Ranges Trader
Tuesday, 9 May, 2023
Government cracks down on vaping
Monbulk Primary nominated for sustainability
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A Star News Group Publication
Celebrating 35 years of Emerald Ladies Probus
Ukulele Festival returns to the Hills in late May
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PAGE 12 Phone: 5957 3700 Trades and Classifieds: 1300 666 808
12496493-NG22-21
Tasty nut The Kalorama Chestnut Festival was held on Sunday 7 May, giving locals and visitors the chance to enjoy food stalls, local craft products, like music and of course chestnutthemed foods and activities. The volunteer-ran festival, which is a joint fundraiser for Mt Dandenong Primary School and Mt Dandenong Kindergarten, has been running for over 30 years. Turn to page 6 for more An attendee enjoying a roasted chestnut at the festival. Picture: TANYA STEELE
New campus plan By Parker McKenzie After acquiring the former school grounds of Mountain District Christian School earlier this year, Cire Services will add to its community schools in Berwick, Yarra Junction, Mount Evelyn and Lilydale starting in 2024. Cire Services is a not-for-profit and registered charity founded in the Yarra Ranges as the Upper Yarra Community House in 1976 and offers community schooling for at-risk youth, training, early learning and community
outreach services. Cire Services CEO Gus Seremetis told the Star Mail the opportunity to acquire the new campus, located at 325 Macclesfield Road Monbulk, arose in late 2022. “We went through the process of liaising with the agents and our understanding was that it was going to go out as an expression of interest,” she said. “It’s an amazing opportunity. 17 and a half acres gives our students the opportunity to have experiences they couldn’t before and our
other campuses don’t have access to a lot of the resources or the facilities that are there.” Mountain District Christian School operated for 43 years, however, financial difficulties led to the school announcing its closure in October 2022. Cire Community Schools currently have around 360 students across its four campuses, where it offers co-educational schooling catering to young people who have or are at risk of disengaging from their education and require an alternative to mainstream schooling.
Ms Seremetis said there has been a lot of support and interest from the local community since the acquisition was announced. “You could open a school like ours in almost every suburb and you would be at capacity,” she said. “A lot of kids struggle with mainstream, so we’re an alternative. It doesn’t suit every student but it suits a lot of students, we’re really pleased that we’re in a position to be able to offer this.” For more, turn to page 5
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