Manningham Council has proudly honoured the exceptional individuals and organisations making a meaningful difference in the community at the 2024 Civic Awards.

Held last week, family and friends of the nominees gathered at the Manningham Function Centre for the awards ceremony.

The nominees were celebrated for their outstanding contributions, and winners were announced for their exceptional community service.

Brian Tyedin was awarded Manningham Citizen of the Year for his work with Rotary over the past 25 years.

“Being nominated is a reward in itself and to be recognised for what we are doing in the community,” Brian said.

“There are so many opportunities to volunteer in this community and so many people doing great things.

“I hope that by receiving this award, I can work with other organisations to achieve an even better outcome for Manningham and help others in the community,” Brian said.  

This year there were two recipients of the Doreen Stoves Volunteer of the Year Award, Luke Bastian and Kate Gniel.

Luke was recognised for his outstanding commitment to the local Scouting community over the past two decades. Park Orchards-based mum of three, Kate, was recognised for her remarkable work in the community and with the Sharks Junior Football Club.

“Volunteering fills my heart and makes me feel content. My youngest son was diagnosed with leukemia a few years ago, and during that time, we were overwhelmed by the kindness of so many people,” Kate said.

“That’s when we discovered the true power of community and felt deeply connected. It inspired us to give back and help others in the same way we were helped.”

Meet the winners – 2024 Manningham Civic Awards

2024 Citizen of the Year – Brian Tyedin 

Brian was awarded Citizen of the Year for his tireless support and service to the local community. He is a champion of the Rotary movement and has served Rotary and the Manningham community with distinction.

2024 Doreen Stoves Volunteer of the Year – Luke Bastian and Kate Gniel 

Luke Bastian 

Luke has played a crucial role in the Scouting community for over two decades. His remarkable contributions to Rotary and the Doncaster Baseball Club have also been significant. Luke is a dedicated member of the Manningham community and exemplifies the qualities of an exceptional citizen.

Kate Gniel

Kate is an outstanding individual who consistently makes remarkable impact in the community through her volunteering efforts. Over the past five years, Kate has dedicated her time and energy to enhancing and enriching the lives of others. In 2022 Kate became the first ever female president of the Sharks Junior Football Club and has focussed efforts on making the mental health of players and families first and foremost.

2024 Sports Volunteer of the Year – Anthony Milicia 

Anthony dedicates himself to volunteering with Manningham Juventus Football Club as if it were a second job, setting a positive example and motivating others. His actions serve as a source of inspiration and consistently makes himself available to others.

Community Organisation of the Year – Rotary Club of Manningham City

The Rotary Club of Manningham City Inc. received its official charter on 1 July 2023, bringing together Rotary clubs and individuals with diverse talents who have contributed to Manningham for over 45 years. The Club’s dedication to serving the community spans across all demographics, capabilities and requirements and plays a crucial role in maintaining connections among people.

In addition to the 2024 winners, the following nominees were highly commended for their outstanding contributions:

Highly Commended, Sports Volunteer of the Year – Michael James 

Michael’s dedication to enhancing the Sharks Football Club has positively impacted the lives of many. His strong belief in fostering sporting values and essential life skills underscores his passion for nurturing well-rounded individuals. Michael has introduced programs that have contributed to the overall growth and success of the club’s players.

Highly Commended, Community Organisation of the Year – Manningham Toy Library 

Founded 39 years ago, the Manningham Toy Library has served as a vital resource for the Templestowe Lower community, positively impacting the lives of numerous families. The Library’s focus on inclusivity and accessibility sees it offer a wide selection of toys that address different needs and developmental phases, highlighting its commitment to supporting the entire community.

To find out more, visit manningham.vic.gov.au/manningham-civic-awards.   
 

The April issue of Manningham Matters is out this week, it will be delivered to your letterbox from Monday 14 April. 

Each issue of Manningham Matters is distributed via Australia Post’s Unaddressed Mail Service, which can take up to a week to reach all households in Manningham.

Unfortunately for the April issue, Australia Post has advised us of capacity limits with this service, which means we will be posting copies of the magazine out to some areas.

Residents and businesses in Warrandyte, Park Orchards and the Manningham areas of Ringwood North and Nunawading will receive the April issue of the magazine in an addressed envelope, rather than loose in their letterbox.

Take a read of this month's magazine:

If you haven't received your hard copy of the magazine by Wednesday 23 April and would like one posted to you, contact us.   

