Author: pixeld

Student art and films featured

Northern Bay P-12 College recently hosted the Stories Without Borders exhibition as part of Refugee Week celebrations in the Goldsworthy Campus’ new gallery and auditorium.

Stories Without Borders is a two-part exhibition featuring art installations and a short film festival, created by students from the senior campus.

The art installations and short films highlighted the creativity, passion, journeys, experiences, and resilience of the students, providing insight into their unique refugee journeys. The exhibition not only shared these experiences but also aimed to spread empathy and understanding within the community.

The short film festival presented 10 short films directed by the students, covering themes such as identity, belonging, memories, and life in Australia. This event shone a spotlight on the resettlement journeys of students in Corio and Norlane, offering a deeper understanding of their experiences and cultural identities.

Education Support at NBC and the curator of the exhibition, Brandon Dellow, said: “This event was a worthwhile opportunity for the community to see the creative minds of our young people. “I am incredibly proud of our students’ hard work and creativity.”

Northern Bay P-12 College, where 40 different languages are spoken by students hailing from 55 different countries, is dedicated to providing a comprehensive and inclusive education from Prep to Year 12, fostering academic excellence, innovation, and community engagement to prepare students for future success.

Victoria In Bloom 2023 garden competition

Each year, Victoria in Bloom recognises and rewards the great work of gardening enthusiasts living in public or community housing.

Renters can enter all types of gardens – from balconies, to back yards and community gardens. No garden is too big or small.

Nominations for the 2024-25 Victoria in Bloom Garden competition are open from Monday, August 26 and close on November 22. To enter, once nominations are open, you need to register your garden in one of the following ways call (03) 8633-4357 or email: [email protected] 

For more information and to be inspired by previous winners, visit: https://www.housing.vic.gov.au/victoria-bloom-garden-competition

Community kitchen helpers

Barwon Health Community Kitchens program is calling for new volunteers to facilitate weekly cooking sessions in locations throughout Geelong and the Bellarine region.

Community Kitchen Facilitators people who are able to relate well to people from all walks of life, and able to organise the kitchen program, which is held at a local community kitchen during school terms. They should love cooking and enjoy sharing meals with a small, friendly group for three to four hours per week.

Volunteer Facilitators are matched to a local Community Kitchen group. They receive free recipe resource packs and facilitator training, as well as food handling, kitchen safety and budgeting and healthier menu planning certification.

Volunteer Facilitator Marg runs the Rosewall Community Kitchen, where she cooks with up to 24 people each week. She was introduced to Community Kitchens when she went along with a friend, in Highton, 11 years ago and has been involved ever since.

“While you’re the facilitator, you’re also a member of the group like everyone else,” Marg said. “You run the group with friendship and compassion.”

For more information or to register,  contact the Community Kitchens Co-ordinator by email [email protected];  phone (03) 4215-3476 or visit the website www.barwonhealth.org.au and search for community kitchens.

Concession calculator gas bills

Are you eligible for a winter gas concession? Discounts on gas bills are available for eligible concession card holders to help ease the cost of living during the winter months. 

You may be eligible if you have a Pensioner Concession, Health Care or Veteran’s Affairs Gold Card.  Use the Concessions Eligibility Calculator to find concessions, benefits and other assistance that you may be eligible for at https://services.dffh.vic.gov.au/concessions-and-benefits or by calling the Concessions information line on 1800-658-521.

Do you have a concession card but not sure about the available services?

Concessions are available to low-income Victorians having trouble in paying their council rates, water, gas and electricity bills. Discounts are available on essential services to ease the financial burden for low-income Victorians. Eligibility applies to each type of concession. 

Concessions programs are designed to ensure eligible cardholders have access to essential services. You can go the website below and check the full list of available concessions and services for your concession card. https://services.dffh.vic.gov.au/concessions-eligibility-calculator

Connecting and thriving through food

The ability of food to bring people together is celebrated at Cloverdale Community Centre, where Lotus Kitchen and Lotus Catering continue to grow.

Lotus Kitchen was formed when the COVID pandemic struck and Issara Saeyim was in the early days of student placement as part of her Diploma of Community Services. At the time, Issara was challenged to find a creative way to connect to people who were in lockdown and isolated.

