Ashfield CAN!
On Friday 1 May, Mayor Cr Klein launched a new community group in Ashfield—the Ashfield CAN (Community Action Network) and a community website <www.ashfieldcan.info>.
For nearly two years, the Town of Bassendean has worked in partnership with all of the residents of Ashfield to identify what sort of future residents want for their community. These aspirations have then been developed into the Ashfield Community Action Plan, an action plan to improve the wellbeing of the community in Ashfield.
The Ashfield CAN is comprised of interested community members and in time is to become responsible for implementing the Ashfield Community Action Plan.
“The Ashfield Community Action Plan is based on growing and celebrating the strengths of the community—and who better to know the good things occurring in the community than the members of that community,” said Mayor Klein.
During the information gathering stages, the community expressed a desire to be maintained up to date with what is going on in their area, what is planned for the future and to be able to make their own contributions. The website is one tool to this end.
In launching the Ashfield CAN, Mayor Klein invited all interested residents of Ashfield to get involved in making the fledgling group strong and vital.
“Residents in Ashfield come from a wide background with diverse skills. This new organisation provides an opportunity for residents to make a positive contribution to their community. I urge all Ashfield residents to take a look at the website and get on board with the good things happening in your neighbourhood,” commented Mayor Klein.
The first Ashfield CAN event was a sundowner sausage sizzle at the Ashfield Soccer and Sporting Club facilities on Friday 1 May. The event, attended by nearly 80 residents, also featured face-painting and a kick on goals competition for the kids. Two Ashfield residents were lucky enough to win $50 shopping vouchers to Ashfield IGA and a further eight residents won a copy of the book The Enchanted Forests by local author Lynda Butler.
The website currently hosts a photographic essay of Ashfield by local resident and Ashfield CAN member, Lucy Bromell, as well as future activities in the suburb.
For further information on the Ashfield Community Action Plan or Ashfield CAN, contact Graeme Haggart on 9377 8016.
Bassendean Regional Cultural Advancement Group
In 2005, the Town consulted all sectors of the community on their aspirations and desires for their community when we arrive at the year 2030—it was called Vision 2030—and has driven the Town’s strategic planning processes since. A focus group session was held with the local Noongar community to gain an Indigenous persons ‘buy-in’.
The group agreed the process to be too valuable to be left as a once-off event and has continued to meet regularly from that time. Progressively the group has developed its own strategic plan “to give focus to the Indigenous Community in developing with the support of the Council, their family values and aspirations”.
Council has received the Bassendean Regional Cultural Advancement Group community strategic plan that sets out the following objectives:
- Working in partnership with, and advise, the Town of Bassendean and other relevant organisations, of resource requirements to service the local Indigenous Community based on Social, Economic, Cultural and Environmental needs of its people;
- Support the development and implementation of activities that promote and maintain cohesive partnerships that will bring the Indigenous Community together as a collective, and encourage them to be involved in activities that support local Indigenous culture and language;
- Develop partnerships with State and Commonwealth Government Agencies to influence liaison support, and the provision of Services to Indigenous families, youths and individuals; and
- Develop partnerships with local schools to influence development of programs that support individual development, e.g. early childhood learning, school attendance, education support, etc.
The earliest priority for the Town is to develop a Memorandum of Understanding with the BCAG.
Peter Matera and Chris Lewis attended the BCAG meeting on 11 May to discuss developing sporting activities in after-school times and to promote the Swan Districts Football Clubs ‘Kicking Goals’ program.
For more information on the Bassendean Cultural Advancement Group activities, contact Graeme Haggart on 9377 8016.
