Established in 1981 as the
proudly serving Sunbury and Macedon Ranges
26 SEPTEMBER, 2023
12496404-AV22-21
FREE DIGITAL EDITION
SIG N U P N O W!
An artistic journey A new permanent public mural honouring Sunbury’s rich history and diversity is a step closer, with Sunbury artist Ervin Molnar commissioned to create the artwork. Sunbury MP Josh Bull and Major Road Projects Victoria (MRPV) announced Mr Molnar’s appointment on September 19, to paint a mural along the new Sunbury Road bridge underpass beside Jacksons Creek. Mr Molnar, who works from a Diggers Rest studio and was married on the banks of Jacksons Creek, will create a 40 metre long and five metre high artwork as part of the road upgrade. Mr Bull said the mural makes the bridge and its underpass a nice place to be, while connecting the community to Sunbury’s heritage. “It’s enormously important that a local artist will be reflecting the character, journeys, and stories of our region,” he said. The design will draw on inspiration from Sunbury with strong local fauna and flora elements. The artwork will be painted onto the retaining wall using specialised paints over several weeks, and will be treated with an anti-graffiti coating to protect against vandalism. Ervin Molnar was married on the banks of Jacksons Creek (Damjan Janevski) 357591_01
Kinder wait time blowout By Zoe Moffatt Giving birth to a baby in the first week of a global pandemic lockdown was not how Jenn Varrasso thought her first pregnancy would go. Four years on, with a second baby on the way, Jenn also didn’t think she would be bypassing a kinder just a five minute walk away, to drive 15 minutes to another one. However, due to limited kindergarten availability, this is Jenn’s reality. “We’re a little disappointed as we enrolled [Willow] in the kinder program for 2024 with Lancefield being our top preference, but we got
accepted into Riddells Creek instead,” she said. Jenn explained that they initially put Riddells Creek as their second preference when she was working in Sunbury, but with her baby boy coming in January this option is no longer possible. “It would make a significant difference. If we could reduce down to one car, financially that would help us out with the cost of everything. “Riddells Creek is probably a 15 minute drive, so a 30 minute round trip. “It’s just harder, getting a newborn into the car and then if I have a caesarean, which I had with Willow, I won’t be able to drive.” Born into a time of uncertainty, with
Mary-Anne Thomas MP Member for Macedon 12589601-HC35-23
lockdown rules changing weekly and social interaction at a standstill, Jenn said it is important Willow interacts with other chilldren instead of staying home. “She was a COVID baby, so we don’t want her to miss out… with that social interaction. “She’s doing really well at the moment but she’s definitely very attached to me. This year she’s blossomed and I don’t want to jeopardise that.” Fellow Lancefield resident George Carter said she had to take her first child, Hendrix, to Romsey for kindergarten as they were not offered a spot in Lancefield, despite applying 12 months in advance.
“I was working full time at the time, starting work at 6am [and]... It didn’t factor into [my husband and my] day to pick up and drop off at Romsey,” she said “My husband works nights at the juvenile justice centre in Malmsbury and more often than not he would come home from work to sleep for an hour or so [and] have to wake up to pick Hendrix up. “I called council and explained the situation, and they said if someone dropped out that spot would go to the next child on the waiting list, but there were children in front of [mine].” ■ Continued: Page 6.