Councillor Prue Cutts | Community
Councillor Prue Cutts
Phone: +61 409 867 540
Reviews
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24.01.2022 WHITEHORSE ELECTION UPDATE - SIMPSON WARD With 100% of all 1st preferences now counted, I am humbled to announce I've received almost 53% of the vote, hence no preference distribution will be required. It's important to note that the formal declaration of results for all 11 Whitehorse wards will take place on Wednesday 11th November at 2pm. Today's results are provisional.... THANK YOU to my wonderful community for your unwavering support during this tough time of COVID. I will continue to work hard, with passion, positivity and purpose, in collaboration with my councillor colleagues to deliver for our local community and the wider Whitehorse municipality.
24.01.2022 GREAT NEWS! Active numbers in Whitehorse have gone from 76 at a peak 7 weeks ago to 2 recorded yesterday! LOCAL STATISTICS: Whitehorse and all 5 abutting municipalities have recorded only 19 new cases between us. Monash however has bucked the downward trend with 1 case last week increasing to 8 recorded yesterday with the outbreak in Chadstone. It goes to show how contagious this virus is! If Monash was removed from our statistics we’d only have 11 cases across 5 municipalit...ies. (The numbers from the 7 previous Thursdays are in brackets for comparison purposes) Whitehorse 2 (3 / 5 / 11 / 14 / 20 / 31 / 76 / 65) active cases, 208 (207 / 205 / 203 / 199 / 189 / 183 / 171 /143) total cases Manningham 3 active cases, 164 total cases Maroondah 0 active cases, 104 total cases Knox 2 active cases, 164 total cases Monash 8 active cases, 326 total cases Boroondara 4 active cases, 268 total cases Here is the most recent postcode report, found at: https://covidlive.com.au/vic/postcode. 3130 - 21 total, 0 active cases 3131 - 28 total, 0 active cases 3132 - 17 total, 0 active case 3133 - 24 total, 0 active cases How good is this?? I thank you all for doing your bit in these extremely testing times! VICTORIAN STATISTICS: Victoria has reported 7 new cases since yesterday, with 1 reclassified bringing the real number to 8. There were 14 last week and 45 the week prior as a comparison. The average number of cases diagnosed in the last 2 weeks in metro Melbourne is 12.8 (25.1 / 42.7 / 65.3 for the 3 previous weeks). And isn’t this what we want to see? We now have 261 (482 / 920 / 1,336 / 2,060 / 3,141 / 4,421 / 7,877 / 7,637) active cases in our State. This is a dramatic drop in active cases in the last 7 weeks thankfully! We have 20,191 total number of cases since the pandemic began compared to 13,867 seven weeks ago. These numbers are stabilising due to all our individual efforts! Sadly, there have been 802 lives lost in total. There are 38 people in hospital, with 4 in intensive care. We have had 29,068 people recover! Regarding our aged care facilities and our medical staff: There are 111 (247 / 474 / 665 / 993 / 1,362 / 1,732 / 2034 / 1548) active cases in aged care and 40, wow, (77 / 140 / 223 / 297 / 449 / 668 / 1,188 / 911) in our health care workers. These stats are really pleasing! Information has been taken from the Department of Health and Human Services website: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-update-victoria-02- and contains details in the 24 hours to 11:59pm Thursday 1st October. Awesome work local community! We can do this. We just need to continue to stand together, play our part, and think of the community as a whole! Stay home, keep well, be kind and take care! #stopthespread
23.01.2022 The importance of OPEN SPACE for our physical and mental health has been highlighted in our time of lockdown. I thank Gay Gallagher, Hon. Secretary, Yarran Dheran Nature Reserve Advisory Committee for her kind endorsement. Simpson Ward is the winner and Springfield the loser in the new Whitehorse Council Ward structures! ... Cr Prue Cutts has been outstanding as Councillor for Springfield Ward for the past 4 years she has been energetic, committed, and always ready to respond to, and represent community issues. Her advocacy has achieved outcomes for sporting and recreational facilities for adults, children and youth - including for women and girls. Her advocacy has also achieved many real outcomes for the environment and for open space in our community. She supported more street tree planting in Mitcham and this has become a Council priority. We will always be especially grateful for her tireless commitment to improving the facilities at the wonderful Yarran Dheran Bushland Reserve, and for her determined support for the establishment of the new park at 21 Wattle Valley Road Mitcham. We wish you all the best Prue!.
