I’m supporting Relay for Life to raise funds and awareness to help fight cancer at this year’s Hobsons Bay’s annual Relay for Life.  It will be held at the Pines Scout Camp, Altona Road, Seaholme from 4.00pm on Saturday, 3rd March to 10.00am on Sunday, 4th March.  I encourage everyone to participate irrespective of age or ability.  Cancer affects us all.

Relay for Life has been running in Hobsons Bay since 2006 and has seen teams of locals raise money to fund cancer research, programs to help reduce the risk of cancer and provide support services for people in need.

The event is also an opportunity to celebrate cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost to cancer and support those fighting the disease.

As well as the relay, there will be live entertainment, activities and special ceremonies that honour people’s experiences with cancer.

To find out more and to get involved go to www.relayforlife.org.au

It was a pleasure to official open the National Year of Reading in Hobsons Bay today. To learn more about what’s happening at Hobsons Bay’s Libraries, visit their website at http://libraries.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/

 
If you are a local performer, food vendor, run a local community groups, or go to a local school why don’t you get involved in the Altona Beach Festival?

The festival is being held on Saturday 10 March and is a real community event; run by locals celebrating all that makes Altona such a vibrant place to be. The theme of the festival is Sky, Sea, Community and focuses on the foreshore and the many attractions in and around the Altona Beach precinct.

It will feature live music, a street market, crafts and fun activities to involve all the family as well as a Twilight Street Parade, spectacular firework display, Black Sorrows performance and a RAAF fly over.

If you want to participate by organising an entry in the parade, provide an activity to promote your local group, or have a stall at the festival, please contact the Events Officer on 9932 1000 or email events@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au

Expressions of interest are due by 13th February 2012.

 
Do you know of a young local resident who has shown a commitment to community values and leadership, and making a positive impact to our community? Why not nominate them for Hobsons Bay Young Citizen of the Year!

To nominate someone, visit the City of Hobsons Bay’s website or call 9932 1000 during business hours.

Be quick! Nominations close on 29th February 2012.

The City of Hobsons Bay will again celebrate International Day of People with a Disability at Logan Reserve, Altona with live music and free entertainment.  The fun starts at 1pm and concludes at 4pm.

The afternoon is important to celebrate positive images of people with disabilities, promote their contribution in society and increase awareness of disability issues.  It will feature live music from the Newport Fiddle and Folk Club, The Hacketts, Wakety Pals and The Long & Short of It, as well as a jumping castle, face painting, a sausage sizzle, Mandala Madness workshops and a visit from Hobsons Bay Libraries.

I look forward to seeing you there!

The City of Hobsons Bay is again a partner of the Midsumma Festival under the “Go West” brand.  Following the success of the 2010 and 2011 Midsumma Festivals, the council has put together a wonderful program that includes art exhibitions, live performances, recreation and a family day.  With this sort of variety, there is something for everyone!
Please support the Go West program and come to our party to celebrate the program launch at the Newport Substation at 6.30pm, Thursday 8th December.
Hobsons Bay’s GOWEST events are:

• Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea, Queer Urban Tales exhibition runs from Sunday, 15th January to Saturday, 25th February at The Substation.
• As part of the exhibition, American born performance artist Martha McDonald will host From the City to the Sea aboard the HMAS Blackbird on 19th, 20th, 21st, 27th and 28th January;
• A Gentlemen’s Guide to Eating Out is on Tuesday, 17th January from 6.30pm at the Williamstown Mechanics Institute. See what happens when two men are invited to dine out every night for three months;
• Spoil yourself at a wellbeing workshop for all ages on Wednesday, 18th January from 1.00pm to 8.00pm at Altona Meadows Library and Learning Centre;
• Lesbian crime and romance author Lindy Cameron will give a presentation on Wednesday, 18th January at 7.00pm at Altona Library;
• Hobsons Bay Libraries is holding a Rainbow Family Story Time on Thursday, 19th January at 10.30am at Logan Reserve, Altona;
• Learn how to sail at a free sailing day on Sunday, 22nd January from 10.00am to 4.00pm at Altona Yacht Club;
• Enjoy a game of croquet and afternoon tea on Sunday, 22nd January from 12.00pm to 5.00pm at the Williamstown Croquet Club;
• Scale the walls at Australia’s tallest indoor rock climbing facility on Sunday, 22nd January from 6.00pm to 8.00pm at the Westgate Entertainment Centre;
• Art, Stories exhibition from Friday, 27th January to Sunday, 12th February from 10.00am to 4.00pm daily at The Joel Gallery, Louis Joel Arts and Community Centre;
• A family fun day on Sunday, 29th January from 11.00am to 3.00pm at Kelly Park in Werribee;
• A trivia night featuring quiz mistress Kaye Sera on Sunday, 29th January from 6.30pm to 10.30pm at the Westgate Entertainment Centre; and
• Another Walk on the Wes Side on Friday, 3rd February at 7.30pm at The Substation.

For more information, contact the council on 9932 1000.

Residents and community groups have until Wednesday 30 November to get applications in for the annual Hobsons Bay awards to publicly recognise local community members or groups who have made a substantial and outstanding contribution to life in Hobsons Bay, including involvement in local community groups, arts and cultural organisations, sporting clubs, schools and volunteer organisations.  The council acknowledges both a Citizen of the Year and Young Citizen of the Year.

For more details visit the council website.

Early this year I successfully moved that the council conduct a forum for our senior citizens. This forum is taking place on thursday 13th October 2011 at the Newport Substation from 6pm. It is called the “Reinvent or Retire – Community Forum and Information Expo” and will feature MC Jane Clifton and panelists Dr Sally “Feelgood” Cockburn, Tommy Hafey (AFL legend), Betty Bobbitt (Actor and former “Prisoner cast member), and Dominic Alafaci (3AW Finance Expert). It is a free community event and will include refreshments, live entertainment and door prizes.

The forum will also help the council to review the Ageing Well Strategy 2007-2017, which aims to ensure Hobsons Bay continues to be a place where all residents are able to remain active. Priorities include housing, access and mobility, social connection and participation, service planning and delivery, lifelong learning and information and communication.

I look forward to seeing you at what I am sure will be a wonderful community event.

Please support Pat Byrne who is running the 250 km from Echuca to Altona from 1-16 October to raise money for the Neurology Department of the Royal Children’s Hospital. The fundraiser is in memory of her grandson Luke who suffered a brain tumour resulting his death at only 20 months old.

I encourage everyone to donate to this worthy cause – I have!  For more info – http://rchfoundation.com.au/lukesrun

Donations over $2 are tax deductible.

I will be welcoming Pat back to Hobsons Bay at the Bayfit Leisure Centre at 10am on Sunday 16th October.  Please feel free to join me!

Please visit this link to read Pat’s story – http://www.hobsonsbayweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/gran-takes-life-lesson-and-runs-with-it/2291815.aspx