NEWS DESK All aboard to party
Grape growers slow to adopt ‘safety’ code LESS than half of the grape growers on the Mornington Peninsula have registered with Agriculture Victoria to be notified of threats to their crops. The department and the Mornington Peninsula Vignerons Association (MPVA) say registering for a property identification code (PIC) will enable growers to “get the jump on pest and disease threats in their region with faster access to biosecurity information”. Growers with 0.5 hectares or more grapes must register with the PIC program. “PICs are the best option for receiving fast and accurate biosecurity information; however, less than 45 per cent of peninsula grape growers have registered for one,” MPVA technical chairman Tyson Lewis said. He said by registering for a PIC, Agriculture Victoria “is able to quickly alert local growers about a plant pest infestation or disease outbreak that may hit hard on the hip pockets of their business”. “It is a grower’s responsibility to maintain or improve biosecurity practices on their property, to ensure their business is not left exposed to the damaging effects of a plant pest or disease outbreak,” he said. “Registering for a PIC takes no more than a few minutes, and then growers will have an effective way to respond to a potential grape phylloxera or any other infestation in the region. The MPVA is urging all vineyard owners to register online with Agriculture Victoria for a plant PIC. “Grapevine growers also need to remember that the application for a PIC is a legal obligation for your industry so I urge all vineyard owners who grow 0.5 hectares or more of grapes to do their bit and register with Agriculture Victoria.” To apply for a PIC go to mpva.com.au or agriculture.vic.gov.au/agriculture/horticulture/ property-identification-codes
A PARTY is being held to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Sorrento to Queenscliff ferry. The celebrations run 7pm to 10pm Saturday 21 October on the ferry which will be berthed at Queenscliff. Partygoers can depart Sorrento on a 6.30pm ferry with the return ferry departing Queenscliff at 10.15pm. The party will see the vessel’s car deck transformed into a street market with live music, while in the upstairs cafe there will be food, music and pop up bars. The celebrations will end with fireworks at 9pm. “We are really excited to be partnering with the Queenscliff Music Festival, local producers and wineries to provide the very best in entertainment, food and wine for our birthday celebrations,” Searoad Ferries CEO Matt McDonald said. He said the ferry party “will be used as a warm up for this year’s music festival”. “The car deck will be decorated with stringed lights and Chinese lanterns, and fireworks will light up the Queenscliff skies at 9pm. This is a one-of-a-kind party that you don’t want to miss,” Mr McDonald said. Tickets are $25 at www.searoad.com.au/ rocktheboat/
Showing characters: Mike Li displays a fan adorned with hand-drawn Chinese calligraphy. Pic: Gary Sissons
Home is where the art is VISITORS can marvel at a scribe’s steady hand and artistic flair at a new homegrown and homebased “museum of the heart” that has opened in Frankston. Chinese born calligrapher Mike Li, who arrived in Australia in 2013, is a master at drawing and painting Chinese characters and has been learning the skill since the age of five, six decades ago. Li’s work has been displayed at the Great Wall Museum in China. He said a recent visitor to the museum, with
more than ten years’ experience in the art of Chinese calligraphy, was impressed and learned a lot from the visit. Li also teaches the art of Chinese calligraphy to students at the University of the Third Age (U3A) in Frankston. “The museum is a charity project free for all the visitors,” Li said. “In future, if there is a large place I can share more with the visitors.” *To arrange a visit to the home-based museum email Mike Li at mikeli.tj@gmail.com
Strategy on grass MORNINGTON Croquet Club is celebrating Seniors Week by holding an open day with games to watch and coaching sessions on Wednesday 11 October. Croquet offers men and women the chance to join with others on an equal footing in games played throughout the year. Golf croquet is a form of the game which allows the beginner to understand the form and basic rules in just a few games. It involves gentle exercise on flat lawns while, at the same time, requires strategic thinking. Club coach Colin Martin invites those interested to come to the open day at Civic Reserve, Mornington. A croquet mallet will be supplied on the day. Flat footwear is essential. Details: call Lynn or Rob, 5975 1041.
Mornington Peninsula Shire’s commitment to safety Enforceable Undertaking Mornington Peninsula Shire Council is a major service provider to peninsula residents and visitors. The Shire delivers maternal and child health services to parents and carers of children from birth to six years. The services are available from 17 centres across the Shire to help parents and carers assess children’s health, growth and development. Information and advice is also available on topics including immunisation, childhood illness, sleep and settling, home safety and infant feeding. In April 2015, a mother brought her eight week old infant to the Waterfall Gully Maternal and Child Health Centre in Rosebud. While the mother and infant were at the Centre, a heater guard fell on top of the infant who was on the floor. The infant was seriously injured, requiring urgent and ongoing medical treatment. The infant has made a full recovery but undergoes regular check-ups as a precautionary measure. The Mornington Peninsula Shire Council truly regrets that this terrible and preventable incident occurred. We recognise the effect on the infant,
the family, the staff involved and the wider community, resulting from our failure to rectify issues with the heater guard when it was initially reported.
Safety Act 2004 is to offer an Enforceable Undertaking. An Enforceable Undertaking contains commitments to do certain things within specified timeframes.
Following this incident, immediate steps were taken to improve health and safety for children, parents and carers, nurses and other staff at Maternal and Child Health Centres across the Shire. We have also acted to review and improve maintenance arrangements with better auditing and safety compliance and strengthened contract management.
In April 2017, the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council entered into an Enforceable Undertaking with WorkSafe, setting out our actions to improve health and safety at all Maternal and Child Health Centres and our commitments for improvements more broadly across our operations.
The Mornington Peninsula Shire Council was charged with offences under sections 23(1), 38(1) and 38(3) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004. The offences were failing to protect members of the public from risks to their health and safety, failing to immediately notify WorkSafe and failing to give WorkSafe a written report of the incident within 48 hours. Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has no prior findings of guilt or convictions under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004. An alternative to prosecution for breaches of the Occupational Health and
The Enforceable Undertaking is published on WorkSafe’s website: www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/pages/lawsand-regulations/enforcement/ prosecution-result-summariesand-enforceable-undertakings In the Enforceable Undertaking, the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has agreed to:
• Introduce MPS Hazard – a major
project to improve workplace hazard identification and resolution;
• Implement a program to promote
awareness and give staff the skills and confidence to report and escalate
safety and hazard concerns;
• Conduct an Information Seminar for Maternal and Child Health Nurses and employees within centres across Victoria;
• Conduct an Information Seminar for
Facilities and Contract Managers and relevant professionals across Victoria;
• Provide Mental Health First Aid training accreditation and delivery to increase quality mental health support and training within the community;
• Publish a bulletin to all employees and in the local newspaper;
• Provide Incident Investigator
Training to key Shire staff; and
• Donate $20,000 to Kidsafe Victoria. This Enforceable Undertaking will further promote Mornington Peninsula Shire Council’s commitment to providing a safe environment for the public and our employees. Carl Cowie Chief Executive Officer
Western Port News 3 October 2017
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