Established in 1981 as the
proudly serving Melton and Moorabool
23 AUGUST, 2022
12496404-AV22-21
FREE DIGITAL EDITION
SIG N U P N O W!
School show gets spooky A Melton high school is putting on a musical performance that explores the journey of growing up and self-discovery, but with a spooky twist. Staughton College will present their production of The Horde on September 1 and 2, an original musical that features zombies as a way to discuss the trials and tribulations of adolescence. Performing arts co-ordinator Riley Beech, who is also the writer of the musical, said the college wanted to do something out of the “usual” for a school production. “It has been so long for us since we did a production … And for whatever reason, the zombie thing is what I landed on, but it’s actually a bit of a social satire,” Mr Beech said. “It’s really about kids just learning who they are, in a world where the adults freak out about all their actions, “High school is a time for a lot of self discovery, which is often very hard when there’s this challenge of the way someone is perceived, versus who they really are.” The production cast includes students from across the year levels of 7 through to 12, with students also working behind the scenes in choreography, direction, photography, stage crew and more.
The Horde cast members Robin, Madison, Tanisha and Savannah. (Damjan Janevski). 294509_07
Christmas event quashed Melton council has quashed potential plans for a new Christmas event in the municipality that would have seen funding taken away from a community organisation and put into a fresh council event. A report presented to the August 15 council meeting recommended council plan and deliver an annual Christmas event in Caroline Springs, in addition to the Carols by Candlelight event held in Melton. The current Caroline Springs event is run by
religious group In Church, which has received $40,000 in funding annually from council since 2017. The report proposed that the funding be withdrawn from In Church and used for a council-run event, which would include community performances, a twilight Christmas market, roving entertainment and more. The report stated that no public consultation had been undertaken in preparing the report. Councillor Steve Abboushi proposed an alternate motion that council provide funding
Our aim is to take the stress and
to In Church this year and consult with the community about the future of Christmas events, which was carried unanimously. Cr Abboushi said that convincing his fellow councillors to vote against a council-run event in Caroline Springs did not come easily. “I contacted the church the day of the meeting, to talk to the pastor and see how he was feeling about it and he had no idea that this was even on the cards,” Cr Abboushi said. “I didn’t think it was the right thing to do … the church feedback was that planning had already commenced for this year,” he said.
Cr Abboushi said he’d convinced councillors that it was too close to Christmas to make the change, but the option for a second council-run event would be reviewed next year. In Church spokesperson Christine Pettit said the organisation was “very grateful” to receive funding for another year and had always created an event where everyone was welcome. “We’re so grateful that we can do it live this year, because the last few years have been online, we’re really looking forward to seeing everybody and everybody’s welcome.”
confusion out of vehicle
S IR A P E R & S T N E ACCID EX
CESS REDUCTION UP TO $1000
PICK UP & DROP OFF SERVICE
AVAILABLE
V A C C R E P A IR E R
CALL US NOW 03 9394 1350 1/30 PETERPAUL WAY TRUGANINA www.collisionconcierge.com.au
12563854-DL34-22
By Olivia Condous