22.01.2022 IT'S OFFICIAL! The VEC has finalised Whitehorse results along with another 70+ Councils across Victoria. I am deeply honoured to be re-elected as the first Councillor for the new Simpson Ward in the changed Ward structure. Thank you to my community for your support and putting faith in me by giving me this opportunity. ... Congratulations to the re-elected Councillors Tina Liu, Blair Barker, Andrew Munroe, Denise Massoud, Ben Stennett, Raylene Carr and Andrew Davenport and our new Councillors Mark Lane, Trudy Skilbeck and Amanda McNeill. I'd also like to thank outgoing Councillors Sharon Ellis and Bill Bennett for your service to the Whitehorse community over many years. I look forward to working with the community and the new Council over the next 4 years. https://www.vec.vic.gov.au//2020-c/whitehorse-city-council
21.01.2022 ANNOUNCEMENT I’VE NOMINATED for Simpson Ward (Ward G) for the Local Government elections next month! Do you or anyone you know live in Simpson Ward? If so, I need your help! This new ward is part of a whole new ward structure across Whitehorse with 11 single councillor wards this election, replacing the 5 ward x 2 councillor structure which has been in place for many years. This means I have to pick up almost half a new ward which I have not represented before. It’s no...t exactly great timing with the pandemic and not being able to get out and campaign!! So ...... I seek your assistance to Like, Share and spread the word about my candidacy. I have been an approachable, hard working and effective councillor representing the 35,000 people of Springfield Ward for the last 4 years. I stand now for the new Simpson Ward and will continue to: Listen to your concerns and advocate for your ideas Act in the best interests of our community Focus on delivering results and getting the job done Faithfully represent you in all decision making Please leave any comments or queries below, or contact me at [email protected] or call 0425 701 796. I look forward to hearing from you! Authorised by Prue Cutts, PO Box 2195, Rangeview VIC 3132
20.01.2022 Thanks Alan Fairbairn, President, Mitcham Cricket Club, for the endorsement! PLUS a sneak peak into the refurbished Walker Park grandstand and new sports bar which I was fortunate to tour prior to lockdown 2.0. Having gotten to know Councillor Prue Cutts over the last few years, I can attest to Prue’s sense of community through her work with Mitcham Community Meal, a very worthwhile project, and her support of local sport in the community. Prue has been a great supporter ...of our Club, and was instrumental and tireless in her efforts in the re-development of Walker Park at council level for both the Mitcham Cricket and Football Clubs. We are very grateful for Prue’s support. If you want to see people in local council who have a great sense of community and local issues, please join me in supporting Prue Cutts for Whitehorse Council.
20.01.2022 Wishing all VCE students well in their return to school for the first time since June as they complete the GAT (General Achievement Test) today. It’s been a tough year for everyone but the Year 12’s have had it particularly tough - missing their rite of passage and being leaders in their final year, no formals, no graduations, no 18th birthday celebrations, no sitting their Driver’s licences. The whole State of Victoria is right behind you all and we all wish you the very best! Thank you also to all the Year 12 teachers who have been outstanding in encouraging your students along in a year like no other! My Year 12 son on the first day of remote learning on 15th April
19.01.2022 IT’S BACK! One of Nunawading’s favourite monthly events which has been serving locals since 1985! On tomorrow 9am until 2pm. Do some early Christmas shopping in the open air. It's going to be a beautiful day for getting outside! See you there!
19.01.2022 CONGRATULATIONS to the new Whitehorse Mayor Cr Andrew Munroe and the inaugural Deputy Mayor Cr Raylene Carr elected this evening!
19.01.2022 Residents of Vermont, Mitcham, Forest Hill, Blackburn and Blackburn North get behind this new initiative! Fair Go Local helps small businesses and community groups, and will make your shopping $ go further by buying local! Fair Go Local will launch on Sunday 1st November. This is an initiative of two local dads wanting to do their to help our community come successfully out of COVID. Please support them by Liking and Sharing their page!... 1st Heatherdale Scout Group, Heatherdale Cricket Club, Heatherdale Juniors Cricket Club, Heatherdale Pavilion Action Group, Heathmont Jets Football Netball Club, Heatherdale Tennis club, Mitcham Cricket Club, Mitcham Football Club, Mitcham Jfc, Mitcham Thunder Basketball Club, Vermont Football Club Inc., Vermont Eagles Junior Football Club, Mitch House, Rotary Club of Mitcham Victoria Australia, Antonio Park Primary School, St John's Primary School Mitcham - Community Association, Mullauna College, Mitcham Community House, Heatherdale PreSchool, Rangeview Pre-School, Rangeview Primary School Parents and Friends
18.01.2022 And then you get something unexpected like this to brighten the daily challenge of #campaigninginCOVID! Thank you Heatherdale Tennis club! I have loved working with you all these last 4 years and hope to have the opportunity of continuing in the role of Whitehorse Councillor after these elections!
