Firefighter shows skills from sea to snow NO MATTER if she is near or far from home, 21-year-old Kristin Blight is willing to jump on the truck when the need arises. Following in the footsteps of her dad, Blight is a Rosebud firefighter who came up through the Boneo junior ranks. From June to September 2023, her CFA volunteerism stretched even further when she headed to Mount Buller for the snow season and had the opportunity to join the local brigade while working there. “Shortly after I arrived at Mount Buller for the season, Commander Paul Scragg was doing a walk through our building with the brigade captain, so I thought I’d introduce myself. They invited me to go down to the station for training,” Blight said. “It was a lot of fun and my brigade back home said to give it a go. It was an amazing experience to work with the people up there - they were so welcoming. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who is traveling a lot and is still keen to maintain their skills, meet new people and experience something different. “It was really hard leaving the Mount Buller members. They’ve already invited me to go back to the brigade when I return to the snow this year.” Across the three months, Blight was exposed to incidents that starkly contrasted to those faced at Rosebud. “The main difference was obviously working with snow and ice because I’m so used to responding to incidents in drier conditions or wet days,” she said. “Instead of road accidents and house fires, I was responding to apartment alarm calls where I learned a lot about switchboards and the different protectors in buildings. “The terrain was also very challenging, with a few accidents on the hill and down the winding roads. Some cars would end up on the side of the road in the trees, so we had to navigate that.”
M. & A. EGAN Licensed Plumber & Gasfitter Lic No: 22042
461 Dundas St, Rye, 3941. PO Box 101, Rye, 3941.
MOB: 0418 301 980
m.eganplumbing@gmail.com
To advertise in the Southern Peninsula News call Ricky on 0425 867 578 or email ricky@mpnews.com.au
CLEARING snow from a windscreen is not one of the firefighting skills Kristin Blight is usually called on to perform for her role at Rosebud CFA. Picture: Supplied
Southern
Peninsula Southern Peninsula local families Caring for 40 years for over
erals.com.au
YOUR GUIDE TO WHAT’S ON THIS WEEKEND FOR PENINSULA FAMILIES
YOUR GUIDE ON THIS TO WHAT’S FOR WEEKEND FAMILIES PENINSULA
FACEBOOK: peninsulakids.com.au INSTAGRAM: mornpenkids
ndent voice
www.rosebudfun
123 Jetty Road,
Rosebud
Leading from the front as a young CFA volunteer, Blight was grateful she was able to continue serving the Victorian community while away for work. She encourages new, emerging members to embrace the wisdom of brigade superiors. “I will always advocate for CFA and the inclusive environment that comes with it, and
Y L I FAMGET D U B usters B FREE DRINK
with every main & kids meal purchased in the Bistro for lunch or dinner
EVERY WEDNESDAY
if you’re wanting to join, just go for it,” Blight said. “Get involved and listen to your superiors around you, especially the older members who’ve been in the brigade for more than 50 years, because they have a wealth of knowledge and they love sharing it.”
Your
Caring for local families for over 40 years
Ph: 5986 8491
www.rosebudfunerals.com.au
123 Jetty Road, Rosebud
2022 nity y 13 April Wednesda for the commu An independent voice for the community
FREE
Ph: 5986 8491
Wednesday 13 April 2022 au An indepe ews.com. Beach to Portsea covering Safety to Portsea community newspaper weekly Beach s.com.au www.mpn SafetyYour team@mpnew r covering 9000 or email:For all advertising and editorial needs, call 03 5974 9000 or email: team@mpnews.com.au www.mpnews.com.au y newspape call 03 5974 weekly communit editorial needs, au
: peninsulakids.com.
FREE
FACEBOOK : mornpenkids INSTAGRAM
For all advertising
and
Our Lady students at Laarni YEAR two Primary School Day. of Fatima during Harmony and Guyan Picture: Supplied
YEAR two students at Our Lady of Fatima Primary School Laarni and Guyan during Harmony Day. Picture: Supplied
in colour Harmony around the
from schools in participated STUDENTS Peninsula Mornington at the end of March, Harmony Day in a range of activiof diversity getting involved to the theme ties linked parents and and inclusiveness. 25 March, On Friday Lady of Fatima PriOur held a crazy friends of in Rosebud of mary School where the rainbow run, of colour fun to the celebration colours added be used diversity. raised will The money for the school’s to buy resources which promotes a club, environment lunchtime and inclusive welcoming on the yard. for all children
Harmony in colour STUDENTS from schools around the Mornington Peninsula participated in Harmony Day at the end of March, getting involved in a range of activities linked to the theme of diversity and inclusiveness. On Friday 25 March, parents and friends of Our Lady of Fatima Primary School in Rosebud held a crazy colour fun run, where the rainbow of colours added to the celebration of diversity. The money raised will be used to buy resources for the school’s lunchtime club, which promotes a welcoming and inclusive environment for all children on the yard.
