Message from the Mayor, Cr Jane Addis

Message from the Mayor, Cr Jane Addis ewilliam Fri 25 March 2022

After a conversation with a friend, I have been thinking about the changes we can all make to mitigate climate change.

Each of us may choose different and sometimes small lifestyle changes, but together we can make a difference to the future of our planet. Sam took on a recent project to ‘get off gas’ in his Camberwell townhouse, supplementing rooftop solar and an existing split-system heater and cooler with new electric heat panels, a rapid-recharge electric hot-water tank, electric cooktop and an electric barbecue that he reports grills as well as any gas-powered model.

An electrician and a plumber took a day to hook up the new appliances and disconnect the natural gas line. Sam put aside the old appliances (including a 20-year-old gas cooktop) and booked a Council hard rubbish pick-up to collect them.

He had several reasons for making the change. The recent flood disasters in Australia and overseas are compelling ones, and he worries for the world any future grandchildren may inherit. Because natural gas is mostly methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas, removing it from his home energy supply makes a tangible difference.

There are cost savings too – his fully electrified house, including appliances, materials and labour, should pay for itself through reduced energy bills in less than 3 years.

Sam’s is a small but significant contribution towards addressing climate change, and it is a change that we can all consider. This edition of the Bulletin suggests several other things to consider, including signing up to boost biodiversity in our own backyards, and booking a sustainability workshop for children these autumn school holidays.

You can also express an interest in joining our new Boroondara Sustainability Leadership Course, which will provide participants an opportunity to acquire the knowledge, skills and confidence to become a ‘local leader’ for sustainability.

Best wishes for the Easter season and I hope you are able to take a break to enjoy the sunshine before the onset of the cooler months.

Join our sustainability leadership course

Join our sustainability leadership course ewilliam Fri 25 March 2022

Are you eager to take action for our environment? Here’s your chance. Expressions of interest for our new Sustainability Leadership Course open on 1 April.

We recognise the real and increasing threat of climate change to our environment, health and wellbeing. We’ve listened to our community, and in response, we are delivering the actions outlined in our Climate Action Plan.

One of those actions is to provide increased support for community leadership on climate action to help ensure our natural environment is healthy and sustainable for future generations. Our Boroondara Sustainability Leadership Course will help to achieve just that.

The course includes 5 workshops delivered by Matt Wicking from Cloud Catcher Services throughout May and June, with a celebration event in July.

Matt is an experienced sustainability facilitator, having been the lead facilitator of the Centre for Sustainability Leadership Fellowship program and an environmental educator with Monash Sustainable Development Institute.

Matt is passionate about creating a more sustainable world and notes, “I’m not interested in the status quo, so I bring my energy to those who want to create positive, progressive change and need a hand getting there.”

Who we’re looking for

The selected candidates will live, work, or study in Boroondara and have connections in their local community. We’re looking for people who are motivated to deliver meaningful sustainability initiatives with tangible results on a local level.

Ideally, you are involved in a local club or group, at your child’s school or childcare, are active in university clubs, deliver services, or are a local business owner/operator. If this sounds like you, this course is designed to provide you with the skills, knowledge and confidence to become a true local leader for sustainability.

Candidates must be available for sessions on Wednesday evenings from 6 pm to 9 pm throughout May and June. Sessions will be hosted at the Hawthorn Arts Centre with light refreshments and networking opportunities included. The course will finish with a celebration event in July.

Expressions of interest close on Friday 29 April at 11:59 pm.

For more information and to submit your expression of interest, visit our Boroondara Sustainability Leadership Course page.

My Arts My Culture

My Arts My Culture ewilliam Fri 25 March 2022

A photo of a woman holding a musical instrument and a painting of this photo

How does a person’s culture inform their artistic practice? Come on a journey of cultural exploration.

My Arts My Culture is a new program by Boroondara Arts that celebrates cultural diversity and creativity. Following the stories of 7 artists connected to Boroondara, My Arts My Culture offers our community rich insights into how cultural heritage and art intertwine.

One of those artists is Gelareh Pour, a musician of Iranian Australian heritage (pictured above as depicted by artist Nicole van Dijk). Gelareh grew up with her family in Tehran, Iran. She believes Iranians are always very proud of their culture – passionate about food, football and anything else related to where they come from.

