NEWS DESK FRANKSTON Council has debated the future of the prayer reading at its public meetings. Picture: Gary Sissons
Prayer’s place at council questioned A PROPOSAL to consider scrapping the prayer read at the beginning of Frankston Council meetings has failed at the first hurdle. Public Frankston Council meetings are preceded by the reading of a prayer, addressed to “Almighty God”. Councillor Sue Baker raised a motion at council’s 2 October meeting asking for a report into the “appropriateness of a single faith prayer”. She called the motion a “response to the changing landscape of councils and community.” “2021 census data reveals that our community is changing, and religious affiliations are changing,” Baker said. “The use of a Christian prayer or a single-faith prayer is inclusive of less than half of the population of the Frankston community.” The request for a report was unsuc-
cessful. Councillors Baker, Claire Harvey, and Brad Hill voted for it, and councillors Nathan Conroy, Liam Hughes, and Suzette Tayler opposed. Kris Bolam and David Asker abstained, and Steven Hughes was absent due to suspension. The mayor Nathan Conroy said that he was concerned the move would spark protests. “This prayer has been around for decades, 70 years as mentioned previously. It does mean a lot to me personally and I also believe it’s part of our sevendecade long history,“ he said. “We have a rich history of Christianity here in Frankston from the Irish and UK population as well. “In this instance I would prefer not to go to consultation because I believe in the status quo of the prayer at the council meeting.”
The motion proposed by Baker would have seen a report sent to council in February next year - the report was proposed to cover the purpose of the prayer, the practice at other Victorian councils, and opportunities for consultation. A summary prepared by Frankston Council officers read that council had not reviewed its prayer practice since its implementation in 1953. “Of the 79 [councils] in Victoria, approximately half continue to include a Christian prayer, and the other half have either dispensed with the prayer or (a small number) have a rotating interfaith arrangement,” council officers wrote. “Members of the community of Frankston City have asked why a Christian prayer is included in local government meetings.” Brodie Cowburn
Premier retains Pool chair reappointed for three more years MP’s position FRANKSTON MP Paul Edbrooke will remain the parliamentary secretary to the treasurer under new Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan. Edbrooke (pictured below) has held the position since June last year. He has previously served as parliamentary secretary for bushfire recovery, police, and emergency services. Newly-appointed Premier Allan unveiled her cabinet earlier this month. Carrum MP Sonya Kilkenny remains as planning minister - she was appointed to the role last July by Daniel Andrews. She has also been named the “minister for the suburbs”. “Sonya Kilkenny will retain her responsibilities as minister for planning and also become minister for the suburbs as she continues to drive a package of planning reforms from Victoria’s Housing Statement – clearing the backlog of approvals, making sure good decisions are made faster and guiding the way our suburbs grow,” a statement from the Premier read.
PENINSULA Leisure chair Julie Busch has been reappointed for three years. Busch’s new appointment runs until 31 January 2027. She has been in the role since January 2021. Peninsula Leisure operates the Peninsula Aquatic Recreation Centre. It is owned by Frankston Council, but independently run.
Registers to be published REGISTERS of gifts, developer contributions, interstate travel, and legal expenses will be publicly posted on Frankston Council’s “transparency hub” web page from December. Frankston Council’s transparency hub was launched in September last year. It currently tracks things including councillor expenses and attendances, infrastructure project schedules, financial records, and more. Last week, Frankston councillors approved the publication of a range of new data. This includes registers of developers and lobbyists involved with council, developer contributions, external submissions, petitions, gifts, consultancy fees, conflicts of interest, legal expenses, and interstate travel. Summaries of conduct matters and key management and senior officer remuneration will also be posted. To access the webpage visit frankston.vic.gov.au/Council/Governance-and-transparency/Transparency-Hub
Together, MDD patients may be able to contibute to our understanding of depresion.
If you have Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) that hasn’t responded to antidepressant medication, learn about this research study of an investigational drug for MDD. As part of their study participation, participants will be regularly evaluated and closely monitored by a team of medical professionals. To pre-qualify for this study, you must: • Be 18 to 65 years of age • Have been diagnosed with MDD • Be in a current depressive episode for at least 8 weeks but not more than 24 months • Have been taking an antidepressant medication for at least the last 6 weeks
Additional criteria will apply. All study-related visits, tests, and study drugs will be provided at no cost. In addition, reimbursement for study-related travel may be provided.
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For more information, please contact:
Xenia Jung (Research Nurse) PENINSULA THERAPEUTIC & RESEARCH GROUP 137 Frankston Flinders Road, Frankston Phone: 03 9770 1579 Email: XJUNG@PTRG.COM.AU PAGE 4
Frankston Times
10 October 2023
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