Council news

For volunteers, those interested in the ownership of the School of Mines, senior citizens and artists…

National Volunteer Week takes place from Monday 10–Sunday 16 May and provides the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the hard work of volunteers.

A special morning tea will be hosted by Council for the Social Support volunteers on Tuesday 11 May from 10am – noon in the Ray Bradfield Room.  All those interested in volunteering with older residents or those already involved are invited to enjoy morning tea together to celebrate and hear about the great work of our volunteers.

Mount Alexander Shire Social Support volunteers spend over 200 hours per month visiting people in their homes and accompanying older clients on outings.  If you are interested in coming to the morning tea or becoming one of our valued volunteers please contact Jo at Council on 5471 1797.

“Council acknowledges the valuable work of volunteers across the Shire,” said Cr Philip Schier, Mayor of Mount Alexander Shire Council. “Many local services and programs depend on the enthusiasm and commitment of people working in a voluntary capacity for this community.”

The Mount Alexander Volunteer Network, representing a number of local organisations across the Shire, is dedicated to supporting local volunteers and they too will be hosting a number of events during National Volunteer Week.

One event includes the launch of a customised Committee Support Toolkit, an invaluable resource to help community groups and sporting organisations with fundraising, recruitment, planning and risk management.  It aims to give committees straight-forward information about their legal and financial responsibilities, with useful templates and resources as well as links to further information and help. The Toolkit will be launched on Thursday 13 May at a volunteer afternoon tea at Newstead RTC at 2pm and a volunteer supper at Maldon Neighbourhood Centre at 5pm.

And then, on Sunday 16 May, the Mount Alexander Volunteer Network will host a special Thank You Concert at the Castlemaine Town Hall from 2.30pm.  A line-up of performers, musicians and entertainers from throughout the Shire are donating their time, an afternoon tea will be served and gifts of thanks and Certificates of Appreciation will be given to all volunteers attending.

All community members are welcome. Please RSVP to Jacqueline from the Mount Alexander Volunteer Network on 5472 4842 or email mavn@cch.org.au if you are planning to attend.

SCHOOL OF MINES
This week Mount Alexander Shire Council resolved to buy the former School of Mines Building from the Department of Planning and Community Development.

The building is at 27 Lyttleton Street next door to the Castlemaine Town Hall. It will be refurbished to accommodate adminstrative and civil activities associated with Council. The approximately 50 staff housed in the Castlemaine Enterprise Centre will be relocated to the building when it’s ready.

“Council has been considering the difficult issue of staff accommodation since the formation of the Mount Alexander Shire in the mid-1990s,” said Cr Philip Schier.

“Our long-term financial plan allows for Council to purchase the building for the agreed sum of $650,000, and the proximity of the building to the Town Hall make this a good option in terms of organisational efficiencies.

Over many years a range of options have been considered in relation to staff accommodation, and in 2006 Council resolved “in-principle” to purchase and refurbish the School of Mines Building.  This option was considered the most effective solution to Council’s ongoing accommodation objectives; while also consolidating a civic precinct and allowing Council to be the custodian of this significant heritage building.

The central location of the building will allow for better access by public transport for staff and residents, and it enables community members to include their Council business on a  single trip to be central business district.

It is anticipated that works will be undertaken over the coming year at a cost of approximately $1.3 million. The works will involve exploration of solutions to ensure that best-practice standards in environmental sustainability are achieved.

“In refitting this building for civic purposes, we need to set an example about what can be done to ensure environmental efficiencies are part of the restoration of an historic building,” said Cr Schier.  “We will be seeking to utilise the best technology available.”

SENIOR CITIZENS

Expressions of interest are being sought from individuals and organisations interested in being involved in the working party for the 2010 Victorian Seniors Festival.

Representatives from Mount Alexander Shire Council, Castlemaine Health, U3A, Senior Citizens Clubs, Probus, other community groups and individuals are being asked to take up the reigns to develop our best festival yet.

The Victorian Seniors Festival is now in its 28^th year and is gaining a reputation for offering diverse and exciting events for those over 60 years of age.

Each year in the first week of October this event offers a myriad of interesting and fun filled activities that respond to the diverse range of people who are senior members of our community. Mount Alexander Shire has one of the fastest growing number of older people in the state and it is more important than ever that their interests and concerns are catered to here.

The festival is an opportunity for groups to showcase their activities and to invite others to take part. It is also an opportunity for service organisations to provide information to new and potential residents. It is therefore important that all seniors groups are involved in the design and direction of the festival with input from people of different ages, interests and abilities.

If you are interested in being involved in the Working Group, please contact Claire Peters on 5471 1735 or by email c.peters@mountalexander.vic.gov.au.

USING THE PHEE
Mount Alexander Shire Council’s exhibition program for the Phee Broadway Theatre Foyer exhibition space provides an opportunity to showcase different types of artwork from the local community. It is currently looking for artists and organisations to exhibit work during the second half of 2010 and into 2011.

Over the last twelve months artists have displayed a wide range of work that has included paintings, large-scale digital illustration, quilting and embroidery, art work from Loddon Prison and a successful group show.

Council supports cultural development and diversity of expression within the region and the richness of the Shire’s many different artistic communities is reflected in the work that is been displayed to date.

The successful exhibitions will generally last four weeks and the space is available from August this year.

If you would like to submit an expression of interest for an exhibition, guidelines can be downloaded from the Mount Alexander Shire Council website: www.mountalexander.vic.gov.au or available from Council’s reception. The deadline for submissions is the Friday, 25 June 2010.

For further information about the Phee Broadway Theatre Foyer exhibition space please contact Jon Harris, Arts Officer for Mount Alexander Shire Council on 5471 1793 or via email: arts@mountalexander.vic.gov.au