Detectives have charged a second man with murder following a fatal stabbing in Prahran last weekend A 20-year-old Kurunjang man was arrested in Melton on Thursday April 24 He was interviewed by police and subsequently charged with one count of murder The man was remanded in custody to face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court later today The charges follow an alleged incident outside a licenced venue on Chapel Street Police were told a group of male offenders assaulted a 30-year-old man The Mickleham man sustained multiple stab wounds and was treated at the scene but died while being transported to hospital A 35-year-old Lidcombe man was arrested at Melbourne Airport on Monday It’s believed the parties involved were known to each other Detectives are continuing to appeal for anyone who was in the busy area at the time of the attack who may have witnessed the incident or has any footage to come forward Anyone with information is can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time Two people are dead following two suspected homicides including a teenager who died during a knife brawl in Melbourne’s west Police believe the incidents are unrelated and in both cases the people involved were known to each other Homicide squad detectives arrested two males following the death of an 18-year-old in Kurunjang last night.Credit: Nine News an 18-year-old male was fatally stabbed in Kurunjang about 7pm on Friday following a brawl involving a group of about 40 youths North West Metro Region Acting Superintendent Kelly Walker said on Saturday afternoon that preliminary investigations indicated it was a “targeted attack” and said police were investigating and exhausting all avenues to find those responsible She said when police arrived at the scene on McBurnie Drive they found three males injured including the 18-year-old man who was pronounced dead at the scene both from the neighbouring suburb of Harkness were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries These two males had upper and lower body injuries “Police haven’t been able to speak with the people in hospital yet,” she said and they are going to be spoken to as soon as they’re available.” Walker said she was unable to confirm if any of those involved in the melee were known to police or had any links to gangs at this stage of the investigation she said police were concerned by the sheer number of young people involved in the brawl “I think the community should definitely feel unrest,” Walker said We do have weapons that were reported at the scene … We have a victim and we have parents now without a child at Christmas.” She said police continued to comb through CCTV and make investigations in the area a man was shot dead in a quiet suburban street in Campbellfield in Melbourne’s north Police were called to a home on Gentles Avenue following reports at least eight shots had been fired at about 10.10pm Police attended and found a man with critical gunshot wounds lying on the street A burnt-out car was found on Northbourne Road in Campbellfield just after 11pm and detectives are probing whether it was used as a getaway car Police at the scene of the Campbellfield shooting.Credit: Nine Two men are under police guard in hospital following the fatal Campbellfield shooting a 20-year-old from Yarraville and a 22-year-old from Westmeadows came to police attention after being dropped at a hospital with injuries investigators believe could be linked to the fatal shooting Walker said they will be interviewed in relation to the incident which police also believed was a targeted attack She said it was not clear yet if the shooting had any links related to organised crime or if those involved were known to police “We have an investigation in its infancy with homicide squad,” Walker said Anyone who witnessed either incident, with dashcam/CCTV footage or information, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at crimestoppersvic.com.au The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here including a teenager who died during a knife brawl in Melbourne\\u2019s west North West Metro Region Acting Superintendent Kelly Walker said on Saturday afternoon that preliminary investigations indicated it was a \\u201Ctargeted attack\\u201D and said police were investigating and exhausting all avenues to find those responsible \\u201CPolice haven\\u2019t been able to speak with the people in hospital yet,\\u201D she said and they are going to be spoken to as soon as they\\u2019re available.\\u201D \\u201CI think the community should definitely feel unrest,\\u201D Walker said We do have weapons that were reported at the scene \\u2026 We have a victim and we have parents now without a child at Christmas.