Christmas wishes
This holiday season take the opportunity to dust off your bike, scooter, pram (however you roll!), get outdoors and share some time with family, friends and neighbours.
This holiday season take the opportunity to dust off your bike, scooter, pram (however you roll!), get outdoors and share some time with family, friends and neighbours.
Tania purchased her lovely vest a month ago and while riding to work a week or so ago had lost it out of her basket.
The immediate reaction was 'oh no', and Tania really wanted to get it back and thought someone may have seen it as they were riding along Canning St.
A lot of thought went into the sign and it was deliberately made thin as there are a lot of thin poles around.
Around the same time someone stole her bike light and tried to damage the fixed light headlamp all in the same month. So after these incidents Tania wanted some good news and hopefully get her vest back.
Tania also posted the lost pic photo on Facebook cyclists in Melbourne, particularly along the Canning St route, they may know each other through their networks and hopefully someone may see it and pass it onto someone else or mention it and it gets to the right person.
Our friend here was cycling along Canning St and one day and found a bike light that had popped off somebody's bike and ended up using it for approximately a year and a half.
Then one day he realised it was not there and it must have popped off. He hopes that someone else is getting good use from the bike light.
Maybe we can finish the story with a happy ending
We were extremely lucky as there were lovely clear blue skies on Saturday and a brief interruption of rain early Sunday morning but it magically cleared just long enough between 8:00am - 2:00pm for our ride launch before returning later in the afternoon.
At first we set up indoors within the Brunswick Cycling Clubrooms which was very cosy and protected from the gusty winds.
People enjoyed a fine Genovese coffee carefully crafted by Agostino Giramondo, the President of Brunswick Cycling Club.
As the winds dissipated, we moved everything outdoors.
We were very fortunate to have Cycles Galleria attending with Leena Kate-James and bicycle mechanic Kian Lerh-McKinnon who helped a steady stream of willing participants to learn some new tips & tricks.
Whether you had a big wheel or little wheels, everyone braved the wet roads and bike tracks to join our opening.
Agostino Giramondo, the President of Brunswick Cycling Club spoke about sharing similar values of people getting on bikes, whether you are wearing lycra or not.
History
The velodrome was built in the 1950's as a training track for the 1956 Olympics with the club being formed in 1916. The pavilion of the club is named after Alf Walker who was a junior but made his name as an official. Some other notable members include Pop Stewart who never actually rode a bike but made a tremendous contribution to the sport. So to be involved in the sport you don't just have to be a rider but have a love to watch people getting out there, being on bikes and having a great time.
It's a mental health machine
It gets you out and helps you forget about the stresses of life as it's just you and the bike and when you add other people it does so much for your well being.
There is a junior clinic (starting from 6th October) with sometimes 70 - 80 kids, with parents, who are having a great time on the bike. 'If you see them, you will understand that we don't take ourselves too seriously and we don't have programs. Our philosophy is if you enjoy the sport you will continue to do it until your old age'.
Cr Mark Riley spoke about growing up in West Gippsland in a family of 6 who taught each other to ride and he remembers falling off many times in his front yard before getting his balance and riding outside the house.
A growing city
An extra 50k people will move into the City of Moreland by 2026 which is creating lots of opportunities for businesses to have more people coming to their business. This also brings the challenges of an extra 32k motor vehicles or 34 MCG's worth of additional parking space or 70 Brunswick velodromes. This involved council spending 450k in developing their Moreland Integrated Transport Strategy (MITS) with it being adopted earlier this year.
Priorities
The priorities are people on foot, people on bikes and other wheeled vehicles that are not motorised (or have no throttle - E Bikes), public transport followed by the car.
The biggest open spaces are the road ways being taking up by tarmac and concrete and mostly taken up by cars parking, taking up that valuable public space. It's about turning this public space into more community space, this includes temporary bike parking popups outside cafes and businesses.
Fortunately Moreland has some of the biggest uptake of commuting cycling in the city. These types of rides are really important in supporting these initiatives and any other strategies to get people out and active, riding and sharing with community.
