Over the weekend of October 22/23, Rowville house price records were set on consecutive days. On the Saturday $845,000 was paid for a Raymond Road residence and the following day a McKay Road home was sold for $930,000. Both homes were on one acre blocks on the Twin Views Estate.
Rowville and Lysterfield Stories
This award winning book, launched by Professor Geoffrey Blainey on 20 October, has been so warmly received by our readers that all copies of the first edition have been sold. We have ordered a reprint and hope to have extra copies available by the time this edition reaches you in early December.
The book will make a great Christmas present so include it on your shopping list. But be sure to buy early as the books will go quickly. You can get your copy at the Rowville Library, Neighbourhood House or the Customer Service Centre.
Knox Pride Awards
Rowville residents and organisations were wonderfully successful at the 2005 awards night held at the Knox Civic Centre on Monday 14 November, taking out top honours in four of the nine categories: Stringybark Garden Competition, Secondary School Pride Award, Proud Sustainability Award and Proud Heritage Award.
• As reported in last month’s News, Evelyn and Lindsay Wilson were the grand champions in the Stringybark Garden Competition.
• Rowville Secondary College was named the winner of the Secondary School Pride Award. The school has worked hard over the last two years to improve its appearance. This year, the school has budgeted to appoint a full-time gardener, and held several working bees with nearly 100 parents and students attending. Initiatives have included the planting of 52 mature trees, weeding, mulching and planting in several garden beds, and the painting of school buildings.
• Heany Park Scout Group has had hands-on involvement in the development of Heany Park. The park is now a well-maintained area which provides an oasis for young people to meet. The scout group recently held an Open Day that attracted 200 visitors. The history of Heany Park was displayed and over 700 indigenous trees were planted. Heany Park Scout Group holds regular environmental awareness events including educational walks in the park and night spotlighting for native fauna. The Group won the Proud Sustainability Award in competition with ten other entrants.
• In the Proud Heritage Award the R-LC News entry was judged equal winner with Evelyn Hodgkin’s two books of stories about Bayswater. The News entry was the three volume set of Rowville and Lysterfield Stories recently launched as part of Rowville’s centenary celebrations. The book contains 99 articles and over 200 photographs and is organized around six themes: the changing landscape; the Kulin nation and the Native Police Corps; family memories; Stamford Park; the Military/ POW Camp; schools, clubs and organizations.
• In the Business Pride Award, Stud Park Shopping Centre was commended for its initiative in implementing a number of environmentally friendly projects including energy saving, cardboard recycling, the use of environmental friendly cleaning products and the introduction of Stud Park branded reusable bags.
Congratulations
Commonwealth Games baton relay
Of the 22 Knox residents selected to carry the Commonwealth Games relay baton, seven are from Rowville and Lysterfield. Congratulations to Peter Gray, Shaun Panayi, Sarah Heib, Kirsten Hetherington, Katia Kesce-Nagy, Allan Stanfield Porter and Daniel Stanfield Porter who will run with the baton through Wantirna South and Knoxfield on Monday 13 March.
Top Teacher
The prep pupils at Karoo Primary School were delighted when their teacher, Judy Howell, was named among the top 100 Australian teachers in the National Excellence in Teaching Awards.
Top Student
Rowville student, Fabrice Jasmin, has been named as one of the recipients of the inaugural Australian Vocational Student Prize. Fabrice has won a certificate and $2,000 in prize money from the Australian Government.
Coach of the Year
Rowville Football Club’s Under 15s coach, Leeann Gill, has been named female coach of the year by the Australian Football Coaches Association. Leeann is the first Eastern Football League coach to be honoured with a state award by the AFCA.
Bryan Power