Tag: jubilee park

Speaking to participants at the Young Leaders Program

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The Maroondah Young Leaders program is a week-long intensive program that aims to increase confidence and leadership skills for up to thirty local Year 10 students.

Key topics covered in the program include:

  • Communication skills
  • Public speaking
  • Leadership
  • Assertiveness
  • Self awareness
  • Project management
  • Group processes
  • Confidence building
  • Conflict resolution

This afternoon I was invited to speak with the participants of the young leaders program, during a session where they discussed community projects and the role of Council.  As the current Mayor I discussed the Council decision making process, including the need for each Councillor’s opinion to be valued and appreciated.

I outlined the role of Mayor and Councillors, including the structure of wards and elections within the City of Maroondah.  Council’s priorities for the upcoming year include community infrastructure, as well as advancing the the revitalisation of Ringwood. One of the core roles of local government is to advocate on behalf of its residents.  The lack of public transport, as well as  the condition of Ringwood Station, were major concerns expressed by the participants of the young leaders program.

The students also discussed current projects being undertaken within the municipality, including the redevelopment of  Soccer facilities at Jubilee Park in Ringwood and the need for additional youth facilities within Ringwood.  In this regard, I discussed the importance of Jubilee Park as a major sporting and recreation precinct in Ringwood and mentioned that youth facilities will be developed in conjunction with the redevelopment of Ringwood as a Central Activities District.

The Young Leaders Program demonstrates that younger people in Maroondah are engaged and active members of our community.  The Young Leaders program concludes this Friday, where I will be presenting certificates to each of the participants.

Ringwood Swimming Club – 75th AGM and Presentation Evening

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The Ringwood Swimming Club is located at the Ringwood Aquatic Centre at Jubilee Park and provides a range of swimming activities, including competitive events for its members. The Club has had ongoing success in State and National competitions, with medals being won across a number of age groups and events.

This evening, along with my ward Colleagues, Cr. Nora Lamont and Cr. Ann Fraser, I attended the Ringwood Swimming Club’s Annual General Meeting and Presentation Evening held at the Heathmont Bowls Club. The event provided an opportunity to congratulate the many swimmers within the Club and to build upon this success for future years.

The guest speaker was Sarah Katsoulis, a Commonwealth Games record holder in 50m Breaststroke and part of the 400-medley relay team. Sarah discussed the ongoing need for training and determination so that swimmers can achieve their fullest potential. In addition, Sarah spoke about her own experiences and challenges as a competitive swimmer and provided insights into the sport.

Alex at the 75th Annual General Meeting for the Ringwood Swimming Club
Alex at the 75th Annual General Meeting for the Ringwood Swimming Club

The Ringwood Swimming Club, which is celebrating its 75th year, has had a long association with Ringwood and it is great to see the Club celebrating its ongoing success. Swimming complements the many other sporting activities within Jubilee Park and Council is currently finalising the Management Plan for this precinct. Combined with further improvements, this will help ensure that Jubilee Park and the associated facilities meet the changing needs of Ringwood and Maroondah.

Ringwood Cricket Club – 2010 Presentation Night

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The Ringwood Cricket Club is based at Jubilee Park in Ringwood and fields four sides in Victorian Premier Cricket, as well as  a fifth side in the Eastern Cricket Association.   This evening I attended the Ringwood Cricket Club’s presentation evening where distinguished players were recognised for their cricketing skills over the season.   The Club has a strong presence both on and off the field, whereby it is supported by volunteers and sponsors who provide valuable assistance to the Club and its activities.

The presentation evening held at the Karralyka Centre, provided an opportunity to reflect on these successes and to build a strong foundation for the upcoming Cricket Season.  Jubilee Park, with a range of sporting activities including Aquatic, Football, Cricket, and Soccer, is one of Maroondah’s premiere sporting precincts.  Council is replacing the grass at the second oval at Jubilee Park and will be increasing its water allocation, through other water savings, to ensure a playable surface for the upcoming season.

