The Champion Chat

Welcome to our first podcast of this year!  And we are going to kick off this year with one of the most important things to us in our daily lives, local businesses and local Traders Associations.  Many people in the community would rather support their local businesses due to their drive to give back, supporting the local community groups, things that really mean something to people nowadays and are a real driving force behind people's purchasing decisions.

Joining Alison and Carl on today's chat is Hesham Mobarek from the Watsonia Traders Association.

Topics that we will be covering today include;
⭐ The importance of local businesses and how Traders Associations help them
⭐ What have been some of the challenges that businesses have had to overcome
⭐ What are some of the major events and projects planned for the Watsonia Shopping Precinct

We'll also be talking about how local businesses work hand in glove with other local government, sporting clubs and local schools to create positive outcomes.

If you like to know more about what's happening in the Watsonia Shopping Precinct, including events, you can visit their website, https://www.watsoniashops.com.au/, or their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/watsoniashops/. 

P.S. Not long now until Montmorency's QWere St Festival on Saturday 3rd February.

This is a very popular event promoting our LGBTIQA+ community and everyone is welcome.

Welcome to our last podcast of this year! 🎉 No doubt this year has been very challenging for most of us. I think it is time to take some time off, relax and spend some quality time with those we love. In this special holiday edition, we discuss;

Alison’s highlights of this year
What's on in Banyule, including council initiatives to help spread joy in this festive season, such as;
⭐ Music & art events
⭐ Community events, festivals and celebrations
⭐ Youth & senior events

Thank you very much for everyone who watched, liked, commented and shared Champion chat episodes. Your opinion matters to us and one of the main missions of this podcast is to create a safe environment where everyone’s voice is heard. So feel free to let us know what you think of the topics we discuss and what would you like to see more of next year.  We would especially like to thank those community members and councillors who so generously gave of their time to participate throughout the year on the podcast.

The Champion Chat team would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a safe holiday! 🎄🎅

If you like to know more information about what's on in Banyule, including council festive season events, please visit Alison's website, https://alisonchampion.com.au/, and you can download or open the PDF blog document with links for all events.

Welcome to this month's Champion Chat podcast.  This month we are looking at the Banyule City 2041 Vision to understand the thinking behind the Vision, and where are we on the journey so far.  Joining Alison for this month's podcast is Cr. Tom Melican as they both provide insights into some of the changes that they have seen happen in Banyule over the last 10 years and what are some of the major challenges and areas of focus that will need to be addressed as we move onward to 2041.

We'll have a look at:
- Housing, with projected growth of 1,000 extra residents a year, where will they be housed.
- Connected communities, with inclusion and safety for all.
- Services provision and the different needs that have to be provided.
- The economy, how LGA can help to grow small to medium businesses and the work with local traders associations.

It is important to note that Banyule's Community Vision 2041 was created by Banyule residents in collaboration with councillors and officers over several, various consultation sessions. Having participated in the final in-person session, it was such a privilege to hear so many passionate, invested people coming together expressing how they want their home to look and function for their lives.

"We in Banyule are a thriving, sustainable, inclusive and connected community. We are engaged, we belong, and we value and protect our environment"               

For more information, check out the 2041 Vision at the Banyule Council website: https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/About-us/Policies-plans-strategies/Council-plans-and-strategies/Banyule-Community-Vision-2041.   

Welcome to this month's Champion Chat podcast.  This month we are taking it to the streets as we take a walk down Were Street, Montmorency to see how the precinct now looks after the redvelopment.

We'll have a look at:
- The upgraded public reserve.
- How safety has been improved for pedestrians.
- What have been some of the impacts
- How some local traders have experienced the changes

For more information about Were Street, check out the Banyule Council website: https://shaping.banyule.vic.gov.au/werestreet, or better yet if you live in the local area, come and see for yourself and hang out, grab a coffee, meal or wine from any of the cafes and eateries, or just spend a couple of hours browsing through the eclectic group of retail shops for that bargain or truly niche purchase. 

Welcome to the Champion Chat podcast. Today we continue our series on Community Groups and Local Government Support by talking about the Banyule City Scouts Organisation. The Scouts are an organisation that have been operating for well over a century.  This month Alison and Carl along with Cr. Mark Di Pasquale talk with the some of the leaders of the Scouts organisation within Banyule and Victoria to discuss the organisation, its evolution and the interaction with the community. 

Some of the topics that we cover are:

- What have been some of the biggest changes to the organisation over the last 40-50 years?
- How are Scouts involved in supporting the community?
- What are the the costs and time requirements in being a scout?
- Volunteers and leaders, the life-blood of all community sports clubs.
- What funding assistance have Scouts received and how has this been able to improve the organisation in Banyule?
- Jamborees and other activities.
- How Scouts are a Registered Training Organisation that can assist with education and future employment.
 

If you would like to know more about Scouts, you can find out more at https://scouts.com.au/, and you can find your nearest Scout Group on https://scouts.com.au/join/nearest-group/.   Local Scout Groups include:
- Bundoora website is https://bundoorascouts.org/  
- Greensborough Scouts have no website and are located at Willinda Park, Beatrix St, Greensborough VIC 3088
- GreenHills website is https://1stgreenhills.org.au/ 
- Heidelberg Scouts have no website and are located at 31 Outhwaite Rd, Heidelberg Heights VIC 3081
- Lower Plenty Scouts have no website and are located at Cnr Maskell Crescent and, Para Rd, Lower Plenty VIC 3093
- Macleod Scouts have no website and are located at 30 McNamara St, Macleod VIC 3085
- Montmorency Scouts is https://www.montyscouts.com.au/ 
- Rosanna Scouts is http://www.rosannacubs.org/ 
- Viewbank Scouts is https://www.facebook.com/viewbankscouts/ 
- Watsonia Scouts have no website and are located at A K Line Reserve, 10 Peters St, Watsonia VIC 3087

Welcome to this month's Champion Chat podcast. The hot topic lately has been about budgets, service cuts and inflation, and with the approval and release of the Banyule City 2023 budget, Alison, Cr. Peter Costaldo and Cr. Rick Garotti will provide insights into how this budget has been constructed, 

Other areas covered include:

- How has revenue been impacted with the changing economy over the last 12 months?
- What impact has there been on day to day services?
- The highlights in the capital expenditure budget.
- What projects have been affected or deferred due to the tight labour market.