Following a review and community research on Manningham Matters, we are pleased to introduce a refreshed design for the magazine with our February 2025 issue.

Last year we held a series of focus groups with community members about the magazine and based on your feedback, we’ve made some changes to the design and content of your community magazine.

The February issue features a great mix of Council and community news, we hope you enjoy reading about what’s happening in Manningham.

Some of the new and updated features include:

• a refreshed magazine cover design for Manningham Matters
• a new way to read stories and news in your language – we have full length stories now available on our website which you can access using the QR code on the magazine cover 
• an updated and more prominent What’s On events calendar
• regular information about events and activities at local neighbourhood houses and libraries
• a new Council meeting round up feature
• stories that continue to celebrate our community and share our community’s voice.

Take a read of this month’s Manningham Matters, distributed from Monday 17 February.

To stay active these school holidays we're offering a discounted sports and recreation program for young people in Manningham. 

This program is centered around introducing young people to sport and activity – learning the basics, developing skills, building confidence and having fun.

This term we are offering: 

• Multi-sports with Ready Steady Go Kids

Spaces are strictly limited, and some participation requirements apply. 

A new larger-than-life exhibition is now open at the Manningham Art Gallery in Doncaster.

Pages of Me: A Bird, an Eye, Clouds, Ice cream, is a multimedia project by celebrated Melbourne artist and designer Beci Orpin.

Drawing from her textile-focused background, Orpin delves into mascot culture by creating a giant cat called Pomme, set in a display of oversized pages pulled from her sketchbook, blending bold patterns, found images and positive mantras.

The exhibition explores finding happiness through individuality and acceptance, and visitors are drawn in to read the mantras from Orpin’s pages and catch further glimpses of Pomme.

“The idea for the mascot came from seeing a series of photos of mascots caught in odd, unexpected places – doorways, ticket booths, elevators,” Orpin said.

“It struck me both as comical and a metaphor for getting ‘stuck in the cracks’. I often say that ‘the cracks’ are where I exist – somewhere between creative categories, never fully fitting into one genre.

“Though it can be challenging to exist in ‘the cracks’, it’s where I’m most authentic, where I can be fully myself and do my best work.”

Visitors are encouraged to get creative at the gallery themselves, drawing their own mascot, based on their unique qualities.

Orpin is known for her signature application of colour, shape and optimism. She has collaborated with major brands and organisations including Apple, Google Disney, Uniqlo and the Australian Ballet.

Manningham Mayor Deirdre Diamante said: “We’re thrilled to have such a highly regarded artist exhibit at the Manningham Gallery. It’s a wonderful exhibition and I encourage you to come and see it for yourself while you can.”

Pages of Me continues until Saturday 5 April 2025.

Manningham Art Gallery, 687 Doncaster Road, Doncaster, is open Wednesdays to Saturdays, 11.00am to 4.00pm.

For more information, visit our events calendar. 

Image: Pomme the giant cat mascot is a feature of Beci Orpins new exhibition at the Manningham Art Gallery. Picture: Charlie Kinross

Soft plastic recycling is back in Manningham thanks to a new trial at Woolworths supermarkets. 

Items must be clean and dry. Eligible soft plastics include: 

• plastic bags
• zip lock bags
• cling wrap
• bread bags
• chip packets
• cereal liners
• yoghurt pouches
• baby food pouches
• pet food pouches.

These materials will be transported to local recycling facilities to be processed into products like shopping trolleys, park furniture and road additives.

How to return your soft plastics

Find a designated bin at the front of your local Woolworths store. 

In Manningham, locations include:

• Devon Plaza: 978 Doncaster Road, Doncaster
• Westfield Doncaster Shopping Centre: 619 Doncaster Road, Doncaster
• Macedon Square: 325 Manningham Road, Templestowe
• The Pines Shopping Cente: 181 Reynolds Rd, Doncaster East

A full list of stores participating in the trial is available on the Woolworths website.

For more information

Visit the Woolworths website.

A new installation at the Manningham Art Gallery will provide plenty of food for thought as part of Melbourne Design Week – Australia’s premier design festival.

Beyond the Table: The Dinner Party Reimagined, is a reimagining of a traditional dinner party by local artists Isobel Goodman and Jade Piltz.

It’s one of more than 350 events, exhibitions, talks and installations on show across the state during Melbourne Design Week, which runs from 15-25 May.

