The Peronis were flowing at this year’s Crown Live event featuring the traditional pizzaioli stylings the AVPN is known for, striving towards classic Neapolitan. Five Melbourne pizzerias flanked a stylishly organised pavilion arrangement featuring a central stage with live music playing on the cusp of the Yarra River. Of the Melbourne five, Gigi Pizzeria had the longest wait for their simplistic Marinara dish.
Straight from their authentic wood-fire oven bubbled a small mozzarella topped pizza, bordered by a crisp, puffy crust. Immediately the aroma of fresh tomato was apparent which worked well with the scorched oregano sprinkled over the top to create a welcoming herb scent. The base was authentically thin, drooping slightly under the weight of the toppings. The wholesome and rustic flavour, let down by a damn and flexible centre. The centre weight was contributed to by the liberal use of extra virgin olive oil on what was already a thick layer of tomato sauce.
It’s hard to go wrong with a pizza marinara really, to a fault.
Marinara pizza from Gradi’s Pizza Fest at Crown Life
La Svolta fronted up with their ham and cheese pizza; same price, same size, same dough and same tomato sauce. Almost uniform were these two pizzas bar switching the drab stringy ham and sparse basil for onion and oregano.
For a free event, it sure was expensive… each pizza required a $12 voucher or $20 for two which is steep considering the size of the pizzas and the fact that most of the ingredients were shared between the five participating restaurants.
Depending on your arrival time and pizza choice, the wait stretched from five to fifteen minutes, understandable due to the pizzas being made from scratch. Vittoria coffee and an onsite bar provided the refreshment options as well as the event partnered Oakridge Urban Vineyard, inconveniently located across from Crown. Live music was provided by a soulful guitarist putting his smooth, earthy tones to work on some indie folk songs.
Crown Live wasn’t really a-live, its lazy vibe was fitting for a Saturday afternoon on Southbank with its vivid yellow and white beach vibe.
★★★☆☆
In their search for a simplistic and elegant pizza, The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival cruised through to adequate with their Crown Live event.
In part one, we dissect the Netflix original Stranger Things and our Culture Vultures decide if it’s plain weird, over-rated or the new “it” thing. The Vultures judge and debate the characters, music, acting abilities and plot-lines to give you a thorough verdict.
With Netflix originals taking over our TV screens (and by TV screens we mean laptop, mobile and tablet screens), in part two our Culture Vultures give their opinion on the battle between the new entertainment giants and the traditional entertainment media platforms. We take a look at how the internet has destroyed free-to-air television, the rise of silver screen blockbusters and more.
Wescavenge the world for cultural phenomenons that are worth critiquing and over-analyse the heck out of it. Run by Monash student journalists at mojonews.com.au, it showcases the interesting thoughts and discussions of average university students.
Host Steph Chen, deputy editor at Mojonews, is studying a Bachelor of Journalism at Monash University, minoring in psychology and international relations. She is interested and curious about everything in life except hard-core punk music and horror films.
William Arnott is in his second-year studying journalism at Monash University. He enjoys a wide variety of geeky things, from video games and tabletop RPGs to power metal, and hopes to one day earn a living from them.
Harrison Johnstone is studying a Bachelor of Journalism and Science. He is engrossed in popular culture past and present. A country kid with city-slicking aspirations, he enjoys video production, editing and wasting his time mucking about on the internet.
The Andrew’s Labour Government have launched the Connecting Regional Victoria plan to combat a steep decline in public transport service quality.
Victoria’s regional rail usage has seen sharp increases over the last decade, now peaking at 100% capacity for various services across the five lines.
Overcrowding, track faults, delays and increasingly longer trips between Melbourne and regional centres have marked a treacherous period for country commuters, culminating at the rail outages experienced earlier in the year.
From mid-January to April, regional rail users suffered crippling delays as issues with wheel wear heavily impacted V/Line’s newer VLocity fleet.
The four-month outage saw much of the service’s timetable replaced with temporary coaches which, although free, didn’t compensate travellers for the extra time they had to spend travelling on already extensive trips.
