Southern Peninsula
Features inside: HEALTHY LIVING PAGES 37 – 39 FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT PAGES 42 – 44 SOUTHERN PENINSULA SCOREBOARD PAGES 45 – 47
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6 September – 19 September 2011
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Point of learning
Outdoor ed: Students from Sorrento and Osborne primary schools at Point Nepean with Sorrento primary teacher Lenka Brereton and David Ponsford of Parks Victoria.
POINT Nepean became a centre for education on the first day of spring with primary school pupils attending workshops, receiving presentations and going on field trips. The 130 pupils came from eight primary schools: Boneo, Dromana, Mt Martha, Eastbourne (Rosebud), Sorrento, Our Lady of Fatima (Rosebud) and Peninsula School (Mt Eliza). Dolphin expert Judy Muir and coastal ecologist Gidja Walker spoke to the pupils about the natural and cultural environment of Point Nepean. Education Minister and MP for Nepean Martin Dixon said the pupils had been given “a unique opportunity to step out of the classroom for a day and swap roles with their teachers”. “Today’s event is a wonderful opportunity for students from our local primary schools to be able to lead the debate on the environment,” he said. “Point Nepean National Park, renowned as one of Victoria’s most stunning and diverse national parks, is the perfect spot to learn in.” Students gave presentations and led workshops on their chosen environmental topics, including living sustainably, waste, recycling and biodiversity.
Time turns on pit bulls By Keith Platt THERE are just four American pit bulls registered with Mornington Peninsula Shire. However, rangers are chasing up six leads about dangerous dogs phoned in to the state government’s dob-in-a-dog hotline. Owners of restricted breed dogs have just weeks to contact the shire to avoid having their pets seized and put down. The American pit bulls are the only
type of restricted breed dogs mentioned in the latest legislation that are legally allowed in Australia. Amendments to laws dealing with dangerous dogs were rushed through state parliament last month after a four-year-old girl was killed in her own home by a neighbour’s American pit bull. In Frankston there are seven known restricted breed dogs and no one has yet come forward to register their dog
before the amnesty ends on Friday 30 September. However, concerns are now being raised over breeds that are not covered by the legislation, including the Johnson American bulldog (used as a pig dog in Australia), and the Chinese and Japanese fighting dogs, sharpei and akita respectively. The shire says it has a fair but firm policy of dealing with owners of unregistered dangerous dogs.
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“While the shire actively supports the thousands of responsible dog owners in our community by providing a range of positive services, the relatively small number of irresponsible people whose dogs pose a threat to community safety can expect to be dealt with fairly, but in accordance with legislation provided by the state government,” Paul Bonnici, who leads the shire’s rangers, said. “In particular, people who own dogs
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that attack may be prosecuted in the courts, where significant penalties and costs may be imposed.” American pit bulls will be identified by a “breed standard” drawn up by the government. The shire has now asked for advice from the Department of Primary Industries about what to do about crossbreed pit bull dogs. Continued on Page 7
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