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24 JUNE, 2025
Art show sure to inspire One of Roxburgh Park’s most anticipated creative events is back. The 2025 Bridgewater Lake Art Show will take place on Saturday, August 30 and Sunday, August 31, with more than 50 artists displaying paintings, photography, mosaics and mixed media creations. Local artist and organiser Nicola Kelly said the show is a vital space that brings people together and reminds artists of the unique value in what they create. “It inspires me to keep painting, to try different mediums, to try different ways of doing things,“ she said. Kelly began painting in 2000, often bringing her daughter – who has down syndrome – along to local art groups. “She would sit with her pencil and paper, and do these little flowers with lovely colours,” Kelly said. “And every year she sold everything, I sold nothing. Her daughter’s success served as a reminder of art’s true purpose: not in technique, but in emotion. The show will be held at the Bridgewater Lake Retirement Estate. Nicola Kelly with her artwork. (Damjan Janevski) 484218_04
Whittlesea councillor hits out at ...
‘Selfish’ tamperers By Laura Michell A Whittlesea councillor has called for those responsible for a vote tampering scheme in the Lalor Ward to be prosecuted, as the candidates for the ward’s by-election are revealed. Voters in Lalor Ward will once again be asked to elect a councillor after the October 2024 election result for their ward was voided by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) in May. The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) referred the election result to VCAT as part of an investigation into suspected vote tampering in the ward. The VEC also
asked police and the Local Government Inspectorate (LGI) to investigate. Labor candidate and former Whittlesea councillor Stevan Kozmevski was elected with 4953 first preference votes, ahead of independent Ellen McNaught (4003 votes) and community independent Nicholas Hajichristou (3344). After preferences, Mr Kozmevski had 6170 votes to Ms McNaught’s 6131. Mr Kozmevski served on council until VCAT’s May 8 decision to void the election result. VCAT found the fraudulent votes favoured Mr Hajichristou. There was no suggestion Mr Hajichristou was responsible for, or involved in, the fraud,
the VEC submitted. In voiding the election result and triggering a by-election, VCAT vice president, Judge Caitlin English, said she was satisfied that a majority of voters might have been prevented from electing the candidate they preferred as a result of the vote tampering. In a video shared to social media on Monday, June 16, Cr Lawrie Cox said the by-election would cost Whittlesea ratepayers $200,000 and called for charges to be laid against those responsible for the vote tampering. “The people involved should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,”
Cr Cox said. “They have cost significantly a by-election process to the tune of $200,000. “That is money that could be far better spent on basic interests of ratepayers and residents of the Lalor Ward. It could have been contributions to local community groups, it could have been better roads, it could have been funding our better dumping campaign, or providing public toilets in the reserves. “The residents have been disadvantaged by … the actions of a selfish few.” Continued: Page 3
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