please do it as soon as possible to avoid receiving an unnecessary fine.

If you no longer have a pet that was previously registered or you’ve recently changed address, please contact the City on 5434 6000 to have the records updated.

20 ACTIVE AND HEALTHY

Sport and recreation centres across Greater Bendigo are taking part in the VicHealth Water in Sport initiative to make it easier for the community to choose healthier foods and make water the drink of choice when visiting these facilities.

This initative supports the Victorian Government’s Healthy Choices Guidelines, which make it easier for sport and recreation facilities to provide and promote good nutritious food and drinks within their retail food outlets, vending machines and onsite catering by using the traffic light system to classify food and drinks as:

• Green - best choices

• Amber - choose carefully, and

• Red - limit

With help from the Healthy Eating Advisory Service, the City of Greater Bendigo's new Gurri Wanyarra Wellbeing Centre has become the first local facility to have a 'no red food' menu.

The centre, which is managed by Belgravia Leisure on behalf of the City,

provides a variety of green and amber snack and meal options, as well as making water the drink of choice for all customers.

Belgravia Leisure Area Manager Rod Simms said the outcomes of meeting the guidelines had been very impressive.

“We have received really positive customer feedback praising the menu options available, with most feedback coming from parents who are very pleased that their children can choose a healthy meal, snack or drink at the centre,” Mr Simms said.

Promotion in the café includes point of sale nudges to encourage customers to choose the healthier option.

The Bendigo Stadium is also an early adopter and leader in the community by

incorporating both physical activity and healthy eating. They have made great changes in their canteen to ensure customers and visitors have more options to choose healthier food and drinks.

Other facilities across Bendigo that have joined the movement and are championing healthy change in their canteens and kiosks include Fosterville Gold Tennis Centre, Peter Krenz Leisure Centre, Bendigo East Swimming Pool, Faith Leech Aquatic Centre, Brennan Park Swimming Pool, Marong Swimming Pool, Heathcote Swimming Pool, and La Trobe University Bendigo Athletics Complex.

For more information on the Healthy Choices guidelines visit www.heas.health.vic.gov.au/healthy-choices/guidelines

Local facilities leading the way to healthier choices!

DID YOU KNOW?

• A poor diet and being overweight are the greatest contributors to poor health, even higher than smoking

• According to the 2014 Victorian Population Health Survey, 53.3 per cent of Greater Bendigo residents are classified as overweight or obese, which is higher than the Victorian state average of 50 per cent

• Seventy-five per cent of customers and visitors who were surveyed across Bendigo reported “that sport and recreation centres have a responsibility to promote healthy eating”

21ACTIVE AND HEALTHY

New projects proving popularThe City of Greater Bendigo has recently completed some important major projects to improve local sporting facilities, which are proving very popular with both user groups and spectators alike.

At Bendigo’s Queen Elizabeth Oval the construction of a new kiosk and toilet building on the grass area next to the entry gate off Gaol Road was completed at the end of 2018.

This $1.5M project was funded by the City and included the demolition of the existing toilet and kiosk building, refurbishment of the QEO’s heritage gates and significant landscaping work.

The new facility looks fantastic as part of the View Street and Rosalind Park Precinct and has greatly improved the functionality of the QEO.

Construction of new netball change rooms has also commenced between the existing netball court and the Faith Leech Aquatic Centre. The new facility will feature two female change rooms, umpires rooms, storage area, meeting room and public toilets. This exciting project is expected to be complete before the end of the year.

An undercover grand stand that seats 400 people was also

completed late last year at Bendigo’s Fosterville Gold Tennis Centre in Nolan Street.

The new grand stand completed the second stage of the $6.175M redevelopment of the centre, which also included construction of a major new pavilion and an upgrade of tennis courts.

This project received $2.09M in funding from the Australian Government, $2.4M from the Victorian Government, $1.085M from the City of Greater Bendigo, and $600,000 from the Bendigo Tennis Association and Tennis Australia.

Construction of the new $1.4M baseball pavilion at Albert Roy Reserve in Eaglehawk is also complete. The new pavilion features a new kitchen/kiosk, social space, two unisex change rooms, umpire change rooms, first aid room, storage and amenities for baseball. The new building replaces the reserve's

old pavilion, which burnt down in a 2016 arson attack. It has been completed in time for the

2019 baseball season.

The new grand stand completed the second

stage of the $6.175M redevelopment of the centre

New building including kiosk and toilets at the Queen Elizabeth Oval.

Albert Roy Reserve,

Eaglehawk.

22 COMMUNITY

Sedgwick was named after English geologist Adam Sedgwick in 1901. It was a thriving community in the mid-to-late-1800s due to the Great Eastern Gold Mine, which provided significant wealth to the farming families that lived in the area.

In its hey-day Sedgwick had a butter factory, mineral springs, post office, school, tennis club and cricket club. The gold mine, now closed, sits on Drechsler land.

Brendan Drechsler attended Sedgwick Primary School no. 935. He was enrolled at four-and-a-half years of age to increase the enrolment numbers to enable the school to stay open. The school closed the first time in 1965, reopened a year later and then closed again in 1990.

