Aspendale

Gardens News
Summer
2015

The Official Newsletter of AGRA,

Aspendale Gardens Residents Association

Distributed to over 2300 homes in Aspendale Gardens www.facebook.com/agra3195

AGRA welcomes our new mayor

Community Fun Day a Big Success

AGRA President Tony Firman, Mayor Tamsin Bearsley

Kingston councillors have elected Cr Tamsin Bearsley as our

new mayor for the next 12 months. Cr Tamsin Bearsley lives
in Aspendale Gardens with her husband and two children.
Tamsin was part of AGRA from 2009 to 2012 after which
she was elected into Kingston Council.

Im grateful for all the love and support Ive received from
everyone in Aspendale Gardens, said Cr Bearsley. I cant
think of anywhere better to live. Its a wonderful place to
raise a family.

Tamsin has an amazing sense of ethics, a really good

understanding of the community, said Cr John Ronke. The
amount of work she has put in over the past three years has
led her to this day. She has a lot of great mentors here that
will hold her in fantastic stead.

Locals Jack and Ryan having a ball at the fun day

Aspendale Gardens Community Fun Day was a big success,

if the reactions of local children, teenagers and parents
were anything to go by. Several parents commented that it
was great to have a day out for free, with show bags, rides,
entertainment and giveaways. A highlight for many was
meeting Melbourne Victory Soccer players, and of course
Hoot and Hootabelle.

We would like to say a big thank you to Ritchies IGA,

Shopping Centre Management and Reny Frighetto from
AGRA for helping to organise a fabulous day for the
community.

We welcomed our special guests Ritchies CEO Fred

Harrison, the Mayor Cr Tamsin Bearsley, State MP Tim
Richardson and Federal MP Mark Dreyfus on the day. Check
out all the photos on page 7.

Aspendale Gardens News, Summer 2015 Page 1

Presidents Report

Editors Bit

Hello to all friends of Aspendale Gardens. We take a
moment to breathe after the Community Fun Day is over. It
was a day when people from all ages, backgrounds, politics
and religions came together to just enjoy the day.

Mayor Tamsin Bearsley, AGRA President Tony Firman,

State MP Tim Richardson

Welcome to the 2015 Summer Edition of Aspendale

Gardens News!

The Aspendale Gardens Community Fun Day was the

highlight so far in my time as AGRA President. To see the
delight on the faces of so many kids and parents showed
me how worthwhile this day is. We look forward to doing it
all again in 2017.

Behind the scenes there is a lot of work in making it come

together so smoothly on the day. Thank you so much to the
team that worked so hard to make it our best ever. We
thank Ritchies IGA, CRS Property, traders of Aspendale
Gardens Shopping Centre, City of Kingston, and all those
that donated goods and services for the day.

At the end of the day, a guitarist played Stand By Me. It

was a poignant moment, considering the events from Paris
that we were hearing about at the time.

Were pretty lucky, really, to have community that we have.
Come along and get involved youll be better for it.

Cheers, Andy Bearsley, AGRA VP and Editor.

Your AGRA Committee

Tony Firman
Andrew Bearsley
Mark Bruce
Lucinda Bertram

Also Louise McCormack, Peter Boardman,

John Zeccola, Cameron Davies, Reny Frighetto,
Serge Yan & Henry Warren

AGRA meets on the third Tuesday of the month

except December. All welcome. 7:30pm at the
Aspendale Gardens Community Centre

spoke at the opening of the Aspendale Gardens

Community Fun Day on the importance of shopping locally.
If we dont shop locally we wouldnt have a shopping
centre, a Community Fun Day, or indeed the vibrant
community that makes Aspendale Gardens a great place to
live. Remember it is important to support the Aspendale
Gardens Shopping Centre tenants and indeed all the small
businesses in and around Aspendale Gardens.

Aspendale
Gardens
News & Lotto

Id like to send special congratulations out to Aspendale

Gardens own councillor Tamsin Bearsley for being voted as
the Mayor of the City of Kingston for the next twelve
months. Tamsin has attended many AGRA meetings and
has championed important issues to our residents. Over the
past twelve months Tamsin has been the only councillor
who has attended our meetings and we thank her for her
dedication and passion for Aspendale Gardens. She is a big
part of the success of AGRA. Tamsin will make an excellent
Mayor.

President, Chairperson
Advertising
Vice President, Editor
Treasurer
Minute Secretary

Now with Bill Payments,

Couriers & Parcel Post

Gifts, Toys & Stationery

Stamps & Envelopes
Express Post Satchels

We still have much more to talk about in the New Year:

AGRA 2015-2016 priorities, traffic, internet and other issues
we are tracking. In the mean time, from AGRA we wish you
a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.

