Resilience and unity lighting up the hills this Solstice

One of my favourite festivals of the year is always the Lantern Festival in Belgrave. It marks the shortest day of the year and from then on I start looking forward to longer days. It’s also a great night of celebration where all the community comes out. You can parade your lantern whether it’s big or small and there are so many amazingly creative interpretations. But how do you have a Lantern Festival in the time of COVID-19?

This year the festival will be reimagined. From June 20 (the longest night of the year) to July 05, for two weeks, lanterns will blaze in shop front windows and sidewalks of the Belgrave township. 

In place of the traditional Belgrave Lantern Parade that would usually attract over 7,000 visitors, the 2020 Belgrave Lantern Festival has been reimagined in response to COVID-19 restrictions, keeping the Yarra Ranges community tradition of celebrating the beginning of winter alive and alight. 

This festival of light, a public artwork showcasing glowing light installations of lanterns made by local artists and the community will symbolise the resilience, unity and strength of purpose of communities across the hills.

Atop Dandenong Ranges and across Hills townships, we are responding to the communities collective voice and overwhelming passion for connection and exchange, by encouraging our local community to celebrate and join in the glow with homemade lanterns, displaying inside shop front windows, on sidewalks and peppered in the front yards and driveways. 

For the self-described, ‘creative and quirky’ townships, meeting and matching the recent challenges has meant turning setbacks into opportunities, inviting new ideas and connecting together at a completely new level. There is shared understanding that moving forward means moving as one. Moving forward means inspiring confidence in the community. Moving forward means thinking differently, seizing the occasion and making a new mark. 

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• Dates: Sat 20 June — Sun 5 July 
• Cost: Free 
• Location: Dandenong Ranges 
• Public Art Installation — Burwood Highway, Belgrave 
• Pop up lanterns in Hills Townships — Participating artist collectives and venues in Upwey, Tecoma, Kallista, The Patch, Olinda and Sassafras. 
• Community participation — Own business, home, driveway and street 

To find out more check out these links:
Belgrave Lantern Parade Facebook page and the Facebook Event page
To make your own lantern check out these Lantern making videos

Participating support partners: 
Belgrave Traders Association
Yarra Ranges Council
Burrinja Cultural Centre
Yarra Ranges Tourism

Be part of Burrinja’s Cardboard Gathering

Post by Adriana Alvarez.

Burrinja would love you to join them for their virtual sneaky peek tour of its recently completed refurbishment. How you ask? Why, as a life size cardboard cut-out of course! They have extended the deadline for drop off to the 1st of May (this Friday) so more of your fabulous cardboard selves can join them!

Instructions can be found here on how to make a card board cu-out.
Then you can drop off your life size selves at Burrinja’s stage door Tue – Fri between 10am & 3pm by the 1st of May (ring the bell so they know it’s there). Be sure to include your name and social handles if you would like Burrinja to tag you in the virtual opening & tour.
If you can’t drop it off, Burrinja is offering a cardboard cut-out service available here for the small fee of $20. You’ll need the pdf of yourself from the link above to send to Burrinja so they can cut it out for you.

Be part of the fun and join this virtual re-launch from the comfort of your home. With a wine in hand of course.

Join Stax at the virtual tour event.

It takes a village

The Patch Primary School will be hosting their 2nd annual PatchFest this Saturday October 19th from 12 noon til 7pm. It is shaping up to be bigger and better than last year, which was a huge success and attracted over 2,000 visitors to this unique and wonderful school in the Dandenong Ranges.

The festival aims to bring the vibrant hills community together through live music, games, Art, food and drink. Two stages will host performances from local bands, including Lost Canoe, Parkville, Tracey Roberts Quartet, Merks ‘n’ Quims and Al MacInnes as well as fabulous performances by the students from The Patch Primary School. There will be a wide range of activities for all ages, including sponge throwing at teachers, a sideshow alley full of games created by our 5/6 students, a handballing target, tennis shots, lucky jars, coin toss chocolates, an up-cycled jewellery stall, second hand books and toys, handmade crafts, mandala painting with a local artist, nature weaving, a belly dance performance and more.

