Arborist

I'm an arborist located in West Preston and I usually offer a lot of the residents around my area free mulch from the ute or truck, whether they give me a small $5 fuel donation I don't mind either way.

I would like to offer the same thing to anyone on the blog, the main thing is that I pass the mulch on as I can't hold onto it for weeks on end and can keep supplying as I will never run out!

All the mulch is fine grade, it has gone through a small chipper so you are not left with chunks of huge wood in the garden. No rubbish or noxious weeds, palm or self sowing species are chipped and given to residents as it would be bad for the garden beds.

Please find attached my brochure and details and if you have any queries please feel free contact me 

anytime 0435 351 101.

Kind Regards, 

Mark Gossler.

Rental?

Hi Newlands.

Does anyone know of accommodation for a family of 6 (2adults, 4 kids!!) who need to move out of their house in 4 weeks & find somewhere else to live? 

If u know someone moving out or has a place please let me know. 

Sue 0413 189 864. 

Free

Hi folks.

We have about 50 or more good condition moving boxes ( used once) to give someone who needs them.

My number is 0401 335 005.

Pick up from 16 Preston St Preston. 

Cheers Nikki.

Playgroup

Please note the change of venue!

Community Action

Media Conference - Today

10.30am Thursday 28 August 

Victorian Trades Hall 

Meet the people disrupting the  

extremist World Congress of Families 

The Christian fundamentalist “World Congress of Families” will meet at a secret location on Saturday 30 August. Registrants have reportedly been told to they will be advised of the venue by phone on Friday night. It is likely they will be bussed from a city location to the undisclosed site.

At least four venues are known to have cancelled bookings leaving organisers scrambling. Fox News host and former Governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee and 80 other ultra-conservatives – mostly from the US -  have signed a letter accusing“sexual radicals” of smearing the event.

An alliance of feminists, LGBTQI activists, unionists, refugee and anti-racist activists, and atheist and religious people against bigotry is causing chaos for conference organiser Babette Francis of the Endeavour Foundation (formerly Women who Want to be Women) by infiltrating the Congress and organising a disruptive “Unwelcome Ceremony” at 8am Equal Love Demonstration at 11am and family-friendly “Block Party against Hate” at 1.30pm wherever the Congress attempts to meet. 

Protest representatives will speak to the media on 28 August to explain why they oppose the WCF and their plans for a disruptive Day of Action on August 30.

Kerrie Davies (Council of Single Mothers and their Children)

Gaye Demanuele (Reproductive Justice Activist, Radical Women) 

First Nations spokesperson (TBA)

Louise O’Shea (Equal Love)

Mohammad Ali Baqiri (Former child refugee from Afghanistan detained on Nauru, Refugee Rights Activist)

Marisa Sposaro (Disability rights and prison activist)

Naomi Farmer (National Union of Students)

Anonymous (Public sector worker and unionist)

Several state and federal politicians are scheduled to speak at the congress. The Federal Minister for Social Services Kevin Andrews will try to give the opening address. Victorian Attorney General Robert Clark will try to welcome delegates to Victoria. Victorian MLC Bernie Finn, South Australian Federal Senator Cory Bernardi and others will attempt to attend in support. 

“Unwelcome” organiser Debbie Brennan said the multitude of actions against the World Congress of Families shows the depth and strength of community opposition to the rise of extreme right-wing Christian fundamentalism in Australian politics. 

“This Congress is not just a harmless talkshop about ‘ideas’,”  Brennan said. “With Andrews and Clark and all the other politicians who want to attend it is clearly about shaping government policy and law including laws against equal marriage and reproductive choice; a budget that hits the poor – and especially women and First Nations people; “work for the dole” and “income management”; the racist NT Intervention, closure of women’s refuges and legal services, and the racist, inhumane treatment of refugees. 

“The purpose of the Congress is clear: to strengthen the influence of the far right in Australian government. This means a world of hurt for ordinary people and our families and we will not just stand by and let it happen.”

