Author: pixeld

New bus service to help local workers

Real Deal Geelong Alliance is pleased that the State Government has announced that a new
seven day a week bus service between Lara Station and the Avalon Airport and employment
precinct will be established soon.
The Alliance has been campaigning to see this service established for two years because it
is critical that local workers are able to access local work in Geelong. Local workers using
public transport to access the precinct have been paying up to $60 a day in taxi fares to
make the connection between Lara and Avalon employment precinct.
More than 400 locals signed the Alliance’s petition to the Minister for Transport regarding the
issue, including many Lara and northern suburbs residents who were very familiar with the
access/cost issue.
“We have raised the issue at local, state and federal government levels and within the
community via our Alliance given its critical impact upon workers and potential workers to
access employment nearby and reduce the cost of accessing jobs to them,” the Alliance’s
Community Organiser, Sally Fisher said.
“We are very glad to see the State Government respond to our call for better public transport
to the site, this will make a big difference for a lot of people and help more people access
jobs in Geelong.

“This result shows how our community can win solutions to problems we are facing by
advocating together for just outcomes which benefit everyone. Thank you to those who
supported our advocacy and the State Government for responding.”

Animal lovers with real impact

A Geelong region charity that helps people keep their pets in times of need is having a
positive impact. Don’t Forget My Pet founder Alysha said the charity believes that no one
should have to choose between caring for themselves and caring for their beloved pet.
Since March 2024 it has provided 30,020 pet meals, helped with veterinary care for 26 pets
and companion animals in its care, provided safety net fostering and in home services for 40
people and their 51 pets, and diverted 4.8 tonnes of pet food from landfill.
“Our services provide practical, compassionate support to help keep people and their
animals together, even through life’s toughest moments,” Alysha said.

One of the organisation’s volunteers is Corio resident Mel, who Alysha describes as “a
bright, compassionate soul whose kindness and commitment have touched countless lives,
both human and furry”.
Mel first reached out to Don’t Forget My Pet in April 2024 when she needed help with a
family pet, Teddy, after life had thrown some unimaginable challenges her family’s way.
Alysha didn’t just offer food for Teddy; she offered hope.
Alysha walked alongside Mel and her daughter every step of the way, providing training
support, emotional support, and reassuring them that they weren’t alone.
Mel saw first-hand what Don’t Forget My Pet stood for – genuine, personal care for both
people and their pets – and she knew she had to be part of it. Not long after, the team
needed safety-net foster care for a 17-year-old cat, Sebastian, whose owner was moving
into aged care.
“Mel was the perfect person to offer safety-net foster care – calm, patient, and deeply
compassionate,” Alysha said. “When Sebastian came into care, he was frail, underweight,
and missing his mum terribly. But with Mel’s love, care, and gentle persistence, he began to
recover.
“Today, Mel is one of the most instrumental people in the organisation. She designs and
creates uniforms, attends every event, and is a constant source of positivity and strength
during the hard times.
“There are so many ways to get involved, from volunteering or fostering, to donating pet food
or funds to help families and their furry friends stay together during tough times.”
To learn more or donate go to www.dontforgetmypet.org.au.

Drivers in the north can help learners

Geelong’s L2P Program is on the hunt for fully licensed drivers aged over 21 to volunteer to
support young learner drivers as they work towards achieving their P plates.
The program has a volunteer shortfall from Corio, Norlane, Lara and North Geelong,
meaning local learner drivers are waiting up to six months longer than those in other suburbs
to gain experience behind the wheel.
Volunteer mentors are integral to supporting young people to drive safely and achieve their P
plates when they don’t have access to a supervising driver or vehicle. Driver mentors receive
a full day of training from the Department of Transport and Planning.
In 2024-25, 110 volunteers across Greater Geelong contributed to 76 drivers passing their
probationary licence test. A total of 621 local drivers have become P-platers in the program’s
16 years of operation.
Driver mentor Sylvia Brown said she became a mentor in a time in her life where she
needed to have purpose again. 
“That has definitely happened. Like in most things, when you invest your time and efforts into
something you believe in, the rewards are tenfold,” Sylvia said.
“I have always enjoyed spending time with youth but being able to help them in a more
tangible way and see the benefits of their learning and the development of their skills in
driving is so rewarding.
“It’s easy to fit into your life but you do need to be committed to allowing enough time for a
drive session each week and to see a young person through to the achievement of their
licence.”
The L2P program is funded by the TAC, administered by DTP, and coordinated by the City of
Greater Geelong. Community Bank – Lara District proudly sponsors our two vehicles in
Corio.
To express interest in volunteering for the program, email [email protected].

