| PORTogether |
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Tweet tweet our social tree Tweet tweet our community tree Tweet tweet we tweet-chat and make sure you're okay Tweet tweet we're doing fine and see you at tweet o'clock tomorrow. Tweet tweet tweety birds. Carmen Chung   Take a leisurely wander around some of the streets of Port Melbourne and you will discover some hidden gems, just by stopping to smell the flowers. One little treasure is the Lilly Pilly.
The latin name for the Lilly Pilly is Syzygium Smithii. It can grow up to 10 metres plus around the streets of Port Melbourne and can be found in a few spots, near the old Golden Fleece Hotel in Montague and Buckhurst Sts, South Melbourne and in Plummer St Port Melbourne, just to name a couple of spots. The tree was far more common in these parts, but in recent times it has been slowly removed as a street tree because some people don’t like the fact the fruit drops on the ground and their cars, often leaving a stain. The solution to that problem is to pick the fruit and turn it into the delightful Lilly Pilly Jelly. Sometimes you’ll get two crops in a year, but generally the fruit appear in the cooler months. You might need a step ladder to reach the fruit, so it is a good idea to have someone help you with holding the ladder while you pick the berries. When ripe they are about the size of a cherry. The character "Lilly Pilly" also appears in the delightful childrens book “Snugglepot and Cuddlepie” written and illustrated by author May Gibbs. Lilly Pilly Jelly (Jam) 1. Rinse the berries and pick over them well to remove any leaves or spoiled berries. 2. Place the berries in saucepan, just covered with water. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for around 30 minutes, until the berries have lost their colour and the seeds have separated from the pulp. 3. At this point you can make Lilly Pilly Jelly by straining the mixture through a fine muslin - leave the pulp to drain for several hours (or overnight) and don't be tempted to push on the pulp, as this will result in a cloudy jelly. If you wish to make Lilly Pilly Jam, simply push the pulp through a food mill or sieve, to remove the seeds (it will also remove the skins and much of the flesh). 4. Measure the amount of liquid you have and return it to the pan. Add the same volume of sugar and the juice of 1 lemon per litre of liquid. i.e 1 litre of liquid = 1 kg of sugar + juice of 1 lemon 5. Return the mixture to the boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar, then reduce heat to a high simmer for around 30 minutes. Test for setting by spooning a small teaspoonful onto a saucer removed from the freezer. Run your finger through it, it is set it will part like the Red Sea and remain so. If not, continue to simmer until it passes the test. 6. Bottle into hot, sterilised jars. Cover with cellophane lids. Wipe clean and label. Note: Jars can be sterilised by boiling in water for a few minutes (or a microwave), then transferring to a low oven (120°C) for ten minutes Port Phillip Mens Shed Association member www.ppmensshed.org/  I have been Activities Organiser at Bunnings Port Melbourne since 2012, a role I love.
When I found out that I had breast cancer in 2015, Bunnings were very supportive. They allowed me to have as much time off as I needed for treatment. I was very lucky that I found the lump early and did something about it, before it had spread. I have not been 100% since radiotherapy and have had very little energy to run the kids DIY and family nights, so Bunnings has made sure that I have had plenty of help. In the last five years three members of my immediate family including myself have been diagnosed with cancer. Fortunately we are all now in remission, this is mostly due to cancer research and early intervention. Recently, Bunnings Port Melbourne supported me in my efforts to raise money for Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea 2016, where lots of yummy homemade cakes were for sale and all money raised went to the Cancer Council of Victoria. Bunnings likes to support its local community in a number of ways. We offer valuable fundraising opportunities for local community groups with sausage sizzles and cakes stalls. We do DIY workshops for local community groups including kindergartens and schools and we donate products to local community groups and do garden makeovers. We also host free family nights for the local community so families can come in and have some fun together. Our website is www.bunnings.com.au/port-melbourne By Sally Davey Photograph and interviewed by Michelle Chan  Ms Patricia Grainger has received an Order of Australia in the 2016 Queen’s Birthday Honours for her contribution to the Port Melbourne community. Pat was a founding member of the Port Melbourne Historical and Preservation Society in 1993; held the role of Treasurer for five years and has been the Secretary since 1998.
