Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Halls for Hire to cost more in Manningham

I recently read an article indicating Manningham council will make hiring security mandatory when hiring a hall.

Manningham Council chief executive Lydia Wilson said the council had liaised with Doncaster police to change the policies of its Party Safe program to make hiring security mandatory on council-owned property.

If you’re considering hiring a council owned hall for your next event you should enquire about, or at least make an allowance for hiring security.

When I checked the Manningham site for the halls they hire I noticed it didn’t cover the community owned facilities where functions are regularly held and young people attend.

It is a pity there are gate crashers in the area and my own experience verifies young people turning up to a party uninvited.

When looking at hiring a council owned hall compared to having a function at commercial premises make sure you take into account costs such as security as council owned halls. Commercial premises I’ve checked out make no mention of security and often already have security in place.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 if you require computer support.
Providing support in Doncaster, Templestowe, Eltham and surrounding areas.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Directories clogging up Google search results for Australians

Often I find the results provided by Google search are next to useless. If you search all pages you end up getting many directories and large sites from overseas. The actual sites of the business I’m looking for is unlikely to appear. If you reduce the search to pages from Australia it is better, but then the results of overwhelmed by directories of review sites. I find others feel the same way.

To make it easier for Australians for find local businesses I’ve decided to add a Search feature to JustLocal. JustLocal doesn’t require people to search. The aim is for people to have single-click access to businesses in an area. However, I appreciate it will take some time until the goal of JustLocal is realised. In the meantime, people will still search to find sites on the internet, but the Search feature on JustLocal now makes it easier for Australians to find local businesses.

First the Search is limited to only find results from pages on sites which use Australian domains. That removes large overseas companies dominating the results. Next I’ve identified and filtered out dozens of directories and review sites.

Now if I search for “Doncaster East Pizza” I get a good list of the sites in the area and that is the result I want.

Give the Search feature of JustLocal a go and let me know what you think. If you find a directory or review site in the search results I’ve missed, let me know and I’ll add the site to the exclude list.

Kelvin Eldridge
http://www.justlocal.com.au/
Helping the local community prosper by strengthening local business.

Templestowe water capture saturating children's playground area.

As I walked along Hawtin Street Templestowe on Friday, it had been a good afternoon of sunshine after a dismal wet morning.

Even though there had been no rain for some time, water was running along next to the path. The water was pooling around the barked area around the playground and the park area was saturated. The water appeared to be coming from the newly installed underground water tank area.

Hopefully the council will make sure this is fixed before the water collection project is completed.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 if you require help with your computer.
No problem too small.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Tim Tams on special at Templestowe IGA

If meat pies and Holdens are Australian icons, Tim Tams would be our iconic biscuit.

IGA Templestowe had Tim Tams on special for a very low $1.39 a packet. Too good to refuse.

<<< photo missing >>>

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 if you require help with your computer.
No problem too small.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Shark Tank Seafood Templestowe Menu now on JustLocal

I’d like to welcome George and his team at Shark Tank Seafood of Templestowe to the JustLocal service. You can find Shark Tank Seafood on the Templestowe page www.JustLocal.com.au/3106. Click on the Shark Tank Seafood logo to display their menu.

I find having the menus of local takeaway businesses to be very handy. Now when I need takeaway for family or friends, I can look up the menus, phone in the order and by the time I pick the order up it is ready. If the business is busy they’ll let me know an approximate time the order will be ready and that can save a lot of time.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 if you require computer support.

 

Stephen Mayne Independent Melbourne byelection

Melbourne byelection: Q&A with Stephen Mayne... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

Templestowe man with 76 unpaid fines made to pay

A Templestowe man with more than $17,000 in unpaid fines will have to auction his car to pay the debts.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

Monday, July 16, 2012

Chelsea Angelo, 16, is racing towards a career in motorsport

CHELSEA Angelo only got her L-plates during the school holidays, but she's already been clocked driving 240km/h in wet weather.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

New basketball and netball practice rings at Templestowe Reserve

The new water tank storage area has brought an unexpected benefit. Installed on top of the tank are practice rings for basketball and netball.

The rings are still fenced off whilst the construction work continues.

<<< photo missing >>>

Always good to see additional facilities for the youth and perhaps the not so youthful in the area.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 if you require help with your computer.
No problem too small.

Fox on Hawtin Street Templestowe.

