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Friday, 30 November, 2012
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Out of Africa with charity By CHERIE DONNELLAN
BEYOND DESTITUTION: Geoff Hucker with Ethiopian beneficiaries of his charity and, in the inset, with partner Kate Fewings.
AN historic trip to Ethiopia a decade ago made Torquay’s Geoff Hucker witness to the “devastation” of orphans living on the streets. Mr Hucker noted their desperation, especially among older children, for a family environment and the support it brings. The experience compelled him to launch Beyond The Orphanage (BTO) in 2003 with the support of partner Kate Fewings. The charity had since helped more than 1000 African children become “productive, educated adults”, Mr Hucker said. One of the program’s first wards, Mihret, exemplified the program’s success, he said. Mihret “thrived” after entering the program at an early age and now volunteered as a mentor to other BTO wards. “He’s quite an amazing young man,” Mr Hucker said. “He finished school in the face of great adversity and went on to study office administration, from which he graduated first in his school.” Mr Hucker urged Surf Coast residents to support the program’s growth through sponsorships or fundraising. “We may be a long way from Ethiopia but even a small donation goes a long way.” Mr Hucker said many Australians had volunteered “professional skills” without having to travel. “People who general businesses utilise, such as writers, graphic designers or even web developers, can help us continue to spread the word.” Mr Hucker said BTO accepted donations or volunteer enquiries at www.beyondtheorphanage.org.
Creek lock-up approved STATE Government approved locking up Spring Creek from development hours before councillors voted this week on plans for a college on the land. Planning Minister Matthew Guy announced on Wednesday he would approve a proposed C66 amendment setting Torquay’s western boundary at Duffields Rd.
The boundary would effectively put the Spring Creek area between Torquay and Bellbrae off limits for urban development. Mr Guy’s approval gave council a green light to start planning work on C66. Councillors voted to begin the process, which their meeting heard could take a year. Councillors then voted to defer Christian College’s controver-
sial bid to build a school within the creek land. Deputy Mayor Rod Nockles put an alternative motion for the college site to be rezoned from farm land to a Special Use classification potentially allowing development of the school. Cr Brian McKiterick helped defeat the motion, calling it “putting the cart before the horse”. The issue was less about the
merit of the school proposal than “the future of the Spring Creek valley”, he said. Cr David Bell, a former Speak Up For Spring Creek campaign leader, remained silent during the C66 and Christian College discussions. Cr Bell said beforehand that he would “enter the process with an open mind”. Community opposition forced the previous council to tear up two
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lors and council officers” about its plan for Spring Creek. Principal Darryl Riddle said the school would meet local demand, with Torquay parents bussing “hundreds” of students to the school’s Geelong campuses daily. The Independent revealed earlier in the year that residential developers were also still trying to build support for revisiting their Spring Creek proposals.
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plans for developing Spring Creek. Mr Guy helped kill off the second bid in July 2011 with an announcement, also hours before a crucial council vote on Spring Creek, that he would oppose rezoning the land. Council then sought his approval for C66 to lock up Spring Creek. But the Independent revealed in October this year that Christian College was talking to “council-
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By Cherie Donnellan