July 2009
Victoria Police News Website
The Victoria Police News website provides the community and media with up-to-the-minute police news and information.
Along with news items such as witness appeals and arrests, the Victoria Police News website features the web 2.0 technologies of video, audio, monthly live forums with Chief Commissioner Simon Overland and other senior police members as well as links to the:
- Victoria Police Twitter feed;
- Facebook group - Victoria Police Forcebook; and
- You Tube channel - VPBlueTube.
A key part of the website is My Place
By entering their postcode into the My Place application, community members will be able to view their local crime statistics. Each Police Service Area (PSA) has a My Place page, which includes a message from the local inspector and targeted crime prevention tips.
My Place aims to give the community information about what crime is taking place in their area, providing them with the knowledge to prevent further criminal activity and make their area a safer place.
The website also features traffic alerts. These include crashes and incidents on main roads and highways, giving motorists information to plan their journeys.
Check out the Victoria Police News website at www.vicpolicenews.com.au or via the Victoria Police Internet site.
Public Advocate
The Office of the Public Advocate (OPA) is an independent statutory agency that promotes the interests, rights and dignity of Victorians with a disability.
OPA provides advocacy, advice, information and services for individuals, their families and those who work with them. It can investigate and take action when people are exploited, neglected, abused or in need of guardianship. For more information visit www.publicadvocate.vic.gov.au.
Football and Netball Lighting Guide
The Football and Netball Lighting Guide aims to answer key questions local sporting clubs, organisations and councils may face when undertaking new lighting projects. It offers recommendations for planning, design, maintenance and operation of a variety of lighting systems.
The guide also includes great examples of lighting projects cross Victoria, which demonstrate innovative and cost effective ways communities and local sporting clubs can maximise the use of their facilities and playing surfaces, encouraging more people to get active in sport and recreation.
For more details visit www.sport.vic.gov.au.
Victorian Small Business Commissioner
Small businesses need a competitive and fair business environment to grow. That's why the Victorian Government established an Australian first - the Office of the Victorian Small Business Commissioner (VSBC).
The VSBC is dedicated to promoting a competitive and fair operating environment for small business. It assists and supports small businesses through its four key functions:
- Investigation;
- Mediation;
- Information; and
- Education.
as well as a review of the effect of government practices on small business. For more information visit www.sbc.vic.gov.au.
Inquiry into Powers of Attorney
The Victorian Parliament's Law Reform Committee is conducting an Inquiry into Powers of Attorney.
Submissions are sought until 21 August 2009 on how existing laws can be streamlined and simplified so that more Victorian's can plan for their future financial, lifestyle and healthcare needs. For more information visit www.parliament.vic.gov.au/lawreform/
New Gaming arrangements
New arrangements for the Victorian gaming machine industry will commence in 2012. People interested in participating in the new industry are invited to attend Information Sessions starting on 14 July 2009 which will be held at 16 locations across the state. For more information visit www.gamblinglicences.vic.gov.au.
Victorian Climate Change Green Paper - how can I get involved?
Feedback from individuals and organisations on the ideas put forward in the Green Paper will be critical to the Victorian Government's task of developing a comprehensive new climate change strategy for Victoria. Public forums will be held throughout the State seeking input from all Victorians.
Submissions are one of the main ways that individuals and organisations can contribute to the Victoria's long term response to climate change. The closing date for submissions is Wednesday, 30 September 2009. For more details visit www.climatechange.vic.gov.au
Sustainable Alpine Resorts - a framework for discussion
Victoria's alpine resorts face many challenges in an increasingly competitive environment and in a time of climate change.
The State Government has released a Framework for Discussion document to provide managers and stakeholders of the alpine resorts, as well as the wider community, with an outline of the goals and directions needed to achieve the vision of the Alpine Resorts 2020 Strategy.
Those goals include the sustainable management and development of resorts without compromising community access to alpine areas and the ongoing financial sustainability of individual resorts.
If you would like to participate in further discussions around the Framework, please register your interest by emailing sustainable.alpineresorts@dse.vic.gov.au.
