Tag: eastern regional libraries

Introducing Di Morrissey for Eastern Regional Libraries

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Eastern Regional Libraries is a cooperative formed between the Cities of Maroondah, Knox and the Shire of Yarra Ranges and operates libraries within these council areas.

In addition to delivering library services, Eastern Regional Libraries holds ongoing community events introducing literary functions throughout each of the municipalities. This morning I had the pleasure of introducing renowned author Di Morrressey who spoke at the Karralyka Centre about her background and her career as an author.

Di discussed her life growing up in remote New South Wales, as well as her travels and introduction into television and the media. Throughout Di’s life she maintained a passion for writing and this developed into a career as an author, with Di focusing on Australian based stories.

Both Ringwood and Croydon Libraries are major libraries within Melbourne and it is great to see authors supporting literature within Maroondah.

Launch of the Independent Type Exhibition

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The Independent Type Exhibition celebrates Victoria’s literary culture and will be displayed at Croydon Library until Sunday the 3rd of October.

This evening I was invited to launch the exhibition, which covers Victoria’s literary evolution from traditional Indigenous storytelling through to colonial literature and contemporary writing. The exhibition consists of panels and multimedia presentations that cover Victoria’s literary history reinforcing Melbourne’s status as a City of Literature.

In addition, workshops are provided for young, emerging and experienced writers, as well as specific sessions on emerging mediums, including blogging and zines.

The speech delivered during the launch is available in this entry:

Continue reading “Launch of the Independent Type Exhibition”

History of the Shrine at Ringwood Library

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The Shrine of Remembrance Travelling Exhibition is a mobile exhibit that provides a history of the Shrine, featuring information panels, archival photographs and audiovisual material. The exhibit traces the Shrine’s history from concept to construction, as well as its role as a commemorative and interactive learning space.

Alex at the launch of the Exhibition on the Shrine of Remembrance, held at the Ringwood Library.
Alex at the launch of the Exhibition on the Shrine of Remembrance, held at the Ringwood Library.

This morning I was invited to launch the Travelling Exhibition at its first day at Ringwood Library.  I was joined by Denis Baguley the CEO of the History of the Shrine Travelling Exhibition where we discussed the importance of the Shrine and its history within Victoria.

The staff at Eastern Regional Libraries should be commended for bringing the exhibition into Maroondah, where it will be available at Ringwood Library until the 30th of June.

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.

2010 Cultural Diversity Week and Harmony Day

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Cultural Diversity Week is an opportunity to recognise multicultural ism and to promote inclusiveness within our community.  Harmony Day marks the final day of Cultural Diversity Week with its message of Everyone Belongs.

Alex with members of the Sudanese community during the Harmony Day Festivities at the Ringwood Library
Alex with members of the Sudanese community during the Harmony Day Festivities at the Ringwood Library

Throughout the day Centrelink, Eastern Regional Libraries, Maroondah City Council, Department of Justice, Mission Australia, Migrant Information Centre and Ringwood Police organised a Festival outside the Ringwood Library to promote Harmony Day and Cultural Diversity Week.

The theme for this year’s Harmony Day is Express Yourself and the festivities included face painting, music, dance and story telling.  It was great to see such a strong interest in the event and the participation of many members of our community.

Alex with an organiser of the Harmony Day Festivities
Alex with an organiser of the Harmony Day Festivities

I was invited to officially launch the event and the opening speech is included below:

Continue reading “2010 Cultural Diversity Week and Harmony Day”

Media Release: Everyone Belongs

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Harmony Day, held each year on 21 March, provides a unique occasion for schools, community groups and organisations to celebrate our cultural diversity and show that everyone belongs.

Mayor of Maroondah, Councillor Alex Makin said Maroondah City Council has joined together with Eastern Regional Libraries, Mission Australia, Centrelink and the Department of Justice to provide a program of events at Ringwood Library on Thursday 18 March to celebrate Harmony Day.

“I invite the Maroondah community to come along to the Ringwood Library and take part in the range of activities that have been organised by the working party,” said Cr Makin.

“Children will be able to enjoy story-time, while everyone will enjoy the dancing and entertainment provided by members of the Sudanese, Chin and Karen communities,” said Cr Makin.

“There will also be an information expo in the Ringwood Room of the library, with representatives from Council, Centrelink, Mission Australia and the Department of Justice available to answer questions and offer a range of information and advice,” said Cr Makin.

Harmony Day, along with Cultural Diversity Week, will be celebrated at Ringwood Library on Thursday 18 March from 11am to 5pm.

For further information and a schedule of activities visit Council’s website at www.maroondah.vic.gov.au or Ringwood Library at www.erl.vic.gov.au

About Harmony Day

Managed by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Harmony Day celebrates the cohesive and inclusive nature of our nation and promotes the benefits of cultural diversity.

The continuing message of Harmony Day is ‘Everyone Belongs’. It’s about community participation, inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.

The 2010 theme is ‘Express yourself’, through action, performance, fashion and food.

Since Harmony Day began in 1999, thousands of schools, community groups and organisations across Australia have celebrated Harmony Day in a range of different activities and events.

Literature Lakeside with Kate Holden

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Literature Lakeside is a community event organised through Eastern Regional Libraries in conjunction with Lakeside Cafe in Ringwood. The event features an author who discusses their books and writing backgrounds, as well as brunch at Lakeside Cafe.

This morning’s Literature Lakeside featured Kate Holden, a new writer who recently wrote her first book ‘In My Skin’ and was awarded the prestigious Judy Duffy Award for literary excellence.

In My Skin, retells Kate’s personal experiences with addiction and life on the streets. Kate spoke candidly about her experiences as she discussed her background and motivation for writing her first book.

