COUNCILLOR COLUMN August 09, 2018

A giving community I’m constantly impressed by the selflessness and generosity of so many people in Greater Geelong.

Recently I met with Tony McManus, development manager for the Geelong Community Foundation.

This organisation relies on donations from community members, and runs almost entirely on volunteer time and effort – only one per cent of income goes towards administration costs.

And they’re making a huge difference right across our region.

In 2018 alone, the foundation is delivering community grants to the value of $932,500 through 46 diverse programs – ranging from aged care, education, health, heritage and arts, to training and research, youth and families.

Your council will continue to look at avenues to support the foundation in its community work.

I encourage everyone to visit www. geelongfoundation.org to learn about the valuable work being done, and considerdonating if you’re able.

Deserving reward
On 26 July I was honoured to speak at a civic reception at the Geelong Gallery recognising our region’s Order of Australia awards recipients for 2018.

This is an event the City puts on every year in partnership with the local branch of the Order of Australia Association.

It was another example of the incredible effort people in our region make to help the community.

Greater Geelong residents from the Bellarine were well represented among the 21 people recognised.

Therese McKenney OAM recently moved to Portarlington after giving many years’ service to community organisations in Altona and Newport. She has wasted no time getting involved in our region, helping to start the Bellarine Community Council.

Wallington’s Peter Tanner AM chaired the Reach Foundation for a decade, and also dedicated his time to a range of other not-forprofit organisations.

Ocean Grove’s Blanche Mulligan OAM helped start the Ocean Grove Barwon Heads Hospice during the 1970s, and has been a passionate refugee advocate. She’s given service to Oxfam Ocean Grove and Rural Australians for Refugees among several other organisations.

It was a pleasure to recognise Therese, Blanche and Peter, and all of the other award recipients.

Another civic occasion I love attending is our monthly citizenship ceremony at City Hall.

At our most recent event, we welcomed 58 residents as Australian citizens.

The joy and pride on show at these ceremonies is great to see, and perhaps a little reminder to all of us of just how lucky we are to live in this country, and in our beautiful region in particular.

Have your say
The ‘Building Better Bike Connections’ project is a big one for Geelong, and will see the creation of two cycling corridors into the CBD from the west and south of the city.

It’s being funded with a $4.7 million grant from the TAC, with the aim of helping people feel safe when riding to work, shops, services and other places.

This will be important in achieving our longterm goal of having 50 per cent of journeys to work made via public transport, walking or riding.

For those in Armstrong Creek, the southern link will give you a connection from Waurn Ponds and Grovedale all the way into the CBD.

We are running community consultation on the design of the High Street, Belmont section of this route, and we want everyone to have their say on the four potential design options.

Visit geelongaustralia.com.au/betterbikeconnections.