Gippsland commuters suffered most however, the combination of the wheel wear issue and a recurring signal fault near Dandenong reduced the fleet to three return services per-day, forcing users onto Metro trains after coach trips to Pakenham.
Natalie Thorne is a Melbourne professional and manager of the Gippsland V/Line Users Group who has experienced first-hand how diminishing regional service quality impacts the wider community.
The peak of the V/Line outages took a toll on Ms Thorne and her family, ‘It had a huge impact… I was spending up to five to six hours a day extra on trains per week and you couldn’t rely on the trains to get into the city at the time they were meant to,’ she said.
‘After a few weeks of getting home at 7:30 to 8 o’clock at night it got to the point where, every night I got home and the kids would be crying… basically they didn’t see me for quite a few months,’ Thorne said.
Warragul Railway Station prior to the launch of Connecting Regional Victoria
The stress on Gippsland’s public transport infrastructure will only be exacerbated further by the continued real estate growth in the south-eastern corridor.
Connecting Regional Victoria, the government’s regional network development plan has been criticised by locals who are sceptical of its lack of immediate action.
Member for Narracan and vocal transport advocate, Gary Blackwood, said ‘it doesn’t address the issue of Gippsland trains competing with metropolitan trains beyond Pakenham.’
‘We are treated as second class citizens compared to Geelong, Bendigo and Ballarat commuters,’ he said.
The most impactful development for the Gippsland line was the announcement of the long anticipated duplication of tracks between Longwarry and Bunyip, which would see express services return to the region.
Rail has become an integral part of travel for eastern Victoria, effecting both city commuters and also local tourism heading out to Gippsland.
The Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan, revealed the plan in Warragul (Gippsland) accompanied by acting Public Transport Victoria CEO Jeroen Weimar and V/Line Chair Jenny Dawson.
Key areas that the plan focuses on are increasing train stock, improving station facilities, reviewing fare structures and creating better bus and coach services for intra-town connectivity.
The project features a horizon goal structure with short, mid and long-term development plans that are slated for completion over the next two decades.
Immediate action that has been funded in the 2016/17 State Budget will provide regional areas with increased train and bus service improvements but the extent of these upgrades varies between the regions.
The key regional centres named in the plan are Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Seymour and Traralgon.
Barwon South West and the Grampians will see bigger short-term benefits, with additional trains set to bring services closer to the future goals of off-peak trains every 40 minutes and peak trains every 20 minutes.
The large scale plan involves the addition of 170 extra services, construction of 27 new VLocity carriages and a focus on rolling stock to increase reliability.
Connecting Regional Victoria has been influenced by over 15,000 pieces of individual regional feedback, from 40 workshops that had been held across the state.
Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said ‘it is the product of one of the most extensive public consultation programs ever carried out in regional Victoria.’
‘[The plan is] setting out a more coordinated network where trains, buses and coaches work together in the best interests of passengers,’ she said.
The Gippsland line is expected to receive two additional return off-peak services from Melbourne to Traralgon each day, bus service improvements, signage and planning.
The majority of developments shown in Connecting Regional Victoria (five of eight for Gippsland) are business cases, meaning they are in a pre-planning phase.
Acting CEO of Public Transport Victoria, Jeroen Weimar, said ‘this is the start of the journey, not the end of the journey.’
Connecting Regional Victoria: Regional Network Development Plan aims to deliver ‘commuter-style’ service to regional customers across the state.
Earthy tones and flowing textiles to the beat of a spiritual drum, the Global Indigenous Runway took VAMFF by storm.
The intimate show was held at the Melbourne Museum as part of the 2016 Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival. Native designs from Australia to north-western Canada’s Yukon region featured in The Offsite Runway. After four years in the fashion circuit, the Indigenous Runway Project was this year funded by the State governments’ Creative Victoria initiative.
A fervent opening performance lead Melbourne’s Lyn-Al Young and her exotic collection of silken evening gowns. Young’s ‘Fasheaming’ philosophy was revealed in dazzling hand-painted tapestries, delivering a masterfully crafted vision of grounded desertous colours cavorting on sleek, lustrous fabric. The tribal palette seeped together on pristine silk, shimmering under light and manifesting protection from negative energy.