Programs to get people on their bikes
A great community initiative is run by a local resident in John St Brunwick who recycles bikes and makes them freely available to borrow by signing in when you wish to use them.
Moreland council is creating programs to get more women and children riding bikes, also with Neighbourly Ride, Brunswick Cycling Club and local businesses partnering, it's about everyone working together.
Important safety Messages
The importance of wearing helmets in preventing acquired brain injury and wearing bright clothing, many people attending the ride had floor jackets, 'flouro is the new black'.
Creating awareness on shared paths is also important by using the bike bell, or saying 'passing on your right' to let people know that you are passing other riders and pedestrians.
Nelson Alexander
Who have generously supported us from the very beginning and their ongoing commitment enables us to prosper.
Impact digital
In supporting our printing requirements that keeps many poles & posts company at night.
Cycles Galleria Brunswick
For bring their marquee, bike stand & tools, Leeana Kate-James (whom we are honoured for spending her 40th Birthday weekend with us) & Kian Lerh-McKinnon for looking after the riders bikes.
Kapai Puku
Generously supplying 450g packets
Phillipas
For the bread & rolls, the underrated partner in any successful sausage sizzle
The Town Meatery
Providing yummy sausages
Genovese Coffee
For the awesome coffee, we all love good coffee
Brunswick Cycling Club
For being our first Champion and Agostino Giramondo the President of Brunswick Cycling Club for believing in our little program
Moreland City Council
In helping to spread the word throughout the local community
Nelson Alexander
For the Monopoly board game
400 Gradi
For the generous restaurant voucher
Brunswick Cycling Club
For the great club caps and socks
Agostino Giramondo for believing in our ride and providing the Clubs support.
Martin Bower for leading the inaugural ride & all of his support & the many volunteers from Brunswick Cycling Club.
Deputy Lord Mayor Cr Mark Riley
For a passionate and informative speech on cycling in Moreland
MP Tim Read, local member for Brunswick
Who very generously supports so many community events
Who have generously supported our new location, we understand it's a tough time for small business and we really appreciate you getting behind the program.
Loneliness affects more people than you may realise. Research from Relationship’s Australia shows that one in ten people lack social support or connection to others. As much as we have the technology to bring us together, people are still feeling isolated and one in six people are experiencing emotional loneliness.
It goes deeper than this too; since this is a private condition it is harder to share or express how they are feeling. Because of this, nearly 1.5 million Australians report they’ve experienced loneliness for a decade or more. This is alarming information, and it signals that people have a desperate need for communities and emotional connection.
Loneliness is like a double-edged sword, loneliness itself can cause harmful health conditions and that poor health results in even higher rates of emotional loneliness and lack of social support.
The negative health effects of loneliness are very real and it has been seen to be just as damaging to a person’s health as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. This should sound a real alarm that tackling the loneliness epidemic needs to be a priority. This is impacting a wide variety of people but single parents might be most at risk.
They are most likely to experience the key indicators of loneliness but single fathers look to be even more susceptible. Nearly 40% of single fathers are reporting a lack of social support and over 40% report emotional loneliness. Being a single parent presents its own unique challenges but the loneliness factor can really compound all these issues.
Since we can see how many people are affected by loneliness, and the damage that comes from it, the question is how can this be dealt with? This is where the community needs to step up. Reaching out to our neighbours to help them make connections in their community can’t be overlooked.
Any good community should offer different interest groups that will appeal to the hobbies and interests of the people in them. Some great groups would include book clubs, cooking classes, walking groups, and cycling groups. The more options a community can offer the better it is for helping those who suffer from loneliness; Research conducted by the ANU’s Dr. Teagan Cruwys, and The University of Queensland’s professor Alex Haslam found that the more social groups a person belongs to the better it was for counteracting depression. Belonging to more social groups also will lead to a longer life-span.
