A Day at the Royal Melbourne Show

As a kid everyone loves the Royal Melbourne Show, we all want to go along and have a go on the rides, buy showbags, eat lots of junk food and be part of the annual event. It's a Melbourne thing, and something I know I didn't get to do much of as a child as the my parents just couldn't afford it.

Now as a parent of 3 young children, I understand - I get it!

How do other families afford to go?

Let me give you a run down on our day...

Firstly the day before, both my husband and I worked much later to ensure we could take the day off without the stress of work playing in our minds throughout the day.

We planned ahead and purchased an early bird ticket. Great thinking I thought and surely it will be cheaper...... some $55 later, this allowed the 5 of us to be scanned into the gates of the showgrounds. Oh, I forgot to mention the $15 car parking expense as you drive in.... So already we have spent $70 and we have not gone on a ride or purchased a showbag!

The boys were very excited and loved visiting the animal sheds. The size of the chickens and roosters will blow your mind - they are huge and so noisy. We visited the animal baby nursery and we got to pat many of the animals. So then it was ride time...

The boys are all under 6 so we started in what they call (I think) the kids carnival area. Just a couple of rides for each and $100 gone - just like that.

So then we stopped for a coffee, drink and quick snack for morning tea - yep another $30 gone!

At this stage we had only been at the show for about an hour and we had already spent $200. We wandered around a little more, watching some of the animal shows and rides. You can see the overload of stimulation young kids feel - it's a sensory overload at times.

It was now lunchtime and we found a spot on the grand stand to sit and eat our lunch. A couple of small pizzas, some chips and drinks and another $50 flew out of my purse.

The boys were starting to get tired as you do, so much walking, so we decided to head down to the show bag area and the boys were all allowed to choose a showbag each. So after much pondering (as kids do), they selected a Toy Story 3, Buzz Lightyear and Handy Manny bag each and before my eyes another $72 disappeared from my purse.

Within 3 hours we had spent over $300.

I remember looking around and seeing lots of other mums and dads with their kids and all chock-a-block with showbags - I kept thinking, how can they afford to come to the show and then be able to buy showbags for the kids???

It's sad to think that there are many more kids out there who may never get to experience the joy or surrounds of the show because it's just too expensive for most.....

What's Happening at Metro in August!

From the desk of Leah Calnan, Director of Metro Property Management)...

Well the time has finally arrived where our new website is up and running and we are very excited about it! We hope that you find the new website easy to navigate and that you find all of the wonderful new additions that we have incorporated useful.


We have added fantastic new features such as 'Property Alerts' for our potential tenants and now have several convenient ways of applying for a property, one of which is utilising the popular '1Form' applications website, which includes our very own custom form. For our Owners we now have a quick and easy link for you to receive a 'Rental Assessment' from us, perhaps on a new property you have purchased, and there is also a new option for you to receive an obligation free sales 'Market Appraisal'. There is so much more to our new site so please have a browse around and let us know your thoughts http://www.metropm.com.au/


Also this month we have held two Interactive Discussion groups regarding Self Managed Super Funds and how to actually go about setting one up. We have worked with a company called Super Fusion to bring this valuable information to our clients. We decided to hold this session in our offices and to keep the numbers small so as to encourage questions and open discussion on a subject that can often be a little daunting. The session was a great success and we are looking to hold a couple more sessions in September on the 9th & 22nd from 6-7.30pm at our offices. Seats are again limited to just 12 people per session so if you are interested in attending please do not hesitate to contact Melissa Venn on 03 9831 3006 or via email at melissav@metropm.com.au

Until next time...

Home Buyer & Investor Show - Melbourne in July

From the desk of Leah Calnan, Director - Metro Property Management

Metro Property Management is excited to announce that we are exhibiting at this years Home Buyer & Property Investor Show at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre (MCEC), 2 Clarendon Street, Southbank. The show runs from Friday 23rd July through to Sunday the 25th of July and offers a wealth of knowledge from varied property & finance professionals.

Apart from the Exhibitor stands where you can visit those companies you have an interest in seeing & chatting to there are seminars throughout the day to offer helpful advice & information on all things real estate and finance related. Although this is Metro’s first time exhibiting at the show many of us have attended in years past and felt it was a great opportunity & a ‘one-stop shop’ for those wanting to purchase their first home, an investor purchasing another property or even those interested in building their new home.

As Metro Property Management followers and valued clients we have secured an extra special ticket price just for you...50% off the full $15 entry price, that’s just $7.50 per ticket !!! (your ticket also includes entry to the adjacent expo ‘ Trading & Investing Seminars & Expo’ for free). At that price all of your friends and family can come along to this fantastic event.

In order for you to access this special offer you will need to purchase your ticket before the event and online at the Home Buyer & Investor Show website http://www.homebuyershow.com.au/melbourne/ then, when you go to pay for the tickets you will be asked for a ‘Promo’ code which is: Exhibitor. Enter the promo code and the discount is applied! Make sure you visit us at our fantastic stand (Stand No: H79) and say Hi. We’d love to see you there!