reef ondelay layfor on reef calls for de Shire Shire calls Liz Bell om.au liz@mpnews.c groups are
pinning
COASTAL from the on pressure
their hopes Shire CounPeninsula Mornington artificial reef being an cil to delay Port Nepean. about the installed off are concerned The groups environment reef on the impact of the consultation. community fish and lack of a plan to improve the As part of fishers, recreational stocks for
of the bay.” sensitive part reef has for such a an artificial was an exThe push for by the government said there led Ms Cheers consultation Associalargely been request community Victorian Fisheries pectation of likely to affect marine to ignore to ignore the Cheers said there was an exMs Foundation, body the the request “For a minister wants to “For a minister would be outraFishing Authority the Futurefish Victorian about matters hasn't hapcommunity consultation Liz Bell pectation tion, online asof“a outrabeand wants to council itself of would of a local structures inbut “that of a local council install 16 large concrete Authority no evidence in liz@mpnews.com.au which describes about matters likely to affect marine said. 30 about communities, representing said. shestudy. there wasgeous,” Victorian Fishing andapart 50 metres geous,” she the minister of four to clustersdated watchdog” concrete structures pened” assessment fearless dated 30fishers,communities, with an aim but “that hasn't hapMarsh In a letter to the minister install 16 large about 50 metres apart In a letter to north of Observatory the ocean CrinAnthony any environmentalabout this reef whenCr Anthony four and there was no evidence of recreational pened” recreational Marsh the mayor Point, at Point the mayor Sorrento are pinning clusters of Observatory groups Nepean. “We only heard March, March, and enhance” it’s been north ofCOASTAL of the Portsea, “protect any environmental assessment study. Sorrento Victoria. the Portsea, membersofofthe said because in the ocean Nepean. the members from it in The News, groups, has sidedwe with their hopes on pressuresaid readresidents The council throughout increase heard about this reef when fishing is toonly groups, mandates“We Coastal advisory advisory with residents Point, at Point has sided and Rye Coastal Rye the quietly Counthrough about Shire Peninsula and beach users concerned Mornington all News, it’s been andcommunity, in The pushed fishing lobby One of its the broader it in reefs we read about The council concerned alongside the broader community, of artificial recreational and boating reef beingthe “significant is urging fishing an artificialalongside reef andconcerns” powerful number because of the users cil to delay the concerns” pushed through quietly “significant and boatingNepean. and beach sheonsaid. had expressed to hold off had expressed Melissa Horne groups,” minister reef. Page 12 fishing lobby for the instal- parts of Port Phillip. installed off Port artificial on urging fishing recreational asking powerful Continued artificial reef. the planned the planned to hold off reef and is about until the for the quesaboutabout Horne plan.information “We are simply The groups are concerned calls themore wa-CommunitytoGroup put on hold calls andRye letter minister Melissa Thenot askfor more information groups,” she said. The letter a big Chair of the reef on the environment lation be impact of the Group environment It's “We are simply asking for the instalpubliclyCheers, said the plan. on the potential environment and waanswered. Community on the potential Alliance, Mechelle be made Ryeand consultation. tions arethe community lack ofsaid the lation to be put on hold until the quesimpacts to to be made publicly Chair of the Cheers, ter safety council’s support had given opponents ter safety impacts fish a plan to improve As part of tions are answered. It's not a big ask Alliance, Mechellehad available. given opponents available. bit of hope”. fair “a reef the of the fishers, support recreational for stocks hope”. council’s “a fair bit of of the reef
on how Support, For information and NDIS Packages a call! Home Care friendly staff or give our visit our website
t NDIS Suppor Packages Home Care 1300 46
for such a sensitive part of the bay.” The push for an artificial reef has largely been led by the government body the Victorian Fisheries Association, and the Futurefish Foundation, which describes itself online as “a fearless watchdog” representing recreational fishers, with an aim to “protect and enhance” recreational fishing throughout Victoria. One of its mandates is to increase the number of artificial reefs in all parts of Port Phillip. Continued Page 12
Southern Peninsula
with quality time gEnjoy more quality time with Enjoy more one, by trustin your loved by trusting with their your loved one, After-Care After-Care with their needs in home carethe complication out of in home care needs to take
46 63
For information on how to take the complication out Home Care Packages and NDIS Support,
of
visit our website or give our friendly staff a call!
nance Home Mainte Garden & Home Maintenance Garden & NDIS Support s e Care Service All In-Home Care Services All In-Hom Packages Home Care
e.com.au 63 46 46 1300 after-car inhome@
om.au www.after-care.c inhome@after-care.com.au
www.after-care.com.au
T U O D E K C DE AYS FRID
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT with DJ Budha
FREE ENTRY All ages
HAPPY HOURS from 5 - 7pm
BBQ
from 5pm
YOUR FRIDAYS JUST GOT A WHOLE LOT BETTER! *Excluding entrees & senior meals *Conditions apply
207 Boneo Rd, Rosebud VIC Southern Peninsula News
7 February 2024
PAGE 5