The Sedgwick CFA was formed in 1945 and has remained the hub of the community. Sedgwick has a number of families who have been in the community for many generations, including farming the land and providing a strong network and culture of supporting each other.

Over the years the community has changed. Now the land is too valuable for farming to be viable, and large plots have been divided into smaller hobby farms, cottage industries and for artists.

WHAT I ABOUT GREATER BENDIGO...

SedgwickWhat we love about

John and Sharon Crimmins and Quentin Cook at Sedgwick CFA.

23COMMUNITY

High Street, Eaglehawk

We all agree Sedgwick is a friendly and welcoming community, and the fire brigade continues to bring people together. Brendan is the brigade’s Captain. He welcomes new people to the community by taking the fire truck to visit them when new people move in. Many members of his family have been in the brigade and he proudly speaks of the first Rural Fire Brigade State Championships being held in Strathfieldsaye in 1957 and the Sedgwick Brigade winning the Driving and Pumping competition.

In 2012, Brendan re-formed the brigade’s running teams and in 2015 they won the State Championships in their division. He is the Chair of the current State Championships that were held in Bendigo in March.

Brendan has been married to Pam for 25 years and they share a love of horses. They have two sons, Ben and Sam, who are both involved in the Sedgwick CFA. Sam is 16 and has moved into competing in the seniors, while Ben is 20 and has recently joined the army but comes home on weekends to participate actively in the CFA.

John and Sharon Crimmins have lived in Sedgwick for just over three years. They call it their little piece of heaven and see their bush block as an oasis away from their stressful jobs.

John joined the local CFA as a way of getting to know other people. Sharon joined later when the CFA needed a new secretary. John, Sharon and their daughter Molly have all become firefighters and love being part of their new community, where they have felt very welcome.

Quintin Cook is also a relatively new resident to Sedgwick. He went in search of rural living about four years ago and is

also a member of the CFA. He is a bit of an historian and really enjoys learning about the history of the area. For him, the strong sense of community and the harmony of rural life are the most appealing parts of living in Sedgwick.

For Quintin, John, Sharon, Brendan and Pam, Sedgwick is a special place. They love the peace of living in the country, the beauty of the rolling hills, the mateship of

living more remotely and knowing they are all watching out for each other.

They see themselves as being on the 'right side' of town, closer to Melbourne but still being able to see the stars at night, wake to the birds taking flight in the mornings, and see the most magnificent sunrises and sunsets. If you're lucky, you’ll hear the sheep calling at night and the cows talking to each other as the sun begins to rise.

They call it their little piece of heaven and see their bush block as an oasis away from their stressful jobs.

Brendan Drechsler with the Sedgwick CFA Running Team and mascot Monty.

24 COMMUNITY

Congratulations to our top citizensSince 1995, the City of Greater Bendigo has been recognising two residents each year for their outstanding service to the community.The Citizen and Young Citizen of the Year awards are the highest honour the City can give to two people who are fantastic role models to others and demonstrate the values that Australians consider important.

The 2019 Citizen of the Year is Kevin Cail and the Young Citizen of the Year is Sam Kane.

Kevin is a passionate volunteer in the Kamarooka community, while Sam has been recognised for his service to the Golden Square community.

Kevin is described as ‘Mr Kamarooka’. He is a long-time Kamarooka resident and caretaker and Vice President of the Kamarooka Recreation Reserve, where he continues a long family tradition of maintaining the reserve.

Sam has been volunteering at the Golden Square Swimming Pool since he was 14, supporting fundraising efforts, attending working bees, working in the kiosk and promoting pool events. He is now President of the pool committee and also assists with social media promotion for Golden Square Kindergarten and the Bendigo Youth Choir.

Their actions demonstrate what being part of a community is all about and what the City seeks to recognise through these awards – kind, hard-working and selfless people who strive to help others and make a difference.

An honour board located in the stairwell of the Bendigo Town Hall proudly displays the names of all City of Greater Bendigo Citizen and Young Citizen of the Year recipients.

H O N O U R R O L L

Citizen of the Year Year Young Citizen

of the Year

Olive Bice 1995 Naomi Pratt

Heather Lindhe 1996 Kellie Wheelhouse

Margaret Cook 1997 Evelyn Ng

Barrie Cooper 1998 Sally Branson

Rob Hunt 1999 Ben Hunt

George Flack 2000 Elaine Tho

Greta Balsille 2001 Claire Ormerod

Fay Buerger 2002 Anneliese Diedrichs

Leon Scott 2003 Katie Goldsworthy

Ian Dyett JP 2004 Shaun Thompson

Angela Mitchell 2005 Helen Dyett

Peter Krenz and Lariane Leask

(Joint winners)2006 James Reade

Dr Wal McGregor and Graeme Gordon

(Joint winners)2007 Dani Kline

Russell Jack 2008 Daniel Giles

Estelle Waterman 2009 Nicholas Kimberley

Michael McKern 2010 Alexander Eastwood

Patti Cotton 2011 Emma Lewis

Robert Cook 2012 Patrick Clark

Linda Beilharz 2013 Amethyst Downing

Gordon McKern 2014 Skye Kinder

Penelope Davies 2015 Danielle Snowdon

Valerie Broad 2016 Breanna Thomas

Garth Keech 2017 Khayshie Tilak Ramesh

Andrew Reid 2018 Jontee Brown

Kevin Cail 2019 Sam Kane

25COMMUNITY

Making our libraries more inclusive for allGoldfields Libraries is working alongside the City of Greater Bendigo to make library services in our area more inclusive and responsive to the needs of multicultural groups in the community.