Sport is teaching life skills too

Northern Bay College is celebrating the success of its SEED (Sports, Empowerment,
Education, Development) program which now has almost every student at the school
participating in some way.
SEED manager Steve ‘Stoofa’ Lewry said the program is about teaching students the skills
that they can use in every part of their life and when they leave the college.
“They are the skills that they can take with them,” he said. “We teach them about
accountability, resilience, respect, and we teach them with sport. We have specialised
coaches that come in and train the kids and get the best out of themselves.SEED provides
access to baseball, softball, netball, volleyball, badminton, hockey, AFL, netball.
“At the moment is we’re working on a working on specialist academy for volleyball and
badminton. So that would be an extended program for students who are good at those
sports.
“We have some very talented students. We’ll have professional coaches and will run after
school. Our Sports Co-ordinator Ben Lowery is doing a lot of work on growing the specialist
program opportunities.”
In addition to SEED, a SEEDLINGS program has been created for Year 5 and 6 students
under the guidance of Gordana Krsul to experience a ‘taste’ of all the sports they’ll
participate in when they get to senior school.
“Every Friday, all the junior campuses come together for a transition program,” Stoofa said.
“The rules have same concept as ABC – attendance, behaviour, character. It’s been great for
students know what the SEED program is as early as Year 5 and 6 and has increased
students attending SEED in senior years.”
Northern Bay College has achieved some outstanding results in volleyball, badminton,
soccer while interest in cricket and golf is growing. A new golf complex was recently
completed and is used by up to 50 students each lunch time.
On an individual level, SEED is also achieving and has employed about 13 former students
to work as coaches in the program. Jessie Blackney, a former student, worked as a trainee
after finishing school and is now studying teaching. Another is Jack Hall who has done well
in football and Lauren Kelly, who is excelling in cricket. 

Stoofa is confident the future of the program is bright. “I hope that when I’m finished at the
college there will be a succession plan. Someone will sit in this seat, and they’ll be able to
continue what I do and what Ben does.”
Term 4 events for SEED participants include a soccer friendly, and resumption of the track
club and fit club, including about 23 students competing in the Essendon Gift.

A place for families to connect

Families are invited to connect with the Northern Bay College Community Hub, which is
located at the Family Learning Centre, Goldsworthy Road campus.
Community Hubs are welcoming places where families from diverse backgrounds,
particularly mothers with pre-school children, come to connect, share and learn.
The Community Hub offers a variety of activities and information sessions connecting
women and their children with each other, their school, and the wider community.
Activities include:
Monday, 9am-10.30am: Chat and sew – bring along a sewing project or start a new creation.
Monday, 11am-noon: Women’s yoga.
Monday, 2pm-3pm: Free toy library.
Tuesday, 10am-11.30am: English classes (pre-beginner and conversational English).
Tuesday, 11.30am-noon: Book Bag Program.
Tuesday, Noon-1.30pm: English classes (beginner to intermediate).
Thursday, 9.30am-11.30am: English class (AMEP, pre-beginner).
Thursday, Noon-2pm: English class (AMEP, beginner to intermediate).
Friday. 9.30am-11am: Multicultural playgroup.
Friday, 11am-noon: Free toy library.
All activities are free and children are welcome.
Narelle said volunteers are needed to help run the toy library. The Hub also hosts Services
Australia drop-in sessions covering different topics.
The Northern Bay College Community Hub is at Gate 6, 3-25 Goldsworthy Road, Corio.
For more information contact Narelle Smith-Haslett, phone 0483-385-376 or email
[email protected]

New era for Douro Street centre

The City of Greater Geelong has announced that the Geelong Resource Recovery Centre
and Transfer Station (GRRC) in Douro Street will be transformed into a brand-new, state-of-
the-art facility, designed to meet the region’s needs over the coming decades.
The former GRRC, which was initially built in the 1970s, has been closed to the public since
March this year. After careful consideration and expert analysis, it was determined that the
best course of action was to invest in a new, purpose-built facility designed with best
practices in mind, given that fixes to the current structure would be costly and short-term in
nature.
The announcement brings forward existing plans for the future of the centre, and funding
was already allocated in the City’s budget for a new facility. 
While construction of the new GRRC is underway over the coming years, a temporary site
will open near Douro Street from late September for drop-offs. Operated by GDP Industries,
the pop-up site will initially accept cardboard, polystyrene, e-waste, gas bottles, car and truck
batteries (wet cell), which were the most common items received at the former GRRC.
Greater Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM said this was a once-in-a-generation
opportunity to upgrade recycling in the region.
“The former Douro Street facility was never purpose-built as a recycling centre back in the
1970s,” Cr Kontelj said. “It’s clear that over the past 50 years, construction, recycling and
resource recovery have come a long way.

