Tag: athletics

Delegates’ Report: Annual General Meetings, Promoting Harmony and Recognising Achievements

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February and March have both been busy months with the opening of new facilities, annual general meetings and awards.

On the 19th of February I had the pleasure of opening the revamped Keystone Hall, located in Croydon. The project, which received Council and Federal funding, is a multi-purpose facility that houses several groups, including Croydon Little Athletics and the Croydon U3A. The facility includes accessibility improvements, as well as sustainability initiatives, through the installation of water tanks.

On the 4th of March, the City of Maroondah was officially presented an Award for achieving the Highest Level of Community Engagement during Walktober. Walktober is an event held each October, whereby Councils, community groups and organisations are encouraged to organise walks to promote sustainable transport and community wellbeing.

I would like to extend my congratulations to Maroondah’s Leisure Services Department for working collaboratively with community groups and registering 55 walks during Walktober.

Further details will be presented during tonight’s agenda.

On the 9th of March I had the pleasure of opening Maroondah City Council’s International Women’s Day Breakfast. 2010 marks the Centenary of the Girl Guides and we had the privilege of hearing from two speakers from Girl Guides Victoria, including local Guide leader Billee Henry who spoke passionately about the organisation and the opportunities to provides its members.

On the 16th of March I had the honour of opening the Lighthouse Foundation’s Home for Mums and Bubs in Heathmont. The Home will provide a home for two homeless young mothers and their babies, providing a nurturing environment, combined with holistic support, counselling and education. I look forward to welcoming the residents of the home into the Maroondah community.

On the 17th of March I assisted in the preparations of the Ride2School program at Croydon West Primary. Ride2School is a program that aims to encourage walking and cycling and it was great to see so many students participating in the program.

The 18th of March saw the coming together of many organisations, including Maroondah Council, Eastern Regional Libraries, Centrelink, Department of Justice, Maroondah Police and Mission Australia to hold a festival marking Cultural Diversity Week and Harmony Day.

The event was held at the front of the Ringwood Library and saw the space come alive with songs, dance, story telling and face painting. Many members of our community participated in the festivities and it was fantastic to demonstrate the key message of Harmony Day, by showing that Everyone Belongs in Maroondah.

Lastly, on the 16th of March I attended the Central Ringwood Community Centre’s Annual General Meeting and the Annual General Meeting of Yarrunga Community Centre on the 17th. Both Community Centres, are overseen by a voluntary committee of management and it is great to see that they are both continuing to meet the needs of the wider community, through social groups, adult education and child services.

Maroondah Journal: Athletes rejoice at Keystone revamp

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The Maroondah Journal has reported on the revamp of Keystone Hall in Croydon, providing facilities for a range of community groups, including the Croydon Little Athletics Centre and Croydon U3A.

The works include an improved courtyard, new office space and toilets, three 3000-litre water tanks, refurbished kitchen and kiosk and upgrades to the hall’s facade and surrounds. They were unveiled last Friday by Mayor Alex Makin and Deakin MP Mike Symon.

The project was made possible due to $150,000 in funding from Maroondah City Council, with matched funding from the Federal Government. In addition, the Town Park Committee of Management contributed $6000.

“These works are the product of a solid partnership between the council, the Federal Government Town Park Committee of Management and Croydon Little Athletics Centre. This is great news for hall users, who I’m sure will enjoy the revamped facilities on offer.”

The revamp of Keystone Hall demonstrates the positive outcomes that can be achieved when multiple levels of government work together with the community.

Re-opening of Keystone Hall

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Keystone Hall, located at Town Park in Croydon, is a multi-purpose community facility, which houses a variety of community groups, including athletics and Croydon U3A. The redevelopment of Keystone Hall received joint Federal and Council funding, with the two levels of government committing $150,000 each, in addition to a $6000 from the Town Park Committee of Management.

Alex firing the starter gun for little athletics, as part of the opening of Keystone Hall in Croydon.
Alex firing the starter gun for little athletics, as part of the opening of Keystone Hall in Croydon.

