Sidney Myer (1878-1934)

Today, as part of a course I’m doing, I launched a community project called ‘A Walk in the Park’.  Its purpose is to get Stonnington Council to instal six pedestrian crossings in the neighbourhood of Toorak village by May 2009. 

At the moment, there are no pedestrian crossings in this small but densely populated area.  This is one of the reasons why residents drive to the shopping village when they could easily walk and reduce the clogging traffic.  It’s also why so few residents cross busy Williams Road to enjoy Como Park.  I know of several elderly residents with decreased mobility who feel intimidated by the prospect of crossing with nothing but a median strip that peters out just where it’s most needed.  And those with prams, or kids and pets, must feel similarly intimidated.  Yet these are the very residents who would most enjoy the sunny, gentle stroll around the graceful curve of this ex-billabong, the site where the great Melbourne philanthropist, Sidney Myer, was mourned by thousands of people on his death in 1934 and where the great artist, Frederick McCubbin, built a humpy in the early part of the 20th century (probably to paint The Old Cottage, South Yarra around 1910).

I‘m still working out the details of the project.  However, I’m thinking something along the lines of the following: 

• 10 friends or neighbours to act as ambassadors for the project
• each of whom will ask 5 or more neighbours to write to the Council
• and participate in a community walk around Como Park
• to which I’ll invite the Editor of the Stonnington Leader
• who will cover the event on the front page of the paper
• after which the Council will list the matter for consideration
• and at the next meeting pass a resolution to instal the crossings.

Doesn’t that sound easy?  Look out Stonnington Council!  Check under the Projects tab for progress.