Winter warning: An elderly woman made a quick exit when her house at Tuerong caught fire.
Fire warning as winter bites AN elderly woman escaped with her life and just a few sentimental possessions when fire virtually destroyed the interior of her brick home on the border of Tuerong and Hastings. The blaze, believed to have started in the heating system, has brought renewed calls by the CFA for peninsula residents to be vigilant as winter bites. More than 75 per cent of the Tuerong house was on fire when Hastings CFA arrived at lunchtime to find the elderly woman standing safely outside.
Following Hastings came CFA units from Balnarring, Moorooduc, Tyabb, Somerville, Mornington and Frankston, with Mornington fireys bringing a thermal imaging camera and Frankston brigade a breathing apparatus van. CFA brigade administrative support officer Jane Orr said it took more than 30 minutes to douse the fire, which caused the collapse of a large section of the roof. In all, 11 CFA vehicles attended the blaze.
Fireys were initially hampered by insufficient water until Balnarring CFA’s “big fill� unit arrived. The quick fill pump is used to supply tankers from dams and other static water supplies. CFA state duty officer Kevin Pettit said winter was the peak period for house fires and a recent spate of incidents had highlighted the need to take fire risk seriously. “More than 1200 homes in Victoria caught fire during the winter of 2010
Learn how to make your home more sustainable MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire’s Sustainable Homes program provides information to make sound sustainable decisions about the home and family. Program facilitator guide residents through the facts, activities and challenges to make the home more sustainable and save on energy and water bills. Residents can learn from demonstrations and group discussions in a relaxed and social atmosphere. The program’s flexible design allows the course to focus on what’s important to individuals. The course has been developed in conjunction with the CSIRO and the Australian Conservation Foundation and is divided into modules about the themes of energy, water, waste and garden.
Groups will be guided by a peninsula person with knowledge about household sustainability. The activities will assist participants to decide the most important changes they can make in their home and set about making the changes. The program is geared to encourage household action either through behaviour change, DIY product installations or employing service providers. The Sustainable Homes program will be held at Sorrento Community Centre on Tuesdays 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 August, from 6-8pm. Cost is $55. Limited places, bookings essential. To book call Sorrento Community Centre on 5984 3360. For more information call Nicci Tsernjavski at the Mornington Peninsula Shire on 5950 1259.
DOONAS
FREE PICK UP AND DELIVERY Mornington area only
NEED TO REFRESH THAT DOONA? WE WILL PICK UP AND DELIVER FREE PICK UP: TUESDAY - DELIVER BACK: THURSDAY
‘See the peninsula’s most experienced drycleaners’
Mornington Drycleaners (PSLUH 6WUHHW 0DOO ‡ 3K
and about 10 per cent of blazes were caused by heaters,â€? he said. “There is no excuse. People must be vigilant in using heating and electrical appliances this winter.â€? The CFA advises: ď Ž Ensure your heater is not a fire threat by having it professionally checked each year; maintain it according to the manufacturer’s instructions; and keep clothing, curtains, toys and anything combustible at least one metre away ď Ž Keep your open fire place under con-
trol by always placing a screen in front of it; extinguish fires before going to bed or going out; and keep flammable materials at least one metre away. ď Ž Make sure your electric blanket is safe by checking the wires aren’t damaged and there are no burn spots; fitting it firmly to the bed; and don’t have it on for longer than half an hour and turn off before going to sleep. For more on home fire safety go to www.homefiresafety.com.au
Thrills and skills MORNINGTON Breakers’ three-day basketball skills and drills camp from Thursday to Saturday 14-16 July at 9am-3pm will raise money to send the under-18 boys to the United States in December. The camp at Mornington Secondary College’s stadium will be led by Breakers head coach Chris Jannese with other club coaches and the under-18 boys from the VC and Regional 2 Mornington Breakers teams. Cost is $35 a day, two days $60. To register call Chris Jannese on 0438 555 403 or email jannese@satlink.com.au
Angelic comedy MORNINGTON CEF Players’ coming production of the Samuel and Bella Spewacks comedy My Three Angels was first staged in 1953. In 1954 Paramount Pictures released the movie version, We’re No Angels, starring Humphrey Bogart, Aldo Ray and Peter Ustinov. “This is a whimsical period comedy that tells the story of three Devil’s Island convicts helping a dominated shopkeeper and his family to outwit a scheming relative,� Linda Wood of the CEF said. The play will be performed in St Peter’s Hall, Albert St, Mornington, on Friday and Saturday 29-30 July and 5-6 August at 8pm, with two Sunday matinees on 31 July and 7 August at 2pm. Tickets are $20, $17 (concession) and $15 (under 16). Bookings: 5977 0347 (credit card facilities available). The troupe is holding auditions for its November show, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, 2, 4 and 7 August. For audition bookings and more information, call 0438 029 106.
WKH SRZHU of RSSRUWXQLW\
Enrol now for courses starting July Frankston & Mornington take the opportunity! :H DUH D QRW IRU SURÂżW RUJDQLVDWLRQ ZLWK D \HDU KLVWRU\ RI ZRUNLQJ ZLWK FKLOGUHQ DQG \RXWK :H RIIHU D IULHQGO\ VXSSRUWLYH DSSURDFK WR \RXU OHDUQLQJ MRXUQH\
Careers in Children’s Services
Education / Employment pathways
Ć‘ & HUWLÂżFDWH ,,, LQ &KLOGUHQÂśV 6HUYLFHV GD\ RU HYHQLQJ FRXUVHV )UDQNVWRQ 0RUQLQJWRQ
Ć‘ 'LSORPD RI &KLOGUHQÂśV 6HUYLFHV Ć‘ &HUWLÂżFDWH ,,, LQ (GXFDWLRQ 6XSSRUW
Ć&#x2018; & HUWLÂżFDWH ,, LQ *HQHUDO (GXFDWLRQ IRU $GXOWV &*($ LPSURYHV OLWHUDF\ QXPHUDF\ DQG JHQHUDO HGXFDWLRQ VNLOOV Ć&#x2018; &DUHHU 3DWKZD\V IRU <RXWK Ć&#x2018; %DVLF $86/$1 VLJQ ODQJXDJH
5HJLVWHU QRZ RU ÂżQG RXW PRUH RU WUDLQLQJ#R]FKLOG RUJ DX 1DWLRQDOO\ 5HJLVWHUHG 7UDLQLQJ 2UJDQLVDWLRQ 1R ZZZ R]FKLOG RUJ DX
Mornington News 14 July 2011
PAGE 7