“I’m from Thailand and I love cooking, so I use food to connect people,” Issara said. The program not only brought people together to cook but gave them purpose and connected them with others in similar situations.

Each Thursday, a team of volunteers prepares and serves up to 600 boxes of affordable takeaway Thai meals. The meals are advertised and ordered through Cloverdale Community Centre’s Facebook page, or by phoning the centre before noon on Wednesday.

The dishes vary each week and might be an authentic red, green or massaman curry, chicken satay or stir fry. They are collected from the pick-up window of the centre’s kitchen.

Among the volunteers are women who have experienced family violence and have been helped by Issara, herself a survivor of domestic violence. They volunteer in the kitchen as a way of giving back to their community and connecting with others in a safe space.

Issara, who is now Cloverdale Community Centre’s multicultural and wellbeing co-ordinator, has also launched Lotus Catering. The catering business employs some of the volunteers and has provided food for events for the City of Greater Geelong, Cultural, Leisure Networks and other business and community organisations.

Issara won a City of Greater Geelong Women in Community Life Award for Education in 2023 and is currently studying a Bachelor of Social Work. She continues to inspire others with her simple philosophy: “You can create a good thing and change lives with your passion. I really love what I’m doing.”

For information about Lotus Catering, phone 5275-4415.

Weekly Lotus Kitchen menu and ordering information is available on the Cloverdale Community Centre Facebook page.

Free legal help at Cloverdale

Do you have a legal problem or legal question? Deakin Law Clinic will be available to help in weekly sessions at the Cloverdale Community Centre starting in July.

Deakin Law Clinic is a free, community legal service and teaching clinic where Deakin Law School students are supervised by Clinical Solicitors. They will be at the Cloverdale Community Centre on a weekly basis from Thursday, July 11 until Thursday, September 26 and available by appointment.

The services will provide an initial consultation and will then let you know if they can assist you with your legal problem, and what assistance they can provide.  To book an appointment, email [email protected].

Happy to be helping others

Helping others has always been part of Rowley Bone’s life – through his sporting, social and community affiliations. Today it’s more important than ever, and something he does because he wants to give other people the same opportunities he has had.

Rowley grew up in Corio and attended the former Corio Technical School before embarking on a 44-year career in the auto industry, which took him all over the world.

Rowley has a long association with the North Shore Football Netball Club – as a player, coach, administrator, team manager and supporter. He is a Hall of Fame Member and Life Member and is particularly proud of the role he played on the Board of Management of the recreation club when it made the decision to remove poker machines from the venue.

A passion for North Shore and the broader community sees Rowley also involved with the Windsor Park Working Committee. The group’s membership includes Member for Corio Richard Marles, Member for Lara Ella George, Windermere Ward councillors Anthony Aitken and Sarah Hathway, and representatives of Norlane Community Centre, North Shore Football Netball Club, North Shore Cricket Club and the community. It meets quarterly to discuss the Master Plan for the precinct and seek funding opportunities to bring it to reality.

After retiring from work, Rowley spent five years as a Red Cross patient transport volunteer. He transported patients to appointments all over Geelong and Melbourne and “loved every minute of it”.

More recently, Rowley has joined the volunteer team at Norlane Community Centre, where he spends one day a week at the centre and another at its opportunity shop in Wendover Avenue, including the food relief program.

Rowley said he volunteers because he wants to help give others the opportunities he had growing up in the area – through sport and school.

“I see the value of that and want it to continue and grow,” he said. “It’s about looking at how we can help make the area better.”

Access to free career help

Do you need help to find your dream career? Free appointments are now available at Corio Library, with a professional career counsellor able to help you plan a pathway to your next job. You can also get help with job application documents and job search strategies.

All you need to do is register and make a free, confidential appointment, available each Wednesday You can also attend a drop-in session to get tips on preparing a resume and information on where to search for jobs or qualifications.

Follow-up support includes online career counselling via phone or on campus at The Gordon TAFE, online workshops, and referrals to other organisations, including courses offered at community centres, TAFE and university.

Your privacy is respected, and the free service is separate from Workforce Australia providers.

The free career service is thanks to a partnership between the Gordon Skills and Jobs Centre (SJC) and Geelong Regional Libraries.

