Archive for August 18th, 2008

Delegates’ Report: opportunities for people with disabilities, the upcoming writers festival and the strength of community spirit

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

On the 23rd of July I had the pleasure of attending Titanic - the Untold Story: Resunk by the Monkami Drama Group hosted at the Karralyka Centre. The performance revisited the drama group’s 2007 production through the introduction of new characters and a revised script.

Monkami is a service provider for adults with an intellectual disability and aims to develop skills that will enable them to live with the greatest degree of independence within their own community.

Each performer was given the opportunity to develop their own character drawing upon many popular names such as James Bond, Captain Jack Sparrow, Wolverine and Judge Judy and of course Napoleon who was the villain of the show.

The level of detail in the performance was incredible, not only was the stage decked out as the Titanic, and the costumes extremely thorough, but they even gave Titanic hats to the audience to ensure that they were part of the show. It was all hands on deck, when everyone tried to escape the sinking Titanic, fortunately with the audience joining in on the hokey pokey we were all able to escape to dry land!

After two successful seasons the production is now considering further opportunities to continue the performance, including the potential of a touring show.

The Ringwood Spiders, based in Jubilee Park in Ringwood, is a football team for people with disabilities and on the 27th of July I attended their last home game for the season against the Maribyrnong Bulldogs. Like Monkami, the Ringwood Spiders is another example of how people with disabilities can participate within our community. It was great to see the Spiders playing one of their best games for the season, with the players coming together as one team and playing some extraordinary football.

With such on-field skills the Spiders defeated their opposition, which was a fitting way to end their last home game for the season at Jubilee Park.

Groups like Monkami and the Ringwood Spiders demonstrate that when given the opportunity people with disabilities can participate within our wider community. Perhaps the most wonderful aspect of these two events, was the breadth of the wider community support. Community groups such as the Ringwood Ballet Group and the Ringwood Movie Makers provided immense support to Monkami and the Ringwood Football Club is one of the Spiders biggest supporters, providing the use of training facilities and clubrooms.

On the 5th of August I attended Maroondah’s Forum for People with Disabilities and Carers, which provides an opportunity to raise issues in regard to accessibility so that we can strive for an inclusive community.

The forum provided an opportunity to discuss the feedback from the workshop held earlier this year and it was encouraging to see most of the input being incorporated into the forum. I would like to thank the many departments that are responsible for the forum, including Metro Access, aged and disability services, community planning and development and council’s engineers.

The forum continues to demonstrate the importance of providing dialogue and hearing first-hand the accessibility issues that exist within Maroondah so that as a council we can work towards making a difference through creating an inclusive municipality.

Lastly, this morning I attended a steering group meeting of the Maroondah 2008 Writers and Readers Festival.

The Festival which will be held between the 3rd and 5th of October include writer’s workshops, discussion groups and keynote speakers around the key theme of crime. The event which is funded through a Maroondah City Council grant in partnership with Eastern Regional Libraries will feature a number of prominent writers including John Silvester, the author of the Underbelly.

Once again the community spirit shines through in the preparation for the festival, with North Ringwood Community House offering to manage ticket sales and businesses such as Lakeside Cafe being available as a venue.

For details please visit the Eastern Regional Library website at www.erl.vic.gov.au, otherwise details are also available on my own web site at www.alexmakin.com.au.

Media Release: Councils need to enter the 21st century

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

MEDIA RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION
Monday, 18 August 2008

Councils need to enter the 21st century

Loughnan’s Hill Ward Councillor Alex Makin, an avid web blogger, has called on Councillors and prospective candidates to embrace new technology and develop an Internet web site and blog to strengthen interaction with the community.

“Local government is supposed to be the closest form of government to the people and yet councils have generally been slow to embrace new technology”, Cr. Makin said. “Interactive websites and blogs help bridge the gap between council and the community and should be seen as an essential communication tool.”

Cr. Alex Makin has operated a website complete with a regularly updated blog at www.alexmakin.com.au, since 2005. Alex uses the blog to publish details of community events he has attended as well as information on council activities.

“A blog provides an additional avenue for people to leave comments and interact with councillors. Blogging is particularly popular with younger people and people with disabilities, who sometimes shy away from traditional methods of consultation”, Cr. Makin said. “Blogs differ from websites, since they are interactive and encourage people to provide their opinions and make contact.”

“I am calling on council candidates and current councillors to commit to creating and regularly updating a website and blog. Just as email is an essential technology for a councillor, blogging will be also become critical to communicating with the community”, Cr. Makin concluded.

About Alex Makin:
Alex Makin was elected in November 2005 as the Councillor for Loughnan’s Hill ward in the City of Maroondah. Alex, currently the youngest councillor elected within the history of the City of Maroondah, has maintained a regularly updated website and blog at www.alexmakin.com.au.

ALL MEDIA ENQUIRIES: CR. ALEX MAKIN ON 0408 311 645
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Maroondah Writers and Readers Festival Steering Group

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

Monday, 2 June 2008
9:30 am	to	11:30 am
Monday, 23 June 2008
9:30 am	to	11:30 am
Monday, 11 August 2008
9:00 am	to	11:00 am
Monday, 18 August 2008
9:00 am	to	11:00 am
Monday, 1 September 2008
9:00 am	to	11:00 am
Monday, 15 September 2008
9:00 am	to	11:00 am
Tuesday, 30 September 2008
9:00 am	to	11:00 am
Monday, 20 October 2008
9:00 am	to	11:00 am

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 City Council Meeting

Published by Alex Makin on Wednesday 5th of December, 2007

Monday, 10 December 2007
7:30 pm	to	9:30 pm
Monday, 18 February 2008
7:30 pm	to	9:30 pm
Monday, 17 March 2008
7:30 pm	to	9:30 pm
Monday, 21 April 2008
7:30 pm	to	9:30 pm
Monday, 19 May 2008
7:30 pm	to	9:30 pm
Monday, 16 June 2008
7:30 pm	to	9:30 pm
Monday, 21 July 2008
7:30 pm	to	9:30 pm
Monday, 18 August 2008
7:30 pm	to	9:30 pm
Monday, 15 September 2008
7:30 pm	to	9:30 pm
Monday, 20 October 2008
7:30 pm	to	9:30 pm
Monday, 17 November 2008
7:30 pm	to	9:30 pm
Wednesday, 10 December 2008
7:30 pm	to	9:30 pm

Council meetings commence at 7.30 pm and are held in the Council Chambers, Braeside Avenue, Ringwood.

The public is welcome to attend and there is an opportunity to submit a question to be answered at council meetings or to speak directly to councillors and council staff after the meeting.

If you wish to submit a formal question at a council meeting, please download the form for Public Question Time from the Maroondah City Council Website.