July 2012
Melbourne Winter Masterpieces 2012 - Game Masters
Australian Centre for the Moving Image
28 June to 28 October 2012
Featuring 125+ playable games, Game Masters celebrates the world's most influential game designers, including Peter Molyneux, Warren Spector and Tim Schafer.
Across arcades, consoles, PC and mobile platforms, the exhibition showcases the work of over 30 videogame designers, from Nintendo's iconic character-led worlds featuring Mario and Link, to the deeply immersive stealth combat of Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid and the atmospheric, emotional narratives of Flower and Journey by thatgamecompany.
Game Masters offers the rare opportunity to play Yu Suzuki's arcade games from the 1980s, Hang-On and Out Run; take the physical challenge of a dance battle in Alex Rigopulos and Eran Egozy's Dance Central 2; test yourself in a four-player version of Firemint's Real Racing 2; and be immersed in a special 3D display of Tetsuya Mizuguchi's Child of Eden. Featuring rare concept artwork, revealing interviews and large-scale interactive displays, Game Masters showcases the radically varied approach each of these designers brings to the creation of videogames.
RACV Great Victoria Bike Ride
24 November - 2 December 2012
Enter by 27 July and save $100
Spend a week in another world and take on the challenge of participating in this year's RACV Great Victorian Bike Ride.
Starting at Lakes Entrance and finishing at Phillip Island, you'll explore the spectacular region of Gippsland and ride the magnificent Grand Ridge Road.
The nine-day ride is a fully catered, camping holiday. There is extensive back-up, including luggage transport, a licensed cafe under canvas, full medical team, and bicycle repair facilities. If you don't want to ride you are welcome to join the 400 volunteers.
Enquire online or call 1800 639 634.
Melbourne Open House
28 and 29 July 2012
Have you ever passed an historic building and wondered what secrets lurk beyond its doors?
For one weekend in 2012, Open House Melbourne will unlock 100 of the city's significant buildings for exploration – and all for FREE. You'll gain access to buildings or parts of buildings that normally would not be available to the public. You'll feel the history in buildings from the 1800s with the odd ghost or two. And you'll marvel at the environmentally sustainable initiatives of the modern architecture.
The 2012 building list includes:
- Manchester Unity Building
- Scots Church and Assembly Hall
- The Melbourne Athenaeum
- La Trobe's Cottage
- Tattoo House
If you love your city and its architecture, history and design, you'll love Open House Melbourne.
How To Say When - alcohol consumption tips and advice
Victorians now have a way of assessing their use of alcohol with a new, free online tool. Say When gives Victorian adults a chance to assess their drinking and what it means for their health and wellbeing.
Few people consider each drink they have in the context of what else they've drunk that night, that week or that year – and the idea of asking for more guidance is daunting.
This tool enables people to inform themselves by doing a self-assessment anonymously, confidentially and in the privacy of their own home. Creating a profile of your drinking is a quick and easy way to see at a glance what your drinking patterns look like, and how they change over time. Use the drink calculator to see how many standard drinks you are really consuming. Have you ever wondered how your drinking compares to other people and if you might be at risk of alcohol-related illness or injury - do the DrinkCheck quiz to learn more.
Say When is found on the Better Health Channel.
Census 2011 Data Released
The Census provides a snapshot of Australia's people and their housing – information is used to determine services and facilities you and your community need. 2011 Census data was released on 21 June.
Key Victorian highlights from the 2011 Census are:
- 26.2% (1,405,337) of Victorians were born overseas in more than 200 countries – compared to 23.8% at the 2006 Census
- 46.8% (2,503,127) of Victorians were either born overseas or have at least one parent born overseas – compared to 43.6% at the last Census
- 23.1% (1,235,435) of Victorians spoke 260 languages other than English at home – compared to 20.4% with 240 languages in 2006; 67.7% (3,623,792) of Victorians followed 135 religions – compared to 68.7% with 130 religions at the time of the last Census
- The top ten countries of birth for Victorians are: Britain, India, China, New Zealand, Italy, Vietnam, Greece, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Philippines.
Those born in India represented the largest growth with the population rising more than 110 per cent from 58,935 in 2006 to 111,787 and those following Hinduism almost doubled to 83,137. Other fast growing communities include those born in China (increase of 66%); in Sri Lanka (39.7%); and the Philippines (39.0%).