Lost Canoe.

There will be a range of delicious food on offer. Paella by ‘The Independent Gembrook’, food prepared by professional chefs, vegan and vegetarian options, wood fire pizza’s (oven supplied by Pizza Yolo and The Patch store), mulled wine, devonshire tea, sushi + PatchMade spices, jams, bread and cakes as well as beautiful coffee from Oscars coffee van.

PatchFest will again have a licenced bar and beer garden with all wine being supplied by Helen and Joey’s Estate. The day will continue into the evening with the Grade 6 mask parade, and culminating in a community bonfire facilitated by the Mountain Men. It’s set to be an amazing day of fun and entertainment for all ages!   

Students at the school are very excited about the upcoming festival with many of them counting down the sleeps. The Prep students are busily preparing for their up cycled jewellery stall and have started creating handmade beads for people to use on the day as well as collecting old jewellery to be repurposed, in keeping with the schools sustainability philosophy. Year 1’s and 2’s have spent the past few weeks making pom pom creations to sell as key rings and various items.  

So be sure to get along to The Patch Primary school, with your own picnic rug, or find a nice spot on one of the bean bags or deck chairs scattered around the oval and be part of the amazing afternoon that is PatchFest. All proceeds raised will go towards The Patch Primary School for their reading support program and audio visual equipment. But PatchFest is more than just a fundraiser, it is an opportunity for this wonderful community to come together perfectly illustrating the phrase “it takes a village.”

When: Saturday October 19th from 12pm – 7pm
Where: The Patch Primary School, Kallista – Emerald Road The Patch.

PatchFest 2018: ‘It takes a village’

Post by Stephanie Lightfoot. 

This Saturday 27 October, The Patch Primary School community comes together for the first ever PatchFest. I spoke with The Patch School parent and festival committee member, CJ Baxter, for her insider’s tips for the day.

Over the last several months, kids, parents, teachers, alumnae and the wider hills community have been working towards whole-school fundraiser, PatchFest; its theme: ‘It takes a village’, a proverbial nod to these efforts, as well as its aims. Given the small scale of both the school and the town, pulling the event together has meant seeking support beyond these bounds – among the event’s major sponsors are winery Helen & Joey Estate, in Gruyere, and vintage retailer, Fleetwood Collection, in Belgrave. The breadth of the day’s program, too – spanning live music, arts activities and workshops, a Marketplace, chai tent, beer garden and community bonfire – speaks to diverse ages, interests and curiosities. The idea, CJ says, is to create a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere in which both those within and outside of the school community feel involved and welcome; to affirm that ‘we’re all here to support one another’.

This allusion to wellbeing is pertinent. Though not geared toward one particular cause or project, CJ tells me that some of the funds raised will be allocated to the development of a Wellbeing Centre at the school. This will provide a space for both students and parents to support themselves, and one another.

CJ and her partner, Kathleen Snowball, or Snowy – who has headed the PatchFest music committee – have been running businesses and events in the area for a number of years – notably, the End of the Line Festival in Belgrave (which ran from 2012–2015), and the Skylark Room in Upwey. Following their departure from Skylark earlier this year, PatchFest has been in the works. So, what can we expect from the Fest?

Right off the bat, CJ mentions The Bean Project – whose members include past Patch student, Ben Langdon; and the more recent Patch alum, the ‘ridiculously talented’ Sadie, performing on the day. They’re in good company; with Spiritus, Eddie Cole, Miller, and the Chops also playing sets. These diverse, ‘top-notch’ acts, among others, will perform across three stages, one of which will also be graced by current Patch students. Together with a buskers’ area, there’s no shortage of musical delights on offer. And, though the line-up may give some of the better known arts and music festivals a run for their money, entry is free!

Clockwise from top left: Miller; Spiritus; and The Bean Project.

