Tag: workshop

Media Release: Join in the Australia Day festivities

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Australia Day in Maroondah is again shaping as a fun-filled affair with a range of activities on offer for the entire family.

The action gets under way at 9.30am at Ringwood Lake Soundshell with a flag raising ceremony to mark the national day.

Councillor Alex Makin suggested residents to head on down and enjoy a free community barbecue and children’s activities including craft workshops, animal farm, jumping castle and face painting.

“There will also be live entertainment on offer with a performance by the Ringwood Folk Band,” Cr Makin said.

Cr Makin said the day also provided an opportunity to recognise some of our community’s most valued citizens.

“Australia Day is an opportunity for all of us to take pride in our citizenship and reflect on the meaning and importance of being Australian,” Cr Makin said.

“It will be a pleasure to recognise the contributions of Maroondah residents to the community during Council’s annual Australia Day awards,” Cr Makin said.

“The annual Australia Day awards will be presented to Maroondah’s Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, and Community Event of the Year,” Cr Makin said.

Cr Makin said the day was about coming together as a nation to celebrate what’s great about Australia and being Australian.

“It’s the day to reflect on what we have achieved and what we can be proud of in Australia. It’s the day for us to recommit to making Australia an even better place for the future,” Cr Makin said.

“Each year Maroondah’s Australia Day celebrations draws a big crowd at Ringwood Lake. Council is again looking forward to welcoming the local community to celebrate what it is that makes them proud to be Australian,” Cr Makin said.

Event details:
9.30am: Flag raising ceremony
9.30am – 10.30am: Maroondah Australia Day Awards presentation and citizenship ceremony.
9.30am – 12.30pm: Family activities
11am – 12.30pm: Ringwood Folk Band perform

Getting there:

  • Via public transport: 10 minute walk from Ringwood Station or via bus route 670 which travels along Maroondah Highway. For further public transport information visit www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au or call 131 638.
  • Limited parking is available at Ringwood Lake, enter via Mt Dandenong Road. Melways 49 K8.
  • Accessible drop off zone on Maroondah Highway.

Maroondah Business Week Breakfast with David Schwarz

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Maroondah Business Week is an annual Council initiated program that aims to promote and enhance businesses within the municipality. The Week consists of workshops, tours and networking events offering a range of activities to cater to the business sectors within Maroondah.

One of these events is the Maroondah Business Week Breakfast, which featured David Schwarz as the speaker. David was a former footballer and Vice-Captain for Melbourne Football Club and discussed the challenges he faced during this career, including a gambling addiction, which he spoke about candidly during the breakfast session.

Alex with David Schwarz and Cr Rob Steane at the 2010 Maroondah Business Week Breakfast
Alex with David Schwarz and Cr Rob Steane at the 2010 Maroondah Business Week Breakfast

David’s openness set him apart from some of the speakers of other years and he spoke candidly about the difficulties in establishing a post football career. David’s comments reflect the need for ongoing perseverance and the advantages of networking within businesses and provided a number of parallels between his experiences and the challenges facing business.

As part of the proceedings I had the opportunity to introduce Maroondah Business Week and the speech I provided is available in this post:

Continue reading “Maroondah Business Week Breakfast with David Schwarz”

The Age: State failing to act on bus reviews

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Over the past several years the State Government progressively undertook a review of bus services across metropolitan Melbourne, examining network coverage, route configuration, operating span and frequency.  The reviews were conducted along council boundaries, with Maroondah’s being undertaken last year, with the final report and recommendations not being made available until this year.

Unfortunately the implementation of these recommendations, which largely consisted of more frequent and longer running services, has been mixed. The Age has reported on the implementation of these reviews:

Maroondah mayor Alex Makin said his council had staged a public meeting in January last year, and later hosted two state government workshops. Many of the recommendations made by consultants after the review had not happened.

The bus service reviews identified short, medium and long-term priorities, with a series of recommendations that aim to improve bus services. While the short and medium term priorities had identifiable timeframes, the long-term initiatives, many of which included new routes to serve areas of Maroondah without bus services, lack an implementation plan.

Furthermore some of the short-term initiatives, including proposed frequency improvements, for route 670 along Maroondah Highway, one of Maroondah’s most highly patronised services, have not yet been delivered despite the review stating that this would begin in the middle of this year.

The State Government must deliver improvements to bus services to ensure that the bus network is a competitive form of transport.