Find out more about the 2011 Census via the website, Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.
Maxims of Behaviour: Artwork of Moving Light
Set high among the billboards and signs of a major city intersection, 'Maxims of behaviour' is an artwork of moving light by artist Alexander Knox.
At night, an ever-changing montage of abstract images animates the surface of the Royal Mail House on the corner of Bourke and Swanston Streets in Melbourne's CBD. This expansive work mimics the city's colour, rhythm and behaviour.
'Maxims of behaviour' is visible from dusk till late during the winter months and was commissioned by the Public Art Program, City of Melbourne.
Register for your eHealth Record
From July 2012, people seeking healthcare in Australia will be able to begin registering for a personally controlled electronic health record - an eHealth record. The introduction of a national eHealth record system will, over time, help to improve the safety and quality of the healthcare that Australians receive, and improve the access that healthcare professionals have to key patient information.
Melbourne's Growth Areas - A New Era
The Planning Minister, Mr Guy, has released the Growth Corridor Plans, approved six Precinct Structure Plans to create new progressive communities at Diggers Rest, Lockerbie, Lockerbie North, Manor Lakes, Merrifield West and Rockbank North and announced the completion of the Logical Inclusions review of Melbourne’s Urban Growth Boundary (UGB).
The Growth Corridor Plan will guide the strategic and considered management of Victoria’s four Melbourne metropolitan growth corridors. Growth corridors identified in the plans will provide for housing, jobs, transport, town centres, open space and key infrastructure across our city’s newest metropolitan suburbs.
These plans are geared towards creating new homes for a growing population and delivering new roads, schools, sporting facilities, parks and health, education, leisure and community services.
Victorian Government Bookshop - Sale Items
The Victorian Government Bookshop is constantly adding to its CLEARANCE ITEMS, Great bargains can be found on topics relating to cooking, recreation, agriculture and local histories.
Visit us instore at Level 20/80 Collins Street, view from our online store or telephone 1300 366 356 (local call cost within Australia).
Calling for Victorian Community History Award entries
Lovers of history will be recognised for their ability to uncover tales within their local community by applying for the Victorian Community History Awards.
The annual awards, run by Public Record Office Victoria and presented by the Royal Historical Society of Victoria recognise excellence in historical research with the aim of reaching and enriching Victorians through telling stories of local history.
This year, a new category aimed at young researchers has been introduced. The Young Historians Award encourages secondary school students aged between 15 and 18 to engage with local history by exploring local community and identities, significant events and heritage topics. Other categories cover a variety of formats including unique publications, collaborations, historical interpretations and multimedia where entrants are encouraged to think outside the square and to look to new ways of presenting history. For more information and to apply, visit www.historyvictoria.org.au.
Applications close Friday 10 August 2012. Winners will be announced at the National Gallery of Victoria on Tuesday 23 October 2012.
Energy Calculator and Energy Choices
The introduction of the carbon tax on 1 July is an opportune time to revisit energy usage.
The energy calculator makes it possible for you to benchmark your daily household electricity consumption against other Victorian households of a similar size and, with similar appliances. The calculator helps you to identify if your electricity usage is above or below an average household like yours.
Victoria's Impartial Energy Comparator and Resource Tool YourChoice is a Victorian State Government initiative designed to make it easier for all Victorians to make the best energy choice for their home or small business. Use the YourChoice electricity and gas comparator to search for the most affordable offer to suit your needs, among every retailer servicing your area. The pricing information has been provided by licensed energy retailers and the Essential Services Commission works with retailers to ensure the ongoing accuracy of this information.
