Altona Lions President Martin Case tells Jennifer Pittorino about his many roles in the community.
Can you tell us your name and job title?
My name is Martin Case. I am president of Altona Lions, multi-media producer, composer, and performing musician through Martin Case Media Productions, and curriculum and ensemble director at Music Valley.
Tell us a bit about you and what work you do in the community?
As president of Lions, I/we listen to our community, and ‘fill the gaps’ where service is needed, whether that be in the form of service hours or donations. I am producer of the Cherry Lake Cultural Series, which showcases emerging talent and CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse) groups at Cherry Lake Market, in Altona. This initiative is supported through grants from council, Bendigo Bank, and others.
In addition, I am artistic director of Newport Drummers, a community percussion ensemble inspired by West African rhythms.
The positive effects of communal drumming are vast, and this has been important work to me in community.
As a multi-media producer, and resident, serving community, I seek to align community groups and funding to initiatives the community supports.
Tell us about your most recent work?
Presently, with the help of Lions Altona and Lions International, I am working on the Lions Club International Concert, ‘Bringing the World Together Down Under’ on June 24 at the MCEC. This concert will bring Australian musicians to collaborate with artists from around the world, and proceeds will go to local initiatives in the western suburbs and across Victoria.
On May 18 and 19, we are hosting the skin check van at Bunnings in Altona North for free skin cancer checks for our community. Register at Bunnings or call directly to schedule an appointment.
It is festival season, so I am preparing my artists for performances at the Newport Jazz Festival (Visionary-Steel) and the Newport Folk Festival (Newport Drummers).
What do you hope to achieve in the future?
I am planning on working with Louis Joel Arts and Community Centre, in Altona, to review and discuss their offerings to community. This is a local institution that has been bringing our community together for some time now, and I wish to serve their goals.
What’s your connection to Maribyrnong or Hobsons Bay?
I arrived from America in 2017, and have settled in Altona since 2020. The support of community works and the arts is stunning, from an American perspective, and it is a joy to have found myself in such a vibrant community.
What, if anything, would you change about where you live?
I am very fortunate to live in Altona in the western suburbs. If change means to bring an already successful initiative to the next level, I will continue creating positive change through the Lions of Altona and the Louis Joel Arts and Community Centre.
Where is your favourite local place to spend time?
The bike path from Altona to Williamstown, by the ocean! Best days are on the e-bike, touring that route.
Is there anything else you’d like to say?
I have travelled extensively, and never found a place that I would want to permanently live. What Australia and the western suburbs offer is unprecedented in America, and I am grateful that my abilities and perspective on service are well received in Australia.
