Hi, my name is Robyn Erwin and I am standing as a candidate
for the South Ward of Kingston Council.
I have lived in Chelsea Heights for 24 years and love the community, the
beaches and the wetlands.
As a councillor I will support:
-
Adequate funding for community facilities and
organisations
-
Reduction of Kingston council’s greenhouse
emissions
-
Protection and enhancement of the Green Wedge
-
Protection of open spaces and natural
environments
-
Community programmes to support sustainable
living
-
Adequate funding of local sporting and youth
facilities and clubs
-
Protection and planting of indigenous plants
-
Protection of neighbourhood character
-
Real community consultation so that people have
real input into decisions that affect them
Strengthening the Local Community
Whilst raising my children over the last 13 years I have
worked voluntarily to strengthen the local community through a number of
community groups and organisations including:
-
Chelsea Heights Community Centre
-
The Friends of Manatuto (initiator and
secretary)
-
Chelsea Heights EarthCarers (group convenor)
-
EarthCarers Community Garden (co-ordinator)
-
Chelsea Heights Kindergarten
-
Chelsea Heights Playgroup
-
Chelsea Heights Primary School (currently School
Council President)
-
Kingston Conservation and Environment Coalition
-
Kingston Council’s Climate Change and
Biodiversity Reference Group
These experiences have given me a sound understanding of the
needs and concerns of the area as well as the skills to work with groups to
achieve results in developing strong communities. I know that the best results are achieved
when the varied knowledge and skills of all those involved are pooled together.
I know how to listen and I value the views of everyone.
In standing for council I want to achieve a strong
connected community where people’s views are valued and people feel they have real
input into decisions that affect them.
I believe that one of our greatest needs as people is to
feel connections with other people. When people have strong connections they
feel greater well being. People are less inclined to be disruptive to their own
community. Some people’s circumstances enable them to achieve connections
without outside support. Many others need assistance to do this or need extra
support at particular times in their lives. Council plays a key role in
ensuring that opportunities, facilities and activities are available to all
sectors of the community. It needs to play a direct role in providing some
services and ensure that other groups and clubs that provide these services are
well resourced and supported.
My greatest passion and the thing that really drives my
work in the community is my concern for the environment and the threats to all
of us of climate change. I want to ensure that our council does all that it can
to protect our local environment and ensure a safe climate future.
Climate Change and Sustainable Living
Kingston has begun to take action to reduce its own
greenhouse emissions and as a Kingston councillor I will ensure that these
continue and improve.
I will work to ensure council supports sustainable living
initiatives within the community including community gardens, waste reduction
and education.
I will call for council to investigate options for the installation
and funding of solar power plants on some of the many large roofs within the
city – including some of council owned buildings or on factories within
the area. Similar projects are under investigation in other municipalities with
funding options including community investment.
The Green Wedge
The Green Wedge must be protected and revitalised so:
- it can serve its purpose as the lungs of our city
- it can provide open spaces for our community –to play sport, go for a bike ride or just appreciate and relax in a natural environment
- it can play its role in providing food security for the citizens of the area in the future.
Having adopted the Green Wedge Management Plan Kingston council has the opportunity to transform the Green Wedge into a vital area showcasing the diverse uses of open space. Kingston must continue to consult and work with the local community to put in place the Plan's recommendations. I would like to see a network support group for local food producers to help tackle the issues they face in farming their land. Water management processes must be implemented to cater for the increased run-off through the Green Wedge. As a priority I would advocate for implementation of the Chain of Parks and safeguarding of conservation areas.
My involvement in the Kingston Community
Whilst raising my children over the last 13 years I have
worked voluntarily to strengthen the local community through a number of
community groups and organisations.
Chelsea Heights Community Centre
I have been on the
committee of Chelsea Heights Community Centre for over 12 years, for most of that time in the role of
either President or Secretary. This has led to direct involvement in issues and activities
relating to childcare, youth, seniors, wellness,
sustainability and many more.
A community centre is a real hub where you are able to experience all sides of
the local community and gain a strong understanding of its needs and issues.
Education and Children
As a parent I have been fortunate to have been able to take
on roles on committees relating to my children’s activities and education
including Chelsea Heights Playgroup, Chelsea
Heights Kindergarten and Chelsea Heights Primary School, where I am currently
President of the School Council. This year I’ve worked with Grade Fours
at Chelsea Heights Primary to manage the school’s vegetable garden.
