NEWS DESK
Horse rescue a specialist skill Liz Bell liz@mpnews.com.au A MORNINGTON Peninsula horse group is hoping to raise enough money through a training workshop to provide rescue workers with specialised knowledge and more equipment to deal with large animal rescues. In the past four years there have been at least two serious accidents involving horses on the peninsula, with one horse needing to be winched out of a swimming pool in Mt Eliza in 2012, and more recently, a horse falling down a well in Hastings. Sadly, that horse died. Alan Costello from Mornington Peninsula equine landcare group, which is sponsoring the workshop, said CFA and SES emergency workers are invited to a free workshop at Main Ridge on 12 November. Other interested people are also welcome to attend at a cost of $75, which includes a light lunch. The one-day event, run by the Queensland Horse Council, will use the Lancefield Equestrian Group's new rescue training horse mannequin and equipment. Guest speaker, Nicole Graham, whose horse Astro was rescued from mud at Avalon Beach last year, will tell of her ordeal. Nicole will describe her relief when emergency workers and a vet arrived, their frustration when they realised they really didn't know what to do and that they didn't have appropriate equipment, and how the rescue affected both her and her horse physi-
POLICE are looking for a brazen thief who stole a car, cash and personal items after ransacking the bags of staff at Woolworths’ stores in Frankston, Mornington and Mornington East last week. The man, who was captured on CCTV at all stores entering the staff area and taking items, first offended during the day at Frankston on Wednesday, where it is believed he also took a Woolworths uniform. The next day about 2.30pm he entered the staff area at Mornington Woolworths, where he again went through staff personal belongings. When interrupted by a female employee, he told her he was sent there from another store “to help”. Senior Sergeant Peter Drake of Peninsula CIU said the woman later discovered her keys were missing and her Mitsubishi Lancer had been stolen from the car park. It is believed the same man targeted Woolworths at Mornington East on or around the same day. The suspect is described as being aged in his 20s, skinny and wearing a Woolworths shirt and a black cap and black pants. Sen Sgt Drake said the CCTV footage showed the offender “brazenly” pretending to be a staff member and accessing staff areas before taking items. Liz Bell
Race to rescue: Workshop participants will learn how to safely rescue large animals on this model. Picture: Supplied
cally and emotionally. Mr Costello said the equine landcare group hoped to buy a harness and other rescue equipment, provide training for emergency workers, and have a designated large animal rescue station. He said horses and rescuers
could be injured by unsafe rescue techniques. ``It really is a specialised skill and it poses risks for both horses and rescuers,’’ he said. He said the workshop had attracted a lot of interest, with so far around 35
Woolworths targeted
emergency workers wanting to adapt their rescue skills for large animals. Details: Main Ridge Hall, Main Creek Rd, Main Ridge from 8.30am3.30pm. Contact: Gai Van Staveren on 0418 517713 or Alan Costello on 0412 549994.
Carry On’s shop THE Carry On organisation which supports defence force veterans has opened an op shop at 2/61 Cool Store Rd, Hastings – the first of its kind for Carry On.
New faces assured at council Keith Platt keith@mpnews.com.au THERE will be at least four new faces on the 11-seat Mornington Peninsula Shire Council after next month’s municipal election. Three councillors have now stated that they will not seek re-election and the fourth seat up for grabs has been vacant since the May resignation of Watson ward’s Lynne Bowden, who was first elected in 2008. Councillors who have come out in public to say they are not standing are Anne Shaw and Andrew Dixon of Briars ward and David Gibb (Seawinds). Cr Bowden’s resignation was too
close to the 22 October poll to require a by-election so her seat has remained vacant, with the mayor, Cr Graham Pittock, providing a councillor contact for ratepayers. Those who have indicated they will stand are David Garnock (Cerberus), Hugh Fraser (Nepean) and Antonella Celi (Seawinds). Yet to let residents know are Tim Wood (Red Hill), Bev Colomb (Briars) and Tim Rodgers (Red Hill). With five seats up for grabs, candidates are already actively being sought by pressure groups, including ratepayer organisations and at least one political party, the Greens, which is fielding five candidates in four wards. The changes among the shire’s elect-
ed representatives will also see a shift in the power structure as Crs Gibb, Shaw and Dixon have tended to vote in unison on major issues, the most recent being the councillors’ expenses policy and a code of conduct. These new policies adopted with the backing of the three retiring councillors will not come into force until after they are no longer on the council. David Gill, a former shire president and councillor with the Shire of Mornington and a regular critic of the current council is seeking election in Red Hill. Also chasing the Red Hill prize is Esther Gleixner, whose daughter Carolyn unsuccessfuly stood for the state seat of Nepean (2014) and federal seat of Flinders (2016) for the Labor Party.
Cr Dixon said his decision to not seek re-election was “the right call for the right reasons”. His four years representing Briars ward have cost him some friends, led to depression as well as being rewarding. Cr Dixon writes about his time on council on Page 6: “Four years of dark days and achievements”. He said he wrote the article “to let prospective candidates know what to expect, to encourage and prepare those willing to have a crack so they're more prepared than I was, and to give people some idea of what the role's really like”. Cr Shaw said that after more than 13 years on council she would like some younger councillors. “I was 42 when I first ran for coun-
cil and it's important there is a broad demographic representation,” Cr Shaw said. “It’s important to have people actively involved in daily life and understanding the issues that families face on a day to day basis. “I have always intended this would be my last term of council - I exceeded my 10 year rule - but my passion for the peninsula will continue and I will always be actively involved in the community as I was prior to being a councillor.” Cr Shaw said she had started a new business venture “which is very exciting and I'll look forward to putting energy into that and, just maybe, I'll get to have a holiday.” Letters Page 29
Mornington News
13 September 2016
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