Cr Kate Hely in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | Political candidate

Cr Kate Hely

Locality: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Phone: +61 436 460 829

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25.01.2022 Every week we take our kids to swimming lessons at Harold Holt pools, and every week I my heart melts seeing all the dads* in the toddler pool with their kids. There is a beautiful vulnerability, intimacy and love at play. This moment of bonding not only looked forward to every week - but also looked forward to as a tradition of being dad. The beginning of weekend sports, the preparation for a childhood of memories at the beach, and as a lifelong rescuer and coach. ... Go dads, you rock! * There are mums in the pools too (I used to be one of them) but the vast majority of adults are dads.

25.01.2022 << Contribute to the development of Greater Melbourne’s Regional Climate Change Adaptation Strategy >> Victoria is already experiencing the impacts of climate change; in recent years we’ve seen devastating bushfires, rising sea levels and more frequent extreme weather events. Alongside reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, supporting a robust approach to adaptation is critical to building our resilience and preparing our industries and communities for the future climate. O...ne way communities are being supported to adapt to climate change is through a $9.3 million commitment by the Victorian Government to develop Regional Climate Change Adaptation Strategies. Taking a regionally-based, community-led approach to developing these strategies will ensure they reflect local challenges, opportunities and priorities, and capture the insights of the people who know these areas best. You can contribute to the development of Greater Melbourne’s Regional Climate Change Adaptation Strategy by sharing your views on Melbourne’s Climate Journey Discussion Paper, which summarises a range of issues and adaptation options. The insights you provide about local climate change adaptation challenges, issues and concerns will inform the regional strategy and help secure Melbourne’s resilience against climate change. Visit https://engage.vic.gov.au/regional-climate-change-adaptatio for more information, to access the discussion paper and to share your views before Monday 7 December 2020. ----- Copy provided by Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

25.01.2022 Home from holidays. Only a few serious planning issues to deal with over the last couple of weeks. Mostly involving pillow / couch fort non compliance.

24.01.2022 The Chapel St Masterplan Report was made 7 years ago and created an amazing vision for what Chapel Street could be. It shared ideas like creating a collection of neighbourhoods down Chapel rather than just thinking of it as one long strip so that there was a clear delineation between the areas such that the distinctiveness of these neighbourhoods could be amplified. (South Yarra Chapel st is different to Prahran is different to Windsor is different to Forest Hill.) Villa...ge squares would encourage more community events, pop up markets and adequate shelter for summer. Pedestrians would be prioritised. Creating places to pause, rest and relax. Gateways would be created to grandly welcome visitors to our iconic street. This report gives vision, purpose and direction to how Chapel St could be reinvigorated. But as a local resident, I don't feel like I have seen that vision come to life yet. Even 7 years ago, the report described Chapel St as rundown and outdated and many would describe the infrastructure in that way still. We need to change that to set Chapel Street up for success. => What elements of the plan excite you? => What would you prioritise? #chapelstreet #VoteKateHely #stonnignton #stonningtoncouncil #southyarra #toorak PDF Report: https://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au//chapel-street-masterpl There is also a Chapel St reVision Structure plan from 2013, updated in 2015, which does not feel as visionary yet is connected.

23.01.2022 Hello Nature Enthusiasts of Stonnington! Join this four-day challenge to identify the biodiversity in our City.

23.01.2022 Most people seem to actively engage with the Council only at a couple of stages in life - when we have kids and use maternal health care and local kinders etc - and when we are older and talking to Council about building permits. So there are many people who are simply not interested in Council - which means that they are not interested in putting forward their views and opinions about how they would like to see their community develop and what they want their neighbourhood t...o become. Topics which can have a profound impact on our quality of life! So what am I doing with this ridiculous post? I admit I am being a bit silly! But I am also trying to reframe Council (and me) into something a bit more approachable, culturally engaging and relatable. Im seeking engagement from people who would not normally engage with Council ideas. One of the pillars of my campaign is to ensure there is a more diverse representation of voices participating with Council. Because without diverse participation, it is not possible to serve the current or future needs of our community. So what do you think?! Surely for some, this will have been the only time you have clicked on a Council Elections ad?! Learn more about my ideas on my Facebook page: @KateHelyforStonnington or on my website: katehely.com Note: * My husband and I were GOT tragics until the very end (which was disappointing). * Facebook thinks that you live in the area and were into Game of Thrones - that's why you are seeing this ad. #GOT #VoteKateHely #WardofTheNorth #StonningtonCouncil #TimeForChange Authorised by Kate Hely of PO BOX 597, Toorak.

21.01.2022 The nice thing about having kids is that they force you to look at life through a different lens. A stick becomes a zombie attack gun, a group of rocks becomes a ship, the grass is lava, I am a zombie mummy who needs to provide tickle attacks. We found a whole new park the other day to play in - which wasnt right under our noses as much as above our shoulders for a long time without us realising it. Como Park North. Its mostly grass (aka Lava), but it does have cool rocks... (aka pirate ship), a few sticks (aka zombie attack guns) and beautiful views for Zombie mum to appreciate (me). Check it out: https://goo.gl/maps/ggonRS9fA67YDSCZ7 If I am elected, I will continue to seek green spaces for our community, while also looking to maximise the spaces we already have. While President of Brookville Kindergarten I have helped to upgrade two of the outdoor spaces - and have seen first hand the tremendous impact play spaces have on our children. #VoteKateHely #ChangeForTheBetter Authorised by Kate Hely of PO BOX 597, Toorak.

