Internet Journal (blog) of Cr. Alex Makin

Maroondah Journal: honest to blog, keep up to date

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

While local council is often cited as the closest form of government to the people, it is critical that councillors and prospective candidates undertake new initiatives to help bridge the gap between council and the wider community.

I have recently called on the current Maroondah councillors (all of whom who have indicated that they are re-standing in the upcoming election) and prospective candidates to commit to creating their own web site and blog to provide a new form of communication to the community.

A Maroondah councillor has called on his colleagues to “move with the times”, encouraging them to create individual web pages and blogs to increase interaction between the council and residents.

I have been actively maintaining my website and blog since 2005, prior to being elected onto council. I have found the website to be extremely useful in conveying the activities undertaken as a councillor and encouraging people to contact me to discuss the issues that matter to them.

Loughnan’s Hill Ward Councillor Alex Makin said councillors and future candidates should move into the 21st century.

Local government has unfortunately been relatively slow to adopt new technologies and it is critical that councillors and candidates undertake this commitment to assist people in communicating with local councils.

“Local government is supposed to be the closet form of government to the community. Having an active web presence helps bridge the gap between the council and the community.”

An active web presence, going behind a static web page through the provision of an interactive blog provides an opportunity to leave comments and contact their local elected representatives.

He said residents could leave comments, ask questions, raise concerns and inquire about upcoming events within the council and community.

“It is another tool for the community to use, in addition to mobile phones and email.”

A web presence would augment rather than replace the more traditional forms of communication, such as telephone, email and postal mail. The more opportunities for the community to make contact, the easier it is for people to raise their concerns directly with elected representatives.

He said part of a councillor’s role was to keep up-to-date with technology.

“It also enables young people who may be disengaged with the community to have their say in a way they feel comfortable.”

Councillors have an obligation to keep up-to-date with technology and ensure that are representing the interests of their constituents. In particular younger people, as well as people with disabilities, tend to predominately use the Internet as a communication tool. A website complete with an interactive blog would assist these people in contacting their elected representatives and ensuring that are being heard.

It was encouraging to see that Cr Jo-anne Taylor stated her support for the idea and is considering establishing a website.

I will continue to maintain and update my website to ensure that the community is kept informed on the activities I undertake as an elected councillor and the community events that I attend.

If you would like to stay informed then please subscribe to updates to receive regular notifications on the events I am attending.

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).

Maroondah Disability Action Group - aims and objectives

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

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.

Today’s meeting marked the adoption of a mission statement, whereby the group exists to raise awareness through advocacy for greater accessibility across the outer eastern region. This mission statement reinforces the purpose of the group and its focus on accessibility improvements across Maroondah and the outer east.

A series of objectives were also identified with the aims being:

• 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.

Specific priorities include advocating for bus improvements, securing the redevelopment of Ringwood Station into an accessible transit interchange and mobility improvements across Maroondah. The group also aims to work cooperatively with other groups at a local, state and federal level to achieve these aims.

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.

Ringwood Football Club Super Draw

Published by Alex Makin on Saturday 9th of August, 2008

This evening I joined the Ringwood Football Club at its club grounds in Jubilee Park, Ringwood to partake in the club’s super draw and celebrations of the 2008 Football season. The Super Draw is one of the club’s main fundraising activities for the season with the $100 tickets providing a chance to win the grand prize of $10,000 or seven consolation prizes.

The Ringwood Football Club, also known as the Ringwood Redbacks, is a supporter of the Ringwood Spiders a football team for people with disabilities. It is fantastic to see Ringwood’s sporting clubs supporting other groups within our community, with the the football club providing the Spiders with the use of their club rooms and training facilities.