Be Silly for a Serious Cause

From the Desk of Leah Calnan, Director

SIDS & Kids Red Nose Day is Friday 25th June this year and we at Metro Property Management fully support this worthy cause. Red Nose Day (first began in 1988) is a day where you can wear a red nose (if being a ‘clown’ is not already your occupation!) and make a fool of yourself to raise money for a great organization.

SIDS & Kids benefits those that have experienced the death of a baby or child during pregnancy, birth and infancy. They offer a 24hr 7 day a week bereavement support line and offer ongoing support via counseling. The funds raised from the day also go not only to keeping this vital 24hr hotline running but to educate parents, childcare workers & health professionals on how to reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). The organization also conducts research into the prevention and possible causes of the unexpected death of babies and children.

For more information on this great cause please visit the Red Nose Day website http://www.rednoseday.com.au/ and donate online. Alternatively visit a retail store that supports the organization and buy something for yourself, a friend or your children. It’s not just red noses for people, there are red noses for cars too! There’s plush toys, pens, lapel pins, lip balm and bracelets. So why not get involved and keep this charity and their research running for many more years to come.

Metro's Fundraising Morning Tea

From the desk of Leah Calnan, Director of Metro Property Management

Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea is a fantastic opportunity to get together with our workmates & friends to raise money for the Cancer Council, an illness that can or will effect either ourselves or someone we love.

It’s amazing what even a small donation can do to make a difference. In fact we are told that just $5 can help the council give a newly diagnosed cancer patient important support and information resources to help them through their cancer journey and that $50 can help the council visit a community to educate health professionals and support patients and carers. Every little bit adds up and we can already see on their website as of today that the ABMT campaign has already raised upwards of $770,400.

Although the official Morning Tea day is today, Thursday 27th May, our office will be holding our own Morning Tea here at the office tomorrow, Friday the 28th May, we will all be bringing a plate and hopefully raising some much needed dollars for the fund. If you would like to donate to the cause please visit our very own fundraising website http://ow.ly/1NoV2 where you can make a donation via credit card to help us reach and exceed our goal. If you would like more information about Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea you can visit their website http://www.biggestmorningtea.com.au/

One in a Million!

From the desk of Leah Calnan...

Mother's Day is just around the corner (Sunday 9th May) and what better way to spoil your mum than getting her an unusual gift. Stuck for ideas? Well we have a couple to help you out.

We have found a fabulous website called Red Balloon that offer all sorts of ‘experiences’. Anything from a gourmet cooking class, pedicure, massage and hot ballooning across the Yarra Valley to a V8 race car ride! http://ow.ly/1Exse

Perhaps your mum lives interstate (and is not so much into race car rides)? Why not send her something a bit different than the regular bunch of flowers. Why not send her a bouquet of chocolates!!! Edible Blooms is a great online company that send creative edible bouquets all across Australia. We at Metro have used them many a time and just love the idea. http://ow.ly/1ExsH

Are you are planning a family get together and are stuck for an idea of what to do? We have found just the thing to get you all together for a day of laughs and fundraising for a great cause. The ‘Mothers Day Classic’ is a national fun run and events will be held in all capital cities on Mothers day including Melbourne to raise funds for Breast Cancer Research. You can run or walk, groups are welcomed and you can even dress up if you like. To date the ‘Mother's Day Classic’ has raised $5.7 million towards breast cancer research. http://ow.ly/1Exta

Whatever it is that you and your family do, we all hope you enjoy the day. “A mother holds her children's hands for a while...their hearts forever” (Author Unknown).

A Tribute to our Anzac Soldiers

From the desk of Leah Calnan.....

Metro would like to honour our Anzacs and we felt the perfect way to do this was through the eyes of a 12 year old boy, Blake Morgan who wrote this poem about his ancestors.

Lest we forget? Lest we forget what?
The beach, the bush and the freedom I’ve got!
It’s always been here, since I was a boy.
My clothes, my friends, my family, my toys!
I live by the beach, enjoy the sand and the sea.
There could be no better place to live for me.
The restrictions I have, in a life full of fun,
Are only restricted by my dad and mum!

The things they have seen, the lessons they have learned!
They will instill them in me, and their trust I will earn!
For they know the past, and the stories of old.
Stories that must forever be told!

Stories of courage, of strength and determination.
Stories that have moulded and shaped this great nation!
Stories about heroes, about good men and women.
Stories that give me the great life that I am living!

But sadly, I know, these heroes I will never meet!
Still I will march in their memory, on their day,
Down George Street!
I will march for the heroes that didn't come home
And I know I'll be marching for the ones left alone!
My great grandads were there, left behind the ones
that they loved!
So I could live in this great land and live the life that I love!

One grandpa came home and one grandpa laid to rest.
So proudly I wear both their medals on my chest!
I thank you my heroes, from the bottom of my heart.
The young men the donkey, with his master and cart!
Be proud of yourselves and hold your heads high.
Enjoy what you have saved from your perch in the sky!
Anzacs they call you and Anzacs you are

God please love the Anzacs because two are my pas.

(Source: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/)