21.01.2022 One issue with Council is that it can seem irrelevant to a majority of people. One of the pillars of my campaign is about diversity - and ensuring that it is not only the loud and passionate that are heard and celebrated but also the insightful, quiet and disengaged. My husband and I were Game of Thrones tragics... until the end disappointed us. ... Let's have some fun in the way we engage and interact with people. Let's have a bit of personality. #VoteKateHely #WardoftheNorth #StonningtonElections

21.01.2022 Over NAIDOC week I have seen some wonderful resources shared around and wanted to share a few: 1. Woolworths is giving away FREE NAIDOC Week Posters - just ask at the information desk for some. Share the love. 2. This is a great guide to terminology when referring to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: https://fashionjournal.com.au//can-i-call-you-that-a-guid/ 3. A fascinating map of Indigenous Australia: https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/map-indigenous-australia 4.... Awesome Spotify playlist of First Nations music: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6REpXIDOssIPrV5yDzKQqb 5. NAIDOC inspired content on Netflix and SBS and ABC: https://www.naidoc.org.au//netflix-partnership-highlights- See more

21.01.2022 In every organisation you work in there are new phrases to learn. My favorite new one from the council is that when you doing a bit of shopping on your lunch break you are not just 'shopping' you are in fact 'stimulating the local economy'. Which is a far more important-sounding! So that's what I was doing when I discovered that Oroton had opened a new store today on High Street. So great to see this iconic Australian brand thriving in Stonnington. Have you been 'stimulating... the local economy' lately? OROTON #oroton High Street Armadale

21.01.2022 As part of my election campaign, I proposed the idea of a "Value for Money Program". Essentially, a Value for Money program would independently investigate and analyse each Council operation to determine if savings could be achieved or if a more effective expenditure could be made to maximise ratepayer benefits. ("Benefits" from Council include health, social, wellbeing, community cohesion, safety, business attractiveness, carbon, environmental and utilisation benefits.) The... program would build on the experience of other Councils in Australia and New Zealand who have implemented similar processes or departments. After I was elected I shared the concept with Council Exec and my fellow Councilors to seek feedback and ways to enhance the idea. This is the discussion paper I shared with Councilors in November. I am still working with Council Officers to explore how to best bring it to fruition. I see this program as an opportunity to install best practices and continual improvement within Council.

20.01.2022 I believe in the power of great urban and building design to increase the livability and success of our neighbourhoods. I believe that Stonnington has the opportunity to embrace Plan Victoria's initiative of 20-minute walkable cities to help us ensure that our communities flourish. The handy thing about the 20-minute walkable city concept is that is is not new, there are a lot of cities adopting it and data that points to its success. ... Here we can see that it is good for business! #VoteKateHely #Stonnington #SouthYarra #Toorak #Kooyong #chapelstreet #toorakvillage #toorakroad Data Source: Badawi, Y, Maclean, F, and Mason, B, (2018). The economic case for investment in walking, Victoria Walks, Melbourne as quoted in Creating a more livable Melbourne Photo by Arief Bayu Wardhana on Unsplash

20.01.2022 Always Was, Always Will Be. Today starts the beginning of National NAIDOC Week - a week to celebrate that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years. Residents of The City of Stonnington live on the Traditional land of the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri People. We can all take a moment this week to reflect and learn about the history, traditions and perspectives of our First Peoples. ... Stonnington’s Activities for the week: https://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au//I/National-NAIDOC-Week A great article from Huffington Post about 5 simple ways you can celebrate NAIDOC Week https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au//ways-to-celebrate-naido The official NAIDOC site: https://www.naidoc.org.au/ (Their official poster is available for purchase at Woolworths) <> #NAIDOC2020 #NAIDOCWeek

19.01.2022 I have noticed the trees beginning to blossom, the evenings a little lighter, the weather warming up and an emerging reinterest in white wine In what ways have you noticed Spring's arrival? #VoteKateHely... #ChangeForGood See more

17.01.2022 We are getting to the end of Movember and some participants may need some extra encouragement to keep their mo going as it heats up. And here is that inspiration - some of the former Mayors of the City of Stonnington! >> Who wore it best?... https://au.movember.com/

17.01.2022 This school term has been a very special kind of hell for parents of young kids. We have been homeschooling a grade prep (6yo) and grade 2 (8yo) while also managing a 4-year-old... all while working... and deciding to run for Council. I took this photo while I was on a work conference call, as a reminder of what we have been able to manage during this period. ... On the plus side, I think all my children will remember of this COVID time is that mum and dad are not the greatest teachers, how to clean a toilet properly, how to ride a bike and that they got to watch a lot of Netflix. We will get through this! #VoteKateHely #homeschool #southyarra #toorak #kooyong #stonnington #stonningtoncouncil

