Steady rates in Monash, with a catch

Posted to Monash Weekly (11/6/2013) on 11/6/2013 at 12:15 PM
Commenting on "Steady rates in Monash, with a catch"
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/story/1557660/steady-rates-in-monash-with-a-catch/

Many senior people in City of Monash are asset rich but income poor. They live in properties with high rateable value due to high site value, and as a result, the Council rate, water rate and land tax (if property is an investment) are high accordingly. Unless the properties are sold, these people will have to bear the burden of unreasonable increases in utility charges and rates.

The way the Council calculates the rate increase is based on simple arithmetic. Someone pulls out a magical number and applies to the last year budget rate income. If the budget was high and incorrect, the following years’ budgets will become unrealistically rubbery and the impact is compounded.

If City of Monash could survive with the lowest average rate for so long, it does not mean that the Council needs to play catch up by increasing the rate by more than double the inflation rate of the last five years.

It is important to keep in mind that provision of services is important, but at what cost. Efficient and effective use of resources in providing services is the ultimate reflection of liveability of the City. More libraries, swimming pools, carparks and administrative staff doing paper shuffling are luxuries the ratepayers can do without.

High noon as sheriff nabs fine dodgers

Posted to Monash Weekly (11/6/2013) on 11/6/2013 at 11:14 AM
Commenting on "High noon as sheriff nabs fine dodgers"
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/story/1557662/high-noon-as-sheriff-nabs-fine-dodgers/

Human rights laws are man-made and can and must be changed to deal with people who do not respect and infringe upon the rights of the masses.

It is nonsensical for judiciary and law enforcer to say that their hands are tied, or go lenient on repeat offenders or criminals. Everyone, when their titles are stripped off when not on duty, can exercise their rights to raise their voice and opinion as an individual citizen seeking changes to the incorrectness or unfairness of the laws.

I have said many times that I am a no nonsense person. I would like to see regions free from industrial laws and employment laws and with restrictive human rights, where these irresponsible culprits are punished to work as the Chain Gang, similar to those portrayed in the Wild West movies.

What will Mr Facey do with the fine-evaders after they are caught?

Monash dog fight: Kerser gets reprieve, bomb threat made (Post 3 of 3)

Posted to Monash Weekly (4/6/2013) on 4/6/2013 at 10:01 PM
Commenting on "Monash dog fight: Kerser gets reprieve, bomb threat made"
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/story/1546386/monash-dog-fight-kerser-gets-reprieve-bomb-threat-made

Sin Fong Chan, people are responsible for animals - they are defenceless and it is up to us to look after them as a community. People, well, clearly there are a lot of idiots out there

I Love Amstaffs, not all animals are defenceless, otherwise there is not the need for any law to put away pit bulls, which have track records of attacking and killing people without being provoked.

Monash dog fight: Kerser gets reprieve, bomb threat made (Post 2 of 3)

Posted to Monash Weekly (4/6/2013) on 4/6/2013 at 4:20 PM
Commenting on "Monash dog fight: Kerser gets reprieve, bomb threat made"
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/story/1546386/monash-dog-fight-kerser-gets-reprieve-bomb-threat-made

City of Monash will be the greatest and most humane City on planet Earth if the ratepayers care about the wellbeing of their fellow humans as much as they do with Kerser.

Monash dog fight: Kerser gets reprieve, bomb threat made (Post 1 of 3)

Posted to Monash Weekly (4/6/2013) on 4/6/2013 at 11:17 AM
Commenting on "Monash dog fight: Kerser gets reprieve, bomb threat made"
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/story/1546386/monash-dog-fight-kerser-gets-reprieve-bomb-threat-made

The dog was unregistered because the owner just moved to the neighbourhood. Was the dog registered when the owner was residing in other suburb prior to moving to City of Monash? If so, the owner should have known better and took all necessary precaution NOT to let the dog roam into the neighbour's backyard. Did the owner show or wrote to the Council officer about the previous registration?

