Sunday, September 26, 2010

Smartbus 901 free for two weeks

“An extended SmartBus Route 901 from Frankston to Melbourne Airport is starting on Sunday September 26. Route 901 is free to all passengers during the first two weeks of operation – to Sunday 10 October 2010.” - Metlink

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Local search makes it easier to find Australia Post in Doncaster East

I wanted to find out whether or not the post office in Doncaster East was open. At the moment it is Saturday shortly after midday.

I did a search of Google for Australia Post Doncaster East.

First Google search results gave me a map with three entries. None any good to me. I really just wanted the Australia Post site or the local post office.

Next were two TrueLocal pages. Nothing useful for me as I get the information they've keyed into their site, not the actual site.

Next was Wikipedia. I just want the opening times, not their life story.

Next was a page from deep inside Australia Post's site about Royal Melbourne Show Tickets. I check and there just appears to be addresses. (To be fair, I later rechecked and found a link for locating stores on the page which I hadn't noticed.)

There are seven more pages equally of no value.

I decided to see how this compared with using JustLocal.

I went to http://www.justlocal.com.au/ and entered 3109. I could have equally entered www.JustLocal.com.au/3109
I clicked on Search
Typed in Australia Post

The first entry is what I wanted. I clicked on the link. Post Office locations I thought would be on the front page as it is a common request people would make. It did take a bit of finding as there is a lot of information on their page. A search and I had the post office hours and unfortunately it was closed Saturdays.

The benefit of JustLocal search for the postcode areas of 3105, 3106, 3107, 3108, 3109, 3093, 3094, 3095 and 3113 is the search engines only includes businesses which have a presence in the postcode area. You don't get other directories. You get a link to their site. JustLocal is all about giving you a direct link to the site of a local business.

I've noticed now with Google it is being overwhelmed with the presence of so many advertising sites. Google search results are now becoming a list of directories. The enormous presence of companies from overseas such as Wikipedia gets returned for a lot of requests even though it isn't needed. I think most people know when they want to check Wikipedia and just go there. To me there isn't any real point for Wikipedia to be listed. The other problem is a great number of organisations seem to pay for a copy of the data from the telephone directories and then use that to create an online presence. You know the ones, they often don't have anything more for most entries than the address and phone number.

JustLocal search doesn't create another catalogue. It provides results which link directly to site of the business and only for sites with businesses in the area. When you do a search you are searching for information from the sites of local businesses.

If you find a business which isn't included in the search engine let me know and I'll add the site.

Kelvin Eldridge

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Mobile speed camera locations - September 2010 (Bulleen, Templestowe, Templestowe Lower, Doncaster, Doncaster East, Eltham)

Mobile speed camera locations for September 2010.

High Street, between Rosemary Street and Linton Avenue, Templestowe
Serpells Road, between Church Road and Killibury Court , Templestowe
Reynolds Road, between Hawtin Street and Smiths Road, Templestowe
Manningham Road, between Ayr Street and High Street, Templestowe Lower
King Street, between Williamsons Road and Veda Court, Doncaster
George Street, between Victoria Street and Williamsons Road, Doncaster
High Street, between Manningham Road and Doncaster Road, Doncaster
Wetherby Road, between Doncaster Road and Koonung Creek, Doncaster
Doncaster Road, between Rose Street and High Street, Doncaster
Doncaster Road, between Blackburn Road and Wetherby Road, Doncaster East
King Street, between Nedlands Court and Ashcroft Avenue, Doncaster East
Blackburn Road, between Raintree Road and Johns Grove, Doncaster East
Blackburn Road, between Beverley Street and Turnstone Street, Doncaster East
Blackburn Road, between Reynolds Road and King Street, Doncaster East
Bulleen Road, between Thompsons Road and Manningham Road, Bulleen

Kelvin Eldridge

Doncaster burglary squad team leader Det Sgt Doug Beare said the results were pleasing

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Eastern freeway traffic cameras show up-to-date traffic conditions (Bulleen Road, Yarra Bend)

Frequently when I get to around Bulleen Road on the Eastern Freeway of a night, the bank up of traffic ahead is shocking. I’ve often wondered if there was a way I could check out the traffic beforehand. As it turns out VicRoads provides a live feed from their cameras which are updated frequently. Below are the links to the cameras that interest me and may be of interest to others in the local area.

 

Bulleen Road looking East

http://livetraffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au/region/23010?expanddiv=group3

 

Eastern Freeway at Yarra Bend looking East

http://livetraffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au/region/23002?expanddiv=group3

 

Happy motoring.

 

Kelvin Eldridge

 

Sunday, September 12, 2010

MELBOURNE'S 10 most violent railway stations aren't Eltham, Heidelbery or Box Hill

The analysis showed 45 per cent of all reported assaults occurred at Flinders Street, Dandenong, Broadmeadows, Footscray, St Albans, Ringwood, Bayswater, Frankston, Southern Cross and Thomastown stations.
I was pleased to read in this article in The Age, the local railway stations which are typically used by people from my local area weren’t in the top ten list of stations. Of course Southern Cross is a concern as it is one of the common destinations in the city.
I also liked reading that by being sensible and covering just 10 stations where 45% of the violence occurs, targeted use of enforcement resources may be able to make a difference for a lot of commuters. One of the concerns with public transport is always safety and poor safety can easily dissuade people from using public transport.

- Kelvin Eldridge

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Local News for Doncaster East

News articles relating to Doncaster East

Supreme Court Justice Paul Coghlan found Denys Martel Trucano, 31, was psychotic and suffering from paranoid schizophrenia when he stabbed his father at his Doncaster East home.

The four-hour consultation session was organised following community backlash over plans to fell 28 pine trees to make way for a sports training area at the Doncaster East reserve. Plans for the $245,000 development have been put on hold while community consultation is finished.

Doncaster East residents Jason Triggs, 26, and Emelie, 7, both have Type 1 diabetes and have turned to art to share their stories about living with the condition.

The UMMA Islamic centre now attracts more than 300 people from all backgrounds to Friday prayers at the George St mosque.

Kelvin Eldridge

Second bundle of money found in Doncaster East

Doncaster East's Bev is on call for cancer

Marie Lynch exhibiting at Doncaster's Cafe Julia

Truck burns in Doncaster East