Feature
Best reads of 2022
Delve back through our archives for some of the most popular stories of the past 12 months
Feature
Best reads of 2022
Delve back through our archives for some of the most important stories of the past 12 months
Feature
Best reads of 2022
Delve back through our archives for some of the most important stories of the past 12 months
THE most read story on Brunswick Voice in 2022 wasn’t about the state or federal elections, it wasn’t about a planning dispute, it wasn’t even about the renaming of the City of Moreland.
No, the most popular story on this website over the past 12 months was about the closure of a local ice cream shop. But this wasn’t just any ice cream shop: it was the Gelobar.
When the Lygon Street shop closed suddenly in May, it generated an outpouring of nostalgia for an institution that attracted visitors from far and wide and helped to define the area’s Italian heritage.
As Nadia Ruscio, a former worker at the Gelobar, said: “I’m like this piece of my heart has been torn out”.
We tracked down the shop’s original owner and pieced together the story of the role the Gelobar played in the renaissance of the Brunswick East part of Lygon Street.
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THE most read story on Brunswick Voice in 2022 wasn’t about the state or federal elections, it wasn’t about a planning dispute, it wasn’t even about the renaming of City of Moreland.
No, the most popular story on this website over the past 12 months was about the closure of a local ice cream shop. But this wasn’t just any ice cream shop: it was the Gelobar.
When the Lygon Street shop closed suddenly in May, it generated an outpouring of nostalgia for an institution that attracted visitors from far and wide and helped to define the area’s Italian heritage.
As Nadia Ruscio, a former worker at the Gelobar, said: “I’m like this piece of my heart has been torn out.”
We tracked down the shop’s original owner and pieced together the story of the role the Gelobar played in the renaissance of the Brunswick East part of Lygon Street.
Council strike
Closely behind the Gelobar story, the second most read article on Brunswick Voice was about the Moreland Council industrial dispute in April. No-one seemed to know why rubbish bins in Brunswick were over-flowing until we dug into the reason to discover that council workers had placed work bans on emptying them in pursuit of a fair pay deal.
The dispute dragged on for almost two months before an agreement was reached and accepted by a vote of about four-to-one by council staff.
Skyrail
One of the biggest talking points of 2022 that will continue to be a hot topic for the next couple of years is the planned skyrail to be built as part of the removal of eight level crossings within Brunswick.
The project was announced by Premier Daniel Andrews in September and was a key issue during the state election.
Elections
That election held in November saw Greens MP Tim Read build on his historic 2018 win to push his margin into double figures, while in neighbouring Pascoe Vale, new Labor MP Anthony Cianflone survived a strong challenge from the Greens’ Angelica Panopoulos.
In the federal election in May, Labor’s Peter Khalil was returned for a third time in the seat of Wills, but the Greens’ Sarah Jefford won 10 of the 11 booths in Brunswick.
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Youngest Mayor
Speaking of Ms Panopoulos, she made history on November 29 when she became the youngest Mayor in the history of Moreland/Merri-bek.
“Being elected Mayor sends a very clear message to this community that young people and young women have a right to be in leadership positions in all parts of our society, and that the democratic process no matter the level of government, it belongs to all of us,” she said in her acceptance speech.
Bunnings win
Another of our most read stories in 2022 concerned the David versus Goliath battle over a $21 million Bunnings warehouse in Glenlyon Road. Residents opposed to the development were able to celebrate in April when the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal ruled in their favour.
But it was a different story when VCAT approved two high-rise apartment developments abutting Clifton Park.
40 years of CERES
CERES Community Environment Park in Brunswick East turned 40 in March 2022. The park began life as an abandoned quarry that was a dumping ground for hard rubbish and full of weeds.
We went back to the beginning with an interview with one of the park’s original driving forces, Noel Blencowe.
Welcome to Merri-bek
And of course, 2022 will be remembered as the year when Moreland Council confronted its colonial past and adopted a new name that recognised the area’s original inhabitants.
Despite a vocal but small minority who opposed the change of name to Merri-bek, it became official in September.
Council strike
Closely behind the Gelobar story, the second most read article on Brunswick Voice was about the Moreland Council industrial dispute in April. No-one seemed to know why rubbish bins in Brunswick were over-flowing until we dug into the reason to discover that council workers had placed work bans on emptying them in pursuit of a fair pay deal.
The dispute dragged on for almost two months before an agreement was reached and accepted by a vote of about four-to-one by council staff.
Skyrail
One of the biggest talking points of 2022 that will continue to be a hot topic for the next couple of years is the planned skyrail to be built as part of the removal of eight level crossings within Brunswick.
The project was announced by Premier Daniel Andrews in September and was a key issue during the state election.
Elections
That election held in November saw Greens MP Tim Read build on his historic 2018 win to push his margin into double figures, while in neighbouring Pascoe Vale, new Labor MP Anthony Cianflone survived a strong challenge from the Greens’ Angelica Panopoulos.
In the federal election in May, Labor’s Peter Khalil was returned for a third time in the seat of Wills, but the Greens’ Sarah Jefford won 10 of the 11 booths in Brunswick.
Get more stories like this delivered to your inbox
Youngest Mayor
Speaking of Ms Panopoulos, she made history on November 29 when she became the youngest Mayor in the history of Moreland/Merri-bek.
“Being elected Mayor sends a very clear message to this community that young people and young women have a right to be in leadership positions in all parts of our society, and that the democratic process no matter the level of government, it belongs to all of us,” she said in her acceptance speech.
Bunnings win
Another of our most read stories in 2022 concerned the David versus Goliath battle over a $21 million Bunnings warehouse in Glenlyon Road. Residents opposed to the development were able to celebrate in April when the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal ruled in their favour.
But it was a different story when VCAT approved two high-rise apartment developments abutting Clifton Park.
40 years of CERES
CERES Community Environment Park in Brunswick East turned 40 in March 2022. The park began life as an abandoned quarry that was a dumping ground for hard rubbish and full of weeds.
We went back to the beginning with an interview with one of the park’s original driving forces, Noel Blencowe.
Welcome to Merri-bek
And of course, 2022 will be remembered as the year when Moreland Council confronted its colonial past and adopted a new name that recognised the area’s original inhabitants.
Despite a vocal but small minority who opposed the change of name to Merri-bek, it became official in September.
Those were some of our biggest stories in 2022. Who knows what 2023 has in store for us?
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