September 2012
Royal Melbourne Show 2012
22 September - 2 October 2012
Your Victoria: Strong Families. Vibrant Communities. Healthy Environment.
The Royal Melbourne Show is Victoria's largest and longest-running annual public event, attracting over 490,000 visitors. For the first time at the Show, the Government Exhibition can be found at three separate locations - Grand Pavilion, Kids Zone and an outside location in the Town Square.
Features of this year's exhibition include:
- Finding that tree-change opportunity via the "Good Move" campaign (Grand Pavilion).
- A BBQ demonstration with Bob Hart celebrating the flavours and diversity of local and regional produce (Grand Pavilion).
- Emergency vehicle display (fire engines, police motorbike and jet water ski) combined with fun activities in the Kids Zone.
Mali in the City
10 August - 20 September 2011
Fifty fibreglass models of the famous elephant calf, Mali, have been painted by a variety of artists and are now on display on our city's streets until September 21 part of the celebrations for Melbourne Zoo's 150th birthday.
Download the Mali in the City i-phone app for location, artist and sponsor information and visit the entire herd of fifty elephants!
On October 25 the entire herd will go under the hammer at an Auction Event with all proceeds going to our conservation work as we fight the extinction of animals here in Australia and overseas. The Zoo is calling for potential buyers to register their interest to attend the Mali in the City Auction via email at maliauction@zoo.org.au
Victorian Government Contact Centre wins award
1300 366 356 - Cost of a Local Call
The Victorian Government Contact Centre was awarded the Best Government Contact Centre with 30 Full-Time Employees or Less at the Government Contact Centre Summit 2012 awards evening on 28 August.
The award recognises the outstanding customer experience provided by the Contact Centre, which services over 7,800 citizens and businesses per month.
2012 Spring Carnival in the Country - 65 days of fun!
15 September - 18 November 2012
The 2012 Spring Carnival in the Country showcases thoroughbred racing, fashion and entertainment at its finest. Enjoy 65 days of fabulous racing days across country Victoria. Country racing plays a prominent role in the heart and soul of Victoria. When you hear the thundering hoofs of the thoroughbred meet the fresh country turf, racing truly comes alive.
Country Racing Victoria represents 48 professional clubs ranging from large clubs in the outer metropolitan areas of Melbourne such as Werribee, Cranbourne and Mornington to small clubs in rural areas such as Edenhope, Manangatang and Towong.
Switch On - take charge of your power bills
Saving power will save you money and reduce energy costs for your community. Small changes at home can mean big savings on your power bills. If we all use less power, our community will not need to spend as much on power stations and other expensive energy infrastructure.
Visit the Switch On website for energy saving tips, to compare your household against others and to compare energy retailers.
"No to Homophobia" Campaign
The government recently launched a ground-breaking national "No to Homophobia" campaign, which includes two advertisements confronting the hidden discrimination still present in schools, sporting clubs, workplaces and other public places. The ads respond to the link between harassment and its negative health outcomes of depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicide.
If you or someone you know has been subject to homophobic harassment, or if you have witnessed an incident of homophobic harassment, you can do something about it. Harassment is a community issue that affects everyone. Whether you are gay, lesbian, trans, bisexual or straight and whether you are receiving or witnessing harassment you are encouraged to Take Action and stop the harm.
Become informed - discover information about your rights and the law relating to homophobic, biphobic and transphobic harassment.
Counselling and support services are available to help deal with the effects of homophobic, biphobic or transphobic harassment.
Bullying law in Victoria - 'Brodie's law'
In Victoria criminal laws now apply to serious bullying, including workplace bullying.
Victoria's anti-bullying legislation, known as Brodie's Law, commenced in June 2011 and made serious bullying a crime punishable by up to 10 years in jail. Brodie's Law was introduced after the tragic suicide of a young woman, Brodie Panlock, who was subjected to relentless bullying in her workplace. Brodie's Law makes serious bullying a criminal offence by extending the application of the stalking provisions in the Crimes Act 1958 to include behaviour that involves serious bullying. The offence of stalking, and therefore conduct that amounts to serious bullying, carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment.
Veterans' Heritage Workshop
4 October 2012
The next Veterans' Heritage Workshop will be held in Shepparton on Thursday 4 October 2012.
This workshop is a free one-day event for RSL memorabilia officers and volunteers from Victorian community organisations who care for veterans' heritage collections. It is designed to increase the skills and knowledge of volunteers and help them preserve this important cultural material for future generations.
The workshop will address common dilemmas facing community heritage organisations such as:
- What is the right way to store objects and documents?
- How can fragile objects be protected?
- What is the safest way to display material without damaging it?
- How should we catalogue our collection? What preparations can we make for the Anzac Centenary 2014-18?
The Victorian Speed Limit Review
In August 2011, VicRoads called for submissions from interested groups and individuals to the Victorian Speed Limit Review.
The Review aimed to simplify Victoria's speed limit regime, and make speed limits clear, consistent, logical and easy to comply with. Over the course of the submission period, VicRoads received more than 600 submissions from individuals, advocacy groups, local government and community groups. On the basis of the submissions, 12 outcomes were formed and the the VicRoads 2011-2012 Victorian Speed Limit Review was recently released.
VicRoads has developed an interactive map to show where the speed limit changes will occur in Victoria. This map will be updated as additional speed limit changes are approved.
A list of locations to show where the speed limit changes will occur and where the changes will not occur is also available.
