Events and Functions of relevance to Maroondah City Council

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 Disability Action Group meeting

Published by Alex Makin on Tuesday 12th of August, 2008

Monday, 15 September 2008
10:00 am	to	12:00 pm
Monday, 13 October 2008
10:00 am	to	12:00 pm
Monday, 10 November 2008
10:00 am	to	12:00 pm

The Maroondah Disability Action Group also known as the Disability Action Group Eastern Region, aims to provide a voice for people with disabilities across Maroondah and Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.

The group is a community led movement and includes people with disabilities who desire to improve the accessibility of Maroondah and the outer east. Specific aims include:

• To provide systemic advocacy to influence policies at a local, state or federal level;
• To campaign for accessible transport improvements;
• To cooperate with other like minded groups at a local and state level, and
• To push for greater, accessible and inclusive health services.

The Maroondah Disability Action Group meets at 10 am on the second Monday of each month at the Ringwood Church of Christ at 13 Bedford Road in Ringwood.

The venue is fully accessible and in close proximity to Ringwood Station and bus routes 367 (Ringwood to Croydon via East Ringwood) and 679 (Chirnside Park Shopping Centre to Ringwood via Mount Evelyn, Montrose and Canterbury Road).

Rotary Club of Ringwood meeting

Published by Alex Makin on Monday 11th of August, 2008

Wednesday, 13 August 2008
7:00 pm	to	9:00 pm
Wednesday, 20 August 2008
7:00 pm	to	9:00 pm
Wednesday, 27 August 2008
7:00 pm	to	9:00 pm
Wednesday, 3 September 2008
7:00 pm	to	9:00 pm
Wednesday, 10 September 2008
7:00 pm	to	9:00 pm
Wednesday, 17 September 2008
7:00 pm	to	9:00 pm
Wednesday, 24 September 2008
7:00 pm	to	9:00 pm
Wednesday, 1 October 2008
7:00 pm	to	9:00 pm
Wednesday, 8 October 2008
7:00 pm	to	9:00 pm
Wednesday, 15 October 2008
7:00 pm	to	9:00 pm
Wednesday, 22 October 2008
7:00 pm	to	9:00 pm
Wednesday, 29 October 2008
7:00 pm	to	9:00 pm

The Rotary Club of Ringwood, which meets each Wednesday evening at the Ringwood Club on the corners of Oban Road and Maroondah. Ringwood Rotary is part of Rotary District 9810, which covers eastern and southeastern Melbourne.

Rotary is an international organisation with over 1.2 milllion members world-wide. The core philosophy of Rotary is adherence to the Four Way Test:

1. Is it the truth?
2. Is it fair to all concerned?
3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

I became a member of Ringwood Rotary on the 6th of August 2008 and am currently part of the Community sub-committee, which aims to support community based organisations and undertake community based projects.

Eastern Volunteers board of management meeting

Published by Alex Makin on Monday 28th of July, 2008

Thursday, 31 July 2008
9:00 am	to	11:00 am
Thursday, 28 August 2008
9:00 am	to	11:00 am
Thursday, 25 September 2008
9:00 am	to	11:00 am
Thursday, 30 October 2008
9:00 am	to	11:00 am
Thursday, 27 November 2008
9:00 am	to	11:00 am

Eastern Volunteers is a not-profit organisation that provides volunteer assistance, as well as community transport for the frail aged and people with disabilities. The organisation aims to strengthen volunteering by providing training services and assistance in recruiting and placing volunteers within other community based associations.

Eastern Volunteers is also heavily involved in communtiy transport solutions and provides a range of transport services for home and community care (HACC) eligible clients to assist in enhancing social inclusion and reducing isolation. The organisation is also involved in programs which aim to look at how community transport can augment public transport and taxi services. Eastern Volunteers is also one of the partners of the Sustainable Living Space initiative, which aims to investigate the potential for an environmentally sustainable community centre in Melbourne’s outer east.

Eastern Volunteers was formed in 1976 and has 14 part-time staff with approximately 100 volunteers to assist in service delivery. A voluntary board of management oversees the policies and strategic direction of the organisation. I was co-opted onto the board of management in July 2008.

For further details on Eastern Volunteers please visit www.easternvolunteers.org.au.

Media Release: Opportunity to discuss accessibility issues in Maroondah

Published by Alex Makin on Wednesday 16th of July, 2008

Tuesday, 5 August 2008
10:00 am	to	12:00 pm

Maroondah City Council is holding a forum for people with disabilities and their carers on Tuesday 5 August at Maroondah Federation Estate.

Councillor Alex Makin encourages people with a disability, and Maroondah based carers, to attend the forum and participate in a morning of information sharing.

“Council is committed to ensuring that people with a disability have plenty of opportunities available to them so that all people can fully participate in community life,” said Cr Makin.

“This forum will build upon the community feedback received at our workshop earlier this year. This feedback will assist council in strengthening the forum and ensure that it remains responsive to community needs,” said Cr Makin.

“I wholeheartedly encourage our community to attend the forum and take the opportunity to have their opinions and ideas heard. Together we can ensure that Maroondah becomes an accessible municipality that provides opportunities for all people within our community,” concluded Cr Makin.

The Maroondah Forum for People with Disabilities and Carers starts at 10.00am and concludes at 12.00noon on Tuesday 5 August at Room 1, Maroondah Federation Estate, 32 Greenwood Avenue, Ringwood.

Please RSVP by Wednesday 29 July by calling Gail on 9298 4275 or email gail.mcdaniel@maroondah.vic.gov.au

Maroondah Federation Estate is in close proximity to Ringwood Station and free car parking is available. The venue is fully accessible for people with mobility aids. If you have any support or other requirements please advise when confirming your attendance.