Ngala is the group you go to for advice when your kids just won't sleep, or you feel you dunno what to do as parents. They're like the Super-Nanny. Well they are coming to Banksia Grove if they can:Wednesdays – 9.30am onwards Neerabup Primary School, 14 Mist Place, Banksia Grove For more info, Click here: http://www.ngala.com.au/Ngala-and-You/In-the-Community/Indigenous-Parenting-and-Childrens-Program Contact Details Telephone: 9368 9308 or 0400 829 908 Email: indigenous@ngala.com.au This program has been funded by the Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
Habitat for Humanity are planning a build in Banksia Grove soon.
Where is it? Who should apply? What are the conditions? How can it benefit more than just one household? What is sweat equity?
Have a look here: www.habitat.org.au/wa
Chair's Report, July AGM 2010:Here’s what we’ve achieved this year:- Joondalup Drive safer crossings Feasibility Study for best results, but still hard work, despite the (ever-devaluing) million dollars federal money secured.
- Set up Asset Register
- Banksia Nuts newsletter
- Clean Up Australia Day
- Foundation Housing briefing re new units
- Free LCD monitors
- Regular connections with Developer, Governments local, state and federal. Various amenities issues and updates.
- East Wanneroo Water briefings
- Urban Art at Tan’s Deli & bus stop.
- Police briefing re security in Banksia Grove
- Neighborhood Watch found its feet à
- Rise of the Community Shed, then The Pod – moves to stand alone. à
- Spring in the Grove – successful event. Moves to stand alone à
- Hand over Computer Lab to BG Centre à
Since we restructured BGRA to fit the Banksia Grove Community Plan, we’ve achieved much more, and had the potential to achieve even more, auspice more, seed and support more. We incubated 4 groups that have now become stand alone incorporations - Neighborhood Watch, The Pod, Spring in the Grove, Computer lab. Perhaps they have drained the volunteer force out of BGRA. Yet despite being more effective than ever, no more people have appeared to join with BGRA to make their community dreams a reality. I don’t know why. But I won’t suggest the same few people work harder, because we have to look after the people. So, paradoxically, BGRA has never been better placed to achieve more of the community’s dreams, yet it’s one step from closure. What BGRA would need to go forward from here:A minimum 10 new residents, to rest our current executive, and actively develop areas of the Community Plan: (amenities, local groups & cultural events, local businesses, schools and other education opportunities, natural environment, health, and safety initiatives.)The current status of the association is that a holding committee is waiting for sufficient people to take up the association again. Contact Chair here.
Meanwhile, to see what other groups might be able to help you with the your area of the Community Plan, look around this site. And there's also a quick-find table here.
Tonight:
BG Residents' Association
Annual General Meeting
730pm, Banksia Grove Centre.
As previously advertised, the Banksia Grove Residents Association faces closure.
Paradoxically, BGRA has never been better placed to achieve more of the community’s dreams, yet it’s one step from closure, simply for lack of participants.
We need to rest the current executive, but if you're interested in contributing to any of the areas of the Community Plan, then come and step into the work:
Cheers,
Geoff
Geoff Westlake
www.banksiagrove.com
0411 324 245
Community Walking Group has restarted at BGCC every Friday, with a dedicated walk leader Bec at 9.00am, and is for all ages and is followed by a group morning tea.
Banksia Grove Residents Association Vacancies: Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer. Neither I, nor the treasurer, will be re-nominating at the residents' association AGM this July. So it could be curtains for the BGRA.
But residents should thank the active members of the BGRA for a good job done over recent years:
- observing and speaking into the government's selection process for a developer for Banksia Grove
- explaining to the chosen developer the needs and aspirations of the existing residents
- a much better working relationship with Council, thanks mostly to Laura Gray
- working with Council & developers to shape the safer crossings of Joondalup Drive, which will eventually occur in 2011.
- participating as one of the few actual residents groups on the Round Table. [The Round Table is important: open to all groups interested in BG, and sorts out plans & problems in realtime discussions.]
restructuring for the Community Plan to actually happen - so people can work in the areas they care about: amenities, economy, education, environment, groups & events, health, safety awareness. - since we did that, BGRA can auspice any new community group or event, which can drastically reduce the admin/paperwork volunteers have to do themselves, so they can get on with doing the thing they actually care about.
- we incubated Spring in the Grove, which now stands alone
- we incubated The Pod, which will soon stand alone
- we continue to supply the Banksia Nuts newsletter you're reading now
Overall a pretty amazing job over recent years, done by a small group of people seeking to "work smarter, not harder." Please thank them whenever you can.
However, truthfully the BGRA looks to be relatively dormant now, for two reasons:
1) even though the BGRA has steered BG through some significant changes over the last 5 years (new developers, road crossings, amenities, environmental issues), those changes are now in place, and there's not much more we can do about them now. The big exception to this is regarding the plans to develop over the Gnangara water mound.
2) And even though BGRA is an excellent way to start new projects in the Community Plan, it's not the only way, and apparently few residents want new things at the moment anyway.
So since there are some urgent needs at the Primary School which effects hundreds of families, I've decided to put my time there (I'm Chair of the school council).
Bottomline: the BGRA is a great vehicle awaiting drivers. May I finish with a caution: whoever wants to drive the BGRA, please remember that it's not a machine, it's made of people. Handle with care.
Until July,
The Chair.
One reason some people don't get involved with groups, is a fear of getting too involved - or even "sucked in to a cult." So rather than simply stay away from everyone, here's a list to help you assess any social group on its cult-like-ness. It's not so much about beliefs, as behaviors. Therefore, not only religious groups can behave like a cult - so can businesses, employers, government institutions, even social groups. So be aware of these simple criteria of a cult. Make your own assessments, if you're wondering about any group of people. Fore-warned is fore-armed. Here are the criteria:
1. Authoritarian, dominating structure [vs Empowering structure
2. Allegiance to one person’s teaching [vs Various input
3. The only group with the way to paradise [vs Recognize other groups
4. Submissive & unquestioning loyalty [vs Critical loyalty
5. Suspicious of “outsiders” [vs Open to all
6. Closed secrets, or even deliberate lies (justified deception.) [vs Honesty Open access
7. Mind control techniques, to control members fatigue, repetition, intimidation, manipulation, threats, [vs Fair argument encouraged
8. Total control over all aspects of members lives - Abuse members’ freedoms & rights to choose: theological, spiritual, social, psychological, choices, etc. [vs Empower to work out implications
9. Require substantial financial support to the group [vs Finance a marginal matter
10. Lives totally absorbed in group activities [vs Encourage wider life
11. Lose personal identity (including name changes) [vs Individuality valued
12. Personality changes, paranoia / persecution complex [vs Healthier self-image
13. Social disorientation – unable to socialize outside the group [vs Interaction outside group encouraged
14. Severe guilt complexes [vs Non-conditional Acceptance
List adapted from www.culthelp.info /
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