We don't like many laws, but we can't be bothered to have the laws changed until things happen to us. If you are a blackberry lover and like to grow blackberry in your backyard, here is news for you. "Blackberry bushes are recognised noxious weeds in the City of Monash. Residents are required to ensure that they eradicate any such growth."

The Council Chamber is often empty during Council Meetings, an indication of ratepayers' apathy! Speak out before things get to the repair damage mode.

Klisaris rips into Zographos

Posted to Monash Weekly (6/5/2013) on 12/5/2013 at 11:32 AM
Comment on "Monash Council: Klisaris rips into Zographos"
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/story/1476470/monash-council-klisaris-rips-into-zographos/

Grow up Paul and stop using such flowery language! Whether it is the Council chamber or the Parliament House, we have witnessed the behavioural and character degradation of the members, here and overseas.

Guttenberg was revoked of his doctoral thesis due to plagiarism and led to his resignation as the Minister of Defence in Germany on 1 March 2011.

Annette Schavan offered to resign and was accepted as the Minister of Education in Germany on 9 February 2013 after a university stripped her of her doctorate for plagiarism.

Is this a case of public plagiarism?


Edited by Monash Weekly

Whether it is in council chambers in general or Parliament House, we have witnessed a lessening in the behaviour standards of representatives here and overseas.

German defence minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg was revoked of his doctoral thesis due to plagiarism and this led to his resignation on March 1, 2011.

German education minister Annette Schavan offered to resign and was accepted on February 9, 2013 after a university stripped her of her doctorate for plagiarism.

Karaoke protest turned down

Posted to Monash Weekly (2/7/2012) on 2/7/2012 9:43 PM
Commenting on "Karaoke protest turned down"
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/karaoke-protest-turned-down/2609503.aspx

The city shopping precinct is not very large compared with some suburbs. Having three karaoke bars seems far from excessive. I am not proud to live in a municipality which is second highest in contributing towards gambling loss, or in a state claiming the highest binge drinking record. With another 'entertainment' site where alcohol is served till 3am (should read as 1 am), the city is doomed, even if it is not mentioned in the Aztec doomsday calendar.

Asians in Monash

Posted to Letters to Editor, Monash Weekly on 2/7/2012 at 9:00 PM (Not yet published by Newspaper)
Title: "Asians in Monash"
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/content/letterstotheeditor/

Some of the 2011 Census data has been released. The make up of Monash leads to my following observation and raise some questions.

Asian population is definitely on the increase in the City of Monash. It is of interest to me to find out what attracts them to come to the City? What is the City going to do about the changing demographics in terms of their needs and wants, promotion of social integration, discouraging Tower of Babel building, etc.

Unfortunately, there is lack of proportional representation of Asians in the Council. I sincerely encourage all Asians to take an active role in Council matters, stand as candidates for the forthcoming Council election and be counted.

With such high Asian background population, predominantly from very competitive ethnic origins such as Chinese and Indian, also explains why City of Monash enjoy high employment rate.

Will ratepayers at City of Monash learn from Queensland state election?

Posted to Letters to Editor, Monash Weekly on 25/3/2012 at 4:50 PM (Not published by Newspaper)
Title: Will ratepayers at City of Monash learn from Queensland state election?

The number of Labor Councillors in the City of Monash is 9 out of the total of 11. I am deeply concerned about local council being used as a training ground of future state and federal politicians for candidates backed by political parties with financial and other resources. This deprives other non-politically aligned candidates the opportunity to contribute towards the good of the City and the ratepayers.

This may sound like the voice of a sour grape, but then this is a statement of fact. It is unlikely for quality and genuine independents to sacrifice their time and livelihood (including money) to campaign for a position, only to find out there is Buckley’s chance to even get back their deposit money, unless there is a level playing field. Those who have burning desire to contribute will likely pack up their boxing gloves after a number of attempts.

Better resourced and influential candidates have running mates; some are even dummies who do not supply contact details to the electoral office. The purpose of having these dummies that are unlikely to win is to preference their votes to their mates to boost the count. Unfortunately, the existing preferential voting system and non-contact disclosure cannot be amended.