Goodman, of Donvale, has used works from Manningham Council’s ‘Potters Cottage Collection” to inspire her signature papier mache and plaster sculptures that reference a dinner party table setting. The sculptures sit alongside the handmade pottery created by the Potters Cottage co-operative, founded in Warrandyte in 1958.  

Visitors can view the setting, or, during Melbourne Design Week, pick a flower from the setting to take home.

Surrounding the dining table presentation is a display of paintings by Piltz, of Warrandyte, that depict bright, layered and abstract domestic objects.

The dinner party will continue beyond Melbourne Design Week, with the installation on display until 28 June.

Melbourne Design Week is an initiative of the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria and is curated and delivered by the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV).

Visit designweek.melbourne to view the full program.

Manningham Council has partnered with two of Australia’s largest electric vehicle (EV) charging operators to set up a network of nine public charging stations across the municipality.

The partnership with JOLT Charge and Evie Networks will deliver universal direct current chargers, at key commercial and tourist destinations from early 2025.
These chargers will be situated on council land and powered by 100% renewable energy. Their supply, installation, operation, and maintenance will be fully financed by the private sector at no cost to council.

The public charging infrastructure aims to accommodate the increasing use of electric vehicles, especially following new legislated vehicle standards.

In Manningham, a 2023 community survey revealed strong community support for local public charging facilities and highlighted the dependence of many local EV drivers on public chargers.

Locations for the chargers are being investigated, focusing on areas where the community can take advantage of the 30 to 40 minute charge time to visit local cafes and restaurants, retail outlets, and sporting facilities.

Possible locations include Tunstall Square car park, MC Square and Jackson Court car park, which were identified as preferred sites in the community survey. The final locations will depend on technical feasibility, particularly access to adequate power supply.

This initiative aligns with Council’s commitment to reducing the high level of transport emissions in Manningham, improving local air quality, and enhancing fuel security.

It is another way we are working towards achieving net zero community emissions by 2035, as outlined in the adopted Climate Emergency Response Plan (CERP).

Find out more at manningham.vic.gov.au/electric-vehicle-charging.

Your Waste Calendar will be delivered differently this year – here’s what you need to know.

This year, you will receive your waste calendar within the June issue of Manningham Matters. 

You’ll be able to simply pull out the insert, cut along the dotted line and place your calendar on your fridge or in a handy spot for easy reference.

As in previous years, the calendar will include your property’s bin day – along with tips for what can and can’t go in each bin and how to place them out for collection. 

Does the new calendar include changes to our bin collection schedule?

There are no changes to the schedule, so you can stick to your usual routine.

In Manningham, your green lid food and garden organics (FOGO) bin is collected every week, while your yellow lid recycle and red lid garbage bins are collected every fortnight, on alternating weeks.

What is the calendar for?

Our annual waste calendar can help you keep track of these collections throughout the year. 

As in previous years, the calendar will include information about:

• your property’s bin collection schedule
• what can and can’t go in each bin
• how to place your bins out for collection

Why have you changed the delivery method?

This new way of delivering your calendar within the Manningham Matters magazine is more cost-effective and efficient. It will help reduce unnecessary waste, while ensuring every household still gets this important resource.

What if I missed it?

If you misplace your magazine or need an extra copy of the calendar, don’t worry! 

You can download your waste calendar online, or, collect a copy from:

• Manningham Civic Centre at 699 Doncaster Road, Doncaster 3108.
• Manningham Council Depot at 620-628 Blackburn Road, Doncaster East 3109.

Keep an eye out for your calendar in the middle of the June edition of Manningham Matters.

No matter the weather these winter school holidays, we have some great activities to keep the kids warm, busy and active.

• Casual basketball shooting at DISC
• Casual basketball shooting at Mullum Mullum Stadium
• Hockey program
• Juventus soccer program
• Soccer Stars Program
• Tiger PAW (Physical Activity and Wellbeing)
• Volleyball program
• $25 Family Swim Day

At the 27 May Council Meeting the draft Council Plan, draft 2025-26 Budget, draft 10 year financial plan and the draft Revenue and Rating Plan were tabled.  These have been developed in line with our newly endorsed Community Vision 2040 to help shape the future of Manningham.

These draft strategic documents are now available on Your Say Manningham website and will be presented for endorsement at the 30 June Council Meeting.

