Issue #8

Welcome to The Prestonian, a fortnightly newsletter that brings you all the ins and outs of Preston and it's local surroundings.

We are a group of creatives who want to share our love and passion for the northern suburbs. We'll be covering a whole host of topics ranging from local news to food reviews to local sports. Everything Preston, always.

Meet our editor

Sezer is a creative writing wiz who specialises in putting words onto a page. He moved to Preston at the start of the year and fell in love with the suburb. You can see him walking his dog, Ramsay, up and down High Street.

He works as the social media marketing manager for Digital Basis, a Preston-based digital agency that has thrown its support behind The Prestonian.

What are we covering in this issue?

We have all the info on the opening of Ms Dangz in Preston, we add another burger to the Burgers of Preston series, and get ready for a community picnic to protect the Preston Market.

Ms Dangz

The Old Fire Station on Roseberry Avenue is one of the most picturesque buildings in Preston, and we've missed it being open for food and drink.

Enter Ms. Dangz, a brand-new cafe, bar and restaurant serving delicious modern Vietnamese food and tasty cocktails for Preston to enjoy.

We spoke to Helen, the owner and head chef behind Ms. Dangz to learn more about Preston's hottest new spot.

Helen moved to Australia from Vietnam in 2015 after studying as an accountant, and it took only three months of working at an accounting firm to realise her real passion was cooking. Helen had been cooking since she was little, learning traditional Vietnamese dishes from her Mum and taking those dishes forward with her as she grew up.

Helen pivoted her career and began working as a chef around Melbourne, learning new skills and perfecting her craft. After seven years of experience working in different cuisines, Helen decided it was time for her to branch out and open her business.

Preston became the suburb of choice for Helen, and the Old Fire Station building needed someone to move in, it was a perfect pairing.

Ms. Dangz aims to blend modern Vietnamese dishes with retro, rustic & casual dining vibes. The interior of the Old Fire Station building has been given a little touch-up but still maintains its character while looking better than ever.

Speaking with Helen, we wanted to get the inside scoop on what foods and drinks to try upon our first visit to Ms. Dangz. Helen's favourite thing on the menu is the wagyu beef wrapped with betel leaf and grilled over fire, a staple of Northern Vietnamese cuisine that we can't wait to try! There's even a special Ms. Dangz cocktail on the menu that you won't be able to find anywhere else in Melbourne.

For locals who are finishing work late, or wanting to enjoy a drink at lunchtime, Ms. Dangz will have you covered with hours of operation from 10am to 11pm during the week, and until 1am on the weekends. The corner of Roseberry Ave and High Street looks like it's going to be a hive of activity in the upcoming summer months.

Ms. Dangz is aiming to be ready and open in early November, so leave your schedules open and get down for the opening of what is sure to be a hit in the heart of Preston!

Instagram: @ms_dangz_preston

Burgers of Preston

The Kick Ass Burgers Classic

The sun was shining bright in Preston on Tuesday, and we worked up quite the appetite after a morning session at the gym. A big hit of protein and flavour was the only thing that could satisfy our bellies.

A short walk up High Street from our office is Kick Ass Burgers, an awesome little burger joint serving up a wide range of tasty eats, including burgers, bagels, salads, and more.

We like to keep it simple here at The Prestonian, nothing beats the classics when it comes to burgers for us, and the Kick Ass Classic is no exception.

You've got a toasted brioche bun slathered in special sauce and mustard, lettuce, pickles and tomato, and finished with a quality Angus beef pattie topped with melted American cheese.

A burger isn't complete without some chips on the side. The chips from Kick Ass are super crispy, and the seasoning is crazy addictive. We only got a regular, but we wish we got the size up.

If you're in Preston and looking for a quality burger at an affordable price, then Kick Ass Burgers are your spot!

Instagram: @kickassburgers.preston | Website: www.kickassburgers.com.au

Volunteer Tutors needed at Melbourne Polytechnic

The Volunteer Tutor Scheme is part of the Melbourne Adult Migrant English Program (Melbourne AMEP) at Melbourne Polytechnic. The program supports migrants and refugees through a tutor-based system where they have direct one-on-one interactions with a volunteer who is there to teach English to the learner.

The program helps students gain the skills and build the connections they need to settle in Australia and become part of the community. Volunteers will primarily teach English but can also assist in other areas of settlement. These can be things important to the learner, such as extra support with their study or help with finding employment. Volunteers and learners generally meet every week for just one hour.

We were lucky enough to be invited to speak to a volunteer and their learner this week. They introduced themselves and what the program has done for them so far. Speaking directly to people who have learnt from each other and created a connection was a very heartwarming experience. We can see firsthand what a difference the program has made for the learner and the joy the volunteer gets by being able to help teach English and provide something of such value to another person.

A program like this does such great work for people and the community as a whole. It brings more people together and exposes them to each other's culture. Both sides of the coin have so much to gain from the other.

Volunteers and learners can meet in person or over a video call like Zoom. Sessions are led by learner’s goals and volunteers are provided with the proper training to facilitate that learning. The flexible learning environment means something as simple as a conversation about how their week has gone proves to be just as effective as more structured activities.

As with all volunteer programs, the most difficult thing is finding people willing to offer up a couple of hours of their time to give someone the gift of connection and helping them to learn English in the process. The Melbourne AMEP is calling on anyone in Darebin who might be interested in volunteering for the program. You don't need to be a teacher or have any background in education to volunteer for the program.

If the Volunteer Tutor Scheme sounds like something you'd want to get involved with, you can click here for all the extra info.

Website: www.melbourneamep.com.au | Facebook: Melbourne AMEP

Protect Preston Market Community Picnic

The Protect Preston Market initiative is hosting a community picnic at Preston City Oval on Saturday the 1st of October from 12pm to 2pm to bring the community together in the fight to protect the Preston Market.

The gathering will be an opportunity for the local community to come together and celebrate our great market and the efforts to keep it from being turned into something we don't want.

There will be plenty for everyone to enjoy with face painting, yummy food, musical entertainment and giveaways!

Bring a picnic rug and enjoy the afternoon at the community picnic, and make sure you click the link here to rsvp your attendance!

When: Saturday October 1st - 12pm to 2pm

Local artist features

As creatives we know how hard it can be to get your work out there, there are always obstacles and criteria that needs to be met to get featured in a publication.

We want to provide local artists in the Darebin area a space to showcase their work. Whether you're a photographer, a writer, a designer or anything in-between, we'd love to see what our talented friends and neighbours come up with for their art.

The only thing we ask is that the art be considered safe for work (sfw), this will allow for greater reach without any censoring needed on our end.

If this sounds like something you'd like to be a part of or you know someone who would love to share their work with the community then send us an email at [email protected].

We can't wait to see what the creatives of Darebin are up to!

Spread the Word

The future of The Prestonian is bright, and we want to showcase more and more of the Northern Suburbs. Bringing increased exposure to small businesses in the area, and creating a sense of community by keeping everyone in the know.

If you're a business owner, a local resident or a lover of Melbourne's Northern suburbs and you have something you'd like to share, then DM us on Instagram @theprestonian or reply to this email to get in touch.

Tell your friends, tell your family, tell everyone you know, we want to bring the beauty of the Northern Suburbs to as many people as we can.