It was a smashing good evening!

30 keen Merrifield cricketers came out to meet the Donnybrook cricket club for an evening of fun!

The kids had a great time learning valuable movement skills and team values.

Check out the snaps below.

 

 

Meet Dan from Kookaburra Ridge Meats

Growing up in Lakes Entrance, Dan was five when he first visited the farm of a family friend. Although he loved it, it would be many years and several careers later before he started his own farming adventure. ‘I’d travelled the world, then hit forty. I decided to sell up my business and property in Melbourne, return to Gippsland and start something new.’

That ‘something’ is Kookaburra Ridge Meats. Based in Carrajung Lower in the gorgeous Strezlecki Ranges, it is a 52-acre property with its own wildlife sanctuary Dan oversees with his wife and three year old son. Besides tending to the sheep, cows, pigs and hens, Dan also cultivates numerous fruit trees plus veggie and herb gardens, extending what he can offer the Farmers’ Market.

‘It’s great to hear people say our lamb and pork products are the best they’ve tried. It’s extremely satisfying to eat a meal where we’ve grown all the ingredients. We know how the animal has lived and died and what it’s been fed. We also know that our veggies, herbs and fruit have not been sprayed with chemicals. We conduct our farming in the most natural way possible and give our animals a lot of love and respect.’

When asked if he has a favourite from his produce, Dan names his mutton small-goods. ‘We produce an incredibly tasty kransky, a smooth and creamy cabana and a spicy pepperoni. But I can’t really choose a favourite. If you’ve only ever eaten mass produced supermarket meat you’ll be surprised how much better ethically raised meat tastes – and its better for your health too!’

Having attended two Merrifield Farmers’ Markets in 2017, Dan is excited for what 2018 has in store. ‘It’s fascinating to see a new community begin and grow. The cultural mix of people is fantastic and the feedback from residents has been great so far. We’re a small farm, but we’re looking forward to bringing our amazing meats to the Merrifield community for many years to come!’

Visit the Merrifield Farmers’ Market, held every Saturday, to meet Dan and other local stallholders.

 

Click here for more information.

Kookaburra Ridge Meats Facebook

 

MERRIFIELD CONNECT FEATURE IN THE HERALD SUN

Merrifield developer creates its own public transport system

Nathan Mawby, Herald Sun
January 28, 2018

MELBOURNE’S booming new housing estates are swelling so fast they’re leaving public transport and infrastructure behind.

So one of the city’s developers has taken matters into its own hands and made its own public transport system.

From January 30, a bus service will link the Merrifield development in Mickleham with local schools, shops and Craigieburn train station.

Believed to be a first for the state, the development by MAB and Gibson Property Corporation has scheduled its own transit until the state-run services can catch up.

Merrifield project director Matt Planner said the idea, which had taken a few years to come to fruition, would connect with Metro timetables at Craigieburn train station and had been cleared to use existing bus stops where possible.

“It’s really about providing the stepping stones to the services that will come in the fullness of time, but allowing the community and residents to benefit from them in the short term,” Mr Planner said.

The service will cost residents $20 a year and will run at peak travel periods in the morning and afternoon, with demand from families, school kids and commuters already strong.

Mr Planner said more than 50 people had paid for the service prior to its launch, with 25 seats available on the bus — but they would reassess this based on demand, with Merrifield expected to house more than 30,000 people once complete.

“There’s been a lot of thought go into the route, but we will certainly be listening to the community about the service,” Mr Planner said.

It was hoped demand for the bus service would help fast track government plans for permanent public transport features in the area, he added: “We expect the patronage will help provide a reason for the government to create more permanent services in the long run.”

Providing the service at an earlier stage is also expected to encourage more people to commute long-term.

“Behaviour patterns can be established early on, so having the service that typically doesn’t exist in these growing communities should give people choice,” Mr Planner said.

He urged other developers, and even community groups, to consider setting up their own public transport systems.

Merrifield resident Mandy Glassey, who’ll be among those to take advantage of the service, said she was looking forward to becoming a commuter after driving three hours a day to her job in South Melbourne.

“Getting a train will mean I can get some time back,” Ms Glassey said.

“I would have survived without it, but it might have meant I looked for other work.”

A Transport for Victoria spokesman said the government was working to improve public transport across the state, but was supportive of communities identifying solutions to local transport challenges.

“The Government is investing in new and better bus networks across metropolitan and regional areas as the population and demand for public transport services grows,” he said.

Click here to view the full article.

New Merrifield Connect bus service announced in Melbourne’s thriving north

Merrifield – Victoria’s largest mixed-use master planned community will soon offer its growing community a new bus service ‘Merrifield Connect’ – providing an essential connection to its closest metropolitan train station, community services, shopping centre and local schools.

Operating weekdays, the Merrifield Connect bus service will start moving its first passengers on 30 January 2018, to help bridge a gap in transport services in Melbourne’s rapidly expanding northern corridor with a community bus service for residents in Merrifield.

It is the first time a developer in Victoria has offered its own community bus service and highlights Merrifield’s commitment to setting new benchmarks for the creation of sustainable urban living in Melbourne’s growth areas.

“We are extremely passionate about our Merrifield community and the opportunity we have to deliver beyond the masterplan offer,” said Merrifield Project Director, Matthew Planner.

“Merrifield Connect is one of many initiatives we are delivering and a further example of the role we can play to foster connections in our community and to ensure our residents have timely access to critical services, facilities and infrastructure,” said Matthew.

Merrifield Community Development Manager, Tennille Bradley-Ow said the service would provide a much needed interim solution for existing and future residents needing more transport services. It will also importantly offer a platform for the provision of future public transport services in Melbourne’s north.

“Merrifield Connect will link our residents who do not have access to a car, or are unable to drive, with the essential services they need to thrive in Melbourne’s north,” said Tennille.

“This is a really important service and we already know of families who will be using it to get their children to local schools and amenities.”

A number of the 1,500 existing Merrifield residents are extremely excited about the benefits of the new service, which will replicate that of a local bus service, with stops, a timetable, Access Cards and important connections to a number of other existing bus and train services.

Local resident Mandy Glassey says the service will connect the community both socially and to essential services.

“It allows people who are housebound without a vehicle, to get around. Being a new estate, it allows people to get out and network,” said Mandy.

“I can imagine when you take a ride on the bus you are going to talk to people, you are going to meet people, who may become your friends.”

Mandy works in South Melbourne and said she would use the bus to get to the train station, rather than driving each day, allowing her to get valuable hours back in her day.

“We all live busy lifestyles but knowing that I spend two to three hours in the car every day, instead I could be using the Merrifield Connect service, giving me back precious time in my day.”

Teen residents Montel and Tua Telepe said it will finally give them the independence they crave.

“We don’t need to depend on our parents anymore to take us places. If we wanted to go places before we would have to wait for our parents but now we can just walk to the bus – ready to take us to where we need to go,” said Tua.

For further details on Merrifield, visit the Merrifield Sales Centre at Donnybrook Road, Mickleham, phone 03 9684 8120 or visit www.merrifieldmelbourne.com.au.

 

HUME PRIDE Magazine, Summer 2017/18 edition

Read the latest edition of Hume City Council’s Hume Pride Magazine, featuring Merrifield on page 4.

Click here to read the full article.