NEWS DESK
Meeting ends in uproar, insults David Harrison david@mpnews.com.au FRUSTRATION boiled over into bitterness and rowdiness at the 23 November Mornington Peninsula Shire Council meeting, with two councillors exiting the chamber before business was concluded. Tension had been building over a series of meetings as a group of the more conservative councillors led by Antonella Celi and Anne Shaw were outvoted on topics generally dealing with development and planning. On 23 November, with Cr Graham Pittock in charge of the first meeting in his mayoral year, the unruly behaviour began when Cr Antonella Celi tried to head off a move to change the name West Rosebud to Capel Sound. Cr Lyn Bowden asked Cr Celi why she would “not want the community to have a discussion” on the proposal. The gallery reacted to this with “Hear hear.” Cr Celi retorted that she was prepared to debate but not “just to be set up with a question like that”. Her motion to refuse the name change was seconded by Cr Anne Shaw. In the debate that followed, Cr Celi said she wondered if the proposal was “about class warfare”, where it was thought a name change for an area of social disadvantage would fix its problems. Inquiries among Rosebud West community leaders indicated they were happy with the current name, she said. Cr Pittock cautioned the restive gallery to remain silent. Cr Celi added: “And mind your lan-
guage, too, please. I don’t appreciate being called a tosser.” Cr Shaw pointed to the costs of a name change that failed, especially for businesses. She cited but did not identify instances of changes being rejected by residents, leading to costly re-adoption of the original names. Cr David Garnock gave the example of West Park in his Cerberus ward having its name changed to Wallaroo, which had been a success. He knew of other successful name changes, he told the meeting. Cr Andrew Dixon described the proposal as “postcode snobbery at its finest”, arguing there were many better ways a community could spend the $18,000 proposed for conducting the name change consultation. Cr Tim Wood described Cr Celi’s move as a “road block” to the democratic process of consulting the public. In closing, Cr Celi claimed that a recent community consultation workshop, “no one wanted to change the name”. This drew a strong protest from the gallery. Cr Celi indignantly and loudly asserted her “right to debate” and Cr Pittock again rebuked the gallery before the vote went against her 3-7. Cr Bev Colomb was absent from the meeting. Cr Pittock suggested the motion to put the issue to Rosebud residents did not need to be re-debated and Cr Lynn Bowden moved that the motion be put immediately to the vote. “Anything to shut me up,” Cr Celi interjected. “When it’s good [for her opponents] it means that they want me to be quiet and not debate. I’ve been shut up. I’ve been censored.” Continued Page 14
Deadly toll: Students Rachel Dodd, Olly Brayne and Errin Lindner at the Counting Women display at Chisholm TAFE’s Frankston campus. Picture: Gary Sissons
Shirt fronts show reality of family violence A CONFRONTING project focused on domestic violence is on display at Chisholm TAFE’s campus in Frankston. The student initiated ‘Counting Women’ T-Shirt Project, has a T-shirt for each woman in Australia murdered by a partner or ex-partner this year. Each T-shirt lists the woman’s name and details where possible and is accompanied with relevant newspaper articles and a blackboard updated with the current death toll, 78 in 2015. Chisholm group coordinator of community services Dr Ilsa Evans said the project had been a pivotal assignment for Diploma of Community Services students. “Highlighting this topical issue is of critical importance to all members of our community and we see family violence not just a personal issue - but a community one,” Dr Evans said. “We want this project to be an important representation of this serious topic and ensure
our community understands the impact it causes”. The project was started after Rosie Batty, Australian of the Year, visited Chisholm TAFE’s Time to Change community forum to discuss family violence. The students aim to use research from Destroy The Joint, an online community for gender equality, to maintain the display as an ongoing visual representation of domestic violence. Last Wednesday (25 November) was White Ribbon Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness to stop men’s violence against women in Australia where more than one woman a week is killed by a current or former partner. Anyone who has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault can call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) for counselling and help. Call 000 in an emergency.
BOOK NOW FOR CHRISTMAS LUNCH • Seafood Entree • Traditional Christmas Roast with all the trimmings
Santa will
be visiting with a present for
• Delicious selection of Desserts
the kids.
* Includes Beer, Wine & Soft Drink
Limited tables don’t miss out!
1099 Point Nepean Rd, Rosebud P: 5950 0300 www.rosebudhotel.com.au
Southern Peninsula News 1 December 2015
PAGE 5