This amalgamation of talent from both inside and beyond the school community is consistent throughout PatchFest. The Marketplace, curated by Danielle De Valence, of the Fleetwood Collection, will peddle the wares of Patch students, professional artisans, and local vintage collectors. The school’s emphasis on the environment is highlighted here – with sustainability being one of the key criteria upon which Year 5 and 6 students’ pilot Marketplace products were judged. In line with this, PatchFest is plastic bag-free, and there will be no balloons, or disposable plates, cups, or cutlery on site.

When it comes to fuelling up, CJ tells me the school’s woodfire pizza oven will be ‘cranking all day’, among other goodies homemade and homebaked by Patch students and families. And, for some more mature refreshment, there’s beautiful, Yarra Valley wines from Helen & Joey Estate.

For those keen to fit in some learning, there’s also a Workshop Hub, with a number of ‘Pay as you feel’ classes. Here, you can flex your dramatic muscles with The Patch-based Storey Players, learn the basics of the ukelele with Patch School ukelele teacher Jess Dunn, or discover the joy of communal singing with Jessica McNabb and the Sweet Sassafras Choir.

The day concludes with a community bonfire on the school oval. When I asked what will fuel the fire, CJ tells me that the home of one of the parents on the PatchFest committee backs onto the oval; having recently had to chop down a tree, they will provide the goods. Not to mention, the dozens of local businesses that have donated products, services and vouchers towards fundraising via a silent auction and raffles on the day.

This patent sense of generosity and collaboration is by no means anomalous in the hills – where, CJ corroborates, many people move to, to immerse themselves in community. Certainly, the Patch Primary community seems to be thriving.

For more information, check out PatchFest on Facebook.

PatchFest 2018: ‘It takes a village’
Cost: Free entry
When: Saturday 27 October, 2pm–9pm
Where: The Patch Primary School
53 Kallista-Emerald Road, The Patch

 

Halloween on the Green

Tell us a bit about your event?

With big crowds and amazing costumes being the main feast for the eyes, expect the unexpected!

The growing popularity of Halloween is a wonderful vehicle to set as the theme for our fundraiser. It has become evident over the past couple of years that there is no real central gathering point on the mountain to celebrate this occasion. Pockets of fun have begun to appear locally, however families mostly leave the mountain. We would like to draw on this momentum by providing a child safe and family-friendly environment for all our community to celebrate.

What music and activities will be held on the day?

We have a fully packed program of activities these include:

We will have an amazing array of entertainment this year at Halloween on the Green. Our Master of Ceremonies the wonderful Rosalind Mackay will commence the day with a ‘welcome to country’ and introduce Mayor, Cr Len Cox with an opening speech.

Local musicians, The Bean Project, with their vibrant French horn clad quintet will be stopping by to play their jazz/folk set on the main stage at 12.40 – 2:30pm. Parkville the band will be entertaining the crowds on the main stage from 3.00 pm – 5.00 pm.

Join the crowd at the main stage in the final hour of the day with ‘Name that Tune’ music competition. It’s free to enter and loads of fun. The first person to guess all tunes wins a prize. A stunning musical landscape in sound of popular culture will be brought to you by the masterful talents of art teacher Rod Price and supported by student Harrison Lawrence. Come guess and come dance good bye to Halloween for another year.

As well as this, we will have roving Wizard story teller Sim Salla Bim 12:30 – 3:30 pm. Performers and musicians Los Trios and stilt walkers will delight by roving the green from 1:00 – 4:00pm.

Join in the conga line at 1:45 – 2:30 pm and the Best Dressed prize parade and announcement at 3:45pm.

Watch our business identities, school principals, Bendigo Bank manager and Fire Captain be dunked in our dunking machine throughout the day. Free carnival rides, face painting, CFA Fire Brigade truck, Scouts rope bridge, hair braiding and trick or treat for the kids and surprise music sets in the main Hall (trick or treat includes free lollies and apples.

What to eat

A variety of taste sensations from different cultures will be on offer from our food stall vendors’ tents and food trucks. These include: The Spud Shack, Raithai Traditional Thai Food Van, D’LISH Turkish Street Food, Golden Poffertjes and Bring Braai South African Food.

