NEWS DESK
‘Bag ladies’ praised for pollution fight THE campaign to rid the Mornington Peninsula of plastic bags is being made easier by the work of volunteers who make Boomerang bags. The workers were eager participants at a presentation at La Casa Nostra deli, Rosebud, on Thursday, to celebrate the 1000th bag made since Rosebud Boomerang Bags was launched on 1 July. Organiser Gwen Giudici said the actual number of bags was 1168 bags – the making of which had diverted 42,138kg of waste from going to landfill. Rosebud Boomerang Bags has 150 Facebook members and 50 volunteers who sew, cut, number bags, run Instagram accounts and organise donations of equipment. “This [the making of the bags] has brought the community together and created awareness as more people are bringing their own bags into the shop,” Ms Giudici said. “Lots of sweat, laughs and tears got us to 1000th bag which was presented to Cr Antonella Celi. She’s been involved from day one: She joined in with sewing at the Tuesday bee, was pivotal in securing council funding of $4000 to educate our community and $5000 for establishing hubs. “Another amazing woman is Susan Tomasello: She talks the project up, converts die-hard plastic bag users, recruits sewers, cuts – is there anything she doesn’t do?” A silent auction for a Boomerang Bag Ottoman was won by 11-year-old Kiera Matthews, of Sorrento Primary, who recited a poem about pollution. The Ottoman was filled with fabric scraps from sewing bees and home sewing. This aims to keep the group as close to zero waste as possible. The bBag group also announced it had won the Tidy Town gift fund award from Keep Victoria Beautiful. Rye resident Josie Jones won Litter Prevention Award. (‘Going to the source to lessen litter’, The News, 4/12/17). As a thank-you the volunteers were presented with mugs saying “I'm a Rosebud bag lady”. Ms Giudici said a Tuesday bee was about to start at Seawinds Community Hub on space donated by CEO Heather Barton. Stephen Taylor
Ottoman winner: Boomerang Bags silent auction winner Kiera Matthews, 11, of Sorrento Primary, recited a poem about pollution at Thursday’s event. She is with Gwen Giudici. Picture: Supplied
Fire skills lessons for residents A COMMUNITY bushfire exercise will be held at St Andrews beach hall, Sunday 7 January. Rye Fire Brigade captain Glenn Diamond and CFA Brigade support officer Megan Angel will speak at the interactive forum which is aimed at residents of St Andrew’s Beach and surrounding areas. “Residents in these areas need a bushfire plan to ensure their families and pets are safe this bushfire season,” Captain Diamond said. “In the exercise the community will work through an interactive, hands-on, exercise.” Participants will hear about fire behaviour, learn how fire “works”, as well as take part in interactive/ simulated fire activities while looking at maps of St Andrews Beach. They will learn how a fire would affect residents, where it could come from, the importance of a bushfire plan and what it needs to contain. The workshop would suit those with an existing bushfire plan or others needing to start from scratch. A free lunch is provided and all the family is welcome at the exercise which starts at 10am and runs for three hours for workshop and lunch. St Andrews Community Hall is in Bass Meadows Blvd, St Andrew’s Beach. Details: Captain Diamond 0400 102 231 or support officer Megan Angel 0457 410 298.
Rosebud Skin Cancer Clinic BULK BILL skin checks for pensioners, Healthcare card holders, DVA & over 75's Mole mapping available Procedures completed on site No referral needed
12369163-AM43-17
Book an appointment Call 5986 1600.
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Experienced professional skin cancer doctors all awarded by the College of Skin Cancer. Dr Sally Shaw, Fellow SCCANZ and Dr Mary Tai Kie, Dip. Dermoscopy and Dip. Of Skin Cancer.
1079 Point Nepean Road, Rosebud Ph: 5986 1600 Southern Peninsula News 19 December 2017