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Wednesday 17 July 2024
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Celebrating culture INDIGENOUS artist Mitch Tambo made a special appearance at Red Hill Consolidated School recently to talk with students about resilience. The didgeridoo player, traditional indigenous dancer and singer visited the school as part of a 100-school tour to perform and inspire students to be the best they can, and successfully adapt to challenging life experiences. The singer says developing a strong selfesteem when you’re young has never been more important. “Children really need to believe in themselves and understand they really can achieve great things if they cultivate a positive mind set to be prepared for anything life throws at them these days,” he said. “Teachers also play a crucial role in fostering social positivity in high school, so I work with educators on how to create a sense of belonging and inclusion and remind them they are doing a great job.” Tambo has earned global acclaim for his body of work, including 10 consecutive Top 10 singles on the Australian iTunes Worldwide charts, as well as charts across the world. He has also thrilled with performances at events such as the Australian Open, T20 and the historic Fire Fight Australia Concert with his rendition of You’re the Voice. Picture: Yanni
Training the (dog) trainers Keith Platt keith@mpnews.com.au DOG owners will have fewer excuses for not being able to understand the rules about exercising dogs in public places under a four-year policy adopted by Mornington Peninsula Shire Council. The new policy includes making signs consistent about where and when dogs can be taken for exercise on and off the leash. The staged implementation of the revised policy will enable council officers to enforce the dog laws in areas which have no signs, incorrect signs or “gazettal issues”. Enforcing uniform dog controls
across the municipality will also “bring in additional infringement revenue to council”, according to a report prepared by community strengthening director Tanya Scicluna and community safety strategic projects coordinator Ann-Marie Richardson. Scicluna told councillors at their Tuesday 25 June meeting that 239 infringement notices and 155 cautions for dogs at large had been issued in 2023. Council has allocated $250,000 towards implementing the revised dog policy. Debate at the public meeting also invoked the names of several councillor-owned dogs and some tales about
personal experiences when exercising their pets. Cr Kate Roper (“there are no winners in this one — you are either a dog lover or not”) said there was a need for “some sort of control” in areas where dogs were allowed offleash. “We do have conflicts and I’ve heard terrible stories and seen some things on social media that aren’t good,” she said. “People want to be safe when they take their dogs to off-leash areas and beach users want to be safe when they take their families to the beach. “I know some of the beaches are breeding grounds for some of our endangered wildlife and there are
irresponsible dog owners.” Roper, a former dog trainer, knew that some owners “don’t take the time to train their dog, even to a basic level to make sure it’s not infringing on other peoples’ enjoyment of these spaces, these shared spaces”. Dogs needed to be mentally stimulated and off-leash areas were important “so that they can get out and about and learn to socialise properly, both with other dogs and people that they meet on their walks”. “I’d be happy with more enforcement … there are too many incidents where people, irresponsible owners, just walk away from sometimes really terrible incidents. “I hope we get some patrols stepped
up, especially in those sensitive areas where wildlife have been attacked and killed.” Dogs are prohibited in some areas to protect wildlife including the threatened hooded plover, migratory shorebirds, marsupials including the white-footed dunnart and the longnosed bandicoot, and reptiles such as the blue-tongued lizard. Cr David Gill said a 2021 survey (“the latest available figures”) saw the peninsula as the municipality recording the highest number of dog attacks. He said the figure was probably higher than the reported 239. “People don’t usually report rushes and things, which are still serious.” Continued Page 21