Melbourne goes back to the 80s...

The weather may have been up and down, but welcome to July all the same. Traditionally the Village Voice holds open our printing deadlines so as to accommodate coverage of the Melbourne Fete and Carnival in our July edition. It does mean a bit of frantic running up and down taking pictures, writing copy and finishing artwork, but we feel it’s worth it to make sure we can give our readers timely photos and words recording this splendid village celebration. This year it was back to the 80s and everyone got into the spirit of another amazing carnival – and the sun shone too! Pictures are now uploaded and are available to view - and purchase.

Our front page story is perhaps a little more sober, with a warning from a prominent shopkeeper of the lack of footfall in Melbourne centre following the closure of the NatWest bank last year. We have great independent shops in the village, let’s give them our custom.
Inside, and it’s great news for local builder Alan Staley who won not one, but two Federation of Master builder awards for his restoration work at the Dower House. Meanwhile, Frank Hughes interviews Griselda Kerr, from the Dower House, about her collection of 105 different types of roses.

This month we particularly enjoyed interviewing Duncan Hogg, who provides free self-defence for the disabled in Milton, and we also had a great time at the school reunion event put on by the Melbourne Historical Research Group at the Assembly Rooms.

Those who want to invest in the Whistlewood community hub are still in with a chance – they aim to reach £80,000 in local donations by August 31 so that the total can be match-funded. How great would it be if the money was raised? It would mean another community building for Melbourne and a fabulous eco project too.