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2 JULY, 2024
‘Dazzling’ new mural The Western BACE building in Cobblebank has received a stunning makeover, thanks to mural artist Hayden Dewar. The artwork, which faces Ferris Road, is 48-metres long and eight metres high. Dewar said the mural was extensive, even for his standards. “It’s definitely up there in terms of one of my most detailed projects … its got a certain style to it – a degree of realism but more of an illustrative look,” he said. Among the Melton-specific elements of the design are native flora and fauna found in forested areas around Eynesbury and dingoes – a nod to Dingo Discovery Sanctuary and Research Reserve in Toolern Vale. One feature people may notice are the faceless hooded characters – these are ‘Solarquins’, original characters created by Dewar who make a regular appearance in his art. “They are positive figures; guardians of nature in search of a harmonious existence. I include them when I can,” he said. Melton mayor Kathy Majdlik said the “dazzling addition” will enrich the municipality and captivate the imagination of passersby. “We are thrilled to bring this powerful piece of public art to our community,” she said. Eddie Russell
Melton mayor Kathy Majdlik in front of the recently completed BACE mural by artist Hayden Dewar. (Damjan Janevski) 415915_02
Call to tackle youth crime By Eddie Russell Melton council is seeking new measures be put in place to both monitor and rehabilitate youth offenders in the municipality. At the June 24 council meeting, councillor Julie Shannon asked council write to state government ministers and opposition ministers to advocate for increased funding of prevention and diversionary programs and the adoption of new monitoring and rehabilitation programs. Cr Shannon said the methods currently in place were not doing enough. “It’s obvious that the current legal system
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is not helping our community and youth offenders to be rehabilitated effectively,” she said. With the motion, council hopes to address youth involvement in crime and enhance community safety. Cr Shannon said there were many ways monitoring could be achieved, including through the use of ankle bracelets. “A lot of young offenders are being put out into the community and they’re being let out on bail and I think that is not always working,” she said. “I don’t think it’s helping them either if they get put straight into jail. That’s not always a solution either.
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“There’s different ways they can be monitored so that they can be in the community but also keeping themselves and the community safe.” Cr Steve Abboushi welcomed the motion, saying that necessary changes needed to be made to existing programs. “This is fantastic because it focuses on diversionary programs … as opposed to hard line sanctions,” he said. “There are lots of other things that we can do to divert the anti-social behaviour and make young people more productive in our community.” On June 18, the state government introduced the Youth Justice Bill 2024. Youth Justice and
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Victim Support Minister Enver Erdogan said it would reform the current system. “The best way to keep Victorians safe is to address the root causes of offending. Our changes will support more young people get back on the right path and put victims’ voices into decision making.” The bill will create a legislated scheme for warnings, cautions and early diversion, implement more intensive bail supervision – including a two-year trial of electronic monitoring – and introduce new sentencing outcomes that provide more options for accountability and rehabilitation and leave custody as the most severe outcome.
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