NEWS DESK
Environmentalist dies while diving MEMBERS of the Save Flinders Pier campaign are mourning the loss of one of the Mornington Peninsula’s most respected environmentalists, Trent Williams. Williams’ death has dealt a blow to the Flinders community as it campaigns to save the town’s historic pier. The Mornington-based educator and marine biologist died two weeks ago while scuba diving near Port Phillip Heads. Williams was one of the leaders of the Save Flinders Pier campaign, regularly organising volunteers to clean the Flinders beach, and leading groups of scuba divers to remove debris from the water and sea bed beneath the pier. A keen underwater photographer, Williams photographed the Flinders pier structure as part of the group’s own independent condition report. Chairperson for the Save Flinders Campaign, Charles Reis, said the group was still dealing with the loss of a good friend. “Trent was there at our first public meeting in May last year and immediately signed on to do whatever he could to save the pier and protect the marine habitat,” he said. “He was a highly regarded scuba diver and advocate for protecting our marine environment. “He brought energy, experience, knowledge and wisdom to our campaign, and we could never have achieved what we did without him.
Hi vis moment: FLINDERS MP Greg Hunt and the state Ports and Freight Minister Melissa Horne with BlueScope Steel CEO Mark Vassella to cut the ribbon to open the company’s new customer service centre. Picture: Supplied
MPs roll up for steelworks opening TRENT Williams was a respected environmentalist in the Flinders community and a supporter of the Save Flinders Pier campaign. “All of us who volunteered alongside Trent learnt so much from him; and his legacy is that we now better understand the importance and urgency of protecting the ecology of our oceans and its precious sea life.” Williams had a long association with the Sea Shepherd organisation, leading its marine debris team of volunteers focussed on keeping the peninsula’s bays and waterways clear of litter. He is survived by his parents Rod and Nola, and three children Ella, Ethan and Keely.
BLUEScope Steel says opening a new customer service centre at its Western Port works, Hastings confirms its commitment to local employment and local manufacturing. Managing director and CEO Mark Vassella said the $34 million centre - with capacity to process more than 100,000 tons a year - consolidated BlueScope’s Victorian steel processing capabilities on one site, “using the latest technology and with a clear focus on our customers, safety and the welfare of our people”. The centre’s opening comes during the steelworks’ 50th year of operation at Western Port. Invited by the company to the opening ceremony were Flinders MP and Health and Aged Care Minister Greg Hunt and the state’s Ports and Freight Minister Melissa Horne.
“The customer service centre IT infrastructure includes an automated slitting head build robot which is the first of its kind in Australia,” Mr Vassella said. “The robot automatically constructs a slitting cutting head to individual customer requirements without manual intervention from operators or other tradespeople, thus removing the risk of error, greatly speeding up the process of building a new head and enabling a more efficient operation to better serve customers. It also helps keep BlueScope people safe at work by eliminating manual handling and other safety risks. “The opening of the customer service centre is another investment by BlueScope in enhancing Australia’s sovereign manufacturing capability. Recent and current global
events have amply demonstrated the importance of local manufacturing for essential products, such as the steel that supplies Australia’s building and construction, infrastructure and manufacturing sectors.” Mr Vassella said the centre had about 30 employees, most of them from the peninsula. The centre is in an extended existing building and takes steel coils and processes them - for example by slitting and recoiling - to meet the demands of a range of domestic customers. About 200,000 tons of steel products a year on average, or around 20 per cent of the Western Port works’ production, is exported, with more than 66 per cent going to North America. In 2022, the Western Port Works is celebrating 50 years of operation.
As the highest performing secondary school on the Mornington Peninsula, Dromana College will continue to work tirelessly to develop and consolidate the many exemplary educational programs on offer. With outstanding facilities, a committed professional staff and a caring school community, students are challenged to explore their interests and talents to achieve their personal best.
Open Night Wednesday 4th May 2022 at 6.00pm ‘Lessons come from the journey …not the destination’ ‘A high performing provider of education on the Mornington Peninsula’
Tours available Tuesday mornings at 9:30am. Bookings online at www.dsc.vic.edu.au. 110 Harrisons Road, Dromana, Victoria 3936 Entry via Old White Hill Road
E: dromana.sc@education.vic.gov.au W: www.dsc.vic.edu.au
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Western Port News
20 April 2022
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