Eltham RSL finds a new ally

ELTHAM’S defunct RSL is set to be revived under a planned merger with Montmorency.

- Kelvin Eldridge

No Games backflips from Eltham North commentator

ELTHAM North gymnastics champ Stephanie Moorhouse remains upbeat about her role as a Commonwealth Games commentator despite growing uncertainty over the Games.

- Kelvin Eldridge

UltraFeedback – Research Analyst

The following position just crossed my radar. Whilst JustLocal is about helping us to more easily find businesses selling products and services in our local area, one outcome I am hoping for with JustLocal is increased local employment for locals by local businesses. Perhaps you know someone who is interested in this position.

http://jobview.careerone.com.au/Research-Analyst-Job-Eltham-VIC-AU-91023125.aspx

Kelvin Eldridge

Sweet Sugar likes it hotter

It is a long way from Whelan's first performing experience at St Helena Secondary College, Eltham North. ''I took part in the musical every year from year 7,'' she says. ''That's when I realised I loved performing because everything came naturally.''

- Kelvin Eldridge

Smartbus 901 free for two weeks

“An extended SmartBus Route 901 from Frankston to Melbourne Airport is starting on Sunday September 26. Route 901 is free to all passengers during the first two weeks of operation – to Sunday 10 October 2010.” - Metlink

Eltham library upgrade opening celebration

I was reading news about Eltham on the internet and found this PDF on the Eltham library upgrade opening celebration which runs from Monday the 20th of September to Sunday the 26th of September.

What caught my attention was the building itself. The Bulleen, Doncaster and Doncaster libraries tend to be libraries that appear to be stuck underneath the local shopping centres as simply a place for them to be. But check out the location of the Eltham library and the building itself.

I've often driven down the road as it is next to the park and I must admit I'd never registered this was the Eltham library. I'll now be dropping in to check out the upgrades, the building and surroundings. It looks pretty impressive.

I live in Templestowe and with the new Smartbus this might be the closest library to me being a 5-6 minute bus ride. I don't really use libraries, but I did have fun exploring them when I was younger.

A current pet project I've been exploring is a way to make all those books we have sitting around our homes available effectively for free. The idea is everyone puts their books up on the internet and then rents them out for $3 each.

At first this doesn't look free, but if people lend to others and then borrow from others equally, the money cancels out. This avoids the situation which is so common where a lot of people simply take and never give back. Check out my list of books at MyTreasure, or my personal development book page directly on this link. If you'd like to loan our your books everything you need is free including the software I provide.

Kelvin Eldridge

Walter Wither?s After the Heat of the Day 1891

A RECENTLY uncovered masterpiece by Heidelberg School artist and one-time Eltham resident Walter Withers remains up for grabs after it was passed in at auction.

- Kelvin Eldridge

Smartbus 901 Frankston to Airport for $2.80. Amazing

A NEW bus service from Frankston to Melbourne Airport via the eastern and northern suburbs will take a bottom-numbing 4 1/2 hours - about the same time it takes to fly to Darwin.

- Kelvin Eldridge

IT IS almost as if Eltham's Edwin Van Ravesteyn was destined to become a musician

The youngster was set to fill his grandfather’s shoes when he jetted off to China on September 16 to perform with the National Boys Choir.

- Kelvin Eldridge

Zacks Gourmet Meats owner Simon Biddiscombe at his Research butchery

Mr Biddiscombe, who heads Zacks Gourmet Meats in Research, supplied 800 barbecue sausages and 10kg of gourmet sausages to the Eltham fundraiser

- Kelvin Eldridge

The new SmartBus Route 901 will run seven days a week

Public transport in Greensborough, Plenty and Lower Plenty will be boosted with SmartBus Route 901 to be extended several months earlier than originally planned, Public Transport Minister Martin Pakula said today while visiting Greensborough.

- Kelvin Eldridge

McEwen would lose Eltham

McEwen would lose Eltham, Research, Wattle Glen and Kangaroo Ground to Jagajaga and Yarrambat, and parts of Diamond Creek would go to Scullin.

- Kelvin Eldridge

A toddler crawled under a fence and ran towards an approaching train near a Montmorency playground

Two-year-old Thomas Johnson squeezed under the fence separating Petrie Park playground from the rail track earlier this month.

- Kelvin Eldridge

Mobile speed camera locations - September 2010 (Bulleen, Templestowe, Templestowe Lower, Doncaster, Doncaster East, Eltham)

Mobile speed camera locations for September 2010.