Kind regards, Tony Firman, AGRA President

Facebook:
Email:
Web:

www.facebook.com/agra3195
agrasecretary@gmail.com
www.agrainc.org.au
Aspendale Gardens News, Summer 2015 Page 2

Your Local,
Professional
Real Estate
Agent

If you need an agent with

integrity and a strong local
knowledge of the area, you
need to speak to Steve Turner.
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Aspendale Gardens News, Summer 2015 Page 3

Get to Know Your Neighbours

Our local traders in Aspendale Gardens are the heart of our

community. Nathan Arrowsmith finds out what they love
and what makes them tick.

What studies are needed to be a super doctor? 6 years at

University, work experience in a hospital on an internship
for 1-2 years before being able to become a GP.

What is your worst habit? Im a night owl, I have trouble

going to bed.

No.1 health tip? Stay active, walk and 10,000 steps per day.

What do you enjoying doing when youre not at work?

Spending time with the family, being a taxi running the kids
to their sports, walking and bike riding.

What do you do to unwind? Dinner, movies and walking

my Labrador.

What is your favorite food? Traditional Greek food,

especially the bean dishes.

Photo: Dr Benedict Burke, Dr Bill Varney, Dr Nick

Nicola, Dr Koshala Rupassara, Dr Azra Sultana

Meet Dr Nick Nicola, owner of Aspendale Gardens Medical

Centre. Dr Nicola has been a part of Aspendale Gardens
since day one opening in 1995.

Address: 8 Springvale Road, Aspendale Gardens

Contact: (03) 9773 1100
Web: aspendalegardensmc.com.au

Dr Nicola was born in 1965, married his wife Linda when he

was 21 and has four children Madeline 19, Harry 17, Annie
14 and Emma 7 years old

What do you love about Aspendale Gardens? Nick: The

lovely residents and watching all the families grow up and
being part of their lives.

How long have you been in business? Just on 20 years. I

took over the Medical Centre on Wells Rd in 1995.

Why did you become a doctor? As a young boy aged 4 I

remember asking my doctor 100 questions about what he
does. I was attracted and curious from then on.

What is your favorite drink? Im loving the Apples Ciders

right now!

What day do you take off? 3 Saturdays per month and

every Sunday.

What is your favorite place to go on holiday? Port Douglas

Who is your favourite customer? All my patients!

Nathan: I think deep down Im up there. I send Dr Nicola a

personal Christmas card every year, I never miss one. I
honestly believe Dr Nicola saved my life. 19 years ago I
went to the doctors for swollen glands on my neck. Lucky
me I saw Dr Nicola, who checked me over. Trust me to get
the excited doctor straight out of med school! I thought.

It turns out I had cancer and I honestly believe he saved my

life. I look at life differently now. Im so grateful every day, I
think I wouldnt have my two beautiful kids today. So thats
Christmas card worthy agree?

Hope youve enjoyed your local Q & A!

Nathan Arrowsmith
Buxton Real Estate, mobile 0411 149 921
Facebook: Nathan Arrowsmith Buxton Real Estate

Aspendale Gardens News, Summer 2015 Page 4

Aspendale Gardens News, Summer 2015 Page 5

Ritchies IGA and AGRA Presents

Aspendale Gardens Community Fun Day
14th November 2015

Aspendale Gardens News, Summer 2015 Page 6

But wait theres more

In the Zone at the

Annual General Meeting

We have many more photos of the fun day up on the AGRA

Facebook page. Special thanks to Reny Frighetto, (below,
centre) and everyone involved for helping to bring the
event together. Bravo!

It was great to see so many residents attend the AGM and

support AGRA. President, Tony Firman outlined the top
priorities of AGRA for 2015/2016 based on the resident
survey, including improvements to the traffic on Wells Road,
enhancements to our parks and high speed internet.

The community was updated on many local issues from both

Cr Tamsin Bearsley and State MP Tim Richardson. Of interest
to many in the audience was the reported notion that
Parkdale Secondary College was considering removing
Aspendale Gardens as an approved zone. Tim assured those
in attendance that this would not happen. He had already
met with the Education Department about this issue. He said
Parkdale SC was accepting too many out-of-zone applications
and addressing this issue first would minimize the pressures
they were currently experiencing.

Aspendale Gardens News, Summer 2015 Page 7

Whats on at the
Aspendale Gardens Youth Cove

Aspendale Gardens Youth Cove (AYC)

(Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays 1:30pm-5:30pm)
Aspendale Gardens Community Centre

AYC is a fully supervised community based service for young
people from the ages of 12 to 25. It is run at the Aspendale
Gardens Community Centre in conjunction with Kingston
Youth & Family Services.

Activities include boxing, cricket, cooking, art & craft,

resume building, barista skills and much more. You can use
one of our iMacs to sharpen your skills to enter one of the
local Kingston Youth Services competitions.

We can help you with staying healthy, getting a good

nights sleep and ways to reduce stress.

