We aim to tell the interesting and important stories of your neighbourhoods, to keep residents informed about the events, activities and important issues happening in your area.
We want to share information, celebrate talent and achievements, stimulate discussion and report on the many things that affect your everyday life. Let us know your thoughts or submit a contribution by emailing us at eastsidernews1@gmail.com.
You are invited to subscribe at no cost. The purpose of a subscription is so that we can send you an alert that a new edition has been published or to remind you that contributions are due for the next edition. The information you give us will be used for no other purpose.
The Edge Community Fund 2023 Easter Raffle
The Edge Community Fund is a local community charity helping vulnerable children and their families in Ashburton, Ashwood, Chadstone and surrounding suburbs.
The Fund is now conducting its Annual Easter Raffle. First prize is the famous Traders Hamper worth at least a thousand dollars made up of donations from many local businesses. It will be drawn outside the Bendigo Community Bank in Ashburton at 3pm on Thursday 6 April.
Tickets are $2 each. Sellers will be present several times a week in the Ashburton Shops. You can also purchase tickets at the Ashburton Bendigo Bank Branch; online now via TryBooking (https://www.trybooking.com/CETKG); by using the QR code here; 
or in books of 10 from Anne at edgefund@craigfc.org.au.
Click front page image below to read like a newspaper
There are two ways to read the edition – a flipbook or a pdf. If you are having difficulty reading the print, don’t give up. Depending on the device you are using, there are different ways to enlarge the item. If you are using a PC, you might prefer the pdf format. On your mobile device, you can enlarge the pdf page by double clicking on it. or you can pinch and pull with your fingers. There are also navigation buttons at the bottom of the flipbook screen you can use to increase the size.
Koonung Creek
Reviewing media diversity in Australia
In December 2020, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) released a research paper outlining a potential ‘news measurement framework’ that could help monitor levels of diversity and localism across Australia’s print, radio, TV and online news media landscape.
While initially released as a ‘think piece’, the government has asked ACMA to recommence work on this project. They are now seeking public views on both the construction of the framework and its suitability for use in Australia ahead of the finalisation and potential implementation of the ACMA’s news measurement framework.
Stakeholder feedback from this process will also guide any further ACMA measurement activities and decisions around broader implementation.
Have your say
Click on this link to find out more about this inquiry and to download ACMA’s research paper. Written submissions are due Friday. 17 March 2023
Upcoming Events
To find out what is happening in your local community, go to the Calendar tab in the menu at the top of this page.
Remember, click on the event title to get further information. And just to give you a taste for things happening in the near future, have a look at these events listed below.
Bands and Burgers in the Park, 10 February 2023
Bands and Burgers is Back for 2023. Come along and enjoy a variety of Local Bands performing in the beautiful Central Gardens, Hawthorn; right next door to the Hawthorn Community House.
There will be Craft Activities and Face Painting for the kids. Neighbourhood restaurants Resistance Burgers, Dos Amigos and Les Crepes De Marion will be preparing delicious food for everyone.
Don’t forget your picnic rug and a gold coin donation which helps the Hawthorn Community House to stage this event.
Treasures and Tastes at Trinity Market 
Saturday, February 18 at 9am to 1pm
Holy Trinity complex, cnr Union Road and Montrose Street, Surrey Hills.
After a wonderful Christmas market with over 40 stalls the popular Treasures and Tastes community market returns on February 18 at 9.00am.
The Treasures Café is open during the morning, so do invite your neighbours and friends to join you there. And you will find a BBQ out in the courtyard.
To see what is available and get market updates please check: www.facebook.com/TreasuresAndTastesAtTrinity/ Inquiries: 9890 2165
Celebrating our neighbourhoods
Eastsider News covers many strong and interesting neighbourhoods in the eastern areas of Melbourne with which people have strong connections over time. We want to celebrate these neighbourhoods and to help people get to know them better.
Whitehorse Heritage
One of our contributors, Hasan Hassan has established a very interesting website called Whitehorse Heritage. The website contains his research and writing on history and heritage matters in the City of Whitehorse. These include longer versions of several of the articles we have published in our newspaper and also on the Eastsider Extra blog.
83 to 87 Dorking Road Box Hill
Mont Albert and Surrey Hills
The newly formed Mont Albert and Surrey Hills Traders Association has set up the petition below to highlight the financial hardship their local businesses are facing due to the level crossing removal project in their neighbourhood. Click on this link or scan the QR code below if you want to support their petition.