Funded by the Victorian Government's Department of Premier and Cabinet, and in consultation with multicultural communities and agencies, the Inclusive Multicultural Libraries Project aims to develop a strategic approach to integrate cultural diversity and inclusion into our libraries. This includes the libraries’ collections, programs, events and spaces.

As part of the project, 10 Community Champions were engaged from the Karen, Afghan, South Sudanese, North Indian,

South Indian, Sri Lankan, Tamil speaking, Spanish speaking, and Chinese communities.

Goldfields Libraries Manager of Engagement and Operations Tara Everist said the champions were able to provide a unique and personal insight into what their communities liked, needed, wanted or would benefit from in our libraries.

“We were so privileged to learn about the Champions, their stories and culture. Having them take our discussions home and talk about them with friends and family means that we can really find out how to better engage with a wider range of our local communities,” Ms Everist said.

The Champions played an important role in the launch of Little World Storytime, a multicultural storytime series run throughout the year at the Bendigo, Kangaroo Flat, Eaglehawk and Heathcote libraries.

During the six-month project, Goldfields Libraries also played host to two Indonesian exchange students

participating in the Australian Indonesian Youth Exchange Program, shedding some light on the way libraries are valued in other parts of the world.

Bendigo Library has also partnered with a number of local organisations to initiate a Conversation Club, held each Friday from 9.30am - 10.30am, and Kangaroo Flat Library has a new Storytime Pod containing a collection of children’s books in a range of languages.

Work is also underway to explore options for increasing access to other multicultural resources. With the support of an external consultant, staff from Goldfields Libraries participated in research, professional development and strategic discussions to look at current reach and performance. This, combined with suggestions from the Champions, helped shape the recommendations of the final report for the project.

Recommendations from the project will be prioritised with the aim of creating considered and sustainable improvements across library services.

"Now that we have a much clearer picture of what our multicultural communities want from our library services, we’re excited to continue to refine and build partnerships that will help us provide better, tailored services," Ms Everitt said.

City of Greater Bendigo Coordinator of Inclusive Communities David Williamson commended Goldfields Libraries for its commitment to identifying ways to help different cultural groups feel welcome and safe at our wonderful libraries and increase their level of use.

“With the support of the Victorian Government, the Inclusive Multicultural Libraries Project helps us achieve an action in the City’s Cultural Diversity and Inclusion Plan to increase community understanding of and empathy for residents from culturally diverse backgrounds by providing information and intercultural experiences,” Mr Williamson said.

For more information contact your local Goldfields Library at www.ncgrl.vic.gov.au

“We were so privileged to learn about the Champions, their

stories and culture."

26 COMMUNITY

Introducing the City’s new Youth Council Earlier this year 18 enthusiastic young people were selected as the inaugural City of Greater Bendigo Youth Council to act as an advisory body to Council and give local young people a stronger voice in our community.

Congratulations to Khayshie Tilak Ramesh (Youth Mayor) and Annika Ritchie (Deputy Youth Mayor), Alyssa Lai, Alex Libchard, Billie Taylor, Esmat Kheradyar, Eva Jan, Khaled (Jack) Tayba, Jemille McKenzie, Lilli-Rose Gemmill, Natasha Romas, Olivia Masters, Pan Mar Lar Pah Thei, Ella Edwards, Kathryn Northill, Victoria Tangey, Ryan Peterson and Annalise Varker for being selected as the City’s first youth councillors.

Greater Bendigo Mayor Cr Margaret O’Rourke said it was an exciting initiative for both Council and local young people.

“With approximately 18,700 young people currently living in Greater Bendigo and this number expected to rise to 25,900 by 2036, it’s important for Council to connect with and listen to our young people about the issues that impact their lives now and into the future,” Cr O’Rourke said.

“The role of the Youth Council is to work with Council to ensure the views of young people are reflected in the City’s plans and programs. Youth Council members will also represent young people at civic events and activities.

“The Youth Council is an initiative of the current Council to engage with local young people aged between 14 and 24 in the decision making process for the future. It’s also a key action in the City’s Youth Strategy launched in 2018.

“It provides a great opportunity for young people to have a stronger voice in our community, meet others with similar interests and ideas, build their leadership skills, and develop the knowledge and abilities to effect change.”

Back Row: Lilli-Rose Gemmill, Alex Libchard, Pan Mar Lar Pah Thei, Annalise Varker, Ryan Peterson, Billie Taylor, Alyssa Lai, Victoria Tangey, Olivia Masters, Kathryn Northill. Front Row: Ella Edwards, Jemille McKenzie, Khayshie Tilak Ramesh, Annika Ritchie, Jack Tayba. Absent: Esmat Kheradyar, Eva Jan, Natasha Romas.