Literature Lakeside is part of an ongoing initiative to link libraries with the wider community and to provide a variety of community based literature events. The next Literature Lakeside will be held on the 26th July at 10am and will feature crime writer Shane Moloney.

Croydon Library – Launch of book collection for antiques

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Maroondah has two public libraries located within the municipality, in Ringwood and Croydon. These Libraries are supported by Maroondah City Council and managed by Eastern Regional Libraries.

Libraries are continually evolving to meet public needs and to strengthen local communities. As a result Croydon Library has initiated a specific book collection for antique enthusiasts to help people identify the origins of their collections.

This morning I was invited to launch the new collection, which included free appraisals by a renowned antique valuer. While many participants are not looking at necessarily selling their antiques the appraisal helped identify the history and origin of items.

Public events like the antique appraisals reinforce the community focus of our Libraries and the diverse role that they have in providing both education and enjoyment.

Delegates' Report: celebrating our history, supporting our sporting clubs, cultural events, volunteers and community houses

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On the 23rd of September I attended the Ringwood Historical Society’s AGM. The Society meets each month at Federation Estate with the aim of preserving our heritage for the future. The society has developed extensive archives over its 50 year history and is one of the oldest historical society’s within the eastern suburbs.

In fact the Ringwood Historical Society celebrates its 50th birthday this month and I encourage the community to attend its 50th birthday celebrations on the 28th of October from 8pm at Federation Estate.

On the 26th of September I attended the Ringwood Bowls Club Season Launch. The occasion marked the beginning of the bowls season and also coincided with their water sustainability project.

Ringwood Bowls Club has been part of Ringwood’s history since 1929 and its current membership and executive are determined to ensure that it has a sustainable future. The bowls club has embarked on a project to install water tanks and rainwater retention systems to water its two grass greens. The club is in fact the first bowling green to retrofit its facilities for water sustainability.

It was encouraging to see all levels of government work together to achieve this outcome. A combination of Federal, State and council grants have assisted in providing the funding for this project to be undertaken. I congratulate the club on its foresight and its commitment to a sustainable future.

From the 3rd to the 5th of October I attended a number of events as part of the Maroondah Writers and Readers Festival. As some of you may recall, I’ve spoken previously about the Festival steering committee, and as a member of this committee it was great to see the positive public reception and involvement in the festival. We had a steering committee meeting this morning and Eastern Regional Libraries, as well as the community members were all amazed at the success of this inaugural event. Next year the festival will probably comprise of a series of events to cover a range of writing genres and to build on some of the community partnerships that were formed during this event. I am sure that details will be forthcoming once they are available and the events are organised.

I would like to thank the many people that attended events during the weekend and also to the hardworking people that were involved in preparing and organising the festival.

On the 8th of October I attended the Eastern Volunteers AGM with Cr. Jo-anne Taylor. Eastern Volunteers provides volunteer recruitment and transport services for the frail aged and people with disabilities. Eastern Volunteers is based in Ringwood and it is amazing to see how much they have grown since their inception in 1976. The organisation is currently renting a premises in New Street, Ringwood and its current priority is to purchase accommodation that will ensure it has a sustainable future in the longer-term.

Eastern Volunteers has established a building fund to assist with this project and will be embarking on a process to raise the funds necessary. All donations made to the Building Fund are tax deductible.

On the 10th of October I had the pleasure of opening Enjoying Planned Retirement’s annual Art and Craft Festival, along with Cr. Jo-anne Taylor. The festival, now its third year, provides an appropriate conclusion to the Maroondah Seniors Festival, as it is celebrates the many talents of Marondah’s seniors. EPR is an incredibly active organisation and the support and activities they provide for members is amazing.

Lastly, this morning and at quite a few times over the past month I have met with North Ringwood Community House to assist in their grant application for funding into a feasibility study to identify a new location for the services the community house provides. I am pleased to say that work on the application is advancing rapidly and we will be submitting the application to State Government shortly.

Community houses facilitate social connectedness and North Ringwood Community House, as a Registered Training Organisation also provides TAFE accredited courses to assist in providing new skills for the community. The house after 30 years has outgrown its current location and premises and this grant will begin the process in finding a new site.

I would like to thank the staff members who have assisted in the house with information and also to Cr. Jo-anne Taylor for writing a letter of support for this application.

Writers and Readers Festival – Brunch with John Silvester

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After a successful weekend of events, today is the final day of the Maroondah Writers and Readers Festival. The day began with Underbelly author John Silvester for brunch at Lakeside Cafe in Ringwood.

John Silvester, began by discussing his journalism background, which led to his career as a prominent crime writer. John has published and edited over 30 books on crime and received a Ned Kelly Lifetime Achievement Award together with ‘Underbelly’ co-author’ Andrew Rule.

John spoke about the research he undertakes and his experiences in interviewing the subjects of his books. John also mentioned that a prequel is expected for the Underbelly, which will focus on the identities notorious during the 1980s.

Alex with John Silvester, author of the Underbelly, and organisers of the inaugural Maroondah Writers and Readers Festival.

Brunch was provided by Lakeside Cafe and Collins Bookstores were available to sell a number of John’s books. The Maroondah Writers and Festival became a success due to the strong partnerships which were formed with organisations such as Maroondah City Council, Eastern Regional Libraries, Lakeside Cafe, Collins Booksellers and North Ringwood Community House.

As a member of the Writers and Readers Festival steering group I will be suggesting a continuation of the festival to ensure that the event continues in future years.

I would like to thank the many community members who attended the events over the weekend and to the dedicated people that organised the festival.