Month: June 2009

Delegates' Report: Maroondah's Wellbeing, Reconciliation, Planning for the Future and Supporting Migrant Communities

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On the 19th and 25th of May I had the pleasure of presenting certificates to the students who participated in Council’s drawing competition for the Community Wellbeing Plan. The competition provided school students with the opportunity to discuss what they liked about Maroondah and to gain input from these students for the Community Welleing Plan.

Maroondah’s Community Wellbeing Plan is a comprehensive document that will identify strategies to improve the health, safety and wellbeing of our municipality. It is great to provide creative ways of encouraging all members of our community, including schoolchildren to comment on the plan.

On the 27th of May I had the privilege of launching Maroondah’s Indigenous Policy and officiating the Maroondah Reconciliation Week festivities. The event was attended by students from a number of Maroondah based schools, as well as members of our community. The event included a series of workshops, as well as an Indigenous Elder retelling Dreamtime Stories and the One Fire Aboriginal Dance Troupe who recreated traditional Indigenous dances. It is great to see the continued strong interest that our community has towards Reconciliation.

On the 12th of June I attended a business planning workshop for North Ringwood Community House. The house is in the process of updating its three year business plan to ensure that it has a sustainable economic, social and environmental future. The House is delighted by the success of its application for feasibility study funding, with both the State Government and Maroondah Council announcing a financial contribution towards the study.

The discussion during the workshop understandably included the need for a new premises and location and this successful application, with $25,000 from the State Government and $5000 from Maroondah, means that this this vision is one step closer to reality.

I would like to extend my gratitude to the many council officers who assisted the House in preparing the application and also for their ongoing assistance, as the study scope is defined and the work commences.

On the 13th of June I attended a Soccer and Volleyball Tournament organised by the Migrant Information Centre for the Burmese and Sudanese Communities. Maroondah has one of the highest Burmese populations within Metropolitan Melbourne and it was great to see events being held to support our migrant communities.

The Rotary Club of Ringwood assisted the Migrant Information Centre through holding a barbecue and serving food and refreshments and the participants certainly appreciated the hospitality. When my grandparents migrated to Australia from Poland in 1958 there was little support in learning about Australia and the English language. It is wonderful to see that there are now community organisations that can assist migrants in settling into their new lives in Australia.

Migrant Information Centre – Sporting Tournament for the Burmese and Sudanese Communities

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The Migrant Information Centre provides a range of support services for migrants and refugees living in the Eastern Suburbs of Melbourne. In recent years Maroondah has seen an increase in migrants from Sudan and Burma and now has one of the largest Burmese populations within Metropolitan Melbourne.

The Migrant Information Centre organises regular events to provide opportunities for these migrant groups and the organisation approached the Rotary Club of Ringwood to assist in delivering a barbecue as part of a soccer and volleyball tournament for the Burmese and Sudanese communities.

The event was held in Greenwood Park, located along Greenwood Avenue in Ringwood with people participating in volleyball and soccer. The Rotary Club of Ringwood provided a barbecue, food and refreshments as part of the event.

I was one of several Rotary members who volunteered to assist with the barbecue and it was great to receive such a positive response from the participants who appreciated the efforts of the Migrant Information Centre and the Rotary Club.

As the local Ward Councillor for the Mullum Ward I also had the pleasure of presenting the trophies to the competing teams. The event attracted a large number of attendees and it is wonderful to see community organisations working in partnership to strengthen our community and to assist newly arrived migrants in Australia.

North Ringwood Community House – Business Plan Workshop

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North Ringwood Community House, is located at 120 Oban Road in Ringwood and is the only community house in Maroondah that is not located on council land.

North Ringwood Community House is unique, since it is an accredited Registered Training Organisation and offers TAFE qualifications such as Certificates III and IV in areas such as Palliative Care, Aged Care and Disability Services.

As a member of the North Ringwood Community House Committee of Management, I was invited to a workshop with other committee members, tutors and staff to discuss its business plan to guide its direction over the next three years.

The workshop identified the vision for the House and helped outline objectives that we aim to achieve over the next three years. The need for a new location featured prominently and a feasibility study to determine a new location will commence, due to State and Local government funding.

The recent announcement from the State Government and its commitment to provide $25,000 for this study will ensure that it can commence. Maroondah City Council is contributing $5,000 and council staff will be working with the House to assist undertaking this work.

The outcomes from the workshop will frame the Community House’s business plan, which will later be considered by the Committee of Management for adoption. The House’s commitment to business planning demonstrates its emphasis on good governance and delivering a sustainable future within an accessible location.

