The Voice of Mill Park

In this episode of The Voice of Mill Park, I catch up in the evening to share what’s on around our community and why I started this podcast as a simple, reliable local resource. I spotlight two important supports: the Lalor and District Men’s Shed as a place for connection, purpose and skills after work and retirement, and the Mill Park Alcoholics Anonymous group meeting Thursdays at 7:00 pm at Mill Park’s Miller Community Centre—reminding listeners that help and community are close by if you or someone you love needs it. <br /><br />I also run through upcoming events: at the Plenty Ranges Arts and Convention Centre—Once Upon a One More Time (Ivanhoe Grammar), an art exhibition on 2 May, Sylvie Paladino, and the 2026 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow on 7 May (15+). Around the City of Whittlesea: business mentoring sessions at Janefield Community Centre, parenting workshops including “Parenting Children Who Worry,” a young parents group at The Y at Westfield Plenty Valley, Coffee with Council at Velvet Bean Café (Epping), and ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Epping RSL (prelude 5:00 am, service 6:00 am, gunfire breakfast after). Libraries note: closed on Saturday for the public holiday; highlights include Mindful Doodling with Lou Endicott, Jobs &amp; Careers, Chatty Café, Friday Lego, Knitting Club, and English Conversation. Plus, Mill Park Community House Term 2 programs and St Francis of Assisi Dance Night fundraiser on 27 June. As always, send your local tips to <a target="_blank">[email protected]</a> and I’ll do my best to cover them—GarageBand hiccups or not!&nbsp;<br /><br />Links:<br />&nbsp;<a href="https://millpark.aagroup.org.au/" target="_blank">Mill Park AA Group</a><br /> <a href="https://www.lalormensshed.com.au/" target="_blank">Lalor &amp; District Men’s Shed</a><br /> <a href="https://www.pracc.com.au/Whats-On/All-Events" target="_blank">PRACC - What's On</a><br /> <a href="https://www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/Things-to-see-and-do/Events/Events-calendar/Parenting-Children-who-worry" target="_blank">Parenting children who worry</a><br /> <a href="https://www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/Things-to-see-and-do/Events/Events-calendar/Young-Parents-Group" target="_blank">Young Parents Group</a><br /> <a href="https://www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/Things-to-see-and-do/Events/Events-calendar/Coffee-with-Council" target="_blank">Coffee with Council</a><br /> <a href="https://www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/Things-to-see-and-do/Events/Events-calendar/ANZAC-DAY-DAWN-SERVICE" target="_blank">ANZAC Day dawn service</a><br /> <a href="https://chattycafeaustralia.org.au/" target="_blank">Chatty Cafe Australia</a>

In today’s episode, I kick off the first week of school holidays in Mill Park with a safety reminder for drivers: slow down in our residential streets and drive to the conditions, especially with more kids out and about. I run through what’s on locally, including Mill Park Leisure Centre’s five-day swim and water safety program, La Trobe Sport Bundoora’s high‑energy holiday sports comp for ages 5–12, and a stack of events at the Plenty Ranges Arts and Convention Centre—Splash Test Dummies, Luke Kidgell’s Good Intentions, and Stephen K Amos—plus free public transport this month to help you get around. I also flag a superhero cartooning workshop with illustrator Mark Guthrie, ongoing Council social sport and activities, and a useful session on navigating food allergies with dietitian Susie from Nutrilicious Dietetics.&nbsp;<br />Beyond events, I touch on recent Victorian rental reforms standardising application forms, the expanded school phone and wearable ban from 28 January next year, and a timely smoke alarm safety check reminder. I give a quick local foodie shout‑out to Moon Slice Pizza in Thomastown, and wrap up with how you can support the show via the value‑for‑value model—time, talent or treasure—and how to get in touch with feedback and tips.<br />Links Mentioned:<br /><a href="https://northern.starweekly.com.au/news/test-your-smoke-alarm-when-clocks-turn-back/" target="_blank">https://northern.starweekly.com.au/news/test-your-smoke-alarm-when-clocks-turn-back/</a><br /><a href="https://northern.starweekly.com.au/news/school-phone-ban-expanded/" target="_blank">https://northern.starweekly.com.au/news/school-phone-ban-expanded/</a><br /><a href="https://northern.starweekly.com.au/news/more-rent-reforms-take-effect/" target="_blank">https://northern.starweekly.com.au/news/more-rent-reforms-take-effect/</a><br /><a href="https://moonslice-pizza-and-pasta.tuckerfox.com.au/" target="_blank">https://moonslice-pizza-and-pasta.tuckerfox.com.au/</a><br /><a href="https://www.yprl.vic.gov.au/events/?locations=MIL" target="_blank">https://www.yprl.vic.gov.au/events/?locations=MIL</a><br /><a href="https://www.pracc.com.au/Whats-On/PRACC-Program/Splash-Test-Dummies" target="_blank">https://www.pracc.com.au/Whats-On/PRACC-Program/Splash-Test-Dummies</a><br /><a href="https://www.pracc.com.au/Whats-On/All-Events/Stephen-K-Amos-Now-Were-Talking" target="_blank">https://www.pracc.com.au/Whats-On/All-Events/Stephen-K-Amos-Now-Were-Talking</a><br /><a href="https://www.pracc.com.au/Whats-On/All-Events/Luke-Kidgell-Good-Intentions" target="_blank">https://www.pracc.com.au/Whats-On/All-Events/Luke-Kidgell-Good-Intentions</a><br /><a href="https://www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/Things-to-see-and-do/Events/Events-calendar/Cartooning-and-illustration-workshop" target="_blank">https://www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/Things-to-see-and-do/Events/Events-calendar/Cartooning-and-illustration-workshop</a><br /><a href="https://collections.humanitix.com/la-trobe-sport-easter-school-holiday-camps-2026-bundoora-campus" target="_blank">https://collections.humanitix.com/la-trobe-sport-easter-school-holiday-camps-2026-bundoora-campus</a><br /><a href="https://www.millparkleisure.com.au/" target="_blank">https://www.millparkleisure.com.au/</a>