“While plans were already underway for a new centre to replace the Douro Street facility as
it reached the end of its life, these plans can now be brought forward to build the world-class
facility that Greater Geelong deserves. This is a big project, and it will take time, but we
know it’s absolutely going to be worth it when the new GRRC opens.”

Clothing help launches in Geelong

Thread Together has launched a new mobile wardrobe service to provide brand new clothing
to people doing it tough across the greater Geelong region. 
The launch, held at Cloverdale Community Centre, celebrated the Geelong Community
Foundation 25-year anniversary grant that enabled expansion of the service to Geelong.
Using data insights, Thread Together identified Geelong as a region with high levels of need
but limited access to new clothing support. Over the past 12 months, Thread Together has
taken steps to address this by: 

  • Onboarding a network of 47 local community agencies.
  • Strengthening relationships with community leaders and foundations.
  • Facilitating access to brand new quality clothing for 2500 Geelong residents experiencing disadvantage.

Thread Together CEO Anthony Chesler said: “For individuals and families facing financial
hardship, domestic violence, or homelessness, access to essential clothing is often an
unmet need and one that directly impacts confidence, dignity and well-being.
“This grant from Geelong Community Foundation will allow Thread Together to respond to
this urgent gap with a scalable, community led solution via the launch of a dedicated Mobile
Wardrobe in Geelong that ensures no one goes without.
“The mobile wardrobe launch in July marks a major step forward in delivering practical,
dignified support to Geelong’s most vulnerable residents. This is a story of local giving
creating real, measurable change.”
Thread Together partners who share its beliefs contribute their time, expertise, networks and
funds. The generosity of supporters enables the charity to continue to save new clothing
from landfill and to clothe individuals, families and communities in need.
The Thread Together services are accessed via registered charities. Individuals in need of
clothing, will need to contact their case worker and ask them to sign up with Thread Together
(if they are not already signed up).

Student’s space camp experience

Northern Bay College Captain Farzana Mohammad Aref has attended NASA Space Camp
in the USA, one of four Australian students selected to participate.
Farzana (pictured) spent a week at the International Space Camp program in Huntsville,
Alabama in July. She was a member of Mission Team Australia and was able to connect with
fellow teams from around the world, fostering international collaboration and long-lasting
friendships.
Farzana was selected for her outstanding commitment to her studies and her community. In
an interview with Northern Bay College’s Community Connections Officer Kate Mastroianni,
Farzana said:
“I went to NASA’s space camp in Alabama, and we learned a lot about how to run mission
control on Earth and how the astronaut feels when they’re in space. We learnt about how it
feels like to work as a team and how the leadership impacts both relationship with space and
the ground, which means every communication matters.
“Every day we learned something different, something that contributed to our leadership,
teamwork, and resilience.
“My favourite activity was when we spent about two days making a rocket that would fly, with
an astronaut housed safely inside – this was an egg. We would then fly this rocket as part of
a competition against other groups.
“Alongside this, we had to create a parachute, design a budget and keep the egg safe.
We
had to create an astronaut shield (uniform) around the egg, which would keep it warm but
not cook the egg. We ended up doing this using concrete and spaghetti.
“We also did scuba diving and G force training. We did lots of activities which included
teamwork and creating something new, and how to problem solve in those situations
between our teammates.”
Farzana is currently preparing for her final Year 12 exams and is planning to study
engineering. She currently has RMIT, Deakin and Melbourne University on her list of
universities to consider.

“I’d like to go into Melbourne, but Deakin would also be great,” Farzana said. “Both are great
schools.”

Ashton proudly representing students

Northern Bay College vice-captain Ashton Stonehouse is the Geelong region’s only representative on the Victorian Student Representative Council in 2025.

The Victorian Student Representative Council was created by students to be a voice for students at the highest levels of decision making in Victorian education. It comprises 15 secondary school-aged students, who make decisions collaboratively with a group of six adults about how VicSRC operates, what programs it offers and how it hears from students about education.

Ashton’s appointment followed a written application and interview, in which she was able to talk about her school leadership roles over several years.  

In the interview she also talked about the College leadership team’s plans and how she gets regular feedback from her own community and other students in her program, with the aim of making it better.

“I explained that I was the only person in our senior leadership team in VCE Vocational Major and how for me, that was really important,” Ashton said. “It wasn’t about the fact that I got picked, it was about the fact that somebody from the VM program got picked and that was really important representation.”

“I really see this as an opportunity to change the curriculum for any future students that go into the program, and it’ll benefit so many people. 

“Rather than me going ‘I’ll just do this because it looks really good on my resume or it’ll be really good for me’, I was aware that anything that I do in the VicSRC will not directly benefit me. It’ll benefit next year’s Year 12, the Year 11s after that, and everyone else really and that was the whole point for me.”

