NEWS DESK New party’s display
Exchange ideas
A NEW political party formed in April is holding an information session at Frankston 5-6pm on Tuesday 9 June in Frankston Library’s long room, 60 Playne St. The national convener of PIBCI (Public Interests Before Corporate Interests) is Dr Joe Toscano, a medical practitioner with a history of political activism who stood as an independent in the Frankston electorate at last year’s state election. The meeting has been organised by Frankston resident Gillian Collins, an environmental campaigner and co-organiser of the 12-week picket that tried to stop bulldozing of part of the historic Westerfield estate in Frankston South for the Peninsula Link freeway in 2010. Dr Toscano has campaigned on issues such as Medicare, the ABC, public housing, corporate welfare, and indigenous matters. PIBCI’s website states the party aims “to ensure the interests of the Australian public are put before the interests of unaccountable corporations whose major responsibility is to create everincreasing profits ... irrespective of the human, social, environmental and national costs”. Details: Gillian Collins, 0414 309 960 or gillianuu@yahoo.com.au
A MULTICULTURAL Forum for those aged 16-25 will be held 4-7pm, Friday 5 June, at Frankston North Community Centre. Participants at this free Victorian Multicultural Commission event can share ideas, opinions and experiences. Bookings, details: Call 9651 0605 or elizabeth.bladeshamilton@vmc.vic.gov.au
App links sports lovers A VICHEALTH phone app called TeamUp helps people connect with the type of exercise they enjoy, including team sport, dancing, walking, finding someone to have a social hit of tennis with, and more. Details: teamup.com. au
Holiday fun ENROLMENTS began on Monday for Kingston Council’s June/July Vacation Care program. The program is for children attending primary school. It runs 7.30am6pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) under the care of qualified and experienced educators who provide recreational activities for children to enjoy during the school holidays. Activities include excursions in and around Melbourne, workshops, art and craft and games. The vacation care program runs throughout the school holidays at four venues across Kingston. It is being run at Yarrabah School - Mill St, Aspendale, call 0418 437 832; Bonbeach Primary School - Breeze St, Bonbeach (0439 868 716); Dingley Primary School - Centre Dandenong Rd, Dingley (0439 868 714) and Moorabbin Primary School - Worthing Rd, Moorabbin (0439 868 713). Results of the March/April Vacation Care satisfaction survey are being collated. Families will be provided with feedback soon. Vacation care fees: In-house days Monday and Friday: $57, workshop day Wednesday: $72.50, and excursion days Tuesday and Thursday: $73.50. Contact the Vacation Care office on 9581 4846 or 9581 4875 for details.
Dog lover: The man police wish to speak to over the theft of a puppy from a pet shop.
Puppy theft: police seek man POLICE are searching for a man who allegedly stole a puppy from a pet shop in Carrum Downs in April. Investigators have been told the man entered the store on Frankston-Dandenong Rd at 4.30pm on Tuesday 14 April. He waited for employees to be distracted and then allegedly used a screwdriver to pry the lock and gain access to the puppy’s pen. The man then hid the puppy – a tan-and-white cavoodle - under his jacket and left the store. The now 20-week-old puppy is valued at $2000.
Police are investigating the incident and have released a CCTV image of a man they believe may be able to assist with their inquiries. He is described as being Caucasian, in his late 20s-early 30s, with a thin build, pale skin and brown hair tied up in a ponytail. He was wearing a black-coloured hooded jacket with black and red-coloured board shorts. Anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at crimestoppersvic.com.au
Taking control to change life for the better
Musical tributes SONGS in the Key of Motown, 8pm, Thursday 4 June at Frankston Arts Centre, will feature award-winning vocal quartet Spectrum and their sister group Radiance. The musicians will pay a soulful tribute to the glory days of Motown and R&B music. Bookings, details: Call 9784 1060 or thefac.com.au
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Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News 3 June 2015
FORMER police officer turned business and life coach Ruth Cyster-Stuettgen wants women to know they can have a bright future no matter how dark the present can be. The mother-of-three has turned her life around after leaving an abusive situation and has written a book called From Misery to Mastery: Journey to Freedom and Empowerment as a guide for anyone who has “ever felt lost, helpless or scared of what your life has become”. She hopes the book can find an audience with “women who are suffering in silence behind closed doors” and give women tips and strategies to empower themselves to make a change. “The reason why I wanted to write the book was to use it as a tool for myself to heal and to be a voice for other women going through the same thing.” The book includes practical exercises to enable women to forgive themselves for tolerating abusive situations due to feeling isolated before seeking support. The author’s own life has been a journey to seek freedom from oppression. In the early 1980s her family left South Africa and moved to Australia. “We left to basically escape the Apartheid regime and have a better life in Australia,” she said. After studying for a degree at La Trobe University, Ms Cyster-Stuettgen joined Victoria Police and spent time living in Germany after leaving the force. Despite an outwardly happy disposition and life, she said appearances can be deceiving. “There are so many women out there in an abusive situation who don’t appear to be going through
Strong advice: Ruth Cyster-Stuettgen has written a book she believes can help women navigate themselves away from unhappy and abusive domestic situations. Picture: Yanni
things like that and that’s a dangerous thing. “Try to be strong enough to step out and create of seek help from support systems to not have to be scared of consequences of speaking out.” Ms Cyster-Stuettgen used to attend domestic violence incidents during her time in the police force and she believes the way authorities in the legal system deal with such cases has improved since the 1980s. “Decide that enough is enough, and take control of your life – move towards one of peace, love and success, for yourself and your family.”
From Misery to Mastery: Journey to Freedom and Empowerment published by Busybird Publishing will be officially launched at Petersen’s Bookstore, 103 High St, Hastings on Sunday 14 June, 3-5pm with special guest Rose Batty, domestic violence campaigner and Australian of the Year. Entry is free. Light refreshments will be provided. Call Ruth Cyster-Stuettgen on 0432 441 146 or see ruthstuettgen.com.au for further details. Neil Walker