Our four schools and the home-schooling network will also be offering food at reasonable prices for all to enjoy such as: sausage sizzle tent, healthy homemade soups, fairy floss, fresh homemade lemonade, lemon deserts, popcorn and Melba Coffee expertly prepared by local baristas.

What to buy

Around the green a variety of stall vendors will be showcasing the best of their wares for you to purchase. Vendor stalls include: Corkies Creations, Little Lucy’s Garden, Sues Laughing Clowns, Pretty Strange Crafts, Kiddies Food Kutters, Farrahs Cakes, Dreams to Creations, Cabochon Harmony, Luna Co, Artful Splodgers, T is for Treehouse, Beauty Stayz All Day, Kongas Kreations

Plus Tarot Readings – Our team of Tarot Readers will be in tents and providing 15-minute Tarot Readings for $25.00, with all proceeds going back to our schools.

Why did you decide to have a Halloween celebration?

It was evident that Halloween was becoming more and more celebrated each year and adopted as a fun vehicle for our Hills families. We wanted a means to gather the community which brought all sectors together to help and support each other while having fun. Who doesn’t like to dress up!

Why do you think Halloween has become so popular?

We feel Halloween is so popular because it enables a means of self-expression and exploration of all that Halloween encompasses. This year we have gone to great lengths to produce information pillars at this year’s event to show how Halloween is expressed through different cultures. From the Christian celebration of All Saints Day to the Mexican celebration of the Day-of-the-Dead. So much more to Halloween than people first understand.

What/Who will the money raised go towards?

The monies raised on the day are divided between our participating schools and the Philanthropic Collective to stage the following years Event. Last year the Philanthropic Collective raised almost 17 thousand dollars, and this was divided up and donated back in the same way.

Who are the Philanthropic Collective and what do they want to achieve for the community?

The Philanthropic Collective are a group of parent volunteers which offer their time, services and expertise to support our schools, students and community. We have a focus on supporting families facing hardship whether that be via our free food program or simply providing free tickets to the Royal Melbourne Show.

The Philanthropic Collective is committed to creating child safe environments within all our projects where children and young people are safe and feel safe.

Anything else you’d like to add?

This year we are working towards a cultural celebration of Halloween and to bring our community together once again. Through this Festival, The Philanthropic Collective is focused on creating beautiful and lasting memories for our families and our community by having a wonderful time with each other once a year.

It remains our intention to once again offer as many free activities to children as possible, including some rides. Our aim is to eliminate the disparity between families who can afford to pay for rides and activities for their children and those who cannot. This is the spirit that we would like to spread. Our success on the day cannot be measured by how much money is raised, rather should be judged by the joy that will be generated.

Last year our call to ‘good will’ in order to bring this event to life, reached many people from our immediate three schools, from our local community but also and surprisingly from outside of our hills. Many volunteers unrelated to our schools as well as artists sensitive to our aim offered to perform for free and help on the day. This in itself was a wonderful achievement in ‘good will’ and a great reward for our efforts to this aim.

When & Where

Saturday 27th October 2018
Start time 12:00 noon – concluding at 6:00 pm
Ferny Creek Recreational Reserve Hall
16 Clarkmont Road, Sassafras 3787, Victoria

Admission

Limited online tickets available
$6.00 per person – children three years of age and under free of charge
Ticket purchases online at www.halloweenonthegreen.com.au with a two hundred dollar value early bird prizes for purchases before the 1st of October.

For more information go to halloween on the green facebook page.

Gawurra at Survival Day

Belgrave Survival Day is thrilled to announce acclaimed Gawurra Gaykamangu as the headline performer at this year’s Belgrave Survival Day Friday 26 January!

Gawurra is a Yolngu professional performing artist hailing from Milingimbi (Yurrwi), North East Arnhem Land. With an emotional and resonant voice, Gawurra’s performances deliver a masterful musical sensitivity.

Yolngu people feel the spirit of Gawurra’s music in their hearts. The emotion in his voice touches people to build and refresh their spirit, making them stronger through the vine of love. Gawurra is a genuine young leader in his community, a respected song man with knowledge and power. It is important for Gawurra to connect his culture through his music to all peoples, sharing the love from small communities of the Northern Territory to the major mainstream international music markets of the world.