Free Pneumococcal Immunisation
The new pneumococcal vaccine is available free until 30 September 2012 for children aged one and two years. The purpose of the free dose for toddlers is to cover those still in the age group considered vulnerable to pneumococcal disease who received all their pneumococcal immunisations before the vaccine was updated in October last year.
Pneumococcal bacteria can cause illnesses such as middle ear infection, pneumonia, bloodstream infection and meningitis. Recent data indicates that parents of two-year-olds have been less likely to take up the offer of a free, one-off dose of the vaccine the for their toddlers.
Parents are urged to arrange for their eligible toddler to visit their doctor or attend a council vaccination session as soon as possible before the program ends.
Anti-Hate Campaign
Are you tired of discrimination in your community? Do you feel helpless and find yourself asking - "What can I do?" There is now a solution.
The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission has developed a website promoting Anti-Hate Spray, which puts the power of hate removal in your hands. Specifically formulated to combat racism, homophobia and any other discrimination, Anti-Hate Spray will leave your community clean and hate free. Removing hate has never been this easy!
New Publications
General Publications
Momentum: Office of the Victorian Government Architect
by Goad, P. Johnson, A. London, G. Murray, S. Van Schaik, L. & Tweeddale, A. @ $94.95
The Narrow Gauge: Whitfield, Gembrook, Crowes, Walhalla
by Anchen, Nick @ $75.00
The Soul of Melbourne
by Maddisson, Mai @ $24.95
Hidden Ireland in Victoria
by Noone, Val @ $55.00
Flood Country: An Environmental History of the Murray-Darling Basin
by O'Gorman, Emily. @ $49.95
Plants of the Victorian High Country: A Field Guide for Walkers
by Murphy, John & Dowling, Bill. @ $29.95
Local Histories
Lalor: The Peter Lalor Home Building Co-operative 1946-2012
by Scollay, Moira @ $59.95
Mapping Products
Greater Melbourne Melways Street Directory 2013
by Melways Publishing @ $53.95
Government Reports
Carer Support Programs
by the Auditor General Victoria @ $20.00
Investment Attraction
by the Auditor General Victoria @ $20.00
Programs for Students with Special Learning Needs
by the Auditor General Victoria @ $20.00
Fare Evasion on Public Transport
by the Auditor General Victoria @ $20.00
New Legislation
New Acts
| A45.12 | Road Safety and Sentencing Acts Amendment Act | $5.85 |
New Statutory Rules
Reprinted Acts
| A68.95 | Bus Services Act 1995 Reprint 4 | $12.60 |
| A8056 | Environment Protection Act 1970 Reprint 18 | $41.30 |
| A107.04 | Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 Reprint 2 | $19.25 |
| A108.04 | Public Administration Act 2004 Reprint 3 | $16.25 |
| A9921 | Transport (Compliance and Miscellaneous) Act 1983 Reprint 17 | $59.00 |
| A114.03 | Gambling Regulation Act 2003 Reprint 5 | $106.45 |
| A31.01 | Gas Industry Act 2001 Reprint 5 | $19.25 |
| A8506 | Health Fluoridation Act 1973 Reprint 2 | $5.85 |
| A56.09 | Major Transport Projects Facilitation Act 2009 Reprint 1 | $22.20 |
| A69.06 | Owner's Corporation Act 2006 Reprint 1 | $16.25 |
| A96.98 | Petroleum Act 1998 Reprint 2 | $19.25 |
| A49.88 | Travel Agents Act 1986 Reprint 6 | $16.25 |
Reprinted Statutory Rules
| No reprinted Statutory Rules this month |
Visit the Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents website for a list of all Victorian acts and statutory rules.
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Momentum: Office of the Victorian Government Architect
This beautifully designed and illustrated book celebrates and reflects on Victoria's reputation for innovation and design with a series of essays and presentations of contemporary architectural projects of design excellence in Victoria.
Buy your rainbow socks
Wearing the Fair go, sport! rainbow socks shows your commitment to creating sporting clubs, schools and workplaces that are safe, supportive and inclusive.
The Department of Health website has a new voice. New functionality has been added to its web pages which allows visitors to listen to online written content.
Visit our school holiday activities page for ideas to entertain the children during the school holidays.
Port Fairy
Port Fairy is a charming, historic fishing town located on Victoria's far south-west coast on the Moyne River, between Portland and Warrnambool, at the end of the Great Ocean Road. The local port is one of the busiest fishing ports in Victoria.The town has an interesting maritime history, being part of the Shipwreck Coast.
Wide streets are lined by nineteenth century cottages, great Norfolk pines, old stone churches, boarding houses and inns. Many fine examples of the architecture of the 1800s remain intact from its days as a port for sealers and whalers - more than 50 buildings are classified by the National Trust.
Griffiths Island is situated at the mouth of the Moyne River and is linked to the coast via a pedestrian causeway. The island is home to a large colony of mutton birds, while at the eastern end of the island is the Port Fairy Lighthouse. Secluded beaches can be found on Griffiths Island and a walking track circumnavigates the island.Visitors can cruise out from the Port Fairy wharf to see the largest colony of Australian fur seals in the southern hempishere on Lady Julia Percy Island.
Several attractive parks and gardens exist in Port Fairy. including the Botanic Gardens which were first established in 1858. Port Fairy is the home of popular Port Fairy Folk Festival
If you would like to see your town mentioned in the Region Focus - send us an email.
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