NEWS DESK
Hundreds sign to stop kangaroo slaughter Keith Platt keith@baysidenews.com.au HUNDREDS of signatures have already been added to a petition that accuses the government of “overinflating” the number of kangaroos and allowing them to be “harvested” on the Mornington Peninsula. The petition, introduced into the Upper House by the leader of the Victorian Greens and the party’s spokesperson for animals, Dr Samantha Ratnam, follows Mornington Peninsula Shire asking the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) for details and scientific research about the peninsula’s eastern grey kangaroos. The petition, now available online, calls on the government to suspend kangaroo culls and improve methods used to count kangaroo populations as well moving the peninsula out of the kangaroo harvest program (KHP) Gippsland zone into the metropolitan Melbourne zone. It says culling kangaroos has been “a contentious issue for a long time” on the peninsula. “The Victorian government appear to be over-inflating kangaroo numbers as their count excludes large parts of the state’s landscapes, meaning that kangaroo numbers could be grossly overestimated,” the petition states. “During the black summer bush-
fires of 2020, approximately three billion wildlife were killed, injured or displaced.” The petition says experts say the government’s estimated 40 per cent increase in kangaroo numbers in 2020 is “not scientifically possible”. “Kangaroos on the Mornington Peninsula are under threat from increased development, traffic, fencing, shooting and now from the kangaroo harvest program (KHP). “The peninsula is an isolated and landlocked area and is home to the eastern grey kangaroo population. Threatened species were once common and perceived as pests and we hope to ensure that kangaroos in Victoria, especially in the Mornington Peninsula, do not become threatened.” The move by council to contact and meet with DELWP follows a failed attempt by Cr David Gill to have kangaroo shooting banned on the peninsula. At a later meeting councillors agreed to seek more information from DELWP. “Our kangaroos are no more pests than koalas; kangaroos eat different grasses to sheep and cattle and do little damage to farm land,” Cr Gill said. “Governments and some large property owners believe that shooting kangaroos is OK. However, many are wounded, and joeys are often left to die of starvation”.
Timely jab: Peninsula Health infection prevention and control unit’s Ingrid de Beer, left, and Sue Thorpe, prepare a COVID-19 vaccine. Picture: Supplied
Jabs welcomed by healthcare staff PUBLIC sector aged care residents and staff on the Mornington Peninsula have begun receiving their first doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Residents at Peninsula Health’s Carinya Aged Care Centre at Capel Sound rolled up their sleeves last week, as phase 1a of the vaccine rollout is expanded across the region after beginning with frontline healthcare staff at Frankston Hospital. Carinya nurse unit manager Michelle Paine says Carinya’s staff, residents and their families are keen to receive the first of their two vaccine doses, as they see the vaccine program as an important step towards protect-
ing themselves and each other. “The last 12 months have been very challenging for the aged care sector, for the families of the residents, as well as the staff,” she said. “That’s why everyone is so grateful for getting vaccinated so everyone can have the confidence of that extra layer of protection.” Ms Paine said: “Our residents spent time isolated from friends and family for lengthy spells, last year in particular, so the vaccination process is such an important and vigilant step for them to be taking. “There was a lot of behind-thescenes work involved in implement-
WHAT DO YOU THINK? HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL? ‘That’s my kind of art.’ ‘I wish I could paint like that.’ ‘I wonder where that road goes?’ ‘That view looks familiar.’ ‘That green swag is my favourite colour.’ ‘It feels so peaceful.’
MORNINGTON PENINSULA REGIONAL GALLERY
FREE ENTRY Open Tuesday–Sunday 11am–4pm PAGE 10
Frankston Times
30 March 2021
Henry Rielly Mt Martha - From Dromana (1875) oil on canvas Purchased, 2014
EXHIBITIONS / ARTIST TALKS / WORKSHOPS / KIDS PROGRAMS / ONLINE ACTIVITIES AND MORE – Civic Reserve, Dunns Rd, Mornington, Victoria mprg.mornpen.vic.gov.au
ing the vaccination program, and our residents were very closely monitored after receiving the vaccine. “We all look forward to 2021 being a much better year ahead, especially with the rollout of the vaccination program.” Peninsula Health Staff COVID-19 vaccination clinics are accepting eligible workers in phase 1a in the vaccination rollout. Those wanting to find out what phase they are in can use the federal government’s vaccine eligibility calculator. For more information about the COVID-19 vaccine visit the state government’s coronavirus website.