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proudly serving Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay
8 FEBRUARY, 2023
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SIG N U P N O W!
Caring for community
Brenbeal Children’s Centre manager Krystyna Soprun celebrated 25 years of service alongside James, 3, Jett, 3, and Zadie, 3.
(Damjan Janevski)
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Brenbeal Children’s Centre manager Krystyna Soprun has described the children she has helped nurture, their parents and her colleagues as like her family. Hailing from Poland, she recently celebrated 25 years with the centre. Ms Soprun said the centre had welcomed her with open arms. “I have built great relationships with the families and the community,“ she said. “I am so proud to have played a small part in their journey.“ Ms Soprun said the success of the centre was the result of her team. “We have an amazing team of educators,“ she said. “Our staff members come from so many different cultures. “We work very hard to provide high-quality services.“ Committee of management president Sarah Bell said Ms Soprun has been a key driver towards the centre receiving ‘Exceeding’ in the National Quality Standard assessments last year and securing funding towards enhancing the three-year-old kindergarten program. “It is the staff that make all the difference,“ she said.
Flood prevention petition By Matthew Sims
12533599-HC07-22
A group of Maribyrnong residents has launched a petition calling on government and other relevant authorities to introduce flood prevention measures. At the time of publication, more than 1600 people have signed the petition supporting the group’s push for action. The requests for action within the petition included investing in upstream mitigation measures to reduce the impact of future extreme weather events, improving and upgrading infrastructure such as drainage systems and levees to better manage and redirect floodwaters and the establishment
of an early warning system to give residents adequate time to prepare and protect their homes. Melbourne Water has appointed an independent expert to lead a review into the Maribyrnong River flooding event, which is open for public consultation until Friday, March 17. On Friday, October 14, 2022, significant flooding occurred within the urban catchment of the Maribyrnong River, impacting more than 500 properties across Maribyrnong and causing extensive damage. One of the petitioners, Maribyrnong resident Antoinette Bufalino, said she and her neighbours were concerned about the risk of
flooding in the days prior to Friday, October 14 but received a warning too late. Ms Bufalino said she was only partially living in her home due to water damage, with renovations set to start soon. “None of us are living in our homes,” she said. “It’s just changed all of our lives. “It’s heartbreaking.” Ms Bufalino said she was still undergoing psychological counselling following the flood event. “It’s anger, it’s frustration,” she said. “You think about it all the time. “It’s just destroyed so many people.” Ms Bufalino said she had no faith in any
government bodies to take appropriate action to prevent a similar flood event recurring. “I think we need support from the public.” The petition said an estimated 1300 impacted residents were still experiencing displacement and navigating emotion trauma and repairing their properties. “We, the residents of Maribyrnong and surrounding areas, are deeply concerned about the ongoing impact of flooding on our homes, community and environment,” the petition read. Details: maribyrnongfloods.com or www. change.org/p/stop-maribyrnong-riverflooding-and-damaging-hundreds-of-homes
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