18.01.2022 ANNOUNCEMENT CORFLUTES will NOT be forming any part of my campaign for re-election. Numbers of people have enquired as to whether I’ll be using them. They are made of plastic and are not easily recyclable. For a 3 week window of use then into landfill simply does not align with my key platforms of sustainability and the environment Should you have a business which would like an A3 poster to adorn a window, which can be recycled, please call me on 0425 701 796. PS. Thank you to virtually all the traders at Vermont East shopping strip who have agreed to have my poster in their shop window!
18.01.2022 Simpson Ward was counted today! The wait is eventually over! While results aren't final or official, here are results at the end of today: I'm in first place with 3,912 votes (53%), second place got 1,563 (21%), third place 18% and 4th 7.5%. There are still late votes to be counted but this is a representative sample. I am deeply appreciative of your vote, and the support and help along the way in a difficult time for campaigning. THANK YOU ALL!
18.01.2022 LOOK WHAT I STUMBLED ACROSS TODAY! Food is Free - Ringwood East is located at the end of Rosedale Crescent next to Ringwood Lake Park. Walking in the park today I was fortunate to come across this little gem on its outskirts. I met the home owner Naomi Walsh who runs this community pantry. Naomi told me she set this up 3/4 years ago after a neighbour had been doing something similar but moved out of the area. The concept is apparently replicated in Blackburn. Has anyone se...en it? The food is not only for the needy. It’s for everyone. Donate what you can. Take what you can use. Today there were fresh loaves of bread, home grown silver beet and flowers. You can even make a contribution for her chickens if you don’t have a compost bin of your own. Follow her with 1.6K others on Facebook! Such a joyful discovery!
17.01.2022 Fantastic to attend the Scouts 2020 Whitehorse Civic Awards ceremony virtually today. Congratulations to all award winners in each of the categories Joey Scout Promise Challenge Cub Scout Grey Wolf Award... Scout Medallion Venturer Queen’s Scout, the second highest award in the Scouting movement awarded this year to only two Venturers including Emma Rahman of 1st Heatherdale Scout Group (Pictured below at last December’s actual award ceremony) Baden-Powell Scout Award, one award winner and congratulations to Chanelle Vernal of 1st/8th Blackburn. It was a great occasion with almost 80 virtual attendees including all 10 Whitehorse Councillors along with Paul Hamer MP and Neil Angus MP. Congratulations to all and what has been achieved in these last 6 months in lockdown. Leaders have maintained the momentum and interest of our youth and we are grateful!
17.01.2022 IT’S ALL SMILES at 1st Heatherdale Scout Group with a complete hall floor replacement, a total transformation of the exterior entry area and a new footpath along Purches Street! Delivered! Whitehorse Council has invested over $200,000 in this upgrade, including : restumped hall floor ... eastern facing major structural wall fixed new path and entry area new steps Other upgrades occurring at the same time with federal funding include the outside ramp and hall floorboards. Fantastic to see a second local Scout hall upgraded, after the 1st Mitcham Scout Group hall had a major refurbishment a couple of years ago! : Group photo taken pre-COVID-19
17.01.2022 Self care is really important right now. Don’t put off important medical appointments just because we are under restrictions due to COVID! These are legitimate and essential appointments to attend!
16.01.2022 HALLOWEEN won’t be the same this year but I’ve been hearing of some creative ways of celebrating this larger than life event. Watch this space!! I’d also like to thank Beth Barclay, who bought Halloween to our local area about 10 years ago, for her kind endorsement: I support Cr Prue Cutts in her 2020 re- election as Councillor for the City of Whitehorse, Simpson Ward. In my personal dealings with Prue, she has been extremely professional, approachable and very ...supportive. Prue gives her time generously and is always eager to help find solutions that work for all. I’ve worked with Prue in both a community event and sporting club capacity. Prue has a proven track record of working hard on her community’s behalf and getting projects over the line. What I admire most, is her honesty. She can’t always promise the results we want, but she will promise her time, energy and thoughtful representation. I truly hope we continue to support someone like Cr Prue Cutts, who genuinely looks after our community so well. Thank you Prue! Beth Barclay Halloween 2019
16.01.2022 Join tomorrow’s Senior’s Mental Health Forum with a panel of experts including the engaging Gerard Mansour, Commissioner for Senior Victorians! I’ve known Gerard from another life, another century! Gerard is a highly respected and passionate advocate for the needs of older people, and is the first ever Commissioner for Senior Victorians.