High Street, between Rosemary Street and Linton Avenue, Templestowe
Serpells Road, between Church Road and Killibury Court , Templestowe
Reynolds Road, between Hawtin Street and Smiths Road, Templestowe
Manningham Road, between Ayr Street and High Street, Templestowe Lower
King Street, between Williamsons Road and Veda Court, Doncaster
George Street, between Victoria Street and Williamsons Road, Doncaster
High Street, between Manningham Road and Doncaster Road, Doncaster
Wetherby Road, between Doncaster Road and Koonung Creek, Doncaster
Doncaster Road, between Rose Street and High Street, Doncaster
Doncaster Road, between Blackburn Road and Wetherby Road, Doncaster East
King Street, between Nedlands Court and Ashcroft Avenue, Doncaster East
Blackburn Road, between Raintree Road and Johns Grove, Doncaster East
Blackburn Road, between Beverley Street and Turnstone Street, Doncaster East
Blackburn Road, between Reynolds Road and King Street, Doncaster East
Bulleen Road, between Thompsons Road and Manningham Road, Bulleen

Kelvin Eldridge

Problems with user login and email on its BigPond internet and Foxtel cable services afflict Eltham.

Telstra was experiencing widespread problems with user login and email on its BigPond internet and Foxtel cable services.

- Kelvin Eldridge

Eastern freeway traffic cameras show up-to-date traffic conditions (Bulleen Road, Yarra Bend)

Frequently when I get to around Bulleen Road on the Eastern Freeway of a night, the bank up of traffic ahead is shocking. I’ve often wondered if there was a way I could check out the traffic beforehand. As it turns out VicRoads provides a live feed from their cameras which are updated frequently. Below are the links to the cameras that interest me and may be of interest to others in the local area.

 

Bulleen Road looking East

http://livetraffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au/region/23010?expanddiv=group3

 

Eastern Freeway at Yarra Bend looking East

http://livetraffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au/region/23002?expanddiv=group3

 

Happy motoring.

 

Kelvin Eldridge

 

Parking at Eltham train station

I was at Eltham station this morning so I decided to check out the parking. It was 8:02am and the parking was nearly full. This includes parking on both sides of the station. I would estimate that by 8:10am all day parking would have been full. The five hour parking spaces were available, but obviously this won't suit people going out for the day into the city.

Kelvin Eldridge

Two pictured riding back of train of Eltham bound train

Dangerous and illegal: two youths on the back of the Eltham-bound train leaving Jolimont Station on Saturday afternoon.

I can’t help wondering. If they were spotted getting onto the train and Metro was notified by their intercom, “why wasn’t action taken at the next station where the train stopped?”

- Kelvin Eldridge

Metlink News - Eltham, Hurstrbridge line delay

After writing the earlier post stating an advisory service by Metlink was required I couldn’t help feeling Metlink might have something in place. I checked and they do have a News page which provides updates. Those with smartphones may wish to check for delays or issues whilst waiting, or before starting their journey. The JustLocal blog entry was found within minutes by Google so a search of Google would have worked if I know about an issue in the local area but Metlink pages for the delay don’t appear. Trains are now working normal again on the Hurstbridge line.

Kelvin Eldridge

UPDATE: Sadly it appears the delay may have been someone was hit by a train at Montmorency this morning.

Eltham train disruption this morning

Trains from Eltham station to the city weren’t going this morning and a bus to Greensborough was needed. The government needs some form of advisory service for the public as this type of unexpected situation causes everyone grief and results in loss of confidence in the public transport system. The problem is bosses don’t care why people are late and it causes friction in the workplace. The bus to Eltham from Templestowe could have warned commuters so alternate travel plans could have been made. I pity the workers who have to face their bosses this morning.

Kelvin Eldridge  

UPDATE: Sadly it appears the delay may have been someone was hit by a train at Montmorency this morning.

MELBOURNE'S 10 most violent railway stations aren't Eltham, Heidelbery or Box Hill

The analysis showed 45 per cent of all reported assaults occurred at Flinders Street, Dandenong, Broadmeadows, Footscray, St Albans, Ringwood, Bayswater, Frankston, Southern Cross and Thomastown stations.
I was pleased to read in this article in The Age, the local railway stations which are typically used by people from my local area weren’t in the top ten list of stations. Of course Southern Cross is a concern as it is one of the common destinations in the city.
I also liked reading that by being sensible and covering just 10 stations where 45% of the violence occurs, targeted use of enforcement resources may be able to make a difference for a lot of commuters. One of the concerns with public transport is always safety and poor safety can easily dissuade people from using public transport.

- Kelvin Eldridge

Nine of Molly Johnsons's pictures will adorn the walls of the cafe

MOLLY Johnson says she will be overwhelmed to see her photos hanging in Eltham’s Volumes cafe.

- Kelvin Eldridge

Narre Warren artist Janet Matthews' work will feature in the Wild Awards exhibition

The exhibition runs from 8 to 29 October at the Barn Gallery at Montsalvat, Hillcrest Avenue, Eltham.

- Kelvin Eldridge

Weeding with Friends of Diosma Road - Eltham

Info Weeding with Friends of Diosma Road - Eltham

- Kelvin Eldridge

Collision occurred on Leanne Drive about 9.50pm

Meanwhile, a motorcyclists seen doing burnouts moments before he collided with a four-wheel drive at Eltham, in Melbourne's northeast, is recovering in hospital.

- Kelvin Eldridge

ENVIRONMENT campaigners fear abuse of tree-felling rules will destroy Eltham's leafy landscape.