If you would like to know more, you can visit https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/About-us/Policies-plans-strategies/Council-Plan-and-Budget to get the latest information.

You can also see the budget discussed in the council meeting on Monday 26th June at this link, https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/About-us/Councillors-and-Council-meetings/Council-meetings/Council-meeting-agendas-and-minutes?dlv_OC%20CL%20Public%20Meetings=(pageindex=1), where you can also find the agenda and minutes of the meeting.

Or you can reach out and contact Alison, via:
Telephone: 0466486593
Email: [email protected]

Welcome to this month's Champion Chat podcast.  In this chat episode, we review the FOGO initiative 12 months on from its implementation.  We look at:

- What impact has FOGO had on residents?
- Has FOGO achieved the benefits the council had planned for?
- What are ways that FOGO could be improved?
- How will FOGO be expanded to businesses and buildings with multiple dwellings.

Joining Alison are Cr. Tom Melican and residents Darren and Vicky.
 
For more information about FOGO and other related information please visit banyule council website: https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/ 

Welcome to this month's Champion Chat podcast. The hot topic lately has been about budgets, and its not surprise that even at Local Government level, a budget is a complex item that takes time to bring together with one eye on today and the other on the future.  Today Alison will provide insights into what actually goes into a LGA budget,

Other areas covered include:

- How is revenue generated, in other words where does the money come from.
- What operational items need to be covered, or non-discretionary budget items.
- Which roads does LGA have responsibility for, and which do State and Federal governments manage.
- What are some examples of discretionary projects.
- How as residents you can have your say or even work with council officers on submitting a proposal.

If you would like to know more, you can visit https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/About-us/Policies-plans-strategies/Council-Plan-and-Budget to get the latest information.

You can also see the budget discussed in the council meeting on Monday 29th May at this link, https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/.../29-May-Ordinary.... or read the agenda and minutes of the meeting here https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/.../29-May-Ordinary....

Or you can reach out and contact Alison, via:
Telephone: 0466486593
Email: [email protected]

Welcome to this month's Champion Chat podcast. Today we continue our series on Social Change and Local Government Support by having a deeper look at the LGBTIQA+ Community within the Banyule City.  Joining Alison in this episode are Fleassy Malay and Emerson Zandegu, areas of discussion are;

What does LGBTIQA+ stand for and what is the difference between sexual orientation and gender identity?
What is daily life like for someone from the LGBTIQA+?
What barriers still exist for the LGBTIQA+ community?
How do I address people from the LGBTIQA+ community without offending them?
What upcoming events will be happening in the area?

If you like to know more about LGBTIQA+, please visit the links below.   

Banyule Council webpages:
Find the Rainbow in Melbourne’s North - https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/Community-services/Cultural-and-identity-diversity/LGBTIQA-communities/Rainbow-in-Melbourne
LGBTIQA+ communities - https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/Community-services/Cultural-and-identity-diversity/LGBTIQA-communities
LGBTIQA+ Population Committee - https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/About-us/Community-advisory-committees/LGBTIQA-Population-Committee

Minus18 is an organisation established to support and equip young LGBTQA+ people and their friends and family.
Their website is - https://www.minus18.org.au/articles

Welcome to our ANZAC Day Champion Chat podcast. Today we will be talking about the significance of ANZAC Day, what it means in the community, support and recognition for veterans, and finally what are some of the upcoming events around ANZAC Day that people can attend.  Joining Alison in this episode are former serving members Uncle Charles Pakana, who is the Editor at Victorian Aboriginal News, and Glen Ferrarotto, the President of the Montmorency RSL, areas of discussion are;

What does ANZAC Day mean to you and your first memories?
How has public and government support evolved for our serving members and those who have previously served?
Has the collaboration with community support helped to raise the profile of ANZAC Day?  Is this a good thing?
What activities are happening in and around Banyule for ANZAC Day?

Below is a list of planned ANZAC Day events in Banyule:

Thursday 20th - Northern Health 10am Bundoora Centre, 1231 Plenty Rd, Bundoora
Friday 21st - Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital 10.30am Remembrance Garden, 300 Waterdale Rd
Sunday 23rd - Watsonia RSL 10.40-11.05am Cherry St Memorial, Macleod
Tuesday 25th:
•        Monty/Eltham RSL Tuesday 25th 6am Eltham Cenotaph, Main Road Eltham
•        Monty/Eltham RSLTuesday 25th 10am Were St, Montmorency march, 10.30am Family Service in Petrie Park
•        Greensborough War Memorial Park 6am Henry St, Greensborough
•        Greensborough RSL 8.45am 111 Main Street, GB march, 9.10am Family Service in GB War Memorial Park
•        Watsonia RSL 6am 6 Morwell Ave Watsonia
•        Watsonia RSL 10.10am Black St/Watsonia Rd, Watsonia march, Family Service at Watsonia RSL
•        Heidelberg 7am Austin Hospital Cenotaph, Studley Road/Burgundy St march to Heidelberg FC
•        Heidelberg West 11am Family Service at 180 Bell St, Heidelberg West

#ANZACDAY, #RSL, #DAWNSERVICE