15.01.2022 Dedicated to Community. Service over Self. The tragic incident on the Eastern Freeway on 22 April and the loss of 4 of the best in blue will be a chilling and lingering memory. We will remember each and every one who has paid the ultimate price for protecting us
15.01.2022 Great to attend today’s announcement by Ros Spence MP, Minister for Community Sport, of $100K towards the new 4 bay cricket net facility at Walker Park. Exciting news for the Mitcham Cricket Club and all other users! This combines with Council’s contribution of $297K, and $30K from Cricket Victoria, the Australian Cricketers Association and Cricket Australia. It is always wonderful to see grassroots projects like this given support and I thank Dustin Halse MP for his advocacy. Can’t wait to see the finished nets!
15.01.2022 MITCHAM COMMUNITY MEAL will be back as soon as restrictions allow, providing a hot two course meal to the disadvantaged every Sunday night. I organised a Local Leaders group last year with Presidents of both Heatherdale Cricket Club and Mitcham Cricket Club, Mitcham Thunder Basketball Club, and other key community figures. We all found the experience very humbling. I thank Founder of MCM, Ben Frawley, for his great contribution to our community and his kind words of endorsement. I look forward to bringing together another group to cook up a storm another Sunday night when Mitcham Community Meal is back!
14.01.2022 THANK YOU to my loyal band of supporters who helped me deliver my campaign pamphlet over the past few weeks. It made a huge difference knowing I had this support. I was able to focus on the new area of Simpson Ward in Vermont, currently Morack Ward, meeting many wonderful locals out in their gardens whilst letterboxing. I’d also like to thank everyone who has left me a message of support. You have no idea how much this has lifted my spirits. To those kind shopkeepers who al...lowed me to put up a poster in your shop window, I say a special Thank You to you all in these hard economic times. This campaign in lockdown has tested many candidates. We can’t hold public meetings, we can’t shake your hand, we can’t even smile at each other! It’s been tough! But your support has meant the world! Thank you!
14.01.2022 REMINDER: Avoid an $83 fine for not voting in the Victorian statewide elections by sending off your ballot papers by 6pm this Friday 23rd October! Please urge family and friends to do likewise. People 70 and over are now, for the first time, required to vote unless they have a valid reason not to. If you have neighbours 70 and over, please offer to help them by either dropping their ballot papers in a letterbox for them or placing the ballot into the envelope - it’s fiddly! #communityhelpingcommunity
13.01.2022 DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE? 3 school crossing supervisors at the busy 6 lane Whitehorse Road crossing at Antonio Park Primary School Delivered! This is one of 12 sites around Whitehorse that has a new school crossing supervisor in order to meet State Government requirements. These are in addition to the 11 crossing supervisors which were going to be removed last year (from supposedly under-utilised school crossings) but with lobbying from myself and a number of other councillor...s, this decision was reversed and all 11 crossing supervisors were retained across the municipality including those at Rangeview Primary and Mt. Pleasant Primary. A common sense and appropriate reversal of a flawed decision. Our littlest people are our most vulnerable and their safety is of paramount importance!
13.01.2022 WE ARE COMING OUT OF THIS!! Active numbers in Whitehorse have gone from 76 at a peak 6 weeks ago to 3 recorded yesterday! LOCAL STATISTICS: Whitehorse and all surrounding municipalities have recorded 16 new cases between us in the last week which is GREAT NEWS!...Continue reading
13.01.2022 REMEMBRANCE DAY 2020 The guns fell silent on the 11th hour on the 11th day in the 11th month 1918 after more than 4 years of continuous warfare in WW1. Remembrance Day now has become universally associated with the remembrance of all those who died in war and armed conflict. Lest we forget... Photos with Peter McPhee, Abdul and Emma Rahman and Liz de Maria
13.01.2022 In almost 100 years to the day since Mary Rogers was the first elected woman to Local Government in Victoria on 5th November 1920 at Richmond City Council, the Whitehorse community has democratically elected a slight majority of women - 6 out of 11! At a small ceremony this afternoon, official declarations were made by the VEC to all 11 elected Councillors with 9 of the 11 present. New Councillors: Mark Lane, Amanda McNeill and Trudy Skilbeck... Re-elected Councillors: Blair Barker, Raylene Carr, Andrew Davenport (absent), Tina Liu, Denise Massoud, Andrew Munroe, Ben Stennett (absent) and myself. See more
13.01.2022 Nadrasca, based locally in Rooks Road Nunawading, is an NDIS registered disability support service, and it is the ONLY social enterprise printer in the eastern suburbs! I was thrilled with the quality of my electoral material and the COVID-safe service Nadrasca provided, with competitive costs. So why not go local for your commercial printing needs and support a wonderful social enterprise at the same time! Contact Matt Johnston on 0418 410 865 or [email protected].
