Doncaster hockey player still going to Delhi

DESPITE the never-ending forecasts of doom and gloom flooding out of India on a, seemingly, hourly basis, Doncaster Hockey Club’s Chris Ciriello is itching to get to Delhi for his crack at a Commonwealth Games gold medal.

- Kelvin Eldridge

Doncaster police pay tribute to a pillar of the community

POLICE Sgt Paul Leighton was an exceptional police officer and an exceptional man.

- Kelvin Eldridge

Manningham, you're being watched

BIG brother is watching - hundreds of CCTV cameras keep an eye on Manningham’s streets, roads and residents day and night.

- Kelvin Eldridge

Survey a vehicle to gauge bus usage

SUPER sleuth Tom Dowsley will investigate whether local bus upgrades will actually boost the number of residents in Manningham abandoning their car and hopping on a bus.

- Kelvin Eldridge

Residents not hopeful of major VCAT reforms

But Doncaster Hill Residents Group spokesman Warren Welsh said the proposed changes were only “cosmetic”.

- Kelvin Eldridge

Manningham students break down barriers

STUDENTS from Doncaster Secondary College are broadening their friendship group through a new integration program.

- Kelvin Eldridge

David Jones delays stores due to GFC

One of the biggest sales being marketed is LaSalle Investment Management's 50 per cent share in the Westfield Doncaster shopping centre in Melbourne.

- Kelvin Eldridge

Reward offered for information on Doncaster armed robbery

The suspect is described as an Asian man, approx 20-years-old, of slim build, about 165cm tall, with sickly pale skin, a clear complexion, and dark collar-length straight hair. He was wearing a dark top at the time of the attack.

- Kelvin Eldridge

Stabbed in the chest in the driveway of her Ivan Street home at Doncaster

A $100,000 reward is being offered to help identify the man responsible for a violent armed robbery in Melbourne's east two years ago.

- Kelvin Eldridge

Heart Foundation Doorknock Appeal

Marian Dimmick hopes residents will open their doors and the hearts during the Heart Foundation Doorknock Appeal.

- Kelvin Eldridge

SICK children at the Austin Hospital will have new toys, board games and books to help brighten their stay.

Last week, the children’s ward received $4700 from Myer Doncaster to buy new educational and recreational equipment for their small patients.

- Kelvin Eldridge

VicRoads' cash grab for Doncaster parkland

MANNINGHAM Council must pay $150,000 to VicRoads to stop a piece of Doncaster parkland from being sold to property developers.

- Kelvin Eldridge

Mobile speed camera locations - September 2010 (Bulleen, Templestowe, Templestowe Lower, Doncaster, Doncaster East, Eltham)

Mobile speed camera locations for September 2010.

High Street, between Rosemary Street and Linton Avenue, Templestowe
Serpells Road, between Church Road and Killibury Court , Templestowe
Reynolds Road, between Hawtin Street and Smiths Road, Templestowe
Manningham Road, between Ayr Street and High Street, Templestowe Lower
King Street, between Williamsons Road and Veda Court, Doncaster
George Street, between Victoria Street and Williamsons Road, Doncaster
High Street, between Manningham Road and Doncaster Road, Doncaster
Wetherby Road, between Doncaster Road and Koonung Creek, Doncaster
Doncaster Road, between Rose Street and High Street, Doncaster
Doncaster Road, between Blackburn Road and Wetherby Road, Doncaster East
King Street, between Nedlands Court and Ashcroft Avenue, Doncaster East
Blackburn Road, between Raintree Road and Johns Grove, Doncaster East
Blackburn Road, between Beverley Street and Turnstone Street, Doncaster East
Blackburn Road, between Reynolds Road and King Street, Doncaster East
Bulleen Road, between Thompsons Road and Manningham Road, Bulleen

Kelvin Eldridge

Doncaster burglary squad team leader Det Sgt Doug Beare said the results were pleasing

RESIDENTIAL burglary reports are down, but the number of commercial burglaries reported to police in Manningham have increased over the past year, newly released police figures show.

- Kelvin Eldridge

DONCASTER Secondary College's careers adviser Juliet Elizabeth

DONCASTER Secondary College’s careers adviser Juliet Elizabeth spends much of her day offering up words of wisdom to worried students.

- Kelvin Eldridge

Doncaster Shoppingtown Free WiFi (Wi-Fi)

On Thursday night I noticed a sign on a table in the food court letting customers know about free WiFi. I decided to try it out. Using my Apple 3G iPhone I found the wireless access point and tried to connect. I wasn't able to get access to the internet. I then decided to check the McDonalds free WiFi and whilst this time I got to the sign on page, I wasn't able to get any further.

On the recent video of Steve Jobs releasing the new iPhone 4 we saw how too many people using wireless in the audience caused the demo to fail. I suspect the same issue may be occurring as Westfield Shoppingtown, but it is only a guess.

I then resorted to my telco's 3G data service and was able to access the internet.

The frustrating aspect of free WiFi is it is a great service when it is working, but when it isn't you can't help but curse. That isn't good for the business providing the free WiFi service, which in this case is Westfield. The problem is if it becomes too hard for Westfield to provide a quality service they are likely to remove it and that to me would be an undesirable outcome.

I do hope this was a once off experience and will check the service next time I'm at the food court.

