A three-year plan designed to help reduce barriers for people living with a disability will soon be launched by Mount Alexander Shire Council.
Cr Bill Maltby moved a motion at Tuesday’s meeting for the council to adopt its first stand-alone Disability Inclusion Action Plan.
“We live in a very diverse and accepting community,” Cr Maltby said.
“This plan goes a great way to continue acceptance for all people and to help those people with a disability and the people who care for them to actually be greatly involved and looked after.”
The three-year plan assist people living with a disability to access services and facilities, obtain and maintain employment, promote inclusion and participation in the community and make changes towards attitudes that discriminate against people with a disability.
Mayor Rosie Annear said there were a lot of people in the community either living with, caring for, or working with someone with a disability.
“We know now, more than ever, that a lot of disabilities are not visible, and more and more people identify themselves as having an invisible disability, such as neurodiversity and mental health concerns,” Cr Annear said.
The disability inclusion plan has been informed by regular meetings with a Disability Action Plan Working Group consisting of a variety of knowledgeable carers and locals living with a range of disabilities, plus two months of community consultation.
The outcomes of the consultation highlighted that the main area of concern for respondents was the provision and accessibility of footpaths and tracks, with 56 per cent of respondents wanting improvements. This, coupled with poor quality parking bays, toilets and a lack of suitable activities, has left respondents feeling unsafe and isolated from their community.
The feedback also outlined the lack of support, information and awareness about neurodevelopment disorders, dementia and disability generally.
Concerns were raised about the attitudes and behaviours of others, and the stereotypes and stigmas that exist in the community, plus a lack of suitable housing in the shire for people living with a disability.
“We know a lot of people in our community have a disability and have barriers to what they would like to do sometimes. What this plan is really about, is to address any barriers that come up, so they can live the life they want to,” Cr Annear said.
“Obviously this is a very tall task and one that the council cannot achieve on their own.
“The real essence of this plan is that we need everyone in our community to do their best to make our community safe, accessible and friendly for any person, regardless of their abilities.”
The Disability Inclusion Action Plan will publicly launch at an event held during this year’s International Day of People with a Disability on December 3.
Get along to the Central Goldfields Art Gallery at Maryborough these school holidays for an experience which is out of this world.
The gallery is currently hosting ‘Terminus: Jess Johnson & Simon Ward’ a Virtual Reality exhibition on tour from the National Gallery of Australia.
Inspired by Sci-Fi, comics and fantasy movies, Terminus transports the viewer into an imaginary landscape of colour and pattern populated by human clones, moving walkways and gateways to new realms. With their pioneering use of virtual reality, artists Jess Johnson and Simon Ward hold a unique position amongst contemporary art practitioners. Johnson’s drawings are transformed from analogue into digital, and from solo practice into cross-disciplinary collaboration, forming the basis of this virtual experience.
Animated by Ward, the result is Terminus: a mysterious universe of alien architecture populated by humanoid clones and cryptic symbols, explored via a network of travellators and gateways.
Terminus presents a quest, a choose-your-own adventure into the technological. Prepare yourself for a slippage of time and space as your journey propels you through five distinct realms.
To find out more and plan your visit to this free installation visit https://centralgoldfieldsartgallery.com.au/Terminus-Jess-Johnson-Simon-Ward~409
After the success of the Maldon TEDx event in July, the historic town will now host a special TEDx featuring the women of the region on Saturday October 28.
TEDx Maldon Women will offer an unparalleled environment to engage with uplifting ideas on advancing gender equity with the theme ‘Open A-Gender’. Featuring a diverse range of speakers sharing their ideas on the broad subject of gender, empowering women to take bold strides with other innovators who are doing the same.
Organiser Paul Kooperman said TEDx put a call out around the world for anyone with a licence to apply to run talks throughout October in order to progress conversations for girls and women.
“I thought it would be a great opportunity to have people living locally and across Victoria to be part of a global conversation,” Paul said.
“Feedback about the first TEDx has been positive, particularly around the diversity of speakers and the unique ideas raised. There have been a few changes made to this event including breaking the Saturday into three sessions, allowing for people to go into Maldon to eat and visit the shops.
“And in partnership with Maldon Inc we’ve added a second talk on Sunday called TalkOn. It’s a free event of five minute talks from locals about building on our community and how to help progress the Tarrangower Tomorrow Plan.”
The list of amazing speakers for TEDx Maldon Women is extensive and includes; Nalderun CEO Katherine Coff’s talk titled ‘First Nations Relational Leadership, local Veterinarian Andrea Khong discussing introversion and the ability of quiet people to speak volumes and Maree Edwards, not as a politician but about the perceptions of women in leadership keen to contest negative perceptions of women in leadership roles and advocate for more women to share their voice.
The day will also feature Chief Innovation Officer for Life Without Barriers Emma Benison discussing her experience as a blind woman and the courage it takes for a more connected, compassionate community. Join Summer Howarth and eight year old Evie Garvey to talk about how teachers and students can work better together to improve education outcomes, or come and listen to multi-award winning artist Lauren Starr as she gives a talk entitled ‘you are the only one who can crown yourself an artist’.
