NEWS DESK
Forum to attract women to politics
A committee of influence
REBEL Liberal-turned-independent MP Julia Banks and Victorian Liberal Party deputy leader Cindy McLeish headline a forum at Langwarrin this month designed to encourage more women to enter politics. The inaugural Louisa Dunkley Women in Politics Forum – organised by the Committee for Greater Frankston – is a 12-2pm lunch on Thursday 28 March at McClelland Gallery’s new Sarah and Baillieu Myer Education Pavilion. The committee’s chief executive Ginevra Hosking said public debate about the under-representation of women in politics had inspired the event. “Our two guest speakers will talk about their experiences in politics before we ask for questions from the audience.” She said there would be opportunities before and after the forum for attendees to network with the region’s women politicians, business and community leaders. Committee chair Fred Harrison said the committee would be sponsoring 10 female students from secondary schools in Dunkley to attend the forum. “We hope they will gain more of an insight into politics and become leaders of the future,” he said. The catalyst for recent public discussion about under-representation of women in politics was Julie Bishop receiving just 11 votes during the Liberal Party leadership spill last August, one vote for every year she had been deputy leader. Ms Bishop announced last month she would retire from politics this year. Industrial Relations
ENTREPRENEUR, philanthropist, former Geelong Football Club president and founder of the Committee for Geelong Frank Costa is guest speaker at a dinner to launch a organisation that wants to influence the future direction and development of the Mornington Peninsula. The Committee for Mornington Peninsula is promoting itself as “a proactive and passionate voice … committed to leading and influencing long-term outcomes and contributing to the strategic objectives for the broader Mornington Peninsula”. The business-backed committee says it will work “beyond electoral cycles and partisan politics with the aim of enhancing the social, economic and environmental sustainability to improve liveability, growth and sustainability of the region”. Founding members are being “sought across the political spectrum, community and breadth of industry both by sector and size; from microbusinesses through to large corporations”. Former Liberal MP for Dunkley, Bruce Billson last December said that the committee “will be similar to the [Committee for Greater Frankston] and those running in Greater Dandenong and Geelong” (“MPs to vie for peninsula vote” The News 17/12/19). Mr Costa will speak at the public launch of the Committee for Mornington Peninsula, 12.30pm-2.30pm Thursday 28 March at Mornington Racing Club. Cost is $79 a person or $690 for a table of 10 at www.committeeformp.com.au Keith Platt
Women in politics: Headline speakers at this month’s inaugural Louisa Dunkley Women in Politics Forum are, left, former Liberal now independent federal MP Julia Banks and Victorian Liberal Party deputy leader Cindy McLeish. The forum takes its name from gender equality campaigner, Louisa Dunkley, right.
Minister Kelly O’Dwyer announced her retirement a month earlier. Last November, Ms Banks told the Parliament she would leave the Liberal Party and become an independent MP, saying there was an “entrenched anti-woman” bias. She said there was “bullying and intimidation” of women in politics. In January, Ms Banks announced she would challenge Liberal MP for Flinders Greg Hunt, a former colleague. In contrast, in Victoria last December Cindy McLeish was elected Victorian Liberal Party deputy, and Georgie Crozier was elected the Libs’ deputy leader in the upper house. And the re-
elected state Labor government has 11 women and 11 men in its cabinet. Ms Hosking said that for Australia to have more women politicians “we need to start grass-roots conversations, introduce more women to this career path and, importantly, continue to build informal networks that will empower the women who do represent us to be more effective”. She said it was an easy decision to name the forum after Louisa Dunkley. “Pioneering Australian women like Louisa Dunkley led the world in calling for equal pay for equal work. She was a highly competent Morse code telegraphist, the only way to com-
Young bowlers ready for the challenge MORE than 70 pupils from Sorrento, St Joseph’s, Eastbourne and Rosebud primary schools will compete in the annual Primary School Lawn Bowls Challenge, 10am-2pm, Wednesday 27 March. Last year’s winners, Sorrento Primary, will be looking to repeat their success after progressing to the Bowls Victoria regional and grand finals. Now in its fifth year, the qualifying event will again be held at Sorrento Bowls Club, Hotham Road, at the rear of David Macfarlan Oval. Years 5 and 6 pupils will compete in what is a Southern Peninsula Division of the Summer Sports Victoria program. Sorrento Bowls Club president Brian McGrath will present trophies to the winning team and runners-up at 2pm. Club members will act as markers and measurers at the event which will be played in under Bowls Victoria rules. Spectators are welcome. The challenge is being coordinated by physical education teacher Michelle Richens, of Sorrento Primary, and Bowls Victoria.
PAGE 14
Southern Peninsula News 13 March 2019
“Those competing have demonstrated great enthusiasm by practicing their techniques and strategies in the lead up to the event which is sponsored by Prentice Real Estate of Sorrento and Rye,” spokesperson Judith Mordech said. This year‘s Southern Metro Region final is at Hampton Bowls Club, Friday 29 March. The state final is at Darebin City Bowls Club, Wednesday 1 May.
Day out for Ruby CLASSIC cars and motorbikes will tour the Mornington Peninsula later this month as part of Ruby’s Ride ‘n’ Roll. The day out will include riding along scenic roads, stopping at several venues, and a barbecue lunch. There will be raffles and auctions which all go towards raising money and “making a difference” to children with cancer. Ruby’s Ride has a 9am registration leaving 10am, Saturday 30 March, from The Dava Hotel, 614 The Esplanade, Mt Martha. The cost is $30. Details: rubyroserainbowfund.com.au
municate rapidly over long distances before telephones and two-way radios. The job was considered one of the first high-technology professions of the modern era, but women were paid much less than men. The politically volatile Frankston-based federal seat of Dunkley is named after her.” Forum invitees include the Liberal MP for Dunkley, Chris Crewther, and his Labor opponent, Peta Murphy; state MPs from the region Sonya Kilkenny, Paul Edbrooke and Neil Burgess; and women councillors from Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula. Bookings: c4gf.com.au/events/ Michael Hast
Positive signs at clean-up day CLEAN-UP Australia Day volunteers at Mt Martha are happy to report “significantly less rubbish” being found than in previous years. Registrar Jan Jones, a member of Mt Martha Yacht Club and Balcombe Estuary Reserves Group, said: “Let’s hope that future years of Clean-Up Australia continue to see a reduced need for this event. “We also hope this [less rubbish] is due to greater awareness of the environmental impact of careless rubbish disposal alongside the impact of the clean team funded by Mornington Peninsula Shire over the past few summers.” Volunteers from the yacht and lifesaving clubs, Rotary, BERG and residents swept an area from the rocks at Balcombe Point, along the foreshore, past the creek mouth and north to the rear of boat sheds opposite Coolangatta Road. They also scoured the village, car parks and several streets. Organisers were concerned the hot weather would deter volunteers, but, in the morning, the
47 who registered set about collecting 30 large bags of rubbish. For some it was a family effort with eight children joining in with their parents. Three yacht club kayakers lugged their kayaks across the sand bar at the mouth of Balcombe Creek and collected rubbish along the creek. This included fishing line and hooks caught in trees along the creek. Volunteers queried the lack of recycling bins in the village surrounds as about half of the items collected were potentially recyclable – plastic and glass bottles and containers, drink cans, cardboard drink cartons and packaging. “The good news is that fewer plastic bags were collected, but chip and confectionery bags and fast food packaging were abundant,” Mrs Jones said. Only a couple of very large items were collected: a big roll of black construction plastic and two car tyres. Stephen taylor