17.01.2022 I love the concept of cycling. A quick trip to the shops. The feeling of freedom. To go to work, pick up my kids from kinder or school. Stonnington should be a great place to bike - near Chapel St nearly half of households don't have a car. It's even good for local business - Recent evidence from London suggests that a healthy street (as opposed to one that is full of traffic) will see a lower number of empty shops (17%) and an increase in footfall (93%) and spend (40%)^... Active Transport (Cycling, Walking and Public Transport) is needed for a thriving future in Stonnington as Continuing to rely on car travel to cater for growth will continue to increase road congestion. There is little room for wider roads or intersections and improving vehicle capacity is not consistent with an inclusive and healthy community.^ BUT as much as I understand all of this, I am too scared to bike on the road in my own neighbourhood. Im scared of superbike people in lycra getting angry at my nervous ineptitude and Im scared of cars and those car doors. A recent Stonington study showed that only 9% of riders in Stonnington feel very or extremely safe.^ This is a valid fear considering that on average one person a month is hospitalised while riding a bike in Stonnington.^ Stonnington completed a Draft Cycling Plan in July 2019 which has ambitions to address these safety issues. I see that COVIDs ability to disrupt our previous ways of being could be an accelerant for the reports mission and implementation. We have parked our cars at home, we are walking, we arent commuting to work as much, we are using online delivery. Now is a great time to change cycling safety for the better. (Note: I dont cycle because Im currently worried about the safety of it, but we are a mean family of scooter and balance-bike riders on the footpaths) ^Quotes and report: https://drive.google.com//1oWeUxcIoffh3TA38GaS7IZj-xG/view #VoteKateHely #ChangeForTheBetter Bicycle Network bikes.com.au - Melbourne Bicycle Centre Prahran Giant South Yarra Pista Bikes Bike Chaser The Cycling Fix Image: Chris Barbalis

16.01.2022 While living in Stonnington over the last 12 years, I met my husband, had an amazing career, had children, owned business, bought and sold property, renovated, become a landlord and got an MBA. But it was only this year that I became an Australian - and the first thing I do?! Decide to run for Council! I am a proud Kiwi Australian and want to use my passion and experience to ensure Stonnington is the best place in the world to live, work and play!... #VoteKateHely #votecommunity #localgovernment #election2020 #cityofstonnington

16.01.2022 #VoteKateHely #prahranmarket #southyarra Market Lane Coffee Prahran Market

15.01.2022 My kids have watched me become a candidate and then a councillor and then mayor... but it really meant nothing to them. Until last week when I said we are in charge of all the playgrounds! Suddenly it is a serious job that they are keen to help me with. We picked up an ‘active Stonnington’ map and are now checking out all the playgrounds in Stonnington. Union street was today - and my 8 year old gave it a 20/20, the 6 year old gave it a 50/100 while reminding me that 50 i...s a very large number that I should still be impressed with. Key highlights are the spinning Christmas tree and the spider web tunnel. https://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au//P/Union-Street-Gardens

15.01.2022 Last night I had the honour of being elected as the Mayor of the City of Stonnington by the freshly elected Councillors of Stonnington. Below is the speech that I gave, sharing my respect and commitment to my fellow Councillors and to the people and communities of the City of Stonnington. -----...Continue reading

15.01.2022 It is important that Council tangibly demonstrates to its residents and ratepayers that they are providing the most cost-effective and efficient delivery of their services and projects. That they are getting maximum value for every ratepayers dollar. And yet many residents and ratepayers are concerned that Stonnington is not spending efficiently or transparently. I believe that introducing a Value for Money Program would help to address this. The program would investigate... and analyse each council operation to determine if savings could be achieved or if more effective expenditure could be made to maximise ratepayer benefit. A value for money program is compulsory for all local authorities in New Zealand and is already used in many Australian Councils. It is more than just procurement its about making sure we are doing things in the right way to get maximum results for our neighbourhoods. I want to increase the transparency of Council so that residents and ratepayers feel like they can trust in Council. Auckland City Council Example: https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz//value-for-money-revie #VoteKateHely #Stonnington #SouthYarra #Toorak #Kooyong

15.01.2022 Just a regular Romantic Friday night iso takeaway. Mr miyagi tonight. We saved more than $10 on our order by ordering it directly from Mr Miyagi instead of UberEats. Mr Miyagi would have made made about $10 more from our order because we didnt order via ubereats. Win win tastes yum yum. ... #votekatehely #shoplocal #mrmiyagi #chapelstreet

