The Voice of Mill Park

Cameron Blewett

The Voice of Mill Park is the place where residents of Mill Park Victoria can find out the latest news, what is happening and where.

  1. May 18

    Voice of Mill Park: From the Reaper Road‑test to Real‑World Repairs:

    In today’s short check‑in from Mill Park, I share a behind‑the‑scenes update on learning Reaper for production at home, wrangling mic gain, managing background noise, and eyeing some sound treatment to keep the cars and creaks at bay. Then I pivot to a serious local issue: the recent vandalism of the accessible public toilets at Mill Park’s much‑loved all‑abilities play space, with damage topping $50,000. I reflect on how we, as a community, can respond, balancing accountability with creating better outlets for young people, and rebuilding a sense of belonging after years of disrupted routines. I also run through what’s on around Whittlesea: tonight’s council meeting livestream; the Belong at the PRACC art exhibition (free entry, closing 27 May); Social Golf Tuesdays for over‑50s; the Food Waste and Garden Service pop‑up sessions rotating through Plenty Valley, Bundoora Square, Lalor, and Mill Park Library; the Young Parents Group on Thursdays at the Y Plenty Valley; and upcoming dates at Mill Park Secondary College, including senior campus tours (20 May, 10 June, 24 June) and the Senior Campus Music Night on Friday 19 June at the Performing Arts Centre. More community spotlights and local business chats are on the way, thanks for tuning in to Voice of Mill Park! ---------------------------------------- Disgraceful behaviour leaves a trail of destruction 2026 Art Exhibition - Belong Mill Park Secondary College - Senior Campus Tours 2026 SNR Campus Music Concert Council Meeting

  2. May 11

    The Voice of Mill Park: Men’s Health, Art, Writing and Side Hustles

    In this episode, I give a quick local roundup for Mill Park and surrounds while still road‑testing Reaper for the show. On the community calendar: the Men’s Health Forum this Sunday at Whittlesea Masonic Lodge (20 Beech Street, Whittlesea) with morning tea, lunch and arvo tea included; the Belong annual art exhibition in the Blue Gum Room through 27 May; and “Framing Your Artwork,” a hands‑on workshop at the Plenty Ranges Arts and Convention Centre (book via TryBooking). There’s also KPT Community Theatre’s production of Grease on Thursday night, plus a creative writing workshop for the National Australian Heritage Festival at Ziebell’s Farmhouse Museum and Heritage Garden in Thomastown. Closer to home, weekly and monthly favourites continue: Young Parents Group every Thursday at the Y Plenty Valley (10:30–12)Chapter Brunch book club at Against the Grind (Olliena Drive) with The Fourth Wing as the first pick for 25–45sOrganic Gardening Workshop at Epping’s Galada Community Centre (bring a small soil sample for free pH testing)Mill Park Library has Side Hustles for Extra Income with Rebecca Sharkey on Wed 27 May (1–2 pm), plus regulars likeChatty Café (Thu 6:30–7:30 pm)LEGO Club (Fri 4–5 pm)English Conversations (Mon 11–12)Sewing Club (next Monday).Whittlesea Probus marks its 20th birthday on 15 May at Whittlesea Bowls Club, the Whittlesea Men’s Shed is open Mon/Thu/Fri 9–2 (30 Whittlesea–Yea Road), and the Thursday AA meeting runs at Miller Community Centre. If you’ve got an event, email notes@millpark.blog and I’ll share it on the blog and the show. Men's Health Forum Framing Your Artwork Belong Art Exhibition Grease @ PRACC Creative Writing Workshop Young Parents Group Chapter Brunch Book Club

