The Maroondah Partners in Community Wellbeing Committee is charged with the responsibility of overseeing the implementation of Council’s Community Wellbeing Plan. The Committee includes Council representatives, as well as well as a number of agencies and community based organisations, including Eastern Volunteers, the Migrant Information Centre, Wesley Mission and Eastern Access Community Health.
Today’s meeting discussed the use of portfolios to assist in identifying the areas of interest held by each member and to strengthen dialogue with the relevant areas of Council. Portfolios will enable monitoring and oversight of individual areas within the Community Wellbeing Plan.
I also provided an update on Council’s advocacy campaign for the upgrade of Ringwood Station, which is critical to improving the safety, accessibility and sustainability of Ringwood.
This morning I joined James Merlino, the Minister for Sport, Recreation and Youth Affairsm who announced a $10,000 grant to Maroondah City Council through the Victoria Rocks, Music Equipment Grant. The money received will fund a Council project called “Before the Gig”, which will provide a greater level of access to music equipment for young people in Maroondah.
The program will run through EV’s Youth Centre and will allow Council to purchase music equipment (including acoustic and electric guitars, a drum kit and portable amplifiers) that will be available for young people to use free of charge. Ultimately the project will create new opportunities for local young people to participate in the arts and to increase their music skills.
Alex with members of Maroondah's EV Youth Services participating in the Victoria Rocks program.
In addition, it will provide resources to support local partnerships between EV’s Youth Centre and several organisations, including Eastern Access Community Health (EACH), the Migrant Information Centre, Arrabri Community House and the Rock School at Croydon Community School.
I would like to thank the Minister and the State Government for the $10,000 grant. In addition, EV’s Youth Centre has been chosen as a venue for the State wide FReeZA Central Tour, which will feature a range of musical acts on Friday the 27th of August. This is a significant opportunity for young people in our community and it is fantastic to see the State Government recognise the importance of EV’s Youth Centre.
Maroondah is becoming an increasingly diverse community, with India, China, Burma, Sri Lanka and Sudan featuring in the top 10 most common countries of birth for recent immigrants into Maroondah. In recent years, Maroondah has also seen an increase in refugees who have left their former homes to start a new life within Australia and Maroondah.
Refugee Week is an event facilitated through the Refugee Council of Australia and for 2010 is held between the 20th and 26th of June, coinciding with World Refugee Day which is on the 20th. This afternoon I was invited to launch Maroondah’s celebration of Refugee Week, held at Maroondah Secondary College, a school that has a number of refugee families.
The launch of Refugee Week was a cultural experience, featuring food, dancing and music from many of Maroondah’s multicultural communities.
Alex with dancers from the Karen Community at Maroondah Refugee Week
The theme for Refugee Week 2010 is Freedom From Fear, reflecting the past experiences, in escaping repression, hardship and warfare, and the desire for a welcoming community. Several organisations have been working in partnership to provide services for refugees, including Maroondah City Council, Victoria Police, the Migrant Information Centre, Swinburne University, AMES and schools such as Maroondah Secondary College and Ringwood Secondary College.
These organisations have provided an holistic approach to assisting migrants within Maroondah, including the compilation of a guide on local services and groups for migrants and refugees within Maroondah. The Guide, which was first produced in 2007, has been updated to include new services and groups that are available to migrants and refugees.
I had the pleasure of launching the Booklet and I was joined by Cr Ann Fraser to launch a learn to drive program for migrants supported by several organisations, including Maroondah City Council. These services will assist in providing a positive and welcoming future for Maroondah’s emerging communities.
Alex along with Cr Ann Fraser and community members at Maroondah's Refugee Week celebrations
The Guide for Migrant and Refugees will also be available at Maroondah’s Service Centres, as well as the Maroondah City Council website www.maroondah.vic.gov.au.
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
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
I was invited to officially launch the event and the opening speech is included below:
