Are you looking for a creative way to show someone how much you appreciate the difference they make to the Manningham community? Nominations are open for the 2024 Manningham Civic Awards.

The awards recognise individuals and community organisations improving the local area through volunteer, paid or unpaid work.

Manningham Mayor, Councillor Carli Lange encouraged the community to nominate. 

“Nominating a friend, family member or someone you work with is a great way to show how much you value and appreciate the difference they make,” Cr Lange said.

“Civic Awards are important because they raise awareness of all the good things happening in our community and acknowledge individual and group contributions.”

There are five award categories:

1. The Citizen of the Year Award – recognises a Manningham resident whose outstanding contribution has improved the lives of the local community.
2. The Young Citizen of the Year Award – for an outstanding contribution made by a young Manningham resident to improve the lives of the local community.
3. The Doreen Stoves Volunteer of the Year Award – recognises the contribution made by a volunteer in the local community.
4. Sports Volunteer of the Year Award – for individuals who demonstrate leadership in the Manningham sporting community.
5. Community Organisation of the Year Award – acknowledges community organisations, clubs or groups who have gone ‘above and beyond’ to improve the lives of the Manningham community.

Find out more and nominate

Nominations are now open for the Civic Awards and close Monday 22 July 2024. Winners will be announced at the 2024 Ceremony on Thursday 22 August 2024.

To find our more or to nominate visit, manningham.vic.gov.au/civic-awards. The awards acknowledge community organisations, clubs or groups who have gone ‘above and beyond’ to improve the lives of the Manningham community.

Hear from Berry - 2023 Young Citizen of the Year 

Manningham’s 2023 Young Citizen of Year, Berry Eain, received her award for her commitment to bridging the gap between local and international students within her school and the wider community.

Berry, an advocate for student voice, shared her gratitude for receiving an award.

“Growing up, I have always had strong intentions of striving for the betterment of myself, my family and my community. Unfortunately, this was not the reality in my home country, Myanmar.” Berry said.

Painted Country – a new major exhibition featuring the work of five First Nations artists – is now open at the Manningham Art Gallery in Doncaster. 

The artists – Nellie Ngampa Coulthard, Brenda Napaltjarri, Clara Napurrula, Rene Sundown and Adrian Jurra Tjungurrayi – bring diverse practices and perspectives to reveal their unique depictions of the Australian landscape in their work.

The senior and emerging artists represent two Indigenous arts centres – Iwantja Arts in South Australia and Papunya Tula Artists in the Northern Territory.

The exhibition has been timed to coincide with National Reconciliation Week, which is held each year from 27 May to 3 June, with the 2025 theme Bridging Now to Next.

Aboriginal writer, artist, arts worker and Aboriginal affairs advocate from Cape York Peninsula Jack Wilki-Jans has described the 14 artworks featured in Painted Country as “hypnotic visions” of the artists’ Country.

“Visions of a wide country, a country of colour and texture, of sand dunes and salt lakes, scorched earth and radiant sunsets, of brushes and sweeping tufts of grasses with flowers – Australia!” Jack Wilki-Jans  said.

“It isn’t the hand that paints which this exhibition exalts, it’s the eyes which see.”

This celebration of First Nations contemporary painting is presented in collaboration with Alcaston Art Gallery, with special thanks to the artists, Iwantja Arts in South Australia and Papunya Tula Artists in the Northern Territory.

Gallery opening hours

Manningham Art Gallery, 687 Doncaster Road, Doncaster, is open Wednesday to Saturday, 11.00am to 4.00pm.

This year, Manningham residents have raised more than $20,000 for local schools, clubs and community groups with the support of the Manningham Monster Community Raffle.

Manningham Mayor, Councillor Carli Lange, acknowledged the community effort, and the key role the community plays in fundraising.

"Thank you to our amazing community for your generous support! Because of you, $15,000 will go directly to the groups who participated and $5,000 will support the Manningham Charitable Fund. Your contributions make a big difference." Cr Lange said.

For every ticket sold for $2.00, groups receive $1.50 and the remaining 50 cents is donated to the Manningham Community Fund.

With a prize pool of $10,000 including five $1,000 Coles/Myer gift vouchers, and one $5,000 Coles/Myer gift voucher, the Monster Raffle prize draw was held on Wednesday 17 July.

Manningham residents, Alex and Adeline, were the lucky winners of a $1,000 Coles/Myer voucher.

The couple purchased tickets supporting both Milgate Primary School and 1st Templestowe Scout Group.

“We often participate in fundraising and buy tickets not thinking we are going to win, but so the money can go a good cause.” Alex said.

“My son attends 1st Templestowe Scout Group, and the leaders at the club always work so hard to give the kids a good experience, and Milgate Primary has also been a huge part of our lives with our two children going to school there, receiving such a quality education.

“We’re incredibly thankful for this win!” Alex said.

The Monster Community Raffle is held annually and will open again in April 2025.

“For 19 years, our raffle has been a cornerstone of community spirit. Together, we’ve made a significant impact, and we look forward to many more years of making a difference,” Cr Lange said.

“We are deeply grateful to our raffle partner, the Templestowe Bowling Club, whose support has been key to its success.”

The Manningham Community Fund supports community initiatives including homelessness and affordable housing, education and employment, diversity, inclusion, sustainability, and wellbeing programs throughout Manningham.

A full list of raffle winners is available on the Monster Community Raffle website.  
 

You’re invited to share your ideas and priorities for our community’s future by making an ‘Individual submission’ to the Manningham Community Panel.