In 2016, Gawurra won the NT Song of the Year in the Pop category, for ‘Mulunda’. He received four NIMA Awards and gained national recognition throughout the music industry and mainstream media, including an ARIA nomination and a 4.5-star review in Rolling Stone magazine who stated “Gawurra commands attention regardless of backdrop.”

Gawurra’s star has continued to rise in 2017, mounting his first national tour of Australia with SOLD OUT appearances in mainstream music venues throughout the country and as a featured performer at major music festivals. Gawurra has established himself as a “must see” live act, gathering a mainstream following and captivating his audiences across the country. “Gawurra celebrates the natural wonders of his homeland in Gupapuyngu language across his debut album.” – The West Australian

2017 was a big year for Gawurra as he started his own professional music and artist services business. Gawurra Catfish Corporation was formed and operates out of Melbourne to deliver artist representation, music production, music licensing and recording label services.

With Gawurra Gaykamangu headlining the day festival goers will be also enjoy performances by The Deans of Soul, Eskatology, Mullum Mullum Choir, Gnarnaryarrahe – Didge Meditation, Djirri Djirri Dance Group, Mullum Mullum Hip Hop Dance Group as well as contributions from Aunty Dot Peters and SEED Indigenous Youth Climate Network.

Belgrave Survival Day will be held this Friday 26 January in Borthwick Park, Benson Street, Belgrave from 12.00 – 4.30pm. Join in for another day of music, stalls, children’s activities, food and fun and to celebrate the survival of Australia’s First Nations people. Find out more on the Belgrave Survival Day Facebook page.

Chill Fest begins

Tell me a bit about this festival?

Chill Fest is a wellness & yoga festival designed to leave festival-goers feeling better than when they came in. With great local yoga and meditation facilitators, you can enjoy a taster of what the Hills has to offer. Yoga rave, market stalls, meditation, kids dance workshops, good food and a selection of classes, Chill Fest is your one-stop shop to try something new and feeling incredible.

Is this the first chill fest?

Yes, Flan (Mike Flannery) & I (Krystal Bassett) work in events for different companies but we decided to use our experience and skills to organise our own festival.

Tell me a bit about your background and why you decided to create this festival.

I spent many years in Manchester, UK putting on late night events and performing in various bands and Flan (also a from the UK) works for a production company here in Victoria, touring with various artists around the country.

Now settled in Olinda, we are moving away from the party lifestyle and enjoying the luxury of many more early nights! (Flan may argue this! He still enjoys a few beers!)

After feeling the benefits of my journey into meditation and yoga, I felt inspired to put on a festival where people can know that their mind, body and soul will be energised and nourished. Rather than feeling terrible the next day.

What drove you to host this festival in the hills?

After meeting so many passionate Hills folk at various events or in cafes, I wanted to bring everyone together and to meet more like-minded locals. We would love to really be a part of the Hills community and encourage others to spend more time with each other – in this day and age there are too many people cooped up in their homes – we would love anyone, any age, to come along and make friends.

What is unique about this event?

We are completely self funded, this allows Chill Fest to be free of advertising and to stick to our ethics. You wont find a disposable coffee cup at our barista cart Pookie May (there are mugs) and you had better BYO water bottle too. Plus, there is amazing veggie food from Babji’s Kitchen and Jerry’s Vegiburgers.

We hope that Chill Fest has a feel of acceptance and is an approachable way to try less commercial practices like sound healing and Raja yoga. Everyone is welcome and can ask for support with any practices that they are unsure about.

Why do you think these sorts of ideas are becoming more important to people now (and in the future)?

I really feel that we are all becoming more conscious and if people take steps to be mindful & respect themselves (body, mind and soul), then they are more able to be compassionate to others, bringing us together in these turbulent times and making the world a better place to live.

In what ways, if any, do you engage with the hills community?

We have been in Olinda for 3 years and although we have spent time with our community on art and musical events, this is really our first time engaging as a couple. We would love to help the community in many other ways throughout the years.