Youth Mayor Khayshie Tilak Ramesh with Chief Executive Officer Craig Niemann.

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How well did you do? See page 35 for answers.

gb quiz!

How many years has it been since the City of Greater Bendigo was formed? A) 20 years B) 25 years C) 30 years

Who is the naming rights sponsor of the Bendigo Easter Festival?

True or False: Dai Gum Loong means ‘Gold Dragon’ in Cantonese.

Where do the new Qantas flights out of Bendigo Airport travel to?

When does the Victorian Government e-waste landfill ban start? A) July 1 B) August 1 C) September 1

True or False: There are more than 17,500 dogs and 6,200 cats on our database.

How many members does the new Youth Council have? A) 11 B) 15 C) 18

What is the name of the project to record real-time temperatures across Greater Bendigo?

How many royal dynasties are explored in the Bendigo Art Gallery’s major exhibition, Tudors to Windsors: British Royal Portraits?

What year was the first royal visit to Bendigo? A) 1867 B) 1868 C) 1869

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q5

Q6

Q8

Q9

Q10

Q7

How well do you know Greater Bendigo?

27COMMUNITY

Health and happiness

Encouraging active, social, meaningful lives to promote good health and wellbeing

Equity and local economy

Creating safe, equitable places to live and work which support local prosperity and international fair trade

Culture and community

Nurturing local identity and heritage, empowering communities and promoting a culture of sustainable living

Land and nature Protecting and restoring land for the benefit of people and wildlife

Sustainable water Using water efficiently, protecting local water resources and reducing flooding and drought

Local and sustainable food

Promoting sustainable humane farming and healthy diets high in local, seasonal organic food and vegetable protein

Travel and transport

Reducing the need to travel, encouraging walking, cycling and low carbon transport

Materials and products

Using materials from sustainable sources and promoting products which help people reduce consumption

Zero waste Reducing consumption, re-using and recycling to achieve zero waste and zero pollution

Zero carbon energy Making buildings and manufacturing energy efficient and supplying all energy with renewables

One Planet LivingThe City of Greater Bendigo uses the One Planet Living framework in its vision to become the world’s most liveable community.

What is One Planet Living?

Based on 10 principles (pictured below) One Planet Living is about making it easy, attractive and affordable for people to lead happy and healthy lives within the natural limits of the earth’s resources, leaving space for wildlife and wilderness, and to feel connected to our city, local places, our landscapes and to each other as a community.

The City is registered with Bioregional Australia's One Planet program, working with partners in the region towards recognition as a One Planet City and Region. The One Planet Living framework is made up of 10 principles to implement and communicate sustainable change, and create better more sustainable places to live, work and do business.

Why One Planet Living?

We only have one planet, but as a global society we're living as if we have several planets and consuming in ways which cannot be sustained. If everyone in the world lived like we do in Australia we'd need over four planets.

Drawing on the One Planet Living framework, the aim is to connect the health of the natural environment to the health and prosperity of our community and to demonstrate leadership in sustaining the rich biological diversity of the Greater Bendigo region. It is an integral aspect in the Community Plan for 2017–2021.

Download a copy of the City’s Annual Report 2017/2018 for information on how we are tracking against our One Planet actions at www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/OnePlanetLiving

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Local businesses trial organic waste serviceSince March 2018, the City has been trialling a free-of-charge organic waste collection service with 17 local food-related businesses in the Bendigo city centre. It has proven very successful, with over five tonnes of organic waste diverted from landfill since the trial began.

There is over 110 cafes, restaurants and food handling businesses in the Bendigo city centre alone, so by expanding the trial in 2019 and gathering feedback from participants the City hopes to introduce a permanent organic waste collection

service to all food handling businesses in 2020. This would divert considerable organic waste from landfill, which is not only good for business but good for the environment as well.

The 17 initial trial participants reported a reduction in the general waste they produce, with some even requiring less general waste bins than before the trial. The City listened to their feedback and decided to expand the trial by making it a daily collection and including even more commercial food businesses to participate.

Businesses participating in the expanded trial will receive a 47 litre kitchen bin for food scraps, food

waste, paper towel, paper napkins and compostable food packaging, such as raw cardboard. Participating businesses will also receive a daily collection. Businesses can request additional bins if needed, compostable bin liners will also be provided.

The trial is being funded by the City of Greater Bendigo along with a grant from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning’s Climate Change Innovation Program. Food businesses interested in being part of the trial should email Bridgette McDougall on resourcerecovery@bendigo.vic.gov.au or phone 5434 6000.

The City of Greater Bendigo has invited more local

commercial food businesses to participate in a daily organic

waste collection service trial, which kicks off in April.

28 BUSINESS

National Hotel owners John Russell, Bruce Morcom and Peter 'Budge' Russell have embraced

the City’s organics collection service for their business.

29BUSINESS

Businesses throughout Greater Bendigo and the wider region have been working with the Inclusive Towns Project to improve their accessibility and remove the barriers that can stop people with disabilities accessing their premises.