13.01.2022 I sincerely thank Ben and Jane Frawley for their vision for this wonderful community service! So many individuals from so many groups over the last 2 years have had lives enriched due to this experience, importantly including youngsters. Thank you for what YOU do and looking forward to MCM starting back up again soon!
13.01.2022 VIRTUAL Flowers of THANKS to my Wonderful Community! I would like to thank the residents of Springfield Ward and the broader Whitehorse community for your support and encouragement, and for keeping me informed and abreast of all things important to you over the last 4 years. My term as your Springfield Ward Councillor is drawing to a close and my last full day will be tomorrow. All Council phone and email contact will be dis-connected at 6am on Saturday morning, Election Day.... My time being your representative has been richly rewarding on many levels - knowledge, being connected to community, advocating for things that really matter such as inappropriate development, preserving our amenity and neighbourhood character, sustainability and environmental initiatives including returning 21 Wattle Valley Road Mitcham back to parkland, rates and expenditure, supporting local businesses and community groups as we slowly come out of lockdown, important community infrastructure such as the Nunawading Community Hub, Walker Park pavilion redevelopment, Heatherdale Reserve redevelopment progressing to detailed design stage and now ready to go out to tender, the Heatherdale Mountain Bike Skills Track etc. Together we have achieved so much for our community and none of it would have been possible without your input and support. I hope to continue as your elected Councillor for the new Simpson Ward, but irrespective of the outcome of these elections (and please vote by 6pm Friday 23rd October to avoid a fine!!), thank you for the privilege of the last 4 years! Take care all!
12.01.2022 GOOD LUCK to the 45,000+ "Class of 2020" Victorian students sitting their VCE exams in a Year 12 like no other! In the blink of an eye they go from graduating preschool to graduating Year 12. Know that an ATAR does not define who you are or what you are capable of. It is a stepping stone along life's journey. ... Best wishes for today's English exam and for the rest of your exams! Our whole community is right behind each and every one of you!
12.01.2022 How fortunate we’ve been for the past 7 years, since we moved to Mitcham from Nunawading, to be so well looked after by Hugh and the Vermont Value Vet team! Appointments are a bit different nowadays but we still get that superior level of caring service!
12.01.2022 SNAP SEND SOLVE app in action! Great to see the Cleansing Crew out this morning removing graffiti from the old Milkbar on Brunswick Road in Mitcham. When I walked past at 9am the officer had completed the job! For any URGENT matter eg. a significant public safety issue such as a tree fallen across a road etc, please call switchboard 9262 6333. An out-of-hours service is available 24/7 for emergency reports and requests. Otherwise the Snap Send Solce app report will do the trick! Main photo courtesy of a local resident. Thanks Sophie!
12.01.2022 Please join me at the virtual National Walk for Mental Health tomorrow run by Mental Health Foundation Australia. Last year we had our very own Whitehorse Walk for Community Connection raising awareness about mental health and well-being. About 250 of us walked around the beautiful Blackburn Sanctuary Lake after hearing short presentations from guest speakers. This year all Councillor nominations were put aside due to COVID-19 so this event is a wonderful replacement for a...n important community event. Please join me as we remember loved ones no longer with us due to suicide. I encourage you to reach out to those struggling with mental health issues. We need connection with others more than ever right now!
11.01.2022 It’s National Mental Health Month, raising much needed awareness about the importance of mental wellbeing, particularly right now in these COVID times where our resilience and mental fortitude have been challenged. Please join me by zooming in to various webinars being run by the Mental Health Foundation Australia. There is a webinar on each of the 31 days of October starting with a launch tonight. This link will enable you to join any one of the 31 events: https://www.mhfa.o...rg.au//01%20-%20NEW%20-%20NMHM%20Calenda #LetsTalk #MentalHealthMatters
11.01.2022 Thank you Matt McCubbin, President, Mitcham Football Club for your endorsement. What stood out in the early stages of the redevelopment of Walker Park pavilion facilities, and throughout this lengthy almost 4 year process, was Prue’s determination to get the job done. She was our strong voice within Whitehorse Council to advocate and navigate the process against the many challenges we faced along the way. We count ourselves very fortunate to have someone that would both listen and roll up her sleeves for the benefit of all three clubs within the Walker Park facilities. We will be forever grateful for Prue's pivotal efforts to ensure this project materialized.