“TED talks are conversations worth having. Ideas that benefit and progress our community,” Paul said.
TEDx Maldon Women will commence at 10am Saturday October 28 at the Maldon Progress Hall. For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.tedxmaldon.com/tedxwomenspeakers
TalkOn will be held at 3.30pm Sunday October 29 at the Maldon Progress Hall. To register as a speaker or attendee at the Sunday event visit www.tedxmaldon.com/event.
Central Vic Climate Action is hosting a number of events to encourage creative action in response to the escalating environmental crisis including a parade of Red Rebels and screening of the film ‘How to Blow up a Pipeline’.
Red Rebels from Castlemaine, Bendigo and Melbourne will gather in Bendigo on Monday September 25 to support Castlemaine activists attending Bendigo Magistrates Court.
Red Rebels are an international performance activist troupe dedicated to illuminating the environmental crisis and supporting groups fighting to save humanity and all species from mass extinction.
Central Vic Climate Action Group member Serena said red symbolises the common blood we share with all species, and shows our empathy with our surroundings.
“We are on the precipice of a catastrophic climate breakdown, yet National Australia Bank continues to drive us closer to the edge by funding fossil fuel projects,” Serena said.
The Red Rebels are supporting Central Vic Climate Action members Bernard, Dean and Laura, who were handcuffed in Bendigo National Australia Bank earlier this year, for refusing to leave NAB because the bank would not rule out funding a new coal mine.
Local campaigner Laura Levetan says “we will be representing ourselves and pleading not guilty on the base of sudden or extraordinary emergency. Show of support at the Bendigo Magistrates Court on the morning of September 25 is very welcome.”
This will be followed up on Thursday September 28 with the screening of environmentalist action thriller ‘How to Blow Up a Pipeline’, proudly presented by Central Vic Climate Action, Theatre Royal and School Strike for Climate. The story follows a group of young people in their plan to blow up an oil pipeline and explores the moral validity of extreme actions in addressing the climate crisis. The screening will begin at 7.30pm.
“Members of Central Vic Climate Action are wanting to stir up the conversation about how we are responding to the status quo where our leaders and financial institutions continue to actively support the fossil fuel industry, in full knowledge that they are destroying the future of our planet,” Serena said.
“We are certainly NOT advocating the use of violence, but we are suggesting that we all need to step up and onto the street. We will be having a Q&A and proceeds of the night will go to Castlemaine School Strike for Climate. Central Vic Climate Action group welcomes all who wants to get involved in local climate action.”
Interested in getting involved? Email Centralvicclimateaction2@gmail.com or check the Theatre Royal website for film details.
Castlemaine Community House (CCH) is holding their first ever Open House and Garden next Tuesday September 19 and invites community members to pay them a visit!
CCH Community Development Manager Kerrily ‘Kez’ Jennings said they’re throwing open the gates, doors and spaces for all to come explore.
“We’ll have a bunch of displays, activities and people chatting about their courses and services for people of all ages and stages,” Kez says.
Ever thought of volunteering, or doing a course with CCH? Come on down and ask all your questions!
From 10am-1pm there will be an exhibition of CCH Arts students artwork.
At 10.30am the fabulous Blenders will be performing in the CCH acoustic chamber (the central stairwell).
From 10-11am you can enjoy Community Kitchen Garden tours with Thea and from 11-11.30am Yoga with Wendy, free for all to try, absolute beginners most welcome.
Between 11.30am-12pm you can give belly dancing a whirl for free with Anita! At 11-12.30pm ask Peter about ‘Be Connected’ and the free digital support it provides.
Visitors can partake in the barbecue (meat and vego options available) and grab a coffee from the CCH kitchen an discover more about their barista training courses.
“We encourage community members to come along and explore the house and the programs we offer and learn about all the weird, wacky, wonderful we do at Castlemaine Community House. It’s your space and there are a myriad of courses and classes where you can expand your knowledge and skills.
The event will from from 10am – 1pm at the Community House at 30 Templeton Street, Castlemaine.
A crowd of around 50 community members turned out at the public meeting convened by the newly formed Castlemaine Community Co-operative at Castlemaine Town Hall on Wednesday night.
The co-operative aims to set up a dedicated not-for-profit organisation with the goal of purchasing and preserving Castlemaine’s historic building ‘The Hub’ and retaining its tenants many of which have a sustainability, community health or wellbeing focus and the Community Garden.
Interested local residents were advised on the progress of the project to date and discussed plans moving forward.
The co-operative will enable community ownership of the building, on the corner of Barker and Templeton Streets, through collective investment with the group needing to raise around $2M to make the project a reality.
They are currently seeking expressions of interest from community members which may like to contribute to ascertain whether it its worth moving forward with the concept.
To find out more or submit an expression of interest visit castlemaine.coop
For the full story see Tuesday’s Midland Express.
