Local Heroes
We all know people who make valuable and substantial contributions to our community. If you have a story you want to tell about somebody who you think should be recognised, please email us at eastsidernews1@gmail.com. But, don’t forget to ask them first – it is important that we respect the person’s desire for privacy.
Marie Pietersz. Senior of the Year 2022 for the Promotion of Multiculturalism
On 26 October 2022, Boroondara resident Marie Pietersz was awarded the Senior of the Year 2022 Award for the Promotion of Multiculturalism by the Governor of Victoria, Hon Linda Dessau AC at Government House. This Award is given to an individual who has made a significant contribution to promoting the benefits of cultural diversity in their local community or in the broader community.
Pictured: Marie Pietersz with Minister Colin Brooks and Governor Linda Dessau at Government House on 26 October 2022
To read more of Marie’s story, please click here.
Dot Browne. Teacher, Athlete, Marathon Runner, dedicated community worker and family member.
Glenys Grant
Dot Browne (née Green) was awarded an OAM in the 1992 Australia Day Awards. Since then, she has continued to contribute to the community. Among her awards is a City of Whitehorse Australia Day Deakin Community Award, presented in 2008 for services in education, athletics and art. Dot’s life has seen many successes.
William (Bill) Chandler, OAM
The Eastsider News team is deeply saddened by the death of our founder, Bill Chandler on the morning of Sunday 24 July 2022.
Without Bill, there would not have been an Eastsider News.
Glen Waverley nurse, Alecx Quillope, named among top in Australia
Glen Waverley’s own Alecx Quillope was recently recognised in Australia’s leading nursing agency’s Inaugural Caring for You Core Values Awards.
Please click here to read more.
A giant in the table tennis world: Don Cheyne 
Neville Young
The Eastern Suburbs and Churches Table Tennis Association acknowledges the achievement of Don Cheyne who has contributed much to table tennis in this area and offers their congratulations to him for his 90th birthday.
Read more about Don, click here. If you would like to hear Don talk about his experiences please click here.
Air Commodore Peter Newton AO (Retd) – Sharing with Love
Longtime Blackburn resident, Peter Newton, instigated the establishment of Klibur Domin, a large health care centre outside Dili in East Timor following the brutal withdrawal of Indonesian troops. Klibur Domin (KD) means Sharing with Love in Tetum.
To read the full article about Peter Newton and his work in Timor Leste, please click here.
Daring to travel new paths – Neil Wilkinson’s political and ecumenical travels
Malcolm Cameron
David Williamson’s 1971 play Don’s Party caricatured the 1969 election night scene in the Victorian electorate of Holt with a plot descending into a raunchy ‘sixties’ farce. Eastsider News reader Neil Wilkinson was the ALP candidate for Holt in real life. This is his story. Click here to read more.
Annemieke Mein: from craft to art
It has been a challenging and creative life for Annemieke Mein. Born in Haarlem in 1944, when Germany still occupied Holland, she and her parents migrated to Australia in 1951 and became Australian citizens in 1956 …
Annemieke’s art is unique. She combines fabric, paint and sewing threads to produce works that are realistically accurate but that also breathe with life and action, and are emotionally breath-taking for the observer. It is difficult to categorise…. To read more about Annemieke, please click here.
Elizabeth Chong – The cooking teacher
By Matilda Bowra
After Elizabeth Chong accidentally became a cooking teacher, she turned into one of our first celebrity chefs, ran a successful cooking school for 58 years and was awarded an Order of Australia for the promotion of Chinese cuisine. When I met Elizabeth and heard her story, it didn’t seem at all surprising this vibrant woman had such an illustrious career, and is still embracing opportunities for new adventures.
To read more, please click here.
Carolyn Ingvarson – ACF Peter Rawlinson award 
Carolyn Ingvarson, a Boroondara resident and founding Convenor of the local climate action group, Lighter Footprints, was joint recipient of a national ACF (Australian Conservation Foundation) award in November 2021. To read more, please click here.
Arthur Tonkin hits a century
To read about Arthur and his many achievements, please click here.
Keith Routledge
To read about Keith and his many contributions, please click here.
