Mernda’s Tom Joseph is passionate about his local community. As president of the Mernda and District Residents Association, he’s continually advocating for better infrastructure and services for Mernda. He talks with Laura Michell.
How long have you lived in Mernda and what brought you to the area?
I’ve been living here for four years. Prior to that I lived in South Morang for nearly six years. What attracted me to Mernda was the newness of the suburb and the many open spaces and parks, which suited my young family.
How long have you been involved with the Mernda and District Residents Association and why?
I’ve been involved with MADRA since the day I moved to Mernda. The first two years I was a committee member and for the past two years I’ve been serving as president. I’m a strong believer in contributing to the community I live in, and MADRA is an organisation that’s into community building with the various activities we undertake, be it the Mernda Town Fair, Mernda Carols or assisting with the Diwali Festival and a number of other community- building activities.
Are you involved in any other community groups?
Besides MADRA, I’m involved with a number of other community groups. I’m the founding president of the Mernda and Doreen Multicultural Association, and I’m on the committee of the Whittlesea Neighbourhood Watch, the founding chairman of the Mernda Diwali Festival committee, and chairman of the combined social committee of the Catholic Schools and Parish of Mernda, Doreen, Whittlesea and Kinglake. I’m also involved with a number of advocacy [groups] as the spokesman for Mernda Needs a Police Station, Build E6 – The Freeway for the North, and Stop Expanding the Wollert Tip – Save the Schultz Farm campaigns.
What do you love about your community?
I love being part of a new community that provides endless possibilities for us residents to play a part in shaping the destiny of our community and suburb.
Is there anything about Mernda that you’d like to change?
The changes I want to see in Mernda are infrastructural changes. I would like to see footpaths where there are none and a better quality of roads. I truly hope that the City of Whittlesea will prioritise infrastructure investments in Mernda.
How do you like to spend your spare time?
As someone who does a full-time job and an active community leader, I have very little spare time so whatever free time I have I spend with my three beautiful children and my wife.