Some decisions made by the City executives are just being rubber stamped by the Councillors. The Council meetings can be described as more than courteous. There are insufficient scrutiny and accountability. To name a few, these include annual rate increase, council expenses including Councillors', use of technology and most laughably the curtain at Clayton pool.

While many items seem transparent, nonsensical transparency is worth as much as the nonsense itself. It is important for ratepayers to learn more about the candidates before casting their votes this October council election. The City’s future – rate collection, development, open space, traffic management, business mix, social harmony, community health services, etc. must be discussion topics and subject to more vigorous scrutiny.

Will ratepayers at City of Monash learn from Queensland state election held on 24/3/2012?

Chinese New Year Celebration 2012 at Kingsway, City of Monash

Posted to Monash Weekly on 7/2/2012
Title: Chinese New Year Celebration 2012

Compare with previous years, the attendance was much lower. Even close to 1 pm, Kingsway was not packed. Some stalls were not open for business, and the queues at the food stalls were short and not as "deep". Conspicuously missing were the popular DVD stalls, but there were two "traders" selling DVDs in the pavement.

The very hot weather could have turned a lot of the people away. It could possibly due to this being the last Chinese New Year (CNY) celebration around Melbourne - CNY celebration fatigue.

Beads of sweat rolled down my face, and the day was hot! I played safe to have my lunch at a Grand Tofu cafe/restaurant, which I hoped the food hygiene standards were better observed.

The ground outside the Monash Library seemed to be the real cultural hub. Chinese Association of Victoria conducted several activities including lantern painting, origami making, calligraphy demonstration, and the good old tradition of solving the classical riddles written on strips of paper hung from the tent "ceiling". Other Chinese schools and associations were there as well. This patch was a lot more crowded than the food stalls.

I took a few photos of the non-Chinese dance performance on stage. The dancers wore red - the only thing that was close to Chinese tradition!

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2834859783541.2123412.1020578094&type=3&l=0f8b69dada

It was very difficult to "shoot" the lion in action because there was hardly any room to move about, let alone trying to get to the front of the crowd to capture the lion's movement close to the ground. I don't have a good camera, and cannot capture the action well at high speed.

The Lion went from shop-to-shop. It moved about on the ground, leapt in the air, lifted high to get the red packet containing money tied together with a complete lettuce to a beam above the pavement. The Lion "drank" a bottle of beer, and was likely exceeded .05. Its tail moved about like a real drunkard; it also rolled on the ground and "laughed" - well it did open its mouth flap wide.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2834912664863.2123414.1020578094&type=3&l=8af6596af4

Suddenly, the Water Dragon arrived in the City of Monash in its true form, brought along buckets of rain. Astrologically speaking, Lunar New Year began on 23/1/2012, but the Year of the Dragon actually started on 4/2/2012. This year is the Year of the Water Dragon, and it is a Black Dragon.

http://www.facebook.com/notes/sin-fong-chan-the-teacher/lesson-on-chinese-new-year-and-the-year-of-dragon/196474710450530

By now, Kingsway was deserted, and one could roll a bowling ball down the street without knocking down any pedestrian. The street was wet, and the Dragon leader asked his team members to stay put in the pavement until the rain stopped.

There were activities in the Century Walk, including the Vietnamese spring roll demonstration. I got in just at the right time; I had the last piece of spring roll from the demonstrator!

Depressed sales drove some of the more “dynamic” stallholders go round taking orders from anyone and everyone they could approach, and delivered them freshly cooked from the stalls. Eat your heart out online ordering, this is human-base customer service.

I had enough for the afternoon, and left at 4:45 pm. The sun was still hiding behind the clouds, and for more than an hour. I wanted to return to Kingsway for more fun and action, but I suffered from CYN celebration constipation! And so, I leave the reporting to someone else who attended the later part of the celebration.

Until next time, have a wonderful year. May the Dragon bring you lots and lots of water or its equivalence – wealth!