This afternoon I officially opened the improvements to Keystone Hall, which includes disability compliant toilets, a new courtyard and 3000 litre water tanks.

Alex with Mike Symon MP, the Member for Deakin, at the re-opening of Keystone Hall
Alex with Mike Symon MP, the Member for Deakin, at the re-opening of Keystone Hall

A copy of the speech is provided within this post:

Continue reading “Re-opening of Keystone Hall”

Tour of Maroondah's Community Facilities – Croydon

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Maroondah is currently undertaking a series of tours of its community facilities, such as Community Houses, libraries, parks and leisure facilities, to ensure that Councillors are aware of the services available within the municipality.

This evening Councillors viewed facilities within Croydon beginning with EV’s Youth Centre. EV’s provides a range of activites for Maroondah’s youth, including a drop-in centre, a short-film festival and regular musical events organised by young people as part of the FreeZA program.

Afterwards Councillors visited Croydon Library, which is experiencing strong patronage growth particularly during weekends and evenings. This was followed by Croydon Town Park, which includes the newly refurbished athletics track and a range of sporting facilities.

Both the Croydon Leisure and Aquatic Centre and Croydon Memorial Pool were part of the tour and it was encouraging to see these facilities being strongly utilised by the public. Dorset Golf, which reverted back to council ownership a few years ago, was the last stop of the tour.

Wyreena Community Arts Centre, located in Hull Road, is one of two arts facilities within Maroondah and the tour included the studios of Eastern FM, as well as the art gallery and meeting rooms within the Centre.

The tour will continue next week with the facilities based in Ringwood, all of which are now part of the new Mullum Ward.

Opening of the AC Robertson Athletic Track Upgrade

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After launching the first day of the Writers and Readers Festival I attended the official opening of the AC Robertson Athletic Upgrade at Proclamation Park in Ringwood.

The upgrade of the athletics track, which included resurfacing and new line markings, complements the new grandstand and accessibility improvements at this premiere sporting facility. Today’s launch coincided with the beginning of the little athletics season and it was great to see the track being used by the community.

The Ringwood Athletic Club has had an extensive history within Ringwood and has launched the careers of a number of prominent athletes including Cathy Freeman, Jenny Orr and Kyle Vander-Kuyp. The new upgraded facilities at Proclamation Park and AC Robertson Athletic Club will ensure that athletics will continue to excel within Ringwood.

For more details on Ringwood Athletic Club please visit www.ringwoodac.org.au

Media Release: Ringwood Athletics Track ready for new season

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Little Athletics is a uniquely Australian sport for children from 5 to 16 years. As the name suggests, it is based upon the sport of athletics (track and field) and offers a wide range of events from running, jumping, throwing and walking, each modified to suit the age and ability of the children.

Maroondah has two athletic centres: at Town Park on the corner of Norton and Mt Dandenong Roads in Croydon; and the AC Robertson Track, Sylvia Grove, Ringwood.

“The Little Athletics season commences on Saturday 4 October at 8.30am, and families new to Little Athletics are welcome to come along to either centre and discover the benefits of participation. Registration will still be available on this day,” said Cr Makin.

The registration date for the Ringwood Little Athletic Track and Field Season is Saturday 20 September between 9.30am and 11am at the AC Robertson Athletics Track, Sylvia Grove, Ringwood.

For more information on Little Athletics in Maroondah, contact Carolyn Scott, Croydon Little Athletics Centre on 9733 4352 or Kathryn Moss, Ringwood Little Athletics Centre on 9879 5461.

Opening the AC Roberston Athletics Track and Grandstand

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The AC Robertson athletics track, based at Proclamation Park in Ringwood, is one of the premiere athletic facilities in the eastern suburbs and is home to a number of different sporting clubs.

This afternoon we officially opened the newly resealed track, as well as the newly constructed grandstand which provides additional seating for up to 350 spectators. Further works including accessible toilet facilities will be completed over the next month and will ensure a greater level of accessibility to this facility.

