1 Last week on Yeah Nah Pasaran! we spoke to Jock Palfreeman [Twitter] about the International Day of Solidarity with Anti-fascist Prisoners, July 25. Of particular note is the repression currently being faced by anarchists and anti-fascists in Belarus and Continue reading

Victorias fire services are calling on households to develop or review their Home Fire Escape Plans.

Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) and CFA respond to more than 3000 residential fire incidents across the state each year, many of which are preventable.

House fires move fast and can fill your home with smoke in a matter of minutes. They can be devastating and fatal. While the dangers of fire are very real, there is a lot you can do to protect your family and your home.

Fire Rescue Commissioner Gavin Freeman, AFSM said that families and households spending time at home this weekend should take the opportunity to make a plan together, practice it, and ensure they are well prepared.

During winter, we spend much more time inside, out of the cold, so its important to establish or revisit your Home Fire Escape Plan, Commissioner Freeman said.

Nobody wants to think about a fire in the home, but sadly in Victoria every year, on average 18 lives are lost in preventable house fires.

Knowing how to quickly exit your home in case of an emergency could mean the difference between life and death, and it is crucial that all members of the household, including children, know what to do in the event of a house fire.

CFA Chief Fire Officer Jason Heffernan said winter is a good time for Victorian residents to re-educate themselves on their Home Fire Escape Plan.

Whether you are a homeowner or renting, you should have a plan in place and practice it regularly, deciding on a safe place to meet, like the letterbox, should an emergency arise, CO Heffernan said.

To keep your loved ones safe, it is essential smoke alarms are installed in all bedrooms, living areas and hallways so everyone in the property is alerted to a fire.

The safest plan is to get down low to stay out of the smoke, close nearby doors to slow down the spread of the fire, and call triple zero once youre safely outside.

For more information on how to make a Home Fire Escape Plan, visit frv.vic.gov.au or cfa.vic.gov.au.

When making your Home Fire Escape Plan, remember:

Know what to do if a fire occurs. Whether you are a homeowner or renter, you should have a home fire escape plan in place.

Practice your plan for when there is an emergency with your whole household.

You cant escape if you have deadlocked your doors.

Tips for when there is a fire:

Get out and stay out or get down low and stay out of the smoke.

If it is safe, close doors to slow down the spread of fire and smoke.

Alert other people on your way out.

Meet at a safe place, such as the letterbox out the front of your home.

Call triple zero from a mobile phone or a neighbours phone.

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Geelong community groups and young people are helping parents say no to alcohol for people under 18.

Meli, Communities That Care (CTC), Barwon Health, and the Youth Advisory Group of nine young people collaborated on the campaign, which featured a video with the I Need You to Say No message.

Meli chief executive Grant Boyd said the campaign used the video, posters, social media, and educational resources to reduce the consumption of alcohol by young people under 18.

This campaign has been driven by young people urging parents and other trusted adults to step up to the challenge of saying no, which is not always easy in our society, he said.

Every day at Meli, we see the impacts of alcohol on young people and families, which is why this campaign is so important.

Parents can play a big role in influencing young peoples attitudes to drinking as well as their access to alcohol.

Barwon Healths Mental Health, Drugs and Alcohol Services clinical director Professor Steve Moylan said young people were more at risk of alcohol-related harm as their brains developed.

Under-age drinking can lead to risky behaviour and injuries, mental ill-health and lead to harmful alcohol use later in life, he said.

We hope this campaign will encourage parents to re-think providing young people with alcohol. The video is a great conversation starter for families.

CTC co-ordinator Louise McDonald said reducing alcohol at a young age and encouraging parents not to supply their children with alcohol was a priority area for the not-for-profit training company.

Getting information to parents is hard, she said.

We thought that if the messages came from the young people themselves, it would be more powerful and have more of an impact.

For more information or to watch the campaigns video, visit meli.org.au/i-need-you-to-say-no-campaign/

The post Say No to alcohol appeared first on Ocean Grove Voice.

The work of local photographers is on show at an outdoor art gallery in Dennys Place off Little Malop Street.

Geelong photographer Jane Fitzgeralds Laneway Photography Gallery exhibit features works from local artists, supported by a City of Greater Geelong COVID-19 Arts, Culture and Heritage Recovery Grant of $7000.

This exhibition showcases 12 local photographic artists, including a mix of emerging and established photographers.

The exhibition was organised and curated by Jane Fitzgerald and printed by Aeterna Lab Geelong and on UV and weather resistant, non-toxic PVC free, heavy metal free and phthalate free fabric. Local photographers Jonathan Dredge and Josh De Hoog have installed the prints.

I approached some of the local photographers on Instagram because I saw images of theirs that fitted with the look and theme I wanted for this exhibition, Ms Fitzgerald said.

I encouraged some of the photographers to exhibit work outside their usual genre and the shadows seem to be a natural theme across some of the images.

Im so enjoying watching people wander the laneway looking at art, as they go about everyday life, this makes me happy.