15.01.2022 I have already posted about how NYC is encouraging and enabling cafes and restaurants to utilize more outdoor space to enable hospitality businesses to keep up the number of customers while maintaining social distancing. Im now reading about how Paris and other cities around the world are also closing off traffic to commercial corridors to drivers in order to give restaurants more space to spread out. With less cars on the road currently, it is an obvious option! A town in ...Montgomery County, USA, Bethesda has created a Streetery and is closing off key streets between 11am and 10pm to allow for more temporary dining outside. Outdoor tables and chairs are set up so that customers can purchase food from local restaurants and then consume it in the street. Local restaurants are creating special streetery menus for this purpose. As local restaurant owner Chirs Lucas (Hawkers Hall) suggested in a recent Broadsheet article on how the City of Melbourne is looking to embrace increased allowances for outdoor eating, these are not long term solutions, but I hope that this sort of thinking can provide some buoyancy until a vaccine arrives. #VoteKateHely #ChapelSt #ToorakRd #TimeForChange #StonnigntonElections Broadsheet Melbourne Stonnington City Council Stonnington Leader What's On Stonnington Photo by Fabien Bazanegue

14.01.2022 We are very excited about our tomatoes. There is such excitement from my boys to try and find some ripe ones. And even the non-tomato-eaters suddenly love tomatoes.

14.01.2022 Im Kate Hely, and I am running for North Ward in the upcoming Stonnington Council elections. If you are from South Yarra, Toorak and Kooyong, I want to work with you to make sure that you love where you live even more. You will be receiving a postal vote pack on the 6-8 October - and with that, you have the power to change the future of our community. ... Vote 1 for Kate Hely #VoteKateHely

14.01.2022 MIMES OR FINES TO MOTIVATE COVID SAFE BEHAVIOUR? When restrictions do ease, how do we make sure people "do the right thing" by socially distancing, wearing masks etc in our community? Because it seems likely that we will need to keep these behaviours up for a while to prevent further waves of infection. Is it about more Police, more fines, more restrictions, or can we trust people to do the right thing for potentially another year?? ... To make real behaviour change happen, we might need to think about creative ways to ensure that we keep doing "the right thing" even if no one is watching us, even if we could 'get away with it'. An article in The Conversation highlighted an entertaining but effective idea. In "Bogota, the capital of Columbia, where in the 1990s new mayor Antanas Mockus decided to tackle crime and problems such as traffic fatalities using cultural persuasion rather than more law enforcement. "Rather than employing more police to patrol the roads, the city instead employed hundreds of mime artists to mimic and ridicule drivers and pedestrians doing the wrong thing. "The idea was that instead of cops handing out tickets and pocketing fines, these performers would police drivers’ behaviour by communicating with mime for instance, pretending to be hurt or offended when a vehicle ignored the pedestrian right of way in a crosswalk. Could this system, which boiled down to publicly signalled approval or disapproval, really work? "The evidence is it did. Within a decade traffic deaths were halved." So could a bevvy of mime artists be employed by Council over summer to model, play and politely police good behaviour? => Have you got a better idea? --------------- Article from The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/beyond-the-police-state-to-covi Image Source: Irena Carpaccio on Unsplash

11.01.2022 Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you have had an imperfectly perfect Christmas filled with chaos, mess, cheesy moments and love.

11.01.2022 Becoming a mother is a powerful and amazing experience. But it can also be the death of your old way of being. Even if you love your cute chubba like nothing else, it can be an extremely lonely experience. I found the local networks and services Council offered to be profoundly important in discovering the new me and more deeply connecting with my community than ever before. Knowing the power of these services is what motivated me to become the President of Brookville Kin...dergarten for the last three years, and prior to that be on the Committee of the Stonnington Toy Library. These services offer more than just toys or education - they give us place, connections, purpose. And a sense of community. This recent study looked at the elements that help mothers feel connected, and Council pays a key role in many of them. Feeling connected ts about: * Having access to a network of parents from different childrens programs * Having access to other parents through school * Having access to mothers groups. * Having access to affordable childcare * Having services and programs close by * Being able to get out and about * The ability to get into the natural environment These core needs feed into my vision to embrace the idea of a 20-minute city - where all our essential needs are met near where we live. In North Ward, we don't yet have enough affordable childcare nor do we have easy assess to amazing resources like the Toy Library. => HOW DO YOU THINK WE CAN WE INCREASE OUR SUPPORT OF YOUNG PARENTS AS A COMMUNITY? #VoteKateHely Stonnington Toy Library Stonnington Leader Stonnington City Council Report: SOCIAL ISOLATION AND LONELINESS PROJECT REPORT 2019, Prepared for Inner South-east Metropolitan Partnership Working Group Photo by Caroline Hernandez Authorised by Kate Hely of PO BOX 597, Toorak.

10.01.2022 A building plaque is a bit of an old-school idea. It is an enduring reminder of who was involved in a building at its origin - the official that opened it, the people involved, the date it was born into the world. It lists the people who will be forever tied to that structure. I see a few bad quality or thoughtless developments in our neighbourhood and I wonder if they would have ended up that way if the names of the people (not the companies) who funded, designed, built an...d approved these structures were forever associated with it. Would they make better decisions on design, materials and amenity if they knew that their grandchildren would be able to judge them for it? Psychologists know that physically signing your name to something makes you more honest. Pride is a powerful emotion linked to integrity and honesty. Would a plaque be a simple way to ensure people make more considered building decisions? #VoteKateHely #stonnington #toorakvillage #stonningtononcouncil #southyarra #southyarralife #changeisgood #cityofstonnington #fearlessleader #yarrariver #chapelstreet #toorakroad #toorakroadtrader Authorised by Kate Hely of PO BOX 597, Toorak.

