25 June Newsletter Friends of Eaglemont Village
Ryder-Cheshire Morning Tea This Wednesday 28th
Our monthly contribution to keeping the grounds at the medical accommodation charity Ryder-Cheshire Homes Ivanhoe occurs on the last Wednesday each week.
From 9:30 a.m. we scour the grounds for those "tidy up, clean up, make it presentable" jobs that help to make the residents' stay a little bit more pleasant - a sense that other people care about their stay, and are making an effort on their behalf.
Typically we are indoors for morning tea around 10:30 a.m., and a chat lasting to about 11.
Come along and meet some new people - make a small difference to other people's lives. Enjoy some CWA baking.
10 Donaldson Street Ivanhoe, all tools provided on site.
Sally Calls "Time" At Aniseed
Sad news down in the Village that Aniseed will close up as a cafè on 7 July.
This may not be the end of Sally's role in the hospitality industry or even the Village but more on that as things firm up.
Susan and Sally have been part of our daily - or alternate days lives - for 7 years.
We thank them for their smiles, their friendship and their reliable service, and wish them well in their next endeavours.
Vacant Block Developments Anticipated
Discussions are understood to be taking place between Banyule Council and the proprietor of the vacant block in Silverdale Road to explore if and how there can be better community use of the land.
The situation leading to the block being vacant has many twists and turns, and personal difficulties affecting the best intentions and decisions of previous owners.
The building on the block was demolished as its size, design & structural integrity made modifications impractical.
Plans for a hospitality venue drew Council and VCAT involvement. As time passed (and passed) the then proprietors' personal circumstances, capacities and interests changed, the neighbouring property owners became embroiled in the matter, and the block has remained disappointingly vacant.
The present owner is believed to be amenable to the site having a temporary role as an amenity to the shopping strip, rather than sitting idle and being a target for graffiti.
We will keep you posted as information comes to hand.
Council's Community Infrastructure Review
On Monday 26th June our FofEV sponsored petition of 258 signatures seeking Council support for a community facility goes before Council.
Coincidentally the broad Community Infrastructure Review of Council will also be considered.
We understand that the need for a community facility to serve the Eaglemont area is recognized, and that practical steps are being taken to seek options and to achieve a suitable venue.
Even with an annual budget of $185 million Council struggles to satisfy the needs and wants of its 132,000 residents, its staff,while maintaining and modernizing its existing infrastructure.
As we are all too aware, easy & cheap options for addressing community needs for meeting spaces, for training venues, for community development, do not exist in this residential area which is enclosed by major transport corridors.
We cannot beg or borrow halls, school facilities, kindies, scout halls, Council premises or church halls that do not exist.
Our legitimate need is recognized - delivering on that need is the challenge.
FofEV Delegates To Meet Council's Parks Designer At Banksia Reserve
Our first FofEV application for Banyule Council funding to underpin our efforts to bring Banksia Reserve to the status of "local park" was knocked back - politely and gently.
We were encouraged to liaise with Council's Parks Department to iron out any wrinkles in understanding Council's standards for design, development & maintenance, and to give The Parks people an opportunity to understand our desires and capacities.
An onsite meeting will take place 10 a.m. Monday 26th June.
Following this interaction we will re-submit our bid when the next grants funding round opens on 3 July.
This Banksia Reserve space was the subject of an Ivanhoe Girls Grammar School Year 4 project team last year, mentored by FofEV.
The team chose to tackle the lack of kids' play spaces in our over-developed yet still developing neighbourhood.
We led an excursion through Eaglemont to canvass 140 years of land use changes, and to seek out opportunities to wring play and recreation spaces from a built environment.
The project team ultimately presented to Councillors and senior administration - and some very proud parents.
We will seek to involve the IGGS team - at the very least we will keep them informed, and seek their feedback on proposals.
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