Up the creek: Cubs paddled canoes from Mt Martha village to Nepean Highway and back again – a challenging six kilometre round trip. Picture: Supplied
Cubs take leadership test TREE surfing at Arthurs Seat and a six kilometre canoe trip were features of a Mornington Peninsula District Cubs annual leadership course. The 33 cubs aged nine-to-11 had been chosen for the weekend course which district commissioner Tina Bennett said was designed to test and challenge both mind and body. The cubs needed to complete a workbook based on the principles of scouting and then do the physical aspects over the weekend course. The tree surfing included 50 aerial
obstacles, bridges and five zip-lines linked to tree-based platforms up to 10 metres above ground. The canoe paddle was a six-kilometre return trip Mt Martha village to Nepean Highway in “tough, windy conditions”. “Cubbing is great on the peninsula with a rise in numbers from 235 last year to 274 this year – that’s 39 new children joining in on the adventure,” Ms Bennett said. For information regarding joeys, cubs and scouts on Mornington Peninsula call Ms Bennett 0409 131 489.
Volunteers feel fleeced over sheep loss Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au THERE’S no sign of the heritage sheep that once graced The Briars Park, Mt Martha. They vanished – and some of the volunteers who paid for them and felt responsible for them - say they have been kept in the dark about where they were sent and whether they will be replaced. Mornington Peninsula Shire says there is no mystery: the sheep were sold more than a year ago and volunteers were offered a refund. One volunteer said he had not received a refund from Mornington
Peninsula Shire Council for the cost of the heritage sheep which he had contributed to. The volunteer – who asked not to be named but who is known to The News – said the original 21 ewes and one ram “suddenly vanished” about a year ago “without any consultation with the volunteers or advance notice that they were being removed”. “These sheep were all with lamb,” the volunteer said. “Now they should or would be with lamb once again. The heritage sheep were paid for by Briars volunteers – not the shire.” He said the group had been “denied the pleasure of seeing these lambs grow and become adult sheep”. “Visitors and especially little
children who come to The Briars Park have also been denied this pleasure. The sheep were so tame that they would come to their enclosure fence when called by name.” The volunteer said that when questioning the council as to just who was responsible for the removal of these sheep “no-one came forward as being responsible”. “Despite asking many times why they were removed, no definitive reason was ever provided. “The volunteers were told that the council would try to get them back as well as being told they had been agisted out. It is confusing as to just what did happen. “No further communication has
been received by the volunteers, nor has there been any suggestion of refunding the purchase price. “The volunteers would like to see these sheep returned to The Briars.” Shire infrastructure services executive manager Niall McDonagh said the original 21 ewes and one ram were brought to The Briars as a trial, “the first stage of a longer-term plan to return heritage animals to the site”. “The aim … was to test the feasibility of [having] animals onsite and identify the policies, procedures and infrastructure which would be required to house animals long-term,” he said. “This stage of the trial ended as planned with the sale of the sheep in June 2016. Two breeds of heritage
chickens and three pigs remain.” Mr McDonagh said volunteers who had contributed to the cost of the sheep were advised by email, phone, or in person about the sale. Some had refused a refund, saying the money could be used for the ongoing maintenance of the farm. “A review of The Briars is currently being undertaken with the aim of developing and implementing a master plan. This will include strengthening the heritage values of the site and, most likely, will include additional heritage animals. “Which breeds will be reintroduced will be determined later in this process and through consultation with council and key stakeholders.”
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Mornington News 11 July 2017
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