north ringwood community house Archives

North Ringwood Community House Annual General Meeting for 2011

Posted on 22 March 2011 by alex

North Ringwood Community House is located at 120 Oban Road in Ringwood North and is the only community house in Maroondah that provides accredited training through courses offering Certificate III and Certificate IV accreditation.

North Ringwood Community House is the only community house not located on Council land, hampering the ability to seek grants for extensions and new developments.

Today’s Annual General Meeting provided an update on the relocation of North Ringwood Community House, with Council adopting in December last year to fund a masterplan for Quambee Reserve through the 2011/2012 Council Budget. This masterplan will include extensive consultation with North Ringwood Community House, Quambee Reserve and residents to ensure the best range of facilities for the community.

The guest speaker was Russ Haines the President of the Ringwood Historical Society who discussed the progress of the group’s history of Ringwood North.

I offered to return to the Committee of Management for North Ringwood Community House to assist the House in its activities over the course of this year.

North Ringwood Community House continues to experience strong growth in its courses reinforcing the need for a new home for this community facility.

North Ringwood Community House 2010 End of Year Luncheon

Posted on 9 December 2010 by alex

North Ringwood Community House is located at 120 Oban Road in Ringwood North and provides a range of community based educational courses, as well as accredited training, including Certificates III and IV as a Registered Training Organisation.

This afternoon North Ringwood Community House held its end of year luncheon to thank students, staff, tutors and volunteers. North Ringwood Community House is currently operating at capacity and is the only community house in Maroondah that is not located on Council land making it difficult to expand the services that it offers.

This year Council approved the undertaking of Masterplan to assist in relocating North Ringwood Community House onto Council land at Quambee Reserve located at Wonga Road in Ringwood North. This location will complement the existing community facilities at Quambee Reserve and work on the Masterplan will commence from July next year through the 2011/2012 Council Budget.

North Ringwood Community House has continued to serve the Maroondah community and will be offering further programs in 2011 to provide new skills and opportunities. For further details please visit www.nrch.org.au.

Media Release: Funding pledge for North Ringwood Community House

Posted on 17 November 2010 by alex

Following an extensive study of options, Maroondah City Council has agreed to set aside space at Quambee Reserve as the future location for the North Ringwood Community House, subject to further consultation.

Council will provide $20,000 in the 2011/12 Budget towards the development of a master plan to further investigate a proposed relocation of the House to Quambee Reserve.

Maroondah Mayor Councillor Alex Makin said the community house has outgrown the current premises at the rear of Holy Spirit Parish in Oban Road.

“Council and the Department of Planning and Community Development funded a Relocation Feasibility Study which found that the current premises were aged, undersized, poorly situated, had no disability access and had traffic and parking issues,” Cr Makin said.

“Council investigated several sites in the North Ringwood areas, identifying Quambee Reserve as the most appropriate venue for the House to relocate,” Cr Makin said.

“Council will provide $20,000 in the 2011/12 Budget for the development of a master plan which will include consultation with Community House staff, user groups and local residents as well as traffic and parking assessments, a design scope of the facility requirements and further design works,” Cr Makin said.

“North Ringwood Community House is an important community hub which provides a range of activities for various groups and individuals within the Maroondah community. Council will continue to work with the House’s Committee of Management to ensure that it can continue to meet the changing needs of our community,” Cr Makin said.

North Ringwood Community House Manager Sue McDermott said all those involved with the House were absolutely thrilled with Council’s decision.

“This decision will ensure we will have a future after a long period of uncertainty. I thank the Mayor and Councillors for their support throughout this process,” she said.

– ENDS –

Media Release: Commitment welcomed for North Ringwood Community House

Posted on 30 July 2010 by alex

Maroondah City Council welcomes the funding commitment of $250,000 made by the Federal Opposition, through Phil Barresi, Candidate for Deakin and Kevin Andrews, Shadow Minister for Families, this morning towards the rebuilding of the North Ringwood Community House.

The Oban Road facility no longer meets the current or future needs of the community and Council is working with North Ringwood Community House Inc to find an appropriate site to relocate the House.

Alex with Phil Baressi, candidate for Deakin and Kevin Andres, Shadow Minister for Families, at North Ringwood Community House

A Relocation Feasibility Study, commissioned by North Ringwood Community House Inc, estimated that to cater for the future population of North Ringwood, the new facility would need to consist of two to three full-sized classrooms, a large multi-purpose activities room, meeting room, staff facilities, consulting space, crèche and associated amenities, outdoor areas and car parking.

Alex with Phil Baressi, candidate for Deakin and Kevin Andrews, Shadow Minister for Families, with the Manager at North Ringwood Community House.

Council welcomes any opportunity to work in partnership with all political parties on matters which deliver positive outcomes for the Maroondah community.

Ringwood U3A – 25th Birthday Celebrations

Posted on 15 May 2010 by alex

Universities of the Third Age (U3A) are a global movement which provides education and life-long learning for retirees. The concept of U3As began in France in 1972 and spread quickly throughout the World, including Australia. Thirty years ago, Ringwood became the home to one of the very first U3As within Victoria, based at Norwood Hall along Warrandyte Road in Ringwood North.

