Maribyrnong activist Madeleine MF Serle tells Jennifer Pittorino about her new found career and connection to Maribyrnong.
Tell us a bit about yourself and what you do?
Before the 14th of October 2022, I was a corporate lawyer in financial services with non executive directorships. On that day I became one of around 1500 people who were flooded in Maribyrnong because people didn’t do their jobs. Fast forward: I am now an accidental activist. I have pushed pause on my legal career and am now the Chair of the Maribyrnong Community Recovery Committee. With my seven fellow residents on the Maribyrnong CRC, I have taken on one of the hardest challenges of my life: working towards community recovery and flood resilience. I’m all in.
Tell us about your work in the community?
I have two areas of work. First, I continue to be a non-executive director for Hobsons Bay Community Financial Services. Our company operates the Bendigo Community Bank branches in Laverton and Altona. And I love what we do – our profits are shared out to the community in grants and sponsorships. Secondly, my role as Chair of the Maribyrnong Community Recovery Committee. We see disasters in the media all the time. We look and then look away. Until you are in one. You become a person with ‘lived experience’. And your life is changed forever. People try to cope in different ways. I decided that my best way to cope was to change course and use my professional skills and expertise to advocate for the community’s flood recovery. It’s quite a task: October 14 revealed so many systems failures and people failing to do their job.
And now 10 months on the community is still in trouble. There are too many decision makers hoping Maribyrnong’s community voice will be snuffled out and go away. Well, I’m sorry. Don’t back that horse. Our voice and our work is not going away any time soon. Sure, we are a little engine but we are making powerful community connections and we are moving inch by inch. We are quite a thing!
What’s your connection to Maribyrnong/ Hobsons Bay?
I am now a proud Westie. I tell people that I crossed two rivers for love: from Prahran across the Yarra then across Mirrangbamurn to Maribyrnong to be with my darling partner, Dr Kieran Keane. Kieran introduced me to the West through his work as a GP in Laverton where he’s practised for nearly 40 years.
What do you like about where you live?
Given I’m fighting so hard for it I like it a lot! But living here is very special. It is a beautiful place; the River, the trees, birdsong and a fascinating history.
What, if anything, would you change about where you live?
Obviously, I’m working towards change to flood preparedness and mitigation. But otherwise, no. Maribyrnong is the place helping me to live my best life.
Where is your favourite local place to spend time?
Walking along Mirrangbamurn. Or home in my garden. The parrots screaming like jets up and down the river and the big splashes of colours of the sun sinking in the west.
Tell us something people would be surprised to know about you.
I went to 15 schools, across Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, the South of France and southern Spain. I’m good at adapting.
Is there anything else you would like to say?
Make a difference. There is always something that needs to be done in a community and being part of that will make you happy.
