whats melton like? whats geelong grammar like?

[kellyjamie]

Hi can anyone tell me what melton is like? also what you expect that area maybe be like in a couple of years as i understand its still up and coming and lots of new houses being built? also anyone have an idea of geelong grammar school?

Thanx

Kelly:wubclub:

[Guest haysgood]

Hi there,

 

Sorry I cant help with the schools side of things, but as for the area, I have heard that Melton is a place to avoid. My sister (who is also moving to Melbourne), had a look around Melton as the houses prices seemed reasonable, but said that it was very run down. There is another thread under Victoria called 'Native Victorian - Happy to Answer any Questions' that you might want to have a look at. The Australian guy who has offered his help, has listed Melton as a place to avoid, but you may want to ask him to elaborate.

 

I dont know if it helps, but we are looking to move to an area called Berwick. The houses are priced about the same as Melton and there are loads of new houses being built there. It has an English feel about it, has good schools (or so I have heard!) and close to shopping centres.

 

 

 

Hayley

 

[Guest dwa33]

Hi, Melton isn't a pretty town. It's main shopping area is split by a busy main road. When I was on a reccie I preferred Sunbury which is close by and has more of a town centre. Geelong is better still and it's on the waterside which makes the whole place feel more relaxed. It's also a city rather than town but it's not so big, so you can live on the edge and border countryside if you want to get away from the city feel.

 

Geelong Grammar's claim to fame is Prince Charles did a year at this school when he was 17 or 18. It's expensive and looks okay from the outside but it's surroundings leave a bit to be desired - salt marsh, Geelong's open landfill and oil refineries all surround the school. It does however deliver academically.

[Quoll]

You probably have to have your kid's name down for Geelong Grammar before birth I would think - it is one of those very select prestigious private schools. In Geelong there is also Geelong College which also has quite a good reputation but not quite up there with Grammar. Not sure what the fees are there these days but you wont see much change from $20,000 pa for a day student

 

As for Melton - run like hell in the opposite direction!!! Drove past it today - little boxes and boring as can be. Also questionable on the social mix/social integration front if you believe what you read in the papers.

[kellyjamie]

thanx for the warning! so we shall forget the school and melton! back to the drawing board, we head out for a reccie for 3 weeks in june and were trying to narrow down places to check out as we dont want to spend the entire time driving round looking at suburbs, we have 2 kids and i can hear the moaning already!! so if anyone can advise??

Thanx all, have a good crimbo:notworthy:

[Quoll]

I didnt mean to put you off about the school - just be aware that it is very expensive. I guess to put it in some sort of perspective, what you effectively asked is what is Wandsworth like and what is Eton like? Dont give up on that area though - my nephew goes to Geelong College and the family live in Lara. Both pretty good from all accounts and not quite up there in the $$ stakes. All those schools have scholarship programs and if you go to their websites you can get details of what scholarships are available. You should also be able to find something on their fee structure to give you a clue about what it will cost to send a couple of kids there. Often there is a discount for the second kid in a family. I would think though, that the ball park for any schools of that ilk you are going to be looking at at least $10 - 12K a year per kid. Catholic schools tend to be a bit cheaper but any of the "prestigious" (or fancy themselves to be) ones are going to charge like wounded bulls.

[Guest dwa33]

The Catholic colleges are not that expensive. St Joseph's Welcome to St. Joseph's College, Geelong is a top boys school in Geelong with fees of $2500 to $3000 per year per child. Sacred Heart College (equivalent for the girls) in Geelong Sacred Heart College Home - Sacred Heart College Geelong is $3000 per year

 

A Catholic primary is usually less than $1000 per family per year.

 

We are considering sending our kids to Geelong Baptist College Geelong Baptist College Websitet which started in 2002. It has about 110 primary and 110 secondary students. It costs about $2000 per year per child for primary and is close to Lara. It's on the old Channel College site with loads of land. They are rebuilding and developing so appearances are deceptive (it looks a little scruffy on the outside). The plus point is it's a smaller school where all the kids know each other. Currently our kids are in a big primary with 600. Academically it's good but it's a bit of a jungle at break time, and is too big for our kids who like a small community type school.

 

The advantage of a fee paying school (including the Catholic primaries) is that you are less likely to get kids from families that don't care about their kids education. Parents who couldn't care are less likely to hand out a couple of grand a year for their kids. The area around here has a large catchment area with a broad socio-economic spread so we are opting for a fee paying school.

