Archive for June 1st, 2008

Maroondah Writers and Readers Festival Steering Group

Published by Alex Makin on Sunday 1st of June, 2008

The Maroondah Writers and Readers Festival will be held between the 3rd and 5th of October and will include workshops, discussion forums and a chance to meet a number of prominent authors.

A steering group involving Maroondah City Council, Eastern Regional Libraries and community members are organising the festival. Given my interest in the arts I have been attending the steering group meetings to provide assistance and liaison between the group and council.

For further details please visit www.erl.vic.gov.au/crimewriters/festival.htm

Maroondah Tourism and Heritage Advisory Board

Published by Alex Makin on Monday 18th of February, 2008

The Maroondah Tourism and Heritage Advisory Board meets every two months to discuss matters relating to the culture and heritage of Maroondah. The advisory board includes members of the community, including representatives from the Ringwood and Croydon Historical Societies as well as members interested in Maroondah’s culture and heritage.

Items for discussions this year include augmenting Maroondah’s existing website with content to provide a tourism and heritage focus.

I am one of three councillor delegates on the Maroondah Tourism and Heritage Advisory Board for 2008.

Maroondah Citizens Advice Bureau meeting

Published by Alex Makin on Friday 18th of January, 2008

The Maroondah Citizens’ Advice Bureau began in 1967, with the founding of the Ringwood Advisory Service, which was one of the first advisory services at the time. The organisation became known as the Maroondah Citizens’ Advice Bureau Inc. following council amalgamations in 1996.

The Maroondah Citizens’ Advice Bureau delivers crucial support for some of Maroondah’s most vulnerable residents through providing advice, food assistance and referral services. The organisation is largely volunteer driven and maintains offices in both Ringwood and Croydon.

The Committee of Management meets on a monthly basis to enact policies and discuss the direction of the organisation. I have been a committee member of the Citizens’ Advice Bureau since mid 2006 and have recently authored a business and marketing plan for the organisation to identify its strategic direction and goals over the next four years.