NEWS DESK
CFA calls for help
No jabs, but a few barbs at anti-vaxxer ‘rally’ Cameron McCullough cameron@mpnews.com.au SUNDAY 11 July started with such promise. Reignite Democracy Australia Party’s Mornington Peninsula chapter were gathering for an anti-vaxxer ‘rally’ and organisers had promised “tonnes of parking” and “toilets close by”. Maybe it was the dismal turnout, but attendees quickly turned their attention to The News’ esteemed photographer, who was equally dejected having rushed to Dromana, on The Lord’s Day no less, on the promise of a ‘rally’ with its connotations of huge crowds, megaphones, and possibly capsicum spray. What appeared before him was a gathering at best. But really just a few random people standing around. “We don’t give consent to be photographed”, said a number of the attendees taking umbrage at the attendance of Her Majesty’s Press. Confusion reigned, as it was a member of Reignite Democracy Australia that had alerted The News of the event. It seemed the left hand did not know what the right hand was doing! And with so few hands? The organisers may need to reread “Starting a fringe political party for Dummies”, as wouldn’t the point of holding this event in public be to get publicity? It is hard for this twice Pfizered writer to justify the paper and ink to explain RDA’s views, but they expound an alternative reality that would make Orwell blush. Many of the organisation’s posts are flagged by Facebook as contain-
ing false information. Facebook has deleted numerous posts and threatened to delete the page for providing false information. Let’s face it, if Facebook says your information is unreliable, you really have problem. Basically, the members of RDA have adopted a spoiling role, trying to push a metaphorical stick into the spokes of the government’s COVID-19 response. No lockdowns, no masks and no vaccines are the order of the day. Attendees had written on their forum, a closed loop of confirmation bias, that they intended to “plaster the peninsula” with “1000s of stickers” expounding their views including one sticker that read The Media Is The Virus (ouch!). RDA may need to polish up on their political theory as a free and independent media is considered vital to check the ambitions of the powerful in a liberal democracy. It seems their use of the word “democracy” in their name is a more dystopian, post-truth interpretation. With our photographer retreating for safety, we are left to surmise how
the gathering went. Maybe they had a game of scratch football in the park. Unlikely, as there were not enough for a team, unless they got the dogs involved. Maybe they fired up the barbecue, but everybody knows the humble Aussie snag is a delivery device for microchips that embed in our brains, numbing our resistance to the pending alien invasion of nano-bots controlled by Dan Andrews as a triple agent of Bill Gates. Ok, maybe they just packed up and went home.
RYE and Sorrento CFA crews have a long history of helping the community, but they now need help from the community. The two brigades, which have been run by a group of dedicated volunteers for decades, say they urgently need more members. To service areas from Cape Schanck to Portsea and “every corner of the state” when asked, the brigades are looking for volunteers in the Tootgarook, Rye, St Andrews, Blairgowrie, Sorrento and Portsea areas to join them. “Essentially we need members that can turn-out on the trucks but any help is help and we don’t knock it back,” Rye 4th Lieutenant Adam O’Brien, said. “We have found that once people get an idea of what it’s all about they feel more confident with the idea of facing emergency situations, and then find it hugely rewarding. Our philosophy is help when you can. We can discuss this more when we chat with them.” The brigades’ primary focus is on operational response to many types of incidents, such as structure fires, bushfires, and transport-related fires and accidents. Other emergency activities may include flood assistance. “There are also support roles that we could use assistance with,” Mr O’Brien said. “People don’t often realise that the skills they have from work or life are often highly regarded within a brigade. Supporters are also invited to use their Facebook and social media pages to share the brigades’ posts. “They could like our posts and maybe even
make our post their profile picture for a few weeks,” Mr O’Brien said. “The advertising will run from 12 July for two weeks unless extended – we would love to go viral. “It an idea that costs nothing but spreads the message to the local community.” Follow the crews at @theryefirebrigade and @SorrentoFireBrigade Details: Adam O’Brien 0447 316 463 or adam.obrien1@members. cfa.vic.gov.au for CFA activities at Tootgarook, Rye, St Andrews and Blairgowrie, or Michelle Croad 0408 103 723 for Blairgowrie, Sorrento and Portsea areas.
NAIDOC support FLINDERS MP urged “everyone to get involved” when announcing the federal government’s $1750 contribution towards two NAIDOC Week events on the Mornington Peninsula. Mr Hunt, the Health and Aged Care Minister, said the 4-11 July NAIDOC Week celebrated “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander excellence and Australia’s rich history and culture”. The government’ gave $1000 for the Willum Warrain NAIDOC Ball, hosted by the Umeewarra Aboriginal Media Association and $750 for the “Recognise, appreciate and protect our land” event hosted by Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency Cooperative. Mr Hunt said the week was “a great opportunity for Australians of all backgrounds to participate in a range of activities to support our local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities”.
Business help in the ‘new economy’ A SERIES of business development workshops to assist with the COVID-19 recovery will aim to increase confidence and help support small businesses to develop strategies in a changing environment. With many industries struggling over the past 18 months, Mornington Peninsula Shire wants to offer practical support and information to enable business owners to improve and grow their businesses. The workshops will be run by experts on a variety of topics, including business disruption, marketing, new technologies, laws governing business, insurance policies, accounting, human resources and the specific issues faced by the food and accommodation industry. “Many businesses have suffered in the past year and we want to support them to get through this difficult period,” the mayor Cr Despi O’Connor said.
40km/h at Sorrento The reduction in speed limit to 40km/h around Ocean Beach Road and surrounding areas is proposed to happen in September 2021. The Shire has been given $2.5 million funding by the State Government for road upgrades as part of the Sorrento ferry terminal redevelopment.
For more information visit: mornpen.vic.gov.au/sorrentoroads
Future works will also include: • Construction of a roundabout at Point Nepean Road/ Hotham Road •
Upgrades to Hotham Road between The Esplanade and Point Nepean Road
SPECIALISING IN SENIORS TOURS DAY TRIPS XMAS IN JULY - ROSE COTTAGE Thu 22 July FULLY BOOKED Wed 28 July BOOKINGS OPEN $85pp incl. trad Xmas lunch DOLL HOUSE: MINIATURE WORLD OF WONDERS - COMO HOUSE Wed 4 August $75pp incl. exhibition entry & hotel lunch PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Wed 8 Dec $149pp Matinee: A Reserve Seating EXTENDED TRIPS
Home Pick Up & Return Service (t&c’s apply)
ALBURY, WODONGA & YARRAWONGA 9 – 13 August $1525pp ($275 s/s) MILDURA & SWAN HILL 22 – 28 August $2285pp ($400 s/s) ECHUCA & THE MIGHTY MURRAY 20 – 24 September $1525pp ($250 s/s)
FULLY ESCORTED SENIORS TOURS 1300 274 880 (local call cost)
Info@daytripper.com.au | www.daytripper.com.au
PAGE 8
Southern Peninsula News
14 July 2021
“We’d like our small business owners to be able to get the information they need to develop and strengthen their businesses and succeed in this new environment we find ourselves in.” The first workshop: Reboot, Pivot, Restrategise, is 6-8pm, Tuesday 27 July. The online workshop will look at digital technology to support sales, operations, communication, and marketing. The next is Growing your business with confidence in a post COVID-19 world, 6-8pm, Tuesday 10 August and Strategy on a page – Learn to use the business model canvas, 12-1pm, Wednesday 18 August. Seven other workshops follow. Some will be online and others will be face-to-face. Tickets are available through Eventbrite for $15-$20. For details and to book a place, visit: mpbusiness.com.au/upskill
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