NEWS DESK
Talking books offer their take on life THE story of our lives is often more interesting than any work of fiction. And it provides the inspiration for Rosebud Secondary College’s Living Library, where the “books” are people and the “reading” consists of conversation. “Each year, as part of Book Week, we invite people to come in as living ‘books’, which the students ‘borrow’ for a short time, to hear their story and ask them questions,” head librarian Nicolle Brigden said. “These conversations allow our students to interact with people they may never otherwise meet, which, in turn, challenges and inspires their thinking.” Last week, students were able to share the stories of magician Cath Jamison, artist Justine McNamara, environmentalist Simon Mulvany and Buddhist monk Gen Kelsang Dornying. This year’s Living Library also included three former students, with local businesswoman Gemma Linnell and 2016 reality TV contestants Charlie Sartori and Mitch Skvor sharing the highs and lows of life since graduation. Nothing is off-limits during the Living Library, and participants were able to “pick the brains” of local actor Carole Patullo, palliative care nurse Heather Wilson and novelist Melinda Devine. School principal Andrew Nicholls also chatted to students about his passion for bike racing. “It’s easy to think you can size someone up based on how they look or what they do, but the stories shared in the Living Library prove you should never judge a book by its cover,” Ms Brigden said.
Living library: Magician Cath Jamison shows off her skills as one of the world’s foremost female magicians to Rosebud Secondary College students. Picture: Yanni
Trickster guards the magic code ROSEBUD’S Cath Jamison became interested in magic as a child and has spent the past 25 years mastering her skills to become a magician. Fascinated by the psychology of human behaviour, Jamison has an in-depth knowledge of clairvoyance, telepathy and telekinesis. Those curious about magic can borrow Jamison as a living “book”, and see if they can get her to break the Magician’s Code and reveal her tricks. Jamison is pictured with a book she’s had since she started learning about magic: The Boy’s Book of Conjuring. “No magic books for girls existed back then – and probably still don’t,” she said.
Expenses set to increase Keith Platt keith@mpnews.com.au MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors were on Monday poised to give themselves the right to spend an extra $14,000 over their four-year terms, bringing the total to $30,000. The success of the latest bid to define their entitlements could depend on one councillor agreeing to being paid travelling expenses of 76 cents a kilometre. A move to set new four-year spending limits - $16,000 for conferences and seminars; $10,000 education and training; and $1000 a year entertainment – missed out on being adopted on Monday 22 August by one vote. If voting patterns stayed the same on Monday this week, Cr Andrew Dixon would have held the deciding vote. Cr Dixon has previously told The News that he disagreed with the draft policy which suggested councillors receive 67 cents a kilometre. He said he had a six-cylinder car and
was able to claim $1.07 a kilometre. In the lead up to this week’s meeting other councillors seemed certain Cr Dixon would accept the compromise 76 cents, which is part of the package aimed at increasing councillor entitlements to $30,000. Councillors also receive a $29,000 a year stipend. The mayor gets a $92,000 a year stipend and under the new package is also allowed to spend an extra $3500 on conferences and seminars and $2000 a year on entertainment. Under the new expenditure policy councillors cannot claim for alcohol and are subject to more definite conditions for child care payments. The new policy states that child care payments cannot be made to someone who “normally or regularly” lives with a councillor. Child care rates are put at $31 an hour for day/evening weekday care; $42 an hour on weekends; and $53 an hour on public holidays. The long road to setting limits and adopting a new expenses policy in-
COURTESY BUS
cluded a council resolution in April for Cr Antonella Celi to repay about $9000 of the $28,520 paid by the shire for her attendance on conferences and seminars. This decision was reversed in May. This followed legal advice was received which cast doubts on the $16,000-a-term spending limit for each councillor and that repayment of any perceived overspending could not be forced. Cr David Gibb said he was opposed to councillors being able to use their expense allowances to buy alcohol or pay for overseas flights. However, while accepting that overseas trips would be allowed he would not back the new expenditure policy if alcohol purchases were given the all clear. “I don’t believe that alcohol should be charged to ratepayers at any time,” he said. When it came to overseas trips and “luxury hotels”, which he had “consistently voted against”, he would now “let that one pass; I can see several points of view”.
The policy also states that councillors must travel in economy class if flying and Cr Gibb said being a councillor was “the equivalent of being a company director” and believed it appropriate pay for councillors to undertake professional courses “with an exam at the end”. The shire has paid for Cr Gibb to do a company director’s course. Cr Gibb said the new spending limits “are ceilings, not targets – I’d be amazed if anyone got there”. Cr Hugh Fraser on Thursday branded the new expenses policy as “such a silly exercise”. “We need to revise all policies within six months of the election of the new council,” he said. “This new policy is costing an extra $110,000.” The motion to adopt the revised expenditure policy was lost on the casting vote of the mayor, Cr Graham Pittock, supported by Crs Fraser, Dixon, Tim Rodgers and Tim Wood. For the motion were Crs Celi, Anne Shaw, Bev Colomb and David Garnock.
WEDNESDAY TO SATURDAY 4PM - 11PM PH: 0409 193 285
Search for Ralph RALPH the black-faced lamb, pictured, has been stolen from the Big Goose farm and owner Justin Orr is desperate to have him returned. The five-week-old bottle fed pet was stolen overnight on Sunday 21 August from the property on Mornington-Tyabb Rd, Moorooduc. Mr Orr said the lamb and a baby goat were targeted but the goat escaped his pursuers and was found wandering around the property the next morning. Ralph was named in an online competition run by the farm which attracted 8000 entries. Mr Orr has asked that anyone who knows his whereabouts contact the farm so that he can be collected.
CONDITIONS APPLY
Southern Peninsula News 30 August 2016
PAGE 3