Nov2013_COUNCILLOR’S COLUMN
by Cr Bob Millar
ARE YOU A CANDIDATE FOR AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP
More than 600 Moreton Bay region residents take out Australian Citizenship each year with many coming from within the distribution area of the Dayboro Grapevine and throughout Division 11.
Did you know that the Rotary Club of Samford Valley has conducted a local ceremony on Australia Day for many years and some candidates have not been aware of this until they have either been allocated to another venue or taken citizenship at one of the earlier events which regularly take place around the Region? If you or someone you know is due to take Australian citizenship over the next few months, and would like to participate in our local unique ceremony, then discuss this with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship with whom your Citizenship arrangements are being made.
AUSTRALIA DAY AWARDS 2014
– Nominations closing 15th November !
Do you know of someone who freely gives of their time? MBRC 2014 Australia Day Awards pays tribute to individuals and groups who have made significant contributions to their local community and/or achieved exceptional results in sporting, environment or cultural endeavours. Nominations close on Friday 15 November 2013. For more information and to nominate online visit www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/ausawards or pick up a nomination form from council’s libraries and customer service centres.
BUSHFIRE AND STORM READINESS
Across the 2,037 sq kms of the Moreton Bay Region that Council owns or controls, there are extensive land holdings that require ongoing maintenance, be they parks or open space reserves. This maintenance can also include hazard reduction burning of these properties, and council has been undertaking burns at a number of locations across our region, in many cases with the assistance of our local volunteer Rural Fire Brigades. With the bushfire season in full swing as we have seen from the disasters in NSW and fires also occurring in our Region, it is also timely that residents in the more exposed areas of our region ensure that they are well prepared for not only the possibility of fires but also storms and floods. Extensive information is available from Council’s website under Disaster Management.
COUNCIL CONTINUES CHAPLAINCY SUPPORT
Council has each year for a number of years, sponsored three breakfasts, lunches or dinners in support of school chaplains with proceeds totalling several hundred thousand dollars being distributed through Scripture Union to chaplaincy programmes across our Region. The latest event was a dinner held late August at Norths Leagues and Services Club from which the 24 school chaplains from the Pine Rivers Area shared in more than $20 000 raised on the night with gold medal winning Paralympian Brenden Hall entertaining guests with an account of his life experiences and numerous successes at the Paralympic Games.
APEX DEMISE IS DAYBORO’S LOSS
For a long time, I have been impressed that a relatively small locality like Dayboro could support two service clubs when much larger communities struggle to even have one. I was somewhat saddened to learn sometime ago that the Dayboro Apex club was to hand in its Charter and no longer serve its local community. The legacy the club leaves and the valuable service it has provided over such a long time will be well and long remembered. I am pleased that Dayboro still has the services of a very active LIONS Club which has picked up some of the former Apexians and the clubs projects. As a 22 year veteran of a similar service club and at a time when this country and the communities that make it what it is, there are great gains to be made individually through membership of such bodies. I recall a quote by one of the great US presidents, JFK, which I have paraphrased to say " ask not what your community can do for you, ask what you can do for your community". We can ill afford to lose our service clubs and other volunteer groups so I would encourage residents who are not engaged in volunteer work to talk to one of your LIONS ( they are not hard to find) and hear how much you could gain and give through membership.
DID YOU KNOW?
That Council has 4 free local travel maps highlighting popular cycle ways, pathways, walking tracks, bus routes, train and commuter parking areas in the Moreton Bay Region. These maps showcase routes between Elimbah and Narangba, Caboolture and Bribie Island, Kurwongbah and Redcliffe, and Samford and Shorncliffe. All local maps are available from Visitor Information centres, council administration centre’s and libraries.
For all your general council enquiries call 3205 0555 or email mbrc@moretonbay.qld.gov.au
If I can assist further please contact me.
Councillor Bob Millar
Independent – Division 11
Office 3480 6455.
Follow me on @CrBobMillar or Connect with me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bob.millar.92