With more than one in every five people in Greater Bendigo identifying as having some kind of disability it’s definitely an important project.

Customers are loyal to establishments that cater to their needs. Inclusive Towns works with businesses to identify how they can provide the best customer service to people with a disability and by doing so, increase their customer appeal.

Developed by the City of Greater Bendigo, the Inclusive Towns Project is a direct response to residents with disabilities identifying they would benefit from increased access to local shops and

services, and a wider understanding about the access needs of people with disability.

The Inclusive Towns Project employs local people with a lived experience of disability as support officers. The support officers meet with local business owners and advise on actions that can make their businesses more inclusive, including inclusive communication techniques, improvements to the physical environment and promoting inclusive employment and disability awareness.

The actions can be as simple as providing a picture menu for customers because not everyone can read a written menu,

purchasing a portable ramp to help get people inside or providing disability awareness training for their staff.

Participating businesses benefit from the support and guidance provided by the Inclusive Towns Project as new knowledge helps to grow businesses and increase staff awareness.

The project has also found that residents in participating towns benefit from an increased understanding, improved access and the promotion of inclusive employment in their community. While the wider region benefits by becoming a destination of choice for inclusive tourism.

Participating businesses can be recognised by the Inclusive Towns sticker in their front window.

Over the last 12 months, over 130 businesses in Eaglehawk, Kangaroo Flat, Maldon, Inglewood and Boort have taken advantage of the Inclusive Towns initiative, which is funded via the National Disability Insurance Agency’s Information, Linkages and Capacity Building Program.

Currently the focus is on businesses in the Bendigo city centre and Wedderburn.

Businesses interested in learning more about Inclusive Towns should contact Alison Jones on 5434 6314.

Inclusive Towns - expanding business, attracting new customers and strengthening the community!

1

Inclusive TownsExpand your

business, attract new customers and strengthen your community!

Beechworth Bakery Supervisor Melissa Wells serving Jessie Stone.

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EPPALOCK WARDCr George Flack

Over the past three months much has occurred both within Eppalock Ward and for Council in general.

It was a busy festive period, attending various carols events (when they weren’t washed out by the December rain) and taking on MC duties at the Community Christmas lunch. It was then Australia Day before I knew it and I was pleased to join in the celebrations at Axedale and play in the Marist Brass Band at Lake Weeroona. Now, we’re well into 2019 and there is lots of activity taking place.

Stage three of the Strathdale Park play space will start after Easter, with a hammock, water play table, shelter, spinning pole and rocker to be installed. A construction company has also been selected to start works on the Axedale bridge at Sugarloaf Road. The structural timbers will be replaced on the bridge over the coming months, with the works to be completed by the end of the year.

In Heathcote, works on the Chauncey Street Bridge are underway and are

valued at $280,000. It will also be great to see the O’Keefe Rail Trail interpretive signage installed soon, which consist of 10 informative signs about the history of the trail. Did you know the line was used from 1888 to 1958? Keep an eye out for the signs next time you’re walking or cycling along the trail.

In February I attended the service commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Victorian bushfires. Ironically, it rained at the service but there was a wonderful

turn out from the community as they reflected 10 years on. Anyone living in Bendigo at the time would remember Saturday February 7, 2009 quite clearly. I volunteered with the Bendigo CFA on that day and will never forget the intensity of the heat and destructive force of the fire.

It was also a joy to attend the O-Week Launch at La Trobe University and wish the new students all the very best. About 1,200 new students enrolled at the university this year, and we know that they

have made a wonderful choice in picking La Trobe to further their education.

Councillors have also been participating in very good Budget discussions with directors and Council staff. It is a challenging process setting the Budget and ensuring that funds are spread evenly. I encourage our residents to make comment on the Budget when the time comes, as it’s an opportunity to have your say.

WHIPSTICK WARDCr Andrea Metcalf

As I come into my third year of being a Councillor I would like to acknowledge the contribution that community representatives make to Council’s advisory committees.

I sit on three of these committees, Farming, Rosalind Park, and Sustainability and Environment. Always when I attend these committee meetings I am impressed with the knowledge, passion and commitment of the community representatives. They are all volunteers who willingly give their time and expertise to make a difference across the City of Greater Bendigo. At every meeting I learn from them.

Each of the committees feed into our Budget process. It is far easier for Councillors to argue for funding for a project when it is endorsed by the committee as a priority. Their Budget suggestions are always considered and reasonable.

The achievements of the Rosalind Park Advisory Committee are evident in the park but they have a grand vision for what it could look like. Each year work is happening on projects identified in the Rosalind Park Master Plan and many people have contributed to this. This year the design work on the Municipal Baths begins and I am looking forward to seeing the potential of this project. The City’s landscape architects are doing this work, which is another fine example of their talents having previously completed a range of works, including the new Kangaroo Flat and California Gully dog parks, upgrades to the Bendigo Botanic Gardens and the Mulga Bill-inspired Eaglehawk play space.

Our Farming Advisory Committee helps us understand what’s happening in our rural areas and the impacts on farmers. Representation covers all aspects of farming from smaller farming properties through to the intensive animal industry. Matters like the impacts of very hot days, drought and floods, rate rises and

poor internet services to rural areas are all up for discussion. I appreciate the members’ honesty and their willingness to come up with solutions.