 

Where can people find more information and buy tickets?

Chill Fest is this Saturday 28th October 11am-10pm.
For more info and to buy tickets go to www.chillfest.co
or you can turn up with your yoga mat and pay on the door.
$35 standard, $20 concessions (with ID), under 12yrs Free.

Fun at the Lake Park Cottage

Belgrave Lake Park Cottage Playgroup sits within the site of the old Belgrave Auto Park. In 1946 the reservoir, as it was then, was a place to cool off with a swim on hot summer days. Today it is the home of our community playgroup which has been volunteer led since 1981, when a group of local families restored the old caretaker’s cottage as a place to meet and share their parenting journey. In October the playgroup is hosting a Gallery and Garden Party celebrating more than 30 years that the Cottage has been a volunteer operated playspace for the families of our local community.

Encapsulating History Week and Children’s Week celebrations on 21st October,  the Cottage will be a place to share stories and memories of the role playgroup has played over three generations.

Shaun King 1981-82 original Playgroup member. Photo by Sharon King.

As part of our day event, we are excited to be opening our new Indigenous Sensory Garden playspace along with our gallery area, which will be a display of historical photos of our local surrounds. We have been proudly funded for our garden and gallery project by Yarra Ranges Council grants for the community. We have planned a day full of fantastic activities as a part of Children’s Week calendar, presented in partnership with the Victorian Government.

The day itself marks the official opening of the Indigenous themed Sensory Garden by Mayor Councillor Cliff and we will be holding a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony conducted by Elders from the Wurundjeri Tribe. We are thrilled to be hosting this ceremony as acknowledgement of respect for the Wurundjeri people as traditional custodians of the land.

Other activities on the day include creating a timecapsule for families to contribute to which will be buried on the day. Hands-on mosaic making will take place in our garden. The garden will include a collection of native animal sculptures and we will be getting families involved in our animal bingo throughout the day. Bring a picnic and enjoy our storytime sessions or roll up your sleeves for some carer-led colouring and craft activities in our messy-space art room.

This Children’s Week event is presented by Belgrave Lake Park Cottage Playgroup in Partnership with the Victorian Government and proudly funded by Yarra Ranges Council.

When: 21st October, 2017
Where: 29 Park Drive, Belgrave
Enquiries: contact Emma 0434 019 346

www.belgravelakeparkcottage.com.au

Our schedule for a fun-packed day of activities for all the family

10am freeplay in our Indigenous Sensory garden
10.30 Indigenous themed kid’s storytime
11am Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony from Wurundjeri Tribe Elders and official opening of our event by Mayor Councillor Noel Cliff
11.30 Mosaic making begins
1pm We invite you to picnic and chat with us
1.30pm Kid’s garden storytime
3pm Timecapsule burial
All day we will have animal bingo in the garden, crafts and colouring activities, viewing of historical photos of the cottage over the years

We have been approaching local historical societies and libraries for historical photographs of the lake and area surrounding the cottage but we have yet to find any photos of the cottage itself from yesteryear. We would love any locals who may have attended the playgroup in the past to come to our event and share their stories and a picnic with us on the day.

Email any historical photos to us at belgrave.playgroup@gmail.com

Belgrave Survival Day – Celebrating 10 years

Smoking ceremony photo by D.Clarke.

On Thursday the 26th January, 2017, Belgrave Survival Day will celebrate its 10^th consecutive year. Once again celebrating Indigenous culture and the survival of Australia’s First Nations people through 228 years of white settlement. This year’s festival will focus on the theme of ‘Knowing your local history, and as always is a free family friendly event.

This year the theme focuses on understanding your local history. If there is one action a person can do to show solidarity and start to bridge the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous people it is to get to know your local history. This year award winning author Bruce Pascoe will be a special guest speaker sharing stories from our local history. Author and historian Jim Poulter will also have a stall with books outlining Victoria’s indigenous history.

The Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony will be led by Wurundjeri elder and educator, Uncle Bill Nicholson, followed by traditional dances performed by ‘The Djirri Djirri’ dance mob where the audience will be invited to join in. Aunty Dot Peters will also grace us with her presence and share some of her wisdom.