Traders spruik plan for new group

Posted to Letters To Editors on15/9/2011
Traders spruik plan for new group (12/9/2011)
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/content/letterstotheeditor/

It is unfortunate that Mt Waverley Village (MWV) appears to be a poor cousin of City of Monash compared with the more prosperous Glen Waverley and congested Clayton Shopping Centres.

I always believe that MWV has very unique characteristics that the others lack - it's like a sleeping beauty requires a Prince Charming to give her a kiss of revitalisation.

After the above being said, MWV lacks an identity - a theme or image. Glen Waverley has The Glen as an icon, and Clayton has a new pool housed in the modern Community Centre.

Shops and offices at MWV are spread out in ad hoc manner, and the train station is tucked away in a rather not so prominent position. Visitors to Mt Waverley can be excused not knowing the existence of MWV if they just drive along Stephenson Road.

There are so many real estate agents, "gurus" in marketing, along the Stephenson Road; they should be able to provide some positive input in improving MWV and overcoming some of the issues the traders might have.

It is the same in most clubs or associations that only a core group of interested people will attend meetings. The root problem generally stems from whether the management group / office bearers are perceptive and receptive to the voice of the initial attendees. The apathy is also a reflection of the traders' negative mentality and the lack of business knowhow.

If the business owners or operators are actually hands on running the businesses, the situation will be different. Unfortunately, many shops are managed or tended by employees whose attitude is nothing more than just earning a quid or two.

How many people notice the pamphlets, let alone reading the content? Will the business owners get to read the pamphlets before being disposed off by the receiver in the shops?

Survival in difficult time like now must be the paramount consideration. Ian Rusch should be complimented for his desire to form a Village Business Development group. Good luck!

Councillor backs religion education

Posted to Monash Weekly (30/5/2011) on 30/5/2011 at 4:31 PM (Not published)
Commenting on "Councillor backs religion education"
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/councillor-backs-religion-education/2178527.aspx

For goodness sake, spend the time more productively to teach subjects that are more useful, beneficial, non-controversial and universal, to help build better foundation for our children's future career and life.

Curriculum based around a whole variety of different religions is going to cause more divides, conflicts and bullying at schools.

Australia is running on two-speed economy, but the world is running on two-speed academy. One look at some of the textbooks in our current schools shocks me to no end that no wonder we are falling behind some of our more academically competitive neighbours.

Commonsense tells us that no one in this world can give a balanced view in all religions, or qualified enough in all religions to deliver unbiased lessons.

It's confusing enough for the young and old to work out whether Man was created or evolved, the world was created in 7-days (in what measurement), a religion NOT a religion (Buddhism), a belief becomes a religion (Taoism), a messenger becomes God or son of God.

There will be dispute as to which messenger was the true messenger of God, or my God is powerful than someone else's God.

History can be fudged, so can Religion Education.

Monash cafe ban goes up in smoke

Posted to Monash Weekly (28/2/2011) on 3/3/2011 at 11:42 AM

Commenting on “Monash cafe ban goes up in smoke”

http://www.monashweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/monash-cafe-ban-goes-up-in-smoke/2088784.aspx

It is load of nonsense for Cr Stephen Dimopoulos to say a Monash-specific ban would be hard on traders and thinks that the cost is too great to implement it.

This very negative and short-sighted view is not dissimilar to Cr Paul Klisaris who voted against the legislation he had designed feeling that he would be supporting something that only filled the glass half-way.

There will always be people who enjoy lighting up a cigarette inside or outside eating places, but there are a lot more who don’t. By promoting City of Monash as a complete smoke-free zone for café, we can attract non-smokers coming to help improve the food business in the City.

Unfortunately I disagree with Cr Geoff Lake trying to wash his hands clean by saying that “al fresco dining was something for the state government to tackle.” City of Monash can introduce by-laws to overcome this problem. What’s wrong being the first City to implement such policy?

Chinese New Year and Lantern Festival 'pirates' irk resident

Posted to Monash Weekly (21/2/2011) on 23/2/2011 at 2:25 AM
Commenting on "Chinese New Year and Lantern Festival 'pirates' irk resident"

http://www.monashweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/chinese-new-year-and-lantern-festival-pirates-irk-resident/2082047.aspx

The matter was reported to the police on duty, and I did express my concern, pointing out this would be the best time to catch these traders red-handed. My complaint was noted, but unlikely investigated.