The Sustainability and Environment Advisory Committee has an amazingly diverse membership, so the conversations are very balanced and well thought through. There is a real generosity in the sharing of knowledge from the committee members. The focus is always about making Greater Bendigo a great place people want to live and work in.

Finally, I would like to wish the Bendigo Braves Men’s and Women’s basketball teams all the very best for the coming season. Please get along to the first home game on Friday April 5 at the world-class Bendigo Stadium; it’s a great night out for the whole family.

What’s happening in your ward?

Cr George Flack and City Construction

Foreman Neville Gard inspect road-widening works at Sedgwick.

30 WARD NEWS

Cr Andrea Metcalfe (centre) on the Bendigo Stadium show court with the Bendigo Braves' Tessa Lavey, David Hogan (coach), Tanner Rayner and Tahnee Cannon.

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Get in touch...

EPPALOCK WARD

Mayor Cr Margaret O’Rourke

T 4408 6692 M 0429 061 096 E m.orourke@bendigo.vic.gov.au

Cr George Flack

T 4408 6690 M 0429 083 993 E g.flack@bendigo.vic.gov.au

Cr Yvonne Wrigglesworth

T 4408 6694 M 0429 117 600 E y.wrigglesworth@bendigo.vic.gov.au

LOCKWOOD WARD

Deputy Mayor Cr Rod Fyffe

T 4408 6688 M 0419 874 015 E r.fyffe@bendigo.vic.gov.au

Cr Jennifer Alden

T 4408 6695 M 0499 005 735 E j.alden@bendigo.vic.gov.au

Cr Matt Emond

T 4408 6696 M 0499 007 473 E m.emond@bendigo.vic.gov.au

WHIPSTICK WARD

Cr Andrea Metcalf

T 4408 6697 M 0499 009 096 E a.metcalf@bendigo.vic.gov.au

Cr James WilliamsT 4408 6698 M 0427 211 677 E j.williams@bendigo.vic.gov.au

Cr Malcolm PethybridgeM 0427 376 983 E m.pethybridge@bendigo.vic.gov.au

Councillor emails, like other correspondence, are the property of the City of Greater Bendigo and may be referred to a staff member for action. As with any correspondence, if you would like emails to be kept private and confidential please place ‘private and confidential’ in the subject line.

Unsure what ward you live in? Visit www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/aboutgreaterbendigo?

LOCKWOOD WARDCr Matt Emond

Greater Bendigo’s heritage refines us and defines us as a city. It gives us moments for reflection and a call to action. As a councillor, among other duties, I chair the Heritage Advisory Committee and the Rosalind Park Advisory committee.

We understand heritage and culture is an important part of our Greater Bendigo identity. In our Community Plan one of the six major goals is ‘Embracing our heritage and culture’. We heard what the community valued and we are responding. We have achieved this in a number of ways:

• Public Space Plan – a holistic, integrated strategic approach that gives a central place to our beautiful public heritage, natural, Aboriginal and historic

• Heritage Advisory Committee – getting the best of the community’s passion and expertise to come to the table to give Council sound heritage advice. Our current committee underwent a transformation following the last election, when we identified the larger heritage needs of our community and acknowledged natural, Aboriginal and historic heritage as important

• Rosalind Park – replacement of heritage fences along View Street and restoration of the Queen Victoria monument in the park

• Designs for the old Municipal Baths nearing completion

• Open House Bendigo – celebrating the unique values and history of our municipality and providing local residents with opportunities to peek inside

• Understanding the needs of our historical collecting groups and working through how this can be best supported into the future

• Funding to complete Greater Bendigo heritage studies

Culture is not stagnant and heritage is at its best when it is alive in the hearts of our community.

When we reflect on Rosalind Park, it is important to remember that before 1851 it was grassy woodland and river red gums lined a winding seasonal creek with deep water pools.

The discovery of gold turned the land upside down, an expression I have heard from the Dja Dja Wurrung community. As early as 1856, the gold commissioner proposed the land be used as a park and a few years later, Rosalind Park was established and named, as I understand, after a character from the Shakespeare play As You Like It.

The history of Greater Bendigo goes further back than the pastoralists and the miners. We have the rich heritage and culture of the Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung, and the many cultures, families and individuals that decided to call Greater Bendigo home. As we continue to mature as a city and as a community, we can be proud of the diversity of cultures that defines us and we are a stronger and more resilient community as a result. We have an important journey ahead of us as we continue to write Greater Bendigo’s story together.

31WARD NEWS

Cr Matt Emond (right) with Rosalind Park Advisory members

Martin Sheean, Duncan Wallis, David Mitchell and Meg Caffin.

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Huge numbers flock to Tudors to Windsors: British Royal PortraitsThousands of visitors are enjoying the opportunity to come face to face with some of the most distinguished members of the British royal family at the Tudors to Windsors: British Royal Portraits exhibition at the Bendigo Art Gallery, presented in partnership with the National Portrait Gallery of London.

