Todd Muller: Strengthening communities

Todd Muller

One of the great privileges of my job is getting out in the community and sharing some of the great events that occur every weekend here in the Bay.

Last month I went to the Welcome Bay Family Music Festival at Tye Park which was a fantastic day. It was an extraordinarily well-organised event for a reasonable cover charge, and provided a day with both great music as well as plenty of activities for the kids, including pony rides, bouncy castles, and of course a wide range of sounds that encouraged dancing, listening and relaxing.

We all talk about the importance of strengthening communities, and this is a classic example.

There is a power in our families, from all different backgrounds, spending time sharing the same experience. This is the glue that strengthens communities.

There is also something about music that energises your soul, especially when added to the warm breezes of summer that continue to roll over Tauranga Moana.

I want to acknowledge the team at the Community Centre, Mary Dillon, Anna Larson and Antoon Moonen who were the driving forces behind the Music Festival.

There's more coming too, including plans for a redeveloped Owens Park. Hopefully the council can look further at supporting the drainage challenges that hold the vision back.

I suggest you pop into the Welcome Bay Community Centre to see the vision for the future of the park for yourselves!