Western Port
View the whole picture.
YOUR GUIDE TO WHAT’S ON THIS WEEKEND FOR PENINSULA FAMILIES FACEBOOK:
peninsulakids.com.au mornpenkids
com.au
An independent voice for the community
INSTAGRAM:
FREE
Your weekly community newspaper covering the entire Western Port region For all advertising and editorial, call 03
THE P RO PE R TY INSI G HTS SITE
Wednesday 27 November 2019
5974 9000 or email: team@mpnews.com.au www.mpnews.com.au
Reinforcing the message that Mornington Peninsula Shire is concerned at the level of family violence, the mayor Cr Sam Hearn, left, and former mayor Cr David Gill help, right, help hold the banner during this year’s Taking a Stand Against Family Violence march at Hastings. Picture: Gary Sissons
Peaceful march against violence SEVERAL hundred people marched through Hastings last Friday (22 November) to show their disgust of family violence. The fifth Taking a Stand Against Family Violence march organised by Westernport Respectful Relationships Group was formerly known as the White Ribbon March. The annual march raises community awareness about family violence and “helps the community to unite and take a stand together”, Cr Kate Roper said. Speakers at the march included Cr Roper, Hastings Senior Sergeant Andrew Horscroft, family violence survivor Melissa, who shared her own story,
TYABB AUTOMOTIVE “SMALL TOWN FEEL...BIG TIME SERVICE”
SERVICING AND MECHANICAL REPAIRS FOR ALL MAKES AND MODELS
PH: 5977 4319 22 MORNINGTON - TYABB ROAD, TYABB VIC 3913 WWW.TYABBAUTOMOTIVE.COM.AU
and shire staff member Mandy Roche, who gave an overview of the shire’s Gender Equality Strategy. “Violence against women and their children is a serious and widespread problem in Australia, with enormous individual and community impacts and social costs,” Cr Roper said. “I urge anyone who doubts that to at the statistics. A shocking one in four women aged over 15 has experienced physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner. “Here on the Mornington Peninsula, police reported 1867 incidents of family violence in 2017-18. “But analysis has shown that only 25
per cent of referrals to family violence services in the southern metro region come from police; we can infer that many, many more incidents of family violence occur than are recorded in police statistics.” Cr Roper said the shire had been reviewing its policies and “looking at what it can do to improve the situation”. “We have an obligation to do this under state legislation: preventing violence and injury is one of the priority areas in the Victorian public health and wellbeing plan. “It was also a recommendation of the Family Violence Royal Commission that local governments report on
Jewellers
Turn to Page 3 for
Celebrating OVER 40 YEARS in jewellery manufacture
Husqvarna Specials
Jewellery for all occasions WE WILL BEAT ANY PRICE
the measures they propose to take to reduce family violence and respond to the needs of victims. “We know that one of the key drivers of violence against women and their children is gender inequality – which is the process by which people are treated differently and disadvantageously, under similar circumstances, on the basis of their gender. “We also know that there is much work that we can do to help change the attitudes and ways of thinking that enable family violence to take place. This can include challenging the condoning of violence against women; promoting women’s independence and
decision-making; challenging gender stereotypes and roles, and strengthening positive, equal and respectful relationships.” The Westernport Respectful Relationships Committee includes Good Shepherd, DHHS, Victoria Police, Family Life, Hastings Community House, Westernport Chamber of Commerce and shire staff. The Westernport Respectful Relationships Committee is auspiced by Wallaroo Community House. After the march guests were invited to take part in the creation of rock art with the Balee Aboriginal Group. Stephen Taylor
FREE MEAL
Buy one meal get one free*
Drive through to Craft Village Trading hours: Thursday to Sunday 10am-5pm
OPEN
TYABB CRAFT VILLAGE 14 Mornington-Tyabb Road, Tyabb Phone 5977 3711
hasmow.com.au
7 DAYS!
VALID ONLY ON PRESENTING THIS VOUCHER. LIMIT $15.95 ON FREE MAIN MEAL EXCLUDING ENTREES, SENIOR AND KIDS MEALS. ONLY TWO VOUCHERS PER TABLE, NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER OFFER. EXCLUDES PUBLIC HOLIDAYS. CONDITIONS APPLY. MANAGEMENT RESERVES ALL RIGHTS. VALID UNTIL 06-01-2020