Pat is no ordinary Secretary. Her reach and influence is felt across every aspect of the Society. Her drive and commitment has been instrumental in building a volunteer Society that would make some professional organisations look amateurish. The quality of the Society’s collection, publications, events and exhibitions is of the highest order. Pat’s commitment is phenomenal and is instrumental in the Society’s success and longevity. Prior to the Society being formed, Pat was involved in many local campaigns including the “to save Australia's first steam passenger railway line” and “Vintage Port - Worth Preserving” campaigns. Pat is fastidious. She draws upon a very distinguished career as a graphic designer – having built one of Australia’s most sought after graphic design studios with her then husband. Those design skills have been shared with the society and the professionalism of everything that goes out under the Society’s name and banner is something of which to be proud. This has been recognised by the number of awards the Society has received over the years. Pat is an amazing woman who loves Port Melbourne, its people and its history. We are so lucky to have her – she is a gem. The then Port Melbourne City Council also thought so and made Pat the last recipient of its Citizen of the Year Award. By Liana Thompson Patron, Port Melbourne Historical and Preservation Society Photo by John Kirby The Social Health ans Inclusion Port (SHIP) project along with other community groups were invited by the Fishermans Bend Ministerial Advisory Committee to contribute up to 10 images that would be used as part of the renewed community conversations about the future of Fishermans Bend. The Committee is seeking to gain a local understanding of the strengths and assets of this place. These local insights are important for others involved in the planning process to consider and understand. SHIP had a terrific response so we thought we would share some of the images taken by local residents. What do you value about the area?
 It was an intrepid group of local residents and kinder families which gathered for the 9th Annual Lagoon Reserve Neighbour Planting Saturday morning, 28 May 2016. The wet, windy conditions were testing, but they didn’t best us! Perhaps the feat in newly wintry weather will become a mini-legend – ‘The time when..
It was a tremendous effort by all concerned in so many different directions! Propagation, Planning, Photo, Promotion, I describe the Undertaking as definitely successful’. More hundreds, if not thousands, of Port people know about our local initiative and the Bubup Womindjeka’s Open Day than ever before. Surely that translates into positive community value, richness, respect and pride, – some measurable, much ineffable but palpable. Fantastic to think so many seedlings did get planted to refresh, augment, and extend two of Lagoon Reserve’s native garden beds – all in still warm, damp soil at an optimum time. Although it is impossible to measure how many people knew about our event or considered the conditions prohibitive, I believe there is community appreciation for our initiative that resonates in respect and enjoyment of the park. Extra gratitude is due to the true ‘Outdoor Champions who ventured out in imposing conditions to work with Council Officers to enrich one of Port Melbourne’s special parks. By Alice Photo supplied by Alice  Join us to capture a moment in time through memories, experience and imagination. Learn from the past to create a future together. Build a vibrant and diverse community to live, work and play.
Tell and share your story through digital storytelling, a series of photos or a photo and caption. You can get involved in the following ways:
 I love my work, the place where I live and why not? I'm a cosmetic tattooist. It often happens to me that my clients get moved/ touched as soon as I finish the procedure. Their confidence is finally back! Sometimes they have been fighting against very bad sickness for years but in the end... They win!!! I'm the final step to show them that they did it! I love my life too! I'm so lucky because I live and work in Port Melbourne where all my favourite things just mix extraordinary well together: ocean, sky, beach, parks and many many different cultures.
Facebook: Bayside Cosmetic Tattoo By Stefania Photo by Michelle Chan  Given the fact that I married a Victorian farmer’s son and as a dancer, I knew we were always going to end up in Melbourne, where it has a terrific arts scene. Port Melbourne has the best combination of beach/port life as well as walking distance access to the city and all of its arts. I want to work and live in the same suburb, where I can walk or bike most places, where my kids can go to the local community kinder or school, and where I can feel like I am contributing to making my community a happier, healthier place to live.