<p>In this short and slightly croaky Tuesday catch‑up, I run through what’s happening around Mill Park this week and share a few thoughts on local issues. With Easter on the doorstep, remember Mill Park Library and most council facilities will be closed on Good Friday (3 April) and Easter Monday (6 April). I touch on this week’s events—Storytime, Chatty Cafe, Walking Football at Mill Park Basketball Stadium, the Cinemagic film screening on 1 April, and a shout‑out to the sold‑out Fast Track Barista course—plus community groups like the young parents program at the Y in Plenty Valley. I also recap Plenty Parklands Primary’s rainy but well‑attended Family Fun Night, note ongoing teacher industrial action and my hope we avoid more disruption, and give an update on our local petitions, including the push for a toilet and bin at Telopea Reserve. I call out some on‑the‑ground wins and worries—like the long grass finally mown along Plenty Road near Childs Road (and that lingering kangaroo carcass), and the need to keep our elected representatives focused on genuine Mill Park issues as election season approaches. There’s a big thank‑you to the Direct to Boot team at Woolies Stables for consistently going above and beyond. If you want more local insights, sign up at millpark.blog for the five‑email Mill Park primer and the Monday newsletter with what’s coming up on the show. Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you next episode once this cough clears!</p>

<p>In today’s episode, I check in on Mill Park as the teachers’ strike disrupts schooling and share my disappointment with both sides for letting it reach this point.<br />I also update you on local community happenings: my petition for toilets and rubbish bins at Telopea Reserve (I’ll be out collecting signatures and chatting with locals), the upcoming six-month closure of Mill Park’s BlueFit pool from Monday 20 April with lessons relocated to South Morang, and the South Morang Youth Hub funding push highlighted at council.<br />I run through local events and notices, including Thomastown Library’s limited reopening, Mill Park Library’s job skills and story time sessions, Plenty Parklands Primary’s family fun night, and Mill Park Secondary College’s July production of “Once Upon a One More Time,” with tickets on sale in April.<br />I also flag Whittlesea activities like the Know Your City Bus Tour for over-50s, plus various workshops and community listings I’ll link in the show notes.<br /><br />I wrap up with a reminder to send through your community news to feature on the pod and tease next week’s interviews with locals. As always, this is a listener-supported show—your tips, time and local leads keep it going.<br /><br />Links to articles mentioned:<br /><a href="https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1558092" target="_blank">https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1558092</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/Things-to-see-and-do/Events/Events-calendar?dlv_OC%20CL%20Public%20Events%20Listing=(dd_OC%20Composite%20Date=24%20Mar%202026%7C30%20Mar%202026)" target="_blank">https://www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/Things-to-see-and-do/Events/Events-calendar?dlv_OC%20CL%20Public%20Events%20Listing=(dd_OC%20Composite%20Date=24%20Mar%202026%7C30%20Mar%202026)</a><br /><br /><a href="https://northern.starweekly.com.au/news/youth-hub-site-chosen/" target="_blank">https://northern.starweekly.com.au/news/youth-hub-site-chosen/</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.bluefitswimming.com.au/news/temporary-closure" target="_blank">https://www.bluefitswimming.com.au/news/temporary-closure</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.yprl.vic.gov.au/events/?locations=MIL" target="_blank">https://www.yprl.vic.gov.au/events/?locations=MIL</a><br /><br /></p>

<p>In this slightly belated Wednesday edition, I shake off a nasty bug and catch you up on what’s happening around Mill Park. I share updates on the petition for toilets and bins at Telopea Reserve (I’ll be out with a clipboard this week—come say hi) and give my take on the Education Union’s planned one‑day stoppage next Tuesday, focusing on the real impact last‑minute decisions have on families and carers. We also look at the welcome revitalisation of Peter Hopper Lake at Redleap Reserve, reflect on a recent troubling incident in Mernda and the role our community can play in setting standards, and note the significant cost of last year’s commission of inquiry into Whittlesea Council. To round things out, I flag a few local happenings at Yarra Plenty Regional Library, including Storytime, Chatty Café, a writers’ group, and an Italian comedy night with James Liotta. I’m still a bit crook but back behind the mic—thanks for sticking with me—and you can stay in the loop at millpark.blog for show updates and neighbourhood news.</p>