March 2011
Premiers' Reading Challenge 2011
The 2011 Victorian Premiers' Reading Challenge launched in spectacular style when more than a thousand school students took over Federation Square with a flash mob dance routine aimed at encouraging people to read. Premier Ted Baillieu praised their unique way of promoting literacy before officially launching this year's Challenge.
Mr Baillieu also announced that this year's Challenge would see Victoria's past Premiers unite in a historic display of bipartisan support. Former Premiers John Cain, Joan Kirner, Jeff Kennett Steve Bracks and John Brumby will all participate in promoting the 2011 Challenge.
To take part in the Challenge, Years 3 to 10 students are required to read 15 books or more and students in Prep to Year 2 need to read or "experience" 30 books by September 16.
For more information about the 2011 Challenge, or to find out how to sign up, visit www.education.vic.gov.au/prc
Viva Victoria 2011
As part of Cultural Diversity Week (19-27 March), Federation Square will come alive at Viva Victoria, a festival for the whole family packed with an array of multicultural cuisines, crafts, activities and performances showcasing Victoria's rich diversity.
This year's festival features three stages and a stellar line up of some of Australia's finest multicultural acts. Enjoy a performance of Ethiopian funk from Dereb & The Ambassadors (NSW) plus sets from popular local acts including Bombay Royale, Vulgergrad, Lady Lash, and Afro Mandinko. There will be spectacular dance performances, extravagant costumes, energetic drumming, Don't forget to head to the youth stage, Ubuntu, and hear comedy, poetry, and so much more.
Visit www.multicultural.vic.gov.au for more information.
Moomba
Friday 11 to Monday 14 March 2011. Moomba Festival draws thousands of people into the city every year as Australia's largest community event.
Enjoy a spectacular festival atmosphere of colour, culture, dance, music and performance for the 56th Moomba Festival.
Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs
The Tutankhamun exhibition comes to Australia for the first time.
Revel in the splendour of Ancient Egypt as you view a dazzling array of possessions unearthed from the boy king's tomb. See Tutankhamun's golden canopic coffinette and the crown found on his head when the tomb was discovered. Learn about the extraordinary discovery of the tomb and the belief and burial processes of ancient Egypt. View results from the latest scientific testing conducted on Tutankhamun’s mummy and what it is telling researchers about his life and death.
Tickets now on sale. To guarantee a ticket, you must pre-book. Visit kingtutmelbourne.com.au to buy your tickets.
Follow King Tut on Facebook.
Protecting Victoria's Vulnerable Children Inquiry
The Hon. Ted Baillieu, Premier of Victoria launched the Protecting Victoria's Vulnerable Children Inquiry on 31 January 2011. The Inquiry will investigate systemic problems in Victoria's child protection system and make recommendations to strengthen and improve the protection and support of vulnerable young Victorians.
Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show
Wednesday 30th March - Sunday 3rd April 2011
The Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show, ranked in the top five flower shows in the world, is set to amaze in 2011!
The world renowned flower and garden Show is entering its 16th year and is now regarded as the largest and most successful horticultural event in the Southern Hemisphere.
Featuring the best landscape and floral talent that Australia has to offer along side an extensive array of garden retail products, the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show is a celebration of Australian lifestyle and our great outdoors.
Staged within the world heritage listed Royal Exhibition Building and surrounding Carlton Gardens, this prestigious Show is well established in the psyche of Australians as a "must see" event.
Privacy Victoria - new website
The Office of the Victorian Privacy Commissioner has launched a new website www.privacy.vic.gov.au
The new website provides greater accessibility and ease of navigation for the community and the Victorian public sector. People are able to quickly identify their areas of interest and use a variety of online privacy tools to help them better understand privacy issues and their privacy rights.
The new site also includes resources for primary teachers. This are based on an online interactive game which encourages children to be a Personal Information Protector.
In addition, translated material of privacy information is available in 26 languages, with new languages including Dari, Dinka, Indonesian, Persian and Tigrinya.
It's your privacy. Don't ignore it.
Privacy Victoria's Youth Advisory Group has developed some easy tips to help people protect their privacy online and offline. The tips can be found at http://www.privacy.vic.gov.au/privacy/web2.nsf/pages/its-your-privacy.-dont-ignore-it
Top Designs 2011
An inspiring exhibition of VCE and VET Students: 26 March - 26 June 2011
Don't miss this annual design exhibition of works produced by VCE and VET Students.
The VCAA (Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority) and Melbourne Museum present Top Designs 2011.
See an exemplary exhibition of works produced by VCE Media, Design and Technology, Food and Technology, Systems Engineering, VCE VET Interactive Digital Media, and Visual Communication and Design students.
The exhibition not only features the final product, but also its development – see the students' folios, work briefs, production plans, client feedback and evaluation, storyboards, scripts and design plans.