I later also reported about the imitation handbags being sold just next to the police caravan to another police, but she just casually told me that she knew about it.

After I left the festival, I went to the Glen Waverley police station, and reported the same to a senior constable. I was informed that this was a Federal Police matter, but he would contact the police on duty to find out more. I suggested that checking the list of stall holders would enable the police to identify law-breakers. I was also told that traders were allowed to sell imitation handbags, so long if the customers were not charged the price of genuine ones, and they were aware of what they were purchasing.

Genuine DVDs are never sold in plastic sleeves at bargain basement price. Cover case pictures and bar-codes are sharp and not reproduced from scanned images.

Curtain falls, what’s next?

Posted to Letters to the Editor, Monash Weekly 21/2/2011
Curtain falls, what’s next?

Who is going to pay for the on-going up-keep and maintenance of the curtain at the Clayton Swimming Pool? The ratepayers, of course!

Every dollar spent on the curtain is a dollar sacrificed on other items such as maintenance of roads, street lighting, tree pruning, rubbish collection, etc. Now that this matter is so publicised, the flow-on negative effects will outweigh the benefits. There will be additional financial cost on security in addition to cost stated above, and social cost such as racial/religious harmony.

The next DEMAND will be prayer room and special toilets in all public facilities in the City of Monash. Some larger organisations have bowed to pressure to provide special prayer rooms, and companies must make allowance for workers to pray during work hours. Some religious believers DO NOT use toilet paper, but wash the soiled bottoms with water instead.

While I was assisting in a project in a middle-eastern country, my colleagues and I were advised to be sensitive not to eat in front of fellow colleagues at lunch break during the fasting period!

City of Monash welcomes Year of the Rabbit

Posted to Letters to the Editor, Monash Weekly 18/2/2011
City of Monash welcomes Year of the Rabbit

City of Monash celebrated the year of Rabbit with another successful, colourful, eventful, foodful (a new word) and playful celebration at Kings Way on Sunday 13/2/2011.

In fact, it was a day full of noise and smoke - yup, the rhythm of the drums and gongs that the dragons and lions danced to, and the noise of the firecrackers which was supposedly for driving away any evil spirits from the City of Monash. Unfortunately, the smoke from the firecrackers, deep-frying and barbequing in the open air was not very green for the environment.

There were activities keeping the kids entertained from castle jumping which I don't think was very Chinese at all, to lantern painting. It was really great to see so many non-Chinese performing cultural dances on stage, and participating as the dragon legs.

The aroma from the fried crumbed calamari would wet anyone's appetite. There were also the popular satays stalls, and rice cake cut into cubes that pan-fried with eggs.

Stalls selling DVDs were doing booming business. There were at least three tents and two carts offering DVDs at bargain basement price.

The highlight of the day was the lion dance performance. It was awesome that the lions hopped around so playfully or shall I say mischievously on the long steel columns, as though they were just dancing on level ground.

It's another year, another celebration! Well done and thanks to the organisers, City of Monash and sponsors. I enjoyed it thoroughly!

Monash Council's move opens the Pandora Box

Posted to Letters to the Editor, Monash Weekly 15/2/2011
Title: Monash Council's move opens the Pandora Box

I have written in various papers including this about my views on segregation, whether it is on businesses in Kingsway or the use of swimming pool.

Multiculturalism is not a one-way traffic. Australians are asked to be patient, tolerant, and acceptant with other’s cultures, and expected to learn about them, and yet many immigrants do not reciprocate. Unless there is a common unifying force to bind them together, the Australian social fabric will be torn.

Just on language alone - as myriads of immigrants from different races and ethnic backgrounds reach our shore grow by the day, and more and more indigenous Australians joining the mainstream society at large, Australia will soon become a Tower of Babel. Not only does this create misunderstanding and suspicion among people, but also bring forth many workplace and road safety problems.