[kellyjamie]

Thanx for that its ahuge help and helps us to cross off the list the ones we dont want to look at! While your here would you mind telling us what Geelong area is like? weve been looking at houses on the net right down that side, we looked at point cook, werribee, geelong? any help would be great thanx:notworthy:

[Guest MAS]

I worked in Melton for 8 years as a police officer and just transferred out last year.

It is not bad. If you pick your areas to live in and avoid Melton South and Central Melton, then you are fine.

It is a nice suburb, with lots of growing familys. Has all the services and the house prioces will boom in the next 5 year sonce the new Deer Park by pass is finished. A new freeway by passing all the slow points.

 

People knock the old M Town as we call it. It is a reasonable place to live and I can think of several more worst places.

[Guest Bella30]

:notworthy:

Thanx for that its ahuge help and helps us to cross off the list the ones we dont want to look at! While your here would you mind telling us what Geelong area is like? weve been looking at houses on the net right down that side, we looked at point cook, werribee, geelong? any help would be great thanx:notworthy:

Hi i would avoid Melton and Werribee not that nice. Geelong is a big industrial city 2nd outside of Melbourne but is the gateway to The Great Ocean RD and has good and not so good areas. We first lived in Cheltenham bayside area very nice but have since moved to The Macedon Ranges about 1 hour commute to Melb CBD and on a direct train line with new "fast" trains in to Southern Cross. We love the Macedon Ranges so friendly, clean air , Kookaburras , kangaroos but still a great area for cafes shops ect. Oh works in the city travels in by train. The schools are a good mix , Govt's ,catholic and private.We have been very happy in this area more then Cheltenham because of the quality of life. Good luck and hope this may give up a bit of an small insight to some of the areas around Melbourne.

[kellyjamie]

thankyou both for that its good to get info from people who really know the areas. thats the third time someone has said geelong is quite industrial? we shall still ahve a look see what its like for the day do either of you have any idea of ballarat? thanks again:wubclub:

[Guest MAS]

thankyou both for that its good to get info from people who really know the areas. thats the third time someone has said geelong is quite industrial? we shall still ahve a look see what its like for the day do either of you have any idea of ballarat? thanks again:wubclub:

 

Geelong is industrial in some parts, not all.

Ballarat, I know a bit, what do you want to know?

It is about a 90 minute drive from Melbourne city. Has everything there, population of about 110,000 people.

Crime wise, more crime and out of control hoodlums then Melton.

[kellyjamie]

thats intersesting to know. we just wanted your opinions on the places as being a local you would have better knowledge than us! with you being in the police thats even better! i see your in point cook we also like the look of there aswel would you recommend it? thanx for your help mas x

[Guest Les & Woz]

Hi

We are thinking of settling in Geelong. Do you know anything about this area?

Lesley

[Guest MAS]

Point Cook is great.

I like it and enjoy living here. It is close to the city by freeway and train. It takes 10-20 minutes to get to the city by car in non peak periods. Train services is good as well.

It is close to the two airports - Tullamarine about 25 minutes and Avalon about 20 minutes.

Geelong is only 25 minutes away as well.

Plenty of shopping centres in the area, Werribee Plaza, Sanctuary Lakes Shooping centre, and a new Point Cook shopping centre opening sometime this year.

The only downfall, is the growing population and area and all that traffic trying to get in and out via Point Cook Rd in peak periods. There are other ways to the freeway in the morning though.

It is a safe area.

Oh another thing its close to Werribee South Beach, (not really a great beach but none thel ess a beach) but they are building a new harbour called Wyndham Harbour sometime soon, which is you own or are planning on buying a house, is going to help increase your house price.

Point Cook is 25kms from the city and you can buy a 4 bed, 2 bathroom, 2 car gargare house for $400,000, so that is pretty good.

 

Les&Woz,

I know a bit about Geelong, have a few friend that live there. Just make sure you settle in the right places of Geelong. Some of its pretty bad. Other places is good.

Geelong is stand alone city about 1 hour drive from Melbourne, probally more in peak periods to/from the city. Good train service to. As you drive in via the Freeway it is a bit industrial. It has all the shops you need, shopping centres, beaches, restruants.

