When Lesley Jenner moved to Melton 12 years ago, she wanted to meet friends, socialise and contribute to her new community.
She tells Sumeyya Ilanbey she’s achieved that by joining Melton council’s disability advisory committee.
What’s your connection to Melton?
I moved here [from Glenroy] about 12 years ago; I had mum with me then.
Mum wanted to downsize because dad had recently died.
I thought, well okay, let’s do it together and find somewhere nice.
We chose Melton because it was, what the real estate agents call, most affordable.
And without a word of a lie, within a couple of years, I loved the place.
I just loved it, and mum did too.
I always felt like I was driving onto an island when I was coming to Melton.
We’ve got the green wedge … and you come on to this lovely, green, peaceful island.
What’s your favourite thing about living in Melton?
My brother and I usually go out every day; we take the dogs to the dog parks.
And you always meet people – somebody else with a dog, mums with their kids, and it doesn’t matter how low you’re feeling, there are always people to talk to.
There’s a real sense of community.
What would you change if you could?
The only thing I would change is to go backwards, and we can’t do that.
What do you mean by that?
Less development – to stay the village that we were.
But you have to embrace the change, and nobody expects that to be easy because everybody hates change, as long as the council and developers take us along with them.
I think there are a lot of people in the community who are not happy about the changes, so I think we need to be cuddled a bit and reminded of all the benefits that are [coming] with it.
Where’s your favourite place to hang out?
We go to the La Headquarters Cafe occasionally … or down to the [Woodgrove] shopping centre to meet friends and have a coffee.
How did you get involved with the committee?
There are two reasons – it’s a new town, I don’t know anybody, what’s a good way to get to know people?
And I’m not the kind of person who can get involved in craft … and I’m not much of a cook.
[Ten years ago] council advertised in the paper for this new initiative, and I thought it might be a win-win.
It’ll give me an involvement that I feel like I can make a contribution to, I’m not there just to fill in time.
What do you think you’ve achieved?
I think we’ve achieved a lot.
The Melton council’s disability advisory committee has been admired by other councils.
We also had meetings with the developers of Woodgrove to make them aware of what facilities people with disabilities need.
And to their credit, they listened.
Nominations for new members on the council’s disability advisory committee close on Friday, July 22. Call 9747 7358.
