NEWS DESK
Pupils rise to the energy challenge
Crime taskforce to break patterns
BONBEACH Primary School’s grade 5 and 6 pupils did “extremely well” in the pushcart section of the RACV Energy Breakthrough at rural Maryborough last month. They raced against 60 schools from all around Victoria in the challenge in which teachers, pupils and parents work together to design and build a vehicle, machine or innovation in technology that will represent an ‘energy breakthrough’. “They ranked highly and blitzed their opponents with the fastest time in the endurance event, came fourth in the obstacle course and won their heat in the sprints – before being let down with a flat tyre,” principal Ken Jones said. With help from parents and grandparents, the 10 children helped design their billycart, learned mechanical skills, took part in special training sessions and bonded as a team. The five boys and five girls won the Display and Presentation section but are a little disappointed at being penalised 40 seconds – costing them first place – in the prestigious Race section. “We are officially protesting and awaiting the judges’ decision,” Mr Jones said. “If our protest is upheld we will have also won the race section and the whole event.” An over-zealous judge’s decision - to penalise the team for using a pillow to raise the sitting position of one of the shorter drivers - is behind all the fuss. Mr Jones said the pillow had been seen by other judges during the billycart’s scrutinising and dismantling stage and was therefore deemed ‘legal’. “We are waiting to hear back from them,” Mr Jones said. “Who knows how it [the protest] will go?” This is the Bonbeach Primary’s second crack at the endurance event: last year they came fourth overall. The RACV Energy Breakthrough has been running in Maryborough for about 23 years – and attracting crowds of 10,000 who cheer on their teams. Schools from all over Australia compete. The event was recently nominated for the state tourism awards. Ride of their lives: Taylah, in the billycart, is pushed by, from left, Ami, with Carter, Flynn, Taj, Billy, Corey, Stephen Taylor Teagan, Meg and Malak. Picture: Gary Sissons
KINGSTON police have joined a taskforce dedicated to breaking patterns of violence and crime. It will begin work in the New Year. Taskforce Alexis brings together police, mental health and family violence experts into one unit operating out of Moorabbin police station. Southern Metro Division 2s Superintendent Ross Guenther said the taskforce would focus on engagement and extensive family support. It will aim to reduce crime through “pro-active policing and holding offenders to account”. Victims and perpetrators will be the primary focus of the taskforce, with the taskforce attempting to break cycles of repeat victimisation through support in mental health and family violence. Twenty-three staff will be dedicated to the taskforce, including a senior family violence practitioner and a mental health technician with strong links to partner agencies. In the past year only 3 per cent of men were accessing referral services focused on changing patterns of violence in the home. “Until now police have not had the capacity or mixture of expertise to pursue family violence and mental health incidents to ensure both victims and offenders were accessing appropriate referral services,” Superintendent Guenther said. “I believe the only way to prevent re-victimisation is to stop perpetrators in their tracks and to change their behaviour, which is a key focus of Taskforce Alexis.” Stephen Taylor
Crime down, thefts from cars up Stephen Taylor steve@baysidenews.com.au CRIME overall is reducing in the City of Kingston, with the rate down 2.3 per cent 2013-2014. Acting Inspector Janene Denton said that, over the past 12 months, the number of robberies had fallen 23.3 per cent, assaults (excluding family violence assaults) 3.7 per cent and property damage 13.7 per cent. But she said residential burglaries and theft from motor cars were “of particular concern”. “We have seen an increase in these two crime categories throughout the municipality with residential burglaries up 10.2 per cent and theft from cars up 17.1 per cent.”
Most of the thefts from motor cars occur in residential streets and driveways with thieves targeting unlocked vehicles. “They typically walk the streets checking door handles of cars and then break into those have been left unlocked,” she said. “It’s a timely reminder to everyone to ensure all valuables are removed or kept out of sight in vehicles and to never leave your car unlocked, even when parked in the driveway.” Residential burglaries mostly occur in the day time. Those seeing any suspicious behaviour or a suspicious person loitering in their area should call triple zero (000) immediately. Drug offences are up 22.4 per cent, which Acting Inspector Denton says is a direct result of intensive police focus on disrupting drug activity by detecting
those using and selling drugs. “Although we’ve seen a slight reduction (.4 per cent) in injury collisions within Kingston the numbers are still far too high,” she said. “Between October 2013 and September 2014, a total of 484 injury collisions were reported. Speed and distractions, such as using mobile phones while driving, contributed to many of these.” PSOs have been deployed on the Kingston train network in the evenings. Acting Inspector Denton said this aimed to provide a greater level of comfort and safety to those using trains at night. “Kingston continues to stand out as a wonderful place to live and work,” she said. “The sense of community among us all is very strong and together we can
keep safety our number one priority.” Figures covering all of Southern Metro Region – which includes Kingston – show there was a 4 per cent rise in the number of offences during 2013-14 to 98,650 offences. Crime Against the Person offences fell by 1.3 per cent to 13,367 offences, Crime Against Property offences rose by 1.2 per cent and drug offences rose 9.2 per cent. The largest increases were in justice procedures (up 26.2 per cent), handle stolen goods (up 31 per cent), and theft from motor vehicle (up 12.4 per cent). Categories to experience large percentage falls included theft (other) down 9.2 per cent), sex (non-rape) down 1.3 per cent, and burglary (residential) down 3.8 per cent.
No need to be lonely this Xmas THOSE living alone will enjoy a Christmas lunch on Monday 15 December thanks to the Rotary Club of Mordialloc. “Christmas can be a miserable time for many people who do not have friends and relations to share it with, so we are again hosting a friendly get together for them at no cost,” Rotarian Len Dawson said. “After all, charity begins at home.” The lunch will be held at noon at the Mordialloc Sporting Club at 528 Main St – which is a part sponsor with music and lunch provided. Staff from Ray White real estate Cheltenham will lend a hand. Details: Mr Dawson 0438 892 499.
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Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News 3 December 2014
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