This afternoon I attended a luncheon to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Ringwood U3A, where past and current members reflected on the past thirty years and the ongoing interest in U3As. Twenty-five years ago U3As were a new and novel concept and the establishment of Ringwood’s U3A was the result of determination and ongoing support from several founding members. This dedication has delivered results, with the Ringwood U3A flourishing and offering a wide variety of courses to cater to a diverse range of interests.

Alex with the Member for Deakin, Mike Symon and U3A members at the 25th birthday celebrations for Ringwood U3A.

As part of the proceedings I was invited to speak at the celebrations, where I reiterated the importance of life-long education and congratulated the many people involved in their ongoing support to the Ringwood U3A. I also discussed the future opportunities that may exist through Council’s assessment of community facilities. This assessment will assist in providing information on available community space, assisting community groups in finding locations for their activities.

In addition, Maroondah Council is currently conducting an assessment of Norwood Hall, prompted by the desired relocation of North Ringwood Community House and this will provide an opportunity to explore options to better cater for the needs of the existing groups at Norwood Hall.

Alex presenting a certificate of appreciation recognising the assistance provided towards Ringwood U3A.

Community organisations like the Ringwood U3A provide new opportunities for seniors, as well as reducing social isolation and promoting active participation within our community. I look forward to seeing many years of future success for the Ringwood U3A.

Delegates’ Report: Annual general meetings, art exhibitions and launching Maroondah’s Community Wellbeing Plan

Posted on 19 April 2010 by alex

There are several items I’d like to discuss this evening:

On the 23rd of March I attended the North Ringwood Community House annual general meeting, which coincided with the graduation ceremony of their Certificate III and IV students.

North Ringwood Community House is the only community house in Maroondah that has Registered Training Organisation status, meaning that they are able to offer Certificate level courses. As part of the AGM the House discussed its new business plan and it is great to see that they are planning on expanding their accredited courses into the future.

On the 29th of March I attended the first meeting of the Maroondah Partners for Community Wellbeing Committee along with Cr Ann Fraser. This committee is tasked with the responsibility of overseeing the implementation of Council’s Community Wellbeing Plan and incorporates a number of different agencies, including Eastern Volunteers, Eastern Access Community Health, the Primary Care Partnerships and others.

So what is Council’s Community Wellbeing Plan, it’ll be discussed later in this report.

On the 13th of April, I attended a community meeting hosted by Common Equity Housing Limited (CEHL), the managers of the 80 unit affordable housing development in Larissa Avenue. While Council and the community were understandably concerned about the State Government overriding Maroondah Council as a planning authority, it is encouraging to see the CEHL holding discussions with the community to help explain and demystify this development.

On the 15th of April I had the pleasure of opening two exhibitions, Konrad Winkler’s Moments of My Life and the Ringwood Art Society’s Artist of the Year. Konrad’s work highlights the changing nature of photography and the Art Society’s exhibition showcases the talents of one of Victoria’s oldest and largest arts societies.
The Artist of the Year was judged by an independent adjudicator but the community also has the possibility of providing input, through the Community Choice Award.

As part of the proceedings I had the privilege of announcing that Council will be utilising the Mayoral Art Fund to acquire one of the artworks that was exhibited by a member of the Ringwood Arts Society and I look forward to formalising this announcement once it is finalised.

The two exhibitions are hosted at Maroondah Art Gallery at the Maroondah Federation Estate and are on display until the 8th of May.

On Sunday the 18th of April I attended the Anzac March in Croydon hosted by the Croydon RSL. I would like to commend the Croydon RSL for holding such a welcoming and friendly event, it was great to see them involve the wider community, including local Primary and Secondary Schools and I believe it reinforces the community atmosphere that is so prevalent at the Croydon RSL.

This morning I had the pleasure of launching Maroondah City Council’s Community Wellbeing Plan. The plan, which was adopted by Council in December in last year, identifies the key wellbeing priorities over the next four years, including:

Healthy Minds Healthy Choices
Engaged Resilient Communities
Accessible Safe Community
Lifestyle Opportunities and Choices
Targeting Equity and Social Inclusion
Healthy Sustainable Environments

The plan was developed through the former Maroondah Partners in Health, Safety and Wellbeing Committee of which Cr. Nora Lamont, Cr. Rob Steane and myself were members.

In addition, Council undertook extensive community engagement in the development of its Community Wellbeing Plan including a survey in the Maroondah Focus, where we received over 1000 responses.

This was a tremendous result given that there are 44,000 households within the municipality. These responses provided quantitative information and Council also undertook extensive consultation with community organisations and discussion sessions at locations such as Eastland.

The end result is a plan that was developed in partnership with the community and which will be overseen by the Maroondah Partners in Community Wellbeing Committee, which includes community organisations, Council staff, as well as two Councillors, Cr. Ann Fraser and myself.

I would like to commend the many people who were involved in the development of the plan. The implementation of the Community Wellbeing Plan depends on community partnerships and I look forward to this collaboration as we improve the health, safety and wellbeing of our municipality.