“We may have different ideas personally about different things, but at the end of the day we all come together and celebrate the culture we are in love with,” she says.

Gelareh began her music career in Iran, playing traditional Iranian instruments and singing in Farsi. Although her connection to her culture manifests in her music, Gelareh doesn’t believe it defines her as a musician.

“Immigrating to Australia, I am the sum of so many different things. My culture is only one part of it, but I can never avoid the influence of where I’ve come from in my artistic practice.”

Gelareh likes to remind people that she is more than her cultural heritage. The music she makes reflects all her experiences, including her experience of living and working in Australia.

When asked what the connection between art and culture is, Gelareh says, “Art is universal, and we can all connect to it.”

Gelareh now lives and performs across Australia, including at the Hawthorn Arts Centre. She is passionate about gardening, diasporic art, cats, cooking and interior design.

You can learn more about the stories of each of the 7 artists featured in My Arts My Culture by:

visiting the My Arts My Culture exhibition at Hawthorn Arts Centre until 30 June
hearing directly from the artists in our My Arts My Culture video series.

Local school students can also participate in the program with educational resources designed to help them identify their own cultural and artistic influences, taking inspiration from the stories of the artists featured in My Arts My Culture.

Boroondara Arts is proud to deliver programs where diverse perspectives, cultures and values are accepted, appreciated and celebrated.

For more information, visit our My Arts My Culture page.

Feeling fine (free) at Boroondara's libraries

Feeling fine (free) at Boroondara's libraries ewilliam Fri 25 March 2022

Our libraries went fine-free last year, and this is what happened next.

Last year, we scrapped overdue borrowing fines from Boroondara Library Service to encourage members to return all books to our libraries despite their return being late.

The decision to encourage book returns and their accessibility to the community, over return enforcement, has seen many books returned to the shelves and back in circulation.

While our libraries are free to join, fines have historically been charged to those who fail to return their borrowed items within the allotted timeframe of 3 weeks. The decision was made last year to remove late-fees and encourage library members to not only return any library books gathering dust, but to swap them for something new.

Since then, our library return chutes have been ringing with returned items, and lapsed members have been reconnecting with our services. Upon moving into their new house, one Boroondara resident recently came across a pile of borrowed library books, hidden in the home’s basement. The return date stamped inside the covers showed that the titles, which included The Complete Beginners Guide to Making Kites by Edward F Dolan Jr and The Complete World of Kites by Bill Thomas, were last borrowed in 1989.

Despite being on loan for more than 30 years, the books were returned (without charge!), dusted off and welcomed back into circulation. Just in time, perhaps, for the original borrower’s children to check them out.

The returned books re-join Boroondara Library Service’s collection of more than 430,000 hard-copy books – in this state second only in size to the State Library of Victoria’s collection.

Become a library member today

You’ll find something for everyone at each of our 6 library branches. Beyond the ability to reserve and request books, your library membership is your ticket to our collection of e-books and audio books, films and music, newspapers and magazines, and our database of journal articles and research materials.

In addition to our collection, we also offer a free program of events for all ages throughout the year.

With more than 500,000 physical and online items available to borrow, stream and download, there is truly something for every age and stage.

To get started, you can:

join the library online
phone (03) 9278 4666 to speak to one of our friendly librarians.

Biodiversity in your own backyard

Biodiversity in your own backyard ewilliam Fri 25 March 2022

For someone who considers himself an avid amateur gardener, David Adams attracts some rare and exciting visitors to his Camberwell backyard.

Birds including thornbills, grey fantails, currawongs, rainbow lorikeets, and honey eaters such as eastern spinebills and wattlebirds come to enjoy the little native bush haven he has created in suburbia.

A spotted pardalote, normally known to forage in eucalypt forests, was a recent visitor to David's garden.

“People lose sight of the simple joy that birds in the backyard can bring,” David says. “If you looked at my backyard on Google Earth, you’d see a little green oasis surrounded by roads and development, but the birds find their way here,” he says.

In 2019, David took part in Council’s award-winning Backyard Biodiversity program, which teaches residents how to use native plants in their own backyards to create habitat ‘stepping stones’ for local wildlife.

A few existing mature eucalypts, callistemons and a mulberry tree in David’s yard are now complemented by Indigenous wattles, banksias, correas and grasses grown from the tubestock plants he received as part of the program.