10.01.2022 I love reading Alan de Botton to get my brain thinking about life afresh. In The Art of Travel he ponders how we put a lot of energy into thinking about where to travel and what to do when we get there, but very little on why we do it in the first place. One of the conclusions I drew from it was that an ideal situation would be the ability to travel around your own neighbourhood as though it was a foreign city - to take note and appreciate its own unique exoticness and beau...ty as if you were seeing it for the first time. This is certainly how we feel walking around our local retailers today. But there is such beauty amongst it. I love the transformation of cafes to grocery, wine and gourmet at home and thoroughly enjoyed the observation of Bar Carolinas transformation on a recent walk. Was I in France? Amsterdam? Italy? With juicy tomatoes tempting me in the windows and friends gossiping in the store (socially distanced). There are horrid aspects to the COVID lockdowns, but there are also beautiful opportunities to dream of a more optimistic future than the past we left behind. #VoteKateHely #ChangeForGood Bar Carolina Toorak Road South Yarra The School of Life Australia

10.01.2022 There has been some debate about the mayoral car recently. Last night we had good debate about it in our council meeting. Below are my talking notes. I think it is important that we do have fresh provocations like Alex’s to make us consider if the prior policy is in line with current expectations so I welcome the debate.... However, I do think that there needs to be a car available to the Mayor. Alex is suggesting a change after my Mayoral term this year, so it is more about the general concept of a car for a mayor, but below are my experiences so far. As per many Mayors, I am still working in my professional career, managing a family as well as working as Mayor and Councillor. The job is very time intensive and the time we fulfill our obligations often sit at the edges of the day. It is vital to have any tool of time efficiency to help us serve the community as best we can. As much as the suggestion to use public transport or a bike as a priority overdriving is valid, I need to be able to get around the community safely, quickly, and effectively. I love the idea of cycling, but I don’t own a bike and don’t ride. I am too nervous to ride on the streets of Stonnington. I know that on average one cyclist a month ends up in hospital in Stonnington. This is why it is really important that we begin to improve cycling safety in our area so that I (and aspirational nervous-nelly cyclists like me) can feel more confident to give it a go and make cycling a regular habit. Finally, as a woman, I am always very conscious of my personal safety I am out after dark or visiting residents that I have never met before - by myself. I simply would not feel safe cycling, catching public transport or waiting for an Uber at these moments. It is always important to consider what efforts we can all individually and collectively make to help with the Climate Emergency but in this case, personal safety and tools of efficiency to complete the job to the best of the mayor’s ability are key priorities. Note: The current Mayoral car is a 2016 VW Tiguan.

10.01.2022 Off to victoria gardens playground today. Recently done up and looking amaze-balls. 19/20 from the kids and the highlight was the truck - that doubled as a missile launching zombie killing helicopter - and as a ship that was good for catching snapper - and as an electric powered truck that could be used to shoot lightning at angry dinosaurs. Also handy that it has a loo. ... https://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au//Parks/Victoria-Gardens

10.01.2022 Happy Fathers Day to all the wonderful dads, grandads and special friends. This year we are enjoying a feast with grandad over Houseparty, and our sons have penned some special messages to their dad. My favourites:... What does dad look like? He looks like a penguin because penguins stand up and he looks like a dog with a beard. How old is dad? 80 and 59 and 1000 and that all How are you celebrating the day? #votekatehely Photo by Arifur Rahman

10.01.2022 Lonely and socially isolated is when there is a difference between what we want our social relationships to be and the actual quality and quantity of them. It's acute right now, but it was already an issue in Stonnington. Community connectedness is an antidote - it's our ability to engage, participate and interact with others in the community. It has profound impacts on our enjoyment of and quality of life. A recent study in Stonnington looked at what helps several vulnerab...le groups feel more connected. The things that help are traits of a strong neighbourhood and community: For older people it's about things like: * Supportive networks of friends * Being able to volunteer * Having access to transport * Accessing community services * Affordable clubs and services * Being in contact with your neighbours * Being able to access shared spaces or public spaces Which are things which we as a community and Council play a key role in supporting. HOW CAN WE OVERCOME LONELINESS? HOW CAN WE INCREASE CONNECTEDNESS? It starts with listening. We need to listen to the full diversity of voices in Stonnington. #VoteKateHely

10.01.2022 How can we green more spaces in Stonnington? One of the big concerns for residents in Stonnington is a lack of green or open space. An issue that feels even more pressing when we need to stay so close to home right now! But it is not just about creating new pocket parks its also about enhancing our existing spaces and considering how nature can be creatively be incorporated into designs going forward.... Singapores Vision is to be a city in a garden and developers and architects are responding to that vision with lush garden developments. A vision for the Greening of Singapore started because they wanted to make sure that it did not turn into a dreary concrete jungle. Greening needed to go hand in hand with development. Encouraging greening does not all need to be a Council expense or project, it can simply be about forming a vision for what we want our neighbourhoods to be like and sharing that united vision with everyone - residents, architectects and developers. => Do you have a great lush building in your neighbourhood that you admire? #VoteKateHely #StonningtonCouncil #Toorak #SouthYarra #Kooyong https://www.dezeen.com//eden-skyscraper-singapore-heather/ https://www.cnbc.com//lee-kuan-yew-was-actually-singapores Image: EDEN by Heatherwick Studio

