NEWS DESK Idea seed planted
Making a difference: Dawn Walterfang, Angela Hunt, Stephanie Thomas-Reindel and Lloyd Thomas celebrate Bonbeach Life Saving Club’s various achievements. Picture: supplied
Lifesavers’ dedication rewarded MEMBERS of the lifesaving and aquatic community from Bonbeach were awarded for their dedication to saving lives at the 14th annual Life Saving Victoria Award of Excellence on Saturday 29 July. More than 280 guests, including Victorian lifesavers, aquatic industry members and dignitaries, attended the gala event. Bonbeach Life Saving Club collected three of the four major awards with Lloyd Thomas from Bonbeach LSC being awarded the John Wishart Memorial Medal as Lifesaver of the Year for his ‘outstanding contribution to lifesaving’. Bonbeach LSC was also presented with Outstanding Achievement of the Year for their 2017 CALD Surf Rescue Certificate Program, the Volunteer As-
sessor of the Year which was awarded to Stephanie Thomas Reindel and the Volunteer of the Year award which went to Dawn Walterfang. President Certificates were presented to Joshua Ritchie-Crichton from Gunnamatta SLSC and Kieran Hanley from Rosebud and McCrae LSC for helping save the life of a man who suffered a heart attack at a cricket match earlier this year. Samantha Howe from Point Leo SLSC was named Athlete of the Year with Tamara Brawn, also from Point Leo SLSC, collecting the award for Competition Official of the Year. Greg Schmidt of Mentone SLSC was the recipient for the Nipper Program Volunteer of the Year, and Mount Martha LSC was awarded the Patrol Efficiency Club of the Year.
Portsea SLSC also collected awards with Rebecca Gould earning the Membership and Leadership Development Service Award and Dr Natalie Hood earning a Life Membership. Life Saving Victoria president Tom Mollenkopf paid tribute to the nominees and winners for their ongoing commitment to the lifesaving movement. “This special event recognises and celebrates the exceptional achievements our dedicated volunteers, staff, and members of the broader aquatic community make throughout the year,” he said. “Everyone in the organisation takes great pride in the work they carry out, and this is a wonderful way to acknowledge those who go above and beyond to contribute to all aspects of lifesaving in Victoria.”
KINGSTON Council is calling for new and improved tree planting along Nepean Highway to try to make the transport corridor “safer and more attractive”. Kingston mayor Cr David Eden said council is seeking VicRoads support for the plan to include additional native trees to beautify the busy road. “We’re keen to plant more natives and build on existing plantings — such as the iconic Norfolk Island pine trees at Moorabbin and Canary Island palm trees in Mordialloc — to build pride in our city,” Cr Eden said. “Increasing the numbers of native trees, and better maintenance of the existing greenery along the Nepean Highway, has the potential to make the strip a lot safer, and more attractive, for the community.” Council will prepare a draft plan on enhancement of the trees along the Nepean Highway following a motion passed at a recent council meeting. “Our plan will outline ways to safely boost the number of trees — with a preference for suitable native and local foreshore species while avoiding the removal of healthy and mature trees in the area.” “In addition to the environmental benefits, suitable indigenous plants can improve road safety by screening out oncoming headlights and providing a barrier to prevent cars crossing the centre median,” Cr Eden said.
Avoid the shallows RECREATIONAL boat operators should take care not to run aground in shallows at the entrance of Patterson River after unseasonal conditions increased natural sand movements. Parks Victoria has warned vessel operators to “navigate with extreme cau-
tion” and check water depths, weather and tides before setting out on the water. “The latest survey has indicated water depths at the entrance of Patterson River have reduced significantly in a short period of time due to recent conditions in Port Phillip,” Parks Victoria acting regional director Victor Teoh said. “Some areas of the entrance have registered depths as low as -0.7m (chart datum).” A dredge vessel, currently working at Portarlington, will make its way to Patterson River to dredge more sand at the river mouth soon. See parks.vic.gov.au or call 13 19 63 for more information.
First ‘tech fest’ THE Mornington Peninsula and Frankston’s first entrepreneurship and technology festival starts on Friday with a business breakfast and a three-day “hackathon”. The event is a joint venture between the technology business hub Frankston Foundry, Mornington Peninsula Shire, Frankston Council and sponsors including the state government’s start-up investment body LaunchVic. Kate Gittings of LaunchVic said the south east region’s first hackathon, PeninsulaHACK, aimed to “build solutions for regional problems such as high youth unemployment and job availability”. The three-day hackathon, 6pm Friday to 6pm Sunday 11-13 August, will see about 150 entrepreneurs, businesses and community leaders from Frankston, the peninsula and beyond “discuss and explore opportunities around the gig economy and the future of work”. About 15 teams will pitch their ideas to a panel of judges, with winning teams taking a share of $6000 prize money. Details and bookings: peninsulahack. com.au
Trouble hearing? Let us help No sales targets. No commissions. Just award-winning service. FREE 30 day hearing aid trials. At no cost & obligation free. FREE Hearing aids to Pensioners* Pensioners, Veterans, Worksafe & Privates *subject to eligibility criteria through the Australian Pension Scheme.
9708 8626 Suite 1, 7 Davies Ave, Mt Eliza support@staytunedhearing.com.au
Robin Tu Accredited Managing Audiologist
12358231-CG29-17
• Monuments • Renovations • Accessories • Inscriptions • Installations
Store Locations Springvale Dandenong Noble Park
9548 4199 9706 8108 9540 8807
NOW OPEN
340 Frankston Dandenong Rd
Crn Swift Way • Dandenong South 9706 4486 Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
9 August 2017
PAGE 3