Serving the community

It was a tale, not of two cities, but of two sessions. As reported last month, the first session of Parkville Gardens Residents’ Association’s (PGRA) Women’s Safety Workshop, held on the Galada Ave Reserve on March 5, was a great success.

A good turnout, helpful presentations by Victoria Police and the City of Melbourne, animated discussion and, to round the evening off, a most enjoyable social supper.

Alas, for a variety of reasons, that broad success wasn’t replicated at the second session, which was attended by just a handful of participants. The biggest factor no doubt was the weather. The ominously dark skies eventually produced a thunderstorm.

Weather as threatening as that, plus a later starting time, and an off-site meeting place threw up too much of a challenge. But those who braved the conditions were treated to an introduction to the Trin Warren Tam-Boore Bellbird Wetland by Jenny and Peter from Friends of Royal Park.

The second feature of the evening was an interactive address by Upper House MP Sheena Watt in the Ross Straw sports pavilion. It turned out that her role as Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Action and Emergency Services saved us from having to cancel the rest of the evening.

With darkness setting in, it was discovered that the interior lights of the pavilion were not working. Fortunately, Sheena had a set of emergency lights in her car which she generously allowed us to use in the meeting space. Thank you, Sheena! Thanks also to Peter and Jenny, and to the City of Melbourne for funding the event.

Whatever disappointment we may have felt at this was swept away by the success of our annual children’s Easter egg hunt on the morning of Sunday, March 29. Fine weather, a terrific turnout of kids (especially the young ones), good fun and great community interaction. Just what we hoped for!

A very different event in character and scale took place nearby over the Easter weekend. It was Melbourne’s turn to host the annual Australian Sikh Games. Parts of Royal Park near Parkville Gardens were transformed. Crowds of people, traditional sports, food trucks, cultural entertainment and good weather all combined to generate a friendly celebratory spirit.

The principal source of funding for our events is the City of Melbourne. We are always most grateful for this support. At the same time, we stay on the lookout for other sources.

In recent years we have managed to secure funding from the Department of Education for children’s events and from Greater Western Water for a community festival. We have just submitted an expression of interest to our federal member Sarah Witty, for a grant from the Department of Social Services in support of volunteers.

We won’t know for some time whether we have been successful. Fingers crossed! •