NEWS DESK
Restaurant patrons Tip is open to all help feed the needy Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au
A CHANCE conversation has led to a meals program being cooked up for needy clients of Mornington Community Information and Support Centre. It began when Mt Martha restaurant Volpino owner David Weill was speaking with a customer about his struggles in keeping the restaurant open during the stage three COVID-19 restrictions. Without ceremony, the generous customer donated $1000 to help keep staff employed. This led to a charity, the Mornington Peninsula Foundation, putting the restaurant in touch with support centre manager Stuart Davis-Meehan and Mornington Peninsula Shire. The restaurant’s staff now prepare, pack and label freshly cooked meals which shire staff take to the support centre. Volunteers then deliver the meals to clients confined to their homes during COVID-19. “The meals are terrific – a welcome addition to the centre’s weekly food parcels,” support centre manager Stuart Davis-Meehan said. “It’s a classic ground-up response from the community, which is asking itself ‘What can we do to help?’” Mr Weill said he and his staff had been touched by the community response: “These local acts of kindness and generosity are warming our hearts.” A further $2000 has been donated helping keep Volpino’s staff employed and needy residents fed for a while longer. Stephen Taylor
Bon appetite: Community support centre manager Stuart Davis-Meehan and staffer Yvonne Anderson unload fresh cooked meals from Volpino with Mornington Peninsula Shire senior social planner Tricia Folvig. Picture: Supplied
POLICE have given assurances they will take no action against residents legitimately dumping rubbish at Mornington Peninsula Shire’s transfer station in Watt Road after identifying it an “essential service”. Some prospective tippers last week said they were concerned police were waiting to nab them – even though the transfer station appeared to be doing business as usual. A call to the shire’s head office received the same warning: They had heard reports that some domestic tippers had received on-the-spot fines of $1600 as it was “not one of the four legitimate reasons for being out”. The shire says transfer stations will remain open as waste disposal is considered an essential service. Infrastructure services manager Jessica Wingad said residents could only use the transfer stations if the visit was essential and in line with the level 3 coronavirus rules set by the state government (“Non-essential tip use under fire” The News 5/4/20). John Renowden, of Mount Martha, said he had been told of the fines and that only commercial tippers – not residents clearing up green waste – were allowed there. “That wouldn’t be fair,” he said. “We are locked up at home and it’s good to get out in the garden and clear up our green waste and take it to the tip. “We are no danger to anyone else, we keep our distance, and we can dump our load and be gone in 10 minutes. “It’s the tip’s responsibility to keep their workers safe with screens, masks, gloves and sanitisers.” Mr Renowden said that if commercial gardeners were allowed at the tip “then we should be, too”.
Mornington transfer station was advertised as being open for business and set to close at 4pm last week. No signs stated it was for commercial tippers only. Senior Sergeant Paul Edwards, of Mornington Police, said the tip was not off-limits to residents. “It’s open to the public and we won’t be booking them,” he said. He said people should be asking if they really needed to be getting rid of their rubbish now.
Butcher’s sandwich offer: MT MARTHA butcher Gavin Fitzpatrick is keeping his customers in a positive frame of mind with uplifting quotes on the sandwich board outside his shop. They’re a nice way to lift community spirit.
An important message from the Victorian Government
STAGE 3 RESTRICTIONS ARE NOW IN PLACE. That means there are only four reasons to be out.
Shopping for food and supplies that you need.
Exercise.
Medical care and caregiving.
Work and education – if necessary.
Stay informed at coronavirus.vic.gov.au
Mornington News
21 April 2020
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