No station patrols ‘public risk’ Neil Walker neil@baysidenews.com.au THE Andrews government has been accused of putting public safety at risk during the upcoming trial of allnight public transports on weekends. Earlier this month the Labor state government announced a one-year trial of 24-hour Friday and Saturday train services, called “Homesafe”, across the state including the Frankston line. Liberal opposition leader Matthew Guy visited Seaford train station on Monday (24 August) and slammed the government for failing to budget for protective services officers at all stations all night. “That leaves quite a number of stations like Seaford exposed to no security after 11pm,” Mr Guy said. PSOs will be on duty all night at locations dubbed “premium stations” by the state government. Frankston, Carrum, Mordialloc, Mentone, Cheltenham, Moorabbin, Bentleigh, Caulfield, South Yarra and Richmond stations on the Frankston line have been classed premium stations with PSOs set to patrol these stations overnight. PSOs will clock off overnight at all other stations on Friday and Saturday evenings. “The PSOs will leave and it’s going to be a lottery if you’re not at a premium station,” Mr Guy said. “The fact that the public now won’t know which station has them or not is a real concern. The idea of PSOs is that every station had them
Tickling the ivories: Joe Chindamo (left) and Alan Kogosowski perform in Frankston next month. Pictures supplied Safety first: Liberal opposition leader Matthew Guy says the state government should ensure protective services officers patrol all stations including Seaford all night during a 12-month trial of 24/7 weekend train services. Picture: Gary Sissons
until the last train.” Mr Guy says the government “haven’t done their sums right” on the trial. When in opposition before last year’s state election Labor said the 12-month all-night weekend public transport trial would cost $50 million but this figure has blown out to $83.6 million. “The government has done it on the cheap. Our view is that there should be PSOs until the last train.” Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said the government consulted with Victoria Police about the best model and the best use of resources. Ms Allan said police determined
109 extra PSOs and an extra 62 transit police would be needed, so funding was increased to enable Victoria Police to employ extra staff. “It’s disappointing Mr Guy doesn’t support this important initiative, which will do so much for people down the sandbelt and across Victoria who just want to get home safe on the weekend.” Carrum Labor MP Sonya Kilkenny welcomed the Homesafe trial. “I wish Matthew Guy would stop picking on Seaford. I live in Seaford. It is a terrific community with many families who just want to know that their young people can get home on the weekends.”
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The keys to classics and jazz A RENOWNED concert pianist and an acclaimed jazz pianist will present a masterclass followed by a concert in Frankston on 13 September, bringing a touch of musical genius to Monash University’s George Jenkins Theatre. Alan Kogosowski and Joe Chindamo are pioneering a new concept for the region in conjunction with the university – giving budding musicians a chance to learn from highly experienced professionals who have played around the world. Kogosowski is a world leading authority on the music of Chopin. Jazz pianist Chindamo is an internationally acclaimed composer. From Chopin to Chindamo is the first of Monash University’s
“Masterclass and Concert Program” at its peninsula campus. Four piano students from the region will perform two classical and two jazz pieces of about five minutes each in front of a live audience at the theatre from 11am-1pm on Sunday 13 September. Kogosowski and Chindamo will share their experiences and insights into performance techniques and give tips to the young performers. This session is free of charge. The pianists will then perform at 3pm, Kogosowski first, playing Beethoven and Chopin, followed by Chindamo. Tickets $25, concession $20. For more information and tickets, call 9532 7593.
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