\\u201D a man was shot dead in a quiet suburban street in Campbellfield in Melbourne\\u2019s north \\u201CWe have an investigation in its infancy with homicide squad,\\u201D Walker said is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day\\u2019s most important and interesting stories A woman has died following a house fire in Kurunjang on Tuesday morning Emergency services were called to the blaze at a property on Cameron Court about 3.20am It was reported that one of the occupants had not yet evacuated FRV crews arrived on scene and confirmed the above beginning an external attack on the fire unable to enter the building due to the intensity of the fire Investigations are ongoing into the cause of the fire which is not believed to be suspicious at this stage Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au If you believe that this is a technical error, please contact us and tell us the location of this page Budding DJs at Kurunjang Primary have been filling the school hallways with lively beats over the past 10 weeks Seventeen grade 4-6 students took part in a 10-week Grab the Deck workshop with Urban Movement Entertainment The workshop was run in collaboration with Djerriwarrh Community & Education Services’ school focused youth services (SFYS) and was funded by the education department Urban Movement Entertainment founder DJ Ragz facilitated the workshop helping the students to mix and record their own tracks The students were able to showcase their creations over the school PA system during breaks Participant Jayden said he liked learning how to make his own songs “It was great to work as a team with my friends,” he said Fellow participant Spencer enjoyed listening to the songs and mixing on the DJ deck Kurunjang engagement and wellbeing leading teacher said the students were excited to take part in the workshop “Students love choosing songs to mix—whether rock Djerriwarrh SFYS acting co-ordinator Yui Thanacharoenporn said the workshop had been positively received by students and the school adding that the organisation hopes to collaborate with more local schools in the future A 15-year-old boy in hospital has been charged with murder after an 18-year-old man died after being stabbed during a wild brawl in Melbourne’s outer north-west on Friday night Police were called to McBurnie Drive in Kurunjang, near Melton, about 7pm on Friday after reports of a large fight involving about 40 youths Police officers at the scene of the fatal brawl in Kurunjang on Friday night.Credit: Nine News The 18-year-old from Kurunjang was found by police with stab wounds and died at the scene presented to hospital with non-life threatening injuries and were placed under police guard The boy has since been charged with murder and will face a children’s court at a later date The 22-year-old remains in hospital under police guard Acting Superintendent Kelly Walker told reporters that a preliminary investigation indicated the stabbing was allegedly a targeted attack Walker said investigators believed the parties were known to each other and police were concerned by the number of young people involved in the brawl police have identified the victim in what they believe was a targeted shooting in a quiet suburban street in Campbellfield A police officer at the scene of the Campbellfield shooting on Friday night.Credit: Nine died in hospital from his injuries after he was shot outside a property in Gentles Avenue about 10.10pm Police found Karam lying on the street with gunshot wounds Two men remain under police guard in hospital but are yet to be interviewed Detectives have released CCTV footage of a Porsche they believe was linked to the shooting The Porsche was found burnt-out in Northbourne Road Police said on Sunday they believed the shooting was targeted and investigations continue Anyone who witnessed the incident, with dashcam/CCTV footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter A 15-year-old boy in hospital has been charged with murder after an 18-year-old man died after being stabbed during a wild brawl in Melbourne\\u2019s outer north-west on Friday night Police were called to McBurnie Drive in Kurunjang about 7pm on Friday after reports of involving about 40 youths The boy has since been charged with murder and will face a children\\u2019s court at a later date with dashcam/CCTV footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at Start the day with a summary of the day\\u2019s most important and interesting stories Kurunjang residents are calling on Melton council to reject an application to repurpose a shed into a place of worship in the area Petitioner Charlie Portelli said his family moved to Kurunjang two years ago in search of a peaceful residential area after a place of worship was built near his former home He said that place of woships resulted in increased traffic and noise and he is worried his family will have the same experience if Melton council approves the Kurunjang permit We paid a bit of money to get way from that to have something nice and quiet for a long time and increased traffic this will bring can significantly disrupt the serene environment we have come to know and love “We all know and have seen that these places always start small and then grows into a big community.” Mr Portelli said places of worship should built in “appropriate areas” to avoid causing “significant disturbances to residents” The petition had been signed by 234 people as of January 17 The permit application said site is currently used for residential purposes Council city growth and development manager Blake De Alencar Angus said the proposal is to use the existing dwelling and shed as a place of worship for a maximum of 30 patrons with parking for two days a month on a weekend He said the application would be considered at a future council meeting The architect who submitted the permit application to council