Inspired to do better

Every now and then you meet someone who makes a lasting mark on you, and inspires you to do better and to be better. It doesn’t happen every day, but this past week I met Ben Chapman, and he is one of those special people I will never forget.

Ben lives with cerebral palsy, but doesn’t let that stop him doing what he loves; recycling. Using one of the perks of my job, I awarded him a Waste Champion certificate, as well as made him an official part of Team Stirling with his own City shirt. He has promised to wear it every time he visits our Recycling Centre Balcatta, where he is a regular contributor to the City’s efforts to protect our environment for generations to come.

Our Stirling State Emergency Services (SES) team have once again proved their courage and selflessness this month, responding admirably to the recent storm damage. 

The response by the SES, various City of Stirling teams and countless community members has been fantastic and a credit to all involved. Whether it’s maintenance workers responding to property damage after hours, volunteers putting in time to sandbag their local club during the flooding, or community-minded people clearing debris, we have excellent community spirit here in the City of Stirling to be proud of.

We also recently celebrated NAIDOC week from 4-11 July, with one highlight being Nyoongar Elder Oriel Green receiving a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) as part of the Queen's Birthday Honours.

Oriel is a founding member of the City’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Working Group and continues to contribute greatly towards our reconciliation journey. She received the OAM award for her service to the Indigenous community of WA (mainly through her work in the education space) and is a well-deserved recipient.

In further local wins, Bina Parkland has once again been recognised with an award, with Ecoscape winning the highest ‘Award of Excellence’ in the Parks and Open Space category at the Australian Institute of Landscape Architecture (AILA) WA Landscape Architecture Awards. Bina previously won the prestigious 'Park of the Year' at the annual Parks and Leisure Australia (WA) Regions Awards of Excellence.

Inglenooks also won the award for Community Contribution at the AILA event, having previously won both the Australian Institute of Architecture’s WA Chapter Great Place Award and the 2021 Great Place Award at the National Awards for Planning Excellence.

I am excited for the new financial year, and for the process of local government elections coming up this October.

Improving your community starts with local government. If you want to make a difference to your local facilities and services, I encourage you to consider becoming a candidate.