May 2012
The Wonders of Ancient Mesopotamia
A new exhibition of stunning artefacts from one of the world's great ancient civilisations.
The Wonders of Ancient Mesopotamia will explore an era of extraordinary invention and innovation, the impact of which is still shaping our lives thousands of years later.
It will feature over 170 artefacts from the world famous Middle East collection of The British Museum. From massive carved stone reliefs depicting scenes of battles and hunting to stunning gold jewellery.
This exhibition focuses on three of the great centres of ancient civilisation - Sumer, Assyria and Babylon – bringing their rich history to life through objects and multimedia.
Themes in the exhibition include palaces and royal power, religious beliefs and rituals, burial practices and royal tombs, and the myths and legends that surround ancient Mesopotamia.
Victorian State Budget 2012-13
The Victorian State Budget 2012-13 was released on Tuesday, 1 May 2012. The complete set of budget papers are available from www.budget.vic.gov.au.
The Victorian Budget Papers are available for purchase from the Victorian Government Bookshop. You can purchase the Budget Papers online, over the counter at Level 20, 80 Collins Street or by telephoning 1300 366 356.
2012 Worksafe Victoria Awards
Remember that idea you had that made your workplace better? Whether it was an everyday achievement or a large-scale initiative, it could be worthy of being celebrated big-time in the 2012 WorkSafe Awards.
As well as the annual Awards ceremony, WorkSafe Champions are now being recognised three times a year. They’ll have a professional video of their entry made and automatically progress through to the finalist panel. The deadline for the first round of Champions is 31 May 2012, so get started on your entry now to make sure you are in the running.
Entries are open for safety, health and wellbeing and return to work achievements - check out the brand new website and easy entry process at www.worksafeawards.com.au
Visit the Awards website or contact awards@worksafe.vic.gov.au for further information.
Wallace & Gromit's World of Invention
19 May to 11 November 2012
Wallace and Gromit are moving into Scienceworks!
Explore 62 West Wallaby Street, a life-size version of Wallace and Gromit's home and discover how simple ideas transform into life-changing inventions.
Join the Oscar® winning duo as they guide you through their home, a world of cracking interactive contraptions, hands-on activities, games and more!
See some of their more colourful inventions, including the Telly-scope II, the Blend-o-matic, the Thinking Cap and the Karaoke Disco Shower, as well as Wallace's half half-baked ideas - from the Chocolate Teapot to the Ice Hot Water Bottle.
Marvel at the original Wallace and Gromit film sets including Top Bun Bakery (as seen in A Matter of Loaf and Death), the Living Room, the Dining Room, Wallace's Vegetable Plot and the Garden & Greenhouse (as seen in The Curse of the Were-rabbit), just to name a few.
Take on the role of an apprentice inventor and create everything from household tools to logos and find out how to protect your own big ideas.
Unleash your inner inventor and journey through a world of amazing inventions with Wallace and Gromit at Scienceworks!
Education Week 2012
20-26 May 2012
Education Week will be celebrated when kindergartens and government schools throughout Victoria will open their doors to parents and their broader communities through information nights, open days, student displays, performances and other special events that showcase their programs and achievements.
Education Week coincides with Library and Information Week in 2012, which – coupled with Australia’s year-long celebration of literacy through the National Year of Reading – presents the opportunity for schools and kindergartens to consolidate their involvement in these activities and to highlight the importance of reading and literacy skills in a child’s early learning and education journey.
Register your open day and win!Government schools and kindergartens are invited to hold open days and literacy-themed Education Week activities and to register them for promotion on this website to parents, students and interested community members.
Schools and kindergartens which register their Open Day or Special Event by 27 April 2012 will go into a draw to win one of five shopping sprees to the value of $250 at Officeworks!
Love and Devotion - From Persia and Beyond
Free Exhibiton - State Library of Victoria - 9 March to 1 July 2012
This Exhibition celebrates the beauty of Persian manuscrips and the stories of human and divine love told through their pages from the early 11th century onwards.
Many of the manuscrips on show have been loaned fro the world-renowned collection of the Bodleian Libraries of the University of Oxford together with rare works from the State Library of Victoria and other Australian collections.
New Public Transport Body
Public Transport Victoria (PTV) has commenced operations, providing a single contact point for customers wanting information on public transport services, fare, tickets and initiatives.