09.01.2022 I believe architecture plays a key role in nurturing a sense of place - which means we need to respect and preserve the significant homes and buildings of our past. It also means encouraging new developments to overtly consider the context they are building for - How are they adding to the vernacular of the neighbourhood? How are they helping the area feel distinctive? Do they feel they are building something they would be proud of their grandchildren seeing? This all flows... into my vision for Stonnington to be a city of 20 minute neighbourhoods - neighbourhoods with their own distinctive character and pride. I would love to hear about how you think we can honour old and new architecture that enhances a sense of place. To find out more about what I believe in, have a look at my Facebook page or check out my website katehely.com #VoteKateHely #StonningtonCouncil #SouthYarra #Toorak #Kooyong #StonningtonHeritage #TimeForChange

08.01.2022 Tonight is your last chance to see the robots on chapel St before they blast off! My kids review of the big guy it’s like a rainbow exploding!!! Get to it!

07.01.2022 PROPOSED FREE KINDERGARTEN SCHEME IS NOT FREE OR FAIR I am the President of Brookville Kindergarten in Toorak - a not for profit community kindergarten run by families of the children who attend which has been operating for over 64 years. We teach around 120 children every year across five programs including a bilingual program. We were recently accessed as ‘Exceeding’ in the recent National Quality Standard review. We employ more than the required ratio of educators to ensur...e the best outcomes for all children, no matter what their needs. In response to community need, our programs are longer than the standard community kinder hours (6 hours a day, and one program runs for 4 days). We strive to offer programs that are affordable and accessible to our community. We also see our purpose as not just educating children, but connecting and nurturing families within our communities. We and other community kinder like us stand to lose $250,000 if we accept the State Government’s Free Kindergarten scheme - which is clearly not financially sustainable. And if we don’t accept it, each of our families would lose out on $2,000 of potential funding per child. We don’t think this is fair. My suggestion is that government can note our fee policies for 2021, which were agreed to, minuted and sent to families well before this ‘free kinder’ announcement, and discount the $2000 per child from that amount. Therefore allowing all funding to flow directly back to families - without financially crippling our kindergarten. Kindergarten plays an essential role in the development of young people, preparing them for school and setting them up with a platform of education that they can build on in future years. Any additional investment by the Victorian Government into our youngest people is welcome - but not like this. https://www.theage.com.au//free-kindergarten-scheme-to-lea

06.01.2022 I am committed to helping our neighbourhoods flourish. Supporting the development of communities through the concept of the '20 minute city' is one way I think this can happen. #VoteKateHely

05.01.2022 Donation Dollar is an initiative of the Royal Australian Mint - the idea is that if you get one of these green centred coins, you donate it to those in need. They are planning to mint one for every Australian, which means if we all donated one a month, wed raise an extra $300 million a year for those in need. To find out more about how your charity, fundraiser or school could benefit from the initiative, check out their website: www.donationdollar.com.au This is a beautif...ul example of the power of creativity to find new ways of approaching an old problem. If we applied some new thinking, audacious creativity and bravery to the needs of Stonnington, imagine how far it could take us! #VoteKateHely #StonningtonElections #Donationdollar #ChangeForTheBetter #Toorak #SouthYarra #Kooyong #WardOfTheNorth

04.01.2022 Trust in government (and Councils) has been declining for a while, but it can be built up again with strong purpose and ethics. I work with brands and businesses everyday to help them become more desirable, trusted, appealing and therefore successful. I have seen evidence for the decline of trust in government and the increase in trust in brands for a while now (Edelman Reports). And while this is great as a Brand Strategist, it is a bit depressing as a citizen. Governments ...across the world and in Australia are seen as incompetent and unethical (see graph). This will likely be accelerated by COVID-19. However there is hope. Edelman suggests that there are ways we can build trust back into government - and that includes Local Government. Trust can be rebuilt by providing a sense of ethics through integrity, purpose and dependability. So for Stonnington, this flows in to my three areas of action: 1) A clear purpose and vision for what we want the city to become 2) Greater transparency to build trust 3) Represent the needs of the full diversity of our community. #VoteKateHely #TimeForChange #LetsChangeForTheBetter #StonningtonCouncil #Stonnington #Toorak #SouthYarra #Kooyong Stonnington Leader Edelman Study: https://www.edelman.com//opportunity-government-partnership Photo by Bernard Hermant

