Latest articles by Simon Harvey
Lost for words
This is the time of year one attempts to sum up the past 12 months … but I’m lost for words.
Read MoreConnected communities – from local to global
What does a connected community look like, feel like, function like? We don’t need to look far afield for a model!
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Democracy and elections – noble compromise in an imperfect world
The Kensington Association and the North and West Melbourne Association invite you to meet the candidates in the Victorian State Election for the seat of Melbourne (Assembly) and the Northern Metropolitan Region (Council) on Thursday, October 27.
Read More“Find your community … or create one”
Do you feel that Kensington or North Melbourne is your community? I’m not just asking about where you live – for most readers it will be Kensington or North Melbourne. I’m asking about a feeling!
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That feeling – powerlessness
It must be terrifying to stand on the shore and watch a tsunami approaching! What can I do? What can I do to protect myself, my family, my community? So little time! A feeling of powerlessness to confront or respond to a force of nature.
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Younghusband revisited
In 2018, together with Kensington Association treasurer Tony Ceddia, I attended a community gathering on the ground floor of the Younghusband building hosted by the Impact Investment Group (IIG). Wine and cheese were served, and as members of the Kensington Association executive, we were made to feel very welcome.
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Apartment living – the new normal
In contrast to most European and Asian cities, other than for social housing, Australian cities have not been characterised by apartment blocks, but this is changing in places like Kensington and North Melbourne.
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Have a look at this block!
Yes, go to Google Maps and have a look! It’s a community test case – the block bordered by Stubbs St, Macaulay Rd, Robertson St, and Barnett St. The big rooftops jump out at you.
Read MoreScooter helter-skelter
One of my regular walks is along the Moonee Ponds Creek section of the Capital City Trail.
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I wish I had green fingers
I wish I could … I wish … yes, I know … it’s not too healthy to wish for skills you feel you lack … “work with and appreciate what you’ve got”, they say. But I protest! My Dad had very green fingers and at least three of my siblings have! Why not me?
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What have we learnt?
We can ask this question of ourselves – individually, personally. We can ask the question of (or about) our workplace (or employer). We can also ask it about our governments – local, state and federal.
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The Macaulay drama
Melbourne’s Deputy Lord Mayor sings an aria of lyrical beauty, Melbourne’s Lord Mayor joins him in a heartfelt duet, Cr Leppert wipes his brow, and someone sings a song from the wilderness. The story unfolds, the boat is launched, the crowd applauds.
Read MoreI’ll miss the growl of my hot exhaust!
Let’s have a go at rethinking the life we have lived with our cars.
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Community
The Kensington Association is – in essence – about community betterment, enhancement, improvement … much like many community organisations I suppose – churches, schools, community centres, Rotary, the Neighbourhood House, businesses and the City of Melbourne.
Read MoreAdaptation in a post-COVID-19 community
Maybe it’s not useful to talk about a “post-COVID-19” time, because post-COVID-19 doesn’t equal post-pandemics! I think that’s already clear because we’ve effectively got a very frisky COVID-21!
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Community consultation (part two)
Quite honestly, the band of stalwart residents in the Kensington Association are cynical about “developers” and their motivations! The prevailing perspective would be that they are out to make “big bucks”, nothing more.
Read MoreCommunity consultation (part one)
“Not a very sexy topic, but very important!”
Read MoreThe case for a Kensington precinct plan
Iconic precincts are never “planned”, they evolve. Those who have been privileged to travelled to London, Istanbul, Rome, Hanoi, Tehran or any other ancient city, know an iconic place when they savour one.
Read MoreA brief history of the Kensington Association
The Kensington Association (KA) was formed by a group of residents in 1997. Our mission is to help “protect and enhance the existing amenity of Kensington as well as to monitor development proposals in our community”.
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