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

Residents going above and beyond to make Manningham a better place have been recognised at our inaugural Manningham Community Awards.

The winners and the 2025 Citizen of the Year were announced at an awards ceremony hosted by the Mayor, Cr Deirdre Diamante, on Wednesday 16 September at the Manningham Function Centre.

The expanded awards program recognises the outstanding achievements of individuals and groups over the past 12 months.

The Manningham Community Awards are a chance to celebrate the people and groups who make Manningham shine,” Cr Diamante said.

“Congratulations to all the winners and finalists. Your commitment, passion and care for others reflects the very best of who we are.”

Leon Moore has been named the 2025 Manningham Citizen of the Year and won the Doreen Stoves Excellence in Volunteering Award for his work in establishing and leading the Laughing All Abilities Really Friendly Singers (LAARFS). 

The choir, which meets weekly, has more than 70 members, who live with chronic conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, cancer and dementia.

Category winners:

Active Community

Bulleen Tennis Club

Under the committee’s leadership, the club’s facilities have been transformed with upgrades including court resurfacing and new lighting. Membership has grown by more than 70% with expanded junior and senior competitions, veterans’ tennis and social play.

Ageing Well

Chinese Senior Citizens Club of Manningham Inc.

With more than 1000 members and 200 volunteers, the club is one of the largest in Manningham. It has delivered more than 60 free weekly classes, as well as educational talks, performances and major cultural celebrations over the past year.

Artistic Achievement

Warrandyte Arts Association

The association has supported more than 170 members across several groups including life drawing, pottery, writing and theatre. 

Community Excellence Award

Warrandyte Pink Ladies

The group was recognised for their passionate efforts in raising funds, awareness and support for those affected by breast cancer – all while bringing some of their signature sparkle to the community.

Community Health and Wellbeing

Men’s Shed at the Veneto Club

The group has created a welcoming and supportive space for men of all ages and backgrounds to connect, share and support one another, and improve men’s mental health. 

Inclusive Community

Kevin Heinze Grow

The organisation’s inclusive, nature-based programs support people of all abilities. These include Café Kevin, which provides hospitality training, and the Grow Program that offers experience in gardening, cooking and sustainability.

Young Achiever

Niosha Khademideljou

Former Manningham Youth Advisory Committee member, Niosha is now a crisis supporter with Lifeline Naarm, and has helped provide children’s spiritual education classes and inclusive school holiday festivals.

This year’s awards were the first of an expanded program designed to recognise even more of the work being done in our community.

Cr Diamante said, “We received an incredible 70 nominations, making the judging no easy task.

“There were so many inspiring stories – so many individuals and groups going above and beyond.

Keep an eye out as we share more about our winners in the coming months.

“We can’t wait to learn about more of the incredible people and groups who contribute to the Manningham community. We encourage you to nominate someone you know who is doing amazing things for the 2026 awards. Nominations will open in March 2026,” Cr Diamante said.

Find out more about the Manningham Community Awards.

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.