The international exhibition traces the history of the British monarchy through an outstanding collection from the National Portrait Gallery, much of which has never been seen outside of the United Kingdom. Bendigo Art Gallery was chosen as the only venue to host the exhibition in the southern hemisphere.

Presenting some of the most significant royal portraits, Tudors to Windsors:

British Royal Portraits explores five royal dynasties: the Tudors, the Stuarts, the Georgians, the Victorians and the Windsors. Among the many distinguished masterworks on view will be portraits of King Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth I, King George III, Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth II and Diana, Princess of Wales.

Alongside the magnificent portraits, Bendigo Art Gallery has also secured loans of historic fashion and personal effects, including a blue dress worn by Diana, Princess of Wales on her first visit to Australia in 1983 and the coronation gloves of Queen Elizabeth I in 1558 and Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

Gallery Curatorial Manager Tansy Curtin said visitors had been thrilled to see

first-hand the remarkable portraits from five dynasties.

“Tudors to Windsors: British Royal Portraits presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see works of art by some of the world’s most significant artists over more than 500 years. Charismatic, eclectic and fascinating members of the British Royal Family come to life through portraits, artefacts and personal effects offering us a unique insight into the world of royalty,” Ms Curtin said.

Tudors to Windsors: British Royal Portraits runs until July 14, 2019. Open from 10am-5pm, including public holidays. General admission is $25. Tickets are available at www.bendigoartgallery.com.au

Bendigo Art Gallery was chosen as the only venue to host the exhibition in the southern hemisphere.

32 LIFESTYLE

33LIFESTYLE

A taste of royaltyRoyal fever has taken hold in the city centre to celebrate the exclusive opening of the Tudors to Windsors: British Royal Portraits exhibition. Here’s your chance to share in the regal fun and enjoy the many events taking place to mark the royal occasion across the city centre.

AN EVENING WITH THE DAME

Join us aboard The Royal Express for a few drinks with the ever-so posh and delightfully dashing, Dame Elizabeth the Third. The Dame is a self-appointed member of the royal family and has kindly agreed to share some scandalous stories and intimate insights into “her beloved royal family”. Prepare to be flabbergasted and just a little star-struck.

$29.50 per person (drinks available at bar prices). To book, please visit www.bendigotourism.com

ALL ABOARD THE ROYAL TRAIN FROM CASTLEMAINE TO BENDIGO

Travel like a monarch on the Royal Train, which includes original carriages used during Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip’s Australian tour in 1954 and by past royals. It’s back in action to coincide with the Tudors to Windsors exhibition until July.

The Royal Train will travel between Castlemaine and Bendigo and will be pulled by a heritage 1950s diesel locomotive, featuring state cars, a parlour, and dining room. Booking is essential: www.bendigotourism.com

HIGH TEA WITH WEDGWOOD

Enjoy the Tudors to Windsors: British Royal Portraits exhibition followed by a sumptuous high tea in the Sculpture Annex, served on Wedgwood tea ware. Cost includes single adult ticket and high tea. Tuesdays and Thursdays April 2 to June 27. To book, please visit www.bendigoartgallery.com.au

A ROYAL BANQUET – STILL LIFE WORKSHOP

Join artistic educator Alice Adams for a range of still life drawing experiences focusing on an abundant royal feast on Saturday May 18 from 10.30am to 12.30pm. Suitable for adults/16+.

Booking is essential: www.bendigoartgallery.com.au

ALL ABOARD BENDIGO TRAMWAY’S ROYAL EXPRESS

Royal fever has taken hold! Hop aboard The Royal Express tram. Give Queen Victoria’s statue the royal wave as you trundle through Bendigo’s majestic Pall Mall, and have your photo taken with all your favourite Royals along the way as ride the rails through Bendigo’s CBD.

Family tickets $53, adult $18, child $11, concession $17. Daily service available at every tram stop. To book, please visit www.bendigotourism.com

ROYAL HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE TOURS

Embark on a traditional horse-drawn carriage ride past some of the most significant royal landmarks visited by the Royals on one of their many tours to Bendigo.

To book a seat, please visit www.bendigoheritage.com.au

MINIATURE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER

Bendigo Bricks (a local LEGO® group) has created a scale model of the Palace of Westminster using 37,500 individual bricks. It is on display at the Bendigo Visitor Information Centre throughout the exhibition. Admission is free.

ROYAL POP UP TRAM AT THE PIAZZA

With the colours of the Union Jack adorning its exterior, Bendigo Tramway’s pop up tram is a central feature in the Piazza at Rosalind Park and will remain a permanent fixture until July.

Enjoy the views of the Alexandra Fountain from the comfort of a royal-themed tram interior that’s fit for a Queen or King. Take a selfie with the tram or the iconic red British telephone box placed next to it, which is serving as a pop up Bendigo Visitor Information Centre.

For more information on the range of experiences curated to

celebrate the Tudors to Windsors: British Royal Portraits visit

www.bendigotourism.com.au

34 LIFESTYLE

WHAT’S ON

THE SAPPHIRES Four young Aboriginal women from regional Australia, who like singing country music, suddenly get the chance to change their tune and their lives. Spreading joy in the hell that is the Vietnam War.  

