Author Archives: SUSAN

KEEPING MT COLAH SAFE

 

 

 

Village Voice: Keeping Mt Colah Safe

Written by: Susan Low, FOMC Secretary

Sep 28, 2017

As I drive to work in the mornings, I like to observe the day-to-day activities of people around me. I see commuters holding their cups of coffee whilst waiting for the bus, school children running to keep up with their friends and construction workers building apartments along the highway.

I’ve been working in Mt Colah for nearly ten years now and there’ve been so many changes in the area – new faces that now call Mt Colah home and new business owners making a difference to our local shop precinct.

A member of the Friends of Mount Colah group mentioned he recently had to contact Hornsby Police to report a local crime. He was concerned about the safety in our local community. It made me think about Mt Colah and safety issues. How do we keep our community safer? What practical tips can we all use?

Here’s some useful tips I thought of…what are yours?

*Know your neighbours: if you’re just going to work or even on holidays, knowing your neighbours provides an extra pair of eyes on your home.

*Close your blinds/windows at night: the simple act of closing blinds/windows at night can stop people seeing your house and its contents.

*Improve your lighting: adequate outdoor lighting can be a beneficial deterrent to potential intruders.

*Know your local police: Hornsby Police are always available to help us at any time of the day. Please feel free to contact them with any questions or concerns.

A stronger more connected community leads to a safer community – good neighbours will look out for you and your family. Do you have an elderly neighbour or someone living on their own who would sometimes need some help? Perhaps you could go over and say hello and start up a conversation? Maybe have a cup of tea with them or organise a local outdoor activity? A safer community starts with you.

See Monthly Chronicle website: http://monthlychronicle.com.au/2017/09/28/keeping-mt-colah-safe/

 

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Written by Susan Low

On Sunday mornings, I enjoy browsing through the local newspaper. I often see words and phrases, such as ‘community’, ‘get involved’ and ‘your opinion matters’.  I read some of these articles and then flip to the Sudoku puzzle at the back.

Recently, I had a discussion with another member of the Friends of Mount Colah (FOMC) group about community ideas. She mentioned Mount Colah and the term “Community Engagement.” As I wasn’t fully aware of this term, I decided to look it up.

According to the Australian Government Institute of Family Services, Community Engagement is described as “people working collaboratively, through inspired action and learning, to create and realise bold visions for their common future”.

I thought about this definition and how it could apply to Mount Colah and the Friends of Mount Colah group. What was our bold vision and common future? I did some further reading and I found some great reasons why Community Engagement is so important. Here are just a few:

  1. Community opinions are important
  2. The more perspectives the better
  3. Community knowledge matters
  4. Inclusion in decisions often leads to better outcomes
  5. Individual and community empowerment
  6. Greater confidence for those in decision making.

The FOMC Mission statement is: ’Bringing the Mount Colah community together’. As a community group, we’ve been doing this by facilitating various events like the FOMC & Hornsby Connect Christmas Appeal’, and most recently by hosting ‘Mount Colah’s Biggest Morning Tea May 2017’. These events have been well-received – but despite this recognition, I kept asking myself: “How can we do more for our neighbourhood and community?”

We need your help. We need your opinions. We need your community knowledge. The more you’re included in the decisions that the FOMC group has in their future initiatives, the more that we can work to bring the Mount Colah community together.

If you have any ideas or thoughts about anything related to living in Mt Colah or for more information about FOMC, attend one of our meetings, visit our Facebook page or send us an email: friends.of.mtcolah@gmail.com.

See Monthly Chronicle website: http://monthlychronicle.com.au/2017/08/25/community-engagement/

10 TIPS FOR GOOD EYE HEALTH!

Try these helpful tips:
1. Wear a hat and sunglasses when you are outdoors
2. Wear eye protection at your workplace
3. Visit your eye care health professional regularly
4. Wear eye protection when playing sportsCARROT_EYE
5. Quit smoking
6. Stick to a healthy diet and exercise routine
7. Avoid eye injuries at home – wear eye protection
8. Control your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels
9.Take regular breaks when working in front of your computer
10. Make sure you have proper lighting

For more info check out this website:
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/…/10-tips-for-good-eye-…

CONCERNED CITIZENS OF MT COLAH