PTV has been established with the aim of improving public transport in Victoria by:
- Ensuring better coordination between modes
- Facilitating expansions to the network
- Auditing public transport assets
- Promoting public transport as an alternative to the car
- Acting as a system authority for all public transport and an advocate for public transport users.
Up-to-date public transport information is available via the PTV website, call centre and mobile phone applications. To plan your journey visit ptv.vic.gov.au or call 1800 800 007.
Landscaping for Bushfire: Garden Design and Plant Selection
Landscaping for bushfire is much the same as any type of gardening except there are a few more planning steps. It involves, planning, designing, planting and managing the area around your house. Careful design and plant selection can reduce the effects of direct flame contact and radiant heat on a house during a bushfire.
Landscaping for Bushfire: Garden Design and Plant Selection provides information on garden design and plant selection which can be used for new or existing gardens in high bushfire risk areas.
The Plain English Speaking Award in Victoria
The Plain English Speaking Award (PESA) is a public speaking competition for students aged 15-18 years. PESA provides an excellent opportunity for students to build self-confidence and extend their skills in oral communication, speech writing and research. In Australia each year state and territory committees organise and conduct competitions at school, regional and state levels. State winners then go to the national final which is held in the various states and territories on a rotational basis.
In Victoria, PESA is organised and conducted by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority. The 2012 State Final will take place on Wednesday, 27 June in East Melbourne. Teachers and students are invited to hear the best speakers of the year on the morning of this day. Email vcaa@edumail.vic.gov.au with numbers by Monday, 18 June 2012.
Lessons from the Road: New Online Resource for Learner Drivers
To help them fulfill their vital role as supervisors of learner drivers, parents now have an online resource, Lessons from the Road, which contains tips on managing the stages of learning to drive, dealing with challenges along the way and helping young drivers to stay safe on the roads once they get their 'P' plates.
Lessons from the Road is easy to use and can be accessed anywhere at anytime. The eight short videos follow the stories of three learner drivers and their parents, showcasing the emotions and real-life issues involved in learning to drive. It complements the VicRoads Guide for Supervising Drivers, found in the Learner Kit. As part of Victoria's Graduated Licensing System, learners must obtain 120 hours of on-road driving experience. Ensuring they get this valuable experience in a variety of conditions takes time and patience, so making sure parents feel supported in this role is essential.
Living Victoria Water Rebate Scheme
The Living Victoria Water Rebate Program gives Victorian households and small businesses the chance to save water and money when purchasing eligible water-efficient products such as rainwater tanks, dual-flush toilets, washing machines, pool covers, garden products, permanent greywater systems and many more products.
A key aspect of the home and garden rebates is that it will now extend the existing water-efficient rebates to all Victorian households (inbcluding those that are self-supplied and not connected to a reticulated water supply). Additionally, there are two new products included in the program. These are washing machines with a 5-star water (WELS rated) and 4-star energy rating and pool covers with a roller or reel for the cover. Home and garden rebates are available for products purchased and installed between 1 July 2011 and 30 June 2013.
Rebates are now also available for small businesses connected to a reticulated water supply that have 20 or less employees to improve the water efficiency of their business. Small businesses are eligible to receive a one-off rebate of up to $2000 for the purchase and implementation of a range of products including rainwater tanks, dual flush toilets, waterless or low flow urinals, washing machines, dishwashers, glass washers, waterless wok stoves plus many other water efficient products. Small business rebates are available for products purchased and installed between 19 July 2011 and 30 June 2013.
Special Offer
Between 26 March and 30 June 2012, all Victorian households can receive a special $30 rebate when spending just $50 (normally $100) on a range of water-saving products around their home and garden.Small business rebates are available for products purchased and installed between 19 July 2011 and 30 June 2012.
Port Phillip Bay marine life makes a splash online
A joint initiative of the Department of Sustainability and Environment and Museum Victoria, The Taxonomic Toolkit for Marine Life of Port Phillip Bay is the most comprehensive reference tool to date for understanding the rich marine life of Port Phillip Bay. It is an innovative online resource providing information on the array of marine animals that call Port Phillip Bay home.
Next time you head out to the bay and see interesting animals, the website will assist in identifying species and provide information about them. There is a spectacular gallery of over 2,000 photographs, which includes 1,001 species from Port Phillip Bay, with more to come during 2012.