In the early hours as we drove on Hawtin Street we saw a fox run across Hawtin Street into Templestowe Reserve near the playground area.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 if you require help with your computer.
No problem too small.

Wombat on Fitzsimons Lane Templestowe

On Friday driving north on Fitzsimons Lane from Templestowe to Eltham, just near the bridge, there was a dead wombat which had most likely been hit by a car.

There are quite a few animals which are hit by cars each month and may do considerable damage.

Take care on Fitzsimons Lane.


Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 if you require help with your computer.
No problem too small.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Templestowe Photographer Dean Hales Photography

I’d like to welcome Dean Hales of Dean Hales Photography to JustLocal. You can find Dean Hales Photography on the Templestowe page www.JustLocal.com.au/3106.

 

Kelvin Eldridge
www.JustLocal.com.au

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Traders Gus Morello and Dominic Marasea

TEMPLESTOWE Village traders are campaigning against Manningham Council's plans to restructure the shopping centre to include residential development.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Serpell Primary school Parents Julie Pastore and Michael Saxton successfully campaigning

PARENTS at Serpell Primary School have won their campaign for safer walking access to the Templestowe school.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

Sunday, July 8, 2012

War medals found in Templestowe (Doncaster East)

The six medals with ribbons were found at a service station on the corner of Blackburn and Reynolds roads on Wednesday, May 23 and handed in to police.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

Saturday, July 7, 2012

Post Office boxes at Templestowe Post Office may indicate the state of the economy.

I was just at the Post Office box to check for mail and I was quite surprised with the number of boxes now available to rent.

<<< photo missing >>>

There are 615 post office boxes of which 21 are now available for rent.

I've not noticed so many boxes available at one time before. I couldn't help but think perhaps this is a sign of the strength of the economy.

Based on what I've read the number of small businesses has halved over recent years and often small businesses use Post Office boxes.

I have to admit I now wonder if having a Post Office box has the value it once had for me. My business is now focused locally and a Post Office box hides your true location. People like to deal with other locals so a real local address lets others know you are a local.

In addition, many businesses won't ship to a Post Office box and driving to and from the Post Office to collect mail seems like a waste of time and petrol.

Maybe the number of boxes for rent just indicates others and reconsidering like I am.

If you are reconsidering your Post Office box give yourself a long change over period. You'll want to change your postal address and use up preprinted stationery and business cards.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 if you require help with your computer.
No problem too small.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Templestowe Village Draft Structure plan

On this link I found the Templestowe Village Draft Structure plan. A while ago I read the Manningham Arts Centre in Templestowe is to go. Now I am disappointed that it appears a lot of the facilities in Templestowe are going. Soon it appears we’ll lose the netball courts and the basketball stadium. Templestowe Village will be little more than a place to eat if we’re not careful and don’t provide a variety activities. Once people stop visiting the area and go to other areas for activities business is likely to suffer. It almost feels like the rate payers of Templestowe are funding growth in other areas.

Take the time to read the Templestowe Village Draft Structure plan. Our children received a lot of enjoyment from these facilities in Templestowe and future generations will need to go out of the area to enjoy the facilities we were fortunate enough to enjoy locally.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 if you require computer support.

 

Peter Caruso, 77, is serving 18 years jail for the murder of Rosa Caruso

A Melbourne man who killed his wife of 50 years has lost a bid to have his conviction quashed.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

Edward and Rae Parker are devastated after their family heirlooms were stolen

A TEMPLESTOWE couple battling ill health have been devastated by the theft of their family heirlooms.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Templestowe Reserve Stormwater Harvesting adjacent Hawtin Street

The construction of the Templestowe Reseve Stormwater Harvesting System is progressing well. There has been minimal disruption to traffic on Hawtin Street, which is a pleasant and welcome surprise.

The project includes a diversion pit near the southern entrance to the park in Hawtin Street, an inlet pipeline from the pit to an underground tank and a pump shed.

<<< photo missing >>>


The tank has a capacity of 200,000 litres. I initially thought this was huge, but now thinking about it, if regular households installed 2000L tanks it would be equivalent to 100 households.

According to the Choice Group, in 2008 the price for a 2000L tank was $700-$900 plus labour and other installation costs. I think It would be interesting to compare whether the council project is more cost effective than the equivalent number of household installations in terms of cost and water savings.

The project started on roughly the 15th of June and is expected to take 3-4 months.


Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 if you require help with your computer.
No problem too small.