My family is a massive part of my life. Every choice I make in my life these days has an attachment of how it will affect them. As my personal yoga practise doesn’t just take place in a studio, but often at home on my own mat, my children become a part of this. It often becomes an advanced version of the game Twister, where I am trying to maintain or transition into a pose, and they find ways to include their bodies into the mix; some less gracefully than others. My family helps make me who I am, thus it is important to me to have my kids included in a representation of that. This year I started my own movement company: Mindful Movement Melbourne, where I teach yoga, fusion (pilates meets yoga) and dance classes. I have always been passionate about movement. I have been a dancer from the age of 4. For the last 20 years I have been teaching dance in local dance studios, and as well I have been teaching yoga in local studios for the last 13 years of those 20. I love to move and to dance, and I have a hard time sitting still when surrounded by music. After starting a consistent meditation practise a few years ago to combat post-natal sleep deprivation after the birth of my littlest one, I began to notice a difference in how I was teaching my yoga and dance classes to how I wanted to teach them: with purpose and acknowledge of a student’s personal journey. I also noticed the difference in myself from regular meditation; I became more patient as a mother, and more relaxed as an individual. As I attempted to teach and accommodate my own changes, it became clear to me that I needed a chance to expand the classes I’d like to teach, but to do so with a higher level of authenticity meant that I would need the freedom to pursue those objectives, hence Mindful Movement Melbourne. Facebook page: www.facebook.com/mindfulmovementmelbourne Instagram: @smrekartdance Email: mindfulmovementmelbourne@gmail.com By Sam Thompson Photo by Michelle Chan  When I come to the end of the road And the sun has set for me I want no rites in a gloom filled room; Why cry for a soul set free! Miss me a little but not for too long, And not with your head bowed low. Remember the love that we once shared, Miss me – but let me go!” ( taken from Kevin’s beautiful smiles will always be in our heart. God bless. Carmen  Monica Dullard: Works for the Port Phillip Library Service. Conducts Story Time at Port Melbourne Library on Wednesday’s at 11am for Tiny Tots Program.
I have been working at the library service for just over 10 years, and I have been delivering story time programs at Port Melbourne Public Library, Albert Park library, Emerald Hill Library and St Kilda library service for well over 9 years. I love my job, and I love getting to know all the families in the area, who come to story time. They start off bringing their first baby to the library, (then usually another sibling later on ) and it is a privilege to watch them grow up and develop as a person, learning early literacy skills, with the use of reading stories, singing, action rhymes, dance, counting, and interactive and engaging ‘play' sessions, when attending story time programs and using the Port Melbourne library space. There are 2.5 million story time sessions deliver in public libraries right across Victoria every year, and they are all free. Cultural institutions such as public libraries are such an important part of early learning and early literacy for children and their families in the local community. As well as learning early literacy, by coming to the library at least once a week, children develop a life long love of public libraries, and children’s space within libraries are vital for children to feel they belong and to assist them with developing a love of books and reading, and to assist them to get involved in using the digital services of a modern public library as well. The website for the Port Melbourne Library is: http://library.portphillip.vic.gov.au/Home Our website is chock full of information for the whole family, including, school holiday programs, homework help, access to ebooks, and e-audio books, e-magazines, films, book clubs for children and local history. You can even find out who lived in your house 100 years ago at your library! I am delighted to be part of the Port Melbourne community, and as an added bonus, when I buy my lunch each day, I am always greeted by children and their families who call out to me in Bay Street to show me their latest drawing done at kinder, or to tell me all about their day, or show me their sore finger or knee, which always has a splendid Wiggles or Peppa Pig band-aid applied to help with the healing. I wouldn’t have it any other way! By Monica Dullard Photo by Michelle Chan  We came to Melbourne in March 2014 because my husband was sent by the government of Malaysia to serve as a Consul at the Consulate General of Malaysia here in Melbourne to assist fellow Malaysians and would be foreign visitors in matters relating to immigration such as passports, travel documents and social visit visa. In the first place, we continued the lease of the previous Consul. As time went by, we grew to love Port Melbourne as it is such a nice suburb to experience our life in Melbourne. Life here is different indeed compared as what we used to experience back home. Port Melbourne offers more relaxing environment but with most things still within reach. Culturally, we don't find it too much of a difference as Melbourne itself is so diverse in culture as we can find most of the things that we are used to quite easily here. One thing commendable for sure is the relaxing nature here! Port Melbourne - could not ask for more. Close to the city, the beach, entertainment both for kids and adults and lots more! Not forgetting all the nice people and cafes around it.
