March Updates
March was a month on connection and building skills in our community.
Research
In March, MotHs hosted researchers from Melbourne University and Osaka University, Japan, led by Professor Junke Otani. They were interested in hearing about the great work that MotHs does around disaster, with a women and children focus. We are looking forward to continued collaboration, enabling the exchange of experiences and knowledge regarding multiple disaster contexts.
Following this event, Professor Lisa Dell and Belinda Young have been welcomed onto the University of Melbourne’s Children & Disaster Advisory Committee as representatives of Mums of the Hills. The Children & Disasters Advisory Committee gradually developed after the Victorian Black Saturday Bushfires of 2009, with the goal of creating and maintaining solid partnerships with practitioners and communities involved in disaster preparedness, response and recovery. Over the last 10 years, these collaborations have been crucial for The Beyond Disasters Research Advisory Group to carry out high quality disaster recovery research that has a meaningful impact and is sustainable over time.
Advocacy
MotHs President Belinda Young also discussed telecommunications concerns with member for Monbulk, the Hon. Daniela De Martino MP. Along with supporting Daniela’s petition to improve the generator battery life of our phone towers, there was also discussion about the 3G Network shutdown. Many areas of the hills rely on 3G service on any given day. Residents with personal alarms that rely on the 3G network are of particular concern. During disasters, 3G service may be the only connection we have to making emergency calls as experienced in the recent February storms.
In a positive step forward, The Albanese Government is making it mandatory for telcos to better support customers struggling to pay their phone and internet bills, with new industry rules coming into effect from Friday March 29th. The new Financial Hardship Standard – developed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) at the Government’s direction – means telcos must take all reasonable steps to proactively identify customers who may be experiencing financial hardship, ensure they provide appropriate support, and prioritise keeping customers connected. We are aware of how hard it was for locals to stay connected when the NBN network was down. This is a great first step.
Events
March is when we celebrate International Women’s Day and where better to be than at the MotHs Hub, giving it a well deserved tidy of the garden. A huge thanks to Natalie Mikecz for joining arms with me in the gorgeous sun.
MotHs in collaboration with Yarra Ranges Council and Mountain Men, organised a Mental Health First Aid course with an aim to equip participants with essential skills to recognise and respond to mental health challenges. The course drew 16 out of the 20 registered individuals from diverse professional backgrounds. Under the guidance of Denise Warmington, our skilled facilitator, the course provided a supportive learning environment, enhanced by the presence of her therapy dogs. Thank you Denise! Special thanks also to Proserpina Bakehouse for providing us with a delish morning tea. The Mental Health First Aid Course was a huge success. Together, we're building a more compassionate and resilient community.
We also had a fantastic 2 days of chainsaw training. The aim was to building important skills and connections in our community so that should we be affected by a natural disaster, there are individuals there to help with the clean up. Census data still shows that women are more likely to be the ones at home with the kids so they are the ones more likely to be at home when a disaster occurs. Knowing how to use a chainsaw is an essential skill here in the hills, skills that mums need. A huge thanks to ArbTrack and Yarra Ranges Council for funding this accredited course.
Amazing news!
As a parting gift after 12 years with Community Bank Monbulk & District, valued member of the team Rebecca was able to donate $500 to a local community group of her choice. We are beyond grateful that Rebecca chose us! We have so many events and projects that we’ve saved on our ‘wish list’. From events for mums starting businesses or embarking on a career change, to mending days with our donated sewing machines to helping moths families create their own lanterns and walk in the Belgrave Lantern Parade, gosh… we have big dreams. These funds will be used carefully and respectfully. Thank you Rebecca and Bendigo Bank!
News Around the Hills
The hills are always buzzing with news and events but these are the ones that have captured our attention. Click on the images below for further information.
1. State member for Monbulk, Daniela De Martino has called upon private telecommunications companies to invest in stronger resilience measures in their mobile telephone infrastructure. Her campaign to power the towers has over 600 signatures and counting.
2. We are super proud of the ICRobotics team from the South-Eastern suburbs, many of whom are Dandenong Ranges kids who have the opportunity to represent Australia at the world championships in Houston! To get the team and their robot ‘Norm’ to the US in just a few weeks time requires the support of the whole community.
3. In December, 2 days before Christmas, an act of arson took place underneath Ticker Art Studio, setting it ablaze. The majority of the workshop space, several studios, and back rooms have been devastated by the fire, causing substantial losses for many artists, including Lucy and Nikki. The raised funds from their gofund me will help secure a temporary home for the artists in residence allowing them to continue working and teaching.
4. Small businesses in Montrose need your support. The current roadworks, set to continue until 2025, have heavily impacted these local shops, causing significant financial strain and uncertainty. Their petition ask for provision of the required disturbance mitigation and the necessary support to safeguard the beloved Montrose shops.
5. A huge congratulations to UP Gallery for their Local Icons awards night on March 28. Local artists in hills region of the Dandenong ranges were called to submit works themed on local ranges landmarks or scenery. It was a great success, proving how lucky this area is to have so many inspirational artists.
Upcoming Events
We have so many events coming up in March. Come to some or come to all. There are plenty of opportunities to meet others, find out information or learn new skills. Visit our Events Page for details.
Images from our March Events
Here are a handful of photos from this month.
MotHs Inc. goes above and beyond for its community. In addition to running and maintaining our place-based MotHs Hub, we advocate on the issues we see, hear about and directly experience within our community. We facilitate connections to provide mother-to-mother emotional and physical assistance, provide timely information about community events and emergency preparedness and promote local businesses. This can’t be achieved without the support of subscribers. We appreciate each and every subscriber for keeping this community running.
