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Tuesday 7 June 2016
5973 6424 or email: team@mpnews.com.au www.mpnews.com.au
Gallipoli oaks a living Anzac memorial EASTBOURNE Primary School is helping pupils to remember World War I by planting an oak tree in its grounds. The school is one of 500 participating in the National Trust of Australia’s (Victoria) Gallipoli Oaks Project – and doing its bit to commemorate the Anzac centenary. “It’s a great honour for our school and will be a living reminder for the kids for years to come,� principal Stephen Wilkinson said. National Trust of Australia advocate for environmental heritage Anna Foley explains: “At the core of this project is the story of how a young Australian soldier, a Captain Winter Cooke, of Murndal, near Hamilton, noticed some unusual holly bushes while stationed at Gallipoli. It had acorns like oak trees. “Captain Winter Cooke remembered that his uncle Samuel, back home in Hamilton, was a bit of a tree enthusiast who would be interested in these rare acorns, and so he sent a package of acorns home.� Schools in the project will plant seedlings that are direct descendants of those acorns from Gallipoli. “In doing so, they will have their own direct link to the environment that the soldiers endured during the campaign,� Ms Foley said. National Trust chairman Dr Graeme L Blackman said the 500 Gallipoli oaks planted during the Anzac ceremony will create enduring, living memorials in schools across Victoria. “Our project demonstrates the trust’s and the community’s commitment to the passing on of the Gallipoli history from generation to generation, as well as teaching an important environmental message about caring for our significant trees,� he said. From little things: Horticultural Services officer John Fordham, Eastbourne Primary captain Jarvis Williams, RSL’s Bruce Turner, principal Stephen Wilkinson, co-captain Chelsea Veal, and teachers Brett Pacoe and Judy Hardeman plant the oak tree. Picture: Yanni
CFA volunteers fear ‘sell out’ Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au COUNTRY Fire Authority volunteers across the Mornington Peninsula are “completely gutted� by what they see as a sell-out by the state government in enterprise bargaining negotiations between the United Firefighters’ Union and the CFA. Fair Work Australia has backed a log of claims governing future UFU wages and work conditions “which could effectively give them control over the CFA�, the volunteer body says.
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Volunteers are concerned the union seems to have the backing of Premier Daniel Andrews – although nothing is signed off as yet – but are buoyed by the support of Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett. The ramifications for firefighting on the peninsula are huge – with local volunteers threatening to leave en masse if their roles, positions and organisational standings are undermined by the professional body. Somerville CFA captain Allan Monti, a volunteer of 28 years, described the UFU push as “a big threat to the community� and said his volunteers
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“That’s what we are all about,� he said. “The paid firefighters are not necessarily locals and they are not here all the time. “If we go, and that’s a real threat, it will be a big loss to the community.� The CFA says the cost of implementing the union’s new labour and infrastructure demands – “if the government caves in� – could be up to $1 billion, whereas they now work for free. It is concerned that Mr Andrews will pressure Ms Garrett to accept the union’s log of claims after three years of negotiations. Under current legislation,
it is reported that only Ms Garrett has the power to force the CFA to accept a new EBA. About 20 Somerville and Tyabb CFA volunteers met Wednesday afternoon in a show of solidarity against what they see as a “sell-out� by the government. Other brigades across the peninsula are said to back their stand. Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria District 8 president Eric Collier, who oversees peninsula brigades, said the premier wanted to “keep in favour with the union for their support at the previous state election – it’s payback time�. Continued Page 16
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would find the proposed new requirements hard to accept. “They will decimate our numbers because many volunteers will quit – that’s inevitable as their purpose diminishes,� he said. “It would be a shame to lose their skills and experience which we are very proud of.� Mr Monti said CFA volunteers’ affinity with their communities enhanced their ability to fight “often complex� fires in bushland near homes, but that their abilities would be reduced if the new rules meant paid firefighters held sway over them.
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