CRANBOURNE
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Thursday, 4 July, 2024
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Huge turnout for a cuppa
Linking koala habitats
PM in town
Steph keeps eye on the prize
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SPORT
Cafe is on the move By Violet Li Communities came together on Saturday 29 June to celebrate social enterprise cafe L’Arte Central’s last day at Casey Administration Building. L’Arte Central received a three-month eviction notice in March this year and after the initial shock, used the time to find a new home. Starting in July, L’Arte Central will be spread across two locations with the café and florist at Cranbourne Park Shopping Centre and the pie production and catering at Lanterns Viet Kitchen in Clyde North. The Cranbourne Park Shopping Centre site is planned to commence on Thursday 4 July. Story page 10
Anthony Cheeseman (front) with staff, customers and CFA Cranbourne (including Captain Koala). 416254 Picture: ROB CAREW
Bill pressure rises By Violet Li The latest Bring Your Bills Day in Hampton Park has seen unprecedented needs as locals continue to struggle with the cost of living. The sixth instalment of the serial program by South East Community Links recorded more than 200 attendances in the first one and a half hours on Tuesday 2 July, already close to the entire turnout of 300 in the last event in Springvale in April. The program, in response to the cost-of-living crisis, aims to educate and support people who suffer financial hardship with their bills, rental, legal, and fines. Chief executive Peter McNamara said they brought service providers together to simplify things for people.
“Service providers might put them on a concession. They make them a grant. They might wipe the bills. Not everyone’s going to get their bills, or their fines, wiped, but there are some that can,” he said. “At our last event in Springvale, we had a couple of our pensioners, but they weren’t receiving their discounts as pensioners, so this can be as simple as you’re on the wrong plan. With that couple, they wiped $700 off the payment straight away, plus they got a rebate. “So much of the information we receive is confusing. Many people may feel guilt or shame if they get a debt, and they don’t want to open the bill. What we’re trying to do is say it’s okay. We’re here to help.” The previous five events across Greater
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Dandenong, Casey, and Cardinia alleviated about $500,000 of debt and the Springvale event alone offered 250 concessions and relief grants for utility-bill customers. A Casey local, who attended the day and preferred to be anonymous, said it was very difficult to live, especially with three children in the family. “Grocery and mortgage are expensive, and only my husband is working and in the past two or three months, his work is not so good. It’s very hard,” she said. “We bought our house in December 2019. The mortgages have gone up. “Whatever goes into the pocket just finishes at the end of the week.” As the family has no choice but to turn on
the heat in the middle of the winter, the utility bills have been huge. In the hope of wiping out the bills, she showed up on the day. “I thought they were going to directly pay the bills, but no. They said they would apply for the concession, and then wait for it. It takes time,” she said. “Because my bill is due in four days and I am worried that if we don’t pay on time, they are going to charge us more.” Another local, who also preferred to be anonymous, said the event provided a lot of information and getting information was good. “Everybody is struggling and there’s no money left after paying all the bills every month. That’s why I came here.” Continued page 12
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