APPLICATIONS are now open for 2017 four-year-old sessional kindergarten places using Kingston Council’s “simple, easy to use” central enrolment system. Council offers one central enrolment point which covers 27 local kindergartens and ensures a fair allocation process based on a series of set criteria. Parents can nominate their top three preferred kindergartens. Over the past two years 97 per cent of families received a place at their first choice kindergarten. Applications for next year’s first round allocation will be accepted from 1 May to 30 June, with all applications included regardless of the date they are received in this period.…
Author: Bayside News
EACH Mother’s Day, Mentone woman Cassie Willetts runs in memory of her mum. Running in the Mother’s Day Classic, she honours her mum, Sue, 65, who passed away in 2013. “Mum had breast cancer for a few years and it later turned to secondary breast cancer in her bones. She passed away after complications with chemotherapy and a long stint in hospital,” Ms Willetts said. “My main inspiration in taking part in the Mother’s Day Classic is to try to raise as much money as possible to help find a cure for the disease, along with providing assistance for those…
SERVICES will not suffer despite the Labor state government rate cap coming into force this year according to Kingston Council. Council has released its 2016-17 draft budget for community feedback before its formal adoption by councillors next month and mayor Cr Tamsin Bearsley says council’s financial prudence means council “is well-placed to respond to the Victorian government’s new rate capping policy which will see average rates rise by no more than 2.5 per cent”. “We’re investing $56million to ensure our community has access to well-maintained quality infrastructure, that our local sports clubs are supported and that our children have access…
THE third annual National Youth Week Leaders Forum was held at Parkdale Secondary College, Friday 22 April. “This forum has been a great success over the past two years,” federal Labor member for Isaacs Mark Dreyfus said. “I was very pleased to be able to hold my third leaders forum at Parkdale and I thank the school for hosting this great local event. “Young people in the Isaacs community have so much to offer and such great ideas to share, and I am glad that my forum offers an avenue for young local residents to talk to community leaders and…
THE saying: “There is nothing more beautiful than someone who goes out of their way to make life beautiful for others” may be describing Rachael Thatcher and members of the Patterson Lakes Card Group. They have all contributed to making life a lot better for one local woman. Chinese-born Jenny had been in Australia only a month when she started dropping in to the centre at 54-70 Thompson Rd. With virtually no English, communication was difficult, but PLCC staff tried their best to make her feel welcome and find an activity that would help her make new friends and improve…