Victoria in Future 2012
The Victorian Government's official population and household projections
Victoria in Future 2012 projections cover the period 2011 to 2051 for Victoria, metropolitan Melbourne and the whole of regional Victoria. Projections for smaller geographical areas (Statistical Local Areas, Local Government Areas and regional Statistical Divisions) cover the period 2011 to 2031.
The projections are based on the 2011 ABS population estimates and supersede the projections published by the Department of Planning and Community Development in 2008.
New Publications
General Publications
Green Australia: A Snapshot
by Lancaster, Steve @ $34.95
Outside the Magic Square: A Handbook for Food Security
by Houbein, Lolo @ $45.00
Anastasia Woman of Eureka: A Tribute to Anastasia Withers
by Worthington, Vivienne @ $22.00
Yarra Valley Railways
by Anchen, Nick @ $39.95
Job Guide 2012 Victoria
by Hobson’s Guide @ $29.95
Australian Story: An Illustrated Timeline
by McCartney, Tania @ $24.95
Clean Energy, Climate and Carbon
by Cook, Peter J @ $39.95
Water: Science and Solutions for Australia
by Prosser, Ian @ $24.95
Australian Planting Design (Second Edition)
by Thompson, Paul @ $39.95
Caravan Survival Guide (Edition 2)
by Basham, John @ $29.95
Going Bush: A Tree-changer's Guide to Successful Country Living
by Mundie, Edward @ $29.95
Local Histories
No local history publications this month
Mapping Products
Snowy-Kosciuszko Regional Map – Edition 2
by Hema Maps @ $9.95
Top-End and Gulf Map - 5th Edition
by Hema Maps @ $9.95
Government Reports
Access to Public Housing
by the Auditor General Victoria @ $20.00
Performance Reporting by Local Government
by the Auditor General Victoria @ $20.00
Freedom of Information
by the Auditor General Victoria @ $20.00
Casual Relief Teacher Arrangements
by the Auditor General Victoria @ $20.00
New Legislation
New Acts
New Statutory Rules
Reprinted Acts
| A108.97 | Confiscation Act 1997 Reprint 6 | $26.60 |
| A6231 | Crimes Act 1958 Reprint 23 | $47.20 |
| A24.06 | Education and Training Reform Act 2006 Reprint 3 | $52.20 |
Reprinted Statutory Rules
| S94.08 | Supreme Court (Miscellaneous Civil Proceedings) Rules 2008 Reprint 1 | $16.25 |
| S65.08 | Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Rules 2008 Reprint 1 | $16.25 |
Visit the Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents website for a list of all Victorian acts and statutory rules.
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Yarra Valley Railways
Railways of the Yarra Valley takes you on a nostalgic journey back in time to when the Victorian Railways branch lines and the ingenious bush tramways were the lifeblood of isolated rural communities. This book examines the much loved Warburton and Healesville railways, along with the fascinating Powelltown, Britannia Creek and Warburton tramway systems, all of which were instrumental in making the Yarra Valley Victoria’s most prosperous timber region.
Help for Parents - Safely Wrapping Baby
A new video about the risks of wrapping newborn babies too tightly has been released by the Royal Children's Hospital. The video was developed after research showed that babies who are wrapped or swaddled too tightly are at greater risk of developing developmental dysplasia of the hip.
Watch out for emergency scammers - Victorians should be wary of bogus salespeople posing as members of the emergency services, after a number of reports to Consulmer Affairs Victoria.
Culture Victoria has a wealth of fascinating stories, collections and places to discover.
Maffra
Maffra is situated 220 km east of Melbourne situated on the Macalister River and is within an hour’s drive of both the mountains and Lake Glenmaggie to the north and the sea to the south. Named after the town of Maffra in Portugal, some early settlers had reportedly fought in Spain and Portugal during the Peninsula War. In 1862 Maffra started to grow when a punt conveyed hopeful miners along the Macalister River to the goldfields.
Experience motoring history at the Vintage Car Museum, take a stroll to see the town's attractive 19th century tree-lined main street, relax and fish for trout, play golf, birdwatch at the Macalister Wetland Reserve, or go bushwalking in nearby National Parks.
The Gippsland Plains Rail Trail from Stratford to Tinamba passes through dairy country with views of the Great Dividing Range.
If you would like to see your town mentioned in the Region Focus - send us an email.
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