Camp encourages young leaders SECONDARY students from Western Port, Mt Eliza, Mornington, Dromana and Rosebud participated a three-day youth leadership camp at The Portsea Camp, 19-21 June. The camp – for 32 Year 10 students – was organised by the Mornington Peninsula Partnership Forum, made up of the eight Bendigo and Community Bank branches on the peninsula, and Mornington Peninsula Shire. The forum aims to bring together possible sources of funding for strategic projects on the peninsula. “As this was the first camp, there was a great sense of anticipation and excitement about its potential to provide real opportunities for those attending,” Bendigo Bank branch manager Kerry Debernardi said. Organisers hope the camp will become an annual event. Young people were encouraged to develop skills to engage with their communities and to become young leaders. The shire’s youth services team devised the activities program which focussed on cultivating and developing leadership skills, community connectedness and social engagement. Mt Eliza Secondary School Year 12 student Tia McLean –Mornington Peninsula Shire’s Young Citizen of the Year – and Padua Mornington School captain Liam Kelly – winner of the Peninsula Short Film Fest two years in a row – spoke to students about their accomplishments and ambitions. “Having Liam make the documentary [about the camp] is another op-
Best Bites awards NOMINATIONS are open for food businesses to enter Mornington Peninsula Shire's Best Bites awards. The awards look at measures businesses have in place to provide safe and healthy food, use environmentally sustainable business practices and provide safe and accessible food premises. The mayor Cr Graham Pittock said the awards recognised that the local food industry is an important part of the peninsula. “There are more than 1200 registered food businesses on the peninsula that cater for thousands of customers each day and we encourage them to take part in our Best Bites awards," he said. Businesses can be nominated in the categories of aged care; bed and breakfast/home-based retailer; cafe; restaurant; school canteen/child care; supermarket; take away; and innovation. Finalists are announced in September followed by the winners in April next year after judges' assessments from October - March. Nomination forms at food@mornpen. vic.gov.au or call 1300 850 600.
Family directory MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire and Family Life have released an online directory of child and youth agencies and support organisations within the shire. The directory will be updated every six months, and includes links to wellbeing agencies and the National Health Service Directory. The directory includes information about resource providers and how to contact them, and is compatible with mobile phones. www.mpchildandyouthdirectory.com.au
Hand signals: above, Jaia, Sophie, Morgan, Emily, Shontail, and Lily create a group art work during a youth leadership camp held by the Mornington Peninsula Partnership Forum. Left, Trinity on the giant swing.
portunity for us to support a talented young person and fits very well into the whole ethos of this project,” Mr Debernardi said. “If comments about the camp made
by participants are any guide, their experiences were overwhelmingly positive and we look forward to working with them to further develop their leadership potential.”
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Living in good company Western Port News
12 July 2016
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