Music photographer Lucinda Goodwins edgy still life piece, amazing black and white street images from Michael Chambers and fine art printer Michael De Beens images from his Japan travels are among the artworks on display.

Creativity and Culture chair councillor Melissa Cadwell said the local arts scene is experiencing a revitalisation.

By bringing photography outdoors, Laneway Photography Gallery is for all newcomers to photographic art, local residents including people who might not otherwise get the chance to see this kind of art and tourists alike, she said.

I encourage visitors to find out more each of these skilled artists through the information QR codes below their work.

The post Laneway bristles with art appeared first on Ocean Grove Voice.

Major Road Projects Victoria (MRPV) is celebrating the completion of Stage 1 of the Barwon Heads Road upgrade with a free community event.

The event is MRPVs way of thanking the community for its patience during the upgrades construction.

The event, at South Barwon Reserve on Sunday July 30, will have family-friendly entertainment, activities, giveaways and refreshments will feature for the duration of the events three hours from 11am to 2pm.

A petting zoo, face-painting, games, a sausage sizzle and live radio crosses will also be part of the fun.

Were looking forward to hosting our family fun day at South Barwon Reserve as a thanks to the community for their patience while we completed the Barwon Heads Road Upgrade, MRPV program director Tim Price said.

The event will see plenty of activities and entertainment on offer for kids and adults to enjoy.

With the event falling on National Tree Day 2023, MRPV will have 500 plants from Horseshoe Bend Nursery to give away.

The community is encouraged to arrive at the event using the upgrades new shared-use path, which is the roads first continuous connection for walking and cycling between Belmont and Charlemont.

The upgrade has added 4km of lanes between Belmont and Charlemont.

Completed six months ahead of schedule, the upgrade is set to cater for 44,000 daily journeys by 2031.

The post Party to celebrate road completion appeared first on Ocean Grove Voice.

Donna Robertson loves helping those in need with food through her role as a food services manager at genU Business Enterprises. She speaks with Jena Carr about why she calls Geelong home.

What is your connection to Geelong?

I first came to Geelong in 1996 when I went to The Gordon for the schooling component of my chef apprenticeship. At the time, I was living up on the Murry River in Corowa, New South Wales.

I would come to Geelong seven weeks a year to complete my schooling. During this time, I made friends, and once I was a qualified chef in October 1999, I decided to move here and find work.

Over the past 23 years, I have worked in many Geelong hospitality businesses in various positions such as chef, catering and events supervisor, and assistant manager.

During this time, I have learnt many transferable skills that I now use every day in my current role as food services manager at genU.

What do you like about where you live?

Geelong is home for me, my husband and two sons, 13 and 9, who love it here. Although we dont have much family support here, we have a fabulous support network around us.

The boys play football and cricket locally in Highton and enjoy the beaches we are so close to.

What, if anything, would you change about where you live?

As much as I love it here, we need to do better in the inclusiveness space.

We need to offer more support to those in need, which includes the disadvantaged, homeless, ageing and disabled populations.

Where is your favourite place to spend time?

In the kitchen with my family, as I love creating new dishes with my boys. They both love to cook and explore new foods.

I am also known for creating amazing grazing boards for when friends and family visit.

What is something people may not know about you?

I lived and worked in London for two years, from 2005 to 2006.

What do you like about your work?

I love that every day is different and that we make a positive difference in peoples lives.

My current position at genU involves overseeing eight businesses, including four canteens, two cafes, a commercial catering kitchen and a food processing kitchen with my team.

We currently offer supported employment to more than 60 NDIS clients and 226 for all genU.

My day can start between 5am and 9am, and I could be in the kitchen making sandwiches or peeling potatoes on the floor.

The conversations you have with our staff are engaging and encouraging, and its great to help them set goals and watch them strive so hard to reach them.

Some goals might be as simple as making a sandwich or as bold as travelling overseas. I truly love everything about genU and what we do.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

It is really important to support local businesses. Local business means local j...

Winner of Londons Best Tribute for its celebration of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, UK show Frankies Guys comes to the Geelong Arts Centre on Friday, August 4.

Featuring some the West Ends best and brightest, with cast credits including musicals such as Jersey Boys, Mamma Mia!, We Will Rock You and Footloose, Frankies Guys offers a night of feelgood entertainment for all music lovers.

Australian producer Sam Klinger said the show was jam packed with hits, such as Oh What a Night, Sherry, Walk Like a Man and Cant Take My Eyes Off of You.

Their music really is timeless, and I think thats demonstrated by the fact that there was a cover of their song Beggin in the last year or so that made the top 40 charts, he said.

After touring the UK for 10 years, the show made its Australian premiere this week at Port Macquarie, which Klinger said was particularly touching for the casts British-Australian star Jonathan Whitlow.

Its the first time in a very long time hes been back in Australia, so we actually introduced a Frankie Valli Home.

Its really something special. I saw it for the first time (at the Port Macquarie show), and it actually evoked quite a bit of emotion for me.