David says the native plants tend to do better in his garden. One wattle now towers above him.

“I’ve discovered Indigenous gardens handle neglect well and the wildlife keeps coming. We’ve had an amazing number of dragonflies over the past few months.”

His eyes have also been opened to the delicate ecosystem all around him, and the possibility of rebuilding habitat.

“The program exceeded my expectations. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience and worthwhile,” David says.

The 2022 Backyard Biodiversity program runs from late April to June and includes workshops, garden tours and Indigenous landscaping advice, as well as vouchers for native plants.

Participation is free, but spaces are limited, so it’s essential to register your interest.

To find out more or to register, please email [email protected]

For more information, visit our Backyard Biodiversity project page or call (03) 9278 4083.

Anzac Day in Boroondara

Anzac Day in Boroondara ewilliam Fri 25 March 2022

This Anzac Day will mark 107 years since the 1915 Gallipoli landings – a day that recognises and allows us to commemorate the sacrifices of our servicemen and women in the First World War and every conflict Australia has participated in since.

War memorials can be found in 4 locations in the City of Boroondara, and at least 3 are set to host dawn services this Anzac Day.

This year’s dawn service at the Surrey Gardens Shrine and Cross will be the seventh coordinated by the Surrey Hills and Mont Albert Progress Association. It first organised a dawn service in the gardens to mark the 100th anniversary of the 1915 Gallipoli landings, and with the exception of 2020, it has continued each year since. Local schoolchildren play a central role in the service, highlighting the stories of individual local servicemen and women across the years. This year their focus will be on ‘perspectives from the home front’. Joint Boroondara Young Citizen of the Year Belinda Battey will lead the service, and attendees are asked to assemble at 5:45am for a 6am start.
Hawthorn RSL will host an Anzac Day dawn service at 5:45 am at the Hawthorn War Memorial in St James Park. Its 2021 Anzac Day service was attended by veterans of every conflict Australia has taken part in, from the Second World War to today.
Kew RSL will host 2 Anzac events this year. They include a march and commemoration ceremony on Sunday 24 April and a dawn service on Anzac Day. To take part in the 24 April march, assemble at the Kew RSL sub-branch at 63 Cotham Road, Kew, at 1pm for a 1:15pm step-off towards Kew Cenotaph at the corner of High Street and Cotham Road. This will be followed by a 2pm service at Holy Trinity Church at 251 High Street. For the 25 April dawn service at Kew RSL, assemble at 5:45am for a 6am start.

All community members are welcome at all the events listed above. All events will be COVID-safe and follow any government directions that are in place at the time.

To find out more and for updates on each service, visit the Surrey Hills Progress Facebook page-external site or the Hawthorn RSL Facebook page-external site, or email Kew RSL at [email protected]

Can you help a young person learn to drive?

Can you help a young person learn to drive? ewilliam Fri 25 March 2022

Council is calling for mentors to help young people across Boroondara gain the experience they need to get their driver’s licence.

The TAC L2P Program enables young people to team up with a volunteer mentor driving supervisor so they can gain driving experience and access to a car with the aim of obtaining their probationary licence.

The program helps young people become safe and confident drivers, gain social independence and interact with positive adult role models.

The demand for the program from learners currently exceeds capacity, but young people are still encouraged to apply and join a waitlist. More volunteer mentor drivers are needed to reduce the waitlist and increase access to the program and its benefits.

Learner driver George Christophidis, from Hawthorn East, had only 2 hours’ experience behind the wheel when he started the L2P program.

“I had no way of getting my hours up, so I met with a support worker at the Boroondara Youth Hub who suggested the program to me,” says George.

The L2P Program partnered him with mentor Barry Scott, who has so far helped George reach more than 20 hours on the road with weekly sessions.

“I like having someone critique my driving each session and understand exactly what I need to improve,” says George.

“Barry stays calm during the drive which helps me stay calm too.”

Barry says each mentor’s time commitment to their learners is flexible and the role provides a wonderful sense of fulfilment.

“The program is a great way to give back to your community. I remember how it felt when I first got my driver’s licence and the independence that comes with it, so it’s wonderful that I can be part of that experience for George,” says Barry.

Learner drivers will have a number of professional driving lessons to build their skills. They are then matched with a volunteer mentor, who will supervise learner drivers in a car supplied by Council. Volunteers will have access to a full training program.

