November
November in the Dandenong Ranges is a month of transition. The days are warming up, hinting at the summer ahead, but there's often still a chill in the air, with misty mornings that remind us spring hasn’t quite let go. The weather reflected the highs and deep lows our community felt this month.
As Christmas and the end of the year approaches, the community feels the tug of the season—planning festive events and break-up parties while juggling the year’s final ‘To Do’ list. It’s a time when everyone is a little tired and wanting to relax, but also mindful that bushfire season is near, reminding us of the need for preparation and the resolve to look out for one another.
Against this backdrop, November was a busy and purposeful month for our community. To support local businesses, we launched the local business Christmas catalogue and hosted a business networking event at the hub. The catalogue’s aim was to encourage everyone to shop locally to keep money circulating within the community and help small businesses thrive - after all, they’re the backbone of our community. The networking event gave entrepreneurs the chance to share their challenges and connect while also helping us understand how best to support them in the face of economic pressures.
Bushfire readiness was also a priority this month. We hosted a preparedness workshop co-facilitated by Belinda Young and the CFA. Belinda, who recently completed a PhD on the effectiveness of online communities to promote place-based bushfire preventative action, stressed the importance of creating online opportunities to discuss bushfire ignition prevention. Bryce from Belgrave CFA guided attendees through practical steps, from packing emergency bags for early evacuation or bags to help us defend when it’s too late to leave, to preparing homes and gardens to minimise fire risks. The workshop was a timely reminder of the importance of community awareness and action as we head into summer.
Belinda’s dedication to our community extended beyond this event. She represented us nationally as one of ten community representatives from across Australia working to address the housing crisis. Together, the group reviewed 46 proposed reforms from experts and agreed on 12 key actions ranging from changes to tax and renter rights to rezoning and sustainability. As part of the Australian of the Year Alumni, Belinda also attended the 2025 Australian of the Year Awards, and was there to celebrate the newest recipient of the Local Hero Award - Darebin mum, Jasmine Hirst, for her dedication to developing the local women’s soccer league.
In the spirit of giving, November also saw MotHs kick off our annual Christmas gift collection drive. This initiative supports families registered with the Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Services, bringing a little extra cheer to those in need during the festive season. If you’d like to donate an unwrapped gift, you can email us for details or place your gift under the Christmas tree in the Belgrave Library. It’s a simple way to spread joy and make the holidays brighter for local families.
November also brought great news for MotHs, with the group securing a Yarra Ranges Community Grant. This funding will support several initiatives, including self-defense courses, programs for parents of teens, women’s health events, and the much-anticipated RUTH Run. This grant will help MotHs continue their vital work in building a stronger and more connected community.
from November 17–23, families and organisations across Australia came together to mark Perinatal Mental Health Week. Since its creation in 2005 by PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia), this initiative has played a vital role in raising awareness and reducing stigma around perinatal mental health challenges. MotHs reiterated our call for greater access to Medicare-funded postpartum care, a revision of postpartum care standards to align with evidence-based practices, and funding for mother’s groups that address postpartum health and wellbeing. The week reminded us that mental health is just as important as physical health and that supporting parents strengthens society as a whole.
We were also deeply concerned about the growing number of children reported missing in our area. This troubling trend has been compounded by the tragic news of Isla Bell, a 19-year-old woman who became the 85th victim of gendered violence in Australia this year. Isla’s death has shaken our community, and a vigil in her memory has been organised by her friends for December 7th. We urgently need action to protect women and children and to address the root causes of gendered violence. Sadly our grant applications to address these causes in our community were unsuccessful but we’ll continue to look for opportunities to make a positive change.
As we reflect on the month, it’s clear that November was about more than just wrapping up the year. It was about setting the stage for the future—supporting local businesses, preparing for bushfire season, addressing long-term challenges like housing and perinatal mental health, and strengthening the bonds that hold our community together. Through these efforts, you get a glimpse of the resilience and generosity that define the Dandenong Ranges. It’s a great community to be a part of.
Upcoming Events
We have so many events coming up in December. Come to some or come to all. There are plenty of opportunities to meet others, find out information or learn new skills. Visit our Events Page for details.
MotHs Inc. goes above and beyond for its community. In addition to running and maintaining our place-based MotHs Hub, we advocate on the issues we see, hear about and directly experience within our community. We facilitate connections to provide mother-to-mother emotional and physical assistance, provide timely information about community events and emergency preparedness and promote local businesses. This can’t be achieved without the support of subscribers. We appreciate each and every subscriber for keeping this community running.
