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

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.

Manningham Council is encouraging local seniors community groups and clubs to apply for a new Seniors Club Support Grants program, aimed at supporting initiatives that benefit and empower older people in Manningham.

These grants provide up to $8,000 in funding and can be used for a wide range of activities, including digital literacy programs, creative writing classes, or exercise sessions.

Manningham Mayor, Councillor Carli Lange invites clubs and group to apply for a grant.

“This is a chance for our dedicated seniors clubs and groups to receive support for new programs that boost the health and wellbeing of their members.” Cr Lange said.

“It’s also an opportunity to support initiatives where our older community, family members and carers to come together and make meaningful connections.

“A lack of social connection can really affect older individuals and their caregivers. These grants provide great opportunities to get involved in a safe and welcoming environment.”

Applications open on Monday 5 August and close on Wednesday 4 September.

Council is hosting a free grant writing workshop for existing Seniors Clubs members on Tuesday 6 August at the Manningham Function Centre, 699 Doncaster Road, Doncaster.

Bookings are essential and limited to two people per organisation.

To register, visit manningham.vic.gov.au/events/manningham-grant-writing-workshop-seniors-club-support-grant. 

For more information or to apply, visit manningham.vic.gov.au/community-grants or contact the Community Grants team on 9840 9333 or grants@manningham.vic.gov.au.

We invite residents to provide feedback on upcoming projects in Warrandyte and Wonga Park in November.

Our CEO, Andrew Day, encouraged residents to share their thoughts and ideas at upcoming consultation sessions – to help ensure future projects reflect community values and priorities.

“We want to hear directly from the people who know the area best – its residents,” said CEO, Andrew Day.

"If you like the project – tell us. If you have ideas to improve the project – tell us. Your feedback, no matter the opinion, is essential to helping us make informed decisions for the community," he said.

The sessions will consult on projects across various stages. Some will be in the initial planning phase, where community sentiment and input are vital. Others will be further advanced, where project designs will be shared, and officers will be available to answer questions.

Each session will focus on projects within its suburb.

Consultation Session details

• Monday 25 November, 4.00pm to 7.00pm, Wonga Park Hall, corner of Launders Avenue and Yarra Road
• Monday 2 December, 4.00pm to 7.00pm, Warrandyte Community Hall, 2-8 Taroona Avenue 

Can't attend a session? Provide your feedback online.

Projects

Wonga Park

• Paynters Road

Warrandyte

• Pound Road (stage two) footpath upgrade
• West End Road footpath upgrade
• Main Yarra Trail Extension, stages three (Pound Road to Taroona Avenue) and four (Taroona Avenue)
• Tindals Road footpath upgrade
• Blair Street drainage upgrade
• Mitchell Avenue drainage upgrade
• Pedestrian Refuge at Russell Road
• Alexander Road road upgrades

There will be opportunities to discuss other projects, which may be taken on notice as required.

We host these sessions twice yearly as part of our ongoing commitment to meaningful community engagement.

Stay informed about upcoming events and outcomes by visiting the Your Say Manningham website. 

Subscribe to the project page for email updates on current and future consultations.

 “Our aim was to improve our home’s efficiency and reduce our reliance on the grid,” explains Ken.

While the couple initially dreamed of being off-grid, they found a powerful alternative: a well-insulated home with rooftop solar and a battery system.

For Ken, who comes from the country and doesn’t identify as an environmentalist, it was clear that “this is the way we must go.”

So, in 2023, Ken and Joan upgraded their 1kW solar panels to a 10kW system and also purchased a Sungrow battery through the Solar Savers scheme.

The battery offers three-phase backup protection, which keeps their home steady if there’s a power outage or problem with the grid. They can also add extra units to increase the battery’s capacity – if their energy needs grow or they add more appliances.  

The impact? Less grid outages and more reliable energy. Plus, with an interest-free loan from Solar Savers, the upgrade was more affordable.

“While the total cost was around $20,000, I only paid $7,000 upfront, with the rest on an interest-free loan. It’s a great deal that’s made a huge difference for us.”

North East Link Project (NELP) has released designs for the redevelopment of the Doncaster Park and Ride, which you can now provide feedback on and have your say. 

The designs are within a draft Urban Design and Landscape Plan (UDLP), which shows that the Doncaster Park and Ride will connect to a new dedicated busway along the Eastern Freeway, known as the Eastern Busway. 

The plan is to construct the facility into a modern version of its existing state (like-for-like), resulting in the Park and Ride being retained as a car park and bus interchange only, with a similar number of car parking spaces. The draft UDLP is currently on exhibition for public comment.

Council will be providing a submission in response to the UDLP to propose that the current plan is a missed opportunity to reconstruct the Doncaster Park and Ride as a mixed-use Transit-Oriented Development (TOD). 

While the facility being redeveloped into a modern interchange is positive, this is a key opportunity for TOD, which could provide wide-ranging benefits to the community, environment and local economy.

