NEWS DESK
Budget fails schools - MP
Dredging plans PARKS Victoria is seeking feedback on a proposed long term dredging plans for Port Phillip and Western Port bays. The organisation, in its role as port manager for both bays, dredges channels to provide safe access to the busiest recreational port facilities and harbours,” ports and waterways senior manager Victor Teoh said. Proposed changes include more and deeper dredging at some sites and “environmental improvements”. “The final plan will provide a longterm framework for our maintenance dredging program that is efficient, meets contemporary needs of recreational boat operators, and ensures our relevant statutory and environmental obligations are met,” Mr Teoh said. Facts sheets and details of community drop-in sessions are available on the Parks Victoria website. Comments must be submitted by email to dredging@parks.vic.gov.au by Monday 22 May. Call 13 1963 or visit parks.vic.gov.au
Done with Bullying: Instructors Glenn Shand and Sarah Hanna and will host free anti-bullying seminars in Mornington that could benefit four-year-old Joseph Hanna. Picture: Yanni
There’s an art in standing up to bullies ANTI-BULLYING seminars for children aged 6-14 and their parents will be held at a Mornington martial arts centre next month. The free seminars are aimed at teaching children practical strategies to help them identify and deal with bullying behaviour and how to “buddy” rather than “bully” others. “Bullying is still a huge problem, and we believe that no other industry is better equipped to end bullying than martial arts,” said Glenn Shand, owner and chief instructor of Peninsula Kung Fu. The centre is a member of Martial Artists Against Bullying, an international organisation with members devoted to “ending bullying once and
Baton ‘legends’ NOMINATIONS are open for “local legends” to carry the Queen’s Baton when it visits the Mornington Peninsula next year as part of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games relay. Three thousand eight hundred baton-bearers will carry the Queen’s Baton for 100 days across the country, visiting Sorrento on Monday 12 February. By nominating a baton-bearer their achievements won’t go unrecognised, Mornington Peninsula Shire said. Nominations close 11.59pm, Monday 15 May. Details: gc2018.com/qbr
for all”. Assistant instructor Sarah Hanna is presenting the seminars which she says are the first held in Mornington. “There is a lot more to martial arts than just fighting,” she said. “The seminars will focus on learning strategies to avoid being bullied, such as avoiding eye contact, standing up and not slouching, and ways to react to let potential bullies know [you] will stand up to them.” Ms Hanna said bullies often targeted weaker, smaller victims because they didn’t feel good in themselves and the assumed dominance made them feel superior. “My children are doing martial arts and that’s where they learn life’s
lessons: respect, teamwork, grounding and how to deal with bad behaviour,” she said. “There is something we can do against bullying. We can learn to adopt a physical stance and defend ourselves, but there are also a range of steps that can be out in place beforehand, such as by telling the bully you don’t like it, talking them down, and taking the power away from them.” The seminars will focus on awareness (identifying bullying behaviour), avoidance (learning ways to avoid being the target), and assertiveness (learning how to stop bullying behaviour). The first seminar will be 1-3pm, Saturday 3 June, at Peninsula Kung Fu, 1/2 Carbine Way, Mornington.
HASTINGS Liberal MP Neale Burgess predicts schools around the Western Port area “will continue to suffer” after missing out on extra funding in the latest state budget. “Following the release of the Victorian budget on Tuesday, [the Premier] Daniel Andrews and his government have been crowing about their investment in schools, yet only one school within the District has recorded additional funding,” Mr Burgess said. “Perseverance Primary School on French Island has secured $72,000 for an upgrade to facilities, while the other 19 government schools have missed out.” “Although it’s pleasing to see Perseverance Primary finally being put on the radar by this government, I have schools like Pearcedale who have long called for flashing school zone lights, which this government wash their hands of. This is simply not good enough.”
Library closed HASTINGS Library will be closed on Monday 15 May and Tuesday 16 May while it is fitted with new book shelving. Return chutes will remain open on these days. Other libraries are at Vancouver St, Mornington; McDowell St, Rosebud; and 1085 FrankstonFlinders Rd, Somerville. For information about Mornington Peninsula Shire’s libraries call 5950 1710.
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Western Port News 9 May 2017
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