Southern Peninsula
GET YOUR
FREE TV GUIDE INSIDE!
DOWNLOAD 3MP FROM THE APP STORE OR GOOGLE PLAY
An independent voice for the community
FREE
Your weekly community newspaper covering Safety Beach to Portsea
Wednesday 9 August 2023
For all advertising and editorial needs, call 03 5974 9000 or email: team@mpnews.com.au www.mpnews.com.au MEMBERS of the veteran community came together with family and friends at Dromana Cemetery on Thursday (3 August) to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War. A vigil was held at the graveside of Michael Poole, of Dromana, one of 523 Australians who died in Vietnam between 1962 and 1973. Poole, who was killed by a landmine explosion in 1967, served with the fifth battalion. More than 3000 Australians were wounded in the 11-year conflict and the Dromana service was one of hundreds held around the country as communities reflected and paid tribute to the fallen. Safety Beach Vietnam veteran Roger Beacall said the veteran community was a “tight knit” one that recognised the importance of honouring those who paid the ultimate price. Beacall, who served in the seventh battalion in Vietnam in 1967, said Pool was in his 20s when he was killed, the average age of most Australian soldiers who went to Vietnam. He said Poole would never be forgotten. The Australian government will mark the anniversary with a national service at the Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial in Canberra on 18 August. Liz Bell
Graveside vigil for Vietnam war dead
Picture: Yanni
Shire’s show and tell for MPs Keith Platt keith@mpnews.com.au MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire last week injected a bit of showbiz into its lobbying for money and support from the state government. The mayor Cr Steve Holland, and CEO John Baker last Wednesday took to the stage in Queen’s Hall, Parliament House to remind MPs and anyone else moving through the hall that the peninsula has problems as well as attractions for tourists. Baker told the assembled audience - including councillors and coun-
cil officers - that about 4000 of the peninsula’s 170,000 residents were experiencing homelessness. “Predominantly it’s women sleeping in cars with kids,” he said. “Typically, they're divorced, they've been left with a couple of kids, and they've got nowhere to live. They've done all the sofa surfing. They've done all the staying-with-friends and now the last thing they've got left is their car.” Holland said the shire was staging the event to highlight important community priorities “and bust some of the myths about the peninsula”. “Over our three-day showcase we are hoping to talk to as many sitting
members as possible about the benefits of the projects not only for our local community, but for all Victorians,” Holland said. The presentation came one week after Holland warned the state government would “further centralise [its planning] power” on the back of an investigation by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission into planning decisions by Casey Council (“Councils fear state planning takeover” The News 1/8/23). But those warnings were not mentioned as the shire “took our community’s message directly to the decision-makers, ensuring we were
heard above 78 other councils across Victoria,” Holland told The News. Comedian and radio presenter Sammy J was hired as master of ceremonies for Wednesday’s presentation, with further entertainment provided by Katrina Waters, of the Mornington Peninsula Chorale choir. MPs would have found the shire’s bid to get their attention hard to avoid as they passed through Queen’s Hall on their way to either the Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council. The venue is regarded as one of Melbourne’s most prestigious function and event venues. “We wanted to highlight opportuni-
ties for government investment that would unlock significant economic and wellbeing benefits for our community,” Holland said, asserting “the benefits of this showcase will last for months and years to come”. “We made connections that we will follow up and which will allow us to keep making our case for more investment.” In his prepared speech, Holland said the peninsula was “a far more complex community than many people realise … a microcosm of Victoria as a whole”. Continued Page 3
We provide award-winning in-home care ✓ Home Care Packages ✓ NDIS Supports ✓ Private Services ✓ Home & Garden Maintenance We provide compassionate and personalised in-home care, so your loved ones can maintain their independence in the comfort of their own home. Contact our friendly team and find out more about how we can help.
1300 46 46 63
inhome@after-care.com.au www.after-care.com.au