Media Conference

Thursday 28 August, 10.30am

Victorian Trades Hall

Cnr Victoria and Lygon Streets, Carlton

Room 1 (enter from Victoria St)

Contacts

Debbie Brennan: 0425 733 256 

Gaye Demanuele: 0414 580 851

Day of Action Against the WCF

Saturday 30 August from 8am

Aurora Receptions, 149 Donald St, Brunswick East

Unwelcome Ceremony 8am

Equal Love Rally 11am

Block Party Against Hate 12.30pm

Little Athletics

Preston Reservoir Little Athletics Centre Inc.  – It’s all about Family, Fun & Fitness!

Seeking new athletes aged 5 to 15 years of all abilities for the 2014/2015 season.  Come and join in the fun at our centre as you learn to run, jump and throw and make some new friends along the way!

We are located at Edwardes Lake Park, Edwardes Street Reservoir (Melways Ref 18E5).  

Registration Day is Saturday 6th September, 9am to 12 noon.  Registrations are also welcome throughout the season and a 2 week trial period is available.

For more information - www.prestonreservoirlac.com.au,  email:  prestonreservoir@lavic.com.au,  or phone Bill 0438 467 836.

For Sale

Gold Phone with keys, works perfect!

Just plug it into your own phone line!!

You can make the cost of a call as much or as little as you like ..

Good for large share house perhaps. 

Text Jody Bell 0466 599 686.   

$50.00.

Art Project

In Passing is a participatory community art project that will bring diverse groups of women together in the suburbs of Coburg and Coburg North to highlight and unpack concerns and experiences around gender, power and public space. In Passing will involve over 100 women participating across the twenty ‘salon’ events to examine their day-to-day experience of public space using the familiar and non-threatening form of a pass-the-parcel game.

To kick off the project, we're looking for 20 Coburg or Coburg North women to host an In Passing salon in their home sometime in the month of October. 

Further details about the project and what's involved in being a salonniére can be found on  the In Passing website - www.inpassing.com.au (particularly the 'about', 'salon', and 'get involved' pages) . I f you have any questions at all, don't hesitate to  contact me on 

0468 794 235 / hello@ashabeeabraham.com. 

Many thanks and best wishes,

Asha.

Day of Action

Coalition to Beat Back the Far-RightCTBBTFR@gmail.com

Day of Action against World Congress of Families
30th August in Melbourne

Media Release

Activists are pleased to announce an entire day of subversive activity against the upcoming gathering of rightwingers and bigots, the World Congress of Families, to be held in Melbourne on August 30th. Beginning at 8am with a “welcome they deserve,” the day will feature a protest hosted by Equal Love at 11am and a Block Party against Hate in the afternoon.

Police are hurriedly vetting registrants and scouting venues in an attempt to provide security for the besieged congress. The final venue remains unclear as they try to avoid clashes with widespread community opposition. 

The World Congress of Families event is a gathering of anti-abortion campaigners, homophobes, misogynists and racists. It will be attended by high profile Liberal Party politicians including Senator Eric Abetz the Federal Minister for Employment, Kevin Andrews the Federal Minister for Social Services and Senator Cory Bernardi. 

The Coalition to Beat Back the Far-Right is organising the 8am “welcome.” Its theme is “Unite to Beat Back the Far-Right: Our bodies, our lives, our right to organise.” The campaign’s spokesperson, Debbie Brennan, explains the Day of Action: “The congress is a coming together of far-right bigotry, which aims to legitimise and enforce its ideas. The broad community is exercising our free speech rights in a variety of ways to counter this anti-woman, homophobic, transphobic, racist, anti-union hate.” Naomi Farmer, National Queer Officer for the National Union of Students says, “The far-right wants lesbian, gay, bi and trans people back inside the family closet, but we will not go back! Neither will students stand by while education is turned into a profit-making industry that leaves most of us in lifelong debt.” A public sector worker, who cannot give her name because of the risk of dismissal, says why unionists will protest: “Eric Abetz is threatening our pay, conditions, access to personal leave and retirement. Many more will lose their jobs through cuts to departments, outsourcing and privatisation. It is outrageous that Abetz is attending this conference, pretending to care about families. What about the families of public sector workers? Or families that rely on our essential services? It seems that he doesn't care about them at all.”

