NEWS DESK
Digging deep to aid drought-hit farmers A MORNINGTON trader is so moved by the plight of droughtstricken farmers that she is donating this month’s profits to help them. Trudy Lennon-Bowers, who runs Tru Opportunity Op Shop, in Diane Street, said she normally gives profits to charities nominated by those who donate goods. “I have been so moved by the plight of the Aussie farmers – who are the backbone of this nation and are doing it extremely tough with seemingly no help – that I felt compelled to make an exception to how we normally donate,” she said. “We therefore decided to donate all profits from August to Australian farmers’ drought relief agencies in an effort to help, even in some small way. We just need people through the door to make them some money.” Ms Lennon-Bowers’ stand coincides with a similar push by the Red Cross which has launched an appeal to help farmers and communities in drought-affected regions. Money raised through the organisation’s August disaster relief and recovery appeal will be distributed throughout the most severely droughtaffected areas – especially in New South Wales. “It’s time for everyone to rally together and show their support for drought-affected farmers and farming communities who are doing it tough,” Red Cross CEO Judy Slatyer said. “We know this is a difficult time for farmers, their families and their communities across the country and we see first-hand how hard it is for people with ongoing financial and social responsibilities.
Backbone of the nation: Trudy Lennon-Bowers’ op shop is backing farmers’ drought fight. Picture: Yanni
“In regional and remote locations for many years our teams of volunteers and members have been there at the grass roots to lift
community spirit, holding events to give people vital social connections, a shoulder to lean on and relief when it is needed most.”
Donors can support the appeal at redcross.org.au/drought, by calling 1800 733 276 or by donating at a Commonwealth Bank branch.
Airfield the topic TYABB Airfield Community Reference Group focused on priority actions identified in the Tyabb Airfield Precinct Plan 2017 when it met for the first time in June. Its members include Tyabb and District Ratepayers Group’s Dr Martin Cranmer and Katrina Chalke; Peninsula Aero Club’s Jack Vevers, Peter Bernardi, Judy Pay (also representing aircraft businesses), and Stewart Bracken (Tyabb Airfield hangar owners); Captain Dick Cox (residents/community groups), Len Minty and Ben Hogan (Tyabb community), Stuart Benton (nearby businesses, particularly outside the airfield), Bruce Turner (independent chair), and Mornington Peninsula Shire’s manager – strategic projects Allan Cowley. Discussions concerned the improved information available to the community about the airfield and its operations, an airfield masterplan being compiled by Peninsula Aero Club, an aircraft noise management plan, and a potential planning permit application for widening the sealed section of the north-south runway. The meeting was told a noise assessment, including a noise exposure forecast, would be financed by Mornington Peninsula Shire in conjunction with the aero club. The meeting reviewed a one-page summary: Issues, Opportunities and Aspirations, which had been compiled by the independent chair Bruce Turner. Members confirmed that the summary reflected (but did not limit) the matters to be explored by the group. One additional aspect was noted – the need for clarity over the role of the shire.
Labor comes to Baxter line party Neil Walker neil@mpnews.com.au THE electrification of the extension of the Frankston line to Baxter now has bipartisan support from both the Liberal and Labor parties. Federal Labor shadow transport spokesman Anthony Albanese visited Langwarrin’s McClelland Gallery last Tuesday (31 July) for a Committee for Greater Frankston “roundtable lunch” and used the occasion to announce a Shorten government will “move quickly to deliver the muchneeded Frankston to Baxter rail upgrade”. The federal opposition’s pledge to
back the rail duplication and electrification from Frankston to Baxter comes two weeks after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced the Liberal National Coalition federal government’s promise to provide $225 million to build the rail extension. Liberal state opposition leader Matthew Guy also promised that the state Liberal National Coalition, if elected in November, will direct $225 million to the project. Mr Albanese’s announcement last week leaves the Labor state government as the sole hold outs in not yet committing to build the rail extension. The state government is conduct-
ing a business case study into the project’s feasibility, paid for by $3 million in federal funding. “Labor has advocated for the electrification and duplication of the Stony Point Line to Baxter to improve train services for commuters across Dunkley and on the peninsula,” Mr Albanese said at last week’s roundtable meeting. “And that’s because we know the benefits of this project speak for themselves — better services, greater accessibility to public transport, reduced travel times, and more parking but most important of all, ensuring commuters get home earlier so they can spend more time with their families.”
Committee for Greater Frankston CEO Ginevra Hosking thanked Mr Albanese and federal Labor Dunkley candidate Peta Murphy for backing an expansion the region’s public rail network. “Having both federal and state major political parties on board is needed to make this project happen quickly. Now we call on the Andrews Labor state government to provide funding for the rail extension,” Ms Hosking said. Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors will meet their counterparts from Frankston Council next week at a “working dinner” to chew over their differences in policy over the electrification of the Frankston line to Baxter. The dinner, to be held on Wednesday
8 August at Frankston Football Club, comes after shire councillors in May called on the federal and state governments to recognise the shire “as a major stakeholder”, since talks have mostly been conducted between politicians and Frankston Council. The shire said Baxter — which lies within its municipal boundary – would be an unsuitable terminus for the electric train service and wants the line doubled up and electrified to Hastings. State Hastings Liberal MP Neale Hastings said the electrification to Hastings would be a “stage two” process. There is no indication of when any such second stage would begin to be built.
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