was contacted for comment A teenager who was allegedly stabbed to death during a 40-person brawl is being remembered as a 'vibrant' young man with an 'infectious enthusiasm for life' Police believe the fight between over 40 youths broke out at McBurnie Drive, Kurunjang, in Melbourne's north-west By the time officers arrived the group had dispersed - but police found three men the 18-year-old - known to his friends and family as Kon - was declared dead and the 15-year-old were placed under police guard in hospital and have been charged with Kon's alleged murder Agear appeared before a court on Christmas Eve, where he could be seen with wounds to his right eye, shoulder and arm, the Herald Sun reported took to social media to pay tribute to the young man 'Kon was not just a teammate; he was a vibrant spirit who brought joy and laughter to everyone around him,' the club said 'His cheeky grin and infectious enthusiasm for life made him a cherished friend to all Kon was a reliable half-back flanker who embraced every challenge with determination He had a natural talent for taking the game on inspiring his teammates and captivating our supporters The club was proud of Kon's major achievement as part of its Under 17 boys premiership team which was 'a testament to his hard work and dedication' you will always hold a special place in our hearts especially your team mates and coaches and parents We are grateful for the memories we shared on and off the field and the joy you brought into our lives,' it continued Kon had only recently graduated from high school for several years and tragically died just metres from his home Neighbours last week described Kon's desperation as he ran away from his alleged killers Melissa Vines said he climbed over her fence and began pleading for help A group of people had allegedly jumped out of a car with machetes and chased him and his friends Major terror attack 'was just HOURS away' before it was foiled by the special forces and police:.. Victim of acid attack 'plotted by his ex-partner who teamed up with a gang' dies in hospital six.. We are trapped in unsellable newbuild homes after a £52m dual carriageway was built on our.. Horror as $4.5M influencer-laden yacht SINKS off Miami.. How Meghan's biggest cheerleader brokered Harry's disastrous BBC interview - three months after.. Woman dead and three others including a child injured after car ploughed into pedestrians: Man Pub is forced to pay family £75,000 after wrongly accusing them of 'dine and dash' over £150.. Woman who was missing for more than 60 years is found 'alive and well' decades after vanishing.. American tourist suffers horrific fate while attempting to capture selfie at Rome's Colosseum 'It's a rather giant f*** you.' Royal insider's furious reaction to Meghan's Instagram salvo as.. Revealed: The reason behind Fred & Rose West kids' bitter family rift as siblings have 'nothing to.. The towns being ruined by day-tripper invasions Selfie-loving tourists cause traffic hell and the.. 'raped by personal trainer influencer in her own home after being released' Where 'soft-touch' Britain's asylum seekers are REALLY coming from M&S cyber attack could take 'months' to fully recover from as 'paranoid' staff resort to sleeping in.. who was knifed to death in French village says her affair is a.. This is probably not the page you’re looking for Children and families in Kurunjang have a new place to play following the completion of a revitalisation project at Black Knight Way Reserve New features at the reserve include a playground shelter and furniture for visitors to meet at and relax which includes multiple slides and climbing equipment is designed to encourage young children to explore and discover and exercise equipment to support physical activity for people of all ages and abilities Melton mayor Kathy Majdlik said the new and improved area was designed to boost the health and wellbeing of the community “We’re very proud of the work that has transformed Black Knight Way Reserve into a space that delivers quality play and leisure facilities for Kurunjang residents and visitors to enjoy.” The project was jointly funded by Melton council and the state government through the Suburban Parks Program Centenary Park in Kurunjang was also upgraded through the Suburban Parks Program Ms Majdlik said the collaboration between all involved parties set an example for future projects “This is a great example of what can be achieved when there are strong partnerships between council and the state government for the benefit of the community,” she said “As one of the fastest growing local government areas in Australia it is investment partnerships such as this that ensure we provide local park and recreation facilities that help our residents thrive.” Add videos to your saved list and come back to them any time Three Melton teenagers have been arrested following the fatal fire in a Sunshine factory in February Four warrants were executed at 6am on Tuesday at residential addresses in Kurunjang and Melton South It follows the February fire at a Bunnett Street business on February 23 three men were taken into custody and will now be interviewed by police a 19-year-old Kurunjang man and an 18-year-old Melton South man A gel blaster was seized from the Kurunjang address two knives and a quantity of what appears to be cannabis at one of the Melton South addresses Investigators have been told a white dual cab ute pulled up outside the business at 3.51am on February 23 emptying the contents of a jerry can on the factory door before igniting it He returns to the waiting vehicle as the building goes up in flames The fire subsequently spread to a building behind the panel shop where two people were sleeping inside at the time a 42-year-old and a 48-year-old both from Sunshine North The Domain House Price Report reveals a long list of affordable suburbs spreading across all the major capitals, including Sydney.  