Maroondah Focus is the City of Maroondah’s publication published quarterly to households within the municipality. The Mayor has a message in each edition and the content is as follows:

Welcome to the first edition of Focus for 2010, and my first as Mayor. I am very proud to serve our community as Mayor and look forward to championing the issues of importance to Maroondah.

Maroondah City Council has a culture of partnership with its community, which has placed our municipality in a strong and healthy position. I especially value the opportunity to work alongside the many community groups and individuals who contribute so much to the municipality.

We have a great summer of events in our municipality and have already celebrated Australia Day with a family day of fun at Ringwood Lake and the announcement of our Australia Day Awards.

Our Citizen of the Year was awarded to Tony Hart, who for many years has been an inspiration to the community through his volunteer work and membership of local organisations. Following the devastating 2009 bushfires, Tony delivered more than 20,000 loaves of bread and other baked goods to emergency services and relief centres.

James Andrews is the Young Citizen of the Year for his work with disability service provider Monkami and Event of the Year was awarded to the fundraising match between the Eastern Football League All Stars and the Victorian Amateur Football Association All Stars.

Along with my fellow Councillors, I welcome Tony Dib to Council after the official countback by the Victorian Electoral Commission, following the resignation of Peter Gurr from Arrabri Ward. Tony returns to Council having served the community as Eastfield Ward councillor from 2005 to 2008.

This month we farewell Maroondah’s CEO, Mike Marasco, who has chosen not to renew his contract. Mike has ably led the organisation since 1994, when Maroondah was formed from the former municipalities of Croydon and Ringwood. During this time he has taken the organisation through the amalgamation process, the election of the first Maroondah City Council, and ensured the financial sustainability of the city.

In more recent times he has worked closely with the State Government to see both Ringwood and Croydon designated to be major city centres with an exciting future ahead.

I look forward to meeting with many of you over the coming months, in what is already shaping to be a very busy and productive year.

Best wishes
Cr Alex Makin