Archive for January, 2010

Eastern Volunteers – Regional Conference Preparation

Published by Alex Makin on Sunday 17th of January, 2010

Eastern Volunteers is a not-for-profit community based organisation that provides volunteer recruitment and transport services for the frail aged and people with disabilities.

The organisation is working in conjunction with Boroondara Volunteer Resource Centre and Monash Volunteer Resource Centre to organise a second conference on volunteering.

The conference seeks to address some of the present and future issues and challenges that the volunteer and not-for-profit sectors face for volunteering in Eastern Melbourne and beyond.

As a board member of Eastern Volunteers I have been chairing the steering committee and working group involved in the preparation of the Conference, which will be held on Tuesday the 17th of August at the Novotel in Glen Waverley.

For further information please visit www.easternvolunteers.org.au.

Media Release: Maroondah to welcome 37 new citizens on Australia Day

Published by Alex Makin on Wednesday 13th of January, 2010

The City of Maroondah is preparing to welcome 37 of Australia’s newest citizens during a special ceremony on Tuesday 26 January.

Mayor of Maroondah, Cr Alex Makin, said Maroondah was home to people from countries around the world. He welcomed the opportunity to meet those who had decided to become Australian citizens on Australia Day.

“Australia Day is an opportunity for all of us to take pride in our citizenship and reflect on the meaning and importance of being Australian,” Cr Makin said.

“On Australia Day, Maroondah is set to welcome new citizens from countries including India (10 people), Myanmar (seven people), and China (five people) – a reflection of our ever-growing cultural diversity,” Cr Makin said.

“Through citizenship we can all celebrate our democratic values and commitment to a fair go, equality, freedom of speech and religion, and the rule of law,” Cr Makin said.

Maroondah residents making the citizenship pledge on Australia Day will be among 16,000 others taking part in naturalisation ceremonies across the country.

The Maroondah Australia Day Awards ceremony will kick start Australia Day celebrations at 10am at the Karralyka Centre, Mines Rd, Ringwood East. The awards will be followed by Maroondah’s Citizenship Ceremony.

Maroondah’s Australia Day Ambassador Dr Hass Dellal will address the audience during the awards ceremony.

Dr Dellal is executive director of the Australian Multicultural Foundation. He has over 20 years experience in policy, management, community development and programming for cultural diversity. Dr Dellal has extensive experience nationally and internationally in multicultural affairs and serves on various committees, spearheading initiatives for the development of the general community.

Elsewhere, the local highlight of our national day will take place at Ringwood Lake from 11am to 2pm. Bring the family along to celebrate what makes Australia great and enjoy a free barbecue, face painting and community activities.

Eastern Volunteers – Business Breakfast

Published by Alex Makin on Wednesday 6th of January, 2010

Eastern Volunteers is a not-for-profit community based organisation that provides volunteer recruitment and transport services for the frail aged and people with disabilities.

Over the course of this year the organisation aims to strengthen the involvement of businesses within our local community. Eastern Volunteers in planning a business breakfast to bring together the business community to begin working towards this vision.

As a board member of Eastern Volunteers I have been chairing the working group for this event, which will be held at Club Ringwood on the 15th of September.

For further information please visit www.easternvolunteers.org.au.

Eastern Volunteers – Multicultural Spring Festival

Published by Alex Makin on Tuesday 5th of January, 2010

Eastern Volunteers is a not-for-profit community based organisation that provides volunteer recruitment and transport services for the frail aged and people with disabilities.

The organisation is preparing a number of events over the course of this year to strengthen volunteering within our community, including a Multicultural Spring Festival at Ringwood Lake.

As a board member of Eastern Volunteers I have been chairing the Festival’s working group, which is charged with seeking sponsorship and organising the event.

For further information please visit www.easternvolunteers.org.au.

Eastern FM – discussing the process of filling a vacancy on Council

Published by Alex Makin on Tuesday 5th of January, 2010

This morning I spoke briefly to Eastern FM to discuss the process for filling a vacancy on council, given Peter Gurr’s resignation.

The method for filling a vacancy depends as to the whether the council has a multi-member or single member ward structure.

Maroondah now has three wards electing three Councillors each and under this system no by-election is required. Instead the votes that were cast for Peter at the 2008 election are distributed in order of preference and the candidate that receives an absolute majority of these votes (50% + 1) will be deemed elected. The successful candidate will be deemed to be elected for the remainder of this council term.

The counting will be undertaken on the 27th of January after the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) contacts each Arrabri Ward candidate from the 2008 election to confirm whether they wish to be included in the ballot.

Similarly to a standard council election, this process will be undertaken by the Victorian Electoral Commission and is independent of Council.

I ask members of the community to respect Peter’s decision and I wish Peter and his wife Helen all the very best into the future.

Media Release: Peter Gurr resigns from Council

Published by Alex Makin on Monday 4th of January, 2010

“It is with regret that I advise the Maroondah community that Peter Gurr has resigned from his role as a Councillor of the City of Maroondah, effective 31 December, 2009,” said Mayor of Maroondah, Councillor Alex Makin.

“Peter was elected to the first Maroondah City Council in March 1997, and has served the Arrabri Ward continuously across five terms of elected office,” said Cr Makin.

During his thirteen year term of office, Peter has been Mayor of Maroondah on three occasions:

• March 2000 to March 2001
• December 2006 to December 2007
• December 2008 to December 2009.

“Peter has made a wonderful contribution to the Maroondah community. In particular he has been a committee member of the Arrabri Community House for many years, many times as Chair. He has also been Chair of Council’s Business Advisory Board and Audit Advisory Committee on a number of occasions,” said Cr Makin.

“Over the years, Peter has also represented Council on a range of committees and boards, including the Maroondah Partners in Health, Safety and Wellbeing Committee; the Maroondah Tourism and Heritage Advisory Board; the Melbourne Valley of the Arts Marketing Board; the Ringwood Town Centre Working Group; the Municipal Association of Victoria; and the Ringwood Eisteddfod,” said Cr Makin.

“My fellow Councillors and I offer Peter, and his wife Helen, our best wishes as they move onto the next phase of their lives,” said Cr Makin.

The process to fill the vacancy in the Arrabri Ward will be managed by the Victorian Electoral Commission via a countback using the votes cast at the November 2008 Maroondah City Council election,” said Cr Makin.

“It is important that the community be aware that the resignation of a Councillor does not trigger a by-election for the vacant position,” said Cr Makin.

The Victorian Electoral Commission has set Wednesday 27 January as the date for the countback. Time is yet to be confirmed. The elected candidate will then take up the remainder of the Council term through to November 2012.

Unsuccessful Arrabri Ward candidates in the November 2008 Maroondah City Council election were:

• Robyn Barrand
• Aaron Carlson
• Tony Dib
• Christina Gleeson
• James Jamison
• Neil MacDonald
• Brian Robinson
• Neil Rose

It is anticipated that the newly elected Councillor will be sworn in at the next Council meeting on the 15th of February.