The trick to securing a house with a $750,000 budget is knowing where to look, and that could mean having to search a bit further out from the inner city, says Domain chief of research and economics Dr Nicola Powell. “What you get in each capital city is so diverse,” she says. “For example, $750,000 is very close to the overall median house price of Perth, but is much lower in a market like Sydney. “In the more affordable capital cities, that $750,000 will likely get you closer to a CBD in those middle-ring suburbs, versus somewhere like Sydney, which is much higher priced, and you’re much more likely to only find that in the very outer, outer, periphery.” Berrimah in Darwin is the most affordable suburb, with a median house price of $254,250. It’s followed by Medina in Perth, which sits at $374,000. In Melbourne, there are 85 suburbs where a $750,000 budget could secure you a house. Dallas (median price $515,000), Kurunjang ($522,500), Broadmeadows ($535,000) and Melton West ($537,500) are some of the most affordable locations. Want to rent an apartment? The cities where it could cost you as much as renting a house Cheaper mortgages, tamed inflation and even higher home prices: how 29 forecasters see Australia’s economic recovery in 2024-25 How Australia can house a growing population without building more homes 1 Bath− .css-12a1b0h{position:absolute;width:1px;height:1px;margin:-1px;padding:0;-webkit-clip:rect(1px,1px,1px,1px);clip:rect(1px,1px,1px,1px);border:0;overflow:hidden;-webkit-clip-path:inset(100%);clip-path:inset(100%);-webkit-clip-path:none;display:none;}ParkingView listing Also built of red bricks is this Melton West house on 736 square metres of land. It comes with three bedrooms, one bathroom and an outdoor entertaining area that’s perfect for summer barbecues. 1 Bath1 ParkingView listing This Broadmeadows home sits on 638 square metres of land and comes with three bedrooms and one bathroom. It’s near two parks and Broadmeadows station. It also offers a garage in the yard that’s perfect for extra storage.  Sydney has 11 suburbs where houses have a median price of less than $750,00, with the western suburbs of Lethbridge Park ($678,500), Oxley Park ($682,500), Werrington ($683,375) and St Marys ($700,000) being some of these locations. 2 Baths1 ParkingView listing Separate guest quarters with a patio, kitchenette and bathroom add to the charm of this four-bedroom, two-bathroom house on 575 square metres of land. The home comes with solar panels, which could help lower electricity bills. 1 Bath1 ParkingView listing This Oxley Park brick duplex is situated on 270 square metres of land and comes with three bedrooms and one bathroom. It also has an undercover patio area in which to entertain guests.  1 Bath2 ParkingView listing Near schools, shops and transport, this two-bedroom brick villa is carpeted throughout and has split-system air-conditioning in the main room. It also comes with a massive backyard, great to keep children busy.  In Greater Brisbane, house buyers should begin their search in Laidley, which has a median price of $430,500, Woodridge ($440,000), East Ipswich ($441,000) and Leichhardt ($473,000). 1 Bath2 ParkingView listing This four-bedroom home is located on a 622 square metre block and has solar panels. It has a fully fenced yard with gates, so any dogs will have a hard time running after the postie. 1 Bath1 ParkingView listing Built-in wardrobes and ceiling fans are features of this two-bedroom brick house. Plus, it’s a few minutes away from the train station and about 25 minutes from Brisbane city centre. It’s currently being rented out for $310 per week. 1 Bath2 ParkingView listing This three-bedroom waterboard house sits on 607 square metres of land and is a quick walk from East Ipswich train station. All the bedrooms have ceiling fans and the living room comes with air-conditioning. It’s currently being let at $400 a week. In Adelaide, house buyers can find affordable properties in Davoren Park (median price of $393,250), Elizabeth North ($400,500), Elizabeth Downs ($404,750) and Smithfield Plains ($425,000). 1 Bath2 ParkingView listing This white-brick three-bedroom house is on 590 square metres of land. Its features include solar panels,  a U-shaped kitchen – with ample storage space for all sorts of kitchen appliances – and a floating deck on which to enjoy slow mornings with a hot cup of tea. 2 Baths1 ParkingView listing Located within walking distance of schools and public transport, this three-bedroom two-bathroom brick home is ideal for families. It comes with plenty of outdoor space, making it suitable for a pet and the kids to run around in.  2 Baths1 ParkingView listing This house-and-land package starts at $588,00 and includes a block of 225 square metres. The construction package includes a concrete driveway, remote-controlled garage door, air-conditioning and a stainless steel cooktop and oven. It’s also within walking distance of a train station. In Perth, people looking to buy an affordable house should turn to Medina, which has a median price of $374,000, Midland ($387,500), Calista ($407,000) and Armadale ($410,000). 