I am aware of the current uncertainties that kindergartens
face with proposed changes to regulations regarding teaching hours and as a
councillor would work to ensure that committees are supported in their decision making
processes.
I’m also aware of the importance of affordable occasional
childcare to our community and have been directly involved in ensuring that the
occasional childcare service at Chelsea Heights Community Centre has remained
open despite recent government funding cuts.
Sustainable Living and Climate Change
My greatest passion and driving force
is the need to protect the environment and the threats to all of us of climate
change.
In 2008 my concern led me to organise a series of seminars
designed to both inform people and empower them to reduce their impact on the
environment. Many people implemented
changes in their lives as a result of these seminars. They also led to two important ideas: the
formation of a weekly sustainable living group and the establishment of a
community garden (see below for more details).
Last year I was selected to be trained as the facilitator of
the Sustainable Homes Program for the City of Kingston, a program developed by
the South East Council Climate Change Alliance.
Chelsea Heights EarthCarers and EarthCarers Community
Garden
The Chelsea Heights EarthCarers is a sustainable living
group that meets weekly at Chelsea Heights Community Centre. We aim to educate
ourselves and our community about ways to live more sustainably – through
discussion, workshops, seminars and displays at community events. We also lobby
our representatives at all levels of government on issues relating to climate
change and the environment. I have convened this group since its formation.
Our largest project to date has been the establishment of
the EarthCarers Community Garden in Chelsea Heights. Growing your own food is one of the best ways
to reduce your overall impact on the environment. A core group of three
people - Nigel Mc Gillivray, Gill Bynion and
I - with
input from several other members of the local community, successfully applied to council for
permission to turn a vacant area of council land in Beazley Reserve into a
community garden. The garden
now has around fifty
household and organisational memberships and stands out in the area as a vibrant,
successful community initiative. Each week people comment to me on how great
the garden
is looking and it is a credit to all those involved.
The EarthCarers group and in particular the Community Garden
project has taught me a lot about leadership and working with people. This project has been successful because of
the many and varied skills and knowledge a whole range of people have brought
to it. It has worked because it has been
a co-operative approach where, as
leader, I have often stepped back and let
those with more knowledge or experience take charge of various aspects of its
operation. In turn, this has allowed people to feel real ownership and
responsibility.
There were a number of people in Kingston council who had
reservations about the establishment of a community garden in outer suburban
Melbourne. However our success has now been acknowledged and Kingston has not
only showcased our success at community forums, it has appointed a staff member
to work to establish community gardens in other areas of the municipality
(funded by a State Government grant).
The Friends of Manatuto
The Friends of Manatuto (Timor Leste) is a community group
that has established a Friendship link between the Kingston community and the
community of Manatuto, Timor Leste. I
initiated the formation of this group, now in its tenth year, and have remained
a key committee member during this time.
Our largest project to date has been the successful establishment of a
kindergarten in the village of Obrato.
The group has also resulted in strong community development
within the City of Kingston through talks to school and community groups,
networking with church and community organisations and the holding of
fundraising events aimed at various sectors of the community.
I am a playing member of Chelsea Heights Tennis Club and
have supported my children in their sporting activities including cricket,
football, tennis, swimming and life-saving. My family have memberships with
Chelsea Heights Tennis Club, Chelsea YCW Football and Cricket Clubs and Chelsea
Longbeach Lifesaving Club.
I have a great
appreciation of the important role sporting and youth clubs and associations and
play in our community including:
·
giving children important values and skills for
life
·
supporting health and fitness
·
enabling individual well-being
·
building strong community connections and
support networks.
As a councillor I will endeavour to ensure that local
sporting and youth clubs and facilities are well-resourced so that they can
continue their vital role in the community.
Personal History
I am married with two
children aged 10 and 13.
I graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of
Science and worked professionally as a Business Analyst and Project Officer for
13 years for Caterpillar of Australia, National Mutual, Telstra and Australian
Red Cross.
I was
actively involved in Community Aid Abroad (now Oxfam Australia) between 1989
and 2001 including as:
·
a member of the Frankston and Solidarity with
Aboriginal People Groups,
·
a member of the State, Public Policy and Education,
and Living Ethically and Sustainably committees and
·
an alternate member of the Board.
I enjoy walking, jogging, bike-riding, gardening and
spending time with my children.
I have lived in the Kingston south ward for 24 years.