A new location and premises will ensure that the House can continue to expand its services and meet the needs of the Ringwood North and Maroondah community.

Media Release: North Ringwood Community House Feasibility Study to Commence

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Alex Makin, the Councillor for the Mullum Ward is delighted that funding for the feasibility study into a new location for North Ringwood Community House (NRCH) will commence following a successful grant application from the State Government.

“I congratulate the State Government for approving the community house’s application for $25,000 to commence the feasibility study”, Cr. Alex Makin said. “This funding, combined with the $5000 contribution from Maroondah City Council will enable the house to begin planning for a new location and a sustainable future.”

North Ringwood Community House, located at 120 Oban Road, Ringwood North, is the only community house in Maroondah that is not situated on Council land. This hampers the ability of the house to access capital works funding, resulting in an ongoing maintenance backlog. North Ringwood Community House is the only community house in Maroondah that has obtained status as a Registered Training Organisation and provides TAFE accredited courses, as well as subjects on computers, arts, languages and fitness.

“North Ringwood Community House provides an essential service for the community through encouraging social inclusion and delivering lifelong education. The announcement of this successful application means that the vision of a new community centre for Ringwood North is now one step closer to reality. I look forward to continuing my involvement with the house as we work together to make this vision a reality” Cr. Makin concluded.

ALL MEDIA ENQUIRIES: ALEX MAKIN ON 0408 311 645
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Rotary Club of Mitcham – Changeover Dinner 2009

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Rotary Clubs have an annual changeover dinner to recognise the achievements of the past year and to introduce the new officebearers of the Club and the incoming President.

Tonight I was invited to attend the Rotary Club of Mitcham Changeover Dinner. While I am a member of the Rotary Club of Ringwood, I do know several members from Mitcham, including its previous and outgoing Presidents.

The function provided an opportunity to recognise the committed service of individuals and it was wonderful to see Sharon Partridge being awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship. Sharon, was a former Whitehorse Councillor and past President of the Rotary Club of Mitcham.

During Sharon’s year as President she successfully organised several events, including fundraising activities and a concert providing funds for solar facilities in East Timor and scholarships for Indigenous Australians.

The Paul Harris Fellowship is one of Rotary’s highest honours and was named after Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary.

R & M McGivern Prize

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The R & M McGivern Prize was named after Reg and Muriel McGivern and is one of Australia’s most prestigious art prizes, with the winning entry receiving $15,000 and included within Maroonah’s Art Collection.

Muriel, who lived in Maroondah since her birth, established the prize when she passed away on the 29th of January 2000. Muriel was born on the 1st of October 1904 and attended the Ringwood State School, in what is now Maroondah Federation Estate and Art Gallery. Muriel studied writing, drawing and cooking at Swinburne College and while she desired to become an artist her parents dissuaded her and she chose instead a career as a fashion designer. Muriel founded the Croydon Historical Society and Museum in 1963 and had a passion for the arts and local history.

The prize is awarded every three years, with a theme chosen by judges who assess the entries. This year’s theme was ‘I paint because…’ and encouraged a breadth of talent, as well as an insight into the creative process.

This year the Prize received almost 300 entries, demonstrating the prominence of the prize and the lasting gesture of Muriel McGivern’s commitment to both the community and the arts.

Launch of the Outer East Community Food Access Research

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The Outer East Community Food Access Research Project, was a report commissioned through the Primary Care Partnerships and nutrition networks and examined the proximity to fresh and nutritious food to residents living in Maroondah, Knox and the Shire of Yarra Ranges.

While Maroondah is generally well provisioned with access to fresh food, through supermarkets, green grocers, delicatessens and other outlets, there are considerable differences between the prices that are charged for fresh food between each suburb and locality.

This has an impact on residents being able to purchase nutritious food, relative to other needs such as clothing and shelter. The report found that some residents within the community were eating less so as to afford other necessities, such as accommodation.

The launch of the report provides further insight into the health and wellbeing of the Maroondah community and is timely given that Council is currently reviewing its Community Wellbeing Plan.

Rotary Club of Ringwood – Eastern Volunteers

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The Rotary Club of Ringwood meets on a weekly basis at Club Ringwood on the corner of Maroondah Highway and Oban Road. The Club features speakers who discuss community causes with the Club.

Tonight’s speakers were from Eastern Volunteers, who discussed their vision for the future with the Rotary club.