Sunset over Surrey Dive. Jane Gray
Sunset over Surrey Dive. Jane Gray
Volunteering and calls for help
Go to our Volunteering post here to find out more about opportunities to become involved with a community group or to provide help to those in need.
We often get calls for help from our readers and supporters. This could be to find photographs and historical material or to promote a pet cause etc etc. Go here to see whether you can assist.
South Surrey Park
Support our local community groups
We continue to be surprised by the number of community groups that exist in our catchment area. we are very fortunate that so many people actively and voluntarily participate in enriching our community in so many different ways.
There are the many service and support groups who provide such a range of high quality services to support many in our community who need a bit of help when life gets difficult. It is important to remember that these groups rely on the generosity of their community to provide these services.
Our region has many vibrant sporting clubs that contribute much to our local communities. Let us help publicise what is happening with your local club.
We also acknowledge the many interest groups that bring people together to share their particular passions whether it be creative, cultural or otherwise.
Our Community Links page provides information and links for you to investigate some of these groups.
Local Heroes
We have set up the Local Heroes page to tell the stories of people who have contributed to our communities. We would love to tell more of these stories. If you know of someone who should be acknowledged, please send us their story. But, please make sure firstly that they have given you their permission to do so.
Schwerkolt Cottage
Local Government matters
Eastsider News reports to people living, working and playing in a number of local government areas, including the Cities of Boroondara and Whitehorse. We regard local government as a very significant layer of the Australian democracy and encourage our readers to become involved and informed about what your local council is doing. Some of these things are discussed on one of our Speakers Corners post here, If you want to find out how to have your say on council matters, go here
Have your say
We are keen to encourage public consultation by all levels of government and others undertaking projects that will affect the lives of people living in our local areas. Go to our Have Your Say post on our Eastsider Extra page to find out how to have your say.
Whitehorse has several opportunities at present for local residents to provide feedback on draft policies. This includes promotional signage at sporting reserves that closes on 12 February and its affordable housing policy closing on 3 February.
Recent election campaigns have demonstrated a strong appetite for change in the way politics is being done in Australia. Groups looking to maintain this momentum include:
- Voices of Kooyong. Go here to check out what they are doing and join in their Kitchen Table Conversations.
- Kooyong Climate Change Alliance, an alliance of environment groups in the Kooyong electorate.
Interest Groups
The Whitehorse Film Society ‘s has released its 2023 program of film screenings. Check out the program here to find out what’s on and to read summaries of the films.
The Doncaster Camera Club has a monthly competition amongst its members. We publish many of those photos in our digital newspaper.
Ringwood Movie makers is one of Australia’s most successful non-professional movie making clubs.
Camberwell Music Society is one of Australia’s oldest music societies. We are dedicated to presenting an exciting array of classical music performed by national and international artists of the highest calibre. Go here to find their 2023 program of events.
Celebrating sporting triumphs
There’s a lot happening in our region’s sporting clubs and lots to celebrate. Go here to see who is having fun as well as winning
Acknowledgement of Country
Independent Community News Group Inc acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation, Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands and waters of the Eastsider News focus area, and pays respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.
To learn more about the rich culture and traditions of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people, we encourage you to explore their website here.
Disclaimer
Eastsider News is a means by which people in Whitehorse, Boroondara and adjacent areas can share information, opinions and experiences. A spread of interests and views that reflects the diversity of people in the area is encouraged, but views expressed in Eastsider News by individual writers do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors, Independent Community News Group Incorporated, or any other organisation.
Copyright © 2022. Copyright rests equally with the named authors and Independent Community News Group Incorporated. All rights are reserved but, consistent with the community spirit of the venture, a Commons approach to reproducing material is taken on the understanding that it is accompanied by an attribution which refers to both Eastsider News and the author, and a copy of the reproduction is sent to eastsidernews1@gmail.com. Responsibility for material related to elections is taken by named authors and Independent Community News Group Incorporated. We accept advertising in good faith, but readers need to apply caveat emptor.
Thank you
We have a number of very generous regular donors who are absolutely essential to our survival. Also essential are our regular advertisers. Thank you to these beautiful people without whom we would not exist.
Go to our donation page here if you want to help us in this way. To find out about advertising with us, go here.
Two people that work hard to make Eastsider News possible are our graphic designer Greg Loveder and Robert Dark, our website host at Web Genius. Thank you Greg and Robert for your magnificent support.
We are always looking for people to help us produce the newspaper or to contribute content. Please contact us by email at eastsidernews1@gmail.com