In addition, Council is undertaking a Management Plan of Jubilee Park, which will improve accessibility and the management of each of the facilities, as well as assessing the future needs for this precinct and Maroondah.  Combined, these initiatives will help ensure that we continue to meet the sporting and recreational needs of the Maroondah community.

Media Release: Ringwood Soccer Multipurpose Pavilion on the way

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Work is now under way on a $3.5 million redevelopment of Ringwood Soccer Stadium in Jubilee Park.

Mayor of Maroondah, Cr Alex Makin, said site preparation had begun and construction work would be visible over the next month or so.

“Council has been working for some time on plans to redevelop the Ringwood Soccer Stadium, which is part of the Jubilee Park sports complex in Ringwood,” Cr Makin said.

“This major project has seen the demolition of the old Ringwood soccer facilities to make way for the construction of a modern, multipurpose shared sports pavilion for the entire community to enjoy,” Cr Makin said.

“The new pavilion – to be known as the Ringwood Soccer Multipurpose Pavilion – will feature male and female change facilities, associated car parking and lighting,” Cr Makin said.

“Various male and female sports codes will be catered for and the pavilion also includes a boxing gymnasium. These facilities will complement the new, all-weather synthetic surface playing field following the completion of the building works,” Cr Makin said.

Council and Sport & Recreation Victoria have provided funding of $650,000 for the all-weather synthetic surface to be installed on-site. This is in addition to $2.9 million Federal Government grant under the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program – Strategic Projects.

“This is great news for the Ringwood City Soccer Club, and for the Maroondah community as a whole,” Cr Makin said.

“Council is delighted that work is progressing as planned on a modern facility that will serve the community for many years to come,” Cr Makin said.

Construction of the Ringwood Soccer Multipurpose Pavilion is expected to be complete in December 2010.

– ENDS –

The 43rd Ringwood Highland Games

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The Ringwood Highland Games is one of Maroondah’s largest community based events and is held at Jubilee Park in Ringwood. The Highland Games began in 1966 through the former Ringwood Council and is managed through a voluntary Committee of Management, with assistance from the Maroondah City Council.

As the Mayor of Maroondah, I was invited to officially open the Ringwood Highland Games and it was encouraging to see strong public involvement, despite the wild and varied weather that we experienced throughout the afternoon.

Almost all of Maroondah’s Councillors attended today’s event, with Cr Tony Dib, Cr Anne Fraser, Cr Nora Lamont, Cr Michael Macdonald, Cr Paul Macdonald, Cr Rob Steane and Cr Natalie Thomas in attendance. In addition, Maroondah’s new CEO Frank Dixon also attended and joined me on a tour of the event highlights.

Mike Symon, the Federal Member for Deakin, Heidi Victoria MLA, Member for Bayswater and Ryan Smith MLA, Member for Warrandyte, were also present throughout the day.

The event contains a number of highlights, including an opportunity for Scottish Clans and Societies to gather together, as well as Pipe Band and dancing competitions. The event also includes a range of Scottish goods and foods and attracts people from across Victoria and Australia.

The Ringwood Highland Games is an annual event and will return for 2011.

Ringwood Spiders: 2010 Jumper Presentation Evening

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The Ringwood Spiders is a football team for people with disabilities and is based at Jubilee Park, where they share facilities with the Ringwood Redbacks.  The Spiders compete within the Football Integration Development Association League and will be entering two teams into the competition this year.

Ex-footballer Nathan Thompson was the guest speaker and discussed depression and its affects.  Nathan spoke about his own experiences and how it is important to be proactive in seeking support when experiencing depression.  Members of the Spiders have had their own experience with depression and it was encouraging  to hear from someone who has had own first-hand experience with depression and its symptoms.

Tonight’s evening also reflected on last year’s on-field success, where the Spiders won the Premiership flag and the players are enthusiastic about the year ahead.  The Ringwood Spiders Cheerleading Squad is also returning and provides opportunities for people who are unable to play football to still get involved in the team.

The Ringwood Spiders also launched their new website which is available at www.ringwoodspiders.com.

Ringwood Historical Society – 50th anniversary of the City of Ringwood

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The City of Ringwood was proclaimed a City on the 19th of March 1960 and tonight’s Ringwood Historical Society meeting paid tribute to the proclamation of the City of Ringwood, through a birthday cake, which included the two logos used by the former City.

