NEWS DESK
Junior sailors learn the ropes
Small bank profit ‘a start’ A FIRST-TIME profit of $72,231 probably won’t create great excitement among shareholders of Hastings Community Bank but it’s a start, according to chairman Vic Rodwell. The before-tax amount prompted the bank’s board at its recent meeting to declare a dividend of two cents a share, payable on 15 November. “Over the past nine years I have made several promises of dividends and better things to come,” Mr Rodwell told the meeting. “While this dividend may be seen as being small in size, it is only a beginning.
Hold the phone… Getting wet: Capsizing is all part of the junior sailors’ training drill. Picture: Supplied
THERE’S been lots of excitement on the Hastings foreshore these past few Sunday mornings … It’s being caused by participants in the yacht club’s sailing program for participants aged 8-14 years. This season, 14 young enthusiasts are learning the ropes in the club’s six Sparrow dinghies. The sailing school, now in its fourth season, runs over six weekends. It teaches sailors everything they need to compete: from what various parts of the boat are called, tacking and gybing, knot tying, weather and tides, navigational marks and everyone’s favourite – capsizing. Afterwards the participants enjoy something to eat and a debrief back at the club. Qualified sailing instructor Chelsea Edwards delivers the program with help from several other volunteers,
“Future profits cannot be guaranteed, but the two trading months of this financial year, with healthy profits, are being seen as an indication of the future with greater profits to come.” Mr Rodwell said the board’s continuing policy will be “all about balance”. “We will balance our nett income between all stakeholders – shareholders and the community – while taking into account equity in your company,” he said. “Certainly, greater dividends will form part of this policy.”
ensuring it runs smoothly. “Most of the participants are Hastings residents who join the sailing school with little or no experience, completing the program and always coming back for more,” Ms Edwards said. “The skills learned allow participants to join in our dinghy racing and crew on other boats.” Hastings Yacht Club has gained several new members through the sailing school program with close to 60 juniors coming through since it was established in 2015. This has helped increase junior membership and participation. “While sailing is a great way for the kids to socialise, it also requires them to be an active part of a team, working together within the boat, trusting each other’s skill and knowledge,” Ms Edwards said.
“They learn how the various aspects of wind and water affect the way the dinghies perform and how this impacts on their ability to sail around a course. “Sailing has many challenges, with tides, weather and wind being unpredictable, however, also it offers a sense of accomplishment which helps build self-confidence and is ideal for team building. It’s a life-long sport which can be enjoyed regardless of age, physical ability or skill level.” Club secretary Martin Jones said learning how to sail was easy, especially when all the equipment and instructors were on hand. For details on future junior sailing programs call 5979 1891 or visit the club at 1 Marine Parade, Hastings 3915.
THREE phone towers will be built at Tuerong, Tuerong West and Main Ridge West. They will offer “consistent mobile coverage to more than 200 premises that previously had poor or no mobile services”, according to innovation and digital economy minister Philip Dalidakis. The towers are among 25 to be built throughout regional Victoria providing 5000 households and businesses with new or improved mobile coverage in a partnership between Optus and the state government. “Telecommunications infrastructure is crucial for the growth, liveability and safety of regional Victorian households and businesses, and more will be connected than ever before,” Mr Dalidakis said. “Over 166 regional communities are now being connected to mobile data and calls thanks to the Victorian
Government’s new mobile towers across the state – 41 of these with Optus. “The 25 co-funded mobile towers will be constructed all over Victoria with 15 local government areas to benefit with a priority placed on bushfire prone areas.” Mr Dalidakis said the state government had invested almost $31 million in 166 new mobile towers across Victoria, connecting 20,000 premises that previously had no or poor mobile coverage. Eastern Victoria MP Daniel Mulino added: “New mobile towers on the Mornington Peninsula will improve coverage, connectivity and reliability for phone users across large areas. This is a much-needed productivity boost for towns and businesses and will also improve community safety.”
Western Port News
7 November 2017
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