On the 2nd of August I attended the Ringwood Spider’s final home game for the 2009 Football Season. The Ringwood Spiders, is a football team for people with disabilities and compete in the Football Integration Development Association League, which consists of fourteen teams across Victoria.

The Ringwood Spiders continued their winning streak and are well positioned to compete in the Division Two Grand Finals, which will be held this Sunday on the 23rd of August. This is a momentous occasion for the Spiders, since the last time they competed within the finals was back in 1994, when they were known at the Ringwood Blues.

While the Spiders will be playing at Glen Waverley for the finals, I am sure that we will all be wishing them well and a speedy victory for the Premiership Cup.

On the 3rd of August, I along with my two Mullum Ward colleagues, Cr. Lamont and Cr. Fraser attended a tour of St Stephens Community Living Centre, located in Ringwood East. The Community Living Centre, operates from several rooms at St Stephens Church and provides a similar environment to a community house, through the provision of courses and classes for local residents.

In particular The Community Living Centre has an emphasis on community wellbeing and provides a range of classes covering health, fitness and creativity. Ringwood East is without a community house and the St Stephens Living Centre fills this void by providing a range of unique courses for local residents.

Lastly, on the 14th of August I spoke at the Kerrabee Club, a Planned Activity Group operated by Maroondah Council. The Kerrabee Club provides activities and events for the frail aged and people with disabilities, as well as providing respite for carers. These activities include gardening, games, exercises, outings, guest speakers and other social activities, aimed to enhance the social and emotional wellbeing of participants. In addition a Men’s Shed also operates on the site.

The Kerrabee Club is one example of the support Maroondah offers to Home and Community Care clients and I would like to extend my congratulations to the staff and volunteers who are involved with the program.