ANNUAL REPORT 2007-2008 CITY OF GREATER GEELONG

HEALTH AND WELLBEING
Objective
To have an integrated approach to improving
the health, wellbeing and social capital of the
community.
Highlights
The City of Greater Geelong won a national award from
the Heart Foundation for its Healthy Beginnings Strategy
aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of children.
The strategy is a package of 11 complementary programs
and initiatives to improve the level of children's physical
activity and nutrition throughout Geelong. Programs
include the Start Right Eat Right Program, Romp and
Chomp Project, Geelong Kids Go For Your Life Project,
Learn to Swim Scholarship Program and Structured
Active Play in Early Childhood Project.
Geelong was a sea of blue and white on the first
Wednesday in October 2007 as tens of thousands
of fans turned out to honour the 2007 AFL Premiers,
the Geelong Football Club. The City of Greater Geelong
hosted a motorcade of the premiership players and team
officials before captain Tom Harley was presented with
the key to the city on stage at Johnstone Park. City staff
and contractors worked many hours to ensure that not
only the parade but also the Grand Final Day Live Site
and Supporters Day celebrations at Skilled Stadium went
off without a hitch. These post match celebrations raised
community spirit and connectedness for months after the
event.
Achievements
The new Youth Strategy 2007-2011 was launched in
September 2007. The Youth Strategy 2007-2011 will
play a fundamental role in ensuring the needs of the
region’s 41,000 young people are met. It aims to help
young people thrive and realise their potential in their
own community. The strategy identifies a range of actions
to be implemented within the following six areas: Places
and spaces; Advocacy; Youth participation; Programs
and events; Communication; and Capacity building.
Implementation of the Youth Strategy has commenced
with some of the initiatives carried out over the last 12
months including:
> City of Greater Geelong Impetus2008 Youth Awards.
> YouthCan website redevelopment.
> Place based youth activities held across the
municipality.
> Purchase of new portable skate ramps.
> YouthCan van refurbishment.
> Facilitation of events such as Youth Week, SKAART
(Skate and Art) and Get on Board.
The Whittington Community Renewal Project is a clear
example of what can be achieved when we form
cross-government, organisation and community
partnerships. In the past 12 months Council has
supported the project in the following ways:
> Conducted community engagement activities to
increase social connectedness.
> Developed the Community Gate Project.
> Held the Whittington Community Festival
(Flamefest).
> Conducted regular school holiday programs.
> Supported the development of an editorial committee
and publication of the Whittington Voice newsletter.
> Constructed Whittington Link barbeque and completed
tree planting.
> Formed a youth advisory committee.
In October 2007 over 8,000 people attended events held
during the 2007 Victorian Seniors Festival Geelong.
The festival comprised 72 events including performances
by the Melbourne Welsh Male Voice Choir, the Geelong
Senior Citizens' Super Vet Cycling Handicap, a workshop
on writing life stories or family histories, and an
information session on how to become a volunteer.
During the year the Grovedale Community Centre
received a major renovation and was established
as a Neighbourhood House, bringing the number of
Neighbourhood Houses in the municipality to 11.
Other community facilities to receive upgrades were St
Leonards community facility, Ruthven Street Playgroup
and the Ocean Grove Community Hall.
Future Directions
The development of the Youth Activities Area at the
Waterfront will provide the region’s young people with a
dedicated area for a wide range of sport and recreation
activities and events. The $1.3 million facility will include
skateable surfaces, half-court basketball, stages and
multi-purpose outdoor spaces. The unique aspect about
this facility is that young people will be heavily involved in
the management and maintenance, as well as organising
youth events to be held there.
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