Media Release: Maroondah Business Week bookings now open

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The Maroondah Business Week 2010 brochure is now available, detailing the range of workshops, seminars and networking sessions open to business owners and operators who wish to participate in this year’s Maroondah Business Week activities.

Maroondah Councillor Alex Makin said anyone considering attending the range of networking and information sessions during Maroondah Business Week should decide what they would like to attend, and book early.

“We have introduced closing dates for our key events, so it is more important than ever that people get their tickets early,” Cr Makin said.

“There are a lot of opportunities for business owners and operators wanting to network with other local businesses, or learn new strategies to improve your business. Maroondah Business Week 2010 should not be missed,” said Cr Makin.

“Running from Monday 4 October to Friday 8 October, Maroondah Business Week covers everything you could want to know about doing business successfully in this city,” Cr Makin said.

Maroondah Business Week 2010 highlights include three guest speakers who will entertain and move you with their wealth of experience in life and in business:

Former Melbourne Football Club player David Schwarz will speak at the NAB Business Breakfast on 6 October at the Karralyka Centre from 7am until 9am.

Since retiring from the Melbourne Football Club after 11 years, David has pursued an active media career, co-hosting the sports radio program The Home Run and was a part of Channel 7’s AFL commentary team, but his reputation was tainted after revealing his had lost more than $4 million through gambling.

In 2007, the reformed gambler was appointed the Responsible Gambling Ambassador of the Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group.

“By speaking about his experiences on and off the field, David will provide an insight into how he overcame his inner demons and transformed them into new opportunities,” Cr Makin said.

Peter Alexander, best known for his range of sleepwear, will share his secrets of success at the RACV Business Insurance Networking Event from 5.30pm to 7.30pm on 7 October at the Karralyka Centre.

Peter is a true entrepreneur, launching his range of sleepwear as a single man working from his living room table. His name is now recognised around the globe and at the height of success his business profits were growing at up to 40 per cent a year.

“At the age of 24 Peter made the tough decision to go out on his own. While the start up phase was difficult he overcame everything that was thrown at him. There is no doubt that Peter has a wealth of information to share about establishing brand loyalty,” Cr Makin said.

Then you can join author and model Tara Moss at the Eastland Business Lunch from noon to 2pm on Friday 8 October at the Karralyka Centre.

Tara had her first novel published at the age of 24, and has since become the number one crime writer in Australia. As a model she has graced the covers of more than 30 magazines.

“Tara lives her life by the motto ‘life is too short to live the same day twice’ and I think that is something we could all take on board. So why not come along and gain an insight into how to transform your passions into a successful career,” Cr Makin said.

The vast majority of business opportunities are found through networking, so bring along plenty of business cards and a willingness to connect with like-minded business people and meet some of Maroondah’s most influential and ‘up and coming’ business professionals.

Bookings can now be made for all events and workshops.

Further information on the complete range of activities during Maroondah Business Week 2010 can be found in the brochure available at all Council Service Centres, or by visiting www.bizmaroondah.com.au

– ENDS –

The Future of Volunteering – Strengthening Communities Through Volunteering

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The Future of Volunteering – Strengthening Communities Through Volunteering, is a conference organised in partnership between Boroondara Volunteer Resource Centre, Monash Volunteer Resource Centre and Eastern Volunteers.

The conference follows from the Community Conference organised last year by Eastern Volunteers, with an emphasis on strengthening communities and enhancing the ability of community based organisations in being able to attract and retain volunteers.

I was one of the speakers for the workshops that were held during the afternoon, where I discussed the potential of technology, including social media, in recruiting and maintaining volunteer involvement within an organisation. Community based organisations need to be able to communicate directly with the community and technology provides an opportunity for this to occur.

The Conference was attended by over 150 participants from a range of community based organisations, providing the ability to learn new skills to strengthen community based volunteering.

Maroondah Leader: Councillors enliven proceedings

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Maroondah Councillors recently conducted a workshop designed to improve the proceedings of public meetings and improve the transparency of Council.  These changes began at the June Council meeting and will provide debate and insight into the decisions that are being made by Council.

Maroondah Mayor Alex Makin said the move was a result of a “collective process” between councillors.  “It is certainly an improvement and clarifies how Councillors make decisions,” Cr Makin said.

It is encouraging that all Councillors agreed on the need to improve the transparency of Maroondah City Council’s public meetings and further changes, including the ability for groups or individuals to formally present as a deputation to Council will be undertaken from July.

Media Release: Council encourages debate and interaction at Meetings

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At its meeting on Monday 21 June, Maroondah City Council resolved to change a Local Law ensuring future meetings are more interactive and engaging.

