Mayor's Message
What a great day we had in Cowes on Friday.
By Cr Brett Tessari
What a great day we had in Cowes on Friday.
I had the privilege of taking part in the HMAS Cape Woolamai Freedom of Entry Parade, commemorating 125 years since the establishment of Australia's Commonwealth Naval Forces, the forerunner to today's Royal Australian Navy.
It's not every day a mayor gets to participate in a formal military challenge, and I'm guessing there aren't too many mayors who can say they've done it.
To be honest, I was pretty nervous the night before.
I only had a few lines to deliver, but I knew how important the ceremony was to the Navy personnel involved and I didn't want to get it wrong.
The day itself was outstanding.
The community turned out in force, local aged care residents came along to watch, school kids gathered on the lawn, and the team at Berninneit jumped in to help with extra seating.
It was fantastic to see the sun shining, Thompson Avenue lined with people, and Berninneit being used for such a significant community occasion.
What struck me most was the pride on the faces of the Navy personnel and the Royal Australian Navy Band. For them, events like this are a career highlight.
You could see it in the way they marched, the professionalism they displayed and the photos they proudly took afterwards with colleagues, kids and members of the community.
Watching them reminded me how important it is to take pride in what we do.
I had similar thoughts over the last week when I attended Bass Coast College's Speed Career Conversations event alongside several council staff members.
We spent time speaking with students about our career journeys, answering questions and sharing a few lessons we'd learned along the way.
Some of the questions were absolute rippers.
It also carried through to the Bass Coast Jobs and Careers Expo at the Wonthaggi Town Hall on Thursday, where hundreds of job seekers, students and career changers connected with employers and training organisations from across the region.
Council is proud to partner with the Workforce Australia Local Jobs Program and Victorian Skills and Jobs Centres to deliver these events.
Whether you're marching in a Navy parade, running a business or still figuring out what you want to do in life, there's something to be said for finding a career that gives you purpose and a sense of pride.
The Jobs and Careers Expo heads to Berninneit, Cowes, on Friday, September 11, and I'd encourage anyone considering their next step to come along.
Finally, I'd like to acknowledge the passing of Noel "Butch" West, a man I knew over many years, including as captain of our 1985 premiership cricket team.
Many locals will know the oval named in his honour at the Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve. He was a great local character, and my thoughts are with his family and friends.
