NEWS DESK
Summer safety patrols for plovers
After dark grants
BEACHGOERS are being asked to look out for hooded plovers nesting on Mornington Peninsula beaches. Conservation Regulator officers and Parks Victoria rangers are patrolling beaches between Cape Schanck and Portsea, particularly St Andrews beach, to protect the threatened species and raise awareness of how to help them. Hooded plovers lay their eggs in shallow sand scrapes from August to April, so their nesting season overlaps with the beachbusy warmer months. The birds have a high rate of nest failure, with the eggs easily trampled by beach users and dogs. If an incubating adult bird is scared away from its nest by passers-by or dogs, its eggs can bake in the sun or become too cold in cool weather. This results in the death of the chick developing inside the egg. Officers and rangers are encouraging people to take note of signage at beaches, to give the birds plenty of space and keep dogs away from fenced-off nesting areas. Last breeding season BirdLife recorded 1003 hooded plover eggs along the state’s coastline. Of these 185 hatched and only 66 chicks survived to become juveniles, including 21 on the peninsula. “Small changes to behaviour on beaches can help Hooded Plovers as they face the challenge of nesting while sharing their habitat with beachgoers,” Conservation Regulator forest and wildlife officer Teisha Lay said. “If beach visitors could do their best to not disturb nesting hooded plovers and keep their dogs on leads around fenced-off habitat, it would make such a difference to the local population.” To report dogs harassing hooded plovers call Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000.
A NEW grant program to help Frankston businesses stay open late will be established next year. Frankston Council has agreed to put $120,000 of ratepayer money into the Invest Frankston After Dark Activation grant program. Frankston councillor Nathan Conroy said that council hoped the program would help Frankston emerge from the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic. “The Invest Frankston After Dark Activation Grant is a new grant program aimed to support Frankston City’s transformation into a vibrant, diverse, inclusive and safe destination after dark,” Cr Conroy said. “A thriving and dynamic nighttime offering comprises a range of experiences including dining, performances, live music, events, shopping, nightclubs, twilight markets, sporting events and delivered by a range of diverse businesses and community groups. In turn, this attracts visitors and entrepreneurs, creates jobs and drives economic development. “With a funding pool of $120,000, matched-fund grants of up-to $30,000 will be available to financially assist local businesses, creative agencies, community groups and entrepreneurs build a vibrant night time economy by developing new and interesting experiences and destinations that encourage a good night out’ in Frankston’s City centre.” Applications for Invest Frankston After Dark Activation Grants open July 2022.
GALLERY TALK Last week MPRG was nominated at the Australian Museums and Galleries Association, Victorian Museums and Galleries Awards 2021 in the Audience and Engagement category for the online content the Gallery produced across the past 18 months. This is a great achievement to receive industry recognition for the important work the Gallery team does in making art and creativity accessible to our community. MPRG continues to remain closed to the public. Our planned Spring Festival of Drawing program of exhibitions will be extended through Summer until 13 March 2022. This will give visitors the opportunity to experience five amazing new exhibitions, including our new Airlock lightbox, and our unique Wall Drawing project featuring eleven contemporary Australian artists making work directly onto the walls of the Gallery. In line with Victoria’s roadmap, we hope to be in a position to re-open to the public in November. Visit the MPRG website to see our Walks Through with Locals series of videos (filmed prior to lockdown). We invited local Mornington Peninsula residents to walk through the gallery and talk about what they thought or felt when looking
at artworks in the MPRG collection. Dot is a resident of Peninsula Grange Aged Care and a member of MPRG’s Art & Imagination group. In a heart-warming video, she takes a walk through the gallery with her carer Natalie, and they discuss what they think about two works in the MPRG collection, by artists Suzanne Archer and Barbara Grosman. You can also see a video with Jenny and Patsie who met at the Mornington Probus club and Rachel and Karen who discover the works of Katherine Hattam and Dorothy Braund. You can also find out more about our upcoming programs and activities and check out our free kids’ creative activities, listen to a podcast or two with an MPRGexhibited artist, or get involved and do a linocut workshop with renowned printmaker David Frazer, which has had over 17,000 views.
MPRG Gallery Director Danny Lacy
mprg.mornpen.vic.gov.au Civic Reserve, Dunns Road, Mornington Ph 5950 1580
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Frankston Times
19 October 2021
Attention Schools, sporting clubs & community groups
Free advertising listings Each month the Frankston Times will run a Community Events page, where your school or organisation can promote upcoming events, fund raisers, social events, etc. at no charge. This page is sponsored by Frankston Arts Centre, and listings are completely free. Lisiting should be about 40 words and include event name, date, time & address.
Send your listing to:
Community Events
PO Box 588, Hastings 3915 or email
communityevents@mpnews.com.au