Photo of a recent dance work @ VCA

As you may know, I have just finished my studies at the Victorian College of the Arts, which I undertook over 4 years. During my time at the college I was exposed to a wide range of artists, giving industry connections and a skillset that I will be eternally greatful for. Recently, the college has been struggling for money, and as such (just before I started), it merged with Melbourne University. This was not much more than a firming up of the finances of the college and was not seen as much of a threat.

Doorway @ VCA

Last year, the college started to bleed; it was renamed the FACULTY OF THE VICTORIAN COLLEGE OF THE ARTS. The Victorian College of the Arts, as an instution did not exist anymore. Recently, the University of Melbourne 2010 Business Plan was released, stating that the Schools of Dance, Drama and Production will be condensed into the “School of Performance” while the Schools of Film and Television and Visual Arts will be diluted into the “School of Exhibition”. (The School of Music has already been amalgamated with the University’s music department as reflected in the College’s recent rebranding as the V.C.A.M.)

This is the first direct hit for the college. You can read more about the changes and cuts to this wonderful arts college at www.savevca.org

Iron gates of the Art School @ VCA

WE NEED YOUR HELP

- Head over to www.savevca.org and take 5 minutes to write to the politicians that could save the VCA.
- Follow the campaign on twitter at www.twitter.com/savevca
- Join the campaign page on Facebook at http://tinyurl.com/o8jxwl
- Join the mailing list by visiting http://tinyurl.com/rcsqte
- Write to the media outlining your contact with the college and reference the site (savevca.org)
- Talk to your friends about the changes and spread the word

Together, we can force the state and federal governments to fund this amazing arts college.

If you would like further information, please feel free to contact me.

Thanks for your time!

Geordie

A while back, in fact in April of last year, I wrote about my frustration at my local council for a parking fine I recieved in error. See the original post HERE! I just received an email yesterday from my local members stating that the Parking Infringement Notice will be revoked and all monies paid will be reimbursed.

Here is what I did…

1. Wrote to my local member of council
2. Included all my previous appeal information
3. Begged him to have someone with half a brain look at it

So in the most professional way possible…

I WIN, I WIN, I WIN!!!!! DAMN MONEY MAKING PARKING INSPECTORS….

We now return you to your regulary scheduled program…

April 1st 2009
I received an email today, (see post) informing me that the notice will be withdrawn and that all costs associated with this notice will be refunded as soon as possible. What did I do? Contacted my local member and appealed for some sanity. Please feel free to contact me for advice in this matter. Public: 1 Parking Inspectors (Revenue Rasers): 0
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Now we are all trying to do our bit for the environment, and increasingly people are leaving their car at home and taking public transport to work/uni/school. I would like to class me as one of those people, who is committed to reducing the amount i use my car. If I am going into uni, i try not to drive anymore. I either walk to the station and catch the train in, or if I am very late, I drive to the station and then catch the train in.

Today was no different… I was running late. So I jumped in the car and headed up to Moonee Ponds Station. The parking at the station disappears well before 8am, but that is another issue. There are a number of parking spots near my friend Kates house that are unsigned and if you are lucky some will be available.

I found one at the dog leg in Railway Crescent. I parked my car, popped off my radio face, and headed to the station. I went to uni, didnt have to look for parking there, had a few meetings and around 5pm headed home.

Driving in Victoria, Rules and Responsibilities” a publication by VicRoads, page 16

I arrived at Moonee Ponds at about half past, and as I was walking back to my car spied the worst thing you can ever see when you arrive back at you car… that dreaded white piece of paper. Yep, it was a parking fine, Code: 804 Section: 170 (3) Stopped – Within 10m of intersection. $110!!! At that price i could have driven in, parked in the valet service at crown casino, brought lunch on Southbank, about a kilo of lollies at Nutshack, and then on my way home, filled up the car. Okay, slightly over the top but you get the idea.

The first thing that annoyed me was that I knew that parking inspectors patrolled these backstreets like blood thirsty vampires, and in the morning I made sure I was clear of the dogleg. I counted out my steps and it was exactaly 10 to the front of my bullbar. The second thing that i noticed was that they classed it as an intersection, but my interpretation was that it was a dogleg. After checking on Google Maps and in the Melways, sure enough there is no intersection there, as an intersection is described by VicRoads as “where two or more roads meet”.

The dog leg of Railway Crescent

So as soon as i got home, straight onto the computer and post my info on this blog… hehe! But then I drafted up a letter to the council. Please find a copy of what i wrote below, and please feel free to use it as a template if you get a parking fine and want to contest it.

“To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing in regards to a parking fine I received on the 15th of April 2008, at 1:35PM on Railway Crescent in Moonee Ponds. The infringement notice I received cited the offence as Code 804 Section ROAD RULE 170 (3) – stopped – within 10m of an intersection, with a penalty of $110.
I would like to contest this fine for the following reasons:
I contest the definition of the intersection in question
I contest that my car was parked within 10m of the intersection in question
According to “Driving in Victoria, Rules and Responsibilities” a publication by VicRoads, page 16 states that “An INTERSECTION is where two or more roads meet”. According to the Greater Melbourne Melway (Edition 29, 2002), Google Maps Australia, and WhereIs Australia the intersection in question is not the meeting of two roads, but a continuation of Railway Crescent Moonee Ponds., which runs between Margret and Park Streets. Please find documentation below:
The Greater Melbourne Melway (Edition 29 2002), Page 29 H6

Google Maps (www.maps.google.com search “Railway Crescent, Moonee Ponds”)

WhereIs (www.whereis.com.au search “Railway Crescent, Moonee Ponds”)

After returning to Moonee Ponds from the city, around 5:30pm, I discovered the fine and paced out the distance from the front of my car to the power pole on the corner of the intersection in question. I did not have a tape measure or any other distance measurement device on my person, so instead I paced out 10 generous steps and from my calculations, believe that my car was parked outside 10m of the intersection in question. Please find photos of the car below.

If there is frequent confusion in relation to the parking options available in this street, proper parking and no standing signs should be erected.
I thank you for your time and hope to clean this matter up as soon as possible.
Regards,
Geordie Barker”

I will keep you all updated with progress as to the contesting of the fine.

Please post your experiences with parking fines below.

Cheers,

Geordie