The Year in Monash

Here is a snapshot of this year's many milestones and achievements that illustrate why Monash is 'A Thriving Community'.

JULY 2008

• Historian and author, Helen Gobbi was named the 2008 recipient of the Sir John Monash Community Leadership Award.
• NAIDOC Week was commemorated with the opening of the 'Walking in Two Worlds' exhibition at the Highway Gallery, Mount Waverley.

AUGUST 2008

• Responsible gambling postcards were distributed to 65,000 households in Monash in an effort to curb the annual $125 million poker machine losses.
• Glen Waverley twins, Chris and Robert Smellin won 'Best Film' at the 2008 Monash Youth Film Festival with their fairytale short film, 'The Girl in the Red Dress'.
• ADCO Constructions was awarded the tender for the $9.21 million redevelopment of the Oakleigh Aquatic Centre and rectification of damage to the Oakleigh Recreation Centre following storms in December 2007.
• Council launched Monash Language Assist interpreter service.

SEPTEMBER 2008

• Monash celebrated the 2008 Seniors Week Festival with 13 events attended by 1,228 residents.
• The 'Stiltwalkers' sculpture by Melbourne artists Velislav Georgiev and Tor Roxburgh was unveiled at the Wellington Reserve Community Centre.

OCTOBER 2008

• Monash City Council allocated cash and 'inkind' grants of $1,572,073 to 151 community organisations.
• The Clayton Pinnacles, an ensemble of three tall, vertical sculptures in granite by artist Stephen Newton, was erected outside the Clayton Community Centre.
• KPMG Property Advisory Services Group was awarded the tender for a 'Baby Boomer' Research Study in the City of Monash.
• Monash City Council announced that 34 community groups will share in $61,300 in funding for arts and cultural activities next year.
• Council entered a land exchange agreement with VicTrack to assist the development proposal for the Hub Precinct in Glen Waverley.

NOVEMBER 2008

• Council inspected 38 hectares of native bushland reserves in Damper Creek, Scotchman's Creek, Valley Reserve and Gardiner's Creek in preparation for the forthcoming bushfire season.
• Seventy-five local food premises received Monash Golden Plate Awards.
• On 28 November, Local Government elections were held throughout Australia.
• Monash City Council maintained its high rating in the annual Community Satisfaction Measurement Survey for the sixth consecutive year.

DECEMBER 2008

• Over 8,000 residents braved bad weather for the 20th annual Monash Carols by Candlelight at Jells Park.
• WavLink Neighbourhood House won the top Service Award at the inaugural Monash Disability Awards.
• HMC Construction was awarded the tender to build the $3.6 million Electra Community Centre at Ashwood.
• Council announced it will conduct a review of the way rates are calculated in the City.

JANUARY 2009

• The Waverley Netball Centre completed a $750,000 upgrade to the world-class sporting facility.
• Australia Day Ambassador and former Victorian Premier, the Hon. John Cain was special guest at Monash's Australia Day celebrations.
• Emergency services were on alert after four consecutive days of 40-plus degree heat in the state's longest and hottest heatwave in more than a century.

FEBRUARY 2009

• Monash Council worked alongside recovery services and outreach programs in providing assistance to victims of the devastating Victorian bushfires.
• Over 30,000 people attended the inaugural Chinese New Year and Lantern Festival in Glen Waverley.
• The Council newsletter 'The Monash Bulletin' was published in Italian in addition to the English, Greek and Chinese editions.

MARCH 2009

• Residents were invited to contribute to development of a new Structure Plan for the Brandon Park Major Activity Centre.

APRIL 2009

• The City of Monash announced that it has entered into a friendship agreement with the people of Vemasse, East Timor.
• Wheelers Hill teenager, Christina Maniatakis was announced the winner of the Positive Body Image Digital Photography Competition at the launch of National Youth Week 2009.
• Monash adopted the Municipal Early Years Plan to guide the provision of services to children and their families over the next four years.

MAY 2009

• Internationally famed Australian author Morris Gleitzman officially opened the 2009 Monash Literature Festival.
• The City of Monash received a $4 million Federal Government grant (in addition to $1.3 million State funding to proceed with plans for a youth and community hub at Batesford Reserve, Chadstone.
• Monash became the first council in Australia to register its economic footprint online at www.id.com.au/economy/monash

JUNE 2009

• The realignment of Glen Waverley's Kingsway began in preparation for the redevelopment of the area in front of the Glen Waverley Railway Station known as the Hub Precinct.
• The greenest households, businesses, buildings and community groups in Monash were announced at the 7th annual World Environment Day Awards.
• Monash Council opposed an application by pokies giant Australian Leisure & Hospitality Group at the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation to install more electronic gaming machines in a Chadstone venue.
• Thirty-nine staff members were honoured at the launch of a new Community Safety Brochure, for the 600 hours of volunteer work they contributed to the bushfire recovery effort.
• Council adopted the 2008/2009 Budget featuring a Capital Works Program of $30.7 million.
• The 2009/2013 Council Plan was adopted following extensive community consultation conducted across Monash involving more than 1000 residents, advisory groups, staff and councillors.

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Updated: 22 October 2009

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