Our draft Asset Plan 2025-2035 and the Council Plan Action Plan will be made available at an upcoming Council meeting.

Our strategic documents are informed by extensive community engagement conducted throughout 2024-25.  

Many people have helped shape our community’s future. We’ve been planning for the next four years, and we’ve done it by listening closely to our community.

At the heart of this work was the deliberative community panel – a collaborative effort that brought together 37 community members to play a crucial role in helping determine key priorities for Manningham.

Extensive community consultation informed both our strategic planning and the Community Panel’s deliberations, ensuring that our plans are grounded in our community's priorities, needs and aspirations.

This consultation included a community-wide survey last year where we heard from 1,260 community members about what matters most to you and which three areas you think Council should focus on. We also held a series of targeted conversations with key groups and residents including young people, older adults, multicultural communities and partners.

On top of that, many community members sent in their own ideas and suggestions through individual submissions, showing us how Council services can improve and how we can build a better future together.

These community insights gave us a strong and balanced view of our community's wants and needs. It directly shaped our strategic planning and the work of our Community Panel.

Given the depth and quality of feedback received during this process, a separate public submission process will not be held for this year’s strategic plans.

We thank everyone who contributed. We’re all part of the plan and your voices are shaping the future of our community.

Find out more by visiting our Your Say Manningham website.

Manningham’s new Councillors have elected Councillor Deirdre Diamante as Manningham Mayor and Councillor Andrew Conlon as Deputy Mayor for the year ahead. 

Unanimously voted in by her fellow Councillors at the Annual Meeting of Council on 19 November 2024, Cr Diamante said it is an honour to lead the newly elected Council in the first year of its four-year term. 

The Tullamore Ward Councillor is passionate about equal opportunity, our natural environment and family, and has been a Manningham resident for more than 40 years. A Councillor since 2020, Cr Diamante previously served as Manningham Mayor in 2022/23. 

“I have grown up in Manningham, in Council Street, and the opportunity to again lead this City in public service is truly amazing,” Cr Diamante said.

“I want Manningham to continue to be a great place to live, learn and grow. I want my children to want to live here and want to raise their families here.” 

Cr Diamante said some of her key priorities over the next year will include advocating for the Manningham community on the North East Link Project, working with local multicultural communities, supporting the work of our healthy ageing unit and enhancing opportunities for local businesses.

“I look forward to collaborating with all of our Councillors in developing our Council Plan, the Budget and our strategic approach for Manningham, harnessing our extensive expertise and experience for our community.”

Cr Andrew Conlon was elected as Deputy Mayor and congratulated Cr Diamante.

“This is an important year to set the tone for our Council term and I know you will support us to collaborate and make the right decisions for our community,” Cr Conlon said. 

Find out more about Manningham’s Councillors.

Watch the Annual Meeting of Council.
 

Painted Country – a new major exhibition featuring the work of five First Nations artists – is now open at the Manningham Art Gallery in Doncaster. 

The artists – Nellie Ngampa Coulthard, Brenda Napaltjarri, Clara Napurrula, Rene Sundown and Adrian Jurra Tjungurrayi – bring diverse practices and perspectives to reveal their unique depictions of the Australian landscape in their work.

The senior and emerging artists represent two Indigenous arts centres – Iwantja Arts in South Australia and Papunya Tula Artists in the Northern Territory.

The exhibition has been timed to coincide with National Reconciliation Week, which is held each year from 27 May to 3 June, with the 2025 theme Bridging Now to Next.

Aboriginal writer, artist, arts worker and Aboriginal affairs advocate from Cape York Peninsula Jack Wilki-Jans has described the 14 artworks featured in Painted Country as “hypnotic visions” of the artists’ Country.

“Visions of a wide country, a country of colour and texture, of sand dunes and salt lakes, scorched earth and radiant sunsets, of brushes and sweeping tufts of grasses with flowers – Australia!” Jack Wilki-Jans  said.

“It isn’t the hand that paints which this exhibition exalts, it’s the eyes which see.”

This celebration of First Nations contemporary painting is presented in collaboration with Alcaston Art Gallery, with special thanks to the artists, Iwantja Arts in South Australia and Papunya Tula Artists in the Northern Territory.

Gallery opening hours

Manningham Art Gallery, 687 Doncaster Road, Doncaster, is open Wednesday to Saturday, 11.00am to 4.00pm.