Photo by Michelle Chan Written by Zubaidah Latif   184 locals and visitors came to ARTcontained at Station Pier to see the Poster exhibition during 1-7 February. Some of the reveiws of the exhibition:
Posters of PORTogether brings Port Melbourne to life through the eyes of its own people. I was particularly impressed with Aili Lim 's #morethanaport for its combination of uniquely Port snapshots. Lims poster generates the feeling that the spirit of place cannot be captured in a single image, but rather that it exists in the liminal space between images where their commonalities can be found. I have seen the posters in shop windows up and down Bay Street Liked the connection and collection of local photos/art really good. Its nice to see familiar photos display in container about Port Melbourne . My favorite is Storytime. Well done to all the artists. It’s a really beautiful way to showcase Port Melbourne The public display of works in the Posters of PORTogether exhibition has officially closed but the artworks will continue to be available to view online. The innovative public display held on Bay Street and Station Pier across January and early February allowed a wide range of members of the community to view the works. Curious onlookers had the opportunity to poke their heads inside a shipping container while walking past, a gaggle of cyclists dropped by adding a cultural break to their journey through Port Melbourne, overseas visitors checked out the display while their cruise ships were stationed at the pier and some travelled across the city when word of the exhibition spread. The Bay Street exhibition allowed locals to combine community art with their weekly chores and coffee breaks. Plans are afoot to involve the community in a third phase of the community arts project. Contact us if you would like to be involved ship@ischs.org  Elegant Slax owner George opens the door to the community exhibition Posters of PORTogether. Don a pair of slacks to promenade the waterfront as featured in Walk my Way, to celebrate the milestone of 40 years in business @ElegantSlax. Listen to artist Peter discuss the inspiration for Walk My Way https://youtu.be/g9RxF0haci4
#portogether #portmelbourne http://ow.ly/WH2xi  One of Port Phillip’s great community treasures, the Port Melbourne Library, is being featured in a community arts exhibition along Bay Street from January 5-24. Port Melbourne resident Bob Newey has created an artwork celebrating ‘Knowledge is Free at the Library’ as part of the Posters of PORTogether exhibition showing in the window of the next-door building, Hurricane Handsome cafe.
Listen to Bob share his inspiration for promoting the Port Melbourne Library. ‘Knowledge is Free at the Library’ is one of 18 works displayed in shop windows along Bay Street from January 5-24.
Every Friday for 8 weeks we attended wonderful training sessions to become a Waterfront Welcomer, so on the 27th October we were ready to welcome our first of many visitors to our wonderful City of Port Melbourne.
After setting up our banners and brochures we waited for the passengers to disembark the Noordam. For about 3 hours we engaged with many International and Australian visitors needing assistance with many and varied requests, and for those who had no real plans a free rickshaw ride to Bay Street for some retail therapy and a bite to eat was a great success. Overall, judging by the feedback from some returning visitors the information and advice given by us was well received, also they were pleasantly surprised that this was a voluntary service as they have not experienced this in any other port. I had lots of fun and I am looking forward to my next shift. " Debbie O'Farrell  Aagaman – 271 Bay Street Port Melbourne
SHIP Social Club had a great night at Aagaman in Bay Street on Saturday night. It was my first taste of Nepalese cuisine and it was only bettered by the company. I’ll definitely be back. The mains were very reasonable at $16.18 and meat lovers and vegetarians both seem well catered for. I snared a couple of bowls of steamed rice (thanks Dani) which made for a really tasty hearty meal. I had the gamely lamb, tender diced lamb roasted with potatoes and Nepalese spices and finished with spinach and cashews – Yum!! Dani’s eggplant dish reminded me why I love eggplant and Rochelle’s spicy chicken was HUGE. I didn’t hear any complaints about the food or service. It was also nice to meet some new Waterfront Welcomers in Sue, Ben and his wife Cora. I could go on espousing the virtues of Aagaman, but the main thing is our resident restaurant connoisseur, Lulu has given it the thumbs up, we’ll be back. √ Tick! By Tom  Damien is a professional race jockey and a sporting legend in this country, having won the Melbourne Cup three times.
His lovely family enjoys the outdoors lifestyle in Port Melbourne. 'To live by the sea, there's no better place to be.' By Michelle |
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