Ashton said the VicSRC’s mission to ‘stand with and for students to elevate their voices to be heard’ is “a really big thing” for her.  “That is the reason that I do leadership,” she said. “Giving not just myself, but other people that platform is something really important. It’s our education. It is our future, and we should be the ones who build it.”

Ashton said she’d like see change around the stigma of choosing to do Vocational Major rather than mainstream VCE. “I lost friends because of the program that I chose, but I just wanted something different.”

When she leaves school, Ashton wants to work in healthcare. “I’d love to be able to help other people,” she said. “Whether that be paramedicine or a nurse in the emergency room or just anything emergency health-related.”

In the meantime, Ashton will continue to show leadership and help set the path for future students.

Esther shares health experience

The following was written by Esther Koning-Oakes, CEO of Norlane Community Centre ….

“The idea to share my health experiences began as I drove to Norlane Community Centre in the days leading up to an operation to remove a cancerous tumour in the wall of my uterus. 

I was fortunate enough to get an early diagnosis for my endometrial cancer. I am in the care of a range of health professionals and have a network of friends and family supporting me. It was a circumstance that may not have occurred before my employment at the Centre six years ago. What has made this bittersweet for me is that for too many of my community around me, this probably would never occur.

Although I have the honour of working at the Norlane Community Centre it has not been an easy path. I have faced many battles with both mental and physical health. These battles leave me fiercely aligned with and sympathetic to the basic needs and lack of resources in Norlane and the 3214 area. 

I have always been open and honest with my story and vulnerabilities, for better or worse. I share my battles – my back and spinal injuries complicated by a foot injury resulting in six weeks in hospital followed by six months in a wheelchair. 

At this time I lost my job. I had young children, no money, faced up to my bipolar and depression, then finished my Certificate I, went to RMIT and got a degree, Honours and Masters, travelled to China for study on a scholarship and worked on numerous public installations and art. I also volunteered within my community in Corio and Norlane, all with my amazing husband Nathan beside me. 

After completing my Masters, I successfully applied to Norlane Community Centre for a co-ordinator position. I started in early 2019 in time to almost get comfortable enough to face the pandemic and then continued the journey of shared healing in our hurt and isolated community.

My own real personal journey escalated in the last couple of years. My mother was diagnosed with dementia and slipped into a long, slow decline then passed early last year. 

I was struggling with increasing pressures – both in community and managing the business of the Centre – causing many stress-related health outcomes in combination with undiagnosed menopause symptoms which, unsurprisingly, resulted in a heart attack in the April. 

After this incident I continued working with health professionals on assessments for ADHD. Part of the treatment plan involved regular sessions with a nurse practitioner to ensure medications were effective and regulated to my need. 

Having regular and longer sessions with a health professional meant I had time to talk about changes in my body, one of these were some small spots of pain/bleeding that I queried as a possible side effect. The nurse made it clear that these symptoms were not to be ignored and must be investigated, even though I had believed it a small thing that had self-resolved in a week. 

An investigative ultrasound revealed a thickened mass that ended up being an early malignant cancer. This is why I was due to have a full hysterectomy in the days following that tearful drive into work. My network of health care and support identifying and treating a potentially life-ending threat early and, hopefully, effectively.

What made this diagnosis so poignant is that it is a clear example of why there is a such a disparity in life expectancy. Many people with limited resources expend all their finances on the basics of rent, utilities and food. 

Medical costs – both upfront and out of pocket – are impossible barriers to navigate on meagre fixed incomes. However, without a correct diagnosis of medical illness there can be no access to the treatments and medications that would allow people to function on the same mental footing as those around them. 

With no access to the suite of effective drugs at every local doctor’s surgery, our vulnerable community has no ability to function on an even footing. Without stable mental health, the obstacles to climbing the ladders of opportunity are too often insurmountable. The cycles of disadvantage compound and continue.

This too commonly shared experience of loss has, however, built an amazing community that I am blessed to be part of and blessed to be supported by. This society of neighbours, volunteers, staff, patrons of the Centre, and even its elected representatives have reached out to me and supported me through these difficulties. I don’t know what lies on the path before me, but I do know that the care, love, and support of my beautiful and inspirational community will be with me.

Had I been in this position a few years ago, and not able to access my professional health team, my symptoms would have been pushed down and discounted until they were so severe there was no ignoring then. I would have disregarded the niggles at the back of my mind because I had too many other things to deal with. 

Like too many people before me I would have ignored problems until they couldn’t be ignored any more. Who knows how dire the outcome may have been? 

And I suppose, as I say to everyone (as I peer over my glasses and put on Mum voice) the most important person is you, and you have to listen to your body and look after yourself.”