04.01.2022 >> Have you been out and about to dine at some of the new outdoor dining spaces popping up around Stonnington? 60 venues have extended their existing footpath trading (businesses who usually trade on the footpath being able to take up space in front of neighbouring businesses with permission) 40 on-street dining installations have been created in on-street car parks when it is safe to do so. ... Greville St in Prahran has been partially closed to allow on-street dining. In the future, there will be a partial closure (Friday afternoon to Sunday night) in Beatty Ave in Armadale. COVID has been undoubtedly crap, but it is opening up some exciting new ideas and ways of living that we can celebrate. Details of how to apply for permits: * Extended footpath trading - https://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au//Extended-footpath-trad * Roadside dining - https://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au//Roadside-dining-COVID- * On-street dining - https://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au//Stonnington-businesses

04.01.2022 What does it mean to design urban roads for kids? Some inspiring ideas here! Afterall "Streets that are good for kids are good for everyone" https://www.archdaily.com//10-actions-to-improve-streets-f... #VoteKateHely

03.01.2022 Today I got to participate in the Stonnington Schools Climate Emergency Forum. We were joined by Geelong Grammar in Toorak Caulfield Grammar Malvern, Toorak Primary School, Armadale Primary School and Korowa. The Forum provides students a platform to engage in the conversation about the climate emergency. They were given an overview on climate change basic, what Council is doing, and also ways that they can take part in climate action as a school. And as individuals. I lea...rned some great things about how Council is going already. We have: * Met our 2020 target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% and are on track to reduce them by 60% by 2030. * Installed over 880kW solar panels on Council Buildings and facilities * Upgraded over 3,000 street lights with energy-efficient lights * 1 electric and 22 hybrid vehicles in the Council fleet * Developed and Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESD) local planning policy for new buildings * Planted 145,000 plants and trees in streets parks and reserves in the last 2 years and are on track to meet our 2023 target of 250,000 Part of the council’s response to climate is about what we can do to improve council services and facilities, but part of it is also what we can do to encourage, facilitate and celebrate what we can do as individuals within our community. It is great to get our young kids involved in this conversation and to drive action... as they are our future. (Next Monday we have our Secondary Schools Forum)

03.01.2022 Guess where this space is...

03.01.2022 Hello supporters! As a first time candidate, I will be on the backfoot in this campaign due to all the COVID restrictions - so outdoor posters are a really important way to increase my face and name recognition in advance of the election. Please message me or complete this google form to order signs to be delivered to your address. https://forms.gle/XC4ic9QMHASUTbKF6 Thank you so much!... Kate #VoteKateHely #StonningtonCouncil #SouthYarra #Toorak #kooyong

03.01.2022 INCOMING! My brochure hit my letterbox today - how surreal!

03.01.2022 Internationally we are seeing changes in the way people are finding and using green space: * Golf courses are being opened up to walkers * Cemeteries are seeing a rise in visitation - providing a place to walk and to seek solace. In the 19th Century, Cemeteries used to be THE place to picnic - so this is not so far fetched! * Parks are open much latter- which enables staggered use of existing park spaces - great over summer! * Car parks are being turned into parks - to be pl...aces for pop-up gyms, places to meet, celebrate a birthday or for community events and theatre. * Dance clubs are offering drive-in raves in their empty parking lots. * Places of worship are hosting outdoor congregations. This is a great moment in history to rethink some fundamentals like What is Green Space and where does green space need to be?. There is a lot of discussion about how Stonnington has the lowest amount of green space. The more interesting discussion is about how new spaces can be found or how existing spaces can be optimised in creative ways. => Do you know of an open space that could be transformed into something more usable, exciting or delightful? => How are you using outdoor spaces in new ways? #Votekatehely #Toorak #SouthYarra #Kooyong #StonningtonCouncil #CityofStonnington Photo by Fabrice Nerfin on Unsplash

02.01.2022 I love the simple genius of this idea - make a club COVID safe, by using its car park as a drive-in rave. Video: https://www.facebook.com/watch/ Media: https://mixmag.net//worlds-first-drive-in-rave-germany-ne/... #VoteKateHely #TimeForChange #StonningtonCouncil #Stonnington #Toorak #SouthYarra #Kooyong Authorised by Kate Hely of PO BOX 597 Toorak

02.01.2022 => If we were a 20-minute city we would stop talking about shopping strips and start talking about local hubs or villages*. A recent article in The Age written by City of Melbourne Councillor Nicholas Reece discusses how although we know that we have the skills to help reinvigorate our local shopping strips once we open again in the short and medium-term - through new permit systems, events and creativity, in the long term broader changes need to occur. Long term we ne...ed to acknowledge that many of our local shopping strips were not thriving even before the pandemic. And the impact of online shopping on bricks and mortar has now been accelerated. I believe we need to reframe the role of strip shopping into being village living - places where the essential needs of our residents can be met or as Reece put is the backbone of the community providing a broad range of services as well as goods. This is in essence what the 20 minute city concept is - providing our essential needs and services close to where we live. It requires us to plan for creating a more dynamic mix of services and retail. Do we need a line of 30 clothing shops near where we live, or a mix of a chemist, health clinics, hairdressers, grocery stores, delis, co-working spaces, offices, restaurants, business services and childcare? This requires vision and passion on the part of our Council, businesses and residents. It may mean updating our planning systems, incentivising landlords to allow change and even tax changes that rebalance power away from international giants to local and small businesses. But it should all result in a thriving local community, with successful local businesses that we are proud of and actively participate in. Embracing the vision of a '20 minute city' is the primary pillar of my campaign for Council. To find out more about what I stand for and who I am, visit my Facebook page or website katehely.com * I have had some negative feedback on the word "Villiage" as being too old fashioned. I haven't been able to think of a new word except "hub" which sounds too transactional - so let me know if you have any ideas! Referenced Article: https://www.theage.com.au//death-of-melbourne-s-shopping-s Photos: Chapel Street in South Yarra. #VoteKateHely #ChapelSt #ToorakRd #Toorak #SouthYarra #Kooyong Stonnington City Council Toorak Village Toorak Road South Yarra Authorised by Kate Hely of PO BOX 597, Toorak.