11.01.2022 Delighted to be formally inducted into the Rotary Club of Mitcham today! I am thrilled to join this world-wide family of individuals who want to make a difference to the lives of others through volunteer service!
10.01.2022 WHAT AN ACHIEVEMENT! We’ve made it to the other side. Zero active cases of coronavirus. THANK YOU to all for your sacrifice over these last few months, a time which has tested our resilience and patience!
09.01.2022 Fantastic to see the Nunawading Market back in full swing after months being unable to operate due to COVID restrictions. Great to pick up a coffee at Little Happy Hut, a sweet treat to go and some Christmas earrings to get into the festive spirit! Open until 2pm today!
08.01.2022 COMMUNITY ENDORSEMENT: SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESS If it were not for Prue’s energy and genuine interest in us during the early days of COVID-19, we would not have created the connection with the Mitcham and Vermont communities. The immediate spike in our online sales and factory door visits from the locals is attributed to Prue’s action and network of residents who came on board to support us. Her ongoing assistance is authentic and she has cared about us by checking in throu...ghout the whole lockdown period. The silver lining for us now is we have strong connections to many in the local community that we did not have despite being in Redland Drive Mitcham for 15 years. Fiona Richardson Owner, The Pastry Lounge and Gron Haus Note: Most photos taken pre mandatory mask wearing Authorised by Prue Cutts, PO Box 2195, Rangeview. VIC. 3132.
08.01.2022 FREE OUTDOOR TRADING PERMITS for hospitality businesses. Apply now! Fast-tracked COVID Response: Outdoor Trading Permits will provide hospitality venues with increased options to trade safely. These free permits, valid to September 2021, allow hospitality venues to:... Expand onto footpaths Take over on-street car parking space immediately outside their business Join with neighbouring hospitality businesses to take over sections of on-street car parking, footpaths and (in some cases) street space For more information, go to: http://bit.ly/OutdoorTrading #WhitehorseStrongerTogether #ShopLocalBuyLocal
08.01.2022 THANK YOU Cr Bill Bennett, for your 8 years of service to residents of Terrara Ward and the Whitehorse community, and best wishes for your retirement! Bill will not be re-contesting at the upcoming elections but I wanted to acknowledge him with a small tribute of photos from his Mayoral year in 2018-9. I have enjoyed working with Bill over the last 4 years immensely. He’s been a kind and wise mentor to me. Always well prepared for meetings, Bill had a knack of asking incisiv...e questions just at the right moment and always ensured residents got the best outcome. His Mayoral year was highlighted by the recruitment of our new CEO, Simon McMillan, in September last year. Both Vermont South Lions Club and Mens’s Shed in Vermont will be pleased to have him back! Bill has been a magnificent servant to the people of Whitehorse. With best wishes for a fulfilling and happy retirement! Bill’s last day as Councillor for Morack Ward will be Friday 23rd October.
08.01.2022 We’re maskless for the first time outside after 4 months to the day Melbourne! That’s 123 days! And who else feels a bit like a criminal? Incredible to think this would make no sense at all going back a year pre COVID!
08.01.2022 LOCAL GOVT VOTING has begun with ballot papers starting to arrive in letterboxes. I’d like to wish my fellow Simpson Ward candidates Jill, Philip and Sam the very best. All candidates have put out electoral material so I ask you to consider each on their own merit and how they align with your values and beliefs. You may note I am the only candidate not to put out a How to Vote card, apart from seeking your number 1 preference. I believe that this is entirely your choice. The...re are only 4 candidates unlike Oakleigh Ward in Monash which has something like 13!! If, after this consideration, you decide to Vote 1 Prue Cutts, then I thank you sincerely. Should I be re- elected as your Councillor for a second term, then I promise to bring the same energy, positivity and passion to my role and will continue to LISTEN, ACT & DELIVER! Yours faithfully, Councillor Prue Cutts
07.01.2022 Please find my candidate statement and questionnaire responses. All 47 candidates for the Whitehorse Council elections have their statements and questionnaire responses on the VEC website at: https://www.vec.vic.gov.au//whitehorse-city-co/nominations If you have any queries, please reach out to me on:... Phone: 0425 701 796 Email: [email protected] Vote 1 Prue Cutts
06.01.2022 Ballot packs will start hitting letterboxes across Victoria TODAY and will be delivered progressively over a number of days. That means that people in the same household may not receive their ballot pack on the same day. If you do not receive a ballot pack by Friday 16 October, contact the local election office on (03) 8619 1472 to request a replacement. The Council elections are Statewide affecting all Council municipalities (except the 3 under administration). For the firs...t time the entire state will be having postal elections! Please note there has been a State legislation change requiring people 70 years and over to vote. It is now compulsory for everyone on the State roll to vote in all elections Council, State and Federal. If the voter does not submit a postal vote, this will result in the voter receiving an apparent failure to vote notice. If the voter does not have a valid reason for not voting, they will receive a fine of $83.00. Please see the VEC website for further information. https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/voting/fines-and-reviews.
