As we near the festive season for 2009, this is almost the last eNews for the year (one or two more!). I hope that our weekly update has kept you informed of political debate affecting the community and local government sector, interesting events and goings-on at VLGA.
We always value your input, updates, queries and feedback. Over the next few weeks, let us know any topics you would like to see discussed in 2010...and let us know who is Mayor for your community for 2010! Good luck to all contenders.
Heatwaves
This week’s hot topic is heatwaves (pardon the pun). You will know that local governments have been handed the responsibility of developing heatwave plans.
In the summer of 2009, 374 additional deaths occurred during a state-wide heatwave with temperatures among the highest ever recorded.
Heat wave response plans are being developed across the world and are including such activities as:
* Promoting buddy systems
* Coordinating service providers
* Preparing cooling centres
* Identifying vulnerable individuals
* Disseminating information
* Checking building standards
* Rescheduling outdoor events
* Helping motorists in difficulty
* Relocating people
Has your council developed its heatwave plan? Would you like to see examples of completed plans? Let us know.
More staff news
In the appointment of our new CEO, many of you have asked me whether Darren Ray is still with us. I am very pleased to say that after 14 months acting in the CEO role, Darren will return to his former VLGA role as Director of Policy and Public Affairs.
The Board and the staff would like to extend our gratitude to Darren for capably steering the VLGA ship for the past 14 months. We know the sector has been very grateful for Darren's work and will be glad to hear he is staying with the VLGA.
VLGA End-of-Year Drinks, Thursday 3 December
Please join Minister Wynne and the VLGA Board and staff for end-of-year drinks. The format will be quite informal with refreshments and a light meal being served. I do hope you are available and able to attend.
Details: Thursday 3 December, 6.30-8.30pm
VLGA Rear Meeting Room
60 Leicester Street, Carlton
Please RSVP for catering purposes by 27 November to vlga@vlga.org.au or 03 9349 7999
Don’t forget – responses to Essential Services Commission Discussion Paper due by 30 November
You can obtain the discussion paper at the Commission's website
VLGA website feedback
The new VLGA website has been up and running for a week now – we’d love to hear your feedback about the site. Staff are busily loading library documents from the old website, so that all the resources you are familiar with will still be available as well.
Missed the Children & Active Transport Forum?
Not to worry… the forum papers and outcomes from each workshop are now available for download. Simply visit the Thinking Transport library.
The Children & Active Transport Forum, held on Tues 6 October 2009, focused on how to get more children actively moving more often. Attendees gained an understanding of the need to better engage children and their families in walking and riding in their local community, as well as understanding the actions required, and the strategies needed, to address the issue locally.
Not violent; not silent
The Minister for Women’s Affairs launches Victoria’s Plan for Prevention of Violence against Women on Tuesday 24 November. The VLGA looks forward to new local government partnerships with the Victorian Government to implement the Plan.
And remember White Ribbon Day November 25: the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. It marks the start of 16 days of international action to prevent violence leading to International Human Rights Day on 10 December (White Ribbon Foundation website).
Loads of events during November and December...
Asbestos Disease Society of Victoria Annual Commemoration Ceremony
Friday 27 November, 11am
BMW Edge Theatre, Federation Square
The Committee of Management of the Asbestos Disease Society of Victoria (ADSVIC) is holding their annual Commemoration Ceremony. This event is held during Asbestos Awareness Week.
It is an interesting and at times moving ceremony. The combined Trades Union and Geelong Trades Hall choirs will sing extracts from DUST – a musical production of the story of asbestos and its impact on people’s lives. The Governor of Victoria will give the keynote address. He will be followed by Martin Kingham of the CFMEU and a number of people giving brief tributes to their loved ones who died from asbestos exposure.
ADSVIC writes, “Our members believe that public education will greatly reduce accidental exposure to domestic asbestos.”
Contact Tim Tolhurst, Executive Officer Asbestos Diseases Society of Victoria Tim.Tolhurst@adsvic.org.au
“Are We There Yet?” Launching a Year of Re-commitment to Addressing the Unfinished Business of Reconciliation
Saturday 28 November, 4.30-6pm
New Council Chambers Room, Trades Hall, Lygon St, Carlton
ANTaR Victoria forum Sponsored by the Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission
Welcome to Country: Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin – an Aboriginal Elder of the Wurundjeri people.
Keynote Address: Tom Calma – retiring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, the Australian Human Rights Commission
Other speakers include: Muriel Bamblett – CEO the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) and former Chair of the Secretariat for National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC); Richard Frankland – Koorie Activist, Singer Songwriter, Author, Playwright and Film Director (credits include the recent Koorie Comedy feature film Stone Bros)
FREE ENTRY: Donations welcome at the door.
RSVP for tickets to antar@antarvictoria.org.au. Numbers are limited so get in quick.
Australia-East Timor Association Independence Day Dinner – Focus on the issue of justice for Timor-Leste
Saturday 28 November, 6pm
Treacy Conference Centre, 126 The Avenue, Parkville
28 November is the day in 1975 that the East Timorese liberation movement made the Universal Declaration of Independence to establish the Democratic Republic of East Timor. The military of the Republic of Indonesia launched their full scale invasion nine days later on 7 December 1975.