Brennan, a member of Radical Women, adds: “This event is the convening of an extreme-right movement, which brought us the May Budget and is behind the cruel assaults on the whole community — from refusing women’s reproductive rights and defunding of women’s refuges to the Northern Territory Intervention, Operation Sovereign Borders and destruction of the environment.” 

Media Contacts:Debbie Brennan 0425 733 256
Naomi Farmer 0419 355 511

Friends of Coburg Lake and Surrounds

Winter greetings!

Our last planting days for the year are coming up next weekend and on the following Wednesday.  Details are below and it would be great to see you at some or all of them.  Thanks to all of you for your efforts so far and look forward to catching up on the weekend.

Date: Saturday 30 August

Time: 10 am – 12.30 pm followed by a BBQ lunch (so bring something to cook on the BBQ)

Where: Meet at the Eastern end of Goleen Street, Coburg North (Melway 17 H9). We will be filling in and extending the planting we have been doing between Goleen Street and Ida Street over the last few years.

Thanks for Moreland Council for sponsoring this event

Date: Sunday 31 August

Time 10.30 am – 12.30 pm followed by a picnic lunch (so bring a picnic lunch)

Where: Coburg North Primary School, (O’Hea Street, Coburg).  Enter from the Jersey Street entrance (Melway 17 E10) to help complete our Wildlife Corridor planting that we have embarked on with the kids and teachers of Coburg North Primary School

Thanks to Playback Theatre for sponsoring this planting and wildlife corridor.

Date: Wednesday 3^rd of September

Time: 12.30 pm – 1.30 pm

Where: Lake Park Kinder, Carr Street, Coburg North (Melways 17 H9).  Help plant with the 4 year old kinder group along the Merri Corridor, out the front of the kinder.

Thanks to Moreland Council for sponsoring and running this event.

And lastly the next bird survey at Coburg Lake is being run on Sunday 31^st of August from 8.45 am – 10.30 am.  Meet near the car park, Lake Grove (Melway 17 H10), bring binoculars if possible.  Beginners bird watchers are welcome.  For more details contact Ann McGregor 0429 386 102.

 Look forward to seeing you on the weekend,

Cheers

Emma

Emma Hopkins, Founder

Friends of Coburg Lake and Surrounds

p: 03 9355 7982

e: emma_hopkins@optusnet.com.au

Tickets

I have carelessly double booked not once but twice so I now regretfully offer up for sale, the following:

Family pass to Playfest on Sat 22 November 2014  

$186

Be there at the inaugural children's music and dance festival held at Sidney myer music bowl.

Pass includes 2 adults and 2 children - check out the line up incl Yo Gabba gabba and The Rrrrrrrrrockets

See a whole host http://www.playfest.com.au/  for the price of family admission to one show 

Once - the musical 

$188

Front row of dress circle seats (A)  x 2 for Sat 11 October at 8pm. 

The movie won an Oscar and now, fresh from Broadway, the musical has already won 8 Tony awards incl Best Musical.

Please contact me at allieb24@yahoo.co.uk if you are interested.

Cheers,

Allie.

For Sale

I have a single Ikea bed, that has hardly been used. 

White birch with slat base and spring mattress, in as-new condition.

$150 neg.

Text Mairi  0425 859 016.

Free upholstery stuffing

Do you have a pouff that needs filling? Or some other stuffing job? I have heaps of stuffing to offload. Mostly cotton or kapok or low grade wool (not sure which it is but it is more flammable than most wool and has some vegetable matter in it). From a futon. Stuffing is filling gold and very clean and usable. I can't believe that I was going to take it to the tip.

There are also some latex pieces which might be good for upholstery or camping mattresses etc.

Contact Janet jmgrigg@bigpond.net.au

Free

Continence Bedwetting Items Free

I have a selection of Conni items - FREE to good home - 

Perfect if you're planning to get off the nappies, or suited to older kids that don't want a crunchy plastic wrapped bed, they can have linen over the top and nobody knows, and also less work for mum and dad! Or for elderly care,

2 single doona covers - slip over the doona and then you can put a doona cover over so doona gets protected. These are both near new and are discontinued now.

1 single bed cover with toggles to tighten, no more wet mattress.