06.01.2022 GOOD NEWS CONTINUES! Active numbers in Whitehorse have gone from 76 at a peak 6 weeks ago to 5 recorded yesterday! LOCAL STATISTICS: (The numbers from the 6 previous Thursdays are in brackets for comparison purposes) ...Continue reading
06.01.2022 VICTORIAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS HAVE NOW CLOSED After queries from some residents, here is a final update: With 2,187 nominations across 76 of the 79 Victorian councils (3 are under administration), there are 622 vacancies with 298 separate elections. Locally in Whitehorse there are 47 candidates vying for 11 positions. Our wards will be counted alphabetically, two a day with Simpson Ward scheduled for this coming Thursday, 29th October. There should be a reasonable indi...cation of first preferences at the end of the day, with information provided by scrutineers appointed on behalf of candidates. As far as the official declaration of new Councillors is concerned, we have not been given a definite date due to COVID and Australia Post delays. As all 2016-20 Councillors terms have expired, I will take a break away from Facebook until results are officially known. I would like to thank all those who assisted in my campaign and to you the voters. I wish all candidates well and hope for a truly representative new Council being appointed.
06.01.2022 Thanks Jo Hart-Parker, President, Heathmont Jets Football Netball Club, for your kind words. Cr Prue Cutts has been committed and very supportive of the Heatherdale Reserve pavilion redevelopment project over the last three years working with our club and the Heatherdale Cricket Club . The current club rooms are severely outdated and can not accommodate the greatly increased number of teams, both in football and cricket, especially the girls and women’s teams. ... Prue’s tireless work in helping get this project to shovel ready, through her work with the community, Council and fellow Councillors has been fantastic and gratefully appreciated by all.
05.01.2022 Mitcham Coles has been listed as High Risk by DHHS today. Please consider if you were at this location on Sept 19th or 23rd in the afternoon on both days. If you start to get any symptoms, please get checked as soon as possible and quarantine. Take care!
04.01.2022 SEEKING YOUR VIEWS ON THE FUTURE OF SILVER GROVE With the Nunawading Community Hub completed, as soon as is deemed safe to do so, community groups located at Silver Grove will vacate the Council owned 2.46 hectare site. The area is currently zoned PUZ6, Public Use zone. I understand that within months, this site will be empty and will later be bulldozed. ... What do YOU think we should do with the site? It’s strategically placed right next to Nunawading station, and easy assess to buses. Up until about 40 years ago, see first photo, the area was an oval used by Nunawading Football and Cricket Club. Nunawading Shire Council (at the time) decided to instead to house a number of community groups there. My initial thoughts are to retain the whole area as open space however there is funding flagged to compensate for the NCH project upon sale of part of the land, but this could possibly be over-ruled by a Council resolution I believe, and pressure from community members to your newly elected councillors, or even current candidates!! What are your thoughts? I am here to listen to YOUR views! At the moment, Council has deemed this as a strategic site but there are no plans as yet on the table. Let’s start some community discussion ourselves and please add any photos you may have!
04.01.2022 Thanks for the endorsement Peter Clark, Treasurer, Heatherdale Tennis club! Just over 2 years ago, after already being on the drawing board for over 30 years, we as a club decided to pursue a very ambitious project to modernize and improve the look and feel of our club by building a huge viewing platform. Once I started putting the plan into action it didn’t take long to realize we were facing a real uphill battle with both financing and council assistance. I could clearly s...ee we needed as much help and support as we could get. It was at that stage a number of people suggested I contact Cr Prue Cutts. When I did, she immediately took a real interest in our club. Her positive and enthusiastic personality was like a breath of fresh air. Prue’s advice early on lead to us getting a grant that started to make the project viable. Many times, along the way, we came across what seemed to be insurmountable obstacles and each time Prue would ring me and tell me not to give up, encouraging me to find another way. Prue’s dedication, enthusiasm and support played a major part in the Heatherdale Tennis Club successfully completing the project that many thought was out of our reach. I know many others outside of our club can attest to Prue’s dedication in her role as a councillor because of all the positive stories I’ve been told by them. So, I have no hesitation in endorsing Prue Cutts in the upcoming council election. She is definitely one of the good ones.
