3 November 2015 by Mornington Peninsula News Group

NEWS DESK

The sounds of music help students find their way

Group goes heels over head against coal mine MEMBERS of a Somers yoga class are hoping to convince Environment Minister and Flinders MP Greg Hunt to overturn his decision to approve a massive coal mine in central Queensland. Last Monday week they joined the list of groups and organisations that have used Mr Hunt’s office as a focus for protests against the federal government and, in particular, its environmental policies. The previous week it was protesters dressed as angels climbing onto the roof of the office and before that deliveries of bags of coal. In May, police arrested leaders of a group

of Christians occupying Mr Hunt’s offices in protest at the government’s asylum seeker policies. Nearly all the recent protests have centred on coal from Adani’s Carmichael mine which will be exported from a terminal at Abbot Point, which environmentalists believe will damage the nearby Great Barrier Reef. “It [Mr Hunt’s approval of the mine] was being discussed by member of the yoga class and we decided that standing on our heads outside his Hastings office was most appropriate, as Adani is an Indian company and yoga has its Indian origin,” Jasmine Wigley said. “We discussed joining [activist

group] GetUp’s protests and standing around holding placards, but decided doing head stands would be a good way of getting it across to Mr Hunt to turn his decision on its head.” Ms Wigley said the yoga group – “we all live in Mr Hunt’s electorate” – intended to regularly stand on their heads outside his office. “This was the first of a series of protests planned and we hope to enlarge our Power Protest Yoga profile to include all of the yoga schools in the electorate and potentially beyond.” For his part, Mr Hunt says the Adani permit will be subject to strict environmental conditions.

SONGS and music cut across all boundaries and a concert being held in Mornington this month is being held to help young people take up education rather than crime. Run by the Brotherhood of St Laurence, the RESET program helps students fit back into mainstream classes at Monterey Secondary College, Frankston. Concert organisers say lyrics of the song Street Angel sung by Colleen Hewitt about the plight of street kids best expresses their thoughts: “The soul of our nation shines through the eyes of her children.” The RESET - (Re-engaging Early Secondary Education and Training) - project is designed for 10 and 14 year olds living in Frankston and on the Mornington Peninsula who are disengaged from school and involved with crime. Since late last year the program has been run in a stand-alone room in the college grounds. While operating independently, the RESET students, who are enrolled at the college, participate in several school activities, including sport. They are helped to develop interpersonal problem solving and other skills. One member of RESET’s team is a psychologist, whose work with the students includes cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). The program began in response to concerns by Victoria Police and schools that young people were likely to live a life of ongoing disadvantage

and crime without appropriate help. The college provides a part-time teacher’s aide and its staff help to facilitate the transition of young people from the RESET program into mainstream classes. Money raised through the Mornington concert will help supply students involved in the RESET program with text books and stationary and pay for their transport. The concert, A Christmas Cracker, is billed as featuring a bass, a baritone, a soprano and a pianist as well as three tenors. Guest artist is Berlin-based tenor Michael Smallwood who returns to Melbourne for this month’s Melbourne Art and Song Collective at the Melbourne Recital Centre. Also on the bill is The Aspidistra Vocal Quartet, with tenors Richard Hobson and Adrian McEniery, baritone Michael Leighton Jones and bass Jerzy Kozlowski with Michael Fulcher. The program is by MC Michael Leighton Jones and will also feature the Brotherhood's own soprano Meredith Kerr. A Christmas Cracker, 7.30pm 27 November Mornington Peninsula Community Theatre, Wilsons Rd, Mornington (Melway 145 E2). Tickets: $60 (concession $50) include tea, coffee and wine from Prancing Hill Estate at interval. Bookings: mpearce@bsl. org.au or call 0407 145 552. The Brotherhood of St Laurence can arrange transport from aged care homes and other venues. Keith Platt

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Southern Peninsula News 3 November 2015

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