Kelvin Eldridge

Eastern freeway traffic cameras show up-to-date traffic conditions (Bulleen Road, Yarra Bend)

Frequently when I get to around Bulleen Road on the Eastern Freeway of a night, the bank up of traffic ahead is shocking. I’ve often wondered if there was a way I could check out the traffic beforehand. As it turns out VicRoads provides a live feed from their cameras which are updated frequently. Below are the links to the cameras that interest me and may be of interest to others in the local area.

 

Bulleen Road looking East

http://livetraffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au/region/23010?expanddiv=group3

 

Eastern Freeway at Yarra Bend looking East

http://livetraffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au/region/23002?expanddiv=group3

 

Happy motoring.

 

Kelvin Eldridge

 

MELBOURNE'S 10 most violent railway stations aren't Eltham, Heidelbery or Box Hill

The analysis showed 45 per cent of all reported assaults occurred at Flinders Street, Dandenong, Broadmeadows, Footscray, St Albans, Ringwood, Bayswater, Frankston, Southern Cross and Thomastown stations.
I was pleased to read in this article in The Age, the local railway stations which are typically used by people from my local area weren’t in the top ten list of stations. Of course Southern Cross is a concern as it is one of the common destinations in the city.
I also liked reading that by being sensible and covering just 10 stations where 45% of the violence occurs, targeted use of enforcement resources may be able to make a difference for a lot of commuters. One of the concerns with public transport is always safety and poor safety can easily dissuade people from using public transport.

- Kelvin Eldridge

Apple iPod Touch Doncaster Shoppingtown availability update

For those interested in the new Apple iPod Touch I dropped into the Doncaster Shoppingtown Apple store last night. A week ago I asked about stocks and they said they'd be arriving this week. At the moment the 8GB unit is in stock. The 32GB and 64GB units are currently not in stock.

Kelvin Eldridge

Doncaster Shoppingtown (Westfield) sign rejected.

AN electronic advertising sign proposed by Westfield for the Doncaster Rd/Williamsons Rd intersection has been rejected after VicRoads’ pulled rank on the council.

- Kelvin Eldridge

Doncaster Area Rapid Transit (DART) project,

The Doncaster Area Rapid Transit (DART) project, which will significantly boost services on four city-to-Manningham routes, will start October 4, less than two months before the state election.

- Kelvin Eldridge

Local Doncaster news

Links to news articles relating to Doncaster.
Victorian Opera music director Richard Gill went back to school for a special performance at the Doncaster school.

The balloon release will be part of the Teddy Love Club’s (TLC) first Victorian Memorial Walkathon on Sunday, September 19.

A THIRD multi-storey residential apartment complex is set to rise in Tram Rd with plans for a new $6 million, seven-story building.

A 1969 government plan outlined new train and road links for the city. Most of the roads, including EastLink, have been built, but the rail connections to Doncaster and Rowville will not be built any time soon.

Mr Pakula said passengers could use the new bus services free for a fortnight from October 4 and the new SmartBus Route 901 to the airport from September 26.

Doncaster SES gives tips on protecting property

Homicide squad detectives are investigating whether the man, 56, killed his wife during a violent argument in their Marilyn St home in Doncaster.

In a statement, Exit International's Director Dr Phillip Nitschke says the raid caused unnecessary stress and disruption to the organisation's staff and volunteers.

A CONTENTIOUS bid to ban off-lead dogs in Doncaster’s most popular park has been dumped following intense community backlash.

The 74-year-old victim was found dead at his home in Wilton Way on July 12.

In the most expensive deal so far, a Chinese developer is paying more than $100 million for Doncaster's Eastern Golf Club, which covers 47 hectares, sources say

DEDICATED Doncaster Secondary College teacher Peter Mason has helped guide young students towards a bright and successful future for almost half a century.

Road-raging doctor escapes conviction, fined $1000

At 44, probationary Constable Grimley is not your typical new recruit to the police ranks.

A PILOT program that uses GPS devices to track people with dementia could help Doncaster police quickly find "regular wanderers".

A LOCAL architect/developer has paid $5.1 million for a landmark development site in the Doncaster activity centre zone.

HOUSING experts agree Doncaster Hill will "set the benchmark" for apartment-style living and the new standard for housing in Victoria.

When Ms Mercieca went to the ATM at Doncaster shopping centre on Sunday, June 20 she was shocked when $50 notes started rolling out.

The card's owner had lost her wallet in Doncaster and failed to cancel it in time.

Farah Jama, 22, launched his compensation bid after spending 15 months in jail when his DNA sample contaminated one taken from a woman allegedly sexually assaulted at a Doncaster nightclub.

The 25-year-old was working on the public housing development on Tram Rd, Doncaster when he fell through some roofing and landed on a scaffolding pole.

Kelvin Eldridge

Science whiz off to Canberra

Jocelyn Shann (pictured) of Doncaster

- Kelvin Eldridge

Availability of new Apple TV, Apple iPod nano, shuffle and touch at Doncaster Apple store

Today I dropped in to the local Apple store to find out when the new Apple iPod touch (which some call the iTouch) was expected to arrive. The sales assistant advised me they expect to get them sometime next week. This is also supported by Apple's press release stating "the new iPod touch will be available next week".

Also of interest to those with an existing second and third generation iPod touch, the updated operating system iOS 4.1 will be available on September 8 free of charge.

For those interested in the iPod nano and shuffle, these will also be available next week.

Apple considers the Apple TV as a hobby, but I think it could be a very interesting device at an affordable price. The Apple TV will be available later this month.

Kelvin Eldridge



Link: Apple Store Australia