A practical school-holiday planner for Maroondah families is nearly ready

MX is preparing a September School Holiday Guide to bring dated activities, ongoing local ideas, booking cues and live family-event search into one practical planning route. It is still at approval-proof stage, so families can use the current Family Events search while the final guide checks are completed.

Search current family events

Thai food has the widest suburb footprint in MX’s current cuisine map

The August guide contains 17 qualifying Thai restaurants across 10 suburbs. Croydon leads with four and Bayswater has three, while seven other suburbs contribute one or two local options.

Read the current local guide

Could two hours a week make a difference to a local Meals on Wheels client?

Maroondah Council is looking for volunteer drivers to deliver meals in their own cars and offer clients a friendly check-in. Volunteers choose a weekday and work from 10.30am to 12.30pm; a Working With Children Check and child-safety training are required.

Check the Meals on Wheels volunteer role

Local volunteers planted about 25,000 native plants this season

Council's August Nature News says community volunteers put approximately 25,000 plants into the ground across Maroondah during the planting season. The figure shows the scale of the combined local effort rather than the work of one group or reserve. If someone you know would enjoy practical outdoor volunteering, Council's current environmental volunteering page is the place to find a group and check upcoming working-bee details.

Find an environmental volunteer group in Maroondah

A simple way to leave your story and practical wishes with people you trust

Council's free 24-page My Story, My Wishes booklet provides prompts for recording personal history, practical details and wishes to share with someone close to you. It is not a will, advance care directive or substitute for legal or medical documents, but it may help begin a useful family conversation.

Download My Story, My Wishes

The September Free Events Guide is open

The September guide gives locals one free-to-open, shareable place to browse free Maroondah-area plans by category and date, with an optional newsletter pathway for future guides and the September School Holiday Guide.

Explore the September Free Events Guide

A simple way to plan a free local weekend

Use the guide's category-and-date structure to narrow a large set of free local possibilities into one workable weekend plan, then check the current organiser or venue source before setting off.

Plan with the September Free Events Guide

Browse the full MX What's On guide

A free local space for LGBTQIA+ young people and allies

Proudly Q runs free fortnightly Wednesday sessions in Croydon for LGBTQIA+ young people, those who are questioning and allies. There are separate groups for ages 10–14 and 15–25, and registration is essential before attending.

Learn about Proudly Q and register interest

The local coffee map is really a map of how we meet

MX counted 101 operational cafes, coffee shops and coffee roasteries across 14 suburbs in the August snapshot. The large number matters, but so does the neighbourhood role of the smaller places where people meet, pause and start the day.

Read the current local guide

Ringwood North’s food story is built around everyday errands

The August MX snapshot contains 20 operational food records in Ringwood North. The suburb’s food identity is compact and practical, with bread, meat, deli food, coffee, takeaway and dinner choices gathered around Warrandyte Road and the local shopping centre.

Read the current local guide

A local health clinic young people can contact without a Medicare card

Each's Ringwood clinic provides confidential healthcare for people aged 12 to 25, covering general health and wellbeing, sexual health, mental health, and alcohol and drug support. A Medicare card is not required, and care is offered at no cost or for a small fee; contact the clinic to confirm eligibility, availability and any charge.

Check youth clinic access, hours and possible fees

If counselling costs are a barrier, this is a local place to ask

Each offers counselling for adults aged 18 to 65 across Ringwood, Croydon, Ringwood East and other eastern suburbs, with appointments available in person, online or by phone. Fees and eligibility vary, so call the service to ask what may be available and what it would cost before relying on it as an option.

Check counselling access, eligibility and costs

Maroondah now has a 10-year direction for its bicycle network

Council adopted the Maroondah Bicycle Network Plan 2025–2035 on 20 July, setting a long-term direction for local cycling improvements. The plan helps riders and neighbourhoods see what Council is aiming for, but it does not mean every proposed route is funded or about to be built.

Read the adopted bicycle network plan