  3. May 4

    Voice of Mill Park: From Reaper to Roadside; Caring for Our Patch in Mill Park

    In this shorter, slightly experimental episode, I fire up some new recording software (hello, Reaper) and share a candid update on the tech side of the show, what’s working, what’s daunting, and whether I’ll stick with it or return to old faithfuls like GarageBand, Audacity, or my first‑gen RODECaster Pro. I also take a lap around local happenings and concerns in and around Mill Park: a call for better upkeep along Plenty Road after spotting a deceased kangaroo on the centre strip, and a broader reflection on how pride in place starts with consistent care from all levels of government. On the community front, I spotlight the Whittlesea Masonic Centre’s Men’s Health Forum (Sun 17 May, 8:30am–5:30pm, 20 Beech Street, Whittlesea) and run through local events including AA meetings at the Mill Park Community Centre (Thursdays 7pm), plus this week’s Yarra Plenty Regional Library sessions (Cutting for Beginners, Relaxed Storytime, Chatty Café, Lego Friday). From council events—youth leadership, over‑50s exercise, learn‑to‑ride, Pricing for Profit, the PRACC exhibition, community playgroup, and a session on managing screen time—to behind‑the‑scenes show prep in Notion, it’s a community‑minded catch‑up and a nudge to be proactive about our health and our neighbourhoods. https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1565285 https://www.yprl.vic.gov.au/events/?locations=MIL https://www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/Things-to-see-and-do/Events/Events-calendar

  4. Apr 21

    The Voice of Mill Park: Support Services, ANZAC Dawn, and What’s On at PRACC

    In this episode of The Voice of Mill Park, I catch up in the evening to share what’s on around our community and why I started this podcast as a simple, reliable local resource. I spotlight two important supports: the Lalor and District Men’s Shed as a place for connection, purpose and skills after work and retirement, and the Mill Park Alcoholics Anonymous group meeting Thursdays at 7:00 pm at Mill Park’s Miller Community Centre—reminding listeners that help and community are close by if you or someone you love needs it. I also run through upcoming events: at the Plenty Ranges Arts and Convention Centre—Once Upon a One More Time (Ivanhoe Grammar), an art exhibition on 2 May, Sylvie Paladino, and the 2026 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow on 7 May (15+). Around the City of Whittlesea: business mentoring sessions at Janefield Community Centre, parenting workshops including “Parenting Children Who Worry,” a young parents group at The Y at Westfield Plenty Valley, Coffee with Council at Velvet Bean Café (Epping), and ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Epping RSL (prelude 5:00 am, service 6:00 am, gunfire breakfast after). Libraries note: closed on Saturday for the public holiday; highlights include Mindful Doodling with Lou Endicott, Jobs & Careers, Chatty Café, Friday Lego, Knitting Club, and English Conversation. Plus, Mill Park Community House Term 2 programs and St Francis of Assisi Dance Night fundraiser on 27 June. As always, send your local tips to notes@millpark.blog and I’ll do my best to cover them—GarageBand hiccups or not!  Links:  Mill Park AA Group Lalor & District Men’s Shed PRACC - What's On Parenting children who worry Young Parents Group Coffee with Council ANZAC Day dawn service Chatty Cafe Australia

  5. Apr 6

    Voice of Mill Park's Local Lowdown: Events, Reforms, and Safety Reminders for Mill Park

    In today’s episode, I kick off the first week of school holidays in Mill Park with a safety reminder for drivers: slow down in our residential streets and drive to the conditions, especially with more kids out and about. I run through what’s on locally, including Mill Park Leisure Centre’s five-day swim and water safety program, La Trobe Sport Bundoora’s high‑energy holiday sports comp for ages 5–12, and a stack of events at the Plenty Ranges Arts and Convention Centre—Splash Test Dummies, Luke Kidgell’s Good Intentions, and Stephen K Amos—plus free public transport this month to help you get around. I also flag a superhero cartooning workshop with illustrator Mark Guthrie, ongoing Council social sport and activities, and a useful session on navigating food allergies with dietitian Susie from Nutrilicious Dietetics.  Beyond events, I touch on recent Victorian rental reforms standardising application forms, the expanded school phone and wearable ban from 28 January next year, and a timely smoke alarm safety check reminder. I give a quick local foodie shout‑out to Moon Slice Pizza in Thomastown, and wrap up with how you can support the show via the value‑for‑value model—time, talent or treasure—and how to get in touch with feedback and tips. Links Mentioned: https://northern.starweekly.com.au/news/test-your-smoke-alarm-when-clocks-turn-back/ https://northern.starweekly.com.au/news/school-phone-ban-expanded/ https://northern.starweekly.com.au/news/more-rent-reforms-take-effect/ https://moonslice-pizza-and-pasta.tuckerfox.com.au/ https://www.yprl.vic.gov.au/events/?locations=MIL https://www.pracc.com.au/Whats-On/PRACC-Program/Splash-Test-Dummies https://www.pracc.com.au/Whats-On/All-Events/Stephen-K-Amos-Now-Were-Talking https://www.pracc.com.au/Whats-On/All-Events/Luke-Kidgell-Good-Intentions https://www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/Things-to-see-and-do/Events/Events-calendar/Cartooning-and-illustration-workshop https://collections.humanitix.com/la-trobe-sport-easter-school-holiday-camps-2026-bundoora-campus https://www.millparkleisure.com.au/