Klinger said the audience had a blast at the first Australian show, and he looked forward to bringing it to audiences around Australia during the five-week tour.

While its a tribute show, its not one youre going to see down at the local pub; this is a theatrical, high-end concert, he said.

Theres lots of audience involvement, theyre very much part of the show, which is great.

For information and tickets visit geelongartscentre.org.au/whats-on/all-events/frankies-guys.

The post UK Frankie Valli show comes to Australia appeared first on Ocean Grove Voice.

Regional migration is on the rise.

The combination of affordability, lifestyle, and a growing range of services on par with our capital cities is convincing more and more people to make the change.

Over the 12 months to March this year, Victoria attracted the largest share of metropolitan residents moving to regional areas.

More people left a city capital to call regional Victoria home (43 per cent) than all other states and territories, bar New South Wales, combined.

Geelong is at the forefront of this shift, which accelerated during the pandemic but shows no signs of slowing.

This social and economic boom has seen Geelong add the most jobs in larger regional Australia cities over the past three years.

Health care and social assistance, construction, professional and scientific services led the way in growing our jobs base by an average of 5.3 per cent per annum over this period.

This explosion has seen our population increase to about 280,000 people.

However, the trend of people moving to the regions and especially Geelong will only continue.

Within 20 years, we are forecast to top the major milestone of 400,000.

Managing this growth, and its associated impacts, is a challenge for all levels of government.

The jobs, the health services, transport network, childcare and education facilities, recreation and cultural experiences there is so much to consider.

But the first question people ask before considering moving somewhere is where will I live? It always starts with, and comes back to, housing.

Councils long-term Settlement Strategy aims to accommodate our coming growth through an even mix of greenfield development and urban infill.

The Armstrong Creek area is about one-third of its way to its potential population of 60,000.

After that, expansion in the next two decades will be directed to the Northern and Western Geelong Growth Areas.

Alongside this, there are many opportunities to create additional housing in existing suburbs.

Central Geelong is a major focus. The CBD will be a more vibrant and active area if more residents call it home.

Directing more medium and higher density housing stock around existing train stations is also a strategic aim.

We understand building controls will need to be in line with community expectations for their neighbourhood.

But having a higher concentration of people living close to public transport will limit traffic congestion, and provide more diversity in our housing market.

The addition of more apartments will be important for housing affordability, creating more entry points for people to purchase their own property.

Through consultation with local authorities and the community, we want to ensure a suitable mix of housing is available for existing and incoming residents.

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Strewth! Audis RS 6 Avant is formidable. In fact, its almost too much car correction, wagon.

Its right up there in terms of the high-performance stuff that weve driven over the years and should not be underestimated.

I remember driving its little brother, the RS 4 Avant, on the track at Sydneys Eastern Creek, one hand on the wheel, drifting effortlessly around a left-hander.

It was an amazing experience and I can only imagine RS 6 would be even more rewarding driven flat out in an environment that can accommodate its performance potential.

Competitors include the BMW M5 and Mercedes-AMG E63 but they cost more and dont offer the practicality of a wagon. SUVs need not apply.

STYLING

Sitting low to the ground, with pumped out guards and fat rubber, the look is understated, but youd have to be Blind Freddy not to recognise this a vehicle that should be given a wide berth.

The wider single frame grille combines a black gloss finish with an RS-specific honeycomb structure, edged by arresting air inlets that sit below the standard HD Matrix headlights (with front and rear dynamic indicators).

Audi laser lighting technology further enhances the sophisticated lighting system by doubling the range of vision when travelling at speeds of more than 70km/h.

Distinctive 22-inch Audi Sport alloys are standard, with the striking red brake calipers and 285/30 series Hankook Ventus S1 Evo 3 rubber.

RS 6 Avant sits at the pointy end of the RS performance range, priced from $232,200 plus on-roads.

Its partner in crime, the RS 7 Sportback, which shares the same twin turbo V8 drivetrain, is another $8000.

Its a lot but still considerably less than the S8 that we drove recently (our Lotto car) which is a nosebleed $273,000 and not as quick.

Several option packs are also available, including a sensory package, the carbon and black styling package and the RS Dynamic package plus (with ceramic brakes and raised 305 km/h speed limit).

Our test vehicle was fitted with the $2900 RS Design Package, with $1700 Inlays in carbon twill and $700 gloss black Audi rings and badges, bringing the total price to $237,500.

Exterior highlights include the black exterior styling package, panoramic glass sunroof and metallic paint.

Inside, the cabin is upholstered in Nappa leather, while the RS sport front seats are finished in Valcona leather and feature full electric adjustment, heating and lumbar support.

Comfort items include convenience key, electric tailgate, electric/heated/folding mirrors, privacy glass, power-assisted door closure and electric steering column adjustment.

A selection of eight exterior colours are available with the addition of a new crystal effect paint in Sebring black, as well as a striking matt effect paint finish via Audi exclusive.

RS 6 is covered...