NEWS DESK Horse sense for insight
Matt Del Vecchio, of Mornington was at Devilbend Reservoir trying his luck during Water Week. Picture: Gary Sissons
A week to show off the ways of water DEVILBEND reservoir was the place to be during National Water Week from 19-25 October. The week – themed “Reimagining our Water Future” – aimed to inspire an awareness of the value of water. As part of the week, Mornington Peninsula Shire encouraged people to discover a waterway and also to take advantage of coastal and bushland walks. A map highlighted 30 peninsula walks, including those suited to a stroll, as well as listing more advanced and dog friendly walks. National Water Week also offered advice on how you can protect waterways: Dispose of litter responsibly, pick up after pets, don’t put anything except water down storm drains, avoid using pesticides or chemical fertilisers, use nontoxic household products, use sea-safe sunscreen, manage garden waste, revegetate creek banks, never leave fishing line on the shore, and join a beach patrol. To learn more about the peninsula’s waterways, the top 10 tips for protecting our waterways and to see the waterway walks map, visit: mornpen. vic.gov.au/waterways
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Western Port News
28 October 2020
KAREN Alija says horses can help people learn about themselves in much the same way that they have helped shape her new outlook on business during the coronavirus pandemic. Ms Alija, director of Gunnamatta Trail Rides, said lessons learned from horses’ survival instincts enabled her to accept the changes caused by COVID-19 and bring the family business back on track. The business virtually shut down in March but has since developed a new outlook on the way things are done. Ms Alija said businesses needed to become more resilient and flexible. “This is not an easy task, and pivot strategies need to be implemented to ensure that the business can accept and adapt to change … as individuals and teams,” she said. “With our extensive knowledge and experience with horses, we have been able to draw from their survival instincts and bridge a connection to their resilience and their ability to adapt to what they are facing.” After 50 million years of experience in adaptation and survival, she said horses had an ability to teach people some of their emotional intelligence skills in communication, connection and resilience. Gunnamatta Trail Rides has launched its Mane Insights program to teach people about themselves. “It’s not about equine therapy or horses as such, it is more about the individual,” Ms Alija said. “With the immediate and unbiased feedback that horses give us, we learn more about ourselves and what image we are projecting on others, which most often is unintentional.” Ms Alija said communication and connection were “extremely important at the best of times, but especially now it is critical to our overall mental health and wellbeing”. She said Mane Insights would work with teams from businesses and organisations, schools and groups. “The experts in this program are our horses,” Ms Alija said.
Pool reopens with provisos THE easing of COVID-19 restrictions has allowed the Crib Point pool to reopen in time for the warmer weather. Those living within a 25 kilometre radius can now use the pool for exercise under a safety plan. Features include expanded operating hours from 6.30-10.30am Monday to Friday and 8am12pm Saturday and Sunday. There will be limits
on numbers of swimmers and a booking system. In the past few months Belgravia Leisure staff have been busy draining, filling, cleaning and preparing the pools and centre for the restart. Hand sanitation stations have been provided around the centre as well as the need for 1.5 metre social distancing and cashless payments. Details: cribpointpool.com.au
Bank card a boost for business A BANK is giving away money to sporting clubs, schools and community groups to spend at businesses in Western Port. Balnarring and District Community Bank’s Love Local campaign provides $10 and $20 cards that can be used to buy goods and services at participating businesses as they emerge from the coronavirus pandemic. “We know that many business owners have been negatively impacted by COVID-19 and expect those impacts to extend into the future,” manager Greg Hood said.
“The bank understands that it is a difficult, uncertain time for businesses and has support measures in place for our business and personal banking customers, but we wanted to do a little more. The bank developed a Love Local program to support business customers, along with the many community groups and organisations across the district which have experienced huge changes to their operations this year.” The Love Local cards cannot be exchanged for cash or used to buy cigarettes or alcohol. Details: bendigobank.com.au/balnarring