To find out more about the program and becoming a volunteer mentor driver, visit our TAC L2P learner driver mentor program page or phone (03) 9278 4608.

A mentor driver teaching a young learner how to drive

Nominate for our sports awards

Nominate for our sports awards ewilliam Fri 25 March 2022

Do you know a club or individual doing exceptional things for community sport?

Nominations for the 2022 Boroondara Sports Awards are now open. These awards recognise the important role sports clubs play in enhancing community health and wellbeing, increasing participation in physical activity, and fostering essential social connections.

Sports clubs, volunteers and members can nominate under 6 categories:

Inclusive Club of the Year
Innovative Club of the Year
Collaborative Club of the Year
Club Person of the Year
Young Club Person of the Year
Lifetime Achievement Awards.

Boroondara local Doug Fox took home the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2021 Boroondara Sports awards. The win recognised his more than 65 years of involvement with the Camberwell Lacrosse Club – first as a player, and then as a lead volunteer.

“I started as a player at the Camberwell Lacrosse Club when I was just 10 years old and I’ve spent more than 50 years as a lead volunteer, helping to run a community program for youth.

“To be personally recognised with a Lifetime Achievement Award was a proud moment, but beyond that, it was also great to see the sport of lacrosse recognised,” says Doug (pictured at the awards with Norm Smith medallist Christian Petracca).

Two people at the Boroondara Sports Awards. One person is receiving their award.

If you know an exceptional sports club or individual who deserves to be acknowledged for their efforts in community sport, you can nominate them today.

Visit our Boroondara Sports Awards page, call (03) 9278 4797 or email [email protected]

Applications close at 5pm on Friday 24 June.

Handwritten Council minutes go digital

Handwritten Council minutes go digital ewilliam Fri 25 March 2022

The Australian Heritage Festival highlights our own history-revealing project.

This month marks the start of the Australian Heritage Festival, the country’s largest community-driven heritage event. The festival runs from 1 April until 31 May and aims to encourage active community investigation and learning about natural, cultural, Indigenous, living and built heritage around the nation.

The 2022 theme, Curiosity, is in line with a key Boroondara heritage project – the transcription of Boroondara Council meeting minutes dating back to the 1800s. The project, launched in February 2021, recognises the value of historic Council minutes as a primary source for local and family research.

As part of the project, 324 volunteers across Victoria are transcribing the handwritten notes, documents and minutes of Boroondara Council meetings that date to 1856, when the Boroondara Road Board was formed.

Over the past 12 months, 12,516 of the available 12,989 pages have been transcribed. From the passing of an 1871 law to ensure all vehicles carried lights when travelling in the Borough at night, to the acquisition of Mr Urquhart’s paddock to create Urquhart Street in 1881, the transcriptions provide crucial insight into the discussions and decision-making of the governing board at the time. The digitisation of the minutes will ensure the public has access to an invaluable historical resource.

If you’d like to join the volunteers helping to transcribe historic Boroondara Council minutes, visit www.digivol.ala.org.au

For more information about library events celebrating the Australian Heritage Festival, visit our Library events page.

A notice that says Meeting of the residents of Hawthorne and neighbourhood who have signed a requisition for creating a municipal district

It's time to renew your pet registration

It's time to renew your pet registration ewilliam Fri 25 March 2022

Pet registration renewals are due by 9 April.

Your pet is an important part of your life, and of our community. Every year, we remind pet owners to renew their registration – it’s always due by 9 April.

Cats and dogs older than 3 months are required by law to be registered with Council and microchipped, and it’s essential for how we reconnect a lost pet with their owner – if we have your current details.

Your pet registration cost is calculated on the information provided, so it pays to keep your pet details up to date during the year. As soon as something changes for your pet or you, go online and update your registration.

When you keep your details up to date and upload the right evidence – such as a desexed certificate, pension card or transfer registration from another Council – we might be able to discount your registration fee.

To register, renew your registration or transfer your registration, visit our Pets page.

Join our disability advisory committee

Join our disability advisory committee ewilliam Fri 25 March 2022

We are seeking community members to join the Boroondara Community Disability Advisory Committee.