1 Bath1 ParkingView listing Built in 1972, this corner-block weatherboard three-bedroom house starts at $599,000 and sits on 690 square metres of land. It has an open-plan kitchen, a dining room and a separate laundry.  1 Bath5 ParkingView listing This two-bedroom 1950s house  is within walking distance of the local shops and several restaurants. The house, which sits on 1054 square metres of land, is ripe for renovation, or demolition in order to build a new home or multiple dwellings.  2 Baths1 ParkingView listing This red-brick house has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an open-plan kitchen, dining and lounge area. Features include ceiling fans, wooden floors and air-conditioning. It sits on 458 square metres of land. The information on this website is intended to be of a general nature only and doesn't consider your objectives, financial situation or needs. where we are privileged to live and operate Melton Young Communities in collaboration with The Big Issue provided a fun and exciting initiative that uses the power of sport to change lives Street Soccer provided equipment and supportive staff for a two-hour session where players took part in training and a friendly match at Kurunjang Recreation Reserve Photographer Ljubica Vrankovic captured some of the action Detectives from the Major Collision Investigation Unit are investigating a fatal motorcycle collision in Kurunjang on Tuesday afternoon A car and motorcycle collided at the intersection of Gisborne-Melton Road and Carberry Drive around 12:50pm The exact circumstances of the collision remain under investigation and any witnesses or anyone with dash-cam footage from the area is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au Coles Group Property Developments has quietly snapped up a major west Melbourne site zoned in two parts: Town Centre and Residential the retailer paid $33 million for the 17.14 hectare block opposite Crest Property Group’s Willandra housing estate Encouraging medium and high density dwellings is affected by the Melton North Precinct Structure Plan CBRE’s Paul Wheate with Biggin & Scott Land’s Andrew Egan brokered the off-market Coburns Rd deal Coles picked it up at about the same time it banked c$45m from the recently completed Cobblebank Village Also last year the retailer paid $17.2m – a 2.7per cent passing yield – for a Hampton supermarket it occupied for decades In Balaclava meanwhile, it outlaid a speculated c$100 for another store it rented and neighbouring properties; the supermarket component of that deal was speculated to have been sealed on a sub two per cent return – a national record low for an asset of this type that property holds significant airspace development upside Subscribe to our newsletter at the bottom of this page A former property analyst and print journalist Marc is the publisher of realestatesource.com.au Forgot your password? You will receive mail with link to set new password Back to login Kurunjang Secondary College students locked up their principal last week – all for a good cause The lunch-time incaceration of John Mitsinikos was a way to raise awareness about mental health and money for support service Lifeline Mr Mitsinikos was taken “into custody” by Melton police before being locked up in his timber ‘jail cell’ built by the school’s Hands on Learning students College student support service leader Melanie Hayward said the initiative was about bridging the gap between local police and young people and raising funds for Lifeline “We are hoping for students to see police in a really positive light,” she said “They were on site and will be having lots of conversations “Mr Mitsinikos was a little hesitant at first but he came fully on board and understood the premise behind it.” Tributes have been flowing for a driver who died after being thrown from his car as it flipped in a high speed crash west of Melbourne was driving a Ford sedan south on Coburns Road in Kurunjang at 11.15pm on Saturday when he lost control Dylan Mangion dies after being thrown a car as it flipped on Saturday night The Brookfield man was thrown from the car He was flown to hospital but died shortly after arrival A 20-year-old Kurunjang man and a 16-year-old Melton South girl were both taken to hospital with minor injuries Friends took to Facebook on Sunday to post tributes to Mr Mangion and condolences to his family "Rip brother i will see you another day in heaven don't have too much fun without us," Tom Mumford wrote My heart goes out to the Mangion family at this devastating time," posted Britteny Cooke Fly high brother," wrote Kira Saddington The death takes Victoria's road toll for the year to 270 Police are urging anyone who witnessed the crash or saw the vehicle before the incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 \\\"Rip brother i will see you another day in heaven