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Rock fishing deadly

Message of peace: Artist and peace activist William Kelly will appear at this year’s Kingston Interfaith Art of Peace Dinner. Picture: Doug Spowart

Artist spreads message of peace GLOBALLY renowned artist and peace activist William Kelly will speak at this month’s Kingston Interfaith Art of Peace Dinner. Born in New York City, William Kelly was the recipient of the prestigious Courage of Conscience Award from the Peace Abby in America and is the only visual artist to receive an Australian Violence Prevention Award from the Prime Minister. He will discuss his work, which has been exhibited in over 20 countries across the world, including the award winning Peace Project sparked by Melbourne’s 1987 Queen Street shootings. The Kingston Interfaith network aims to build connections and conversation between different faith groups in the community. Kingston mayor Cr Tamsin Bearsley said Kingston was proud to support this event which aims to strengthen interfaith links and help build peace

and understanding in our community. “We’re proud to live in a multicultural community where people of many different cultures and faiths live with peace and respect,” Cr Bearsley said. “Groups like the Kingston Interfaith Network do a fantastic job of creating a stronger and more connected community by building friendships and understanding across different faith groups.” The Kingston Interfaith Network meets monthly and hosts events throughout the year. The Kingston Interfaith Art of Peace Dinner is on 7pm-9pm Wednesday 23 March at Southern Community Church of Christ in Cheltenham. All welcome, bookings essential, for the night of multicultural food and entertainment. Email community@kingston.vic.gov.au or call 9581 4734.

LIFESAVING Victoria has issued a list of safety measures for rock fishing which it sees as one of the most dangerous aquatic sports in Australia. The rocky shorelines of Mornington Peninsula facing Bass Strait are as much a lure to anglers as their baits are to fish, and just as deadly. On 10 January a 67-year-old man died after being swept from rocks while fishing at Sorrento. One week later a 26-year-old fisherman was washed off the rocks at Bridgewater Bay in Portland. The two deaths sparked an appeal from Life Saving Victoria for anglers to take more precautions. Top of the list is for rock fishers to wear lifejackets and never fish alone. The check list also cautions them to wear appropriate, lightweight clothing and footwear, avoid fishing during rough weather or where there are large waves, plan and escape route and “observe first, fish later”. Fishers are also advised to speak with “locals”. A news release from LSV quotes Chinese fisherman Victor Fan, who survived a rock fishing drowning incident in January 2012 at Pyramid Rock. “People don’t realise just how dangerous rock

fishing can be, I know I certainly didn’t,” Mr Fan is quoted as saying. “I urge people to learn from my mistake and ensure they prepare for changing conditions and always wear a lifejacket. No fish is worth risking your life.” Statistics show there were 13 drownings along the Bass Strait coast between 2000-2012. Most of the incidents involved men aged 35-59 years from a non-English speaking background. None were wearing lifejackets. “It’s a sad reality that the simple act of wearing a lifejacket would have most likely saved many lives,” LSV principal research associate Dr Bernadette Matthews said. “If you do get swept off the rocks unexpectedly, wearing a properly fitting lifejacket will keep you afloat with your head above water until help can arrive.” Last year LSV held rock fishing workshops to Vietnamese and Chinese fishers who are seen as being the highest risk groups. For more information on rock fishing lifesavingvictoria.com.au/rockfishing

Site search for boat ramps A STUDY will be held to identify sites for new boat ramps on the Mornington Peninsula. The Mornington Peninsula Marine Alliance says a steering committee will hire consultants to undertake the $40,000 feasibility study. The state government-financed study will also investigate improving existing boat ramps. Head of the marine alliance Stefan Borzeki, who operates Yaringa boat harbour near Somerville, said 60 per cent of the state’s recreational boating took place on Western Port and Port Phillip. He said there had been “been little renewal or replacement of marine infrastructure in the past 25 years … This under investment is a grave risk for the viability of the marine industry”.

Mr Borzeki said the steering committee would include representatives from Parks Victoria, Mornington Peninsula Shire, Boating Industry Association Victoria and “key local industry persons from the MPMA”. The committee will seek expressions of interest from three “suitably qualified consultants to ensure the project is run in a timely, responsive and comprehensive manner”. “Victoria cannot lose more jobs, we as a community must create more jobs and the marine sector is a great industry for the Mornington Peninsula; the key to this is creating easier access to the waters of Port Phillip and Western Port.”

Gangs show ‘disregard for the law’

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ers are frustrated at lenient sentences handed out to young offenders. In September last year, Frankston Embona Detective Sergeant Marty O’Brien said crime gangs such as Apex had a “blatant disregard for the law”. “We have 15 and 17-year-olds committing armed robberies and burglaries. They have no family support and their ages mean they walk straight from court.” He said one youth was bailed by Frankston Magistrates’ Court after committing 14 armed robberies. “Why a court would even entertain the idea of bail I don’t know,” he said. “We need to get harder because it’s getting worse. Upon conviction, they should be sent straight out of

Continued from Page 1 Gang members, aged 14 and up, show little regard for innocent victims of their crimes. A 15-year-old Patterson Lakes boy believed to be associated with the Apex gang was arrested after an early morning collision in Mordialloc in November last year that killed 47-year-old mother-of-two Amanda Matheson who was driving to work. A contentious ‘no-pursuit’ policy introduced last year has been defended by senior police who say lives are at risk when offenders are chased since they may be unlicensed and have no driving experience. Despite the Premier’s insistence that gang members will “feel the full force of the law” some police offic-

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Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News 23 March 2016

the country. It’s a privilege to reside here.” Police arrested four people on the night of the Melbourne brawl and have vowed to track down other offenders. On Monday afternoon (14 March) two men, believed to be associated with the Apex gang, were arrested by police in Dandenong. The men, both aged 18, are alleged to have been involved in a recent spate of aggravated burglaries, carjackings and armed robberies across south east suburbs. Bail not answer: Frankston police are frustrated at the leniency shown by the courts to some repeat young offenders.

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