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Cr Mary-Anne Lowe on Eastern FM — February 2015
P:
Seven minutes past 12 and we’ve got in the studio with us, as I mentioned earlier, a
first timer, one of our regular visitors from the council and representing the council
today, Councillor Mary-Anne Lowe. So welcome Mary-Anne and I hope you come
back and see us regularly.
Cr:
I shall be back Russ. Thank you for having me here today.
P:
What’s happened? Let’s have a try now. Yeah, that’s better. There she is. And now,
you’ve been on council, as we mentioned earlier, taking the place of our good friend
and it’s a bit of an experience for you, a new experience.
Cr:
Yes. Look, being on council is very interesting. It’s very different in a lot of ways, but
you know, it’s been an exciting journey for me to join the council and very bitter sweet.
P:
Yes it is a bit, yes.
Cr:
Difficult circumstances to come into council, because I knew Anne as well. But you
know what, it’s really nice to actually be on such a cohesive council where everyone
does work together and everyone wants to be there to achieve things for the residents.
I’m really proud to be a part of it.
P:
Lots happening in Maroondah this year isn’t there?
Cr:
Well, there is so much happening in Maroondah. I feel like I get a hundred emails a
day, but I’m keeping on top of them, so no, there’s lots coming up, it’s good.
P:
Well that’s good. Well you’ve come along armed with lots of information, so over to you
to rip into it.
Cr:
I do have lots of information about what’s happening in Maroondah. First up today
Russ, I just wanted to talk about an exciting free event that’s happening this weekend
in Maroondah, and Maroondah’s actually doing three Celebrate Maroondah events
centred really around families.
Some of the listeners may remember last year we had a Picnic in the Park, which if I
remember was down at Karralyka, and these events that we’re doing this year actually
replace Picnic in the Park and it’s a bigger and better celebration about everything
Maroondah. And the first one is actually happening in my ward, in Mullum, and that’s
an enchanted garden theme. So we’ll all be down there in our beautiful fairy dresses.
And having a great time. And that celebration kicks off this Saturday in the Mullum
ward down at the beautiful Maroondah Federation Estate, which I’m sure everyone is
familiar with across Maroondah, from one o’clock. We are encouraging lots of people
to dress up as fairies and pixies for the afternoon and there’s going to be lots of special
entertainment, live music performance, face painting activities, sausage sizzle and
there’s something for the whole family to get down there and enjoy it; so nana, poppy,
whoever wants to come down is welcome to come along.
P:
It sounds like a great opportunity.
Cr:
I think it’s going to be lots of fun. Absolutely. I’m sure my daughter will be there as well.
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P:
Well I hope a lot of the listeners’ younger brigade do go along, but as you said, it would
be a good one for grandma and grandpop to go along and enjoy as well.
Cr:
Yeah, look and it is all free so that’s it, that’s another great thing. With these events it
also gives the residents a chance to meet all of the local councillors for that ward.
So the first one, this week being in Mullum ward, I’ll be there myself as well as
Councillor Nora Lamont and Councillor Samantha Marks and that’ll be great. So it’s a
really great chance to engage with us and ask any questions that you may not
necessarily want to send an email or call about, but we’ll be there to do it.
And then the following event will be held on Saturday the 14th of Feb, which is actually
Valentine’s Day, there’s romance everywhere in the air, and that is actually going to be
at the Arrabri ward with a Goonies Movie Night.
In March, the third and final Celebrate Maroondah event will be held in Wyreena. So
there’s lots of those events happening. And to find out more information they can visit
the council’s website or they can call our events team on 9294 5561 or go to
Maroondah.vic.gov.au.
P”
Find it on the website, yes.
Cr:
It will be all online.
P:
Lots of information. Well I’ve seen some boards up around the place too mentioning
the fairy event, but no so that should be an interesting one, and of course Norm and I
have a real connection to the Federation Estate, because that was our old State
School.
Cr:
Well I remember playing interschool sports there back when I went to Ringwood
Heights Primary a long time ago.