Maroondah Leader: Plan to put new hub at reserve

Posted on 13 April 2010 by alex

North Ringwood Community House, is based at 120 Oban Road in Ringwood North and is currently not situated on council land. This limits its ability to secure grants and has resulted in facilities that are unable to meet modern needs.

The Community House recently completed a feasibility study into its relocation, with the report suggesting Norwood Reserve, along Warrandyte in Ringwood North as the preferred location.

The Maroondah Leader has provided an update on the feasibility study and the next steps for this project:

Mayor Alex Makin said council officers would assess the proposed relocation and consult with user groups and report to the council in July.
State and federal funding would be needed, he said.

The community hub proposal will cost several million dollars and as such requires a partnership between local, state and federal governments. The location of Norwood Reserve, would mean that the needs of the existing community groups, including North Ringwood Seniors, Enjoying Planned Retirement, Ringwood U3A, Ringwood Historical Society, Ringwood Arts Society and the North Ringwood Community Children’s Centre, could all be addressed through this project.

Council will be further discussing this proposal in July once an initial assessment has been undertaken. This assessment will consider traffic and building ramifications, as well as initial consultation with existing user groups that are already on the site.

Speaking to the Fab 50s Social Group

Posted on 25 March 2010 by alex

The Fab 50s are a social group that meets at North Ringwood Community House. The group aims to provide a social environment and alternates between off-site activities and meetings at the community house.

This morning I was invited as the guest speaker at the Fab 50s, where I discussed my involvement with the North Ringwood Community House and explained that due to the changes in the Local Government Act, I chose to resign from the committee of management, so that I could discuss matters affecting the community house within Council.

I also explained Council’s undertaking of the landowner assessment, which will begin to explore how the North Ringwood Community House could potentially exist as part of Norwood Reserve. This initial assessment will consider the traffic and site implications, as well as discussions with the existing users. This initial assessment will help provide further details to assist in relocating North Ringwood Community House.

Given that many of the Fab 50s particiapnts live within the vicinity of Ringwood, I also discussed the importance of securing additional funding for the redevelopment of Ringwood Station.

While the State Government has announced funding for the redevelopment of the bus interchange and station forecourt, it is imperative that further funding is confirmed to ensure the creation of an integrated and accessible transport interchange. Many of the Fab 50s participants retold their experiences with Ringwood Station and how they tend to avoid using the Station due to the steepness of the ramps and the lack of easy access.

Groups like the Fab 50s help promote social inclusion and reinforce how community houses assist in community development and empowering residents.

North Ringwood Community House 2010 AGM

Posted on 23 March 2010 by alex

North Ringwood Community House is located at 120 Oban Road, located at the rear of the Holy Spirit Primary School in Ringwood North. The North Ringwood Community House is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and offers a range of accredited courses, as well as adult education and social groups.

As a community based organisation, North Ringwood Community House is overseen by a voluntary committee of management and this afternoon the organisation held its annual meeting to elect committee members for the next twelve months. While I was previously a committee member of the North Ringwood Community House, I have chosen not to seek re-nomination and have resigned from the committee.

While I enjoyed being a committee member of North Ringwood Community House, changes to the Local Government Act, prevent a Councillor from formally discussing matters involving an organisation, where they are part of its decision making body. As a consequence, this has meant that I was unable to discuss the community house within formal council meetings.

Given these changes to the Local Government Act, I believe I will be better able to advocate for the community house if I was no longer a member of the committee of management.

During the past twelve months North Ringwood Community House prepared a new business plan and completed the feasibility study exploring potential sites for the organisation and its services. The study identified Norwood Reserve along Warrandyte Road as the preferred site and Council will now able undertaking an assessment of this location, including consultation with existing users and exploring the traffic implications.

This assessment is expected to be completed by July, when Council will discuss the findings with the North Ringwood Community House.

Maroondah Journal: House vision takes shape

Posted on 9 March 2010 by alex

The Maroondah Journal has reported on the completion of North Ringwood Community House’s feasibility study into its relocation.

Mayor Alex Makin said the new site would allow the house to be part of a community house.

“The house is calling on Council to commit to a master plan, which will explore the needs of current users, as well as looking at the needs of North Ringwood Community House.”

The study, which was funded through the State Government, Maroondah City Council and North Ringwood Community House, has recommended Norwood Reserve in Warrandyte Road as the preferred site.

The masterplan will enable Council to develop and holistic approach to Norwood Reserve and the existing facilities. The site is home to a number of organisations, including the North Ringwood Senior Citizens, Enjoying Planned Retirement, Ringwood U3A, the Ringwood Arts Society, the Ringwood Historical Society and the North Ringwood Children’s Community Centre.

“The house is not located on council land so it restricts the house’s ability to apply for infrastructure grants, not only through council but other levels of government. This puts them at a severe disadvantage.”
“As a result the house hasn’t been able to expand and that’s really restricted their ability to introduce programs.”

With the changing character of Ringwood and Ringwood North it is imperative that facilities are able to meet the diverse needs of our municipality. The feasibility study underpins the importance of the relocation to meet these community needs.