Lyn-Al Young’s silken designs stunned the runway.
If Lyn-Al protected from negative energy, Rauwhiro brought ferocious vibes…
Tessa Bailey-Lont stunned with her daring and primal collection for New Zealand’s Rauwhiro. The line was a journey, beginning with a raw, oxblood fur piece draped over an angular bronze dress. The designs descended into deeper maroons and eventually to a commanding monochrome number. The jacket’s pearl-white leather upper, evolving from a smoky grey beneath.
The line concluded with a simple, eloquent white cotton dress flowing delicately to the baby blue stitching on its front. Rauwhiro’s was an innovative collection, experimenting with textures, hues and adventurous silhouettes which told a passionate story, boldly.
The conclusion of Tessa Bailey-Lont’s collection for Rauwhiro was fearsome.
The Global Indigenous Runway was a pillar of the VAMFF experience, sounds surrounding the stage with shattering base lines, guttural tribal vocals… and dubstep? Odd choice, slightly annoying, but it ended quickly.
The runway was slim, making the experience profoundly personal, adding to the cultural vibrancy accompanied by seeing the intricacies of the designs up close. Autumnal palettes are a big part of this season, Lyn-Al Young’s selection of tribal shades complemented this trend. Oxblood will be prominent also, reflected in Rauwhiro’s line.
From ambitious beginnings it’s clear that the Indigenous Runway Project has graduated from behind VAMFF’s cultural veil, and is now ready for the main stage.
Ethan (left) and Lachlan (right) geared up and ready for a game.
Lachlan Brown and his twin brother Ethan will both be participating in this year’s W&DJFL Grand Final, but will see it from different perspectives.
Youngster Lachie has been a newly appointed green shirt umpire this year in the Warragul and District Junior Football League.
His dedication to the craft allowed him to be selected by the Gippsland Umpires Association to officiate as one of the umpires in the Under 12 Grand Final, where Garfield will play Ellinbank.
His brother Ethan will also participate in the match, playing for Garfield, the team Lachlan was once on.
The twelve year old twins have a deep passion for the game, with Lachlan taking his umpiring very seriously and showing no favouritism.
Ethan has had decisions go against him when his brother has umpired him.
Not often is this sort of coincidence found but it is reminiscent of Brad and Chris Scott, coaches of North Melbourne and Geelong respectively.
One day the Brown brothers may assail the big leagues as sportsman and official.
To see what the future may bring, attend the W&DJFL Grand Finals on Sunday the 6th from 10:00am at Drouin Recreation Reserve.
Hallora Junior Football Club have united with Western Australia’s Fair Game community development organisation to re-purpose equipment for communities that need it the most.
Patrick Dorian and Riley Warner with Hallora’s recycled jumpers
The club is donating over 50 of its green and gold jerseys to Fair Game who are extremely appreciative to be given items that represent the Australian colours.
Fair Game are a not-for-profit organisation that collect pre-loved equipment and use it to provide education and inspiration to regions scattered across Western Australia.
With over 40 supporting organisations, now including the Hallora JFC, they will continue to provide fitness and sports based programs “to under serviced communities”.
Hopefully Hallora’s vigor will see them through a productive season.
The Baw Baw Shire Council’s redevelopment of the Warragul Leisure Centre is now well underway in what has been a testing period for the council.
The 13.9 million dollar construction project that officially began on the 6th of May has been opposed on numerous occasions since the council voted to dismantle the original outdoor pool.
Council engineers have estimated that the aquatic services run by the YMCA at the centre will be out of commission for approximately 15 months with works scheduled to conclude by the 30th of June 2016.
The Shire chose Behmer & Wright construction company for the operation as a result of lengthy community consultation, previous experience and cost to benefit ratios.
With the closure of current aquatic facilities many staff members were made redundant, including the entirety of the YMCA’s lifeguards, swim teachers and customer service staff.