There are cases whereby expensive construction projects are delayed because initial design plans did not include facilities for certain religious groups and needed to be rectified. Many public hospitals have to provide special meals, not because of health reason, but of religious origin. Cultural and religious diversity will only increase, and segregation, special treatment and privileges have to stop now before they multiply like cancer cells.

Should Australia give special privileges to the indigenous Australians since their fore-parents were here before Captain Cook founded Australia? Neither an indigenous Australian nor an immigrant should be given special privileges. However, Australia has an obligation and responsibility to provide the opportunity to lift the standard of living of all Australians including indigenous Australians and immigrants.

Former Singapore Prime Minister, Lee Kwan Yew once said, “give a beggar a gold coin, he will ask for a second one”. In some countries where special privileges were given to a specific group, they soon rise to become a force that can exert strong political influence to topple any government attempting to remove the privileges. Do we want this to happen in Australia or in your City like Monash?

I firmly believe that multiculturalism should make way for uniform practice in many publicly funded organisations.

Proposed Monash 6-storey Development

Posted to Letters to the Editor, Monash Weekly 7/1/2011
Title: Proposed Monash 6-storey Development

There are concerning issues regarding the proposed six-storey development including a Karaoke bar with 3 am licence:

• Over concentration of restaurants / food premises will cannibalise existing businesses
• A lot more late-night alcohol-fuelled violence will be in the precinct
• More demand on police and council resources to ensure Monash residents peace and quiet enjoyment of their properties at night
• Possible organised gangs will be attracted and infiltrated to this area with early morning licence
• Non-existing by-laws to ensure balanced mix of business

Although I'm a Chinese by descent, I definitely do not like to see the Kingsway turned into a Chinatown like Box Hill, Springvale, Richmond in Melbourne, or Eastwood, Chatswood and Cabramatta in Sydney - almost filled with Asian restaurants or businesses.

Only a balanced mix of businesses and ethnicity in the City of Monash will ensure racial harmony in the near and long-term future.

Decline Frontrunner Greg Male coy on Monash mayoral prospects

Posted to Monash Weekly (13/12/2010) on 15/12/2010 at 10:45 AM

Commenting on “Decline Frontrunner Greg Male coy on Monash mayoral prospects”

http://www.monashweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/frontrunner-greg-male-coy-on-monash-mayoral-prospects/2023979.aspx

I hardly hear about the councillors - they don't appear in or write to the local papers, talk to the traders, or meet the residents.

What do they actually do for the City of Monash, except asking more and more for their pockets? Do they know about the city budgets and the wellbeing of their wards?

Segregation spells the downfall of Equality!

Posted to Letters to the Editor, Monash Weekly on 20/10/2010
Title: Segregation spells the downfall of Equality!

Monash Council last week moved towards having women-only swimming and exercise sessions at the Clayton Community Centre once a fortnight.

I strongly oppose gender segregation whether it is religious base or otherwise.
This is a bad precedence for future argument about separate workplace offices, classrooms, buses, train carriages, taxis, restaurants, cinemas, hospitals and the list just goes on.

Imagine in a crowded train or bus, aren't women in closer contact with men? Will there be enough female gynaecologists to help pregnant women or deliver babies?

I'm a Chinese by descent, and there are a lot of differences between my beliefs, values and the Australian way of life. I choose to be an Australian, and therefore I can't be dogmatic expecting the country / fellow citizens to change for me. I have to adapt or compromise to some extent. In the worst case scenario, I avoid!

Some women chose to walk 10km each week to swim at Kingston Council's Don Tatnell Leisure Centre instead of using the Clayton pool, that's their prerogative. There are different modes of transport, or they can carpool with friends. On the positive side, walking is a good form of exercise.

It will cost City of Monash $45,080 to restrict views from outside the centre into the Clayton pool and exercise room during the program.

Who pays for the $45,080? All ratepayers including myself do. I don't expect the Mayor or the City to waste my money in such proposal.

Segregation spells the downfall of Equality!