Welcome to our second Champion Chat podcast of this year. Today we continue our series on Social Change and Local Government Support by talking about the Rosanna Library Redevelopment.  The redevelopment of the Ivanhoe Library and Cultural Hub has been a huge success, and in conjunction with the other improvements on the main shopping strip, have seen Ivanhoe once more become a vibrant retail and entertainment area. Now, Banyule Council turn their attention to the Rosanna Library Redevelopment.  Joining Alison in this episode are CEO of Yarra Plenty Regional Libraries, Jane Cowell and Cr. Tom Melican from Ibbott Ward, areas of discussion are;

What is the Yarra Plenty Regional Libraries group and what does it do?
What has been the history behind the Rosanna Library Redevelopment project and the involvement of Woolworths?
How will services be maintained during the redevelopment?
What other improvements will be happening in the area?

If you like to know more about Rosanna Library Redevelopment, please visit the links below.   

Banyule Council webpage for Redevelopment Project - https://shaping.banyule.vic.gov.au/rosannalibrary
Yarra Plenty Regional Libraries - https://www.yprl.vic.gov.au/ 

Welcome to our first podcast of this year. Today we continue our series on Social Change and Local Government Support by talking about Urban Food Strategies.  Rising inflation and costs of living in Australia are having a big impact to Australians hip pockets, Urban Food Strategies and how families that are doing it tough can get help is something I think we would all like to know a bit more about.  In this episode, we discuss;

What actually is an Urban Food Strategy?
What is happening with the Banyule Council's Urban Food Strategy?
What help for families currently exist in the City of Banyule?
What can residents do to help or get involved?

If you like to know more about Urban Food Strategies, please visit the links below.  Alternatively if you know of other initiatives that may be able to help families struggling to put food on the table, please share back to this post so that we can ensure that the people needing assistance know where they can find it. Organisations that can already help are:

BANSIC for food relief - https://bansic.org.au/covid-19-emergency-food-relief/ 
Greenhills Neighbourhood House for food relief - https://www.ghnh.org.au/sustainability 
Watsonia Neighbourhood House for food relief - https://www.watsonianh.org.au/community-support 
Banyule Council Urban Food Strategy - https://shaping.banyule.vic.gov.au/UrbanFood

Other organisations to check out are:
Sustain - www.sustain.org.au
Terra Madre Organics - www.terramadre.com.au

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 our families. In this special holiday edition, we discuss;

Alison’s highlights of this year
Banyule 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.

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 the Banyule council festive season events, please visit the links below.

https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/News-items/Update-on-Boulevard-Christmas-lights 
https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/Events-activities/Whats-on/Council-events/Christmas-Day-lunch 
https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/Events-activities/Whats-on/Council-events/Finders-keepers-art-scavenger-hunt 
https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/Events-activities/Whats-on/Exhibition-history/Banyule-100-stories-and-art-from-young-residents 
https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/Events-activities/Whats-on/Council-events/LEGO-Christmas-display 
https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/Events-activities/Whats-on/Community-events/Backyard-bird-count   
https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/Events-activities/Whats-on/Council-events/Mini-Bikers 
https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/Events-activities/Whats-on/Council-events/Child-sleep-and-settling-session 
https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/Events-activities/Whats-on/Council-events/Animals-galore 
https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/Events-activities/Whats-on/Council-events/Bugs-galore 
https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/Events-activities/Whats-on/Council-events/Afternoon-cinema-under-the-sky-at-Macleod-Village 
https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/Events-activities/Whats-on/Council-events/Evening-cinema-under-the-sky-at-Macleod-Village 
https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/Events-activities/Whats-on/Council-events/Afternoon-cinema-under-the-sky-at-Anthony-Beale-Reserve 
https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/Events-activities/Whats-on/Council-events/Evening-cinema-under-the-sky-at-Anthony-Beale-Reserve
https://banyulecitycouncil.cmail19.com/t/d-e-ztrktil-tkkihrikhi-h/  

Since coming out of COVID, community sports clubs have encountered a number of challenges.  This month Alison and Carl chat with the president of Viewbank Tennis Club as Part 2 of our discussions on Community Sports Clubs.  Some of the topics covered are:

- What are the biggest challenges facing community sports?
- How did COVID and lockdown impact sports and are there still impacts?
- Volunteers, the life-blood of all community sports clubs.
- Education and support for ensuring respect for all participants and officials.
- Pathways for participants to progress to higher levels.
- Community support and sponsorship
- Government and council support.
- Medical safety and insurance.

If you would like to know more about the Viewbank Tennis club, you can check them out more on https://play.tennis.com.au/viewbanktennisclub 

Since coming out of COVID, community sports clubs have encountered a number of challenges.  This month Alison and Carl with the presidents of Montmorency Junior Football Club and Research Lower Plenty Baseball Club as Part 1 of our discussions on Community Sports Clubs.  Some of the topics covered are:

- What are the biggest challenges facing community sports?
- How did COVID and lockdown impact sports and are there still impacts?
- Volunteers, the life-blood of all community sports clubs.
- Education and support for ensuring respect for all participants and officials.
- Pathways for participants to progress to higher levels.
- Community support and sponsorship
- Government and council support.
- Medical safety and insurance.

If you would like to know more about these clubs, you can check them out more on https://mjfnc.org.au/ and https://researchbaseball.com.au/ 

In celebration of YouthFest2022 Alison and Carl talk about Youth Services, Why Youth matter and various other topics.

- History of Banyule's Youth Summit
- How COVID and lockdown impacted youth services
- Why does youth matter and how can we encourage youth to flourish?
- Thoughts on gender diversity, ethnic diversity, freedom of expression, climate change and mental health
- How is Council measure success
- What is YouthFest, activities and how to participate
- Alison reflects on her younger self.
- Where can young people get help?

In this chat episode, we discuss:

- Banyule Council’s Social enterprise initiatives. 
- How much restrictions have impacted the 2020-2025 Social Enterprise Strategy
- The Social Enterprise Programme and what to expect in the coming years 
- Specific Social Enterprise Grants and other assistance programmes

In this chat episode, we discuss about,

- How do you feel FOGO impacts you as a resident?
- Will FOGO work and can it really deliver benefits?
- Were residents properly engaged, and what concerns do they have?

For more information about FOGO and other related information please visit Banyule council website: https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/

Back to earth initiative: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFTkT4cYKQw

In this chat episode, we talk about,

- What is FOGO?
- Why Banyule council heavily investing on FOGO
- How landfill levy works
- Turning food waste into high-grade composts and mulches
- FOGO guides from council to help residents

Back to earth initiative: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFTkT4cYKQw

For more information about FOGO and other related information please visit Banyule council website: https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au

In this chat episode we talk about:

- Balance of power and policy compromises
- Short-term election promises vs long-term vision
- Voter mentality, lack of interest and thoughts about the current Australian electoral process
- Thoughts on Liberal and Labor policies 
- What can we learn from great political figures like, Sir Winston Churchill, JFK and Lee Kuan Yew
- Government Australia needs vs government Australia deserves

Please note that the opinions presented by each speaker are personal and not affiliated with any political party in particular. You are encouraged to vote for whichever party you feel aligned with. And you are responsible for your vote.