Save the Olinda Pool
Tonight I was reminded of what a wonderful community I belong to - Olinda in the heart of the Dandenong Ranges.
Last summer our local Yarra Ranges shire council closed our community pool, taking this
quintessential Australian icon and summer meeting place away from our families and kids. Our location in the hills makes us somewhat isolated, with few community facilities for our youngsters. Like pools everywhere, ours has long been that place of communal refuge from the heat, healthy outdoor playground and social summer hub that is so important to the maintenance of healthy lifestyles and healthy communities.
Tonight's gathering attracted strong community representation as well as support and interest from various political and media representatives. Thank you for your support.
Come on, Yarra Ranges council - you have a responsibility to represent our hills community as well.
Woohoo... local author!
The school holidays have arrived and I was looking forward to visiting family, as well an important date with old friends in my hometown. So I took the train from Southern Cross and headed out of Melbourne and into the undulating countryside of northeast Victoria, finally landing in Wangaratta, where it seems the sun is always shining in happiness to see you.
While in town I took the opportunity to wander around the lovely shops and cafes, and of course, couldn't resist the temptation to visit Collins Booksellers to see how my novel was faring. Exciting to see it sitting there, on the shelves with its lovely little local AUTHOR sticker, that made me feel so proud to still belong in that wonderful community.
Woohoo!