We will be advocating that there is a growing demand for park and ride facilities due to population growth and the lack of any rail infrastructure in Manningham. This is shown through the high-usage of the newly opened Bulleen Park and Ride which consistently operates at capacity, and reinforces the significant opportunity this Doncaster Park and Ride site offers for our community.

As such, our submission seeks to include a multi-level car park with increased capacity, new open spaces areas, as well as retail and other commercial opportunities. This is in-line with our commissioned 2022 site design concept which was endorsed on 26 July 2022 as Council’s preferred redevelopment outcome for the Doncaster Park and Ride site.

We ask you to join us in advocating that Doncaster Park and Ride be reconstructed to include: 

• mixed-use transit-oriented development
• increase in carpark spaces, or
• flexibility to address population growth and allow for mixed-use development in future. 

Have your say

Help shape the Doncaster Park and Ride. You can provide feedback while the UDLP is on exhibition until 5.00pm Tuesday 24 September 2024.

To find out more, or to make a submission, head to Engage Victoria.

What’s next?

Council will be considering its submission on the Doncaster Park and Ride UDLP at its meeting on Tuesday 16 September. Following this, the submission will be lodged on behalf of Council to Engage Victoria. 

NELP will consider all written comments and submissions received, before the final UDLP is submitted to the Minister for Planning for consideration.

You can read more on the Big Build website and sign up to receive email updates.

As part of the North East Link Project (NELP), Doncaster Park and Ride will be closed from January 2025 and temporary bus stops will be put in place along Doncaster Road.

Buses will remain operational across all bus routes, including the 207, 280, 282, 284, 285, 303 and the 907 and 908 DART SmartBuses. The Park and Ride will be closed and temporary bus stops will be in place until 2028.

This is part of NELP’s upcoming redevelopment of the Doncaster Park and Ride to connect it to the Eastern Busway, a new dedicated busway along the Eastern Freeway.

We understand that the community and residents will be impacted as a result of the closures and are actively advocating on your behalf to improve commuter options. Our suggestions to North East Link Project and the State Government include:

• developing a temporary car park at a nearby site
• developing a temporary pick up/drop off area nearby
• providing a dedicated shuttle service
• adding secure bicycle parking, or
• funding improvements to active transport connections from key Manningham locations to the temporary bus stops.

Over the next few weeks, NELP officers will be distributing flyers and doing a door-knock in the local area. You’ll also start to see signage appear soon. 

We’ll keep you updated as more information becomes available and will continue to advocate for ways that can minimise the impact for our community.

We’re also seeking reliable and sustainable transport options for the Manningham community while the Eastern Busway is being developed. Continue to check back here for updates.

You can read more on the Big Build website and sign up to receive email updates.

We've provided a submission to the Urban Design and Landscape Plan (UDLP) for the Doncaster Park and Ride Upgrades, as part of the North East Link Project (NELP).

Our recommendations throughout the submission demonstrate our strong commitment to advocating for a mixed-use transit-oriented development due to the wide-ranging benefits to the community, environment, and local economy.

Our detailed submission focuses on key outcomes we're seeking, including: 

• multi-level car park with increased capacity
• a mix of retail and commercial development
• public open space areas
• increased car parking spaces for bus commuters
• improved access to retail for surrounding residents
• improved public transport access
• pedestrian connectivity to be maintained and improved   
• noise walls that meet the expectations of our community, and
• robust future-proofing for our growing population and evolving community needs.

Our submission also provides a detailed assessment of the UDLP, focusing on key areas across: 

• traffic, car parking and access
• urban design and architecture
• open space and landscaping
• amenity
• cultural themes
• as well as other considerations.

We lodged our submission in September 2024.

For more information, please download the Urban Design and Landscape Plan submission.

For more information and to view the UDLP, visit Doncaster Park and Ride Upgrades on Engage Victoria.

What’s next?

NELP will consider all written comments and submissions received, then finalise the UDLP and submit it to the Minister for Planning for consideration.

After the Minister for Planning has approved the UDLP, the community will be updated on how feedback was considered.

You can read more on the Big Build website and sign up to receive email updates.

Our community panel came together for the first time on Saturday for the first of six and half day’s deliberation.

The Panel recruitment started with 8000 envelopes sent randomly to local households. Of those who accepted the invitation, a second random draw resulted in the final 40 people chosen. This second draw was ‘stratified,’ set up, so people chosen were representative of Manningham by age, gender, location, living situation and the language spoken at home.

This will be our most significant deliberative engagement to date, with the panel set to play a crucial role in shaping our major strategic plans. 

Here’s some feedback from two panel members after day one:

“I was surprised when I got the invite but said to myself, I have grandchildren and what better way to leave a legacy for them but to have a say into shaping Manningham.” 

“I am from an accounting background so especially interested to look at Council’s financial documents and exploring that side of the process.”     

You can also participate in the deliberative process by registering to be an observer. Observing the process means that you can form your own assessment of the merits of the deliberative approach.