Mayor of Maroondah, Councillor Alex Makin said that Councillors collectively workshopped the changes over a period of time.

The proposed Local Law (Local Law 9) will replace the current Local Law 7 that regulates meeting procedures at Council Meetings.

“These changes will improve the opportunity for debate and demonstrate Council’s overwhelming support for open, accessible and accountable Local Government,” said Cr Makin.

“Maroondah City Council has always prided itself on listening to the community and these changes will make that even easier to do so by promoting debate and allowing Councillors to present displays and explanations on agenda items,” Cr Makin said.

“One of the most significant changes will be that residents will be able to hear Ward reports from their representative Councillors, ensuring they are across new developments or projects” said Cr Makin.

More information on the recommendation to the change to Local Law 7 can be found on the City of Maroondah website at www.maroondah.vic.gov.au or at Council Service Centres.

Council meetings are open to the public. The next meeting is scheduled for 7.30pm on Monday 19 July at Council Chambers, Braeside Avenue Ringwood.

Media Release: Maroondah prepares to celebrate National Reconciliation Week

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A program of events and workshops has been organised by Council to celebrate National Reconciliation Week (27 May to 3 June) in Maroondah.

Mayor of Maroondah, Cr Alex Makin, said the program would focus on providing a variety of opportunities to explore Indigenous culture and heritage.

“I’d like to extend an invitation to the community to attend Maroondah’s Reconciliation Week Launch from 10.30am at Maroondah Federation Estate on National Sorry Day (26 May),” Cr Makin said.

“The Launch will be held on National Sorry Day to recognise the suffering and hardship suffered by Indigenous communities. It will mark the beginning of Maroondah’s Reconciliation Week activities,” Cr Makin said.

“The launch will include a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony, a flag ceremony, the unveiling of Council’s new Indigenous artwork acquisition. Entertainment will feature a mesmerising didgeridoo performance by Indigenous performer Alan Brown,” Cr Makin said.

School workshops will run throughout the week and students will have the opportunity to participate in didgeridoo playing, traditional dance, Indigenous art making and learn about cultural awareness.

The program will conclude on Thursday 3 June with the presentation of an Indigenous documentary film focusing on Aboriginal history in Victoria. The documentary will be presented by Maroondah Movement for Reconciliation.

One of the week’s highlights will be Council’s acquisition of an artwork by Indigenous Elder Ray Ken titled Tali, which will be placed on display in the foyer of Maroondah Federation Estate until 30 July.

Visit www.maroondah.vic.gov.au for the full schedule of Reconciliation Week events and to find out how you can become involved.

– ENDS –

Opening the Ringwood Telstra Business Centre

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This morning I was invited to officially open the Ringwood Telstra Business Centre, located on Heatherdale Road.  The introduction of the Telstra Business Centre reinforces the growing business confidence within Ringwood and provides further local employment opportunities within the municipality.

The launch included a presentation on the future of technology, which highlighted the rapid pace of technological advancement and an increasing emphasis on ‘cloud computing’, whereby data is stored externally in a secure environment.   Technology will continue to be an important part of any business and the Business Centre has a strong emphasis on technological solutions for small and medium enterprises.

Alex opening the Telstra Business Centre in Ringwood
Alex opening the Telstra Business Centre in Ringwood

Over the past five years, Ringwood has experienced a substantial expansion of commercial office space and this is expected to increase further into the future.  The increase in office space ensures that we are better able to provide local employment opportunities, and thus minimise travel costs and commuting time for employees.

The City of Maroondah hosts regular events for the business community, including workshops, seminars and breakfast meetings.  For further details please visit www.bizmaroondah.com.au.

Maroondah Business Association – AGM and Social Networking

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The Maroondah Business Association, which was formerly known as Maroondah HomeBiz, provides a supportive and nurturing environment for businesses within Maroondah. The Association has an emphasis on networking, business knowledge, workshops and practical support through providing monthly guest speakers and other events.

While Maroondah HomeBiz had an exclusive emphasis on home-based businesses, the Maroondah Business Association encompasses businesses of all sizes, to ensure that the organisation is able to continue to facilitate growth and development of a business.

Tonight’s guest speaker discussed social networking providing an overview of the various social networking sites and their relevance to an increasing demographic. The speaker offered insight into the various social media tools and some background in regard to search engine optimisation.

The Maroondah Business Association meets on the first Wednesday of each month, for further information please visit www.maroondahbusiness.org.au.