4 bed pads - wrappers are very worn and two of these are just the bed pad, but the pads are all still quite useable 

Text Mel on 0413314790 - pickup Coburg North or I can drop on your doorstep - first text gets 'em!

Event

Moreland City Libraries Read More Event

Wildlife gardens: stepping stones in our wildlife corridor

Tuesday 2 September, 6.30pm, Fawkner Library

Merri Creek Management Committee’s Brian Bainbridge will show how gardens can be stepping stones for our local wildlife.

This is a part of Moreland City Library’s Read More Program and supports MCMC’sHabitat Heroes Project, funded by Moreland City Council and the Helen McPherson Smith Trust.

Gas Appliances...

Re: The gas appliance post - The plumber that checked a heater at our house recommended smoke alarms with CO detection because of the age of the appliance....

If you wanted to speak to Phil who posted the original article his number is 0425 748 328.

Coburg RSL Band Night

Event Name: Coburg RSL Band Night #5

Headline: Haark

Support/s: New Estate, Bearded Iris & Little Desert

Artist Website: http://tangramssound.bandcamp.com/

Genre: Indie/Rock

Date & Time: Saturday 2 August 2014, 7pm

Price: $5 (includes feree snacks)

Ticketing Information / Website:facebook.com/CoburgRSLbandnight

The not for profit venue Coburg RSL has hit a milestone, our 5^th Band Night on Saturday 6 September. As a thank you to all who’ve supported us thus far, we’re making this one FREE. Bring the kids, bring your Nan … it’s ALL ages at the Coburg RSL. The Band Night series is kindly supported by the club in its efforts to survive without pokies revenue. The Coburg RSL values community connections and is keen to let everyone know that all are welcome through its doors. The focus of the Band Night series is on independent, young/new, &/or up and coming acts. This month the show is curated by long time Melbourne art-rockers Go Genre Everything, one of Melbourne’s weirdest, most rocking-ist indie duos. This month we’ll again have the lovely Mrs Barb Wire (our fantastic MC) and the friendly staff/volunteers of the Coburg RSL wending us down a path full of happy surprises, not least of which is the 'Spam Raffle'. Check out this unique lineup of bands, not to be seen anywhere else … in Coburg!

Haark
HAARK is the very latest in relativistic glitocentric metal-based epistemology. May cause unwanted euphoria or corporate despair. Use strictly as directed. https://haark.bandcamp.com

New Estate
New Estate (Chapter Records) played at the launch of the Coburg RSL Band Night on 17 May this year, and now they’re back for more! Committed to the cause they are! It’s hard to pin down their sound because each song they play is like its own world with its own lexicon and scenery. The overall sound varies from 'propulsive pop explosions to sprawling guitar epic territory'. They are ... just great. http://newestate.bandcamp.com/

Bearded Iris
Jen of Go Genre Everything says Bearded Iris is of interest as an example of the shelf-like transverse projection on the inner whorled underside of the stamens beneath the overarching style arm below the stigma, so that the insect comes in contact with its pollen-covered surface only after passing the stigma on the stigma of the same flower. https://albertsbasement.bandcamp.com/bearded-iris-pull

Little Desert
Heavy, hard-rockin’, guts grabbing, pulsing, swirling, howling psych rock’n’roll. The likes of which this town ain’t seen in a long time. Mutually anachronistic, the group merges their loves of 60s occult rock, Italian prog, proto-punk and 70s psych-metal. Together are a force of sonic metal riffs, demonic drums and grinding organ, led by a savage vocal fury by Miss Esther Rivers that is pulled from the depths of the wild. It’ll floor you! https://itrecordsmelb.bandcamp.com/album/little-desert-ashes-7-single

Free cream leather couch

Hi, we have a cream leather couch to give away. The couch is a two and a half seater natuzzi brand. It is comfortable for sitting or lying on - some people even think it is comfortable enough to sleep on. It's in reasonable condition, although there are some wear marks and it probably could do with a good clean. It does come up well with cleaning and in some ways, I'm pretty sad to see it go.

We are getting our new furniture on Saturday and I would be keen to see it go this weekend as we have no where convenient to store it out of the weather. If you are interested in the couch but don't have a way to get it to your place, please let me know as there may someone who can help.

