Mayor's Message - Friday 21 October

One of the privileges of being a mayor over the past two years is the insight you get to your community. Whilst there is a significant responsibility and demand on your time, your work is rewarded tenfold by the deeper understanding you gain of what community really means. We all have diverse needs, particular interests, different means, backgrounds, cultures, and views, but importantly through respect and tolerance, our Ballarat community becomes stronger.   

We all want to live in a community where we feel safe and have that sense of belonging and the Empowering Communities Grants Program which is now open through to 20 November assists exactly that. Ballarat organisations, groups or clubs can now apply for project funding with key objectives to improve feelings of safety, belonging, or that will decrease instances of crime, discrimination and anti-social behaviours.   

The program aligns with the City of Ballarat’s Council Plan 2021-2025 key goals to establish ‘a healthy, connected and inclusive community’ and I would encourage all priority groups including LGBTQIA+, culturally diverse, women, people with disabilities, young people and First Nations communities to find out more and apply.   

Last week I had the honour of addressing the pre-match function of the Pride Round of AFLW which saw our Western Bulldogs beat St. Kilda. It was a fantastic opportunity to see the great work of the AFL join with the Ballarat community in showing not only their love of the AFLW coming to Ballarat but also their support for diversity and inclusion within our community.   

Ballarat is one of the first Victorian Councils to establish an LGBTIQA+ Advisory Committee and we now run a growing range of inclusive events, and in a couple of weeks will see the final draft of our LGBTIQA+ Inclusion Plan come to Council for adoption. 

As I finish up in the role of Mayor over the next couple of weeks, I’m proud of how inclusive our city has become, regardless of race, religion, age and gender identity. There’s still much work ahead and opportunities to improve, but every week I hear of new people who have become residents after hearing of our city’s welcoming attitude. That’s something we should all be proud of. 

Mayor 

Daniel Moloney