P:
Yeah, that’s right. Time rolls on doesn’t it?
Cr:
It does.
P:
It’s 11 minutes past 12. You’re on the City of Maroondah segment on Radio Eastern.
We’re going to take a short break and be back with our guest after that. So stick
around.
P:
It’s 13 minutes past midday, our City of Maroondah segment with our special guest
Councillor Mary-Anne Lowe, and back to Mary-Anne who’s got this sheath of papers
you couldn’t jump over, so we’ve got lots of information for you today.
Cr:
Well you know, be prepared, which is very timely because the next thing we want to
talk about is actually about the bushfire season, and as much as we’ve had a very mild
January, it’s actually been rather cold, it is really important for everyone to remember
we still are heading into a very hot summer and February is forecast with very hot
temperatures. Even this weekend, I think Saturday the forecast is over 35 degrees.
Last year, Victoria experienced several summer heat waves with February being
particularly hot and you know, these heat waves are periods of unusual and
uncomfortably hot weather and they can be dangerous, and dangerous not just for
property if there was a bushfire or for people, but also for pregnant women or people
over age 65, babies and young children, anyone with medical conditions.
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As well as affecting us as humans, it can also affect community infrastructure like the
power supply, public transport and it can also affect, of course, all of our four legged or
two legged friends that we all have at home.
P:
Yeah, we tend to forget about the animals a bit. Well not everybody of course, but it’s
very easy to overlook them isn’t it in the really hot weather?
Cr:
Absolutely. Look, and one of the best tips you can do on a hot day is to put out some
bowls of water for native wildlife or even could be the dog next door that is on a walk
and needs a cold drink of water. So pop a bowl out the front of your house.
We do have a heatwave plan in place at council and that focuses on protecting
vulnerable people, and the one thing for people to remember is that there is lots of
information available, and there’s lots of tips to keep in mind during times of extreme
heat.
And firstly, what to do so that you can actually stay cool in the first place, so when it’s
hot or it’s 35 degrees, don’t go outside, don’t go in the garden, don’t engage in sport
and activity that’s going to make you get extra hot, drink lots of water and just stay out
of the sun and take care of not only yourself but your neighbours. Take care of your
family, take care of anyone that you know of in your street that may not have someone
else looking out for them.
P:
Yeah, that’s right, the next door neighbour who might be on their own, a bit senior, you
could always just keep in touch with them. Get to your know neighbours is the best
thing you can do anyhow and I think a lot of our residents in Maroondah do that and
get on well with their neighbours because there are a couple of bonuses there anyhow.
They’ll look after you as well in return.
Cr:
Absolutely. Take them a cold bottle of water and say, “Are you okay?” They may not
have air conditioning in their house, you know, if it’s a really hot day and you’ve got air
conditioning, invite them over for a cup of tea and enjoy some time together.
P:
Lots of positive things that you can do to make our community a happier place to be.
Cr:
Yeah, absolutely. So in regards to of course the other side of increased risk with the
heat is the actual bushfire element of it, which everyone across the eastern side and
certainly Maroondah, experienced that over recent years.
We’d like to again remind the residents and owners of vacant blocks of land the
importance of maintaining their land to reduce fire risk, so this means cutting the grass.
We all don’t like to do it, but everyone needs to make sure that your grass is cut.
Also too, if you’re living on a street and you notice that grass hasn’t been cut
somewhere, give the council a call. Call your local councillor and we will actually have
a look into that for you because unless everyone works together to reduce that fire
risk, then we’re all at risk if there was a fire to break out.
There is lots of great information available on the CFA website, so it’s got lots of
information about assisting residents in developing a bushfire plan. So you can look
that up on cfa.vic.gov.au and it’s definitely worth a look.
P:
And of course don’t forget to listen to Radio Eastern because we are your community
warning situation here and we’re only too happy to provide that service, but if you have
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any doubts listen to the radio and take action if it’s required. If you’re in the bushfire
areas, as many of the folk are in our city, there are some areas right adjacent to the
Dandenongs there of course that can very easily flare up or Warrandyte across that
way we’ve had it over the years haven’t we?