The committee advises Council on strategies for identifying and addressing disability access and inclusion issues in Boroondara and supports the implementation of the Disability Action Plan. Committee members will play a key role in refreshing the plan, which is scheduled to take place later this year.

We are looking for a broad representation of people. If you experience a disability, or you care for or support a person with a disability, please consider joining.

To find out more and apply to join by Monday 25 April, please contact Emma Wilkinson, Social Inclusion Policy and Projects Officer on (03) 9278 4938, or by email at [email protected]

For applicants who are deaf or require speech assistance, contact us via the National Relay Service:

TTY users: 133 677 and ask for (03) 9278 4938.
Speak and Listen users: call 1300 555 727 and ask for (03) 9278 4938.
Internet relay users, visit the National Relay Service website and ask for (03) 9278 4938.

Nominate for our literary awards

Nominate for our literary awards ewilliam Fri 25 March 2022

Do you have a story to tell? If so, it’s time to get writing for our Boroondara Literary Awards.

The Boroondara Literary Awards are held each year in partnership with the Rotary Club of Balwyn. With categories for young writers, and an open short story category, they encourage creativity in writers of all ages.

Award winners will share a prize pool of more than $8,000 and will have their work published in the 2022 Boroondara Literary Awards Anthology.

Sophie Matthiesson (pictured) won the Open Short Story category in 2021, for her piece Dead Heifers, based on the tales and experiences of locals in the aftermath of the 2020 bushfires in the Upper Murray region of Victoria.

“I’m currently writing a manuscript for my novel and entering the 2021 Literary Awards was part of my preparation,” says Sophie.

“Short stories can be a great training ground – a way to develop story structure, intention, and build experience.

“I was thrilled to win, but it was equally exciting to have the opportunity to put my work in front of the illustrious judging panel and to have an award-winning author like Chloe Hooper provide commentary and feedback.”

Submissions for the 2022 awards are open from 9 am Monday 4 April until 5 pm Friday 29 July. Entry is free.

To find out more about the categories and entry requirements, visit our Boroondara Literary Awards page.

School holiday activities in Boroondara

School holiday activities in Boroondara ewilliam Fri 25 March 2022

Looking for ideas to keep your children entertained these autumn school holidays? We have everything from craft workshops to cooking classes to get them off the couch.

To find out more about these and other activities, visit our School holiday activities page.

Creative fun with Boroondara Arts

Boroondara Arts has an exciting creative workshop program for children of all abilities throughout the autumn school holidays. You can discover new hobbies and make new friends while exploring sculpture, craft, cartooning and circus skills.

Libraries

Whether it’s take-home craft packs or on-site activities, Boroondara Library Service runs fun school holiday programs that promote a love of reading while developing children’s skills along the way. There are exciting workshops about science, technology, engineering, arts, maths and African drumming to enjoy as a family. Children can also take part in virtual bedtime and family story times outside in the garden at Camberwell and Kew libraries.

Focus on sustainability

Council is running a series of sustainability workshops in the school holidays at CERES Community Environment Park in Brunswick East.

A selection of tools to complete a creative activity

Hang at the Hub

The Boroondara Youth Hub is open Monday to Friday from 10 am to 6 pm during the school holidays. Young people aged 10 years and older are invited to come and play Nintendo Switch, Xbox, pool or table tennis. It’s a great place to meet other local young people and make new friends. There will also be a variety of fun activities on offer including a movie night with choc tops, popcorn and pizza, as well as a cooking class where you can learn to make Easter cupcakes. Or you can test your skills against other young people at the Super Mario Bros and Mario Kart Tournaments.

Bike skills program

Council is offering a 2-day school holiday cycling program for young people aged 13 to 16 who can already ride a bike, but want to gain some freedom by cycling on the road. This program will help young people develop the skills and confidence needed to make their ride on the road enjoyable, fun and safe in both traffic-free and on-road environments.

Fun on wheels

Kew Traffic School will be open for public play-and-ride sessions to help children aged 2 to 10 develop important safety skills on their bicycle, tricycle or scooter.

How to check election campaign activity compliance

How to check election campaign activity compliance ewilliam Fri 25 March 2022

With the federal election approaching, campaigning activity has hit our streets.

We can work together to make sure election campaigning – including placement of banners, posters and stickers – doesn’t impact amenity and safety in Boroondara.