don't have too much fun without us,\\\" Tom Mumford wrote My heart goes out to the Mangion family at this devastating time,\\\" posted Britteny Cooke Fly high brother,\\\" wrote Kira Saddington The death takes Victoria's road toll for the year to 270 Police say the girls are known to frequent the Southern Cross Railway station and Melbourne CBD Anyone with information is urged to contact Melton police station on 9747 7999 Residents are calling for the demolition of an abandoned and derelict Kurunjang house which has become a local haunt for young people The house was gutted by fire almost three years ago and the owner has never returned Melton council has since temporarily fenced off the shell of the house collapsed roof and crumbling plasterboard held up by a blackened frame said she had contacted the council numerous times since January to get the abandoned Manfred Place house torn down She said she and others in the neighbourhood felt unsafe “The house burned down about three years ago and the fire was said to have been caused by an air-conditioning fault,” she said “The man who lived here left the house shortly after the fire and never returned “Melton council have told us the house can be demolished only if they find squatters living in it.” Marie said residents had also called the police a number of times to complain about noise at the house “About 15 or 20 youths turn up every evening and use it as a party house,” Marie said “There’s often a smell of marijuana coming from it and there are always cars in and out of the driveway “The place has been trashed and people come and take building materials from it “It’s not stable and it’s not safe for people to be in there Someone could be seriously injured or killed.” Melton police sergeant Cameron Scott said he was not aware of complaints about unusual activity at Manfred Place He said any future activity of concern should be reported to Melton police immediately Melton council compliance manager Ian Stewart said the council had received ongoing complaints from residents about the property “We have made numerous attempts to contact the owner of the property the property is not suitable for occupation But there are no criteria or requirements under the Building Act to classify a house as abandoned and council would need to obtain a court order for the house to be demolished.” “It’s OK to ask for help” – that was the main message Kurunjang Secondary College spread on RUOK Day including a coffee and cupcake run for school staff were held last Thursday to remind people to ask someone and support those who may be struggling with mental health issues School student support services leader Melanie Hayward said many of the activities were planned by the year 11 students who were preparing for year 12 “This year we have recognised that mental health awareness is vitally important for students families and the wider community,” Ms Hayward said “We’re promoting positive mental health messages.” The day also involved the provision of information so students knew where to access support services Ms Hayward said students appreciated being able to dedicate a day to mental health awareness Melton residents are being invited to share their food traditions and stories at Kurunjang Secondary College’s Cultural Diversity Day The school will open its doors on Friday to celebrate multiculturalism and promote understanding The college’s leading ‘connectedness’ teacher says: “It’s about celebrating our students and our differences Everyone brings something different from their culture … it’s nice to get a rounded view on things.” The event will include cultural arts and crafts workshops and exhibitions “The celebrations encourage conversations that perhaps wouldn’t happen otherwise,” Ms Aquilina said “It’s about gaining the knowledge of what’s out there She said the school was able to host the celebrations this year thanks to $4000 Tabcorp Park funding secured by humanities teacher Meli Panagiotidis Change has been more than just a revolution from blackboard to computer screen since Kurunjang Secondary College opened 30 years ago From design of the school uniform to the number of students is the school’s connection to the community “We’re still a very inclusive school that focuses on quality for students – that’s a really strong thing,” Ms Eglezos said “And what’s also been a real focus is the continual development of teachers and leadership practice to help students and prepare them for the 21st century.” Ms Eglezos said everyone was excited about the school’s 30th birthday and gearing up for a number of celebrations throughout the year And community members are being called on to take part School uniforms were left hanging in wardrobes last week when Kurunjang Secondary College students donned the clothing of their cultures instead Students celebrated their diversity through traditional clothing last Thursday when the college hosted a multicultural activities day cupcakes and meringues baked by the students were served during morning tea Performing arts students put on a number of shows Humanities leader David Gorton said the day’s activities were great ways of recognising cultural identities and breaking down the idea of borders “It’s important to understand that cultural diversity leads to excellence in the