NEWS DESK
Boxer statue on its way AFTER four years of planning and fund-raising the Frankston RSL’s Johnny Famechon statue project is getting closer to reality. Stephen Glassborow will soon finish sculpting the 2.1 metre clay model and is getting ready to make the mould for the 600kg bronze pour. When complete the statue will look exactly like the 2.1 metre clay model. Former triple world boxing champion Jeff Fenech, Famechon and son Paul, and statue coordinator Gary Luscombe, met at the artist’s studio last week to see how things were progressing. Famechon was world WBC featherweight champion 1969-70 and Fenech WBC featherweight champion 1988-89. After the pour the statue will be taken to Ballam Park and then unveiled. Those wanting to sponsor or donate should visit johnnyfamechonstatue. com or see the Facebook page Johnny Famechon statue project.
Others may want to support the project by buying limited edition memorabilia, or sponsoring one of 68 plaques to be set into the base of the statue. These will serve as a permanent record of his bouts, recording the date, venue, result and name of each of his opponents. Sponsors names will be recorded in recognition of their support. To sponsor a plaque email garyluscombe@ hotmail.com It is hoped Fenech will be guest speaker at a fundraising event at Frankston RSL towards the end of the year. He has just been awarded the title of ‘WBC greatest featherweight boxer of the past 30 years’ and his image will be used to promote WBC featherweight title bouts. Good likeness: Jeff Fenech, Johnny Famechon and son Paul Famechon inspect the statue at sculptor Stephen Glassborow’s studio.
Partners in crime prevention: Police discuss public safety at Frankston train station with Police Minister Wade Noonan, centre, and Frankston Labor MP Paul Edbrooke, right. Picture: Yanni
Police push on crime LAW and order was in the spotlight last Thursday when Police Minister Wade Noonan visited Frankston train station to thank police for their work to keep commuters and passerbys safe. Crime statistics show an 18 per cent fall in disorderly and offensive conduct and a 15 per drop in weapons offences last year. “The decrease in public order and security offences reflects the hard work carried out by police in the Frankston area in detecting and preventing these types of crimes,” Mr Noonan said. Labor won government at November’s state election so the majority of the fall in crime in 2014 occurred under the previous Coalition government. Protective services officers (PSOs)
were introduced by the former Napthine government at Frankston train station in August 2013. Police patrolled Frankston beaches over the summer months to combat theft and anti-social behaviour. A police “brawler van” is also now regularly on standby near pubs and clubs to help stop drug and alcoholfuelled fights in Frankston. “Frankston police have responded to community safety issues with several initiatives aimed at problem behaviours where they occur most,” Mr Noonan said. Frankston Labor MP Paul Edbrooke said the $50 million revamp of the Frankston train station precinct and Young St will “ensure all community members feel safe”.
“The precinct is the heart of the Frankston community and we want it to be a state-of-the-art transport hub, encouraging jobs and bringing Chisholm TAFE closer to the community,” he said. Earlier this year, Frankston police inspector Tony Silva told The Times (‘City’s reputations strains family relations’, The Times 2/3/15) there could be a perception that Frankston train station is a dangerous place but crime data showed offences on the Frankston line “is not disproportionate to reported offending on other lines”. “From what we can see, Frankston is no more prone to criminal activity than any other area of the transport network.” Neil Walker
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