This is significant for people going into post-retirement. Widowed men are also at risk of a high amount of loneliness and so are women under 65. It shows that loneliness strikes at all stages of life and it’s important for people to have more social engagement leading up to, and after, retirement.
When a community offers as many groups and clubs as possible it gives more opportunities for those looking to make new social connections. Local bike riding groups including many BUGS (Bicycle User Groups) that combines the exercise from cycling with the social connection and dynamic.
It doesn’t just have to be cycling as any physically based groups such as walking, running, or hiking clubs will be a great combination of providing physical and mental health. The group dynamic will be important for social engagement and the exercise can help combat depression among many of its benefits.
Making new friends and connections can be achieved by book clubs, cooking classes, bird watching, creative writing workshops as just a few examples. The more that can be provided in the community the more opportunity there is to help those suffering from loneliness.
Specialty days - such as Neighbour Day that happened this year on March 31st - are great for bringing awareness to the issues of isolation and loneliness. A real focus is put on what neighbours can do to create real connections. The next one will be on 29th March 2020 but you obviously don’t have to wait until then to make a difference.
The focus on what neighbours can do to create connections needs to be a focus year round. If you’re wondering how to help, you can give your time in leading groups that can connect members of your community. If you have any special skills, this can be a great usage of them by teaching and instructing others. You will be able to share your abilities while building unity with your neighbours. You’ll be able to give back, fight this loneliness epidemic, and build up your community and the people that are in it.
Special thanks
Nick Tebbey, National Executive Officer Relationships Australia
Neighbour Day is Australia’s annual celebration of community, encouraging people to connect with those who live in their neighbourhood. Whether through a cuppa, a picnic in the park, or a message of support; Neighbour Day is the perfect opportunity to say thanks for being a great neighbour and for being there to lend a hand. Neighbour Day is celebrated on the last Sunday in March every year with the aim of fostering strong personal connections that last the whole year-round. Every can be neighbour day.
You can follow Neighbour Day on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and check the Neighbour Day website regularly for updates, to register online and access ideas and free resources.
Bring your bike and swap it!
Spring-A-Ding-Ding Festival Team
Joanne Keeble, Organiser
Email: https://www.facebook.com/springadingding
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spring-a-ding-ding-festival-tickets-67943122709 https://www.facebook.com/springadingding
Event document
Event document
Spring into the new season with your local community! The Spring-A-Ding-Ding Festival will be held on Saturday 14th September, 10am-2pm, to celebrate and inspire active and sustainable living.
The festival will include lots of activities to help get some spring in your step (or pedal), including -
FUN RUN* - 2K course, kids & adults run together, collect race bibs on day of festival, $5 to register. Named ‘Run for the Chooks’ as registration money will go towards helping build happy chook homes in schools.
Run start time 11:30am.
BIKE-CURIOUS OFFERINGS including bike tune-ups $2 a bike, cargo/commuter/e-bike test rides $1 a ride, pimp-my-ride station, and a **bike swap market $5 a swap.
MARKET STALLS selling native plants, veggie seedlings, succulents, compost tea, as well as stalls by local eco-friendly makers.
Spring-A-Ding-Ding Festival Team
Joanne Keeble, Organiser
Email: https://www.facebook.com/springadingding
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spring-a-ding-ding-festival-tickets-67943122709 https://www.facebook.com/springadingding
Event document
Event document
If you travel down Rathdown St you will have see Krinclafold House circa 1884, this exquisite 140 year old mansion in North Carlton.
The original owners David and Agnes Linklater had 9 children with the second owners two surviving children putting the property up for sale in 2018 after it had been left abandoned for the past 5-6 years.
As we stopped the third owner of property popped out and said they are the third owner and that it has been in the same family for over 100 years.
Now after many months the restoration process continues in bringing this Victorian Terrace to it's former glory.
The painstaking detail includes the reproduction of the last surviving rain head using the old cast iron process.
We continued on our way along the cobblestones that provided the properties services including coal & milk deliveries, nightsoil cartage (Pre Melbourne's sewerage system) and access to horse stabling.