Contact Janet jmgrigg@bigpond.net.au

Book Swap

Indigenous Literacy Foundation Great Book Swap

The ILF needs 35 more schools to register in order to meet its goal of 600 schools in the 2014 Great Book Swap challenge. Are you a teacher? Do you know a teacher? Do you have a child at school? Please share this with anyone that would be interested, you can find out more about the Great Book Swap here: https://www.indigenousliteracyfoundation.org.au/great-book-swap-for-schools.html

Information

A cautionary tale about gas appliances, carbon monoxide, and draughts...

PLEASE READ!!!

Recently, when a routine house inspection by the real estate agent was scheduled, I decided that the gas appliances in the house I've been renting for 12 years should be checked for safety. There's a gas space heater in the lounge, and an instantaneous gas hot water service in the kitchen. (I'd only had one previous check and that was just for the gas heater some years ago. I'd initiated and paid for that check, and I don't think there was any proper test done for carbon monoxide.)

No action from the agent for a month or so, and because of pressing family matters, I didn't pursue it immediately. I decided to get onto it a few weeks ago, because I'd been feeling particularly tired and getting headaches. So after some persistence on my part, the real estate agent arranged a plumber to come around. What surprised and shocked me was the fact that there were high levels of carbon monoxide throughout the house. The source was eventually traced to the gas hot water service (not the space heater as I might have thought). It seemed that the hot water service was faulty, and producing alarmingly high levels of CO in its immediate vicinity.

Another factor that made matters worse: When the plumber returned to remove the old HWS and replace it with a new one, he found that the flue was effectively blocked by at least 7 bird nests that had either been built in the flue or had fallen down from the top. And this despite the top of the flue having wire netting covering the outlets at the top (obviously the holes in the netting weren't small enough to prevent small birds getting through, or more disturbing, that the bird nests had been there for many years and prior to the netting being placed over the outlets...)

Furthermore, some years ago, in attempting to improve the energy efficiency of the house, I'd closed up many of the high wall vents. In this, I was following advice from Council and other agencies which recommended sealing up vents, so long as there were no un-flued gas appliances. Both the gas space heater and the hot water service were flued, so I assumed (naively) that it would be safe to do so, and help in conserving energy.

The moral to this tale is:

• get your gas appliances checked regularly (Energy Safe Victoria recommends every 2 years at least)  http://www.esv.vic.gov.au/About-ESV/Campaigns/Beware-carbon-monoxide  http://www.healthtranslations.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Gas_heating_health_and_safety_issues. And make sure that the plumber/gas fitter who comes has a carbon monoxide detector.
• get your flues/chimneys checked to ensure that there are no unwelcome bird nests etc inside, and ensure that the outlets at the top are adequately covered with mesh to prevent birds and other critters from entering
• beware of sealing up all the vents if you have internal gas appliances (even if they are flued) lest you unwittingly turn your house into a gas chamber.

Information Evening

Hi Newlands Folk.

My name is Rachael (also of SELF- your local meditation sessions:-)). I am a Victorian representative of the Australian Association of Bush Adventure Therapy (AABAT).   AABAT is a member run professional body for people working with the outdoors and adventure with the intention of a therapeutic outcome.

Friday week we are running a free information session - please see the link below.  So if you are working in a similar field, looking for a career or a career change in the outdoors then register and come along - please feel free to forward this link to anyone you know who might be interested.

http://www.aabat.org.au/event/information-evening

Thanks.

Rachael Millsom.

Regional Representative Australian Association of Bush Adventure Therapy (AABAT).

Cycling

The Happiness Cycle – Calling all teens!

The Happiness Cycle is riding into Darebin to help get local teens riding and keeping active. Spots are available and all participants get to build their own bike and take it home!

Date: Thursday 11 September

Venue: Darebin Community Sports Stadium, Plenty Road Reservoir

Registrations are essential: www.happinesscycle.com.au

Students will take home: A brand new bike, helmet, lights and locks!

