17 JUNE , 2026
Artwork you can wear Inner-we artists have had their work displayed Inner-west everywh everywhere from galleries to murals and hallways to la laneways. But now local artists are being offered th the chance to have their work displayed on their fellow f residents through the Seddon Tshirt Com Competition. Run by the Seddon Village Traders Association, the com competition invites inner-west residents to submit subm T-shirt designs representing what Seddo Seddon means to them. The winning design will be emblazoned across an official Seddon T-sh T-shirt, while the winning artist will also rece receive a cash prize. Th is year, the competition has been split into two categories, with a yo youth competition for artists aged 16 or und under and an open competition. The deadline for submissions has been extended to Mon Monday 22 June, giving prospective entrants ext weekend to come up with a design. an extra
The judging panel for this year’s Seddon T-shirt Competition (L-R) Jess McDonald, Chris Gooden and Suzanne Saunders run their eyes over some of the entries. (Damjan Janevski) 558946_01
Stop swan deaths By Cade Lucas The recent deaths of a number of black swans on the banks of the Maribyrnong River has led to a new community group being established to protect local wildlife from discarded fishing gear. Maribyrnong River Wildlife Protection (MRWP) is a coalition of local friends of groups and community members that has formed due to growing concerns about the impact of fi shing on the safety of wildlife from Footscray Wharf to Solomon’s Ford. Of particular concern to MRWP are the deaths of three black swans from the same family group in Footscray, which nested in wetlands by the river in late 2025. One cygnet was euthanised in April; a
second cygnet and an adult female swan were then euthanised eight days apart in May. It’s believed all three deaths were caused by entanglements with fishing hooks and fishing line and that only two members of the swan family remain. “The loss of this swan family has been devastating for many people in the community who have watched these birds grow and thrive along the river,” an MRWP spokesperson said in a statement. “These swans were well known to people who regularly walk, volunteer and spend time along the Maribyrnong River. Their loss has been deeply felt.” The spokesperson said the swan deaths highlighted broader concerns about risks to wildlife safety along the river, particularly
from discarded fishing gear. “Community members should not be regularly fi nding fishing hooks, fishing line and rubbish in important wildlife habitats.” In response, a spokesperson for the Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) said recreational fishers were stewards of the state’s waterways and most cared deeply about the natural environment. “Most fishers do the right thing and dispose of waste in bins or utilise our ‘Seal the Loop’ program with Melbourne Zoo to secure fishing gear in handy containers,“ the spokesperson said. The MRWP wants stronger stewardship of the river and said it had started engaging with the VFA as well as other authorities including Maribyrnong council, the state
government and Parks Victoria in order to achieve this. Maribyrnong mayor Mohamed Semra said efforts to reduce fishing waste and protect wildlife were underway. “We are currently working on plans to install new fi shing line bins to help people do the right thing, and an education program to raise awareness of the consequences of careless fi shing practices like abandoning tackle,“ Cr Semra said. Footscray MP Katie Hall said she had raised the issue with the Environment Minister Enver Erdogan, while a Parks Victoria spokesperson said the agency would support any action to manage litter and reduce the risk to birdlife on the Maribyrnong.
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