school,” Mr Gorton said “It’s a case of recognising that we are all very different It’s about celebrating everyone’s skills and working towards the idea of excellence and success.” Samantha Vella’s love of gardening and recycling has sown the seeds for a whole-school project that is reaping rewards The Secondary College attendance officer decided to use an unused space and discarded pallets at the school to start a vegetable garden “We’ve got kids wanting to participate without even being asked,” Ms Vella said we’ve set up a compost bin and staff and students are throwing their scraps in there.” Ms Vella said the project would have never come to fruition if science teacher Lucy Cassar hadn’t made available an environmental grant she received from the federal government “I just happened to have a discussion [about the garden] with Lucy who had received the grant for that exact purpose,” she said “The students enjoy it because they’re not looking at a school book.” Ms Vella said students were enjoying the process of seeing their ideas Kurunjang residents have a new park to enjoy with work on Archer Drive Reserve completed earlier this month – in time for the warmer months Melton mayor Bob Turner said the council was proud to create places the community could enjoy “I hope residents embrace this wonderful new space and use it to its full capacity The park has a multi-purpose basketball and netball court The council invested $500,000 from its 2013-14 budget to develop the new reserve Cr Turner said the council was committed to promoting community health and well-being Works for a new park at Atherstone are expected to begin next year following approval of a state government grant Leigh Millott jumped into the water without a moment’s thought – after all the Kurunjang man went to the rescue of a family of four drowning at a beach at Apollo Bay His efforts were honoured at the Royal Humane Society of Australasia’s annual bravery award presentation last month “I saw the daughter trying to save the dad but [she] couldn’t do anything and she was starting to get pulled into the rip,” Mr Millott says “So I got to the mother first because she was the closest “I put him on my back and swam out of the rip … when we got back to the shore “I didn’t do it for the award or to be recognised – I’m just glad to know he was safe and the family was back together.” The 31-year-old says he owes his lifesaving skills to Bear Grylls celebrated last week’s opening of a new learning space with an art exhibition.  Birds In Flight is the school’s first exhibition involving pupils from all year levels with children working hard on creations to fill the walls of the new personal learning studio The studio is a space where pupils can learn together and share ideas It has also been used to run a healthy eating program with help from parents and Western Health Services More than 200 Victorian teachers were recognised on the weekend for their significant service to public education including several from schools in Melton and Moorabool Victorian education minister James Merlino presented teachers with awards for service at a ceremony at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne on Sunday June 19 Bacchus Marsh education staff Margaret Love and Helen Kelly were among those recognised as Ms Love marked 60 years in education this year and Ms Kelly was recognised for 40 years Joyleen Carter and Kerry Howard were recognised for 45 years of teaching while David Veale and Christine Butcher were acknowledged for 40 years who has taught at Kurunjang Primary School for the last 23 years said the recognition was not the most important thing to her I like to see the joy on the kids’ faces when they succeed,” she said the reward is seeing kids progress and seeing kids enjoy learning who recently retired from teaching at Kurunjang Secondary College said the recognition from the state government caused her to reflect on her teaching journey over the last 45 years it’s good to reflect on just how many things you work on over the years “Teaching is a really rewarding occupation and one of the things about teaching is you never really do the same thing from one year to the next Staughton College teacher Judith Meikle was recognised at the ceremony for 50 years of teaching and said the ceremony experience was “lovely” “It was nice to be recognised for the time that you put in Year 9 student Karlee had the top job last Wednesday … and As part of national Student Principal for a Day the Kurunjang Secondary College student took over the reins from school principal Sandra Eglezos “I got to listen in on some of the meetings that happen in the principal’s office got to go to the morning briefing and the morning tea,” Karlee says “It was fun to see how teachers are when they are not … you know Karlee says the experience made her appreciate the workload of principals and teachers and to finally find out what teachers giggle about in that mysterious staffroom ‘Student connectedness’ leading teacher Tegan Aquilina says the day gives students an opportunity to find out what’s happening on the “other side” “It’s about bringing connectedness to the school; to let students know they and their opinions are valued “We always talk about how much teachers do but students also put in a lot of time and effort.”