Latest Contributions
We are sure you will agree that waiting around to get the good stuff has got knobs on it. This post will give you an early glimpse of some of the articles we will be including in the next two-monthly edition of the newspaper.
We will continually refresh this post as we receive new contributions.
If you have a burning issue that you want to tell the world about, please sit down and start writing now. When we receive it, we will immediately consider it for publication here and also later in the newspaper. If you have any comments on articles published here, please email us at eastsidernews1@gmail.com.
We would also like to keep you informed about what is happening in the many local organisations in our regions. These groups fulfill many purposes and bring people together to work towards shared goals. We want to help publicise what they are doing and to increase awareness of their important community building role.
Bin basket trial for bottles and cans in Boroondara
Priya Mohandoss
While strolling through your local surrounds you may have come across some strategically placed white wired baskets attached to the side of public litter bins.
During the past few months, Boroondara Council has been trialing a new method of recycling via the use of bin baskets. This is a part of Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic), a State government initiative endorsing the recycling of approved containers for a 10-cent refund.
For the trial, the bin baskets have been assigned to specific areas with at least one located in each of the 13 main suburbs within Boroondara.
Cr Wes Gault, Mayor of Boroondara said: ‘We are in the process of rolling out 200 of these new baskets across Boroondara, and we have already had great feedback on how well they are working.’
This trial provides another opportunity for residents who are unable to take their eligible items to refund points, such as reverse vending machines or over-the-counter sites. They can now put them in bin baskets whilst pursuing day-to-day activities. In turn, this allows for those who do use the CDS Vic system to obtain the reimbursement from these items for either personal use or towards a community group or charity.
Eligible items that can be left in the bin baskets are those that have the 10c mark on their packaging. These include:
- Soft drink cans and bottles
- Bottled waters, both plastic and glass
- Small, flavoured milk drinks
- Beer and cider cans and bottles
- Sports drinks and spirit-based mixed drinks
The bin baskets offer a practical means to collect eligible items and assist in the recovery of resources such as aluminium for reuse. In addition, this initiative will do much to reduce the amount of litter accumulating in landfill. ‘By the time we are done, more than two thirds of public litter bins will have a basket, providing a convenient alternative place for residents to place eligible containers’, said Mr Gault. VicReturn, the not-for-profit scheme co-ordinator that oversees CDS Vic, will determine the future of the trial after its completion on December 31.
For more details on the bin basket trials, refund points and item eligibility, visit: https://cdsvic.org.au/bin-baskets
Lighter Footprints – Candidates Forums
If you care about the natural environment and climate change and want to know the policies of your elected representatives before you vote, then these forthcoming events organised by community group Lighter Footprints are for you.
- State Election Vote Climate Campaign Kick Off: Sunday 13 September, 3pm
- Kew Candidates Forum: Thursday 22 October, 7pm
- Hawthorn Candidates Forum: Wednesday, 4 November, 7pm
To find out more and RSVP go to https://lighterfootprints.org/events/
History comes home: History Month 2026 invites Victorians to discover their local past
This October, communities across Victoria will mark History Month 2026, a state-wide celebration inviting locals to explore the histories of their own towns, suburbs and neighbourhoods.
Around 100 local historical societies, museums, libraries and community groups from across the state are taking part. Programs vary widely and include talks, walking tours, exhibitions, open days and community gatherings.
Many participants are drawing on this year’s theme, “The places that made us,” exploring the buildings, streets and landmarks that shape local identity. Others are showcasing different aspects of their community’s history, with every organisation free to shape its event around whatever local history matters most to them.
The full events calendar is here: https://historymonth.org.au/events-calendar/
History Month 2026 is supported by the Vera Moore Foundation.
Halloween at Greythorn 2026
It’s going to be a spooky affair at Greythorn Central on Halloween Eve, Thursday 29 October when all the fun of the Halloween fair comes to Greythorn from 4pm-8pm.
Join the spooks at the Greythorn Halloween Festival on Thursday 29 October
Halloween at Greythorn Central, on Doncaster Road, Balwyn North, continues the tradition of being the biggest and best free community festival in 2026 with plenty of food, fun and entertainment to get families out and about enjoying this annual event. It will be a huge fun of the fair event with lots of activities and show rides on offer.
Halloween at Greythorn is a totally FREE event and offers something special for everyone. Greythorn traders make it a super fun day for everyone.
More face painters and balloon twisting clowns means less waiting time and more colour and creations for children and families attending Halloween at Greythorn Central. The prize giveaway gets bigger and bigger every year and you can be assured of more than $4000 worth of prizes to be won by just coming along to the event.
Children can enjoy lolly giveaways from 4-5.30pm. From 4-8pm there will be a full carnival and fun activities planned all along Doncaster Road and side streets at Greythorn Central. Among the activities planned include show rides at Centre Way, face painting at various points on the shopping strip, photo booth, balloon clown and great prize giveaways by our MC throughout the afternoon capturing all the hijinks and great costumes of the afternoon.
The public is invited to come dressed in their spookiest outfit to scare the traders into handing over their lollies.
More than 50 Greythorn businesses will be participating in this year’s Halloween eve event and families are encouraged to stay on til 8pm to make the most of all the activities on offer.
There are some great community stalls on offer. Local schools and sporting clubs will have fundraising stalls with many different activities on offer.
This is a totally FREE event for all, except for the community fundraising stalls where your purchase will go to support a very worthy cause. The public is invited to support the fundraising efforts of the the local community groups and check out all the great shopping and dining options at Greythorn Central.
Letters to the Editor
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