New Publications
General Publications
Guide to Camps and Outdoor Activity Providers
by the Australian Camp Association @ $7.90
Saints, Sinners and Goalposts - A History of All Saints East St Kilda
by Holden, Colin @ $44.00
Go Explore Melbourne - Themed Walks and Adventures (Pack of cards)
by Explore Australia @ $24.95
52 Weekends - Unique Accommodation in Country Victoria (Pack of cards)
by Explore Australia @ $19.95
Birds of Wilsons Promontory - A Photographic Guide (folding bookmark)
by Sutherland, Ian @ $3.45
The Place For a Village - How Nature Has Shaped the City of Melbourne
by Presland, Gary @ $60.00
The Chinawoman
by Oldis, Ken @ $34.95
Water For Gold - The Fight to Quench Central Victoria's Goldfields
by Russell, Geoffrey @ $44.00
Tom Wills - His Spectacular Rise and Tragic Fall
by de Moore, Greg @ $32.95
Make It Australian - The Australian Performing Group, The Pram Factory and New Wave Theatre
by Wolf, Gabrielle @ $32.95
The Bungaree Racecourse Railway
by Cauchi, Mark & Guiney, Michael @ $24.95
Composting - A Down to Earth, Water-Wise Guide
published by Penguin Books @ $19.95
Cape York - A 4WD Experience
by Fraser, Lynn & Yvonne @ $34.95
Local Histories
Echuca - A History
by Priestley, Susan @ $39.95
Georgie Ah Ling - Donald's Friend
published by the Donald History & Natural History Group @ $15.00
Bendigo its Environs - The Way It Was Volume 2
by Arnold, Ken @ $65.00
Mapping Products
Queensland State Map (Map 419, 4th Edition)
by Gregory's @ $6.95
Gold Coast Touring Map (Map 404, 4th Edition)
by Gregory's @ $6.95
Australia Country Map (8th Edition)
by Hema Maps @ $8.95
Wombat State Forest 4WD Map - CD Rom
by Meridian Maps @ $19.95
Mount Kosciuszko Perisher and Thredbo Map
by Sutmap @ $12.95
Government Reports
Thinning of Box-Ironbark Forests (Native Forest Silviculture Guideline No. 15)
by Fagg, Peter and Bates, Paul @ $15.00
Governance and Fraud Control within Selected Adult Education Agencies
by the Victorian Auditor-General @ $20.00
Withdrawal of Infringement Notices
by the Victorian Auditor-General @ $20.00
Claims Management by the Victorian WorkCover Authority
by the Victorian Auditor-General @ $20.00
Effectiveness of Drought Assistance Measures
by the Victorian Auditor-General @ $20.00
Connecting Courts - the Integrated Courts Management System
by the Victorian Auditor-General @ $20.00
Implementing Victoria Police's Code of Practice for the Investigation of Family Violence
by the Victorian Auditor-General @ $20.00
A Field Guide to Rainforest Identification in Victoria
by DSE @ $50.00
New Legislation
New Acts
| A18.09 | Bushfires Royal Commission (Report) Act 2009 | $3.80 |
| A19.09 | Fair Trading and Other Acts Amendment Act 2009 | $5.70 |
| A20.09 | Parliamentary Salaries and Superannuation Amendment Act 2009 | $3.80 |
| A21.09 | Workplace Rights Advocate (Rpeal) Act 2009 | $3.80 |
New Statutory Rules
Reprinted Acts
| A53.96 | Children's Services Act 1996 Rp 2 | $12.20 |
| A16.99 | Fair Trading Act 1999 Rp 4 | $25.75 |
| A126.86 | Retirement Villages Act 1986 Rp 6 | $15.75 |
Reprinted Statutory Rules
| S41.07 | Aboriginal Heritage Regulations 2007 Rp 1 | $12.20 |
Visit the Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents website for a list of all Victorian acts and statutory rules.
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The Chinawoman
The police hunt for the murderers of an English prostitute fanned anti-Chinese hysteria in the colony. The horrific crime was enveloped in mystery for months, until political pressure broke the silence of the Chinese and suspects were delivered up to the English...
Recycle your cans - Tuna cans, dog-food cans, drink cans, tomato cans - cans are recyclable! Although they are sometimes called tin cans, the cans you use at home are made from steel or aluminium. These metals are very energy intensive to produce from virgin materials, so by recycling your cans you can slash the amount of energy required to make a new can by as much as 75 per cent. Don't worry about the label, just give them a quick rinse and put them in with the rest of the recycling.
Upon Federation, an Australian flag competition, held by the Commonwealth Government, received 32,823 entries, the majority of which contained the Southern Cross. Five designs that were almost identical were declared equal winners and the Australian flag flew for the first time on 3 September 1901 over the dome of Melbourne's Exhibition Building.
Collingwood
The name Collingwood was originally used to describe the areas which later became the municipalities of Collingwood and Fitzroy. In 1861 there were 12,653 residents with 42.4% of inhabitants under the age of 15 - compared to 14% in the twenty-first century. Collingwood was home to many workers and at one stage it was the centre of the boot and shoe trade in Victoria.
Details taken from Bitter Roots, Sweet Fruit: A history of schools in Collingwood, Abbotsford and Clifton Hill by Karen T. Cummings, Collingwood Historical Society, the winner of the Best Community Research, Registers and Records Category in the 2009 Victorian Community History Awards.
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