NEWS DESK
Peninsula inspiration for first-time author’s words RETURNING to her home village of Flinders after more than 20 years in Western Australia was the catalyst for Robbie Freia, right, to complete her first book. “I remember driving on the peninsula when returning to Victoria in 2017, the contrast of the blue sea, the green trees and the wonderful smell of the dark earth. I remember, too, thinking how did I ever leave this place that felt so much like home to me,” she said. Freia had returned to Victoria to nurse her sick sister and reconnected with Flinders where her mother was born; her grandparents’ house where she spent a lot of time as a child, is still standing in Cook Street. Freia started writing her novel The Willow in 2015, but circumstances led to her having to put it “on hold”.
“It was being in Flinders and the sense of community that helped me get back to completing the novel,” she said. The Willow covers the period from the 1950s to the 2000s. It is a story of an “average” Australian, Joe, and his family. Joe lives his life in Western Australia and travels around that state. His journey highlights an evolving society and the impact of war, specifically on Australian Vietnam participants and their families. Freia emphasises that the novel is not a Vietnam War story but is as much about the social injustice of the time. She notes there are many expert books available on the war itself, such as Michael McKernan’s recent novel The Long Shadow. As examples of injustice, she cites women forced to quit their jobs when they married;
girls encouraged to take up typing and cooking rather than maths and the sciences; boys being ridiculed if they wanted to learn cooking; and sons being idolised and men having to be tough and not show their feelings. Freia’s concern for the ongoing welfare of veterans and their families is reflected in that a percentage of each book sale will go to the Vietnam Veterans Federation of Australia. The Willow is available at robbiefreiathewillow.com.au, Petersen’s Bookstore, Hastings and Farrell’s Bookshop, Mornington as well as online via Austin Macauley, Barnes & Noble and Amazon. Contacts for Vietnam Veteran information and assistance: openarms.gov.au, vvfa.org.au and vvaa.org.au Tony Duboudin
ELECTIONS 2022
Greens in growing field for Flinders
Liberals to choose Nepean candidate THE Liberal Party is expected to announce its candidate for the seat of Nepean, held by Labor’s Chris Brayne, in late February. Nominations to be the Liberal candidate closed on Monday (31 January) and the Nepean State Electorate Conference is holding a $45 a head “meet the candidates” function at Safety Beach Sailing Club on Wednesday 9 February. The night is billed as “an important event to attend, to meet the contenders who will be responsible for the Mornington Peninsula”. Elsewhere on the peninsula, Briony Hutton (Liberal) and Paul Mercurio (Labor) will be contesting the seat of Hastings now held by Liberal Neale Burgess, while Chris Crewther (Liberal) and David Kramer (Labor) are standing for the seat of Mornington held by Liberal David Morris. Cr Mercurio is the second current Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor to nominate for a seat in parliament. Cr Despi O’Connor has stood aside from her council duties to contest the federal seat of Flinders as an independent after missing out on being chosen as candidate for the Voices of Mornington Peninsula group. The number of councillors seeking to be an MP would have been higher if Cr Steve Holland had succeeded in his bid last October to gain party support to fill the Liberal Party vacancy in Eastern Province created by the resignation of Edward O’Donohue. Councillors seeking election to either state or federal parliament do not have to stand down until after their nominations are lodged with the electoral office (“Council rules for aspiring MPs” The News 20/12/21). The rules mean that unless Cr Mercurio chooses to follow Cr O’Connor’s example and take leave of absence, he can remain as an active councillor until his nomination is lodged with the Victorian Electoral Commission. The state election is due in November. Keith Platt
Keith Platt keith@mpnews.com.au
Candidate a speaker at flag raising THE Liberal party’s candidate for the federal seat of Flinders in the coming election, Zoe McKenzie, above, was one of the speakers at the Australia Day event held by Sorrento Portsea RSL. Ms McKenzie is standing for the seat held for a record 20 years by the retiring Greg Hunt. Mr Hunt was unable to be at Sorrento and Ms McKenzie said she had been asked to speak at the ceremony by Mornington Peninsula Shire’s Nepean Ward councillor, Susan Bissinger. The flag raising ceremony was followed by a community barbecue and live music. Picture: Yanni
COLIN Lane has been endorsed as the Greens candidate for the seat of Flinders in the federal election now expected to be held in May. Mr Lane is a civil celebrant who conducts weddings and funerals and works part-time as the finance manager for a Mornington Peninsula winery. He says a priority of his “platform” is protecting the peninsula’s threatened natural features. “Seeking better outcomes for our younger generation, more full-time employment opportunities, free tertiary education, and housing schemes that provide more affordable housing for young people are all primary policy positions,” Mr Lane said. Mr Lane joins four other candidates for the seat of Flinders occupied for the past 20 years by Liberal Greg Hunt, who has announced he will not be seeking re-election. The other candidates are Zoe McKenzie (Liberal), Surbhi Snowball (Labor), Despi O’Connor (Independent) and Morgan Jonas (United Australia Party). Claire Boardman, a candidate chosen and backed by the Voices of Mornington Peninsula group, withdrew late last month (“Candidate withdraws due to Omicron effect” The News 25/1/22). “The Voices of Mornington Peninsula aren’t looking for a new candidate to contest the seat of Flinders in the coming election at this stage,” spokesperson Kim Robbins said on Friday. “The VMP board is currently listening to our members to determine our next steps forward. We’re holding meetings this weekend with
THE Greens candidate for Flinders, Colin Lane our members, and we’ll have more to say next week.” A statement issued by the Greens said Mr Lane “will call on [Prime Minister] Scott Morrison to put in place a formal legislated plan to reduce Australia's emissions by 75 per cent by 2030 and phase out coal and gas”. “Our future depends on it. [Mr Lane] will represent the people and the planet. Advocating for protection of the environment, supporting local initiatives, seeking better social outcomes for peninsula residents, and truly representing the voice of the people of the peninsula, not the position of a big political party.
Smile Squad is on its way The Victorian Government is making it easier for our kids to get the dental care they need. Find out more at smilesquad.vic.gov.au
F R E E D E N TA L
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Western Port News
2 February 2022