NEWS DESK
New station is on line Neil Walker neil@baysidenews.com.au A NEW train station on the Frankston line is open for business, commuters and shoppers. Southland Station, located between Cheltenham and Highett stations, near Southland Shopping Centre will see trains running through its new precinct every ten minutes when Metro Trains services are running on time. The state government said 600 tonnes of earth were moved and more than 60,000 hours worked to build the new Southland Station.
It is estimated that 4400 passengers a day will use the new stop on the Frankston line. Commuters previously had to catch a bus or walk from Highett and Cheltenham stations to the shopping centre and cinemas. Labor Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan, Bentleigh MP Nick Staikos and Mordialloc MP Tim Richardson officially opened Southland Station on Sunday (26 November). “The Andrews Labor government is improving public transport in Melbourne’s south east – building more trains, removing level crossings and building new and improved stations,”
Mr Richardson said. While the new train station is a boon for shoppers, shopping centre workers have been less fortunate. Retail workers at Southland Shopping Centre, owned by Westfield, are being slugged for parking while at work if rostered on for more than three hours a shift. The shopping centre introduced paid parking in October for shoppers who stay more than three hours to dissuade commuters from parking all day at the centre’s car park. On yer bike: Commuters can cycle to a new train station at Southland. Picture: Gary Sissons
Charity gears up for Christmas A CHARITY that recently celebrated its fifth birthday is gearing up to help disadvantaged families around Christmas time. Mums Supporting Families In Need takes donations at its Seaford warehouse and distributes nursery essentials, clothing, linen, toys, toiletries and food to families across Frankston, the Mornington Peninsula and Kingston. “We’re all volunteers and we assist about 130 families every month,” Supervisor Donna Cartwright said. “I got involved when my youngest son was born and he outgrew some of his clothes four-and-a-half years ago so I thought it was a chance to do something to help,” she said. “We’re in full swing with our Christmas appeal, where we estimate we’ll provide over 2000 toys, 300 toiletry hampers and 500 food hampers to struggling families and those experiencing a circumstantial crisis.” Ms Cartwright said non-perishable food for hampers and toys for children can be donated New volunteers are always welcome, she said. “There’s no major commitment required and people can pop in and out as they can — there’s always something to do,” Ms Cartwright said. Dandenong Hyundai and Mitsubishi contributes $500 a month to the group and donated a van to Mums Supporting Families In Need to enable deliveries of bulky items such as cots, car seats and high chairs to families. See msfin.org.au for a list of items that can be donated and drop-off points in addition to the Seaford warehouse. Neil Walker
Future draws close: Cornish College principal Vicki Steer, Victorian Education Minister James Merlino and Mordialloc MP Tim Richardson with plans for a new education centre.
Schools are in the money
Festive spirit: Mums Supporting Families In Need volunteers Lois, left, Jodie, Donna and Jen pack hampers ahead of Christmas. Picture: Gary Sissons
EDUCATION for all was the catch cry last week when Premier Daniel Andrews visited Aspendale’s Yarrabah School to announce a statewide investment of $61 million in programs and equipment for pupils with disabilities. The Premier said he had headed several roundtable talks with families of students with disabilities to find out what more can be done to strengthen inclusivity. Yarrabah School, a special needs school with the motto “A Little School with a Big Heart”, will directly benefit from a $7.5 million push to run after school hours care and school holiday demonstrations. The school will also receive specialised equipment such as braille translation software, e-book and e-text readers, talking and accessibility software. The state government also earmarked $6.5 million for teaching scholarships at Monash University for the Master of Education (Applied Behaviour Analysis) qualification. Mordialloc Labor MP Tim Richardson said: “This will mean so much to parents, students and teachers here at Yar-
rabah School, and will make sure every child has the same opportunity to a great education.” The funding boost for schools came a week after the state government announced a $50 million upgrade to nongovernment schools including $2 million to build new classrooms at a seniors studies centre at Bangholme’s Cornish College. The independent coeducational school is also pitching in $2 million to the construction of the new centre, designed by McGlashan Everist Architects and slated to be open for the 2019 academic year. “The new centre will provide spaces for formal and small group teaching. We recognise that learning is not confined to classrooms though and the large, open plan areas will support incidental learning too,” Cornish College principal Vicki Steer said. “Importantly, the space will provide opportunities for independent study, collaboration, coaching and mentoring, informal interactions and relaxation, to support students’ rounded development into successful young people.”
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Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News 29 November 2017
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