02.01.2022 => Where do we feel safe or vulnerable in Stonnington? I have a vision to ensure that Stonnington is a collection of vibrant local communities, and as part of that, we need to ensure that we feel safe. Below is a link to a project from Plan International in which women from Sydney, Delhi, Lima, Madrid and Kampala marked on a map where they felt safe and where they didn't in their cities. I wonder what these maps would be like in Stonnington? Where are the places we feel vulne...rable and where are the areas we feel most confident? As an extension to this original project, I think it would be great to see the good and bad areas of our city from the perspective of the elderly, young families, disabled, youth, women, LGBTIQA communities and cyclists. This shared visibility of issues could allow united debate and proactive solutions. Note: Plan International created this study in 2018 as part of a project to understand the street harassment of young girls internationally. They found that in Sydney young women experience street harassment once a month or more and say they first experienced harassment when they were under 18 years old. Interactive Map of Sydney about where women felt safe: https://crowdspot.carto.com//5b579455-6e9c-4df1-a79/embed A PR release about the 2018 study: https://www.plan.org.au//sexism-in-the-city-plan-internati #VoteKateHely #SafeCities #StonnigntonCouncil #SouthYarra #Toorak #Kooyong #planinternational

01.01.2022 There has been a bit in The Age recently about the conduct of some members of the current Council. All of which is undermining the respect and trust people have in Council. Now is the time for transparency and honesty. Now is the time for change! As a fully independent candidate who is self-funding my campaign, I am not beholden to anyone except the current and future needs of the residents and ratepayers of Stonnington. ... #VoteKateHely #stonnington #Toorak #SouthYarra #Kooyong #StonningtonCouncil

01.01.2022 Stonnington has the opportunity to embrace Plan Victoria's initiative of 20-minute walkable cities to help us ensure that our communities flourish. Walkable doesn't just mean having footpaths, it means having a majority of your needs (working, playing, shopping, health...) met within about 800m of your home. And it means having places that we enjoy walking to and around - with beautiful green spaces, high-quality streetscapes and exciting local businesses. The health benefi...ts of walking are clear: "By participating in 15 minutes of walking a day, 5 days a week, the disease burden from physical inactivity would reduce by about 13%. If this is increased to 30 minutes, the burden can be reduced by 26%." The cost benefits are clear too: "If 50% of short private-vehicle trips were instead made by walking, it would save the Victorian economy approximately $165 million a year in congestion, health, infrastructure and environmental costs." #VoteKateHely #Stonnington #SouthYarra #Toorak #Kooyong #chapelstreet #toorakvillage #toorakroad Data Source: Badawi, Y, Maclean, F, and Mason, B, (2018). The economic case for investment in walking, Victoria Walks, Melbourne as quoted in Creating a more livable Melbourne Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2017. Impact of physical inactivity as a risk factor for chronic conditions: Australian Burden of Disease Study. Australian Burden of Disease Study series no. 15 Cat. no. BOD 16. Canberra: AIH as quoted in Creating a more livable Melbourne Photo by Jordan on Unsplash

01.01.2022 Thank you Stonnington!! I’m thrilled to share that I have been elected to be a Councilor representing the people and communities of Stonnington. We are entering a significant time in the history of Stonnington due to the challenges and disruption that COVID has presented, but there are also important opportunities that we need to seek out and embrace as a community and city. ... I look forward to working with the other elected Councillors and our broader community in the years to come and deeply respect the courage and passion of all candidates who put themselves forward in this election. I only became an Australian in June this year because I knew that this was where my children were going to grow up and because I place great value in the ability to vote for what you believe in. On a high of citizenship and with a passion for helping my community and neighbourhood thrive, I decided to run for Council. I have never had an interest in politics, am not an extrovert, and was never a school prefect-type, but I felt like I had a combination of skills, values and leadership that could be of use to our community. I’m proud that I gave it a go and humbled by the support of our community. I hope that my journey might have also inspired others in the community to give things a go. Put your hand up to help. Participate or volunteer in unusual or usual ways. Because research shows that when you help others, you feel happier and are healthier! And of course, a big thank you to my family, friends and the wider community who bolstered my confidence and supported me in big and small ways along this incredible journey. Onwards