Corio Library Co-ordinator Lesley Caelli welcomed the expert service, operating onsite since late May, saying it complemented the library service and included computer and internet access in quiet spaces to prepare job applications.

To book your appointment or learn more, call the Gordon Skills and Job Centre on 5225-0700 or visit https://www.thegordon.edu.au/skills-and-jobs-centre.

Corio Library is on the corner of Cox Rd and Moa Street.

Former students sharing knowledge

The Alumni program at Northern Bay College, now in its second year, has benefitted from talented and knowledgeable alumni who have returned to their own school to share their insights on life post school. This program runs a variety of alumni events, including career panels.

Co-ordinator Alison Meredith said “hearing from real-world people, people who grew up in the same neighbourhood, is so impactful and has hopefully inspired students in our career panels to think about their own future pathway.

“A career panel was held to help Year 9 students start to think longer term, to begin to decide what pathway they might want to get into, and to be exposed to lots of different careers.

“Inviting back five alumni guests to our Goldsworthy Campus, in a question and answer format, we asked them to speak on their career, or study, and to explain what they do, and how they go into their pathway.

“Our panel (pictured) consisted of: Kellee Reissinger (Corio Tech), curator, Geelong Botanic Gardens; Ty Gilson (NBC 2022), Bachelor of Science (Maths and Statistics); Joshua Barling (NBC 2013), industrial electrician; Lisamaree Bottomley (NBC 2020), Bachelor of Environmental Science and working at Corangamite Catchment Authority; and Stephen Kennedy (NBC 2020), timber machinist, A&R Timber.

“An event for Year 7 and 8 students saw many rush up to ask more questions of the featured panel, which comprised Jasmine Lawrence (NBC 2010), In Work support consultant; Luke McConarchy (NBC 2009), electrician and business owner; Samantha Wilson (NBC 2018), Bachelor of Arts and Commerce; and Cody Jeynes (NBC 2022), Bachelor of Space Science Degree.

“Early in the year we welcome back some alumni to speak to our VM (formerly VCAL) students. They were: Tony Harvey (Corio Community College), sport and marketing consultant; Sarah McNiven (NBC 2021), farming apprenticeship; Shae Charlton: (NBC 2020), Interior Design student.”

Are you NBC alumni?

If you attended Corio Tech, Corio North High, Norlane High, Corio Community College, Corio Senior College, Flinders Peak SC, and Northern Bay College, the Alumni program would love to hear from you. Check out the Facebook group for some yearbook photos and updates: https://www.facebook.com/Northern-Bay-College-and-Schools-Alumni-108962595081117 or via [email protected].

MusicSpace after school option

Young people who love music can now access a new program, MusicSpace After-School, at Cloverdale Community Centre.

MusicSpace After-School is a Bluebird Foundation program held weekly for young people to get involved in music, or to further develop their music skills. Anyone can join in at MusicSpace After-School regardless of music experience and the program welcomes people with disability and other diverse needs.

Young people work with professional musicians including a Registered Music Therapist to develop their interests, whether it is to learn an instrument, develop vocal skills, be a song writer, play in a band, perform, record or just hang out with fellow music lovers.

Program manager Mel said: “When you come along, you can let us know what you wish to do with your music, and we will support you to follow that dream. Even if you are not sure what you want to do, you will meet other music-loving people, learn a few skills and discover your passions along the way.

“The program is supported by funding from the Cassandra Gantner Foundation and the APCO Foundation. This allows young people to access the pilot program for at least two school terms or until their NDIS funding review comes around. They can then use their NDIS or TAC funding. We will meet with people individually to discuss how this will work for them. For privately funded attendance, please talk to us about costs and payments.”

MusicSpace After-School does not include any personal support needs. If the young person requires a support worker to attend and/or participate, this will need to be sourced and funded separately.

The program runs every Thursday from 3.30om-4.30pm during school terms at Cloverdale Community Centre,167-169 Purnell Road, Corio. It is for 13–18-year-olds who have an interest in music

For more information or to fill out an expression of interest, go to https://www.bluebirdfoundationinc.org.au/musicspace-afterschool or contact the program manager, Mel on 0448-313-462 or email [email protected].