NEWS DESK
Spider crabs take their place in art BEWARE: Spider Crabs are coming to Rye! They’ve been spotted by members of Rye Beach Community Action Group near an arts’ project by Rye Primary School pupils. But relax: Their arrival is all part of a large mosaic art piece called: The invasion of the spider crabs, by artist Simon Normand. Mr Normand designed the artwork with assistance from the pupils during the mosaic process. It is on the wall of the toilet block facing the community playground, which also came about through the efforts of the action group. “We decided we wanted something beautiful for the Rye community and set about making it happen with our own funds and an arts-and-culture grant from the Mornington Peninsula Shire,” president Michael Wittingslow said. Mr Normand asked grades 5 and 6 pupils to draw pictures of local flora and fauna and advised on what they should do to make their drawings suitable for mosaics. His basic rule was: keep it simple! Drawings by 12 pupils were selected as part of the major work, but all students were involved: from smashing tiles – there were many volunteers for this – to placing them on the mosaic work. Principal Jackie Annable is delighted with the progress of the collaborative project, and hopes the school will be involved in others. Grade coordinator Sandi Emille said the children had been “involved and enthusiastic” about working with the artist. Mr Normand is artist-in-residence at Police Point shire park. His other works are at the Austin Hospital, and Elgin Park, Hawthorn. It is hoped the Rye artwork will be completed and in place by New Year.
Colourful creation: Artist Simon Normand, action group president Michael Wittingslow and teacher Mechelle Cheers with the grade 5 mosaic makers. They are Tiah, Skye, Casey, Keely, Greta, Jemma, Ashley, Imogen, Caitlyn, Faizah, Ocearna and Billie. Picture: Yanni
Alarm raised over blocked fire escape routes David Harrison david@mpnews.com.au FLINDERS and Red Hill residents concerned by predictions of an intense fire danger season are meeting Mornington Peninsula Shire officers to discuss ways of making their communities safer. A blocked escape route is causing a double problem for residents of William and Bourke roads in Red Hill – residents cannot get out and fire vehi-
cles cannot get into the area other than from Arthurs Seat Rd. It is believed the CFA is reluctant to enter parts of the area because of access problems. Twenty local residents met last month to discuss the blocked track that would enable them to reach the safety of the Mornington Flinders Rd at Elizabeth St near Red Hill Consolidated School. Red Hill ward councillor Tim Wood is arranging for both communities to
meet shire officers over their issues. In a letter to Cr Wood, Red Hill Community Association chairperson David Maddocks stated residents had “expressed grave concerns about the lack of access/evacuation routes … if Williams Rd was blocked by fire coming from the direction of Arthurs Seat Rd”. It continues: “…[A] section of about 100 metres at the Elizabeth St end has become overgrown with woody weeds and … occupied as a truck parking and storage space. While some years ago
this stretch was passable by pedestrians, it is now impassable, even on foot … As concerns for an exceptionally high risk fire season are mounting, RHCA considers that urgent action be taken to make Bourke Rd accessible at least to the standard of a fire track that can be used by pedestrians and vehicles.” Other Red Hill streets are blocked – as no doubt are others across the shire – or are restricted pedestrian thoroughfares, adding to the burden of staff rac-
ing to prepare the shire for the coming fire danger months. While fire authorities’ emphasise residents’ responsibility to leave early on fire Code Red days, with their “Leave and Live” message, the CFA has acknowledged that more than 43 per cent of bushfires are deliberately lit. These random blazes make it virtually impossible for people to execute their fire plans in an orderly way. In such circumstances, evacuation routes could well save lives.
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