NEWS DESK Bloomin’ marvellous: Anne Gibson and Graeme Dent enjoy being volunteers at the rose garden. Pictures: Gary Sissons
‘Error’ leads to Nazi classroom bungle Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au
Volunteers honour garden’s milestone June 2004 during one of the longest droughts in history. It has been hooked up to recycled water ever since. The 4000 rose bushes were donated by Treloars of Portland, with garden products maker Neutrog donating all the fertilisers. The Heritage Rose Society of Victoria has planted old varieties of roses that have been found in cemeteries and farms and date back to early settlement days. Gardener and radio and television personality Jane Edmanson officially opened the gardens on 12 November 2008. Since then the garden has evolved and thrived for the enjoyment of its many visitors each year. In 2015 the garden was awarded a Garden Excellence Award from the World Federation of Rose Societies. A shed has been built to store tools and equipment. It is fondly called “Laurie’s shed” in honour of Laurie Taylor, the man behind the project.
MORNINGTON Botanical Rose Garden volunteers are this week celebrating a decade of delight in their floral haven. It’s a labour of love for this happy and supportive group of mainly retirees who, over the past 10 years, have established, maintained and managed the gardens for the enjoyment of the many visitors. The garden concept came from businessman the late Don Gordon and the land at Civic Reserve was allocated by Mornington Peninsula Shire Council. Mr Gordon is remembered by the naming of the information centre known as the Don Gordon Garden Room. It has given the volunteers a delightful space to relax in after working in the garden. The garden’s nautical design recognises Mornington’s yachting history. The rose beds are surrounded by a border of Australian natives with sculptures enhancing the landscape. The idea for the garden blossomed in 2002 and the first sod was turned on a freezing day in
AN Education Department spokesperson has described as a “serious error of judgement” an incident in which Dromana Secondary College students wore and handled Nazi war memorabilia in the classroom. The students also reportedly handled rifles, helmets and uniforms worn by Australian troops. Particularly gruesome was the passing around of a Zyklon B canister which the Nazis used to gas inmates at concentration camps – often in bogus Red Cross ambulances or mock shower rooms. The incident was particularly distressing to parents and members of the school community in the lead up to last Sunday’s Remembrance Day. An Education Department spokeswoman said the department and the school was investigating the use of some “inappropriate items brought into a classroom as part of a WWII history lesson”. “The actions of the Nazis were abhorrent and should not be forgotten by any generation,” she said. “Using symbols or artefacts in a way that may normalise or trivialise the actions of the Nazis is completely unacceptable. “This was a serious error of judgement and we are supporting the school to take appropriate action to ensure it does not happen again.” The staff member who distributed the war memorabilia is not believed to be a teacher. The incident was exacerbated when photo-
graphs were uploaded on social media showing the students handling rifles, wearing a Nazi officer’s cap with badge and posing with a Zyklon B canister. Dromana Secondary College principal Alan Marr said he was “incredibly proud of our teachers, staff and students, and the values they share”. “Unfortunately we have been made aware of an incident that does not live up to the standards that we expect of our staff and we are taking immediate steps to investigate what happened and take appropriate action,” he said. “The photos have now been removed from social media.” Mr Marr said the history lesson aimed to educate students about the impact of World War II but some of the items brought into the class were “entirely inappropriate”. “We apologise for any impact this incident may have had on our students or any distress it may have caused to members of the community,” he said. “Our school has a strong reputation and relationship with the local RSL, and our students have previously been, and continue to be, involved in Anzac Day and Remembrance Day commemorations. “Some of our students will be attending services at Rosebud and Dromana RSLs on Sunday and the school will commemorate Remembrance Day with a minute’s silence on Monday.” Mr Marr said the students were aware of the “significant impact” of the Holocaust having visited the Jewish Holocaust Centre. “We will continue to reiterate to them the important lessons from World War II,” he said.
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13 November 2018
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