Guest speaker: Dr Clinton Fernandes – consulting historian to the film Balibo. The main task for those who support the people of East Timor in their quest for justice is to convert the legal consensus into a political consensus. Fernandes will outline how this consensus can be created.
For further information call (03) 9416 2960 or email aetamel@aetamel.org
Zero Emissions CERES, Community Forum
Tuesday 1 December, 5-8pm
CERES Education Centre, Lee Street, East Brunswick
CERES has embarked upon becoming zero emissions by 2012.
Hear about innovations in green technology and behaviour change which are the keystones to the Zero Emissions CERES program; see how these projects will address current and future energy demands and respond meaningfully to climate change; take a tour of the newly renovated EcoHouse; and get the chance to create partnerships with CERES and explore research opportunities. Enquiries and RSVP to nia@ceres.org.au or see the flyer via our website for further information.
MAV, ICLEI & PIA present a Planners Master Class on writing integrated, best practice licensed premises policy
Wednesday 2 December, 10am-4pm
MAV, Level 12, 60 Collins Street, Melbourne
For more information and to register please email mark.boyd@iclei.org for a registration form. Bookings including payment must be received by Monday 30 November 2009
Join the Dalai Lama for breakfast
Thursday 10 December (International Human Rights Day)
On International Human Rights Day, and the 20th anniversary of the Dalai Lama winning the Nobel Peace Prize, you can attend a special breakfast featuring His Holiness the Dalai Lama and 2009 NAIDOC person of the year Larissa Behrendt.
For further information please contact the Australia Tibet Council on (02) 9283 3466 or see their website.
Parliament of the World’s Religions
3-9 December 2009
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
For further program information please see our website or contact Alex Butler on 03 8622 4815 or alex@parliamentofreligions2009.org
MAJOR SPEAKERS
His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Jacqueline Ogega – Director, Women’s Program, Religions for Peace
Pat Walsh, Senior Advisor, former Timor-Leste Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation
SELECTED PROGRAMS
Building Cities of Harmony – A team of local government representatives, led by Rabbi Aviva Kipen
Tuesday 8 December, 2.30-4pm
In complex layers of accountability, elected Mayors and Councillors, paid employees of cities, and residents who pay local city taxes grapple with sometimes-conflicting agendas to deliver programs for the good of residents. Their tensions, successes and failures are the crux of this commentary session.
The session also narrates the process of the International Team Building Symposium’s creation and development, telling the story of the strategic partnering alliance formed with the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), which has been the link to city municipalities in Victoria. The team includes local city officers in discussion about team building and policy development within their own municipalities, and Dr David Wilson, who will launch the structural legacy of this phase of preparation.
‘Achieving Sustainable Peace’
Friday 4 December, 11.30am-1.00pm
Stein Villumstad (former regional representative, Norwegian Church Aid, Eastern Africa), Pat Walsh, Dr Abdul Aziz Naderi (Program Manager, Sanayee Development Organization, Afghanistan), Fr Leonel Narvaez (Schools of Forgiveness and Reconciliation, Colombia).
'The Impact of Women in Conflict Resolution'
Sunday 6 December, 11.30am-1.00pm
Asatu Bah-Kenneth (Liberia National Police), Naree Charoenpolpiriya (nonviolence trainer, Thailand), Sande Harte (Spiritual and Religious Alliance for Hope (SARAH), United States), Jacqueline Ogega.
Individual Faith-based Peace Building Grassroots Teams from Afghanistan, Liberia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea and Thailand will be giving presentations during the Parliament – check full Parliament program for details.
SELECTED FILM
‘Pray the Devil Back to Hell’
Tuesday 8 December, 4.30-6.00pm
A remarkable story of the courageous Liberian women who came together to end a bloody civil war and bring peace to their shattered country.
Walk Against Warming Melbourne 2009
Saturday 12 December 2009, 12pm
State Library, Swanston St, Melbourne, walking to Princes Bridge
We need YOU! Join tens of thousands of people at this year’s Walk Against Warming, and help us send an urgent message to world leaders that we want action for a safe climate future for our kids. The Walk Against Warming is Australia’s biggest day of community action on climate change. Over the last four years, over 100,000 Victoria’s have joined this family friendly event to call for real action on climate change. As world leaders gather at the global climate meeting in Copenhagen in December, we’ll be walking down Swanston St, and then forming a giant Human Sign across Princes Bridge to send them a safe climate message they can’t ignore.
Information and resources
Register
The 5th Annual Rotary Club of Moreland – Australia Day Breakfast ‘My Australia: Environment, Landscape and Memory’
Tuesday 26 January, 2010, 7.30am
Brunswick Town Hall, Corner Sydney Rd & Dawson St, Brunswick
Dr Kate Auty - Victorian Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability
$40 per head (full breakfast served)
Regards
Cr Rose Iser
VLGA President
0414 959 427
rose@vlga.org.au
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