On our Promotional activities for elections page, you can check:

when an activity requires a permit
when an activity is not permitted
how to apply for a permit (for candidates and their teams).

Generally, Council can act on campaigning activity that affects the community when it occurs on Council-controlled land or assets – such as our parks, footpaths, bins, and public utilities like power poles. If you see campaign activity that could be non-compliant with Council’s laws as set out on our website, you can report it to us to assess.

Officers will inspect if something is assessed as potentially non-compliant.

Be prepared for bulk leaf collections

Be prepared for bulk leaf collections ewilliam Fri 25 March 2022

Our autumn bulk leaf collection service is back from April to early July, when ‘leaf loader’ machines collect fallen leaves from selected streets where leaf fall is heaviest. You can play your part to make sure we provide the best service possible by keeping cars parked off the road on your scheduled collection days and keeping clear of machinery.

Bulk leaf collection dates replace regular street sweeping dates from April to early July in selected streets.

Did you know?

There is a new, quick and easy way to find your street sweeping days online. We heard your feedback and are pleased to provide a new, interactive map on our website. Now it’s a breeze to search for your address and see your street sweeping dates for the year.

To find out more, visit our Find your street sweeping days page.

Fallen leaves on the ground along a street

Book a bundled green waste collection

Have you been busy in the garden tidying up overhanging branches and shrubs? You can recycle your autumn prunings by booking a bundled green waste collection.

Each eligible property in Boroondara can book one free bundled green waste collection for April, which can be used to recycle up to 2 cubic metres of bundled and tied green waste. To guarantee pick-up, bundles must be securely tied with non-plastic string or twine. Green waste is sent for composting with food organic and garden organic waste.

Bookings close at 2pm on Friday 29 April. Collections will finish on Friday 6 May.

To book, visit our Book a bundled green waste collection page or phone (03) 9278 4444.

What's on in Boroondara?

What's on in Boroondara? ewilliam Fri 25 March 2022

What’s on at your neighbourhood house

If there’s an interest or a passion you’d like to pursue, your local neighbourhood house has a range of courses, classes and workshops to explore. Nurture a creative talent, learn a language, develop your skills or join a social group. We have options for children and teens through to the senior members of our community. Get in touch with your local neighbourhood house to find out what it offers.

Computer basics and beyond

Gain skills and confidence using computers to navigate, manage files, surf the web and more.

Where: Alamein Neighbourhood and Learning

When: 9:30am to 12pm, Tuesdays from 26 April

Phone: (03) 9885 9401

Cost: $110 (for 10 sessions)

Pop-up craft market

Feast on the sausage sizzle, gourmet food truck fare and artisan cupcakes, and choose an original gift in time for Mother’s Day. Bring the family and reconnect with your Ashburton community.

Where: Craig Family Centre

When:12pm to 5pm, Saturday 30 April

Phone: (03) 9885 7789

Persian cooking

Embark on a culinary journey through the wonders of Persian cuisine. In this hands-on class with host Forouzan, you will prepare a healthy 4-course Middle Eastern meal with traditional spices, ingredients and techniques from the region.

Where: Hawthorn Community House

When: 2pm to 5pm, Sunday 15 May

Phone: (03) 9819 2629

Cost: $65

Life drawing

Participants will develop their skills in observation and the structure of form.

Where: Ashburton Community Centre

When: 10am to 12pm, Saturdays, starting 23 April

Phone: (03) 9885 7952

Cost: $280 ( for 9 classes)

Path to employment

Meet with a Jobs Australia Advocate to get on the right path.

Where: Bowen Street Community Centre

When:10:30am to 12pm, the first Tuesday of each month

Phone: (03) 9889 0791

Cost: Free

Make a mosaic wall plaque

Make a beautiful mosaic garden wall plaque over 3 Friday nights in May.

Where: Surrey Hills Neighbourhood Centre

When: 7pm to 9pm, from 6 to 20 May

Phone: (03) 9890 2467

Cost: $170

Watercolour workshop

Vivi Palegeorge will take a deep dive into colour, tone and composition to create a textural and captivating watercolour.

Where: Camberwell Community Centre

When: 10am to 1pm, Sunday 27 March

Phone: (03) 9882 2611

Cost: $65

Open art

Explore your favourite art including drawing, watercolour, painting or Copic markers. Beginners are welcome and a free class trial is available.

