NEWS DESK
Pitching in to save peninsula’s koalas ROSEBUD resident Dirk Jansen was pleased with the success of his Koala Day event in Boneo, Saturday 4 May. “We had a great day at the property in Kinwendy Road which is owned by Rob Nigro, a Southwest landcare member,” he said. “There were 18 of us and the mood overall was that the situation for koalas is dire.” (“Day to highlight plight of koalas” The News, 30/4/19). Mr Jansen said community engagement was “overwhelmingly positive”. “There is a lot of motivation and interest to address this situation,” he said. “What was unexpected was the great response from the community via email, phone and Facebook. A lot of people are interested in learning how to get involved.” Mr Jansen described the koala as the orangutan of Australia with the same urgent action required to save it. The shire’s landcare facilitator Jacqueline Salter said the Koala day brought together concerned landholders, wildlife carers, bushland workers and ecologists keen to protect the peninsula’s koala population. “There was strong support to form an official Landcare group and to seek funding for a bio-link project focused on protecting and restoring key koala habitat,” she said. “I’m pleased to support this vital initiative.” Mr Jansen said the Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation Project was a joint, community-driven initiative by concerned residents, Southwest Mornington Peninsula Landcare and Mornington Peninsula Landcare Network. They aim to encourage and assist landholders to protect and grow existing vegetation and highlight how everyone can better protect the penin-
sula’s koala population. “Our small population of koalas is in trouble,” Mr Jansen said. “A main reason is habitat loss, due to past and current land clearing. We have only 18 per cent of remnant indigenous vegetation left on the peninsula. Koalas rely solely on leaf from eucalypts to feed and they need to feed constantly due to their slow metabolic rate. “Koalas need to travel large distances to source food and find mates. On the peninsula, patches of remnant vegetation are not connected well enough for them to move safely across the landscape without risking getting hit by vehicles or dog attack.” He said a 2016 study by Deakin University found 69 per cent of koala habitat was on private property and koalas were not thriving on the Mornington Peninsula with no record of breeding. There are lots property owners can do, Mr Jansen said, such as preserving old indigenous trees and limiting the amount of fertiliser used near them; controlling weeds such as ivy, karamu and pittosporum which can kill old trees; not planting southern mahogany (Eucalyptus botryoides) and remove existing plants as they can hybridise with manna gums and may not be palatable to koalas. They should plant indigenous trees, including manna gums, messmate, stringy bark and swamp gums. Also, dogs should be kept on leads when out walking and people should be aware of koalas when driving, especially at night. Details: visit Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation project on Facebook, email: mpkoalatreeplanting@outlook.com or call 0422 522 622. Stephen Taylor
It’s personal: Alyce Welbourne paints friends and family. Picture: Supplied
‘Connections’ in artist’s work ALYCE Welbourne opened her exhibition at Oak Hill Gallery in Mornington last week with her first series of paintings entitled Static. Her works feature several nude life drawings she completed at the gallery’s Thursday life drawing sessions. In 2013 and 2014, Welbourne, 22, of Mt Martha, won the Lady Potter Young Australian Artist of the Year award, and these pieces are also on display. “Oil painting and drawing is a hobby of mine,” Welbourne said. “I went to Mornington Secondary College and did VCE art, graduating in 2015.”
However, her future may have a different focus: “I aspire to become a paramedic having studied paramedicine at Monash University graduating in 2019. “My portraiture work is very personal to me. I choose to paint friends and family with who I have a connection. My inspiration is drawn from my love for colour and the strong feelings we share. My favourite medium is oils, due to their flexibility and slower drying times which can work both for and against me.” Her exhibition is open 11am-4pm until Wednesday 29 May at Oak Hill Gallery, 100 Mornington-Tyabb Road, Mornington.
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VOTE FOR GREG HUNT As you all know Alexandra Park project have worked for nearly 4 years on the redevelopment plan for Alexandra Park. Alexandra Park is the oval in the Main Street of Mornington. The redevelopment plan is to upgrade the existing pavilion to provide for facilities that support and encourage participation in sport and the community. It has the location. It just needed the facilities to match.
The redevelopment Plan has now been fully funded for over $4m and will benefit the following groups • Mornington Football Netball Club • Mornington Junior Football Club • Mornington Cricket Club • • •
Peninsula Raiders Veterans AFL Club Wallara – all abilities community support group The Bays Hospital – one of only a few not for profit hospitals in Victoria
Greg Hunt grew up in the Mornington area and has a good feel for the community and its needs. It is of huge benefit to have a senior politician working and living on the Mornington Peninsula. Greg Hunt saw what we had as our vision for the precinct. He understood what we wanted to do and has been a terrific support. The funding provided is not an election promise. However, it would certainly make it easier if we have someone who understands the importance of the Alexandra Park redevelopment elected in 2019.
The above funding commitment would not have been achieved without the help and support of Greg Hunt and the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council and counsellors. If you want a reason to vote, the above for us is a good enough reason to re-elect Greg Hunt.
Please vote for Greg Hunt. For and On behalf of Alexandra Park Project.
Authorised by Martin Scanlon 275 Main St, Mornington Vic 3931
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Mornington News
14 May 2019