Thursday, 12 September, 2024
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Showcase in full bloom Murray Harding is engulfed by a sea of yellow and white, as the once-in-a-20-year bumper bloom of Dendrobium Speciosumin in his orchid house sets a strong tone for this month’s Berwick Orchid Club Showcase. Murray himself is keen to get the show on the road, confident not just in this season’s bloom, but the beauty of his and the club’s members’ orchids to captivate visitors. Story page 10
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Candidates divided By Ethan Benedicto Since council monitors were officially announced by the State Government earlier this month, Casey council candidates in the north-east of the city have expressed a mixed bag of emotions with the new initiative. According to the media release on 2 September, these council monitors would also be appointed to Whittlsea City and Strathbogie Shire Councils to support the transition back to elected councillors and ensure good governance practices.
place, saying that the argument made by the State Government’s media release that monitors will support the newly elected councillors to restore good governance “is nonsensical”. “It should have already been restored by the administrators, similarly, given that the municipal monitors’ functions are to ‘monitor council governance and practices’, ‘advise the council about the governance improvements’, and to make recommendations relating to council ‘governance matters’, their appointment shouldn’t be necessary.” Continued page 3
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al expense by the council as well, the ratepayers will be paying for this.” However, Rahaman recognises the need for an overseeing body, that the new councillors could bear fruit from their presence, saying that “we can embrace and use it in a positive way”. “We can coordinate and work together; if they are there to help and we can really get that and learn from them, and use that skill for future development of our council, then it’s a blessing.” However, Grevillea Ward Candidate, Stephen Capon sees no benefits in having the monitors in
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Mush Rahaman, council candidate for Akoonah Ward is on the fence about the decision, saying that the soon-to-be newly appointed councillors have “certain expectations” and a “vision” for the council. “These new people, many coming from independent backgrounds, they have their certain ways that they would monitor things,” Rahaman said. “They want to progress things, they have a vision, as long as these visions are not impacted by the [monitors] then it’s okay, it doesn’t hurt. “But at the same time it would be an addition-