Tag: community grants

Launch of new playground for North Ringwood Community Children’s Centre

Posted on by alex

Maroondah City Council offers a variety of grants to assist community based organisations, including funding through the third/third/third grants, which can be utilised for capital works within council owned facilities.  The upgraded playground at North Ringwood Community Children’s Centre, based at Norwood Reserve on Warrandyte Road in Ringwood North is one example of this funding.

North Ringwood Community Children’s Centre is a community based, not-for-profit organisation, which is managed through a voluntary Committee of Management.  The Centre provides a range of programs for young children, including an accredited four year old kindergarten program, with an emphasis on creativity and learning.

This afternoon I was invited to officially launched the new playground at the Centre, which was funded through Council’s third/third/third program. This grants program is where Council contributes time and financial resources to assist community organisations with capital works.  The community group contributes one third of the project, Council another third and the final third can be provided as a loan or through other external sources of funding.

The playground provides an expanded range of activities and play spaces for the children in the Centre and is an example of an organisation that is meeting the long-term needs of Maroondah’s community.  For further information on the third/third/third funding program and other community grants offered by the City of Maroondah please visit www.maroondah.vic.gov.au/GrantsProgram.aspx.

Meeting the Skylarkers

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This afternoon I met the Skylarkers, a group of older residents who bring music, song and laughter to elderly citizens. The Skylarkers are a voluntary entertainment group that performs at retirement villages, nursing homes and senior citizen centres.

The Skylarkers received a Maroondah community grants to fund costumes to assist the group’s performances. The group rehearses at the Heathmont Uniting Church at 83 Canterbury Road and has already booked shows for most of next year.

The Skylarkers always welcome new talent so for contact details please email glenchandler@bigpond.com

Delegates' report: volunteerism and community engagement

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The previous month marked a number of events that I would like to share with my colleagues and the gallery this evening.

On the 4th of September I had the pleasure of opening Brush Strokes, an art exhibition featuring works created by members of the Croydon Stroke Support Group and I would also like to thank Cr. Taylor for her attendance that morning. The exhibition, which is on show at the foyer of Maroondah Federation Estate, celebrates the support offered to members of the Croydon Stroke Suppport Group with the aim of restoring confidence and skills.

The Brush Strokes exhibition was a recipient of Maroondah’s Cultural Grants and it was great to be able to see the project, which looked good on paper, at its completion. I must offer my thanks to the organisers of the exhibition and the based council team at Federation Estate.

While art may come naturally to some people, many of the artists featured in the exhibition have had to re-learn their artistic skills and the fact that these artists have been able to re-develop their talents is a testament to the supporting nature of the Croydon Stroke Support Group.

In addition, there was also a number of collaborative pieces which allowed all members of the group to contribute, using a number of unique instruments, such as chopsticks, cups and eye droppers. These collaborative pieces served to represent the experiences of the members and the support and friendship gained from others.

After the opening, I spoke to a number of the artists who had their works on display and each of them discussed how the project helped them rebuild their confidence and assist in re-engaging with the community.

Brush Strokes will be on display in the foyer of the Maroondah Art Gallery at Federation Estate until the 30th of September. I would strongly recommend that people visit the exhibition so that they can see first hand the professionalism and diversity of the artworks in display.

On the 6th of September I, along with Cr Taylor, attended the Annual General Meeting of the Eastern Volunteers Resource Centre. The EVRC is a not for profit organisation, which provides volunteer assistance and community transport for people living in the Cities of Maroondah and Whitehorse and the Shire of Yarra Ranges. We are fortunate to have the main offices of the EVRC located in Maroondah and to have an organisation that actively promotes and encourages volunteerism. I would like to congratulate the office bearers for the upcoming year and for the new model rules that the organisation has adopted. These new rules which provide additional governance for the EVRC and separate its elected committee of management from its operational staff, will provide a focus for the organisation into the future.

I would like to table the Annual Report of the Eastern Volunteers Resource Centre and trust the organisation will continue to further its successes in coming years.

Media Release: Community grant assists the Ringwood Spiders

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It’s winter, it’s footy season and football teams everywhere are out there kicking goals trying to achieve the ultimate prize.

But, for one football team in Maroondah, the ultimate prize is simply getting together each week and enjoying a good game of footy, no matter the score.

“The Ringwood Spiders football club (formerly the Ringwood Blues) began in 1992, and for fifteen years they’ve provided an opportunity for people with an intellectual disability to enjoy the camaraderie and sheer joy of playing footy,” said Councillor Alex Makin.

“Based at Jubilee Park, the Ringwood Spiders play on a regular basis as part of the state-wide Football Integration Development Association (FIDA) league, which includes teams from right across Victoria,” said Cr Makin.

“Council is very pleased to be able to provide funding assistance through the annual Community Grants program to assist the Ringwood Spiders with their activities – the latest match was against Moonee Ponds on Sunday 1 July at Jubilee Park, and the players were the winners,” said Cr Makin.

“The matches always attract a large crowd of local people, including members of our community who are living in assisted residential homes nearby. It becomes a big social event, one that the spectators can relate to easily and one where they can relax and simply enjoy themselves,” said Cr Makin.

“This is what Council’s Community Grants program is all about, providing funding to assist community organisations to develop and increase opportunities that increase access for Maroondah residents who have limited options due to special needs, low income, social isolation or ethnic background,” said Cr Makin.

Applications for Community Grants can be made from April each year, with applications closing in June.

For more information on Community Grants please contact Council on 1300 88 22 33 or visit the website at www.maroondah.vic.gov.au.

Pinemont Preschool 40th anniversary

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This afternoon I was invited to attend the 40th anniversary and unveiling of the new garden area for Pinemont Preschool, located in Ringwood North. The new garden area, like earlier accessibility works, was funded through a community grant provided by Maroondah City Council.

Like most other kindergartens in Victoria, a voluntary parents committee manages Pinemont, which is responsible for the upkeep of the preschool and also the implementation of projects such as the new garden area.

The new garden area will provide the kindergarten with an outside reading and activity area and harnesses the beauty of the natural environment around Pinemont.

Maroondah's Community Grants: BJ Hubbard Reserve

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The Friends of BJ Hubbard Reserve consists of local residents who help maintain and look after BJ Hubbard Reserve in Ringwood North.

As part of Maroondah’s community grants program the Friends of BJ Hubbard organised an information panel complete with two carved timber posts that depict the bird, plant and animal life within the reserve.

This afternoon I was invited to view the posts which aim to educate the local community about the local flora and fauna living in the Reserve.

This is just one example of council’s cultural development grants at work. Other applications of the grants include funding of a Southern Sudanese Women’s and Children’s Dance Group to provide a social link for recent immigrants from Sudan.

Application forms for Maroondah’s Cultural Development Grants are available at a council service centre or from the Internet at www.maroondah.vic.gov.au.

The deadline for Cultural Development Grant applications is 5pm on Monday 25 September.