  6. Mar 30

    The Voice of Mill Park. Short and Croaky: Your Mill Park Week Ahead

    In this short and slightly croaky Tuesday catch‑up, I run through what’s happening around Mill Park this week and share a few thoughts on local issues. With Easter on the doorstep, remember Mill Park Library and most council facilities will be closed on Good Friday (3 April) and Easter Monday (6 April). I touch on this week’s events—Storytime, Chatty Cafe, Walking Football at Mill Park Basketball Stadium, the Cinemagic film screening on 1 April, and a shout‑out to the sold‑out Fast Track Barista course—plus community groups like the young parents program at the Y in Plenty Valley. I also recap Plenty Parklands Primary’s rainy but well‑attended Family Fun Night, note ongoing teacher industrial action and my hope we avoid more disruption, and give an update on our local petitions, including the push for a toilet and bin at Telopea Reserve. I call out some on‑the‑ground wins and worries—like the long grass finally mown along Plenty Road near Childs Road (and that lingering kangaroo carcass), and the need to keep our elected representatives focused on genuine Mill Park issues as election season approaches. There’s a big thank‑you to the Direct to Boot team at Woolies Stables for consistently going above and beyond. If you want more local insights, sign up at millpark.blog for the five‑email Mill Park primer and the Monday newsletter with what’s coming up on the show. Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you next episode once this cough clears!

  7. Mar 23

    Teachers’ Strike Fallout and Your Week in Mill Park

    In today’s episode, I check in on Mill Park as the teachers’ strike disrupts schooling and share my disappointment with both sides for letting it reach this point. I also update you on local community happenings: my petition for toilets and rubbish bins at Telopea Reserve (I’ll be out collecting signatures and chatting with locals), the upcoming six-month closure of Mill Park’s BlueFit pool from Monday 20 April with lessons relocated to South Morang, and the South Morang Youth Hub funding push highlighted at council. I run through local events and notices, including Thomastown Library’s limited reopening, Mill Park Library’s job skills and story time sessions, Plenty Parklands Primary’s family fun night, and Mill Park Secondary College’s July production of “Once Upon a One More Time,” with tickets on sale in April. I also flag Whittlesea activities like the Know Your City Bus Tour for over-50s, plus various workshops and community listings I’ll link in the show notes. I wrap up with a reminder to send through your community news to feature on the pod and tease next week’s interviews with locals. As always, this is a listener-supported show—your tips, time and local leads keep it going. Links to articles mentioned: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1558092 https://www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/Things-to-see-and-do/Events/Events-calendar?dlv_OC%20CL%20Public%20Events%20Listing=(dd_OC%20Composite%20Date=24%20Mar%202026%7C30%20Mar%202026) https://northern.starweekly.com.au/news/youth-hub-site-chosen/ https://www.bluefitswimming.com.au/news/temporary-closure https://www.yprl.vic.gov.au/events/?locations=MIL

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The Voice of Mill Park is the place where residents of Mill Park Victoria can find out the latest news, what is happening and where.