NEWS DESK
Water babies safe and sound ‘YOU’RE never too young to learn’ is a saying taken literally by Anastasia Monakhov, at Kids Aquatic Survival School, Dingley Village. She teaches tots from six months to five years the skills to save themselves from drowning – and also to enjoy their time in the water rather than being frightened by it. Watching fully clothed toddlers floating and swimming in what’s become a familiar environment to them, gives parents peace of mind, knowing that their children are capable of surviving an unexpected plunge.
With drownings our biggest preventable killer of young children, the need for survival skills is obvious. “We would never put a young child in a car without a proper car seat,” she said. “So we should never let children near water without ensuring they have the skills to save themselves in an emergency.” Ms Minakov said children do not find water scary when they can manipulate their environment and feel they are in control. “We teach them in such a way that saving themselves becomes a reflex action – that
they’ve ‘seen it all before’ and there is nothing to be afraid of,’’ she said. “They learn to have the confidence to cope and to get themselves out of trouble.” Her charges are taught to be comfortable opening their eyes under water without goggles and to swim fully clothed – as they would have to in an emergency situation. Once in, they dog paddle towards the nearest exit point for three or four seconds, and then roll over on their backs for a rest, before continuing. They do this for as long as it takes to get to safety. Ms Monakov
Helping hand: Molly Howarth, 2, above left, learns swimming survival skills with Anastasia Monakhov, above, and Nik Monakhov, 2. Pictures: Gary Sissons
trained for six weeks, four hours a day, to learn her survival techniques. She teaches children one on one at what she says is the first survivalswim school in Melbourne. Classes are held five days a week for six to eight weeks. “All the kids have different
personalities and some don’t like water, but most do come to love it,” she said. It could be the difference between life and death. Contact Ms Monakhov at Kids Aquatic Survival School, 0421 131 383, or see infantswim.com.au Stephen Taylor
For more information please contact 1300 850 600 or 5950 1000 www.mornpen.vic.gov.au
NEW YEAR’S EVE | 2015 - 2016
NO ENTERTAINMENT NO NONSENSE There are no organised public events or activities on the Mornington Peninsula on New Year’s Eve. Venues operating on New Year’s Eve will only be accessible by people who have pre-purchased tickets.
People are reminded to be extremely vigilant There are no organised public events or activities of fires: and particularly fire-safe on the on the Mornington Peninsula on New Year’s Eve. peninsula. More information about fire safety Venues operating on New Year’s Eve will only be can be found at: www.cfa.vic.gov.au or accessible by people who have pre-purchased www.depi.vic.gov.au tickets.
Alcohol bans apply from December 30 to midnight 1 January 2016. Possession of sealed and unsealed containers of liquor in public places is prohibited (unless sealed containers are being transported from point-of-sale to vehicle or private residence for consumption). Possession of any glass container while in a public place is prohibited.
The Rye Carnival will be closed on New Year’s Alcohol bans apply from December 30 to Eve (day and night). midnight 1 January 2016. Possession of sealed and unsealed containers of liquor in The Rye Pier car park will be closed public placesfrom is prohibited (unless sealed approximately 4.00pm on New Year’s (ortransported from containers are Eve being at Police discretion). Minor road closures are or private residence point-of-sale to vehicle expected in Rye from 11pm - 1am. for consumption). Possession of any glass container while in a public place is prohibited.
People are reminded to be extremely vigilant of fires: and particularly fire-safe on the peninsula. More information about fire safety can be found at: www.cfa.vic.gov.au or www.depi.vic.gov.au
Mornington Peninsula Shire is continuing to take a ‘No Entertainment - No Nonsense’ approach for the upcoming New Year’s Eve on the peninsula, working in partnership with a community-based steering committee, police and residents to reduce the negative impact of celebrations in the area. CAR PARK CLOSED
Bus Service - Portsea to Safety Beach People are reminded to be in extremely vigilant No camping is permitted anyno public park public events or activities are to be in extremely vigilant There are organised No camping is permitted any public park A free, one - way bus People service willreminded operate ofor fires: and particularly fire-safe on the reserves. fires: and particularly fire-safe on the on the Mornington Peninsula on New Year’s Eve. or reserves. from Portsea to SafetyofBeach. peninsula. More information about fire safety peninsula. More information about fire safety Venues operating on New Year’s Eve will only be *For route information please visit can be found at: www.cfa.vic.gov.au or can be found at: www.cfa.vic.gov.au or accessible peopleon who have pre-purchased www.mornpen.vic.gov.au There are no public displays of fiby reworks www.depi.vic.gov.au There are no public displays of fireworks on www.depi.vic.gov.au tickets. Security will be onboard at all times. New Year’s Eve. A person must not possess New Year’s Eve. A person must not possess or discharge fireworks (fines apply). or discharge fireworks (fines apply). The Rye Carnival will be closed on New Year’s Alcohol bans apply from December 30 to The Rye Carnival will be closed on New Year’s Alcohol bans apply from December 30 to Eve (day and night). midnight 1 January 2016. Possession of In the event of an emergency call 000. EMERGENCY Eve (day and night). midnight 1 January 2016. Possession of sealed and unsealed containers of liquor in Discharge of flares is prohibited in containers of liquor in sealed and except unsealed Discharge of flares is prohibited except in public places is prohibited (unless sealed cases an car emergency. The Ryeof Pier park will be closed public placesfrom is prohibited (unless sealed cases an car emergency. The Ryeof Pier park will be closed from containers are being transported from New Year’s (ortransported from containers are Eve being CAR PARK approximately 4.00pm on point-of-sale to vehicle or private residence CAR PARK approximately 4.00pm on New Year’s Eve (or at Police discretion). Minor road closures are or private residence CLOSED point-of-sale to vehicle at Police discretion). Minor road closures are CLOSED for consumption). Possession of any glass expected in Rye from 11pm - 1am. for consumption). Possession of any glass expected in Rye from 11pm - 1am. container while in a public place is prohibited. container while in a public place is prohibited. Mornington Peninsula Shire working Mornington Peninsula Shire working in collaboration with Victoria Police Bus Service - Portsea to Safety Beach in collaboration with Victoria Police No camping is permitted in any public park Bus Service - Portsea to Safety Beach No camping is permitted in any public park A free, one - way bus service will operate or reserves. A free, one - way bus service will operate or reserves. from Portsea to Safety Beach. from Portsea to Safety Beach. Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News 16 December 2015 *For route information please visit *For route information please visit www.mornpen.vic.gov.au There are no public displays of fireworks on www.mornpen.vic.gov.au There are no public displays of fireworks on Security will be onboard at all times. New Year’s Eve. A person must not possess Security will be onboard at all times. New Year’s Eve. A person must not possess or discharge fireworks (fines apply). or discharge fireworks (fines apply).
The Rye Carnival will be closed on New Year’s Eve (day and night).
CAR PARK CLOSED
There are no organised public events or activities on the Mornington Peninsula on New Year’s Eve. Venues operating on New Year’s Eve will only be accessible by people who have pre-purchased tickets.
000
Have a safe New Year
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The Rye Pier car park will be closed from approximately 4.00pm on New Year’s Eve (or at Police discretion). Minor road closures are expected in Rye from 11pm - 1am.
Bus Service - Portsea to Safety Beach A free, one - way bus service will operate from Portsea to Safety Beach. *For route information please visit www.mornpen.vic.gov.au Security will be onboard at all times.
000
EMERGENCY
In the event of an emergency call 000.
Have a safe New Year