From a police point of view and based on where the trouble is, stay away from Norlane, Bell Post Hill, Corio. These are on the east side of geelong.

Another option you can look at is Lara. About 10-15 minutes east of Geelong on the Freeway to Melbourne. Nice little suburb that is very independant and self sufficient.

[Quoll]

Kelly, your original post asked about schools and I know that you have Ballarat in your list of places to check out. Ballarat has some really good private schools (seem to be a line of them up Sturt St) and also Ballarat High School (you definitely have to live in the feeder area so look in the Alfredton sort of vicinity) has a good reputation.

[kellyjamie]

Thanx Quoll thats the kind of info we need! were building a folder of info to take in june so we know what to check and what not to check! many thanks again all your advice is greatly appreciated:notworthy:

[Guest Les & Woz]

Hi Mas

Thanks for that information, it will be really useful when we go out to have a look around, it gives us other places to head for. We really aren't sure where we will end up but just didn't want to live too close to the city. Do you know any good websites to look at for property/employment?

 

Lesley

[Guest MAS]

Property:

Real Estate, Property, Land and Homes for Sale, lease and rent - realestate.com.au

 

Real Estate for Sale, Rent and Share @ Domain.com.au

 

Jobs:

SEEK - Australia's no. 1 jobs, employment, career and recruitment site

[Guest sanders family]

hi MAS i have been looking at the thread and everyone seem to be ask you lots of question i hope you dont mind but i would love to ask a few question if you dont mind my son who is 14 would love to be a police officer for the last 2 years and i was wandering how he would go about this and what qualfications he would need as in uk he would go to police academy and as long as he has english and maths. also our other son 11 has dyspraxia and we really need a good school for him as his school here is failing him he is 3 years behind are all the schools in vic payable fees thank you for your time :notworthy:

[Quoll]

hi MAS i have been looking at the thread and everyone seem to be ask you lots of question i hope you dont mind but i would love to ask a few question if you dont mind my son who is 14 would love to be a police officer for the last 2 years and i was wandering how he would go about this and what qualfications he would need as in uk he would go to police academy and as long as he has english and maths. also our other son 11 has dyspraxia and we really need a good school for him as his school here is failing him he is 3 years behind are all the schools in vic payable fees thank you for your time :notworthy:

 

With respect to schools - Victoria has fairly strict requirements for its disability programs and so it is not likely that dyspraxia is going to get recognition for additional support however if he has a statement in UK then bring all the assessments and diagnosis with you just in case he does qualify - just having a label is not enough. If you have psych assessments then bring them too. If he doesnt qualify under the disability criteria then the school may have some internal remedial programs but you would do well to ask what sort of support they can offer him before you enrol at a school. Remember that schools are only obliged to take kids from their catchment area, if you want an out of area school then that is a matter of negotiation and the school may decline an enrolment if it has no vacancies.

 

Payment of school fees depends on what visa you will be coming here on. If you are coming on a student visa then you and your children will be charged international student fees but if you are coming to work here and will be paying Australian taxes then government schools should be free except for "voluntary contributions" which can vary from school to school. If you choose a private school for your boys then the fees range from about $3K - $20K pa depending on which school you decide to send them to. Systemic catholic schools tend to be the cheapest option.

 

Becoming a police officer - details including educational level can be found here Victoria Police - Be prepared before you apply Follow the links and you will find the extent of the recruitment process as well.

[Guest MAS]

hi MAS i have been looking at the thread and everyone seem to be ask you lots of question i hope you dont mind but i would love to ask a few question if you dont mind my son who is 14 would love to be a police officer for the last 2 years and i was wandering how he would go about this and what qualfications he would need as in uk he would go to police academy and as long as he has english and maths. also our other son 11 has dyspraxia and we really need a good school for him as his school here is failing him he is 3 years behind are all the schools in vic payable fees thank you for your time :notworthy:

 

To become a Police Officer in Australia it all depends on what state you live in. Quoll has provided a link to the Victoria system, but what he doesnt know that will be going through major changes and will be scholar based university style training from 2009.

Seeming the minimum age for joining the police is 19, your son is at least 5 years off. What I would do however is look at getting him a part time/casual job where he interacts with people. Like in a store or something. That is what the police will be looking for in people, customer service skills/contact with people as opposed to some kid out of school with no people skills.

