Grants given to groups

CONCEPT designs for the Frankston Hospital redevelopment. Picture: Supplied

Businesses encouraged to get involved with hospital project THREE private consortia have been shortlisted to tackle the $605 million expansion of Frankston Hospital. Exemplar Health, Plenary Health, and Pulse Health Partnership are in the running to handle the project, which will be a public private partnership. The planned hospital expansion will add a new multi-level clinical services tower and main entrance, capacity for 120 more beds, more operating theatres, a new emergency department, a mental health, alcohol, and other drugs hub, a new emergency department paediatric zone, a new maternity ward, and a

special care nursery. It will remain a public hospital. The Committee For Greater Frankston advocacy group expects the successful bidder to be announced in early 2022. CEO Ginevra Hosking said the project’s procurement would be “a boon for companies in our area with each consortium eager to learn more about the skills and capabilities of our region”. Ms Hosking said the committee will “convene several procurement events to show local businesses how to get involved, but firms can stay in the loop by registering with Industry Capability Network Gateway, an

KINGSTON Council has allocated $1.6 million in grant funding to local community groups. 177 community grants have been handed out by council this year. It will spend just over $500,000 on support for neighbourhood houses and community centres, just under $400,000 on community social welfare organisations, $86,095 on multicultural and seniors’ groups, and $76,567 on local VICSES Units. Kingston mayor Steve Staikos said “there are so many fantastic community groups doing really important work across Kingston and we are proud to be able to support their

efforts. Our community continues to face many challenges due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and our community groups and clubs do a wonderful job providing emergency relief, social engagement and act as an invaluable support network for many in Kingston.” “We know the past 18 months have also been challenging for many event organisers, theatre groups and arts organisations impacted by closures and cancellations. We want those in the arts’ sectors to know that we support their ongoing efforts,” he said.

online portal that connects suppliers to major projects.” “Our events will enable local businesses – small, medium and large – to speak directly with project design and procurement executives about how best to showcase Frankston and Mornington Peninsula innovations,” she said. Information about its procurement events can be found at C4GF.com. au. To register for expressions of interest about the hospital project at the Industry Capability Network Gateway visit gateway.icn.org.au/ project/4390/frankston-hospitalredevelopment

RYAN LEE WINS FRANKSTON ARTS CENTRE OPEN EXHIBITION PRIZE 2021 RYAN Lee has taken out top honours in the Frankston Arts Centre Open Exhibition Competition 2021 with his stunning video artwork ‘Wonnarua’. Frankston City Council Mayor Kris Bolam said “The Open Exhibition Competition is a major annual arts program delivered by Frankston City Council, which provides artists with the opportunity to address a chosen theme through their choice of medium. “Whether it is a painting, sculpture, photography, video or textile – this year’s artists have explored the theme Change – inspired by pivotal global events, the theme was open to broad artistic interpretation and could be approached from a personal, social, historical, aesthetic or climatic perspective. “We acknowledge and thank everyone who has been involved in the exhibition competition, including the artists and Guest Judge Simon Lawrie, who is Curator at McClelland Sculpture Park+Gallery and selected this year’s winner.

In selecting Ryan’s artwork, Mr Lawrie said: “Wonnarua captures well how things change at different speeds and often out of step with each other – while threatened by the industrial exploitation of traditional lands by non-Indigenous inhabitants, the cultural identity of the Wonnarua Nation remains strong.” Ryan’s prize includes an exhibition and Opening Event at Frankston Arts Centre in 2022 and a cash prize of $1,000. Ryan said: “I'm absolutely chuffed to see Wonnarua selected as the winner for the 2021 Frankston Arts Centre Open Exhibition. It was amazing to hear curator Simon Lawrie's reflections on the moving image work and to see that the intended messages are being taken on board. I'm looking forward to sharing these messages further when exhibiting the work next year at the Frankston Arts Centre.” Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News

18 August 2021

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