My Internet Journal is designed to provide details on my work as a councillor for the City of Maroondah and also my involvement within a variety of community organisations.
You can also subscribe to updates to stay informed in regard to community and council activities and how I am making a difference for the Maroondah community.
Spotlighters, which consists of over thirty-performers in a musical production, is one of the many activities provided by Enjoying Planned Retirement, based at the North Ringwood Senior Citizens Centre on Warrandyte Road.
The members of Spotlighters undertake approximately a year of rehearsals to provide an annual musical production in November of each year. This year’s production continued EPR’s tradition of detailed sets, extraordinary costumes, diverse singing voices, much music (including several disco tracks from the 1970s) and tap-dancing - all combined with a healthy blend of humour.
Enjoying Planned Retirement are in the initial stages of discussing a website to assist in promoting their many activities. I have offered to design their website so that EPR can have an online presence. Activities like Spotlighters will be one of the many events that will be featured on their website.
All stage and production crew must be commended for delivering another delightful musical production and I look forward to the 2009 performance season!
I would like to thank you, for the opportunity you have given me over the past three years to be your
elected councillor.
This section of my website provides an overview of some of the work I have undertaken as a Councillor and our vision for the future. Together we can continue making a difference and ensure an accessible and sustainable municipality through a council that is accountable to the public.
I will not take your vote for granted.
Maroondah needs to be accessible for people of all ages and abilities.
Achievements over the past three years include:
Our vision
The Ringwood redevelopment means we can create an accessible, inclusive and vibrant town centre.
We can create opportunities for all; our youth, families, elderly and people with disabilities, by providing
safe and accessible communities.
I support the construction of footpaths and will advocate for an accessible and safe Ringwood Station, as well as further transport improvements.
We need to protect our environment and improve our community facilities.
Achievements include:
Our vision
Council must become an environmental leader and reduce its impact on the environment.
We need to hold regular workshops and forums to assist our community and businesses to improve their
environmental sustainability.
I support a new community centre for Ringwood North and upgraded facilities for Ringwood Aquatic Centre.
Local council must be accountable to the community.
Achievements include:
Our vision
Improvements to open meetings to ensure that council is accountable. I will continue to provide ongoing updates to my website and blog to keep you informed, as well as meeting the community groups, residents, businesses and ratepayers that are within Maroondah.
Visit my Internet Journal and read about the activities, achievements and projects I have undertaken as a member of the community and a councillor for the City of Maroondah.
Alternatively please contact me on 9812 2337 or 0409 136 213, or email alex@alexmakin.com.au.
The Victorian Electoral Commission has released the 150 word statements and preferences for each candidate standing within the Maroondah City Council elections.
The statement and photograph is included within the postal ballot packs that are sent to residents and ratepayers of Maroondah between the 11th and 13th of November. The postal ballots need to be returned by 6pm on Friday the 29th of November.
The statement provides an opportunity for candidates to provide an overview of their priorities should they be elected. My statement is as follows:
It was a great honour and privilege to have served as your elected Councillor since 2005. I would appreciate your ongoing support, so I can continue making a difference to Maroondah and the new Mullum Ward.
I will continue to enhance our mobility, by ensuring safer local streets, more footpaths and better public transport, including advocacy for an accessible Ringwood Station. I will strive to create an inclusive community that provides opportunities for all; our youth, families, elderly and people with disabilities.
I will save our open space and parks, support our community groups, prevent inappropriate development, improve our sporting facilities and playgrounds, as well as strengthen Maroondah’s approach to sustainability and provide new community facilities.
Express your views about Maroondah. Contact me on 9812 2337 or 0409 136 213, or email alex@alexmakin.com.au or visit www.alexmakin.com.au. Let’s continue making a difference. Vote 1 Alex Makin. I will not take your vote for granted.
Unfortunately a number of candidates deceived myself and Jo-anne Taylor in regard to preferences and unless we receive a high enough first preference vote it will be a struggle to be re-elected. I would like to thank the many people who have supported me over the past three years and I urge the community to vote in support of a genuine candidate, so that Mullum Ward and Maroondah do not fall prey to over-zealous developers and dummy candidates.
In Mullum Ward the genuine candidates are Jo-anne Taylor, Peter Feeney, Nora Lamont and Adam Pepper. While I would certainly welcome your vote and ongoing support, I do urge you to vote for a genuine candidate if I am not your number one preference.
It is critical that Mullum Ward does not fall victim to people linked with developers with little community involvement. I certainly hope to continue as your councillor for the new Mullum Ward so that we can continue making a difference and create a sustainable, accessible and accountable future for Maroondah.
Monkami is a not for profit service provider based in Croydon, which cares for people with an intellectual disability. Over its 50 years of existence Monkami has had an emphasis on community inclusion to ensure that people with disabilities are provided with opportunities.
Today’s annual general meeting included a presentation from Monkami’s community inclusion officer, a position which receives no source of government funding and is financed by the centre itself. The position was created in response to the Government’s Disability Plan, which has an emphasis on community inclusion for people with disabilities.
Monkami is involved in a number of community projects, including the highly successful Monkami Drama Group, which has performed two seasons of its Titanic Resunk production, as well as partnerships with Croydon Secondary College and Arts Out East, which includes an exhibition from a number of community groups at the end of November.
Monkmai has developed an office administration course, which includes customer service, administrative and computer skills. Through this course Monkami is exploring the possibility of work placements for these students at organisations such as Maroondah City Council to demonstrate the possibilities for people with disabilities.
Organisations such as Monkami help ensure that people with disabilities are included within society and I offer my support to the organisation so that we can achieve an accessible and inclusive community.
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Delegates’ Report: community inclusion, appreciating local history and recognising our many volunteers , Monkami Drama Group presents Titanic, The Untold Stories , Monkami - Titanic the Untold Story: Resunk , The Launch of Youth Voice , 2007 EVRC AGM
Category: Accessibility, Community Engagement, Maroondah, Urban Sustainability
Glen Park Community Centre, based in Bayswater North, has been operating a volunteer run cafe to encourage community participation and development. The cafe provides a welcoming atmosphere and volunteer opportunities, particularly for people with disabilities or people who are socially isolated or experience mental illnesses.
While community houses receive State Government funding to assist in delivering courses and training, community development work does not receive this assistance. As a result there is a shortfall in funding that is jeopardising the future of the cafe.
The cafe was able to operate until mid October and today Glen Park organised a public meeting so that members of the Glen Park community could speak about their personal experience with the cafe and the benefits that this community meeting place provides.
In true Glen Park spirit today’s meeting was not to commiserate the closure of the cafe but to celebrate the opportunities it has provided.
Glen Park is seeking a combination of Local, State, Federal and community funding to enusre that its vital community development activities can continue. For further information on Glen Park please visit www.glenparkcc.com.au.
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Glen Park Community Centre Financial Briefing , Transport Information Workshop at Glen Park Community Centre , Delegates’ Report: celebrating our history, supporting our sporting clubs, cultural events, volunteers and community houses , EVRC International Volunteer Day Luncheon , North Ringwood Community House launches campaign for new home
Category: Accessibility, Community Engagement, Maroondah, Urban Sustainability
Alex Makin is a candidate for Mullum Ward in Maroondah City Council. Alex has been a councillor since 2005, representing ratepayers, businesses, community groups and residents.
I aim to provide an active voice for the community and welcome any thoughts you may have in regard to life and business in Maroondah.
Phone: (03) 9812 2337 or 0409 136 213
Email: alex@alexmakin.com.au