 

All police agencies in Australia require a basic year 12 education to apply. At present if you are over 21 Victoria doesnt. QLD Police require a diploma or degree before you apply. You can study a diploma of justice through TAFE for 12-18 months and then apply for QLD.

 

There is a big shortage of police in Australia and we are finding it hard to recruit the right people, so if your son has what it takes and has the right attributes, then this goal should be reachable for him.

 

Training varies from around 6 months, currently Victoria is the shortest at 20 weeks, but then you do 8 weeks of field training before you get to a police station. NSW is uni based and takes 12 months, that is how Vic will steer towards in 09. The rest of the states run a police academy from 26-36 weeks.

 

Check the sites out:

Home Page - NSW Police Force

Victoria Police - Intelligent, Confident, Community, Partnership

Queensland Police Service

Western Australia Police

South Australia Police :: Home

Tasmania Police - Home

Australian Federal Police - AFP

Police internet site

 

As for the school question, Quoll has answered all that, cant add much more to that.

[Becontree Boy]

We rent in the Eastern suburbs but would never be able to afford to buy here, so are looking for alternative, more affordable locations to buy a house.

 

Melton doesn't have the best of reputations and does look very shabby in parts.

However, we have taken a shine to the next big town further on. It's called Bacchus Marsh and we are seriously considering buying there. It has a country town feel, but Melbourne CBD is only a 45-50 minute express train away and the fares are comparable to that we pay now from Box Hill. Bacchus Marsh has the basics for every day life: A little shopping Mall, library, parks, etc. I would imagine the nightlife would be a bit restricted though, and we've only found a couple of decent cafes! The local council does have a structure plan which suggests some worthwhile improvements to the local infrustructure will be made over the next few years. We've also found some new housing estates which look affordable and offer more than a postage stamp area of land on each plot.

 

Ballarat is only a 30 minute drive away, so I could imagine us going there for bigger shops. Bacchus Marsh also has its own pretty orchards, plenty of fruit and vegetable barns, and is set against some very pretty hills which form the LederbergState Park. A very nice spot for nature walks.

 

Sunbury has some affordable new estates, but we rechecked one we liked a year ago and found that it was now really shabby, with the grass verges overgrown and some of the tall lamposts were tilting. We also experienced hoon behaviour from some of the local motorists so our general impression was not good.

 

Geelong looks like a really nice town. Slightly out of our price range. Lovely sea front and a very good shopping centre.

[Becontree Boy]

We rent in the Eastern suburbs but would never be able to afford to buy here, so are looking for alternative, more affordable locations to buy a house.

 

Melton doesn't have the best of reputations and does look very shabby in parts.

However, we have taken a shine to the next big town further on. It's called Bacchus Marsh and we are seriously considering buying there. It has a country town feel, but Melbourne CBD is only a 45-50 minute express train away and the fares are comparable to that we pay now from Box Hill. Bacchus Marsh has the basics for every day life: A little shopping Mall, library, parks, etc. I would imagine the nightlife would be a bit restricted though, and we've only found a couple of decent cafes! The local council does have a structure plan which suggests some worthwhile improvements to the local infrustructure will be made over the next few years. We've also found some new housing estates which look affordable and offer more than a postage stamp area of land on each plot.

 

Ballarat is only a 30 minute drive away, so I could imagine us going there for bigger shops. Bacchus Marsh also has its own pretty orchards, plenty of fruit and vegetable barns, and is set against some very pretty hills which form the LederbergState Park. A very nice spot for nature walks.

 

Sunbury has some affordable new estates, but we rechecked one we liked a year ago and found that it was now really shabby, with the grass verges overgrown and some of the tall lamposts were tilting. We also experienced hoon behaviour from some of the local motorists so our general impression was not good.

 

Geelong looks like a really nice town. Slightly out of our price range. Lovely sea front and a very good shopping centre.

[tasormelb]

Hi this thread is very interesting as we were thinking about settling around Geelong. We have our PR visa and are waiting to sell our house. We are going to validate visas in March. The places that interest are Lara, Leopold and Ocean Grove.

 

Has anyone any views about these? I am struggling to find info about the high schools around Ocean Grove and Leopold does any one know of any and how good they are? Will also be needing a primary.

 

Finally I am a nurse in oncology where are the nearest hospitals that provide cancer care and give chemo, or are ther any hospices nearby?

Thanks