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West Australian
22-05-2025
- General
- West Australian
What I See with Peter Fiorenza: Instead of complaining, community members should step up and buy-in
Why don't people just step up to the plate? Be responsible and have a bit of 'buy-in'. You may be asking what am I on about. Well, recently I've come to the conclusion that people are simply selfish and self-centred. That's probably a little bit of a broad statement, but I believe I too often fall victim to the 'easy way out' scenario. A case of, 'I'll just leave that for someone else to do', or 'it's someone else's job, I'll close my eyes, and the situation or problem will go away'. Through my everyday life encounters, being a schoolteacher, a councillor and your average citizen, I see cop-outs all the time. Because local government is the system of governance that is most at the coalface, you do get a lot of face-to-face feedback. Don't get me wrong, I love the raw interaction, and that's why I'm in the game, but a fair share of the feedback is often negative. 'Why can't the council do this?' 'Why can't the council do that?' Often, I totally understand the situation, but I am also privy to the big picture where there is only so much money, and choices have to be made. Which brings me to a recent light bulb moment. Governments at all levels pay individuals to provide a service — from within the organisation or outsourced. Often budget restraints mean these services become limited, often resulting in certain areas missing out. And this can lead to community angst. But couldn't this shortfall in services be met with the use of volunteers? For example, overgrown grass verges could be cut by residents who live nearby, individuals could donate trees and assist with adding to the canopy coverage in the city. Perhaps, once a week, families could empty overflowing public rubbish bins in their neighbourhoods. Maybe, a group of retirees could volunteer to clean the public barbecues every couple of days. I'm just throwing these ideas out there. And I'm sure, many of you will say: 'Why should we do this or that, isn't that the council's job, or isn't that the Government's job?' 'Why should I do it?' Because, at the end of the day, I believe we all need to take some ownership in our communities, some healthy buy-in. As you may know, I just love and admire the famous Kennedy family, especially JFK. He said in a speech not long before he died: 'Increased responsibility goes with increased ability, for, of those to whom much is given, much is required.' Let's be prepared to give a little back, hey. Peter Fiorenza hosts Sports Shed Saturday (9am to noon) and Fiorenza on Sunday (10am to noon) on Radio MAMA
West Australian
15-05-2025
- West Australian
What I See with Peter Fiorenza: Walking around Geraldton's oldest streets is a journey through local history
I love the simple things in life. And one of those simple things is going for a walk around the block with my dog, Joel. Not only is it a way to clear out all the cobwebs and bond with man's best friend, its' also a way to discover how things tick in your surrounds. Recently I moved from my home of 20-plus years in Drummonds to my new modest abode in Beachlands. The move happened nearly four months ago — and the dogs and I are loving it. Since moving into town, I've made regular walks a routine, but I have discovered this habit is much more than light exercise. In fact, it is really quite fascinating. When I was at university, I studied geography, with one of the units being urban geography. I wasn't quite sure about it at first, but the more I got into it, the more I found urban geography was actually an intriguing investigation. It involved looking at houses and other buildings, and their impact on society. For instance, let's take a look at one of Geraldton's well-known streets — Shenton Street. Joel and I take a walk down Shenton Street every couple of days, and I find it a real treat. Why? Well, from the moment I hit the pavement in front of my place, it's like taking a journey through history. The architecture is wide and varied. Immediately, from my early 1900s corrugated-iron structure to the the World War II solid brick house across the road, a unique story begins to unfold. Crossing Francis Street, we walk by some gated premises, before seeing some Dutch gable designs in their glory. There are also homes with footpaths that wind through English-style gardens. Every house is different, from before the turn of the last century, even with patches of 1970s, 1980s and later. These homes could tell some amazing tales, from the settlement of Champion Bay to the 1920s and into the two world wars. It's not just the history, but the story of the people who helped to make that history. It's a journey through time in Geraldton. And you know what? This is just Shenton Street. What are the stories being told by Francis Street, Gregory Street, Fitzgerald Street and the rest? Someone recently said to me Beachlands and the West End are the Subiaco of Geraldton. But I reckon they are so much more. Peter Fiorenza hosts Sports Shed Saturday (9am to noon) and Fiorenza on Sunday (10am to noon) on Radio MAMA
