GOOD things will soon be growing at Westernport Mission Centre’s community garden in Hastings. The collaborative project to promote healthy communities opened last week. The money came from a place-based Cerberus ward funding grant and $4800 from the Mornington Peninsula Community Charitable Fund. The opening was attended by Mornington Peninsula Shire staff, the Salvation Army’s Eastern Victoria Division and community groups. “It’s a fantastic initiative which will provide social and lifestyle benefits for everyone,” the mayor Cr Bev Colomb said. Fresh vegetables from the garden – as well as soup – will be distributed from a retrofitted van to disadvantaged…
Day: July 4, 2017
THE once-controversial sculpture “I am” is to stay at the roundabout on the main intersection in Flinders. A survey by Mornington Peninsula Shire has shown enough support to justify the sculpture remaining at the Cook and Wood streets roundabout. There were 564 responses to the survey, 337 from Flinders residents. Just under 60 per cent said they wanted the Andrew Rogers sculpture to stay, with 39 per cent against. More than half of those against the statue remaining on the roundabout said they would not object to it being relocated within the town. The survey followed assurances by the shire…
FINDING a job can be difficult at the best of times, but can be even harder for anyone with a long term disability. Nathan Edwards, an experienced kitchen hand who enjoys the busy atmosphere of a commercial kitchen, is now working part-time work at Kings Creek Hotel, Hastings. His new job came about after the hotel began working with Marillac, a government-funded disability employment service run by St John of God Health care. The service assists job seekers with a disability to find and keep paid work. It uses a reverse marketing approach to identify, contact and encourage employers to…
FOUR collectors in white and red “Legalise vaping” t-shirts were approaching shoppers at Balnarring Shopping Centre last week seeking signatures for a petition to support the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). The collectors were overheard telling shoppers that vaping was “proven to be the most popular and effective aid to quitting smoking”. Submissions close on Thursday to an inquiry by the Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport called in May by Health Minister and Flinders MP Greg Hunt into the use and marketing of e-cigarettes and personal vaporisers. Tobacco companies have bought into the market by buying some…
THE op shop behind the Holy Trinity Church in Church St, Hastings, is back in business – in a portable building. A crowd gathered to welcome the shop’s return after the original building was destroyed by fire on 31 March. Cr Kate Roper spoke and Lisa Burgess, from Flinders MP Greg Hunt’s office, cut the ribbon to mark the opening. The Rev Tim Anderson said money raised from the op shop would help a range of community groups, such as the Hastings CFA and breakfasts at Western Port Secondary College. Opening hours are Tuesday to Friday 10am-3pm and Saturdays 10am-midday.…
THE state government has resumed management of the Port of Hastings through the Victorian Regional Channels Authority. The port was run under contract until 30 June by Patrick Ports Hastings, also known as Linx Stevedoring. As from 1 July the harbourmaster Captain Shane Vedamuttu and assistants Capt Chris Noon and Capt Martin Leavold are responsible for shipping in and out of Western Port with the Port of Hastings Development Authority (PoHDA) managing the port’s on-land requirements (jetties, land side infrastructure and port maintenance). “We’re delighted to take over direct management of all shipping operations at Hastings and we are committed…