Newsflash

Newsflash

Dear all

What a wonderful Christmas season it is in Carlton! Our Christmas Party last week was a great success at La Mama Theatre with about 100 or so attending and toasts from Simon Molesworth QC, Cr Catherine Ng and Elspeth Strong SC. We were pleased to see our representatives Lindsay Tanner MHR, Minister Bronwyn Pike MLA, Glenyys Romanes MLC and MCC Councillors Susan Riley (Acting Lord-Mayor), Kate Redwood, Kimberly Kitching and David Risstrom and many others who have supported our work during the year. Liz Jones from La Mama said some very kind words about the CRA and its support for La Mama Theatre. We again enjoyed the great food that Brunettis donated and Meredith Dairy cheeses and Watsons' wines. Don Chambers, Susan Roderick, Greta and Ian Bird and Warren Green made the event happen on the day. Thanks to you all. We already have a booking for next year's party: Tuesday December 7th from 6 to 8.30pm at La Mama. There were a few photos taken: see below Warren Green, Sue Chambers, Tony Southall, Dimity Southall and Kathy Sanders.

Also at La Mama Theatre I am pleased to announce that our History of Carlton book will be launched by David Williamson at 11am on April 1st, 2004. There is also planned to be a related Melbourne Conversation at Federation Square in the evening which will be hosted by MCC with many supporting bodies including CRA, Readings, National Trust, Royal Historical Society of Victoria. The Carlton Business Association is also planning to take part in the celebrations. At this stage we know that the book cover has a great photo of a family group in front of a 2 storey terrace in Station Street. The book has just less than 600 pages and will cost just less than $60. There will be flyers for book orders circulated in the February-March period which I understand may have provision for a 10% discount. So do set down April 1st in your diary: a red letter day for the CRA.

The time has come once again to send in membership forms for 2004. Our membership reached 236 in 2003. It would be great to see that number doubled in 2004: it would make us more representative, and bring more needed people resources to do more than we do. If you know of any interested Carlton resident, do welcome them to join. It looks like we will be considering a revised Eastern Precinct development plan in the near future, so we will need the widest possible community support. Note, memberships run from January to December each year, and so renewals should be paid by the end of January 2004. A membership form is attached.

Our constitution has Committee positions for President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and two Committee members, plus the possibility of co-opted members. If you would like to nominate yourself or another member for the Committee, please contact our returning officer, Ian Bird on 9347 1411. Nominations should be returned to Ian by Tuesday 20th January at 5pm.

We have confirmed with the Royal Women's Hospital that we can again use the Kathleen Syme Centre for our General Meetings. There appears to be a preference to have an earlier start, so I have booked the following dates for 6 to 7.30pm General meetings: February 24th (AGM), April 19th, June 22nd, August 17th and October 19th. Our speaker for our AGM will be Lindsay Tanner who will speak on the topic of "Relationships, Neighbourhoods and Local Government". The idea is for Lindsay to reflect on how his advocacy of the importance of relationships in society and government can be made relevant at the local level. His recent book on relationships provides the genesis.

Committee meetings will be held on January 20, March 16, May 18, July 20, September 21 and November 16. These will be held from 6 to 7.30pm. Our Planning Group meetings will be held on January 13, February 10, March 9, April 13, May 11, June 15, July 12, August 10, September 14, October 12, November 9, and December 14. Planning Group meetings will commence at 7.30pm. Committee and Planning Group meetings will be held at 244 Faraday Street.