More information: Stephanie Preston: 8470 8506 or Stephanie.preston@darebin.vic.gov.au

New Playgroup

Farmers Market

Coburg Farmers' Market is on this Saturday 23rd August 8am-1pm

Coburg North Primary School

180 O’Hea Street, Coburg

How about trying something new this weekend, pulling out an old cook book or looking up best uses for an unusual ingredient? Better still - come chat to our farmers' about it & take their recommendations! The Mushroom Co have their exotic mushies, MM Designer bring their pickled veg, and our meat producers have all different cuts to experiment with!  If that's not your style - then stick to the favourites with a free range chicken from Mirboo Poultry, some potatoes to roast from Bernie's Spuds and great salad veg from Boisdale's Best!

For more information on the market, a calendar and stallholder list, please visit www.mfm.com.au

Petition

Dear Neighbours,

This just might be the most important message I'll ever post. Please take the time to read and ACT. This is our chance to make history!

Together with Emeritus Professor Judith Brett and the Victorian Women's Trust, I am involved in organising an urgent, grass-roots campaign: the Monster Climate Petition. The lead petitioner is Professor Fiona Stanley and there are prominent key promoters working in every state and territory. 

http://monsterclimatepetition.com.au

The Monster Climate Petition is a petition by Australians to our federal House of Representatives asking for strong leadership and action that significantly reduces carbon emissions. It reminds all our politicians that it is ‘the fundamental duty of parliament to protect Australia’s people, land and seas’ and calls on them to make climate policy and action a bi-partisan national priority, rather than a political football.

The petition draws on the legacy of the 1891 Monster Petition for Women's Suffrage, where 30,000 signatures were collected in 5 weeks. It was the largest petition ever put before an Australian Parliament. 

The Monster Climate Petition aims to collect a million signatures before it is presented to the federal House of Representatives in November this year. 

Can you help?

http://monsterclimatepetition.com.au

Please go to the website, read all about it, then follow the simple instructions: 1. Print out the petition. 2. Collect names. 3. Send the petition to the Victorian Women's Trust for collation by 8 November.

And most importantly, SPREAD THE WORD. 

We are not asking for any money.  We only ask that, like the women of 1891, you take to the streets/schools/offices/churches/sporting clubs/book clubs/markets with pen and paper to collect as many signatures as you can.

This is a women-led initiative, but anyone (including children) can sign the petition. The petition is available in seven languages as well as English: Turkish, Greek, Italian, Mandarin, Arabic, Vietnamese and Spanish, ensuring that Australians all over have the opportunity to give voice to their concerns. 

We have the opportunity to tell our government - and the world at the G20 - that Australians want Climate Action and they want it now!

Let's make this petition a real MONSTER.

http://monsterclimatepetition.com.au

#monsterclimatepetition

Cheers,

Clare.

Found

Our neighbours found a canary in their front yard under a bush on Monday afternoon.
It is very tame and friendly.
It is mottled black and yellow in colour.
Please email Mel if you have lost a bird or know someone who has: melmate@hotmail.com

Mending

Mending is Back this Wednesday 20 Aug

Have you been saving up those little jobs? 

Here is the chance to do them in good company.  Mending can be any little fixing job (indoor at this time of year) some have sewed, glued, restored broken plates, fixed a clothes hanger and (you can guess who) fixed a snail collector sculpture :)

Bring anything you need to do the mending.

3 McGowan Ave Preston.

6.30 shared meal (optional).

7.30 - 9.30 mending.

Any Question ring Cath 9354 6401.

Free Stuff

Hi All.
We have had a bit of a clean out and before we head off to the tip we thought that some of these things may be able to find a new home in the neighbourhood.
If you would like any of these things please come and help yourself!!
29 Peterson Ave North Coburg.

Trivia Night

TRiViA NIGHT

Saturday 6^th September 2014

7 pm -10:30 pm

Coburg Town Hall

$10.00

BYO food and drinks

18+ years event

Support the club that supports your kids.

Each Ticket will be in the draw for a family voucher to a game of Melbourne United (formerly Tigers) Basketball Club ($55)

·          Silent Auctions will offer a great range of donated items, meal and event vouchers.

·          Bring all your spare change as there will be gold coin games and raffles with great prizes.

·          And of course bring a brain full of all those little bits of weird knowledge and facts that you’ve accumulated over the years.

Get together your own table of ten or join others at a table.  Any questions ring Luci on 0413 406 208.