New Publications
General Publications
Pizer's Annotated VCAT Act - 4th Edition
by Pizer, Jason @ $195.00
Australian Local Government and Community Development
by Hornby, Frank @ $25.00
By Hill and by Vale: A History of the Hurstbridge Railway
by Fiddian, Marc @ $19.95
Way Out East: Pioneer Cinema Halls of Melbourne's Outer East
by Seccombe, Roger @ $34.00
Local Histories
Bandsman Vosti's Diaries: War and Peace in Essendon, 1917-1920
by the Frost, Lenore @ $33.00
Mapping Products
Goldfields Track Walking Guide
by Wettenhall, Gib @ $29.95
Great Dividing Trail Leanganook Track Castlemaine to Bendigo 60 km
by Great Dividing Trail Association @ $7.50
Gold and Relic Sites: Garibaldi-Wedderburn Goldfield
by Outdoor Press @ $14.95
Spatial Vision's VicMap Book: South East Region (Edition 3)
by Spatial Vision @ $90.00
Government Reports
Science and Mathematics Participation Rates and Initiatives
by the Auditor-General Victoria @ $20.00
Fraud Prevention Strategies in Local Government
by the Auditor-General Victoria @ $20.00
Effectiveness of Justice Strategies in Preventing and Reducing Alcohol-Related Harm
by the Auditor-General Victoria @ $20.00
Obsolescence of Frontline ICT: Police and Schools
by the Auditor-General Victoria @ $20.00
Free Publications
Look for Bike Riders: Sticker Pack
by VicRoads
Starting Out Safely: TAC Safety Door Sticker
by VicRoads
New Legislation
New Acts
| A26.12 | Courts and Sentencing Legislation Amendment Act 2012 | $12.60 |
| A27.12 | Health Professions Registration (Repeal) Act 2012 | $5.85 |
| A28.12 | Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission Amendment (Examinations) Act 2012 | $12.60 |
| A29.12 | Primary Industries Legislation Amendment Act 2012 | $5.85 |
| A30.12 | Statute Law Repeals Act 2012 | $3.90 |
| A31.12 | City of Melbourne Amendment (Enrolment) Act 2012 | $3.90 |
| A32.12 | Gambling Legislation Amendment (Transition) Act 2012 | $5.85 |
| A33.12 | Monetary Units Amendment Act 2012 | $3.90 |
| A34.12 | Parliamentary Salaries and Superannuation Amendment (Salary Restraint) Act 2012 | $3.90 |
| A35.12 | Police and Emergency Management Legislation Amendment Act 2012 | $5.85 |
New Statutory Rules
Reprinted Acts
| A30.07 | Accident Towing Services Act 2007 Reprint 1 | $22.20 |
| A43.01 | Corporations (Ancillary Provisions) Act 2001 Reprint 1 | $12.60 |
Reprinted Statutory Rules
| S169.08 | Accident Towing Services Regulations 2008 Reprint 1 | $12.60 |
| S76.06 | Infringements (General) Regulations 2006 Reprint 3 | $19.25 |
Visit the Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents website for a list of all Victorian acts and statutory rules.
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Goldfields Track Walking Guide
The Goldfields Track Walking Guide offers more than map spreads and track notes. Illustrated throughout with stunning colour images, this 160-page walking guide is aimed at opening the reader’s eyes to the natural beauty of central Victoria’s landscapes, as well as offer background on the transformation that took place once the gold rush began. Linking the proud goldfields cities of Ballarat and Bendigo, the Goldfields Track is, at 210km, the longest shared use track for mountain bike riders and walkers in Victoria.
Home Fire Safety
Winter is here - are you prepared for a house fire? The Home Fire Safety Checklist is a useful tool.
Private health insurance rebates and the Medicare levy surcharge changed from 1 July 2012.
The Melbourne Museum website has a Discovery Centre where you can browse an extensive range of resources, including topical websites and infosheets based on Museum Victoria's collections and research.
Yarraville
This inner western residential and industrial suburb, 6 km west of Melbourne, was formerly a working-class suburb with strong multicultural influences. Yarraville lies immediately north of the West Gate Bridge, and west of its namesake, the Yarra River. In recent years Yarraville has experienced rapid gentrification due to its close proximity to the Melbourne city centre, its parks and recreational facilities and its attractive Victorian and Edwardian properties .
Yarraville Village, located near Yarraville railway station, is lined with delightfully refurbished 19th century buildings and is renowned for its unique character and café culture. A significant attraction is the beautifully restored art deco Sun Theatre, which originally opened in 1938.
Yarraville is also the home of substantial industries. Quarrying began in the 1840s and its industrial and manufacturing base diversified from the 1880s as city firms sought larger and cheaper sites in the west. The post office opened in 1872.
If you would like to see your town mentioned in the Region Focus - send us an email.
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