This morning I was invited to speak to approximately 100 grade three and four students at Heathmont East Primary, located in Louis Street, near Canterbury Road in Heathmont.

One of the roles of being Mayor is to explain how Councils function and to discuss the role of being a Councillor and Mayor. This morning I spoke about the ward structure of Maroondah and helped clarify the responsibilities of local councils, compared to State and Federal governments.

I also spoke about growing up in Heathmont, where I was a student of Marlborough Primary, a school in close proximity to Heathmont East. It was great to see the students taking part in the discussion and asking many questions, ranging from the services Council provides to how decisions are made by Councillors.

Australia’s system of governance, with Local, State and Federal Governments, can seem overtly complex at times and it was great to provide an opportunity to discuss the role of Council and the importance of our local community.