NEWS DESK

Protect pets by registering now

Junior mayor Sienna Koop

New council KINGSTON youngsters can run for a Junior Council thanks to a partnership between the Chelsea Rotary Club and Kingston Council. The mayor Cr Steve Staikos said the Junior Council will be an extension of the highly successful Junior Mayor program which gives local grade six students the opportunity to develop leadership skills and learn about local democracy. “Instead of just one student participating, the Junior Council will give nine young people a great opportunity to learn and grow,” Cr Staikos said. Kingston’s Junior Mayor program has been running for over 50 years and is sponsored by the Chelsea Rotary Club. “Each year, grade six students from a range of local primary students put forward a student to represent their school through a two-minute presentation. All the participating students then vote for a junior mayor,” Cr Staikos said. “The junior mayor is then called on throughout the year to assist the mayor at a range of official council events. “Council is very proud to continue its long and unique tradition of electing a junior mayor but we’re keen to expand the program and get more students involved.

APRIL is the month to register pets so Kingston Council is reminding all pet owners to renew pet registration by Tuesday 10 April. The mayor Cr Steve Staikos said registering pets ensures being reunited with them if they are lost or run away. “Each year our local laws officers collect hundreds of lost animals and for the past four years we’ve been able to successfully reunite 100 per cent of those animals that were properly registered,” Cr Staikos said. “Please don’t wait until it’s too late and your pet is missing — make sure their registration is renewed and that their microchip details are up to date.” Victorian legislation requires every cat and dog three months of age and over to be registered with council. Animals being registered for the first time must be microchipped and desexed prior to registration. Pet registration fees fund: n off-leash dog parks and dog exercise equipment n services to remove wandering and aggressive dogs from the streets, so people and pets can walk in safety n services to deal with nuisance problems like barking dogs, cat trespass and abandoned animals n control of dangerous, menacing and restricted breed dogs so they do not pose a threat to the community n monitoring of animal welfare standards in pet shops, kennels, catteries, breeding and training businesses n education programs for the general community and for children in preschools and primary schools. Register at kingston.vic.gov.au/animals online or call 1300 653 356.

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Down at estate: Aspendale Gardens Primary School pupils Maddie Stewart, left, Keegan Ryan, garden teacher Seila Hierk, musician Ego Lemos, Indu Alappatt and Friends of Down’s Estate Community Project’s Robyn Erwin at Down’s Estate. Picture: Yanni

Gig on at Down’s Estate SAVING historic farm buildings at Down’s Estate in Seaford was music to the ears of a community group and now the homestead is set to host its first music gig. The farm homestead, formerly occupied by renowned whip and saddle maker Harry Down, has been converted into an indigenous bush food garden and permaculture site by the Down’s Estate Community Working Group (DECWG). The public is invited to visit the farm at the Downs Estate Community Project’s first event on Sunday 8 April. Visitors can learn about permaculture, plant seedlings, try Tai Chi, learn about wicking beds or bees and hear talks from Timor Leste permaculturist and musician Ego Lemos. “Ego Lemos is not only Timor Leste’s premier singer-songwriter, he is also working to transform Timor’s food security school by school,” DECWG representative Regina Orchard said. “Like school food growing programs in Australia, Timor’s

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Permaculture in Schools program results in increased levels of engagement with school and understanding of concepts across the curriculum, but in Timor it also has a huge impact on access to fresh, healthy food and thus nutrition and health levels of whole communities. “ Lemos will be visiting schools in Kingston and Frankston inspiring children and teachers and to talk about permaculture across communities. Proceeds from the event will go towards Kingston’s Friends of Manatuto community group’s support of the Permaculture in Schools program with funds going to introducing the program in more schools in the Manatuto area of Timor. n The Celebrating Timor Leste’s Food Future event with musician Ego Lemos will be held at Down’s Estate, 190 Old Wells Road, Seaford on Sunday 8 April, 12-5pm. See timorfoodfuture.eventbrite.com.au for tickets. $15 per person, entry for children free.

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Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News 4 April 2018

Artist impression.