Tuesday, 26 November, 2024
Councillors appoint Mayor, Deputy
The long adventure: London to Lilydale
16 Days of Activism: Reflections, road to respect
Lilydale Melba Festival and Street Fair liftout
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Mural unveiled at Kilsyth PS Kilsyth Primary School unveiled its newest mural artwork, created by artist Merilyn Duff, a proud Trawoolway woman who lives in the Yarra Ranges, on Friday 22 November. Having worked with the students, staff and parents to design the schoolyard facing mural, Ms Duff said “it’s just been an absolute joy”. Depicting stories and important parts of Wurundjeri Country including Bunjil the eagle, the Birrarung, yarning circles and the Lomandra plant, known for its weaving use, each section teaches and reminds of the custodianship all people have to protect the land but of course the history of First Nations’ people doing just that for centuries. To read and see more, turn to page 13
Artist Merilyn Duff (back centre-left) joined Kilsyth Primary School staff and students for the unveiling of the new mural. (Callum Ludwig: 445757)
Police are fed-up As tensions between police members and the State Government continue, industrial action has intensified seeing police walking off the job for half an hour blocks as they call for better pay and conditions. Croydon Police Station’s members and staff were next to take part on Tuesday 19 November after multiple walk outs, including at the police
academy, occurred just days before. “Everyone here is standing up and we’re saying ‘we’ve had enough, we’re burnt out, we’re understaffed, we’re underpaid, and we need some more resources’,” Croydon sergeant Karen said. Requesting a 24 per cent pay rise over the next four years and the introduction of 8.5-hour shifts, police association members turned down a pay deal presented by the government which has now led to the Fair Work Commission involvement.
The Police Association of Victoria (TPAV) secretary Wayne Gatt said this action would be part of a statewide rollout of 30 minute work stoppages. “Sadly, you’ll see more police walking out of our police stations than are walking in. That’s a trend Victoria Police knows all too well recently,” he said. “We don’t want Victoria Police to wash its hands of our members’ future, we want it to re-
turn to the negotiating table and have some involvement in looking after its workforce.” Karen said the majority of the people she works with have been in full support of moving to the next stage of industrial action, saying it was a “slap in the face” for the government to refer the pay dispute to Fair Work. To read more, turn to page 3
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By Mikayla van Loon