We are really keen to hear from you and see what youd
like to do. For more information, contact Ellen McDermott,
Youth Engagement Officer, or find us on Facebook page to
see whats on.

Ellen McDermott
Phone: 1300 369 436
Email: ellen.mcdermott@kingston.vic.gov.au

Aspendale Gardens News, Summer 2015 Page 8

as. empty n
e
id
e

st.

big

DAVID
knows what
he wants

big

a m b iti o n

s.

Here for lifes big moments.

Ive always kept on top of my
finances, but lately Id become a
bit complacent.
We still have a small mortgage,
I hadnt looked at my super for
a while and my daughter had just
announced her engagement.
I knew what I wanted, I just
needed some help getting it
sorted.

I consolidated my super funds,

set up some additional payments
to pay the home loan off sooner
and opened a managed fund to
help my daughter realise the
wedding of her dreams.
She then suggested I speak with
a Bendigo Financial Planner to
discuss a more detailed
retirement plan.

I had a great chat with Kristy at

my local Bendigo branch and she
helped me get things on track.

With some smart solutions,

Bendigo Bank is helping me
prepare for some big moments.
Drop into your nearest branch at
Aspendale Gardens Shopping
Centre, Aspendale Gardens or
phone 9588 0610, call
1800 018 018 or visit
bendigobank.com.au/wealth
today and find out what they
can do for you.

Superannuation products and managed

funds issued by Sandhurst Trustees
Aspendale Gardens-Edithvale Community Bank Branch
Bendigo Financial Planning Limited ABN 81 087 585 073 AFSL 237898 Level 5/120 Harbour Esplanade, Docklands Victoria 3008, SmartStart Super ABN 57 526 653 420 is issued by
Sandhurst Trustees Limited ABN 16 004 030 737 AFSL 237906 is a subsidiary of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited ABN 11 068 049 178 AFSL/Australian Credit Licence 237879.
(the Bank). Investments in this product are not deposits with, guaranteed by, of liabilities of the Bank or any of its related entities. Consider your situation and read the Product Disclosure
Statement available at bendigobank.com.au/wealth before making and investment decision. S50436-3 (259121_v1) (29/06/2015)

Aspendale Gardens News, Summer 2015 Page 9

Aspendale Gardens
Primary School News
Principals Report from Dr Cheryle Osborne

School Production
Wow what a night! The production came
together beautifully. The whole school
was involved and it was a wonderful
event for the students and parents. The
students performed with enthusiasm and
certainly demonstrated their amazing
Performing Arts talents. The backdrops
were stunning and enhanced the performance. Well done
to all the students who performed their items brilliantly and
looked fantastic on stage.

Fathers Day Camp Out

What a wonderful camp out we had on Friday the 4th of
September! The oval was a sea of tents and there were
happy, excited campers everywhere. We started the
evening with outside games with the parachutes, followed
by the sausage sizzle manned by very capable parents who
took charge of the tongs. After dinner and games including
tug of war we headed over to the smokeless fire, (yes it was
battery operated) for some lively campfire singing. To
settle down for the night we returned to the hall where the
students (and some dads) brought their sleeping bags and
pillows to lay down to watch the movie. It was an early start
on Saturday morning with a bacon and egg cook up.

The camp out was a huge success and so many children

asked me if we were having one again next year. We think
it will be a permanent fixture on the AGPS calendar for the
future. Well done everyone it was a great night!

Art Expo
What an amazing event!! We had so many visitors come
along to see our Seuss on the Loose Art Expo. The students
produced excellent art pieces that were on display
throughout the school. It was a wonderful evening and
many families sat outside on the lovely balmy evening
catching up with friends. It was a brilliant way to showcase
the talents of our students and certainly was an indication
of their dedication to our Visual Arts program.

Confucius Classroom Celebration Week

We had a vibrant week
full of educational,
creative and enjoyable
activities to celebrate
our
Confucius
Classroom
Asian
connections. There was
dumpling making, a
Master Chef competition, table tennis championships,
Chinese singing competition and many more events. The
week concluded with a special assembly which was lively
and colourful concluding with a dragon and lion dance
performed by our students. It was a brilliant week!

Grandparents Day
We had an amazing number of grandparents visit us. It was
brilliant! The grandparents attended an assembly
celebrating the value and the impact grandparents have on
their grandchildren. There were a variety of activities in the
classrooms for the students to share with their
grandparents.

School Disco
The students had an evening of dancing, games and singing
during our school disco. The room was full of energy,
laughter and some very creative dance moves. It was a
great way to end the school week.

It has been another brilliant learning journey at Aspendale

Gardens Primary School.
Cheryle Osborne, Principal

Aspendale Gardens News, Summer 2015 Page 10

Aspendale Gardens News, Summer 2015 Page 11

Aspendale Gardens News, Summer 2015 Page 12