The City of Ringwood was in existence until the 15th of December 1994, when it was amalgamated with the City of Croydon to form the City of Maroondah. The birthday cake was accompanied by historical records of the City of Ringwood,  including the former Council members and Council documents.

While Ringwood may no longer exist as a separate entity, the decisions made by the City of Ringwood, still have a bearing on the City of Maroondah.  Examples include the sporting grounds at Jubilee Park, the location of Eastland and the lack of footpaths within the municipality.

Tonight’s meeting also included a tribute to Henry Lawson portrayed by Jim Howard of the Henry Lawson Literary Society.  Jim portrayed the life and stories of Henry Lawson, providing an entertaining evening for members of the Ringwood Historical Society.

The Ringwood Historical Society meets from 8pm on the fourth Tuesday of each month at Federation Estate.  For details please visit www.rhs.org.au.

Ringwood Cricket Club – Life Members, Past Players, Members and Sponsors Luncheon

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The Ringwood Cricket Club is based at Jubilee Park in Greenwood Avenue, Ringwood and has four sides competing in Victorian Premier Cricket, the highest level of competition within the State.

This afternoon I attended the Club’s life members, past players, members and sponsors luncheon.  The luncheon provided an opportunity to acknowledge the many people involved in the Cricket Club, including its committee, sponsors and players.  The luncheon also coincided with Day 2 of the Ringwood’s 1st XI vs Prahran Cricket Club, which was held on the number one oval at Jubilee Park.

Ringwood Cricket Club has a significant emphasis on community development and aims to establish a women’s team for Premier League Cricket.  In addition, they are also looking at incorporating people with disabilities, to provide an inclusive sporting environment.

While it was a closely fought game, Ringwood proved victorious against Prahran, ensuring that the Club is in a strong position for the 2009-2010 Cricket Season.

Ringwood Cricket Club – Cricket Victoria and the Boxing Day Test

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The Ringwood Cricket Club, based at Jubilee Park in Ringwood, participates in the Ringwood and District Association and has four sides in Victorian Premier Cricket, where they won back-to-back premierships in 2008 and 2009.

Today I was invited to day two of the Boxing Day Test as a guest of the Ringwood Cricket Club. The event included a function hosted by Cricket Victoria, which administers Victorian Premier Cricket and provides a pathway for outstanding players to represent Victoria.

Cricket Victoria and the Ringwood District Club have an emphasis on increasing participation in sport and in particular encouraging women’s cricket. Ringwood Cricket Club is currently in discussions with Council over the facilities required to initiate a Premier women’s cricket side for Ringwood and the region.

Australia declaring its first innings at 5-454 part way through day two with Pakistan trailing at 4-109.

Media Release: New look Ringwood Soccer Stadium on the way

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Demolition work has begun at Ringwood Soccer Stadium, paving the way for a $3.5 million redevelopment of the Jubilee Park site.

Mayor of Maroondah, Councillor Alex Makin said demolition works began on Tuesday 8 December, marking the first tangible step towards the completion of the eight-month project.

“Council has been working for some time on plans to redevelop the Ringwood Soccer Stadium, part of the Jubilee Park sports complex in Ringwood,” Cr Makin said.

“This major project will see the demolition of the old Ringwood soccer facilities to make way for the construction of a modern, multipurpose shared sports pavilion for the entire community to enjoy,” Cr Makin said.

“The new pavilion will feature male and female change facilities, associated car parking, grandstand and lighting,” Cr Makin said.

“The new pavilion will cater for various male and female sports codes and includes a boxing gymnasium. These facilities will complement the new all-weather synthetic surface playing field, to be completed after the building works are finished,” Cr Makin said.

Funding of $650,000 for the new all weather synthetic surface will be provided by Council and Sport & Recreation Victoria. The Federal Government has provided a $2.9 million grant for the project as part of the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program – Strategic Projects.

“This is great news for the Ringwood City Soccer Club, and for the Maroondah community as a whole,” Cr Makin said.