Where: Canterbury Neighbourhood Centre

When: 1pm to 3pm, Tuesdays from 26 April

Phone: (03) 9830 4214

Cost: $220 (for 9 sessions)

Rendezvous to write

Learn useful strategies to develop your writing skills.

Where: 1pm to 3pm, Thursdays every 2 weeks from 28 April

When: Trentwood at the Hub

Phone: (03) 9006 6590

Cost: $8 (per session)

Tai chi for beginners

Traditional Chinese mind-body relaxation exercise.

Where: Kew Neighbourhood Learning Centre

When: 2:45pm to 3:45pm, Thursdays from 28 April

Phone: (03) 9853 3126

Cost: $155 (for 9 sessions)

Life drawing

Learn the basic skills to draw the human body with confidence.

Where: Balwyn Community Centre

When: 10am to 12pm, Tuesdays weekly from 26 April

Phone: (03) 9836 7942

Cost: $220 (for 9 sessions)

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What's on at Boroondara Arts

The Intrigue of Images by Donald Bate

The Intrigue of Images by Donald Bate is a community exhibition featuring high-energy, vibrant paintings inspired by the beauty of the Australian landscape and its myriad forms.

Where: Town Hall Gallery

When: Tuesday 12 April to Saturday 14 May

An abstract painting with flowing, watery shapes in cream, pink and red.

Image: Donald Bate, Freedom Flow, 2017, acrylic on stretched canvas, 203 x 99 cm. Image courtesy of the artist.

The Interpreted Landscape by Kew Historical Society

The Interpreted Landscape explores the history of Kew through the eyes of cartographers, artists and photographers, working between 1830 and 1950.

Where: Town Hall Gallery

When: Tuesday 12 April to Saturday 21 May

Image: W Nicholls Anderson, Adeney Avenue, 1906, framed oil on canvas, 30 x 22 cm, courtesy of Kew Historical Society

Expanded Canvas

Expanded Canvas is a major exhibition at Town Hall Gallery exploring the dynamic and innovative nature of contemporary painting. The traditional grid and 2-dimensional picture planes are replaced by modern surfaces, including drop sheets, sign vinyl, virtual space, and the gallery wall itself.

Featuring: David Harley, Lara Merrett, Judy Millar, Tom Polo, Bundit Puangthong and Huseyin Sami.

Where: Town Hall Gallery

When: Saturday 23 April to Saturday 2 July

There will also be a kids’ exhibition tour on Saturday 23 April from 11am to 12pm – for ages 5 to 12.

large sheets of canvas painted with bright colours and draped across the walls and piled on the ground

Main image: Lara Merrett, Time after time (compendium of gestures), 2017, acrylic on canvas, dimensions variable. Installation view, Superposition of 3 types, 2017, curated by Talia Linz and Alexie Glass-Kantor, Artspace, Sydney. Image courtesy of the artist and Sullivan+Strumpf. Photography by Jek Maurer.

Street Sounds

Local shopping and community precincts continue to come alive with the return of Streets Sounds throughout April, creating vibrant entertainment as you shop, dine and explore at locations across Boroondara. Enjoy free live music for all audiences. Keep your eyes and ears open while enjoying your local area. For up-to-date program information, visit our Boroondara Arts page.

Inventi Ensemble Enchanted Forest

Inventi Ensemble presents a music and art experience that turns the Hawthorn Arts Centre Main Hall into a ‘living’ enchanted forest. Inventi’s 7-piece ensemble will perform a new arrangement of Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony, Debussy’s Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun and an exciting new work from composer Melody Eotvos.

Where: Hawthorn Arts Centre

When: 8pm, Friday 22 April

Cost: $38 adult, $30 concession

Women of Soul

Women of Soul presents an epic program of heart-breaking ballads, empowering lyrics, soulful grooves and storytelling. Making their debut appearance at Hawthorn Arts Centre, artists Thando, Chelsea Wilson, Carla Troiano, Stella Angelico and Monique Boggia present a mix of soul, blues, jazz and R’n’B. Performing original repertoire accompanied by beautiful arrangements featuring voice, piano, violin and
guitar, the all-female line-up presents a new unplugged program.

Where: Hawthorn Arts Centre

When: 8pm, Friday 29 April

Cost: $38 adult, $30 concession