03.01.2022 It was great to attend tonight’s AGM of our local gymnastics club, NGSC Nunawading Gymnastics. It’s been a tough year for all community sporting clubs but the NGSC is in great hands for the year ahead. I congratulate all committee members and the following elected officials: President - Bruce Treble... Vice President - Natalie Hird Secretary - Donna-Louise Wilson Treasurer - Katja can Praag Publicity Officer - Katja / Ishoa Jade Cook Wishing the Club all the best for the year ahead!
02.01.2022 #CampaigningInCOVID - WHAT I STAND FOR. I have been an independent and trusted voice on Council for the last 4 years. I’ve also been an approachable, hard working and effective councillor representing the 35,000 people of Springfield Ward for the last 4 years. I stand now for the new Simpson Ward, focusing on: Supporting businesses and the wider community as we recover from this terrible pandemic Supporting community health and wellbeing including mental health Enhanci...ng our open spaces for enjoyment now and for future generations Improving our environmental sustainability including a multi-pronged approach to greening Whitehorse and better waste management With residents, opposing inappropriate development eg. 42-48 Glenburnie Road Mitcham, 539 Mitcham Road Vermont and 1 Orient Ave Mitcham in this last Council term Opposing a rate increase during the pandemic at the last budget Ensuring Council is transparent, accountable and efficient with our rates Supporting a diverse, multicultural and inclusive community If you or anyone you know live in the new Simpson Ward, I seek your help! With the recent State Government changes to Whitehorse’s ward structure, I am standing with half a new ward which I have not represented before - Morack Ward south of Canterbury Road to the Healesville Freeway Reserve, from Heatherdale Road to Terrara Road. It’s not exactly great timing with the pandemic and not being able to get out and campaign!! So ...... I seek your assistance to Like, Share and spread the word about my candidacy. Please leave any comments or queries below, or contact me at [email protected] or call 0425 701 796. I look forward to hearing from you! Authorised by Prue Cutts, PO Box 2195, Rangeview VIC 3132 Copyright: Prue Cutts
01.01.2022 COUNCIL RATES - I am disappointed and saddened, along with the many Whitehorse residents I’ve been speaking with when out letterboxing in the last few days, that at our budget meeting in June this year, the agenda item to FREEZE RATES was not supported by the majority of Councillors. I can only apologise for this. I SPOKE STRONGLY AGAINST RAISING RATES. If we can’t freeze rates in a once in a 100 year pandemic, then when can we? Monash raised theirs by 2% but then gave a 10% ...waiver effectively giving a 8% reduction. It’s not necessarily about the savings either. It’s about an acknowledgement by Council that each and every person has been affected by this terrible pandemic. We do have a COVID relief and recovery package of $4.5 million but this has to be applied for, and is largely for businesses and community groups, and those struggling to pay rates can make individual application to Council under Personal Hardship. A rates freeze would have been something for everyone, albeit small but meaningful nevertheless. I welcome any feedback, but my opinion is that Council should keep rates as low as possible every year, and especially this year and next, at least, as we recover from this devastating health and economic crisis. If re-elected, I commit to continue to ensure Council is transparent, accountable and efficient with our rates, so that we can keep them as low as possible without compromising the 100+ services provided to the community. Authorised by Prue Cutts, PO Box 2195, Rangeview. VIC. 3132
01.01.2022 How near are we to that 5 per day rolling average? It is the closest we’ve been since the second wave began. Thank you to everyone who has sacrificed so much in these last few months!
01.01.2022 SUPPORT OUR LOCAL SHOPPING STRIP TRADERS - VERMONT EAST With the pandemic causing so much distress to our small businesses we need to support our local traders as much as we can! So pop down to the Vermont East shopping strip offering ample parking, grab a coffee from Rise and Grind 3133, a yummy pork roll from Merton’s Bakery Cafe, and pick up a bunch of flowers from the florist on the way home to brighten someone’s day! Or pop into any of the other shops for takeaway or yo...ur chemist needs! The strip is soon to welcome two new traders which is exciting news! Please support these businesses: Nick and Anna at Vermont Florist Bombshell Salon - opening soon Hok Lemg Tov at Merton’s Bakery Cafe Laundromat - opening soon Mark and May at Canterbury Road Fish and Chips John and Leanne at vermontpizzeria Madeline at Rise & Grind 3133 Harry at East Vermont Pharmacy ..... and don’t forget we have NDIS Link Health and Community Services on the corner of Purches Street!