The Djirri Djirri dance mob.

The line up includes Benny Walker, who will be on the stage again as the lead act with his band. His love songs and epic tales are mixed with passion for the land, the people. His summer vibes and deep grooves are elements that reach the soul.

Benny and the band.

The day will also welcome back The Deans, who will bring classic sounds and grooves with velvet smooth vocals, sweet harmonies, soaring heartbreak guitar, deep Mo-town bass grooves and hip-shaking rhythms. They are sure to get you moving.

Benny and The Deans will be supported by Gunditjmara singer songwriter Jayden Lillyst. Jayden tells stories of his people through a dose of country rock mixed with soul and blues.

The fabulous voices of the Mullum Mullum Choir and the vibes of the Hip Hop Crew will also feature. Then be calmed as you participate in a Digeridoo Mediation with Gnarnayarrahe Waitiarie (Uncle Joey).

There will be plenty of activities to keep the kids (and adults) busy with fun music and dance, art and craft opportunities, the children’s playground and more.

Soak up the atmosphere on a picnic rug in front of the stage or stroll around the market and information stalls. Catering for all food requirements with a variety of food trucks including traditional bush tucker. This event is alcohol-free.

Due to parking limitations around the park the Survival Day organisers strongly encourage people to catch public transport, carpool or park at Belgrave Train Station where you can get the shuttle bus provided, or take a quick 5 minute walk to Borthwick Park.

The event will be simulcasts on 3MDR 97.1 FM.

To find out more go to Belgrave Survival Day facebook or events page

When: 26th January 2017
Time: 12 noon – 4.30pm
Where: Borthwick Park (next to Belgrave Pool) Benson St, Belgrave.
Melways reference 75/F11

The Belgrave Survival Day event is organised by a committee of volunteers. They invite new volunteers to help with preparations for the festival, to assist on the day, or join the committee to keep the event happening in the future.

Space… the poetic frontier

Post by Adriana Alvarez

Malcolm de Chazal said “Space is the widest open of all mouths.”
“Then let’s shove some cake in it!” says Cameron Semmens.

Cameron Semmens, our resident poet who gave us the chance to write our own poems a few issues back, has got a new book out. It’s poetical, gastronomical and astronomical! It’s a space-themed collection of new poems and classic cake recipes. “I hope you will experience it as a marvel of entertaining tastiness for mind and mouth!” says Cameron.

If you like baking cakes, or space, or poetry – or perhaps all three, then this book could be for you!

“A Brief History of Time with Cake”
– Poems about Space (inner and outer)
  – Recipes for Cake (yummy and scrummy)

Includes recipes like for you to bake at home:
– The Zero Gravi-teacake
– The Baked Moon Cheesecake
– The Anti-gravitational Mousse
– or even, a Pavnova!

Or  you could simply feast upon the poems, including:
– The Asteroid Theory for The Extinction of Despair
– Poem 9 from Outer Space
– and The 23rd Jedi.

Cameron will be launching his book at Grunge Café, Belgrave.
“Cake Expectations, a poetry night” is on Monday December 12th at 7pm. Free entry. 

On the night you can sign up to the open mic – preferably with a poem on the theme of space, or cake. You can perform your own or read a classic. If you’ve heard Cameron at hillsceneLIVE you’ll know that it’s a great experience. Cameron’s performance is fun and entertaining and his quirky poems are amusing and delicious. Come along and listen, laugh… and, if you’re brave enough, even share your own poem on space, or cake!

The usual great quality Grunge cake and coffee will also be available for sale and you’ll be able to buy “A Brief History of Time with Cake” at the special launch price of $15.

If you want to get a copy but can’t make it to the launch you can order it online at www.webcameron.com or you could pick up a copy at The Belgrave Book Barn or Grunge Café.

Cake Expectations “A Brief History of Time with Cake” book launch
Monday December 12 at 7.00pm
Grunge Cafe – 1696 Burwood Hwy, Belgrave