May 18, 2019 / Ulumbarra Theatre / gotix.com.au

For a full list of events visit www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/events

MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL ROADSHOW

Looking for a laugh? The Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow is coming to town. This road trip is jam-packed with a crew of funny comedians.June 1, 2019 / Ulumbarra Theatre / gotix.com.au

ILLUMIN8: FESTIVAL OF LIGHT AND PEACE

Celebration of peace and harmony inspired at the biggest Stupa in the southern hemisphere. Three-day family-friendly event with light installations, multicultural performances and stalls.May 17-18, 2019 / The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion / www.bendigotourism.com

SEVDAH ANTHOLOGY

Members of SARAY Iluminado play Sevdah from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Sephardic Jewish music from the Balkans.June 2, 2019 / Bendigo Bank Theatre at The Capital / gotix.com.au

HEATHCOTE ON SHOW

Enjoy the talents of artisan winemakers, chefs, brewers and musicians with exclusive tastings, new releases, music, gourmet food, community activities and more at over 30 locations across Heathcote.June 8-10, 2019 / Various locations in Heathcote / www.heathcote.org.au

AUSTRALIAN SHEEP AND WOOL SHOW

For three days in July, Bendigo becomes the epicentre of woollen fashion, fine food and beautiful fibre. Features the 'best of the best' sheep breeders, shearers and wool handlers in the country. July 19-21, 2019 / Prince of Wales Showgrounds /www.bendigotourism.com

KIDS' JEWELLERY WORKSHOP

Inspired by the Tudors to Windsors: British Royal Portraits exhibition, kids are invited to create their own earrings or bracelet. Suitable for children aged 10-16 years.July 11, 2019 / Bendigo Art Gallery / www.bendigoartgallery.com.au

BARREL TASTING WEEKEND

Do you enjoy wine and want to know more about where this glorious stuff comes from? Bendigo region wineries throw open the doors of their barrel halls so you can taste wine straight from the barrel. July 6-7, 2019 / Various wineries in the Bendigo region / www.bendigotourism.com

ROYAL JEWELS: JEWELLERY WORKSHOP WITH ALICE ADAMS

Inspired by the Tudors to Windsors: British Royal Portraits exhibition, design and create your own earrings or bracelet. Bookings via the website, limited numbers.June 22, 2019 / Bendigo Art Gallery / www.bendigoartgallery.com.au

1000 DOORS

A door is a beginning and an end, a promise and a warning. Created by Christian Wagstaff and Keith Courtney, the team behind the wildly popular House of Mirrors. Tickets available at the door.April 6-28, 2019 / Bendigo Art Gallery / www.bendigoartgallery.com.au

SANGUINE ESTATE MUSIC FESTIVAL BENDIGO

Top international and Australian artists, exciting programming, a beautiful setting, award-winning wines and excellent food highlighting local produce and talent.May 10-12, 2019 / Various locations in Bendigo / www.semf.net.au/bendigo

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gb quiz answers (from page 27) 1. B – 25 years 2. Bendigo TAFE 3. False – Close, it’s ‘Big Gold Dragon’! 4. Sydney 5. A – July 1 6. True 7. 18 8. Clever Weather 9. Five – The Tudors, Stuarts, Georgians, Victorians and Windsors 10. A – 1867

Post Office Gallery exhibition reveals the stories behind the royal visits to BendigoDid you know that the first royal visit to Bendigo was in 1867?

Chinese lanterns were lit on Pall Mall to welcome Queen Victoria’s fourth child, Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh during his inaugural tour to the Golden City in 1867, but his time in Bendigo was marred by tragedy and disaster. It’s one of the many royal visits featured in a new exhibition Rule Britannia, the Golden City: Royal Visits to Bendigo.

The exhibition, which opens on April 12, details the extraordinary events that took place during Prince Alfred’s visit to Bendigo.

The celebrations marking his visit were marred by tragedy when three young boys died as a result of a fire that took hold of a processional float laden with fireworks. Another youngster died of heatstroke whilst waiting in the throng to catch a glimpse of the Prince during his tour in the city centre. Disaster struck again during the Prince’s tour when the stunning Prince Alfred Ballroom, specially erected outside the Bendigo Town Hall for a special reception, was destroyed by fire on the eve of the event.

The exhibition will also showcase British royal visits to Bendigo, from the ecstatic crowds who welcomed young Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh in 1954 to Sun Loong’s special performance for Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales as they waved from the Shamrock Hotel balcony in 1983.

Rule Britannia, The Golden City: Royal Visits to Bendigo is a free exhibition, open until September 1. The Post Office Gallery, housed in the historic Post Office building, is open every day from 9am to 5pm.

FREE! for3

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Three great things to do for free this autumn!

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1

2

Get out and about over Easter and enjoy a fantastic range of free events as part of the Bendigo TAFE Bendigo Easter Festival

Hop on your bike or put on your sneakers and explore Greater Bendigo’s growing network of walking and cycling paths

Take a walk through beautiful Rosalind Park and enjoy the spectacular colours of autumn

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