Cr:
We have, absolutely. So be prepared.
P:
Ok, it’s 18 minutes past the hour of midday. Another little message and we’ll be back
with Councillor Mary-Anne after this.
P:
All right, it’s 20 past 12 and as we mentioned earlier, our councillor is with us today, so
back to her to cover the next lot of her information to share.
Cr:
There is lots of information to share today. This is a real hive of activity here, I’m
excited to be here.
Now, the next event that we want to talk about, which is a great event coming up next
month, is for International Women’s Day. So this is an annual women’s day breakfast
which is held at Karralyka down in Ringwood on Thursday the 5th of March, so that’ll
probably be the Thursday going into the long weekend I imagine. This is a very
popular event and it’s open to both men and women so you don’t have to be a woman
to attend this event. Anyone’s welcome. And we’d love to see more men attend this
year and to support it. Tickets are just $20 and guests will enjoy a lovely breakfast,
good company and we’ll hear from our special guest speaker.
This year we are proud to have a representative from a great organisation that in 2015
is celebrating a very impressive milestone. Major Winsome Merrett is the Salvation
Army’s divisional commander of the Eastern Victorian Division and she has worked in
a variety of areas with the Salvation Army covering mission work, children youth and
women’s ministries. Her current role sees her responsible for the organisation’s church
and social programs across the Eastern Victorian Division, which extends from
Hawthorn right through the Yarra Ranges down to the Peninsula and across
Gippsland. So certainly all the areas that …
P:
A big area, certainly is.
Cr:
This year the Salvation Army is celebrating 150 years of helping people, which is just
amazing that they’ve been doing that for so long.
P:
We’re very lucky aren’t we with the support groups like the Salvation Army and the
other community groups that do provide so much support. 150 years, it’s a long time.
Cr:
It is a long time. And to everyone that supports the Salvation Army as well, because
I’m sure they couldn’t do it alone. Right around the world they support groups and
people without discrimination, so it’s great to have a senior female voice from that
organisation with such an impressive resume to join us for the breakfast and be our
guest speaker. Bookings for the breakfast are now open, so please ask your friends
and colleagues to visit the council website to secure your place, or head into one of
Council’s service centres and they can also assist you over the counter. Bookings
close on Monday the 23rd of Feb, so you’ve still got a couple of weeks to organise your
seats.
P:
Well that’s a worthwhile one too and have a think about that if you’ve got a bit of time
to spare on that. That should be a very worthwhile one. Well there’s lots and lots
happening isn’t there with the activities that you’ve mentioned there Mary-Anne, and
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we hope that we can interest a few of our listeners, but this segment of course
provides a lot of information each month to listeners in the broadcast area who live in
not always necessarily Maroondah residents either because those activities can be
indulged in by any of our listeners.
Cr:
Absolutely. We look forward to meeting them all there.
P:
So thank you very much. Does that round out most of the information?
Cr:
That rounds out all my sheets of paper. So thank you so much for having me today
and I look forward to coming again soon.
P:
No, well as I said to you earlier, we haven’t lost a councillor yet in our little segment, so
I think it’s always terrific and I’m sure it’s well valued by our listeners as well because it
keeps them across activities that are happening in the city, and I know lots of us are
looking forward to, I think this year we’re going to see the swimming centre open aren’t
we?
Cr:
Yes. There are some really big things happening this year. The swimming centre’s
opening later in the year, as is of course Eastland, which we’re all …
P:
Parts of Eastland. It won’t be completely finished but there’s some amazing work
there.
Cr:
Not completely, but a big part of it will be completed. Of course, the opening of Realm,
the new library will be open, and of course the completion of Ringwood Station. So
much is happening in that hub of Ringwood. It’s a great time.
P:
Well we look forward to it all, and thank you very much for joining us and we’ll look
forward to catching up with you at some time in the future. So that rounds out our
segment on the City of Maroondah.