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