Top Designs 2011 includes furniture, fashion, graphic and product design, film, print layout, photography, animation, food product planning, websites and mechanical and electronic projects.
Join the Top Designs at Melbourne Museum Facebook group, and be a part of Victoria's new online design community.
Introducing BrowseAloud on Victoria Online
Visitors to Victoria Online (www.vic.gov.au) can now llisten to this website with BrowseAloud, which is free to website visitors and can be easily downloaded from the BrowseAloud Website.
BrowseAloud makes websites accessible to those who require online reading support. It works by reading web pages aloud in a human-sounding voice. The user simply hovers their mouse pointer over the text to hear it read aloud.
Open Day - Parliament House
The Parliament House Open Day will be held on Sunday 20 March 2011, from 10.30 am until 3.30 pm (last entry 3.30 pm).
The Open Day provides an opportunity to see inside the historic Parliament House building, one of Melbourne's best-known landmarks. Visitors can undertake a self-guided tour through the building, followed by a stroll through the magnificent Parliamentary Gardens. Entertainment will be provided in the gardens, and refreshments will be available for purchase.
Entry to the Open Day is free.
Aerial view of flooding in northern Victoria
The Department of Sustainability and Environment have provided before and after shots that give a bird's-eye view of the effect of flood waters in January 2011. To see the photos, go to www.dse.vic.gov.au/floodimages
For more aerial flood pictures, see also DSE on Flickr.
Detox Your Home mobile disposal service 2011
The mobile disposal service schedule details the location, date and time for collections from February to June 2011.
Planned burns
Planned burning is happening now to reduce the risk to communities from future bushfires. For more information about where and when call the Victorian Bushfire Information Line on 1800 240 667 or visit the DSE website.
New Publications
General Publications
Natural Gain
by Smith, David F. @ $29.95
What Makes a Good Farm for Wildlife?
by Lindenmayer, David @ $39.95
Australian Snakes: A Natural History
by Shine, Richard @ $34.95
Photographic Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Australia
by Swan, Gerry @ $19.95
Get That Government Job: The Secrets to Winning Positions with Selection Criteria
by Richards, Dawn @ $29.95
Railways of the Otway Ranges
by Anchen, Nick @ $29.95
Pocket Guide to OP Shops Around Geelong
by Wane, Heidi @ $8.00
The Age Cheapeats 2011
edited by Rousseau, Nina & Egger, Simone @ $24.95
Remember Them: A Generation of Victorians at the Great War
by Hedditch, Katrina @ $30.00
Conflict and Reconciliation: The Future of our Historic Churches
Edited by Henwood, John & Hazell, Tom @ $14.85
Accounting Study Design (2012 edition)
produced by the VCAA @ $11.95
Media Study Design (2012 edition)
produced by the VCAA @ $11.95
Outdoor and Environmental Studies (2012 edition)
produced by the VCAA @ $11.95
English Language Study Design (2012 edition)
produced by the VCAA @ $11.95
Mapping Products
Grampians: Four Wheel Drive Map
by Spatial Vision @ $11.95
Snowy Mountains Central Adventure Map: Cooma - Khancoban
by Rooftop Mapping @ $11.95
Merimbula - Bermagui Adventure Map
by Rooftop Mapping @ $11.95
Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair - Map and Notes
by TASMAP @ $9.95
Mount Field National Park
by TASMAP @ $9.95
Cradle Mountain Day Walk - Map and Notes
by TASMAP @ $9.95
Government Reports
Acquittal Report: Results of the 2009-10 Audits
by the Victorian Auditor-General @ $20.00
Construction of Police Stations and Courthouses
by the Victorian Auditor-General @ $20.00
Effectiveness of Victims of Crime Programs
by the Victorian Auditor-General @ $20.00
Motorcycle and Scooter Safety Programs
by the Victorian Auditor-General @ $20.00
New Legislation
New Acts
| No new Acts published this month. |
New Statutory Rules
Reprinted Acts
| No reprinted Acts published this month. |
Reprinted Statutory Rules
| No reprinted Statutory Rules published this month. |
Visit the Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents website for a list of all Victorian acts and statutory rules.
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Dreams from a Suitcase: Recollections of Italian Settlers in the Yarra Valley
This book of recollections spans their memories of childhood in Italy, their growing up, their hardships, their initiative in building their families futures and enterprises in a new land.
Visit the Famous Spiegel Garden - Melbourne's hot new location for entertainment and relaxation.
Help Info Vic design killer mobile apps!
Visit www.ideasforinfovic.com/
The 2011 Melbourne International Comedy Festival is celebrating 25 years of laughs. Join in the celebrations and take a trip down memory lane as the Festival turns 25 in style!
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