“Evidence suggests that the government’s 10/30 regulations are being used to bypass the planning scheme to gain unregulated tree removal for purposes unrelated to bushfire safety,” Ms Quinlan said.

- Kelvin Eldridge

Government had bought a 4.5 ha flood-prone property opposite Eltham High School for $700,000

A FORMER Eltham farm will become public land after the State Government moved to buy the Bell St property late last month.

- Kelvin Eldridge

Doncaster Area Rapid Transit (DART) project,

The Doncaster Area Rapid Transit (DART) project, which will significantly boost services on four city-to-Manningham routes, will start October 4, less than two months before the state election.

- Kelvin Eldridge

Eltham's Edendale Farm gets a revamp

ELTHAM’S Edendale Farm will undergo extensive landscaping to encourage visitors as part of a Nillumbik Council push to make the site profitable.

- Kelvin Eldridge

News relating to Eltham and Eltham residents

The following is a collection of links to news articles relating to Eltham and Eltham residents.

Eltham College student Fletcher O’Leary is already a familiar face to fans on the popular soap, Neighbours, on which he played the character, Mickey Gannon, for more than two years.

Attendance has more than tripled, and many, like 43-year-old Martel Davey, of Eltham, literally “stumbled” upon the choir after she heard the members practising during a visit to the doctor at the Banyule Community Health Centre.

A LOST masterpiece belonging to one of the founders of the Heidelberg School has been found after laying unrecognised in a private collection for almost 40 years.

ELTHAM East Primary School’s Stella Ascott and Brendon Eanes proudly rode home on shiny new bikes last week.

WHEN Prof Graeme Clark, AC, told his peers in the 1960s he was going to use electricity to help deaf people hear they told him it would never work.

The first entry, tweeted in yesterday, warns that two magpies are swooping along River Gum Walk in Heidelberg. Other birds are also swooping in Eltham North and Hampton East.

TV thief caught on camera at Eltham store

A GROUP of about 15 Eltham North students were lucky to escape unharmed when a blaze tore through the roof of their school’s newly refurbished theatre last week.

A ST ANDREWS man was taken to hospital with serious injuries after an assault in Eltham on Friday night.

Lilydale was the hardest hit with 36 calls, followed by Eltham with 35

POLICE are investigating a vicious, unprovoked attack on a man by a gang of up to 10 men at the Eltham railway station car park on Friday night.

Less than 24 hours after the release of the Bushfires Royal Commission final report, Ms Westall felt her private grief had become public property.

Around 25 CFA firefighters are attending the blaze at St Helena Secondary College, in Eltham North, which has been going since 5.35pm.

A GROUP of former Eltham RSL members are calling for donations to fund a legal battle over ownership of the club’s former headquarters.

Artist Joan Pickard said about eight of the 22 message sticks on display at Eltham Library Community Gallery had been stolen since the exhibition

Matthew Carnell, 21, and Bessie Grant, 19, who are both apprentice chefs at Mercers Restaurant in Eltham, teamed up for the state final of the competition last month.

FOR 11 years Peter Brundell’s world has been "out of kilter".

A 48-year-old woman has been found alive and well after spending the night lost in bushland near a ski resort north-east of Melbourne.

Gary Jones of Eltham's G and R Gasfitting and Plumbing said he had been getting up to 20 calls a day from people seeking to have their heaters repaired or serviced.

A COUNCIL in one of the state's most bushfire-prone areas is already backsliding on fire-prevention policies, launching a legal bid to try to hinder residents' ability to clear trees on their property, a resident says.

A SEX offender who bombarded young girls with sick texts just days after walking from prison has been jailed for at least 2 1/2 years.

Eltham’s Terry Larson, who has more than 10 years experience in psychological counselling, has been engaged by the North East Valley Division of General Practice to provide outreach services.

The latest refuge sites are Diamond Creek Community Centre, the Yarrambat Golf Course clubrooms, Hurstbridge Basketball Stadium, the open area surrounding the stadium and Eltham Lower Park.

A MAN has been arrested in connection with a pub glassing attack that left a teenager with permanent facial injuries.

Yesterday, board member Harold Mitchell announced that the prep to year 8 school, which is an initiative of Eltham College, will extend its innovative education model to the senior years, with a year 10-12 campus to open in 2013.

Eltham artist paints a picture life on the edge

LONG-term development plans for Eltham and Diamond Creek will be directed to an independent panel after Nillumbik Council conceded its plans failed to address stakeholders' concerns.

Mr O’Donnell said trees had come down onto powerlines across the Diamond Valley and a large tree had crashed into the roof of a unit in Park Rd, Eltham, this afternoon.

Eltham canine behaviour specialist Catherine Saunders is worried.

Mr Hemming said he picked up 30 green bags full of food from Eltham Primary School last week after students rallied to collect canned goods and other non-perishable items.

Mr Mitchell has lived in St Andrews since 1974 and was one of the driving forces behind the creation of Eltham College.

Kelvin Eldridge