Established in 2003
proudly serving the Northern Suburbs
18 MARCH, 2025
Moving and grooving! Young adults with disabilities and older individuals with limited mobility or chronic pain can now enjoy gentle movement to music through Let’s Move – a free, inclusive program designed to support both participants and their carers. The initiative was created after Thomastown Neighbourhood House asked young adults with disabilities attending Aurora Social Links what activity they would enjoy. “Everyone said ‘dancing’ and Let’s Move was born,” said program manager Liz Skitch who brings her background as a performing artist to the role. Held at the Thomastown Recreational Aquatic Centre (TRAC) fitness room every Monday from 1-2pm during school terms, Let’s Move offers relaxation, gentle stretching and movement in a fun and accessible way. “Much of the movement is inspired by imagination– like ‘floating like a butterfly’ or ‘painting a rainbow,’” she explained. “Some participants enjoy requesting their favourite songs and just listening, but by the end, the whole room is dancing like a disco.”
Program manager Liz Skitch and a participant. (Damjan Janevski) 465269_01
Democracy ‘under attack’ By Laura Michell Democracy is “under attack” in Whittlesea, according to the city’s ostricised mayor Aidan McLindon, who has been barred from the council chambers and had restrictions placed on his interactions with councillors and council staff. Council chief executive Craig Lloyd wrote to Cr McLindon on February 11 and 24 outlining alleged “intimidating” and “aggressive” behaviour by the mayor towards council staff and councillors. The confidential letters have been seen by Star Weekly. On February 11, Mr Lloyd wrote that some councillors “reported feeling intimidated” by the mayor and that he felt unsafe to meet with Cr McLindon alone, and as a result had made a WorkSafe report. Mr Lloyd’s letter also noted that “several
psychological incident reports have been submitted by staff”. “These reports relate to psychological harm and a fear of engaging with you, and trauma through reading/hearing your comments,” he wrote. Mr Lloyd warned Cr McLindon he would face restrictions if he did not change his behaviour. Then, on February 24, Mr Lloyd wrote that Cr McLindon had engaged in “intimidating behaviour” when questioning a senior staff member about council’s Rainbow Advisory Committee during the February 18 council meeting, resulting in an occupational health and safety report being lodged by the staff member. He also noted “aggressive behaviour and language” directed towards him at another meeting, and said Cr McLindon had intimidated councillors on the phone.
He also stated that Cr McLindon had “endangered the safety and wellbeing of some councillors” by claiming the political party they were members of was “targeting” him, and had potentially leaked confidential information, including his home address. Mr Lloyd said that as a result, he had to introduce a range of measures to “protect the safety of councillors, officers and the community”. Among the measures outlined by Mr Lloyd was that Cr McLindon would be unable to attend council meetings, briefings, induction or training sessions, or committee meetings in-person, and would be restricted to contacting councillors and council staff by email. The measures will be reviewed on March 24, meaning Cr McLindon is prohibited from attending the March 18 council meeting
in-person. Speaking exclusively to Star Weekly, Cr McLindon said he felt the measures were “designed to disable me in my role and responsibilities as mayor”. “Democracy is completely compromised and under attack in Whittlesea,” he said. “It is a really cruel tactic that has been imposed on me.“This is not how you are meant to run a council.” As reported by Star Weekly, Whittlesea’s 10 other councillors passed a vote of no confidence in the mayor during the February 18 council meeting and called for his resignation from the role. They also applied for the mayor to face internal arbitration over alleged breaches of the Model Councillor Code of Conduct. Continued: Page 3.
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