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Tuesday 6 February 2018
5973 6424 or email: team@mpnews.com.au www.mpnews.com.au
Blood moon rising
MORNINGTON Peninsula Astronomical Society members and keen moon watchers gathered at The Briars Astronomy Centre in Mt Martha last Wednesday evening (31 January) to witness the total lunar eclipse on the second full moon of the month. At first, the mood was somewhat subdued as the cloud cover was heavy but at about 10pm the skies cleared revealing the beginning of the Penumbral Eclipse. Over the next four hours, the shadow of the earth gradually encroached between the moon and the sun, changing the colour of the moon to a blood red. Members of the astronomy club were kept busy helping the public set up their cameras and telescopes. By 1am, most people had called it a night leaving a few diehards to watch the end of the eclipse in the cool night air under the Milky Way. The next total lunar eclipse will be on 28 July, commencing at 3.13am with astronomical twilight beginning just prior to mid-eclipse, ending observation at 6.22am precisely. Keep watching the skies: Tony Nightingale sets up a telescope to get ready for the eclipse. Picture: Gary Sissons
Shire holiday break permanent Keith Platt keith@mpnews.com.au MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has now officially “transitioned” out of running school holiday programs. Licences held by the shire with the Department of Education and Training will be transferred to commercial operator Team Holiday. Team Holiday will run programs under the licences from the April’s Easter school holidays at Hastings and
Mornington while continuing existing programs at Mt Eliza and Mt Martha. Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Bryan Payne described Team Holiday as “an established and experienced service provider”. Team Holiday’s website lists three programs in the just-ended school holidays, ranging from $70 a day at Mt Eliza North Primary to $75 a day at Toorak College, Mt Eliza and $75.50 a day at Osborne Primary, Mt Martha. The website also details government
rebates for eligible families: “Team Holiday is a fully approved service for all CCB [Child Care Benefit] and CCR [Child Care Rebate]. This means that if you work or study and are an Australian resident, you will only end up paying 50 per cent of your fees.” Cr Payne said the move to Team Holiday “will ensure families are provided with a school holiday program service more aligned with their needs”. “Team Holiday is owned, run and delivered by teachers, and they are holi-
day program specialists with excellent industry standards. Team holiday will bring a focus on fun as well as safety and service excellence for all families,” he said. “The selection of Team Holiday supports our commitment to ensure the continuation of appropriate school holiday programs that remain accessible and affordable for our local families.” Team Holiday will run Easter holiday programs at Bentons Square, Mornington and Hastings Community Hub.
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Holiday programs will no longer be held at Peninsula Community Theatre, Mornington, which Cr Payne said was “a temporary solution”. Team Holiday would continue programs at the more “fit-for-purpose” Toorak College, Mt Eliza North and Osborne primary schools. The shire’ move away from running school holiday programs comes at the same time that it is looking at “all options” for its aged and disability services. Continued Page 12
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