Spring across the hills and foothills has been jam-packed with festivities, special occasions and exciting announcements.
Halloween saw many local traders and organisations across the hills enjoy the fun of dressing up and handing out treats.
My office team and I loved the chance to be a part of this fun activity in Belgrave.
We couldn’t believe the incredible effort that went into the costumes across all ages.
October saw the celebrations during seniors month take shape in a wide variety of activities and I thoroughly enjoyed attending Paul Bianco’s photographic exhibition in Emerald celebrating the third age, Life Activities Club Knox’s Open Day in Ferntree Gully and Singularity Choir’s production of Iolanthe hosted by Olinda Probus Club.
Well done to all the organisers!
I’d like to acknowledge two wonderful local environmental organisations.
Save the Dandenongs League (SDL), recently celebrated its 75th anniversary.
Their legacy in preserving local bushland, including the Karwarra Australian plant garden and Birdsland Reserve, environmental education and community engagement is treasured by us all.
Thanks to all the volunteers involved over the years in ensuring our Dandenong Ranges remains a place of beauty and environmental significance.
Huge congratulations also to Nangana Landcare Network on achieving the Australian Georgraphic Silver Tier Award for their project C411 Country – Saving Faunal Emblems, which works to reconnect fragmented habitat across 128,000 hectares in the Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley in a bid to protect the habitat of the endangered Helmeted Honeyeater and Leadbeater’s Possum.
I was pleased to join CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan at the launch of CFA’s Get Fire Ready campaign at Sassafras-Ferny Creek Fire Brigade, highlighting the need for us all across the ranges to be prepared for the fire season fast approaching.
If you missed out on attending your CFA’s Open Day, it’s not too late to jump onto the CFA website and create your fire plans.
Make sure you have the latest version of the VicEmergency app, have your watch zones set beyond the immediate area around your home and work, and understand what the different alert levels mean.
In exciting public transport news, the Metro Tunnel will start running services from early December and the full timetable will commence from 1 February.
During that time, to say thank you to everyone for their patience as works have taken place over the past years, public transport across Victoria will be free for all commuters on weekends – you can leave the Myki at home for those trips!
In further great news – from 1 January public transport will be free for all under 18s every day, everywhere in Victoria.
They’ll need a Youth Myki to tap on and off, but won’t pay for any travel.
This will save families up to $755 every year per child – helping with the cost of living.
I look forward to attending Cockatoo RSL’s Remembrance Day Service.
The commemorations across our RSLs and organisations allow us space to connect and reflect on the service and sacrifice of military personnel through conflict and peacekeeping.
I hope wherever you are at 11am on 11 November, you find a moment to reflect too. Lest we forget.
This is my final article for the year, so I wish all who celebrate a very happy Christmas and a safe, happy and great new year to all.
Enjoy the summer break and to all working over the public holidays, thank you for the work you do – I hope your chance for rest and relaxation is not too far away!