Eastern Volunteers is a not-for-profit community organisation established in 1976. The organisation provides transport services for people with disabilities and the frail aged, as well as serving as a recruitment centre for volunteers. Eastern Volunteers is primarily based in Ringwood, with offices in Lilydale and Box Hill. The organisation provides its services within the Cities of Whitehorse, Maroondah and the Shire of Yarra Ranges.

The organisation has grown significantly since its establishment and now has approximately 15 staff members and over 100 volunteers who assist in the delivery of its services.

Eastern Volunteers has a vision of becoming a peak body representing the interests of volunteers and encouraging new people to volunteer and assist community organisations. This vision will strengthen our communities and make it easier for people to be able to volunteer.

This continued growth has meant that Eastern Volunteers requires an appropriate premises for its Head Office. Eastern Volunteers is currently based in New Street, Ringwood but needs a larger premises so that it can continue to deliver its services and meet the needs of the community.

Speaking to the Croydon Historical Society

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This evening I was invited to speak to the Croydon Historical Society about my family history and my role as a local Councillor for the Mullum Ward in Maroondah.

Maroondah’s historical societies document the history of the suburbs located within the municipality. This local history helps foster civic pride resulting in stronger community awareness and inclusion.

While Ringwood and Croydon may appear to be largely homogeneous, they do in fact have unique histories. While the Borough of Ringwood achieved severance from the Shire of Lillydale in 1924, the Shire of Croydon was not proclaimed until 1961, one year after Ringwood was declared a City.

The fact that Croydon did not achieve severance until forty years after Ringwood, demonstrates the differing pace of urbanisation. The City of Croydon was proclaimed in 1971 and was merged with the City of Ringwood to form the City of Maroondah in 1994.

An appreciation for local history is something I view as important for local Councillors. Just as the decisions of the past influence the choices we have today, the decisions we as a council make will continue to be felt into the future.

As an example, Ringwood’s initial growth was largely due to the railways, with the opening of the Lilydale rail line and Ringwood Station in 1882. Due to the station requiring flat land it was sited in its current location between Ringwood Streets and Warrandyte Road. This was despite the fact that the township of Ringwood was largely formed around the antimony mining of Ringwood East.

As a result the centre of Ringwood shifted around the rail station, with substantial residential subdivisions taking place from the 1920s due to the electrification of the rail line.

This decision made well over 100 years ago still has ramifications for Ringwood today. The location of Ringwood Station, as well as serving as the junction for the Belgrave and Lilydale lines shaped Ringwood into a major commercial precinct. The challenge now is to improve its walkability and accessibility through improvements to pedestrian crossings and better linkages between the residential and retail parts of Ringwood and the station.

Not all decisions made in the past are of benefit to us today. The decision by the former City of Ringwood to demolish the former Ringwood Town Hall in 1970 removed a prominent civic building from the heart of Ringwood and denied future generations with the possibility of utilising community space within the centre of Ringwood.

This decision is one that is still felt today, with a shortage of community space within Ringwood and a lack of an historic building to create a sense of identity. The redevelopment of Eastland and the creation of a new town square provide a once in a generational opportunity to correct this mistake and enable us to restore a civic and community heart to Ringwood.

In contrast, Croydon will be celebrating the 100 year anniversary of the Croydon Town Hall, which is located on Mount Dandenong Road and now houses EV’s Youth Centre.

I have lived in Ringwood since I was two years old, previously in Carruthers Court in Heathmont (near Wantirna Road) and then in Mundara Drive in Ringwood North and now in Bond Street within the middle of Ringwood.

Over these years Ringwood and Croydon have still experienced significant changes, such as the development of Croydon Hills which was still taking place during the 1990s while I was a high school student.

Ringwood and Croydon have unique and detailed histories and as a Councillor it is important to be mindful of the past so that we make the best decisions for the future.

Maroondah Leader: Council pledge on indigenous policy

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The Maroondah Journal has reported on Maroondah’s Reconciliation Week festivities and the launch of council’s Reconciliation Policy.

Councillor Alex Makin said Maroondah Council launched its Reconciliation Policy during the day. He said the statement outlined four key areas of its commitment to the local indigenous community”

Maroondah’s Reconciliation Policy will be accompanied by an annual action plan to measure council’s progress against the outcomes identified in the plan.

“The council is now looking forward to working in conjunction with residents and relevant organisations over the next four years to deliver on strategies and actions outlined in the statement,” Cr Makin said.

The policy encourages understanding and reconciliation between all Australians, with a focus on education, health and employment opportunities for all people within our community, including indigenous Australians.