These works were funded through Maroondah City Council, the AC Robertson Committee of Management and the State Government of Victoria. These much needed upgrades will further ensure that AC Robertson and Proclamation Park meet the needs of Maroondah residents and the eastern region.

2007 in review: standing up for the community

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As we enter the final year of this current council term, it is important to reflect on the last twelve months so as to shape the priorities for 2008:

Improving Accessibility

Improving Sustainability

Advocating for Sustainable Transport

Standing up for the community

Over the course of this year I plan on continuing to stand up for the community, including through my involvement in the Committees of Management for the Maroondah Citizens’ Advice Bureau and North Ringwood Community House. I am also Maroondah’s representative on the Eastern Transport Coalition and am continuing my involvement to the Maroondah Tourism and Heritage Advisory Board. I should also be continuing as chair of the Maroondah Partners in Health, Safety and Wellbeing Committee, although this will be dependent on the outcome of the notice to review that I issued for February’s council meeting.

It is critical that Maroondah becomes a leader in sustainability and accessibility. The vision for the Ringwood Transit City and Croydon Activity Centre will result in changes that will remain with us for at least 20 or 30 years. It is imperative that we get things right from the very beginning, so as not to repeat past mistakes.

I would like to thank the many people who have contacted me during 2007 to discuss issues within Maroondah. It is your calls and emails that provide me the opportunity to stand up for the community.

Thank you to everyone who has helped make Maroondah a better municipality throughout 2007.

Cr. Alex Makin

Councillor for Loughnan’s Hill Ward
City of Maroondah

Media Release: New surface for Ringwood athletics track

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The starter’s gun has sounded, and work at the AC Robertson athletics track at Proclamation Park, Ringwood is off and running, with funding from Maroondah City Council’s Capital Works program of over $400,000.

“Work is starting on the southern bend of the existing track to shore up the subsidence that has occurred, then the existing surface will be milled and removed,” said Ward Councillor Alex Makin.

“A new state of the art polyurethane synthetic surface will then be applied to finish the track,” said Cr Makin. “The track will then be remarked to IAAF standards.”

“The new polyurethane surface is similar to that laid earlier this year at the Croydon athletic track and will provide a higher quality facility for track users that is safer, has a longer life and has superior performance characteristics for all athletes,” said Cr Makin.

While extensively used by a variety of clubs ranging from young children in Little Athletics to older people in Masters Athletics, the track is also accessible, providing opportunities for wheelchair athletes to train and compete.

“The spray polyurethane surface can only be laid during the warmer weather as it requires a certain ambient temperature to allow it to cure,” said Cr Makin. “This unfortunately coincides with the athletics season but the Ringwood Little Athletics Club will be relocated to Croydon Town Park while the works are being completed.”

The resurfacing work is anticipated to be finished towards the end of March 2008.

– ENDS –

Maroondah Leader: Making a grand stand for sport

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Work is progressing on the new pavilion at AC Robertson Athletics Track in Proclamation Park, Ringwood and the Maroondah Leader has reported on the status of this project:

Maroondah councillor Alex Makin said work started on the project at A.C. Robertson Athletics Track last week, and was expected to be finished later this year.

“The building works are extremely exciting, with the new grandstand offering shade and shelter from the elements for the many sporting and athletics clubs that use the track, as well as the broader Maroondah community,” Cr Makin said.

The Athletics Track is managed by a committee of management who supervise allocations who manage the track and its requirements.

“The funding submission and the design of the grandstand were developed in consultation with the committee of management and their assistance has been invaluable.”

Clubs that use the track include:

  • Ringwood District Little Athletics;
  • Ringwood District Senior Athletics;
  • Athletics Victoria;
  • Proclamation Park Walkers Club;
  • Ringwood Triathlon Club;
  • Aerials Netball Club;
  • Local primary and secondary schools.

This project was made possible through cooperation between the committee of management, Maroondah Cocunil and the State Government. The committee of management contributed $16,000, with $48,000 from Maroondah Council and another $48,000 from the State Government.

Works are expected to be completed later this year.