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8 DECEMBER, 2021
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Creative Christmas
(Joe Mastroianni). 259558_01
Wyndham artist Catrice Lam has created a series of festive Australian-themed photo boards which have been installed in the Werribee city centre piazza, Point Cook town centre and Tarneit Gardens Shopping Centre. Community members are being invited to take selfies with Lam’s photo boards, which feature native animals like the platypus and orange-bellied parrot, in the lead-up to Christmas. Residents who take pictures in front of the boards are being urged to upload the images to social media using the hashtag #wyndhamchristmas. There will be plenty of other Christmas-related activities in Werribee’s CBD across the weekend of December 18 and 19, between 10am and 4pm each day, including a MADE on Watton Christmas Market at the Wyndham Cultural Centre, stilt walkers, buskers, roving performers, face-painting and the Werribee Concert Band performing in Station Place. Santa will also be visiting Station Place on the Saturday and Sunday between 11am-2pm. The Werribee River Association will host educational walks for children and families.
Artist Catrice Lam with her Christmas photo board art work.
Mahfoud’s vaccine stand By Alesha Capone Wyndham councillor Marcel Mahfoud says that he will continue carrying out his duties in a virtual capacity until he is able to receive a Novavax vaccine against COVID-19. Cr Mahfoud released a statement last Wednesday in which he stated that he is “pro choice” and does “intend to be vaccinated”. Any Wyndham councillor who failed to provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccination to the mayor and council chief executive by close of business last Thursday has been encouraged to take a leave of absence from their official duties.
The leave of absence period will last until the Local Government Minister Shaun Leane responds to a letter from the council, seeking advice on why mandatory vaccine requirements requiring state parliamentarians to be vaccinated, or face suspension from their roles, have not been extended to Victorian councillors. A councillor must be fully vaccinated to work outside their home or to attend a local council meeting, according to directions issued by the state’s chief health officer. Cr Mahfoud appeared at last week’s meeting in a virtual capacity, using a screen to communicate with the other councillors
who attended the meeting in-person at the Werribee council chamber. In his statement, Cr Mahfoud mentioned that he anticipates Novavax, which is being assessed by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, will soon be available in Australia. “Given that the ability exists to attend council meetings and briefings virtually, I will continue in my role as Chaffey ward councillor, meeting virtually with residents, councillors and council staff temporarily, until Novavax becomes available,” the statement said. However, Cr Mia Shaw said that earlier this
year, all councillors voted for a COVID-19 vaccination hub to be established at Eagle Stadium. “It would be hypocritical now for Wyndham city council, and all councillors here tonight, to not take a stand requiring councillors who were elected by this community to be double vaccinated too,” she said. Cr Jennie Barrera said the position of the state government and health authorities on the requirement for people to be vaccinated was “unequivocal”. “I think as leaders in this community, councillors should step up, put the community first, above individual interests,” she said.
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