Summary
I reported on the Share Space festive market at the 1st Rowville Scout Hall, and on the first meeting of the Knox Local Safety Committee, a new police-led initiative that Council strongly supports. I officiated at a citizenship ceremony with Mayor Kennett and Mary Doyle, and attended the Makers and Bakers Market at Rowville Community Centre and the Halloween event at the Knox Community Arts Centre.
Transcript
Edited from the meeting's auto-generated captions.
Thank you, Mayor Kennett. Yesterday I attended the Share Space festive market at the 1st Rowville Scout Hall in Rowville. It was wonderful to see the local community turn out in droves to support our local market. There were only 31 days to Christmas, someone said yesterday, which scared me a little bit and motivated me to do as much of my shopping at the market as I could, because there were so many local wares and crafts and bake stalls that it was very easy to shop up a storm.
The CFA in Rowville brought Santa there, which was a highlight of the day for the young kids. Santa was there with the lights and sirens on the truck, and the kids were thrilled. So I do send thanks to Gail and Brian from Share Space, and their family and friends and volunteers generally, and all of the stallholders and community groups that make those markets the fantastic community event and celebration that they are. So, well done to the Share Space team for a brilliant market yesterday.
On Thursday just gone, we had the first meeting of the Knox Local Safety Committee. This is something that's known well to this Council. It's a new initiative. It's led by our hardworking local police, and is an initiative that's strongly supported by Council. It's not a talkfest. It's a very action-focused committee that wants to hear, and the police were there in numbers. I think we had Mel Darke, our Local Area Commander, and the senior brass from each of our local stations. They were there to hear from Council, and to hear from community groups, about what they're seeing and hearing when it comes to safety issues across Knox.
We've all heard loud and clear that this is an issue for our residents and our communities. People want Council to be as active, and taking as much action, as we can, and supporting the Local Safety Committee is something we're absolutely all in on. I attended in my capacity as the Deputy Mayor at the time, but the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of today will be the formal members of Council. But it's great, as part of the terms of reference, that all councillors will be invited as observers to the Local Safety Committee. So I look forward to continuing to attend.
On Friday the 14th, I did attend one of the formal citizenship ceremonies. I wasn't ill, but I wasn't available for the rest of them. So I attended one with Mayor Kennett and Mary Doyle, and was able to officiate and administer the pledge of commitment, which is a high honour for anyone. So, Councillor Kennett, you'll look forward to those over the next year. And it was great to see Mary Doyle step in as well and carry out that role, and I know she said it was a highlight for her.
A couple more from me. A while back, the 2nd of November, I attended the Makers and Bakers Market. We love a market in Rowville. That was at the Rowville Community Centre. They're a bit of a different offering. A great market that's carving out a good niche, and there's another one coming up in a couple of weeks, I think their final one for the year. The Makers and Bakers Market, run by the Rotary Club of Rowville Lysterfield, continues to provide a great platform for our local artisans and food producers, and there's some standout stalls there.
I also attended the Halloween event at the Knox Community Arts Centre with Councillor Lockwood and Councillor Williams. I know Councillor Considine was there too. Great night.
I'll leave it there and I'll submit the rest in a report. Thank you, Mayor.