What a day!

November 30 was an incredible day for Parkville!

We finally got our own station and people often forget that there were many names proposed for it and we lobbied hard to ensure our suburb was named as the station.

Although clearly in Parkville, "Haymarket", "University", "Biotech", and "Hospitals" were all names pushed hard by other groups. Parkville covered all of those key institutions and more importantly the 7500 residents who live in our great suburb!

Having been a member of the Metro Community Reference Group for eight years I was very proud at our bi-monthly meetings to hear Parkville constantly being referred to. Our station is the only one named after a suburb.

However, the more important event was happening just down the road on Royal Parade – the Parkville Community Party, kindly hosted by our close friends, Trinity College.

We all spent most of Saturday night watching the weather forecast and on Sunday morning it looked very clear. Having set the venue up we were shattered when at 12.30pm, the scheduled opening time, the heavens opened, and it poured. After a while it cleared, and the festivities began.

Those that braved the rain enjoyed a cloudy start to the day. It was thrilling to see so many children enjoying the bouncy slide, face painting and the young animals in the petting zoo.

Fittingly the opening music was provided by the Parkville Ensemble led by Stuart Riley – a life member of the Parkville Association. Stuart was a principal bassist at Orchestra Victoria and has played throughout Australia. Originally from Manchester, the weather clearly made him feel at home!

Two wonderful students from Trinity then entertained us with some great music.

The event was officially opened by our Lord Mayor Nick Reece. The moment he stepped up to the microphone the sun shone, and the weather cleared. The power of his position!

Over the afternoon a couple of hundred people passed through and for me the thrill was seeing so many children enjoying the afternoon. The petting zoo was wonderful and to see freshly face painted smiles playing around lambs and a calf was superb.

To the Dean of Trinity, Leonie Jongenelis and her deputy Jared Dyson (also a committee member of the Parkville Association) a big, thank you, for hosting us in your beautiful Trinity College. It highlighted the relationship we have built together as both sides of Royal Parade are all “Parkvillians” and as we should be, a united community of neighbours and friends! It was wonderful to see a few of our older members revisiting their days as students 50 odd years ago. Apparently, the accommodation is far more luxurious now!

To the Parkville Association committee, Leonie and Jared and all the suppliers, many thanks and to those that attended. Thank you for making the day so special. To Nick Reece, once again thanks for your support of Parkville.

It was a community event, and what a great community!

Train rides are free at weekends so maybe a picnic in Sunbury next weekend. The Ashes were created in 1882, nine years after Parkville … we should celebrate together! Hopefully we can win the second Test to top it off. Sorry Stuart, suffer!

Merry Christmas to all and a very happy 2026. •