Former YMCA Lifeguard Jack Baker by the redevelopment site
Former Frontline Coordinator, Glenn Lloyd, said “People weren’t happy that the redevelopment was happening… we weren’t offered jobs back in the centre or told we could come back”.
Due to the nature of the upgrade Lloyd said “essentially they had to redeploy staff or make them redundant”.
One of the lifeguards made redundant, Jack Baker, said “yes, major works needed to be done… the pool was not up to a decent standard,” Jack also went on to say “it’s not that I lost my job, it’s just hard to get a job”.
The master plan for the redevelopment outlines several different kinds of pools; hydrothermal, indoor, outdoor, disabled access and hot water pools.
Also included in the upgrade is the updating of equipment for staff and the maintenance of existing buildings including the damaged basketball court roof.
Baw Baw Shire Mayor, Councillor Deborah Brown, said “the objective of this council is to deliver outcomes… the leisure centre redevelopment has been on the agenda for years and it’s great we will finally be able to tick it off”.
“It’s no good having assets that are falling down around your ears,” Councillor Brown said.
The council has stated that the opportunities for local tourism will greatly increase when the project is completed and that the residents of the area will be able to enjoy a facility up to a modern standard.
Residents who are still looking to participate in aquatic activities are having their requirements met by other leisure services in nearby locations within the shire.
On Wednesday the 27th of May the Baw Baw Shire Council announced their decision to abandon the proposed sale of Drouin parkland.
After a year of protests and campaigning the residents adjacent Bellbird park are now able to put this episode behind them.
The council not only recognised the emotional attachment the residents had with this land but they rezoned the four blocks as parkland instead of their previous designation as residential grounds.
Belinda King said “We won… we never thought it possible, but we did it”.
Residents held a community meeting on Thursday the 28th of May that included a celebratory barbecue in the park.
Standing in the council’s surplus land zone is Drouin resident Belinda King
The Baw Baw Shire Council has delayed its decision on the subdivision and sale of Bellbird Park land amidst “passionate” protesters growing in frustration.
The decision on the proposed development initiative that would see four blocks of land between Bellbird Park’s sports fields and the rear of existing houses sold and built upon, has been postponed for two weeks.
Local residents have been consistently active in protesting against the sale of this land since they discovered its assessment in July of 2014 whilst the council was completing its evaluation of public assets, it’s the first time that this has been done since its establishment.
The Baw Baw Shire Council has produced four plans for approaching the subdivision of the parkland which have been outlined to the community, providing buffer zones for residential properties and recreational areas.
Drouin resident and frequent user of the Bellbird parkland, Belinda King, said “we are not prepared to compromise, we’re out to save this land”.
The locals in the area are very determined to retain this scenic zone and as Mrs King said “everyone’s concerned that the rural landscape of Drouin is changing, they’re passionate about their trees and their open spaces”.
“It’s everything, it’s the very essence of what living in Drouin is about,” King said.
Residents began their ‘Save Bellbird Park’ initiative last year and have submitted two petitions to the council since, the most recent one collecting 1587 signatures, three people declined to support it.
At the most recent council meeting, on the 13th of May, the protesters officially addressed the councillors in six 3 minute speeches, two of which had the speakers in tears.
Baw Baw Shire Mayor, Councillor Deborah Brown, said “The residents are very passionate about their park, they have every right to be, it’s a beautiful park and area”.
The council has outlined several reasons for selling the land being maintenance costs, public safety and the benefits the revenue could bring to other ‘open space’ recreational projects.
Councillor Brown said “we can’t afford to have little blocks of land everywhere, like pocket parks… we need to be able to connect the community”.
The council’s propositions for the park suggest removing 14 to 35 mature gum trees, in accordance with an arborist report.
The 1:100 year flood risk identified by council engineers is likely to increase with the tree removals, Drouin residents identified the park area as one that becomes inundated with water during the winter months.
Protesters have organised a gathering in Blackwood court Drouin on the 24th at 4pm for those looking to be updated on the matter.
The council’s final decision will be made on the 27th of May.
Harrison Johnstone 