NEWS DESK $1 billion for ‘assets’ MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council has adopted a “framework” to spend more than $1 billion over the next decade on its “effective management and stewardship” of councilowned assets worth $2.3 billion. The four “key areas” for the spend adopted on 14 June as part of the shire’s Asset Plan 2022-2032 are transportation, stormwater, buildings and open space. The shire’s assets - buildings, local roads, bridges, footpaths, shared paths, marine structures, drainage, and open space and recreation - have a combined estimated replacement value of $2.3 billion. The Asset Plan 2022-2032 can be seen at mornpen.vic.gov.au/strategiesandplans Street song: Robert Klaas Kalma has been busking on Main Street, Mornington for four years to raise money for charity and lift people’s spirits.
Dog attacks
A voice on the street for charity A FAMILIAR sight on the streets on Mornington is Robert Klaas Kalma, who many will recognise as the friendly musician who for the past four years has been Main Street’s “humble busker”. But what many who stop listen and drop a few coins in his bucket may not know is that Kalma’s efforts have raised hundreds of dollars for Red Cross and the Royal Children’s Hospital. Even more remarkable is the fact that the almost 83-year-old didn’t take up music until he was 70, without ever having a lesson. Kalma has had his fair share of personal tragedies and says that while he has “dodged several bullets,” he refuses to give up. “There is always a new adventure or challenge
there for the taking … it really is a matter of reinventing who we are or want to be,” he said. “Any obstacle can be turned into an achievement.” When Kalma, or Robert as his students would have known him, retired from secondary teaching at schools on the Mornington Peninsula and a behavioural sport psychologist to elite athletes including the AFL, at the Saints with Stan Alves and Tim Watson during the 90s, he wanted to continue to find a way to inspire and remain close to the community . Busking has become his cathartic journey in what he calls “this day and age of high anxiety and mental Illness”.
“What could be better than providing some country music and having a chat with the locals about anything they want to talk about while walking down Main Street, Mornington,” he said. There is more to this Mornington musician, and you may find some books on art and songwriting, or his novels signed under his pseudonym of Klaas at Mornington libraries, Creeping Shadows and Distant Echoes. His paintings are on show at Nissarana Galleries, Mornington. Weather permitting, Kalma tries to do his busking twice weekly and invites listeners to stop and have a chat. Liz Bell
REPORTED dog attacks on the Mornington Peninsula have dropped since a high of 302 in 2018. In 2019 there were 233 reported attacks and 259 in 2020. However, the downward trend continued in 2021 with 247 attacks and so far this year there have been 73 reported to the shire. Since 2021 the shire has listed dog attacks and dog rushes separately, with 17 dog rushed being recorded this year.
Platinum planting HASTINGS Seafarers will commemorate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth by planting a tree at its headquarters in Bayview Road on Saturday 30 July. Branch chairman Geoff Connelly said everyone was welcome to join the planting and commemoration, which would start at 2pm. Seafarers provide support for all sea crew, many who were on international ships, by welcoming them into the community and providing spiritual support, assistance with transport, and essential supplies in the way of a “care package”.
Are you our new café tenant? We’re seeking expression of interests from local business owners and social enterprises to run the cafe at Mornington Library. Everyone is welcome to apply! EOI is open from 9 July – 6 August.
Go to: mornpen.vic.gov.au/librarycafe Mornington News
12 July 2022
PAGE 5