Make an individual submission.

Your input will be considered by the Panel as they deliberate and prepare recommendations for Council’s major strategic plans.

What will the panel deliberate on?

Council endorsed the following remit for the Manningham Community Panel at its 25 June 2024 meeting.

Council has a budget of $147m, but we can’t do everything and need to make hard choices. We need to know what services you value most to help us create a new Council Plan, Asset Plan and Financial Plan to guide Council activity for the next four years to align with the Community Vision. It will inform what the community pays and gets in return.

What range and level of services are you prepared to pay for?

Submit your ideas about what the panel should consider as they work together to answer this question.

This consultation closes Thursday 19 September at 11.59pm.

Community will also be welcome to observe the deliberative process at several open Panel sessions – more information will be available on the Your Say Manningham page shortly.

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We’re excited to launch our new expanded community award program to honour and celebrate individuals and groups who are doing amazing things in Manningham.

Mayor Deirdre Diamante has officially announced the new Manningham Community Awards program, with nominations opening on Monday 16 June 2025.

“We’re incredibly fortunate to have so many remarkable individuals, groups and organisations in our community, all working tirelessly to make a real difference,” Cr Diamante said.

“I’m thrilled to introduce the new Manningham Community Awards - a program dedicated to recognising the outstanding contributions of those who are helping to shape our vibrant community.

“This year, we will celebrate those who have gone above and beyond in making Manningham a better place to live, work and visit over the past 12 months.”

The expanded awards program will recognise achievements in eight categories with one of the individual winners also named the Manningham Citizen of the Year.

The expanded awards program will recognise achievements in eight categories with one of the individual winners also selected by the judging panel to be the Manningham Citizen of the Year. The categories are:

• Doreen Stoves Excellence in Volunteering: Recognising an individual who has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to volunteerism.
• Active Community: Recognising and individual or group who has contributed to community participation in active lifestyles, sports or physical activity. 
• Ageing Well: Recognising an individual or group who has contributed to enhancing the lives of older residents, fostering social connection, safety or active ageing.
• Artistic Achievement: Recognising an individual or group who has contributed to Manningham’s creative community, sparking artist, cultural or creative expression.
• Community Excellence: Recognising a community organisation or group that has delivered outstanding programs or initiatives contributing to the wellbeing, development and cohesion of the Manningham community.
• Community Health and Wellbeing: Recognising an individual or group who has enhanced health, wellbeing or resilience in the community, whether through advocacy, program development or direct service delivery.
• Inclusive Community: Recognising an individual or group who has actively contributed to community accessibility, inclusivity or diversity.
• Young Achiever: Recognising a young person aged under 25, who has made a positive impact within the Manningham community through demonstrated leadership, innovation, or commitment to helping others.

Nominations will be open Monday 16 June to Sunday 20 July, with the winners announced at an Award Ceremony at the Manningham Function Centre on Tuesday 16 September.

“I encourage you all to nominate someone who inspires you, someone who has positively contributed to our community. It’s a great way to show how much we appreciate what they do,” Cr Diamante said.

For more information on the awards and how to nominate, visit our Community Awards page.

The Manningham Community Panel’s deliberations have begun, with local voices steering the way to a thriving future for Manningham.

Through a series of externally facilitated discussions and learning sessions, panel members will deliberate for over 40 hours. They will determine key priorities for the community and provide a list of recommendations to Manningham Council.

This dynamic and community-driven process will play a crucial role in ensuring that Council’s strategic plans reflect local needs, values and aspirations.

The panel recruitment started with 8,000 envelopes sent randomly to local households. Of those who accepted the invitation, a second random draw resulted in the final 40 individuals chosen.

This second draw was stratified to ensure people selected were representative of Manningham by age, gender, location, living situation and the language spoken at home.

Residents, businesses and community organisations have also contributed to the panel’s work in several ways.

In the Plan Manningham 2025+ survey (between May and July 2024), community provided their top three priority areas for Council to focus its resources for the next four years.

Council also hosted a series of ‘Targeted conversations’. These small group discussions invited people with similar backgrounds or interests together to discuss detailed information around topics that affect their needs and priorities.

Community could also share ideas on how to improve Council services through ‘Individual submissions’.

Council has committed to an open, transparent and rigorous process that puts community interests at the forefront. Community are invited to listen and watch the deliberations.

You can register to be an Observer for any of the panel sessions. Each registration segment is 90 minutes. Registration will ensure you get a spot, however you can also register upon arrival.

The final four panel sessions will be held between November 2024 and February 2025.

Find out more and stay up to date at Your Say Manningham.

From this week, 8,000 randomly selected households across Manningham will receive an invitation to express their interest in participating in the Manningham Community Panel.

From those who apply, independent non-profit research group, newDemocracy, will draw a panel of 40 people to represent the wider community.

How will it work?

The Manningham Community Panel will play a crucial role in developing our major strategic plans.

Through externally facilitated discussions and learning sessions, participants will help determine key priorities for Manningham and provide a list of recommendations to:

• inform the next Council Plan, Asset Plan and Financial Plan

• help us refresh of our community vision

• define and help us manage the community's top service priorities

• help guide how we manage our services financially

• guide how we manage and invest in physical assets.

Panel sessions will be held between September 2024 and February 2025.

Are there other ways to participate in this engagement if I’m not selected for the panel?

There will be further opportunities to make individual submissions for the panel’s consideration, as well as observe the deliberation sessions.

Learn more and get the latest updates at Your Say Manningham.